UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM | ||
(Mark One)
| QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2019
OR
| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
Commission File Number 001-32502
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) | ||
Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | 13-4271875 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||
1633 Broadway New York, NY 10019 (Address of principal executive offices) (212) 275-2000 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) | ||||||||
___________________________________________________________________________________________
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 ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||||||||||
☒ | Smaller reporting company | |||||||||||||
| Emerging growth company | ||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.) Yes ☐ No ☒
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class (a) | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
| None | ||||||||||||||
(a)There is no public market for the registrant’s common stock. As of January 31, 2020, the number of shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding was 1,069 . All of the registrant’s common stock is owned by affiliates of Access Industries, Inc. The registrant has filed all Exchange Act reports for the preceding 12 months.
WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP.
INDEX
| Page Number | ||||||||
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Warner Music Group Corp.
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
| December 31, 2019 | September 30, 2019 | ||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||||||
| Cash and equivalents | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $18 million and $17 million | |||||||||||
| Inventories | |||||||||||
| Royalty advances expected to be recouped within one year | |||||||||||
| Prepaid and other current assets | |||||||||||
| Total current assets | |||||||||||
| Royalty advances expected to be recouped after one year | |||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | |||||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | — | ||||||||||
| Goodwill | |||||||||||
| Intangible assets subject to amortization, net | |||||||||||
| Intangible assets not subject to amortization | |||||||||||
| Deferred tax assets, net | |||||||||||
| Other assets | |||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Liabilities and Equity | |||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accrued royalties | |||||||||||
| Accrued liabilities | |||||||||||
| Accrued interest | |||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, current | — | ||||||||||
| Deferred revenue | |||||||||||
| Other current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Long-term debt | |||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent | |||||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities, net | |||||||||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Equity: | |||||||||||
Common stock ($ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | |||||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total Warner Music Group Corp. deficit | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest | |||||||||||
| Total equity | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | $ | |||||||||
See accompanying notes
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Warner Music Group Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||
| Cost of revenue | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses (a) | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Amortization expense | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total costs and expenses | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Operating income | |||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | ( | ||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Other (expense) income | ( | ||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | |||||||||||
| Income tax expense | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net income | |||||||||||
| Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interest | ( | ||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Warner Music Group Corp. | $ | $ | |||||||||
| (a) Includes depreciation expense: | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||
See accompanying notes
2
Warner Music Group Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: | |||||||||||
| Foreign currency adjustment | ( | ||||||||||
| Deferred gain (loss) on derivative financial instruments | ( | ||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | ( | ||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income | |||||||||||
| Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interest | ( | ||||||||||
| Comprehensive income attributable to Warner Music Group Corp. | $ | $ | |||||||||
See accompanying notes
3
Warner Music Group Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||
| Unrealized gains and remeasurement of foreign-denominated loans | ( | ||||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | ( | ||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | |||||||||||
| Net gain on divestitures and investments | ( | ||||||||||
| Non-cash interest expense | |||||||||||
| Equity-based compensation expense | ( | ||||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Inventories | |||||||||||
| Royalty advances | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Royalty payables | |||||||||||
| Accrued interest | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | |||||||||||
| Deferred revenue | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Other balance sheet changes | |||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | |||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | |||||||||||
| Acquisition of music publishing rights, net | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Capital expenditures | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Investments and acquisitions of businesses, net of cash received | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities | |||||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of Acquisition Corp. | |||||||||||
Repayment of Acquisition Corp. | ( | ||||||||||
Repayment of Acquisition Corp. | ( | ||||||||||
Repayment of Acquisition Corp. | ( | ||||||||||
| Call premiums paid and deposit on early redemption of debt | ( | ||||||||||
| Deferred financing costs paid | ( | ||||||||||
| Distribution to noncontrolling interest holder | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Dividends paid | ( | ||||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | ( | ||||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents | ( | ||||||||||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash and equivalents | ( | ||||||||||
| Cash and equivalents at beginning of period | |||||||||||
| Cash and equivalents at end of period | $ | $ | |||||||||
See accompanying notes
4
Warner Music Group Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Deficit (Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended December 31, 2019 | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Deficit | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Total Warner Music Group Corp. Deficit | Noncontrolling Interest | Total Deficit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions, except share amounts) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2019 | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cumulative effect of ASC 842 adoption | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distribution to noncontrolling interest holders | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended December 31, 2018 | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Deficit | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Total Warner Music Group Corp. Deficit | Noncontrolling Interest | Total Deficit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions, except share amounts) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2018 | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cumulative effect of ASC 606 adoption | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss, net of tax | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distribution to noncontrolling interest holders | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2018 | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes
5
Warner Music Group Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1. Description of Business
Warner Music Group Corp. (the “Company”) was formed on November 21, 2003. The Company is the direct parent of WMG Holdings Corp. (“Holdings”), which is the direct parent of WMG Acquisition Corp. (“Acquisition Corp.”). Acquisition Corp. is one of the world’s major music entertainment companies.
Acquisition of Warner Music Group by Access Industries
Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 6, 2011 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, AI Entertainment Holdings LLC (formerly Airplanes Music LLC), a Delaware limited liability company (“Parent”) and an affiliate of Access Industries, Inc. (“Access”), and Airplanes Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), on July 20, 2011 (the “Merger Closing Date”), Merger Sub merged with and into the Company with the Company surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger”). In connection with the Merger, the Company delisted its common stock from the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). The Company continues to voluntarily file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) current and periodic reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as provided for in certain covenants contained in the instruments covering its outstanding indebtedness. All of the Company’s common stock is owned by affiliates of Access.
Recorded Music Operations
Our Recorded Music business primarily consists of the discovery and development of recording artists and the related marketing, promotion, distribution, sale and licensing of music created by such recording artists. We play an integral role in virtually all aspects of the recorded music value chain from discovering and developing talent to producing, distributing and selling music to marketing and promoting recording artists and their music.
In the United States, our Recorded Music business is conducted principally through our major record labels—Atlantic Records and Warner Records. In October 2018, we launched Elektra Music Group in the United States as a standalone label group, which comprises the Elektra, Fueled by Ramen and Roadrunner labels. Our Recorded Music business also includes Rhino Entertainment, a division that specializes in marketing our recorded music catalog through compilations, reissuances of previously released music and video titles and releasing previously unreleased material from our vault. We also conduct our Recorded Music business through a collection of additional record labels including Asylum, Big Beat, Canvasback, East West, Erato, FFRR, Nonesuch, Parlophone, Reprise, Sire, Spinnin’, Warner Classics and Warner Music Nashville.
Outside the United States, our Recorded Music business is conducted in more than 70 countries through various subsidiaries, affiliates and non-affiliated licensees. Internationally, we engage in the same activities as in the United States: discovering and signing artists and distributing, selling, marketing and promoting their music. In most cases, we also market, promote, distribute and sell the music of those recording artists for whom our domestic record labels have international rights. In certain smaller markets, we license the right to distribute and sell our music to non-affiliated third-party record labels.
Our Recorded Music business’ distribution operations include Warner-Elektra-Atlantic Corporation (“WEA Corp.”), which markets, distributes and sells music and video products to retailers and wholesale distributors; Alternative Distribution Alliance (“ADA”), which markets, distributes and sells the products of independent labels to retail and wholesale distributors; and various distribution centers and ventures operated internationally.
In addition to our music being sold in physical retail outlets, our music is also sold in physical form to online physical retailers, such as Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and bestbuy.com, and distributed in digital form to an expanded universe of digital partners, including streaming services such as those of Amazon, Apple, Deezer, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tencent Music Entertainment Group and YouTube, radio services such as iHeart Radio and SiriusXM and download services such as Apple’s iTunes and Google Play.
We have integrated the marketing of digital content into all aspects of our business, including artist and repertoire (“A&R”) and distribution. Our business development executives work closely with A&R departments to ensure that while music is being produced, digital assets are also created with all distribution channels in mind, including streaming services, social networking sites, online portals and music-centered destinations. We also work side-by-side with our online and mobile partners to test new concepts. We believe existing and new digital businesses will be a significant source of growth and will provide new opportunities to
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successfully monetize our assets and create new revenue streams. The proportion of digital revenues attributable to each distribution channel varies by region and proportions may change as the introduction of new technologies continues. As one of the world’s largest music entertainment companies, we believe we are well positioned to take advantage of growth in digital distribution and emerging technologies to maximize the value of our assets.
We have diversified our revenues beyond our traditional businesses by entering into expanded-rights deals with recording artists in order to partner with such artists in other aspects of their careers. Under these agreements, we provide services to and participate in recording artists’ activities outside the traditional recorded music business such as touring, merchandising and sponsorships. We have built and acquired artist services capabilities and platforms for marketing and distributing this broader set of music-related rights and participating more widely in the monetization of the artist brands we help create. We believe that entering into expanded-rights deals and enhancing our artist services capabilities in areas such as merchandising, VIP ticketing, fan clubs, concert promotion and management has permitted us to diversify revenue streams and capitalize on other revenue opportunities. This provides for improved long-term relationships with our recording artists and allows us to more effectively connect recording artists and fans.
Music Publishing Operations
While Recorded Music is focused on marketing, promoting, distributing and licensing a particular recording of a musical composition, Music Publishing is an intellectual property business focused on generating revenue from uses of the musical composition itself. In return for promoting, placing, marketing and administering the creative output of a songwriter, or engaging in those activities for other rightsholders, our Music Publishing business garners a share of the revenues generated from use of the musical compositions.
The operations of our Music Publishing business are conducted principally through Warner Chappell Music, our global music publishing company headquartered in Los Angeles with operations in over 70 countries through various subsidiaries, affiliates and non-affiliated licensees. We own or control rights to more than 1.4 million musical compositions, including numerous pop hits, American standards, folk songs and motion picture and theatrical compositions. Assembled over decades, our award-winning catalog includes over 80,000 songwriters and composers and a diverse range of genres including pop, rock, jazz, classical, country, R&B, hip-hop, rap, reggae, Latin, folk, blues, symphonic, soul, Broadway, techno, alternative and gospel. Warner Chappell Music also administers the music and soundtracks of several third-party television and film producers and studios. We have an extensive production music catalog collectively branded as Warner Chappell Production Music.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Interim Financial Statements
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three month period ended December 31, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020.
The consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2019 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.
For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 (File No. 001-32502).
Basis of Consolidation
The accompanying financial statements present the consolidated accounts of all entities in which the Company has a controlling voting interest and/or variable interest required to be consolidated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”) requires the Company first evaluate its investments to determine if any investments qualify as a variable interest entity (“VIE”). A VIE is consolidated if the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, which is the party involved with the VIE that has both (i) the power to control the most significant activities of the VIE and (ii) either the obligation to absorb losses or
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the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. If an entity is not deemed to be a VIE, the Company consolidates the entity if the Company has a controlling voting interest.
The Company maintains a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the last Friday in each reporting period. As such, all references to December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 relate to the periods ended December 27, 2019 and December 28, 2018, respectively. For convenience purposes, the Company continues to date its financial statements as of December 31. The fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 ended on September 27, 2019.
The Company has performed a review of all subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that no additional disclosures are necessary.
Income Taxes
The Company uses the estimated annual effective tax rate method in computing its interim tax provision. Certain items, including those deemed to be unusual and infrequent are excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate. In such cases, the actual tax expense or benefit is reported in the same period as the related item. Certain tax effects are also not reflected in the estimated annual effective tax rate, primarily certain changes in the realizability of deferred tax assets and uncertain tax positions.
New Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”), which established a new ASC Topic 842 (“ASC 842”) that introduces a right-of-use (“ROU”) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases are classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statement of operations. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases – Targeted Improvements (“ASU 2018-11”), which allows for retrospective application with the recognition of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. Under this option, entities do not need to apply ASC 842 (along with its disclosure requirements) to the comparative prior periods presented. The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 on October 1, 2019, using the modified retrospective transition method provided by ASU 2018-11. The adoption of ASU 2016-02 resulted in the recognition of operating lease liabilities of $366 million and ROU assets of $297 million, which is net of the historical deferred rent liability balance of $69 million, primarily related to real estate leases. The Company also recorded a decrease to opening accumulated deficit of $7 million, net of taxes, related to previously deferred gains related to sale-leaseback transactions.
Upon transition, the Company adopted the “package of three” practical expedient provided by ASC 842 and therefore has not (1) reassessed whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain a lease, (2) reassessed the lease classification for expired or existing leases and (3) reassessed initial direct costs for any existing leases. Rather, the Company will retain the conclusions reached for these items under ASC 840.
In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities (“ASU 2017-12”). This ASU improves certain aspects of the hedge accounting model including making more risk management strategies eligible for hedge accounting and simplifying the assessment of hedge effectiveness. ASU 2017-12 is effective for all annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted and requires a prospective adoption with a cumulative-effect adjustment to accumulated deficit as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption for existing hedging relationships. The Company adopted ASU 2017-12 in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 and this adoption did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.
Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 requires that expected credit losses relating to financial assets measured on an amortized cost basis and available-for-sale debt securities be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. ASU 2016-13 limits the amount of credit losses to be recognized for available-for-sale debt securities to the amount by which carrying value exceeds fair value and also requires the reversal of previously recognized credit losses if fair value increases. ASU 2016-13 will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”). This ASU eliminates certain exceptions to the general principles in ASC 740, Income Taxes. Specifically, it eliminates the exception to (1) the incremental approach for intraperiod tax allocation when there is a loss from continuing operations, and income or a gain from
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3. Revenue Recognition
For our operating segments, Recorded Music and Music Publishing, the Company accounts for a contract when it has legally enforceable rights and obligations and collectability of consideration is probable. The Company identifies the performance obligations and determines the transaction price associated with the contract, which is then allocated to each performance obligation, using management’s best estimate of standalone selling price for arrangements with multiple performance obligations. Revenue is recognized when, or as, control of the promised services or goods is transferred to the Company’s customers, and in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company is contractually due in exchange for those services or goods. An estimate of variable consideration is included in the transaction price if, in the Company’s judgment, it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative revenue under the contract will not occur. Certain of the Company’s arrangements include licenses of intellectual property with consideration in the form of sales- and usage-based royalties. Royalty revenue is recognized when the subsequent sale or usage occurs using the best estimates available of the amounts that will be received by the Company.
Disaggregation of Revenue
The Company’s revenue consists of the following categories, which aggregate into the segments – Recorded Music and Music Publishing:
| For the Three Months Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| Revenue by Type | |||||||||||
| Digital | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Physical | |||||||||||
| Total Digital and Physical | |||||||||||
| Artist services and expanded-rights | |||||||||||
| Licensing | |||||||||||
| Total Recorded Music | |||||||||||
| Performance | |||||||||||
| Digital | |||||||||||
| Mechanical | |||||||||||
| Synchronization | |||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||
| Total Music Publishing | |||||||||||
| Intersegment eliminations | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total Revenues | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Revenue by Geographical Location | |||||||||||
| U.S. Recorded Music | $ | $ | |||||||||
| U.S. Music Publishing | |||||||||||
| Total U.S. | |||||||||||
| International Recorded Music | |||||||||||
| International Music Publishing | |||||||||||
| Total International | |||||||||||
| Intersegment eliminations | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total Revenues | $ | $ | |||||||||
9
Recorded Music
Recorded Music mainly involves selling, marketing, distribution and licensing of recorded music produced by the Company’s recording artists. Recorded Music revenues are derived from four main sources, which include digital, physical, artist services and expanded-rights and licensing.
Digital revenues are generated from the expanded universe of digital partners, including digital streaming services and download services. These licenses typically contain a single performance obligation, which is ongoing access to all intellectual property in an evolving content library, predicated on: (1) the business practice and contractual ability to remove specific content without a requirement to replace the content and without impact to minimum royalty guarantees and (2) the contracts not containing a specific listing of content subject to the license. Digital licensing contracts are generally long-term with consideration in the form of sales- and usage-based royalties that are typically received monthly. Certain contracts contain non-recoupable fixed fees or minimum guarantees, which are recoupable against royalties. Upon contract inception, the Company will assess whether a shortfall or breakage is expected (i.e., where the minimum guarantee will not be recouped through royalties) in order to determine timing of revenue recognition for the fixed fee or minimum guarantee.
For fixed fee and minimum guarantee contracts where breakage is expected, the total transaction price (fixed fee or minimum guarantee) is recognized proportionately over the contract term using an appropriate measure of progress which is typically based on the Company’s digital partner’s subscribers or streaming activity as these are measures of access to an evolving catalog, or on a straight-line basis. The Company updates its assessment of the transaction price each reporting period to see if anticipated royalty earnings exceed the minimum guarantee. For contracts where breakage is not expected, royalties are recognized as revenue as sales or usage occurs based upon the licensee’s usage reports and, when these reports are not available, revenue is based on historical data, industry information and other relevant trends.
Additionally, for certain licenses where the consideration is fixed and the intellectual property being licensed is static, revenue is recognized at the point in time when control of the licensed content is transferred to the customer.
Physical revenues are generated from the sale of physical products such as vinyl, CDs and DVDs. Revenues from the sale of physical Recorded Music products are recognized upon transfer of control to the customer, which typically occurs once the product has been shipped and the ability to direct use and obtain substantially all of the benefit from the asset have been transferred. In accordance with industry practice and as is customary in many territories, certain products, such as CDs and DVDs, are sold to customers with the right to return unsold items. Revenues from such sales are generally recognized upon shipment based on gross sales less a provision for future estimated returns.
Artist services and expanded-rights revenues are generated from artist services businesses and participations in expanded-rights associated with artists, including sponsorship, fan clubs, artist websites, merchandising, touring, concert promotion, ticketing and artist and brand management. Artist services and expanded-rights contracts are generally short term. Revenue is recognized as or when services are provided (e.g., at time of an artist’s event) assuming collectability is probable. In some cases, the Company is reliant on the artist to report revenue generating activities. For certain artist services and expanded-rights contracts, collectability is not considered probable until notification is received from the artist’s management.
Licensing revenues represent royalties or fees for the right to use sound recordings in combination with visual images such as in films or television programs, television commercials and video games. In certain territories, the Company may also receive royalties when sound recordings are performed publicly through broadcast of music on television, radio and cable and in public spaces such as shops, workplaces, restaurants, bars and clubs. Licensing contracts are generally short term. For fixed-fee contracts, revenue is recognized at the point in time when control of the licensed content is transferred to the customer. Royalty based contracts are recognized as the underlying sales or usage occurs.
Music Publishing
Music Publishing acts as a copyright owner and/or administrator of the musical compositions and generates revenues related to the exploitation of musical compositions (as opposed to recorded music). Music publishers generally receive royalties from the use of the musical compositions in public performances, digital and physical recordings and in combination with visual images. Music publishing revenues are derived from five main sources: mechanical, performance, synchronization, digital and other.
Performance revenues are received when the musical composition is performed publicly through broadcast of music on television, radio and cable, live performance at a concert or other venue (e.g., arena concerts and nightclubs) and performance of musical compositions in staged theatrical productions. Digital revenues are generated with respect to the musical compositions being embodied in recordings licensed to digital streaming services and digital download services and for digital performance. Mechanical revenues are generated with respect to the musical compositions embodied in recordings sold in any physical format or configuration
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such as vinyl, CDs and DVDs. Synchronization revenues represent the right to use the composition in combination with visual images such as in films or television programs, television commercials and video games as well as from other uses such as in toys or novelty items and merchandise. Other revenues represent earnings for use in printed sheet music and other uses. Digital and synchronization revenue recognition is similar for both Recorded Music and Music Publishing, therefore refer to the discussion within Recorded Music.
Included in these revenue streams, excluding synchronization and other, are licenses with performing rights organizations or collecting societies (e.g., ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and GEMA), which are long-term contracts containing a single performance obligation, which is ongoing access to all intellectual property in an evolving content library. The most common form of consideration for these contracts is sales- and usage-based royalties. The collecting societies submit usage reports, typically with payment for royalties due, often on a quarterly or biannual reporting period, in arrears. Royalties are recognized as the sale or usage occurs based upon usage reports and, when these reports are not available, royalties are estimated based on historical data, such as recent royalties reported, company-specific information with respect to changes in repertoire, industry information and other relevant trends. Also included in these revenue streams are smaller, short-term contracts for specified content, which generally involve a fixed fee. For fixed-fee contracts, revenue is recognized at the point in time when control of the license is transferred to the customer.
The Company excludes from the measurement of transaction price all taxes assessed by governmental authorities that are both (i) imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and (ii) collected from customers.
Sales Returns and Uncollectible Accounts
In accordance with practice in the recorded music industry and as customary in many territories, certain physical revenue products (such as CDs and DVDs) are sold to customers with the right to return unsold items. Revenues from such sales are recognized when the products are shipped based on gross sales less a provision for future estimated returns.
In determining the estimate of physical product sales that will be returned, management analyzes vendor sales of product, historical return trends, current economic conditions, changes in customer demand and commercial acceptance of the Company’s products. Based on this information, management reserves a percentage of each dollar of physical product sales that provide the customer with the right of return and records an asset for the value of the returned goods and liability for the amounts expected to be refunded.
Similarly, management evaluates accounts receivables to determine if they will ultimately be collected. In performing this evaluation, significant judgments and estimates are involved, including an analysis of specific risks on a customer-by-customer basis for larger accounts and customers and a receivables aging analysis that determines the percent that has historically been uncollected by aged category. The time between the Company’s issuance of an invoice and payment due date is not significant; customer payments that are not collected in advance of the transfer of promised services or goods are generally due no later than 30 days from invoice date. Based on this information, management provides a reserve for the estimated amounts believed to be uncollectible.
Based on management’s analysis of sales returns, refund liabilities of $36 million and $23 million were established at December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019, respectively.
Based on management’s analysis of uncollectible accounts, reserves of $18 million and $17 million were established at December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019, respectively.
Principal versus Agent Revenue Recognition
The Company reports revenue on a gross or net basis based on management’s assessment of whether the Company acts as a principal or agent in the transaction. The determination of whether the Company acts as a principal or an agent in a transaction is based on an evaluation of whether the Company controls the good or service before transfer to the customer. When the Company concludes that it controls the good or service before transfer to the customer, the Company is considered a principal in the transaction and records revenue on a gross basis. When the Company concludes that it does not control the good or service before transfer to the customer but arranges for another entity to provide the good or service, the Company acts as an agent and records revenue on a net basis in the amount it earns for its agency service.
In the normal course of business, the Company acts as an intermediary with respect to certain payments received from third parties. For example, the Company distributes music content on behalf of third-party record labels. Based on the above guidance, the Company records the distribution of content on behalf of third-party record labels on a gross basis, subject to the terms of the contract, as the Company controls the content before transfer to the customer. Conversely, recorded music compilations distributed by other record companies where the Company has a right to participate in the profits are recorded on a net basis.
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Deferred Revenue
Deferred revenue principally relates to fixed fees and minimum guarantees received in advance of the Company’s performance or usage by the licensee. Reductions in deferred revenue are a result of the Company’s performance under the contract or usage by the licensee.
Deferred revenue increased $96 million during the three months ended December 31, 2019 related to cash received from customers for fixed fees and minimum guarantees in advance of performance, including amounts recognized in the period. Revenues of $73 million were recognized during the three months ended December 31, 2019 related to the balance of deferred revenue at September 30, 2019. There were no other significant changes to deferred revenue during the reporting period.
Performance Obligations
The Company recognized revenue of $27 million and $17 million from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods for the three month periods ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
Wholly and partially unsatisfied performance obligations represent future revenues not yet recorded under long term intellectual property licensing contracts. Revenues expected to be recognized in the future related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied at December 31, 2019 are as follows (in millions):
| Rest of FY20 | FY21 | FY22 | Thereafter | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Remaining performance obligations | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
4. Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income, which is reported in the accompanying consolidated statements of deficit, consists of net income and other gains and losses affecting equity that, under U.S. GAAP, are excluded from net income. For the Company, the components of other comprehensive income primarily consist of foreign currency translation gains and losses, minimum pension liabilities, and deferred gains and losses on financial instruments designated as hedges under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, which include foreign exchange contracts. The following summary sets forth the changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of related taxes of approximately $1 million:
| Foreign Currency Translation Loss (a) | Minimum Pension Liability Adjustment | Deferred Gains (Losses) On Derivative Financial Instruments | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, net | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2019 | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||
______________________________________
(a)Includes historical foreign currency translation related to certain intra-entity transactions.
5. Leases
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extend or terminate is at the Company’s discretion and it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise the option. Fixed payments are recognized as lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For leases with a term of one year or less (“short-term leases”), the lease payments are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
ASC 842 requires that only limited types of variable payments be included in the determination of lease payments, which affects lease classification and measurement. Variable lease costs, if any, are recognized as incurred and such costs are excluded from lease balances recorded on the consolidated balance sheet. The initial measurement of the lease liability and ROU asset are determined based on both the fixed lease payments and any variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate (such as the Consumer Price Index or a market interest rate). The Company initially measures these variable lease payments using the index or rate at lease commencement (i.e., the spot or gross index or rate applied to the base rental amount). All other variable lease payments are recognized in the period in which the payments are incurred.
The Company’s operating ROU assets are included in operating lease right-of-use assets and the Company’s current and non-current operating lease liabilities are included in operating lease liabilities, current and operating lease liabilities, noncurrent, respectively, in the Company’s balance sheet.
Operating lease liabilities are amortized using the effective interest method. That is, in each period, the liability will be increased to reflect the interest that is accrued on the related liability by using the appropriate discount rate and decreased by the lease payments made during the period. The subsequent measurement of the ROU asset is linked to the amount recognized as the lease liability. Accordingly, the ROU asset is measured as the lease liability adjusted by (1) accrued or prepaid rents (i.e., the aggregate difference between the cash payment and straight-line lease cost), (2) remaining unamortized initial direct costs and lease incentives, and (3) impairments of the ROU asset. Operating lease costs are included in Selling, general and administrative expenses.
For lease agreements that contain both lease and non-lease components, the Company has elected the practical expedient provided by ASC 842 that permits the accounting for these components as a single lease component (rather than separating the lease from the non-lease components and accounting for the components individually).
The Company enters into operating leases for buildings, office equipment, production equipment, warehouses, and other types of equipment. Our leases have remaining lease terms of 1 year to 12 years, some of which include options to extend the leases for up to 10 years, and some of which include options to terminate the leases within 1 year.
The Company has two operating leases, for the Ford Factory Building, located at 777 S. Santa Fe Avenue in Los Angeles, California, and for 27 Wrights Lane, Kensington, London, which the landlord for both leases is an affiliate of Access. As of December 31, 2019, the aggregate lease liability related to these leases was $142 million.
There are no restrictions or covenants, such as those relating to dividends or incurring additional financial obligations, relating to our lease portfolio, and residual value guarantees are not significant.
The components of lease expense were as follows:
| Three Months Ended December 31, 2019 | |||||
| (in millions) | |||||
| Lease Cost | |||||
| Operating lease cost | $ | ||||
| Short-term lease cost | |||||
| Variable lease cost | |||||
| Sublease income | |||||
| Total lease cost | $ | ||||
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:
| Three Months Ended December 31, 2019 | |||||
| (in millions) | |||||
| Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities | $ | ||||
| Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations | |||||
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:
| December 31, 2019 | |||||
| (in millions) | |||||
| Operating Leases | |||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | $ | ||||
| Operating lease liabilities, current | $ | ||||
| Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent | |||||
| Total operating lease liabilities | $ | ||||
| Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term | |||||
| Operating leases | |||||
| Weighted Average Discount Rate | |||||
| Operating leases | % | ||||
Maturities of lease liabilities were as follows:
| Years | Operating Leases | |||||||
| (in millions) | ||||||||
| 2020 | $ | |||||||
| 2021 | ||||||||
| 2022 | ||||||||
| 2023 | ||||||||
| 2024 | ||||||||
| Thereafter | ||||||||
| Total lease payments | ||||||||
| Less imputed interest | ( | |||||||
| Total | $ | |||||||
As of December 31, 2019, there have been no leases entered into that have not yet commenced.
6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill
The following analysis details the changes in goodwill for each reportable segment:
| Recorded Music | Music Publishing | Total | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2019 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Acquisitions | |||||||||||||||||
| Other adjustments (a) | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
______________________________________
(a)Other adjustments during the three months ended December 31, 2019 represent foreign currency movements.
The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment test in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (“ASC 350”) during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year as of July 1. The Company may conduct an earlier review if events or circumstances occur that would suggest the carrying value of the Company’s goodwill may not be recoverable. No indicators of impairment were identified during the current period that required the Company to perform an interim assessment or recoverability test.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist of the following:
| Weighted-Average Useful Life | December 31, 2019 | September 30, 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||
| Intangible assets subject to amortization: | |||||||||||||||||
| Recorded music catalog | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Music publishing copyrights | |||||||||||||||||
| Artist and songwriter contracts | |||||||||||||||||
| Trademarks | |||||||||||||||||
| Other intangible assets | |||||||||||||||||
| Total gross intangible asset subject to amortization | |||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated amortization | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Total net intangible assets subject to amortization | |||||||||||||||||
| Intangible assets not subject to amortization: | |||||||||||||||||
| Trademarks and tradenames | Indefinite | ||||||||||||||||
| Total net intangible assets | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
7. Debt
Debt Capitalization
Long-term debt, all of which was issued by Acquisition Corp., consists of the following:
| December 31, 2019 | September 30, 2019 | ||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| Revolving Credit Facility (a) | $ | $ | |||||||||
Senior Term Loan Facility due | |||||||||||
| Total long-term debt, including the current portion (h) | $ | $ | |||||||||
______________________________________
(a)Reflects $180 13 million at both December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019. There were no
(b)Principal amount of $1.326 3 million and $3 million and unamortized deferred financing costs of $9 million and $10 million at December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019, respectively.
(c)Principal amount of $300 2
(d)Face amount of €311 345 million and $340 million less unamortized deferred financing costs of $3 million and $4 million at December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019, respectively.
(e)Principal amount of $220 2
(f)Face amount of €445 494 million and $487 million at December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019, respectively, an additional issuance premium of $8 million, less unamortized deferred financing costs of $7 million at both December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019.
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(g)Principal amount of $325 4
(h)Principal amount of debt of $3.010 billion and $2.998 billion, an additional issuance premium of $8 million and $8 million, less unamortized discount of $3 million and $3 million and unamortized deferred financing costs of $27 million and $29 million at December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019, respectively.
3.625% Senior Secured Notes Offerings
On October 9, 2018, Acquisition Corp. issued and sold €250 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.625 % Senior Secured Notes due 2026 (the “3.625 % Secured Notes”). Net proceeds of the offering were used to pay the purchase price of the acquisition of EMP, to redeem €34.5 million of the 4.125 % Secured Notes (as described below), purchase $30 million of the Company’s 4.875 % Senior Secured Notes (as described above) on the open market and to redeem $26.55 million of the 5.625 % Senior Secured Notes (as described below).
On April 30, 2019, Acquisition Corp. issued and sold €195 million in aggregate principal amount of additional 3.625 % Senior Secured Notes due 2026 (the “Additional Notes”). The Additional Notes and the 3.625 % Secured Notes were treated as the same series for all purposes under the indenture that governs the 3.625 % Secured Notes and the Additional Notes. Net proceeds of the offering were used to redeem all of the 5.625 % Secured Notes due 2022.
Partial Redemption of 4.125% Senior Secured Notes
On October 12, 2018, Acquisition Corp. redeemed €34.5 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.125 % Senior Secured Notes due 2024 (the “4.125 % Secured Notes”) using a portion of the proceeds from the offering of the 3.625 % Secured Notes described above. The redemption price for the 4.125 % Secured Notes was approximately €36.17 million, equivalent to 103 % of the principal amount of the 4.125 % Secured Notes, plus accrued but unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date, which was October 12, 2018. Following the partial redemption of the 4.125 % Secured Notes, €310.5 million of the 4.125 % Secured Notes remain outstanding. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $2 million, which represents the premium paid on early redemption and unamortized deferred financing costs related to the partial redemption of this note.
Open Market Purchase
On October 9, 2018, Acquisition Corp. purchased, in the open market, $30 million aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 4.875 % Senior Secured Notes due 2024 (the “4.875 % Secured Notes”). The acquired notes were subsequently retired. Following retirement of the acquired notes, $220 million of the 4.875 % Secured Notes remain outstanding. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of less than $1 million, which represents the unamortized deferred financing costs related to the open market purchase.
Redemption of 5.625% Senior Secured Notes
On November 5, 2018, Acquisition Corp. redeemed $26.55 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.625 % Senior Secured Notes due 2022 (the “5.625 % Secured Notes”). The redemption price for the 5.625 % Secured Notes was approximately $27.38 million, equivalent to 102.813 % of the principal amount of the 5.625 % Secured Notes, plus accrued but unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date, which was November 5, 2018. Following the partial redemption of the 5.625 % Secured Notes, $220.95 million of the 5.625 % Secured Notes remain outstanding. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $1 million, which represents the premium paid on early redemption and unamortized deferred financing costs related to the partial redemption of this note.
On April 16, 2019, the Company issued a conditional notice of redemption for all of its 5.625 % Secured Notes due 2022 currently outstanding. Settlement of the called 5.625 % Secured Notes occurred on May 16, 2019. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $4 million, which represents the premium paid on early redemption and unamortized deferred financing costs.
Interest Rates
The loans under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at Acquisition Corp.’s election at a rate equal to (i) the rate for deposits in the borrowing currency in the London interbank market (adjusted for maximum reserves) for the applicable interest period (“Revolving LIBOR”) subject to a zero floor, plus 1.75 % per annum or (ii) the base rate, which is the highest of (x) the corporate base rate established by the administrative agent from time to time, (y) 0.50 % in excess of the overnight federal funds rate and (z) the one-month Revolving LIBOR plus 1.0 % per annum, plus, in each case, 0.75 % per annum. If there is a payment default at any time, then the interest rate applicable to overdue principal will be the rate otherwise applicable to such loan plus 2.0 % per annum. Default
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interest will also be payable on other overdue amounts at a rate of 2.0 % per annum above the amount that would apply to an alternative base rate loan.
The loans under the Senior Term Loan Facility bear interest at Acquisition Corp.’s election at a rate equal to (i) the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars in the London interbank market (adjusted for maximum reserves) for the applicable interest period (“Term Loan LIBOR”) subject to a zero floor, plus 2.125 % per annum or (ii) the base rate, which is the highest of (x) the corporate base rate established by the administrative agent as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City from time to time, (y) 0.50 % in excess of the overnight federal funds rate and (z) one-month Term Loan LIBOR, plus 1.00 % per annum, plus, in each case, 1.125 % per annum. If there is a payment default at any time, then the interest rate applicable to overdue principal and interest will be the rate otherwise applicable to such loan plus 2.0 % per annum. Default interest will also be payable on other overdue amounts at a rate of 2.0 % per annum above the amount that would apply to an alternative base rate loan.
The Company has entered into, and in the future may enter into, interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk. Please refer to Note 10 of our consolidated financial statements for further discussion.
Maturity of Senior Term Loan Facility
The loans outstanding under the Senior Term Loan Facility mature on November 1, 2023 .
Maturity of Revolving Credit Facility
The maturity date of the Revolving Credit Facility is January 31, 2023 .
Maturities of Senior Notes and Senior Secured Notes
As of December 31, 2019, there are no 300 million is scheduled to mature. Thereafter, $1.384 billion is scheduled to mature.
Interest Expense, net
Total interest expense, net was $33 million and $36 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate of the Company’s total debt was 4.2 % at December 31, 2019, 4.3 % at September 30, 2019 and 4.7 % at December 31, 2018.
8. Commitments and Contingencies
9. Income Taxes
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”). The Tax Act significantly revised the U.S. federal corporate income tax provisions, including, but not limited to, an income inclusion of global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”), a deduction against foreign-derived intangible income (“FDII”) and a new minimum tax, the base erosion anti-abuse tax (“BEAT”). GILTI, FDII and BEAT were effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019. The Company has elected to recognize the GILTI impact in the specific period in which it occurs.
As a result of final regulations regarding the interest expense allocation rules issued by the Internal Revenue Service in December 2019, the Company concluded that it is more likely than not that the entire amount of the Company’s deferred tax assets relating to foreign tax credit carryforwards will be realized. Consequently, the Company released its $33 million valuation allowance at September 30, 2019 relating to such deferred tax assets and recognized a corresponding U.S. tax benefit of $33 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2019. The Company will continue to weigh the evidence including the projections of sufficient future
17
taxable income, foreign source income and the reversal of future taxable temporary differences to assess the future realization of our foreign tax credits.
For the three months ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $5 million. The income tax expense for the three months ended December 31, 2019 is lower than the expected tax at the statutory tax rate of 21 % primarily due to tax benefit of the valuation allowance release relating to foreign tax credit carryforwards and FDII, offset by non-deductible long term incentive plan, U.S. state and local taxes, foreign income taxed at rates higher than the U.S. statutory tax rate, withholding taxes and foreign losses with no tax benefit.
For the three months ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $50 million. The income tax expense for the three months ended December 31, 2018 is higher than the expected tax at the statutory tax rate of 21 % primarily due to GILTI, non-deductible long term incentive plan, U.S. state and local taxes, foreign income taxed at rates higher than the U.S. statutory tax rate, withholding taxes, foreign losses with no tax benefit offset by the tax benefit of a reduction in foreign income tax rates.
The Company has determined that it is reasonably possible that the gross unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2019 could decrease by up to approximately $1 million related to various ongoing audits and settlement discussions in various foreign jurisdictions during the next twelve months.
10. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company uses derivative financial instruments, primarily foreign currency forward exchange contracts and interest rate swaps, for the purposes of managing foreign currency exchange rate risk and interest rate risk on expected future cash flows. However, the Company may choose not to hedge certain exposures for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, accounting considerations and the prohibitive economic cost of hedging particular exposures. There can be no assurance the hedges will offset more than a portion of the financial impact resulting from movements in foreign currency exchange or interest rates.
The Company enters into foreign currency forward exchange contracts primarily to hedge the risk that unremitted or future royalties and license fees owed to its U.S. companies for the sale or licensing of U.S.-based music and merchandise abroad may be adversely affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company focuses on managing the level of exposure to the risk of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on its major currencies, which include the Euro, British pound sterling, Japanese yen, Canadian dollar, Swedish krona, Australian dollar, Brazilian real, Korean won and Norwegian krone. The Company also may at times choose to hedge foreign currency risk associated with financing transactions such as third-party debt and other balance sheet items. The Company’s foreign currency forward exchange contracts have not been designated as hedges under the criteria prescribed in ASC 815. The Company records these contracts at fair value on its balance sheet and the related gains and losses are immediately recognized in the consolidated statement of operations where there is an offsetting entry related to the underlying exposure.
In prior periods, certain foreign currency forward exchange contracts were designated and qualified as cash flow hedges under the criteria prescribed in ASC 815. The Company recorded these contracts at fair value on its balance sheet and gains or losses on these contracts were deferred in equity (as a component of comprehensive loss). These deferred gains and losses were recognized in income in the period in which the related royalties and license fees being hedged were received and recognized in income. However, to the extent that any of these contracts were not considered to be perfectly effective in offsetting the change in the value of the royalties and license fees being hedged, any changes in fair value relating to the ineffective portion of these contracts were immediately recognized in the consolidated statement of operations.
The Company has entered into, and in the future may enter into, interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk. These instruments may offset a portion of changes in income or expense, or changes in fair value of the Company’s long-term debt. The interest rate swap instruments are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges under the criteria prescribed in ASC 815. The Company records these contracts at fair value on its balance sheet and gains or losses on these contracts are deferred in equity (as a component of comprehensive loss).
The fair value of foreign currency forward exchange contracts is determined by using observable market transactions of spot and forward rates (i.e., Level 2 inputs) which is discussed further in Note 13. Additionally, netting provisions are provided for in existing International Swap and Derivative Association Inc. agreements in situations where the Company executes multiple contracts with the same counterparty. As a result, net assets or liabilities resulting from foreign exchange derivatives subject to these netting agreements are classified within other current assets or other current liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
The Company’s hedged interest rate transactions as of December 31, 2019 are expected to be recognized within 4 years. The fair value of interest rate swaps is based on dealer quotes of market rates (i.e., Level 2 inputs) which is discussed further in Note 13.
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Interest income or expense related to interest rate swaps is recognized in interest income, net in the same period as the related expense is recognized. The ineffective portions of interest rate swaps are recognized in other income/(expense), net in the period measured.
The Company monitors its positions with, and the credit quality of, the financial institutions that are party to any of its financial transactions.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company had outstanding hedge contracts for the sale of $288 million and the purchase of $148 million of foreign currencies at fixed rates that will be settled by September 2020. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had no unrealized deferred gains or losses in comprehensive loss related to foreign exchange hedging. As of September 30, 2019, the Company had no outstanding hedge contracts and no deferred gains or losses in comprehensive loss related to foreign exchange hedging.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company had outstanding $820 million in pay-fixed receive-variable interest rate swaps with $5 million of unrealized deferred losses in comprehensive income related to the interest rate swaps. As of September 30, 2019, the Company had outstanding $820 million in pay-fixed receive-variable interest rate swaps with $8 million of unrealized deferred losses in comprehensive income related to the interest rate swaps.
The realized pre-tax losses and unrealized pre-tax losses of the Company’s foreign exchange forward exchange contracts for the three months ended December 31, 2019 were $1 million and $3 million, respectively. These realized and unrealized losses were recorded in the consolidated statement of operations as other (expense) income. The realized pre-tax gains of the Company’s foreign exchange forward contracts for the three months ended December 31, 2018 were nil. The unrealized pre-tax gains of the Company’s foreign exchange forward contracts recorded in the consolidated statement of operations as other income were $5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The unrealized pre-tax losses of the Company’s foreign exchange forward contracts recorded in other comprehensive income were $3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018.
The unrealized pre-tax gains of the Company’s derivative interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges recorded in other comprehensive income during the three months ended December 31, 2019 was $4 million. The unrealized pre-tax losses of the Company’s derivative interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges recorded in other comprehensive income during the three months ended December 31, 2018 was $6 million.
The following is a summary of amounts recorded in the consolidated balance sheets pertaining to the Company’s derivative instruments at December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019:
| December 31, 2019 (a) | September 30, 2019 (b) | ||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| Other current assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Other current liabilities | ( | ||||||||||
| Other noncurrent assets | |||||||||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | ( | ( | |||||||||
______________________________________
(a)$5 million and $8 million of foreign exchange derivative contracts in asset and liability positions, respectively, and $4 million and $11 million of interest rate swaps in asset and liability positions, respectively.
(b)$2 million and $13 million of interest rate swaps in asset and liability positions, respectively.
11. Segment Information
As discussed more fully in Note 1, based on the nature of its products and services, the Company classifies its business interests into two fundamental operations: Recorded Music and Music Publishing, which also represent the reportable segments of the Company. Information as to each of these operations is set forth below. The Company evaluates performance based on several factors, of which the primary financial measure is operating income (loss) before non-cash depreciation of tangible assets and non-cash amortization of intangible assets (“OIBDA”). The Company has supplemented its analysis of OIBDA results by segment with an analysis of operating income (loss) by segment.
The accounting policies of the Company’s business segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies included elsewhere herein. The Company accounts for intersegment sales at fair value as if the sales were to third parties. While intercompany transactions are treated like third-party transactions to determine segment performance, the revenues (and corresponding expenses recognized by the segment that is counterparty to the transaction) are eliminated in consolidation, and therefore, do not themselves impact consolidated results.
19
| Recorded Music | Music Publishing | Corporate expenses and eliminations | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | (in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| OIBDA | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| OIBDA | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
12. Additional Financial Information
Cash Interest and Taxes
The Company made interest payments of approximately $44 million and $42 million during the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The Company paid approximately $20 million of income and withholding taxes during the three months ended December 31, 2019 and paid approximately $7 million of income and withholding taxes during the three months ended December 31, 2018.
Dividends
The Company’s ability to pay dividends is restricted by covenants in the indentures governing its notes and in the credit agreements for the Senior Term Loan Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility.
On December 16, 2019, the Company’s board of directors declared a cash dividend of $37.5 million which was paid to stockholders on January 17, 2020 and recorded as an accrual as of December 31, 2019. On December 20, 2018, the Company’s board of directors declared a cash dividend of $31.25 million which was accrued as of December 31, 2018 and paid to stockholders on January 4, 2019 .
In the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company instituted a regular quarterly dividend policy whereby it intends to pay a modest regular quarterly dividend in each fiscal quarter and a variable dividend for the fourth fiscal quarter in an amount commensurate with cash expected to be generated from operations in such fiscal year, in each case, after taking into account other potential uses for cash, including acquisitions, investment in our business and repayment of indebtedness. The declaration of each dividend will continue to be at the discretion of the Company’s board.
Depreciation Expense
During the three months ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded depreciation expense of $24 million, which included a one-time charge of $10 million representing the difference between the net book value of a building and its expected recoverable value.
13. Fair Value Measurements
ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”) defines fair value as the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid upon transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and in the principal or most advantageous market for that asset or liability. The fair value should be calculated based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, not on assumptions specific to the entity.
In addition to defining fair value, ASC 820 expands the disclosure requirements around fair value and establishes a fair value hierarchy for valuation inputs. The hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three levels based on the extent to which inputs used in
20
measuring fair value are observable in the market. Each fair value measurement is reported in one of the three levels which is determined by the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. These levels are:
•Level 1—inputs are based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.
•Level 2—inputs are based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
•Level 3—inputs are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The fair values are therefore determined using model-based techniques that include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.
In accordance with the fair value hierarchy, described above, the following tables show the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments that are required to be measured at fair value as of December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019.
| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Level 1) | (Level 2) | (Level 3) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Current Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts (a) | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||
| Contractual Obligations (b) | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Noncurrent Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity Method Investment (d) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Rate Swap (c) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Noncurrent Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Rate Swap (c) | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fair Value Measurements as of September 30, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Level 1) | (Level 2) | (Level 3) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Current Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contractual Obligations (b) | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||
| Other Noncurrent Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity Method Investment (d) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Rate Swap | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Noncurrent Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Rate Swap | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
______________________________________
(a)The fair value of foreign currency forward exchange contracts is based on dealer quotes of market forward rates and reflects the amount that the Company would receive or pay at their maturity dates for contracts involving the same currencies and maturity dates.
(b)This represents purchase obligations and contingent consideration related to the Company’s various acquisitions. This is based on a probability weighted performance approach and it is adjusted to fair value on a recurring basis and any adjustments are included as a component of operating income in the statement of operations. These amounts were mainly calculated using unobservable inputs such as future earnings performance of the Company’s various acquisitions and the expected timing of the payment.
(c)The fair value of the interest rate swap is based on dealer quotes of market forward rates and reflects the amount that the Company would receive or pay as of December 31, 2019 for contracts involving the same attributes and maturity dates.
(d)The fair value of equity method investment represents an equity method investment acquired in fiscal 2019 whereby the Company has elected the fair value option under ASC 825, Financial Instruments (“ASC 825”). The valuation is based upon quoted prices in active markets and model-based valuation techniques to determine fair value.
21
The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of net assets and liabilities classified as Level 3:
| Total | |||||
| (in millions) | |||||
| Balance at September 30, 2019 | $ | ( | |||
| Additions | |||||
| Reductions | |||||
| Payments | |||||
| Balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | ( | |||
The majority of the Company’s non-financial instruments, which include goodwill, intangible assets, inventories, and property, plant, and equipment, are not required to be re-measured to fair value on a recurring basis. These assets are evaluated for impairment if certain triggering events occur. If such evaluation indicates that impairment exists, the asset is written down to its fair value. In addition, an impairment analysis is performed at least annually for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets.
Equity Investments Without Readily Determinable Fair Value
The Company evaluates its equity investments without readily determinable fair values for impairment if factors indicate that a significant decrease in value has occurred. The Company has elected to use the measurement alternative to fair value that will allow these investments to be recorded at cost, less impairment, and adjusted for subsequent observable price changes. The Company did not record any impairment charges on these investments during the three months ended December 31, 2019. In addition, there were no observable price changes events that were completed during the three months ended December 31, 2019.
Fair Value of Debt
Based on the level of interest rates prevailing at December 31, 2019, the fair value of the Company’s debt was $3.096 billion. Based on the level of interest rates prevailing at September 30, 2019, the fair value of the Company’s debt was $3.080 billion. The fair value of the Company’s debt instruments is determined using quoted market prices from less active markets or by using quoted market prices for instruments with identical terms and maturities; both approaches are considered a Level 2 measurement.
22
WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP.
Supplementary Information
Consolidating Financial Statements
The Company is the direct parent of Holdings, which is the direct parent of Acquisition Corp. As of December 31, 2019 Acquisition Corp. had issued and outstanding the 5.000 % Senior Secured Notes due 2023, the 4.125 % Senior Secured Notes due 2024, the 4.875 % Senior Secured Notes due 2024, the 3.625 % Senior Secured Notes due 2026 and the 5.500 % Senior Notes due 2026 (together, the “Acquisition Corp. Notes”).
The Acquisition Corp. Notes are guaranteed by the Company and, in addition, are guaranteed by all of Acquisition Corp.’s domestic wholly-owned subsidiaries. The secured notes are guaranteed on a senior secured basis and the unsecured notes are guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis. The Company’s guarantee of the Acquisition Corp. Notes is full and unconditional. The guarantee of the Acquisition Corp. Notes by Acquisition Corp.’s domestic wholly-owned subsidiaries is full, unconditional and joint and several. The following condensed consolidating financial statements are also presented for the information of the holders of the Acquisition Corp. Notes and present the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of (i) Acquisition Corp., which is the issuer of the Acquisition Corp. Notes, (ii) the guarantor subsidiaries of Acquisition Corp., (iii) the non-guarantor subsidiaries of Acquisition Corp. and (iv) the eliminations necessary to arrive at the information for Acquisition Corp. on a consolidated basis. Investments in consolidated subsidiaries are presented under the equity method of accounting. There are no restrictions on Acquisition Corp.’s ability to obtain funds from any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries through dividends, loans or advances.
The Company and Holdings are holding companies that conduct substantially all of their business operations through Acquisition Corp. Accordingly, the ability of the Company and Holdings to obtain funds from their subsidiaries is restricted by the indentures for the Acquisition Corp. Notes and the credit agreements for the Acquisition Corp. Senior Credit Facilities, including the Revolving Credit Facility and the Senior Term Loan Facility.
23
Consolidating Balance Sheet (Unaudited)
December 31, 2019
| WMG Acquisition Corp. (issuer) | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries | Eliminations | WMG Acquisition Corp. Consolidated | WMG Holdings Corp. | Warner Music Group Corp. | Eliminations | Warner Music Group Corp. Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and equivalents | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inventories | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royalty advances expected to be recouped within one year | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prepaid and other current assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total current assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due from (to) parent companies | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investments in and advances to consolidated subsidiaries | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royalty advances expected to be recouped after one year | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goodwill | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intangible assets subject to amortization, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intangible assets not subject to amortization | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax assets, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities and Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accrued royalties | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accrued liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accrued interest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, current | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred revenue | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other current liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Warner Music Group Corp. (deficit) equity | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total equity | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
24
Consolidating Balance Sheet
September 30, 2019
| WMG Acquisition Corp. (issuer) | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries | Eliminations | WMG Acquisition Corp. Consolidated | WMG Holdings Corp. | Warner Music Group Corp. | Eliminations | Warner Music Group Corp. Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and equivalents | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inventories | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royalty advances expected to be recouped within one year | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prepaid and other current assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total current assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due from (to) parent companies | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investments in and advances to consolidated subsidiaries | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royalty advances expected to be recouped after one year | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goodwill | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intangible assets subject to amortization, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intangible assets not subject to amortization | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax assets, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities and Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accrued royalties | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accrued liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accrued interest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred revenue | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other current liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Warner Music Group Corp. (deficit) equity | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total equity | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
25
Consolidating Statement of Operations (Unaudited)
For The Three Months Ended December 31, 2019
| WMG Acquisition Corp. (issuer) | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries | Eliminations | WMG Acquisition Corp. Consolidated | WMG Holdings Corp. | Warner Music Group Corp. | Eliminations | Warner Music Group Corp. Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenue | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total costs and expenses | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity gains from equity method investments | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interest | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Warner Music Group Corp. | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
26
Consolidating Statement of Operations (Unaudited)
For The Three Months Ended December 31, 2018
| WMG Acquisition Corp. (issuer) | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries | Eliminations | WMG Acquisition Corp. Consolidated | WMG Holdings Corp. | Warner Music Group Corp. | Eliminations | Warner Music Group Corp. Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenue | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total costs and expenses | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest (expense) income, net | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity gains from equity method investments | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other (expense) income, net | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Warner Music Group Corp. | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
27
Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
For The Three Months Ended December 31, 2019
| WMG Acquisition Corp. (issuer) | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries | Eliminations | WMG Acquisition Corp. Consolidated | WMG Holdings Corp. | Warner Music Group Corp. | Eliminations | Warner Music Group Corp. Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency adjustment | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred gain on derivatives | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interest | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive income attributable to Warner Music Group Corp. | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
For The Three Months Ended December 31, 2018
| WMG Acquisition Corp. (issuer) | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries | Eliminations | WMG Acquisition Corp. Consolidated | WMG Holdings Corp. | Warner Music Group Corp. | Eliminations | Warner Music Group Corp. Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency adjustment | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred losses on derivatives | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive income attributable to Warner Music Group Corp. | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
For The Three Months Ended December 31, 2019
| WMG Acquisition Corp. (issuer) | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries | Eliminations | WMG Acquisition Corp. Consolidated | WMG Holdings Corp. | Warner Music Group Corp. | Eliminations | Warner Music Group Corp. Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gains and remeasurement of foreign denominated loans | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net gain on investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash interest expense | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity-based compensation expense | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity gains, including distributions | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inventories | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royalty advances | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royalty payables | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accrued interest | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred revenue | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other balance sheet changes | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of music publishing rights, net | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investments and acquisitions of businesses, net | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Advances from issuer | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividend by Acquisition Corp. to Holdings Corp. | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distribution to noncontrolling interest holder | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in due (from) to issuer | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net decrease (increase) in cash and equivalents | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and equivalents at beginning of period | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and equivalents at end of period | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
For The Three Months Ended December 31, 2018
| WMG Acquisition Corp. (issuer) | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries | Eliminations | WMG Acquisition Corp. Consolidated | WMG Holdings Corp. | Warner Music Group Corp. | Eliminations | Warner Music Group Corp. Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gains and remeasurement of foreign denominated loans | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net gain on investments | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash interest expense | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity-based compensation expense | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity gains, including distributions | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inventories | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royalty advances | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royalty payables | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accrued interest | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred revenue | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other balance sheet changes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of music publishing rights, net | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investments and acquisitions of businesses, net | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from the sale of investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Advances from issuer | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of Acquisition Corp. 3.625% Senior Notes due 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repayment of Acquisition Corp. 4.125% Senior Secured Notes | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repayment of Acquisition Corp. 4.875% Senior Secured Notes | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repayment of Acquisition Corp. 5.625% Senior Secured Notes | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Call premiums paid on and redemption deposit for early redemption of debt | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred financing costs paid | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distribution to noncontrolling interest holder | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends paid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in due to (from) issuer | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and equivalents at beginning of period | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and equivalents at end of period | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion of our results of operations and financial condition with the unaudited interim financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2019 (the “Quarterly Report”).
“SAFE HARBOR” STATEMENT UNDER PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
This Quarterly Report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Quarterly Report, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy, cost savings, industry trends and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe” or “continue” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Such statements include, among others, our ability to compete in the highly competitive markets in which we operate, statements regarding our ability to develop talent and attract future talent, our ability to reduce future capital expenditures, our ability to monetize our music-based content, including through new distribution channels and formats to capitalize on the growth areas of the music industry, our ability to effectively deploy our capital, the development of digital music and the effect of digital distribution channels on our business, including whether we will be able to achieve higher margins from digital sales, the success of strategic actions we are taking to accelerate our transformation as we redefine our role in the music industry, the effectiveness of our ongoing efforts to reduce overhead expenditures and manage our variable and fixed cost structure and our ability to generate expected cost savings from such efforts, our success in limiting piracy, the growth of the music industry and the effect of our and the music industry’s efforts to combat piracy on the industry, our intention to pay dividends or repurchase or retire our outstanding debt or notes in open market purchases, privately or otherwise, the impact on us of potential strategic transactions, our ability to fund our future capital needs and the effect of litigation on us. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct.
There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report. Additionally, important factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this Quarterly Report. As stated elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, such risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among others:
•the failure of the digital portion of the global recorded music industry to grow or grow at a significant rate to offset declines in the physical portion of the global recorded music industry;
•downward pressure on our pricing and our profit margins and reductions in shelf space;
•our ability to identify, sign and retain artists and songwriters and the existence or absence of superstar releases;
•threats to our business associated with digital piracy;
•the significant threat posed to our business and the music industry by organized industrial piracy;
•the popular demand for particular recording artists and/or songwriters and albums and the timely completion of albums by major recording artists and/or songwriters;
•the diversity and quality of our portfolio of songwriters;
•the diversity and quality of our album releases;
•the impact of legitimate channels for digital distribution of our creative content;
•our dependence on a limited number of digital music services for the online sale of our music recordings and their ability to significantly influence the pricing structure for online music stores;
•our involvement in intellectual property litigation;
•our ability to continue to enforce our intellectual property rights in digital environments;
•the ability to develop a successful business model applicable to a digital environment and to enter into artist services and expanded-rights deals with recording artists in order to broaden our revenue streams in growing segments of the music business;
•the impact of heightened and intensive competition in the recorded music and music publishing businesses and our inability to execute our business strategy;
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•risks associated with our non-U.S. operations, including limited legal protections of our intellectual property rights and restrictions on the repatriation of capital;
•significant fluctuations in our operations, cash flows and valuation of our common stock from period to period;
•our inability to compete successfully in the highly competitive markets in which we operate;
•trends, developments or other events in some foreign countries in which we operate;
•local economic conditions in the countries in which we operate;
•our failure to attract and retain our executive officers and other key personnel;
•a significant portion of our revenues are subject to rate regulation either by government entities or by local third-party collection societies throughout the world and rates on other income streams may be set by governmental proceedings, which may limit our profitability;
•an impairment in the carrying value of goodwill or other intangible and long-lived assets;
•unfavorable currency exchange rate fluctuations;
•our failure to have full control and ability to direct the operations we conduct through joint ventures;
•legislation limiting the terms by which an individual can be bound under a “personal services” contract;
•a potential loss of catalog if it is determined that recording artists have a right to recapture rights in their recordings under the U.S. Copyright Act;
•trends that affect the end uses of our musical compositions (which include uses in broadcast radio and television, film and advertising businesses);
•the growth of other products that compete for the disposable income of consumers;
•the impact of, and risks inherent in, acquisitions or business combinations;
•risks inherent to our outsourcing of information technology (“IT”) infrastructure and certain finance and accounting functions;
•our ability to maintain the security of information relating to our customers, employees and vendors and our music-based content;
•the fact that we have engaged in substantial restructuring activities in the past, and may need to implement further restructurings in the future and our restructuring efforts may not be successful or generate expected cost-savings;
•the impact of our substantial leverage on our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, on our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry and on our ability to meet our obligations under our indebtedness;
•the ability to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness, and the risk that we may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, which may not be successful;
•the fact that our debt agreements contain restrictions that limit our flexibility in operating our business;
•our indebtedness levels, and the fact that we may be able to incur substantially more indebtedness, which may increase the risks created by our substantial indebtedness;
•the significant amount of cash required to service our indebtedness and the ability to generate cash or refinance indebtedness as it becomes due depends on many factors, some of which are beyond our control;
•risks of downgrade, suspension or withdrawal of the rating assigned by a rating agency to us could impact our cost of capital;
•risks relating to Access Industries, Inc. (“Access”), which, together with its affiliates, indirectly owns all of our outstanding capital stock, and controls our company and may have conflicts of interest with the holders of our debt or us in the future. Access may also enter into, or cause us to enter into, strategic transactions that could change the nature or structure of our business, capital structure or credit profile;
•risks related to evolving regulations concerning data privacy which might result in increased regulation and different industry standards;
•changes in law and government regulations, including as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; and
•risks related to other factors discussed under “Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019.
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There may be other factors not presently known to us or which we currently consider to be immaterial that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements we make. You should read carefully the “Risk Factors” section of this Quarterly Report to better understand the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business and underlying any forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf apply only as of the date of this Quarterly Report and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this Quarterly Report. We disclaim any duty to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
INTRODUCTION
Warner Music Group Corp. (the “Company”) was formed on November 21, 2003. The Company is the direct parent of WMG Holdings Corp. (“Holdings”), which is the direct parent of WMG Acquisition Corp. (“Acquisition Corp.”). Acquisition Corp. is one of the world’s major music entertainment companies.
The Company and Holdings are holding companies that conduct substantially all of their business operations through their subsidiaries. The terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “ours” and the “Company” refer collectively to Warner Music Group Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries, except where otherwise indicated.
Management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition (“MD&A”) is provided as a supplement to the unaudited financial statements and footnotes included elsewhere herein to help provide an understanding of our financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of our operations. MD&A is organized as follows:
•Business overview. This section provides a general description of our business, as well as a discussion of factors that we believe are important in understanding our results of operations and comparability and in anticipating future trends.
•Results of operations. This section provides an analysis of our results of operations for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. This analysis is presented on both a consolidated and segment basis.
•Financial condition and liquidity. This section provides an analysis of our cash flows for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, as well as a discussion of our financial condition and liquidity as of December 31, 2019. The discussion of our financial condition and liquidity includes a summary of the key debt covenant compliance measures under our debt agreements.
Use of OIBDA
We evaluate our operating performance based on several factors, including our primary financial measure of operating income (loss) before non-cash depreciation of tangible assets and non-cash amortization of intangible assets (“OIBDA”). We consider OIBDA to be an important indicator of the operational strengths and performance of our businesses. 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 revenues in our businesses and other non-operating income (loss). Accordingly, OIBDA should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, operating income (loss), net income (loss) attributable to Warner Music Group Corp. and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). In addition, our definition of OIBDA may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies. A reconciliation of consolidated OIBDA to operating income (loss) and net income (loss) attributable to Warner Music Group Corp. is provided in our “Results of Operations.”
Use of Constant Currency
As exchange rates are an important factor in understanding period to period comparisons, we believe the presentation of revenue on a constant-currency basis in addition to reported results helps improve the ability to understand our operating results and evaluate our performance in comparison to prior periods. Constant-currency information compares revenue between periods as if exchange rates had remained constant period over period. We use revenue on a constant-currency basis as one measure to evaluate our performance. We calculate constant currency by calculating prior-year revenue using current-year foreign currency exchange rates. We generally refer to such amounts calculated on a constant-currency basis as “excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates.” This revenue should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, revenue reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Revenue on a constant-currency basis, as we present it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies and are not a measure of performance presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
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BUSINESS OVERVIEW
We are one of the world’s leading music entertainment companies. Our renowned family of iconic record labels, including Atlantic Records, Warner Records, Elektra Records and Parlophone Records, is home to many of the most popular and influential recording artists. In addition, Warner Chappell Music, our global music publishing business, boasts an extraordinary catalog that includes timeless standards and contemporary hits, representing works by over 80,000 songwriters and composers, with a global collection of more than 1.4 million musical compositions. We classify our business interests into two fundamental operations: Recorded Music and Music Publishing. A brief description of each of those operations is presented below.
Components of Our Operating Results
Recorded Music Operations
Our Recorded Music business primarily consists of the discovery and development of recording artists and the related marketing, promotion, distribution, sale and licensing of music created by such recording artists. We play an integral role in virtually all aspects of the recorded music value chain from discovering and developing talent to producing, distributing and selling music to marketing and promoting recording artists and their music.
In the United States, our Recorded Music business is conducted principally through our major record labels—Atlantic Records and Warner Records. In October 2018, we launched Elektra Music Group in the United States as a standalone label group, which comprises the Elektra, Fueled by Ramen and Roadrunner labels. Our Recorded Music business also includes Rhino Entertainment, a division that specializes in marketing our recorded music catalog through compilations, reissuances of previously released music and video titles and releasing previously unreleased material from our vault. We also conduct our Recorded Music business through a collection of additional record labels including Asylum, Big Beat, Canvasback, East West, Erato, FFRR, Nonesuch, Parlophone, Reprise, Sire, Spinnin’, Warner Classics and Warner Music Nashville.
Outside the United States, our Recorded Music business is conducted in more than 70 countries through various subsidiaries, affiliates and non-affiliated licensees. Internationally, we engage in the same activities as in the United States: discovering and signing artists and distributing, selling, marketing and promoting their music. In most cases, we also market, promote, distribute and sell the music of those recording artists for whom our domestic record labels have international rights. In certain smaller markets, we license the right to distribute and sell our music to non-affiliated third-party record labels.
Our Recorded Music business’ distribution operations include Warner-Elektra-Atlantic Corporation (“WEA Corp.”), which markets, distributes and sells music and video products to retailers and wholesale distributors; Alternative Distribution Alliance (“ADA”), which markets, distributes and sells the products of independent labels to retail and wholesale distributors; and various distribution centers and ventures operated internationally.
In addition to our music being sold in physical retail outlets, our music is also sold in physical form to online physical retailers, such as Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and bestbuy.com, and distributed in digital form to an expanded universe of digital partners, including streaming services such as those of Amazon, Apple, Deezer, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tencent Music Entertainment Group and YouTube, radio services such as iHeart Radio and SiriusXM and download services such as Apple’s iTunes and Google Play.
We have integrated the marketing of digital content into all aspects of our business, including artist and repertoire (“A&R”) and distribution. Our business development executives work closely with A&R departments to ensure that while music is being produced, digital assets are also created with all distribution channels in mind, including streaming services, social networking sites, online portals and music-centered destinations. We also work side-by-side with our online and mobile partners to test new concepts. We believe existing and new digital businesses will be a significant source of growth and will provide new opportunities to successfully monetize our assets and create new revenue streams. The proportion of digital revenues attributable to each distribution channel varies by region and proportions may change as the introduction of new technologies continues. As one of the world’s largest music entertainment companies, we believe we are well positioned to take advantage of growth in digital distribution and emerging technologies to maximize the value of our assets.
We have diversified our revenues beyond our traditional businesses by entering into expanded-rights deals with recording artists in order to partner with such artists in other aspects of their careers. Under these agreements, we provide services to and participate in recording artists’ activities outside the traditional recorded music business such as touring, merchandising and sponsorships. We have built and acquired artist services capabilities and platforms for marketing and distributing this broader set of music-related rights and participating more widely in the monetization of the artist brands we help create. We believe that entering into expanded-rights deals and enhancing our artist services capabilities in areas such as merchandising, VIP ticketing, fan clubs, concert promotion and management has permitted us to diversify revenue streams and capitalize on other revenue opportunities. This
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provides for improved long-term relationships with our recording artists and allows us to more effectively connect recording artists and fans.
Recorded Music revenues are derived from four main sources:
•Digital: the rightsholder receives revenues with respect to streaming and download services;
•Physical: the rightsholder receives revenues with respect to sales of physical products such as vinyl, CDs and DVDs;
•Artist services and expanded-rights: the rightsholder receives revenues with respect to our artist services businesses and our participation in expanded rights associated with our recording artists, including sponsorship, fan clubs, artist websites, merchandising, touring, concert promotion, ticketing and artist and brand management; and
•Licensing: the rightsholder receives royalties or fees for the right to use sound recordings in combination with visual images such as in films or television programs, television commercials and video games; the rightsholder also receives royalties if sound recordings are performed publicly through broadcast of music on television, radio and cable, and in public spaces such as shops, workplaces, restaurants, bars and clubs.
The principal costs associated with our Recorded Music business are as follows:
•A&R costs: the costs associated with (i) paying royalties to recording artists, producers, songwriters, other copyright holders and trade unions; (ii) signing and developing recording artists; and (iii) creating master recordings in the studio;
•Product costs: the costs to manufacture, package and distribute products to wholesale and retail distribution outlets, the royalty costs associated with distributing products of independent labels to wholesale and retail distribution outlets, as well as the costs related to our artist services business;
•Selling and marketing expenses: the costs associated with the promotion and marketing of recording artists and music, including costs to produce music videos for promotional purposes and artist tour support; and
•General and administrative expenses: the costs associated with general overhead and other administrative expenses.
Music Publishing Operations
While Recorded Music is focused on marketing, promoting, distributing and licensing a particular recording of a musical composition, Music Publishing is an intellectual property business focused on generating revenue from uses of the musical composition itself. In return for promoting, placing, marketing and administering the creative output of a songwriter, or engaging in those activities for other rightsholders, our Music Publishing business garners a share of the revenues generated from use of the musical compositions.
The operations of our Music Publishing business are conducted principally through Warner Chappell Music, our global music publishing company headquartered in Los Angeles with operations in over 70 countries through various subsidiaries, affiliates and non-affiliated licensees. We own or control rights to more than 1.4 million musical compositions, including numerous pop hits, American standards, folk songs and motion picture and theatrical compositions. Assembled over decades, our award-winning catalog includes over 80,000 songwriters and composers and a diverse range of genres including pop, rock, jazz, classical, country, R&B, hip-hop, rap, reggae, Latin, folk, blues, symphonic, soul, Broadway, techno, alternative and gospel. Warner Chappell Music also administers the music and soundtracks of several third-party television and film producers and studios. We have an extensive production music catalog collectively branded as Warner Chappell Production Music.
Music Publishing revenues are derived from five main sources:
•Performance: the rightsholder receives revenues if the musical composition is performed publicly through broadcast of music on television, radio and cable, live performance at a concert or other venue (e.g., arena concerts and nightclubs), and performance of music in staged theatrical productions;
•Digital: the rightsholder receives revenues with respect to musical compositions embodied in recordings distributed in streaming services, download services and other digital music services;
•Mechanical: the rightsholder receives revenues with respect to musical compositions embodied in recordings sold in any physical format or configuration such as vinyl, CDs and DVDs;
•Synchronization: the rightsholder receives revenues for the right to use the musical composition in combination with visual images such as in films or television programs, television commercials and video games as well as from other uses such as in toys or novelty items and merchandise; and
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•Other: the rightsholder receives revenues for use in sheet music and other uses.
The principal costs associated with our Music Publishing business are as follows:
•A&R costs: the costs associated with (i) paying royalties to songwriters, co-publishers and other copyright holders in connection with income generated from the uses of their works and (ii) signing and developing songwriters; and
•Selling and marketing, general overhead and other administrative expenses: the costs associated with selling and marketing, general overhead and other administrative expenses.
Other Business Models to Drive Incremental Revenue
Artist Services and Expanded-Rights Deals
As the recorded music industry has continued to transition to a business model through which the majority of revenues are generated from streaming, for many years we have signed recording artists to expanded-rights deals. Under our expanded-rights deals, we also participate in the recording artist’s revenue streams, in addition to recorded music sales, such as touring, merchandising and sponsorships. In addition to signing recording artists to expanded-rights deals, we have continued to make strategic investments to expand our Recorded Music business and open up new opportunities for our recording artists. Artist services and expanded-rights recorded music revenue, which includes revenue from expanded-rights deals as well as revenue from our artist services business, represented approximately 15% of our total revenues during the three months ended December 31, 2019. Artist services and expanded-rights revenue will fluctuate from period to period depending upon recording artists’ touring schedules, among other things. Margins for the various artist services and expanded-rights revenue streams can vary significantly as well. The overall impact on margins will, therefore, depend on the composition of the various revenue streams in any particular period. For instance, participation in revenue from touring under our expanded-rights deals typically flows straight through to operating income with little associated cost. Revenue from some of our artist services businesses such as management and revenue from participation in touring and sponsorships under our expanded-rights deals are all high margin, while revenue under our expanded-rights deals and revenue from some of our artist services businesses such as merchandising tend to be lower margin than our traditional revenue streams in our Recorded Music business.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended December 31, 2019 Compared with Three Months Ended December 31, 2018
Consolidated Results
Revenues
Our revenues were composed of the following amounts (in millions):
| For the Three Months Ended December 31, | 2019 vs. 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue by Type | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Digital | $ | 633 | $ | 563 | $ | 70 | 12 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Physical | 184 | 231 | (47) | -20 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Digital and Physical | 817 | 794 | 23 | 3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Artist services and expanded-rights | 188 | 166 | 22 | 13 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Licensing | 79 | 81 | (2) | -2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Recorded Music | 1,084 | 1,041 | 43 | 4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Performance | 46 | 53 | (7) | -13 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Digital | 73 | 65 | 8 | 12 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mechanical | 15 | 15 | — | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Synchronization | 36 | 29 | 7 | 24 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 3 | 3 | — | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Music Publishing | 173 | 165 | 8 | 5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Intersegment eliminations | (1) | (3) | 2 | -67 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Revenues | $ | 1,256 | $ | 1,203 | $ | 53 | 4 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Revenue by Geographical Location | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Recorded Music | $ | 453 | $ | 431 | $ | 22 | 5 | % | |||||||||||||||
| U.S. Music Publishing | 81 | 73 | 8 | 11 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total U.S. | 534 | 504 | 30 | 6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| International Recorded Music | 631 | 610 | 21 | 3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| International Music Publishing | 92 | 92 | — | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total International | 723 | 702 | 21 | 3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Intersegment eliminations | (1) | (3) | 2 | -67 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Revenues | $ | 1,256 | $ | 1,203 | $ | 53 | 4 | % | |||||||||||||||
Total Revenues
Total revenues increased by $53 million, or 4%, to $1,256 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $1,203 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The increase includes $12 million of unfavorable currency exchange fluctuations. Prior to intersegment eliminations, Recorded Music and Music Publishing revenues represented 86% and 14% of total revenue for both the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Prior to intersegment eliminations, U.S. and international revenues represented 42% and 58% of total revenues for both the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
Total digital revenues after intersegment eliminations increased by $79 million, or 13%, to $706 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $627 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Total digital revenues represented 56% and 52% of consolidated revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Prior to intersegment eliminations, total digital revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2019 were comprised of U.S. revenues of $380 million and international revenues of $326 million, or 54% and 46% of total digital revenues, respectively. Prior to intersegment eliminations, total digital revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2018 were comprised of U.S. revenues of $330 million and international revenues of $298 million, or 53% and 47% of total digital revenues, respectively.
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Recorded Music revenues increased by $43 million, or 4%, to $1,084 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $1,041 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The increase includes $10 million of unfavorable currency exchange fluctuations. U.S. Recorded Music revenues were $453 million and $431 million, or 42% and 41%, of consolidated Recorded Music revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. International Recorded Music revenues were $631 million and $610 million, or 58% and 59%, of consolidated Recorded Music revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
The overall increase in Recorded Music revenue was driven by increases in digital revenue and artist services and expanded-rights revenue partially offset by decreases in physical and licensing revenue. Digital revenue increased by $70 million as a result of the continued growth in streaming services and strength of releases, which includes new releases from TWICE and Coldplay as well as carryover success from Ed Sheeran and Lizzo. Revenue from streaming services grew by $87 million to $589 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $502 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Digital revenue growth was partially offset by decreases in digital download and other digital declines of $17 million to $44 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $61 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 due to the continued shift to streaming services. Artist services and expanded-rights revenue increased by $22 million primarily due to higher advertising revenues and timing of tours in France. Physical revenue decreased by $47 million primarily due to the continued shift from physical revenue to digital revenue, timing of releases and prior year success of Johnny Hallyday. Licensing revenue decreased by $2 million primarily related to unfavorable foreign exchange rates and higher broadcast fees in the prior year.
Music Publishing revenues increased by $8 million, or 5%, to $173 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $165 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. U.S. Music Publishing revenues were $81 million and $73 million, or 47% and 44%, of consolidated Music Publishing revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. International Music Publishing revenues remained flat at $92 million, or 53% and 56%, of consolidated Music Publishing revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
The overall increase in Music Publishing revenue was mainly driven by increases in digital revenue of $8 million and synchronization revenue of $7 million, partially offset by decreases in performance revenue of $7 million. The increase in digital revenue is primarily due to increases in streaming revenue driven by the continued growth in streaming services. The increase in synchronization revenue is attributable to higher TV and commercial income. The decline in performance revenue is driven by timing of distributions.
Revenue by Geographical Location
U.S. revenue increased by $30 million, or 6%, to $534 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $504 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. U.S. Recorded Music revenue increased by $22 million, or 5%. The primary driver was the increase in U.S. Recorded Music digital revenue, which increased by $43 million driven by the continued growth in streaming services. Streaming revenue increased by $53 million, partially offset by $10 million of digital download and other digital declines. Partially offsetting this increase is a decrease of U.S. Recorded Music physical revenue for $25 million driven by general market decline and timing of releases. U.S. Music Publishing revenue increased by $8 million, or 11%, to $81 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $73 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. This was primarily driven by the increase in U.S. Music Publishing of $7 million in digital revenue due to the continued growth in streaming services and the increase in synchronization revenue of $3 million due to higher TV and commercial income, partially offset by decreases in performance revenue of $2 million due to timing of distributions.
International revenue increased by $21 million, or 3%, to $723 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $702 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Excluding the unfavorable impact of foreign currency exchange rates, International revenue increased by $33 million or 5%. International Recorded Music revenue increased $21 million primarily due to increases in digital revenue of $27 million, artist services and expanded-rights revenue of $24 million, partially offset by decreases in physical revenue of $22 million and licensing revenue of $8 million. The increase in International Recorded Music digital revenue was due to continued growth in streaming services internationally, partially offset by a decline in digital downloads. International Recorded Music artist services and expanded-rights revenue increased $24 million due to higher advertising revenues and timing of tours in France. International Recorded Music physical revenue decreased by $22 million due to the continued shift from physical revenue to digital revenue, timing of releases and prior year success of Johnny Hallyday. International Recorded Music licensing revenue decreased $8 million primarily related to unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates and higher broadcast fees in the prior year. International Music Publishing revenue remained flat to prior year at $92 million for both the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. This was primarily driven by an increases in synchronization revenue of $4 million due to higher TV and commercial income and digital revenue of $1 million offset by decreases of performance revenue of $5 million primarily due to timing of distributions.
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Our cost of revenues was composed of the following amounts (in millions):
| For the Three Months Ended December 31, | 2019 vs. 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Artist and repertoire costs | $ | 411 | $ | 400 | $ | 11 | 3 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Product costs | 254 | 226 | 28 | 12 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total cost of revenues | $ | 665 | $ | 626 | $ | 39 | 6 | % | |||||||||||||||
Artist and repertoire costs increased by $11 million, to $411 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $400 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Artist and repertoire costs as a percentage of revenue remained constant at 33% for both the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
Product costs increased by $28 million, to $254 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $226 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Product costs as a percentage of revenue increased to 20% for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from 19% for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Increases in product costs relate to revenue mix and impact of costs associated with tours in France.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Our selling, general and administrative expenses were composed of the following amounts (in millions):
| For the Three Months Ended December 31, | 2019 vs. 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative expense (1) | $ | 172 | $ | 180 | $ | (8) | -4 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Selling and marketing expense | 173 | 160 | 13 | 8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Distribution expense | 34 | 36 | (2) | -6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total selling, general and administrative expense | $ | 379 | $ | 376 | $ | 3 | 1 | % | |||||||||||||||
______________________________________
(1)Includes depreciation expense of $24 million and $14 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
Total selling, general and administrative expense increased by $3 million, or 1%, to $379 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $376 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Expressed as a percentage of revenue, selling, general and administrative expense decreased to 30% for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from 31% for the three months ended December 31, 2018.
General and administrative expense decreased by $8 million, or 4%, to $172 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $180 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The decrease in general and administrative expense was mainly due to lower expense associated with our Senior Management Free Cash Flow Plan of $19 million, partially offset by a one-time charge within depreciation expense of $10 million and costs associated with transformation initiatives. Expressed as a percentage of revenue, general and administrative expense decreased to 14% for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from 15% for the three months ended December 31, 2018.
Selling and marketing expense increased by $13 million, or 8%, to $173 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $160 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The increase in selling and marketing expense was primarily due to increased variable marketing expense on higher revenue in the quarter and increased spending on developing artists. Expressed as a percentage of revenue, selling and marketing expense increased to 14% for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from 13% for the three months ended December 31, 2018 due to the factors described above.
Distribution expense was $34 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and $36 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Expressed as a percentage of revenue, distribution expense remained flat at 3% for both the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
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Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to Warner Music Group Corp. and Operating Income to Consolidated OIBDA
As previously described, we use OIBDA as our primary measure of financial performance. The following table reconciles operating income to OIBDA, and further provides the components from net income attributable to Warner Music Group Corp. to operating income for purposes of the discussion that follows (in millions):
| For the Three Months Ended December 31, | 2019 vs. 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Warner Music Group Corp. | $ | 120 | $ | 86 | $ | 34 | 40 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Income attributable to noncontrolling interest | 2 | — | 2 | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | 122 | 86 | 36 | 42 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 5 | 50 | (45) | -90 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 127 | 136 | (9) | -7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other expense (income) | 5 | (28) | 33 | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 33 | 36 | (3) | -8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | — | 3 | (3) | -100 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 165 | 147 | 18 | 12 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization expense | 47 | 54 | (7) | -13 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation expense | 24 | 14 | 10 | 71 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| OIBDA | $ | 236 | $ | 215 | $ | 21 | 10 | % | |||||||||||||||
OIBDA
OIBDA increased by $21 million, or 10%, to $236 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to $215 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 as a result of higher revenues and lower general and administrative expenses. Expressed as a percentage of total revenue, OIBDA increased to 19% for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from 18% for the three months ended December 31, 2018 due to the factors previously discussed.
Amortization expense
Our amortization expense decreased by $7 million, or 13%, to $47 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $54 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The decrease is primarily due to intangible assets becoming fully amortized.
Operating income
Our operating income increased by $18 million to $165 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $147 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The increase in operating income was due to the factors that led to the increase in OIBDA.
Loss on extinguishment of debt
There was no loss on extinguishment of debt for the three months ended December 31, 2019. We recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt in the amount of $3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 which represents the unamortized deferred financing costs related to the partial redemption of the 4.125% Senior Secured Notes and 5.625% Senior Secured Notes, and the open market purchases of the 4.875% Senior Secured Notes.
Interest expense, net
Our interest expense, net, decreased to $33 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $36 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 due to a decline in LIBOR rates as well as lower interest rates resulting from the redemption of the 5.625% Senior Secured Notes and issuance of the 3.625% Senior Secured Notes.
Other expense (income), net
Other expense (income), net, for the three months ended December 31, 2019 primarily includes the loss on our Euro denominated debt of $12 million and $4 million unrealized losses on hedging activity, partially offset by currency exchange gains on our intercompany loans of $11 million. This compares to an unrealized gain of $15 million on the mark-to-market of an equity method
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investment and $5 million unrealized gains on hedging activity, foreign currency gains on our Euro denominated debt of $10 million, partially offset by the currency exchange losses on our intercompany loans of $5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018.
Income tax expense
Our income tax expense decreased by $45 million to $5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $50 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The change of $45 million in income tax expense primarily relates to the release of $33 million of our U.S. deferred tax valuation allowance during the three months ended December 31, 2019 and impact of GILTI during the three months ended December 31, 2018.
Net income
Net income increased by $36 million to $122 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from net income of $86 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 as a result of the factors described above.
Noncontrolling interest
There was $2 million of income attributable to noncontrolling interest for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and no income attributable to noncontrolling interest for the three months ended December 31, 2018.
Business Segment Results
Revenue, operating income (loss) and OIBDA by business segment were as follows (in millions):
| For the Three Months Ended December 31, | 2019 vs. 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Recorded Music | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | 1,084 | $ | 1,041 | $ | 43 | 4 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 191 | 163 | 28 | 17 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| OIBDA | 241 | 211 | 30 | 14 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Music Publishing | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | 173 | 165 | 8 | 5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 14 | 22 | (8) | -36 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| OIBDA | 33 | 39 | (6) | -15 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate expenses and eliminations | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue eliminations | (1) | (3) | 2 | -67 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating loss | (40) | (38) | (2) | 5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| OIBDA loss | (38) | (35) | (3) | 9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | 1,256 | 1,203 | 53 | 4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 165 | 147 | 18 | 12 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| OIBDA | 236 | 215 | 21 | 10 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Recorded Music
Revenues
Recorded Music revenue increased by $43 million, or 4%, to $1,084 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $1,041 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. U.S. Recorded Music revenues were $453 million and $431 million, or 42% and 41%, of consolidated Recorded Music revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. International Recorded Music revenues were $631 million and $610 million, or 58% and 59%, of consolidated Recorded Music revenues for both the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
The overall increase in Recorded Music revenue was mainly driven by streaming revenue growth as described in the “Total Revenues” and “Revenue by Geographical Location” sections above.
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Cost of revenues
Recorded Music cost of revenues was composed of the following amounts (in millions):
| For the Three Months Ended December 31, | 2019 vs. 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Artist and repertoire costs | $ | 294 | $ | 295 | $ | (1) | — | % | |||||||||||||||
| Product costs | 254 | 226 | 28 | 12 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total cost of revenues | $ | 548 | $ | 521 | $ | 27 | 5 | % | |||||||||||||||
Recorded Music cost of revenues increased by $27 million, or 5%, to $548 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $521 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Expressed as a percentage of Recorded Music revenue, Recorded Music artist and repertoire costs decreased to 27% for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from 28% for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The decrease is primarily attributable to revenue mix. Expressed as a percentage of Recorded Music revenue, Recorded Music product costs increased to 23% for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from 22% for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The increase in product costs relates to revenue mix and impact of costs associated with tours in France.
Selling, general and administrative expense
Recorded Music selling, general and administrative expenses were composed of the following amounts (in millions):
| For the Three Months Ended December 31, | 2019 vs. 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative expense (1) | $ | 113 | $ | 126 | $ | (13) | -10 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Selling and marketing expense | 169 | 157 | 12 | 8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Distribution expense | 34 | 36 | (2) | -6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total selling, general and administrative expense | $ | 316 | $ | 319 | $ | (3) | -1 | % | |||||||||||||||
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(1)Includes depreciation expense of $21 million and $10 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and for the three months ended December 31, 2018, respectively.
Recorded Music selling, general and administrative expense decreased by $3 million, or 1%, to $316 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $319 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The decrease in general and administrative expense was primarily due to lower expense associated with our Senior Management Free Cash Flow Plan of $11 million and timing of variable compensation expense, partially offset by a one-time charge within depreciation expense of $10 million and higher employee related costs. The increase in selling and marketing expense was primarily due to increased variable marketing expense on higher revenue in the quarter and increased spending on developing artists. The decrease in distribution expense was primarily due to revenue mix. Expressed as a percentage of Recorded Music revenue, Recorded Music selling, general and administrative expense decreased to 29% for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from 31% for the three months ended December 31, 2018 due to the factors described above.
Operating income and OIBDA
Recorded Music OIBDA included the following amounts (in millions):
| For the Three Months Ended December 31, | 2019 vs. 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 191 | $ | 163 | $ | 28 | 17 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 50 | 48 | 2 | 4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| OIBDA | $ | 241 | $ | 211 | $ | 30 | 14 | % | |||||||||||||||
Recorded Music OIBDA increased by $30 million, or 14%, to $241 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $211 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 as a result of higher revenues and lower general and administrative expenses. Expressed as a percentage of Recorded Music revenue, Recorded Music OIBDA increased to 22% for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from 20% for the three months ended December 31, 2018 due to the factors previously discussed.
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Recorded Music operating income increased by $28 million to $191 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $163 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 due to the factors that led to the increase in Recorded Music OIBDA noted above.
Music Publishing
Revenues
Music Publishing revenues increased by $8 million, or 5%, to $173 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $165 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. U.S. Music Publishing revenues were $81 million and $73 million, or 47% and 44%, of consolidated Music Publishing revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. International Music Publishing revenues remained flat at $92 million, or 53% and 56%, of consolidated Music Publishing revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
The overall increase in Music Publishing revenue was mainly driven by streaming revenue growth and higher synchronization as described in the “Total Revenues” and “Revenue by Geographical Location” sections above.
Cost of revenues
Music Publishing cost of revenues were composed of the following amounts (in millions):
| For the Three Months Ended December 31, | 2019 vs. 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Artist and repertoire costs | $ | 118 | $ | 108 | $ | 10 | 9 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total cost of revenues | $ | 118 | $ | 108 | $ | 10 | 9 | % | |||||||||||||||
Music Publishing cost of revenues increased by $10 million, or 9%, to $118 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $108 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Expressed as a percentage of Music Publishing revenue, Music Publishing cost of revenues increased to 68% for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from 65% for the three months ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to revenue mix and timing of artist and repertoire investments.
Selling, general and administrative expense
Music Publishing selling, general and administrative expenses were comprised of the following amounts (in millions):
| For the Three Months Ended December 31, | 2019 vs. 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative expense (1) | $ | 22 | $ | 18 | $ | 4 | 22 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Selling and marketing expense | 1 | 1 | — | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total selling, general and administrative expense | $ | 23 | $ | 19 | $ | 4 | 21 | % | |||||||||||||||
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(1)Includes depreciation expense of $1 million for both the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
Music Publishing selling, general and administrative expense increased to $23 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $19 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 due to higher employee related and restructuring costs. Expressed as a percentage of Music Publishing revenue, Music Publishing selling, general and administrative expense increased to 13% for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from 12% for the three months ended December 31, 2018 due to factors described above.
Operating income and OIBDA
Music Publishing OIBDA included the following amounts (in millions):
| For the Three Months Ended December 31, | 2019 vs. 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 14 | $ | 22 | $ | (8) | -36 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 19 | 17 | 2 | 12 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| OIBDA | $ | 33 | $ | 39 | $ | (6) | -15 | % | |||||||||||||||
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Music Publishing OIBDA decreased by $6 million, or 15%, to $33 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $39 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Expressed as a percentage of Music Publishing revenue, Music Publishing OIBDA decreased to 19% for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from 24% for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The decrease was primarily due to higher artist and repertoire and general and administrative expenses.
Music Publishing operating income decreased by $8 million to $14 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 from $22 million operating income for the three months ended December 31, 2018 largely due to the factors that led to the decrease in Music Publishing OIBDA noted above.
Corporate Expenses and Eliminations
Our operating loss from corporate expenses and eliminations increased by $2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 to $40 million from $38 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018, which includes higher corporate related costs and transformation initiatives, partially offset by a decrease of $8 million in variable compensation associated with the Senior Management Free Cash Flow Plan.
Our OIBDA loss from corporate expenses and eliminations increased by $3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 to $38 million from $35 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018.
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FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY
Financial Condition at December 31, 2019
At December 31, 2019, we had $2.988 billion of debt (which is net of $27 million of deferred financing costs), $462 million of cash and equivalents (net debt of $2.526 billion, defined as total debt, less cash and equivalents and deferred financing costs) and $190 million of Warner Music Group Corp. deficit. This compares to $2.974 billion of debt (which is net of $29 million of deferred financing costs), $619 million of cash and equivalents (net debt of $2.355 billion) and $289 million of Warner Music Group Corp. deficit at September 30, 2019.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our historical cash flows (in millions). The financial data for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are unaudited and have been derived from our interim financial statements included elsewhere herein.
| For the Three Months Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Cash provided by (used in): | |||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 78 | $ | 92 | |||||||
| Investing activities | (32) | (238) | |||||||||
| Financing activities | (207) | 182 | |||||||||
Operating Activities
Cash provided by operating activities was $78 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 as compared with cash provided by operating activities of $92 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The $14 million decrease in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to timing of working capital and higher cash taxes, partially offset by an OIBDA increase of $21 million.
Investing Activities
Cash used in investing activities was $32 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 as compared with cash used in investing activities of $238 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The $32 million of cash used in investing activities in the three months ended December 31, 2019 consisted of $6 million relating to investments, $15 million relating to capital expenditures and $11 million to acquire music publishing rights. The $238 million of cash used in investing activities in the three months ended December 31, 2018 consisted of $183 million relating to the acquisition of EMP, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired, $23 million relating to the acquisition of equity investments, $26 million relating to capital expenditure and $5 million to acquire music publishing rights.
Financing Activities
Cash used in financing activities was $207 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 as compared with cash provided by financing activities of $182 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The $207 million of cash used in financing activities for the three months ended December 31, 2019 consisted of dividends paid of $206 million and distributions to noncontrolling interest holders of $1 million. The $182 million of cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended December 31, 2018 consisted of proceeds of $287 million from the issuance of Acquisition Corp.’s 3.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 partially offset by deferred financing costs paid of $4 million, the partial repayment of Acquisition Corp.’s 4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2024, 4.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2024 and 5.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2022, including call premiums paid, for an aggregate $99 million and distributions to noncontrolling interest holders of $2 million.
Liquidity
Our primary sources of liquidity are the cash flows generated from our subsidiaries’ operations, available cash and equivalents and funds available for drawing under our Revolving Credit Facility. These sources of liquidity are needed to fund our debt service requirements, working capital requirements, capital expenditure requirements, strategic acquisitions and investments, and any dividends, prepayments of debt or repurchases or retirement of our outstanding debt or notes in open market purchases, privately negotiated purchases or otherwise, we may elect to pay or make in the future. Certain of our executive officers participate in a long-term equity incentive plan, which permits those executive officers to defer all or a portion of their free cash flow bonuses and receive grants of indirect equity interests in the Company. Payments under the plan, which could be material, are influenced by the
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Company’s valuation and other market factors, including valuations of similar companies. We believe that our existing sources of cash will be sufficient to support our existing operations over the next twelve months.
In August 2019, we announced that we were beginning a financial transformation initiative to upgrade our information technology and finance infrastructure over the next two years, including related systems and processes, for which we expect our capital expenditures to be between $30 million and $40 million, approximately two-thirds of which is expected to be incurred in the 2020 fiscal year and the remainder of which is expected to be incurred in the 2021 fiscal year. We expect that our cash flows from operations will be sufficient to fund our capital expenditures.
Existing Debt as of December 31, 2019
As of December 31, 2019, our long-term debt, all of which was issued by Acquisition Corp., was as follows (in millions):
| Revolving Credit Facility (a) | $ | — | |||
| Senior Term Loan Facility due 2023 (b) | 1,314 | ||||
| 5.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 (c) | 298 | ||||
| 4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2024 (d) | 342 | ||||
| 4.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2024 (e) | 218 | ||||
| 3.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 (f) | 495 | ||||
| 5.500% Senior Notes due 2026 (g) | 321 | ||||
| Total long-term debt, including the current portion (h) | $ | 2,988 | |||
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(a)Reflects $180 million of commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility available at December 31, 2019, less letters of credit outstanding of approximately $13 million at December 31, 2019. There were no loans outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility at December 31, 2019.
(b)Principal amount of $1.326 billion less unamortized discount of $3 million and unamortized deferred financing costs of $9 million at December 31, 2019.
(c)Principal amount of $300 million less unamortized deferred financing costs of $2 million at December 31, 2019.
(d)Face amount of €311 million. Above amount represents the dollar equivalent of such note at December 31, 2019. Principal amount of $345 million less unamortized deferred financing costs of $3 million at December 31, 2019.
(e)Principal amount of $220 million less unamortized deferred financing costs of $2 million at December 31, 2019.
(f)Face amount of €445 million at December 31, 2019. Above amount represents the dollar equivalent of such note at December 31, 2019. Principal amount of $494 million, an additional issuance premium of $8 million, less unamortized deferred financing costs of $7 million at December 31, 2019.
(g)Principal amount of $325 million less unamortized deferred financing costs of $4 million at December 31, 2019.
(h)Principal amount of debt of $3.010 billion, an additional issuance premium of $8 million, less unamortized discount of $3 million and unamortized deferred financing costs of $27 million at December 31, 2019.
For further discussion of our debt agreements, see “Liquidity” in the “Financial Condition and Liquidity” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019.
Dividends
The Company’s ability to pay dividends is restricted by covenants in the indentures governing its notes and in the credit agreements for the Senior Term Loan Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility.
On December 16, 2019, the Company’s board of directors declared a cash dividend of $37.5 million which was paid to stockholders on January 17, 2020 and recorded as an accrual as of December 31, 2019. On December 20, 2018, the Company’s board of directors declared a cash dividend of $31.25 million which was accrued as of December 31, 2018 and paid to stockholders on January 4, 2019.
In the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company instituted a regular quarterly dividend policy whereby it intends to pay a modest regular quarterly dividend in each fiscal quarter and a variable dividend for the fourth fiscal quarter in an amount commensurate with cash expected to be generated from operations in such fiscal year, in each case, after taking into account other potential uses for cash, including acquisitions, investment in our business and repayment of indebtedness. The declaration of each dividend will continue to be at the discretion of the Company’s board.
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Covenant Compliance
The Company was in compliance with its covenants under its outstanding notes, the Revolving Credit Facility and the Senior Term Loan Facility as of December 31, 2019.
On January 18, 2019, we delivered a notice to the administrative agent under each of the Revolving Credit Facility and the Senior Term Loan Facility and the trustee under the indentures governing each of the Senior Notes and the Secured Notes changing the Fixed GAAP Date, as defined under each such facility and the indentures, to October 1, 2018.
The Revolving Credit Facility contains a springing leverage ratio that is tied to a ratio based on Consolidated EBITDA, which is defined under the Revolving Credit Agreement. Our ability to borrow funds under the Revolving Credit Facility may depend upon our ability to meet the leverage ratio test at the end of a fiscal quarter to the extent we have drawn a certain amount of revolving loans. Consolidated EBITDA differs from the term “EBITDA” as it is commonly used. For example, the definition of Consolidated EBITDA, in addition to adjusting net income to exclude interest expense, income taxes and depreciation and amortization, also adjusts net income by excluding items or expenses not typically excluded in the calculation of “EBITDA” such as, among other items, (1) the amount of any restructuring charges or reserves; (2) any non-cash charges (including any impairment charges); (3) any net loss resulting from hedging currency exchange risks; (4) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees paid to Access under the Management Agreement (as defined in the Credit Agreement); (5) business optimization expenses (including consolidation initiatives, severance costs and other costs relating to initiatives aimed at profitability improvement); (6) transaction expenses; and (7) equity-based compensation expense. It also includes an adjustment for the pro forma impact of certain projected cost savings and synergies. The indentures governing our notes and the Senior Term Loan Facility use financial measures called “Consolidated EBITDA” or “EBITDA” that have the same definition as Consolidated EBITDA as defined under the Revolving Credit Agreement.
Consolidated EBITDA is presented herein because it is a material component of the leverage ratio contained in the Revolving Credit Agreement. Non-compliance with the leverage ratio could result in the inability to use the Revolving Credit Facility, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position and cash flow. Consolidated EBITDA does not represent net income or cash from operating activities as those terms are defined by U.S. GAAP and does not necessarily indicate whether cash flows will be sufficient to fund cash needs. While Consolidated EBITDA and similar measures are frequently used as measures of operations and the ability to meet debt service requirements, these terms are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to the potential inconsistencies in the method of calculation. Consolidated EBITDA does not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters that we may consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations. In particular, the definition of Consolidated EBITDA in the Revolving Credit Agreement allows us to add back certain non-cash, extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring charges that are deducted in calculating net income. However, these are expenses that may recur, vary greatly and are difficult to predict.
Consolidated EBITDA as presented below is not a measure of the performance of our business and should not be used by investors as an indicator of performance for any future period. Further, our debt instruments require that it be calculated for the most recent four fiscal quarters. As a result, the measure can be disproportionately affected by a particularly strong or weak quarter. Further, it may not be comparable to the measure for any subsequent four quarter period or any complete fiscal year. In addition, our debt instruments require that the leverage ratio be calculated on a pro forma basis for certain transactions including acquisitions as if such transactions had occurred on the first date of the measurement period and may include expected cost savings and synergies resulting from or related to any such transaction. There can be no assurances that any such cost savings or synergies will be achieved in full.
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The following is a reconciliation of net income, which is a U.S. GAAP measure of our operating results, to Consolidated EBITDA as defined, and the calculation of the Senior Secured Indebtedness to Consolidated EBITDA ratio, which we refer to as the Leverage Ratio, under the Revolving Credit Agreement for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters, or the twelve months ended December 31, 2019. The terms and related calculations are defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement. All amounts in the reconciliation below reflect Acquisition Corp. (in millions, except ratios):
| Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2019 | |||||
| Net Income | $ | 294 | |||
| Income tax benefit | (36) | ||||
| Interest expense, net | 140 | ||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 271 | ||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt (a) | 4 | ||||
| Net gain on divestitures and sale of securities (b) | (4) | ||||
| Restructuring costs (c) | 26 | ||||
| Net hedging gains and foreign exchange losses (d) | (23) | ||||
| Management fees (e) | 11 | ||||
| Business optimization expenses (f) | 28 | ||||
| Equity based compensation expense (g) | 30 | ||||
| Other non-cash charges (h) | (3) | ||||
| Pro forma impact of cost savings initiatives (i) | 2 | ||||
| Pro Forma Consolidated EBITDA | $ | 740 | |||
| Senior Secured Indebtedness (j) | $ | 2,485 | |||
| Leverage Ratio (k) | 3.36x | ||||
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(a)Reflects net loss incurred on the early extinguishment of our debt incurred as part of the May 2019 redemption of the remaining 5.625% Secured Notes.
(b)Reflects net gain on divestitures and sale of securities.
(c)Reflects severance costs and other restructuring related expenses.
(d)Reflects net gains from hedging activities and unrealized losses due to foreign exchange on our Euro-denominated debt and intercompany transactions.
(e)Reflects management fees paid to Access, including an annual fee and related expenses. Pursuant to the Company’s and Holdings’ management agreement with Access, the base amount of the annual fee is approximately $9 million, subject to certain potential upward adjustments.
(f)Reflects primarily costs associated with IT systems updates and other transformation initiatives.
(g)Reflects equity-based compensation expense related to the Warner Music Group Corp. Senior Management Free Cash Flow Plan.
(h)Reflects non-cash activity, including the unrealized gains on the mark-to-market of an equity method investment.
(i)Reflects expected savings resulting from transformation initiatives and restructuring programs.
(j)Reflects the principal balance of senior secured debt at Acquisition Corp. of approximately $2.685 billion less cash of $200 million.
(k)Reflects the ratio of Senior Secured Indebtedness, including Revolving Credit Agreement Indebtedness, to Pro Forma Consolidated EBITDA as of the twelve months ended December 31, 2019. This is calculated net of cash and equivalents of the Company as of December 31, 2019 not exceeding $200 million. If the outstanding aggregate principal amount of borrowings and drawings under letters of credit which have not been reimbursed under our Revolving Credit Facility is greater than $54 million at the end of a fiscal quarter, the maximum leverage ratio permitted under the Revolving Credit Facility is 4.75:1.00. The Company’s Revolving Credit Facility does not impose any “leverage ratio” restrictions on the Company when the aggregate principal amount of borrowings and drawings under letters of credit, which have not been reimbursed under the Revolving Credit Facility, is less than or equal to $54 million at the end of a fiscal quarter.
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Summary
Management believes that funds generated from our operations and borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and available cash and equivalents will be sufficient to fund our debt service requirements, working capital requirements and capital expenditure requirements for the foreseeable future. We also have additional borrowing capacity under our indentures and the Senior Term Loan Facility. However, our ability to continue to fund these items and to reduce debt may be affected by general economic, financial, competitive, legislative and regulatory factors, as well as other industry-specific factors such as the ability to control music piracy and the continued transition from physical to digital formats in the recorded music and music publishing industries. We and our affiliates continue to evaluate opportunities to, from time to time, depending on market conditions and prices, contractual restrictions, our financial liquidity and other factors, seek to pay dividends or prepay outstanding debt or repurchase or retire Acquisition Corp.’s outstanding debt or debt securities in open market purchases, privately negotiated purchases or otherwise. The amounts involved in any such transactions, individually or in the aggregate, may be material and may be funded from available cash or from additional borrowings. In addition, from time to time, depending on market conditions and prices, contractual restrictions, our financial liquidity and other factors, we may seek to refinance the Senior Credit Facilities or our outstanding debt or debt securities with existing cash and/or with funds provided from additional borrowings. Certain of our executive officers participate in a long-term equity incentive plan, which permits those executive officers to defer all or a portion of their free cash flow bonuses and receive grants of indirect equity interests in the Company. Payments under the plan, which could be material, are influenced by the Company’s valuation and other market factors, including valuations of similar companies.
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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
As discussed in Note 14 to our audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, the Company is exposed to market risk arising from changes in market rates and prices, including movements in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. As of December 31, 2019, other than as described below, there have been no material changes to the Company’s exposure to market risk since September 30, 2019.
Foreign Currency Risk
Within our global business operations we have transactional exposures that may be adversely affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar. We may at times choose to use foreign exchange currency derivatives, primarily forward contracts, to manage the risk associated with the volatility of future cash flows denominated in foreign currencies, such as unremitted or future royalties and license fees owed to our U.S. companies for the sale or licensing of U.S.-based music and merchandise abroad that may be adversely affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We focus on managing the level of exposure to the risk of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on major currencies, which can include the Euro, British pound sterling, Japanese yen, Canadian dollar, Swedish krona, Australian dollar, Brazilian real, Korean won and Norwegian krone, and in many cases we have natural hedges where we have expenses associated with local operations that offset the revenue in local currency and our Euro-denominated debt, which can offset declines in the Euro. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had outstanding hedge contracts for the sale of $288 million and the purchase of $148 million of foreign currencies at fixed rates. Subsequent to December 31, 2019, certain of our foreign exchange contracts expired.
The fair value of foreign exchange contracts is subject to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. For the purpose of assessing the specific risks, we use a sensitivity analysis to determine the effects that market risk exposures may have on the fair value of our financial instruments. For foreign exchange forward contracts outstanding at December 31, 2019, we typically perform a sensitivity analysis assuming a hypothetical 10% depreciation of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies from prevailing foreign currency exchange rates and assuming no change in interest rates. The fair value of the foreign exchange forward contracts would have decreased by $14 million based on this analysis. Hypothetically, even if there was a decrease in the fair value of the forward contracts, because our foreign exchange contracts are entered into for hedging purposes, these losses would be largely offset by gains on the underlying transactions.
Interest Rate Risk
We had $3.010 billion of principal debt outstanding at December 31, 2019, of which $1.326 billion was variable-rate debt and $1.684 billion was fixed-rate debt. As such, we are exposed to changes in interest rates. At December 31, 2019, 56% of the Company’s debt was at a fixed rate. In addition, as of December 31, 2019, we have the option under all of our floating rate debt under the Senior Term Loan Facility to select a one, two, three or six month LIBOR rate. To manage interest rate risk on $820 million of U.S. dollar-denominated variable-rate debt, the Company has entered into interest rate swaps to effectively convert the floating interest rates to a fixed interest rate on a portion of its variable-rate debt.
Based on the level of interest rates prevailing at December 31, 2019, the fair value of the Company’s fixed-rate and variable-rate debt was approximately $3.096 billion. Further, as of December 31, 2019, based on the amount of the Company’s fixed-rate debt, a 25 basis point increase or decrease in the level of interest rates would decrease the fair value of the fixed-rate debt by approximately $3 million or increase the fair value of the fixed-rate debt by approximately $5 million. This potential fluctuation is based on the simplified assumption that the level of fixed-rate debt remains constant with an immediate across the board increase or decrease in the level of interest rates with no subsequent changes in rates for the remainder of the period.
Inflation Risk
Inflationary factors such as increases in overhead costs may adversely affect our results of operations. We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations to date. If our costs were to become subject to significant inflationary pressures, we may not be able to fully offset such higher costs through price increases for services. Our inability or failure to do so could harm our business, financial condition or results of operations.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Certification
The certifications of the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer (or persons performing similar functions) required by Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act (the “Certifications”) are filed as exhibits to this report. This section of the report contains the information concerning the evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) (“Disclosure Controls”) and changes to internal control over financial
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reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) (“Internal Controls”) referred to in the Certifications and this information should be read in conjunction with the Certifications for a more complete understanding of the topics presented.
Introduction
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) rules define “disclosure controls and procedures” as controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by public companies in the reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by public companies in the reports that they file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to a company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
The SEC’s rules define “internal control over financial reporting” as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, a public company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the Company’s board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP, including those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
The Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, does not expect that our Disclosure Controls or Internal Controls will prevent or detect all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Because of the limitations in any and all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. Further, the design of any control system is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Because of these inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected even when effective Disclosure Controls and Internal Controls are in place.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Based on management’s evaluation (with the participation of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer), as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s Disclosure Controls are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act will be recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, including that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting or other factors during the quarter ended December 31, 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time-to-time the Company is involved in claims and legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company is currently subject to several such claims and legal proceedings. Based on currently available information, the Company does not believe that resolution of pending matters will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and there can be no assurances that the Company’s defenses will be successful or that any such lawsuit or claim would not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations in a particular period. Any claims or proceedings against the Company, whether meritorious or not, can have an adverse impact because of defense costs, diversion of management and operational resources, negative publicity and other factors.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, certain risk factors should be considered carefully in evaluating our business. A wide range of risks may affect our business and financial results, now and in the future. We consider the risks described in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, to be the most significant. There may be other currently unknown or unpredictable economic, business, competitive, regulatory or other factors that could have material adverse effects on our future results.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Not applicable.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
Not applicable.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
The agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to this report are not intended to provide factual information or other disclosure other than with respect to the terms of the agreements or other documents themselves, and you should not rely on them for that purpose. In particular, any representations and warranties made by us in these agreements or other documents were made solely within the specific context of the relevant agreement or document and may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.
| Exhibit Number | Description | |||||||
| 31.1* | ||||||||
| 31.2* | ||||||||
| 32.1** | ||||||||
| 32.2** | ||||||||
| 101.1* | Financial statements from the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Warner Music Group Corp. for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, filed on January 31, 2020, formatted in XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (v) Consolidated Statements of Equity and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements | |||||||
______________________________________
* Filed herewith
** Pursuant to SEC Release No. 33-8212, this certification will be treated as “accompanying” this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and not “filed” as part of such report for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended, and this certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference
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SIGNATURES
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, thereunto duly authorized.
January 31, 2020
| WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP. | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ STEPHEN COOPER | ||||||||||
| Name: Title: | Stephen Cooper Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | ||||||||||
| By: | /s/ ERIC LEVIN | ||||||||||
| Name: Title: | Eric Levin Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | ||||||||||
55
Exhibit 31.1
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CERTIFICATION
I, Stephen Cooper, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2019 of Warner Music Group Corp. (the “Registrant”);
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Dated: January 31, 2020
/S/ STEPHEN COOPER | |||||
| Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||
Exhibit 31.2
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CERTIFICATION
I, Eric Levin, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2019 of Warner Music Group Corp. (the “Registrant”);
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Dated: January 31, 2020
/S/ ERIC LEVIN | |||||
| Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||||
Exhibit 32.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Warner Music Group Corp. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2019 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Stephen Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Dated: January 31, 2020
/S/ STEPHEN COOPER | |||||
| Stephen Cooper Chief Executive Officer | |||||
Exhibit 32.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Warner Music Group Corp. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2019 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Eric Levin, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Dated: January 31, 2020
/S/ ERIC LEVIN | |||||
| Eric Levin Chief Financial Officer | |||||