UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 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 30, 2007
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 1-7564
DOW JONES & COMPANY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| | |
DELAWARE | | 13-5034940 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| | |
200 LIBERTY STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK | | 10281 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:(212) 416-2000
| | | | |
| | 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 q
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):
| | | | |
Large accelerated filer x | | Accelerated filer q | | Non-accelerated filer q |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes q No x
The number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock on September 30, 2007: 66,800,926 shares of Common Stock and 19,374,836 shares of Class B Common Stock.
DOW JONES & COMPANY, INC.
FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2007
INDEX
2
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
DOW JONES & COMPANY, INC.
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands, except per share amounts) | | Three Months Ended September 30 | | | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Advertising | | $ | 202,994 | | | $ | 207,819 | | | $ | 681,624 | | | $ | 691,054 | |
Information services | | | 174,563 | | | | 95,717 | | | | 516,065 | | | | 286,482 | |
Circulation and other | | | 115,720 | | | | 108,886 | | | | 332,448 | | | | 320,976 | |
Total revenues | | | 493,277 | | | | 412,422 | | | | 1,530,137 | | | | 1,298,512 | |
| | | | |
Expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
News, production and technology | | | 171,137 | | | | 134,241 | | | | 508,493 | | | | 404,202 | |
Selling, administrative and general | | | 196,723 | | | | 157,240 | | | | 608,157 | | | | 482,511 | |
Newsprint | | | 21,035 | | | | 31,080 | | | | 72,135 | | | | 97,723 | |
Print delivery costs | | | 48,422 | | | | 52,169 | | | | 147,818 | | | | 157,033 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 27,162 | | | | 24,079 | | | | 78,803 | | | | 73,148 | |
Restructuring and other items, net | | | - | | | | - | | | | 10,113 | | | | 27,672 | |
Total operating expenses | | | 464,479 | | | | 398,809 | | | | 1,425,519 | | | | 1,242,289 | |
Operating income | | | 28,798 | | | | 13,613 | | | | 104,618 | | | | 56,223 | |
| | | | |
Other income (expense): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment income | | | 416 | | | | 590 | | | | 1,055 | | | | 873 | |
Interest expense | | | (4,786 | ) | | | (8,457 | ) | | | (16,507 | ) | | | (22,901 | ) |
Contract guarantee | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 62,649 | |
Other, net | | | (16 | ) | | | (277 | ) | | | (327 | ) | | | (1,238 | ) |
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings | | | 24,412 | | | | 5,469 | | | | 88,839 | | | | 95,606 | |
Income taxes | | | 11,599 | | | | (5,050 | ) | | | 36,479 | | | | 5,100 | |
Equity in earnings of associated companies, net of tax | | | 939 | | | | 2,106 | | | | 5,045 | | | | 6,161 | |
Income from continuing operations | | | 13,752 | | | | 12,625 | | | | 57,405 | | | | 96,667 | |
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax (Note 5) | | | - | | | | 92,740 | | | | - | | | | 98,977 | |
Net income | | $ | 13,752 | | | $ | 105,365 | | | $ | 57,405 | | | $ | 195,644 | |
| | | | |
Earnings per share - basic: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Continuing operations | | $ | .16 | | | $ | .15 | | | $ | .68 | | | $ | 1.16 | |
Discontinued operations | | | - | | | | 1.11 | | | | - | | | | 1.19 | |
Earnings per basic share(*) | | $ | .16 | | | $ | 1.27 | | | $ | .68 | | | $ | 2.35 | |
| | | | |
Earnings per share - diluted: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Continuing operations | | $ | .16 | | | $ | .15 | | | $ | .67 | | | $ | 1.16 | |
Discontinued operations | | | - | | | | 1.11 | | | | - | | | | 1.18 | |
Earnings per diluted share | | $ | .16 | | | $ | 1.26 | | | $ | .67 | | | $ | 2.34 | |
| | | | |
Cash dividends declared per share | | $ | .25 | | | $ | .25 | | | $ | 1.00 | | | $ | 1.00 | |
| | | | |
Weighted-average shares outstanding: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | | 85,956 | | | | 83,288 | | | | 84,742 | | | | 83,187 | |
Diluted | | | 87,160 | | | | 83,779 | | | | 85,540 | | | | 83,623 | |
| | | | |
Comprehensive Income (Note 11) | | $ | 13,660 | | | $ | 105,108 | | | $ | 58,029 | | | $ | 193,559 | |
(*) | The sum of the individual amounts may not equal total due to rounding. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
DOW JONES & COMPANY, INC.
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | For the Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | | | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 57,405 | | | $ | 195,644 | |
Less: income from discontinued operations, net of tax | | | - | | | | 98,977 | |
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation | | | 66,762 | | | | 64,089 | |
Amortization of intangibles | | | 12,041 | | | | 9,059 | |
Stock-based compensation – equity awards | | | 9,512 | | | | 8,977 | |
Deferred taxes | | | (10,544 | ) | | | (4,688 | ) |
Distributions of earnings of associated companies, net of equity in earnings | | | 7,741 | | | | 2,094 | |
Gain on disposition of fixed assets | | | - | | | | (3,139 | ) |
Contract guarantee | | | - | | | | (62,649 | ) |
Payment of contract guarantee on behalf of a former subsidiary | | | - | | | | (202,000 | ) |
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: | | | | | | | | |
Accounts receivable | | | 1,137 | | | | (2,927 | ) |
Other current assets | | | (3,143 | ) | | | (3,613 | ) |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | | (33,455 | ) | | | (11,783 | ) |
Income taxes | | | (9,140 | ) | | | (4,006 | ) |
Unearned revenue | | | 13,617 | | | | 2,405 | |
Deferred compensation | | | 22,970 | | | | 10,640 | |
Other noncurrent assets | | | 1,837 | | | | 1,735 | |
Other noncurrent liabilities | | | (7,627 | ) | | | (379 | ) |
Other, net | | | 1,995 | | | | (1,025 | ) |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations | | | 131,108 | | | | (100,543 | ) |
Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations | | | - | | | | 12,072 | |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | | | 131,108 | | | | (88,471 | ) |
| | |
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | | | | | | | | |
Additions to plant, property and equipment, net | | | (53,986 | ) | | | (55,330 | ) |
Proceeds from disposition of fixed assets | | | - | | | | 5,082 | |
Businesses acquired, net of cash received | | | (29,333 | ) | | | (195 | ) |
Advance from equity investee | | | - | | | | 4,831 | |
Other, net | | | 915 | | | | 28 | |
Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations | | | (82,404 | ) | | | (45,584 | ) |
Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations | | | (2,043 | ) | | | (1,615 | ) |
Net cash used in investing activities | | | (84,447 | ) | | | (47,199 | ) |
| | |
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | | | | | | | | |
Cash dividends | | | (63,556 | ) | | | (62,387 | ) |
(Repayment of) increase in commercial paper borrowings, net | | | (95,514 | ) | | | 196,449 | |
Proceeds from sales under stock compensation plans | | | 123,550 | | | | 6,062 | |
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | | | (35,520 | ) | | | 140,124 | |
| | |
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash | | | (1,157 | ) | | | (119 | ) |
| | |
Increase in cash and cash equivalents | | | 9,984 | | | | 4,335 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | | | 13,237 | | | | 10,633 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | | $ | 23,221 | | | $ | 14,968 | |
| | |
Supplemental non-cash disclosure: | | | | | | | | |
Issuance of loan notes in connection with business acquisition | | $ | 23,554 | | | $ | - | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
DOW JONES & COMPANY, INC.
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | September 30 2007 | | | December 31 2006 | |
Assets | | | | | | | | |
Current Assets: | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 23,221 | | | $ | 13,237 | |
Accounts receivable – trade, net | | | 227,337 | | | | 224,642 | |
Accounts receivable – other | | | 22,429 | | | | 18,313 | |
Newsprint inventory | | | 6,022 | | | | 5,081 | |
Prepaid expenses | | | 26,052 | | | | 26,621 | |
Deferred income taxes | | | 27,789 | | | | 25,754 | |
Total current assets | | | 332,850 | | | | 313,648 | |
| | |
Investments in associated companies, at equity | | | 16,342 | | | | 19,302 | |
Other investments | | | 4,521 | | | | 5,151 | |
| | |
Plant, property and equipment, at cost | | | 1,764,488 | | | | 1,726,467 | |
Less, accumulated depreciation | | | 1,137,027 | | | | 1,087,695 | |
Plant, property and equipment, net | | | 627,461 | | | | 638,772 | |
| | |
Goodwill | | | 798,915 | | | | 754,310 | |
Other intangible assets, net | | | 201,514 | | | | 196,901 | |
Deferred income taxes | | | 22,020 | | | | 16,203 | |
Other assets | | | 9,438 | | | | 11,275 | |
Total assets | | $ | 2,013,061 | | | $ | 1,955,562 | |
| | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | |
Current Liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable – trade | | $ | 92,851 | | | $ | 75,598 | |
Accrued wages, salaries and commissions | | | 103,424 | | | | 140,922 | |
Retirement plan contributions payable | | | 21,851 | | | | 26,679 | |
Other payables | | | 84,810 | | | | 87,735 | |
Dividend payable | | | 21,518 | | | | - | |
Income taxes | | | 22,992 | | | | 44,572 | |
Unearned revenue | | | 248,767 | | | | 230,484 | |
Short-term debt | | | 375,152 | | | | 222,124 | |
Total current liabilities | | | 971,365 | | | | 828,114 | |
| | |
Long-term debt | | | - | | | | 224,962 | |
Deferred compensation, principally postretirement benefit obligation | | | 380,114 | | | | 357,077 | |
Other noncurrent liabilities | | | 56,578 | | | | 46,436 | |
Total liabilities | | | 1,408,057 | | | | 1,456,589 | |
| | |
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 9) | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Stockholders’ Equity | | | | | | | | |
Common stock | | | 102,181 | | | | 102,181 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 142,532 | | | | 141,628 | |
Retained earnings | | | 1,090,970 | | | | 1,120,165 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes: | | | (15,097 | ) | | | (15,721 | ) |
Less, treasury stock, at cost | | | 715,582 | | | | 849,280 | |
Total stockholders’ equity | | | 605,004 | | | | 498,973 | |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | | $ | 2,013,061 | | | $ | 1,955,562 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DOW JONES & COMPANY, INC.
NOTE 1: BASIS OF PRESENTATION
In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of our consolidated financial position as of September 30, 2007, and our consolidated results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 and consolidated cash flows for the nine month periods then ended. All adjustments reflected in the accompanying financial statements are of a normal recurring nature. Reclassifications of certain amounts for prior years have been recorded to conform to the current year presentation.
The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
As of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, our significant accounting policies and estimates, which are detailed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, have not changed except for the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (FIN 48). See Note 10 for additional information regarding our adoption of FIN 48.
NOTE 2: MERGER WITH NEWS CORPORATION
On July 31, 2007, we signed a definitive merger agreement under which News Corporation will acquire Dow Jones in a transaction valued at approximately $5.6 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, which was approved by both companies’ boards of directors, Dow Jones stockholders will be entitled to receive $60 in cash for each share of common stock and Class B common stock that they own. Certain members of the Bancroft family and the trustees of trusts for their benefit who collectively own approximately 37% of Dow Jones’ voting stock have agreed to vote to approve the transaction. The merger agreement provides that up to 250 holders of record and not more than 10% of the shares of Dow Jones may elect to have their shares of Dow Jones equity converted into a number of Class B units of Newco LLC, a newly formed subsidiary of News Corporation (each unit of which will be exchangeable for News Corporation equity in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Newco LLC operating agreement). The merger agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants made by Dow Jones. The merger, which is expected to close in the fourth calendar quarter, is subject to, among other things, approval by Dow Jones stockholders, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
6
NOTE 3: ACQUISITIONS
2007
Acquisition of eFinancialNews
On May 15, 2007, we completed the acquisition of eFinancialNews Holdings Ltd. (eFN), a private U.K. company, for approximately $63 million, including an estimated working capital adjustment. Based in London, eFN is a diversified media company serving the European financial services industry with print, online, training and events businesses. Its flagship operations include the weekly Financial News, the eFinancialNews.com Web site and subscription-based services. It also publishes Private Equity News, a weekly publication focused on the European private equity sector. eFN will add digital and other non-print businesses to help diversify our reliance on traditional print revenue. We are integrating eFN into the consumer media segment, where it will be part of our European media operations. We financed the purchase with a combination of cash and debt.
Under the purchase method of accounting, the total purchase price is allocated to eFN’s net tangible and intangible assets based upon their estimated fair value as of the date of completion of the acquisition. Based upon the purchase price and the valuation performed, the preliminary purchase price allocation, which is subject to change based on our final analysis, is as follows (in thousands):
| | | | |
Tangible assets: | | | | |
Cash | | $ | 12,316 | |
Other current assets | | | 5,137 | |
Property, plant and equipment | | | 430 | |
Total tangible assets | | | 17,883 | |
| |
Intangible assets: | | | | |
Customer relationships | | | 5,157 | |
Developed technology | | | 397 | |
Trade name | | | 11,100 | |
Goodwill | | | 44,706 | |
Total intangible assets | | | 61,360 | |
| |
Liabilities assumed: | | | | |
Current liabilities | | | (11,277 | ) |
Deferred taxes | | | (4,957 | ) |
Total liabilities assumed | | | (16,234 | ) |
| |
| | | | |
Net assets acquired | | $ | 63,009 | |
We allocated $5.5 million to amortizable intangible assets consisting of customer relationship intangible assets and developed technology with weighted-average useful lives of eleven and five years, respectively. The pattern of economic benefits to be derived from certain intangible assets is estimated to be greater in the initial period of ownership; accordingly, we will record amortization expense on an accelerated basis over the estimated useful lives of the intangible assets. We also allocated $11.1 million to the eFN trade name, which will not be amortized as it has an indefinite remaining useful life based primarily on its market position and our plans for continued indefinite use. Further, $44.7 million was allocated to goodwill, which represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired. Goodwill will not be amortized and it is not deductible for tax purposes.
2006
Acquisition of Factiva
On December 15, 2006, we acquired the remaining 50% interest of Dow Jones Reuters Business Interactive LLC (Factiva) that we did not already own from our joint venture partner, Reuters Group Plc. (Reuters), for an upfront cash purchase price of approximately $176.2 million. The purchase price consisted of cash tendered of approximately $152.5 million, estimated working capital adjustments of approximately $11.7 million, preferred shares of a subsidiary of approximately $7.5 million and direct third-party transaction costs of approximately $4.5 million. The preferred shares, which are non-voting, bear a fixed dividend rate of 6% per annum and are included in other noncurrent liabilities. Factiva is a provider of global business content, research products and services to global enterprises mainly in the finance, corporate, professional services and government sectors and has more than 1.6 million paying subscribers. We are integrating Factiva with the complementary offerings in the enterprise media segment. We financed this purchase with the proceeds from divestitures.
7
Under the purchase method of accounting, the total purchase price is allocated to Factiva’s net tangible and intangible assets based upon their estimated fair value as of the date of completion of the acquisition. The final purchase price allocation was as follows (in thousands):
| | | | |
Tangible assets: | | | | |
Cash | | $ | 27,868 | |
Other current assets | | | 39,432 | |
Property, plant and equipment | | | 18,697 | |
Other assets – long term | | | 132 | |
Total tangible assets | | | 86,129 | |
| |
Less: carrying value of Factiva equity investment | | | (14,053 | ) |
| |
Intangible assets: | | | | |
Customer relationships | | | 32,500 | |
Distribution contracts | | | 2,500 | |
Developed technology | | | 2,450 | |
Trade name | | | 39,000 | |
Goodwill | | | 147,459 | |
Total intangible assets | | | 223,909 | |
| |
Liabilities assumed: | | | | |
Current liabilities | | | (76,428 | ) |
Deferred taxes | | | (22,056 | ) |
Other liabilities – long term | | | (21,324 | ) |
Total liabilities assumed | | | (119,808 | ) |
| |
| | | | |
Net assets acquired | | $ | 176,177 | |
We allocated $37.5 million to amortizable intangible assets consisting of customer relationship intangible assets, distribution contract intangible assets and developed technology with weighted-average useful lives of fifteen, eight and four years, respectively. The pattern of economic benefits to be derived from certain intangible assets is estimated to be greater in the initial period of ownership; accordingly, we will record amortization expense on an accelerated basis over the estimated useful lives of the intangible assets. We also allocated $39 million to the Factiva trade name, which will not be amortized as it has an indefinite remaining useful life based primarily on its market position and our plans for continued indefinite use. Further, $147.5 million was allocated to goodwill, which represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired. Goodwill will not be amortized but a portion of it will be deductible for tax purposes. Liabilities assumed included approximately $28 million of continuing contractual payments with no future economic benefit as well as approximately $3.9 million of restructuring costs related to the severance of approximately 25 Factiva employees.
8
NOTE 4: GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill balances by reportable segment were as follows:
| | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | September 30 2007 | | December 31 2006 |
Consumer media | | $ | 361,401 | | $ | 317,786 |
Enterprise media | | | 356,375 | | | 355,385 |
Local media | | | 81,139 | | | 81,139 |
Total goodwill(1) | | $ | 798,915 | | $ | 754,310 |
Other intangible assets were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | September 30, 2007 | | December 31, 2006 |
(in thousands) | | Gross Carrying Amount | | Accumulated Amortization | | Net Amount | | Gross Carrying Amount | | Accumulated Amortization | | Net Amount |
Subscription accounts | | $ | 64,655 | | $ | 19,851 | | $ | 44,804 | | $ | 61,482 | | $ | 14,718 | | $ | 46,764 |
Advertising accounts | | | 21,493 | | | 10,903 | | | 10,590 | | | 19,907 | | | 8,423 | | | 11,484 |
Developed technology | | | 16,057 | | | 10,320 | | | 5,737 | | | 15,660 | | | 7,077 | | | 8,583 |
Other | | | 6,827 | | | 3,342 | | | 3,485 | | | 6,429 | | | 2,157 | | | 4,272 |
| | | | | | |
Total | | | 109,032 | | | 44,416 | | | 64,616 | | | 103,478 | | | 32,375 | | | 71,103 |
Unamortizable intangibles | | | 136,898 | | | - | | | 136,898 | | | 125,798 | | | - | | | 125,798 |
Total other intangibles(1) | | $ | 245,930 | | $ | 44,416 | | $ | 201,514 | | $ | 229,276 | | $ | 32,375 | | $ | 196,901 |
Amortization expense, based on intangibles subject to amortization held at September 30, 2007, is expected to be as follows:
(in millions)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2007 | | | 2008 | | 2009 | | 2010 | | 2011 | | 2012 |
Amortization expense | | $ | 4.1 | (2) | | $ | 12.7 | | $ | 8.3 | | $ | 7.7 | | $ | 6.3 | | $ | 4.4 |
(1) | The increase in goodwill and other intangible assets primarily resulted from the acquisition of eFN. |
(2) | Represents amortization expense expected for the last three months of 2007. |
NOTE 5: DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
On December 5, 2006, we completed the sale of the non-real estate assets of six local media newspapers and recorded a pre-tax gain of $219.5 million ($132.1 million, net of taxes). In accordance with the sale agreement, we received $281.5 million of the purchase price in cash at closing; $1.7 million during the first quarter of 2007 related to the transfer of real property; and, will receive an additional $4.7 million of the purchase price upon transfer of the remaining real property, subject to satisfaction of environmental conditions, in later periods. The six papers sold were: the News-Times of Danbury, CT; The Daily Star of Oneonta, NY; the Press-Republican of Plattsburgh, NY; the Santa Cruz Sentinel (Santa Cruz, CA); The Daily Item of Sunbury, PA; and the Traverse City Record-Eagle (Traverse City, MI).
The results of the sold newspapers are presented as discontinued operations pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144 “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” Further, the results of those newspapers were excluded from our segment results for all periods presented. Results of operations for the six local media newspapers included within discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 were as follows:
| | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | Three Months Ended September 30, 2006 | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 | |
Revenues | | $ 24,318 | | | $ 71,628 | |
Operating income | | $ 5,738 | | | $ 16,338 | |
Income before income taxes | | $ 5,736 | | | $ 16,337 | |
Income taxes(*) | | $ (87,004 | ) | | $ (82,640 | ) |
Net income(*) | | $ 92,740 | | | $ 98,977 | |
| | |
Depreciation and amortization | | $ 663 | | | $ 1,947 | |
(*) | Includes the reversal of a deferred tax valuation allowance related to the anticipated utilization of capital loss carryforwards that were previously fully reserved. |
9
NOTE 6: RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER ITEMS
Restructuring actions have been recorded in accordance with SFAS 112, “Employers’ Accounting for Postemployment Benefits” or SFAS 146, “Accounting for the Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities,” as appropriate. The estimated employee severance payments described below were based on predetermined criteria of existing benefit plans and were therefore recorded when the liability was considered probable and reasonably estimable as required by SFAS 112.
The following table displays the activity and balances of the restructuring reserve accounts through September 30, 2007:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | December 31, 2006 Reserve | | 2007 Expense | | Cash Payments | | | September 30, 2007 Reserve(*) |
Employee severance – 2007 | | $ | - | | $ | 9,536 | | $ | (3,832 | ) | | $ | 5,704 |
Employee severance – 2006 | | | 26,975 | | | - | | | (21,901 | ) | | | 5,074 |
Employee severance – prior to 2006 | | | 3,197 | | | - | | | (523 | ) | | | 2,674 |
Total | | $ | 30,172 | | $ | 9,536 | | $ | (26,256 | ) | | $ | 13,452 |
(*) | The workforce reductions related to our restructuring actions are expected to be paid during 2007 ($6.3 million), 2008 ($5.1 million) and thereafter ($2.1 million). |
2007
During the second quarter of 2007, we recorded a restructuring charge of $10.1 million, $9.5 million of which was employee severance, primarily reflecting employee severance related to reductions at our consumer media segment as well as smaller reductions at our other segments. In total, approximately 100 full-time employees were affected.
2006
In the fourth quarter of 2006, we recorded a restructuring charge of $15.4 million, primarily reflecting employee severance related to a workforce reduction of about 160 full-time employees in connection with the restructuring of our enterprise media segment following our recent acquisition of Factiva as well as other initiatives.
During the second quarter of 2006, we recorded a net charge of $6.8 million, consisting of a restructuring charge of $9.9 million, partially offset by a gain of $3.1 million on the sale of certain fixed assets. The restructuring primarily reflected the elimination of certain positions in technology, circulation and administrative support in favor of outsource vendors. In total, approximately 250 full-time and 500 part-time employees were affected.
During the first quarter of 2006, we recorded a charge of $20.9 million related to a reorganization of our business. The charge comprised primarily employee severance related to the elimination of certain senior level positions, as well as additional workforce reductions at other areas of the business identified as part of the reorganization. In total, approximately 65 full-time employees were affected.
The workforce reductions related to the second quarter 2007 restructuring action is expected to be substantially completed during the fourth quarter of 2007. The other restructuring actions are substantially complete.
NOTE 7: DEBT
The following table summarizes our debt outstanding for the periods presented:
| | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | September 30 2007 | | December 31 2006 |
Commercial paper, at rates of 5.30% to 6.10% | | $ | 126,611 | | $ | 222,124 |
3.875% Senior Notes due February 15, 2008 | | | 224,987 | | | 224,962 |
6.11% Notes due May 15, 2017 | | | 23,554 | | | - |
Total debt outstanding | | $ | 375,152 | | $ | 447,086 |
Debt outstanding at September 30, 2007 was $375.2 million which consisted of bonds totaling $225 million due February 15, 2008; commercial paper of $126.6 million with various maturities of less than a year; and, loan notes of $23.6 million issued in connection with the acquisition of eFN. These notes are presented as a current liability since they are subject to certain early redemption provisions. It is currently our intent to manage our commercial paper borrowings as short-term obligations.
As of September 30, 2007, we had available credit agreements totaling $485 million: $300 million through June 21, 2009 and $185 million through June 23, 2011 under our multiyear revolving credit agreements with several banks. The revolving credit agreements contain restrictive covenants, including a limitation on the ratio of consolidated indebtedness to consolidated cash flow of 3.5x. At September 30, 2007, we were in compliance with respect to all restrictive covenants then in effect, with the leverage ratio equaling approximately 1.3x.
Borrowings under the revolving credit agreements may be made either in Eurodollars with interest that approximates the applicable Eurodollar rate or in U.S. dollars with interest that approximates the bank’s prime rate, our certificate of deposit rate or the federal funds rate. A quarterly fee is payable on the commitments which we may terminate or reduce at any time. The quarterly fee, which is dependent on our debt rating issued by S&P and Moody’s, was .08% at September 30, 2007. As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, no amounts were borrowed under the revolving credit lines.
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NOTE 8: PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS
The components of net periodic benefit costs recognized in other comprehensive income were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended September 30 | |
(in thousands) | | Pension Benefits | | | Other Postretirement Benefits | |
Net Periodic Benefit Cost | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Service cost | | $ | 1,133 | | | $ | 1,684 | | | $ | 1,895 | | | $ | 2,161 | |
Interest cost | | | 3,363 | | | | 2,877 | | | | 3,472 | | | | 3,540 | |
Expected return on plan assets | | | (4,094 | ) | | | (3,054 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Amortization of prior service cost | | | 14 | | | | 184 | | | | (1,480 | ) | | | (816 | ) |
Recognized actuarial loss | | | 53 | | | | 926 | | | | 601 | | | | 745 | |
Total periodic benefit cost | | $ | 469 | | | $ | 2,617 | | | $ | 4,488 | | | $ | 5,630 | |
| |
| | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
(in thousands) | | Pension Benefits | | | Other Postretirement Benefits | |
Net Periodic Benefit Cost | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Service cost | | $ | 3,749 | | | $ | 4,972 | | | $ | 5,950 | | | $ | 6,421 | |
Interest cost | | | 9,389 | | | | 8,467 | | | | 10,261 | | | | 10,540 | |
Expected return on plan assets | | | (10,648 | ) | | | (9,162 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Amortization of prior service cost | | | 386 | | | | 555 | | | | (4,440 | ) | | | (2,510 | ) |
Recognized actuarial loss | | | 1,631 | | | | 2,713 | | | | 1,781 | | | | 2,248 | |
Total periodic benefit cost | | $ | 4,507 | | | $ | 7,545 | | | $ | 13,552 | | | $ | 16,699 | |
NOTE 9: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
There are various libel actions, legal proceedings and other matters that have arisen in the ordinary course of business that represent possible contingencies of ours and our subsidiaries. In our opinion, based on advice of legal counsel, the ultimate outcome to us and our subsidiaries as a result of these legal proceedings and other matters will not have a material effect on our financial statements. In addition, we have insurance coverage for many of these matters.
Our bylaws provide for indemnification of officers and directors prosecuted in a criminal action or sued in a civil action or proceeding to the full extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. The maximum potential amount of future payments we could be required to make under these indemnification provisions is unlimited; however, we maintain directors’ and officers’ liability and corporation reimbursement insurance for the benefit of our directors and officers. The policy provides coverage for certain amounts paid as indemnification pursuant to the provisions of Delaware law and our bylaws. As a result of our insurance coverage, we believe that the estimated fair value of these indemnification provisions is minimal.
We enter into indemnification agreements in our ordinary course of business, typically with companies from which we are acquiring or to which we are selling businesses, partners in joint ventures, licensees and licensors, and service providers and contractors. Under these agreements we generally indemnify, hold harmless, and agree to reimburse the indemnified party for losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified party, as a result of our activities or our breach of the agreement in question or in connection with any intellectual property infringement claim by any third party with respect to our products. These indemnification obligations generally survive termination of the underlying agreement, either for some set number of years or perpetually. In some cases, the maximum potential amount of future payments we could be required to make under these indemnification obligations is unlimited. We believe that the estimated fair value of these indemnity obligations is minimal and we have no liabilities recorded for these obligations as of September 30, 2007. We have not incurred material costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification provisions.
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NOTE 10: INCOME TAXES
In June 2006, FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (FIN 48) was issued, which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. We adopted FIN 48 when it became effective for us as of January 1, 2007. Upon adoption, we recorded approximately a $1.7 million increase in liabilities, a $.4 million increase in assets and a $1.3 million reduction to retained earnings.
Unrecognized tax benefits (all of which would impact the effective tax rate if recognized) were $19.2 million at January 1, 2007. Interest expense associated with unrecognized tax benefits, which is recorded on a net basis within income taxes, totaled $0.5 million and $1.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively. The balance of interest accrued totaled $2.7 million as of January 1, 2007.
The remaining tax years subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service, as of September 30, 2007, are 2003-2006. State income tax returns are generally subject to examination for a period of three to four years after filing. We have various state income tax returns in the process of examination. The statute of limitations for certain state tax returns is expected to expire within twelve months which could result in a decrease in the unrecognized tax benefit balance of $3 to $4 million.
NOTE 11: COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Comprehensive income was computed as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | Three Months Ended September 30 | | | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Net income | | $ | 13,752 | | | $ | 105,365 | | | $ | 57,405 | | | $ | 195,644 | |
Add: change in | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cumulative translation adjustment | | | 246 | | | | 634 | | | | 523 | | | | 273 | |
Adjustment for realized gain on hedging included in net income | | | (392 | ) | | | (269 | ) | | | (226 | ) | | | (557 | ) |
Unrealized gain (loss) on hedging | | | 518 | | | | (125 | ) | | | 209 | | | | 763 | |
Unrealized loss on investments | | | (511 | ) | | | (497 | ) | | | (37 | ) | | | (2,564 | ) |
Adjustment to pension and postretirement plans | | | 47 | | | | - | | | | 155 | | | | - | |
Comprehensive income | | $ | 13,660 | | | $ | 105,108 | | | $ | 58,029 | | | $ | 193,559 | |
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NOTE 12: EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic and diluted earnings per share were computed as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands, except per share amounts) | | Three Months Ended September 30 | | Nine Months Ended September 30 |
| | 2007(2) | | 2006(3) | | 2007(2) | | 2006(3) |
Income from continuing operations | | $ | 13,752 | | $ | 12,625 | | $ | 57,405 | | $ | 96,667 |
Income from discontinued operations | | | - | | | 92,740 | | | - | | | 98,977 |
Net income | | $ | 13,752 | | $ | 105,365 | | $ | 57,405 | | $ | 195,644 |
| | | | |
Weighted-average shares outstanding – basic | | | 85,956 | | | 83,288 | | | 84,742 | | | 83,187 |
| | | | |
Effect of dilutive securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Stock options | | | 506 | | | 20 | | | 225 | | | 36 |
Other, principally restricted stock units and contingent stock rights | | | 698 | | | 471 | | | 573 | | | 400 |
Weighted-average shares outstanding – diluted (1) | | | 87,160 | | | 83,779 | | | 85,540 | | | 83,623 |
| | | | |
Earnings per basic share: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Continuing operations | | $ | .16 | | $ | .15 | | $ | .68 | | $ | 1.16 |
Discontinued operations | | | - | | | 1.11 | | | - | | | 1.19 |
Earnings per basic share(4) | | $ | .16 | | $ | 1.27 | | $ | .68 | | $ | 2.35 |
| | | | |
Earnings per diluted share: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Continuing operations | | $ | .16 | | $ | .15 | | $ | .67 | | $ | 1.16 |
Discontinued operations | | | - | | | 1.11 | | | - | | | 1.18 |
Earnings per diluted share | | $ | .16 | | $ | 1.26 | | $ | .67 | | $ | 2.34 |
(1) | The diluted average shares outstanding have been determined using the treasury stock method, which assumes the proceeds from the exercise of outstanding options were used to repurchase shares at the average market value of the stock during the year. |
(2) | For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, options to purchase 2.2 million shares at an average price of $61.24 and options to purchase 5.7 million shares at an average price of $54.38, respectively, have been excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price during the quarter and nine months and to include such securities would be antidilutive. |
(3) | For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, options to purchase 9.2 million shares at an average price of $52.11 and 9.1 million shares at an average price of $52.46, respectively, have been excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price during the quarter and nine months and to include such securities would be antidilutive. |
(4) | The sum of the individual amounts may not equal total due to rounding. |
NOTE 13: BUSINESS SEGMENTS
We are organized around our distinct brands (franchises), customers and markets with our business and financial content organizations reported in two separate segments – consumer media and enterprise media, and our local general-interest community newspapers and their online media properties reported in the local media segment. We continue to report certain administrative activities under corporate.
Consumer media is comprised primarily of The Wall Street Journal franchise (including domestic and international print, online, television and radio); and the relatively smaller Barron’s (including print, online and conferences) and MarketWatch franchises (including online, newsletters, television and radio). The consumer media segment is an integrated business that offers business and financial information content to the consumer market around the globe. This content is produced to gain readership and ultimately to earn revenue from advertisers and those readers. We manage consumer media as one segment as its products largely comprise the global WSJ brand, and its sales, newsgathering and most production efforts are centralized and shared across the different editions and our various offerings in the segment are highly integrated.
Enterprise media is managed as one segment as it comprises product offerings under the Dow Jones brand and offers business and financial information content to other businesses and financial professionals around the globe. In addition, its product offerings rely on advanced delivery technology to meet customers’ needs and part of this segment’s overall strategy is to add more value to content with technology-enabled, well-designed and conveniently delivered enhancements and new products. It has a shared information technology infrastructure, including a product development group that develops tools used in all of the offerings. Enterprise media’s revenues are primarily subscription-based and the segment is comprised of Dow Jones Newswires, Factiva, Dow Jones Indexes, Dow Jones Financial Information Services, Dow Jones Reprints/Permissions and Dow Jones Licensing Services.
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Local media includes the operations of Ottaway Newspapers, which publishes daily newspapers, weekly newspapers and “shoppers” in the U.S.
We evaluate the performance of our segments exclusive of restructuring and other charges. See Note 6 for a further discussion of these items.
Our operations by reportable business segment, on a continuing basis, were as follows:
Financial Data by Business Segment
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | Three Months Ended September 30 | | | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consumer media | | $ | 253,340 | | | $ | 247,184 | | | $ | 824,538 | | | $ | 814,099 | |
Enterprise media | | | 180,602 | | | | 100,382 | | | | 531,994 | | | | 295,428 | |
Local media | | | 61,123 | | | | 64,856 | | | | 179,120 | | | | 188,985 | |
Segment eliminations(1) | | | (1,788 | ) | | | - | | | | (5,515 | ) | | | - | |
Consolidated revenues | | $ | 493,277 | | | $ | 412,422 | | | $ | 1,530,137 | | | $ | 1,298,512 | |
| | | | |
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes and Equity Earnings: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consumer media | | $ | (4,164 | ) | | $ | (17,959 | ) | | $ | 29,097 | | | $ | (819 | ) |
Enterprise media | | | 43,069 | | | | 27,033 | | | | 118,917 | | | | 76,879 | |
Local media | | | 12,223 | | | | 14,119 | | | | 28,963 | | | | 35,436 | |
Segment operating income | | | 51,128 | | | | 23,193 | | | | 176,977 | | | | 111,496 | |
| | | | |
Corporate(2) | | | (22,330 | ) | | | (9,580 | ) | | | (62,246 | ) | | | (27,601 | ) |
Restructuring and other items, net(3) | | | - | | | | - | | | | (10,113 | ) | | | (27,672 | ) |
Consolidated operating income | | $ | 28,798 | | | $ | 13,613 | | | $ | 104,618 | | | $ | 56,223 | |
| | | | |
Investment income | | | 416 | | | | 590 | | | | 1,055 | | | | 873 | |
Interest expense | | | (4,786 | ) | | | (8,457 | ) | | | (16,507 | ) | | | (22,901 | ) |
Contract guarantee | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 62,649 | |
Other, net | | | (16 | ) | | | (277 | ) | | | (327 | ) | | | (1,238 | ) |
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings | | $ | 24,412 | | | $ | 5,469 | | | $ | 88,839 | | | $ | 95,606 | |
| | | | |
Depreciation and Amortization Expense: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consumer media | | $ | 15,760 | | | $ | 16,162 | | | $ | 46,089 | | | $ | 48,948 | |
Enterprise media | | | 8,182 | | | | 5,102 | | | | 23,815 | | | | 15,927 | |
Local media | | | 3,192 | | | | 2,783 | | | | 8,815 | | | | 8,178 | |
Corporate | | | 28 | | | | 32 | | | | 84 | | | | 95 | |
Consolidated depreciation and amortization expense | | $ | 27,162 | | | $ | 24,079 | | | $ | 78,803 | | | $ | 73,148 | |
(1) | Represents the elimination of post-acquisition content fees earned by Consumer Media from sales to Factiva. |
(2) | The increase in corporate expense in 2007 relative to 2006 primarily reflects significantly higher stock-based compensation costs related to the rise in our stock price following the announcement that News Corporation had submitted a proposal to acquire Dow Jones at $60 per share (see also Note 2). A portion of our stock-based compensation is payable in cash based on the underlying value of our common stock and, accordingly, increased in value during the second and third quarters. Also included in corporate expenses in 2007 are direct third-party transaction costs related to this merger. |
(3) | Restructuring and other items are not included in segment expenses, as management evaluates segment results exclusive of these items. For information purposes, the restructuring and other items allocable to each segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were as follows: |
| | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
| | 2007 | | 2006 | |
Consumer media | | $ | 7,356 | | $ | 19,313 | |
Enterprise media | | | 2,030 | | | 5,072 | |
Local media | | | 634 | | | (1,358 | ) |
Corporate | | | 93 | | | 4,645 | |
Total | | $ | 10,113 | | $ | 27,672 | |
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ITEM 2. | MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. |
Executive Overview
Dow Jones & Company is a leading provider of global business and financial news and information through newspapers, newswires, magazines, the Internet, indexes, licensing, research products and services, television and radio. In addition, we own general-interest community newspapers throughout the U.S. Our vision is to be the world’s best provider of high quality, indispensable and conveniently accessible business and related content wherever, whenever and however our customers want it, consistently generating superior value to all our customers, shareholders and employees.
For the first nine months of 2007, approximately 54% of our revenues were derived from the consumer media segment, which includes The Wall Street Journal franchise (including domestic and international print, digital, television and radio) and the relatively smaller Barron’s (including print, digital and conferences) and MarketWatch franchises (including digital, newsletters, television and radio). Consumer media’s financial results are largely dependent on the operating performance of The Wall Street Journal, which, to a significant extent, is dependent upon business-to-business (B2B) advertising placed in our publications, particularly from the financial and technology sectors. The enterprise media segment, which includes newswires, indexes, licensing, research products and services and other electronic operations, comprised approximately 34% of our revenues, while the remaining approximately 12% of total revenues were contributed from the general-interest local media segment.
Revenues in the first nine months of 2007 were up 18%, which was primarily driven by the acquisition of Factiva. The combined profit from our business segments rose 59% year to date despite continued industry-wide softness in print advertising. Print revenues as a percent of total revenues was down to 57% in the first nine months of 2007 compared with 68% a year before. These results are the latest evidence of the success of our ongoing transformation plan, the aim of which is to transform Dow Jones from a company heavily dependent on print revenue to a more diversified content-driven consumer and enterprise media company meeting the needs of its customers across all consumer and enterprise media channels; to attract more customers and to encourage them to use us across all media channels; to diversify our reliance on unpredictable print revenue with investments in digital and B2B media and to smartly manage costs.
We have undertaken a number of innovations to reshape our portfolio and to increase our profits. Our latest example of a successful innovation includes the launch on January 2, 2007 of a redesigned U.S. print Journal with innovative design and content enhancements for the digital age that were made better to serve existing readers and attract new ones. This redesign began in 2005 and involved the retrofitting of the Journal’s 19 presses at 17 print sites to print to a more industry-standard 48-inch web width from its prior 60-inch web width. These improvements included changes to the Journal’s organization, navigation and content—as well as stronger links to WSJ.com—designed to make accessing Journal content faster and more convenient for readers. We also expect the new web width will result in operating expense savings of about $20 million per year, mainly from reduced newsprint consumption.
We also have been making investments in digital and B2B media. In December 2006, we completed the acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in Factiva that we did not already own. The Factiva acquisition will increase the revenues of our enterprise media segment by approximately 75%, as well as expand our global reach. The increased scale together with Factiva’s product offerings, innovative search and delivery technology and complementary customer base will strengthen enterprise media’s product offerings and help propel its growth. In 2007, we began integrating Factiva within our enterprise media segment and it is already contributing to earnings (eleven cents per share accretive in the first nine months).
In May 2007, we completed the acquisition of eFinancialNews Holdings Ltd. (eFN), a private U.K. company, for approximately $63 million, including an estimated working capital adjustment. Based in London, eFN is a diversified media company serving the European financial services industry with print, online, training and events businesses. Its flagship operations include the weekly Financial News, the eFinancialNews.com Web site and subscription-based services. It also publishes Private Equity News, a weekly publication focused on the European private equity sector. eFN will add digital and other non-print businesses to help diversify our reliance on traditional print revenue. We are integrating eFN into the consumer media segment, where it will be part of our European media operations. We financed the purchase with a combination of cash and debt. We expect eFN to be neutral to earnings in 2007 but accretive thereafter.
In March 2007, we formed DJ/IAC Online Ventures, LLC which we jointly own with IAC. This joint venture will create a new personal finance Internet business targeting the broad Web-savvy consumer audience by launching a community-driven Web site that combines the brands, marketing platforms and personal finance content of The Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch and other Dow Jones products with the marketing, entrepreneurialism and technology expertise of IAC’s businesses, including Ask.com and LendingTree. We expect this venture to be modestly dilutive to our earnings this year.
On the cost control side, we continued to identify ways to streamline our operations and eliminate costs. We announced a restructuring initiative in the second quarter primarily reflecting the reorganization of certain areas of our consumer media business but also included the reorganization of other business units; approximately 100 full-time positions are expected to be eliminated from this restructuring. In total, we expect annual savings of $55 million will result from our restructuring actions and other initiatives identified this year to reduce costs and improve profits, including initiatives to further reduce circulation marketing and delivery costs. While the bulk of these cost savings are not expected to take hold until 2008, we do expect to realize about $16 million of these savings in 2007. We expect these savings in 2007 should cushion the impact of continued softness in the print advertising environment.
Also, we believe our differentiated and indispensable content is our greatest competitive advantage. We are very proud that The Wall Street Journal won two Pulitzer Prizes, journalism’s highest honor, including the Pulitzer Gold Medal for Public Service for articles exposing stock-options backdating. These are the Journal’s 32nd and 33rd Pulitzers.
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Results of Operations
Consolidated Results of Operations - Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands, except per share amounts) | | | | | | | | Increase/(Decrease) | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | Amount | | | Percent | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Advertising | | $ | 202,994 | | | $ | 207,819 | | | $ | (4,825 | ) | | (2.3 | )% |
Information services | | | 174,563 | | | | 95,717 | | | | 78,846 | | | 82.4 | |
Circulation and other | | | 115,720 | | | | 108,886 | | | | 6,834 | | | 6.3 | |
Total revenues | | | 493,277 | | | | 412,422 | | | | 80,855 | | | 19.6 | |
| | | | |
Operating expenses | | | 464,479 | | | | 398,809 | | | | 65,670 | | | 16.5 | |
Operating income | | | 28,798 | | | | 13,613 | | | | 15,185 | | | - | |
| | | | |
Non-operating loss | | | (4,386 | ) | | | (8,144 | ) | | | 3,758 | | | 46.1 | |
Income taxes | | | 11,599 | | | | (5,050 | ) | | | 16,649 | | | - | |
Equity in earnings of associated companies, net of tax | | | 939 | | | | 2,106 | | | | (1,167 | ) | | (55.4 | ) |
Income from continuing operations | | | 13,752 | | | | 12,625 | | | | 1,127 | | | 8.9 | |
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | | | - | | | | 92,740 | | | | (92,740 | ) | | - | |
Net income | | $ | 13,752 | | | $ | 105,365 | | | $ | (91,613 | ) | | (86.9 | ) |
| | | | |
Earnings per diluted share: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Continuing operations | | $ | .16 | | | $ | .15 | | | $ | .01 | | | 6.7 | |
Discontinued operations | | | - | | | | 1.11 | | | | (1.11 | ) | | - | |
Earnings per diluted share(*) | | $ | .16 | | | $ | 1.26 | | | $ | (1.10 | ) | | (87.3 | ) |
(*) | The sum of individual amounts may not equal total due to rounding. |
Net Income
Net income in the third quarter of 2007 was $13.8 million, or $.16 per diluted share, compared with third quarter 2006 net income of $105.4 million, or $1.26 per share (all “per share” amounts included herein are based on reported net income and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding). Earnings per share in third quarter of 2007 included higher stock-based compensation costs and direct transaction costs related to the pending merger with News Corporation. Earnings per share in the third quarter of 2006 included certain special tax benefits that netted to an increase in earnings of $1.16 per share. These items are detailed further beginning on page 29.
Revenues
Third quarter 2007 revenues increased $80.9 million, or 19.6%, to $493.3 million, primarily reflecting our acquisition of Factiva, as well as strong organic growth at our digital and indexes businesses, coupled with continued gains in circulation revenue. On a basis adjusted for the impact of acquisitions, total revenue was up 1.8%. Advertising revenue decreased $4.8 million, or 2.3%, as a result of volume declines at our U.S. print Journal and local media segment, somewhat offset by strong growth from our international and digital publications. Information services revenue grew $78.8 million, or 82%, reflecting incremental revenue from Factiva as well as continued strong organic growth from our index products. Circulation and other revenue increased $6.8 million, or 6.3%, on higher circulation revenue across our digital and print publications.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses in the third quarter of 2007 increased $65.7 million, or 16.5%, to $464.5 million. On a basis adjusted for the impact of acquisitions, total expenses decreased 0.9%, due primarily to savings from reduced newsprint and delivery expenses and other cost containment initiatives. Newsprint costs were down by nearly a third, reflecting lower newsprint consumption, primarily due to the reduced web width from the U.S. print Journal redesign, and 12% lower newsprint prices. Depreciation and amortization expenses were up 12.8%, to $27.2 million, primarily reflecting higher amortization expenses as a result of the acquisitions of Factiva and eFN. The number of full-time employees at September 30, 2007 was approximately 7,100 as compared to 7,300 last September (6,700 excluding discontinued operations). Excluding acquisitions and divestitures, headcount was down 4% compared to last year as a result of our restructuring initiatives.
16
Operating Income
Operating income in the third quarter of 2007 more than doubled to $28.8 million (5.8% of revenues), from third quarter 2006 operating income of $13.6 million (3.3% of revenues) as higher profits from our enterprise media segment, coupled with a narrowed loss at consumer media, more than offset the higher costs related to the pending merger with News Corporation and reduced profits at our local media segment.
Non-operating Income (Loss)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | Three months ended September 30 | | | Increase/ (Decrease) | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | | |
Investment income | | $ | 416 | | | $ | 590 | | | $ | (174 | ) |
Interest expense(*) | | | (4,786 | ) | | | (8,457 | ) | | | 3,671 | |
Other, net | | | (16 | ) | | | (277 | ) | | | 261 | |
Total | | $ | (4,386 | ) | | $ | (8,144 | ) | | $ | 3,758 | |
(*) | Debt outstanding as of September 30, 2007 and 2006 was $375.2 million and $668.9 million, respectively. |
Equity in Earnings of Associated Companies, Net of Tax
| | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | Three months ended September 30 | | Increase/ (Decrease) | |
| | 2007 | | 2006 | |
Equity in earnings of associated companies, net of tax(*) | | $ | 939 | | $ | 2,106 | | $ | (1,167 | ) |
(*) | Our share of equity in earnings of associated companies decreased primarily due to the consolidation of earnings from Factiva. Prior to December 15, 2006, our 50% share of earnings from Factiva was recorded as part of equity in earnings of associated companies. Subsequent to December 15, 2006 (the acquisition date), Factiva’s revenues, expenses and profits are included as part of consolidated revenues, expenses and profits. |
Discontinued Operations
Results of operations for the six local media newspapers included within discontinued operations for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were as follows:
| | | | |
(in thousands) | | | |
| | 2006 | |
Revenues | | $ | 24,318 | |
Operating income | | $ | 5,738 | |
Income before income taxes | | $ | 5,736 | |
Income taxes(*) | | $ | (87,004 | ) |
Net income(*) | | $ | 92,740 | |
| |
Depreciation and amortization | | $ | 663 | |
(*) | Includes the reversal of a deferred tax valuation allowance related to the anticipated utilization of capital loss carryforwards that were previously fully reserved. |
17
Consolidated Results of Operations - Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands, except per share amounts) | | | | | | | Increase/(Decrease) | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | | Amount | | | Percent | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Advertising | | $ | 681,624 | | | $ | 691,054 | | $ | (9,430 | ) | | (1.4 | )% |
Information services | | | 516,065 | | | | 286,482 | | | 229,583 | | | 80.1 | |
Circulation and other | | | 332,448 | | | | 320,976 | | | 11,472 | | | 3.6 | |
Total revenues | | | 1,530,137 | | | | 1,298,512 | | | 231,625 | | | 17.8 | |
| | | | |
Operating expenses | | | 1,425,519 | | | | 1,242,289 | | | 183,230 | | | 14.7 | |
Operating income | | | 104,618 | | | | 56,223 | | | 48,395 | | | 86.1 | |
| | | | |
Non-operating (loss) income | | | (15,779 | ) | | | 39,383 | | | (55,162 | ) | | - | |
Income taxes | | | 36,479 | | | | 5,100 | | | 31,379 | | | - | |
Equity in earnings of associated companies, net of tax | | | 5,045 | | | | 6,161 | | | (1,116 | ) | | (18.1 | ) |
Income from continuing operations | | | 57,405 | | | | 96,667 | | | (39,262 | ) | | (40.6 | ) |
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | | | - | | | | 98,977 | | | (98,977 | ) | | - | |
Net income | | $ | 57,405 | | | $ | 195,644 | | $ | (138,239 | ) | | (70.7 | ) |
| | | | |
Earnings per diluted share: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Continuing operations | | $ | .67 | | | $ | 1.16 | | $ | (.49 | ) | | (42.2 | ) |
Discontinued operations | | | - | | | | 1.18 | | | (1.18 | ) | | - | |
Earnings per diluted share | | $ | .67 | | | $ | 2.34 | | $ | (1.67 | ) | | (71.4 | ) |
Net Income
Net income in the first nine months of 2007 was $57.4 million, or $.67 per diluted share, compared with net income of $195.6 million, or $2.34 per share, in the first nine months of 2006 (all “per share” amounts included herein are based on reported net income and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding). Earnings per share in 2007 included certain items affecting comparisons that netted to a decrease in earnings of $.28 per share, while earnings in 2006 included certain items affecting comparisons that netted to an increase in earnings of $1.71 per share. These items are detailed further beginning on page 29.
Revenues
Revenues for the first nine months of 2007 increased $231.6 million, or 17.8%, to $1.5 billion, which was primarily driven by our acquisition of Factiva and strong organic growth at other parts of our business, more than offsetting advertising declines at the U.S. print Journal and at our local media segment. Adjusting for the impact of the Factiva and eFN acquisitions, total revenues were up 1.8%. Advertising revenue decreased $9.4 million, or 1.4%, reflecting declines at our local media segment and U.S. print Journal, partially offset by continued strong growth from our digital and international publications. Information services revenue increased $229.6 million, or 80%, reflecting incremental revenue from Factiva and continued organic growth in indexes and newswires revenues. Circulation and other revenue was higher by $11.5 million, or 3.6%, on increased circulation revenue across our digital and print publications.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses in the first nine months of 2007 increased $183.2 million, or 14.7%, to $1.4 billion. On a basis adjusted for the impact of acquisitions, total expenses were down 1.1%, as incremental costs related to the pending merger with News Corporation were more than offset by lower newsprint, delivery and restructuring costs, as well as other savings from cost containment initiatives. Newsprint costs decreased 26%, reflecting a 19.9% decline in newsprint consumption as a result of the reduced web width from the U.S. print Journal redesign and 7.8% lower newsprint prices. Depreciation and amortization expenses were up 7.7%, to $78.8 million, primarily reflecting the acquisition of Factiva.
18
Operating Income
Operating income in the first nine months of 2007 was $104.6 million (6.8% of revenues), up $48.4 million, or 86%, from the 2006 operating income of $56.2 million (4.3% of revenues), as higher profits from our consumer and enterprise media segments as well as lower restructuring costs more than offset lower profits at our local media segment and higher costs related to the pending merger with News Corporation.
Non-operating (Loss) Income
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | Nine months ended September 30 | | | Increase/ (Decrease) | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | | |
Investment income | | $ | 1,055 | | | $ | 873 | | | $ | 182 | |
Interest expense | | | (16,507 | ) | | | (22,901 | ) | | | 6,394 | |
Cantor Guarantee, net | | | - | | | | 62,649 | | | | (62,649 | ) |
Other, net | | | (327 | ) | | | (1,238 | ) | | | 911 | |
Total | | $ | (15,779 | ) | | $ | 39,383 | | | $ | (55,162 | ) |
Equity in Earnings of Associated Companies, Net of Tax
| | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | Nine months ended September 30 | | Increase/ (Decrease) | |
| | 2007 | | 2006 | |
Equity in earnings of associated companies, net of tax(*) | | $ | 5,045 | | $ | 6,161 | | $ | (1,116 | ) |
(*) | Our share of equity in earnings of associated companies decreased primarily due to the lack of earnings from Factiva and Economia, which were equity investments in 2006 but not in 2007. The loss of these equity earnings exceeded the improved results at STOXX, Ltd.; Vedomosti and SmartMoney. |
Discontinued Operations
Results of operations for the six local media newspapers included within discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were as follows:
| | | | |
(in thousands) | | | |
| | 2006 | |
Revenues | | $ | 71,628 | |
Operating income | | $ | 16,338 | |
Income before income taxes | | $ | 16,337 | |
Income taxes (*) | | $ | (82,640 | ) |
Net income (*) | | $ | 98,977 | |
| |
Depreciation and amortization | | $ | 1,947 | |
(*) | Includes the reversal of a deferred tax valuation allowance related to the anticipated utilization of capital loss carryforwards that were previously fully reserved. |
19
Segment Data
Financial Data by Business Segment
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | Three Months Ended September 30 | | | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consumer media | | $ | 253,340 | | | $ | 247,184 | | | $ | 824,538 | | | $ | 814,099 | |
Enterprise media | | | 180,602 | | | | 100,382 | | | | 531,994 | | | | 295,428 | |
Local media | | | 61,123 | | | | 64,856 | | | | 179,120 | | | | 188,985 | |
Segment eliminations(1) | | | (1,788 | ) | | | - | | | | (5,515 | ) | | | - | |
Consolidated revenues | | $ | 493,277 | | | $ | 412,422 | | | $ | 1,530,137 | | | $ | 1,298,512 | |
| | | | |
Operating income: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consumer media | | $ | (4,164 | ) | | $ | (17,959 | ) | | $ | 29,097 | | | $ | (819 | ) |
Enterprise media | | | 43,069 | | | | 27,033 | | | | 118,917 | | | | 76,879 | |
Local media | | | 12,223 | | | | 14,119 | | | | 28,963 | | | | 35,436 | |
Segment operating income | | | 51,128 | | | | 23,193 | | | | 176,977 | | | | 111,496 | |
| | | | |
Corporate(2) | | | (22,330 | ) | | | (9,580 | ) | | | (62,246 | ) | | | (27,601 | ) |
Restructuring and other items, net | | | - | | | | - | | | | (10,113 | ) | | | (27,672 | ) |
Consolidated operating income | | $ | 28,798 | | | $ | 13,613 | | | $ | 104,618 | | | $ | 56,223 | |
(1) | Represents the elimination of post-acquisition content fees earned by Consumer Media from sales to Factiva. |
(2) | The increase in corporate expense in 2007 relative to 2006 primarily reflects significantly higher stock-based compensation costs related to the rise in our stock price following the announcement that News Corporation had submitted a proposal to acquire Dow Jones at $60 per share (see also Note 2). A portion of our stock-based compensation is payable in cash based on the underlying value of our common stock and, accordingly, increased in value during the second and third quarters. Also included in corporate expenses in 2007 are direct third-party transaction costs related to this merger. See additional discussion of these items on page 29. |
Consumer Media
Consumer media comprises primarily The Wall Street Journal franchise (including domestic and international print, online, television and radio); and the relatively smaller Barron’s (including print, online and conferences) and MarketWatch franchises (including online, newsletters, television and radio). The consumer media segment is an integrated business that offers business and financial information content to the consumer market around the globe. It produces this content to gain readership and ultimately to earn revenue from advertisers and those readers. We manage consumer media as one segment as their products largely comprise the global WSJ brand, and its sales, newsgathering and most production efforts are centralized and shared across the different editions and our various offerings in the segment are highly integrated.
On May 15, 2007, we completed the acquisition of eFinancialNews Holdings Ltd. (eFN), a private U.K. company, for approximately $63 million, including an estimated working capital adjustment. Based in London, eFN is a diversified media company serving the European financial services industry with print, online, training and events businesses. Its flagship operations include the weekly Financial News, the eFinancialNews.com Web site and subscription-based services. It also publishes Private Equity News, a weekly publication focused on the European private equity sector. eFN will add digital and other non-print businesses to help diversify our reliance on traditional print revenue. We are integrating eFN into the consumer media segment, where it will be part of our European media operations.
20
Consumer Media - Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | | | | | | | Increase/(Decrease) | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | Amount | | | Percent | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. media: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Advertising | | $ | 145,104 | | | $ | 147,217 | | | $ | (2,113 | ) | | (1.4 | )% |
Circulation and other | | | 84,435 | | | | 81,973 | | | | 2,462 | | | 3.0 | |
Total U.S. media | | | 229,539 | | | | 229,190 | | | | 349 | | | 0.2 | |
| | | | |
International media: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Advertising | | | 12,022 | | | | 10,682 | | | | 1,340 | | | 12.5 | |
Circulation and other | | | 11,779 | | | | 7,312 | | | | 4,467 | | | 61.1 | |
Total international media | | | 23,801 | | | | 17,994 | | | | 5,807 | | | 32.3 | |
| | | | |
Total consumer media: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Advertising | | | 157,126 | | | | 157,899 | | | | (773 | ) | | (0.5 | ) |
Circulation and other | | | 96,214 | | | | 89,285 | | | | 6,929 | | | 7.8 | |
Total revenue | | | 253,340 | | | | 247,184 | | | | 6,156 | | | 2.5 | |
| | | | |
Operating expenses | | | 257,504 | | | | 265,143 | | | | (7,639 | ) | | (2.9 | ) |
Operating (loss) | | $ | (4,164 | ) | | $ | (17,959 | ) | | $ | 13,795 | | | 76.8 | |
| | | | |
Operating margin | | | (1.6 | )% | | | (7.3 | )% | | | | | | | |
Revenues
Consumer media revenues for the third quarter increased by $6.2 million, or 2.5%, as continued strong increases in circulation revenue worldwide more than offset the U.S. advertising revenue decline. Excluding the impact of the eFN acquisition, consumer media revenues were up modestly.
U.S. Media:
Advertising Revenue
U.S. advertising revenue decreased $2.1 million, or 1.4%, on lower advertising revenue at the U.S. Journal (down 2.9%), partially offset by continued gains in online advertising revenue (up 7.8%). Advertising volume at the U.S. Journal was down 13.6%, but the impact of this decline in volume was tempered by higher advertising yield primarily driven by premium color positions. Color premium revenue in the print Journal increased 4.3% despite a 13.1% drop in color volume.
Advertising Volume Statistics:
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended September 30 | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
| | % of Total | | Increase/ (Decrease) | | | % of Total | | Increase/ (Decrease) | |
General(1) | | 39 | | 1.8 | % | | 33 | | (2.0 | )% |
Technology(2) | | 8 | | (59.7 | )% | | 18 | | (0.9 | )% |
Financial(3) | | 20 | | (7.7 | )% | | 18 | | 9.5 | % |
Classified(4) | | 33 | | (7.0 | )% | | 31 | | 1.1 | % |
Total U.S. Journal | | 100 | | (13.6 | )% | | 100 | | 1.1 | % |
| | | | |
Barron’s | | | | (7.6 | )% | | | | 15.1 | % |
(1) | General advertising volume in 2007 increased primarily due to higher general B2B, healthcare, travel and luxury advertising, partially offset by declines in other consumer and auto advertising. |
(2) | Technology advertising volume was sharply lower in 2007 on declines in all of its categories, except for PC advertising. |
(3) | Financial advertising volume decreased in 2007 on lower insurance, tombstone and mutual fund advertising. |
(4) | Classified and other advertising is our lowest yielding advertising category. |
21
Circulation and other revenue
Circulation and other revenue for U.S. media increased $2.5 million, or 3%, fueled by continued strong growth at both the print and digital editions of the Journal and Barron’s. The WSJ.com Web site continues to be the largest paid subscription news site on the Internet.
Key metrics were as follows:
| | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | Three Months Ended September 30 | | Increase/ (Decrease) | |
| | 2007 | | 2006 | |
The Wall Street Journal average circulation | | 1,647 | | 1,728 | | (4.7 | )% |
Barron’s average circulation | | 313 | | 299 | | 4.7 | |
| | | |
WSJ.com paid subscriptions(1) | | 989 | | 788 | | 25.5 | |
Barrons.com paid subscriptions | | 113 | | 70 | | 61.4 | |
| | | |
WSJ.com average monthly unique visitors(2) | | 10,022 | | 7,618 | | 31.6 | |
WSJ.com average monthly page views | | 122,387 | | 106,104 | | 15.3 | |
| | | |
MarketWatch.com average monthly unique visitors(2) | | 7,413 | | 6,343 | | 16.9 | |
MarketWatch.com average monthly page views | | 247,985 | | 176,637 | | 40.4 | |
| | | |
The Wall Street Journal Digital Network average monthly unique visitors(2), (3) | | 16,928 | | 14,147 | | 19.7 | |
The Wall Street Journal Digital Network average monthly page views | | 382,931 | | 286,322 | | 33.7 | |
(1) | WSJ.com subscription figure now also includes subscribers who selected to pay for both the print and online products as part of a bundled offer and registered to use WSJ.com. The 2006 figure has been adjusted to conform to the 2007 presentation. |
(2) | Average monthly unique visitors and page views are internal numbers. |
(3) | The Wall Street Journal Digital Network, formerly known as Dow Jones Online, includes WSJ.com and the Journal’s vertical sites, MarketWatch.com and BigCharts.com, Barrons.com and AllThingsD.com. |
International Media:
International media revenues for the third quarter of 2007 increased $5.8 million, or 32%, to $23.8 million, reflecting incremental revenues from eFN, which was acquired on May 15, 2007, coupled with continued gains at The Wall Street Journal Asia. Excluding the impact of eFN, international revenues were up 2.5%. Advertising revenue was up $1.3 million, or 12.5%, primarily from the incremental revenue of eFN. Circulation and other revenues increased $4.5 million, or 61%, also driven by the incremental revenue from eFN, as well as increased circulation revenue in Asia and Europe.
Operating Expenses
Consumer media’s third quarter 2007 operating expenses decreased $7.6 million, or 2.9%, largely due to declines in newsprint and print delivery expenses, partially offset by higher costs from eFN. Excluding eFN, operating expenses were down 5.2%. Newsprint costs decreased 34%, as a result of a 25% decrease in newsprint consumption, driven by our redesigned Journal’s reduced web width, as well as a 12.4% decrease in prices. The number of full-time employees in the consumer media segment was down approximately 1% compared to September 2006. Excluding employees from eFN, the number of full-time employees was down 5%.
Operating Loss
Consumer media’s third quarter 2007 operating loss narrowed to $4.2 million, compared to a loss of $18 million in 2006, largely reflecting reduced cost base as a result of our cost control initiatives. Our third quarter is traditionally the lowest advertising volume quarter as a result of seasonality.
22
Consumer Media - Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | | | | | | | Increase/(Decrease) | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | Amount | | | Percent | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. media: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Advertising | | $ | 505,960 | | | $ | 512,859 | | | $ | (6,899 | ) | | (1.3 | )% |
Circulation and other | | | 250,026 | | | | 247,849 | | | | 2,177 | | | 0.9 | |
Total U.S. media | | | 755,986 | | | | 760,708 | | | | (4,722 | ) | | (0.6 | ) |
| | | | |
International media: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Advertising | | | 38,968 | | | | 31,866 | | | | 7,102 | | | 22.3 | |
Circulation and other | | | 29,584 | | | | 21,525 | | | | 8,059 | | | 37.4 | |
Total international media | | | 68,552 | | | | 53,391 | | | | 15,161 | | | 28.4 | |
| | | | |
Total consumer media: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Advertising | | | 544,928 | | | | 544,725 | | | | 203 | | | - | |
Circulation and other | | | 279,610 | | | | 269,374 | | | | 10,236 | | | 3.8 | |
Total revenue | | | 824,538 | | | | 814,099 | | | | 10,439 | | | 1.3 | |
| | | | |
Operating expenses | | | 795,441 | | | | 814,918 | | | | (19,477 | ) | | (2.4 | ) |
Operating income (loss) | | $ | 29,097 | | | $ | (819 | ) | | $ | 29,916 | | | - | |
| | | | |
Operating margin | | | 3.5 | % | | | (0.1 | )% | | | | | | | |
Revenues
Consumer media revenues for the first nine months of 2007 increased $10.4 million, or 1.3%, driven by revenue gains as a result of the acquisition of eFN, as well as gains in circulation revenue. Excluding the impact of the eFN acquisition, revenues were almost flat.
U.S. Media:
Advertising Revenue
U.S. advertising revenue in the first nine months of 2007 decreased $6.9 million, or 1.3%, on lower revenue at the U.S. Journal (down 3.9%), modestly offset by higher advertising revenue at The Wall Street Journal Digital Network (up 12.3%) and at Barron’s (up 13.1%). Higher advertising yield, reflecting premium color positions, partially offset the decline in advertising volume of 9.2%. Color premium revenue in the print Journal increased 9.4%, despite a 9.1% drop in color volume.
Advertising Volume Statistics:
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
| | % of Total | | Increase/ (Decrease) | | | % of Total | | Increase/ (Decrease) | |
General(1) | | 39 | | (1.4 | )% | | 36 | | 6.4 | % |
Technology(2) | | 10 | | (40.8 | )% | | 15 | | 2.3 | % |
Financial(3) | | 20 | | (3.8 | )% | | 19 | | 10.5 | % |
Classified(4) | | 31 | | (5.3 | )% | | 30 | | 15.9 | % |
Total U.S. Journal | | 100 | | (9.2 | )% | | 100 | | 9.1 | % |
| | | | |
Barron’s | | | | 9.2 | % | | | | 1.4 | % |
(1) | General advertising volume in 2007 decreased on sharply lower auto advertising, as well as declines in general B2B and pharmaceutical advertising, which was only partially offset by higher travel and luxury advertising. |
(2) | Technology advertising volume was lower in 2007 on declines in all of its categories. |
(3) | Financial advertising volume decreased in 2007 on lower insurance and mutual funds advertising, which was partially offset by increases in tombstone and investment advisory advertising. |
(4) | Classified and other advertising is our lowest yielding advertising category. |
23
Circulation and other revenue
Circulation and other revenue in the first nine months of 2007 for U.S. media increased $2.2 million, or 0.9%, as continued strong subscription growth at both the print and online editions of the Journal exceeded the declines in other revenues.
Key metrics were as follows:
| | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | Nine Months Ended September 30 | | Increase/ (Decrease) | |
| | 2007 | | 2006 | |
The Wall Street Journal average circulation | | 1,684 | | 1,727 | | (2.5 | )% |
Barron’s average circulation | | 313 | | 305 | | 2.7 | |
| | | |
WSJ.com paid subscriptions(1) | | 989 | | 788 | | 25.5 | |
Barrons.com paid subscriptions | | 113 | | 70 | | 61.4 | |
| | | |
WSJ.com average monthly unique visitors(2) | | 8,560 | | 7,315 | | 17.0 | |
WSJ.com average monthly page views | | 113,883 | | 107,713 | | 5.7 | |
| | | |
MarketWatch.com average monthly unique visitors(2) | | 7,438 | | 6,526 | | 14.0 | |
MarketWatch.com average monthly page views | | 241,476 | | 196,189 | | 23.1 | |
| | | |
Wall Street Journal Digital average monthly unique visitors(2), (3) | | 15,366 | | 14,079 | | 9.1 | |
Wall Street Journal Digital average monthly page views | | 364,402 | | 307,983 | | 18.3 | |
(1) | WSJ.com subscription figure now also includes subscribers who selected to pay for both the print and online products as part of a bundled offer and registered to use WSJ.com. The 2006 figure has been adjusted to conform to the 2007 presentation. |
(2) | Average monthly unique visitors and page views are internal numbers. |
(3) | The Wall Street Journal Digital Network, formerly known as Dow Jones Online, includes WSJ.com and the Journal’s vertical sites, MarketWatch.com and BigCharts.com, Barrons.com and AllThingsD.com. |
International Media:
International media revenues increased $15.2 million, or 28%, to $68.6 million due to incremental revenue from the recently acquired eFN, along with strong organic growth, principally in Asia. Excluding the impact of eFN, total international revenues were up 11.5%. Advertising revenue increased $7.1 million, or 22%, reflecting eFN and higher advertising volume in Asia. International print circulation and other revenues were up $8.1 million, or 37%, primarily from incremental revenue from eFN.
Operating Expenses
Consumer media’s operating expenses in the first nine months of 2007 decreased $19.5 million, or 2.4%, mostly as a result of declines in newsprint, print delivery and depreciation and amortization expenses, partially offset by increased marketing and promotion costs related to the launch of the redesigned Journal earlier in 2007. Newsprint costs decreased 28%, reflecting a 21.9% decrease in newsprint consumption, driven by our redesigned Journal’s reduced web width, coupled with a 7.8% decrease in prices.
Operating Income (Loss)
Consumer media’s operating income for the first nine months of 2007 was $29.1 million (3.5% of revenues), compared to a loss of $0.8 million in 2006, largely reflecting the impact of cost savings initiatives.
24
Enterprise Media
Enterprise media is managed as one segment as it comprises product offerings under the Dow Jones brand and offers business and financial information content to other businesses and financial professionals around the globe. In addition, its product offerings rely on advanced delivery technology to meet customers’ needs and part of this segment’s overall strategy is to add more value to content with technology-enabled, well-designed and conveniently delivered enhancements and new products. It has a shared information technology infrastructure, including a product development group that develops tools used in all of the offerings. Enterprise media’s revenues are primarily subscription-based and the segment is comprised of Dow Jones Newswires, Factiva, Dow Jones Indexes, Dow Jones Financial Information Services, Dow Jones Reprints/Permissions and Dow Jones Licensing Services.
On December 15, 2006, we acquired the remaining 50% interest of Dow Jones Reuters Business Interactive LLC (Factiva) that we did not already own from our joint venture partner, Reuters Group Plc. (Reuters). This acquisition will increase the revenue of our enterprise media segment by approximately 75% and substantially expand its global reach. Factiva is a provider of global business content, research products and services to global enterprises mainly in the finance, corporate, professional services and government sectors and has more than 1.6 million paying subscribers. We are integrating Factiva with the complementary offerings within the enterprise media segment.
On January 9, 2007, we announced a new organizational structure within the enterprise media segment in connection with the Factiva acquisition. The enterprise media segment now includes two business units: (i) Dow Jones Content Technology Solutions, the new name for the combined newswires, licensing and Factiva products; and, (ii) Dow Jones Indexes and other, which includes Dow Jones Financial Information Services (previously reported on a combined basis with newswires). Previously reported supplemental segment results of operations were restated to reflect this new organizational structure, and did not impact total consolidated results of operations.
Enterprise Media - Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | | | | | | | Increase/(Decrease) | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | Amount | | Percent | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dow Jones Content Technology Solutions (CTS): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
North America | | $ | 90,044 | | | $ | 51,751 | | | $ | 38,293 | | 74.0 | % |
International | | | 54,909 | | | | 17,678 | | | | 37,231 | | - | |
Total CTS revenues(1) | | | 144,953 | | | | 69,429 | | | | 75,524 | | - | |
| | | | |
Dow Jones Indexes and other(2) | | | 35,649 | | | | 30,953 | | | | 4,696 | | 15.2 | |
Total revenue | | | 180,602 | | | | 100,382 | | | | 80,220 | | 79.9 | |
| | | | |
Operating expenses | | | 137,533 | | | | 73,349 | | | | 64,184 | | 87.5 | |
Operating income | | $ | 43,069 | | | $ | 27,033 | | | $ | 16,036 | | 59.3 | |
| | | | |
Operating margin | | | 23.8 | % | | | 26.9 | % | | | | | | |
(1) | Dow Jones Content Technology Solutions includes the complementary offerings of Dow Jones Newswires, Factiva and Dow Jones Licensing Services. |
(2) | Includes Dow Jones Indexes, Dow Jones Financial Information Services (FIS) and the reprints / permissions businesses. |
Revenues
Enterprise media revenues in the third quarter of 2007 increased $80.2 million, or 80%, to $180.6 million, driven by the acquisition of Factiva and continued organic revenue growth in index revenues, partially offset by lower revenues from licensing. On an adjusted basis, including Factiva revenues in the respective periods prior to our acquisition, enterprise media’s revenue was up approximately 6.1%.
Dow Jones CTS
Dow Jones CTS revenue in the third quarter of 2007 more than doubled, as it rose $75.5 million to $145 million, which reflected increased revenues in North America and internationally of $38.3 million and $37.2 million, respectively. On an adjusted basis, CTS revenue was up over 4% as growth in newswires and Factiva revenues aided in part by foreign currency exchange were partially offset by lower licensing revenue.
Dow Jones Indexes and other
Dow Jones Indexes and other revenues, which include the Dow Jones Indexes and reprints/permissions businesses, as well as Dow Jones Financial Information Services (FIS), increased $4.7 million, or 15.2%, to $35.6 million. The increases were driven by continued strong growth in indexes-related revenue, fueled by growth from assets under management and fees coupled with continued strength in commodity-related financial products. Also contributing to the increase were volume gains in FIS database subscriptions.
25
Operating Expenses
Enterprise media expenses in the third quarter of 2007 were up $64.2 million, or nearly 88%, to $137.5 million due to the acquisition of Factiva. On an adjusted basis, expenses decreased 1.4% compared to last year. The number of full-time employees in the enterprise media segment at September 30, 2007 was up approximately 38% from a year ago due to the acquisition of Factiva.
Operating Income
Enterprise media’s operating income in the third quarter of 2007 was $43.1 million (23.8% of revenues), an increase of $16 million, or 59%, over operating income a year ago of $27.0 million (26.9% of revenues).
Enterprise Media - Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | | | | | | | Increase/(Decrease) | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | Amount | | Percent | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dow Jones Content Technology Solutions (CTS): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
North America | | $ | 269,357 | | | $ | 158,792 | | | $ | 110,565 | | 69.6 | % |
International | | | 161,302 | | | | 50,977 | | | | 110,325 | | - | |
Total CTS revenues(1) | | | 430,659 | | | | 209,769 | | | | 220,890 | | - | |
| | | | |
Dow Jones Indexes and other(2) | | | 101,335 | | | | 85,659 | | | | 15,676 | | 18.3 | |
Total revenue | | | 531,994 | | | | 295,428 | | | | 236,566 | | 80.1 | |
| | | | |
Operating expenses | | | 413,077 | | | | 218,549 | | | | 194,528 | | 89.0 | |
Operating income | | $ | 118,917 | | | $ | 76,879 | | | $ | 42,038 | | 54.7 | |
| | | | |
Operating margin | | | 22.4 | % | | | 26.0 | % | | | | | | |
(1) | Dow Jones Content Technology Solutions includes the complementary offerings of Dow Jones Newswires, Factiva and Dow Jones Licensing Services. |
(2) | Includes Dow Jones Indexes, Dow Jones Financial Information Services (FIS) and the reprints / permissions businesses. |
Revenues
Enterprise media revenues increased in the first nine months of 2007 by $236.6 million, or over 80%, to $532 million, driven by the acquisition of Factiva along with gains in index and newswires revenues, partially offset by declines in licensing revenues. On an adjusted basis, including Factiva revenues in the respective periods prior to our acquisition, enterprise media’s revenue increased nearly 6%.
Dow Jones CTS
Dow Jones CTS revenue more than doubled to $430.7 million as North America and international revenues increased $110.6 million and $110.3 million, respectively. On an adjusted basis, CTS revenue was up approximately 3.4% which reflected growth in newswires and Factiva revenues aided in part by foreign currency exchange.
Dow Jones Indexes and other
Dow Jones Indexes and other revenues increased $15.7 million, or 18.3%, to $101.3 million. The increases were driven primarily by indexes-related revenue growth from continued increases in assets under management and fees as well as continued growth in commodity- and derivative-related financial products. FIS also achieved solid volume-driven gains in newsletters and database subscription revenues.
Operating Expenses
Enterprise media expenses in the first nine months of 2007 increased $194.5 million, or 89%, to $413.1 million due to the acquisition of Factiva. On an adjusted basis, expenses were down almost 1% from last year.
Operating Income
Enterprise media’s operating income in the first nine months of 2007 was $118.9 million (22.4% of revenues), an improvement of $42 million, or 55%, over operating income a year ago of $76.9 million (26.0% of revenues).
26
Local Media
Local media includes the operations of Ottaway Newspapers, which publishes daily newspapers, weekly newspapers and “shoppers” in the U.S. On December 5, 2006, we completed the sale of six local media newspapers that historically represented about 30% of the revenues and profits of this segment. The six papers sold were: the News-Times of Danbury, CT; The Daily Star of Oneonta, NY; the Press-Republican of Plattsburgh, NY; the Santa Cruz Sentinel (Santa Cruz, CA); The Daily Item of Sunbury, PA; and the Traverse City Record-Eagle (Traverse City, MI).
These newspapers are presented as discontinued operations pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144 “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” Further, the results of the six newspapers were excluded from our segment results for all periods presented.
Local Media - Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | | | | | | | Increase/(Decrease) | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | Amount | | | Percent | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Advertising | | $ | 44,836 | | | $ | 49,146 | | | $ | (4,310 | ) | | (8.8 | )% |
Circulation and other | | | 16,287 | | | | 15,710 | | | | 577 | | | 3.7 | |
Total revenue | | | 61,123 | | | | 64,856 | | | | (3,733 | ) | | (5.8 | ) |
| | | | |
Operating expenses | | | 48,900 | | | | 50,737 | | | | (1,837 | ) | | (3.6 | ) |
Operating income | | $ | 12,223 | | | $ | 14,119 | | | $ | (1,896 | ) | | (13.4 | ) |
| | | | |
Operating margin | | | 20.0 | % | | | 21.8 | % | | | | | | | |
Revenues
Local media revenue for the third quarter of 2007 decreased $3.7 million, or 5.8%, to $61.1 million on lower advertising revenue, which was only partially offset by increased circulation and other revenue. Advertising revenue was down 8.8%, as continued declines in advertising volume was only modestly tempered by increased online revenue and higher print ad rates.
Volume Statistics:
| | | | | | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Change in advertising volume(*) | | (14.7 | )% | | (7.7 | )% |
Combined average daily circulation (in thousands) | | 275 | | | 283 | |
(*) | The decline in advertising volume primarily reflected declines in all categories except for legal notices. |
Operating Expenses
Local media expenses for the third quarter of 2007 decreased $1.8 million, or 3.6%, to $48.9 million, primarily as a result of lower newsprint, delivery and administrative costs, partially offset by higher expenses related to marketing. Newsprint expense decreased 22.2% as a result of decreases of 10.9% and 12.7% in consumption and prices, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense increased 14.7% to $3.2 million. The number of full-time employees in the local media segment was down approximately 5% compared to a year ago.
Operating Income
Operating income for the third quarter of 2007 was $12.2 million (20% of revenues) compared with income last year of $14.1 million (21.8% of revenues).
27
Local Media - Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | | | | | | | Increase/(Decrease) | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | Amount | | | Percent | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Advertising | | $ | 133,563 | | | $ | 144,016 | | | $ | (10,453 | ) | | (7.3 | )% |
Circulation and other | | | 45,557 | | | | 44,969 | | | | 588 | | | 1.3 | |
Total revenue | | | 179,120 | | | | 188,985 | | | | (9,865 | ) | | (5.2 | ) |
| | | | |
Operating expenses | | | 150,157 | | | | 153,549 | | | | (3,392 | ) | | (2.2 | ) |
Operating income | | $ | 28,963 | | | $ | 35,436 | | | $ | (6,473 | ) | | (18.3 | ) |
| | | | |
Operating margin | | | 16.2 | % | | | 18.8 | % | | | | | | | |
Revenues
Local media revenue decreased $9.9 million, or 5.2%, to $179.1 million in the first nine months of 2007 on lower advertising revenue, which exceeded the modest circulation and other revenue increase. Advertising revenue was down 7.3%, as a 12.4% decline in advertising volume was only partially offset by continued growth in online revenue along with higher print ad rates.
Volume Statistics:
| | | | | | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Change in advertising volume(*) | | (12.4 | )% | | (6.7 | )% |
Combined average daily circulation (in thousands) | | 275 | | | 280 | |
(*) | The decline in advertising volume primarily reflected declines in all categories except for legal notices. |
Operating Expenses
Local media expenses decreased during the first nine months of 2007 by $3.4 million, or 2.2%, to $150.2 million, primarily as a result of lower newsprint, delivery and administrative expenses, which were only moderately offset by higher marketing expenses. Newsprint expense decreased 16.6% as a result of decreases of 9.2% and 8.1% in consumption and prices, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense increased 7.8% to $8.8 million.
Operating Income
Operating income in the first nine months of 2007 was $29 million (16.2% of revenues) compared with income last year of $35.4 million (18.8% of revenues).
28
Certain Items Affecting Comparisons
The following tables summarize certain items affecting comparisons for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended September 30 | |
(in millions, except per share amounts) | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
| | Operating(1) | | | Net | | | EPS | | | Operating(1) | | | Net | | | EPS | |
Costs related to the merger with News Corporation (a) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
• incremental stock-based compensation | | $ | (2.8 | ) | | $ | (1.7 | ) | | $ | (.02 | ) | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | |
• direct transaction costs | | | (9.3 | ) | | | (7.7 | ) | | | (.09 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Certain income tax matters (b) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 7.6 | | | | .09 | |
Capital loss carryforward (c) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 89.4 | | | | 1.07 | |
Total(2) | | $ | (12.1 | ) | | $ | (9.4 | ) | | $ | (.11 | ) | | $ | - | | | $ | 97.0 | | | $ | 1.16 | |
| |
| | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
(in millions, except per share amounts) | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
| | Operating(1) | | | Net | | | EPS | | | Operating(1) | | | Net | | | EPS | |
Costs related to the merger with News Corporation (a) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
• incremental stock-based compensation | | $ | (21.0 | ) | | $ | (12.7 | ) | | $ | (.15 | ) | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | |
• direct transaction costs | | | (9.3 | ) | | | (7.7 | ) | | | (.09 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Restructuring and other items, net (d) | | | (10.1 | ) | | | (6.0 | ) | | | (.07 | ) | | | (27.7 | ) | | | (16.6 | ) | | | (.20 | ) |
Contract guarantee (e) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 62.6 | | | | .75 | |
Certain income tax matters (b) | | | - | | | | 2.1 | | | | .02 | | | | - | | | | 7.6 | | | | .09 | |
Capital loss carryforward (c) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 89.4 | | | | 1.07 | |
Total(2) | | $ | (40.4 | ) | | $ | (24.3 | ) | | $ | (.28 | ) | | $ | (27.7 | ) | | $ | 143.0 | | | $ | 1.71 | |
(1) | Amounts exclude discontinued operations. |
(2) | The sum of the individual amounts may not equal total due to rounding. |
(a) Costs Related to the Merger with News Corporation:
Incremental stock-based compensation:
On May 1, 2007, News Corporation submitted a proposal to acquire Dow Jones at $60 per share (see also Note 2). Following that announcement, the trading price of our common stock rose significantly. A portion of our stock-based compensation is payable in cash based on the underlying value of our common stock and, accordingly, increased in value during the second and third quarters, which resulted in incremental costs for those plans during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 of $2.8 million and $21 million, respectively.
Direct transactions costs:
We have incurred direct third-party transaction costs related to this merger of approximately $9.3 million ($7.7 million after taxes) during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007. A portion of these costs are not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.
(b) Certain income tax matters:
In the first quarter of 2007, we recorded a tax benefit of $2.1 million as a result of the expiration of statute of limitations related to certain previously reserved state tax matters while in the third quarter of 2006, we recorded a tax benefit of $7.2 million and related interest income of $0.4 million as a result of favorable resolution of certain state and federal tax matters.
(c) Capital loss carryforward:
Based on our entering a definitive agreement to sell the six local media newspapers and the expectation the transactions would close in 2006, we concluded that it was more likely than not that we would utilize a portion of our capital loss carryforwards, which were previously subject to a valuation allowance. Accordingly, during the third quarter of 2006, we reversed $89.4 million of the previously recorded valuation allowance to recognize the expected tax benefit. This tax benefit was included in net income from discontinued operations as the sales closed during 2006.
29
(d) Restructuring and other items, net:
2007
During the second quarter of 2007, we recorded a restructuring charge of $10.1 million, primarily reflecting employee severance related to reductions at our consumer media segment as well as smaller reductions at our other segments. In total, approximately 100 full-time employees were affected.
2006
During the second quarter of 2006, we recorded a net charge of $6.8 million, consisting of a restructuring charge of $9.9 million, partially offset by a gain of $3.1 million on the sale of certain fixed assets. The restructuring primarily reflected the elimination of certain positions in technology, circulation and administrative support in favor of outsource vendors. In total, approximately 250 full-time and 500 part-time employees were affected.
During the first quarter of 2006, we recorded a charge of $20.9 million related to a reorganization of our business. The charge primarily comprised employee severance related to the elimination of certain senior level positions, as well as additional workforce reductions at other areas of the business identified as part of the reorganization. In total, approximately 65 full-time employees were affected.
Restructuring and other items are not included in segment expenses, as management evaluates segment results exclusive of these items. For information purposes, the restructuring and other items allocable to each segment and corporate for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were as follows:
| | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
| | 2007 | | 2006 | |
Consumer media | | $ | 7,356 | | $ | 19,313 | |
Enterprise media | | | 2,030 | | | 5,072 | |
Local media | | | 634 | | | (1,358 | ) |
Corporate | | | 93 | | | 4,645 | |
Total | | $ | 10,113 | | $ | 27,672 | |
See Note 5 for additional information on restructuring.
(e) Contract guarantee:
On March 13, 2006, we entered into a definitive settlement agreement to conclude all litigation relating to our obligations under a contract guarantee issued in 1995 to Cantor Fitzgerald Securities (Cantor) and Market Data Corporation (MDC). Pursuant to the settlement agreement, we paid an aggregate of $202 million to Cantor and MDC, which was below the $265 million contractual obligation that we had previously accrued. Accordingly, we recorded a benefit in the first quarter of 2006 of $62.6 million, representing the difference between the reserve and the settlement amount. For tax purposes, the settlement payment was treated as a capital loss.
30
Income Taxes
The following table presents the effective income tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended September 30 | | | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Effective income tax rate | | 47.5 | % | | (92.3 | )% | | 41.1 | % | | 5.3 | % |
Effective income tax rate, adjusted for the items identified in table below | | 39.2 | % | | 41.1 | % | | 40.9 | % | | 37.6 | % |
The effective income tax rates were affected by certain transactions, which are detailed below.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended September 30 | |
(dollars in millions) | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
| | Income Taxes | | | Pretax Income | | | Effective Tax Rate(1) | | | Income Taxes | | | Pretax Income | | Effective Tax Rate(1) | |
Reported | | $ | 11.6 | | | $ | 24.4 | | | 47.5 | % | | $ | (5.1 | ) | | $ | 5.5 | | (92.3 | )% |
Adjusted to remove: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Direct transaction costs related to the pending merger with News Corporation(2) | | | (1.6 | ) | | | (9.3 | ) | | | | | | - | | | | - | | | |
Certain income tax matters | | | - | | | | - | | | | | | | (7.2 | ) | | | 0.4 | | | |
Adjusted | | $ | 13.2 | | | $ | 33.7 | | | 39.2 | % | | $ | 2.1 | | | $ | 5.0 | | 41.1 | % |
| |
| | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
(dollars in millions) | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
| | Income Taxes | | | Pretax Income | | | Effective Tax Rate(1) | | | Income Taxes | | | Pretax Income | | Effective Tax Rate(1) | |
Reported | | $ | 36.5 | | | $ | 88.8 | | | 41.1 | % | | $ | 5.1 | | | $ | 95.6 | | 5.3 | % |
Adjusted to remove: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Direct transaction costs related to the pending merger with News Corporation(2) | | | (1.6 | ) | | | (9.3 | ) | | | | | | - | | | | - | | | |
Contract guarantee | | | - | | | | - | | | | | | | - | | | | 62.6 | | | |
Certain income tax matters | | | (2.1 | ) | | | - | | | | | | | (7.2 | ) | | | 0.4 | | | |
Adjusted | | $ | 40.2 | | | $ | 98.2 | | | 40.9 | % | | $ | 12.2 | | | $ | 32.5 | | 37.6 | % |
(1) | Amounts may not equal calculated rate due to rounding. |
(2) | Certain direct transaction costs are not expected to be deductible for tax purposes. |
31
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
The primary source of our liquidity is cash flow from operating activities. The key component of operating cash inflow is cash receipts from advertising customers and subscribers to our print and online publications and electronic information services. Operating cash outflows include payments to vendors for raw materials, content, services and supplies, payments to employees, and payments of interest and income taxes. Certain employee compensation, such as bonuses and payments to our defined contribution pension plan, are paid annually in the first quarter of the year.
Our liquidity requirements may be funded, if necessary, through the issuance of commercial paper, bank loans, debt or equity securities. Debt outstanding at September 30, 2007 was $375.2 million compared with debt outstanding of $447.1 million at December 31, 2006. Debt at September 30, 2007 consisted of 3-year bonds totaling $225 million maturing on February 15, 2008, commercial paper of $126.6 million with various maturities of less than a year, and loan notes of $23.6 million issued for the eFN acquisition. It is currently our intent to manage our commercial paper borrowings as short-term obligations.
As of September 30, 2007, we had available credit agreements totaling $485 million: $300 million through June 21, 2009, and $185 million through June 23, 2011 under our multiyear revolving credit agreements with several banks. The revolving credit agreements contain restrictive covenants, including a limitation on the ratio of consolidated indebtedness to consolidated cash flow of 3.5x. At September 30, 2007, we were in compliance with respect to all restrictive covenants then in effect, with the leverage ratio equaling 1.3x.
Credit Ratings
| | | | |
| | Credit Ratings as of September 30, 2007 |
| | Long Term | | Short Term |
Standard & Poor’s | | BBB | | A-2 |
Moody’s | | Baa1 | | P-2 |
Fitch | | BBB+ | | F2 |
On August 1, 2007, following our announcement that we signed a definitive merger agreement under which News Corporation will acquire Dow Jones (see also Note 2), Standard & Poor’s (S&P), a credit rating agency, revised our long-term credit rating outlook from “CreditWatch with developing implications,” to “positive” while also affirming our short-term rating and removing it from “CreditWatch.” Also, on August 1, 2007, Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s), another credit rating agency, placed our long-term credit rating on “review for possible downgrade” and changed our credit rating outlook to “under review” from “developing” while Fitch, another credit rating agency, stated their expectation to lower the rating on our bonds maturing on February 15, 2008 to BBB with a “stable” outlook. We maintain the aforementioned lines of credit with commercial banks, as well as cash and cash equivalents held by U.S. and foreign-based subsidiaries, to serve as alternative sources of liquidity and to support our commercial paper program.
32
Cash Flow Summary
During the first nine months of 2007, we used the cash generated from operations and the proceeds from employee stock option exercises to fund the eFN acquisition, capital expenditures and pay dividends. In addition, the excess proceeds were used to reduce our debt levels by $71.9 million. Approximately 2.4 million common shares were issued during the first nine months of 2007 primarily as a result of employee stock option exercises resulting in net proceeds of approximately $124 million.
| | | | | | | | |
(in millions) | | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | | $ | 131.1 | | | $ | (88.5 | ) |
Net cash used in investing activities | | | (84.4 | ) | | | (47.2 | ) |
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | | | (35.5 | ) | | | 140.1 | |
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash | | | (1.2 | ) | | | (0.1 | ) |
| | |
Increase in cash and cash equivalents | | | 10.0 | | | | 4.3 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | | | 13.2 | | | | 10.6 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period(*) | | $ | 23.2 | | | $ | 15.0 | |
(*) | The sum of the individual amounts does not equal total due to rounding. |
The six local media newspaper businesses that were sold in 2006 were presented as discontinued operations. In our statement of cash flows, the cash flows related to these discontinued operations were separately identified within each of the categories, as applicable. We do not expect the absence of cash flows from discontinued operations to materially affect our future liquidity and capital resources.
Cash flow from discontinued operations, which was included in the summary above, was as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
(in millions) | | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations | | $ | - | | | $ | 12.1 | |
Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations | | $ | (2.0 | ) | | $ | (1.6 | ) |
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities for the first nine months of 2007 was $131.1 million, an improvement of $219.6 million, from the $88.5 million net cash used in operations in the same period last year. Cash used in operating activities in 2006 included a $202 million settlement payment of a contract guarantee to Cantor/MDC, while cash provided by operating activities in 2007 reflected greater operating income.
Investing Activities
| | | | | | | | |
(in millions) | | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Capital expenditures | | $ | (54.0 | ) | | $ | (55.3 | ) |
Acquisition of eFN, net of cash received of $12 million | | | (29.3 | ) | | | - | |
Divestitures | | | (2.0 | ) | | | 3.5 | |
Advance from equity investee | | | - | | | | 4.8 | |
Other | | | 0.9 | | | | (0.2 | ) |
Net cash used in investing activities | | $ | (84.4 | ) | | $ | (47.2 | ) |
Financing Activities
| | | | | | | | |
(in millions) | | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Cash dividends | | $ | (63.6 | ) | | $ | (62.4 | ) |
Net change in short-term borrowings | | | (95.5 | ) | | | 196.4 | |
Proceeds from sales under stock compensation plans | | | 123.6 | | | | 6.1 | |
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | | $ | (35.5 | ) | | $ | 140.1 | |
33
Labor Negotiations
On October 15, 2007, members of the Independent Association of Publishers’ Employees (IAPE), which represents approximately one-quarter of the work force at Dow Jones, ratified a new three-year labor agreement to succeed the contract that expired on February 1, 2007. The new Agreement is effective through January 31, 2010 and provides for salary increases of 3% in 2007, 2008 and 2009 as well as modifications to employee benefits. Beginning in 2008, the covered employees will be subject to the same medical and retirement plans already in place for most non-union staff including increased cost sharing of the medical plans, modification of the retiree health care plans and lower retirement benefits for new employees.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document contains forward-looking statements, such as those including the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “will,” “plan,” “outlook,” “guidance,” “forecast” and similar expressions, that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated including such risk factors as are included in Item 1A of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, Item 1A of our Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2007 and June 30, 2007 and Item 1A of this Form 10-Q; and such risks as may be included from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and posted in the Investor Relations section of our web site (www.dowjones.com). We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
34
ITEM 3. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK. |
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
We enter into foreign currency exchange forward contracts to mitigate earnings volatility through the use of cash flow hedges. Our revenues are largely collected in U.S. dollars. However, certain anticipated operating expenses are denominated in foreign currencies and accordingly are hedged. Realized gains or losses on foreign currency exchange forward contracts are recognized currently through income and generally offset the transaction gains or losses on the foreign currency cash flows which they are intended to hedge.
As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 we entered into foreign currency exchange forward contracts to exchange U.S. dollars for the following foreign currencies:
| | | | | | | | |
| | 2007 | | 2006 |
(in millions) | | Foreign Currency | | U.S. Dollar | | Foreign Currency | | U.S. Dollar |
British Pound | | 3.4 | | 6.8 | | 3.6 | | 6.9 |
Euro | | 1.2 | | 1.6 | | 1.0 | | 1.2 |
The fair value of the contracts, which generally expire within one year, was insignificant as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006.
We also periodically enter into foreign currency exchange forward contracts to limit cash flow and earnings volatility that results from remeasuring certain foreign currency payables at prevailing exchange rates. The unrealized gains or losses of these forward contracts were recognized in Other, net in the income statement and were not outstanding as of September 30, 2007 or December 31, 2006.
Interest Rate Risk
Our commercial paper outstanding of $126.6 million at September 30, 2007 is also subject to market risk as the debt reaches maturity and is reissued at prevailing interest rates. At September 30, 2007, interest rates outstanding ranged from 5.3% to 6.1%, with a weighted-average of 5.73%. At September 30, 2007 we had $225 million of fixed-rate bonds outstanding, which mature in February 2008. A change in the market interest rate impacts the fair value of the instrument but has no impact on earnings or cash flows. Also, at September 30, 2007, we had $23.6 million of floating rate ten-year guaranteed notes outstanding. Interest on the notes is payable twice annually at 0.25% above six-month LIBOR. The notes are payable in May 2017, or upon demand by the note holders, whichever is earlier.
ITEM 4. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. |
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this report, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures was performed. Based on this evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that material information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported by our management on a timely basis in order to comply with our disclosure obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the SEC rules thereunder.
Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 that occurred during the three month period ended September 30, 2007 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
In connection with the acquisition of the 50% Factiva stake from Reuters (bringing our ownership to 100%), we will be incorporating internal controls over financial reporting related to Factiva into our Section 404 assessment for 2007.
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. |
In May 2007, two lawsuits were filed against the Company’s directors and members of the Bancroft family and unspecified “Bancroft Trusts” in the Supreme Court of the State of New York by shareholders seeking certification of a class of all shareholders alleging that the members of the board of directors and the Bancroft family breached their duties in connection with their consideration of the News Corporation offer. An amended complaint, filed on August 30, 2007, asserted claims for breach of fiduciary duty against the defendants relating to the merger agreement between Dow Jones and News Corporation, based on the allegation that defendants have placed their interest before those of Dow Jones’ stockholders and have prevented those stockholders from obtaining “appropriate consideration” for their Dow Jones shares. The amended complaint also included a claim for damages from the directors. The amount of damages sought was not specified, and there was no claim for damages directly from Dow Jones. A second amended complaint, filed on September 25, 2007, also alleged that the preliminary proxy statement filed with the SEC on September 7, 2007 “omits material information necessary to allow shareholders to make an informed decision concerning the Proposed Merger.” The directors have substantial defenses to the claims.
The plaintiffs and Dow Jones reached a settlement in principle of the litigation on October 16, 2007. In connection with the settlement, Dow Jones has agreed to include certain disclosures in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the merger. Plaintiffs’ counsel intend to apply to the court for an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses of up to $895,000, which Dow Jones has agreed to pay on behalf of all the defendants within ten (10) business days of the settlement becoming effective. The settlement will be contingent upon, among other things, consummation of the proposed transaction and final court approval.
We are exposed to certain risk factors that may affect operations. The significant factors known to us are described in Item 1A of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, Item 1A of our Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2007 and June 30, 2007 except that the risk factors under the headings “Labor Relations” and “Merger Agreement with News Corporation” have been updated, which updates are set forth below:
Labor relations
Approximately 32% of our domestic full-time employees are unionized. As a result, we are required to negotiate the wages, salaries, benefits, staffing levels and other terms with many of our employees collectively. Approximately 2000 of our employees are represented by the Independent Association of Publishers’ Employees (IAPE). Our results could be adversely affected if labor negotiations cause work interruptions or if we are unable to negotiate agreements on reasonable terms. In addition, our ability to make short-term adjustments to control fringe benefit costs is limited by the terms of our collective bargaining agreements in which benefits are fixed.
Merger Agreement with News Corporation
There are a number of risks and uncertainties relating to the proposed merger between the Company and News Corporation. The risks and uncertainties include the possibility that the transaction may be delayed or may not be completed as a result of failure to obtain necessary Dow Jones stockholder approval or satisfying other closing conditions. Any delay in completing, or failure to complete, the merger could have a negative impact on Dow Jones’ business, its stock price, and its relationships with customers, employees or suppliers. In addition, pending the closing of the merger, Dow Jones is subject to restrictions on its business activities and certain actions will require News Corporation’s approval.
Our complete risk factors, including the change noted above, are available for review on the Investor Relations section of our Web site at www.dowjones.com.
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ITEM 2. | UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS. |
In 1998, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $800 million of our common stock and in September 2000 authorized the repurchase of an additional $500 million of our common stock. As of September 30, 2007, approximately $326.4 million remained under board authorization for share repurchases. We have not repurchased any shares of our common stock since the first quarter of 2003.
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Exhibit Number | | Document |
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2.1 | | Agreement and Plan of Merger, by and among Dow Jones & Company, Inc., News Corporation, Ruby Newco LLC and Diamond Merger Sub Corporation, dated as of July 31, 2007 (“Agreement and Plan of Merger”) is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to its Form 8-K filed on August 1, 2007. |
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2.2 | | Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated November 5, 2007, is hereby incorporated by reference to Annex A to the Company’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on November 7, 2007. |
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10.1 | | Dow Jones & Company, Inc. 1992 Long Term Incentive Plan is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to its Form 8-K/A filed on July 20, 2007. |
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10.2 | | Dow Jones 1997 Long Term Incentive Plan is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to its Form 8-K/A filed on July 20, 2007. |
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10.3 | | Dow Jones 2001 Long Term Incentive Plan is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to its Form 8-K/A filed on July 20, 2007. |
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10.4 | | Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Separation Plan for Senior Management is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to its Form 8-K/A filed on July 20, 2007. |
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10.5 | | Voting and Support Agreement by and among News Corporation and the signatory stockholders thereto, dated as of July 31, 2007 is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to its Form 8-K filed on August 1, 2007. |
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10.6 | | Form of Agreement by and among Dow Jones & Company, Inc., News Corporation and the Special Committee is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to its Form 8-K filed on August 1, 2007. |
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31.1 | | Certifications by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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31.2 | | Certifications by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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32.1 | | Certifications by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 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.
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| | | | DOW JONES & COMPANY, INC. |
| | | | (Registrant) |
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Date: November 9, 2007 | | By: | | /s/ Robert Perrine |
| | | | Robert Perrine Chief Accounting Officer and Controller |
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