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Graham Holdings Company Reports 2014 and Fourth Quarter Earnings

February 20, 2015 at 8:31 AM EST

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 20, 2015-- Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) today reported net income attributable to common shares of $1,293.0 million ($195.03 per share) for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to $236.0 million ($32.05 per share) for the year ended December 31, 2013. Net income includes $372.2 million ($56.15 per share) and $64.0 million ($8.69 per share) in income from discontinued operations for 2014 and 2013, respectively. Income from continuing operations attributable to common shares was $920.7 million ($138.88 per share) for 2014, compared to $172.0 million ($23.36 per share) for 2013. For the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company reported net income attributable to common shares of $334.4 million ($57.41 per share), compared to $156.5 million ($21.14 per share) for the same period of 2013. Net income includes $2.3 million ($0.40 per share) and $106.3 million ($14.37 per share) in income from discontinued operations for the fourth quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company reported income from continuing operations attributable to common shares of $332.1 million ($57.01 per share) for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to $50.1 million ($6.77 per share) for the same period of 2013. (Refer to "Discontinued Operations" discussion below.)

In connection with the Berkshire exchange transaction that closed on June 30, 2014, the Company acquired 1,620,190 shares of its Class B common stock, resulting in 11% and 21% fewer diluted shares outstanding in 2014 and the fourth quarter of 2014, respectively, versus the same periods in 2013.

The results for 2014 and 2013 were affected by a number of items as described in the following paragraphs. Excluding these items, income from continuing operations attributable to common shares was $254.4 million ($38.40 per share) for 2014, compared to $215.8 million ($29.34 per share) for 2013. Excluding these items, income from continuing operations attributable to common shares was $100.8 million ($17.31 per share) for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to $74.8 million ($10.13 per share) for the fourth quarter of 2013. (Refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Information schedule attached to this release for additional details.)

Items included in the Company’s income from continuing operations for 2014 are listed below, and fourth quarter activity, if any, is highlighted for each item:

  • $31.6 million in early retirement program expense and related charges, restructuring charges and software asset write-offs at the education division and the corporate office (after-tax impact of $20.2 million, or $3.05 per share); $3.0 million of these charges were recorded in the fourth quarter (after-tax impact of $1.9 million, or $0.33 per share);
  • $17.3 million in fourth quarter noncash intangible and other long-lived assets impairment charges at Kaplan and Other Businesses (after-tax impact of $11.2 million, or $1.69 per share);
  • $396.6 million fourth quarter gain from the sale of Classified Ventures (after-tax impact of $249.8 million, or $37.68 per share);
  • $90.9 million gain from the Classified Ventures’ sale of apartments.com (after-tax impact of $58.2 million, or $8.78 per share);
  • $266.7 million gain from the Berkshire exchange transaction (after-tax impact of $266.7 million, or $40.23 per share);
  • $127.7 million gain on the sale of the corporate headquarters building (after-tax impact of $81.8 million, or $12.34 per share);
  • $75.2 million gain from the sale of wireless licenses at the cable division (after-tax impact of $48.2 million, or $7.27 per share); and
  • $11.1 million in non-operating unrealized foreign currency losses (after-tax impact of $7.1 million, or $1.08 per share); $8.5 million in losses were recorded in the fourth quarter (after-tax impact of $5.5 million, or $0.94 per share).

Items included in the Company’s income from continuing operations for 2013 are listed below, and fourth quarter activity, if any, is highlighted for each item:

  • $36.4 million in severance and restructuring charges at the education division (after-tax impact of $25.3 million, or $3.46 per share); $18.1 million of these charges were recorded in the fourth quarter (after-tax impact of $12.2 million, or $1.66 per share);
  • a fourth quarter $3.3 million noncash intangible assets impairment charge at Kaplan (after-tax impact of $3.2 million, or $0.44 per share);
  • a fourth quarter $10.4 million write-down of a marketable equity security (after-tax impact of $6.7 million, or $0.91 per share); and
  • $13.4 million in non-operating unrealized foreign currency losses (after-tax impact of $8.6 million, or $1.17 per share); $4.0 million in losses were recorded in the fourth quarter (after-tax impact of $2.6 million, or $0.35 per share).

Revenue for 2014 was $3,535.2 million, up 4% from $3,407.9 million in 2013. Revenues increased at the television broadcasting division and in other businesses, offset by a small decline at the cable and education divisions. Operating income for 2014 increased to $407.9 million, from $319.2 million in 2013. Operating results improved at all reporting segments and benefited from an increase in the net pension credit.

For the fourth quarter of 2014, revenue was $925.3 million, up 7% from $867.2 million in 2013. Revenues increased at the television broadcasting division and in other businesses, were flat at the education division and lower at the cable division. The Company reported operating income of $146.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to $97.4 million in 2013. Operating results improved at all reporting segments.

On June 30, 2014, the Company and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. completed a transaction in which Berkshire acquired a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company that included, among other things, WPLG, a Miami-based television station, 2,107 Class A Berkshire shares and 1,278 Class B Berkshire shares owned by Graham Holdings and $327.7 million in cash, in exchange for 1,620,190 shares of Graham Holdings Class B common stock owned by Berkshire Hathaway (Berkshire exchange transaction). As a result, income from continuing operations for 2014 includes a $266.7 million gain from the exchange of the Berkshire Hathaway shares, and income from discontinued operations for 2014 includes a $375.0 million gain from the WPLG exchange.

In November 2014, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized management to proceed with plans for the complete legal and structural separation of Cable ONE, Inc., a Graham Holdings subsidiary, from Graham Holdings. Following the proposed transaction, Cable ONE will be an independent, publicly traded company. The Company intends to complete the proposed transaction later in 2015. The proposed transaction will be structured as a tax-free spin-off of Cable ONE to the stockholders of the Company. The transaction is contingent on the satisfaction of a number of conditions, including completion of the review process by the Securities and Exchange Commission of required filings under applicable securities regulations, other applicable regulatory approvals and the final approval of transaction terms by the Company’s Board of Directors.

On February 12, 2015, Kaplan entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Education Corporation of America (ECA) to sell substantially all of the assets of its KHE Campuses business, consisting of thirty-eight nationally accredited ground campuses, and certain related assets, in exchange for a preferred equity interest in ECA. The transaction is contingent upon certain regulatory and accrediting agency approvals and is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2015.

Division Results

Education

Education division revenue in 2014 totaled $2,160.4 million, compared to revenue of $2,163.7 million in 2013. For the fourth quarter of 2014, education division revenue totaled $551.4 million, compared to revenue of $550.6 million for the same period of 2013.

Kaplan reported operating income of $65.5 million for 2014, compared to $51.0 million in 2013; Kaplan reported operating income for the fourth quarter of 2014 of $33.4 million, compared to $14.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. Kaplan’s 2014 operating results in comparison to 2013 benefited from improvement in Kaplan Higher Education (KHE) and Kaplan International results, offset by increased intangible and other long-lived asset impairment charges.

In recent years, Kaplan has formulated and implemented restructuring plans at its various businesses that have resulted in significant costs in 2014 and 2013, with the objective of establishing lower cost levels in future periods. Across all businesses, restructuring costs and software asset write-offs totaled $16.8 million in 2014 and $36.4 million in 2013. Restructuring costs totaled $3.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 and $18.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. (Refer to the Education Division Information, Summary of Restructuring Charges schedule attached to this release for additional details.)

In the third quarter of 2014, Kaplan completed the sale of three of its schools in China that were previously part of Kaplan International. The sale of an additional school in China was completed in January 2015. Kaplan’s operating results exclude these schools, which have been reclassified to discontinued operations for all periods presented.

A summary of Kaplan’s operating results, including and excluding restructuring costs and software asset write-offs, is as follows:

       
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
December 31 December 31
(in thousands)   2014     2013     % Change   2014     2013     % Change
Revenue    
Higher education $ 254,461 $ 269,895 (6 ) $ 1,010,058 $ 1,080,908 (7 )
Test preparation 70,652 61,137 16 304,662 293,201 4
Kaplan international 225,408 218,883 3 840,915 783,588 7
Kaplan corporate and other 1,203 1,494 (19 ) 6,094 7,990 (24 )
Intersegment elimination (343 )   (791 ) (1,312 )   (1,953 )
$ 551,381     $ 550,618   $ 2,160,417     $ 2,163,734  
Operating Income (Loss)
Higher education $ 43,582 $ 29,230 49 $ 83,069 $ 71,584 16
Test preparation (1,178 ) (3,188 ) 63 (4,730 ) 4,118
Kaplan international 28,544 27,952 2 69,153 51,653 34
Kaplan corporate and other (18,134 ) (33,873 ) 46 (57,093 ) (64,948 ) 12
Amortization of intangible assets (2,089 ) (2,422 ) 14 (7,738 ) (8,503 ) 9
Impairment of intangible and other long-lived assets (17,203 ) (3,250 ) (17,203 ) (3,250 )
Intersegment elimination (109 )   (46 ) 5     335  
$ 33,413     $ 14,403   $ 65,463     $ 50,989   28
Operating Income (Loss)
Restructuring Costs Excluded from Divisions
Higher education* $ 45,587 $ 34,640 32 $ 89,564 $ 91,128 (2 )
Test preparation* (328 ) (3,188 ) 90 3,999 4,118 (3 )
Kaplan international* 28,622 29,617 (3 ) 69,380 57,425 21
Kaplan corporate and other* (18,099 )   (22,831 ) 21 (55,738 )   (53,906 ) (3 )
55,782 38,238 46 107,205 98,765 9
Restructuring costs* (2,968 ) (18,117 ) 84 (16,806 ) (36,358 ) 54
Amortization of intangible assets (2,089 ) (2,422 ) 14 (7,738 ) (8,503 ) 9
Impairment of intangible and other long-lived assets (17,203 ) (3,250 ) (17,203 ) (3,250 )
Intersegment elimination (109 )   (46 ) 5     335  
$ 33,413     $ 14,403   $ 65,463     $ 50,989   28
 
*Non-GAAP Measure
 

KHE includes Kaplan’s domestic postsecondary education businesses, made up of fixed-facility colleges and online postsecondary and career programs. KHE also includes the domestic professional training and other continuing education businesses.

In 2012, KHE began implementing plans to close or merge 13 ground campuses, consolidate other facilities and reduce its workforce. The last two of these campus closures were completed in the second quarter of 2014. In April 2014, KHE announced plans to close two additional ground campuses, and in July 2014, KHE announced plans to close another three campuses. KHE is in the process of teaching out the current students, and the campus closures will be completed by the end of 2015. In July 2014, KHE also announced plans to further reduce its work force.

In February 2015, Kaplan entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with ECA to sell substantially all of the assets of its KHE Campuses business. The transaction is contingent upon certain regulatory and accrediting agency approvals and is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2015. In addition, in the fourth quarter of 2014, Kaplan recorded a $13.6 million other long-lived asset impairment charge in connection with its KHE Campuses business. KHE results include revenue and operating income (loss) related to the KHE Campuses business as follows:

   
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
December 31 December 31
(in thousands)   2014     2013     2014     2013  
Revenue $ 67,355     $ 75,712 $ 274,487   $ 299,714
Operating income (loss) $ 1,330 $ (804 ) $ (12,500 ) $ (28,343 )
 

In connection with these and other plans, KHE incurred $6.5 million and $19.5 million in restructuring costs from severance, accelerated depreciation, lease obligations and other items in 2014 and 2013, respectively; $2.0 million and $5.4 million of these restructuring costs were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively.

In 2014 and the fourth quarter of 2014, KHE revenue declined 7% and 6%, respectively, due largely to declines in average enrollments at KHE campuses and at Kaplan University that reflect weaker market demand over the past year and lower average tuition. The declines were most pronounced at KHE’s ground campuses due to the impact of campuses closed or in the process of closing, as well as weakness in demand for KHE’s non-degree vocational programs. KHE operating income improved in 2014 and the fourth quarter of 2014 due largely to expense reductions associated with lower enrollments and recent restructuring efforts and lower restructuring costs, partially offset by revenue declines and increased marketing spending at Kaplan University.

New student enrollments at KHE declined 3% in 2014 due to lower demand across KHE and the impact of campus closures. Total students at December 31, 2014, were down 6% and 8% compared to December 31, 2013, and September 30, 2014. Excluding campuses closed or planned for closure, total students at December 31, 2014, were down 4% and 8% compared to December 31, 2013, and September 30, 2014, respectively. A summary of student enrollments is as follows:

       
Excluding Campuses Closing
As of As of
December 31, September 30, December 31, December 31,   September 30,   December 31,
    2014   2014   2013 2014   2014   2013
Kaplan University 42,469 46,342 42,816 42,469 46,342 42,816
Other Campuses 14,266     15,570     17,417   14,045     15,139     15,818
56,735     61,912     60,233   56,514     61,481     58,634
 

Kaplan University and Other Campuses enrollments by certificate and degree programs, are as follows:

 
As of December 31
    2014   2013
Certificate 20.6 %   21.7 %
Associate’s 27.4 % 29.7 %
Bachelor’s 34.2 % 32.3 %
Master’s 17.8 %   16.3 %
100.0 %   100.0 %
 

KTP includes Kaplan’s standardized test preparation programs. KTP revenue increased 4% in 2014 and 16% for the fourth quarter of 2014. Excluding revenues from acquired businesses, KTP revenue increased 2% in 2014 and 11% for the fourth quarter of 2014. KTP recorded a $7.7 million software asset write-off in the second quarter of 2014 due to a decision to consolidate certain learning management systems. KTP operating results declined in 2014 due to the software asset write-off and increased costs for newly acquired businesses. Operating results in the fourth quarter of 2014 improved due to revenue growth.

Kaplan International includes English-language programs and postsecondary education and professional training businesses largely outside the United States. Kaplan International revenue increased 7% in 2014 due to enrollment growth in the pathways, English-language, Australia professional and Singapore higher education programs. Kaplan International revenue grew 3% in the fourth quarter of 2014 due to growth in the pathways, English-language, Australia Professional and Singapore higher education programs, offset by weaker currency exchange rates in Europe and Australia.

Kaplan International operating income increased 34% in 2014 due primarily to improved results from operations in Australia and Singapore, and lower restructuring costs in 2014. Restructuring costs at Kaplan International totaled $0.2 million and $5.8 million in 2014 and 2013, respectively. Operating results were up in the fourth quarter of 2014 due to improved results in Australia and lower restructuring costs, offset by higher costs to support growth in English-language programs. Restructuring costs were $0.1 million and $1.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively.

In the fourth quarter of 2014, Kaplan recorded $17.2 million in noncash intangible and other long-lived assets impairment charges in connection with businesses at KHE, KTP and Kaplan International. In 2013, Kaplan recorded $3.3 million in noncash intangible assets impairment charges primarily in connection with one of the businesses in Kaplan International.

Kaplan corporate represents unallocated expenses of Kaplan, Inc.’s corporate office, other minor businesses and certain shared activities. In the fourth quarter of 2013, $11.0 million in restructuring costs was recorded in connection with charges related to office space managed by Kaplan corporate.

Kaplan continues to evaluate its cost structure and is pursuing additional cost savings opportunities, including eliminating excess office capacity. This will likely result in additional restructuring plans and related costs in 2015.

Cable

Cable division revenue for 2014 declined 1% to $798.1 million, from $807.3 million in 2013 due to 4% fewer customers and 8% fewer Primary Service Units (PSUs); revenue totaled $197.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2014, a 1% decline from $200.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2013. Operating expenses in 2014 declined 3%, from $637.6 million to $619.4 million in 2014; operating expenses declined 3% in the fourth quarter of 2014, from $151.5 million to $147.0 million. The expense declines are due to fewer customers and significantly reduced programming costs. Cable division operating income grew 5% to $178.7 million, from $169.7 million in 2013; operating income increased 4% from $48.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 to $50.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.

The cable division continues its focus on higher margin businesses, namely high-speed data and business sales. Residential high-speed data revenue increased 5.3% in 2014 on 2.5% customer growth, and business sales increased 18.5% on a 14.9% increase in business high-speed data customers. Overall, business sales comprised 8.9% of total revenue for 2014, compared with 7.4% of total revenue for 2013. Due to rapidly rising programming costs and shrinking margins, video sales now have less value and emphasis (video PSUs were down 16% from 2013) and programming costs have been reduced significantly. Effective April 1, 2014, the cable division elected not to renew its contract for Viacom networks.

The cable division also continues to focus on higher lifetime value customers who are less attracted by discounting, require less support and churn less. Operating income margins increased to 22.4% in 2014, from 21.0% in 2013.

A summary of PSUs and total customers is as follows:

 
As of December 31
    2014   2013
Video 451,217   538,894
High-speed data 488,454 472,631
Voice

149,513

   

169,181

 
Total Primary Service Units (PSUs)

1,089,184

   

1,180,706

 
Total Customers

686,671

    712,910  
 

In July 2014, the cable division sold wireless spectrum licenses for $98.8 million; a pre-tax gain of $75.2 million was reported in the third quarter of 2014 in connection with these sales. The licenses had been purchased in the 2006 AWS auction.

Television Broadcasting

Revenue for the television broadcasting division increased 18% to $363.8 million in 2014, from $308.3 million in 2013; operating income for 2014 was up 29% to $187.8 million, from $145.2 million in 2013. The increase in revenue and operating income is due to a $31.8 million increase in political advertising revenue, $9.5 million in incremental winter Olympics-related advertising revenue at the Company’s NBC affiliates and $18.6 million in increased retransmission revenues.

For the fourth quarter of 2014, revenue increased 20% to $102.4 million, from $85.7 million in 2013; operating income for the fourth quarter of 2014 was up 24% to $54.4 million, from $44.0 million in the same period of 2013. The increase in revenue and operating income is due to a $15.4 million increase in political advertising revenue and $4.6 million in increased retransmission revenues.

In November 2014, the television broadcasting division acquired SocialNewsDesk, a market-leading software-based technology platform created by journalists to help newsroom and content producers publish, manage and monetize social media.

As a result of the Berkshire exchange transaction discussed above, the television broadcasting operating results exclude WPLG, the Company’s Miami-based television station, which has been reclassified to discontinued operations for all periods presented.

Other Businesses

Other businesses includes the operating results of The Slate Group and Foreign Policy Group, which publish online and print magazines and websites; SocialCode, a marketing solutions provider helping companies with marketing on social-media platforms; Celtic Healthcare, a provider of home health and hospice services; Forney, a global supplier of products and systems that control and monitor combustion processes in electric utility and industrial applications, acquired by the Company in August 2013; and Trove, a digital innovation team that builds products and technologies in the news space. Other businesses also includes a number of businesses acquired in 2014.

In April 2014, Celtic Healthcare acquired the assets of VNA-TIP Healthcare of Bridgeton, MO. This acquisition has expanded Celtic’s home health and hospice service areas from Pennsylvania and Maryland to the Missouri and Illinois regions. The operating results of VNA-TIP are included in other businesses from the date of acquisition in the second quarter of 2014. In January 2015, Celtic Healthcare and Allegheny Health Network (AHN) closed on the formation of a joint venture to combine each other’s home health and hospice assets in the western Pennsylvania region. Although Celtic will manage the operations of the joint venture, Celtic holds a 40% interest in the joint venture, so the operating results of the joint venture will not be consolidated and the pro rata operating results will be included in the Company’s equity in earnings of affiliates in the future. Celtic's revenues from the western Pennsylvania region that now are part of the joint venture made up 29% of total Celtic revenues in 2014.

On May 30, 2014, the Company acquired Joyce/Dayton Corp., a Dayton, OH-based manufacturer of screw jacks and other linear motion systems. The operating results of Joyce/Dayton are included in other businesses from the date of acquisition in the second quarter of 2014.

On July 3, 2014, the Company acquired a majority interest in Residential Healthcare Group, Inc. (Residential), the parent company of Residential Home Health and Residential Hospice, leading providers of skilled home health and hospice services in Michigan and Illinois. The operating results of Residential are included in Other Businesses from the date of acquisition in the third quarter of 2014. Since Residential owns a minority interest in the Illinois operations it manages, the operating results of the Illinois operations are not being consolidated and the pro rata operating results are included in the Company’s equity in earnings of affiliates.

The increase in revenues for 2014 and the fourth quarter of 2014 is due primarily to the inclusion of revenues from the businesses acquired in 2014 and 2013. The improvement in operating results in 2014 and the fourth quarter of 2014 reflects the contribution of the acquired businesses, as well as improved results at SocialCode. These improvements were partially offset by acquisition-related costs and other integration expenses incurred in conjunction with the VNA-TIP Healthcare acquisition.

Corporate Office

Corporate office includes the expenses of the Company’s corporate office, the pension credit for the Company’s traditional defined benefit plan and certain continuing obligations related to prior business dispositions. In the first quarter of 2014, the corporate office implemented a Separation Incentive Program that resulted in early retirement program expense of $4.5 million, which is being funded from the assets of the Company’s pension plan. In the third quarter of 2014, the acceptance period for the Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program (VRIP) ended and the Company recorded $10.3 million in early retirement program expense and other related charges, a portion of which is being funded from the assets of the Company’s pension plan. Excluding early retirement program expense, the total pension credit for the Company’s traditional defined benefit plan was $91.2 million and $42.7 million for 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Excluding the pension credit, early retirement program expense and other related charges, corporate office expenses increased in 2014 due to higher compensation costs, expenses related to acquisitions, the Berkshire exchange transaction and the cable spin-off, and incremental costs associated with the corporate office headquarters move to Arlington, VA.

Equity in Earnings of Affiliates

At September 30, 2014, the Company held a 16.5% interest in Classified Ventures, LLC (CV) and interests in several other affiliates. On October 1, 2014, the Company and the remaining partners in CV completed the sale of their entire stakes in CV. Total proceeds to the Company, net of transaction costs, were $408.5 million, of which $16.5 million will be held in escrow until October 1, 2015. The Company recorded a pre-tax non-operating gain of $396.6 million in connection with the sale in the fourth quarter of 2014.

The Company’s equity in earnings of affiliates, net, for 2014 was $100.4 million, compared to $13.2 million in 2013. For the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company’s equity in earnings of affiliates was $0.2 million and was insignificant for the fourth quarter of 2013.

The 2014 results include a pre-tax gain of $90.9 million from Classified Ventures’ sale of apartments.com in the second quarter of 2014.

Other Non-Operating Income (Expense)

The Company recorded other non-operating income, net, of $853.3 million in 2014, compared to expense of $23.8 million in 2013. For the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company recorded other non-operating income, net, of $387.3 million, compared to expense of $14.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2013.

The 2014 non-operating income, net, included a fourth quarter pre-tax gain of $396.6 million on the sale of Classified Ventures, the pre-tax gain of $266.7 million in connection with the Company’s exchange of Berkshire shares, a pre-tax gain of $127.7 million on the sale of the headquarters building, a $75.2 million pre-tax gain on the sale of wireless licenses, $11.1 million in unrealized foreign currency losses ($8.5 million in unrealized foreign currency losses in the fourth quarter) and other items. The 2013 non-operating expense, net, included a $10.4 million fourth quarter write-down of a marketable equity security, $13.4 million in unrealized foreign currency losses ($4.0 million in unrealized foreign currency losses in the fourth quarter) and other items.

Net Interest Expense and Related Balances

The Company incurred net interest expense of $34.5 million in 2014, compared to $33.8 million in 2013; net interest expense totaled $9.5 million and $8.2 million for the fourth quarters of 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, the Company had $445.9 million in borrowings outstanding at an average interest rate of 7.1%, and cash, marketable securities and other investments of $1,024.4 million. At December 31, 2013, the Company had $450.8 million in borrowings outstanding at an average interest rate of 7.0%, and cash, marketable securities and other investments of $1,175.8 million.

Provision for Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for income from continuing operations in 2014 was 30.6%. The lower effective tax rate in 2014 largely relates to the Berkshire exchange transaction. The pre-tax gain of $266.7 million related to the disposition of the Berkshire shares was not subject to income tax as the exchange qualifies as a tax-free transaction.

The effective tax rate for income from continuing operations in 2013 was 36.9%. This effective tax rate benefited from lower state taxes and lower rates in jurisdictions outside the United States, offset by $4.6 million in net state and non-U.S. valuation allowances provided against deferred income tax benefits where realization is doubtful.

Discontinued Operations

On June 30, 2014, the Company and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. completed the Berkshire exchange transaction discussed above. A gain of $375.0 million was recorded in discontinued operations in connection with the disposition of WPLG, a Miami-based television station. This gain is not subject to income tax.

In the third quarter of 2014, Kaplan completed the sale of three of its schools in China that were previously part of Kaplan International. An additional school in China was sold by Kaplan in January 2015.

On October 1, 2013, the Company completed the sale of its newspaper publishing businesses for $250.0 million. The related publishing businesses sold include The Washington Post, Express, The Gazette Newspapers, Southern Maryland Newspapers, Greater Washington Publishing, Fairfax County Times, El Tiempo Latino and related websites (Publishing Subsidiaries). In the fourth quarter of 2013, a pre-tax gain of $157.5 million was recorded in discontinued operations on the sale ($100.0 million after-tax gain).

In March 2013, the Company sold The Herald, a daily newspaper headquartered in Everett, WA.

As a result of these transactions, income from continuing operations excludes the operating results and related net gain on dispositions of these businesses, which have been reclassified to discontinued operations, net of tax, for all periods presented.

Earnings Per Share

The calculation of diluted earnings per share for 2014 and the fourth quarter of 2014 was based on 6,559,442 and 5,769,889 weighted average shares, respectively, compared to 7,332,508 and 7,347,267 weighted average shares, respectively, for 2013 and the fourth quarter of 2013. At December 31, 2014, there were 5,798,789 shares outstanding and the Company had remaining authorization from the Board of Directors to repurchase up to 159,219 shares of Class B common stock. The earnings per share computations for the year and fourth quarter of 2014 were favorably impacted by the 1,620,190 common shares repurchased as part of the Berkshire exchange transaction.

Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains certain forward-looking statements that are based largely on the Company’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and achievements to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. For more information about these forward-looking statements and related risks, please refer to the section titled “Forward-Looking Statements” in Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 
GRAHAM HOLDINGS COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
December 31 %
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   2014     2013   Change
Operating revenues $ 925,343   $ 867,242 7
Operating expenses 711,202 704,285 1
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 45,366 58,924 (23 )
Amortization of intangible assets 5,251 3,359 56
Impairment of intangible and other long-lived assets 17,302     3,250  
Operating income 146,222 97,424 50
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net 202 37
Interest income 367 590 (38 )
Interest expense (9,879 ) (8,838 ) 12
Other income (expense), net 387,346     (14,920 )
Income from continuing operations before income taxes 524,258 74,293
Provision for income taxes 191,900     24,100  
Income from continuing operations 332,358 50,193
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax 2,308     106,335   (98 )
Net income 334,666 156,528
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (256 )   (55 )
Net income attributable to Graham Holdings Company 334,410 156,473
Redeemable preferred stock dividends      
Net Income Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders $ 334,410     $ 156,473  
Amounts Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders
Income from continuing operations $ 332,102 $ 50,138
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax 2,308     106,335   (98 )
Net income $ 334,410     $ 156,473  
Per Share Information Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders
Basic income per common share from continuing operations $ 57.31 $ 6.79
Basic income per common share from discontinued operations 0.40     14.41   (97 )
Basic net income per common share $ 57.71     $ 21.20  
Basic average number of common shares outstanding 5,678     7,266  
Diluted income per common share from continuing operations $ 57.01 $ 6.77
Diluted income per common share from discontinued operations 0.40     14.37   (97 )
Diluted net income per common share $ 57.41     $ 21.14  
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding 5,770     7,347  
 
GRAHAM HOLDINGS COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)
 
Twelve Months Ended
December 31 %
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   2014     2013   Change
Operating revenues $ 3,535,166   $ 3,407,911 4
Operating expenses 2,887,918 2,843,998 2
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 203,646 229,355 (11 )
Amortization of intangible assets 18,368 12,139 51
Impairment of intangible and other long-lived assets 17,302     3,250  
Operating income 407,932 319,169 28
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net 100,370 13,215
Interest income 2,136 2,264 (6 )
Interest expense (36,586 ) (36,067 ) 1
Other income (expense), net 853,259     (23,751 )
Income from continuing operations before income taxes 1,327,111 274,830
Provision for income taxes 406,100     101,500  
Income from continuing operations 921,011 173,330
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax 372,249     64,015  
Net income 1,293,260 237,345
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests 583     (480 )
Net income attributable to Graham Holdings Company 1,293,843 236,865
Redeemable preferred stock dividends (847 )   (855 ) (1 )
Net Income Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders $ 1,292,996     $ 236,010  
Amounts Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders
Income from continuing operations $ 920,747 $ 171,995
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax 372,249     64,015  
Net income $ 1,292,996     $ 236,010  
Per Share Information Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders
Basic income per common share from continuing operations $ 139.44 $ 23.39
Basic income per common share from discontinued operations 56.37     8.71  
Basic net income per common share $ 195.81     $ 32.10  
Basic average number of common shares outstanding 6,470     7,238  
Diluted income per common share from continuing operations $ 138.88 $ 23.36
Diluted income per common share from discontinued operations 56.15     8.69  
Diluted net income per common share $ 195.03     $ 32.05  
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding 6,559     7,333  
 
GRAHAM HOLDINGS COMPANY

BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

(Unaudited)
       
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
December 31 % December 31 %
(in thousands)   2014     2013     Change   2014     2013     Change
Operating Revenues    
Education $ 551,381 $ 550,618 $ 2,160,417 $ 2,163,734
Cable 197,718 200,240 (1 ) 798,134 807,309 (1 )
Television broadcasting 102,446 85,688 20 363,836 308,306 18
Other businesses 73,798 30,735 212,907 128,803 65
Corporate office
Intersegment elimination     (39 )     (128 )   (241 )
$ 925,343     $ 867,242     7   $ 3,535,166     $ 3,407,911   4
Operating Expenses
Education $ 517,968 $ 536,215 (3 ) $ 2,094,954 $ 2,112,745 (1 )
Cable 147,010 151,543 (3 ) 619,412 637,574 (3 )
Television broadcasting 48,066 41,689 15 176,003 163,114 8
Other businesses 67,850 34,647 96 233,993 152,271 54
Corporate office (1,773 ) 5,763 3,000 23,279 (87 )
Intersegment elimination     (39 ) (128 )   (241 )
$ 779,121     $ 769,818   1 $ 3,127,234     $ 3,088,742   1
Operating Income (Loss)
Education $ 33,413 $ 14,403 $ 65,463 $ 50,989 28
Cable 50,708 48,697 4 178,722 169,735 5
Television broadcasting 54,380 43,999 24 187,833 145,192 29
Other businesses 5,948 (3,912 ) (21,086 ) (23,468 ) 10
Corporate office 1,773     (5,763 ) (3,000 )   (23,279 ) 87
$ 146,222     $ 97,424   50 $ 407,932     $ 319,169   28
Depreciation
Education $ 14,713 $ 28,104 (48 ) $ 61,737 $ 89,622 (31 )
Cable 26,748 27,541 (3 ) 128,733 128,184
Television broadcasting 2,228 2,142 4 8,409 8,746 (4 )
Other businesses 1,430 616 3,931 2,177 81
Corporate office 247     521   (53 ) 836     626   34
$ 45,366     $ 58,924   (23 ) $ 203,646     $ 229,355   (11 )
Amortization of Intangible Assets and Impairment of Intangible and Other Long-Lived Assets
Education $ 19,292 $ 5,672 $ 24,941 $ 11,753
Cable 36 52 (31 ) 181 220 (18 )
Television broadcasting 32 32
Other businesses 3,193 885 10,516 3,416
Corporate office            
$ 22,553     $ 6,609   $ 35,670     $ 15,389  
Pension Expense (Credit)
Education $ 3,855 $ 4,032 (4 ) $ 15,418 $ 16,538 (7 )
Cable 916 940 (3 ) 3,585 3,708 (3 )
Television broadcasting 338 70 1,355 3,961 (66 )
Other businesses 191 187 2 748 610 23
Corporate office (23,070 )   (14,287 )   61 (82,301 )   (41,836 ) 97
$ (17,770 )   $ (9,058 )   96 $ (61,195 )   $ (17,019 )
 
GRAHAM HOLDINGS COMPANY

EDUCATION DIVISION INFORMATION

(Unaudited)
       
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
December 31 % December 31 %
(in thousands)   2014     2013     Change   2014     2013     Change
Operating Revenues    
Higher education $ 254,461 $ 269,895 (6 ) $ 1,010,058 $ 1,080,908 (7 )
Test preparation 70,652 61,137 16 304,662 293,201 4
Kaplan international 225,408 218,883 3 840,915 783,588 7
Kaplan corporate and other 1,203 1,494 (19 ) 6,094 7,990 (24 )
Intersegment elimination (343 )   (791 ) (1,312 )   (1,953 )
$ 551,381     $ 550,618   $ 2,160,417     $ 2,163,734  
Operating Expenses
Higher education $ 210,879 $ 240,665 (12 ) $ 926,989 $ 1,009,324 (8 )
Test preparation 71,830 64,325 12 309,392 289,083 7
Kaplan international 196,864 190,931 3 771,762 731,935 5
Kaplan corporate and other 19,337 35,367 (45 ) 63,187 72,938 (13 )
Amortization of intangible assets 2,089 2,422 (14 ) 7,738 8,503 (9 )
Impairment of intangible and other long-lived assets 17,203 3,250 17,203 3,250
Intersegment elimination (234 )   (745 ) (1,317 )   (2,288 )
$ 517,968     $ 536,215   (3 ) $ 2,094,954     $ 2,112,745   (1 )
Operating Income (Loss)
Higher education $ 43,582 $ 29,230 49 $ 83,069 $ 71,584 16
Test preparation (1,178 ) (3,188 ) 63 (4,730 ) 4,118
Kaplan international 28,544 27,952 2 69,153 51,653 34
Kaplan corporate and other (18,134 ) (33,873 ) 46 (57,093 ) (64,948 ) 12
Amortization of intangible assets (2,089 ) (2,422 ) 14 (7,738 ) (8,503 ) 9
Impairment of intangible and other long-lived assets (17,203 ) (3,250 ) (17,203 ) (3,250 )
Intersegment elimination (109 )   (46 ) 5     335  
$ 33,413     $ 14,403   $ 65,463     $ 50,989   28
Depreciation
Higher education $ 7,047 $ 9,973 (29 ) $ 29,187 $ 43,892 (34 )
Test preparation 2,826 4,536 (38 ) 12,547 19,194 (35 )
Kaplan international 4,751 4,251 12 19,297 16,154 19
Kaplan corporate and other 89     9,344   (99 ) 706     10,382   (93 )
$ 14,713     $ 28,104   (48 ) $ 61,737     $ 89,622   (31 )
Pension Expense
Higher education $ 2,629 $ 2,899 (9 ) $ 10,514 $ 11,714 (10 )
Test preparation 722 662 9 2,888 2,674 8
Kaplan international 89 90 (1 ) 356 363 (2 )
Kaplan corporate and other 415     381   9 1,660     1,787   (7 )
$ 3,855     $ 4,032   (4 ) $ 15,418     $ 16,538   (7 )
 
GRAHAM HOLDINGS COMPANY
EDUCATION DIVISION INFORMATION

SUMMARY OF RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

(Unaudited)
           
(in thousands)   Severance  

Accelerated
Depreciation

 

Lease
Obligation
Losses

 

Software
Asset
Write-offs

  Other   Total

Three Months Ended December 31

2014

Higher education $ 511 $ 855 $ 639 $ $ $ 2,005
Test preparation 850 850
Kaplan international 78 78
Kaplan corporate and other 35                     35
$ 1,474     $ 855     $ 639     $     $     $ 2,968

2013

Higher education $ 1,217 $ 1,728 $ 2,290 $ $ 175 $ 5,410
Test preparation
Kaplan international 580 536 318 231 1,665
Kaplan corporate and other 341     9,107     1,594             11,042
$ 2,138     $ 11,371     $ 4,202     $     $ 406     $ 18,117

Twelve Months Ended December 31

2014

Higher education $ 3,478 $ 2,062 $ 725 $ $ 230 $ 6,495
Test preparation 1,040 7,689 8,729
Kaplan international 227 227
Kaplan corporate and other 330         1,025             1,355
$ 5,075     $ 2,062     $ 1,750     $ 7,689     $ 230     $ 16,806

2013

Higher education $ 4,264 $ 7,489 $ 6,627 $ $ 1,164 $ 19,544
Test preparation
Kaplan international 1,684 260 1,130 2,698 5,772
Kaplan corporate and other 341     9,107     1,594             11,042
$ 6,289     $ 16,856     $ 9,351     $     $ 3,862     $ 36,358
 
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
GRAHAM HOLDINGS COMPANY
(Unaudited)
 

In addition to the results reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) included in this press release, the Company has provided information regarding income from continuing operations excluding certain items described below reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures, when read in conjunction with the Company’s GAAP financials, provide useful information to investors by offering:

  • the ability to make meaningful period-to-period comparisons of the Company’s ongoing results;
  • the ability to identify trends in the Company’s underlying business; and
  • a better understanding of how management plans and measures the Company’s underlying business.

Income from continuing operations excluding certain items should not be considered substitutes or alternatives to computations calculated in accordance with and required by GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures should be read only in conjunction with financial information presented on a GAAP basis.

The following table reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures:

   
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
December 31   December 31
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   2014     2013     2014     2013
Amounts Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders    
Income from continuing operations, as reported $ 332,102     $ 50,138     $ 920,747     $ 171,995
Adjustments:
Early retirement, restructuring charges, and software asset write-offs 1,902 12,194 20,225 25,347
Intangible and other long-lived assets impairment charges 11,213 3,210 11,213 3,210
Gain on sale of Classified Ventures (249,828 ) (249,828 )
Classified Ventures' sale of apartments.com (58,242 )
Gain from exchange of Berkshire shares (266,733 )
Sale of headquarters building (81,836 )
Sale of wireless licenses (48,235 )
Marketable equity securities write-down 6,680 6,680
Foreign currency loss 5,455     2,580     7,134     8,564
Income from continuing operations, adjusted (non-GAAP) $ 100,844     $ 74,802     $ 254,445     $ 215,796
Per Share Information Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders
Diluted income per common share from continuing operations, as reported $ 57.01     $ 6.77     $ 138.88     $ 23.36
Adjustments:
Early retirement, restructuring charges, and software asset write-offs 0.33 1.66 3.05 3.46
Intangible and other long-lived assets impairment charges 1.92 0.44 1.69 0.44
Gain on sale of Classified Ventures (42.89 ) (37.68 )
Classified Ventures' sale of apartments.com (8.78 )
Gain from exchange of Berkshire shares (40.23 )
Sale of headquarters building (12.34 )
Sale of wireless licenses (7.27 )
Marketable equity securities write-down 0.91 0.91
Foreign currency loss 0.94     0.35     1.08     1.17
Diluted income per common share from continuing operations, adjusted (non-GAAP) $ 17.31     $ 10.13     $ 38.40     $ 29.34
The adjusted diluted per share amounts may not compute due to rounding.

Source: Graham Holdings Company

Graham Holdings Company
Hal S. Jones, 703-345-6370