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)
 
         
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  1-33741
(Commission File Number)
  38-3765318
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
     
P. O. Box 224866
Dallas, Texas

(Address of principal executive offices)
 
75222-4866
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s 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 Company’s 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 Company’s 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 Company’s 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.
         
Date: October 24, 2008  A. H. BELO CORPORATION
 
 
  By:   /s/ Alison K. Engel  
    Alison K. Engel   
    Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer   

 


 

         
EXHIBIT INDEX
     
10.1
  First Amendment and Waiver 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

 

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.

 


 

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          (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:
         
        Commitment Fee
ABR Spread   Eurodollar Spread   Percentage
1.500%   2.500%   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


 

3

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:


 

4

          “(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,


 

5

          (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 Lender’s 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.


 

6

          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.
         
  A.H. BELO CORPORATION,
 
 
  by   /s/ Alison K. Engel  
    Name:   Alison K. Engel   
    Title:   Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer  
 
  JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
individually and as Administrative Agent,
 
 
  by   /s/ Brian McDougal   
    Name:   Brian McDougal   
    Title:   Vice President   
 
  BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
 
 
  by   /s/ Jay D. Marquis    
    Name:   Jay D. Marquis   
    Title:   Vice President   

 


 

         
SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
         
  LENDER: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
 
 
  by   /s/ Jay D. Marquis    
    Name:   Jay D. Marquis   
    Title:   Vice President   
 
  For any Lender requiring a second signature line:
 
 
  by      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 

 


 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
         
  LENDER: SUNTRUST BANK
 
 
  by   /s/ Jill White   
    Name:   Jill White  
    Title:   Vice President  
 
  For any Lender requiring a second signature line:
 
 
  by      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 

 


 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
         
  LENDER: CAPITAL ONE, N.A.
 
 
  by   /s/ Shannan Pratt    
    Name:   Shannan Pratt   
    Title:   Vice President   
 

 


 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
         
  LENDER: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
 
 
  by   /s/ Thomas J. Tarasovich, Jr.  
    Name:   Thomas J. Tarasovich, Jr.  
    Title:   Vice President  
 
  For any Lender requiring a second signature line:
 
 
  by      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 

 


 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
         
  LENDER: WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.
 
 
  By   /s/ Erik Habres    
    Name:   ERIK HABRES   
    Title:   VICE PRESIDENT   
 
  For any Lender requiring a second signature line:
 
 
  by      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 

 


 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
         
  LENDER: THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
 
 
  by   /s/ Jeffrey Gordon    
    Name:   Jeffrey Gordon  
    Title:   Officer  
 
  For any Lender requiring a second signature line:
 
 
  by      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 

 


 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
         
  LENDER: COMERICA BANK
 
 
  by   /s/ Catherine Young    
    Name:   Catherine Young  
    Title:   Vice President  
 
  For any Lender requiring a second signature line:
 
 
  by      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 

 


 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
         
  LENDER: U.S. BANK, N.A.
 
 
  by   /s/ Tom Gunder    
    Name:   Tom Gunder   
    Title:   SVP   
 
  For any Lender requiring a second signature line:
 
 
  by      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 

 


 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND WAIVER UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 4,2008, OF A.H. BELO CORPORATION
         
  AMEGY BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
 
 
  by   /s/ Melinda Jackson    
    Name:   Melinda Jackson   
    Title:   Senior Vice President   
 

 

exv99w1
Exhibit 99.1
     
 
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
  Friday, October 24, 2008
 
  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 Company’s 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. Belo’s financial position and enable the Company to manage through the current combination of cyclical and secular pressures, including the nation’s economic downturn.”
     Robert Decherd sent a letter to shareholders today that is posted on the Company’s Web site (www.ahbelo.com) in the Investor Relations section.
     A. H. Belo’s 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 California’s 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 Company’s 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 Corporation’s (the “Company’s”) 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
    October 24, 2008
 
    Dear Fellow Shareholders:
 
    In April, I wrote to you about our new company and anticipated A. H. Belo Corporation’s first year as a separate publicly-traded entity. I noted that it is important for me to communicate regularly about AHC’s progress and followed up with a letter in July outlining our decision to restructure the Company’s newspaper operations. A copy of my July letter can be accessed at www.ahbelo.com/investletter. It’s 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 AHC’s 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.
 
    Let’s begin with the positives. A. H. Belo owns great assets in local markets that will be strong over the long term, and the Company’s brands, built on superior journalism over decades, enjoy a powerful presence in these markets. We have talented leaders who are totally dedicated to the Company’s success and understand how critical it is that we do everything possible to achieve profitability at the soonest time possible — while maintaining AHC’s 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.
 
    The complexity of the task ahead is apparent to all of A. H. Belo’s 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 industry’s secular challenges. We can and will succeed by acting in a coordinated fashion that serves the Company’s best interests.
 
    Here’s what we’re 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
    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 Company’s 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 year’s total expenses.
 
    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 AHC’s 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 AHC’s core assets and competencies, and that may have applicability in markets beyond ours.
 
    Specifically, some of the key actions taken or initiated since July include:
    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.
 
    AHC’s digital and online efforts are focused on complementing the Company’s 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. AHC’s 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.
 
    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
    The voluntary severance offer made at AHC’s 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 Company’s various benefits plans, effective January 1, 2009.
 
    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.
 
    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.
 
    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 Company’s 401(k) match of up to 6 percent of employees’ base salaries will remain in place for 2009.
 
    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.
 
    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.
 
    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 AHC’s 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
    We’ve 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 we’ve 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 AHC’s 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. Belo’s newspapers and Web sites that serve our fellow citizens. As always, we appreciate your support of these important joint objectives. I’ll stay in touch over the weeks and months ahead.
         
     /s/ Robert Decherd    
Statements in this communication concerning A. H. Belo Corporation’s (the “Company’s”) 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:
I’ve sent a letter to the Company’s 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. Belo’s 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 Company’s 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 Company’s 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:
    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. Belo’s 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 country’s 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.
 
    As noted in my shareholder letter, modest wage increases may be made in special circumstances approved by a member of the Management Committee.
 
    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 year’s 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.
 
    The Company’s 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 Company’s financial success. The Board of Directors will determine the timing and amount of any additional contribution above 6 percent when we are profitable again.
 
    Earlier this week, you received a summary of changes to A. H. Belo’s 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
    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.
 
    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. We’ll 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.
 
    Reductions in employment levels at A. H. Belo’s 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. Belo’s 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 can’t 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, you’ll 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.
We’re 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, we’re 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, you’re 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 we’ve 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. I’m proud to be in the fight with you.
         
     /s/ Robert Decherd