Form 10-Q for period ended September 26, 2004
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC. 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 26, 2004

 

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: 1-6383

 


 

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Commonwealth of Virginia   54-0850433

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

333 E. Franklin St., Richmond, VA   23219
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(804) 649-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

 


 

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 is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of November 2, 2004.

 

Class A Common shares:   23,174,808
Class B Common shares:   555,992

 



Table of Contents

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORM 10-Q REPORT

September 26, 2004

 

         Page

Part I. Financial Information

    

Item 1. Financial Statements

    
   

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets – September 26, 2004, and December 28, 2003

   1
   

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations – Third quarter and nine months ended September 26, 2004, and September 28, 2003

   3
   

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows – Nine months ended September 26, 2004, and September 28, 2003

   4
   

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

   5

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   19

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

   25

Part II. Other Information

    

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

   25

Item 6. Exhibits

   25

Signatures

   26


Table of Contents

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(000’s except shares)

 

    

(Unaudited)

September 26,

2004


  

December 28,

2003


ASSETS

             

Current assets:

             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 9,150    $ 10,575

Accounts receivable - net

     104,738      113,226

Inventories

     7,751      6,171

Other

     40,534      32,649
    

  

Total current assets

     162,173      162,621
    

  

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

     90,328      89,994

Other assets

     57,922      60,277

Property, plant and equipment - net

     428,146      434,088

Excess of cost over fair value of net identifiable assets of acquired businesses - net

     832,004      832,004

FCC licenses and other intangibles - net

     795,444      807,771
    

  

     $ 2,366,017    $ 2,386,755
    

  

 

See accompanying notes.

 

1


Table of Contents

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(000’s except shares)

 

    

(Unaudited)

September 26,
2004


    December 28,
2003


 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                

Current liabilities:

                

Accounts payable

   $ 21,898     $ 22,210  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     89,406       83,424  

Income taxes payable

     —         8,769  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     111,304       114,403  
    


 


Long-term debt

     485,454       531,969  

Borrowings of consolidated variable interest entities

     95,320       95,320  

Deferred income taxes

     379,284       362,769  

Other liabilities and deferred credits

     146,861       174,833  

Stockholders’ equity:

                

Preferred stock ($5 cumulative convertible), par value $5 per share:

                

Authorized 5,000,000 shares; none outstanding

                

Common stock, par value $5 per share:

                

Class A, authorized 75,000,000 shares; issued 23,172,200 and 22,989,506 shares

     115,861       114,947  

Class B, authorized 600,000 shares; issued 555,992 shares

     2,780       2,780  

Additional paid-in capital

     43,705       34,595  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (51,371 )     (50,984 )

Unearned compensation

     (9,974 )     (11,670 )

Retained earnings

     1,046,793       1,017,793  
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     1,147,794       1,107,461  
    


 


     $ 2,366,017     $ 2,386,755  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes.

 

2


Table of Contents

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(000’s except for per share data)

 

     Third Quarter Ended

    Nine Months Ended

 
     Sept. 26,
2004


    Sept. 28,
2003


    Sept. 26,
2004


    Sept. 28,
2003


 

Revenues

   $ 217,644     $ 205,086     $ 650,690     $ 611,890  
    


 


 


 


Operating costs:

                                

Production

     94,333       89,487       280,037       267,007  

Selling, general and administrative

     75,876       73,089       230,757       218,021  

Depreciation and amortization

     15,709       16,327       49,280       49,976  
    


 


 


 


Total operating costs

     185,918       178,903       560,074       535,004  
    


 


 


 


Operating income

     31,726       26,183       90,616       76,886  
    


 


 


 


Other income (expense):

                                

Interest expense

     (7,643 )     (8,409 )     (23,171 )     (26,262 )

Investment income (loss) – unconsolidated affiliates

     523       (1,044 )     330       (4,552 )

Other, net

     335       1,295       1,028       9,530  
    


 


 


 


Total other expense

     (6,785 )     (8,158 )     (21,813 )     (21,284 )
    


 


 


 


Income from continuing operations before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     24,941       18,025       68,803       55,602  

Income taxes

     9,228       6,580       25,457       20,297  
    


 


 


 


Income from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     15,713       11,445       43,346       35,305  

Income from discontinued operations (net of tax)

     —         301       —         957  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (net of income tax benefit)

     —         (8,079 )     —         (8,079 )
    


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 15,713     $ 3,667     $ 43,346     $ 28,183  
    


 


 


 


Earnings per common share:

                                

Income from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

   $ 0.67     $ 0.50     $ 1.86     $ 1.53  

Discontinued operations

     —         0.01       —         0.04  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     —         (0.35 )     —         (0.35 )
    


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 0.67     $ 0.16     $ 1.86     $ 1.22  
    


 


 


 


Earnings per common share – assuming dilution:

                                

Income from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     0.66     $ 0.49     $ 1.83     $ 1.51  

Discontinued operations

     —         0.01       —         0.04  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     —         (0.34 )     —         (0.34 )
    


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 0.66     $ 0.16     $ 1.83     $ 1.21  
    


 


 


 


Dividends paid per common share

   $ 0.20     $ 0.19     $ 0.60     $ 0.57  
    


 


 


 


 

See accompanying notes.

 

3


Table of Contents

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(000’s)

 

     Nine Months Ended

 
     September 26,
2004


    September 28,
2003


 

Operating activities:

                

Net income

   $ 43,346     $ 28,183  

Adjustments to reconcile net income:

                

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     —         8,079  

Depreciation and amortization

     49,280       50,034  

Deferred income taxes

     21,844       17,710  

Investment (income) loss - unconsolidated affiliates

     (330 )     4,552  

Gain on sale of investment

     —         (5,746 )

Retirement plan contributions

     (35,014 )     (21,000 )

Change in assets and liabilities:

                

Accounts receivable and inventories

     6,908       7,088  

Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities

     1,331       (1,136 )

Income taxes payable

     (11,872 )     (1,844 )

Reduction in advance from unconsolidated newsprint affiliate

     —         (6,667 )

Other

     4,232       307  
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     79,725       79,560  
    


 


Investing activities:

                

Capital expenditures

     (29,505 )     (22,761 )

Proceeds from sale of investment

     —         16,840  

Contribution to unconsolidated newsprint affiliate

     —         (2,000 )

Purchase of investments

     (2,147 )     (3,185 )

Other, net

     1,384       26  
    


 


Net cash used by investing activities

     (30,268 )     (11,080 )
    


 


Financing activities:

                

Increase in debt

     244,500       216,000  

Payment of debt

     (291,015 )     (277,464 )

Dividends paid

     (14,208 )     (13,328 )

Other, net

     9,841       3,326  
    


 


Net cash used by financing activities

     (50,882 )     (71,466 )
    


 


Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (1,425 )     (2,986 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     10,575       11,279  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 9,150     $ 8,293  
    


 


Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

                

Cash paid during the period for:

                

Interest (net of amount capitalized)

   $ 25,068     $ 24,178  

Income taxes

   $ 11,807     $ 8,460  

 

See accompanying notes.

 

4


Table of Contents

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

1. The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial reporting, and with applicable quarterly reporting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. They do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements and, accordingly, should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2003.

 

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of interim financial information, have been included. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year. Certain prior-year financial information has been reclassified to conform with the current year’s presentation.

 

2. Inventories are principally raw materials (primarily newsprint).

 

3. In March 2003, the Company sold its shares of Hoover’s (a provider of business information) for $16.8 million and reported a gain of $5.7 million ($3.7 million net of income taxes) which is included in the line item Other, net. Proceeds from the sale were used to repay debt.

 

4. The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s benefit plans for the third quarter and nine months ended 2004 and 2003:

 

     Third Quarter Ended

     Pension Benefits

    Other Benefits

(In thousands)    September 26,
2004


    September 28,
2003


    September 26,
2004


   September 28,
2003


Service cost

   $ 3,072     $ 2,769     $ 99    $ 97

Interest cost

     5,210       4,901       515      635

Expected return on plan assets

     (6,154 )     (5,489 )     —        —  

Amortization of prior-service cost

     88       111       —        —  

Amortization of net loss

     1,051       —         42      99
    


 


 

  

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 3,267     $ 2,292     $ 656    $ 831
    


 


 

  

 

     Nine Months Ended

     Pension Benefits

    Other Benefits

     September 26,
2004


    September 28,
2003


    September 26,
2004


   September 28,
2003


Service cost

   $ 9,215     $ 8,306     $ 297    $ 292

Interest cost

     15,631       14,703       1,544      1,905

Expected return on plan assets

     (18,463 )     (16,467 )     —        —  

Amortization of prior-service cost

     264       333       —        —  

Amortization of net loss

     3,153       —         126      297
    


 


 

  

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 9,800     $ 6,875     $ 1,967    $ 2,494
    


 


 

  

 

5


Table of Contents

In December of 2003 Congress passed the “Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003” (the Act). The Act reformed Medicare in such a way that the Company expects to receive subsidy payments beginning in 2006 for continuing retiree prescription drug benefits and expects a reduction in the rate of participation by current employees in the plan. In the second quarter, based on currently available guidance, the Company adopted (retroactive to the beginning of 2004) FASB Staff Position 106-2, Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. Upon retroactive adoption of the Act, the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (APBO) was reduced by $5.6 million, which resulted in a decrease in the Company’s net periodic postretirement benefit cost of approximately $195,000 for each of the first two quarters of 2004. A comparable decrease was recognized in the third quarter and a similar decrease is anticipated in the final quarter of the year. Certain definitions and interpretations, yet to be issued by the federal government, could require the Company to adjust future estimates.

 

5. The following table sets forth the Company’s current and prior-year financial performance by segment for 2004:

 

     Interactive  
(In thousands)    Publishing

    Broadcasting

    Media

    Eliminations

    Total

 
Three Months Ended September 26, 2004                                         

Consolidated revenues

   $ 137,659     $ 77,308     $ 3,526     $ (849 )   $ 217,644  
    


 


 


 


 


Segment operating cash flow

   $ 35,286     $ 24,397     $ (1,202 )           $ 58,481  

Allocated amounts:

                                        

Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliate

     207                               207  

Depreciation and amortization

     (5,847 )     (4,215 )     (303 )             (10,365 )
    


 


 


         


Segment profit (loss)

   $ 29,646     $ 20,182     $ (1,505 )             48,323  
    


 


 


               

Unallocated amounts:

                                        

Interest expense

                                     (7,643 )

Investment income – SP Newsprint

                                     316  

Acquisition intangibles amortization

                                     (4,109 )

Corporate expense

                                     (9,636 )

Other

                                     (2,310 )
                                    


Consolidated income before income taxes

                                   $ 24,941  
                                    


Three Months Ended September 28, 2003                                         

Consolidated revenues

   $ 132,226     $ 70,865     $ 2,612     $ (617 )   $ 205,086  
    


 


 


 


 


Segment operating cash flow

   $ 34,453     $ 20,585     $ (1,396 )           $ 53,642  

Allocated amounts:

                                        

Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliate

     170                               170  

Depreciation and amortization

     (6,434 )     (5,245 )     (319 )             (11,998 )
    


 


 


         


Segment profit (loss)

   $ 28,189     $ 15,340     $ (1,715 )             41,814  
    


 


 


               

Unallocated amounts:

                                        

Interest expense

                                     (8,409 )

Investment loss – SP Newsprint

                                     (1,214 )

Acquisition intangibles amortization

                                     (3,012 )

Corporate expense

                                     (9,575 )

Other

                                     (1,579 )
                                    


Consolidated income from continuing operations before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

                                   $ 18,025  
                                    


 

6


Table of Contents
     Interactive  
(In thousands)    Publishing

    Broadcasting

    Media

    Eliminations

    Total

 
Nine Months Ended September 26, 2004                                         

Consolidated revenues

   $ 413,893     $ 229,434     $ 10,010     $ (2,647 )   $ 650,690  
    


 


 


 


 


Segment operating cash flow

   $ 105,023     $ 73,175     $ (3,625 )           $ 174,573  

Allocated amounts:

                                        

Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliate

     355                               355  

Depreciation and amortization

     (17,771 )     (14,183 )     (1,053 )             (33,007 )
    


 


 


         


Segment profit (loss)

   $ 87,607     $ 58,992     $ (4,678 )             141,921  
    


 


 


               

Unallocated amounts:

                                        

Interest expense

                                     (23,171 )

Investment loss – SP Newsprint

                                     (25 )

Acquisition intangibles amortization

                                     (12,327 )

Corporate expense

                                     (30,994 )

Other

                                     (6,601 )
                                    


Consolidated income before income taxes

                                   $ 68,803  
                                    


Nine Months Ended September 28, 2003                                         

Consolidated revenues

   $ 397,598     $ 208,999     $ 7,025     $ (1,732 )   $ 611,890  
    


 


 


 


 


Segment operating cash flow

   $ 102,769     $ 60,933     $ (4,011 )           $ 159,691  

Allocated amounts:

                                        

Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliate

     346                               346  

Gain on sale of Hoover’s

                     5,746               5,746  

Depreciation and amortization

     (19,698 )     (16,464 )     (1,192 )             (37,354 )
    


 


 


         


Segment profit

   $ 83,417     $ 44,469     $ 543               128,429  
    


 


 


               

Unallocated amounts:

                                        

Interest expense

                                     (26,262 )

Investment loss – SP Newsprint

                                     (4,898 )

Acquisition intangibles amortization

                                     (9,043 )

Corporate expense

                                     (27,674 )

Other

                                     (4,950 )
                                    


Consolidated income from continuing operations before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

                                   $ 55,602  
                                    


 

6. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations:

 

     Quarter Ended September 26, 2004

   Quarter Ended September 28, 2003

(In thousands, except per share amounts)    Income
(Numerator)


    Shares
(Denominator)


   Per Share
Amount


   Income
(Numerator)


    Shares
(Denominator)


   Per Share
Amount


Basic EPS

                                       

Income from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle available to common stockholders

   $ 15,713     23,399    $ 0.67    $ 11,445     23,074    $ 0.50
                 

               

Effect of dilutive securities

                                       

Stock options

           132                   178       

Restricted stock and other

     (8 )   199             (12 )   171       
    


 
         


 
      

Diluted EPS

                                       

Income from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle available to common stockholders plus assumed conversions

   $ 15,705     23,730    $ 0.66    $ 11,433     23,423    $ 0.49
    


 
  

  


 
  

 

7


Table of Contents
     Nine Months Ended September 26, 2004

   Nine Months Ended September 28, 2003

(In thousands, except per share amounts)    Income
(Numerator)


    Shares
(Denominator)


   Per Share
Amount


   Income
(Numerator)


    Shares
(Denominator)


   Per Share
Amount


Basic EPS

                                       

Income from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle available to common stockholders

   $ 43,346     23,339    $ 1.86    $ 35,305     23,052    $ 1.53
                 

               

Effect of dilutive securities

                                       

Stock options

           188                   140       

Restricted stock and other

     (24 )   200             (42 )   154       
    


 
         


 
      

Diluted EPS

                                       

Income from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle available to common stockholders plus assumed conversions

   $ 43,322     23,727    $ 1.83    $ 35,263     23,346    $ 1.51
    


 
  

  


 
  

 

7. The Company’s comprehensive income consisted of the following:

 

     Quarter Ended

   Nine Months Ended

 
(In thousands)    Sept. 26,
2004


    Sept. 28,
2003


   Sept. 26,
2004


    Sept. 28,
2003


 

Net income

   $ 15,713     $ 3,667    $ 43,346     $ 28,183  

Unrealized gain on derivative contracts (net of deferred taxes)

     827       1,270      3,066       3,489  

Minimum pension liability

     —         —        4       (570 )

Unrealized holding gain (loss) on equity - securities (net of deferred taxes)

     (2,161 )     1,397      (3,457 )     2,270  

Less: reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income (net of deferred taxes)

     —         —        —         (3,607 )
    


 

  


 


Comprehensive income

   $ 14,379     $ 6,334    $ 42,959     $ 29,765  
    


 

  


 


 

8. The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation utilizing the intrinsic value method in accordance with APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to stock-based employee compensation. The fair value for these options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions for 2004 and 2003, respectively: risk-free interest rates of 3.8% and 3.7%; dividend yields of 1.4% and 1.4%; volatility factors of .48 and .40; and an expected life of 8 years.

 

8


Table of Contents
     Quarter Ended

    Nine Months Ended

 
(In thousands, except per share amounts)    Sept. 26,
2004


    Sept. 28,
2003


    Sept. 26,
2004


    Sept. 28,
2003


 

Net income as reported

   $ 15,713     $ 3,667     $ 43,346     $ 28,183  

Deduct: total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value method for all awards, net of related tax effects

     (1,336 )     (1,109 )     (3,844 )     (3,253 )
    


 


 


 


Pro forma net income

   $ 14,377     $ 2,558     $ 39,502     $ 24,930  
    


 


 


 


Earning per share:

                                

Basic – as reported

   $ 0.67     $ 0.16     $ 1.86     $ 1.22  
    


 


 


 


Basic – pro forma

   $ 0.61     $ 0.11     $ 1.69     $ 1.08  
    


 


 


 


Diluted – as reported

   $ 0.66     $ 0.16     $ 1.83     $ 1.21  
    


 


 


 


Diluted – pro forma

   $ 0.61     $ 0.11     $ 1.66     $ 1.07  
    


 


 


 


 

In March 2004, the FASB issued a proposed statement, Share-Based Payment, that would require that such transactions be accounted for using a fair-value-based method to recognize compensation expense. The FASB has indicated that this statement would be effective for public companies for interim or annual periods beginning after June 15, 2005 (earlier adoption is permitted). The FASB plans to issue the final statement near the end of this years’ fourth quarter although a good deal of debate over this topic continues to occur, including some bills introduced in Congress. The Company will continue to monitor the status of this proposed standard.

 

9. As part of the September 2000 sale of Garden State Paper Company, the Company entered into a financial newsprint swap agreement with Enron North America Corporation (Enron). In late November 2001, the Company terminated the newsprint swap agreement for reasons including misrepresentations made by Enron at the time the contract was signed. Enron filed for bankruptcy shortly thereafter. The Company believes that no further payments are due by either party under the agreement. Enron disputes the Company’s position and, in late 2003, filed a claim for $26.7 million plus interest and certain declaratory relief. The Company believes that its position is correct and has filed various motions to dismiss the claim or to remove it from the bankruptcy court. A mediation session was held late in the second quarter and an additional session was held early in the fourth quarter. The Company does not believe that any resolution of this matter will be material to its results of operations, financial position or cash flow.

 

10. In October 2003, the Company sold Media General Financial Services, Inc. (MGFS), a component of its Interactive Media Division. The Company recorded an after-tax gain of $6.8 million (net of income taxes of $3.9 million). The results of MGFS, which have been presented as income from discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, were as follows for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003: revenues of $1.2 million and $3.7 million, costs and expenses of $.7 million and $2.2 million, and income from discontinued operations of $.3 million and $1 million (net of $.2 million and $.5 million in income taxes).

 

11. The Company has a one-third partnership interest in SP Newsprint Company (SPNC) which it accounts for under the equity method. The Company has agreed to contribute additional equity (up to $4.7 million) if SPNC’s liquidity, as defined, were to fall below a specified threshold. This agreement terminates on December 31, 2005.

 

9


Table of Contents

12. The Company adopted FASB Interpretation 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, as of the beginning of the third quarter in 2003 and began consolidating certain Variable Interest Entities which own real property leased to the Company. Upon adoption, the Company added $86 million of assets (primarily buildings), $94 million of liabilities (primarily debt) and recognized a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle of $8.1 million (net of $3.4 million in taxes).

 

13. In September 2004, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that the residual method (until now, a method in common use) will no longer be accepted as an appropriate method to value acquired assets other than goodwill. Effective no later than the beginning of the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2004, registrants will be required to use a direct method for impairment testing on all identifiable intangible assets, including those previously valued using the residual method; any loss as a result of this test would be reported as a change in accounting principle. The Company’s FCC licenses were originally valued using a residual method. The Company is evaluating the impact, if any, that this changed method may have on its financial position or results of operations.

 

14. In August 2001, the Company filed a universal shelf registration for combined public debt or equity securities totaling up to $1.2 billion. The Company’s subsidiaries are 100% owned except for certain VIEs; all subsidiaries except those in the non-guarantor columns that follow (which include the VIEs and the Company’s discontinued operations) currently guarantee the debt securities issued from the shelf. These guarantees are full and unconditional and on a joint and several basis. The following financial information presents condensed consolidating balance sheets, statements of operations, and statements of cash flows for the parent company, the Guarantor Subsidiaries, and the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries, together with certain eliminations.

 

10


Table of Contents

Media General, Inc.

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

As of September 26, 2004

(In thousands)

 

     Media General
Corporate


    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Media General
Consolidated


 

ASSETS

                                        

Current Assets:

                                        

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 6,232     $ 2,918     $ —       $ —       $ 9,150  

Accounts receivable, net

     —         104,738       —         —         104,738  

Inventories

     2       7,749       —         —         7,751  

Other

     41,148       59,759       297       (60,670 )     40,534  
    


 


 


 


 


Total current assets

     47,382       175,164       297       (60,670 )     162,173  
    


 


 


 


 


Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

     10,777       79,551       —         —         90,328  

Investments in and advances to subsidiaries

     1,661,637       990,429       5,721       (2,657,787 )     —    

Other assets

     35,369       21,534       1,019       —         57,922  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     20,310       329,659       80,577       (2,400 )     428,146  

Excess of cost over fair value of net identifiable assets of acquired businesses, net

     —         832,004       —         —         832,004  

FCC licenses and other intangibles, net

     —         795,444       —         —         795,444  
    


 


 


 


 


Total assets

   $ 1,775,475     $ 3,223,785     $ 87,614     $ (2,720,857 )   $ 2,366,017  
    


 


 


 


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                                        

Current liabilities:

                                        

Accounts payable

   $ 6,876     $ 15,028     $ —       $ (6 )   $ 21,898  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     58,982       90,797       297       (60,670 )     89,406  
    


 


 


 


 


Total current liabilities

     65,858       105,825       297       (60,676 )     111,304  
    


 


 


 


 


Long-term debt

     485,454       —         95,320       —         580,774  

Deferred income taxes

     (61,415 )     440,699       —         —         379,284  

Other liabilities and deferred credits

     137,427       7,647       —         1,787       146,861  

Stockholders’ equity

                                        

Common stock

     118,641       4,872       —         (4,872 )     118,641  

Additional paid-in capital

     43,705       2,027,288       4,187       (2,031,475 )     43,705  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (51,235 )     (136 )     —         —         (51,371 )

Unearned compensation

     (9,974 )     —         —         —         (9,974 )

Retained earnings

     1,047,014       637,590       (12,190 )     (625,621 )     1,046,793  
    


 


 


 


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     1,148,151       2,669,614       (8,003 )     (2,661,968 )     1,147,794  
    


 


 


 


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,775,475     $ 3,223,785     $ 87,614     $ (2,720,857 )   $ 2,366,017  
    


 


 


 


 


 

11


Table of Contents

Media General, Inc.

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

As of December 28, 2003

(In thousands)

 

     Media General
Corporate


    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


   Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Media General
Consolidated


 

ASSETS

                                       

Current Assets:

                                       

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 7,343     $ 3,232    $ —       $ —       $ 10,575  

Accounts receivable, net

     —         113,226      —         —         113,226  

Inventories

     2       6,169      —         —         6,171  

Other

     41,742       53,260      261       (62,614 )     32,649  
    


 

  


 


 


Total current assets

     49,087       175,887      261       (62,614 )     162,621  
    


 

  


 


 


Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

     10,418       79,576      —         —         89,994  

Investments in and advances to subsidiaries

     1,691,763       906,696      5,721       (2,604,180 )     —    

Other assets

     33,492       25,450      1,335       —         60,277  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     21,027       332,734      82,727       (2,400 )     434,088  

Excess of cost over fair value of net identifiable assets of acquired businesses, net

     —         832,004      —         —         832,004  

FCC licenses and other intangibles, net

     —         807,771      —         —         807,771  
    


 

  


 


 


Total assets

   $ 1,805,787     $ 3,160,118    $ 90,044     $ (2,669,194 )   $ 2,386,755  
    


 

  


 


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                                       

Current liabilities:

                                       

Accounts payable

   $ 9,352     $ 12,864    $ —       $ (6 )   $ 22,210  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     60,497       85,281      261       (62,615 )     83,424  

Taxes on income

     —         8,769      —         —         8,769  
    


 

  


 


 


Total current liabilities

     69,849       106,914      261       (62,621 )     114,403  
    


 

  


 


 


Long-term debt

     531,969       —        95,320       —         627,289  

Deferred income taxes

     (66,494 )     429,263      —         —         362,769  

Other liabilities and deferred credits

     166,238       6,808      —         1,787       174,833  

Stockholders’ equity

                                       

Common stock

     117,727       4,872      —         (4,872 )     117,727  

Additional paid-in capital

     34,595       2,027,288      4,187       (2,031,475 )     34,595  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (54,304 )     3,320      —         —         (50,984 )

Unearned compensation

     (11,670 )     —        —         —         (11,670 )

Retained earnings

     1,017,877       581,653      (9,724 )     (572,013 )     1,017,793  
    


 

  


 


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     1,104,225       2,617,133      (5,537 )     (2,608,360 )     1,107,461  
    


 

  


 


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,805,787     $ 3,160,118    $ 90,044     $ (2,669,194 )   $ 2,386,755  
    


 

  


 


 


 

12


Table of Contents

Media General, Inc.

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations

Three Months Ended September 26, 2004

(In thousands)

 

     Media General
Corporate


    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Media General
Consolidated


 

Revenues

   $ 41,888     $ 247,241     $ —       $ (71,485 )   $ 217,644  

Operating costs:

                                        

Production

     —         94,333       —         —         94,333  

Selling, general and administrative

     40,320       107,608       —         (72,052 )     75,876  

Depreciation and amortization

     519       14,473       717       —         15,709  
    


 


 


 


 


Total operating costs

     40,839       216,414       717       (72,052 )     185,918  
    


 


 


 


 


Operating income (loss)

     1,049       30,827       (717 )     567       31,726  

Operating income (expense):

                                        

Interest expense

     (7,019 )     (1 )     (623 )     —         (7,643 )

Investment income – unconsolidated affiliates

     207       316       —         —         523  

Investment income (loss) – consolidated affiliates

     18,916       —         —         (18,916 )     —    

Other, net

     300       35       567       (567 )     335  
    


 


 


 


 


Total other income (expense)

     12,404       350       (56 )     (19,483 )     (6,785 )
    


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) before income taxes

     13,453       31,177       (773 )     (18,916 )     24,941  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     (2,260 )     11,488       —         —         9,228  
    


 


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

     15,713       19,689       (773 )     (18,916 )     15,713  

Other comprehensive income (loss) (net of tax)

     827       (2,161 )     —         —         (1,334 )
    


 


 


 


 


Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 16,540     $ 17,528     $ (773 )   $ (18,916 )   $ 14,379  
    


 


 


 


 


 

13


Table of Contents

Media General, Inc.

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations

Nine Months Ended September 26, 2004

(In thousands)

 

     Media General
Corporate


    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Media General
Consolidated


 

Revenues

   $ 126,675     $ 739,586     $ —       $ (215,571 )   $ 650,690  

Operating costs:

                                        

Production

     —         280,037       —         —         280,037  

Selling, general and administrative

     122,275       325,560       —         (217,078 )     230,757  

Depreciation and amortization

     1,795       45,334       2,151       —         49,280  
    


 


 


 


 


Total operating costs

     124,070       650,931       2,151       (217,078 )     560,074  
    


 


 


 


 


Operating income (loss)

     2,605       88,655       (2,151 )     1,507       90,616  

Operating income (expense):

                                        

Interest expense

     (21,482 )     (4 )     (1,685 )     —         (23,171 )

Investment income (loss) – unconsolidated affiliates

     355       (25 )     —         —         330  

Investment income (loss) – consolidated affiliates

     53,608       —         —         (53,608 )     —    

Other, net

     881       147       1,507       (1,507 )     1,028  
    


 


 


 


 


Total other income (expense)

     33,362       118       (178 )     (55,115 )     (21,813 )
    


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) before income taxes

     35,967       88,773       (2,329 )     (53,608 )     68,803  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     (7,379 )     32,836       —         —         25,457  
    


 


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

     43,346       55,937       (2,329 )     (53,608 )     43,346  

Other comprehensive income (loss) (net of tax)

     3,070       (3,457 )     —         —         (387 )
    


 


 


 


 


Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 46,416     $ 52,480     $ (2,329 )   $ (53,608 )   $ 42,959  
    


 


 


 


 


 

14


Table of Contents

Media General, Inc.

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations

Three months Ended September 28, 2003

(In thousands)

 

     Media General
Corporate


    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Media General
Consolidated


 

Revenues

   $ 40,577     $ 234,453     $ —       $ (69,944 )   $ 205,086  

Operating costs:

                                        

Production

     —         89,487       —         —         89,487  

Selling, general and administrative

     40,345       103,161       —         (70,417 )     73,089  

Depreciation and amortization

     600       15,010       717       —         16,327  
    


 


 


 


 


Total operating costs

     40,945       207,658       717       (70,417 )     178,903  
    


 


 


 


 


Operating income (loss)

     (368 )     26,795       (717 )     473       26,183  

Operating income (expense):

                                        

Interest expense

     (7,872 )     (1 )     (536 )     —         (8,409 )

Investment income (loss) – unconsolidated affiliates

     170       (1,214 )     —         —         (1,044 )

Investment income (loss) – consolidated affiliates

     7,748       —         —         (7,748 )     —    

Other, net

     1,292       3       473       (473 )     1,295  
    


 


 


 


 


Total other income (expense)

     1,338       (1,212 )     (63 )     (8,221 )     (8,158 )
    


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     970       25,583       (780 )     (7,748 )     18,025  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     (2,697 )     9,277       —         —         6,580  
    


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     3,667       16,306       (780 )     (7,748 )     11,445  

Income from discontinued operations

     —         301       —         —         301  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     —         —         (8,079 )     —         (8,079 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

     3,667       16,607       (8,859 )     (7,748 )     3,667  

Other comprehensive income (net of tax)

     1,270       1,397       —         —         2,667  
    


 


 


 


 


Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 4,937     $ 18,004     $ (8,859 )   $ (7,748 )   $ 6,334  
    


 


 


 


 


 

15


Table of Contents

Media General, Inc.

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations

Nine months Ended September 28, 2003

(In thousands)

 

     Media General
Corporate


    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Media General
Consolidated


 

Revenues

   $ 120,409     $ 699,873     $ —       $ (208,392 )   $ 611,890  

Operating costs:

                                        

Production

     —         267,007       —         —         267,007  

Selling, general and administrative

     119,708       307,178       —         (208,865 )     218,021  

Depreciation and amortization

     2,863       46,396       717       —         49,976  
    


 


 


 


 


Total operating costs

     122,571       620,581       717       (208,865 )     535,004  
    


 


 


 


 


Operating income (loss)

     (2,162 )     79,292       (717 )     473       76,886  

Operating income (expense):

                                        

Interest expense

     (25,721 )     (5 )     (536 )     —         (26,262 )

Investment income (loss) – unconsolidated affiliates

     346       (4,898 )     —         —         (4,552 )

Investment income (loss) – consolidated affiliates

     42,719       —         —         (42,719 )     —    

Other, net

     3,950       5,580       473       (473 )     9,530  
    


 


 


 


 


Total other income (expense)

     21,294       677       (63 )     (43,192 )     (21,284 )
    


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     19,132       79,969       (780 )     (42,719 )     55,602  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     (9,051 )     29,348       —         —         20,297  
    


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     28,183       50,621       (780 )     (42,719 )     35,305  

Income from discontinued operations

     —         957       —         —         957  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     —         —         (8,079 )     —         (8,079 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

     28,183       51,578       (8,859 )     (42,719 )     28,183  

Other comprehensive income (loss) (net of tax)

     3,273       (1,691 )     —         —         1,582  
    


 


 


 


 


Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 31,456     $ 49,887     $ (8,859 )   $ (42,719 )   $ 29,765  
    


 


 


 


 


 

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Media General, Inc.

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

Nine Months Ended September 26, 2004

(In thousands)

 

     Media General
Corporate


    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Media General
Consolidated


 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                                

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 51,850     $ 27,738     $ 137     $ 79,725  

Cash flows from investing activities:

                                

Capital expenditures

     (2,245 )     (27,260 )     —         (29,505 )

Purchases of Investment

     —         (2,147 )     —         (2,147 )

Other, net

     29       1,355       —         1,384  
    


 


 


 


Net cash used by investing activities

     (2,216 )     (28,052 )     —         (30,268 )
    


 


 


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

                                

Increase in debt

     244,500       —         —         244,500  

Repayment of debt

     (291,015 )     —         —         (291,015 )

Cash dividends paid

     (14,208 )     —         —         (14,208 )

Other, net

     9,978       —         (137 )     9,841  
    


 


 


 


Net cash used by financing activities

     (50,745 )     —         (137 )     (50,882 )
    


 


 


 


Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (1,111 )     (314 )     —         (1,425 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     7,343       3,232       —         10,575  
    


 


 


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 6,232     $ 2,918     $ —       $ 9,150  
    


 


 


 


 

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Media General, Inc.

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

Nine months Ended September 28, 2003

(In thousands)

 

     Media General
Corporate


    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Media General
Consolidated


 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                                

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 71,473     $ 8,033     $ 54     $ 79,560  

Cash flows from investing activities:

                                

Capital expenditures

     (1,898 )     (20,852 )     (11 )     (22,761 )

Proceeds from sale of investment

     —         16,840       —         16,840  

Contribution to unconsolidated affiliate

     —         (2,000 )     —         (2,000 )

Other investments

     —         (3,185 )     —         (3,185 )

Other, net

     16       10       —         26  
    


 


 


 


Net cash used by investing activities

     (1,882 )     (9,187 )     (11 )     (11,080 )
    


 


 


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

                                

Increase in debt

     216,000       —         —         216,000  

Repayment of debt

     (277,464 )     —         —         (277,464 )

Cash dividends paid

     (13,328 )     —         —         (13,328 )

Other, net

     3,369       —         (43 )     3,326  
    


 


 


 


Net cash used by financing activities

     (71,423 )     —         (43 )     (71,466 )
    


 


 


 


Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (1,832 )     (1,154 )     —         (2,986 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     6,932       4,347       —         11,279  
    


 


 


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 5,100     $ 3,193     $ —       $ 8,293  
    


 


 


 


 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

OVERVIEW

 

Media General is an independent, publicly owned communications company situated primarily in the Southeast with interests in newspapers, television stations and interactive media.

 

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Sunday in December.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Third quarter and year-to-date comparative results were impacted by several prior-year items including the July 2003 adoption of FIN 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, and the Company’s 2003 fourth quarter sale of Media General Financial Services, Inc. (MGFS) which led to that unit’s results being shown as income from discontinued operations. Year-to-date results in 2003 were also influenced by a first quarter after-tax gain of $3.7 million ($0.16 per diluted share) attributable to the Company’s sale of its Hoover’s stock to Dun & Bradstreet.

 

Income from continuing operations in 2004 before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle increased $4.3 million (37%) over last year’s equivalent quarter. The Company’s improved performance was primarily attributable to a 32% increase in Broadcast segment operating profit, as Political revenues flourished in this election year and advertising revenues were bolstered by the Summer Olympics. The Publishing Division also contributed nicely to the improved results as operating profits rose 5.2%, led by growth in Classified advertising. The Company’s share of SP Newsprint’s (SPNC) results in the quarter was income of $.3 million (a $1.5 million improvement from the prior year) and represented SPNC’s first profitable quarter since late 2001. This milestone at SPNC was achieved as the result of a rise in newsprint selling price over the prior-year’s equivalent quarter, partially offset by lower sales volume. Lower interest expense also contributed to the quarter’s favorable results due to a decreased average debt level.

 

An $11.7 million (37%) increase in income from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle adjusted for the Hoover’s gain in the first nine months of this year was the result of a combination of the same factors which positively impacted the third quarter. The improvement was largely spurred by a 10.5% increase in segment operating profits, a significantly reduced year-over-year loss at SPNC, and an 11.8% decrease in interest expense. Broadcast Division segment profits represented a 33% improvement over the prior year as revenues continued to prosper on particularly robust Political advertising. In the Publishing Division, segment profits were up 5% as Classified advertising revenues remained strong. SPNC’s significantly improved performance (from a loss of $4.9 million in the prior year to just shy of break-even in the current year) was principally attributable to higher newsprint prices. Taken as a whole, the Company’s improved year-to-date performance was dampened by several factors, including: increased amortization due to the re-institution of amortization of network affiliation intangibles and the inclusion of expenses associated with the Company’s Variable Interest Entities (VIE) in 2004 (which only began in the third quarter of 2003 when FASB Interpretation 46 was adopted by the Company).

 

PUBLISHING

 

Operating income for the Publishing Division increased $1.5 million and $4.2 million in the third quarter and first nine months of the year over the comparable 2003 periods. Third quarter results reflected solid advertising revenue growth in all categories with the exception of National; this marked the Division’s eighth consecutive quarter of revenue improvement over the prior year in period-over-

 

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period comparisons. This improvement was achieved despite this year’s onslaught of hurricanes which relentlessly struck Florida and Alabama, resulting in both reduced revenues and increased news coverage expenses. The solid year-to-date results were realized on the strength of Classified ad revenues which contributed nearly two-thirds of the Division’s overall revenue growth. As illustrated by the following chart, Classified revenues remained the Division’s stellar performer in both the quarter and year to date and continued to fuel the Division’s sustained success on the strength of robust employment advertising. Preprints were up slightly, while National revenues experienced softness (primarily in the travel and electronics categories). Preprints continued to benefit from volume gains as certain advertisers migrated from Retail. Consequently, Retail advertising fell approximately 1% in the first nine months of the year; however, the third quarter showed signs of stabilization as retail ad revenues rose modestly over the equivalent prior-year quarter.

 

LOGO

 

Publishing Segment operating expenses increased $3.9 million and $12.1 million in the third quarter and first nine months of this year over the equivalent 2003 periods due to a combination of factors. Newsprint expense was up $1.3 million in the quarter and $4.1 million in the year to date as prices continued the ascent which began in August of 2002. In the quarter, a $37 per ton rise in average price led to a $1.2 million cost increase; the balance was attributable to additional consumption (due to higher advertising linage and circulation). In the year to date, a $40 per ton rise in average price accounted for the majority of the higher newsprint expense. Employee compensation and benefit costs were up $.5 million (1%) in the quarter and $3.6 million (2.4%) in the year to date due to annual salary increases and higher retirement plan expenses, partially offset by lower group health care costs. Additionally, certain departmental operating costs at the Florida properties rose approximately 10% in the quarter and nine months, the result of higher circulation expenses (due primarily to increased sales expense and subscriber discounts), increased facility costs (attributable predominantly to repair and maintenance costs), and additional expenses incurred as a result of the hurricanes.

 

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BROADCAST

 

Compared to the same prior-year periods, Broadcast operating income jumped $4.8 million (32%) and $14.5 million (33%) in the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, due to a nearly 10% rise in revenues in those same periods. This improved performance was achieved despite a series of hurricanes, some of which threatened to hit and some of which actually made landfall, in Florida and Alabama throughout August and September. The following chart illustrates gains posted in all advertising categories over the prior-year equivalent periods, and includes the benefit of the Summer Olympics’ advertising. Political advertising was three and one-half times the level of last year’s third quarter and more than four and one-half times the level of last year’s first nine months due to intense congressional and presidential campaign spending. Local advertising was up approximately 3.3% in the quarter (on the strength of the services and furniture categories) and 6.5% in the year-to-date period (driven by the automotive and services categories), reflecting the results of continued aggressive sales initiatives and new selling tools employed to boost advertising by local customers. National advertising rose by approximately 3% in both the quarter and the year-to-date period (led by the automotive and service categories).

 

LOGO

 

The Broadcast Division’s revenue growth rate continued to exceed that of the industry for the first eight months of the year. According to the Television Bureau of Advertising (a not-for-profit trade association of America’s broadcast television industry), time sales across the broadcast industry increased 9.6% through August 2004 compared to the Division’s 12% improvement. Assigning actual Political revenues to either the Local or National categories, as does the industry survey, National and Local advertising growth for the Company was 16.3% and 9.4%, respectively, well above the industry’s growth of 11.1% and 8.6%.

 

Broadcast operating expenses rose $1.6 million and $5.9 million in the third quarter and the first nine months of this year as compared to the equivalent 2003 periods. The primary factor driving

 

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these increases was higher employee compensation and benefit costs which rose 6.1% in the quarter and 6.4% in the year to date due to merit pay raises, increased sales commissions as a result of revenue growth, and higher retirement plan expenses, partially offset by lower group health care costs in the quarter. Increased programming expenses, including higher Nielsen rating fees, as well as costs associated with the hurricanes also impacted Broadcast operating expenses in the quarter and year to date.

 

INTERACTIVE MEDIA

 

In the first quarter of 2003, the Company sold its share of Hoover’s, Inc., for $16.8 million to Dun & Bradstreet, producing a pre-tax gain of $5.7 million. Excluding this gain, Interactive Media results improved $.2 million and $.5 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, the result of reduced operating losses from the prior-year’s equivalent periods. Revenues increased 35% and 43% in the third quarter and year-to-date period, while expenses rose $.7 million and $2.5 million, resulting primarily from higher compensation and employee benefits expense as positions were filled to sustain the Division’s continued growth. The significant increases in the Division’s revenues were driven by vigorous Classified advertising (up 44% in the quarter and 50% in the year to date) as up-sell arrangements continued to thrive across the Division. Under these up-sell arrangements, customers pay an additional fee to have their classified advertisement placed online coincident with its publication in the newspaper. At the Company’s three metropolitan newspapers, approximately 80% to 90% of advertisers who placed classified ads in print during the quarter also chose to display their ads online. The strong sell-through rate is a key indicator of the value that consumers ascribe to online advertising.

 

The Interactive Media Division has continued to grow and expand its operations since the Division’s inception in January of 2001. This Division remains focused on developing new products, securing and retaining high-quality personnel, invigorating revenues through sales initiatives and enhancing content and design across all the Company’s online enterprises.

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

Interest expense decreased $.8 million and $3.1 million in the quarter and year to date from the equivalent year-ago periods. In the quarter, lower interest expense was achieved as the result of a $103 million decrease in average debt outstanding, partially offset by a 34 basis point rise in the Company’s effective interest rate due to an increase in LIBOR (upon which interest on borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility is based). Interest expense in the first nine months of this year was $3.1 million lower due to a 45 basis point decrease (primarily due to a change in the mix of the Company’s borrowings) as well as to a $25 million decline in average debt outstanding this year.

 

The Company uses interest rate swaps (where it pays a fixed rate and receives a floating rate) as part of an overall strategy to manage the interest cost and risk associated with variable interest rates, primarily short-term changes in LIBOR. It does not initiate such instruments for trading purposes. Toward the end of the first quarter of 2003, four of the Company’s swaps with notional amounts totaling $275 million matured; concurrently, four swaps with notional amounts totaling $200 million became effective. Toward the end of the first quarter of 2004, two of these swaps with notional amounts totaling $100 million matured, leaving two remaining swaps with notional amounts of $50 million each which mature in the first quarter of 2005. These interest rate swaps are cash flow hedges that effectively convert the covered portion of the Company’s variable rate debt to fixed rate debt with a weighted average interest rate approximating 4.6%.

 

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INCOME TAXES

 

The Company’s effective tax rate on income from continuing operations was 37% in the current quarterly and year-to-date periods as compared to 36.5% in the equivalent prior-year periods. The Company has begun a preliminary analysis of the American Jobs Creation Act that was recently passed by both the House and Senate and signed by the President in October of this year. The Act provides a deduction that has the effect of reducing the Company’s tax rate and will be phased in over the next five years. The Company currently estimates the 2005 impact of the Act to be a reduction in its effective tax rate of one-half to one percentage point.

 

LIQUIDITY

 

Before recognizing the current-year $35 million contribution to the Company’s retirement plan ($21 million contributed in 2003), net cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of 2004 was $114.7 million, 14% above the prior-year’s equivalent amount. Cash generated by operating activities enabled the Company to fund capital expenditures of $29.5 million, to pay dividends to stockholders of $14.2 million, to contribute $35 million to its retirement plan, and to reduce debt by $47 million.

 

Over the past four years, the Company’s retirement plan, like many corporate pension plans, has moved from an overfunded position to an underfunded position. Despite the solid investment performance of the trust’s assets during 2003, declines from 2000 to 2002 in the trust’s assets and continuing reductions in the discount rates used to value the plan’s liabilities have created an underfunded trust. Although not required to do so, the Company elected to make contributions in 2003 and early 2004 with the immediate expectation of restoring the funding position and the longer-term intention of reducing the ultimate amount that it would need to contribute. The Company does not foresee making further elective contributions in the near term but continues to monitor changes in market values, rates of return, and discount rates, as well as to evaluate plan benefits and design.

 

The Company has in place a $1 billion revolving credit facility and a $1.2 billion universal shelf registration which allows for combined public debt or equity issuances (together the “Facilities”). At the end of the third quarter, there were borrowings of $275 million outstanding under the revolving credit facility and $199.9 million in senior notes outstanding under the universal shelf. The Facilities carry cross-default provisions between the revolving credit and the senior notes. The revolving credit agreement contains both interest coverage and leverage ratio covenants. These covenants, which involve debt levels, interest expense, and EBITDA (a measure of cash earnings as defined in the revolving credit agreement), can affect the Company’s maximum borrowing capacity under the Facilities. A significant drop in the Company’s EBITDA or a large increase in the Company’s debt level could make it challenging to meet the leverage ratio. The Company was in compliance with all covenants at quarter-end and expects to remain in compliance with them going forward. The Company believes that internally generated funds provided by operations, together with the unused portion of the Facilities, provide it with significant flexibility to manage working capital needs, pay dividends, finance capital expenditures, make pension contributions, and take advantage of new strategic opportunities.

 

OUTLOOK

 

Despite lost revenues and higher expenses as a result of an overactive hurricane season, the Company continues to capitalize on a strengthening economic recovery which began in late 2003. The Broadcast Division flourished in the first nine months of the year as advertising revenues, buoyed by

 

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Political spending and Summer Olympics advertising, rebounded strongly from their depressed prior-year levels. The Broadcast Division expects sustained success in the last quarter of 2004 as intense presidential, U.S. senate and state congressional races reach a heightened pitch prior to their conclusion. The Publishing Division anticipates that advertising revenues will continue to gain momentum throughout the remainder of the year, but expects operating results to be adversely impacted by the steady ascent of newsprint prices, which began in late 2002, and is projected to continue throughout 2004 and into 2005. However, by virtue of its investment in SP Newsprint, the Company is a net beneficiary of newsprint price increases because they should translate, as they did in the third quarter, into operating performance improvement for SPNC.

 

The Company continues to monitor developments surrounding the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) new rules which would allow cross-ownership of broadcast television stations and newspapers in all but the smallest markets. As a result of a court decision this summer, the new rules continue to be stayed, and the matter was remanded to the FCC. The Company intends to file a petition prior to the end of the year to bring these issues before the Supreme Court. In the meantime, the Company is proceeding with the regular renewal of its television licenses and is requesting waivers of the FCC’s 1975 rule for several of its stations in cross-owned markets. The Company is optimistic that waivers will be granted in these markets. The Company remains open to future investments that would complement its strategic vision and foster its convergence efforts.

 

* * * * * *

 

Certain statements in this quarterly report that are not historical facts are “forward-looking” statements, as that term is defined by the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements related to the impact of new accounting standards, new tax laws, and political campaign advertising, as well as expectations regarding newsprint prices, pension contributions, litigation claims, general advertising levels, and the effects of changes to FCC regulations. Forward-looking statements, including those which use words such as the Company “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” “intends,” “projects,” “plans,” and similar words, are made as of the date of this filing and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements.

 

Some significant factors that could affect actual results include: changes in advertising demand, the availability and pricing of newsprint, changes in interest rates, the outcome of litigation, the performance of pension plan assets, health care cost trends, and regulatory rulings and laws.

 

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

The Company’s management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report. There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that are reasonably likely to adversely affect internal control subsequent to the date of this evaluation.

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

For a complete discussion of the Company’s dispute with Enron North America Corporation, see Note 9 of this Form 10-Q and Item 3 of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2003.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

31.1    Section 302 Chief Executive Officer Certification
31.2    Section 302 Chief Financial Officer Certification
32    Section 906 Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Certification

 

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Table of Contents

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.

 

   

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

DATE: November 4, 2004

 

/s/ J. Stewart Bryan III


   

J. Stewart Bryan III

   

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

DATE: November 4, 2004

 

/s/ Marshall N. Morton


   

Marshall N. Morton

   

Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer

 

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