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  • 8/7/2019 050621 LEH Newspaper LBO Piece

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    GLOBALEQUITY RESEA

    Lehman Brothersdoesand seeksto do businesswith companiescovered in itsresearch reports. Asa result, investorsshould be aware that the firmmay have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of thisreport.

    Customersof Lehman Brothersin the United Statescan receive independent, third-party research on the company orcompaniescovered in thisreport, at no cost to them, where such research isavailable. Customerscan accessthis

    independent research at www.lehmanlive.comor can call 1-800-2LEHMANto request a copy of thisresearch.

    Investorsshould consider thisreport asonly a single factor in making their investment decision.

    PLEASE REFER TO BACK COVER FOR IM PORTAN T DISCLOSURES.

    N ew spapersNewspapers Not Good Takeout Candidates at Current Price Levels

    We read with some amusement the Barron'sarticle from June 11, 2005 (entitled

    Read All About It! ), about newspaper stocks as takeover candidates. It is not

    exactly new news that media companies get taken out from time to time. In fact,

    we have been expecting a couple of newspaper companies to be acquired

    sometime in the next five years. However, we are not going to recommend the

    group on that basis, and categorically do not believe the newspaper sector is

    anywhere near cheap enough for a series of takeouts. We continue to rate the

    sector 3-Negative, and we have five of 10 stocks rated 3-Underweight (KRI, SSP,

    TRB, JRC, and MNI).

    ! Running the numbers using the Barron's takeout criteria of 25%35% equitycontribution, a ratio of net debt to EBITDA of 7x or less, and a ratio of EBITDA to

    interest expense of 1.5x or greater yields exactly no stocks out of the 10

    newspaper companies we follow.

    ! The Barron'sauthor and others base their thesis on Street estimates that we believeare way too optimistic. W e estimate EPS will decline 6.5%for 2005 for the more

    pure-play newspapers/ TV broadcasters and will rise 4% in 2006 (helped by TV

    station Olympic/ political advertising). Most of our estimates are Street-low, and

    we remain concerned that our estimates are still too high.

    ! Of the past 10 years, now is actually one of the worst times for a private equityshop to buy public newspaper companies.

    ! Newspapers are one of the most expensive sectors in U.S. media, versushistorically being the cheapest in the prior 10 years. Newspapers are not

    attractive relative to the S&P 500, trading at a 0%25%premium, in most cases,

    on a P/ E basis and at the high-end of their 10 -year historical valuation range of

    6-10.5x current year EBITDA.

    ! Because the 10 public newspaper companies we follow have already taken outsignificant expenses since peak 2000 levels, a private equity shop would not

    have the major cost savings lever to play.

    UNITED STATES

    IN TERNET & MEDIA

    Publishing & Advertising

    Services

    Sector View: 3-NEGATIVE

    Craig A. Huber

    Amanda J. Sigouin

    June 21 , 2005

    Analyst CertificationI, Craig A. Huber, hereby certify

    (1) that the views expressed in

    this research report accurately

    reflect my personal views about

    any or all of the subject

    securities or issuers referred to in

    this report and (2) no part of my

    compensation was, is or will be

    directly or indirectly related to

    the specific recommendations or

    views expressed in this report.

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    Investment Conclusion

    W e have attached a table that outlines potential takeout stock prices and 2 005EEBITDA multiples for newspaper companies. The Barrons takeout criteria cited in itsarticle are: 1) an equity contribution of 25%35% of the purchase price; 2) a ratio of

    net debt to EBITDA of not any more than 7x; and 3) a ratio of EBITDA to interest no less

    than 1.5x. These criteria seem reasonable; however, when applied to our estimates forthe basket of 10 newspaper stocks we cover, they run into problems.

    Running through the numbers, based on the midpoint equity contribution of 30%,none of the companies meets the second criterion of having net debt to EBITDA(2006E) of less than 7x, although Journal Communications is close at 7.1x. The thirdcriterion of having a ratio of EBITDA (2006E) to interest expense (assumed an 8.5%rate)

    of no less than 1.5x yields Tribune (at 1.5x), Journal Communications (at 1.7x), Journal

    Register (at 1.6x), and McClatchy (at 1.5x). That multiple is fairly tight, and one could

    argue that an 8.5%interest rate assumption for a leveraged buyout is at the low end. If

    we increase the interest rate assumption to 10%, then none of the companies meet thethird criterion.

    On average, our takeout EBITDA multiples (using 2 005E EBITDA) are 11 .7x for themore pure-play newspapers/ TV station broadcasters (Gannett, Knight Ridder, N ewYork Times, Tribune, Journal Register, and McClatchy). If we also include Scripps,

    W ashington Post, and Journal Communications, the average takeout multiple increases to

    13.0x 2005E EBITDA. These figures exclude Dow Jones because of the overly

    depressed nature of it fundamentals, which distorts the takeout multiple (estimated at

    18.4x).

    On average, our takeout stock price for Gannett, Knight Rdder, N ew York Times,Tribune, Journal Register, and McClatchy is 26 % greater than the current stockprice. If we include Scripps, W ashington Post, and Journal Communications, thenthe takeout stock price is 32% higher, on average. In either case, the premium wouldbe much less than those of two other public newspaper companies that were acquired in

    early 2000:- Central N ewspapers (Phoenix and Indianapolis newspapers, acquired byGannett) and Times Mirror (The Los Angeles Times, Newsday, Baltimore Sun, etc.;acquired by Tribune). Both were acquired at a 100%premium to the prior days closing

    prices. More recently, Lee Enterprises acquired Pulitzer, the only other publicnewspaper company to be acquired, at a 17%premium to the prior days closing price

    (in mid-November); however, the stock had been widely anticipated to be up for sale

    since before the company sold its TV station division in the late 1990s, and thus, traded

    close to takeout multiples for years. As seen Figure 4, Central N ewspaper wasacquired for 12 .7x trailing EBITDA, Times Mirror at 11.5x, and Pulitzer at 13.5x.

    Barrons takeout criteria seem

    reasonable; however, when

    applied to our estimates for

    the basket of 10 newspaper

    stocks we cover, they run into

    problems.

    On average, our takeout

    EBITDA multiples (using

    2005E EBITDA) are 11.7x

    for the more pure-play

    newspapers/ TV station

    broadcaster .

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    Figure 1: Private Market Assumptions Newspaper Companies

    Knight New York Scripps, Washington Journal Journal Average

    Dow Jones Gannett Ridder Times E.W. Tribune Post Comm. Register McClatchy (Excl. DJ)

    Current Stock Price 35.18 74.98 62.75 32.11 49.10 36.47 853.50 16.53 17.31 67.96

    EBITDA Takeout Multiple (2005E) 18.4 12.1 11.6 13.4 19.2 10.4 16.5 11.0 10.9 11.8 13.0

    Takeout Stock Price 53.55 98.43 90.00 45.00 72.24 45.71 1,320.64 22.27 16.00 82.00

    % Change vs. Current Stock Price 52.2% 31.3% 43.4% 40.1% 47.1% 25.3% 54.7% 34.7% -7.6% 20.7% 32.2%

    Takeout Enterprise Value 4,757 29,022 7,664 7,550 13,413 14,901 12,724 1,699 1,434 4,058 Barron's

    Criteria

    Equity Portion (30% equity) 1,427 8,707 2,299 2,265 4,024 4,470 3,817 510 430 1,217 25-35%

    Portion to Finance Using Debt 3,330 20,315 5,365 5,285 9,389 10,430 8,907 1,189 1,004 2,841

    2006E EBITDA 335 2,503 661 572 786 1,373 911 169 136 352

    Net Debt / EBITDA (2006E) 10.0 8.1 8.1 9.2 11.9 7.6 9.8 7.1 7.4 8.1 = 1.5 times

    E = Lehman Brothers estimates

    Free cash flow = Net Income + D&A - Capital Expenditures

    Small/Mid-Cap Newspapers

    Source: Lehman Brothers

    W e have 15 additional key points concerning the Barrons article on newspaperspossibly being the target of private equity firms:1) Three major newspaper companies have bought large Internet properties this

    year, not additional newspapers (Dow Jones bought CBS MarketW atch, N ewYork Times bought About.com, and Scripps announced last week it is buyingShopzilla.com). W e were surprised the article did not mention these deals.

    2) Scripps has one of the most successful newspaper management teams which inthe past 10 years has built up a sizeable cable networks division using excesscash flow from their newspapers and TV stations, but it has not been buyingnewspaper assets. Scrippss stock price in the last 10 years has led the pack, andis an indication of how good its strategy has been (we think the stock is overvalued

    at these levels, and the risk/ reward tilts to the downside, but that topic is for another

    research note).

    3) In our analysis, the most important paragraph in the Barrons article was thethird one, which says W arren Buffett recently bemoaned Internet competitionfor [newspaper] ads and readers who opt for papers free websites. Buffettknows newspapers; in fact, Berkshire Hathaway owns the Buffalo newspaper

    outright and owns 20% of W ashington Post. W hy has The Washington Post not

    bought newspapers for the 30 or more years Buffett has been on the board?

    Probably because of the long-term secular concerns. In fact, for much of the last five

    years, W ashington Post has been buying education assets, and for the prior five

    years buying cable assets, at attractive multiples. Newspapers? N owhere to befound on the acquisition calendar at Berkshire Hathaway or W ashington Post.

    Newspapers are currently

    buying Internet properties

    rather than additional

    newspapers.

    The most important

    paragraph in theBarrons

    article was the third one,

    which says Warren Buffett

    recently bemoaned Internet

    competition for [newspaper]

    ads and readers who opt for

    papers free websites.

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    4) W hy did the article fail to point out the historical 10-year trading range for themore pure-play newspaper companies, such as 6x-10.5x current year EBITDA,versus the current group average of 10x, or 9.5x for the more pure-plays?

    5) W e continue to think Street estimates are too optimistic for 2005 and 2006.W e estimate EPS will decline 6.5% for 2005 for the more pure-play

    newspapers/ TV broadcasters and will rise 4% in 2006 (helped by TV station

    Olympic/ political advertising). Most of our estimates are Street-low, and weremain concerned that our estimates are still too high.

    6) W hy did the article not mention the multiples of other media stocks? Privateequity firms have choices where they can place their bets within media and

    elsewhere. N ewspapers right now are one of the -most expensive sectors inU.S. media (at an average 10x 2005 estimated EBITDA, with Knight Ridder andTribune at the low end at 8.5x), versus historically being the cheapest in U.S.media in the prior 10 years. Only radio stocks are more expensive on this metricat 12x currently. The same is true for free cash flow multiples, as only cable is more

    expensive, at 36x 2005 free cash flow, versus 20x for newspapers (with a low

    among the large caps in Gannetts case at 15x). See Figure 3 for details.7) Most of the newspaper stocks still trade at a 0%25% premium to the S&P 500

    on a P/ E basis (exceptions being DJ GCI, SSP, and W PO), and the privateequity firms are supposed to put a significant premium on top of that? SeeFigure 2 for details. The newspaper stocks have underperformed the S&P 500 by

    approximately 15% since October 1; 20 04 , however, the group outperformed the

    S&P 500 by roughly 50%in 200102, and is still working it off to this day. 8) The newspaper stocks are the last place in U.S. media that we would advise a

    private equity firm to be sniffing around. W e think the newspaper stocks wi llbe significantly cheaper in perhaps two years, as secular issues becomeincreasingly apparent to investors, Street estimates get more in line with reality,

    investors realize that the group should not be trading at 10x EBITDA or at a premium

    to the S&P 500, and we start to see negative ad revenue growth, with or without a

    recession.9) Did the author of the Barrons article consider the exit strategy for a private

    equity firm that buys a major public newspaper company? Say a private equityfirm pays 11x13x 2005 EBITDA; how in, say, five years are they going to make a

    large profit off that? Are they going to take the newspaper entity public in fiveyears, when the group multiple may only be 50 % of that level? There is nothistorically been a great amount of interest in newspaper stocks from privateequity firms over the past 10 years (although the Freedom newspapersOrangeCountry Register, etc.were acquired by a private equity firm a couple of years

    ago at a 12x EBITDA multiple, we estimate).

    Newspapers right now are

    once of the -most expensive

    sectors in U.S. media.

    W e think the newspaper

    stocks will be significantly

    cheaper in perhaps

    two year .

    W hat is the exit strategy for a

    private equity firm?

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    10) In spring 2000, two public newspaper companies were acquired . Before theysold themselves, Central Newspapers (Phoenix and Indianapolis newspapers;

    company was sold to Gannett) was trading at 6x6.5x EBITDA and Times Mirror

    (The Los Angeles Times, N ewsday, Baltimore newspapers, etc.) was trading at 7.0x

    EBITDA; the newspaper group right now is trading today at a significantly more

    expensive 10x EBITDA on average.11) Importantly, after these two companies sold themselves in spring 2000, the

    newspaper group kept selling off and did not bottom until October 2000. W hen Pulitzer put itself up for sale in November 2004, the group kept selling off

    until where we are today.12)W e have been hearing about theories from others on the Street for over five

    years that several public newspaper companies will be taken out. W e think thisis a long, long time to continue to recommend stocks on something that has failed to

    happen.13)Because the 10 public newspaper companies we follow have already taken

    out significant expenses since peak 2000 levels, a private equity shop wouldnot have the major cost savings lever to play. (See Figure 10 or page 58 in ourmonthly Newspaper Fact Book for details which show how non-newsprint cash costs

    for the newspaper divisions have increased only 1% on average for 10 companies

    back to 2001 .) In fact, we have been somewhat critical that the publicnewspaper companies have taken out too much in costs, and are thereforereducing their long-term franchise valuei.e., hurting the editorial quality of theirnewspapers too much. W e believe a private equity firm would have to go even

    deeper in terms of cost cuts to make the financials work from their perspective, andin, say, five years when they look to unwind the position, they would likely have to

    argue to potential buyers that the newspaper franchise is worth significantly more. 14) In our view, there is really no debating the negative secular issues confronting

    the newspapers. For example, the chart on page 32 in our monthly NewspaperFact Book, Figure 20 shows how newspapers have only a 17% share of the U.S.advertising market, down from 25 % in 199 0 and 35% in 195 0, and marketshare is forecast to keep dropping annually (losing share to Internet, cable networks,

    direct mail, etc.). On page 46 in the same report, the graphs show the percentage

    of U.S. adults who read a daily newspaper is only 52% today, versus 75%80%

    3540 years ago. Even more worrisome is that currently only 39% of 18- to 34 -year-olds read a daily newspaper, down from 55%56 % in 19 90, while ofadults ages 55 and older nearly 70 % currently read a daily newspaper, whichhas been fairly steady.

    A private equity shop would

    not have the major cost

    savings lever to play.

    Newspapers have only a

    17%share of the U.S.

    advertising market, down

    from 25%in 1990 and 35%

    in 1950.

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    6 June 21 , 2005

    15)Bottom line is that anything is possible, and we believe the world is full ofsuboptimum investors. It is important to note, though, that newspaper stocks arenotcurrently trading at a low-end 6x EBITDA when takeout speculation would make

    more sense; rather they are trading at 10x EBITDA on average (versus a 10-year

    average of 6x10.5x for the more pure-play newspaper companies), and are not

    cheap compared to other subsectors in U.S. media or the S&P 500 and are tradingrelatively close to their takeout targets. W e believe investors would be better served

    analyzing the fundamentals and stock valuations rather than engage in takeover

    speculation in a group that is currently expensive. W e would get interested in select

    newspaper stocks at roughly 25%lower stock prices. W e maintain our newspaper

    sector rating of 3-Negative.

    W e would get interested in

    select newspaper stocks at

    roughly 25%lower

    stock prices.

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    June 21, 2005 7

    Figure 2: Newspaper Companies Comparative Valuation

    Knight New York Scripps, Washington Journal Journal Average

    Dow Jones Gannett Ridder Times E.W. Tribune Post Comm. Register McClatchy (Excl. DJ)

    Rating 1-Overweight 2-Equal weight 3-U nderweight 2-Equal weight 3-U nderweight 3-Underweight 1-O verweight 2-Equal weight 3-Underweight 3-Underweight --

    Recent Stock Price 35.18 74.98 62.75 32.11 49.10 36.47 853.50 16.53 17.31 67.96 --

    52-week High 46.10 87.50 74.23 45.89 54.00 47.12 999.50 19.10 20.66 76.05 --

    52-week Low 31.94 73.70 60.77 30.30 44.73 35.02 805.00 15.05 15.44 66.41 --

    Year-to-Date Stock Price Return -18.3% -8.2% -6.3% -21.3% 1.7% -13.5% -13.2% -8.5% -10.5% -5.4% -9.4%

    % Off 52-Week High -23.7% -14.3% -15.5% -30.0% -9.1% -22.6% -14.6% -13.5% -16.2% -10.6% -16.3%

    12-month Price Target 43.00 74.00 55.00 28.00 43.00 29.00 1000.00 15.00 13.00 58.00 --

    Dividend per Share 1.00 1.08 1.38 0.66 0.44 0.72 7.40 0.26 0.00 0.72 --

    Yield (%) 2.8% 1.4% 2.2% 2.1% 0.9% 2.0% 0.9% 1.6% 0.0% 1.1% 1.3%

    Earnings per Share

    2003 0.96 4.46 3.63 1.91 1.52 2.09 26.66 0.80 1.19 3.05 --

    2004(A) 1.21 4.92 3.89 1.96 1.74 2.25 34.59 0.99 1.23 3.38 --

    2005(E) 0.95 5.10 3.85 1.50 1.85 2.10 35.50 0.84 1.05 3.45 --

    2006(E) 1.50 5.50 4.05 1.55 2.15 2.05 45.00 0.95 1.10 3.70 --

    % Change 2004(A) vs. 2003 26.0 10.3 7.2 2.6 14.9 7.7 29.7 23.8 3.4 10.8 12.3

    % Change 2005(E) vs. 2004(A) -21.5 3.7 -1.0 -23.5 6.3 -6.7 2.6 -15.2 -14.6 2.1 -5.1

    % Change 2006(E) vs. 2005(E) 57.9 7.8 5.2 3.3 16.2 -2.4 26.8 13.1 4.8 7.2 9.1

    Valuation Ratios

    P/E - 2004(A) 29.1 15.2 16.1 16.4 28.2 16.2 24.7 16.7 14.1 20.1 18.6

    P/E - 2005(E) 37.0 14.7 16.3 21.4 26.5 17.4 24.0 19.7 16.5 19.7 19.6

    P/E - 2006(E) 23.5 13.6 15.5 20.7 22.8 17.8 19.0 17.4 15.7 18.4 17.9

    P/E Relative - 2004(A) 1.60 0.84 0.89 0.90 1.55 0.89 1.36 0.92 0.78 1.11 1.03

    P/E Relative - 2005(E) 2.24 0.89 0.99 1.29 1.60 1.05 1.45 1.19 1.00 1.19 1.18

    P/E Relative - 2006(E) 1.52 0.89 1.01 1.35 1.48 1.16 1.23 1.13 1.02 1.19 1.16

    Enterprise Value/EBITDA

    2004(A) 11.37 P 9.62 P 8.25 8.48 P 15.39 P 7.56 11.02 7.24 P 10.21 P 10.14 9.77

    2005(E) 12.52 P 9.65 P 8.49 10.26 P 13.89 P 8.34 10.68 8.21 11.36 9.92 10.09

    2006(E) 9.69 9.26 8.49 9.92 12.25 8.72 9.05 7.51 10.97 9.67 9.54

    Free Cash Flow per Share

    2004(A) 1.56 4.79 3.68 2.29 1.71 2.30 32.50 1.22 1.29 3.79 --

    2005(E) 1.46 5.01 3.59 1.92 1.65 2.19 31.91 0.79 1.22 3.63 --

    2006(E) 2.00 5.38 4.02 2.03 2.01 2.15 44.60 0.92 1.18 3.77 --

    Price/Free Cash Flow

    2004(A) 22.5 15.7 17.0 14.0 28.7 15.9 26.3 13.6 13.4 17.9 18.0

    2005(E) 24.1 15.0 17.5 16.8 29.7 16.7 26.8 20.9 14.1 18.7 19.6

    2006(E) 17.6 13.9 15.6 15.9 24.4 16.9 19.1 17.9 14.7 18.0 17.4

    Financial Data ($ mil)

    Revenue - 2005(E) 1,823 P 7,614 P 3,044 3,337 P 2,540 P 5,571 3,555 765 572 1,194 --

    EBITDA - 2005(E) 259 P 2,402 P 662 553 P 693 P 1,434 772 154 131 343 --

    EBITDA Margin (%) 14.2% 31.5% 21.7% 16.6% 27.3% 25.7% 21.7% 20.1% 22.9% 28.7% 24.0%

    Revenue - 2006(E) 1,976 7,905 3,095 3,376 2,828 5,460 3,887 795 583 1,231 --

    EBITDA - 2006(E) 335 2,503 661 572 786 1,373 911 169 136 352 --

    EBITDA Margin (%) 16.9% 31.7% 21.4% 16.9% 27.8% 25.1% 23.4% 21.2% 23.3% 28.6% 24.4%

    Market Capitalization ($ mil)

    Shares Outstanding (mil) 82.5 249.6 75.2 145.6 163.4 317.5 9.6 75.5 42.0 46.6 --

    Equity Market Capitalization 2,901 18,713 4,716 4,676 8,023 11,580 8,187 1,248 727 3,166 --

    Total Debt 578 P 4,908 P 1,450 P 1,191 978 P 2,185 444 29 762 253 --

    Cash 26 142 41 38 23 123 273 7 0 2 --

    Minority Interests 4 91 90 144 724 0 198 0 0 0

    Investments 215 400 600 300 70 1,675 313 4 0 13 --

    Enterprise Value 3,242 23,170 5,615 5,673 9,632 11,967 8,243 1,266 1,489 3,404 --

    Debt-to-Capital 78.0% 37.4% 53.5% 44.6% 17.4% 20.6% 15.0% 5.5% 78.2% 14.8% 31.9%

    Net Debt/EBITDA (2005A) 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.1 1.4 1.4 0.2 0.1 5.8 0.7 1.8

    EPS CAGR (2004-06E) 11.3% 5.7% 2.0% -8.2% 11.2% -4.5% 14.1% -2.0% -5.4% 4.6% 1.9%

    EBITDA CAGR (2004-06E) 8.3% 1.9% -1.5% -5.8% 12.1% -6.9% 10.4% -1.8% -3.5% 2.4% 0.8%

    FCF CAGR (2004-06E) 13.2% 6.0% 4.4% -3.5% 8.4% -3.2% 17.1% -13.0% -4.6% -0.3% 1.3%

    E = Lehman Brothers estimates A= Actual P = Pro forma

    Note: Revenue and EBITDA multiples are pro forma, as needed, for full year for acquisitions/divestitures.

    EPS and free cash flow estimates are from transaction closing date forward.

    Free cash flow = Net Income + D&A - Capital Expenditures

    New York Times includes stock option expensing starting in 2005 (full-year). For EPS/EBITDA/FCF CAGRs, the 2004 base year is pro forma for stock option expensing.

    Small/Mid-Cap Newspapers

    Source: Lehman Brothers

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    Figure 3: Cross Media Comparative Valuation

    10-Year Range* 2005(E) 2006(E) 2005(E) 2006(E)

    Newspapers

    Dow Jones 12.5 9.7 24.1 17.6

    Gannett 9.6 9.3 15.0 13.9

    Knight Ridder 8.5 8.5 17.5 15.6

    New York Times 10.3 9.9 16.8 15.9Scripps, E.W. 13.9 12.3 29.7 24.4

    Tribune 8.3 8.7 16.7 16.9

    Washington Post 10.7 9.0 26.8 19.1

    Journal Comm. 8.2 7.5 20.9 17.9

    Journal Register 11.4 11.0 14.1 14.7

    McClatchy 9.9 9.7 18.7 18.0

    Average (excl. Dow Jones) 6-10.5** 10.1 9.5 19.6 17.4

    Radio

    Clear Channel 10.5 9.5 11.5 12.5

    Cox Radio 12.2 11.6 16.6 14.6

    Cumulus 12.6 11.9 11.1 11.2

    Emmis 13.1 12.1 13.2 12.0

    Entercom 11.7 11.0 12.2 11.9

    Radio One 12.8 11.9 13.8 13.1

    Average 10-25 12.2 11.3 13.1 12.6

    Hispanic

    Entravision 15.8 13.5 33.7 17.6

    Spanish Broadcasting 17.7 14.8 31.1 12.3

    Univision 15.5 13.4 33.5 22.7

    Average 15-50 16.3 13.9 32.8 17.5

    Television

    Hearst-Argyle TV 11.4 10.0 18.7 16.0

    Nexstar Broadcasting 11.8 9.4 38.1 5.9

    Sinclair Broadcast 11.4 9.9 15.9 9.0

    Average 9-13 11.5 9.8 24.2 10.3

    Outdoor

    Lamar 11-17 13.0 11.9 15.8 13.0

    Yellow Pages

    Dex Media 9.7 9.5 8.6 7.5

    RH Donnelley 10.0 9.6 7.9 7.3

    Average 8-10 9.8 9.6 8.2 7.4

    Large Cap. Entertainment

    Disney 10.0 8.8 16.8 13.8

    News Corp. 8.2 7.4 14.9 14.7

    Liberty 8.2 6.9 -- --

    Viacom 10.0 8.8 17.5 14.8

    Average 9-18 9.1 8.0 16.4 14.4

    Cable

    Cablevision 8.2 6.6 23.8 18.9

    Liberty Global 7.5 6.0 50.9 38.0

    Average 8-13 7.9 6.3 37.4 28.5

    E = Lehman Brothers Estimates * = 10-year historical range using the current year EBITDA

    ** = Range is for the more pure-play newspaper companies

    Note: EBITDA Multiple = Enterprise Value / EBITDA; Free Cash Flow Multiple = Price / Free Cash Flow

    EBITDA multiples are pro forma, as needed, for full year for acquisitions/divestitures.

    EBITDA Multiple Free Cash Flow Multiple

    Source: Lehman Brothers (Newspapers Craig Huber; Radio/ Hispanic/ Television/ Outdoor/ Yellow Pages Bill Meyers; Large Cap. Entertainment/ Cable Vijay Jayant)

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    Figure 4: Multiples Paid in Selected N ewspaper Transactions, 19972005A

    Aggregate Trailing Trailing Daily

    Value Revenue EBITDA Circulation Daily

    Date Buyer Seller ($ mil) ($ mil) ($ mil) (000) Revenue EBITDA Circulation

    2005

    May-05 Lee Enterprises Pulitzer 1,460.0 443.7 108.1 578.4 3.3 13.5 2,524

    2005 Average 3.3 13.5 2,524

    2004

    Aug-04 Journal Register 21st Century Newspapers (Michigan) 415.0 156.0 35.0 137.5 2.7 11.9 3,018

    Jan-04 McClatchy Merced Sun-Star 40.5 13.0 2.5 17.4 3.1 16.2 2,328

    2004 Average 2.9 14.0 2,673

    2003

    May-03 Dow Jones The Record of Stockton, CA 144.0 37.0 10.6 59.3 3.9 13.6 2,430

    Jan-03 New York Times Wash. Post - 50% share of Int'l Herald Tribune 130.0 80.0 -- 264.0 1.6 -- 492

    2003 Average 2.8 13.6 1,461

    2002

    Apr-02 Eagle-Tribune Dow Jones - Essex County Newspapers 70.0 28.0 7.0 E 59.6 2.5 10.0 1,175

    Apr-02 Lee Enterprises Howard Publications 694.0 208.0 60.3 E 479.0 3.3 11.5 1,449

    Feb-02 Com munity Newspaper Hol dings Dow Jones - 4 sm all daily newspapers 182.0 47.0 14.0 E 95.9 3.9 13.0 1,897

    2002 Average 3.2 11.5 1,507

    2001

    Oct-01 Journal Register Arthur L. Carter (private) 3.8 E 2.5 0.4 E -- 1.5 9.5 --

    Sep-01 Journal Register Gannett 42.9 E 13.0 3.9 E 19.0 3.3 11.0 2,258

    Aug-01 Journal Register Roe Jan Independent Publishing 3.0 E 2.0 0.3 E -- 1.5 10.0 --

    Jun-01 Journal Register Metroweek 25.2 E 18.0 2.5 E -- 1.4 10.1 --

    Feb-01 Journal Register Chesapeake Publishing 7.0 E 3.0 0.6 E -- 2.3 11.7 --

    2001 Average 2.0 10.4 2,258

    2000

    Oct-00 Freedom Journal Register 65.0 15.4 5.7 28.0 4.2 11.4 2,317

    Aug-00 Pulitzer Journal Register 165.0 45.0 12.8 242.9 3.7 12.9 679

    Aug-00 Media General Thomson 237.0 50.0 16.0 90.0 4.7 14.8 2,633

    Jun-00 Gannett Central Newspapers 2,800.0 775.0 220.0 841.3 3.6 12.7 3,328

    Jul-00 Gannett Thomson 1,036.0 215.0 64.5 424.0 4.8 16.1 2,443

    Jun-00 Gannett Newscom 802.0 225.0 55.5 350.0 3.6 14.5 2,291

    Mar-00 Tribune Times Mirror 5,907.6 2,515.0 515.4 2,382.6 2.3 11.5 2,479

    Jan-00 New York Times Worcester Telegram & Gazette 295.0 82.0 25.4 107.0 3.6 11.6 2,757

    2000 Average 3.8 13.2 2,366

    1999

    Oct-99 Pulitzer Pantagraph 180.0 29.0 9.7 354.6 6.2 18.5 508

    Aug-99 Hearst San Francisco Chronicle 660.0 -- -- -- -- -- --

    Jun-99 Gannett Newsquest 1,721.5 507.6 155.0 5,121.7 3.4 11.1 336

    May-99 Media News Denver Newspapers - 20% stake Media General 460.0 233.4 -- 370.4 2.0 -- 1,242

    May-99 Johnston Press Portsmouth and Sunderland News (82.7% stake) 410.9 -- -- -- -- -- --

    Feb-99 Evercore Capital Partners American Media 840.2 298.8 102.5 714.3 2.8 8.2 1,176

    Feb-99 Times Mirror Newport Media 125.0 -- -- -- -- -- --

    1999 Average 3.6 12.6 815

    1998

    Dec-98 Torstar Corp Quebecor (Sun Media) 225.0 -- 18.8 -- -- 12.0 --

    Dec-98 Quebecor Sun Media 864.5 -- -- -- -- -- --

    Dec-98 Community Newspaper Holdings Hollinger International 475.0 -- -- 900.0 -- -- 528

    Nov-98 WEHCO Media Chattanooga Times -- -- -- 41.3 -- -- --Sep-98 Seattle Times (Blethen Corp) Guy Gannett Communications 200.0 71.4 12.6 242.0 2.8 15.9 --

    Jul-98 Community Newspaper Holdings Donrey Media Group 183.0 46.0 -- -- 4.0 12.2 --

    Aug-98 Hollinger Canadian Publishing Southam 170.8 861.8 -- 1,600.0 0.2 8.3 107

    Jul-98 Mirror Group Newspapers Derry Journal 29.9 -- -- 75.9 -- -- 394

    May-98 Journal Register Goodson Newspaper 300.0 68.9 -- 360.0 4.4 14.0 833

    May-98 Rural Press Canberra Times 92.8 -- -- -- -- -- --

    May-98 Huckle Publishing Mainstream Publications 26.5 -- -- -- -- -- --

    Apr-98 Orient Publishing Home Counties Newspapers Holdings 92.7 64.3 -- -- 1.4 15.6 --

    Mar-98 Bonnier Group Tidnings Marieberg AB 559.7 -- -- -- -- -- --

    Feb-98 Investor Group United Provincial Newspapers 591.9 228.2 -- -- 2.6 -- --

    Feb-98 Com munity Newspaper Hol ding Media General - Kentucky Publi shing 23.8 -- -- 8.7 -- -- 2,736

    Feb-98 Southnews United-Utd Southern Publications 77.6 -- -- -- -- -- --

    1998 Average 2.6 13.0 919

    1997

    Nov-97 McClatchy Newspapers Minneapolis Star Tribune (Cowles) 1,380.0 492.6 93.9 -- 2.8 14.7 --

    Nov-97 Leonard Green & Partners Hollinger International 310.0 103.0 31.0 -- 3.0 10.0 --

    Jul-97 Harte-Hanks Communications ABC Shoppers Group (ABC) 503.0 -- -- -- -- -- --

    Jul-97 Lee Enterprises Pacific Northwest Publishing 185.0 -- -- -- -- -- --

    Jul-97 Mirror Group Newspapers Midland Independent Newspapers 501.2 189.4 36.1 -- 2.6 13.9 --

    May-97 E.W. Scripps Harte-Hanks Communications-Media Assets 775.0 144.7 64.6 231 5.4 12.0 3,355

    Apr-97 Knight Ridder Walt Disney-ABC Newspapers 1,650.0 500.0 150.0 -- 3.3 11.0 --

    Jan-97 Community Newspaper Media General 107.0 -- -- -- -- -- --1997 Average 3.4 12.3 3,355

    1997-2005 Average 3.1 12.5 1,767

    E = Lehman Brothers estimates

    Note: Tribune's purchase of Times Mirror has been adjusted for the sale of Times Mirror's non-newspaper assets.

    For Journal Register, in 2001 most of the newspapers purchased were non-dailies.

    Aggregate value of May 1999 Media News acquisition of 20% of Denver Newspapers shown is the implied 100% value.

    Aggregate value of Jan. 2003 New York Times acquisition of 50% of I nternational Herald Tribune shown is the implied 100% value.

    Aggregate Value as a Multiple of

    Summary Data for

    Acquired Co.

    Source: Company reports and Lehman Brothers estimates

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    Figure 5: Newspaper Advertising Revenue as a Percentage of Total U.S. Advertising Revenue, 19502006E

    E = Lehman Brothers estimates A = Actual

    0%

    5%

    10%

    15%

    20%

    25%

    30%

    35%

    40%

    1950

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    200

    4(A)

    200

    6(E)

    Newspaper Advertising Market Share

    Source: Advertising Age, N ewspaper Association of America, Lehman Brothers

    Figure 6: N ominal GDP % Change versus Newspaper Ad Revenue % Change, 19502006E

    E = Lehman Brothers estimates A = Actual

    -15%

    -10%

    -5%

    0%

    5%

    10%

    15%

    20%

    1950

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    2004

    (A)

    2006

    (E)

    %C

    hange

    Nominal GDP % Change Newspaper Ad Revenue % Change

    Source: Advertising Age, N ewspaper Association of America, Lehman Brothers

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    Figure 7: Percentage of Adults W ho Read a Daily Newspaper, 19642004

    40%

    45%

    50%

    55%

    60%

    65%

    70%

    75%

    80%

    85%

    1964

    1967

    1970

    1971

    1973

    1974/75

    1977/78

    1978/79

    1979

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    1990

    1991

    1992

    1993

    1994

    1995

    1996

    1997

    1998

    1999

    2000

    2001

    2002

    2003

    2004

    Percentage of All U.S. Adults Who Read A Daily Newspaper

    Source: 1964 N elson Media Service: Newspapers A.C. N ielsen Company (1964), W .R. Simmons & Associates (1967-1977 / 78 ), Study of Media & Markets (1978/ 79 -

    1994 ), Simmons Market Research Bureau, Inc. (1996/ 97 ), Scarborough Research - Top 5 0 Market Report (1998-2004 )

    Figure 8: Percentage of U.S. Adults Who Read a Daily N ewspaper - By Age Group, 19672004

    20%

    30%

    40%

    50%

    60%

    70%

    80%

    90%

    1967

    1970

    1971

    1973

    1974/75

    1977/78

    1978/79

    1979

    1980

    1981

    1982

    1983

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    1986

    1987

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    1989

    1990

    1991

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    1994

    1995

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    1997

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    2001

    2002

    2003

    2004

    55+ Age Group

    18-34 Year Olds

    Source: 1964 N elson Media Service: Newspapers A.C. N ielsen Company (1964), W .R. Simmons & Associates (1967-1977 / 78 ), Study of Media & Markets (1978/ 79 -

    1994 ), Simmons Market Research Bureau, Inc. (1996/ 97 ), Scarborough Research - Top 5 0 Market Report (1998-2004 )

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    Figure 9: Total Newspaper Company Circulation (for six-month periods ending March 31)

    Company/Newspaper 2004 2005 % Change 2004 2005 % Change

    Dow Jones

    Wall Street Journal 2,101,017 2,070,498 -1.5% -- -- --

    Ottaway Newspapers 428,568 437,101 2.0% 470,041 481,490 2.4%

    Gannett

    USA Today 2,280,761 2,281,831 0.0% -- -- --

    Community Newspapers (100 in total) 5,372,239 5,258,798 -2.1% 6,870,120 6,667,935 -2.9%

    Knight Ridder - total circulation 3,787,983 3,718,491 -1.8% 5,167,897 5,049,493 -2.3%

    New York Times

    New York Times 1,133,763 1,136,433 0.2% 1,677,003 1,680,582 0.2%

    Boston Globe 452,109 434,330 -3.9% 686,575 672,882 -2.0%

    Regionals 638,156 639,068 0.1% 693,569 690,266 -0.5%

    Total circulation 2,224,028 2,209,831 -0.6% 3,057,147 3,043,730 -0.4%

    Scripps - total circulation excluding JOA's 932,000 904,000 -3.0% 1,157,000 1,110,000 -4.1%

    Tribune - total circulation 2,854,693 2,666,861 -6.6% 4,238,682 3,943,085 -7.0%

    Washington Post - flagship 772,553 751,871 -2.7% 1,025,579 1,000,565 -2.4%

    Journal Comm. - Milwaukee 244,893 242,819 -0.8% 430,755 411,749 -4.4%

    Journal Register - total circulation 639,000 617,000 -3.4% 678,000 645,000 -4.9%

    McClatchy - total circulation 1,433,651 1,434,258 0.0% 1,866,298 1,822,316 -2.4%

    Total (for ten companies) 23,071,386 22,593,359 -2.1% 24,961,519 24,175,363 -3.1%

    Total (excluding Tribune) 20,216,693 19,926,497 -1.4% 20,722,837 20,232,278 -2.4%

    Overall Newspaper Industry Circulation 48,311,581 47,374,033 -1.9% 52,398,158 51,073,104 -2.5%

    Note: Knight Ridder figures include company estimates for San Jose Mercury News.

    Tribune figures exclude Newsday due to previous circulation misstatements.

    Overall newspaper industry circulation includes 814 daily newspapers and 643 Sunday newspapers.

    JOA = Joint Operating Agreement

    Daily Sunday

    Source: Audit Bureau of Circulations eFASFAX statement for the period ended M arch 31 , 200 5, and N ewspaper Association of America

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    Figure 10: Newspaper Division N on-Newsprint Cash Costs (% change), 200107E

    Knight New York Scripps, Washington Journal Journal

    Dow Jones Gannett Ridder Times E.W. Tribune Post Comm. Register McClatchy Average

    2001 Annual -5.7 -3.5 -5.8 -2.2 1.5 -2.3 -2.8 -- 0.2 1.2 -2.2

    2002 Annual -5.7 3.3 1.5 3.3 3.2 -0.5 0.1 -- 0.2 0.7 0.7

    2003 Annual -2.2 2.4 2.7 2.5 2.5 1.8 2.3 -0.4 0.7 3.7 1.6

    1Q 5.9 4.5 2.6 3.0 7.5 4.0 0.0 -5.5 1.9 3.5 2.7

    2Q 4.3 4.5 2.5 2.7 5.6 4.8 7.8 -1.4 2.1 5.0 3.8

    3Q 1.5 5.0 2.0 3.3 8.3 2.0 4.5 2.2 0.8 2.5 3.2

    4Q -0.8 5.0 3.3 4.5 7.2 1.5 4.8 0.2 3.3 3.3 3.2

    2004(A) Annual 2.7 4.8 2.6 3.4 7.2 3.1 4.3 -1.1 2.0 3.6 3.2

    1Q(A) 0.0 2.6 2.6 4.1 0.2 -1.5 4.5 4.5 2.4 2.2 2.2

    2Q(E) 4.2 2.7 1.7 5.8 1.4 -1.4 2.0 3.0 3.7 1.1 2.4

    3Q(E) 7.5 2.1 1.2 2.0 2.1 -1.8 2.0 3.0 1.6 3.2 2.3

    4Q(E) 10.0 1.9 1.9 3.6 2.4 -1.8 2.0 3.2 3.5 2.3 2.9

    2005(E) Annual 5.4 2.3 1.9 3.9 1.5 -1.6 2.6 3.4 2.8 2.2 2.4

    2006(E) Annual 3.9 3.2 1.6 -0.3 2.3 -2.4 2.4 2.3 0.8 2.5 1.6

    2007(E) Annual 3.8 2.5 2.3 1.3 2.5 0.5 3.1 3.0 1.9 2.5 2.3

    E = Lehman Brothers estimates A = Actual

    Note: Above figures adjusted for acquisitions/divestitures and "one-time items".

    Dow Jones 2005/06 figures include costs for new weekend edition of Wall Street Journal.

    New York Times includes stock option expensing starting in 2005 (full-year).

    Washington Post figures are adjusted to exclude extra week in 4Q'04 due to fiscal reporting.

    Source: Company reports and Lehman Brothers estimates

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    Price Target Methodologies and Investment Risks

    Our 12-month price target on shares of Dow Jones is $43, which is derived as theaverage of the following three methodologies. 1) Our 10-year discounted cash flow

    analysisusing a weighted average cost of capital (WACC) of 11 .0%, a long-term free

    cash flow growth rate of 4.0%, and a terminal free cash flow multiple of 14.4x, or an

    implied terminal EBITDA multiple of 8.0xputs fair value at $43. 2) A target multiple of12x estimated 2006 EBITDA puts fair value at $45 per share (which works out to 30.0x

    2006E EPS and 22.5x FCF). 3) Our sum-of-the-parts analysis puts fair value at $41

    based on 2006 EBITDA multiples, 14x for Print Publishing (mostly The Wall Street

    Journal), 10.5x for Electronic Publishing, 11.8x for MarketWatch (pro forma full year),

    and 8.5x for the Community Newspapers, an approximate $434 million hit to the

    overall valuation for corporate expenses, $215 million in estimated value for the equity

    portfolio using revenue and EBITDA multiples, and net debt of approximately $552

    million and shares outstanding of 82.5 million.

    Our 12-month price target on shares of Gannett is $74 which is derived as theaverage of the following three methodologies: 1) Our 10-year discounted cash flow

    analysis puts fair value at $76 (using a W ACC of 10.4%, a long-term free cash flow

    growth rate of 4.0%, and a 1 5.7 terminal free cash flow multiple or an implied terminal

    EBITDA multiple of 9.2x). 2) A target multiple of 9.0x estimated 2006 EBITDA, or $72

    per share (which works out to 13.1x 2006E EPS and 13.4x FCF). 3) Our sum-of-the-

    parts analysis puts fair value at $74 (based on applying a 2006E EBITDA multiple of

    9.0x for the newspaper division and a multiple of 10.5x for the TV station group,

    adjusting down the overall valuation by an estimated $507.5 million for corporate

    expenses, and taking into account net debt of $4.7 billion, an estimated $400 million in

    investments, and shares outstanding of 249.6 million).

    Our 12-month price target on shares of KnightRdder is $55, which is derived as theaverage of the following two methodologies: 1) our 10-year discounted cash flow

    analysis (using a W ACC of 10.4%, a long-term free cash flow growth rate of 3.8%, and

    a terminal free cash flow multiple of 15.3 or an implied terminal EBITDA multiple of

    7.9x), which puts fair value at $55; and 2) a target multiple of 7.5x estimated 2006

    EBITDA, or $54 per share (which works out to 13.3x 2006E EPS and 13.4x FCF).

    Our 12-month price target on shares of N ewYorkTimes is $28, which is derived asthe average of: 1) our 10-year discounted cash flow analysis puts fair value at $28

    (using a W ACC of 10.6%, a long-term free cash flow growth rate of 3.8%, and a

    terminal free cash flow multiple of 14.8x or an implied terminal EBITDA multiple of 8.5x;

    and 2) a target multiple of 9.0x estimated 2006 EBITDA, or $28 per share (which

    works out to 18.1x 2006E EPS and 13.8x FCF).

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    Our 12-month price target on shares of Scripps is $43, which is derived as theaverage of the following three methodologies. 1) Our 10-year discounted cash flow

    analysis puts fair value at $40 (using a W ACC of 10.3%, a long-term free cash flow

    growth rate of 4.3%, and a terminal free cash flow multiple of 16.5 or an implied

    terminal EBITDA multiple of 8.4x). 2) A target multiple of 11.0x estimated 2006 EBITDA,

    or $44 per share (which works out to 20.5x 2006E EPS and 21.9x FCF). 3) Our sum-of-the-parts analysis puts fair value at $46 based on 2006E EBITDA multiples (8.0x for

    the newspapers, 9.0x for the TV stations, 12.0x for Home & Garden TV, 13.0x for Food

    Network, 6.0x for licensing and other), and a value of $350 million for Do It Yourself,

    $250 million for Fine Living, $15 0 million for Shop At Home Network, $10 0 million for

    Great American Country Network (GAC), $400 million for newly acquired Shopzilla,

    docking $502.5 million in value for corporate expenses at a multiple of 10.8, and

    taking into account net debt of $955 million, and shares outstanding of 163.4 million.

    Our 12-month price target on shares of Tribune is $29, which is derived as theaverage of the following three methodologies. 1) Our 10-year discounted cash flow

    analysis puts fair value at $29 (using a W ACC of 10.8%, a long-term free cash flow

    growth rate of 3.0%, and a terminal free cash flow multiple of 12.8x, or an implied

    terminal EBITDA multiple of 6.8x). 2) A target multiple of 7.0x estimated 2006 EBITDA,

    or $29 per share (which works out to 14.1x 2006E EPS and 13.5x FCF). 3) Our sum-

    of-the-parts analysis puts fair value at $31 per share (based on a 2006E EBITDA multiple

    of 7.0 for the newspapers, a multiple of 8.5 for the broadcasting and entertainment

    division, a $395.6 million reduction in value for corporate expenses, $300 million in

    value assigned to the Chicago Cubs, $1.675 billion in value of the equity portfolio, net

    debt of $2.06 billion, assumed $475 million for an estimated 50% of potential Times

    Mirror tax liability, and shares outstanding of 317.5 million).

    Our 12-month price target on shares of W ashingtonPost is $1,000 which is derivedas the average of the following three methodologies. 1) Our 10-year discounted cash

    flow analysis puts fair value at $1,000 per share (using a W ACC of 10.3%, a long-term

    free cash flow growth rate of 4.5%, and a terminal free cash flow multiple of 17.3x, or

    an implied terminal EBITDA multiple of 8.9x). 2) A target multiple of 10.5x estimated

    2006 EBITDA, or $990 per share (which works out to 22.0x 2006E EPS and 22.2x

    FCF). 3) Our sum-of-the-parts valuation puts fair value at $1,012 per share based on

    2006 EBITDA multiples, 8.0 for the newspaper division, a multiple of 10.0 for

    broadcasting, a multiple of 9.0 for magazines, a multiple of 9.5 for cable, and a

    multiple of 15.0 for the 95 .2% education stake. Docking the overall valuation by

    approximately $368 million for corporate expenses, and taking into account net debt of

    $170.9 million, $312.7 million for the equity investment portfolio, and 9.59 million

    shares outstanding, gives us fair value.

    Our 12-month price target on shares of Journal Communications is $15, which isderived as the average of the following three methodologies: 1) our 10-year discounted

    cash flow analysis puts fair value at $1 4 (using a W ACC of 10.8%, a long-term free

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    cash flow growth rate of 3.5%, and a terminal free cash flow multiple of 13.8 or an

    implied terminal EBITDA multiple of 6.4); 2) a target multiple of 6.75x estimated 2006

    EBITDA equates to $15 per share (which results in 15.8x 2006 estimated EPS and

    16.3x FCF); and 3) Our sum-of-the-parts analysis puts fair value at $16 based on the

    following 2006 EBITDA multiples by segmentmultiple of 8.0 for the newspapers,

    multiple of 9.5 for the TV stations, multiple of 10.0 for the radio stations, multiple of 5.0for the printing services operation, multiple of 7.5 for the other category, multiple of 3.5

    for telecommunications, and net debt outstanding of $2.3 million and shares outstanding

    of 75.5 million. This works out to a blended 2005E EBITDA multiple of 7.4x for all

    these businesses, or 8.6x for the media businesses.

    Our 12-month price target on shares of JournalRegister is $13 which is derived as theaverage of the following two methodologies: 1) our 10-year discounted cash flow

    analysis puts fair value at $10 (using a W ACC of 10.1%, a long-term free cash flow

    growth rate of 3.8%, and a terminal free cash flow multiple of 16.0x or an implied

    terminal EBITDA multiple of 9.0x); and 2) a target multiple of 10.0x estimated 2006

    EBITDA, or $13 per share (which results in 11.8x 2006 estimated EPS and 11.0x

    FCF).Our 12-month price target on shares of McClatchy is $58, which is derived as the

    average of the following two methodologies: 1) our 10-year discounted cash flow

    analysis puts fair value at $59 (using a W ACC of 10.4%, a long-term free cash flow

    growth rate of 4.0%, and a terminal free cash flow multiple of 15.6x, or an implied

    terminal EBITDA multiple of 8.0x); and 2) a multiple target of 8.25x estimated 2006

    EBITDA, or $57 per share (which is 15.4x 2006 estimated EPS and 15.1x FCF). Investment Risks

    Rsks that may impede the achievement of our price targets for the 10 newspaperswe cover, in our view, include: 1) the U.S. economy does not continue to recover over

    the next 1218 months, and thus the advertising rebound we expect never materializes;

    2) national and/ or local advertisers make a secular shift out of newspapers and move

    their advertising budgets to the TV networks/ stations, cable networks, the trade press,

    business/ weekly magazines, and/ or cut them altogether; 3 ) secular deterioration occurs

    at a faster rate in newspaper classified advertising (help wanted, in particular) and a

    continued migration to third-party online sites; 4) newsprint prices rise faster than we

    expect in 2005 and 2006; 5) a company starts to expand its cost base again in

    anticipation of better economic times that do not occur in the coming years; 6) a

    company undertakes a large, expensive acquisition and/ or the integration of an

    acquisition does not go smoothly; 7) the proposed loosening of media ownership rules

    and regulations fail or are tightened; 8) current circulation figures from the companys

    newspapers are not correct and must be restated downward; and 9) recent larger than

    normal newspaper circulation volume drops lead to lack of advertising pricing power

    and/ or ad volume decreases.

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    Risks specific to each company that may impede the achievement of our price targets, in

    our view, which are not aforementioned, include the following:

    Dow Jones: 1) Employment levels on the sell side and/ or the buy side deteriorate,putting pressure on Dow Jones Newswires; 2) tombstone advertising suffers from a lack

    of public offerings and/ or investment banks choose not to place tombstone advertising inThe Wall Street Journal; 3) a stock market downturn leads to fewer advertisements from

    money management firms and/ or investment banks; and 4) other advertisers look for

    alternative publications in which to place their ads.

    Gannett: 1) TV stations suffer from a slowdown in advertising; and 2) the large U.K.newspaper operation is negatively affected by an advertising slowdown in that market

    and/ or currency hurts the overall performance in U.S. dollars.

    N ew York Times: 1) TV stations suffer from a slowdown in advertising; and 2) localeconomic trends in New York City and/ or Boston deteriorate worse than the national

    average.

    Scripps: 1) TV stations suffer from a slowdown in advertising; 2) investors lofty revenueand ratings expectations for Scripps Networks do not materialize; and 3 ) the company

    stumbles trying to turn around the Shop At Home Network.

    Tribune: 1) TV stations suffer from a slowdown in advertising; 2) ratings on the WBnetwork fall significantly and hurt Tribunes large WB TV station portfolio; 3 ) the

    possibility of a $900 million payout for a tax liability inherited in the Times Mirror

    acquisition of 2000.

    W ashington Post: 1) TV stations and/ or its magazines suffer from a slowdown inadvertising; 2) a major falloff in the number of cable subscribers occurs; and 3) revenue

    growth at the education division slows significantly and/ or regulation changes have an

    impact on the business.

    Journal Communications: 1) TV stations suffer from a slowdown in advertising; 2) thepossibility that continued margin expansion in all segments, particularly newspapers and

    broadcasting, does not materialize as expected; 3) there is significant deterioration in the

    telecommunications business; 4) the company loses some or all of its business from a

    major client, including MCI, Global Crossing, Dell, and Miller Brewing; and 5)

    continued pricing pressure in the commercial printing businesses.

    McClatchy: 1) Advertising in one or both of McClatchys two largest newspapermarkets, California and Minneapolis, deteriorates much faster than the national average,

    thus putting downward pressure on advertising overall at McClatchy.

    Data in this report are priced as of the close of business, June 20, 2 00 5.

  • 8/7/2019 050621 LEH Newspaper LBO Piece

    18/18

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