Clear Channel Outdoor Reports Third Quarter 2009 Results

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO) today reported results for its third quarter September 30, 2009.

The Company reported revenues of $660.6 million in the third quarter of 2009, a 19% decrease from the $813.4 million reported for the third quarter of 2008. Included in the Company's revenue is a $10.2 million increase due to movements in foreign exchange; excluding the effects of these movements in foreign exchange, the revenue decline would have been 20%. See reconciliation of revenue excluding effects of foreign exchange to revenue at the end of this press release.

Clear Channel Outdoor's operating expenses decreased 16% to $507.6 million during the third quarter of 2009 compared to 2008. Included in the Company's third quarter 2009 expenses is a $9.8 million increase due to movements in foreign exchange; excluding the effects of these movements in foreign exchange, decline in expenses would have been 18%. See reconciliation of expenses excluding effects of foreign exchange to expenses at the end of this press release. Also included in the Company's third quarter 2009 direct operating expenses, SG&A expenses and corporate expenses are $6.6 million of restructuring charges and approximately $2.5 million of non-cash compensation expense, compared to non-cash compensation expense of $3.2 million in the third quarter of 2008.

Clear Channel Outdoor's net loss and diluted loss per share were $34.4 million and $0.10, respectively, during the third quarter of 2009. This compares to net income of $9.1 million or $0.03 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2008. See reconciliation of net income and diluted earnings per share at the end of this press release.

The Company's OIBDAN was $140.0 million in the third quarter of 2009, a 28% decrease from the third quarter of 2008. The Company defines OIBDAN as Operating Income before Depreciation and amortization, Non-cash compensation expense and Other operating income (expense) - net. See reconciliation of OIBDAN to net income at the end of this press release.

The Company filed its Quarterly Report with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form 10Q earlier today. This Quarterly Report includes further details and discussion of the Company's third quarter results.


Revenue, Direct Operating and SG&A Expenses, and OIBDAN by Division

                                                Three Months Ended        %
(In thousands)
                                                September 30,             Change

                                                2009         2008

Revenue

Americas                                        $ 312,537    $ 369,730    (15 %)

International                                     348,085      443,645    (22 %)

Consolidated revenue                            $ 660,622    $ 813,375    (19 %)

Direct Operating and SG&A Expenses by Division

Americas                                        $ 194,852    $ 222,655

Less: Non-cash compensation expense               (1,775  )    (2,388  )

                                                  193,077      220,267    (12 %)

International                                     312,738      382,839

Less: Non-cash compensation expense               (537    )    (630    )

                                                  312,201      382,209    (18 %)

Plus: Non-cash compensation expense               2,312        3,018

Consolidated direct operating and SG&A          $ 507,590    $ 605,494    (16 %)
expenses



The Company's 2009 revenue and direct operating and SG&A expenses increased approximately $10.2 million and $9.8 million, respectively, from foreign exchange movements during the third quarter of 2009 as compared to the same period of 2008.


OIBDAN

Americas             $ 119,460    $ 149,463    (20 %)

International          35,884       61,436     (42 %)

Corporate              (15,365 )    (16,314 )

Consolidated OIBDAN  $ 139,979    $ 194,585    (28 %)



See reconciliation of OIBDAN to net income at the end of this press release.

Restructuring Program

On January 20, 2009, CC Media Holdings announced that it had commenced a restructuring program targeting a reduction of fixed costs. For the third quarter of 2009, the Company recognized approximately $6.6 million of expenses related to the restructuring program.


Restructuring Expenses

(In millions)

               Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended

               September 30, 2009  September 30, 2009

Americas       $ 2.4               $ 8.0

International  3.5                 11.9

Corporate      0.7                 3.7

Total          $ 6.6               $ 23.6




TABLE 1 - Financial Highlights of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. and
Subsidiaries - Unaudited

                               Period from  Period from
(In thousands,   Three Months                             Three Months   %
except per       Ended         July 31      July 1        Ended
share data)      September     through      through July  September 30,  Change
                 30,           September    30,
                               30,

                 2009          2008         2008          2008

                 Post-Merger   Post-Merger  Pre-Merger    Combined

Revenue          $ 660,622     $ 541,699    $ 271,676     $ 813,375      (19 %)

Direct
operating          398,766       304,763      158,354       463,117      (14 %)
expenses

Selling,
general and        108,824       93,175       49,202        142,377      (24 %)
administrative
expenses

Corporate          15,547        11,231       5,311         16,542       (6  %)
expenses

Depreciation
and                111,053       81,015       37,783        118,798      (7  %)
amortization

Other operating    1,160         1,528        2,506         4,034
income - net

Operating          27,592        53,043       23,532        76,575
income

Interest           37,775        29,640       14,582        44,222
expense

Loss on
marketable         (11,315 )     --           --            --
securities

Equity in loss
of                 (2,046  )     (947    )    (8,867  )     (9,814  )
nonconsolidated
affiliates

Other income       492           (977    )    3,067         2,090
(expense) - net

Income (loss)
before income      (23,052 )     21,479       3,150         24,629
taxes

Income tax
benefit
(expense):

Current            (13,025 )     (5,032  )    (4,808  )     (9,840  )

Deferred           2,026         (82     )    1,119         1,037

Income tax         (10,999 )     (5,114  )    (3,689  )     (8,803  )
expense

Consolidated
net income         (34,051 )     16,365       (539    )     15,826
(loss)

Amount
attributable to    325           5,551        1,160         6,711
noncontrolling
interest

Net income
(loss)           $ (34,376 )   $ 10,814     $ (1,699  )   $ 9,115
attributable to
the Company

Diluted net
earnings (loss)  $ (.10    )   $ .03        $ (.00    )   $ .03
per share

Weighted
average shares     355,389       355,655      355,294
outstanding -
Diluted



The information in Table 1 is presented for two periods: post-merger and pre-merger. Clear Channel Communications consummated its merger with a wholly-owned subsidiary of CC Media Holdings, Inc. on July 30, 2008. Purchase accounting adjustments were pushed down to the opening balance sheet of the Company on July 31, 2008 as the merger occurred at the close of business on July 30, 2008 and the results of operations subsequent to this date reflect the impact of the new basis of accounting. The financial reporting periods are presented as follows:

    --  The three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009 and the period
        from July 31 through September 30, 2008 reflect the Company's
        post-merger period, including the purchase accounting adjustments
        related to the merger that were pushed down to the Company.
    --  The periods from January 1 through July 30, 2008 and July 1 through July
        30, 2008 reflect the Company's pre-merger period. The consolidated
        financial statements for all pre-merger periods were prepared using the
        historical basis of accounting for Clear Channel Communications. As a
        result of the merger and the associated purchase accounting, the
        consolidated financial statements of the post-merger periods are not
        comparable to periods preceding the merger.

Supplemental Disclosure Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Information

Operating Income (Loss) before Depreciation and Amortization (D&A), Non-cash Compensation Expense and Other Operating Income - Net (OIBDAN)

The following tables set forth Clear Channel Outdoor's OIBDAN for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008. The Company defines OIBDAN as consolidated net income adjusted to exclude non-cash compensation expense and the following line items presented in its Statement of Operations: Income tax benefit (expense); Other income (expense) - net; Equity in earnings (loss) of nonconsolidated affiliates; Loss on marketable securities; Interest expense; Other operating income - net; and D&A.

The Company uses OIBDAN, among other things, to evaluate the Company's operating performance. This measure is among the primary measures used by management for planning and forecasting of future periods, as well as for measuring performance for compensation of executives and other members of management. This measure is an important indicator of the Company's operational strength and performance of its business because it provides a link between profitability and cash flows from operating activities. It is also a primary measure used by management in evaluating companies as potential acquisition targets.

The Company believes the presentation of this measure is relevant and useful for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by the Company's management. It helps improve investors' ability to understand the Company's operating performance and makes it easier to compare the Company's results with other companies that have different capital structures, stock option structures or tax rates. In addition, this measure is also among the primary measures used externally by the Company's investors, analysts and peers in its industry for purposes of valuation and comparing the operating performance of the Company to other companies in its industry.

Since OIBDAN is not a measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, it should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, net income as an indicator of operating performance and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies. OIBDAN is not necessarily a measure of the Company's ability to fund its cash needs. As it excludes certain financial information compared with operating income and net income (loss), the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, users of this financial information should consider the types of events and transactions, which are excluded.

In addition, because a significant portion of the Company's advertising operations are conducted in foreign markets, principally France and the United Kingdom, management reviews the operating results from its foreign operations on a constant dollar basis. A constant dollar basis (i.e. a foreign currency adjustment is made to the 2009 actual foreign revenues and expenses at average 2008 foreign exchange rates) allows for comparison of operations independent of foreign exchange movements.

As required by the SEC, the Company provides reconciliations below to the most directly comparable amounts reported under GAAP, including: (i) OIBDAN for each segment to consolidated operating income; (ii) Revenue excluding foreign exchange effects to revenue; (iii) Expense excluding foreign exchange effects to expense and (iv) OIBDAN to net income:


                                                        Other
               Operating    Non-cash      Depreciation  operating
(In            income       compensation  and           income -    OIBDAN
thousands)     (loss)       expense       amortization  net and
                                                        Impairment
                                                        Charge

Three Months Ended September 30, 2009

Americas       $ 63,583     $ 1,775       $ 54,102      $ --        $ 119,460

International    (21,604 )    537           56,951        --          35,884

Corporate        (15,547 )    182           --            --          (15,365 )

Other
operating        1,160        --            --            (1,160 )    --
income - net

Consolidated   $ 27,592     $ 2,494       $ 111,053     $ (1,160 )  $ 139,979

Three Months Ended September 30, 2008

Americas       $ 91,208     $ 2,388       $ 55,867      $ --        $ 149,463

International    (2,125  )    630           62,931        --          61,436

Corporate        (16,542 )    228           --            --          (16,314 )

Other
operating        4,034        --            --            (4,034 )    --
income - net

Consolidated   $ 76,575     $ 3,246       $ 118,798     $ (4,034 )  $ 194,585




Reconciliation of Revenue excluding Foreign Exchange Effects to Revenue

                                                 Three Months Ended      %
(In thousands)                                   September 30,
                                                                         Change

                                                 2009         2008

Revenue                                          $ 660,622    $ 813,375  (19 %)

Excluding: Foreign exchange decrease (increase)    (10,161 )    --

Revenue excluding effects of foreign exchange    $ 650,461    $ 813,375  (20 %)

International revenue                            $ 348,085    $ 443,645  (22 %)

Excluding: Foreign exchange decrease (increase)    (11,120 )    --

International revenue excluding effects of       $ 336,965    $ 443,645  (24 %)
foreign exchange




Reconciliation of Expense (Direct Operating and SG&A Expenses)

Excluding Foreign Exchange Effects to Expense

                                                 Three Months Ended      %
(In thousands)                                   September 30,
                                                                         Change

                                                 2009         2008

Expense                                          $ 507,590    $ 605,494  (16 %)

Excluding: Foreign exchange decrease (increase)    (9,796  )    --

Expense excluding effects of foreign exchange    $ 497,794    $ 605,494  (18 %)

International expense                            $ 312,738    $ 382,839  (18 %)

Excluding: Foreign exchange decrease (increase)    (10,448 )    --

International expense excluding effects of       $ 302,290    $ 382,839  (21 %)
foreign exchange




Reconciliation of OIBDAN to Net income

                                                Three Months Ended        %
(In thousands)                                  September 30,
                                                                          Change

                                                2009         2008

OIBDAN                                          $ 139,979    $ 194,585    (28 %)

Non-cash compensation expense                     2,494        3,246

Depreciation and amortization                     111,053      118,798

Other operating income - net                      1,160        4,034

Operating income (loss)                           27,592       76,575

Interest expense                                  37,775       44,222

Gain (loss) on marketable securities              (11,315 )    --

Equity in earnings (loss) of nonconsolidated      (2,046  )    (9,814  )
affiliates

Other income (expense) - net                      492          2,090

Income (loss) before income taxes                 (23,052 )    24,629

Income tax benefit (expense):

Current                                           (13,025 )    (9,840  )

Deferred                                          2,026        1,037

Income tax benefit (expense)                      (10,999 )    (8,803  )

Consolidated net income (loss)                    (34,051 )    15,826

Amount attributable to noncontrolling interest    325          6,711

Net income (loss) attributable to the Company   $ (34,376 )  $ 9,115



About Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings

Clear Channel Outdoor, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a global leader in the outdoor advertising industry providing clients with advertising opportunities through billboards, street furniture displays, transit displays, and other out-of-home advertising displays.

For further information contact: Lisa Dollinger, Chief Communications Officer, (210) 832-3474, or visit the Company's web site at www.clearchanneloutdoor.com.

Certain statements in this document constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Clear Channel Outdoor to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The words or phrases "guidance," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimates" and "forecast" and similar words or expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements.

Various risks that could cause future results to differ from those expressed by the forward-looking statements included in this document include, but are not limited to: changes in business, political and economic conditions in the U.S. and in other countries in which Clear Channel Outdoor currently does business (both general and relative to the advertising industry); fluctuations in interest rates; changes in operating performance; shifts in population and other demographics; changes in the level of competition for advertising dollars; fluctuations in operating costs; technological changes and innovations; changes in labor conditions; changes in governmental regulations and policies and actions of regulatory bodies; fluctuations in exchange rates and currency values; changes in tax rates; and changes in capital expenditure requirements and access to capital markets. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on Clear Channel Outdoor's future results, performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this document may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this document. Other key risks are described in Clear Channel Outdoor's reports and other documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the section entitled "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of the Company's Third Quarter Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2009 or the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2008. Except as otherwise stated in this document, Clear Channel Outdoor does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.


    Source: Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.