ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER (Block)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Mergers Acquisitions And Dispositions Disclosures Text Block

18. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

The Company records acquisitions under the purchase method of accounting, and allocates the purchase price to the assets and liabilities based upon their respective fair values as determined as of the acquisition date. Merger and acquisition costs are excluded from the purchase price as these costs are expensed for book purposes and amortized for tax purposes.

2015 Acquisitions

Acquisition Of Lincoln Financial Media Company

On July 16, 2015, the Company acquired under a Stock Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company the stock of one of its subsidiaries, Lincoln Financial Media Company (“Lincoln”), which hold through subsidiaries the assets and liabilities of radio stations serving the Atlanta, Denver, Miami and San Diego markets (the “Lincoln Acquisition”). The purchase price was $105.0 million of which: (1) $77.5 million was paid in cash using $42.0 million in borrowing under the Company’s Revolver together with cash on hand; and (2) $27.5 million was paid with the Company’s issuance of Preferred. The SPA, originally dated December 7, 2014 and subsequently amended on July 10, 2015, provided for a working capital reimbursement to Lincoln of $11.0 million before a working capital credit to the Company of $2.7 million. The SPA provided for a step-up in basis for tax purposes.

Three Denver radio stations acquired from Lincoln together with another Denver radio station were included in an exchange transaction as described below in Note 18.

The Company recorded goodwill on its books, which is fully deductible for income tax purposes. Management believes that this acquisition provides the Company with an opportunity to increase its national footprint to compete more effectively for national business and to benefit from certain operational synergies. In addition, this acquisition allows for certain operational synergies in programming, sales and administration that were not available to Lincoln.

The purchase price allocations are based upon a valuation of assets and liabilities, which include the valuation of acquired intangible assets and working capital.

The following table reflects the final aggregate fair value purchase price allocation of these assets and liabilities.


	December 31,		Useful Lives In Years
Description	2016		From	To
	(amounts in thousands)
	(amounts in thousands)

Cash	$	2,246
Net accounts receivable		11,933	less than 1 year
Prepaid expenses, deposits and other		970	less than 1 year
Total current assets		15,149
Land		7,368	non-depreciating
Land improvements		87	15	15
Building		1,067	15	25
Leasehold improvements		973	2	11
Equipment and towers		8,651	3	40
Furniture and fixtures		29	5	5
Total tangible property		18,175
Assets held for sale		1,885
Other intangibles		487	1	5
Broadcasting licenses		79,209	non-amortizing
Goodwill		4,594	non-amortizing
Deferred tax assets		1,364	over remaining lease life
Total intangible and other assets		87,539
Total assets	$	120,863

Accounts payable	$	723	less than 1 year
Accrued expenses		3,466	less than 1 year
Other current liabilities		12	less than 1 year
Total current liabilities		4,201
Unfavorable contracts and other liabilities		3,272	over remaining lease life
Total liabilities acquired	$	7,473

Net assets acquired	$	113,390

The aggregate fair value purchase price allocation of the assets and liabilities as reported on the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 26, 2016, were revised during the third quarter of 2016 due to the recording of a liability associated with an assumed lawsuit. The amount of the liability could not be estimated at the time of the acquisition. This revision resulted in an increase to goodwill of $0.1 million in one of the Lincoln markets.

The allocations presented in the table are based upon management’s estimate of the fair values using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches. In estimating the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities, the fair value estimates are based on, but not limited to, expected future revenue and cash flows that assume expected future growth rates of 1.0% to 1.5%; and an estimated discount rate of 9.6%. The gross profit margins are similar to the ranges used in the Company’s second quarter 2015 annual license impairment testing. The fair value for accounts receivable is net of an estimate for bad debts. The Company determines the fair value of the broadcasting licenses in each of these markets by relying on a discounted cash flow approach assuming a start-up scenario in which the only assets held by an investor are broadcasting licenses. The Company’s fair value analysis contains assumptions based upon past experience, reflects expectations of industry observers and includes judgments about future performance using industry normalized information for an average station within a certain market. Any excess of the purchase price over the net assets acquired was reported as goodwill.

Exchange Transaction: Denver, Colorado, And Los Angeles, California

On November 24, 2015, the Company completed an asset exchange agreement with Bonneville International Corporation (“Bonneville”) that was entered into on July 10, 2015. The Company divested four Denver, Colorado, radio stations as consideration by the Company in exchange for a radio station in Los Angeles, California (the “Bonneville Exchange”). The Company, which did not require cash to complete this transaction, now owns: (1) one station in Los Angeles, a new market for the Company; and (2) five radio stations in the Denver market, an existing market for the Company. The Company recorded both the disposition and the acquisition on its balance sheet as of December 31, 2015.

On July 17, 2015 the Company entered into two TBAs. Pursuant to these TBAs, on July 17, 2015, the Company commenced operation of the Los Angeles station and Bonneville commenced operation of the Denver stations. During the period of the TBAs (July 17, 2015 through November 24, 2015), the Company: (i) included net revenues and station operating expenses associated with the Company’s operation of the Los Angeles station in the Company’s consolidated financial statements; and (ii) excluded net revenues and station operating expenses associated with Bonneville’s operation of the Denver stations in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company incurred no TBA expense to Bonneville for operation of the Los Angeles station and received $0.3 million of monthly TBA income from Bonneville during the period of the TBA. The Company did not consider the net revenues and station operating expenses to be material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Certain of the Denver radio stations that were exchanged with Bonneville qualified as assets held for sale as of September 30, 2015. In addition, during the period of the TBA, certain of the assets and liabilities that were held in a trust (KKFN FM) and operated by Bonneville were deconsolidated by the Company as of September 30, 2015 as Bonneville was the primary beneficiary absorbing the majority of the profits and losses. For all other assets during the period of the TBA, the Company was the primary beneficiary absorbing the majority of the profits and losses. Upon closing, there were no remaining assets held for sale or outstanding VIEs related to this transaction.

The following table reflects the final aggregate fair value purchase price allocation of these assets and liabilities.

	December 31,		Useful Lives In Years
Description	2016		From	To
	(amounts in
	thousands)

Other receivables	$	4,864
Equipment		1,012	3	15
Furniture and fixtures		121	5	5
Total tangible property		1,133
Advertiser lists and customer relationships		1	3	3
Trademarks and trade names		2	5	5
Broadcasting licenses		53,057	non-amortizing
Goodwill		266	non-amortizing
Total intangible assets		53,326
Total assets		59,323
Unfavorable contract and lease liabilities		(323)	1	4
Net assets acquired	$	59,000
Fair value of net assets provided
as consideration	$	59,000

There was no change to the aggregate fair value purchase price allocation of the assets and liabilities as reported on the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 26, 2016.

The allocations presented in the table are based upon management’s estimate of the fair values using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches. In estimating the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities, the fair value estimates are based on, but not limited to, expected future revenue and cash flows that assumes the expected future growth rate of 1.0% and an estimated discount rate of 9.2%. The gross profit margin range was similar to the ranges used in the Company’s second quarter 2015 annual impairment testing for broadcasting licenses. The Company determines the fair value of the broadcasting licenses in each of these markets by relying on a discounted cash flow approach assuming a start-up scenario in which the only assets held by an investor are broadcasting licenses. The Company’s fair value analysis contains assumptions based upon past experience, reflects expectations of industry observers and includes judgments about future performance using industry normalized information for an average station within a certain market. Any excess of the purchase price over the net assets acquired was reported as goodwill.

In valuing the non-monetary assets that were part of the consideration transferred, the Company utilized the fair value as of the acquisition date, with any excess of the purchase price over the net assets acquired reported as goodwill. The fair value was measured from the perspective of a market participant, applying the same methodology and types of assumptions as described above in estimating the fair value of the acquired assets and liabilities. Applying these methodologies requires significant judgment. The Company reported in the statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 a non cash gain of $1.5 million under gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets on the Denver assets provided as consideration, primarily from the non-Lincoln assets included in the exchange.

Under purchase price accounting for the Lincoln and Bonneville acquisitions, the Company recorded unfavorable lease and contract liabilities for studio and transmitter site property leases and vendor contracts as these contracts contained terms that were considered to be above market rates. The unfavorable liabilities are reflected in other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets and are amortized as a reduction to station operating expenses on a straight-line basis over the lives of the leases and contracts. The future amortization of unfavorable leases and contracts is as follows:

	As Of
	December 31,
	2016
	(amounts in
	thousands)
Years ending December 31,
2017	$	875
2018		295
2019		167
2020		147
2021		91
Thereafter		426
	$	2,001

Summary Of Lincoln And Bonneville Transactions By Radio Station

Bonneville Exchange
Markets	Radio Stations	Transactions
Los Angeles, CA	KSWD FM	Company acquired from Bonneville
Denver, CO	KOSI FM	Company disposed to Bonneville
Denver, CO	KYGO FM; KEPN AM	Company disposed to Bonneville
Denver, CO	KKFN FM	The trust disposed to Bonneville

Lincoln Acquisition
Markets	Radio Stations	Transactions
Denver, CO	KKFN FM	The trust acquired from Lincoln
Denver, CO	KYGO FM; KEPN AM	Company acquired from Lincoln
Denver, CO	KQKS FM; KRWZ AM	Company acquired from Lincoln
Atlanta, GA	WSTR FM; WQXI AM	Company acquired from Lincoln
Miami, FL	WAXY AM/FM; WLYF FM; WMXJ FM	Company acquired from Lincoln
San Diego, CA	KBZT FM; KSON FM/KSOQ FM; KIFM FM	Company acquired from Lincoln

Merger And Acquisition Costs And Restructuring Charges

Merger and acquisition costs and restructuring charges were expensed as a separate line item in the statement of operations. The Company records merger and acquisition costs whether or not an acquisition occurs. These costs consist primarily of legal, professional and advisory services as well as restructuring costs (as identified below) related to the Company’s acquisition of Lincoln and the Company’s exchange agreement with Bonneville.

During the third quarter of 2016, the company recorded merger and acquisition costs of $0.7 million.

During the third and fourth quarters of 2015, the Company initiated a restructuring plan primarily as a result of the integration of the Lincoln radio stations acquired in July 2015. The restructuring plan included: (1) costs associated with exiting contractual vendor obligations as these obligations were duplicative; (2) a workforce reduction and realignment charges that included one-time termination benefits and related costs; and (3) lease abandonment costs as described below. The estimated amount of unpaid restructuring charges as of December 31, 2016 were included in accrued expenses as these expenses are expected to be paid in less than one year.

In connection with the Lincoln acquisition, the Company assumed a studio lease in one of its markets that included excess space. During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company ceased using a portion of the space after analyzing its future needs as well as comparing its space utilization in other of the Company’s markets. As a result, the Company recorded a lease abandonment expense during the fourth quarter of 2015. Lease abandonment costs include future lease liabilities offset by estimated sublease income. Due to the location of the space in an area of the city that is not considered prime, including a very high vacancy rate in the existing and neighboring building in a soft rental market that is expected to continue throughout the remaining term of the lease, the Company did not include an estimate to sublease any of the space. The Company will continue to evaluate the opportunities to sublease this space and revise its sublease estimates accordingly. Any increase in the estimate of sublease income will be reflected through the income statement and such amount will also reduce the lease abandonment liability. The lease expires in the year 2026. The lease liability is discounted using a credit risk adjusted basis utilizing the estimated rental cash flows over the remaining term of the agreement.

	Years Ended
	December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
	(amounts in thousands)

Restructuring charges
Costs to exit duplicative contracts	$	-	$	646	$	-
Workforce reduction		-		1,538		-
Lease abandonment costs		-		687		-
Changes in estimates		-		(13)		-
Total restructuring charges		-		2,858		-
Merger and acquisition costs		708		3,978		1,042
Total merger & acquisition costs and restructuring charges	$	708	$	6,836	$	1,042

	Year		Year
	Ended		Ended
	December 31,		December 31,
	2016		2015
	(amounts in thousands)

Restructuring charges, beginning balance	$	1,686	$	-
Additions to reserves through accruals		-		2,858
Deductions from reserves through payments		(1,036)		(1,172)
Restructuring charges unpaid and outstanding		650		1,686
Less lease abandonment costs over a long-term period		(576)		(687)
Short-term restructuring charges unpaid and outstanding	$	74	$	999

2014 Acquisitions

There were no acquisitions during this period.

Disposition

In March 2016, the Company sold certain assets of KRWZ AM in Denver, Colorado, for $3.8 million in cash. The Company believes that the sale of this station, with a marginal market share, will not alter the Company’s competitive position in the market. The Company reported a gain, net of expenses, of $0.3 million on the disposition of these assets.

Unaudited Pro Forma Summary Of Financial Information

The following pro forma information presents the consolidated results of operations as if the business combinations in 2015 had occurred as of January 1, 2014, after giving effect to certain adjustments, including: (1) depreciation and amortization of assets; (2) amortization of unfavorable contracts related to the fair value adjustments of the assets acquired; (3) change in the effective tax rate; (4) interest expense on any debt incurred; (5) merger and acquisition costs and restructuring charges; and (6) accrued dividends on perpetual cumulative convertible preferred stock. For purposes of this presentation, the pro forma data: (a) excludes certain Lincoln radio stations disposed to Bonneville as the Company never operated these stations and does not expect to operate these stations at a future time (KYGO FM; KKFN FM and KEPN AM); and (b) excludes a radio station disposed to Bonneville and operated by the Company prior to the TBA (KOSI FM) as these assets were a key component of the assets acquired. In addition, there was no adjustment to the pro forma information for the two AM stations that were separately disposed of in 2016. These unaudited pro forma results have been prepared for comparative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of what would have occurred had the acquisitions been made as of that date or results which may occur in the future.

	Years Ended December 31,
	2016			2015	2014
	(amounts in thousands, except per share data)
	Actual		Pro Forma		Pro Forma

Net revenues	$	460,245	$	442,485	$	437,597
Net income (loss) available to the Company	$	38,065	$	33,050	$	22,736
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$	36,164	$	30,850	$	21,086
Net income (loss) available to commons shareholders
per common share - basic	$	0.94	$	0.81	$	0.56
Net income (loss) available to commons shareholders
per common share - diluted	$	0.91	$	0.79	$	0.55

Weighted shares outstanding basic		38,500		38,084		37,763
Weighted shares outstanding diluted		39,568		39,038		38,664
Conversion of preferred stock for dilutive purposes
under the as if method	anti-dilutive		anti-dilutive		anti-dilutive