Newspaper Publisher A. H. Belo Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2008 Financial Results

DALLAS, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Newspaper publisher A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE: AHC) reported fourth quarter and full year 2008 revenues of $160.0 million and $637.3 million, respectively, and net losses per share of ($1.62) and ($3.04) for the fourth quarter and full year 2008 respectively. The fourth quarter results include a charge of $1.5 million or $0.05 per share related to a reduction-in-force; $14.1 million or $0.48 per share in non-cash goodwill impairment at The Press-Enterprise; and $14.0 million or $0.47 per share in non-cash future pension obligations. Additionally, full year results include charges of $11.1 million or $0.37 per share for the Company's voluntary severance program in the third quarter, and $4.5 million or $0.15 per share related to the impairment of a 26-year-old printing press. The voluntary severance program and reduction-in-force are part of the Company's ongoing expense reduction initiatives.

The Company generated $5.9 million and $6.1 million in consolidated EBITDA for the fourth quarter and full year 2008, respectively, excluding the $14.0 million non-cash pension obligation. The aggregate newspaper EBITDA margin excluding all special charges mentioned above was 13 percent in the fourth quarter and 10 percent for the full year. EBITDA margins in the fourth quarter and for the full year 2008 were highest at The Providence Journal, followed by The Dallas Morning News.

The Company's borrowings of $10 million as of December 31, 2008 were unchanged from the third quarter, when the bank line was first utilized to fund costs associated with the voluntary severance program. The Company announced on January 30, 2009 that it amended its credit facility to become a $50 million asset-based revolving credit facility secured by all personal property assets of the Company and its subsidiaries and certain specified real property.

Robert W. Decherd, chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer, said, "A. H. Belo and all advertising-based businesses faced an unexpectedly difficult business environment in 2008. By realigning our expense structure to meet rapidly changing revenue conditions, A. H. Belo was able to stabilize EBITDA. The combined efforts of our corporate management team, operating company leadership, and every A. H. Belo employee enabled the Company to reduce on-going cash operating expenses by $45 million in 2008 versus 2007, despite significant increases in newsprint prices. While the challenges facing the newspaper industry are well chronicled, we believe that A. H. Belo's distinguishing characteristics, which we have described in the months before and since the spin-off, are significant attributes as the Company moves forward."

Fourth Quarter Highlights

Total revenue decreased 15 percent in the fourth quarter versus the prior year.

Advertising revenue, including print and Internet revenue, was down 22 percent, driven primarily by declines in classified revenue at The Dallas Morning News. AHC's Internet revenues accounted for 6.9 percent of total revenues in the quarter. Internet revenues were $11.1 million, 16 percent below the same period last year.

The Company continues its ongoing efforts to focus on quality and value-added circulation for its advertisers. In the fourth quarter, circulation revenue rose 12 percent primarily due to increased prices for The Dallas Morning News.

Despite the $1.5 million cost of the reduction-in-force and the one-time $14.0 million non-cash pension obligation, AHC's total consolidated operating expenses in the fourth quarter were $167.5 million or 0.7 percent less than the same period last year. This decrease was driven by declines in direct compensation and outside services. Newsprint expense increased slightly in the fourth quarter.

Full Year Highlights

Total revenue declined 14 percent for the full year 2008 versus the prior year.

Advertising revenue, including print and Internet revenue, decreased 19 percent, driven primarily by declines in classified revenue at The Dallas Morning News. AHC's Internet revenues accounted for 7.4 percent of total revenues for the year. Internet revenues were $47 million, 12 percent below the prior year.

In 2008, the Company focused on strengthening the brand equity of its print and online publications and driving quality circulation Company-wide. AHC's circulation revenue increased 9.5 percent versus the prior year.

For the full year, expense reduction initiatives resulted in a 2.7 percent or $18 million decrease in A. H. Belo's operating expenses, despite $12.6 million in voluntary severance and reduction-in-force costs and $14.0 million for the pension charge. Expenses at the operating unit level declined $6.9 million or 1.1 percent in 2008 versus the prior year in spite of these charges. Even though newsprint prices increased during 2008, newsprint expense declined 7.1 percent primarily as a result of reductions in page volume.

AHC's voluntary severance program and reduction-in-force in 2008 will result in annualized savings of approximately $29 million. As of December 31, 2008, A. H. Belo had approximately 2,950 full-time and 400 part-time employees.

Corporate & Non-Operating Company Results

Corporate and non-operating expenses declined by $4.3 million and $11 million, respectively, for the fourth quarter and full year 2008 versus the prior year, primarily due to a decline in outside services. 2007 corporate and non-operating expenses are based on an estimate of allocated amounts since AHC did not become a separate public company until February 8, 2008 when it was spun off from Belo Corp. AHC's 2007 historical financial information reflects allocations for services historically provided by Belo Corp., and these allocated costs may be different from the actual costs AHC will incur for these services in the future as a separate public company, including with respect to actual services provided to AHC by Belo Corp. under a services agreement and other agreements. In some instances, the costs incurred for these services as a separate public company may be higher than the share of total Belo Corp. expenses allocated to AHC historically.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Reconciliations of consolidated and newspaper EBITDA to net loss are included as exhibits to this release.

Financial Results Conference Call

AHC will conduct a conference call today at 12:30 p.m. CST to discuss financial and strategic results. The conference call will be available via Webcast by accessing the Company's Web site (www.ahbelo.com/invest) or by dialing 1-877-777-1973 (USA) or 612-338-9017 (International). A replay line will be available at 800-475-6701 (USA) or 320-365-3844 (International) from 3:00 p.m. CST on February 17 until 11:59 p.m. CST on February 24, 2009. The access code for the replay is 982075.

About A. H. Belo Corporation

A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE: AHC) headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a distinguished newspaper publishing and local news and information company that owns and operates four daily newspapers and a diverse group of Web sites. A. H. Belo publishes The Dallas Morning News, Texas' leading newspaper and winner of eight Pulitzer Prizes since 1986; The Providence Journal, the oldest continuously-published daily newspaper in the U.S. and winner of four Pulitzer Prizes; The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA), serving southern California's Inland Empire region and winner of one Pulitzer Prize; and the Denton Record-Chronicle. The Company publishes various specialty publications targeting niche audiences, and its partnerships and/or investments include the Yahoo! Newspaper Consortium and Classified Ventures, owner of cars.com. A. H. Belo also owns direct mail and commercial printing businesses. Additional information is available at www.ahbelo.com or by contacting Maribel Correa, director/Investor Relations, at 214-977-2702.

Statements in this communication concerning A. H. Belo Corporation's (the "Company's") business outlook or future economic performance, anticipated profitability, revenues, expenses, dividends, capital expenditures, investments, future financings, and other financial and non-financial items that are not historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" as the term is defined under applicable federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those statements.

Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, changes in capital market conditions and prospects, and other factors such as changes in advertising demand, interest rates, and newsprint prices; newspaper circulation trends and other circulation matters, including changes in readership patterns and demography, and audits and related actions by the Audit Bureau of Circulations; challenges in achieving expense reduction goals, and on schedule, and the resulting potential effects on operations; technological changes; development of Internet commerce; industry cycles; changes in pricing or other actions by competitors and suppliers; regulatory, tax and legal changes; adoption of new accounting standards or changes in existing accounting standards by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other accounting standard-setting bodies or authorities; the effects of Company acquisitions, dispositions, co-owned ventures, and investments; general economic conditions; significant armed conflict; and other factors beyond our control, as well as other risks described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and other public disclosures and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's information statement on Form 10 dated January 31, 2008.

    A. H. Belo Corporation
    Consolidated Statements of Operations

                           Three months ended       Twelve months ended
                              December 31,             December 31,
                              ------------             ------------
    In thousands,
     except per share
     amounts
                             2008         2007         2008       2007
    -----------------        ----         ----         ----       ----
                          (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited)
    Net operating revenues
      Advertising          $119,862     $153,175     $484,437   $600,335
      Circulation            32,438       28,914      123,381    112,635
      Other                   7,739        6,650       29,496     25,698
                              -----        -----       ------     ------
        Total net
         operating
         revenues           160,039      188,739      637,314    738,668

    Operating Costs and
     Expenses
      Salaries,
       wages and
       employee
       benefits              77,374       76,999      298,283    297,630
      Other
       production,
       distribution and
       operating costs       65,741       66,919      248,423    259,231
      Newsprint, ink
       and other
       supplies              24,379       24,789       94,609    102,501
      Impairment on
       printing press             -            -        4,535          -
      Goodwill
       impairment            14,145      344,424       14,145    344,424
      Depreciation           11,363       11,961       46,777     45,815
      Amortization            1,625        1,625        6,500      6,499
                              -----        -----        -----      -----
        Total
         operating
         costs and
         expenses           194,627      526,717      713,272  1,056,100

        Loss from
         operations         (34,588)    (337,978)     (75,958)  (317,432)

    Other income and expense
      Interest expense         (745)      (8,287)      (4,028)   (34,834)
      Other (expense)
       income, net             (629)         455          608      3,767
                               ----          ---          ---      -----
        Total other
         expense             (1,374)      (7,832)      (3,420)   (31,067)

    Earnings
      Loss before
       income taxes         (35,962)    (345,810)     (79,378)  (348,499)
      Income tax benefit     (2,832)      (2,175)     (17,075)    (1,487)
                             ------       ------      -------     ------

        Net Loss           $(33,130)   $(343,635)    $(62,303) $(347,012)
                           ========    =========     ========  =========

    Net loss per share
      Basic and Diluted      $(1.62)     $(16.80)      $(3.04)   $(16.97)

    Average shares
     outstanding
      Basic and Diluted      20,479       20,452       20,478     20,452

    Cash dividends
     declared per
     share                       $-           $-       $0.625         $-
                             ======       ======       ======     ======



    A. H. Belo Corporation
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                             ------------ ------------
                              December 31, December 31,
    In thousands                  2008         2007
    -------------             ------------ -----------
                              (unaudited)
    Assets
      Current assets
        Cash and temporary
         cash investments         $9,934       $6,874
        Accounts
         receivable, net          77,383       90,792
        Other current
         assets                   37,403       24,353
                                  ------       ------
      Total current assets       124,720      122,019

      Property, plant and
       equipment, net            263,743      307,788
      Intangible assets,
       net                       139,449      160,093
      Other assets                29,768       29,810
                                  ------       ------

    Total assets                $557,680     $619,710
                                ========     ========


    Liabilities and Shareholders'
     Equity
      Current liabilities
        Current portion of
         long term debt          $10,000           $-
        Accounts payable          32,950       25,384
        Accrued expenses          42,834       32,550
        Other current
         liabilities              29,358       62,468
                                  ------       ------
      Total current
       liabilities               115,142      120,402

      Long-term debt                   -      378,916
      Deferred income taxes        6,620       19,189
      Other liabilities           27,264       14,263
      Total shareholders'
       equity                    408,654       86,940
                                 -------       ------

    Total liabilities and
     shareholders' equity       $557,680     $619,710
                                ========     ========



    A. H. Belo Corporation
    Consolidated EBITDA

                      Three months ended  Twelve months ended
                         December 31,         December 31,
    ----------------     ------------         ------------
    In thousands
     (unaudited)        2008       2007      2008       2007
    ------------        ----       ----      ----       ----

      Consolidated
       EBITDA (1)     $(8,084)   $20,487   $(7,928)   $83,073
      Goodwill
       impairment     (14,145)  (344,424)  (14,145)  (344,424)
      Depreciation
       and
       Amortization   (12,988)   (13,586)  (53,277)   (52,314)
      Interest
       Expense           (745)    (8,287)   (4,028)   (34,834)
      Income Tax
       Benefit          2,832      2,175    17,075      1,487
                        -----      -----    ------      -----
      Net Loss       $(33,130) $(343,635) $(62,303) $(347,012)
                     ========  =========  ========  =========



    A. H. Belo Corporation
    Newspaper EBITDA

                      Three months ended  Twelve months ended
                         December 31,         December 31,
    ----------------     ------------         ------------
    In thousands
     (unaudited)        2008       2007      2008       2007
    ------------        ----       ----      ----       ----


      Newspaper
       EBITDA (1)      $6,197    $37,980   $36,864   $135,855
      Corporate &
       Non-
       Operating
       Company
       Expenses       (13,652)   (17,948)  (45,400)   (56,549)
      Other
       (expense)
       income, net       (629)       455       608      3,767
      Goodwill
       impairment     (14,145)  (344,424)  (14,145)  (344,424)
      Depreciation
       and
       Amortization   (12,988)   (13,586)  (53,277)   (52,314)
      Interest
       Expense           (745)    (8,287)   (4,028)   (34,834)
      Income Tax
       Benefit          2,832      2,175    17,075      1,487
                        -----      -----    ------      -----
      Net Loss       $(33,130) $(343,635) $(62,303) $(347,012)
                     ========  =========  ========  =========

Note 1: The Company defines Consolidated EBITDA as net earnings before interest expense, income taxes, goodwill impairment, depreciation and amortization and Newspaper EBITDA as net earnings before corporate and non-operating company expenses, other income net, interest expense, income taxes, goodwill impairment, depreciation and amortization. Neither Consolidated EBITDA nor Newspaper EBITDA is a measure of financial performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Management uses both measures in internal analyses as a supplemental measure of the financial performance of the Company to assist it with determining bonus achievement, performance comparisons against its peer group of companies, as well as capital spending and other investing decisions. They are also common alternative measures of performance used by investors, financial analysts, and rating agencies to evaluate financial performance. Neither Consolidated EBITDA nor Newspaper EBITDA should be considered in isolation or as a substitute for cash flows provided by operating activities or other income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and this non-GAAP measure may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.