Lee Enterprises Reports Preliminary Earnings for Q4

Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (NYSE: LEE), reported today that preliminary diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations were 12 cents for its fourth fiscal quarter ended Sept. 28, 2008, compared with 43 cents a year ago. Excluding unusual items⁽¹⁾, earnings were 11 cents per share, compared with 39 cents a year ago.

As discussed more fully below, the preliminary amounts do not include the possible impact of additional impairment charges. Such charges would not impact cash flows, but would reduce reported earnings per common share. An estimate of such charges, if any are determined to be necessary, will be included in financial statements to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the company’s Form 10-K on or before Dec. 12, 2008.

Mary Junck, chairman and chief executive officer, said: "Like many other businesses and media companies, Lee has been battered by the unprecedented economic turmoil. Consumers have been buying less, which means advertisers have been spending less, resulting in reduced revenue and earnings for Lee. Although downward trends leveled off in October, we are taking steps to protect our financial footing. As we announced two weeks ago, we have made changes to our bank credit agreement to improve our flexibility in meeting debt obligations, and we have suspended our dividend. Also, we expect to reduce 2009 operating expenses by 6-7 percent. Despite the currently weak outlook, we have continued to lead the industry in revenue performance, and our audiences continue to grow. We remain confident that Lee will emerge strong when the economy improves.”

PRELIMINARY SEPTEMBER QUARTER PRO FORMA⁽²⁾ OPERATING RESULTS

Two calendar changes affected results for the quarter and year. Because of period accounting, the 2007 quarter included 14 weeks at the former Pulitzer operations, compared with 13 weeks in 2008. Also, because of the switch from calendar month to period accounting at the remainder of Lee’s enterprises, which account for about 60 percent of total revenue, the 2008 quarter contained one fewer publishing day, a Sunday. Sundays normally generate more print advertising than any other day of the week. In September 2008, the company cycled through its change to period accounting, which will make future results significantly more comparable.

On a pro forma basis, excluding the 14th week at the former Pulitzer properties in 2007, total operating revenue from continuing operations for the quarter decreased 10.7 percent from a year ago to $244.9 million. Combined print and online advertising revenue decreased 12.9 percent to $184.5 million. On a same property⁽³⁾ basis, combined print and online retail advertising revenue declined 5.0 percent, and classified decreased 23.1 percent. Combined same property print and online employment advertising revenue decreased 34.5 percent, automotive decreased 18.8 percent and real estate decreased 30.6 percent. Same property online advertising revenue decreased 15.7 percent, with online retail advertising up 16.0 percent and online employment advertising down 31.5 percent. National advertising revenue decreased 13.2 percent. Circulation revenue decreased 4.1 percent. Total same property revenue declined 10.7 percent.

Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization and unusual items, decreased 1.9 percent to $205.8 million, with compensation down 4.1 percent, newsprint and ink up 6.3 percent and other cash costs down 1.6 percent. Same property operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization and unusual items, decreased 2.8 percent. Same property compensation declined 5.1 percent, with full-time equivalent employees down 7.4 percent. Same property newsprint and ink expense increased 1.0 percent and other cash costs decreased 0.9 percent.

Operating cash flow⁽⁴⁾ decreased 35.1 percent compared with a year ago to $36.7 million. Operating income, which includes equity in earnings of associated companies, depreciation and amortization, and non-cash charges for impairment of goodwill and other assets, decreased 57.4 percent to $15.8 million.

Also on a pro forma basis, non-operating expense, which consists primarily of financial expense, net of financial income, decreased 32.6 percent to $13.4 million. Income from continuing operations before income taxes decreased 86.0 percent to $2.4 million. Income from continuing operations decreased 66.7 percent to $6.1 million. Net income available to common stockholders decreased 70.7 percent to $5.4 million.

Free cash flow⁽⁵⁾ totaled $20.3 million for the quarter, compared with $24.9 million a year ago. Net debt was reduced $57.6 million.

PRELIMINARY FISCAL YEAR PRO FORMA OPERATING RESULTS

Excluding the 53rd week in 2007 at the former Pulitzer properties, total pro forma revenue from continuing operations for the 52 weeks decreased 7.5 percent from a year ago to $1.03 billion. Total advertising revenue decreased 8.8 percent. Combined same property print and online retail advertising declined 2.8 percent. Combined print and online classified advertising revenue decreased 15.7 percent, with employment down 21.8 percent, automotive down 13.1 percent and real estate down 24.3 percent. Same property online advertising revenue decreased 0.8 percent, with online retail advertising up 19.9 percent and online employment advertising down 9.1 percent. National advertising revenue decreased 18.7 percent. Circulation revenue declined 3.2 percent. Total same property revenue for the 52 weeks decreased 7.5 percent.

Total operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, for the 52 weeks decreased 2.6 percent. Same property operating expenses, excluding unusual items, depreciation and amortization, decreased 3.0 percent.

Operating cash flow for the 52 weeks decreased 22.6 percent to $207.0 million. Excluding unusual items in both years, operating cash flow declined 22.6 percent to $210.4 million.

Free cash flow totaled $112.4 million for the 52 weeks, compared with $126.2 million a year ago. Net debt was reduced $102.2 million. An additional $17.9 million of cash flow was used to liquidate an unfunded retirement plan, and $19.0 million of Lee common stock was repurchased.

IMPAIRMENT CHARGES

For the quarters ended March 30, 2008, and June 29, 2008, Lee recorded non-cash charges totaling $717.2 million after tax to reduce the carrying value of goodwill, other intangible assets and the company's investment in TNI Partners.

The charges have no effect on cash flows but reduced reported earnings per common share, resulting in a loss for the quarter ended March 30, 2008, and full year ended Sept. 28, 2008. Many public companies also have been required to reduce the carrying value of their intangible assets as a result of significant declines in equity market value.

Impairment testing is performed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, which, among other factors, requires consideration of differences between current book value and the estimated fair value of the company's net assets, and comparison of the estimated fair value of the company's net assets to its current market capitalization. The preliminary amounts do not include the possible impact of additional impairment charges. An estimate of such charges, if any are determined to be necessary, will be included in financial statements to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the company’s Form 10-K on or before Dec. 12, 2008.

ADJUSTED EARNINGS AND EPS FOR SEPTEMBER QUARTER⁽¹⁾

Unusual items affecting year-over-year comparisons for the quarter included, in 2008, workforce adjustments at several locations, transition costs at Madison Newspapers, Inc. related to publication frequency changes at The Capital Times, benefit of federal and state tax adjustments, and adjustment for the current value of the company’s future liability related to acquisition of the 5 percent minority share in its St. Louis partnership. Unusual items in 2007 included an early retirement program in St. Louis and benefit of federal and state tax adjustments. The following table summarizes the impact from unusual items on income (loss) available to common stockholders and earnings (loss) per diluted common share. Per share amounts may not add due to rounding.

ADJUSTED EARNINGS AND EPS FOR FISCAL YEAR ⁽¹⁾

For the year ended Sept. 28, 2008, Lee reported a loss per common share of $15.23, compared with earnings of $1.77 in 2007. Excluding non-cash charges for impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, and also excluding other unusual items⁽¹⁾, earnings were $0.97 per share, compared with $1.66 cents a year ago.

Unusual items affecting year-over-year comparisons for the fiscal year included, in 2008, impairment of goodwill, other assets and reduction in the carrying value of the company’s investment in TNI Partners, workforce adjustments, transition costs at Madison Newspapers, Inc. related to publication frequency changes at The Capital Times, benefit of federal and state tax adjustments, and adjusting of the current value of the company’s future liability related to acquisition of the 5 percent minority share in its St. Louis partnership. Unusual items in 2007 included an early retirement program, curtailment gains and benefit of federal and state tax adjustments.

The following table summarizes the impact from unusual items on income (loss) available to common stockholders and earnings (loss) per diluted common share. Per share amounts may not add due to rounding.

PRINT AND ONLINE AUDIENCES

According to January-June market studies conducted by Wilkerson & Associates, the combined reach of Lee newspapers and online sites among adults over the course of a week in Lee’s 10 largest markets grew from 66 percent in 2007 to 71 percent in 2008.

Among other findings, the printed newspapers alone reach 65 percent of all adults in 2008, compared with 61 percent a year earlier. The reach of Lee newspapers among young adults in the markets grew from 54 to 65 percent, and use of the printed newspaper among young adults grew from 48 to 55 percent. The research involved 7,200 interviews in both years and carries an overall error margin of 1.2 percentage points.

While market studies have shown increased reach of Lee’s printed newspapers, paid circulation declined. Factors include reduced distribution in less-profitable geographic areas, reductions in sponsored copies and selective price increases. In the six-month Audit Bureau of Circulations Fas-Fax period ended Sept. 30, 2008, Lee newspapers posted declines of 3.7 percent daily and 1.5 percent Sunday, compared with industry average declines of 4.6 percent daily and 4.8 percent Sunday.

Lee’s newspapers have circulation of 1.5 million daily and 1.9 million Sunday, reaching more than four million readers daily. Lee’s online sites reach more than 12 million unique visitors monthly, and Lee’s weekly publications have distribution of more than 4.5 million households.

ABOUT LEE

Lee Enterprises is a premier publisher of local news, information and advertising in primarily midsize markets, with 49 daily newspapers and a joint interest in four others, rapidly growing online sites and more than 300 weekly newspapers and specialty publications in 23 states. Lee’s markets include St. Louis, Mo.; Lincoln, Neb.; Madison, Wis.; Davenport, Iowa; Billings, Mont.; Bloomington, Ill.; and Tucson, Ariz. Lee stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LEE. For more information about Lee, please visit www.lee.net.

NOTES:

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. This release contains information that may be deemed forward-looking and that is based largely on the Company's current expectations and is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Among such risks, trends and other uncertainties are changes in general economic conditions, advertising demand, newsprint and other commodity prices, energy costs, interest rates and availability of credit, labor costs, legislative and regulatory rulings and other results of operations or financial conditions, difficulties in integration of acquired businesses or maintaining employee and customer relationships, increased capital and other costs, competition and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s publicly filed documents, including the Company Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2007. The words "may,” "will,” "would,” "could,” "believes,” "expects,” "anticipates,” "intends,” "plans,” "projects,” "considers” and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this release. The Company does not publicly undertake to update or revise its forward-looking statements.