A. H. Belo Corporation Announces Second Quarter 2014 Net Income from Continuing Operations
DALLAS – A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE:AHC) today reported net income for the second quarter of 2014, highlighted by an increase in total operating revenue of 0.2 percent, driven by continued growth in printing and marketing services revenue.
Jim Moroney, chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our second quarter 2014 operating performance reflects the Company’s success in leveraging our core competencies in order to diversify and grow revenue streams, while continuing to focus on managing expenses.”
“For the first time since the spin-off from our former parent company in 2008, total revenue reflected year-over-year quarterly growth, an outstanding accomplishment for the Company. This improvement was driven by continued growth in marketing services revenue and increased printing revenues.”
“We are also pleased to have agreed to sell The Providence Journal newspaper operations to New Media Investment Group, which represents an important additional step in executing our Dallas-based strategy.”
Due to the pending sale of the newspaper operations in Providence, Rhode Island, The Providence Journal newspaper operations are now reported as discontinued operations in the Company’s financial statements (see further discussion below). Accordingly, the results from continuing operations consist primarily of The Dallas Morning News and corporate operations.
Fully diluted net income from continuing operations was $0.85 per share, an improvement of $0.78 per share compared to the second quarter of 2013. Second quarter 2014 net income includes an $18.5 million net investment-related gain from the sale of Apartments.com by Classified Ventures, of which A. H. Belo is a 3.3 percent owner.
Adjusted EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) from continuing operations excluding net investment-related gains, was $6.0 million in the second quarter of 2014, which was flat in the second quarter of 2013.
As of June 30, 2014, cash and cash equivalents were $59.8 million, and the Company had no debt.
Second Quarter Results from Continuing Operations
Total revenue was $69.3 million in the second quarter of 2014, an increase of 0.2 percent compared to the prior year period. A decline in advertising and marketing services revenue was offset by an increase in printing revenue.
Revenue from advertising and marketing services, including print and digital revenues, decreased 4.7 percent. Digital revenue, which comprised 19 percent of advertising and marketing services revenue, increased 4 percent over the prior year quarter primarily due to continued growth in marketing services revenue associated with 508 Digital and Speakeasy. Increases in digital revenue were offset by declines in display, preprint and classified advertising revenues which decreased 7 percent, 5 percent and 9 percent, respectively.
Advertising revenue from niche publications, which is a component of the display, preprint, classified and digital revenues reported above, was flat in the second quarter of 2014.
Circulation revenue remained flat at $21.2 million in the second quarter of 2014.
Printing and distribution revenue increased 38 percent to $7.8 million in the second quarter of 2014 due primarily to the impact of printing the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and additional printing of local community newspapers.
Total operating expense in the second quarter was $66.9 million, a 1.3 percent decrease compared to the prior year period as employee compensation and benefits, newsprint and depreciation expenses all decreased.
The Company’s newsprint expense in the second quarter was $5.1 million, a decrease of 11 percent compared to the prior year period. Newsprint consumption dropped 15 percent to approximately 6,100 metric tons. Compared to the prior year period, newsprint cost per metric ton and the average purchase price per metric ton for newsprint decreased 2 percent and 1 percent, respectively.
Corporate and non-operating unit expense in the second quarter was $3.9 million, a decrease of 26 percent compared to the prior year period as employee related expenses and depreciation expense decreased.
As of June 30, 2014, A. H. Belo had approximately 1,500 full-time equivalent employees, a decrease of approximately 25 percent compared to the prior year period, primarily due to the sale of The Press-Enterprise in 2013.
Pension Plans
In the second quarter of 2014, the Company made required contributions of $2.2 million to its pension plans. In July, the Company accelerated payment of its remaining 2014 required contributions to its pension plans and paid $5.8 million. No further pension contributions will be made in 2014.
Real Estate Holdings
In July 2014, the Company sold its last remaining real estate in Riverside, California, comprised of land and a building that formerly served as a commercial printing operation. The Company received net sales proceeds of $1.6 million, generating an estimated gain of $0.3 million.
In June 2014, the Company amended an agreement with a third-party related to the sale of 97 acres of undeveloped land in southern Dallas, Texas. Net sales proceeds of $1.8 million are expected to be received in the third quarter of 2014, upon the closing of the transaction, generating an estimated gain of $0.6 million.
Other
As previously announced, on July 22, 2014, The Providence Journal Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of A. H. Belo Corporation, entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with LMG Rhode Island Holdings, Inc. (“LMG”), a subsidiary of New Media Investment Group Inc., for the (i) sale of substantially all of the assets comprising the newspaper operations of The Providence Journal and related real property located in Providence, Rhode Island, and (ii) assumption of certain liabilities by LMG (collectively, the “Sale”), for $46 million in cash (the “Purchase Price”). The Purchase Price is subject to adjustment either upward or downward based upon the net current assets being sold at the closing of the Sale. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2014, subject to customary closing conditions including receipt of certain third-party consents.
Upon completion of the Sale, the Company will continue to hold and market for sale certain land and buildings in Providence, Rhode Island. The Company will also retain the obligation for the A. H. Belo Pension Plan II, which provides benefits to employees of The Providence Journal Company.
In July 2014, the Company settled a lawsuit regarding a dispute over a commercial printing contract related to its former printing operation in southern California. Under the settlement agreement, the Company will receive two cash payments totaling $0.5 million, of which the first payment of $0.25 million was received in July 2014.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Reconciliations of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations are included as exhibits to this release.
Financial Results Conference Call
A. H. Belo will conduct a conference call on Tuesday, July 29 at 10:00 a.m. CDT to discuss financial results. The conference call will be available via webcast by accessing the Company’s website (www.ahbelo.com/invest) or by dialing 1-800-230-1059 (USA) or 651-224-7497 (International). A replay line will be available at 1-800-475-6701 (USA) or 320-365-3844 (International) from 12:00 p.m. CDT on July 29 until 11:59 p.m. CDT on August 5, 2014. The access code for the replay is 330585.
About A. H. Belo Corporation
A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE: AHC) is a leading local news and information publishing company with commercial printing, distribution and direct mail capabilities, as well as businesses with expertise in emerging media and digital marketing. With a continued focus on extending our media platform, we are able to deliver news and information in innovative ways to new audiences with diverse interests and lifestyles. For additional information, visit ahbelo.com, email invest@ahbelo.com.
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, dispositions, impairments, business initiatives, acquisitions, pension plan contributions and obligations, real estate sales, working capital, 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 Alliance for Audited Media; challenges implementing increased subscription pricing and new pricing structures; challenges in achieving expense reduction goals in a timely manner and the resulting potential effects on operations; challenges in consummating asset acquisitions or dispositions upon acceptable terms; technological changes; development of Internet commerce; industry cycles; changes in pricing or other actions by existing and new competitors and suppliers; consumer acceptance of new products and business initiatives; labor relations; 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; acts of terrorism; and other factors beyond our control, 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.