Edgar Filing: HARTE HANKS INC

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Form 10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x	QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009

¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number 1-7120

HARTE-HANKS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

74-1677284

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)


200 Concord Plaza Drive, San Antonio, Texas		78216
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number including area code – 210/829-9000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§234.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ¨ No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “small reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No x

The number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock as of April 30, 2009 was 63,566,315 shares of common stock, all of one class.

HARTE-HANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORM 10-Q REPORT

March 31, 2009


			Page
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1.	Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

		Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008	3

		Consolidated Statements of Operations - Three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008	4

		Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008	5

		Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income - Three months ended March 31, 2009 and year ended December 31, 2008	6

		Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	7

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		15

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		25

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		25

Part II. Other Information
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		26

Item 1A.	Risk Factors		26

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		27

Item 6.	Exhibits		27

Item 1.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Harte-Hanks, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except per share and share amounts)


	March 31, 2009 (Unaudited)			December 31, 2008 (Audited)
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	49,715		$	30,161
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,017 at March 31, 2009 and $4,191 at December 31, 2008)		144,024			169,418
Inventory		5,799			7,481
Prepaid expenses		14,793			14,169
Current deferred income tax asset		12,615			13,000
Other current assets		4,915			6,974

Total current assets		231,861			241,203

Property, plant and equipment (less accumulated depreciation of $233,199 at March 31, 2009 and $231,197 at December 31, 2008)		90,744			97,433
Goodwill, net		552,889			552,877
Other intangible assets (less accumulated amortization of $12,694 at March 31, 2009 and $12,241 at December 31, 2008)		17,536			17,989
Other assets		4,100			4,064

Total assets	$	897,130		$	913,566


Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt	$	34,875		$	30,938
Accounts payable		40,866			48,182
Accrued payroll and related expenses		21,182			22,177
Customer deposits and deferred revenue		51,695			58,227
Income taxes payable		13,799			9,128
Other current liabilities		10,212			19,083

Total current liabilities		172,629			187,735

Long-term debt		228,625			239,687
Other long-term liabilities (including deferred income taxes of $64,873 at March 31, 2009 and $65,723 at December 31, 2008)		135,862			129,772

Total liabilities		537,116			557,194


Stockholders’ equity
Common stock, $1 par value per share, 250,000,000 shares authorized. 118,241,270 shares issued at March 31, 2009 and 118,085,480 shares issued at December 31, 2008		118,241			118,085
Additional paid-in capital		331,352			331,227
Retained earnings		1,191,713			1,189,376
Less treasury stock: 54,682,431 shares at cost at March 31, 2009 and 54,672,070 shares at cost at December 31, 2008		(1,236,542	)		(1,236,581	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(44,750	)		(45,735	)

Total stockholders’ equity		360,014			356,372

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	897,130		$	913,566

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Harte-Hanks, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2009			2008
Operating revenues	$	217,674		$	268,509

Operating expenses
Labor		99,242			115,815
Production and distribution		80,427			96,440
Advertising, selling, general and administrative		15,357			21,390
Depreciation and amortization		8,437			8,316
Intangible asset amortization		453			737

Total operating expenses		203,916			242,698

Operating income		13,758			25,811

Other expenses (income)
Interest expense		2,478			3,763
Interest income		(25	)		(111	)
Other, net		18			668

		2,471			4,320

Income before income taxes		11,287			21,491
Income tax expense		4,172			7,905

Net income	$	7,115		$	13,586


Basic earnings per common share	$	0.11		$	0.21


Weighted-average common shares outstanding		63,515			65,860


Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.11		$	0.21


Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding		63,593			66,137

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Harte-Hanks, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands)

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2009			2008
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$	7,115		$	13,586
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		8,437			8,316
Intangible asset amortization		453			737
Stock-based compensation		320			1,182
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		(13	)		(120	)
Deferred income taxes		78			2,179
Other, net		4			75
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Decrease in accounts receivable, net		25,394			29,304
Decrease in inventory		1,682			106
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,435			(676	)
Decrease in accounts payable		(7,316	)		(14,358	)
Decrease in other accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(6,342	)		(4,180	)
Other, net		1,939			889

Net cash provided by operating activities		33,186			37,040


Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		—			(8,580	)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(2,169	)		(6,719	)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment		77			23

Net cash used in investing activities		(2,092	)		(15,276	)


Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Borrowings		—			124,000
Repayment of borrowings		(7,125	)		(61,875	)
Issuance of common stock		538			2,203
Purchase of treasury stock		—			(76,649	)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		13			120
Dividends paid		(4,778	)		(4,918	)

Net cash used in financing activities		(11,352	)		(17,119	)


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(188	)		134
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		19,554			4,779
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		30,161			22,847

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	49,715		$	27,626

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Harte-Hanks, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income (in thousands, except per share amounts)

(2009 Unaudited)


	Common Stock		Additional Paid-In Capital			Retained Earnings			Treasury Stock			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Total Stockholders’ Equity
Balance at December 31, 2007	$	117,693	$	323,182		$	1,145,736		$	(1,160,205	)	$	(17,894	)	$	408,512
Common stock issued - employee stock purchase plan		298		2,639			—			—			—			2,937
Exercise of stock options and release of nonvested shares		94		1,267			—			(49	)		—			1,312
Net tax effect of options exercised		—		(1,550	)		—			—			—			(1,550	)
Stock-based compensation		—		5,827			—			—			—			5,827
Dividends paid ($0.30 per share)		—		—			(19,101	)		—			—			(19,101	)
Treasury stock repurchased		—		—			—			(76,649	)		—			(76,649	)
Treasury stock issued		—		(138	)		—			322			—			184
Comprehensive income:
Net income		—		—			62,741			—			—			62,741
Adjustment to pension liability (net of tax benefit of $15,259)		—		—			—			—			(22,886	)		(22,886	)
Change in value of derivative instrument accounted for as a cash flow hedge (net of tax benefit of $762		—		—			—			—			(1,146	)		(1,146	)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		—		—			—			—			(3,809	)		(3,809	)

Total comprehensive income																34,900

Balance at December 31, 2008		118,085		331,227			1,189,376			(1,236,581	)		(45,735	)		356,372
Common stock issued - employee stock purchase plan		85		402			—			—			—			487
Exercise of stock options and release of nonvested shares		71		29			—			(129	)		—			(29	)
Net tax effect of options exercised		—		(504	)		—			—			—			(504	)
Stock-based compensation		—		320			—			—			—			320
Dividends paid ($0.075 per share)		—		—			(4,778	)		—			—			(4,778	)
Treasury stock issued		—		(122	)		—			168			—			46
Comprehensive income:
Net income		—		—			7,115			—			—			7,115
Adjustment to pension liability (net of tax expense of $581)		—		—			—			—			871			871
Change in value of derivative instrument accounted for as a cash flow hedge (net of tax expense of $565)		—		—			—			—			848			848
Foreign currency translation adjustment		—		—			—			—			(734	)		(734	)

Total comprehensive income																8,100

Balance at March 31, 2009	$	118,241	$	331,352		$	1,191,713		$	(1,236,542	)	$	(44,750	)	$	360,014

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Harte-Hanks, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Note A - Basis of Presentation

Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Harte-Hanks, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for comparative purposes.

As used in this report, the terms “Harte-Hanks,” “we,” “us,” or “our” may refer to Harte-Hanks, one or more of its consolidated subsidiaries, or all of them taken as a whole.

Interim Financial Information

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2009. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results and outcomes could differ from those estimates and assumptions. On an ongoing basis management reviews its estimates based on currently available information. Changes in facts and circumstances could result in revised estimates and assumptions. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

Operating Expense Presentation in Consolidated Statement of Operations

“Labor” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations includes all employee payroll and benefits, including stock-based compensation, along with temporary labor costs. “Production and distribution” and “Advertising, selling, general and administrative” do not include labor, depreciation or amortization.

Note B - Recent Accounting Pronouncements

We adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, (SFAS 157) relating to financial assets and liabilities on January 1, 2008. We adopted the provisions of SFAS 157 relating to non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities on January 1, 2009. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The adoption of SFAS 157 did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

On January 1, 2009 we adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations, as revised by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in December 2007 (SFAS 141R). SFAS 141R establishes principles and requirements for how an acquiring company:

•

Recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree;

•

Recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and

•

Determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination.

SFAS 141R requires an acquiring company to recognize the assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at fair value as of the acquisition date. Under SFAS 141, acquisition-related costs were included in the total costs of the acquisition that were allocated to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. Under SFAS 141R, these acquisition-related costs will be expensed in the period in which they occur. Under SFAS 141, contingent consideration usually was not recognized until the contingency was resolved, in which case an adjustment was made to goodwill. SFAS 141R requires an acquiring company to recognize contingent consideration at fair value as of the acquisition date. Our adoption of SFAS 141R will affect the way we account for future acquisitions, including acquisition-related costs, contingencies and contingent consideration. Our adoption of SFAS 141R may also impact the amount of information we disclose about future acquisitions.

We adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, (SFAS 161) on January 1, 2009. SFAS 161 establishes, among other things, the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and for hedging activities. This statement requires qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair values and amounts of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about contingent features related to credit risk in derivative agreements. New disclosures required by SFAS 161 are included in Note E, Interest Rate Risk. The adoption of SFAS 161 did not affect our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2008 the FASB again amended SFAS No. 132, Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits, (SFAS 132R-1) to provide additional guidance on an employer’s disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan. The objectives of the disclosures required by SFAS 132R-1 are to provide users of financial statements with an understanding of:

•

How investment allocation decisions are made, including the factors that are pertinent to an understanding of investment policies and strategies;

•

The major categories of plan assets;

•

The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets;

•

The effect of fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) on changes in plan assets for the period; and

•

Significant concentrations of risk within plan assets.

We will adopt SFAS 132R-1 on December 31, 2009 and the additional disclosures will be included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. The adoption of SFAS 132R-1 did not affect on our consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued Staff Position FAS 107-1 and Accounting Principles Board 28-1, Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments, (FSP 107-1). FSP 107-1 requires an entity to provide the annual disclosures required by SFAS 107, Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments, in its interim financial statements. FSP 107-1 is effective for us beginning in the second quarter of 2009 and we will provide the additional disclosures required by FSP 107-1 in our June 30, 2009 quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

Note C - Income Taxes

Our first quarter 2009 income tax provision of $4.2 million was calculated using an effective income tax rate of approximately 37.0%. Our effective income tax rate is derived by estimating pretax income and income tax expense for the year ending December 31, 2009. The effective income tax rate calculated is higher than the federal statutory rate of 35%, primarily due to the addition of state income taxes.

At January 1, 2009, unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions totaled $7.1 million. If recognized, the entire unrecognized tax benefit amount, $4.8 million net of tax, would impact the effective tax rate. In addition, interest and penalties accrued at January 1, 2009 totaled $3.2 million, or $2.5 million net of tax. There have been no significant changes to these amounts during the three months ended March 31, 2009.

Harte-Hanks or one of our subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal, U.S. state and foreign jurisdictions. For U.S. state and foreign returns, we are no longer subject to tax examinations for years prior to 2004. For U.S. federal returns, we are no longer subject to tax examinations for the years prior to 2005. We believe that it is reasonably possible that a reduction in our unrecognized tax liabilities in the range of $1.5 million to $1.6 million, net of tax, and a reduction of interest and penalties in the range of $0.8 million to $0.9 million, net of tax, will occur in the next twelve months related to the statute expiring on various tax returns. If these reductions were to occur, they would decrease the tax expense and effective tax rate for the full year 2009.

Note D - Stock-Based Compensation

We recognized $0.3 million and $1.2 million of stock-based compensation during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Our annual grant of stock-based awards occurred in the first quarter of 2009, which is consistent with the timing of previous annual grants. These grants consisted of:


	Number of Shares	Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Stock options	1,931,000	$	1.49
Nonvested shares	54,668	$	6.04

Stock options granted in the first quarter of 2009 have exercise prices equal to the market value of the common stock on the date of grant. The weighted-average exercise price of options granted in the first quarter of 2009 was $6.04.

In March of 2009, we terminated the 1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, a shareholder approved plan that previously provided for a total of 6.0 million shares to be sold to participating employees at 85% of the fair market value at specified quarterly investment dates. In January of 2009, we issued 0.1 million shares under this plan at an average price of $5.75 per share. No shares were issued under this employee stock purchase plan subsequent to January of 2009. We recorded approximately $15,000 of expense in the first quarter of 2009 related to the January purchase. We recorded approximately $0.1 million of expense in the first quarter of 2008 and $0.5 million of expense for the full year 2008 related to this employee stock purchase plan.

Note E - Interest Rate Risk

We use derivative instruments to manage the risk of changes in prevailing interest rates adversely affecting future cash flows associated with our credit facilities. We assess interest rate risk by regularly identifying and monitoring changes in interest rate exposure that may adversely impact expected future cash flows and by evaluating hedging opportunities. The derivative instrument used to manage such risk is the interest rate swap. We do not enter into derivative instruments for any purpose other than cash flow hedging. We do not speculate using derivative instruments.

As with any financial instrument, derivative instruments have inherent risks, primarily market and credit risk. Market risk associated with changes in interest rates is managed as part of our overall market risk monitoring process by establishing and monitoring limits as to the degree of risk that may be undertaken. Credit risk occurs when a counterparty to a derivative contract in which we have an unrealized gain fails to perform according to the terms of the agreement. We seek to minimize our credit risk by entering into transactions with counterparties that maintain high credit ratings.

We account for interest rate swaps in accordance with SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. We have designated our interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge. For a derivative instrument designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument is recorded in other comprehensive loss and is recognized as a component of interest expense in the Statement of Operations when the hedged item affects results of operations. On a quarterly basis, we assess the ineffectiveness of the hedging relationship, and any gains or losses related to the ineffectiveness are recorded as interest expense in our Statement of Operations. There were no components of the derivative instrument that were excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. We do not expect the ineffectiveness related to our current hedging activity to be material to our financial results in the future.

We discontinue hedge accounting prospectively if it is determined that (i) an interest rate swap is not highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of a hedged item, (ii) the derivative expires or is sold, terminated or exercised, or (iii) the derivative is undesignated as a hedge instrument. If hedge accounting is discontinued, the derivative instrument will continue to be carried at fair value, with changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument recognized in the current period’s results of operations. When hedge accounting is discontinued because it is probable that a forecasted transaction will not occur, the accumulated gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) will be recognized immediately in results of operations. When hedge accounting is discontinued because the derivative instrument has not been or will not continue to be highly effective as a hedge, the remaining amount in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is amortized into earnings over the period that cash flows that were being hedged affect earnings.

In September 2007, we entered into a two-year interest rate swap agreement with a notional amount of $150.0 million and a fixed rate of 4.655%. The two-year term began on September 28, 2007. This interest rate swap changes the variable-rate cash flow exposure on the $150.0 million notional amount to fixed-rate cash flows by entering into receive-variable, pay-fixed interest rate swap transactions. Under this swap transaction, we receive London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) based variable interest rate payments and make fixed-interest rate payments, thereby creating fixed-rate debt. We designated this hedging relationship as hedging the risk of changes in cash flows (a cash flow hedge) attributable to changes in the LIBOR rate applicable to our 2005 Revolving Credit Facility and 2006 Term Loan Facility. As such, we report the fair value of the swap as an asset or liability on our balance sheet, any ineffectiveness as interest expense, and effective changes to the fair value of the swap in other comprehensive income (loss). Fair value is determined using projected discounted future cash flows calculated using readily available market information (future LIBOR rates). At March 31, 2009, this swap is recorded at fair value as a $3.1 million liability. We reclassified into earnings losses of $1.6 million and $0.3

million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, that were related to the swap and previously reported in other comprehensive loss. We expect losses of $1.5 million and $3.1 million to be reclassified into earnings in the second quarter and over the remaining six months of the swap term, respectively. These expected losses are currently reported in other comprehensive loss. The amount ultimately realized, however, could differ as interest rates change.

SFAS 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. SFAS 157 also establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in valuation methodologies into three levels. Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs are based on quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. The following table provides additional detail of the fair value of our swap liability at March 31, 2009 by level within the SFAS 157 fair value measurement hierarchy, as required by SFAS 157:


In thousands	March 31, 2009		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Interest rate swap liability	$	3,089	$	—	$	3,089	$	—

Total	$	3,089	$	—	$	3,089	$	—

The following table presents the location of our derivative instrument on the Consolidated Balance Sheets:


	Asset Derivatives						Liability Derivatives
	March 31, 2009			December 31, 2008			March 31, 2009			December 31, 2008
In thousands	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
Interest rate swap	Not applicable	$	—	Not applicable	$	—	Other current liabilities	$	3,089	Other current liabilities	$	4,502

Total Derivatives		$	—		$	—		$	3,089		$	4,502

The following table presents the impact of our derivative instrument on the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31:


	Amount of Loss Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)				Location of Loss Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income	Amount of Loss Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)
In thousands	2009		2008		(Effective Portion)	2009		2008
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
Interest rate swap	$	163	$	3,275	Interest expense	$	1,576	$	341

Total	$	163	$	3,275		$	1,576	$	341

Note F - Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of common stock plus the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method. Dilutive potential common shares include outstanding stock options and nonvested shares.

A reconciliation of basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) is as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
In thousands, except per share amounts	2009		2008
BASIC EPS
Net Income	$	7,115	$	13,586


Weighted-average common shares outstanding used in earnings per share computations		63,515		65,860


Earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.21


DILUTED EPS
Net Income	$	7,115	$	13,586


Shares used in diluted earnings per share computations		63,593		66,137


Earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.21


Computation of shares used in earnings per share computations:
Weighted-average outstanding common shares		63,515		65,860
Weighted-average common equivalent shares - dilutive effect of stock options and awards		78		277

Shares used in diluted earnings per share computations		63,593		66,137

7.3 million and 6.2 million anti-dilutive market price options have been excluded from the calculation of shares used in the diluted EPS calculation for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Note G - Business Segments

Harte-Hanks is a worldwide, direct and targeted marketing company with operations in two segments – Direct Marketing and Shoppers.

Information about the operations of our two business segments follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
In thousands	2009			2008
Operating revenues
Direct Marketing	$	146,821		$	179,110
Shoppers		70,853			89,399

Total operating revenues	$	217,674		$	268,509


Operating income (loss)
Direct Marketing	$	19,224		$	21,243
Shoppers		(2,485	)		7,705
Corporate Activities		(2,981	)		(3,137	)

Total operating income	$	13,758		$	25,811


Income before income taxes
Operating income	$	13,758		$	25,811
Interest expense		(2,478	)		(3,763	)
Interest income		25			111
Other, net		(18	)		(668	)

Total income before income taxes	$	11,287		$	21,491

Note H - Components of Net Periodic Pension Benefit Cost

Prior to January 1, 1999, we maintained a defined benefit pension plan for which most of our employees were eligible. In conjunction with significant enhancements to our 401(k) plan, we elected to freeze benefits under this defined benefit pension plan as of December 31, 1998.

In 1994, we adopted a non-qualified, supplemental pension plan covering certain employees, which provides for incremental pension payments so that total pension payments equal those amounts that would have been payable from our principal pension plan if it were not for limitations imposed by income tax regulations. The benefits under this supplemental pension plan will continue to accrue as if the principal pension plan had not been frozen.

Net pension cost for both plans included the following components:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
In thousands	2009			2008
Service cost	$	137		$	168
Interest cost		2,038			1,992
Expected return on plan assets		(1,401	)		(2,244	)
Amortization of prior service cost		14			15
Transition obligation		3			24
Recognized actuarial loss		1,436			501

Net periodic benefit cost	$	2,227		$	456

We are not required to make and do not intend to make any contributions to our frozen pension plan in 2009. We are not required to make and do not intend to make any contributions to our unfunded pension plan in 2009 other than to the extent needed to cover benefit payments.

Note I - Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income for a period encompasses net income and all other changes in equity other than from transactions with our stockholders. Our comprehensive income was as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
In thousands	2009			2008
Net income	$	7,115		$	13,586
Other comprehensive income:
Adjustment to pension liability (net of tax expense of $581 and $216 in 2009 and 2008, respectively)		871			325
Change in value of derivative instrument accounted for as a cash flow hedge (net of tax expense of $565 in 2009 and tax benefit $1,173 in 2008, respectively)		848			(1,761	)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(734	)		821

Total comprehensive income	$	8,100		$	12,971

Note J - Litigation Contingencies

On March 23, 2001, inactive Harte-Hanks Shoppers employees Frank Gattuso and Ernest Sigala filed a putative class action against Harte-Hanks Shoppers, Inc., claiming that Harte-Hanks Shoppers failed to comply with a California statutory provision requiring an employer to indemnify employees for expenses incurred on behalf of the employer. The plaintiffs allege that Harte-Hanks Shoppers failed to reimburse them for expenses of using their automobiles as outside sales representatives and failed to accurately itemize these expenses on plaintiffs’ wage statements. The suit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The putative class that plaintiffs seek to represent has been limited to all California Harte-Hanks outside sales representatives who were not separately reimbursed apart from their base salary and commissions for the expenses they incurred in using their own automobiles after early 1998. The plaintiffs seek indemnification and compensatory damages, statutory

damages, exemplary damages, penalties, interest, costs of suit, and attorneys’ fees. Harte-Hanks Shoppers filed a cross-complaint seeking a declaratory judgment that the plaintiffs have been indemnified for their automobile expenses by the higher salaries and commissions paid to them as outside sales representatives. The cross-complaint also alleges conversion, unjust enrichment, constructive trust and rescission and restitution based on mutual mistake. On January 30, 2002, the trial court ruled that California Labor Code Section 2802 requires employers to reimburse employees for mileage and other expenses incurred in the course of employment, but that an employer is permitted to pay increased wages or commissions instead of indemnifying actual expenses. On May 28, 2003, the trial court denied the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification. On October 27, 2005, the California Court of Appeal issued a unanimous opinion affirming the trial court’s rulings, including the interpretation of Labor Code Section 2802 and denial of class certification. On November 23, 2005, the Court of Appeal denied the plaintiffs’ petition for rehearing. On November 5, 2007, the California Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s ruling that Labor Code Section 2802 permits lump sum reimbursement and that an employer may satisfy its obligations to indemnify employees for reasonable and necessary business expenses under Labor Code Section 2802 by paying enhanced taxable compensation. The Supreme Court remanded the matter back to the trial court for further proceedings related to the class certification issue and directed the trial court to consider whether the following issues could properly be resolved on a class-wide basis: (1) did Harte-Hanks Shoppers adopt a practice or policy of reimbursing outside sales representatives for automobile expenses by paying them higher commission rates and base salaries than it paid to inside sales representatives, (2) did Harte-Hanks Shoppers establish a method to apportion the enhanced compensation payments between compensation for labor performed and expense reimbursement and (3) was the amount paid for expense reimbursement sufficient to fully reimburse the employees for the automobile expenses they reasonably and necessarily incurred. On July 29, 2008, the trial court stated its intention to issue a split class action certification ruling, certifying a class action with respect to the first two questions listed immediately above (adoption of a policy or practice, and establishment of an apportionment method) and denying class certification on the third question listed immediately above (sufficiency of reimbursement). Based upon its belief that the conditions for a loss accrual described in SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies, have not been met, Harte-Hanks has made no accrual for this loss contingency. An estimate of the possible loss or range of loss from any adverse result on this case cannot reasonably be made. We believe that we have substantial meritorious defenses to these claims and we intend to vigorously defend the lawsuit. Nevertheless, we cannot predict the impact of future developments in this lawsuit, and any resolution of this lawsuit within a particular fiscal quarter may adversely impact our results of operations for that quarter.

We are also currently subject to various other legal proceedings in the course of conducting our businesses and, from time to time, we may become involved in additional claims and lawsuits incidental to our businesses. In the opinion of management, after consultation with counsel, any ultimate liability arising out of these pending claims and lawsuits is not currently expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations. Nevertheless, we cannot predict the impact of future developments affecting our pending or future claims and lawsuits and any resolution of a claim or lawsuit within a particular fiscal quarter may adversely impact our results of operations for that quarter. We expense legal costs as incurred, and all recorded legal liabilities are adjusted as required as better information becomes available to us. The factors we consider when recording an accrual for contingencies include, among others: (i) the opinions and views of our legal counsel; (ii) our previous experience; and (iii) the decision of our management as to how we intend to respond to the complaints.

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This report, including this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A), contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws.

All such statements are qualified by this cautionary note, which is provided pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may also be included in our other public filings, press releases, our website and oral and written presentations by management. Statements other than historical facts are forward-looking and may be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “seeks,” “could,” “intends,” or words of similar meaning. Examples include statements regarding (1) our strategies and initiatives, (2) adjustments to our cost structure and other actions designed to respond to market conditions and improve our performance, and the anticipated effectiveness and expenses associated with these actions, (3) our financial outlook for revenues, earnings per share, operating income, expense related to equity-based compensation, capital resources and other financial items, (4) expectations for our businesses and for the industries in which we operate, including with regard to the negative performance trends in our Shoppers business and the adverse impact of the ongoing economic downturn in the United States and other economies on the marketing expenditures and activities of our Direct Marketing clients and prospects, (5) competitive factors, (6) acquisition and development plans, (7) our stock repurchase program, (8) expectations regarding legal proceedings and other contingent liabilities, and (9) other statements regarding future events, conditions or outcomes.

These forward-looking statements are based on current information, expectations and estimates and involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. In that event, our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity could be materially adversely affected and investors in our securities could lose part or all of their investments. Some of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors can be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the factors discussed under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (2008 Form 10-K) and any updates thereto in our Forms 10-Q and in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in our first quarter 2009 earnings release issued on May 5, 2009. The forward-looking statements included in this report and those included in our other public filings, press releases, our website and oral and written presentations by management are made only as of the respective dates thereof, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement in this report or in other documents, our website or oral statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.

Overview

The following MD&A section is intended to help the reader understand the results of operations and financial condition of Harte-Hanks, Inc. (Harte-Hanks). This section is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our financial statements and the accompanying notes to the financial statements contained elsewhere in this report and our MD&A section, financial statements and accompanying notes to financial statements in our 2008 Form 10-K. Our 2008 Form 10-K contains a discussion of other matters not included herein, such as disclosures regarding critical accounting policies and estimates, and contractual obligations.

Harte-Hanks is a worldwide direct and targeted marketing company that provides direct marketing services and shopper advertising opportunities to a wide range of local, regional, national and international consumer and business-to-business marketers. We manage our operations through two operating segments: Direct Marketing and Shoppers. We derive revenues from the sale of direct marketing services and shopper advertising services.

Direct Marketing services are targeted to specific industries or markets with services and software products tailored to each industry or market. Currently, our Direct Marketing business services various vertical markets including retail, high-tech/telecom, financial services, pharmaceutical/healthcare, and a wide range of selected markets. We believe that we are generally able to provide services to new industries and markets by modifying our services and applications as opportunities are presented. Depending on the needs of our clients, our Direct

Marketing capabilities are provided in an integrated approach through more than 30 facilities worldwide, more than 10 of which are located outside of the United States. Each of these centers possesses some specialization and is linked with others to support the needs of our clients. We use various capabilities and technologies to enable our clients to capture, analyze and disseminate customer and prospect data across all points of customer contact. Specifically, we help companies:

•

gain insight into target markets;

•

build better information about customers and prospects;

•

turn customer information into marketing strategy;

•

design effective communications;

•

deliver communications and manage contacts; and

•

provide data analysis, profiling, quality and reporting software and services.

We offer a full complement of capabilities and resources, including:

•

agency and creative services;

•

database marketing solutions;

•

data quality software and services with Trillium Software;

•

digital marketing;

•

fulfillment and contact centers;

•

mail engineering and logistics; and

•

personalized and targeted mail.

Revenues from the Direct Marketing segment represented approximately 67% of our total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2009.

Harte-Hanks Shoppers is North America’s largest owner, operator and distributor of shopper publications, based on weekly circulation and revenues. Shoppers are weekly advertising publications delivered free by standard mail to households and businesses in a particular geographic area. Shoppers offer advertisers a targeted, cost-effective local advertising system, with virtually 100% penetration in their area of distribution. Shoppers are particularly effective in large markets with high media fragmentation in which major metropolitan newspapers generally have low penetration. At March 31, 2009, our Shoppers were zoned into more than 950 separate editions with total circulation of approximately 11.5 million addresses in California and Florida each week. Our Shoppers segment also provides advertising and other services online through our websites, PennySaverUSA.com (California) and TheFlyer.com (Florida). These sites are online advertising portals, bringing buyers and sellers together through our online products, including local classifieds, business listings, coupons, special offers and Power Sites. Power Sites are templated web sites for our customers, optimized to help small / medium sized business owners establish a web presence and improve their lead generation.

Revenues from the Shoppers segment represented approximately 33% of our total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2009.

During the first quarter of 2009, our businesses continued to face challenging economic environments, which negatively impacted our financial performance. Marketing budgets are often more discretionary in nature and easier to reduce in the short-term than other expenses in response to weak economic conditions. Difficult economic conditions have resulted in reduced demand for our products and services due to consolidation or, in some cases, bankruptcies of customers and prospective customers in the industry verticals that we serve, and these economic conditions may result in collection difficulties and bankruptcy preference actions to recover certain amounts previously paid to us by our clients.

Direct Marketing revenues are dependent on, among other things, national, regional and international economic and business conditions. During the first quarter of 2009, the ongoing economic recession in the United States and other economies continued to adversely impact the marketing expenditures and activities of our customers. What began in prior quarters as caution with spending plans became even more pronounced over the last two quarters, resulting in significant reductions and delays in spending by clients in the face of extreme economic uncertainty.

Revenues from our Shoppers business are largely dependent on local advertising expenditures in the California and Florida geographies in which we operate. Such expenditures are substantially affected by the strength of the local economies in those markets. During the first quarter of 2009, the negative trends and economic conditions that we have seen since the second half of 2007 in California and Florida continued. These conditions were initially created by weakness in the real estate and associated financing markets and have spread across virtually all categories.

Given the external environment, we face an uncertain revenue outlook for the remainder of 2009, and believe that our financial performance will continue to be negatively impacted. As a result, we have taken, and are continuing to take, actions designed to align our expense base and structure to the external economic environment facing our businesses. These actions include head count reductions, consolidating businesses and closing facilities, reductions of marginal Shoppers circulation, wage freezes and reductions, tightened management of capital spending, non-client travel restrictions and enhanced controls around accounts receivable and collections. Nevertheless, we cannot predict the impact of future economic conditions or the ultimate effectiveness and expenses associated with our efforts to address those economic conditions.

Our principal operating expense items are labor, postage and transportation.

Results of Operations

Operating results were as follows:


	Three months ended
In thousands, except per share amounts	March 31, 2009		March 31, 2008		Change
Revenues	$	217,674	$	268,509	-18.9	%
Operating expenses		203,916		242,698	-16.0	%

Operating income	$	13,758	$	25,811	-46.7	%


Net income	$	7,115	$	13,586	-47.6	%


Diluted earnings per share	$	0.11	$	0.21	-47.6	%

1^st Quarter 2009 vs. 1^st Quarter 2008

Revenues

Consolidated revenues decreased 18.9%, to $217.7 million, and operating income decreased 46.7% to $13.8 million in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008. Our overall results reflect decreased revenues of $32.3 million, or 18.0%, from our Direct Marketing segment and decreased revenues of $18.5 million, or 20.7%, from our Shoppers segment. Direct Marketing experienced a year-over-year high single-digit revenue decline from our pharma/healthcare vertical and double-digit declines from all of our other vertical markets. These results reflect the effects of the ongoing economic recession on our Direct Marketing business. Shoppers revenue performance reflects the continued impact that the difficult economic environments in California and Florida are having on our Shoppers business. The decrease in Shoppers revenues was the result of decreased sales in established markets, including declines in virtually every revenue category, and curtailment of circulation of approximately 1.5 million addresses from July of 2008 to February of 2009.

Operating Expenses

Overall operating expenses decreased 16.0%, to $203.9 million, in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008. The overall decrease in operating expenses was driven by decreased operating expenses in Direct Marketing of $30.3 million, or 19.2%, decreased operating expenses in Shoppers of $8.4 million, or 10.2%, and decreased general corporate expense of $0.2 million, or 5.0%. The Direct Marketing decrease was primarily a result of headcount reductions, lower outsourced costs and logistics-related transportation costs resulting from lower volumes, and travel restrictions. The decrease at Shoppers was primarily due to circulation curtailments, declines in ad placements and distribution volumes, headcount reductions and decreased promotion-related expense.

Net Income/Earnings Per Share

Net income decreased 47.6%, to $7.1 million, and diluted earnings per share decreased 47.6%, to $0.11 per share, in the first quarter of 2009 when compared to the first quarter of 2008. The decrease in net income was a result of decreased operating income from both Shoppers and Direct Marketing, partially offset by lower interest expense, lower other nonoperating expense and lower general corporate expense.

Direct Marketing

Direct Marketing operating results were as follows:


	Three months ended
In thousands	March 31, 2009		March 31, 2008		Change
Revenues	$	146,821	$	179,110	-18.0	%
Operating expenses		127,597		157,867	-19.2	%

Operating income	$	19,224	$	21,243	-9.5	%

1^st Quarter 2009 vs. 1^st Quarter 2008

Revenues

Direct Marketing revenues decreased $32.3 million, or 18.0%, in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008. All vertical market revenues experienced declines in the first quarter compared to the first quarter of 2008. Our pharma/healthcare vertical experienced a revenue decline in the high single digits while our retail and select verticals both had decreases in the low teens. The high tech/telecom vertical experienced a revenue decrease in the high teens. Financial services revenue declined 35% for the quarter. These results reflect the effects of the ongoing economic recession on our Direct Marketing business. Revenues from our vertical markets are impacted by, among other things, the economic fundamentals of each industry, various market factors, including the demand for services by our clients, and the financial condition of and budgets available to specific clients. Revenues for Direct Marketing are affected by a number of factors, including general national and international economic trends.

Short-term revenue performance will depend on, among other factors, the impact and duration of the ongoing economic recession and overall strength of the national and international economies and how successful we are at maintaining and growing business with existing clients, acquiring new clients and meeting client demands. We believe that in the long term an increasing portion of overall marketing and advertising expenditures will be moved from other advertising media to the targeted media space, the results of which can be more effectively tracked, enabling measurement of the return on marketing investment, and that our business will benefit as a result. Standard postage rates increased in 2006 and 2008 and will increase again on May 11, 2009. This May 2009 increase is expected to increase the average postage rate for our Direct Marketing customers by

approximately 3.8%. Postage rates influence the demand for our Direct Marketing services even though the cost of mailings is borne by our clients and is not directly reflected in our revenues or expenses. There is no assurance that future postal increases will not have an adverse impact on us.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses decreased $30.3 million, or 19.2%, in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008. Labor costs decreased $11.9 million, or 14.3%, due to headcount reductions, lower commissions as a result of revenue performance, and lower stock-based compensation. This decrease was partially offset by a $1.3 million increase in severance. Production and distribution costs decreased $13.2 million, or 24.5%, due to lower outsourced costs as a result of lower outsourced volumes, and lower logistics-related transportation costs resulting from reduced transportation volumes and decreased transportation costs. General and administrative expense decreased $4.0 million, or 29.5%, due primarily to less travel. Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $1.1 million, or 16.4%, due to certain intangible assets and software becoming fully amortized and decreased capital expenditures in the last several quarters.

Direct Marketing’s largest cost components are labor, outsourced costs and transportation costs. Each of these costs is somewhat variable and tends to fluctuate with revenues and the demand for our direct marketing services. Fuel costs have increased significantly in the last few years and were at historically high levels throughout much of 2008 before decreasing significantly in the fourth quarter of 2008 and holding at those levels in the first quarter of 2009. Future changes in fuel costs will continue to impact Direct Marketing’s total production costs and total operating expenses and may have an impact on future demand for our transportation services.

As a result of the tough economic conditions, we have taken, and are continuing to take, actions to adjust our expense base to reduced revenue levels. These actions include headcount reductions, consolidating businesses and closing facilities, wage freezes and reductions, tightened management of capital spending, non-client travel restrictions and enhanced controls around accounts receivable and collections. We realized a positive impact on our first quarter 2009 Direct Marketing operating costs and we anticipate realizing a positive impact on the full year 2009 Direct Marketing operating costs as a result of these actions.

Shoppers


	Three months ended
In thousands	March 31, 2009			March 31, 2008		Change
Revenues	$	70,853		$	89,399	-20.7	%
Operating expenses		73,338			81,694	-10.2	%

Operating income (loss)	$	(2,485	)	$	7,705	-132.3	%

1^st Quarter 2009 vs. 1^st Quarter 2008

Revenues

Shoppers revenues decreased $18.5 million, or 20.7%, in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008. These results reflect the continued impact that the difficult economic environments in California and Florida are having on our Shoppers business. The decrease in revenues was the result of decreased sales in established markets, including declines in virtually every revenue category, and curtailment of circulation of approximately 250,000 in July of 2008, 500,000 in December of 2008 and 700,000 in February of 2009. The net impact of these circulation curtailments was a reduction in Shoppers revenues of $3.9 million in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008. The net impact of these circulation curtailments on the full year 2009 compared to the full year 2008 will be a reduction in Shoppers revenues of $15.5 million. At March 31, 2009 our Shoppers circulation reached approximately 11.5 million addresses each week. We continue to evaluate all of our circulation performance and may make further circulation reductions in the future as part of our efforts to address the difficult economic conditions in California and Florida.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses decreased $8.4 million, or 10.2%, in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008. Total labor costs decreased $4.9 million, or 16.2%, as a result of reductions in our Shoppers workforce due to consolidations and circulation curtailments. Severance costs for the quarter were $0.9 million compared to $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2008. Total production costs decreased $2.8 million, or 6.5%, due primarily to decreased postage costs resulting from circulation curtailments and distribution volumes, decreased offload printing costs due to decreased distribution volumes and decreased paper costs due to circulation reductions and a decline in ad placements. This decrease was partially offset by $1.6 million in lease write-offs related to the consolidations and circulation curtailments. Total general and administrative costs decreased $1.6 million, or 23.7%, due primarily to lower promotion-related expense due to revenue levels, and lower insurance expense due to favorable workers compensation experience. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in bad debt expense. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $1.0 million, or 45.4%, due to the acceleration of depreciation of assets related to the circulation curtailments and plant consolidation.

Shoppers’ largest cost components are labor, postage and paper. Shoppers’ labor costs are partially variable and tend to fluctuate with the number of zones, circulation, volumes and revenues. Standard postage rates increased in 2006 and 2008 and will increase again on May 11, 2009. This May postage increase is expected to increase Shoppers postage rates by approximately 1.4%. The overall impact of this rate increase on Shoppers postage costs will be dependent on additional factors such as average book size and distribution volumes. Paper prices were down for much of 2008 before increasing in the second half and holding steady at those levels in the first quarter of 2009. We expect paper prices to increase in the second quarter of 2009 and then decline in the second half of 2009. Average paper prices for the full year 2009 are expected to be approximately 5.0% higher than our average prices for the full year 2008. This increase and future changes in paper prices will affect Shoppers production costs. At the end of the first quarter of 2009, we completed the consolidation of our two Florida production facilities into one facility. We incurred approximately $2.0 million in costs for this action. The expected 2009 savings from this consolidation will be offset by the 2009 first quarter charges.

The general economic conditions, initially created by weakness in the real estate and associated financing markets, in the California and Florida geographies in which we operate remain extremely challenging. We have taken, and are continuing to take, actions to reduce our cost base in Shoppers. These actions include headcount reductions, consolidating businesses and closing facilities, reductions of marginal Shoppers circulation, wage freezes and reductions, tightened management of capital spending and enhanced controls around accounts receivable and collections.

General Corporate Expense

General corporate expense decreased $0.2 million, or 5.0%, in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008. This decrease was primarily due to lower payroll, stock-based compensation and professional services, partially offset by an increase in pension expense.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased $1.3 million, or 34.1%, in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. This increase is due to lower outstanding debt levels and lower interest rates in the first quarter of 2009 than in the first quarter of 2008. The higher debt levels in the first quarter of 2008 were primarily the result of share repurchases.

Interest Income

Interest income was down in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008 due to lower interest rates on investments.

Other Income and Expense

Other net expense decreased $0.7 million or 97.3% in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008, primarily due to net foreign currency transaction gains of $0.3 million in 2009 compared to losses of $0.3 million in 2008.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense decreased $3.7 million in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. The effective tax rate was 37.0% for the first quarter of 2009, up slightly from 36.8% for the first quarter of 2008.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources and Uses of Cash

As of March 31, 2009, cash and cash equivalents were $49.7 million, increasing $19.6 million from December 31, 2008. This net increase was a result of net cash provided by operating activities of $33.2 million, offset by cash used in investing activities of $2.1 million and net cash used in financing activities of $11.4 million.

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $33.2 million, compared to $37.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The $3.9 million year-over-year decrease was attributable to lower net income and changes within working capital assets and liabilities.

For the three months ended March 31, 2009, our principal working capital changes, which directly affected net cash provided by operating activities, were as follows:

•

A decrease in accounts receivable attributable to lower revenues in the first quarter of 2009 than in the fourth quarter of 2008. Days sales outstanding of approximately 61 days at March 31, 2009 increased from 58 days at December 31, 2008 and 59 days at March 31, 2008;

•

A decrease in inventory due to Shoppers circulation curtailment and lower Shoppers ad placements;

•

A decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets due to timing of payments;

•

A decrease in accounts payable due to overall lower operating expenses in the first quarter of 2009 than in the fourth quarter of 2008;

•

A decrease in accrued payroll and related expenses due to timing of payroll payments and lower accrued commissions at March 31, 2009 than at December 31, 2008 due to 2009 revenue performance;

•

A decrease in customer deposits and unearned revenue due to timing of receipts and decrease in revenue levels; and

•

An increase in income taxes payable due to the timing of tax payments.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to $15.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The difference is primarily the result of the January 2008 acquisition of Mason Zimbler and lower capital expenditures in the first quarter of 2009 than in the first quarter of 2008.

Financing Activities

Net cash outflows from financing activities were $11.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to net cash outflows of $17.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The difference is attributable primarily to $76.6 million less spent on the repurchase of our common stock, partially offset by $55.0 million less net borrowings in the first three months of 2009 than in the first three months of 2008.

Credit Facilities

Our five-year $125 million Revolving Credit Facility has a maturity date of August 12, 2010. At March 31, 2009, we did not have any outstanding amounts drawn against our Revolving Credit Facility. The five-year $200 million 2006 Term Loan Facility has a maturity date of September 6, 2011. At March 31, 2009, our debt balance related to the 2006 Term Loan Facility was $165.8 million. The four-year $100 million 2008 Term Loan Facility has a maturity date of March 7, 2012. At March 31, 2009, our debt balance related to the 2008 Term Loan Facility was $97.8 million.

Under all of our credit facilities we are required to maintain an interest coverage ratio of not less than 2.75 to 1 and a total debt-to-EBITDA ratio of not more than 3.0 to 1. The credit facilities also contain covenants restricting our and our subsidiaries’ ability to grant liens and enter into certain transactions and limit the total amount of indebtedness of our subsidiaries to $20 million.

The credit facilities each also include customary covenants regarding reporting obligations, delivery of notices regarding certain events, maintaining our corporate existence, payment of obligations, maintenance of our properties and insurance thereon at customary levels with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, maintaining books and records and compliance with applicable laws. The credit facilities each also provide for customary events of default including nonpayment of principal or interest, breach of representations and warranties, violations of covenants, failure to pay certain other indebtedness, bankruptcy and material judgments and liabilities, certain violations of environmental laws or ERISA or the occurrence of a change of control prevent of default under existing agreements. As of March 31, 2009, we were in compliance with all of the covenants of our credit facilities.

In September 2007, we entered into a two-year interest rate swap with a notional amount of $150 million and a fixed rate of 4.655% in order to limit a portion of our interest rate exposure by converting a portion of our variable-rate debt to fixed-rate debt. Please refer to Note E of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Interest Rate Risk, and Item 3. to this Form 10-Q, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, for a description of our interest rate risk.

Outlook

We consider such factors as current assets, current liabilities, total debt, revenues, operating income, cash flows from operations, investing activities and financing activities when assessing our liquidity. Our primary sources of liquidity have been cash and cash equivalents on hand and cash generated from operating activities. Our management of cash is designed to optimize returns on cash balances and to ensure that it is readily available to meet our operating, investing and financing requirements as they arise. Capital resources are also available from and provided through our Revolving Credit Facility, subject to the terms and conditions of that facility.

The amount of cash on hand and borrowings available under our Revolving Credit Facility are influenced by a number of factors, including fluctuations in our operating results, revenue performance, accounts receivable collections, working capital changes, capital expenditures, tax payments, share repurchases, acquisitions and dividends.

Recent developments in the financial markets have increased our exposure to the possible liquidity and credit

risks of counterparties to our Revolving Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2009, we had $125.0 million of unused borrowing capacity under our Revolving Credit Facility and we have not experienced any limitations to date on our ability to access this source of liquidity. Based on our current operational plans, we believe that our Revolving Credit Facility, together with cash provided by operating activities, will be sufficient to fund operations, anticipated capital expenditures, payments of principal and interest on our borrowings, and dividends on our common stock for at least the next twelve months. Nevertheless, we cannot predict the impact on our business performance of the ongoing economic recession in the United States and other economies. A lasting economic recession in the United States and other economies could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or operating results.

Our Revolving Credit Facility matures in August 2010. If the ongoing disruptions in the credit markets continue for an extended period of time, we may be unable to obtain a replacement facility on acceptable terms or at all, or we may be unable to access funds under our Revolving Credit Facility because of counterparty risk or other factors. In that event, depending on our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations, our overall liquidity and ability to make payments on our indebtedness under our 2006 Term Loan Facility (which matures in September 2011) and our 2008 Term Loan Facility (which matures in March 2012) may be adversely impacted, and we may be required to seek one or more alternatives, such as refinancing or restructuring our indebtedness, selling material assets or operations, or seeking to raise debt or equity capital. We cannot assure you that any of these actions could be affected on a timely basis or on satisfactory terms, if at all. In addition, our existing debt agreements contain restrictive covenants which may prohibit us from adopting one or more of these alternatives.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with U.S generally accepted accounting principles. Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are affected by management’s application of accounting policies. We consider the following to be our critical accounting policies, as described in detail in our 2008 Form 10-K:

•

Revenue recognition;

•

Allowance for doubtful accounts;

•

Reserve for healthcare, workers’ compensation, automobile and general liability;

•

Goodwill; and

•

Stock-based compensation.

There have been no material changes to the critical accounting policies described in our 2008 Form 10-K.

As discussed in Note B, Recent Accounting Pronouncements, of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, certain new financial accounting pronouncements have been issued which either have already been reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, or will become effective for our financial statements at various dates in the future. Our adoption of SFAS 141R, Business Combinations, on January 1 2009 will affect the way we account for future acquisitions, including acquisition-related costs, contingencies and contingent consideration. Our adoption of SFAS 141R may also impact the amount of information we disclose about future acquisitions.

The adoption of the remaining new accounting pronouncements discussed in Note B of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have not and are not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk includes the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices. We face market risks related to interest rate variations and to foreign exchange rate variations. From time to time, we may utilize derivative financial instruments as described below to manage our exposure to such risks.

We are exposed to market risk for changes in interest rates related to our credit facilities. Our earnings are affected by changes in short-term interest rates as a result of our credit facilities, which bear interest at variable rates based on Eurodollar rates (effective 30 – day rate of 0.52% at March 31, 2009). The five-year $125 million Revolving Credit Facility has a maturity date of August 12, 2010. At March 31, 2009, we did not have any debt outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility. The five-year $200 million 2006 Term Loan Facility has a maturity date of September 6, 2011. At March 31, 2009, our debt balance related to the 2006 Term Loan Facility was $165.8 million. The four-year $100 million 2008 Term Loan Facility has a maturity date of March 7, 2012. At March 31, 2009, our debt balance related to the 2008 Term Loan Facility was $97.8 million. In September 2007, we entered into a two-year interest rate swap with a notional amount of $150 million and a fixed rate of 4.655% in order to limit a portion of our interest rate exposure by converting a portion of our variable-rate debt to fixed-rate debt.

Assuming the actual level of borrowing throughout the first quarter of 2009, and assuming a one percentage point change in the year’s average interest rates, it is estimated that our first quarter 2009 net income would have changed by approximately $0.2 million. Due to our interest rate swap, overall debt level at March 31, 2009, anticipated cash flows from operations, and the various financial alternatives available to management should there be an adverse change in interest rates, we do not believe that we currently have significant exposure to market risks associated with changing interest rates.

Our earnings are also affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates as a result of our operations in foreign countries. Our primary exchange rate exposure is to the Euro, British pound sterling, Australian dollar, Philippine peso and Brazilian real. We monitor these risks throughout the normal course of business. The majority of the transactions of our U.S. and foreign operations are denominated in the respective local currencies. Changes in exchange rates related to these types of transactions are reflected in the applicable line items making up operating income in our Statement of Operations. Due to the current level of operations conducted in foreign currencies, we do not believe that the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates on these types of transactions is significant to our overall annual earnings. A smaller portion of our transactions are denominated in currencies other than the respective local currencies. For example, inter-company transactions that are expected to be settled in the near-term are denominated in U.S. dollars. Since the accounting records of our foreign operations are kept in the respective local currency, any transactions denominated in other currencies are accounted for in the respective local currency at the time of the transaction. Upon settlement of such a transaction, any foreign currency gain or loss results in an adjustment to income, which is recorded in “Other, net” in our Statement of Operations. Transactions such as these amounted to $0.3 million in pre-tax currency transaction gains in the first quarter of 2009. At this time we have not entered into any foreign currency forward exchange contracts or other derivative instruments to hedge the effects of adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.

We do not enter into derivative instruments for any purpose other than cash flow hedging. We do not speculate using derivative instruments.

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

Accounting Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act). It should be noted that, because of inherent limitations, our disclosure controls and procedures, however well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer concluded that the design and operation of these disclosure controls and procedures were effective, at the “reasonable assurance” level, to ensure information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is properly recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, of our internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any changes occurred during the first quarter of 2009 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Based on that evaluation, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting. We may make changes in our internal control processes from time to time in the future. It should also be noted that, because of inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements, and controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or in the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

Information regarding legal proceedings is set forth in Note J to the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Litigation Contingencies, in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2008 Form 10-K, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our 2008 Form 10-K are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. In our judgment, there were no material changes in the risk factors as previously disclosed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our 2008 Form 10-K. Refer to Part I, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for a discussion of the ongoing economic downturn in the United States and other economies and its adverse impact on our business.

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The following table contains information about our purchases of equity securities during the first quarter of 2009:


Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased(2)	Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of a Publicly Announced Plan(1)	Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plan
January 1 – 31, 2009	17,781	$	7.30	—	10,475,491
February 1 – 28, 2009	—	$	—	—	10,475,491
March 1 – 31, 2009	—	$	—	—	10,475,491

Total	17,781	$	7.30	—

(1)

During the first quarter of 2009, we did not purchase any shares of our stock through our stock repurchase program that was publicly announced in January 1997. Under this program, from which shares can be purchased in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, our Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 74,400,000 shares of our outstanding common stock. As of March 31, 2009, we had repurchased a total of 63,924,509 shares at an average price of $18.83 per share under this program.

(2)

Total number of shares purchased includes shares, if any, purchased as part of our publicly announced stock repurchase program, plus shares withheld to pay applicable withholding taxes and the exercise price related to stock options, and shares withheld to pay applicable withholding taxes related to the vesting of nonvested shares, pursuant to the Harte-Hanks, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

Item 6.

Exhibits

See Index to Exhibits on Page 29.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


				HARTE-HANKS, INC.

May 5, 2009				/s/ Larry Franklin
Date				Larry Franklin
				President and Chief Executive Officer

May 5, 2009				/s/ Douglas Shepard
Date				Douglas Shepard
				Executive Vice President and
				Chief Financial Officer

May 5, 2009				/s/ Jessica Huff
Date				Jessica Huff
				Vice President, Finance and
				Chief Accounting Officer

INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit No.		Description of Exhibit
10.1		Form of Change of Control Severance Agreement between Harte-Hanks, Inc. and its President and Chief Executive Officer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Harte-Hanks’ Form 8-K, dated June 27, 2008).

10.2		Harte-Hanks, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective February 13, 2009) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Harte-Hanks’ Form 8-K dated February 13, 2009).

*31.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

*31.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

*32.1		Furnished Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

*32.2		Furnished Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

*	Filed or furnished herewith

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Smaller reporting company