Both physical and digital Recorded Music revenue grew in the quarter
•Digital Recorded Music revenue growth more than offset physical decline in the fiscal year
•Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA margin expanded in the quarter and fiscal year
•Positive Free Cash Flow of $80 million for the quarter and $151 million for the fiscal year
Warner Music Group Corp. today announced its fourth-quarter and full-year financial results for the period ended September 30, 2012.
“We had a very productive year. Warner Music Group performed well and is positioned to capitalize on the industry’s more stable recent trends,” said Stephen Cooper, Warner Music Group’s CEO. “Among our important achievements, we grew global digital and physical Recorded Music sales on an aggregate basis, for the quarter and the fiscal year.”
“We improved Free Cash Flow significantly for both the quarter and the full fiscal year, and we nearly doubled our cash balance to $302 million at September 30th – up by $148 million for the fiscal year,” added Brian Roberts, Warner Music Group’s Executive Vice President and CFO.
Fourth-Quarter Results
For the quarter, revenue grew 1.8%, and 7.3% in constant-currency, as physical Recorded Music revenue and total digital revenue both grew, helped by a more robust release schedule. Constant-currency revenue growth in Japan, Germany, Italy and the U.S. was partially offset by weakness in France related to the company’s concert promotion business, and declines in Latin America, Spain and the U.K. Digital revenue grew 14.8%, or 18.1% in constant-currency, and digital revenue represented 33.0% of total revenue for the quarter, compared to 29.2% in the prior-year quarter. The growth in digital revenue reflects growth in subscription/streaming services and global downloads.
Adjusted operating margin expanded 1.1 percentage points to 6.7% from 5.6%. Adjusted OIBDA grew 8.8% and Adjusted OIBDA margin expanded 1.0 percentage point to 15.2% from 14.2%. The growth in Adjusted OIBDA margin was related to the continued shift to digital in the company’s Recorded Music business as well as the decline in lower-margin European concert promotion revenue. Operating income, adjusted operating income, OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA for the quarter included $14 million of severance charges ($11 million in Recorded Music, $2 million in Music Publishing and $1 million in Corporate) compared to $10 million of severance charges in the prior-year quarter ($7 million in Recorded Music and $3 million in Corporate) (the “Quarterly Severance Charges”). See below for calculations and reconciliations of OIBDA, Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted OIBDA.
Adjusted net loss reflects the impact of a decline in interest expense, to $56 million from $72 million, related to the July 2011 refinancing of certain existing indebtedness in connection with the acquisition of the company by Access Industries. The refinancing in the prior-year quarter resulted in $19 million in tender/call premiums and $15 million of accrued interest paid in connection with the debt obligations repaid in full. See below for calculations and reconciliations of Adjusted Net Income (Loss).
As of September 30, 2012, the company reported a cash balance of $302 million, total long-term debt of $2.21 billion and net debt (total long-term debt minus cash) of $1.90 billion.
Cash provided by operating activities was $102 million compared to cash used in operating activities of $34 million in the prior-year quarter. Free Cash Flow, defined below, was $80 million compared to negative $52 million in the prior-year quarter. The primary factors impacting the comparison of Free Cash Flow were the prior-year quarter’s $46 million in expenses related to the acquisition of the company by Access Industries in July 2011 (the vast majority of which were paid in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011) and the $34 million in cash paid for tender/call premiums and interest in connection with the July 2011 refinancing.
Full-Year Results
For the fiscal year, growth in digital revenue more than offset physical revenue declines in the company’s Recorded Music business. However, this net growth was more than offset by declines in Artist Services and Expanded Rights revenue, Recording Music licensing revenue and Music Publishing revenue. Digital revenue grew 12.8%, or 14.1% in constant-currency, and represented 33.3% of total revenue, compared to 28.6% in the prior year.
Adjusted operating margin expanded 1.0 percentage point to 4.5% from 3.5% in the prior year. Adjusted OIBDA grew 2.8% and Adjusted OIBDA margin expanded 0.7 percentage points to 13.2% from 12.5% in the prior year. Operating income, adjusted operating income, OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA in the fiscal year included $42 million of severance charges ($35 million in Recorded Music, $4 million in Music Publishing and $3 million in Corporate) compared to $38 million of severance charges in the prior fiscal year ($24 million in Recorded Music, $6 million in Music Publishing and $8 million in Corporate) (the “Fiscal-Year Severance Charges”).
Adjusted net loss reflects an increase in interest expense, to $225 million from $213 million, as a result of the July 2011 refinancing of certain existing indebtedness in connection with the acquisition of the company by Access Industries, which resulted in new debt obligations which were issued with higher interest rates.
Cash provided by operating activities was $209 million compared to cash used in operating activities of $52 million in the prior fiscal year. Free Cash Flow was $151 million, compared to negative $221 million in fiscal year 2011. The primary factors impacting the comparison in Free Cash Flow between the fiscal years were the prior fiscal year’s $53 million in expenses related to the acquisition of the company by Access Industries (the vast majority of which were paid in the fiscal year) and $41 million in cash paid for tender/call premiums and interest, largely driven by the July 2011 refinancing in connection with the acquisition of the company by Access Industries.
Fourth-Quarter Results
The company’s Recorded Music business experienced growth in both physical and digital revenue due to a more robust release schedule. Recorded Music digital revenue grew 14.4%, or 17.5% in constant-currency, and represented 36.7% of total Recorded Music revenue, compared to 33.3% in the prior-year quarter, as subscription/streaming and download revenue were both strong. Domestic Recorded Music digital revenue was $130 million, or 57.3% of total domestic Recorded Music revenue, compared to 47.6% in the prior-year quarter. Artist Services and Expanded Rights revenue declined, driven primarily by the decline in tours in the company’s European concert promotion business, particularly in France. Major sellers included Kobukuro, Tatsuro Yamashita, Green Day, Superfly and Muse.
Recorded Music adjusted operating margin expanded 2.2 percentage points to 5.8% from 3.6% in the prior-year quarter. Recorded Music Adjusted OIBDA grew 24.2% and Recorded Music Adjusted OIBDA margin expanded 2.0 percentage points to 12.7% from 10.7% in the prior-year quarter related to revenue growth in Japan, which is typically a higher-margin territory. Operating income, adjusted operating income, OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA reflect the impact of the Quarterly Severance Charges.
Full-Year Results
Growth in digital revenue more than offset the decline in physical revenue on a global basis. This marks the first fiscal year in five years where physical and digital sales grew on a combined basis. However, this growth was more than offset by declines in Artist Services and Expanded Rights revenue and Recorded Music licensing revenue. The decline in Artist Services and Expanded Rights revenue primarily relates to a decline in tours in the company’s European concert promotion business, particularly in France. Digital Recorded Music revenue grew 12.5%, or 13.7% in constant-currency, and represented 38.0% of Recorded Music revenue for the fiscal year, up from 32.8% in fiscal year 2011. Domestic Recorded Music digital revenue amounted to $489 million, or 53.8% of total domestic Recorded Music revenue, marking the first time digital revenue represented more than half of domestic Recorded Music revenue for the fiscal year. Major sellers across physical and digital formats included Michael Bublé, Kobukuro, Flo Rida, Tatsuro Yamashita and fun.
Recorded Music adjusted operating margin expanded 0.3 percentage points to 5.3% from 5.0% in the prior year. Recorded Music Adjusted OIBDA declined 2.4%, in line with the decline in revenue, while Recorded Music Adjusted OIBDA margin was flat at 12.4%. Operating income, adjusted operating income, OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA reflect the impact of the Fiscal-Year Severance Charges.
Fourth-Quarter Results
Music Publishing revenue declined 5.7%, but grew 0.8% in constant-currency. Digital revenue grew 29.4% while mechanical revenue declined 3.2%, but grew 7.1% in constant-currency as result of the timing of certain society collections. Synchronization revenue declined 10.7%, or 3.8% in constant-currency, reflecting lower video game revenue. Performance revenue declined 13.1%, or 7.0% on constant-currency, partially due to an industry-wide reduction in U.S. radio license fees as mentioned last quarter.
Music Publishing adjusted operating margin contracted 2.7 percentage points to 27.8% from 30.5% in the prior-year quarter. Music Publishing Adjusted OIBDA declined 10.0% and Music Publishing Adjusted OIBDA margin contracted 2.0 percentage points to 40.6% from 42.6% related to revenue mix. Operating income, adjusted operating income, OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA reflect the impact of the Quarterly Severance Charges.
Full-Year Results
The decrease in Music Publishing revenue was driven by an expected decrease in mechanical revenue due to the ongoing digital transition in the recorded music industry as well as a decrease in performance revenue, partially due to an industry-wide reduction in U.S. radio license fees. This was partially offset by an increase in digital revenue, while synchronization revenue declined slightly, but grew in constant-currency. Digital Music Publishing revenue represented 12.8% of total Music Publishing revenue in the fiscal year, compared to 11.0% in fiscal year 2011.
Music Publishing adjusted operating margin was 16.2%, up 2.2 percentage points from 14.0% in fiscal year 2011. Music Publishing Adjusted OIBDA grew 1.3% while Music Publishing Adjusted OIBDA margin was 29.0%, up 1.4 percentage points from 27.6% in the prior year. The increase in Adjusted OIBDA margin reflects a more disciplined A&R investment and acquisition strategy focused on higher-margin assets. Operating income, adjusted operating income, OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA reflect the impact of the Fiscal-Year Severance Charges.
Financial details for the quarter and fiscal year can be found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the period ended September 30, 2012, filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
This morning, management will be hosting a conference call to discuss the results at 8:30 A.M. EST. The call will be webcast on www.wmg.com.
About Warner Music Group
With its broad roster of new stars and legendary artists, Warner Music Group is home to a collection of the best-known record labels in the music industry including Asylum, Atlantic, East West, Elektra, Nonesuch, Reprise, Rhino, Roadrunner, Rykodisc, Sire, Warner Bros. and Word, as well as Warner/Chappell Music, one of the world’s leading music publishers, with a catalog of more than one million copyrights worldwide.
“Safe Harbor” Statement under Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This communication includes forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of Warner Music Group about future events and financial performance. Words such as “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “forecasts” and variations of such words or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends, or that do not relate to historical matters, identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are made as of today, and we disclaim any duty to update such statements. Our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them. However, we cannot assure you that management’s expectations, beliefs and projections will result or be achieved. Investors should not rely on forward-looking statements because they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations. Please refer to our Form 10-K, Form 10-Qs and our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in our forward-looking statements.
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Explanation of Presentation
The following tables set forth our results of operations as reported in our condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). GAAP requires that we separately present our Predecessor and Successor periods results. Management believes reviewing our operating results for the three and twelve months ended September 30, 2011 by combining the results of the Predecessor and Successor periods is more useful in identifying any trends in, or reaching conclusions regarding, our overall operating performance. Accordingly, the tables below present the non-GAAP combined results for the three and twelve months ended September 30, 2011, which is also the period we compare when computing percentage change from prior year, as we believe this presentation provides the most meaningful basis for comparison of our results and it is how management reviews operating performance. The combined operating results may not reflect the actual results we would have achieved had the acquisition by Access Industries closed prior to July 20, 2011 and may not be predictive of future results of operations.
Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We evaluate our operating performance based on several factors, including the following non-GAAP financial measures:
OIBDA
OIBDA reflects our operating income before non-cash depreciation of tangible assets, non-cash amortization of intangible assets and non-cash impairment charges to reduce the carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets. We consider OIBDA to be an important indicator of the operational strengths and performance of our businesses, and believe the presentation of OIBDA helps improve the ability to understand our operating performance and evaluate our performance in comparison to comparable periods. However, a limitation of the use of OIBDA as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenue in our businesses. Accordingly, OIBDA should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, operating income, net (loss) income and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. In addition, OIBDA, as we calculate it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies.
Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted Net Income (Loss)
Adjusted operating income, adjusted OIBDA and adjusted net (loss) income is operating income, OIBDA and net (loss) income, respectively, adjusted to exclude the impact of certain items that affect comparability (“Factors Affecting Comparability”). Factors affecting period-to-period comparability of the unadjusted measures in fiscal year 2012 included expenses related to our acquisition by Access Industries, share-based compensation expense, which existed in fiscal year 2011 but not 2012, as well as expenses incurred in relation to the sale of EMI. We use adjusted operating income, adjusted OIBDA and adjusted net loss to evaluate our actual operating performance. We believe that the adjusted results provide relevant and useful information for investors because they clarify our actual operating performance, make it easier to compare our results with those of other companies in our industry and allow investors to review performance in the same way as our management. Since these are not measures of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, they should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, operating income, OIBDA and net loss attributable to WMG as indicators of operating performance, and they may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies.
Constant Currency
Because 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 revenue helps improve the ability to understand our operating results and evaluate our performance in comparison to prior periods. Constant-currency information compares results between periods as if exchange rates had remained constant period over period. We use results on a constant-currency basis as one measure to evaluate our performance. We calculate constant-currency results by applying current-year foreign currency exchange rates to prior-year results. However, a limitation of the use of the constant-currency results as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the impact of exchange rates on our revenue, including, for example, the $37 million, $28 million and $9 million unfavorable impact of exchange rates on our Total, Recorded Music and Music Publishing revenue, in the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the prior-year quarter. These results should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, results reported in accordance with GAAP. Results on a constant-currency basis, as we present them, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies and are not a measure of performance presented in accordance with GAAP.
Free Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow reflects our cash flow provided by operating activities less capital expenditures and cash paid or received for investments. We use Free Cash Flow, among other measures, to evaluate our operating performance. Management believes Free Cash Flow provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available to service debt, fund ongoing operations and working capital needs, make strategic acquisitions and investments and pay any dividends or fund any repurchases of our outstanding notes or common stock in open market purchases, privately negotiated purchases or otherwise. As a result, Free Cash Flow is a significant measure of our ability to generate long-term value. It is useful for investors to know whether this ability is being enhanced or degraded as a result of our operating performance. We believe the presentation of Free Cash Flow is relevant and useful for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by management. In addition, Free Cash Flow is also a primary measure used externally by our investors and analysts for purposes of valuation and comparing our operating performance to other companies in our industry.
Because Free Cash Flow is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, Free Cash Flow should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, net (loss) income as an indicator of operating performance or cash flow provided by operating activities as a measure of liquidity. Free Cash Flow, as we calculate it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies. In addition, Free Cash Flow does not necessarily represent funds available for discretionary use and is not necessarily a measure of our ability to fund our cash needs. Because Free Cash Flow deducts capital expenditures and cash paid or received for investments from “cash flow provided by operating activities” (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure), users of this information should consider the types of events and transactions that are not reflected. We provide below a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to the most directly comparable amount reported under GAAP, which is “net cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities.”
Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow includes cash paid for interest. We also review our cash flow adjusted for cash paid for interest, a measure we call Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow. Management believes this measure provides investors with an additional important perspective on our cash generation ability. We consider Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow to be an important indicator of the performance of our businesses and believe the presentation is relevant and useful for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by management. A limitation of the use of this measure is that it does not reflect the charges for cash interest and, therefore, does not necessarily represent funds available for discretionary use, and is not necessarily a measure of our ability to fund our cash needs. Accordingly, this measure should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net cash flow provided by operating activities and other measures of liquidity reported in accordance with GAAP.
