Highlights:
- Third-quarter 2010 net sales of $2.5 billion increased 1.0% compared to the third quarter of 2009, inclusive of an unfavorable impact of changes in foreign exchange rates of 81 basis points
- Company expects continued revenue growth in the fourth quarter and in 2011
- Third-quarter 2010 earnings per diluted share increased to $0.25 from $0.06 in the third quarter of 2009
CHICAGO, Nov. 3, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (Nasdaq:RRD) today reported third-quarter net earnings attributable to common shareholders of $53.3 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, on net sales of $2.5 billion compared to net earnings attributable to common shareholders of $13.1 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, on net sales of $2.5 billion in the third quarter of 2009. The third-quarter net earnings attributable to common shareholders included pre-tax charges for restructuring ($20.2 million) and impairment ($28.5 million, non-cash) totaling $48.7 million in 2010 compared to charges for restructuring ($129.7 million) and impairment ($2.0 million, non-cash) totaling $131.7 million in 2009. Additional details regarding the nature of these charges are included in the attached schedules.
The Company believes that certain non-GAAP measures, when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) measures, are useful because that information is an appropriate measure for evaluating the Company's operating performance. Internally, the Company uses this non-GAAP information as an indicator of business performance, and evaluates management's effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators. These measures should be considered in addition to, not a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to common shareholders totaled $92.5 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2010 compared to $111.9 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2009. Third-quarter non-GAAP net earnings attributable to common shareholders exclude restructuring and impairment charges and acquisition expenses for both years, as well as losses related to debt extinguishment in 2009. For non-GAAP comparison purposes, the effective tax rate increased to 35.7% in the third quarter of 2010 from 31.3% in the third quarter of 2009, primarily as a result of the write-off of certain tax assets in Latin America in 2010. A reconciliation of GAAP net earnings attributable to common shareholders to non-GAAP net earnings attributable to common shareholders is presented in the attached tables.
"The sales momentum that we saw in the second quarter carried into the third quarter, as we continue to win new customer contracts and our customers' businesses return to growth," said Thomas J. Quinlan III, RR Donnelley's President and Chief Executive Officer.
Quinlan added, "Not only do we expect this momentum to continue during the fourth quarter, we also expect this trend to continue in 2011. As we build our 2011 operating plan, we are encouraged by the progress we are making in selling integrated communications solutions. These solutions span across the many products and services in our platform, and are enabling us to convert transactional business into broader contractual relationships."
Business Review
The Company reports its results in two reportable segments: 1) U.S. Print and Related Services and 2) International. The Company reports as Corporate its unallocated expenses associated with general and administrative activities.
Summary
Net sales in the quarter were $2.5 billion, up 1.0% from the third quarter of 2009 and inclusive of an approximate 200 basis point negative impact from changes in foreign exchange rates, lower paper sales and the fees received for the transition of a customer contract in the third quarter of 2009. Gross margin decreased to 23.7% in the third quarter of 2010 from 25.2% in the third quarter of 2009 due to continued price pressure, higher pension and other benefits-related expenses and a higher LIFO inventory provision, partially offset by a higher recovery on print-related by-products and increased volume. SG&A expense as a percentage of net sales in the third quarter of 2010 increased to 10.5% from 10.2% in the third quarter of 2009 primarily due to a higher provision for bad debt expense (the third quarter of 2009 included a benefit of $4.3 million related to reductions in bad debt allowances) and higher acquisition-related expenses, partially offset by the Company's productivity initiatives. Operating earnings were negatively impacted by charges for restructuring and impairment of $48.7 million in the third quarter of 2010 and $131.7 million in the third quarter of 2009 and acquisition expenses of $2.6 million in the third quarter of 2010 and $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2009, resulting in operating income of $148.7 million in 2010 and $93.4 million in 2009.
Excluding restructuring and impairment charges and acquisition expenses, non-GAAP operating income declined $25.2 million to $200.0 million. The third quarter of 2009 included benefits of $13.1 million related to the LIFO inventory provision and $12.2 million for fees received related to the transition of a customer contract, compared to expense of $3.0 million for the LIFO inventory provision in the third quarter of 2010. Collectively, the quarter-over-quarter difference in these two items resulted in a $28.3 million reduction in non-GAAP operating income. In addition, volume increases, a higher recovery on print-related by-products and lower depreciation and amortization expense were partially offset by continued price pressure and higher pension expense.
Segments
Net sales for the U.S. Print and Related Services segment in the quarter increased 2.0% from the third quarter of 2009 to $1.9 billion primarily attributable to volume increases in logistics, financial print and direct mail, partially offset by price declines across most products and services, as well as lower paper sales. The segment's operating income, which was negatively impacted by charges for restructuring and impairment of $18.5 million in the third quarter of 2010 and $3.6 million in the third quarter of 2009, increased to $168.3 million in the third quarter of 2010 from $164.9 million in the third quarter of 2009. Excluding the restructuring and impairment charges, the segment's non-GAAP operating margin increased to 10.0% in the third quarter of 2010 from 9.2% in the third quarter of 2009, as the benefits of productivity efforts, a higher recovery on print-related by-products and lower depreciation and amortization expense more than offset the impact of continued price erosion.
Net sales for the International segment in the quarter decreased 1.8% from the third quarter of 2009 to $626.7 million, inclusive of the negative impacts of changes in foreign exchange rates (3.2%) and the fees received for the transition of a customer contract in the third quarter of 2009 (2.0%). The balance of the change in net sales was a result of increased volume in Asia, Europe and Latin America, partially offset by the lost volume related to the termination of a significant customer contract in 2009 and continued price pressure. The segment's operating income, which was negatively impacted by charges for restructuring and impairment of $29.6 million in the third quarter of 2010 and $127.3 million in the third quarter of 2009, improved to $23.5 million in the third quarter of 2010 from a loss of $72.3 million in the third quarter of 2009. Excluding the restructuring and impairment charges, the segment's non-GAAP operating margin decreased to 8.5% in the third quarter of 2010 from 8.6% in the third quarter of 2009 due to the fees received related to the transition of a customer contract in 2009 – a 180 basis point unfavorable impact on operating margin in the third quarter of 2010 – and the impact of continued price erosion, partially offset by increased volume.
Unallocated Corporate operating expenses increased to $43.1 million in the third quarter of 2010 as compared to income of $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2009. Excluding acquisition expenses of $2.6 million and restructuring charges of $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2010 and restructuring charges of $0.8 million and acquisition expenses of $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2009, unallocated Corporate operating expenses increased by $41.6 million to $39.9 million in the third quarter of 2010. Higher LIFO inventory provisions, higher pension and other benefits-related expenses and a higher provision for bad debt were the primary factors contributing to the increase.
Conference Call
RR Donnelley will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast to discuss its third-quarter results today, Wednesday, November 3, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Central Time). The live webcast will be accessible on RR Donnelley's web site: . Individuals wishing to participate can join the conference call by dialing 706.634.1139. A webcast replay will be archived on the Company's web site for 30 days after the call. In addition, a telephonic replay of the call will be available for seven days at 706.645.9291, passcode 14031461.
About RR Donnelley
RR Donnelley (Nasdaq:RRD) is a global provider of integrated communications. Founded more than 146 years ago, the Company works collaboratively with more than 60,000 customers worldwide to develop custom communications solutions that reduce costs, enhance ROI and ensure compliance. Drawing on a range of proprietary and commercially available digital and conventional technologies deployed across four continents, the Company employs a suite of leading Internet-based capabilities and other resources to provide premedia, printing, logistics and business process outsourcing products and services to leading clients in virtually every private and public sector.
For more information, and for RR Donnelley's Corporate Social Responsibility Report, visit the company's web site at http://www.rrdonnelley.com.
Use of Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and any such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the following cautionary statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and are based on current expectations and involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. The company does not undertake to and specifically declines any obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect future events or circumstances after the date of such statement or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. The factors that could cause material differences in the expected results of RR Donnelley include, without limitation, the following: the successful execution and integration of acquisitions and the performance of the company's businesses following acquisitions; the ability to implement comprehensive plans for the integration of the sales force, cost containment, asset rationalization and other key strategies; competitive pressures in all markets in which the company operates; the volatility and disruption of the capital and credit markets, and adverse changes in the global economy; our ability to access unsecured debt in the capital markets and the reliability of the participants to our contractual lending and insurance agreements; factors that affect customer demand, including changes in postal rates and postal regulations, changes in the capital markets, changes in advertising markets, the rate of migration from paper-based forms to digital format, customers' budgetary constraints and customers' changes in short-range and long-range plans; customers financial strength; shortages or changes in availability, or increases in costs of, key materials (such as ink, paper and fuel); and other risks and uncertainties described in RR Donnelley's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Readers are strongly encouraged to read the full cautionary statements contained in RR Donnelley's filings with the SEC.
CONTACT: RR Donnelley Media: Doug Fitzgerald, EVP, Communications 630.322.6830 doug.fitzgerald@rrd.com Investors: Dave Gardella, VP, Investor Relations 312.326.8155 david.a.gardella@rrd.com