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8-K - FORM 8-K - MSG NETWORKS INC.d640884d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

MSG NETWORKS INC. REPORTS

FISCAL 2019 FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

Fiscal 2019 first quarter revenues of $164.5 million

Fiscal 2019 first quarter operating income of $78.9 million

Fiscal 2019 first quarter adjusted operating income of $84.6 million

NEW YORK, N.Y., November 2, 2018 – MSG Networks Inc. (NYSE: MSGN) today reported financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended September 30, 2018.

For the fiscal 2019 first quarter, MSG Networks Inc. generated revenues of $164.5 million, an increase of 4% as compared with the prior year period. In addition, the Company generated operating income of $78.9 million, adjusted operating income of $84.6 million and net income of $46.9 million.(1)

President and CEO Andrea Greenberg said, “We had a strong start to fiscal 2019 driven by our continued commitment to building on our financial, operational and strategic successes. The 2018-19 NBA and NHL seasons are underway and we remain focused on leveraging our exclusive live game content, while we continue to innovate with new features and formats, to deliver meaningful value for our viewers, as well as our affiliates, advertisers and shareholders.”

 

Fiscal Year 2019 First Quarter Results       
(In thousands, except per share data)    Three Months Ended
September 30, 2018
 

Revenues

   $ 164,464  

Operating income

     78,861  

Adjusted operating income

     84,582  

Net Income

     46,930  

Diluted EPS

   $ 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.

   

 

 


Summary of Reported Results from Operations

Fiscal 2019 first quarter total revenues of $164.5 million increased 4%, or $7.0 million, as compared with the prior year period. Affiliation fee revenue increased $6.5 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 $0.1 million, while other revenues increased $0.6 million as compared with the prior year period.

Direct operating expenses of $66.7 million increased 6%, or $3.6 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 costs. The increase in rights fees expense primarily reflects annual contractual rate increases and a full quarter impact of the step-up in expense related to the renewal of a rights agreement with the Buffalo Sabres, as compared to a partial quarter impact in the prior year period.

Selling, general and administrative expenses of $16.9 million increased 9%, or $1.3 million, as compared with the prior year period, primarily due to higher advertising and marketing costs, and employee compensation and related benefits (including share-based compensation expense).

Operating income of $78.9 million increased 3%, or $2.5 million, as compared with the prior year period, primarily due to the increase in revenues, partially offset by higher direct operating expenses and, to a lesser extent, higher selling, general and administrative expenses (including share-based compensation expense).

Adjusted operating income of $84.6 million increased 3%, or $2.9 million, as compared with the prior year period, primarily due to the increase in revenues, partially offset by higher direct operating expenses and, to a lesser extent, higher selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding share-based compensation expense).

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 (MSGN) 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, MSGN 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 less capital expenditures, both of which are reported in our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. 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, 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 1577714

Conference call replay number is 855-859-2056 / Conference ID Number 1577714 until November 9, 2018

 

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MSG NETWORKS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended  
     September 30,  
     2018      2017  

Revenues

   $ 164,464      $ 157,456  

Direct operating expenses

     66,655        63,091  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     16,903        15,561  

Depreciation and amortization

     2,045        2,451  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

     78,861        76,353  

Other income (expense):

     

Interest income

     1,592        878  

Interest expense

     (11,922      (10,643

Other components of net periodic benefit cost

     (405      (407
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     (10,735      (10,172
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from operations before income taxes

     68,126        66,181  

Income tax expense

     (21,196      (25,024
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 46,930      $ 41,157  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

     

Basic

     

Net income

   $ 0.63      $ 0.55  

Diluted

     

Net income

   $ 0.62      $ 0.54  

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:

     

Basic

     74,895        75,285  

Diluted

     75,693        75,779  

 

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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  
     September 30,  
     2018      2017  

Operating income

   $ 78,861      $ 76,353  

Share-based compensation expense

     3,676        2,921  

Depreciation and amortization

     2,045        2,451  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted operating income

   $ 84,582      $ 81,725  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

6


MSG NETWORKS INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

     September 30,
2018
    June 30,
2018
 
     (unaudited)        

ASSETS

    

Current Assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 170,083     $ 205,343  

Accounts receivable, net

     109,519       110,657  

Related party receivables, net

     2,345       12,100  

Prepaid income taxes

     5,773       1,134  

Prepaid expenses

     3,279       4,489  

Other current assets

     5,994       4,719  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     296,993       338,442  

Property and equipment, net

     9,679       10,029  

Amortizable intangible assets, net

     36,338       37,203  

Goodwill

     424,508       424,508  

Other assets

     38,926       39,430  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 806,444     $ 849,612  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIENCY

    

Current Liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 301     $ 1,460  

Related party payables

     1,037       785  

Current portion of long-term debt

     72,414       72,414  

Income taxes payable

     18,507       8,460  

Accrued liabilities:

    

Employee related costs

     7,703       15,342  

Other accrued liabilities

     6,922       8,129  

Deferred revenue

     4,458       4,626  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     111,342       111,216  

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     1,024,914       1,118,017  

Defined benefit and other postretirement obligations

     25,647       28,170  

Other employee related costs

     4,619       4,560  

Other liabilities

     4,100       3,974  

Deferred tax liability

     246,046       241,417  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     1,416,668       1,507,354  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ Deficiency:

    

Class A Common stock, par value $0.01, 360,000 shares authorized; 61,235 and 61,017 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and June 30, 2018, respectively

     643       643  

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

     136       136  

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

            

Additional paid-in capital

           4,067  

Treasury stock, at cost, 3,024 and 3,242 shares as of September 30, 2018 and June 30, 2018, respectively

     (182,714     (195,881

Accumulated deficit

     (421,666     (460,007

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (6,623     (6,700
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ deficiency

     (610,224     (657,742
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficiency

   $ 806,444     $ 849,612  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

7


MSG NETWORKS INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

Summary Data from the Statements of Cash Flows

 

     Three Months Ended  
     September 30,  
     2018      2017  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 62,978      $ 52,419  

Net cash used in investing activities

     (830      (484

Net cash used in financing activities

     (97,408      (20,074
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operations

     (35,260      31,861  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     205,343        141,087  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 170,083      $ 172,948  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Free Cash Flow

 

     Three Months Ended  
     September 30,  
     2018      2017  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 62,978      $ 52,419  

Less: Capital expenditures

     (830      (484
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Free cash flow

   $ 62,148      $ 51,935  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capitalization

 

     September 30, 2018  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 170,083  

Credit facility debt(a)

     1,102,500  
  

 

 

 

Net debt

   $ 932,417  
  

 

 

 

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

  

Operating Income

   $ 315,666  

Share-based compensation expense

     14,734  

Depreciation and amortization

     8,932  
  

 

 

 

Adjusted operating income

   $ 339,332  
  

 

 

 

Leverage ratio(c)

     2.7x  

 

(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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