Lee Enterprises Reports Results for Third Fiscal Quarter

Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (NYSE:LEE), reduced cash operating expenses, excluding unusual items⁽¹⁾, 22.0 percent in its third fiscal quarter ended June 28, 2009, as operating revenue declined 20.5 percent. Excluding non-cash impairment charges and other unusual items, diluted earnings per common share were 12 cents, compared with 30 cents a year ago. Free cash flow⁽²⁾ totaled $22.1 million, compared with $34.2 million in 2008.

Including non-cash impairment charges, Lee recorded a loss per diluted common share of 55 cents for the quarter, compared with earnings of 6 cents per share a year ago.

"We are continuing to position Lee so it will emerge strong when the recession ends,” said Mary Junck, chairman and chief executive officer. "We reduced debt by $18 million during the quarter and again performed well within projections we provided to lenders in February. While overall business remains sluggish, it has stabilized, and many of our publishers are reporting cautious optimism from an increasing number of local advertisers. We are also encouraged by our efforts to expand our local advertising market share and the response we have received to new sales programs that reach non-traditional advertisers. Beginning this next quarter, we also expect an enthusiastic response to our rollout of online behavioral targeting advertising through the new Yahoo platform.”

She added: "Our streamlining of costs also remains on track, and, thanks in part to 22 percent reductions in the June quarter, we expect to reduce full-year 2009 cash costs, about 17 percent below 2008, a decrease of nearly $140 million. We have completed page width reduction across the company, realigned staffing and consolidated or outsourced printing and distribution in several more locations. As a result of those actions and many more, the overall rate of decline in our operating cash flow⁽³⁾ has slowed dramatically since last quarter, and more individual enterprises have begun exceeding prior year. Our operating cash flow margin⁽³⁾, which includes corporate costs, has improved to 21.9 percent from 21.0 percent a year ago.”

THIRD QUARTER OPERATING RESULTS

Total operating revenue from continuing operations for the quarter decreased 20.5 percent from a year ago to $203.8 million. Combined print and online advertising revenue decreased 24.3 percent to $148.0 million, with retail advertising down 18.4 percent, and classified down 35.2 percent. Combined print and online employment advertising revenue decreased 60.4 percent, automotive decreased 30.9 percent and real estate decreased 35.0 percent. Online advertising revenue declined 29.3 percent, with online retail advertising down 1.7 percent and online classified advertising down 45.8 percent. National advertising revenue decreased 11.4 percent. Circulation revenue declined 6.3 percent, partially a result of elimination of less profitable delivery areas.

Operating expenses, excluding unusual items, depreciation and amortization, decreased 22.0 percent to $157.6 million and decreased 21.5 percent in total. Compensation, excluding unusual items, declined 22.4 percent, with the average number of full-time equivalent employees down 16.8 percent. Newsprint and ink expense decreased 41.4 percent, a result of a reduction in newsprint volume of 36.4 percent and more favorable newsprint prices.

Operating cash flow decreased 16.9 percent compared with a year ago to $44.7 million. Including equity in earnings (loss) of associated companies, depreciation and amortization, as well as adjustments for impairment and other non-cash charges, the operating loss was $13.8 million.

ADJUSTED EARNINGS AND EPS

Unusual items, primarily non-cash impairment charges, affected year-over-year comparisons for the quarter. The following table summarizes the impact from unusual items on net income (loss) available to common stockholders and earnings (loss) per diluted common share. Per share amounts may not add due to rounding.

YEAR TO DATE OPERATING RESULTS

Total operating revenue from continuing operations for the nine months decreased 17.6 percent from a year ago to $646.2 million. Combined print and online advertising revenue decreased 20.9 percent to $474.1 million, with retail advertising down 14.9 percent, and classified down 32.4 percent. Combined print and online employment advertising revenue decreased 53.6 percent, automotive decreased 27.0 percent and real estate decreased 32.3 percent. Online advertising revenue declined 23.4 percent, with online retail advertising up 9.6 percent and online classified advertising down 40.8 percent. National advertising revenue decreased 10.1 percent. Circulation revenue declined 4.9 percent.

Operating expenses, excluding unusual items, depreciation and amortization, decreased 15.9 percent to $515.0 million. Compensation, excluding unusual items, declined 18.3 percent, with the average number of full-time equivalent employees down 14.6 percent. Newsprint and ink expense decreased 19.3 percent and other cash costs decreased 11.3 percent.

Operating cash flow decreased 25.8 percent compared with a year ago to $126.5 million. Including equity in earnings of associated companies, depreciation and amortization, as well as adjustments for impairment and other non-cash charges, the operating loss was $194.3 million.

YEAR TO DATE ADJUSTED EARNINGS AND EPS

Unusual items affected year-over-year comparisons for the year to date. In both years, unusual items included adjustments for impairment of goodwill and other assets. Also, $71.3 million of the liability related to the redemption of the minority interest in St. Louis initially recorded in 2008 was reversed in 2009, increasing 2009 results by $57.1 million. Unusual items in 2009 also included the incremental cost of debt refinancing. The following table summarizes the impact from unusual items on net 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

The Lee Audience Report for January-June 2009 showed continued strength of both print and online audiences across all age groups.

Combined print and online reach of newspapers and online sites over the course of a week in Lee’s 10 largest markets grew to 68 percent of all adults in January-June 2009, compared with 66 percent for the same period two years ago. Reach of the newspapers alone remained steady at 61 percent. The report, from Thoroughbred Research, formerly Wilkerson & Associates, carries an overall margin of error of 1 percentage point.

The number of unique visitors at all Lee online sites increased 5.4 percent to 40.2 million in the quarter compared with the previous year, with page views up 7.7 percent to 559.4 million.

DEBT AND FREE CASH FLOW

Debt was reduced $18 million in the quarter and $144 million year to date, including $120 million as a result of refinancing of the Pulitzer Notes in February. Also in February, Lee restructured future payments on its $1.1 billion bank commitment.

Carl Schmidt, Lee vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, said Lee remains well within all of its financial covenants. Liquidity at the end of the quarter totaled $112 million, against $96.9 million of debt repayments due in the next four quarters, substantially all of which are expected to be met from ongoing cash flow.

Free cash flow in the quarter totaled $22.1 million, compared with $34.2 million a year ago. Year to date, free cash flow totaled $36.6 million versus $92.1 million a year ago, reflecting debt financing costs of $26.0 million in the current year.

IMPAIRMENT CHARGES

Non-cash charges for impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, including TNI Partners, totaled $39.7 million in the quarter and finalized an estimate that was recorded the previous quarter. Year to date, impairment charges total $264.5 million. The charges have no effect on cash flows but reduce reported earnings per common share, which resulted in a loss for the quarter and will result in a loss for the full year ending September 27, 2009.

Impairment testing is performed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, which, among other factors, require consideration of differences between current book value and the fair value of all of the company's assets, including current market capitalization. The charges are consistent with the manner in which other publishing companies and those in other industries have responded to current equity market valuation issues.

ABOUT LEE

Lee Enterprises is a premier provider of local news, information and advertising in primarily midsize markets, with 49 daily newspapers and a joint interest in four others, online sites and more than 300 specialty publications in 23 states. Lee’s newspapers have circulation of 1.5 million daily and 1.8 million Sunday, reaching four million readers daily. Lee’s online sites attract 14 million unique visits monthly, and Lee’s weekly publications have distribution of more than four million households. 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.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS — 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, 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, which in some instances are beyond its control, are the Company’s ability to generate cash flows and maintain liquidity sufficient to service its debt, and comply with or obtain amendments or waivers of the financial covenants contained in its credit facilities, if necessary. Other risks and uncertainties include the impact of continuing adverse economic conditions, potential changes in advertising demand, newsprint and other commodity prices, energy costs, interest rates and the availability of credit due to instability in the credit markets, labor costs, legislative and regulatory rulings and other results of operations or financial conditions, difficulties in 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 28, 2008. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words "may,” "will,” "would,” "could,” "believes,” "expects,” "anticipates,” "intends,” "plans,” "projects,” "considers” and similar expressions) generally should be considered 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 undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements.