|
|
|
|
|
|
Filed by the Registrant
|
|
|
☒
|
|
Filed by a party other than the Registrant
|
|
|
☐
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
☐
|
Preliminary Proxy Statement
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
☐
|
Confidential, for Use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
☒
|
Definitive Proxy Statement
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
☐
|
Definitive Additional Materials
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
☐
|
Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
☒
|
No fee required.
|
|
☐
|
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
|
|
☐
|
Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a- 6(i)(1) and 0-11
|
|
1.
|
To approve the issuance of (i) up to 28,206,152 shares of MediaCo Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (referred to herein as the “Warrant Shares”), upon the exercise of a warrant issued in connection with MediaCo’s acquisition of certain assets of Estrella Broadcasting, Inc. and its subsidiaries, and (ii) 7,051,538 shares of MediaCo Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (referred to herein as the “Option Shares”), upon the exercise of the option right held by a subsidiary of MediaCo to purchase, or the put right held by Estrella Media, Inc. to sell equity interests of certain of its subsidiaries holding certain broadcast assets.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Q:
|
Why did I receive this proxy statement?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Q:
|
What am I voting on?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Q:
|
What if another matter is properly brought before the meeting?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Q:
|
Who is entitled to vote?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Q:
|
Has our board of directors made any recommendation with respect to the proposal?
|
|
Q:
|
What is the quorum requirement?
|
|
Q:
|
What does it mean if I get more than one proxy card?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Q:
|
How do I vote my shares before the special meeting?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
•
|
Submitting a Proxy by Telephone
: You can submit a proxy for your shares by telephone until 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on March 5, 2025, by calling the toll-free telephone number on the enclosed proxy card, (800) 690-6903. Telephone proxy submission is available 24 hours a day. Voice prompts allow you to submit a proxy for your shares and confirm that your instructions have been properly recorded. Our telephone proxy submission procedures are designed to authenticate shareholders by using individual control numbers.
|
|
•
|
Submitting a Proxy via the Internet
: You can submit a proxy via the Internet until 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on March 5, 2025, by accessing the website listed on your proxy card,
www.proxyvote.com
, and following the instructions you will find on the website. Internet proxy submission is available 24 hours a day. As with telephone proxy submission, you will be given the opportunity to confirm that your instructions have been properly recorded.
|
|
•
|
Submitting a Proxy by Mail
: If you choose to submit a proxy by mail, simply mark the appropriate proxy card, date and sign it, and return it in the postage paid envelope provided or to the address shown on the proxy card. Your proxy card must be received by the secretary of the meeting before the start of the meeting in order for your vote to be counted.
|
|
Q:
|
If I am the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” by my broker, will my broker automatically vote my shares for me?
|
|
Q:
|
How will my shares be voted if I give my proxy but do not specify how my shares should be voted?
|
|
Q:
|
What is an “abstention” or a broker “non-vote” and how do they affect the vote?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Q:
|
How can I change my vote?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
•
|
Delivering to the secretary of the meeting a written notice of revocation, dated later than the proxy, before the vote is taken at the special meeting;
|
|
•
|
Delivering to the secretary of the meeting an executed proxy bearing a later date, before the vote is taken at the special meeting; or
|
|
•
|
Submitting a proxy on a later date by telephone or via the Internet (only your last telephone or Internet proxy will be counted), before 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on March 5, 2025.
|
|
Q:
|
Who will count the votes?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Q:
|
How many votes are needed for approval of each proposal?
|
|
Q:
|
What percentage of stock does our largest individual shareholder own and how does it intend to vote? What about executive officers and directors?
|
|
Q:
|
Does MediaCo offer an opportunity to receive future proxy materials electronically?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Q:
|
Who can attend the special meeting?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Q:
|
Where will the meeting take place?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Q:
|
How can I find out the results of the voting at the special meeting?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Q:
|
Where can we get technical assistance?
|
|
Q:
|
What do I do if I have additional questions?
|
|
i.
|
A warrant (the “Warrant”) to purchase up to 28,206,152 Class A Shares (the “Warrant Shares”);
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
ii.
|
60,000 shares of a newly designated series of MediaCo’s preferred stock designated as “Series B Preferred Stock” (the “Series B Preferred Stock”);
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
iii.
|
A term loan in the principal amount of $30.0 million under the Second Lien Credit Agreement (as defined below) (the “Second Lien Term Loan”); and
|
|
iv.
|
An aggregate cash payment in the amount of approximately $30.0 million to be used, in part, for the repayment of certain indebtedness of Estrella and payment of certain Estrella transaction expenses.
|
|
•
|
the Transactions transformed us from an operator of two urban radio stations (HOT 97 and WBLS 107.5) into a diversified content provider, including for Spanish-language audiences, by leveraging the strengths of both MediaCo and Estrella that existed prior to the Transactions;
|
|
•
|
the Transactions allows us to reach the established audiences of Estrella’s market-leading Regional Mexican radio stations, including
Que Buena Los Angeles
,
Don Cheto Al Aire
,
La Raza
, and
El Norte
; and
|
|
•
|
the Transactions accelerate the expansion of two high-growth radio content providers, with complementary multicultural audiences that represent almost one third of the U.S. population and 100% of the consumer growth in the marketplace.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CLASS A SHARES
|
|
April 17, 2024
|
|
|
$2.72 per share
|
|
February 21, 2025
|
|
|
$1.15 per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
CLASS A SHARES
|
|
|
CLASS B SHARES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
FIVE PERCENT SHAREHOLDERS,
DIRECTORS,
NOMINEES AND
CERTAIN EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
|
|
|
AMOUNT
AND
NATURE OF
BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP
CLASS A
SHARES
(1)
|
|
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS
|
|
|
AMOUNT
AND
NATURE OF
BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP
CLASS B
SHARES
(1)
|
|
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS
|
|
|
TOTAL
BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP OF
OUTSTANDING
MEDIACO
INTERESTS
(2)
|
|
|
PERCENT OF
TOTAL
VOTING
POWER OF
OUTSTANDING
MEDIACO
INTERESTS
|
Standard General, L.P.
|
|
|
42,945,193
(3)
|
|
|
91.88%
|
|
|
5,413,197
|
|
|
100.00%
|
|
|
42,945,193
|
|
|
96.03%
|
Andrew P. Glaze
|
|
|
124,020
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
124,020
|
|
|
*
|
Mary Beth McAdaragh
|
|
|
37,789
|
|
|
0.09%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
37,789
|
|
|
*
|
Deborah A. McDermott
|
|
|
47,348
|
|
|
0.11%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
47,348
|
|
|
*
|
Debra DeFelice
|
|
|
71,425
|
|
|
0.17%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
71,425
|
|
|
*
|
Robert L. Greene
|
|
|
20,849
|
|
|
0.05%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
20,849
|
|
|
*
|
Ann Beemish
(4)
|
|
|
123,811
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
123,811
|
|
|
*
|
Amit Thakrar
|
|
|
12,856
|
|
|
0.03%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
12,856
|
|
|
*
|
Jacqueline Hernández
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
*
|
Kudjo Sogadzi
(5)
|
|
|
115,085
|
|
|
0.28%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
115,085
|
|
|
*
|
Brian Kei
(6)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
*
|
Colbert Cannon
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
*
|
Brett Pertuz
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
*
|
Rene Santaella
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
*
|
Alberto Rodriguez
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
*
|
Andrew C. Carington
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
*
|
All Named Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (15 persons)
|
|
|
553,183
|
|
|
1.34%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
553,183
|
|
|
0.58%
|
Other 5% Shareholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HPS Group GP, LLC
|
|
|
9,300,650
(7)
|
|
|
18.37%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—%
|
|
|
9,300,650
|
|
|
8.88%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.
|
Unless otherwise indicated, each of the shareholders has sole voting and investment power with respect to the securities shown to be owned by such shareholder. The inclusion herein of securities listed as beneficially owned does not constitute an admission of beneficial ownership.
|
|
2.
|
As Class B Shares are convertible into Class A Shares at the election of the holder, the beneficial ownership reported herein assumes that the beneficial owner (and no other shareholder) elected to convert all Class B Shares beneficially owned by such beneficial owner into Class A Shares.
|
|
3.
|
Includes 5,413,197 Class B Shares. All Common Shares beneficially owned by Standard General are held by SG Broadcasting and certain funds. Soohyung Kim is the managing member and Standard General serves as investment manager for SG Broadcasting and such funds. Mr. Kim is the managing partner and chief investment officer of Standard General and a director of the general partner of Standard General. By virtue of the foregoing, Standard General and Mr. Kim may be deemed to beneficially own these shares. Each of Mr. Kim and Standard General disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares reported except to the extent of its or his pecuniary interest in such shares. Each of SG Broadcasting, Standard General and Mr. Kim have an address of 767 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10153.
|
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4.
|
On September 25, 2024, Ann C. Beemish, the former Chief Financial Officer of the Company, resigned as an officer of the Company, effective September 30, 2024.
|
|
5.
|
On September 26, 2024, Kudjo Sogadzi, the former President of the Company, resigned as an officer of the Company, effective on such date, but remained an employee of the Company.
|
|
6.
|
On October 24, 2024, Brian Kei, the former Chief Operating Officer of the Company, resigned as an officer of the Company, effective October 25, 2024.
|
|
7.
|
Represents 9,300,650 Class A Shares currently issuable upon the exercise of the Class A Common Stock Purchase Warrant (the “Warrant”) issued by the Company to SLF LBI Aggregator, LLC (“Aggregator”) on April 17, 2024, which Warrant relates in total to 28,206,152 Class A Shares. The percentage ownership interest is based on (i) 41,325,165 outstanding Class A and (ii) 9,300,650 Class A Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant. Scott Kapnick is chief executive officer of HPS Investment Partners, LLC, which is a registered investment adviser and is affiliated with HPS Group GP, LLC (collectively with HPS Group GP, LLC, “HPS”) and Aggregator. The principal business address of each of these persons is 40 West 57th Street, 33rd Floor, New York, New York 10019. See “Proposal: Approval of Issuance of Warrant Shares and Option Shares” for information regarding the additional Class A Shares that may be acquired if the Shareholder Proposal is approved by our shareholders.
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||||||||||||||||||||||
|
HOLDER
|
|
|
AMOUNT AND
NATURE OF
BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP
SERIES B
PREFERRED STOCK
|
|
|
PERCENT OF
CLASS
|
HPS Group GP, LLC
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
100.0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16
RELATIONSHIP AND AGREEMENTS WITH ESTRELLA MEDIA
For a discussion of the Acquisition of Estrella Broadcasting, Inc., please see the proposal to be approved in this proxy statement.
RELATIONSHIP AND AGREEMENTS WITH EMMIS
MediaCo was formed by Emmis in connection with a transaction (the “Emmis Transactions”) with SG Broadcasting that involved, among other things, Emmis conveying the assets of radio stations WBLS-FM and WQHT-FM (the “New York Radio Stations”) to MediaCo (the “Separation”) and distributing (the “Distribution”) all of MediaCo’s Class A Shares to all of Emmis’ shareholders pro rata. Emmis and the Company operate separately, each as an independent public company. In connection with the Separation, we and Emmis entered into certain agreements to affect the separation of our business from Emmis and govern our relationship with Emmis after the Separation. The following is a summary of the terms of the material agreements that we have entered into with Emmis. These summaries set forth the terms of the agreements that we believe are material and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of such agreements.
Transaction Agreement
On June 28, 2019, we entered into a certain Contribution and Distribution Agreement with Emmis and SG Broadcasting (the “Transaction Agreement”). The Transaction Agreement sets forth our agreements with Emmis and SG Broadcasting regarding the principal actions to be taken in connection with the Emmis Transactions. The Transaction Agreement identified assets to be transferred, liabilities to be assumed and contracts to be assigned to the Company as part of the separation, and it provided for when and how these transfers, assumptions and assignments will occur.
At the closing of the Emmis Transactions and pursuant to the terms of the Transaction Agreement, SG Broadcasting made an investment in MediaCo (the “Initial SG Broadcasting Investment”) consisting of $41,500,000 plus the $6,250,000 for additional working capital purposes. As consideration for the SG Broadcasting Investment, MediaCo issued to SG Broadcasting a convertible promissory note payable by MediaCo in the amount of $6,250,000 (the “Original SG Broadcasting Promissory Note”) and issued to SG Broadcasting 5,359,753 Class B Shares, which constituted all of the issued and outstanding Class B Shares, representing in the aggregate an approximately 76.28% equity ownership interest and 96.98% of the outstanding voting interests of MediaCo immediately following the Emmis Transactions. Contemporaneously, Emmis contributed the assets of the New York Radio Stations to MediaCo and MediaCo paid to Emmis the sum of $91,500,000 (the “Purchase Price”), issued a promissory note (the “Emmis Promissory Note”), secured the use of $5,000,000 of working capital from Emmis which was required to be repaid within nine months following the closing of the Emmis Transactions (and was so repaid), and issued to Emmis 1,666,667 Class A Shares, which constituted all of the issued and outstanding Class A Shares and represented in the aggregate approximately 23.72% equity ownership interest and 3.02% of the outstanding voting interests of MediaCo immediately following the Emmis Transactions. In connection with the Distribution, Emmis was issued an additional 16,619 Class A Shares in order to enable 0.1265 Class A Shares to be distributed for each share of Emmis common stock outstanding, and SG Broadcasting was issued an additional 53,444 Class B Shares to enable SG Broadcasting to retain its proportionate ownership percentage in MediaCo.
Contemporaneously with the close of the Emmis Transactions, to fund the Purchase Price, the Company entered into a five-year senior secured term loan agreement (the “Senior Credit Facility”) by and among MediaCo Holding Inc., the other parties designated as borrowers thereto, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto, and GACP Finance Co., LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as administrative agent and collateral agent. The Senior Credit Facility originally provided for initial borrowings of up to $50,000,000, which net proceeds, along with the proceeds from the Initial SG Broadcasting Investment and the Original SG Broadcasting Promissory Note, were paid to Emmis as consideration for the New York Radio Stations, as well as one tranche of additional borrowings of $25,000,000.
On December 9, 2022, the Company repaid in full, without penalty, all of its obligations under the Senior Credit Facility, which was terminated at that time.
The Transaction Agreement provides for releases with respect to pre-closing claims arising from the Emmis Transactions, and with respect to post Distribution claims, except as otherwise provided in the Transaction
17
Agreement, indemnifications principally designed to place financial responsibility for obligations and liabilities allocated to MediaCo under the Transaction Agreement with MediaCo and financial responsibility for obligations and liabilities allocated to Emmis under the Transaction Agreement with Emmis. Other than in limited circumstances, Emmis shall only be responsible for certain breaches of representations and warranties if losses exceed one percent (1%) and the maximum recovery is limited to ten percent (10%) of the Purchase Price.
Emmis Promissory Note
On August 19, 2022, Emmis exercised its right under the Emmis Convertible Promissory Note to convert thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00) of the outstanding principal for 11,000 Class A Shares. On December 21, 2022, Emmis exercised its right under the Emmis Convertible Promissory Note to convert $0.9 million of the outstanding principal and $0.1 million of accrued but unpaid interest for 0.8 million Class A Shares.
The Emmis Promissory Note matured on November 25, 2024. On November 25, 2024, MediaCo repaid the Emmis Promissory Note in full, in cash, and there are no further amounts owed by MediaCo under the Emmis Promissory Note, which is now discharged in full.
Shared Services Agreements
At closing of the Emmis Transactions, we entered into two Shared Services Agreements with Emmis. Historically, Emmis has operated radio stations WLIB AM and WEPN FM (which were retained by Emmis) from many of the same facilities and using many of the same personnel as used in the operation of New York Radio Stations. The Shared Services Agreements became operative as of the completion of the Separation to allow Emmis to continue to use MediaCo’s facilities, equipment and personal consistent with past practices. Emmis is to reimburse MediaCo for all incremental out of pocket costs and expenses incurred by MediaCo in connection with this arrangement.
Antenna Site Agreement
At closing of the Emmis Transactions, we entered into an Antenna Site Agreement with WLIB. Historically, WBLS FM has used the antenna site owned by WLIB in Lyndhurst, New Jersey as an emergency backup site from which to broadcast WBLS FM’s programs in the event its other broadcast antennas are unavailable. The Antenna Site Agreement allows WBLS FM antenna space on the WLIB tower, as well as ground space for WBLS FM transmission equipment. The Antenna Site Agreement is to last for an initial term of 20 years, with two automatic renewal periods of 10 years each, unless MediaCo provides notice to WLIB of its intention to not renew the lease for an additional term. MediaCo is to pay to WLIB an annual license fee of ten dollars ($10.00).
Previously Terminated Agreements
At closing of the Emmis Transactions, MediaCo entered into an Employee Leasing Agreement, a Management Agreement and a Local Programming and Marketing Agreement with Emmis. All of such agreements were terminated by mutual agreement prior to 2022.
18
RELATIONSHIP AND AGREEMENTS WITH SG BROADCASTING
At the closing of the Emmis Transactions and pursuant to the terms of the Transaction Agreement, SG Broadcasting made the Initial SG Broadcasting Investment. As consideration for the Initial SG Broadcasting Investment, MediaCo issued to SG Broadcasting the Original SG Broadcasting Promissory Note and 5,359,753 Class B Shares, which constituted all of the issued and outstanding Class B Shares, representing in the aggregate an approximately 76.28% equity ownership interest and 96.98% of the outstanding voting interests of MediaCo immediately following the Emmis Transactions. Following closing of the Emmis Transactions, SG Broadcasting owns all of the issued and outstanding Class B Shares, representing an approximately 76.28% equity ownership interest and a 96.98% voting interest in MediaCo. On February 28, 2020, MediaCo amended and restated the Original SG Promissory Note to allow SG Broadcasting to fund up to an additional $4 million (the “Amended and Restated SG Promissory Note”), and on March 27, 2020, further amended and restated the Amended and Restated SG Promissory Note to allow SG Broadcasting to fund up to an additional $9.75 million (the “Second Amended and Restated SG Promissory Note”). On September 30, 2020, SG Broadcasting loaned an additional $0.3 million to the Company pursuant to an additional SG Broadcasting Promissory Note (the “Second SG Promissory Note, and together with the Amended and Restated SG Promissory Note, the “SG Broadcasting Notes”). The SG Broadcasting Notes carry interest at a base rate equal to the interest on any senior credit facility, or if no senior credit facility is outstanding, of 6.00%, and an additional increase of 1.00% following the second anniversary of the date of issuance and additional increases of 1.00% following each successive anniversary thereafter. The SG Broadcasting Notes will have a maturity date of six (6) months after the fifth (5th) anniversary of execution of the Original SG Promissory Note. Additionally, the SG Broadcasting Notes will be payable in interest in kind through maturity. Subject to the Share Cap, the SG Broadcasting Notes are convertible into Class A Shares at the option of SG Broadcasting at a strike price equal to the thirty (30) day volume weighted average price of the Class A Shares on the date of conversion. On July 28, 2022, SG Broadcasting exercised its right under the SG Broadcasting Promissory Notes to fully convert the outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest into the Company's Class A Shares, and the 2019/2020 SG Broadcasting Promissory Notes were terminated at that time, while the May 2021 SG Broadcasting Promissory Note remains outstanding, but with no amounts outstanding as of December 31, 2022.
On October 29, 2024, MediaCo and Standard Media Group LLC (“SMG”), an affiliate of SG Broadcasting, entered into an Employee Leasing Agreement, effective as of October 1, 2024 (the “Leasing Agreement”). Under the Leasing Agreement, MediaCo will obtain the services of several SMG employees to serve various roles for MediaCo, including with respect to the legal, digital products, broadcast IT, and news operations function. To the extent permitted by law and other than as expressly set forth in the Leasing Agreement, MediaCo will have the exclusive right to direct the day-to-day work of, and to direct, control, and supervise, the leased employees, who will remain employees of SMG. The Leasing Agreement is an at-cost arrangement, with MediaCo paying only for a percentage of the actual cost of employing each leased employee, with no markup or service fees above MediaCo’s share of the actual fully-loaded cost of each leased employee. Either party may terminate the Leasing Agreement without cause on thirty (30) days notice, or immediately upon certain events described therein. The Leasing Agreement also contains other customary provisions relating to, among other things, confidentiality, the ownership of intellectual property and indemnification.
19
To be considered for inclusion in the Company’s 2025 proxy solicitation materials, shareholder proposals submitted in accordance with SEC Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, must be received in writing by our corporate secretary no later than January 30, 2025. Shareholders who wish to bring business before or nominate a person for election as a director at the Company’s 2025 annual meeting (other than through a shareholder proposal pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act) must notify the corporate secretary in writing and provide the information required by the provisions of our by-laws dealing with shareholder proposals. Copies of our by-laws are available to shareholders free of charge upon request to our corporate secretary. The notice must be delivered to the corporate secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the 90th day (April 10, 2025) nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day (March 11, 2025) prior to the first anniversary of the 2024 annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the 2025 annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the shareholder, to be timely, must be delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the 2025 annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the 90th day prior to the 2025 annual meeting or (ii) the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Any shareholder submitting a nomination of a person for election as director who intends to solicit proxies in support of such nominee must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act no later than January 30, 2025. Our board of directors will review any shareholder proposals that are filed as required and, with the assistance of the Company’s secretary, will determine whether such proposals meet applicable criteria for inclusion in our 2025 proxy solicitation materials or consideration at the 2025 annual meeting. In addition, we retain discretion to vote proxies on matters of which we are not properly notified at our principal executive offices on or before the close of business on the applicable 2025 shareholder proposal and nomination filing deadline, and also retain that authority under certain other circumstances.
20
Our board of directors knows of no other matters to be brought before this special meeting. However, if other matters should come before the meeting, it is the intention of each person named in the proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with his or her judgment on such matters.
We do not expect representatives of Ernst Young LLP, our current principal accountants (and our principal accountants for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023) to be present at the special meeting.
The entire expense of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing the proxy form and the material used in the solicitation of proxies, will be paid by us. Solicitations may be made in person or by mail, telephone, facsimile or other means of electronic communication by our directors, officers and other employees, and none of those persons will receive any additional compensation in connection with the solicitation. We also will request record holders of shares beneficially owned by others to forward this proxy statement and related materials to the beneficial owners of such shares, and will reimburse those record holders for their reasonable expenses incurred in doing so. We do not intend to hire or engage a third party proxy solicitation firm in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the special meeting.
We have adopted a procedure permitted by SEC rules that is commonly referred to as “householding.” Under this procedure, a single annual report, proxy statement and notice regarding the availability of proxy materials are delivered to multiple shareholders sharing an address unless we receive contrary instructions from any shareholder at that address. We will continue to send a separate proxy card to each shareholder of record. We have adopted this procedure because we believe it reduces the volume of duplicate information shareholders receive and helps to reduce our printing and postage costs. A number of brokers with account holders who are MediaCo shareholders will be “householding” our proxy materials and annual reports as well.
If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in “householding” and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement and annual report, please notify your broker if you hold your MediaCo shares through a broker, or notify us directly if you are a shareholder of record by sending us an e-mail at
IR@MediaCoHolding.com
, calling us at (866) 366-4703 or writing to us at MediaCo Holding Inc. Investor Relations, 48 W. 25
th
Street, Floor 3, New York, New York 10010. We will deliver promptly, upon written or oral request, a separate copy of the annual report, proxy statement, or notice regarding the availability of proxy materials, as applicable, to a shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was delivered.
If you currently receive multiple copies of our proxy statement and annual report at your address and would like to request “householding” of your communications, you should contact your broker, or, if you are a record holder of MediaCo shares, you should submit a written request to our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer Trust Company, Operations Center, 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219.
21
We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public at the SEC website at www.sec.gov. You may obtain free copies of the documents we file with the SEC, including this proxy statement, by going to the “Company Info” page of our website at http://mediacoholding.com/. Our website address is provided as an inactive textual reference only. The information provided on our website is not part of this proxy statement, and therefore is not incorporated by reference.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this proxy statement, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this proxy statement, except for any information superseded by information in this proxy statement or incorporated by reference subsequent to the date of this proxy statement. This proxy statement incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC and any documents filed by us pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (in each case, other than those documents or the portions of those documents not deemed to be filed) after the date of this proxy statement and before the date of the special meeting.
These documents include periodic reports, such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as Current Reports on Form 8-K and proxy soliciting materials. The information provided on our website is not part of this proxy statement, and therefore is not incorporated by reference herein.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, we will not incorporate by reference in this proxy statement any documents or portions thereof that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including information furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 or otherwise of any Current Report on Form 8-K, including related exhibits, after the date of this proxy statement unless, and except to the extent, specified in such Current Report.
Any person, including any beneficial owner of shares of MediaCo’s common stock, to whom this proxy statement is delivered may request copies of proxy statements and any of the documents incorporated by reference in this document or other information concerning us by written or telephonic request directed to MediaCo’s address below. If you would like to request documents from us, please do so as soon as possible to receive them before the special meeting. If you request any documents from us, we will mail them to you by first class mail, or another equally prompt method, within one (1) business day after we receive your request. Documents incorporated by reference are available without charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into those documents.
MediaCo Holding Inc.
48 W. 25th Street, Floor 3
New York, New York 10010
Email: IR@MediaCoHolding.com
If you have any questions concerning the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Transactions, the special meeting or this proxy statement, would like additional copies of this proxy statement or need help voting your shares of common stock, please contact our investor relations department at the address referred to immediately above.
22
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