Salem Communications Announces a 7.8% Increase in First Quarter 2007 Total Revenue
CAMARILLO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Salem Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:SALM), a leading U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, magazine and book publisher targeting audiences interested in content related to faith, family and conservative values, today announced results for the three month period ended March 31, 2007.
Commenting on the company's results, Edward G. Atsinger III, president and CEO, said, "We achieved total revenue growth of 7.8% in the first quarter of 2007 with net broadcasting revenue growing 3.4% to $50.4 million and the Internet and publishing businesses growing revenue 73.9% to $5.7 million. Within the radio business, block programming revenue increased 8.8% and advertising revenue decreased 1.6%. This advertising decline is principally attributable to high sales staff vacancies, which we are working to fill, and the continued softness of the radio advertising market. The solid growth in non-broadcast media is a direct result of our strategic emphasis on developing new media businesses that exploit the promotional capability and content resources of our radio assets."
First Quarter 2007 Results
For the quarter ended March 31, 2007 compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2006:
-- Total revenue increased 7.8% to $56.1 million from $52.0 million;
-- Operating income increased 11.2% to $11.9 million from $10.7
million;
-- Net income increased 9.2% to $3.0 million from $2.7 million;
-- Net income per diluted share increased 9.1% to $0.12 from $0.11;
-- EBITDA increased 11.4% to $15.8 million from $14.1 million;
-- Adjusted EBITDA increased 14.2% to $13.2 million from $11.6
million;
Broadcasting
-- Net broadcasting revenue increased 3.4% to $50.4 from $48.8
million;
-- Station operating income ("SOI") increased 5.1% to $18.0 million
from $17.1 million;
-- Same station net broadcasting revenue increased 3.6% to $49.4
million from $47.7 million;
-- Same station SOI increased 2.9% to $17.9 million from $17.4
million;
-- Same station SOI margin decreased to 36.3% from 36.5%;
Non-broadcast Media
-- Non-broadcast revenue increased 73.9% to $5.7 million from $3.3
million; and
-- Non-broadcast operating income increased to $0.4 million from a
loss of $0.2 million.
Included in the results for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 are:
-- A $3.3 million gain ($1.8 million gain, net of tax, or $0.07 per
diluted share) on the disposal of assets;
-- A $0.8 million non-cash compensation charge ($0.5 million, net of
tax, or $0.02 per share) related to the expensing of stock
options consisting primarily of:
-- $0.5 million non-cash compensation included in corporate
expenses; and
-- $0.2 million non-cash compensation included in broadcasting
operating expenses.
Included in the results for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 are:
-- A $3.5 million gain ($2.1 million gain, net of tax, or $0.09 per
diluted share) on the disposal of assets;
-- A $0.3 million gain ($0.01 gain per diluted share) from
discontinued operations, net of tax; and
-- A $1.3 million non-cash compensation charge ($0.8 million, net of
tax, or $0.03 per share) related to the expensing of stock
options consisting primarily of:
-- $1.1 million non-cash compensation included in corporate
expenses; and
-- $0.2 million non-cash compensation included in broadcasting
operating expenses.
Per share numbers are calculated based on 23,853,068 diluted weighted average shares for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 and 24,696,334 diluted weighted average shares for the comparable 2006 period.
On February 7, 2007, we sold WKNR (850 AM) in Cleveland, Ohio. We discontinued operating this radio station under a local marketing agreement effective December 1, 2006. For the quarter ended March 31, 2007, this station did not generate any revenue or profit. For the comparable 2006 period, the station generated net broadcasting revenue of $0.6 million and lost $0.1 million.
SOI Margin Composition Analysis
The following table, which is for analytical purposes only, has been created by assigning each station in the company's radio station portfolio to one of four categories based upon the station's first quarter SOI margin. The company believes this table is helpful in assessing the portfolio's financial and operational development.
Three Months Ended March 31,
(Net Broadcasting Revenue and SOI in millions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2006
----------------------------------
Average
SOI Margin % Stations Revenue SOI SOI %
----------------------------------- ---------- ------- ------ --------
50% or greater 14 $14.4 $9.2 63.5%
30% to 49% 33 18.6 7.7 41.4%
0% to 29% 28 8.4 1.5 18.8%
Less than 0% 25 3.4 (1.0) (0.7%)
---------- ------- ------ --------
Subtotal 100 44.8 17.4 38.8%
Other - 4.0 (0.3) (7.0%)
---------- ------- ------ --------
Total 100 $48.8 $17.1 35.0%
========== ======= ====== ========
2007
--------------------------------
Average
SOI Margin % Stations Revenue SOI SOI %
------------------------------------- --------- ------- ------ -------
50% or greater 20 $18.7 $11.5 61.4%
30% to 49% 26 15.1 6.1 40.4%
0% to 29% 26 8.4 1.6 18.0%
Less than 0% 27 4.0 (0.9) (21.9%)
--------- ------- ------ -------
Subtotal 99 46.2 18.3 39.4%
Other - 4.2 (0.3) (5.9%)
--------- ------- ------ -------
Total 99 $50.4 $18.0 35.6%
========= ======= ====== =======
Balance Sheet
As of March 31, 2007, the company had net debt of $348.5 million and was in compliance with the covenants of its credit facilities and bond indentures. The company's bank leverage ratio was 5.61 versus a compliance covenant of 6.75 and its bond leverage ratio was 5.09 versus a compliance covenant of 7.0.
Stock Repurchases
During the quarter ended March 31, 2007, the company did not repurchase shares of its Class A common stock and had 23,850,020 shares of its Class A and Class B common stock outstanding.
Acquisitions and Divestitures
During the quarter ended March 31, 2007, Salem completed the following acquisition and divestiture transactions:
-- WKNR (850 AM) in Cleveland, Ohio was sold on February 7, 2007 for
$7.0 million; and
-- ChristianMusicPlanet.com was acquired on February 8, 2007 for
$0.3 million.
The following acquisition and divestiture transactions were pending as of March 31, 2007:
-- WVRY (105.1 FM) in Waverly, Tennessee to be sold for $0.9
million; and
-- KKSN (910 AM) in Portland, Oregon will be acquired for
approximately $4.5 million (this station is operated by Salem
under an LMA beginning February 1, 2007 with call letters KTRO).
Second Quarter 2007 Outlook
For the second quarter of 2007, Salem is projecting:
-- Total revenue to be between $58.7 million and $59.2 million
compared to second quarter 2006 total revenue of $58.1 million;
-- Adjusted EBITDA to be between $12.8 million and $13.3 million
compared to second quarter 2006 Adjusted EBITDA of $15.8 million;
and
-- Net income per diluted share to be approximately $0.04.
Second quarter 2007 outlook reflects the following:
-- Same station net broadcasting revenue to be between $51.9 million
to $52.4 million compared to $52.0 million in second quarter
2006;
-- Non-broadcast revenue increasing to approximately $6.0 million
from $4.7 million in second quarter 2006;
-- Same station SOI declining to between $18.0 million and $18.5
million from $20.0 million in second quarter 2006;
-- Non-cash compensation expense of $0.8 million compared to second
quarter 2006 non-cash compensation expense of $1.3 million;
-- Increased marketing and programming costs of $0.9 million
primarily on News Talk stations in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles,
Louisville and Phoenix, and on Contemporary Christian Music
stations in Atlanta and Dallas;
-- Continued growth from our core block programming business and our
underdeveloped radio stations, particularly our News Talk
stations;
-- Ongoing softness in the radio advertising market; and
-- The impact of recent acquisition and divestiture transactions.
Conference Call Information
Salem will host a teleconference to discuss its results today, on May 9, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To access the teleconference, please dial 973-935-8511 ten minutes prior to the start time or listen via the investor relations portion of the company's website, located at www.salem.cc. A replay of the teleconference will be available through May 23, 2007 and can be heard by dialing 973-341-3080, pass code 8745306 or on the investor relations portion of the company's website, located at www.salem.cc.
Salem Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:SALM) is a leading U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher targeting audiences interested in Christian and family-themed content and conservative values. In addition to its radio properties, Salem owns Salem Radio Network(R), which syndicates talk, news and music programming to approximately 2,000 affiliates; Salem Radio Representatives(TM), a national radio advertising sales force; Salem Web Network(TM), an Internet provider of Christian content and online streaming; and Salem Publishing(TM), a publisher of Christian-themed magazines. Upon the close of all announced transactions, the company will own 97 radio stations, including 61 stations in 23 of the top 25 markets. Additional information about Salem may be accessed at the company's website, www.salem.cc.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements used in this press release that relate to future plans, events, financial results, prospects or performance are forward-looking statements as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the ability of Salem to close and integrate announced transactions, market acceptance of Salem's radio station formats, competition from new technologies, adverse economic conditions, and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Salem's reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and other filings filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Salem undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, changed circumstances or unanticipated events.
Regulation G
Station operating income, non-broadcast operating income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are financial measures not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Station operating income is defined as net broadcasting revenues minus broadcasting operating expenses. Non-broadcast operating income is defined as non-broadcast revenue minus non-broadcast operating expenses. EBITDA is defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA before loss on early redemption of long-term debt, discontinued operations (net of tax), litigation costs, gain or loss on the disposal of assets and non-cash compensation expense. In addition, Salem has provided supplemental information as an attachment to this press release, reconciling these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. The company believes these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered in conjunction with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, provide useful measures of the company's operating performance.
Station operating income, non-broadcast operating income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are generally recognized by the broadcasting industry as important measures of performance and are used by investors as well as analysts who report on the industry to provide meaningful comparisons between broadcasting. Station operating income, non-broadcast operating income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not a measure of liquidity or of performance in accordance with GAAP, and should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for, or superior to, the company's results of operations presented on a GAAP basis such as operating income and net income. In addition, Salem's definitions of station operating income, non-broadcast operating income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
Salem Communications Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share, per share and margin data)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2006 2007
------------ -----------
(unaudited)
Net broadcasting revenue $48,774 $50,440
Non-broadcast revenue 3,252 5,654
------------ -----------
Total revenue 52,026 56,094
Operating expenses:
Broadcasting operating expenses 31,694 32,483
Non-broadcast operating expenses 3,432 5,271
Corporate expenses 6,440 5,814
Depreciation and amortization 3,295 3,901
Gain on disposal of assets (3,529) (3,269)
------------ -----------
Total operating expenses 41,332 44,200
------------ -----------
Operating income 10,694 11,894
Other income (expense):
Interest income 46 60
Interest expense (6,588) (6,454)
Other expense, net (172) (35)
------------ -----------
Income from continuing operations before
income taxes 3,980 5,465
Provision for income taxes 1,594 2,500
------------ -----------
Income from continuing operations 2,386 2,965
Discontinued operations, net of tax 329 -
------------ -----------
Net income $2,715 $2,965
============ ===========
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 1,036 (288)
------------ -----------
Comprehensive income $3,751 $2,677
============ ===========
Basic income per share before discontinued
operations $0.10 $0.12
Discontinued operations, net of tax $0.01 $-
Basic income per share after discontinued
operations $0.11 $0.12
Diluted income per share before discontinued
operations $0.10 $0.12
Discontinued operations, net of tax $0.01 $-
Diluted income per share after discontinued
operations $0.11 $0.12
Basic weighted average shares outstanding 24,686,517 23,848,603
============ ===========
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 24,696,334 23,853,068
============ ===========
Other Data:
Station operating income $17,080 $17,957
Station operating margin 35.0% 35.6%
Salem Communications Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
December 31, March 31,
2006 2007
------------ -----------
(unaudited)
Assets
Cash $710 $598
Accounts receivable, net 31,984 30,214
Deferred income taxes 5,020 4,943
Other current assets 2,881 2,943
Property, plant and equipment, net 128,713 129,620
Intangible assets, net 508,410 504,947
Bond issue costs 593 556
Bank loan fees 2,996 2,741
Fair value of interest rate swaps 1,290 913
Other assets 3,667 3,770
------------ -----------
Total assets $686,264 $681,245
============ ===========
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities $27,295 $28,923
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations 358,978 346,821
Deferred income taxes 53,935 58,114
Other liabilities 8,340 8,269
Stockholders' equity 237,716 239,118
------------ -----------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $686,264 $681,245
============ ===========
Salem Communications Corporation
Supplemental Information
(in thousands)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2006 2007
------------ -----------
(unaudited)
Capital expenditures
Acquisition related / income producing $3,273 $2,534
Maintenance 1,757 2,650
------------ -----------
Total capital expenditures $5,030 $5,184
============ ===========
Tax information
Cash tax expense $- $168
Deferred tax expense 1,594 2,332
------------ -----------
Provision for income taxes $1,594 $2,500
============ ===========
Tax benefit of non-book amortization $3,577 $4,176
============ ===========
Reconciliation of Same Station Net
Broadcasting Revenue to
Total Net Broadcasting Revenue
Net broadcasting revenue - same station $47,689 $49,399
Net broadcasting revenue - acquisitions 172 477
Net broadcasting revenue - dispositions 587 -
Net broadcasting revenue - format changes 326 564
------------ -----------
Total net broadcasting revenue $48,774 $50,440
============ ===========
Reconciliation of Same Station Broadcasting
Operating Expenses to
Total Broadcasting Operating Expenses
Broadcasting operating expenses - same
station $30,274 $31,471
Broadcasting operating expenses -
acquisitions 176 429
Broadcasting operating expenses -
dispositions 667 42
Broadcasting operating expenses - format
changes 577 541
------------ -----------
Total broadcasting operating expenses $31,694 $32,483
============ ===========
Reconciliation of Same Station Station
Operating Income to
Total Station Operating Income
Station operating income - same station $17,415 $17,928
Station operating income - acquisitions (4) 48
Station operating income - dispositions (80) (42)
Station operating income - format changes (251) 23
------------ -----------
Total station operating income $17,080 $17,957
============ ===========
Reconciliation of Station Operating Income
and Non-Broadcast
Operating Income to Operating Income
Station operating income $17,080 $17,957
Non-broadcast operating income (180) 383
Less:
Corporate expenses (6,440) (5,814)
Depreciation and amortization (3,295) (3,901)
Gain on disposal of assets 3,529 3,269
------------ -----------
Operating income $10,694 $11,894
============ ===========
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to EBITDA
to Net Income
Adjusted EBITDA $11,597 $13,245
Less:
Stock-based compensation (1,309) (754)
Discontinued operations, net of tax 329 -
Gain on disposal of assets 3,529 3,269
------------ -----------
EBITDA 14,146 15,760
Plus:
Interest income 46 60
Less:
Depreciation and amortization (3,295) (3,901)
Interest expense (6,588) (6,454)
Provision for income taxes (1,594) (2,500)
------------ -----------
Net income $2,715 $2,965
============ ===========
Applicable
Outstanding Interest
at Rate
3/31/2007
------------ -----------
Selected Debt and Swap Data
7 3/4% senior subordinated notes $100,000 7.75%
Senior bank term loan B debt (1) 73,125 7.13%
Senior bank term loan C debt (swap matures
7/1/2012) (2) 30,000 6.74%
Senior bank term loan C debt (swap matures
7/1/2012) (2) 30,000 6.45%
Senior bank term loan C debt (swap matures
7/1/2012) (2) 30,000 6.28%
Senior bank term C debt (at variable rates)
(1) 74,175 7.13%
Senior bank revolving debt (at variable
rates) (1) 8,500 7.13%
Swingline credit facility (3) - 8.25%
(1) Subject to rolling LIBOR plus a spread currently at 1.75% and
incorporated into the rate set forth above.
(2) Under its swap agreements, the Company pays a fixed rate plus a
spread based on the Company's leverage, as defined in its credit
agreement. As of March 31, 2007, that spread was 1.75% and is
incorporated into the applicable interest rates set forth above.
(3) Subject to prime interest rate.
Salem Communications Corporation
Supplemental Information
(in millions)
Projected
Three Months Three
Ending Months
June 30, 2007 Ended
Low High June 30,
2006
--------- ------ ----------
(unaudited)
Reconciliation of Station Operating Income
to Operating Income
Station operating income $17.9 $18.4
Plus:
Non-broadcast revenue 6.0 6.0
Less:
Non-broadcast operating expenses (5.7) (5.7)
Corporate expenses (5.6) (5.6)
Stock-based compensation (corporate
expense portion) (0.6) (0.6)
Depreciation and amortization (3.8) (3.8)
--------- ------
Operating income $8.2 $8.7
========= ======
Reconciliation of Same Station Net
Broadcasting Revenue to
Total Net Broadcasting Revenue
Net broadcasting revenue - same station $51.9 $52.4 $52.0
Net broadcasting revenue - acquisitions /
dispositions / format changes 0.8 0.8 1.4
--------- ------ ----------
Total net broadcasting revenue $52.7 $53.2 $53.4
========= ====== ==========
Reconciliation of Same Station Station
Operating Income to
Total Station Operating Income
Station operating income - same station $18.0 $18.5 $20.0
Station operating income - acquisitions /
dispositions / format changes (0.1) (0.1) (0.1)
--------- ------ ----------
Total station operating income $17.9 $18.4 $19.9
========= ====== ==========
Source: Salem Communications Corporation
Released May 9, 2007