Arbitron Inc. (ARB) filed Quarterly Report for the period ended 2009-09-30.
Arbitron Inc. is an international media and marketing research firm serving radio broadcasters cable companies advertisers advertising agencies and outdoor advertising companies in the United States Mexico and Europe. Arbitron's core businesses are measuring network and local market radio audiences across the United States; surveying the retail media and product patterns of local market consumers; and providing application software used for analyzing media audience and marketing information data. Arbitron Inc. has a market cap of $570 million; its shares were traded at around $21.5 with a P/E ratio of 14.6 and P/S ratio of 1.6. The dividend yield of Arbitron Inc. stocks is 1.8%.
Highlight of Business Operations:
Nielsen’s signing of Cumulus Media Inc. (“Cumulus”) and Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (“Clear Channel”) as customers for its radio ratings service in certain small to mid-sized markets was a primary factor in a $4.6 million decline in our revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and is anticipated to adversely impact our expected revenue by approximately $5.0 million for all of 2009, and $10.0 million per year thereafter. Due to the impact of the current economic downturn on anticipated sales of discretionary services and renewals of agreements to provide ratings services, as well as the high penetration of our current services in the radio station business, we expect that our future annual organic rate of revenue growth from our quantitative Diary-based radio ratings services will be slower than historical trends.
year exceed the total of the service cost and interest cost for the plan year, any unrecognized gain or loss in the plan should be recognized for the pro rata portion equal to the percentage reduction of the projected benefit obligation. During the third quarter 2009, the aggregate of lump sum distribution elections by a number of pension plan participants who were terminated as part of the Plan, resulted in the recognition of a $1.8 million non-cash charge for the settlement related to two of the Company’s retirement plans. As a result of this settlement charge, we estimate that the total restructuring charge for the full year ending December 31, 2009, including the non-cash settlement charge, will be approximately $10.0 million.
During 2008 and the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we incurred approximately $8.6 million in legal costs and expenses in connection with two securities-law civil actions and a governmental interaction that commenced during 2008, relating primarily to the commercialization of our PPM radio ratings service. We believe approximately $6.8 million of the expenses incurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2009, are probable for recovery under our Directors and Officers insurance policy. As of September 30, 2009, $2.0 million in insurance reimbursements related to these legal actions were received. We are also involved in other legal matters for which we do not expect that the legal costs and expenses will be recoverable through insurance. We can provide no assurance that we will not incur significant net legal costs and expenses during the remainder of 2009. For further information regarding these legal costs, see “—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” below.
We capitalize software development costs with respect to significant internal use software initiatives or enhancements. The costs are capitalized from the time that the preliminary project stage is completed and management considers it probable that the software will be used to perform the function intended, until the time the software is placed in service for its intended use. Once the software is placed in service, the capitalized costs are amortized over periods of three to five years. We perform an assessment quarterly to determine if it is probable that all capitalized software will be used to perform its intended function. If an impairment exists, the software cost is written down to estimated fair value. As of September 30, 2009, and December 31, 2008, our capitalized software developed for internal use had carrying amounts of $24.2 million and $22.6 million, respectively, including $13.8 million and $13.3 million, respectively, of software related to the PPM service.
During 2008, we became involved in two securities-law civil actions and a governmental interaction primarily related to the commercialization of our PPM service. During 2008 and the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we incurred $8.6 million in legal fees and expenses in connection with these matters. As of September 30, 2009, $2.0 million in insurance reimbursements related to these legal actions was received and we estimate that $4.8 million of such legal fees and expenses are probable for future receipt under our Directors and Officers insurance policy. This amount is included in our prepaids and other current assets as of September 30, 2009.
During 2008 and the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we incurred $2.7 million of business interruption losses and damages as a result of Hurricane Ike. As of December 31, 2008, we recorded a $1.0 million insurance claims receivable. As of September 30, 2009, approximately $0.2 million in insurance reimbursements were received and we estimate that an additional $0.8 million in insurance reimbursements are probable for future receipt under our insurance policy.
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