UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 17, 2012
_______________________________________________________________________
LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
_______________________________________________________________________
Commission File Number 1-6227
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Delaware
(State of Incorporation)
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42-0823980
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
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201 N. Harrison Street, Davenport, Iowa 52801
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(563) 383-2100
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Item 8.01.
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Other Events.
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On February 17, 2012, Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (the “Company”) was notified by NYSE Registration, Inc. that the Company has returned to compliance with the New York Stock Exchange’s share price standard under its Listed Company Manual. A copy of the news release issued by the Company is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.
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Item 9.01.
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Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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(d)
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Exhibits
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99.1
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News Release of Lee Enterprises, Incorporated dated February 21, 2012
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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.
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LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED
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Date: February 21, 2012
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By:
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Carl G. Schmidt
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Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
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and Treasurer
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
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Exhibit No.
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Description
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99.1
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News Release of Lee Enterprises, Incorporated dated February 21, 2012
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Exhibit 99.1 - News Release of Lee Enterprises, Incorporated dated February 21, 2012
201 N. Harrison St.
Davenport, IA 52801
www.lee.net
NEWS RELEASE
Lee Enterprises regains compliance with NYSE share price standard
DAVENPORT, Iowa (February 21, 2012) – Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (NYSE: LEE) has received notification that it has returned to compliance with the New York Stock Exchange’s share price standard.
In a letter dated February 17, 2012, the NYSE confirmed that Lee is again in compliance with its standard requiring listed companies to maintain an average closing price of at least $1.00 per share over 30 consecutive days of trading.
Mary Junck, Lee chairman and chief executive officer, said: “As we expected, investor sentiment has improved with the implementation of our refinancing agreements on January 30. We appreciate the confidence of our stockholders as we advance our many initiatives to drive revenue, build even larger audiences and resume overall growth.”
Carl Schmidt, Lee vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, said the company still has approximately one year remaining under an approved plan, subject to ongoing oversight, for returning to compliance with an NYSE standard requiring market capitalization of not less than $50 million over 30 consecutive days of trading. As of February 17, 2012, with approximately 51.7 million shares outstanding and a closing price of $1.13 per share, Lee’s market capitalization totaled $58.4 million. Schmidt said that if the company’s average market capitalization remains in excess of $50 million, the NYSE will consider granting a return to compliance in February 2013, or possibly sooner, based on market capitalization over at least two consecutive quarterly monitoring periods.
Lee Enterprises is a leading provider of local news and information, and a major platform for advertising, in its markets, with 48 daily newspapers and a joint interest in four others, rapidly growing digital products and nearly 300 specialty publications in 23 states. Lee's newspapers have circulation of 1.3 million daily and 1.6 million Sunday, reaching nearly four million readers in print alone. Lee's websites and mobile and tablet products attracted 21.8 million unique visitors in December 2011. Lee's markets include St. Louis, MO; Lincoln, NE; Madison, WI; Davenport, IA; Billings, MT; Bloomington, IL; and Tucson, AZ. Lee Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LEE. For more information about Lee, please visit www.lee.net.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS – The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. This news release contains information that may be deemed forward-looking that is based largely on our current expectations, and is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Among such risks, trends and other uncertainties, which in some instances are beyond our control, are our ability to generate cash flows and maintain liquidity sufficient to service our debt, comply with or obtain amendments or waivers of the financial covenants contained in our credit facilities, if necessary, and to refinance our debt as it comes due. Other risks and uncertainties include the impact and duration of continuing adverse economic conditions, changes in advertising demand, potential changes in newsprint and other commodity prices, energy costs, interest rates, availability of credit, labor costs, legislative and regulatory rulings, difficulties in achieving planned expense reductions, maintaining employee and customer relationships, increased capital costs, maintaining our listing status on the NYSE, competition and other risks detailed from time to time in our publicly filed documents. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “may”, “will”, “would”, “could”, “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “plan”, “project”, “consider” and similar expressions) generally should be considered forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this release. We do not undertake to publicly update or revise our forward-looking statements.
Contact: dan.hayes@lee.net, (563) 383-2100
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