CHICAGO -- R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company today reported first-quarter net earnings attributable to common shareholders of $52.6 million or $0.25 per diluted share on net sales of $2.4 billion compared to net earnings attributable to common shareholders of $13.9 million or $0.07 per diluted share on net sales of $2.5 billion in the first quarter of 2009. The first-quarter net earnings attributable to common shareholders included pre-tax charges for restructuring ($14.5 million) and impairment ($1.0 million) totaling $15.5 million in 2010 compared to charges for restructuring ($41.4 million) and impairment ($12.8 million) totaling $54.2 million in 2009. Substantially all of the restructuring charges in both the first quarter 2010 and the first quarter 2009 were related to the reorganization of certain operations and the exiting of certain business activities.

The Company believes that certain non-GAAP measures, when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) measures, are useful because that information is an appropriate measure for evaluating the Company's operating performance. Internally, the Company uses this non-GAAP information as an indicator of business performance, and evaluates management's effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators. These measures should be considered in addition to, not a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to common shareholders totaled $69.5 million or $0.33 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2010 compared to $49.2 million or $0.24 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2009. First-quarter non-GAAP net earnings attributable to common shareholders exclude restructuring and impairment charges for both years. Also excluded from 2010 are acquisition expenses and charges associated with the currency devaluation in Venezuela. For non-GAAP comparison purposes, the effective tax rate decreased to 35.6% in the first quarter of 2010 from 37.1% in the first quarter of 2009, due to the increased benefit from the domestic manufacturing deduction in 2010 and a change in the mix of income across tax jurisdictions, partially offset by a one-time charge of $3.3 million associated with the enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. A reconciliation of GAAP net earnings attributable to common shareholders to non-GAAP net earnings attributable to common shareholders is presented in the attached tables.

"We are very pleased with our first-quarter results. The benefits of our diverse product offerings and the actions taken to improve our cost structure have driven our higher operating margins," said Thomas J. Quinlan III, RR Donnelley's President and Chief Executive Officer.

Quinlan added, "While the economic outlook remains uncertain, we approach the balance of the year with tempered enthusiasm. For the full year, we continue to expect revenue growth, excluding acquisitions, in the low single digits, and operating cash flow less capital expenditures in the range of $600 million to $650 million. This expectation is in line with our proven ability to achieve consistent cash flow, as reflected by the nearly $4.2 billion in operating cash flow less capital expenditures generated since the beginning of 2004."

Business Review

The Company reports its results in two reportable segments: 1) U.S. Print and Related Services and 2) International. The Company reports as Corporate its unallocated expenses associated with general and administrative activities.

Summary

Net sales in the quarter were $2.4 billion, down 1.6% from the first quarter of 2009 and inclusive of a 2.0% positive impact from changes in foreign exchange rates. Excluding the impact from foreign exchange, the 3.6% decrease was caused primarily by continued price pressure and a reduction in paper sales; the reduction in paper sales was due to the combination of lower paper prices and an increase in the relative amount of customer-supplied paper. Gross margin increased to 23.7% in the first quarter of 2010 from 23.3% in the first quarter of 2009 due to continued productivity efforts and a higher recovery on print-related by-products, partially offset by continued price pressure. SG&A expense as a percentage of net sales in the first quarter of 2010 decreased to 11.3% from 11.5% in the first quarter of 2009 primarily due to continued productivity efforts. Operating earnings were negatively impacted by charges for restructuring and impairment of $15.5 million and acquisition expenses of $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2010 and restructuring and impairment charges of $54.2 million in the first quarter of 2009 that resulted in operating income of $145.8 million in 2010 and $87.4 million in 2009.

Excluding charges for restructuring and impairment in the first quarter of both years and acquisition expenses in the first quarter of 2010, our non-GAAP operating margin in the first quarter of 2010 increased to 6.8% from 5.8% in the first quarter of 2009, as the benefits from our productivity efforts and the higher by-products recoveries were partially offset by continued price pressure.

Segments

Net sales for the U.S. Print and Related Services segment in the quarter decreased 3.7% from the first quarter of 2009 to $1.8 billion primarily due to lower paper sales and price declines across most products and services. The reduction in paper sales was related to both lower paper prices and an increase in the relative amount of customer-supplied paper. The segment's operating income, which was negatively impacted by charges for restructuring and impairment of $5.9 million in the first quarter of 2010 and $32.7 million in the first quarter of 2009, increased to $163.8 million in the first quarter of 2010 from $114.4 million in the first quarter of 2009. Excluding the restructuring and impairment charges, the segment's non-GAAP operating margin increased to 9.2% in the first quarter of 2010 from 7.7% in the first quarter of 2009, as the benefits of continued productivity efforts and higher by-products recoveries more than offset the impact of price erosion.

Net sales for the International segment in the quarter increased 5.5% from the first quarter of 2009 to $578.3 million due to a 9.0% positive impact from changes in foreign exchange rates, partially offset by volume and price declines. The segment's operating income, which was negatively impacted by charges for restructuring of $9.5 million in the first quarter of 2010 and restructuring and impairment charges of $18.3 million in the first quarter of 2009, improved to $33.7 million in the first quarter of 2010 from $16.5 million in the first quarter of 2009. Excluding the restructuring and impairment charges, the segment's non-GAAP operating margin increased to 7.5% in the first quarter of 2010 from 6.3% in the first quarter of 2009 due to favorable product mix and the benefits of continued productivity efforts, partially offset by the impact of price erosion.

Unallocated Corporate operating expenses increased to $51.7 million in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to $43.5 million in the first quarter of 2009. Excluding acquisition expenses of $2.0 million and restructuring charges of $0.1 million in the first quarter of 2010 and restructuring charges of $3.2 million in the first quarter of 2009, unallocated Corporate operating expenses increased $9.3 million to $49.6 million in the first quarter of 2010. Higher non-cash pension and other benefits-related expenses, partially offset by our productivity efforts, were the primary factors contributing to the increase.