NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 – Basis of presentation, merger agreement and accounting policies
Basis of presentation: Our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial reporting, the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all information and footnotes which are normally included in the Form 10-K and annual report to shareholders. In our opinion, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our (or TEGNA’s) audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. We use the best information available in developing significant estimates inherent in our financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates, and these differences resulting from changes in facts and circumstances could be material. Significant estimates include, but are not limited to, evaluation of goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment, fair value measurements, post-retirement benefit plans, income taxes including deferred taxes, and contingencies. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of subsidiaries we control. We eliminate all intercompany balances, transactions, and profits in consolidation. Investments in entities over which we have significant influence, but do not have control, are accounted for under the equity method. Our share of net earnings and losses from these ventures is included in “Equity loss in unconsolidated investments, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
We operate one operating and reportable segment, which primarily consists of our 64 television stations and two radio stations operating in 51 markets, providing high-quality television programming and digital content. Our reportable segment determination is based on our management and internal reporting structure, the nature of products and services we offer, and the financial information that is evaluated regularly by our chief operating decision maker.
Merger Agreement: On February 22, 2022, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, the Merger Agreement), with Teton Parent Corp., a newly formed Delaware corporation (Parent), Teton Merger Corp., a newly formed Delaware corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (Merger Sub), and solely for purposes of certain provisions specified therein, other subsidiaries of Parent, certain affiliates of Standard General L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (Standard General) and CMG Media Corporation, a Delaware corporation (CMG), and certain of its subsidiaries. Parent, Merger Sub, the other subsidiaries of Parent, those affiliates of Standard General, CMG and those subsidiaries of CMG, are collectively, referred to as the “Parent Restructuring Entities.”
The Merger Agreement provides, among other things and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, that Merger Sub will be merged with and into TEGNA (the Merger), with TEGNA continuing as the surviving corporation and as an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. The Merger Agreement provides that each share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, TEGNA (the Common Stock) outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the Effective Time), other than certain excluded shares, will at the Effective Time automatically be converted into the right to receive (i) $24.00 per share of Common Stock in cash, without interest, plus (ii) additional amounts in cash, without interest, if the Merger does not close within a certain period of time after the date of the Merger Agreement. TEGNA shareholders will receive additional cash consideration in the form of a “ticking fee” of $0.00167 per share per day (or $0.05 per month) if the closing occurs between the 9- and 12-month anniversary of signing, increasing to $0.0025 per share per day (or $0.075 per month) if the closing occurs between the 12- and 13-month anniversary of signing, $0.00333 per share per day (or $0.10 per month) if the closing occurs between the 13- and 14-month anniversary of signing, and $0.00417 per share per day (or $0.125 per month) if the closing occurs on or after the 14-month anniversary of signing.
The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights and provides that, upon termination of the Merger Agreement under certain specified circumstances, TEGNA will be required to pay Parent a termination fee of $163.0 million, and Parent will be required to pay TEGNA a termination fee of either $136.0 million or $272.0 million.
TEGNA has made customary representations, warranties and covenants in the Merger Agreement. If the Merger is consummated, the Common Stock will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange and deregistered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
On March 10, 2022, TEGNA, Parent, Merger Sub, and, solely for purposes of certain provisions specified therein, the other Parent Restructuring Entities, entered into an amendment to the Merger Agreement (the Amendment). The Amendment provides, among other things and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, that certain regulatory efforts covenants will apply with respect to certain station transfers from Parent or an affiliate of Parent to CMG or an affiliate of CMG that are contemplated to be consummated as of immediately following the Effective Time.
On May 17, 2022 the stockholders of TEGNA voted to adopt the Merger Agreement.
The Merger is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, and is still expected to close in the second half of 2022.
Accounting guidance adopted in 2022: We did not adopt any new accounting guidance in 2022 that had a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures.
New accounting guidance not yet adopted: There is currently no pending accounting guidance that we expect to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures.
Trade receivables and allowances for doubtful accounts: Trade receivables are recorded at invoiced amounts and generally do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts reflects our estimate of credit exposure, determined principally on the basis of our collection experience, aging of our receivables and any specific reserves needed for certain customers based on their credit risk. Our allowance also takes into account expected future trends which may impact our customers’ ability to pay, such as economic growth (or declines), unemployment and demand for our products and services. We monitor the credit quality of our customers and their ability to pay through the use of analytics and communication with individual customers. As of September 30, 2022, our allowance for doubtful accounts was $5.2 million as compared to $4.4 million as of December 31, 2021.
Redeemable Noncontrolling interest: Our Premion business operates an advertising network for over-the-top (OTT) streaming and connected television platforms. In March 2020, we sold a minority interest in Premion to an affiliate of Gray Television (Gray) and entered into a 3 year commercial reselling agreement with the affiliate. Gray’s investment allows it to sell its interest to Premion if there is a change in control of TEGNA or if the existing commercial agreement terminates. Since redemption of the minority ownership interest is outside our control, Gray’s equity interest is presented outside of the Equity section on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in the caption “Redeemable noncontrolling interest.”
Treasury Stock: We account for treasury stock under the cost method. When treasury stock is re-issued at a price higher than its cost, the difference is recorded as a component of additional paid-in-capital (APIC) in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. When treasury stock is re-issued at a price lower than its cost, the difference is recorded as a component of APIC to the extent that there are previously recorded gains to offset the losses. If there are no treasury stock gains in APIC, the losses upon re-issuance of treasury stock are recorded as a reduction of retained earnings in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Revenue recognition: Revenue is recognized upon the transfer of control of promised services to our customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those services. Revenue is recognized net of any taxes collected from customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental authorities. Amounts received from customers in advance of providing services to our customers are recorded as deferred revenue.
The primary sources of our revenues are: 1) subscription revenues, reflecting fees paid by satellite, cable, OTT (companies that deliver video content to consumers over the Internet) and telecommunications providers to carry our television signals on their systems; 2) advertising & marketing services revenues, which include local and national non-political television advertising, digital marketing services (including Premion), advertising on the stations’ websites, tablet and mobile products, and OTT apps; 3) political advertising revenues, which are driven by even-year election cycles at the local and national level (e.g. 2022, 2020 etc.) and particularly in the second half of those years; and 4) other services, such as production of programming, tower rentals and distribution of our local news content.
Revenue earned by these sources in the third quarter and first nine months of 2022 and 2021 are shown below (amounts in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Quarter ended Sept. 30, | | Nine months ended Sept. 30, |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| | | | | | | |
Subscription | $ | 377,368 | | | $ | 368,672 | | | $ | 1,158,101 | | | $ | 1,130,490 | |
Advertising & Marketing Services | 320,764 | | | 364,234 | | | 1,010,490 | | | 1,027,957 | |
Political | 92,904 | | | 15,010 | | | 161,727 | | | 34,019 | |
Other | 12,075 | | | 8,571 | | | 31,797 | | | 23,980 | |
Total revenues | $ | 803,111 | | | $ | 756,487 | | | $ | 2,362,115 | | | $ | 2,216,446 | |
NOTE 2 – Goodwill and other intangible assets
The following table displays goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets, and amortizable intangible assets as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sept. 30, 2022 | | Dec. 31, 2021 |
| Gross | | Accumulated Amortization | | Gross | | Accumulated Amortization |
| | | | | | | |
Goodwill | $ | 2,981,587 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 2,981,587 | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | |
Indefinite-lived intangibles: | | | | | | | |
Television and radio station FCC broadcast licenses | 2,123,898 | | | — | | | 2,123,898 | | | — | |
Amortizable intangible assets: | | | | | | | |
Retransmission agreements | 224,827 | | | (178,149) | | | 235,215 | | | (168,439) | |
Network affiliation agreements | 309,503 | | | (115,547) | | | 309,503 | | | (97,195) | |
Other | 71,465 | | | (39,461) | | | 71,465 | | | (32,959) | |
Total indefinite-lived and amortizable intangible assets | $ | 2,729,693 | | | $ | (333,157) | | | $ | 2,740,081 | | | $ | (298,593) | |
Our retransmission agreements and network affiliation agreements are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Other intangibles primarily include distribution agreements from our multicast networks acquisition, which are also amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful lives. In the third quarter of 2022, gross retransmission agreement intangible assets and associated accumulated amortization decreased by $10.4 million due to certain retransmission intangible assets reaching the end of their useful lives.
NOTE 3 – Investments and other assets
Our investments and other assets consisted of the following as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sept. 30, 2022 | | Dec. 31, 2021 |
| | | |
Cash value insurance | $ | 48,487 | | | $ | 53,189 | |
Available-for-sale debt security | — | | | 23,800 | |
Equity method investments | 16,973 | | | 21,986 | |
Other equity investments | 20,158 | | | 20,331 | |
Deferred debt issuance costs | 3,133 | | | 5,805 | |
Long-term contract assets | 18,981 | | | — | |
Other long-term assets | 29,327 | | | 27,397 | |
Total | $ | 137,059 | | | $ | 152,508 | |
Cash value life insurance: We are the beneficiary of life insurance policies on the lives of certain employees/retirees, which are recorded at their cash surrender value as determined by the insurance carrier. These policies are utilized as a partial funding source for deferred compensation and other non-qualified employee retirement plans. Gains and losses on these investments are included in “Other non-operating items, net” within our Consolidated Statement of Income and were not material for all periods presented.
Available-for-sale debt security: We previously held a debt security investment issued by MadHive, Inc. (MadHive), that we classified as an available-for-sale investment. Available-for-sale debt securities are required to be carried at their fair value, with unrealized gains and losses (net of income taxes) that are considered temporary in nature recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. In the first quarter of 2022, we amended the terms of the debt security, which became effective on January 3, 2022, in parallel with an amendment and extension of our commercial agreements with MadHive. The amendments modified several items, including the conversion rights as well as the maturity date of the note. In exchange for the convertible debt modifications, we received favorable terms in our renewed commercial agreements with MadHive. As a result of these amendments, in the first quarter of 2022 we recognized a previously unrecognized gain of $20.8 million. The gain was recorded in “Other non-operating items, net” within our Consolidated Statement of Income. The debt matured in June 2022 at which time the principal balance of $3.0 million plus accrued interest was paid to
us. The $3.0 million principal balance was classified as “Proceeds from investments” within our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow”. See Note 9 for additional information regarding our related party transactions with MadHive.
Other equity investments: Represents investments in non-public businesses that do not have readily determinable pricing, and for which we do not have control or do not exert significant influence. These investments are recorded at cost less impairments, if any, plus or minus changes in observable prices for those investments. In the first quarter of 2022, we recorded a $2.5 million impairment charge, in “Other non-operating items, net” within our Consolidated Statement of Income, due to the decline in the fair value of one of our investments.
Deferred debt issuance costs: These costs consist of amounts paid to lenders related to our revolving credit facility. Debt issuance costs paid for our term debt and unsecured notes are accounted for as a reduction in the debt obligation.
Long-term contract assets: These amounts primarily consist of an asset related to a long-term services agreement for IT security and an asset representing the long-term portion of a contract asset that was recognized as a result of the $20.8 million gain discussed above related to favorable rates obtained on recent commercial agreements with Madhive. This gain resulted in a contract asset which was recognized in January 2022 and is being amortized over two years (through December 2023). See Note 9 for additional details.
NOTE 4 – Long-term debt
Our long-term debt is summarized below (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sept. 30, 2022 | | Dec. 31, 2021 |
| | | |
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement expiring August 2024 | $ | — | | | $ | 166,000 | |
| | | |
Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 4.75% due March 2026 | 550,000 | | | 550,000 | |
Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 7.75% due June 2027 | 200,000 | | | 200,000 | |
Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 7.25% due September 2027 | 240,000 | | | 240,000 | |
Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 4.625% due March 2028 | 1,000,000 | | | 1,000,000 | |
Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 5.00% due September 2029 | 1,100,000 | | | 1,100,000 | |
Total principal long-term debt | 3,090,000 | | | 3,256,000 | |
Debt issuance costs | (28,072) | | | (31,378) | |
Unamortized premiums | 6,518 | | | 7,348 | |
| | | |
| | | |
Total long-term debt | $ | 3,068,446 | | | $ | 3,231,970 | |
| | | |
As of September 30, 2022, cash and cash equivalents totaled $376.6 million and we had unused borrowing capacity of $1.49 billion under our $1.51 billion revolving credit facility, which expires in August 2024. We were in compliance with all covenants, including the leverage ratio (our one financial covenant) contained in our debt agreements and revolving credit facility. We believe, based on our current financial forecasts and trends, that we will remain compliant with all covenants for the foreseeable future.
NOTE 5 – Retirement plans
We have various defined benefit retirement plans. Our principal defined benefit pension plan is the TEGNA Retirement Plan (TRP). The disclosure table below primarily includes the pension expenses of the TRP and the TEGNA Supplemental Retirement Plan (SERP). The total net pension obligations, including both current and non-current liabilities, as of September 30, 2022, were $59.1 million, of which $6.0 million is recorded as a current obligation within accrued liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Pension costs (income), which primarily include costs for the qualified TRP and the non-qualified SERP, are presented in the following table (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Quarter ended Sept. 30, | | Nine months ended Sept. 30, |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| | | | | | | |
Service cost-benefits earned during the period | $ | — | | | $ | 1 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 2 | |
Interest cost on benefit obligation | 4,270 | | | 3,969 | | | 12,811 | | | 11,907 | |
Expected return on plan assets | (4,876) | | | (8,670) | | | (14,627) | | | (26,010) | |
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost | (119) | | | 23 | | | (361) | | | 68 | |
Amortization of actuarial loss | 1,150 | | | 1,223 | | | 3,452 | | | 3,669 | |
Pension payment timing related charge | — | | | 946 | | | — | | | 946 | |
Expense (income) from company-sponsored retirement plans | $ | 425 | | | $ | (2,508) | | | $ | 1,275 | | | $ | (9,418) | |
Benefits no longer accrue for substantially all TRP and SERP participants as a result of amendments to the plans in past years, and as such we no longer incur a significant amount of the service cost component of pension expense. All other components of our pension expense presented above are included within the “Other non-operating items, net” line item of the Consolidated Statements of Income.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, we did not make any cash contributions to the TRP. We made benefit payments to participants of the SERP of $2.9 million and $5.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Based on actuarial projections and funding levels, we do not expect to make any cash payments to the TRP in 2022 (as none are required based on our current funding levels). We expect to make additional cash payments of $2.5 million to our SERP participants during the remainder of 2022.
NOTE 6 – Accumulated other comprehensive loss
The following table summarizes the components of, and the changes in, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (AOCL), net of tax (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Retirement Plans | | Foreign Currency Translation | | Available-For-Sale Investment | | Total |
Quarters ended: | | | | | | | |
Balance at June 30, 2022 | $ | (111,560) | | | $ | 532 | | | $ | — | | | $ | (111,028) | |
| | | | | | | |
Amounts reclassified from AOCL | 766 | | | — | | | — | | | 766 | |
Total other comprehensive income | 766 | | | — | | | — | | | 766 | |
Balance at Sept. 30, 2022 | $ | (110,794) | | | $ | 532 | | | $ | — | | | $ | (110,262) | |
| | | | | | | |
Balance at June 30, 2021 | $ | (119,065) | | | $ | 461 | | | $ | — | | | $ | (118,604) | |
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications | — | | | (39) | | | 40,293 | | | 40,254 | |
Amounts reclassified from AOCL | 1,657 | | | — | | | — | | | 1,657 | |
Total other comprehensive income | 1,657 | | | (39) | | | 40,293 | | | 41,911 | |
Balance at Sept. 30, 2021 | $ | (117,408) | | | $ | 422 | | | $ | 40,293 | | | $ | (76,693) | |
| | | | | | | |
| Retirement Plans | | Foreign Currency Translation | | Available-For-Sale Investment | | Total |
Nine months ended: | | | | | | | |
Balance at Dec. 31, 2021 | $ | (113,090) | | | $ | 455 | | | $ | 15,419 | | | $ | (97,216) | |
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications | — | | | 77 | | | — | | | 77 | |
Amounts reclassified from AOCL | 2,296 | | | — | | | (15,419) | | | (13,123) | |
Total other comprehensive income (loss) | 2,296 | | | 77 | | | (15,419) | | | (13,046) | |
Balance at Sept. 30, 2022 | $ | (110,794) | | | $ | 532 | | | $ | — | | | $ | (110,262) | |
| | | | | | | |
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020 | $ | (120,979) | | | $ | (97) | | | $ | — | | | $ | (121,076) | |
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications | — | | | 519 | | | 40,293 | | | 40,812 | |
Amounts reclassified from AOCL | 3,571 | | | — | | | — | | | 3,571 | |
Total other comprehensive income | 3,571 | | | 519 | | | 40,293 | | | 44,383 | |
Balance at Sept. 30, 2021 | $ | (117,408) | | | $ | 422 | | | $ | 40,293 | | | $ | (76,693) | |
Reclassifications from AOCL to the Consolidated Statements of Income are comprised of recognition of a realized gain on an available-for-sale investment as well as pension and other post-retirement components. Pension and other post retirement reclassifications are related to the amortizations of prior service costs and actuarial losses. Amounts reclassified out of AOCL are summarized below (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Quarter ended Sept. 30, | | Nine months ended Sept. 30, | |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Amortization of prior service credit, net | $ | (106) | | | $ | (120) | | | $ | (354) | | | $ | (361) | | |
Amortization of actuarial loss | 1,137 | | | 1,410 | | | 3,446 | | | 4,230 | | |
Pension payment timing related charge | — | | | 946 | | | — | | | 946 | | |
Realized gain on available-for-sale investment | — | | | — | | | (20,800) | | | — | | |
Total reclassifications, before tax | 1,031 | | | 2,236 | | | (17,708) | | | 4,815 | | |
Income tax effect | (265) | | | (579) | | | 4,585 | | | (1,244) | | |
Total reclassifications, net of tax | $ | 766 | | | $ | 1,657 | | | $ | (13,123) | | | $ | 3,571 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
NOTE 7 – Earnings per share
Our earnings per share (basic and diluted) are presented below (in thousands, except per share amounts):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Quarter ended Sept. 30, | | Nine months ended Sept. 30, |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
| | | | | | | |
Net Income | $ | 146,157 | | | $ | 128,699 | | | $ | 412,384 | | | $ | 348,385 | |
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest | (92) | | | (419) | | | (516) | | | (861) | |
Adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interest to redemption value | (235) | | | 116 | | | (447) | | | (32) | |
Earnings available to common shareholders | $ | 145,830 | | | $ | 128,396 | | | $ | 411,421 | | | $ | 347,492 | |
| | | | | | | |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic | 223,968 | | | 221,805 | | | 223,456 | | | 221,314 | |
Effect of dilutive securities: | | | | | | | |
Restricted stock units | 621 | | | 749 | | | 469 | | | 626 | |
Performance shares | 332 | | | 245 | | | 296 | | | 231 | |
Stock options | — | | | — | | | — | | | 1 | |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted | 224,921 | | | 222,799 | | | 224,221 | | | 222,172 | |
| | | | | | | |
Earnings per share - basic | $ | 0.65 | | | $ | 0.58 | | | $ | 1.84 | | | $ | 1.57 | |
Earnings per share - diluted | $ | 0.65 | | | $ | 0.58 | | | $ | 1.83 | | | $ | 1.56 | |
Our calculation of diluted earnings per share includes the dilutive effects for the assumed vesting of outstanding restricted stock units and performance shares.
NOTE 8 – Fair value measurement
We measure and record certain assets and liabilities at fair value in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. U.S. GAAP establishes a hierarchy for those instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between market data (observable inputs) and our own assumptions (unobservable inputs). The hierarchy consists of three levels:
Level 1 - Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2 - Inputs other than Level 1 inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable; and
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs developed using our own estimates and assumptions, which reflect those that a market participant would use.
In the first quarter of 2022, we recorded a $2.5 million impairment charge, in “Other non-operating items, net” within our Consolidated Statement of Income, due to the decline in the fair value of one of our investments. The fair value was determined using a market approach which was based on significant inputs not observable in the market, and thus represented a Level 3 fair value measurement. We also hold other financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable and debt. The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, receivables and accounts payable approximated their fair values. The fair value of our total debt, based on the bid and ask quotes for the related debt (Level 2), totaled $2.88 billion at September 30, 2022, and $3.40 billion at December 31, 2021.
NOTE 9 – Other matters
Litigation
In the third quarter of 2018, certain national media outlets reported the existence of a confidential investigation by the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ) into the local television advertising sales practices of station owners. We received a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) in connection with the DOJ’s investigation. On November 13 and December 13, 2018, the DOJ and seven other broadcasters settled a DOJ complaint alleging the exchange of competitively sensitive information in the broadcast television industry. In June 2019, we and four other broadcasters entered into a substantially identical agreement with DOJ, which was entered by the court on December 3, 2019. The settlement contains no finding of wrongdoing or liability and carries no penalty. It prohibits us and the other settling entities from sharing certain confidential business information, or using such information pertaining to other broadcasters, except under limited circumstances. The settlement also requires the settling parties to make certain enhancements to their antitrust compliance programs, to continue to
cooperate with the DOJ’s investigation, and to permit DOJ to verify compliance. The costs of compliance have not been material, nor do we expect future compliance costs to be material.
Since the national media reports, numerous putative class action lawsuits were filed against owners of television stations (the Advertising Cases) in different jurisdictions. Plaintiffs are a class consisting of all persons and entities in the United States who paid for all or a portion of advertisement time on local television provided by the defendants. The Advertising Cases assert antitrust and other claims and seek monetary damages, attorneys’ fees, costs and interest, as well as injunctions against the allegedly wrongful conduct.
These cases have been consolidated into a single proceeding in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, captioned Clay, Massey & Associates, P.C. v. Gray Television, Inc. et. al., filed on July 30, 2018. At the court’s direction, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on April 3, 2019, that superseded the original complaints. Although we were named as a defendant in sixteen of the original complaints, the amended complaint did not name TEGNA as a defendant. After TEGNA and four other broadcasters entered into consent decrees with the DOJ in June 2019, the plaintiffs sought leave from the court to further amend the complaint to add TEGNA and the other settling broadcasters to the proceeding. The court granted the plaintiffs’ motion, and the plaintiffs filed the second amended complaint on September 9, 2019. On October 8, 2019, the defendants jointly filed a motion to dismiss the matter. On November 6, 2020, the court denied the motion to dismiss. On March 16, 2022, the plaintiffs filed a third amended complaint, which, among other things, added ShareBuilders, Inc., as a named defendant. ShareBuilders filed a motion to dismiss on April 15, 2022, which was granted by the court without prejudice on August 29, 2022. TEGNA has filed its answer to the third amended complaint denying any violation of law and asserting various affirmation defenses. We believe that the claims asserted in the Advertising Cases are without merit, and intend to defend ourselves vigorously against them.
Litigation Relating to the Merger
As of November 9, 2022, seven lawsuits have been filed by purported TEGNA stockholders in connection with the Merger. The lawsuits have been filed against TEGNA and the current members of the Board of Directors of TEGNA (the Board of Directors). The complaints generally allege that the preliminary proxy statement filed by TEGNA with the SEC on March 25, 2022 in connection with the Merger contained alleged material misstatements and/or omissions in violation of federal law. Plaintiffs in the complaints generally seek, among other things, to enjoin TEGNA from consummating the Merger, or in the alternative, rescission of the Merger and/or compensatory damages, as well as attorneys’ fees. As of November 9, 2022, all but one of those lawsuits have been voluntarily dismissed.
In addition, as of November 9, 2022, TEGNA received four demand letters from purported TEGNA shareholders in connection with TEGNA’s filing of a definitive proxy statement with the SEC on April 13, 2022 relating to the Merger (the “definitive proxy statement”). Each letter alleged deficiencies in the definitive proxy statement that were similar to the deficiencies alleged in the complaints referenced above.
We believe that the claims asserted in the complaints and letters described above are without merit and no additional disclosures were or are required under applicable law. However, to moot the unmeritorious disclosure claims, to avoid the risks of the actions described above delaying or adversely affecting the Merger and to minimize the costs, risks and uncertainties inherent in litigation, without admitting any liability or wrongdoing, TEGNA voluntarily made supplemental disclosures to the definitive proxy statement as described in the Form 8-K filed by TEGNA with the SEC on May 9, 2022. Additional lawsuits arising out of the Merger may also be filed in the future.
We, along with a number of our subsidiaries, also are defendants in other judicial and administrative proceedings involving matters incidental to our business. We do not believe that any material liability will be imposed as a result of any of the foregoing matters.
Related Party Transactions
We have an equity investment in MadHive which is a related party of TEGNA. In addition to our investment, we also have a commercial agreement with MadHive, under which MadHive supports our Premion business in acquiring over-the-top advertising inventory and delivering corresponding advertising impressions. In the third quarter and first nine months of 2022, we incurred expenses of $30.4 million and $86.3 million, respectively, as a result of the commercial agreement with MadHive. In the third quarter and first nine months of 2021, we incurred expenses of $19.7 million and $62.1 million, respectively, as a result of the commercial agreement with MadHive. As of September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021 we had accounts payable and accrued liabilities associated with the MadHive commercial agreements of $19.4 million and $8.9 million, respectively.
In December 2021, we renewed our two existing commercial agreements with MadHive. Simultaneously with the commercial agreement renewals, we also amended the terms of our then outstanding available-for-sale convertible debt security that we held as discussed in Note 3. In exchange for the convertible debt modifications, we received favorable terms in our renewed commercial agreements. We estimated the fair value of our available-for-sale security at December 31, 2021 using a market fair value approach based on the cash we expect to receive upon maturity of the note and the estimated cash savings that the favorable contract terms will provide over the term of the commercial agreements. In January 2022, we recorded an intangible contract asset for $20.8 million (equal to the estimated cash savings), and are amortizing this asset on a straight-line
basis over the noncancellable term of the commercial agreements of two years. This non-cash expense is recorded within “Cost of revenues,” within our Consolidated Statement of Income. The debt matured in June 2022 at which time the principal balance of $3.0 million plus accrued interest was paid to us.