FORM 10-Q 

[X]          QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2017

[  ]           TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                          TO                           

   

All references in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.  Our reportable segments are Americas outdoor advertising (“Americas”) and International outdoor advertising (“International”). The accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and, in the opinion of management, include all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the results of the interim periods shown. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such SEC rules and regulations.  Management believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  Due to seasonality and other factors, the results for the interim periods may not be indicative of results for the full year.  The financial statements contained herein should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries and give effect to allocations of expenses from the Company’s indirect parent entity, iHeartCommunications, Inc. (“iHeartCommunications”).  These allocations were made on a specifically identifiable basis or using relative percentages of headcount or other methods management considered to be a reasonable reflection of the utilization of services provided.  Also included in the consolidated financial statements are entities for which the Company has a controlling financial interest or is the primary beneficiary.  Investments in companies in which the Company owns 20% to 50% of the voting common stock or otherwise exercises significant influence over operating and financial policies of the company are accounted for under the equity method.  All significant intercompany transactions are eliminated in the consolidation process.  Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2017 presentation. 

During the third quarter of 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. This update provides a one-year deferral of the effective date for ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  ASU No. 2014-09 provides guidance for the recognition, measurement and disclosure of revenue resulting from contracts with customers and will supersede virtually all of the current revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP.  The standard is effective for the first interim period within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The two permitted transition methods under the new standard are the full retrospective method, in which case the standard would be applied to each prior reporting period presented and the cumulative effect of applying the standard would be recognized at the earliest period shown, or the modified retrospective method, in which case the cumulative effect of applying the standard would be recognized at the date of initial application. The Company expects to utilize the full retrospective method. The Company has substantially completed its evaluation of the potential changes from adopting the new standard on its future financial reporting and disclosures which included reviews of contractual terms for all of the Company’s significant revenue streams and the development of an implementation plan. The Company continues to execute on its implementation plan, including detailed policy drafting and training of segment personnel. Based on its evaluation, the Company does not expect material changes to its 2016 or 2017 consolidated revenues, operating income or balance sheets as a result of the implementation of this standard.

During the first quarter of 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The new leasing standard presents significant changes to the balance sheets of lessees. Lessor accounting is updated to align with certain changes in the lessee model and the new revenue recognition standard which was issued in the third quarter of 2015. The standard is effective for annual periods, and for interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2018.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of this new standard on its consolidated financial statements.

During the second quarter of 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718). This update changes the accounting for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees. Income tax effects of share-based payment awards will be recognized in the income statement with the vesting or settlement of the awards and the record keeping for additional paid-in capital pools will no longer be necessary. Additionally, companies can make a policy election to either estimate forfeitures or recognize them as they occur. The standard is effective for annual periods, and for interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2016.  The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2017. The retrospective adoption of this guidance did not result in material changes to the Company's consolidated financial statements.

During the first quarter of 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350). This update eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Entities will

In January 2017, Americas sold its Indianapolis, Indiana market to Fairway Media Group, LLC in exchange for certain assets in Atlanta, Georgia with a fair value of $39.6 million, plus approximately $43.0 million in cash, net of closing costs. The assets acquired as part of the transaction consisted of $9.9 million in fixed assets, $29.5 million in intangible assets (including $2.3 million in goodwill) and $0.2 million in other assets. The Company recognized a net gain of $28.6 million related to the sale, which is included within Other operating income, net.

The Company’s property, plant and equipment consisted of the following classes of assets as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively:

The following table presents the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for each major class of other intangible assets as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively:

Total amortization expense related to definite-lived intangible assets for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 was $7.0 million and $9.8 million, respectively.

Long-term debt outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 consisted of the following:

The aggregate market value of the Company’s debt based on market prices for which quotes were available was approximately $5.3 billion and $5.2 billion at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Under the fair value hierarchy established by ASC 820-10-35, the market value of the Company’s debt is classified as Level 1.

As of March 31, 2017, the Company had $68.5 million and $34.9 million in letters of credit and bank guarantees outstanding, respectively. Bank guarantees of $18.6 million were backed by cash collateral. Additionally, as of March 31, 2017, iHeartCommunications had outstanding commercial standby letters of credit and surety bonds of $1.4 million and $51.7 million, respectively, held on behalf of the Company.  These surety bonds, letters of credit and bank guarantees relate to various operational matters, including insurance, bid and performance bonds, as well as other items.

On May 9, 2016, a stockholder of the Company filed a derivative lawsuit in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, captioned GAMCO Asset Management Inc. v. iHeartMedia Inc. et al., C.A. No. 12312-VCS. The complaint names as defendants iHeartCommunications, Inc. (“iHeartCommunications”), the Company’s indirect parent company, iHeartMedia, Inc. (“iHeartMedia”), the parent company of iHeartCommunications, Bain Capital Partners, LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. (together, the “Sponsor Defendants”), iHeartMedia’s private equity sponsors and majority owners, and the members of the Company’s board of directors. The Company also is named as a nominal defendant. The complaint alleges that the Company has been harmed by the intercompany agreements with iHeartCommunications, the Company’s lack of autonomy over its own cash and the actions of the defendants in serving the interests of iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants to the detriment of the Company and its minority stockholders. Specifically, the complaint alleges that the defendants have breached their fiduciary duties by causing the Company to: (i) continue to loan cash to iHeartCommunications under the intercompany note at below-market rates; (ii) abandon its growth and acquisition strategies in favor of transactions that would provide cash to iHeartMedia and iHeartCommunications; (iii) issue new debt in the CCIBV note offering (the “CCIBV Note Offering”) to provide cash to iHeartMedia and iHeartCommunications through a dividend; and (iv) effect the sales of certain outdoor markets in the U.S. (the “Outdoor Asset Sales”) to provide cash to iHeartMedia and iHeartCommunications through a dividend. The complaint also alleges that iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants aided and abetted the directors’ breaches of their fiduciary duties. The complaint further alleges that iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants were unjustly enriched as a result of these transactions and that these transactions constituted a waste of corporate assets for which the defendants are liable to the Company. The plaintiff is seeking, among other things, a ruling that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties to the Company and that iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants aided and abetted the board of directors’ breaches of fiduciary duty, rescission of payments to iHeartCommunications and its affiliates pursuant to dividends declared in connection with the CCIBV Note Offering and Outdoor Asset Sales, and an order requiring iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants to disgorge all profits they have received as a result of the alleged fiduciary misconduct.

The Company records net amounts due from iHeartCommunications as “Due from iHeartCommunications” on the consolidated balance sheets.  The accounts represent the revolving promissory note issued by the Company to iHeartCommunications and the revolving promissory note issued by iHeartCommunications to the Company in the face amount of $1.0 billion, or if more or less than such amount, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all advances.  The accounts accrue interest pursuant to the terms of the promissory notes and are generally payable on demand or when they mature on December 15, 2017.

As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the asset recorded in “Due from iHeartCommunications” on the consolidated balance sheet was $915.1 million and $885.7 million, respectively.  As of March 31, 2017, the fixed interest rate on the “Due from iHeartCommunications” account was 6.5%, which is equal to the fixed interest rate on the CCWH Senior Notes.  The net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 was $14.8 million and $12.7 million, respectively.

In its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 4, 2017, iHeartCommunications stated that its forecast of future cash flows indicates that such cash flows would not be sufficient for it to meet its obligations, including payment of the outstanding receivables based credit facility balance at maturity on December 24, 2017 and payment of the 10% Senior Notes due January 15, 2018, as they become due in the ordinary course of business for a period of 12 months following May 4, 2017. iHeartCommunications further stated that management has determined that there is substantial doubt as to iHeartCommunications’ ability to continue as a going concern for a period of 12 months following May 4, 2017.

The Company provides advertising space on its billboards for iHeartMedia, Inc. and for radio stations owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded $1.8 million and $0.3 million, respectively, in revenue for these advertisements.

Under the Corporate Services Agreement between iHeartCommunications and the Company, iHeartCommunications provides management services to the Company, which include, among other things: (i) treasury, payroll and other financial related services; (ii) certain executive officer services; (iii) human resources and employee benefits services; (iv) legal and related services; (v) information systems, network and related services; (vi) investment services; (vii) procurement and sourcing support services; and (viii) other general corporate services.  These services are charged to the Company based on actual direct costs incurred or allocated by iHeartCommunications based on headcount, revenue or other factors on a pro rata basis. For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded $16.2 million and $9.3 million, respectively, as a component of corporate expenses for these services. In February 2017, the Company and its indirect parent company, iHeartMedia, Inc., entered into an agreement related to the potential purchase of the Clear Channel registered trademarks and domain names. The agreements provide that CCOH will pay a license fee to iHeartMedia, Inc. in 2017 based on revenues of entities using the Clear Channel name. Included within the management services expense recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2017 is an additional expense of $7.8 million related to this license. Financial distress at iHeartCommunications could impact its ability to provide these services to us, and if iHeartCommunications was to become insolvent or file a bankruptcy petition, such event could cause significant uncertainties and disrupt our operations and/or adversely affect our rights under the Corporate Services Agreement and the other intercompany agreements.

Pursuant to the Employee Matters Agreement, the Company’s employees participate in iHeartCommunications’ employee benefit plans, including employee medical insurance and a 401(k) retirement benefit plan.  For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded $2.4 million and $2.3 million, respectively, as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses for these services.

The Company’s income tax benefit (expense) for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, consisted of the following components:

The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was 41.3%. The effective rate for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was primarily impacted by the Company's inability to benefit from losses in certain foreign jurisdictions due to uncertainty regarding the ability to utilize those losses in future periods.

The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was 30.8%. The effective rate was primarily impacted by the reversal of the valuation allowance recorded in 2015 against net operating losses in U.S. federal and state jurisdictions due to taxable gains from the dispositions of nine outdoor markets during the period. Additionally, we were unable to benefit from losses in certain foreign jurisdictions due to the uncertainty of the ability to utilize those losses in future periods.

There was no change in deferred income tax liabilities resulting from adjustments to comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

The Company has two reportable segments, which it believes best reflect how the Company is currently managed – Americas and International.  The Americas segment consists of operations primarily in the United States, Canada and Latin America and the International segment primarily includes operations in Europe and Asia.  The Americas and International display inventory consists primarily of billboards, street furniture displays and transit displays.  Corporate includes infrastructure and support including information technology, human resources, legal, finance and administrative functions of each of the Company’s reportable segments, as well as overall executive, administrative and support functions.  Share-based payments are recorded in corporate expenses.

The following table presents the Company's reportable segment results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016: