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8-K - FORM 8-K - MSG NETWORKS INC.d578199d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

MSG NETWORKS INC. REPORTS

FISCAL 2018 THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

Fiscal 2018 third quarter revenues of $186.6 million

Fiscal 2018 third quarter operating income of $80.6 million

Fiscal 2018 third quarter adjusted operating income of $85.7 million

NEW YORK, N.Y., May 3, 2018 - MSG Networks Inc. (NYSE: MSGN) today reported financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2018.

For the fiscal 2018 third quarter, MSG Networks Inc. generated revenues of $186.6 million, an increase of 2% as compared with the prior year period. In addition, the Company generated operating income of $80.6 million, adjusted operating income of $85.7 million and income from continuing operations of $46.9 million.(1)(2)

President and CEO Andrea Greenberg said, “Our third quarter financial results were highlighted by the continued growth of our affiliate revenue base, as we remain on track for another year of solid revenue, adjusted operating income and free cash flow generation. This has been a year of meaningful progress for our Company as we successfully increased distribution on digital platforms and expanded our programming in an effort to broaden our viewership. Looking ahead, we remain confident that we are well positioned to generate ongoing value for our shareholders.”

Fiscal Year 2018 Third Quarter Results

 

(In thousands, except per share data)    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2018  

Revenues

   $ 186,568  

Operating income

     80,584  

Adjusted operating income

     85,725  

Income from continuing operations

     46,935  

Diluted EPS from continuing operations

   $ 0.62  

 

1. See page 3 of this earnings release for the definition of adjusted operating income included in the discussion of non-GAAP financial measures.
2. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2018, the Company adopted ASU No. 2017-07. The adoption of this standard resulted in the non-service cost components of net periodic benefit cost to be presented separately in the income statement from the service cost component and the non-service cost components to no longer be included in the subtotal for operating income. As this standard was applied retrospectively, the Company reclassified $0.4 million and $1.2 million of net periodic benefit cost from selling, general and administrative expenses and direct operating expenses to a separate line item within other income (expense) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2017. Furthermore, all prior period amounts presented throughout this release reflect reclassifications made as a result of the adoption of ASU No. 2017-07.

 

1


Summary of Reported Results from Continuing Operations

Fiscal 2018 third quarter total revenues of $186.6 million increased 2%, or $3.3 million, as compared with the prior year period. Affiliation fee revenue increased $4.9 million, primarily due to higher affiliation rates, partially offset by the impact of a low single-digit percentage decrease in subscribers versus the prior year period. Advertising revenue decreased $2.2 million, primarily due to a higher net increase in deferred revenue related to ratings guarantees, partially offset by other net advertising increases. Other revenues increased $0.7 million as compared with the prior year period.

Direct operating expenses of $80.3 million increased 6%, or $4.8 million, as compared with the prior year period. The increase was primarily due to higher rights fees expense and, to a lesser extent, higher other programming-related cost increases. The increase in rights fees expense primarily reflects a step-up in expense related to the renewal of a rights agreement with the Buffalo Sabres, annual contractual rate increases and additional league fees related to streaming rights, partially offset by a shift in the timing of the recognition of certain other rights fees expense.

Selling, general and administrative expenses of $23.4 million increased 8%, or $1.7 million, as compared with the prior year period, primarily due to higher advertising and marketing costs and, to a lesser extent, other net increases.

Operating income of $80.6 million decreased 3%, or $2.9 million, as compared with the prior year period, primarily due to the increase in direct operating expenses and, to a lesser extent, higher selling, general and administrative expenses (including share-based compensation expense), partially offset by the increase in revenues and, to a lesser extent, lower depreciation and amortization.

Adjusted operating income of $85.7 million decreased 3%, or $2.7 million, as compared with the prior year period, primarily due to the increase in direct operating expenses and, to a lesser extent, higher selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding share-based compensation expense), partially offset by the increase in revenues.

About MSG Networks Inc.

An industry leader in sports production, and content development and distribution, MSG Networks Inc. owns and operates two award-winning regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network (MSG) and MSG+, and a live streaming and video on demand platform, MSG GO. The networks are home to 10 professional sports teams, delivering live games of the New York Knicks; New York Rangers; New York Islanders; New Jersey Devils; Buffalo Sabres; New York Liberty; New York Red Bulls and the Westchester Knicks, as well as coverage of the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills. Each year, MSG and MSG+ collectively telecast approximately 500 live professional games, along with a comprehensive lineup of other sporting events, including college football and basketball, and critically-acclaimed original programming. The gold standard for regional broadcasting, MSG Networks has won 152 New York Emmy Awards over the past ten years.

 

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We define adjusted operating income, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as operating income before 1) depreciation, amortization and impairments of property and equipment and intangible assets, 2) share-based compensation expense or benefit, 3) restructuring charges or credits and 4) gains or losses on sales or dispositions of businesses. Because it is based upon operating income, adjusted operating income also excludes interest expense (including cash interest expense) and other non-operating income and expense items. We believe that the exclusion of share-based compensation expense or benefit allows investors to better track the performance of the Company without regard to the settlement of an obligation that is not expected to be made in cash.

We believe adjusted operating income is an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating performance of our Company. Adjusted operating income and similar measures with similar titles are common performance measures used by investors and analysts to analyze our performance. Internally, we use revenues and adjusted operating income measures as the most important indicators of our business performance, and evaluate management’s effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators. Adjusted operating income should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for operating income, net income, cash flows from operating activities, and other measures of performance and/or liquidity presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Since adjusted operating income is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, this measure may not be comparable to similar measures with similar titles used by other companies. For a reconciliation of operating income to adjusted operating income, please see page 6 of this release.

The Company defines Free Cash Flow (“Free Cash Flow”), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations less capital expenditures, both of which are reported in our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations excludes net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations. The Company believes the most comparable GAAP financial measure is net cash provided by operating activities. The Company believes that Free Cash Flow is useful as an indicator of its overall ability to generate liquidity, as the amount of Free Cash Flow generated in any period is representative of cash that is generated for debt repayment, investment, and other discretionary and non-discretionary cash uses. The Company also believes that Free Cash Flow is one of several benchmarks used by analysts and investors for comparison of the Company’s generation of liquidity with other companies in the industry, although the Company’s measure of Free Cash Flow may not be directly comparable to similar measures reported by other companies. For a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations, please see page 8 of this release.

 

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Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results, developments and events may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including financial community perceptions of the Company and its business, operations, financial condition and the industry in which it operates and the factors described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained therein. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.

# # #

Contacts:

 

Kimberly Kerns

Communications            

(212) 465-6442

  

Ari Danes, CFA

Investor Relations

(212) 465-6072

Conference Call Information:

The conference call will be Webcast live today at 10:00 a.m. ET at www.msgnetworks.com

Conference call dial-in number is 877-883-0832 / Conference ID Number 1588856

Conference call replay number is 855-859-2056 / Conference ID Number 1588856 until May 10, 2018

 

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MSG NETWORKS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     March 31,     March 31,  
     2018     2017     2018     2017  

Revenues

   $ 186,568     $ 183,247     $ 525,246     $ 512,471  

Direct operating expenses

     80,322       75,528       222,315       206,227  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     23,383       21,669       63,255       59,964  

Depreciation and amortization

     2,279       2,576       7,153       7,734  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     80,584       83,474       232,523       238,546  

Other income (expense):

        

Interest income

     1,195       741       3,072       2,017  

Interest expense

     (10,932     (10,204     (31,817     (29,433

Other components of net periodic benefit cost

     (407     (420     (1,221     (1,186
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (10,144     (9,883     (29,966     (28,602
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     70,440       73,591       202,557       209,944  

Income tax benefit (expense)

     (23,505     (29,436     41,103       (82,173
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

     46,935       44,155       243,660       127,771  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes

     —         —         —         (120
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 46,935     $ 44,155     $ 243,660     $ 127,651  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

        

Basic

        

Income from continuing operations

   $ 0.62     $ 0.59     $ 3.23     $ 1.70  

Loss from discontinued operations

     —         —         —         —    

Net income

   $ 0.62     $ 0.59     $ 3.23     $ 1.70  

Diluted

        

Income from continuing operations

   $ 0.62     $ 0.58     $ 3.21     $ 1.69  

Loss from discontinued operations

     —         —         —         —    

Net income

   $ 0.62     $ 0.58     $ 3.21     $ 1.69  

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     75,540       75,264       75,427       75,194  

Diluted

     76,017       75,643       75,844       75,505  

 

5


MSG NETWORKS INC.

ADJUSTMENTS TO RECONCILE OPERATING INCOME

TO ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME

(In thousands)

The following is a description of the adjustments to operating income in arriving at adjusted operating income as described in this earnings release:

 

    Share-based compensation expense. This adjustment eliminates the compensation expense relating to restricted stock units and stock options granted under our employee stock plan and non-employee director stock plan in all periods.

 

    Depreciation and amortization. This adjustment eliminates depreciation, amortization and impairments of property and equipment and intangible assets in all periods.

 

     Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended  
     March 31,      March 31,  
     2018      2017      2018      2017  

Operating income

   $ 80,584      $ 83,474      $ 232,523      $ 238,546  

Share-based compensation expense

     2,862        2,389        10,581        7,438  

Depreciation and amortization

     2,279        2,576        7,153        7,734  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted operating income

   $ 85,725      $ 88,439      $ 250,257      $ 253,718  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

6


MSG NETWORKS INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

     March 31,
2018
    June 30,
2017
 

ASSETS

     (unaudited)    

Current Assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 194,574     $ 141,087  

Accounts receivable, net

     109,410       105,030  

Related party receivables, net

     25,872       17,153  

Prepaid income taxes

     4,261       14,322  

Prepaid expenses

     6,215       6,468  

Other current assets

     3,867       2,343  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     344,199       286,403  

Property and equipment, net

     8,796       11,828  

Amortizable intangible assets, net

     38,068       40,663  

Goodwill

     424,508       424,508  

Other assets

     40,007       41,642  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 855,578     $ 805,044  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIENCY

    

Current Liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 654     $ 1,241  

Related party payables

     965       2,963  

Current portion of long-term debt

     72,414       72,414  

Income taxes payable

     23,990       11,483  

Accrued liabilities:

    

Employee related costs

     11,802       14,238  

Other accrued liabilities

     15,151       10,050  

Deferred revenue

     7,000       5,071  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     131,976       117,460  

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     1,136,121       1,240,431  

Defined benefit and other postretirement obligations

     29,252       29,979  

Other employee related costs

     2,975       3,930  

Other liabilities

     5,427       5,597  

Deferred tax liability

     243,168       351,854  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     1,548,919       1,749,251  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ Deficiency:

    

Class A Common stock, par value $0.01, 360,000 shares authorized; 61,696 and 61,497 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, respectively

     643       643  

Class B Common stock, par value $0.01, 90,000 shares authorized; 13,589 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017

     136       136  

Preferred stock, par value $0.01, 45,000 shares authorized; none outstanding

     —         —    

Additional paid-in capital

     3,211       6,909  

Treasury stock, at cost, 2,563 and 2,762 shares as of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, respectively

     (184,449     (198,800

Accumulated deficit

     (505,209     (746,539

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (7,673     (6,556
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ deficiency

     (693,341     (944,207
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficiency

   $ 855,578     $ 805,044  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

7


MSG NETWORKS INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

Summary Data from the Statements of Cash Flows

 

     Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2018      2017  

Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations

   $ 164,851      $ 161,673  

Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations

     (1,470      (2,576

Net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations

     (109,894      (101,019
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cash provided by continuing operations

     53,487        58,078  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cash used in discontinued operations

     —          (976
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     141,087        119,568  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 194,574      $ 176,670  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Free Cash Flow

 

     Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2018      2017  

Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations

   $ 164,851      $ 161,673  

Less: Capital expenditures

     (1,470      (2,576
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Free cash flow

   $ 163,381      $ 159,097  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capitalization

 

     March 31,
2018
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 194,574  

Credit facility debt(a)

     1,215,000  
  

 

 

 

Net debt

   $ 1,020,426  
  

 

 

 

Reconciliation of operating income to AOI for trailing twelve-month period(b)

 

Operating Income

   $ 308,874  

Share-based compensation expense

     13,074  

Depreciation and amortization

     9,715  
  

 

 

 

Adjusted operating income

   $ 331,663  
  

 

 

 

Leverage ratio(c)

     3.1x  

 

(a) Represents aggregate principal amount of the debt outstanding.
(b)  Represents reported adjusted operating income for the trailing twelve months.
(c) Represents net debt divided by annualized adjusted operating income, which differs from the covenant calculation contained in the Company’s credit facility.

 

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