e8vk
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 23, 2008
A. H. BELO CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
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1-33741
(Commission File Number)
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38-3765318
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
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P. O. Box 224866
Dallas, Texas
(Address of principal executive offices)
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75222-4866
(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (214) 977-8200
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the
filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On October 23, 2008, A. H. Belo Corporation entered into the First Amendment and Waiver to its
Credit Agreement dated as of February 4, 2008 with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan
Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Bank of America, N.A. and certain other lenders
party thereto (the Credit Agreement). Among other matters, the amendment to the Credit Agreement
reduces the total commitment amount from $100 million to
$50 million; sets pricing at LIBOR plus a spread of 250 basis points; waives compliance with the
fixed charge coverage ratio covenant through January 31, 2009, restricts the payment of cash
dividends during the waiver period, and provides the lenders with a security interest in the
Companys and its material subsidiaries accounts
receivable and inventory. The amendment does not apply to the dividend declared on September 24, 2008 to be paid on November 10, 2008.
The full text of the First Amendment and Waiver is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated
herein by reference. A copy of the press release announcing the entry into this Credit Facility
amendment and waiver is posted on the Companys Web site (www.ahbelo.com) in the Investor Relations
section, and a copy of the press release is furnished with this report as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On October 24, 2008, A. H. Belo Corporation's Chief Executive Officer, Robert Decherd, sent a
letter to shareholders that is posted on the Companys Web site (www.ahbelo.com) in the Investor
Relations section. Mr. Decherd also sent a letter to employees of A.H. Belo. These letters outline the challenges that A.H. Belo faces, and initiatives being undertaken in response to those challenges. Copies of the shareholder letter and the employee letter are furnished with this report as Exhibits 99.2 and 99.3, respectively.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
10.1 First Amendment and Waiver to the Credit Agreement dated as of
October 23, 2008
99.1 A. H. Belo Corporation Press Release dated October 24, 2008
99.2 A. H. Belo Corporation Shareholder Letter dated October 24, 2008
99.3 A. H. Belo Corporation Employee Letter dated October 24, 2008
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.
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Date: October 24, 2008 |
A. H. BELO CORPORATION
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By: |
/s/ Alison K. Engel |
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Alison K. Engel |
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Senior Vice President/Chief
Financial Officer |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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10.1
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First Amendment and Waiver dated as of October 23, 2008 |
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99.1
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A. H. Belo Corporation Press Release dated October 24, 2008 |
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99.2
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A. H. Belo Corporation Shareholder Letter dated October 24, 2008 |
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99.3
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A. H. Belo Corporation Employee Letter dated October 24, 2008 |
exv10w1
Exhibit 10.1
FIRST
AMENDMENT AND WAIVER, dated as of October 23, 2008 (this
Amendment), to the Credit Agreement dated as of February 4, 2008
(as heretofore amended, the Credit Agreement), among A. H. BELO
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, the LENDERS party thereto and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
WHEREAS the Lenders have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement on
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;
WHEREAS the Borrower wishes to reduce the Commitments as set forth herein;
WHEREAS the Borrower has requested a waiver of certain provisions of the Credit Agreement for
the limited period set forth herein;
WHEREAS the Borrower has requested that certain provisions of the Credit Agreement be amended
in the manner as set forth herein; and
WHEREAS the Lenders whose signatures appear below, constituting at least the Required Lenders,
are willing to amend the Credit Agreement and grant such waivers on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and
valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties
hereto hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Defined Terms. (a) Each capitalized term used but not defined herein,
including in the recitals hereto, shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Credit Agreement.
(b) As used in this Amendment:
Termination Date means the first to occur of (a) January 31, 2009, and (b) any date
on which there shall occur or come to the attention of the Agent or any Lender (i) any Default or
Event of Default other than a Default or Event of Default expressly waived under Section 3 or (ii)
any default in the performance of any obligation of the Borrower under this Amendment.
SECTION 2. Reduction in Commitments; Limitation on Availability. (a) Pursuant to
Section 2.08 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby notifies the Administrative Agent of its
election to reduce the Commitments to the aggregate amount of $50,000,000, which reduction shall
become effective as of the Amendment Effective Date (as defined in Section 8). The undersigned
Lenders waive the notice requirements set forth in Section 2.08(c) of the Credit Agreement insofar
as they would apply to such reduction.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision contained in the Credit Agreement, no Loan shall be made or
Letter of Credit issued prior to January 31, 2009, if, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate
Revolving Credit Exposures would exceed $32,500,000.
SECTION 3. Limited Waiver. (a) Compliance with Section 6.12 of the Credit Agreement
is hereby waived, solely for the period commencing on the Amendment Effective Date and ending on
the Termination Date.
(b) The undersigned Lenders hereby waive, solely for the period commencing on the Amendment
Effective Date and ending on the Termination Date, any Default arising prior to the Termination
Date under Section 6.12 of the Credit Agreement that would not have existed had the waiver provided
for in paragraph (a) of this Section been effective.
(c) On the Termination Date, the waivers provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
Section shall expire and be of no further force or effect with retroactive effect to the date
hereof and the Lenders shall have all rights and remedies to which they would have been entitled
had such waivers never become effective.
SECTION 4. Pricing Amendment. The definition of Applicable Percentage set forth in
Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to read as follows:
Applicable Percentage means on any date, with respect to any ABR Loan or Eurodollar
Loan or with respect to the commitment fees referred to in Section 2.11(a), as the case may be, the
applicable percentage set forth in the table below under the caption ABR Spread, Eurodollar
Spread or Commitment Fee Percentage, as the case may be:
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Commitment Fee |
ABR Spread |
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Eurodollar Spread |
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Percentage |
1.500%
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2.500%
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0.500% |
SECTION 5. Agreements of the Borrower. (a) The Borrower hereby covenants and agrees
that prior to the Termination Date, and at any time thereafter when a Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, it will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to:
(i) make, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to make, any
Restricted Payment in reliance on clause (d), (e) or (f) of Section 6.03 of the Credit
Agreement; provided that the Borrower may pay the cash dividend declared by its
Board of Directors on September 24, 2008, in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$2,600,000; or
(ii) purchase or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that
was not a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) any
capital stock, evidence of
indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, or make any
investment or acquire any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise
acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person
constituting a business unit, division, product line or line of business, in each case
in reliance on clause (j), (k) or (l) of Section 6.09 of the Credit Agreement;
provided that the Borrower may make such Investments that would otherwise not
be permitted pursuant to this clause (ii) in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$6,000,000.
(b) The Borrower will at all times (i) cause each Material Subsidiary to be a party to the
Security Agreement (as defined in Section 8) and (ii) execute all documents, financing statements
and instruments, and take all actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements
and other documents) that may be required under any applicable law or that the Administrative Agent
or the Required Lenders may reasonably request to carry out the terms of the Security Agreement and
to ensure perfection and priority of Liens created or to be created by the Security Agreement, all
at the expense of the Borrower. The Borrower agrees to provide the Administrative Agent, from time
to time, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as to the perfection and
priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Agreement.
(c) The agreements set forth in Section 5 (a) and Section 5(b) shall for all purposes of the
Credit Agreement each be deemed to be covenants set forth in Article VI and Article V thereof,
respectively.
SECTION 6. Covenant Amendment. (a) Section 6.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby
amended to add the following subsection:
(j) Mortgage Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries secured solely
by certain real estate assets owned on the date hereof by the Borrower and/or its Restricted
Subsidiaries and located in Riverside, California (the Riverside Property)
provided that the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries will not permit the
loan-to-value ratio when such mortgage Indebtedness is incurred to be less than 50 percent or
greater than 100 percent.
(b) Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to add the following to the last
sentence:
and (c) Liens on the Riverside Property securing Indebtedness permitted by 6.01(j).
(c) Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the text in
parenthesis (including controlled disbursements, zero balance arrangements, cash sweeps, automated
clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts, temporary advances, and interstate depository
network services) in the definition of Cash Management Services Obligations and substituting in
lieu thereof the following text:
(including controlled disbursements, zero balance arrangements, cash sweeps, automated
clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts, temporary advances, interstate depository
network services and purchase cards).
SECTION 7. Representations and Warranties. To induce the other parties hereto to
enter into this Amendment, the Borrower represents and warrants to such parties that, as of the
Amendment Effective Date:
(a) The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Amendment and the
Security Agreement have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the
Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries; this Amendment and the Security Agreement have been duly
executed and delivered by the Borrower. Each of this Amendment, the Credit Agreement, as amended
hereby and the Security Agreement constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower
and, in the case of the Security Agreement, each Material Subsidiary, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or other laws affecting creditors rights generally and subject to general principles of equity,
regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. The Subsidiaries that have
executed and delivered the Security Agreement constitute all the Material Subsidiaries. The
Security Agreement creates in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured
Parties (as defined therein), a valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral (as
defined therein) and when financing statements in appropriate form are filed in the applicable
filing offices, the security interest created under the Security Agreement will constitute a fully
perfected security interest in all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Collateral
to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing Uniform Commercial Code financing statements,
prior and superior to the rights of any other Person, except for rights secured by Liens permitted
by Section 6.02.
(b) The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in Article III of the Credit
Agreement and in the Security Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of
the Amendment Effective Date (except to the extent that any representation or warranty expressly
relates to an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty is true and correct as of
such earlier date).
(c) As of the Amendment Effective Date, after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default
will have occurred and be continuing.
SECTION 8. Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become effective as of the date (the
Amendment Effective Date) on which:
(a) the Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a counterpart of this Amendment executed
on behalf of the Borrower and (ii) duly executed counterparts hereof that, when taken together,
bear the authorized signatures of Lenders constituting at least the Required Lenders,
(b) the Administrative Agent shall have received a counterpart of a Security Agreement in the
form of Exhibit A hereto (the Security Agreement), executed on behalf of the Borrower and
each Material Subsidiary;
(c) the Administrative Agent shall have received such documents, certificates and legal
opinions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably have requested relating to the organization,
existence and good standing of each Loan Party, their authority to enter into this Amendment and
the Security Agreement and any other legal matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents
or the transactions contemplated thereby, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent; and
(d) the Administrative Agent shall have received the Consent Fees payable under Section 9
and, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be
reimbursed or paid by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement or Section 10.
SECTION 9. Fees to Consenting Lenders. The Borrower agrees to pay on the Amendment
Effective Date to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender that delivers an
executed copy of this Amendment to the Administrative Agent (or its counsel) at or prior to 5:00
p.m., New York City time, on October 22, 2008, a fee (a Consent Fee) equal to 0.125% on
the amount of such Lenders Commitment, after giving effect to the reduction of the Commitments
provided for in Section 2. All such fees shall be in immediately available funds and shall not be
refundable.
SECTION 10. Expenses. The Borrower agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent for
its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Amendment, including the reasonable
fees, charges and disbursements of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, counsel for the Administrative
Agent.
SECTION 11. Credit Agreement. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment
shall not by implication or otherwise limit, impair, constitute a waiver of, or otherwise affect
the rights and remedies of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under, the Credit Agreement, as
amended and waived hereby, or any other Loan Document, and shall not alter, modify, amend or in any
way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the
Credit Agreement, as waived and amended herby, or any other Loan Document, all of which are
ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect. Nothing herein
shall be deemed to entitle the Borrower to a consent to, or a waiver, amendment, modification, or
other change of, any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in
the Credit Agreement, as amended and waived hereby, or any other Loan Document in similar or
different circumstances. On and after the Amendment Effective Date, each reference in the Credit
Agreement to this Agreement, hereunder, hereof, herein, or words of like import shall be
deemed to be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby. This Amendment and the
Security Agreement shall constitute Loan Documents for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and
the other Loan Documents.
SECTION 12. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts (and by
different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original,
but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single instrument. Delivery of an executed
counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be
as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.
SECTION 13. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the law of the State of New York.
SECTION 14. Headings. Section headings used herein are for convenience of reference
only, are not part of this Amendment and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into
consideration in interpreting, this Amendment.
7
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed by their
respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
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A.H. BELO CORPORATION,
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by |
/s/
Alison K. Engel |
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Name: |
Alison K. Engel |
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Title: |
Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer |
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JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually and as
Administrative Agent,
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by |
/s/ Brian McDougal |
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Name: |
Brian McDougal |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
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by |
/s/ Jay D. Marquis
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Name: |
Jay D. Marquis |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT
AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
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LENDER: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
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by |
/s/ Jay D. Marquis
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Name: |
Jay D. Marquis |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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For any Lender requiring a second signature line:
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by |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND
WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF
FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
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LENDER: SUNTRUST BANK
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by |
/s/
Jill White |
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Name: |
Jill White |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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For any Lender requiring a second signature line:
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by |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND
WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF
FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
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LENDER: CAPITAL ONE, N.A.
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by |
/s/ Shannan Pratt
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Name: |
Shannan Pratt |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND
WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF
FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
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LENDER: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
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by |
/s/
Thomas J. Tarasovich, Jr. |
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Name: |
Thomas J. Tarasovich, Jr. |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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For any Lender requiring a second signature line:
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by |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND
WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF
FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
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LENDER: WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.
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By |
/s/ Erik Habres
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Name: |
ERIK HABRES |
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Title: |
VICE PRESIDENT |
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For any Lender requiring a second signature line:
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by |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND
WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF
FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
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LENDER: THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
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by |
/s/
Jeffrey Gordon
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Name: |
Jeffrey Gordon |
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Title: |
Officer |
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For any Lender requiring a second signature line:
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by |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND
WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF
FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
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LENDER: COMERICA BANK
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by |
/s/
Catherine Young
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Name: |
Catherine Young |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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For any Lender requiring a second signature line:
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by |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND
WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF
FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
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LENDER: U.S. BANK, N.A.
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by |
/s/ Tom Gunder
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Name: |
Tom Gunder |
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Title: |
SVP |
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For any Lender requiring a second signature line:
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by |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF
FEBRUARY 4,2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
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AMEGY BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
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by |
/s/ Melinda Jackson
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Name: |
Melinda Jackson |
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Title: |
Senior Vice President |
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exv99w1
Exhibit
99.1
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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Friday, October 24, 2008 |
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7:00 A.M. CDT |
A. H. BELO CORPORATION AMENDS CREDIT AGREEMENT
DALLAS A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE: AHC) said today that its bank group has approved an
amendment and waiver to its credit facility. The amended credit agreement, effective October 23,
2008, reduces the total commitment amount from $100 million to $50 million; sets pricing at LIBOR
plus a spread of 250 basis points; waives the fixed charge ratio covenant through January 31, 2009;
restricts the payment of cash dividends during such period; and, provides the bank group a security
interest in the Companys accounts receivable and inventory. The amendment does not apply to the
dividend declared on September 24, 2008 to be paid on November 10, 2008.
Robert W. Decherd, chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer, said, We are pleased with
the added financial flexibility provided in this amendment although at a higher cost because
it provides room for us to make the best strategic and operational decisions to maximize long-term
shareholder value and uphold our brand equity. The Board of Directors and Management Committee are
using all available alternatives to improve A. H. Belos financial position and enable the Company
to manage through the current combination of cyclical and secular pressures, including the nations
economic downturn.
Robert Decherd sent a letter to shareholders today that is posted on the Companys Web site
(www.ahbelo.com) in the Investor Relations section.
A. H.
Belos credit agreement and amendment can be accessed at www.sec.gov.
- more -
A. H. Belo Amends Credit Agreement
October 24, 2008
Page Two
About A. H. Belo Corporation
A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE: AHC) headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a
distinguished news and information company that owns and operates four daily
newspapers and a diverse group of Web sites. A. H. Belo publishes The Dallas Morning News, Texas
leading newspaper and winner of eight Pulitzer Prizes since 1986; The Providence Journal, the
oldest continuously-published daily newspaper in the U.S. and
winner of four Pulitzer Prizes; The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA), serving southern Californias
Inland Empire region and winner of one Pulitzer Prize; and the Denton
Record-Chronicle. The Company publishes various specialty publications targeting niche audiences,
young adults and the fast-growing Hispanic market. The Companys partnerships and/or investments
include the Yahoo! Newspaper Consortium and Classified Ventures, owner of cars.com. A. H. Belo
also owns direct mail and commercial printing businesses. Additional information is available at
www.ahbelo.com or by contacting Maribel Correa, director/Investor Relations, at 214-977-2702.
Statements in this communication concerning A. H. Belo Corporations (the Companys) business
outlook or future economic performance, anticipated profitability, revenues, expenses, dividends,
capital expenditures, investments, future financings, and other financial and non-financial items
that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements as the term is defined under
applicable federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties
and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those statements.
Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, changes in capital market
conditions and prospects, and other factors such as changes in advertising demand, interest rates,
and newsprint prices; newspaper circulation trends and other circulation matters, including changes
in readership patterns and demography, and audits and related actions by the Audit Bureau of
Circulations; challenges in achieving expense reduction goals, and on schedule, and resulting
potential effects on operations; technological changes; development of Internet commerce; industry
cycles; changes in pricing or other actions by competitors and suppliers; regulatory, tax and legal
changes; adoption of new accounting standards or changes in existing accounting standards by the
Financial Accounting Standards Board or other accounting standard-setting bodies or authorities;
the effects of Company acquisitions, dispositions, co-owned ventures, and investments; general
economic conditions; significant armed conflict; and other factors beyond our control, as well as
other risks described on Form 10-K and other public disclosures and filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
exv99w2
Exhibit
99.2
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October 24, 2008 |
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Dear Fellow Shareholders: |
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In April, I wrote to you about our new company and anticipated A. H. Belo Corporations first
year as a separate publicly-traded entity. I noted that it is important for me to communicate
regularly about AHCs progress and followed up with a letter in July outlining our decision to
restructure the Companys newspaper operations. A copy of my July letter can be accessed at
www.ahbelo.com/investletter. Its hard to imagine that much more could have changed
since then, both for our industry and the marketplace. This letter is meant to give you some
insight into how AHCs Board and Management Committee have been working to respond to these
external conditions, and how we currently see the next 18 months playing out assuming market
conditions remain fairly similar to today. |
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Lets begin with the positives. A. H. Belo owns great assets in local markets that will be
strong over the long term, and the Companys brands, built on superior journalism over decades,
enjoy a powerful presence in these markets. We have talented leaders who are totally dedicated
to the Companys success and understand how critical it is that we do everything possible to
achieve profitability at the soonest time possible while maintaining AHCs ability to produce
high-quality, proprietary content on a consistent basis. And, we have a balance sheet that will
enable us to accomplish these goals. |
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The complexity of the task ahead is apparent to all of A. H. Belos constituencies
shareholders, directors, senior leaders, employees at every level of the Company, and our
readers and advertisers. Events of the past 10 weeks have bound together these constituencies
to a greater extent than at any time in memory, as cyclical economic forces have amplified the
newspaper industrys secular challenges. We can and will succeed by acting in a coordinated
fashion that serves the Companys best interests. |
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Heres what were doing. The Board and Management Committee have undertaken numerous
initiatives on parallel paths to construct a new business model for A. H. Belo that recognizes
the secular changes underway in our industry and takes full advantage of our existing assets.
This process is well underway and will likely take several more months to complete. Both
internal and external resources are being used in support of these initiatives. |
Continued . . .
AHC Shareholders
October 24, 2008
Page Two
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More immediately, there is an intense focus on preserving core revenues and growing new revenue
streams both in print and online that are incremental
and sustainable. The launch
of Briefing by The Dallas Morning News in August and the Companys recently-announced investment
and operating agreement with ResponseLogix are examples of these efforts. We have also
implemented broad-based expense controls resulting in savings in excess of $50 million on an
annualized basis, or 7 percent of last years total expenses. |
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The Management Committee is giving daily attention to the balance sheet with particular emphasis
on capital expenditures, real estate monetization and the evolution of dividend policy as
directed by the Board. We are actively and constructively discussing AHCs future working
capital needs with our bank group to ensure that the Company has the flexibility necessary to
implement its evolving business plan. And, we continue to make selective investments in new
business opportunities that build off of AHCs core assets and competencies, and that may have
applicability in markets beyond ours. |
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Specifically, some of the key actions taken or initiated since July include: |
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Executive vice presidents Jim Moroney and Skip Cass are jointly heading a Company-wide
effort to improve our sales force effectiveness and go-to-market capabilities in meaningful
ways. With core advertising revenue continuing to decline, this effort is the single most
important factor in stabilizing core revenue over the intermediate term and developing new
revenue streams both in print and online. |
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AHCs digital and online efforts are focused on complementing the Companys
impression-based products in ways that deliver demonstrable return on investment for
advertisers. As mentioned above, we are in the process of rolling out ResponseLogix, a
lead-based management solution that allows auto dealers to follow up and track Internet and
telephone sales leads from the first point of customer contact through purchase. AHCs
participation in the Yahoo! Newspaper Consortium is also beginning to yield results as we
implement Yahoo!s behavioral targeting capabilities. This advertising platform allows AHC
to offer targeting on our own sites in addition to selling targeted online advertising to
local audiences on Yahoo!s sites. Already in 2008, DallasNews.com has driven nearly $1
million in incremental revenue in early-phase selling using Yahoo!s behavioral targeting
tools; full installation of these Yahoo! tools is expected to occur in all AHC markets by
year end. |
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We are optimistic that the dramatic run-up in newsprint prices spurred by the merger of
Abitibi and Bowater in late 2007 has run its course, and that total newsprint expense in
2009 should be lower as a result of better pricing and a wide range of newsprint reduction
initiatives at AHC newspapers. |
Continued . . .
AHC Shareholders
October 24, 2008
Page Three
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The voluntary severance offer made at AHCs newspapers in July resulted in the departure
of 412 employees and annual expense savings of approximately $24 million. The subsequent
reduction in force will be completed soon, and will result in approximately 90 fewer
employees and savings of approximately $5 million annually. All employment expense
reductions in 2008, taken as a whole, have reduced the size of our workforce by 13 percent
and cut employment expense by approximately $30 million on an annualized basis. Additional
savings will be realized as a result of adjustments to the Companys various benefits
plans, effective January 1, 2009. |
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Going forward, the Board has agreed on a compensation philosophy that freezes salaries
at current levels for most employees effective November 1, 2008. There may be modest
salary increases for selected personnel, as approved by a member of the Management
Committee. Bonus opportunities for 2009 will be focused almost exclusively on revenue
goals at every level of the Company. |
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For 2008, bonuses calculated under the Incentive Plan and the Performance Plan will
mostly reflect the achievement of expense reduction targets. These bonus opportunities
affect key management personnel who did not receive guaranteed bonuses as part of the
spin-off from Belo Corp. in February. I will decline my bonus calculated under the
Incentive Plan. The bonus pools established for each AHC operating company in place of the
across-the-board bonus plan under Belo Corp. will be used sparingly and very judiciously. |
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The 2 percent profit-related contribution to employees individual 401(k) accounts will
be suspended effective January 1, 2009 and will be reconsidered when AHC returns to
profitability. The Companys 401(k) match of up to 6 percent of employees base salaries
will remain in place for 2009. |
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The Board of Directors proposes to reduce director fees by 20 percent effective at the
2009 Annual Meeting, which is the time such compensation is set for the ensuing year. |
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The Management Committee is reviewing again projected capital spending plans and we
believe that capital expenditures can be brought to $18 million or less in 2009 and 2010. |
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In its review of dividend policy at its regular September meeting, the Board of
Directors discussed the likelihood that the dividend will need to be suspended to preserve
cash, while reaffirming its commitment to AHC being a dividend-paying company over the
intermediate to long term. An amendment to AHCs bank credit agreement announced today
precludes the declaration of a dividend for the near term; more detail about this
amendment is contained in our press release posted on www.ahbelo.com. |
Continued . . .
AHC Shareholders
October 24, 2008
Page Four
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Weve selected CB Richard Ellis, a prominent national real estate firm, to recommend
options for monetizing AHC real estate in Dallas and Providence that is unrelated to daily
operations or can be included in a strategic plan to modify where daily operations take
place. This will be a longer process than other initiatives weve undertaken, but should
result in some property sales in 2009. |
The Board and Management Committee are steering carefully between changing long-standing operating
protocols and ensuring AHCs continued ability to achieve and maintain competitive advantage in its
markets. Accomplishing this balance is the best course to profitability, the restoration of
shareholder value, and the perpetuation of distinctive journalism at A. H. Belos newspapers and
Web sites that serve our fellow citizens. As always, we appreciate your support of these important
joint objectives. Ill stay in touch over the weeks and months ahead.
Statements in this communication concerning A. H. Belo Corporations (the Companys) business
outlook or future economic performance, anticipated profitability, revenues, expenses, dividends,
capital expenditures, investments, future financings, and other financial and non-financial items
that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements as the term is defined under
applicable federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties
and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those statements.
Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, changes in capital market
conditions and prospects, and other factors such as changes in advertising demand, interest rates,
and newsprint prices; newspaper circulation trends and other circulation matters, including changes
in readership patterns and demography, and audits and related actions by the Audit Bureau of
Circulations; challenges in achieving expense reduction goals, and on schedule, and resulting
potential effects on operations; technological changes; development of Internet commerce; industry
cycles; changes in pricing or other actions by competitors and suppliers; regulatory, tax and legal
changes; adoption of new accounting standards or changes in existing accounting standards by the
Financial Accounting Standards Board or other accounting standard-setting bodies or authorities;
the effects of Company acquisitions, dispositions, co-owned ventures, and investments; general
economic conditions; significant armed conflict; and other factors beyond our control, as well as
other risks described on Form 10-K and other public disclosures and filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
exv99w3
Exhibit 99.3
October 24, 2008
Dear Colleagues:
Ive sent a letter to the Companys shareholders today describing how the Board of Directors and
Management Committee are responding to the ongoing challenges in the newspaper industry and recent
shocks to the U. S. economy, and their impacts on A. H. Belo. You can access this letter at
www.ahbelo.com. Please take time to read the letter carefully since it is vitally
important that all of us are united behind what A. H. Belo needs to do as a Company to maintain its
strong businesses, practice outstanding journalism both in print and online, and flourish over the
intermediate to long term. As I reported to the Board at its September meeting, we have a good
plan for managing through this complex challenge; we have the right teams in place throughout the
Company; and, while we cannot control external factors affecting the newspaper business generally,
we can discern competitive conditions in our local markets and respond accordingly.
All of you know that none of this is easy and that many of our fellow employees have left A. H.
Belo recently, either through the voluntary severance offer last month or the reductions in force
that will be completed soon. I thank each and every one of them for their service to our great
newspapers and to our communities, and join you in wishing them the best in their future endeavors.
We have worked hard to complete these difficult changes to our workforce in as sensitive a manner
as possible.
The members of the Management Committee are deeply involved in balancing the imperative of cost
reductions with the long term needs of A. H. Belos newspapers and related businesses. We
recognize that the current economic environment is one that inevitably creates anxiety for each of
our colleagues and for our communities. So, it is important to look out for one another and to
believe, as I do, that by working together we can navigate this period in a way that reflects our
Companys values, engages us in the pursuit of important community goals, and returns A. H. Belo to
profitability at the soonest time possible.
Continued . . .
AHC Colleagues
October 24, 2008
Page Two
This balancing means that every part of the Companys cost structure has to be modified, and there
are several decisions mentioned in my shareholder letter that affect all of us as employees and
deserve further description. These include:
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Effective November 1, salaries will be frozen at current levels in most instances until
the Company returns to profitability. Appropriate steps will be taken to review pay
protocols in specific locations. As to the freeze, most of A. H. Belos peer companies
have taken similar action, or have reported they are considering doing so. Many other
industries have frozen or reduced wages in response to our countrys economic turmoil.
When we are able to resume making salary increases, there will be a process which ensures
that everyone is treated fairly relative to your employment anniversary date and the
timing of your most recent salary review. |
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As noted in my shareholder letter, modest wage increases may be made in special
circumstances approved by a member of the Management Committee. |
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You will recall that A. H. Belo instituted new bonus plans when the Company was spun
off from Belo Corp. in February. We will calculate any bonus attainment for 2008 plan
participants in accordance with those plans guidelines which were communicated earlier
this year, and bonus pools will be established at each newspaper to recognize outstanding
individual performance in this years difficult operating environment. For 2009, the same
bonus plans will be in effect but will reflect current market conditions and focus almost
entirely on revenue generation. |
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The Companys 401(k) Plan will continue to match your contributions to your individual
retirement account up to 6 percent of your base salary. This Company match is at the high
end of similar retirement plans. Until A. H. Belo returns to profitability, the
additional 2 percent contribution to your 401(k) account will be suspended since this
additional contribution is related to the Companys financial success. The Board of
Directors will determine the timing and amount of any additional contribution above 6
percent when we are profitable again. |
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Earlier this week, you received a summary of changes to A. H. Belos health benefit
plans as part of the annual open enrollment process. We will incur a 3 percent rise in
monthly premium deductions for the Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, which is lower than
estimated increases in healthcare costs nationally next year of 6-7 percent. Modifications
to the plan design include an increase in deductibles but also feature the elimination of
the premium prescription buy-up option in favor of changes to the basic prescription plan,
which is now included in your total healthcare premium. |
Continued . . .
AHC Colleagues
October 24, 2008
Page Three
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Overall, our Human Resources team has done a great job of
controlling costs while enhancing certain aspects of the plan. You can access a detailed description of plan
design changes at www.belobenefits.com. |
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I have encouraged the Management Committee and their direct reports to emphasize
return on effort as we think about organizational activities in relation to planning for
2009. The result is that we are deferring or eliminating many tasks. One important
initiative that was announced earlier this year, and will now be deferred, is the creation
of a common review cycle for performance appraisals. We continue to believe that this is
a very positive concept, but accomplishing this change will require a great deal of effort
that can be better applied in other areas at present. Well be back to you sometime next
year with a new schedule for implementing a common review cycle. Until then, appraisals
should be continued on a timely basis in accordance with past practice. |
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Reductions in employment levels at A. H. Belos core businesses will be somewhat offset
by employment increases associated with investments that can generate sustainable,
incremental revenue for our Company. The pursuit of such opportunities lead to the recent
announcement of the Employee Referral Program that engages all of us in recruiting the
talent needed to populate A. H. Belos new businesses. |
Despite the pressures A. H. Belo is feeling, many aspects of being a part of our team are very
positive, and it is important to keep these in mind as we address the challenges presented by the
U. S. economy over the next 18-24 months. We have the attributes as a Company to work through
these challenges and be in a position to flourish thereafter. The most encouraging news is that
our local audience reach continues to grow and we continue to expand our local audience base
through existing newspaper circulation and the added reach of online and niche products a fact
that receives little or no attention from industry pundits and financial analysts. While we
realize that print circulation has declined, the more serious dilemma our industry faces is that
advertising models have not completely kept up with our proven ability to grow new audiences,
especially as advertisers are now afforded many more options in terms of how and where to spend
their marketing dollars. This is particularly true in the classified advertising categories, where
robust online options now effectively compete for dollars that were once almost exclusively the
domain of local newspapers.
Continued . . .
AHC Colleagues
October 24, 2008
Page Four
While we cant ignore these shifts in our business models and the serious impact they exert on our
operations, I want to assure you the Management Committee is intensely focused on pursuing key
growth strategies that, in many cases, represent opportunities that are unique to a company like A.
H. Belo Corporation.
In upcoming months, youll begin to see an even greater focus on products and business models that
allow us to attract advertiser revenues that more closely align with and recognize our ability to
reach new audiences. The roll-out of Briefing in Dallas allows us to reach audiences whose
schedules do not afford them the time to read and subscribe to the much more complete version of
The Dallas Morning News. Initial results from both audiences and advertisers are promising.
Were also in the process of rolling out new digital and online products for current advertisers.
Spending patterns among local businesses show that they are now allocating some portion of their
advertising and marketing dollars to products other than display and classified advertising.
Consequently, were in the process of offering our customers the chance to complement their
existing ad buys with new offerings such as behavioral targeting and more targeted e-mail and
direct mail opportunities coupled with marketing solutions that focus on generating customer leads.
This enables advertisers to follow up with interested customers and help those customers more
easily make a purchase.
At the same time, youre going to see us push to expand the number of local advertisers with whom
we do business. As our newspapers grew print circulation over the years, and ad rates increased to
reflect those circulation increases, many local businesses could no longer afford to purchase ads
in our papers regularly nor could we afford to have sales people call on these businesses given
their expenditure levels. Fortunately, the growth in the number of online and digital products we
now offer, coupled with advances in technology, allows us to reconnect with those small and
medium-sized businesses through a variety of self-serve, telemarketing and targeted in-person sales
call options a combination no other local or national competitor can easily match. In the very
near future, advertisers of all sizes will have the ability to electronically place in-paper and
online ads with us, which is a convenience we do not offer today.
Continued . . .
AHC Colleagues
October 24, 2008
Page Five
A. H. Belo can pursue new advertisers and new products strategies as aggressively and successfully
as weve shown we can deliver new audiences through distribution channels such as the Internet, and
now mobile applications. Most companies would like to possess many of our attributes, including
the ability to expand audience reach and the underlying brand equity and relationships that make
that growth possible. On top of this, we continue to possess the greatest number of local content
and sales resources in the markets we serve. In certain instances, the resources we devote to local
content creation are greater than those of all of our local competitors combined. Even as we work to streamline and focus to best reflect
audience shifts and the economic realities that accompany those changing patterns, no other local
organization comes close to matching the combined quality, size and depth of our newsgathering,
sales and marketing organizations. And for A. H. Belo, that represents long-term opportunities if
pursued with the appropriate discipline, prioritization and foresight.
I want to thank each and every one of you for staying the course in very uncertain times. What we
are trying to accomplish as a company is truly worthy. Im proud to be in the fight with you.