UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  July 23, 2007

 

_______________________________________________________________________

LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

_______________________________________________________________________

 

Commission File Number 1-6227

 

Delaware

(State of Incorporation)

42-0823980

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

201 N. Harrison Street, Davenport, Iowa 52801

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(563) 383-2100

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 


 



 

 

 

Item 2.02.

Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On July 23, 2007, Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (the “Company”) reported its results for the third fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2007. The Company is furnishing the related earnings release under Item 2.02. A copy of the earnings release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.

 

To supplement the Company’s consolidated operating results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or GAAP, the Company is using the following non-GAAP financial measures in the earnings release: adjusted earnings from continuing operations (and related earnings per common share, also referred to as diluted earnings per common share), operating cash flow and free cash flow. The Company’s reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are contained in the attached earnings release.

 

The Company believes its comparative presentation of adjusted income from continuing operations (and related earnings per share) provides meaningful supplemental information to investors and financial analysts with which to evaluate its financial performance by identifying expenses that may not be indicative of its core business operating results and are of a substantially non-recurring nature. The Company also believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the Company’s performance and in forecasting and analyzing future periods that are not likely to include the adjusted items.

 

The Company believes that operating cash flow and free cash flow are useful measures of evaluating its financial performance because of their focus on the Company’s results from operations before depreciation and amortization and liquidity, respectively. The Company also believes that these measures are two of the alternative financial measures of performance used by investors, lenders, rating agencies and financial analysts to estimate the value of a company and evaluate its ability to meet debt service requirements.

 

This information shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

 

(c)

Exhibits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

99.1

Earnings Release – Third Quarter Ended June 30, 2007

 

 

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.

 

 

 

LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:  July 26, 2007

By:

/s/Carl G. Schmidt

 

 

Carl G. Schmidt

 

 

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,

 

 

and Treasurer

 

 

 

2

 



 

 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

 

Exhibit No.

Description

 

 

99.1

Earnings Release – Third Quarter Ended June 30, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

3

 



 

 

EXHIBIT 99.1 - News Release

 

 

 


 

201 N. Harrison St.

 

Davenport, IA 52801-1939

 

  www.lee.net

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

Lee Enterprises reports earnings for third fiscal quarter

 

DAVENPORT, Iowa (July 23, 2007) — Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (NYSE: LEE), reported today that diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations were 49 cents for its third fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2007, compared with 47 cents a year ago. Adjusted for one-time items(1) described below, earnings from continuing operations were 58 cents per diluted common share in 2006.

 

Including discontinued operations, earnings for the quarter totaled 49 cents per diluted common share, compared with 50 cents in 2006.

 

Mary Junck, chairman and chief executive officer, said: “Even in the current advertising slowdown, our publishing business in print and online remains one of the most profitable in the industry. Our vigorous sales culture and careful cost control has allowed us to continue to generate strong free cash flow(2) and reduce net debt by $110 million in the first three quarters of this year, on top of the $179 million we repaid in the full year in 2006.”

 

She added: “Although our advertising revenue has been significantly stronger than that of peers, it’s been nonetheless down modestly compared with a year ago. Real estate is in a down cycle, taking retail home improvement and furniture store advertising with it. National advertising is also in a trough. In addition, some of our bigger department store customers are working through competitive and branding issues, and the auto industry is undergoing structural changes. Meanwhile, our rapid online growth has accelerated to a rate of more than 60 percent in the last quarter and now accounts for almost 8 percent of our advertising revenue, surpassing national. This past spring, we rolled out the Yahoo! HotJobs ad platform with excellent success, and, beginning this summer, we’re adding more Yahoo technology to capture search revenue and drive additional traffic to our sites. At the same time, our newsrooms have been energetically reinventing themselves to provide unmatched local news and information in interactive, multimedia formats on our websites as well as in our powerful daily printed newspapers.”

 

Total revenue for the quarter from continuing operations decreased 3.2 percent from a year ago to $281.4 million. Total advertising revenue decreased 3.1 percent, with online advertising up 61.2 percent. Combined print and online retail advertising decreased 2.8 percent. Combined print and online classified advertising revenue decreased 2.1 percent, with employment up 7.6 percent, automotive down 9.1 percent and real estate down 8.3 percent. Combined print and online national advertising revenue decreased 13.6 percent. Circulation revenue declined 3.3 percent.

 

On a same property (3) basis, which excludes the impact of acquisitions and divestitures made in the current or prior year, total revenue for the quarter decreased 3.1 percent from a year ago.

 

There were no significant day exchanges in the quarter.

 

Total operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, decreased 1.1 percent for the quarter compared with a year ago. Newsprint and ink expense decreased 12.0 percent. Compensation expense declined 0.4 percent. Other operating expenses increased 4.9 percent, reflecting support of industry-leading revenue and circulation initiatives and

 



 

results. Same property operating expenses, excluding one-time items, depreciation and amortization, also decreased 0.2 percent for the quarter compared with a year ago.

 

Operating cash flow (4) decreased 8.5 percent to $73.2 million. Operating income, which includes equity in earnings of associated companies and depreciation and amortization, decreased 3.9 percent to $54.6 million. Non-operating expenses, which are primarily financial expense, decreased 11.1 percent to $19.6 million. Income from continuing operations before income taxes increased 0.6 percent to $35.1 million. Income from continuing operations increased 4.7 percent, to $22.3 million. Net income, including discontinued operations, decreased 1.0 percent to $22.5 million.

 

Free cash flow totaled $42.9 million for the quarter, compared with $47.3 million a year ago.

 

YEAR TO DATE

 

For the nine months ended June 30, 2007, total revenue from continuing operations decreased 0.6 percent from a year ago to $843.5 million. Total advertising revenue decreased 1.0 percent, with online advertising up 56.5 percent. Combined print and online retail advertising decreased 0.5 percent. Combined print and online classified advertising revenue decreased 0.7 percent, with employment up 6.1 percent, automotive down 5.2 percent and real estate down 5.4 percent. Combined print and online national advertising revenue decreased 6.2 percent. Circulation revenue declined 1.2 percent.

 

On a same property basis, which excludes the impact of acquisitions and divestitures made in the current or prior year, total revenue for the nine months decreased 0.8 percent from a year ago.

 

Total operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, for the nine months decreased 0.9 percent, reflecting lower newsprint costs, along with one-time items in both years. Other operating expenses increased 5.6 percent, again reflecting revenue and circulation initiatives. Same property operating expenses, excluding one-time items, depreciation and amortization, increased 1.3 percent for the nine months compared with a year ago, with compensation down 0.1 percent, newsprint and ink down 2.8 percent, and other operating expenses up 5.5 percent.

 

There were no day exchanges during the nine-month period. At Lee’s 50 percent partnership in Tucson, which uses calendar year period accounting, a 53rd week of the 2006 calendar year was recognized in December 2006. Tucson results are reported as equity in earnings of associated companies. The remaining former Pulitzer enterprises will record a 53rd week in September 2007.

 

Operating cash flow increased 0.1 percent to $212.5 million. Operating income, which includes equity in earnings of associated companies and depreciation and amortization, increased 1.2 percent to $158.6 million. Non-operating expenses, which are primarily financial expense, decreased 6.4 percent to $62.5 million. Income from continuing operations before income taxes increased 6.9 percent to $96.1 million. Income from continuing operations increased 8.5 percent, to $60.9 million. Net income, including discontinued operations, increased 1.9 percent to $61.0 million.

 

For the nine months, diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations were $1.33, compared with $1.23 a year ago, an increase of 8.1 percent.

 

Free cash flow totaled $102.6 million, compared with $133.8 million a year ago, reflecting improved operating results and lower financial expense, which were more than offset by changes in timing of tax payments.

 

Lee Enterprises is a premier provider of local news, information and advertising in primarily midsize markets, with 51 daily newspapers and a joint interest in five others, rapidly growing online sites and more than 300 weekly newspapers and specialty publications in 23 states. Lee’s newspapers have circulation of 1.7 million daily and 1.9 million Sunday, reaching more than four million readers daily. Lee’s online sites attract more than 11 million visits monthly, and Lee’s weekly publications are distributed to more than 4.5 million households. Lee’s 55 newspaper markets include St.

 

2

 



 

Louis, Mo.; Lincoln, Neb.; Madison, Wis.; Davenport, Iowa; Billings, Mont.; Bloomington, Ill.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Napa, Calif. Lee stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LEE. For more information about Lee, please visit www.lee.net.

 

ADJUSTED EARNINGS AND EPS (1)

 

The following tables summarize the impact on income from continuing operations and earnings per diluted common share from one-time items. Per share amounts may not add due to rounding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30

 

 

 

2007

 

 

2006

(Thousands, Except EPS)

 

 

Amount

 

Per Share

 

 

Amount

 

Per Share

Income from continuing operations, as reported

 

22,310 

0.49 

 

21,316 

$  

0.47 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments to income from continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reduction in value of intangibles

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,526 

 

 

 

Transition costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,677 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,203 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

of adjustments, net

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

(1,984)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

5,219 

 

0.11    

Income from continuing operations, as adjusted

 

22,310 

0.49 

 

26,535 

$  

0.58 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended June 30

 

 

 

2007

 

 

2006

(Thousands, Except EPS)

 

 

Amount

 

Per Share

 

 

Amount

 

Per Share

Income from continuing operations, as reported

 

60,944 

$

1.33 

 

56,151 

1.23 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments to income from continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curtailment gains

 

 

(3,731)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curtailment gains, Tucson

 

 

(1,037)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early retirement program

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,654 

 

 

 

Reduction in value of intangibles

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,526

 

 

 

Transition costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,830 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4,768)

 

 

 

 

17,010 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

of adjustments, net

 

 

1,683

 

 

 

 

(5,662)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3,085)

 

(0.07)    

 

 

11,348 

 

0.25    

Income from continuing operations, as adjusted

 

57,859 

1.26 

 

67,499 

1.48 

 

 

3

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

LEE ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30

 

 

Nine Months Ended June 30

 

 

(Thousands, Except EPS Data)

 

2007   

 

2006

%

 

 

2007    

 

2006

%

 

 

Advertising revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail

 

$      112,577

$

 118,017

(4.6)

%

$

346,518 

$

353,550 

(2.0)

%

 

 

National

 

 

        11,975 

 

13,862 

(13.6)

 

 

42,831 

 

45,641 

(6.2)

 

 

 

Classified:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily newspapers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employment

 

 

        21,275 

 

23,994 

(11.3)

 

 

60,992 

 

66,859 

(8.8)

 

 

 

 

 

Automotive

 

 

        14,008 

 

15,964 

(12.3)

 

 

41,190 

 

44,750 

(8.0)

 

 

 

 

 

Real estate

 

 

        15,104 

 

16,506 

(8.5)

 

 

43,856 

 

46,854 

(6.4)

 

 

 

 

 

All other

 

 

        10,842 

 

10,813 

0.3

 

 

28,903 

 

29,105 

(0.7)

 

 

 

 

Other publications

 

        12,603 

 

12,371 

1.9

 

 

35,651 

 

33,776 

5.6

 

 

 

Total classified

 

 

        73,832 

 

79,648 

(7.3)

 

 

210,592 

 

221,344 

(4.9)

 

 

 

Online

 

 

        16,200 

 

10,051 

61.2

 

 

39,708 

 

25,370 

56.5

 

 

 

Niche publications

 

 

        4,326 

 

4,422 

(2.2)

 

 

12,243 

 

12,311 

(0.6)

 

 

Total advertising revenue

 

        218,910 

 

226,000 

(3.1)

 

 

651,892 

 

658,216 

(1.0)

 

 

Circulation

 

 

        49,917 

 

51,644 

(3.3)

 

 

152,307 

 

154,134 

(1.2)

 

 

Commercial printing

 

 

        4,309

 

4,600 

(6.3)

 

 

12,441 

 

13,066 

(4.8)

 

 

Online services & other

 

        8,239 

 

8,300 

(0.7)

 

 

26,885 

 

23,563 

14.1

 

 

Total operating revenue

 

        281,375 

 

290,544 

(3.2)

 

 

843,525 

 

848,979 

(0.6)

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation

 

 

        107,898 

 

108,338 

(0.4)

 

 

330,578 

 

328,654 

0.6

 

 

 

Newsprint and ink

 

 

        27,077 

 

30,766 

(12.0)

 

 

85,412 

 

89,437 

(4.5)

 

 

 

Other operating expenses

 

        73,243 

 

69,852 

4.9

 

 

218,785 

 

207,228 

5.6

 

 

 

Curtailment gains

 

 

 

NM

 

 

(3,731)  

 

NM

 

 

 

Transition costs

 

 

 

1,677 

NM

 

 

-

 

2,830 

NM

 

 

 

Early retirement program

 

-   

 

-   

NM

 

 

 

8,654   

 NM

 

 

Operating expenses, excluding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

depreciation and amortization

 

        208,218 

 

210,633 

(1.1)

 

 

631,044 

 

636,803 

(0.9)

 

 

Operating cash flow(4)

 

 

       73,157 

 

79,911 

(8.5)

 

 

212,481 

 

212,176 

0.1

 

 

Depreciation

 

 

        7,993 

 

8,578 

(6.8)

 

 

25,032 

 

24,617 

1.7

 

 

Amortization

 

 

        15,067 

 

19,330 

(22.1)

 

 

45,207 

 

47,101 

(4.0)

 

 

Equity in earnings of associated

companies:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tucson partnership

 

 

       2,590 

 

2,621 

(1.2)

 

 

10,465 

 

10,309 

1.5

 

 

 

Madison Newspapers

 

       1,927 

 

2,226 

      (13.4)

 

 

5,862 

 

5,858 

 0.1

 

 

Operating income

 

 

        54,614 

 

56,850 

(3.9)

 

 

158,569 

 

156,625 

1.2

 

 

Non-operating income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial income

 

 

        2,491 

 

1,579 

57.8

 

 

5,522 

 

4,545 

21.5

 

 

 

Financial expense

 

 

       (22,027)

 

(23,567)

(6.5)

 

 

(68,006)

 

(71,298)

(4.6)

 

 

 

Other, net

 

 

      (21)

 

NM

 

 

(21)     

 

-

 NM 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       (19,557)

 

(21,988)

(11.1)

 

 

(62,505)

 

(66,753)

(6.4)

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

       35,057

 

34,862 

0.6

 

 

96,064 

 

89,872 

  6.9

 

 

 

 

4

 



 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

 

12,376 

 

13,177 

(6.1)

 

 

 33,945 

 

 32,829 

  3.4

 

 

Minority interest

 

 

371 

 

369 

0.5

 

 

 1,175 

 

892 

31.7

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

 

22,310 

 

21,316 

4.7

 

 

 60,944 

 

56,151 

8.5

 

 

Discontinued operations

 

 

181 

 

1,401 

NM

 

 

89    

 

3,765 

 NM 

 

 

Net income

 

$

   22,491

 22,717

(1.0)

%

$

 61,033 

59,916 

  1.9

%

 

Earnings per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.49 

$

0.47 

4.3

%

$

1.34 

$

1.24 

  8.1

%

 

 

Discontinued operations

 

 

 

0.03 

NM

 

 

 

0.08 

  NM

 

 

 

 

 

$

0.49 

$

0.50 

(2.0)

%

$

1.34 

$

1.32 

  1.5

%

 

 

Diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.49 

$

0.47 

4.3

%

$

1.33 

$

1.23 

  8.1

%

 

 

Discontinued operations

 

 

 

0.03 

NM

 

 

 

0.08 

NM

 

 

 

 

 

$

0.49 

0.50 

(2.0)

%

$

1.33 

$

1.32 

   0.8

%

 

Average common shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

45,715 

 

45,488 

 

 

 

45,638 

 

45,380 

 

 

 

 

Diluted

 

 

45,887 

 

45,602 

 

 

 

45,776 

 

45,509 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SELECTED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30

 

 

 

(Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

Cash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

9,221 

$

  12,681 

 

 

 

Restricted cash and investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

107,310 

 

  92,310 

 

 

 

Debt (principal amount)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 1,426,500 

 

   1,581,000 

 

 

 

 

SELECTED STATISTICAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                            Three Months Ended June 30

 

 

                 Nine Months Ended June 30

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2007

 

2006

%

 

 

2007

 

2006

%

 

 

Capital expenditures:

 

 

    7,944

 

  7,772

2.2

%

 

     20,649

 

  19,358

6.7

%

 

Same property newsprint

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

volume (tonnes)

 

 

    41,664

 

  44,576

(6.5)

 

 

     126,862

 

  133,814

(5.2)

 

 

Same property full-time

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

equivalent employees

 

 

    8,082

 

 8,133

(0.6)

 

 

    8,119

 

8,204

(1.0)

 

 

 

 

FREE CASH FLOW (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30

 

 

Nine Months Ended June 30

 

 

(Thousands)

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

Operating income

 

 

    54,614

 

  56,850

 

 

 

     158,569

 

             156,625

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

     24,645

 

  29,845

 

 

 

    74,993

 

            76,120

 

 

Stock compensation

 

 

    1,702

 

  1,901

 

 

 

    5,667

 

            5,948

 

 

Cash interest expense

 

 

    (23,062)

 

  (24,512)

 

 

 

    (71,036)

 

            (74,418)

 

 

Financial income

 

 

     2,491

 

  1,579

 

 

 

    5,522

 

            4,545

 

 

Cash income taxes

 

 

   (9,176)

 

  (10,196)

 

 

 

    (49,280)

 

            (14,794)

 

 

Minority interest

 

 

(371)

 

 (369)

 

 

 

 (1,175)

 

          (892)

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(7,944)

 

  (7,772)

 

 

 

  (20,649)

 

           (19,358)

 

 

 

 

 

    42,899

 

   47,326

 

 

 

     102,611

 

            133,776

 

 

 

 

5

 



 

 

 

 

NOTES:

 

(1)

Adjusted earnings from continuing operations and adjusted earnings per common share, which are defined as income from continuing operations and earnings per common share adjusted to exclude matters of a substantially non-recurring nature, represent non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measures. Reconciliations of adjusted earnings from continuing operations and adjusted EPS to income from continuing operations and earnings per common share are included in tables accompanying this release.

(2)

Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. A reconciliation of free cash flow to operating income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, is included in a table accompanying this release.

(3)

Same property comparisons exclude acquisitions and divestitures made in the current and prior year. Same property revenue also excludes Lee’s 50% ownership in Madison and Tucson, which are reported using the equity method of accounting. Same property comparisons also exclude corporate office costs.

(4)

Operating cash flow, which is defined as operating income before depreciation, amortization and equity in earnings of associated companies, is a non-GAAP financial measure. Reconciliations of operating cash flow to operating income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, are included in tables accompanying this release.

(5)

Certain amounts as previously reported have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation. The prior period has been restated for comparative purposes, and the reclassifications have no impact on earnings.

(6)

The Company disclaims responsibility for updating information beyond the release date.

 

 

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. This release contains information that may be deemed forward-looking and that is based largely on the Company's current expectations and is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Among such risks, trends and other uncertainties are changes in advertising demand, newsprint prices, energy costs, interest rates, labor costs, legislative and regulatory rulings and other results of operations or financial conditions, difficulties in integration of acquired businesses or maintaining employee and customer relationships, increased capital and other costs and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s publicly filed documents, including the Company Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2006. The words “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “considers” and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this release. The Company does not publicly undertake to update or revise its forward-looking statements.

 

Contact: dan.hayes@lee.net, (563) 383-2100

 

 

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