Lamar Advertising Company Announces Third Quarter 2011 Operating Results


BATON ROUGE, La., Nov. 3, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lamar Advertising Company (Nasdaq:LAMR), a leading owner and operator of outdoor advertising and logo sign displays, announces the Company's operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011.

Three Months Results

Lamar reported net revenues of $296.7 million for the third quarter of 2011 versus $286.1 million for the third quarter of 2010, a 3.7% increase. Operating income for the third quarter of 2011 was $55.4 million as compared to $46.6 million for the same period in 2010. Lamar recognized $4.0 million in net income for the third quarter of 2011 compared to net income of $0.8 million for the third quarter of 2010.

General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2011 were $49.5 million versus $48.6 million for the third quarter of 2010, an increase of $0.9 million. General and administrative expenses for the current period include a charge of $1.2 million related to the settlement of two unrelated claims, both of which were resolved during the period. In addition, corporate overhead for the third quarter of 2011 was $11.3 million, $0.6 million of which represents legal fees associated with these settlements.

Adjusted EBITDA, (defined as operating income before non-cash compensation, depreciation and amortization and gain on disposition of assets - see reconciliation to net income (loss) at the end of this release) for the third quarter of 2011 was $132.6 million versus $128.0 million for the third quarter of 2010, a 3.7% increase.

Free cash flow (defined as Adjusted EBITDA less interest, net of interest income and amortization of financing costs, current taxes, preferred stock dividends and total capital expenditures - see reconciliation to cash flows provided by operating activities at the end of this release) for the third quarter of 2011 was $66.0 million as compared to $75.2 million for the same period in 2010, a 12.3% decrease. The decrease in free cash flow is a result of the Company's $16.5 million increase in capitalized expenditures over the comparable period in 2010.

Pro forma net revenue for the third quarter of 2011 increased 3.2% and pro forma Adjusted EBITDA increased 3.3% as compared to the third quarter of 2010. Pro forma net revenue and Adjusted EBITDA include adjustments to the 2010 period for acquisitions and divestitures for the same time frame as actually owned in the 2011 period. Tables that reconcile reported results to pro forma results and operating income to outdoor operating income are included at the end of this release.

Nine Months Results

Lamar reported net revenues of $845.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 versus $816.6 million for the same period in 2010, a 3.5% increase. Operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $140.5 million as compared to $106.7 million for the same period in 2010. Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $361.3 million versus $349.8 million for the same period in 2010. There was net income of $2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to a net loss of $33.0 million for the same period in 2010.

Free Cash Flow for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 decreased 16.3% to $160.8 million as compared to $192.3 million for the same period in 2010, primarily due to the increase in capital expenditures of $55.5 million over the comparable period in 2010.

Liquidity

As of September 30, 2011, Lamar had $281.9 million in total liquidity that consists of $240.4 million available for borrowing under its revolving senior credit facility and approximately $41.5 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Guidance

For the fourth quarter of 2011 the Company expects net revenue to be approximately $284 million. On a pro forma basis this represents an increase of approximately 2.5%.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including the statements regarding guidance for the fourth quarter of 2011. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others; (1) our significant indebtedness; (2) the state of the economy and financial markets generally and the effect of the broader economy on the demand for advertising; (3) the continued popularity of outdoor advertising as an advertising medium; (4) our need for and ability to obtain additional funding for operations, debt refinancing or acquisitions; (5) the regulation of the outdoor advertising industry; (6) the integration of companies that we acquire and our ability to recognize cost savings or operating efficiencies as a result of these acquisitions; (7) the market for our Class A common stock and (8) other factors described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors in item 1A of our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented by any risk factors contained in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this document. These statements speak only as of the date of this document, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the statements, except as may be required by law.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

Adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, pro forma results and outdoor operating income are not measures of performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and should not be considered alternatives to operating income, net income (loss), cash flows from operating activities, or other GAAP figures as indicators of the Company's financial performance or liquidity. The Company's management believes that Adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, pro forma results and outdoor operating income are useful in evaluating the Company's performance and provide investors and financial analysts a better understanding of the Company's core operating results. The pro forma acquisition adjustments are intended to provide information that may be useful for investors when assessing period to period results. Our presentations of these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Reconciliations of these measures to GAAP are included at the end of this release.

Conference Call Information

A conference call will be held to discuss the Company's operating results on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. central time. Instructions for the conference call and Webcast are provided below:

Conference Call  
   
All Callers: 1-334-323-0520 or 1-334-323-9871
Passcode: Lamar
   
Replay: 1-334-323-7226
Passcode: 22963712
  Available through Monday, November 7, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. eastern time
   
Live Webcast: www.lamar.com
   
Webcast Replay: www.lamar.com
  Available through Monday, November 7, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. eastern time
   
Company Contact: Keith A. Istre
  Chief Financial Officer
  (225) 926-1000
  KI@lamar.com

General Information

Lamar Advertising Company is a leading outdoor advertising company currently operating over 150 outdoor advertising companies in 44 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, logo businesses in 21 states and the province of Ontario, Canada and over 60 transit advertising franchises in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

 
LAMAR ADVERTISING COMPANY AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)
 
  Three months ended Nine months ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2011 2010 2011 2010
         
Net revenues $ 296,701 $ 286,138 $ 845,248 $ 816,607
         
Operating expenses (income)        
Direct advertising expenses 103,200 99,595 305,809 297,972
General and administrative expenses 49,534 48,551 145,359 138,919
Corporate expenses  11,320 10,024 32,804 29,950
Non-cash compensation 2,660 4,915 7,338 12,715
Depreciation and amortization 75,171 77,617 221,454 234,124
Gain on disposition of assets (609) (1,137) (7,967) (3,756)
  241,276 239,565 704,797 709,924
Operating income 55,425 46,573 140,451 106,683
         
Other expense (income)        
Loss on extinguishment of debt 451 451 17,398
Interest income (428) (14) (511) (190)
Interest expense 42,530 45,352 129,457 141,322
  42,553 45,338 129,397 158,530
         
Income (loss) before income tax 12,872 1,235 11,054 (51,847)
Income tax expense (benefit) 8,880 454 8,876 (18,864)
         
Net income (loss) 3,992 781 2,178 (32,983)
Preferred stock dividends 91 91 273 273
Net income (loss) applicable to common stock $ 3,901 $ 690 $ 1,905 ($ 33,256)
         
Earnings per share:        
Basic income (loss) per share $ 0.04 $ 0.01 $ 0.02 ($ 0.36)
Diluted income (loss) per share $ 0.04 $ 0.01 $ 0.02 ($ 0.36)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:  
 
 
 
   
 
- basic 92,901,470 92,315,046 92,808,705 92,183,591
- diluted 93,076,619 92,728,863 93,171,700 92,649,166
         
OTHER DATA        
Free Cash Flow Computation:        
Adjusted EBITDA $ 132,647 $ 127,968 $ 361,276 $ 349,766
Interest, net (37,423) (40,801) (115,126) (128,553)
Current tax (expense) benefit (646) 119 (1,849) (969)
Preferred stock dividends (91) (91) (273) (273)
Total capital expenditures (1) (28,529) (12,024) (83,182) (27,712)
Free cash flow $ 65,958 $ 75,171 $ 160,846  $ 192,259
(1)See the capital expenditures detail included
 below for a breakdown by category.
       
         
      September 30,
2011
 December 31,
 2010
Selected Balance Sheet Data:        
Cash and cash equivalents     $ 41,516  $ 91,679 
Working capital     110,191  155,829 
Total assets     3,501,751  3,648,961 
Total debt (including current maturities)     2,223,160  2,409,140 
Total stockholders' equity     826,632  818,523 
     
     
  Three months ended Nine months ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2011 2010 2011 2010
         
Other Data:        
Cash flows provided by operating activities $ 112,266 $ 97,009 $ 222,705 $ 190,179
Cash flows used in investing activities 33,631 11,808 87,992 24,927
Cash flows used in financing activities 55,109 73,794 184,427 239,393
         
         
Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to Cash Flows Provided by
 Operating Activities:
       
Cash flows provided by operating activities $ 112,266 $ 97,009 $ 222,705 $ 190,179
Changes in operating assets and liabilities (15,858) (8,145) 26,142 35,422
Total capital expenditures (28,529) (12,024) (83,182) (27,712)
Preferred stock dividends (91) (91) (273) (273)
Other (1,830) (1,578) (4,546) (5,357)
Free cash flow $ 65,958 $ 75,171 $ 160,846 $ 192,259
         
         
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net income (loss):        
Adjusted EBITDA $ 132,647 $ 127,968 $ 361,276 $349,766
Less:        
Non-cash compensation 2,660 4,915 7,338 12,715
Depreciation and amortization 75,171 77,617 221,454 234,124
Gain on disposition of assets (609) (1,137) (7,967) (3,756)
Operating Income 55,425 46,573 140,451 106,683
         
Less:        
Interest income (428) (14) (511) (190)
Loss on extinguishment of debt 451 451 17,398
Interest expense 42,530 45,352 129,457 141,322
Income tax expense (benefit) 8,880 454 8,876 (18,864)
Net income (loss) $ 3,992 $ 781 $ 2,178 ($32,983)
         
     
     
  Three months ended  
  September 30,  
  2011 2010 % Change
Reconciliation of Reported Basis to Pro Forma (a) Basis:      
Reported net revenue $ 296,701 $ 286,138 3.7%
Acquisitions and divestitures 1,325  
Pro forma net revenue $ 296,701 $ 287,463  3.2%
       
Reported direct advertising and G&A expenses $ 152,734 $ 148,146 3.1%
Acquisitions and divestitures 899  
Pro forma direct advertising and G&A expenses $ 152,734 $ 149,045 2.5%
       
Reported outdoor operating income $ 143,967 $ 137,992 4.3%
Acquisitions and divestitures 426  
Pro forma outdoor operating income $ 143,967 $ 138,418 4.0%
       
Reported corporate expenses $ 11,320 $ 10,024 12.9%
Acquisitions and divestitures  
Pro forma corporate expenses $ 11,320 $ 10,024 12.9%
       
Reported Adjusted EBITDA $ 132,647 $ 127,968 3.7%
Acquisitions and divestitures 426  
Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA $ 132,647 $ 128,394 3.3%
       
(a) Pro forma net revenues, direct advertising and general and administrative expenses, outdoor operating income, corporate expenses and Adjusted EBITDA include adjustments to 2010 for acquisitions and divestitures for the same time frame as actually owned in 2011.
 
   
  Three months ended
  September 30,
  2011 2010
Reconciliation of Outdoor Operating Income to Operating Income:    
Outdoor operating income $ 143,967 $ 137,992
Less: Corporate expenses 11,320 10,024
 Non-cash compensation 2,660 4,915
 Depreciation and amortization 75,171 77,617
Plus: Gain on disposition of assets 609 1,137
 Operating income $ 55,425 $ 46,573
     
  Three months ended Nine months ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2011 2010 2011 2010
Capital expenditure detail by category        
Billboards - traditional $ 7,609 $ 2,832 $ 24,911 $ 5,341
Billboards - digital 11,983 3,905 32,081 8,575
Logo 2,777 2,119 7,457 6,187
Transit 168 52 640 726
Land and buildings 3,026 142 3,838 721
Operating equipment 2,966 2,974 14,255 6,162
Total capital expenditures $ 28,529 $ 12,024 $ 83,182 $ 27,712


            

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