Newspaper Publisher A. H. Belo Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2010 Financial Results
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DALLAS, July 26, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Newspaper publisher A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE: AHC) today reported a net loss of $0.01 per share for the second quarter of 2010 compared to a net loss of $0.34 per share in the second quarter of 2009. Consolidated EBITDA was $11.2 million, an increase of $3.4 million compared to the second quarter of 2009, and includes the following items: a $5.4 million gain on the sale of a parking garage in Providence, Rhode Island; a $1.2 million gain related to the reversal of an accrual for the modification of a service agreement; and a $2.5 million charge related to a legal settlement. Similar to the first quarter of 2010, consolidated EBITDA in the second quarter of 2010 includes an incremental pension charge. The second quarter charge was $5.5 million, and the Company anticipates $2.9 million of pension expense during the remainder of the year. When these four items are excluded, consolidated EBITDA in the second quarter of 2010 was $12.6 million, an increase of $4.8 million compared to the comparable and unadjusted consolidated EBITDA figure in the second quarter of 2009. Second quarter results include $4.6 million of bonus accrual, and the Company anticipates a total bonus expense of $5.0 to $6.0 million in 2010. The Company cancelled most non-sales bonuses in 2009.
Robert W. Decherd, chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Second quarter total revenue decreased 4.7 percent compared to 2009. This rate of decline is less than in the first quarter of 2010 and is the lowest year-to-year percent decline in more than two years. Unadjusted consolidated EBITDA increased 43.7 percent compared to the second quarter of 2009. Improvement in the Company's EBITDA was primarily driven by The Dallas Morning News."
"As of June 30, the Company had approximately $60 million of cash and cash equivalents, no borrowings outstanding under its bank credit facility, and remained in compliance with the bank covenants. We continue to manage the business to maximize operating cash flow over the long-term and monetize real estate in transactions that create value for shareholders at appropriate prices," Decherd said.
Operating Results
Total revenue was $121.6 million in the second quarter, a decrease of 4.7percent compared to the second quarter of 2009. The percent decline in total revenue was lowest at The Dallas Morning News, followed by The Providence Journal and The Press-Enterprise. Advertising revenue, including print and digital revenue, decreased 12.0 percent. Although digital revenue decreased 4.3 percent to $9.3 million, non-classified digital revenue increased 2.5 percent to $4.2 million. Due primarily to circulation pricing actions implemented in Dallas last year, circulation revenue increased 6.6 percent. Other revenue increased 35.0 percent.
Total consolidated operating expenses in the second quarter of 2010 were $126.1 million, a decrease of 4.5 percent compared to 2009. Excluding the impact of pension expense, legal settlement expense and the gain related to the reversal of an accrual, operating expenses in the second quarter of 2010 were $119.3 million, a decrease of 9.6 percent compared to 2009. The Company's newsprint expense in the second quarter of 2010 was $9.2 million, a decrease of 27.1 percent compared to 2009. In the second quarter of 2010, newsprint consumption decreased 3.8 percent and newsprint cost per metric ton decreased 24.3 percent compared to 2009. The average purchase price per metric ton for newsprint increased 1.3 percent in the second quarter of 2010 compared to 2009.
Newspaper EBITDA was $10.1 million in the second quarter, a decrease of $3.0 million compared to the second quarter of 2009. This decrease was primarily attributable to incremental pension, bonus and legal settlement expenses. Excluding pension and legal settlement expenses, newspaper EBITDA was $18.1 million, an increase of 38.2 percent; the newspaper EBITDA margin was 14.9 percent; and the newspaper EBITDA margin was highest at The Providence Journal, followed by The Dallas Morning News and The Press-Enterprise.
Corporate
In the second quarter of 2010, corporate and non-operating expenses, net of costs allocated to operating units, were $5.8 million, an increase of 2.6 percent compared to the second quarter of 2009.
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 1:00 p.m. CDT to discuss financial results. The conference call will be available via Webcast by accessing the Company's Web site (www.ahbelo.com/invest) or by dialing 1-800-230-1096 (USA) or 612-332-0418 (International). A replay line will be available at 800-475-6701 (USA) or 320-365-3844 (International) from 3:00 p.m. CDT on July 26 until 11:59 p.m. CDT on August 2, 2010. The access code for the replay is 163974.
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 nine 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 http://www.ahbelo.com/ or by contacting David A. Gross, vice president/Investor Relations and Strategic Analysis, at 214-977-4810.
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, impairments, pension plan contributions, real estate sales, 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 and newsprint prices; newspaper circulation trends and other circulation matters, including changes in readership methods, 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; pension plan matters; general economic conditions and changes in interest rates; 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, 2009, and other public disclosures and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
A. H. Belo Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Three months ended
June 30,
--------
In thousands, except per share
amounts (unaudited) 2010 2009
------------------------------ ---- ----
Net operating revenues
Advertising $77,004 $87,492
Circulation 35,456 33,266
Other 9,110 6,746
Total net operating revenues 121,570 127,504
Operating Costs and Expenses
Salaries, wages and employee
benefits 56,817 51,720
Other production, distribution
and operating costs 47,034 50,867
Newsprint, ink and other
supplies 12,492 16,425
Asset impairment - 1,749
Depreciation 8,441 9,662
Amortization 1,310 1,625
----- -----
Total operating costs and
expenses 126,094 132,048
Loss from operations (4,524) (4,544)
Other income and expense
Interest expense (203) (291)
Other income, net 5,967 (702)
----- ----
Total other (expense) income 5,764 (993)
Earnings
Income (loss) before income
taxes 1,240 (5,537)
Income tax expense (benefit) 1,411 1,534
----- -----
Net loss $(171) $(7,071)
===== =======
Net loss per share
Basic and diluted $(0.01) $(0.34)
Average shares outstanding
Basic and diluted 20,950 20,537
Six months ended
June 30,
--------
In thousands, except per share
amounts (unaudited) 2010 2009
------------------------------ ---- ----
Net operating revenues
Advertising $149,190 $176,823
Circulation 71,042 64,980
Other 17,097 14,195
Total net operating revenues 237,329 255,998
Operating Costs and Expenses
Salaries, wages and employee benefits 113,071 114,614
Other production, distribution and
operating costs 93,066 106,734
Newsprint, ink and other supplies 23,713 36,043
Asset impairment - 82,689
Depreciation 17,605 20,198
Amortization 2,620 3,249
----- -----
Total operating costs and expenses 250,075 363,527
Loss from operations (12,746) (107,529)
Other income and expense
Interest expense (406) (591)
Other income, net 5,992 120
----- ---
Total other (expense) income 5,586 (471)
Earnings
Income (loss) before income taxes (7,160) (108,000)
Income tax expense (benefit) 2,139 (222)
----- ----
Net loss $(9,299) $(107,778)
======= =========
Net loss per share
Basic and diluted $(0.45) $(5.25)
Average shares outstanding
Basic and diluted 20,860 20,521
A. H. Belo Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
June 30, December 31,
In thousands 2010 2009
------------ ---- ----
(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $60,009 $24,503
Accounts receivable, net 47,025 62,977
Other current assets 32,304 34,464
Total current assets 139,338 121,944
Property, plant and equipment,
net 185,551 203,329
Intangible assets, net 49,390 52,009
Other assets 26,465 27,145
------ ------
Total assets $400,744 $404,427
======== ========
Liabilities and Shareholders'
Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable $16,395 $19,191
Accrued expenses 37,768 29,788
Advance subscription payments 24,211 26,713
------ ------
Total current liabilities 78,374 75,692
Deferred income taxes 1,366 223
Other liabilities 6,915 6,915
Total shareholders' equity 314,089 321,597
------- -------
Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity $400,744 $404,427
======== ========
A. H. Belo Corporation
Consolidated EBITDA
Three months ended Six months ended
June 30, June 30,
-------- --------
In
thousands
(unaudited) 2010 2009 2010 2009
------------ ---- ---- ---- ----
Consolidated
EBITDA
(1) $11,194 $7,790 $13,471 $(1,273)
Asset
impairment - (1,749) - (82,689)
Depreciation
and
Amortization (9,751) (11,287) (20,225) (23,447)
Interest
Expense (203) (291) (406) (591)
Income
Tax
Benefit
(Expense) (1,411) (1,534) (2,139) 222
------ ------ ------ ---
Net
Loss $(171) $(7,071) $(9,299) $(107,778)
===== ======= ======= =========
A. H. Belo Corporation
Newspaper EBITDA
Three months ended
June 30,
--------
In thousands (unaudited) 2010 2009
------------------------ ---- ----
Newspaper EBITDA (1) $10,094 $13,126
Corporate & Non-
Operating (4,867) (4,633)
Company Expenses
Other income, net 5,967 (702)
Asset impairment - (1,749)
Depreciation and
Amortization (9,751) (11,287)
Interest Expense (203) (291)
Income Tax Benefit
(Expense) (1,411) (1,534)
------ ------
Net Loss $(171) $(7,071)
===== =======
Six months ended
June 30,
--------
In thousands (unaudited) 2010 2009
------------------------ ---- ----
Newspaper EBITDA (1) $19,527 $10,807
Corporate & Non-
Operating (12,048) (12,200)
Company Expenses
Other income, net 5,992 120
Asset impairment - (82,689)
Depreciation and
Amortization (20,225) (23,447)
Interest Expense (406) (591)
Income Tax Benefit
(Expense) (2,139) 222
------ ---
Net Loss $(9,299) $(107,778)
======= =========
(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.