EX-99.2 3 dex992.htm EXHIBIT 99.2 Exhibit 99.2

 

Exhibit 99.2

AOL Inc.

Trending Schedules

(Unaudited)

Key Metrics and Financial Information for 2010 and 2009 (9)

 

(in millions, except for subscriber information amounts)    2010     2009  
     Three months ended     Three months ended     Year ended  
     March 31     June 30     September 30     March 31     June 30     September 30     December 31     December 31  

Subscriber Information: (1)

                 

Domestic AOL-brand access subscribers (in thousands)

      4,656        4,362        4,083        6,309        5,799        5,360        4,999        4,999   

Domestic average monthly subscription revenue per AOL-brand access subscriber (ARPU)

    $ 18.31      $ 18.10      $ 18.10      $ 18.48      $ 18.27      $ 18.54      $ 18.53      $ 18.46   

Domestic AOL-brand access subscriber monthly average churn (2)

      3.0 %      2.6 %      2.6 %      3.7 %      3.5 %      3.3 %      3.0 %      3.4 % 

Unique Visitors: (3)

                 

Domestic average monthly unique visitors to AOL Properties (Panel-only methodology) (4)

      100        103        99        106        107        102        100        104   

Domestic average monthly unique visitors to AOL Properties (Media Metrix 360) (4)

      112        112        106             

Domestic average monthly unique visitors to AOL Media (Panel-only methodology) (4) (5)

      73        74        72        70        76        74        75        74   

Domestic average monthly unique visitors to AOL Media (Media Metrix 360) (4)

      86        82        81             

Domestic average monthly unique visitors to AOL Advertising Network (6)

      186        184        183        174        176        180        184        179   

Advertising revenue:

                 

Display revenue - global

    $ 123.3      $ 120.4      $ 120.8      $ 141.7      $ 138.6      $ 139.9      $ 173.2      $ 593.4   

Display revenue - domestic

      109.8        110.7        112.5        121.6        118.6        121.8        151.7        513.7   

Display revenue - international

      13.5        9.7        8.3        20.1        20.0        18.1        21.5        79.7   

Search and contextual revenue - global

      114.5        105.8        99.2        159.7        146.7        138.4        138.5        583.3   

Third Party Network revenue - global

      108.0        70.7        72.8        130.3        121.9        124.0        146.8        523.0   

Total advertising revenue

      345.8        296.9        292.8        431.7        407.2        402.3        458.5        1,699.7   

Advertising revenue net of traffic acquisition costs (TAC): (7)

                 

Advertising revenue net of TAC - domestic

    $ 226.9      $ 212.7      $ 206.2      $ 258.8      $ 239.8      $ 233.4      $ 258.4      $ 990.4   

Advertising revenue net of TAC - global

      256.6        232.1        227.6        298.8        277.1        268.1        288.9        1,132.9   

Other information:

                 

Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA) (7)

      192.6        166.6        157.7        242.1        262.8        225.8        125.3        856.0   

Free Cash Flow (7)

      121.1        129.1        130.8        273.3        230.3        125.3        87.3        716.2   

Cash and equivalents

      258.4        391.6        623.3        106.9        61.0        63.9        143.3        143.3   

Cash Net of Debt (7)

      188.2        322.6        540.7        44.5        (7.3 )      (8.9 )      69.4        69.4   

Equity-based compensation expense (8)

      9.7        9.1        8.3        6.1        1.7        2.7        2.0        12.5   

Please see Endnotes.

 

Key Metrics and Financial Information for 2008 (9)

(in millions, except for subscriber information amounts)    2008      
     Three months ended     Year ended    
     March 31     June 30     September 30     December 31     December 31    

 

Subscriber Information: (1)

             

Domestic AOL-brand access subscribers (in thousands)

      8,690        8,086        7,452        6,879        6,879     

Domestic average monthly subscription revenue per AOL-brand access subscriber (ARPU)

    $ 18.29      $ 17.99      $ 18.60      $ 18.64      $ 18.38     

Domestic AOL-brand access subscriber monthly average churn (2)

      3.8 %      3.4 %      3.7 %      3.5 %      3.6 %   

 

Unique Visitors: (3)

             

Domestic average monthly unique visitors to AOL Properties (Panel-only methodology) (4)

      110        111        110        109        110     

 

Domestic average monthly unique visitors to AOL Properties (Media Metrix 360) (4)

             

 

Domestic average monthly unique visitors to AOL Media (Panel-only methodology) (4) (5)

      73        73        72        72        73     

 

Domestic average monthly unique visitors to AOL Media (Media Metrix 360) (4)

             

 

Domestic average monthly unique visitors to AOL Advertising Network (6)

      168        171        171        174        171     

 

Advertising revenue:

             

Display revenue - global

    $ 187.0      $ 182.6      $ 170.4      $ 178.3      $ 718.3     

Display revenue - domestic

      153.3        145.5        135.1        149.5        583.4     

Display revenue - international

      33.7        37.1        35.3        28.8        134.9     

Search and contextual revenue - global

      167.3        171.5        181.4        173.0        693.2     

Third Party Network revenue - global

      186.1        163.2        135.2        148.4        632.9     

Total advertising revenue

      540.4        517.3        487.0        499.7        2,044.4     

 

Advertising revenue net of traffic acquisition costs (TAC): (7)

             

Advertising revenue net of TAC - domestic

    $ 292.1      $ 278.1      $ 264.0      $ 296.2      $ 1,130.4     

Advertising revenue net of TAC - global

      349.3        338.6        322.5        348.1        1,358.5     

 

Other information:

             

Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA) (7)

      394.8        339.9        382.1        399.6        1,516.4     

Free Cash Flow (7)

      95.3        251.4        217.8        147.8        712.3     

Cash and equivalents

      134.6        307.0        172.6        122.6        122.6     

Cash Net of Debt (7)

      39.5        201.2        58.2        63.9        63.9     

Equity-based compensation expense (8)

      (1.0 )      5.6        8.0        6.7        19.3     

Please see Endnotes.

 

AOL Inc.

Trending Schedules

(Unaudited)

Financial Results for 2010 and 2009 (9)

 

    2010     2009  
(in millions, except per share amounts)   Three months ended     Three months ended     Year ended  
    March 31     June 30     September 30     March 31     June 30     September 30     December 31     December 31  

Revenues:

                

Advertising

   $ 345.8      $ 296.9      $ 292.8      $ 431.7      $ 407.2      $ 402.3      $ 458.5      $ 1,699.7   

Subscription

     282.7        260.2        244.8        393.5        355.7        332.2        307.4        1,388.8   

Other

     26.7        27.0        25.9        30.1        28.6        29.4        30.2        118.3   
                                                               

Total revenues

     655.2        584.1        563.5        855.3        791.5        763.9        796.1        3,206.8   
                                                               

Costs of revenues

     362.5        333.3        342.9        481.7        460.9        449.2        492.3        1,884.1   

Selling, general and administrative

     131.3        126.1        117.3        136.0        122.4        144.1        127.2        529.7   

Amortization of intangible assets

     62.2        35.7        22.8        34.8        33.3        31.6        38.2        137.9   

Amounts related to securities litigation and government investigations, net of recoveries

     —          —          —          7.4        6.8        6.8        6.9        27.9   

Restructuring costs

     23.4        11.1        (0.4 )      58.3        14.4        10.2        106.3        189.2   

Goodwill impairment charge

     —          1,414.4        —          —          —          —          —          —     

Gain on disposal of assets and consolidated businesses, net

     —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     
                                                               
    579.4        1,920.6        482.6        718.2        637.8        641.9        770.9        2,768.8   
                                                               

Operating income (loss)

     75.8        (1,336.5 )      80.9        137.1        153.7        122.0        25.2        438.0   
                                                               

Other income (loss), net

     (2.7 )      (4.3 )      13.5        (3.2 )      5.4        (3.6 )      (1.0 )      (2.4 ) 

Income tax provision (benefit)

     35.3        (269.3 )      (5.4 )      53.5        70.8        47.9        26.1        198.3   
                                                               

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     37.8        (1,071.5 )      99.8        80.4        88.3        70.5        (1.9 )      237.3   
                                                               

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     (3.1 )      16.5        71.8        2.1        2.4        3.4        3.3        11.2   

Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

     —          —          —          0.2        —          0.1        —          0.3   
                                                               

Net income (loss) attributable to AOL Inc.

   $ 34.7      $ (1,055.0 )    $ 171.6      $ 82.7      $ 90.7      $ 74.0      $ 1.4      $ 248.8   
                                                               

Amounts attributable to AOL Inc. common stockholders:

                

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 37.8      $ (1,071.5 )    $ 99.8      $ 80.6      $ 88.3      $ 70.6      $ (1.9 )    $ 237.6   

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     (3.1 )      16.5        71.8        2.1        2.4        3.4        3.3        11.2   
                                                               

Net income (loss)

   $ 34.7      $ (1,055.0 )    $ 171.6      $ 82.7      $ 90.7      $ 74.0      $ 1.4      $ 248.8   
                                                               

Per share information attributable to AOL Inc. common stockholders:

                

Basic income (loss) per common share from continuing operations

   $ 0.36      $ (10.04 )    $ 0.94      $ 0.76      $ 0.84      $ 0.67      $ (0.02 )    $ 2.25   

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     (0.03 )      0.15        0.67        0.02        0.02        0.03        0.03        0.10   
                                                               

Basic net income (loss) per common share

   $ 0.33      $ (9.89 )    $ 1.61      $ 0.78      $ 0.86      $ 0.70      $ 0.01      $ 2.35   
                                                               

Shares used in computing basic income (loss) per common share (10)

     106.3        106.7        106.7        105.8        105.8        105.8        105.8        105.8   

Diluted income (loss) per common share from continuing operations

   $ 0.35      $ (10.04 )    $ 0.93      $ 0.76      $ 0.84      $ 0.67      $ (0.02 )    $ 2.25   

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     (0.03 )      0.15        0.67        0.02        0.02        0.03        0.03        0.10   
                                                               

Diluted net income (loss) per common share

   $ 0.32      $ (9.89 )    $ 1.60      $ 0.78      $ 0.86      $ 0.70      $ 0.01      $ 2.35   
                                                               

Shares used in computing diluted income (loss) per common share (10)

     107.0        106.7        107.3        105.8        105.8        105.8        105.9        105.8   

Please see Endnotes.

Financial Results for 2008 (9)

 

(in millions, except per share amounts)    2008      
     Three months ended     Year ended    
     March 31      June 30     September 30      December 31     December 31    

Revenues:

               

Advertising

    $ 540.4       $ 517.3      $ 487.0       $ 499.7      $ 2,044.4     

Subscription

      538.8         491.0        470.1         429.4        1,929.3     

Other

      37.1         34.8        34.3         31.9        138.1     
                                            

Total revenues

      1,116.3         1,043.1        991.4         961.0        4,111.8     
                                            

 

Costs of revenues

      619.9         597.0        542.5         503.6        2,263.0     

Selling, general and administrative

      171.1         177.7        148.0         137.6        634.4     

Amortization of intangible assets

      36.5         39.8        42.2         40.5        159.0     

Amounts related to securities litigation and government investigations, net of recoveries

      3.9         4.1        4.6         8.2        20.8     

Restructuring costs

      9.5         3.8        1.8         1.5        16.6     

Goodwill impairment charge

      —           —          —           2,207.0        2,207.0     

Gain on disposal of assets and consolidated businesses, net

      —           —          —           (0.3 )      (0.3 )   
                                            
     840.9         822.4        739.1         2,898.1        5,300.5     
                                            

Operating income (loss)

      275.4         220.7        252.3         (1,937.1 )      (1,188.7 )   
                                            

 

Other income (loss), net

      1.8         (1.6 )      1.3         (5.7 )      (4.2 )   

Income tax provision (benefit)

      120.1         94.6        111.2         70.0        395.9     
                                            

Income (loss) from continuing operations

      157.1         124.5        142.4         (2,012.8 )      (1,588.8 )   
                                            

 

Discontinued operations, net of tax

      2.5         2.1        5.0         52.6        62.2     

Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

      0.1         0.3        0.1         0.3        0.8     
                                            

Net income (loss) attributable to AOL Inc.

    $ 159.7       $ 126.9      $ 147.5       $ (1,959.9 )    $ (1,525.8 )   
                                            

 

Amounts attributable to AOL Inc. common stockholders:

               

Income (loss) from continuing operations

    $ 157.2       $ 124.8      $ 142.5       $ (2,012.5 )    $ (1,588.0 )   

Discontinued operations, net of tax

      2.5         2.1        5.0         52.6        62.2     
                                            

Net income (loss)

    $ 159.7       $ 126.9      $ 147.5       $ (1,959.9 )    $ (1,525.8 )   
                                            

 

Per share information attributable to AOL Inc. common stockholders:

               

 

Basic income (loss) per common share from continuing operations

    $ 1.49       $ 1.18      $ 1.34       $ (19.02 )    $ (15.01 )   

Discontinued operations, net of tax

      0.02         0.02        0.05         0.50        0.59     
                                            

Basic net income (loss) per common share

    $ 1.51       $ 1.20      $ 1.39       $ (18.52 )    $ (14.42 )   
                                            

 

Shares used in computing basic income (loss) per common share (10)

      105.8         105.8        105.8         105.8        105.8     

 

Diluted income (loss) per common share from continuing operations

    $ 1.49       $ 1.18      $ 1.34       $ (19.02 )    $ (15.01 )   

Discontinued operations, net of tax

      0.02         0.02        0.05         0.50        0.59     
                                            

Diluted net income (loss) per common share

    $ 1.51       $ 1.20      $ 1.39       $ (18.52 )    $ (14.42 )   
                                            

 

Shares used in computing diluted income (loss) per common share (10)

      105.8         105.8        105.8         105.8        105.8     

Please see Endnotes.

 

AOL Inc.

Trending Schedules

(Unaudited)

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures for 2010 and 2009 (9)

 

(in millions)    2010     2009  
     Three months ended     Three months ended     Year ended  
     March 31     June 30     September 30     March 31     June 30     September 30     December 31     December 31  

 

Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA): (7)

                 

 

Operating income (loss)

    $ 75.8      $ (1,336.5 )    $ 80.9      $ 137.1      $ 153.7      $ 122.0      $ 25.2      $ 438.0   

Add: Depreciation

      53.6        51.6        46.9        68.1        71.9        65.0        54.5        259.5   

Add: Amortization of intangible assets

      62.2        35.7        22.8        34.8        33.3        31.6        38.2        137.9   

Add: Asset impairments

      1.4        1,415.9        7.8        2.3        4.3        7.3        9.2        23.1   

Add: Losses/(gains) on disposal of consolidated businesses, net

      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     

Add: Losses/(gains) on other asset sales

      (0.4 )      (0.1 )      (0.7 )      (0.2 )      (0.4 )      (0.1 )      (1.8 )      (2.5 ) 
                                                                

Adjusted OIBDA

    $ 192.6      $ 166.6      $ 157.7      $ 242.1      $ 262.8      $ 225.8      $ 125.3      $ 856.0   
                                                                

 

Free Cash Flow: (7)

                 

 

Cash provided by continuing operations

    $ 157.9      $ 152.7      $ 165.0      $ 311.0      $ 273.3      $ 169.3      $ 125.9      $ 879.5   

Less: Capital expenditures and product development costs

      28.5        14.9        24.3        30.5        35.4        35.9        30.4        132.2   

Less: Principal payments on capital leases

      8.3        8.7        9.9        7.2        7.6        8.1        8.2        31.1   
                                                                

Free Cash Flow

    $ 121.1      $ 129.1      $ 130.8      $ 273.3      $ 230.3      $ 125.3      $ 87.3      $ 716.2   
                                                                

 

Cash Net of Debt: (7)

                 

 

Cash and equivalents

    $ 258.4      $ 391.6      $ 623.3      $ 106.9      $ 61.0      $ 63.9      $ 143.3      $ 143.3   

Less: Current portion of notes payable and obligations under capital leases

      32.6        32.5        34.9        26.2        27.5        30.5        32.4        32.4   

Less: Long-term portion of obligations under capital leases

      37.6        36.5        47.7        36.2        40.8        42.3        41.5        41.5   
                                                                

Cash Net of Debt

    $ 188.2      $ 322.6      $ 540.7      $ 44.5      $ (7.3 )    $ (8.9 )    $ 69.4      $ 69.4   
                                                                

 

Advertising revenue net of traffic acquisition costs (TAC) - domestic: (7)

                 

 

Consolidated advertising revenue

    $ 345.8      $ 296.9      $ 292.8      $ 431.7      $ 407.2      $ 402.3      $ 458.5      $ 1,699.7   

Less: International advertising revenue

      51.2        35.7        32.3        81.7        79.0        79.9        82.8        323.4   

Less: Domestic TAC

      67.7        48.5        54.3        91.2        88.4        89.0        117.3        385.9   
                                                                

Advertising revenue net of TAC - domestic

    $ 226.9      $ 212.7      $ 206.2      $ 258.8      $ 239.8      $ 233.4      $ 258.4      $ 990.4   
                                                                

 

Advertising revenue net of TAC - global: (7)

                 

 

Consolidated advertising revenue

    $ 345.8      $ 296.9      $ 292.8      $ 431.7      $ 407.2      $ 402.3      $ 458.5      $ 1,699.7   

Less: Total TAC

      89.2        64.8        65.2        132.9        130.1        134.2        169.6        566.8   
                                                                

Advertising revenue net of TAC - global

    $ 256.6      $ 232.1      $ 227.6      $ 298.8      $ 277.1      $ 268.1      $ 288.9      $ 1,132.9   
                                                                

Please see Endnotes.

 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures for 2008 (9)

 

(in millions)    2008      
     Three months ended     Year ended    
     March 31     June 30     September 30     December 31     December 31    

 

Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA): (7)

             

 

Operating income (loss)

    $ 275.4      $ 220.7      $ 252.3      $ (1,937.1 )    $ (1,188.7 )   

Add: Depreciation

      82.3        77.4        76.2        72.3        308.2     

Add: Amortization of intangible assets

      36.5        39.8        42.2        40.5        159.0     

Add: Asset impairments

      1.3        2.8        11.9        2,224.0        2,240.0     

Add: Losses/(gains) on disposal of consolidated businesses, net

      —          —          —          (0.3 )      (0.3 )   

Add: Losses/(gains) on other asset sales

      (0.7 )      (0.8 )      (0.5 )      0.2        (1.8 )   
                                          

Adjusted OIBDA

    $ 394.8      $ 339.9      $ 382.1      $ 399.6      $ 1,516.4     
                                          

 

Free Cash Flow: (7)

             

 

Cash provided by continuing operations

    $ 146.5      $ 309.6      $ 260.9      $ 189.2      $ 906.2     

Less: Capital expenditures and product development costs

      45.7        52.4        36.3        34.4        168.8     

Less: Principal payments on capital leases

      5.5        5.8        6.8        7.0        25.1     
                                          

Free Cash Flow

    $ 95.3      $ 251.4      $ 217.8      $ 147.8      $ 712.3     
                                          

 

Cash Net of Debt: (7)

             

 

Cash and equivalents

    $ 134.6      $ 307.0      $ 172.6      $ 122.6      $ 122.6     

Less: Current portion of notes payable and obligations under capital leases

      73.2        75.9        78.8        25.0        25.0     

Less: Long-term portion of obligations under capital leases

      21.9        29.9        35.6        33.7        33.7     
                                          

Cash Net of Debt

    $ 39.5      $ 201.2      $ 58.2      $ 63.9      $ 63.9     
                                          

 

Advertising revenue net of traffic acquisition costs (TAC) -domestic: (7)

             

 

Consolidated advertising revenue

    $ 540.4      $ 517.3      $ 487.0      $ 499.7      $ 2,044.4     

Less: International advertising revenue

      109.0        116.0        109.4        97.7        432.1     

Less: Domestic TAC

      139.3        123.2        113.6        105.8        481.9     
                                          

Advertising revenue net of TAC - domestic

    $ 292.1      $ 278.1      $ 264.0      $ 296.2      $ 1,130.4     
                                          

 

Advertising revenue net of TAC - global: (7)

             

 

Consolidated advertising revenue

    $ 540.4      $ 517.3      $ 487.0      $ 499.7      $ 2,044.4     

Less: Total TAC

      191.1        178.7        164.5        151.6        685.9     
                                          

Advertising revenue net of TAC - global

    $ 349.3      $ 338.6      $ 322.5      $ 348.1      $ 1,358.5     
                                          

Please see Endnotes.

AOL Inc.

Trending Schedules

 

Endnotes

 

(1) Domestic AOL-brand access subscribers include subscribers participating in introductory free-trial periods and subscribers that are paying no monthly fees or reduced monthly fees through member service and retention programs. Individuals who have registered for our free offerings, including subscribers who have migrated from paid subscription plans, are not included in the AOL-brand access subscriber numbers presented above. The average monthly subscription revenue per subscriber is calculated as average monthly subscription revenue divided by the average monthly subscribers for the applicable period.

 

(2) Churn represents the number of subscribers that terminate or cancel our services, factoring in new and reactivated subscribers. Monthly average churn is calculated as the monthly average of terminations plus cancellations divided by the initial subscriber base plus any new registrations and reactivations for the applicable period.

 

(3) Part of our strategy is to increase the reach of our audience in order to increase our advertising revenue. We utilize unique visitors as a measure of our success in this goal. Unique visitor numbers provide an indication of our consumer reach. Although our consumer reach does not correlate directly to advertising revenue, we believe that our ability to broadly reach diverse demographic and geographic audiences is attractive to brand advertisers seeking to promote their brands to a variety of consumers without having to partner with multiple content providers.

 

     The information that we disclose regarding unique visitors is based on data provided by a third party (comScore Media Metrix, or “Media Metrix”). AOL unique visitors represent the estimated number of individuals who visited any content of a Website or application owned by AOL or for which the traffic has been assigned to AOL by the owner during the applicable measurement period.

 

     Media Metrix has historically estimated unique visitors based on a sample of Internet users in various countries (referred to as the “panel-only methodology”). While we are familiar with the general methodologies and processes that Media Metrix uses in estimating unique visitors, we have not performed independent testing or validation of Media Metrix’s data collection systems or proprietary statistical models, and therefore we can provide no assurance as to the accuracy of the information that Media Metrix provides.

 

(4) Media Metrix announced the availability of an alternate methodology (currently referred to as “panel-centric unified” or “Media Metrix 360”) to estimate unique visitors, in order to provide a more accurate count of a website’s audience, and has continued to refine this methodology. We adopted this alternate methodology for domestic unique visitors to AOL Properties and AOL Media starting December 2009 and going forward. As a result, our unique visitor numbers based on Media Metrix 360 will not be comparable to the data under the previous methodology. For comparison purposes, domestic monthly unique visitors to AOL Properties and AOL Media are reported above under both the Media Metrix 360 and panel-only methodology beginning in the first quarter of 2010.

 

(5) AOL Media represents a subset of AOL Properties and excludes Mail, Instant Messaging, Search, Ventures and Local & Mapping.

 

(6) We also utilize unique visitors to evaluate the reach of our total advertising network, which includes both AOL Properties and the Third Party Network.

 

(7) These trending schedules include the financial measures advertising revenue net of TAC, Adjusted OIBDA, Free Cash Flow and Cash Net of Debt, all of which are defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These measures may be different than similarly-titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Explanations of our non-GAAP financial measures are as follows:

 

     We use advertising revenue net of TAC, among other measures, to evaluate the financial performance of our business. TAC consists of costs incurred through arrangements in which we acquire third-party online advertising inventory for resale and arrangements whereby partners distribute our free products or services or otherwise direct traffic to AOL Properties. We believe that this definition enhances the comparability of our advertising revenues to the advertising revenues of certain of our competitors. However, comparable activity may be measured differently by other companies and our revenue sources and TAC may be different than those of our competitors. Therefore, our metrics involving TAC may not be directly comparable to those of our competitors.

 

     We define Adjusted OIBDA as operating income before depreciation and amortization excluding the impact of gains and losses on all disposals of assets (including those recorded in costs of revenues) and noncash asset impairments. We consider Adjusted OIBDA to be a useful metric for management and investors to evaluate and compare the performance of our business on a consistent basis across reporting periods, as it eliminates the effect of noncash items such as depreciation of tangible assets, amortization of intangible assets that were primarily recognized in business combinations and asset impairments, as well as the effect of gains and losses on asset sales, which we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. A limitation of this measure, however, is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues in our business. Moreover, the Adjusted OIBDA measures do not reflect gains and losses on asset sales or impairment charges related to goodwill, intangible assets and fixed assets.

 

     We define Free Cash Flow as cash provided by continuing operations, less capital expenditures and product development costs and principal payments on capital leases. We consider Free Cash Flow to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated by the business that, after capital expenditures, capitalized product development costs and principal payments on capital leases, can be used for strategic opportunities, including investing in our business, making strategic acquisitions, and strengthening the balance sheet. Analysis of Free Cash Flow also facilitates management’s comparisons of our operating results to competitors’ operating results. A limitation on the use of this metric is that Free Cash Flow does not represent the total increase or decrease in cash for the period because it excludes certain non-operating cash flows. We have computed Free Cash Flow using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter and year to year.

 

     We define Cash Net of Debt as cash and equivalents less short- and long-term debt and other financing obligations. We consider Cash Net of Debt to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management and investors about our ability to repay debt should it come due immediately. A limitation on the use of this metric is that it does not factor in the other uses of cash or the ability to use other assets in the repayment of debt.

 

     Also, see “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the GAAP financial measures we consider most comparable.

 

(8) Equity-based compensation expense in Q1 2008 included a reduction to expense driven by a change in the estimated forfeiture rate for equity awards, as fewer awards vested than initially anticipated. As a result of our planned separation from Time Warner, we had a significant reduction of equity-based compensation expense in 2009, as awards that were originally expected to vest were forfeited under the terms of Time Warner’s equity-based compensation plan.

 

(9) The financial information for periods prior to Q2 2010 has been recast to so that the basis of presentation is consistent with that of the financial information for Q2 2010 and subsequent periods. This recast reflects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Perfiliate Limited (doing business as buy.at) and our ICQ operations (“ICQ”) as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

 

(10) On November 2, 2009, we converted from AOL Holdings LLC, a limited liability company wholly owned by Time Warner, to AOL Inc., a corporation wholly owned by Time Warner. On December 9, 2009, the date of our spin-off, 105.8 million shares of $0.01 par value AOL common stock were issued to Time Warner stockholders of record as of 5 p.m. on November 27, 2009. For periods prior to December 9, 2009, the same number of shares is being used for basic and diluted income (loss) per common share as no common stock of the Company existed prior to November 2, 2009 and no dilutive securities of the Company were outstanding for any prior period.