LSC COMMUNICATIONS REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER 2019 RESULTS
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Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA andNon-GAAP Net Loss
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2019 was $1 million, or 0.1% of net sales, compared to $56 million, or 6.0% of net sales, in the fourth quarter of 2018. The decrease innon-GAAP adjusted EBITDA was driven by volume declines across the Magazines, Catalogs and Logistics and Book segments, the impact of lowerby-products prices, and wage increases. These decreases were partially offset by the impact of ongoing company-wide productivity initiatives.
Non-GAAP net loss totaled $34 million, or $1.03 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared tonon-GAAP net income of $4 million, or $0.12 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2018. Reconciliations of net loss tonon-GAAP adjusted EBITDA andnon-GAAP net income are presented in the attached schedules.
Segment Results
The Company reports its results using the following segments (1) Magazines, Catalogs and Logistics, (2) Book, (3) Office Products, (4) Mexico, and (5) other, which includes Directory and Print Management.
Magazines, Catalogs and Logistics
Fourth quarter net sales in Magazines, Catalogs and Logistics were $384 million, a decrease of 19.2%, from the fourth quarter of 2018. After adjusting for dispositions and pass-through paper sales, organic net sales decreased 14.3% from the fourth quarter of 2018. This organic decline is primarily due to ongoing volume declines driven by digital substitution for printed materials.
Magazines, Catalogs and Logistics GAAP net loss from operations was $35 million, compared to a net loss from operations of $12 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Segmentnon-GAAP adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter was a loss of $16 million. The EBITDA decline was primarily due to volume declines and lowerby-products prices, partially offset by productivity gains achieved through plant consolidations and the company’s comprehensive cost savings program.
Book
Fourth quarter net sales in Book were $206 million, a decrease of 20.2%, from the fourth quarter of 2018. After adjusting for pass-through paper sales, organic net sales decreased 18.3% from the fourth quarter of 2018. The organic net sales decrease was primarily driven by lower college book volumes, reflecting high customer inventory levels due to growth in textbook rental programs and the impact of digital textbook alternatives. Volumes for trade books, elementary and secondary education books, and religious books were all down slightly in the quarter, but by amounts consistent with normal industry cycles.
Book GAAP loss from operations was $72 million, compared to income from operations of $9 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Segmentnon-GAAP adjusted EBITDA in the quarter was $2 million andnon-GAAP adjusted EBITDA margin was 1.0%. Thenon-GAAP adjusted EBITDA margin decreased 790 bps compared with the fourth quarter of 2018, primarily due to the lower education book volumes. In addition, the impacts of targeted wage increases to address labor market conditions and lowerby-products prices were partially offset by productivity & cost reduction initiatives.
The Company recently secured a contract with a major book publisher, with work commencing no later than January 2021.