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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
___________

FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)

x Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004 or

o Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

For the transition period from ________________
to ___________
 
Commission file number  0-21917   

Point.360

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

California
(State of or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
95-4272619
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   
7083 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 200, Hollywood, CA
(Address of principal executive offices)
90028
(Zip Code)
 
 

(323) 957-7990

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)


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

As of July 9, 2004, there were 9,207,032 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.
 
     

 
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

POINT.360
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
2003
June 30,
2004
   
 
 
 
   
 
 

 (unaudited)

 
Current assets:
   
 
   
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
7,206,000
 
$
2,227,000
 

Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $735,000 and $755,000
       (unaudited), respectively

   9,490,000
 
  9,562,000
Inventories
   
    794,000
   
    829,000
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
    895,000
   
    891,000
 
Deferred income taxes
   
    1,414,000
   
    1,414,000
 
   
 
 
Total current assets
   
   19,799,000
   
   14,923,000
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Property and equipment, net
   
   15,751,000
   
   14,938,000
 
Other assets, net
   
    1,348,000
   
    1,336,000
 
Goodwill and other intangibles, net
   
   27,046,000
   
   27,046,000
 
Rights to purchase property and equipment
   
800,000
   
    -
 
   
 
 
Total assets
 
$
64,744,000
 
$
58,243,000
 
   
 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
   
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Current liabilities:
   
 
   
 
 
Accounts payable
 
$
3,460,000
 
$
5,102,000
 
Accrued wages and benefits
   
1,361,000
   
1,386,000
 
Other accrued expenses
   
    1,762,000
   
    1,349,000
 
Income taxes payable
   
296,000
   
690,000
 
Current portion of borrowings under bank credit agreement
   
    9,199,000
   
    1,600,000
 
Current portion of capital lease and other obligations
   
58,000
   
88,000
 
   
 
 
Total current liabilities
   
16,136,000
   
10,215,000
 
   
 
 
Deferred income taxes
   
    3,678,000
   
    3,678,000
 
Bank notes payable, less current portion
   
    6,667,000
   
    6,000,000
 
Capital lease and other obligations, less current portion
   
       95,000
   
    195,000
 
Obligation to purchase property and equipment
   
    800,000
   
    -
 
   
 
 
Total long-term liabilities
   
11,240,000
   
9,873,000
 
   
 
 
Total liabilities
   
27,376,000
   
20,088,000
 
   
 
 
Contingencies (Note 4 and 8)
   
          -
   
          -
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Shareholders’ equity
   
 
   
 
 
Preferred stock – no par value; 5,000,000 authorized; none outstanding
   
          -
   
         -
 
Common stock – no par value; 50,000,000 authorized; 9,134,559
   
 
   
 
 
and 9,200,457 (unaudited) shares issued and outstanding, respectively
   
   17,625,000
   
   17,845,000
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
    624,000
   
    624,000
 
Retained earnings
   
19,119,000
   
19,686,000
 
   
 
 
Total shareholders’ equity
   
37,368,000
   
38,155,000
 
   
 
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
 
$
64,744,000
 
$
58,243,000
 
   
 
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
  2  

 
POINT.360

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)

 
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
     
 
   
2003

 

 

2004

 

 

2003

 

 

2004
 
   
 
 
 
 
Revenues
 
$
15,773,000
 
$
13,913,000
 
$
33,066,000
 
$
29,382,000
 
Cost of goods sold
   
(9,908,000
)
 
(9,110,000
)
 
(20,762,000
)
 
(18,929,000
)
   
 
 
 
 
Gross profit
   
5,865,000
   
4,803,000
   
12,304,000
   
10,453,000
 
Selling, general and administrative expense
   
(3,995,000
)
 
(4,568,000
)
 
(8,377,000
)
 
(9,164,000
)
Write-off of deferred acquisition and financing costs
   
(1,002,000
)
 
-
   
(1,002,000
)
 
-
 
   
 
 
 
 
Operating income
   
868,000
   
235,000
   
2,925,000
   
1,289,000
 
Interest expense, net
   
(575,000
)
 
(111,000
)
 
(1,096,000
)
 
(329,000
)
Derivative fair value change
   
166,000
   
-
   
311,000
   
-
 
   
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
   
459,000
   
124,000
   
2,140,000
   
960,000
 
Provision for income taxes
   
(188,000
)
 
(51,000
)
 
(877,000
)
 
(393,000
)
   
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
271,000
 
$
73,000
 
$
1,263,000
 
$
567,000
 
   
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Derivative fair value change
 
$
(15,000
)
$
-
 
$
(30,000
)
$
-
 
   
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income
 
$
256,000
 
$
73,000
 
$
    1,233,000
 
$
567,000
 
   
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Basic:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
   Net income
 
$
0.03
 
$
0.01
 
$
0.14
 
$
0.06
 
   Weighted average number of shares
   
9,060,551
   
9,200,211
   
9,042,215
   
9,176,354
 
   
 
 
 
 
Diluted:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
   Net income
 
$
0.03
 
$
0.01
 
$
0.14
 
$
0.06
 
Weighted average number of shares including the dilutive effect of stock options
 
 
9,408,030
 
9,669,099
 
9,336,976
9,778,654
   
 
 
 
 


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
  3  

 
POINT.360

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

 
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2003

 

 

2004
 
   
 
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
   
 
   
 
 
Net income
 
$
1,263,000
 
$
567,000
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
   
 
   
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
2,594,000
   
2,744,000
 
Provision for doubtful accounts
   
122,000
   
48,000
 
Deferred income taxes
   
233,000
   
-
 
Other non cash item
   
(264,000
)
 
(9,000
)
Write-off of acquisition costs
   
1,002,000
   
-
 
Changes in assets and liabilities:
   
 
   
 
 
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable
   
2,565,000
   
(120,000
)
Decrease (increase) in inventories
   
67,000
   
(35,000
)
Decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
267,000
   
299,000
 
(Increase) decrease in other assets
   
(685,000
)
 
12,000
 
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable
   
(119,000
)
 
1,642,000
 
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses
   
66,000
   
(389,000
)
(Decrease) increase in income taxes
   
(156,000
)
 
99,000
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
6,955,000
   
4,858,000
 
 
 
 
 
Cash used in investing activities:
   
 
   
 
 
Capital expenditures
   
(750,000
)
 
(1,962,000
)
Proceeds from sale of equipment
   
-
   
40,000
 
Net cash paid for acquisitions
   
(8,000
)
 
-
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(758,000
)
 
(1,922,000
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows used in financing activities:
   
 
   
 
 
Exercise of stock options
   
64,000
   
220,000
 
Proceeds from bank note
   
-
   
8,000,000
 
Change in note payable
   
-
   
183,000
 
Repayment of notes payable
   
(3,532,000
)
 
(16,266,000
)
Repayment of capital lease obligations
   
(37,000
)
 
(52,000
)
Contract settlement
   
(90,000
)
 
-
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash used in financing activities
   
(3,595,000
)
 
(7,915,000
)
 
 
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash
   
2,602,000
   
(4,979,000
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
   
5,372,000
   
7,206,000
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
7,974,000
 
$
2,227,000
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information -
Cash paid for:
   
 
   
 
 
Interest
 
$
512,000
 
$
327,000
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax
 
$
1,533,000
 
$
295,000
 
 
 
 
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
  4  

 
POINT.360

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

June 30, 2004

NOTE 1 - THE COMPANY
 
Point.360 (“Point.360” or the “Company”) provides video and film asset management services to owners, producers and distributors of entertainment and advertising content. The Company provides the services necessary to edit, master, reformat, archive and distribute its clients’ video content, including television programming, spot advertising and movie trailers. The Company provides worldwide electronic distribution, using fiber optics and satellites. The Company delivers commercials, movie trailers, electronic press kits, infomercials and syndicated programming, by both physical and electronic means, to thousands of broadcast outlets worldwide. The Company operates in one reportable segment.
 
The Company seeks to capitalize on growth in demand for the services related to the distribution of entertainment content, without assuming the production or ownership risk of any specific television program, feature film or other form of content. The primary users of the Company’s services are entertainment studios and advertising agencies that choose to outsource such services due to the sporadic demand of any single customer for such services and the fixed costs of maintaining a high-volume physical plant.
 
Since January 1, 1997, the Company has successfully completed eight acquisitions of companies providing similar services. On July 1, 2004, the Company acquired another entity (see Note 10). The Company will continue to evaluate acquisition opportunities to enhance its operations and profitability. As a result of these acquisitions, the Company believes it is one of the largest and most diversified providers of technical and distribution services to the entertainment and advertising industries, and is therefore able to offer its customers a single source for such services at prices that reflect the Company’s scale economies.
 
The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and regulations for reporting interim financial statements and footnotes. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three- and six-month period ended June 30, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2004. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes contained in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.
 
NOTE 2 - ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) Nos. 141 and 142, “Business Combinations” and “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” respectively. SFAS No. 141 replaces Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 16. It also provides guidance on purchase accounting related to the recognition of intangible assets and accounting for negative goodwill. SFAS No. 142 changes the accounting for goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite useful lives (“goodwill”) from an amortization method to an impairment-only approach. Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill will be tested annually and whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that goodwill might be impaired. The Company also tested goodwill as of September 30, 2003 with no impairment indicated.
 
In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure," an amendment of SFAS No. 123.  SFAS No. 148 provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation.  In addition, SFAS No. 148 amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require more prominent and more frequent disclosures in financial statements about the effects of stock-based compensation.  This statement is effective for financial statements for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2002.  Other than supplemental footnote disclosures, SFAS No. 148 will not have any impact on the Company's financial statements as management does not have any intention to change to the fair value method.
 
In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 149 amends and clarifies accounting and reporting for derivative instruments and hedging activities under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 149 is effective for derivative instruments and hedging activities entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, except for certain forward purchase and sale securities. For these forward purchase and sale securities, SFAS No. 149 is effective for both new and existing securities after June 30, 2003. Management does not expect adoption of SFAS No. 149 to have a material impact on the Company’s statements of earnings, financial position, or cash flows.
 
In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity.” SFAS No. 150 establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures in its statement of financial position certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. In accordance with the standard, financial instruments that embody obligations for the issuer are required to be classified as liabilities. SFAS No. 150 will be effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003 and otherwise will be effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. This statement does not affect the Company at this time.
 
 
  5  

 
 
NOTE 3 - LONG TERM DEBT AND NOTES PAYABLE
 
In May 2002, the Company and its banks entered into a term loan agreement amending a previous credit arrangement and having a maturity date of December 31, 2004. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company made a $2 million principal payment and made additional principal payments of $3.5 million and $7.0 million in 2002 and 2003, respectively. The agreement provided for interest at the banks’ reference rate plus 1.25% and required the Company to maintain certain financial covenant ratios. The term loan was secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets. Certain legal and other costs associated with the new term loan, including fees of $50,000 and $250,000 paid in May 2002 and June 2003, respectively, were capitalized to be amortized over the remaining life of the loan.
 
As of March 31, 2003, the Company believed that the acquisition described in Note 4 below would be completed, as well as a complete refinancing of the term loan. In accordance with SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies”, the Company expensed the then-remaining deferred costs associated with the term loan, $114,000. In June 2003, acquisition and refinancing discussions were terminated, the $114,000 write-off was reversed and the $250,000 fee was paid June 30, 2003. The Company simultaneously resumed amortization of the deferred costs based on the December 31, 2004 due date of the term loan. As a result of the first quarter write-off and the second quarter reversal, income for the first quarter of calendar 2003 was reduced $114,000 ($66,000 net of tax) and income for the second quarter was increased $114,000 ($66,000 net of tax).
 
On March 12, 2004, the Company entered into a new credit agreement which provides up to $10 million of revolving credit availability for two years and a five-year $8 million term loan. For the first two years of the term loan, the Company can re-borrow all principal payments to finance up to 80% of capital equipment purchases. The agreement provides for interest at the banks’ prime rate or LIBOR plus 2.25% for the revolver, prime rate plus 0.25% or LIBOR plus 2.50% for the term loan, and requires the Company to maintain certain financial covenant ratios. The facilities are secured by all of the Company’s assets. The term loan requires principal payments of $1.6 million annually. The $15,866,000 outstanding term loan as of December 31, 2003 was repaid by $1,000,000 of scheduled principal payments made in January and February 2004 and, on March 12, 2004, by new term loan borrowings of $8,000,000 and cash payment of $6,866,000. For financial statement purposes, as of December 31, 2003, an amount representing the portion of the new term loan due after December 31, 2004 ($6,667,000) was classified as “long-term”.
 
See Note 10 regarding a change to the new credit agreement in connection with the July 2004 acquisition of another entity.
 
NOTE 4 - ISSUANCE OF WARRANT, POSSIBLE ACQUISITION AND WRITE-OFF OF DEFERRED COSTS AND RELATED LEGAL ACTIONS

In July 2002, the Company acquired an option to purchase three subsidiaries (the “Subsidiaries”) of Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. (“Alliance”) engaged in businesses directly related to those of the Company. In consideration for the option, the Company issued to Alliance a warrant to acquire 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at $2.00 per share. The warrant was to expire five years from the closing date of the transaction, or July 3, 2005 if the Company did not purchase the Subsidiaries. In connection therewith, the Company capitalized the fair value of the warrant ($619,000 determined by using the Black-Scholes valuation model) as an other asset on the balance sheet.
In December 2002, the option was extended to March 10, 2003. In connection with the extension, the Company made a $300,000 deposit toward the purchase price of the Subsidiaries, which deposit was nonrefundable except in very limited circumstances. The deposit was capitalized as an other asset. Additionally, the Company capitalized approximately $700,000 of due diligence and other expenses associated with the proposed acquisition during the six months ended June 30, 2003.

The Company did not exercise its option to purchase the Subsidiaries by the March 10, 2003 termination date; however, Alliance agreed to continue negotiations with the Company to complete the transaction.

In connection with the possible acquisition of the Subsidiaries, the Company entered discussions with several possible lenders to provide financing for the purchase of the Subsidiaries and to pay off the Company’s existing term loan with a group of banks. A provision in the Company’s term loan agreement prohibited acquisitions unless approved by the banks, which permission had been denied.

In June 2003, discussions with Alliance and the new lenders were terminated. As a result, the Company wrote off the above mentioned deposit, due diligence costs and approximately $400,000 of legal and other costs associated with the proposed new financing. The $619,000 value of the warrant was reversed against Additional Paid-in Capital because, in management’s opinion, Alliance had breached certain provisions of the option agreement resulting in a termination event according to the provisions of the warrant. In July 2003, Alliance filed a complaint in the United States District Court, Central District of California, seeking a judicial determination that Alliance has full right of legal ownership to the warrant as well as the $300,000 deposit. In management’s opinion, it is too early to determine the outcome of the claims. If the Company is not successful in this defense, the warrant value will have to be expensed.

 
  6  

 
 
On July 18, 2003, Alliance filed a complaint against the Company in the Superior Court of Justice, Ontario, Canada. The complaint alleges that the Company breached a non-disclosure agreement between Alliance and the Company by issuing a press release with respect to termination of negotiations to purchase the Subsidiaries without obtaining the required prior written consent of Alliance. Alliance maintains that the press release impaired its ability to extract value from the Subsidiaries and negatively affected its ability to sell the Subsidiaries to a third party. The complaint seeks breach of contract and punitive damages of approximately $4.4 million, expenses and a permanent order enjoining further such statements by the Company. In management’s opinion, it is too early to determine the outcome of the claims.

On August 11, 2003, the Company filed a counterclaim in the United States District Court, Central District of California against Alliance for, among other things, misrepresentation and breach of contract seeking cancellation of the warrant and general damages of at least $1.2 million. The outcome of the counterclaim cannot be estimated at this time.

NOTE 5
 - DERIVATIVE AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

In November 2000, the Company entered into an interest rate swap contract to economically hedge its floating debt rate. Under the terms of the contract, the notional amount was $15,000,000, whereby the Company received LIBOR and paid a fixed 6.5% rate of interest for three years. SFAS 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” required that the swap contract be recorded at fair value upon adoption of SFAS 133 and quarterly by recording (i) a cumulative-effect type adjustment at January 1, 2001 equal to the fair value of the swap contract on that date, (ii) amortizing the cumulative-effect type adjustment quarterly over the life of the derivative contract, and (iii) a charge or credit to income in the amount of the difference between t he fair value of the swap contract at the beginning and end of such quarter. The interest rate swap contract terminated in November 2003. The following adjustments were recorded to reflect changes during the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2003:

 
 
Increase (Decrease) Income   
   
 
 
Derivative Fair
Value Change
(Provision for)
Benefit
from
Income Taxes
Net Derivative
Fair Value Change
   
 
 
 
For the three months ended June 30, 2003:
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Amortization of cumulative-effect type adjustment
 
$
   (26,000
)
$
   11,000
 
$
  (15,000
)
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Difference in the derivative fair value between the beginning and end of
            the quarter
   
192,000
   
  (79,000
)
 
113,000
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
$
166,000
 
$
   (68,000
)
$
98,000
 
   
 
 
 
For the six months ended June 30, 2003:
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Amortization of cumulative-effect type adjustment
 
$
  (52,000
)
$
  21,000
 
$
      (31,000
)
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Difference in the derivative fair value between the beginning and end of
             the period
   
  363,000
   
   (149,000
)
 
  214,000
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
$
311,000
 
$
(128,000
)
$
183,000
 
   
 
 
 

NOTE 6 - STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
The Company applies Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations, in accounting for its stock option plans. As such, compensation expense would be recorded on the date of grant only if the current market price of the underlying stock exceeded the exercise price. SFAS No. 123 established accounting and disclosure requirements using a fair value-based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation plans. As allowed by SFAS No. 123, the Company has elected to continue to apply the intrinsic value-based method of accounting described above, and has adopted the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123. Pro forma net income and earnings per share disclosures, as if the Company recorded compensation expense based on the fair value for stock-based awards, have been presented in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 148 and are as follows for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands, except per share amounts).
 
  7  

 

 
 
Three months ended
June 30
Six months ended
June 30
   

 
   
2003

 

 

2004

 

 

2003

 

 

2004
 
   
 
 
 
 
Net income:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
As reported   
 
$
270,932
 
$
73,062
 
$
1,262,744
 
$
566,692
 
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects
   
84,145
   
92,932
   
167,570
   
166,876
 
   
 
 
 
 
Pro forma
   
186,787
   
(19,870
)
 
1,095,174
   
399,816
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Basic earnings per share of common stock:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
As reported
 
$
0.03
 
$
0.01
 
$
0.14
 
$
0.06
 
Pro forma
 
$
0.02
 
$
(0.00
)
$
0.12
 
$
0.04
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Diluted earnings per share of common stock:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
As reported
 
$
0.03
 
$
0.01
 
$
0.14
 
$
0.06
 
Pro forma
 
$
0.02
 
$
(0.00
)
$
0.12
 
$
0.04
 
 
The fair value of each option was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

 
 
Three months ended
June 30
Six months ended
June 30
   

 
   
2003

 

 

2004

 

 

2003

 

 

2004
 
   
 
 
 
 
Risk-free interest rate
   
1.05
%
 
1.02
%
 
1.15
%
 
1.0
%
Expected term (years)
   
5.61
%
 
4.64
%
 
5.61
%
 
4.64
%
Volatility
   
80
%
 
54
%
 
80
%
 
54
%
Expected annual dividends
   
0.0
%
 
0.0
%
 
0.0
%
 
0.0
%

NOTE 7 - CONSOLIDATION OF CERTAIN FACILITIES

In November 2003, the Company leased a new 64,600 square foot building in Los Angeles, California, for the purpose of consolidating four vault locations then occupying approximately 71,000 square feet. After the initial build-out of the new facility and termination of the existing leases during 2004, the resulting annual lease and operating expense levels are expected to be favorable to the Company.

As part of the transaction, the Company paid $600,000 for an option to purchase the building for approximately $8,600,000. Additionally, the landlord, General Electric Capital Business Asset Funding Corporation (“General Electric”), committed to finance approximately $6,500,000 of the purchase price at a fixed interest rate of 7.75% over 15 years. The Company was not obligated to purchase the building or, if the option was exercised, borrow any portion of the purchase price from General Electric. The cost of the option was included in other assets on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2003, to be capitalized as a cost of the building or written off when the Company exercised the purchase option or does not exercise the option, respectively.

Pursuant to the lease, General Electric also advanced the Company $800,000 to pay for improvements to the building. Any portion of the $800,000 not spent by November 25, 2004 was to have been returned to General Electric. As of December 31, 2003, the $800,000 was reflected as an obligation to purchase property and equipment as a long-term asset with an offsetting liability on the balance sheet. As of June 30, 2004, the Company reduced the right and the obligation to purchase property and equipment by $800,000 expended for improvements to the building.

In August 2004, the Company intends to exercise its option to purchase the building. See Note 10.

NOTE 8 - CONTINGENCIES

In addition to the legal proceedings the Company has with Alliance (see Note 4) from time to time the Company may become a party to various legal actions and complaints arising in the ordinary course of business, although it is not currently involved in any such material legal proceedings.

 
  8  

 
NOTE 9 - SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

During the six months ended June 30, 2004, the number of outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock increased by 65,898 shares due to the exercise of employee stock options for $220,000 in cash.

NOTE 10 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In July 2004, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of International Video Conversions, Inc. (“IVC”) for $7 million in cash. The purchase agreement requires possible additional payments of $1 million, $2 million and $2 million in 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively, if earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization during the 30 months after the acquisition reach certain predetermined levels. As part of the transaction, the Company entered into employment and/or non competition agreements with four senior officers of IVC which fix responsibilities, salaries and other benefits and set forth limitations on the individuals’ ability to compete with the Company for the term of the earn-out period (30 months). IVC is a high definition and standard definition digital mastering and data conversion entity serving the motion picture/television production industry. In connection with the acquisition, the term loan portion of the Company’s bank facility (see Note 3) was increased by $4.7 million. To pay for the acquisition, the Company used $2.3 million of cash on hand and borrowed $4.7 million under the term loan portion of the facility.

In August 2004, the Company expects to exercise its option to purchase a building (see Note 7) for $8,572,000. $6,435,000 of the purchase price will be borrowed pursuant to a new 15-year term loan secured by the land and building, requiring first year monthly interest and principal payments of approximately $49,000. The previously paid $600,000 option price and the $800,000 advanced for improvements will be reclassified as a cost of the property.

In connection with the expected building purchase, in July 2004, the Company entered into a one-year interest rate swap contract to economically hedge the mortgage debt. Under the terms of the swap agreement, the amount hedged was $6,435,000 at a 4.35% interest rate. Prior to the end of the contract, in August 2005, the Company is obligated to “fix” the interest rate with respect to the remaining 14 years of the mortgage debt term.
 
  9  

 
POINT.360
 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
 
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Overview
 
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes and contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.
 
We are one of the largest providers of video and film asset management services to owners, producers and distributors of entertainment and advertising content. We provide the services necessary to edit, master, reformat, archive and ultimately distribute our clients’ film and video content, including television programming, spot advertising, feature films and movie trailers using electronic and physical means. We deliver commercials, movie trailers, electronic press kits, infomercials and syndicated programming to hundreds of broadcast outlets worldwide. Our interconnected facilities in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco provide service coverage in each of the major U.S. media centers. Clients include major motion picture studios, advertising agencies and corporations.
 
We operate in a highly competitive environment in which customers desire a broad range of service at a reasonable price. There are many competitors offering some or all of the services provided by the Company. Additionally, some of our customers are large studios, which also have in-house capabilities that may influence the amount of work outsourced to companies like Point.360. We attract and retain customers by maintaining a high service level at reasonable prices.
 
In recent years, electronic delivery services have grown while physical duplication and delivery have been declining. We expect this trend to continue over a long term (i.e. the next 10 years). All of our electronic, fiber optics, satellite and Internet deliveries are made using third party vendors, which eliminates our need to invest in such capability. However, the use of others to deliver our services poses the risk that costs may rise in certain situations that cannot be passed on to customers, thereby lowering gross margins.
The Company has an opportunity to expand its business by establishing closer relationships with our customers through excellent service at a competitive price. Our success is also dependent on attracting and maintaining employees capable of maintaining such relationships. Also, growth can be achieved by acquiring similar businesses (for example, the acquisition of International Video Conversions, Inc. in July 2004) which can increase revenues by adding new customers, or expanding services provided to existing customers.
 
Our business generally involves the immediate servicing needs of our customers. Most orders are fulfilled within several days, with occasional larger orders spanning weeks or months. At any particular time, we have little firm backlog.
 
We believe that our nationwide interconnected facilities provide the ability to better service national customers than single-location competitors. We will look to expand both our service offering and geographical presence through acquisition of other businesses or opening additional facilities.
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2004 Compared To Three Months Ended June 30, 2003.
 
Revenues. Revenues decreased by $1.9 million to $13.9 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2004, compared to $15.8 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2003. The decline is due to fewer syndicated television shows, electronic press kits and movie advertising spots being distributed by the Company resulting from an ordering slowdown from some customers as well as some business lost due to price competition. We expect revenues to increase in future quarters due to positive recent increase ordering activity and the July 2004 acquisition of a post-production entity.
 
Gross Profit. In the second quarter of 2004, gross margin was 35% of sales, compared to 37% for quarter ended June 30, 2003.
 
Selling, General And Administrative Expense. Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expense increased $0.6 million, or 14% to $4.6 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2004, compared to $4.0 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2003. As a percentage of revenues, SG&A increased to 33% for the three-month period ended June 30, 2004, compared to 25% for the three-month period ended June 30, 2003. The 2004 increase was caused by the write-off of certain software costs and professional fees associated with several ongoing or settled lawsuits.
 
Interest Expense. Interest expense for the three-month period ended June 30, 2004 was $0.12 million, a decrease of $0.5 million from the three-month period ended June 30, 2003 because of lower debt levels due to principal payments made during the last twelve months and the November 2003 termination of an interest rate hedge contract.
 
  10  

 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2004 Compared To Six Months Ended June 30, 2003.
 
Revenues. Revenues decreased by $3.7 million to $29.4 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2004, compared to $33.1 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2003. This decline is due to fewer syndicated television shows, electronic press kits and movie advertising spots being distributed by the Company and the early 2003 completion of a large film re-mastering project which contributed to higher 2003 sales. In addition, we experienced an ordering slowdown from some customers in 2004, and some business was lost to competitors. We expect revenues to increase in future quarters due to positive recent ordering activity and the July 2004 acquisition of a post-production entity.
 
Gross Profit. In the first half of 2004, gross margin was 36% of sales compared to 37% in the same period in 2003.
 
Selling, General And Administrative Expense. Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expense increased $0.8 million, or 9% to $9.2 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2004, compared to $8.4 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2003. As a percentage of revenues, SG&A increased to 31% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2004, compared to 25% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2003. The 2004 increase was caused by the write-off of deferred financing costs related to a refinanced credit arrangement, certain software costs and professional fees associated with several ongoing or settled lawsuits.
 
Interest Expense. Interest expense for the six-month period ended June 30, 2004 was $0.3 million, a decrease of $0.9 million from the six-month period ended June 30, 2003 because of lower debt levels due to principal payments made during the last twelve months and the November 2003 termination of an interest rate hedge contract.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
This discussion should be read in conjunction with the notes to the financial statements and the corresponding information more fully described in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.
 
Cash flows for the period ended June 30, 2004 were affected by approximately $1.1 million of capital expenditures related to the vault consolidation project. A portion of the vault expenditures will be covered by cash previously advanced by the building landlord and reflected as accrued expenses on the December 31, 2003 balance sheet (about $0.8 million). All advanced amounts have been either paid out or reclassified as accounts payable as of June 30, 2004. Other principal changes in cash flows related to financing activities and are described below.
 
In May 2002, the Company and its banks entered into a term loan agreement with a maturity date of December 31, 2004. In January and February 2004, the Company made $1 million of scheduled principal payments under the term loan. In March 2004, the Company paid off the remaining $14.9 million prior term loan principal balance with $6.9 of cash and proceeds from the new $8 million term loan pursuant to a new credit agreement. The new agreement provides up to $10 million of revolving credit availability for two years and a five-year $8 million five-year term loan. For the first two years of the term loan, the Company can re-borrow all principal payments to finance up to 80% of capital equipment purchases. The agreement provides for interest at the banks’ prime rate or LIBOR plus 2.25% for the revolver, prime rate plus 0.25% or LIBOR plus 2.50% for the term loan, and requires the Company to maintain certain financial covenant ratios. The term loan requires principal payments of $1.6 million annually.
 
In November 2003, the Company leased a new 64,600 square foot building in Los Angeles, California, for the purpose of consolidating four vault locations then occupying approximately 71, 000 square feet in four locations. After the initial build-out of the new facility and termination of the existing leases during 2004, the resulting annual lease and operating expense levels are expected to be favorable to the Company. A provision of the lease provides that in May 2005, the Company has an option to purchase the building for approximately $8,572,000. We expect to purchase the building in August 2004 by paying $2,137,000 in cash and borrowing the $6,435,000 million balance under a mortgage term loan payable over 15 years. We will also spend approximately $3.1 million for improvements to the building during 2004.
 
In July 2004, we amended our credit agreement with our banks to increase the borrowing capacity of the term loan portion by $4.7 million to help finance the acquisition of International Video Conversions, Inc. (“IVC”). The acquisition was completed in July 2004, and we paid $2.3 million in cash and borrowed the $4.7 million. The IVC purchase agreement will also require payments of $1 million, $2 million and $2 million in 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively, if certain predetermined earnings levels (as defined) are met.
 
Total term loan debt was approximately $12.3 million after borrowing for the acquisition of IVC. In August 2004, we expect to borrow approximately $2.1 million from our revolving credit facility for the down payment on the building. We expect to finance the $3.1 million of building improvements with operating cash flow and revolving credit borrowings in the third quarter of 2004.
 
The following table summarizes the June 30, 2004 status of our revolving line of credit and term loans, as well as short-term cash commitments for building improvements on a pro forma basis incorporating the July acquisition of IVC and completion of the building improvements (in thousands):
 
  11  

 

 
 
Amount Outstanding
 
 
Revolving
Line of Credit
Term Loans
Total
   
 
 
 
Balance, June 30, 2004
 
$
-
 
$
7,600
 
$
7,600
 
Purchase of IVC
   
-
   
4,700
   
4,700
 
Estimated building improvement costs
   
3,100
   
    -
   
3,100
 
Cash provided by IVC
   
(1,205
)
 
        -
   
(1,205
)
   
 
 
 
Pro forma debt outstanding
  $
 1,895
  $
12,300
  $
 14,195
 
   
 
 
 
 
Monthly and annual principal and interest payments due under the term debt is approximately $250,000 and $3,000,000, respectively, assuming no change in interest rates. We expect that remaining amounts available under the revolving credit arrangement (approximately $5 million) and cash generated from operations will be sufficient to fund debt service and about $2 million of capital expenditures for the remainder of 2004 and operating needs.
 
In the future, we will require cash for capital expenditures (estimated to be $2.5-$3.5 million per year), debt service and operating needs.
 
We will continue to consider the acquisition of businesses complementary to its current operations. Consummation of any such acquisition or other expansion of the business conducted by the Company may be subject to the Company securing additional financing, perhaps at a cost higher than our existing term loans. Future earnings and cash flow may be negatively impacted to the extent that any acquired entities do not generate sufficient earnings and cash flow to offset the increased financing costs.
 
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
 
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to allowance for doubtful accounts, valuation of long-lived assets, and accounting for income taxes. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Management believes the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

Critical accounting policies are those that are important to the portrayal of the Company's financial condition and results, and which require management to make difficult, subjective and/or complex judgements. Critical accounting policies cover accounting matters that are inherently uncertain because the future resolution of such matters is unknown. We have made critical estimates in the following areas:

Revenues. We perform a multitude of services for our clients, including film-to-tape transfer, video and audio editing, standards conversions, adding effects, duplication, distribution, etc. A customer orders one or more of these services with respect to an element (commercial spot, movie, trailer, electronic press kit, etc.). The sum total of services performed on a particular element (a “package”) becomes the deliverable (i.e., the customer will pay for the services ordered in total when the entire job is completed). Occasionally, a major studio will request that package services be performed on multiple elements. Each element creates a separate revenue stream which is recognized only when all requested services have been performed on that element.

Allowance for doubtful accounts. We are required to make judgments, based on historical experience and future expectations, as to the collectibility of accounts receivable. The allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns represent allowances for customer trade accounts receivable that are estimated to be partially or entirely uncollectible. These allowances are used to reduce gross trade receivables to their net realizable value. The Company records these allowances as a charge to selling, general and administrative expenses based on estimates related to the following factors: i) customer specific allowances; ii) amounts based upon an aging schedule and iii) an estimated amount, based on the Company's historical experience, for issues not yet identified.

Valuation of long-lived and intangible assets. Long-lived assets, consisting primarily of property, plant and equipment and intangibles comprise a significant portion of the Company's total assets. Long-lived assets, including goodwill and intangibles are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances have indicated that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net cash flows expected to be generated by that asset. The cash flow projections are based on historical experience, management’s view of growth rates within the industry and the anticipated future economic environment.
 
  12  

 
 
Factors we consider important which could trigger an impairment review include the following:

When we determine that the carrying value of intangibles, long-lived assets and related goodwill and enterprise level goodwill may not be recoverable based upon the existence of one or more of the above indicators of impairment, we measure any impairment based on a projected discounted cash flow method using a discount rate determined by our management to be commensurate with the risk inherent in our current business model. Any amount of impairment so determined would be written off as a charge to the income statement, together with an equal reduction of the related asset. Net intangible assets, long-lived assets, and goodwill amounted to approximately $42 million as of June 30, 2004.
In 2002, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS 142”) became effective and as a result, we ceased to amortize approximately $26.3 million of goodwill beginning in 2002. We had recorded approximately $2.0 million of amortization on these amounts during the year ended December 31, 2001. In lieu of amortization, we were required to perform an initial impairment review of our goodwill in 2002 and an annual impairment review thereafter. The initial test on January 1, 2002, and the Fiscal 2002 and 2003 tests performed as of September 30, 2002 and 2003, respectively, required no goodwill impairment. The discounted cash flow method used to evaluate goodwill impairment included cash flow estimates for 2004 and subsequent years. If actual cash flow performance does not meet these expectations due to factors cited above, any resulting potential impairment could adversely affect reported goodwill asset values and earnings.
 
Accounting for income taxes. As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. This process involves us estimating our actual current tax exposure together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items, such as deferred revenue, for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included within our consolidated balance sheet. We must then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and to the extent we believe that recovery is not likely, we must establish a valuation allowance. To the extent we establish a valuation allowance or increase this allowance in a period, we must include an expense within the tax provision in the statement of operations.
 
Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against our net deferred tax assets. The net deferred tax liability as of June 30, 2004 was $3.7 million. The Company did not record a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets as of June 30, 2004.
 
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS Nos. 141 and 142, “Business Combinations” and “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” respectively. SFAS No. 141 replaces Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 16. It also provides guidance on purchase accounting related to the recognition of intangible assets and accounting for negative goodwill. SFAS No. 142 changes the accounting for goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite useful lives (“goodwill”) from an amortization method to an impairment-only approach. Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill will be tested annually and whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that goodwill might be impaired. The Company implemented SFAS No. 142 in the first quarter of fiscal 2002 which required no goodwill impairment. The Company also tested goodwill as of September 30, 2003 with no impairment indicated.
 
In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure," an amendment of SFAS No. 123.  SFAS No. 148 provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation.  In addition, SFAS No. 148 amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require more prominent and more frequent disclosures in financial statements about the effects of stock-based compensation.  This statement is effective for financial statements for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2002.  Other than supplemental footnote disclosures, SFAS No. 148 did not have any impact on the Company's financial statements as management does not have any intention to change to the fair value method.
 
  13  

 
In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 149 amends and clarifies accounting and reporting for derivative instruments and hedging activities under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 149 is effective for derivative instruments and hedging activities entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, except for certain forward purchase and sale securities. For these forward purchase and sale securities, SFAS No. 149 is effective for both new and existing securities after June 30, 2003. SFAS No. 149 does not have a material impact on the Company’s statements of earnings, financial position, or cash flows.
 
In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity.” SFAS No. 150 establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures in its statement of financial position certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. In accordance with the standard, financial instruments that embody obligations for the issuer are required to be classified as liabilities. SFAS No. 150 will be effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003 and otherwise will be effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. SFAS No. 150 does not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS AND RISK FACTORS
 
In our capacity as Company management, we may from time to time make written or oral forward-looking statements with respect to our long-term objectives or expectations which may be included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), reports to stockholders and information provided in our web site.
 
The words or phrases “will likely,” “are expected to,” “is anticipated,” “is predicted,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “project,” “plans to continue,” “believes,” or similar expressions identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical earnings and those presently anticipated or projected. We wish to caution you not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. In connection with the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we are calling to your attention important factors that could affect our financial performance and could cause actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements.
 
The following list of important factors may not be all-inclusive, and we specifically decline to undertake an obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements that have been made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. Among the factors that could have an impact on our ability to achieve expected operating results and growth plan goals and/or affect the market price of our stock are:

These risk factors are discussed further below.
 
Recent History of Losses. The Company reported losses for each of the five fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2001 due, in part, to lower gross margins and lower sales levels and a number of unusual charges. Although we achieved profitability in Fiscal 2000 and prior years, as well as in the ten fiscal quarters ended June 30, 2004, there can be no assurance as to future profitability on a quarterly or annual basis.

Prior Breach and Changes in Credit Agreements. Due to lower operating cash amounts resulting from reduced sales levels in 2001 and the consequential net losses, the Company breached certain covenants of its credit facility. The breaches were temporarily cured based on amendments and forbearance agreements among the Company and the banks which called for, among other provisions, scheduled payments to reduce amounts owed to the banks to the permitted borrowing base. In August 2001, the Company failed to meet the principal repayment schedule and was once again in breach of the credit facility. The banks ended their formal commitment to the Company in December 2001.

 
  14  

 
 
In May 2002, we entered into an agreement with the banks to restructure the credit facility to a term loan maturing on December 31, 2004. As part of this restructuring, the banks waived all existing defaults and the Company was required to make principal payments of $5.5 million, $5.0 million and $18.5 million in 2002, 2003, and 2004, respectively.

In March 2004, we entered into a revised agreement with the banks providing revolving and term loan facilities. Annual principal payments for the term loan are $1.6 million each for five years. Any principal outstanding under the revolver will be due in March 2006.

In July 2004, the credit agreement was amended in connection with the acquisition of another company (see Note 9) to increase the amounts that can be borrowed under the revolving and term loan portions of the arrangement. Approximately $4.7 million was borrowed to consummate the transaction. Also in July 2004, we borrowed $6,435,000 to purchase land and a building to house our Los Angeles area vault storage facilities. While we believe operating cash flows are sufficient to service increased total debt levels, reduced future sales levels, if they occur, could possibly result in a breach of the financial covenants contained in the credit agreements.
 
Competition. Our post production, duplication and distribution industry is a highly competitive, service-oriented business. In general, we do not have long-term or exclusive service agreements with our customers. Business is acquired on a purchase order basis and is based primarily on customer satisfaction with reliability, timeliness, quality and price.
 
We compete with a variety of post production, duplication and distribution firms, some of which have a national presence, and to a lesser extent, the in-house post production and distribution operations of our major motion picture studio and advertising agency customers. Some of these firms, and all of the studios, have greater financial, distribution and marketing resources and have achieved a higher level of brand recognition than the Company. In the future, we may not be able to compete effectively against these competitors merely on the basis of reliability, timeliness, quality and price or otherwise.
 
We may also face competition from companies in related markets which could offer similar or superior services to those offered by the Company. We believe that an increasingly competitive environment as evidenced by recent price pressure and some related loss of work and the possibility that customers may utilize in-house capabilities to a greater extent could lead to a loss of market share or additional price reductions, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
 
Customer and Industry Concentration. Although we have an active client list of over 2,500 customers, seven motion picture studios accounted for approximately 29% of the Company’s revenues during the year ended December 31, 2003. If one or more of these companies were to stop using our services, our business could be adversely affected. Because we derive substantially all of our revenue from clients in the entertainment and advertising industries, the financial condition, results of operations and prospects of the Company could also be adversely affected by an adverse change in conditions which impact those industries.
 
Expansion Strategy. Our growth strategy involves both internal development and expansion through acquisitions. We currently have no agreements or commitments to acquire any company or business. Even though we have completed nine acquisitions in the last seven fiscal years, the most recent of which was in July 2004, we cannot be sure additional acceptable acquisitions will be available or that we will be able to reach mutually agreeable terms to purchase acquisition targets, or that we will be able to profitably manage additional businesses or successfully integrate such additional businesses into the Company without substantial costs, delays or other problems.

Certain of the businesses previously acquired by the Company reported net losses for their most recent fiscal years prior to being acquired, and our future financial performance will be in part dependent on our ability to implement operational improvements in, or exploit potential synergies with, these acquired businesses.

Acquisitions may involve a number of special risks including: adverse effects on our reported operating results (including the amortization of acquired intangible assets), diversion of management’s attention and unanticipated problems or legal liabilities. In addition, we may require additional funding to finance future acquisitions. We cannot be sure that we will be able to secure acquisition financing on acceptable terms or at all. We may also use working capital or equity, or raise financing through equity offerings or the incurrence of debt, in connection with the funding of any acquisition. Some or all of these risks could negatively affect our financial condition, results of operations and prospects or could result in dilution to the Company’s shareholders. In addition, to the extent that consolidation becomes more prevalent in the industry, the prices for attractive acquisition candidates could increase substantially. We may not be able to effect any such transactions. Additionally, if we are able to complete such transactions they may prove to be unprofitable.

The geographic expansion of the Company’s customers may result in increased demand for services in certain regions where it currently does not have post production, duplication and distribution facilities. To meet this demand, we may subcontract. However, we have not entered into any formal negotiations or definitive agreements for this purpose. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that we will be able to effect such transactions or that any such transactions will prove to be profitable.

 
  15  

 
 
In July 2002, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to Alliance Atlantis Communications, Inc. (“Alliance”) in consideration of an option to purchase three post-production facilities (the “Subsidiaries”) owned by Alliance. In connection therewith, the Company capitalized the fair value of the warrant ($619,000, determined by using the Black-Scholes valuation model). In December 2002, the option was extended by mutual agreement and we deposited $300,000 toward the ultimate purchase price, which was negotiated downward. Additionally, the Company capitalized approximately $360,000 of due diligence costs associated with the proposed acquisition and approximately $342,000 of costs associated with a related new financing arrangement.

In June 2003, discussions with Alliance and the new lenders were terminated. As a result, the Company wrote off the above-mentioned deposit, due diligence costs and costs associated with the proposed new financing. The $619,000 value of the warrant was charged to Additional Paid-in Capital because, in management’s opinion, Alliance had breached certain provisions of the option agreement resulting in a termination event according to the provisions of the warrant. In July 2003, Alliance filed a complaint seeking a judicial determination that Alliance has full right of legal ownership to the warrant as well as the $300,000 deposit. The Company intends to vigorously defend its position. If the Company is not successful in this defense, the warrant value will have to be expensed. Although such a write-off and possible expense of the warrant represent non-cash charges to income, we cannot predict the effect of the charge on the future market price of our common stock, if any.

On July 18, 2003, Alliance filed a complaint against the Company in the Superior Court of Justice, Ontario, Canada. The complaint alleges that the Company breached a non-disclosure agreement between Alliance and the Company by issuing a press release with respect to termination of negotiations to purchase the Subsidiaries without obtaining the required prior written consent of Alliance. Alliance maintains that the press release impaired its ability to extract value from the Subsidiaries and negatively affected its ability to sell the Subsidiaries to a third party. The complaint seeks breach of contract and punitive damages of approximately $4.4 million, expenses and a permanent order enjoining further such statements by the Company. The outcome of the complaint cannot be estimated at this time.

On August 11, 2003, the Company filed a counterclaim in the United States District Court, Central District of California against Alliance for, among other things, misrepresentation and breach of contract seeking cancellation of the warrant and general damages of at least $1.2 million. The outcome of the counterclaim cannot be estimated at this time.

If we acquire any entities, we may have to finance a large portion of the anticipated purchase price and/or refinance our existing credit agreement. The cost of any new financing may be higher than our existing credit facility. Future earnings and cash flow may be negatively impacted if any acquired entity does not generate sufficient earnings and cash flow to offset the increased costs.

Management of Growth. In prior years, we experienced rapid growth that resulted in new and increased responsibilities for management personnel and placed and continues to place increased demands on our management, operational and financial systems and resources. To accommodate this growth, compete effectively and manage future growth, we will be required to continue to implement and improve our operational, financial and management information systems, and to expand, train, motivate and manage our work force. We cannot be sure that the Company’s personnel, systems, procedures and controls will be adequate to support our future operations. Any failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Dependence on Technological Developments. Although we intend to utilize the most efficient and cost-effective technologies available for telecine, high definition formatting, editing, coloration and delivery of video content, including digital satellite transmission, as they develop, we cannot be sure that we will be able to adapt to such standards in a timely fashion or at all. We believe our future growth will depend in part, on our ability to add to these services and to add customers in a timely and cost-effective manner. We cannot be sure we will be successful in offering such services to existing customers or in obtaining new customers for these services, including the Company’s significant investment in high definition technology in 2000 and 2001. We intend to rely on third party vendors for the development of these technologies and there is no assurance that such vendors will be able to develop such technologies in a manner that meets the needs of the Company and its customers. Any material interruption in the supply of such services could materially and adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Dependence on Key Personnel. The Company is dependent on the efforts and abilities of certain of its senior management, particularly those of Haig S. Bagerdjian, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. The loss or interruption of the services of key members of management could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and prospects if a suitable replacement is not promptly obtained. Mr. Bagerdjian beneficially owns approximately 25% of the Company’s outstanding stock. Although we have severance agreements with Mr. Bagerdjian and certain key executives, we cannot be sure that either Mr. Bagerdjian or other executives will remain with the Company. In addition, our success depends to a significant degree upon the continuing contributions of, and on our ability to attract and retain, qualified management, sales, operations, marketing and technical personnel. The competition for qualified personnel is intense and the loss of any such persons, as well as the failure to recruit additional key personnel in a timely manner, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and prospects. There is no assurance that we will be able to continue to attract and retain qualified management and other personnel for the development of our business.

 
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Ability to Maintain and Improve Service Quality. Our business is dependent on our ability to meet the current and future demands of our customers, which demands include reliability, timeliness, quality and price. Any failure to do so, whether or not caused by factors within our control could result in losses to such clients. Although we disclaim any liability for such losses, there is no assurance that claims would not be asserted or that dissatisfied customers would refuse to make further deliveries through the Company in the event of a significant occurrence of lost deliveries, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Although we maintain insurance against business interruption, such insurance may not be adequate to protect the Company from significant loss in these circumstances and there is no assurance that a major catastrophe (such as an earthquake or other natural disaster) would not result in a prolonged interruption of our business. In addition, our ability to make deliveries within the time periods requested by customers depends on a number of factors, some of which are outside of our control, including equipment failure, work stoppages by package delivery vendors or interruption in services by telephone or satellite service providers.

Fluctuating Results, Seasonality. Our operating results have varied in the past, and may vary in the future, depending on factors such as the volume of advertising in response to seasonal buying patterns, the timing of new product and service introductions, the timing of revenue recognition upon the completion of longer term projects, increased competition, timing of acquisitions, general economic factors and other factors. As a result, we believe that period-to-period comparisons of our results of operations are not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as an indication of future performance. For example, our operating results have historically been significantly influenced by the volume of business from the motion picture industry, which is an industry that is subject to seasonal and cyclical downturns, and, occasionally, work stoppages by actors, writers and others. In addition, as our business from advertising agencies tends to be seasonal, our operating results may be subject to increased seasonality as the percentage of business from advertising agencies increases. In any period our revenues are subject to variation based on changes in the volume and mix of services performed during the period. It is possible that in some future quarter the Company’s operating results will be below the expectations of equity research analysts and investors. In such event, the price of the Company’s Common Stock would likely be materially adversely affected. Fluctuations in sales due to seasonality may become more pronounced if the growth rate of the Company’s sales slows.

Control by Principal Shareholder; Potential Issuance of Preferred Stock; Anti-Takeover Provisions. The Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Haig S. Bagerdjian, beneficially owned approximately 25% of the outstanding common stock as of December 31, 2003. The ex-spouse of R. Luke Stefanko, the Company’s former President and Chief Executive Officer, owned approximately 20% of the common stock on that date. Together, they owned approximately 45%. By virtue of their stock ownership, Ms. Stefanko and Mr. Bagerdjian individually or together may be able to significantly influence the outcome of matters required to be submitted to a vote of shareholders, including (i) the election of the board of directors, (ii) amendments to the Company’s Restated Articles of Incorporation and (iii) approval of mergers and other significant corporate transactions. The foregoing may have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing certain types of transactions involving an actual or potential change of control of the Company, including transactions in which the holders of common stock might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over current market prices. Our Board of Directors also has the authority to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock without par value (the “Preferred Stock”) and to determine the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof, including voting rights, without any further vote or action by the Company’s shareholders. Although we have no current plans to issue any shares of Preferred Stock, the rights of the holders of common stock would be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any Preferred Stock that may be issued in the future. Issuance of Preferred Stock could have the effect of discouraging, delaying, or preventing a change in control of the Company. Furthermore, certain provisions of the Company’s Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws and of California law also could have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company.
 
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Market Risk. The Company had borrowings of $7,600,000 at June 30, 2004 under a term loan and revolving credit agreement. In July 2004, the amount borrowed increased by $4.7 million to finance the acquisition of another entity. Amounts outstanding under the loan and revolving credit facility and the mortgage debt provide for interest at the banks’ prime rate or LIBOR plus 2.25% for the revolver, prime plus 0.25% or LIBOR plus 2.50% for the term loan and LIBOR plus a variable amount for the mortgage debt. The Company’s market risk exposure with respect to financial instruments is to changes in prime or LIBOR rates.

On June 15, 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” The standard, as amended by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 137, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Deferral of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 133, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133,” and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 138, “Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” (referred to hereafter as “FAS 133”), is effective for all fiscal quarters of all fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000 (January 1, 2001 for the Company). FAS 133 requires that all derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in current earnings or in other comprehensive income, depending on whether a derivative is designated as part of a hedging relationship and, if it is, depending on the type of hedging relationship. During 2001, the Company recorded a cumulative effect type adjustment of $247,000 (net of $62,000 tax benefit) as a charge to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, a component of Shareholders’ Equity, and an expense of $700,000 ($560,000 net of tax benefit) for the derivative fair value change of an interest rate swap contract and amortization of the cumulative effect adjustment. During the quarter and six-month periods ended June 30, 2003, the Company recorded income of $192,000 ($113,000 net of tax provision) and $363,000 ($214,000 net of tax benefit), respectively, for the derivative fair value change and amortization of the cumulative effect type adjustment. The interest rate-swap contract terminated in November 2003.

 
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On July 6, 2004, the Company entered into a one-year interest rate swap contract to economically hedge its expected mortgage debt. Under the terms of the contract, the amount hedged was $6,435,000 with a 4.35% interest rate. Prior to the end of the contract, the Company is obligated to “fix” the interest rate with respect to the remaining 14 years of the mortgage debt term.
 
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
Pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), the Company’s management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. No change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

On July 7, 2003, Alliance filed a complaint against the Company in the United States District Court, Central District of California. The complaint seeks a declaration of the court that Alliance has full right of legal ownership of (i) the warrant issued by the Company in July 2003 in consideration of an option to purchase the Subsidiaries and (ii) the $300,000 paid to Alliance in December 2002 to extend the option. The complaint alleges that the Company made false and misleading statements in its press release announcing the termination of negotiations with Alliance, asking for undetermined damages. The outcome of the complaint cannot be determined at this time.

On July 18, 2003, Alliance filed a complaint against the Company in the Superior Court of Justice, Ontario, Canada. The complaint alleges that the Company breached a non-disclosure agreement between Alliance and the Company by issuing a press release with respect to termination of negotiations to purchase the Subsidiaries without obtaining the required prior written consent of Alliance. Alliance maintains that the press release impaired its ability to extract value from the Subsidiaries and negatively affected its ability to sell the Subsidiaries to a third party. The complaint seeks breach of contract and punitive damages of approximately $4.4 million, expenses and a permanent order enjoining further such statements by the Company. The outcome of the complaint cannot be determined at this time.

On August 11, 2003, the Company filed a counterclaim in the United States District Court, Central District of California against Alliance for, among other things, misrepresentation and breach of contract seeking cancellation of the warrant and general damages of at least $1.2 million. The outcome of the counterclaim cannot be estimated at this time.
 
In addition to the above, from time to time, the Company may become a party to various legal actions and complaints arising in the ordinary course of business, although it is not currently involved in any such material legal proceedings.
 
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
 
(a)     Exhibits

 
 
10.1
 
Option Agreement dated July 3, 2002 between the Company and Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc.(1)

 
 
10.2
 
Amended and Restated Option Agreement dated December 30, 2002 between the Company and Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. (2)

 
 
10.3
 
Lease Agreement dated November 26, 2003 between the Company and General Electric Capital Business Asset Funding Corporation. (3)

 
 
10.4
 
Credit Agreement dated March 12, 2004 among the Company, Union Bank of California, N.A. and U.S. National Bank Association. (3)

 
 
10.5
 
Stock Purchase Agreement dated June 23, 2004 among the Company, International Video Conversions, Inc. ("IVC") and the Stockholders of IVC. (4)

 
 
10.6
 
First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated July 1, 2004 among the Company, Union Bank of California, N.A. and U.S. National Bank Association. (4)

 
 
31.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 15 U.S.C.ss.7241, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 
 
31.2
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 15 U.S.C.ss.7241, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 
 
32.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C.ss.1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 
 
32.2
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C.ss.1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
_______________
(1) Filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K with the Commission on July 15, 2002.
 
(2) Filed as exhibit to Form 8-K with the Commission on January 8, 2003.
 
(3) Filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K with the Commission on March 16, 2004.
 
(4) Filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K with the Commission on July 1, 2004.
 
(b) Reports On Form 8-K
 
The Company filed a Form 8-K dated May 13, 2004 related to its earnings release for the quarter ended March 31, 2004.
 
The Company filed a Form 8-K dated June 23, 2004 related to the acquisition of IVC.
 
The Company filed a Form 8-K dated July 1, 2004, related to its acquisition of IVC and an amended credit arrangement.
 
The Company filed a Form 8-K dated August 12, 2004 related to its earnings release for the quarter ended June 30, 2004.
 
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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.
     
  POINT.360
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: August 13, 2004 By:   /s/ Alan R. Steel
 
Alan R. Steel
  Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration
(duly authorized officer and incipal financial officer)
 
 
 
 

 
 
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