UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

FORM 10-Q

(Mark one)

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004

OR

For the transition period from                 to                

Commission file number 001-07155

R.H. DONNELLEY CORPORATION

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Sections 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 registrant is an accelerated filer Yes (X) No (   )

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

Commission file number 333-59287

R.H. DONNELLEY INC. *

Registrants’ telephone number, including area code                                                                    (800) 497-6329

* R.H. Donnelley Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of R.H. Donnelley Corporation. R.H. Donnelley Inc. meets the conditions set forth in General Instructions H (1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and is therefore filing this report with respect to R.H. Donnelley Inc. with the reduced disclosure format. R.H. Donnelley Inc. became subject to the filing requirements of Section 15(d) on October 1, 1998 in connection with the public offer and sale of its 9 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes, which were redeemed in full on February 6, 2004. In

addition, R.H. Donnelley Inc. is the obligor of 8 7/8% Senior Notes due 2010 and 10 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 and is now subject to the filing requirements of Section 15(d) as a result of such notes. As of May 1, 2004, 100 shares of R.H. Donnelley Inc. common stock, no par value, were outstanding.

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R.H. DONNELLEY CORPORATION

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

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R.H. Donnelley Corporation and Subsidiaries

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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R.H. Donnelley Corporation and Subsidiaries

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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R.H. Donnelley Corporation and Subsidiaries

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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R.H. Donnelley Corporation and Subsidiaries

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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R.H. Donnelley Corporation and Subsidiaries

1. Businesses and Basis of Presentation

The interim financial statements of R.H. Donnelley Corporation and its direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries (the “Company”, “RHD”, “we”, “us” and “our”) have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. The results of interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year or any subsequent period. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows at the dates and for the periods presented have been included. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.

We are a leading yellow pages publisher and directional media company. Directional media is where consumers go to find who sells the goods and services they are ready to purchase. We currently publish approximately 260 directories under the Sprint Yellow Pages ® brand in 18 states, with major markets including Las Vegas, Orlando, and Lee County, Florida, with a total circulation of approximately 18 million serving approximately 160,000 local and 4,000 national advertisers. We also offer online city guides and search web sites in these major markets under the Best Red Yellow Pages brand at www.bestredyp.com. In addition, through The DonTech II Partnership (“DonTech”), our perpetual partnership with an affiliate of SBC Communications Inc. (“SBC”), we serve as the exclusive sales agent for 129 SBC-branded directories under the SBC Yellow Pages ® brand in Illinois and northwest Indiana, with a total circulation of approximately 10 million serving approximately 100,000 local advertisers.

On January 3, 2003, we acquired all the outstanding capital stock of the various entities comprising Sprint Publishing and Advertising (“SPA”), Sprint Corporation’s (“Sprint”) directory publishing business, for $2,229.8 million in cash. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase business combination and the purchase price was allocated to the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their respective fair values on the acquisition date. The results of the SPA business are included in our consolidated results from and after January 3, 2003. SPA is now operated as R.H. Donnelley Publishing & Advertising, Inc., an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of R.H. Donnelley Corporation and its direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Revenue Recognition. We earn revenue principally from the sale of advertising into our Sprint-branded yellow pages directories. Revenue from the sale of such advertising is deferred when a directory is published and recognized ratably over the life of a directory, which is typically 12 months (the “deferral and amortization method”). Revenue from the sale of advertising is recorded net of an allowance for sales claims, estimated based on historical experience on a directory-by-directory basis. We increase or decrease this estimate as information or circumstances indicate that the estimate may no longer adequately represent the amount of claims we may incur for a directory in the future. We also earn revenue from providing pre-press publishing services to SBC for those directories in the DonTech markets. Revenue from pre-press publishing services is recognized as services are performed.

Deferred Directory Costs. Costs directly related to the selling and production of our directories are initially deferred when incurred and recognized ratably over the life of a directory, which is typically 12 months. These costs include sales commissions and print, paper and initial distribution costs.

Equity Method Accounting. DonTech is a 50/50 perpetual partnership in which we and an operating unit of SBC are the partners. DonTech is a separate legal entity that provides its services with its own employees and a stand-

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alone management team. The employees of DonTech have the right, authority and power to do any act to accomplish, and enter into any contract incidental to attain, the purposes of the partnership. No employees of either RHD or SBC are involved in the day-to-day operations of DonTech and, because the partners share equally in the net profits and each has one voting member on the DonTech board of directors, neither partner has the unilateral ability to control or influence the operations of DonTech. Accordingly, we account for DonTech under the equity method and do not consolidate the DonTech results in our financial statements.

We recognize our 50% share of the net income of DonTech as partnership income in our consolidated statement of operations. DonTech recognizes commission revenue based on the annual value of a sales contract in the period the contract (calendar sales) is executed and recognizes expenses as incurred. Partnership income also includes revenue participation income from SBC. Revenue participation income is based on DonTech advertising sales and is recognized when a sales contract is executed with a customer. Our investment in DonTech and the revenue participation receivable from SBC are reported as partnership investment on the consolidated balance sheet.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash equivalents include liquid investments with a maturity of less than three months at their time of acquisition. We place our investments with high quality financial institutions. At times, such investments may be in excess of federally insured limits.

Accounts Receivable. Accounts receivable consist of balances from our advertising customers. Advertisers typically enter into a 12-month contract for their advertising. Most local advertisers are billed a pro rata amount of their contract value on a monthly basis. On behalf of national advertisers, Certified Marketing Representatives (“CMRs”) typically pay to us the total contract value of their advertising, net of their commission, within 60 days after the publication month. Billed receivables represent the amount that has been billed to advertisers. Unbilled receivables represent contractually owed amounts for published directories that have yet to be billed to advertisers. Receivables are recorded net of an allowance for doubtful accounts and sales claims, estimated based on historical experience on a directory-by-directory basis. We increase or decrease this estimate as information or circumstances indicate that the estimate may no longer adequately represent the amount of bad debts and sales claims we may incur.

Deferred Financing Costs. Costs associated with the issuance of debt instruments are capitalized and included in other non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheet. These costs are amortized to interest expense over the terms of the related debt agreements. The bond outstanding method is used to amortize deferred financing costs relating to debt instruments with respect to which we accelerate principal payments. Other deferred financing costs are amortized using the straight-line method. Amortization of deferred financing costs included in interest expense was $3.4 million and $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

Advertising Expense. We recognize advertising expenses as incurred. These expenses include public relations, media, on-line advertising and other promotional and sponsorship costs. Total advertising expense was $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003.

Concentration of Credit Risk. Approximately 85% of our directory advertising revenue is derived from the sale of advertising to local small- and medium-sized businesses. These advertisers typically enter into 12-month advertising sales contracts and make monthly payments over the term of the contract. Some advertisers prepay the full amount or a portion of the contract value. Most new advertisers are subject to a credit review. If the advertisers qualify, we may extend credit to them for their advertising purchase. Small- and medium-sized businesses tend to have fewer financial resources and higher failure rates than large businesses. In addition, full collection of delinquent accounts can take an extended period of time and involve significant costs. While we do not believe that extending credit to our local advertisers will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition, no assurances can be given. We do not require collateral from our advertisers, although we do charge interest to advertisers that do not pay within specified due dates.

The remaining approximate 15% of our directory advertising revenue is derived from the sale of advertising to national or large regional chains, such as rental car companies, automobile repair shops and pizza delivery businesses. Substantially all of the revenue derived through national accounts is serviced through CMRs with which we contract. CMRs are independent third parties that act as agents for national companies. The CMRs are responsible for billing the national customers for their advertising. We receive payment for the value of advertising

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placed in our directory, net of the CMR’s commission, directly from the CMR. While we are still exposed to credit risk, the amount of losses from these accounts have been historically less than the local accounts as the advertisers, and in some cases, the CMRs tend to be larger companies with greater financial resources than the local advertisers.

We maintain a significant receivable balance with SBC for revenue participation and pre-press publishing services fees. The revenue participation receivable is subject to limited upward adjustment based on contractual provisions. The receivable is recorded at net realizable value. We do not currently foresee a material credit risk associated with this receivable, although there can be no assurance that full payment will be received on a timely basis.

At March 31, 2004, we had interest rate swap agreements with major financial institutions with a notional value of $405.0 million. We are exposed to credit risk in the event that one or more of the counterparties to the agreements does not, or cannot, meet their obligation. The notional amount is used to measure interest to be paid or received and does not represent the amount of exposure to credit loss. The loss would be limited to the amount that would have been received, if any, over the remaining life of the swap agreement. The counterparties to the swap agreements are major financial institutions with credit ratings of A or higher. We do not currently foresee a material credit risk associated with these swap agreements; however, no assurances can be given.

Derivative Financial Instruments. We do not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Our derivative financial instruments are limited to interest rate swap agreements used to manage exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on variable rate debt. These agreements effectively convert $405.0 million of our variable rate debt to fixed rate debt, mitigating our exposure to changes in interest rates. Under the terms of the swap agreements, we receive variable interest based on three-month LIBOR and pay a weighted average fixed rate of 2.52%. The swaps mature in October 2005 and March 2007. The weighted average rate received was 1.15% during the three months ended March 31, 2004. These periodic payments and receipts are recorded as interest expense.

The interest rate swaps have been designated as cash flow hedges to hedge three-month LIBOR-based interest payments on $405.0 million of bank debt. To the extent the swaps provide an effective hedge, changes in the fair value of the swaps are recorded in other comprehensive income, a component of shareholders’ deficit. Any ineffectiveness is recorded through earnings. For the three months ended March 31, 2004, our interest rate swaps provided an effective hedge of the three-month LIBOR-based interest payments on $405.0 million of bank debt, and no ineffectiveness was included in earnings.

Earnings per Share. In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a final consensus on EITF Issue No. 03-6, Participating Securities and the Two-Class Method under FASB Statement 128 (“EITF 03-6”), which established standards regarding the computation of earnings per share (“EPS”) by companies that have issued securities other than common stock that contractually entitle the holder to participate in dividends and earnings of the company. EITF 03-6 is effective for interim periods ending June 30, 2004 for calendar year companies. We have adopted the provisions of EITF 03-6 during the first quarter of 2004. EITF 03-6 requires earnings available to common shareholders for the period, after deduction of preferred stock dividends, to be allocated between the common and preferred shareholders based on their respective rights to receive dividends. Basic EPS is then calculated by dividing income (loss) allocable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding. EITF 03-6 does not require the presentation of basic and diluted EPS for securities other than common stock; therefore, the following EPS amounts only pertain to our common stock.

Under the guidance of EITF 03-6, diluted EPS are calculated by dividing income (loss) allocable to common shareholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding plus dilutive potential common stock. Potential common stock includes stock options and warrants, the dilutive effect of which is calculated using the treasury stock method, and Preferred Stock, the dilutive effect of which is calculated using the if-converted method. The calculation of basic and diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 is presented below.

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(1)

31,059 / (31,059 + 9,203) for the three months ended March 31, 2004. In computing basic EPS using the two-class method, we have not allocated the net loss in the three months ended March 31, 2003 between common and preferred shareholders since the preferred shareholders do not have a contractual obligation to share in the net loss.

(2)

The effect of the stock options in the three months ended March 31, 2003 and the assumed conversion of the Preferred Stock in the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 were anti-dilutive and therefore are not included in the calculation of diluted EPS.

Employee Stock Options. We follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (“APB 25”), and related interpretations in accounting for our stock option plan. Compensation expense related to the issuance of stock options to employees or non-employee directors is only recognized if the exercise price of the stock option is less than the fair market value of the underlying stock at the grant date.

A grant was made in 2002 of 1.5 million options (“Founders Grant”) to certain employees, including senior management in connection with the acquisition of SPA. These options were granted in October 2002 with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. However, the award of these options was contingent upon the successful closing of the SPA acquisition. Therefore, these options were subject to forfeiture until January 3, 2003, by which time the fair market value of the Company’s common stock exceeded the exercise price. Accordingly, these options were accounted for as compensatory options, and we are recognizing non-cash compensation expense over the vesting period of the options. We recognized non-cash compensation expense related to these stock options of $0.3 million and $0.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

The following table reflects the pro forma net income (loss) and earnings (loss) per share for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 assuming we applied the fair value method of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. The pro forma disclosures shown are not necessarily representative of the effects on income and earnings per share in future years.

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The pro forma information was determined based on the fair value of stock options calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and certain expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates and assumptions. Estimates and assumptions are used in the determination of sales allowances, allowances for doubtful accounts, depreciation and amortization, employee benefit plans and restructuring reserves, among others.

New Accounting Pronouncements. In March 2004, the EITF reached a final consensus on EITF 03-6 that established standards regarding the computation of EPS by companies that have issued securities other than common stock that contractually entitle the holder to participate in dividends and earnings of the company. EITF 03-6 is effective for interim periods ending on or after June 30, 2004 for calendar year companies. We have adopted the provisions of EITF 03-6 during the first quarter of 2004.

3. Business Combination

On January 3, 2003, we acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of the various entities comprising SPA for $2,229.8 million and became the publisher of approximately 260 revenue-generating, Sprint-branded yellow pages directories in 18 states. The results of the SPA business are included in our consolidated results from and after January 3, 2003, the acquisition closing date.

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The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase business combination in accordance with SFAS 141, Business Combinations. The purchase price was allocated to the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their respective estimated fair values on the acquisition date. The fair value of certain long-term intangible assets were identified and recorded at their estimated fair value. Identifiable intangible assets acquired included directory services agreements between Sprint and us, customer relationships and acquired trade names. In accordance with SFAS 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, the fair value of the identifiable intangible assets is being amortized over their estimated useful lives in a manner that best reflects the economic benefits derived from such assets. Goodwill is not amortized but is subject to impairment testing on an annual basis. See Note 4, Intangible Assets and Goodwill, for a further description of our intangible assets and goodwill.

Under purchase accounting rules, we did not assume the deferred revenue balance of SPA at January 3, 2003 of $315.9 million. This amount represented revenue that would have been recognized subsequent to the acquisition under the deferral and amortization method had the acquisition not occurred. Accordingly, we did not record revenue associated with directories that were published prior to the acquisition and during January 2003. Although the deferred revenue balance was eliminated, we retained all the rights associated with the collection of amounts due under and obligations under the advertising contracts executed prior to the SPA acquisition. As a result, SPA’s billed and unbilled accounts receivable balances became assets of the Company. Also under purchase accounting rules, we did not assume or record deferred directory costs at January 3, 2003 related to those directories that were published prior to the acquisition and during January 2003, totaling $63.3 million. These costs represented operating expenses that would have been recognized subsequent to the acquisition under the deferral and amortization method had the acquisition not occurred.

4. Intangible Assets and Goodwill

     As a result of the SPA acquisition, certain long-term intangible assets were identified and recorded at their estimated fair value. Amortization expense for intangible assets was $12.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003. The acquired long-term intangible assets and their respective book values at March 31, 2004 are shown in the table below.