September 17, 2024
VIA EDGAR
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
Office of Technology
100 F Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attn: Morgan Youngwood and Stephen Krikorian
Re: NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023
Form 8-K filed February 28, 2024
Response dated April 12, 2024
File No. 000-50478
Dear Messrs. Youngwood and Krikorian:
On behalf of Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (“Nexstar,” “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) please find below Nexstar’s responses to the comment letter dated August 6, 2024 (the “Letter”) from the Staff regarding Nexstar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 28, 2024.
The numbered paragraphs below set forth the Staff’s comments from the Letter, followed by our responses thereto.
Form 8-K filed February 28, 2024; Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP Measure), page 8
Response: We respectfully acknowledge the Staff’s comment. We note that while the “basis difference amortization” is included in the recognition of our share of the investee’s earnings or losses, such amortization also appears as a separate accounting adjustment, as described in FASB ASC 323-10-35-5, from the recognition of share in an investee’s reported earnings or losses, as described in FASB ASC 323-10-35-4. We believe the exclusion of amortization of basis difference from our Adjusted EBITDA does not a represent a “tailored accounting” as that term is discussed in Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation Question 100.04 because the adjustment does not have the effect of changing the recognition principles required to be applied in FASB ASC 323-10-35-4. We also believe the exclusion of amortization of basis difference from our Adjusted EBITDA is not misleading because it is attributable to depreciable and amortizable assets of our investees.
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Since our definition of Adjusted EBITDA excludes depreciation and amortization, we exclude the amortization of basis difference that is attributable to the depreciable and amortizable assets of our investees.
The “amortization expense for basis differences” is reflective of only the book or accounting amortization of basis that Nexstar assigned to its interest. By definition, this amount is not part of the normal ordinary course operations of the investee.
Form 8-K filed February 28, 2024; Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow (Non-GAAP Measure), page 10
Response: Our prior response was meant to convey that changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and dispositions are not included in the definition of Adjusted Free Cash Flow.
Response: We respectfully acknowledge the Staff’s comment. We will eliminate this adjustment from our calculation of Adjusted Free Cash Flow. Instead, we will denote these amounts in a footnote or a supplemental information table.
Response: We respectfully acknowledge the Staff’s comment. We will eliminate the adjustments for CW payments for broadcast rights and CW amortization of broadcast rights described in our prior response from our calculation of Adjusted Free Cash Flow.
Response: We took the approach described in your comment simply to streamline the disclosure for the reconciliation. On our statement of cash flows “change in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and dispositions” is composed of seven separate line items ( (i) accounts receivable, (ii) prepaid and other current assets, (iii) other noncurrent assets, (iv) accounts payable, (v) accrued expenses and other current liabilities, (vi) income tax payable, and (vii) other noncurrent liabilities). Instead of having a line item in our reconciliation for each of these, we felt it was clearer to make one adjustment for the total of these items and then adjust back out the changes in income tax payable.
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Response: Because we have now defined Adjusted Free Cash Flow as a liquidity measure, we are excluding items that do not provide liquidity to the Company. The pension credit amount only reduces the pension liability on the balance sheet, it does not provide a source of liquidity for the Company.
We hope that the foregoing has been responsive to the Staff’s comments. If you have any questions related to this letter, please contact the undersigned by telephone at (972) 764-6701 or the Company’s counsel, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Joshua N. Korff at (212) 446-4943 or Christina M. Thomas at (202) 389-3145.
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Very truly yours, |
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Nexstar Media Group, Inc. |
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By: |
/s/ Lee Ann Gliha |
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By: Lee Ann Gliha |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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cc: |
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Joshua N. Korff |
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Christina M. Thomas |
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Kirkland & Ellis LLP |
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