FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR REVENUE PERFORMANCE WELL AHEAD OF THE INDUSTRY
For the fourth quarter of 2008, net broadcast revenues decreased 5.0% to
For the full year 2008, net broadcast revenues decreased 1.6% to
"During the past year, we continued to diligently execute our strategy, while taking steps to reduce our costs and preserve our cash flows," said
Below are the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") (in thousands, except per share amounts).
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended December 31, December 31, 2008 2007 2008 2007 Broadcast revenues, net of agency commissions $23,697 $24,939 $96,340 $97,912 Station operating expenses 14,824 15,276 61,358 63,064 Corporate general and administrative expenses 1,435 1,745 6,876 7,296 Impairment of indefinite- lived intangible assets - 163,600 67,522 163,600 Activist defense costs - - - 599 Depreciation and amortization 1,037 1,040 4,157 4,982 Gain on sale of stations - - (507) - Loss on disposal of long-lived assets and other 270 102 267 52 Operating income (loss) 6,131 (156,824) (43,333) (141,681) Interest expense (2,900) (4,127) (11,818) (16,757) Realized and unrealized loss on derivatives (6,621) (3,928) (8,717) (5,155) Other (expense) income, net (85) 27 (1,145) 162 Loss from continuing operations before income taxes (3,475) (164,852) (65,013) (163,431) Income tax benefit 1,358 61,600 18,871 60,561 Loss from continuing operations (2,117) (103,252) (46,142) (102,870) Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax 9 126 411 296 Net loss ($2,108) ($103,126) ($45,731) ($102,574) Basic net loss per common share: Loss from continuing operations ($0.05) ($2.69) ($1.19) ($2.69) Income from discontinued operations $0.00 $0.00 $0.01 $0.01 Net loss ($0.05) ($2.69) ($1.18) ($2.68) Common shares for basic calculation 39,137 38,402 38,872 38,308 Common shares for diluted calculation 39,137 38,402 38,872 38,308
While Regent is in compliance with all debt covenants at
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Regent utilizes certain financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP to assess its financial performance. The non-GAAP performance and liquidity measures presented in this release are station operating income, same station net revenue, same station operating income, and free cash flow. Regent's management believes these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors, as discussed in more detail below, regarding Regent's financial condition and results of operations and liquidity; however, these measures should not be considered as an alternative to net broadcast revenue, operating income (loss), net loss, or cash provided by operating activities as an indicator of Regent's performance or liquidity.
Station operating income
Fourth quarter 2008 station operating income decreased 8.2% to
The Company believes that station operating income is a performance measure that helps investors better understand the financial health of our radio stations. Further, Regent and other media companies have traditionally been measured by analysts and other investors on their ability to generate station operating income. The following table reconciles operating income (loss), which the Company believes is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to station operating income (in thousands):
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended Station operating December 31, December 31, income (loss) 2008 2007 2008 2007 Operating income (loss) $6,131 $(156,824) $(43,333) $(141,681) Plus: Corporate general and administrative expenses 1,435 1,745 6,876 7,296 Impairment of indefinite- lived intangible assets - 163,600 67,522 163,600 Activist defense costs - - - 599 Loss on disposal of long-lived assets and other 270 102 267 52 Depreciation and amortization 1,037 1,040 4,157 4,982 Less: Gain on sale of stations - - 507 - Station operating income $8,873 $9,663 $34,982 $34,848
Same station results
On a same station basis, which includes results from stations owned and operated in continuing operations during the entire fourth quarter for both the 2008 and 2007 periods and excludes barter, net broadcast revenue for the fourth quarter of 2008 decreased 5.1% to
The Company believes that a same station presentation is important to investors as it provides a measure of performance of radio stations that were owned and operated by Regent in the fourth quarter of 2007 as well as the current quarter, and eliminates the effect of acquisitions and dispositions on comparability. Additionally, the Company has excluded barter in this comparison as barter customarily results in volatility between quarters, although differences over the full year are not material. The following tables reconcile net broadcast revenue and operating income (loss) to same station net broadcast revenue and same station operating income (in thousands):
Three Months Ended Same Station Net Broadcast Revenue December 31, 2008 2007 Net broadcast revenue $23,697 $24,939 Less: Net results of stations not included in same station category - 44 Barter transactions 1,131 1,113 Same station net broadcast revenue $22,566 $23,782
Three Months Ended Same Station Operating Income December 31, 2008 2007 Operating income (loss) $6,131 $(156,824) Plus: Corporate general and administrative expenses 1,435 1,745 Loss on disposal of long-lived assets and other 270 102 Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets - 163,600 Depreciation and amortization 1,037 1,040 Station operating income 8,873 9,663 Adjustments: Net results of stations not included in same station category - 109 Barter transactions (22) (79) Same station operating income $8,851 $9,693
Free cash flow
Free cash flow is defined as net income plus depreciation, amortization, and other non-cash expenses, less maintenance capital expenditures and net gains on the sale of stations and disposal of long-lived assets. Free cash flow decreased 4.8% to
The Company believes that free cash flow is a liquidity measure that helps investors evaluate the ability of the Company to generate excess cash flow for investing and financing uses. The following table displays how the Company calculates free cash flow (in thousands):
Three Months Ended Twelve months ended December 31, December 31, Free Cash Flow 2008 2007 2008 2007 Net loss ($2,108) ($103,126) ($45,731) ($102,574) Add: (1) Depreciation and amortization 1,037 1,041 4,157 5,073 Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets - 163,600 67,522 163,600 Non-cash interest expense 132 137 582 556 Non -cash loss on sale of long-lived assets 231 101 179 52 Non-cash unrealized loss on derivatives 6,080 4,164 6,540 6,150 Other items, net (2) 279 226 2,151 1,020 Less: (1) Non cash tax benefit 1,535 61,700 18,934 60,590 Non-cash gain on sale of radio stations - 49 1,155 49 Maintenance capital expenditures 248 378 1,101 2,078 Digital upgrade capital expenditures 76 33 146 986 Free cash flow $3,792 $3,983 $14,064 $10,174 (1) Includes results reclassified to discontinued operations (2) Includes non-cash compensation, barter and other miscellaneous non-cash items
The most directly comparable GAAP measure to free cash flow is net cash provided by operating activities. The following table reconciles net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow (in thousands):
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended December 31, December 31, Free Cash Flow 2008 2007 2008 2007 Net cash provided by operating activities $4,635 $6,210 $15,386 $13,613 Less: Changes in operating assets and liabilities 516 2,013 - 89 Bad debt (credit) expense 3 (197) 446 286 Plus: Changes in operating assets and liabilities - - 371 - Less: Maintenance capital expenditures 248 378 1,101 2,078 Digital upgrade capital expenditures 76 33 146 986 Free cash flow $3,792 $3,983 $14,064 $10,174
Selected Data
As of
Teleconference
The Company will host a teleconference to discuss its fourth quarter results on
Regent Communications is a radio broadcasting company focused on acquiring, developing and operating radio stations in mid-sized markets. Regent owns and operates 62 stations located in 13 markets. Regent Communications, Inc. shares are traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "RGCI."
This press release includes certain forward-looking statements with respect to Regent Communications, Inc. for which it claims the protections of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties and include statements preceded by, followed by or that include words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "project" and other similar expressions. Although Regent believes expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are influenced by financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, and plans and objectives of management for future operations. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those conveyed in the forward-looking statements based on various factors including, but not limited to: changes in economic, business and market conditions affecting the radio broadcast industry, the markets in which we operate, and nationally; increased competition for attractive radio properties and advertising dollars; fluctuations in the cost of operating radio properties; the ability to manage growth; the ability to integrate these and other acquisitions; changes in the regulatory climate affecting radio broadcast companies, including uncertainties surrounding recent Federal Communication Commission rules regarding broadcast ownership limit; and the Company's ability to maintain compliance with the terms of its credit facilities. Further information on other factors that could affect the financial results of Regent Communications, Inc. is included in Regent's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents are available free of charge at the Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov and/or from Regent Communications, Inc.
SOURCE Regent Communications, Inc.