Form 10-Q

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For The Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2006

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number 1-6227

LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware   42-0823980

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

201 N. Harrison Street, Suite 600, Davenport, Iowa 52801

(Address of principal executive offices)

(563) 383-2100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer  x   Accelerated filer  ¨   Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

As of March 31, 2006, 39,079,572 shares of Common Stock and 6,663,898 shares of Class B Common Stock of the Registrant were outstanding.

 



                  TABLE OF CONTENTS

   PAGE
   FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS    1
PART I    FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
   Item 1.   Financial Statements   
     Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income – Three months and six months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005    2
     Consolidated Balance Sheets - March 31, 2006 and September 30, 2005    3
     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Six months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005    4
     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements    5
   Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    14
   Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    24
   Item 4.   Controls and Procedures    25
PART II    OTHER INFORMATION   
   Item 2(c).   Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities    25
   Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    25
   Item 6.   Exhibits    26
   SIGNATURES    26


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “Safe Harbor” for forward-looking statements. This report 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 are changes in advertising demand, newsprint prices, energy costs, interest rates, 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 and increased capital and other costs. 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 report. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements.

 

1


PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item  1. Financial Statements

LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

      
 
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
 
   
 
Six Months Ended
March 31
 
 
(Thousands, Except Per Common Share Data)      2006       2005       2006       2005  

Operating revenue:

        

Advertising

   $ 210,918     $ 125,097     $ 447,993     $ 264,903  

Circulation

     51,121       31,807       102,941       64,258  

Other

     13,730       11,791       27,474       23,618  

Total operating revenue

     275,769       168,695       578,408       352,779  

Operating expenses:

        

Compensation

     113,553       70,954       228,624       142,683  

Newsprint and ink

     29,830       16,066       61,392       32,893  

Depreciation

     8,265       5,165       16,596       10,110  

Amortization of intangible assets

     14,030       6,409       27,984       12,970  

Other operating expenses

     69,012       39,813       141,707       80,922  

Early retirement program

     281       -       8,654       -  

Transition costs

     801       93       1,153       103  

Total operating expenses

     235,772       138,500       486,110       279,681  

Equity in earnings of associated companies

     5,017       1,287       11,320       3,880  

Operating income

     45,014       31,482       103,618       76,978  

Non-operating income (expense):

        

Financial income

     1,610       189       2,966       467  

Financial expense

     (23,694 )     (2,747 )     (47,731 )     (5,586 )

Other, net

     -       (65 )     -       (65 )

Total non-operating expense, net

     (22,084 )     (2,623 )     (44,765 )     (5,184 )

Income before income taxes

     22,930       28,859       58,853       71,794  

Income tax expense

     8,231       10,795       21,131       26,719  

Minority interest

     264       -       523       -  

Net income

     14,435       18,064       37,199       45,075  

Other comprehensive income, net

     2,096       -       3,076       -  

Comprehensive income

   $ 16,531     $ 18,064     $ 40,275     $ 45,075  

Earnings per common share:

        

Basic

   $ 0.32     $ 0.40     $ 0.82     $ 1.00  

Diluted

     0.32       0.40       0.82       1.00  
         

Dividends per common share

   $ 0.18     $ 0.18     $ 0.36     $ 0.36  

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

2


LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

(Thousands, Except Per Share Data)     
 
March 31
2006
   September 30
2005

ASSETS

     

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 7,918    $       7,543

Accounts receivable, net

     106,666    122,325

Income taxes receivable

     -    19,439

Receivable from associated companies

     -    1,563

Inventories

     20,999    22,099

Other

     9,912    11,901

Total current assets

     145,495    184,870

Investments

     224,672    227,280

Restricted cash and investments

     88,560    81,060

Property and equipment, net

     335,383    340,494

Goodwill

     1,547,772    1,547,042

Other intangible assets

     1,018,472    1,042,342

Other

     28,150    22,112

Total assets

   $ 3,388,504    $3,445,200

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     

Current liabilities:

     

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ 35,625    $     10,000

Accounts payable

     30,822    33,275

Compensation and other accrued liabilities

     60,958    71,945

Income taxes payable

     107          -

Dividends payable

     6,514    6,407

Unearned revenue

     41,803    38,036

Total current liabilities

     175,829    159,663

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

     1,594,852    1,706,024

Pension obligations

     38,724    33,236

Postretirement and postemployment benefit obligations

     97,145    95,237

Deferred items

     508,542    508,720

Other

     6,282    5,910

Total liabilities

     2,421,374    2,508,790

Stockholders’ equity:

     

Serial convertible preferred stock, no par value; authorized 500 shares; none issued

     -          -

Common Stock, $2 par value; authorized 120,000 shares; issued and outstanding:

     

March 31, 2006 39,080 shares;

     

September 30, 2005 38,409 shares

     78,160    76,818

Class B Common Stock, $2 par value; authorized 30,000 shares; issued and outstanding:

     

March 31, 2006 6,664 shares;

     

September 30, 2005 7,084 shares

     13,328    14,168

Additional paid-in capital

     116,254    109,959

Retained earnings

     754,808    733,961

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     4,580    1,504

Total stockholders’ equity

     967,130    936,410

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 3,388,504    $3,445,200

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

3


LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

      
 
Six Months Ended
March 31
 
 
(Thousands)      2006       2005  

Cash provided by (required for) operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 37,199     $ 45,075  

    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     44,580       23,080  

Stock compensation expense

     4,047       3,568  

Amortization of debt fair value adjustment

     (3,547 )     -  

Distributions greater than current earnings of associated companies

     618       371  

Other, net

     35,876       (2,439 )

Net cash provided by operating activities

     118,773       69,655  

Cash provided by (required for) investing activities:

    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (11,729 )     (8,185 )

Acquisitions, net

     (4,415 )     (4,440 )

Purchases of marketable securities

     (31,998 )     -  

Sales of marketable securities

     31,849       -  

Increase in restricted cash

     (7,141 )     -  

Other, net

     3,002       (207 )

Net cash required for investing activities

     (20,432 )     (12,832 )

Cash provided by (required for) financing activities:

    

Proceeds from long-term debt

     15,000       10,000  

Payments on long-term debt

     (97,000 )     (58,600 )

Common stock transactions, net

     2,853       964  

Cash dividends paid

     (16,240 )     (16,029 )

Financing costs

     (2,579 )     -  

Net cash required for financing activities

     (97,966 )     (63,665 )

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     375       (6,842 )

Cash and cash equivalents:

    

Beginning of period

     7,543       8,010  

End of period

   $ 7,918     $ 1,168  

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

4


LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

1 BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The Consolidated Financial Statements included herein are unaudited. In the opinion of management, these financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring items) necessary to present fairly the financial position of Lee Enterprises, Incorporated and subsidiaries (the Company) as of March 31, 2006 and its results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. These Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in the Company’s 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended.

In June 2005, the Company acquired Pulitzer Inc. (Pulitzer). This acquisition has a significant impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements. Because of this and other acquisitions, and seasonal and other factors, the results of operations for the three months and six months ended March 31, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned, except for its 50% interest in Madison Newspapers, Inc. (MNI), 83% interest in INN Partners, L.C. (INN), 36% interest in CityXpress Corp. (CityXpress) and Pulitzer’s (together with another subsidiary) 95% interest in St. Louis Post-Dispatch LLC (PD LLC) and STL Distribution Services LLC (DS LLC), a distribution company serving the St. Louis market, and 50% interest in the results of operations of TNI Partners (TNI), the Tucson, Arizona newspaper partnership.

Certain amounts as previously reported have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation.

References to 2005 and the like mean the fiscal year ended September 30.

 

2 ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

All acquisitions are accounted for as purchases and, accordingly, the results of operations since the respective dates of acquisition are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Acquisition of Pulitzer

On June 3, 2005, the Company and LP Acquisition Corp., an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary (the Purchaser), consummated an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement) dated as of January 29, 2005 with Pulitzer. The Merger Agreement provided for the Purchaser to be merged with and into Pulitzer (the Merger), with Pulitzer as the surviving corporation. Each share of Pulitzer’s Common Stock and Class B Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger was converted into the right to receive from the Company or the surviving corporation in cash, without interest, an amount equal to $64 per share. The aggregate purchase price paid by the Company, including fees and expenses totaling $11,427,000, was $1,461,767,000. Pulitzer publishes fourteen daily newspapers, including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and more than 100 weekly newspapers and specialty publications. Pulitzer also owns a 50% interest in TNI. See Note 3.

The Merger effected a change of control of Pulitzer. At the effective time of the Merger and as a result of the Merger, Pulitzer became an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

 

5


The unaudited pro forma consolidated statement of income information for the three months and six months ended March 31, 2005, set forth below, presents the Company’s results of operations as if the acquisition of Pulitzer had occurred at the beginning of the periods presented and is not necessarily indicative of future results or actual results that would have been achieved had the acquisition occurred as of the beginning of such periods. Other acquisitions described below are excluded as the amounts are not significant.

 

(Thousands, Except Per Common Share Data)    Three Months Ended
March 31, 2005
   Six Months Ended
March 31, 2005

Operating revenue

   $274,838    $577,059

Net income

       13,672        42,271

Earnings per common share:

     

Basic

   $      0.30    $      0.94

Diluted

           0.30            0.93

Other Acquisitions

In October 2005, the Company purchased a minority interest in INN in exchange for the forgiveness of certain notes receivable with a carrying value of $75,000. In January 2006, the Company purchased a weekly newspaper at a cost of $412,000. In March 2006, INN purchased a web-hosting business and national advertising network at a cost of $3,790,000.

In October 2004, the Company purchased two specialty publications at a cost of $309,000, made final working capital payments of $301,000 related to a specialty publication purchased in July 2004 and exchanged an Internet service provider business for a weekly newspaper. In December 2004, the Company purchased eight specialty publications at a cost of $3,908,000. These other acquisitions did not have a material effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

3 INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATED COMPANIES

TNI Partners

In Tucson, Arizona, TNI, acting as agent for the Company’s subsidiary, Star Publishing Company (Star Publishing), and Citizen Publishing Company (Citizen), a subsidiary of Gannett Co. Inc., is responsible for printing, delivery, advertising, and circulation of the Arizona Daily Star and Tucson Citizen as well as the related online sites and specialty publications. TNI collects all receipts and income and pays all operating expenses incident to the partnership’s operations and publication of the newspapers. Each newspaper is solely responsible for its own news and editorial content. Net pretax income or loss of TNI is allocated equally to Star Publishing and Citizen.

Summarized financial information of TNI is as follows:

 

(Thousands)    Three Months Ended
March 31, 2006
   Six Months Ended
March 31, 2006

Operating revenue

   $30,719    $62,555

Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization

     21,153      42,249

Operating income

   $  9,566    $20,306

Company’s 50% share of operating income

   $  4,783    $10,153

Less amortization of intangible assets

       1,233        2,465

Equity in earnings of TNI

   $  3,550    $  7,688

Star Publishing’s depreciation and certain general and administrative expenses associated with its share of the operation and administration of TNI are reported as operating expenses in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. In aggregate, these amounts totaled $446,000 and $947,000 for the three months and six months ended March 31, 2006, respectively.

 

6


Madison Newspapers, Inc.

The Company has a 50% ownership interest in MNI, which publishes daily and Sunday newspapers and other publications in Madison, Wisconsin, and other Wisconsin locations, as well as the related online sites. MNI conducts its business under the trade name Capital Newspapers.

Summarized financial information of MNI is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31
   Six Months Ended
March 31
(Thousands)          2006          2005          2006          2005

Operating revenue

   $28,628    $28,322    $59,895    $60,225

Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization

   22,718    21,620    45,537    43,501

Depreciation and amortization

   1,267    1,333    2,540    2,643

Operating income

   4,643    5,369    11,818    14,081

Net income

   2,934    3,270    7,264    8,522
         

Company’s 50% share of net income

   $  1,467    $ 1,635    $ 3,632    $ 4,261

Debt of MNI totaled $14,688,000 and $13,273,000 at March 31, 2006 and September 30, 2005, respectively.

 

4 GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows:

 

(Thousands)    Six Months Ended
March 31, 2006

Goodwill, beginning of period

   $1,547,042

Goodwill related to acquisitions

              730

Goodwill, end of period

   $1,547,772

Identified intangible assets consist of the following:

 

(Thousands)     
 
March 31
2006
    
 
September 30
2005

Nonamortized intangible assets:

     

Mastheads

   $ 78,896    $ 78,896

Amortizable intangible assets:

     

Customer and newspaper subscriber lists

     1,095,407      1,091,308

Less accumulated amortization

     156,247      128,390
       939,160      962,918

Noncompete and consulting agreements

     28,679      28,664

Less accumulated amortization

     28,263      28,136
       416      528
      $ 1,018,472    $ 1,042,342

Annual amortization of intangible assets for the five years ending March 2011 is estimated to be $56,566,000, $56,351,000, $55,550,000, $55,401,000 and $55,064,000, respectively.

 

7


5 DEBT

Credit Agreement

In December 2005, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement (the Credit Agreement) with a syndicate of financial institutions. The Credit Agreement provides for aggregate borrowings of up to $1,435,000,000 and consists of a $950,000,000 A Term Loan, $35,000,000 B Term Loan and a $450,000,000 revolving credit facility. The Credit Agreement also provides the Company with the right, with the consent of the administrative agent, to request at certain times prior to June 2012 that one or more lenders provide incremental term loan commitments of up to $500,000,000, subject to certain requirements being satisfied at the time of the request. The Credit Agreement matures in June 2012 and amends and replaces a $1,550,000,000 credit agreement (the Old Credit Agreement) consummated in June 2005. Interest rate margins under the Credit Agreement are generally lower than under the Old Credit Agreement. Other conditions of the Credit Agreement are substantially the same as the Old Credit Agreement.

The Credit Agreement is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by substantially all of the Company’s existing and future, direct and indirect subsidiaries in which the Company holds a direct or indirect interest of more than 50%; provided however, that Pulitzer and its subsidiaries will not be required to enter into such guaranty for so long as their doing so would violate the terms of the Pulitzer Notes described more fully below. The Credit Agreement is secured by first priority security interests in the stock and other equity interests owned by the Company and each guarantor in their respective subsidiaries. Both the guaranties and the collateral that secures them will be released in their entirety at such time as the Company achieves a total leverage ratio of 4:25:1 for two consecutive quarterly periods.

Debt under the A Term Loan and revolving credit facility bear interest, at the Company’s option, at either a base rate or an adjusted Eurodollar rate (LIBOR), plus an applicable margin. The base rate for the facility is the greater of the prime lending rate of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas at such time and 0.5% in excess of the overnight federal funds rate at such time. The margin applicable is a percentage determined according to the following: For revolving loans and A Term Loans, maintained as base rate loans 0%, and maintained as Eurodollar loans, 0.625% to 1% (1% at March 31, 2006 and 0.875% beginning in April 2006) depending, in each instance, upon the Company’s leverage ratio at such time. All loans at March 31, 2006 are Eurodollar-based.

The Company may voluntarily prepay principal amounts outstanding or reduce commitments under the Credit Agreement at any time, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, upon proper notice and subject to certain limitations as to minimum amounts of prepayments. The Company is required to repay principal amounts, on a quarterly basis until maturity, under the A Term Loan beginning on September 29, 2006. In addition to the scheduled payments noted above, the Company is required to make mandatory prepayments under the A Term Loan under certain other conditions. The Company repaid the B Term Loan during the three months ended March 31, 2006.

The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants for financing of its type. These financial covenants include a maximum leverage ratio (6:1 at March 31, 2006) and minimum interest coverage ratio of 2.5:1. None of the covenants included in the Credit Agreement is considered by the Company to be restrictive to normal operations or historical amounts of stockholder dividends. At March 31, 2006, the Company is in compliance with such covenants.

Pulitzer Notes

In conjunction with its formation, PD LLC borrowed $306,000,000 (the Pulitzer Notes) from a group of institutional lenders (the Lenders). The aggregate principal amount of the Pulitzer Notes is payable in April 2009 and bears interest at an annual rate of 8.05%. The Pulitzer Notes are guaranteed by Pulitzer pursuant to a Guaranty Agreement dated May 1, 2000 (the Guaranty Agreement) with the Lenders. In turn, pursuant to an Indemnity Agreement dated May 1, 2000 (the Indemnity Agreement) between The Herald Company, Inc. (Herald) and Pulitzer, Herald agreed to indemnify Pulitzer for any payments that Pulitzer may make under the Guaranty Agreement.

The terms of the Pulitzer Notes, as amended, contain certain covenants and conditions including the maintenance, by Pulitzer, of EBITDA, as defined in the Guaranty Agreement, minimum net worth and limitations on the incurrence of other debt. In addition, the Pulitzer Notes and the Operating Agreement with Herald (Operating Agreement) require that PD LLC maintain a minimum reserve balance, consisting of cash and investments in U.S. government

 

8


securities, totaling approximately $88,560,000 at March 31, 2006. The Pulitzer Notes and the Operating Agreement provide for a $3,750,000 quarterly increase in the minimum reserve balance through May 1, 2010, when the amount will total $150,000,000. See Note 11.

The purchase price allocation of Pulitzer resulted in an increase in the value of the Pulitzer Notes in the amount of $31,512,000, which is recorded as debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. This amount will be amortized over the remaining life of the Pulitzer Notes, until April 2009, as a reduction in interest expense using the interest method. This amortization will not increase the principal amount due to, or reduce the amount of interest to be paid to, the Lenders.

Debt consists of the following:

 

(Thousands)     
 
March 31
2006
   September 30
2005
   Interest Rate
March 31, 2006

Credit Agreement:

        

A Term Loan

   $ 950,000    $        -            5.67-5.81%

Revolving credit facility

     350,000              -                5.67

Old Credit Agreement

     -      1,382,000   

Pulitzer Notes:

        

Principal amount

     306,000         306,000        8.05

Unamortized fair value adjustment

     24,477           28,024   
       1,630,477      1,716,024     

Less current maturities

     35,625           10,000   
     $ 1,594,852    $1,706,024     

Aggregate maturities of debt during the five years ending September 2010 are $11,875,000, $47,500,000, $71,250,000, $448,500,000 and $166,250,000, respectively.

 

6 INTEREST RATE EXCHANGE AGREEMENTS

In April 2005, the Company executed interest rate swaps in the notional amount of $350,000,000 with a forward starting date of November 30, 2005. The interest rate swaps have terms of two to five years, carry interest rates from 4.2% to 4.4% (plus the applicable LIBOR margin) and effectively fix the Company’s interest rate on debt in the amounts, and for the time periods, of such instruments. At March 31, 2006, the Company recorded an asset of $7,806,000 related to the fair value of such instruments. The change in this fair value is recorded in other comprehensive income, net of income taxes.

At March 31, 2006, after consideration of the interest rate swaps described above, approximately 59% of the principal amount of the Company’s debt is subject to floating interest rates.

 

7 PENSION, POSTRETIREMENT AND POSTEMPLOYMENT DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS

The Company and its subsidiaries have several noncontributory defined benefit pension plans that together cover a significant number of St. Louis Post-Dispatch and selected other employees. Benefits under the plans are generally based on salary and years of service. The Company’s liability and related expense for benefits under the plans are recorded over the service period of active employees based upon annual actuarial calculations. Plan funding strategies are influenced by tax regulations. Plan assets consist primarily of domestic and foreign corporate equity securities, government and corporate bonds, and cash.

In addition, the Company provides retiree medical and life insurance benefits under postretirement plans at several of its operating locations. The level and adjustment of participant contributions vary depending on the specific postretirement plan. In addition, PD LLC provides postemployment disability benefits to certain employee groups prior to retirement at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Company’s liability and related expense for benefits under the postretirement plans are recorded over the service period of active employees based upon annual actuarial calculations. The Company accrues postemployment disability benefits when it becomes probable that such benefits will be paid and when sufficient information exists to make reasonable estimates of the amounts to be paid.

The Company uses a June 30 measurement date for all of its pension and postretirement medical plan obligations.

 

9


The cost components of the Company’s pension and postretirement medical plans are as follows:

 

     Pension Plans
(Thousands)    Three Months Ended
March 31, 2006
   Six Months Ended
March 31, 2006

Service cost for benefits earned during the period

   $  1,173    $  2,844

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

       2,365        4,578

Expected return on plan assets

       (3,112)        (6,271)

Costs for special termination benefits

           90        4,523

Curtailment gain

           -                 (102)
     $     516    $  5,572
     
     Postretirement Medical Plans
(Thousands)    Three Months Ended
March 31, 2006
   Six Months Ended
March 31, 2006

Service cost for benefits earned during the period

   $    844    $  1,688

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

       1,647        3,294

Expected return on plan assets

        (518)        (1,036)

Costs for special termination benefits

           -                659
     $  1,973    $  4,605

Based on its forecast at March 31, 2006, the Company expects to contribute $1,300,000 to its postretirement medical plans in 2006.

 

8 INCOME TAXES

The provision for income taxes includes deferred taxes and is based upon estimated annual effective tax rates

in the tax jurisdictions in which the Company operates.

 

9 EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31
   Six Months Ended
March 31
(Thousands, Except Per Share Data)      2006      2005    2006    2005

Income applicable to common stock:

           

Net income

   $14,435    $18,064    $37,199    $45,075

Weighted average common shares

   45,742    45,369    45,664    45,330

Less non-vested restricted stock

   352    283    339    273

Basic average common shares

   45,390    45,086    45,325    45,057

Dilutive stock options and restricted stock

   136    229    137    222

Diluted average common shares

   45,526    45,315    45,462    45,279

Earnings per common share:

           

Basic

   $    0.32    $    0.40    $    0.82    $    1.00

Diluted

   0.32    0.40    0.82    1.00

At March 31, 2006 and 2005, the Company had 670,000 and 196,000 weighted average shares, respectively, subject to issuance under its stock compensation plans that have no intrinsic value and are not considered in the computation of earnings per common share.

 

10


10 STOCK OWNERSHIP PLANS

Stock Options

A summary of activity related to the Company’s stock option plan is as follows:

 

(Thousands, Except Per Share Data)    Shares   Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (Years)
  Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

Outstanding, September 30, 2005

      981   $37.76     

Granted

      177     39.55     

Exercised

     (112)     33.02     

Cancelled

       (71)     46.66           

Outstanding, March 31, 2006

      975   $37.99    7.2   $619

Exercisable, March 31,2006

      639   $35.59    6.2   $619

Options to purchase 1,008,000 shares of Common Stock with a weighted average exercise price of $37.57 per share were outstanding at March 31, 2005.

Total unrecognized compensation expense for unvested stock options as of March 31, 2006 is $2,678,000. This expense will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.

The exercise of stock options during the six months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 resulted in cash proceeds

of $3,694,000 and $1,470,000, respectively, and income tax benefits of $214,000 and $282,000, respectively.
The intrinsic value of options exercised during the six months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 is $549,000 and $722,000, respectively.

The fair value of each grant is estimated at the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The

table below outlines the weighted average assumptions for options granted during the six months ended

March 31, 2006 and 2005.

 

     Six Months
Ended March 31
      2006   2005

Dividend yield

         1.7%           1.5%

Volatility

       21.7%         24.3%

Risk-free interest rate

         4.4%           3.6%

Expected life (years)

       4.7         4.7

Estimated fair value

   $8.76   $11.01

The risk-free interest rate is based on the implied yield available on U.S. Treasury zero coupon issues with an equivalent remaining term. The expected life is based on historical experience. Expected price volatility is based

on historical volatility of the Company’s stock that correlates with the expected term of the options.

Restricted Common Stock

The following table summarizes restricted stock activity during the six months ended March 31, 2006:

 

(Thousands, Except Per Share Data)    Shares   Weighted
Average
Grant Date

Fair Value

Outstanding, September 30, 2005

    279   $44.98    

Granted

    165   40.77    

Vested

      (84)   32.59    

Forfeited

       (7)   44.82    

Outstanding, March 31, 2006

   353   $43.79    

 

11


The fair value of restricted shares vested during the six months ended March 31, 2006 totaled $3,391,000.

Total unrecognized compensation expense for unvested restricted stock as of March 31, 2006 is $8,765,000. This expense will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years.

 

11 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Capital Commitments

At March 31, 2006, the Company had construction and equipment purchase commitments totaling approximately $16,704,000.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Early Retirement Program

In November 2005, the Company announced that the St. Louis Post-Dispatch concluded an offering of early retirement incentives that will result in an adjustment of staffing levels. Approximately 130 employees volunteered to take advantage of the offer, which includes enhanced pension and insurance benefits and lump sum cash payments based on continuous service. The cost totals $17,778,000 before income tax benefit, with $9,124,000 recognized in 2005, $8,373,000 recognized in the three months ended December 31, 2005 and $281,000 in the three months ending March 31, 2006. Approximately $7,000,000 of the cost represents cash payments, with the remainder due primarily to enhancements of pension and other postretirement benefits.

PD LLC Operating Agreement

On May 1, 2000, Pulitzer and Herald completed the transfer of their respective interests in the assets and operations of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and certain related businesses to a new joint venture (the Venture), known as PD LLC. Pulitzer is the managing member of PD LLC. Under the terms of the operating agreement governing PD LLC (the Operating Agreement), Pulitzer and another subsidiary hold a 95% interest in the results of operations of PD LLC and Herald holds a 5% interest. Herald’s 5% interest is reported as minority interest in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. Also, under the terms of the Operating Agreement, Herald received on May 1, 2000 a cash distribution of $306,000,000 from PD LLC (the Initial Distribution). This distribution was financed by the Pulitzer Notes. Pulitzer’s entry into the Venture was treated as a purchase for accounting purposes.

During the first ten years of its term, PD LLC is restricted from making distributions (except under specified circumstances), capital expenditures and member loan repayments unless it has set aside out of its cash flow a reserve equal to the product of $15,000,000 and the number of years since May 1, 2000, but not in excess of $150,000,000 (the Reserve). PD LLC is not required to maintain the Reserve after May 1, 2010. On May 1, 2010, Herald will have a one-time right to require PD LLC to redeem Herald’s interest in PD LLC, together with Herald’s interest, if any, in DS LLC, another limited liability company in which Pulitzer is the managing member and which is engaged in the business of delivering publications and products in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. The May 1, 2010 redemption price for Herald’s interest will be determined pursuant to a formula yielding an amount which will result in the present value to May 1, 2000 of the after tax cash flows to Herald (based on certain assumptions) from PD LLC, including the Initial Distribution and the special distribution described below, if any, and from DS LLC, being equal to $275,000,000.

In the event the transactions effectuated in connection with either the formation of the Venture and the Initial Distribution or the organization of DS LLC are recharacterized by the IRS as a taxable sale by Herald, with the result in either case that the tax basis of PD LLC’s assets increases and Herald is required to recognize taxable income as a result of such recharacterization, Herald generally will be entitled to receive a special distribution from PD LLC in an amount that corresponds, approximately, to the present value of the after tax benefit to the members of PD LLC of the tax basis increase. The adverse financial effect of any such special distribution to Herald on PD LLC (and thus Pulitzer and the Company) will be partially offset by the current and deferred tax benefits arising as a consequence of the treatment of the transactions effectuated in connection with the formation of the Venture and the Initial Distribution or the organization of DS LLC as a taxable sale by Herald. The Company has been advised that the IRS, in the course of examining the 2000 consolidated federal income tax return in which Herald was included, has requested certain information and documents relating to the transactions effectuated in connection with the formation of the Venture and the Initial Distribution. The Company is participating in the formulation of Herald’s response to this IRS request for information and documents.

 

12


Upon termination of PD LLC and DS LLC, which will be on May 1, 2015 (unless Herald exercises the redemption right described above), Herald will be entitled to the liquidating value of its interests in PD LLC and DS LLC, to be paid in cash by Pulitzer. That amount would be equal to the amount of Herald’s capital accounts, after allocating the gain or loss that would result from a cash sale of PD LLC and DS LLC’s assets for their fair market value at that time. Herald’s share of such gain or loss generally will be 5%, but will be reduced (but not below 1%) to the extent that the present value to May 1, 2000 of the after tax cash flows to Herald from PD LLC and from DS LLC, including the Initial Distribution, the special distribution described above, if any, and the liquidation amount (based on certain assumptions), exceeds $325,000,000.

The actual amount payable to Herald either on May 1, 2010, or upon the termination of PD LLC and DS LLC on May 1, 2015 will depend on such variables as future cash flows, the amounts of any distributions to Herald prior to such payment, PD LLC’s and DS LLC’s rate of growth and market valuations of newspaper properties. While the amount of such payment cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company currently estimates (assuming a 5% annual growth rate in Herald’s capital accounts, no special distribution as described above and consistent newspaper property valuation multiples) that the amount of such payment would not exceed $100,000,000. The Company further believes that it will be able to finance such payment either from available cash reserves or by accessing the capital markets. The redemption of Herald’s interest in PD LLC either on May 1, 2010 or upon termination of PD LLC in 2015 is expected to generate significant tax benefits to the Company as a consequence of the resulting increase in the tax basis of the assets owned by PD LLC and DS LLC and the related depreciation and amortization deductions.

Income Taxes

The Company files income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and various state tax jurisdictions. From time to time, the Company is subject to routine audits by those agencies, and those audits may result in proposed adjustments. The primary issues in audits currently in process or being contested relate to the appropriate determination of gains, and allocation to the various taxing authorities thereof, on businesses sold in 2001. The Company may also be subject to claims for transferee income tax liability related to businesses acquired in 2000. The Company has considered the alternative interpretations that may be assumed by the various taxing agencies, believes its positions taken regarding its filings are valid, and that adequate tax liabilities have been recorded to resolve such matters. However, the actual outcome cannot be determined with certainty and the difference could be material, either positively or negatively, to the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income in the periods in which such matters are ultimately determined. The Company does not believe the final resolution of such matters will be material to its consolidated financial position.

Litigation

The Company is involved in a variety of legal actions that arise in the normal course of business. Insurance coverage mitigates potential loss for certain of these matters. While the Company is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of these legal actions, it is the opinion of management that the disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, taken as a whole.

 

12 IMPACT OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In October 2005 the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement 123-Revised, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (Statement 123R) and related FASB staff positions. Statement 123R amends Statement 95, Statement of Cash Flows, to require that excess tax benefits be reported as a financing cash inflow rather than a reduction of taxes paid.

Statement 123R also establishes standards for accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods and services (primarily accounting transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions, such as stock options). Statement 123R requires a public entity to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an equity instrument based on the grant date fair value of the award. In general, the cost will be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide the service in exchange for the award (usually the vesting period). The fair value based methods in Statement 123R are similar to the fair value based method in Statement 123 in most respects. The Company adopted Statement 123 in 2003.

 

13


In October 2005 the Company adopted FASB Statement 153, Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets. This pronouncement amends APB Opinion 29, Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions. Statement 153 eliminates the exception for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets present in APB Opinion 29 and replaces it with a general exception for exchanges of nonmonetary assets that do not have commercial substance (i.e. transactions that are not expected to result in significant changes in the cash flows of the reported entity).

In October 2005 the Company adopted FASB Interpretation 47, Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations. Interpretation 47 requires an entity to recognize a liability for a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and/or method of the settlement are conditional on a future event. The liability must be recognized if the fair value of the liability can be reasonably estimated.

The adoption of the statements and interpretation discussed above did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In May 2005 the FASB issued Statement 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections—a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3, that changes the requirements for the accounting and reporting of a change in accounting principle. Statement 154 eliminates the requirement to include the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles in the current period of change and instead, requires that changes in accounting principle be retrospectively applied. Statement 154 is effective for accounting changes made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company does not anticipate that the implementation of Statement 154 will have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

Item  2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion includes comments and analysis relating to the Company’s results of operations and financial condition as of and for the three months and six months ended March 31, 2006. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes thereto and the 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Operating Cash Flow and Operating Cash Flow Margin

Operating cash flow, which is defined as operating income before depreciation, amortization, and equity in earnings of associated companies, and operating cash flow margin (operating cash flow divided by operating revenue) represent non-GAAP financial measures that are used in the analysis below. The Company believes that operating cash flow and the related margin percentage are useful measures of evaluating its financial performance because of their focus on the Company’s results from operations before depreciation and amortization. The Company also believes that these measures are several of the alternative financial measures of performance used by investors, lenders, rating agencies and financial analysts to estimate the value of a company and evaluate its ability to meet debt service requirements.

 

14


A reconciliation of operating cash flow and operating cash flow margin to operating income, the most directly comparable measure under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), is included in the table below:

 

(Thousands)    Three Months Ended
March 31, 2006
   Percent of
Revenue
  Three Months Ended
March 31, 2005
   Percent of
Revenue

Operating cash flow

   $62,292     22.6%   $41,769     24.8%

Depreciation and amortization

     22,295    8.1     11,574    6.9

Equity in earnings of associated companies

       5,017    1.8       1,287    0.8

Operating income

   $45,014     16.3%   $31,482     18.7%
          
(Thousands)    Six Months Ended
March 31, 2006
   Percent of
Revenue
  Six Months Ended
March 31, 2005
   Percent of
Revenue

Operating cash flow

   $136,878      23.7%   $96,178     27.3%

Depreciation and amortization

       44,580    7.7     23,080    6.5

Equity in earnings of associated companies

       11,320    2.0       3,880    1.1

Operating income

   $103,618     17.9%   $76,978    21.8%

SAME PROPERTY COMPARISONS

Certain information below, as noted, is presented on a same property basis, which is exclusive of acquisitions and divestitures consummated in the current or prior year. The Company believes such comparisons provide meaningful information for an understanding of changes in its revenue and operating expenses. Same property comparisons exclude MNI. The Company owns 50% of the capital stock of MNI, which for financial reporting purposes is reported using the equity method of accounting. Same property comparisons also exclude corporate office costs.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to intangible assets and income taxes. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Additional information follows with regard to certain of the most critical of the Company’s accounting policies.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

In assessing the recoverability of its goodwill and other intangible assets, the Company makes assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of the respective assets. The Company analyzes its goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if impairment indicators are present.

The Company also periodically evaluates its determination of the useful lives of amortizable intangible assets. Any resulting changes in the useful lives of such intangible assets will not impact the cash flows of the Company. However, a decrease in the useful lives of such intangible assets would increase future amortization expense and decrease future reported operating results and earnings per common share.

Pension, Postretirement and Postemployment Benefit Plans

The Company evaluates its liability for pension, postretirement and postemployment benefit plans based upon computations made by consulting actuaries, incorporating estimates and actuarial assumptions of future plan service costs, future interest costs on projected benefit obligations, rates of compensation increases, employee turnover rates, anticipated mortality rates, expected investment returns on plan assets, asset allocation assumptions of plan assets, and

 

15


other factors. If management used different estimates and assumptions regarding these plans, the funded status of the plans could vary significantly, resulting in recognition of different amounts of expense over future periods.

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes are provided using the liability method, whereby deferred income tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and loss carryforwards and deferred income tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are the difference between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax basis. Deferred income tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.

The Company files income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service and various state tax jurisdictions. From time to time the Company is subject to routine audits by those agencies, and those audits may result in proposed adjustments. The Company has considered the alternative interpretations that may be assumed by the various taxing agencies, believes its positions taken regarding its filings are valid, and that adequate tax liabilities have been recorded to resolve such matters.

Revenue Recognition

Advertising revenue is recorded when advertisements are placed in the publication or on the related online site. Circulation revenue is recorded as newspapers are distributed over the subscription term. Other revenue is recognized when the related product or service has been delivered. Unearned revenue arises in the ordinary course of business from advance subscription payments for newspapers or advance payments for advertising.

Uninsured Risks

The Company is self-insured for health care, workers compensation and certain long term disability costs of its employees, subject to stop loss insurance, which limits exposure to large claims. The Company accrues its estimated health care costs in the period in which such costs are incurred, including an estimate of incurred but not reported claims. Other insurance carries deductible losses of varying amounts.

The Company’s reserve for workers compensation claims is based upon an estimate of the remaining liability for retained losses made by consulting actuaries. The amount has been determined based upon historical patterns of incurred and paid loss development factors from the insurance industry.

IMPACT OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In October 2005 the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement 123-Revised, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (Statement 123R) and related FASB staff positions. Statement 123R amends Statement 95, Statement of Cash Flows, to require that excess tax benefits be reported as a financing cash inflow rather than a reduction of taxes paid.

Statement 123R also establishes standards for accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods and services (primarily accounting transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions, such as stock options). Statement 123R requires a public entity to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an equity instrument based on the grant date fair value of the award. In general, the cost will be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide the service in exchange for the award (usually the vesting period). The fair value based methods in Statement 123R are similar to the fair value based method in Statement 123 in most respects. The Company adopted Statement 123 in 2003.

In October 2005 the Company adopted FASB Statement 153, Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets. This pronouncement amends APB Opinion 29, Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions. Statement 153 eliminates the exception for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets present in APB Opinion 29 and replaces it with a general exception for exchanges of nonmonetary assets that do not have commercial substance (i.e. transactions that are not expected to result in significant changes in the cash flows of the reported entity).

 

16


In October 2005 the Company adopted FASB Interpretation 47, Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations. Interpretation 47 requires an entity to recognize a liability for a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and/or method of the settlement are conditional on a future event. The liability must be recognized if the fair value of the liability can be reasonably estimated.

The adoption of the statements and interpretation discussed above did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In May 2005 the FASB issued Statement 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections—a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3, that changes the requirements for the accounting and reporting of a change in accounting principle. Statement 154 eliminates the requirement to include the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles in the current period of change and instead, requires that changes in accounting principle be retrospectively applied. Statement 154 is effective for accounting changes made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company does not anticipate that the implementation of Statement 154 will have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

The Company directly, and through its ownership of associated companies, publishes 58 daily newspapers in 23 states and more than 300 weekly, classified and specialty publications, along with associated and integrated online services. The Company was founded in 1890, incorporated in 1950, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1978. Before 2001, the Company also operated a number of network-affiliated and satellite television stations.

In April 2002, the Company acquired ownership of 15 daily newspapers and a 50% interest in the Sioux City, Iowa daily newspaper (SCN) by purchasing Howard Publications, Inc. (Howard). This acquisition was consistent with the strategy the Company announced in 2000 to buy daily newspapers with circulation of 30,000 or more. In July 2002, the Company acquired the remaining 50% of SCN. These acquisitions increased the Company’s circulation by more than 75% and increased its revenue by nearly 50%. In February 2004, two daily newspapers acquired in the Howard acquisition were exchanged for two daily newspapers in Burley, Idaho and Elko, Nevada.

In June 2005, the Company acquired Pulitzer. Pulitzer publishes fourteen daily newspapers, including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and more than 100 weekly newspapers and specialty publications. Pulitzer also owns a 50% interest in TNI. The acquisition of Pulitzer increased the Company’s circulation by more than 50% to almost 1.7 million daily and more than 1.9 million Sunday, and revenue, on an annualized basis, by more than 60%.

The Company is focused on six key strategic priorities. They are to:

 

    Grow revenue creatively and rapidly;

 

    Improve readership and circulation;

 

    Emphasize strong local news;

 

    Accelerate online growth;

 

    Nurture employee development and achievement; and

 

    Exercise careful cost controls.

Certain aspects of these priorities are discussed below.

More than 75% of the Company’s revenue is derived from advertising. The Company’s strategies are to increase its share of local advertising through increased sales pressure in its existing markets and, over time, to increase readership and circulation unit sales through internal expansion into existing and contiguous markets and enhancement of online offerings augmented by selective acquisitions. Acquisition efforts are focused on newspapers with daily circulation of 30,000 or more, as noted above, and other publications and online businesses that expand the Company’s operating revenue.

Increases in same property advertising revenue in the three months and six months ended March 31, 2006 were more than offset by declines in circulation revenue and increases in operating costs. Results for the current year were also significantly influenced by the acquisition of Pulitzer.

 

17


THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

Operating results, as reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements, are summarized below:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31
  Percent Change
(Thousands, Except Per Share Data)    2006   2005   Total   Same Property

Advertising revenue:

        

Retail

   $107,940   $68,642       57.3%       0.3%

National

       14,138        5,708   147.7     (8.8)

Classified:

        

Daily newspapers:

        

Employment

       22,749      12,302     84.9   11.2

Automotive

       14,577        9,233     57.9   (11.7)

Real estate

       14,965        8,754     71.0     2.9

All other

         9,225        5,445     69.4     2.3

Other publications

       14,259        8,292     72.0     0.5

Total classified

       75,775      44,026     72.1     1.6

Online

         8,498        3,453   146.1   38.2

Niche publications

         4,567        3,268     39.7   12.0

Total advertising revenue

     210,918     125,097     68.6     1.7

Circulation

       51,121       31,807     60.7     (1.9)

Commercial printing

         5,643        5,127     10.1     (6.2)

Online services and other

         8,087        6,664     21.4     2.1

Total operating revenue

     275,769     168,695     63.5     0.8

Compensation

     113,553       70,954     60.0     1.4

Newsprint and ink

       29,830       16,066     85.7     8.5

Other operating expenses

       69,012       39,813     73.3     4.1

Early retirement program

           281   -       NM   NM

Transition costs

           801             93       NM   NM

Total operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization

     213,477     126,926     68.2     3.2

Operating cash flow

       62,292       41,769     49.1     (5.1)

Depreciation and amortization

       22,295       11,574     92.6     (4.8)

Equity in earnings of associated companies

         5,017         1,287   289.8    

Operating income

       45,014       31,482     43.0  

Non-operating expense, net

       (22,084)         (2,623)   741.9    

Income before income taxes

       22,930       28,859     (20.5)  

Income tax expense

         8,231       10,795     (23.8)  

Minority interest

           264   -      NM    

Net income

       14,435        18,064       (20.1)%  

Other comprehensive income, net

         2,096   -      NM    

Comprehensive income

   $  16,531   $  18,064       (8.5)%    

Earnings per common share:

        

Basic

     $      0.32     $     0.40         (20.0)%  

Diluted

          0.32             0.40       (20.0)    

Sundays generate substantially more advertising and circulation revenue than any other day of the week. The three months ended March 31, 2006 had the same number of Sundays as the prior year quarter.

In total, acquisitions and divestitures accounted for $106,422,000 of operating revenue and $82,970,000 of operating expenses, other than depreciation and amortization, in the three months ended March 31, 2006. Acquisitions and divestitures accounted for $712,000 of operating revenue and $722,000 of operating expenses other than depreciation and amortization, in the three months ended March 31, 2005. For the three months ended March 31, 2006, total same property operating revenue increased $1,365,000, or 0.8%.

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Advertising Revenue

Same property advertising revenue increased $2,145,000, or 1.7%. Same property retail revenue increased $225,000, or 0.3%. Same property average retail rate, excluding preprint insertions, increased 4.0%. Same property preprint insertion revenue increased 1.2%.

Same property classified advertising revenue increased 1.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2006. Higher margin employment advertising at the daily newspapers increased 11.2% on a same property basis, the tenth consecutive quarterly increase and ninth double digit increase, and same property real estate classified revenue increased 2.9%. Same property automotive classified advertising decreased 11.7% amid a continuing industry-wide decline. Same property average classified rates increased 1.7%.

Advertising lineage, as reported on a same property basis for the Company’s daily newspapers, consisted of the following:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31
    
(Thousands of Inches)    2006    2005    Percent Change

Retail

   2,361    2,450         (3.6)%

National

      123       143    (14.0)

Classified

   2,740    2,737      0.1
     5,224    5,330         (2.0)%

Online advertising increased 38.2% on a same property basis, due primarily to rate increases and expanded cross-selling with the Company’s print publications. Advertising in niche publications increased 12.0% on a same property basis, due in part to new publications in existing markets.

Circulation and Other Revenue

Same property circulation revenue decreased $599,000, or 1.9%, in the current year quarter. The Company’s unaudited average daily newspaper circulation units, including Pulitzer, TNI and MNI, increased 0.7% and Sunday circulation decreased 1.3% for the three months ended March 2006, compared to the prior year. The Company is reaching an increasingly larger share of the market through rapid online growth, as well as through additional specialty and niche publications.

Same property commercial printing revenue decreased $317,000, or 6.2%. Same property online services and other revenue increased $136,000, or 2.1%.

Operating Expenses and Results of Operations

Same property compensation expense increased $923,000, or 1.4%, in the current year period. Same property full-time equivalent employees decreased 0.2% year over year. Normal salary increases and associated increases in related payroll taxes contributed to the increase. Same property newsprint and ink costs increased $1,353,000, or 8.5%, in the current year quarter due to newsprint price increases, offset by a decrease in usage. Newsprint prices have been increasing since the summer of 2002. Same property newsprint volume decreased 3.8% due to migration to lighter weight paper and narrower page widths. Same property other operating costs, which are comprised of all operating expenses not considered to be compensation, newsprint and ink, depreciation or amortization, increased $1,542,000, or 4.1%, in the current year quarter. Expenses to maintain circulation, postage and outside printing costs contributed to the growth in other operating expenses, as did an accrual for settlement of litigation. Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $537,000, or 4.8%, on a same property basis, due primarily to the completion of amortization related to certain previous acquisitions. Such costs increased 92.6% overall, due primarily to the acquisition of Pulitzer. Transition costs related to the acquisition of Pulitzer totaled $801,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2006. Such costs are not included in same property comparisons. Transition costs are comprised of costs directly related to the acquisition of Pulitzer that are separately identifiable and non-recurring, but not capitalizable under GAAP.

Operating cash flow improved 49.1% to $62,292,000 in the current year quarter from $41,769,000 in the prior year. Operating cash flow margin decreased to 22.6% from 24.8% in the prior year quarter due primarily to the inclusion of Pulitzer results. Same property operating cash flow decreased 5.1%. Same property operating cash flow margin decreased to 27.1%, from 28.8% in the prior year quarter. Equity in earnings of associated companies increased to $5,017,000 in the current year quarter, compared to $1,287,000 in the prior year quarter, primarily from inclusion of

 

19


TNI results, offset by a decrease in MNI results. Operating income increased 43.0% to $45,014,000. Operating income margin decreased to 16.3% from 18.7% due primarily to the inclusion of Pulitzer results.

Nonoperating Income and Expense

Financial expense increased $20,947,000 due to debt incurred to fund the Pulitzer acquisition and rising interest rates on floating rate debt, partially offset by debt reduction funded by cash generated from operations.

Overall Results

The Company’s effective income tax rate decreased to 35.9% from 37.4% in the prior year quarter due primarily to the implementation of the new Federal manufacturing credit and changes in the mix of the Company’s income before income taxes, largely related to the acquisition of Pulitzer. The Company expects the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2006 will approximate the rate for the full year.

As a result of all of the above, earnings per diluted common share from continuing operations decreased 20.0% to $0.32 per share from $0.40 per share in the prior year quarter.

 

20


SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

Operating results, as reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements, are summarized below:

 

      
 
Six Months Ended
March 31
 
 
  Percent Change
(Thousands, Except Per Share Data)      2006       2005     Total     Same Property

Advertising revenue:

        

Retail

   $ 243,470     $ 152,104     60.1 %     0.5

National

     31,812       12,257     159.5       (3.0)

Classified:

        

Daily newspapers:

        

Employment

     42,883       23,084     85.8     12.6

Automotive

     28,815       19,096     50.9     (13.5)

Real estate

     30,304       17,975     68.6       3.1

All other

     18,454       11,148     65.5       2.1

Other publications

     28,232       16,728     68.8       (1.5)

Total classified

     148,688       88,031     68.9       1.0

Online

     15,969       6,577     142.8     35.8

Niche publications

     8,054       5,934     35.7       5.2

Total advertising revenue

     447,993       264,903     69.1       1.5

Circulation

     102,941       64,258     60.2       (2.3)

Commercial printing

     11,652       10,507     10.9       (6.4)

Online services and other

     15,822       13,111     20.7       1.7

Total operating revenue

     578,408       352,779     64.0       0.6

Compensation

     228,624       142,683     60.2       1.3

Newsprint and ink

     61,392       32,893     86.6       8.5

Other operating expenses

     141,707       80,922     75.1       4.1

Early retirement program

     8,654       -     NM     NM

Transition costs

     1,153       103     NM     NM

Total operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization

     441,530       256,601     72.1       3.1

Operating cash flow

     136,878       96,178     42.3       (5.1)

Depreciation and amortization

     44,580       23,080     93.2       (5.2)

Equity in earnings of associated companies

     11,320       3,880     191.8      

Operating income

     103,618       76,978     34.6    

Non-operating expense, net

     (44,765 )     (5,184 )   763.5      

Income before income taxes

     58,853       71,794     (18.0 )  

Income tax expense

     21,131       26,719     (20.9 )  

Minority interest

     523       -     NM      

Net income

     37,199       45,075     (17.5 )%  

Other comprehensive income, net

     3,076       -     NM    

Comprehensive income

   $ 40,275     $ 45,075     (10.6 )%    

Earnings per common share:

        

Basic

   $ 0.82     $ 1.00     (18.0 )%  

Diluted

     0.82       1.00     (18.0 )    

Sundays generate substantially more advertising and circulation revenue than any other day of the week. The six months ended March 31, 2006 had the same number of Sundays as the prior year six month period. However, in 2005, Christmas Day fell on a Sunday, which negatively impacted advertising revenue.

In total, acquisitions and divestitures accounted for $224,759,000 of operating revenue and $176,723,000 of operating expenses, other than depreciation and amortization, in the six months ended March 31, 2006. Acquisitions and divestitures accounted for $1,179,000 of operating revenue and $1,165,000 of operating expenses, other than depreciation and amortization, in the six months ended March 31, 2005. For the six months ended March 31, 2006, total same property operating revenue increased $2,049,000, or 0.6%.

 

21


Advertising Revenue

Same property advertising revenue increased $3,991,000, or 1.5%. Same property retail revenue increased $813,000, or 0.5%. Same property average retail rate, excluding preprint insertions, increased 2.5%. Same property preprint insertion revenue increased 2.8%.

Same property classified advertising revenue increased 1.0% for the six months ended March 31, 2006. Higher margin employment advertising at the daily newspapers increased 12.6% on a same property basis, and same property real estate classified revenue increased 3.1%. Same property automotive classified advertising decreased 13.5% amid a continuing industry-wide decline. Same property average classified rates increased 3.2%.

Advertising lineage, as reported on a same property basis for the Company’s daily newspapers, consisted of the following:

 

     Six Months Ended
March 31
    
(Thousands of Inches)    2006    2005    Percent Change

Retail

   5,252    5,427      (3.2)% 

National

   264    301      (12.3)    

Classified

   5,550    5,631        (1.4)    
     11,066    11,359        (2.6)    

Online advertising increased 35.8% on a same property basis, due primarily to rate increases and expanded cross-selling with the Company’s print publications. Advertising in niche publications increased 5.2% on a same property basis, due in part to new publications in existing markets.

Circulation and Other Revenue

Same property circulation revenue decreased $1,485,000, or 2.3%, in the current year six month period. The Company’s total average daily newspaper circulation units, including Pulitzer, TNI and MNI, primarily as measured by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, decreased 0.5% and Sunday circulation decreased 0.9% for the six months ended March 2006, compared to the prior year. Daily and Sunday circulation of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch declined 1.7% and 5.0%, respectively. A planned reduction in lower value distribution outside the St. Louis metropolitan area and an increase in the Sunday single copy price contributed to the decline.

Same property commercial printing revenue decreased $670,000, or 6.4%. Same property online services and other revenue increased $213,000, or 1.7%.

Operating Expenses and Results of Operations

Same property compensation expense increased $1,774,000, or 1.3%, in the current year period. Same property full-time equivalent employees decreased 0.3% year over year. Normal salary increases and associated increases in related payroll taxes contributed to the increase. Same property newsprint and ink costs increased $2,763,000, or 8.5%, in the current year period due to newsprint price increases, offset by a decrease in usage. Newsprint prices have been increasing since the summer of 2002. Same property newsprint volume decreased 4.3% due to migration to lighter weight paper and narrower page widths. Same property other operating costs, which are comprised of all operating expenses not considered to be compensation, newsprint and ink, depreciation or amortization, increased $3,110,000 or 4.1%, in the current year period. Expenses to maintain circulation, postage and outside printing costs contributed to the growth in other operating expenses, as did an accrual for settlement of litigation. Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $1,155,000, or 5.2%, on a same property basis, due primarily to the completion of amortization related to certain previous acquisitions. Such costs increased 93.2% overall, due primarily to the acquisition of Pulitzer. Transition costs related to the acquisition of Pulitzer totaled $1,153,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2006. Such costs are not included in same property comparisons. Transition costs are comprised of costs directly related to the acquisition of Pulitzer that are separately identifiable and non-recurring, but not capitalizable under GAAP.

In November 2005, the Company announced that the St. Louis Post-Dispatch concluded an offering of early retirement incentives that will result in an adjustment of staffing levels. Approximately 130 employees volunteered to take advantage of the offer, which included enhanced pension and insurance benefits and lump sum cash payments based on continuous service. The cost totals $17,778,000 before income tax benefit, with $9,124,000

 

22


recognized in 2005, $8,373,000 recognized during the three months ended December 31, 2005 and $281,000 in the three months ending March 31, 2006. Approximately $7,000,000 of the cost represents cash payments, with the remainder due primarily to enhancements of pension and other postretirement benefits.

Operating cash flow improved 42.3% to $136,878,000 in the current year six month period from $96,178,000 in the same period in 2005. Operating cash flow margin decreased to 23.7% from 27.3% in the prior year six month period due primarily to the inclusion of Pulitzer results, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch early retirement program and transition costs. Same property operating cash flow decreased 5.1%. Same property operating cash flow margin decreased to 29.2%, from 30.9% in the prior year period. Equity in earnings of associated companies increased to $11,320,000 in the current year period, compared to $3,880,000 in the prior year period, primarily from inclusion of TNI results, offset by a decrease in MNI results. Operating income increased 34.6% to $103,618,000. Operating income margin decreased to 17.9% from 21.8% due primarily to the inclusion of Pulitzer results, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch early retirement program and transition costs.

Nonoperating Income and Expense

Financial expense increased $42,145,000 due to debt incurred to fund the Pulitzer acquisition and rising interest rates on floating rate debt, partially offset by debt reduction funded by cash generated from operations.

Overall Results

The Company’s effective income tax rate decreased to 35.9% from 37.2% in the prior year six month period due primarily to the implementation of the new Federal manufacturing credit and changes in the mix of the Company’s income before income taxes, largely related to the acquisition of Pulitzer. The Company expects the effective tax rate for the six months ended March 31, 2006 will approximate the rate for the full year.

As a result of all of the above, earnings per diluted common share from continuing operations decreased 18.0% to $0.82 per share from $1.00 per share in the prior year six month period. Early retirement program and transition costs noted above account for the majority of the decline in earnings per common share in the current year.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash provided by operating activities was $118,773,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2006, and $69,655,000 for the same period in 2005. Decreased net income, which was significantly influenced by increased non-cash depreciation and amortization, was offset by changes in working capital, accounting for the change between years.

Cash required for investing activities totaled $20,432,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2006, and $12,832,000 in the same period in 2005. Capital expenditures and acquisitions account for substantially all of the usage of funds in both the current year and prior year periods.

The Company anticipates that funds necessary for future capital expenditures, and other requirements, will be available from internally generated funds, availability under its Credit Agreement or, if necessary, by accessing the capital markets.

In December 2005, the Company entered into the Credit Agreement with a syndicate of financial institutions. The Credit Agreement provides for aggregate borrowings of up to $1,435,000,000 including a $450,000,000 revolving credit facility. The Credit Agreement also provides the Company with the right, with the consent of the administrative agent, to request at certain times prior to June 2012 that one or more lenders provide incremental term loan commitments of up to $500,000,000, subject to certain requirements being satisfied at the time of the request. The Credit Agreement matures in June 2012 and amends and replaces the $1,550,000,000 Old Credit Agreement consummated in June 2005. Interest rate margins under the Credit Agreement are generally lower than under the Old Credit Agreement. Other conditions of the Credit Agreement are substantially the same as the Old Credit Agreement.

In August 2005, the Company filed a Form S-3 shelf registration statement (Shelf) with the SEC, which has been declared effective. The Shelf gives the Company the flexibility to issue and publicly distribute various types of securities, including preferred stock, common stock, secured or unsecured debt securities, purchase contracts and units consisting of any combination of such securities, from time to time, in one or more offerings, up to an aggregate amount of $500,000,000.

 

23


The Shelf enables the Company to sell securities quickly and efficiently when market conditions are favorable or financing needs arise. Net proceeds from the sale of any securities may be used for general corporate purposes, including repayment or refinancing of debt, working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or the repurchase of common stock, subject to conditions of existing debt agreements.

Cash required for financing activities totaled $97,966,000 during the six months ended March 31, 2006, and $63,665,000 in the prior year. Debt repayments and dividends accounted for the primary usage of funds in both the current year and prior year periods.

Cash and cash equivalents increased $375,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2006, and decreased $6,842,000 for the same period in 2005.

INFLATION

The Company has not been significantly impacted by inflationary pressures over the last several years. The Company anticipates that changing costs of newsprint, its basic raw material, may impact future operating costs. Price increases (or decreases) for the Company’s products are implemented when deemed appropriate by management. The Company continuously evaluates price increases, productivity improvements, sourcing efficiencies and other cost reductions to mitigate the impact of inflation.

In December 2005, several major newsprint manufacturers announced price increases of $40 per metric ton, effective for deliveries in February 2006. The final extent of changes in prices, if any, is subject to negotiation between such manufacturers and the Company.

 

Item  3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company is exposed to market risk stemming from changes in interest rates and commodity prices. Changes in these factors could cause fluctuations in earnings and cash flows. In the normal course of business, exposure to certain of these market risks is managed as described below.

INTEREST RATES

Restricted Cash and Investments

Interest rate risk in the Company’s restricted cash and investments is managed by investing only in securities with maturities no later than April 2010, after which time all restrictions on such funds lapse. Only U.S. Government and related securities are permitted. Interest-earning assets, including those in employee benefit plans, also function as a natural hedge against fluctuations in interest rates on debt.

Debt

The Company’s debt structure and interest rate risk are managed through the use of fixed and floating rate debt. The Company’s primary exposure is to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). A 100 basis point increase to LIBOR would decrease income before income taxes on an annualized basis by approximately $9,500,000, based on $950,000,000 of floating rate debt outstanding at March 31, 2006, after consideration of the interest rate swaps described below, and excluding debt of MNI. Such interest rates may also decrease.

In April 2005, the Company executed interest rate swaps in the notional amount of $350,000,000 with a forward starting date of November 30, 2005. The interest rate swaps have terms of two to five years, carry interest rates from 4.2% to 4.4% (plus the applicable LIBOR margin) and effectively fix the Company’s interest rate on debt in the amounts, and for the time periods, of such instruments.

At March 31, 2006, after consideration of the interest rate swaps described above, approximately 59% of the principal amount of the Company’s debt is subject to floating interest rates.

 

24


COMMODITIES

Certain materials used by the Company are exposed to commodity price changes. The Company manages this risk through instruments such as purchase orders and non-cancelable supply contracts. The Company is also involved in continuing programs to mitigate the impact of cost increases through identification of sourcing and operating efficiencies. Primary commodity price exposures are newsprint and, to a lesser extent, ink and energy costs. A $10 per metric ton newsprint price increase would result in an annualized reduction in income before income taxes of approximately $1,931,000 based on anticipated consumption in 2006, excluding consumption of MNI and TNI. Such prices may also decrease.

SENSITIVITY TO CHANGES IN VALUE

The estimate that follows is intended to measure the maximum potential impact on fair value of fixed rate debt of the Company in one year from adverse changes in market interest rates under normal market conditions. The calculation is not intended to represent the actual loss in fair value that the Company expects to incur. The estimate does not consider favorable changes in market rates. The position included in the calculation is fixed rate debt, the principal amount of which totals $306,000,000 at March 31, 2006.

The estimated maximum potential one-year loss in fair value from a 100 basis point movement in interest rates on market risk sensitive investment instruments outstanding at March 31, 2006 is approximately $8,648,000. There is no impact on reported results or financial condition from such changes in interest rates.

Changes in the fair value of interest rate swaps from movements in interest rates are not determinable, due to the number of variables involved in the pricing of such instruments. However, increases in interest rates would generally result in increases in the fair value of such instruments.

 

Item  4. Controls and Procedures

In order to ensure that the information that must be disclosed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission is recorded, processed, summarized and reported in a timely manner, the Company has disclosure controls and procedures in place. The chief executive officer, Mary E. Junck, and chief financial officer, Carl G. Schmidt, have reviewed and evaluated the disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2006, and have concluded that such controls and procedures are effective.

In June 2005, the Company completed the Pulitzer Merger, and the Company’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2005 did not include Pulitzer. Nonetheless, the Company has generally maintained disclosure controls and procedures that were in effect prior to the Merger. Subsequent to the Merger, however, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, including the financial closing and reporting process used in the preparation of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, was extended to include Pulitzer. The Company is not required to complete, and has not completed, its testing of the design and operating effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Pulitzer. Management expects to complete its testing of Pulitzer by September 30, 2006, which will be included in the Company’s annual assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2006.

There have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, such controls during the three months ended March 31, 2006.

 

25


PART II OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item  2(c). Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

During the three months ended March 31, 2006, the Company purchased shares of Common Stock, as noted in the table below, in transactions with participants in its 1990 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The transactions resulted from the withholding of shares to fund the exercise price and/or taxes related to the exercise of stock options. The Company is not currently engaged in share repurchases related to a publicly announced plan or program.

 

Month

   Total Number of Shares
Purchased or Forfeited
   Average Price
Per Share

January

   72    $35.40

 

Item  4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company was held on February 22, 2006. Richard R. Cole was elected as a director for a two-year term expiring at the 2008 annual meeting. William E. Mayer, Gregory P. Schermer and Mark Vittert were elected as directors for three-year terms expiring at the 2009 annual meeting.

Votes were cast, all by proxy, for nominees for director as follows:

 

     For    Withheld

Richard R. Cole

   86,513,634    2,635,672

William E. Mayer

   85,486,510    3,662,796

Gregory P. Schermer

   86,232,194    2,917,112

Mark Vittert

   85,195,243    3,954,063

The Amended Stock Purchase Plan (Amended SPP) was approved, which enables employees of certain non-corporate affiliates of the Company to purchase Common Stock under a payroll deduction arrangement. The Amended SPP replaces the original Stock Purchase Plan approved by the Board of Directors after the acquisition of Pulitzer. The number of shares authorized under the Amended SPP is 135,000. 77,683,451 votes were cast for the Amended SPP and 7,218,237 against, with 233,890 votes abstaining.

An amendment to the Lee Enterprises, Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Plan (the LTIP) was approved to authorize the issuance of an additional 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock in support of future awards under the LTIP. 66,131,215 votes were cast for the amendment and 18,046,497 votes against, with 957,866 votes abstaining.

 

Item  6. Exhibits

 

Number    Description
31    Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) certifications
32    Section 1350 certification

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED  

/s/ Carl G. Schmidt

              DATE: May 10, 2006

Carl G. Schmidt

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

26

Section 302 Certifications

Exhibit 31

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, Mary E. Junck, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q (Quarterly Report) of Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (Registrant);

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this Quarterly Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Quarterly Report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the Consolidated Financial Statements, and other financial information included in this Quarterly Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Quarterly Report;

 

4. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:

 

  a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Quarterly Report is being prepared;

 

  b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this Quarterly Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) disclosed in this Quarterly Report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the Audit Committee of Registrant’s Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 10, 2006

 

/s/ Mary E. Junck

Mary E. Junck

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer


CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

I, Carl G. Schmidt, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q (Quarterly Report) of Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (Registrant);

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this Quarterly Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Quarterly Report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the Consolidated Financial Statements, and other financial information included in this Quarterly Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Quarterly Report;

 

4. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:

 

  a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Quarterly Report is being prepared;

 

  b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this Quarterly Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) disclosed in this Quarterly Report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the Audit Committee of Registrant’s Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting.

Date: May 10, 2006

 

/s/ Carl G. Schmidt

Carl G. Schmidt

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Section 906 Certifications

Exhibit 32

The following statement is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission solely for purposes of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 1350), which carries with it certain criminal penalties in the event of a knowing or willful misrepresentation.

Securities and Exchange Commission

450 Fifth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20549

 

Re: Lee Enterprises, Incorporated

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In accordance with the requirements of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 1350), each of the undersigned hereby certifies that to our knowledge:

 

(i) this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2006 (Quarterly Report), fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and

 

(ii) the information contained in this Quarterly Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Lee Enterprises, Incorporated for the periods presented in the Quarterly Report.

Dated as of this 10th day of May, 2006

 

/s/ Mary E. Junck

   

/s/ Carl G. Schmidt

Mary E. Junck     Carl G. Schmidt
Chairman, President and     Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Chief Executive Officer     and Treasurer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated and will be retained by Lee Enterprises, Incorporated and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.