EX-99.1 2 l34448aexv99w1.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1
Exhibit 99.1
(REGENT LOGO)
REGENT COMMUNICATIONS REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2008 RESULTS
- Regent’s revenue performance significantly ahead of industry -
Cincinnati, OH, November 6, 2008 – Regent Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGCI) announced today financial results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2008.
For the third quarter of 2008, net broadcast revenues decreased 1.6% to $25.3 million from $25.7 million during the third quarter of 2007. For the same period, 2008 station operating expenses decreased 5.5% to $15.3 million from $16.2 million in 2007. The Company reported a net loss of $46.3 million for the quarter, or $1.19 per share, compared with a reported net loss of $1.3 million, or $0.03 per share, in the same period last year.
Results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2008 include a pre-tax non-cash impairment charge of approximately $67.5 million related to the Company’s review of its indefinite-lived intangible assets. Additionally, included in the third quarter and first nine months of 2008 income tax benefit is approximately $5.8 million of income tax expense related to an increase in the valuation allowance against the Company’s deferred tax assets. Results for both 2008 and 2007 were also impacted by realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivatives.
For the first nine months of 2008, net broadcast revenues of $72.6 million were slightly down compared to the same period of 2007. For the same period, station operating expenses decreased 2.6% to $46.5 million in 2008 from $47.8 million in 2007. The Company reported a net loss of $43.6 million for the first nine months of 2008, or $1.12 per share, compared with reported net income of approximately $0.6 million, or $0.01 per share, in 2007.
“During the third quarter, we outperformed our industry by a wide margin despite a very difficult period for the economy and advertising business,” said Bill Stakelin, President and CEO of Regent Communications. “We also generated healthy increases in our cash flow, as we intensified our cost management without sacrificing key investment in our content, sales and interactive initiatives. We are benefiting from our focus on building and supporting market-leading station brands and consistently generating results for our advertising partners at the local level. Looking ahead, visibility is limited, but our audience share is strong, our sales teams are working aggressively to attract advertising dollars and we are committed to operating as efficiently as possible.”
Below are the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) (in thousands, except per share amounts).

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    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
Broadcast revenues, net of agency commissions
  $ 25,328     $ 25,729     $ 72,643     $ 72,973  
Station operating expenses
    15,299       16,194       46,534       47,788  
Corporate general and administrative expenses
    1,636       1,489       5,441       5,551  
Activist defense costs
          599             599  
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets
    67,522             67,522        
Depreciation and amortization
    1,075       1,032       3,120       3,942  
Gain on sale of stations
                (507 )      
Gain on disposal of long-lived assets and other
    (39 )     (49 )     (3 )     (50 )
         
Operating (loss) income
    (60,165 )     6,464       (49,464 )     15,143  
Interest expense
    (2,611 )     (4,283 )     (8,918 )     (12,630 )
Realized and unrealized (loss) gain on derivatives, net
    (1,500 )     (3,728 )     (2,096 )     (1,227 )
Impairment of note receivable
    (952 )           (952 )      
Other (income) expense, net
    (125 )     36       (108 )     135  
         
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes
    (65,353 )     (1,511 )     (61,538 )     1,421  
Income tax benefit (expense)
    19,088       160       17,513       (1,039 )
         
(Loss) income from continuing operations
    (46,265 )     (1,351 )     (44,025 )     382  
(Loss) gain on discontinued operations, net of income tax
    (27 )     62       402       170  
         
Net (loss) income
  $ (46,292 )   $ (1,289 )   $ (43,623 )   $ 552  
         
Basic net (loss) income per common share:
                               
(Loss) income from continuing operations
  $ (1.19 )   $ (0.03 )   $ (1.13 )   $ 0.01  
(Loss) gain on discontinued operations
  $ (0.00 )   $ 0.00     $ 0.01     $ 0.00  
         
Net (loss) income
  $ (1.19 )   $ (0.03 )   $ (1.12 )   $ 0.01  
Diluted net (loss) income per common share:
                               
(Loss) income from continuing operations
  $ (1.19 )   $ (0.03 )   $ (1.13 )   $ 0.01  
(Loss) gain on discontinued operations
  $ (0.00 )   $ 0.00     $ 0.01     $ 0.00  
         
Net (loss) income
  $ (1.19 )   $ (0.03 )   $ (1.12 )   $ 0.01  
Common shares for basic and diluted calculation
    38,956       38,342       38,784       38,277  
Common shares for diluted calculation
    38,956       38,342       38,784       38,305  
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Regent utilizes certain financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP to assess its financial performance. The non-GAAP performance and liquidity measures presented in this release are station operating income, same station net broadcast revenue, adjusted same station net broadcast revenue, same station operating income, and free cash flow. Regent’s management believes these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors, as discussed in more detail below, regarding Regent’s financial condition and results of operations and liquidity; however, these measures should not be considered as an alternative to net broadcast revenue, operating income, net income, or cash provided by operating activities as an indicator of Regent’s performance or liquidity.

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Station operating income
Third quarter 2008 station operating income increased 5.2% to $10.0 million from $9.5 million in the same period in 2007. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, station operating income increased 3.7% to $26.1 million from $25.2 million reported for the same period in 2007.
The Company believes that station operating income is a performance measure that helps investors better understand the financial health of our radio stations. Further, Regent and other media companies have traditionally been measured by analysts and other investors on their ability to generate station operating income. The following table reconciles operating income, which the Company believes is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to station operating income (in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,   September 30,
Station operating income   2008   2007   2008   2007
     
Operating (loss) income
  $ (60,165 )   $ 6,464     $ (49,464 )   $ 15,143  
 
                               
Plus:
                               
Corporate general and administrative expenses
    1,636       1,489       5,441       5,551  
Activist defense costs
          599             599  
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets
    67,522             67,522        
Depreciation and amortization
    1,075       1,032       3,120       3,942  
Less:
                               
Gain on sale of stations
                507        
Gain on disposal of long-lived assets and other
    39       49       3       50  
                     
 
                               
Station operating income
  $ 10,029     $ 9,535     $ 26,109     $ 25,185  
         
Same station results
On a same station basis, which includes results from stations owned and operated in continuing operations during the entire third quarter for both the 2008 and 2007 periods and excludes barter, net broadcast revenue for the third quarter of 2008 decreased 1.0% to $24.5 million from $24.7 million in the third quarter of 2007. Same station operating income increased 2.5% to $10.0 million in the third quarter of 2008 compared to $9.8 million in the third quarter of 2007. The Company believes that a same station presentation is important to investors as it provides a measure of performance of radio stations that were owned and operated by Regent in the third quarter of 2007 as well as the current quarter, and eliminates the effect of acquisitions and dispositions on comparability. Additionally, the Company has excluded barter in this comparison as barter customarily results in volatility between quarters, although differences over the full year are not material. The following tables reconcile net broadcast revenue and operating income to same station net broadcast revenue and same station operating income (in thousands).

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\

                 
    Three Months Ended  
    September 30,  
Same Station Net Broadcast Revenue   2008     2007  
 
Net broadcast revenue
  $ 25,328     $ 25,729  
 
               
Less:
               
Net results of stations not included in same station category
          90  
Barter transactions
    825       900  
     
 
               
Same station net broadcast revenue
  $ 24,503     $ 24,739  
     
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    September 30,  
Same Station Operating Income   2008     2007  
 
Operating (loss) income
  $ (60,165 )   $ 6,464  
 
               
Plus:
               
Corporate general and administrative expenses
    1,636       1,489  
Activist defense costs
          599  
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets
    67,522        
Depreciation and amortization
    1,075       1,032  
 
               
Less:
               
Gain on disposal of long-lived assets and other
    39       49  
     
 
               
Station operating income
    10,029       9,535  
 
               
Adjustments:
               
Net results of stations not included in same station category
          218  
Barter transactions
    (15 )     19  
     
 
               
Same station operating income
  $ 10,014     $ 9,772  
     
Same station results – adjusted for timing of certain non-traditional revenue (NTR) events
Excluding the timing of revenue from two NTR events held in the second quarter of 2008 that were held in the third quarter of 2007, net broadcast revenue would have increased 3.0% to $24.5 million in the third quarter of 2008 compared to $23.8 million in the third quarter of 2007. Same station operating income would have increased 8.2% to $10.0 million in the third quarter of 2008 from $9.3 million in the third quarter of 2007. The Company believes this presentation is important to investors as it eliminates the timing effect of the non-traditional revenue on comparability between periods.

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    Three Months Ended  
    September 30,  
Same Station Net Broadcast Revenue – adjusted for timing of certain NTR events   2008     2007  
 
Net broadcast revenue
  $ 25,328     $ 25,729  
 
               
Less:
               
Net results of stations not included in same station category
          90  
Barter transactions
    825       900  
     
 
               
Same station net broadcast revenue
  $ 24,503     $ 24,739  
 
               
Less timing of non-traditional broadcast revenue
          944  
     
 
               
Same station net broadcast revenue — adjusted for timing of certain NTR events
  $ 24,503     $ 23,795  
     
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    September 30,  
Same Station Operating Income – adjusted for timing of certain NTR events   2008     2007  
 
Operating (loss) income
  $ (60,165 )   $ 6,464  
 
               
Plus:
               
Corporate general and administrative expenses
    1,636       1,489  
Activist defense costs
          599  
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets
    67,522        
Depreciation and amortization
    1,075       1,032  
 
               
Less:
               
Gain on disposal of long-lived assets and other
    39       49  
     
 
               
Station operating income
    10,029       9,535  
 
               
Adjustments:
               
Net results of stations not included in same station category
          218  
Barter transactions
    (15 )     19  
     
 
               
Same station operating income
  $ 10,014     $ 9,772  
 
               
Less timing of non-traditional station operating income
          520  
     
 
               
Same station operating income — adjusted for timing of certain NTR events
  $ 10,014     $ 9,252  
     

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Free cash flow
Free cash flow is defined as net (loss) income plus depreciation, amortization, and other non-cash expenses, less maintenance capital expenditures and net gains on the sale of stations and disposal of long-lived assets. Free cash flow increased 46.8% to $4.9 million in the third quarter of 2008, from $3.3 million in the third quarter of 2007. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, free cash flow increased 65.9% to $10.3 million from $6.2 million in 2007. The Company believes that free cash flow is a liquidity measure that helps investors evaluate the ability of the Company to generate excess cash flow for investing and financing uses. The following table displays how the Company calculates free cash flow (in thousands).
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine months ended
    September 30,   September 30,
Free Cash Flow   2008   2007   2008   2007
     
Net (loss) income
  $ (46,292 )   $ (1,289 )   $ (43,623 )   $ 552  
 
                               
Add:
                               
Depreciation and amortization (1)
    1,075       1,054       3,120       4,033  
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets
    67,522             67,522        
Impairment of note receivable
    952             952        
Non-cash unrealized loss on derivatives
    696       3,985       460       1,986  
Non-cash interest expense
    132       134       450       419  
Non-cash tax expense (2)
                      1,110  
Other items, net (3)
    306       250       921       793  
Less:
                               
Non-cash gain on sale of radio stations
                1,155        
Non-cash gain on sale of assets
    57       48       52       49  
Non-cash tax benefit
    19,146       132       17,400        
Maintenance capital expenditures
    292       485       853       1,700  
Digital upgrade capital expenditures
    1       135       71       953  
         
Free cash flow
  $ 4,895     $ 3,334     $ 10,271     $ 6,191  
         
 
(1)   Includes depreciation and amortization reclassified to discontinued operations
 
(2)   Includes taxes reclassified to discontinued operations
 
(3)   Includes: non-cash compensation; barter; and loss on the disposal of long-lived assets
The most directly comparable GAAP measure to free cash flow is net cash provided by operating activities. The following table reconciles net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow (in thousands):

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    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,   September 30,
Free Cash Flow   2008   2007   2008   2007
     
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 5,374     $ 3,807     $ 10,751     $ 7,403  
 
                               
Less:
                               
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
    48                    
Bad debt expense
    138       85       443       482  
 
                               
Plus:
                               
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
          232       887       1,923  
 
                               
Less:
                               
Maintenance capital expenditures
    292       485       853       1,700  
Digital upgrade capital expenditures
    1       135       71       953  
         
 
Free cash flow
  $ 4,895     $ 3,334     $ 10,271     $ 6,191  
         
Selected Data
As of September 30, 2008, outstanding credit facility debt was approximately $189.5 million and cash was approximately $1.2 million. Total capital expenditures in the third quarter ended September 30, 2008 were approximately $0.4 million.
Outlook
Regent has adopted a policy to provide guidance to investors regarding our financial prospects. The following statements are based on current expectations. These statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially. Regent undertakes no obligation to update these statements.
Regent projects fourth quarter 2008 reported consolidated net broadcast revenues and station operating income of approximately $23.8 to $24.2 million and $8.5 to $8.8 million, respectively. Regent expects earnings of approximately $0.03 to $0.04 per share. However, earnings are subject to non-cash volatility as a result of changes in the market value of our interest rate swaps, which are marked-to-market each quarter. The following table reconciles projected operating income, which the Company believes is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to station operating income (in millions):
                 
    Three Months Ending  
    12/31/2008  
    Guidance Range  
Station Operating Income   Lower     Upper  
 
Operating income
  $ 5.4     $ 5.7  
 
               
Plus:
               
Corporate general and administrative expenses
    2.0       2.0  
Depreciation and amortization
    1.1       1.1  
     
Station operating income
  $ 8.5     $ 8.8  
     
The Company expects same station net broadcast revenue to be down low single digits for the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the fourth quarter of 2007.

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The Company expects maintenance capital expenditures for the fourth quarter to be approximately $0.2 million.
Teleconference
The Company will also host a teleconference to discuss its third quarter results on Thursday, November 6 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the teleconference, please dial 973-935-8767 ten minutes prior to the start time and reference passcode 69129391. The teleconference will also be available via a live webcast on the Company’s Web site, located at www.regentcomm.com under the Investor Relations section. If you cannot listen to the teleconference at its scheduled time, a replay will be available through Thursday, November 13, 2008, which can be accessed by dialing 800-642-1687 (U.S.) or 706-645-9291 (Int’l), passcode 69129391. The webcast will also be archived on the Company’s Web site for 30 days.
Regent Communications is a radio broadcasting company focused on acquiring, developing and operating radio stations in mid-sized markets. Regent owns and operates 62 stations located in 13 markets. Regent Communications, Inc. shares are traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol “RGCI.”
This press release includes certain forward-looking statements with respect to Regent Communications, Inc. for which it claims the protections of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties and include statements preceded by, followed by or that include words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “project” and other similar expressions. Although Regent believes expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are influenced by financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, and plans and objectives of management for future operations. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those conveyed in the forward-looking statements based on various factors including, but not limited to: changes in economic, business and market conditions affecting the radio broadcast industry, the markets in which we operate, and nationally; increased competition for attractive radio properties and advertising dollars; fluctuations in the cost of operating radio properties; the ability to manage growth; the ability to integrate these and other acquisitions; and changes in the regulatory climate affecting radio broadcast companies, including uncertainties surrounding recent Federal Communication Commission rules regarding broadcast ownership limits. Further information on other factors that could affect the financial results of Regent Communications, Inc. is included in Regent’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents are available free of charge at the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.govand/or from Regent Communications, Inc.
     
Contact:
   
Tony Vasconcellos
  Joe Kessler
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  Brainerd Communicators, Inc.
Regent Communications, Inc.
  212-986-6667
859-292-0030
   

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