Attached files

file filename
8-K - FORM 8-K - SAGA COMMUNICATIONS INCb85573e8vk.htm
Exhibit 99.1
Saga Communications, Inc.
Reports 4th Quarter and Year End 2010 Results
Contact:
Samuel D. Bush
313/886-7070
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI — March 15, 2011 — Saga Communications, Inc. (NYSE Amex-SGA) today reported free cash flow increased 10.0% to $21.1 million for the year. Net operating revenue for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased 5.8% over the comparable period in 2009 to $127.8 million. Station operating expense decreased 2.0% to $92.8 million (station operating expense includes depreciation and amortization attributable to the stations). Net income for the period was $15.1 million ($3.58 per fully diluted share) compared to a net loss of $2.6 million (-$.61 per fully diluted share) for the same period last year. The net loss incurred for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009 was significantly impacted by a $17.3 million non-cash impairment charge.
For the quarter ended December 31, 2010 free cash flow increased 8.7% to $7.2 million. Net operating revenue increased 7.4% from the comparable period in 2009 to $34.1 million. Station operating expense decreased 1.9% to $23.4 million (station operating expense includes depreciation and amortization attributable to the stations). Net income for the period was $4.6 million ($1.08 per fully diluted share) compared to a net loss of $7.4 million (-$1.74 per fully diluted share) for the same period last year.
The Company continues to maintain a solid balance sheet with $13.2 million in cash and certificate of deposit balances as of December 31, 2010. As of December 31, 2010, the Company’s outstanding bank debt was $96.1 million with a trailing 12 month leverage ratio calculated as a multiple of EBITDA of 2.6 times. This compares to a trailing 12 month leverage ratio of 4.3 times as of December 31, 2009.
Capital expenditures in the 4th quarter of 2010 were $1.1 million compared to $0.8 million for the same period last year. For the 2010 fiscal year total capital expenditures were $4.4 million compared to $4.0 million for the comparable period last year. The Company currently expects to spend approximately $5.0 million for capital expenditures during 2011.
Saga Communications utilizes certain financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to assess its financial

 


 

performance. Such non-GAAP measures include free cash flow, trailing 12 month consolidated EBITDA, and leverage ratio. These non-GAAP measures are generally recognized by the broadcasting industry as measures of performance and are used by Saga to assess its financial performance including but not limited to evaluating individual station and market-level performance, evaluating overall operations, as a primary measure for incentive based compensation of executives and other members of management and as a measure of financial position. Saga’s management believes these non-GAAP measures are used by analysts who report on the industry and by investors to provide meaningful comparisons between broadcasting groups, as well as an indicator of their market value. These measures are not measures of liquidity or of performance in accordance with GAAP, and should be viewed as a supplement to and not as a substitute for the results of operations presented on a GAAP basis including net operating revenue, operating income, and net income. Reconciliations for all of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure are attached in the Selected Consolidated and Selected Supplemental Financial Data tables.
Saga Communications, Inc. is a broadcasting company whose business is devoted to acquiring, developing and operating broadcast properties. The Company owns or operates broadcast properties in 26 markets, including 61 FM and 30 AM radio stations, 3 state radio networks, 2 farm radio networks, 5 television stations and 4 low-power television stations. For additional information, contact us at (313) 886-7070 or visit our website at www.sagacommunications.com.
Saga’s 4th Quarter and Year End 2010 conference call will be on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. The dial-in number for all calls is (612) 332-0345. A transcript of the call will be posted to the Company’s web site.
The Company requests that all parties that have a question that they would like to submit to the Company to please email the inquiry by 1:00 p.m. EDT on March 15, 2011 to SagaIR@sagacom.com. The Company will discuss, during the limited period of the conference call, those inquiries it deems of general relevance and interest. Only inquiries made in compliance with the foregoing will be discussed during the call.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations and involve certain risks and uncertainties within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “guidance” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Key risks, including risks associated with Saga’s ability to effectively integrate the stations it acquires and the impact of federal regulation on Saga’s business, are described in the reports Saga Communications, Inc. periodically files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Item 1A of our annual report on Form 10-K. Readers should note that these statements may be impacted by several factors, including national and local economic changes and changes in the radio and television broadcast industry in general, as well as Saga’s actual performance. Results may vary from those stated herein and Saga undertakes no obligation to update the information contained here.

 


 

Saga Communications, Inc.
Selected Consolidated Financial Data
For The Three and Twelve Months Ended
December 31, 2010 and 2009
(amounts in 000’s except per share data)
(Unaudited)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended  
    December 31,     December 31,
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
     
Operating Results
                               
Net operating revenue
  $ 34,133     $ 31,784     $ 127,817     $ 120,798  
Station operating expense
    23,408       23,856       92,754       94,647  
Corporate general and administrative
    1,754       1,813       7,274       7,944  
Gain on asset exchange
          (495 )           (495 )
Impairment of intangible assets
          17,286             17,286  
     
Operating income (loss)
    8,971       (10,676 )     27,789       1,416  
Interest expense
    1,260       1,359       5,622       4,948  
Other (income) expense, net
    29       199       (3,369 )     210  
     
Income (loss) before income tax
    7,682       (12,234 )     25,536       (3,742 )
Income tax expense (benefit)
    3,115       (4,871 )     10,400       (1,161 )
     
Net income (loss)
  $ 4,567     $ (7,363 )   $ 15,136     $ (2,581 )
     
Earnings (loss) per share
                               
Basic
  $ 1.08     $ (1.74 )   $ 3.58     $ (0.61 )
     
Diluted
  $ 1.08     $ (1.74 )   $ 3.58     $ (0.61 )
     
Weighted average common shares
    4,236       4,227       4,230       4,207  
Weighted average common shares and common share equivalents
    4,241       4,227       4,231       4,207  
 
                               
Free Cash Flow
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ 4,567     $ (7,363 )   $ 15,136     $ (2,581 )
Plus: Depreciation and amortization:
                               
Station
    1,911       2,057       7,494       8,408  
Corporate
    61       55       224       221  
Deferred tax provision (benefit)
    1,455       (4,711 )     5,080       (1,145 )
Non-cash compensation
    212       348       927       1,366  
Gain on asset exchange
          (495 )           (495 )
Impairment of intangible assets
          17,286             17,286  
Other (income) expense, net
    29       199       (3,369 )     210  
Less: Capital expenditures
    (1,089 )     (804 )     (4,348 )     (4,041 )
     
Free cash flow
  $ 7,146     $ 6,572     $ 21,144     $ 19,229  
     
 
                               
Balance Sheet Data
                               
Working capital
                  $ 18,130     $ 7,753  
Net fixed assets
                  $ 65,561     $ 69,216  
Net intangible assets and other assets
                  $ 97,683     $ 96,241  
Total assets
                  $ 199,803     $ 202,351  
Long term debt (including current portion of $6,121 and $17,078, respectively)
                  $ 96,078     $ 121,078  
Stockholders’ equity
                  $ 80,078     $ 64,093  

 


 

Saga Communications, Inc.
Selected Supplemental Financial Data
For The Three and Twelve Months Ended
December 31, 2010 and 2009
(amounts in 000’s)
(Unaudited)
                                 
                    Corporate        
    Radio     Television     and Other     Consolidated  
Three Months Ended December 31, 2010:
                               
Net operating revenue
  $ 28,997     $ 5,136     $     $ 34,133  
Station operating expense
    19,828       3,580             23,408  
Corporate G&A
                1,754       1,754  
 
                       
Operating income (loss)
  $ 9,169     $ 1,556     $ (1,754 )   $ 8,971  
 
                       
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 1,460     $ 451     $ 61     $ 1,972  
 
                       
                                 
                    Corporate        
    Radio     Television     and Other     Consolidated  
Three Months Ended December 31, 2009:
                               
Net operating revenue
  $ 27,382     $ 4,402     $     $ 31,784  
Station operating expense
    20,325       3,531             23,856  
Corporate G&A
                1,813       1,813  
Gain on asset exchange
          (495 )           (495 )
Impairment of intangible assets
    16,206       1,080             17,286  
 
                       
Operating income (loss)
  $ (9,149 )   $ 286     $ (1,813 )   $ (10,676 )
 
                       
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 1,598     $ 459     $ 55     $ 2,112  
 
                       
                                 
                    Corporate        
    Radio     Television     and Other     Consolidated  
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2010:
                               
Net operating revenue
  $ 109,891     $ 17,926     $     $ 127,817  
Station operating expense
    79,012       13,742             92,754  
Corporate G&A
                7,274       7,274  
 
                       
Operating income (loss)
  $ 30,879     $ 4,184     $ (7,274 )   $ 27,789  
 
                       
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 5,772     $ 1,722     $ 224     $ 7,718  
 
                       
                                 
                    Corporate        
    Radio     Television     and Other     Consolidated  
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2009:
                               
Net operating revenue
  $ 104,601     $ 16,197     $     $ 120,798  
Station operating expense
    80,382       14,265             94,647  
Corporate G&A
                7,944       7,944  
Gain on asset exchange
          (495 )           (495 )
Impairment of intangible assets
    16,206       1,080             17,286  
 
                       
Operating income (loss)
  $ 8,013     $ 1,347     $ (7,944 )   $ 1,416  
 
                       
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 6,166     $ 2,242     $ 221     $ 8,629  
 
                       

 


 

Saga Communications, Inc.
Selected Supplemental Financial Data
December 31, 2010
(amounts in 000’s except ratios)
(Unaudited)
                 
    Trailing  
    Twelve Months Ended  
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
Trailing 12 Month Consolidated EBITDA (1)
               
Net income (loss)
  $ 15,136     $ (2,581 )
Less: Loss on sale of assets
    (386 )     (210 )
Gain on exchange of assets
          495  
Impairment of intangible assets
          (17,286 )
Gain on license downgrade and other gains
    3,756        
Other
    46       196  
 
           
Total exclusions
    3,416       (16,805 )
 
           
 
               
Consolidated Adjusted Net Income (1)
    11,720       14,224  
Plus: Interest expense
    5,622       4,948  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    10,400       (1,161 )
Depreciation & amortization expense
    7,718       8,629  
Amortization of television syndicated programming contracts
    732       706  
Non-cash stock based compensation expense
    927       1,366  
Less: Cash television programming payments
    (744 )     (725 )
 
           
Trailing twelve month consolidated EBITDA (1)
  $ 36,375     $ 27,987  
 
           
 
               
Total long-term debt, including current maturities
  $ 96,078     $ 121,078  
Divided by trailing twelve month consolidated EBITDA (1)
    36,375       27,987  
 
           
Leverage ratio
    2.6       4.3  
 
           
 
(1)   As defined in the Company’s credit agreement.