SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM 10-Q
| x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT of 1934 for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003 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 1-15062
AOL TIME WARNER INC.
| Delaware | 13-4099534 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
75 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10019
(212) 484-8000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrants principal executive offices)
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 x No o
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
| Shares Outstanding | ||||
| Description of Class | as of April 30, 2003 | |||
| Common Stock $.01 par value | 4,325,935,046 | |||
| Series LMCN-V Common Stock $.01 par value | 171,185,826 | |||
AOL TIME WARNER INC.
INDEX TO FORM 10-Q
| Page | |||||
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
|||||
Managements discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition |
1 | ||||
Item 4. Controls and Procedures |
23 | ||||
Consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002 |
25 | ||||
Consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended
March 31, 2003 and 2002 |
26 | ||||
Consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2003
and 2002 |
27 | ||||
Consolidated statement of shareholders equity |
28 | ||||
Notes to consolidated financial statements |
29 | ||||
Supplementary information |
54 | ||||
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION |
|||||
Item 1. Legal
Proceedings |
60 | ||||
Item 2. Changes
in Securities and Use of Proceeds |
63 | ||||
Item 6. Exhibits
and Reports on Form 8-K |
64 | ||||
AOL TIME WARNER INC.
INTRODUCTION
Managements discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition (MD&A) is provided as a supplement to the accompanying consolidated financial statements and footnotes to help provide an understanding of AOL Time Warner Inc.s (AOL Time Warner or the Company) financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations. The MD&A is organized as follows:
| | Overview. This section provides a general description of AOL Time Warners businesses, as well as recent developments that the Company believes are important in understanding the results of operations, as well as to anticipate future trends in those operations. | ||
| | Results of operations. This section provides an analysis of the Companys results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2003 compared to the same period in 2002. This analysis is presented on both a consolidated and segment basis. In addition, a brief description is provided of significant transactions and events that impact the comparability of the results being analyzed. | ||
| | Financial condition and liquidity. This section provides an analysis of the Companys financial condition and cash flows as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2003. | ||
| | Risk factors and caution concerning forward-looking statements. This section provides a description of risk factors that could adversely affect the operations, business or financial results of the Company or its business segments and how certain forward-looking statements made by the Company in this report, including throughout MD&A and in the consolidated financial statements, are based on managements current expectations about future events and are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. |
OVERVIEW
Description of Business
AOL Time Warner classifies its business interests into six fundamental areas: AOL, consisting principally of interactive services; Cable, consisting principally of interests in cable television systems; Filmed Entertainment, consisting principally of interests in filmed entertainment and television production; Networks, consisting principally of interests in cable television and broadcast network programming; Music, consisting principally of interests in recorded music, music publishing and CD and DVD manufacturing; and Publishing, consisting principally of interests in magazine publishing, book publishing and direct marketing.
Use of EBITDA and Free Cash Flow
AOL Time Warner considers EBITDA an important indicator of the Companys operational strength and performance of its businesses. In addition, Free Cash Flow is considered an important indicator of the Companys ability to service its debt and make strategic investments.
EBITDA is defined as operating income (loss) before non-cash depreciation of tangible assets, amortization of intangible assets and impairment write-downs related to goodwill and intangible assets. EBITDA eliminates the uneven effect across all business segments of considerable amounts of non-cash depreciation of tangible assets and amortization or write-downs of certain intangible assets, including goodwill, that were recognized in business combinations.
Free Cash Flow is defined as cash provided by operations less capital expenditures and product development costs, dividend payments, partnership distributions, and principal payments on capital leases.
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AOL TIME WARNER INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION (Continued)
Both EBITDA and Free Cash Flow should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for the Companys operating income (loss), net income (loss) and various cash flow measures (e.g., cash provided by operations), respectively, as well as other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
Recent Developments
Update on SEC and DOJ Investigations
The Company has previously disclosed that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are conducting investigations into accounting and disclosure practices of the Company. Those investigations have focused on transactions involving the Companys America Online unit that was entered into after July 1, 1999.
In its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 (filed August 14, 2002, the June 2002 Form 10-Q), the Company disclosed that it had recently discovered information that provided a basis to reexamine the accounting for three transactions totaling $49 million in advertising revenue at the Companys America Online unit. Each of those transactions was a multi-element transaction. A multi-element transaction is one in which, at the same time or within a relatively short period of time, a third party agreed to purchase advertising from America Online and America Online agreed to purchase goods or services from the third party, make an equity investment in the third party, settle a pre-existing dispute with the third party, or exchange other consideration with the third party.
The information discovered in August 2002 did not call into question whether the advertisements purchased by the third party had in fact been run by America Online, nor did the information call into question whether America Online had in fact received payment associated with the advertisements that were run. Rather, in each case, the information discovered in August 2002 was specific evidence related to the negotiating history of the transaction that called into question whether each element of the multi-element transaction was supported as a separate exchange of fair value. In accounting for such multi-element transactions, it is the policy of the Company (consistent with generally accepted accounting principles) to recognize revenue in the full amount of advertising purchased by the third party only to the extent that both elements of the transaction (both the advertising purchase and the other element) are supportable as a separate exchange of fair value.
After discovering such information, the Company commenced an internal review under the direction of the Companys Chief Financial Officer into advertising transactions at the America Online unit (CFO review). As a result of the CFO review, the Company announced on October 23, 2002 that it intended to adjust the accounting for certain transactions. The adjustments had an aggregate impact of reducing the advertising and commerce revenues of the Company during the period from the third quarter of 2000 through the second quarter of 2002 by $190 million. At that time, the Company announced that it did not then anticipate that its CFO review would lead to any further restatement by the Company but disclosed that is could not predict the outcome of the separate SEC and DOJ investigations. Since that announcement in October 2002, there have been a number of developments relevant to these matters:
First, on January 28, 2003, the Company filed amendments to its Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2001, its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended, March 31, 2002 and June 2002 Form 10-Q that included restated financial statements reflecting the adjustments announced on October 23, 2002.
Second, the Company has continued its CFO review of advertising transactions at the Companys America Online unit. Based on that review, the Company has not, to date, determined to make any further restatement.
Third, as part of the Companys ongoing discussions with the SEC, in the first quarter of 2003, the staff of the SEC informed the Company that, based on information provided to the SEC by the Company, it was the preliminary view of the SEC staff that the Companys accounting for two related transactions between America Online and Bertelsmann, A.G. (Bertelsmann) should be adjusted. Pursuant to a March 2000 agreement between the parties, Bertelsmann had the right at two separate times to put a portion of its interest in AOL Europe to the Company (80% in January 2002 and the remaining 20% in July 2002) at a price established by the March 2000 agreement. The Company also had the right to exercise a call of Bertelsmanns interests in AOL Europe at a higher price. Pursuant to the March 2000 agreement,
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AOL TIME WARNER INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION (Continued)
once Bertelsmann exercised its put rights, the Company had the option, at its discretion up to the day before the closing date, to pay the previously established put price to Bertelsmann either in cash or in Company stock or a combination thereof. In the event the Company elected to use stock, the Company was required to deliver stock in value equal to the amount of the put price determined based on the average of the closing price for the 30 trading days ending 13 trading days before the closing of the put transaction.
Prior to the end of March 2001, the Company and Bertelsmann began negotiations regarding Bertelsmanns desire to be paid for some or all of its interests in AOL Europe in cash, rather than in Company stock. During the negotiations throughout 2001, the Company sought to persuade Bertelsmann that a contractual amendment guaranteeing Bertelsmann cash for its interest in AOL Europe had significant value to Bertelsmann (in an estimated range of approximately $400-800 million), and that in exchange for agreeing to such an amendment, the Company wanted Bertelsmann to extend and/or expand its relationship with the Company as a significant purchaser of advertising. Because, for business reasons, the Company intended to settle in cash, the Company viewed it as essentially costless to forego the option to settle with Bertelsmann in stock. By agreeing to settle in cash, the Company also made it more likely that Bertelsmann would exercise its put rights, which were $1.5 billion less expensive than the Companys call option.
In separate agreements executed in March and December of 2001, the Company agreed to settle the put transactions under the March 2000 agreement in cash rather than in stock, without any change to the put price previously established in the March 2000 agreement. Contemporaneously with the agreements to pay in cash, Bertelsmann agreed to purchase additional advertising from the Company of $125 million and $275 million, respectively. The amount of advertising purchased by Bertelsmann pursuant to these two transactions was recognized by the Company as these advertisements were run (almost entirely at the America Online unit) during the period from the first quarter of 2001 through the first quarter of 2003. Advertising revenues recognized by the Company totaled $16.3 million, $65.5 million, $39.8 million and $0.5 million, respectively, for the four quarters ending December 31, 2001, and $80.3 million, $84.4 million, $51.6 million and $58.0 million, respectively, for the four quarters ending December 31, 2002. In addition, $2.0 million was recognized in the first quarter of 2003. (The remaining approximately $1.6 million is expected to be recognized by the Company during the remainder of 2003.) These two Bertelsmann transactions are collectively the largest multi-element advertising transactions entered into by America Online during the period under review.
Although the advertisements purchased by Bertelsmann in these transactions were in fact run, the SEC staff has expressed to the Company its preliminary view that at least some portion of the revenue recognized by the Company for that advertising should have been treated as a reduction in the purchase price paid by the Company to Bertelsmann rather than as advertising revenue. The Company subsequently provided the SEC a written explanation of the basis for the Companys accounting for these transactions and the reasons why, to date, both the Company and its auditors continue to believe that these transactions have been accounted for correctly. The Company is engaged in ongoing discussions with the SEC staff on this matter.
The SEC staff has also informed the Company that it is continuing to investigate a range of other transactions principally involving the America Online unit. The Company intends to continue its efforts to cooperate with both the SEC and the DOJ investigations to resolve these matters. The Company may not currently have access to all relevant information that may come to light in these investigations. It is not yet possible to predict the outcome of these investigations, but it is possible that further restatement of the Companys financial statements may be necessary. It is also possible that the SEC may delay acting on any registration statement, such as the potential initial public offering of Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC Inc.) while its investigation of the Company is pending.
TWE Restructuring
Prior to the restructuring discussed below, a majority of AOL Time Warners interests in the Filmed Entertainment and Cable segments, and a portion of its interests in the Networks segment, were held through Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. (TWE). AOL Time Warner owned general and limited partnership interests in TWE consisting of 72.36% of the pro rata priority capital and residual equity capital, and 100% of the junior priority capital. The remaining 27.64% limited partnership interests in TWE were held by subsidiaries of Comcast Corp. (Comcast).
On March 31, 2003, AOL Time Warner and Comcast completed the restructuring of TWE (the TWE Restructuring). As a result of the TWE Restructuring, AOL Time Warner acquired complete ownership of TWEs content businesses, including Warner Bros., Home Box Office, and TWEs interests in The WB Network, Comedy Partners (Comedy Central) and the Courtroom Television Network (Court TV). Additionally, all of AOL Time Warners interests in cable, including those that were wholly-owned and those that were held through TWE are now controlled by a new subsidiary of AOL Timer Warner called Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC Inc.). As part of the restructuring, AOL Time Warner received a 79% economic interest in TWC Inc.s cable systems. TWE is now a subsidiary of TWC Inc.
In exchange for its previous stake in TWE, Comcast: (i) received AOL Time Warner preferred stock, which will be converted into $1.5 billion of AOL Time Warner common stock; (ii) received a 21.0% economic interest in TWC Inc.s cable systems; and (iii) was relieved of $2.1 billion of pre-existing debt at one of its subsidiaries, which was incurred by TWC Inc. as part of the restructuring.
Comcasts 21.0% economic interest in TWC Inc.s cable business, is held through a 17.9% direct ownership interest in TWC Inc. (representing a 10.7% voting interest) and a limited partnership interest in TWE representing a 4.7% residual equity interest. AOL Time Warners 79% economic interest in TWC Inc.s cable business is held through an 82.1% ownership interest in TWC Inc. (representing an 89.3% voting interest) and a partnership interest in TWE representing a 1% residual equity interest. AOL Time Warner also holds a $2.4 billion mandatorily redeemable preferred equity interest in TWE. The additional ownership interests acquired by AOL Time Warner in the TWE Restructuring have been accounted for as a step acquisition and is reflected in the accompanying balance sheet as of March 31, 2003.
3
AOL TIME WARNER INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION (Continued)
The purchase consideration paid by AOL Time Warner in the TWE Restructuring was as follows (in millions):
| Description | Amount | ||||
Debt incurred at TWC Inc. |
$ | 2,100 | |||
Issuance of AOLTW manditorily convertible preferred stock to Comcast |
1,500 | ||||
Value
of interest in cable assets transferred to Comcast |
1,000 | ||||
Acquisition costs |
44 | ||||
Total purchase consideration |
$ | 4,644 | |||
The preliminary purchase price allocation eliminates the historical minority interests (at book value) associated with the 27.64% of the TWEs content businesses and the 6% of the TWE cable business acquired by AOL Time Warner and preliminarily allocates the preliminary purchase consideration paid in excess of the historical minority interest to cable franchise license intangibles and goodwill as follows (in millions):
| Description | Amount | ||||
Book
value of net assets acquired |
$ | 2,337 | |||
Cable franchise license intangibles |
880 | ||||
Goodwill |
1,427 | ||||
Total
purchase price allocated |
$ | 4,644 | |||
In addition to the above amounts recorded, the 17.9% minority interest retained by Comcast in TWC Inc. was stepped up to fair value. The resulting $2.362 billion adjustment is reflected as an increase in cable franchise license intangibles and a corresponding increase in minority interest.
A deferred tax liability of $1.296 billion and corresponding amount of goodwill was also recorded on the step up of all the cable franchise license intangible.
The cable franchise license intangible assets are recorded in the Cable segment and are classified as intangible assets not subject to amortization. The goodwill of $1.427 billion is recorded in the Networks and Filmed Entertainment segments of $715 million and $712 million, respectively, while the goodwill of $1.296 billion that resulted from the deferred taxes on the franchise licenses are recorded in the Cable segment.
Based upon its controlling voting interest in TWC Inc., AOL Time Warner consolidates the results of TWC Inc. for accounting purposes. Subject to market conditions and the registration statement, once filed, being declared effective by the SEC, AOL Time Warner plans to conduct an initial public offering of TWC Inc. later this year (Note 1). It is possible that the SEC may delay acting on the registration statement while the investigation of the Company is pending. (See Overview-Recent Developments-Update on SEC and DOJ Investigations). It is anticipated that the first $2.1
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AOL TIME WARNER INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION (Continued)
billion of net proceeds raised in any such offering would be used to repay the $2.1 billion of debt incurred by TWC Inc. Thereafter, Comcast will have certain priority registration rights with respect to its interest in TWC Inc.
Debt Reduction Plan
In January 2003, the Company announced its intention to reduce its overall level of indebtedness in 2003. Specifically, it is the Companys intention to reduce debt within a range of 2.25 to 2.75 times ratio of total consolidated net debt to annual EBITDA by the end of 2003. In addition, the Company announced that it intends to reduce total consolidated net debt to approximately $20 billion by the end of 2004. The Company anticipates that the reduction in debt will be achieved through the use of Free Cash Flow and other de-leveraging initiatives, including the sale of non-core assets. As part of this initiative, in January 2003, the Company sold its investment in Hughes Electronics Corp. (Hughes) for cash proceeds of $783 million and recognized a gain of approximately $50 million. In addition, in April 2003, the Company agreed to sell its 50% ownership interest in Comedy Central for $1.225 billion in cash and this transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2003. Any gain resulting from this transaction is not expected to result in incremental taxes paid as a result of capital losses. Accordingly, substantially all of the proceeds should be available for debt reduction. The Company is also exploring the sale of other non-core businesses.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Transactions Affecting Comparability of Results of Operations
Discontinued Operations
During 2002, TWE and the Advance/Newhouse Partnership (Advance/Newhouse) restructured the TWE-Advance/Newhouse Partnership (TWE-A/N) resulting in Advance/Newhouse assuming authority for the day-to-day operations of certain TWE-A/N cable systems. As a result, AOL Time Warner deconsolidated the financial position and operating results of these systems, and has reflected the 2002 operating results as discontinued operations. Revenues and net loss from the discontinued operations totaled $352 million and $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2002.
Other Items Affecting Comparability
As more fully described herein and in the related footnotes to the accompanying consolidated financial statements, the comparability of AOL Time Warners operating results has been affected by certain significant transactions and other items in each period as follows:
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||
| 3/31/03 | 3/31/02 | |||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||
Merger and restructuring costs |
$ | (24 | ) | $ | (107 | ) | ||
Loss on writedown of investments |
(23 | ) | (581 | ) | ||||
Gain on sale of assets |
109 | | ||||||
Pretax impact |
62 | (688 | ) | |||||
Income tax impact |
(25 | ) | 275 | |||||
After-tax impact |
$ | 37 | $ | (413 | ) | |||
For the three months ended March 31, 2003 these items included (i) merger and restructuring costs of $24 million (Note 2), (ii) non-cash charges of $23 million, which is comprised of $27 million to reduce the carrying value of certain investments that experienced other-than-temporary declines in market value, offset in part by $4 million of gains to reflect market fluctuations in equity derivative instruments (Note 3), and (iii) approximately $109 million in
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AOL TIME WARNER INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION (Continued)
gains on the sale of certain investments, including a $50 million gain from the sale of the Companys interest in Hughes and a $35 million gain on the sale of the Companys interest in an international theater chain (Note 3).
For the three months ended March 31, 2002, these items included (i) merger and restructuring costs of $107 million (Note 2) and (ii) a non-cash charge of $581 million, which is comprised of $590 million to reduce the carrying value of certain investments that experienced other-than-temporary declines in market value, offset in part by $9 million of gains to reflect market fluctuations in equity derivative instruments. Included in the $590 million charge relating to other-than-temporary declines in value is a $571 million non-cash charge to reduce the carrying value of AOL Time Warners investment in Time Warner Telecom Inc. (Time Warner Telecom), a 44% owned equity investment (Note 3).
Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2002
Consolidated Results
Revenues. Consolidated revenues increased 6% to $9.998 billion. As shown below, this increase was led by growth in both Subscription and Content revenues, offset in part by declines in both Advertising and Other revenues:
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
| 3/31/03 | 3/31/02 | % Change | ||||||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||||||
Subscription |
$ | 4,935 | $ | 4,467 | 10 | % | ||||||
Advertising |
1,338 | 1,408 | (5 | %) | ||||||||
Content |
3,253 | 2,931 | 11 | % | ||||||||
Other |
472 | 601 | (21 | %) | ||||||||
Total revenues |
$ | 9,998 | $ | 9,407 | 6 | % | ||||||
The 10% increase in Subscription revenues was principally due to increases in the number of subscribers and in subscription rates at the AOL, Cable and Networks segments. The 11% increase in Content revenues was principally due to improved results at the Networks and the Filmed Entertainment segments related to improved worldwide home video results, offset in part by lower results at the Music segment related to lower recorded music sales.
The 5% decline in Advertising revenues was primarily related to the AOL segment, due principally to the decline in the current benefit from prior period contract sales and the Cable segment, due to a decrease in program vendor advertising. The decline in the benefit from prior year contracts at AOL and program vendor advertising at Cable are both expected to continue throughout 2003. The Advertising revenue declines at the AOL and Cable segments were offset in part by growth at the Networks and Publishing segments.
The 21% decline in Other revenues was primarily due to the AOL segments decision to reduce the promotion of its merchandise business (i.e., reducing pop up advertisements) to improve the member experience. The declines are expected to continue throughout 2003.
Each of the revenue categories is discussed in greater detail by segment under the Business Segment Results section below.
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AOL TIME WARNER INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION (Continued)
Reconciliation of Consolidated EBITDA to Operating Income
The following table reconciles EBITDA to operating income and in addition provides the components from operating income to net income (loss) for purposes of the discussions that follow:
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
| 3/31/03 | 3/31/02 | % Change | ||||||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||||||
EBITDA |
$ | 1,985 | $ | 1,739 | 14 | % | ||||||
Depreciation |
(639 | ) | (518 | ) | 23 | % | ||||||
Amortization |
(195 | ) | (164 | ) | 19 | % | ||||||
Operating income |
1,151 | 1,057 | 9 | % | ||||||||
Interest expense, net |
(468 | ) | (376 | ) | 24 | % | ||||||
Other income (expense), net |
66 | (655 | ) | N/M | ||||||||
Minority interest expense |
(56 | ) | (31 | ) | 81 | % | ||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes,
discontinued operations and cumulative
effect of accounting change |
693 | (5 | ) | N/M | ||||||||
Income tax provision |
(297 | ) | (3 | ) | N/M | |||||||
Discontinued operations |
| (1 | ) | N/M | ||||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change |
| (54,235 | ) | N/M | ||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 396 | $ | (54,244 | ) | N/M | ||||||
EBITDA. AOL Time Warners EBITDA increased 14% to $1.985 billion in 2003 from $1.739 billion in 2002 principally as a result of double-digit increases at the AOL, Filmed Entertainment and Networks segments, offset in part by declines at the Music segment. The segment variations are discussed in detail under Business Segment Results below.
EBITDA included merger and restructuring costs of $24 million in 2003 and $107 million in 2002. The 2003 costs included $4 million at the AOL segment, $8 million at the Networks segment and $12 million at the Publishing segment and related to various employee and contractual terminations. The 2002 costs included $75 million at the AOL segment, $5 million at the Music segment and $27 million at Corporate. The 2002 costs included $43 million related to work force reductions and $64 million for lease obligations of the AOL segment for network modems that are no longer being used because network providers have upgraded their networks to newer technology (Note 2).
AOL Time Warners Corporate EBITDA loss decreased to $101 million in 2003 from $106 million in 2002. The improvement in the EBITDA loss was principally due to the absence in 2003 of merger and restructuring costs noted above. This was offset in part by legal and other professional fees related to the SEC and DOJ investigations into the accounting and disclosure practices of the Company and the defense of various shareholder lawsuits. Costs associated with these matters already made are expected to continue through the year.
Depreciation Expense. Depreciation expense increased to $639 million in 2003 from $518 million in 2002 principally due to increases at the Cable segment ($330 million in 2003 compared to $274 million in 2002) and the AOL segment ($171 million in 2003 compared to $128 million in 2002). The increase at Cable reflects higher levels of spending related to the rollout of digital services over the past three years and increased spending on customer premise equipment that is depreciated over a shorter useful life. For the AOL segment, the higher expense was due to an increase in network assets acquired under capital leases, as well as a decrease in the estimated useful life of current network asset additions.
Amortization Expense. Amortization expense increased to $195 million in 2003 from $164 million in 2002. The increase in amortization expense in 2003 is principally due to increases at the Music segment ($63 million in 2003 compared to $43 million in 2002) and the Publishing segment ($40 million in 2003 compared to $29 million in 2002). The increase at the Music segment is principally related to the reduction in the amortization period of music publishing copyrights and record catalog from 20 to 15 years. For the Publishing segment, the increase related to the finalization of purchase price accounting at the end of 2002 relating to the acquisition of Synapse, a subscription marketing company.
7
AOL TIME WARNER INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION (Continued)
Operating Income. AOL Time Warners operating income increased to $1.151 billion in 2003 from $1.057 billion in 2002. The improvement in operating income related to an increase in business segment EBITDA noted above and discussed in detail under Business Segment Results, offset in part by an increase in depreciation and amortization expense.
Interest Expense, Net. Interest expense, net, increased to $468 million in 2003, from $376 million in 2002, as a result of a change in the mix of debt from lower rate variable debt to higher rate fixed debt and a higher average level of debt outstanding.
Other Income (Expense), Net. Other income, net, was $66 million in 2003 compared with other expense, net, of $655 million in 2002.
In 2003, other income, net, included approximately $109 million in gains on the sale of certain investments, including a $50 million gain from the sale of the Companys interest in Hughes and a $35 million gain on the sale of the Companys interest in an international theater chain. This was offset in part by non-cash charges of $23 million to reduce the carrying value of certain investments that experienced other-than-temporary declines in value and to reflect market fluctuations in equity derivative instruments. In 2002, other expense, net includes pretax non-cash charges of $581 million to reduce the carrying value of certain investments that experienced other-than-temporary declines in value and to reflect market fluctuations in equity derivative instruments. Excluding equity method investees, as of March 31, 2003, the fair value and carrying value of the Companys investment portfolio were $850 million and $794 million, respectively.
Excluding the impact of the items discussed above, other income (expense), net, improved in 2003 as compared to the prior year primarily from a reduction of losses from equity method investees.
Minority Interest. AOL Time Warner had $56 million of minority interest expense in 2003, compared to $31 million in 2002. The increase in minority interest expense is primarily related to higher income allocated to the minority owners of TWE prior to the TWE Restructuring, offset in part by a lower level of accretion on preferred securities of AOL Europe due to the redemption of $255 million of redeemable securities in February 2002. The remaining preferred securities of AOL Europe and accrued dividends were redeemed in April 2003 (Note 7).
Income Tax Provision. AOL Time Warner had income tax expense of $297 million in 2003, compared to $3 million in 2002. The Companys pretax income was $693 million in 2003 compared to a pretax loss of $5 million in 2002. Applying the 35% U.S. federal statutory rate to pretax income would result in income tax expense of $242 million in 2003 and an income tax benefit of $2 million in 2002. However, the Companys actual income tax expense (benefit) differs from these amounts primarily as a result of several factors including state and local income taxes and foreign income taxed at different rates.
During the first quarter of 2003, the Company completed the tax restructuring of certain foreign operations which resulted in the generation of a capital loss of approximately $4 billion that expires in 2008. Capital losses can only be utilized against capital gains. At this time significant uncertainty exists regarding the future realization of this loss; therefore, the Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against the tax benefit of this loss.
As of March 31, 2003, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $10.6 billion, primarily resulting from stock option exercises. These carryforwards are available to offset future U.S. Federal taxable income of the Company and its subsidiaries included in the consolidated Federal tax return of the Company and are, therefore, expected to reduce Federal income taxes paid by the Company. If the net operating losses are not utilized, they expire in varying amounts, starting in 2018 through assumed 2021. Upon the completion of the planned initial public offering of TWC Inc.s stock, TWC Inc. would no longer be included in the Companys consolidated Federal tax returns and it would therefore no longer be able to utilize the Companys Federal operating loss carryforwards.
Net Income (Loss) and Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share. AOL Time Warner had net income of $396 million in 2003 compared to a net loss of $54.244 billion in 2002. Basic and diluted net income per common share was $0.09 in 2003 compared to basic and diluted net loss per common share of $12.25 in 2002.
As noted above, net income for 2003 includes $109 million in pretax gains on the sale of certain investments and pretax non-cash charges of $23 million to reduce the carrying value of certain investments that experienced
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OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION (Continued)
other-than-temporary declines in value and to reflect market fluctuations in equity/derivative instruments. In addition, net income also reflects $24 million of pretax merger and restructuring costs.
Net loss for 2002 includes a $54.235 billion charge relating to a cumulative effect of an accounting change in 2002 and a loss from discontinued operations of $1 million. Excluding these items, the Companys net loss from continuing operations before the cumulative effect of an accounting change was $8 million in 2002. As noted above, net loss from continuing operations before the cumulative effect of an accounting change for 2002 includes pretax charges of $581 million relating to the writedown of investments and pretax charges of $107 million relating to merger and restructuring costs.
In addition to these items, the 2003 results as compared to 2002 benefited from the overall increase in AOL Time Warners operating performance and a reduction of losses from equity method investees, which was slightly more than offset by increased depreciation and amortization expense and higher interest expense.
Business Segment Results
AOL. Revenues, EBITDA, depreciation, amortization and operating income of the AOL segment for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 are as follows:
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||||||
| 3/31/03 | 3/31/02 | % Change | |||||||||||
| (millions) | |||||||||||||
Revenues: |
|||||||||||||
Subscription |
$ | 1,898 | $ | 1,717 | 11 | % | |||||||
Advertising |
226 | 389 | (42 | )% | |||||||||
Other |
73 | 185 | (61 | )% | |||||||||
Total revenues |
$ | 2,197 | $ | 2,291 | (4 | )% | |||||||
EBITDA |
$ | 404 | $ | 343 | 18 | % | |||||||
Depreciation |
(171 | ) | (128 | ) | 34 | % | |||||||
Amortization |
(39 | ) | (41 | ) | (5 | )% | |||||||
Operating income |
$ | 194 | $ | 174 | 11 | % | |||||||
The 11% growth in Subscription revenues was primarily related to price increases, an approximate $60 million favorable impact of foreign currency exchange rates and subscriber growth in Europe, as well as domestic subscriber growth particularly from the expansion of broadband service in 2003 as compared to the same period in 2002.
The number of AOL brand subscribers in the U.S. was approximately 26.2 million at March 31, 2003 compared to approximately 26.5 million at December 31, 2002 and 26.1 million at March 31, 2002. The sequential decline in domestic AOL brand subscribers reflects a number of factors, including a maturing narrowband services subscriber universe; subscribers adopting other broadband services; a reduction in direct marketing response rates; a reassessment of various marketing programs, including bulk subscription employee programs, an increase in subscriber cancellations and terminations, including terminations of various non-paying subscribers on unlimited pricing plans; and the Companys previously stated increased focus on improving the profitability of its narrowband membership base. The Company anticipates that the number of narrowband subscribers will likely continue to decline because of these factors. In addition, the movement toward AOL broadband services could negatively impact future results of operations due to lower margins on basic broadband services. The year over year increase in subscribers is principally related to the growth in broadband subscribers. The average monthly subscription revenue per domestic subscriber (ARPU) for the three months ended March 31, 2003 increased 3% to $18.52 as compared to $18.04 in the three months ended March 31, 2002. Domestic subscription ARPU is impacted by changes in the mix of narrowband and broadband product, the level of service provided (full connectivity versus Bring Your Own Access (BYOA)), and by changes in the terms of AOLs relationships with its broadband cable, DSL, and satellite partners.
The majority of AOLs domestic subscribers are on unlimited pricing plans. Additionally, AOL has entered into
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MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION (Continued)
certain bundling programs with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that generally do not result in subscription revenues during introductory periods, as well as the sale of bulk subscriptions at a discounted rate to AOLs selected strategic partners for distribution to their employees. As of March 31, 2003, of the 26.2 million domestic AOL members, approximately 80% were on standard unlimited pricing plans (including 10% under various free trial, member service and retention programs), 14% were on lower priced plans, including BYOA plans, bulk employee programs with strategic partners, and limited usage plans (the weighted average monthly rate for these lower priced plans was approximately $11.13), and the remaining 6% were on OEM bundled plans. As of December 31, 2002, of the 26.5 million domestic AOL members, approximately 81% were on standard unlimited pricing plans (including 10% under various free trial, member service and retention programs), 13% were on lower priced plans, including BYOA, bulk employee programs with strategic partners, and limited usage plans (the weighted average monthly rate for these lower priced plans was approximately $10.80), and the remaining 6% were on OEM bundled plans.
The number of AOL brand subscribers in Europe was 6.3 million at March 31, 2003 and the average monthly subscription revenue per European subscriber for the first three months of 2003 was $17.84. This compares to AOL brand subscribers in Europe of 6.4 million and 5.9 million at December 31, 2002 and March 31, 2002, respectively, and an average monthly subscription revenue per European subscriber for the three months ended December 31, 2002 of $16.38 and $13.57 for the first three months of 2002. The average monthly subscription revenue per European subscriber in 2003 was impacted by price increases implemented in mid-2002 in various European countries offering the AOL service and the positive effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates related to the strengthening of the Euro relative to that of the U.S. Dollar. The sequential decline in AOL brand subscribers was related to a reduction in inactive subscribers under various pay for usage plans.
The 42% decline in year over year Advertising revenues is principally due to a reduction in benefits from prior period contract sales of $178 million and weakness in online advertising sales. Domestic contractual commitments received in prior periods contributed advertising revenue of $107 million in the 2003 period compared to $285 million in the comparable prior year period. Of the $285 million of advertising revenue from contractual commitments in 2002, $10 million was recognized as the result of the termination of contractual commitments. There was no such revenue from terminations recognized in 2003. The decline in advertising revenues also reflects a decrease in the intercompany sales of advertising to other business segments of AOL Time Warner in 2003 as compared to 2002 (from $54 million to $33 million). The decline was partially offset by a benefit of $28 million specifically relating to exceeding annual advertising performance thresholds on certain advertising contracts. Of the $226 million of advertising revenue in 2003, $79 million related to the five most significant advertisers. Similarly, of the $389 million of advertising revenue in 2002, $140 million related to the five most significant advertisers, including $80 million related to Bertelsmann (see Overview Recent Developments Update on SEC and DOJ Investigations). Advertising revenue from the five most significant domestic advertisers is expected to decline in both absolute terms and as a percentage of total advertising revenue as large advertising contracts expire and are replaced with smaller advertising arrangements.
Domestic advertising commitments for future periods declined to $422 million as of March 31, 2003 as compared with $514 million as of December 31, 2002 and $1.019 billion as of March 31, 2002. During the first three months of 2003, in addition to the $107 million of prior period commitments recognized in revenue, remaining commitments were reduced by $57 million, without any revenue being recognized, to reflect a decline in future consideration to be received related to the termination or restructuring of various contracts. Similarly, during the first three months of 2002, in addition to the $285 million of prior period commitments recognized in revenue, remaining commitments were reduced by $239 million, without any revenue being recognized, to reflect a decline in future consideration to be received related to the termination or restructuring of various contracts. Included in the $422 million of advertising commitments for future periods as of March 31, 2003 is $201 million for the five largest commitments. Similarly, included in the $1.019 billion of advertising commitments for future periods as of March 31, 2002 is $389 million for the five largest commitments.
The Company expects to complete performance on more than half of its remaining domestic advertising commitments by the end of 2003. Further declines in future consideration to be received, and revenue that would otherwise be recognized, could occur from additional terminations or restructurings of such commitments. As services under certain large longer term contracts signed in previous periods are completed, the Company expects to enter into fewer long term contracts, to reduce its reliance on long-term arrangements, including arrangements which
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MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION (Continued)
involve significant non-advertising components. The Company expects that the level of advertising commitments for future periods will decline as traditional advertiser arrangements typically involve shorter terms. The Company is uncertain whether the amount of revenue from the more traditional short-term advertising arrangements will reach the levels of current and prior advertising revenue even if the online advertising market improves. The Company also is uncertain of its ability to renew or replace advertising sales for some of its largest advertisers.
The 61% decrease in Other revenues is primarily due to the Companys decision to reduce the promotion of its merchandise business (i.e., reducing pop-up advertisements) to improve the member experience. The declines are expected to continue throughout 2003.
The increase in EBITDA is principally due to lower merger and restructuring costs in 2003 ($4 million) compared to 2002 ($75 million) (Note 2), lower equipment leasing costs and the benefit of a one-time sales tax settlement of $20 million recorded in 2003. Excluding these items, EBITDA decreased primarily due to the decrease in advertising and other revenue, offset in part by improved results at AOL Europe, lower domestic network expenses and higher subscription revenue. The increase in operating income is due to the aforementioned EBITDA increase offset in part by higher depreciation expense primarily due to an increase in network assets acquired under capital leases.
Cable. Revenues, EBITDA, depreciation, amortization and operating income of the Cable segment for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 are as follows:
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||||||
| 3/31/03 | 3/31/02 | % Change | |||||||||||
| (millions) | |||||||||||||
Revenues: |
|||||||||||||
Subscription |
$ | 1,740 | $ | 1,530 | 14 | % | |||||||
Advertising |
102 | 153 | (33 | )% | |||||||||
Total revenues |
$ | 1,842 | $ | 1,683 | 9 | % | |||||||
EBITDA |
$ | 691 | $ | 652 | 6 | % | |||||||
Depreciation |
(330 | ) | (274 | ) | 20 | % | |||||||
Amortization |
(2 | ) | | | |||||||||
Operating income |
$ | 359 | $ | 378 | (5 | )% | |||||||
The 14% increase in Subscription revenues was due to higher basic cable rates and increases in high-speed data services subscribers, digital cable subscribers and basic cable subscribers. In 2003, as compared to the prior year comparable period, high-speed data subscribers increased by 57% to 2.776 million, digital cable subscribers increased by 32% to 3.946 million and basic cable subscribers increased by 1.1% to 10.934 million (including approximately 1.600 million subscribers of unconsolidated investees which are managed by the Company).
High-speed data subscribers include residential subscribers and commercial subscribers. As of March 31, 2003, high-speed data subscribers totaled 2.686 million residential and 90 thousand commercial subscribers.
The 33% decrease in Advertising revenues was primarily related to a decrease in advertising purchased by programming vendors to promote their channels, including new channel launches (from $41 million to $2 million) and a decrease in the intercompany sale of advertising to other business segments of AOL Time Warner (from $27 million to $2 million), offset in part by a 15%, or $13 million, increase in general third-party advertising sales. The Company expects Cables Advertising revenues to continue to decline throughout 2003 related to a decrease in
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AOL TIME WARNER INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION (Continued)
intercompany advertising revenue and a more than 70% decline in advertising purchased by programming vendors, primarily due to fewer new channel launches.
EBITDA increased principally as a result of the Subscription revenue gains and lower high speed data network expenses, offset in part by increases in programming and other operating costs and reduced program vendor and intercompany advertising revenues. The increase in video programming costs of 18% was primarily attributable to two factors: first, sports programming cost increases, which reflect launches of new sports services and contractual rate increases for existing sports services; and second, the impact of having added numerous non-sports services to many of the Companys lineups over recent years, including new services and expanded distribution of existing services. Video programming costs have risen in recent years and will continue to rise, although at a lower rate than during 2002, primarily due to the expiration of introductory and promotional periods under programming affiliation agreements, the need to obtain additional quality programming for more extensive programming packages, the migration of premium channels to the standard tier, industry-wide programming cost increases (especially for sports programming) and inflation-indexed or negotiated license fee increases. Other operating costs increased as a result of the roll out of new services, higher property taxes associated with the upgrade of cable plants, higher pension expense and higher development spending in the Interactive Personal Video division (from $5 million to $8 million). The decrease in operating income was primarily due to the increase in depreciation expense, reflecting higher levels of capital spending related to the roll-out of digital services over the past three years and increased capital spending on customer premise equipment that is depreciated over a shorter useful life, offset in part by the increase in EBITDA described above.
Filmed Entertainment. Revenues, EBITDA, depreciation, amortization and operating income of the Filmed Entertainment segment for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 are as follows:
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||||||