UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 11-K

 

x                              Annual Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.

 

or

 

o                                 Transition Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from __________ to __________.

 

Commission file number 000-26076

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

(Full Title of Plan)

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

10706 BEAVER DAM ROAD

HUNT VALLEY, MD 21030

(Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the Plan

and address of its principal executive office)

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

401(K) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005

 




Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

 

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT YEAR END)

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS

 

 

 




 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Administrative Committee

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.

  401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of Sinclair Broadcast Group 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits and supplemental information for the year then ended December 31, 2006. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year then ended, in conformity with  accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Our audit was performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedule of assets (held at year end) as of December 31, 2006, is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement

 

 

 

1




 

 

Income Security Act of 1974.  This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

/s/ Reznick Group, P.C.

Baltimore, Maryland

June 22, 2007

 

 

 

2




Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Investments at fair value

 

$

75,247,670

 

$

64,893,302

 

Guaranteed investment contract at fair value

 

4,396,088

 

4,224,507

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

 

 

 

 

 

Employer contributions

 

1,670,358

 

1,382,535

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits at fair market value

 

81,314,116

 

70,500,344

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive contracts

 

117,257

 

239,965

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits

 

$

81,431,373

 

$

70,740,309

 

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

3




 

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET
ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

Year ended December 31, 2006

 

Additions

 

 

 

Investment income

 

 

 

Interest

 

$

111,957

 

Net realized and unrealized appreciation in aggregate fair value of investments

 

9,780,106

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income

 

9,892,063

 

 

 

 

 

Contributions

 

 

 

Employee

 

6,571,771

 

Employer

 

1,678,720

 

 

 

 

 

Total contributions

 

8,250,491

 

 

 

 

 

Total additions

 

18,142,554

 

 

 

 

 

Deductions

 

 

 

Benefit payments

 

7,429,209

 

Administrative expenses

 

22,281

 

 

 

 

 

Total deductions

 

7,451,490

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase

 

10,691,064

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits:

 

 

 

Beginning of the year

 

70,740,309

 

 

 

 

 

End of the year

 

$

81,431,373

 

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

4




Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

December 31, 2006 and 2005

NOTE 1 - PLAN DESCRIPTION

The following description of the Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (“the Plan”) provides only general information.  Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.  Copies of this summary are available from Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., Human Resources Department.

General

The Plan was adopted on January 1, 1988 and was amended and restated effective January 1, 2002 pursuant to a Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“Mass Mutual”) Non-standardized 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan Prototype Plan Document.  The Plan is a participatory defined contribution plan covering substantially all of our employees.  As of September 1, 2005 an employee is eligible to participate in the Plan upon successful completion of the introductory period (90-day evaluation period to which all new employees and re-hires are subject).  Re-hires, if eligible to participate in the plan on their date of termination, are eligible to enter the plan on the date of re-hire.  Although employees may participate in the plan they will not be eligible to receive the discretionary company match until they have completed one year of service, defined as 1,000 hours worked in a 12-month consecutive period.  Prior to September 1, 2005 an employee was eligible to participate in the Plan upon attaining 21 years of age and having completed one year of service, defined as 1,000 hours worked in a 12-month consecutive period.  The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Contributions

Employees contribute to the Plan through payroll deductions, up to a maximum of 98% of their total compensation.  Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution, our matching contribution, and their pro rata share of earnings or losses on invested assets of the trust funds.  Our matching contribution for all participating employees is discretionary and during 2006 was equal to 50% of the employees’ contributions up to a maximum deferral of 4% of their total compensation.  Participants must be employed at the end of the Plan year, have completed one full year of service and have completed at least 1,000 hours of service in the plan in order to receive our matching contributions.  Contributions to the Plan are invested in the available investment options in accordance with the participant’s election.  A terminating member of the Plan has the option to maintain their account (if the balance is over $5,000) or be paid the current value of their contributions to the Plan reduced by any outstanding loan balances.

5




Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED

December 31, 2006 and 2005

Unless the member is fully vested, as defined, they must forfeit the current unvested value of the employer’s contribution to their account.  In accordance with the terms of the Plan, such forfeitures are first applied to pay administrative expenses of the Plan, if any, and then to reduce future contributions required of the employer.  Participants are fully vested in their contribution to the Plan and related earnings.  Under the provisions of the Plan, eligible employees become 20% vested in employer contribution amounts credited to their account after two years of service, 40% vested after three years of service, 60% vested after four years of service, 80% vested after five years of service and 100% vested after six years of service.

Unallocated assets in the Plan were approximately $214,000 and $237,000 as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

The December 31, 2006 and 2005 employer contributions include a receivable that was funded subsequent to the Plan’s year end with our common stock.  We may also make additional discretionary profit sharing contributions each year.  There were no additional discretionary contributions during 2006.

Upon enrollment, a participant may direct employee contributions to any of the Plan’s available fund options except the Sinclair Broadcast Group Stock Fund.  Employer contributions are invested in common stock, but may be redirected by participants to other fund options immediately.

Payment of Benefits

Participants may elect one of several methods to receive their vested benefits including: (a) a joint and survivor option whereby the employee receives a reduced monthly benefit during his/her lifetime and, upon death, the surviving spouse will receive a monthly benefit for his/her lifetime; (b) the purchase of a life annuity; (c) equal installments over a period of not more than the participant’s assumed life expectancy (or participant’s and participant’s beneficiary’s assumed life expectancy) at the time of distribution; (d) a lump sum distribution; or (e) partial distributions.  In the absence of such election by the participant, the method of distribution shall be determined by the Plan.  Upon termination of employment before normal retirement, a lump sum distribution may also be made.

6




Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED

December 31, 2006 and 2005

Participant Loans

Participants have the option to borrow from the vested portion of their account.  The minimum loan amount is $1,000 and the maximum loan permitted is the lesser of: (1) $50,000; or (2) one-half of their vested balance, and is secured by the balance in the participant’s account with interest charged based on the prime rate at the time of borrowing. Participants may have two loans outstanding at one time.  Generally, the term of the loans may not exceed five years.  Interest income from these loans is treated as income to the Plan and is allocated with other earnings on investments.  Principal and interest are paid ratably through monthly payroll deductions.

Plan Termination

Although we have not expressed any intent to do so, we have the right under the Plan to discontinue our contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants will become 100% vested in their accounts.

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Basis of Accounting

The accompanying financial statements are presented on the accrual basis of accounting. Certain administrative expenses are borne by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

The Plan’s investments are stated at fair value, which equals the quoted market price on the last business day of the Plan year. The fair value of the participation units owned by the Plan in the pooled separate accounts is based on quoted redemption values on the last business day of the Plan year as determined by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (Mass Mutual).  The participant loans are valued at their outstanding balances, which approximate fair value.

7




Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED

December 31, 2006 and 2005

Investment contracts are presented at fair value.  The fair value of the investment contracts at December 31, 2006 and 2005 was $4,396,088 and $4,224,507, respectively.  Contract values represent contributions and reinvested income, less any withdrawals, plus accrued interest, because these investments have fully benefit-responsive features.  Under certain conditions, participants may receive less than the contract value of their accounts invested in the investment contracts, as determined by Mass Mutual.  At December 31, 2006, there are no reserves against contract values for credit risk of contract issuers or otherwise.  The crediting interest rate for these investment contracts is reset biannually by the issuer but cannot be less than permanent minimum interest rate of 3.0%.  The interest rate was 3.2% and 3.0% at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

The Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. Common Stock Fund (the Fund) is tracked on a unitized basis.  The Fund consists of our common stock and funds held in the Investors Bank and Trust Money Market Fund sufficient to meet the Fund’s daily cash needs.  Unitizing the Fund allows for daily trades.  The value of a unit reflects the combined market value of our common stock and the cash investments held by the Fund.  At December 31, 2006, 642,872 units were outstanding with a value of $8.22 per unit.  At December 31, 2005, 669,456 units were outstanding with a value of $6.83 per unit.

Benefit Payments

Benefit payments are recorded when paid.

8




Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED

December 31, 2006 and 2005

NOTE 3 - INVESTMENTS

During 2006, the Plan’s investments (including investments purchased, sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated in aggregate fair value as follows:

Net realized and unrealized appreciation in aggregate fair value:

 

Pooled separated accounts

 

$

8,677,713

 

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. Common Stock

 

1,102,393

 

 

 

$

9,780,106

 

 

The following presents individual investments that represent 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets at December 31, 2006 and 2005:

 

2006

 

2005

 

Select Large Cap Value (Davis)

 

$

13,059,146

 

$

12,830,150

 

Select Focused Value (Harris/C&B)

 

12,981,112

 

11,985,410

 

Select Overseas (MFS/Harris)

 

8,680,241

 

6,531,860

 

Select Fundamental Value (Wellington)

 

6,557,181

 

4,975,447

 

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. Common Stock Fund

 

5,282,914

 

4,567,628

 

Select Growth Equity (GMO)

 

4,658,963

 

5,215,280

 

SF Guaranteed Interest Fund

 

4,396,088

 

4,224,507

 

Premier Strategic Income (OFI)

 

*

 

3,577,233

 


*            This fund did not represent 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets at December 31, 2006.

NOTE 4 - INCOME TAX STATUS

The underlying non-standardized prototype plan has received an opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) dated April 23, 2002 stating that the form of the Plan is qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) and, therefore, the related trust is tax-exempt.  In accordance with Revenue Procedure 2002-6 and Announcement 2001-77, the Plan sponsor has determined that it is eligible to, and has chosen to, rely on the current IRS prototype plan opinion letter.  Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualification.  The Plan administrator believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and, therefore, believes that the Plan is qualified and the related trust is tax-exempt.

9




Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED

December 31, 2006 and 2005

NOTE 5 - RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The Plan invests in various investment securities.  Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market and credit risks.  Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.

NOTE 6 - DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FORM 5500

The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500:

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements

 

$

81,431,373

 

$

70,740,309

 

Less: employer contributions receivable at end of year

 

(1,670,358

)

(1,382,535

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500

 

$

79,761,015

 

$

69,357,774

 

 

The following is a reconciliation of employer contributions per the financial statements to the Form 5500 for the year ended December 31, 2006:

 

Employer contributions per financial statements

 

$

1,678,720

 

Less: employer contribution receivable at end of year

 

(1,670,358

)

Add: employer contribution receivable at beginning of year

 

1,382,535

 

 

 

 

 

Employer contributions per the Form 5500

 

$

1,390,897

 

 

The financial statements are prepared on an accrual basis whereas the Form 5500 is prepared on a modified cash basis.

10




Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED

December 31, 2006 and 2005

NOTE 7 — PARTIES IN INTEREST TRANSACTIONS

The employer matching contributions are paid out in shares of the Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. common stock.

Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by MassMutual Financial Group®.  MassMutual is the third party administrator as defined by the Plan.  These transactions qualify as exempt party-in-interest transactions.

 

11




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

12




Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

EIN: 52-1494660   Plan # 001
SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT YEAR END)

DECEMBER 31, 2006

 

Identity of Issue, Borrower, 
Lessor or Similar Party

 

 

 

Description of Investment
Including Maturity Date,
Rate of Interest, Collateral,
Par or Maturity Value

 

Cost (2)

 

Current Value

 

Guaranteed investment contract:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SF Guaranteed Interest Fund(1)

 

376,708 units

 

 

 

$

4,513,345

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pooled separate accounts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Select Large Cap Value (Davis)(1)

 

97,687 units

 

 

 

13,059,146

 

Select Focused Value (Harris/C&B)(1)

 

51,685 units

 

 

 

12,981,112

 

Select Overseas (MFS/Harris)(1)

 

53,590 units

 

 

 

8,680,241

 

Select Fundamental Value (Wellington)(1)

 

45,271 units

 

 

 

6,557,181

 

Select Growth Equity (GMO)(1)

 

52,068 units

 

 

 

4,658,963

 

Premier Strategic Income (OFI)(1)

 

22,514 units

 

 

 

3,697,731

 

Premier Core Bond (Babson)(1)

 

22,590 units

 

 

 

3,337,492

 

Spectrum Growth (T. Rowe Price)(1)

 

10,548 units

 

 

 

2,233,533

 

Select Mid Cap Growth II (TRP)(1)

 

8,471 units

 

 

 

1,913,253

 

Select Small Company Value (Clover/TRP/EARNEST)(1)

 

10,043 units

 

 

 

1,788,034

 

Int’l New Discovery (MFS)(1)

 

5,981 units

 

 

 

1,684,278

 

Premier Global (OFI)(1)

 

6,508 units

 

 

 

1,525,371

 

Select Value Equity (Fidelity)(1)

 

9,663 units

 

 

 

1,342,758

 

Select Aggressive Growth (Sands/Delaware) (formerly,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Select Aggressive Growth (Sands))(1)

 

16,900 units

 

 

 

1,045,397

 

Select Small Company Growth (Mazama/Eagle)(1)

 

7,677 units

 

 

 

1,006,703

 

Select Small Cap Growth Equity (W&R/Wellington)(1)

 

4,865 units

 

 

 

877,882

 

Destination Retirement 2010(1)

 

4,549 units

 

 

 

543,665

 

Destination Retirement 2030(1)

 

1,844 units

 

 

 

430,031

 

Select Strategic Bal (Clearbridge/Western) (formerly,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Select Strategic Bal (Salomon/Western))(1)

 

3,408 units

 

 

 

405,641

 

Washington Mutual Investment (American)(1)

 

2,433 units

 

 

 

367,906

 

Destination Retirement 2040(1)

 

313 units

 

 

 

80,293

 

Destination Retirement 2020(1)

 

203 units

 

 

 

47,524

 

Destination Retirement Income(1)

 

75 units

 

 

 

17,116

 

Total pooled separate accounts

 

 

 

 

 

68,281,251

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SBGI Common Stock(1)

 

499,897 units

 

 

 

5,248,919

 

IBT Money Market(1)

 

142,975 units

 

 

 

33,995

 

Cash and cash equivalents(1)

 

3.50%

 

 

 

17

 

Participant loans(1)

 

5.00%-10.50%

 

 

 

1,683,488

 

Total investments

 

 

 

 

 

$

79,761,015

 


(1)  Party in interest

(2)  Historical cost has not been presented, as all investments are participant directed.

13




Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

EIN: 52-1494660   PLAN # 001
SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS

December 31, 2006

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

 

(d)

 

(e)

 

(f)

 

(g)

 

(h)

 

(i)

 

Identity of
party involved

 

Description of asset
(include interest rate and
maturity in case of a loan)

 

Purchase
price

 

Selling
price

 

Lease
rental

 

Expense
incurred with
transaction

 

Cost of
asset

 

Current value
of asset on
transaction date

 

Net gain
or (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MassMutual

 

Select Overseas

 

 

7,711,959

 

 

 

4,939,485

 

7,711,959

 

2,772,474

 

MassMutual

 

Select Large Cap Value

 

 

12,416,911

 

 

 

8,873,220

 

12,416,911

 

3,543,691

 

MassMutual

 

Select Fundamental Value

 

 

5,699,043

 

 

 

4,066,961

 

5,699,043

 

1,632,082

 

MassMutual

 

Select Growth Equity

 

 

4,682,154

 

 

 

4,297,787

 

4,682,154

 

384,367

 

MassMutual

 

Select Focused Value

 

 

11,640,341

 

 

 

8,061,598

 

11,640,341

 

3,578,743

 

MassMutual

 

Select Overseas

 

7,711,959

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MassMutual

 

Select Large Cap Value

 

12,416,911

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MassMutual

 

Select Fundamental Value

 

5,699,043

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MassMutual

 

Select Growth Equity

 

4,682,154

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MassMutual

 

Select Focused Value

 

11,640,341

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14




 

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ David R. Bochenek

 

 

 

 

David R. Bochenek

 

 

 

 

Vice President / Chief Accounting Officer

 

Dated:  June 26, 2007

15




EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

16