3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

We account for certain assets and liabilities at fair value. The hierarchy below lists three levels of fair value based on the extent to which inputs used in measuring fair value are observable in the market. We categorize each of our fair value measurements in one of these three levels based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. These levels are:

Level 1

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Unadjusted quoted prices available in active markets for identical investments as of the reporting date.

Level 2

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Observable inputs to the valuation methodology are other than Level 1 inputs and are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date and fair value can be determined through the use of models or other valuation methodologies.

Level 3

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Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable inputs in situations where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability, and the reporting entity makes estimates and assumptions related to the pricing of the asset or liability including assumptions regarding risk.

Our policy is to recognize significant transfers between levels at the actual date of the event or circumstance that caused the transfer.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments:

Cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable. As of March 29, 2020, and December 29, 2019, the carrying amount of these items approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these financial instruments.

Long-term debt. At March 29, 2020, the carrying value and the estimated fair value of our 2026 Notes (as defined in Note 7), including the current portion of long-term debt, was $250.3 million and $251.0 million, respectively. As of December 29, 2019, the carrying value and the estimated fair value of the 2026 Notes, including the current portion of long-term debt, was $249.8 million and $240.5 million, respectively. The fair value of our 2026 Notes described above was determined using quoted market prices. These are considered to be Level 2 inputs under the fair value measurements and disclosure guidance and may not be representative of actual value or future settlement value through our Chapter 11 proceedings.

At March 29, 2020, the carrying value and the estimated fair value of our Debentures, Junior Term Loan and 2031 Notes (as defined in Note 7), was $440.4 million and $180.5 million, respectively. At December 29, 2019, the carrying value and the estimated fair value of our Debentures, Junior Term Loan and 2031 Notes, was $357.9 million and $213.3 million, respectively. Observable market data was not available or reliable to value our Debentures, Junior Term Loan and 2031 Notes. The fair value was based on the net present value of the future cash flows using interest rates derived from market inputs and a Treasury yield curve in effect at March 29, 2020. These are considered to be Level 3 inputs under the fair value measurements and disclosure guidance and may not be representative of actual value or future settlement value through our Chapter 11 proceedings. At March 29, 2020, in accordance with ASC 852, the carrying value of our Debentures, Junior Term Loan and 2031 Notes equaled the aggregate principal value of the notes and were classified as liabilities subject to compromise.

Certain assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis; that is, they are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment). Our non-financial assets that may be measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are assets held for sale, goodwill, intangible assets not subject to amortization and cost or equity method investments. All of these assets are measured using Level 3 inputs. We utilize valuation techniques that seek to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The significant unobservable inputs include, but are not limited to, the expected cash flows and the discount rates that we estimate market participants would seek for bearing the risk associated with such assets. See Goodwill and Intangible Asset discussion below regarding valuation inputs and see Note 6 regarding goodwill and intangible newspaper masthead impairments recorded during the quarter ended March 29, 2020.

Newsprint, ink and other inventories

Newsprint, ink and other inventories are stated at the lower of cost (based principally on the first‑in, first‑out method) and net realizable value.

Assets Held for Sale

As of March 29, 2020, we had land and/or buildings classified as assets held for sale at six of our media companies compared to only five as of December 29, 2019. During the three months ended March 29, 2020, we began to actively market for sale one property, which includes land and buildings at one of our media companies.

The carrying value of the land and building at one of the properties held for sale during 2019 was reduced to its estimated fair value less selling costs. As a result, an impairment charge of $0.7 million was recorded in goodwill and other asset write-downs during the three months ended March 31, 2019. There were no similar impairment charges during the three months ended March 29, 2020.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Depreciation expense with respect to property, plant and equipment is summarized below:


	Three Months Ended
	March 29,		March 31,
(in thousands)	2020		2019
Depreciation expense	$	14,768	$	5,717

During the three months ended March 29, 2020, we accelerated $10.0 million in depreciation expense primarily related to the production equipment associated with outsourcing our printing process in Miami, Florida. We had no accelerated depreciation in the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

We test the recorded amount of goodwill for impairment annually at year‑end, or whenever events occur, or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. We perform this testing on our operating segments, which are also considered our reporting units. An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s net assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. The fair value of our reporting units are generally determined using an equal weighting of a market approach and an income approach. We use market multiples derived from a set of competitors or companies with comparable market characteristics to establish fair values for a reporting unit (market approach). We also estimate fair value using discounted projected cash flow analysis (income approach). This analysis requires significant judgments, including estimation of future cash flows, which is dependent on internal forecasts, the long‑term rate of growth for our business, and the determination of our weighted average cost of capital. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could materially affect the determination of fair value and goodwill impairment for each reporting unit. See Note 6 for discussion of our goodwill impairment testing results.

In the first quarter of 2020, there was significant volatility in the market as initial reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact companies and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on domestic and foreign affairs were unknown. The market sentiment created a wide range of metrics for our peer group, making the market approach less reliable or meaningful than it has been historically. As such, we used the income approach to estimate that fair value of the reporting units rather than a market approach as the implied revenue and EBITDA multiples from the market approach did not yield as reliable fair values given the volatile market conditions at the time of the interim assessment. See Note 6 for discussion of our goodwill impairment testing results.

The recorded amount of identifiable intangible assets related to newspaper mastheads (newspaper titles and website domain names) are not subject to amortization and are tested for impairment annually at year‑end, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The impairment test consists of a comparison of the fair value of each newspaper masthead with its carrying amount. We use a relief-from-royalty approach, which utilizes the discounted cash flow model to determine the fair value of each newspaper masthead. See Note 6 for discussion of our intangible assets impairment testing results.

Long‑lived assets such as intangible assets subject to amortization (primarily advertiser and subscriber lists) are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. The carrying amount of each asset group is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of such asset group. We had no impairment of such long-lived assets during the three months ended March 29, 2020, or March 31, 2019.

Investments in Unconsolidated Companies

Investments in unconsolidated companies are accounted for using either the equity method or the measurement alternative method. Investments through which we exercise significant influence but do not have control over the investee are accounted for under the equity method. Investments through which we are not able to exercise significant influence over the investee are accounted for under the measurement alternative method as these investments do not have readily determinable fair values. The measurement alternative method was elected for investments without readily determinable fair values formerly accounted for under the cost method. The measurement alternative value represents cost minus any impairments, if any, plus or minus any observable price changes. There was no impairment of our investments in unconsolidated companies during the three months ended March 29, 2020, or March 31, 2019.

Financing Obligations

Financing obligations (also known as failed sale and leaseback transactions) consist of contributions of real properties to the Pension Plan (see Note 8) in 2016 and 2011, real property previously owned by The Sacramento Bee in Sacramento, California that was sold and leased back during the third quarter of 2017, real property previously owned by The State in Columbia, South Carolina that we sold and leased back during the second quarter of 2018, and real property previously owned by The Kansas City Star in Kansas City, Missouri that was sold and leased back during the second quarter of 2019.

We account for all of these properties that we lease back as financing transactions and, accordingly, we continue to depreciate the carrying value of the properties in our financial statements. No gain or loss will be recognized on the contributed or sold properties until the financing obligation is extinguished. For the contributed properties, at the time of our contribution to the Pension Plan, our pension obligation was reduced and our financing obligations were recorded equal to the fair market value of the properties. For all of the contributed and sold properties, the financing obligation is reduced by a portion of the lease payments made either to the Pension Plan or to the new owners each month.

See Note 12 for additional discussion related to rejected financing obligation leases subsequent to March 29, 2020

Segment Reporting

We have two operating segments that we aggregate into a single reportable segment because each has similar economic characteristics, products, customers and distribution methods. Our operating segments are based on how our chief executive officer, who is also our Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), makes decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance. The CODM is provided discrete financial information for the two operating segments. Each operating segment consists of a group of media companies and both operating segments report to the same segment manager. One of our operating segments (“Western Segment”) consists of our media companies’ operations in California, Washington and the Central region, while the other operating segment (“Eastern Segment”) consists primarily of media companies’ operations in the Carolinas and the East and Southeast regions.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes using the liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.

A tax valuation allowance is required when it is more-likely-than-not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets may not be realized. The timing of recording or releasing a valuation allowance requires significant judgment. Establishment and removal of a valuation allowance requires us to consider all positive and negative evidence and to make a judgmental decision regarding the amount of valuation allowance required as of a reporting date. The assessment considers expectations of future taxable income or loss, available tax planning strategies and the reversal of temporary differences. The development of these expectations involves the use of estimates such as operating profitability. The weight given to the evidence is commensurate with the extent to which it can be objectively verified.

We perform our assessment of the deferred tax assets quarterly, weighing the positive and negative evidence as outlined in ASC 740-10, Income Taxes. As we have incurred three years of cumulative pre-tax losses, such objective negative evidence limits our ability to give significant weight to other positive subjective evidence, such as projections for future growth and profitability. As of December 29, 2019, our valuation allowance against a majority of our deferred tax assets was $176.1 million. For the three months ended March 29, 2020, we recorded an increase in the valuation allowance of $8.5 million. Our valuation allowance as of March 29, 2020, was $184.6 million.

We will continue to maintain a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets until we believe it is more likely than not that these assets will be realized in the future. If sufficient positive evidence arises in the future that provides an indication that all of or a portion of the deferred tax assets meet the more likely than not standard, the valuation allowance may be reversed, in whole or in part, in the period that such determination is made.

Current generally accepted accounting principles prescribe a recognition threshold and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in an enterprise’s tax returns. We also evaluate any uncertain tax positions and recognize a liability for the tax benefit associated with an uncertain tax position if it is more likely than not that the tax position will not be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities upon consideration of the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such positions are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We record a liability for uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Any change in judgment related to the expected ultimate resolution of uncertain tax positions is recognized in earnings in the period in which such change occurs. We recognize accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense. Accrued penalties are recognized as a component of income tax expense.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.” ASU 2018-02 adds, removes and modifies various disclosure requirements within Topic 820. We adopted Topic 820 as of December 30, 2019, and the adoption did not have an impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (“ASC 848”): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” ASU 2020-04 provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contract modifications and hedging relationships, subject to meeting certain criteria, that reference LIBOR or another rate that is expected to be discontinued. The amendments in the ASU are effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” ASU 2016-13 requires that financial assets measured at amortized cost be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The measurement of expected credit losses is to be based upon a broad set of information to include historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. ASU 2016-13 has been amended by ASU’s 2018-19, 2019-04, 2019-05, 2019-11, 2020-02 and 2020-03, which provide further guidance and clarification on specific items within the previously issued update. ASU 2016-13 is effective for us for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, “Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plan-General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans.” ASU 2018-14 adds, removes or clarifies various disclosure requirements within guidance. It is effective for us for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020, and early adoption is permitted. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.” ASU 2019-12 modifies Accounting Standards Codification 740 to remove certain exceptions and also add guidance to reduce complexity in certain areas. For companies that file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted but requires simultaneous adoption of all provisions of the new standard. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-01, “Investments – Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815).” ASU 2020-01 clarify certain interactions between the guidance to account for certain equity securities under Topic 321, the guidance to account for investments under the equity method of accounting in Topic 323, and the guidance in Topic 815, which could change how an entity accounts for an equity security over under the measurement alternative or a forward contract or purchased option to purchase securities that, upon settlement of the forward contract or exercise of the purchased option, would be accounted for under the equity method of accounting or the fair value option in accordance with Topic 825, Financial Instruments. It is effective for us for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020, and early adoption is permitted. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption on our consolidated financial statements.