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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549  

FORM 8-K 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 26, 2020

 

A. H. BELO CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)  

 

Commission file number: 1-33741

 

Texas

 

38-3765318

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

P. O. Box 224866, Dallas, Texas 75222-4866

 

(214977-7342

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol

Name of each exchange on which registered

Series A Common Stock, $0.01 par value

AHC

New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  


Item 2.02.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 26, 2020, A. H. Belo Corporation announced its consolidated financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2020. A copy of the announcement press release is furnished with this report as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number

Description

99.1

 

Press Release issued by A. H. Belo Corporation on October 26, 2020

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 



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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: October 26, 2020

 

 

A. H. BELO CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Katy Murray

 

 

 

Katy Murray

 

 

 

Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer

EX 991-Q3 2020 Earnings Release

Exhibit 99.1

Picture 2



A. H. Belo Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results



DALLAS –  A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE: AHC) today reported a  third quarter 2020 net loss of $0.1 million, or $(0.00) per share, and an operating loss of $2.4 million.  In the third quarter of 2019,  the Company reported a net loss of  $4.0 million, or $(0.19) per share, and an operating loss of $7.0 million.

For the third quarter of 2020, on a non-GAAP basis, A. H. Belo reported an operating loss adjusted for certain items (adjusted operating loss) of $0.1 million, an improvement of $1.4 million or 92.2 percent when compared to an adjusted operating loss of $1.6 million reported in the third quarter of 2019.

Robert W. Decherd, chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer, said,  The events of 2020 continue to create challenges for managing A. H. Belo’s businesses while we remain attentive to the longer term strategies that will enable the Company to become a sustainably profitable digital media enterprise. Colleagues throughout the Company have responded to the many effects of the coronavirus pandemic with ingenuity and resolve, and everyone has made sacrifices to ensure that our communities receive the highest quality news, information and insights possible. As the country enters the next phase of the pandemic this fall and winter, we expect operating conditions to remain mostly the same. The Company’s balance sheet continues to be a significant advantage.”


 

A. H. Belo Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results

October 26, 2020

Page 2

 

 

Third Quarter Results



Total revenue was $37.7 million in the third quarter of 2020,  a decrease of $5.3 million or 12.3 percent when compared to the third quarter of 2019. 

Revenue from advertising and marketing services, including print and digital revenues, was $17.5 million in the third quarter of 2020,  a decrease of $4.1 million or 19.2 percent when compared to the $21.6 million reported for the third quarter of 2019.

Circulation revenue was $16.1 million, a decrease of $0.7 million or 4.2 percent when compared to the third quarter of 2019. The decline is primarily due to a decrease in home delivery and single copy volumes, partially offset by rate increases and an increase of $0.4 million or 34.5 percent in digital-only subscription revenue.

Printing, distribution and other revenue decreased $0.5 million, or 10.3 percent, to $4.2 million, primarily due to a reduction in brokered and commercial printing, partially offset by an increase in shared mail packaging revenue.

Total consolidated operating expense in the third quarter of 2020, on a GAAP basis, was $40.2 million, a decrease of $9.9 million or 19.7 percent compared to the third quarter of 2019.  Excluding the 2019 loss of $2.9 million from asset disposals and impairments, the improvement is primarily due to decreases of $3.0 million in employee compensation and benefits expense, $1.5 million in newsprint, ink and other supplies expense, and $1.1 million in outside services expense.

In the third quarter of 2020, on a non-GAAP basis, adjusted operating expense was $41.0 million, an improvement of $7.1 million or 14.7 percent when compared to $48.1 million of adjusted operating expense in the third quarter of 2019. The improvement is primarily due to expense decreases in employee compensation and benefits,  newsprint expense, and reductions from continued management of discretionary spending.


 

A. H. Belo Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results

October 26, 2020

Page 3

 

 

As of September 30, 2020,  the Company had 750 employees, a decrease of 120 or 13.8 percent when compared to the prior year period. Cash and cash equivalents were $43.2 million and the Company had no debt.


 

A. H. Belo Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results

October 26, 2020

Page 4

 

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures





Reconciliations of operating income (loss) to adjusted operating loss, total net operating revenue to adjusted operating revenue, and total operating costs and expense to adjusted operating expense are included in the exhibits to this release.

 


 

A. H. Belo Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results

October 26, 2020

Page 5

 

 

Financial Results Conference Call





A. H. Belo Corporation will conduct a conference call on Tuesday, October 27, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. CDT to discuss financial results. The conference call will be available via webcast by accessing the Company’s website at www.ahbelo.com/invest.  An archive of the webcast will be available at www.ahbelo.com in the Investor Relations section.

To access the listen-only conference call, dial 1-877-226-8152 and enter the following access code when prompted: 4445036.  A replay line will be available at 1-866-207-1041 from 12:00 p.m. CDT on October 27, 2020 until 11:59 p.m. CST on November 2, 2020.  The access code for the replay is 5679783.


 

A. H. Belo Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results

October 26, 2020

Page 6

 

 

About A. H. Belo Corporation





A. H. Belo Corporation is the leading local news and information publishing company in Texas. The Company has a growing presence in emerging media and digital marketing, and maintains capabilities related to commercial printing, distribution and direct mail. A. H. Belo delivers news and information in innovative ways to a broad range of audiences with diverse interests and lifestyles. For additional information, visit www.ahbelo.com or email invest@ahbelo.com.



Statements in this communication concerning A. H. Belo Corporation’s business outlook or future economic performance, revenues, expenses, 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, trends and uncertainties are, in most instances, beyond the Company’s control, and include changes in advertising demand and other economic conditions; consumers’ tastes; newsprint prices; program costs; labor relations; cybersecurity incidents; technological obsolescence; and the current and future impacts of the COVID-19 public health crisis. Among other risks, there can be no guarantee that the board of directors will approve a quarterly dividend in future quarters; as well as other risks described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Company’s other public disclosures and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements, which are as of the date of this filing, are not updated to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement.





 


 

 





A. H. Belo Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

In thousands, except share and per share amounts (unaudited)

 

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

Net Operating Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertising and marketing services

 

$

17,474 

 

$

21,616 

 

$

52,392 

 

$

70,957 

Circulation

 

 

16,111 

 

 

16,809 

 

 

48,248 

 

 

51,095 

Printing, distribution and other

 

 

4,157 

 

 

4,632 

 

 

12,860 

 

 

14,709 

Total net operating revenue

 

 

37,742 

 

 

43,057 

 

 

113,500 

 

 

136,761 

Operating Costs and Expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee compensation and benefits

 

 

16,499 

 

 

19,504 

 

 

52,512 

 

 

60,456 

Other production, distribution and operating costs

 

 

19,307 

 

 

21,171 

 

 

58,958 

 

 

67,200 

Newsprint, ink and other supplies

 

 

2,476 

 

 

3,972 

 

 

8,018 

 

 

12,741 

Depreciation

 

 

1,753 

 

 

2,289 

 

 

5,320 

 

 

7,008 

Amortization

 

 

63 

 

 

140 

 

 

191 

 

 

356 

(Gain) loss on sale/disposal of assets, net

 

 

61 

 

 

1,362 

 

 

56 

 

 

(24,546)

Asset impairments

 

 

 —

 

 

1,593 

 

 

 —

 

 

1,593 

Total operating costs and expense

 

 

40,159 

 

 

50,031 

 

 

125,055 

 

 

124,808 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

(2,417)

 

 

(6,974)

 

 

(11,555)

 

 

11,953 

Other income, net

 

 

2,095 

 

 

1,161 

 

 

4,778 

 

 

3,123 

Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes

 

 

(322)

 

 

(5,813)

 

 

(6,777)

 

 

15,076 

Income tax provision (benefit)

 

 

(224)

 

 

(1,808)

 

 

(1,644)

 

 

4,688 

Net Income (Loss)

 

$

(98)

 

$

(4,005)

 

$

(5,133)

 

$

10,388 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per Share Basis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted

 

$

(0.00)

 

$

(0.19)

 

$

(0.24)

 

$

0.48 

Number of common shares used in the per share calculation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted

 

 

21,410,423 

 

 

21,476,029 

 

 

21,410,423 

 

 

21,553,625 



 


 

 

A. H. Belo Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets





 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

September 30,

 

December 31,

In thousands (unaudited)

 

2020

 

2019

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

43,174 

 

$

48,626 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

15,174 

 

 

18,441 

Notes receivable

 

 

22,775 

 

 

 —

Other current assets

 

 

10,406 

 

 

7,737 

Total current assets

 

 

91,529 

 

 

74,804 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

13,479 

 

 

18,453 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

 

21,496 

 

 

21,371 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

128 

 

 

319 

Deferred income taxes, net

 

 

27 

 

 

50 

Long-term note receivable

 

 

 —

 

 

22,400 

Other assets

 

 

2,608 

 

 

3,648 

Total assets

 

$

129,267 

 

$

141,045 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

5,792 

 

$

6,103 

Accrued compensation and other current liabilities

 

 

12,613 

 

 

13,337 

Contract liabilities

 

 

14,860 

 

 

12,098 

Total current liabilities

 

 

33,265 

 

 

31,538 

Long-term pension liabilities

 

 

18,893 

 

 

23,039 

Long-term operating lease liabilities

 

 

22,555 

 

 

23,120 

Other liabilities

 

 

4,718 

 

 

5,611 

Total liabilities

 

 

79,431 

 

 

83,308 

Total shareholders' equity

 

 

49,836 

 

 

57,737 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

129,267 

 

$

141,045 

 


 

 

A. H. Belo Corporation - Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Reconciliation of Operating Income (Loss) to Adjusted Operating Loss







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

In thousands (unaudited)

 

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

Total net operating revenue

 

$

37,742 

 

$

43,057 

 

$

113,500 

 

$

136,761 

Total operating costs and expense

 

 

40,159 

 

 

50,031 

 

 

125,055 

 

 

124,808 

Operating Income (Loss)

 

$

(2,417)

 

$

(6,974)

 

$

(11,555)

 

$

11,953 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total net operating revenue

 

$

37,742 

 

$

43,057 

 

$

113,500 

 

$

136,761 

Addback:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertising contra revenue

 

 

3,012 

 

 

3,380 

 

 

5,400 

 

 

9,116 

Circulation contra revenue

 

 

104 

 

 

48 

 

 

205 

 

 

368 

Adjusted Operating Revenue

 

$

40,858 

 

$

46,485 

 

$

119,105 

 

$

146,245 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating costs and expense

 

$

40,159 

 

$

50,031 

 

$

125,055 

 

$

124,808 

Addback:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertising contra expense

 

 

3,012 

 

 

3,380 

 

 

5,400 

 

 

9,116 

Circulation contra expense

 

 

104 

 

 

48 

 

 

205 

 

 

368 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

 

1,753 

 

 

2,289 

 

 

5,320 

 

 

7,008 

Amortization

 

 

63 

 

 

140 

 

 

191 

 

 

356 

Severance expense

 

 

418 

 

 

20 

 

 

621 

 

 

1,421 

(Gain) loss on sale/disposal of assets, net

 

 

61 

 

 

1,362 

 

 

56 

 

 

(24,546)

Asset impairments

 

 

 —

 

 

1,593 

 

 

 —

 

 

1,593 

Adjusted Operating Expense

 

$

40,980 

 

$

48,055 

 

$

124,472 

 

$

148,460 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating revenue

 

$

40,858 

 

$

46,485 

 

$

119,105 

 

$

146,245 

Adjusted operating expense

 

 

40,980 

 

 

48,055 

 

 

124,472 

 

 

148,460 

Adjusted Operating Loss

 

$

(122)

 

$

(1,570)

 

$

(5,367)

 

$

(2,215)



The Company calculates adjusted operating income (loss) by adjusting operating income (loss) to exclude depreciation, amortization, severance expense, (gain) loss on sale/disposal of assets, and asset impairments (“adjusted operating income (loss)”). The Company believes that inclusion of certain noncash expenses and other items in the results makes for more difficult comparisons between years and with peer group companies.

The Company adopted the new revenue guidance (Topic 606)  using the modified retrospective approach as of January 1, 2018. While the Company adjusts operating revenue and expense for non-GAAP presentation, these adjustments have no effect on adjusted operating income (loss).

Adjusted operating income (loss) is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Management uses adjusted operating income (loss) and similar measures in internal analyses as supplemental measures of the Company’s financial performance, and for performance comparisons versus its peer group of companies. Management uses this non-GAAP financial measure for the purposes of evaluating consolidated Company performance. The Company therefore believes that the non-GAAP measure presented provides useful information to investors by allowing them to view the Company’s business through the eyes of management and the Board of Directors, facilitating comparison of results across historical periods and providing a focus on the underlying ongoing operating performance of its business. Adjusted operating income (loss) should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss), cash flows provided by (used for) operating activities or other comparable measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, this non-GAAP measure may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies.