CHICAGO, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- tronc, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRNC) today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 24, 2017.

Third Quarter 2017 Financial Summary and Highlights:

• Acquired the New York Daily News, which expands tronc presence as a provider of award-winning content across ten major U.S. media markets
• Digital only subscribers were 265,000 in third quarter 2017, up 95% year-over-year, before including any contribution from the New York Daily News
• Total revenues of $353.1 million, down 6.6% compared to third quarter 2016
• Total operating expenses decreased $30.6 million compared to third quarter 2016
• Net income was $2.1 million, or $0.06 per share, compared to a net loss of $10.5 million, or $0.29 per share, in third quarter 2016
• Adjusted EBITDA was $35.3 million, down 3.6% compared to the prior year quarter
• Cash on the balance sheet was $185.2 million providing substantial liquidity for the Company to execute its strategy in 2017 and beyond

“I am pleased with the strategic actions we took during the quarter to better align our company with industry trends,” said tronc CEO Justin Dearborn. “The acquisition of the New York Daily News provided us with another strategic platform for growing our digital business, expanding our reach and broadening our services for advertisers and marketers.  We now serve 10 major U.S. markets, including each of the top three, hold 105 Pulitzers and have over 81 million unique monthly digital visitors.”

Dearborn added, “We also named Ross Levinsohn as CEO and Publisher of the Los Angeles Times Media Group, in addition to announcing Lewis D’Vorkin as Editor-in-Chief and Mickie Rosen as President. Each of them brings a high level of talent coupled with very strong experience, which will assist in our efforts to transform our Company and drive growth across the business.”

Third Quarter 2017 Results

Total revenues for third quarter 2017 decreased 6.6% to $353.1 million, compared to $378.2 million for third quarter 2016. This included $7.6 million from the New York Daily News acquisition, which closed on September 3, 2017. Third quarter 2017 advertising revenue was down 14% on a year-over-year basis.

Total operating expenses, including depreciation and amortization, for third quarter 2017 were $346.8 million, down 8%, compared to $377.4 million for third quarter of 2016, reflecting continued cost reduction efforts.

Net income for third quarter 2017 was $2.1 million, or $0.06 per share, compared to a net loss $10.5 million, or $0.29 per share, for third quarter of 2016. Adjusted EPS for third quarter 2017 was $0.17, down 23% on a year-over-year basis.

Adjusted EBITDA for third quarter 2017 was $35.3 million, compared to $36.6 million for third quarter 2016.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $10.2 million for third quarter 2017.  Capital expenditures totaled $3.8 million  for the quarter. Debt and pension liabilities were increased by $19 million during the quarter, compared to second quarter 2017. Net debt decreased $10.7 million in third quarter 2017 compared to second quarter 2017.  Cash balance grew to $185.2 million.

Segment Results

The Company operates in two segments: troncM, which is comprised of the Company’s media groups excluding their digital revenues and related expenses, except digital subscription revenues when bundled with a print subscription, and troncX, which includes all digital revenues and related expenses of the Company from local tronc websites, third party websites, mobile applications, digital only subscriptions, Tribune Content Agency, The Daily Meal and forsalebyowner.com.

Included in the tables below is segment reporting for troncM and troncX for the third quarters of 2017 and 2016. Third quarter 2017 troncM total revenues decreased 8% to $297.3 million, compared to third quarter 2016. Advertising revenue for third quarter 2017 declined by 18% on a year-over-year basis, which was partially offset by an increase of 5% in circulation revenues. Operating expenses declined by $24.4 million, or 8%, compared to the prior-year quarter, primarily due to decreases in almost all expense categories. Income from operations for troncM was $14.8 million or a 9% decline from the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA for troncM for the third quarter 2017 was $28.7 million, down 7% on a year-over-year basis.

Total revenues for troncX for the third quarter of 2017 were $56.5 million, down 1% from prior-year quarter. Advertising revenues for troncX declined by 4%, while content revenues, which includes digital only subscriptions and content syndication, increased by 13.6%.  Income from operations for troncX was $5.4 million, an increase of 12% from the prior-year period. Adjusted EBITDA for third quarter 2017 was $10.9 million, up 19% compared to third quarter 2016.

Total third quarter 2017 average monthly unique visitors were 81.3 million, up 36% from the prior-year quarter. Digital only subscribers grew to 265,000, up 95% from the prior year and up 20% sequentially, before including any contribution from the New York Daily News.

2017 Outlook

2017 full year guidance for total revenues is a range of $1.525 to $1.540 billion and adjusted EBITDA is a range of $189 to $195 million.

Conference Call Details

tronc will host a conference call to discuss the Company’s third quarter 2017 results at 5 p.m. Eastern Time (4 p.m. Central Time) on Wednesday, November 1, 2017. The conference call may be accessed via tronc’s Investor Relations website at investor.tronc.com or by dialing 844.494.0195 (508.637.5599 for international callers) and entering conference ID 98643149. An archived version of the webcast will also be available for one year on the tronc website. To access the replay via telephone, available until November 8, 2017, dial 855.859.2056 (404.537.3406 for international callers), conference ID 98643149.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

To provide investors with additional information regarding tronc’s financial results, this press release includes references to Adjusted EBITDA, AEBITDA Margin, Adjusted total operating expenses, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted EPS and Net Debt. These are not measures presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (US GAAP) and tronc’s use of the terms Adjusted EBITDA, AEBITDA Margin, Adjusted total operating expenses, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted EPS and Net Debt may vary from that of others in the Company’s industry. Adjusted EBITDA, AEBITDA Margin, Adjusted total operating expenses, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted EPS and Net Debt should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), income from operations, operating expenses, net income (loss) per diluted share, revenues or any other performance measures derived in accordance with US GAAP as measures of operating performance or liquidity. Further information regarding tronc’s presentation of these measures, including a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, AEBITDA Margin, Adjusted total operating expenses, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS to the most directly comparable US GAAP financial measure, is included below in this press release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, statements regarding tronc's business transformation strategy and 2017 guidance. Words such as “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “will,” “projections,” “continue,” “business outlook,” “estimate,” “outlook,” or similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such risks, trends and uncertainties, which in some cases are beyond our control, include: changes in advertising demand, circulation levels and audience shares; competition and other economic conditions; the Company's ability to develop and grow its online businesses; changes in newsprint price; the Company's ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; concentration of stock ownership among the Company's principal stockholders whose interests may differ from those of other stockholders; and other events beyond the Company’s control that may result in unexpected adverse operating results. The Company’s actual results could also be impacted by the other risks detailed from time to time in its publicly filed documents, including in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

About tronc, Inc.

tronc, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRNC) is a media company rooted in award-winning journalism. Headquartered in Chicago, tronc operates newsrooms in ten markets with titles including the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, The Baltimore Sun, Orlando Sentinel, South Florida's Sun-Sentinel, Newport News, Virginia’s Daily Press, Allentown, Pennsylvania's The Morning Call, Hartford Courant, and The San Diego Union-Tribune. Our legacy of brands has earned a combined 105 Pulitzer Prizes and is committed to informing, inspiring and engaging local communities.

Our brands create and distribute content across our media portfolio, offering integrated marketing, media, and business services to consumers and advertisers, including digital solutions and advertising opportunities.

Investor Relations Contact:
Aaron Miles
tronc Investor Relations
312.222.4345
amiles@tronc.com

Media Contact:
Marisa Kollias
tronc Corporate Communications
312.222.3308
mkollias@tronc.com

Source:  tronc, Inc.

Exhibits:
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss
Segment Income and Expenses
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
Non-GAAP Reconciliations – Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA and AEBITDA Margin
Non-GAAP Reconciliations – Total Operating Expenses to Adjusted Total Operating Expenses
Non-GAAP Reconciliations – Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS
Non-GAAP Reconciliations – Total Debt to Net Debt

(TRNC-F)

TRONC, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
	Three months ended						Nine months ended
	September 24, 2017			September 25, 2016			September 24, 2017			September 25, 2016
Operating revenues	$	353,091		$	378,236		$	1,088,998		$	1,180,956
Operating expenses		346,837			377,400			1,051,778			1,169,693
Income from operations		6,254			836			37,220			11,263
Interest expense, net		(6,544	)		(6,673	)		(19,425	)		(20,116	)
Premium on stock buyback		—			—			(6,031	)		—
Gain (loss) on equity investments, net		4,993			(190	)		3,721			(487	)
Reorganization items, net		—			(93	)		—			(236	)
Income (loss) before income taxes		4,703			(6,120	)		15,485			(9,576	)
Income tax expense		2,647			4,352			9,577			3,303
Net income (loss)	$	2,056		$	(10,472	)	$	5,908		$	(12,879	)
Net income (loss) per common share:
Basic	$	0.06		$	(0.29	)	$	0.17		$	(0.39	)
Diluted	$	0.06		$	(0.29	)	$	0.17		$	(0.39	)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		33,242			36,415			34,124			32,908
Diluted		33,412			36,415			34,333			32,908

The tables below show the segmentation of income and expenses for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017 as compared to the three and nine months ended September 25, 2016.

	Three Months Ended
	troncM								troncX								Corporate and Eliminations								Consolidated
	Sept 24, 2017				Sept 25, 2016				Sept 24, 2017				Sept 25, 2016				Sept 24, 2017				Sept 25, 2016				Sept 24, 2017				Sept 25, 2016
Operating revenues	$	297,252			$	323,133			$	56,545			$	57,153			$	(706	)		$	(2,050	)		$	353,091			$	378,236
Operating expenses	282,450				306,866				51,106				52,314				13,281				18,220				346,837				377,400
Income from operations	14,802				16,267				5,439				4,839				(13,987		)		(20,270		)		6,254				836
Depreciation and amortization	5,626				6,175				4,124				2,900				4,408				5,300				14,158				14,375
Adjustments (1)	8,282				8,497				1,318				1,372				5,273				11,504				14,873				21,373
Adjusted EBITDA (2)	$	28,710			$	30,939			$	10,881			$	9,111			$	(4,306	)		$	(3,466	)		$	35,285			$	36,584

	Nine Months Ended
	troncM								troncX								Corporate and Eliminations								Consolidated
	Sept 24, 2017				Sept 25, 2016				Sept 24, 2017				Sept 25, 2016				Sept 24, 2017				Sept 25, 2016				Sept 24, 2017				Sept 25, 2016
Operating revenues	$	921,202			$	1,010,565			$	170,226			$	175,944			$	(2,430	)		$	(5,553	)		$	1,088,998			$	1,180,956
Operating expenses	864,890				946,117				152,233				159,233				34,655				64,343				1,051,778				1,169,693
Income from operations	56,312				64,448				17,993				16,711				(37,085		)		(69,896		)		37,220				11,263
Depreciation and amortization	18,221				17,486				10,940				8,533				12,835				16,780				41,996				42,799
Adjustments (1)	17,721				13,470				3,453				3,417				13,031				42,773				34,205				59,660
Adjusted EBITDA (2)	$	92,254			$	95,404			$	32,386			$	28,661			$	(11,219	)		$	(10,343	)		$	113,421			$	113,722

(1)  See reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for additional information on adjustments.

(2)  Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure.  See Reconciliation of Net  Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for additional information.

troncM

		Three Months Ended												Nine Months Ended
		September 24,  2017				September 25,  2016				% Change				September 24,  2017				September 25,  2016				% Change
Operating revenues:
Advertising		$	127,363			$	154,513			(17.6	%)			$	410,815			$	493,233			(16.7	%)
Circulation		122,320				117,095				4.5	%			362,697				356,831				1.6	%
Other		47,569				51,525				(7.7	%)			147,690				160,501				(8.0	%)
Total revenues		297,252				323,133				(8.0	%)			921,202				1,010,565				(8.8	%)
Operating expenses		282,450				306,866				(8.0	%)			864,890				946,117				(8.6	%)
Income from operations		14,802				16,267				(9.0	%)			56,312				64,448				(12.6	%)
Depreciation and amortization		5,626				6,175				(8.9	%)			18,221				17,486				4.2	%
Adjustments (1)		8,282				8,497				(2.5		%)		17,721				13,470				31.6		%
Adjusted EBITDA (2)		$	28,710			$	30,939			(7.2	%)			$	92,254			$	95,404			(3.3	%)

* Represents positive or negative change in excess of 100%

(1)  See reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for additional information on adjustments.

(2)  Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure.  See Reconciliation of Net  Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for additional information.

troncX

		Three Months Ended											Nine Months Ended
		September 24,  2017				September 25,  2016				% Change			September 24,  2017				September 25,  2016				% Change
Operating revenues:
Advertising		$	45,394			$	47,341			(4.1	%)		$	137,712			$	146,437			(6.0	%)
Content		11,151				9,812				13.6	%		32,514				29,507				10.2	%
Total revenues		56,545				57,153				(1.1	%)		170,226				175,944				(3.2	%)
Operating expenses		51,106				52,314				(2.3	%)		152,233				159,233				(4.4	%)
Income from operations		5,439				4,839				12.4	%		17,993				16,711				7.7	%
Depreciation and amortization		4,124				2,900				42.2	%		10,940				8,533				28.2	%
Adjustments (1)		1,318				1,372				(3.9	%)		3,453				3,417				1.1	%
Adjusted EBITDA (2)		$	10,881			$	9,111			19.4	%		$	32,386			$	28,661			13.0	%

* Represents positive or negative change in excess of 100%

(1)  See reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for additional information on adjustments.

(2)  Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure.  See Reconciliation of Net  Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for additional information.

TRONC, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
		September 24,  2017				December 25, 2016
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash		$	185,152			$	198,349
Accounts receivable		169,791				195,519
Inventories		9,167				10,950
Prepaid expenses and other		29,457				18,863
Total current assets		393,567				423,681
Net Properties, Plant and Equipment		104,661				67,866
Other Assets
Goodwill		122,640				122,469
Intangible assets, net		130,828				132,161
Software, net		46,825				54,565
Other long-term assets		74,103				88,024
Total other assets		374,396				397,219
Total assets		$	872,624			$	888,766
Liabilities and Equity
Current Liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt		$	21,708			$	21,617
Accounts payable		70,393				70,148
Other		162,562				173,122
Total current liabilities		254,663				264,887
Non-Current Liabilities
Long-term debt		340,501				349,128
Other non-current liabilities		209,047				166,870
Total non-current liabilities		549,548				515,998
Equity
Total stockholders' equity		68,412				107,881
Total liabilities and equity		$	872,623			$	888,766

TRONC, INC.
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS
(In thousands) (Unaudited)

Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA and AEBITDA Margin:

		Three months ended											Nine months ended
		September 24,  2017				September 25,  2016				% Change			September 24,  2017				September 25,  2016				% Change
Net income (loss)		$	2,056			$	(10,472	)		*			$	5,908			$	(12,879	)		*
Income tax expense (benefit)		2,647				4,352				(39.2	%)		9,577				3,303				*
Interest expense, net		6,544				6,673				(1.9	%)		19,425				20,116				(3.4	%)
Premium on stock buyback		—				—				*			6,031				—				*
Loss on equity investments, net		(4,993		)		190				*			(3,721		)		487				*
Reorganization items, net		—				93				*			—				236				*
Income from operations		6,254				836				*			37,220				11,263				*
Depreciation and amortization		14,158				14,375				(1.5	%)		41,996				42,799				(1.9	%)
Restructuring and transaction costs(1)		11,971				17,020				(29.7	%)		26,527				40,120				(33.9	%)
Stock-based compensation		2,882				2,181				32.1	%		7,279				6,000				21.3	%
Employee voluntary separation program		20				2,172				(99.1	%)		401				13,540				(97.0	%)
Adjusted EBITDA		$	35,285			$	36,584			(3.6	%)		$	113,423			$	113,722			(0.3	%)
Operating revenue		$	353,091			$	378,236						$	1,088,998			$	1,180,956
Net Income (Loss) Margin			0.6	%			(2.8	%)						0.5	%			(1.1	%)
AEBITDA Margin			10.0	%			9.7	%						10.4	%			9.6	%

* Represents positive or negative change in excess of 100%

(1) - Restructuring and transaction costs include costs related to tronc's internal restructuring, such as severance and IT outsourcing costs, and transaction costs related to completed and potential acquisitions.

Adjusted EBITDA

The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income before equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, income taxes, loss on early debt extinguishment, interest expense, other (expense) income, realized gain (loss) on investments, reorganization items, depreciation and amortization, net income attributable to non-controlling interests, and other items that the Company does not consider in the evaluation of ongoing operating performance.  These items include stock-based compensation expense, restructuring charges, transaction expenses, premium on stock buyback and certain other charges and gains that the Company does not believe reflects the underlying business performance (including spin-related costs).  AEBITDA Margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by Revenue.  Management believes that because Adjusted EBITDA excludes (i) certain non-cash expenses (such as depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, and gain/loss on equity investments) and (ii) expenses that are not reflective of the Company’s core operating results over time (such as restructuring costs, including the employee voluntary separation program and gain/losses on employee benefit plan terminations, litigation or dispute settlement charges or gains, premiums on stock buyback, and transaction-related costs), this measure provides investors with additional useful information to measure the Company’s financial performance, particularly with respect to changes in performance from period to period. The Company's management uses Adjusted EBITDA (a) as a measure of operating performance; (b) for planning and forecasting in future periods; and (c) in communications with the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the Company’s financial performance. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA, or a similarly calculated measure, is used as the basis for certain financial maintenance covenants that the Company is subject to in connection with certain credit facilities. Since not all companies use identical calculations, the Company's presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and AEBITDA Margin may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies and should not be used by investors as a substitute or alternative to net income or any measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Instead, management believes Adjusted EBITDA and AEBITDA Margin should be used to supplement the Company’s financial measures derived in accordance with GAAP to provide a more complete understanding of the trends affecting the business.

Although Adjusted EBITDA is frequently used by investors and securities analysts in their evaluations of companies, Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and investors should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for, or more meaningful than, amounts determined in accordance with GAAP. Some of the limitations to using non-GAAP measures as an analytical tool are:  they do not reflect the Company’s interest income and expense, or the requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on the Company’s debt;  they do not reflect future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; and although depreciation and amortization charges are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and non-GAAP measures do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements.

The Company does not provide a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA guidance due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliation, including adjustments that could be made for restructuring and transaction costs, stock-based compensation amounts and other charges reflected in our reconciliation of historic numbers, the amount of which, based on historical experience, could be significant.

TRONC, INC.
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS
(In thousands) (Unaudited)

Reconciliation of Total Operating Expenses to Adjusted Total Operating Expenses:

		Three Months Ended September 24, 2017												Three Months Ended September 25, 2016
		GAAP				Adjustments				Adjusted				GAAP				Adjustments				Adjusted
Compensation		$	135,045			$	(11,128	)		$	123,917			$	140,760			$	(8,012	)		$	132,748
Newsprint and ink		20,941				—				20,941				25,101				—				25,101
Outside services		111,109				(3,500		)		107,609				118,060				(4,524		)		113,536
Other		65,584				(245		)		65,339				79,104				(8,837		)		70,267
Depreciation and amortization		14,158				(14,158		)		—				14,375				(14,375		)		—
Total operating expenses		$	346,837			$	(29,031	)		$	317,806			$	377,400			$	(35,748	)		$	341,652

		Nine Months Ended September 24, 2017												Nine Months Ended September 25, 2016
		GAAP				Adjustments				Adjusted				GAAP				Adjustments				Adjusted
Compensation		$	394,659			$	(22,302	)		$	372,357			$	453,353			$	(36,163	)		$	417,190
Newsprint and ink		67,313				—				67,313				77,174				—				77,174
Outside services		340,298				(7,122		)		333,176				368,733				(13,787		)		354,946
Other		207,512				(4,783		)		202,729				227,634				(9,710		)		217,924
Depreciation and amortization		41,996				(41,996		)		—				42,799				(42,799		)		—
Total operating expenses		$	1,051,778			$	(76,203	)		$	975,575			$	1,169,693			$	(102,459	)		$	1,067,234

Adjusted Total Operating Expenses

Adjusted total operating expenses consist of total operating expenses per the income statement, adjusted to exclude the impact of items listed in the Adjusted EBITDA non-GAAP reconciliation.  Management believes that Adjusted total operating expenses is informative to investors as it enhances the investors' overall understanding of the financial performance of the Company's business as they analyze current results compared to prior periods.

TRONC, INC.
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS
(In thousands) (Unaudited)

Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS:

		Three months ended
		September 24, 2017								September 25, 2016
		Earnings				Diluted  EPS				Earnings				Diluted EPS
Net income - GAAP		$	2,056			$	0.06			$	(10,472	)		$	(0.29	)
	Premium on stock buyback	—				—				—				—
	Pre-spin tax adjustment from TCO	—				—				7,063				0.21
Adjustments to operating expenses, net of 40% tax:
	Restructuring and transaction costs	7,183				0.21				10,212				0.28
	Gain on sale of investments	(3,621		)		(0.11		)		—				—
	Employee voluntary separation program	12				—				1,303				0.04
Adjusted net income - Non-GAAP		$	5,630			$	0.17			$	8,106			$	0.22

		Nine months ended
		September 24, 2017								September 25, 2016
		Earnings				Diluted EPS				Earnings				Diluted EPS
Net income (loss) - GAAP		$	5,908			$	0.17			$	(12,879	)		$	(0.39	)
	Premium on stock buyback	6,031				0.17				—				—
	Pre-spin tax adjustment from TCO	—				—				7,063				0.21
Adjustments to operating expenses, net of 40% tax:
	Restructuring and transaction costs	15,916				0.46				24,072				0.73
	Gain on sale of investments	(3,621		)		(0.10		)		—				—
	Employee voluntary separation program	241				0.01				8,124				0.25
Adjusted net income - Non-GAAP		$	24,475			$	0.71			$	26,380			$	0.80

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS

Adjusted Net Income is defined as Net income - GAAP excluding the following adjustments:  Restructuring and transaction costs and Employee voluntary separation program, net of the impact of income taxes and premium on stock buyback.

Adjusted Diluted EPS computes Adjusted Net Income divided by diluted weighted average shares outstanding.

Management believes Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS are informative to investors as they enhance investors' overall understanding of the financial performance of the Company's business as they analyze current results compared to future recurring projections.

TRONC, INC.
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS
(In thousands) (Unaudited)

Reconciliation of Total Debt to Net Debt:

		As of
		September 24,  2017				December 25, 2016				% Change
Current portion of long-term debt		$	21,708			$	21,617			0.4	%
Long-term debt		340,501				349,128				(2.5	%)
Total debt		362,209				370,745				(2.3	%)
Less: Cash		185,152				198,349				(6.7	%)
Net debt		$	177,057			$	172,396			2.7	%

Net Debt

Net Debt is defined as Total Debt less Cash.  The Company's management believes that the presentation of Net Debt provides useful information to investors as management reviews Net Debt as part of its management of our overall liquidity, financial flexibility, capital structure and leverage.