-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, WchgifHoV3rnDMAUfTDvP6SAcJYESlYmUNOEZKQAyP/suz2tX+YSnIAMjRkvrXRo EY9/ihh/UZTm7DlTuwADMA== 0000950137-06-008870.txt : 20060809 0000950137-06-008870.hdr.sgml : 20060809 20060808193411 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950137-06-008870 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20060630 FILED AS OF DATE: 20060809 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20060808 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000868512 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NEWSPAPERS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING [2711] IRS NUMBER: 953518892 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-14164 FILM NUMBER: 061014657 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 NORTH ORLEANS ST STREET 2: FLOOR 10 SOUTH CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60654-1771 BUSINESS PHONE: 3123212299 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 NORTH ORLEANS ST STREET 2: FLOOR 10 SOUTH CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60654-1771 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: HOLLINGER INTERNATIONAL INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19951020 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AMERICAN PUBLISHING COMPANY DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19940204 10-Q 1 c07372e10vq.htm QUARTERLY REPORT e10vq
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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Form 10-Q
 
 
     
þ
  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2006
OR
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the transition period from          to          
 
Commission File No. 1-14164
 
SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
     
Delaware
  95-3518892
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
     
712 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York
(Address of principal executive offices)
  10019
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code
(212) 586-5666
 
HOLLINGER INTERNATIONAL INC.
(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 and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ     No o
 
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.
 
Large Accelerated Filer  þ   Accelerated Filer  o  Non-accelerated Filer  o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes o     No þ
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
 
     
Class
 
Outstanding at July 31, 2006
 
Class A Common Stock par value $.01 per share
  64,956,299 shares
Class B Common Stock par value $.01 per share
  14,990,000 shares
 


 

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
INDEX
 
SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC.
 
                 
        Page
 
  Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)   4
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   22
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk   32
  Controls and Procedures   32
 
  Legal Proceedings   34
  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds   35
  Defaults Upon Senior Securities   35
  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders   36
  Other Information   36
  Exhibits   36
  37
   
 Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation
 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 Certification of Chief Financial Officer
 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer


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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to future events or the Company’s future financial performance with respect to its financial condition, results of operations, business plans and strategies, operating efficiencies, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management, capital expenditures, growth and other matters. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements of the Company or the newspaper industry to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “seek,” or “continue” or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions and such expectations may prove to be incorrect. Some of the things that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ substantially from its current expectations are:
 
  •  changes in prevailing economic conditions, particularly as they affect Chicago, Illinois and its metropolitan area;
 
  •  actions of the Company’s controlling stockholder;
 
  •  the impact of insolvency filings of The Ravelston Corporation Limited (“Ravelston”) and Ravelston Management, Inc. (“RMI”) and certain related entities;
 
  •  adverse developments in pending litigation involving the Company and its affiliates, and current and former directors and officers;
 
  •  actions arising from continuing investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and other government agencies in the United States and Canada principally of matters identified by a special committee of independent directors (the “Special Committee”) formed on June 17, 2003 to investigate related party transactions and other payments made to certain executives of the Company and its controlling stockholder, Hollinger Inc., and other affiliates in connection with the sale of certain of the Company’s assets and other transactions. The Company filed with the SEC the full text of the report of the Special Committee on such investigation as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K on August 31, 2004, as amended by a current report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on December 15, 2004 (the “Report”);
 
  •  the resolution of certain United States and foreign tax matters;
 
  •  actions of competitors, including price changes and the introduction of competitive service offerings;
 
  •  changes in the preferences of readers and advertisers, particularly in response to the growth of Internet-based media;
 
  •  the effects of changing costs or availability of raw materials, including changes in the cost or availability of newsprint and magazine body paper;
 
  •  changes in laws or regulations, including changes that affect the way business entities are taxed; and
 
  •  changes in accounting principles or in the way such principles are applied.
 
The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by federal securities laws. The Company does not, nor does any other person, assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of those statements. All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 (the “2005 10-K”).
 
The Company operates in a continually changing business environment, and new risks emerge from time to time. Management cannot predict such new risks, nor can it assess either the impact, if any, of such risks on the Company’s businesses or the extent to which any risk or combination of risks may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, it should be kept in mind that future events or conditions described in any forward-looking statement made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q might not occur.


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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1.   Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
 
SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30,     June 30,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    (Unaudited)  
    (Amounts in thousands, except per share data)  
 
Operating revenue:
                               
Advertising
  $ 83,620     $ 92,634     $ 162,509     $ 176,596  
Circulation
    20,915       22,079       41,894       44,767  
Job printing
    2,245       2,363       4,333       4,374  
Other
    611       642       1,079       1,364  
                                 
Total operating revenue
    107,391       117,718       209,815       227,101  
                                 
Operating costs and expenses:
                               
Newsprint
    15,988       17,085       32,144       33,544  
Compensation
    47,349       47,679       103,951       97,058  
Other operating costs
    49,711       49,482       95,710       101,464  
Depreciation
    5,092       4,573       10,348       9,323  
Amortization
    2,962       3,065       5,643       5,717  
                                 
Total operating costs and expenses
    121,102       121,884       247,796       247,106  
                                 
Operating loss
    (13,711 )     (4,166 )     (37,981 )     (20,005 )
                                 
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest expense
    (207 )     (1,383 )     (339 )     (1,631 )
Amortization of deferred financing costs
    (6 )     (6 )     (13 )     (13 )
Interest and dividend income
    4,523       3,122       8,739       7,521  
Other income (expense), net
    (411 )     (339 )     119       (1,508 )
                                 
Total other income (expense)
    3,899       1,394       8,506       4,369  
                                 
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes
    (9,812 )     (2,772 )     (29,475 )     (15,636 )
Income tax expense (benefit)
    (29,933 )     17,627       (23,003 )     25,306  
                                 
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
    20,121       (20,399 )     (6,472 )     (40,942 )
                                 
Discontinued operations (net of income taxes):
                               
Earnings from operations of business segment disposed of
          4,857       199       6,891  
Gain from disposal of business segment
    453             15,165        
                                 
Earnings from discontinued operations
    453       4,857       15,364       6,891  
                                 
Net income (loss)
  $ 20,574     $ (15,542 )   $ 8,892     $ (34,051 )
                                 
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
                               
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
  $ 0.23     $ (0.22 )   $ (0.07 )   $ (0.45 )
Earnings from discontinued operations
  $ 0.01     $ 0.05     $ 0.17     $ 0.08  
                                 
Net income (loss)
  $ 0.24     $ (0.17 )   $ 0.10     $ (0.37 )
                                 
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
                               
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
  $ 0.23     $ (0.22 )   $ (0.07 )   $ (0.45 )
Earnings from discontinued operations
  $ 0.01     $ 0.05     $ 0.17     $ 0.08  
                                 
Net income (loss)
  $ 0.24     $ (0.17 )   $ 0.10     $ (0.37 )
                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    85,818       90,878       88,365       90,868  
                                 
Diluted
    85,913       90,878       88,365       90,868  
                                 
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30,     June 30,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    (Unaudited)  
    (Amounts in thousands)  
 
Net income (loss)
  $ 20,574     $ (15,542 )   $ 8,892     $ (34,051 )
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                               
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale, net of income taxes
    1,027       (1,687 )     970       (3,256 )
Adjustment of minimum pension liability, net of income taxes
    (231 )     63       (225 )     87  
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    (18,333 )     3,724       (30,536 )     5,607  
                                 
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 3,037     $ (13,442 )   $ (20,899 )   $ (31,613 )
                                 
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005
 
                 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2006     2005  
    (Unaudited)        
    (Amounts in thousands,
 
    except share data)  
ASSETS
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 248,139     $ 198,388  
Short-term investments
    5,550       57,650  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $11,048 in 2006 and $11,756 in 2005
    78,669       90,951  
Inventories
    15,497       12,600  
Escrow deposits and restricted cash
    31,032       13,350  
Assets of operations to be disposed of
          21,418  
Other current assets
    9,110       6,785  
                 
Total current assets
    387,997       401,142  
Loan to affiliates
    31,407       29,284  
Investments
    7,907       23,037  
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $127,715 in 2006 and $117,360 in 2005
    186,995       194,354  
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $41,116 in 2006 and $38,933 in 2005
    94,814       96,981  
Goodwill
    124,104       124,104  
Prepaid pension benefit
    103,502       95,346  
Non-current assets of operations to be disposed of
          73,391  
Other assets
    27,941       27,689  
                 
Total assets
  $ 964,667     $ 1,065,328  
                 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Current liabilities:
               
Current installments of long-term debt
  $ 6,966     $ 7,148  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    97,968       125,007  
Dividends payable
    4,138       4,534  
Amounts due to related parties
    8,209       7,987  
Income taxes payable and other tax liabilities
    583,163       586,734  
Liabilities of operations to be disposed of
          12,531  
Deferred revenue
    11,143       11,684  
                 
Total current liabilities
    711,587       755,625  
Long-term debt, less current installments
    79       919  
Deferred income taxes and other tax liabilities
    402,195       360,524  
Non-current liabilities of operations to be disposed of
          15,141  
Other liabilities
    111,923       102,970  
                 
Total liabilities
    1,225,784       1,235,179  
                 
Stockholders’ deficit:
               
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value. Authorized 250,000,000 shares; 88,008,022 and 67,764,248 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2006 and 88,008,022 and 75,687,055 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2005
    880       880  
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value. Authorized 50,000,000 shares; 14,990,000 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005
    150       150  
Additional paid-in capital
    494,313       493,385  
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
               
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment
    (10,441 )     20,095  
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities
    150       (820 )
Minimum pension liability adjustment
    (19,002 )     (18,777 )
Accumulated deficit
    (520,124 )     (515,955 )
                 
      (54,074 )     (21,042 )
Class A common stock in treasury, at cost — 20,243,774 shares at June 30, 2006 and 12,320,967 shares at December 31, 2005
    (207,043 )     (148,809 )
                 
Total stockholders’ deficit
    (261,117 )     (169,851 )
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit
  $ 964,667     $ 1,065,328  
                 
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2006
 
                                                 
                Accumulated
                   
    Common
    Additional
    Other
                   
    Stock
    Paid-In
    Comprehensive
    Accumulated
    Treasury
       
    Class A & B     Capital     Income (Loss)     Deficit     Stock     Total  
    (Unaudited)
 
    (Amounts in thousands)  
 
Balance at December 31, 2005
  $ 1,030     $ 493,385     $ 498     $ (515,955 )   $ (148,809 )   $ (169,851 )
Dividends declared, payable in cash — Class A and Class B, $0.10 per share
                      (8,672 )           (8,672 )
Stock-based compensation
          1,220                         1,220  
Repurchase of common stock
                            (73,134 )     (73,134 )
Issuance of Treasury Stock in respect of stock options exercised and Deferred Stock Units
          (292 )           (4,389 )     14,900       10,219  
Minimum pension liability adjustment
                (225 )                 (225 )
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                (30,536 )                 (30,536 )
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net
                970                   970  
Net income
                      8,892             8,892  
                                                 
Balance at June 30, 2006
  $ 1,030     $ 494,313     $ (29,293 )   $ (520,124 )   $ (207,043 )   $ (261,117 )
                                                 
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements


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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005
 
                 
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30,  
    2006     2005  
    (Unaudited)
 
    (Amounts in thousands)  
 
Cash Flows From Continuing Operating Activities:
               
Net income (loss)
  $ 8,892     $ (34,051 )
Earnings from discontinued operations
    (15,364 )     (6,891 )
                 
Loss from continuing operations
    (6,472 )     (40,942 )
Adjustments to reconcile loss from continuing operations to net cash used in continuing operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    15,991       15,040  
Other
    1,455       2,015  
Changes in working capital accounts, net
    (40,540 )     (179,410 )
                 
Cash used in continuing operating activities
    (29,566 )     (203,297 )
                 
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
               
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
    (3,901 )     (6,849 )
Investments and other non-current assets
    (3,249 )     (4,770 )
Redemptions of short-term investments, net
    52,100       462,200  
Proceeds from the sale of newspaper operations, net of cash disposed
    79,885        
Proceeds from disposal of investments and other assets
    16,157       4,549  
                 
Cash provided by investing activities
    140,992       455,130  
                 
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
               
Repayment of debt
    (1,097 )     (6,087 )
Changes in escrow deposits and restricted cash
    (460 )     (2,225 )
Changes in borrowings with related parties
    (3,622 )     (2,705 )
Dividends paid
    (9,068 )     (507,791 )
Repurchase of common stock
    (71,487 )      
Proceeds from stock options exercised
    10,313        
Other
    156        
                 
Cash used in financing activities
    (75,265 )     (518,808 )
                 
Cash Flows From Discontinued Operations:
               
Operating cash flows
    (387 )     10,837  
Investing cash flows
          (1,370 )
Financing cash flows
    7,143       75,193  
                 
Net cash provided by discontinued operations
    6,756       84,660  
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    6,834       220  
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    49,751       (182,095 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    198,388       274,795  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 248,139     $ 92,700  
                 
Cash paid during the period for:
               
Interest
  $ 402     $ 654  
                 
Taxes
  $ 8,325     $ 181,867  
                 
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
Note 1 — Unaudited Financial Statements
 
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. (formerly Hollinger International Inc.) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in comprehensive annual financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and regulations.
 
Management believes that the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments, except as disclosed elsewhere in notes to these financial statements) that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the SEC on March 31, 2006 and amended on May 1, 2006 (the “2005 10-K”).
 
The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements requires it to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to matters that require a significant level of judgment or are otherwise subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. These areas include bad debts, goodwill, intangible assets, income taxes, pensions and other post-retirement benefits, contingencies and litigation. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, observance of trends in particular matters, information available from outside sources and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Information from these sources form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that may not be readily apparent from other sources. Actual amounts may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
 
Note 2 — Principles of Presentation and Consolidation
 
At June 30, 2006, Hollinger Inc., a Canadian corporation, held, directly or indirectly, approximately 19.1% of the combined equity and approximately 69.2% of the combined voting power of the outstanding common stock of the Company. Due to matters discussed in the 2005 10-K, particularly “Risk Factors,” Hollinger Inc. is not able to exercise control over the Company.
 
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority owned subsidiaries.
 
All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. See Note 7 for a discussion of revisions in the 2005 financial statements related to discontinued operations.
 
Certain amounts in the 2005 financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.
 
Note 3 — Purchases and Re-issuance of Treasury Stock
 
On March 15, 2006 the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an aggregate value of $50.0 million of its common stock to begin following the filing of the 2005 10-K. The Company completed the repurchase of common stock on May 5, 2006, aggregating approximately 6.2 million shares for approximately $50.0 million, including related transaction fees.


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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited) — (Continued)

 
On June 13, 2006 the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized an additional $50.0 million to the common stock repurchase program, which was in addition to the previously authorized repurchases announced on May 17, 2006, of common stock utilizing approximately $8.2 million of proceeds from the sale Hollinger Digital LLC (see Note 7) and $9.6 million of proceeds from stock options exercised in 2006. Through June 30, 2006, the Company repurchased approximately 3.2 million shares for approximately $23.1 million, including related transaction fees, out of the additional $67.8 million authorized.
 
The Company issued approximately 1.4 million shares of its Treasury Stock in respect of options exercised or shares issued in respect of deferred stock units (“DSU’s”) vesting through June 30, 2006. Proceeds received from the exercise of options were then used to repurchase Treasury Stock as discussed above.
 
                 
    Number of Shares     Value  
          (In thousands)  
 
Common stock repurchases through June 30, 2006
    9,368,600     $ 73,134  
Reissuance of treasury stock for stock based awards
    (1,445,793 )     (14,900 )
                 
Net Treasury Stock repurchases through June 30, 2006
    7,922,807     $ 58,234  
                 
Additional common stock repurchases from July 1, 2006 through July 31, 2006
    2,820,315     $ 22,609  
                 
 
Note 4 — Reorganization Activities
 
In January 2006, the Company announced a reorganization of its operations aimed at accelerating and enhancing its strategic growth and improving its operating results. The plan included a targeted 10% reduction in full-time staffing levels. Certain of the costs directly associated with the reorganization included voluntary and involuntary termination benefits. Such costs, amounting to $8.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006 (and an additional $2.3 million in severance not related directly to the reorganization) are included in “Compensation” expenses in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and are included in the Sun-Times News Group operating segment. These estimated costs have been recognized in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 88 (as amended) “Employers’ Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits” related to incremental voluntary termination severance benefits and SFAS No. 112 “Employers’ Accounting for Postemployment Benefits” for the involuntary, or base, portion of termination benefits under the Company’s established termination plan and practices.
 
The reorganization targeted a net workforce reduction of approximately 260 full-time employees by the end of 2006. As of June 30, 2006, 160 employees had accepted voluntary termination and approximately 50 positions have been identified for involuntary termination to occur through December 31, 2006. The separation costs for these employees are included in the $8.7 million charge discussed above. The Company expects to achieve most of the remaining workforce reduction through attrition.
 
Approximately $8.1 million of the $8.7 million total charges mentioned above will be paid during 2006. The remaining $0.6 million is expected to be paid by December 31, 2007. Amounts to be paid in 2007 largely relate to certain involuntary terminations expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2006 and the continuation of certain benefit coverage under the Company’s termination plan and practices. The restructuring accrual is included in “Accounts payable and accrued expenses” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at June 30, 2006.


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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited) — (Continued)

 
The following summarizes the termination benefits recorded and reconciles such charges to accrued expenses at June 30, 2006 (in thousands).
 
         
Charges for workforce reductions
  $ 9,027  
Reduction to expense(1)
    (319 )
Cash payments
    (4,642 )
         
Accrued expenses
  $ 4,066  
         
 
 
(1) In the second quarter of 2006, the Company reduced its original restructuring estimate to reflect the placement of 10 employees, originally identified for termination, into other positions that were vacated through attrition.
 
Incremental depreciation expense of approximately $0.3 million and $0.6 million has also been recognized in the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2006 related to a facility the Company expects to close during the fourth quarter of 2006. Similar amounts are expected to be recognized in each of the third and fourth quarters of 2006. The additional depreciation and amortization is expected to reduce the net book value of the related assets (largely building and improvements) to their expected salvage or net fair values at the time of the expected closing.
 
Note 5 — Stock-based Compensation
 
Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123R, “Share Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”), requiring that stock-based compensation payments, including grants of employee stock options, be recognized in the consolidated financial statements over the service period (generally the vesting period) based on their fair value. The Company elected to use the modified prospective transition method. Therefore, prior results were not restated. Under the modified prospective method, stock-based compensation is recognized for new awards, the modification, repurchase or cancellation of awards and the remaining portion of service under previously granted, unvested awards outstanding as of adoption. The Company treats all stock-based awards as a single award for recognition and valuation purposes and recognizes compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.
 
As a result of the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the Company recognized pre-tax stock-based option compensation expense of $0.3 million and $0.6 million, or $nil and $0.01 per basic and diluted share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, respectively, for the unvested portion of previously issued stock options that were outstanding at January 1, 2006, adjusted for the impact of estimated forfeitures. The Company recognized pre-tax stock-based compensation expense for options and DSU’s of $0.6 million and $1.2 million as a component of compensation costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, respectively.


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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited) — (Continued)

 
If the Company had used the fair value-based method of accounting, net earnings and earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 would have been adjusted to the pro forma amounts listed in the table below.
 
                 
    Three Months
    Six Months
 
    Ended
    Ended
 
    June 30,
    June 30,
 
    2005     2005  
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)  
 
Loss from continuing operations, as reported
  $ (20,399 )   $ (40,942 )
Add: stock-based compensation expense, as reported
    207       663  
Deduct: pro forma stock-based compensation expense
    (579 )     (1,241 )
                 
Pro forma loss from continuing operations
  $ (20,771 )   $ (41,520 )
                 
Basic loss from continuing operations per share, as reported
  $ (0.22 )   $ (0.45 )
Diluted loss from continuing operations per share, as reported
  $ (0.22 )   $ (0.45 )
Pro forma basic loss from continuing operations per share
  $ (0.23 )   $ (0.46 )
Pro forma diluted loss from continuing operations per share
  $ (0.23 )   $ (0.46 )
 
Tax benefits with respect to the stock-based compensation expense are not material as, generally, either: (i) related compensation exceeds certain deductibility limits for income tax purposes; or, (ii) the grantees are non-U.S. former employees for which the Company cannot reliably determine the amount or timing of any earnings reported by the grantee to taxing authorities (which must be determined in order for the Company to derive a tax benefit).
 
Stock Options
 
In 1999, the Company adopted the Hollinger International Inc. 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (“1999 Stock Plan”) which provides for awards of up to 8,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. The 1999 Stock Plan authorizes the grant of incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options. The exercise price for stock options must be at least equal to 100% of the fair market value of the Class A Common Stock on the date of grant of such option. The maximum term of the options granted under the 1999 Stock Plan is 10 years and the options vest ratably, over two or four years.
 
Effective May 1, 2004, the Company suspended option exercises under its stock option plans until such time that the Company’s registration statement with respect to these shares would again become effective (the “Suspension Period”). The suspension did not affect the vesting schedule with respect to previously granted options. In addition, the terms of the option plans generally provide that participants have 30 days following the date of termination of employment with the Company to exercise options that are exercisable on the date of termination. Participants in the stock incentive plans whose employment had been terminated were provided with 30 days following the lifting of the Suspension Period to exercise options that were vested at the termination of their employment. The extension of the exercise period constituted a modification of the awards, but did not affect, or extend, the contractual life of the options.
 
On April 27, 2006, the Company filed a Form S-8 registering shares to be issued under the 1999 Stock Plan and the registration statements for the Company’s stock incentive plans were effective as of that date. The Company notified option grantees that the Suspension Period would end on May 1, 2006 related to vested options under the Company’s stock incentive plans.


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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited) — (Continued)

 
Stock option activity with respect to the Company’s stock option plans was as follows:
 
                                 
          Weighted-
    Weighted-
       
          Average
    Average
    Aggregate
 
    Number of
    Exercise
    Remaining
    Intrinsic
 
    Options     Price     Term     Value  
                (Months)     (In thousands)  
 
Options outstanding at December 31, 2005
    4,211,580     $ 8.19                  
Options granted
                           
Options exercised
    (1,422,752 )   $ (7.25 )           $ 1,007  
                                 
Options forfeited
    (1,621,583 )   $ (9.05 )                
Other adjustments
    15,316     $ 7.70                  
                                 
Options outstanding at June 30, 2006
    1,182,561     $ 8.13       57     $ 542  
                                 
Options exercisable at June 30, 2006
    1,105,383     $ 8.23       56     $ 439  
                                 
 
The fair value of stock options was estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the remaining vesting period of such awards. As the Company has not granted any new stock options after 2003, the expense recognized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 represents the service expense related to previously granted, unvested awards. At June 30, 2006, the Company had $0.2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock-based option compensation arrangements. This cost is expected to be recognized through January 2007.
 
SFAS 123R requires the recognition of stock-based compensation for the number of awards that are ultimately expected to vest. Upon the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the Company recognized an immaterial one-time gain based on SFAS No. 123R’s requirement to apply an estimated forfeiture rate to unvested awards. As a result, stock compensation expense was reduced for estimated forfeitures expected prior to vesting. Estimated forfeitures are based on historical forfeiture rates and approximated 8%. Estimated forfeitures will be reassessed in subsequent periods and the estimate may change based on new facts and circumstances. Prior to January 1, 2006, actual forfeitures were included in pro forma stock compensation disclosures as they occurred.
 
Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the Company accounted for stock options and DSU’s granted to employees and directors using the intrinsic value-based method of accounting. Stock options granted to employees of The Ravelston Corporation Limited, the parent company of Hollinger, Inc., were accounted for in accordance with Financial Interpretation No. 44, “Accounting for Certain Transactions Involving Stock Compensation — an interpretation of APB Opinion No. 25”, using the fair value based method and recorded as dividends in-kind.
 
Deferred Stock Units
 
Pursuant to the 1999 Stock Plan, the Company issues DSU’s that are convertible into one share of Class A Common Stock. The value of the DSU’s on the date of issuance is recognized as employee compensation expense over the vesting period or through the grantee’s eligible retirement date, if shorter. The DSU’s are reflected in the basic earnings per share computation upon vesting. As of June 30, 2006, 306,353 DSU’s are fully vested and the Company has $2.4 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested DSU’s. All non-vested DSU’s have a vesting period of four years and the remaining unrecognized compensation cost will be recognized through 2009.


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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited) — (Continued)

 
Non-vested deferred stock unit activity was as follows:
 
                                 
          Weighted-Average
          Aggregate
 
    Number of
    Grant Date
    Weighted-Average
    Intrinsic
 
    Units     Fair Value     Remaining Term     Value  
                (Months)     (In thousands)  
 
Unvested at December 31, 2005
    357,000     $ 9.50                  
DSU’s granted
    26,229     $ 8.21                  
DSU’s vested
    (56,630 )   $ (9.92 )           $ 562  
                                 
DSU’s forfeited
    (26,339 )   $ (10.01 )                
                                 
Unvested at June 30, 2006
    300,260     $ 9.50       38     $ 2,851  
                                 
 
Long-term Incentive Plan
 
In December 2005, the Company established a long-term cash incentive award plan (“LTIP”) for key executives. Awards under the plan are based on the Company’s equity return versus a broad-based market index over a three year period. These awards are therefore subject to fair value adjustments for changes in the underlying market value and dividend performance of the Company’s common stock versus companies within the market index, until the performance levels have been determined at the end of the three year period. The amount of expense related to the LTIP for the six months ended June 30, 2006 was $nil.
 
Note 6 — Earnings (Loss) Per Share
 
Basic earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net earnings (loss) by the weighted average number of common stock equivalents outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net earnings (loss) after assumed conversion of dilutive securities by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus all additional common shares that would have been outstanding if potentially dilutive common shares had been issued. In certain periods, diluted earnings (loss) per share is the same as basic net earnings (loss) per share due to the anti-dilutive effect (i.e. the effect of reducing basic loss per share) or immaterial effect of the Company’s stock options.
 
The following tables reconcile the numerator and denominator for the calculation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005:
 
                         
    Three Months Ended June 30, 2006  
    Earnings
    Shares
    Per-Share
 
    (Numerator)     (Denominator)     Amount  
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)  
 
Basic EPS
                       
Earnings from continuing operations
  $ 20,121       85,818     $ 0.23  
Effect of dilutive securities
          95        
                         
Diluted EPS
                       
Earnings from continuing operations
  $ 20,121       85,913     $ 0.23  
                         
 


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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited) — (Continued)

                         
    Three Months Ended June 30, 2005  
    Loss
    Shares
    Per-Share
 
    (Numerator)     (Denominator)     Amount  
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)  
 
Basic EPS
                       
Loss from continuing operations
  $ (20,399 )     90,878     $ (0.22 )
Effect of dilutive securities
                 
                         
Diluted EPS
                       
Loss from continuing operations
  $ (20,399 )     90,878     $ (0.22 )
                         

 
                         
    Six Months Ended June 30, 2006  
    Loss
    Shares
    Per-Share
 
    (Numerator)     (Denominator)     Amount  
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)  
 
Basic EPS
                       
Loss from continuing operations
  $ (6,472 )     88,365     $ (0.07 )
Effect of dilutive securities
                 
                         
Diluted EPS
                       
Loss from continuing operations
  $ (6,472 )     88,365     $ (0.07 )
                         
 
                         
    Six Months Ended June 30, 2005  
    Loss
    Shares
    Per-Share
 
    (Numerator)     (Denominator)     Amount  
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)  
 
Basic EPS
                       
Loss from continuing operations
  $ (40,942 )     90,868     $ (0.45 )
Effect of dilutive securities
                 
                         
Diluted EPS
                       
Loss from continuing operations
  $ (40,942 )     90,868     $ (0.45 )
                         
 
The effect of stock options has been excluded from the calculations in certain periods because they are anti-dilutive as a result of the loss from continuing operations. The number of potentially dilutive securities comprised of shares issuable in respect of stock options and DSU’s at June 30, 2006 and 2005, was approximately 1.5 million and 4.6 million, respectively.
 
Note 7 — Segment Information, Discontinued Operations and Dispositions
 
The Company operates principally in the business of publishing, printing and distributing newspapers and magazines. The Sun-Times News Group includes the Chicago Sun-Times, Post Tribune, Daily Southtown and other city and suburban newspapers in the Chicago metropolitan area.
 
On December 19, 2005, the Company announced that its subsidiary, Hollinger Canadian Publishing Holdings Co. (“HCPH Co.”), entered into agreements to sell its 70% interest in Great West Newspaper Group Ltd. and its 50% interest in Fundata Canada Inc. (“Fundata”) for approximately $40.5 million. The transaction closed on December 30, 2005. Great West Newspaper Group Ltd. is a Canadian community newspaper publishing company which publishes 16 titles, mostly in Alberta. Fundata is a Toronto-based provider of mutual fund data and analysis.

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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited) — (Continued)

 
On February 6, 2006, the Company completed the sale of substantially all of its remaining Canadian operating assets, consisting of, among other things, approximately 87% of the outstanding equity units of Hollinger L.P. and all of the shares of Hollinger Canadian Newspapers GP Inc., Eco Log Environmental Risk Information Services Ltd. and KCN Capital News Company, for an aggregate sale price of $106.0 million, of which approximately $17.5 million was placed in escrow ($18.2 million including interest and foreign exchange as of June 30, 2006). A majority of the escrow may be held up to seven years, and will be released to either the Company, Glacier Ventures International Corp. (the purchaser) or CanWest Global Communications Corp. (“CanWest”) upon a final award, judgment or settlement being made in respect of certain pending arbitration proceedings involving the Company, its related entities and CanWest. In addition, the Company received $4.3 million in the second quarter of 2006, and received an additional $2.8 million in July 2006, related to working capital settlement and other adjustments. The Company recognized a gain on sale of approximately $14.7 million, net of taxes, which is included in “Gain from disposal of business segment” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the six month period ended June 30, 2006. For the one month ended January 31, 2006 and the six months ended June 30, 2005, revenue for the Canadian Newspaper Group was $5.6 million and $47.8 million, respectively, and income before taxes and minority interest was $0.2 million and $12.5 million, respectively.
 
In the second quarter of 2006, the Company recorded an adjustment of $0.5 million, net of taxes, to the gain on sale of the Telegraph Group largely related to additional tax losses surrendered to the purchaser.
 
The Company has reflected the Canadian operating assets sold on December 19, 2005 and February 6, 2006, representing substantially all of the remaining Canadian newspaper assets, or the “Canadian Newspaper Operations”, as discontinued operations in accordance with SFAS No. 144 “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“SFAS No. 144”). Remaining administrative activities and assets and liabilities, largely related to pension, post-employment and post-retirement plans, are presented in continuing operations under the “Canadian Administrative Group” segment.
 
In May 2006, the Company received $8.15 million from the sale of Hollinger Digital LLC and received $1.7 million in July 2006 from sales of additional investments identified in the agreement. The Company anticipates receiving up to an additional $0.2 million under the agreement, subject to the receipt of third party approvals and other closing conditions. The Company also may receive up to an additional $1.0 million in the future if certain conditions are satisfied. The Hollinger Digital LLC transaction resulted in a pretax loss of approximately $0.6 million, which is included in “Other income (expense)” for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company does not expect the July portion of this transaction to have a material effect on its results of operations.
 
The following is a summary of the segmented financial data of the Company:
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30, 2006  
    Sun-Times
    Canadian
    Investment and
       
    News
    Administrative
    Corporate
       
    Group     Group     Group     Total  
    (In thousands)  
 
Revenue
  $ 107,391     $     $     $ 107,391  
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 7,987     $     $ 67     $ 8,054  
Operating income (loss)
  $ 5,807     $ (1,191 )   $ (18,327 )   $ (13,711 )
Equity in loss of affiliates
  $ (52 )   $     $     $ (52 )
 


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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited) — (Continued)

                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30, 2005  
    Sun-Times
    Canadian
    Investment and
       
    News
    Administrative
    Corporate
       
    Group     Group     Group     Total  
    (In thousands)  
 
Revenue
  $ 117,718     $     $     $ 117,718  
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 7,557     $ 24     $ 57     $ 7,638  
Operating income (loss)
  $ 17,041     $ (1,635 )   $ (19,572 )   $ (4,166 )
Equity in loss of affiliates
  $ (416 )   $     $     $ (416 )

 
                                 
    Six Months Ended June 30, 2006  
    Sun-Times
    Canadian
    Investment and
       
    News
    Administrative
    Corporate
       
    Group     Group(1)     Group     Total  
    (In thousands)  
 
Revenue
  $ 209,815     $     $     $ 209,815  
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 15,860     $     $ 131     $ 15,991  
Operating loss
  $ (1,007 )   $ (1,362 )   $ (35,612 )   $ (37,981 )
Equity in loss of affiliates
  $ (117 )   $     $     $ (117 )
Total assets
  $ 511,603     $ 342,194     $ 110,870     $ 964,667  
Capital expenditures
  $ 3,886     $     $ 15     $ 3,901  
 
 
(1) Total assets largely consist of proceeds from the sale of the Canadian Newspaper Operations and pension assets related to operations previously sold.
 
                                 
    Six Months Ended June 30, 2005  
    Sun-Times
    Canadian
    Investment and
       
    News
    Administrative
    Corporate
       
    Group     Group(1)     Group     Total  
    (In thousands)  
 
Revenue
  $ 227,101     $     $     $ 227,101  
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 14,726     $ 78     $ 236     $ 15,040  
Operating income (loss)
  $ 25,179     $ (2,734 )   $ (42,450 )   $ (20,005 )
Equity in loss of affiliates
  $ (955 )   $     $     $ (955 )
Total assets
  $ 521,262     $ 285,134     $ 191,832     $ 998,228  
Capital expenditures
  $ 6,619     $     $ 230     $ 6,849  
 
 
(1) Total assets includes $119,377 of assets of operations to be disposed of.

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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited) — (Continued)

 
Note 8 — Other Income (Expense), Net
 
                                 
    Three Months
    Six Months
 
    Ended
    Ended
 
    June 30,     June 30,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    (In thousands)  
 
Equity in losses of affiliates
  $ (52 )   $ (416 )   $ (117 )   $ (955 )
Write-down of investments
                      (183 )
Gain (loss) on sale of investments
    (623 )     2,549       (623 )     2,549  
Foreign currency gains (losses), net
    427       (2,586 )     1,023       (2,973 )
Other
    (163 )     114       (164 )     54  
                                 
    $ (411 )   $ (339 )   $ 119     $ (1,508 )
                                 
 
Note 9 — Income Taxes
 
Income taxes were a benefit of $29.9 million and an expense of $17.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, income taxes were a benefit of $23.0 million and an expense of $25.3 million, respectively. The Company’s income tax expense varies substantially from the U.S. Federal statutory rate primarily due to provisions or recoveries related to contingent liabilities including interest the Company may be required to pay in various tax jurisdictions. Provisions for interest amounted to $16.6 million and $13.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and $31.4 million and $25.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. In addition, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $43.0 million resulting from the reversal of certain contingent tax liabilities which were no longer deemed necessary as the relevant statutes of limitations period had lapsed.
 
The Company has recorded accruals to cover certain currently unresolved tax issues (both U.S. and foreign). Such contingent liabilities relate to additional taxes and interest the Company may be required to pay in various tax jurisdictions. At December 31, 2005 accruals to cover contingent liabilities aggregated approximately $920.5 million. Such accruals reflect additional interest and penalties that may become payable in respect to the contingent liabilities.
 
A substantial portion of the accruals to cover contingent liabilities for income taxes relate to the tax treatment of gains on the sale of a portion of the Company’s non-U.S. operations. Strategies have been and may be implemented that may also defer and/or reduce these taxes but the effects of these strategies have not been reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements. The accruals to cover contingent tax liabilities also relate to management fees, “non-competition” payments and other items that have been deducted in arriving at taxable income that may be disallowed by taxing authorities.
 
Note 10 — Disputes, Investigations and Legal Proceedings with Former Executive Officers and Directors
 
The Company is involved in a series of disputes, investigations and legal proceedings relating to transactions between the Company and certain former executive officers and directors of the Company and their affiliates. The potential impact of these disputes, investigations and legal proceedings on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations cannot currently be estimated. Costs incurred as a result of the investigation of the Special Committee and related litigation involving Conrad M. Black (“Black”), F. David Radler (“Radler”) and others are


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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited) — (Continued)

reflected in “Other operating costs” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. These costs primarily consist of legal and other professional fees as summarized in the following table.
 
                                         
    Three Months Ended
    Six Months Ended
    Incurred Since
 
    June 30,     June 30,     Inception through
 
    2006     2005     2006     2005     June 30, 2006(5)  
    (In thousands)  
 
Special Committee’s work(1)
  $ 502     $ 4,373     $ 1,442     $ 11,072     $ 54,165  
Litigation costs(2)
    3,362       1,432       4,204       2,738       24,773  
Indemnification fees and costs(3)
    1,960       4,613       8,206       8,620       51,195  
Recoveries(4)
                            (32,375 )
                                         
    $ 5,824     $ 10,418     $ 13,852     $ 22,430     $ 97,758  
                                         
 
 
(1) Costs and expenses arising from the Special Committee’s work. These amounts include the fees and costs of the Special Committee’s members, counsel, advisors and experts.
 
(2) Largely represents legal and other professional fees to defend the Company in litigation that has arisen as a result of the issues the Special Committee has investigated, including costs to defend the counterclaims of Hollinger Inc. and Black in the Delaware litigation. Litigation costs include $3.5 million paid to Tweedy Browne Company, LLC in May 2006, in settlement for legal fees related to matters investigated by the Special Committee. The three months ended June 30, 2006 include the positive impact of changes in previously recorded accruals for estimated litigation costs.
 
(3) Represents amounts the Company has been required to advance in fees and costs to indemnified parties, including the indirect controlling stockholders and their affiliates and associates who are defendants in the litigation largely brought by the Company.
 
(4) Represents recoveries directly resulting from the Special Committee’s activities including approximately $30.3 million in a settlement with Torys LLP and $2.1 million in recoveries of indemnification payments from Black in 2005. Excludes settlements with former directors and officers, pursuant to a restitution agreement reached in November 2003, of approximately $1.7 million and $31.5 million in 2004 and 2003, respectively.
 
(5) The Special Committee was formed on June 17, 2003. These amounts represent the cumulative costs of the Special Committee investigation.
 
Note 11 — Pension and Post-retirement Benefits
 
  (a)   Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Pension Benefits     Other Benefits  
    (In thousands)  
 
Service cost
  $ 407     $ 516     $ 3     $ 3  
Interest cost
    4,594       4,299       340       321  
Expected return on plan assets
    (6,161 )     (5,204 )            
Amortization of transition obligation
    28       28              
Amortization of prior service cost
    51       47              
Amortization of net (gain) loss
    619       777       (25 )     (52 )
                                 
Net periodic cost (income)
  $ (462 )   $ 463     $ 318     $ 272  
                                 
 


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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited) — (Continued)

                                 
    Six Months Ended June 30,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Pension Benefits     Other Benefits  
    (In thousands)  
 
Service cost
  $ 909     $ 1,038     $ 9     $ 7  
Interest cost
    9,335       8,647       672       645  
Expected return on plan assets
    (12,618 )     (10,468 )            
Amortization of transition obligation
    56       56              
Amortization of prior service cost
    100       94              
Amortization of net (gain) loss
    1,244       1,562       (51 )     (105 )
                                 
Net periodic cost (income)
  $ (974 )   $ 929     $ 630     $ 547  
                                 

 
  (b)   Employer Contributions
 
Defined Benefit Plans
 
For the six months ended June 30, 2006, an aggregate of $1.1 million of contributions have been made to the domestic and foreign defined benefit plans, all in cash. The Company contributed a total of $6.1 million to fund its defined benefit pension plans in 2005 and expects to contribute approximately $3.1 million in 2006.
 
Defined Contribution Plans
 
For the six months ended June 30, 2006, $2.5 million of contributions have been made to the Company’s domestic defined contribution benefit plans, all in cash, with no further contributions expected in 2006. The Company contributed approximately $2.5 million to its domestic defined contribution plans in 2005.
 
Post-Retirement Plans
 
For the six months ended June 30, 2006, $1.5 million of contributions have been made to the Company’s post-retirement plans, all in cash. The Company contributed a total of $2.4 million to fund its post-retirement plans in 2005 and expects to contribute approximately $2.6 million in 2006.
 
Note 12 — Commitments and Contingencies
 
The Company becomes involved from time to time in various claims and lawsuits incidental to the ordinary course of business, including such matters as libel, defamation and privacy actions. In addition, the Company is involved from time to time in various governmental and administrative proceedings with respect to employee terminations and other labor matters, environmental compliance, tax and other matters. Management believes that the outcome of any such pending claims or proceedings incidental to the ordinary course of business will not have a material adverse effect on the Company taken as a whole.
 
As discussed in Note 10, the Company is also subject to numerous disputes, investigations and legal proceedings with former executive officers and certain current and former directors. For a detailed discussion of these legal proceedings, see “Item 3 — Legal Proceedings” of the Company’s 2005 10-K.
 
Primarily in connection with the Company’s insurance programs, letters of credit are required to support certain projected workers’ compensation obligations and reimbursement of claims paid by a third party administrator. At June 30, 2006, letters of credit in the amount of $9.6 million were outstanding for which the Company maintained compensating deposits with the issuer of $7.3 million.

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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited) — (Continued)

 
Note 13 — Subsequent Events
 
(a) In relation to the previously discussed authorized stock repurchase programs, from July 1, 2006 through July 31, 2006, the Company purchased approximately 2.8 million shares for approximately $22.6 million, including related transaction fees. See Note 3.
 
(b) On July 13, 2006, Stanley M. Beck and Randall C. Benson submitted their resignations from the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Beck is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hollinger Inc., of which Mr. Benson is the Chief Restructuring Officer and also a director.


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SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Item 2 — Management’s Discussion And Analysis Of Financial Condition And Results Of Operations
 
OVERVIEW
 
The Company’s advertising revenue experiences seasonality with the first quarter typically being the lowest and the fourth quarter being the highest. The Company’s revenue is primarily derived from the sale of advertising space within the Company’s publications. Advertising revenue accounted for approximately 77% of the Company’s consolidated revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Advertising revenue is comprised of three primary sub-groups: retail, national and classified. Advertising revenue is subject to changes in the economy on both a national and local level and in individual business sectors. Advertising revenue is recognized upon publication of the advertisement.
 
Approximately 20% of the Company’s consolidated revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2006 was generated by circulation of the Company’s publications. This includes sales of publications to individuals on a single copy or subscription basis and to sales outlets, which then re-sell the publications. The Company recognizes circulation revenue from subscriptions on a straight-line basis over the subscription term and single-copy sales at the time of distribution. The Company also generates revenue from job printing and other activities which are recognized upon delivery.
 
Significant expenses for the Company are compensation and newsprint. Compensation expense, which includes benefits, was approximately 42% of the Company’s total operating costs for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Compensation costs are recognized as employment services are rendered. Newsprint costs represented approximately 13% of the Company’s total operating costs for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Newsprint prices are subject to fluctuation as newsprint is a commodity. Newsprint costs are recognized upon consumption.
 
RECENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS
 
Significant Developments in 2006
 
In January 2006, the Company announced a reorganization of its operations aimed at accelerating and enhancing its strategic growth and improving its operating results. The plan included a targeted 10% reduction in full-time staffing levels. Certain of the costs directly associated with the reorganization included voluntary and involuntary termination benefits. Such costs, amounting to $8.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006 (and an additional $2.3 million in severance not related directly to the reorganization) of which $1.2 million and $1.1 million are reflected in Sun-Times News Group and the Investment and Corporate Group results of operations, respectively, are included in “Compensation” expenses in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and are included in the Sun-Times News Group operating segment. These estimated costs have been recognized in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 88 (as amended) “Employers’ Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits” related to incremental voluntary termination severance benefits and SFAS No. 112 “Employers’ Accounting for Postemployment Benefits” for the involuntary, or base, portion of termination benefits under the Company’s established termination plan and practices.
 
The reorganization targeted a net workforce reduction of approximately 260 full-time employees by the end of 2006. As of June 30, 2006, 160 employees had accepted voluntary termination and approximately 50 positions have been identified for involuntary separation to occur through December 31, 2006. The Company expects to achieve most of the remaining workforce reduction through attrition.
 
On February 6, 2006, the Company completed the sale of substantially all of its remaining Canadian operating assets (“Canadian Newspaper Operations”), consisting of, among other things, approximately 87% of the outstanding equity units of Hollinger L.P. and all of the shares of Hollinger Canadian Newspapers GP Inc., Eco Log Environmental Risk Information Services Ltd. and KCN Capital News Company, for an aggregate sale price of $106.0 million, of which approximately $17.5 million was placed in escrow ($18.2 million including interest and foreign exchange effects as of June 30, 2006). A majority of the escrow may be held up to seven years,


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and will be released to either the Company, Glacier Ventures International Corp. (the purchaser) or CanWest Global Communications Corp. (“CanWest”) upon a final award, judgment or settlement being made in respect of certain pending arbitration proceedings involving the Company, its related entities and CanWest. In addition, the Company received $4.3 million in the second quarter of 2006, and received an additional $2.8 million in July 2006, related to working capital and other adjustments. The Company recognized a gain on sale of approximately $14.7 million, net of taxes, which is included in “Gain from disposal of business segment” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the six month period ended June 30, 2006.
 
On March 15, 2006, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to an aggregate value of $50.0 million of the Company’s common stock in the open market and privately negotiated transactions. The stock purchase program began following the filing of the 2005 10-K on March 31, 2006. As of May 5, 2006, the Company completed this program, purchasing an aggregate of approximately 6.2 million shares for approximately $50.0 million, including related transaction fees.
 
On April 27, 2006, the Company filed a Form S-8 registering shares to be issued under the 1999 Stock Plan and the registration statements for the Company’s stock incentive plans were effective as of that date. The Company notified option grantees that the Suspension Period would end on May 1, 2006 related to vested options under the Company’s stock incentive plans. Participants of the stock incentive plans whose employment had been terminated received 30 days following the lifting of the Suspension Period to exercise options that were vested at the termination of their employment. During this period, current and former employees and Directors exercised approximately 1.4 million options and approximately 1.6 million options expired after the 30 day period. The shares related to options exercised were issued from the Company’s treasury stock.
 
On June 13, 2006, the shareholders approved the amendment of the Hollinger International Inc. Restated Certificate of Incorporation, changing the Company’s name to Sun-Times Media Group, Inc., which became effective on July 17, 2006. The Company’s stock symbol on the New York Stock Exchange changed from HLR to SVN.
 
On June 13, 2006, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an aggregate value of $50.0 million of its common stock in the open market and privately negotiated transactions and additional purchases of common stock utilizing approximately $8.1 million of proceeds from the sale of Hollinger Digital LLC and $9.6 million of proceeds from stock options exercised in 2006. As of June 30, 2006, the Company has repurchased approximately 9.4 million shares for approximately $73.1 million, including related transaction fees.
 
On June 13, 2006, the Company announced Raymond G.H. Seitz was elected non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. Gordon A. Paris, the previous Chairman, retained the position of President and Chief Executive Officer.
 
On July 13, 2006, Stanley M. Beck and Randall C. Benson submitted their resignations from the Company’s Board of Directors.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
There have been no significant changes in the Company’s critical accounting policies and estimates in the six-month period ended June 30, 2006. For a discussion of these policies and estimates, refer to the Company’s 2005 10-K.
 
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
General
 
During December 2005 and February 2006, the Company sold its Canadian Newspaper Operations. In this quarterly report, the Canadian Newspaper Operations are reported as discontinued operations. All amounts in this “Management’s Discussion And Analysis Of Financial Condition And Results Of Operations” relate to continuing operations, unless otherwise noted. See Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.


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Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations
 
Earnings from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2006 amounted to $20.1 million, or $0.23 per share compared to a loss of $20.4 million in the second quarter of 2005, or $0.22 per share. The improvement in earnings from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2006 as compared to 2005 is largely due to a $47.6 million improvement in income taxes largely due to the reversal of certain contingent tax liabilities no longer deemed necessary amounting to $43.0 million. Excluding the impact of income taxes, the decrease in earnings from continuing operations for the quarter of $7.0 million is largely due to a decline in operating revenue of $10.3 million somewhat offset by lower costs of $4.6 million with respect to the Special Committee and its investigation and related litigation. Special Committee costs, which amounted to $5.8 million and $10.4 million during the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, include: 1) costs and expenses arising from the Special Committee’s work; 2) legal and professional fees to defend the Company in litigation as a result of the Special Committee’s investigation; and 3) costs the Company has been required to advance to indemnified parties. See Note 10 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
The loss from continuing operations for the six months ended June 30, 2006 was $6.4 million or $0.07 per share compared with a loss of $40.9 million or $0.45 per share for the six months ended June 30, 2005. The improvement in earnings from continuing operations in the first six months of 2006 as compared to 2005 is largely due to a $48.3 million improvement in income taxes largely due to the reversal of certain contingent tax liabilities no longer deemed necessary amounting to $43.0 million. Excluding the impact of income taxes, the decrease in earnings from continuing operations for the six month period of $13.8 million is largely due to a decline in operating revenue of $17.3 million and severance expense of $11.0 million recorded in 2006, of which $8.7 million relates to reorganization activities (See Note 4 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements), somewhat offset by lower costs of $8.6 million with respect to the Special Committee and its investigation and related litigation and lower wages and benefit costs of $4.7 million. During the six month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, such costs aggregated $13.9 million and $22.4 million, respectively. In addition, in the six months ended June 30, 2006, the Company recorded $8.7 million related to separation costs as part of its reorganization effort. See Note 4 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
Operating Revenue and Operating Loss
 
Operating revenue and operating loss in the second quarter of 2006 were $107.4 million and $13.7 million, respectively, compared with operating revenue of $117.7 million and an operating loss of $4.2 million in the second quarter of 2005. The decrease in operating revenue of $10.3 million over the prior year is largely due to a $9.0 million decrease in advertising revenue reflecting particular weakness in automotive and entertainment sectors, lingering negative effects at the Chicago Sun-Times on pricing and volume related to lower reported circulation, largely attributable to the circulation misstatements in prior years, and temporary disruptions in sales efforts resulting from the reorganization and reassignment of customers and sales territories. In addition, the Company had lower circulation revenue of $1.2 million, and lower job printing and other revenue of $0.1 million in the second quarter. The $9.5 million increase in operating loss in the second quarter of 2006 is primarily due to the decreased revenue of $10.3 mentioned above, an expense to record an estimated liability for unclaimed property of $2.0 million ($1.4 million related to the state of Delaware), increased legal and professional fees of $3.3 million (largely audit and compliance related fees) and a write-off of fixed assets of $0.9 million, partially offset by lower costs incurred with respect to the Special Committee and related costs of $4.6 million, lower newsprint costs of $1.1 million, lower insurance costs of $0.5 million and lower bad debt expense of approximately $0.6 million.
 
Operating revenue and operating loss for the six months ended June 30, 2006 was $209.8 million and $38.0 million, respectively, compared with $227.1 million and $20.0 million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2005. The $17.3 million decrease in revenue is due to lower advertising revenue of $14.1 million reflecting particular weakness in automotive and entertainment sectors, lingering negative effects at the Chicago Sun-Times on pricing and volume related to lower reported circulation, largely attributable to the circulation misstatements in prior years, and temporary disruptions in sales efforts resulting from the reorganization and reassignment of customers and sales territories. In addition, the Company had lower circulation revenue of $2.9 million, and lower job printing and other revenue of $0.3 million. The increase in operating loss of $18.0 million is largely due to the above mentioned decrease in revenue of $17.3 million, separation costs of $11.0 million including $8.7 million


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related to the Company’s reorganization program, increased legal and professional fees of $4.1 million (largely audit and compliance related fees), the $2.0 million expense to record an estimated liability for unclaimed property, a write-off of fixed assets of $0.9 million and increased stock based compensation costs of $0.6 million, partially offset by lower costs incurred with respect to the Special Committee of $8.6 million, lower insurance premiums of $1.4 million, decreases in wages and benefits of $1.4 million at the Sun-Times News Group and $2.4 million in the Corporate and Investment Group which is reflective of the transition of the finance function from Toronto to Chicago resulting in retention and duplicative costs in 2005, lower bad debt expense of $1.4 million and lower distribution and circulation costs of $1.6 million.
 
Operating Costs and Expenses
 
Total operating costs and expenses decreased by $0.8 million to $121.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 from $121.9 million for the same period in 2005. Newsprint decreased by $1.1 million due to 19% lower consumption, largely offset by a 15% increase in average cost per metric ton. Other operating costs increased by $0.2 million, reflecting higher legal and professional fees (largely audit and compliance related fees) of $3.3 million, the previously mentioned expense to record an estimated liability for unclaimed property and the write-off of fixed assets of $0.9 million related to system development projects that have been cancelled, partially offset by lower Special Committee costs of $4.6 million, a decrease in bad debt expense of $0.6 million and lower insurance costs of $0.5 million, primarily directors and officers liability. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, operating costs and expenses increased by $0.7 million to $247.8 million from $247.1 million in 2005, largely due to higher stock-based compensation of $0.6 million, reorganization costs, including depreciation, of $9.3 million, non-reorganization separation costs of $2.3 million, the previously mentioned write-off of fixed assets of $0.9 million, the previously mentioned $2.0 million expense to record an estimated liability for unclaimed property and increased legal and professional fees (largely audit and compliance related fees) of $4.1 million, partially offset by the decrease in Special Committee costs of $8.6 million, lower newsprint costs of $1.1 million, lower benefits and wages, other than reorganization costs, of $1.4 million at the Sun-Times News Group and the Corporate and Investment Group of $2.4 million, and lower insurance premiums of $1.4 million.
 
Other Income (Expense)
 
Interest and dividend income for the three months ended June 30, 2006 was $4.5 million compared with $3.1 million for the same period in 2005 and $8.7 million compared with $7.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. These increases are largely due to increased average cash and short-term investment balances due to proceeds from the sale of the Canadian Newspaper Operations and legal settlements in late 2005, partially offset by the repurchase of common stock in the second quarter of 2006.
 
Other income (expense), net, in the second quarter of 2006 was an expense of $0.4 million compared to an expense of $0.3 million in the same period in 2005, with a decrease in gain on sale of investments of $3.2 million largely offset by lower foreign currency losses of $3.0 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, other income (expense) improved by $1.6 million to income of $0.1 million from an expense of $1.5 million in 2005. This improvement was due to a $4.0 million favorable variance in foreign currency gains (losses) and lower losses in equity of affiliates of $0.8 million, partially offset by a $3.2 million unfavorable variance in gain (loss) on sale of investments.
 
Income taxes were a benefit of $29.9 million and an expense of $17.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, income taxes were a benefit of $23.0 million and an expense of $25.3 million, respectively. The Company’s income tax expense varies substantially from the U.S. Federal statutory rate primarily due to provisions or recoveries related to contingent liabilities including interest the Company may be required to pay in various tax jurisdictions. Provisions for interest amounted to $16.6 million and $13.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and $31.4 million and $25.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. In addition, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $43.0 million resulting from the reversal of certain contingent tax liabilities which were no longer deemed necessary.


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SEGMENT RESULTS
 
The Company divides its business into one operating and two administrative segments: the Sun-Times News Group, the Canadian Administrative Group, and the Investment and Corporate Group.
 
A discussion of the results of operations of the Company by segment follows.
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30,     June 30,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    (In thousands)  
 
Operating revenue:
                               
Sun-Times News Group
  $ 107,391     $ 117,718     $ 209,815     $ 227,101  
                                 
Total operating revenue
  $ 107,391     $ 117,718     $ 209,815     $ 227,101  
                                 
Operating income (loss):
                               
Sun-Times News Group
  $ 5,807     $ 17,041     $ (1,007 )   $ 25,179  
Canadian Administrative Group
    (1,191 )     (1,635 )     (1,362 )     (2,734 )
Investment and Corporate Group
    (18,327 )     (19,572 )     (35,612 )     (42,450 )
                                 
Total operating loss
  $ (13,711 )   $ (4,166 )   $ (37,981 )   $ (20,005 )
                                 
 
Sun-Times News Group
 
The following table summarizes certain results of operations for the periods indicated.
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30,     June 30,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    (In thousands)  
 
Operating revenue:
                               
Advertising
  $ 83,620     $ 92,634     $ 162,509     $ 176,596  
Circulation
    20,915       22,079       41,894       44,767  
Job printing and other
    2,856       3,005       5,412       5,738  
                                 
Total operating revenue
    107,391       117,718       209,815       227,101  
                                 
Operating costs and expenses:
                               
Newsprint
    15,988       17,085       32,144       33,544  
Compensation
    44,085       44,326       97,968       89,491  
Other operating costs
    33,524       31,709       64,850       64,161  
Depreciation
    5,025       4,492       10,217       9,009  
Amortization
    2,962       3,065       5,643       5,717  
                                 
Total operating costs and expenses
    101,584       100,677       210,822       201,922  
                                 
Operating income (loss)
  $ 5,807     $ 17,041     $ (1,007 )   $ 25,179  
                                 
 
Advertising revenue was $83.6 million in the second quarter of 2006 compared with $92.6 million in the second quarter of 2005. The $9.0 million decrease in advertising revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2006 primarily reflects decreases in classified advertising of $5.1 million, retail advertising of $4.1 million and national advertising of $0.8 million, partially offset by increased internet advertising. Advertising revenue was $162.5 million for the six month period ended June 30, 2006, compared to $176.6 million for the same period in 2005. The $14.1 million decrease in advertising revenue primarily reflects decreases of $7.8 million in classified advertising, $6.3 million in retail advertising and $1.9 million in national advertising, partially offset by an increase in internet advertising. The automotive and entertainment sectors were particularly weak in the three and six months ended June 30, 2006.


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Circulation revenue decreased by approximately $1.2 million to $20.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 from $22.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005, largely due to lower home delivery revenue of $0.7 million, reflecting competitive discounting of subscription rates, and lower single copy revenue of $0.6 million. Circulation revenue was $41.9 million and $44.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, reflecting decreases of $1.3 million in lower single copy revenue and $1.2 million in home delivery revenue again reflective of the competitive discounting of subscription rates.
 
Newsprint expense in the second quarter of 2006 was $16.0 million compared with $17.1 million in the second quarter of 2005. Total newsprint consumption for the three month period ended June 30, 2006 decreased approximately 19%, with the average cost per metric ton of newsprint approximately 15% higher in the quarter. Suppliers instituted newsprint increases of approximately $30 per metric ton during each of June and September 2005, and $25 per metric ton in February 2006. For the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, newsprint expense was $32.1 million and $33.5 million, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, newsprint consumption decreased 16% and the average cost per metric ton increased approximately 15% compared to the same period in 2005. Declines in consumption reflect the volume declines and implementation of planned reductions in the size of certain newspapers.
 
Compensation costs decreased $0.2 million to $44.1 million in the second quarter of 2006 from $44.3 million in the second quarter of 2005 largely due to an adjustment reducing the estimated costs related to the reorganization program of $0.3 million and decreases in wage costs of $1.0 million, partially offset by additional severance costs of $0.9 million and increased benefit costs of $0.1 million, as a $0.7 million increase in workers’ compensation costs were largely offset by decreases in other benefit costs. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, compensation costs increased $8.5 million to $98.0 million from $89.5 million, compared to the same period in 2005, largely due to separation costs of $8.7 million related to the reorganization program, increased workers’ compensation costs of $0.8 million and non-reorganization severance costs of $1.2 million, partially offset by lower wage costs of $1.0 million and other benefit costs of $1.3 million. Annual wage increases were generally more than offset by lower headcount reflecting the reorganization effort and attrition .
 
Other operating costs were $33.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006, compared with $31.7 million for the same period in 2005, an increase of $1.8 million. The increase in other operating costs for the quarter was largely due to increased professional fees largely to support the reorganization effort of $1.1 million, a $0.9 million write-off of fixed assets related to system development projects that have been cancelled and increased advertising and marketing expense of $0.3 million, partially offset by lower bad debt expense of $0.6 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2006 other operating costs were $64.9 million, compared to $64.2 million for the same period in 2005, an increase of $0.7 million. This increase reflects increases in professional fees largely to support the reorganization effort of $1.4 million, the previously described $0.9 million write-off of fixed assets, increased insurance costs of $0.2 million, and advertising expense of $0.6 million, partially offset by lower bad debt expense of $1.4 million and lower distribution and circulation costs of $1.6 million.
 
Depreciation and amortization expense in the second quarter of 2006 was $8.0 million compared with $7.6 million in 2005. The $0.4 million increase in depreciation and amortization expense reflects incremental depreciation costs of $0.3 million related to a facility the Company expects to close in the fourth quarter of 2006. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, depreciation and amortization expense was $15.9 million, compared to $14.7 million for the same period in 2005. The increase of $1.1 million reflects the incremental depreciation costs of $0.6 million for the facility closing and $0.4 million of incremental depreciation related to information technology projects.
 
Operating income in the second quarter of 2006 totaled $5.8 million compared with an operating income of $17.0 million in the second quarter of 2005, a decline of $11.2 million. The decline primarily results from the lower revenue, the write-off of fixed assets and higher professional fees, partially offset by lower newsprint costs associated with the lower volume. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, the operating loss was $1.0 million compared with operating income of $25.2 million for the same period in 2005. The decrease of $26.2 million reflects the lower revenue, costs associated with the reorganization program, including incremental depreciation expense, the write-off of fixed assets and increased professional fees, partially offset by lower newsprint, bad debt expense and distribution and circulation costs.


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Canadian Administrative Group
 
The following table summarizes certain results of operations for the periods indicated.
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30,     June 30,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    (In thousands)  
 
Operating costs and expenses:
                               
Compensation
  $ 324     $ 512     $ 129     $ 1,009  
Other operating costs
    867       1,099       1,233       1,647  
Depreciation
          24             78  
                                 
Total operating costs and expenses
    1,191       1,635       1,362       2,734  
                                 
Operating loss
  $ (1,191 )   $ (1,635 )   $ (1,362 )   $ (2,734 )
                                 
 
The operating loss of the Canadian Administrative Group was $1.2 million in the second quarter of 2006 compared with an operating loss of $1.6 million in 2005, an improvement of $0.4 million. The improvement is largely due to lower pension and post-retirement expense in 2006 reflecting an improvement in expected returns on plan assets. See Note 11 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. For the six months ended June 30, 2006 operating loss was $1.4 million, compared to a loss of $2.7 million for the same period in 2005, an improvement of $1.4 million. Compensation costs decreased approximately $0.9 million due to an improvement in pension and post-retirement expense in 2006. The pension and post-retirement obligations largely relate to retired employees not assumed by the purchasers of the related businesses in prior years.
 
Investment and Corporate Group
 
The following table summarizes certain results of operations for the periods indicated.
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30,     June 30,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    (In thousands)  
 
Operating costs and expenses:
                               
Compensation
  $ 2,940     $ 2,841     $ 5,854     $ 6,558  
Other operating costs
    15,320       16,674       29,627       35,656  
Depreciation
    67       57       131       236  
                                 
Total operating costs and expenses
    18,327       19,572       35,612       42,450  
                                 
Operating loss
  $ (18,327 )   $ (19,572 )   $ (35,612 )   $ (42,450 )
                                 
 
Operating costs and expenses of the Investment and Corporate Group were $18.3 million in the second quarter of 2006 compared with $19.6 million in 2005, a decrease of $1.2 million. The decrease in operating costs and expenses in the quarter is largely a result of the $4.6 million decrease related to the Special Committee investigation, and lower insurance costs of $0.6 million, partially offset by an increase in other legal and professional fees of $2.2 million, largely reflecting increases in internal and external audit and compliance activity and $2.0 million of expense related to an estimated liability for unclaimed property, of which $1.4 million relates to escheatment to the state of Delaware. The increase of $0.1 million in compensation is reflective of an increase in stock-based compensation of $0.4 million, increased severance expense of $0.7 million, partially offset by a $1.0 million reduction in wages and benefits, in part reflecting the elimination of duplicative personnel costs in 2005 related to the transition of the finance function from Toronto to Chicago. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, total operating costs and expenses decreased $6.8 million to $35.6 million for 2006 from $42.5 million in 2005. The decrease in other operating costs and expenses of $6.0 million is largely a result of the $8.6 million decrease related to the Special Committee investigation and lower insurance costs of $1.6 million, partially offset by an increase in other legal and professional fees of $2.7 million, largely reflecting increases in internal and external audit and compliance activity and the expense related to the estimated liability for unclaimed property. The decrease of


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$0.7 million in compensation is in part reflective of duplicative personnel costs in 2005 related to the transition of the finance function from Toronto to Chicago, partially offset by an increase in stock-based compensation of $0.6 million and severance expense of $1.1 million.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
The Company is a holding company and its assets consist primarily of investments in its subsidiaries and affiliated companies. As a result, the Company’s ability to meet its future financial obligations is dependent upon the availability of cash flows from its United States and foreign subsidiaries through dividends, intercompany advances, and other payments. The Company’s right to participate in the distribution of assets of any subsidiary or affiliated company in the event of liquidation or reorganization will be subject to the prior claims of the creditors of such subsidiary or affiliated company, including trade creditors, except to the extent that the Company may itself be a creditor with recognized claims against such subsidiary or affiliated company.
 
The Company is heavily dependent upon the Sun-Times News Group for cash flow. That cash flow in turn is dependent on the Sun-Times News Group’s ability to sell advertising in its market. The Company’s cash flow is expected to continue to be cyclical, reflecting changes in economic conditions.
 
The following table outlines the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, short-term investment and debt positions as of the dates indicated. Such amounts exclude escrow deposits and restricted cash of $31.0 million and $13.4 million at June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.
 
                 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2006     2005  
    (In thousands)  
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 248,139     $ 198,388  
Short-term investments
    5,550       57,650  
                 
Total cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments
  $ 253,689     $ 256,038  
                 
9% Senior Notes due 2010
  $ 6,000     $ 6,000  
Other debt
    1,045       2,067  
                 
Total debt
  $ 7,045     $ 8,067  
                 
 
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments decreased $2.3 million to $253.7 million at June 30, 2006 from $256.0 million at December 31, 2005. This decrease was primarily the result of $9.1 million in dividend payments, $8.3 million in income tax payments, the $71.5 million repurchase of common stock and the loss from continuing operations, largely offset by cash received from the sale of the remaining Canadian Newspaper Operations (net of restricted cash) of $79.9 million, $10.3 million of proceeds from stock options exercised and the proceeds from the sale of investments of $16.2 million.
 
The Company has the following income tax liabilities recorded in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:
 
                 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2006     2005  
    (In thousands)  
 
Income taxes payable and other tax liabilities
  $ 583,163     $ 586,734  
Deferred income taxes and other tax liabilities
    402,195       360,524  
                 
    $ 985,358     $ 947,258  
                 
 
There may be significant cash requirements in the future regarding certain currently unresolved tax issues (both U.S. and foreign). The Company has recorded accruals to cover contingent liabilities related to additional taxes and interest it may be required to pay in various tax jurisdictions. Such accruals, included in the amounts listed above, reflect additional interest and penalties that may become payable in respect to the contingent liabilities. At December 31, 2005 accruals to cover contingent liabilities aggregated approximately $920.5 million.


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A substantial portion of the accruals to cover contingent liabilities for income taxes relate to the tax treatment of gains on the sale of a portion of the Company’s non-U.S. operations. Strategies have been and may be implemented that may also defer and/or reduce these taxes but the effects of these strategies have not been reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements. See “Recent Accounting Pronouncements.” The accruals to cover contingent tax liabilities also relate to management fees, “non- competition” payments and other items that have been deducted in arriving at taxable income that may be disallowed by taxing authorities. If those deductions were to be disallowed, the Company would be required to pay additional taxes and interest from the dates such taxes would have been paid had the deductions not been taken, and the Company may be subject to penalties. The timing and amounts of any payments the Company may be required to make are uncertain although the Company is in the process of resolving a significant portion of the contingent liabilities with the relevant taxing authorities.
 
The Company is currently involved in several legal actions as both plaintiff and defendant. These actions are in various stages and it is not yet possible to determine their ultimate outcome. At this time the Company cannot estimate the impact these actions and the related legal and other fees may have on its future cash position.
 
Discussions are underway for a new credit facility to be used for general corporate purposes and to provide continued liquidity. Based on responses to date and historical access to bank and bond markets, the Company expects that it can complete financing to meet its needs in the event those needs exceed currently available liquidity, particularly as a possible result of the resolution of the contingent tax liabilities.
 
Cash Flows and Working Capital
 
Working capital consists of current assets less current liabilities. At June 30, 2006, working capital, excluding current debt obligations and restricted cash and escrow deposits and assets and liabilities of operations to be disposed of, was a deficiency of $347.7 million compared to a deficiency of $369.6 million at December 31, 2005. The $21.9 million improvement is primarily due to net proceeds and receivables from the sale of the remaining Canadian Newspaper Operations, $16.2 million in proceeds from the sale of investments, $10.3 million received from the exercise of stock options and lower accounts receivable of $12.3 million, partially offset by the repurchase of common stock of $71.5 million and a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expense of $27.0 million. Approximately $11.2 million of the reduction in accounts receivable and accounts payable and accrued expenses related to the resolution of certain bank overdraft amounts and offsetting receivables pertaining to operations sold in prior years and which were reversed in the second quarter of 2006.
 
Cash used in continuing operating activities was $29.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, compared with $203.3 million used by continuing operating activities for the six month period ended June 30, 2005. The use of cash for the six months ended June 30, 2006 is largely due to the loss from continuing operations before income taxes. During the six months ended June 30, 2005, the use of cash as reflected in changes in working capital accounts, net was $179.4 million, principally due to income tax payments of $181.9 million. Loss from continuing operations improved by $34.5 million to a loss of $6.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to $40.9 million for the same period in 2005, largely due to a tax benefit resulting from the reversal of certain tax contingencies no longer deemed necessary of $43.0 million, offset by lower operating income from continuing operations of $18.0 million.
 
Cash provided by investing activities was $141.0 million in 2006 compared with $455.1 million in 2005. The cash provided in 2006 largely reflects the cash received of $79.9 million from the sale of the Canadian Newspaper Operations, the redemption of short-term investments of $52.1 million and proceeds of $16.2 million from the sale of investments. In 2005, the redemption of short-term investments, net of $462.2 million was used to fund a large portion of the special dividends and tax payments.
 
Cash used in financing activities was $75.3 million in 2006, compared to $518.8 million in 2005. Cash used in financing activities in 2006 largely reflects the repurchase of common stock of $71.5 million and dividends paid of $9.1 million, somewhat offset by the $10.3 million cash received from the exercise of stock options. In 2005, cash used in financing activities largely related to the repayment of 8.625% Senior Notes of $6.1 million and the payment of the dividends of $507.8 million.


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Debt
 
Long-term debt, including the current portion, was $7.0 million at June 30, 2006 compared with $8.1 million at December 31, 2005.
 
Capital Expenditures
 
The Company does not have material commitments to acquire capital assets and expects its cash on hand and future cash flow provided by its operating subsidiaries to be sufficient to fund its recurring capital expenditures.
 
Dividends and Other Commitments
 
The Company expects its internal cash flow and cash on hand to be adequate to meet its foreseeable regular dividend expectations.
 
Commercial Commitments and Contractual Obligations
 
Primarily in connection with the Company’s insurance program, letters of credit are required to support certain projected workers’ compensation obligations and reimbursement of claims paid by a third party claims administrator. At June 30, 2006, letters of credit in the amount of $9.6 million were outstanding for which the Company maintained compensating balances with the issuer of $7.3 million.
 
Set out below is a summary of the amounts due and committed under contractual cash obligations at June 30, 2006 (unless otherwise noted):
 
                                         
          Due in
    Due Between
    Due Between
    Due Over
 
    Total     1 Year or Less     1 and 3 Years     4 and 5 Years     5 Years  
    (In thousands)  
 
9% Senior Notes(1)
  $ 6,000     $ 6,000     $     $     $  
Other long-term debt
    1,045       966       79              
Operating leases(2)
    55,653       5,935       9,449       7,818       32,451  
                                         
Total contractual cash obligations
  $ 62,698     $ 12,901     $ 9,528     $ 7,818     $ 32,451  
                                         
 
 
(1) The Company intends to purchase the remaining outstanding 9% Senior Notes as they become available on the open market. Accordingly, the 9% Senior Notes have been reflected as a Current Liability in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
(2) Commitments as of December 31, 2005.
 
In addition to amounts committed under contractual cash obligations, the Company has also assumed a number of contingent obligations by way of guarantees and indemnities in relation to the conduct of its business and disposition of assets. The Company is also involved in various matters in litigation. For more information on the Company’s litigation and contingent obligations, see Notes 10 and 12 to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements herein.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 defines the threshold for the recognition and measurement of uncertain income tax positions in the financial statements (generally referred to as contingent tax liabilities by the Company) as the amount “more likely than not” to be sustained by the relevant taxing authority. The tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company has not yet determined the impact that FIN 48 will have on its financial position and results of operations and expects to adopt FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. However, due to the significance of the Company’s contingent tax liabilities and


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that the “more likely than not” criterion per FIN 48 is lower than that historically used by the Company, the adoption of FIN 48 may have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
 
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
Newsprint.  Newsprint expense amounted to $32.1 million in the first six months of 2006 and $33.5 million during the same period in 2005. Management believes that newsprint prices may continue to show significant price variation in the future. Suppliers implemented newsprint price increases of $30 per metric ton in each of June and September 2005 and $25 per metric ton in February 2006. The Company takes steps to ensure that it has sufficient supply of newsprint and has mitigated cost increases by adjusting pagination and page sizes and printing and distributing practices. Based on levels of usage during the six months ended June 30, 2006, a change in the price of newsprint of $50 per metric ton would have increased or decreased the loss from continuing operations before income taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2006 by approximately $1.4 million. The average price per metric ton of newsprint was approximately $665 for the six months ended June 30, 2006 versus approximately $580 for the same period in 2005.
 
Labor Relations.  As of June 30, 2006, approximately 35% of the Company’s employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. Contracts covering approximately 26% of union employees will expire or are being negotiated during the next twelve months. There have been no strikes or work stoppages at any of the Sun-Times News Group’s newspapers in the past 5 years.
 
Inflation.  During the past three years, inflation has not had a material effect on the Company’s newspaper businesses.
 
Interest Rates.  At June 30, 2006, the Company has no debt that is subject to interest calculated at floating rates and a change in interest rates would not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations.
 
Foreign Exchange Rates.  A portion of the Company’s results are generated outside of the United States in currencies other than the United States dollar (primarily the Canadian dollar). As a result, the Company’s operations are subject to changes in foreign exchange rates. Increases in the value of the United States dollar against other currencies can reduce net earnings and declines can result in increased earnings. Based on earnings and ownership levels for the six months ended June 30, 2006, a $0.05 change in the Canadian dollar exchange rate 0.8783/Cdn. would affect the Company’s reported net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2006 by approximately $1.3 million largely related to income taxes.
 
Reference should be made to “Risk Factors” in the Company’s 2005 10-K for a discussion on the potential impact changes in foreign exchange rates may have related to taxes that may be paid to foreign jurisdictions.
 
Item 4.   Controls and Procedures
 
(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  The Company maintains a system of disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls are also designed to reasonably assure that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Disclosure controls include components of internal control over financial reporting, which consists of control processes designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
As reported in the 2005 10-K, as of December 31, 2005, the Company’s management identified material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting relating to 1) an ineffective control environment that did not sufficiently promote effective internal control over financial reporting throughout the organization, 2) ineffectively designed information technology general controls over program development, program changes, computer operations, and access to programs and data, 3) ineffective information and communication controls that did not sufficiently promote effective internal control over financial reporting throughout the organization, and 4) ineffective policies and procedures relating to the preparation of current and deferred income tax provisions


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and related balance sheet accounts. Largely as a result of material weaknesses in these areas, management concluded in its 2005 Form 10-K that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective as of December 31, 2005.
 
During 2006, and as discussed further below, the Company has taken actions to remediate the material weaknesses discussed above, and it is continuing to assess additional controls that may be required to remediate these weaknesses. The Company’s management, under the supervision of and with the participation of the CEO and CFO, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2006, pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e). As part of its evaluation, management has evaluated whether the control deficiencies related to the reported material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting continue to exist. As of June 30, 2006, the Company has not completed implementation and testing of the changes in controls and procedures that it believes are necessary to conclude that the material weaknesses have been remediated and therefore, the Company’s management has concluded that it cannot assert that the control deficiencies relating to the reported material weaknesses have been effectively remediated. As a result, the Company’s CEO and CFO have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective as of June 30, 2006.
 
Procedures were undertaken in order that management could conclude that reasonable assurance exists regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this filing. Accordingly, management believes that the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q fairly present, in all material respects, the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.
 
(b) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.  During 2006, management has taken the following actions that materially affect, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and to remediate the material weaknesses described in the Company’s 2005 Form 10-K.
 
During the six months ended June 30, 2006:
 
  •  A significant reorganization of the Company’s operations was initiated, which includes a planned redesign of key operational processes in the Company.
 
  •  An internal audit plan has been approved by the Audit Committee, and the execution has commenced.
 
  •  A vice-president of information technology has been hired to oversee and restructure all areas of the Company’s information technology function. Certain key managers were also hired to enhance the capabilities and improve general controls within this function.
 
  •  The Company engaged an outside service provider to perform an assessment of current anti-fraud activities and to review the methods of communication related to anti-fraud measures.
 
  •  The Company’s Audit Committee was reconstituted and all three members of the Committee possess significant financial expertise.
 
  •  A director of internal audit has been hired to oversee the internal audit function staffed by an outside service provider. This function reports directly to the Audit Committee.
 
  •  The Company has chosen an outside provider to service its “whistleblower” hotline including internet based reporting and tracking capabilities. The Company expects to implement this hotline in the third quarter of 2006.
 
In addition to the above changes in internal control over financial reporting, management believes that inadequate staffing in the accounting, finance and tax departments, which contributed to the material weaknesses described above, will abate with the passage of time in part due to decreasing complexity as a result of the sale of significant components of the Company’s operations, the completion or winding down of investigations, the resolution of certain complex tax matters, the expected simplification of the Company’s corporate structure, and the progression of legal matters into phases that are less time consuming for Company personnel.


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Other than as discussed above, there have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2006 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1.   Legal Proceedings
 
The following is a discussion of developments in the legal proceedings the Company has reported in its 2005 10-K. For a detailed discussion of these legal proceedings see “Item 3 — Legal Proceedings” in the Company’s 2005 10-K.
 
Hollinger Inc. v. American Home Assurance Company and Chubb Insurance Company of Canada
 
As previously disclosed in the Company’s 2005 10-K, on March 4, 2005, Hollinger Inc. commenced an application in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice against American Home Assurance Company and Chubb Insurance Company of Canada. The relief originally sought by Hollinger Inc. included an injunction to restrain the insurers from paying out the limits of their respective policies (which collectively amounts to $50.0 million) to fund a settlement of the claims against the independent directors of the Company that was brought by Cardinal Value Equity Partners. Hollinger Inc. subsequently modified its position and supported the Company’s position that the Ontario Court should authorize the funding of the settlement. In a decision dated January 13, 2006, the Ontario Court provisionally endorsed the funding of the settlement by American Home Assurance Company and Chubb Insurance Company of Canada, but stated that it would conduct further proceedings to resolve certain remaining issues concerning approval of this funding.
 
On April 28, 2006, the court reaffirmed its approval of the funding of the $50.0 million settlement, but ruled that approximately $300,000 in defense costs that had been submitted to the insurance carriers for reimbursement prior to the execution of settlement on May 3, 2005, and that was in excess of the $2.5 million retention under the policies, could not be passed on to the insurance carriers providing coverage in excess of the American Home Assurance Company and Chubb Insurance Company of Canada policies. The settlement is also subject to approval by the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the Company has not reflected any amounts related to the settlement or reimbursement of defense costs in its consolidated financial statements.
 
Stockholder Class Actions
 
As previously reported in the 2005 10-K, in February and April 2004, three alleged stockholders of the Company initiated purported class action suits in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the Company, Black, certain former executive officers and certain former directors of the Company, Hollinger Inc., Ravelston and certain affiliated entities and KPMG LLP, the Company’s independent accounting firm. The suit asserts claims under federal and Illinois securities laws and claims of breach of fiduciary duty and aiding and abetting in breaches of fiduciary duty.
 
On June 28, 2006, the court issued its ruling on the motions to dismiss filed by the Company and other defendants. The court dismissed six of the eight claims filed, including claims relating to allegedly inflated circulation figures at the Chicago Sun-Times and claims filed under the Illinois securities laws. As to the two remaining claims, which are claims under the federal securities laws, the court allowed the plaintiffs to replead those claims as to additional named plaintiffs who purchased Company stock later than the existing named plaintiffs. If the plaintiffs do not replead adding such additional plaintiffs, the court will then address whether the remaining two claims should be dismissed as to any alleged misrepresentations or omissions after June 29, 2001, which is the date of the last purchase by the existing named plaintiffs.
 
Litigation Involving Controlling Stockholder, Senior Management and Directors
 
As previously reported in the 2005 10-K, the Company, through the Special Committee, filed a civil complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois asserting breach of fiduciary duty and other


34


Table of Contents

claims against Hollinger Inc., Ravelston, RMI, Black, and other former officers and directors. The Company’s second amended complaint seeks to recover approximately $542.0 million in damages, including prejudgment interest of approximately $117.0 million, and punitive damages. In April 2005, Hollinger Inc. answered the Company’s second amended complaint without asserting any counterclaims against the Company.
 
On July 6, 2006, Hollinger Inc. filed a motion seeking permission to file a counterclaim against the Company. The proposed counterclaim alleges, among other things, fraud in connection with Hollinger Inc.’s 1995 sale to the Company of Hollinger Inc.’s interest in The Telegraph and Hollinger Inc.’s 1997 sale to the Company of certain of Hollinger Inc.’s Canadian assets. The Company is opposing Hollinger Inc.’s request and the Court has set a briefing schedule on the motion.
 
Tweedy Browne Litigation
 
As previously disclosed in the 2005 10-K, on December 3, 2003, Tweedy Browne Global Value Fund and Tweedy Browne (together, the “Tweedy Browne Plaintiffs”), stockholders of the Company, initiated an action against the Company in the Court of Chancery for the State of Delaware in and for Castle County to recover attorneys’ fees and costs in connection with informal inquiries and other investigations performed by and on behalf of the Tweedy Browne Plaintiffs concerning conduct that was subsequently investigated by the Special Committee.
 
In May 2006, the parties settled this action. The Company agreed to pay $3.5 million in attorneys’ fees to counsel for the Tweedy Browne Plaintiffs.
 
Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
On March 15, 2006, May 17, 2006 and June 13, 2006 the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to an aggregate value of approximately $50.0 million, $17.8 million and $50.0 million, respectively, of the Company’s common stock in the open market and privately negotiated transactions. The stock purchase program began following the filing of the 2005 10-K. During the three months ended June 30, 2006, the Company completed the following repurchases of its Class A Common Stock.
 
                                 
                Total Number of
    Approximate Dollar
 
                Shares Purchased as
    Value of Shares that
 
                Part of Publicly
    May Yet Be Purchased
 
    Total Number of
    Average Price Paid
    Announced Plans or
    Under the Plans or
 
Period
  Shares Purchased     per Share(1)     Programs     Programs(2)  
                      (In thousands)  
 
4/1/06-4/30/06
    3,829,600     $ 8.11       3,829,600     $ 18,852  
5/1/06-5/31/06
    4,762,100     $ 7.24       4,762,100     $ 699  
6/1/06-6/30/06
    776,900     $ 7.81       776,900     $ 44,615  
 
 
(1) Excluding related transaction fees.
 
(2) Based on the aggregate value of authorized repurchase programs in effect as of the respective periods.
 
Item 3.   Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
None.


35


Table of Contents

 
Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 
The Company held its 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 13, 2006 in New York, New York. Of the 87,274,255 shares of common stock entitled to vote at the meeting, 70,550,760 shares were represented at the meeting in person or by proxy, constituting a quorum. The voting results were as follows:
 
1) The stockholders elected the following Directors to serve until the Company’s 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The votes were as follows:
 
                 
    Votes in
    Votes
 
Name of Director
  Favor     Withheld  
 
John F. Bard
    205,150,032       310,728  
Stanley M. Beck Q C
    193,207,620       12,253,140  
Randall C. Benson
    193,206,620       12,254,140  
Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. 
    205,235,314       225,446  
John M. O’Brien
    205,149,255       311,505  
Gordon A. Paris
    197,571,627       7,889,133  
Graham W. Savage
    202,300,265       3,160,495  
Raymond G.H. Seitz
    205,414,401       46,359  
Raymond S. Troubh
    205,258,825       201,935  
 
2) The stockholders approved the amendment of the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation changing the Company’s name to Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. The votes were as follows:
 
         
Votes in Favor
 
Votes Against
 
Abstained
 
201,209,968
  240,733   4,010,059
 
3) The stockholders approved the adoption of the Executive Cash Incentive Plan. The votes were as follows:
 
             
Votes in Favor
 
Votes Against
 
Abstained
 
Non-Vote
 
178,047,046
  9,863,569   391,806   17,158,339
 
Item 5.   Other Information
 
None.
 
Item 6.   Exhibits
 
     
3.1.1
  Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 filed on January 18, 2005).
3.1.2
  Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
31.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14
31.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14
32.1
  Certificate of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code
32.2
  Certificate of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code


36


Table of Contents

 
SIGNATURES
 
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.
 
SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP, INC.
Registrant
 
  By: 
/s/  Gordon A. Paris
Gordon A. Paris
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
Date: August 9, 2006
 
  By: 
/s/  Gregory A. Stoklosa
Gregory A. Stoklosa
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
Date: August 9, 2006


37

EX-3.1.2 2 c07372exv3w1w2.htm CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION exv3w1w2
 

Exhibit 3.1.2


CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO THE
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
HOLLINGER INTERNATIONAL INC.
 
 
Pursuant to Section 242 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
 
 
Hollinger International Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “Corporation”), does hereby certify as follows:
 
FIRST: Article FIRST of the Corporation’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended to read in its entirety as set forth below:
 
FIRST: The name of the corporation is Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. (hereinafter the “Corporation”).
 
SECOND: The foregoing amendment was duly adopted in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Hollinger International Inc. has caused this Certificate to be duly executed in its corporate name this 17th day of July, 2006.
 
HOLLINGER INTERNATIONAL INC.
 
  By: 
/s/  Gordon A. Paris
Gordon A. Paris
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
ATTEST:
 
By: 
/s/  James R. Van Horn
 
James R. Van Horn
Secretary

EX-31.1 3 c07372exv31w1.htm CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER exv31w1
 

 
Certification Pursuant To
Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
I, Gordon A. Paris, certify that:
 
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. (the “registrant”);
 
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
 
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting.
 
/s/  Gordon A. Paris
Name: Gordon A. Paris
  Title:  President and Chief Executive Officer
 
Date: August 9, 2006

EX-31.2 4 c07372exv31w2.htm CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER exv31w2
 

Exhibit 31.2
 
Certification Pursuant To
Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
I, Gregory A. Stoklosa, certify that:
 
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. (the “registrant”);
 
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
 
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting.
 
/s/  Gregory A. Stoklosa
Name: Gregory A. Stoklosa
  Title:  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
Date: August 9, 2006

EX-32.1 5 c07372exv32w1.htm 1350 CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER exv32w1
 

Exhibit 32.1
 
Sun-Times Media Group, Inc.

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
In connection with the quarterly report of Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2006 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Gordon A. Paris, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
 
1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934; and
 
2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
/s/ Gordon A. Paris
Name: Gordon A. Paris
  Title:  President and Chief Executive Officer
 
Date: August 9, 2006
 
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. and will be retained by Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

EX-32.2 6 c07372exv32w2.htm 1350 CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER exv32w2
 

Exhibit 32.2
 
Sun-Times Media Group, Inc.

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
In connection with the quarterly report of Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2006 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Gregory A. Stoklosa, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
 
1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934; and
 
2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
/s/ Gregory A. Stoklosa
Name: Gregory A. Stoklosa
  Title:  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
Date: August 9, 2006
 
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. and will be retained by Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

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