10-Q 1 mniq20710q.htm MCCLATCHY 2ND QTR 2007 10-Q mniq20710q.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
 

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
 
[X]
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
   For the quarterly period ended:   July 1, 2007
 
or
  [  ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
  [  ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
 
For the transition period from _________________to _________________
 
 
Commission file number: 1-9824

  
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 

Delaware
 
52-2080478
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
2100 "Q" Street, Sacramento, CA
 
95816
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
916-321-1846
Registrant's telephone number, including area code

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.  See definition of "accelerated filer and large accelerated filer" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one):     Large accelerated filer [X]           Accelerated filer [  ]          Non-accelerated filer [  ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12-b of the Exchange Act).       [   ]  Yes     [X] No
 
As of August 8, 2007, the registrant had shares of common stock as listed below outstanding:
Class A Common Stock
 56,985,873
Class B Common Stock
 25,112,430
 


 

 
Table of Contents
THE McCLATCHY COMPANY

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q



Part I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Page
 
       
Item 1 - Financial Statements (unaudited):
     
       
Consolidated Balance Sheet– July 1, 2007 and December 31, 2006
   
1
 
         
Consolidated Statement of Income for the three and six months ended July 1, 2007 and June 25, 2006
   
3
 
         
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the six months ended July 1, 2007 and June 25, 2006
   
4
 
         
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity for the period December 31, 2006 to July 1, 2007
   
5
 
         
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
   
6
 
         
Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of  Operations
   
19
 
         
Item 3 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
   
31
 
         
Item 4 - Controls and Procedures
   
31
 
         
Part II - OTHER INFORMATION
       
         
Item 1A - Risk Factors
   
32
 
         
Item 4 - Submission Of Matters To A Vote Of Security Holders
   
33
 
         
Item 6 - Exhibits
   
33
 
         
Signatures
   
34
 
         
Index of Exhibits
   
35
 



PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

THE MCCLATCHY COMPANY
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)
 
(In thousands)
 
             
   
July 1,
   
December 31,
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
ASSETS
           
CURRENT ASSETS:
           
   Cash and cash equivalents
  $
25,271
    $
19,581
 
   Trade receivables (less allowance of
               
     $11,682 in 2007 and $12,732 in 2006)
   
271,332
     
311,785
 
   Other receivables
   
24,083
     
36,477
 
   Newsprint, ink and other inventories
   
40,813
     
52,097
 
   Deferred income taxes
   
47,055
     
248,753
 
   Prepaid income taxes
   
92,640
     
88,836
 
   Land and other assets held for sale
   
25,669
     
231,029
 
   Other current assets
   
20,128
     
23,192
 
   Newspaper assets held for sale
   
-
     
563,589
 
     
546,991
     
1,575,339
 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
               
   Land
   
205,042
     
204,692
 
   Building and improvements
   
391,883
     
382,206
 
   Equipment
   
833,947
     
811,173
 
   Construction in progress
   
21,895
     
36,401
 
     
1,452,767
     
1,434,472
 
   Less accumulated depreciation
    (497,530 )     (458,496 )
     
955,237
     
975,976
 
INTANGIBLE ASSETS:
               
   Identifiable intangibles -net
   
1,339,135
     
1,369,046
 
   Goodwill-net
   
3,586,969
     
3,559,828
 
     
4,926,104
     
4,928,874
 
INVESTMENTS AND OTHER ASSETS:
               
   Investments in unconsolidated companies
   
499,458
     
520,213
 
   Income tax refund
   
200,998
     
-
 
   Land held for sale
   
186,365
     
-
 
   Prepaid pension assets
   
29,332
     
32,457
 
   Other
   
20,296
     
21,851
 
     
936,449
     
574,521
 
                 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $
7,364,781
    $
8,054,710
 
                 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
               


1


THE MCCLATCHY COMPANY
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)
 
(In thousands, except share amounts)
 
             
   
July 1,
   
December 31,
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
           
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
           
   Current portion of bank debt
  $
-
    $
530,000
 
   Accounts payable
   
101,766
     
139,501
 
   Accrued compensation
   
108,060
     
135,363
 
   Income taxes
   
-
     
47,330
 
   Unearned revenue
   
87,282
     
82,524
 
   Accrued interest
   
33,677
     
33,697
 
   Accrued dividends
   
14,769
     
14,727
 
   Other accrued liabilities
   
39,944
     
45,166
 
   Newspaper liabilities held for sale
   
-
     
83,806
 
     
385,498
     
1,112,114
 
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:
               
   Long-term debt
   
2,677,338
     
2,746,669
 
   Deferred income taxes
   
708,314
     
706,893
 
   Pension and postretirement obligations
   
313,363
     
311,127
 
   Other long-term obligations
   
106,450
     
74,283
 
     
3,805,465
     
3,838,972
 
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
               
                 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
               
   Common stock $.01 par value:
               
     Class A - authorized 200,000,000 shares,
               
     issued 56,907,576 in 2007 and 55,795,162 in 2006
   
569
     
557
 
     Class B - authorized 60,000,000 shares,
               
     issued 25,191,397 in 2007 and 26,116,397 in 2006
   
252
     
261
 
     Additional paid-in capital
   
2,193,132
     
2,182,544
 
     Retained earnings
   
1,028,546
     
1,016,023
 
     Treasury stock, 3,029 shares at cost
    (122 )    
-
 
     Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (48,559 )     (95,761 )
     
3,173,818
     
3,103,624
 
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  $
7,364,781
    $
8,054,710
 
                 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
               



2

THE McCLATCHY COMPANY
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
 
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
                         
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
July 1,
   
June 25,
   
July 1,
   
June 25,
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
REVENUES - NET:
                       
   Advertising
  $
488,277
    $
183,683
    $
965,300
    $
350,017
 
   Circulation
   
69,707
     
23,504
     
141,587
     
47,268
 
   Other
   
22,043
     
4,813
     
39,698
     
9,178
 
     
580,027
     
212,000
     
1,146,585
     
406,463
 
OPERATING EXPENSES:
                               
   Compensation
   
228,959
     
84,103
     
465,283
     
169,842
 
   Newsprint and supplements
   
72,186
     
27,267
     
147,603
     
53,531
 
   Depreciation and amortization
   
38,357
     
9,973
     
76,190
     
19,860
 
   Other operating expenses
   
123,144
     
38,396
     
252,740
     
75,690
 
     
462,646
     
159,739
     
941,816
     
318,923
 
                                 
OPERATING INCOME
   
117,381
     
52,261
     
204,769
     
87,540
 
                                 
NON-OPERATING (EXPENSES) INCOME:
                         
   Interest expense
    (49,556 )    
-
      (103,341 )    
-
 
   Interest income
   
42
     
15
     
106
     
28
 
   Equity income (losses) in unconsolidated companies, net
    (11,198 )    
496
      (20,947 )    
892
 
   Other - net
   
791
      (38 )    
743
      (45 )
      (59,921 )    
473
      (123,439 )    
875
 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
                         
   BEFORE INCOME TAX PROVISION
   
57,460
     
52,734
     
81,330
     
88,415
 
                                 
INCOME TAX PROVISION
   
22,929
     
20,545
     
32,286
     
34,445
 
                                 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
   
34,531
     
32,189
     
49,044
     
53,970
 
                                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - NET OF INCOME TAXES
   
705
     
11,947
      (4,778 )    
17,893
 
                                 
NET INCOME
  $
35,236
    $
44,136
    $
44,266
    $
71,863
 
                                 
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:
                               
   Basic:
                               
     Income from continuing operations
  $
0.42
    $
0.69
    $
0.60
    $
1.15
 
     Income (loss) from discontinued operation
   
0.01
     
0.25
      (0.06 )    
0.39
 
     Net income per share
  $
0.43
    $
0.94
    $
0.54
    $
1.54
 
                                 
   Diluted:
                               
     Income from continuing operations
  $
0.42
    $
0.69
    $
0.60
    $
1.15
 
     Income (loss) from discontinued operation
   
0.01
     
0.25
      (0.06 )    
0.38
 
     Net income per share
  $
0.43
    $
0.94
    $
0.54
    $
1.53
 
                                 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES:
                 
   Basic
   
81,976
     
46,771
     
81,931
     
46,753
 
   Diluted
   
82,037
     
46,985
     
82,010
     
47,028
 
                                 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
3

THE McCLATCHY COMPANY
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
 
(In thousands)
 
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
July 1,
   
June 25,
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           
   Income from continuing operations
  $
49,044
    $
53,970
 
   Reconciliation to net cash provided by continuing operations:
               
     Depreciation and amortization
   
76,190
     
19,860
 
     Contribution to pension plans
   
-
      (31,545 )
     Employee benefit expense
   
16,956
     
8,710
 
     Stock compensation expense
   
4,292
     
3,621
 
     Deferred income taxes
   
-
      (2,718 )
     Equity loss (income) in unconsolidated companies
   
20,947
      (892 )
     Other
   
2,735
     
115
 
     Changes in certain assets and liabilities:
               
       Trade receivables
   
40,453
     
2,254
 
        Inventories
   
11,279
      (158 )
       Other assets
   
7,537
      (8,930 )
       Accounts payable
    (31,340 )     (11,711 )
       Accrued compensation
    (26,573 )     (1,714 )
       Income taxes
    (44,580 )    
24,817
 
       Other liabilities
    (8,810 )    
1,701
 
                 
       Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations
   
118,130
     
57,380
 
       Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations
   
3,340
     
28,530
 
       Net cash provided by operating activities
   
121,470
     
85,910
 
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
   Purchases of property, plant and equipment
    (28,340 )     (18,955 )
   Proceeds from sale of equipment
   
19,356
     
-
 
   Equity investments and other - net
    (806 )    
206
 
       Net cash used by investing activities of continuing operations
    (9,790 )     (18,749 )
                 
   Proceeds from sale of newspaper
   
522,922
     
-
 
   Other
    (4,837 )     (5,103 )
       Net cash provided (used) by investing activities of discontinued operations
   
518,085
      (5,103 )
       Net cash provided (used) by investing activities
   
508,295
      (23,852 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
   Repayments of term bank debt
    (350,000 )    
-
 
   Net borrowings (repayments) from revolving bank debt
    (250,508 )    
109,000
 
   Net repayments from commercial paper
   
-
      (154,200 )
   Payment of cash dividends
    (29,495 )     (16,842 )
   Other - principally stock issuances
   
5,928
     
2,831
 
       Net cash used by financing activities
    (624,075 )     (59,211 )
                 
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
   
5,690
     
2,847
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR
   
19,581
     
3,052
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
  $
25,271
    $
5,899
 
                 
OTHER CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
               
   Cash paid during the period for:
               
     Income taxes (net of refunds)
  $
82,033
    $
18,120
 
     Interest (net of capitalized interest)
  $
98,319
    $
2,719
 
                 
See notes to consolidated financial statements
               
4


THE McCLATCHY COMPANY
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
 
(In thousands, except share amounts)
 
                                           
                           
Accumulated
             
               
Additional
         
Other
             
   
Par Value
   
Paid-In
   
Retained
   
Comprehensive
   
Treasury
       
   
Class A
   
Class B
   
Capital
   
Earnings
   
Loss
   
Stock
   
Total
 
                                           
BALANCES, DECEMBER 31, 2006
  $
557
    $
261
    $
2,182,544
    $
1,016,023
    $ (95,761 )   $
-
    $
3,103,624
 
Adoption of FIN 48
                            (2,218 )                     (2,218 )
ADJUSTED BALANCES, JANUARY 1, 2007
   
557
     
261
     
2,182,544
     
1,013,805
      (95,761 )    
-
     
3,101,406
 
Net income
                           
44,266
                     
44,266
 
Pension amortization from other
   comprehensive income
                                   
2,132
             
2,132
 
Total comprehensive income
                                                   
46,398
 
Adjustment to eliminate minimum pension
   liability related to Star Tribune
                                   
45,070
             
45,070
 
Dividends declared ($.36 share)
                            (29,525 )                     (29,525 )
Conversion of 925,000 Class B shares to
   Class A shares
   
9
      (9 )                                    
-
 
Issuance of 228,109 Class A shares
                                                       
   under stock plans
   
3
             
5,747
                             
5,750
 
Stock compensation expense
                   
4,541
                             
4,541
 
Tax benefit from stock plans
                   
300
                             
300
 
Purchase of treasury stock
                                            (122 )     (122 )
BALANCES, JULY 1, 2007
  $
569
    $
252
    $
2,193,132
    $
1,028,546
    $ (48,559 )   $ (122 )   $
3,173,818
 


5



THE McCLATCHY COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 1.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 

The McClatchy Company (the "Company") is the third largest newspaper company in the United States, with 31 daily newspapers and approximately 50 non-dailies. Twenty of its daily newspapers were acquired on June 27, 2006 in the Knight Ridder acquisition (the "Acquisition") – see Note 2.  McClatchy also operates leading local websites and direct marketing operations in each of its markets which complement its newspapers and extend its audience reach in each market.  McClatchy-owned newspapers include The Miami Herald, The Sacramento Bee, the (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram, The Kansas City Star, The Charlotte Observer, and The (Raleigh) News & Observer.

McClatchy also has a portfolio of premium digital assets. Its leading local websites offer users information, comprehensive news, advertising, e-commerce and other services.  The Company owns and operates McClatchy Interactive, an interactive operation that provides websites with content, publishing tools and software development.  McClatchy operates Real Cities, the largest national advertising network of local news websites and owns 14.4% of CareerBuilder, the nation’s largest online job site.  McClatchy also owns 25.6% of Classified Ventures, a newspaper industry partnership that offers classified websites such as the nation’s number two online auto website, cars.com, and the number one rental site, apartments.com.

The consolidated financial statements include the Company and its subsidiaries.  Significant intercompany items and transactions are eliminated.  In preparing the financial statements, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary (consisting of normal recurring items, except as discussed in Note 2 and an adjustment to record the settlement of litigation by a company in which the Company is an investor as discussed in Note 3) to present fairly the Company's financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods presented.  The financial statements contained in this report are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Discontinued operations - On March 5, 2007, the Company sold the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune newspaper and other publications and websites related to the newspaper to an entity affiliated with Avista Capital Partners for $530.0 million.  In addition, the Company expects a cash income tax refund equal to approximately $201 million related to the sale in 2008.  The results of Star Tribune's operations, including interest expense directly attributable to the Star Tribune, have been recorded as discontinued operations in all periods presented.
  
Revenue recognition - The Company recognizes revenues from advertising placed in a newspaper and/or on a website over the advertising contract period or as services are delivered, as appropriate, and recognizes circulation revenues as newspapers are delivered over the applicable subscription term.  Circulation revenues are recorded net of direct delivery costs.  Other revenue is recognized when the related product or service has been delivered.  Revenues are recorded net of estimated incentive offerings including special pricing agreements, promotions and other volume-based incentives.  Revisions to these estimates are charged to income in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known.
 
6

 

 
Cash equivalents are highly liquid debt investments with original maturities of three months or less.
  
Concentrations of credit risk - Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, are principally cash and cash equivalents and trade accounts receivables.  Cash and cash equivalents are placed with major financial institutions.  The Company routinely assesses the financial strength of significant customers and this assessment, combined with the large number and geographic diversity of its customers, limits the Company's concentration of risk with respect to trade accounts receivable.

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (based principally on the first-in, first-out method) or current market value.

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost.  Major improvements, as well as interest incurred during construction, are capitalized.  Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.

Depreciation is computed generally on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives of:
                            5 to 60 years for buildings and improvements
                            9 to 25 years for presses
                            2 to 15 years for other equipment

Goodwill and Intangible Impairment - The Company accounts for goodwill in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.  As required by SFAS No. 142, the Company tests for goodwill annually or whenever events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount.  The required two-step approach uses accounting judgments and estimates of future operating results.  Changes in estimates or the application of alternative assumptions and definitions could produce significantly different results.  The factors that most significantly affect the fair value calculation are private and public market trading multiples and estimates of future cash flows.  The Company periodically analyzes its intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment.

Stock-based compensation - All share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and purchases under the employee stock purchase plan ("ESPP"), are recognized in the financial statements based on their fair values.  At July 1, 2007, the Company had six stock-based compensation plans.  Total stock-based compensation expense from continuing operations was $2.2 million and $4.3 million for the three months and six months ended July 1, 2007, respectively and was $1.6 million and $3.6 million for the three months and six months ended June 25, 2006, respectively.

The Company has issued a total of 65,000 shares of restricted Class A Common Stock to its Chief Executive Officer: (1) 40,000 shares on January 25, 2005, valued at the Company's closing stock price on that date of $70.55, which vest on January 25, 2009, subject to certain performance criteria and (2) 25,000 shares on January 24, 2006, valued at the Company's closing stock price on that date of $58.05, which vest over four annual installments, subject to certain performance criteria, beginning on January 24, 2007.  On January 24, 2007, 6,250 shares vested.  At this time, the Company expects such performance criteria to be met and is expensing the related stock-based compensation over the respective four-year periods based on the grant date fair values.

7

Deferred income taxes result from temporary differences between amounts of assets and liabilities reported for financial and income tax reporting purposes.  Determination of deferred income taxes related to the Acquisition is subject to further adjustments based upon completion of deferred income tax assets and liabilities (see Note 2).

Comprehensive income (loss) - The Company records changes in its net assets from non-owner sources in its statement of stockholders’ equity.  These changes arise primarily from minimum pension liability adjustments.

The following table summarizes the composition of total comprehensive income (in thousands):

   
For the three
months ended
   
For the six
months ended
 
   
July 1, 2007
   
June 25, 2006
   
July 1, 2007
   
June 25, 2006
 
Net income
  $
35,236
    $
44,136
    $
44,266
    $
71,863
 
Pension amortization from other comprehensive income, net of tax
   
2,132
     
-
     
2,132
     
-
 
Total comprehensive income
  $
37,368
    $
44,136
    $
46,398
    $
71,863
 

Treasury stock - The Company accounts for treasury stock under the cost method.

Segment reporting - The Company's primary business is the publication of newspapers.  The Company aggregates its newspapers into a single reportable segment because each has similar economic characteristics, products, customers and distribution methods.

Earnings per share ("EPS") - Basic EPS excludes dilution from common stock equivalents and reflects income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period.  Diluted EPS is based upon the weighted average number of outstanding shares of common stock and dilutive common stock equivalents in the period.  Common stock equivalents arise from dilutive stock options and are computed using the treasury stock method.  The anti-dilutive stock options that could potentially dilute basic EPS in the future, but were not included in the weighted average share calculation for the three months and six months ended July 1, 2007 were 3,830,396 and 3,778,007, respectively and were 2,511,418 and 2,112,561 for the three months and six months ended June 25, 2006, respectively.

Reclassifications- Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2007 presentation and relate primarily to accounting for the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune as a discontinued operation.

Income Taxes - On July 13, 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”).  FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an entity’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attributes for financial statement disclosure of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return.  Under FIN 48, the impact of an uncertain income tax position on the income tax return must be recognized at the largest amount that is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant
 
 
8

 
 
taxing authority.  An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained.  Additionally, FIN 48 provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.  FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006.

  The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007.  The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of the date of adoption was $66.7 million.  Of the $66.7 million of unrecognized tax benefits at January 1, 2007, $8.5 million are tax benefits that, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective income tax rate in future periods.  The other $58.2 million of unrecognized tax benefits would, if recognized, result in a decrease to goodwill previously recorded related to acquisitions.  There were no material changes to these amounts through July 1, 2007.

With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to examination by U.S. federal, state, or foreign tax authorities for years before 2002.

NOTE 2.   ACQUISITION AND DIVESTITURES

Acquisition Transaction:

On June 27, 2006 (the second day of the Company's third fiscal quarter), the Company completed the purchase of Knight-Ridder, Inc. ("Knight Ridder") pursuant to a definitive merger agreement entered into on March 12, 2006, under which the Company paid Knight Ridder shareholders a per share price consisting of $40.00 in cash and .5118 of a Class A McClatchy common share (the "Acquisition").  The Company issued approximately 35 million Class A common shares in connection with the Acquisition.  The total purchase price was approximately $4.6 billion.  In addition, the Company assumed $1.9 billion in Knight Ridder long-term debt at closing.
 
Prior to the Acquisition, Knight Ridder published 32 daily newspapers in 29 U.S. markets, operated websites in all of its markets and owned a variety of internet and other investments which consisted of: 33.3% of each of CareerBuilder LLC ("CareerBuilder") and ShopLocal LLC ("ShopLocal"), 25.0% of Topix.net ("Topix"), 21.5% of Classified Ventures LLC ("Classified Ventures"), 33.3% interest in SP Newsprint Company ("SP"), 13.5% interest in the Ponderay Newsprint Company ("Ponderay") and 49.5% of The Seattle Times Company which owns The Seattle Times newspaper and weekly newspapers in the Puget Sound area, and daily newspapers located in Walla Walla and Yakima, Washington and in Portland, Maine and various other smaller investments.  Knight Ridder was the founder and operator of Real Cities, the largest national advertising network of local news websites.

To consummate the Acquisition, the Company borrowed $3.076 billion under a new bank debt facility (see Note 5) and used the proceeds from the sales of four Knight Ridder newspapers in order to pay Knight Ridder shareholders ($2.7 billion) and refinance its and Knight Ridder's bank debt ($498.0 million).  The after-tax proceeds from the sales of the eight Knight Ridder newspapers sold after the Acquisition closed were used to reduce debt.

Acquisition Accounting:

Pursuant to Emerging Issues Task Force No. 99-12, Determination of the Measurement Date for the Market Price of Acquirer Securities Issued in a Purchase Business Combination, the McClatchy common stock issued on June 27, 2006 was valued based upon the average closing price of McClatchy common stock from March 8, 2006 through March 14, 2006 (two business days before and after the terms of the Acquisition were agreed to and announced), or $52.06 per share.   As a result, the fair value of the 35.0 million shares of McClatchy common stock issued in the Acquisition was recorded at $1.821 billion, which was included in the total Acquisition purchase price of approximately $4.6 billion.  The fair value of such shares declined to approximately $1.398 billion as of the Acquisition closing date (June 27, 2006), however the decline of $423.0 million in valuation had no effect on the total Acquisition purchase price recorded.  The difference is included in goodwill in the allocation of the purchase price below.
 
 
 
9

 
 

The Acquisition was accounted for as a purchase.  Pursuant to SFAS 141, Business Combinations, the purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values as of June 27, 2006, the date of the Acquisition.  The purchase price allocation, while substantially complete, is subject to further adjustments based upon completion of analyses of deferred income tax assets and liabilities.  See Note 4 for adjustments made in the first six months of fiscal 2007.
 
The following table summarizes, on an unaudited pro forma basis, the combined results of continuing operations of the Company for the three and six months ended June 25, 2006 as though the Acquisition had taken place on the first day of the fiscal quarter (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 25,
2006
   
June 25,
2006
 
             
    Revenues
  $
632,433
    $
1,228,728
 
    Income from continuing operations
  $ 37,047 (1)   $ 55,927 (1)
    Income from continuing operations per diluted share
  $
0.45
    $
0.68
 
   
(1) Excludes $18.1 million of income tax benefits related to the Company’s recalculation of its deferred tax liabilities and assets.
 
 
Disposition Transactions:

In conjunction with the Acquisition, the Company divested 12 Knight Ridder newspapers for strategic and antitrust reasons.  The divested newspapers were the Philadelphia Inquirer;Philadelphia Daily News;San Jose Mercury News; St. Paul Pioneer Press; Akron Beacon Journal (OH); Wilkes Barre Times Leader (PA); Aberdeen American News (SD); Grand Forks Herald (ND); Ft. Wayne News-Sentinel (IN); Contra Costa Times (CA); Monterey Herald (CA); and Duluth News Tribune (MN).  The Company received cash proceeds of approximately $2.0 billion (net of transaction costs) from these divestitures.  In addition, the buyers assumed approximately $77 million of Knight Ridder retirement obligations related to certain newspapers.  Four of the 12 newspapers were sold concurrently with the closing of the Acquisition.  The remaining eight newspapers were owned for periods ranging from two days to 36 days following the closing of the Acquisition.  The operating results of these eight divested newspapers for the periods they were owned by the Company, including interest expense and debt issuance costs related to bank debt incurred until their respective sales, are included in discontinued operations in the Company's consolidated statement of income for the period from June 27, 2006 to December 31, 2006.  No accounting gain or loss was recognized on the sale of the 12 newspapers.
 

 
10

 
 
In July 2006, the Company sold 18.3% of its interest in each of CareerBuilder and ShopLocal, and 13.8% of its interest in Topix for an aggregate of $309.7 million in cash and used the after-tax proceeds to reduce debt.  No accounting gain or loss was recognized on the sale of these investments.  The Company retained a 15.0% interest in each of CareerBuilder and ShopLocal, and an 11.3% interest in Topix.  Effective May 11, 2007, the Company's interest in CareerBuilder declined to 14.4%.

On March 5, 2007, the Company sold the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune newspaper and other publications and websites related to the newspaper to an entity affiliated with Avista Capital Partners for $530.0 million.  The Company expects to receive an income tax refund of approximately $201 million related to the sale in 2008.  This amount has been recorded as a long-term receivable on the consolidated balance sheet.

The results of Star Tribune's operations, including interest on debt incurred to purchase it, have been recorded as discontinued operations in all periods presented. The Company used the proceeds from the sale of the Star Tribune to reduce debt.
 
Revenues and loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, for the three months and six months ended July 1, 2007 and June 25, 2006 were as follows (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
July 1,
2007
   
June 25,
2006
   
July 1,
2007
   
June 25,
2006
 
Revenues
  $
91
    $
92,234
    $
52,994
    $
179,775
 
                                 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes (1)
  $
146
    $
20,373
    $ (4,637 )   $
30,630
 
Income tax expense (benefit)
    (559 )    
8,426
     
141
     
12,737
 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
  $
705
    $
11,947
    $ (4,778 )   $
17,893
 

(1)  
Includes interest expense allocated to discontinued operations of $0 and $1.2 million for the three months and six months ended July 1, 2007, respectively and $1.6 million and $3.7 million for the three months and six months ended June 25, 2006, respectively.

NOTE 3.   INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED COMPANIES
  
The following is the Company's ownership interest and carrying value of investments in unconsolidated companies and joint ventures (dollars in thousands):

Company
 
%
Ownership Interest
   
July 1,
2007
   
December 31,
2006
 
CareerBuilder
   
14.4
    $
225,992
    $
230,506
 
Seattle Times Company
   
49.5
     
89,910
     
102,228
 
Classified Ventures
   
25.6
     
98,476
     
98,259
 
SP Newsprint
   
33.3
     
38,543
     
40,666
 
Ponderay Newsprint
   
27.0
     
24,068
     
26,162
 
ShopLocal
   
15.0
     
11,147
     
10,993
 
Topix
   
11.3
     
9,442
     
9,956
 
McClatchy Tribune Information Services
   
50.0
     
1,102
     
773
 
Other
 
Various
     
778
     
670
 
            $
499,458
    $
520,213
 

The Company primarily uses the equity method of accounting for these investments.
 

 
11

 
 
During the second fiscal quarter of 2007, The Seattle Times Company (“STC”) entered into an agreement to settle certain outstanding legal issues and amend their Joint Operating Agreement relating to STC and The Hearst Corporation ("Hearst") Seattle newspaper. As a result, STC is expected to pay approximately $24 million to Hearst in the third fiscal quarter of 2007.  The Company has expensed $7.8 million as its share of this payment as part of its equity loss in the second fiscal quarter of 2007.


                     
Intangible assets and goodwill, along with their weighted-average amortization periods consisted of the following (in thousands):
   
July 1, 2007
                   
Weighted
                   
Average
   
Gross
   
Accumulated
   
Net
 
Amortization
   
Amount
   
Amortization
   
Amount
 
Period
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
                   
   Advertiser and subscriber lists
  $
817,701
    $ (177,203 )   $
640,498
 
14 years
   Other
   
26,261
      (10,624 )    
15,637
 
 8 years
   Total
  $
843,962
    $ (187,827 )    
656,135
   
                           
Other intangible assets not subject to amortization:
                   
   Newspaper mastheads
                   
683,000
   
   Total
                   
1,339,135
   
   Goodwill - net
                   
3,586,969
   
   Total intangible assets and goodwill
                  $
4,926,104
   
                           
   
December 31, 2006
                         
Weighted
                         
Average
   
Gross
   
Accumulated
   
Net
 
Amortization
   
Amount
   
Amortization
   
Amount
 
Period
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
                         
   Advertiser and subscriber lists
  $
817,701
    $ (148,427 )   $
669,274
 
14 years
   Other
   
26,161
      (9,389 )    
16,772
 
 8 years
   Total
  $
843,862
    $ (157,816 )    
686,046
   
                           
Other intangible assets not subject to amortization:
                   
   Newspaper mastheads
                   
683,000
   
   Total
                   
1,369,046
   
   Goodwill - net
                   
3,559,828
   
   Total intangible assets and goodwill
                  $
4,928,874
   

12


The following is a summary of the changes in the identifiable intangible assets and goodwill from December 31, 2006 to July 1, 2007 (in thousands):
 
   
December 31,
       
Disposals/
   
Amortization
   
July 1,
 
   
2006
   
Additions
 
Adjustments
   
Expense
   
2007
 
 Intangible assets subject to amortization
  $
843,862
    $
25
  $
75
    $
-
    $
843,962
 
Accumulated amortization
    (157,816 )      
 
  (9 )     (30,002 )     (187,827 )
     
686,046
     
25
   
66
      (30,002 )    
656,135
 
Mastheads and other
   
683,000
                           
683,000
 
Goodwill - net
   
3,559,828
     
27,141
                   
3,586,969
 
   Total
  $
4,928,874
    $
27,166
   $
66
    $ (30,002 )   $
4,926,104
 
                                        
(1) Relates primarily to revised estimates of acquired income tax reserves.
 
   
Amortization expense for continuing operations was $15.0 million and $1.2 million in the second fiscal quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively and was $30.0 million and $2.4 million for the first six months of fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
         
The estimated amortization expense for the remainder of fiscal 2007 and the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows (in thousands):
 
           
Amortization
     
   
Year
   
Expense
     
                     
   
2007
    $
29,948
     
   
2008
     
59,941
     
   
2009
     
59,910
     
   
2010
     
59,232
     
   
2011
     
57,837
     
   
2012
     
57,368
     

13



NOTE 5.    LONG-TERM DEBT
 
As of July 1, 2007 and December 31, 2006, long-term debt consisted of the following (in thousands):
   
July 1,
2007
   
December 31,
2006
 
Term A bank debt, weighted average interest of 6.11%
   at July 1, 2007 and 6.12% at December 31, 2006
  $
750,000
    $
1,100,000
 
Revolving bank debt, interest of 6.10%
   at July 1, 2007 and 6.10% at December 31, 2006
   
415,287
     
665,795
 
Publicly-traded notes:
               
   $100 million 6.625% debentures due in 2007
   
100,011
     
100,025
 
   $200 million 9.875% debentures due in 2009
   
210,139
     
212,950
 
   $300 million 7.125% debentures due in 2011
   
304,005
     
304,512
 
   $200 million 4.625% debentures due in 2014
   
174,443
     
172,705
 
   $400 million 5.750% debentures due in 2017
   
361,724
     
359,848
 
   $100 million 7.150% debentures due in 2027
   
90,940
     
90,717
 
   $300 million 6.875% debentures due in 2029
   
270,789
     
270,117
 
   Total debt
   
2,677,338
     
3,276,669
 
   Less current portion
   
-
     
530,000
 
   Long term debt
  $
2,677,338
    $
2,746,669
 

The publicly-traded notes are stated net of unamortized discounts and premiums resulting from recording such assumed liabilities at fair value as of the June 27, 2006 Acquisition date. The notes due in 2007 are expected to be refinanced on a long-term basis by drawing on the Company's revolving credit facility and accordingly, are included in long-term debt.

Through June 27, 2006, the Company used its senior unsecured revolving credit facility, which provided borrowings of up to $500 million. This credit facility was refinanced with a new $3.2 billion senior unsecured credit facility ("Credit Agreement") entered into in connection with the Acquisition.  At the closing of the Acquisition, the Company’s new Credit Agreement consisted of a $1 billion five-year revolving credit facility and $2.2 billion five-year Term A loan. Both the Term A loan and the revolving credit facility are due on June 27, 2011.

The Company has repaid $600.5 million of bank debt in the first six months of fiscal 2007 from the sale of the Star Tribune newspaper, sales of other assets and cash generated from operations. A total of $529.1 million of funds were available under the revolving credit facility at July 1, 2007.

Debt under the Credit Agreement bears interest at the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus a spread ranging from 37.5 basis points to 125.0 basis points.  Applicable rates are based upon the Company’s ratings on its long-term debt from Moody’s Investor Services ("Moody’s") and Standard & Poor’s.  A commitment fee for the unused revolving credit ranges from 10.0 basis points to 20.0 basis points depending on the Company’s ratings.  Standard & Poor’s has rated the facility "BB+" and Moody’s has rated the facility “Baa3”.  According to the Credit Agreement, the Company will pay interest at LIBOR plus 75.0 basis points on outstanding debt and its commitment fees are currently at 15.0 basis points.
 
 
14

 
The Credit Agreement contains financial covenants including a minimum interest coverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of 3.00 to 1.00 through July 1, 2007; 2.75 to 1.00 from September 30, 2007 through September 28, 2008 and 3.00 to 1.00 from December 28, 2008 and thereafter; and a maximum leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of 4.75 to 1.00 through July 1, 2007; 5.00 to 1.00 from September 30, 2007 through March 30, 2008; 4.75 to 1.00 from June 29, 2008 through September 28, 2008; 4.25 to 1.00 from December 28, 2008 to September 27, 2009; and declining to 4.00 to 1.00 on December 27, 2009 and thereafter.  At July 1, 2007, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

 In addition, the Company’s Material Subsidiaries (as defined in the Credit Agreement) have guaranteed the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement.  These guarantees were effected on May 4, 2007, and continue in effect upon the earlier of the termination of the Credit Agreement or the date which is one year after the date both ratings agencies have rated the Company’s bank debt as investment grade.

At July 1, 2007, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $55.6 million securing estimated obligations stemming from workers’ compensation claims and other contingent claims.

The following table presents the approximate annual maturities of debt, based upon the Company's required payments (adjusted for management’s expectations regarding the notes due in fiscal 2007 as discussed above), for the next five years and thereafter (in thousands):
 
                                                    
Year
 
Payments
 
                                                      
2008
  $
-
 
                                             
2009
   
200,000
 
                                              
2010
   
-
 
                                               
2011
   
1,565,287
 
                                            
2012
   
-
 
                                     
 Thereafter    
1,000,000
 
       
2,765,287
 
                                      
 Less net discount     (87,949 )
                                     
 Total debt   $
2,677,338
 
 
NOTE 6.  EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

The Company sponsors defined benefit pension plans (“retirement plans”), which cover a majority of its employees.  Benefits are based on years of service and compensation.  Contributions to the retirement plans are made by the Company in amounts deemed necessary to provide the required benefits.  The Company made $40.0 million in voluntary contributions to its retirement plans in early fiscal 2006 (including $8.5 million to Star Tribune plans).  No contributions to the Company's retirement plans are currently planned for fiscal 2007.

The Company also has a limited number of supplemental retirement plans to provide key employees with additional retirement benefits.  The terms of the plans are generally the same as those of the retirement plans, except that the supplemental retirement plans are limited to key employees and provide an enhanced pension benefit.  These plans are funded on a pay-as-you-go basis and the accrued pension obligation is largely included in other long-term obligations.
 
15

 
 
The elements of pension costs for continuing operations are as follows (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
July 1,
2007
   
June 25,
2006
   
July 1,
2007
   
June 25,
2006
 
                         
             Service cost
  $
10,872
    $
4,235
    $
18,810
    $
8,028
 
             Interest cost
   
22,772
     
6,462
     
46,988
     
12,258
 
             Expected return on plan assets
    (26,024 )     (8,517 )     (54,250 )     (16,268 )
             Prior service cost amortization
   
24
     
50
     
105
     
94
 
             (Gain)/loss amortization
    (556 )    
2,372
     
3,453
     
4,491
 
             Net pension expense
  $
7,088
    $
4,602
    $
15,106
    $
8,603
 

No material contributions were made to the Company's multi-employer plans for continuing operations for the three months and six months ended July 1, 2007 and June 25, 2006.

The Company also provides for or subsidizes post-retirement healthcare and certain life insurance benefits for employees.  The elements of post-retirement benefits for continuing operations are as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
July 1,
2007
   
June 25,
2006
   
July 1,
2007
   
June 25,
2006
 
             Service cost
  $
200
    $
1
    $
422
    $
1
 
             Interest cost
   
426
     
97
     
1,434
     
106
 
             (Gain)/loss amortization
    (6 )    
-
      (6 )    
-
 
             Net post-retirement expense
  $
620
    $
98
    $
1,850
    $
107
 

NOTE 7.  COMMON STOCK AND STOCK PLANS

On June 27, 2006, in connection with the Acquisition, the Company increased the authorized number of its Class A Common shares from 100,000,000 to 200,000,000 shares and issued 34,988,009 new Class A Common shares in connection with the Acquisition (see Note 2).

The Company's Class A and Class B Common Stock participate equally in dividends.  Holders of Class B are entitled to one vote per share and to elect as a class 75% of the Board of Directors, rounded down to the nearest whole number.  Holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one-tenth of a vote per share and to elect as a class 25% of the Board of Directors, rounded up to the nearest whole number.  Class B Common Stock is convertible at the option of the holder into Class A Common Stock on a share-for-share basis.

The holders of shares of Class B Common Stock are parties to an agreement, the intent of which is to preserve control of the Company by the McClatchy family.  Under the terms of the agreement, the Class B shareholders have agreed to restrict the transfer of any shares of Class B Common Stock to one or more "Permitted Transferees," subject to certain exceptions.  A "Permitted Transferee" is any current holder of shares of Class B Common Stock of the Company; any lineal descendant of Charles K. McClatchy (1858 to 1936); or a trust for the exclusive benefit of, or in which all of the remainder beneficial interests are owned by, one or more lineal descendants of Charles K. McClatchy.

 
16

 
 
Generally, Class B shares can be converted into shares of Class A Common Stock and then transferred freely (unless, following conversion, the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock would constitute less than 25% of the total number of all outstanding shares of common stock of the Company).  In the event that a Class B shareholder attempts to transfer any shares of Class B Common Stock in violation of the agreement, or upon the happening of certain other events enumerated in the agreement as "Option Events," each of the remaining Class B shareholders has an option to purchase a percentage of the total number of shares of Class B Common Stock proposed to be transferred equal to such remaining Class B shareholder's ownership percentage of the total number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock.  If all the shares proposed to be transferred are not purchased by the remaining Class B shareholders, the Company has the option of purchasing the remaining shares.  The agreement can be terminated by the vote of the holders of 80% of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock who are subject to the agreement.  The agreement will terminate on September 17, 2047, unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms.

At July 1, 2007, the Company had six stock-based compensation plans.  The Company applied APB Opinion 25 and related interpretations in accounting for its plans in fiscal 2005 and prior years.  The Company has adopted SFAS No. 123R for its stock plans effective December 26, 2005, the first day of fiscal 2006.

Beginning in fiscal 2005, the Company awarded stock-settled stock appreciation rights ("SARs") in lieu of stock options to its employees.  The SARs were granted at fair market value, have a ten-year term and vest in four equal annual installments beginning on March 1 following the year for which the award was made.

                Outstanding options and SARs are summarized as follows:
 
 
 
Options/ SARs
   
Weighted Average Exercise
Price
   
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(in thousands)
 
Outstanding December 31, 2006
   
4,064,075
    $
52.78
    $
4,857
 
   Granted
   
37,250
     
39.45
         
   Exercised
    (69,625 )    
26.55
         
   Forfeited
    (94,250 )    
63.74
         
   Expired
    (227,000 )    
56.57
         
Outstanding July 1, 2007
   
3,710,450
     
52.63
   
nil
 
Options and SARs exercisable:
                       
     July 1, 2007
   
2,130,825
    $
53.42
         
 

As of July 1, 2007, there were $11.4 million of unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested stock-based compensation arrangements granted under the Company's plans.  The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years.

17



 

                The following tables summarize information about stock options and SARs outstanding in the stock plans at July 1, 2007:
 
 
Range of Exercise
Prices
   
Options/
SARs Outstanding
   
Average Remaining
Contractual Life
   
Weighted Average
Exercise
Price
   
Options/
SARs Exercisable
   
Weighted Average
Exercise
Price
 
$
26.19 - $42.50
     
1,486,625
     
6.79
    $
40.81
     
590,625
    $
38.44
 
$
45.98 - $59.09
     
1,253,200
     
6.34
    $
54.37
     
892,825
    $
52.86
 
$
59.58 - $73.36
     
970,625
     
6.82
    $
68.49
     
647,375
    $
67.86
 
$
26.19 - $73.36
     
3,710,450
     
6.65
    $
52.63
     
2,130,825
    $
53.42
 

The weighted average remaining contractual life on options exercisable at July 1, 2007 was 5.1 years.  The fair value of the stock options and SARs granted was estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model that uses the assumptions noted in the following table. The expected life of the options represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding using the historical exercise behavior of employees.  Expected volatility was based on historical volatility for a period equal to the stock option's expected life for shares granted in the second fiscal quarters of 2007 and 2006, and for a one-year look back period for shares granted prior to fiscal 2006. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
July 1, 2007
   
June 25, 2006
 
Dividend yield
   
1.96
     
1.57
 
Expected life in years
   
5.41
     
5.27
 
Volatility
   
.19
     
.19
 
Risk-free interest rate
    4.74 %     5.00 %
Weighted average fair value of options/SARs granted
  $
8.40
    $
11.01
 

The Company also offers eligible employees the option to purchase common stock under its ESPP.  The expense associated with the plan is computed using a Black-Scholes option valuation model with similar assumptions to those described for stock options, except that volatility is computed using a one-year look back given the short-term nature of this option.  Expense associated with the ESPP is included in the stock-related compensation discussed in Note 1.



18



ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 

Overview

The McClatchy Company (the "Company") is the third largest newspaper company in the United States, with 31 daily newspapers and approximately 50 non-dailies. Twenty of its daily newspapers were acquired on June 27, 2006 in the Knight Ridder acquisition (the "Acquisition") – see Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.  McClatchy also operates leading local websites and direct marketing operations in each of its markets which complement its newspapers and extend its audience reach in each market.  McClatchy-owned newspapers include The Miami Herald, The Sacramento Bee, the (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram, The Kansas City Star, The Charlotte Observer, and The (Raleigh) News & Observer.

McClatchy also has a portfolio of premium digital assets. Its leading local websites offer users information, comprehensive news, advertising, e-commerce and other services.  The Company owns and operates McClatchy Interactive, an interactive operation that provides websites with content, publishing tools and software development.  McClatchy operates Real Cities, the largest national advertising network of local news websites and owns 14.4% of CareerBuilder, the nation’s largest online job site.  McClatchy also owns 25.6% of Classified Ventures, a newspaper industry partnership that offers classified websites such as the nation’s number two online auto website, cars.com, and the number one rental site, apartments.com.

The Company's primary source of revenue is advertising, which accounts for roughly 84% of the Company's revenue.  While percentages vary from year to year and from newspaper to newspaper, retail advertising carried as a part of newspapers ("run-of-press" or "ROP" advertising) or in advertising inserts placed in newspapers (preprint advertising) generally contributes roughly 37% of advertising revenues at the Company's newspapers.  Recent trends have been for certain national or regional retailers to use greater preprint and online advertising and less ROP advertising, although that trend shifts from time to time.  Nonetheless, ROP advertising still makes up the majority of retail advertising.  Classified advertising (including online classified advertising), primarily in automotive, employment and real estate categories, generally contributes about 33% of advertising revenue and national advertising generally contributes about 8% of total advertising revenue.  Direct marketing and other advertising make up the remainder of the Company's advertising revenues.  Circulation revenues contribute roughly 12% of the Company's newspaper revenues.  Most newspapers are delivered by independent contractors.  Circulation revenues are recorded net of direct delivery costs.

See the following "Results of Operations" for a discussion of the Company's revenue performance and contribution by category for the three months and six months ended July 1, 2007 and June 25, 2006.

Critical Accounting Policies

Critical accounting policies are those accounting policies that management believes are important to the portrayal of the Company's financial condition and results and require management's most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.  The Company's 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K includes a description of certain critical accounting policies, including those with respect to revenue recognition, allowance for uncollectible accounts, acquisition accounting, goodwill and intangible impairment, discontinued operations, pension and post-retirement benefits, income taxes, insurance and stock-based employee compensation.


 
19

 
Income Tax Contingencies:

The Company is subject to periodic audits by the Internal Revenue Service and other state and local taxing authorities.  These audits may challenge certain aspects of the Company's tax positions such as the timing and amount of deductions and allocation of taxable income to the various tax jurisdictions.  Income tax contingencies are accounted for in accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes ("FIN 48"), and may require significant management judgment in estimating final outcomes.  Actual results could materially differ from these estimates and could significantly affect the effective tax rate and cash flows in future periods.
 
Recent Events and Trends

Acquisition Transaction:

On June 27, 2006 (the second day of the Company’s third fiscal quarter), the Company completed the purchase of Knight-Ridder, Inc. ("Knight Ridder") pursuant to a definitive merger agreement entered into on March 12, 2006, under which the Company paid Knight Ridder shareholders a per share price consisting of $40.00 in cash and .5118 of a Class A McClatchy common share (the "Acquisition").  The Company issued approximately 35 million Class A common shares in connection with the Acquisition.  The total purchase price was approximately $4.6 billion.  In addition, the Company assumed $1.9 billion of Knight Ridder's long-term debt at the closing of the Acquisition.
 
Prior to the Acquisition, Knight Ridder published 32 daily newspapers in 29 U.S. markets, operated websites in all of its markets and owned a variety of internet and other investments which consisted of:  33.3% of each of CareerBuilder LLC ("CareerBuilder") and ShopLocal LLC ("ShopLocal"), 25.0% of Topix.net ("Topix"), 21.5% of Classified Ventures LLC ("Classified Ventures"), 33.3% interest in SP Newsprint Company ("SP"), 13.5% interest in the Ponderay Newsprint Company ("Ponderay") and 49.5% of The Seattle Times Company which owns The Seattle Times newspaper and weekly newspapers in the Puget Sound area, and daily newspapers located in Walla Walla and Yakima, Washington and in Portland, Maine and various other smaller investments.  Knight Ridder was the founder and operator of Real Cities, the largest national advertising network of local news websites.

To consummate the Acquisition, the Company borrowed $3.076 billion under a new bank debt facility (see Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements) and used the proceeds from the sales of four Knight Ridder newspapers (see Disposition Transactions below) in order to pay Knight Ridder shareholders ($2.7 billion) and refinance its and Knight Ridder's bank debt ($498.0 million).  The after-tax proceeds from the sales of the eight Knight Ridder newspapers sold after the Acquisition closed were used to reduce debt.

The Acquisition was accounted for as a purchase.  The purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values as of the June 27, 2006 Acquisition date.  The purchase price allocation was primarily based upon an independent valuation.  The purchase price allocation, while substantially completed, is subject to further adjustments based upon completion of analyses of deferred income tax assets and liabilities.

20


Disposition Transactions:

In conjunction with the Acquisition, the Company divested 12 Knight Ridder newspapers for strategic and antitrust reasons.  The divested newspapers were the Philadelphia Inquirer;Philadelphia Daily News;San Jose Mercury News; St. Paul Pioneer Press; Akron Beacon Journal (OH); Wilkes Barre Times Leader (PA); Aberdeen American News (SD); Grand Forks Herald (ND); Ft. Wayne News-Sentinel (IN); Contra Costa Times (CA); Monterey Herald (CA); and Duluth News Tribune (MN).  The Company received cash proceeds of approximately $2.0 billion (net of transaction costs) from these divestitures.  In addition, the buyers assumed approximately $77 million of Knight Ridder retirement obligations related to certain newspapers.  Four of the 12 newspapers were sold concurrently with the closing of the Acquisition.  The remaining eight newspapers were owned for periods ranging from two days to 36 days following the closing of the Acquisition.  The operating results of these eight divested newspapers for the periods they were owned by the Company, including interest expense and debt issuance costs related to bank debt incurred until their respective sales, are included in discontinued operations in the Company's consolidated statement of income for 2006.  No accounting gain or loss was recognized on the sale of the 12 newspapers.

In July 2006, the Company sold 18.3% of its interest in each of CareerBuilder and ShopLocal, and 13.8% of its interest in Topix for an aggregate of $309.7 million in cash and used the after-tax proceeds to reduce debt.  No accounting gain or loss was recognized on the sale of these investments. The Company retained a 15.0% interest in each of CareerBuilder and ShopLocal and an 11.3% interest in Topix.  Effective May 11, 2007, the Company's interest in CareerBuilder declined to 14.4%.

On March 5, 2007, the Company sold the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune and other publications and websites related to the newspaper to an entity affiliated with Avista Capital Partners for $530.0 million.  The Company expects to receive an income tax refund of approximately $201 million related to the sale in 2008.  This amount has been recorded as a long-term receivable on the consolidated balance sheet.

The results of Star Tribune's operations, including interest on debt incurred to purchase it, have been recorded as discontinued operations in all periods presented. The Company used the proceeds from the sale of the Star Tribune to reduce debt.

Advertising Revenues:

Classified advertising revenues have continued to decline since the third fiscal quarter of 2006 and advertising results declined across the board in the second fiscal quarter of 2007, but particularly in real estate advertising.  Real estate advertising began to weaken in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2006 and has declined substantially since then.  The Company has seen significant declines in California and Florida, where real estate values and thus advertising were strong in the second fiscal quarter of 2006 (see discussion below).  The decline in automotive classified advertising reflected an industry-wide decline that began in 2004, while employment advertising has been in decline in most markets since the third fiscal quarter of 2006.  National advertising also declined in the second fiscal quarter of 2007 reflecting a slowdown in a number of segments including telecommunications, national automotive and financial advertising, an industry-wide trend.

A total of 68.5% of the Company's advertising declines in the second fiscal quarter of 2007 came from California and Florida, two regions that benefited strongly from the real estate boom, and are likewise being hurt in the subsequent real estate slowdown. Advertising revenues were down 17.8% in the second fiscal quarter of 2007. The housing sector is an important component of these states’ economies. Hence, California and Florida also account for a majority of the decline in auto and employment advertising, as the real estate downturn is having an impact on these categories as well. These states have experienced similar advertising downturn and recovery cycles in the past, and were recently the Company’s best performing regions. Management believes a significant portion of the current advertising downturn reflects these cyclical forces and expects declines to continue in 2007 because of the difficult trends in these states. See the revenue discussions in management’s review of “Results of Operations”.

21

 
 
Newsprint:

Newsprint prices continued to decline in the second fiscal quarter of 2007 after a sustained period of increasing prices from 2002 through early 2006.  Through the first six months of fiscal 2007, newsprint expense was 13.8% lower than pro forma newsprint expense (which includes the 20 Knight Ridder Newspapers) in the first six months of 2006, primarily reflecting lower newsprint usage and, to a lesser degree, lower newsprint prices.  Newsprint pricing is dependent on global demand and supply for newsprint.  Significant changes in newsprint prices can increase or decrease the Company's operating expenses.  However, because the Company has ownership interests in newsprint producers (Ponderay and SP), the recent trend of falling newsprint prices, while favorably affecting operating expenses, is contributing to equity losses from these investments.  Ponderay and SP are also currently impacted by the higher cost of energy and fiber used in the papermaking process.  The impact of newsprint price increases on the Company's financial results is discussed under "Results of Operations".

As a result of the recently announced strategic alternative review at SP, the Company and its partners are seeking to sell SP.  The ultimate outcome of the strategic review cannot be determined and the timing of a transaction, if any, which the Company and its partners may undertake has not been determined.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Company noted the following items related to the Acquisition and other matters that impacted second fiscal quarter of 2007 and year-to-date fiscal 2007 results:

·  
On June 26, 2006, the Company issued approximately 35 million Class A shares in connection with the Acquisition. As a result, the weighted average diluted shares used to calculate earnings per share in the second fiscal quarter of 2007 increased to approximately 82 million shares compared to approximately 47 million shares in second fiscal quarter of 2006.
·  
The purchase price for the Acquisition has been allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values as of June 27, 2006, the date of the Acquisition. The purchase price allocation, while substantially complete, is subject to further adjustments based upon completion of analyses of deferred income tax assets and liabilities.
·  
On March 5, 2007, the Company sold the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune newspaper for $530.0 million in proceeds and is expected to receive a tax refund of approximately $201 million related to the sale in 2008.  The results of Star Tribune's operations have been recorded as discontinued operations in all periods presented.
·  
During the second fiscal quarter of 2007, STC and Hearst entered into an agreement to settle certain outstanding legal issues and amend their Joint Operating Agreement relating to STC and Hearst's Seattle newspaper. As a result, STC is expected to pay approximately $24 million to Hearst in the third fiscal quarter of 2007.  The Company has expensed $7.8 million as its share of this payment as part of its equity loss in the second fiscal quarter of 2007.
 

 
22

 
 
The Company's results from continuing operations since the close of the Acquisition (and all pro forma amounts for prior periods discussed) include the operations of the 20 retained former Knight Ridder newspapers and all of the Company's previously owned newspaper operations except for the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune newspaper.
 
The growth in revenues and expenses in the second fiscal quarter of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006 resulted from the Acquisition. To facilitate an analysis of operating results, the comparative analysis between the three months and six months ended July 1, 2007 and June 25, 2006 discussed below is supplemented by a comparison to 2006 pro forma results from continuing operations.  Pro forma amounts reflect the results of continuing operations of the Company as defined in the preceding paragraph.  The financial results for Knight Ridder and the 20 newspapers retained by the Company included in the pro forma information were derived from the historical unaudited financial statements of Knight Ridder. The Company believes that the use of pro forma reporting of operating results enhances measurement of performance by permitting comparisons with prior historical data.  Such supplemental pro forma data is not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred if the Acquisition had been completed as of the beginning of fiscal 2006.

Second Fiscal Quarter of 2007 Compared to Second Fiscal Quarter of 2006

The Company reported income from continuing operations of $34.5 million or $0.42 per share in the second fiscal quarter of 2007, compared to $32.2 million or $0.69 per share in the second fiscal quarter of 2006.  The Company recorded income from discontinued operations of $0.7 million or $0.01 per share relating to the results of the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune.  The Company’s total net income was $35.2 million or $0.43 per share including discontinued operations in the second fiscal quarter of 2007, compared to net income of $44.1 million or $0.94 per share in the second fiscal quarter of 2006.
 
            Revenues:

Revenues in the second fiscal quarter of 2007 were $580.0 million, up $368.0 million or 173.6% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006 revenues of $212.0 million, due to the addition of the 20 former Knight Ridder newspapers and the sale of the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune.  Advertising revenues totaled $488.3 million and circulation revenues were $69.7 million.  On a pro forma basis, revenues decreased $52.4 million or 8.3% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006 with advertising revenues decreasing $53.1 million or 9.8% and circulation revenues decreasing $3.4 million or 4.6% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006.

As discussed in Recent Events and Trends above, 68.5% of the Company's advertising declines in the second fiscal quarter of 2007 came from California and Florida, two regions that benefited strongly from the real estate boom, and are likewise being hurt in the subsequent real estate slowdown. Advertising revenues were down 17.8% in these two regions in the second fiscal quarter. The housing sector is an important component of these states’ economies. Hence, California and Florida also account for a majority of the decline in auto and employment advertising, as the real estate downturn is having an impact on these categories as well.  

23



The following summarizes the Company's revenue by category on a pro forma basis, which compares second fiscal quarter of 2007 with second fiscal quarter of 2006 (dollars in thousands):

   
As Reported
   
Pro Forma
 
   
July 1,
2007
   
June 25,
2006
   
%
Change
   
June 25,
2006
   
%
Change
 
Advertising:
                             
Retail
  $
213,203
    $
74,971
     
184.4
    $
227,220
      (6.2 )
National
   
46,064
     
15,394
     
199.2
     
50,821
      (9.4 )
Classified:
                                       
   Auto
   
43,760
     
18,085
     
142.0
     
51,729
      (15.4 )
   Employment
   
66,236
     
25,954
     
155.2
     
78,363
      (15.5 )
   Real estate
   
54,687
     
28,916
     
89.1
     
67,492
      (19.0 )
   Other
   
23,120
     
6,480
     
256.8
     
23,085
     
0.2
 
Total classified
   
187,803
     
79,435
     
136.4
     
220,669
      (14.9 )
Direct marketing
                                       
   and other
   
41,207
     
13,883
     
196.8
     
42,658
      (3.4 )
Total advertising
   
488,277
     
183,683
     
165.8
     
541,368
      (9.8 )
Circulation
   
69,707
     
23,504
     
196.6
     
73,087
      (4.6 )
Other
   
22,043
     
4,813
     
358.0
     
17,978
      22.6  
Total revenues
  $
580,027
    $
212,000
     
173.6
    $
632,433
      (8.3 )

Retail advertising increased $138.2 million or 184.4% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006 reflecting the Acquisition.  On a pro forma basis, retail advertising decreased $14.0 million or 6.2% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006.  On a pro forma basis, online retail advertising increased $2.4 million or 59.8% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006, while print ROP advertising decreased $14.5 million or 10.3% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006.  On a pro forma basis, preprint advertising decreased $1.9 million or 2.3% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006.

24

National advertising increased $30.7 million or 199.2% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006 reflecting the Acquisition.  On a pro forma basis, national advertising decreased $4.8 million or 9.4% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006.  The declines in total national advertising were primarily in the telecommunications, national automotive and financial advertising categories, reflecting an industry-wide trend.  Online national advertising increased $1.7 million from the second fiscal quarter of 2006 and decreased $0.6 million on a pro forma basis.

Classified advertising increased $108.4 million or 136.4% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006 reflecting the Acquisition.  On a pro forma basis, classified advertising decreased $32.9 million or 14.9% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006.  Online classified advertising increased $25.1 million or 267.0% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006.  On a pro forma basis, online classified advertising decreased $2.8 million or 7.6% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006.

·  
Real estate advertising was up $25.8 million or 89.1% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006. On a pro forma basis, real estate advertising decreased $12.8 million or 19.0% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006.  The Company has seen dramatic declines in California and Florida, where real estate values, and  thus advertising, were exceptionally strong in 2006.  The Company expects declines in this revenue category to continue because of the difficult trends in these states.
·  
Automotive advertising increased $25.7 million or 142.0% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006.  On a pro forma basis, automotive advertising declined $8.0 million or 15.4% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006, reflecting an industry-wide trend.  Print advertising declined 18.7%, while online advertising grew 12.9% reflecting the strength of the Company's cars.com online products.
·  
Employment advertising increased $40.3 million or 155.2% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006.  On a pro forma basis, employment advertising decreased $12.1 million or 15.5% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006.  Print employment advertising declined 17.0% while online employment advertising declined 12.4%. Online employment advertising was affected by the current affiliate agreement with CareerBuilder, the Company’s online employment advertising partner.  This agreement is helping to grow online employment revenues at the legacy McClatchy newspapers.  However, under the current affiliate agreement selected products are no longer available to be sold by the 20 acquired Knight Ridder newspapers, which are reducing their internet revenues.

Online advertising, which is included in each of the advertising categories discussed above, totaled $42.8 million in the second fiscal quarter of 2007, an increase of $31.2 million or 269.4% over the second fiscal quarter of 2006.  On a pro forma basis, online advertising decreased $1.0 million or 2.2% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006 and was held down by the current CareerBuilder affiliate agreement's impact on employment advertising as discussed above.

Direct marketing revenues increased $27.1 million or 202.0% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006 reflecting the Acquisition.  On a pro forma basis, direct marketing revenues decreased $1.7 million or 3.9% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006 reflecting the overall slow advertising environment. The Company extends its newspaper franchises by supplementing the mass reach of the newspaper with direct marketing and direct mail products so that advertisers can both achieve broad appeal and capture targeted audiences with one-stop shopping.

Circulation revenues increased $46.2 million or 196.6% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006 reflecting the Acquisition.  On a pro forma basis, consolidated circulation revenues decreased $3.4 million or 4.6% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006, primarily reflecting lower circulation volumes.  The Company continues to reduce third-party and outlying circulation that is not highly valued by its newspaper advertisers, and expects circulation volumes to remain lower in fiscal 2007 compared to fiscal 2006.

Operating Expenses:

Operating expenses increased $302.9 million or 189.6% in the second fiscal quarter of 2007 related to expenses added by the Acquisition.  On a pro forma basis, operating expenses were down $57.5 million or 11.1% from the second fiscal quarter of 2006, as the Company continued to reduce costs and realized synergies from the Acquisition.  On a pro forma basis, compensation costs were down 12.5%, with payroll down 12.4%, and a 6.9% reduction in staffing.  On a pro forma basis, fringe benefits were down 13.2%.  On a pro forma basis, newsprint and supplement expense was down 17.0% with newsprint expense down 17.4% and supplement expense down 14.3%.  On a pro forma basis, other operating costs were down 8.5%, reflecting lower bad debt and professional services.  Professional services in the second fiscal quarter of 2006 included $4.7 million of strategic alternative review services incurred and recorded by Knight Ridder.  On a pro forma basis, depreciation and amortization expense increased by 4.3% due primarily to the purchase price accounting related to the Acquisition.
25

 
 
Interest:

Interest expense for continuing operations was $49.6 million for the second fiscal quarter of 2007 primarily reflecting the service costs on debt incurred to finance the Acquisition.  Interest expense also included $1.7 million related to accrued interest on the liability for unrecognized tax benefits.  The Company’s effective interest rate in the second fiscal quarter of 2007 was approximately 6.4%.

Equity Income (Loss):

Loss from unconsolidated companies resulted primarily from operating results of the Company's newsprint investments and STC (see Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements).

Income Taxes:

The income tax rate from continuing operations in the second fiscal quarter of 2007 was 39.9%, compared to 39.0% in the second fiscal quarter of 2006.  The effective tax rate for the current fiscal year is expected to be in the 39.5% to 40.0% range, but the tax rate is preliminary and may change when the purchase price allocation and related deferred taxes are finalized.

Discontinued Operations:

Income from discontinued operations, (related to the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune newspaper -- see Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements) in the second fiscal quarter of 2007 was $0.7 million or $0.01 per share. Income from discontinued operations was $11.9 million or $0.25 per share in the second fiscal quarter of 2006.  Additionally, $2.1 million in interest incurred on the debt used to finance the purchase of the Star Tribune was recorded in discontinued operations in the second fiscal quarter of 2006.

First Six Months of Fiscal 2007 Compared to First Six Months of Fiscal 2006

The Company reported income from continuing operations of $49.0 million or $0.60 per share in the first six months of fiscal 2006, compared to $54.0 million or $1.15 per share in the first six months of fiscal 2006.  The Company recorded a loss from discontinued operations in the first six months of fiscal 2007 of $4.8 million or $0.06 per share relating to the results of the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune newspaper.  The Company's net income was $44.3 million or $0.54 per share including discontinued operations in the first six months of fiscal 2007 compared to $71.9 million or $1.53 per share in the first six months of fiscal 2006.  Revenues and expenses in the six-month period were generally affected by the trends discussed in the quarterly comparison above, with exceptions noted below.

Revenues:

Revenues from continuing operations in the first six months of fiscal 2007 were $1.147 billion, up $740.1 million or 182.1% from the first six months of fiscal 2006 revenues from continuing operations of $406.5 million, due to the 20 former Knight Ridder newspapers and the sale of the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune.  Advertising revenues were $965.3 million and circulation revenues were $141.6 million in the first six months of fiscal 2007.  On a pro forma basis, revenues decreased $82.1 million or 6.7% from the first six months of fiscal 2006 with advertising revenues decreasing $79.8 million or 7.6% and circulation revenues decreasing $6.1 million or 4.1% from the first six months of fiscal 2006.
 

 
26

 
A total of 72.1% of the Company's advertising declines in the first six months of fiscal 2007 came from California and Florida, two regions that benefited strongly from the real estate boom, and are likewise being hurt in the subsequent real estate slowdown. Advertising revenues were down 14.4% in these two regions in the first six months of fiscal 2007. The housing sector is an important component of these states’ economies. Hence, California and Florida also account for a majority of the decline in auto and employment advertising, as the real estate downturn is having an impact on these categories as well.  

The following table summarizes the Company's revenues by category on a pro forma basis, which compares the first six months of fiscal 2007 with the first six months of fiscal 2006 (dollars in thousands):
 
   
As Reported
   
Pro Forma
 
   
Year to Date
   
Year to Date
 
   
   
July 1,
2007
   
June 25,
2006
   
% Change
   
June 25,
2006
   
% Change
 
Advertising:
                             
Retail
  $
419,231
    $
139,659
     
200.2
    $
431,565
      (2.9 )
National
   
91,214
     
29,152
     
212.9
     
101,220
      (9.9 )
Classified:
                                       
   Auto
   
85,895
     
36,585
     
134.8
     
101,950
      (15.7 )
   Employment
   
135,882
     
51,082
     
166.0
     
154,076
      (11.8 )
   Real estate
   
109,837
     
55,379
     
98.3
     
131,706
      (16.6 )
   Other
   
44,725
     
12,672
     
252.9
     
44,613
     
0.3
 
Total classified
   
376,339
     
155,718
     
141.7
     
432,345
      (13.0 )
Direct marketing
                                       
    and other
   
78,516
     
25,488
     
208.1
     
80,011
      (1.9 )
Total advertising
   
965,300
     
350,017
     
175.8
     
1,045,141
      (7.6 )
Circulation
   
141,587
     
47,268
     
199.5
     
147,672
      (4.1 )
Other
   
39,698
     
9,178
     
332.5
     
35,915
     
10.5
 
Total revenues
  $
1,146,585
    $
406,463
     
182.1
    $
1,228,728
      (6.7 )

Retail advertising increased $279.6 million or 200.2% from the first six months of fiscal 2007 from the first six months of fiscal 2006 reflecting the Acquisition.  On a pro forma basis, retail advertising decreased $12.3 million or 2.9% from the first six months of fiscal 2006.  On a pro forma basis, online retail advertising increased $5.2 million or 70.9% from the first six months of fiscal 2006, while ROP advertising decreased $17.6 million or 6.7% from the first six months of fiscal 2006.  On a pro forma basis, preprint advertising increased $0.1 million or 0.1% from the first six months of fiscal 2006.

National advertising increased $62.1 million or 212.9% from the first six months of fiscal 2006 reflecting the Acquisition.  On a pro forma basis, national advertising decreased $10.0 million or 9.9% from the first six months of fiscal 2006.  The declines reflect the same conditions discussed in the quarterly results.  Online national advertising increased $3.1 million from the first six months of fiscal 2006 and decreased $1.4 million on a pro forma basis.
 

 
27

Classified advertising increased $220.6 million or 141.7% from the first six months of fiscal 2006 reflecting the Acquisition.  On a pro forma basis, classified advertising decreased $56.0 million or 13.0% from the first six months of fiscal 2006.   Print classified advertising declined 14.8% on a pro forma basis, while online classified advertising was down 3.6% on a pro forma basis in the first six months of fiscal 2007.

·  
Real estate advertising was up $54.5 million or 98.3% from the first six months of fiscal 2006. On a pro forma basis, real estate advertising decreased $21.9 million or 16.6% from the first six months of fiscal 2006 as discussed in the quarterly review above.
·  
Automotive advertising increased $49.3 million or 134.8% from the first six months of fiscal 2006.   On a pro forma basis, automotive advertising declined $16.1 million or 15.7% from the first six months of fiscal 2006, reflecting an industry-wide trend.  As in the quarterly discussion above, growth in online automotive advertising revenue was offset by declines in print advertising.
·  
Employment advertising increased $84.8 million or 166.0% from the first six months of fiscal 2006.  On a pro forma basis, employment advertising decreased $18.2 million or 11.8% from the first six months of fiscal 2006, partially reflecting the effect of the current CareerBuilder affiliate agreement discussed above.

Online advertising, which is included in each of the advertising categories discussed above, totaled $84.0 million in the first six months of fiscal 2007, an increase of $61.9 million or 280.3% over the first six months of fiscal 2006 reflecting the Acquisition.  On a pro forma basis, online advertising increased $1.1 million or 1.4% from the first six months of fiscal 2006, reflecting growth in retail and automotive advertising, which was partially offset by employment advertising and to a lesser degree, real estate declines.

Direct marketing revenues increased $53.0 million or 216.1% from the first six months of fiscal 2006 reflecting the Acquisition.  On a pro forma basis, direct marketing revenues decreased $1.6 million or 2.0% from the first six months of fiscal 2006. The Company extends its newspaper franchises by supplementing the mass reach of the newspaper with direct marketing and direct mail products so that advertisers can both achieve broad appeal and capture targeted audiences with one-stop shopping.

Circulation revenues increased $94.3 million or 199.5% from the first six months of fiscal 2006 reflecting the Acquisition.  On a pro forma basis, circulation revenues decreased $6.1 million or 4.1% from the first six months of fiscal 2006.

Operating Expenses:

Operating expenses increased $622.9 million or 195.3% in the six months of fiscal 2007 related to expenses added by the Acquisition.  On a pro forma basis, operating expenses were down $86.6 million or 8.4% from the first six months of fiscal 2006, as the Company continued to reduce costs and realized synergies from the Acquisition.  On a pro forma basis, compensation costs were down 10.6%, with payroll down 10.6%, and a 6.2% reduction in staffing.  On a pro forma basis, fringe benefits were down 10.8%.  On a pro forma basis, newsprint and supplement expense was down 13.8% with newsprint expense down 12.8% and supplement expense down 19.2%.  On a pro forma basis, other operating costs were down 3.7%, reflecting lower professional services. Professional services in the first half of fiscal 2006 include $8.5 million of alternative strategic review services incurred and recorded by Knight Ridder.  On a pro forma basis, depreciation and amortization expense increased by 3.0% due primarily to the purchase price accounting related to the Acquisition.

28

Interest:

Interest expense for continuing operations was $103.3 million for the first six months of fiscal 2007 primarily reflecting the service costs on debt incurred to finance the Acquisition.  While the Company used the proceeds of the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune newspaper sale to reduce debt, it carried interest on this debt for the first two months of the year, which equated to about $5.7 million in interest expense included in continuing operations. Interest expense also included $3.0 million related to accrued interest on the liability for unrecognized tax benefits. Excluding these two items, the Company’s interest expense was $94.6 million.  The Company’s effective interest rate in the first six months of fiscal 2007 was approximately 6.4%.  In the first six months of fiscal 2007, a total of $1.2 million of interest expense was allocated to discontinued operations related to debt used to acquire the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune newspaper, which was sold on March 5, 2007.

Equity Income (Loss):

Loss from unconsolidated companies resulted primarily from the operating results of the Company's newsprint investments and to a lesser extent from the Company's investment in internet-related companies and STC (see Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements).

Income Taxes:

The income tax rate from continuing operations in the first six months of fiscal 2007 was 39.7%, compared to 39.0% in the first six months of fiscal 2006.  The effective tax rate for the current fiscal year is expected to be in the 39.5% to 40.0% range, but the tax rate is preliminary and may change when the purchase price allocation and related deferred taxes are finalized.
 
        Discontinued Operations:

Loss from discontinued operations, (related to the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune newspaper, see Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements) in the first six months of fiscal 2007 was $4.8 million or $0.06 per share. Income from discontinued operations was $17.9 million or $0.38 per share in the first six months of fiscal 2006.  Additionally, $1.2 million and $3.7 million in interest incurred on the debt used to finance the purchase of the Star Tribune was recorded in discontinued operations in the first six months of fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006, respectively.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
        Sources and Uses of Liquidity and Capital Resources:

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents were $25.3 million as of July 1, 2007.  The Company generated $121.5 million of cash from operating activities in the first six months of fiscal 2007.  The increase in cash from operating activities in the first six months of fiscal 2007 resulted primarily from the Acquisition.
 

 
29

 
 
The Company generated $508.3 million of cash from investing activities largely from the $522.9 million proceeds (net of expenses) from the sale of the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune newspaper (see Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements) in the first six months of fiscal 2007 and the sale of equipment totaling $19.4 million.  These sources of funds were offset by $28.3 million purchases of property, plant and equipment.

The Company used $624.1 million of cash from financing sources in the first six months of 2007, primarily for repayment of bank debt.  Of the $624.1 million, the Company repaid $600.5 million of debt in the first six months of fiscal 2007.  The Company paid $29.5 million in dividends in the first six months of fiscal 2007 and also received $5.7 million in proceeds from issuing Class A stock under employee stock plans in the first six months of fiscal 2007.

At July 1, 2007, the Company had $212.0 million of land and other assets held for sale. The Company expects to sell its Miami land in 2008 (included in long-term assets) and its San Jose land in the third fiscal quarter of 2007 (included in current assets). Gross proceeds (before transaction costs) from those sales are expected to be $190.0 million and $25.0 million, respectively.  At July 1, 2007, the Company also had an income tax receivable of $201.0 million which it expects to receive in fiscal 2008 related to the sale of the Star Tribune (see Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements).

As a result of the recently announced strategic alternative review at SP, the Company and its partners are seeking to sell SP. The ultimate outcome of the strategic review cannot be determined and the timing of a transaction, if any, which the Company and its partners may undertake has not been determined.

Debt and Related Matters:

 Through June 27, 2006, the Company used its senior unsecured revolving credit facility, which provided borrowings of up to $500 million. This credit agreement was refinanced with a new $3.2 billion senior unsecured credit facility ("Credit Agreement") entered into in connection with the Acquisition.  At closing, the Company’s new Credit Agreement consisted of a $1 billion five-year revolving credit facility and $2.2 billion five-year Term A loan. Both the Term A loan and the revolver are due on June 27, 2011.
 
On June 27, 2006, McClatchy borrowed $2.2 billion under the Term A loan and $876.0 million under the revolving credit facility.  The Company has subsequently repaid $1.45 billion of the Term A loan and $460.7 million of the revolving credit facility, primarily from proceeds received in the sale of the eight former Knight Ridder newspapers, net of income taxes paid on the tax gain on the sale (see Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements), proceeds generated from asset sales and cash generated by operations in fiscal 2007 as discussed above.  A total of $529.1 million of funds were available under the revolving credit facility at July 1, 2007.

Debt under the Credit Agreement bears interest at the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus a spread ranging from 37.5 basis points to 125.0 basis points.  Applicable rates are based upon the Company’s ratings on its long-term debt from Moody’s Investor Services ("Moody’s") and Standard & Poor’s.  A commitment fee for the unused revolving credit ranges from 10.0 basis points to 20.0 basis points depending on the Company’s ratings.  Standard & Poor’s has rated the facility "BB+" and Moody’s has rated the facility “Baa3”.  According to the Credit Agreement, the Company will pay interest at LIBOR plus 75.0 basis points on outstanding debt and its commitment fees are currently at 15.0 basis points.
 

 
30

 
 
The Credit Agreement contains financial covenants including a minimum interest coverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of 3.00 to 1.00 through July 1, 2007; 2.75 to 1.00 from September 30, 2007 through September 28, 2008 and 3.00 to 1.00 from December 28, 2008 and thereafter; and a maximum leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of 4.75 to 1.00 through July 1, 2007; 5.00 to 1.00 from September 30, 2007 through March 30, 2008; 4.75 to 1.00 from June 29, 2008 through September 28, 2008; 4.25 to 1.00 from December 28, 2008 to September 27, 2009; and declining to 4.00 to 1.00 on December 27, 2009 and thereafter.  At July 1, 2007, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

 In addition, the Company’s Material Subsidiaries (as defined in the Credit Agreement) have guaranteed the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement.  These guarantees were effected on May 4, 2007, and continue in effect upon the earlier of the termination of the Credit Agreement or the date which is one year after the date both ratings agencies have rated the Company’s bank debt as investment grade.

At July 1, 2007, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $55.6 million securing estimated obligations stemming from workers’ compensation claims and other contingent claims.
 
Contractual Obligations:
 
As of July 1, 2007, the Company has purchase obligations primarily related to capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment expiring at various dates through 2008, totaling approximately $16.4 million.
 
Significant changes in the Company's contractual obligations since year-end 2006 include the reduction of current-portion of long-term debt of $530.0 million (see Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements) and an increase of $25.7 million in income tax reserves through July 1, 2007, of which $25.2 million related to the adoption of FIN 48 (see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements).
 
        ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 

Debt under the Credit Agreement bears interest at the LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 37.5 basis points to 125.0 basis points.  Applicable rates are based upon the Company's ratings on its long-term debt from Moody's and Standard & Poor's.  A hypothetical 25 basis point change in LIBOR for a fiscal year would increase or decrease in the annual net income by $2.0 million to $2.5 million based on the current amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement.

See the discussion at “Recent Events and Trends - Operating Expenses” in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the impact of market changes on the Company's newsprint and pension costs.

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.  Our management evaluated, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a - 15(e) or 15d - 15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on this evaluation, the Company's management, including the CEO and CFO, concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective at that time to ensure that information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission Rules and Forms.
 
Changes in internal control over financial reporting.  There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second quarter of fiscal 2007 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 


31





PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Forward-Looking Information:

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company's actual and expected financial performance and operations.  These statements are based upon our current expectations and knowledge of factors impacting our business, including, without limitation, statements about litigation, the ability to consummate contemplated sales transactions for its assets or investments which may enable debt reduction on anticipated terms or at all, tax and other benefits from the sale of the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune newspaper, advertising revenues, return on pension plan assets and assumed salary increases, newsprint costs, amortization expense, stock option expenses, prepayment of debt, capital expenditures, sufficiency of capital resources and possible acquisitions and investments.  Such statements are subject to risks, trends and uncertainties.  Forward-looking statements are generally preceded by, followed by or are a part of sentences that include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," or similar expressions.  For all of those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  You should understand that the following important factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this document and in the documents which we incorporate by reference, could affect the future results of McClatchy and could cause those future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements: general economic, market or business conditions, especially in any of the markets where we operate newspapers; impact of any litigation or any potential litigation; geo-political uncertainties including the risk of war; changes in newsprint prices and/or printing and distribution costs from anticipated levels; changes in interest rates; changes in pension assets and liabilities; increased competition from newspapers, internet sites or other forms of media reaching the markets we serve; increased consolidation among major retailers in our markets or other events depressing the level of advertising; changes in our ability to negotiate and obtain favorable terms under collective bargaining agreements with unions; competitive action by other companies; difficulties in servicing our debt obligations; other occurrences leading to decreased circulation and diminished revenues from retail, classified and national advertising; and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

See McClatchy’s 2007 Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2007 for further discussion of risk factors that could affect operating results.

32



 
 
The Company held its annual shareholders’ meeting on May 16, 2007 to vote on two proposals. Shareholders approved all of the proposals by voting as follows:
 
                 
 
1.
 
Election of Directors of the Board
     
     
 
 
VOTES
 
     
 
 
FOR
   
WITHHELD
 
                   
     
Class A Common Stock
           
               
     
Elizabeth Ballantine
   
46,813,690
     
2,495,780
 
     
Kathleen Foley Feldstein
   
46,750,814
     
2,558,656
 
     
P. Anthony Ridder
   
46,546,767
     
2,762,703
 
     
Maggie Wilderotter
   
46,743,074
     
2,566,396
 
               
     
Class B Common Stock
               
               
     
Leroy Barnes, Jr.
   
23,786,457
     
-0-
 
     
William K. Coblentz
   
23,786,457
     
-0-
 
     
Molly Maloney Evangelisti
   
23,786,457
     
-0-
 
     
Larry Jinks
   
23,786,457
     
-0-
 
     
Joan F. Lane
   
23,786,457
     
-0-
 
     
Brown McClatchy Maloney
   
23,786,457
     
-0-
 
     
William B. McClatchy
   
23,786,457
     
-0-
 
     
Kevin S. McClatchy
   
23,786,457
     
-0-
 
     
Theodore Mitchell
   
23,786,457
     
-0-
 
     
S. Donley Ritchey
   
23,786,457
     
-0-
 
     
Gary B. Pruitt
   
23,786,457
     
-0-
 
     
Frederick R. Ruiz
   
23,786,457
     
-0-
 
 
2.
 
Ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP
 
FOR
   
AGAINST
   
ABSTAIN
   
BROKER
NON-VOTES
 
   
      as independent auditors for 2007
   
28,686,832
     
22,282
     
8,290
     
-0-
 
 
 
Exhibits filed as part of this Report as listed in the Index of Exhibits, on page 35 hereof.

33




SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


 
The McClatchy Company
Registrant
 
 
 
 
August 10, 2007
 
 
 
 
 
By:  /s/ Gary B. Pruitt
Date
Gary B. Pruitt
Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
August 10, 2007
 
 
 
 
 
By:  /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes
Date
 
Patrick J. Talamantes
Chief Financial Officer


34


 
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
   
  Exhibit
Description
   
        2.1*
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated March 12, 2006, between the Company and Knight-Ridder, Inc., included as Exhibit 2.1 in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 12, 2007.
   
        3.1*
The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated June 26, 2006, included as Exhibit 3.1 in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 25, 2006.
   
        3.2*
The Company's By-laws as amended as of June 22, 2006, included as Exhibit 3.2 in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 28, 2006.
   
        4.1*
Form of Physical Note for Commercial Paper Program included as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 27, 2004.
   
      10.1*
Credit Agreement dated June 27, 2006 by and among the Company, lenders party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer, JPMorgan Chase Bank as Syndication Agent and Banc of America Securities LLC and JPMorgan Securities Inc. as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers, included as Exhibit 10.2 in the Company's Current Report on Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ending on June 25, 2006.
   
      10.2*
Amendment 1 to Credit Agreement dated March 28, 2007 by and between The McClatchy Company and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, included as Exhibit 99.1 in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 2, 2007.
   
      10.3*
Amendment 2 to Credit Agreement dated July 30, 2007 by and between The McClatchy Company and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, included as Exhibit 10.1 in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 31, 2007.
   
     10.4*
General Continuing Guaranty dated May 4, 2007 by each Material Subsidiary in favor of the Lenders party to the Credit Agreement dated June 27, 2006 by and between The McClatchy Company, the Lenders and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, included as Exhibit 10.3 in the Company’s Current Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending on April 1, 2007.
   
      10.5*
Second Supplemental Indenture dated June 27, 2006, between the Company and Knight-Ridder, Inc. included as Exhibit 10.3 in the Company's Current Report on Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ending on June 25, 2006.
   
     10.6*
Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated June 27, 2006, between the Company and Knight-Ridder, Inc. included as Exhibit 10.4 in the Company's Current Report on Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ending on June 25, 2006.
   
  **10.7*
The McClatchy Company Management by Objective Plan Description included as Exhibit 10.4 in the Company's Report filed on Form 10-K for the Year ending December 31, 2000.
   
  **10.8*
The Company's Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan included as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Report on Form 8-K filed May 23, 2005.
   
  **10.9*
Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan included as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's 2001 Form 10-K.
   
**10.10*
The Company's Amended and Restated 1990 Directors' Stock Option Plan dated February 1, 1998 included as Exhibit 10.12 to the Company's 1997 Form 10-K.
   
**10.11*
Amended and Restated 1994 Stock Option Plan included as Exhibit 10.15 to the Company's Report on Form 10-Q filed for the Quarter Ending on July 1, 2001.

35


**10.12*
Form of 2004 Stock Incentive Plan Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement included as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 16, 2004.
   
 **10.13*
Amendment 1 to The McClatchy Company 2004 Stock Incentive Plan dated January 23, 2007, included as Exhibit 10.10 to the Company's 2006 Report on Form 10-K.
   
 **10.14*
Form of Restricted Stock Agreement related to the Company's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, included as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 28, 2005.
   
 **10.15*
The Company's Amended and Restated Chief Executive Bonus Plan, included as Exhibit 10.12 to the Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ending June 29, 2003.
   
 **10.16*
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between the Company and Gary B. Pruitt dated October 22, 2003, included as Exhibit 10.10 to the Company's 2003 Form 10-K.
   
     10.17*
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Company and each of its officers and directors, included as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 23, 2005.
   
 **10.18*
Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan included as Exhibit 10.7 to the Company's 2002 Report on Form 10-K.
   
 **10.19*
Amendment 1 to The McClatchy Company 1997 Stock Option Plan dated January 23, 2007, included as Exhibit 10.16 to the Company's 2006 Report on Form 10-K.
   
 **10.20*
The Company's Amended and Restated 2001 Director Stock Option Plan, included as Exhibit 10.13 to the Company's 2004 Report on Form 10-K.
   
 **10.21*
Amendment 1 to The McClatchy Company 2001 Director Option Plan dated January 23, 2007, included as Exhibit 10.18 to the Company's 2006 Report on Form 10-K.
   
     10.22*
Stock Purchase Agreement by and between The McClatchy Company and Snowboard Acquisition Corporation, dated December 26, 2006, included as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Report on Form 8-K filed December 26, 2006.
   
  10.23
Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Property by and between The Miami Herald Publishing Company and Richmond, Inc. and Knight Ridder, Inc. and Citisquare Group, LLC, dated March 3, 2005.
   
  10.24
First amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Property by and between The Miami Herald Publishing Company and Richmond, Inc. and Knight Ridder, Inc. and Citisquare Group, LLC, dated March 3, 2005.
   
          21*
Subsidiaries of the Company.
   
      31.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of The McClatchy Company pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Exchange Act.
   
       31.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of The McClatchy Company pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Exchange Act.
   
       32.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of The McClatchy Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
   
       32.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of The McClatchy Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
   
 Incorporated by reference
**   Compensation plans or arrangements for the Company's executive officers and directors
                        
 
                      
 

36