Cumulus Media Sells KLOS-FM/Los Angeles for $43 Million

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, April 15, 2019

Cumulus Media

Cumulus Media has agreed to sell 63kW Rock KLOS-FM (95.5)/Los Angeles to Meruelo Media, a division of the Meruelo Group, for $43 million in cash. Meruelo Media will begin programming KLOS-FM under a Local Marketing Agreement (LMA) on April 16. Cumulus has also entered into a swap agreement with Connoisseur Media under which it will obtain four stations in and around Allentown, PA, in exchange for two Cumulus stations in Southern Connecticut. The company expects to complete both transactions in Q3 2019.

Cumulus President/CEO Mary G. Berner said, "These transactions are part of the continued execution of our portfolio optimization strategy. Both transactions are accretive, and the sale of KLOS-FM to Meruelo Media at an attractive multiple allows us to generate substantial cash, which can be used to further pay down debt and invest in high potential business opportunities. The Connoisseur Media swap significantly strengthens our presence in Allentown and the Lehigh Valley."

Under the deal with Connoisseur Media, Cumulus will receive WODE-FM, WWYY-FM, WEEX-AM and WTKZ-AM in and around Allentown, PA and Connoisseur Media will receive WEBE-FM in Westport, CT, and WICC-AM in Bridgeport, CT. The parties will begin programming each other's respective stations under Local Marketing Agreements on May 1.

Moelis & Company LLC represented Cumulus as financial advisor in the sale of KLOS-FM to Meruelo Media. MVP Capital represented Cumulus as financial advisor in the swap with Connoisseur Media. Jones Day represented Cumulus as legal counsel on both transactions.