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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

ý Quarterly Report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003

 

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 Number: 333-97721

 

Vertis, Inc.

(Exact Names of Registrants as Specified in Their Charters)

 

Delaware

 

13-3768322

(State of incorporation)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Nos.)

 

 

 

250 West Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland

 

21201

(Address of Registrant’s Principal Executive Office)

 

(Zip Code)

 

 

 

(410) 528-9800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrants (1) have 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 (or for such shorter period that the Registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days

Yes ý No o

 

Indicated by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)

Yes o No ý

 

As of July 31, 2003 there were 1,000 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

 

 



 

INDEX

Part I  - Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets of Vertis, Inc. and Subsidiaries at June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations of Vertis, Inc. and Subsidiaries for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2003 and 2002

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations of Vertis, Inc. and Subsidiaries for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2003 and 2002

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows of Vertis, Inc. and Subsidiaries for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2003 and 2002

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Vertis, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

 

Item 2.

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

 

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

 

Item 4.

 

 

Controls and Procedures

 

 

 

 

Part II  - Other Information

 

Item 1.

 

 

Legal Proceedings

 

 

Item 5.

 

 

Other Information

 

 

Item 6.

 

 

 

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

 

Signatures

 

1



 

Part I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1:  Financial Statements

 

Vertis, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

In thousands, except share amounts

 

 

 

June 30,
2003

 

December 31,
2002

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

25,045

 

$

5,735

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

167,006

 

131,525

 

Inventories

 

35,524

 

37,189

 

Maintenance parts

 

19,305

 

18,861

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 

7,806

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

9,103

 

15,890

 

Total current assets

 

255,983

 

217,006

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

416,838

 

445,493

 

Goodwill

 

349,930

 

342,304

 

Investments

 

73,203

 

72,411

 

Deferred financing costs, net

 

33,308

 

37,113

 

Other assets, net

 

19,692

 

20,671

 

Total Assets

 

$

1,148,954

 

$

1,134,998

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

220,800

 

$

133,177

 

Compensation and benefits payable

 

30,498

 

37,834

 

Accrued interest

 

10,604

 

16,588

 

Accrued income taxes

 

6,193

 

5,951

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

866

 

5,384

 

Other current liabilities

 

25,321

 

36,587

 

Total current liabilities

 

294,282

 

235,521

 

Due to parent

 

7,468

 

7,822

 

Long-term debt, net of current portion

 

1,076,628

 

1,087,684

 

Deferred income taxes

 

65,877

 

26,073

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

28,550

 

27,890

 

Total liabilities

 

1,472,805

 

1,384,990

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholder’s deficit:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock - authorized 3,000 shares; $0.01 par value; issued and outstanding 1,000 shares

 

 

 

 

 

Contributed capital

 

408,964

 

408,965

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(724,345

)

(646,579

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(8,470

)

(12,378

)

Total stockholder’s deficit

 

(323,851

)

(249,992

)

Total Liabilities and Stockholder’s Deficit

 

$

1,148,954

 

$

1,134,998

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

2



 

Vertis, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

In thousands

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

377,348

 

$

408,650

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Costs of production

 

293,095

 

303,989

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

43,322

 

43,793

 

Restructuring charges

 

 

 

2,325

 

Depreciation and amortization of intangibles

 

21,060

 

21,837

 

 

 

357,477

 

371,944

 

Operating income

 

19,871

 

36,706

 

Other expenses (income):

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

41,044

 

38,704

 

Other, net

 

1,726

 

836

 

 

 

42,770

 

39,540

 

Loss before income taxes

 

(22,899

)

(2,834

)

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

49,012

 

(1,184

)

Net loss

 

$

(71,911

)

$

(1,650

)

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

3



 

Vertis, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

In thousands

 

 

 

 

 

2002

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

2003

 

As Restated

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

748,563

 

$

810,772

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Costs of production

 

583,321

 

610,693

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

90,228

 

91,538

 

Restructuring charges

 

 

 

3,046

 

Depreciation and amortization of intangibles

 

42,464

 

44,456

 

 

 

716,013

 

749,733

 

Operating income

 

32,550

 

61,039

 

Other expenses (income):

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

70,797

 

68,767

 

Other, net

 

(7,386

)

1,090

 

 

 

63,411

 

69,857

 

Loss before income taxes

 

(30,861

)

(8,818

)

Income tax expense

 

46,895

 

3,215

 

Loss before cumulative effect of accounting change

 

(77,756

)

(12,033

)

Cumulative effect of accounting change

 

 

 

108,365

 

Net loss

 

$

(77,756

)

$

(120,398

)

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

4



 

Vertis, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

In thousands

 

 

 

 

 

2002

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

2003

 

As Restated

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(77,756

)

$

(120,398

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

42,464

 

44,456

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

4,270

 

5,283

 

Write-off of deferred financing fees

 

10,958

 

8,239

 

Restructuring charges

 

 

 

3,046

 

Cumulative effect of accounting change

 

 

 

108,365

 

Deferred income taxes

 

49,459

 

(2,952

)

Other

 

2,770

 

1,705

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities (excluding effect of acquisition)

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in accounts receivable

 

29,990

 

21,468

 

Decrease in inventories

 

1,667

 

2,804

 

Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other assets

 

7,243

 

(2,069

)

Decrease in accounts payable and other liabilities

 

(3,760

)

(59,036

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

67,305

 

10,911

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(12,679

)

(12,675

)

Software development costs capitalized

 

(1,517

)

(1,199

)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

524

 

376

 

Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired

 

(57

)

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(13,729

)

(13,498

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of long-term debt

 

340,714

 

247,500

 

Net repayments under revolving credit facilities

 

(50,834

)

(10,516

)

Repayments of long-term debt

 

(309,714

)

(250,014

)

Deferred financing costs

 

(11,441

)

(9,384

)

(Decrease) increase in outstanding checks drawn on controlled disbursement accounts

 

(3,628

)

13,240

 

Other financing activities

 

(364

)

(717

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(35,267

)

(9,891

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

1,001

 

614

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

19,310

 

(11,864

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

5,735

 

17,533

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

25,045

 

$

5,669

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

60,527

 

$

57,435

 

Income taxes paid

 

$

1,046

 

$

897

 

Detachable warrants issued

 

 

 

$

15,766

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

5



 

VERTIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

1.            GENERAL

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Vertis, Inc. and Subsidiaries (collectively, “Vertis” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“generally accepted accounting principles”) and are unaudited.  The financial statements include all normal and recurring adjustments that management of the Company considers necessary for the fair presentation of its financial position and operating results. The Company prepared the condensed consolidated financial statements following the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission for interim reporting. As permitted under those rules, the Company condensed or omitted certain footnotes or other financial information that are normally required by the generally accepted accounting principles for annual financial statements. As these are condensed financial statements, one should also read the consolidated financial statements and notes in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

Revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities can vary during each quarter of the year. Therefore, the results and trends in these interim financial statements may not be the same as those for the full year.

 

Certain amounts for prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

 

The difference between net loss and total comprehensive loss for the six months ended June 30, 2002, is comprised of foreign currency translation and fair value of interest rate swap adjustments, which amounted to $2.8 million.  For the six months ended June 30, 2003, the difference of $3.9 million is made up of foreign currency translation and changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap agreement (see Note 9).

 

2.            RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

 

There were no restructuring costs incurred in the first six months of 2003.  The restructuring programs started in 2000 were completed at December 31, 2002.  The Company expects to pay approximately $4.6 million of the accrued restructuring costs during the next twelve months, and the remainder, approximately $3.8 million, by 2007.

 

In the first six months of 2002, Vertis Europe combined two facilities and recorded $1.8 million in restructuring charges comprised mainly of facility closure costs and severance costs.  Additionally, the Advertising Technology Services segment terminated approximately 160 employees, recording $2.0 million in severance costs, in an effort to streamline operations.  Offsetting these charges is a $1.3 million adjustment to the estimate of 2001 restructuring costs made in 2002.  During the remainder of 2002, the Company recorded an additional $16.0 million in restructuring costs related to the closure of five facilities and the termination of approximately 150 employees in the Advertising

 

6



 

Technology Services segment and the consolidation of production capabilities, including the termination of 133 employees, within the Direct Marketing Services segment.

 

3.            GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLES

 

On January 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142 (“SFAS 142”), “Goodwill and Other Intangibles.”  Under this statement, goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are no longer amortized. The Company stopped amortizing its existing goodwill as of January 1, 2002.  Additionally, under the transitional provisions of SFAS 142, the Company’s goodwill was tested for impairment as of January 1, 2002.  Each of the Company’s reporting units was tested for impairment by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with the carrying value of that unit.  Fair value was determined based on a valuation study performed by an independent third party using the discounted cash flow method and the guideline company method.  As a result of the Company’s impairment test completed in the third quarter of 2002, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $86.6 million at the Vertis Advertising Technology Services segment and $21.8 million at the Vertis Europe segment to reduce the carrying value of goodwill to its implied fair value.  Impairment in both cases was due to a combination of factors including operating performance and acquisition price.  In accordance with SFAS 142, the impairment charge was reflected as a cumulative effect of accounting change in the accompanying 2002 condensed consolidated statements of operations and cash flows.  The amount of the impairment charge includes the effect of taxes of $6.8 million, which had not been initially recorded in the Company’s September 30, 2002 financial statements.  As a result, the operating results and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2002 have been restated, net of tax.

 

Goodwill is now reviewed for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.  The Company has completed its annual goodwill impairment test for 2003, which did not indicate any goodwill impairment.

 

4.            ACQUISITION

 

On June 10, 2003, the Company acquired the sales, marketing and media planning assets of The Newspaper Network, Inc. (collectively, “TNN”) by assuming the working capital deficit of approximately $4.3 million representative of the portion of the business that was purchased.  The Newspaper Network, Inc. is a national sales and marketing company that provides a wide variety of print advertising services specializing in the planning, pricing and placement of newspaper advertising throughout the United States.  The addition of TNN will provide the Company with additional media expertise that will better equip the Advertising Technology Services segment to serve large, national clients in key industry markets.

 

Goodwill arising in connection with this acquisition was approximately $4.3 million, calculated as the excess of the liabilities assumed over the fair value of the net assets acquired.  The financial results of TNN are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.  Amounts and allocations of costs recorded may require adjustment based upon information that is not currently available but will come to the attention of the Company.

 

7



 

The following unaudited pro forma information reflects the Company’s results adjusted to include TNN as though the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of 2002.

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

(In thousands)

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

754,193

 

$

816,565

 

Net loss

 

(77,923

)

(120,568

)

 

5.            ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

 

In 1996, the Company entered into a six-year agreement to sell substantially all trade accounts receivable generated by subsidiaries in the U.S. (as amended, the “1996 Facility”) through the issuance of $130.0 million of variable rate trade receivable backed certificates.  In April 2002, the revolving period for these certificates was extended and the certificates were refinanced.  In December 2002, the 1996 Facility expired and the Company entered into a new three-year agreement terminating in December 2005 (the “A/R Facility”) through the issuance of $130.0 million variable rate trade receivable backed notes.  The proceeds from the A/R Facility were used to retire the certificates issued under the 1996 Facility.

 

The A/R Facility allows for a maximum of $130.0 million of trade accounts receivable to be sold at any time based on the level of eligible receivables.  Under the 1996 Facility and the A/R Facility, the Company sells its trade accounts receivable through a bankruptcy-remote wholly-owned subsidiary.  However, the Company maintains an interest in the receivables and has been contracted to service the accounts receivable.  The Company received cash proceeds for servicing of $1.6 million and $1.7 million in the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

At June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, accounts receivable of $115.4 million and $125.9 million, respectively, had been sold under the facilities and, as such, are reflected as reductions of accounts receivable.  At June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, the Company retained an interest in the pool of receivables in the form of overcollateralization and cash reserve accounts of $43.2 million and $46.3 million, respectively, which is included in Accounts receivable, net on the balance sheet at allocated cost, which approximates fair value.  The proceeds from collections reinvested in securitizations amounted to $705.1 million and $716.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

Fees for the program under the facilities vary based on the amount of interests sold and the London Inter Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus an average margin of 90 basis points in 2003 and 37 basis points in 2002.  These fees, which totaled $1.4 million for both the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002, are included in Other, net.

 

8



 

6.            INVENTORY

 

Inventories are summarized as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

June 30,
2003

 

December 31,
2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paper

 

$

19,489

 

$

20,412

 

Work in process

 

6,743

 

6,438

 

Ink and chemicals

 

3,465

 

4,075

 

Other

 

5,827

 

6,264

 

 

 

$

35,524

 

$

37,189

 

 

7.            SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

The Company operates in four business segments. Each segment offers different products or services requiring different production and marketing strategies. The four segments are:

 

                  Vertis Retail and Newspaper Services - includes advertising inserts and circulation-building newspaper products such as Sunday comics, TV listing guides, Sunday magazine sections and special supplements.

 

                  Vertis Direct Marketing Services - includes highly customized direct mail products and direct marketing services such as fragrance samplers, coatings and chemical production, commercial printing, and specialized digital printing.

 

                  Vertis Advertising Technology Services - includes outsourced digital premedia and image content management, response management services and newspaper ad development.

 

                  Vertis Europe - includes direct marketing and advertising technology products and services provided in Europe, principally the United Kingdom.

 

9



 

The following is unaudited information regarding the Company’s segments:

 

 

 

Three months ended
June 30,

 

Six months ended
June 30,

 

(In thousands)

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Sales

 

Vertis Retail and  Newspaper Services

 

$

245,431

 

$

256,508

 

$

473,169

 

$

504,344

 

 

 

Vertis Direct Marketing Services

 

61,913

 

73,142

 

133,122

 

152,168

 

 

 

Vertis Advertising Technology Services

 

40,559

 

50,085

 

82,444

 

101,064

 

 

 

Vertis Europe

 

35,066

 

34,396

 

70,144

 

64,461

 

 

 

Elimination of intersegment sales

 

(5,621

)

(5,481

)

(10,316

)

(11,265

)

 

 

Consolidated

 

$

377,348

 

$

408,650

 

$

748,563

 

$

810,772

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

Vertis Retail and  Newspaper Services

 

$

34,287

 

$

45,735

 

$

58,990

 

$

80,065

 

 

 

Vertis Direct Marketing Services

 

5,225

 

10,724

 

14,262

 

21,730

 

 

 

Vertis Advertising Technology Services

 

(1,086

)

(1,084

)

(1,754

)

(760

)

 

 

Vertis Europe

 

2,589

 

4,524

 

5,151

 

6,467

 

 

 

General Corporate

 

(1,810

)

(2,192

)

5,751

 

(3,097

)

 

 

Consolidated EBITDA

 

39,205

 

57,707

 

82,400

 

104,405

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization of intangibles

 

21,060

 

21,837

 

42,464

 

44,456

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

41,044

 

38,704

 

70,797

 

68,767

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

49,012

 

(1,184

)

46,895

 

3,215

 

 

 

Cumulative effect of accounting change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

108,365

 

 

 

Consolidated Net Loss

 

$

(71,911

)

$

(1,650

)

$

(77,756

)

$

(120,398

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and

 

Vertis Retail and  Newspaper Services

 

$

10,752

 

$

10,544

 

$

21,482

 

$

21,699

 

Amortization of

 

Vertis Direct Marketing Services

 

4,676

 

4,682

 

9,437

 

9,613

 

Intangibles

 

Vertis Advertising Technology Services

 

3,817

 

4,834

 

7,903

 

9,618

 

 

 

Vertis Europe

 

1,815

 

1,777

 

3,642

 

3,526

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

$

21,060

 

$

21,837

 

$

42,464

 

$

44,456

 

 

EBITDA represents net income (loss), plus:

 

                  interest expense (net of interest income),

 

                  income tax expense (benefit),

 

                  depreciation and amortization of intangibles, and

 

                  cumulative effect of accounting change.

 

For a reconciliation of EBITDA to operating income by segment, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

8.            NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In June 2002, the FASB issued Statement No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.”  This statement requires recording costs associated with exit or disposal activities at their fair value when a liability has been incurred.  Under previous guidance, various exit costs were accrued upon management’s commitment to an exit plan, which is generally before an actual liability has been incurred.  In the first quarter of 2003, the Company adopted the provisions of this statement, which did not have an impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

10



 

In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantors Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees.”  The disclosure requirements are effective for financial statements issued after December 15, 2002, and the recognition/measurement requirements are effective on a prospective basis for guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002.  In the first quarter of 2003, the Company adopted certain provisions of this interpretation; however, the Company is still in the process of evaluating the impact of this interpretation on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure.”  This statement amends SFAS No. 123 to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation.  In addition, this statement amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based compensation and the effect of the method used on reporting results.  The disclosure provisions of this standard are effective for fiscal years ended after December 15, 2002 and have been incorporated into these condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes (see Note 10).

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” to provide new guidance with respect to the consolidation of all previously unconsolidated entities, including special-purpose entities.  The Company is currently reviewing this interpretation, the adoption of which is required for fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2003, to determine its impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

In April 2003, the FASB issued Statement No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”  This statement amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”  In general, this statement is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003.  The adoption of this statement is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position.

 

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity.”  This statement establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures in its statement of financial position certain financial instruments that embody certain mandatory redeemable obligations for the issuer that are required to be classified as liabilities.  This statement is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise shall be effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003.  The provisions of the statement are not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position.

 

11



 

9.            LONG TERM DEBT

 

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

 

 

(In thousands)

 

June 30,
2003

 

December 31,
2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving credit facility

 

$

107,269

 

$

155,161

 

Term loan A

 

 

 

124,981

 

Term loan B

 

 

 

184,219

 

9 3/4% senior secured second lien notes

 

340,847

 

 

 

10 7/8% senior notes

 

347,863

 

347,685

 

Senior subordinated credit facility

 

69,918

 

279,579

 

13 1/2% senior subordinated notes

 

210,665

 

 

 

Other notes

 

932

 

1,443

 

 

 

1,077,494

 

1,093,068

 

Current portion

 

(866

)

(5,384

)

 

 

$

1,076,628

 

$

1,087,684

 

 

The credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) consisted of three components:

 

                  A revolving credit facility which allows borrowings of up to $250.0 million, including borrowings in British pounds sterling of up to the equivalent of $160.0 million.  The revolving credit facility matures December 7, 2005 with no repayment of principal until maturity.  Interest is payable at the Company’s option either (a) at the Prime rate plus a margin of 2.00% or (b) at the LIBOR rate plus a margin of 3.00%.  These margins may decline over time in accordance with covenants in the Credit Facility;

 

                  Term Loan A, which required periodic principal payments through December 7, 2005, as well as mandatory repayments in the event of specified asset sales and certain other events; and

 

                  Term Loan B, which required periodic principal payments through December 7, 2008, as well as repayments at the lenders’ option in the event of specified asset sales.

 

On May 7, 2003, the Company, in the course of its internal financial review, became aware of a required payment due March 31, 2003, under the Credit Facility to the holders of the Term A and B loans in the amount of $40.9 million.  This past due payment was discovered during a review of the definition of “excess cash flow”, as defined in the Credit Facility agreement, resulting in a revision of the previously calculated “excess cash flow” out of which a prepayment was required to be made.  The three months ended March 31, 2003 was the only period in respect of which such a prepayment was required.  On May 8, 2003, the Company received the required waivers for this technical default and made the payment with borrowings from the revolving credit facilities.  The remainder of the Term A and B loans, $267.9 million, was retired in June 2003 in connection with the issuance of the 9 3/4% notes, as discussed below, and the provision under the Credit Facility requiring prepayment our of “excess cash flow”

 

12



 

was eliminated.  Following the payment of the Term A and B loans in their entirety, the Credit Facility consists solely of the revolving credit facility.

 

In June 2003, the Company issued $350.0 million of senior secured second lien notes with an interest rate of 9 3/4% and maturity date of April 1, 2009 (the “9 3/4% notes”).  The notes pay interest semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 of each year.  After deducting the initial purchasers discount and transaction expenses, the net proceeds received by the Company were $330.3 million.  The Company used these net proceeds to pay off $267.9 million remaining on the Term A and B loans and $62.4 million of the revolving credit facility.

 

In 2002, the Company issued $350.0 million of senior unsecured notes with an interest rate of 10 7/8% and maturity date of June 15, 2009 (the “10 7/8% notes”).  The notes pay interest semi-annually on June 15 and December 15 of each year.  After deducting the initial purchasers discount and transaction expenses, the net proceeds received by the Company were $338.0 million.  The Company used these net proceeds to repay $181.5 million of the Term A and B loans and $156.5 million of the senior subordinated credit facility.

 

The senior subordinated credit facility, which had been originally issued in 1999 as a bridge facility, was converted into a term loan in December 2000, expiring on December 7, 2009.  The interest rate of the term notes representing this term loan is 13 1/2%.  In connection with the issuance of the 10 7/8% notes in 2002, $156.5 million was repaid under the senior subordinated credit facility.  Pursuant to the senior subordinated credit facility, the Company issued $210.7 million 13 1/2% senior subordinated notes due December 7, 2009 (the “Exchange Notes”) in the first six months of 2003 in exchange for the term notes held by the holders requesting the exchange.  The remaining $69.9 million of outstanding term notes can be exchanged at the election of the holder in accordance with the senior subordinated credit facility.  The Exchange Notes pay interest semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year.

 

The Credit Facility, the senior subordinated credit facility, the 10 7/8% notes, the 9 3/4% notes and the Exchange Notes contain customary covenants including restrictions on capital expenditures, dividends, and investments.  Substantially all of the Company’s assets are pledged as collateral for the outstanding debt under the Credit Facility.  All of the Company’s debt has customary provisions requiring prepayment in the event of a change in control and out of the proceeds of asset sales, as well as cross-default provisions.  In addition, the Credit Facility agreement has customary provisions requiring prepayment out of the proceeds of issuances of debt and equity securities, and financial covenants that require us to maintain specified interest coverage ratios, leverage ratios and senior secured leverage ratios.  If the Company is unable to maintain those financial ratios, the bank lenders could require the Company to repay any amounts owing under the Credit Facility.  At June 30, 2003, the Company is in compliance with its debt covenants.

 

The Company has an interest rate swap agreement, attached to the Term B loans, that converted a portion of variable rate debt to a fixed rate basis.  This agreement was designated as a hedge against changes in future cash flows.  In accordance with SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS 133”),

 

13



 

as amended by SFAS No. 137 and SFAS No. 138, the interest rate swap agreement was reflected at fair value in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2002, and the related mark-to-market adjustment was recorded in stockholders’ deficit as a component of other comprehensive income.

 

On June 6, 2003, in connection with the payoff of the Term A and B loans, this interest rate swap agreement became an ineffective cash flow hedge.  At this date, the remaining fair market value of the agreement of approximately $1.1 million was expensed to Other, net in the six months ended June 30, 2003.

 

10.     VERTIS HOLDINGS STOCK AWARD AND INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Employees of the Company participate in Vertis’ parent company, Vertis Holdings, Inc.’s 1999 Equity Award Plan (the “Stock Plan”), which authorizes grants of stock options, restricted stock, performance shares and other stock based awards.  As of June 30, 2003, only options have been granted under the Stock Plan.

 

The Company accounts for the Stock Plan under the intrinsic value method, which follows the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.”  No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in net income.  The following table summarizes the effect of accounting for these awards as if the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation,” as amended by SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123,” had been applied.

 

 

 

Three months ended
June 30,

 

Six months ended
June 30,

 

(In thousands)

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

(71,911

)

$

(1,650

)

$

(77,756

)

$

(120,398

)

Deduct: total stock-based compensation determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of tax

 

(285

)

(588

)

(569

)

(1,175

)

Pro forma

 

$

(72,196

)

$

(2,238

)

$

(78,325

)

$

(121,573

)

 

14



 

11.     INTEREST EXPENSE, NET

 

Interest expense, net consists of the following:

 

 

 

Three months ended
June 30,

 

Six months ended
June 30,

 

(In thousands)

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

$

28,010

 

$

27,872

 

$

55,675

 

$

55,359

 

Amortization of deferred financing fees

 

2,159

 

2,638

 

4,270

 

5,283

 

Write-off of deferred financing fees

 

10,958

 

8,239

 

10,958

 

8,239

 

Interest income

 

(83

)

(45

)

(106

)

(114

)

 

 

$

41,044

 

$

38,704

 

$

70,797

 

$

68,767

 

 

The Company fully amortized deferred financing fees of $11.0 million in June 2003 in connection with the retirement of the Term A and B loans (see Note 9).  In June 2002, the Company fully amortized $8.2 million in deferred financing fees in connection with the repayments of a portion of the Term A and B loans and the senior subordinated credit facility (see Note 9).

 

12.     OTHER, NET

 

Other, net for the six months ended June 30, 2003 consists primarily of a $10.1 million recovery from a settlement to the legal proceeding arising from a life insurance policy which covered the former Chairman of Vertis Holdings, Inc.  Offsetting this income are fees associated with the A/R Facility (see Note 5), the adjustment to record the change in the interest rate swap agreement (see Note 9) and losses on the sale of property, plant and equipment.

 

Other, net for the six months ended June 30, 2002 consists primarily of $1.4 million in fees associated with the 1996 Facility (see Note 5), offset by income earned on investments accounted for as leveraged leases in accordance with SFAS No. 13, “Accounting for Leases.”

 

13.     INCOME TAXES

 

The Company has approximately $248.5 million of federal net operating losses available to carry forward as of December 31, 2002.  These carryforwards expire beginning in 2005 through 2023.  In the first six months of 2003 the Company recorded tax expense of $46.9 million as a result of recording an additional valuation allowance against more than half of its tax benefit carryforwards.  The $48.8 million valuation allowance reserves a portion of the net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards that may not be offset by reversing taxable temporary differences.  The valuation allowance was recorded in the second quarter of 2003 due to the continuation of the poor economic climate and the projected increase in annual interest expense resulting from the issuance of the 9 3/4% notes in June 2003 (see Note 9).  The Company intends to maintain a valuation allowance until sufficient positive evidence exists to support its reversal.

 

15



 

14.     GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

The Company has 9 3/4% notes, 10 7/8% notes, and Exchange Notes (see Note 9), which are guaranteed by certain of Vertis, Inc.’s domestic subsidiaries.  Accordingly, the following condensed consolidated financial information as of June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, for the three months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002, and for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002 are included for (a) Vertis, Inc. (the “Parent”) on a stand-alone basis; (b) the guarantor subsidiaries; (c) the non-guarantor subsidiaries; and (d) the Company on a consolidated basis.

 

Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for using the equity method for purposes of the consolidating presentation.  The principal elimination entries eliminate investments in subsidiaries, intercompany balances and intercompany transactions.  Separate financial statements and other disclosures with respect to the subsidiary guarantors have not been included because the subsidiaries are wholly-owned and the guarantees are full and unconditional and joint and several.

 

16



 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet at June 30, 2003

 

In thousands

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantor
Companies

 

Non-Guarantor
Companies

 

Elimin-
ations

 

Consol-
idated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

12,948

 

$

11,302

 

$

795

 

 

 

$

25,045

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

120,221

 

18,837

 

27,948

 

 

 

167,006

 

Inventories

 

23,149

 

10,803

 

1,572

 

 

 

35,524

 

Maintenance parts

 

16,226

 

3,079

 

 

 

 

 

19,305

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

5,592

 

457

 

3,054

 

 

 

9,103

 

Total current assets

 

178,136

 

44,478

 

33,369

 

 

 

255,983

 

Intercompany receivable

 

110,832

 

 

 

 

 

$

(110,832

)

 

 

Investments in subsidiaries

 

109,339

 

34,218

 

 

 

(143,557

)

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

292,429

 

103,635

 

20,774

 

 

 

416,838

 

Goodwill

 

201,454

 

48,626

 

99,850

 

 

 

349,930

 

Investments

 

 

 

 

 

73,203

 

 

 

73,203

 

Deferred financing costs, net

 

33,198

 

 

 

110

 

 

 

33,308

 

Other assets, net

 

18,670

 

989

 

33

 

 

 

19,692

 

Total Assets

 

$

944,058

 

$

231,946

 

$

227,339

 

$

(254,389

)

$

1,148,954

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S (DEFICIT) EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

180,050

 

$

27,335

 

$

13,415

 

 

 

$

220,800

 

Compensation and benefits payable

 

21,831

 

8,087

 

580

 

 

 

30,498

 

Accrued interest

 

9,367

 

 

 

1,237

 

 

 

10,604

 

Accrued income taxes

 

8,211

 

(187

)

(1,831

)

 

 

6,193

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

848

 

18

 

 

 

 

 

866

 

Other current liabilities

 

7,644

 

8,323

 

9,354

 

 

 

25,321

 

Total current liabilities

 

227,951

 

43,576

 

22,755

 

 

 

294,282

 

Due to parent

 

 

 

75,964

 

42,336

 

$

(110,832

)

7,468

 

Long-term debt, net of current portion

 

983,024

 

 

 

93,604

 

 

 

1,076,628

 

Deferred income taxes

 

67,225

 

(2,284

)

936

 

 

 

65,877

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

21,034

 

7,241

 

275

 

 

 

28,550

 

Total liabilities

 

1,299,234

 

124,497

 

159,906

 

(110,832

)

1,472,805

 

Stockholder’s (deficit) equity

 

(355,176

)

107,449

 

67,433

 

(143,557

)

(323,851

)

Total Liabilities and Stockholder’s (Deficit) Equity

 

$

944,058

 

$

231,946

 

$

227,339

 

$

(254,389

)

$

1,148,954

 

 

17



 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet at December 31, 2002

 

In thousands

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantor
Companies

 

Non-Guarantor
Companies

 

Elimin-
ations

 

Consol-
idated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

3,590

 

$

99

 

$

2,046

 

 

 

$

5,735

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

72,106

 

25,954

 

33,465

 

 

 

131,525

 

Inventories

 

23,906

 

11,867

 

1,416

 

 

 

37,189

 

Maintenance parts

 

15,799

 

3,062

 

 

 

 

 

18,861

 

Deferred income taxes

 

7,790

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

7,806

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

10,647

 

2,344

 

2,899

 

 

 

15,890

 

Total current assets

 

133,838

 

43,326

 

39,842

 

 

 

217,006

 

Intercompany receivable

 

97,374

 

 

 

 

 

$

(97,374

)

 

 

Investments in subsidiaries

 

98,428

 

18,240

 

 

 

(116,668

)

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

305,300

 

117,877

 

22,316

 

 

 

445,493

 

Goodwill

 

197,202

 

48,625

 

96,477

 

 

 

342,304

 

Investments

 

 

 

 

 

72,411

 

 

 

72,411

 

Deferred financing costs, net

 

36,985

 

 

 

128

 

 

 

37,113

 

Other assets, net

 

19,277

 

1,361

 

33

 

 

 

20,671

 

Total Assets

 

$

888,404

 

$

229,429

 

$

231,207

 

$

(214,042

)

$

1,134,998

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S (DEFICIT) EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

82,168

 

$

32,565

 

$

18,444

 

 

 

$

133,177

 

Compensation and benefits payable

 

27,466

 

9,650

 

718

 

 

 

37,834

 

Accrued interest

 

14,493

 

 

 

2,095

 

 

 

16,588

 

Accrued income taxes

 

8,548

 

(180

)

(2,417

)

 

 

5,951

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

5,341

 

43

 

 

 

 

 

5,384

 

Other current liabilities

 

16,768

 

10,099

 

9,720

 

 

 

36,587

 

Total current liabilities

 

154,784

 

52,177

 

28,560

 

 

 

235,521

 

Due to parent

 

 

 

80,678

 

24,518

 

$

(97,374

)

7,822

 

Long-term debt, net of current portion

 

980,678

 

 

 

107,006

 

 

 

1,087,684

 

Deferred income taxes

 

27,447

 

(2,284

)

910

 

 

 

26,073

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

20,030

 

7,472

 

388

 

 

 

27,890

 

Total liabilities

 

1,182,939

 

138,043

 

161,382

 

(97,374

)

1,384,990

 

Stockholder’s (deficit) equity

 

(294,535

)

91,386

 

69,825

 

(116,668

)

(249,992

)

Total Liabilities and Stockholder’s (Deficit) Equity

 

$

888,404

 

$

229,429

 

$

231,207

 

$

(214,042

)

$

1,134,998

 

 

18



 

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

Three months ended June 30, 2003

 

In thousands

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantor
Companies

 

Non-Guarantor
Companies

 

Elimin-
ations

 

Consol-
idated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

264,168

 

$

77,399

 

$

35,781

 

 

 

$

377,348

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs of production

 

210,091

 

57,881

 

25,123

 

 

 

293,095

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

26,162

 

9,202

 

7,958

 

 

 

43,322

 

Depreciation and amortization of intangibles

 

13,941

 

5,276

 

1,843

 

 

 

21,060

 

 

 

250,194

 

72,359

 

34,924

 

 

 

357,477

 

Operating income

 

13,974

 

5,040

 

857

 

 

 

19,871

 

Other expenses (income):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

39,376

 

(4

)

1,672

 

 

 

41,044

 

Other, net

 

1,849

 

(139

)

16

 

 

 

1,726

 

 

 

41,225

 

(143

)

1,688

 

 

 

42,770

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries

 

3,762

 

 

 

 

 

(3,762

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income before income taxes

 

(23,489

)

5,183

 

(831

)

(3,762

)

(22,899

)

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

48,422

 

(3

)

593

 

 

 

49,012

 

Net (loss) income

 

$

(71,911

)

$

5,186

 

$

(1,424

)

$

(3,762

)

$

(71,911

)

 

19



 

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

Three months ended June 30, 2002

 

In thousands

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Elimin-
ations

 

Consol-
idated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

279,403

 

$

99,604

 

$

35,120

 

$

(5,477

)

$

408,650

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs of production

 

213,398

 

71,952

 

24,116

 

(5,477

)

303,989

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

26,366

 

11,131

 

6,296

 

 

 

43,793

 

Depreciation and amortization of intangibles

 

14,367

 

5,653

 

1,817

 

 

 

21,837

 

 

 

256,430

 

88,643

 

32,348

 

(5,477

)

371,944

 

Operating income

 

22,973

 

10,961

 

2,772

 

 

 

36,706

 

Other expenses (income):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

36,799

 

(25

)

1,930

 

 

 

38,704

 

Other, net

 

105

 

18

 

713

 

 

 

836

 

 

 

36,904

 

(7

)

2,643

 

 

 

39,540

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in net income of subsidiaries

 

11,021

 

 

 

 

 

(11,021

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income before income taxes

 

(2,910

)

10,968

 

129

 

(11,021

)

(2,834

)

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

(1,260

)

120

 

(44

)

 

 

(1,184

)

Net (loss) income

 

$

(1,650

)

$

10,848

 

$

173

 

$

(11,021

)

$

(1,650

)

 

20



 

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

Six months ended June 30, 2003

 

In thousands

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantor
Companies

 

Non-Guarantor
Companies

 

Elimin-
ations

 

Consol-
idated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

516,063

 

$

171,436

 

$

71,379

 

$

(10,315

)

$

748,563

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs of production

 

413,694

 

129,854

 

50,088

 

(10,315

)

583,321

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

55,357

 

18,893

 

15,978

 

 

 

90,228

 

Depreciation and amortization of intangibles

 

28,106

 

10,664

 

3,694

 

 

 

42,464

 

 

 

497,157

 

159,411

 

69,760

 

(10,315

)

716,013

 

Operating income

 

18,906

 

12,025

 

1,619

 

 

 

32,550

 

Other expenses (income):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

67,208

 

(9

)

3,598

 

 

 

70,797

 

Other, net

 

(7,145

)

(277

)

36

 

 

 

(7,386

)

 

 

60,063

 

(286

)

3,634

 

 

 

63,411

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries

 

9,847

 

 

 

 

 

(9,847

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income before income taxes

 

(31,310

)

12,311

 

(2,015

)

(9,847

)

(30,861

)

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

46,446

 

(8

)

457

 

 

 

46,895

 

Net (loss) income

 

$

(77,756

)

$

12,319

 

$

(2,472

)

$

(9,847

)

$

(77,756

)

 

21



 

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

Six months ended June 30, 2002

As restated

 

In thousands

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantor
Companies

 

Non-Guarantor
Companies

 

Elimin-
ations

 

Consol-
idated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

552,305

 

$

204,125

 

$

65,725

 

$

(11,383

)

$

810,772

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs of production

 

428,490

 

148,740

 

44,846

 

(11,383

)

610,693

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

56,115

 

22,992

 

12,431

 

 

 

91,538

 

Restructuring charges

 

339

 

785

 

1,922

 

 

 

3,046

 

Depreciation and amortization of intangibles

 

29,342

 

11,497

 

3,617

 

 

 

44,456

 

 

 

514,286

 

184,014

 

62,816

 

(11,383

)

749,733

 

Operating income

 

38,019

 

20,111

 

2,909

 

 

 

61,039

 

Other expenses (income):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

65,032

 

(90

)

3,825

 

 

 

68,767

 

Other, net

 

(286

)

(128

)

1,504

 

 

 

1,090

 

 

 

64,746

 

(218

)

5,329

 

 

 

69,857

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in net loss of subsidiaries

 

(32,860

)

 

 

 

 

32,860

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income before income taxes

 

(59,587

)

20,329

 

(2,420

)

32,860

 

(8,818

)

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

(3,128

)

6,771

 

(428

)

 

 

3,215

 

(Loss) income before cumulative effect of accounting change

 

(56,459

)

13,558

 

(1,992

)

32,860

 

(12,033

)

Cumulative effect of accounting change

 

63,939

 

22,661

 

21,765

 

 

 

108,365

 

Net (loss) income

 

$

(120,398

)

$

(9,103

)

$

(23,757

)

$

32,860

 

$

(120,398

)

 

22



 

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

Six months ended June 30, 2003

 

In thousands

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantor
Companies

 

Non-
Guarantor
Companies

 

Consol-
idated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

$

(1,463

)

$

67,944

 

$

824

 

67,305

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(8,574

)

(2,147

)

(1,958

)

(12,679

)

Software development costs capitalized

 

(1,517

)

 

 

 

 

(1,517

)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and divested assets

 

376

 

 

 

148

 

524

 

Acquisition of business, net of cash

 

(57

)

 

 

 

 

(57

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(9,772

)

(2,147

)

(1,810

)

(13,729

)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of long-term debt

 

340,714

 

 

 

 

 

340,714

 

Net repayments under revolving credit facilities

 

(34,518

)

 

 

(16,316

)

(50,834

)

Repayments of long-term debt

 

(309,655

)

(26

)

(33

)

(309,714

)

Deferred financing costs

 

(11,441

)

 

 

 

 

(11,441

)

Decrease in outstanding checks drawn on controlled disbursement accounts

 

(1,032

)

(1,589

)

(1,007

)

(3,628

)

Other financing activities

 

36,525

 

(52,979

)

16,090

 

(364

)

Net cash provided by (used in) by financing activities

 

20,593

 

(54,594

)

(1,266

)

(35,267

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

 

 

 

 

1,001

 

1,001

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

9,358

 

11,203

 

(1,251

)

19,310

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

3,590

 

99

 

2,046

 

5,735

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 

$

12,948

 

$

11,302

 

$

795

 

$

25,045

 

 

23



 

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

Six months ended June 30, 2002

As restated

 

In thousands

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantor
Companies

 

Non-
Guarantor
Companies

 

Consol-
idated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

$

(112,809

)

$

97,852

 

$

25,868

 

$

10,911

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(9,718

)

(1,698

)

(1,259

)

(12,675

)

Software development costs capitalized

 

(1,199

)

 

 

 

 

(1,199

)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and divested assets

 

304

 

34

 

38

 

376

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(10,613

)

(1,664

)

(1,221

)

(13,498

)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of long-term debt

 

247,500

 

 

 

 

 

247,500

 

Net repayments under revolving credit facilities

 

(8,153

)

 

 

(2,363

)

(10,516

)

Repayments of long-term debt

 

(249,797

)

(217

)

 

 

(250,014

)

Deferred financing costs

 

(7,499

)

 

 

(1,885

)

(9,384

)

Increase in outstanding checks drawn on controlled disbursement accounts

 

3,576

 

7,266

 

2,398

 

13,240

 

Other financing activities

 

(717

)

 

 

 

 

(717

)

Change in intercompany balances

 

117,064

 

(91,428

)

(25,636

)

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) by financing activities

 

101,974

 

(84,379

)

(27,486

)

(9,891

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

 

 

 

 

614

 

614

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(21,448

)

11,809

 

(2,225

)

(11,864

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

14,618

 

(358

)

3,273

 

17,533

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

(6,830

)

$

11,451

 

$

1,048

 

$

5,669

 

 

24



 

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations

 

Introduction

 

Vertis is a leading provider of targeted advertising products and marketing services.  We deliver a comprehensive range of solutions that simplify, improve and maximize the effectiveness of multiple phases of our customers’ marketing campaigns from the inception of an advertising concept, through design, production, targeted distribution, and ultimately to providing advertising effectiveness measurement.

 

We operate through four principal business segments.  Vertis Retail and Newspaper Services (“RNS”), Vertis Direct Marketing Services (“DMS”) and Vertis Advertising Technology Services (“ATS”) provide advertising solutions to clients on a functional basis in the U.S., while Vertis Europe provides both production and direct marketing services to clients overseas, predominantly in the U.K.

 

When we use the terms “Vertis”, the “Company”, “we” and “our”, we mean Vertis, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries.  The words “Vertis Holdings” refer to Vertis Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Vertis and its sole stockholder.

 

Corporate Consolidation and Restructuring

 

In the first quarter of 2000, we began a multi-phase consolidation and restructuring plan intended to streamline operations, improve sales and reduce the cost of operating our business in order to better serve our customers while at the same time also improving our operating and financial performance.  Our consolidation plan had three principal components:

 

                  eliminating our two-tier holding company structure and centralizing our domestic and European operations under one management team that has successfully managed our largest business segment since 1994, while integrating advertising and marketing production services;

 

                  reorganizing our sales force to correspond more directly to our clients’ evolving needs for broad-based, integrated marketing solutions; and

 

                  consolidating back office operations and eliminating duplicative overhead.

 

As part of this plan, we also consolidated our sales organization to create an integrated product offering and sales effort.  We have established national and retail sales groups to target large accounts that can employ multiple service lines to augment sales units focused on selling the products and services of each business unit.  We believe that this structure, which we call Vertis Integrated Selling, will maximize multi-solution sales opportunities while continuing to drive the sales of our products and services through our individual business units.  Finally, this consolidation has allowed us to realize substantial cost savings through the elimination of duplicative positions as well as much of the corporate overhead previously incurred by our parent, Vertis Holdings.

 

25



 

In order to further reduce duplicative overhead, on January 1, 2001, we transferred 13 management and support personnel employed at our parent, Vertis Holdings, to Chancery Lane Capital (“CLC”), an affiliate of the former chairman of Vertis Holdings, in exchange for a $14.0 million one-time payment by us to CLC.  This cost was recorded in restructuring expense in 2001.  Concurrently, Thomas H. Lee Partners acquired an additional $40 million of our equity from an affiliate of CLC in exchange for $40 million of Vertis Holdings’ mezzanine debt.

 

During 2001, we continued the restructuring program initiated in 2000.  Several production and sales administration facilities were combined in strategic areas resulting in the closure of 14 facilities, abandonment of assets in those locations and reduction in work force.

 

In the first six months of 2002, Vertis Europe combined two facilities and recorded $1.8 million in restructuring charges comprised mainly of facility closure costs and severance.  Additionally, ATS terminated approximately 160 employees, recording $2.0 million in severance costs, in an effort to streamline operations.  Offsetting these charges is a $1.3 million adjustment to the estimate of 2001 restructuring costs made in 2002.  During the remainder of 2002, we recorded an additional $16.0 million in restructuring costs related to the closure of five facilities and the termination of approximately 150 employees at ATS and the consolidation of production capabilities, including the termination of 133 employees, within the DMS segment.

 

There were no restructuring costs incurred in the first six months of 2003.  The restructuring programs started in 2000 were completed at December 31, 2002.  We expect to pay $4.6 million of the accrued restructuring costs during the next twelve months, and the remainder, approximately $3.8 million, by 2007.

 

26



 

Results Of Continuing Operations

 

The following table presents major components from our consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage
of Net Sales

 

Percentage
of Net Sales

 

 

 

Three months ended
June 30,

 

Six months ended
June 30,

 

Three months ended
June 30,

 

Six months ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

377,348

 

$

408,650

 

$

748,563

 

$

810,772

 

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

Costs of production

 

293,095

 

303,989

 

583,321

 

610,693

 

77.7

%

74.4

%

77.9

%

75.3

%

Selling, general and administrative

 

43,322

 

43,793

 

90,228

 

91,538

 

11.5

%

10.7

%

12.1

%

11.3

%

Restructuring charges

 

 

 

2,325

 

 

 

3,046

 

 

 

0.6

%

 

 

0.4

%

Depreciation and amortization of intangibles

 

21,060

 

21,837

 

42,464

 

44,456

 

5.6

%

5.3

%

5.7

%

5.5

%

Total operating costs

 

357,477

 

371,944

 

716,013

 

749,733

 

94.8

%

91.0

%

95.7

%

92.5

%

Operating income

 

19,871

 

36,706

 

32,550

 

61,039

 

5.2

%

9.0

%

4.3

%

7.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows provided by operating activities

 

$

55,041

 

$

7

 

$

67,305

 

$

10,911

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows used in investing activities

 

2,494

 

8,854

 

13,729

 

13,498

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(39,539

)

4,141

 

(35,267

)

(9,891

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

39,205

 

57,707

 

82,400

 

104,405

 

10.4

%

14.1

%

11.0

%

12.9

%

 

EBITDA is included in this document as it is the primary performance measure we use to evaluate our business segments.  EBITDA, as we use it for this purpose, represents net income (loss) plus:

 

                  interest expense (net of interest income),

 

                  income tax expense (benefit),

 

                  depreciation and amortization of intangibles, and

 

                  cumulative effect of accounting change.

 

We present EBITDA here to provide additional information regarding our performance and because it is the measure by which we gauge the profitability of our segments.  EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).  You should not consider it an alternative to net income as a measure of operating performance.  Our calculation of EBITDA may be different from the calculation used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited.  A full quantitative reconciliation of EBITDA to its most directly comparable GAAP measure, net (loss) income, is provided as follows:

 

27



 

 

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

(in thousands)

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(71,911

)

$

(1,650

)

$

(77,756

)

$

(120,398

)

Interest expense, net

 

41,044

 

38,704

 

70,797

 

68,767

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

49,012

 

(1,184

)

46,895

 

3,215

 

Depreciation and amortization of intangibles

 

21,060

 

21,837

 

42,464

 

44,456

 

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

108,365

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

$

39,205

 

$

57,707

 

$

82,400

 

$

104,405

 

 

General

 

Several factors can affect the comparability of our results from one period to another.  Primary among these factors are the cost of paper, changes in business mix, the timing of restructuring expense and the realization of the associated benefits, and the current economic environment.

 

The cost of paper is a principal factor in our pricing to certain customers since a substantial portion of net sales includes the pass-through cost of paper.  Therefore, changes in the cost of paper and changes in the proportion of paper supplied by our customers significantly affect our net sales, principally at RNS and DMS where paper is a substantial portion of the costs of production.  Changes in the cost of paper do not materially impact our net earnings since we are generally able to pass on increases in the cost of paper to our customers, while decreases in paper costs generally result in lower prices to customers.

 

Variances in expense category ratios, as percentages of net sales, may reflect business mix and are influenced by the change in revenue directly resulting from changes in paper prices, type of paper, and the proportion of paper supplied by our customers.  As our business mix changes, the nature of products sold in a period can lead to offsetting increases and decreases in different expense categories.

 

In the first half of 2003, the economic environment continued to decline, affecting our performance.  Recent world events have continued to affect customer confidence.  A substantial portion of our revenue is generated from customers in various sections of the retail industry, which have been particularly impacted by the recent prolonged economic downturn.  If this ongoing difficult economic environment continues, it is likely that our results for the remainder of 2003 will be negatively impacted as well.  We, however, expect the difficult economic environment to ease up moderately over the remainder of the year.

 

You should consider all of these factors in reviewing the discussion of our operating results.

 

Results of Operations – Three and six months ended June 30, 2003 compared to 2002

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2003, net sales declined $31.4 million, or 7.7%, from $408.7 million in 2002 to $377.3 million in 2003.  Through the first six months of 2003, net sales of $748.6 million represent a $62.2 million, or 7.7%, decline as compared to 2002 net sales of $810.8 million.  These declines reflect the challenging economic and geopolitical conditions which have dampened advertising spending and have put pressure on

 

28



 

retail sales.  These global economic influences have resulted in competitive pricing pressures and sluggish direct mail business domestically as well as in Europe.  In addition, weak sales to advertising agency customers at ATS continued, indicative of the weak advertising environment and the shift by advertising agencies to in-house production.  Also, changes in the cost of paper resulted in an increase in net sales of $1.3 million in the second quarter and a $4.0 million decrease in net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2003.

 

At RNS, net sales declined $11.1 million, or 4.3%, from $256.5 million to $245.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2003.  Through the first six months, net sales of $473.2 million represent a $31.1 million, or 6.2%, decline versus 2002 net sales of $504.3 million.  The primary factor driving the declines in net sales was the ongoing decline in pricing due to the competitive pricing pressure and changes in product mix toward simpler formats.  Generally, competitive price pressures exist in periods when advertisers reduce spending, as we have seen in the current sluggish advertising spending environment.  In addition, advertisers may change product types to reduce their overall cost of advertising, which will have a downward impact on our net sales.  Even in the poor economic environment, volume at RNS increased modestly in the second quarter and was flat as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2002.  Results for the first six months of 2003 were also negatively impacted by $4.4 million due to the decline in the cost of paper.

 

At DMS net sales for the three months ended June 30, 2003 amounted to $61.9 million compared to $73.1 million in the comparable 2002 period, representing a decline of $11.2 million, or 15.3%.  Through the first six months of 2003, net sales declined $19.1 million, or 12.5%, from $152.2 million to $133.1 million.  These declines were the result of decreases in volume compounded by lower pricing.  Volume declines were more noticeable in the second quarter of 2003.  The decline in pricing reflects increased overall price competition commensurate with the weak advertising environment and changes in product mix.  Product mix changes reflect shifts by advertisers from more complex direct mail pieces, such as highly personalized pieces and pieces that require complex configurations, to less complex direct mail pieces, which lower our customers’ advertising costs and our net sales per direct mail piece.  Since the simpler products are produced using less sophisticated equipment, this has resulted in increased competition and, in-turn, decreased pricing.  We believe these negative impacts on net sales are a result of the current sluggish advertising environment.

 

At ATS, net sales declined $9.5 million, or 19.0%, from $50.1 million in the three months ended June 30, 2002 to $40.6 million in the three months ended June 30, 2003.  Through the first six months, net sales of $82.4 million represent a decline of $18.7 million, or 18.5%, compared to 2002 net sales of $101.1 million.  These declines are primarily due to weak demand, largely from advertising agency customers.  The decline in sales to advertising agency customers amounted to $10.0 million in the second quarter and $19.4 million through June 2003 as compared to the comparable 2002 periods.  These declines reflect the weak advertising environment as well as advertising agencies increasingly producing the products and services in-house.  We do not expect this trend in our business with advertising agencies to change.  Through June 30, 2003, we have mitigated a portion of the decline in net sales from advertising agency customers with increases in other lines of business, including net

 

29



 

sales to packaging customers, and increases in our digital solutions and other media and marketing services at ATS.

 

At our Vertis Europe segment, for the three months ended June 30, 2003, net sales amounted to $35.1 million versus $34.4 million in the comparable 2002 period, an increase of $0.7 million, or 2.0%.  For the first six months of 2003, net sales of $70.1 million were $5.6 million, or 8.7%, higher than 2002 net sales which totaled $64.5 million.  Results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003, were positively impacted by foreign exchange rate fluctuations in the amount of $3.4 million and $7.2 million, respectively.  Excluding the positive impact of these foreign exchange rate fluctuations, Vertis Europe’s net sales are down in each period as growth in the advertising production business of 3.8% and 4.0% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003, respectively, was more than offset by declines in the direct marketing business of 12.8% and 5.0% for the same periods.  The decline in our direct mail business in Europe reflects poor conditions similar to those that exist in our U.S. direct mail business.  Industry wide excess capacity and weak demand have resulted in lower volume and prices.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2003, our consolidated costs of production decreased $10.9 million, or 3.6%, from $304.0 million in 2002 to $293.1 million in 2003.  Through the first six months of 2003, costs of production decreased $27.4 million, or 4.5%, from $610.7 million in 2002 to $583.3 million in 2003.  As a percentage of net sales, cost of production increased 3.3 percentage points for the three months ended June 30, 2003 and 2.6 percentage points for the six months ended June 30, 2003, largely due to the noted decline in net sales.  The cost of paper and ink consumed represents $7.7 million and $20.3 million of the decline in costs of production for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003, respectively.  The balance of the decline in costs of production reflects the decline commensurate with the noted declines in sales, cost management of variable and fixed costs and the ongoing efforts to improve operating efficiencies.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.5 million, or 1.1%, and $1.3 million, or 1.4%, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003, respectively.  In 2003, selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales were 11.5% for the three months ended June 30, and 12.1% for the six months ended June 30, which both represent 0.8 percentage point increases versus the comparable 2002 period, largely due to the noted decline in net sales.

 

There were no restructuring charges for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003.  In the first six months of 2002, Vertis Europe combined two facilities and recorded $1.8 million in restructuring charges comprised mainly of facility closure costs and severance costs.  Additionally, ATS terminated approximately 160 employees, recording $2.0 million in severance costs, in an effort to streamline operations.  Offsetting these charges is a $1.3 million adjustment to the estimate of 2001 restructuring costs made in 2002.

 

Operating income amounted to $19.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2003, a decline of $16.8 million, or 45.8% compared to operating income of $36.7 million in the comparable 2002 period.  Through the first six months of 2003, operating income declined $28.4 million, or 46.6%, from $61.0 million in 2002 to $32.6 million in 2003.  As a percentage of net sales, operating income decreased 3.8 percentage points to 5.2% for the three months ended June 30, 2003 as compared to 9.0% in 2002.  For the six months ended

 

30



 

June 30, 2003, operating income as a percent of net sales totaled 4.3%, which was a 3.2 percentage point decline from the 7.5% realized in the comparable 2002 period.  The reductions in operating income are primarily attributable to the noted declines in net sales which were only partially offset by cost management initiatives and our focus on operating efficiencies.

 

Net loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003 was $71.9 million and $77.8 million, an increase in loss of $70.3 million for the three months and a decrease in loss of $42.6 million for the six months as compared to the comparable 2002 periods.  Included in the six months ended June 30, 2003 net loss is a $48.8 million tax valuation allowance (see “-Seasonality and Other Factors” below).  Included in the 2002 net loss for the first six months is a $108.4 million charge for the cumulative effect of accounting change resulting from our adoption of SFAS No. 142 (see “-New Accounting Pronouncements” below).  Loss before income tax expense and cumulative effect of accounting change for the six months ended June 30, 2003 increased from the comparable prior year period by $22.0 million.  Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs were relatively flat when comparing 2003 to 2002.  The increase in other non-operating income of $8.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2003 versus the six months ended June 30, 2002, is largely due to a $10.1 million recovery from a settlement to the legal proceeding arising from a life insurance policy which covered the former Chairman of Vertis Holdings, Inc.  Offsetting this income are $1.4 million in fees associated with the A/R Facility, as defined below under “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Contractual Obligations — Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements”, the adjustment to record the changes in the interest rate swap agreement and losses on the sale of property, plant and equipment.

 

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A reconciliation of Operating income (loss) to EBITDA by segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002 is as follows:

 

(in thousands)

 

RNS

 

DMS

 

ATS

 

Vertis
Europe

 

Corporate

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended June 30, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

23,535

 

$

549

 

$

(4,903

)

$

774

 

$

(84

)

$

19,871

 

Depreciation and amortization of intangibles

 

10,752

 

4,676

 

3,817

 

1,815

 

 

 

21,060

 

Less:  Other, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,726

)

(1,726

)

EBITDA

 

$

34,287

 

$

5,225

 

$

(1,086

)

$

2,589

 

$

(1,810

)

$

39,205

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended June 30, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

35,191

 

$

6,042

 

$

(5,918

)

$

2,747

 

$

(1,356

)

$

36,706

 

Depreciation and amortization of intangibles

 

10,544

 

4,682

 

4,834

 

1,777

 

 

 

21,837

 

Less:  Other, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(836

)

(836

)

EBITDA

 

$

45,735

 

$

10,724

 

$

(1,084

)

$

4,524

 

$

(2,192

)

$

57,707

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six months ended June 30, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

37,508

 

$

4,825

 

$

(9,657

)

$

1,509

 

$

(1,635

)

$

32,550

 

Depreciation and amortization of intangibles

 

21,482

 

9,437

 

7,903

 

3,642

 

 

 

42,464

 

Less:  Other, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,386

 

7,386

 

EBITDA

 

$

58,990

 

$

14,262

 

$

(1,754

)

$

5,151

 

$

5,751

 

$

82,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six months ended June 30, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

58,366

 

$

12,117

 

$

(10,378

)

$

2,941

 

$

(2,007

)

$

61,039

 

Depreciation and amortization of intangibles

 

21,699

 

9,613

 

9,618

 

3,526

 

 

 

44,456

 

Less:  Other, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,090

)

(1,090

)

EBITDA

 

$

80,065

 

$

21,730

 

$

(760

)

$

6,467

 

$

(3,097

)

$

104,405

 

 

At RNS, EBITDA amounted to $34.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2003, a decrease of $11.4 million, or 25.0%, compared to $45.7 million in the comparable 2002 period.  For the first six months of 2003, RNS EBITDA of $59.0 million is $21.1 million, or 26.3%, below the comparable 2002 EBITDA of $80.1 million.  These declines reflect competitive pricing pressures and changes in product mix  toward simpler formats, partially offset by a modest increase in volume.  Higher costs, primarily staffing, severance, and insurance costs, also contributed to the decline.

 

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At DMS, EBITDA amounted to $5.2 million and $14.3 million, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003, respectively.  These results represent a decline from the prior year comparable periods of $5.5 million, or 51.3%, and $7.5 million, or 34.4%, respectively.  The decline reflects the downward impact on net sales attributable to the shift by our customers to simpler products, lower quantities per order, and general competitive pricing pressure.  Costs were reduced commensurate with the decline in net sales and managed tightly, which partially offset the negative impact on EBITDA of the decline in net sales.

 

ATS EBITDA for the three months ended June 30, 2003 was a loss of $1.1 million which was equivalent to the prior year.  Through the first six months of 2003, ATS EBITDA was a loss of $1.8 million which represents a decline in EBITDA of $1.0 million from the comparable 2002 period.  Lower costs reflect the right-sizing initiatives implemented in 2002, but the lower cost base only partially mitigated the decline in net sales due to the poor advertising environment.  The noted changes in EBITDA for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003, benefited from decreases in restructuring charges of $2.0 million and $1.4, respectively.

 

At Vertis Europe, EBITDA of $2.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2003, represents a decline of $1.9 million, or 42.2% as compared to EBITDA of $4.5 million in the comparable prior year period.  For the first six months of 2003, Vertis Europe EBITDA totaled $5.2 million which was $1.3 million, or 20.3%, lower than the comparable period in 2002.  The decline reflects the poor conditions in our direct mail business in Europe, largely due to product simplification and price competition.  In addition, costs were higher in 2003, largely due to increased selling costs to develop and expand our product offering in response to the sluggish direct mail business.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Sources of Funds

 

We fund our operations, capital expenditures and investments with internally generated funds, revolving credit facility borrowings, sales of accounts receivable, and issuances of debt.

 

We believe that the facilities in place, as well as our cash flows, will be sufficient to meet our operational needs, including capital expenditures and restructuring costs, for the next twelve months.  At June 30, 2003, we had approximately $138.1 million available to borrow under our revolving credit facility.  There can be no assurance, however, that our operations will generate sufficient cash flows or that we will always be able to refinance our current debt or obtain additional financing to refinance debt we assume in acquisition transactions.  In the event we are unable to obtain sufficient financing, we would pursue other sources of funding such as debt offerings by Vertis Holdings, equity offerings by us and/or Vertis Holdings or asset sales.

 

Items that could impact liquidity are described below.

 

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Contractual Obligations
 

The following table discloses aggregate information about our contractual obligations  as of June 30, 2003 and the periods in which payments are due:

 

Contractual Obligations

 

Total

 

Less than
1 year

 

1-3 years

 

4-5 years

 

After
5 years

 

(In millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

$

1,077

 

$

1

 

$

107

 

 

 

$

969

 

Operating leases

 

86

 

22

 

36

 

$

 17

 

11

 

Total contractual cash obligations

 

$

1,163

 

$

23

 

$

143

 

$

17

 

$

980

 

 

Foreign Currency

 

Fluctuation in foreign currency would affect approximately $93.6 million of the British pound sterling based debt as of June 30, 2003.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

In 1996, we entered into a six-year agreement to sell substantially all trade accounts receivable generated by subsidiaries in the U.S. (as amended, the “1996 Facility”) through the issuance of $130.0 million of variable rate trade receivable backed certificates.  In April 2002, the revolving period for these certificates was extended and the certificates were refinanced.  In December 2002, the 1996 Facility expired and we entered into a new three-year agreement terminating in December 2005 (the “A/R Facility”) through the issuance of $130.0 million variable rate trade receivable backed notes.  The proceeds from the A/R Facility were used to retire the certificates issued under the 1996 Facility.

 

The A/R Facility allows for a maximum of $130.0 million of trade accounts receivable to be sold at any time based on the level of eligible receivables.  Under the 1996 Facility and the A/R Facility, we sell our trade accounts receivable through a bankruptcy-remote wholly-owned subsidiary.  However, we maintain an interest in the receivables and have been contracted to service the accounts receivable.  We received cash proceeds for servicing of $1.6 million and $1.7 million in the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

At June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, accounts receivable of $115.4 million and $125.9 million, respectively, had been sold under the facilities and, as such, are reflected as reductions of accounts receivable.  At June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, we retained an interest in the pool of receivables in the form of overcollateralization and cash reserve accounts of $43.2 million and $46.3 million, respectively which is included in Accounts receivable, net on the balance sheet at allocated cost, which approximates fair value.  The proceeds from collections reinvested in securitizations amounted to $705.1 million and $716.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

Fees for the program under the facilities vary based on the amount of interests sold and the London Inter Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus an average margin of 90 basis points in 2003 and 37 basis points in 2002.  These fees, which totaled $1.4 million for both the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002, are included in Other, net.

 

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We have no other off-balance sheet arrangements that may have a material current or future effect on financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources or significant components of revenues or expenses.

 

Debt

 

In June 2003, we issued $350.0 million of senior secured second lien notes with an interest rate of 9 3/4% (the “9 3/4% notes”) and maturity date of April 1, 2009.  After deducting the initial purchasers discount and transaction expenses, the net proceeds received by us from the sale of these notes were $330.3 million.  We used these net proceeds to pay off $267.9 million remaining on the term loans outstanding under our senior credit facility and $62.4 million of our revolving credit facility.

 

In 2002, we issued $350.0 million of 10 7/8% senior unsecured notes (the “10 7/8% notes”) with a maturity date of June 15, 2009.  After deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and transaction expenses, the net proceeds received by us from the sale of these notes were approximately $338.0 million.  We used these net proceeds to repay $181.5 million of the term loans and $156.5 million of debt outstanding under our senior subordinated credit facility.  In addition, pursuant to the senior subordinated credit facility, we issued $210.7 million 13 1/2% senior subordinated notes due December 7, 2009, in the first six months of 2003 in exchange for some of the term notes under the senior subordinated credit facility.

 

On May 7, 2003, in the course of our internal financial review, we became aware of a required payment due under the senior credit facility to the holders of our term loans in the amount of $40.9 million.  This past due payment was discovered during a review of the definition of “excess cash flow”, as defined in the senior credit facility agreement, resulting in a revision of the previously calculated “excess cash flow” out of which a prepayment was required to be made.  The three months ended March 31, 2003 was the only period in respect of which such a prepayment was required.  On May 8, 2003, we received the required waivers for this technical default and made the payment with borrowings from the revolving credit facilities.  The remainder of the term loans, $267.9 million, was paid off in connection with the issuance of the 9 3/4% notes, as discussed above, and the provision under the senior credit facility requiring prepayment out of “excess cash flow” was eliminated.  Following the payment of the term loans in their entirety, the senior credit facility consists solely of the revolving credit facility.

 

Our senior credit facility, senior subordinated credit facility, the outstanding 9 3/4% notes due April 1, 2009, the outstanding 10 7/8% notes due June 15, 2009, and the outstanding 13 1/2% senior subordinated notes due December 7, 2009 contain customary covenants limiting our ability to engage in various activities including restrictions on capital expenditures, dividends, investments and indebtedness.  Substantially all of our assets are pledged as collateral for the outstanding debt under our senior credit facility.  All of our debt has customary provisions requiring prepayment in the event of a change in control and out of the proceeds of asset sales, as well as cross-default provisions.  In addition, our senior credit facility agreement has customary provisions requiring prepayment out of the proceeds of issuances of debt and equity securities, and financial covenants that require us to maintain specified interest coverage ratios, leverage ratios and senior secured leverage ratios.  If we are unable to maintain those financial ratios, the bank lenders could require us to repay any

 

35



 

amounts owing under the senior credit facility.  At June 30, 2003, we are in compliance with our debt covenants.  While we currently expect to be in compliance in future periods, if the fragile economic conditions that have influenced our results to date continue, there can be no assurance that these financial covenants will continue to be met.

 

For further information on our long-term debt, see Note 9 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Working Capital

 

Our current liabilities exceeded current assets by $38.3 million at June 30, 2003 and by $18.5 million at December 31, 2002.  This represents a decrease in working capital of $19.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003.  The working capital amounts exclude accounts receivable sold under the A/R Facility, the proceeds of which serve to reduce long-term borrowings under our revolving credit facility.  Since we maintain an interest in the receivables and have been contracted to service the receivables, we view working capital excluding the effects of the off-balance sheet A/R Facility (i.e., adding back receivables and reflecting the offsetting increase in long-term debt as if the A/R Facility was not in place, see above).  Excluding the effect of the A/R Facility, working capital at June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002 would have been $77.1 million and $107.3 million, respectively.  The ratio of current assets to current liabilities as of June 30, 2003 was 0.87 to 1 (1.26 to 1, excluding the A/R Facility effect) compared to 0.92 to 1 as of December 31, 2002 (1.46 to 1, excluding the A/R Facility effect).

 

The decrease in working capital was primarily due to fluctuations in operating assets and liabilities, a portion of which were associated with our acquisition of the sales, marketing and media planning assets of The Newspaper Network, Inc. (collectively, “TNN”).  (See Note 4 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion.)  Offsetting these fluctuations was a decrease in the current portion of long-term debt and accrued interest.

 

Summary of Cash Flows

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2003 increased by $56.4 million from the 2002 level.  Adjusted for the increase (decrease) in outstanding checks drawn on controlled disbursement accounts, which are classified as a financing activity, net cash provided by operating activities increased $39.5 million when comparing the first six months of 2003 to 2002.  This is a result of the timing of payments and collection of receivables, and the increase in deferred income taxes related to the valuation allowance that was recorded in June (see “-Seasonality and Other Factors”).  Offsetting these amounts is the increase in loss before cumulative effect of accounting change.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

Net cash used for investing activities in the six months ended June 30, 2003 was relatively flat when compared to the 2002 level due to a concerted effort by management to maintain our capital spending consistent with that of the prior year.  Also included in the 2003 investing activities were the costs associated with our acquisition of TNN.

 

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Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

The amounts of cash used in financing activities in each period reflect the relative levels of capital expenditures and investments in those years.  In June 2003, we issued $350 million of senior secured second lien notes, which after deducting the initial purchasers discount and transaction expenses, netted proceeds of approximately $330.3 million.  In June 2002, we issued $250 million of senior unsecured notes, which netted proceeds of approximately $240.0 million after deducting the debt discount and fees.  The proceeds from both issuances were used to repay existing debt.  When comparing these two transactions, which are the primary financing activities in each respective six-month period, there is an increase in debt repayments in the six months ended June 30, 2003 as compared to 2002, offset by an increase in debt issued in the same period.

 

Seasonality and Other Factors

 

While our advertising insert business is generally seasonal in nature, the expansion of other product lines and the expansion of advertising insert business to year-round customers have reduced the overall seasonality of our revenues.  Of our full year 2002 net sales, 24.0% were generated in the first quarter, 24.4% in the second, 24.4% in the third and 27.2% in the fourth.  Profitability, however, continues to follow a more seasonal pattern due to the higher margins and efficiencies gained from running at full capacity during the year-end holiday production season.  On the other hand, lower margins in the first quarter do not fully leverage fixed depreciation, amortization and interest costs that are incurred evenly throughout the year. Based on our historical experience and projected operations, we expect our operating results in the near future to be strongest in the fourth quarter and softest in the first.

 

We have approximately $248.5 million of federal net operating losses available to carry forward as of December 31, 2002.  These carryforwards expire beginning in 2005 through 2023.  In the first six months of 2003 we recorded tax expense of $46.9 million as a result of recording an additional valuation allowance against more than half of our tax benefit carryforwards.  The valuation allowance reserves a portion of the net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards that may not be offset by reversing taxable temporary differences.  We intend to maintain a valuation allowance until sufficient positive evidence exists to support its reversal. (See Note 13 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion.)

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

Effective January 1, 2002, we adopted SFAS No.142 (“SFAS 142”).  Under this statement, goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are no longer amortized.  Under the transitional provisions of SFAS 142, our goodwill was tested for impairment as of January 1, 2002.  Each of our reporting units was tested for impairment by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with the carrying value of that unit.  Fair value was determined based on a valuation study performed by an independent third party using the discounted cash flow method and the guideline company method.  As a result of our impairment test completed in the third quarter of 2002, we recorded an impairment loss of $86.6 million at ATS and $21.8 million at Vertis Europe to reduce the carrying value of goodwill to its implied fair value.  Impairment in both cases was due to a combination of factors including

 

37



 

operating performance and acquisition price.  In accordance with SFAS 142, the impairment charge was reflected as a cumulative effect of accounting change in the accompanying 2002 condensed consolidated statements of operations and cash flows.  The amount of the impairment charge includes the effect of taxes of $6.8 million, which had not been initially recorded in the Company’s September 30, 2002 financial statements.  As a result, the operating results and cash flows for the quarter ended March 31, 2002 have been restated, net of tax.

 

Goodwill is now reviewed for impairment on annual basis, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.  Our goodwill was tested for impairment again in the first quarter of 2003 and there was no impairment of goodwill found based on the valuation results.

 

In June 2002, the FASB issued Statement No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.”  This statement requires recording costs associated with exit or disposal activities at their fair value when a liability has been incurred.  Under previous guidance, various exit costs were accrued upon management’s commitment to an exit plan, which is generally before an actual liability has been incurred.  In the first quarter of 2003, we adopted the provisions of this statement, which did not have an impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantors Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees.”  The disclosure requirements are effective for financial statements issued after December 15, 2002, and the recognition/measurement requirements are effective on a prospective basis for guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002.  In the first quarter of 2003, we adopted certain provisions of this interpretation; however, we are still in the process of evaluating the impact of this interpretation on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “ Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure.”  This statement amends SFAS No. 123, “Stock-Based Compensation,” to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation.  In addition, this Statement amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results.  The disclosure provisions of this standard are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2002 and have been incorporated into our financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this document.

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” to provide new guidance with respect to the consolidation of all previously unconsolidated entities, including special-purpose entities.  We are currently reviewing this interpretation, the adoption of which is required for fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2003, to determine its impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

In April 2003, the FASB issued Statement No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”  This statement amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133,

 

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“Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”  In general, this statement is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003.  The adoption of this statement is not expected to have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial position.

 

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity.”  This statement establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures in its statement of financial position certain financial instruments that embody obligations for the issuer that are required to be classified as liabilities.  This statement is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise shall be effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003.  The provisions of the statement are not expected to have a significant impact on our condensed consolidated financial position.

 

Outlook

 

In the first half of 2003, the continuing soft economic conditions and geopolitical uncertainties had a significant adverse effect on our results of operations.  This economic climate continues to produce a sluggish demand for advertising products and services, a difficult pricing environment and escalating costs.  Because this economic environment reflects continuing uncertainties, it is difficult to estimate how it will affect our results for the year.  Although the difficult economic environment is expected to ease up moderately over the remainder of the year, we currently still expect our results for the second half of 2003 to be below 2002 results.

 

Item 3.    Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Qualitative Information

 

Our primary exposure to market risks relates to interest rate fluctuations on variable rate debt, which bears interest at both the Prime rate and the LIBOR rate. Generally, our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations is immaterial as foreign operations are a small proportion of the total company and foreign currency borrowings act as a natural hedge against fluctuations in net asset values.

 

The objective of our risk management program is to seek a reduction in the potential negative earnings effects from changes in interest and foreign exchange rates.  To meet this objective, consistent with past practices, we intend to vary the proportions of fixed-rate and variable-rate debt based on our perception of interest rate trends and the marketplace for various debt instruments.  Except for those used to meet hedging requirements in our credit facility, we generally do not use derivative financial instruments in our risk management program.  This practice may change in the future as market conditions change.  We do not use any derivatives for trading purposes.

 

Quantitative Information

 

At June 30, 2003, 18.7% of our long-term debt held a variable interest rate (including off-balance sheet debt related to the accounts receivable securitization facility, the fees on which are variable).

 

39



 

If interest rates increased 10%, the expected effect related to variable-rate debt would be to increase net loss for the twelve months ended June 30, 2003 by approximately $0.9 million.

 

For the purpose of sensitivity analysis, we assumed the same percentage change for all variable-rate debt and held all other factors constant.  The sensitivity analysis is limited in that it is based on balances outstanding at June 30, 2003 and does not provide for changes in borrowings that may occur in the future.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of Vertis’ management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended).  Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the design and operation of these disclosure controls and procedures were effective.  No significant changes were made during our second fiscal quarter of 2003 in our internal controls or in other factors that could materially affect, or is reasonable likely to materially affect, these controls over our financial reporting.

 

40



 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

Certain claims, suits and complaints (including those involving environmental matters) which arise in the ordinary course of our business have been filed or are pending against us.  We believe, based upon the currently available information, that all the results of such proceedings, individually, or in the aggregate would not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

We have included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, and from time to time our management may make, statements which may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  You may find discussions containing such forward-looking statements in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” as well as within this quarterly report generally.  In addition, when used in this quarterly report, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” “plans,” “projects,” “intends” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements include statements other than historical information or statements of current condition, but instead represent only our belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of our control.  It is possible that our actual results may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results indicated in these forward-looking statements.  Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in our specific forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to those discussed in our annual report on Form 10-K dated March 26, 2003, under “Certain Factors That May Affect Our Business” as well as:

 

                                          general economic and business conditions in the United States and other countries;

                                          changes in the advertising, marketing and information services markets;

                                          the financial condition of our customers;

                                          the possibility of future terrorist activities or the continuation or escalation of hostilities in the Middle East or elsewhere;

                                          our ability to execute key strategies;

                                          fluctuations in the cost of raw materials we use;

                                          the effects of supplier price fluctuations on our operations;

                                          downgrades in our credit ratings;

                                          changes in interest and foreign currency exchange rates; and

                                          matters discussed in this document generally.

 

Consequently, readers of this quarterly report should consider these forward-looking statements only as our current plans, estimates and beliefs.  We do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect future events or circumstances after

 

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the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.  We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this document to reflect any new events or any change in conditions or circumstances.  All of the forward-looking statements in this document are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements.  Even if these plans, estimates or beliefs change because of future events or circumstances after the date of these statements, or because anticipated or unanticipated events occur, we disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

 

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

(a) Exhibits

 

Exhibit 4.1  Form of Exchange Note (included in Exhibit 4.2) (Incorporated herein by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-106435)).

 

Exhibit 4.2  Indenture, dated as of June 6, 2003 (the “Indenture”), among Vertis, Inc. (the “Company”), as Issuer, the Company’s subsidiaries listed on the signature pages of the Indenture (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”) and The Bank of New York, as Trustee. (Incorporated herein by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-106435)).

 

Exhibit 4.3  Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2003, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC and Fleet Securities, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-106435)).

 

Exhibit 4.4  U.S. Security Agreement, dated December 7, 1999 and amended and restated as of June 6, 2003, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, Vertis Holdings Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries listed on the signature pages thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Collateral Agent. (Incorporated herein by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-106435)).

 

Exhibit 10.1  Eighth Amendment and Consent to Credit Agreement and Second Amendment to Subordination Agreement, dated as of May 21, 2003, among Vertis Holdings, the Borrowers, the Lenders, the Joint Lead Arrangers and the Credit Agreement Agents. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.42 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-106435)).

 

Exhibit 31.1  Certification of the Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Exhibit 31.2  Certification of the Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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Exhibit 32.1   Certification of the Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Exhibit 32.2  Certification of the Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

 

On May 20, 2003, Vertis, Inc. filed a Current Report on Form 8-K reporting its earnings expectations for the second quarter and full year 2003.

 

On June 10, 2003, Vertis, Inc. filed a Current Report on Form 8-K reporting that on Friday June 6, 2003, it successfully issued $350 million of 93/4% senior secured second lien notes due 2009.

 

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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.

 

 

VERTIS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Donald E. Roland

 

 

Donald E. Roland,

 

Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Dean D. Durbin

 

 

Dean D. Durbin

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

Date:  August 5, 2003

 

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

EXHIBIT NO.

 

DESCRIPTION

 

4.1

 

Form of Exchange Note (included in Exhibit 4.2) (Incorporated herein by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-106435)).

 

4.2

 

Indenture, dated as of June 6, 2003 (the “Indenture”, among Vertis, Inc. (the “Company”, as Issuer, the Company’s subsidiaries listed on the signature pages of the Indenture (the “Subsidiary Guarantors” and The Bank of New York, as Trustee. (Incorporated herein by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-106435)).

 

4.3

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2003, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC and Fleet Securities, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-106435)).

 

4.4

 

U.S. Security Agreement, dated December 7, 1999 and amended and restated as of June 6, 2003, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, Vertis Holdings Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries listed on the signature pages thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Collateral Agent. (Incorporated herein by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-106435)).

 

10.1

 

Eighth Amendment and Consent to Credit Agreement and Second Amendment to Subordination Agreement, dated as of May 21, 2003, among Vertis Holdings, the Borrowers, the Lenders, the Joint Lead Arrangers and the Credit Agreement Agents. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.42 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-106435)).

 

31.1

 

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

31.2

 

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

32.1

 

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

32.2

 

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

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