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Gannett Announces First Quarter 2020 Results

May 7, 2020 6:45 AM

Strong revenue and Adjusted EBITDA performance despite COVID-19 impact

Implemented $75 million in annualized synergies during the first quarter

Ended the quarter with $200 million of cash and cash equivalents

MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Gannett Co., Inc. ("Gannett", "we", "us", "our", or "the Company") (NYSE: GCI) today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020. Prior to November 19, 2019, our corporate name was New Media Investment Group Inc. ("New Media" or "Legacy New Media"), and Gannett Co., Inc. ("Legacy Gannett") was a separate publicly traded company. On November 19, 2019, New Media acquired Legacy Gannett (the "Acquisition"). In connection with the Acquisition, Legacy Gannett became a wholly owned subsidiary of New Media, and New Media changed its name to Gannett Co., Inc.

“We are pleased to announce solid first quarter financial results this morning,” said Michael Reed, Gannett Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Revenue and EBITDA performance were strong, despite the disruption experienced over the last two weeks of March from the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact on our business from the pandemic came fast and is significant. However, we continue to execute on our operating and integration plans from the Acquisition of Legacy Gannett last year. The realization of synergies remains on track and debt pay down remains ahead of schedule. We have also moved aggressively to manage through the current economic crisis by taking measures to preserve and increase liquidity and financial performance, including further cost reductions, limits on capital expenditures, and the suspension of our quarterly dividend. We continue to evaluate additional options to strengthen our company as we navigate through this crisis.”

“A major part of our COVID-19 response was to protect the safety of our employees and their families, while also continuing to deliver vital news and information to our customers and our markets. The importance of our local presence has never been more apparent than over the past two months. We are incredibly proud of the work of all our colleagues across the company during this very challenging time, which is a testament to their commitment to serve local communities with high quality, vital news and information. The pandemic has undoubtedly created some challenges. Nevertheless, we remain committed to our operational and integration plans and we are highly confident that we will emerge from this crisis as an even stronger company.”

Financial Highlights

in thousands

Q1 2020

GAAP operating revenue

$

948,682

GAAP net loss attributable to Gannett

(80,152

)

Adjusted EBITDA(1) (non-GAAP)

99,069

Free cash flow(1) (non-GAAP)

46,706

(1) Refer to “Use of Non-GAAP Information” below for the Company’s definition of Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow, and reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures.

First Quarter 2020 Consolidated Results

Balance Sheet & Cash Flow

COVID-19 Response

Publishing Segment

Marketing Solutions Segment

Dividend Suspension

As previously announced, the Board has suspended the quarterly dividend. Prior to the onset of the U.S. public health and economic crises triggered by the pandemic, we had announced the Board’s intention to declare a quarterly dividend with respect to the first quarter of 2020. However, in light of the unprecedented economic disruption and uncertainty caused by the pandemic, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of shareholders for the Company to preserve liquidity by suspending the quarterly dividend until conditions improve. The Board of Directors is committed to reinstituting a quarterly dividend when it is appropriate to do so.

Integration Update

The Company implemented measures during the first quarter that will result in over $75 million in annualized savings. As a result of these measures, the Company realized $19 million in savings in the first quarter. By the end of the second quarter, the Company expects to have implemented measures that will result in over $140 million in annualized savings, with $35 - $40 million in savings expected to be realized during the second quarter. Management remains highly confident in its ability to implement measures by the end of 2021 that are expected to result in $300 million in synergies, with more than half of such measures expected to be completed in 2020.

Earnings Conference Call

Management will host a conference call on Thursday, May 7, 2020 at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time. A copy of the earnings release will be posted to the Investor Relations section of Gannett’s website, www.gannett.com. All interested parties are welcome to participate on the live call. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 1-855-319-1124 (from within the U.S.) or 1-703-563-6359 (from outside of the U.S.) ten minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call; please reference “Gannett First Quarter Earnings Call” or access code “1333947”. A simultaneous webcast of the conference call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at www.gannett.com. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the website and download any necessary software required to listen to the internet broadcast. A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available approximately two hours following the call’s completion through 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 21, 2020 by dialing 1-855-859-2056 (from within the U.S.) or 1-404-537-3406 (from outside of the U.S.); please reference access code “1333947”.

About Gannett

Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is an innovative, digitally focused media and marketing solutions company committed to fostering the communities in our network and helping them build relationships with their local businesses. With an unmatched reach at the national and local level, Gannett touches the lives of over 170 million people monthly with our Pulitzer-Prize winning content, consumer experiences and benefits, and advertiser products and services. Our portfolio includes the USA TODAY, local media organizations in 46 states in the U.S. and Guam, and Newsquest, a wholly owned subsidiary with over 140 local media brands operating in the United Kingdom. Gannett also owns the digital marketing services companies ReachLocal, Inc., UpCurve, Inc., and WordStream, Inc. and runs the largest media-owned events business in the U.S., GateHouse Live. Effective November 20, 2019, following the completion of its merger with Gannett, New Media Investment Group Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under Gannett Co., Inc. and its ticker symbol has changed to “GCI”. To connect with us, visit www.gannett.com.

Same Store Pro Forma Revenues

Same store pro forma revenues are based on GAAP revenues for New Media Investment Group Inc. and Legacy Gannett prior to the Acquisition and GAAP revenues for Gannett for the current period, excluding (1) revenues related to 2019 acquisitions from the beginning of 2020 through the first year anniversary of the applicable acquisition date, (2) exited operations, (3) currency impacts, and (4) deferred revenue impacts related to the Acquisition.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain items in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding measures expected to result in over $140 million in annualized savings, the timing of realizing those savings, including our expectation that $35 - $40 million will be realized in the second quarter, the potential to realize additional savings in future quarters, our ability to achieve $300 million of synergies through measures expected to be implemented by the end of 2021, our expectations, in terms of both amount and timing, with respect to debt repayment, real estate sales and debt refinancing, future revenue trends and our ability to influence trends, and the amount and timing of any future dividend. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These and other risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond our control. The Company can give no assurance its expectations will be attained. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this press release. For a discussion of some of the risks and important factors that could cause actual results to differ from such forward-looking statements, see the risks and other factors detailed from time to time in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause its actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Gannett Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited, in thousands (except per share amounts)

Table No. 1

March 31,

December 31,

Assets

2020

2019

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

199,651

$

156,042

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $20,486 and $19,923

379,862

438,523

Inventories

47,775

55,090

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

135,608

129,460

Total current assets

762,896

779,115

Property, plant and equipment, at cost net of accumulated depreciation of $323,934 and $277,291

764,000

815,807

Operating lease assets

306,491

309,112

Goodwill

909,741

914,331

Intangible assets, net

981,966

1,012,564

Deferred income tax assets

64,387

76,297

Other assets

121,730

112,876

Total assets

$

3,911,211

$

4,020,102

Liabilities and equity

Current liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

$

449,833

$

453,628

Deferred revenue

225,609

218,823

Current portion of long-term debt

3,300

Other current liabilities

48,832

42,702

Total current liabilities

724,274

718,453

Long-term debt

1,633,468

1,636,335

Convertible debt

3,300

3,300

Deferred tax liabilities

10,406

9,052

Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations

219,803

235,906

Long-term operating lease liabilities

293,144

297,662

Other long-term liabilities

135,864

136,188

Total noncurrent liabilities

2,295,985

2,318,443

Total liabilities

3,020,259

3,036,896

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

1,396

1,850

Commitments and contingent liabilities

Equity

Common stock of $0.01 par value per share, 2,000,000,000 shares authorized, 132,715,532 issued and 132,058,367 shares outstanding at March 31, 2020; 129,386,258 issued and 128,991,544 shares outstanding at December 31, 2019

1,327

1,294

Treasury stock at cost, 657,165 and 394,714 shares at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively

(4,491

)

(2,876

)

Additional paid-in capital

1,093,705

1,090,694

Accumulated deficit

(196,110

)

(115,958

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

(4,875

)

8,202

Total equity

889,556

981,356

Total liabilities and equity

$

3,911,211

$

4,020,102

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Gannett Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited, in thousands (except per share amounts)

Table No. 2

Three months ended

Fiscal year ended

March 31, 2020

March 31, 2019

Operating revenues:

Advertising and marketing services

$

487,010

$

193,544

Circulation

374,723

152,165

Other

86,949

41,890

Total operating revenues

948,682

387,599

Operating expenses:

Operating costs

566,463

229,495

Selling, general and administrative expenses

299,137

129,050

Depreciation and amortization

78,024

20,923

Integration and reorganization costs

28,254

5,798

Acquisition costs

5,969

772

Impairment of long-lived assets

1,207

Loss on sale or disposal of assets

657

1,789

Total operating expenses

978,504

389,034

Operating loss

(29,822

)

(1,435

)

Non-operating (income) expense:

Interest expense

57,899

10,134

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

805

Other income

(16,899

)

(260

)

Non-operating expense

41,805

9,874

Net loss before income taxes

(71,627

)

(11,309

)

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

8,979

(1,954

)

Net loss

$

(80,606

)

$

(9,355

)

Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests

(454

)

(249

)

Net loss attributable to Gannett

$

(80,152

)

$

(9,106

)

Loss per share attributable to Gannett - basic

$

(0.61

)

$

(0.15

)

Loss per share attributable to Gannett - diluted

$

(0.61

)

$

(0.15

)

Dividends declared per share

$

$

0.38

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Gannett Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited, in thousands

Table No. 3

Three months ended

March 31, 2020

March 31, 2019

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net loss

$

(80,606

)

$

(9,355

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to operating cash flows:

Depreciation and amortization

78,024

20,923

Facility consolidation cost

484

Equity-based compensation expense

11,577

1,136

Non-cash interest expense

56,160

344

Loss on sale or disposal of assets

657

1,789

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

805

Impairment of long-lived assets

1,207

Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations, net of contributions

(30,545

)

(276

)

Change in other assets and liabilities, net

23,933

15,974

Net cash provided by operating activities

60,489

31,742

Cash flows from investing activities:

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(37,953

)

Purchase of property, plant, and equipment

(13,783

)

(2,242

)

Proceeds from sale of real estate and other assets

10,400

2,465

Change in other investing activities

(36

)

Net cash used for investing activities

(3,419

)

(37,730

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Repayment under term loans

(12,701

)

(2,197

)

Borrowing under revolving credit facility

54,400

Repayments under revolving credit facility

(46,400

)

Payments for employee taxes withheld from stock awards

(1,615

)

(689

)

Payment of dividends

(23,245

)

Changes in other financing activities

(363

)

Net cash used for financing activities

(14,679

)

(18,131

)

Effect of currency exchange rate change on cash

1,554

Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

43,945

(24,119

)

Balance of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period

188,664

52,770

Balance of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period

$

232,609

$

28,651

SEGMENT INFORMATION

Gannett Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited, in thousands

Table No. 4

Three months ended

March 31, 2020

March 31, 2019

Operating revenues:

Publishing

$

858,150

$

378,080

Marketing Solutions

121,281

25,887

Corporate and Other

3,009

672

Intersegment eliminations

(33,758

)

(17,040

)

Total

$

948,682

$

387,599

Adjusted EBITDA:

Publishing

$

110,928

$

41,693

Marketing Solutions

7,887

(3,230

)

Corporate and Other

(19,746

)

(5,616

)

Total

$

99,069

$

32,847

Depreciation and amortization:

Publishing

$

66,957

$

18,830

Marketing Solutions

7,331

1,277

Corporate and Other

3,736

816

Total

$

78,024

$

20,923

PRO FORMA SAME STORE REVENUES

Gannett Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited, in thousands

Table No. 5

Three months ended

March 31,

2020

March 31,

2019

% Change

Pro forma total revenue

$

948,682

$

1,051,024

(9.7

)%

Acquired revenues

(12,553

)

***

Currency impact

1,275

***

Exited operations

(6

)

(6,888

)

(99.9

)%

Deferred revenue adjustment

1,834

***

Same store total revenue

$

939,232

$

1,044,136

(10.0

)%

Pro forma advertising and marketing services revenue

$

487,010

$

558,780

(12.8

)%

Acquired revenues

(2,997

)

***

Currency impact

932

***

Exited operations

(6

)

(6,437

)

(99.9

)%

Deferred revenue adjustment

594

***

Same store advertising and marketing services revenue

$

485,533

$

552,343

(12.1

)%

Pro forma circulation revenue

$

374,723

$

404,891

(7.5

)%

Acquired revenues

(1,803

)

***

Currency impact

264

***

Exited operations

(252

)

(100.0

)%

Deferred revenue adjustment

1,240

***

Same store circulation revenue

$

374,424

$

404,639

(7.5

)%

Pro forma other revenue

$

86,949

$

87,353

(0.5

)%

Acquired revenues

(7,753

)

***

Currency impact

79

***

Exited operations

(199

)

(100.0

)%

Same store other revenue

$

79,275

$

87,154

(9.0

)%

*** Indicates an absolute value percentage change greater than 100

USE OF NON-GAAP INFORMATION

The Company uses non-GAAP financial performance and liquidity measures to supplement the financial information presented on a GAAP basis. These non-GAAP financial measures, which may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies, should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures and should be read together with financial information presented on a GAAP basis.

The Company defines its non-GAAP measures as follows:

Management’s Use of Non-GAAP Measures

Adjusted EBITDA and Free cash flow are not measurements of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to income from operations, net income (loss), cash flow from continuing operating activities, or any other measure of performance or liquidity derived in accordance with GAAP. We believe our non-GAAP measures as we have defined them are helpful in identifying trends in our day-to-day performance because the items excluded have little or no significance on our day-to-day operations. These measures provide an assessment of controllable expenses and afford management the ability to make decisions which are expected to facilitate meeting current financial goals as well as achieve optimal financial performance.

Adjusted EBITDA provides us with a measure of financial performance, independent of items that are beyond the control of management in the short-term such as depreciation and amortization, taxation, non-cash impairments, and interest expense associated with our capital structure. This metric measures our financial performance based on operational factors that management can impact in the short-term, namely the cost structure or expenses of the organization. Adjusted EBITDA is one of the metrics we use to review the financial performance of our business on a monthly basis.

We use Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of our day-to-day operating performance, which is evidenced by the publishing and delivery of news and other media and excludes certain expenses that may not be indicative of our day-to-day business operating results. We consider the unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments and the (gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt to be financing related costs associated with interest expense or amortization of financing fees. Accordingly, we exclude financing related costs such as the early extinguishment of debt because they represent the write-off of deferred financing costs, and we believe these non-cash write-offs are similar to interest expense and amortization of financing fees, which by definition are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA. Additionally, the non-cash gains (losses) on derivative contracts, which are related to interest rate swap agreements to manage interest rate risk, are financing costs associated with interest expense. Such charges are incidental to, but not reflective of, our day-to-day operating performance, and it is appropriate to exclude charges related to financing activities such as the early extinguishment of debt and the unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments which, depending on the nature of the financing arrangement, would have otherwise been amortized over the period of the related agreement and does not require a current cash settlement. Such charges are incidental to, but not reflective of our day-to-day operating performance of the business that management can impact in the short term.

Limitations of Non-GAAP Measures

Each of our non-GAAP measures has limitations as an analytical tool. They should not be viewed in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP measures of earnings or cash flows. Material limitations in making the adjustments to our earnings to calculate Adjusted EBITDA and using this non-GAAP financial measure as compared to GAAP net income (loss) include: the cash portion of interest / financing expense, income tax (benefit) provision, and charges related to impairment of long-lived assets, which may significantly affect our financial results.

A reader of our financial statements may find this item important in evaluating our performance, results of operations, and financial position. We use non-GAAP financial measures to supplement our GAAP results in order to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting our business.

Adjusted EBITDA and Free cash flow are not alternatives to net income, income from operations, or cash flows provided by or used in operations as calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Readers of our financial statements should not rely on Adjusted EBITDA or Free cash flow as a substitute for any such GAAP financial measure. We strongly urge readers of our financial statements to review the reconciliation of income (loss) from continuing operations to Adjusted EBITDA and the reconciliation of net cash from operating activities to Free cash flow, along with our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. We also strongly urge readers of our financial statements to not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business. In addition, because Adjusted EBITDA and Free cash flow are not measures of financial performance under GAAP and are susceptible to varying calculations, the Adjusted EBITDA and Free cash flow measures as presented in this report may differ from and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ADJUSTED EBITDA

Gannett Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited, in thousands

Table No. 6

Three months ended March 31, 2020

Publishing

Marketing Solutions

Corporate and Other

Consolidated Total

Net income (loss) attributable to Gannett

$

33,840

$

(5,073

)

$

(108,919

)

$

(80,152

)

Income tax expense (benefit)

8,979

8,979

Interest expense

18

57,881

57,899

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

805

805

Other non-operating items, net

(5,784

)

3,624

(14,739

)

(16,899

)

Depreciation and amortization

66,957

7,331

3,736

78,024

Integration and reorganization costs

13,309

1,388

13,557

28,254

Acquisition costs

5,969

5,969

Impairment of long-lived assets

Net (gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets

592

23

42

657

Equity-based compensation

11,577

11,577

Other items

1,996

594

1,366

3,956

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP basis)

$

110,928

$

7,887

$

(19,746

)

$

99,069

Three months ended March 31, 2019

Publishing

Marketing Solutions

Corporate and Other

Consolidated Total

Net income (loss) attributable to Gannett

$

18,754

$

(5,626

)

$

(22,234

)

$

(9,106

)

Income tax expense (benefit)

(1,954

)

(1,954

)

Interest expense

55

10,079

10,134

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

Other non-operating items, net

(310

)

50

(260

)

Depreciation and amortization

18,830

1,277

816

20,923

Integration and reorganization costs

2,384

556

2,858

5,798

Acquisition costs

772

772

Impairment of long-lived assets

1,207

1,207

Net (gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets

19

2

1,768

1,789

Equity-based compensation

1,136

1,136

Other items

1,961

561

(114

)

2,408

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP basis)

$

41,693

$

(3,230

)

$

(5,616

)

$

32,847

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

FREE CASH FLOW

Gannett Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited, in thousands

Table No. 7

Three months

ended March 31,

2020

Net cash flow provided by operating activities (GAAP basis)

$

60,489

Capital expenditures

(13,783

)

Free cash flow (non-GAAP basis)(1)

$

46,706

(1) Free cash flow for the first quarter was negatively impacted by $28.3 million of integration and reorganization costs, $6.0 million of acquisition costs, and $2.6 million of other one-time adjustments.

For investor inquiries:

Ashley Higgins

Investor Relations

212-479-3160

[email protected]



For media inquiries:

Stephanie Tackach

Director, Public Relations

212-715-5490

[email protected]

Source: Gannett Co., Inc.

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