Warner Music Group Corp. Reports First-Quarter Results for the Period Ended December 31, 2006
Digital Revenue Grows 45% to $100 Million or 11% of Total Revenue
NEW YORK, NY, Feb 08, 2007 -- Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE: WMG)- Total revenue of $928 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 decreased 11% from the prior-year quarter, or 14% on a constant-currency basis.
- Digital revenue was $100 million, or 11% of total revenue in the quarter, up 45% from $69 million in the prior-year quarter and down 4% sequentially from $104 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006.
- Operating income declined 44% to $80 million in the quarter compared to $144 million in the prior-year quarter.
- Operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA) declined 31% to $140 million from $202 million in the prior-year quarter.
- Net income of $0.12 per diluted share in the quarter was down from $0.46 per diluted share in the prior-year quarter.
Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE: WMG) today announced its first-quarter financial results for the period ended December 31, 2006.
"Last year's successes provide an excellent foundation on which to build. As expected, we faced unusually difficult year-over-year comparisons this quarter, which do not reflect our prospects for the fiscal year," said Edgar Bronfman, Jr., Warner Music Group's Chairman and CEO. "We remain the leader in the music industry's digital transformation, having concluded a series of key partnership agreements and having reached the $100 million threshold in digital revenue for two consecutive quarters. Even in the face of a challenging market backdrop, we continue to deliver value to our shareholders and aggressively seek new opportunities for growth."
Michael Fleisher, Warner Music Group's Executive Vice President and CFO, added: "As we have previously discussed, based on the timing of our releases, we expect 2007 to be a back-end-weighted year. We manage our performance on a full-year basis, and are confident about the 2007 fiscal year."
First-Quarter Results
For the first quarter of fiscal 2007, revenue declined 11% to $928 million from $1,044 million in the same period last year. This decline was driven by tough Recorded Music comparisons and a difficult Recorded Music business environment. On a constant-currency basis, quarterly revenue declined 14%. Declines in our physical Recorded Music and, to a much lesser extent, our Music Publishing business, contributed to the revenue declines on a constant-currency basis. Domestic revenue decreased 12% while international revenue was down 11%, or 16% on a constant-currency basis.
Operating income for the quarter declined 44% to $80 million from $144 million in the prior-year quarter and operating margin was 8.6%.
OIBDA for the quarter declined 31% to $140 million from $202 million in the prior-year quarter and OIBDA margin was 15.1%. The OIBDA margin this quarter reflected margin benefits in last year's quarter related primarily to higher-selling major artist releases, negative operating leverage from lower sales on a similar fixed cost base and a variation in the company's product mix.
Net income was $18 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the quarter. Net income in the first quarter of fiscal 2006 was $69 million, or $0.46 per diluted share.
The company also reported a cash and short-term investments balance of $337 million (including a cash balance of $327 million and short-term investments of $10 million), total long-term debt of $2.3 billion and net debt (total long-term debt minus cash and short-term investments) of $1.9 billion, all as of December 31, 2006.
For the quarter, net cash provided by operating activities was $37 million. Free Cash Flow (calculated by taking cash flow from operations less capital expenditures and cash paid or received for investments) was $16 million, compared to $13 million in the comparable fiscal 2006 quarter. Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow (calculated by excluding cash interest paid from Free Cash Flow) was $65 million, compared to $60 million in the comparable fiscal 2006 quarter (see below for complete definitions and calculations of Free Cash Flow and Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow).
Below is the business segment discussion for the quarter.
Recorded Music
Revenue for the company's Recorded Music business decreased 13% from the prior-year quarter to $800 million, and declined 16% on a constant-currency basis. Softer domestic and European sales were the most significant contributors to this decline while Asia Pacific sales were helped by strength in Japanese local repertoire. Recorded Music digital revenue of $93 million grew 45% over the prior-year quarter and represented 12% of total Recorded Music revenue. Domestic Recorded Music digital revenue was $61 million, or 17% of total domestic Recorded Music revenue.
Major sellers in the quarter included titles from Josh Groban, My Chemical Romance, Eric Clapton, Diddy and Luis Miguel. Domestic Recorded Music revenue was $362 million in the quarter, down 11% from the prior-year quarter, while international Recorded Music revenue was $438 million, down 15% from the prior-year quarter, or 19% on a constant-currency basis. Declines in domestic and international quarterly revenue were largely the result of fewer comparable releases year-over-year, which in last year's quarter included global multi-platinum sales from Madonna, Enya, Green Day and James Blunt.
Recorded Music operating income totaled $99 million in the quarter, down from $166 million in the prior-year quarter, resulting in an operating margin of 12.4% compared to 18.0% in the prior-year quarter.
Recorded Music OIBDA was $141 million for the quarter, compared to $206 million in the prior-year quarter. Recorded Music OIBDA margin was 17.6%, down 4.8 percentage points from the prior-year quarter. The OIBDA margin and operating margin declines in the quarter reflected margin benefits in last year's quarter related primarily to higher-selling major artist releases, negative operating leverage from lower sales on a similar fixed cost base and a variation in the company's product mix.
Music Publishing
Music Publishing revenue in the quarter increased by 2% from the prior-year quarter to $133 million, but fell 3% on a constant-currency basis. Digital revenue from Music Publishing was $7 million, which represented 5.3% of total Music Publishing revenue for the quarter.
On a constant-currency basis, year-over-year declines in quarterly mechanical revenue and synchronization revenue of 5% were partially offset by a 40% increase in digital revenue. Performance revenue was flat year-over-year. Mechanical revenue declines reflected continuing declines in industry-wide physical Recorded Music sales.
Music Publishing operating income fell to $3 million in the quarter from $6 million in the prior-year quarter. Music Publishing OIBDA was $19 million for the quarter, compared to $21 million in the prior-year quarter. Declines in Music Publishing operating income and OIBDA reflected additional investments in publishing assets to drive our long-term growth plan.
Financial details for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 can be found in the company's current Form 10-Q, filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
This morning, management will be hosting a conference call to discuss the results at 8:00 A.M. EST. The call will be webcast on www.wmg.com.
About Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group became the only stand-alone music company to be publicly traded in the United States in May 2005. With its broad roster of new stars and legendary artists, Warner Music Group is home to a collection of the best-known record labels in the music industry including Asylum, Atlantic, Bad Boy, Cordless, East West, Elektra, Lava, Maverick, Nonesuch, Perfect Game, Reprise, Rhino, Roadrunner, Rykodisc, Sire, Warner Bros. and Word. Warner Music International, a leading company in national and international repertoire, operates through numerous international affiliates and licensees in more than 50 countries. Warner Music Group also includes Warner/Chappell Music, one of the world's leading music publishers.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This communication includes forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of Warner Music Group about future events and financial performance. Words such as "estimates," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "plans," "intends," "believes," "forecasts" and variations of such words or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends, or that do not relate to historical matters, identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are made as of today, and we disclaim any duty to update such statements. Our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them. However, we cannot assure you that management's expectations, beliefs and projections will result or be achieved. Investors should not rely on forward-looking statements because they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations. Please refer to our Form 10-K and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in our forward-looking statements.
Figure 1. Warner Music Group Corp. - Consolidated Statement of Operations
Three Months Ended 12/31/06 versus 12/31/05 (dollars in millions, except
per share amounts)
Three Three
Months Months
Ended Ended
December 31, December 31,
2006 2005 % Change
------------- ------------- -------------
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Revenues: $ 928 $ 1,044 (11%)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues (508) (530) 4%
Selling, general and
administrative expenses (290) (323) 10%
Amortization of intangible
assets (50) (47) (6%)
------------- ------------- -------------
Total costs and expenses $ (848) $ (900) 6%
------------- ------------- -------------
Operating income $ 80 $ 144 (44%)
Interest expense, net (47) (45) (4%)
------------- ------------- -------------
Net income before income
taxes $ 33 $ 99 (67%)
Income tax expense (15) (30) 50%
------------- ------------- -------------
Net income $ 18 $ 69 (74%)
============= ============= =============
Net income per share:
Basic $ 0.12 $ 0.49 (75%)
============= ============= =============
Diluted $ 0.12 $ 0.46 (73%)
============= ============= =============
Weighted averages shares
outstanding:
Basic 144.9 141.4 2%
============= ============= =============
Diluted 151.5 150.5 1%
============= ============= =============
Figure 2. Warner Music Group Corp. - Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
12/31/2006 and 9/30/06 (dollars in millions)
December 31, September 30,
2006 2006 % Change
------------- ------------- -------------
(unaudited) (audited)
Assets:
Current Assets
Cash & cash equivalents $ 327 $ 367 (11%)
Short-term investments 10 18 (44%)
Accounts receivable, less
allowances of $233 and $207 610 585 4%
Inventories 63 59 7%
Royalty advances (to be
recouped w/in 1 year) 199 191 4%
Deferred tax assets 53 45 18%
Other current assets 84 35 140%
------------- ------------- -------------
Total Current Assets $ 1,346 $ 1,300 4%
Royalty advances (to be
recouped after 1 year) 216 207 4%
Investments 26 25 4%
Property, plant & equipment,
net 135 146 (8%)
Goodwill 943 929 2%
Intangible assets subject to
amortization, net 1,679 1,711 (2%)
Intangible assets not subject
to amortization 100 100 -
Other assets 99 102 (3%)
------------- ------------- -------------
Total Assets $ 4,544 $ 4,520 1%
============= ============= =============
Liabilities & Shareholders'
Equity:
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable $ 197 $ 209 (6%)
Accrued royalties 1,225 1,142 7%
Taxes & other withholdings 45 32 41%
Current portion of
long-term debt 17 17 -
Dividend payable 22 22 -
Other current liabilities 310 377 (18%)
------------- ------------- -------------
Total current liabilities $ 1,816 $ 1,799 1%
Long-term debt $ 2,249 $ 2,239 0%
Dividends payable 3 3 -
Deferred tax liabilities, net 196 197 (1%)
Other noncurrent liabilities 225 224 0%
------------- ------------- -------------
Total Liabilities $ 4,489 $ 4,462 1%
Common stock - - -
Additional paid-in capital 572 567 1%
Accumulated deficit (517) (516) 0%
Accumulated other
comprehensive income - 7 (100%)
------------- ------------- -------------
Total Shareholders' Equity $ 55 $ 58 (5%)
------------- ------------- -------------
Total Liabilities &
Shareholders' Equity $ 4,544 $ 4,520 1%
============= ============= =============
Figure 3. Warner Music Group Corp. - Summarized Statement of Cash Flows,
Three Months Ended 12/31/06 versus 12/31/05 (dollars in millions)
Three Three
Months Months
Ended Ended
December 31, December 31,
2006 2005
------------- -------------
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 37 $ 29
Net cash used in by investing activities (58) (16)
Net cash used in financing activities (21) (22)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on
cash 2 (1)
------------- -------------
Net decrease in cash $ (40) $ (10)
============= =============
Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Information
OIBDA
We evaluate our operating performance based on several factors, including our primary financial measure of operating income before non-cash depreciation of tangible assets and non-cash amortization of intangible assets (which we refer to as OIBDA). We consider OIBDA to be an important indicator of the operational strengths and performance of our businesses, and believe the presentation of OIBDA helps improve the ability to understand the company's operating performance and evaluate our performance in comparison to comparable periods. However, a limitation of the use of OIBDA as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenue in our businesses. Accordingly, OIBDA should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, operating income, net income (loss) and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("GAAP").
Figure 4. Warner Music Group Corp. - Reconciliation of OIBDA to Net
Income, Three Months Ended 12/31/06 versus 12/31/05 (dollars in millions)
Three Three
Months Months
Ended Ended
December 31, December 31,
2006 2005 % Change
------------- ------------- -------------
(unaudited) (unaudited)
OIBDA $ 140 $ 202 (31%)
Depreciation expense (10) (11) 9%
Amortization expense (50) (47) (6%)
------------- ------------- -------------
Operating income $ 80 $ 144 (44%)
Interest expense, net (47) (45) (4%)
------------- ------------- -------------
Income before income taxes $ 33 $ 99 (67%)
Income tax expense (15) (30) 50%
------------- ------------- -------------
Net income $ 18 $ 69 (74%)
============= ============= =============
OIBDA Margin 15.1% 19.3%
Operating Income Margin 8.6% 13.8%
Figure 5. Warner Music Group Corp. - Reconciliation of GAAP Operating
Income to Non-GAAP OIBDA, for the Three Months ended 12/31/06 versus
12/31/05 (dollars in millions)
Three Three
Months Months
Ended Ended
December 31, December 31,
2006 2005 % Change
----------- ----------- --------
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Total WMG Operating Income - GAAP $ 80 $ 144 44%
Depreciation and Amortization 60 58 3%
----------- ----------- --------
Total WMG OIBDA $ 140 $ 202 31%
=========== =========== ========
Recorded Music Operating Income - GAAP $ 99 $ 166 (40%)
Depreciation and Amortization 42 40 5%
----------- ----------- --------
Recorded Music OIBDA $ 141 $ 206 (32%)
=========== =========== ========
Music Publishing Operating Income - GAAP $ 3 $ 6 (50%)
Depreciation and Amortization 16 15 7%
----------- ----------- --------
Music Publishing OIBDA $ 19 $ 21 (10%)
=========== =========== ========
Constant Currency
As exchange rates are an important factor in understanding period-to-period comparisons, we believe the presentation of results on a constant-currency basis in addition to reported results helps improve the ability to understand the company's operating results and evaluate our performance in comparison to prior periods. Constant-currency information compares results between periods as if exchange rates had remained constant period over period. We use results on a constant-currency basis as one measure to evaluate our performance. However, a limitation of the use of the constant-currency results as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the $34 million, $27 million and $6 million unfavorable impact of exchange rates on our Total, Recorded Music and Music Publishing revenue, respectively, in the three months ended December 31, 2006 compared to the comparable prior-year three months. These results should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, results reported in accordance with GAAP. Results on a constant-currency basis, as we present them, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies and is not a measure of performance presented in accordance with GAAP.
Figure 6. Warner Music Group Corp. - Reconciliation of GAAP Operating
Income to Non-GAAP OIBDA, Constant Currency for the Three Months ended
12/31/06 versus 12/31/05 (dollars in millions)
Three Three
Months Months
Ended Ended
December 31, December 31,
2006 2005 % Change
----------- ----------- --------
As reported Constant $
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Total WMG Operating Income - GAAP $ 80 $ 150 (47%)
Depreciation and Amortization 60 59 2%
----------- ----------- --------
Total WMG OIBDA $ 140 $ 209 (33%)
=========== =========== ========
Recorded Music Operating Income - GAAP $ 99 $ 170 (42%)
Depreciation and Amortization 42 41 2%
----------- ----------- --------
Recorded Music OIBDA $ 141 $ 211 (33%)
=========== =========== ========
Music Publishing Operating Income - GAAP $ 3 $ 7 (57%)
Depreciation and Amortization 16 15 7%
----------- ----------- --------
Music Publishing OIBDA $ 19 $ 22 (14%)
=========== =========== ========
Figure 7. Warner Music Group Corp. - Revenue by Geography, Three Months
Ended 12/31/06 versus 12/31/05 As Reported and Constant Currency (dollars
in millions)
Three Three Three
Months Months Months
Ended Ended Ended
December 31, December 31, December 31,
2006 2005 2005
------------- ------------- -------------
As reported As reported Constant $
(unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
Revenue by Geography:
US revenue 406 459 459
Recorded Music 362 407 407
Music Publishing 44 52 52
International revenue 527 592 625
Recorded Music 438 513 540
Music Publishing 89 79 85
Intersegment eliminations $ (5) $ (7) $ (6)
$ 928 $ 1,044 $ 1,078
============= ============= =============
Revenue by Segment:
Recorded Music $ 800 $ 920 $ 947
Music Publishing 133 131 137
Intersegment eliminations (5) (7) (6)
------------- ------------- -------------
Total Revenue $ 928 $ 1,044 $ 1,078
============= ============= =============
Free Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow reflects our cash flow provided by operating activities less capital expenditures and cash paid or received for investments. We use Free Cash Flow, among other measures, to evaluate our operating performance. Management believes Free Cash Flow provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available to service debt, make strategic acquisitions and investments, fund ongoing operations and working capital needs and pay ongoing regular quarterly dividends. As a result, Free Cash Flow is a significant measure of our ability to generate long-term value. It is useful for investors to know whether this ability is being enhanced or degraded as a result of our operating performance. We believe the presentation of Free Cash Flow is relevant and useful for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by management. In addition, Free Cash Flow is also a primary measure used externally by our investors and analysts for purposes of valuation and comparing the operating performance of our company to other companies in our industry.
As Free Cash Flow is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, Free Cash Flow should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, net income (loss) as an indicator of operating performance or cash flow provided by operating activities as a measure of liquidity. Free Cash Flow, as we calculate it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies. In addition, Free Cash Flow does not necessarily represent funds available for discretionary use and is not necessarily a measure of our ability to fund our cash needs. As Free Cash Flow deducts capital expenditures and cash paid or received for investments from "cash flow provided by operating activities" (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure), users of this information should consider the types of events and transactions that are not reflected. We provide below a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to the most directly comparable amount reported under GAAP -- "cash flow provided by operating activities."
Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow includes cash paid for interest. We also review our cash flow adjusted for cash interest, a measure we call Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow. Management believes this measure provides investors with an additional important perspective on our cash generation ability. We consider Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow to be an important indicator of the performance of our businesses and believe the presentation is relevant and useful for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by management. A limitation of the use of this measure is that it does not reflect cash interest and, therefore, does not necessarily represent funds available for discretionary use, and is not necessarily a measure of the company's ability to fund its cash needs. Accordingly, this measure should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net cash flow provided by operating activities and other measures of liquidity reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S.
Figure 8. Warner Music Group Corp. - Calculation of Free Cash Flow and
Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow, Three Months Months Ended 12/31/06 versus
12/31/05 (dollars in millions)
Three Three
Months Months
Ended Ended
December 31, December 31,
2006 2005
-------------- --------------
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Net cash flow provided by operating
activities $ 37 $ 29
Less: Capital expenditures 5 5
Less: Cash paid (received) for investments,
net, excluding short-term investments 16 11
-------------- --------------
Free Cash Flow (a) $ 16 $ 13
============== ==============
(a) - Free Cash Flow includes cash paid for interest as follows (in
millions):
Three Three
Months Months
Ended Ended
December 31, December 31,
2006 2005
-------------- --------------
Free Cash Flow $ 16 $ 13
Plus: Cash paid for interest 49 47
-------------- --------------
Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow $ 65 $ 60
============== ==============
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