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FAIRPORT, N.Y., Nov 07, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- GateHouse Media, Inc. (the "Company" or "GateHouse Media") (OTC: GHSE) today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.
The Company reported total revenues of $171.6 million in the quarter, an increase of 6.4% over the third quarter of 2007. On a same-store basis, As Adjusted Revenues for the Company were $174.6 million in the quarter, decreasing 5.1% over the prior year. Operating income for the third quarter was $9.8 million as compared to $12.1 million in the third quarter of 2007. As Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $32.7 million, a decrease of 20.8% on a same store basis.
GateHouse Media's management utilizes As Adjusted Revenues and As Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the Company's performance, cash flows and liquidity because these metrics exclude non-cash items such as depreciation and amortization, non-cash compensation expense and one-time costs associated with integrating acquisitions and realizing synergy cost savings. GateHouse Media also uses As Adjusted EBITDA, excluding corporate costs, to assess the performance of its core local businesses.
Third Quarter 2008
Total reported revenues reached $171.6 million, an increase of 6.4% over the prior year. As Adjusted Revenues for the quarter were $174.6 million, a decline of 5.1% on a same store basis. Local advertising revenues continued to hold up well given the current economic environment declining only 1.1% on a same store basis. Classified revenues continue to be the primary driver of revenue declines with a 21.0% decline on a same store basis accounting for 97.0% of the Company's total revenue decline. The classified advertising weakness was seen across all three major categories: help wanted, real estate and auto. Online revenues continued to grow, increasing 34.0% on a same store basis, consistent with the first half of 2008. Circulation revenues in the quarter increased by 4.0%. Commercial printing and other revenues declined 21.6% on a same store basis due to lower commercial printing projects, which is typical in a slow economy.
As Adjusted EBITDA declined 20.8% to $32.7 million on a same store basis with margins declining from 22.4% to 18.7% over the period. A combination of the lower classified revenue and flat expenses year over year contributed to the decline in margins. The Company was successful in reducing approximately $8.0 million in controllable costs in the third quarter. Unfortunately those reductions were offset by increases in newsprint costs, delivery costs, health care costs and bad debt expense, resulting in very slight expense declines for the quarter versus prior year.
Non-cash compensation expense for Restricted Stock Grants (RSGs) in the third quarter was $0.8 million. One-time costs incurred or accrued in the quarter were $4.3 million. These were charges related primarily to integration of the Company's acquisitions in order to realize permanent expense reductions, and to reduce future capital expenditure needs, as well as staff reductions taken in order to reduce the cost basis in light of the current revenue environment.
Levered Free Cash Flow for the quarter was $9.8 million compared with $15.8 million for the same quarter in 2007.
During the quarter, the Company paid off its revolving credit facility. With the revolving credit facility at zero, the Company is not subject to any leverage test under its long term credit facility. The Company does not intend to borrow on the revolving credit facility in the near term and intends to fund working capital needs with cash from operations.
Earnings Call
The Company has scheduled a conference call to discuss the financial results on November 7, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (877) 627-6511 (from within the U.S.) or (719) 325- 4851 (from outside of the U.S.) ten minutes prior to the scheduled start and referencing the "GateHouse Media Third Quarter Earnings Call."
A webcast of the conference call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at www.gatehousemedia.com. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download the necessary software required to listen to the internet broadcast. A replay of the webcast will be available for three months following the call.
For those who cannot listen to the live call, a replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 7, 2008 by dialing (888) 203-1112 (from within the U.S.) or (719) 457-0820 (from outside of the U.S.) please reference access code "8740510." A copy of this earnings release and quarterly financial supplement will be posted on the Investors section of the GateHouse Media website.
About GateHouse Media, Inc.
GateHouse Media, Inc., headquartered in Fairport, New York, is one of the largest publishers of locally based print and online media in the United States as measured by its 92 daily publications. GateHouse Media currently serves local audiences of more than 10 million per week across 21 states through hundreds of community publications and local websites. GateHouse Media is traded in the over-the-counter market under the symbol "GHSE."
For more information regarding GateHouse Media and to be added to our email distribution list, please visit www.gatehousemedia.com.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
A non-GAAP financial measure is generally defined as one that purports to measure historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows, but excludes or includes amounts that would not be so adjusted in the most comparable GAAP measure. GateHouse Media defines and uses Adjusted EBITDA, As Adjusted EBITDA, As Adjusted Revenues and Levered Free Cash Flow, non-GAAP financial measures, as set forth below. The Company strongly urges stockholders and other interested persons not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate its business. In addition, because Adjusted EBITDA, As Adjusted EBITDA, As Adjusted Revenues and Levered Free Cash Flow are not measures of financial performance under GAAP and are susceptible to varying calculations, these non-GAAP measures, as presented in this press release, may differ from and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.
Adjusted EBITDA, As Adjusted EBITDA, As Adjusted Revenues and Levered Free Cash Flow
The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest, income tax expense (benefit), depreciation and amortization and other non- recurring or non-cash items. The Company defines As Adjusted EBITDA as Adjusted EBITDA before other non-cash items such as non-cash compensation and non-recurring integration and reorganization costs. The Company defines As Adjusted Revenues as total revenues plus revenues of discontinued operations while adjusting for the purchase accounting impact on revenues of the SureWest acquisition. The Company defines Levered Free Cash Flow as As Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures, cash taxes and interest expense.
Management's Use of Adjusted EBITDA, As Adjusted EBITDA, As Adjusted Revenues and Levered Free Cash Flow
Adjusted EBITDA, As Adjusted EBITDA, As Adjusted Revenues and Levered Free Cash Flow are not measurements of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to income from operations, net income (loss), cash flow from continuing operating activities or any other measure of performance or liquidity derived in accordance with GAAP. GateHouse Media's management believes these non-GAAP measures, as defined above, are useful to investors for the following reasons:
-- Evaluating performance and identifying trends in day-to-day performance because the items excluded have little or no significance on its day-to-day operations;
-- Providing assessments of controllable expenses that afford management the ability to make decisions which are expected to facilitate meeting current financial goals as well as achieving optimal financial performance; and
-- Indicators for management to determine if adjustments to current spending decisions are needed.
Adjusted EBITDA, As Adjusted EBITDA, As Adjusted Revenues and Levered Free Cash Flow provide GateHouse Media with measures of financial performance, independent of items that are beyond the control of management in the short- term, such as depreciation and amortization, taxation and interest expense associated with its capital structure. These metrics measure GateHouse Media's financial performance based on operational factors that management can impact in the short-term, namely the cost structure or expenses of the organization. Adjusted EBITDA, As Adjusted EBITDA, As Adjusted Revenues and Levered Free Cash Flow are some of the metrics used by senior management and the Board of Directors to review the financial performance of the business on a monthly basis. In addition, GateHouse Media's management utilizes these metrics to evaluate the Company's performance, along with other criteria, to determine the funds available for paying the quarterly dividend.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain items in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, statements relating to progress made by the Company in its integration efforts, growth in revenues and cash flow, on-line revenues and potential acquisition opportunities. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "potential," "intend," "expect," "endeavor," "seek," "anticipate," "estimate," "overestimate," "underestimate," "believe," "could," "would," "project," "predict," "continue" or other similar words or expressions. Forward looking statements are based on certain assumptions or estimates, discuss future expectations, describe future plans and strategies, contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition or state other forward-looking information. The Company's ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, actual results and performance could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations and future prospects or which could cause events or circumstances to differ from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to close on a timely basis upon announced or contemplated transactions, unexpected liabilities arising from any transaction or that the Company will not receive the expected benefits from the transaction, the Company's limited operating history on a combined basis, the Company's ability to generate sufficient cash flow to cover required interest, long-term obligations and dividends, the effect of the Company's indebtedness and long-term obligations on its liquidity, the Company's ability to effectively manage its growth, unforeseen costs associated with the acquisition of new properties, the Company's ability to find suitably priced acquisitions, the Company's ability to integrate acquired assets and businesses, any increases in the price or reduction in the availability of newsprint, seasonal and other fluctuations affecting the Company's revenues and operating results, any declines in circulation, the Company's ability to obtain additional capital on terms acceptable to it, the Company's vulnerability to economic downturns, regulatory changes or acts of nature in certain geographic areas, increases in competition for skilled personnel, departure of key officers, increases in market interest rates, the cost and difficulty of complying with increasing and evolving regulation, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including but not limited to its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC under Commission File Number 001-33091. When considering forward- looking statements, readers should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in such SEC filings. Readers are also cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's views as of the date of this press release and/or the associated earnings conference call. The factors discussed above and the other factors noted in the Company's SEC filings could cause actual results to differ significantly from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements and expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
GATEHOUSE MEDIA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Three months Three months Nine months Nine months
ended ended ended ended
September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
2008 2007 2008 2007
Revenues:
Advertising $123,821 $117,910 $374,562 $304,244
Circulation 37,857 34,449 109,785 82,891
Commercial printing
and other 9,927 8,935 30,541 23,665
Total revenues 171,605 161,294 514,888 410,800
Operating costs and
expenses:
Operating costs 96,091 88,042 288,028 220,703
Selling, general,
and administrative 47,220 41,499 145,112 111,674
Depreciation and
amortization 16,749 16,336 53,394 40,400
Integration and
reorganization
costs 1,636 2,904 5,846 5,357
Impairment of long-
lived assets 118 368 102,635 569
Loss on sale of
assets 4 13 210 35
Goodwill and
mastheads
impairment - - 336,096 -
Operating income
(loss) 9,787 12,132 (416,433) 32,062
Interest expense 21,456 22,304 69,089 54,900
Amortization of
deferred financing
costs 340 511 1,504 1,714
Loss on early
extinguishment of
debt - 2,240 - 2,240
Unrealized loss on
derivative
instrument 3,769 2,348 5,525 1,973
Other income (41) (6) (5) (214)
Loss from
continuing
operations
before income
taxes (15,737) (15,265) (492,546) (28,551)
Income tax benefit (207) (5,365) (13,523) (9,386)
Loss from
continuing
operations (15,530) (9,900) (479,023) (19,165)
Income (loss) from
discontinued
operations, net
of income taxes (2,976)(a) 1,146 (11,523)(a) 2,368
Net loss $(18,506) $(8,754) $(490,546) $(16,797)
Loss per share:
Basic and diluted:
Loss from
continuing
operations $(0.27) $(0.19) $(8.40) $(0.45)
Income (loss) from
discontinued
operations, net
of income taxes (0.05) 0.02 (0.20) 0.06
Net loss $(0.32) $(0.17) $(8.60) $(0.39)
Dividends declared
per share $- $0.40 $0.20 $1.17
Basic weighted
average shares
outstanding 57,110,077 52,327,761 57,034,723 42,893,602
Diluted weighted
average shares
outstanding 57,110,077 52,327,761 57,034,723 42,893,602
(a) Included in income from discontinued operations, net of taxes are
total revenues of $2,989 for the three months ended September 30, 2008
primarily related to Milton, PA, Sayre, PA, Oswego, NY and Nebraska and
$14,987 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 primarily from Yankton,
SD, Winter Haven, FL and Telluride, CO, Milton, PA, Sayre, PA, Oswego, NY and
Nebraska.
GATEHOUSE MEDIA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share data)
September 30, December 31,
2008 2007
(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $12,418 $12,096
Accounts receivable, net of
allowance for doubtful accounts
of $4,328 and $3,874 at September
30, 2008 and December 31, 2007,
respectively 73,697 85,474
Inventory 10,735 9,046
Prepaid expenses 4,533 4,514
Deferred income taxes 3,890 3,890
Other current assets 4,535 4,208
Assets held for sale - 1,540
Total current assets 109,808 120,768
Property, plant, and equipment,
net of accumulated depreciation
of $51,054 and $30,597 at
September 30, 2008 and December
31, 2007, respectively 203,782 210,209
Goodwill 387,314 701,852
Intangible assets, net of
accumulated amortization of
$90,280 and $58,111 at September
30, 2008 and December 31, 2007,
respectively 625,432 808,794
Deferred financing costs, net 7,395 8,416
Other assets 1,483 1,692
Long-term assets held for sale 13,664 23,264
Total assets $1,348,878 $1,874,995
Liabilities and Stockholders'
Equity (Deficit)
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term
liabilities $1,342 $1,047
Short-term note payable 13,354 10,000
Short-term debt 17,000 -
Accounts payable 18,869 13,190
Accrued expenses 37,150 40,672
Accrued interest 7,878 9,947
Deferred revenue 29,713 29,840
Dividend payable - 23,126
Liabilities held for sale - 623
Total current liabilities 125,306 128,445
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt 1,195,000 1,206,000
Long-term liabilities, less
current portion 16,675 3,809
Deferred income taxes 11,966 25,327
Derivative instruments 19,508 44,101
Pension and other postretirement
benefit obligations 14,600 13,325
Total liabilities 1,383,055 1,421,007
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value,
50,000,000 shares authorized at
September 30, 2008; none issued
and outstanding at September 30,
2008 and December 31, 2007 - -
Common stock, $0.01 par value,
150,000,000 shares authorized at
September 30, 2008; 58,213,868
and 57,947,073 shares issued,
and 58,085,930 and 57,891,295
outstanding at September 30,
2008 and December 31, 2007,
respectively 568 568
Additional paid-in capital 824,967 822,025
Accumulated other comprehensive
loss (38,851) (49,962)
Accumulated deficit (820,558) (318,407)
Treasury stock, at cost, 127,938
and 55,778 shares at September
30, 2008 and December 31, 2007,
respectively (303) (236)
Total stockholders' equity
(deficit) (34,177) 453,988
Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity (deficit) $1,348,878 $1,874,995
GATEHOUSE MEDIA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
Nine months Nine months
ended ended
September 30, September 30,
2008 2007
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss $(490,546) $(16,797)
Income (loss) from discontinued
operations, net of income taxes $(11,523) 2,368
Net loss from continuing operations (479,023) (19,165)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to
net cash provided by operating
activities:
Depreciation and amortization 53,394 40,400
Amortization of deferred financing costs 1,504 1,714
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative
instrument 5,525 1,973
Non-cash compensation expense 2,942 2,984
Deferred income taxes (13,375) (10,626)
Loss on sale of assets 210 35
Loss on early extinguishment of debt - 2,240
Pension and other postretirement benefit
obligations (581) 482
Non-cash interest expense 618 -
Impairment of long-lived assets 102,635 569
Goodwill and mastheads impairment 336,096 -
Changes in assets and liabilities, net
of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable, net 9,622 1,920
Inventory (1,848) 1,498
Prepaid expenses 299 1,012
Other assets (19) (2,097)
Accounts payable 5,007 140
Accrued expenses 1,870 10,415
Accrued interest (2,069) 7,744
Deferred revenue 218 103
Other long-term liabilities (759) (271)
Net cash provided by operating
activities 22,266 41,070
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment (7,541) (5,933)
Proceeds from sale of publications and
other assets 45,700 77,045
Acquisition of Enterprise NewsMedia, LLC,
net of cash acquired - (154)
Acquisition of The Copley Press, Inc.
newspapers, net of cash acquired (11) (385,466)
Acquisition of Gannett Co., Inc.
Newspapers, net of cash acquired 379 (420,379)
Other acquisitions, net of cash acquired (25,979) (209,129)
Net cash used in investing
activities 12,548 (944,016)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of debt issuance costs (6) (7,455)
Borrowings under term loans 19,505 1,495,000
Repayments under short term debt and notes
Payable(1) (19,517) (858,000)
Net repayments under revolving credit
facility (11,000) -
Payment of offering costs - (1,345)
Issuance of common stock, net of
underwriter's discount - 332,939
Purchase of treasury stock (67) -
Payment of dividends (34,731) (39,551)
Issuance of subsidiary Preferred stock 11,500 -
Payment of subsidiary preferred stock issuance
costs (176) -
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities (34,492) 921,588
Net increase (decrease) in cash
and cash equivalents 322 18,642
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 12,096 90,302
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $12,418 $108,944
(1) Includes $16.5 Million payment related to a $19.8 million settlement agreement for the termination of two interest rate swap agreements on $570 million of term debt.
GATEHOUSE MEDIA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
As Adjusted EBITDA
(In thousands)
Three Three Nine Nine
months months months months
ended ended ended ended
September September September September
30, 2008 30, 2007 30, 2008 30, 2007
Loss from continuing operations $(15,530) $(9,900) $(479,023) $(19,165)
Income tax expense (benefit) (207) (5,365) (13,523) (9,386)
Unrealized (gain) loss on
derivative instrument (1) 3,769 2,348 5,525 1,973
Loss on early extinguishment of
debt - 2,240 - 2,240
Amortization of deferred financing
costs 340 511 1,504 1,714
Interest expense 21,456 22,304 69,089 54,900
Impairment of long-lived assets 118 368 102,635 569
Depreciation and amortization 16,749 16,336 53,394 40,400
Goodwill and masthead impairment - - 336,096 -
Adjusted EBITDA from continuing
operations 26,695 28,842 75,697 73,245
Non-cash compensation and other
expense 3,323 3,967 14,070 7,128
Non-cash portion of postretirement
benefits expense 119 - 1,012 668
Integration and reorganization
costs 1,636 2,904 5,846 5,357
Loss on sale of assets 4 13 210 35
Impact of SureWest Directories
purchase accounting - 2,660 - 6,748
Income (loss) from discontinued
operations 897 1,684 3,894 3,475
As Adjusted EBITDA 32,674 40,070 100,729 96,656
Net capital expenditures (2) (1,633) (1,966) (7,422) (5,368)
Cash taxes 202 - 146 -
Interest expense (21,456) (22,304) (69,089) (54,900)
Levered Free Cash Flow $9,787 $15,800 $24,364 $36,388
(1) Non-cash loss on derivative instruments is related to interest rate swap agreements which are financing related and are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA.
(2) Capital expenditures include proceeds from sales of other assets of $0.03 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and September 30, 2007 and $0.1 million and $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and September 30, 2007 respectively.
GATEHOUSE MEDIA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
As Adjusted Revenues
(In thousands)
Three Three Nine Nine
months months months months
ended ended ended ended
September September September September
30, 2008 30, 2007 30, 2008 30, 2007
Total revenues from continuing
operations $171,605 $161,294 $514,888 $410,800
Revenues from discontinued
operations 2,989 6,341 14,987 13,752
Total income statement revenues 174,594 167,635 529,875 424,552
Impact of SureWest Directories
purchase accounting - 4,609 - 9,310
As Adjusted Revenues $174,594 $172,244 $529,875 $433,862
SOURCE GateHouse Media, Inc.
http://www.gatehousemedia.com
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