Cumulus Media has successfully completed its financial restructuring.
The news, which came just past 5pm Eastern Monday (6/4), means that the nation’s No. 2 radio broadcasting company by number of stations has fully emerged from Chapter 11 protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and has reduced its debt by “more than $1 billion.”
In a statement, Cumulus says it plans to utilize its enhanced financial flexibility to continue its ongoing business transformation and drive value creation on behalf of all its stakeholders.
Cumulus President/CEO Mary Berner said, “Over the last two years, we have been relentlessly focused on our plans to turn the company around, and the completion of our financial restructuring process is a monumental step forward on our turnaround path. We emerge today as a stronger and more competitive Company, with the financial foundation that we need to move forward decisively with the initiatives that will produce the greatest benefits for the Company. With this financial restructuring now behind us, we are excited about what we will be able to accomplish with all of our resources and energy fully focused on our operating business.”
She continued, “I want to thank our exceptional team at Cumulus for their dedication and tremendous efforts through this process. Looking ahead, our employees will remain the true force driving our success as we continue to deliver premium content choices to the 245 million people we reach every week across our collection of stations and Westwood One. We are also grateful for the support of our vendors and affiliates during this process, and we look forward to working together well into the future.”
Pursuant to the restructuring, Cumulus reduced its total debt balance from $2.34 billion to $1.30 billion, consisting entirely of a term loan bearing interest at LIBOR plus 450 basis points and due May 15, 2022.
Also, pursuant to the terms of the financial restructuring, Cumulus’s previously outstanding equity was cancelled and certain former stakeholders are being issued 11,052,211 shares of the company’s Class A common stock, 5,218,209 shares of the company’s Class B common stock, and warrants to purchase 3,729,589 shares of common stock in exchange for their prior claims.
Except with regard to voting and conversion rights, shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock are identical in all respects. Generally, the holders of shares of Class B common stock are not entitled to vote on any matters, although such shares are convertible into shares of Class A common stock, subject to FCC rules and regulations and the company’s governance documents.
Meanwhile, Cumulus has applied to have its Class A common stock listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “CMLS.” Until such time, “expect that such shares will be quoted on the OTC Pink Sheets under the symbol “CMIA.” This would also mark the end of the “CMLSQ” designation for debtor-in-possession companies, as that status has now concluded.
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP acted as legal counsel; PJT Partners, Inc. acted as financial advisor; and Alvarez & Marsal served as restructuring advisor to Cumulus.
To “celebrate” a new Cumulus, a new logo has been launched.
From today, Cumulus is now sporting the following look:
