Regent Communications Reports Second Quarter 2009 Results

Regent Communications Reports Second Quarter 2009 Results

CINCINNATI, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Regent Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGCI) announced today financial results for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2009.

For the second quarter of 2009, net broadcast revenues decreased 14.0% to $22.8 million from $26.5 million during the second quarter of 2008. For the same period, station operating expenses decreased 9.7% to $14.8 million in 2009 compared to $16.4 million in 2008. The Company reported net income of $3.2 million for the quarter, or $0.08 per share, compared with reported net income of $5.7 million, or $0.14 per share, in the same period last year. Results for 2009 and 2008 were impacted by realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivatives.

For the first six months of 2009, net broadcast revenues decreased 13.3% to $41.0 million compared to $47.3 million in 2008. For the same period, station operating expenses decreased 8.1% to $28.7 million in 2009 from $31.2 million in 2008. The Company reported a net loss of $29.3 million for the first six months of 2009, or $0.73 per share, compared with reported net income of $2.7 million, or $0.07 per share, in 2008. Results for 2009 include a pre-tax non-cash impairment charge of $31.8 million related to the Company's review of its indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill.

"Our second quarter results reflect the impact of the prolonged recession and national advertising market downturn, offset in part by our consistent revenue out-performance versus the industry, operating discipline and cost-reduction efforts," said Bill Stakelin, President and CEO of Regent Communications. "Despite a challenging environment, we continue to make considerable progress in building our audience shares and advancing our digital initiatives. We have maintained strong relationships with our advertising partners and our value proposition has never been stronger. We remain committed to implementing our strategy to strengthen our competitive position while carefully managing our costs. We believe we are well-positioned to benefit as the economy begins to recover."

Below are the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") (in thousands, except per share amounts).

                                    Three Months Ended    Six Months Ended                                          June 30,            June 30,                                       2009      2008      2009      2008                                       ----      ----      ----      ----   Broadcast revenues, net of    agency commissions              $22,766   $26,482   $41,029   $47,315   Station operating expenses        14,806    16,394    28,704    31,235   Corporate general and    administrative expenses           2,057     1,916     3,959     3,805   Impairment of indefinite-lived    intangible assets                     -         -    31,800         -   Depreciation and amortization        974     1,033     1,974     2,045   Loss (gain) on sale of stations        -        33         -      (507)   (Gain) loss on disposal of    long-lived assets and other         (97)       15       (79)       36                                        ---        --       ---        --   Operating income (loss)            5,026     7,091   (25,329)   10,701   Interest expense                  (2,327)   (2,661)   (4,087)   (6,307)   Realized and unrealized gain    (loss) on derivatives, net          430     5,079       107      (596)   Other income, net                     81        29        58        17                                         --        --        --        --   Income (loss) from continuing    operations before income taxes    3,210     9,538   (29,251)    3,815   Income tax expense                   (39)   (3,929)      (85)   (1,575)                                        ---    ------       ---    ------   Income (loss) from continuing    operations                        3,171     5,609   (29,336)    2,240   Gain on discontinued operations,       net of income tax                  -        70         -       429                                         --        --        --       ---   Net income (loss)                 $3,171    $5,679  ($29,336)   $2,669                                     ======    ======  ========    ======   Basic and fully diluted net income    (loss) per common share (1)       $0.08     $0.14    ($0.73)    $0.07     (1) The retroactive application required under FSP EITF 03-6-1 resulted       in a decrease in basic and fully diluted earnings per share by       $0.01 per share, as compared to the previously reported earnings       per share calculation used and disclosed for the three months       ended June 30 2008.      Non-GAAP Financial Measures  

Regent utilizes certain financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP to assess its financial performance. The non-GAAP performance and liquidity measures presented in this release are station operating income, same station net broadcast revenue, adjusted same station net broadcast revenue, same station operating income, and free cash flow. Regent's management believes these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors, as discussed in more detail below, regarding Regent's financial condition and results of operations and liquidity; however, these measures should not be considered as an alternative to net broadcast revenue, operating income (loss), net income (loss), or cash provided by operating activities as an indicator of Regent's performance or liquidity.

Station operating income

Second quarter 2009 station operating income decreased 21.1% to approximately $8.0 million from $10.1 million in the same period in 2008. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, station operating income decreased 23.4% to $12.3 million from $16.1 million reported for the same period in 2008.

The Company believes that station operating income is a performance measure that helps investors better understand the financial health of our radio stations. Further, Regent and other media companies have traditionally been measured by analysts and other investors on their ability to generate station operating income. The following table reconciles operating income (loss), which the Company believes is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to station operating income (in thousands):

                                    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended   Station operating income              June 30,            June 30,                                      2009       2008     2009      2008                                      ----       ----     ----      ----    Operating income (loss)          $5,026     $7,091 ($25,329)  $10,701    Plus:   Depreciation and amortization       974      1,033    1,974     2,045   Loss on disposal of long-lived    assets and other                     -         15        -        36   Loss on sale of stations              -         33        -         -   Impairment of indefinite-lived    intangibles and goodwill             -          -   31,800         -   Corporate general and    administrative expenses          2,057      1,916    3,959     3,805   Less:   Gain on disposal of long-lived    assets and other                    97          -       79         -   Gain on sale of stations              -          -        -       507                                        --         --       --       ---    Station operating income         $7,960    $10,088  $12,325   $16,080                                    ======    =======  =======   =======      Same station results  

On a same station basis, which includes results from stations owned and operated in continuing operations during the entire second quarter for both the 2009 and 2008 periods and excludes barter, net broadcast revenue for the second quarter of 2009 decreased 14.8% to $21.8 million from $25.6 million in the second quarter of 2008. Same station operating income decreased 21.2% to $8.0 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $10.2 million in the second quarter of 2008.

The Company believes that a same station presentation is important to investors as it provides a measure of performance of radio stations that were owned and operated by Regent in the second quarter of 2008 as well as the current quarter, and eliminates the effect of acquisitions and dispositions on comparability. Additionally, the Company has excluded barter in this comparison as barter customarily results in volatility between quarters, although differences over the full year are not material. The following tables reconcile net broadcast revenue and operating income (loss) to same station net broadcast revenue and same station operating income (in thousands).

                                                      Three Months Ended   Same Station Net Broadcast Revenue                      June 30,                                                        2009       2008                                                        ----       ----    Net broadcast revenue                             $22,766    $26,482    Less:   Net results of stations not included in same    station category                                       -          -   Barter transactions                                   987        919                                                         ---        ---    Same station net broadcast revenue                $21,779    $25,563                                                     =======    =======                                                         Three Months Ended   Same Station Operating Income                             June 30,                                                        2009       2008                                                        ----       ----    Operating income                                   $5,026     $7,091    Plus:   Depreciation and amortization                         974      1,033   Loss on disposal of long-lived assets and other         -         15   Loss on sale of stations                                -         33   Corporate general and administrative expenses       2,057      1,916    Less:   Gain on disposal of long-lived assets and other        97          -                                                          --         --    Station operating income                            7,960     10,088    Adjustments:   Net results of stations not included in same    station category                                       -          -   Barter transactions                                    43         71                                                          --         --    Same station operating income                      $8,003    $10,159                                                      ======    =======      Free cash flow   

Free cash flow is defined as net income plus depreciation, amortization, and other non-cash expenses, less maintenance capital expenditures and net gains on the sale of stations and disposal of long-lived assets. Free cash flow decreased 55.1% to $2.2 million in the second quarter of 2009, from approximately $5.0 million in the second quarter of 2008. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, free cash flow decreased 71.9% to $1.5 million from $5.4 million in 2008.

The Company believes that free cash flow is a liquidity measure that helps investors evaluate the ability of the Company to generate excess cash flow for investing and financing uses. The following table displays how the Company calculates free cash flow (in thousands).

                                        Three Months Ended   Six months ended                                              June 30,            June 30,   Free Cash Flow                         2009        2008     2009      2008                                          ----        ----     ----      ----    Net income (loss)                    $3,171      $5,679 ($29,336)   $2,669    Add:   Depreciation and amortization (1)       974       1,033    1,974     2,045   Impairment of indefinite-lived    intangibles and goodwill                 -           -   31,800         -   Non-cash interest expense               117         188      233       318   Non-cash tax expense (2)                  -       3,772        -     1,746   Non-cash loss on sale of radio stations   -          38        -         -   Other items, net (3)                    211         372      277       618    Less:   Non-cash unrealized gain on    derivatives                          1,847       5,920    2,791       236   Gain on disposal of long-lived    assets and other                       116           -      116         -   Non-cash gain on sale of radio    stations                                 -           -        -     1,155   Maintenance capital expenditures        281         191      530       561   Digital upgrade capital expenditures      -           9        -        69                                            --          --       --        --    Free cash flow                       $2,229      $4,962   $1,511    $5,375                                        ======      ======   ======    ======     (1) Includes depreciation and amortization reclassified to discontinued       operations   (2) Includes taxes reclassified to discontinued operations   (3) Includes: non-cash compensation; barter; and loss on the disposal of       long-lived assets     

The most directly comparable GAAP measure to free cash flow is net cash provided by operating activities. The following table reconciles net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow (in thousands):

                                         Three Months Ended Six Months Ended                                               June 30,          June 30,   Free Cash Flow                          2009      2008    2009      2008                                           ----      ----    ----      ----   Net cash provided by operating    activities                             $362    $3,085  $3,208    $5,376    Less:   Bad debt expense                         201       150     365       306    Plus:   Changes in operating assets and    liabilities                           2,349     2,227    (802)      935    Less:   Maintenance capital expenditures         281       191     530       561   Digital upgrade capital expenditures       -         9       -        69                                             --        --      --        --    Free cash flow                        $2,229    $4,962  $1,511    $5,375                                         ======    ======  ======    ======      Selected Data   

As of June 30, 2009, outstanding credit facility debt was approximately $189.2 million and cash was approximately $8.0 million. Total capital expenditures in the second quarter ended June 30, 2009 were approximately $0.3 million.

Teleconference

The Company will host a teleconference to discuss its second quarter results on Wednesday, August 5, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the teleconference, please dial 973-935-8767 ten minutes prior to the start time and reference passcode 19137344. The teleconference will also be available via live webcast on the Company's website, located at www.regentcomm.com under Investor Relations. If you cannot listen to the teleconference during its scheduled time, there will be a replay available through Wednesday, August 12, 2009, which can be accessed by dialing 800-642-1687 (U.S.) or 706-645-9291 (Int'l), passcode 19137344. The webcast will also be archived on the Company's Web site for 30 days.

Regent Communications is a radio broadcasting company focused on acquiring, developing and operating radio stations in mid-sized markets. Regent owns and operates 62 stations located in 13 markets. Regent Communications, Inc. shares are traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "RGCI."

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements with respect to Regent Communications, Inc. for which it claims the protections of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties and include statements preceded by, followed by or that include words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "project" and other similar expressions. Although Regent believes expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are influenced by financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, and plans and objectives of management for future operations. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those conveyed in the forward-looking statements based on various factors including, but not limited to: changes in economic, business and market conditions affecting the radio broadcast industry, the markets in which we operate, and nationally; increased competition for attractive radio properties and advertising dollars; increased competition from emerging technologies; fluctuations in the cost of operating radio properties; the Company's ability to manage growth; the Company's ability to effectively integrate its acquisitions; potential costs relating to stockholder demands; changes in the regulatory climate affecting radio broadcast companies; cancellations, disruptions or postponement of advertising schedules in response to natural or world events; and the Company's ability to regain and maintain compliance with the terms of its credit facilities or to refinance or restructure such obligations. Further information on other factors that could affect the financial results of Regent Communications, Inc. is included in Regent's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents are available free of charge at the Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov/ and/or from Regent Communications, Inc.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Regent Communications, Inc.

CONTACT: Tony Vasconcellos, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, Regent Communications, Inc., +1-859-292-0030; or Chris Plunkett,
Brainerd Communicators, Inc., +1-212-986-6667

Web Site: http://www.regentcomm.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment