Sinclair Broadcast Group has deals pending to buy Four Points Media for $200 million and the TV stations of Freedom Communications for $385 million, so it recently announced negotiations with its bankers for additional borrowing. Now the deal is done.
Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. (SBGI) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sinclair Television Group Inc. (Sinclair TV), raised $530.0 million of incremental term loans, which consist of an additional $372.5 million term loan added to its existing $222.5 million tranche B term loan maturing October 2016 and priced at LIBOR plus 3.00% with a LIBOR floor of 1.00%; and an additional $157.5 million added to its existing $115.0 million tranche A term loan maturing March 2016 and priced at LIBOR plus 2.25%.
In addition, Sinclair TV increased its existing revolving line of credit from $75.4 million to $97.5 million and extended the maturity of the revolving line of credit from 2013 to be coterminous with the term loan A maturity of March 2016. Pricing on the revolving line of credit was reduced from LIBOR plus 4% with a 2.00% floor to LIBOR plus 2.25%.
The additional term loans, along with cash on hand and/or a draw under the revolving line of credit, will be used to fund the previously announced acquisitions of Four Points Media and the television stations of Freedom Communications which are currently expected to close in early January 2012 and late March 2012, respectively.
Sinclair TV also amended certain terms of the bank credit facility, including increased incremental loan capacity, increased television station acquisition capacity and more flexibility under the restrictive covenants, the company said.
