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Playboy Enterprises, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2009 Results

PR Newswire
posted: 116 DAYS 8 HOURS AGO

CHICAGO, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Playboy Enterprises, Inc. (PEI) (NYSE: PLA, PLAA) today reported a net loss for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009, of $8.7 million, or $0.26 per basic and diluted share, which included a $9.1 million, or $0.27 per basic and diluted share, restructuring charge primarily related to the closing of the company's New York office. Excluding that charge, PEI net income was $0.4 million or $0.01 per basic and diluted share. In the same period last year, the company reported a net loss of $3.2 million, or $0.10 per basic and diluted share.

Second quarter 2009 segment income was $3.6 million, which compares to a segment loss of $0.3 million in the 2008 second quarter. Increased profits in the Entertainment and Print/Digital businesses combined with lower corporate expense were responsible for the improvement. Year-over-year second quarter revenues declined from $73.4 million last year to $62.2 million in 2009.

Playboy's Chief Executive Officer Scott Flanders said: "It is clear that the cost-reduction initiatives that we began implementing late last year are responsible for the improvements in both segment income and margins. Our accomplishments were most evident in the Print/Digital and Entertainment segments, which reported significantly increased profitability in the 2009 second quarter compared to last year.

"Efforts to better manage our cost structure while improving our customers' experience will continue," Flanders said. "I believe this company has taken many of the right steps in outsourcing or exiting unprofitable businesses and that those which remain are critical to our future. However, I also believe we can create a more effective operating and financial structure, and our goal is to do just that.

"While we continue to look at ways to improve our business model, particularly in our mature businesses, we have a parallel focus on expanding our revenue base," Flanders said. "In the Licensing business, the global economic slowdown has affected consumer spending and, therefore, reduced royalty payments. To offset this weakness and continue growing this business, we are launching in new territories, including Latin America; working with our partners on a new entertainment venue, which we think could open before year end; and developing a number of new product categories. As a result, we continue to believe that the Licensing Group will show year-over-year revenue and income growth in the 2009 second half, which we expect will be driven by strong fourth quarter results.

"The media businesses will face a more challenging second half with fewer near-term opportunities to grow revenues. As a result, we do not expect the media businesses to report top- or bottom-line improvement in the second half of 2009 compared to the same period last year," Flanders said.

Entertainment

The Entertainment Group reported second quarter 2009 segment income of $2.0 million, which compares to a segment loss of $0.2 million in the same period last year. Cost-savings initiatives were largely responsible for the profit improvement. Revenues in the same time periods declined to $23.8 million from $29.6 million, primarily reflecting the effects of a stronger U.S. dollar on international TV revenues as well as the continuation of trends that have reduced our domestic TV market share.

In the 2009 second quarter, domestic TV revenues declined $2.1 million, to $12.7 million, compared to the same period last year, led by lower movie network sales resulting from the ongoing transition from dedicated linear networks to a more competitive video-on-demand platform. The Group's revenues in the quarter also were negatively affected by lower DVD revenues, which reflected the company's decision last year to exit this business. The year-over-year decline in the Entertainment Group's total revenues was more than offset by lower staffing, marketing, programming and other expenses.

Print/Digital

The Print/Digital Group reported an increase in second quarter 2009 segment income to $2.3 million from $0.1 million in the prior year period. Revenues for the Group were $28.3 million in the quarter, down $3.9 million from second quarter 2008.

Expense reduction efforts together with the decision to combine the July and August issues of Playboy magazine into one editorial package that was cost effective to produce and distribute were primarily responsible for the Group's improved second quarter 2009 segment income. Primarily as a result of the double issue, Playboy magazine's circulation revenues grew 16% in the 2009 second quarter to $12.9 million compared to the same period last year, nearly offsetting a 38% decline in advertising revenues to $3.5 million in the same time periods.

The company said that it expects to report a 47% decline in Playboy magazine ad pages in the 2009 third quarter, when the company will publish one fewer issue than in the prior year period.

Lower paysite, e-commerce and advertising sales in the 2009 second quarter were responsible for the decline in Digital revenues and profits versus the same period last year.

Licensing

Second quarter 2009 Licensing Group revenues and segment income were $10.1 million and $4.8 million, down 14% and 22%, respectively, from the 2008 second quarter. The effects of the global recession on consumer spending led to lower product sales, particularly in Western Europe. The resulting revenue decline was partially offset by increased sales in Latin America.

Corporate and Other

Corporate expense declined 12% in the 2009 second quarter to $5.5 million from $6.2 million in the previous year's second quarter.

In May 2009, PEI closed its New York office and recorded a restructuring charge in the second quarter 2009 of $9.1 million, which primarily reflects the discounted value of the anticipated loss on the remaining lease net of the sublease income based on current broker estimates. In second quarter 2008, the company reported an impairment charge of $0.1 million related to the sale of assets.

Additional information regarding second quarter 2009 earnings will be available on the earnings release conference call, which is being held today, August 4, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern /10:00 a.m. Central. The call may be accessed by dialing: 800-894-5910 (for domestic callers) or 785-424-1052 (for international callers) and using the password: Playboy. In addition, the call will be webcast. To listen to the call, please visit http://www.peiinvestor.com and select the Investor Relations section.

Playboy is one of the most recognized and popular consumer brands in the world. Playboy Enterprises, Inc. is a media and lifestyle company that markets the brand through a wide range of media properties and licensing initiatives. The company publishes Playboy magazine in the United States and abroad and creates content for distribution via television networks, websites, mobile platforms and radio. Through licensing agreements, the Playboy brand appears on a wide range of consumer products in more than 150 countries as well as retail stores and entertainment venues.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains "forward-looking statements," as to expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives and future financial performance, and assumptions underlying or concerning the foregoing. We use words such as "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "intends," "continues" and other similar terminology. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause our actual results, performance or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. We want to caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The following are some of the important factors that could cause our actual results, performance or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements:

    (1)  Foreign, national, state and local government regulations, actions or
         initiatives, including:
         (a) attempts to limit or otherwise regulate the sale, distribution or
             transmission of adult-oriented materials, including print,
             television, video, Internet and mobile materials;
         (b) limitations on the advertisement of tobacco, alcohol and other
             products which are important sources of advertising revenue for
             us; or
         (c) substantive changes in postal regulations which could increase
             our postage and distribution costs;
    (2)  Risks associated with our foreign operations, including market
         acceptance and demand for our products and the products of our
         licensees and partners;
    (3)  Our ability to manage the risk associated with our exposure to
         foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;
    (4)  Further changes in general economic conditions, consumer spending
         habits, viewing patterns, fashion trends or the retail sales
         environment, which, in each case, could reduce demand for our
         programming and products and impact our advertising and licensing
         revenues;
    (5)  Our ability to protect our trademarks, copyrights and other
         intellectual property;
    (6)  Risks as a distributor of media content, including our becoming
         subject to claims for defamation, invasion of privacy, negligence,
         copyright, patent or trademark infringement and other claims based on
         the nature and content of the materials we distribute;
    (7)  The risk our outstanding litigation could result in settlements or
         judgments which are material to us;
    (8)  Dilution from any potential issuance of common stock or convertible
         debt in connection with financings or acquisition activities;
    (9)  Further competition for advertisers from other publications, media or
         online providers or any decrease in spending by advertisers, either
         generally or with respect to the adult male market;
    (10) Competition in the television, men's magazine, Internet, mobile, new
         electronic media and product licensing markets;
    (11) Attempts by consumers, distributors, merchants or private advocacy
         groups to exclude our programming or other products from
         distribution;
    (12) Our television, Internet and mobile businesses' reliance on third
         parties for technology and distribution, and any changes in that
         technology, distribution and/or unforeseen delays in implementation
         which might affect our financial results, plans and assumptions;
    (13) Risks associated with losing access to transponders or technical
         failure of transponders or other transmitting or playback equipment
         that is beyond our control;
    (14) Competition for channel space on linear television or video-on-demand
         platforms;
    (15) Failure to maintain our agreements with multiple system operators, or
         MSOs, and direct-to-home, or DTH, operators on favorable terms, as
         well as any decline in our access to and acceptance by DTH and/or
         cable systems and the possible resulting deterioration in the terms,
         cancellation of fee arrangements, pressure on splits or adverse
         changes in certain minimum revenue amounts with operators of these
         systems;
    (16) Risks that we may not realize the expected increased sales and
         profits and other benefits from acquisitions;
    (17) Any charges or costs we incur in connection with restructuring
         measures we may take in the future;
    (18) Increases in paper, printing or postage costs;
    (19) Effects of the national consolidation of the single-copy magazine
         distribution system and risks associated with the financial stability
         of major magazine wholesalers;
    (20) Effects of the national consolidation and/or bankruptcies of
         television distribution companies (e.g., cable MSOs, satellite
         platforms and telecommunications companies);
    (21) Risks associated with the viability of our subscription, on-demand,
         ad-supported and e-commerce Internet models;
    (22) Risks that adverse market conditions in the securities and credit
         markets may significantly affect our ability to access the capital
         and credit markets;
    (23) Our ability to sublet our excess space in New York, New York and
         Santa Monica, California may be negatively impacted by the market for
         commercial rental real estate in those cities as well as in the
         national and global economy generally.
    (24) The risk that our common stock could be delisted from the New York
         Stock Exchange, or NYSE, if we fail to meet the NYSE's continued
         listing requirements; and
    (25) The risk that we will be unable to refinance our 3.00% convertible
         senior subordinated notes due 2025, or convertible notes, or the risk
         that we will refinance our convertible notes at higher interest rates
         if credit markets do not improve prior to the first put date of March
         15, 2012.

More detailed information about factors that may affect our performance may be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at http://www.sec.gov or at http://www.peiinvestor.com in the Investor Relations section of our website.

                        Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
       Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
                  (In millions, except per share amounts)

                                                       Quarters Ended
                                                           June 30,
                                                           --------
                                                         2009    2008
                                                         ----    ----
    Net revenues
    ------------
    Entertainment:
      Domestic TV                                       $12.7   $14.8
      International TV                                   10.4    13.4
      Other                                               0.7     1.4
                                                          ---     ---
      Total Entertainment                                23.8    29.6
    Print/Digital:
      Domestic magazine                                  16.4    16.8
      International magazine                              1.6     1.9
      Special editions and other                          1.4     1.9
      Digital                                             8.9    11.6
                                                          ---    ----
      Total Print/Digital                                28.3    32.2
    Licensing:
      Consumer products                                   6.9     8.0
      Location-based entertainment                        1.2     1.3
      Marketing events                                    2.0     2.3
                                                          ---     ---
      Total Licensing                                    10.1    11.6
                                                         ----    ----

    Total net revenues                                  $62.2   $73.4
                                                        =====   =====

    Net loss
    --------
    Entertainment                                        $2.0   $(0.2)
    Print/Digital                                         2.3     0.1
    Licensing                                             4.8     6.0
    Corporate                                            (5.5)   (6.2)
                                                         ----    ----

    Segment income (loss)                                 3.6    (0.3)

    Restructuring expense                                (9.1)      -
    Impairment charge                                       -    (0.1)
                                                         ----    ----

    Operating loss                                       (5.5)   (0.4)

    Investment income                                     0.7     0.4
    Interest expense                                     (2.2)   (2.2)
    Amortization of deferred financing fees              (0.1)   (0.2)
    Other, net                                           (0.4)    0.2
                                                         ----     ---

    Loss before income taxes                             (7.5)   (2.2)

    Income tax expense                                   (1.2)   (1.0)
                                                         ----    ----

    Net loss                                            $(8.7)  $(3.2)
                                                        =====   =====

    Weighted average number of common shares
     outstanding Basic and diluted                     33,441  33,300
                                                       ======  ======

    Basic and diluted loss per common share            $(0.26) $(0.10)
                                                       ======  ======

    Note:  Certain reclassifications have been made to conform to the
    current presentation.



                        Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
       Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
                  (In millions, except per share amounts)

                                                         Six Months
                                                            Ended
                                                          June 30,
                                                          --------
                                                         2009    2008
                                                         ----    ----
    Net revenues
    ------------
    Entertainment:
      Domestic TV                                       $26.0   $31.3
      International TV                                   21.7    28.1
      Other                                               2.3     2.9
                                                          ---     ---
      Total Entertainment                                50.0    62.3
    Print/Digital:
      Domestic magazine                                  29.9    32.9
      International magazine                              3.3     4.0
      Special editions and other                          3.0     3.8
      Digital                                            18.2    26.8
                                                         ----    ----
      Total Print/Digital                                54.4    67.5
    Licensing:
      Consumer products                                  14.7    17.2
      Location-based entertainment                        2.3     2.2
      Marketing events                                    2.1     2.5
      Other                                               0.3     0.2
                                                          ---     ---
      Total Licensing                                    19.4    22.1
                                                         ----    ----

    Total net revenues                                 $123.8  $151.9
                                                       ======  ======

    Net loss
    --------
    Entertainment                                        $5.0    $2.2
    Print/Digital                                        (1.3)   (2.8)
    Licensing                                            10.4    12.7
    Corporate                                           (11.8)  (12.3)
                                                        -----   -----

    Segment income (loss)                                 2.3    (0.2)

    Restructuring expense                               (12.3)   (0.6)
    Impairment charges                                   (5.5)   (0.1)
                                                         ----    ----

    Operating loss                                      (15.5)   (0.9)

      Investment income                                   0.7     0.7
      Interest expense                                   (4.3)   (4.3)
      Amortization of deferred financing fees            (0.4)   (0.4)
      Other, net                                         (0.5)   (0.3)
                                                         ----    ----

    Loss before income taxes                            (20.0)   (5.2)

    Income tax expense                                   (2.4)   (2.2)
                                                         ----    ----

    Net loss                                           $(22.4)  $(7.4)
                                                       ======   =====

    Weighted average number of common shares
     outstanding  Basic and diluted                    33,415  33,287
                                                       ======  ======

    Basic and diluted loss per common share            $(0.67) $(0.22)
                                                       ======  ======

    Note:  Certain reclassifications have been made to conform to the
    current presentation.



    PLAYBOY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    -------------------------
    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information (dollars in millions,
     except per share amounts)

                               Second Quarter              Six Months
                                Ended June 30,           Ended June 30,
                               ---------------           --------------
    EBITDA and Adjusted                     % Inc/                    % Inc/
     EBITDA                  2009    2008    (Dec)    2009    2008     (Dec)
    -------------------      ----    ----   ------    ----    ----    ------
      Net Loss              $(8.7)  $(3.2)   171.9  $(22.4)  $(7.4)    202.7
      Adjusted for:
        Income Tax Expense    1.2     1.0     20.0     2.4     2.2       9.1
        Interest Expense      2.2     2.2        -     4.3     4.3         -
        Amortization of
         Deferred
         Financing Fees       0.1     0.2    (50.0)    0.4     0.4         -
        Equity in
         Operations of
         Investments          0.2       -        -     0.2       -         -
        Depreciation and
         Amortization         9.0     9.6     (6.3)   18.9    20.0      (5.5)
        Impairment Charges      -     0.1   (100.0)    5.5     0.1   5,400.0
      --------------------    ---     ---              ---     ---
      EBITDA (1)              4.0     9.9    (59.6)    9.3    19.6     (52.6)
      Adjusted for:
        Cash Investments
         in Television
         Programming         (6.1)   (7.6)   (19.7)  (13.3)  (15.9)    (16.4)
        Restructuring
         Expense              9.1       -        -    12.3     0.6   1,950.0
      ---------------        ----    ----             ----    ----
      Adjusted EBITDA (2)    $7.0    $2.3    204.3    $8.3    $4.3      93.0
      -----------------      ----    ----             ----    ----


    Net Income (Loss)
     Before Restructuring      Second Quarter              Six Months
     and Impairment             Ended June 30,           Ended June 30,
     Charges (3)               ---------------           --------------
                                           % Better/                 % Better/
                             2009    2008   (Worse)   2009    2008    (Worse)
      ---------              ----    ----  -------    ----    ----   -------
      Net Loss              $(8.7)  $(3.2)  (171.9) $(22.4)  $(7.4)    202.7
      Adjusted for:
        Restructuring
         Expense              9.1       -        -    12.3     0.6  (1,950.0)
        Impairment Charges      -     0.1    100.0     5.5     0.1  (5,400.0)
      --------------------    ---     ---              ---     ---
      Net Income (Loss)
       Before
       Restructuring and
       Impairment Charges    $0.4   $(3.1)       -   $(4.6)  $(6.7)     31.3
      -------------------    ----   -----            -----   -----
      Basic and Diluted
       Earnings (Loss)
       Before Restructuring
       and Impairment
       Charges Per
       Common Share         $0.01  $(0.09)       -  $(0.14) $(0.20)     30.0
        -------------       -----  ------           ------  ------


                               Second Quarter              Six Months
                                Ended June 30,           Ended June 30,
                               ---------------           --------------
    Financial and                           % Inc/                    % Inc/
     Operating Data          2009    2008     (Dec)   2009    2008      (Dec)
    ---------------          ----    ----   ------    ----    ----    ------
    Entertainment
      Cash Investments in
       Television
       Programming           $6.1    $7.6    (19.7)  $13.3   $15.9     (16.4)
      Programming
       Amortization
       Expense               $7.2    $8.1    (11.1)  $15.2   $16.3      (6.7)

    Print/Digital
      Advertising Sales
       (Playboy-Branded)     $4.1    $6.5    (36.9)   $7.5   $11.1     (32.4)
      Digital Content
       Expense               $1.7    $1.8     (5.6)   $3.4    $3.4         -
      Domestic Magazine
       Advertising Pages     66.9   105.5    (36.6)  125.9   191.5     (34.3)

    At June 30
      Cash, Cash Equivalents,
       Marketable Securities
       and  Short-Term
       Investments          $26.1   $29.2    (10.6)  $26.1   $29.2     (10.6)
      Long-Term Financing
       Obligations         $101.9   $97.7      4.3  $101.9   $97.7       4.3
      -------------------- ------   -----           ------   -----

    See notes on accompanying page.

    PLAYBOY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Notes to Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information and Financial
    and Operating Data


    1) In order to fully assess our financial results, management believes
       that EBITDA is an appropriate measure for evaluating our operating
       performance and liquidity, because it reflects the resources available
       for, among other things, investments in television programming. The
       resources reflected in EBITDA are not necessarily available for our
       discretionary use because of legal or functional requirements to
       conserve funds for capital replacement and expansion, debt service and
       other commitments and uncertainties. Investors should recognize that
       EBITDA might not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other
       companies. EBITDA should be considered in addition to, and not as a
       substitute for or superior to, any measure of performance, cash flows
       or liquidity prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
       principles in the United States, or GAAP.

    2) In order to fully assess our financial results, management believes
       that Adjusted EBITDA is an appropriate measure for evaluating our
       operating performance and liquidity, because it reflects the resources
       available for strategic opportunities including, among other things, to
       invest in the business, make strategic acquisitions and strengthen the
       balance sheet. In addition, a comparable measure of Adjusted EBITDA is
       used in our credit facility to, among other things, determine the
       interest rate that we are charged on borrowings under the credit
       facility. Investors should recognize that Adjusted EBITDA might not be
       comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Adjusted
       EBITDA should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for
       or superior to, any measure of performance, cash flows or liquidity
       prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    3) In order to fully assess our financial results, management believes
       that Net Income (Loss) Before Restructuring and Impairment Charges is
       an appropriate measure for evaluating our operating performance and
       liquidity. Investors should recognize that Net Income (Loss) Before
       Restructuring and Impairment Charges might not be comparable to
       similarly titled measures of other companies. Net Income (Loss) Before
       Restructuring and Impairment Charges should be considered in addition
       to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, any measure of
       performance, cash flows or liquidity prepared in accordance with GAAP.

SOURCE Playboy Enterprises, Inc.

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