Business News

A. H. Belo Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2010 Financial Results

Wednesday 23. February 2011 - A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE: AHC) today reported fourth quarter and full-year 2010 total revenues of $130.8 million and $487.3 million, respectively. The Company recorded a pre-tax $132.3 million pension withdrawal charge in the fourth quarter, and posted a fourth quarter net loss of $5.65 per share. The Company’s full-year 2010 net loss was $5.92 per share.

When pension and impairment charges are added back to EBITDA (“Adjusted EBITDA”) in both periods, the resulting Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter was $15.6 million, a decrease of $4.2 million compared to the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the full-year 2010 was $56.5 million, an increase of $23.8 million or 72.5 percent compared to the prior year.
Robert W. Decherd, chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our improved 2010 operating performance reflects the Company’s success in executing a content-first strategy of producing local news and information on a scale that other media cannot match. For 2011, the Company’s top three priorities are executing on revenue initiatives, remaining vigilant on expenses, and maximizing operating cash flow. Although the timing of real estate dispositions and potential proceeds are hard to predict, we are hopeful that results similar to 2010’s will be realized in 2011.”
As of December 31, 2010, A. H. Belo had approximately $86 million of cash and cash equivalents, had no borrowings outstanding under its bank credit facility, and remained in compliance with bank covenants. As the Company announced on January 3, 2011, the Company will make an additional $30 million contribution into the two new defined benefit pension plans created, sponsored and managed by or on behalf of the Company (the “AHC Pension Plans”). The Company anticipates making the additional cash contribution in the first quarter, and this contribution will reduce the Company’s cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter compared to the end of 2010.
Fourth Quarter Results
Total revenue was $130.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, a decrease of 3.4 percent compared to the prior year. Advertising revenue, including print and digital revenues, decreased 6.0 percent, with the smallest decrease at The Dallas Morning News followed by The Press-Enterprise and The Providence Journal. Display advertising revenue decreased 10.7 percent to $33.6 million, and preprint revenue increased 0.3 percent to $27.5 million. Classified revenue decreased 8.8 percent to $15.3 million. Digital revenue was $9.9 million, a decrease of 0.9 percent. Advertising revenue from niche publications, which is included in the display, preprint, classified and digital revenue figures above, increased 33.4 percent to $7.1 million as Briefing, The Morning News’ free, home-delivered condensed print news product, increased advertising revenue 63.6 percent to $4.8 million. Circulation revenue decreased 3.4 percent to $35.1 million. Commercial printing, distribution and other revenue increased 28.0 percent to $9.5 million due primarily to increases in distribution and commercial printing revenues in Providence and Riverside.
Total consolidated operating expense in the fourth quarter was $259.8 million. Excluding the effect of pension and impairment expenses in both periods, operating expense in the fourth quarter was $123.6 million, a 1.6 percent decrease compared to the prior year. This decrease was primarily driven by lower technology, bad debt and property tax expenses.
The Company’s newsprint expense in the fourth quarter was $11.5 million, an increase of 26.7 percent compared to the prior year. Due to increased demand for commercial printing services and advertising in Briefing and The Press-Enterprise, newsprint consumption increased 6.2 percent to 18,684 metric tons. Newsprint cost per metric ton increased 19.3 percent. The average purchase price per metric ton for newsprint increased 21.2 percent.
Corporate and non-operating unit expenses in the fourth quarter, net of costs allocated to operating units, were $13.1 million, an increase of 0.8 percent compared to the prior year. Excluding the effect of pension and impairment expenses in both periods, corporate and non-operating unit expenses were $7.5 million, an 18.7 percent decrease, as salaries and wages, technology, computer and communication expenses all decreased.
In the fourth quarter of 2010, A. H. Belo and Belo Corp., pursuant to their Tax Matters Agreement, agreed that Belo Corp. would carry back A. H. Belo’s 2009 taxable net operating loss to a previous tax year, resulting in a net refund to the Company of $3.5 million. The Company expects to receive the refund in the first half of 2011.
The Company received a $3.1 million dividend from Classified Ventures, owner of Cars.com and Apartments.com, in the fourth quarter. Proceeds of $0.5 million were also received from the sale of excess land at the Denton Record-Chronicle.
Full-Year Results
Total revenue was $487.3 million in 2010, a decrease of 6.0 percent compared to the prior year. Advertising revenue, including print and digital revenues, decreased 11.9 percent, with the smallest decrease at The Dallas Morning News followed by The Press-Enterprise and The Providence Journal. Display advertising revenue decreased 15.4 percent to $119.7 million, and preprint revenue decreased 7.5 percent to $91.2 million. Classified revenue decreased 15.4 percent to $62.8 million. Digital revenue was $36.6 million, a decrease of 4.1 percent. Advertising revenue from niche publications, which is included in the display, preprint, classified and digital revenue figures above, increased 36.8 percent to $23.4 million due primarily to Briefing, which increased revenue 66.1 percent to $14.2 million. Circulation revenue increased 3.3 percent to $141.1 million as circulation pricing actions implemented in Dallas and Providence in 2009 continued to cycle through. Commercial printing, distribution and other revenue increased 22.0 percent to $35.9 million as existing and new commercial printing and distribution contracts came on line in Dallas, Providence and Riverside.
Total consolidated operating expense was $625.4 million in 2010. Excluding the effect of pension and impairment expenses in both periods, operating expense in 2010 was $476.0 million, a 10.2 percent decrease compared to the prior year. This decrease was primarily driven by lower salaries and wages, newsprint, technology and bad debt expenses.
In 2010, the Company’s newsprint expense was $39.4 million, a decrease of 15.6 percent compared to the prior year. Newsprint consumption decreased 7.4 percent to 69,255 metric tons. Newsprint cost per metric ton decreased 8.9 percent as decreases in the first half of the year more than offset increases in the second half of the year. The average purchase price per metric ton of newsprint increased of 3.6 percent.
Corporate and non-operating unit expenses in 2010, net of costs allocated to operating units, were $34.2 million, an increase of 0.7 percent compared to the prior year. Excluding the effect of pension and impairment expenses in both periods, corporate and non-operating unit expenses were $27.4 million, a 9.3 percent decrease, as salaries and wages, technology, and computer and communication expenses all decreased.
For the full-year 2010, the Company’s pre-tax cash proceeds from real estate dispositions totaled nearly $10 million.
As of December 31, 2010, A. H. Belo had approximately 2,200 full-time and 280 part-time employees.
Pension and Impairment Charges
On January 3, 2011, A. H. Belo and its former parent company, Belo Corp., announced they completed the split of The G. B. Dealey Retirement Pension Plan (“GBD Pension Plan”) into separately-sponsored plans as scheduled. A. H. Belo stated that as a result of the split, the Company would report a significant charge in the fourth quarter of 2010. The $132.3 million charge recorded in the fourth quarter represents A. H. Belo’s net unfunded pension liability for Company employees and retirees that the Company assumed from the GBD Pension Plan as of December 31, 2010. By June 30, 2011, A.H. Belo and Belo Corp. expect to complete a final assessment and reconciliation of the allocations made from the GBD Pension Plan to the AHC Pension Plans based upon final January 1, 2011 participant data.
Under the new AHC Pension Plans, the Company will account for future pension obligations in accordance with accounting guidance for single-employer defined benefit plans. The Company will record the funded or unfunded position of the AHC Pension Plans as an asset or liability each period and certain actuarial gains and losses will be recorded to other comprehensive income and amortized to earnings over future periods. The Company anticipates that required cash pension contributions will total approximately $25 million in 2011. The first quarter cash contribution will be approximately $8.7 million, and $3.4 million of this amount will come from A. H. Belo funds held on deposit by Belo Corp. for pension contributions. In the second, third and fourth quarters, the Company anticipates required cash contributions of approximately $5.4 million each quarter. With these required payments and the additional $30 million contribution to be made in the first quarter, the Company’s cash pension contributions will total approximately $55 million in 2011.
For tax purposes, the Company will deduct cash contributions to the AHC Pension Plans on its federal income tax returns.
Pension expense, which is different than cash contributions, is expected to be $2 million in 2011.
Fourth quarter results also include impairment charges totaling $2.5 million primarily related to investment write-offs.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Reconciliations of net loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are included as exhibits to this release.