Discovery Communications Reports Third Quarter 2014 Results

SILVER SPRING, Md., Nov. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Third Quarter 2014 Financial Highlights:

• Revenues increased 14% to $1,568 million
• Adjusted OIBDA increased 8% to $634 million
• Net Income available to Discovery Communications, Inc. increased 10% to $280 million
• Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share for the last twelve months increased 27% to $1.87
• Repurchased $298 million of stock

Discovery Communications, Inc. ("Discovery" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014.

"Discovery's strong global organic growth and reach coupled with increasing contributions from our recent strategic acquisitions led to another quarter of solid results," said David Zaslav, President and Chief Executive Officer, Discovery Communications. "Our expansive content portfolio drove audience gains and boosted our market share around the world as we continued to benefit from the ongoing development of the global pay-TV market. Going forward, we remain committed to investing in world-class content, building the next generation of businesses and brands and leveraging our diversified and well-positioned worldwide assets to deliver consistent operational and financial results and long-term shareholder value."

Third Quarter Results

Third quarter revenues of $1,568 million increased $193 million, or 14%, over the third quarter a year ago, as 32% growth at International Networks was partially offset by a 1% decline at U.S. Networks, primarily due to additional revenues from licensing agreements in the prior year.  Adjusted Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization⁽¹⁾ ("OIBDA") increased 8% to $634 million, as International Networks was up 25% while U.S. Networks was flat due to the impact of licensing agreements. Excluding the impact of the Eurosport transaction⁽²⁾, foreign currency fluctuations and licensing agreements, total Company revenues increased 7% and Adjusted OIBDA increased 10%.

Third quarter net income available to Discovery Communications, Inc. of $280 million ($0.41 per diluted share)⁽³⁾ increased $25 million, or 10%, compared to $255 million ($0.35 per diluted share) for the third quarter a year ago, primarily due to improved operating performance in the current quarter, as well as an increase in equity earnings and lower mark-to-market equity-based compensation, partially offset by higher restructuring costs this quarter and a gain on disposition in the prior year's quarter.  Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Share⁽⁴⁾ ("Adjusted EPS"), which excludes the impact of amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, was $0.46 in the third quarter of this year compared with $0.40 in the same period a year ago.  For the last twelve months, Adjusted EPS was $1.87, up 27% compared with $1.47 in the prior twelve months.

Free cash flow was $393 million for the third quarter, down 10% from the third quarter of 2013, as the improved operating performance was more than offset by higher tax payments as well as higher content payments. Free cash flow is defined as cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment. 

SEGMENT RESULTS

U.S. Networks

U.S. Networks' revenues in the third quarter of 2014 decreased 1% to $724 million as advertising growth was more than offset by a decline in distribution and other revenue. Advertising revenues grew 1% mainly due to higher pricing and volume partially offset by lower delivery.  Distribution revenues decreased 3%, as higher rates in the third quarter of 2014 were more than offset by additional revenues from licensing agreements in the third quarter of 2013.  Other revenues declined by $3 million due to a decrease in content production contracts and representation fees. Excluding the impact of licensing agreements, distribution revenues grew 6% and total revenues grew 3% over the prior year's quarter. 

Adjusted OIBDA of $425 million was flat with last year, primarily reflecting the impact of licensing agreements in the prior year.  Excluding the impact of licensing agreements, Adjusted OIBDA grew 6% over last year's third quarter, reflecting the 3% revenue growth, as well as lower marketing costs.

International Networks

International Networks' revenues for the third quarter increased 32% to $818 million, with distribution revenues up 34% and advertising revenues up 20%.  Excluding Eurosport and foreign currency fluctuations, total revenues were up 10%.  Advertising revenues, excluding Eurosport, were up 12% in local currency terms, primarily due to increased delivery in Western Europe and higher pricing in Latin America and the Nordics.  Distribution revenues, excluding Eurosport, grew 8% in local currency terms, mainly from increased subscribers and higher rates in Latin America and subscriber growth in CEEMEA.  Other revenues increased 44%, excluding Eurosport and foreign currency fluctuations, primarily due to additional revenues from new production studios.

Adjusted OIBDA increased 25% to $278 million.  Excluding Eurosport and foreign currency fluctuations, Adjusted OIBDA was up 16% , reflecting the 10% revenue growth partially offset by a 7% increase in operating expenses. The higher operating expenses were primarily due to increased content expense and higher personnel costs.

Education

Education revenues for the third quarter increased by $5 million due to higher streaming, corporate partnership and digital textbook revenues, as well as additional revenues due to a business combination. Adjusted OIBDA increased by $1 million compared to the third quarter of 2013, as the revenue growth was partially offset by additional costs associated with the business combination.

Corporate and Eliminations

Adjusted OIBDA decreased by $8 million compared to the third quarter a year ago, primarily due to higher professional fees and strategic transaction costs.

OTHER ITEMS 

On September 23, 2014, the Company entered into an agreement with Hasbro, Inc. to increase the Company's stake in The Hub Network to 60% from 50% for $64 million and announced  that the network would be rebranded the Discovery Family Channel on October 13, 2014. There was no gain or loss associated with the transaction.

On August 6, 2014, as previously announced, the Company paid a special dividend of one share of Series C common stock for each share of Series A common stock, Series B common stock and Series C common stock outstanding as of July 28, 2014.

STOCK REPURCHASE

During the quarter, the Company, pursuant to its existing stock repurchase program, repurchased 1.4 million shares of its Series C common stock at an average price of $77.57 per share before the special dividend on August 6 and 1.9 million shares of its Series C common stock at an average price of $43.10 per share after August 6. Additionally, on August 4, 2014, pursuant to the previously announced share repurchase agreement between the Company and Advance/Newhouse Programming Partnership ("ANPP"), the Company repurchased, on a pre-dividend basis, 1.5 million shares of Series C convertible preferred stock for $110 million, or $75.56 per share, from ANPP.  In total the Company spent $298 million on share repurchases during the quarter.

The Company has repurchased 83.3 million shares of Series C common stock and 2.8 million shares of its Series A common stock under its stock repurchase program to date at an aggregate purchase price of approximately $4.5 billion. In aggregate, including the 19.18 million preferred shares acquired from ANPP and from Advance Programming Holdings, LLC, the Company has repurchased 25% of its outstanding shares since buyback activity was authorized in 2010.  Note that share numbers have not been adjusted to reflect the special dividend.

Under the stock repurchase program, management is authorized to purchase shares of common stock from time to time through open market purchases at prevailing prices or privately negotiated purchases or pursuant to one or more accelerated stock repurchase agreements or other derivative arrangements as permitted by securities laws and other legal requirements and subject to stock price, business and market conditions and other factors.

On May 22, 2014, the Company entered into a share repurchase agreement with ANPP to repurchase their shares of the Company's Series C convertible preferred stock, on a quarterly basis, in proportion to the company's repurchases under its stock repurchase program in a manner that is intended to maintain ANPP's current ownership percentage of the Company.

FULL YEAR 2014 OUTLOOK

For the full year ending December 31, 2014, Discovery Communications, Inc. expects total revenue between $6.3 billion and $6.35 billion, Adjusted OIBDA between $2.5 billion and $2.55 billion, net income available to Discovery Communications, Inc. between $1.15 billion and $1.175 billion and Adjusted net income available to Discovery Communications, Inc.⁽⁵⁾ ("Adjusted net income") between $1.275 billion and $1.305 billion.  Our outlook incorporates current foreign exchange rates for revenues and expenses and the current share price for mark-to-market equity-based compensation calculations.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Adjusted OIBDA, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EPS and Free Cash Flow

In addition to the results prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") provided in this release, the Company has presented Adjusted OIBDA, Adjusted net income, Adjusted EPS and free cash flow. The Company evaluates the operating performance of its segments based on financial measures such as revenues and Adjusted OIBDA. Adjusted OIBDA is defined as revenues less costs of revenues and selling, general and administrative expenses excluding: (i) mark-to-market equity-based compensation, (ii) depreciation and amortization, (iii) amortization of deferred launch incentives, (iv) exit and restructuring charges, (v) certain impairment charges, and (vi) gains and losses on business and asset dispositions.

Beginning January 1, 2014, the Company reclassified foreign currency gains (losses), net due to transaction settlements and re-measurement of working capital items from selling, general and administrative expense, which is a component of operating income, to other income (expense), net. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.  The total foreign currency reclassifications were a gain of $11 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013.   

The Company uses Adjusted OIBDA to assess operating results and performance of its segments, perform analytical comparisons, identify strategies to improve performance and allocate resources to each segment. The Company believes this measure is relevant to investors because it allows them to analyze the operating performance of each segment using the same metric management uses. The Company excludes mark-to-market equity-based compensation, exit and restructuring charges, certain impairment charges, and gains and losses on business and asset dispositions from the calculation of Adjusted OIBDA due to their volatility. The Company also excludes depreciation of fixed assets and amortization of intangible assets and deferred launch incentives, as these amounts do not represent cash payments in the current reporting period.

The Company defines Adjusted net income as net income available to Discovery Communications, Inc. excluding the impact of amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, and defines Adjusted EPS as earnings excluding the impact of amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets per diluted share.  Note that given the change in conversion ratio for our preferred stock, the preferred shares are now only included in the diluted share count.  The Company believes Adjusted net income and Adjusted EPS are relevant to investors because these metrics allow them to evaluate the performance of the Company's operations exclusive of the non-cash amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets that impact the comparability of results from period to period.

The Company defines free cash flow as cash provided by operating activities less acquisitions of property and equipment. The Company uses free cash flow as it believes it is an important indicator for management and investors of the Company's liquidity, including its ability to reduce debt, make strategic investments and return capital to stockholders.

Adjusted OIBDA, Adjusted net income, Adjusted EPS and free cash flow are non-GAAP measures, and should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, operating income, net income, earnings per diluted share and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Please review the supplemental financial schedules beginning on page 10 for reconciliations to GAAP measures.

Conference Call Information

Discovery Communications, Inc. will host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss its third quarter results. To listen to the call, visit http://discoverycommunications.com or dial 1-800-901-5213 inside the U.S. and 1-617-786-2962 outside of the U.S., using the following passcode: DISCA.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties and on information available to the Company as of the date hereof. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied, due to risks and uncertainties associated with its business, which include the risk factors disclosed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 20, 2014. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, and can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will" and "would" or similar words. Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, statements regarding investing in our programming, strategic growth initiatives, plans for stock repurchases and the full year 2014 outlook. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

(1) Diluted shares adjust for the potential dilution that would occur if common stock equivalents, including convertible preferred stock and equity-based awards, were converted into common stock or exercised.

(1) For the three months ended September 30, 2014, amounts represent restructuring charges. For the three months ended September 30, 2013, amounts represent a gain on disposition of $19 million and restructuring charges of $1 million.

(1) For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, amounts represent gains on dispositions of $31 million and restructuring charges of $19 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, amounts represent a gain on disposition of $19 million and restructuring charges of $11 million.

(1)  For the three months ended September 30, 2014 newly acquired businesses include Eurosport International, in which Discovery took a controlling stake in May 2014, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 newly acquired businesses include Eurosport International and first quarter results from SBS Nordic, which Discovery acquired in April 2013. This reconciliation does not take into account other one-time items such as foreign exchange and licensing revenues.

Logo- http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131107/PH12718LOGO-a

SOURCE Discovery Communications, Inc.

Related Links

http://discoverycommunications.com