Investor Relations

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 20, 2014  /PRNewswire/ --  Highlights for the quarter include the following:

• Overall company revenue growth of 15 percent, pro forma revenue growth of 4 percent, driven by strong Broadcast and Digital Segment results
• Record Broadcasting Segment revenue increased 105 percent, a 19 percent increase on a pro forma basis
• Adjusted EBITDA rose 47 percent to $342 million also driven by strong Broadcasting and Digital Segment results
• Free Cash Flow of $186 million, a 76 percent year-over-year increase

Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) today reported non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.59 for the third quarter, a 37.2 percent increase from $0.43 in the third quarter last year. The substantial increase was driven by the strength of the company's expanded television station portfolio in the Broadcasting Segment as well as significantly improved Digital Segment results.

Gracia Martore, president and chief executive officer, said, "We made great progress again this quarter, both in the outstanding performance of our businesses and the continued transformation of the Gannett portfolio. Year-over-year revenue comparisons for each of our business segments improved relative to second quarter comparisons, just as we anticipated. Double digit pro forma growth in Broadcasting revenue, which again reached a record high, was driven by robust political ad spending and retransmission revenue. Strong results at CareerBuilder resulted in a substantial increase in profitability in our Digital Segment. We also successfully completed our acquisition of Cars.com earlier this month, which paves the way for our announced separation. Cars.com is a strong company with tremendous upside that offers significant value to its growing customer base and will contribute considerably to our Digital business."

Martore continued, "Gannett drove increases in both overall company revenue and free cash flow this quarter. As both metrics continue to grow, it gives us even greater confidence that our businesses are well positioned to compete fiercely in their respective markets. Broadcasting, Digital and Publishing are all continually innovating and expanding their product offerings, with the support of a strong balance sheet. We expect to build on our current momentum during the fourth quarter with the addition of Cars.com and the continued successful execution of our strategies."

On August 5, 2014, the company announced its plan to create two publicly traded companies. One will be exclusively focused on its Broadcasting and Digital businesses, and the other on its Publishing business. The planned separation of the Publishing business will be implemented through a tax-free distribution of Gannett's Publishing assets to shareholders. At the same time, the company announced that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire full ownership of Cars.com. The company acquired the 73% interest it did not already own in Classified Ventures LLC, which owns Cars.com, for $1.8 billion in cash on October 1, 2014 and the transaction did not impact third quarter results.

CONTINUING OPERATIONS

Operating revenues in the third quarter totaled $1.44 billion, an increase of 15.2 percent compared to $1.25 billion in the third quarter of 2013. The increase reflects revenue growth in the Broadcasting Segment of almost 105 percent, due primarily to the acquisition of Belo Corp., and Digital Segment revenue growth of 4.4 percent. Publishing Segment revenues were 3.6 percent lower in the quarter. On a pro forma basis (had Gannett owned the Belo and London television stations during the same quarter last year and excluding results for Captivate and the impact of the sale of a print business and Apartments.com), total company revenues were up 3.8 percent in the quarter.

Net income attributable to Gannett on a non-GAAP basis was 36.6 percent higher in the quarter compared to the third quarter in 2013 and totaled $136.3 million. Operating income on the same basis was $280.1 million, a 49.9 percent increase, reflecting in part the expansion of the company's television station portfolio. Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP term detailed in Table 5) grew significantly in the quarter, up 46.6 percent to $341.7 million compared to $233.1 million in third quarter last year.

Special items in the third quarter of 2014 totaled $30.1 million on a pre-tax basis ($0.08 per share) and include: operating charges of $9.6 million ($0.03 per share) representing primarily workforce restructuring, transformation and facility consolidations; non-operating expense of $20.5 million ($0.07 per share) reflecting primarily transaction related costs; and a tax benefit of $5.6 million ($0.02 per share). Special items in the third quarter of 2013 totaled $36.2 million on a pre-tax basis ($0.09 per share) reflecting charges associated with workforce restructuring, facility consolidation and the Captivate transaction.

The table below details third quarter results on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis.

Operating expenses including special charges noted above were $1.17 billion in the quarter, an 8.5 percent increase compared to $1.08 billion in the third quarter of 2013 reflecting primarily the Belo acquisition. Operating expenses on a non-GAAP basis totaled $1.16 billion. Pro forma non-GAAP operating expenses declined slightly compared to the third quarter in 2013. Lower Publishing Segment expenses were offset by higher expenses in support of revenue growth in the Broadcasting and Digital Segments.

BROADCASTING

Broadcasting Segment revenues totaled a record $416.5 million and were almost 105 percent higher in the quarter compared to the third quarter a year ago. Acquisitions, as well as substantially higher political and retransmission revenues, drove the increase.

The following table summarizes the year-over-year changes in select Broadcasting Segment revenue categories. Digital revenues are included in the "Other" category.

Broadcasting Segment revenues on a pro forma basis were 18.6 percent higher compared to the third quarter last year. The increase reflects a 60.9 percent increase in retransmission revenue to approximately $92 million in the quarter in addition to substantially higher politically related advertising of $40.0 million resulting from maximizing the benefit of a strong political footprint. Pro forma digital revenues in the Broadcasting Segment were up 24.1 percent due primarily to growth in digital marketing services products.

Non-GAAP operating expenses in the Broadcasting Segment on a pro forma basis were $238.0 million in the quarter, an increase of 3.6 percent reflecting primarily higher digital initiative investment and reverse network compensation. On a pro forma basis, non-GAAP operating income totaled $179.5 million, an increase of 47.0 percent while Adjusted EBITDA on the same basis totaled $198.6 million, an increase of 40.5 percent compared to the third quarter last year.

Based on current trends and including a full quarter of results for the former Belo and London stations in 2014, we expect the increase in total television revenues for the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to the same quarter of 2013 to exceed 115 percent. On a pro forma basis, the percentage increase in total television revenues in the fourth quarter of 2014 is projected to be in the low-twenties compared to the fourth quarter of 2013.

PUBLISHING

Publishing Segment revenues in the quarter were $826.8 million compared to $858.1 million, a 3.6 percent decline compared to the third quarter of 2013. Publishing Segment revenues on a pro forma basis declined 2.5 percent due primarily to softer advertising demand offset, in part, by higher digital advertising and marketing solutions revenue.

Advertising revenues totaled $494.9 million compared to $520.2 million in the third quarter of 2013, a decline of 4.9 percent. Pro forma advertising revenues declined 4.2 percent year-over-year, a sequential improvement compared to the second quarter comparison. On the same basis, national and classified advertising comparisons in the third quarter were better than second quarter year-over-year comparisons. Employment advertising continued its positive trend and was up 4.2 percent in the quarter due primarily to substantially higher employment advertising at Newsquest in the UK.

A summary of the year-over-year percentage change for each of the company's advertising categories can be found on Table 3.

Circulation revenues totaled $276.8 million compared to $275.0 million in third quarter of 2013, an increase of almost 1 percent. The increase was due primarily to strategic home delivery price increases at local domestic publishing sites, in part due to the added value of the USA TODAY local content editions in 34 local publishing markets.

Pro forma Publishing Segment digital revenues were 7.2 percent higher in the quarter reflecting continued growth in digital marketing solutions and digital advertising. Digital revenues at Newsquest were up 20.4 percent in local currency while digital revenues at USA TODAY and its associated businesses increased 16.6 percent. Pro forma digital revenues at local domestic publishing operations were 3.9 percent higher.

Pro forma non-GAAP Publishing Segment operating expenses declined 2.1 percent compared to the third quarter of 2013 and totaled $756.1 million in the quarter due primarily to continuing cost efficiency efforts.

Non-GAAP operating income totaled $70.7 million in the quarter while Adjusted EBITDA on the same basis was $98.3 million.

DIGITAL

Operating revenues in the Digital Segment were 4.4 percent higher compared to the third quarter of 2013 and totaled $199.8 million. The revenue growth was driven primarily by higher revenues at CareerBuilder, up 6.9 percent, reflecting strong sales of its human capital software-as-a-service products. Operating expenses in the Digital Segment were just 1.4 percent higher in the quarter. As a result, Digital Segment operating income was $48.3 million, an increase of 15.0 percent. Adjusted EBITDA rose 15.6 percent and totaled $58.2 million.

Pro forma digital revenues company-wide, including the Digital Segment and all digital revenues generated by the other business segments, totaled $404.4 million, an increase of 6.7 percent. The increase reflects higher revenue associated with CareerBuilder, digital marketing solutions products and digital advertising.

At the end of the quarter, Gannett had approximately 120 domestic web sites affiliated with its local publishing and television markets, USA TODAY, Gannett Government Media and Gannett Healthcare Group. In September, Gannett's consolidated domestic Internet audience was 109 million unique visitors reaching 44 percent of the Internet audience, according to comScore Media Metrix Multi-platform. USATODAY.com is one of the most popular news sites and the USA TODAY app is a top news app with 20.8 million downloads across iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows and Kindle Fire. USA TODAY mobile visitors continued to grow in September up from September a year ago to approximately 48.6 million with a 60 percent increase in mobile visitor reach to 27.5 percent, according to comScore Mobile Metrix. Newsquest is also an Internet leader in the UK where its network of web sites attracted 136.9 million monthly page impressions from approximately 22.2 million unique users in September 2014.

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 $1.8 million in the quarter compared to $11.7 million in the third quarter in 2013. The decline reflects higher equity income for Cars.com more than offset by charges related to acquisitions and impairments during the quarter as well as lower results for newspaper partnerships. Excluding special items in the quarter, equity income was $7.7 million, a decline of $4.0 million compared to $11.7 million in the third quarter a year ago. Beginning in the fourth quarter, results for Cars.com will be included in the Digital Segment and excluded from equity income.

Interest expense was $65.9 million in the quarter compared to $41.6 million in the third quarter of 2013 reflecting debt issuances associated with the Belo acquisition and the Cars.com acquisition offset, in part, by a lower average interest rate. On September 8, 2014, the company announced, the successful completion of its private placement offering of $350 million of 4.875% senior notes due 2021 and $325 million of its 5.500% senior notes due 2024 related to the Cars.com acquisition.

Excluding special items, other non-operating expense in the quarter would have been $3.0 million compared to income of $3.4 million in the third quarter of 2013.

Net cash flow from operating activities was $217.7 million in the quarter. Free cash flow (a non-GAAP measure) totaled $185.9 million, a 76.0 percent increase from the third quarter of 2013. The balance of long-term debt was $4.11 billion and total cash was $1.37 billion at quarter end.

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 should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures, and should be read together with financial information presented on a GAAP basis.

The company discusses in this report non-GAAP financial performance measures that exclude from its reported GAAP results the impact of special items consisting of workforce restructuring charges, transformation costs, non-cash asset impairment charges, certain expenses recognized in non-operating categories and certain credits and charges to its income tax provision. The company believes that such expenses, charges and credits are not indicative of normal, ongoing operations and their inclusion in results makes for more difficult comparisons between years and with peer group companies.

The company also discusses Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial performance measure that it believes offers a useful view of the overall operation of its businesses. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income attributable to Gannett before (1) net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, (2) income taxes, (3) interest expense, (4) equity income, (5) other non-operating items, (6) workforce restructuring, (7) other transformation costs, (8) asset impairment charges, (9) depreciation and (10) amortization. When Adjusted EBITDA is discussed in reference to performance on a consolidated basis, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is Net income attributable to Gannett. Management does not analyze non-operating items such as interest expense and income taxes on a segment level; therefore, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to Adjusted EBITDA when performance is discussed on a segment level is Operating income. 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 new and existing businesses, return cash to shareholders under the company's capital program, repay indebtedness, add to the company's cash balance, or 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 4 through 8 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 company's web site, www.gannett.com, or listen-only conference lines. U.S. callers should dial 1-888-208-1812 and international callers should dial 1-719-325-2223 at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. The confirmation code for the conference call is 3607571. To access the replay, dial 1-888-203-1112 in the U.S. International callers should use the number 1-719-457-0820. The confirmation code for the replay is 3607571. 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 110 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 www.gannett.com.

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.