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Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

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

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

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: 1-11106

 

 

LOGO

PRIMEDIA Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware    13-3647573

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

3585 Engineering Drive,

Norcross, Georgia

   30092
(Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (678) 421-3000

 

 

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer    ¨   Accelerated filer    ¨  

Non-accelerated filer    ¨ (Do not check if a smaller

reporting company)

  Smaller reporting company    x

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

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

 

Common Stock

  Outstanding Shares at October 27, 2010

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  44,210,659

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

PRIMEDIA Inc.

INDEX

 

Part I. Financial Information:   
Item 1.    Financial Statements (Unaudited)   
   Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009      1   
   Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009      2   
   Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009      3   
  

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficiency for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

     4   
   Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009      5   
   Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements      6   
Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      23   
Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk      36   
Item 4.    Controls and Procedures      37   
Part II. Other Information:   
Item 1A.    Risk Factors      37   
Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds      37   
Item 6.    Exhibits      38   
   Signatures      39   

 

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PRIMEDIA INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

 

     September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
     (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 4,729      $ 9,472   

Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,023 and $1,217, respectively)

     26,753        24,802   

Inventories

     461        432   

Prepaid expenses and other

     8,364        16,583   

Deferred tax asset, net

     1,079        1,470   
                

Total current assets

     41,386        52,759   

Property and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $33,650 and $80,932, respectively)

     17,506        17,997   

Intangible assets, net

     17,429        20,667   

Goodwill

     129,305        129,305   

Deferred tax asset - non-current, net

     —          8,275   

Other non-current assets

     9,899        10,726   
                

Total assets

   $ 215,525      $ 239,729   
                

Liabilities and stockholders’ deficiency

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 5,719      $ 11,788   

Accrued expenses and other

     27,082        39,294   

Deferred revenue

     2,935        2,099   

Revolving credit facility

     8,700        —     

Current maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations

     2,718        2,922   
                

Total current liabilities

     47,154        56,103   

Long-term debt

     205,917        222,349   

Deferred revenue

     6,375        7,650   

Deferred tax liability - non-current, net

     104        —     

Other non-current liabilities

     53,768        55,786   
                

Total liabilities

     313,318        341,888   

Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)

    

Stockholders’ deficiency:

    

Common stock - par value $0.01; 350,000,000 shares authorized; 45,857,397 and 45,793,697 shares issued, respectively; 44,210,659 and 44,146,959 shares outstanding, respectively

     458        457   

Additional paid-in capital (including warrants of $31,690)

     2,375,689        2,373,684   

Accumulated deficit

     (2,395,743     (2,398,469

Common stock in treasury, at cost (1,646,738 shares)

     (76,304     (76,304

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net

     (1,893     (1,527
                

Total stockholders’ deficiency

     (97,793     (102,159
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficiency

   $ 215,525      $ 239,729   
                

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

 

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PRIMEDIA INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,  
     2010     2009  
     (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)  

Revenue, net:

    

Advertising

   $ 52,287      $ 55,774   

Distribution

     6,150        7,240   
                

Total revenue, net

     58,437        63,014   

Costs and expenses:

    

Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization of property and equipment)

     3,277        5,645   

Marketing and selling

     19,698        18,832   

Distribution and circulation

     9,640        12,971   

General and administrative expenses

     9,386        8,873   

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

     3,249        3,130   

Amortization of intangible assets

     898        617   

Provision for restructuring costs

     331        (156

Interest expense

     2,737        3,897   

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     215        233   

Other (income) expense, net

     (1,012     1,173   
                

Total costs and expenses

     48,419        55,215   

Income from continuing operations before provison for income taxes

     10,018        7,799   

Provision for income taxes

     (3,455     (2,103
                

Income from continuing operations

     6,563        5,696   

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     338        (1,957
                

Net income

   $ 6,901      $ 3,739   
                

Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share:

    

Continuing operations

   $ 0.15      $ 0.13   

Discontinued operations

     0.01        (0.05
                

Net income

   $ 0.16      $ 0.08   
                

Dividends declared per share of common stock outstanding

   $ 0.07      $ 0.07   
                

Weighted-average basic shares of common stock outstanding

     44,210,659        44,146,959   
                

Weighted-average diluted shares of common stock outstanding

     44,388,489        44,167,675   
                

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

 

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PRIMEDIA INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2010     2009  
     (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)  

Revenue, net:

    

Advertising

   $ 157,425      $ 170,373   

Distribution

     18,959        26,305   
                

Total revenue, net

     176,384        196,678   

Costs and expenses:

    

Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization of property and equipment)

     12,073        18,128   

Marketing and selling

     58,006        59,344   

Distribution and circulation

     31,056        48,031   

General and administrative expenses

     27,800        30,306   

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

     9,550        9,998   

Amortization of intangible assets

     3,238        1,853   

Provision for restructuring costs

     5,477        25,643   

Interest expense

     8,554        12,353   

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     669        682   

Other income, net

     (2,545     (5,289
                

Total costs and expenses

     153,878        201,049   

Income (loss) from continuing operations before (provison) benefit for income taxes

     22,506        (4,371

(Provision) benefit for income taxes

     (8,907     1,438   
                

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     13,599        (2,933

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     (1,592     (4,730
                

Net income (loss)

   $ 12,007      $ (7,663
                

Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share:

    

Continuing operations

   $ 0.31      $ (0.07

Discontinued operations

     (0.04     (0.10
                

Net income (loss)

   $ 0.27      $ (0.17
                

Dividends declared per share of common stock outstanding

   $ 0.21      $ 0.21   
                

Weighted-average basic shares of common stock outstanding

     44,189,662        44,117,064   
                

Weighted-average diluted shares of common stock outstanding

     44,338,038        44,117,064   
                

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

 

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PRIMEDIA INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficiency (Unaudited)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

 

     Common Stock      Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Common
Stock in
Treasury
    Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Loss, Net
    Total
Stockholders’
Deficiency
 
     Shares      Par
Value
            
     (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)  

Balance at December 31, 2009

     45,793,697       $ 457       $ 2,373,684      $ (2,398,469   $ (76,304   $ (1,527   $ (102,159

Comprehensive income:

                

Net income

     —           —           —          12,007        —          —          12,007   

Other comprehensive loss

                

Unrealized losses on cash flow hedges, net

     —           —           —          —          —          (366     (366
                      

Total comprehensive income

                   11,641   

Non-cash charges for stock-based compensation

     —           —           2,065        —          —          —          2,065   

Issuances of common stock, net of shares withheld for employee taxes and other

     63,700         1         (60     —          —          —          (59

Cash dividends declared on common stock ($0.21 per share)

     —           —           —          (9,281     —          —          (9,281
                                                          

Balance at September 30, 2010

     45,857,397       $ 458       $ 2,375,689      $ (2,395,743   $ (76,304   $ (1,893   $ (97,793
                                                          

Total comprehensive income for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $6.7 million and $5.3 million, respectively. Total comprehensive loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $4.8 million.

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

 

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PRIMEDIA INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2010     2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Operating activities:

    

Net income (loss)

   $ 12,007      $ (7,663

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     13,457        12,533   

Impairment of cost-method investments

     —          1,500   

Gain on sale of cost-method investments

     —          (2,260

Gain on repurchase of debt

     (1,408     (3,635

Stock-based compensation

     2,065        1,231   

Deferred income taxes

     9,386        (1,632

Bad debt expense

     864        3,589   

(Increase) decrease in:

    

Accounts receivable, net

     (2,815     (2,029

Inventories

     (29     282   

Prepaid expenses and other

     8,141        16,011   

(Decrease) increase in:

    

Accounts payable

     (5,750     (4,971

Accrued expenses and other

     (11,274     6,194   

Deferred revenue

     (439     (1,275

Other non-current liabilities

     (3,616     3   

Other, net

     1        15   
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     20,590        17,893   
                

Investing activities:

    

Proceeds from sale of cost-method investments

     —          2,260   

Additions to property and equipment

     (9,704     (7,667

Other, net

     3        —     
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (9,701     (5,407
                

Financing activities:

    

Payment of dividends on common stock

     (9,281     (9,257

Borrowings under revolving credit facility

     19,700        5,000   

Repayments under revolving credit facility

     (11,000     (18,200

Payments for deferred and other financing fees

     —          (512

Payments for repurchase of debt

     (12,784     (10,080

Repayments of borrowings under credit agreements

     (1,875     (1,875

Capital lease payments

     (333     (477

Payments related to issuances of common stock, net of value of shares withheld for employee taxes

     (59     (173

Repurchases of common stock

     —          (427
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (15,632     (36,001
                

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (4,743     (23,515

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     9,472        31,470   
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 4,729      $ 7,955   
                

Supplemental information:

    

Cash paid for interest, including interest on capital leases and restructuring liabilities

   $ 8,721      $ 12,691   
                

Cash refunded for income taxes, net

   $ (9,833   $ (19,558
                

Noncash investing and financing activities:

    

Accrued property and equipment acquisitions

   $ 552      $ 468   
                

Equipment acquisitions under capital leases

   $ —        $ 102   
                

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

 

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PRIMEDIA INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

PRIMEDIA Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is herein referred to as either “PRIMEDIA” or the “Company” unless the context implies otherwise. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the condensed consolidated financial statements present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the results of consolidated operations of the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, consolidated changes in stockholders’ deficiency of the Company for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, and consolidated cash flows of the Company for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. The adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2009, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. The operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year.

The Company’s banking arrangements allow it to fund outstanding checks drawn on zero-balance disbursement accounts when presented to the financial institution for payment, resulting in book overdrafts. Book overdrafts in the amount of $2.0 million, $3.7 million and $5.4 million are recorded in accounts payable in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010, December 31, 2009 and September 30, 2009, respectively, and are reflected as an operating activity in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Enhanced Disclosures of Fair Value Measurements

In February 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. (“ASU”) 2010-06, which requires new disclosures regarding:

 

   

Transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Separate disclosure is required for the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and the reasons for the transfers.

 

   

Activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. In the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), separate information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements (that is, on a gross basis rather than as one net number) must be presented.

ASU 2010-6 also provides clarification on existing disclosures about:

 

   

Level of disaggregation. Fair value measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities are to be provided. A class is often a subset of assets or liabilities within a line item in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

 

   

Disclosures about inputs and valuation techniques. Disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements are required for fair value measurements that fall in either Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

The new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosures are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years.

The Company adopted all of the disclosure requirements of ASU 2010-6, effective January 1, 2010, except for those about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements. (see Note 6).

Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements

In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-13, which provides new criteria for separating consideration in multiple-deliverable arrangements. Under these new criteria, multiple-deliverable arrangements are likely to be separated in more circumstances than under previous accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). ASU 2009-13 establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. The selling price used for each deliverable will be based on:

 

   

vendor-specific objective evidence if available;

 

   

third-party evidence if vendor-specific objective evidence is not available; or

 

   

estimated selling price if neither vendor-specific objective evidence nor third-party evidence is available.

 

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ASU 2009-13 clarifies that the allocation of revenue to each deliverable is to be based on entity-specific assumptions rather than assumptions of a marketplace participant. It also eliminates the residual method of revenue allocation and requires that arrangement consideration be allocated at the inception of the arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method. A vendor will be required to determine its best estimate of selling price in a manner that is consistent with that used to determine the price to sell the deliverable on a standalone basis.

ASU 2009-13 is effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt ASU 2009-13 effective January 1, 2011 and is still assessing the anticipated impact, if any, on its consolidated balance sheet and statement of operations.

Note 2. Discontinued Operations

The Company has classified the results of divested entities as discontinued operations in accordance with GAAP.

The components of discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 included in the condensed consolidated statement of operations are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2010     2009     2010     2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Total revenue, net

   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —     
                                

Provision for litigation reserves and settlements

   $ 43      $ (1,500   $ —        $ (1,500

Professional fees

     (122     (387     (472     (1,067

Adjustments to accrued operating lease liabilities

     (788     (193     (1,815     (2,595

Insurance-related expenses

     (10     28        63        (203

Tax-related contingencies

     1,340        18        1,298        681   

Write-off of receivables and other assets

     —          —          —          (259

Other

     19        (243     (167     (347
                                

Income (loss) from discontinued operations before (provision) benefit for income taxes

     482        (2,277     (1,093     (5,290

(Provision) benefit for income taxes

     (144     320        (499     560   
                                

Discontinued operations, net of tax

   $ 338      $ (1,957   $ (1,592   $ (4,730
                                

The components of the (provision) benefit for income taxes included in discontinued operations are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,      Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2010     2009      2010     2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Benefit (provision) for tax expense on pre-tax income (loss), adjusted for permanent differences

   $ 55      $ 134       $ (81   $ 271   

Change in liability for uncertain tax positions

     (200     120         (439     (13

Changes in estimates included in prior year tax provision

     1        66         21        302   
                                 

Total (provision) benefit for income taxes

   $ (144   $ 320       $ (499   $ 560   
                                 

Amounts included in income or loss from operations of the disposed businesses before (provision) benefit for income taxes primarily represent the impact of changes in contingent obligations the Company has related to the disposition of the businesses, including changes in sublease income assumptions related to operating leases for office space subleased or assigned to the buyer or another third party; legal and other professional fees incurred in defending the Company against litigation or in attempting to force performance by third parties under leasing arrangements; actual or expected losses from litigation for which the Company is liable; write-off of uncollectable rent receivable under operating lease arrangements for real estate; insurance-related costs for events that occurred prior to the disposition; and other similar costs.

 

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Note 3. Intangible Assets

Intangible assets subject to amortization consist of the following:

 

    

Weighted-
Average

Amortization
Period
(Years)

     September 30, 2010      December 31, 2009  
      Gross
Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
     Net
Carrying
Amount
     Gross
Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
     Net
Carrying
Amount
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Advertiser lists

     12       $ 93,953       $ 82,875       $ 11,078       $ 93,953       $ 79,825       $ 14,128   

Other

     6         5,742         5,669         73         5,742         5,481         261   
                                                        
      $ 99,695       $ 88,544       $ 11,151       $ 99,695       $ 85,306       $ 14,389   
                                                        

Intangible assets not subject to amortization had a carrying value of $6.3 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 and consisted of trademarks. Amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization was $0.9 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $3.2 million and $1.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

During the fourth quarter of 2009, factors were identified indicating that the carrying value of certain of the Company’s advertiser lists might not be recoverable. The Company determined that the expected undiscounted cash flows associated with one advertiser list were less than the carrying value and, as a result, recorded an impairment charge of approximately $0.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2009. The Company also determined that the decline in the value of these assets was occurring faster than the expense was being recognized using the straight-line method of amortization. To better match the deterioration in the value of the assets, the Company concluded that an accelerated method of amortization over a shorter estimated life would be appropriate and made this change in estimate effective January 1, 2010. This resulted in an increase in amortization expense of $0.4 million and $1.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, over what it would have been absent the change in estimate.

Note 4. Property and Equipment, Net

During the second quarter of 2010, the Company retired approximately $54.1 million of fully depreciated property and equipment, primarily capitalized software, that is no longer in use. There was no impact to the Company’s net income or cash flows for any period in 2010 as a result of the retirement of these assets.

Note 5. Cost-Method Investments

During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company sold certain of its cost-method investments, which had previously been written down to their estimated fair value of $0.0 million, for cash and recorded a corresponding gain of $2.3 million to other income, net in the condensed consolidated statement of operations. During 2010, there were no sales of cost-method investments.

Note 6. Fair Value

The table below presents the Company’s liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2010:

 

            Fair Value Measurements Using  

Liability Description

   Fair Value at
September 30,
2010
     Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical
Assets

(Level 1)
     Significant Other
Observable
Inputs

(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Derivative financial instrument liabilities

   $ 2,911       $ —         $ 2,911       $ —     
                                   
   $ 2,911       $ —         $ 2,911       $ —     
                                   

The table below presents the Company’s liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2009:

 

            Fair Value Measurements Using  

Liability Description

   Fair Value at
December 31,
2009
     Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical
Assets

(Level 1)
     Significant Other
Observable
Inputs

(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Derivative financial instrument liabilities

   $ 1,929       $ —         $ 1,929       $ —     
                                   
   $ 1,929       $ —         $ 1,929       $ —     
                                   

 

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The table below presents the Company’s assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2009:

 

            Fair Value Measurements Using         

Asset Description

   Carrying
Value at
December 31,
2009
     Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical
Assets

(Level 1)
     Significant Other
Observable
Inputs

(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)
     Total Losses  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Advertiser list (1)

   $ 2,732       $ —         $ —         $ 2,732       $ 502   
                                            
   $ 2,732       $ —         $ —         $ 2,732       $ 502   
                                            

 

(1) One of the Company’s advertiser lists was measured at fair value as of December 31, 2009 because the Company identified factors indicating its carrying value might not be recoverable. The Company determined that the expected undiscounted cash flows associated with this asset were less than the carrying value and recorded an impairment charge of approximately $0.5 million to reduce the asset to its fair value. Fair value was determined using the discount rate adjustment technique with a discount rate equal to current rates that would be offered to the Company for debt with a remaining maturity equal to the expected remaining life of the asset. Because it was not necessary to re-measure the advertiser list for fair value during 2010 and since it was recorded at its carrying value, net of accumulated amortization, no disclosure is necessary as of September 30, 2010.

The carrying values and fair values of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities are summarized as follows:

 

     September 30, 2010      December 31, 2009  
     Carrying
Value
     Fair Value      Carrying
Value
     Fair Value  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Borrowings under bank credit facilities

   $ 208,397       $ 182,348       $ 224,700       $ 191,557   

Derivative financial instruments

     2,911         2,911         1,929         1,929   

The fair value of borrowings under bank credit facilities was determined based on recently completed market transactions and the current rates that would be offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturity.

The valuation of the derivative financial instruments, comprised of interest rate swaps, was determined using widely accepted valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the interest rate swaps, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves. The fair values of interest rate swaps were determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash receipts (or payments) and the discounted expected variable cash payments (or receipts). The variable cash payments (or receipts) were based on an expectation of future interest rates (forward curves) derived from observable market interest rate curves.

The Company incorporates credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in the fair value measurements. In adjusting the fair value of its interest rate swap contracts for the effect of nonperformance risk, the Company has considered the impact of netting and any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings, thresholds, mutual puts and guarantees.

Although the Company has determined that many of the inputs used to value its derivative financial instruments fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments associated with its derivative financial instruments utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads, to evaluate the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparties. However, the Company has assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative financial instrument positions and has determined that the credit valuation adjustments, which amount to less than $0.1 million in the aggregate for all periods, are not significant to the overall valuation. As a result, the Company has classified its derivative financial instrument valuations, in their entirety, in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

For certain assets and liabilities, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”), the carrying amount approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.

 

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Note 7. Accrued Expenses and Other and Other Non-Current Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following:

 

     September 30,
2010
     December 31,
2009
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Payroll, commissions and related employee benefits

   $ 10,274       $ 7,319   

Reserves for litigation

     —           5,750   

Restructuring liabilities

     4,607         12,738   

Tax-related liabilities

     3,258         4,745   

Divestiture reserves

     3,187         3,178   

Interest payable

     14         181   

Derivative financial instrument liabilities

     797         880   

Accrued professional fees

     852         604   

Other

     4,093         3,899   
                 
   $ 27,082       $ 39,294   
                 

Other non-current liabilities consisted of the following:

 

     September 30,
2010
     December 31,
2009
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Tax-related liabilities

   $ 27,714       $ 28,365   

Divestiture reserves

     7,716         8,593   

Derivative financial instrument liabilities

     2,114         1,049   

Restructuring liabilities

     14,611         17,619   

Other

     1,613         160   
                 
   $ 53,768       $ 55,786   
                 

Note 8. Borrowings

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

 

     September 30,
2010
     December 31,
2009
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Borrowings under bank credit facilities

   $ 208,397       $ 224,700   

Obligations under capital leases

     238         571   
                 
     208,635         225,271   

Less: Current maturities of long-term debt

     2,718         2,922   
                 
   $ 205,917       $ 222,349   
                 

Bank Credit Facilities

The bank credit facilities consisted of the following as of September 30, 2010:

 

     Revolving
Facility
    Term
Loan B
    Total  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Bank credit facilities

   $ 88,000      $ 208,397      $ 296,397   

Borrowings outstanding

     (8,700     (208,397     (217,097

Letters of credit outstanding

     (2,068     —          (2,068
                        

Unused bank commitments

   $ 77,232      $ —        $ 77,232   
                        

On June 30, 2009, the Company’s bank credit facility was amended (the “Amendment”). Among other things, the Amendment gives the Company the right, subject to the conditions set forth therein, to prepay or otherwise acquire with or for cash, on either a pro rata or non-pro rata basis, loans outstanding under the Term Loan B Facility and held by lenders who consent to such prepayment or

 

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acquisition, at a discount to the par value of such principal at any time and from time to time on and after June 30, 2009 and on or prior to June 30, 2011; provided that the aggregate amounts expended by the Company in connection with all such prepayments or acquisitions do not exceed $35.0 million. All such loans prepaid or acquired will be retired and extinguished and deemed paid effective upon such prepayment or acquisition. Through September 30, 2010, the Company has utilized $27.7 million pursuant to the Amendment to repurchase and retire $34.7 million in principal outstanding.

In connection with the Amendment, the Company incurred approximately $0.5 million in modification fees, which were paid to the creditors and are being expensed over the remaining term of the loan.

There are no scheduled commitment reductions under the Revolving Facility. The loans under the Term Loan B Facility are subject to scheduled repayment in quarterly installments of approximately $0.6 million each payable on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year through June 30, 2014, followed by a final repayment on the Term Loan B Maturity Date of $199.0 million, which reflects completed Term Loan B Facility repurchases through September 30, 2010.

Term Loan B Facility Repurchases

During the three and the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company repurchased and retired principal outstanding under its Term Loan B Facility as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,      Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2010     2009      2010     2009  
           (Dollars in thousands)        

Principal repurchased and retired

   $ 6,949      $ —         $ 14,428      $ 14,000   

Cash paid

     (6,155     —           (12,784     (10,080

Write-off of deferred financing fees

     (112     —           (236     (285
                                 

Net gain

   $ 682      $ —         $ 1,408      $ 3,635   
                                 

The net gains are included in other income, net in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

Revolving Facility

Selected activity under the Company’s Revolving Facility is summarized as follows:

 

Date                

   Borrowings      Repayments  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

March 2009

   $ —         $ 8,800   

June 2009

     —           4,400   

July 2009

     5,000         5,000   

February 2010

     9,000         —     

May 2010

     —           9,000   

August 2010

     2,000        2,000   

September 2010

     8,700        —     

Covenant Compliance

Under the most restrictive covenants contained in the bank credit facilities agreement, the maximum allowable total leverage ratio, as defined in the agreement, is 5.25 to 1. As of September 30, 2010, this leverage ratio was approximately 2.7 to 1.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Term Loan B Facility and as a result of having a leverage ratio below 2.75 to 1 at September 30, 2010, the applicable margin over the eurodollar borrowing rate will be 200 basis points for the fourth quarter.

At September 30, 2010, the Company was in compliance with all of its debt covenants.

Note 9. Income Taxes

Income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was $3.5 million, compared to an income tax expense of $2.1 million for the same period in 2009, reflecting effective tax rates of 34.5% and 27.0%, respectively. The effective tax rates are computed based on consolidated income or loss before income taxes, and income tax expense is comprised of the following:

 

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     Three Months Ended September 30,  
     2010     2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Provision for tax expense on pre-tax income, adjusted for permanent differences

   $ (3,967   $ (2,773

Recorded reserves related to uncertain tax positions

     276        711   

Other miscellaneous adjustments

     236        (41
                

Provision for income taxes

   $ (3,455   $ (2,103
                

Income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $8.9 million, compared to an income tax benefit of $1.4 million for the same period in 2009, reflecting effective tax rates of 39.6% and (32.9)%, respectively. The effective tax rates are computed based on consolidated income or loss before income taxes, and income tax (expense) benefit is comprised of the following:

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2010     2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

(Provision) benefit for tax expense on pre-tax income (loss), adjusted for permanent differences

   $ (9,208   $ 1,556   

Recorded reserves related to uncertain tax positions

     189        389   

Other miscellaneous adjustments

     112        (507
                

(Provision) benefit for income taxes

   $ (8,907   $ 1,438   
                

As of September 30, 2010, the Company maintained a partial valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets. The Company may release additional valuation allowance in future periods when it can conclude that a greater portion of the net deferred tax assets is more likely than not to be realized. To the extent the Company reports taxable income in future periods, it intends to use its net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”), to the extent allowable, to offset that taxable income and reduce cash outflows for income taxes. The Company’s ability to use its federal and state NOLs and federal and state tax credit carryforwards may be subject to restrictions attributable to equity transactions in the future resulting from changes in ownership as defined under the Internal Revenue Code.

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits decreased by $2.3 million from $82.2 million as of June 30, 2010 to $79.9 million as of September 30, 2010. The decrease is primarily a result of the available benefit of a 2009 NOL carryback. Due to the carryback of the federal NOL from 2009, the Company incurred alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) in the 2007 tax year, resulting in an AMT credit, which is available to reduce unrecognized tax benefits previously recorded. Approximately $23.3 million of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits would, if recognized, have an impact on the effective income tax rate, while approximately $56.6 million would not. As of September 30, 2010, the Company’s recorded liability for uncertain tax positions was $27.7 million, which includes $4.4 million of interest. The Company recorded charges for interest related to the unrecognized tax benefits of $0.2 million and $0.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and local jurisdictions, and the Company is routinely under audit by multiple tax authorities. The Company is currently under audit by the Internal Revenue Service for its 2005 through 2008 federal consolidated income tax filings and other material state taxing jurisdictions for income tax filings for the years 2005 through 2007. The Company reported NOLs from tax years back to 1992 on federal and state tax returns currently under, or open to, examination. The Company believes that its accrual for tax liabilities is adequate for all open audit years based on its assessment of many factors, including past experience and interpretations of tax law. This assessment relies on estimates and assumptions and involves a series of complex judgments about future events.

The Company does not presently expect that there will be significant changes to the unrecognized tax benefit within 12 months of September 30, 2010. However, due to uncertainty regarding the timing and ultimate resolution of federal and certain state income tax examinations of open statutory periods, the Company’s expectations may change. Additionally, the statutes of limitations in certain state and local jurisdictions are expected to lapse within the next 12 months and may result in a decrease of unrecognized tax benefits and accrued interest of approximately $1.5 million.

Note 10. Stockholders’ Equity

Stock Repurchase Plan

The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized a program (the “Repurchase Program”) to repurchase up to $5.0 million of the Company’s common stock through December 31, 2010. Under the terms of the Repurchase Program, the Company may repurchase shares in open market purchases or through privately negotiated transactions. The Company has used cash on hand to fund repurchases of its common stock and expects to use cash on hand to fund any additional stock repurchases under the Repurchase Program. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company repurchased 0.2 million shares of its common stock for

 

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approximately $0.4 million at a weighted-average price, including brokerage commissions, of $1.79 per share. The reacquired shares have been designated as treasury shares. As of September 30, 2010, the Company had $4.6 million available for further share repurchases, and it may make additional stock repurchases in 2010 pursuant to the Repurchase Program.

Note 11. Stock-Based Compensation

Stock Options

During the second quarter of 2008, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) approved awards of options to purchase 0.8 million shares of common stock, at an exercise price of $6.42 per share, granted under the PRIMEDIA Inc. Stock Purchase and Option Plan, as amended (the “Stock Compensation Plan”), to certain of its employees and directors that vest with respect to one-third of the shares underlying such options on each of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010. During the second and third quarters of 2009, awards of options to purchase less than 0.1 million shares of common stock at a weighted-average exercise price of $2.11 were granted under the Stock Compensation Plan, to certain of the Company’s employees that vest with respect to one-third of the shares underlying such options on each anniversary date during 2010, 2011 and 2012. There were no stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Restricted Stock

Performance Share Plan

During 2008, 2009 and 2010, the Compensation Committee approved awards of performance-based restricted stock for 2008, 2009 and 2010, to be granted under the Stock Compensation Plan, to certain employees of the Company. The extent to which an award vests is based on the Company’s level of performance during the year in which the grant is made. Under the terms of each grant, the restricted stock is forfeited if less than 90% of the applicable performance goal is achieved and fully vests if at least 100% of the applicable performance goal is achieved. If at least 90%, but less than 100%, of the applicable performance goal is achieved, a portion of the restricted stock vests pursuant to a predetermined formula. Restricted stock vests on the date of determination by the Compensation Committee of the extent to which the applicable performance goal is achieved, provided the grantee is employed by the Company at such time. At that time, restrictions on the vested portion of the award lapse, and the corresponding shares are distributed to the grantee. Performance-based restricted stock is expensed based on the likelihood of the Company achieving the performance targets.

Restricted stock granted in 2008, targeted at 0.2 million shares, vested or was forfeited based on the Company’s level of achievement of performance goals for the year ended December 31, 2008. Vested shares were distributed during the first quarter of 2009. The performance targets for the 2009 awards were set during the first quarter of 2009, at which time approximately 0.3 million shares were granted. The performance targets for the 2009 awards were not met, and the performance-based restricted shares were deemed forfeited as of December 31, 2009. The performance targets for the 2010 awards were set during the first quarter of 2010, at which time approximately 0.3 million shares were granted.

Service Plan

During 2009 and 2010, the Compensation Committee approved awards that totaled approximately 0.7 million shares of service-based restricted stock granted under the Stock Compensation Plan to certain employees of the Company. The restricted stock vested or will vest at 100% as long as the employee is employed with the Company through specified vesting dates between 2010 and 2013.

A summary of the Company’s restricted stock award activity, under both performance and service plans, during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 is presented below:

 

     Number of
Shares
    Weighted-
Average
Grant-
Date
Fair Value
 

Outstanding at beginning of period

     219,855      $ 3.43   

Granted

     746,376        3.56   

Vested and distributed

     (63,700     3.73   

Vested and surrendered (1)

     (17,127     3.75   

Forfeited

     —          —     
          

Outstanding at end of period

     885,404        3.51   
          

 

(1) Shares of common stock were surrendered to the Company by certain employees to satisfy the employees’ tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of the restricted stock.

 

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All restricted stock granted to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer includes tandem dividend rights, and he will receive the dividends if he is employed with the Company on the dates the underlying shares vest.

All stock-based compensation is expensed over the vesting period, and the expense for all awards amounted to $0.7 million and $2.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, and $0.3 million and $1.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. Stock-based compensation is included within costs of goods sold, marketing and selling, distribution and circulation, and general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

Note 12. Provision for Restructuring

Over the past several years, the Company has implemented a number of plans to streamline its expense structure. The plans have included employee-related termination costs resulting from the elimination of certain positions; charges associated with vacating certain leased properties as a result of the co-location of operations within certain markets or leasing less space in a market due to a reduced number of employees; charges resulting from actions taken with respect to certain of the Company’s retail display allowances (“RDAs”), which are intended to reduce the Company’s distribution costs; and charges to terminate other contracts.

As part of its distribution function, the Company has entered into contracts with various retail chains, including grocery, drug, convenience, video, fitness and mass merchandise retailers for exclusive rights for distribution related to the Company’s and third-party free directories, which the Company refers to as RDAs. The Company has taken action to reduce its ongoing distribution costs arising from RDAs that are underperforming through:

 

   

terminating the Company’s distribution rights for some or all locations covered by certain RDAs at a negotiated price;

   

discontinuing service for and vacating some locations covered by certain RDAs; and

   

determining to forego distribution rights for certain locations that are not currently being serviced.

All of these actions result in charges included in restructuring expense; however, in the last two cases, the timing and amount of the Company’s future cash obligations are not impacted.

2010 Plan

The Company’s 2010 restructuring plan included charges arising from actions taken on underperforming RDAs, which continue through 2011; charges associated with vacating certain leased properties, which continue through 2014; and charges related to the elimination of certain jobs, which are expected to be paid during 2010.

2009 Plan

The Company’s 2009 restructuring plan included charges arising from actions taken on underperforming RDAs, which continue through 2011; charges associated with vacating certain leased properties, which continue through 2015; and charges related to the elimination of certain jobs, which were paid during 2009.

2008 Plan

The Company’s 2008 restructuring plan included charges related to the elimination of certain jobs, which were paid through 2009; charges associated with vacating certain leased properties, which continue through 2015; and charges related to the termination of certain other contracts, which were paid in 2008.

Total expected cost of each plan and costs incurred through September 30, 2010 are as follows:

 

     2010 Plan      2009 Plan      2008 Plan  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Total expected costs

   $  6,500-7,500       $  21,000-21,500       $  8,000-8,100   

Costs incurred through September 30, 2010

     6,626         21,388         8,013   

The 2008 and 2009 restructuring plans are substantially complete; however, further changes in the Company’s recorded liability and restructuring charge could result if it becomes necessary to change the Company’s assumptions about future sublease income, which is further discussed below, or if the Company is able to modify the terms of previously restructured RDA contracts.

 

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Other Plans

In addition to the plans implemented in 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company also has remaining liabilities associated with vacating certain leased properties under restructuring plans initiated in 2006 and prior, which are expected to be paid through 2015.

To reduce the lease-related costs under all of its restructuring plans, the Company has pursued subleases of its available properties. These leases have been recorded at their net present value amounts and are net of anticipated sublease income. Until such time as they are terminated or expire, the Company expects to incur further expense on all of its vacated leased properties from imputed interest related to the rental payments and changes in the amounts and timing of estimated cash flows, primarily anticipated sublease income.

Primarily as a result of changes in timing and payments of sublease income, the Company recorded income of $0.1 million and $0.4 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, which is included in the provision for restructuring costs in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

Details of all restructuring plans that have been implemented and the related payments during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:

 

     Liabilities as of
December 31, 2009
     Net Provision for the
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2010
    Payments During the
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2010 (1)
    Liabilities as of
September 30, 2010
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Employee-related termination costs

   $ 2       $ 1,039      $ (740   $ 301   

Termination or modification of existing RDA contracts

     9,810         4,786        (13,657     939   

Termination of leases related to office closures and other

     20,545         (348     (2,219     17,978   
                                 

Total

   $ 30,357       $ 5,477      $ (16,616   $ 19,218   
                                 
     Liabilities as of
December 31, 2008
     Net Provision for the
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2009
    Payments During the
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2009 (2)
    Liabilities as of
September 30, 2009
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Employee-related termination costs

   $ 490       $ 282      $ (725   $ 47   

Termination or modification of existing RDA contracts

     —           20,752        (10,084     10,668   

Termination of leases related to office closures and other

     21,163         4,609        (4,202     21,570   
                                 

Total

   $ 21,653       $ 25,643      $ (15,011   $ 32,285   
                                 

 

(1) Termination or modification of existing RDA contracts includes the write-off of $3.7 million of prepaid assets, most of which were paid during 2010 prior to the implementation of the 2010 plan.
(2) Termination or modification of existing RDA contracts includes the write-off of $5.7 million of prepaid assets, most of which were paid during 2009 prior to the implementation of the 2009 plan.

Details about the Company’s recorded restructuring expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 by expense type and restructuring plan are as follows:

 

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     2010
Plan
    2009
Plan
    2008
Plan
    2006 and
Prior Plans
    Total  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2010

          

Employee-related termination costs

   $ 420      $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 420   

Termination or modification of existing RDA contracts

     (13     (5     —          —          (18

Termination of leases related to office closures and other

     2        2        (16     (59     (71
                                        

Total

   $ 409      $ (3   $ (16   $ (59   $ 331   
                                        
     2009
Plan
    2008
Plan
    2006 and
Prior Plans
    Total        
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2009

          

Employee-related termination costs

   $ 12      $ —        $ —        $ 12     

Termination or modification of existing RDA contracts

     (1,349     —          —          (1,349  

Termination of leases related to office closures and other

     —          581        600        1,181     
                                  

Total

   $ (1,337   $ 581      $ 600      $ (156  
                                  
     2010
Plan
    2009
Plan
    2008
Plan
    2006 and
Prior Plans
    Total  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

          

Employee-related termination costs

   $ 1,039      $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 1,039   

Termination or modification of existing RDA contracts

     5,405        (619     —          —          4,786   

Termination of leases related to office closures and other

     182        (23     (132     (375     (348
                                        

Total

   $ 6,626      $ (642   $ (132   $ (375   $ 5,477   
                                        
     2009
Plan
    2008
Plan
    2006 and
Prior Plans
    Total        
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

          

Employee-related termination costs

   $ 282      $ —        $ —        $ 282     

Termination or modification of existing RDA contracts

     20,752        —          —          20,752     

Termination of leases related to office closures and other

     1,080        2,718        811        4,609     
                                  

Total

   $ 22,114      $ 2,718      $ 811      $ 25,643     
                                  

The following table details the restructuring liabilities by plan:

 

     September 30, 2010      December 31, 2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

2010 plan

   $ 788       $ —     

2009 plan

     1,021         10,690   

2008 plan

     1,368         2,585   

2006 plan and prior plans

     16,041         17,082   
                 
   $ 19,218       $ 30,357   
                 

The Company has included imputed interest associated with restructuring liabilities in interest expense in the condensed consolidated statement of operations as follows:

 

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     Three Months Ended September 30,      Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2010      2009      2010      2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Interest expense

   $ 582       $ 478       $ 1,808       $ 1,487   

Note 13. Income (Loss) per Common Share

Income (loss) per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 has been determined based on income (loss) applicable to common stockholders, divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for all periods presented.

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2010      2009     2010     2009  
     (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)  

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 6,563       $ 5,696      $ 13,599      $ (2,933

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     338         (1,957     (1,592     (4,730
                                 

Net income (loss)

   $ 6,901       $ 3,739      $ 12,007      $ (7,663
                                 

Shares of common stock and common stock equivalents

         

Weighted-average shares used in basic computation

     44,210,659         44,146,959        44,189,662        44,117,064   

Dilutive effect of:

         

Restricted stock

     176,658         20,716       146,718        —     

Stock options

     1,172         —          1,658        —     
                                 

Weighted-average shares used in diluted computation

     44,388,489         44,167,675        44,338,038        44,117,064   

Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share:

         

Continuing operations

   $ 0.15       $ 0.13      $ 0.31      $ (0.07

Discontinued operations

     0.01         (0.05     (0.04     (0.10
                                 

Net income (loss)

   $ 0.16       $ 0.08      $ 0.27      $ (0.17
                                 

The following are securities that could potentially dilute basic income per share in the future:

 

     September 30,  
     2010      2009  

Warrants

     1,645,000         1,645,000   

Stock options

     1,786,811         2,697,584   

Shares of restricted stock

     885,404         513,768   

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the following potentially dilutive securities were not included in the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding used in the computation of diluted income per common share:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2010     2009     2010     2009  

Warrants

     1,645,000  (1)      1,645,000  (1)      1,645,000  (1)      1,645,000  (3) 

Stock options

     1,785,639  (1)      2,697,584  (1)      1,798,975  (1)      2,701,818  (3) 

Shares of restricted stock

     708,746  (2)      493,052  (2)      743,893  (2)      619,094  (3) 

 

(1) Excluded because the strike price was greater than the average market price of the Company’s common stock during the period, and the inclusion would be anti-dilutive or the calculation under the treasury stock method resulted in no additional diluted shares.
(2) Excluded because either the performance goals related to the shares were not met at the end of the period or the calculation under the treasury stock method resulted in no additional diluted shares.
(3) Excluded because the effect of inclusion would be anti-dilutive due to the Company’s loss from continuing operations.

 

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Note 14. Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”) was represented by unrealized gains and losses on cash flow hedges as follows:

 

     Before-
Tax
Amount
    Tax
Benefit
     Net of
Tax
Amount
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2010

       

Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges

   $ (391   $ 224       $ (167
                         

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

   $ (391   $ 224       $ (167
                         
     Before-
Tax
Amount
    Tax
Benefit
     Net of
Tax
Amount
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2009

       

Net unrealized gains on cash flow hedges

   $ 406      $ 1,118       $ 1,524   
                         

Other comprehensive gain, net of tax

   $ 406      $ 1,118       $ 1,524   
                         
     Before-
Tax
Amount
    Tax
Benefit
     Net of
Tax
Amount
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

       

Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges

   $ (982   $ 616       $ (366
                         

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

   $ (982   $ 616       $ (366
                         
     Before-
Tax
Amount
    Tax
Benefit
     Net of
Tax
Amount
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

       

Net unrealized gains on cash flow hedges

   $ 2,552      $ 302       $ 2,854   
                         

Other comprehensive gain, net of tax

   $ 2,552      $ 302       $ 2,854   
                         

Note 15. Derivative Financial Instruments

Risk Management Objective of Using Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions. The Company principally manages its exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of its core business activities. The Company manages economic risks, including interest rate, liquidity and credit risk primarily by managing the amount, sources and duration of its debt funding and the use of derivative financial instruments. Specifically, the Company enters into derivative financial instruments to manage exposures that arise from business activities that result in the payment of future known and uncertain cash amounts, the value of which are determined by interest rates. The Company’s derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing and duration of the Company’s known or expected cash payments related to its borrowings. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.

The Company’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish this objective, the Company primarily uses interest rate swaps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount.

 

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Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments that are designated in qualifying cash flow hedging relationships is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) in the condensed consolidated balance sheet and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. During the nine months ending September 30, 2010 and 2009, these derivative financial instruments were used to hedge the variability in cash flows arising from changes in the benchmark interest rate on the Company’s Term Loan B Facility. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative financial instruments is recognized directly in earnings through interest expense. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company recorded less than $0.1 million of hedge ineffectiveness in earnings attributable to off-market terms present in two of the Company’s interest rate swaps. There were no off-market terms present in any of the Company’s interest rate swaps during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and no hedge ineffectiveness.

Amounts reported in AOCI related to derivative financial instruments in designated hedging relationships will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the Company’s Term Loan B Facility. During the twelve months ending September 30, 2011, the Company estimates that $2.6 million, excluding deferred taxes, will be reclassified from AOCI into earnings as an increase to interest expense.

As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had the following outstanding derivative financial instruments that were designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk:

 

     Notional Amount at  

Interest Rate Derivatives

   September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Interest rate swaps

   $ 200,000  (1)    $ 200,000   

Interest rate swap (forward starting December 31, 2010; matures December 30, 2011)

     50,000        —     

 

  (1) One interest rate swap with a notional amount of $50.0 million matures on December 31, 2010; one interest rate swap with a notional amount of $50.0 million matures on September 30, 2011; and one interest rate swap with a notional amount of $100.0 million matures on December 30, 2011.

Tabular Disclosure of Fair Values of Derivative Financial Instruments in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

The following table presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as well as their classification in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010:

 

     Derivative Assets      Derivative Liabilities  
     Balance Sheet
Location
     Fair Value      Balance Sheet
Location
     Fair Value  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Derivative financial instruments designated in hedging relationships

           

Interest rate swaps

    
 
Prepaid expenses
and other
  
  
   $ —          
 
Accrued expenses
and other
  
  
   $ 264   

Interest rate swaps

    
 
Other non-
current assets
  
  
     —          
 
Other non-current
liabilities
  
  
     2,647   
                       

Total derivative financial instruments designated in hedging relationships

      $ —            $ 2,911   
                       

 

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The following table presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as well as their classification in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2009:

 

     Derivative Assets      Derivative Liabilities  
     Balance Sheet
Location
     Fair Value      Balance Sheet
Location
     Fair Value  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Derivative financial instruments designated in hedging relationships

           

Interest rate swaps

    
 
Prepaid expenses
and other
  
  
   $ —          
 
Accrued expenses
and other
  
  
   $ 880   

Interest rate swaps

    
 
Other non-
current assets
  
  
     —          
 
Other non-current
liabilities
  
  
     1,049   
                       

Total derivative financial instruments designated in hedging relationships

      $ —            $ 1,929   
                       

Tabular Disclosure of the Effect of Derivative Financial Instruments in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

The following table presents the effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2010 (dollars in thousands):

 

Derivative Financial
Instruments in Cash
Flow Hedging
Relationships

 

Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
OCI on Derivative
Financial Instruments
(Effective Portion),
Net of Tax

 

Location of

Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified

from AOCI into

Income

(Effective Portion)

 

Amount of
Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified
from AOCI
into Income
(Effective Portion)

 

Location of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
Financial Instruments
(Ineffective Portion and
Amount Excluded from
Effectiveness Testing)

 

Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
Financial Instruments
(Ineffective Portion and
Amount Excluded from
Effectiveness Testing)

Interest rate swaps

  $(167)   Interest expense   $675   Interest expense   $—

The following table presents the effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2009 (dollars in thousands):

 

Derivative Financial
Instruments in Cash
Flow Hedging
Relationships

 

Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
OCI on Derivative
Financial Instruments
(Effective Portion),
Net of Tax

 

Location of

Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified

from AOCI into

Income

(Effective Portion)

 

Amount of
Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified
from AOCI
into Income
(Effective Portion)

 

Location of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
Financial Instruments
(Ineffective Portion and
Amount Excluded from
Effectiveness Testing)

 

Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
Financial Instruments
(Ineffective Portion and
Amount Excluded from
Effectiveness Testing)

Interest rate swaps

  $1,524   Interest expense   $1,523   Interest expense   $(22)

The following table presents the effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 (dollars in thousands):

 

Derivative Financial
Instruments in Cash
Flow Hedging
Relationships

 

Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
OCI on Derivative
Financial Instruments
(Effective Portion),
Net of Tax

 

Location of

Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified

from AOCI into

Income

(Effective Portion)

 

Amount of

Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified
from AOCI
into Income
(Effective Portion)

 

Location of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
Financial Instruments
(Ineffective Portion and
Amount Excluded from
Effectiveness Testing)

 

Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
Financial Instruments
(Ineffective Portion and
Amount Excluded from
Effectiveness Testing)

Interest rate swaps

  $(366)   Interest expense   $2,263   Interest expense   $—

The following table presents the effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 (dollars in thousands):

 

Derivative Financial
Instruments in Cash
Flow Hedging
Relationships

 

Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
OCI on Derivative
Financial Instruments
(Effective Portion),
Net of Tax

 

Location of

Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified

from AOCI into

Income

(Effective Portion)

 

Amount of
Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified
from AOCI
into Income
(Effective Portion)

 

Location of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
Financial Instruments
(Ineffective Portion and
Amount Excluded from
Effectiveness Testing)

 

Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
Financial Instruments
(Ineffective Portion and
Amount Excluded from
Effectiveness Testing)

Interest rate swaps

  $2,854   Interest expense   $4,320   Interest expense   $(70)

 

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Credit-risk-related Contingent Features

The Company has agreements with each of its derivative financial instrument counterparties that contain a provision by which the Company could be declared in default on its derivative financial instrument obligations if repayment of the underlying indebtedness is accelerated by the lender due to the Company’s default on the indebtedness.

The termination value of derivative financial instruments in a net liability position, which includes accrued interest but excludes any adjustment for nonperformance risk, related to these agreements was $3.0 million and $2.0 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The Company has not posted any collateral related to these agreements. If the Company breached any of these provisions, it would be required to settle its obligations under the agreements at their termination value of $3.0 million and $2.0 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation-Related Matters

The Company is involved in lawsuits and claims, both actual and potential, including some that it has asserted against others, in which substantial monetary damages are sought. These lawsuits and claims generally relate to contract, patent and other matters arising out of the conduct of the Company’s current and past business activities. Although the result of any future litigation of such lawsuits and claims is inherently unpredictable, the Company believes that, in the aggregate, the outcome of all such lawsuits and claims will not have a material effect on its long-term consolidated financial position or liquidity; however, any such outcome could be material to the results of operations or cash flows of any particular period in which costs, if any, are recognized or amounts in resolution, if any, are paid.

During 2008, the Company recorded a charge of $4.5 million related to settlement of litigation involving the divestiture of the Company’s Crafts Group and $0.5 million related to the settlement of an unrelated case. The Company paid the total settlements of $5.0 million in March 2009. Prior to 2010, the Company had recorded a charge of $5.75 million related to the settlement of litigation involving a former subsidiary of the Company, About.com. The Company paid $5.75 million to escrow related to About.com in September 2010.

Derivative Litigation

The Company is named as a nominal defendant in a consolidated stockholder derivative action pending in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (“Chancery Court”) under the caption In re PRIMEDIA Inc. Derivative Litigation, Consolidated C.A. No. 1808-N. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (“KKR”), and certain present and former members of the Company’s Board of Directors are also named as defendants. Plaintiffs allege that KKR and the Company’s Board of Directors breached their fiduciary duties to the Company in connection with PRIMEDIA’s redemption of certain shares of its preferred stock in 2004 and 2005. On November 15, 2006, the Chancery Court denied separate motions to dismiss filed by the director defendants and KKR, and, on January 18, 2007, all defendants answered the then operative complaint. On May 23, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors formed a Special Litigation Committee (“SLC”) of independent, non-defendant directors with full and sole authority to investigate, review and take action with respect to the plaintiffs’ claims in the derivative litigation. On September 7, 2007, plaintiffs filed a Second Amended and Consolidated Derivative Complaint (“SAC”), which, in addition to the allegations discussed above, further alleged that KKR usurped a corporate opportunity of the Company in 2002 by purchasing shares of PRIMEDIA preferred stock at discounts on the open market, while causing the Company to refrain from doing the same. On February 28, 2008, the SLC filed a motion to dismiss the SAC and, in support of the motion, its report (filed under seal) concluding that the pursuit of the claims asserted by plaintiffs does not make legal, practical or business sense. On March 16, 2010, plaintiffs filed a Third Amended and Consolidated Derivative Complaint (“TAC”), including additional allegations concerning KKR’s purchases of PRIMEDIA preferred stock in 2002. On June 16, 2010, the Chancery Court granted the SLC’s motion and dismissed the TAC with prejudice. On August 30, 2010, plaintiffs filed an appeal in the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware. On September 29, 2010, the SLC filed its answering brief in opposition, and on October 14, 2010, plaintiffs filed their reply. The Delaware Supreme Court has not yet ruled on plaintiffs’ appeal.

About.com

Plaintiffs commenced this action in 2002 on behalf of a putative class of current and former “guides” for About.com, a former subsidiary of the Company. The plaintiffs asserted a variety of claims, primarily that guides were employees who were misclassified as independent contractors (and therefore were entitled to be paid minimum wage and overtime under federal and state wage laws), and that the guides were underpaid according to the terms of their contracts. In November 2005, the Company moved for summary judgment on the breach of contract claim and certain others. The basis of the motion was that About.com compensated the guides properly (i.e., it paid them the contractually required percentage of “net advertising revenues” generated by the About.com website, and in some years paid them more).

In August 2007, the Court denied the Company’s motion as to the contract claim, finding disputed issues of fact about the amounts, if any, owed to the guides. The Court granted the Company’s motion as to certain procedural issues. The Court also granted summary

 

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judgment to the plaintiffs on one issue, holding that all page-views must be counted equally for purposes of calculating any individual guide’s relative share of the guide revenue pool. In January 2008, plaintiffs moved for class certification with respect to the breach of contract claim. The Court granted that motion in April 2009, but it also indicated a willingness to reconsider its earlier grant of partial summary judgment on the page-view issue. In July 2009, plaintiffs moved for partial summary judgment with respect to the amount of damages allegedly owed under the contracts with respect to calendar year 2000. The Company opposed the motion.

In December 2009, the parties reached an agreement in principle to settle the case in its entirety for $5.75 million. Counsel for the parties subsequently entered into a settlement agreement. On or about March 12, 2010, a motion was made for preliminary approval of the settlement, which the judge in the case granted on or about April 19, 2010. A fairness hearing was held on October 7, 2010, and the Court issued a final order certifying the settlement class and approving the settlement in full. The Company had previously paid the settlement amount of $5.75 million into escrow in September 2010.

Patent Litigation

The Company was sued by Smarter Agent LLC on March 26, 2010, along with nine other defendants, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The complaint asserts that Smarter Agent owns three U.S. patents – 6,385,541; 6,496,776; and 7,072,665 – that have been infringed by the Company because of its distribution of applications that work on mobile devices and provide real estate-related information. The complaint seeks injunctive relief and unspecified damages. The Company believes that it is not infringing any valid claims of the patents and has provided prior art to Smarter Agent that was not considered by the United States Patent & Trademark Office. The Company formally responded to the complaint on September 13, 2010, as well as alleging counterclaims for a declaratory judgment of patent invalidity and non-infringement. The Company has also filed a petition to have the patents reexamined in light of the previously-unconsidered prior art.

Indemnifications and Other Contingencies

The Company is a party to contracts in which it is common for it to agree to indemnify third parties for certain liabilities that arise out of or relate to the subject matter of the contract. In some cases, this indemnity extends to related liabilities arising from the negligence of the indemnified parties but usually excludes any liabilities caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Company cannot estimate the potential amount of future payments under these indemnities until events arise that would trigger a liability under the indemnities.

Additionally, in connection with the sale of assets and the divestiture of businesses, the Company may agree to indemnify the buyer and related parties for certain losses or liabilities incurred by the buyer with respect to: (i) the representations and warranties made by the Company to the buyer in connection with the sale and (ii) liabilities related to the pre-closing operations of the assets sold. Indemnities related to pre-closing operations generally include tax liabilities and other liabilities not assumed by the buyer in the transaction.

Indemnities related to the pre-closing operations of sold assets normally do not represent additional liabilities to the Company but simply serve to protect the buyer from potential liability associated with the Company’s obligations existing at the time of the sale. As with any liability, the Company has previously accrued for those pre-closing obligations that are considered probable and reasonably estimable. Should circumstances change, increasing the likelihood of payments related to a specific indemnity, the Company will accrue a liability when future payment is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable.

The Company also has other contingent tax-related liabilities arising from positions taken with the filing of certain tax returns. The Company has recorded reserves, included in accrued expenses and other in the condensed consolidated balance sheet, of $3.3 million and $5.1 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, for all of its tax-related contingencies. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded expense, included in other income, net in the condensed consolidated statement of operations, for changes in its estimated liability for tax-related contingencies attributable to continuing and discontinued operations as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2010     2009     2010     2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)     (Dollars in thousands)  

Continuing operations

   $ 3      $ (450   $ 9      $ (47

Discontinued operations

     (1,340     (18     (1,298     (681
                                

Total

   $ (1,337   $ (468   $ (1,289   $ (728
                                

As a result of the conclusion of the bankruptcy proceedings of an acquirer of one of the Company’s former subsidiaries, the Company was able to eliminate $1.3 million of its tax-related contingencies. The Company reported the change in discontinued operations, net of tax in its results of operations.

 

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Note 17. Subsequent Event

Cash Dividend Declared

On October 26, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.07 per share of the Company’s common stock, payable on or about November 17, 2010, to stockholders of record on November 8, 2010.

 

Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Introduction

In this Form 10-Q, which we refer to as this “Report,” the words “PRIMEDIA,” “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” mean PRIMEDIA Inc., including its subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise specifies or requires.

This document contains “forward-looking statements”—that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance and often contain words such as “expects,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks” or “will.” Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, particular uncertainties which could adversely or positively affect our future results include, among others: general economic trends and conditions and, in particular, related adverse trends and conditions in the apartment leasing and new home sales sectors of the residential real estate industry; changes in technology and competition; the implementation and results of our ongoing strategic and cost-cutting initiatives; the demand by customers for our products and services; expenses of or adverse results from litigation; and numerous other matters of national, regional and local market scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive and regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.

The following discussion and analysis summarizes our financial condition and operating performance as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 and should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, included elsewhere in this Report.

Executive Summary

Our Business

We are a targeted media company that provides consumers with tools and information they need to find a place to live. Our consumer directories are targeted primarily for the apartment and other rental property sectors of the residential real estate industry and are provided free to consumers through a combination of online, print and mobile platforms. We derive advertising revenue by providing our advertiser clients – property management companies, private owner/landlords, new home builders and real estate professionals – with products and services that generate measurable results in the form of cost-effective, quality leads.

2010 Third Quarter Results

Financial highlights for the third quarter include the following:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     $ Change
Favorable/
    % Change
Favorable/
 
     2010      2009      (Unfavorable)     (Unfavorable)  
     (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)  

Total revenue, net

   $ 58,437       $ 63,014       $ (4,577     (7.3 )% 

Income from continuing operations

     6,563         5,696         867        15.2   

Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations

     0.15         0.13         0.02     

Net income

     6,901         3,739         3,162        84.6   

Diluted earnings per common share from net income

     0.16         0.08         0.08     

Total revenue decreased due to a $2.9 million decrease in Apartments advertising revenue, a $0.6 million decrease in New Homes advertising revenue and a $1.1 million decrease in distribution revenue. The change in income from continuing operations was primarily due to a $6.8 million net reduction in total costs and expenses, partially offset by lower revenue of $4.6 million and an increase in provision for income taxes of $1.4 million. Net income increased due to the factors above and a $2.3 million increase in discontinued operations, net of tax.

 

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2010 Business Trends and Outlook

As measured by leads, over 75% of the value we now deliver to our advertiser clients on a national basis has shifted to our digital products and services, and we expect our clients to increasingly favor digital products and services in their advertising budgets. In addition, we are aggressively pursuing enhancements to our product portfolio to provide more flexibility to our clients, based on specific markets and market segments, to purchase more customized mixes of products, product features and services on a stand-alone and package basis. These enhancements are intended to maximize clients’ advertising return on investment and ultimately provide an opportunity for us to grow revenue as we continue to grow client count.

We anticipate negative economic conditions, including relatively high unemployment rates, and adverse market conditions, including occupancy levels outside of a 90% - 95% range and relatively lower effective rent levels, will continue to pressure pricing. In light of these and other competitive conditions, we expect continuing declines in revenue per community served for the remainder of 2010, as we continue to grow client count. For Apartments, we currently expect to see a 5.5% - 6.5% year-over-year decline for full year 2010 revenue. We also expect year-over-year declines for full year 2010 revenue of approximately $5.0 million for New Homes and $8.0 million for Distribution.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2009

Consolidated Results

Revenue, Net

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     $ Change
Favorable/
    % Change
Favorable/
 

Revenue Component

   2010      2009      (Unfavorable)     (Unfavorable)  
     (Dollars in thousands)        

Apartments

   $ 48,816       $ 51,674       $ (2,858     (5.5 )% 

New Homes

     3,471         4,100         (629     (15.3
                            

Total advertising revenue

     52,287         55,774         (3,487     (6.3

Distribution

     6,150         7,240         (1,090     (15.1
                            

Total revenue, net

   $ 58,437       $ 63,014       $ (4,577     (7.3
                            

Apartments

Apartment Guide, ApartmentGuide.com, Rentals.com and RentalHouses.com, representing approximately 93.4% of advertising revenue during the three months ended September 30, 2010, experienced a decrease in revenue of 5.5% compared to the same period in 2009, primarily due to a 10.9% decrease in revenue per community served by Apartment Guide, which was partially offset by a 4.8% increase in apartment communities served. The number of communities served by Apartment Guide increased, in part, as a result of enhancements to our product portfolio, intended to provide more flexibility to our clients, based on specific markets and market segments, and market expansion.

Revenue per community served decreased, in part, as a result of pricing pressure caused by negative economic conditions, including high unemployment rates, and adverse market conditions, including relatively higher occupancy levels and lower effective rent levels. Competitive conditions also pressured pricing, as our competitors continued to reduce advertising rates to retain clients. Effective rents are essentially average rent amounts after giving effect to free months of rent and other incentives. Our historical experience has been that as occupancy rates increase beyond 95%, apartment communities tend to reduce their advertising spend because they require fewer prospective tenants. As occupancy rates fall below 90%, apartment communities tend to cut back on all discretionary spending, including advertising. For these reasons, occupancy rates (both actual and expected) in excess of 95% or below 90% ordinarily result in a decrease in advertising spend. However, the effects of occupancy rates can be mitigated or exacerbated by effective rent levels.

During the third quarter of 2010, occupancy rates in our Apartment Guide markets ranged from 87% to 99%, with an average of 93.7%, compared to 92.1% in the third quarter of 2009, with the majority of markets experiencing occupancy levels between 90% and 97%. In Apartment Guide markets, effective rents were up 3.5% compared to the same period in 2009. The combination of these average occupancy rates and an increase in effective rents is a welcome signal of future stability in the industry and our markets as a whole. However, over the past two years, effective rent levels have declined over 3%, and lower effective rent levels continue to put pressure on our clients’ advertising budgets and, correspondingly, on our revenue.

 

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Rentals.com revenue declined by 1.6% during the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. The decline was primarily due to a decrease in revenue per listing, partially offset by an increase in the number of listings derived from property managers.

New Homes

New Home Guide, NewHomeGuide.com and AmericanHomeGuides.com, representing approximately 6.6% of advertising revenue during the three months ended September 30, 2010, decreased 15.3% compared to the same period in 2009. The decrease in revenue was primarily due to a 20.4% decrease in revenue per community served, partially offset by a 6.5% increase in new home communities served. This decrease in revenue resulted from declines in standard and premium advertising spend by many new home builders, driven by continued weakness in the new home sales sector.

We believe pressure in this business will continue over the near term and remain challenging for the foreseeable future. Since June 30, 2008, we have suspended 14 print directories, and as of September 30, 2010, we published New Home Guides in 19 markets. We may suspend additional New Home Guide print directories. We continue to focus on Internet offerings across all markets.

Distribution Revenue

Distribution revenue decreased by 15.1% during the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. We realized a 12.8% decrease in the number of pockets sold in our display racks during the period and a 2.6% decrease in the average revenue per pocket due to softness in demand, as well as a reduction in the number of retail locations serviced due to restructuring activities further discussed in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Report. Our distribution revenue continues to be adversely impacted by the loss of business from publishers within the resale home, automobile sales and employment classifieds sectors scaling back or ceasing operations or providing an Internet-only product.

Costs and Expenses

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    $ Change
(Favorable)/
    % Change
(Favorable)/
 

Costs and Expenses Component

   2010     2009     Unfavorable     Unfavorable  
     (Dollars in thousands)        

Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization of property and equipment)

   $ 3,277      $ 5,645      $ (2,368     (41.9 )% 

Marketing and selling

     19,698        18,832        866        4.6   

Distribution and circulation

     9,640        12,971        (3,331     (25.7

General and administrative expenses

     9,386        8,873        513        5.8   

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

     3,249        3,130        119        3.8   

Amortization of intangible assets

     898        617        281        45.5   

Provision for restructuring costs

     331        (156     487        312.2   

Interest expense

     2,737        3,897        (1,160     (29.8

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     215        233        (18     (7.7

Other (income) expense, net

     (1,012     1,173        (2,185     (186.3
                          

Total cost and expenses

   $ 48,419      $ 55,215      $ (6,796     (12.3
                          

The decrease in cost of goods sold was due to the reformatting of our printed guides, including reductions in paper size, as well as distribution optimization.

Our distribution and circulation costs decreased as a result of ongoing action with certain of our retail display allowance contracts, or RDAs, since the third quarter of 2008. As is more fully discussed in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, other of our RDAs are part of restructuring charges we incurred during 2009 and 2010 related to actions we took to reduce our ongoing distribution costs.

Interest expense decreased primarily due to lower average debt levels, as during the fourth quarter of 2009, we repurchased and retired $6.3 million in principal of our Term Loan B Facility, during the second quarter of 2010 we repurchased and retired approximately $7.5 million in principal, and during the third quarter of 2010 we repurchased and retired approximately $6.9 million in principal. The decrease is also attributable to a lower weighted-average interest rate during 2010.

The change in other income, net is primarily due to an other-than-temporary impairment charge of $1.5 million in the third quarter of 2009 related to a cost-method investment and a gain of $0.7 million on the repurchase of debt during the third quarter of 2010.

 

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Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate on income from continuing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was 34.5%, compared to 27.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2009.

The total tax expense from continuing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was $3.5 million, which was comprised of approximately $4.0 million of provision on pre-tax income, adjusted for permanent differences, partially offset by $0.3 million due to a decrease in recorded reserves related to uncertain tax positions and a $0.2 million benefit due to differences between income tax returns that were filed and estimates that were made at the time the tax provision was recorded.

The total tax expense from continuing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was $2.1 million, which was comprised of approximately $2.8 million of provision on pre-tax income, adjusted for permanent differences, partially offset by $0.7 million related to reserves for uncertain tax positions.

Discontinued Operations

In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, we have classified the results of our divested entities as discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for all periods presented.

The components of discontinued operations for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 included in the condensed consolidated statement of operations are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,  
     2010     2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Total revenue, net

   $ —        $ —     
                

Provision for litigation reserves and settlements

   $ 43      $ (1,500

Professional fees

     (122     (387

Adjustments to accrued operating lease liabilities

     (788     (193

Insurance-related expenses

     (10     28   

Tax-related contingencies

     1,340        18   

Write-off of receivables and other assets

     —          —     

Other

     19        (243
                

Income (loss) from discontinued operations before (provision) benefit for income taxes

     482        (2,277

(Provision) benefit for income taxes

     (144     320   
                

Discontinued operations, net of tax

   $ 338      $ (1,957
                

The components of the (provision) benefit for income taxes included in discontinued operations for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:

     Three Months Ended September 30,  
     2010     2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Benefit for tax expense on pre-tax income (loss), adjusted for permanent differences

   $ 55      $ 134   

Change in liability for uncertain tax positions

     (200     120   

Changes in estimates included in prior year tax provision

     1        66   
                

Total (provision) benefit for income taxes

   $ (144   $ 320   
                

 

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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

Consolidated Results

Revenue, Net

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     $ Change
Favorable/
    % Change
Favorable/
 

Revenue Component

   2010      2009      (Unfavorable)     (Unfavorable)  
     (Dollars in thousands)        

Apartments

   $ 146,790       $ 155,609       $ (8,819     (5.7 )% 

New Homes

     10,635         14,764         (4,129     (28.0
                            

Total advertising revenue

     157,425         170,373         (12,948     (7.6

Distribution

     18,959         26,305         (7,346     (27.9
                            

Total revenue, net

   $ 176,384       $ 196,678       $ (20,294     (10.3
                            

Apartments

Apartment Guide, ApartmentGuide.com, Rentals.com and RentalHouses.com, representing approximately 93.2% of advertising revenue during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, experienced a decrease in revenue of 5.7% compared to the same period in 2009, primarily due to a 12.1% decrease in revenue per community served by Apartment Guide, which was partially offset by a 6.2% increase in apartment communities served. The number of communities served by Apartment Guide increased, in part, as a result of enhancements to our product portfolio, intended to provide more flexibility to our clients, based on specific markets and market segments, and market expansion.

Revenue per community served decreased, in part, as a result of pricing pressure caused by negative economic conditions, including high unemployment rates, and adverse market conditions, including relatively higher occupancy levels and lower effective rent levels. Competitive conditions also pressured pricing, as our competitors continued to reduce advertising rates to retain clients. Effective rents are essentially average rent amounts after giving effect to free months of rent and other incentives. Our historical experience has been that as occupancy rates increase beyond 95%, apartment communities tend to reduce their advertising spend because they require fewer prospective tenants. As occupancy rates fall below 90%, apartment communities tend to cut back on all discretionary spending, including advertising. For these reasons, occupancy rates (both actual and expected) in excess of 95% or below 90% ordinarily result in a decrease in advertising spend. However, the effects of occupancy rates can be mitigated or exacerbated by effective rent levels.

During the first nine months of 2010, occupancy rates in Apartment Guide markets ranged from 86% to 97%, with an average of 93.1%, compared to 92.0% in 2009, with the majority of markets experiencing occupancy levels between 90% and 96%. In Apartment Guide markets, effective rents were up 0.9% compared to the same period in 2009. The combination of these average occupancy rates and a slight increase in effective rents is a welcome signal of future stability in the industry and our markets as a whole. However, over the past two years, effective rent levels have declined over 3%, and lower effective rent levels continue to put pressure on our clients’ advertising budgets and, correspondingly, on our revenue.

Rentals.com revenue declined by 2.0% during the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. The decline was primarily due to a decrease in revenue per listing and a decrease in the number of paid listings through the self-provisioning feature of the Rentals.com websites, partially offset by an increase in the number of listings derived from property managers.

New Homes

New Home Guide, NewHomeGuide.com and AmericanHomeGuides.com, representing approximately 6.8% of advertising revenue during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, decreased 28.0% compared to the same period in 2009. The decrease in revenue was primarily due to a 31.0% decrease in revenue per community served, partially offset by a 4.7% increase in new home communities served. This decrease in revenue resulted from declines in standard and premium advertising spend by many new home builders, driven by continued weakness in the new home sales sector.

The difficult conditions for new home builders persisted in the first nine months of 2010. We believe pressure in this business will continue over the near term and remain challenging for the foreseeable future. Since June 30, 2008, we have suspended 14 print directories, and as of September 30, 2010, we published New Home Guides in 19 markets. We may suspend additional New Home Guide print directories. We continue to focus on Internet offerings across all markets.

 

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Distribution Revenue

Distribution revenue decreased by 27.9% during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. We realized a 17.4% decrease in the number of pockets sold in our display racks during the period and a 12.8% decrease in the average revenue per pocket due to softness in demand, as well as a reduction in the number of retail locations serviced due to restructuring activities further discussed in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Report. Our distribution revenue continues to be adversely impacted by the loss of business from publishers within the resale home, automobile sales and employment classifieds sectors scaling back or ceasing operations or providing an Internet-only product.

Costs and Expenses

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    % Change
(Favorable)/
    $ Change
(Favorable)/
 

Costs and Expenses Component

   2010     2009     Unfavorable     Unfavorable  
     (Dollars in thousands)        

Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization of property and equipment)

   $ 12,073      $ 18,128      $ (6,055     (33.4 )% 

Marketing and selling

     58,006        59,344        (1,338     (2.3

Distribution and circulation

     31,056        48,031        (16,975     (35.3

General and administrative expenses

     27,800        30,306        (2,506     (8.3

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

     9,550        9,998        (448     (4.5

Amortization of intangible assets

     3,238        1,853        1,385        74.7   

Provision for restructuring costs

     5,477        25,643        (20,166     (78.6

Interest expense

     8,554        12,353        (3,799     (30.8

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     669        682        (13     (1.9

Other income, net

     (2,545     (5,289     2,744        51.9   
                          

Total cost and expenses

   $ 153,878      $ 201,049      $ (47,171     (23.5
                          

The decrease in cost of goods sold was due to the reformatting of our printed guides, including reductions in paper size, as well as distribution optimization.

The decrease in marketing and selling was primarily due to a reduction in our sales force headcount, partially offset by an increase in search engine marketing costs.

Our distribution and circulation costs decreased as a result of ongoing action with certain of our RDA contracts since the third quarter of 2008. As is more fully discussed in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, other of our RDAs are part of restructuring charges we incurred during 2009 and 2010 related to actions we took to reduce our ongoing distribution costs.

General and administrative expenses declined, primarily due to a decrease of $2.7 million in bad debt expense.

The increase in amortization of intangible assets is primarily due to a change in estimate for two of our customer lists, which is more fully discussed in Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

The provision for restructuring costs decreased primarily due to a decline of $16.0 million of costs associated with certain underperforming RDAs and a decline of $5.0 million of costs associated with the termination of leases related to office closures, partially offset by an increased severance of $0.8 million, which are more fully described in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Interest expense decreased primarily due to lower average debt levels, as during the second quarter of 2009, we repurchased and retired $14.0 million in principal of our Term Loan B Facility, during the fourth quarter of 2009, we repurchased and retired $6.3 million in principal, during the second quarter of 2010 we repurchased and retired approximately $7.5 million in principal, and during the third quarter of 2010 we repurchased and retired approximately $6.9 million in principal. The decrease is also attributable to a lower weighted-average interest rate during 2010.

The change in other income, net is primarily due to a $3.6 million gain on the repurchase of debt during the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to a $1.4 million gain on the repurchase of debt during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. In addition, we recognized a gain on the sale of cost-method investments of $2.3 million in the first nine months of 2009, partially offset by an other-than-temporary impairment charge of $1.5 million in the third quarter of 2009 related to a cost-method investment.

 

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Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate on income from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was 39.6%, compared to (32.9)% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

The total tax expense from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $8.9 million, which was comprised of approximately $9.2 million of provision on pre-tax income, adjusted for permanent differences, partially offset by a benefit of $0.2 million due to a decrease in recorded reserves related to uncertain tax positions and a $0.1 million benefit due to differences between income tax returns that were filed and estimates that were made at the time the tax provision was recorded.

The total tax benefit from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $1.4 million, which was comprised of approximately $1.6 million of benefit on pre-tax loss, adjusted for permanent differences, and $0.4 million related to reserves for uncertain tax positions, partially offset by $0.4 million related to the reversal of deferred tax assets for stock-based compensation that was distributed to the award recipients and $0.2 million due to differences between income tax returns that were filed and estimates that were made at the time the tax provision was recorded.

Discontinued Operations

In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, we have classified the results of our divested entities as discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for all periods presented.

The components of discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 included in the condensed consolidated statement of operations are as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2010     2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Total revenue, net

   $ —        $ —     
                

Provision for litigation reserves and settlements

   $ —        $ (1,500

Professional fees

     (472     (1,067

Adjustments to accrued operating lease liabilities

     (1,815     (2,595

Insurance-related expenses

     63        (203

Tax-related contingencies

     1,298        681   

Write-off of receivables and other assets

     —          (259

Other

     (167     (347
                

Loss from discontinued operations before (provision) benefit for income taxes

     (1,093     (5,290

(Provision) benefit for income taxes

     (499     560   
                

Discontinued operations, net of tax

   $ (1,592   $ (4,730
                

The components of the (provision) benefit for income taxes included in discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2010     2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

(Provision) benefit for tax expense on pre-tax loss, adjusted for permanent differences

   $ (81   $ 271   

Change in liability for uncertain tax positions

     (439     (13

Changes in estimates included in prior year tax provision

     21        302   
                

Total (provision) benefit for income taxes

   $ (499   $ 560   
                

 

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Liquidity, Capital and Other Resources

Highlights of our liquidity position are as follows:

 

     As of and for the
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2010     2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 4,729      $ 7,955   

Current assets

     41,386        48,177   

Current liabilities

     47,154        62,539   

Working capital

     (5,768     (14,362

Current debt (current maturities of long-term debt and revolving credit facility)

     11,418        2,964   

Long-term debt

     205,917        229,362   

Net debt (current debt and long-term debt less cash and cash equivalents)

     212,606        224,371   

Cash flows from operating activities

     20,590        17,893   

Cash flows from investing activities

     (9,701     (5,407

Cash flows from financing activities

     (15,632     (36,001

Additions to property and equipment

     9,704        7,667   

Capital lease payments

     333        477   

Free cash flow (net cash from operating activities adjusted for additions to property, equipment and other, net, exclusive of acquisitions, and capital lease payments)

     10,553        9,749   

Cash dividends paid

     9,281        9,257   

Repayments under credit agreements, net

     (5,041     6,955   

Unused bank commitments

     77,232        85,174   

Leverage ratio (as defined in bank credit facility)

     2.7        3.0   

Overview

Management believes that our cash flows from operating activities will generally be sufficient to support our business operations and service our debt. Our cash flows from operating activities are somewhat seasonal in nature, primarily due to the timing of payments made under the terms of our RDAs, which generally occur in the first half of the year. To the extent that our cash flows from operating activities are not sufficient to meet our liquidity needs, including funds for our capital expenditures, our payment of dividends to stockholders, our contractual obligations and costs related to litigation, we may, from time to time, utilize amounts available under our $88.0 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”), which is discussed in further detail under Financing Arrangements below.

Outlook

For the remainder of 2010, our primary uses of cash are expected to represent expenditures related to:

 

   

the ongoing operations of our business;

 

   

capital expenditures of $3.3 million to $7.3 million;

 

   

required principal payments of our outstanding debt, including capital leases, of $0.7 million;

 

   

interest on our outstanding debt;

 

   

obligations arising from RDA restructuring activities of $0.4 million;

 

   

obligations arising from other restructuring activities, including real estate leases of $2.5 million;

 

   

the payment of dividends to our stockholders;

 

   

the opportunistic repurchase of outstanding shares of our common stock, if any;

 

   

the opportunistic repurchase of debt outstanding under our Term Loan B Facility, if any; and

 

   

repayments of amounts outstanding under our Revolving Facility, if any.

 

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Working Capital

The increase in working capital as of September 30, 2010 compared to September 30, 2009 was primarily due to the reduction in the number of locations serviced under our RDAs due to restructuring activities further discussed in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Report.

Net Debt

Since September 30, 2009, we decreased our net debt by $11.8 million, primarily by the scheduled repayments of $2.5 million in principal, the repurchase of approximately $20.7 million in principal under our Term Loan B Facility and payments of $0.5 million on our capital leases, partially offset by net borrowings of $8.7 million on the Revolving Facility and a decrease of $3.2 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Our cash flows from operating activities are summarized as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,        
     2010     2009     $ Change
From 2009
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  
Net income (loss)      $12,007        $(7,663)        $19,670   
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:       

Depreciation and amortization

     13,457        12,533        924   

Impairment of cost-method investments

     —          1,500        (1,500

Gain on sale of cost-method investments

     —          (2,260     2,260   

Gain on repurchase of debt

     (1,408     (3,635     2,227   

Stock-based compensation

     2,065        1,231        834   

Deferred income taxes

     9,386        (1,632     11,018   

Bad debt expense

     864        3,589        (2,725

(Increase) decrease in:

      

Accounts receivable, net

     (2,815     (2,029     (786

Inventories

     (29     282        (311

Prepaid expenses and other

     8,141        16,011        (7,870

(Decrease) increase in:

      

Accounts payable

     (5,750     (4,971     (779

Accrued expenses and other

     (11,274     6,194        (17,468

Deferred revenue

     (439     (1,275     836   

Other non-current liabilities

     (3,616     3        (3,619

Other, net

     1        15        (14
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 20,590      $ 17,893      $ 2,697   
                        

Cash flows from operating activities increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from September 30, 2009. The items having the most significant impact on the change include an increase in net income, the receipt of a $10.5 million tax refund and a reduction of our liabilities related to restructuring activities and the settlement of litigation.

 

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Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Our cash flows from investing activities are summarized as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,        
     2010     2009     $ Change
From 2009
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Proceeds from sale of cost-method investments

   $ —        $ 2,260      $ (2,260

Additions to property and equipment

     (9,704     (7,667     (2,037

Other, net

     3        —          3   
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

   $ (9,701   $ (5,407   $ (4,294
                        

The decrease in cash flows from investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from September 30, 2009 was primarily due to the cash proceeds received from the sale of cost-method investments during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and an increase in cash paid for property and equipment during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Our cash flows from financing activities are summarized as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,        
     2010     2009     $ Change
From 2009
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Payment of dividends on common stock

   $ (9,281   $ (9,257   $ (24

Borrowings under revolving credit facility

     19,700        5,000        14,700   

Repayments under revolving credit facility

     (11,000     (18,200     7,200   

Payments for deferred and other financing fees

     —          (512     512   

Payments for repurchase of debt

     (12,784     (10,080     (2,704

Repayments of borrowings under credit agreements

     (1,875     (1,875     —     

Capital lease payments

     (333     (477     144   

Payments related to issuances of common stock, net of value of shares withheld for employee taxes

     (59     (173     114   

Repurchases of common stock

     —          (427     427   
                        

Net cash used in financing activities

   $ (15,632   $ (36,001   $ 20,369   
                        

The increase in cash flows from financing activities was primarily attributable to net borrowings of $8.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to net repayments under our revolving credit facility of $13.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Also, during the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we made a payment of $0.5 million in deferred and other financing fees and a payment of $0.4 million for repurchases of common stock. This was partially offset by a $2.7 million increase in cash used for the repurchase and redemption of long-term debt during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Free Cash Flow

We believe that the use of free cash flow enables our chief operating decision maker, our President and Chief Executive Officer, to make decisions based on our cash resources. We also believe that free cash flow provides useful information to investors as it is considered to be an indicator of our liquidity, including our ability to reduce debt and make strategic investments.

Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities adjusted for additions to property, equipment and other, net, exclusive of acquisitions, and capital lease payments.

Free cash flow is not intended to represent cash flows from operating activities as determined in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Free cash flow, as presented, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies since not all companies necessarily calculate free cash flow in an identical manner, and therefore, it is not necessarily an accurate measure of comparison between companies.

 

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The following table presents our free cash flow:

 

     Nine Months  Ended
September 30,
    $ Change
From 2009
 
     2010     2009    
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 20,590      $ 17,893      $ 2,697   

Additions to property and equipment

     (9,704     (7,667     (2,037

Capital lease payments

     (333     (477     144   
                        

Free cash flow

   $ 10,553      $ 9,749      $ 804   
                        

Our free cash flow increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, primarily due to an increase in net income and other less significant changes, substantially offset by payments of $12.9 million for restructuring liabilities, $5.8 million in settlement of legacy litigation, $1.4 million in legacy real estate charges and increased payments for property and equipment of $2.0 million.

Financing Arrangements

Bank Credit Facilities

Our bank credit facility provides for two loan facilities: (1) a revolving credit facility with aggregate commitments of $88.0 million, which matures on August 1, 2013, and (2) a Term Loan B credit facility (the “Term Loan B Facility”), which matures on August 1, 2014 (the “Term Loan B Maturity Date”).

Amounts borrowed under the Revolving Facility bear interest, at our option, at an annual rate of either the base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.625% to 1.00% or the eurodollar rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 1.625% to 2.00%. The interest rate on the Revolving Facility at September 30, 2010 was 4.00%. The Term Loan B Facility bears interest, at our option, at an annual rate of either the base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 1.00% to 1.25% or the eurodollar rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 2.00% to 2.25%. Approximately $200.0 million of the outstanding balance of the Term Loan B Facility is based on the three-month eurodollar rate plus the applicable margin. The remaining $16.0 million outstanding balance is based on the one-month eurodollar rate plus the applicable margin. The weighted-average interest rate on the Term Loan B Facility at September 30, 2010 was 2.29%. Pursuant to the provisions of the Term Loan B Facility and as a result of having a leverage ratio below 2.75 to 1 at September 30, 2010, the applicable margin over the eurodollar borrowing rate will be 200 basis points for the fourth quarter of 2010. As a result of this and our interest rate swaps, we expect the weighted-average cost of our Term Loan B Facility to be approximately 3.8% during the three months ended December 31, 2010.

On June 30, 2009, our bank credit facility was amended (the “Amendment”). Among other things, the Amendment gives us the right, subject to the conditions set forth therein, to prepay or otherwise acquire with or for cash, on either a pro rata or non-pro rata basis, principal outstanding under the Term Loan B Facility and held by lenders who consent to such prepayment or acquisition, at a discount to the par value of such principal at any time and from time to time on and after June 30, 2009 and on or prior to the second anniversary of such date; provided that the aggregate amounts we expend in connection with all such prepayments or acquisitions do not exceed $35 million. All such principal prepaid or acquired will be retired and extinguished and deemed paid effective upon such prepayment or acquisition.

In connection with the Amendment, we incurred approximately $0.5 million in modification fees, which were paid to the creditors and will be expensed over the remaining term of the loan.

There are no scheduled commitment reductions under the Revolving Facility. The loan under the Term Loan B Facility is subject to scheduled repayment in quarterly installments of $0.6 million payable on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year. The final quarterly installment is scheduled to be paid on June 30, 2014, followed by a final repayment of $199.0 million on the Term Loan B Maturity Date. Additionally, through August 1, 2009, we were required to manage our interest rate risk arising from the Term Loan B Facility through the utilization of derivative financial instruments in a notional amount equal to at least 35% of the Term Loan B Facility principal outstanding.

 

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The bank credit facilities consisted of the following as of September 30, 2010:

 

     Revolving
Facility
    Term
Loan B
    Total  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Bank credit facilities

   $ 88,000      $ 208,397      $ 296,397   

Borrowings outstanding

     (8,700     (208,397     (217,097

Letters of credit outstanding

     (2,068     —          (2,068
                        

Unused bank commitments

   $ 77,232      $ —        $ 77,232   
                        

The weighted-average of our commitment fees under the bank credit facilities during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was 0.30%.

The bank credit facilities agreement, among other things, limits our ability to change the nature of our businesses, incur indebtedness, create liens, sell assets, engage in mergers, consolidations or transactions with affiliates, make investments in or loans to certain subsidiaries, issue guarantees and make certain restricted payments, including dividend payments on or repurchases of our common stock.

Term Loan B Facility Repurchases

During the three and the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company repurchased and retired principal outstanding under its Term Loan B Facility as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2010     2009      2010     2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Principal repurchased and retired

   $ 6,949      $ —         $ 14,428      $ 14,000   

Cash paid

     (6,155     —           (12,784     (10,080

Write-off of deferred financing fees

     (112     —           (236     (285
                                 

Net gain

   $ 682      $ —         $ 1,408      $ 3,635   
                                 

The net gains are included in other income, net in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

Revolving Facility Borrowings

Selected activity under our Revolving Facility is summarized as follows:

 

Date

   Borrowings      Repayments  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

March 2009

   $ —         $ 8,800   

June 2009

     —           4,400   

July 2009

     5,000         5,000   

February 2010

     9,000         —     

May 2010

     —           9,000   

August 2010

     2,000        2,000   

September 2010

     8,700        —     

Interest Rate Swaps

As of September 30, 2010, we were party to four interest rates swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $250.0 million. All of the interest rate swaps were in designated hedging relationships to hedge the variability of future cash flows due to changes in the benchmark interest rate associated with our Term Loan B Facility. The following is a summary of our outstanding interest rate swaps at September 30, 2010 (dollars in thousands):

 

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Maturity Date

   Notional
Amount
 

December 31, 2010

   $ 50,000   

September 30, 2011

     50,000   

December 30, 2011

     100,000   

December 30, 2011 (forward starting December 31, 2010)

     50,000   

Contractual Obligations

Our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2010 are as follows:

 

Contractual Obligations

   Total      Payments Due by Period  
      Less than 1
year
       1-3 years      4-5 years      After 5 years  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Long-term debt obligations, including current portion (1)

   $ 208,397       $ 2,500         $ 5,000       $ 200,897       $ —     

Capital lease obligations, including current portion

     238         218           20         —           —     

Interest on capital lease obligations

     18         18           —           —           —     

Operating lease obligations (2)

     102,079         21,338           39,654         32,052         9,035   

Retail display allowances (3)

     9,214         9,214           —           —           —     
                                              

Total

   $ 319,946       $ 33,288         $ 44,674       $ 232,949       $ 9,035   
                                              

 

(1) Interest related to our long-term debt obligations is variable in nature, and interest payments have been excluded from this table. The interest rate on these obligations resets quarterly and had a weighted-average rate of 2.29% at September 30, 2010. See the discussion above under Bank Credit Facilities. Liabilities for interest rate swaps designated in cash flow hedging relationships against changes in the benchmark interest rate of our long-term debt have also been excluded from this table because the quarterly fixed-rate payments due to the counterparty are settled net of the variable-rate payments due to us by the counterparty.
(2) Future rental commitments for operating leases have not been reduced by minimum noncancelable sublease income aggregating $50.9 million as of September 30, 2010. Operating lease obligations include restructuring liabilities.
(3) Retail display allowances include restructuring liabilities.

The contractual obligations table above does not reflect any of our $79.9 million in unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2010, which resulted in a recorded liability of $23.3 million that has been accrued in accordance with GAAP related to accounting for uncertainty in income taxes, because we are unable to determine when, or if, payment of these amounts will be made.

The bank credit facilities rank senior in right of payment to all subordinated obligations which PRIMEDIA Inc. (a holding company) may incur.

We have $8.7 million outstanding at September 30, 2010 under our Revolving Facility, and we have other commitments in the form of letters of credit of $2.1 million aggregate face value, which expire on or before July 31, 2011.

A change in the rating of our debt instruments by outside rating agencies does not negatively impact our ability to use our available lines of credit or the borrowing rate under our bank credit facilities. As of March 2010, our senior debt ratings from Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s were B1 and B, respectively.

We announced on October 28, 2010 that our Board of Directors had authorized a cash dividend of $0.07 per share of common stock, payable on or about November 17, 2010, to stockholders of record on November 8, 2010. We expect to pay this dividend out of our existing cash balance. Additionally, we currently expect that we will continue to pay a regular quarterly dividend for the foreseeable future, at the discretion of our Board of Directors, dependent on factors, including but not limited to, available cash, anticipated cash needs, overall financial and market conditions, future prospects for cash flow and such other factors as are deemed relevant by our Board of Directors.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no variable interest entities or off balance sheet debt other than as related to operating leases in the ordinary course of business.

 

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Covenant Compliance

Under the most restrictive covenants contained in our bank credit facilities agreement, the maximum allowable total leverage ratio, as defined in the agreement, is 5.25 to 1 and was approximately 2.7 to 1 at September 30, 2010.

At September 30, 2010, we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants.

Contingencies and Other

As is more fully discussed in Note 16, “Commitments and Contingencies,” under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q, we are involved in lawsuits and claims, both actual and potential, including some that we have asserted against others, in which substantial monetary damages are sought. These lawsuits and claims generally relate to contract, patent and other matters arising out of the conduct of our current and past business activities. Although the result of any future litigation of such lawsuits and claims is inherently unpredictable, management believes that, in the aggregate, the outcome of all such lawsuits and claims will not have a material effect on our long-term consolidated financial position or liquidity; however, any such outcome could be material to the results of operations or cash flows of any particular period in which costs, if any, are recognized or amounts in resolution, if any, are paid.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

There have been no changes in our Critical Accounting Polices and Estimates since December 31, 2009.

Goodwill Impairment Testing

We perform our annual goodwill impairment test as of October 31. We must also test goodwill for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of our reporting unit below its carrying amount.

Our 2009 annual impairment test indicated the fair value of our reporting unit exceeded its carrying value. Although our business continues to be adversely impacted by the weakened national economy, our consideration of events and circumstances potentially affecting the fair value of our reporting unit indicated that it was not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit has fallen below its carrying value. Accordingly, we have not performed an interim goodwill impairment test subsequent to the 2009 annual impairment test.

Recent Accounting Developments

See Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies — Recent Accounting Pronouncements,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements, included elsewhere in this Report.

Seasonality

Our operations are minimally seasonal in nature.

 

   

The majority of our advertising and distribution revenue is comprised of contracts with a duration of 12 months or longer.

 

   

We experience modest seasonality in Rentals.com as that business declines in the winter months. This business represents a relatively small part of the total business.

 

   

Our cash flows from operating activities are somewhat seasonal in nature, primarily due to the timing of payments made under the terms of our RDAs, which generally occur in the first half of the year.

 

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to the impact of changes in interest rates, primarily through our Term Loan B Facility, which is variable-rate debt that had an outstanding balance of $208.4 million as of September 30, 2010. As part of our management of interest rate risk, we have designated derivative financial instruments in hedging relationships against the variability in cash flows due to changes in the benchmark interest rate on our Term Loan B Facility. The table below shows the change in interest expense we estimate would occur over the next 12 months from 50 and 100 basis point increases and decreases in interest rates based upon our current Term Loan B Facility balance and derivative financial instrument positions as of September 30, 2010. Such potential increases or decreases are based on certain simplifying assumptions, including a constant level of debt and an immediate, across-the-board increase or decrease in the level of interest rates with no other subsequent changes for one year.

 

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Interest Rate Change

(in Basis Points)

   Change in Interest
Expense
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

+100

   $ 75   

+50

     37   

-50

     (37

-100

     (75

Credit Risk

Our hedging transactions using derivative financial instruments also involve certain additional risks, such as counterparty credit risk. The counterparties to our derivative financial instruments are major financial institutions and securities dealers, which we believe are well capitalized with investment grade credit ratings and with which we may have other financial relationships. While we do not anticipate nonperformance by any counterparty, we are exposed to potential credit losses in the event the counterparty fails to perform. Our exposure to credit risk in the event of default by a counterparty is the difference between the value of the contract and the current market price at the time of the default. There can be no assurance that we will be able to adequately protect against the foregoing risks and will ultimately realize an economic benefit that exceeds the related expenses incurred in connection with engaging in such hedging strategies.

 

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer), to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. We have established a Disclosure Committee, consisting of certain members of management, to assist in this evaluation. The Disclosure Committee meets on a regular quarterly basis and as needed.

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act) as of September 30, 2010. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2010, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

There was no change in internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes to the Company’s risk factors during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

 

Item 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Our Board of Directors has authorized a program (the “Repurchase Program”) to repurchase up to $5.0 million of our common stock through December 31, 2010. Under the terms of the Repurchase Program, we may repurchase shares in open market purchases or through privately negotiated transactions. We have used cash on hand to fund repurchases of our common stock, and we expect to use cash on hand to fund any additional stock repurchases under the Repurchase Program. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we repurchased 0.2 million shares of our common stock for approximately $0.4 million at a weighted-average price (including brokerage commissions) of $1.79 per share. We did not repurchase any additional shares of our common stock during 2009 or the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The reacquired shares have been designated as treasury shares. As of September 30, 2010, we had $4.6 million available under the Repurchase Program for further share repurchases, which we may make.

 

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Item 6. EXHIBITS

(a)

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

31.1    Certification by Charles J. Stubbs Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(*)
31.2    Certification by Kim R. Payne Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(*)
32.1    Certification by Charles J. Stubbs Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(*)
32.2    Certification by Kim R. Payne Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(*)

 

(*) Filed herewith.

 

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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.

 

  PRIMEDIA Inc.
  (Registrant)
Date: October 29, 2010  

/s/ CHARLES J. STUBBS

  (Charles J. Stubbs)
  President and Chief Executive Officer
  (Principal Executive Officer)
Date: October 29, 2010  

/s/ KIM R. PAYNE

  (Kim R. Payne)
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  (Principal Financial Officer)

 

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