SAGA COMMUNICATIONS INC - Quarter Report: 2010 June (Form 10-Q)
Table of Contents
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
(Mark One)
| þ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
| For the Quarterly Period ended June 30, 2010 |
or
| o | 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 1-11588
Saga Communications, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
38-3042953 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
| 73 Kercheval Avenue Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan (Address of principal executive offices) |
48236 (Zip Code) |
(313) 886-7070
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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 þ No o.
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 o No o.
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 o | Accelerated filer o | Non-accelerated filer o | Smaller Reporting Company þ | |||
| (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of
the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
The number of shares of the registrant’s Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value, and Class B
Common Stock, $.01 par value, outstanding as of August 10, 2010 was 3,660,141 and 598,643,
respectively.
Table of Contents
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
SAGA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| June 30, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2010 | 2009 | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Note) | |||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 16,047 | $ | 12,899 | ||||
Short-term investments |
2,005 | — | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net |
19,536 | 19,096 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
1,693 | 2,345 | ||||||
Barter transactions |
2,009 | 1,681 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
831 | 873 | ||||||
Total current assets |
42,121 | 36,894 | ||||||
Property and equipment |
157,733 | 158,011 | ||||||
Less accumulated depreciation |
90,403 | 88,795 | ||||||
Net property and equipment |
67,330 | 69,216 | ||||||
Other assets: |
||||||||
Broadcast licenses, net |
90,552 | 90,552 | ||||||
Other intangibles, deferred costs and investments, net |
6,402 | 5,689 | ||||||
Total other assets |
96,954 | 96,241 | ||||||
| $ | 206,405 | $ | 202,351 | |||||
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 1,498 | $ | 1,345 | ||||
Payroll and payroll taxes |
6,686 | 5,494 | ||||||
Other accrued expenses |
3,894 | 3,422 | ||||||
Barter transactions |
2,071 | 1,802 | ||||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
17,278 | 17,078 | ||||||
Total current liabilities |
31,427 | 29,141 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
4,062 | 1,907 | ||||||
Long-term debt |
96,300 | 104,000 | ||||||
Other liabilities |
3,061 | 3,210 | ||||||
Stockholders’ equity |
||||||||
Common stock |
53 | 53 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
49,899 | 49,371 | ||||||
Retained earnings |
50,076 | 43,064 | ||||||
Treasury stock |
(28,473 | ) | (28,395 | ) | ||||
Total stockholders’ equity |
71,555 | 64,093 | ||||||
| $ | 206,405 | $ | 202,351 | |||||
| Note: The balance sheet at December 31, 2009 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. | ||
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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SAGA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
Net operating revenue |
$ | 32,887 | $ | 31,637 | $ | 60,874 | $ | 57,761 | ||||||||
Station operating expense |
23,157 | 23,295 | 45,717 | 47,235 | ||||||||||||
Corporate general and administrative |
1,897 | 2,158 | 3,779 | 4,225 | ||||||||||||
Operating income |
7,833 | 6,184 | 11,378 | 6,301 | ||||||||||||
Other expenses, net: |
||||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
1,468 | 1,430 | 2,987 | 2,203 | ||||||||||||
Other (income) expense, net |
185 | (28 | ) | (3,411 | ) | (32 | ) | |||||||||
Income before income tax |
6,180 | 4,782 | 11,802 | 4,130 | ||||||||||||
Income tax provision |
2,485 | 2,108 | 4,790 | 1,818 | ||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 3,695 | $ | 2,674 | $ | 7,012 | $ | 2,312 | ||||||||
Earnings per share |
||||||||||||||||
Basic |
$ | .87 | $ | .63 | $ | 1.66 | $ | .55 | ||||||||
Diluted |
$ | .87 | $ | .63 | $ | 1.66 | $ | .55 | ||||||||
Weighted average common shares |
4,236 | 4,226 | 4,229 | 4,192 | ||||||||||||
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares |
4,237 | 4,227 | 4,229 | 4,193 | ||||||||||||
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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SAGA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| Six Months Ended | ||||||||
| June 30, | ||||||||
| 2010 | 2009 | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||||
Cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 12,826 | $ | 12,001 | ||||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
||||||||
Acquisition of property and equipment |
(2,146 | ) | (2,574 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from license downgrade |
3,561 | — | ||||||
Purchases of short-term investments |
(2005 | ) | — | |||||
Other investing activities |
(7 | ) | 302 | |||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(597 | ) | (2,272 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
||||||||
Payments on long-term debt |
(7,500 | ) | (2,000 | ) | ||||
Payments for debt issuance costs |
(1,503 | ) | (967 | ) | ||||
Purchase of shares held in treasury |
(78 | ) | (20 | ) | ||||
Other financing activities |
— | 2 | ||||||
Net cash used in financing activities |
(9,081 | ) | (2,985 | ) | ||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
3,148 | 6,744 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
12,899 | 6,992 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
$ | 16,047 | $ | 13,736 | ||||
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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SAGA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial
information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly,
they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States for annual financial statements.
In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements include all adjustments of a normal,
recurring nature considered necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position as of June
30, 2010 and the results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009.
Results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the
results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2010.
For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto
included in the Saga Communications, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2009.
The Company has evaluated events and transactions occurring subsequent to the balance sheet
date of June 30, 2010, for items that should potentially be recognized in these financial
statements or discussed within the notes to the financial statements.
Earnings Per Share Information
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
Numerator: |
||||||||||||||||
Net income available to common stockholders |
$ | 3,695 | $ | 2,674 | $ | 7,012 | $ | 2,312 | ||||||||
Denominator: |
||||||||||||||||
Denominator for basic earnings per
share-weighted average shares |
4,236 | 4,226 | 4,229 | 4,192 | ||||||||||||
Effect of dilutive securities: |
||||||||||||||||
Common stock equivalents |
1 | 1 | — | 1 | ||||||||||||
Denominator for diluted earnings per share
— adjusted weighted-average shares and
assumed conversions |
4,237 | 4,227 | 4,229 | 4,193 | ||||||||||||
Basic earnings per share |
$ | 0.87 | $ | .63 | $ | 1.66 | $ | .55 | ||||||||
Diluted earnings per share |
$ | 0.87 | $ | .63 | $ | 1.66 | $ | .55 | ||||||||
The number of stock options outstanding that had an antidilutive effect on our earnings per
share calculation was 350,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 390,000 for the
three and six months ended June 30, 2009. The actual effect of these shares, if any, on the diluted
earnings per share calculation will vary significantly depending on the fluctuation in the stock
price.
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SAGA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Change in Accounting Estimate
In the second quarter of 2008, the Company reviewed the estimated useful lives of its
television analog equipment. This review was performed because of the Federal Communications
Commission’s (“FCC”) mandatory requirement that all television stations convert from analog to
digital spectrum by February 2009. As a result of this review, the Company’s depreciation rate of
its analog equipment was increased to reflect the estimated period during which these assets would
remain in service. This change of estimated useful lives is deemed as a change in accounting
estimate and has been accounted for prospectively, effective April 1, 2008. The effect of this
change in estimate was to decrease net income approximately $74,000 and $277,000, and decrease
earnings per share (basic and diluted) by $0.02 and $0.07, for the three and six months ended June
30, 2009, respectively. The change in estimate had no effect on depreciation expense in 2010 as the
analog equipment was fully depreciated as of December 31, 2009.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Short-term investments, which include time deposits and certificates of deposit, approximate
fair value due to their short maturities.
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate is higher than the federal statutory rate as a result of the inclusion
of state taxes in the income tax amount.
Time Brokerage Agreements
We have entered into Time Brokerage Agreements (“TBAs”) or Local Marketing Agreements
(“LMA’s”) in certain markets. In a typical TBA/LMA, the FCC licensee of a station makes available,
for a fee, blocks of air time on its station to another party that supplies programming to be
broadcast during that air time and sells their own commercial advertising announcements during the
time periods specified. Revenue and expenses related to TBA’s/LMA’s are included in the
accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
2. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new guidance related to
the accounting for variable interest entities which addresses (1) the effects on certain provisions
of previous guidance, as a result of the elimination of the qualifying special-purpose entity
concept and (2) concerns about the application of certain key provisions of previous guidance,
including those in which the accounting and disclosures under the previous guidance do not always
provide timely and useful information about an enterprise’s involvement in a variable interest
entity. This guidance was effective on January 1, 2010 and adoption did not have a material impact
on our consolidated financial statements.
In January 2010, the FASB issued new guidance for fair value measurements and disclosures
which requires a reporting entity to disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in
and out of Level 1 and 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers. The
guidance also requires a reporting entity to present separately information about purchases, sales,
issuances, and settlements in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant
unobservable inputs (Level 3). The guidance was effective on January 1, 2010, except for
disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in
Level 3 fair value measurements, which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The guidance adopted on January 1, 2010
did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Adoption of the remaining
guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
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SAGA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
3. Intangible Assets
We evaluate our FCC licenses for impairment annually as of October 1st or
more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. FCC licenses
are evaluated for impairment at the market level using a direct method. If the carrying amount of
FCC licenses is greater than their estimated fair value in a given market, the carrying amount of
FCC licenses in that market is reduced to its estimated fair value.
Intangible assets that have finite lives are amortized over their useful lives using the
straight-line method. Favorable lease agreements are amortized over the lives of the leases. Other
intangibles are amortized over one to eleven years.
4. Common Stock and Treasury Stock
The following summarizes information relating to the number of shares of our common stock
issued in connection with stock transactions through June 30, 2010:
| Common Stock Issued | ||||||||
| Class A | Class B | |||||||
| (Shares in thousands) | ||||||||
Balance, January 1, 2009 |
4,770 | 600 | ||||||
Exercised options |
2 | — | ||||||
Conversion of shares |
1 | (1 | ) | |||||
Forfeiture of restricted stock. |
(2 | ) | — | |||||
Balance, December 31, 2009 |
4,771 | 599 | ||||||
Conversion of shares |
1 | (1 | ) | |||||
Balance, June 30, 2010 |
4,772 | 598 | ||||||
We have a Stock Buy-Back Program (the “Buy-Back Program”) to allow us to purchase up to
$60,000,000 of our Class A Common Stock. From its inception in 1998 through June 30, 2010, we have
repurchased 1,387,551 shares of our Class A Common Stock for approximately $45,560,000. The terms
of the Credit Agreement, as amended, limit our ability to repurchase our Class A Common Stock.
5. Stock-Based Compensation
2005 Incentive Compensation Plan
On May 9, 2005, our stockholders approved the 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2005
Plan”) which replaced our 2003 Stock Option Plan (the “2003 Plan”) as to future grants. The 2005
Plan extends through March 2015 and allows for the granting of restricted stock, restricted stock
units, incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, and performance awards to officers and
a selected number of employees.
Stock-Based Compensation
Compensation expense of approximately $139,000 and $326,000, respectively, and related tax
benefits of $56,000 and $132,000, respectively, was recognized for the three and six months ended
June 30, 2010. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, the Company recognized
compensation expense of approximately $216,000 and $418,000, respectively, and related tax benefits
of $95,000 and $184,000, respectively. Compensation expense is reported in corporate general and
administrative expenses in our results of operations.
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SAGA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The following summarizes the stock option transactions for the 2005 and 2003 Plans and the
1992 Stock Option Plan (the “1992 Plan”) for the six months ended June 30, 2010:
| Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||
| Remaining | Aggregate | |||||||||||||||
| Number of | Weighted Average | Contractual Term | Intrinsic | |||||||||||||
| Options | Exercise Price | (Years) | Value | |||||||||||||
Outstanding at January 1, 2010 |
388,469 | $ | 54.56 | 4.2 | $ | — | ||||||||||
Granted |
— | — | ||||||||||||||
Exercised |
— | — | ||||||||||||||
Expired |
(40,712 | ) | 66.97 | |||||||||||||
Forfeited |
(320 | ) | 37.25 | |||||||||||||
Outstanding at June 30, 2010 |
347,437 | $ | 53.12 | 4.2 | $ | — | ||||||||||
Exercisable at June 30, 2010 |
308,957 | $ | 55.16 | 3.9 | $ | — | ||||||||||
The following summarizes the non-vested stock option transactions for the 2005, 2003 and 1992
Plans for the six months ended June 30, 2010:
| Weighted Average | ||||||||
| Number of | Grant Date Fair | |||||||
| Options | Value | |||||||
Non-vested at January 1, 2010 |
80,453 | $ | 19.74 | |||||
Granted |
— | — | ||||||
Vested |
(41,653 | ) | 20.88 | |||||
Forfeited/canceled |
(320 | ) | 18.81 | |||||
Non-vested at June 30, 2010 |
38,480 | $ | 18.51 | |||||
| The following summarizes the restricted stock transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2010: | ||||||||
| Weighted | ||||||||
| Average | ||||||||
| Grant Date | ||||||||
| Shares | Fair Value | |||||||
Outstanding at January 1, 2010 |
37,368 | $ | 31.45 | |||||
Granted |
— | — | ||||||
Vested |
(14,097 | ) | 35.92 | |||||
Forfeited |
(212 | ) | 28.47 | |||||
Non-vested and outstanding at June 30, 2010 |
23,059 | $ | 28.74 | |||||
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and the three and six months ended June 30,
2009, we had approximately $91,000, $202,000, $126,000 and $252,000, respectively, of total
compensation expense related to restricted stock-based compensation arrangements. The associated
tax benefit recognized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and the three and six
months ended June 30, 2009 was approximately $37,000, $82,000, $55,000 and $111,000, respectively.
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SAGA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
6. Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consisted of the following:
| June 30, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2010 | 2009 | |||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||
Credit Agreement: |
||||||||
Reducing revolver facility |
$ | 112,500 | $ | 120,000 | ||||
Secured debt of affiliate |
1,078 | 1,078 | ||||||
| 113,578 | 121,078 | |||||||
Amounts payable within one year |
17,278 | 17,078 | ||||||
| $ | 96,300 | $ | 104,000 | |||||
Our Credit Agreement is a reducing revolving line of credit maturing on July 29, 2012. Our
indebtedness under the Credit Agreement is secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of
our assets and of our subsidiaries, by a pledge of our subsidiaries’ stock and by a guarantee of
our subsidiaries. The Company’s unused borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement was zero at
June 30, 2010.
On February 11, 2010, we amended our Credit Agreement to (i) reduce the Revolving Commitments
to $115 million, (ii) modify the scheduled reductions of the Revolving Commitments, (iii) decrease
the minimum Fixed Charge Coverage ratio effective December 31, 2009, (iv) modify the maximum
Leverage Ratio effective March 31, 2010, (v) revise the interest rates and commitment fees, and
(vi) modify the interest coverage ratio to be maintained. In addition, we agreed to pay each lender
a fee. The lender fees plus amendment costs were approximately $1.5 million and were capitalized as
deferred financing costs. Additionally, we paid down debt by $5 million in connection with the
amendment.
The Revolving Commitments will be be permanently reduced by $2.5 million at the end of each
calendar quarter. In addition, each calendar quarter the Revolving Commitments shall be further
reduced by 75% of Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the Credit Agreement), which we estimate to be
$6.2 million for the twelve month period ending June 30, 2011, and is included in the current
portion of long-term debt at June 30, 2010. Any outstanding balance under the Credit Agreement will
be due on the maturity date of July 29, 2012. Interest on the Credit Agreement is at a variable
rate, and as such the debt obligation outstanding approximates fair value.
The Credit Agreement contains a number of financial covenants (all of which we were in
compliance with at June 30, 2010) that, among other things, require us to maintain specified
financial ratios and imposes certain limitations on us with respect to additional indebtedness,
acquisitions, the incurrence of additional liens, the disposition of assets, the payment of cash
dividends, repurchases of our Class A Common Stock, mergers, changes in business and management,
investments and transactions with affiliates. The financial covenants become more restrictive over
the life of the Credit Agreement.
Approximately $1.1 million of secured debt of affiliate was refinanced in April 2010 for a
term of one year.
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SAGA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
7. Segment Information
We evaluate the operating performance of our markets individually. For purposes of business
segment reporting, we have aligned operations with similar characteristics into two business
segments: Radio and Television.
The Radio segment includes twenty-three markets, which includes all ninety-one of our radio
stations and five radio information networks. The Television segment includes three markets and
consists of five television stations and four low power television (“LPTV”) stations. The Radio and
Television segments derive their revenue from the sale of commercial broadcast inventory. The
category “Corporate general and administrative” represents the income and expense not allocated to
reportable segments.
| Corporate | ||||||||||||||||
| Radio | Television | and Other | Consolidated | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, 2010: |
||||||||||||||||
Net operating revenue |
$ | 28,661 | $ | 4,226 | $ | — | $ | 32,887 | ||||||||
Station operating expense |
19,827 | 3,330 | — | 23,157 | ||||||||||||
Corporate general and administrative |
— | — | 1,897 | 1,897 | ||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
$ | 8,834 | $ | 896 | $ | (1,897 | ) | $ | 7,833 | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
$ | 1,444 | $ | 409 | $ | 54 | $ | 1,907 | ||||||||
| Corporate | ||||||||||||||||
| Radio | Television | and Other | Consolidated | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, 2009: |
||||||||||||||||
Net operating revenue |
$ | 27,530 | $ | 4,107 | $ | — | $ | 31,637 | ||||||||
Station operating expense |
19,694 | 3,601 | — | 23,295 | ||||||||||||
Corporate general and administrative |
— | — | 2,158 | 2,158 | ||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
$ | 7,836 | $ | 506 | $ | (2,158 | ) | $ | 6,184 | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
$ | 1,516 | $ | 664 | $ | 48 | $ | 2,228 | ||||||||
| Corporate | ||||||||||||||||
| Radio | Television | and Other | Consolidated | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010: |
||||||||||||||||
Net operating revenue |
$ | 52,805 | $ | 8,069 | $ | — | $ | 60,874 | ||||||||
Station operating expense |
39,050 | 6,667 | — | 45,717 | ||||||||||||
Corporate general and administrative |
— | — | 3,779 | 3,779 | ||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
$ | 13,755 | $ | 1,402 | $ | (3,779 | ) | $ | 11,378 | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
$ | 2,865 | $ | 833 | $ | 106 | $ | 3,804 | ||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 154,157 | $ | 26,357 | $ | 25,891 | $ | 206,405 | ||||||||
| Corporate | ||||||||||||||||
| Radio | Television | and Other | Consolidated | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Six Months Ended June 30, 2009: |
||||||||||||||||
Net operating revenue |
$ | 50,227 | $ | 7,534 | $ | — | $ | 57,761 | ||||||||
Station operating expense |
40,011 | 7,224 | — | 47,235 | ||||||||||||
Corporate general and administrative |
— | — | 4,225 | 4,225 | ||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
$ | 10,216 | $ | 310 | $ | (4,225 | ) | $ | 6,301 | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
$ | 3,047 | $ | 1,330 | $ | 109 | $ | 4,486 | ||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 176,136 | $ | 30,032 | $ | 17,814 | $ | 223,982 | ||||||||
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| Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of Saga Communications, Inc. and its
subsidiaries contained elsewhere herein and the audited financial statements and Management
Discussion and Analysis contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2009. The following discussion is presented on both a consolidated and segment basis. Corporate
general and administrative expenses, interest expense, other (income) expense, and income tax
expense (benefit) are managed on a consolidated basis and are reflected only in our discussion of
consolidated results.
For purposes of business segment reporting, we have aligned operations with similar
characteristics into two business segments: Radio and Television. The Radio segment includes
twenty-three markets, which includes all ninety-one of our radio stations and five radio
information networks. The Television segment includes three markets and consists of five television
stations and four LPTV stations. The discussion of our operating performance focuses on segment
operating income because we manage our segments primarily on operating income. Operating
performance is evaluated for each individual market.
General
We are a broadcast company primarily engaged in developing and operating radio and television
stations.
Radio Segment
Our radio segment’s primary source of revenue is from the sale of advertising for broadcast on
our stations. Depending on the format of a particular radio station, there are a predetermined
number of advertisements available to be broadcast each hour.
Most advertising contracts are short-term and generally run for a few weeks only. The majority
of our revenue is generated from local advertising, which is sold primarily by each radio markets’
sales staff. For the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, approximately 87% and 88%,
respectively, of our
radio segment’s gross revenue was from local advertising. To generate national advertising sales,
we engage independent advertising sales representative firms that specialize in national sales for
each of our broadcast markets.
Our revenue varies throughout the year. Advertising expenditures, our primary source of
revenue, generally have been lowest during the winter months, which include the first quarter of
each year. We expect a significant increase in political advertising for 2010 due to the number of
congressional, senatorial, gubernatorial and local elections in most of our markets.
Beginning in the last quarter of 2008 and continuing throughout 2009, the global economic
recession had significant adverse effects on our revenue. We began to see revenue improvements in
the fourth quarter of 2009 and first and second quarters of 2010 as compared to the same periods in
the prior years. The level of advertising spending has not returned to pre-recession levels, and in
June 2010 our uptrend in revenue slowed. We expect to continue to see revenue improvements for the
remainder of 2010, however, at a lower rate than we realized in the first quarter of 2010. Recent
U.S. economic data has been below expectations, prompting renewed concern about the sustainability
and pace of the economic recovery, and renewed reductions in advertising spending could adversely
affect our operating results.
Our net operating revenue, station operating expense and operating income varies from market
to market based upon the market’s rank or size which is based upon population and the available
radio advertising revenue in that particular market.
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Our financial results are dependent on a number of factors, the most significant of which is
our ability to generate advertising revenue through rates charged to advertisers. The rates a
station is able to charge are, in large part, based on a station’s ability to attract audiences in
the demographic groups targeted by its advertisers. In a number of our markets this is measured by
periodic reports generated by independent national rating services. In the remainder of our markets
it is measured by the results advertisers obtain through the actual running of an advertising
schedule. Advertisers measure these results based on increased demand for their goods or services
and/or actual revenues generated from such demand. Various factors affect the rate a station can
charge, including the general strength of the local and national economies, population growth,
ability to provide popular programming, local market competition, target marketing capability of
radio compared to other advertising media and signal strength.
When we acquire and/or begin to operate a station or group of stations we generally increase
programming and advertising and promotion expenses to increase our share of our target demographic
audience. Our strategy sometimes requires levels of spending commensurate with the revenue levels
we plan on achieving in two to five years. During periods of economic downturns, or when the level
of advertising spending is flat or down across the industry, this strategy may result in the
appearance that our cost of operations are increasing at a faster rate than our growth in revenues,
until such time as we achieve our targeted levels of revenue for the acquired station or group of
stations.
The number of advertisements that can be broadcast without jeopardizing listening levels (and
the resulting ratings) is limited in part by the format of a particular radio station. Our stations
strive to maximize revenue by constantly managing the number of commercials available for sale and
adjusting prices based upon local market conditions and ratings. While there may be shifts from
time to time in the number of advertisements broadcast during a particular time of the day, the
total number of advertisements broadcast on a particular station generally does not vary
significantly from year to year. Any change in our revenue, with the exception of those instances
where stations are acquired or sold, is generally the result of inventory sell out ratios and
pricing adjustments, which are made to ensure that the station efficiently utilizes available
inventory.
Our radio stations employ a variety of programming formats. We periodically perform market
research, including music evaluations, focus groups and strategic vulnerability studies. Because
reaching a large and demographically attractive audience is crucial to a station’s financial
success, we endeavor to develop strong listener loyalty. Our stations also employ audience
promotions to further develop and secure a loyal following. We believe that the diversification of
formats on our radio stations helps to insulate us from the effects of changes in musical tastes of
the public on any particular format.
The primary operating expenses involved in owning and operating radio stations are employee
salaries and commissions, depreciation, programming expenses, and advertising and promotion
expenses.
Although the recent global recession has negatively affected advertising revenues for a wide
variety of media businesses, radio revenue growth has been declining or stagnant over the last
several years, primarily in major markets that are dependent on national advertising. We believe
that this decline in major market radio advertising revenue is the result of a lack of pricing
discipline by radio operators and new technologies and media (such as the Internet, satellite
radio, and MP3 players). These recent technologies and media are gaining advertising share against
radio and other traditional media.
We have implemented several initiatives to offset the declines in revenue. We are continuing
to expand our interactive initiative to provide a seamless audio experience across numerous
platforms to connect with our listeners where and when they want, and have added online components
including streaming our stations over the Internet and on-demand options. We are seeing development
potential in this area and believe that revenues from our interactive initiatives will continue to
increase.
We also continue the rollout of HD Radio®. HD Radio®
utilizes digital technology that provides improved sound quality over standard analog broadcasts
and also allows for the delivery of additional channels of diversified programming or data streams
in each radio market. It is unclear what impact HD Radio® will have on the
industry and our revenue as the availability of HD receivers, particularly in automobiles, is not
widely available.
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During the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 and the years ended December 31, 2009 and
2008, our Bellingham, Washington; Des Moines, Iowa; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Milwaukee,
Wisconsin markets, when combined, represented approximately 30%, 31%, 30% and 32%, respectively, of
our consolidated net operating revenue. An adverse change in any of these radio markets or our
relative market position in those markets could have a significant impact on our operating results
as a whole.
The following table describes the percentage of our consolidated net operating revenue
represented by each of these markets:
| Percentage of Consolidated | Percentage of Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
| Net Operating Revenue for | Net Operating Revenue | |||||||||||||||
| the Six Months Ended | for the Years Ended | |||||||||||||||
| June 30, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2010 | 2009 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||||||||||
Market: |
||||||||||||||||
Bellingham, Washington |
5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | ||||||||||||
Des Moines, Iowa |
6% | 7% | 7% | 7% | ||||||||||||
Manchester, New Hampshire |
6% | 5% | 5% | 6% | ||||||||||||
Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
13% | 14% | 13% | 14% | ||||||||||||
We use certain financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP) to assess our financial
performance. For example, we evaluate the performance of our markets based on “station operating
income” (operating income plus corporate general and administrative expenses, depreciation and
amortization, impairment of intangible assets, less gain on asset exchange). Station operating
income is generally recognized by the broadcasting industry as a measure of performance, is used by
analysts who report on the performance of the broadcasting industry and it serves as an indicator
of the market value of a group of stations. In addition, we use it to evaluate individual stations,
market-level performance, overall operations and as a primary measure for incentive based
compensation of executives and other members of management. Station operating income is not
necessarily indicative of amounts that may be available to us for debt service requirements, other
commitments, reinvestment or other discretionary uses. Station operating income is not a measure of
liquidity or of performance in accordance with GAAP, and should be viewed as a supplement to, and
not a substitute for our results of operations presented on a GAAP basis.
During the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 and the years ended December 31, 2009 and
2008, the radio stations in our four largest markets when combined, represented approximately 38%,
44%, 41% and 42%, respectively, of our consolidated station operating income. The following table
describes the percentage of our consolidated station operating income represented by each of these
markets:
| Percentage of Consolidated | Percentage of Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
| Station Operating Income (*) | Station Operating Income(*) | |||||||||||||||
| for the Six Months Ended | for the Years Ended | |||||||||||||||
| June 30, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2010 | 2009 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||||||||||
Market: |
||||||||||||||||
Bellingham, Washington |
6% | 7% | 7% | 7% | ||||||||||||
Des Moines, Iowa |
5% | 7% | 7% | 4% | ||||||||||||
Manchester, New Hampshire |
8% | 8% | 7% | 11% | ||||||||||||
Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
19% | 22% | 20% | 20% | ||||||||||||
| * | Operating income (excluding non-cash impairment charge) plus corporate general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, less gain on asset exchange. |
14
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Television Segment
Our television segment’s primary source of revenue is from the sale of advertising for
broadcast on our stations. The number of advertisements available for broadcast on our television
stations is limited by network affiliation and syndicated programming agreements and, with respect
to children’s programs, federal regulation. Our television stations’ local market managers
determine the number of advertisements to be broadcast in locally produced programs only, which are
primarily news programming and occasionally local sports or information shows.
Our net operating revenue, station operating expense and operating income vary from market to
market based upon the market’s rank or size, which is based upon population, available television
advertising revenue in that particular market, and the popularity of programming being broadcast.
Our financial results are dependent on a number of factors, the most significant of which is
our ability to generate advertising revenue through rates charged to advertisers. The rates a
station is able to charge are, in large part, based on a station’s ability to attract audiences in
the demographic groups targeted by its advertisers, as measured principally by periodic reports by
independent national rating services. Various factors affect the rate a station can charge,
including the general strength of the local and national economies, population growth, ability to
provide popular programming through locally produced news, sports and weather and as a result of
syndication and network affiliation agreements, local market competition, the ability of television
broadcasting to reach a mass appeal market compared to other advertising media, and signal strength
including cable/satellite coverage, and government regulation and policies.
Our stations strive to maximize revenue by constantly adjusting prices for our commercial
spots based upon local market conditions, demand for advertising and ratings. While there may be
shifts from time to time in the number of advertisements broadcast during a particular time of the
day, the total number of advertisements broadcast on a particular station generally does not vary
significantly from year to year. Any change in our revenue, with the exception of those instances
where stations are acquired or sold, is generally the result of pricing adjustments, which are made
to ensure that the station efficiently utilizes available inventory.
Because audience ratings in the local market are crucial to a station’s financial success, we
endeavor to develop strong viewer loyalty by providing locally produced news, weather and sports
programming. We believe that this emphasis on the local market provides us with the viewer loyalty
we are trying to achieve.
Most of our revenue is generated from local advertising, which is sold primarily by each
television markets’ sales staff. For the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, approximately 80%
and 84%, respectively, of our television segment’s gross revenue was from local advertising. To
generate national advertising sales, we engage independent advertising sales representatives that
specialize in national sales for each of our television markets.
Our revenue varies throughout the year. Advertising expenditures, our primary source of
revenue, generally have been lowest during the winter months, which include the first quarter of
each year. We expect a significant increase in political advertising for 2010 due to the number of
congressional, senatorial, gubernatorial and local elections in most of our markets.
Beginning in the last quarter of 2008 and continuing throughout 2009, the global economic
recession had significant adverse effects on our revenue. We began to see revenue improvements in
the fourth quarter of 2009 and first and second quarters of 2010 as compared to the same periods in
the prior years. The level of advertising spending has not returned to pre-recession levels, and in
June 2010 our uptrend in revenue slowed. We expect to continue to see revenue improvements for the
remainder of 2010, however, at a lower rate than we realized in the first quarter of 2010. Recent
U.S. economic data has been below expectations, prompting renewed concern about the sustainability
and pace of the economic recovery, and renewed reductions in advertising spending could adversely
affect our operating results.
The primary operating expenses involved in owning and operating television stations are
employee salaries and commissions, depreciation, programming expenses, including news production
and the cost of acquiring certain syndicated programming, and advertising and promotion expenses.
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Table of Contents
Our television market in Joplin, Missouri represented approximately 12%, 10%, 14% and 14%,
respectively, of our consolidated operating income (excluding non-cash impairment charge) for the
six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 and the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.
Three Months Ended June 30, 2010 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2009
Results of Operations
The following tables summarize our results of operations for the three months ended June 30,
2010 and 2009.
Consolidated Results of Operations
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| June 30, | $ Increase | % Increase | ||||||||||||||
| 2010 | 2009 | (Decrease) | (Decrease) | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except percentages and per share information) | ||||||||||||||||
Net operating revenue |
$ | 32,887 | $ | 31,637 | $ | 1,250 | 4.0 | % | ||||||||
Station operating expense |
23,157 | 23,295 | (138 | ) | (0.6 | )% | ||||||||||
Corporate G&A |
1,897 | 2,158 | (261 | ) | (12.1 | )% | ||||||||||
Operating income |
7,833 | 6,184 | 1,649 | 26.7 | % | |||||||||||
Interest expense |
1,468 | 1,430 | 38 | 2.7 | % | |||||||||||
Other (income) expense, net |
185 | (28 | ) | 213 | N/M | |||||||||||
Income taxes |
2,485 | 2,108 | 377 | 17.9 | % | |||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 3,695 | $ | 2,674 | $ | 1,021 | 38.2 | % | ||||||||
Earnings per share (basic and diluted) |
$ | .87 | $ | .63 | $ | .24 | 38.1 | % | ||||||||
|
Radio Broadcasting Segment
|
||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| June 30, | $ Increase | % Increase | ||||||||||||||
| 2010 | 2009 | (Decrease) | (Decrease) | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except percentages) | ||||||||||||||||
Net operating revenue |
$ | 28,661 | $ | 27,530 | $ | 1,131 | 4.1 | % | ||||||||
Station operating expense |
19,827 | 19,694 | 133 | 0.7 | % | |||||||||||
Operating income |
$ | 8,834 | $ | 7,836 | $ | 998 | 12.7 | % | ||||||||
Television Broadcasting Segment
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| June 30, | $ Increase | % Increase | ||||||||||||||
| 2010 | 2009 | (Decrease) | (Decrease) | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except percentages) | ||||||||||||||||
Net operating revenue |
$ | 4,226 | $ | 4,107 | $ | 119 | 2.9 | % | ||||||||
Station operating expense |
3,330 | 3,601 | (271 | ) | (7.5 | )% | ||||||||||
Operating income |
$ | 896 | $ | 506 | $ | 390 | 77.2 | % | ||||||||
| N/M = Not Meaningful |
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Reconciliation of segment operating income to consolidated operating income:
| Corporate | ||||||||||||||||
| Radio | Television | and Other | Consolidated | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, 2010: |
||||||||||||||||
Net operating revenue |
$ | 28,661 | $ | 4,226 | $ | — | $ | 32,887 | ||||||||
Station operating expense |
19,827 | 3,330 | — | 23,157 | ||||||||||||
Corporate general and administrative |
— | — | 1,897 | 1,897 | ||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
$ | 8,834 | $ | 896 | $ | (1,897 | ) | $ | 7,833 | |||||||
| Corporate | ||||||||||||||||
| Radio | Television | and Other | Consolidated | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, 2009: |
||||||||||||||||
Net operating revenue |
$ | 27,530 | $ | 4,107 | $ | — | $ | 31,637 | ||||||||
Station operating expense |
19,694 | 3,601 | — | 23,295 | ||||||||||||
Corporate general and administrative |
— | — | 2,158 | 2,158 | ||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
$ | 7,836 | $ | 506 | $ | (2,158 | ) | $ | 6,184 | |||||||
Consolidated
For the three months ended June 30, 2010, consolidated net operating revenue was $32,887,000
compared with $31,637,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, an increase of approximately
$1,250,000 or 4%. Gross national revenue and gross local revenue increased approximately $562,000
and $541,000, respectively. Gross political revenue increased approximately $290,000. The increase
in both gross local and gross national revenue was primarily the result of the gradual recovery of
the U.S. economy and advertising spending in general. The increase in gross political revenue was
primarily attributable to political advertising on our networks and in two of our radio markets.
Station operating expense was $23,157,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2010, compared
with $23,295,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, a decrease of $138,000 or less than 1%.
The decline in station operating expense was primarily attributable to an increase in sales salaries and commission expense of
approximately $224,000 in the second quarter of
2010 from the same quarter of 2009, as a result of improved net operating revenue
in the current
year, offset by a decrease in depreciation expense of approximately
$312,000 primarily as a result of a change in the estimated
useful life of television analog equipment, which was fully depreciated in 2009.
We also had an increase in advertising and promotion spending of
$327,000 but those costs were offset by overall cost reductions in our technical, programming and ratings
services.
Operating income for the three months ended June 30, 2010 was $7,833,000 compared to
$6,184,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, an increase of approximately $1,649,000. The
increase was a direct result of the improvement in net operating revenue and reduction in station
operating expense, described in detail above, and a $261,000 or 12% decrease in corporate general
and administrative charges. The decrease in corporate general and administrative charges was
attributable to overall expense reductions.
We generated net income of approximately $3,695,000 ($.87 per share on a fully diluted basis)
during the three months ended June 30, 2010, compared with $2,674,000 ($.63 per share on a fully
diluted basis) for the three months ended June 30, 2009, an increase of approximately $1,021,000.
The increase was the result of an increase in operating income of $1,649,000 offset by increases in
other expense and income tax expense of $213,000 and $377,000, respectively. Other expense includes
a loss of $248,000 recognized on the disposal of our Doppler radar systems in two of our
television markets. Our television stations have changed to alternative weather reporting systems.
The increase in income tax expense was directly attributable to operating performance.
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Table of Contents
Radio Segment
For the three months ended June 30, 2010, net operating revenue of the radio segment was
$28,661,000 compared with $27,530,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, which represents an
increase of $1,131,000 or 4%. Gross national revenue and gross local revenue increased
approximately $357,000 and $624,000, respectively. Gross political revenue increased approximately
$279,000 in the current quarter as compared to the prior year period. The increase in both gross
local and gross national revenue was primarily the result of the gradual recovery of the U.S.
economy and advertising spending in general. The increase in gross political revenue was primarily
attributable to political advertising on our networks and in two of our radio markets.
Station operating expense for the radio segment was $19,827,000 for the three months ended
June 30, 2010, compared with $19,694,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, an increase of
approximately $133,000 or less than 1%. Sales salaries and commission expense increased
approximately $214,000 in the second quarter of 2010 from the same quarter of 2009, as a result of
improved operating performance in the current year. Technical and programming expenses decreased
$100,000 and $240,000, respectively, in the current quarter as compared to the prior year quarter
as a result of overall cost reductions. Ratings service expense decreased approximately $200,000 in
the current year quarter and advertising and promotion expenses increased $330,000.
Operating income in the radio segment increased $998,000 to $8,834,000 for the three months
ended June 30, 2010, from $7,836,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009. The increase was a
direct result of the improvement in net operating revenue described in detail above.
Television Segment
For the three months ended June 30, 2010, net operating revenue of our television segment was
$4,226,000 compared with $4,107,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, an increase of
$119,000 or 3%. Gross national revenue increased approximately $205,000, but was partially offset
by an $83,000 decrease in gross local revenue. The increase in net operating revenue was primarily
a result of the improvements in the U.S. economy and advertising spending in general.
Station operating expense in the television segment for the three months ended June 30, 2010
was $3,330,000, compared with $3,601,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, a decrease of
approximately $271,000 or 8%. Depreciation expense was approximately $255,000 higher in the second
quarter of 2009, primarily as a result of a change in the estimated useful life of television
analog equipment, which was fully depreciated in 2009.
Operating income in the television segment for the three months ended June 30, 2010 was
$896,000 compared with $506,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, an increase of
approximately $390,000. The increase was a direct result of the improvement in net operating
revenue and reduction in station operating expense, described in detail above.
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Table of Contents
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
Results of Operations
The following tables summarize our results of operations for the six months ended June 30,
2010 and 2009.
Consolidated Results of Operations
| Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| June 30, | $ Increase | % Increase | ||||||||||||||
| 2010 | 2009 | (Decrease) | (Decrease) | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except percentages and per share information) | ||||||||||||||||
Net operating revenue |
$ | 60,874 | $ | 57,761 | $ | 3,113 | 5.4 | % | ||||||||
Station operating expense |
45,717 | 47,235 | (1,518 | ) | (3.2 | )% | ||||||||||
Corporate G&A |
3,779 | 4,225 | (446 | ) | (10.6 | )% | ||||||||||
Operating income |
11,378 | 6,301 | 5,077 | 80.6 | % | |||||||||||
Interest expense |
2,987 | 2,203 | 784 | 35.6 | % | |||||||||||
Other (income) expense, net |
(3,411 | ) | (32 | ) | (3,379 | ) | N/M | |||||||||
Income taxes |
4,790 | 1,818 | 2,972 | 163.5 | % | |||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 7,012 | $ | 2,312 | $ | 4,700 | 203.3 | % | ||||||||
Earnings per share (basic and diluted) |
$ | 1.66 | $ | .55 | $ | 1.11 | 201.8 | % | ||||||||
Radio Broadcasting Segment
| Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| June 30, | $ Increase | % Increase | ||||||||||||||
| 2010 | 2009 | (Decrease) | (Decrease) | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except percentages) | ||||||||||||||||
Net operating revenue |
$ | 52,805 | $ | 50,227 | $ | 2,578 | 5.1 | % | ||||||||
Station operating expense |
39,050 | 40,011 | (961 | ) | (2.4 | )% | ||||||||||
Operating income |
$ | 13,755 | $ | 10,216 | $ | 3,539 | 34.6 | % | ||||||||
Television Broadcasting Segment
| Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| June 30, | $ Increase | % Increase | ||||||||||||||
| 2010 | 2009 | (Decrease) | (Decrease) | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except percentages) | ||||||||||||||||
Net operating revenue |
$ | 8,069 | $ | 7,534 | $ | 535 | 7.1 | % | ||||||||
Station operating expense |
6,667 | 7,224 | (557 | ) | (7.7 | )% | ||||||||||
Operating income |
$ | 1,402 | $ | 310 | $ | 1,092 | 352.3 | % | ||||||||
| N/M = Not Meaningful |
19
Table of Contents
Reconciliation of segment operating income to consolidated operating income:
| Corporate | ||||||||||||||||
| Radio | Television | and Other | Consolidated | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010: |
||||||||||||||||
Net operating revenue |
$ | 52,805 | $ | 8,069 | $ | — | $ | 60,874 | ||||||||
Station operating expense |
39,050 | 6,667 | — | 45,717 | ||||||||||||
Corporate general and administrative |
— | — | 3,779 | 3,779 | ||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
$ | 13,755 | $ | 1,402 | $ | (3,779 | ) | $ | 11,378 | |||||||
| Corporate | ||||||||||||||||
| Radio | Television | and Other | Consolidated | |||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Six Months Ended June 30, 2009: |
||||||||||||||||
Net operating revenue |
$ | 50,227 | $ | 7,534 | $ | — | $ | 57,761 | ||||||||
Station operating expense |
40,011 | 7,224 | — | 47,235 | ||||||||||||
Corporate general and administrative |
— | — | 4,225 | 4,225 | ||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
$ | 10,216 | $ | 310 | $ | (4,225 | ) | $ | 6,301 | |||||||
Consolidated
For the six months ended June 30, 2010, consolidated net operating revenue was $60,874,000
compared with $57,761,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, an increase of approximately
$3,113,000 or 5%. Gross national revenue and gross local revenue increased approximately $1,202,000
and $1,718,000, respectively. Gross political revenue increased approximately $493,000. The
increase in both gross local and gross national revenue was primarily the result of the gradual
recovery of the U.S. economy and advertising spending in general. The increase in gross political
revenue was primarily attributable to political advertising on our networks and in two of our radio
markets.
Station operating expense was $45,717,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2010, compared
with $47,235,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, a decrease of approximately $1,518,000 or
3%. Salaries and related expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2010 decreased approximately
$110,000 from the same period of 2009, primarily as a result of salary and work force reductions
during 2009 in response to the difficult economic conditions. Severance costs and ratings service
expense decreased approximately $270,000 and $425,000, respectively, in the current year.
Additionally, depreciation expense was approximately $665,000 higher in the first six months of
2009, primarily as a result of a change in the estimated useful life of television analog
equipment, which was fully depreciated in 2009.
Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was $11,378,000 compared to $6,301,000
for the six months ended June 30, 2009, an increase of approximately $5,077,000, or 81%. The
increase was a direct result of the improvement in net operating revenue and reduction in station
operating expense, described in detail above, and a $446,000 or 11% decrease in corporate general
and administrative charges. The decrease in corporate general and administrative charges was
attributable to overall expense reductions.
We generated net income of approximately $7,012,000 ($1.66 per share on a fully diluted basis)
during the six months ended June 30, 2010, compared with $2,312,000 ($.55 per share on a fully
diluted basis) for the six months ended June 30, 2009, an increase of approximately $4,700,000. The
increase was the result of an increase in operating income of $5,077,000 and an increase in other
income of $3,379,000 offset by increases in interest expense and income tax expense of $784,000 and
$2,972,000, respectively. In the first quarter of 2010, we had non-recurring income of $3,561,000
resulting from an agreement to downgrade an FCC license at one of our stations. The increase in
interest expense was attributable to an average increase in market interest rates of approximately
1.3%, and an increase in the amortization of debt financing costs, partially offset by the decrease
in debt. The increase in income tax expense was directly attributable to operating performance.
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Radio Segment
For the six months ended June 30, 2010, net operating revenue of the radio segment was
$52,805,000 compared with $50,227,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, an increase of
$2,578,000 or 5%. Gross national revenue and gross local revenue increased approximately $758,000
and $1,602,000, respectively. Gross political revenue increased approximately $456,000 for the six
months ended June 30,2010 as compared to the prior year period. The increase in both gross local
and gross national revenue was primarily the result of the gradual recovery of the U.S. economy and
advertising spending in general. The increase in gross political revenue was primarily attributable
to political advertising on our networks and in two of our radio markets.
Station operating expense for the radio segment was $39,050,000 for the six months ended June
30, 2010, compared with $40,011,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, a decrease of
approximately $961,000 or 2%. Salaries and related expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2010
decreased approximately $100,000 from the same period of 2009, primarily as a result of salary and
work force reductions during 2009 in response to the difficult economic conditions. Severance costs
and ratings service expense decreased approximately $250,000 and $425,000, respectively, in the
current year.
Operating income in the radio segment for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was $13,755,000
compared to $10,216,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, an increase of approximately
$3,539,000 or 35%. The increase was a direct result of the improvement in net operating revenue and
reduction in station operating expense, described in detail above.
Television Segment
For the six months ended June 30, 2010, net operating revenue of our television segment was
$8,069,000 compared with $7,534,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, an increase of $535,000
or 7%. Gross national revenue and gross local revenue increased approximately $444,000 and
$116,000, respectively. The increase in both gross local and gross national revenue was primarily
the result of the gradual recovery of the U.S. economy and advertising spending in general.
Station operating expense in the television segment for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was
$6,667,000, compared with $7,224,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, a decrease of
approximately $557,000 or 8%. Depreciation expense was approximately $497,000 higher in the first
half of 2009, primarily as a result of a change in the estimated useful life of television analog
equipment, which was fully depreciated in 2009. The remaining decrease in station operating expense
is the result of overall cost reductions in the television segment.
Operating income in the television segment for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was
$1,402,000 compared with $310,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, an increase of
approximately $1,092,000. The increase was a direct result of the improvement in net operating
revenue and reduction in station operating expense, described in detail above.
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Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this Form 10-Q that are not historical facts are forward-looking
statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates,”
“plans”, “expects,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
These statements are made as of the date of this report or as otherwise indicated, based on current
expectations. We undertake no obligation to update this information. A number of important factors
could cause our actual results for 2010 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any
forward-looking statements made by or on our behalf. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees
of future performance as they involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may
prove to be incorrect and that may cause our actual results and experiences to differ materially
from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements.
The risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may affect our performance include our financial
leverage and debt service requirements, dependence on key personnel, dependence on key stations,
U.S. and local economic conditions, our ability to successfully integrate acquired stations,
regulatory requirements, new technologies, natural disasters and terrorist attacks. We cannot be
sure that we will be able to anticipate or respond timely to changes in any of these factors, which
could adversely affect the operating results in one or more fiscal quarters. Results of operations
in any past period should not be considered, in and of itself, indicative of the results to be
expected for future periods. Fluctuations in operating results may also result in fluctuations in
the price of our stock.
For a more complete description of the prominent risks and uncertainties inherent in our
business, see “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2009.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Debt Arrangements and Debt Service Requirements
As of June 30, 2010, the Company had $113,578,000 of long-term debt outstanding (including the
current portion thereof) and the Company’s unused borrowing capacity under its Credit Agreement was
zero.
The Credit Agreement, as amended and discussed below, is a reducing revolving line of credit
maturing on July 29, 2012. Our indebtedness under the Credit Agreement is secured by a first
priority lien on substantially all of our assets and of our subsidiaries, by a pledge of our
subsidiaries’ stock and by a guarantee of our subsidiaries. The Credit Agreement may be used for
general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures.
On February 11, 2010, we amended our Credit Agreement to (i) reduce the Revolving Commitments
to $115 million, (ii) modify the scheduled reductions of the Revolving Commitments, (iii) decrease
the minimum Fixed Charge Coverage ratio effective December 31, 2009, (iv) modify the maximum
Leverage Ratio effective March 31, 2010, (v) revise the interest rates and commitment fees, and
(vi) modify the interest coverage ratio to be maintained. In addition, we agreed to pay each lender
a fee. The lender fees plus amendment costs were approximately $1.5 million and were capitalized as
deferred financing costs.
As of June 30, 2010 we have paid a total of $7.5 million on the outstanding balance of our Credit Agreement,
and in July 2010,
we paid down an additional $4 million.
The Revolving Commitments will be permanently reduced by $2.5 million at the end of each
calendar quarter. In addition, the Revolving Commitments shall be further reduced by 75% of Excess
Cash Flow (as defined in the Credit Agreement) each calendar quarter. Any outstanding balance under
the Credit Agreement will be due on the maturity date of July 29, 2012.
The Credit Agreement contains a number of financial covenants (all of which we were in
compliance with at June 30, 2010) that, among other things, require us to maintain specified
financial ratios and imposes certain limitations on us with respect to additional indebtedness,
acquisitions, the incurrence of additional liens, the disposition of assets, the payment of cash
dividends, repurchases of our Class A Common Stock, mergers, changes in business and management,
investments and transactions with affiliates. The financial covenants become more restrictive over
the life of the Credit Agreement.
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Sources and Uses of Cash
During the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, we had net cash flows from operating
activities of $12,826,000 and $12,001,000, respectively. We believe that cash flow from operations
will be sufficient to meet quarterly debt service requirements for interest and scheduled payments
of principal under the Credit Agreement. However, if such cash flow is not sufficient we may be
required to sell additional equity securities, refinance our obligations or dispose of one or more
of our properties in order to make such scheduled payments. There can be no assurance that we would
be able to effect any such transactions on favorable terms, if at all.
Our capital expenditures, exclusive of acquisitions, for the six months ended June 30, 2010
were approximately $2,146,000 ($2,574,000 in 2009). We anticipate capital expenditures in 2010 to
be approximately $4,500,000 to $5,000,000, which we expect to finance through funds generated from
operations.
Summary Disclosures About Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments
We have future cash obligations under various types of contracts, including the terms of our
Credit Agreement, operating leases, programming contracts, employment agreements, and other
operating contracts. For additional information concerning our future cash obligations see “Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation — Summary
Disclosures About Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments” in our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
We anticipate that our contractual cash obligations will be financed through funds generated
from operations.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States, which require us to make estimates, judgments
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses
and related disclosures and contingencies. We evaluate estimates used in preparation of our
financial statements on a continual basis. There have been no significant changes to our critical
accounting policies that are described in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Policies” in our Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Inflation
The impact of inflation on our operations has not been significant to date. There can be no
assurance that a high rate of inflation in the future would not have an adverse effect on our
operations.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Refer to “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” and “Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Market
Risk and Risk Management Policies” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2009 for a complete discussion of our market risk. There have been no material changes to the
market risk information included in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Item 4. Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation,
under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of
the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to cause the
material information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or
submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to be recorded, processed, summarized and
reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. There were no
changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended June
30, 2010, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the
Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
We currently and from time to time are involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of our
business. We are not a party to any lawsuit or proceeding which, in the opinion of management, is
likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or results of
operations.
Item 6. Exhibits
| 31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 32 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 and Rule 13-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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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.
| SAGA COMMUNICATIONS, INC |
||||
| Date: August 16, 2010 | /s/ SAMUEL D. BUSH | |||
| Samuel D. Bush | ||||
| Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) |
||||
| Date: August 16, 2010 | /s/ CATHERINE A. BOBINSKI | |||
| Catherine A. Bobinski | ||||
| Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) |
||||
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