FORM 10-Q/A SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 (Mark One) [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended March 31, 1998 OR [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from _______ to _______ Commission file number 33-96804 -------- LENFEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC. ---------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) DELAWARE 23-2094942 -------- ---------- (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification Number) 1105 North Market St., Suite 1300, P.O. Box 8985, Wilmington, Delaware 19899 --------------------------------------------------- (Address of Principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (302) 427-8602 -------------- (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) 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 --- - -- -- Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock, as of May 15, 1998: 158,896 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share. All shares of the registrant's common stock are privately held, and there is no market price or bid and asked price for said common stock. This Form 10-Q/A is being filed to amend Part I Items 1 and 2 of the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Lenfest Communications, Inc. for the quarterly period ended March 31, 1998, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 15, 1998. 1. The following Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are amended and restated in their entirety as follows: NOTE 4 - GAIN FROM EXCHANGE OF PARTNERSHIP INTEREST On February 12, 1998, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Lenfest Telephony, Inc., exchanged its 50% general partnership interest in Hyperion Telecommunications of Harrisburg ("HTH") for a warrant to acquire 731,624 shares (the effective number of shares after a stock split) or approximately 2% of Class A common stock of Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc. ("Hyperion"), the other 50% general partner in HTH. No exercise price is payable with the exercise of the warrant. The value of the warrant was estimated to be $11.7 million, based on the initial public offering of the Class A common stock of Hyperion in May 1998. A gain of $11.5 million, which represents the excess of the market value of the partnership interest over its book value, has been included in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss). The stock is included in investments in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as it was not readily marketable at March 31, 1998. Due to the small percentage of ownership and the Company's inability to exercise influence over Hyperion, the Company has discontinued the usage of the equity method. The Company accounts for this investment in accordance with SFAS 115. NOTE 9 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES In November 1994, Mr. Lenfest and TCI International, Inc., an affiliate of TCI, jointly and severally guaranteed $67 million in program license obligations of the distributor of Australis' movie programming. As of March 31, 1998, the Company estimates that the guarantee under the license agreements was approximately $42.9 million. The Company has agreed to indemnify Mr. Lenfest against loss from such guaranty to the fullest extent permitted under the Company's debt obligations. Under the terms of its bank credit facility, however, Mr. Lenfest's claims for indemnification are limited to $33.5 million. Effective March 6, 1997, as subsequently amended, Mr. Lenfest released the parent Company and its cable operating subsidiaries from their indemnity obligation until the last to occur of January 1, 1999, and the last day of any fiscal quarter during which the Company could incur the indemnity obligation without violating the terms of its bank credit facility. Certain of the Company's non-cable subsidiaries have agreed to indemnify Mr. Lenfest for his obligations under the guarantee. As a result, the Company will remain indirectly liable under the non-cable subsidiary indemnity. On May 5, 1998, the Trustee for the holders of Australis' bond indebtedness appointed receivers in order to wind up the affairs of Australis. Consequently, it is probable that Australis will not continue to make payments to the movie partnership for film product thereby denying that partnership funds with which to pay the movie studios whose license payments are guaranteed by Mr. Lenfest and TCI International, Inc. However, the Company believes that the movie partnership has entered into back up arrangements with Foxtel, the partnership of News Corporation and Telstra, to purchase movies from the partnership at approximately the same price and under the same minimum guarantee arrangements that the partnership had with Australis. Because of this arrangement, the Company believes that payments will continue to be made by the partnership pursuant to its license agreements with the movie studios. Consequently, the Company believes that Mr. Lenfest's guarantee will not be called, and so the Company's non-cable subsidiaries will not be required to pay any amounts to Mr. Lenfest pursuant to the indemnification. On January 20, 1995, an individual (the "Plaintiff") filed suit in the Federal Court of Australia, New South Wales District Registry against the Company and several other entities and individuals (the "Defendants") including Mr. Lenfest, involved in the acquisition of a company owned by the Plaintiff, the assets of which included the right to acquire Satellite License B from the Australian government. The Plaintiff alleges that the Defendants defrauded him by making certain representations to him in connection with the acquisition of his company and claims total damages of $718 million (approximately U.S. $475 million as of March 31, 1998). The Plaintiff also alleges that Australis and Mr. Lenfest owed to him a fiduciary duty and that both parties breached this duty. The Defendants have denied all claims made against them by the Plaintiff and stated their belief that the Plaintiff's allegations are without merit. They are defending this action vigorously. The Company has also been named as a defendant in various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate amount of liability with respect to the above actions will not materially affect the financial position or the results of operations of the Company. 2 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is amended and restated in its entirety as follows: Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. GENERAL Substantially all of the Company's revenues are earned from customer fees for cable television programming services, the sale of advertising, commissions for products sold through home shopping networks and ancillary services (such as rental of converters, remote control devices and installations). The Company has generated increases in revenues and Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 1998 primarily due to increases in monthly revenue per customer generated during 1997 and internal customer growth. As used herein, Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA (earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) adjusted to include cash distributions received from unconsolidated and unrestricted affiliates. Adjusted EBITDA corresponds to the definition of "EBITDA" contained in the Company's publicly held debt securities and is presented for the convenience of the holders of the Company's public debt securities. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income, as an indicator of the operating performance of the Company or as an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA are not measures under generally accepted accounting principles. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 COMPARED WITH THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 Consolidated Results Revenues increased $3.0 million, or 2.8%, to $110.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 as compared to the corresponding 1997 period. The increase was primarily due to strong internal customer growth and the full effect of the rate increases implemented during 1997 associated with the Company's Core Cable Television Operations. In the quarter ended March 31, 1998, the Company changed its treatment of franchise fees. Previously, the franchise fees were treated as an item of revenue and an item of expense. Beginning with the quarter ended March 31, 1998, the Company determined that franchise fees collected would not be included in revenue or as an item of expense since the Company merely acts as a pass through agent in the same way it does for collection and payment of applicable sales taxes. For the period ended March 31, 1998, this had the effect of reducing revenue by $2.0 million. Had the Company used the current methodology in the corresponding 1997 period, the increase in revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 would have been approximately $5.0 million, a 4.8% increase from the corresponding 1997 period. 3 Service Expenses increased 23.1% to $10.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period. The increase was primarily due to costs associated with the Company's Core Cable Television Operations. Programming Expenses increased 6.2% to $24.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period. The increase was due to increases in programming costs associated with the Company's Core Cable Television Operations. Selling, General and Administrative Expense increased $0.3 million, or 1.5%, to $22.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period. These expenses are associated with salaries, facility, and marketing costs. The increase was primarily due to legal fees incurred in connection with the Australis Media, Ltd. litigation. See "Legal Proceedings" in the Company's Form 10-K, filed March 27, 1998. As a result of the changed treatment of accounting for franchise fees, selling, general and administrative expense for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 was reduced by $2 million, the amount of franchise fees collected and paid in the quarter. Had the Company used the current methodology in the corresponding 1997 period, the increase in selling, general and administrative expense for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 would have been approximately $2.3 million, a 10.4% increase over the corresponding 1997 period. Direct Costs Non-Cable decreased 34.7% to $3.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period. The decrease was primarily due to the elimination of certain activities conducted by the Company's Non-Cable Operations. Depreciation and Amortization Expense increased 14.1% to $36.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period primarily as a result of additional capital expenditures associated with the Company's Core Cable Television Operations. Adjusted EBITDA increased 3.7% to $49.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period. The Adjusted EBITDA margin increased to 45.0% in the 1998 period compared to 44.6% for 1997 period. These increases were primarily related to the Company's Core Cable Television Operations. Interest Expense decreased 1.3% to $31.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period. The decrease was primarily due to lower interest rates on outstanding borrowings and lower average outstanding indebtedness. Loss from continuing operations before income tax decreased 68.1% to $4.7 million. The decrease was attributable to a gain realized on the exchange of a partnership interest. 4 The Company has not established a valuation allowance for the net operating losses, because it believes that all of the Company's net operating losses will be utilized before they expire. The Company bases its belief on continued growth in Adjusted EBITDA, slower tax depreciation from the utilization of slower depreciation methods for tax purposes and the expiration of depreciation and amortization from previous acquisitions. Because of these factors, it appears more likely than not that the Company will utilize its net operating losses prior to expiration. Core Cable Television Operations Revenues increased 3.5% to $103.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period. Revenues for basic and CPS tiers, customer equipment, and installation ("regulated services") increased 11.2 % or $8.1 million compared to the corresponding 1997 period. This increase was primarily attributable to strong internal customer growth of approximately 3.3% over the prior year period and the realization of the full effect of rate increases implemented over the course of 1997. Non-regulated service revenue decreased 16.6% or $3.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period. This decrease was primarily a result of the discontinuation of the Prism regional sports network service which occurred as of October 1, 1997. Other revenue decreased 16.0% or $1.1 million compared to the corresponding 1997 period. The decrease was primarily a result of the Company changing its methodology of recording franchise fee revenues and expenses as described above. Service Expenses increased 23.1% to $10.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period. These expenses are related to technical salaries and general operating expenses. The increase was primarily associated with customer installation, plant maintenance costs and the continuing expense related to the consolidation efforts of the Company. Programming Expenses increased 6.2% to $24.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period. The programming expense increase was primarily due to increased network programming costs and increased number of customers associated with the basic and CPS tier services. Selling, General and Administrative Expense decreased 9.2% to $16.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period. These expenses are associated with salaries, facility, and marketing costs. The decrease was primarily a result of the Company changing its methodology of recording franchise fee revenues and expenses as described above. Depreciation and Amortization Expense increased 15.2% to $35.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period. This increase was primarily due to increased capital expenditures. Adjusted EBITDA increased 3.4% to $52.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period. The increase was primarily attributable to strong internal customer growth of approximately 3.3% and the realization of the full effect of the rate increases implemented during 1997. The Adjusted EBITDA margin was 50.6% in both 1998 and 1997. 5 Non-Cable Investments Radius Communications Revenues, prior to payment of affiliate fees, increased 20.8% to $6.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period. Operating Expenses increased 9.0% to $5.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period. The increase was primarily due to increased selling expenses. Affiliate fees increased 2.2% to $2.5 million of which $1.4 million was paid to the Company. Affiliate fees paid to the Company are eliminated in consolidation. Adjusted EBITDA was $0.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to $0.1 million for the corresponding 1997 period. Depreciation and Amortization Expense increased by 17.5% to $0.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding 1997 period. The increase was primarily due to the continued deployment of digital advertising insertion equipment used for operations and expansion of sales offices. Operating Income was $0.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to an Operating Loss of $0.4 million for the corresponding 1997 period. Liquidity and Capital Resources The Company's businesses require cash for operations, debt service, capital expenditures and acquisitions. To date, cash requirements have been funded by cash flow from operations and borrowings. Financing Activities. On February 5, 1998, the Company issued $150 million in principal amount of Senior Notes and $150 million in principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes. The proceeds and cash on hand were used to prepay existing indebtedness, accrued interest and prepayment premiums in the aggregate amount of $313.8 million. As a result, at March 31, 1998, the Company had aggregate total indebtedness of approximately $1,286.1 million. The Company's senior indebtedness of $844.1 million consisted of: (i) a debt obligation in the amount of $1.5 million due May 15, 1998; (ii) $835.6 million of Senior Notes; and (iii) obligations under capital leases of approximately $7.0 million. At March 31, 1998, the outstanding subordinated indebtedness was approximately $442.0 million of Senior Subordinated Notes. The Senior Subordinated Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company subordinate in right of payment to all present and future senior indebtedness of the Company. 6 In addition, the Company has in place a $300 million revolving credit facility with a group of banks ("Bank Credit Facility"). As of May 14, 1998, the Company's Bank Credit Facility had no outstanding borrowings. The Bank Credit Facility contains provisions which limit the Company's ability to make certain investments in excess of $50 million in the aggregate and prohibiting the Company from having: (i) a ratio of operating cash flow for the most recently completed financial quarter multiplied by four to senior indebtedness for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 through December 30, 1999 in excess of 5.00:1 and 4.50:1 commencing on December 31, 1999 and thereafter ("Senior Debt Leverage Ratio"); and (ii) a ratio of operating cash flow for the most recently completed financial quarter multiplied by four to total indebtedness in excess of 6.50:1 at March 31, 1998, and declining to 6.00:1 commencing on December 31, 1998 and thereafter ("Total Debt Leverage Ratio"). The Company expects to refinance the Bank Credit Facility in 1998. The Company is prohibited from paying dividends under the Bank Credit Facility. In addition, the Company is limited in the amount of dividends it can pay pursuant to the terms of the Notes. Operations. Cash flow generated from continuing operations, excluding changes in operating assets and liabilities that result from timing issues and considering only adjustments for non-cash charges, was approximately $16.9 million for the three month period ended March 31, 1998 compared to approximately $16.2 million for the three month period ended March 31, 1997. During the three month period ended March 31, 1998, the Company was required to make interest payments of approximately $8.7 million on outstanding debt obligations, whereas in the same period in the prior year, the Company was required under its then existing debt obligations to make interest payments of $8.3 million. Future minimum lease payments under all capital leases and non-cancelable operating leases for each of the years 1998 through 2001 are $5.9 million (of which $680,000 is payable to a principal stockholder), $5.9 million (of which $714,000 is payable to a principal stockholder), $5.5 million (of which $750,000 is payable to a principal stockholder) and $3.8 million (of which $788,000 is payable to a principal stockholder), respectively. The Company has net operating loss carryforwards which it expects to utilize notwithstanding recent and expected near term losses. The net operating losses begin to expire in the year 2001 and will fully expire in 2012. Management bases its expectation on its plans to elect slower tax depreciation methods continuing annual growth in Adjusted EBITDA and interest expense that is primarily at fixed rates, and, therefore, not expected to increase. In November 1994, Mr. Lenfest and TCI International, Inc. jointly and severally guaranteed $67.0 million in program license obligations of the distributor of Australis' movie programming. As of March 31, 1998, the Company believes the guarantee under the license agreements was approximately $42.9 million. The Company has agreed to indemnify Mr. Lenfest against loss from such guaranty to the fullest extent permitted under the Company's debt obligations. Under the terms of the Bank Credit Facility, however, Mr. Lenfest's claims for indemnification are limited to $33.5 million. Effective March 6, 1997, as subsequently amended, Mr. Lenfest released the parent Company and its cable operating subsidiaries from their indemnity obligation until the last to occur of January 1, 1999 and the last day of any fiscal quarter during which the Company could incur the indemnity obligation without violating the terms of the Bank Credit Facility. Certain of the Company's non-cable subsidiaries have agreed to indemnify Mr. Lenfest for his obligations under the guarantee. As a result, the Company will remain indirectly liable under the non-cable subsidiaries' indemnity. 7 On May 5, 1998, the Trustee for the holders of Australis' bond indebtedness appointed receivers in order to wind up the affairs of Australis. Consequently, it is probable that Australis will not continue to make payments to the movie partnership for film product thereby denying that partnership funds with which to pay the movie studios whose license payments are guaranteed by Mr. Lenfest and TCI International, Inc. However, the Company believes that the movie partnership has entered into back up arrangements with Foxtel, the partnership of News Corporation and Telstra, to purchase movies from the partnership at approximately the same price and under the same minimum guarantee arrangements that the partnership had with Australis. Because of this arrangement, the Company believes that payments will continue to be made by the partnership pursuant to its license agreements with the movie studios. Consequently, the Company believes that Mr. Lenfest's guarantee will not be called, and so the Company's non-cable subsidiaries will not be required to pay any amounts to Mr. Lenfest pursuant to the indemnification. Capital Expenditures. During 1998, the Company expects to make approximately $100 million of capital expenditures, of which approximately $90.0 million will be spent for capital expenditures for its Core Cable Television Operations. These capital expenditures will be for the upgrading of certain of its cable television systems, including wide deployment of fiber optics, maintenance including plant extensions, installations, and other fixed assets as well as other capital projects associated with implementing the Company's clustering strategy. The amount of such capital expenditures for years subsequent to 1998 will depend on numerous factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, including responding to competition and increasing capacity to handle new product offerings in affected cable television systems. The Company anticipates that capital expenditures for years subsequent to 1998 will continue to be significant. Resources. Management believes, based on its current business plans, that the Company has sufficient funds available from operating cash flow and from borrowing capacity under the Bank Credit Facility to fund its operations, capital expenditure plans and debt service. To the extent the Company seeks additional acquisitions, it may need to obtain additional financing. However, the Company's ability to borrow funds under the Bank Credit Facility requires that the Company be in compliance with the Senior and Total Debt Leverage Ratios or obtain the consent of the lenders thereunder to a waiver or amendment of the applicable Senior or Total Debt Leverage Ratio. Management believes that the Company will be in compliance with such Debt Leverage Ratios. Year 2000 Issue. The Year 2000 Issue is the result of computer programs being written using two digits rather than four to define the applicable year. Certain of the Company's and supporting vendors' computer programs and other electronic equipment have date-sensitive software which may recognize "00" as the year 1900 rather than the year 2000 (the "Year 2000 Issue"). If this situation occurs, the potential exists for computer system failure or miscalculations by computer programs, which could cause disruption of operations. 8 The Company is in the process of identifying the computer systems that will require modification or replacement so that all of the Company's systems will properly utilize dates beyond December 31, 1999. The Company has initiated communications with most of its significant software suppliers to determine their plans for remediating the Year 2000 Issue in their software which the Company uses or relies upon. The Company has retained a consultant to review its systems, to identify which systems are in need of remediation and to prepare a remediation report. The Company expects to receive the consultant's report and to have identified all systems in need of remediation not later than September 30, 1998. As it identifies systems in need of remediation, the Company will develop and implement appropriate remediation measures. The Company expects to complete the remediation processes for all of its operations not later than the end of the third quarter of 1999. However, there can be no guarantee that the systems of other companies on which the Company relies will be converted on a timely basis, or that a failure to convert by another company would not have material adverse effect on the Company. Recent Accounting Pronouncements The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Statement No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" ("SFAS No. 130") establishes standards for reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components in the financial statements. SFAS No. 130 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997. In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 130, the Company has adopted the pronouncement, effective January 1, 1998, by reporting net consolidated comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). Prior periods have been restated for comparative purposes as required. The FASB has also recently issued SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information" ("SFAS No. 131"). SFAS No. 131 established standards for the way that public business enterprises report information about operating segments in interim financial reports issued to stockholders. It also established standards for related disclosures about products and services, geographic areas, and major customers. The Company will adopt SFAS 131 by December 31, 1998. The adoption of SFAS No. 131 will not have a significant impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and the related footnotes. The FASB has also recently issued SFAS No. 132, "Employers' Disclosure about Pensions and Other Post Retirement Benefits" ("SFAS No. 132"). SFAS No. 132 establishes standards for the way businesses disclose pension and other post retirement benefit plans. SFAS No. 132 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997. The Company adopted SFAS No. 132 effective January 1, 1998. Financial statement disclosures for prior periods do not require restatement since the adoption of SFAS No. 132 does not have a significant impact on the Company's financial statement disclosures. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA") recently issued Statement of Position 98-1, "Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use" ("SOP 98-1"). SOP 98-1 defines which costs of computer software developed or obtained for internal use are capital and which costs are expense. SOP 98-1 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1998. Earlier application is encouraged. The Company has not yet adopted SOP 98-1. 9 The AICPA recently issued Statement of Position 98-5, "Reporting on the Costs of Start-Up Activities" ("SOP 98-5"). SOP 98-5 requires that entities expense start-up costs and organization costs as they are incurred. SOP 98-5 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1998. Earlier application is encouraged. The Company has adopted SOP 98-1 effective January 1, 1998. The adoption of SOP 98-5 does not have a significant impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and the related footnotes. Inflation The net impact of inflation on operations has not been material in the last three years due to the relatively low rates of inflation during this period. If the rate of inflation increases the Company may increase customer rates to keep pace with the increase in inflation, although there may be timing delays. 10 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements 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. LENFEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC. DATE: July 2, 1998 By: /s/ Maryann V. Bryla -------------------- Maryann V. Bryla Treasurer (authorized officer and Principal Financial Officer) 11