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Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended April 4, 2010

or

 

¨ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Commission File Number 1-6714

 

 

THE WASHINGTON POST COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   53-0182885

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

1150 15th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C.   20071
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(202) 334-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x.    No  ¨.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨.    No  ¨.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” accelerated filer” and “small reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨.    No  x.

Shares outstanding at May 3, 2010:

 

Class A Common Stock

   1,291,693 Shares

Class B Common Stock

   7,908,044 Shares

 

 

 


Table of Contents

THE WASHINGTON POST COMPANY

Index to Form 10-Q

 

PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
Item 1.   Financial Statements   
 

a.        Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the Thirteen Weeks Ended April 4, 2010 and March 29, 2009

   3
 

b.        Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) for the Thirteen Weeks Ended April 4, 2010 and March 29, 2009

   4
 

c.        Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at April 4, 2010 (Unaudited) and January 3, 2010

   5
 

d.        Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the Thirteen Weeks Ended April 4, 2010 and March 29, 2009

   6
 

e.        Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

   7
Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition    18
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    24
Item 4.   Controls and Procedures    24
PART II.   OTHER INFORMATION   
Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    25
Item 6.   Exhibits    26
Signatures    27

 

2


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

The Washington Post Company

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

 

     Thirteen Weeks Ended  
(In thousands, except per share amounts)    April 4,
2010
    March 29,
2009
 

Operating revenues

    

Education

   $ 711,382      $ 593,530   

Advertising

     195,088        197,310   

Circulation and subscriber

     229,220        231,882   

Other

     35,468        31,398   
                
     1,171,158        1,054,120   
                

Operating costs and expenses

    

Operating

     490,770        495,093   

Selling, general and administrative

     518,565        494,005   

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

     62,796        77,980   

Amortization of intangible assets

     6,516        6,648   
                
     1,078,647        1,073,726   
                

Income (loss) from operations

     92,511        (19,606

Other (expense) income

    

Equity in losses of affiliates

     (8,109     (762

Interest income

     326        808   

Interest expense

     (7,579     (7,880

Other, net

     (3,321     (4,043
                

Income (loss) before income taxes

     73,828        (31,483

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     28,000        (12,000
                

Net income (loss)

     45,828        (19,483

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

     12        788   
                

Net income (loss) attributable to The Washington Post Company

     45,840        (18,695

Redeemable preferred stock dividends

     (461     (473
                

Net income (loss) available for common shares

   $ 45,379      $ (19,168
                

Basic earnings (loss) per common share

   $ 4.91      $ (2.04
                

Diluted earnings (loss) per common share

   $ 4.91      $ (2.04
                

Dividends declared per common share

   $ 4.50      $ 4.30   
                

Basic average number of common shares outstanding

     9,175        9,339   

Diluted average number of common shares outstanding

     9,241        9,339   

 

3


Table of Contents

The Washington Post Company

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(Unaudited)

 

     Thirteen Weeks Ended  
(In thousands)    April 4,
2010
    March 29,
2009
 

Net income (loss)

   $ 45,828      $ (19,483
                

Other comprehensive income (loss)

    

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     (2,610     (13,020

Change in unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities

     86,114        29,415   

Pension and other postretirement plan adjustments

     (3,538     584   
                
     79,966        16,979   

Income tax expense related to other comprehensive income

     (34,436     (10,859
                
     45,530        6,120   
                

Comprehensive income (loss)

     91,358        (13,363
                

Comprehensive loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest

     12        783   
                

Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to The Washington Post Company

   $ 91,370      $ (12,580
                

 

4


Table of Contents

The Washington Post Company

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

(In thousands)    April 4,
2010
    January 3,
2010
 
     (Unaudited)        

Assets

    

Current assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 575,314      $ 477,673   

Investments in marketable equity securities and other investments

     471,201        385,001   

Accounts receivable, net

     402,985        430,669   

Deferred income taxes

     —          14,633   

Inventories

     11,130        16,019   

Other current assets

     71,367        64,069   
                

Total current assets

     1,531,997        1,388,064   

Property, plant and equipment, net

     1,198,291        1,239,692   

Investments in affiliates

     42,136        54,722   

Goodwill, net

     1,422,548        1,423,462   

Indefinite-lived intangible assets, net

     531,390        540,012   

Amortized intangible assets, net

     73,606        71,314   

Prepaid pension cost

     410,976        409,445   

Deferred charges and other assets

     59,579        59,495   
                

Total assets

   $ 5,270,523      $ 5,186,206   
                

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities

    

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   $ 488,720      $ 555,478   

Income taxes payable

     34,600        8,048   

Deferred income taxes

     17,929        —     

Deferred revenue

     483,353        422,998   

Dividends declared

     21,067        —     

Short-term borrowings

     3,048        3,059   
                

Total current liabilities

     1,048,717        989,583   

Postretirement benefits other than pensions

     74,245        73,672   

Accrued compensation and related benefits

     216,326        210,640   

Other liabilities

     138,277        134,783   

Deferred income taxes

     414,721        422,838   

Long-term debt

     396,339        396,236   
                

Total liabilities

     2,288,625        2,227,752   

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

     6,878        6,907   

Redeemable preferred stock

     11,526        11,526   

Preferred stock

     —          —     

Common shareholders’ equity

    

Common stock

     20,000        20,000   

Capital in excess of par value

     243,358        241,435   

Retained earnings

     4,328,014        4,324,289   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

    

Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment

     24,265        27,010   

Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities

     130,159        78,492   

Unrealized loss on pensions and other postretirement plans

     (4,382     (990

Cost of Class B common stock held in treasury

     (1,778,409     (1,750,686
                

Total The Washington Post Company common shareholders’ equity

     2,963,005        2,939,550   
                

Noncontrolling interest

     489        471   
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     2,963,494        2,940,021   
                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 5,270,523      $ 5,186,206   
                

 

5


Table of Contents

The Washington Post Company

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

     Thirteen Weeks Ended  
(In thousands)    April 4,
2010
    March 29,
2009
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income (loss)

   $ 45,828      $ (19,483

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

     62,796        77,980   

Amortization of intangible assets

     6,516        6,648   

Net pension benefit

     (435     (1,330

Early retirement program expense

     —          6,618   

Equity in losses of affiliates, net of distributions

     8,109        762   

Benefit for deferred income taxes

     (8,572     (1,494

Write-downs of property, plant and equipment

     —          10,681   

Change in assets and liabilities:

    

Decrease in accounts receivable, net

     26,401        56,848   

Decrease in inventories

     4,889        7,827   

Decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (58,960     (46,282

Increase in deferred revenue

     62,408        53,059   

Increase (decrease) in income taxes payable

     26,427        (27,472

Decrease (increase) in other assets and other liabilities, net

     9,705        (15,898

Other

     (46     5,501   
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     185,066        113,965   
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

     (35,028     (63,075

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

     11,724        3,125   

Investments in certain businesses, net of cash acquired

     (3,534     (643

Purchases of marketable equity securities and other investments

     (110     (10,836

Return of investment in affiliates

     —          4,145   

Other

     (460     267   
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (27,408     (67,017
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Common shares repurchased

     (27,828     (1,371

Dividends paid

     (21,067     (20,447

Principal payments on debt

     —          (400,654

Issuance of notes, net

     —          395,288   

Repayment of commercial paper, net

     —          (149,983

Other

     (7,216     2,465   
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (56,111     (174,702
                

Effect of currency exchange rate changes

     (3,906     (4,334
                

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     97,641        (132,088

Beginning cash and cash equivalents

     477,673        390,509   
                

Ending cash and cash equivalents

   $ 575,314      $ 258,421   
                

 

6


Table of Contents

The Washington Post Company

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Note 1: Organization, Basis of Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Washington Post Company, Inc. (the “Company”) is a diversified education and media company. The Company’s Kaplan subsidiary provides a wide variety of educational services, both domestically and outside the United States. The Company’s media operations consist of the ownership and operation of cable television systems, newspaper publishing (principally The Washington Post), television broadcasting (through the ownership and operation of six television broadcast stations), and magazine publishing.

Financial Periods – The Company generally reports on a thirteen week fiscal quarter ending on the Sunday nearest the calendar quarter-end. The fiscal quarters for 2010 and 2009 ended on April 4, 2010 and March 29, 2009, respectively. With the exception of the newspaper publishing operations and the corporate office, subsidiaries of the Company report on a calendar-quarter basis.

Basis of Presentation – The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with: (i) generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information; (ii) the instructions to Form 10-Q; and (iii) the guidance of Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for financial statements required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). They include the assets, liabilities, results of operations and cash flows of the Company, including its domestic and foreign subsidiaries that are more than 50% owned or otherwise controlled by the Company. As permitted under such rules, certain notes and other financial information normally required by GAAP have been condensed or omitted. Management believes the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows as of and for the periods presented herein. The Company’s results of operations for the thirteen weeks ended April 4, 2010 and March 29, 2009 may not be indicative of the Company’s future results. These condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2010.

The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.

Certain amounts in previously issued financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported herein. Management bases its estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results reported in future periods may be affected by changes in those estimates.

Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements – In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new guidance that modifies the fair value requirement of multiple element revenue arrangements. The new guidance allows the use of the “best estimate of selling price” in addition to vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) and third-party evidence (“TPE”) for determining the selling price of a deliverable. A vendor is now required to use its best estimate of the selling price when VSOE or TPE of the selling price cannot be determined. In addition, the residual method of allocating arrangement consideration is no longer permitted. The guidance requires expanded qualitative and quantitative disclosures and is effective for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early application is permitted. The Company is not planning to early adopt the guidance and will continue evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, the FASB issued additional disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The guidance requires previous fair value hierarchy disclosures to be further disaggregated by class of assets and liabilities. A class is often a subset of assets or liabilities within a line item in the statement of financial position. In addition, significant transfers between Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy are required to be disclosed. These additional requirements became effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2009 and did not have an impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company. In addition, the fair value disclosure amendments also require more detailed disclosures of the changes in Level 3 instruments. These changes will not become effective until interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2010 and are not expected to have an impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company.

 

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Table of Contents

The Washington Post Company

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Note 2: Investments

Investments in marketable equity securities at April 4, 2010 and January 3, 2010 consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     April 4,
2010
   January  3,
2010

Total cost

   $ 223,064    $ 223,064

Net unrealized gains

     216,933      130,820
             

Total fair value

   $ 439,997    $ 353,884
             

There were no new investments or sales of marketable equity securities in the first quarter of 2010. In the first quarter of 2009, the Company invested $10.8 million in the Class B common stock of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Note 3: Acquisitions and Dispositions

In the first quarter of 2010, Kaplan made one small acquisition in its Kaplan Ventures division. The Company did not make any acquisitions during the first quarter of 2009.

In April 2010, Kaplan sold Education Connection, which was part of the Kaplan Ventures division; the gain on sale was not significant.

Note 4: Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The education division made several minor changes to its operating and reporting structure in the first quarter of 2010, changing the composition of the reporting units within Kaplan Test Preparation, Kaplan Ventures and Kaplan Higher Education (see Note 12). The changes resulted in the reassignment of the assets and liabilities to the reporting units affected. The goodwill was allocated to the reporting units affected using the relative fair value approach.

The Company amortizes the recorded values of its amortized intangible assets over their estimated useful lives. Amortization of intangible assets for the thirteen weeks ended April 4, 2010 and March 29, 2009 was $6.5 million and $6.6 million, respectively. Amortization of intangible assets is estimated to be approximately $19 million for the remainder of 2010, $21 million in 2011, $9 million in 2012, $5 million in each of 2013 and 2014 and $16 million thereafter.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by segment, for the thirteen weeks ended April 4, 2010 is as follows:

 

(in thousands)

   Education     Cable
Television
   Newspaper
Publishing
    Television
Broadcasting
   Magazine
Publishing
   Other
Businesses
and
Corporate
    Total  

Balance as of January 3, 2010

                 

Goodwill

   $ 1,073,852      $ 85,488    $ 81,186      $ 203,165    $ 24,515    $ 97,342      $ 1,565,548   

Accumulated impairment losses

     (15,529     —        (65,772     —        —        (60,785     (142,086
                                                     
     1,058,323        85,488      15,414        203,165      24,515      36,557        1,423,462   

Acquisitions

     3,999        —        —          —        —        —          3,999   

Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other

     (4,910     —        (3 )     —        —        —          (4,913
                                                     

Balance as of April 4, 2010

                 

Goodwill

     1,072,941        85,488      81,183        203,165      24,515      97,342        1,564,634   

Accumulated impairment losses

     (15,529     —        (65,772     —        —        (60,785     (142,086
                                                     
   $ 1,057,412      $ 85,488    $ 15,411      $ 203,165    $ 24,515    $ 36,557      $ 1,422,548   
                                                     

 

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Table of Contents

The Washington Post Company

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

(in thousands)

   Higher
Education
   Test
Preparation
    Kaplan
International
    Kaplan
Ventures
    Kaplan
Corporate
and
Other
   Total  

Balance as of January 3, 2010

              

Goodwill

   $ 335,226    $ 236,779      $ 432,973      $ 68,874      $ —      $ 1,073,852   

Accumulated impairment losses

     —        —          —          (15,529     —        (15,529
                                              
     335,226      236,779        432,973        53,345        —        1,058,323   

Reallocation, net (Note 12)

     —        (14,534     —          14,534        —        —     

Acquisitions

     —        —          —          3,999        —        3,999   

Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other

     —        125        (5,987     952        —        (4,910
                                              

Balance as of April 4, 2010

              

Goodwill

     335,226      229,407        426,986        81,322        —        1,072,941   

Accumulated impairment losses

     —        (7,037     —          (8,492     —        (15,529
                                              
   $ 335,226    $ 222,370      $ 426,986      $ 72,830      $ —      $ 1,057,412   
                                              

Other intangible assets consist of the following:

 

     As of April 4, 2010    As of January 3, 2010

(in thousands)

   Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net
Carrying
Amount
   Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net
Carrying
Amount

Amortized intangible assets:

                 

Noncompete agreements

   $ 42,844    $ 25,682    $ 17,162    $ 43,886    $ 24,093    $ 19,793

Student and customer relationships

     67,128      37,054      30,074      67,360      35,475      31,885

Databases and technology

     12,273      4,666      7,607      12,195      3,889      8,306

Trade names and trademarks

     28,480      11,617      16,863      19,978      10,639      9,339

Other

     7,874      5,974      1,900      7,797      5,806      1,991
                                         
   $ 158,599    $ 84,993    $ 73,606    $ 151,216    $ 79,902    $ 71,314
                                         

Indefinite-lived intangible assets:

                 

Franchise agreements

   $ 496,047          $ 496,047      

Wireless licenses

     22,150            22,150      

Licensure and accreditation

     7,862            7,862      

Other

     5,331            13,953      
                         
   $ 531,390          $ 540,012      
                         

Note 5: Borrowings

The Company’s borrowings consist of the following (in millions):

 

     April 4,
2010
    January 3,
2010
 

7.25 percent unsecured notes due February 1, 2019

   $ 396.3      $ 396.2   

Other indebtedness

     3.1        3.1   
                

Total

     399.4        399.3   

Less current portion

     (3.1     (3.1
                

Total long-term debt

   $ 396.3      $ 396.2   
                

The Company’s other indebtedness at April 4, 2010 and January 3, 2010 is at an interest rate of 6% and matures during 2010.

During the first quarter of 2010 and 2009, the Company had average borrowings outstanding of approximately $399.3 million and $488.5 million, respectively, at average annual interest rates of approximately 7.2% and 6.4%, respectively. During the first quarter of 2010 and 2009, the Company incurred net interest expense of $7.3 million and $7.1 million, respectively.

 

9


Table of Contents

The Washington Post Company

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

At April 4, 2010, the fair value of the Company’s 7.25% unsecured notes, based on quoted market prices, totaled $452.9 million, compared with the carrying amount of $396.3 million. At January 3, 2010, the fair value of the Company’s 7.25% unsecured notes, based on quoted market prices, totaled $443.1 million, compared with the carrying amount of $396.2 million. The carrying value of the Company’s other unsecured debt at April 4, 2010 approximates fair value.

Note 6: Earnings (Loss) Per Share

The Company’s earnings (loss) per share (basic and diluted) for the first quarters of 2010 and 2009, are presented below:

 

     Thirteen Weeks Ended  
     April 4,
2010
   March 29,
2009
 

Net income (loss) available for common shares

   $ 45,379    $ (19,168
               

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic

     9,175      9,339   

Effect of dilutive shares:

     

Stock options and restricted stock

     66      16   

Less: Dilutive shares excluded from calculation due to net loss

     —        (16
               

Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted

     9,241      9,339   

Basic earnings (loss) per common share

   $ 4.91    $ (2.04
               

Diluted earnings (loss) per common share

   $ 4.91    $ (2.04
               

For the first quarter of 2010, there are 9,174,845 weighted average basic and 9,240,951 diluted shares outstanding. For the first quarter of 2009, there are 9,339,065 weighted average basic and diluted shares outstanding; these amounts are the same as the Company reported a net loss for the first quarter of 2009.

The first quarter of 2010 diluted earnings per share amount excludes the effects of 52,625 stock options outstanding, as their inclusion would be antidilutive.

The Company treats unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends as participating securities and includes these securities in the computation of earnings per share under the two-class method. The amount attributable to the unvested restricted stock awards of the Company for the thirteen weeks ended April 4, 2010 was $0.3 million, reducing the net income available for common shares in the basic earnings per common share computation to $45.1 million.

Note 7: Pension and Postretirement Plans

Defined Benefit Plans. The total (income) cost arising from the Company’s defined benefit pension plans for the first quarters ended April 4, 2010 and March 29, 2009, consists of the following components (in thousands):

 

     Pension Plans     Supplemental
Executive
Retirement Plan
     April 4,
2010
    March 29,
2009
    April 4,
2010
   March 29,
2009

Service cost

   $ 7,298      $ 7,969      $ 345    $ 333

Interest cost

     15,194        14,646        1,072      1,032

Expected return on assets

     (24,023     (24,659     —        —  

Amortization of transition asset

     (7     (7     —        —  

Amortization of prior service cost

     1,103        764        101      111

Recognized actuarial (gain) loss

     —          (43     238      388
                             

Net periodic (benefit) cost

     (435     (1,330     1,756      1,864

Early retirement program expense

     —          6,618        —        —  
                             

Total (benefit) cost

   $ (435   $ 5,288      $ 1,756    $ 1,864
                             

Newsweek offered a Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program to certain employees in November 2008 and 44 employees accepted the offer in the first quarter of 2009; early retirement program expense of $6.6 million was recorded in the first quarter of 2009, funded mostly from the assets of the Company’s pension plans.

 

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The Washington Post Company

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Defined Benefit Plan Assets. The Company’s defined benefit pension obligations are funded by a portfolio made up of a relatively small number of stocks and high-quality fixed-income securities that are held by a third-party trustee. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the assets of the Company’s pension plans were allocated as follows:

 

     Pension Plan Asset Allocations  
     March 31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
 

U.S. equities

   66   74

U.S. fixed income

   26   18

International equities

   8   8
            

Total

   100   100
            

Essentially all of the assets are actively managed by two investment companies. The goal of the investment managers is to produce moderate long-term growth in the value of these assets, while protecting them against large decreases in value. Both of these managers may invest in a combination of equity and fixed-income securities and cash. The managers are not permitted to invest in securities of the Company or in alternative investments. The investment managers cannot invest more than 20% of the assets at the time of purchase in the stock of Berkshire Hathaway or more than 10% of the assets in the securities of any other single issuer, except for obligations of the U.S. Government, without receiving prior approval by the Plan administrator. As of March 31, 2010, up to 13% of the assets could be invested in international stocks, and no less than 9% of the assets could be invested in fixed-income securities. None of the assets is managed internally by the Company.

In determining the 6.5% expected rate of return on plan assets, the Company considers the relative weighting of plan assets, the historical performance of total plan assets and individual asset classes and economic and other indicators of future performance. In addition, the Company may consult with and consider the input of financial and other professionals in developing appropriate return benchmarks.

The Company evaluated its defined benefit pension plan asset portfolio for the existence of significant concentrations (defined as greater than 10% of plan assets) of credit risk as of March 31, 2010. Types of concentrations that were evaluated include, but are not limited to, investment concentrations in a single entity, type of industry, foreign country and individual fund. Included in the assets are $198.1 million and $274.3 million of Berkshire Hathaway Class A and Class B common stock at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Approximately 41% of the Berkshire Hathaway common stock held at December 31, 2009 was sold in February 2010.

Other Postretirement Plans. The total cost (benefit) arising from the Company’s postretirement plan for the first quarters ended April 4, 2010 and March 29, 2009, consists of the following components (in thousands):

 

     Postretirement Plans  
     April 4,
2010
    March 29,
2009
 

Service cost

   $ 847      $ 968   

Interest cost

     997        1,042   

Amortization of prior service credit

     (1,287     (1,242

Recognized actuarial gain

     (513     (782
                

Net periodic cost (benefit)

     44        (14

Curtailment gain

     —          (677
                

Total cost (benefit)

   $ 44      $ (691
                

The Company recorded a curtailment gain of $0.7 million in the first quarter of 2009, due to the elimination of life insurance benefits for new retirees on or after January 1, 2009.

Multiemployer Pension Plans. The Washington Post newspaper contributes to multiemployer pension plans on behalf of three union-represented employee groups: the CWA-ITU National Pension Plan on behalf of Post mailers, helpers and utility mailers; the IAM National Pension Fund on behalf of Post machinists; and the Central Pension Fund of the International Union of Operating Engineers on behalf of Post engineers, carpenters and painters. Contributions are made in accordance with the relevant collective bargaining agreements and are generally based on straight-time hours.

As previously disclosed, The Post has negotiated in collective bargaining the contractual right to withdraw from the IAM National Pension Fund and from the IUOE Central Pension Fund. The right to withdraw from the CWA-ITU National Pension Plan is the

 

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The Washington Post Company

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

subject of contract negotiations. Of these multiemployer plans, The Post is a significant participant in only the CWA-ITU National Pension Plan. According to the most recent withdrawal liability estimate from the CWA-ITU National Pension Plan, The Post would have owed approximately $19 million in the event of a 2009 withdrawal. The Post expects to receive an updated withdrawal liability estimate from the CWA-ITU National Pension Plan by the end of the third quarter of 2010.

Note 8: Other Non-Operating (Expense) Income

A summary of non-operating (expense) income for the thirteen weeks ended April 4, 2010 and March 29, 2009, is as follows (in millions):

 

     April 4,
2010
    March 29,
2009
 

Foreign currency losses, net

   $ (3.3   $ (1.4

Impairment write-downs on cost method investments

     —          (2.9

Other, net

     —          0.3   
                

Total

   $ (3.3   $ (4.0
                

Note 9: Contingencies

Department of Education Rulemaking. The U.S. Department of Education is expected to issue proposed regulations in the second quarter of 2010 that could amend or add to existing Title IV regulations. The proposed regulations may include revised standards governing the payment of incentive compensation to admissions and financial aid advisors; a new definition of “gainful employment” that is based on student tuition and debt levels and other factors; and other changes to Title IV eligibility requirements for institutions, programs and students. The changes ultimately made to the Title IV regulations could adversely affect, among other things, Kaplan’s ability to retain admissions and financial aid advisors and the ability of Kaplan Higher Education division’s programs and students to qualify for Title IV financial assistance, and could otherwise have a material adverse effect on Kaplan’s operating results. The Department of Education has stated its intent to publish any new final regulations by November 1, 2010, which is the deadline for the regulations to take effect by July 1, 2011.

Department of Education Program Reviews. From 2007 through 2010, the Department of Education undertook program reviews at four of Kaplan Higher Education’s campus locations and at Kaplan University. The Department of Education has issued a final report with respect to one of the campus locations with no action taken. No final reports with respect to the other reviews have been issued. Therefore, the results of these reviews and their impact on Kaplan’s operations is uncertain.

Note 10: Fair Value Measurements

Fair value measurements are determined based on the assumptions that a market participant would use in pricing an asset or liability based on a three-tiered hierarchy that draws a distinction between market participant assumptions based on (i) observable inputs, such as quoted prices in active markets (Level 1); (ii) inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly (Level 2); and (iii) unobservable inputs that require the Company to use present value and other valuation techniques in the determination of fair value (Level 3). Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measure. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurements requires judgment and may affect the valuation of the assets and liabilities being measured and their placement within the fair value hierarchy.

 

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The Washington Post Company

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

The Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of April 4, 2010 were as follows (in millions):

 

          Fair Value Measurements as of
April 4, 2010
     Fair Value at
April  4,
2010
   Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical Items
(Level 1)
   Significant Other
Observable  Inputs
(Level 2)

Assets:

        

Money market investments

   $ 419.4    $ —      $ 419.4

Marketable equity securities(1)

     440.0      440.0      —  

Other current investments(2)

     31.2      29.6      1.6
                    

Total financial assets

   $ 890.6    $ 469.6    $ 421.0
                    

Liabilities:

        

Deferred compensation plan liabilities (3)

   $ 65.8    $ —      $ 65.8

7.25% unsecured notes

     452.9      —        452.9
                    

Total financial liabilities

   $ 518.7    $ —      $ 518.7
                    

 

(1)

The Company’s investments in marketable equity securities are classified as available-for-sale.

(2)

Includes U.S. Government Securities, corporate bonds, mutual funds and time deposits (with original maturities greater than 90 days, but less than one year).

(3 )

Includes The Washington Post Company Deferred Compensation Plan and supplemental savings plan benefits under The Washington Post Company Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, which are included in accrued compensation and related benefits.

For assets that are measured using quoted prices in active markets, the total fair value is the published market price per unit multiplied by the number of units held without consideration of transaction costs. Assets and liabilities that are measured using significant other observable inputs are primarily valued by reference to quoted prices of similar assets or liabilities in active markets, adjusted for any terms specific to that asset or liability.

Note 11: Subsequent Events

In May 2010, the Company announced that is has retained Allen & Company to explore the possible sale of Newsweek magazine.

Note 12: Business Segments

Through its subsidiary Kaplan, Inc., the Company provides educational services for individuals, schools and businesses. The Company also operates principally in four areas of the media business: cable television, newspaper publishing, television broadcasting and magazine publishing.

In the first quarter of 2010, Kaplan made several minor changes to its operating and reporting structure: Kaplan Compliance Solutions was moved from Kaplan Ventures to Test Preparation; Kaplan Continuing Education was moved from Test Preparation to Kaplan Ventures; and Colloquy (a business that provides online services to nonprofit higher education institutions) was moved from Kaplan Higher Education to Kaplan Ventures. The business segments disclosed are based on this organizational structure. Segment operating results of the education division for fiscal years ended 2009 and 2008 have been restated to reflect these changes.

In the third quarter of 2009, Kaplan Higher Education (KHE) modified its method of recognizing revenue ratably over the period of instruction as services are delivered to students from a weekly convention to a daily convention, on a prospective basis. If KHE’s revenue recognition convention had been on a daily convention in prior periods, revenues and operating income in the first quarter of 2009 would have increased by $7.0 million and $6.5 million, respectively. The Company has concluded that the impact of this change was not material to the Company’s financial position or results of operations for 2009 and the related interim periods, based on its consideration of quantitative and qualitative factors.

At the end of March 2009, the Company approved a plan to offer tutoring services, previously provided at Score, in Kaplan test preparation centers. The plan was substantially completed by the end of the second quarter of 2009. In conjunction with this plan, 14 existing Score centers were converted into Kaplan test preparation centers, and the remaining 64 Score centers were closed. The Company recorded $11.5 million in asset write-downs, severance and accelerated depreciation of fixed assets in the first quarter of 2009, including a $9.2 million write-down of Score’s software product to its fair value following an impairment.

 

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The Washington Post Company

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

In 2007, Kaplan announced restructuring plans at its professional domestic training businesses that involved product changes and decentralization of certain operations, in addition to employee terminations. These businesses are part of Kaplan’s Test Preparation division. Total restructuring-related expenses of $5.4 million were recorded in the first quarter of 2009 related to lease termination, accelerated depreciation of fixed assets and severance costs.

Cable television operations consist of cable systems offering video, Internet, phone and other services to subscribers in midwestern, western and southern states. The principal source of revenue is monthly subscription fees charged for services.

Newspaper publishing includes the publication of newspapers in the Washington, DC, area and Everett, WA; newsprint ware- housing and recycling facilities; and the Company’s electronic media publishing business (primarily washingtonpost.com).

The magazine publishing division consists of the publication of a weekly newsmagazine, Newsweek, which has one domestic and three English-language international editions (and, in conjunction with others, publishes seven foreign-language editions around the world) and certain online media publishing businesses (newsweek.com). In December 2009, Newsweek sold its Newsweek Budget Travel magazine and realized a gain on the transaction.

Revenues from both newspaper and magazine publishing operations are derived from advertising and, to a lesser extent, from circulation.

Television broadcasting operations are conducted through six VHF television stations serving the Detroit, Houston, Miami, San Antonio, Orlando and Jacksonville television markets. All stations are network-affiliated (except for WJXT in Jacksonville), with revenues derived primarily from sales of advertising time.

Other businesses and corporate office includes the expenses associated with the Company’s corporate office and the operating results of Avenue100 Media Solutions.

In computing income from operations by segment, the effects of equity in losses of affiliates, interest income, interest expense, other non-operating income and expense items and income taxes are not included.

 

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The Washington Post Company

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

The following table summarizes financial information related to each of the Company’s business segments:

 

(in thousands)

   First Quarter Period  
     2010     2009  

Operating revenues

    

Education

   $ 711,382      $ 593,530   

Cable television

     189,358        183,508   

Newspaper publishing

     155,771        160,891   

Television broadcasting

     73,482        61,163   

Magazine publishing1

     29,377        46,070   

Other businesses and corporate office

     14,134        10,820   

Intersegment elimination

     (2,346     (1,862
                
   $ 1,171,158      $ 1,054,120   
                

Income (loss) from operations

    

Education

   $ 57,948      $ 11,162   

Cable television

     42,536        42,012   

Newspaper publishing

     (13,752     (53,752

Television broadcasting

     20,911        12,143   

Magazine publishing1

     (2,303     (20,338

Other businesses and corporate office

     (12,829     (10,833
                
   $ 92,511      $ (19,606
                

Equity in losses of affiliates

     (8,109     (762

Interest expense, net

     (7,253     (7,072

Other, net

     (3,321     (4,043
                

Income (loss) before income taxes

   $ 73,828      $ (31,483
                

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

    

Education

   $ 18,748      $ 19,681   

Cable television

     31,626        31,099   

Newspaper publishing

     7,884        23,768   

Television broadcasting

     3,137        2,444   

Magazine publishing

     1,198        812   

Other businesses and corporate office

     203        176   
                
   $ 62,796      $ 77,980   
                

Amortization of intangible assets

    

Education

   $ 5,276      $ 5,541   

Cable television

     76        67   

Newspaper publishing

     282        243   

Television broadcasting

              

Magazine publishing

              

Other businesses and corporate office

     882        797   
                
   $ 6,516      $ 6,648   
                

Net pension credit (expense)

    

Education

   $ (1,349   $ (1,132

Cable television

     (468     (393

Newspaper publishing

     (5,560     (5.016

Television broadcasting

     (262     (147

Magazine publishing

     8,289        1,620   

Other businesses and corporate office

     (215     (220
                
   $ 435      $ (5,288
                
     As of  
     April 4, 2010     January 3, 2010  

Identifiable assets

    

Education

   $ 1,867,856      $ 2,188,328   

Cable television

     1,143,423        1,164,209   

Newspaper publishing

     188,905        207,234   

Television broadcasting

     426,343        433,705   

Magazine publishing

     657,715        658,731   

Other businesses and corporate office

     504,148        125,393   
                
   $ 4,788,390      $ 4,777,600   

Investments in marketable equity securities

     439,997        353,884   

Investments in affiliates

     42,136        54,722   
                

Total assets

   $ 5,270,523      $ 5,186,206   
                

 

1 Magazine publishing amounts include Budget Travel operating revenues and operating losses of $3.4 million and $3.0 million, respectively, for the first quarter of 2009.

 

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The Washington Post Company

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

The Company’s education division comprises the following operating segments, as reported under Kaplan’s new organizational structure:

 

(in thousands)

   First Quarter Period     Fiscal Year Ended  
     2010     2009     2009     2008  

Operating revenues

        

Higher education

   $ 442,584      $ 333,535      $ 1,539,196      $ 1,160,063   

Test preparation1

     102,419        113,584        442,136        511,665   

Kaplan international

     133,985        117,916        537,238        545,070   

Kaplan ventures

     34,732        31,017        126,418        121,664   

Kaplan corporate and other

     1,291        610        2,436        1,450   

Intersegment elimination

     (3,629     (3,132     (10,786     (8,332
                                
   $ 711,382      $ 593,530      $ 2,636,638      $ 2,331,580   
                                

Income (loss) from operations

        

Higher education

   $ 85,893      $ 36,922      $ 279,765      $ 174,707   

Test preparation1

     (6,801     (12,713     (20,895     31,313   

Kaplan international

     4,527        6,773        53,772        59,957   

Kaplan ventures

     (6,679     (2,112     (16,421     (2,924

Kaplan corporate and other

     (19,001     (17,762     (101,770     (56,527

Intersegment elimination

     9        54        310        (224
                                
   $ 57,948      $ 11,162      $ 194,761      $ 206,302   
                                

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

        

Higher education

   $ 9,665      $ 8,722      $ 37,843      $ 30,637   

Test preparation

     3,950        6,325        23,462        17,407   

Kaplan international

     2,955        2,502        11,438        11,282   

Kaplan ventures

     1,185        970        4,435        3,850   

Kaplan corporate and other

     993        1,162        4,300        4,153   
                                
   $ 18,748      $ 19,681      $ 81,478      $ 67,329   
                                

Amortization of intangible assets

   $ 5,276      $ 5,541      $ 22,223      $ 15,472   

Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets

   $ —        $ —        $ 25,387      $ —     

Kaplan stock-based incentive compensation expense

   $ 535      $ 1,761      $ 933      $ (7,829

 

1 Test preparation amounts include revenues and operating losses from Score as follows:

 

(in thousands)

   First Quarter Period     Fiscal Year Ended  
     2009     2009     2008  

Revenues

   $ 4,773      $ 8,557      $ 28,672   

Operating losses

   $ (17,636   $ (36,787   $ (13,278

Identifiable assets for the Company’s education division consist of the following:

 

(in thousands)

   As of
     March 31, 2010    December 31, 2009    December 31, 2008

Identifiable assets

        

Higher education

   $ 641,191    $ 920,039    $ 675,783

Test preparation

     404,853      393,399      420,020

Kaplan international

     662,156      671,306      652,838

Kaplan ventures

     146,183      143,399      255,917

Kaplan corporate and other

     13,473      60,185      75,479
                    
   $ 1,867,856    $ 2,188,328    $ 2,080,037
                    

 

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The Washington Post Company

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

For the fiscal year ended 2009 and 2008, the Company’s education division capital expenditures were as follows:

 

(in thousands)

   Fiscal Year Ended
     2009    2008

Capital expenditures

     

Higher education

   $ 66,808    $ 46,739

Test preparation

     19,610      29,087

Kaplan international

     13,900      14,767

Kaplan ventures

     4,378      3,776

Kaplan corporate and other

     1,641      4,922
             
   $ 106,337    $ 99,291
             

 

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Table of Contents
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition

This analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto.

Results of Operations

Net income available for common stock for the first quarter of 2010 was $45.4 million ($4.91 per share), compared to a net loss available for common stock of $19.2 million ($2.04 loss per share) in the first quarter of last year.

Results for the first quarter of 2009 included $13.4 million in accelerated depreciation at The Washington Post (after-tax impact of $8.3 million, or $0.89 per share); $16.9 million in restructuring charges related to Kaplan’s Score and Test Preparation operations (after-tax impact of $10.5 million, or $1.12 per share); and $6.6 million in early retirement program expense at Newsweek (after-tax impact of $4.1 million, or $0.44 per share).

Revenue for the first quarter of 2010 was $1,171.2 million, up 11% from $1,054.1 million in 2009. The increase is due to revenue growth at the education, television broadcasting and cable television divisions, offset by revenue declines at the magazine publishing and newspaper publishing divisions. The Company reported operating income of $92.5 million in the first quarter of 2010, compared to an operating loss of $19.6 million in 2009. Operating results improved at all of the Company’s divisions for the quarter.

The Company’s operating income for the first quarter of 2010 includes $0.4 million of net pension credits, compared to $1.3 million, excluding early retirement programs, in the first quarter of 2009.

Education Division. Education division revenue totaled $711.4 million for the first quarter of 2010, a 20% increase over revenue of $593.5 million for the first quarter of 2009. Kaplan reported first quarter 2010 operating income of $57.9 million, up from $11.2 million in the first quarter of 2009.

A summary of Kaplan’s first quarter operating results compared to 2009 is as follows:

 

(In thousands)    First Quarter  
     2010     2009     % Change  

Revenue

      

Higher education

   $ 442,584      $ 333,535      33   

Test preparation, excluding Score

     102,419        108,811      (6

Score

     —          4,773      —     

Kaplan international

     133,985        117,916      14   

Kaplan ventures

     34,732        31,017      12   

Kaplan corporate

     1,291        610      —     

Intersegment elimination

     (3,629     (3,132   —     
                  
   $ 711,382      $ 593,530      20   
                  

Operating income (loss)

      

Higher education

   $ 85,893      $ 36,922      —     

Test preparation, excluding Score

     (6,801     4,923      —     

Score

     —          (17,636   —     

Kaplan international

     4,527        6,773      (33

Kaplan ventures

     (6,679     (2,112   —     

Kaplan corporate

     (13,190     (10,460   (26

Kaplan stock compensation

     (535     (1,761   70   

Amortization of intangible assets

     (5,276     (5,541   5   

Intersegment elimination

     9        54      —     
                  
   $ 57,948      $ 11,162      —     
                  

In the first quarter of 2010, Kaplan made several minor changes to its operating and reporting structure: Kaplan Compliance Solutions was moved from Kaplan Ventures to Test Preparation; Kaplan Continuing Education was moved from Test Preparation to Kaplan Ventures; and Colloquy (a business that provides online services to nonprofit higher education institutions) was moved from Kaplan Higher Education to Kaplan Ventures. The division results presented above reflect these changes.

 

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Kaplan Higher Education (KHE) includes Kaplan’s domestic post-secondary education businesses, made up of fixed-facility colleges and online post-secondary and career programs. Higher education revenue and operating income grew significantly in the first quarter of 2010 due to strong enrollment growth and improved margins. Student starts increased in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the prior year, particularly at Kaplan University; however, the percentage growth rate was lower than in the first quarter of 2009. A summary of KHE student enrollment for the first quarter of 2010 as compared to 2009 is as follows:

 

     As of    % Change
     March 31, 2010    March 31, 2009   

KHE Student Enrollment

        

Total students

        

Kaplan University

   70,514    51,735    36

Kaplan Higher Education Campuses

   48,779    43,854    11
            
   119,293    95,589    25
            
     For the Quarter Ended     
     March 31, 2010    March 31, 2009     

New student starts

        

Kaplan University

   25,169    21,135    19

Kaplan Higher Education Campuses

   15,346    14,607    5
            
   40,515    35,742    13
            

Kaplan University and Kaplan Higher Education Campuses enrollment at March 31, 2010, and March 31, 2009, by degree and certificate programs were as follows:

 

     As of March 31,  
     2010     2009  

Certificate

   26.2   30.7

Associate’s

   34.1   31.6

Bachelor’s

   33.5   33.1

Master’s

   6.2   4.6
            
   100   100
            

The U.S. Department of Education is expected to issue proposed regulations in the second quarter of 2010 that could amend or add to existing Title IV regulations. The proposed regulations may include revised standards governing the payment of incentive compensation to admissions and financial aid advisors; a new definition of “gainful employment” that is based on student tuition and debt levels and other factors; and other changes to Title IV eligibility requirements for institutions, programs and students. The changes ultimately made to the Title IV regulations could adversely affect, among other things, Kaplan’s ability to retain admissions and financial aid advisors and the ability of Kaplan Higher Education division’s programs and students to qualify for Title IV financial assistance, and could otherwise have a material adverse effect on Kaplan’s operating results. The Department of Education has stated its intent to publish any new final regulations by November 1, 2010, which is the deadline for the regulations to take effect by July 1, 2011.

Test preparation includes Kaplan’s standardized test preparation and tutoring offerings, as well as the professional domestic training business, K12 and other businesses. In the first quarter of 2010, the Company discontinued certain offerings of the K12 business; $4.6 million in severance and other closure costs were recorded in the first quarter of 2010 in connection with this plan. Test preparation revenue declined 6% in the first quarter of 2010 due mostly to the discontinuance of certain K12 offerings. Test preparation operating results were also down in the first quarter of 2010 due to K12, reduced prices at the traditional test preparation programs, and higher spending to expand online offerings and innovate various programs. The declines were offset by improved results at test preparation’s professional domestic training businesses due to expense reductions; total restructuring-related expenses of $5.4 million were recorded in the first quarter of 2009 related to lease termination, accelerated depreciation of fixed assets and severance costs.

At the end of March 2009, the Company approved a plan to offer tutoring services, previously provided at Score, in Kaplan test preparation centers. The plan was substantially completed by the end of the second quarter of 2009; 14 existing Score centers were converted into Kaplan test preparation centers, and the remaining 64 Score centers were closed. In the first quarter of 2009, the Company recorded $11.5 million in asset write-downs, severance and accelerated depreciation of fixed assets, including a $9.2 million write-down on Score’s software product.

Kaplan International includes professional training and post-secondary education businesses outside the United States, as well as English-language programs. Kaplan International revenue increased 14% in 2010. The increase for 2010 is primarily the result of

 

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favorable exchange rates in the U.K., Europe, Australia and Asia, as well as strong enrollment growth in the University pathways business. Kaplan International operating income was down in 2010 largely due to higher expenditures for business development incurred at Kaplan Australia.

Kaplan Ventures is made up of a number of businesses in various stages of development that are managed separately from the other education businesses. Kaplan Ventures includes Kaplan EduNeering, Kaplan Continuing Education, Education Connection, Kaplan Virtual Education, Kidum, Kaplan IT Learning and other smaller businesses. Revenues at Kaplan Ventures increased 12% in the first quarter of 2010. Kaplan Ventures reported operating losses of $6.7 million in the first quarter of 2010, compared to operating losses of $2.1 million in 2009, due largely to increased losses at Kaplan Virtual Education, a developing group of online high school institutions. In April 2010, Kaplan sold Education Connection; the gain on sale was not significant.

Corporate represents unallocated expenses of Kaplan, Inc.’s corporate office and other minor shared activities.

Stock compensation charges relate to incentive compensation arising from equity awards under the Kaplan stock option plan, which was established for certain members of Kaplan’s management. Kaplan recorded stock compensation expense of $0.5 million in the first quarter of 2010, compared to stock compensation expense of $1.8 million in the first quarter of 2009.

Cable Television Division. Cable television division revenue of $189.4 million for the first quarter of 2010 represents a 3% increase from $183.5 million in the first quarter of 2009. The 2010 revenue increase is due to continued growth in the division’s cable modem and telephone revenues and a $4 monthly rate increase for most basic subscribers in June 2009. Cable television division operating income increased 1% to $42.5 million, from $42.0 million in the first quarter of 2009. The increase in operating income is due to the division’s revenue growth, offset by increased programming, technical and sales costs.

At March 31, 2010, Revenue Generating Units (RGUs) were down 1% from the prior year due to a reduction in basic and digital subscribers, offset by growth in high-speed data and telephony subscribers. RGUs include about 6,300 subscribers who receive free basic cable service, primarily local governments, schools and other organizations as required by the various franchise agreements. A summary of RGUs is as follows:

 

Cable Television Division Subscribers

   March 31, 2010    March 31, 2009

Basic

   667,314    705,391

Digital

   219,699    230,381

High-speed data

   405,311    386,101

Telephony

   113,826    98,065
         

Total

   1,406,150    1,419,938
         

Below are details of Cable division capital expenditures for the first quarter of 2010 and 2009, as defined by the NCTA Standard Reporting Categories (in millions):

 

     2010    2009

Customer Premise Equipment

   $ 5.3    $ 10.0

Scaleable Infrastructure

     3.9      5.2

Line Extensions

     1.1      2.2

Upgrade/Rebuild

     1.0      2.7

Support Capital

     3.7      3.3
             

Total

   $ 15.0    $ 23.4
             

Newspaper Publishing Division. Newspaper publishing division revenue totaled $155.8 million for the first quarter of 2010, a 3% decline from revenue of $160.9 million for the first quarter of 2009. Print advertising revenue at The Washington Post decreased 8% to $68.7 million, from $74.3 million in 2009. The decline is largely due to reductions in general and retail advertising. Revenue generated by the Company’s newspaper online publishing activities, primarily washingtonpost.com and Slate, increased 8% to $23.7 million for the first quarter of 2010, versus $22.0 million for the first quarter of 2009. Display online advertising revenue grew 17%, and online classified advertising revenue on washingtonpost.com declined 13%.

 

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For the first quarter of 2010, Post daily circulation decreased 12.5% and Post Sunday circulation decreased 10.4%, compared to the first quarter of 2009. A portion of this decline relates to increased circulation volumes in the first quarter of 2009 due to the Presidential Inauguration. Average daily circulation in the first quarter of 2010 totaled 562,000, and average Sunday circulation totaled 780,000.

The newspaper division reported an operating loss of $13.8 million in the first quarter of 2010, compared to an operating loss of $53.8 million in the first quarter of 2009. The Post closed its College Park, MD, printing plant in July 2009 and consolidated its printing operations in Springfield, VA. The Post also completed the consolidation of certain other operations in Washington, DC, in the first quarter of 2010. In connection with these activities, $13.4 million in accelerated depreciation was recorded by the Company in the first quarter of 2009, and a $3.1 million loss on an office lease was recorded by the Company in the first quarter of 2010. Excluding accelerated depreciation and lease losses, operating results improved in the first quarter of 2010 due to expense reductions in payroll, newsprint, bad debt and agency fees, and expense reductions at washingtonpost.com. Newsprint expense was down 33% in the first quarter of 2010 due to a decline in newsprint consumption and prices.

Television Broadcasting Division. Revenue for the broadcast division increased 20% in the first quarter of 2010 to $73.5 million, from $61.2 million in 2009; operating income for the first quarter of 2010 increased 72% to $20.9 million, from $12.1 million in 2009. The increase in revenue and operating income is due to improved advertising demand in all markets, including $5.1 million in incremental winter Olympics-related advertising at the Company’s NBC affiliates and a $1.3 million increase in political advertising revenue.

Magazine Publishing Division. Revenue for the magazine publishing division totaled $29.4 million for the first quarter of 2010, a 36% decrease from $46.1 million for the first quarter of 2009. The decline is due primarily to a 38% reduction in advertising revenue at Newsweek from fewer ad pages at the domestic and international editions, one less issue of the domestic edition in the first quarter of 2010 versus 2009, and the December 2009 sale of Newsweek Budget Travel. In February 2009, Newsweek announced a circulation rate base reduction at its domestic edition, from 2.6 million to 1.5 million by January 2010. Subscription revenue also declined at the domestic edition in the first quarter of 2010 due to the rate base reduction.

In December 2009, Newsweek sold Newsweek Budget Travel magazine. Budget Travel revenues and operating losses for the first quarter of 2009 were $3.4 million and $3.0 million, respectively. Early retirement program expense of $6.6 million was recorded in the first quarter of 2009 in connection with a Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program accepted by 44 employees, funded mostly from the assets of the Company’s pension plans.

The division reported an operating loss of $2.3 million in the first quarter of 2010, compared to an operating loss of $20.3 million in the first quarter of 2009. These operating loss amounts include a net pension credit of $8.3 million and $1.6 million for the first quarter of 2010 and 2009, respectively. Excluding first quarter 2009 early retirement program expense and operating losses at Budget Travel, the division’s operating loss declined in the first quarter of 2010 due to a reduction in manufacturing, editorial, subscription, distribution and other expenses.

As previously announced, the Company has retained Allen & Company to explore the possible sale of Newsweek.

Other Businesses and Corporate Office. Other businesses and corporate office included the expenses of the Company’s corporate office and the operating results of Avenue100 Media Solutions.

Equity in Losses of Affiliates. The Company’s equity in losses of affiliates for the first quarter of 2010 was $8.1 million due to significant losses incurred by the Company’s Bowater Mersey Paper Company affiliate. The Company’s equity in losses of affiliates for the first quarter of 2009 was $0.8 million.

The Company holds a 49% interest in Bowater Mersey Paper Company and interests in several other affiliates.

Other Non-Operating Income (Expense). The Company recorded other non-operating expense, net, of $3.3 million for the first quarter of 2010, compared to other non-operating expense, net, of $4.0 million for the first quarter of 2009. The 2010 non-operating expense, net, included $3.3 million in unrealized foreign currency losses; the 2009 non-operating expense, net, included $2.9 million in impairment write-downs on cost method investments and $1.4 million in unrealized foreign currency losses.

Net Interest Expense. The Company incurred net interest expense of $7.3 million for the first quarter of 2010, compared to $7.1 million for the first quarter of 2009. At April 4, 2010, the Company had $399.4 million in borrowings outstanding, at an average interest rate of 7.2%.

 

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Provision for Income Taxes. The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2010 was 37.9%, compared to 38.1% for the first quarter of 2009.

Earnings (Loss) Per Share. The calculation of diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of 2010 was based on 9,240,951 weighted average shares outstanding, compared to 9,339,065 for the first quarter of 2009. In the first quarter of 2010, the Company repurchased 64,305 shares of its Class B common stock at a cost of $27.8 million.

Financial Condition: Capital Resources and Liquidity

Acquisitions and Dispositions. In the first quarter of 2010, Kaplan made one small acquisition in its Kaplan Ventures division. The Company did not make any acquisitions during the first quarter of 2009.

In April 2010, Kaplan sold Education Connection, which was part of the Kaplan Ventures division; the gain on sale was not significant.

Capital expenditures. During the first three months of 2010, the Company’s capital expenditures totaled $35.0 million. The Company estimates that its capital expenditures will be in the range of $270 million to $300 million in 2010.

Liquidity. The Company’s borrowings have increased by $0.1 million, to $399.4 million at April 4, 2010, as compared to borrowings of $399.3 million at January 3, 2010. At April 4, 2010, the Company has $575.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared to $477.7 million at January 3, 2010. The Company had money market investments of $419.4 million and $327.8 million that are classified as cash and cash equivalents in the Company’s consolidated Balance Sheet as of April 4, 2010 and January 3, 2010, respectively.

The Company’s total debt outstanding of $399.4 million at April 4, 2010 included $396.3 million of 7.25% unsecured notes due February 1, 2019 and $3.1 million in other debt.

The Company has a $500 million revolving credit facility that expires in August 2011, which supports the issuance of the Company’s short-term commercial paper and provides for general corporate purposes. The Company did not issue any commercial paper in the first quarter of 2010.

During the first quarter of 2010 and 2009, the Company had average borrowings outstanding of approximately $399.3 million and $488.5 million, respectively, at average annual interest rates of approximately 7.2% and 6.4%, respectively. During the first quarter of 2010 and 2009, the Company incurred net interest expense of $7.3 million and $7.1 million, respectively.

At April 4, 2010 and January 3, 2010, the Company had working capital of $483.3 million and $398.5 million, respectively. The Company maintains working capital levels consistent with its underlying business requirements and consistently generates cash from operations in excess of required interest or principal payments. The Company expects to fund its estimated capital needs primarily through existing cash balances and internally generated funds. In management’s opinion, the Company will have ample liquidity to meet its various cash needs throughout 2010.

There were no significant changes to the Company’s contractual obligations or other commercial commitments from those disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 2010.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. The Company reviews its indefinite-lived intangible assets annually, as of November 30, for possible impairment or between annual tests if an event occurred or circumstances changed that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying value. The Company uses a discounted cash flow model and in certain cases, a market value approach is also utilized to supplement the discounted cash flow model, to determine the estimated fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets. The Company makes estimates and assumptions regarding future cash flows, discount rates, long-term growth rates and other market values to determine the estimated fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets.

The Company’s intangible assets with an indefinite life are principally from franchise agreements at its cable television division. These franchise agreements result from agreements the Company has with state and local governments that allow the Company to contract and operate a cable business within a specified geographic area. The Company expects its cable franchise agreements to provide the Company with substantial benefit for a period that extends beyond the foreseeable horizon, and the Company’s cable television division historically has obtained renewals and extensions of such agreements for nominal costs and without material modifications to the agreements. The franchise agreements represent 93% of the $531.4 million of indefinite-lived intangible assets of the Company as of April 4, 2010. The Company grouped the recorded values of its various cable franchise agreements into regional cable television systems or units of account.

 

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The key assumptions used by the Company to determine the fair value of its franchise agreements as of November 30, 2009, the date of its last annual impairment review, were as follows:

 

   

Expected cash flows underlying the Company’s business plans for the periods 2010 through 2019, assuming the only assets the unbuilt start-up cable television systems possess are the various franchise agreements. The expected cash flows took into account the estimated initial capital investment in the system region’s physical plant and related start-up costs, revenues, operating margins and growth rates. These cash flows and growth rates were based on forecasts and long-term business plans and take into account numerous factors including historical experience, anticipated economic conditions, changes in the cable television systems’ cost structures, homes in each region’s service area, number of subscribers based on penetration of homes passed by the systems, and expected revenues per subscriber.

 

   

Cash flows beyond 2019 were projected to grow at a long-term growth rate, which the Company estimated by considering historical market growth trends, anticipated cable television system performance, and expected market conditions.

 

   

The Company used a discount rate of 8.3% to risk adjust the cash flow projections in determining the estimated fair value.

The estimated fair value of the Company’s franchise agreements exceeded their respective carrying values by a margin in excess of 50%. There is always a possibility that impairment charges could occur in the future given changes in the cable television market and U.S. economic environment, as well as the inherent variability in projecting future operating performance.

Pension Costs. The Company’s net pension cost (credit) includes an expected return on plan assets component, calculated using the expected return on plan assets assumption applied to a market-related value of plan assets. The market-related value of plan assets is determined using a 5-year average market value method, which recognizes realized and unrealized appreciation and depreciation in market values over a 5-year period. The value resulting from applying this method is adjusted, if necessary, such that it cannot be less than 80% or more than 120% of the market value of plan assets as of the relevant measurement date. As a result, year-to-year increases or decreases in the market-related value of plan assets impact the return on plan assets component of pension cost for the year.

At the end of each year, differences between the actual return on plan assets and the expected return on plan assets are combined with other differences in actual versus expected experience to form a net unamortized actuarial gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income. Only those net actuarial gains or losses in excess of the deferred realized and unrealized appreciation and depreciation are potentially subject to amortization. The types of items that generate actuarial gains and losses that may be subject to amortization in net periodic pension cost (credit) include:

 

   

Asset returns that are more or less than the expected return on plan assets for the year;

 

   

Actual participant demographic experience different from assumed (retirements, terminations and deaths during the year);

 

   

Actual salary increases different from assumed; and

 

   

Any changes in assumptions that are made to better reflect anticipated experience of the plan or to reflect current market conditions on the measurement date (discount rate, longevity increases, changes in expected participant behavior and expected return on plan assets).

Amortization of the unrecognized actuarial gain or loss is included as a component of expense for a year if the magnitude of the net unamortized gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income exceeds 10% of the greater of the benefit obligation or the market-related value of assets (10% corridor). The amortization component is equal to that excess divided by the average remaining service period of active employees expected to receive benefits under the plan. At the end of 2007, the Company had net unamortized actuarial gains in accumulated other comprehensive income potentially subject to amortization that were outside the 10% corridor that resulted in amortized gains of $6,168,000 being included in 2008 pension cost. Primarily as a result of the significant pension asset losses during 2008, increased life expectations and a decrease in the discount rate, the Company had net unamortized actuarial losses in accumulated other comprehensive income potentially subject to amortization that were outside the corridor that resulted in amortized losses of $40,000 being included in 2009 pension cost. During 2009, there were pension asset gains that were offset by the impact of an increase in the discount rate. The Company currently estimates that there will be no net unamortized actuarial gains or losses in accumulated other comprehensive income potentially subject to amortization outside the corridor and therefore, no amortized gain or loss amounts included in pension cost (credit) in 2010.

 

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Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains certain forward-looking statements that are based largely on the Company’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. For more information about these forward-looking statements and related risks, please refer to the section titled “Forward-Looking Statements” in Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2010.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The Company is exposed to market risk in the normal course of its business due primarily to its ownership of marketable equity securities, which are subject to equity price risk; to its borrowing and cash-management activities, which are subject to interest rate risk; and to its foreign business operations, which are subject to foreign exchange rate risk. The Company’s market risk disclosures set forth in its 2009 Annual Report filed on Form 10-K have not otherwise changed significantly.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

An evaluation was performed by the Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the Company’s principal executive officer) and the Company’s Senior Vice President-Finance (the Company’s principal financial officer), of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)), as of April 4, 2010. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President-Finance have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as designed and implemented, are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President-Finance, in a manner that allows timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended April 4, 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

During the quarter ended April 4, 2010, the Company purchased shares of its Class B Common Stock as set forth in the following table:

 

Period

   Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
   Average
Price
Paid per
Share
   Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as
Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plan*
   Maximum
Number of
Shares That
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Plan*

Jan. 4 - Feb. 7, 2010

   14,052    $ 439.10    14,052    742,195

Feb. 8 - Mar. 7, 2010

   28,974      426.08    28,974    713,221

Mar. 8 - Apr. 4, 2010

   21,279      437.63    21,279    691,942
                   

Total

   64,305    $ 432.75    64,305   

 

* On September 22, 2003, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to purchase, on the open market or otherwise, up to 542,800 shares of its Class B Common Stock, and the existence of that authorization was disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2003. On January 21, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors increased the authorization to a total of 750,000 shares of its Class B Common Stock. There is no expiration date for that authorization. All purchases made during the quarter ended April 4, 2010, were open market transactions.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

  3.1

   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated November 13, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2003).

  3.2

   Certificate of Designation for the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock dated September 22, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 22, 2003).

  3.3

   By-Laws of the Company as amended and restated through November 8, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2007).

  4.1

   Second Supplemental Indenture dated January 30, 2009, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor to The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2009).

  4.2

   Five Year Credit Agreement dated as of August 8, 2006, among the Company, Citibank, N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Wachovia Bank, National Association, SunTrust Bank, The Bank of New York, PNC Bank, National Association, Bank of America, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 2, 2006).

31.1

   Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of the Chief Executive Officer.

31.2

   Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of the Chief Financial Officer.

32

   Section 1350 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer.

 

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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.

 

  THE WASHINGTON POST COMPANY
  (Registrant)
Date: May 11, 2010  

/S/    DONALD E. GRAHAM        

  Donald E. Graham,
  Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
  (Principal Executive Officer)
Date: May 11, 2010  

/S/    HAL S. JONES        

  Hal S. Jones,
  Senior Vice President-Finance
  (Principal Financial Officer)

 

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