Investor Relations

MCLEAN, Va., Jul 18, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) reported today that earnings per diluted share from continuing operations, on a GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) basis, were $0.62 for the second quarter of 2011 compared to $0.73 for the second quarter last year. Results for both quarters included special items as noted below. Excluding these items in both years, earnings per diluted share were $0.58 compared to $0.61 for the same quarter in 2010.

Results for the second quarter of 2011 include $6.4 million of non-cash charges primarily associated with facility consolidations ($3.9 million after-tax or $0.02 per share), $8.8 million in costs due to workforce restructuring ($5.4 million after-tax or $0.02 per share) and a $20.1 million ($0.08 per share) net tax benefit related primarily to a tax settlement covering multiple years. Results for the second quarter of 2010 included a $28.7 million ($0.12 per share) net tax benefit due primarily to the expiration of the statutes of limitations and the release of certain reserves related to the sale of a business in a prior year.

"Our results for the quarter reflect the positive impact of our ongoing efforts to focus on our customers and to meet their business and marketing needs across our platforms. This resulted in higher digital revenues for the quarter in each of our business segments. Company-wide digital revenues were up 13 percent compared to last year. Broadcasting segment revenue was up slightly overcoming the significant political advertising spends of last year. Each of our business segments was solidly profitable, due in part to our commitment to align our expenses with revenue opportunities. We accomplished this despite the continued challenging economic environments in many markets and the impact of the crisis in Japan on the supply chain and inventories for autos and consumer electronics," said Craig Dubow, chairman and chief executive officer.

"We also announced today that the board of directors has approved doubling the dividend and resuming share repurchases. We are able to take those actions because of the confidence we have in our long term growth prospects, our ability to consistently generate cash flow and the strength of our balance sheet," Dubow added.

Amounts reported in accordance with GAAP are contained in Tables 1 through 4. Certain amounts and comparisons included in the following discussion of GAAP results are supplemented by discussions which exclude the effect of special items. Details of these special items and their effect on GAAP results are included on the Non-GAAP Financial Information Tables 5 through 10 attached to this news release. The company's basis for providing discussions of non-GAAP results is noted below.

CONTINUING OPERATIONS

Net income attributable to Gannett totaled $151.5 million in the second quarter while net income attributable to Gannett on a non-GAAP basis was $140.7 million. Reported operating income was $241.8 million and non-GAAP operating income totaled $256.9 million. Operating cash flow (a non-GAAP term defined as operating income plus special items, depreciation and amortization) was $306.9 million in the quarter.

Reported operating revenues for the company totaled $1.33 billion in the second quarter, a decline of 2.2 percent compared to the second quarter in 2010. Revenue growth in the Digital segment increased significantly in the quarter primarily due to strong revenue growth at CareerBuilder. Broadcasting segment revenue was up slightly despite the negative impact of the crisis in Japan on auto advertising and substantially lower political spending compared to the second quarter last year. Revenue results in the Publishing segment reflect an increase in digital advertising tempered by the softening economic environment and continued weakness in the real estate market.

Operating expenses including facility consolidation and workforce restructuring costs in the second quarter this year were $1.09 billion, unchanged compared to last year. Operating expenses on a non-GAAP basis totaled $1.08 billion and were 1.3 percent lower compared to the second quarter last year. The decline reflects ongoing efforts to create efficiencies and facility consolidations in this and prior quarters. Lower expenses in the Publishing and Broadcast segments were partially offset by higher costs in the Digital segment where the company had solid revenue growth and made investments in new initiatives.

PUBLISHING

Publishing segment operating revenues totaled $977.1 million for the quarter, a 4.9 percent decline compared to $1.03 billion in the second quarter last year. Although lower, the comparison reflects a sequential improvement from first quarter comparisons. Softer ad demand associated with the challenging economic environment domestically and particularly in the UK impacted results. Online advertising revenue was up solidly in the quarter while circulation revenue, down just 1.7 percent, improved sequentially within the quarter.

Advertising revenues were $646.9 million in the quarter, a 6.5 percent decline compared to $692.2 million in the second quarter last year. In the U.S., advertising revenues declined 7.2 percent and at Newsquest, the company's operations in the UK, advertising revenues were 10.3 percent lower, in pounds.

Ad revenue percentage changes for the retail, national and classified categories for the publishing segment for the quarter were as follows:

Retail advertising comparisons this quarter were better than comparisons in the first quarter in both the U.S. and the UK due in part to the later Easter this year.

National advertising declined 8.5 percent in the quarter. The decline reflected soft ad demand at USA TODAY offset in part by an increase in national advertising at Newsquest in the UK. Overall, national advertising comparisons this quarter improved relative to comparisons in the first quarter. Comparisons in pounds for Newsquest were 8 percentage points better than first quarter comparisons. At USA TODAY, substantial growth in the quarter in the telecommunications and financial categories was more than offset by declines in the travel, technology, automotive and retail categories.

Publishing segment digital revenues, which are reflected in all of the categories above, advanced 12.2 percent in the quarter reflecting the impact of our Yahoo! initiative and cross-platform sales efforts. U.S. Community Publishing digital revenues increased 8.9 percent in the quarter while digital revenues at USA TODAY were 22.9 percent higher.

Classified advertising at our domestic publishing operations softened during the quarter, declining 8.5 percent reflecting the unsteady economy as well as the crisis in Japan. Automotive was 4.1 percent lower in the U.S. while employment was virtually flat. Although the real estate category was down in the quarter, comparisons were in line with first quarter comparisons.

The percentage changes in the classified categories for the second quarter of 2011 were as follows:

Reported Publishing segment operating expenses totaled $838.5 million in the quarter compared with $846.7 million in the second quarter last year. Publishing segment operating expenses on a non-GAAP basis were $823.3 million, 2.8 percent lower than the same quarter last year. Efforts to create efficiencies as well as facility consolidations drove the decline which was offset in part by a 9.3 percent increase in newsprint expense. A substantial increase in newsprint usage prices was partially offset by a 9.2 percent decline in usage. Although newsprint usage price comparisons in the third quarter of 2011 are expected to continue to be unfavorable, the gap will narrow relative to the second quarter.

Reported Publishing segment operating income was $138.6 million. Publishing segment operating income on a non-GAAP basis was $153.8 million in the quarter and operating cash flow totaled $184.7 million.

BROADCASTING

Broadcasting revenues (which include Captivate) totaled $184.4 million in the quarter compared to $184.0 million in the second quarter last year, which benefited from $11.7 million in politically related advertising demand.

Television revenues were $177.7 million, up slightly compared to $177.5 million last year, despite a net decrease of $8.8 million in political spending. Total adjusted television revenues, defined to exclude the incremental impact of the cyclical ad demand related to political spending, were up 5.4 percent. Retransmission revenues totaled $19.4 million in the quarter, an increase of 23.7 percent. Digital revenues were 29.0 percent higher reflecting our focus on local digital sales through Yahoo! and our community websites. Based on current trends, we expect the percentage decline in total television revenues for the third quarter of 2011 to be in the mid-single digits compared to the third quarter of 2010. Television revenues in 2010's third quarter benefited from $21.3 million in politically related advertising. Excluding the incremental impact of political spending, the percentage increase in total television revenues is expected to be in the mid-single digits in the third quarter this year compared to the third quarter last year.

Broadcasting segment operating expenses totaled $103.9 million in the quarter, a decrease of 1.6 percent from $105.6 million in the second quarter last year. As a result, operating income was 2.6 percent higher and totaled $80.4 million and operating cash flow was $87.9 million, up 1.5 percent.

DIGITAL

Digital segment operating revenues were $173.4 million in the quarter, 12.6 percent higher compared to the same quarter last year reflecting primarily strong revenue growth at CareerBuilder. Digital segment revenue growth outpaced an 8.4 percent increase in operating expenses in part reflecting investments in new initiatives. As a result, Digital segment operating income was 31.6 percent higher and totaled $36.2 million. Operating cash flow was $43.8 million compared to $35.5 million a year ago, an increase of 23.6 percent.

Digital revenues company-wide including the Digital segment and all digital revenues generated by the other business segments increased 12.6 percent and totaled $276.2 million, almost 21 percent of total operating revenues.

At the end of the quarter, Gannett had more than 100 domestic publishing web sites, including USATODAY.com, one of the most popular newspaper sites on the Web and the iPad. The company also had web sites in all of its 19 television markets. In June, Gannett's consolidated domestic Internet audience share was 49.5 million unique visitors reaching 23.1 percent of the Internet audience, according to Comscore Media Metrix. Newsquest is also an Internet leader in the UK where its network of web sites attracted over 84 million monthly page impressions from approximately 10.3 million unique users in June. CareerBuilder's unique visitors in the second quarter averaged 24.1 million, an increase of 9.8 percent from the second quarter last year.

NON-OPERATING ITEMS

The company's equity earnings include its share of operating results from unconsolidated investees including the California Newspapers Partnership, Texas-New Mexico Newspapers Partnership, Tucson newspaper partnership and other online/digital businesses including Classified Ventures.

Equity income in unconsolidated investees totaled $8.0 million in the quarter compared to $7.5 million in the second quarter last year. The increase reflects significantly stronger results for the company's digital investments offset partially by lower results for its newspaper partnerships.

Interest expense totaled $44.7 million, an increase of $2.6 million compared to $42.2 million for the second quarter last year. Higher average interest rates associated with longer term, fixed-rate debt, partially offset by significantly lower average debt balances, drove the increase.

Net cash flow from operating activities was $190.7 million while free cash flow (a non-GAAP measure) totaled $180.0 million in the quarter. The balance of long term debt at quarter end was $2.0 billion, a reduction of $167 million during the second quarter. Total cash at the end of the second quarter was $165 million.

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USE OF NON-GAAP INFORMATION

The company uses non-GAAP financial performance and liquidity measures to supplement the financial information presented on a GAAP basis. These non-GAAP financial measures are not to be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures, and should be read only in conjunction with financial information presented on a GAAP basis.

In this earnings report, the company discusses non-GAAP financial performance measures that exclude from its reported GAAP results the impact of special items consisting of workforce restructuring expenses, facility consolidation expenses and certain charges and credits to its income tax provision. The company believes that such expenses and tax items are not indicative of normal, ongoing operations and their inclusion in results makes for more difficult comparisons between periods and with peer group companies. Workforce restructuring and facility consolidation expenses primarily relate to incremental expenses the company has incurred to consolidate production facilities and centralize functions. These expenses include payroll and related benefit costs and accelerated depreciation. Overall, the company incurred over $15 million of such expenses during the second quarter of 2011. In addition, the company recorded a $20.1 million net tax benefit in the second quarter of 2011 related primarily to a tax settlement covering multiple years. The $28.7 million net tax benefit in the second quarter of 2010 was due primarily to the expiration of the statutes of limitations and the accompanying release of tax reserves related to the sale of a business in a prior year. The first quarter of 2010 included a $2.2 million tax charge related to healthcare reform legislation and the resultant loss of tax deductibility for certain healthcare costs covered by Medicare retiree drug subsidies.

The company also discusses operating cash flow, a non-GAAP financial performance measure that it believes offers a useful view of the overall operation of its businesses. This non-GAAP measure is calculated by adding the expenses associated with the special expense items described above, as well as depreciation and amortization, to operating income as reported on a GAAP basis. This earnings report also discusses free cash flow, a non-GAAP liquidity measure. Free cash flow is defined as "net cash flow from operating activities" as reported on the statement of cash flows reduced by "purchase of property, plant and equipment" as well as "payments for investments" and increased by "proceeds from investments." The company believes that free cash flow is a useful measure for management and investors to evaluate the level of cash generated by operations and the ability of its operations to fund investments in the businesses, repay indebtedness, add to the Company's cash balance, or to use in other discretionary activities. Management uses free cash flow to monitor cash available for repayment of indebtedness and in its discussions with the investment community.

Management uses non-GAAP financial performance measures for purposes of evaluating business unit and consolidated company performance. The company therefore believes that each of the non-GAAP measures presented provides useful information to investors by allowing them to view the company's businesses 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 businesses. In addition, many of the company's peer group companies present similar non-GAAP measures so the presentation of such measures facilitates industry comparisons.

Tabular reconciliations for the non-GAAP financial measures are contained in Tables 5 through 10 attached to this news release.

As previously announced, the company will hold an earnings conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET today. The call can be accessed via a live webcast through the Investor Relations section of the company's web site, http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gannett.com&esheet=6796172&lan=en-US&anchor=www.gannett.com&index=1&md5=51a0148535ef4d49955ae1748d83d55f, or listen-only conference lines. U.S. callers should dial 1-800-967-7185 and international callers should dial 719-325-2431 at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. The confirmation code for the conference call is 4095724. To access the replay, dial 1-888-203-1112 in the U.S. International callers should use the number 719-457-0820. The confirmation code for the replay is 4095724. Materials related to the call will be available through the Investor Relations section of the company's web site Monday morning.

About Gannett

Gannett Co., Inc. is an international media and marketing solutions company that informs and engages more than 100 million people every month through its powerful network of broadcast, digital, mobile and publishing properties. Our portfolio of trusted brands offers marketers unmatched local-to-national reach and customizable, innovative marketing solutions across any platform. Gannett is committed to connecting people - and the companies who want to reach them - with their interests and communities. For more information, visit http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gannett.com&esheet=6796172&lan=en-US&anchor=www.gannett.com&index=2&md5=07a936a26b51fb82d37e2bd4f0e95b5f.

Certain statements in this press release may be forward looking in nature or "forward looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward looking statements contained in this press release are subject to a number of risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual performance to differ materially from these forward looking statements. A number of those risks, trends and uncertainties are discussed in the company's SEC reports, including the company's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward looking statements in this press release should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors.

Gannett is not responsible for updating the information contained in this press release beyond the published date, or for changes made to this press release by wire services, Internet service providers or other media.

SOURCE: Gannett Co., Inc.

Gannett Co., Inc.
Investors:
Jeffrey Heinz, Director, Investor Relations
703-854-6917
jheinz@gannett.com
or
Media:
Robin Pence, Vice President of Corporate Communications
703-854-6049
rpence@gannett.com