UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
[ x ] QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For Quarterly Period Ended December 31, 2001
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 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
215 N. Main Street, Davenport, Iowa 52801
-----------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)
(563) 383-2100
----------------------------------------------------
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by a 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 [ ]
As of December 31, 2001, 33,958,289 shares of Common Stock and 10,179,725 shares
of Class B Common Stock of the Registrant were outstanding.
2
LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
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PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Statements of Income - Three months ended
December 31, 2001 and 2000 3
Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 2001 and
September 30, 2001 4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Three months
ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 6 - 9
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations 9 - 13
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market 13
Risk
PART II OTHER INFORMATION
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 13
Signatures 14
3
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended
(Thousands, except per common share data) December 31
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 2000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating revenue:
Advertising ....................................... $ 72,852 $ 77,672
Circulation ....................................... 20,592 21,173
Other ............................................. 16,006 17,309
Equity in net income of associated companies ...... 2,177 2,566
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
111,627 118,720
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating expenses:
Compensation ...................................... 40,780 43,554
Newsprint and ink ................................. 9,999 11,137
Depreciation ...................................... 4,069 4,125
Amortization of intangible assets ................. 1,922 3,902
Other ............................................. 26,500 28,353
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
83,270 91,071
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income 28,357 27,649
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nonoperating income (expenses), net:
Financial income .................................. 2,767 9,511
Financial expense ................................. (3,038) (3,164)
Loss on sales of assets ........................... (40) --
Other, net ........................................ (268) (405)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(579) 5,942
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from continuing operations before income taxes 27,778 33,591
Income tax expense ................................... 9,778 12,576
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from continuing operations .................... 18,000 21,015
Discontinued operations:
Gain on disposition, net of income tax effect ..... -- 250,887
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income ........................................... $ 18,000 $ 271,902
================================================================================
Earnings per common share:
Basic:
Continuing operations ........................... $ 0.41 $ 0.48
Discontinued operations ......................... -- 5.75
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income ........................................... $ 0.41 $ 6.23
================================================================================
Diluted:
Continuing operations ........................... $ 0.41 $ 0.48
Discontinued operations ......................... -- 5.71
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income ........................................... $ 0.41 $ 6.19
================================================================================
Dividends per common share ........................... $ 0.17 $ 0.17
================================================================================
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial
Statements.
4
LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31 September 30
(Thousands, except per share data) 2001 2001
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents .......................................... $ 276,808 $ 272,169
Temporary cash investments ......................................... 188,111 211,221
Accounts receivable, net ........................................... 42,206 41,349
Receivable from associated companies ............................... -- 1,500
Inventories ........................................................ 3,680 3,997
Other .............................................................. 7,332 7,441
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Total current assets 518,137 537,677
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Investments ........................................................... 31,826 32,525
Property and equipment, net ........................................... 117,321 119,061
Intangible and other assets ........................................... 307,810 311,134
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 975,094 $1,000,397
====================================================================================================
LIABILITIES AND STOCKERHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt ............................... $ 173,400 $ 11,600
Income taxes payable ............................................... 21,625 57,281
Other .............................................................. 54,612 56,258
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Total current liabilities ............................................. 249,637 125,139
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Long-term debt, less current maturities ............................... -- 161,800
Deferred items ........................................................ 31,389 31,514
Stockholders' equity:
Serial convertible preferred: no par value;
authorized 500 shares: none issued; ............................. -- --
Common, $2 par value; authorized 60,000 ............................ 67,917 67,318
shares; issued and outstanding:
December 31, 2001 33,958 shares
September 30, 2001 33,659 shares
Class B Common, $2 par value; authorized ........................... 20,359 20,758
30,000 shares; issued and outstanding:
December 31, 2001 10,180 shares
September 30, 2001 10,379 shares
Additional paid-in capital ......................................... 51,227 48,164
Unearned compensation .............................................. (2,763) (1,130)
Retained earnings .................................................. 557,328 546,834
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total stockholders' equity 694,068 681,944
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 975,094 $1,000,397
====================================================================================================
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial
Statements.
5
LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended
December 31
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(Thousands) 2001 2000
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Cash provided by operating activities:
Net income ......................................................... $ 18,000 $ 271,902
Less: discontinued operations ..................................... -- (250,887)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from continuing operations ..................................... 18,000 21,015
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net
cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations:
Depreciation and amortization ...................................... 5,991 8,043
Distributions in excess of current earnings of associated companies 1,950 2,489
Other, net ......................................................... (1,462) 853
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities ............................. 24,479 32,400
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Cash provided by (required for) investing activities:
Sales (purchases) of temporary cash investments, net ............... 23,110 (479,190)
Purchases of property and equipment ................................ (2,406) (3,821)
Acquisitions, net .................................................. -- (3,335)
Proceeds from sales of assets ...................................... 1,491 --
Other .............................................................. (221) (786)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash required for investing activities ............................ 21,974 (487,132)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash provided by (required for) financing activities:
Payments on short-term debt ........................................ -- (37,500)
Common stock transactions .......................................... (207) (4,296)
Other .............................................................. 1,571 225
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Net cash provided by (required for) financing activities .............. 1,364 (41,571)
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Net cash provided by (required for) discontinued operations ........... (43,178) 565,264
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Net increase in cash and cash equivalents ............................. 4,639 68,961
Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period ................................................ 272,169 29,427
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of period ......................................................... $ 276,808 $ 98,388
================================================================================================
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial
Statements.
6
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 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 December 31, 2001 and the 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 2001 Annual Report
on Form 10-K.
Because of seasonal and other factors, the results of operations for the
three months ended December 31, 2001 are not necessarily indicative of the
results to be expected for the full year.
Certain amounts as previously reported have been reclassified to conform
with the current period presentation.
2 Investment in Associated Companies
The Company has a 50% ownership interest in Madison Newspapers, Inc.
(MNI), a company that publishes daily and Sunday newspapers, and other
publications in Madison, three other daily newspapers and various other
publications in Wisconsin; and also holds interests in Internet service
ventures.
Summarized financial information of MNI is as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended
December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Thousands) 2001 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue .............................................. $26,470 $29,459
Operating expenses, except depreciation and
amortization ....................................... 18,325 19,651
Depreciation and amortization ........................ 1,004 1,161
Operating income ..................................... 7,141 8,647
Net income ........................................... 4,356 5,132
==========================================================================
3 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.
7
4 Earnings Per Common Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted
earnings per common share:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended
December 31
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(Thousands, except per common share data) 2001 2000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income applicable to common stock:
Continuing operations ............................................... $ 18,000 $ 21,015
Discontinued operations ............................................. -- 250,887
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Net income ............................................................. $ 18,000 $271,902
==============================================================================================
Weighted average common shares outstanding ............................. 44,086 43,758
Less non-vested restricted stock ....................................... 110 92
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Basic average common shares ............................................ 43,976 43,666
Dilutive stock options and restricted stock ............................ 265 295
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dilutive average common shares ......................................... 44,241 43,961
==============================================================================================
Earnings per common share:
Basic:
Continuing operations ............................................ $ 0.41 $ 0.48
Discontinued operations .......................................... -- 5.75
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income ............................................................. $ 0.41 $ 6.23
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted:
Continuing operations ............................................ $ 0.41 $ 0.48
Discontinued operations .......................................... -- 5.71
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income ............................................................. $ 0.41 $ 6.19
==============================================================================================
5 Sales of Assets
In December 2001, the Company sold all of the assets of its specialty
publication in Klamath Falls, Oregon. In January 2002, the Company sold
all of the operating assets of its specialty publications in Las Vegas,
Nevada, Great Falls, Montana and St. George, Utah. Proceeds from the sales
totaled approximately $3,560,000. The Company realized a net loss on the
transactions. The estimated loss, which was recognized in the year ended
September 2001, approximates the actual amount.
6 Stock Ownership Plans
A summary of stock option activity related to the Company's stock option
plan is as follows:
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Weighted
Average
Exercise
(Thousands, except per common share data) Shares Price
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Outstanding at September 30, 2001 .................. 967 $ 26.44
Granted ............................................ 268 35.45
Exercised .......................................... (52) 26.40
Cancelled .......................................... (18) 27.62
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Outstanding at December 31, 2001 ................... 1,165 $ 28.50
==========================================================================
Options to purchase 1,397,000 shares of common stock with a weighted
average exercise price of $24.32 per share were outstanding at December
31, 2000.
8
7 Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In July 2001, the FASB issued Statement No. 141, Business Combinations,
and Statement No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Statement 141
requires that the purchase method of accounting be used for all business
combinations initiated or completed after June 30, 2001. Statement 141
also specifies criteria intangible assets acquired in a purchase method
business combination must meet to be recognized and reported apart from
goodwill. Statement 142 requires that goodwill and intangible assets with
indefinite useful lives no longer be amortized, but instead tested for
impairment at least annually. Statement 142 also requires that intangible
assets with definite useful lives be amortized over their respective
estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed
for impairment in accordance with Statement 121, Accounting for the
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed
Of.
In August 2001, FASB issued Statement No. 144, Accounting for the
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, which supersedes FASB
Statement No. 121, discussed above, but retains the fundamental provisions
of Statement 121 with regard to recognition and measurement of impairment
of long-lived assets.
The Company was required to adopt the provisions of Statement 141
immediately, except with regard to business combinations initiated prior
to July 1, 2001, and Statements 142 and 144 effective no later than
October 1, 2002. Furthermore, intangible assets determined to have an
indefinite useful life and goodwill, that are acquired in a purchase
business combination completed after June 30, 2001, will not be amortized.
The Company elected to adopt Statements 141, 142 and 144 effective October
1, 2001.
Statement 141 requires, upon adoption of Statement 142, that the Company
evaluate its existing intangible assets and goodwill that were acquired in
a prior purchase business combination, and make any necessary
reclassifications in order to conform with the new criteria for
recognition apart from goodwill. Upon adoption of Statement 142, the
Company reassessed the useful lives and residual values of all intangible
assets acquired in purchase business combinations. In addition, the
Company is required to test the intangible assets, identified as having an
indefinite useful life and goodwill, for impairment in accordance with the
provisions of Statement 142. There were no significant reclassifications
or impairment losses identified as a result of adoption.
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended
December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Thousands) 2001 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goodwill, beginning of period ................... $ 230,231 $ 241,960
Goodwill related to acquisitions ................ -- 2,550
Goodwill related to sales of businesses ......... (1,478) (1,455)
Amortization .................................... -- (1,991)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goodwill, end of period ......................... $ 228,753 $ 241,064
==========================================================================
The impact of adoption of these statements is as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended
December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Thousands) 2001 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from continuing operations, as reported ..... $ 18,000 $ 21,015
Goodwill amortization, net of income tax benefit ... -- 1,488
Goodwill amortization of associated companies ...... -- 59
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Income from continuing operations, as adjusted ..... 18,000 22,562
Discontinued operations ............................ -- 250,887
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income, as adjusted ............................ $ 18,000 $273,449
==========================================================================
9
The earnings per common share impact related to the adoption of these
statements is as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended
December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic:
Income from continuing operations, as reported ..... $ 0.41 $ 0.48
Goodwill amortization .............................. -- 0.04
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from continuing operations, as reported ..... 0.41 0.52
Discontinued operations ............................ -- 5.75
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income, as adjusted ............................... $ 0.41 $ 6.27
==========================================================================
Diluted:
Income from continuing operations, as reported ..... $ 0.41 $ 0.48
Goodwill amortization .............................. -- 0.04
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from continuing operations, as adjusted ..... 0.41 0.52
Discontinued operations ............................ -- 5.71
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income, as adjusted ............................... $ 0.41 $ 6.23
==========================================================================
8 Subsequent Event
In February 2002, the Company reached a definitive agreement to acquire
the stock of Howard Publications, Inc., a privately owned company
comprised of 16 daily newspapers, one of which is jointly owned, and
related specialty publications. The transaction is valued at $694,000,000
and will be paid for with approximately $440,000,000 in cash and temporary
cash investments. New bank borrowing will fund the remainder of the
purchase price. The sale is subject to applicable government approvals,
with closing expected prior to June 30, 2002. Certain non-publishing
businesses are not included in the transaction.
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "Safe Harbor"
for forward-looking statements. This presentation contains information that may
be deemed forward-looking and that is based largely on the Company's current
expectations and is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Among
such risks, trends and other uncertainties are changes in advertising demand,
newsprint prices, interest rates, labor costs, legislative and regulatory
rulings and other results of operations or financial conditions, difficulties in
integration of acquired business 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
presentation. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its
forward-looking statements.
10
CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Operating results, as reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements, are
summarized below:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended
December 31
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Thousands, except per common share data) 2001 2000 Percent Change
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating revenue .................................. $111,627 $118,720 (6.0)%
Income before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization (EBITDA) (1) ................... 34,348 35,676 (3.7)
Operating income ................................... 28,357 27,649 2.6
Nonoperating income (expense), net ................. 579 5,942 N/M
Income from continuing operations .................. 18,000 21,015 (14.3)
Earnings per common share:
Basic ........................................... $ 0.41 $ 0.48 (14.6)
Diluted ......................................... 0.41 0.48 (14.6)
==========================================================================================
(1) EBITDA is not a financial performance measurement under United States
generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and should not be
considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP performance
measurements. EBITDA is also not reflected in the Consolidated Statements
of Cash Flows, but it is a common and meaningful alternative performance
measurement for comparison to other companies in the newspaper publishing
industry. The computation also excludes other nonoperating items, primarily
the gains and losses on sales of businesses and losses related to other
ventures.
Revenue, as reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements, consists of the
following:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended
December 31
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Thousands) 2001 2000 Percent Change
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertising:
Retail ..................................................... $ 46,900 $ 49,196 (4.7)%
National ................................................... 2,674 3,054 (12.4)
Classified:
Employment .............................................. 5,119 7,300 (29.9)
Automotive .............................................. 5,309 5,153 3.0
Real estate ............................................. 3,884 3,916 (0.8)
All other ............................................... 8,966 9,053 (0.9)
Total classified ........................................... 23,278 25,422 (8.4)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total advertising ............................................. 72,852 77,672 (6.2)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Circulation ................................................... 20,592 21,173 (2.7)
Other:
Commercial printing ........................................ 6,568 7,156 (8.2)
Internet/online ............................................ 1,081 957 13.0
Niche publications and other ............................... 5,809 6,613 (12.2)
Editorial service contracts, Internet service fees and other 2,548 2,583 (1.4)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16,006 17,309 (7.5)
Equity in net income of associated companies .................. 2,177 2,566 (15.2)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating revenue ....................................... $ 111,627 $ 118,720 (6.0)%
==========================================================================================================
The following discussion of revenue and operating expenses is presented on an
operations basis, which includes 100% of the revenue and expenses of MNI, which
is owned 50% by the Company and accounted for in the Consolidated Financial
Statements using the equity method. It is also exclusive of acquisitions and
divestitures. The Company believes such comparisons provide the most meaningful
information for an understanding of its business.
The three months ended December 31, 2001 had one fewer Sunday than the same
period last year, which negatively impacts substantially all categories of
revenue.
11
For the three months ended December 31, 2001, total advertising revenue
decreased $6,075,000, or 6.3%. Retail revenue decreased $2,814,000, or 4.7%,
while retail rates increased 2.6% during the same three-month period. Increased
emphasis on rate discipline and new accounts helped offset declines in
advertising volume caused by weak economic conditions.
Classified advertising revenue decreased approximately $2,732,000, or 8.5%, in
2001. Higher margin employment advertising at the daily newspapers accounted for
substantially all of the decrease and declined 33.0% for the three-month period.
The national help wanted index showed a 41% decline in employment advertising
lineage for the same period. The automotive category increased 1.9% due to
low-rate auto financing campaigns, and other categories were flat.
Circulation revenue decreased $773,000, or 2.9%. The Company's unaudited daily
newspaper circulation increased 1.2% and Sunday circulation declined 0.1% for
the three months ended December 31, 2001. The Company is focused on growing
circulation units through a number of initiatives.
Other revenue decreased $1,442,000, or 6.9%. Internet/online revenue increased
$77,000, or 6.9%, due to growth in advertising revenue and cross selling with
the Company's newspapers, partially offsetting the overall decline.
The following table sets forth the percentage of revenue of certain operating
expenses:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended
December 31
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 2000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compensation .............................................. 36.1% 35.9%
Newsprint and ink ......................................... 9.6 10.1
Other operating expenses .................................. 23.7 23.4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
69.4 69.4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA .................................................... 30.6 30.6
Depreciation and amortization ............................. 5.1 6.3
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating margin .......................................... 25.5% 24.3%
================================================================================
Costs other than depreciation and amortization decreased $5,811,000, or 5.8%.
Compensation expense decreased $2,745,000, or 5.3%, due to workforce reductions,
delayed salary increases and changes in benefit programs. Overall, full-time
equivalent personnel declined 4.0%. Newsprint and ink costs decreased
$1,501,000, or 10.3%, as the result of continued price decreases in addition to
a 4.8% decrease in consumption. Other operating costs, exclusive of depreciation
and amortization, decreased $1,565,000, or 4.6%.
On October 1, 2001 the Company adopted the provisions of FASB Statements 141 and
142. As a result, goodwill acquired in a purchase business combination is no
longer being amortized, but is tested for impairment annually. Amortization
expense related to goodwill was $2,185,000 for the three months ended December
31, 2000.
Nonoperating Income and Income Taxes
Financial income decreased $6,744,000 to $2,767,000 in 2001, due to a
significant decline in reinvestment rates in the Company's investment portfolio
and, to a lesser extent, investment in tax-exempt securities. Further, the
Company's invested balances have decreased due to required income tax payments,
offset to some extent by funds generated from operations.
Income taxes were 35.2% and 37.4% of income from continuing operations before
income taxes for the three months ended December 31, 2001 and 2000,
respectively. Municipal income in the current year reduced the effective tax
rate. In addition, the prior year effective tax rate included the effect of
goodwill amortization that was not deductible for tax purposes.
12
Discontinued Operations
In March 2000, the Board of Directors of the Company made a determination to
sell its broadcast properties. In May 2000 the Company entered into an agreement
to sell substantially all of its broadcasting operations, consisting of eight
network-affiliated and seven satellite television stations, to Emmis
Communications Corporation and consummated the transaction in October 2000. The
net proceeds of approximately $565,000,000 resulted in an after-tax gain for
financial reporting purposes of approximately $251,000,000. The results for the
broadcast properties have been classified as discontinued operations for all
periods presented.
In July 2001, the Company completed the sale of its last broadcasting property.
Net proceeds of the sale totaled approximately $7,000,000. The after-tax gain of
approximately $4,000,000 on the sale is reflected in discontinued operations.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations was $24,479,000
for the three months ended December 31, 2001 and $32,400,000 for the same period
in 2000.
The Company anticipates that funds necessary for capital expenditures, which are
expected to total approximately $12,000,000 in 2002, and other requirements will
be available from internally generated funds, its investment portfolio and, if
necessary, by accessing the capital markets. The Company has substantial
liquidity and unused borrowing capacity, including a $50,000,000 unsecured
revolving credit agreement that expires in 2003.
Under the terms of its 1998 note purchase agreement, the Company will be
required to repay the then outstanding balance of $161,800,000 on October 1,
2002, unless the Company reinvests the net proceeds of the sale of broadcast
operations or obtains a waiver of that provision of the agreement. If the
Company is required to repay the debt prior to the original maturity date, a
prepayment penalty based on interest rates at the time of repayment will be
required. If the debt is required to be repaid on October 1, 2002, the
prepayment penalty would be approximately $12,437,000, based on interest rates
at December 31, 2001. The acquisition described in Note 8 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements is permitted under the terms of the agreement and will
satisfy the obligation to reinvest the proceeds of the sale of broadcast
operations. Other covenants under this agreement are not considered restrictive
to normal operations or historical amounts of stockholder dividends.
OTHER FACTORS
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 and cost reductions to mitigate the impact of
inflation.
MARKET RISK MANAGEMENT
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
Interest rate risk in the Company's investment portfolio is managed by investing
only in securities with a maturity at date of acquisition of 180 days or less.
The average maturity of the investment portfolio is 49 days at December 31,
2001. Only high-quality investments are considered.
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 United
States interest rates.
13
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.
A $10 per ton newsprint price increase would result in an annualized reduction
in income from continuing operations before income taxes of approximately
$672,000, excluding MNI.
Sensitivity to Changes in Value
The estimates that follow are intended to measure the maximum potential fair
value or earnings the Company could lose in one year from adverse changes in
market interest rates under normal market conditions. The calculations are not
intended to represent actual losses in fair value or earnings that the Company
expects to incur. The estimates do not consider favorable changes in market
rates. The positions included in the calculations are temporary cash
investments, which total $188,111,000 at December 31, 2001, and fixed-rate debt,
which totals $173,400,000.
The table below presents the estimated maximum potential one-year loss in fair
value and earnings before income taxes from a 100 basis point movement in
interest rates on market risk sensitive instruments outstanding at December 31,
2001:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Impact on
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from
Continuing
(Thousands) Operations Before
Fair Value Income Taxes
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Temporary cash investments ................ $ (253) $(1,628)
Fixed rate debt ........................... (7,400) --
================================================================================
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Information with respect to this item is included in Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under the heading
"Market Risk Management."
PART II OTHER INFORMATION
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
(a) Exhibits:
None
(b) Reports on Form 8-K:
No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the three months
ended December 31, 2001.
14
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: February 14, 2002
- --------------------------------------------
Carl G. Schmidt
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
and Treasurer