10-Q 1 d10q.htm FORM 10-Q Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

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 December 31, 2007

OR

 

     ¨   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number – 001-11112

 

AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   59-2094424
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
1000 American Media Way, Boca Raton, Florida   33464
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (561) 997-7733

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has 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. Yes  ¨     No  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  ¨            Non-accelerated filer  x            Accelerated filer  ¨            Smaller reporting company  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes  ¨     No  x

As of January 31, 2008, there were 7,507.6 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

December 31, 2007

 

     Page(s)

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT IDENTIFYING IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE THE COMPANY’S ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER FROM THOSE PROJECTED IN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   3
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
Item 1. Financial Statements   

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2007

   4

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss for the Fiscal Quarter and Three Fiscal Quarters Ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007

   5

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Fiscal Quarters Ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007

   6

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

   7

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   22

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

   33

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

   33
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION   
Item 1. Legal Proceedings    34
Item 1A. Risk Factors    34
Item 6. Exhibits    34
Signatures    35

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT IDENTIFYING IMPORTANT FACTORS

THAT COULD CAUSE THE COMPANY’S ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER

FROM THOSE PROJECTED IN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2007 (this “Form 10-Q”) to the “Company” or “us,” “we” or “our” are to American Media Operations, Inc. and its subsidiaries. In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, readers of this Form 10-Q are advised that this Form 10-Q contains both statements of historical facts and forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) projections of revenues, income or loss, capital expenditures, capital structure and other financial items, (ii) statements regarding our plans and objectives, including planned introductions of new publications or other products, or estimates or predictions of actions by customers, advertisers, suppliers, competitors or regulatory authorities, (iii) statements of future economic performance, (iv) outcomes of contingencies such as legal or any regulatory proceedings, and (v) statements of assumptions underlying other statements and statements about our business.

Factors that could affect our actual results include the following:

 

   

our high degree of leverage and significant debt service obligations

 

   

increased competition, including price competition and competition from other publications and forms of media, such as television and radio programs and Internet sites concentrating on celebrity news

 

   

changes in demand for our services and products by our customers and advertisers

 

   

changes in general economic and business conditions, both nationally and internationally, which can influence the readership level of our publications as well as advertising and circulation revenue

 

   

our ability to attract and retain experienced and qualified personnel

 

   

our ability to obtain sufficient financing to continue to sustain or expand our operations

 

   

adverse results in litigation matters or any regulatory proceedings

 

   

any downgrade in the rating of our securities

 

   

our ability to comply with covenant requirements in our agreements with our lenders and in our indentures

 

   

our ability to implement and maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting

 

   

our ability to realize expected benefits from cost savings and revenue enhancement initiatives

For a further discussion of risk factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements, see Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 (the “March 31, 2007 10-K”). Any written or oral forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf are subject to these factors. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those described in this Form 10-Q as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. The risk factors included in this Form 10-Q and in the March 31, 2007 10-K are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could also harm our future results. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements included in this Form 10-Q are made only as of the date of this Form 10-Q. We do not intend, and do not assume any obligations, to update these forward looking statements, except as required by law.

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share information)

 

ASSETS    March 31, 2007     December 31, 2007  

CURRENT ASSETS:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 60,414     $ 56,549  

Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $5,909 and $7,281, respectively

     48,502       45,663  

Inventories

     23,525       21,364  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     14,737       14,906  
                

Total current assets

     147,178       138,482  
                

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET:

    

Leasehold improvements

     1,724       1,726  

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

     41,474       42,762  

Less – accumulated depreciation

     (36,292 )     (39,309 )
                

Total property and equipment, net

     6,906       5,179  
                

OTHER ASSETS:

    

Deferred debt costs, net

     23,886       16,767  

Deferred rack costs, net

     11,838       9,123  

Other long-term assets

     2,608       2,784  
                

Total other assets

     38,332       28,674  
                

GOODWILL AND OTHER IDENTIFIED INTANGIBLE ASSETS:

    

Goodwill

     387,463       387,463  

Other identified intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $143,651 and $150,063, respectively

     399,404       392,992  
                

Total goodwill and other identified intangible assets

     786,867       780,455  
                

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 979,283     $ 952,790  
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT     

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

    

Term loan

   $ —       $ 3,375  

Accounts payable

     33,189       29,135  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     57,418       58,259  

Accrued interest

     31,736       18,182  

Deferred revenues

     42,619       40,039  
                

Total current liabilities

     164,962       148,990  
                

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:

    

Term loan and revolving credit facility

     510,000       506,625  

Senior subordinated notes, net

     550,217       567,325  

Deferred income taxes

     86,521       94,880  

Management fee payable

     2,000       4,000  
                

Total liabilities

     1,313,700       1,321,820  
                

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 10)

    

STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT:

    

Common stock, $.20 par value; 10,000 shares authorized; 7,508 shares issued and outstanding

     2       2  

Additional paid-in capital

     281,671       281,671  

Accumulated deficit

     (616,258 )     (650,843 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     168       140  
                

Total stockholder’s deficit

     (334,417 )     (369,030 )
                

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT

   $ 979,283     $ 952,790  
                

The accompanying Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF LOSS

(in thousands)

 

     Fiscal Quarter Ended     Three Fiscal Quarters Ended  
     December 31,
2006
    December 31,
2007
    December 31,
2006
    December 31,
2007
 

OPERATING REVENUES:

        

Circulation

   $ 62,180     $ 68,221     $ 200,645     $ 205,320  

Advertising

     33,695       37,792       119,549       134,678  

Other

     11,196       8,517       26,179       27,578  
                                

Total operating revenues

     107,071       114,530       346,373       367,576  
                                

OPERATING EXPENSES:

        

Editorial

     14,002       13,142       41,394       38,740  

Production

     36,685       32,765       112,089       104,538  

Distribution, circulation and other cost of sales

     23,800       22,021       68,445       64,859  

Selling, general and administrative

     25,753       26,299       82,922       74,982  

Depreciation and amortization

     3,679       3,059       11,491       9,559  

Provision for impairment of intangible assets and goodwill

     305,402       —         305,402       —    
                                

Total operating expenses

     409,321       97,286       621,743       292,678  
                                

OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME

     (302,250 )     17,244       (275,370 )     74,898  
                                

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

        

Interest expense

     (25,024 )     (25,089 )     (73,030 )     (74,598 )

Senior subordinated notes issued (Note 7)

     —         182       —         (17,109 )

Amortization of deferred debt costs

     (2,179 )     (2,764 )     (5,576 )     (8,209 )

Other income, net

     353       821       880       1,658  
                                

Total other expense

     (26,850 )     (26,850 )     (77,726 )     (98,258 )
                                

LOSS BEFORE (BENEFIT) PROVISION FOR INCOME
TAXES AND INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

     (329,100 )     (9,606 )     (353,096 )     (23,360 )

(BENEFIT) PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

     (29,687 )     4,363       (24,033 )     7,731  
                                

LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

     (299,413 )     (13,969 )     (329,063 )     (31,091 )

INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF INCOME TAXES

     (7,478 )     7       (9,639 )     (749 )
                                

NET LOSS

   $ (306,891 )   $ (13,962 )   $ (338,702 )   $ (31,840 )
                                

The accompanying Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

     Three Fiscal Quarters Ended  
     December 31,
2006
    December 31,
2007
 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

    

Net loss

   $ (338,702 )   $ (31,840 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Depreciation of property and equipment

     4,890       3,147  

Amortization of other identified intangibles

     6,755       6,412  

Provision for impairment of intangible assets and goodwill

     312,568       —    

Senior subordinated notes issued (Note 7)

     —         17,109  

Provision for bad debts

     2,110       1,966  

Amortization of deferred debt costs

     5,576       8,209  

Amortization of deferred rack costs

     14,511       9,029  

Write-off of deferred rack costs and property and equipment

     1,144       195  

Provision for excess and obsolete inventory

     —         221  

Deferred income tax provision

     (24,989 )     6,997  

Other

     (230 )     (655 )

Decrease (increase) in operating assets:

    

Trade receivables

     6,182       873  

Inventories

     11,546       1,940  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (370 )     (169 )

Deferred rack costs

     (6,442 )     (6,509 )

Other long-term assets

     (219 )     (176 )

Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

     6,244       (4,054 )

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     (9,728 )     (375 )

Accrued interest

     (574 )     (13,554 )

Deferred revenues

     1,613       (2,580 )

Management fee payable

     2,000       2,000  
                

Total adjustments

     332,587       30,026  
                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (6,115 )     (1,814 )
                

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (2,337 )     (1,412 )

Proceeds from sale of assets

     198       408  

Proceeds received on long-term note receivable

     162       —    

Investment in Mr. Olympia, LLC

     (300 )     (300 )
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (2,277 )     (1,304 )
                

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

    

Proceeds from revolving credit facility borrowings

     100,000       —    

Revolving credit facility principal repayments

     (40,000 )     —    

Payment of deferred debt costs

     (6,625 )     (942 )
                

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     53,375       (942 )
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     205       195  
                

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     45,188       (3,865 )

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period

     19,591       60,414  
                

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

   $ 64,779     $ 56,549  
                

Supplemental Disclosures of Non-Cash Financing Activities Information:

    

Non-cash deferred debt costs (incurred but not paid)

   $ —       $ 148  

The accompanying Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

December 31, 2007

 

(1) Basis of Presentation

The Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of American Media Operations, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Media, Inc. (“Media”). Media’s parent entity is EMP Group L.L.C. (the “LLC”). The Company consolidates all majority owned subsidiaries and investments in entities in which it has a controlling influence. Non-majority owned investments are accounted for using the equity method when the Company has the ability to significantly influence the operating decisions of the issuer. When the Company does not have the ability to significantly influence the operating decisions of an issuer, the cost method is used. For entities that are considered variable interest entities, the Company applies the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 46-R, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities — An Interpretation of ARB No. 51.” All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments which are necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows as of the dates and for the periods presented. The Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) regarding interim financial reporting. Accordingly, these statements do not include all the disclosures normally required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended March 31, 2007 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 (the “March 31, 2007 10-K”), including the summary of significant accounting policies set forth in Note 1 thereof. The operating results for the fiscal quarter and three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period or for the full fiscal year.

 

(2) Comprehensive Loss

The change in the components of other comprehensive loss is comprised of foreign currency translation adjustments and is reported as follows (in thousands):

 

     Fiscal Quarter Ended     Three Fiscal Quarters Ended  
     December 31,
2006
    December 31,
2007
    December 31,
2006
    December 31,
2007
 

Net loss

   $ (306,891 )   $ (13,962 )   $ (338,702 )   $ (31,840 )

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax

     115       (43 )     224       (28 )
                                

Comprehensive loss

   $ (306,776 )   $ (14,005 )   $ (338,478 )   $ (31,868 )
                                

 

(3) Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined on the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The Company writes down inventory for estimated obsolescence and/or excess or damaged inventory. During the fiscal quarter and three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007, the Company wrote down approximately $11 thousand and $0.2 million of inventory, respectively. This write down is included in production expense in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss. The Company did not write down any inventory during the fiscal quarter and three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006.

Inventories are comprised of the following (in thousands):

 

     March 31,
2007
   December 31,
2007

Raw materials – paper

   $ 16,867    $ 17,629

Finished product – paper, production and distribution costs of future issues

     6,658      3,735
             

Total inventory

   $ 23,525    $ 21,364
             

 

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(4) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments is as follows (in thousands):

 

     March 31, 2007        December 31, 2007    
     Carrying
Amount
       Fair Value        Carrying
Amount
       Fair Value    

Term loan

   $ 450,000      $ 450,000      $ 450,000      $ 450,000  

Revolving credit facility

     60,000        60,000        60,000        60,000  

Subordinated indebtedness

     550,000   (a)      515,125   (a)      570,000   (a)      471,805   (a)

 

(a) Amount does not include bond premium or bond discount.

The fair value of the Company’s financial instruments is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues, or on the current rate offered to the Company for financial instruments of the same remaining maturities. The carrying amount for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments.

 

(5) Income Taxes

The Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes: An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”), on April 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company recognized a $2.7 million increase to the April 1, 2007 balance of accumulated deficit, net of the valuation allowance impact. The cumulative effect of the change in accumulated deficit resulted in a $0.3 million increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities and a $2.4 million reduction of a deferred tax asset previously recognized and included in deferred income taxes. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of April 1, 2007 was $10.2 million. Approximately $5.2 million of this amount would, if recognized, have an effect on the effective income tax rate. In addition to the unrecognized tax benefits, the Company had $1.2 million of interest and penalties accrued as of April 1, 2007.

During the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007, the Company’s liability for unrecognized tax benefits increased by $0.2 million, primarily attributable to an increase of $0.4 million due to additional state and foreign income tax liabilities and related interest, partially offset by a decrease of $0.2 million due to the settlement of a Michigan audit. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes. As of December 31, 2007, the Company’s FIN 48 liabilities were $4.1 million.

The Company has identified its “major” tax jurisdictions to include the federal government, and the states of California, Florida and New York. In January, 2008, the Company received notice that the Joint Committee on Taxation has accepted the Internal Revenue Service examination of its fiscal 2004 federal return and has taken no exception to the Company’s carryback of its fiscal years 2005 and 2006 net operating losses to prior years. The Company’s federal returns subject to examination are the fiscal years ended 2003 and 2005 through 2007. The Company’s fiscal years ended 2003 through 2007 federal returns remain open by statute. The Company’s major state tax jurisdictions subject to examination are the fiscal years ended 2003 through 2007.

It is reasonably possible that the unrecognized tax benefits could significantly decrease within the next twelve months upon settlement of federal, state, and local tax matters. Until final resolutions are reached between the Company and tax authorities, the determination of a possible range with respect to the impact on unrecognized tax benefits is not practicable.

 

(6) Credit Agreement

The Company’s bank credit agreement (as amended, “the 2006 Credit Agreement”) includes a $60.0 million revolving credit facility and a $450.0 million term loan commitment, which were both fully drawn as of December 31, 2007. The Company has the option to pay interest at the JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A. (“JP Morgan”) prime rate plus 2.25% or at the London interbank offering rate (“LIBOR”) plus 3.25%. As of December 31, 2007, all of the Company’s borrowings were based on LIBOR. The Company’s effective weighted-average interest rate on its term loan and its revolving credit facility during both the fiscal quarter and three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 was 8.6%. The Company is required to repay $1.1 million of principal on its term loan commitment borrowings on a quarterly basis, commencing on June 30, 2008. The Company’s revolving credit commitment matures in January 2012 and the Company’s term loan matures in January 2013 but both will mature on February 1, 2009 if the Company does not

 

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refinance its outstanding 10.25% senior subordinated notes due 2009 (the “2009 Notes”) on or prior to February 1, 2009. In addition, the revolving credit commitment and the term loan under the 2006 Credit Agreement both will mature on October 15, 2010 if the Company does not refinance its outstanding 8.875% senior subordinated notes due 2011 (the “2011 Notes” and, together with the 2009 Notes, the “Notes”) on or prior to October 15, 2010. To address this situation, the Company is in discussions with its advisors regarding the possible extension or refinancing of the 2009 Notes or an amendment of the 2006 Credit Agreement. The Company intends to pursue these discussions to identify alternatives that are acceptable to the Company, although there can be no assurance that this will occur. The terms of any agreement to extend or refinance the 2009 Notes or to amend the 2006 Credit Agreement, if available at all, may be less favorable than the Company’s existing terms. If the Company is unable to reach such an agreement prior to the filing of the Form 10-K for fiscal year 2008, the entire outstanding balance of the 2006 Credit Agreement would be classified as a current liability on the March 31, 2008 balance sheet. If so classified, the Company believes that it is possible that its independent registered public accounting firm may include an explanatory paragraph relating to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern in their fiscal year 2008 audit report. If this were to occur, it would give rise to a default under the 2006 Credit Agreement. If this default is not cured, the lenders under the 2006 Credit Agreement would have the right, upon notice and after a 30 day grace period, to accelerate the Company’s indebtedness under the 2006 Credit Agreement. Any such acceleration would also constitute an event of default under the Notes. In addition to the aforementioned discussions, the Company is also exploring strategic alternatives as discussed in Note 8, “Restructuring Activities.”

The 2006 Credit Agreement includes certain representations and warranties, conditions precedent, affirmative covenants, negative covenants and events of default. The negative covenants include financial maintenance covenants comprised of a leverage ratio, a senior secured leverage ratio, a consolidated interest expense coverage ratio, and capital expenditure limits. The 2006 Credit Agreement also contains certain covenants that, subject to certain exceptions, restrict paying cash dividends, incurring additional indebtedness, creating liens, making acquisitions or other investments, entering into certain mergers or consolidations and selling or otherwise disposing of assets. The April 2007 Waiver (as defined below) amended a provision of the 2006 Credit Agreement which restricts the giving of any consideration to or for the benefit of any holder of Notes for any amendment, modification or waiver relating to a financial reporting violation, among other things, to reduce the requirement that the Company maintain a minimum amount of liquidity such that the provision now requires that the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and unused availability under the 2006 Credit Agreement are at least $25.0 million. Although there can be no assurances, the Company anticipates that, except as discussed in the preceding paragraph, based on current projections, its operating results for the remainder of fiscal year 2008 will be sufficient to satisfy the financial covenants, as amended, under the 2006 Credit Agreement.

The indebtedness under the 2006 Credit Agreement is secured by liens on substantially all of the assets of Media, the Company and its domestic subsidiaries. In addition, the Company’s obligations are secured by a pledge of all of the issued and outstanding shares of, or other equity interests in, substantially all of its existing or subsequently acquired or organized domestic subsidiaries and a percentage of the capital stock of, or other equity interests in, certain of its subsequently acquired or organized subsidiaries.

The Company has obtained a number of waivers and amendments to the 2006 Credit Agreement since January 30, 2006. On April 16, 2007, the Company entered into an Amendment and Waiver Agreement with respect to certain provisions of the 2006 Credit Agreement (the “April 2007 Waiver”). The April 2007 Waiver provided, among other things, for extensions of the applicable deadlines for delivery of certain of the Company’s financial statements. These financial statements were delivered in accordance with the deadlines required by the April 2007 Waiver. Pursuant to the April 2007 Waiver, the Company paid an amendment fee in cash to lenders who approved the April 2007 Waiver equal to $0.50 per $1,000 in principal amount of the outstanding and available credit facilities of such lenders resulting in an aggregate payment of $0.3 million.

 

(7) Senior Subordinated Indebtedness

On March 17, 2006, the Company entered into Waiver and Consent Agreements with holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of both its 2009 Notes and 2011 Notes (collectively, the “March 2006 Subordinated Debt Consent Agreements”). In addition, the Company entered into supplemental indentures under the indentures pursuant to which the Notes were issued (the “March 2006 Supplemental Indentures”). The March 2006 Supplemental Indentures, among other things, require the Company to meet specified leverage ratios as of September 30, 2007 and 2008.

The Company failed to meet the specified leverage ratio of 8:1 as of September 30, 2007, as required by the March 2006 Supplemental Indentures, and as a result, the Company issued $20.0 million aggregate principal amount of additional 2009 Notes and 2011 Notes to the existing holders of the Notes (“the December 2007 Issuance”). As of September 30, 2007, the Company recorded a liability at a fair market value of $17.3 million for such Notes. The Company reduced this liability to reflect the fair market value of $17.1 million on December 13, 2007, the issuance date. This liability is included in senior subordinated notes, net, in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and a related expense of $17.1 million is reflected for the issuance of the senior subordinated notes in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007.

 

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If the Company fails to meet the specified leverage ratio of 7.25:1 as of September 30, 2008, it will be required to make one of three elections which are as follows: (1) issue an additional $35.0 million of senior subordinated notes to the existing holders of the Notes, or (2) make a cash payment of $20.0 million to the holders of the Notes, or (3) issue equity or receive a cash equity contribution in such amount as will result in net proceeds to the Company of no less than $50.0 million or in such lesser amount sufficient to permit the Company to achieve the specified leverage ratio (after giving pro forma effect to the reduction of indebtedness that shall be effected with such proceeds). If the Company fails to meet such leverage ratio, the Company expects to issue $35.0 million of senior subordinated notes to the existing holders of the Notes.

On May 15, 2007, the Company entered into Consent Agreements with holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the 2009 Notes and holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the 2011 Notes (collectively, the “May 2007 Subordinated Debt Consent Agreements”). Pursuant to these agreements, the Company paid in cash $1.25 per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes to each holder of Notes, for an aggregate payment to all Note holders of $0.7 million. In addition, the Company entered into supplemental indentures under the indentures pursuant to which the Notes were issued (the “May 2007 Supplemental Indentures”). The May 2007 Supplemental Indentures provided, among other things, for extensions of the applicable deadlines by which the Company was required under such indentures to file with the SEC and provide the trustee and holders of the Notes its filings under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act filings”). The 1934 Act filings were filed in accordance with the deadlines required by the May 2007 Supplemental Indentures.

 

(8) Restructuring Activities

On April 4, 2006, the board of directors of the Company committed to a plan (the “Plan”) to restructure certain of its operations. The Plan was adopted to improve the Company’s profitability and future net cash flows, and includes actions that the Company has taken and intends to take, including: discontinuing the publication of Celebrity Living Weekly, MPH and Shape En Espanol, the relocation of the operations associated with National Enquirer from New York City back to Boca Raton, Florida, centralizing certain operations, and reducing certain other operating, general and administrative expenses. The Company’s relocation plan involved the termination of approximately 50 employees. This activity resulted in a charge of $3.9 million for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2006, which included $2.3 million for termination benefits, $0.1 million for costs associated with the relocation of employees, $0.6 million for facility closures and $0.9 million for deferred rack cost write-offs. $2.8 million of these charges was included in selling, general and administrative expense and $1.1 million of these charges was included in loss from discontinued operations in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss for three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006. In addition, these restructuring charges were primarily incurred in the Tabloid Publications (formerly known as “Newspaper Publications”) and Corporate/Other reporting segments. Through December 31, 2007, the Company has paid termination benefits of $2.3 million, $0.1 million for relocation costs and $0.4 million for costs associated with facility closures. The Company no longer has an accrual at December 31, 2007 associated with this action. The Company has completed this restructuring plan.

The following table sets forth the detail and activity in the restructuring expense accrual related to this activity during the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 (in thousands):

 

2007 Restructuring

   Balances
March 31, 2007
   Fiscal Year
2008 Reversal

of Accrual
    Fiscal Year
2008 Cash
Payments
    Balances
December 31,
2007

Accrued liabilities:

         

Severance

   $ 43    $ (7 )   $ (36 )   $ —  

Relocation

     9      (9 )     —         —  

Facility Closures

     29      (27 )     (2 )     —  
                             
   $ 81    $ (43 )   $ (38 )   $ —  
                             

On June 14, 2006, the Company announced that it was implementing a strategy to refocus the Company and devote its full resources to growing its core brands. As part of this strategy, the Company announced that it would explore the sale of its five market leading special interest titles: Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Country Weekly, and Mira!. These publications collectively represented total revenues and operating income of $63.4 million and $13.2 million, respectively, for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007. As a result of the restatement of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 and the fiscal quarters ended June 30, 2005 and September 30, 2005 (the “Restatement”), the implementation of this strategy was delayed.

 

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As part of re-examining the implementation of this strategy after the completion of the Restatement, the board of directors of the Company decided to explore a full range of strategic alternatives, including the raising of capital, the refinancing of the Company’s existing debt or other transactions that could materially change the Company’s capital structure, in addition to the potential sale of the special interest titles mentioned above. There can be no assurance that the exploration of these strategic alternatives will result in a transaction. The Company does not intend to disclose developments with respect to the exploration of strategic alternatives unless and until the Company’s board has approved a specific transaction.

(9) Discontinued Operations

In order to improve the Company’s profitability and future net cash flows, in April 2006, the Company discontinued the Celebrity Living Weekly, MPH and Shape En Espanol publications in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“SFAS No. 144”). During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007, the Company discontinued the publication of Looking Good Now. The Company discontinued the publication of Weekly World News effective with the August 27, 2007 issue. The discontinuance of Weekly World News resulted in total charges of $0.3 million in the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007. These charges consisted of $0.2 million related to the write-off of deferred rack costs and $0.1 million related to the termination of a consultant contract and employee termination benefits. Operating results of these publications have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. These publications were previously included in the Corporate/Other segment.

The following table sets forth total operating revenues, pre-tax income (loss) from discontinued operations, income taxes and loss from discontinued operations for the fiscal quarter and three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively (in thousands):

 

     Fiscal Quarter Ended
December 31,
   Three Fiscal Quarters
Ended December 31,
 
     2006     2007    2006     2007  

Total operating revenues

   $ 968     $ 23    $ 5,097     $ 903  
                               

Pre-tax income (loss) from discontinued operations

   $ (7,478 )   $     7    $ (9,639 )   $ (749 )

Provision for income taxes

     —         —        —         —    
                               

Income (Loss) from discontinued operations

   $ (7,478 )   $ 7    $ (9,639 )   $ (749 )
                               

 

(10) Litigation

Various suits and claims arising from the publication of the Company’s magazines have been initiated against the Company. The Company has insurance policies that likely would be available to recover any reasonably foreseeable material litigation costs and expenses. The Company periodically evaluates and assesses the risks and uncertainties associated with litigation independent from those associated with the Company’s potential claim for recovery from third party insurance carriers. At present, in the opinion of management, after consultation with outside legal counsel, the liability resulting from litigation, if any, would not have a material effect on the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

(11) Business Segment Information

The Company has aggregated its business into five reporting segments: Celebrity Publications, Tabloid Publications (the Company changed the name of the segment from “Newspaper Publications” commencing with the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2007), Women’s Health and Fitness Publications, Distribution Services and Corporate/Other. The aggregation of the Company’s business is based upon the Company’s publications having the following similarities: economic characteristics including gross margins, types of products and services, types of production processes, type or class of customer, and method of distribution, as required by SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information” (“SFAS No. 131”).

The Celebrity Publications segment aggregation includes Star and Country Weekly.

The Tabloid Publications segment aggregation includes National Enquirer, Globe, and National Examiner.

 

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The Women’s Health and Fitness Publications segment aggregation includes Shape and Fit Pregnancy.

The Distribution Services segment is comprised of Distribution Services, Inc. (“DSI”) which arranges for the placement of the Company’s publications and third-party publications with retailers and monitors through its merchandising staff that these publications are properly displayed in stores, primarily large supermarkets and major retail chains such as Wal-Mart and Target. DSI coordinates (also known as acting as a “category captain”) the racking of magazine fixtures for selected retailers. In addition, DSI provides sales of marketing, merchandising and information gathering services for third parties including non-magazine clients.

The Corporate/Other segment aggregation includes the following publications: Muscle & Fitness, Men’s Fitness, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Flex, Natural Health, Sun, and Mira!. In addition, the Corporate/Other segment also includes ancillary sales and corporate overhead. Ancillary sales primarily relate to licensing, syndication, new media and product merchandise sales. Corporate expenses not allocated to other segments include production and circulation department costs, and support departments such as information technology, accounting, legal, human resources and administration. While most of the publications aggregated in the Corporate/Other segment have certain similar economic characteristics and also similar products and services, production process, type or class of customer, and method of distribution as some of the other publications which are aggregated into the other reporting segments (Celebrity Publications, Tabloid Publications and Women’s Health and Fitness Publications), their gross margins are dissimilar with such other publications. Accordingly, the Company has aggregated those publications into the Corporate/Other reporting segment.

The Company’s accounting policies are the same for all reportable segments.

Segment Data

The following table presents the results of and assets employed in the Company’s five reporting segments for the fiscal quarter and three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively. The information includes certain intersegment transactions and is, therefore, not necessarily indicative of the results had the operations existed as stand-alone businesses. Intersegment transactions represent intercompany advertising and other services, which are billed at what management believes are prevailing market rates. These intersegment transactions, which represent transactions between operating units in different business segments, are eliminated in consolidation. The results of operations exclude the results of our discontinued operations for all periods presented. See Note 9, “Discontinued Operations,” for a discussion regarding discontinued operations.

 

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          Segment (in thousands)     (in thousands)  
          Celebrity
Publications
    Tabloid
Publications
    Women’s Health
and Fitness
Publications
  Distribution
Services
  Corporate/
Other (1)
    Elimination
Entries
    Consolidated
Total
 

Operating revenues

               

Quarter ended
December 31,

  2006     $ 27,466     $ 33,954     $ 13,735   $ 7,973   $ 25,967     $ (2,024 )(2)   $ 107,071  
  2007     $ 32,161     $ 35,807     $ 15,666   $ 8,400   $ 24,714     $ (2,218 )(2)   $ 114,530  

Three Quarters ended
December 31,

  2006     $ 91,601     $ 105,990     $ 54,816   $ 23,074   $ 77,510     $ (6,618 )(2)   $ 346,373  
  2007     $ 97,244     $ 107,398     $ 63,511   $ 24,284   $ 81,838     $ (6,699 )(2)   $ 367,576  

Operating income (loss)

               

Quarter ended
December 31,

  2006 (3)   $ (125,473 )   $ (83,283 )   $ 1,101   $ 1,347   $ (95,942 )   $ —       $ (302,250 )
  2007     $ 7,590     $ 16,589     $ 3,064   $ 2,028   $ (12,027 )   $ —       $ 17,244  

Three Quarters ended
December 31,

  2006 (3)   $ (115,800 )   $ (52,970 )   $ 16,282   $ 5,102   $ (127,984 )   $ —       $ (275,370 )
  2007     $ 25,949     $ 50,781     $ 22,147   $ 5,834   $ (29,813 )   $ —       $ 74,898  

Depreciation and amortization

               

Quarter ended
December 31,

  2006     $ 491     $ 657     $ —     $ 80   $ 2,451     $ —       $ 3,679  
  2007     $ 496     $ 655     $ —     $ 4   $ 1,904     $ —       $ 3,059  

Three Quarters ended
December 31,

  2006     $ 1,475     $ 1,972     $ —     $ 256   $ 7,788     $ —       $ 11,491  
  2007     $ 1,480     $ 1,970     $ —     $ 20   $ 6,089     $ —       $ 9,559  

Provision for impairment of intangible assets and goodwill

               

Quarter ended
December 31,

  2006     $ 128,049     $ 97,579     $ —     $ —     $ 79,774     $ —       $ 305,402  
  2007     $ —       $ —       $ —     $ —     $ —       $ —       $ —    

Three Quarters ended
December 31,

  2006     $ 128,049     $ 97,579     $ —     $ —     $ 79,774     $ —       $ 305,402  
  2007     $ —       $ —       $ —     $ —     $ —       $ —       $ —    

Amortization of deferred rack costs

               

Quarter ended
December 31,

  2006     $ 1,057     $ 1,673     $ 155   $ —     $ 1,458     $ —       $ 4,343  
  2007     $ 506     $ 1,122     $ 140   $ —     $ 813     $ —       $ 2,581  

Three Quarters ended
December 31,

  2006     $ 3,384     $ 5,383     $ 413   $ —     $ 4,345     $ —       $ 13,525  
  2007     $ 1,835     $ 3,707     $ 523   $ —     $ 2,787     $ —       $ 8,852  

Total Assets

               

At March 31, 2007

    $ 189,577     $ 336,476     $ 100,706   $ 21,654   $ 330,870     $ —       $ 979,283  

At December 31, 2007

    $ 188,842     $ 334,704     $ 97,442   $ 24,748   $ 307,054     $ —       $ 952,790  

 

(1) Income tax expense (benefit) of $(29.7) million and $4.4 million, interest expense of $25.0 million and $25.1 million, other expense related to senior subordinated notes issued of $0 and $0.2 million, and amortization of deferred debt costs of $2.2 million and $2.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007, respectively, are included in the Corporate/Other segment. Income tax expense (benefit) of $(24.0) million and $7.7 million, interest expense of $73.0 million and $74.6 million, other expense related to senior subordinated notes issued of $0 and $17.1 million, and amortization of deferred debt costs of $5.6 million and $8.2 million for the three quarters ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007, respectively, are included in the Corporate/Other segment.
(2) Amount represents revenues from transactions with other operating segments of the Company.
(3) Operating income (loss) includes the provision for impairment of tradenames and other identified intangibles of $66.8 million for Celebrity Publications and $8.2 million for Corporate/Other and the provision for impairment of goodwill of $61.2 million for Celebrity Publications, $97.6 million for Tabloid Publications and $71.6 million for Corporate/Other.

 

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(12) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, An Amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS No. 160”). SFAS No. 160 amends Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 (“ARB 51”) to establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. It also amends certain of ARB 51’s consolidation procedures for consistency with the requirements of FASB Statement No. 141(R). The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of SFAS No. 160 on its financial statements, which is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The statement shall be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which the statement is initially adopted.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141R”). SFAS 141R significantly changes the accounting for business combinations in a number of areas including the treatment of contingent consideration, preacquisition contingencies, transaction costs, in-process research and development, and restructuring costs. In addition, under SFAS 141R, changes in an acquired entity’s deferred tax assets and uncertain tax positions after the measurement period will impact income tax expense. SFAS 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. This standard will change the Company’s accounting treatment for business combinations on a prospective basis.

 

(13) Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information

Subsequent to the issuance of the Company’s fiscal year 2006 condensed consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended December 31, 2006, management determined that the disclosures in the Company’s previously issued consolidated financial statements concerning the guarantors to the senior subordinated debt were inappropriate and that the Company should have included supplemental condensed consolidating financial information in accordance with Rule 3-10(f) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”). The information for the fiscal quarter and three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006 disclosed below, which had been previously omitted, has been included.

The following tables present condensed combined consolidating financial information of (a) the parent company, American Media Operations, Inc., as issuer of the Notes, (b) on a combined basis, the subsidiary guarantors of the Notes, and (c) on a combined basis, the subsidiaries that are not guarantors of the Notes. Separate financial statements of the subsidiary guarantors are not presented because each of the subsidiary guarantors is 100% owned by the parent company issuer, the guarantee by each subsidiary guarantor is full and unconditional and joint and several. As a result and in accordance with Rule 3-10(f) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act, the Company includes the following:

 

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SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2007

(in thousands)

 

     Parent     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors     Eliminations      Condensed
Consolidated
 

ASSETS

           

CURRENT ASSETS:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,987     $ 51,291     $ 3,271     $ —        $ 56,549  

Trade receivables, net

     —         43,210       2,453       —          45,663  

Inventories

     —         20,852       512       —          21,364  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     —         11,055       663       3,188        14,906  
                                         

Total current assets

     1,987       126,408       6,899       3,188        138,482  
                                         

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET:

           

Leasehold improvements

     —         1,726       —         —          1,726  

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

     —         42,265       497       —          42,762  

Less – accumulated depreciation

     —         (38,900 )     (409 )     —          (39,309 )
                                         

Total property and equipment, net

     —         5,091       88       —          5,179  
                                         

OTHER ASSETS:

           

Deferred debt costs, net

     16,767       —         —         —          16,767  

Deferred rack costs, net

     —         9,123       —         —          9,123  

Other long-term assets

     —         2,774       10       —          2,784  

Investment in subsidiaries

     537,907       3,186       —         (541,093 )      —    
                                         

Total other assets

     554,674       15,083       10       (541,093 )      28,674  
                                         

GOODWILL AND OTHER IDENTIFIED INTANGIBLE ASSETS:

           

Goodwill

     —         382,954       4,509       —          387,463  

Other identified intangibles, net

     6,000       386,992       —         —          392,992  
                                         

Total goodwill and other identified intangible assets

     6,000       769,946       4,509       —          780,455  
                                         

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 562,661     $ 916,528     $ 11,506     $ (537,905 )    $ 952,790  
                                         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY (DEFICIT)            

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

           

Term loan

   $ 3,375     $ —       $ —       $ —        $ 3,375  

Accounts payable

     —         27,948       1,187       —          29,135  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     6,706       51,356       197       —          58,259  

Accrued interest

     18,142       1       39       —          18,182  

Deferred revenues

     148       39,370       521       —          40,039  
                                         

Total current liabilities

     28,371       118,675       1,944       —          148,990  
                                         

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:

           

Term loan and revolving credit facility

     506,625       —         —         —          506,625  

Senior subordinated notes, net

     567,325       —         —         —          567,325  

Deferred income taxes

     —         91,769       (77 )     3,188        94,880  

Management fee payable

     —         4,000       —         —          4,000  

Due to (from) affiliates

     (170,630 )     164,177       6,453       —          —    
                                         

Total liabilities

     931,691       378,621       8,320       3,188        1,321,820  
                                         

STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY (DEFICIT):

           

Total stockholder’s equity (deficit)

     (369,030 )     537,907       3,186       (541,093 )      (369,030 )

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY (DEFICIT)

   $ 562,661     $ 916,528     $ 11,506     $ (537,905 )    $ 952,790  
                                         

 

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SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

AS OF MARCH 31, 2007

(in thousands)

 

     Parent     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors     Eliminations      Condensed
Consolidated
 

ASSETS

           

CURRENT ASSETS:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ —       $ 58,522     $ 1,892     $ —        $ 60,414  

Trade receivables, net

     —         46,394       2,108       —          48,502  

Inventories

     —         22,870       655       —          23,525  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     —         15,637       407       (1,307 )      14,737  
                                         

Total current assets

     —         143,423       5,062       (1,307 )      147,178  
                                         

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET:

           

Leasehold improvements

     —         1,724       —         —          1,724  

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

     —         41,030       444       —          41,474  

Less – accumulated depreciation

     —         (35,932 )     (360 )     —          (36,292 )
                                         

Total property and equipment, net

     —         6,822       84       —          6,906  
                                         

OTHER ASSETS:

           

Deferred debt costs, net

     23,886       —         —         —          23,886  

Deferred rack costs, net

     —         11,838       —         —          11,838  

Other long-term assets

     —         2,597       11       —          2,608  

Investment in subsidiaries

     499,561       1,708       —         (501,269 )      —    
                                         

Total other assets

     523,447       16,143       11       (501,269 )      38,332  
                                         

GOODWILL AND OTHER IDENTIFIED INTANGIBLE ASSETS:

           

Goodwill

     —         382,953       4,510       —          387,463  

Other identified intangibles, net

     —         399,404       —         —          399,404  
                                         

Total goodwill and other identified intangible assets

     —         782,357       4,510       —          786,867  
                                         

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 523,447     $ 948,745     $ 9,667     $ (502,576 )    $ 979,283  
                                         

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY (DEFICIT)

           

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

           

Accounts payable

   $ —       $ 32,050     $ 1,139     $ —        $ 33,189  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     —         55,879       1,539       —          57,418  

Accrued interest

     31,175       463       98       —          31,736  

Deferred revenues

     —         42,028       591       —          42,619  
                                         

Total current liabilities

     31,175       130,420       3,367       —          164,962  
                                         

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:

           

Term loan and revolving credit facility

     510,000       —         —         —          510,000  

Senior subordinated notes, net

     550,217       —         —         —          550,217  

Deferred income taxes

     —         87,749       79       (1,307 )      86,521  

Management fee payable

     —         2,000       —         —          2,000  

Due to (from) affiliates

     (233,528 )     229,015       4,513       —          —    
                                         

Total liabilities

     857,864       449,184       7,959       (1,307 )      1,313,700  
                                         

STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY (DEFICIT):

           

Total stockholder’s equity (deficit)

     (334,417 )     499,561       1,708       (501,269 )      (334,417 )

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY (DEFICIT)

   $ 523,447     $ 948,745     $ 9,667     $ (502,576 )    $ 979,283  
                                         

 

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SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF LOSS

FOR THE FISCAL QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007

(in thousands)

 

     Parent     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors    Eliminations      Condensed
Consolidated
 

OPERATING REVENUES:

            

Circulation

   $ —       $ 66,507     $ 1,714    $ —        $ 68,221  

Advertising

     —         35,987       1,805      —          37,792  

Other

     (14 )     8,183       348      —          8,517  
                                        

Total operating revenues

     (14 )     110,677       3,867      —          114,530  
                                        

OPERATING EXPENSES:

            

Editorial

     —         12,804       338      —          13,142  

Production

     40       31,704       1,021      —          32,765  

Distribution, circulation and other cost of sales

     —         21,428       593      —          22,021  

Selling, general and administrative

     —         25,231       1,068      —          26,299  

Depreciation and amortization

     —         3,055       4      —          3,059  
                                        

Total operating expenses

     40       94,222       3,024      —          97,286  
                                        

OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME

     (54 )     16,455       843      —          17,244  
                                        

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

            

Interest expense

     (25,017 )     (72 )     —        —          (25,089 )

Senior subordinated notes issued

     182       —         —        —          182  

Amortization of deferred debt costs

     (2,764 )     —         —        —          (2,764 )

Other income, net

     27       695       99      —          821  
                                        

Total other income (expense)

     (27,572 )     623       99      —          (26,850 )
                                        

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES, EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES AND INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

     (27,626 )     17,078       942      —          (9,606 )

PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES

     (8,306 )     12,367       302      —          4,363  

EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

     5,358       640       —        (5,998 )      —    
                                        

INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

     (13,962 )     5,351       640      (5,998 )      (13,969 )

INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF INCOME TAXES

     —         7       —        —          7  
                                        

NET INCOME (LOSS)

   $ (13,962 )   $ 5,358     $ 640    $ (5,998 )    $ (13,962 )
                                        

 

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SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF LOSS

FOR THE THREE FISCAL QUARTERS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007

(in thousands)

 

     Parent     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors    Eliminations      Condensed
Consolidated
 

OPERATING REVENUES:

            

Circulation

   $ —       $ 200,628     $ 4,692    $ —        $ 205,320  

Advertising

     —         129,388       5,290      —          134,678  

Other

     2,848       23,778       952      —          27,578  
                                        

Total operating revenues

     2,848       353,794       10,934      —          367,576  
                                        

OPERATING EXPENSES:

            

Editorial

     —         37,764       976      —          38,740  

Production

     1,880       99,699       2,959      —          104,538  

Distribution, circulation and other cost of sales

     —         63,082       1,777      —          64,859  

Selling, general and administrative

     144       71,774       3,064      —          74,982  

Depreciation and amortization

     —         9,516       43      —          9,559  
                                        

Total operating expenses

     2,024       281,835       8,819      —          292,678  
                                        

OPERATING INCOME

     824       71,959       2,115      —          74,898  
                                        

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

            

Interest expense

     (74,343 )     (255 )     —        —          (74,598 )

Senior subordinated notes issued

     (17,109 )     —         —        —          (17,109 )

Amortization of deferred debt costs

     (8,209 )     —         —        —          (8,209 )

Other income (expense), net

     (420 )     1,926       152      —          1,658  
                                        

Total other income (expense)

     (100,081 )     1,671       152      —          (98,258 )
                                        

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES, EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES AND LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

     (99,257 )     73,630       2,267      —          (23,360 )

PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES

     (24,648 )     31,677       702      —          7,731  

EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

     42,769       1,565       —        (44,334 )      —    
                                        

INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

     (31,840 )     43,518       1,565      (44,334 )      (31,091 )

LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF INCOME TAXES

     —         (749 )     —        —          (749 )
                                        

NET INCOME (LOSS)

   $ (31,840 )   $ 42,769     $ 1,565    $ (44,334 )    $ (31,840 )
                                        

 

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SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF LOSS

FOR THE FISCAL QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006

(in thousands)

 

     Parent     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors    Eliminations    Condensed
Consolidated
 

OPERATING REVENUES:

            

Circulation

   $ —       $ 60,865     $ 1,315    $ —      $ 62,180  

Advertising

     —         32,164       1,531      —        33,695  

Other

     —         10,932       264      —        11,196  
                                      

Total operating revenues

     —         103,961       3,110      —        107,071  
                                      

OPERATING EXPENSES:

            

Editorial

     —         13,729       273      —        14,002  

Production

     —         35,722       963      —        36,685  

Distribution, circulation and other cost of sales

     —         23,287       513      —        23,800  

Selling, general and administrative

     —         24,848       905      —        25,753  

Depreciation and amortization

     —         3,660       19      —        3,679  

Provision for impairment of intangible assets and goodwill

     —         305,402       —        —        305,402  
                                      

Total operating expenses

     —         406,648       2,673      —        409,321  
                                      

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

     —         (302,687 )     437      —        (302,250 )
                                      

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

            

Interest expense

     (24,866 )     (158 )     —        —        (25,024 )

Amortization of deferred debt costs

     (2,179 )     —         —        —        (2,179 )

Other income (expense), net

     —         333       20      —        353  
                                      

Total other income (expense)

     (27,045 )     175       20      —        (26,850 )
                                      

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES, EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES AND LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

     (27,045 )     (302,512 )     457      —        (329,100 )

PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES

     4,797       (34,622 )     138      —        (29,687 )

EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

     (275,049 )     319       —        274,730      —    
                                      

INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

     (306,891 )     (267,571 )     319      274,730      (299,413 )

LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF INCOME TAXES

     —         (7,478 )     —        —        (7,478 )
                                      

NET INCOME (LOSS)

   $ (306,891 )   $ (275,049 )   $ 319    $ 274,730    $ (306,891 )
                                      

 

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SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF LOSS

FOR THE THREE FISCAL QUARTERS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006

(in thousands)

 

     Parent     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors    Eliminations    Condensed
Consolidated
 

OPERATING REVENUES:

            

Circulation

   $ —       $ 196,758     $ 3,887    $ —      $ 200,645  

Advertising

     —         115,191       4,358      —        119,549  

Other

     —         25,496       683      —        26,179  
                                      

Total operating revenues

     —         337,445       8,928      —        346,373  
                                      

OPERATING EXPENSES:

            

Editorial

     —         40,550       844      —        41,394  

Production

     —         109,263       2,826      —        112,089  

Distribution, circulation and other cost of sales

     —         67,007       1,438      —        68,445  

Selling, general and administrative

     —         80,146       2,776      —        82,922  

Depreciation and amortization

     —         11,432       59      —        11,491  

Provision for impairment of intangible assets and goodwill

     —         305,402       —        —        305,402  
                                      

Total operating expenses

     —         613,800       7,943      —        621,743  
                                      

OPERATING INCOME

     —         (276,355 )     985      —        (275,370 )
                                      

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

            

Interest expense

     (72,792 )     (238 )     —        —        (73,030 )

Amortization of deferred debt costs

     (5,576 )     —         —        —        (5,576 )

Other income (expense), net

     —         828       52      —        880  
                                      

Total other income (expense)

     (78,368 )     590       52      —        (77,726 )
                                      

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES, EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES AND LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

     (78,368 )     (275,765 )     1,037      —        (353,096 )

PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES

     (2,585 )     (21,761 )     313      —        (24,033 )

EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

     (262,919 )     724       —        262,195      —    
                                      

INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

     (338,702 )     (253,280 )     724      262,195      (329,063 )

LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF INCOME TAXES

     —         (9,639 )     —        —        (9,639 )
                                      

NET INCOME (LOSS)

   $ (338,702 )   $ (262,919 )   $ 724    $ 262,195    $ (338,702 )
                                      

 

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SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE FISCAL QUARTERS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007

(in thousands)

 

     Parent     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors     Eliminations    Condensed
Consolidated
 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

           

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ (84,321 )   $ 81,299     $ 1,208     $ —      $ (1,814 )
                                       

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

           

Purchases of property and equipment

     —         (1,388 )     (24 )     —        (1,412 )

Proceeds from sale of assets

     —         408       —         —        408  

Investment in Mr. Olympia, LLC

     (300 )     —         —         —        (300 )
                                       

Net cash used in investing activities

     (300 )     (980 )     (24 )     —        (1,304 )
                                       

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

           

Due to (from) affiliates

     87,550       (87,550 )     —         —        —    

Payment of deferred debt costs

     (942 )     —         —         —        (942 )
                                       

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     86,608       (87,550 )     —         —        (942 )
                                       

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     —         —         195       —        195  
                                       

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     1,987       (7,231 )     1,379       —        (3,865 )

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period

     —         58,522       1,892       —        60,414  
                                       

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

   $ 1,987     $ 51,291     $ 3,271     $ —      $ 56,549  
                                       

SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE FISCAL QUARTERS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006

(in thousands)

 

     Parent     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors     Eliminations    Condensed
Consolidated
 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

           

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ (72,981 )   $ 67,044     $ (178 )   $ —      $ (6,115 )
                                       

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

           

Purchases of property and equipment

     —         (2,233 )     (104 )     —        (2,337 )

Proceeds from sale of assets

     —         198       —         —        198  

Proceeds received on long-term note receivable

     —         162       —         —        162  

Investment in Mr. Olympia, LLC

     —         (300 )     —         —        (300 )
                                       

Net cash used in investing activities

     —         (2,173 )     (104 )     —        (2,277 )
                                       

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

           

Proceeds from revolving credit facility borrowings

     100,000       —         —         —        100,000  

Revolving credit facility principal repayments

     (40,000 )     —         —         —        (40,000 )

Due to (from) affiliates

     19,606       (19,606 )     —         —        —    

Payment of deferred debt costs

     (6,625 )     —         —         —        (6,625 )
                                       

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     72,981       (19,606 )     —         —        53,375  
                                       

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     —         —         205       —        205  
                                       

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     —         45,265       (77 )     —        45,188  

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period

     —         17,279       2,312       —        19,591  
                                       

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

   $ —       $ 62,544     $ 2,235     $ —      $ 64,779  
                                       

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Introduction

The following is a discussion of our financial condition and results of operations for the fiscal quarter and three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto. The accompanying Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations excludes the results of our discontinued operations for the fiscal quarter and three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. See Note 9, “Discontinued Operations,” in the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for a discussion regarding discontinued operations.

Executive Summary

We are a leading publisher in the field of celebrity journalism and health and fitness magazines. Our publications include Star, Shape, Men’s Fitness, Fit Pregnancy, Natural Health, Muscle & Fitness, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Flex, National Enquirer, Globe, Country Weekly, Mira!, Sun, National Examiner, and other publications. Our magazines comprise approximately 21% of total U.S. and Canadian newsstand circulation for audited weekly publications. For the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007, total average newsstand and subscription circulation per issue for all of our publications that are currently published and have a frequency of six or more times per year is approximately 7.8 million copies.

For the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, approximately 56% and 58%, respectively, of our total operating revenues were from circulation. Single copy sales accounted for approximately 83% of such circulation revenues in both the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the remainder was from subscription sales.

Our advertising revenues are generated by national advertisers, including sports nutrition products, automotive, entertainment, packaged goods, pharmaceutical, sports apparel, beauty and cosmetics, fashion and direct response. For the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, approximately 37% and 35%, respectively, of our total operating revenues were from advertising.

Our primary operating costs and expenses are comprised of editorial, production, distribution, circulation and other cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses. The largest components of our costs are related to production, which includes printing and paper expenses, and circulation. Circulation costs primarily include the costs associated with subscription fulfillment, subscription postage and newsstand transportation. Editorial costs include salaries and costs associated with manuscripts and photographs.

Following the announcement on February 8, 2006 by the Company that its previously issued financial statements included or otherwise summarized in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for each of the quarters ended June 30, 2005 and September 30, 2005 should no longer be relied upon, we obtained amendments and waivers of certain provisions of our credit agreement and successfully completed consent solicitations pursuant to which holders of a majority in principal amount of each series of our senior subordinated notes agreed to waive defaults under our indentures as a result of our failure to comply with our reporting obligations under the indentures. In addition, our credit ratings were downgraded. We implemented cost savings initiatives and revenue enhancement opportunities (“Management Action Plan”) during the quarter ended March 31, 2007 that were expected to result in $19.0 million to $20.0 million of cost savings and $17.0 million to $18.0 million of revenue enhancements during fiscal year 2008. Cost savings include the rationalization of unprofitable subscriptions, production savings and headcount reductions. Revenue enhancements include cover price increases on selected titles other than Star and advertising rate increases in our Tabloid, Women’s Health and Fitness and Celebrity Publications other than Star. As of December 31, 2007, we believe that $16.0 million of cost savings initiatives and $20.0 million of revenue enhancement opportunities are expected to be achieved during fiscal year 2008.

On April 4, 2006, our board of directors committed to a plan (the “Plan”) to restructure certain of our operations. The Plan was adopted to improve our profitability and future net cash flows, and includes: discontinuing the publication of Celebrity Living Weekly, MPH and Shape En Espanol, the relocation of the operations associated with National Enquirer from New York City back to Boca Raton, Florida, centralizing certain operations, and reducing certain other operating, general and administrative expenses. The Company’s relocation plan involved the termination of approximately 50 employees. This activity resulted in a charge of $3.9 million for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2006, which included $2.3 million for termination benefits, $0.1 million for costs associated with the relocation of employees, $0.6 million for facility closures and $0.9 million for deferred rack cost write-offs. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007, we discontinued the publication of Looking Good Now. We discontinued the publication of Weekly World News effective with the August 27, 2007 issue. The discontinuance of Weekly World News resulted in total charges of $0.3 million in the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007. These charges consisted of $0.2 million related to the write-off of deferred rack

 

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costs and $0.1 million related to the termination of a consultant contract and employee termination benefits. The total loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes, was $0.7 million and $9.6 million for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Operating results of these publications have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. See Note 9, “Discontinued Operations,” in the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements herein for a discussion regarding discontinued operations.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table presents our results of operations by segment for the periods indicated (in thousands).

 

     Fiscal Quarter Ended     Three Fiscal Quarters Ended  
     December 31, 2006     December 31, 2007     December 31, 2006     December 31, 2007  

Operating Revenue

        

Celebrity Publications

   $ 27,466     $ 32,161     $ 91,601     $ 97,244  

Tabloid Publications

     33,954       35,807       105,990       107,398  

Women’s Health and Fitness Publications

     13,735       15,666       54,816       63,511  

Distribution Services

     7,973       8,400       23,074       24,284  

Corporate/Other

     25,967       24,714       77,510       81,838  

Intersegment Eliminations

     (2,024 )     (2,218 )     (6,618 )     (6,699 )
                                

Total Operating Revenue

   $ 107,071     $ 114,530     $ 346,373     $ 367,576  
                                

Operating Income (Loss)

        

Celebrity Publications

   $ (125,473 )   $ 7,590     $ (115,800 )   $ 25,949  

Tabloid Publications

     (83,283 )     16,589       (52,970 )     50,781  

Women’s Health and Fitness Publications

     1,101       3,064       16,282       22,147  

Distribution Services

     1,347       2,028       5,102       5,834  

Corporate/Other

     (95,942 )     (12,027 )     (127,984 )     (29,813 )
                                

Total Operating Income (Loss)

   $ (302,250 )   $ 17,244     $ (275,370 )   $ 74,898  
                                

Comparison of Fiscal Quarter Ended December 31, 2007 vs. Fiscal Quarter Ended December 31, 2006

Operating Revenue

Total operating revenue was $114.5 million and $107.1 million for the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, representing an increase in revenue of $7.5 million, or 7.0%. This increase was primarily attributable to a $4.7 million increase in our Celebrity Publications, a $1.9 million increase in our Tabloid Publications, a $1.9 million increase in our Women’s Health and Fitness Publications, and a $0.2 million increase in net operating revenues relating to our Distribution Services. These items were partially offset by a $1.3 million decrease in our Corporate/Other segment.

Single copy revenue consists of copies distributed primarily by four wholesalers, which we estimate represent 85% of the newsstand distribution market, as well as several smaller wholesalers who represent the remaining 15%. Operating revenue generated by these wholesalers is included in the Celebrity Publications, Tabloid Publications, Women’s Health and Fitness Publications and Corporate/Other segments. In the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007, three wholesalers each accounted for greater than 10% of our total operating revenue and in the aggregate accounted for 41% of our total operating revenue. In the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2006 three wholesalers each accounted for greater than 10% of our total operating revenue and in the aggregate accounted for 38% of our total operating revenue. Our operating results could be materially affected if one or more of these wholesalers stopped distributing our publications. We have service agreements with our wholesalers, which provide incentives to maintain certain levels of service. Two of these wholesaler service agreements require at least 120 days’ prior notice of termination, with terms expiring on December 31, 2008. One of these service agreements requires at least 90 days’ prior notice of termination, with a term expiring on December 31, 2008. The fourth wholesaler service agreement requires at least 60 days’ prior notice of termination, with a term that expired on December 31, 2007. Notice of termination has not been given and the Company is in the process of negotiating a further renewal of this service agreement.

 

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Operating Expense

Total operating expense was $97.3 million and $409.3 million for the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, representing a decrease of $312.0 million, or 76.2%. This decrease in operating expense is primarily due to the $305.4 million impairment charge of certain goodwill, tradenames and other identified intangibles that were recorded in the prior year comparable period. For a further discussion relating to the prior year impairment charge, see the March 31, 2007 10-K. Also contributing to the decrease was a $6.6 million combined decrease in editorial, production, distribution, circulation and other cost of sales due to the implementation of our Management Action Plan in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007 and a $0.6 million reduction in depreciation expense, primarily due to certain assets becoming fully depreciated. These items were partially offset by a $0.4 million increase in selling, general and administrative expense due to an increase in advertising expenses and sales promotions. The increase in advertising expenses and sales promotions was primarily attributable to our increase in advertising revenues.

Interest Expense

Interest expense increased slightly to $25.1 million for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007 as compared to prior year’s comparable period. This increase in interest expense is primarily attributable to a higher average outstanding balance of our revolving credit facility during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007 when compared to the prior year comparable period, partially offset by a lower effective weighted-average interest rate on our term loan and revolving credit facility during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007 of 8.6% as compared to 8.7% for the prior year comparable period.

Senior Subordinated Notes Issued

We failed to meet the specified leverage ratio of 8:1 as of September 30, 2007, as required by supplemental indentures under the indentures to our senior subordinated notes (“the March 2006 Supplemental Indentures”), and as a result we issued a total of $20.0 million aggregate principal amount of additional 2009 Notes and 2011 Notes (as defined below) to the existing holders of the Notes (“the December 2007 Issuance”). As of September 30, 2007, we recorded a liability at a fair market value of $17.3 million for such Notes. We reduced this liability to reflect the fair market value of $17.1 million on December 13, 2007, the issuance date. This liability is included in senior subordinated notes, net, in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and a related expense of $17.1 million is reflected for the issuance of the senior subordinated notes in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007.

Discontinued Operations

In order to improve our profitability and future net cash flows, in April 2006, we discontinued the Celebrity Living Weekly, MPH and Shape En Espanol publications in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“SFAS No. 144”). During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007, we discontinued the publication of Looking Good Now. We discontinued the publication of Weekly World News effective with the August 27, 2007 issue. Operating results of these publications have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. These publications were previously included in the Corporate/Other segment. See Note 9, “Discontinued Operations,” in the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements herein for further discussion.

Income Taxes

We recorded a $4.4 million income tax expense for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007. This expense is primarily the result of an increase in the valuation allowance. The increase in valuation allowance is caused by the amortization of indefinite-lived intangibles. This amortization creates additional deferred tax liabilities, which cannot be considered a future source of taxable income to support the realization of deferred tax assets within the net operating loss carryforward period, thus requiring an increase to the valuation allowance.

Celebrity Publications Segment

Operating Revenue

Total operating revenue in the Celebrity Publications segment was $32.2 million for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007, representing an increase of $4.7 million, or 17.1%, from the prior year comparable period. This increase in revenue was primarily attributable to the implementation of our Management Action Plan which caused an increase in operating revenue for Star of $4.5 million, primarily due to a $3.8 million increase in Star circulation revenue and a $0.7 million increase in Star advertising revenue.

Operating Income

Operating income before goodwill and tradename impairment charges in the Celebrity Publications segment increased in the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007 by $5.0 million, or 194.6%, to $7.6 million from the prior year comparable period. The operating income increase was primarily attributable to the above mentioned revenue increase. In addition, we recorded an impairment charge

 

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for goodwill and tradenames of $128.0 million during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2006. This impairment charge resulted in an operating loss in the Celebrity Publications segment of $125.5 million for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2006.

Tabloid Publications Segment

Operating Revenue

Total operating revenue in the Tabloid Publications segment was $35.8 million for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007, representing an increase of $1.9 million, or 5.5%, from the prior year comparable period. This increase in revenue was primarily attributable to a $0.7 million increase in Globe circulation revenue and a $1.2 million increase in National Enquirer circulation revenue.

Operating Income

Operating income before goodwill impairment charge in the Tabloid Publications segment increased in the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007 by $2.3 million, or 16.0%, to $16.6 million from the prior year comparable period. This increase in operating income is primarily attributable to the above mentioned revenue increase as well as a combined $0.7 million decrease in production expense and distribution, circulation and other cost of sales due to the successful implementation of our Management Action Plan initiated in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007, partially offset by a $0.2 million increase in editorial expense due to higher salaries and costs associated with manuscripts and photographs. In addition, we recorded an impairment charge for goodwill of $97.6 million during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2006. This impairment charge resulted in an operating loss in the Tabloid Publications segment of $83.3 million for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2006.

Women’s Health and Fitness Publications Segment

Operating Revenue

Total operating revenue in the Women’s Health and Fitness Publications segment was $15.7 million for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007, representing an increase of $1.9 million, or 14.1%, from the prior year comparable period. This increase was primarily attributable to a $1.5 million increase in Shape advertising revenue and a $0.3 million increase in Fit Pregnancy advertising revenue.

Operating Income

Operating income in the Women’s Health and Fitness Publications segment increased in the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007 by $2.0 million, or 178.3%, to $3.1 million from the prior year comparable period. This increase was primarily attributable to the above mentioned revenue increase and the implementation of our Management Action Plan which caused a $0.8 million decrease in production and transportation-related costs resulting from a smaller trim size per issue for Shape. These items were partially offset by a $0.4 million increase in advertising commissions and salaries.

Distribution Services Segment

Operating Revenue

Total operating revenue in the Distribution Services segment was $6.2 million, net of eliminations, for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007, representing an increase of $0.2 million, or 3.9%, from the prior year comparable period. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in services related to the racking of magazine fixtures as well as third party in-store merchandising work for certain customers during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007.

Operating Income

Operating income in the Distribution Services segment increased in the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007 by $0.7 million, or 50.6%, to $2.0 million from the prior year comparable period. This increase in operating income is primarily attributable to a decrease of $0.6 million in direct costs of services and by the above mentioned revenue increase.

 

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Corporate/Other Segment

Operating Revenue

Total operating revenue in the Corporate/Other segment was $24.7 million for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007, representing a decrease of $1.3 million, or 4.8%, from the prior year comparable period. This decrease is primarily attributable to a $2.7 million decrease in the Mr. Olympia event operating revenue and a $0.6 million decrease in operating revenue related to the publication of our Mini-Mag astrological calendars. These items were partially offset by a combined increase in advertising revenue of $1.4 million in Men’s Fitness and Muscle & Fitness, a $0.3 million increase in operating revenues associated with reductions of sales taxes and a $0.2 million increase in Internet revenues. Due to the timing of the Mr. Olympia event and the publication of our Mini-Mag astrological calendars, we recognized revenues for these items in the current year’s second fiscal quarter and the prior year’s third fiscal quarter.

Operating Loss

Operating loss before goodwill, tradenames and other identified intangibles impairment charges in the Corporate/Other segment decreased in the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007 by $4.1 million, or 25.6%, to $12.0 million, from the prior year comparable period. This decrease in operating loss is primarily due to $2.2 million of lower costs related to the restatement of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 and the fiscal quarters ended June 30, 2005 and September 30, 2005 (the “Restatement”), a combined $2.5 million decrease in editorial, production, distribution, circulation, and other cost of sales due to the successful implementation of our Management Action Plan initiated in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007, a $1.6 million decrease in the Mr. Olympia event production costs due to the timing of the Mr. Olympia event as mentioned above, a $0.8 million decrease in insurance expenses, and a $0.5 million reduction in depreciation expense primarily due to certain assets becoming fully depreciated. These items were partially offset by the above mentioned revenue decrease, a combined $2.0 million increase in corporate overhead expenses and professional fees and a $0.2 million increase in advertising commissions and salaries. In addition, we recorded an impairment charge for goodwill, tradenames and other identified intangibles of $79.8 million during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2006. This impairment charge resulted in an operating loss in the Corporate/Other segment of $95.9 million for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2006.

Comparison of Three Fiscal Quarters Ended December 31, 2007 vs. Three Fiscal Quarters Ended December 31, 2006

Operating Revenue

Total operating revenue was $367.6 million and $346.4 million for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, representing an increase in revenue of $21.2 million, or 6.1%. This increase was primarily attributable to a $5.6 million increase in our Celebrity Publications, a $1.4 million increase in our Tabloid Publications, an $8.7 million increase in our Women’s Health and Fitness Publications, a $4.3 million increase in our Corporate/Other segment and a $1.1 million increase in net operating revenues relating to our Distribution Services.

In the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, three wholesalers each accounted for greater than 10% of our total operating revenue and in the aggregate accounted for 38% of our total operating revenue.

Operating Expense

Total operating expense was $292.7 million and $621.7 million for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, representing a decrease of $329.1 million, or 52.9%. This decrease in operating expense is primarily due to the $305.4 million impairment charge of certain goodwill, tradenames and other identified intangibles that were recorded in the prior year comparable period. Also contributing to the decrease was a decrease in selling, general and administrative expense of $7.9 million, a $13.8 million combined decrease in editorial and production expense and distribution, circulation and other cost of sales and a $1.7 million reduction in depreciation expense, primarily due to certain assets becoming fully depreciated.

The implementation of our Management Action Plan in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007 and the continuation of cost savings associated with the results of our restructuring plan implemented in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007 resulted in a $14.3 million combined decrease in editorial and production expense and distribution, circulation and other cost of sales. This was partially offset by a $0.5 million increase in direct costs of services related to our Distribution Services segment.

The implementation of our Management Action Plan in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007 and the continuation of cost savings associated with the results of our restructuring plan implemented in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007 further resulted in a $0.9 million decrease in sales promotion-related costs included in selling, general and administrative expense. The decrease in selling,

 

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general and administrative expense was also attributable to a $2.9 million decrease in restructuring expense and a $9.3 million decrease in Restatement-related costs. These decreases were partially offset by a $2.1 million increase in advertising expense primarily attributable to our increase in advertising revenues and a combined $1.8 million increase in corporate overhead expenses and professional fees.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $74.6 million and $73.0 million for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, representing an increase of $1.6 million, or 2.1%. This increase in interest expense is primarily attributable to a higher effective weighted-average interest rate on our term loan and revolving credit facility during the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 of 8.6%, as compared to 8.4% for the prior year comparable period, and a higher average outstanding balance during the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 when compared to the prior year comparable period.

Senior Subordinated Notes Issued

We failed to meet the specified leverage ratio of 8:1 as of September 30, 2007, as required by the March 2006 Supplemental Indentures, and as a result we issued a total of $20.0 million aggregate principal amount of additional 2009 Notes and 2011 Notes to the existing holders of the Notes. As of September 30, 2007, we recorded a liability at a fair market value of $17.3 million for such Notes. We reduced this liability to reflect the fair market value of $17.1 million on December 13, 2007, the issuance date. This liability is included in senior subordinated notes, net, in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and a related expense of $17.1 million is reflected for the issuance of the senior subordinated notes in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007.

Discontinued Operations

In order to improve our profitability and future net cash flows, in April 2006, we discontinued the Celebrity Living Weekly, MPH and Shape En Espanol publications in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 144. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007, we discontinued the publication of Looking Good Now. We discontinued the publication of Weekly World News effective with the August 27, 2007 issue. Operating results of these publications have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. These publications were previously included in the Corporate/Other segment. See Note 9, “Discontinued Operations,” in the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements herein for further discussion.

Income Taxes

We recorded a $7.7 million income tax expense for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007. This expense is primarily the result of an increase in the valuation allowance, partially offset by a statutory change in the effective state tax rate. The increase in valuation allowance is caused by the amortization of indefinite-lived intangibles. This amortization creates additional deferred tax liabilities, which cannot be considered a future source of taxable income to support the realization of deferred tax assets within the net operating loss carryforward period, thus requiring an increase to the valuation allowance.

Celebrity Publications Segment

Operating Revenue

Total operating revenue in the Celebrity Publications segment was $97.2 million for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007, representing an increase of $5.6 million, or 6.2%, from the prior year comparable period. This increase in revenue was primarily attributable to the implementation of our Management Action Plan which caused an increase in operating revenue for Star of $5.7 million, primarily due to an increase in advertising revenue of $3.1 million and an increase in circulation revenue of $2.5 million.

Operating Income

Operating income before goodwill and tradename impairment charges in the Celebrity Publications segment increased in the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 by $13.7 million, or 111.8%, to $25.9 million from the prior year comparable period. The operating income increase was attributable to the above mentioned operating revenue increase and rate base reductions and other cost savings initiatives for Star that were part of the Management Action Plan initiated in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007. The Star rate base reduction resulted in decreased subscription and production related costs of $2.4 million and $3.6 million, respectively. The other cost savings initiatives resulted in lower Star editorial-related expenses and sales promotion expenses of $1.7 million and $0.5 million, respectively. In addition, we recorded an impairment charge for goodwill and tradenames of $128.0 million during the three

 

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fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006. This impairment charge resulted in an operating loss in the Celebrity Publications segment of $115.8 million for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006.

Tabloid Publications Segment

Operating Revenue

Total operating revenue in the Tabloid Publications segment was $107.4 million for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007, representing an increase of $1.4 million, or 1.3%, from the prior year comparable period. This increase in revenue was primarily attributable to a $1.2 million increase in Globe circulation revenue and a $0.9 million increase in National Enquirer circulation revenue. These items were partially offset by a $0.4 million decrease in National Enquirer advertising revenue due to a rate base reduction and a $0.5 million decrease in National Examiner circulation revenue.

Operating Income

Operating income before goodwill impairment charge in the Tabloid Publications segment increased in the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 by $6.2 million, or 13.8%, to $50.8 million from the prior year comparable period. This increase in operating income is primarily attributable to a $1.3 million decrease in restructuring charges, a combined $3.2 million decrease in production expense and distribution, circulation and other cost of sales due to the successful implementation of our Management Action Plan initiated in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007, a combined $1.0 million decrease in litigation charges and insurance expenses and the above mentioned revenue increase. These items were partially offset by a $0.8 million increase in editorial costs due to higher salaries and costs associated with manuscripts and photographs. In addition, we recorded an impairment charge for goodwill of $97.6 million during the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006. This impairment charge resulted in an operating loss in the Tabloid Publications segment of $53.0 million for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006.

Women’s Health and Fitness Publications Segment

Operating Revenue

Total operating revenue in the Women’s Health and Fitness Publications segment was $63.5 million for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007, representing an increase of $8.7 million, or 15.9%, from the prior year comparable period. This increase was primarily attributable to higher advertising revenue of $8.3 million and $1.0 million for Shape and Fit Pregnancy, respectively. These items were partially offset by decreases in other revenue of $0.2 million and $0.4 million related to Shape and Fit Pregnancy, respectively.

Operating Income

Operating income in the Women’s Health and Fitness Publications segment increased in the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 by $5.9 million, or 36.0%, to $22.1 million from the prior year comparable period. This increase was primarily attributable to the above mentioned revenue increase, partially offset by a $0.5 million increase in production and transportation-related costs (resulting from a $1.3 million increase in folio pages to accommodate more advertising pages, partially offset by a $0.8 million decrease resulting from a smaller trim size per issue resulting from our Management Action Plan), a $1.7 million increase in advertising commissions and salaries, a $0.5 million increase in insurance expenses and a $0.4 million increase in allocated management information system salaries attributable to increased staffing requirements related to website initiatives in this segment.

Distribution Services Segment

Operating Revenue

Total operating revenue in the Distribution Services segment was $17.6 million, net of eliminations, for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007, representing an increase of $1.1 million, or 6.9%, from the prior year comparable period. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in services related to the racking of magazine fixtures as well as third party in-store merchandising work for certain customers during the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007.

 

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Operating Income

Operating income in the Distribution Services segment increased in the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 by $0.7 million, or 14.3%, to $5.8 million from the prior year comparable period. This increase in operating income is primarily attributable to the above mentioned revenue increase coupled with a $0.2 million decrease in restructuring charges, partially offset by an increase of $0.5 million in direct costs of the services and a $0.2 million increase in insurance expenses. The $0.5 million increase in direct cost of services is attributable to additional headcount associated with the racking of magazine fixtures.

Corporate/Other Segment

Operating Revenue

Total operating revenue in the Corporate/Other segment was $81.8 million for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007, representing an increase of $4.3 million, or 5.6%, from the prior year comparable period. This increase is primarily attributable to a $1.8 million increase in Men’s Fitness advertising revenue, a combined $0.3 million increase in advertising revenues in Muscle & Fitness and Flex, a combined $0.8 million increase in circulation revenues in Muscle & Fitness and Flex, a $0.6 million increase in Internet revenues primarily resulting from the ramp up of advertising sales of our various publication websites, a $0.5 million increase in Natural Health advertising revenues and a $0.6 million increase in operating revenues associated with reductions of sales taxes. These items were partially offset by decreases in Sun circulation and advertising revenues of $0.3 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

Operating Loss

Operating loss before goodwill, tradenames and other identified intangibles impairment charges in the Corporate/Other segment decreased in the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 by $18.4 million, or 38.2%, to $29.8 million, from the prior year comparable period. This decrease in operating loss is primarily due to the above mentioned revenue increase, a $1.4 million decrease in restructuring charges, a $9.4 million decrease in Restatement-related costs, a combined $4.8 million decrease in editorial and production expense and distribution, circulation and other cost of sales due to the successful implementation of our Management Action Plan initiated in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007, as well as the continuation of cost savings associated with the results of our restructuring plan implemented in the first quarter of fiscal 2007, and a $1.5 million reduction in depreciation expense primarily due to certain assets becoming fully depreciated. These costs were partially offset by a combined $4.3 million increase in corporate overhead expenses and professional fees. In addition, we recorded an impairment charge for goodwill, tradenames and other identified intangibles of $79.8 million during the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006. This impairment charge resulted in an operating loss in the Corporate/Other segment of $128.0 million for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2006.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from operations and amounts available to be borrowed under our credit agreement dated as of January 30, 2006 (as amended, the “2006 Credit Agreement”).

As of December 31, 2007, we had cash and cash equivalents of $56.5 million, $60.0 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility under the 2006 Credit Agreement (which represents the full amount available to be borrowed under the revolving credit facility), and a working capital deficit of $10.5 million. The decrease in working capital deficit of $7.3 million from $17.8 million at March 31, 2007 to $10.5 million at December 31, 2007, primarily resulted from: (i) a $13.6 million decrease in accrued interest, which occurred because of the timing of interest payments on our Notes and our 2006 Credit Agreement, (ii) a $4.1 million decrease in accounts payable, and (iii) a $2.6 million decrease in deferred revenues. These items were partially offset by (i) a $3.9 million decrease in cash and cash equivalents, (ii) a $2.8 million decrease in trade receivables, (iii) a $2.2 million decrease in inventories, and (iv) a $3.4 million increase in the current portion of our term loan.

We currently believe that, except as discussed below, available cash at December 31, 2007 and available funds and cash flows generated by operations, if any, will be sufficient to fund our working capital (including interest expense) and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months. Our revolving credit commitment matures in January 2012 and our term loan matures in January 2013, but both will mature on February 1, 2009 if we do not refinance our outstanding 10.25% senior subordinated notes due 2009 (the “2009 Notes”) on or prior to February 1, 2009. In addition, the revolving credit agreement and the term loan under the 2006 Credit Agreement both will mature on October 15, 2010 if we do not refinance our outstanding 8.875% senior subordinated notes due 2011 (the “2011 Notes” and, together with the 2009 Notes, the “Notes”) on or prior to October 15, 2010. To address this situation, we are in discussions with our advisors regarding the possible extension or refinancing of the 2009 Notes or an amendment of the 2006

 

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Credit Agreement. We intend to pursue these discussions to identify alternatives that are acceptable to us, although there can be no assurance that this will occur. The terms of any agreement to extend or refinance the 2009 Notes or to amend the 2006 Credit Agreement, if available at all, may be less favorable than our existing terms. If we are unable to reach such an agreement prior to the filing of the Form 10-K for fiscal year 2008, the entire outstanding balance of the 2006 Credit Agreement would be classified as a current liability on the March 31, 2008 balance sheet. If so classified, we believe that it is possible that our independent registered public accounting firm may include an explanatory paragraph relating to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern in their fiscal year 2008 audit report. If this were to occur, it would give rise to a default under the 2006 Credit Agreement. If this default is not cured, the lenders under the 2006 Credit Agreement would have the right, upon notice and after a 30 day grace period, to accelerate our indebtedness under the 2006 Credit Agreement. Any such acceleration would also constitute an event of default under the Notes. In addition to the aforementioned discussions, we are also exploring strategic alternatives as discussed below.

On June 14, 2006, we announced that we were implementing a strategy to refocus the Company and devote its full resources to growing its core brands. As part of this strategy we announced that we would explore the sale of our five market leading special interest titles – Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Country Weekly, and Mira!. These publications collectively represented total revenues and operating income of $63.4 million and $13.2 million, respectively, for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007. As a result of the Restatement, the implementation of this strategy was delayed.

As part of re-examining the implementation of this strategy after the completion of the Restatement, the board of directors of the Company decided to explore a full range of strategic alternatives, including the raising of capital, the refinancing of our existing debt or other transactions that could materially change our capital structure, in addition to the potential sale of the special interest titles mentioned above. There can be no assurance that the exploration of these strategic alternatives will result in a transaction. We do not intend to disclose developments with respect to the exploration of strategic alternatives unless and until our board has approved a specific transaction.

At December 31, 2007, our outstanding indebtedness totaled $1.1 billion, of which $510.0 million represented borrowings under the 2006 Credit Agreement and $567.3 million represented our senior subordinated notes. See “Risk Factors” in our March 31, 2007 10-K for risks associated with our indebtedness.

Cash Flows

Net cash used in operating activities was $1.8 million for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007, as compared to $6.1 million for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006. During the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007, net cash used in operating activities was primarily attributable to a net loss of $31.8 million, a $13.6 million decrease in accrued interest, which occurred because of the timing of interest payments on our Notes and our 2006 Credit Agreement, a $4.1 million decrease in accounts payable and a $2.6 million decrease in deferred revenues. These items were partially offset by $43.4 million of non-cash expenses (excluding amortization and write-off of deferred rack costs), a $2.7 million net decrease in deferred rack costs, a $1.9 million net decrease in inventories, a $0.9 million net decrease in trade receivables and a $2.0 million increase in the management fee payable. During the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006, net cash used in operating activities was primarily attributable to a $338.7 million net loss and a $9.7 million decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities (primarily as a result of decreased accruals for rack costs, due to third party publishers, and retail display pockets and allowances). These items were partially offset by an $11.5 million decrease in inventories (resulting from our efforts to more efficiently manage our inventory levels), $306.9 million of non-cash expenses (excluding amortization and write-off of deferred rack costs) primarily as a result of the $312.6 million impairment of intangible assets and goodwill, a net decrease in deferred rack costs of $9.0 million (resulting from our efforts to more efficiently manage our rack expenditures), a net decrease in trade receivables of $6.2 million (primarily as a result of the decrease in our advertising revenues), a net increase in accounts payable of $6.2 million and a $2.0 million increase in the management fee payable.

Net cash used in investing activities was $1.3 million for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 as compared to $2.3 million for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006. Net cash used in investing activities for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 was primarily attributable to $1.4 million for purchases of property and equipment and $0.3 million related to the investment in Mr. Olympia, LLC, partially offset by $0.4 million related to proceeds from the sale of fixed assets. The uses of cash for investing activities for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006 were primarily attributable to $2.3 million for purchases of property and equipment and $0.3 million related to the investment in Mr. Olympia, LLC, partially offset by $0.2 million related to proceeds from the sale of fixed assets and $0.2 million of proceeds received on a long-term note receivable.

Net cash used in financing activities was $0.9 million for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007, as compared to $53.4 million of cash provided by financing activities for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006. Net cash used in financing activities for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 consisted of payments of $0.9 million related to the payment of deferred debt costs. Net cash provided by financing activities for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2006 primarily consisted of proceeds of $100.0 million from the revolving credit facility, partially offset by repayments of $40.0 million on the revolving credit facility and $6.6 million relating to the payment of deferred debt costs.

 

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Credit Agreement and Subordinated Indebtedness

The 2006 Credit Agreement includes a $60.0 million revolving credit facility and a $450.0 million term loan commitment. As of December 31, 2007, we had borrowed the full amount available under the revolving credit facility and the term loan commitment. We have the option to pay interest at the JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A. (“JP Morgan”) prime rate plus 2.25% or at the London interbank offering rate (“LIBOR”) plus 3.25%. As of December 31, 2007, all of our borrowings were based on LIBOR. Our effective weighted-average interest rate on our term loan and revolving credit facility during both the fiscal quarter and three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007 was 8.6%. We are required to repay $1.1 million of principal on our term loan commitment borrowings on a quarterly basis, commencing on June 30, 2008.

The 2006 Credit Agreement includes certain representations and warranties, conditions precedent, affirmative covenants, negative covenants and events of default. The negative covenants include financial maintenance covenants comprised of a leverage ratio, a senior secured leverage ratio, a consolidated interest expense coverage ratio, and capital expenditure limits. The 2006 Credit Agreement also contains certain covenants that, subject to certain exceptions, restrict paying cash dividends, incurring additional indebtedness, creating liens, making acquisitions or other investments, entering into certain mergers or consolidations and selling or otherwise disposing of assets. The Company has obtained a number of waivers and amendments to the 2006 Credit Agreement since January 30, 2006. Although there can be no assurances, the Company anticipates that, except as discussed above under the heading, “Liquidity and Capital Resources”, based on current projections, its operating results for the remainder of fiscal year 2008 will be sufficient to satisfy the financial covenants, as amended, under the 2006 Credit Agreement.

The indebtedness under the 2006 Credit Agreement is secured by liens on substantially all of the assets of American Media, Inc. (the Company’s parent corporation), the Company and our domestic subsidiaries. In addition, our obligations are secured by a pledge of all of the issued and outstanding shares of, or other equity interests in, substantially all of our existing or subsequently acquired or organized domestic subsidiaries and a percentage of the capital stock of, or other equity interests in, certain of our subsequently acquired or organized subsidiaries.

We are required to meet specified leverage ratios as of September 30, 2007 and 2008 relating to our Notes.

We failed to meet the specified leverage ratio of 8:1 as of September 30, 2007, as required by the March 2006 Supplemental Indentures, and as a result we issued $20.0 million aggregate principal amount of additional 2009 Notes and 2011 Notes to the existing holders of the Notes. As of September 30, 2007, we recorded a liability at a fair market value of $17.3 million for such Notes. We reduced this liability to reflect the fair market value of $17.1 million on December 13, 2007, the issuance date. This liability is included in senior subordinated notes, net, in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and a related expense of $17.1 million is reflected for the issuance of the senior subordinated notes in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss for the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007.

If we fail to meet the specified leverage ratio of 7.25:1 as of September 30, 2008, we will be required to make one of three elections which are as follows: (1) issue an additional $35.0 million of senior subordinated notes to the existing holders of the Notes, (2) make a cash payment of $20.0 million to the holders of the Notes, or (3) issue equity or receive a cash equity contribution in such amount as will result in net proceeds to the Company of no less than $50.0 million or in such lesser amount sufficient to permit us to achieve the specified leverage ratio (after giving pro forma effect to the reduction of indebtedness that shall be effected with such proceeds). If we fail to meet such leverage ratio, we expect to issue $35.0 million of senior subordinated notes to the existing holders of the Notes.

For a description of the amendment and waiver agreement entered into by the Company subsequent to March 31, 2007 with respect to, and affecting, the 2006 Credit Agreement, see Note 6, “Credit Agreement,” in the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q.

For a description of the consent agreement entered into by the Company subsequent to March 31, 2007 with respect to, and affecting, the Notes, see Note 7, “Senior Subordinated Indebtedness,” in the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q.

The Notes are unconditionally guaranteed, on a senior subordinated basis, by substantially all of our domestic subsidiaries. The indentures under which the Notes were issued require that each domestic subsidiary that will be organized in the future by us, unless such subsidiary is designated as an unrestricted subsidiary, will jointly, severally, fully and unconditionally guarantee the Notes on a senior subordinated basis. Subordinated note guarantees are joint and several, full and unconditional and general unsecured obligations of the note guarantors. Subordinated note guarantees are subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future senior debt of the note guarantors, including the 2006 Credit Agreement, and are also effectively subordinated to all secured obligations of note guarantors to the extent of the assets securing such obligations, including the 2006 Credit Agreement. Furthermore, the indentures permit note guarantors to incur additional indebtedness, including senior debt, subject to certain limitations. See Note 13,

 

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“Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information,” in the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q.

Contractual Obligations

We incurred the following contractual and other obligations in the three fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2007. For a complete listing of our contractual obligations, see our March 31, 2007 10-K.

We adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes: An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”) on April 1, 2007. As a result, we have presented $4.1 million as a current liability on the December 31, 2007 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. See Note 5, “Income Taxes,” in the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q.

We failed to meet the specified leverage ratio of 8:1 as of September 30, 2007 and, as required under our indentures, we issued $20.0 million aggregate principal amount of additional 2009 Notes and 2011 Notes to the existing holders of the Notes on December 13, 2007. The impact that the $20.0 million of senior subordinated notes are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flow in future periods is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Payments Due by Period
     Total    Less Than 1
Year
   1-3
Years
   4-5
Years
   More Than
5 Years

$20.0 million of senior subordinated notes, principal

   $ 19,998    $ —      $ 14,544    $ 5,454    $ —  

$20.0 million of senior subordinated notes, interest

     3,559      1,603      1,714      242      —  
                                  

Total contractual obligations

   $ 23,557    $ 1,603    $ 16,258    $ 5,696    $ —  
                                  

New Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, An Amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS No. 160). SFAS No. 160 amends Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 (“ARB 51”) to establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. It also amends certain of ARB 51’s consolidation procedures for consistency with the requirements of FASB Statement No. 141(R). We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of SFAS No. 160 on our financial statements, which is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The statement shall be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which the statement is initially adopted.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141R”). SFAS 141R significantly changes the accounting for business combinations in a number of areas including the treatment of contingent consideration, preacquisition contingencies, transaction costs, in-process research and development, and restructuring costs. In addition, under SFAS 141R, changes in an acquired entity’s deferred tax assets and uncertain tax positions after the measurement period will impact income tax expense. SFAS 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. This standard will change our accounting treatment for business combinations on a prospective basis.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

During the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007, there were no significant changes related to the Company’s market risk exposure since March 31, 2007.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Pursuant to Rule 15d-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of March 31, 2005, the Company’s management performed an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 15d-15(e)). Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in our reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) accumulated and communicated to our management (including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer) as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures, and (ii) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that a material weakness existed in our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2005. It was determined that the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2005 related to the fact that we lacked a sufficient complement of personnel with a level of financial reporting expertise commensurate with our financial reporting requirements to resolve non-routine or complex accounting matters. This material weakness continued to exist as of December 31, 2007.

Subsequent to March 31, 2005, the Company’s board of directors and management took steps to remediate the material weakness described above, including the hiring in December 2005 of a new chief financial officer who served from January 2006 to August 2006. That chief financial officer, as part of his review of the Company’s accounting practices, found a number of issues which he brought to the attention of the Company’s board of directors and senior management. Consequently, on February 8, 2006, the board of directors concluded that the Company’s previously issued financial statements included or otherwise summarized in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for each of the quarters ended June 30, 2005 and September 30, 2005 should no longer be relied upon.

In connection with the then chief financial officer’s review, and the continued review by a new chief financial officer hired in August 2006, a number of errors were found in the Company’s previously issued financial statements. In addition, the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors, aided by an independent law firm and forensic accountants, conducted an inquiry.

Based on further evaluations performed by management with assistance from its consultants, and based on information obtained in connection with the audit committee’s inquiry, management identified additional deficiencies related to the internal control system, including deficiencies in the controls related to the Company’s monthly financial close and financial reporting processes and accounting systems. Specifically, the deficiencies resulted from the absence of the following controls: (i) oversight of accounting and financial reporting personnel; (ii) certain key reconciliation controls; (iii) controls over the appropriate application of generally accepted accounting principles including accounting for income taxes; (iv) review procedures; (v) controls over the ability of financial management to override financial reporting and accounting systems; (vi) controls over information technology system development, program changes, system access and end-user computing; and (vii) an effective control environment. Management evaluated the impact of the deficiencies and has concluded that each of the control deficiencies described above represents a material weakness as of December 31, 2007.

Based on the inquiry commenced by the audit committee and on recommendations made by the audit committee and its advisors, the Company’s board of directors and its senior management implemented a number of remedial actions, including the hiring of a new chief accounting officer, a senior vice president of process improvement, a senior vice president of tax, a vice president of internal audit, a corporate controller and an assistant controller, as well as a new executive vice president of consumer marketing responsible for subscription circulation data and processes. Other remedial actions are also being implemented.

The Company also has taken steps to improve its financial close process and financial reporting system including the: (i) timely preparation of its financial statements, (ii) preparation and review of key and certain other reconciliations, (iii) development of proper accounting policies and procedures to ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, (iv) implementation of appropriate review procedures related to the work product provided by members of the accounting department; and (v) implementation of certain initiatives to improve our processes and controls around our financial systems. These improvements are not yet sufficiently effective and, based on the evaluation thereof by our Company’s management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are not operating effectively. As of December 31, 2007, therefore, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective.

 

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On August 20, 2007, the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company concluded that the Company’s previously issued financial statements for fiscal year 2006 and the subsequent three quarters should no longer be relied upon because of the omission of certain footnote disclosure. See Note 13, “Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information,” in the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q.

In light of the material weaknesses described above, the Company performed additional procedures to ensure that its Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Accordingly, management has concluded that the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the periods covered in this Form 10-Q are fairly stated in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Because the focus of some of our publications often involves celebrities or controversial subjects, the risk of defamation or invasion of privacy litigation exists. Our experience indicates that the claims for damages made in such lawsuits are usually defensible and heavily inflated and, in any event, any reasonably foreseeable material liability or settlement would likely be covered by insurance. There are currently no claims pending that we believe would have a material adverse effect on our operations.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the Company’s risk factors, as previously disclosed in the Company’s March 31, 2007 10-K in response to Item 1A thereof, during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007.

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit 4.1 Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated December 13, 2007 relating to $14,544,000 aggregate principal amount of additional 2009 Notes, between the Company, the Note Guarantors named therein and HSBC Bank, USA, National Association, as Trustee, on behalf of the Holders of the Additional Securities.

Exhibit 4.2 Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated December 13, 2007 relating to $5,454,000 aggregate principal amount of additional 2011 Notes, between the Company, the Note Guarantors named therein and HSBC Bank, USA, National Association, as Trustee, on behalf of the Holders of the Additional Securities.

Exhibit 10.1 Letter Agreement dated January 17, 2008 between the Company and Dean D. Durbin (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K filed January 22, 2008).

Exhibit 31.1 Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).

Exhibit 31.2 Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).

Exhibit 32 Certification of principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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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.

 

AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS, INC.

Registrant

Date: February 14, 2008

 

/s/ DAVID J. PECKER

David J. Pecker

Chief Executive Officer

(principal executive officer)

Date: February 14, 2008

 

/s/ DEAN D. DURBIN

Dean D. Durbin

Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer)

 

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Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

Exhibit 4.1    Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated December 13, 2007 relating to $14,544,000 aggregate principal amount of additional 2009 Notes, between the Company, the Note Guarantors named therein and HSBC Bank, USA, National Association, as Trustee, on behalf of the Holders of the Additional Securities
Exhibit 4.2    Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated December 13, 2007 relating to $5,454,000 aggregate principal amount of additional 2011 Notes, between the Company, the Note Guarantors named therein and HSBC Bank, USA, National Association, as Trustee, on behalf of the Holders of the Additional Securities.
Exhibit 10.1    Letter Agreement dated January 17, 2008 between the Company and Dean D. Durbin (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K filed January 22, 2008).
Exhibit 31.1    Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).
Exhibit 31.2    Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).
Exhibit 32    Certification of principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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