MCCLATCHY CO
10-Q, 2000-11-07
NEWSPAPERS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

     X

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the quarterly period ended September 24, 2000

OR

   __

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from _______________ to ________________

Commission File Number: 1-9824

 

The McClatchy Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

(State of Incorporation

52-2080478

(IRS Employer Identification Number)

 

2100 "Q" Street, Sacramento, CA 95816

(Address of principal executive offices)

(916) 321-1846

(Registrant's telephone number)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has (1) 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     No ___

The number of shares of each class of common stock outstanding as of November 3, 2000:

Class A Common Stock

17,999,071

Class B Common Stock

27,199,955

THE McCLATCHY COMPANY

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

Part I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Page

Item 1 - Financial Statements:

 

     Consolidated Balance Sheet - September 24, 2000

          and December 26, 1999 (unaudited)

 

3

     Consolidated Statement of Income for

          the Three Months and Nine Months Ended

          September 24, 2000 and September 26, 1999 (unaudited)

 

 

5

      Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for

          the Nine Months Ended September 24, 2000

          and September 26, 1999 (unaudited)

 

 

6

      Consolidated Statement of Stockholders'

          Equity for the Period from December 26, 1999

          to September 24, 2000 (unaudited)

 

 

7

       Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

8

Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of

         Results of Operations and Financial Condition

9

Item 3 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

15

Part II - OTHER INFORMATION

16

 

PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1 - Financial Statements

THE McCLATCHY COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands)

September 24,

December 26,

2000

1999

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash

$           959

$        1,241

Trade receivables (less allowances of

$4,049 in 2000 and $3,506 in 1999)

172,800

169,923

Other receivables

1,750

3,616

Newsprint, ink and other inventories

15,357

14,776

Deferred income taxes

15,973

16,399

Other current assets

7,862

9,664

214,701

215,619

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Buildings and improvements

214,268

212,785

Equipment

491,607

477,924

705,875

690,709

Less accumulated depreciation

(351,368)

(318,591)

354,507

372,118

Land

57,187

57,141

Construction in progress

23,768

20,829

435,462

450,088

INTANGIBLES - NET

1,409,358

1,452,079

OTHER ASSETS

93,109

86,242

TOTAL ASSETS

$    2,152,630

$   2,204,028

See notes to consolidated financial statements

.

 

THE McCLATCHY COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands, except share amounts)

September 24,

December 26,

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

2000

1999

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Current portion of bank debt

$         18,898

$       19,834

Accounts payable

81,675

86,227

Accrued compensation

55,392

55,360

Income taxes

7,655

11,947

Unearned revenue

35,179

35,006

Carrier deposits

3,152

3,456

Other accrued liabilities

21,940

21,624

223,891

233,454

LONG-TERM BANK DEBT

792,102

878,166

OTHER LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS

73,416

80,040

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

129,588

132,702

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Common stock $.01 par value:

Class A - authorized

100,000,000 shares, issued

17,944,442 in 2000 and 16,468,502

in 1999

180

164

Class B - authorized

60,000,000 shares, issued

27,209,955 in 2000 and 28,489,412

in 1999

272

285

Additional paid-in capital

281,967

276,693

Retained earnings

651,214

602,524

933,633

879,666

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

$      2,152,630

$   2,204,028

THE McCLATCHY COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 24,

2000

September 26,

1999

September 24,

2000

September 26,

1999

Revenues - Net

Newspapers:

Advertising

$   227,103

$ 216,884

$  673,992

$ 642,927

Circulation

42,720

43,265

129,896

131,492

Other

6,347

6,696

19,552

19,600

276,170

266,845

823,440

794,019

Non-newspapers

3,012

2,424

8,685

7,260

279,182

269,269

832,125

801,279

Operating Expenses

Compensation

102,960

102,500

314,462

306,987

Newsprint and supplements

41,392

34,988

119,296

114,125

Depreciation and amortization

26,892

26,569

80,529

79,831

Other operating expenses

50,494

49,753

149,236

142,222

221,738

213,810

663,523

643,165

Operating Income

57,444

55,459

168,602

158,114

Non-Operating (Expenses) Income

Interest expense

(15,992)

(15,963)

(49,106)

(49,285)

Partnership loss

(120)

(350)

(680)

(490)

Other - net

399

523

1,458

1,464

Income Before Income Tax Provision

41,731

39,669

120,274

109,803

Income Tax Provision

20,143

19,297

58,056

53,803

Net Income

$   21,588

$ 20,372

   62,218

$  56,000

Net Income Per Common Share:

Basic

$      0.48

$     0.45

$     1.38

$    1.25

Diluted

$      0.48

$     0.45

$     1.38

$    1.25

Weighted Average

Number Of Common Shares:

Basic

45,153

44,875

45,066

44,799

Diluted

45,287

45,052

45,204

44,974

 See notes to consolidated financial statements

THE McCLATCHY COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands)

Nine Months Ended

September 24,

2000

September 26,

1999

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

Net income

$      62,218

$  56,000

Reconciliation to net cash provided:

Depreciation and amortization

83,125

82,429

Changes in certain assets and liabilities - net

(19,883)

(20,326)

Other

(2,084)

(691)

Net cash provided by operating activities

123,376

117,412

Cash Flow From Investing Activities:

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

(26,116)

(32,919)

Other - net

(1,549)

(1,802)

Net cash used by investing activities

(27,665)

(34,721)

Cash Flow From Financing Activities:

Repayment of long-term debt

(87,000)

(77,000)

Payment of cash dividends

(13,528)

(12,771)

Other - principally stock issuances in employee plans

4,535

4,372

Net cash used by financing activities

(95,993)

(85,399)

Net Change In Cash And Cash Equivalents

(282)

(2,708)

Cash And Cash Equivalents, Beginning Of Period

1,241

9,650

Cash And Cash Equivalents, End Of Period

$         959

$    6,942

Other Cash Flow Information

Cash paid during the period for:

Income taxes (net of refunds)

$      64,294

$  74,697

Interest paid (net of capitalized interest)

$      47,039

$   47,329

 

THE McCLATCHY COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Additional

Par Value

Paid-In

Retained

Class A

Class B

Capital

Earnings

Total

BALANCES, DECEMBER 26,1999

$ 164

$ 285

$ 276,693

$ 602,524

$ 879,666

Net income (9 months)

62,218

62,218

Dividends paid ($.30 per share)

(13,528)

(13,528)

Conversion of 1,279,457 Class B

shares to Class A

13

(13)

Issuance of 196,483 Class A

shares under employee stock plans

3

4,532

4,535

Tax benefit from stock plans

742

742

BALANCES, September 24, 2000

$ 180

$ 272

$ 281,967

$ 651,214

$ 933,633

See notes to consolidated financial statements

THE McCLATCHY COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

NOTE 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The McClatchy Company (the Company) and its subsidiaries are engaged primarily in the publication of newspapers located in Minnesota, California, Washington State, Alaska and North and South Carolina.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Significant intercompany items and transactions have been eliminated. In preparing the financial statements, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the Company's financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods presented. All adjustments are normal recurring entries. Such financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

NOTE 2.     LONG-TERM BANK DEBT AND OTHER LONG-TERM                OBLIGATIONS

In March 1998, the Company entered into a bank credit agreement (Credit Agreement) with a syndicate of banks and financial institutions providing for borrowings of up to $1,265,000,000. The Credit Agreement includes term loans consisting of Tranche A of $735,000,000 bearing interest at the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 62.5 basis points, payable in increasing quarterly installments from June 30, 1998 through March 31, 2005, and Tranche B of $330,000,000 bearing interest at LIBOR plus 150 basis points and payable in semi-annual installments from September 30, 1998 through September 30, 2008. A revolving credit line of up to $200,000,000 bears interest at LIBOR plus 62.5 basis points and is payable by March 19, 2005. Interest rates applicable to debt drawn down at September 24, 2000, ranged from 5.9% to 8.3%.

The terms of the Credit Agreement include certain operating and financial restrictions, such as limits on the Company's ability to incur additional debt, create liens, sell assets, engage in mergers, make investments and pay dividends.

The Company's Credit Agreement requires a minimum of $300,000,000 of debt be subject to interest rate protection agreements. This requirement has been satisfied by interest rate swap agreements, expiring in 2002 to 2003, with an aggregate notional amount of $300,000,000. The effect of these agreements is to fix the LIBOR interest rate exposure at approximately 5.9% on that portion of the Company's term loans.

Also, the Company has entered into an interest rate collar with a $200,000,000 notional amount, and a LIBOR ceiling rate of 6.5% and a floor of 5.3%. The collar arrangement terminates in the fourth quarter of 2000.

The Company has outstanding letters of credit totaling $11,622,000 securing estimated obligations stemming from workers' compensation claims and other contingent claims.

Long-term bank debt consisted of (in thousands):

September 24,

December 26,

2000

1999

Credit Agreement:

Term loans

$         695,000

$        788,000

Revolving credit line

116,000

110,000

Total indebtedness

811,000

898,000

Less current portion

(18,898)

(19,834)

Long-term indebtedness

$         792,102

$        878,166

Item 2 -     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS              OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

Recent Events and Trends

In the first quarter of 2000, the Company reported lower newsprint costs than 1999. However, newsprint prices began to rise with an October 1999 newsprint price increase, followed by April and September 2000 increases. Hence, the newspaper industry is now paying higher prices per ton than last year. Higher newsprint pricing will result in higher costs to the Company, which are expected to be at least partially offset with greater advertising revenue growth, but are expected to have a negative impact on operating income.

During 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 133 (Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities) which requires that all derivatives be carried at fair value on the balance sheet. This statement will become effective in the Company's fiscal year 2001. While adoption of this statement is not expected to materially impact the Company's financial results, management has not determined the impact on the Company's consolidated financial position.

In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements ("SAB 101").

SAB 101 provides guidance on the recognition, presentation, and disclosure of revenue in financial statements filed with the SEC. This accounting bulletin, as amended in June 2000, is effective for the Company beginning the fourth quarter of the Company's fiscal year beginning December 27, 1999. The Company does not believe that the adoption of SAB 101 will have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

Third Quarter 2000 Compared To 1999

The Company reported net income of $21.6 million or 48 cents per share, up 6.0% over the 1999 quarterly earnings of $20.4 million or 45 cents per share. Much of the earnings growth reflects improved advertising revenue growth, particularly at the Company's California and Carolinas' newspapers.

Revenues

Revenues in the third quarter of 2000 were $279.2 million, up 3.7% from 1999 with advertising revenues up 4.7% to $227.1 million and circulation revenues down 1.3% to $42.7 million.

Advertising revenue growth reflects a mix of rate increases and volume growth. The decline in circulation revenues reflects the Company's strategy to continue to promote circulation volume growth over revenue growth. Certain newspapers lowered the wholesale price of the daily newspapers, and The Sacramento Bee is in the process of converting from employee delivery to contract carrier delivery in its outlying regions. These changes result in lower net circulation revenues.

Operating Revenues by Region:

(In thousands)

2000

1999

% Change

Minnesota newspaper

$     97,813

$     97,378

0.4

California newspapers

92,648

86,031

7.7

Carolinas newspapers

45,765

43,890

4.3

Northwest newspapers

39,944

39,546

1.0

Non-newspaper operations

3,012

2,424

24.3

$    279,182

$    269,269

3.7

Minnesota - The Star Tribune generated about 35% of the Company's total third quarter revenues. Advertising revenues and total revenues were up 1.0%. While retail advertising was soft - particularly in the grocery category - classified advertising improved over 1999. Retail advertising revenues were up 1.2% in the quarter; national revenues were flat, and classified revenues grew 2.8%.

California - The Company's California newspapers - The Sacramento Bee, The Fresno Bee and The Modesto Bee - generated about 33% of third quarter revenues with advertising revenues up 9.3% and total revenues up 7.7%. Advertising revenues were strong across all categories and at all three Bee newspapers. By category: retail was up 6.2%, national up 17.2% and classified was up a strong 9.1%.

Carolinas - The Carolinas reported about 16% of the Company's third quarter revenues. Led by The (Raleigh) News and Observer, advertising revenues were up 5.1% at the daily newspapers and total revenues in the region were up 4.3%. Total revenues were lower in this region due primarily to slower growth at the Company's ten non-daily Carolinas newspapers compared to the daily newspapers. Advertising revenues at the dailies were strong in retail, up 5.7%, and classified up 4.0%. National advertising, a small category in this region, was down 19.1%.

The Northwest - The Northwest newspapers generated about 14% of the Company's third quarter revenues. Advertising revenues were up 2.7% and total revenues were up 1.0%. This region was the Company's fastest growing in terms of revenues in 1999 so, with tougher comparisons and some retail consolidation, revenue growth has slowed in the Northwest in 2000, particularly in retail advertising. Retail was down 4.3%, national was up 7.0% and classified grew 9.1%.

Non-Newspaper Operations - Revenues primarily reflect those at The Newspaper Network (TNN), the Company's national sales and marketing subsidiary, where revenues increased 21.3%; and Nando Media, the Company's national online publishing operation, where revenues grew 61.5%.

Operating Expenses:

Total operating expenses were up 3.7% from third quarter 1999. Newsprint expense was up 18.8%, mostly due to price increases as newsprint usage was up only nominally in the quarter. Compensation was up 0.4% and all other non-newsprint expenses were up 2.1% .

Non-Operating Expenses - Income - Net:

Interest expense was $16.0 million, about even with the 1999 quarter. The Company's debt was down substantially, but higher interest rates in 2000 had an offsetting effect on the Company's debt service costs. The Company recorded a loss of $120,000 as its portion of the results from the Ponderay Newsprint Mill Company, down from losses of $350,000 in the 1999 quarter.

Income Taxes:

The Company's effective income tax rate is 48.3% versus 48.6% in 1999 and primarily reflects higher income before tax relative to a set amount of non-deductible expenses in each year.

NINE-MONTH COMPARISONS

Earnings in the nine-month period ending September 24, 2000 were $62.2 million or $1.38 per share, up 11.1% from 1999 earnings of $56.0 million or $1.25 cents per share. Generally, the same factors that drove the third quarter results also affected the nine-month period, with notable differences discussed below.

Revenues:

Total revenues were $832.1 million in the first nine months of 2000, up 3.8% from 1999. Advertising revenues rose 4.8% to $674.0 million and circulation revenues declined 1.2% to $129.9 million.

Operating Revenues By Region (dollars in thousands):

2000

1999

% Change

Minnesota newspaper

$    295,448

$    293,264

0.7

California newspapers

270,837

252,133

7.4

Carolinas newspapers

138,865

131,427

5.7

Northwest newspapers

118,290

117,195

0.9

Non-newspaper operations

8,685

7,260

19.6

$    832,125

$    801,279

3.8

 

Minnesota and Northwest newspapers - The (Minneapolis, MN) Star Tribune and Northwest newspapers contributed 35.5% and 14.2% of total revenues respectively. Advertising revenues in these regions were particularly strong in the national advertising category in the first quarter of 1999. These tougher comparisons, coupled with some retailer consolidations in each region, slowed their advertising revenue growth for the nine-month period. Advertising revenues grew 1.2% to $240.5 million at the Star Tribune and was up 2.6% to $88.0 million at the Northwest daily newspapers.

California and Carolinas Newspapers - The Company's newspapers in California (32.5% of total revenues) and the Carolinas (16.7% of total revenues) had healthy revenue growth in the first nine months of 2000. Advertising revenues at the daily newspapers increased 8.9% to $226.0 million in California and 7.3% to $108.8 million in the Carolinas, and were healthy in all advertising categories

Non-Newspaper Operations - Revenues increased 19.6%, with good growth at TNN and Nando Media.

Operating Expenses:

Total operating expenses increased 3.2%. Compensation costs increased 2.4%, primarily reflecting salary increases ranging from 2.0% to 4.0%, offset somewhat by lower retirement costs. Newsprint and supplements expense increased 4.5%, mostly due to higher newsprint prices beginning in the second quarter. All other operating expenses increased 3.5% reflecting investments in product and promotion.

Non-Operating (Expense) Income - Net:

Interest expense was about flat with 1999 as the impact of debt repayment was largely offset by higher interest rates. The Company recorded a $680,000 loss as its share of The Ponderay Newsprint Mill's results versus a $490,000 loss in 1999.

Income Taxes:

The Company's effective income tax rate was 48.3% as discussed in the third quarter comparisons above.

Liquidity & Capital Resources

Operations generated $123.4 million through September 24, 2000. Cash was used primarily to repay debt, pay for capital expenditures and pay dividends. Capital expenditures are projected to be approximately $50.0 million in 2000.

In March 1998, the Company entered into a bank credit agreement (Credit Agreement) with a syndicate of banks and financial institutions providing for borrowings of up to $1,265,000,000. The Credit Agreement includes term loans consisting of Tranche A of $735,000,000 bearing interest at the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 62.5 basis points, payable in increasing quarterly installments from June 30, 1998 through March 31, 2005, and Tranche B of $330,000,000 bearing interest at LIBOR plus 150 basis points and payable in semi-annual installments from September 30, 1998 through September 30, 2008. A revolving credit line of up to $200,000,000 bears interest at LIBOR plus 62.5 basis points and is payable by March 19, 2005. Interest rates applicable to debt drawn down at September 24, 2000, ranged from 5.9% to 8.3%.

The terms of the Credit Agreement include certain operating and financial restrictions, such as limits on the Company's ability to incur additional debt, create liens, sell assets, engage in mergers, make investments and pay dividends.

The Company's Credit Agreement requires a minimum of $300,000,000 of debt be subject to interest rate protection agreements. This requirement has been satisfied by interest rate swap agreements, expiring in 2002 to 2003, with an aggregate notional amount of $300,000,000. The effect of these agreements is to fix the LIBOR interest rate exposure at approximately 5.9% on that portion of the Company's term loans.

Also, the Company has entered into an interest rate collar with a $200,000,000 notional amount, and a LIBOR ceiling rate of 6.5% and a floor of 5.3%. The collar arrangement terminates in the fourth quarter of 2000.

The Company has outstanding letters of credit totaling $11.6 million securing estimated obligations stemming from workers' compensation claims, and other contingent claims. The Company had $72.4 million of available credit under its Credit Agreement at

September 24, 2000.

While the Company expects that most of its free cash flow generated from operations in 2000 and in the foreseeable future will be used to repay debt, management is of the opinion that operating cash flow and its present and future credit lines as described above are adequate to meet the liquidity needs of the Company, including currently planned capital expenditures and other investments.

Forward Looking Information

Management has made forward-looking statements in this document that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of McClatchy. Forward-looking statements are generally preceded by, followed by or are a part of sentences that include the words believes, expects, anticipates or similar expressions. For those statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following important factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this document, could affect the future results of McClatchy, and could cause those future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements: general economic, market or business conditions; increases in newsprint prices and/or printing and distribution costs over anticipated levels; increases in interest rates; competition from other forms of media in our principal markets; increased consolidation among major retailers in our newspaper markets or other events depressing the level of advertising; an economic downturn in the economies of Minnesota, California's Central Valley, the Carolinas, Washington State and Alaska; changes in the Company's ability to negotiate and obtain favorable terms under collective bargaining arrangements with its employees; competitive actions by other companies; other occurrences leading to decreased circulation and diminished revenues from both display and classified advertising; and other factors, many of which are beyond management's control. Consequently, there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated will be realized or that these results or developments will have the expected consequences.

Item 3 -   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT            MARKET RISK

In addition to normal business risks discussed above, the Company utilizes interest rate protection agreements to help maintain the overall interest rate parameters set by management. None of these agreements were entered into for trading purposes. (See note 3 to the consolidated financial statements.) As a result of this interest rate mix, a hypothetical 10 percent change in interest rates would have a $0.03 to $0.05 per share increase or decrease in the Company's annual results of operations. It would also impact the fair values of its market risk sensitive financial instruments, but would not materially affect the Company's financial position taken as a whole.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings - None

Item 2.

Changes in Securities - None

Item 3.

Default Upon Senior Securities - None

Item 4

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders - None

Financial Data Schedule for the nine-months ended September 24, 2000.

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 thereto duly authorized.

The McClatchy Company

Registrant

 

Date: November 7, 2000

/s/ Doretha J. Christoph

Doretha J. Christoph

Vice President, Finance and

Chief Financial Officer



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