UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended September 29, 2007 | Commission File Number 1-11605 |
Incorporated in Delaware 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California 91521 (818) 560-1000 |
I.R.S. Employer Identification No. 95-4545390 |
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class |
Name of Each
Exchange | |
Common Stock, $.01 par value | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
YES ü NO
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
YES NO ü
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 and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
YES ü NO
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ü Accelerated filer Non accelerated filer
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
YES NO ü
The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates (based on the closing price on the last business day of the registrants most recently completed second fiscal quarter as reported on the New York Stock Exchange-Composite Transactions) was $64.3 billion. All executive officers and directors of the registrant and all persons filing a Schedule 13D with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect to registrants common stock have been deemed, solely for the purpose of the foregoing calculation, to be affiliates of the registrant.
There were 1,903,484,711 shares of common stock outstanding as of November 14, 2007.
Documents Incorporated by Reference
Certain information required for Part III of this report is incorporated herein by reference to the proxy statement for the 2008 annual meeting of the Companys shareholders.
THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Page | ||||
PART I | ||||
ITEM 1. |
1 | |||
ITEM 1A. |
18 | |||
ITEM 1B. |
23 | |||
ITEM 2. |
23 | |||
ITEM 3. |
25 | |||
ITEM 4. |
26 | |||
26 | ||||
PART II | ||||
ITEM 5. |
27 | |||
ITEM 6. |
28 | |||
ITEM 7. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation |
29 | ||
ITEM 7A. |
51 | |||
ITEM 8. |
52 | |||
ITEM 9. |
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
52 | ||
ITEM 9A. |
52 | |||
ITEM 9B. |
53 | |||
PART III | ||||
ITEM 10. |
54 | |||
ITEM 11. |
54 | |||
ITEM 12. |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters |
54 | ||
ITEM 13. |
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence |
54 | ||
ITEM 14. |
54 | |||
PART IV | ||||
ITEM 15. |
55 | |||
59 | ||||
Consolidated Financial Information The Walt Disney Company |
61 |
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PART I
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries, is a diversified worldwide entertainment company with operations in four business segments: Media Networks, Parks and Resorts, Studio Entertainment, and Consumer Products. For convenience, the terms Company and we are used to refer collectively to the parent company and the subsidiaries through which our various businesses are actually conducted.
Information on the Companys revenues, operating income, and identifiable assets appears in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 hereof. The Company employed approximately 137,000 people as of September 29, 2007.
MEDIA NETWORKS
The Media Networks segment is comprised of a domestic broadcast television network, television production and distribution operations, domestic television stations, cable/satellite networks, domestic broadcast radio networks and stations, and internet and mobile operations.
Domestic Broadcast Television Network
The Company operates the ABC Television Network, which as of September 29, 2007, had affiliation agreements with 231 local stations reaching 99% of all U.S. television households. The ABC Television Network broadcasts programs in the following dayparts: early morning, daytime, primetime, late night, news, children and sports.
The ABC Television Network produces its own programs or acquires broadcast rights from other third-party producers, as well as production entities that are owned by the Company, and rights holders for network programming and pays varying amounts of compensation to affiliated stations for broadcasting the programs and commercial announcements included therein. The ABC Television Network derives substantially all of its revenues from the sale to advertisers of time in network programs for commercial announcements. The ability to sell time for commercial announcements and the rates received are primarily dependent on the size and nature of the audience that the network can deliver to the advertiser as well as overall advertiser demand for time on network broadcasts.
Television Production and Distribution
We produce and distribute live action and animated television programming under the ABC Studios, Buena Vista Productions, Disney-ABC Domestic Television, Disney-ABC International Television, Walt Disney Television and ABC Family Productions labels. We distribute both domestically and internationally, as well as in the home entertainment market, through our distribution companies. Program development is carried out in collaboration with a number of independent writers, producers, and creative teams, with a focus on the development, production and distribution of half-hour comedies and one-hour dramas for primetime broadcasts. Programming produced either for ourselves or third parties in the 2007/2008 television season include the one-hour dramas Army Wives, Brothers & Sisters, Criminal Minds, Desperate Housewives, Dirt, Ghost Whisperer, Greys Anatomy, Kyle XY, Lost, October Road, and Ugly Betty; and the half-hour comedies According to Jim and Scrubs. In addition, Americas Funniest Home Videos and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition entered the domestic syndication market during 2007, while Greys Anatomy was licensed in 2007. New primetime series that premiered in the fall of 2007 included the one-hour dramas Cane, Dirty Sexy Money, Private Practice, and Reaper, and the half-hour comedies Carpoolers, Cavemen, and Samantha Who? Planned midseason shows include the one-hour drama Eli Stone and the comedy Miss Guided.
The Company also produces original television movies that the ABC Television Network airs along with acquired theatricals as ABC Movies of the Week.
Under the Buena Vista Productions label, we produce a variety of primetime specials for network television and live-action syndicated programming. Syndicated programming includes Live! with Regis and Kelly, a daily talk show; Ebert & Roeper, a weekly motion picture review program; and game shows, such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. This programming has been sold for multiple years into the future and some of the talent has signed long-term commitments.
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Domestic Television Stations
We own nine very high frequency (VHF) television stations, six of which are located in the top-ten markets in the United States, and one ultra-high frequency (UHF) television station. All of our television stations are affiliated with the ABC Television Network, transmit both analog and digital signals, and collectively reach 24% of the nations television households.
Markets and other station details for the stations we own are as follows:
Market |
TV Station | Analog Channel |
Television Market Ranking (1) | |||
New York, NY |
WABC-TV | 7 | 1 | |||
Los Angeles, CA |
KABC-TV | 7 | 2 | |||
Chicago, IL |
WLS-TV | 7 | 3 | |||
Philadelphia, PA |
WPVI-TV | 6 | 4 | |||
San Francisco, CA |
KGO-TV | 7 | 5 | |||
Houston, TX |
KTRK-TV | 13 | 10 | |||
Raleigh-Durham, NC |
WTVD-TV | 11 | 29 | |||
Fresno, CA |
KFSN-TV | 30 | 55 | |||
Flint, MI |
WJRT-TV | 12 | 66 | |||
Toledo, OH |
WTVG-TV | 13 | 71 |
(1) |
Based on Nielsen Media Research, U.S. Television Household Estimates, January 1, 2007 |
Cable/Satellite Networks
Our cable/satellite networks are engaged in broadcasting of television programming, licensing of television programming to domestic and international markets and investing in foreign television broadcasting, programming, production and distribution entities. Programming at our cable/satellite networks is both internally produced and acquired from third parties.
Cable/satellite networks derive substantially all of their revenues from affiliate fees charged to cable and satellite service providers and, for certain networks, the sale to advertisers of time in network programs for commercial announcements. Generally, the Companys cable/satellite networks operate under multi-year carriage agreements with cable and satellite service providers that include contractually determined affiliate fees. The amounts that we can charge to cable and satellite service providers for our cable/satellite network services are largely dependent on competition and the quality and quantity of programming that we can provide. The ability to sell time for commercial announcements and the rates received are primarily dependent on the size and nature of the audience that the network can deliver to the advertiser as well as overall advertiser demand. Certain programming developed by our cable/satellite networks is also distributed in the home entertainment markets.
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The Companys most significant cable properties and our ownership percentage and estimated subscribers as of September 29, 2007 are set forth in the following table:
Property |
Estimated Subscribers (in millions) (1) |
Ownership % | ||
ESPN |
97 | 80.0 | ||
ESPN2 |
96 | 80.0 | ||
ESPN Classic |
63 | 80.0 | ||
ESPNEWS |
62 | 80.0 | ||
ESPNU |
20 | 80.0 | ||
Disney Channel |
94 | 100.0 | ||
International Disney Channels |
54 | 100.0 | ||
Toon Disney |
66 | 100.0 | ||
Lifetime Television |
96 | 50.0 | ||
A&E |
96 | 37.5 | ||
ABC Family |
95 | 100.0 | ||
The History Channel |
95 | 37.5 | ||
A&E International |
87 | 37.5 | ||
Lifetime Movie Network |
58 | 50.0 | ||
Lifetime Real Women |
9 | 50.0 | ||
Jetix Europe |
50 | 73.6 | ||
Jetix Latin America |
15 | 100.0 | ||
SOAPnet |
66 | 100.0 | ||
The Biography Channel |
47 | 37.5 | ||
History International |
47 | 37.5 |
(1) |
Estimated U.S. subscriber counts according to Nielsen Media Research as of September 29, 2007. Subscriber counts for international channels are not rated by Nielsen and represent the number of subscribers receiving the service based on internal management reports. |
The Company has various other international investments in broadcast and cable properties in addition to those listed in the above table.
ESPN. ESPN is a multimedia, multinational sports entertainment company that operates six television sports networks: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes (a Spanish language network) and ESPNU (a network devoted to college sports). ESPN also operates two high-definition television simulcast services, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD. ESPN programs the sports schedule on the ABC Television Network, which is now branded ESPN on ABC. ESPN owns, has equity interests in or has distribution agreements with 34 international sports networks, reaching households in more than 190 countries and territories in 15 languages including a 50% equity interest in ESPN Star Sports, which distributes sports programming throughout most of Asia. In addition, ESPN holds a 30% equity interest in CTV Specialty Television, Inc., which owns The Sports Network, Le Réseau des Sports, ESPN Classic Canada, the NHL Network and Discovery Canada, among other media properties in Canada.
ESPN operates ESPN.com, a sports web site; ESPN360.com, which delivers video content to broadband subscribers; Mobile ESPN, which delivers content to mobile service providers; ESPN Regional Television, the nations largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming; the ESPN Radio Network; ESPN Radio stations; ESPN The Magazine; BASS, the largest tournament fishing organization in the world sanctioning more than 20,000 events annually through the BASS Federation Nation; and ESPN Enterprises, which develops branded licensing opportunities. ESPN Zone sports-themed dining and entertainment facilities are operated by and included in the Parks and Resorts segment.
The ESPN Radio Network format is carried on more than 750 stations, of which 355 are full-time (five stations are owned by the Company), making it the largest sports radio network in the United States.
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Markets and other details for the stations we own are as follows:
Market |
Radio Station |
Broadcast Band |
Radio Market Ranking (1) | |||
New York, NY |
WEPN | AM | 1 | |||
Los Angeles, CA |
KSPN | AM | 2 | |||
Chicago, IL |
WMVP | AM | 3 | |||
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX |
KESN | FM | 5 | |||
Pittsburgh, PA |
WEAE | AM | 24 |
(1) |
Based on Spring 2007 Arbitron Radio Market Rankings |
Disney Channel. Disney Channel is a cable/satellite network service that targets children and families. Shows developed and produced internally for initial exhibition on Disney Channel include live-action comedy series, animated programming and educational preschool series, as well as projects for the Disney Channel Original Movie franchise, including this years Jump In and High School Musical 2. Live-action comedy series include Hannah Montana, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, and Cory in the House. Animated programming includes Disneys The Emperors New School and The Replacements. Preschool series include My Friends Tigger & Pooh, Disneys Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Disneys Little Einsteins. The balance of the programming consists of products acquired from third parties and products from our theatrical film and television programming library.
Many of the live-action and animated series produced for Disney Channel also air during the ABC Television Networks Saturday morning childrens daypart, ABC Kids. These programs include Hannah Montana, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Thats So Raven, Disneys The Emperors New School and The Replacements.
Disney Channel also operates in more than 20 markets outside the United States. International programming consists primarily of the Companys originally produced series and movies, products acquired from third parties and locally-produced programming. We continue to explore the further development of Disney Channel in other countries around the world.
International Disney Channels (excluding feed extensions) and launch dates are set forth in the following table:
Channel |
Launch Date | |
Taiwan |
March 1995 | |
UK |
October 1995 | |
Australia |
June 1996 | |
Asia |
October 1996 | |
France |
March 1997 | |
Middle East |
April 1997 | |
Spain |
April 1998 | |
Italy |
October 1998 | |
Germany |
October 1999 | |
Latin America |
July 2000 | |
Brazil |
April 2001 | |
Portugal |
November 2001 | |
Scandinavia |
February 2003 | |
Japan |
November 2003 | |
India |
December 2004 |
Toon Disney. Toon Disney was launched in 1998 and is intended to appeal to children and features an array of family-friendly, predominantly animated programming from the Disney library. Toon Disney is also the home of Jetix, a block consisting of action adventure programming. This year Toon Disney added the Disney Channel comedy series, The Replacements, and also offers the Big Movie Show, which airs Feature Animation releases including Disney/Pixars The Incredibles, Finding Nemo and Monsters, Inc.
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SOAPnet. SOAPnet was launched in January 2000 and offers a variety of soap operas and related programming. Popular daytime dramas, including All My Children, Days of Our Lives, One Life to Live, General Hospital, and The Young and the Restless, are aired at night. In addition, the network provides inside access to stars and storylines with original programs and reality series I Wanna Be A Soap Star and The Fashionista Diaries. SOAPnet also offers primetime classics, including Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 90210 and Dallas, as well as classic daytime series Port Charles, Ryans Hope and Another World.
ABC Family. ABC Family is a U.S. television programming service that targets adults 18-34. The networks current programming includes the dramas Kyle XY, Lincoln Heights, Wildfire and Greek. The network contracts with outside production companies for these dramas but retains ownership rights. Additionally, ABC Family airs original movies, content acquired from third parties, and products from our owned theatrical film library. The most recent season included the original movies Santa Baby and Fallen as well as broadcasts of films from the Harry Potter series.
JETIX. The Company has a 73.6% ownership interest in Jetix Europe, a publicly traded pan-European integrated childrens entertainment company formerly known as Fox Kids Europe, and a 100% ownership interest in Jetix Latin America, formerly known as Fox Kids Latin America, which is operated by Disney Channel Latin America.
A&E Television Networks. The A&E Television Networks are television programming services devoted to cultural and entertainment programming and include A&E, A&E International, The History Channel, History International and The Biography Channel.
Lifetime Entertainment Services. Lifetime Entertainment Services includes Lifetime Television, which is devoted to womens lifestyle programming; the Lifetime Movie Network, a 24-hour movie channel; and Lifetime Real Women, a 24-hour cable network with programming from a womans point of view.
E! Entertainment Television. On November 21, 2006, in connection with the execution of new long-term agreements for the provision of programming to cable service provider Comcast Corporation (Comcast), the Company sold its 39.5% interest in E! Entertainment Television (E!) to Comcast (which owned the remainder of the interests in E!) for $1.2 billion, which resulted in a pre-tax gain of approximately $0.8 billion ($0.5 billion after-tax), which was recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2007.
The Companys share of the financial results of A&E, Lifetime and other broadcast and cable equity investments is reported under the heading Equity in the income of investees in the Companys Consolidated Statements of Income.
Radio Disney. The Radio Disney Network format is intended to appeal to kids, tweens and families. It is carried in 54 markets, covering more than 60% of the U.S. market. Radio Disney is also available on RadioDisney.com, XM and Sirius satellite radio, iTunes Radio Tuner, digital cable televisions Music Choice channel, XM/DIRECTV and mobile phones. Radio Disney programming can also be downloaded via the iTunes Music Store. Radio Disney brand extensions include multiple Radio Disney Jams CDs from Walt Disney Records.
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Markets and other details for Radio Disney stations we own are as follows:
Market |
Radio Station |
Broadcast Band |
Radio Market Ranking (1) | |||
New York, NY |
WQEW | AM | 1 | |||
Los Angeles, CA |
KDIS | AM | 2 | |||
Chicago, IL |
WRDZ | AM | 3 | |||
San Francisco, CA |
KMKY | AM | 4 | |||
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX |
KMKI | AM | 5 | |||
Houston, TX |
KMIC | AM | 6 | |||
Philadelphia, PA |
WWJZ | AM | 7 | |||
Atlanta, GA |
WDWD | AM | 9 | |||
Detroit, MI |
WFDF | AM | 10 | |||
Boston, MA |
WMKI | AM | 11 | |||
Miami, FL |
WMYM | AM | 12 | |||
Seattle, WA |
KKDZ | AM | 14 | |||
Phoenix, AZ |
KMIK | AM | 15 | |||
Minneapolis, MN(3) |
KDIZ | AM | 16 | |||
Tampa, FL |
WWMI | AM | 19 | |||
St. Louis, MO |
WSDZ | AM | 20 | |||
Denver, CO |
KDDZ | AM | 22 | |||
Portland, OR |
KDZR | AM | 23 | |||
Cleveland, OH |
WWMK | AM | 26 | |||
Sacramento, CA |
KIID | AM | 27 | |||
San Antonio, TX |
KRDY | AM | 29 | |||
Kansas City, MO |
KPHN | AM | 30 | |||
Salt Lake City, UT |
KWDZ | AM | 31 | |||
Charlotte, NC |
WGFY | AM | 33 | |||
Orlando, FL |
WDYZ | AM | 34 | |||
Milwaukee, WI |
WKSH | AM | 36 | |||
Providence, RI |
WDDZ | AM | 38 | |||
Indianapolis, IN |
WRDZ | FM | 40 | |||
Norfolk, VA |
WHKT | AM | 41 | |||
Greensboro, NC |
WCOG | AM | 45 | |||
West Palm Beach, FL |
WMNE | AM | 46 | |||
Jacksonville, FL |
WBWL | AM | 47 | |||
Hartford, CT |
WDZK | AM | 50 | |||
Louisville, KY |
WDRD | AM | 54 | |||
Richmond, VA |
WDZY | AM | 55 | |||
New Orleans, LA |
WBYU | AM | 57 | |||
Albany, NY |
WDDY | AM | 63 | |||
Tulsa, OK |
KMUS | AM | 65 | |||
Albuquerque, NM |
KALY | AM | 70 | |||
Little Rock, AR |
KDIS | FM | 85 | |||
Wichita, KS |
KQAM | AM | 98 |
(1) |
Based on Spring 2007 Arbitron Radio Market Rankings |
Internet and Mobile Operations
The internet and mobile operations of the Media Networks segment develop, publish and distribute content for online and wireless services intended to appeal to broad consumer interest in sports, news, family and entertainment. Internet web sites and products include ABC.com, ABCNews.com, Disney.com, Disney Online, ABCFamily.com, SOAPnet.com, ESPN.com, Disneys Club Penguin and Disney Mobile Studios. The Companys internet operations derive revenue from a combination of advertising and sponsorships, subscription services and e-commerce activities.
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ABC.com is the official web site of the ABC Television Network, while ABCNews.com draws on the knowledge and expertise of ABC News correspondents throughout the world to provide in-depth news coverage online. ABCNews.com also offers broadband subscriptions to the 24-hour live internet news channel, ABC News Now, and to video-on-demand news reports from all ABC News broadcasts. Content from ABC and ABC News is also available on select domestic wireless networks.
Disney.com is a centralized Disney web site that integrates many of the Companys Disney-branded internet sites including sites for the Disney Channel, Disney Parks and Resorts, Walt Disney Pictures and Disney Consumer Products. Disney Online offers a number of premium broadband services, including Disney Connection and Disneys Toontown Online.
ABCFamily.com creates digital extensions to ABC Family programming that feature interactivity and social networking. The site also features user-generated content and online programming that is downloadable and customizable based on preferences of individual users.
SOAPnet.com uses digital media to give soap fans additional information on SOAPnet daytime dramas. SOAPNETIC, a gated broadband service, provides exclusive, behind-the-scenes coverage of the world of daytime dramas.
ESPN.com delivers comprehensive sports news, information and video to millions of fans each month. ESPN360.com is a broadband service that delivers live games, highlights and inside analysis.
In August 2007, the Company acquired Club Penguin, an online virtual world for kids ages 6-14. The site features animated penguin avatars that inhabit a snow-covered world, converse with other users, participate in group activities and create and furnish a virtual home with currency earned inside the game.
Disney Mobile Studios produces and publishes mobile content that is distributed through mobile carriers and content distributors worldwide. In June 2006, the Company launched Disney Mobile, a mobile phone service specifically developed to meet the needs of parents and kids. In October 2007, the Company announced the termination of Disney Mobile.
In February 2006, the Company launched Mobile ESPN, a mobile phone service specifically targeted to sports fans. In September 2006, the Company announced Mobile ESPN would be transitioned into its existing wireless business, which distributes mobile content to various wireless devices.
ABC Radio Transaction
On June 12, 2007, the Company completed the spin-off of its wholly-owned subsidiary, ABC Radio Holdings, Inc., which was then merged into a subsidiary of Citadel Broadcasting Corporation (Citadel). Prior to the spin-off, the Company consolidated its ABC Radio business, consisting of 22 large-market radio stations and the ABC Radio Network businesses, under ABC Radio Holdings, Inc. The transaction did not include the Companys ESPN Radio or Radio Disney Networks and station businesses. Additional information regarding the ABC Radio spin-off transaction is included in Note 3 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Competition and Seasonality
The ABC Television Network, Disney Channel, ESPN, ABC Family Channel and our other broadcast and cable/ satellite networks compete for viewers primarily with other television networks, independent television stations and other video media, such as cable and satellite television programming services, DVDs, video games and the internet. In the sale of advertising time, the broadcasting operations, certain of our cable/satellite networks and our radio stations compete with other television networks and radio stations, independent television stations, suppliers of cable and satellite services and other advertising media such as newspapers, magazines, billboards, and the internet. For our television and radio stations, competition occurs primarily in individual market areas. A television or radio station in one market generally does not compete directly with stations in other markets.
The growth in the cable and satellite industrys share of viewers has resulted in increased competitive pressures for advertising revenues for both our broadcasting and cable/satellite networks. The Companys cable/satellite networks also face competition from other cable networks for carriage by cable and satellite service operators and distributors. The Companys contractual agreements with cable, satellite and telephone operators are renewed or
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renegotiated from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Consolidation and other market conditions in the cable and satellite distribution industry and other factors may adversely affect the Companys ability to obtain and maintain contractual terms for the distribution of its various cable and satellite programming services that are as favorable as those currently in place.
The Companys Media Networks businesses also compete for the acquisition of sports and other programming. The market for programming is very competitive, particularly for sports programming. The Company currently has sports rights agreements with the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), Major League Baseball (MLB), World Cup, Indy Racing League and various college football and basketball conferences.
The Companys internet web sites and products compete with other web sites and products in their respective categories, which include kids, family, entertainment, sports and news, among others.
Advertising revenues at the Media Networks are subject to seasonal advertising patterns and changes in viewership levels. Revenues are typically somewhat higher during the fall and somewhat lower during the summer months. Affiliate revenues are typically collected ratably throughout the year. Certain affiliate revenues at ESPN are deferred until annual programming commitments are met, and these commitments are typically satisfied during the second half of the Companys fiscal year, which generally results in higher revenue recognition during this period.
Federal Regulation
Television and radio broadcasting are subject to extensive regulation by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under federal laws and regulations, including the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Violation of FCC regulations can result in substantial monetary forfeitures, limited renewals of licenses and, in egregious cases, denial of license renewal or revocation of a license. FCC regulations that affect our Media Networks segment include the following:
| Licensing of television and radio stations. Each of the television and radio stations we own must be licensed by the FCC. These licenses are granted for periods of up to eight years, and we must obtain renewal of licenses as they expire in order to continue operating the stations. We (or the acquiring entity in the case of a divestiture) must also obtain FCC approval whenever we seek to have a license transferred in connection with the acquisition or divestiture of a station. The FCC may decline to renew or approve the transfer of a license in certain circumstances. Although we have generally received such renewals and approvals in the past, there can be no assurance that we will always obtain necessary renewals and approvals in the future. |
| Television and radio station ownership limits. The FCC imposes limitations on the number of television stations and radio stations we can own in a specific market, on the combined number of television and radio stations we can own in a single market and on the aggregate percentage of the national audience that can be reached by television stations we own. Currently: |
| FCC regulations may restrict our ability to own more than one television station in a market, depending on the size and nature of the market. We do not own more than one television station in any of the ten markets in which we own a television station. |
| Federal statutes permit our television stations in the aggregate to reach a maximum of 39% of the national audience (for this purpose, FCC regulations attribute to UHF television stations only 50% of the television households in their market). Our stations reach approximately 24% of the national audience (approximately 23% when calculated using the FCCs UHF discount). |
| FCC regulations in some cases impose restrictions on our ability to acquire additional radio or television stations in the markets in which we own radio stations, but we do not believe any such limitations are material to our current operating plans. |
In July 2003, the FCC adopted revised limits on television and radio station ownership. The rules adopted generally would have relaxed existing ownership restrictions and permitted entities to own more television and radio stations in some markets. They also would have eliminated the 50% discount for calculating households reached by UHF television stations operated by the top four broadcast television networks (including ABC). The new rules, however, were challenged in federal court and were remanded by the court to the FCC to review the rules. As a result,
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most of the revised rules adopted by the FCC in July 2003 are not in effect. The FCC has initiated a rulemaking in response to the court remand to re-evaluate these rules in light of the court decision. Although it is possible that the FCC may implement more liberal media ownership rules than those currently in effect (other than those governed by statute), we cannot predict whether the revised rules will be implemented and if so, when such rules will become effective.
| Dual networks. FCC rules currently prohibit any of the four major television networks ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC from being under common ownership or control. |
| Regulation of programming. The FCC regulates programming by, among other things, banning indecent programming, regulating political advertising and imposing commercial time limits during childrens programming. Broadcasters face a heightened risk of being found in violation of the indecency prohibition by the FCC because of recent FCC decisions, coupled with the spontaneity of live programming. Recently, the FCC has indicated that it is increasing enforcement activities with respect to indecency, and has indicated it would consider license revocation for serious violations. Moreover, Congress recently increased penalties for broadcasting indecent programming to a maximum of $325,000 per violation. |
Federal legislation and FCC rules also limit the amount of commercial matter that may be shown on broadcast or cable channels during programming designed for children 12 years of age and younger. In addition, broadcast channels are generally required to provide a minimum of three hours per week of programming that has as a significant purpose meeting the educational and informational needs of children 16 years of age and younger. FCC rules also give television station owners the right to reject or refuse network programming in certain circumstances or to substitute programming that the licensee reasonably believes to be of greater local or national importance.
| Cable and satellite carriage of broadcast television stations. With respect to cable systems operating within a television stations Designated Market Area, FCC rules require that every three years each television station elect either must carry status, pursuant to which cable operators generally must carry a local television station in the stations market, or retransmission consent status, pursuant to which the cable operator must negotiate with the television station to obtain the consent of the television station prior to carrying its signal. Under the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act and its successor, the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act, satellite carriers are permitted to retransmit a local television stations signal into its local market with the consent of the local television station. If a satellite carrier elects to carry one local station in a market, the satellite carrier must carry the signals of all local television stations that also request carriage. Certain of the satellite carriage provisions are set to expire on December 31, 2009. |
| Digital television. FCC rules currently require full-power analog television stations, such as ours, to provide digital service on a second broadcast channel granted specifically for the phase-in of digital broadcasting. FCC rules also regulate digital broadcasting to ensure continued quality carriage of mandated free over-the-air program service. All of the Companys stations have launched digital facilities, and we are evaluating various options with respect to use of digital channels. Under a recently-enacted statute, all broadcasters are required to operate exclusively in digital mode and permanently surrender one of their two channels by February 17, 2009. |
The foregoing is a brief summary of certain provisions of the Communications Act and other legislation and of specific FCC rules and policies. This summary focuses on provisions material to our business. Reference should be made to the Communications Act, other legislation, FCC rules and public notices and rulings of the FCC for further information concerning the nature and extent of the FCCs regulatory authority.
FCC laws and regulations are subject to change, and the Company generally cannot predict whether new legislation, court action or regulations, or a change in the extent of application or enforcement of current laws and regulations, would have an adverse impact on our operations.
PARKS AND RESORTS
The Company owns and operates the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, the Disneyland Resort in California, the Disney Vacation Club, the Disney Cruise Line and ESPN Zone facilities in several states. The Company manages and has effective ownership interests of 51% and 43%, respectively, in the Disneyland Resort Paris and Hong Kong
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Disneyland Resort. The Company also licenses the operations of the Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan. The Companys Walt Disney Imagineering unit designs and develops new theme park concepts and attractions as well as resort properties.
The businesses in the Parks and Resorts segment generate revenues predominately from the sale of admissions to the theme parks, room nights at our hotels, merchandise, food and beverage sales, rentals and sales of our vacation club resort properties and cruise vacation packages. Costs consist principally of labor, depreciation, costs of merchandise, food and beverage sold, marketing and sales expense, repairs and maintenance and entertainment.
Walt Disney World Resort
The Walt Disney World Resort is located 22 miles southwest of Orlando, Florida, on approximately 25,000 acres of owned land. The resort includes theme parks (the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disneys Animal Kingdom); hotels; vacation ownership units; a retail, dining and entertainment complex; a sports complex; conference centers; campgrounds; golf courses; water parks and other recreational facilities designed to attract visitors for an extended stay.
The Walt Disney World Resort is marketed through a variety of international, national and local advertising and promotional activities. Several attractions in each of the theme parks are sponsored by corporate participants.
Magic Kingdom The Magic Kingdom, which opened in 1971, consists of seven themed lands: Main Street USA, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Mickeys Toontown Fair and Tomorrowland. Each land provides a unique guest experience featuring themed rides and attractions, live Disney character interaction, restaurants, refreshment areas and merchandise shops. Additionally, there are daily parades and a nighttime fireworks extravaganza, Wishes.
Epcot Epcot, which opened in 1982, consists of two major themed areas: Future World and World Showcase. Future World dramatizes certain historical developments and addresses the challenges facing the world today through major pavilions devoted to showcasing science and technology improvements, communication, energy, transportation, using your imagination, life and health, nature and food production, the ocean environment and space. World Showcase presents a community of nations focusing on the culture, traditions and accomplishments of people around the world. Countries represented with pavilions include the United States, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Norway and the United Kingdom. Both areas feature themed rides and attractions, restaurants and merchandise shops.
Disney-MGM Studios Disney-MGM Studios, which opened in 1989, consists of a theme park, a radio studio and a film and television production facility. The park centers on Hollywood as it was during the 1930s and 1940s and provides various attractions, themed food service and merchandise facilities. The production facility consists of three sound stages, merchandise shops and a back lot and currently hosts both feature film and television productions. Disney-MGM Studios also features Fantasmic!, a nighttime entertainment spectacular.
Disneys Animal Kingdom Disneys Animal Kingdom, which opened in 1998, consists of a 145-foot Tree of Life centerpiece surrounded by six themed areas: Dinoland U.S.A., Africa, Rafikis Planet Watch, Asia, Discovery Island and Camp Minnie-Mickey. Each themed area contains adventure attractions, entertainment shows, restaurants and merchandise shops. The park features more than 300 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians and 3,000 varieties of trees and plants on more than 500 acres of land.
Resort Facilities As of September 29, 2007, the Company owned and operated 17 resort hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort, with a total of approximately 22,000 rooms and 443,000 square feet of conference meeting space. In addition, Disneys Fort Wilderness camping and recreational area offers approximately 800 campsites.
Walt Disney World also hosts a 120-acre retail, dining and entertainment complex known as Downtown Disney, which consists of the Marketplace, Pleasure Island and West Side. A number of the Downtown Disney facilities are operated by third parties that pay rent and license fees to the Company. In addition to specialty retail shops and restaurants, the Downtown Disney Marketplace is home to the 50,000-square-foot World of Disney retail store featuring Disney-branded merchandise. Pleasure Island, a nighttime entertainment complex adjacent to the Downtown Disney Marketplace, includes restaurants, nightclubs and shopping facilities. Downtown Disney West Side is situated on 66 acres on the west side of Pleasure Island and includes the DisneyQuest facility, Cirque du Soleil, House of Blues and several other retail, dining and entertainment operations.
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Disneys Wide World of Sports, which opened in 1997, is a 220-acre sports complex providing professional caliber training and competition, festival and tournament events and interactive sports activities. The complexs venues accommodate more than 40 different sporting events, including baseball, tennis, basketball, softball, track and field, football and soccer. Its stadium is the spring training site for MLBs Atlanta Braves and has a seating capacity exceeding 9,500. Additionally, the complex is the pre-season training site of the NFLs Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Amateur Athletic Union hosts more than 30 championship events per year at the facility.
In the Downtown Disney Resort area, seven independently-operated hotels are situated on property leased from the Company. These hotels have a capacity of approximately 3,700 rooms. Additionally, two hotels, the Walt Disney World Swan and the Walt Disney World Dolphin, with an aggregate capacity of approximately 2,300 rooms, are independently operated on property leased from the Company near Epcot.
Other recreational amenities and activities available at the Walt Disney World Resort include four championship golf courses, miniature golf courses, full-service spas, tennis, sailing, water skiing, swimming, horseback riding and a number of other noncompetitive sports and leisure time activities. The resort also includes two water parks: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.
Disney Vacation Club
The Disney Vacation Club (DVC) offers ownership interests in eight resort facilities located at the Walt Disney World Resort; Vero Beach, Florida; and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Available units at each facility are offered for sale under a vacation ownership plan and are operated as rental property until the units are sold. After the completion of Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa in May 2007 and the first phase of Disneys Animal Kingdom Villas in July 2007, DVC has approximately 2,400 vacation ownership units. Development of approximately 680 additional units is under construction at Walt Disney World. These accommodations are scheduled for development in phases with an anticipated completion date of the final phase planned for summer 2009. In 2007, the Company announced plans to open the first DVC villas in Anaheim, California, and on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. In Anaheim, 50 DVC villas and 200 additional hotel rooms at Disneys Grand Californian Hotel & Spa are scheduled for completion in late 2009. In Oahu, the Company has purchased 21 acres of oceanfront property which will be home to a new DVC resort. This resort, scheduled to open in phases beginning in 2011, is expected to have more than 800 units, including DVC villas and hotel rooms.
Disneyland Resort
The Company owns 461 acres and has the rights under long-term lease for use of an additional 49 acres of land in Anaheim, California. The Disneyland Resort includes two theme parks (Disneyland and Disneys California Adventure), three hotels and Downtown Disney, a retail, dining and entertainment district designed to attract visitors for an extended stay.
The entire Disneyland Resort is marketed as a destination resort through international, national and local advertising and promotional activities. A number of the attractions and restaurants at each of the theme parks are sponsored by other corporations through long-term agreements.
Disneyland Disneyland, which opened in 1955, consists of Main Street USA and seven principal areas: Adventureland, Critter Country, Fantasyland, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Tomorrowland and Toontown. These areas feature themed rides and attractions, shows, restaurants, merchandise shops and refreshment stands.
Disneys California Adventure Disneys California Adventure, which opened in 2001, is adjacent to Disneyland and includes four principal areas: Golden State, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, Paradise Pier and a bugs land. These areas include rides, attractions, shows, restaurants, merchandise shops and refreshment stands.
In October 2007, the Company announced a multi-year expansion that will bring new entertainment and family-oriented attractions to Disneys California Adventure, including an entirely new 12-acre Cars Land inspired by the Disney/Pixar animated film Cars.
Resort Facilities Disneyland Resort includes three Company-owned hotels: the 969-room Disneyland Hotel, 489-room Disneys Paradise Pier Hotel and Disneys Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, a deluxe 745-room hotel located
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adjacent to Disneys California Adventure. The Company has plans to expand Disneys Grand Californian Hotel & Spa by late 2009, adding more than 200 new hotel rooms and introducing 50 Disney Vacation Club villas to the Disneyland Resort.
The Resort also includes Downtown Disney, a themed 7-acre outdoor complex of entertainment, dining and shopping venues, located adjacent to both Disneyland Park and Disneys California Adventure. A number of the Downtown Disney facilities are operated by third parties, who pay rent and license fees to the Company.
Disneyland Resort Paris
The Company has a 51% effective ownership interest in the Disneyland Resort Paris, which is a 4,800-acre development located in Marne-la-Vallée, approximately 20 miles east of Paris, France being developed pursuant to a 1987 master agreement with the French governmental authorities. Euro Disney S.C.A., a publicly-traded French entity in which the Company holds a 40% interest, and its subsidiaries operate the Disneyland Resort Paris, which includes the Disneyland Park; the Walt Disney Studios Park; seven themed hotels with approximately 5,800 rooms; two convention centers; the Disney Village, a shopping, dining and entertainment complex; and a 27-hole golf facility. Of the 4,800 acres comprising the site, approximately 2,400 acres have been developed to date which includes the Val dEurope development discussed below. An indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company is responsible for managing Disneyland Resort Paris. Euro Disney S.C.A. is required to pay royalties and management fees to certain indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company based on the operating performance of the park.
Disneyland Park Disneyland Park, which opened in 1992, consists of Main Street and four principal themed areas: Adventureland, Discoveryland, Fantasyland and Frontierland. These areas include themed rides, attractions, shows, restaurants, merchandise shops and refreshment stands.
Walt Disney Studios Park Walt Disney Studios Park opened in March 2002 adjacent to Disneyland Park. The park takes guests into the worlds of cinema, animation and television and includes four principal themed areas: Front Lot, Toon Studios, Production Courtyard and Backlot. These areas each include themed rides, attractions, shows, restaurants, merchandise shops and refreshment stands.
Val dEurope is a planned community that we are developing near Disneyland Resort Paris. The completed phases of the development include: a town center, which consists of a shopping center; a 150-room hotel; office, commercial, and residential space; and a regional train station. Third parties operate these developments on land leased or purchased from Euro Disney S.C.A. and its subsidiaries. In September 2003, Euro Disney S.C.A. signed an agreement with the regional development authority to begin the third phase of development. This phase will include an expansion of Disney Village and projects aimed at increasing Val dEuropes capacity to new residents.
In addition, several on-site hotels opened between 2003 and 2006 that are owned and operated by third-party developers and provide approximately 2,300 rooms. Agreements have been signed with additional third-parties to develop approximately 275 time-share units over the next two years.
In fiscal 2005, Euro Disney S.C.A. completed a financial restructuring, which provided for an increase in capital and refinancing of its borrowings. Pursuant to the financial restructuring, the Company has agreed to conditionally and unconditionally defer certain management fees and royalties and convert them into long-term subordinated debt and provide a new ten year 150 million line of credit for liquidity needs, which reduces to 100 million after five years. See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
The Company owns a 43% interest in the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort through Hongkong International Theme Parks Limited, an entity in which the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region owns a 57% majority interest. A separate Hong Kong subsidiary of the Company is responsible for managing Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.
Located on 311 acres on Lantau Island, the resort is in close proximity to the Hong Kong International Airport. Hong Kong Disneyland Resort includes one theme park and two themed hotels.
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Hong Kong Disneyland Hong Kong Disneyland opened in September 2005 and consists of the following lands: Adventureland, Fantasyland, Main Street USA and Tomorrowland. These areas feature themed rides and attractions, shows, restaurants, merchandise shops and refreshment stands.
Resort Facilities Hong Kong Disneyland Resort includes two themed hotels: the 400-room Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel and the 600-room Disneys Hollywood Hotel.
The master project agreement signed by the Company and the Hong Kong government in 1999 permits further phased buildout of the development under certain circumstances.
Based on the operating performance of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, the Company is entitled to receive royalties and management fees. The Company has, however, agreed to waive management fees for the 2008 and 2009 fiscal years, and to defer royalties for the same period. See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
Tokyo Disney Resort
Tokyo Disney Resort is located on approximately 494 acres of land, six miles east of downtown Tokyo, Japan. The resort includes two theme parks (Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea); two Disney-branded hotels; six independently-operated hotels; and a retail, dining and entertainment complex.
Tokyo Disneyland Tokyo Disneyland, which opened in 1983, was the first Disney theme park to open outside the United States. Tokyo Disneyland consists of seven principal areas: Adventureland, Critter Country, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Toontown, Westernland and World Bazaar.
Tokyo DisneySea Tokyo DisneySea, adjacent to Tokyo Disneyland, opened in 2001. The park is divided into seven unique ports of call, including Mediterranean Harbor, American Waterfront, Port Discovery, Lost River Delta, Mermaid Lagoon, Mysterious Island and Arabian Coast.
Resort Facilities The resort includes the 502-room Tokyo Disney Sea Hotel MiraCosta and the 504-room Disney Ambassador Hotel. A third Disney-branded hotel, the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, is scheduled to open in July 2008 and will add an additional 706 guest rooms. The resort also includes the Disney Resort Line monorail, which links theme parks and resort hotels with Ikspiari, a retail, dining and entertainment complex, and with Bon Voyage, a Disney-themed merchandise location.
The Company earns royalties on revenues generated by the Tokyo Disney Resort, which is owned and operated by Oriental Land Co., Ltd. (OLC), a Japanese corporation in which the Company has no investment. OLC markets the Tokyo Disney Resort primarily through a variety of local, domestic and international advertising and promotional activities. In addition, third parties sponsor many of the theme park attractions under long-term arrangements.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line, which is operated out of Port Canaveral, Florida, is a vacation cruise line that includes two 85,000-ton ships, the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. Both ships cater to children, families and adults, with distinctly-themed areas and activities for each group. Each ship features 877 staterooms, 73% of which are outside staterooms providing guests with ocean views. Cruise vacations often include a visit to Disneys Castaway Cay, a 1,000-acre private Bahamian island. The Company packages three, four and seven-day cruise vacations with visits to the Walt Disney World Resort and also offers cruise-only options.
In February 2007, the Company announced that it is expanding its cruise business by adding two new ships, one in 2011 and one in 2012. The new ships will each be 124,000 tons with 1,250 staterooms.
ESPN Zone
The ESPN Zone concept combines three interactive areas under one roof for a complete sports and entertainment experience: the Studio Grill, offering dining in an ESPN studio environment; the Screening Room, offering fans an exciting sports viewing environment; and the Sports Arena, challenging guests with a variety of interactive and
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competitive attractions. The Company currently operates eight ESPN Zone restaurants located in Anaheim, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; Las Vegas, Nevada; New York, New York; and Washington, D.C.
Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Imagineering provides master planning, real estate development, attraction and show design, engineering support, production support, project management and other development services, including research and development for the Companys operations.
Competition and Seasonality
The Companys theme parks and resorts compete with other forms of entertainment, lodging, tourism and recreational activities. The profitability of the leisure-time industry may be influenced by various factors that are not directly controllable, such as economic conditions including business cycle and exchange rate fluctuations, travel industry trends, amount of available leisure time, oil and transportation prices and weather patterns.
All of the theme parks and the associated resort facilities are operated on a year-round basis. Historically, the theme parks and resort business experiences fluctuations in theme park attendance and resort occupancy resulting from the seasonal nature of vacation travel and local entertainment excursions. Peak attendance and resort occupancy generally occur during the summer months when school vacations occur and during early-winter and spring-holiday periods.
STUDIO ENTERTAINMENT
The Studio Entertainment segment produces and acquires live-action and animated motion pictures, direct-to-video programming, musical recordings and live stage plays.
The Company distributes produced and acquired films (including its film and television library) in the theatrical, home entertainment and television markets. Each of these market windows is discussed in more detail below.
Theatrical Market
Walt Disney Pictures, a subsidiary of the Company, produces and acquires live-action motion pictures that are distributed primarily under the Walt Disney Pictures and Touchstone Pictures banners. As part of a shift in strategy, the Company expects to weight production of films more toward Disney-branded films and away from Touchstone films. Miramax Film Corp. (Miramax), another subsidiary of the Company, acquires and produces motion pictures under the Miramax banner. The Company distributed motion pictures under the Dimension banner through September 30, 2005. All releases under the Dimension banner after September 30, 2005 are owned and distributed by The Weinstein Company, a third-party company operated by the former co-chairmen of Miramax. The Company retains a license to continue to use the Dimension banner on titles that were released prior to September 30, 2005. The Company also produces and distributes animated motion pictures under the banners, Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar.
During fiscal 2008, we expect to distribute domestically approximately 13 feature films under the Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar and Touchstone Pictures banners and approximately nine films under the Miramax banner. These expected releases include several live-action family films and full-length animated films, with the remainder targeted to teenagers and/or adults. As of September 29, 2007, the Company had released domestically 911 full-length live-action features, 79 full-length animated features, approximately 544 cartoon shorts and 53 live action shorts under the Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Dimension banners.
We distribute and market our filmed products principally through our own distribution and marketing companies in the U.S. In the international market, we distribute our filmed products both directly and through independent distribution companies. Films released theatrically in the U.S. can be released simultaneously theatrically in international territories or generally up to six months later.
The Company incurs significant marketing and advertising costs before and throughout the theatrical release of a film in an effort to generate public awareness of the film, to increase the publics intent to view the film and to help
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generate significant consumer interest in the subsequent home entertainment and other ancillary markets. These costs are expensed as incurred; therefore, we typically incur losses in the theatrical markets on a film, including the quarters before the theatrical release of the film.
Home Entertainment Market
In the domestic market, we distribute home-entertainment releases under each of our motion picture banners. In the international market, we distribute home-entertainment releases under each of our motion picture banners both directly and through independent foreign distribution companies. In addition, we acquire and produce original programming for direct-to-video release.
The domestic and international home-entertainment window typically starts four to six months after each theatrical release with the issuance of a variety of physical and electronic versions of each title (including DVD, Blu-ray and electronic formats). Most titles are sold simultaneously to both rentailers, such as Blockbuster, and retailers, such as Wal-Mart and Best Buy. In fiscal 2006, we began to distribute our films in the home-entertainment market electronically, including via iTunes and other distribution services.
As of September 29, 2007, under the banners Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Dimension, 1,410 produced and acquired titles, including 1,176 live-action titles and 234 cartoon shorts and animated features, were available to the domestic home-entertainment marketplace and 3,070 produced and acquired titles, including 2,270 live-action titles and 800 cartoon shorts and animated features, were available to the international home-entertainment market.
Television Market
Pay-Per-View (PPV): Generally about one to two months after the home entertainment window begins, the studios television distributors, Disney-ABC Domestic Television and Disney-ABC International Television, license titles to cable, satellite and internet platforms for showing on a pay-per-view basis. PPV services, such as iN DEMAND and DirecTV, deliver one-time rentals electronically to consumers televisions at a price comparable to that of physical media rentals. Video-on-Demand (VOD) is an extension of PPV and currently shares the PPV window. The PPV/VOD window generally lasts about three months.
Pay Television (Pay 1): There are generally two pay television windows. The first window is generally sixteen months in duration and follows the PPV/VOD window. The Company has licensed exclusive domestic pay television rights to certain films released under the Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Dimension banners to the Encore pay television services over a multi-year period.
Free Television (Free 1): The Pay 1 window is followed by a free television window with telecasts accessible to consumers without charge. This free window may last up to 84 months. Motion pictures are usually sold in the Free 1 window on an ad-hoc basis to major networks and basic cable services. For films released theatrically prior to October 1, 2004, the Studio maintained only one output arrangement with the ABC Television Network. Films released after that date can be sold on an ad-hoc basis to all networks, including the ABC Television Network.
Pay Television 2 (Pay 2) and Free Television 2 (Free 2): In the U.S., Free 1 is generally followed by a fourteen- month Pay 2 window, included under our license arrangement with Encore, and finally by a Free 2 window. The Free 2 window is a syndication window where films are licensed both to basic cable networks and to third-party television station groups. Major packages of the Companys feature films and animated television programming have been licensed for broadcast under multi-year agreements.
International Television: The Company also licenses its theatrical and television properties outside of the U.S. The typical windowing sequence is broadly consistent with the domestic cycle such that titles premiere on television in PPV/VOD then air in pay TV before airing in free TV. Windowing strategies are developed in response to local market practices and conditions, and the exact sequence and length of each window can vary country by country.
Disney Music Group
The Disney Music Group includes Walt Disney Records, Hollywood Records (including the Mammoth Records and Buena Vista Records labels), Lyric Street Records, Buena Vista Concerts and Disney Music Publishing.
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Walt Disney Records produces and distributes compact discs and music DVDs in the United States. Music categories include infant, childrens read-along, teens, all-family and soundtracks from film and television series distributed by Walt Disney Pictures and Disney Channel. It also licenses the creation of similar products throughout the rest of the world. Hollywood Records develops, produces and markets recordings from new talent across a spectrum of popular music. Nashville-based Lyric Street Records develops, produces and markets recordings in the country music genre.
Each of the labels commissions new music for the Companys motion picture and television programs, records the songs and licenses the song copyrights to others for printed music, records, audio-visual devices, public performances and digital distribution. Buena Vista Concerts produces live-entertainment events with artists signed to the Disney Music Group record labels.
Disney Music Publishing controls the copyrights of thousands of musical compositions derived from the Companys motion picture, television, record and theme park properties, as well as musical compositions written by songwriters under exclusive contract. It is responsible for the management, protection, growth and licensing of the Disney song catalog on a worldwide basis, including licensing for printed music, records, audio-visual works and new media.
Disney Theatrical Group
The Disney Theatrical Group includes both Disney Theatrical Productions and Disney Live Family Entertainment.
Disney Theatrical Productions develops, produces and licenses live entertainment events. The Company has produced and licensed Broadway musicals around the world, including Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Elton John & Tim Rices Aida, Mary Poppins (a co-production with Cameron Mackintosh Ltd), TARZAN®, and the professional touring stage version of High School Musical, which was launched in August 2007. Disneys musical The Little Mermaid will open on Broadway in December 2007. In addition, the Company licenses musical titles for local school and community theatre productions.
Disney Live Family Entertainment delivers worldwide touring productions under the Disney On Ice and Disney Live! brands through our license to Feld Entertainment. In September 2007, Disney On Ice launched High School Musical: the Ice Tour, and Disney Live! launched Playhouse Disney Live!.
Pixar
On May 5, 2006, the Company acquired Pixar in an all-stock transaction and Pixar became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. As a result of the acquisition, the Company now produces feature animation films under both the Disney and Pixar banners. Prior to the acquisition, the Company co-financed and distributed animated motion pictures developed in conjunction with Pixar. Both parties co-financed and co-branded the films and shared equally in the profits of each picture and any related merchandise or ancillary products, after the Company recovered all marketing costs and received a distribution fee. Additional information regarding the acquisition of Pixar is set forth in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements.
Competition and Seasonality
The success of Studio Entertainment operations is heavily dependent upon public taste and preferences. In addition, Studio Entertainment operating results fluctuate due to the timing and performance of releases in the theatrical, home entertainment and television markets. Release dates are determined by several factors, including competition and the timing of vacation and holiday periods.
The Studio Entertainment businesses compete with all forms of entertainment. A significant number of companies produce and/or distribute theatrical and television films, exploit products in the home entertainment market, provide pay television programming services and sponsor live theater. We also compete to obtain creative and performing talents, story properties, advertiser support, broadcast rights and market share, that are essential to the success of our Studio Entertainment businesses.
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CONSUMER PRODUCTS
The Consumer Products segment engages with licensees, manufacturers, publishers and retailers throughout the world to design, develop, publish, promote and sell a wide variety of products based on existing and new Disney characters and other intellectual property. In addition to leveraging the Companys film and television properties, Consumer Products also develops new intellectual property with the potential of being used in the Companys other businesses. The Company also engages in retail and online distribution of products based on the Companys characters and films through The Disney Store and DisneyShopping.com, respectively. The Disney Store is owned and operated in Europe and is franchised in North America and Japan.
Character Merchandise Licensing
The Companys worldwide merchandise licensing operations are divided among several product categories, including toys, apparel, accessories, footwear, home furnishings, home décor, health, beauty, food, stationery and consumer electronics. The Company earns royalties, which are usually based on a fixed percentage of the wholesale or retail selling price of the products. The Company licenses characters from its film, television and other properties. Some of the major properties licensed by the Company include Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Disney Princess, Cars and High School Musical. The Company has also expanded its ability to design individual products and create exclusive themed and seasonal promotional campaigns for retailers based on characters, movies and TV shows.
Books and Magazines
Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) publishes childrens books and magazines in multiple countries and languages. DPWs businesses include Disney Global Book Group, U.S. Consumer Magazines and Global Disney Magazines. During 2007, the Companys U.S. and international childrens book group published several new titles, including the third book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan, The Titans Curse, Disneys Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End by T. t. Sutherland, High School Musical 2: The Junior Novel by N.B. Grace and the second illustrated storybook Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Wand by Gail Carlson Levine, as well as several titles for Cars and Princess franchises. The U.S. Consumer Magazine business includes such titles as FamilyFun and Wondertime. The international childrens magazine group includes titles such as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck weekly comic magazines and Princess. In fiscal 2006, the Company sold Discover magazine and discontinued Disney magazine in the U.S. Disney Publishing also licenses books, magazines and English language learning programs.
Disney Interactive Studios (Formerly Buena Vista Games)
Disney Interactive Studios (DIS) creates, develops, markets and distributes multi-platform video games worldwide. DIS primarily focuses on multi-platform games derived from the Companys creative content, such as Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, Spectrobes and Meet The Robinsons. DIS is increasing its investment in internally developed and published games through the acquisition of studios and increased product development spending. DIS also licenses properties such as Kingdom Hearts 2 and Ratatouille to third-party developers.
DisneyShopping.com
DisneyShopping.com offers Disney-themed merchandise through an internet site, which includes internally developed Disney merchandise as well as merchandise from Disney licensees.
The Disney Store
The Company markets Disney-themed products directly through retail stores operated under the Disney Store name. These facilities are generally located in leading shopping malls and other retail complexes. The stores carry a wide variety of Disney merchandise and promote other businesses of the Company. The Company owns and operates 105 stores in Europe. In Japan, the stores are operated by a subsidiary of Oriental Land Co., Ltd., under a licensing arrangement. In fiscal 2005, 315 stores in North America were sold to a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Childrens Place, which operates them under a licensing and operating arrangement. At September 29, 2007, the Childrens Place operated 328 stores under this arrangement. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion on the sale of the Disney Store chain in North America.
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Competition and Seasonality
The Company competes in its character merchandising and other licensing, publishing, interactive and retail activities with other licensors, publishers and retailers of character, brand and celebrity names. Based on independent surveys, we believe the Company is the largest worldwide licensor of character-based merchandise and producer/distributor of childrens film-related products based on retail sales. Operating results for the licensing and retail distribution business are influenced by seasonal consumer purchasing behavior and by the timing and performance of animated theatrical releases and cable programming broadcasts.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION
The Companys businesses throughout the world are affected by its ability to exploit and protect against infringement of its intellectual property, including trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents and trade secrets. Important intellectual property includes rights in the content of motion pictures, television programs, electronic games, sound recordings, character likenesses, theme park attractions, books and magazines.
The Companys ability to exploit and protect intellectual property rights is affected by the strength and effectiveness of intellectual property laws in the United States and abroad. Inadequate laws or enforcement mechanisms to protect intellectual property in one country can adversely affect the results of the Companys operations worldwide, despite the Companys efforts to protect its intellectual property rights. In addition, a variety of factors, including technological advances, the falling prices of devices incorporating such new technologies, and increased broadband internet speed and penetration have made infringement easier and faster and enforcement more challenging. Therefore, the Company devotes significant resources to protecting its intellectual property against unauthorized use in the United States and foreign markets.
The Company is also subject to the risk of challenges by third parties claiming infringement of their proprietary rights. Regardless of their validity, such claims may result in substantial costs and diversion of resources which could have an adverse effect on the Companys operations.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports are available without charge on our website, www.disney.com/investors, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed electronically with the SEC. We are providing the address to our internet site solely for the information of investors. We do not intend the address to be an active link or to otherwise incorporate the contents of the website into this report.
For an enterprise as large and complex as the Company, a wide range of factors could materially affect future developments and performance. In addition to the factors affecting specific business operations identified in connection with the description of these operations and the financial results of these operations elsewhere in this report, the most significant factors affecting our operations include the following:
Changes in U.S., global, or regional economic conditions could adversely affect the profitability of any of our businesses.
A decrease in economic activity in the United States or in other regions of the world in which we do business could adversely affect demand for any of our businesses, thus reducing our revenue and earnings. A decline in economic conditions could reduce attendance and spending at one or more of our parks and resorts, purchase of or prices for advertising on our broadcast or cable networks or owned stations, prices that cable operators will pay for our cable programming, performance of our theatrical and home entertainment releases, and purchases of Company-branded consumer products. In addition, an increase in price levels generally, or in price levels in a particular sector such as the energy sector, could result in a shift in consumer demand away from the entertainment and consumer products we offer, which could also adversely affect our revenues and, at the same time, increase our costs. Changes in exchange rates for foreign currencies may reduce international demand for our products, increase our labor or supply costs in non-United States markets, or reduce the United States dollar value of revenue we receive from other markets.
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Labor disputes may disrupt our operations and adversely affect the profitability of any of our businesses.
A significant number of employees in various of our businesses are covered by collective bargaining agreements, including employees of our theme parks and resorts as well as writers, directors, actors, production personnel and others employed in our media networks and studio operations. In addition, the employees of licensees who manufacture and retailers who sell our consumer products may be covered by labor agreements with their employers. Collective bargaining agreements with guilds and unions representing writers, directors, actors, technicians and others either have expired or are scheduled to expire during fiscal 2008, and negotiations with some of these guilds and unions have taken place, are scheduled or are underway. In general, a labor dispute involving our employees or the employees of our licensees or retailers who sell our consumer products may disrupt our operations and reduce our revenues, and resolution of disputes may increase our costs. On November 5, 2007, members of the Writers Guild of America commenced a work stoppage. On November 10, 2007, members of Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees commenced a work stoppage affecting one of the Companys theatrical productions in New York City. The Company does not currently expect this work stoppage to have a material impact on the Companys financial results. With respect to the work stoppage by the Writers Guild of America, if this or another work stoppage by unions involved in the production of television or film programming is prolonged, we may be unable to produce or air original programming or produce and distribute new theatrical releases, either of which could result in reduced revenue. While we would pursue measures to mitigate the impact of a sustained work stoppage through alternative programming and reduction of costs, we expect that a continued work stoppage could have an adverse effect on our profitability.
Changes in public and consumer tastes and preferences for entertainment and consumer products could reduce demand for our entertainment offerings and products and adversely affect the profitability of any of our businesses.
Each of our businesses creates entertainment or consumer products whose success depends substantially on consumer tastes and preferences that change in often unpredictable ways. The success of our businesses depends on our ability to consistently create and distribute filmed entertainment, broadcast and cable programming, theme park attractions, resort facilities and consumer products that meet the changing preferences of the broad consumer market. Many of our businesses increasingly depend on worldwide acceptance of our offerings and products, and their success therefore depends on our ability to successfully predict and adapt to changing consumer tastes and preferences outside as well as inside the United States. Moreover, we must often invest substantial amounts in film production, broadcast and cable programming, theme park attractions, or resort facilities before we learn the extent to which these products will earn consumer acceptance. If our entertainment offerings and products do not achieve sufficient consumer acceptance, our revenue from advertising sales (which are based in part on ratings for the programs in which advertisements air) or subscription fees for broadcast and cable programming, from theatrical film receipts or home video sales, from theme park admissions, resort room charges and merchandise, food and beverage sales, from sales of licensed consumer products or from sales of our other consumer products and services may decline and adversely affect the profitability of one or more of our businesses.
Changes in technology and in consumer consumption patterns may affect demand for our entertainment products or the cost of producing or distributing products.
The media and entertainment businesses in which we participate depend significantly on our ability to acquire, develop, adopt and exploit new technologies to distinguish our products and services from those of our competitors. In addition, new technologies affect the demand for our products, the time and manner in which consumers acquire and view some of our entertainment products and the options available to advertisers for reaching their desired markets. For example:
| the success of our offerings in the home entertainment market depends in part on consumer preferences with respect to home entertainment formats, including DVD players and personal video recorders, as well as the availability of alternative home entertainment offerings and technologies, including web-based delivery of entertainment offerings; |
| technological developments offer consumers an expanding array of entertainment options and if consumers favor options we have not yet fully developed rather than the entertainment products we offer, our sales may be adversely affected. |
19
The unauthorized use of our intellectual property rights may increase the cost of protecting these rights or reduce our revenues.
The success of our businesses is highly dependent on maintenance of intellectual property rights in the entertainment products and services we create. New technologies such as the convergence of computing, communication, and entertainment devices, the falling prices of devices incorporating such technologies, and increased broadband internet speed and penetration have made the unauthorized digital copying and distribution of our films, television productions and other creative works easier and faster and enforcement of intellectual property rights more challenging. There is evidence that unauthorized use of intellectual property rights in the entertainment industry generally is a significant and rapidly growing phenomenon. These developments require us to devote substantial resources to protecting our intellectual property against unauthorized use and present the risk of increased losses of revenue as a result of unauthorized digital distribution of our content and sales of unauthorized DVDs and other counterfeit products.
A variety of uncontrollable events may reduce demand for our products and services, impair our ability to provide our products and services or increase the cost of providing our products and services.
Demand for our products and services, particularly our theme parks and resorts, is highly dependent on the general environment for travel and tourism. The environment for travel and tourism, as well as demand for other entertainment products, can be significantly adversely affected in the United States, globally or in specific regions as a result of a variety of factors beyond our control, including: adverse weather conditions or natural disasters (such as excessive heat or rain, hurricanes and earthquakes); health concerns; international, political or military developments; and terrorist attacks. These events and others, such as fluctuations in travel and energy costs and computer virus attacks or other widespread computing or telecommunications failures, may also damage our ability to provide our products and services or to obtain insurance coverage with respect to these events. In addition, we derive royalties from the sales of our licensed goods and services by third parties and the management of businesses operated under brands licensed from the Company, and we are therefore dependent on the successes of those third parties for that portion of our revenue. A wide variety of factors could influence the success of those third parties and if negative factors significantly impacted a sufficient number of our licensees they could adversely affect the profitability of one or more of our businesses. We obtain insurance against the risk of losses relating to some but not all of these events, and when insurance is obtained it is subject to deductibles, exclusions and caps. The types and levels of coverage we obtain vary from time to time depending on our view of the likelihood of specific types and levels of loss in relation to the cost of obtaining coverage for such types and levels of loss.
Changes in our business strategy or restructuring of our businesses may increase our costs or otherwise affect the profitability of our businesses.
As changes in our business environment occur we may need to adjust our business strategies to meet these changes or we may otherwise find it necessary to restructure our operations or particular businesses or assets. In addition, external events including acceptance of our theatrical offerings and changes in macro-economic conditions may impair the value of our assets. When these changes or events occur, we may incur costs to change our business strategy and may need to write down the value of assets. We may also need to invest in new businesses that have short-term returns that are negative or low and whose ultimate business prospects are uncertain. In any of these events, our costs may increase, we may have significant charges associated with the write-down of assets or returns on new investments may be lower than prior to the change in strategy or restructuring.
Macro-economic factors may impede access to or increase the cost of financing our operations and investments.
Changes in U.S. and global financial and equity markets, including market disruptions and significant interest rate fluctuations, may make it more difficult for us to obtain financing for our operations or investments or increase the cost of obtaining financing. In addition, our borrowing costs can be affected by short and long-term debt ratings assigned by independent rating agencies which are based, in significant part, on the Companys performance as measured by credit metrics such as interest coverage and leverage ratios. A decrease in these ratings could increase our cost of borrowing or make it more difficult for us to obtain financing.
20
Increased competitive pressures may reduce our revenues or increase our costs.
We face substantial competition in each of our businesses from alternative providers of the products and services we offer and from other forms of entertainment, lodging, tourism and recreational activities. We also must compete to obtain human resources, programming and other resources we require in operating our business. For example:
| Our broadcast and cable networks and stations compete for viewers with other broadcast, cable and satellite services as well as with home video products and internet usage. |
| Our broadcast and cable networks and stations compete for the sale of advertising time with other broadcast, cable and satellite services, as well as newspaper, magazines, billboards and the internet. |
| Our cable networks compete for carriage of their programming with other programming providers. |
| Our broadcast and cable networks compete for the acquisition of creative talent and sports and other programming with other broadcast and cable networks. |
| Our theme parks and resorts compete for guests with all other forms of entertainment, lodging, tourism and recreation activities. |
| Our studio operations compete for customers with all other forms of entertainment. |
| Our studio operations, broadcast and cable networks and publishing businesses compete to obtain creative and performing talent, story properties, advertiser support, broadcast rights and market share. |
| Our consumer products segment competes in the character merchandising and other licensing, publishing, interactive and retail activities with other licensors, publishers and retailers of character, brand and celebrity names. |
Competition in each of these areas may divert consumers from our creative or other products, or to other products or other forms of entertainment, which could reduce our revenue or increase our marketing costs. Competition for the acquisition of resources can increase the cost of producing our products and services.
Sustained increases in costs of pension and postretirement medical and other employee health and welfare benefits may reduce our profitability.
With more than 137,000 employees, our profitability is substantially affected by costs of pension benefits and current and postretirement medical benefits. In some recent years, we experienced significant increases in these costs as a result of macro-economic factors beyond our control, including increases in health care costs. In addition, changes in investment returns and discount rates used to calculate pension and related liabilities may have an unfavorable impact on our costs in some years. At least some of these macro-economic factors may put upward pressure on the cost of providing pension and medical benefits. Although we have actively sought to control increases in these costs, there can be no assurance that we will succeed in limiting cost increases, and continued upward pressure could reduce the profitability of our businesses.
Our results may be adversely affected if long-term programming or carriage contracts are not renewed on sufficiently favorable terms.
We enter into long-term contracts for both the acquisition and the distribution of media programming and products, including contracts for the acquisition of programming rights for sporting events and other programs, and contracts for the distribution of our programming to cable and satellite operators. As these contracts expire, we must renew or renegotiate the contracts, and if we are unable to renew them on acceptable terms, we may lose programming rights or distribution rights. Even if these contracts are renewed, the cost of obtaining programming rights may increase (or increase at faster rates than our historical experience) or the revenue from distribution of programs may be reduced (or increase at slower rates than our historical experience). With respect to the acquisition of programming rights, particularly sports programming rights, the impact of these long-term contracts on our results over the term of the contracts depends on a number of factors, including the strength of advertising markets, effectiveness of marketing efforts and the size of viewer audiences. There can be no assurance that revenues from programming based on these rights will exceed the cost of the rights plus the other costs of producing and distributing the programming.
21
Changes in regulations applicable to our businesses may impair the profitability of our businesses.
Our broadcast networks and television stations are highly regulated, and each of our other businesses is subject to a variety of United States and overseas regulations. These regulations include:
| United States FCC regulation of our television and radio networks and owned stations, including licensing of stations, ownership limits, prohibitions on indecent programming and restrictions on commercial time in childrens programming and regulation of our broadcasting businesses in non-United States markets. Additional information regarding FCC regulation is provided in Item 1 Business Media Networks, Federal Regulation. |
| Environmental protection regulations. |
| Federal, state and foreign privacy and data protection laws and regulations. |
| Regulation of the safety of consumer products and theme park operations. |
| Imposition by foreign countries of trade restrictions or motion picture or television content requirements or quotas. |
| Domestic and international tax laws or currency controls. |
Changes in any of these regulatory areas may require us to spend additional amounts to comply with the regulations, or may restrict our ability to offer products and services that are profitable.
The Companys acquisition of Pixar causes short term dilution in earnings per share and there can be no assurance that anticipated improvements in earnings per share will be realized.
On May 5, 2006, the Company completed its all stock acquisition of Pixar. To purchase Pixar, Disney exchanged 2.3 shares of its common stock for each share of Pixar common stock, resulting in the issuance of 279 million shares of Disney common stock and converted previously issued vested and unvested Pixar equity-based awards into approximately 45 million Disney equity-based awards.
As anticipated, the earnings contributed by Pixars operations in fiscal 2007 per share issued in the transaction were less than the earnings per share of the remainder of our businesses, effectively reducing earnings per share in fiscal 2007 compared to what earnings per share would have been in the absence of the transaction. The Company believes, however, that the transaction yields benefits beyond the earnings contributed by the operations of Pixar and that the transaction will ultimately be accretive to earnings per share. There can be no assurance that the increase in earnings per share expected in the longer term will be achieved. In order to achieve increases in earnings per share as a result of the acquisition, the Company will, among other things, need to effectively continue the successful operations of Pixar, develop successful sequels to prior Pixar productions and improve the overall performance of the Disney feature animation business.
Provisions in our corporate documents and Delaware state law could delay or prevent a change of control, even if that change would be beneficial to shareholders.
Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation contains a provision regulating the ability of shareholders to bring matters for action before annual and special meetings and authorizes our Board of Directors to issue and set the terms of preferred stock. The regulations on shareholder action could make it more difficult for any person seeking to acquire control of the Company to obtain shareholder approval of actions that would support this effort. The issuance of preferred stock could effectively dilute the interests of any person seeking control or otherwise make it more difficult to obtain control. In addition, we are subject to the anti-takeover provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control in some circumstances.
22
The seasonality of certain of our businesses could exacerbate negative impacts on our operations.
Each of our businesses is normally subject to seasonal variations, as follows:
| Revenues in our Media Networks segment are subject to seasonal advertising patterns and changes in viewership levels. In general, advertising revenues are somewhat higher during the fall and somewhat lower during the summer months. Affiliate revenues are typically collected ratably throughout the year. Certain affiliate revenues at ESPN are deferred until annual programming commitments are met, and these commitments are typically satisfied during the second half of the Companys fiscal year, which generally results in higher revenue recognition during this period. |
| Revenues in our Parks and Resorts segment fluctuate with changes in theme park attendance and resort occupancy resulting from the seasonal nature of vacation travel and local entertainment excursions. Peak attendance and resort occupancy generally occur during the summer months when school vacations occur and during early-winter and spring-holiday periods. |
| Revenues in our Studio Entertainment segment fluctuate due to the timing and performance of releases in the theatrical, home entertainment, and television markets. Release dates are determined by several factors, including competition and the timing of vacation and holiday periods. |
| Revenues in our Consumer Products segment are influenced by seasonal consumer purchasing behavior and by the timing and performance of animated theatrical releases and cable programming broadcasts. |
Accordingly, if a short term negative impact on our business occurs during a time of high seasonal demand (such as hurricane damage to our parks during the summer travel season), the effect could have a disproportionate effect on the results of that business for the year.
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
The Company has received no written comments regarding its periodic or current reports from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission that were issued 180 days or more preceding the end of its 2007 fiscal year and that remain unresolved.
The Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Park and other properties of the Company and its subsidiaries are described in Item 1 under the caption Parks and Resorts. Film library properties are described in Item 1 under the caption Studio Entertainment. Radio and television stations owned by the Company are described under the caption Media Networks.
23
The Company and its subsidiaries own and lease properties throughout the world. In addition to the properties noted above, the table below provides a brief description of other significant properties and the related business segment.
Location |
Property / Approximate Size |
Use |
Business | |||
Burbank, CA | Land (51 acres) & Buildings (2,000,000 ft2) |
Owned Office/Production/Warehouse | Corp/Studio/ Media/CP | |||
Burbank, CA & surrounding cities(2) |
Buildings (1,700,000 ft2 ) | Leased Office/Warehouse | Corp/Studio/ Media/CP | |||
Glendale, CA & North Hollywood, CA |
Land (125 acres) & Buildings (2,600,000 ft2) |
Owned Office/Warehouse (includes 700,000 ft2 sublet to third party tenants) | Corp/Studio/ Media/CP/ TP&R | |||
Glendale, CA | Buildings (160,000 ft2) | Leased Office/Warehouse | Corp/CP | |||
Los Angeles, CA | Land (22 acres) & Buildings (600,000 ft2 ) |
Owned Office/Production/Technical | Media | |||
New York, NY | Land (6.5 acres) & Buildings (1,400,000 ft2 ) |
Owned Office/Production/Technical | Media | |||
New York, NY | Buildings (710,000 ft2 ) | Leased Office/Production/Warehouse (includes 10,000 ft2 sublet to third party tenants) | Corp/Studio/ Media/CP | |||
Bristol, CT | Land (74 acres) & Buildings (600,000 ft2 ) |
Owned Office/Production/Technical | Media | |||
Bristol, CT | Buildings (400,000 ft2 ) | Leased Office/Warehouse/Technical | Media | |||
Emeryville, CA | Land (21 acres) & Buildings (270,000 ft2 ) |
Owned Office/Production/Technical (includes 20,000 ft2 sublet to third party tenants) | Studio | |||
Emeryville, CA | Buildings (130,000 ft2 ) | Leased Office/Storage | Studio | |||
USA & Canada | Land and Buildings (Multiple sites and sizes) |
Owned and Leased Office/ Production/Transmitter/Retail/ Warehouse | Studio/CP/Media/TP&R | |||
Hammersmith, England | Building (330,000 ft2 ) | Owned Office (includes 25,000 ft2 sublet to third party tenants) | Corp/Studio/ Media/CP | |||
Europe, Asia, Australia & Latin America |
Buildings (Multiple sites and sizes) |
Leased Office/Retail/Warehouse | Corp/Studio/ Media/CP |
(1) |
Corp Corporate, CP Consumer Products and TP&R Theme Parks and Resorts |
(2) |
Surrounding cities include North Hollywood, CA and Sun Valley, CA |
24
Milne and Disney Enterprises, Inc. v. Stephen Slesinger, Inc. On November 5, 2002, Clare Milne, the granddaughter of A. A. Milne, author of the Winnie the Pooh books, and the Companys subsidiary Disney Enterprises, Inc. (DEI) filed a complaint against Stephen Slesinger, Inc. (SSI) in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. On November 4, 2002, Ms. Milne served notices to SSI and DEI terminating A. A. Milnes prior grant of rights to Winnie the Pooh, effective November 5, 2004, and granted all of those rights to DEI. In their lawsuit, Ms. Milne and DEI sought a declaratory judgment, under United States copyright law, that Ms. Milnes termination notices were valid; that SSIs rights to Winnie the Pooh in the United States terminated effective November 5, 2004; that upon termination of SSIs rights in the United States, the 1983 licensing agreement that is the subject of the Stephen Slesinger, Inc. v. The Walt Disney Company lawsuit terminated by operation of law; and that, as of November 5, 2004, SSI was entitled to no further royalties for uses of Winnie the Pooh. SSI filed (a) an answer denying the material allegations of the complaint and (b) counterclaims seeking a declaration that (i) Ms. Milnes grant of rights to DEI is void and unenforceable and (ii) DEI remains obligated to pay SSI royalties under the 1983 licensing agreement. The District Court ruled that Milnes termination notices were invalid. The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed, and on June 26, 2006, the United States Supreme Court denied Milnes petition for a writ of certiorari. On June 23, 2003, SSI filed an amended answer and counterclaims and a third-party complaint against Harriet Hunt (heir to E. H. Shepard, illustrator of the original Winnie the Pooh stories), who had served a notice of termination and a grant of rights similar to Ms. Milnes, and asserted counterclaims against the Company allegedly arising from the Milne and Hunt terminations and the grant of rights to DEI for (a) unlawful and unfair business practices; and (b) breach of the 1983 licensing agreement.
On October 19, 2006, the parties stipulated to SSIs filing its Fourth Amended Answer and Counterclaims (Fourth Amended Answer) seeking (a) to invalidate the Hunt termination notice, (b) to terminate the Companys rights vis-à-vis SSI, and (c) damages in excess of two billion dollars, among other relief. That stipulation also provided that Hunt and the Company need not respond to the Fourth Amended Answer until the conclusion of two events: the state court appeal in Stephen Slesinger, Inc. v. The Walt Disney Company, and the trial in the District Court on the validity of the Hunt termination notice. SSI then sought to withdraw both the Fourth Amended Answer and its stipulation, but on November 3, 2006, the District Court denied that request. SSIs motion for summary judgment on the validity of Hunts 2002 attempt to recapture E. H. Shepards rights was granted on February 15, 2007, and thereafter, on March 27, 2007, the District Court dismissed as moot all claims against Hunt and three of SSIs counterclaims against the Company related to the Companys agreements with Milne and Hunt concerning the termination and disposition of their rights. In a related development, on January 23, 2007, and on August 22, 2007, SSI initiated proceedings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) seeking, among other things, cancellation of certain Pooh trademark registrations. On February 22, 2007, the PTO suspended the first proceeding on the grounds that the relief sought is effectively duplicative of that sought in the Fourth Amended Answer, and on October 2, 2007, the Company moved to suspend the second proceeding on the same ground.
Stephen Slesinger, Inc. v. The Walt Disney Company. In this lawsuit, filed on February 27, 1991, in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, the plaintiff claims that a Company subsidiary defrauded it and breached a 1983 licensing agreement with respect to certain Winnie the Pooh properties, by failing to account for and pay royalties on revenues earned from the sale of Winnie the Pooh movies on videocassette and from the exploitation of Winnie the Pooh merchandising rights. The plaintiff seeks damages for the licensees alleged breaches as well as confirmation of the plaintiffs interpretation of the licensing agreement with respect to future activities. The plaintiff also seeks the right to terminate the agreement on the basis of the alleged breaches. If each of the plaintiffs claims were to be confirmed in a final judgment, damages as argued by the plaintiff could total as much as several hundred million dollars and adversely impact the value to the Company of any future exploitation of the licensed rights. On March 29, 2004, the Court granted the Companys motion for terminating sanctions against the plaintiff for a host of discovery abuses, including the withholding, alteration, and theft of documents and other information, and, on April 5, 2004, dismissed plaintiffs case with prejudice. On September 25, 2007, the California Court of Appeal affirmed the dismissal, and on November 5, 2007, plaintiff filed a petition seeking review by the California Supreme Court.
Management believes that it is not currently possible to estimate the impact, if any, that the ultimate resolution of pending matters noted above will have on the Companys results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.
The Company, together with, in some instances, certain of its directors and officers, is a defendant or co-defendant in various other legal actions involving copyright, breach of contract and various other claims incident to the conduct of its businesses. Management does not expect the Company to suffer any material liability by reason of such actions.
25
ITEM 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
No matters were submitted to a vote of shareholders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report.
Executive Officers of the Company
The executive officers of the Company are elected each year at the organizational meeting of the Board of Directors, which follows the annual meeting of the shareholders, and at other Board of Directors meetings, as appropriate. Each of the executive officers has been employed by the Company in the position or positions indicated in the list and pertinent notes below. Except as noted, each of the executive officers have been employed by the Company for more than five years.
At September 29, 2007, the executive officers of the Company were as follows:
Name |
Age | Title |
Executive Officer Since | |||
Robert A. Iger |
56 | President and Chief Executive Officer (1) | 2000 | |||
Thomas O. Staggs |
46 | Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
1998 | |||
Alan N. Braverman |
59 | Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary (2) |
2003 | |||
Kevin A. Mayer |
45 | Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Business Development and Technology (3) | 2005 | |||
Christine M. McCarthy |
52 | Executive Vice President, Corporate Finance and Real Estate and Treasurer (4) |
2005 | |||
Wesley Coleman |
57 | Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (5) | 2006 |
(1) |
Mr. Iger was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer effective October 2, 2005. He was President and Chief Operating Officer from January 2000, having served (from February 1999 until January 2000) as President of Walt Disney International and Chairman of the ABC Group. Mr. Iger previously held a number of increasingly responsible positions at ABC, Inc. and its predecessor Capital Cities/ABC, Inc., culminating in service as President and Chief Operating Officer of ABC, Inc. from 1994 to 1999. |
(2) |
Mr. Braverman was named Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Company in January 2003 and promoted to Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Company in October 2003. Prior to his appointment as General Counsel of the Company, Mr. Braverman had been General Counsel of ABC, Inc. since August 1994 and also Deputy General Counsel of the Company since August 2001. |
(3) |
Mr. Mayer was named Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Business Development, and Technology, of the Company in June 2005 and was designated an executive officer in October 2005. He previously was Partner and Head of the Global Media and Entertainment Practice of L.E.K. Consulting LLC, a consulting firm, from February 2002, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Clear Channel Interactive, a division of Clear Channel Worldwide, a media company, from September 2000 to December 2001. |
(4) |
Ms. McCarthy was named Executive Vice President, Corporate Finance and Real Estate in June 2005 and has been Treasurer since January 2000. Prior to her appointment as Executive Vice President, Corporate Finance and Real Estate, Ms. McCarthy was Senior Vice President and Treasurer from January 2000 to June 2005. |
(5) |
Mr. Coleman was named Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of the Company, effective October 2, 2006. Mr. Coleman was previously Vice President, Global Human Resources, of Nike, Inc. from September 2002 and held a variety of positions at SC Johnson & Son, Inc. from November 1981 through 2002, including Vice President HR, North America and Vice President HR, Asia/Pacific. |
26
PART II
ITEM 5. Market for the Companys Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Companys common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DIS. The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of common stock as reported in the Bloomberg Financial markets services.
Sales Price | ||||||
High | Low | |||||
2007 |
||||||
4th Quarter |
$ | 35.38 | $ | 31.25 | ||
3rd Quarter |
36.30 | 33.00 | ||||
2nd Quarter |
35.61 | 32.22 | ||||
1st Quarter |
34.43 | 30.00 | ||||
2006 |
||||||
4th Quarter |
$ | 31.46 | $ | 28.15 | ||
3rd Quarter |
31.03 | 26.75 | ||||
2nd Quarter |
28.85 | 23.77 | ||||
1st Quarter |
26.19 | 22.89 |
The Company declared a $637 million dividend ($0.31 per share) on November 28, 2006 related to fiscal 2006.
As of September 29, 2007, the approximate number of common shareholders of record was 990,671.
The following table provides information about Company purchases of equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act during the quarter ended September 29, 2007:
Period |
Total Number of Shares Purchased (1) |
Average Price Paid per Share |
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs |
Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (2) | |||||
July 1, 2007 July 31, 2007 |
25,493,741 | $ | 34.35 | 25,392,500 | 348 million | ||||
August 1, 2007 August 31, 2007 |
14,004,696 | 33.32 | 13,885,000 | 334 million | |||||
September 1, 2007 September 29, 2007 |
11,630,640 | 33.83 | 11,532,000 | 323 million | |||||
Total |
51,129,077 | 33.95 | 50,809,500 | 323 million | |||||
(1) |
319,577 shares were purchased on the open market to provide shares to participants in the Walt Disney Investment Plan (WDIP) and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). These purchases were not made pursuant to a publicly announced repurchase plan or program. |
(2) |
Under a share repurchase program implemented effective June 10, 1998, the Company is authorized to repurchase shares of its common stock. On May 1, 2007, following share repurchases made through May 1, 2007, the Companys Board of Directors increased the repurchase authorization to a total of 400 million shares as of that date. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date. |
27
ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data
(In millions, except per share data) | 2007 (1)(2)(5) | 2006 (1)(3)(5) | 2005 (1)(4)(5) | 2004 (1)(6) | 2003 (1)(7) | ||||||||||
Statements of income |
|||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 35,510 | $ | 33,747 | $ | 31,374 | $ | 30,176 | $ | 26,480 | |||||
Income from continuing operations before the cumulative effect of accounting changes |
4,674 | 3,304 | 2,460 | 2,223 | 1,212 | ||||||||||
Per common share |
|||||||||||||||
Earnings from continuing operations before the cumulative effect of accounting changes |
|||||||||||||||
Diluted |
$ | 2.24 | $ | 1.60 | $ | 1.19 | $ | 1.07 | $ | 0.59 | |||||
Basic |
2.33 | 1.65 | 1.21 | 1.08 | 0.59 | ||||||||||
Dividends |
0.31 | 0.27 | 0.24 | 0.21 | 0.21 | ||||||||||
Balance sheets |
|||||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 60,928 | $ | 59,998 | $ | 53,158 | $ | 53,902 | $ | 49,988 | |||||
Long-term obligations |
14,916 | 13,974 | 14,102 | 13,014 | 14,388 | ||||||||||
Shareholders equity |
30,753 | 31,820 | 26,210 | 26,081 | 23,791 | ||||||||||
Statements of cash flows Cash provided (used) by: |
|||||||||||||||
Continuing operating activities |
$ | 5,398 | $ | 5,960 | $ | 4,139 | $ | 4,232 | $ | 2,776 | |||||
Continuing investing activities |
(618) | (220) | (1,682) | (1,478) | (1,032) | ||||||||||
Continuing financing activities |
(3,619) | (5,166) | (2,899) | (2,704) | (1,523) |
(1) |
During fiscal 2007, the Company concluded the spin-off of the ABC Radio business and now reports ABC Radio as discontinued operations for all periods presented (see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion). Previously, the ABC Radio business was included in the Media Networks segment. Prior period information has been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. |
(2) |
The fiscal 2007 results include gains from the sales of E! Entertainment and Us Weekly ($0.31 per diluted share), favorable adjustments related to prior-year income tax matters ($0.03 per diluted share) and an equity-based compensation plan modification charge ($0.01 per diluted share). Including the impact of rounding, these items collectively resulted in a net benefit of $0.32 per diluted share. |
(3) |
During fiscal 2006, the Company completed an all stock acquisition of Pixar for $7.5 billion. In addition, results include gains on sales of a Spanish cable equity investment and Discover Magazine ($0.02 per diluted share), favorable adjustments related to prior-year income tax matters ($0.02 per diluted share) and a net benefit associated with the completion of the Pixar acquisition ($0.01 per diluted share). These items collectively resulted in a net benefit of $0.05 per diluted share. |
(4) |
The fiscal 2005 results include favorable adjustments related to prior-year income tax matters ($0.06 per diluted share), a benefit from the restructuring of Euro Disneys borrowings ($0.02 per diluted share), an income tax benefit from the repatriation of foreign earnings under the American Jobs Creation Act ($0.02 per diluted share), a gain on the sale of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim ($0.01 per diluted share), a write-off of investments in leveraged leases ($0.03 per diluted share), a write-down related to the MovieBeam venture ($0.02 per diluted share), an impairment charge for a cable television investment in Latin America ($0.01 per diluted share) and restructuring and impairment charges related to the sale of The Disney Stores North America ($0.01 per diluted share). These items collectively resulted in a net benefit of $0.04 per diluted share. |
(5) |
The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, Share Based Payment (SFAS 123R) effective at the beginning of fiscal 2005 and recorded $213 million, $241 million, and $248 million of pre-tax stock option compensation expense for fiscal 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. |
(6) |
During fiscal 2004, the Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 46R, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (FIN 46), and as a result, consolidated the balance sheets of Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland as of March 31, 2004 and the income and cash flow statements beginning April 1, 2004, the beginning of the Companys fiscal third quarter. Under FIN 46 transition rules, Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneylands operating results continued to be accounted for on the equity method for the six-month period ended March 31, 2004. In addition, the 2004 results include favorable adjustments to prior-year income tax matters ($0.06 per diluted share) and restructuring and impairment charges ($0.02 per diluted share), which resulted in a net benefit of $0.04 per diluted share. |
(7) |
The fiscal 2003 results include favorable adjustments to prior-year income tax matters ($0.03 per diluted share) and a write-off of investments in leveraged leases ($0.04 per diluted share), which together resulted in a net unfavorable impact of $0.01 per diluted share. |
28
ITEM 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
(in millions, except per share data)
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | % change | ||||||||||||
2007 vs. 2006 |
2006 vs. 2005 |
||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 35,510 | $ | 33,747 | $ | 31,374 | 5 | % | 8 | % | |||||
Costs and expenses |
(28,729) | (28,392) | (27,443) | 1 | % | 3 | % | ||||||||
Gains on sales of equity investments and businesses |
1,052 | 70 | 26 | >100 | % | >100 | % | ||||||||
Restructuring and impairment (charges) and other credits, net |
| 18 | (32) | (100) | % | nm | |||||||||
Net interest expense |
(593) | (592) | (597) | | (1) | % | |||||||||
Equity in the income of investees |
485 | 473 | 483 | 3 | % | (2) | % | ||||||||
Income from continuing operations before incoxme taxes, minority interests and the cumulative effect of accounting change |
7,725 | 5,324 | 3,811 | 45 | % | 40 | % | ||||||||
Income taxes |
(2,874) | (1,837) | (1,174) | 56 | % | 56 | % | ||||||||
Minority interests |
(177) | (183) | (177) | (3) | % | 3 | % | ||||||||
Income from continuing operations before the cumulative effect of accounting change |
4,674 | 3,304 | 2,460 | 41 | % | 34 | % | ||||||||
Discontinued operations, net of tax |
13 | 70 | 109 | (81) | % | (36) | % | ||||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change |
| | (36) | | nm | ||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 4,687 | $ | 3,374 | $ | 2,533 | 39 | % | 33 | % | |||||
Diluted Earnings per share (1): |
|||||||||||||||
Earnings per share, continuing operations before the cumulative effect of accounting change |
$ | 2.24 | $ | 1.60 | $ | 1.19 | 40 | % | 34 | % | |||||
Earnings per share, discontinued operations |
0.01 | 0.03 | 0.05 | (67) | % | (40) | % | ||||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change per share |
| | (0.02) | nm | nm | ||||||||||
Earnings per share (2) |
$ | 2.25 | $ | 1.64 | $ | 1.22 | 37 | % | 34 | % | |||||
Basic Earnings per share: |
|||||||||||||||
Earnings per share, continuing operations before the cumulative effect of accounting change |
$ | 2.33 | $ | 1.65 | $ | 1.21 | 41 | % | 36 | % | |||||
Earnings per share, discontinued operations |
0.01 | 0.03 | 0.05 | (67) | % | (40) | % | ||||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change per share |
| | (0.02) | nm | nm | ||||||||||
Earnings per share (2) |
$ | 2.34 | $ | 1.68 | $ | 1.25 | 39 | % | 34 | % | |||||
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding: |
|||||||||||||||
Diluted |
2,092 | 2,076 | 2,089 | ||||||||||||
Basic |
2,004 | 2,005 | 2,028 | ||||||||||||
(1) |
The calculation of diluted earnings per share assumes the conversion of the Companys convertible senior notes issued in April 2003 into 45 million shares of common stock and adds back related after-tax interest expense of $21 million for fiscal 2007, 2006 and 2005. |
(2) |
Total earnings per share may not equal the sum of the column due to rounding. |
29
Organization of Information
Managements Discussion and Analysis provides a narrative on the Companys financial performance and condition that should be read in conjunction with the accompanying financial statements. It includes the following sections:
| Consolidated Results |
| Business Segment Results 2007 vs. 2006 |
| Non-Segment Items 2007 vs. 2006 |
| Pension and Benefit Costs |
| Business Segment Results 2006 vs. 2005 |
| Non-Segment Items 2006 vs. 2005 |
| Liquidity and Capital Resources |
| Contractual Obligations, Commitments, and Off Balance Sheet Arrangements |
| Accounting Policies and Estimates |
| Accounting Changes |
| Forward-Looking Statements |
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
2007 vs. 2006
Revenues for the year increased 5%, or $1.8 billion, to $35.5 billion; net income increased 39%, or $1.3 billion, to $4.7 billion; and diluted earnings per share increased 37% to $2.25.
At our operating segments, earnings growth was primarily due to higher affiliate and advertising revenues at our cable businesses, improved home entertainment performance driven by the success of Disney/Pixars Cars and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest, strong sales of ABC Studios productions, increased guest spending and theme park attendance at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort Paris and lower costs for sports programming due to fewer hours at the ABC Television Network.
Net income for the year included certain items that affected comparability, including gains from the sales of E! Entertainment and Us Weekly ($0.31 per diluted share), favorable adjustments related to prior-year income tax matters ($0.03 per diluted share), income from the discontinued operations of the ABC Radio business ($0.01 per diluted share) and an equity-based compensation plan modification charge ($0.01 per diluted share). Including the impact of rounding, these items collectively resulted in a net benefit of $0.33 per diluted share. The prior year included income from the discontinued operations of the ABC Radio business ($0.03 per diluted share), gains on sales of a Spanish cable equity investment and Discover Magazine ($0.02 per diluted share), favorable adjustments related to prior-year income tax matters ($0.02 per diluted share) and a net benefit associated with the completion of the Pixar acquisition ($0.01 per diluted share). Including the impact of rounding, these items collectively benefited diluted earnings per share by $0.09.
2006 vs. 2005
Revenues for the year increased 8%, or $2.4 billion, to $33.7 billion; net income increased 33%, or $841 million, to $3.4 billion; and diluted earnings per share increased 34% to $1.64.
At our operating segments, earnings growth was due to lower distribution costs resulting from fewer Miramax theatrical releases, improved margins at worldwide home entertainment driven by reduced marketing and trade programs and lower distribution costs, strong performance at both of our domestic theme parks, growth at ESPN and improved primetime results at the ABC Television Network.
Net income for fiscal 2005 included certain items which affected comparability, including favorable adjustments related to prior-year income tax matters ($0.06 per diluted share), income from discontinued operations of the ABC Radio business ($0.05 per diluted share), a benefit from the restructuring of Euro Disneys borrowings ($0.02 per diluted share), an income tax benefit from the repatriation of foreign earnings under the American Jobs Creation Act ($0.02 per diluted share), a gain on the sale of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim ($0.01 per diluted share), a write-off of
30
investments in leveraged leases ($0.03 per diluted share), a charge from the cumulative effect of accounting change ($0.02 per diluted share), a write-down related to the MovieBeam venture ($0.02 per diluted share), an impairment charge for a cable television investment in Latin America ($0.01 per diluted share) and restructuring and impairment charges related to the sale of The Disney Stores North America ($0.01 per diluted share). These items collectively resulted in a net benefit of $0.07 per diluted share.
BUSINESS SEGMENT RESULTS 2007 vs. 2006
change | |||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2007 vs. 2006 |
2006 vs. 2005 |
||||||||||||||||
Revenues: |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Media Networks |
$ | 15,046 | $ | 14,100 | $ | 12,637 | 7 | % | 12 | % | |||||||||||
Parks and Resorts |
10,626 | 9,925 | 9,023 | 7 | % | 10 | % | ||||||||||||||
Studio Entertainment |
7,491 | 7,529 | 7,587 | (1) | % | (1) | % | ||||||||||||||
Consumer Products |
2,347 | 2,193 | 2,127 | 7 | % | 3 | % | ||||||||||||||
$ | 35,510 | $ | 33,747 | $ | 31,374 | 5 | % | 8 | % | ||||||||||||
Segment operating income (1): |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Media Networks |
$ | 4,285 | $ | 3,480 | $ | 3,040 | 23 | % | 14 | % | |||||||||||
Parks and Resorts |
1,710 | 1,534 | 1,178 | 11 | % | 30 | % | ||||||||||||||
Studio Entertainment |
1,201 | 729 | 207 | 65 | % | >100 | % | ||||||||||||||
Consumer Products |
631 | 618 | 543 | 2 | % | 14 | % | ||||||||||||||
$ | 7,827 | $ | 6,361 | $ | 4,968 | 23 | % | 28 | % | ||||||||||||
(1) |
Segment operating income includes equity in the income of investees. In the Business Segment results discussion, equity in the income of investees is included in segment operating income but does not affect segment revenues or costs and expenses. |
The Company evaluates the performance of its operating segments based on segment operating income and management uses aggregate segment operating income as a measure of the overall performance of the operating businesses. The Company believes that information about aggregate segment operating income assists investors by allowing them to evaluate changes in the operating results of the Companys portfolio of businesses separate from factors other than business operations that affect net income. As a result of the spin-off of the ABC Radio business in fiscal 2007, ABC Radio is reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented (see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion). Previously, the ABC Radio business was included in the Media Networks segment. Prior period information has been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. The following table reconciles segment operating income to income from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interests, and the cumulative effect of accounting change.
31
change | |||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2007 vs. |
2006 vs. 2005 | ||||||||||||||
Segment operating income (1) |
$ | 7,827 | $ | 6,361 | $ | 4,968 | 23 % | 28 % | |||||||||||
Corporate and unallocated shared expenses |
(497) | (522) | (543) | (5) % | (4) % | ||||||||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
(16) | (11) | (11) | 45 % | | ||||||||||||||
Equity-based compensation plan modification charge |
(48) | | | nm | nm | ||||||||||||||
Gains on sales of equity investments and businesses |
1,052 | 70 | 26 | >100 % | >100 % | ||||||||||||||
Restructuring and impairment (charges) and other credits, net |
| 18 | (32) | (100) % | nm | ||||||||||||||
Net interest expense |
(593) | (592) | (597) | | (1) % | ||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interests, and the cumulative effect of accounting change |
$ | 7,725 | $ | 5,324 | $ | 3,811 | 45 % | 40 % | |||||||||||
(1) |
Segment operating income includes equity in the income of investees. In the Business Segment results discussion, equity in the income of investees is included in segment operating income but does not affect segment revenues or costs and expenses. |
Media Networks
The following table provides supplemental revenue and operating income detail for the Media Networks segment:
change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2007 vs. 2006 |
2006 vs. 2005 | |||||||||||||||
Revenues |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cable Networks |
$ | 9,167 | $ | 8,159 | $ | 7,399 | 12 | % | 10 % | |||||||||||
Broadcasting |
5,879 | 5,941 | 5,238 | (1) | % | 13 % | ||||||||||||||
$ | 15,046 | $ | 14,100 | $ | 12,637 | 7 | % | 12 % | ||||||||||||
Segment operating income |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cable Networks |
$ | 3,582 | $ | 3,005 | $ | 2,762 | 19 | % | 9 % | |||||||||||
Broadcasting |
703 | 475 | 278 | 48 | % | 71 % | ||||||||||||||
$ | 4,285 | $ | 3,480 | $ | 3,040 | 23 | % | 14 % | ||||||||||||
Revenues
Media Networks revenues increased 7%, or $946 million, to $15.0 billion, consisting of a 12% increase, or $1.0 billion, at the Cable Networks and a 1% decrease, or a $62 million, at Broadcasting.
Increased Cable Networks revenues were primarily due to growth of $601 million from cable and satellite operators, $240 million from advertising revenues and $167 million from other revenues. Revenues from cable and satellite operators are generally derived from fees charged on a per-subscriber basis, and the increase in the current year was driven by contractual rate increases and subscriber growth primarily at ESPN and, to a lesser extent, at the international Disney Channels and the domestic Disney-ABC Cable Networks. Higher advertising revenues reflected
32
the addition of NASCAR programming at ESPN and also increases at the domestic Disney-ABC Cable Networks primarily due to higher rates. Higher other revenues were driven by DVD sales, primarily High School Musical, and the settlement of a distributor claim.
Certain of the Companys existing contracts with cable and satellite operators include annual live programming commitments. In these cases, recognition of revenues subject to the commitments is deferred until the annual commitments are satisfied, which generally results in higher revenue recognition in the second half of the year.
Decreased Broadcasting revenues were primarily due to a decline in advertising revenue at the ABC Television Network partially offset by higher sales of ABC Studios productions. The decrease in advertising revenue at the ABC Television Network was primarily due to fewer hours of sports programming reflecting the absence of Monday Night Football, the Super Bowl and three College Bowl games, partially offset by an increase in primetime. In primetime, higher advertising rates and sold inventory were partially offset by lower ratings. Increased sales of ABC Studios productions reflected higher international and DVD sales of the hit dramas Desperate Housewives, Greys Anatomy, and Ugly Betty.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses, which consist primarily of programming rights costs, production costs, participation costs, distribution and marketing expenses and general and administrative costs, increased 2%, or $181 million, to $11.2 billion, consisting of an 8% increase, or $462 million, at the Cable Networks partially offset by a 5% decrease, or $281 million, at Broadcasting. The increase at Cable Networks was primarily due to increased costs at ESPN primarily due to higher programming and production costs for the addition of NASCAR and for Monday Night Football compared to Sunday Night Football in the prior year, and higher programming and other costs at the domestic Disney-ABC Cable Networks and international Disney Channels. These increases were partially offset by lower costs due to the transition of ESPNs mobile phone operations to a licensing model. The decrease at Broadcasting was due to lower sports programming costs, partially offset by higher costs of Disney-branded mobile phone service, including costs associated with its shutdown, as well as higher production cost amortization due to increased sales of ABC Studios productions.
Sports Programming Costs
The Company has various contractual commitments for the purchase of rights for multi-year sports and other programming arrangements, including the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), NASCAR, Major League Baseball (MLB) and various college football and basketball conferences and football bowl games. The costs of these contracts have increased significantly in recent years. We enter into these contractual commitments with the expectation that, over the life of the contracts, revenue from advertising during the programming and affiliate fees will exceed the costs of the programming. While contract costs may initially exceed incremental revenues and negatively impact operating income, it is our expectation that the combined value to our networks from all of these contracts will result in long-term benefits. The actual impact of these contracts on the Companys results over the term of the contracts is dependent upon a number of factors, including the strength of advertising markets, effectiveness of marketing efforts and the size of viewer audiences.
Segment Operating Income
Segment operating income increased 23%, or $805 million, to $4.3 billion for the year due to increases of $577 million at the Cable Networks and $228 million at Broadcasting. The increase at the Cable Networks was due primarily to growth at ESPN, the international Disney Channels and the domestic Disney-ABC Cable Networks. The increase at Broadcasting was due to strong sales of ABC Studios productions, fewer hours of sports programming and higher primetime advertising revenues at the ABC Television Network, partially offset by higher costs associated with the Disney mobile phone service. Segment operating income includes income from equity investees of $484 million for the year, compared to $444 million in the prior year.
ABC Radio Transaction
On June 12, 2007, the Company completed the spin-off of its wholly-owned subsidiary, ABC Radio Holdings, Inc., which was then merged into a subsidiary of Citadel Broadcasting Corporation (Citadel). Prior to the spin-off, the Company consolidated its ABC Radio business, consisting of 22 large-market radio stations and the ABC Radio Network businesses, under ABC Radio Holdings, Inc. The transaction did not include the Companys ESPN Radio or Radio Disney network and station businesses. The results of the ABC Radio business have been reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented. The Company now includes the ESPN Radio and Radio Disney
33
network and stations businesses with Cable Networks in the Media Networks segment. Prior to the transaction, the Companys radio businesses were included with Broadcasting in the Media Networks segment. Previously reported results have been reclassified to reflect this presentation.
Summarized financial information for the discontinued operations is as follows (in millions, except per share data):
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
Revenues |
$ | 372 | $ | 538 | $ | 570 | |||
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes |
45 | 123 | 176 | ||||||
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax |
13 | 70 | 109 | ||||||
Diluted EPS, discontinued operations |
0.01 | 0.03 | 0.05 |
Sale of E! Entertainment Television
On November 21, 2006, in connection with the execution of new long-term agreements for the provision of programming to cable service provider Comcast Corporation (Comcast), the Company sold its 39.5% interest in E! Entertainment Television (E!) to Comcast (which owned the remainder of the interest in E!) for $1.23 billion, which resulted in a pre-tax gain of $780 million ($487 million after-tax) reported in Gains on sales of equity investments and businesses. Equity income from E! was included in Media Networks segment operating income through the date of the sale.
Writers Guild of America Work Stoppage
On November 5, 2007, members of the Writers Guild of America commenced a work stoppage. If this work stoppage is prolonged, the Company may be unable to produce or air original programming, which could result in reduced revenue. The Company is pursuing opportunities to mitigate the impact of a sustained work stoppage through alternative programming and reduction of costs, however, an extended work stoppage could have an adverse effect on our profitability.
Parks and Resorts
Revenues
Revenues at Parks and Resorts increased 7%, or $701 million, to $10.6 billion due to increases of $483 million at our domestic resorts and a net increase of $218 million at our international resorts.
Domestic Parks and Resorts
At our domestic parks and resorts, revenue growth was due to increases at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. At Walt Disney World, revenue growth was due to increased guest spending, theme park attendance and vacation club ownership sales. Higher guest spending at Walt Disney World was due to increased food, beverage and merchandise spending, higher average ticket prices and a higher average daily hotel room rate. At Disneyland Resort, revenue growth was due to increased guest spending, primarily due to higher average ticket prices.
The following table presents attendance, per capita theme park guest spending, and hotel statistics for our domestic properties:
East Coast Resorts | West Coast Resorts | Total Domestic Resorts | ||||||||||||||||
Fiscal Year 2007 |
Fiscal Year 2006 |
Fiscal Year 2007 |
Fiscal Year 2006 |
Fiscal Year 2007 |
Fiscal Year 2006 | |||||||||||||
Increase (decrease) in Attendance |
6 % | 5 % | (1) % | 6 % | 3 % | 5 % | ||||||||||||
Increase in Per Capita Guest Spending |
3 % | 1 % | 2 % | 8 % | 3 % | 3 % | ||||||||||||
Occupancy |
89 % | 86 % | 92 % | 93 % | 89 % | 87 % | ||||||||||||
Available Room Nights (in thousands) |
8,614 | 8,834 | 810 | 810 | 9,424 | 9,644 | ||||||||||||
Per Room Guest Spending |
$ | 217 | $ | 211 | $ | 309 | $ | 287 | $ | 225 | $ | 218 |
Per room guest spending consists of the average daily hotel room rate as well as guest spending on food, beverage and merchandise at the hotels.
34
International Parks and Resorts
At our international parks and resorts, revenue growth was due to an increase at Disneyland Resort Paris partially offset by a decrease at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort due to lower theme park attendance. At Disneyland Resort Paris, revenue growth was due to the favorable impact of foreign currency translation, as a result of the weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro, and higher theme park attendance, guest spending, and hotel occupancy. Increased guest spending was primarily due to a higher average daily hotel room rate.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses, which consist principally of labor, depreciation, costs of merchandise, food and beverage sold, marketing and sales expense, repairs and maintenance and entertainment, increased 6%, or $525 million. The increase in costs and expenses was due to increases at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort Paris. The increase at Walt Disney World was primarily due to volume-related costs, labor cost inflation, and new guest offerings, partially offset by lower pension and postretirement medical expense. The increase at Disneyland Resort Paris was primarily due to the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation, as a result of the weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro, higher volume-related costs, and labor cost inflation.
Segment Operating Income
Segment operating income increased 11%, or $176 million, to $1.7 billion primarily due to continued strength at both domestic resorts and Disneyland Resort Paris, partially offset by results at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.
Studio Entertainment
Revenues
Revenues for the year were essentially flat at $7.5 billion compared to the prior year as a decrease of $470 million in worldwide theatrical distribution was largely offset by an increase of $234 million in domestic home entertainment and an increase of $139 million in music distribution.
Lower worldwide theatrical revenues were primarily due to the strong box-office performance of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest in the prior year. Other significant titles in the prior-year included The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Disney/Pixars Cars and Chicken Little while the current year included Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, Disney/Pixars Ratatouille and Wild Hogs. The increase in domestic home entertainment revenues was primarily due to higher DVD unit sales reflecting the strong performance of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest, Cars and the Little Mermaid Platinum Release in the current year. The revenue growth in music distribution was driven by the strong performance of the Hannah Montana and High School Musical soundtracks.
Cost and Expenses
Costs and expenses, which consist primarily of production cost amortization, distribution and marketing expenses, product costs and participation costs, decreased 8%, or $510 million, primarily due to decreases in worldwide theatrical distribution and worldwide home entertainment, partially offset by an increase in music distribution.
Lower costs in worldwide theatrical distribution were primarily due to lower distribution expenses, participation costs and film cost write-downs. Lower distribution expenses were driven by a decrease in international markets as the prior year included more high profile films that had extensive marketing campaigns. The decrease in participation costs were driven by the strong performance of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in the prior year.
Segment Operating Income
Segment operating income increased $472 million to $1.2 billion, primarily due to an improvement in domestic home entertainment performance in the current year.
Pixar Acquisition
On May 5, 2006, the Company acquired Pixar in an all-stock transaction. As a result of the acquisition, the Company now produces feature animation films under both the Disney and Pixar banners. Additional information regarding the acquisition of Pixar is set forth in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements and in Item 1A Risk Factors, above.
35
Writers Guild of America Work Stoppage
On November 5, 2007, members of the Writers Guild of America commenced a work stoppage. See page 34 for a discussion of the possible effects of this work stoppage.
Consumer Products
Revenues
Revenues increased 7%, or $154 million, to $2.3 billion, primarily due to increases of $102 million at Merchandise Licensing and $61 million at Disney Interactive Studios. Growth at Merchandise Licensing was due to higher earned royalties across multiple product categories led by the strong performance of Cars merchandise. Growth at Disney Interactive Studios was due to the performance of current period titles driven by Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, Spectrobes and Meet the Robinsons compared to prior period titles, which included The Chronicles of Narnia and Chicken Little. These gains were partially offset by lower contractual minimum guarantee revenues.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses, which consist primarily of cost of sales, salaries and benefits, marketing and video game development, increased 7%, or $113 million, primarily due to an increase at Disney Interactive Studios due to higher cost of sales, video game development costs and marketing costs and higher operating costs at Merchandise Licensing.
Operating Income
Segment operating income increased 2%, or $13 million, to $631 million, driven by higher earned royalties at Merchandise Licensing, partially offset by the increased investment in video game development at Disney Interactive Studios.
Sale of Us Weekly
On October 2, 2006, the Company sold its 50% stake in Us Weekly for $300 million, which resulted in a pre-tax gain of $272 million ($170 million after-tax) reported in Gains on sales of equity investments and businesses. Equity income from Us Weekly was included in Consumer Products segment operating income through the date of the sale.
NON-SEGMENT ITEMS 2007 vs. 2006
Corporate and Unallocated Shared Expenses
Corporate and unallocated shared expenses decreased 5%, from $522 million to $497 million, primarily due to lower information technology costs including the absence of transition costs from the transfer of certain information technology functions and services to third-party service providers that were incurred in the prior year.
Net Interest Expense
Net interest expense is detailed below:
(in millions) |
2007 | 2006 | change 2007 vs. 2006 | |||||||||
Interest expense |
$ | (746) | $ | (706) | 6 % | |||||||
Interest and investment income |
153 | 114 | 34 % | |||||||||
Net interest expense |
$ | (593) | $ | (592) | | |||||||
Net interest expense was relatively flat as the increase in interest expense, primarily due to higher effective interest rates at Hong Kong Disneyland, was offset by higher interest and investment income reflecting higher average cash balances.
Effective Income Tax Rate
The effective income tax rate increased 2.7 percentage points from 34.5% in fiscal 2006 to 37.2% in fiscal 2007. The higher effective tax rate was primarily due to a reduction in the tax benefits realized from an exclusion of certain
36
foreign source income. The exclusion of certain foreign source income was repealed on a phase-out basis as part of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. No exclusion is available for transactions originating after the first quarter of fiscal 2007.
Minority Interests
Minority interest expense decreased from $183 million to $177 million reflecting the impact of increased losses at Hong Kong Disneyland, partially offset by the impacts of increased profits at ESPN and decreased losses at Disneyland Resort Paris. The minority interest impact is determined on income after royalties, financing costs and income taxes.
PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT MEDICAL BENEFIT COSTS
Pension and postretirement medical benefit plan costs affect results in all of our segments, with approximately one-half of these costs being borne by the Parks and Resorts segment. The Company recognized pension and postretirement medical benefit plan expenses of $278 million, $462 million and $314 million for fiscal years 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively. The decrease in fiscal 2007 was primarily due to an increase in the discount rate used to measure the present value of plan obligations. The discount rate assumption increased from 5.25% to 6.40%, reflecting trends in prevailing market interest rates at our June 30, 2006 valuation date. The assumed discount rate reflects market rates for high-quality corporate bonds currently available. The Companys discount rate was determined by considering the average of pension yield curves constructed of a large population of high quality corporate bonds. The resulting discount rate reflects the matching of plan liability cash flows to the yield curves.
We expect pension and postretirement medical costs to decrease to $244 million in fiscal 2008 primarily due to the improved funded status of the Companys pension plans driven by Company contributions and the return on plan assets. During fiscal 2007, the Company contributed approximately $416 million to its pension and postretirement medical plans, which included discretionary contributions above the minimum requirements for the pension plans. Based on current actuarial projections, the Company anticipates that it will not be required to make additional contributions during fiscal 2008 under the funding regulations associated with the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA). However, final funding requirements for fiscal 2008 will be determined based on our January 1, 2008 funding actuarial valuation. Additionally, the Company may also choose to make discretionary contributions above the minimum requirements. The Company anticipates contributing approximately $30 million to postretirement medical and other pension plans not subject to the PPA.
BUSINESS SEGMENT RESULTS 2006 vs. 2005
Media Networks
Revenues
Media Networks revenues increased 12%, or $1.5 billion, to $14.1 billion, consisting of a 10% increase, or $760 million, at the Cable Networks and a 13% increase, or $703 million, at Broadcasting.
Increased Cable Networks revenues were primarily due to growth of $440 million from cable and satellite operators, $216 million in advertising revenues and $104 million from other revenues. The increase in revenues from cable and satellite operations in fiscal 2006 was due to contractual rate increases and, to a lesser extent, subscriber growth at ESPN. Increased advertising revenue was due to higher ratings and rates at ESPN.
The increase in Broadcasting revenues was due to increased advertising revenues at the ABC Television Network and increased sales of ABC Studios productions. The growth in advertising revenues at the ABC Television Network was primarily due to higher rates, strong upfront sales, and strength in ratings. Higher advertising revenues at the ABC Television Network also reflected the airing of the Super Bowl which we did not have in fiscal 2005, partially offset by lower advertising revenues from the absence of Monday Night Football (MNF) which moved to ESPN. Increased sales of ABC Studios productions reflected higher international syndication and DVD sales of hit dramas Lost, Greys Anatomy, and Desperate Housewives, as well as higher third party license fees led by Scrubs, which completed its fifth season of network television.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses increased 10%, or $1.0 billion, to $11.1 billion consisting of a 10% increase, or $511 million, at the Cable Networks, and a 10% increase, or $496 million, at Broadcasting. The increase at Cable Networks was
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primarily due to increased costs at ESPN driven by higher programming costs from the new Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Football League (NFL) long-term rights agreements and an additional NFL game. ESPN also incurred higher costs associated with mobile phone operations, which have now transitioned to a licensing model, and higher general and administrative expenses. The increase in Broadcasting was due to higher programming and production costs, higher costs at the internet operations, and the increased number and costs of pilot productions. The increase in programming and production costs reflected costs related to the Super Bowl as well as higher production costs due to increased sales of ABC Studio productions. These increases were partially offset by the absence of costs from Monday Night Football in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2006. The cost increase at the internet operations was primarily due to the launch of Disney branded mobile phone services as well as costs of other new initiatives.
Segment Operating Income
Segment operating income increased 14%, or $440 million, to $3.5 billion for fiscal 2006 due to an increase of $243 million at the Cable Networks and an increase of $197 million at Broadcasting. The increase at the Cable Networks was primarily due to growth at ESPN. The increase at Broadcasting was due to increased advertising revenues at the ABC Television Network and increased sales of ABC Studios productions, partially offset by higher costs at the Internet Group, and the increased number and costs of pilot productions. Segment operating income includes income from equity investees of $444 million for fiscal 2006 compared to $460 million for fiscal 2005.
Parks and Resorts
Revenues
Revenues at Parks and Resorts increased 10%, or $902 million, to $9.9 billion due to increases of $647 million at our domestic resorts and a net increase of $255 million at our international resorts.
Domestic Parks and Resorts
At our domestic parks and resorts, increased revenues were due to increased guest spending, theme park attendance, and hotel occupancy, as well as higher vacation club ownership sales. Higher guest spending was due to a higher average daily hotel room rate, higher average ticket prices, and greater merchandise spending at both resorts. Increases in attendance and hotel occupancy were led by the 50th anniversary celebration at both domestic resorts, which concluded at the end of September 2006.
The following table presents attendance, per capita theme park guest spending, and hotel statistics for our domestic properties:
East Coast Resorts | West Coast Resorts | Total Domestic Resorts | ||||||||||||||||
Fiscal Year 2006 |
Fiscal Year 2005 |
Fiscal Year 2006 |
Fiscal Year 2005 |
Fiscal Year 2006 |
Fiscal Year 2005 | |||||||||||||
Increase in Attendance |
5 % | 5 % | 6 % | 4 % | 5 % | 5 % | ||||||||||||
Increase in Per Capita Guest Spending |
1 % | 2 % | 8 % | 14 % | 3 % | 5 % | ||||||||||||
Occupancy |
86 % | 83 % | 93 % | 90 % | 87 % | 83 % | ||||||||||||
Available Room Nights (in thousands) |
8,834 | 8,777 | 810 | 810 | 9,644 | 9,587 | ||||||||||||
Per Room Guest Spending |
$ | 211 | $ | 199 | $ | 287 | $ | 272 | $ | 218 | $ | 206 |
Per room guest spending consists of the average daily hotel room rate as well as guest spending on food, beverages and merchandise at the hotels.
International Parks and Resorts
International revenue growth reflected the first full year of theme park operations at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort as compared to the prior year when the park opened in mid-September 2005. Local currency revenues at Disneyland Resort Paris also increased, however this increase was more than offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation as a result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro.
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Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses increased 7%, or $547 million primarily due to increased volume-related costs and costs associated with new guest offerings and attractions at the domestic resorts, and higher operating costs at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort reflecting a full year of theme park operations. These increases were partially offset by the absence of pre-opening costs at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, lower costs at Disneyland Resort Paris due to the favorable impact of foreign currency translation adjustments as a result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro, and the benefit from adjustments to actuarially determined workers compensation and guest claims liabilities based on favorable claims experience at the domestic resorts.
Segment Operating Income
Segment operating income increased 30%, or $356 million, to $1.5 billion primarily due to continued strength at both domestic resorts, led by the success of the 50th anniversary celebration, the first year of operations at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, and improvements at Disneyland Resort Paris.
Studio Entertainment
Revenues
Revenues decreased 1%, or $58 million, to $7.5 billion primarily due to a decrease of $578 million in worldwide home entertainment partially offset by an increase of $415 million in worldwide theatrical distribution, and an increase of $60 million in music distribution.
Lower worldwide home entertainment revenues were primarily due to a decline in unit sales resulting from a higher number of strong performing titles in the prior year partially offset by increased sales of television DVD box-sets and reduced marketing and trade programs. Significant fiscal 2006 titles included The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Cinderella Platinum Release, and Chicken Little, while fiscal 2005 titles included Disney/Pixars The Incredibles, National Treasure, Aladdin Platinum Release, and Bambi Platinum Release.
The increase in worldwide theatrical distribution revenues was primarily due to the strong box-office performance of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and Disney/Pixars Cars compared to the fiscal 2005 titles, which included The Incredibles and National Treasure. The increase was partially offset by lower revenue resulting from fewer domestic Miramax theatrical releases in fiscal 2006.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses decreased 8%, or $580 million primarily due to a decrease in worldwide home entertainment, partially offset by increases in worldwide theatrical distribution and higher music distribution expenses.
The decline in costs at worldwide home entertainment was primarily due to reduced marketing expenditures, lower production cost amortization driven by decreased unit sales, and lower distribution costs driven in part by fewer returns.
Higher costs in worldwide theatrical distribution were primarily due to increases in distribution costs, production cost amortization and participation costs. The increase in distribution costs was driven by higher profile films in the current year that had more extensive marketing campaigns to launch the films. Higher production cost amortization and participation costs were driven by the strong performance of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. These increases were partially offset by lower costs resulting from fewer domestic Miramax theatrical releases in fiscal 2006.
Segment Operating Income
Segment operating income increased $522 million, to $729 million, primarily due to improvements in worldwide theatrical distribution and worldwide home entertainment.
Consumer Products
Revenues
Revenues increased 3%, or $66 million, to $2.2 billion, primarily due to increases of $112 million at Disney Interactive Studios and $91 million at Merchandise Licensing. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $106 million at the Disney Stores primarily due to the sale of The Disney Store North America chain in the first quarter of 2005.
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Sales growth at Disney Interactive Studios was due to the release of self-published titles based on The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Chicken Little, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Sales growth at Merchandise Licensing was driven by higher earned royalties across multiple product categories, led by the strong performance of Cars, Disney Princess, and Pirates of the Caribbean merchandise.
Costs and Expenses
Costs and expenses were essentially flat at $1.6 billion as decreases at The Disney Stores were offset by increases at Disney Interactive Studios. The decrease in costs at The Disney Stores was primarily due to the sale of The Disney Store North America chain in the first quarter of fiscal 2005. Costs increased at Disney Interactive Studios due to higher costs of goods sold driven by increased volumes, increased video game development spending on both current and future titles, and higher marketing expenditures.
Segment Operating Income
Segment operating income increased 14%, or $75 million, to $618 million, due to growth at Merchandise Licensing, partially offset by a decrease at Disney Interactive Studios. Growth at Merchandise Licensing was due to higher earned royalties across multiple product categories. The decrease at Disney Interactive Studios was driven by increased video game development spending on future self-published titles.
NON-SEGMENT ITEMS 2006 vs. 2005
Net Interest Expense
Net interest expense is detailed below:
(in millions) |
2006 | 2005 | change 2006 vs. 2005 | |||||
Interest expense |
$ | (706) | $ | (605) | 17 % | |||
Aircraft leveraged lease investment write-down |
| (101) | nm | |||||
Interest and investment income |
114 | 48 | >100 % | |||||
Gain on restructuring of Euro Disney debt |
| 61 | nm | |||||
Net interest expense |
$ | (592) | $ | (597) | (1) % | |||
Interest expense increased 17% for the year primarily due to higher interest expense at Hong Kong Disneyland and higher effective interest rates and average debt balances. During fiscal 2005, Hong Kong Disneylands interest expense was capitalized while the park was under construction.
Interest and investment income for fiscal 2006 increased due to a $42 million write-down in the prior year of an investment in a company that licenses technology to the MovieBeam venture and increased interest income from higher cash balances.
Effective Income Tax Rate
The effective income tax rate increased 3.7 percentage points from 30.8% in 2005 to 34.5% in 2006. The lower effective tax rate for the prior year reflected a greater release of reserves as a result of the favorable resolution of certain tax matters and the benefit from a one-time deduction permitted under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 related to the repatriation of foreign earnings.
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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash and cash equivalents increased by $1.3 billion during fiscal 2007. The change in cash and cash equivalents is as follows:
(in millions) |
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||
Cash provided by continuing operating activities |
$ | 5,398 | $ | 5,960 | $ | 4,139 | |||
Cash used by continuing investing activities |
(618) | (220) | (1,682) | ||||||
Cash used by continuing financing activities |
(3,619) | (5,166) | (2,899) | ||||||
Cash flows from discontinued operations |
98 | 114 | 123 | ||||||
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 1,259 | $ | 688 | $ | (319) | |||
Operating Activities
Cash provided by continuing operating activities for fiscal 2007 decreased 9% or $0.6 billion to $5.4 billion as higher operating performance at Media Networks, Studio Entertainment and Parks and Resorts was more than offset by higher income tax payments, including taxes paid on the E! Entertainment and Us Weekly gains, and timing of film and television spending and accounts receivable collections.
Cash provided by continuing operating activities for fiscal 2006 increased 44% or $1.8 billion to $6.0 billion driven by operating income growth at all of the segments, partially offset by higher income tax payments.
Depreciation expense from continuing operations is as follows:
(in millions) |
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||
Media Networks |
|||||||||
Cable Networks |
$ | 89 | $ | 86 | $ | 85 | |||
Broadcasting |
95 | 93 | 90 | ||||||
Total Media Networks |
184 | 179 | 175 | ||||||
Parks and Resorts |
|||||||||
Domestic |
790 | 780 | 756 | ||||||
International |
304 | 279 | 207 | ||||||
Total Parks and Resorts |
1,094 | 1,059 | 963 | ||||||
Studio Entertainment |
31 | 30 | 26 | ||||||
Consumer Products |
18 | 23 | 25 | ||||||
Corporate |
132 | 126 | 132 | ||||||
Total depreciation expense from continuing operations |
$ | 1,459 | $ | 1,417 | $ | 1,321 | |||
The Companys Studio Entertainment and Media Networks segments incur costs to acquire and produce television and feature film programming. Film and television production costs include all internally produced content such as live action and animated feature films, animated direct-to-video programming, television series, television specials, theatrical stage plays or other similar product. Programming costs include film or television product licensed for a specific period from third parties for airing on the Companys broadcast, cable networks, and television stations. Programming assets are generally recorded when the programming becomes available to us with a corresponding increase in programming liabilities. Accordingly, we analyze our programming assets net of the related liability.
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The Companys film and television production and programming activity for fiscal years 2007, 2006 and 2005 are as follows:
(in millions) |
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||
Beginning balances: |
|||||||||
Production and programming assets |
$ | 5,650 | $ | 5,937 | $ | 6,422 | |||
Programming liabilities |
(1,118) | (1,083) | (939) | ||||||
4,532 | 4,854 | 5,483 | |||||||
Spending: |
|||||||||
Film and television production |
2,906 | 2,901 | 2,631 | ||||||
Broadcast programming |
3,898 | 3,694 | 3,712 | ||||||
6,804 | 6,595 | 6,343 | |||||||
Amortization: |
|||||||||
Film and television production |
(3,223) | (3,526) | (3,243) | ||||||
Broadcast programming |
(3,696) | (3,929) | (3,668) | ||||||
(6,919) | (7,455) | (6,911) | |||||||
Change in film and television production and programming costs |
(115) | (860) | (568) | ||||||
Pixar film costs acquired |
| 538 | | ||||||
Other non-cash activity |
55 | | (61) | ||||||
Ending balances: |
|||||||||
Production and programming assets |
5,682 | 5,650 | 5,937 | ||||||
Programming liabilities |
(1,210) | (1,118) | (1,083) | ||||||
$ | 4,472 | $ | 4,532 | $ | 4,854 | ||||
Investing Activities
Investing activities from continuing operations consist principally of investments in parks, resorts, and other property and acquisition and divestiture activity. The Companys investments in parks, resorts and other property from continuing operations for the last three years are as follows:
(in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||
Media Networks |
$ | 265 | $ | 220 | $ | 218 | |||
Parks and Resorts: |
|||||||||
Domestic |
816 | 667 | 726 | ||||||
International |
256 | 248 | 711 | ||||||
Studio Entertainment |
85 | 41 | 37 | ||||||
Consumer Products |
36 | 16 | 10 | ||||||
Corporate |
108 | 100 | 111 | ||||||
$ | 1,566 | $ | 1,292 | $ | 1,813 | ||||
Capital expenditures for the Parks and Resorts segment are principally for theme park and resort expansion, new rides and attractions, recurring capital and capital improvements. The increase in capital expenditures was driven by a deposit on two new cruise ships and new rides and attractions at Disneyland Resort including the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.
Capital expenditures at Media Networks primarily reflect investments in facilities and equipment for expanding and upgrading broadcast centers, production facilities, and television station facilities.
Capital expenditures at Corporate primarily reflect investments in information technology and other equipment and corporate facilities.
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Other Investing Activities
During fiscal 2007, the Company received $1.5 billion in proceeds from the sales of our interests in E! Entertainment Television and Us Weekly, which was partially offset by payments for acquisitions driven by the acquisitions of Club Penguin Entertainment, Inc. and NASN Limited.
During fiscal 2006, $1.1 billion of financial investments were liquidated and the sales of a cable television equity investment and a magazine business generated $81 million.
During fiscal 2005, the Company received $100 million for working capital transferred to the buyer of The Disney Store North America and $29 million from the sale of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
Financing Activities
Cash used in continuing financing activities during fiscal 2007 of $3.6 billion primarily reflected share repurchases and dividends, partially offset by an increase in borrowings and the proceeds from stock option exercises. The increase in borrowings included $1.35 billion of pre-spin-off borrowings of ABC Radio Holdings, Inc. that were removed from the Companys balance sheet in connection with the spin-off.
Cash used in continuing financing activities during fiscal 2006 of $5.2 billion reflected share repurchases and payment of dividends to shareholders, partially offset by an increase in borrowings and the proceeds from stock option exercises.
Cash used in continuing financing activities during fiscal 2005 of $2.9 billion reflected share repurchases, net repayments of borrowings and payment of dividends to shareholders, partially offset by proceeds from stock option exercises.
During the year ended September 29, 2007, the Companys borrowing activity was as follows:
(in millions) |
September 30, 2006 |
Additions | Payments | Other Activity |
September 29, 2007 | ||||||||||
Commercial paper borrowings |
$ | 839 | $ | 1,847 | $ | | $ | | $ | 2,686 | |||||
U.S. medium-term notes |
6,499 | 1,100 | (1,259) | | 6,340 | ||||||||||
Convertible senior notes |
1,323 | | | | 1,323 | ||||||||||
European medium-term notes |
191 | 75 | (103) | | 163 | ||||||||||
Preferred stock |
353 | | (345) | (8) | | ||||||||||
Capital Cities / ABC debt |
183 | | | (2) | 181 | ||||||||||
Film financing |
276 | 288 | (208) | (1) | 355 | ||||||||||
Other (1) |
619 | 1,680 | (379) | (1,379) | 541 | ||||||||||
Euro Disney borrowings (2) |
2,172 | | | 304 | 2,476 | ||||||||||
Hong Kong Disneyland borrowings |
1,070 | | | 37 | 1,107 | ||||||||||
Total |
$ | 13,525 | $ | 4,990 | $ | (2,294) | $ | (1,049) | $ | 15,172 | |||||
(1) |
Additions include $1.35 billion of pre-spin-off borrowings of ABC Radio Holdings, Inc. reported in financing activities of continuing operations. Other activity includes the transfer of this debt in connection with the spin-off of ABC Radio Holdings, Inc. |
(2) |
Other activity included a $249 million increase from foreign currency translation as a result of the weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro. |
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The Companys bank facilities are as follows:
(in millions) |
Committed Capacity |
Capacity Used |
Unused Capacity | ||||||
Bank facilities expiring 2010 |
$ | 2,250 | $ | | $ | 2,250 | |||
Bank facilities expiring 2011 |
2,250 | 212 | 2,038 | ||||||
Total |
$ | 4,500 | $ | 212 | $ | 4,288 | |||
These bank facilities allow for borrowings at LIBOR-based rates plus a spread, which depends on the Companys public debt rating and can range from 0.175% to 0.75%. As of September 29, 2007, the Company had not borrowed under these bank facilities. The Company also has the ability to issue up to $800 million of letters of credit under the facility expiring in 201l, which if utilized, reduces available borrowing under this facility. As of September 29, 2007, $282 million of letters of credit had been issued, of which $212 million was issued under this facility.
The Company may use commercial paper borrowings up to the amount of its above unused bank facilities, in conjunction with term debt issuance and operating cash flow, to retire or refinance other borrowings before or as they come due.
As of the filing date of this report, the Board of Directors had not yet declared a dividend related to fiscal 2007. The Company paid a $637 million dividend ($0.31 per share) during the second quarter of fiscal 2007 related to fiscal 2006. The Company paid a $519 million dividend ($0.27 per share) during the second quarter of fiscal 2006 related to fiscal 2005; and paid a $490 million dividend ($0.24 per share) during the second quarter of fiscal 2005 related to fiscal 2004.
During fiscal 2007, the Company repurchased 202 million shares of Disney common stock for $6.9 billion. During fiscal 2006, the Company repurchased 243 million shares of Disney common stock for $6.9 billion. During fiscal 2005, the Company repurchased 91 million shares of Disney common stock for $2.4 billion. On May 1, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Company increased the share repurchase authorization to a total of 400 million shares. As of September 29, 2007, the Company had remaining authorization in place to repurchase approximately 323 million additional shares. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date.
We believe that the Companys financial condition is strong and that its cash balances, other liquid assets, operating cash flows, access to debt and equity capital markets and borrowing capacity, taken together, provide adequate resources to fund ongoing operating requirements and future capital expenditures related to the expansion of existing businesses and development of new projects. However, the Companys operating cash flow and access to the capital markets can be impacted by macroeconomic factors outside of its control. In addition to macroeconomic factors, the Companys borrowing costs can be impacted by short and long-term debt ratings assigned by independent rating agencies, which are based, in significant part, on the Companys performance as measured by certain credit metrics such as interest coverage and leverage ratios. As of September 29, 2007, Moodys Investors Services long and short-term debt ratings for the Company were A2 and P-1, respectively, with stable outlook; and Standard & Poors long and short-term debt ratings for the Company were A- and A-2, respectively, on CreditWatch positive. On October 4, 2007, Standard and Poors raised the long and short-term debt ratings to A and A-1, respectively, and placed the Company on stable outlook. The Companys bank facilities contain only one financial covenant, relating to interest coverage, which the Company met on September 29, 2007, by a significant margin. The Companys bank facilities also specifically exclude certain entities, such as Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland, from any representations, covenants or events of default.
Prior to November 14, 2007, Hong Kong Disneylands commercial term loan and revolving credit facility agreement contained semi-annual financial performance covenants and had a final maturity of October 26, 2015. In anticipation of the prospect that the covenants would not be met as of the September 29, 2007 measurement date, effective November 14, 2007, the agreement was amended to remove the financial performance covenants, shorten the maturity of the loan to September 30, 2008 and decrease the amount of the revolving credit facility from HK$1 billion (approximately $129 million) to HK$800 million (approximately $103 million). The commercial term loan had a balance of approximately $284 million as of the effective date of the amendment, and the full amount of the revised revolving credit facility became available as of that date.
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To support operating needs in the near-term, the Company agreed to waive management fees for fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2009 and defer royalties for those years, with payment of the deferred royalties dependent upon the future operating performance of Hong Kong Disneyland. Hong Kong Disneyland expects to need additional sources of financing to meet its financial and development needs at and beyond the maturity of the commercial loan and revolving credit facility and is currently engaged in discussions with the Company and Hong Kong Disneylands majority shareholder (the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) regarding financing arrangements to assist in meeting these needs. The Company expects that such financing likely would include additional investment by the Company.
Euro Disney has covenants under its debt agreements that limit its investment and financing activities. Beginning with fiscal year 2006, Euro Disney has also been required to meet financial performance covenants that necessitated improvements to its operating margin. As a result of revenue growth in excess of increases in costs and expenses during fiscal year 2007, Euro Disney believes that it is in compliance with these covenants for fiscal 2007. There can be no assurance that these covenants will be met for any particular measurement period in the future. To the extent that conditions are such that the covenants appear unlikely to be met, management would pursue measures to meet the covenants or would seek to obtain waivers from the debt holders.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, COMMITMENTS AND OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company has various contractual obligations which are recorded as liabilities in our consolidated financial statements. Other items, such as certain purchase commitments and other executory contracts are not recognized as liabilities in our consolidated financial statements but are required to be disclosed in the footnotes to the financial statements. For example, the Company is contractually committed to acquire broadcast programming and make certain minimum lease payments for the use of property under operating lease agreements.
The following table summarizes our significant contractual obligations and commitments on an undiscounted basis at September 29, 2007 and the future periods in which such obligations are expected to be settled in cash. In addition, the table reflects the timing of principal and interest payments on outstanding borrowings. Additional details regarding these obligations are provided in the footnotes to the financial statements, as referenced in the table:
Payments Due by Period | |||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
Total | Less than 1 Year |
1-3 Years |
4-5 Years |
More than 5 Years | ||||||||||
Borrowings (Note 7) (1) |
$ | 22,219 | $ | 4,064 | $ | 3,462 | $ | 3,687 | $ | 11,006 | |||||
Operating lease commitments (Note 14) |
1,850 | 327 | 512 | 363 | 648 | ||||||||||
Capital lease obligations (Note 14) |
784 | 39 | 76 | 75 | 594 | ||||||||||
Sports programming commitments (Note 14) |
19,210 | 2,493 | 5,143 | 5,479 | 6,095 | ||||||||||
Broadcast programming commitments (Note 14) |
3,577 | 1,943 | 914 | 505 | 215 | ||||||||||
Total sports and other broadcast programming commitments |
22,787 | 4,436 | 6,057 | 5,984 | 6,310 | ||||||||||
Other (2) |
3,976 | 1,100 | 1,162 | 1,632 | 82 | ||||||||||
Total contractual obligations (3) |
$ | 51,616 | $ | 9,966 | $ | 11,269 | $ | 11,741 | $ | 18,640 | |||||
(1) |
Amounts exclude market value adjustments totaling $150 million, which are recorded in the balance sheet. Amounts include interest payments based on contractual terms and current interest rates for variable rate debt. |
(2) |
Other commitments primarily comprise contractual commitments for the construction of two new cruise ships and creative talent and employment agreements including obligations to actors, producers, sports personnel, television and radio personalities and executives. |
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(3) |
Contractual commitments include the following: |
Liabilities recorded on the balance sheet |
$ | 16,611 | |
Commitments not recorded on the balance sheet |
35,005 | ||
$ | 51,616 | ||
The Company also has obligations with respect to its pension and post retirement medical benefit plans. See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Contingent Commitments and Contractual Guarantees
The Company also has certain contractual arrangements that would require the Company to make payments or provide funding if certain circumstances occur. The Company does not currently expect that these arrangements will result in any significant amounts being paid by the Company. See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the Companys contingent commitments and contractual guarantees.
Legal and Tax Matters
As disclosed in Notes 8 and 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has exposure for certain legal and tax matters.
ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
We believe that the application of the following accounting policies, which are important to our financial position and results of operations, require significant judgments and estimates on the part of management. For a summary of our significant accounting policies, including the accounting policies discussed below, see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Film and Television Revenues and Costs
We expense the cost of film and television productions over the applicable product life cycle based upon the ratio of the current periods gross revenues to the estimated remaining total gross revenues (Ultimate Revenues) for each production. If our estimate of Ultimate Revenues decreases, amortization of film and television costs may be accelerated. Conversely, if estimates of Ultimate Revenues increase, film and television cost amortization may be slowed. For film productions, Ultimate Revenues include revenues from all sources that will be earned within ten years of the date of the initial theatrical release. For television series, we include revenues that will be earned within ten years of the delivery of the first episode, or if still in production, five years from the date of delivery of the most recent episode, if later.
With respect to films intended for theatrical release, the most sensitive factor affecting our estimate of Ultimate Revenues (and therefore affecting future film cost amortization and/or impairment) is domestic theatrical performance. Revenues derived from other markets subsequent to the domestic theatrical release (e.g. the home video or international theatrical markets) have historically been highly correlated with domestic theatrical performance. Domestic theatrical performance varies primarily based upon the public interest and demand for a particular film, the quality of competing films at the time of release, as well as the level of marketing effort. Upon a films release and determination of domestic theatrical performance, the Companys estimates of revenues from succeeding windows and markets are revised based on historical relationships and an analysis of current market trends. The most sensitive factor affecting our estimate of Ultimate Revenues for released films is the extent of home entertainment sales achieved. Home entertainment sales vary based on the volume and quality of competing home video products as well as the manner in which retailers market and price our products.
With respect to television series or other television productions intended for broadcast, the most sensitive factor affecting estimates of Ultimate Revenues is the programs rating. Program ratings, which are an indication of market acceptance, directly affect the Companys ability to generate advertising revenues during the airing of the program. In addition, television series with greater market acceptance are more likely to generate incremental revenues through the eventual sale of the program rights in the syndication, international and home entertainment markets. Alternatively, poor ratings may result in a television series cancellation, which would require the immediate write-off of any unamortized production costs.
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We expense the cost of television broadcast rights for acquired movies, series and other programs based on the number of times the program is expected to be aired or on a straight-line basis over the useful life, as appropriate. Amortization of those television programming assets being amortized on a number of airings basis may be accelerated if we reduce the estimated future airings and slowed if we increase the estimated future airings. The number of future airings of a particular program is impacted primarily by the programs ratings in previous airings, expected advertising rates and availability and quality of alternative programming. Accordingly, planned usage is reviewed periodically and revised if necessary. Rights costs for multi-year sports programming arrangements are amortized based upon the ratio of the current periods gross revenues to Ultimate Revenues (the Projected Revenue Method) or on a straight-line basis, as appropriate. Gross revenues include both advertising revenues and an allocation of affiliate fees. If the annual contractual payments related to each season over the term of a multi-year sports programming arrangement approximate each seasons rights cost based on the Projected Revenue Method, we expense the related annual payments during the applicable season. If Ultimate Revenues change significantly from projections, rights costs amortization may be accelerated or slowed.
Costs of film and television productions and programming rights for our broadcast businesses and cable networks are subject to regular recoverability assessments in accordance with applicable accounting rules. The net realizable value of the television broadcast program licenses and rights are reviewed using a daypart methodology. A daypart is defined as an aggregation of programs broadcast during a particular time of day or programs of a similar type. The Companys dayparts are: early morning, daytime, late night, primetime, news, children, and sports (includes network and cable). The net realizable values of other cable programming assets are reviewed on an aggregated basis for each cable channel. Individual programs are written-off when there are no plans to air or sublicense the program. Estimated values are based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If actual demand or market conditions are less favorable than our projections, film, television and programming cost write-downs may be required.
Revenue Recognition
The Company has revenue recognition policies for its various operating segments that are appropriate to the circumstances of each business. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of these revenue recognition policies.
We record reductions to home entertainment and software product revenues for estimated future returns of merchandise and for customer programs and sales incentives. These estimates are based upon historical return experience, current economic trends and projections of customer demand for and acceptance of our products. If we underestimate the level of returns and concessions in a particular period, we may record less revenue in later periods when returns exceed the estimated amount. Conversely, if we overestimate the level of returns and concessions for a period, we may have additional revenue in later periods when returns and concessions are less than estimated.
Revenues from advance theme park ticket sales are recognized when the tickets are used. For non-expiring, multi-day tickets, we recognize revenue over a three-year time period based on estimated usage patterns, which are derived from historical usage patterns. A change in these estimated usage patterns could have an impact on the timing of revenue recognition.
Pension and Postretirement Medical Plan Actuarial Assumptions
The Companys pension and postretirement medical benefit obligations and related costs are calculated using a number of actuarial assumptions. Two critical assumptions, the discount rate and the expected return on plan assets, are important elements of expense and/or liability measurement. We evaluate these critical assumptions annually. Other assumptions include the healthcare cost trend rate and employee demographic factors such as retirement patterns, mortality, turnover and rate of compensation increase.
The discount rate enables us to state expected future cash payments for benefits as a present value on the measurement date. The guideline for setting this rate is a high-quality long-term corporate bond rate. A lower discount rate increases the present value of benefit obligations and increases pension expense. We decreased our discount rate to 6.35% at the end of fiscal 2007 from 6.40% at the end of fiscal 2006 to reflect market interest rate conditions at our June 30, 2007 measurement date. This decrease in the discount rate will affect net periodic pension and postretirement medical expense in fiscal 2008. The assumed discount rate reflects market rates for high-quality corporate bonds currently available. The Companys discount rate was determined by considering the average of pension yield curves constructed of a large population of high quality corporate bonds. The resulting discount rate reflects the matching of plan liability cash flows to the yield curves. A one percentage point decrease in the assumed discount rate would
47
increase total net periodic pension and postretirement medical expense for fiscal 2008 by $122 million and would increase the projected benefit obligation at September 29, 2007 by $999 million, respectively. A one percentage point increase in the assumed discount rate would decrease these amounts by $74 million and $849 million, respectively.
To determine the expected long-term rate of return on the plan assets, we consider the current and expected asset allocation, as well as historical and expected returns on each plan asset class. A lower expected rate of return on pension plan assets will increase pension expense. Our long-term expected return on plan assets was 7.50% in both 2007 and 2006, respectively. A one percentage point change in the long-term return on pension plan asset assumption would impact fiscal 2008 annual pension and postretirement medical expense by approximately $51 million.
See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on our pension and postretirement medical plans.
Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Investments
SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (SFAS 142) requires that goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets be tested for impairment on an annual basis. In assessing the recoverability of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets, market values and projections regarding estimated future cash flows and other factors are used to determine the fair value of the respective assets. If these estimates or related projections change in the future, we may be required to record impairment charges for these assets.
As required by SFAS 142, goodwill is allocated to various reporting units, which are generally one reporting level below the operating segment. SFAS 142 requires the Company to compare the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying amount on an annual basis to determine if there is potential goodwill impairment. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, an impairment loss is recorded to the extent that the fair value of the goodwill within the reporting unit is less than the carrying value of its goodwill.
To determine the fair value of our reporting units, we generally use a present value technique (discounted cash flow) corroborated by market multiples when available and as appropriate. The factor most sensitive to change with respect to our discounted cash flow analyses is the estimated future cash flows of each reporting unit which is, in turn, sensitive to our estimates of future revenue growth and margins for these businesses. If actual revenue growth and/or margins are lower than our expectations, the impairment test results could differ. A present value technique was not used to determine the fair value of the ABC Television Network, a business within the Television Broadcasting reporting unit within the Media Networks operating segment. To determine the fair value of the ABC Television Network, we used a revenue multiple, as a present value technique may not consistently capture the full fair value of the ABC Television Network and there is little comparable market data available due to the scarcity of television networks. If there were a publicly disclosed sale of a comparable network, this may provide better market information with which to estimate the value of the ABC Television Network and could impact our impairment assessment. We applied what we believe to be the most appropriate valuation methodology for each of the reporting units. If we had established different reporting units or utilized different valuation methodologies, the impairment test results could differ.
SFAS 142 requires the Company to compare the fair values of other indefinite-lived intangible assets to their carrying amounts. If the carrying amount of an indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized. Fair values of other indefinite-lived intangible assets are determined based on discounted cash flows or appraised values, as appropriate.
The Company has cost and equity investments. The fair value of these investments is dependent on the performance of the investee companies, as well as volatility inherent in the external markets for these investments. In assessing potential impairment for these investments, we consider these factors as well as forecasted financial performance of our investees. If these forecasts are not met, impairment charges may be required.
We completed our impairment testing as of September 29, 2007, which resulted in a non-cash impairment charge of $26 million related to ESPN Radio and Radio Disney FCC licenses. During fiscal 2006, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $32 million related to FCC licenses primarily associated with ESPN Radio stations. These impairment charges reflected overall market declines in certain radio markets in which we operate. During fiscal 2005, the Company adopted EITF D-108 and recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $57 million primarily associated with ESPN and Radio Disney FCC licenses.
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Contingencies and Litigation
We are currently involved in certain legal proceedings and, as required, have accrued estimates of the probable and estimable losses for the resolution of these claims. These estimates have been developed in consultation with outside counsel and are based upon an analysis of potential results, assuming a combination of litigation and settlement strategies. It is possible, however, that future results of operations for any particular quarterly or annual period could be materially affected by changes in our assumptions or the effectiveness of our strategies related to these proceedings. See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more detailed information on litigation exposure.
Income Tax Audits
As a matter of course, the Company is regularly audited by federal, state and foreign tax authorities. From time to time, these audits result in proposed assessments. Our recorded estimates of liability related to income tax audits are made in consultation with outside tax and legal counsel where appropriate and are based upon the expected outcome of proceedings (or negotiations) with taxing and legal authorities in consideration of applicable tax statutes and related interpretations and precedents. The outcome of such proceedings and the ultimate liability borne by the Company may differ from our estimates based on a number of factors, including the Companys decision to settle rather than litigate a matter, relevant legal precedent related to similar matters and the Companys success in supporting its filing positions with taxing authorities.
Stock Option Compensation Expense
Each year during the second quarter, the Company awards stock options and restricted stock units to a broad-based group of management and creative personnel (the Annual Grant). Prior to the fiscal 2006 Annual Grant, the fair value of options granted was estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Beginning with the fiscal 2006 Annual Grant, the Company has changed to the binomial valuation model. The binomial valuation model considers certain characteristics of fair value option pricing that are not considered under the Black-Scholes model. Similar to the Black-Scholes model, the binomial valuation model takes into account variables such as volatility, dividend yield, and the risk-free interest rate. However, the binomial valuation model also considers the expected exercise multiple (the multiple of exercise price to grant price at which exercises are expected to occur on average) and the termination rate (the probability of a vested option being cancelled due to the termination of the option holder) in computing the value of the option. Accordingly, the Company believes that the binomial valuation model should produce a fair value that is more representative of the value of an employee option.
In fiscal years 2007, 2006, and 2005, the weighted average assumptions used in the options-pricing models were as follows:
2007 (1) | 2006 (1) | 2005 (2) | ||||
Risk-free interest rate |
4.5 % | 4.3 % | 3.7 % | |||
Expected term (years) (3) |
4.61 | 5.09 | 4.75 | |||
Expected volatility |
26 % | 26 % | 27 % | |||
Dividend yield |
0.79 % | 0.79 % | 0.79 % | |||
Termination rate |
7.4 % | 4.0 % | n/a | |||
Exercise multiple |
1.38 | 1.48 | n/a |
(1) |
Commencing with the 2006 Annual Grant, the Company utilized the binomial valuation model. |
(2) |
The Company utilized the Black-Scholes model during fiscal 2005. |
(3) |
The expected term assumption is included for fiscal 2005 during which we utilized the Black-Scholes model. Under the binomial model, expected term is not an input assumption. |
Although the initial fair value of stock options is not adjusted after the grant date, changes in the Companys assumptions may change the value and therefore, the expense related to future stock option grants. The assumptions that cause the greatest variation in fair value in the binomial valuation model are the assumed volatility and expected exercise multiple. Increases or decreases in either the assumed volatility or expected exercise multiple will cause the binomial option value to increase or decrease, respectively.
The volatility assumption considers both historical and implied volatility and may be impacted by the Companys performance as well as changes in economic and market conditions. See Note 11 to the Consolidated
49
Financial Statements for more detailed information. If the assumed volatility of 26% used by the Company during 2007 was increased or decreased by five percentage points (i.e. to 31% or to 21%), the weighted average grant date fair value of our 2007 stock option grants would have increased or decreased by 10%.
The expected exercise multiple may be influenced by the Companys future stock performance, stock price volatility, and employee turnover rates. If the exercise multiple assumption of 1.38 used by the Company during 2007 were increased to 1.6 or decreased to 1.2, the weighted average binomial value of our 2007 stock option grants would have increased by 7% or decreased by 12%, respectively.
In connection with the acquisition of Pixar on May 5, 2006, the Company converted previously issued vested and unvested Pixar stock-based awards into Disney stock-based awards consisting of 44 million stock options and one million RSUs. The fair value of these awards was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, as the information required to use the binomial valuation model was not reasonably available. The methodology utilized to determine the assumptions in the Black-Scholes model was consistent with that used by the Company for its option pricing models.
ACCOUNTING CHANGES
SFAS 159
In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (SFAS 159). SFAS 159 gives the Company the irrevocable option to carry most financial assets and liabilities at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. SFAS 159 is effective for the Companys 2009 fiscal year, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the potential effect of SFAS 159 on its financial statements.
SFAS 158
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statement Nos. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R) (SFAS 158). This statement requires recognition of the overfunded or underfunded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans as an asset or liability in the statement of financial position and changes in that funded status to be recognized in comprehensive income in the year in which the changes occur. SFAS 158 also requires measurement of the funded status of a plan as of the date of the statement of financial position. The Company adopted the recognition provisions of SFAS 158 in fiscal year 2007. See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the impact of adopting the recognition provisions of SFAS 158. The Company has not yet adopted the measurement provisions which are not effective until fiscal year 2009.
SFAS 157
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157). SFAS 157 provides a common definition of fair value and establishes a framework to make the measurement of fair value in generally accepted accounting principles more consistent and comparable. SFAS 157 also requires expanded disclosures to provide information about the extent to which fair value is used to measure assets and liabilities, the methods and assumptions used to measure fair value, and the effect of fair value measures on earnings. SFAS 157 is effective for the Companys 2009 fiscal year, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the potential effect of SFAS 157 on its financial statements.
SAB 108
In September 2006, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (SAB 108). SAB 108 was issued in order to eliminate the diversity in practice surrounding how public companies quantify financial statement misstatements. SAB 108 requires that registrants quantify errors using both a balance sheet and income statement approach and evaluate whether either approach results in a misstated amount that, when all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors are considered, is material. The Company adopted SAB 108 at the end of fiscal 2007, and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Companys financial statements.
FIN 48
In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing a minimum probability threshold that a tax position must
50
meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. The minimum threshold is defined in FIN 48 as a tax position that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. FIN 48 must be applied to all existing tax positions upon initial adoption. The cumulative effect of applying FIN 48 at adoption is to be reported as an adjustment to beginning retained earnings for the year of adoption. FIN 48 is effective for the Companys 2008 fiscal year and will result in a reduction of approximately $160 million to beginning retained earnings in fiscal year 2008.
EITF D-108
In September 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) issued Topic No. D-108, Use of the Residual Method to Value Acquired Assets Other than Goodwill (EITF D-108). EITF D-108 requires that a direct value method be used to value intangible assets acquired in business combinations completed after September 29, 2004. EITF D-108 also requires the Company to perform an impairment test using a direct value method on all intangible assets that were previously valued using the residual method. Any impairments arising from the initial application of a direct value method are reported as a cumulative effect of accounting change. For radio station acquisitions subsequent to the acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. in 1996, the Company applied the residual value method to value the acquired FCC licenses. The Company adopted EITF D-108 for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2005 and recorded a non-cash, $57 million pre-tax charge ($36 million after-tax) as a cumulative effect of accounting change.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. We may from time to time make written or oral statements that are forward-looking, including statements contained in this report and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in reports to our shareholders. Such statements may, for example, express expectations or projections about future actions that we may take, including restructuring or strategic initiatives, or about developments beyond our control including changes in domestic or global economic conditions. These statements are made on the basis of managements views and assumptions as of the time the statements are made and we undertake no obligation to update these statements. There can be no assurance, however, that our expectations will necessarily come to pass. Significant factors affecting these expectations are set forth under Item 1A Risk Factors of this Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The Company is exposed to the impact of interest rate changes, foreign currency fluctuations, and changes in the market values of its investments.
Policies and Procedures
In the normal course of business, we employ established policies and procedures to manage the Companys exposure to changes in interest rates, foreign currencies, and the fair market value of certain investments in debt and equity securities using a variety of financial instruments.
Our objectives in managing exposure to interest rate changes are to limit the impact of interest rate volatility on earnings and cash flows and to lower overall borrowing costs. To achieve these objectives, we primarily use interest rate swaps to manage net exposure to interest rate changes related to the Companys portfolio of borrowings. By policy, the Company maintains fixed-rate debt as a percentage of its net debt between minimum and maximum percentages.
Our objective in managing exposure to foreign currency fluctuations is to reduce volatility of earnings and cash flow in order to allow management to focus on core business issues and challenges. Accordingly, the Company enters into various contracts that change in value as foreign exchange rates change to protect the U.S. dollar equivalent value of its existing foreign currency assets, liabilities, commitments, and forecasted foreign currency revenues. The Company utilizes option strategies and forward contracts that provide for the sale of foreign currencies to hedge probable, but not firmly committed, transactions. The Company also uses forward contracts to hedge foreign currency assets and liabilities. The principal foreign currencies hedged are the Euro, British pound, Japanese yen, and Canadian
51
dollar. Cross-currency swaps are used to effectively convert foreign currency denominated borrowings to U.S. dollar denominated borrowings. By policy, the Company maintains hedge coverage between minimum and maximum percentages of its forecasted foreign exchange exposures generally for periods not to exceed five years. The gains and losses on these contracts offset changes in the U.S. dollar equivalent value of the related exposures.
It is the Companys policy to enter into foreign currency and interest rate derivative transactions and other financial instruments only to the extent considered necessary to meet its objectives as stated above. The Company does not enter into these transactions or any other hedging transactions for speculative purposes.
Value at Risk (VAR)
The Company utilizes a VAR model to estimate the maximum potential one-day loss in the fair value of its interest rate, foreign exchange, and market sensitive equity financial instruments. The VAR model estimates were made assuming normal market conditions and a 95% confidence level. Various modeling techniques can be used in a VAR computation. The Companys computations are based on the interrelationships between movements in various interest rates, currencies, and equity prices (a variance/co-variance technique). These interrelationships were determined by observing interest rate, foreign currency, and equity market changes over the preceding quarter for the calculation of VAR amounts at fiscal 2007 year end. The model includes all of the Companys debt as well as all interest rate and foreign exchange derivative contracts and market sensitive equity investments. Forecasted transactions, firm commitments, and receivables and accounts payable denominated in foreign currencies, which certain of these instruments are intended to hedge, were excluded from the model.
The VAR model is a risk analysis tool and does not purport to represent actual losses in fair value that will be incurred by the Company, nor does it consider the potential effect of favorable changes in market factors.
VAR on a combined basis increased to $33 million at September 29, 2007 from $21 million at September 30, 2006. The increase was primarily due to higher volatility and a higher market value of currency-sensitive instruments.
The estimated maximum potential one-day loss in fair value, calculated using the VAR model, is as follows (unaudited, in millions):
Fiscal Year 2007 |
Interest Rate Sensitive Financial Instruments |
Currency Sensitive Financial Instruments |
Equity Sensitive Financial Instruments |
Combined Portfolio | ||||||||
Year end VAR |
$ | 26 | $ | 17 | $ | 1 | $ | 33 | ||||
Average VAR |
$ | 17 | $ | 14 | $ | 1 | $ | 23 | ||||
Highest VAR |
$ | 26 | $ | 17 | $ | 1 | $ | 33 | ||||
Lowest VAR |
$ | 12 | $ | 12 | $ | 1 | $ | 18 | ||||
Beginning of year VAR (year end fiscal 2006) |
$ | 22 | $ | 10 | $ | 1 | $ | 21 |
The VAR for Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland is immaterial as of September 29, 2007. In calculating the VAR it was determined that credit risks are the primary driver for changes in the value of Euro Disneys debt rather than interest rate risks. Accordingly, we have excluded Euro Disneys borrowings from the above VAR calculation.
ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
See Index to Financial Statements and Supplemental Data on page 61.
ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We have established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed,
52
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and made known to the officers who certify the Companys financial reports and to other members of senior management and the Board of Directors as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Based on their evaluation as of September 29, 2007, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Company have concluded that the Companys disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) are effective.
Managements Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Managements report set forth on page 62 is incorporated herein by reference.
Changes in Internal Controls
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting or in factors affecting internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended September 29, 2007, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
None.
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PART III
ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Information regarding Section 16(a) compliance, the Audit Committee, the Companys code of ethics and background of the directors appearing under the captions Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance, Committees, Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Ethics and Election of Directors in the Companys Proxy Statement for the 2008 annual meeting of Shareholders is hereby incorporated by reference.
Information regarding executive officers is included in Part I of this Form 10-K as permitted by General Instruction G(3).
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation
Information appearing under the captions Board Compensation and Executive Compensation in the 2008 Proxy Statement (other than the Compensation Committee Report) is hereby incorporated by reference.
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Information setting forth the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management appearing under the caption Stock Ownership and information in the Equity Compensation Plans table appearing under the caption Overview of Plans in the 2008 Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated by reference.
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Information regarding certain related transactions appearing under the captions Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions and Executive Compensation and information regarding director independence appearing under the caption Director Independence in the 2008 Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated by reference.
ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Information appearing under the captions Auditor Fees and Services and Policy for Approval of Audit and Permitted Non-Audit Services in the 2008 Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated by reference.
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PART IV
ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(1) | Financial Statements and Schedules |
See Index to Financial Statements and Supplemental Data at page 61.
(2) | Exhibits |
The documents set forth below are filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference to the location indicated.
Exhibit | Location | |||
2.1 | Agreement and Plan of Merger, by and among The Walt Disney Company, Lux Acquisition Corp. and Pixar, dated as of January 24, 2006 | Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed January 26, 2006 | ||
2.2 | Separation Agreement dated as of February 6, 2006, between Disney and Spinco | Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed February 10, 2006 | ||
2.3 | Amendment No. 1 dated November 19, 2006 to the Separation Agreement dated as of February 6, 2006 between Disney and Spinco | Exhibit 2.3 to the Form 10-K for the Company for the period ended September 30, 2006 | ||
2.4 | Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 6, 2006, between Disney, Spinco, Citadel and Merger Sub | Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed February 10, 2006 | ||
2.5 | Amendment No. 1 dated November 19, 2006 to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 6, 2006, between Disney, Spinco, Citadel and Merger Sub | Exhibit 2.5 to the Form 10-K for the Company for the period ended September 30, 2006 | ||
3.1 | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company | Annex C to the Joint Proxy Statement/ Prospectus included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-88105) of the Company, filed Sept. 30, 1999 | ||
3.2 | Bylaws of the Company | Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated June 29, 2007 | ||
4.1 | Amended and Restated Five Year Credit Agreement dated as of February 22, 2006 | Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed March 31, 2006 | ||
4.2 | Amended and Restated Four Year Credit Agreement dated as of February 22, 2006 | Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed March 31, 2006 | ||
4.3 | Indenture, dated as of Nov. 30, 1990, between DEI and Bankers Trust Company, as Trustee | Exhibit 2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of DEI, dated Jan. 14, 1991 | ||
4.4 | Indenture, dated as of Mar. 7, 1996, between the Company and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee | Exhibit 4.1(a) to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, dated March 7, 1996 | ||
4.5 | Senior Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of September 24, 2001, between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Trustee | Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, dated September 24, 2001 | ||
4.6 | Other long-term borrowing instruments are omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K. The Company undertakes to furnish copies of such instruments to the Commission upon request |
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Exhibit | Location | |||
10.1 | (i) Agreement on the Creation and the Operation of Euro Disneyland en France, dated Mar. 25, 1987, and (ii) Letter relating thereto of the Chairman of Disney Enterprises, Inc., dated Mar. 24,1987 | Exhibits 10(b) and 10(a), respectively, to the Current Report on Form 8-K of DEI, dated Apr. 4, 1987 | ||
10.2 | Memorandum of Agreement dated June 8, 2004, among Euro Disney S.C.A. and certain of its affiliates, the Company, Caisse des Dèpôts et Consignations, the Lenders (as defined therein), BNP Paribas and CALYON | Exhibit 3 to the Companys Report on Schedule 13D filed June 29, 2004, with respect to Euro Disney S.C.A. | ||
10.3 | Amendments to the June 8, 2004 Memorandum of Agreement | Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed October 6, 2004 | ||
10.4 | Composite Limited Recourse Financing Facility Agreement, dated as of Apr. 27, 1988, between DEI and TDL Funding Company, as amended | Exhibit 10(b) to the Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended September 30, 1997 | ||
10.5 | Employment Agreement, dated as of Oct. 2, 2005, between the Company and Robert A. Iger | Exhibit 10(a) to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated October 6, 2005 | ||
10.6 | Employment Agreement, dated September 26, 2003 between the Company and Alan N. Braverman | Exhibit 10(g) to the Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended September 30, 2003 | ||
10.7 | Employment Agreement, dated September 26, 2003 between the Company and Thomas O. Staggs | Exhibit 10(h) to the Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended September 30, 2003 | ||
10.8 | Amendment dated February 3, 2006 to Employment Agreement dated April 19, 2005, between the Company and Peter Murphy | Exhibit 10(b) to the Form 10-Q of the Company for the period ended December 31, 2005 | ||
10.9 | Amended description of Employment Arrangement with Christine M. McCarthy | Exhibit 10.3 to the Form 10-Q of the Company for the period ended March 31, 2007 | ||
10.10 | Amended description of Employment Arrangement with Kevin A. Mayer | Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 10- Q of the Company for the period ended March 31, 2007 | ||
10.11 | Employment Agreement dated September 12, 2006 between the Company and Wesley Coleman | Exhibit 10.14 to the Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended September 30, 2006 | ||
10.12 | Description of Directors Compensation | Item 9 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed July 2, 2004 and Item 1.01 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed June 28, 2006 | ||
10.13 | Amended and Restated Directors Retirement Policy | Exhibit 10.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed December 1, 2006 | ||
10.14 | Form of Indemnification Agreement for certain officers and directors | Annex C to the Proxy Statement for the 1987 annual meeting of DEI | ||
10.15 | 1995 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors | Exhibit 20 to the Form S-8 Registration Statement (No. 33-57811) of DEI, dated Feb. 23, 1995 | ||
10.16 | Amended and Restated 1990 Stock Incentive Plan and Rules | Appendix B-2 to the Joint Proxy Statement/ Prospectus included in the Form S-4 Registration Statement (No. 33-64141) of DEI, dated Nov. 13, 1995 | ||
10.17 | Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Incentive Plan and Rules | Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed December 1, 2006 | ||
10.18 | Amendment to Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Incentive Plan | Item 1.01(a) of Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed September 23, 2004 |
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Exhibit | Location | |||
10.19 | 1987 Stock Incentive Plan and Rules and (ii) 1984 Stock Incentive Plan and Rules | Exhibits 1(a), 1(b), 2(a) and 2(b), respectively, to the Prospectus contained in the Form S-8 Registration Statement (No. 33-26106) of DEI, dated Dec. 20, 1988 | ||
10.20 | Amendment, dated June 26, 2000, to the Companys Stock Incentive Plans | Exhibit 10(b) to the Form 10-Q of the Company for the period ended June 30, 2000 | ||
10.21 | Amended and Restated 2002 Executive Performance Plan | Exhibit 10.9 to the Form 10-Q of the Company for the period ended December 30, 2006 | ||
10.22 | Management Incentive Bonus Program approved September 19, 2004 | Item 1.01(b) of Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed September 23, 2004 | ||
10.23 | Amended and Restated 1997 Non-Employee Directors Stock and Deferred Compensation Plan | Annex II to the Proxy Statement for the 2003 annual meeting of the Company | ||
10.24 | Amended and Restated 2005 Incentive Plan | Annex C to the Proxy Statement for the 2007 annual meeting of the Company | ||
10.25 | The Walt Disney Company/Pixar 1995 Stock Plan | Exhibit 10.1 to the Form S-8 Registration Statement (No. 333-133840) of the Company dated May 5, 2006 | ||
10.26 | The Walt Disney Company/Pixar 1995 Director Option Plan | Exhibit 10.2 to the Form S-8 Registration Statement (No. 333-133840) of the Company dated May 5, 2006 | ||
10.27 | Amended and Restated The Walt Disney Company/Pixar 2004 Equity Incentive Plan | Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed December 1, 2006 | ||
10.28 | Key Employees Deferred Compensation and Retirement Plan | Exhibit 10(u) to the Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended September 30, 1997 | ||
10.29 | Benefit Equalization Plan of ABC, Inc. | Filed herewith | ||
10.30 | Group Personal Excess Liability Insurance Plan | Exhibit 10(x) to the Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended September 30, 1997 | ||
10.31 | Family Income Assurance Plan (summary description) | Exhibit 10(y) to the Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended September 30, 1997 | ||
10.32 | Severance Pay Plan | Filed herewith | ||
10.33 | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Time-Based Vesting) | Exhibit 10(aa) to the Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended September 30, 2004 | ||
10.34 | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Bonus Related) | Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed December 15, 2006 | ||
10.35 | Form of Performance-Based Stock Unit Award | Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed December 15, 2006 | ||
10.36 | Form of Performance-Based Stock Unit Award Agreement (Dual Performance Goals) | Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed December 15, 2006 | ||
10.37 | Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Award Agreement (Seven-year Form) | Exhibit 10(b) to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated December 23, 2004 | ||
10.38 | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement in Lieu of Equitable Adjustment | Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 10-Q of the Company for the period ended June 30, 2007 | ||
10.39 | Settlement Agreement dated July 8, 2005 among Shamrock Holdings of California Inc., Roy E. Disney, Stanley P. Gold and the Registrant | Exhibit 10(hh) to the Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended October 1, 2005 | ||
21 | Subsidiaries of the Company | Filed herewith |
57
Exhibit | Location | |||
23 | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | Filed herewith | ||
31(a) | Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer of the Company in accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | Filed herewith | ||
31(b) | Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer of the Company in accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | Filed herewith | ||
32(a) | Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer of the Company in accordance with Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002* | Furnished herewith | ||
32(b) | Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer of the Company in accordance with Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002* | Furnished herewith |
* | A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request. |
58
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY | ||||
(Registrant) | ||||
Date: November 21, 2007 | By: | /s/ ROBERT A. IGER | ||
(Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer) |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
Principal Executive Officer /s/ ROBERT A. IGER (Robert A. Iger) |
President and Chief Executive Officer | November 21, 2007 | ||
Principal Financial and Accounting Officers /s/ THOMAS O. STAGGS (Thomas O. Staggs) |
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | November 21, 2007 | ||
/s/ BRENT A. WOODFORD (Brent A. Woodford) |
Senior Vice President-Planning and Control | November 21, 2007 | ||
Directors /s/ SUSAN E. ARNOLD (Susan E. Arnold) |
Director | November 21, 2007 | ||
/s/ JOHN E. BRYSON (John E. Bryson) |
Director | November 21, 2007 | ||
/s/ JOHN S. CHEN (John S. Chen) |
Director | November 21, 2007 | ||
/s/ JUDITH L. ESTRIN (Judith L. Estrin) |
Director | November 21, 2007 | ||
/s/ ROBERT A. IGER (Robert A. Iger) |
Director | November 21, 2007 | ||
/s/ STEVEN P. JOBS (Steven P. Jobs) |
Director | November 21, 2007 | ||
/s/ FRED H. LANGHAMMER (Fred H. Langhammer) |
Director | November 21, 2007 |
59
Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
/s/ AYLWIN B. LEWIS (Aylwin B. Lewis) |
Director | November 21, 2007 | ||
/s/ MONICA C. LOZANO (Monica C. Lozano) |
Director | November 21, 2007 | ||
/s/ ROBERT W. MATSCHULLAT (Robert W. Matschullat) |
Director | November 21, 2007 | ||
/s/ JOHN E. PEPPER, JR. (John E. Pepper, Jr.) |
Chairman of the Board and Director | November 21, 2007 | ||
/s/ ORIN C. SMITH (Orin C. Smith) |
Director | November 21, 2007 |
60
THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Page | ||
Managements Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting |
62 | |
63 | ||
Consolidated Financial Statements of The Walt Disney Company and Subsidiaries |
||
64 | ||
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006 |
65 | |
66 | ||
67 | ||
68 | ||
109 |
All schedules are omitted for the reason that they are not applicable or the required information is included in the financial statements or notes.
61
MANAGEMENTS REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). The Companys internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Companys assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements prepared for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control Integrated Framework, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of September 29, 2007.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of September 29, 2007 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.
62
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of The Walt Disney Company
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders equity and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries (the Company) at September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 29, 2007 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 29, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Companys management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Companys internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, as of September 29, 2007, the Company changed its method of accounting for pension and other postretirement benefits. Also, during the year ended October 1, 2005, the Company changed the manner in which it values its FCC licenses.
A companys internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A companys internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the companys assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
Los Angeles, California
November 21, 2007
63
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in millions, except per share data)
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
Revenues |
$ | 35,510 | $ | 33,747 | $ | 31,374 | |||
Costs and expenses |
(28,729) | (28,392) | (27,443) | ||||||
Gains on sales of equity investments and businesses |
1,052 | 70 | 26 | ||||||
Restructuring and impairment (charges) and other credits, net |
| 18 | (32) | ||||||
Net interest expense |
(593) | (592) | (597) | ||||||
Equity in the income of investees |
485 | 473 | 483 | ||||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interests and the cumulative effect of accounting change |
7,725 | 5,324 | 3,811 | ||||||
Income taxes |
(2,874) | (1,837) | (1,174) | ||||||
Minority interests |
(177) | (183) | (177) | ||||||
Income from continuing operations before the cumulative effect of accounting change |
4,674 | 3,304 | 2,460 | ||||||
Discontinued operations, net of tax |
13 | 70 | 109 | ||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change |
| | (36) | ||||||
Net income |
$ | 4,687 | $ | 3,374 | $ | 2,533 | |||
Diluted Earnings per share: |
|||||||||
Earnings per share, continuing operations before the cumulative effect of accounting change |
$ | 2.24 | $ | 1.60 | $ | 1.19 | |||
Earnings per share, discontinued operations |
0.01 | 0.03 | 0.05 | ||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change per share |
| | (0.02) | ||||||
Earnings per share(1) |
$ | 2.25 | $ | 1.64 | $ | 1.22 | |||
Basic Earnings per share: |
|||||||||
Earnings per share, continuing operations before the cumulative effect of accounting change |
$ | 2.33 | $ | 1.65 | $ | 1.21 | |||
Earnings per share, discontinued operations |
0.01 | 0.03 | 0.05 | ||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change per share |
| | (0.02) | ||||||
Earnings per share(1) |
$ | 2.34 | $ | 1.68 | $ | 1.25 | |||
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding: |
|||||||||
Diluted |
2,092 | 2,076 | 2,089 | ||||||
Basic |
2,004 | 2,005 | 2,028 | ||||||
(1) |
Total earnings per share may not equal the sum of the column due to rounding. |
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
64
(in millions, except per share data)
September 29, 2007 |
September 30, 2006 | |||||
ASSETS Current assets |
||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 3,670 | $ | 2,411 | ||
Receivables |
5,032 | 4,707 | ||||
Inventories |
641 | 694 | ||||
Television costs |
559 | 415 | ||||
Deferred income taxes |
862 | 592 | ||||
Other current assets |
550 | 743 | ||||
Total current assets |
11,314 | 9,562 | ||||
Film and television costs |
5,123 | 5,235 | ||||
Investments |
995 | 1,315 | ||||
Parks, resorts and other property, at cost Attractions, buildings and equipment |
30,260 | 28,843 | ||||
Accumulated depreciation |
(15,145) | (13,781) | ||||
15,115 | 15,062 | |||||
Projects in progress |
1,147 | 913 | ||||
Land |
1,171 | 1,192 | ||||
17,433 | 17,167 | |||||
Intangible assets, net |
2,494 | 2,907 | ||||
Goodwill |
22,085 | 22,505 | ||||
Other assets |
1,484 | 1,307 | ||||
$ | 60,928 | $ | 59,998 | |||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||
Current liabilities |
||||||
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities |
$ | 5,949 | $ | 5,917 | ||
Current portion of borrowings |
3,280 | 2,682 | ||||
Unearned royalties and other advances |
2,162 | 1,611 | ||||
Total current liabilities |
11,391 | 10,210 | ||||
Borrowings |
11,892 | 10,843 | ||||
Deferred income taxes |
2,573 | 2,651 | ||||
Other long-term liabilities |
3,024 | 3,131 | ||||
Minority interests |
1,295 | 1,343 | ||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14) |
||||||
Shareholders equity |
||||||
Preferred stock, $.01 par value Authorized 100 million shares, Issued none |
| | ||||
Common stock, $.01 par value Authorized 3.6 billion shares, Issued 2.6 billion shares at September 29, 2007 and 2.5 billion at September 30, 2006 |
24,207 | 22,377 | ||||
Retained earnings |
24,805 | 20,630 | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(157) | (8) | ||||
48,855 | 42,999 | |||||
Treasury stock, at cost, 637.8 million shares at September 29, 2007 and 436.0 million shares at September 30, 2006 |
(18,102) | (11,179) | ||||
30,753 | 31,820 | |||||
$ | 60,928 | $ | 59,998 | |||
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
65
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS |
|||||||||
Net income |
$ | 4,687 | $ | 3,374 | $ | 2,533 | |||
Income from discontinued operations |
(13) | (70) | (109) | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
1,491 | 1,437 | 1,341 | ||||||
Gains on sales of equity investments and businesses |
(1,052) | (70) | (26) | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
(260) | (139) | (265) | ||||||
Equity in the income of investees |
(485) | (473) | (483) | ||||||
Cash distributions received from equity investees |
420 | 458 | 402 | ||||||
Write-off of aircraft leveraged lease |
| | 101 | ||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change |
| | 36 | ||||||
Minority interests |
177 | 183 | 177 | ||||||
Net change in film and television costs |
115 | 860 | 568 | ||||||
Equity-based compensation |
419 | 373 | 370 | ||||||
Other |
(65) | (54) | (150) | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities |
|||||||||
Receivables |
(355) | (85) | (156) | ||||||
Inventories |
52 | (63) | 22 | ||||||
Other assets |
9 | (55) | (90) | ||||||
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities |
77 | 304 | (255) | ||||||
Income taxes |
181 | (20) | 123 | ||||||
Cash provided by continuing operations |
5,398 | 5,960 | 4,139 | ||||||
INVESTING ACTIVITIES OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS |
|||||||||
Investments in parks, resorts and other property |
(1,566) | (1,292) | (1,813) | ||||||
Sales of investments |
5 | 1,073 | 24 | ||||||
Working capital proceeds from The Disney Store North America sale |
| | 100 | ||||||
Proceeds from sales of equity investments and businesses |
1,530 | 81 | 29 | ||||||
Acquisitions |
(588) | (55) | (9) | ||||||
Proceeds from sales of fixed assets and other |
1 | (27) | (13) | ||||||
Cash used in continuing investing activities |
(618) | (220) | (1,682) | ||||||
FINANCING ACTIVITIES OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS |
|||||||||
Commercial paper borrowings, net |
1,847 | 85 | 654 | ||||||
Borrowings |
3,143 | 2,806 | 422 | ||||||
Reduction of borrowings |
(2,294) | (1,950) | (1,775) | ||||||
Dividends |
(637) | (519) | (490) | ||||||
Repurchases of common stock |
(6,923) | (6,898) | (2,420) | ||||||
Euro Disney equity offering |
| | 171 | ||||||
Equity partner contributions |
| 51 | 147 | ||||||
Exercise of stock options and other |
1,245 | 1,259 | 392 | ||||||
Cash used in continuing financing activities |
(3,619) | (5,166) | (2,899) | ||||||
CASH FLOWS OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS |
|||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations |
23 | 98 | 130 | ||||||
Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations |
(3) | (7) | (9) | ||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities of discontinued operations |
78 | 23 | 2 | ||||||
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
1,259 | 688 | (319) | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year |
2,411 | 1,723 | 2,042 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year |
$ | 3,670 | $ | 2,411 | $ | 1,723 | |||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: |
|||||||||
Interest paid |
$ | 551 | $ | 617 | $ | 641 | |||
Income taxes paid |
$ | 2,796 | $ | 1,857 | $ | 1,572 | |||
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
66
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
(in millions, except per share data)
Shares | Common Stock |
Retained Earnings |
Accumulated Comprehensive (Loss) |
Treasury Stock |
Total Equity | ||||||||||||
BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 |
2,040 | $ | 12,447 | $ | 15,732 | $ | (236) | $ | (1,862) | $ | 26,081 | ||||||
Exercise of stock options and issuance of restricted stock and stock options |
20 | 841 | | | 1 | 842 | |||||||||||
Common stock repurchases |
(91) | | | | (2,420) | (2,420) | |||||||||||
Dividends ($0.24 per share) |
| | (490) | | | (490) | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss (net of tax of $197 million) |
| | | (336) | | (336) | |||||||||||
Net income |
| | 2,533 | | | 2,533 | |||||||||||
BALANCE AT OCTOBER 1, 2005 |
1,969 | 13,288 | 17,775 | (572) | (4,281) | 26,210 | |||||||||||
Exercise of stock options and issuance of restricted stock and stock options |
57 | 1,676 | | | | 1,676 | |||||||||||
Acquisition of Pixar |
279 | 7,413 | | | | 7,413 | |||||||||||
Common stock repurchases |
(243) | | | | (6,898) | (6,898) | |||||||||||
Dividends ($0.27 per share) |
| | (519) | | | (519) | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (net of tax of $394 million) |
| | | 564 | | 564 | |||||||||||
Net income |
| | 3,374 | | | 3,374 | |||||||||||
BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 |
2,062 | 22,377 | 20,630 | (8) | (11,179) | 31,820 | |||||||||||
Exercise of stock options and issuance of restricted stock and stock options |
57 | 1,823 | | | | 1,823 | |||||||||||
Common stock repurchases |
(202) | | | | (6,923) | (6,923) | |||||||||||
Dividends ($0.31 per share) |
| 7 | (644) | | | (637) | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (net of tax of $66 million) |
| | | 112 | | 112 | |||||||||||
Adoption of SFAS 158 (see Note 9) (net of tax of $154 million) |
| | | (261) | | (261) | |||||||||||
Distribution of ABC Radio business |
| | 132 | | | 132 | |||||||||||
Net income |
| | 4,687 | | | 4,687 | |||||||||||
BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 29, 2007 |
1,917 | $ | 24,207 | $ | 24,805 | $ | (157) | $ | (18,102) | $ | 30,753 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) is as follows:
September 29, 2007 |
September 30, 2006 | |||||
Market value adjustments for investments and hedges |
$ | (42) | $ | 29 | ||
Foreign currency translation and other |
164 | 87 | ||||
Minimum pension liability adjustment |
n/a | (124) | ||||
Unrecognized pension and postretirement medical expense |
(279) | n/a | ||||
$ | (157) | $ | (8) | |||
Comprehensive income/(loss) is as follows:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
Net income |
$ | 4,687 | $ | 3,374 | $ | 2,533 | |||
Market value adjustments for investments and hedges |
(71) | (2) | 92 | ||||||
Foreign currency translation and other |
77 | (19) | 20 | ||||||
Minimum pension liability adjustment, increase/(decrease) (see Note 9) |
106 | 585 | (448) | ||||||
Comprehensive income |
$ | 4,799 | $ | 3,938 | $ | 2,197 | |||
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
67
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
1. | Description of the Business and Segment Information |
The Walt Disney Company, together with the subsidiaries through which the Companys businesses are conducted (the Company), is a diversified worldwide entertainment company with operations in the following business segments: Media Networks, Parks and Resorts, Studio Entertainment, and Consumer Products.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS
Media Networks
The Company operates the ABC Television Network and ten owned television stations, as well as the ESPN Radio Network, and Radio Disney Network (the Radio Networks) and 46 owned radio stations. Both the television and radio networks have affiliated stations providing coverage to households throughout the United States. The Company has cable/satellite networks and international television operations that are principally involved in the production and distribution of cable television programming, the licensing of programming to domestic and international markets, and investing in foreign television broadcasting, production, and distribution entities. Primary cable/satellite programming services that operate through consolidated subsidiary companies are the ESPN-branded networks, Disney Channel, International Disney Channel, SOAPnet, Toon Disney, ABC Family Channel, and Jetix channels in Europe and Latin America. Other programming services that operate through joint ventures and are accounted for under the equity method, include A&E Television Networks and Lifetime Entertainment Services. The Company also produces original television programming for network, first-run syndication, pay, and international syndication markets, along with original animated television programming for network, pay, and international syndication markets. Additionally, the Company operates ABC-, ESPN-, ABC Family-, SOAPnet- and Disney-branded internet website businesses, as well as Club Penguin, an online virtual world for kids.
On June 12, 2007, the Company completed the spin-off of its wholly owned subsidiary, ABC Radio Holdings, Inc., and its merger into a subsidiary of Citadel Broadcasting Corporation (Citadel). Prior to the spin-off, the Company consolidated its ABC Radio Business, consisting of 22 large-market radio stations and the ABC Radio Network businesses, under ABC Radio Holdings, Inc. The transaction did not include the Companys ESPN Radio or Radio Disney network and station businesses. Additional information regarding this transaction is included in Note 3.
Parks and Resorts
The Company owns and operates the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and the Disneyland Resort in California. The Walt Disney World Resort includes four theme parks (the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, and Disneys Animal Kingdom), seventeen resort hotels, a retail, dining, and entertainment complex, a sports complex, conference centers, campgrounds, golf courses, water parks, and other recreational facilities. The Disneyland Resort includes two theme parks (Disneyland and Disneys California Adventure), three resort hotels, and a retail, dining and entertainment district. The Company manages and has a 40% equity interest in Euro Disney S.C.A. (Euro Disney), a publicly-held French entity that is a holding company for Euro Disney Associés S.C.A. (Disney S.C.A.), in which the Company has a direct 18% interest. Consequently, the Company has a 51% effective ownership interest in Disney S.C.A., the primary operating company of Disneyland Resort Paris, which includes the Disneyland Park, the Walt Disney Studios Park, seven themed hotels, two convention centers, a shopping, dining and entertainment complex, and a 27-hole golf facility. The Company also manages and has a 43% equity interest in Hong Kong Disneyland, which includes one theme park and two resort hotels. The Company earns royalties on revenues generated by the Tokyo Disneyland Resort, which includes two theme parks and two Disney-branded hotels, near Tokyo, Japan, and is owned and operated by an unrelated Japanese corporation. The Companys Walt Disney Imagineering unit designs and develops new theme park concepts and attractions, as well as resort properties. The Company also manages and markets vacation club ownership interests through the Disney Vacation Club and operates the Disney Cruise Line out of Port Canaveral, Florida. Also included in Parks and Resorts is the ESPN Zone, which operates eight sports-themed dining and entertainment facilities around the United States.
68
Studio Entertainment
The Company produces and acquires live-action and animated motion pictures for worldwide distribution to the theatrical, home entertainment, and television markets. The Company distributes these products through its own distribution and marketing companies in the United States and foreign markets primarily under the Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, and Miramax banners, as well as Dimension for titles released prior to September 30, 2005. On May 5, 2006, the Company completed an all stock acquisition of Pixar, a digital animation studio. As a result of the acquisition the Company now produces feature animation films under both the Disney and Pixar banners. Refer to Note 3 for information about the acquisition. The Company also produces stage plays and musical recordings.
Consumer Products
The Company licenses the name Walt Disney, as well as the Companys characters and visual and literary properties, to various manufacturers, retailers, show promoters, and publishers throughout the world. The Company also engages in retail and online distribution of products through The Disney Store and DisneyShopping.com. The Disney Store is owned and operated in Europe and franchised in North America and Japan. The Company publishes books and magazines for children and families and computer software and video game products for the entertainment and educational marketplace.
SEGMENT INFORMATION
The operating segments reported below are the segments of the Company for which separate financial information is available and for which operating results are evaluated regularly by the Chief Executive Officer in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.
Segment operating results reflect earnings before corporate and unallocated shared expenses and exclude amortization of certain intangible assets, gains on sale of equity investments and businesses, restructuring and impairment (charges) and other credits, net interest expense, income taxes, minority interests, and the cumulative effect of accounting change. Segment operating income results include equity in the income of investees. Equity investees consist primarily of A&E Television Networks and Lifetime Television, which are cable businesses included in the Media Networks segment. Corporate and unallocated shared expenses principally consist of corporate functions, executive management, and certain unallocated administrative support functions.
Equity in the income of investees by segment is as follows:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
Media Networks (1) |
$ | 484 | $ | 444 | $ | 460 | |||
Parks and Resorts |
| 1 | | ||||||
Consumer Products |
| 28 | 23 | ||||||
Corporate |
1 | | | ||||||
$ | 485 | $ | 473 | $ | 483 | ||||
(1) |
Substantially all of these amounts relate to investments at Cable Networks. |
69
The following segment results include allocations of certain costs, including certain information technology, pension, legal, and other shared services costs, which are allocated based on various metrics designed to correlate with consumption. These allocations are agreed-upon amounts between the businesses and may differ from amounts that would be negotiated in arms length transactions. In addition, all significant intersegment transactions have been eliminated except that Studio Entertainment revenues and operating income include an allocation of Consumer Products revenues, which is meant to reflect royalties on Consumer Products sales of merchandise based on certain Studio film properties.
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
Revenues |
|||||||||
Media Networks |
$ | 15,046 | $ | 14,100 | $ | 12,637 | |||
Parks and Resorts |
10,626 | 9,925 | 9,023 | ||||||
Studio Entertainment |
|||||||||
Third parties |
7,308 | 7,410 | 7,499 | ||||||
Intersegment |
183 | 119 | 88 | ||||||
7,491 | 7,529 | 7,587 | |||||||
Consumer Products |
|||||||||
Third parties |
2,530 | 2,312 | 2,215 | ||||||
Intersegment |
(183) | (119) | (88) | ||||||
2,347 | 2,193 | 2,127 | |||||||
Total consolidated revenues |
$ | 35,510 | $ | 33,747 | $ | 31,374 | |||
Segment operating income |
|||||||||
Media Networks |
$ | 4,285 | $ | 3,480 | $ | 3,040 | |||
Parks and Resorts |
1,710 | 1,534 | 1,178 | ||||||
Studio Entertainment |
1,201 | 729 | 207 | ||||||
Consumer Products |
631 | 618 | 543 | ||||||
Total segment operating income |
$ | 7,827 | $ | 6,361 | $ | 4,968 | |||
Reconciliation of segment operating income to income from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interests and the cumulative effect of accounting change | |||||||||
Segment operating income |
$ | 7,827 | $ | 6,361 | $ | 4,968 | |||
Corporate and unallocated shared expenses |
(497) | (522) | (543) | ||||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
(16) | (11) | (11) | ||||||
Equity-based compensation plan modification charge |
(48) | | | ||||||
Gains on sales of equity investments and businesses |
1,052 | 70 | 26 | ||||||
Restructuring and impairment (charges) and other credits, net |
| 18 | (32) | ||||||
Net interest expense |
(593) | (592) | (597) | ||||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interests and the cumulative effect of accounting change |
$ | 7,725 | $ | 5,324 | $ | 3,811 | |||
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2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
Capital expenditures from continuing operations |
|||||||||
Media Networks |
$ | 265 | $ | 220 | $ | 218 | |||
Parks and Resorts |
|||||||||
Domestic |
816 | 667 | 726 | ||||||
International |
256 | 248 | 711 | ||||||
Studio Entertainment |
85 | 41 | 37 | ||||||
Consumer Products |
36 | 16 | 10 | ||||||
Corporate |
108 | 100 | 111 | ||||||
Total capital expenditures from continuing operations |
$ | 1,566 | $ | 1,292 | $ | 1,813 | |||
Depreciation expense from continuing operations |
|||||||||
Media Networks |
$ | 184 | $ | 179 | $ | 175 | |||
Parks and Resorts |
|||||||||
Domestic |
790 | 780 | 756 | ||||||
International |
304 | 279 | 207 | ||||||
Studio Entertainment |
31 | 30 | 26 | ||||||
Consumer Products |
18 | 23 | 25 | ||||||
Corporate |
132 | 126 | 132 | ||||||
Total depreciation expense from continuing operations |
$ | 1,459 | $ | 1,417 | $ | 1,321 | |||
Identifiable assets |
|||||||||
Media Networks(1)(2) |
$ | 27,692 | $ | 27,281 | |||||
Parks and Resorts(2) |
16,311 | 15,929 | |||||||
Studio Entertainment(2) |
10,812 | 11,159 | |||||||
Consumer Products(2) |
1,553 | 1,505 | |||||||
Corporate(2)(3) |
4,560 | 4,124 | |||||||
Total consolidated assets |
$ | 60,928 | $ | 59,998 | |||||
Supplemental revenue data |
|||||||||
Media Networks |
|||||||||
Advertising |
$ | 7,112 | $ | 7,222 | $ | 6,708 | |||
Affiliate Fees |
6,139 | 5,538 | 5,098 | ||||||
Parks and Resorts |
|||||||||
Merchandise, food and beverage |
3,454 | 3,221 | 2,879 | ||||||
Admissions |
3,342 | 3,085 | 2,771 | ||||||
Revenues |
|||||||||
United States and Canada |
$ | 27,286 | $ | 26,027 | $ | 24,236 | |||
Europe |
5,898 | 5,266 | 5,207 | ||||||
Asia Pacific |
1,732 | 1,917 | 1,451 | ||||||
Latin America and Other |
594 | 537 | 480 | ||||||
$ | 35,510 | $ | 33,747 | $ | 31,374 | ||||
Segment operating income |
|||||||||
United States and Canada |
$ | 6,042 | $ | 4,808 | $ | 3,794 | |||
Europe |
1,192 | 918 | 738 | ||||||
Asia Pacific |
437 | 542 | 386 | ||||||
Latin America and Other |
156 | 93 | 50 | ||||||
$ | 7,827 | $ | 6,361 | $ | 4,968 | ||||
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Identifiable assets | 2007 | 2006 | ||||
United States and Canada (1) |
$ | 52,052 | $ | 52,097 | ||
Europe |
6,588 | 5,624 | ||||
Asia Pacific |
2,077 | 2,111 | ||||
Latin America and Other |
211 | 166 | ||||
$ | 60,928 | $ | 59,998 | |||
(1) |
Identifiable assets include amounts associated with equity method investments of $714 and $1,065 in 2007 and 2006, respectively. |
(2) |
Goodwill and intangible assets, by segment, are as follows: |
2007 | 2006 | |||||
Media Networks |
$ | 18,403 | $ | 19,257 | ||
Parks and Resorts |
173 | 173 | ||||
Studio Entertainment |
5,065 | 5,036 | ||||
Consumer Products |
691 | 690 | ||||
Corporate |
247 | 256 | ||||
$ | 24,579 | $ | 25,412 | |||
(3) |
Primarily deferred tax assets, investments, fixed assets, and other assets. |
2. | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions. In December 1999, DVD Financing, Inc. (DFI), a subsidiary of Disney Vacation Development, Inc. and an indirect subsidiary of the Company, completed a receivable sale transaction that established a facility that permits DFI to sell receivables arising from the sale of vacation club memberships on a periodic basis. In connection with this facility, DFI prepares separate financial statements, although its separate assets and liabilities are also consolidated in these financial statements.
Accounting Changes
SFAS 159
In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (SFAS 159). SFAS 159 gives the Company the irrevocable option to carry most financial assets and liabilities at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. SFAS 159 is effective for the Companys 2009 fiscal year, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the potential effect of SFAS 159 on its financial statements.
SFAS 158
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statement Nos. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R) (SFAS 158). This statement requires recognition of the overfunded or underfunded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans as an asset or liability in the statement of financial position and changes in that funded status to be recognized in comprehensive income in the year in which the changes occur. SFAS 158 also requires measurement of the funded status of a plan as of the date of the statement of financial position. The Company adopted the recognition provisions of SFAS 158 in fiscal year 2007. See Note 9 for information regarding the impact of adopting the recognition provision of SFAS 158. The Company has not yet adopted the measurement provisions which are not effective until fiscal year 2009.
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SFAS 157
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157). SFAS 157 provides a common definition of fair value and establishes a framework to make the measurement of fair value in generally accepted accounting principles more consistent and comparable. SFAS 157 also requires expanded disclosures to provide information about the extent to which fair value is used to measure assets and liabilities, the methods and assumptions used to measure fair value, and the effect of fair value measures on earnings. SFAS 157 is effective for the Companys 2009 fiscal year, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the potential effect of SFAS 157 on its financial statements.
SAB 108
In September 2006, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (SAB 108). SAB 108 was issued in order to eliminate the diversity in practice surrounding how public companies quantify financial statement misstatements. SAB 108 requires that registrants quantify errors using both a balance sheet and income statement approach and evaluate whether either approach results in a misstated amount that, when all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors are considered, is material. The Company adopted SAB 108 at the end of fiscal 2007, and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Companys financial statements.
FIN 48
In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing a minimum probability threshold that a tax position must meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. The minimum threshold is defined in FIN 48 as a tax position that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. FIN 48 must be applied to all existing tax positions upon initial adoption. The cumulative effect of applying FIN 48 at adoption is to be reported as an adjustment to beginning retained earnings for the year of adoption. FIN 48 is effective for the Companys 2008 fiscal year and will result in a reduction of approximately $160 million to beginning retained earnings in fiscal year 2008.
EITF D-108
In September 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) issued Topic No. D-108, Use of the Residual Method to Value Acquired Assets Other than Goodwill (EITF D-108). EITF D-108 requires that a direct value method be used to value intangible assets acquired in business combinations completed after September 29, 2004. EITF D-108 also requires the Company to perform an impairment test using a direct value method on all intangible assets that were previously valued using the residual method. Any impairments arising from the initial application of a direct value method are reported as a cumulative effect of accounting change. For radio station acquisitions subsequent to the acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. in 1996, the Company applied the residual value method to value the acquired FCC licenses. The Company adopted EITF D-108 for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2005 and recorded a non-cash $57 million pre-tax charge ($36 million after-tax) as a cumulative effect of accounting change.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made in the fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005 financial statements and notes to conform to the fiscal 2007 presentation.
As a result of the spin-off of the ABC Radio business in fiscal 2007, ABC Radio is reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented (see Note 3 for further discussion). Previously, the ABC Radio business was included in the Media Networks segment. Prior period information has been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and footnotes thereto. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
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Revenue Recognition
Broadcast advertising revenues are recognized when commercials are aired. Revenues from television subscription services related to the Companys primary cable programming services are recognized as services are provided. Certain of the Companys existing contracts with cable and satellite operators include annual live programming commitments. In these cases, recognition of revenues subject to the commitments is deferred until the annual commitments are satisfied, which generally results in higher revenue recognition in the second half of the year.
Revenues from advance theme park ticket sales are recognized when the tickets are used. For non-expiring, multi-day tickets, we recognize revenue over a three-year time period based on estimated usage patterns that are derived from historical usage patterns. Revenues from corporate sponsors at the theme parks are generally recognized over the period of the applicable agreements commencing with the opening of the related attraction.
Revenues from the theatrical distribution of motion pictures are recognized when motion pictures are exhibited. Revenues from video and video game sales, net of anticipated returns and customer incentives, are recognized on the date that video units are made available for sale by retailers. Revenues from the licensing of feature films and television programming are recorded when the material is available for telecasting by the licensee and when certain other conditions are met.
Merchandise licensing advances and guarantee royalty payments are recognized based on the contractual royalty rate when the licensed product is sold by the licensee. Non-refundable advances and minimum guarantee royalty payments in excess of royalties earned are generally recognized as revenue at the end of the contract term.
Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income on a net basis.
Advertising Expense
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense for fiscal 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $2.6 billion, $2.5 billion and $2.9 billion, respectively.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and marketable securities with original maturities of three months or less.
Investments
Debt securities that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and reported at amortized cost. Debt securities not classified as held-to-maturity and marketable equity securities are classified as either trading or available-for-sale, and are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings or accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), respectively. All other equity securities are accounted for using either the cost method or the equity method.
The Company regularly reviews its investments to determine whether a decline in fair value below the cost basis is other than temporary. If the decline in fair value is judged to be other than temporary, the cost basis of the security is written down to fair value and the amount of the write-down is included in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Translation Policy
The U.S. dollar is the functional currency for the majority of our international operations. The local currency is the functional currency for Euro Disney, Hong Kong Disneyland, JETIX and international locations of The Disney Stores.
For U.S. dollar functional currency locations, foreign currency assets and liabilities are remeasured into U.S. dollars at end-of-period exchange rates, except for nonmonetary balance sheet accounts, which are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Revenue and expenses are remeasured at average exchange rates in effect during each period, except for those expenses related to the non-monetary balance sheet amounts, which are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Gains or losses from foreign currency remeasurement are included in net earnings.
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For local currency functional locations, assets and liabilities are translated at end-of-period rates while revenues and expenses are translated at average rates in effect during the period. Equity is translated at historical rates and the resulting cumulative translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.
Inventories
Carrying amounts of merchandise, materials, and supplies inventories are generally determined on a moving average cost basis and are stated at the lower of cost or market.
Film and Television Costs
Film and television costs include capitalizable production costs, production overhead, interest, development costs, and acquired production costs and are stated at the lower of cost, less accumulated amortization, or fair value. Acquired programming costs for the Companys television and cable/satellite networks are stated at the lower of cost, less accumulated amortization, or net realizable value. Acquired television broadcast program licenses and rights are recorded when the license period begins and the program is available for use. Marketing, distribution, and general and administrative costs are expensed as incurred.
Film and television production and participation costs are expensed based on the ratio of the current periods gross revenues to estimated remaining total gross revenues (Ultimate Revenues) from all sources on an individual production basis. Ultimate Revenues for film productions includes revenue that will be earned within ten years of the date of the initial theatrical release. For television network series, we include revenues that will be earned within ten years of the delivery of the first episode, or if still in production, five years from the date of delivery of the most recent episode, if later. For acquired film libraries, remaining revenues include amounts to be earned for up to twenty years from the date of acquisition. Film development costs for projects that have been abandoned or have not been set for production within three years are generally written off.
We expense the cost of television broadcast rights for acquired movies, series and other programs based on the number of times the program is expected to be aired or on a straight-line basis over the useful life, as appropriate. Rights costs for multi-year sports programming arrangements are amortized based upon the ratio of the current periods gross revenues to Ultimate Revenues (the Projected Revenue Method) or on a straight-line basis over the useful life, as appropriate. Ultimate Revenues for multi-year sports programming rights include both advertising revenues and an allocation of affiliate fees. If the annual contractual payments related to each season over the term of a multi-year sports programming arrangement approximate each seasons rights cost based on the Projected Revenue Method, we expense the related annual payments during the applicable season. Individual programs are written-off when there are no plans to air or sublicense the program.
The net realizable value of network television broadcast program licenses and rights is reviewed using a daypart methodology. A daypart is defined as an aggregation of programs broadcast during a particular time of day or programs of a similar type. The Companys dayparts are early morning, daytime, late night, primetime, news, children, and sports (includes network and cable). The net realizable values of other cable programming are reviewed on an aggregated basis for each cable channel.
Internal-Use Software Costs
The Company expenses costs incurred in the preliminary project stage of developing or acquiring internal use software, such as research and feasibility studies, as well as costs incurred in the post-implementation/operational stage, such as maintenance and training. Capitalization of software development costs occurs only after the preliminary-project stage is complete, management authorizes the project, and it is probable that the project will be completed and the software will be used for the function intended. As of September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006, capitalized software costs, net of accumulated depreciation, totaled $555 million and $491 million, respectively. The capitalized costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software, ranging from 3-10 years.
Software Product Development Costs
Software product development costs incurred prior to reaching technological feasibility are expensed. We have determined that technological feasibility of the software is not established until substantially all product development is complete. The software product development costs that have been capitalized to date have been insignificant.
75
Parks, Resorts and Other Property
Parks, resorts, and other property are carried at historical cost. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method over estimated useful lives as follows:
Attractions |
25 40 years | |
Buildings and improvements |
40 years | |
Leasehold improvements |
Life of lease or asset life if less | |
Land improvements |
20 40 years | |
Furniture, fixtures and equipment |
3 25 years |
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The Company performs an annual impairment test at fiscal year end for goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets, including FCC licenses and trademarks. As required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (SFAS 142), goodwill is allocated to various reporting units, which are generally one level below our operating segments.
To determine if there is potential goodwill impairment, SFAS 142 requires the Company to compare the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying amount on an annual basis. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, an impairment loss is recorded to the extent that the fair value of the goodwill within the reporting unit is less than the carrying value of its goodwill.
To determine the fair value of our reporting units, we generally use a present value technique (discounted cash flow) corroborated by market multiples when available and as appropriate, except for the ABC Television Network, a business within the Media Networks operating segment, for which we used a revenue multiple. We used a revenue multiple as a present value technique may not consistently capture the full fair value of the ABC Television Network, and there is little comparable market data available due to the scarcity of television networks. We applied what we believe to be the most appropriate valuation methodology for each of our reporting units. If we had established different reporting units or utilized different valuation methodologies, the impairment test results could differ.
SFAS 142 requires the Company to compare the fair values of other indefinite-lived intangible assets to their carrying amounts. If the carrying amount of an indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized. Fair values of other indefinite-lived intangible assets are determined based on discounted cash flows or appraised values, as appropriate.
We completed our impairment testing as of September 29, 2007, which resulted in a non-cash impairment charge of $26 million related to ESPN Radio and Radio Disney FCC licenses. During fiscal 2006, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $32 million related to FCC licenses primarily associated with ESPN Radio stations. These impairment charges reflected overall market declines in certain radio markets in which we operate. During fiscal 2005, the Company adopted EITF D-108 and recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $57 million primarily associated with ESPN and Radio Disney FCC licenses.
Amortizable intangible assets, principally copyrights, are generally amortized on a straight-line basis over periods of up to 31 years.
Risk Management Contracts
In the normal course of business, the Company employs a variety of financial instruments to manage its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and investments in equity and debt securities, including interest rate and cross-currency swap agreements; forward, option and swaption contracts and interest rate caps.
The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking various hedge transactions. There are two types of derivatives into which the Company enters: hedges of fair value exposure and hedges of cash flow exposure. Hedges of fair value exposure are entered into in order to hedge the fair value of a recognized asset, liability, or a firm commitment. Hedges of cash flow exposure are entered into in order to hedge a forecasted transaction (e.g. forecasted revenue) or the variability of cash flows to be paid or received, related to a recognized liability or asset (e.g. floating rate debt).
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The Company designates and assigns the financial instruments as hedges of forecasted transactions, specific assets or specific liabilities. When hedged assets or liabilities are sold or extinguished or the forecasted transactions being hedged are no longer expected to occur, the Company recognizes the gain or loss on the designated hedging financial instruments.
Option premiums and unrealized gains on forward contracts and the accrued differential for interest rate and cross-currency swaps to be received under the agreements are recorded on the balance sheet as other assets. Unrealized losses on forward contracts and the accrued differential for interest rate and cross-currency swaps to be paid under the agreements are included in liabilities. Realized gains and losses from hedges are classified in the income statement consistent with the accounting treatment of the items being hedged. The Company accrues the differential for interest rate and cross-currency swaps to be paid or received under the agreements as interest rates and exchange rates change as adjustments to interest expense over the lives of the swaps. Gains and losses on the termination of effective swap agreements, prior to their original maturity, are deferred and amortized to interest expense over the remaining term of the underlying hedged transactions.
From time to time, the Company may enter into risk management contracts that are not designated as hedges and do not qualify for hedge accounting. These contracts are intended to offset certain economic exposures of the Company and are carried at market value with any changes in value recorded in earnings. Cash flows from hedging activities are classified in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows under the same category as the cash flows from the related assets, liabilities or forecasted transactions (see Notes 7 and 13).
Earnings Per Share
The Company presents both basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) amounts. Basic EPS is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted EPS is based upon the weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding during the year which is calculated using the treasury-stock method for equity-based awards and assumes conversion of the Companys convertible senior notes (see Note 7). Common equivalent shares are excluded from the computation in periods in which they have an anti-dilutive effect. Stock options for which the exercise price exceeds the average market price over the period are anti-dilutive and, accordingly, are excluded from the calculation.
A reconciliation of income from continuing operations and the weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding for calculating diluted earnings per share from continuing operations is as follows:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
Income from continuing operations before the cumulative effect of accounting change |
$ | 4,674 | $ | 3,304 | $ | 2,460 | |||
Interest expense on convertible senior notes (net of tax) |
21 | 21 | 21 | ||||||
$ | 4,695 | $ | 3,325 | $ | 2,481 | ||||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (basic) |
2,004 | 2,005 | 2,028 | ||||||
Weighted average dilutive impact of equity-based compensations awards |
43 | 26 | 16 | ||||||
Weighted average assumed conversion of convertible senior notes |
45 | 45 | 45 | ||||||
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding (diluted) |
2,092 | 2,076 | 2,089 | ||||||
For fiscal 2007, 2006 and 2005, options for 25 million, 88 million and 96 million shares, respectively, were excluded from the diluted EPS calculation because they were anti-dilutive.
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3. | Significant Acquisitions and Dispositions and Restructuring and Impairment Charges |
Acquisition of Pixar
On May 5, 2006 (the Closing Date), the Company completed an all stock acquisition of Pixar, a digital animation studio (the Acquisition). Disney believes that the creation of high quality feature animation is a key driver of success across many of its businesses and provides content useful across a variety of traditional and new platforms throughout the world. The acquisition of Pixar is intended to support the Companys strategic priorities of creating the finest content, embracing leading-edge technologies, and strengthening its global presence. The results of Pixars operations have been included in the Companys consolidated financial statements since the Closing Date.
To purchase Pixar, Disney exchanged 2.3 shares of its common stock for each share of Pixar common stock, resulting in the issuance of 279 million shares of Disney common stock, and converted previously issued vested and unvested Pixar equity-based awards into approximately 45 million Disney equity-based awards.
The Acquisition purchase price was $7.5 billion ($6.4 billion, net of Pixars cash and investments of approximately $1.1 billion). The value of the stock issued was calculated based on the market value of the Companys common stock using the average stock price for the five-day period beginning two days before the acquisition announcement date on January 24, 2006. The fair value of the vested equity-based awards issued at the Closing Date was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, as the information required to use a binomial valuation model was not reasonably available.
In connection with the Acquisition, the Company recorded a non-cash, non-taxable gain from the deemed termination of the existing Pixar distribution agreement. Under our previously existing distribution agreement with Pixar, the Company earned a distribution fee that, based on current market rates at the Closing Date, was favorable to the Company. In accordance with EITF 04-1, Accounting for Pre-Existing Relationships between the Parties to a Business Combination (EITF 04-1), the Company recognized a $48 million gain, representing the net present value of the favorable portion of the distribution fee over the remaining life of the distribution agreement. In addition, the Company abandoned the Pixar sequel projects commenced by the Company prior to the acquisition and recorded a pre-tax impairment charge totaling $26 million, which represents the costs of these projects incurred through the abandonment date. These two items are classified in Restructuring and impairment (charges) and other credits, net in the Consolidated Statement of Income.
The Company allocated the purchase price to the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values, which were determined primarily through third-party appraisals. The goodwill that arose from the Acquisition reflected the value to Disney from:
| Acquiring a talented, assembled workforce, particularly the creative and technological talents of key senior management and film directors with a successful track record of producing high quality feature animation |
| Securing all of the economic results of future films produced by Pixar |
| Obtaining the benefits of leveraging future Pixar-created intellectual property across Disneys diversified revenue streams and portfolio of entertainment assets |
| Improving the results of Disney feature animation films |
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The following table summarizes the allocation of the purchase price:
Estimated Fair Value |
Weighted Average Useful Lives (years) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 11 | |||
Investments |
1,073 | ||||
Prepaid and other assets |
45 | ||||
Film costs |
538 | 12 | |||
Buildings and equipment |
225 | 16 | |||
Intangibles |
233 | 17 | |||
Goodwill |
5,557 | ||||
Total assets acquired |
$ | 7,682 | |||
Liabilities |
64 | ||||
Deferred income taxes |
123 | ||||
Total liabilities assumed |
$ | 187 | |||
Net assets acquired |
$ | 7,495 | |||
The weighted average useful life determination for intangibles excludes $164 million of indefinite-lived Pixar trademarks and tradenames. Goodwill of $4.8 billion, $0.6 billion, and $0.2 billion was allocated to the Studio Entertainment, Consumer Products, and Parks and Resorts operating segments, respectively. The goodwill is not amortizable for tax purposes.
The following table presents unaudited pro forma results of Disney for fiscal 2006 as though Pixar had been acquired as of the beginning of fiscal 2006. These pro forma results do not necessarily represent what would have occurred if the Acquisition had taken place as of the beginning of fiscal 2006 and do not represent the results that may occur in the future. The pro forma amounts represent the historical operating results of Disney and Pixar with adjustments for purchase accounting.
Fiscal Year (unaudited) | |||
Revenues |
$ | 34,299 | |
Income before cumulative effect of accounting change |
3,395 | ||
Net Income |
3,395 | ||
Earnings per share: |
|||
Diluted |
$ | 1.52 | |
Basic |
$ | 1.56 | |
Other Acquisitions
On August 1, 2007, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Club Penguin Entertainment, Inc. (CPE), a Canadian company that operates clubpenguin.com, an online virtual world for children. The purchase price included upfront cash consideration of approximately $350 million and additional consideration of up to $350 million that may be paid if CPE achieves predefined earnings targets for calendar years 2008 and 2009.
On February 1, 2007, the Company acquired all the outstanding shares of NASN Limited, an Irish company that operates cable television networks in Europe dedicated to North American sporting events and related programming, for consideration valued at $112 million consisting of cash and assumption of debt.
We are in the process of finalizing the valuation of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed for both acquisitions.
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ABC Radio Transaction
On June 12, 2007, the Company completed the spin-off of its wholly-owned subsidiary, ABC Radio Holdings, Inc., and its merger into a subsidiary of Citadel Broadcasting Corporation (Citadel). Prior to the spin-off, the Company consolidated its ABC Radio business, consisting of 22 large-market radio stations and the ABC Radio Network businesses, under ABC Radio Holdings, Inc. The transaction did not include the Companys ESPN Radio or Radio Disney network and station businesses.
As a result of the spin-off and merger, Company shareholders received approximately 0.0768 shares of Citadel common stock in exchange for each share of Disney common stock held as of June 6, 2007. Approximately 151.7 million shares of Citadel common stock were issued to Company shareholders in the merger. As part of the transaction, the Company retained $1.35 billion of cash, representing the proceeds from debt raised by ABC Radio Holdings, Inc. prior to the spin-off. This debt and the assets and other liabilities of the ABC Radio business were removed from the Companys balance sheet as a distribution at book value. Consequently, there was no gain or loss recorded and the negative net book value of $132 million was credited to retained earnings.
Fiscal 2007 results of the ABC Radio business through June 12, 2007 have been reported as discontinued operations. Previously reported results have been reclassified to reflect this presentation.
Summarized financial information for the discontinued ABC Radio business is as follows (in millions):
Income Statement Data:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
Revenues |
$ | 372 | $ | 538 | $ | 570 | |||
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes |
45 | 123 | 176 | ||||||
Balance Sheet Data: |
|||||||||
June 12, 2007 |
September 30, 2006 |
||||||||
Assets |
|||||||||
Current assets |
$ | 132 | $ | 129 | |||||
Property and equipment |
56 | 60 | |||||||
FCC licenses |
476 | 476 | |||||||
Goodwill |
726 | 726 | |||||||
Other assets |
7 | 4 | |||||||
1,397 | 1,395 | ||||||||
Liabilities |
|||||||||
Current liabilities |
25 | 20 | |||||||
Borrowings |
1,350 | | |||||||
Long-term liabilities |
154 | 149 | |||||||
Net assets of discontinued operations |
$ | (132) | $ | 1,226 | |||||
Dispositions
On November 21, 2006, in connection with the execution of new long-term agreements for the provision of programming to cable service provider Comcast Corporation (Comcast), the Company sold its 39.5% interest in E! Entertainment Television (E!) to Comcast (which owned the remainder of the interest in E!) for $1.23 billion, which resulted in a pre-tax gain of $780 million ($487 million after-tax). On October 2, 2006, the Company sold its 50% stake in Us Weekly for $300 million, which resulted in a pre-tax gain of $272 million ($170 million after-tax). These gains are reported in Gains on sales of equity investments and businesses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
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The following disposals occurred during fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005:
| A cable television equity investment in Spain was sold for $67 million on November 23, 2005, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $57 million. |
| The Discover Magazine business was sold for $14 million on October 7, 2005, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $13 million. |
| The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim was sold for $39 million on June 20, 2005, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $26 million. |
These gains were reported in Gains on sales of equity investments and businesses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
On November 21, 2004, the Company sold substantially all of The Disney Store chain in North America under a long-term licensing arrangement to a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Childrens Place (TCP). The Company received $100 million for the working capital transferred to the buyer at the closing of the transaction. During fiscal 2005, the Company recorded a loss on the working capital that was transferred to the buyer and additional restructuring and impairment charges related to the sale (primarily for employee retention and severance and lease termination costs) totaling $32 million.
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006 are as follows:
Media Networks |
Parks and Resorts |
Studio Entertainment |
Consumer Products |
Total | |||||||||||
Balance at October 1, 2005 |
$ | 16,895 | $ | 27 | $ | 23 | $ | 29 | $ | 16,974 | |||||
Goodwill acquired during the year |
23 | 146 | 4,790 | 613 | 5,572 | ||||||||||
Other, net |
(19) | | (22) | | (41) | ||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2006 |
16,899 | 173 | 4,791 | 642 | 22,505 | ||||||||||
Goodwill acquired during the year |
475 | | | 21 | 496 | ||||||||||
Goodwill disposed of during the year |
(726) | | | | (726) | ||||||||||
Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. acquisition adjustment and other, net |
(187) | | (3) | | (190) | ||||||||||
Balance at September 29, 2007 |
$ | 16,461 | $ | 173 | $ | 4,788 | $ | 663 | $ | 22,085 | |||||
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, certain preacquisition tax contingencies related to the Companys 1996 acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. were reversed against goodwill.
4. | Investments |
Investments consist of the following:
September 29, 2007 |
September 30, 2006 | |||||
Investments, equity basis(1) |
$ | 706 | $ | 1,075 | ||
Investments, other |
237 | 188 | ||||
Investment in aircraft leveraged leases |
52 | 52 | ||||
$ | 995 | $ | 1,315 | |||
(1) |
Equity investments consist of investments in companies over which the Company has significant influence but not the majority of the equity or risks and rewards. |
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Investments, Equity Basis
A summary of combined financial information for equity investments, which include cable investments such as A&E Television Networks (37.5% owned) and Lifetime Entertainment Services (50.0% owned), is as follows:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
Results of Operations: |
|||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 4,351 | $ | 4,447 | $ | 4,317 | |||
Net Income |
$ | 1,137 | $ | 1,170 | $ | 1,275 | |||
September 29, 2007 |
September 30, 2006 |
||||||||
Balance Sheet: |
|||||||||
Current assets |
$ | 2,383 | $ | 2,620 | |||||
Non-current assets |
1,331 | 1,562 | |||||||
$ | 3,714 | $ | 4,182 | ||||||
Current liabilities |
$ | 1,113 | $ | 1,048 | |||||
Non-current liabilities |
1,060 | 1,154 | |||||||
Shareholders equity |
1,541 | 1,980 | |||||||
$ | 3,714 | $ | 4,182 | ||||||
During fiscal 2007, the Company sold its interests in E! and Us Weekly. See Note 3 for further discussion.
Investments, Other
As of September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006, the Company held $99 million and $82 million, respectively, of securities classified as available-for-sale. As of September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006, the Company also held $138 million and $106 million, respectively, of non-publicly traded cost-method investments.
In 2007 and 2006, the Company had no realized gain or loss on sales of available-for-sale securities. In 2005, the Company recognized $14 million in net gains on sales of available for sale securities. Realized gains and losses are determined principally on an average cost basis.
In 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company recorded non-cash charges of $18 million, $0 million and $42 million, respectively, to reflect other-than-temporary losses in value of certain investments.
Investment in Aircraft Leveraged Leases
During the fourth quarter of 2005, the Company recorded a $101 million pre-tax charge, or $0.03 per share, to write-off its remaining investment in aircraft leveraged leases with Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Delta) resulting from Deltas bankruptcy filing in September 2005. This charge was reported in Net interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Our remaining aircraft leveraged lease investment of $52 million is with FedEx Corp.
5. | Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland |
The Company has a 51% effective ownership interest in the operations of Euro Disney and a 43% ownership interest in the operations of Hong Kong Disneyland which are both consolidated under FIN 46R, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.
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The following table presents a condensed consolidating balance sheet for the Company as of September 29, 2007, reflecting the impact of consolidating the balance sheets of Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland.
Before Consolidation |
Euro Disney, Hong Kong Disneyland and Adjustments |
Total | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 3,066 | $ | 604 | $ | 3,670 | |||
Other current assets |
7,379 | 265 | 7,644 | ||||||
Total current assets |
10,445 | 869 | 11,314 | ||||||
Investments |
1,766 | (771) | 995 | ||||||
Fixed assets |
12,597 | 4,836 | 17,433 | ||||||
Other assets |
31,143 | 43 | 31,186 | ||||||
Total assets |
$ | 55,951 | $ | 4,977 | $ | 60,928 | |||
Current portion of borrowings |
$ | 2,910 | $ | 370 | $ | 3,280 | |||
Other current liabilities |
7,437 | 674 | 8,111 | ||||||
Total current liabilities |
10,347 | 1,044 | 11,391 | ||||||
Borrowings |
8,679 | 3,213 | 11,892 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes and other long-term liabilities |
5,423 | 174 | 5,597 | ||||||
Minority interests |
749 | 546 | 1,295 | ||||||
Shareholders equity |
30,753 | | 30,753 | ||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
$ | 55,951 | $ | 4,977 | $ | 60,928 | |||
The following table presents a condensed consolidating income statement of the Company for the year ended September 29, 2007, reflecting the impact of consolidating the income statements of Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland.
Before Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland Consolidation (1) |
Euro Disney, Hong Kong Disneyland and Adjustments |
Total | |||||||
Revenues |
$ | 33,695 | $ | 1,815 | $ | 35,510 | |||
Cost and expenses |
(26,857) | (1,872) | (28,729) | ||||||
Gains on sales of equity investments and businesses |
1,052 | | 1,052 | ||||||
Net interest expense |
(430) | (163) | (593) | ||||||
Equity in the income of investees |
390 | 95 | 485 | ||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interests |
7,850 | (125) | 7,725 | ||||||
Income taxes |
(2,849) | (25) | (2,874) | ||||||
Minority interests |
(327) | 150 | (177) | ||||||
Income from continuing operations |
4,674 | | 4,674 | ||||||
Discontinued operations, net of tax |
13 | | 13 | ||||||
Income from continuing operations |
$ | 4,687 | $ | | $ | 4,687 | |||
(1) |
These amounts include Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland under the equity method of accounting. As such, royalty and management fee income from these operations is included in Revenues and our share of their net income is included in Equity in the income of investees. |
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The following table presents a condensed consolidating cash flow statement of the Company for the year ended September 29, 2007, reflecting the impact of consolidating the cash flow statements of Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland.
Before Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland Consolidation |
Euro Disney, Hong Kong Disneyland and Adjustments |
Total | |||||||
Cash provided by continuing operations |
$ | 5,137 | $ | 261 | $ | 5,398 | |||
Investments in parks, resorts, and other property |
(1,310) | (256) | (1,566) | ||||||
Other investing activities |
948 | | 948 | ||||||
Cash used in continuing financing activities |
(3,619) | | (3,619) | ||||||
Cash flows from discontinued operations |
98 | | 98 | ||||||
Increase in cash and cash equivalents |
1,254 | 5 | 1,259 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year |
1,812 | 599 | 2,411 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year |
$ | 3,066 | $ | 604 | $ | 3,670 | |||
Euro Disney Financial Restructuring
Effective October 1, 2004, Euro Disney, the Company, and Euro Disneys lenders finalized a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) related to the financial restructuring of Euro Disney (the 2005 Financial Restructuring). The MOA provided for new financing as well as the restructuring of Euro Disneys existing financing at that time. The transactions contemplated by the MOA were fully implemented on February 23, 2005 with the completion of a 253 million equity rights offering. The MOA included the following provisions:
Royalties and Management Fees
| Royalties and management fees for fiscal 2005 through fiscal 2009, totaling 25 million per year, payable to the Company are to be unconditionally deferred and converted into subordinated long-term borrowings |
| Royalties and management fees for fiscal 2007 through fiscal 2014, of up to 25 million per year, payable to the Company are subject to conditional deferrals and will be converted into subordinated long-term borrowings if operating results do not achieve specified levels. Based on operating results and subject to third-party confirmation, the Company does not expect royalties and management fees subject to conditional deferral for fiscal 2007 to be converted into subordinated long-term borrowings |
New Financing
| 253 million equity rights offering, of which the Companys share was 100 million |
| New ten-year 150 million line of credit from the Company for liquidity needs, which reduces to 100 million after five years. There were no borrowings under the new line of credit as of September 29, 2007 |
The MOA provided for a 2% interest rate increase for certain tranches of Euro Disneys debt, resulting in a substantial modification of a portion of this debt. Relevant accounting rules required that the substantially modified portion be accounted for as though it had been extinguished and replaced with new borrowings recorded at fair value, which resulted in a $61 million gain recorded in Net interest expense in the Consolidated Statement of Income during the year ended October 1, 2005.
Certain indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company have liability as current or former general partners of Disney S.C.A. In addition to their equity interest in Disney S.C.A., certain of these subsidiaries of the Company have been capitalized with interest-bearing demand notes with an aggregate face value of 200 million.
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6. | Film and Television Costs |
Film and Television costs are as follows:
September 29, 2007 |
September 30, 2006 | |||||
Theatrical film costs |
||||||
Released, less amortization |
$ | 1,889 | $ | 2,041 | ||
Completed, not released |
164 | 265 | ||||
In-process |
912 | 928 | ||||
In development or pre-production |
168 | 135 | ||||
3,133 | 3,369 | |||||
Television costs |
||||||
Released, less amortization |
804 | 882 | ||||
Completed, not released |
295 | 210 | ||||
In-process |
278 | 228 | ||||
In development or pre-production |
10 | 17 | ||||
1,387 | 1,337 | |||||
Television broadcast rights |
1,162 | 944 | ||||
5,682 | 5,650 | |||||
Less current portion |
559 | 415 | ||||
Non-current portion |
$ | 5,123 | $ | 5,235 | ||
Based on managements total gross revenue estimates as of September 29, 2007, approximately 80% of unamortized film and television costs for released productions (excluding amounts allocated to acquired film and television libraries) are expected to be amortized during the next three years. Approximately $603 million of accrued participation and residual liabilities will be paid in fiscal year 2008. The Company expects to amortize, based on current estimates, approximately $1.4 billion in capitalized film production costs during fiscal 2008.
At September 29, 2007, acquired film and television libraries have remaining unamortized costs of $473 million, which are generally amortized straight-line over a weighted-average remaining period of approximately 11 years.
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7. | Borrowings |
The Companys borrowings at September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006, including the impact of interest rate swaps designated as hedges, are summarized below:
2007 |
2006 | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||
Stated |
Interest rate and Cross-Currency Swaps (2) |
Effective |
Swap | |||||||||||||||
Pay Variable | Pay Fixed | |||||||||||||||||
Commercial paper borrowings |
$ | 2,686 | $ | 839 | 5.37% | $ | | $ | | 5.37% | | |||||||
U.S. medium-term notes |
6,340 | 6,499 | 6.02% | 1,485 | | 5.67% | 2008-2022 | |||||||||||
Convertible senior notes |
1,323 | 1,323 | 2.13% | | | 2.13% | | |||||||||||
European medium-term notes |
163 | 191 | 4.80% | 163 | | 5.03% | 2010-2011 | |||||||||||
Preferred stock |
| 353 | | | | | | |||||||||||
Capital Cities/ABC debt |
181 | 183 | 9.05% | | | 8.79% | | |||||||||||
Film financing |
355 | 276 | | | | | | |||||||||||
Other(4) |
541 | 619 | | | | | | |||||||||||
11,589 | 10,283 | 5.14% | 1,648 | | 4.95% | | ||||||||||||
Euro Disney (ED) and Hong Kong Disneyland (HKDL): |
||||||||||||||||||
ED CDC loans |
1,418 | 1,246 | 5.04% | | | 5.12% | | |||||||||||
ED Credit facilities & other |
568 | 486 | 7.66% | | 501 | 6.64% | 2008-2009 | |||||||||||
ED Other advances |
490 | 440 | 3.21% | | 19 | 3.22% | 2009 | |||||||||||
HKDL Senior and subordinated loans |
1,107 | 1,070 | 6.55% | | 232 | 6.82% | 2008-2011 | |||||||||||
3,583 | 3,242 | 5.67% | | 752 | 5.63% | | ||||||||||||
Total borrowings |
15,172 | 13,525 | 5.27% | 1,648 | 752 | 5.11% | | |||||||||||
Less current portion |
3,280 | 2,682 | 60 | | ||||||||||||||
Total long-term borrowings |
$ | 11,892 | $ | 10,843 | $ | 1,588 | $ | 752 | ||||||||||
(1) |
The stated interest rate represents the weighted-average coupon rate for each category of borrowings. For floating rate borrowings, interest rates are based upon the rates at September 29, 2007; these rates are not necessarily an indication of future interest rates. |
(2) |
Amounts represent notional values of interest rate and cross-currency swaps. |
(3) |
The effective interest rate includes the impact of existing and terminated interest rate and cross-currency swaps on the stated rate of interest. Other adjustments to the stated interest rate such as purchase accounting adjustments and debt issuance costs did not have a material impact on the overall effective interest rate. |
(4) |
Includes market value adjustments for debt with qualifying hedges totaling $150 million and $196 million at September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006, respectively. |
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Commercial Paper
At September 29, 2007, the Company had $2.7 billion of commercial paper debt outstanding and bank facilities totaling $4.5 billion to support its commercial paper borrowings, with half of the facilities scheduled to expire in 2010 and the other half in 2011. These bank facilities allow for borrowings at LIBOR-based rates plus a spread, which depends on the Companys public debt rating and can range from 0.175% to 0.75%. The Company also has the ability to issue up to $800 million of letters of credit under the facility expiring in 201l, which if utilized, reduces available borrowing under this facility. As of September 29, 2007, $282 million of letters of credit had been issued, of which $212 million was issued under this facility, leaving total available borrowing capacity of nearly $4.3 billion under these bank facilities. The Companys bank facilities contain only one financial covenant, relating to interest coverage, which the Company met on September 29, 2007 by a significant margin. The Companys bank facilities also specifically exclude certain entities, including Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland, from any representations, covenants, or events of default. As of September 29, 2007, the Company had not borrowed against the facilities.
$5 Billion Shelf Registration Statement
At September 29, 2007, the Company had a shelf registration statement which allows the Company to borrow up to $5 billion using various types of debt instruments, such as fixed or floating rate notes, U.S. dollar or foreign currency denominated notes, redeemable notes, global notes, and dual currency or other indexed notes. As of September 29, 2007, $3.35 billion has been issued under the shelf registration statement. Our ability to issue debt is subject to market conditions and other factors impacting our borrowing capacity. As of September 29, 2007, the remaining unused capacity under the shelf registration is $1.65 billion.
U.S. Medium-Term Note Program
At September 29, 2007, the total debt outstanding under U.S. medium-term note programs was $6.3 billion. The maturities of current outstanding borrowings range from 1 to 86 years and stated interest rates range from 4.94% to 10.30%.
Convertible Senior Notes
At September 29, 2007, the Company has outstanding $1.3 billion of convertible senior notes due on April 15, 2023. The notes bear interest at a fixed annual rate of 2.13% and are redeemable at the Companys option any time after April 15, 2008 at par. The notes are redeemable at the investors option at par on April 15, 2008, April 15, 2013, and April 15, 2018, and upon the occurrence of certain fundamental changes, such as a change in control. The notes are convertible into common stock, under certain circumstances including if the Company calls the notes for redemption, at a conversion rate of 33.9443 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes. This is equivalent to a conversion price of $29.46. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment if certain events occur, such as the payment of a common stock dividend, the issuance of rights or warrants to all holders of the Companys common stock that allow the holders to purchase shares of the Companys common stock during a specified period of time, and subdivision, combinations or certain reclassifications of the Companys common stock.
European Medium-Term Note Program
At September 29, 2007, the Company had a European medium-term note program for the issuance of various types of debt instruments such as fixed or floating rate notes, U.S. dollar or foreign currency denominated notes, redeemable notes, index linked or dual currency notes. The size of the program is $4 billion. The remaining capacity under the program is $3.8 billion, subject to market conditions and other factors impacting our borrowing capacity. The remaining capacity under the program replenishes as outstanding debt under the program matures. In 2007, $75 million of debt was issued under the program. At September 29, 2007, the total debt outstanding under the program was $163 million. The maturities of outstanding borrowings range from 3 to 4 years and stated interest rates range from 4.72% to 4.90%. The Company has outstanding borrowings under the program denominated in U.S. dollars.
Preferred Stock
In connection with the acquisition of ABC Family in October 2001, the Company assumed Series A Preferred Stock with a 9% coupon, payable quarterly, valued at approximately $400 million reflecting an effective cost of capital of 5.25%. The Series A Preferred Stock was callable commencing August 1, 2007 and was scheduled to mature August 1, 2027. The Company called and redeemed all of the Series A Preferred Stock on August 2, 2007. The Series A Preferred Stock was classified as borrowings given its substantive similarity to a debt instrument.
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Capital Cities/ABC Debt
In connection with the Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. acquisition in 1996, the Company assumed various debt previously issued by Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. At September 29, 2007, the outstanding balance was $181 million with maturities ranging from 2 to 14 years and stated interest rates ranging from 8.75% to 9.65%.
Film Financing
In August 2005, the Company entered into a film financing arrangement with a group of investors whereby the investors will fund up to approximately $500 million for 40% of the production and marketing costs of a slate of up to thirty-two live-action films, excluding certain titles such as The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and, in general, sequels to previous films, including the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels, not included in the slate, in return for approximately 40% of the future net cash flows generated by these films. By entering into this transaction, the Company is able to share the risks and rewards of the performance of its live-action film production and distribution activity with outside investors. As of September 29, 2007, the investors have participated in the funding of twenty-one films. The cumulative investment in the slate by the investors, net of the cash flows generated by the slate that are returned to the investors, is classified as borrowings. Interest expense recognized from these borrowings is variable and is determined using the effective interest method based on the projected profitability of the film slate.
The last film of the slate is anticipated to be completed in fiscal 2009. The Company has the option at 5, 10 and 15 years from inception of the film financing arrangement to buy the investors remaining interest in the slate at a price that is based on the then remaining projected future cash flows that the investors would receive from the slate. As of September 29, 2007, borrowings under this arrangement totaled $355 million.
Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland Borrowings
Euro Disney CDC loans. Pursuant to Euro Disneys original financing and the terms of a 1994 financial restructuring, Euro Disney borrowed funds from the CDC. As of September 29, 2007, these borrowings consisted of approximately 243 million ($343 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) of senior debt and 278 million ($393 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) of subordinated debt. The senior debt is collateralized primarily by the theme park, certain hotels, and land assets of Disneyland Resort Paris (except for Walt Disney Studios Park) with a net book value of approximately 1.5 billion ($2.1 billion at September 29, 2007 exchange rates), whereas the subordinated debt is unsecured. Interest on the senior and subordinated debt is payable semiannually. The loans bear interest at a fixed rate of 5.15% and mature from fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2024. In accordance with the terms of the 2005 Financial Restructuring, principal payments falling between 2004 and 2016 have been deferred by 3.5 years. In return, the interest rate on principal of 48 million ($68 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) was increased to 7.15%, the interest rate on principal of 43 million ($61 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) was increased to 6.15%, and 10 million ($14 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) of principal was prepaid effective February 23, 2005. Also, pursuant to the terms of the 2005 Financial Restructuring, 125 million ($177 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) of subordinated loans were converted into senior loans during fiscal year 2005.
Euro Disney also executed a credit agreement with the CDC to finance a portion of the construction costs of Walt Disney Studios Park. As of September 29, 2007, approximately 482 million ($682 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) of subordinated loans were outstanding under this agreement. The loans bear interest at a fixed rate of 5.15% per annum, unless interest or principal payments are deferred under the provisions of the loans, during which time the interest rate on the deferred amounts is the greater of 5.15% or EURIBOR plus 2.0%. The loans mature between fiscal years 2015 and 2028. Also, pursuant to the 2005 Financial Restructuring, the CDC agreed to forgive 2.5 million ($4 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) of interest on these loans per year starting December 31, 2004 and continuing through 2011 and to conditionally defer and convert to subordinated long-term debt, interest payments up to a maximum amount of 20 million ($28 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) per year for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2012 and 23 million ($33 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) for each of the fiscal years 2013 and 2014.
Euro Disney Credit facilities and other. Pursuant to Euro Disneys original financing with a syndicate of international banks and the terms of a 1994 financial restructuring, Euro Disney borrowed funds which are collateralized primarily by the theme park, hotels, and land assets of Disneyland Resort Paris (except for Walt Disney Studios Park) with a net book value of approximately 1.5 billion ($2.1 billion at September 29, 2007 exchange rates). At September 29, 2007, the total balance outstanding was 401 million ($568 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rate).
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The impact of the 2005 Financial Restructuring on the credit facilities included the deferral of certain principal payments for 3.5 years, with the final maturity of the loans remaining unchanged. In return for these concessions, the interest rate was increased to EURIBOR plus 3% (7.79% at September 29, 2007) from EURIBOR plus amounts ranging from 0.84% to 1.00% and 96 million ($136 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) of principal was prepaid on February 23, 2005 using debt security deposits. The loans mature between fiscal years 2008 and 2013.
Euro Disney Other advances. Advances of 331 million ($469 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) bear interest at a fixed rate of 3.0%. The remaining advances of 15 million ($21 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) bear interest at EURIBOR plus 3% (7.79% at September 29, 2007). The advances are scheduled to mature between fiscal years 2013 and 2017, of which 15 million ($21 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) are collateralized by certain hotels assets. The impact of the 2005 Financial Restructuring on the other advances includes the deferral either directly or indirectly of principal payments for 3.5 years.
Euro Disney has covenants under its debt agreements that limit its investment and financing activities. Beginning with fiscal year 2006, Euro Disney has also been required to meet financial performance covenants that necessitated improvements to its operating margin. As a result of revenue growth in excess of increases in costs and expenses during fiscal year 2007, Euro Disney believes that it is in compliance with these covenants for fiscal 2007. There can be no assurance that these covenants will be met for any particular measurement period in the future. To the extent that conditions are such that the covenants appear unlikely to be met, management would pursue measures to meet the covenants or would seek to obtain waivers from the debt holders.
Hong Kong Disneyland Senior loans. Hong Kong Disneylands senior loans are borrowings pursuant to a term loan facility of HK$2.3 billion ($296 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) and a revolving credit facility of HK$1.0 billion ($129 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates). The balance of the senior loans as of September 29, 2007 was HK$2.2 billion ($284 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates). The revolving credit facility has not been drawn down as of September 29, 2007. These facilities are collateralized by bank accounts, fixed assets, land and other assets of the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park with a net book value of approximately HK$12 billion ($1.5 billion at September 29, 2007 exchange rates). At September 29, 2007, both facilities had a rate of three month HIBOR + 1.25% and were scheduled to mature in fiscal 2016. The spread above HIBOR is 1.25% through November 15, 2010 and 1.375% for the last five years of the facilities. As of September 29, 2007, the rate on the senior loans was 5.98%.
Prior to November 14, 2007, Hong Kong Disneylands commercial term loan and revolving credit facility agreement contained semi-annual financial performance covenants and had a final maturity of October 26, 2015. In anticipation of the prospect that the covenants would not be met as of the September 29, 2007 measurement date, effective November 14, 2007, the agreement was amended to remove the financial performance covenants, shorten the maturity of the loan to September 30, 2008 and decrease the amount of the revolving credit facility from HK$1 billion (approximately $129 million) to HK$800 million (approximately $103 million). The commercial term loan had a balance of approximately $284 million as of the effective date of the amendment, and the full amount of the revised revolving credit facility became available as of that date.
To support operating needs in the near-term, the Company agreed to waive management fees for fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2009 and defer royalties for those years, with payment of the deferred royalties dependent upon the future operating performance of Hong Kong Disneyland. Hong Kong Disneyland expects to need additional sources of financing to meet its financial and development needs at and beyond the maturity of the commercial loan and revolving credit facility and is currently engaged in discussions with the Company and Hong Kong Disneylands majority shareholder (the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) regarding financing arrangements to assist in meeting these needs. The Company expects that such financing likely would include additional investment by the Company.
Hong Kong Disneyland Subordinated loans. Hong Kong Disneyland has a subordinated unsecured loan facility of HK$5.6 billion ($724 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates), which has been fully drawn, that is scheduled to mature on September 12, 2030. Pursuant to the terms of the loan facility, interest incurred prior to March 2006 of HK$433 million ($56 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) is not payable until the loan matures and is therefore classified as long-term borrowings. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the loan facility, interest of HK$332 million ($43 million at September 29, 2007 exchange rates) is accrued and is dependent upon the achievement of certain financial measurements. The interest rate on this loan is subject to biannual revisions under certain conditions, but is capped at an annual rate of 6.75% (until March 12, 2014), 7.625% (until March 12, 2022) and 8.50% (until September 12, 2030). As of September 29, 2007, the rate on the subordinated loans was 6.75%.
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Total borrowings excluding market value adjustments, have the following scheduled maturities:
Before Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland Consolidation |
Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland |
Total | |||||||
2008 |
$ | 2,895 | $ | 370 | $ | 3,265 | |||
2009 |
1,165 | 118 | 1,283 | ||||||
2010 |
889 | 124 | 1,013 | ||||||
2011 |
826 | 173 | 999 | ||||||
2012 |
1,578 | 217 | 1,795 | ||||||
Thereafter |
4,086 | 2,581 | 6,667 | ||||||
$ | 11,439 | $ | 3,583 | $ | 15,022 | ||||
The Company capitalizes interest on assets constructed for its parks, resorts, and other property and on theatrical productions. In 2007, 2006 and 2005, total interest capitalized was $37 million, $30 million, and $77 million, respectively.
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8. | Income Taxes |
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes, Minority Interests and the Cumulative Effect of Accounting Changes | |||||||||
Domestic (including U.S. exports) |
$ | 7,344 | $ | 4,983 | $ | 3,500 | |||
Foreign subsidiaries |
381 | 341 | 311 | ||||||
$ | 7,725 | $ | 5,324 | $ | 3,811 | ||||
Income Tax (Benefit) Provision |
|||||||||
Current |
|||||||||
Federal |
$ | 2,368 | $ | 1,612 | $ | 1,078 | |||
State |
303 | 125 | 163 | ||||||
Foreign |
330 | 243 | 221 | ||||||
3,001 | 1,980 | 1,462 | |||||||
Deferred |
|||||||||
Federal |
(118) | (182) | (253) | ||||||
State |
(9) | 39 | (35) | ||||||
(127) | (143) | (288) | |||||||
$ | 2,874 | $ | 1,837 | $ | 1,174 | ||||
September 29, 2007 |
September 30, 2006 |
||||||||
Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities |
|||||||||
Deferred tax assets |
|||||||||
Accrued liabilities |
$ | (1,153) | $ | (1,120) | |||||
Foreign subsidiaries |
(526) | (674) | |||||||
Equity-based compensation |
(303) | (259) | |||||||
Other, net |
(37) | | |||||||
Total deferred tax assets |
(2,019) | (2,053) | |||||||
Deferred tax liabilities |
|||||||||
Depreciable, amortizable and other property |
3,286 | 3,470 | |||||||
Licensing revenues |
340 | 404 | |||||||
Leveraged leases |
50 | 96 | |||||||
Other, net |
| 88 | |||||||
Total deferred tax liabilities |
3,676 | 4,058 | |||||||
Net deferred tax liability before valuation allowance |
1,657 | 2,005 | |||||||
Valuation allowance |
54 | 54 | |||||||
Net deferred tax liability |
$ | 1,711 | $ | 2,059 | |||||
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2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||
Reconciliation of Effective Income Tax Rate |
||||||
Federal income tax rate |
35.0% | 35.0% | 35.0% | |||
State taxes, net of federal benefit |
2.3 | 2.0 | 2.2 | |||
Adjustments with respect to prior year tax matters |
(1.0) | (0.8) | (3.3) | |||
Foreign sales corporation and extraterritorial income |
(0.5) | (2.2) | (2.3) | |||
Repatriation of earnings of foreign subsidiaries |
| | (0.9) | |||
Other, including tax reserves and related interest |
1.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | |||
37.2% | 34.5% | 30.8% | ||||
In 2007 the Company derived tax benefits of $37 million from an exclusion provided under U.S. income tax laws with respect to certain extraterritorial income attributable to foreign trading gross receipts (FTGRs). This exclusion was repealed as part of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the Act), which was enacted on October 22, 2004. The Act provides for a phase-out such that the exclusion for the Companys otherwise qualifying FTGRs generated in fiscal 2005, 2006 and 2007 are limited to approximately 85%, 65% and 15%, respectively. No exclusion is available for transactions originating after the first quarter of fiscal 2007.
The Act also provided for a one-time tax deduction of 85% of certain foreign earnings that were repatriated in fiscal 2005. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005, the Company repatriated foreign earnings eligible for this deduction and recorded a tax benefit of $32 million as a result of the reversal of deferred taxes previously provided on these earnings.
The Act made a number of other changes to the income tax laws including the creation of a new deduction relating to qualifying domestic production activities which will affect the Company in the current and future years. The deduction equals three percent of qualifying net income for fiscal 2006 and 2007, six percent for fiscal 2008 through 2010, and nine percent for fiscal 2011 and thereafter. Our tax provisions for fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006 reflect benefits of $41 million and $25 million, respectively, resulting from this deduction.
As a matter of course, the Company is regularly audited by federal, state and foreign tax authorities. From time to time, these audits result in proposed assessments. At the current time, the Internal Revenue Service continues to examine the Companys federal income tax returns for 2001 through 2004. During fiscal 2006, the Company settled certain state income tax disputes and released $40 million in related tax reserves that were no longer required. During fiscal 2005, the Company reached settlements with the Internal Revenue Service regarding all assessments proposed with respect to its federal income tax returns for 1996 through 2000, and a settlement with the California Franchise Tax Board regarding assessments proposed with respect to its state tax returns for 1994 through 2003. These favorable settlements resulted in the Company releasing $102 million in tax reserves which were no longer required with respect to the settled matters.
In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing a minimum probability threshold that a tax position must meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. The minimum threshold is defined in FIN 48 as a tax position that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. FIN 48 must be applied to all existing tax positions upon initial adoption. The cumulative effect of applying FIN 48 at adoption is to be reported as an adjustment to beginning retained earnings for the year of adoption. FIN 48 is effective for the Companys 2008 fiscal year and will result in a reduction of approximately $160 million to beginning retained earnings in fiscal year 2008.
In fiscal years 2007, 2006 and 2005, income tax benefits attributable to equity-based compensation transactions that were allocated to shareholders equity amounted to $123 million, $106 million and $64 million, respectively.
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9. | Pension and Other Benefit Programs |
The Company maintains pension plans and postretirement medical benefit plans covering most of its employees not covered by union or industry-wide plans. Employees hired after January 1, 1994 and ABC employees generally hired after January 1, 1987 are not eligible for postretirement medical benefits. With respect to its qualified defined benefit pension plans, the Companys policy is to fund, at a minimum, the amount necessary on an actuarial basis to provide for benefits in accordance with the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Pension benefits are generally based on years of service and/or compensation.
On September 29, 2007, the Company adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of SFAS 158. SFAS 158 requires the recognition of the overfunded or underfunded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans as an asset or liability in the statement of financial position and changes in that funded status to be recognized in comprehensive income in the year in which the changes occur. The incremental effect of applying SFAS 158 on individual line items to our balance sheet as of September 29, 2007 including tax effects is as follows:
Prior to adopting SFAS 158 |
Effect of adopting SFAS 158 |
As reported under SFAS 158 | |||||||
Investments |
$ | 1,008 | $ | (13) | $ | 995 | |||
Other non-current assets |
1,857 | (373) | 1,484 | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
(5,926) | (23) | (5,949) | ||||||
Other long-term liabilities |
(3,018) | (6) | (3,024) | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
(2,727) | 154 | (2,573) | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) / loss |
(104) | 261 | 157 |
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The following chart summarizes the balance sheet impact, as well as the benefit obligations, assets, funded status and assumptions associated with the pension and postretirement medical benefit plans based upon the actuarial valuations prepared as of June 30, 2007 and 2006 (the Plan Measurement Dates).
Pension Plans | Postretirement Medical Plans | |||||||||||
September 29, 2007 |
September 30, 2006 |
September 29, 2007 |
September 30, 2006 | |||||||||
Reconciliation of funded status of the plans and the amounts included in the Companys Consolidated Balance Sheets: |
||||||||||||
Projected benefit obligations |
||||||||||||
Beginning obligations |
$ | (4,705) | $ | (4,951) | $ | (936) | $ | (1,172) | ||||
Service cost |
(167) | (187) | (26) | (34) | ||||||||
Interest cost |
(297) | (256) | (59) | (61) | ||||||||
Actuarial gain / (loss) |
(92) | 548 | (19) | 308 | ||||||||
Plan amendments and other |
(128) | | | | ||||||||
Benefits paid |
147 | 141 | 29 | 23 | ||||||||
Ending obligations |
$ | (5,242) | $ | (4,705) | $ | (1,011) | $ | (936) | ||||
Fair value of plans assets |
||||||||||||
Beginning fair value |
$ | 4,181 | $ | 3,410 | $ | 317 | $ | 260 | ||||
Actual return on plan assets |
726 | 425 | 57 | 48 | ||||||||
Contributions |
428 | 507 | 27 | 32 | ||||||||
Benefits paid |
(147) | (141) | (29) | (23) | ||||||||
Expenses |
(28) | (20) | | | ||||||||
Ending fair value |
$ | 5,160 | $ | 4,181 | $ | 372 | $ | 317 | ||||
Funded status of the plans |
$ | (82) | $ | (524) | $ | (639) | $ | (619) | ||||
Unrecognized net loss |
n/a | 692 | n/a | 12 | ||||||||
Unrecognized prior service cost (benefit) |
n/a | 18 | n/a | (16) | ||||||||
Contributions after Plan Measurement Date |
4 | 41 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||
Net balance sheet impact |
$ | (78) | $ | 227 | $ | (636) | $ | (619) | ||||
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet under SFAS 158: |
||||||||||||
Non-current assets |
$ | 275 | $ | n/a | $ | | $ | n/a | ||||
Current liabilities |
(9) | n/a | (14) | n/a | ||||||||
Non-current liabilities |
(344) | n/a | (622) | n/a | ||||||||
$ | (78) | $ | n/a | $ | (636) | $ | n/a | |||||
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet under prior accounting rules |
||||||||||||
Prepaid benefit cost |
$ | n/a | $ | 283 | $ | n/a | $ | | ||||
Accrued benefit liability |
n/a | (253) | n/a | (619) | ||||||||
Additional minimum pension liability adjustment |
n/a | 197 | n/a | | ||||||||
$ | n/a | $ | 227 | $ | n/a | $ | (619) | |||||
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The components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows:
Pension Plans | Postretirement Medical Plans | |||||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||||||
Service costs |
$ | 166 | $ | 186 | $ | 137 | $ | 22 | $ | 34 | $ | 31 | ||||||
Interest costs |
297 | 256 | 233 | 59 | 61 | 59 | ||||||||||||
Expected return on plan assets |
(302) | (250) | (223) | (21) | (16) | (14) | ||||||||||||
Amortization of prior year service costs |
4 | 1 | 1 | (1) | (1) | (1) | ||||||||||||
Recognized net actuarial loss |
47 | 148 | 59 | 2 | 43 | 32 | ||||||||||||
Special termination benefits |
5 | | | | | | ||||||||||||
Net periodic benefit cost |
$ | 217 | $ | 341 | $ | 207 | $ | 61 | $ | 121 | $ | 107 | ||||||
Assumptions: |
||||||||||||||||||
Discount rate |
6.35% | 6.40% | 5.25% | 6.35% | 6.40% | 5.25% | ||||||||||||
Rate of return on plan assets |
7.50% | 7.50% | 7.50% | 7.50% | 7.50% | 7.50% | ||||||||||||
Salary increases |
4.00% | 4.00% | 3.75% | n/a | n/a | n/a | ||||||||||||
Year 1 increase in cost of benefits |
n/a | n/a | n/a | 9.00% | 9.00% | 10.00% | ||||||||||||
Rate of increase to which the cost of benefits is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate) |
n/a | n/a | n/a | 5.00% | 5.00% | 5.00% | ||||||||||||
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate |
n/a | n/a | n/a | 2015 | 2012 | 2012 |
Net periodic benefit cost for the current year is based on assumptions determined at the June 30 valuation date of the prior year.
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax, as of September 29, 2007 consists of the following amounts that have not yet been recognized in net periodic benefit cost:
Pension Plans | Postretirement Medical Plans |
Total | |||||||
Unrecognized prior service credit / (cost) |
$ | (77) | $ | 14 | $ | (63) | |||
Unrecognized net actuarial gain / (loss) |
(372) | 3 | (369) | ||||||
Total amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income / (loss) |
(449) | 17 | (432) | ||||||
Prepaid / (accrued) pension cost |
371 | (653) | (282) | ||||||
Net balance sheet impact |
$ | (78) | $ | (636) | $ | (714) | |||
Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax, as of September 29, 2007 that are expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost during fiscal 2008 are:
Pension Benefits | Other Postretirement Plans |
Total | |||||||
Prior service credit / (cost) |
$ | (12) | $ | 1 | $ | (11) | |||
Net actuarial gain / (loss) |
(25) | (2) | (27) | ||||||
Total |
$ | (37) | $ | (1) | $ | (38) | |||
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Plan Funded Status
At September 29, 2007, the Company had pension plans that were underfunded, having accumulated benefit obligations exceeding the fair value of plan assets. The projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation and aggregate fair value of plan assets for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets were $323 million, $283 million and $2 million, respectively, as of September 29, 2007 and $2.1 billion, $1.9 billion and $1.6 billion as of September 30, 2006, respectively.
The Companys total accumulated pension benefit obligations at September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006 were $4.8 billion and $4.4 billion, respectively, of which 96.2% and 96.1%, respectively, were vested.
The accumulated postretirement medical benefit obligations and fair value of plan assets for postretirement medical plans with accumulated postretirement medical benefit obligations in excess of plan assets were $1.0 billion and $372 million, respectively, at September 29, 2007 and $936 million and $317 million, respectively, at September 30, 2006.
Plan Assets
The assets of the Companys defined benefit plans are managed on a commingled basis in a third party master trust. The investment policy and allocation of the assets in the master trust were approved by the Companys Investment and Administrative Committee, which has oversight responsibility for the Companys retirement plans. The investment policy ranges for the major asset classes are as follows:
Asset Class |
Minimum | Maximum | ||
Equity Securities |
40% | 60% | ||
Debt Securities |
25% | 35% | ||
Alternative Investments |
10% | 30% | ||
Cash |
0% | 5% |
Alternative investments include venture capital funds, private equity funds and real estate, among other investments.
The Companys defined benefit plans asset mix at the Plan Measurement Dates is as follows:
Asset Class |
June 30, 2007 |
June 30, 2006 | ||
Equity Securities |
55% | 54% | ||
Debt Securities |
27% | 25% | ||
Alternative Investments |
13% | 13% | ||
Cash |
5% | 8% | ||
Total |
100% | 100% |
Equity securities include 2.8 million shares of Company common stock or $97 million (2% of total plan assets) and $84 million (2% of total plan assets) at September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006, respectively.
The cash allocation exceeded the policy range limit on June 30, 2006, due to a $314 million employer contribution into the plans in June 2006, which was invested over time.
Plan Contributions
During fiscal 2007, the Company contributed $390 million and $26 million to its pension and postretirement medical plans, respectively, which included discretionary contributions above the minimum requirements for the pension plans. Based on current actuarial projections, the Company anticipates that the funded status of the pension plans will be sufficient so that the Company will not be required to make additional contributions during fiscal 2008 under the funding regulations associated with the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA). However, final funding requirements for fiscal 2008 will be determined based on our January 1, 2008 funding actuarial valuation. Additionally, the Company may also choose to make discretionary contributions above the minimum requirements. The Company anticipates contributing approximately $30 million to post retirement medical and other pension plans not subject to the PPA.
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Estimated Future Benefit Payments
The following table presents estimated future benefit payments for the next ten fiscal years:
Pension Plans | Post Retirement Medical Plans (1) | |||||
2008 |
$ | 181 | $ | 29 | ||
2009 |
198 | 31 | ||||
2010 |
216 | 33 | ||||
2011 |
233 | 36 | ||||
2012 |
252 | 38 | ||||
2013 2017 |
1,597 | 235 |
(1) |
Estimated future benefit payments are net of expected Medicare subsidy receipts of $53 million over the next ten fiscal years. |
Assumptions
Certain actuarial assumptions, such as the discount rate, long-term rate of return on plan assets and the healthcare cost trend rate, have a significant effect on the amounts reported for net periodic benefit cost as well as the related benefit obligation amounts.
Discount Rate The assumed discount rate for pension and postretirement medical plans reflects the market rates for high-quality corporate bonds currently available. The Companys discount rate was determined by considering the average of pension yield curves constructed of a large population of high quality corporate bonds. The resulting discount rate reflects the matching of plan liability cash flows to the yield curves.
Long-term rate of return on plan assets The long-term rate of return on plan assets represents an estimate of long-term returns on an investment portfolio consisting of a mixture of equities, fixed income and alternative investments. When determining the long-term rate of return on plan assets, the Company considers long-term rates of return on the asset classes (both historical and forecasted) in which the Company expects the pension funds to be invested. The following long-term rates of return by asset class were considered in setting the long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption:
Equity Securities |
8% 10% | |
Debt Securities |
4% 7% | |
Alternative Investments |
8% 20% |
Healthcare cost trend rate The Company reviews external data and its own historical trends for healthcare costs to determine the healthcare cost trend rates for the postretirement medical benefit plans. For the 2007 actuarial valuation, we assumed a 9.0% annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered healthcare claims with the rate decreasing in even increments over eight years until reaching 5.0%.
A one percentage point (ppt) change in the key assumptions would have the following effects on the projected benefit obligations as of September 29, 2007 and on cost for fiscal 2008:
Pension and Postretirement Medical Plans | Postretirement Medical Plans | ||||||||||||||
Discount Rate | Expected Long- Term Rate of Return On Assets |
Assumed Healthcare Cost Trend Rate | |||||||||||||
Increase/ |
Net Periodic Pension and Postretirement Medical Cost |
Projected Benefit Obligations |
Net Periodic Pension and Postretirement Cost |
Net Periodic Postretirement Medical Cost |
Accumulated Benefit Obligations | ||||||||||
1 ppt decrease |
$ | 122 | $ | 999 | $ | 51 | $ | (25) | $ | (146) | |||||
1 ppt increase |
(74) | (849) | (51) | 26 | 184 |
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Multi-employer Plans
The Company participates in various multi-employer pension plans under union and industry-wide agreements. In 2007, 2006 and 2005, the contributions to these plans, which are generally expensed as incurred, were $54 million, $51 million and $37 million, respectively.
Defined Contribution Plans
The Company has savings and investment plans that allow eligible employees to allocate up to 20% of their salary through payroll deductions depending on the plan in which the employee participates. The Company matches 50% of the employees pre-tax contributions, up to plan limits. In 2007, 2006 and 2005, the costs of these plans were $42 million, $39 million and $35 million, respectively.
10. | Shareholders Equity |
As of the filing date of this report, the Board of Directors had not yet declared a dividend related to fiscal 2007. The Company paid a $637 million dividend ($0.31 per share) during the second quarter of fiscal 2007 related to fiscal 2006. The Company paid a $519 million dividend ($0.27 per share) during the second quarter of fiscal 2006 related to fiscal 2005; and paid a $490 million dividend ($0.24 per share) during the second quarter of fiscal 2005 related to fiscal 2004.
During fiscal 2007, the Company repurchased 202 million shares of Disney common stock for $6.9 billion. During fiscal 2006, the Company repurchased 243 million shares of Disney common stock for $6.9 billion. During fiscal 2005, the Company repurchased 91 million shares of Disney common stock for $2.4 billion. On May 1, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Company increased the share repurchase authorization to a total of 400 million shares. As of September 29, 2007, the Company had remaining authorization in place to repurchase approximately 323 million additional shares. The repurchase program does not have an expiration date.
The par value of the Companys outstanding common stock totaled approximately $26 million.
The Company also has 1.0 billion shares of Internet Group stock at $.01 par value authorized. No shares are issued and outstanding.
11. | Equity-Based Compensation |
Under various plans, the Company may grant stock options and other equity-based awards to executive, management, and creative personnel. The Companys approach to long-term incentive compensation contemplates awards of stock options and restricted stock units (RSUs).
Stock options are generally granted at exercise prices equal to or exceeding the market price at the date of grant. Effective in January 2003, options became exercisable ratably over a four-year period from the grant date, while options granted prior to January 2003 generally vest ratably over five years. Effective in the second quarter of 2005, options granted generally expire seven years after the grant date, while options granted prior to the second quarter of 2005 generally expire ten years after the date of grant. At the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Companys Board of Directors, options can occasionally extend up to 15 years after date of grant. Restricted stock units generally vest 50% on each of the second and fourth anniversaries of the grant date. Certain RSUs awarded to senior executives vest based upon the achievement of performance conditions. Stock options and RSUs are forfeited by employees who terminate prior to vesting. Shares available for future option and RSU grants at September 29, 2007 totaled 54 million. The Company satisfies stock option exercises and vesting of RSUs with newly issued shares.
Each year, during the second quarter, the Company awards stock options and restricted stock units to a broad-based group of management and creative personnel (the Annual Grant). Prior to the fiscal 2006 Annual Grant, the fair value of options granted was estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Beginning with the fiscal 2006 Annual Grant, the Company has changed to the binomial valuation model. The binomial valuation model considers certain characteristics of fair value option pricing that are not considered under the Black-Scholes model. Similar to the Black-Scholes model, the binomial valuation model takes into account variables such as volatility, dividend yield, and the risk-free interest rate. However, the binomial valuation model also considers the expected
98
exercise multiple (the multiple of exercise price to grant price at which exercises are expected to occur on average) and the termination rate (the probability of a vested option being cancelled due to the termination of the option holder) in computing the value of the option. Accordingly, the Company believes that the binomial valuation model should produce a fair value that is more representative of the value of an employee option.
The weighted average expected option term assumption used by the Company for grants during fiscal 2006 (prior to the fiscal 2006 Annual Grant) and fiscal 2005 reflected the application of the simplified method set out in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (SAB 107). The simplified method defines the expected term of an option as the average of the contractual term of the options and the weighted average vesting period for all option tranches.
In fiscal years 2007, 2006 and 2005, the weighted average assumptions used in the option-pricing models were as follows:
2007 (1) | 2006 (1) | 2005 (2) | ||||
Risk-free interest rate |
4.5% | 4.3% | 3.7% | |||
Expected term (years) (3) |
4.61 | 5.09 | 4.75 | |||
Expected volatility |
26% | 26% | 27% | |||
Dividend yield |
0.79% | 0.79% | 0.79% | |||
Termination rate |
7.4% | 4.0% | n/a | |||
Exercise multiple |
1.38 | 1.48 | n/a |
(1) |
Commencing with the 2006 Annual Grant, the Company utilized the binomial valuation model. |
(2) |
The Company utilized the Black-Scholes model during fiscal 2005. |
(3) |
The expected term assumption is included for fiscal 2005 during which we utilized the Black-Scholes model. Under the binomial model, expected term is not an input assumption. |
Although the initial fair value of stock options is not adjusted after the grant date, changes in the Companys assumptions may change the value of, and therefore the expense related to, future stock option grants. The assumptions that cause the greatest variation in fair value in the binomial valuation model are the assumed volatility and expected exercise multiple. Increases or decreases in either the assumed volatility or expected exercise multiple will cause the binomial option value to increase or decrease, respectively.
The volatility assumption considers both historical and implied volatility and may be impacted by the Companys performance as well as changes in economic and market conditions.
Compensation expense for RSUs and stock options is recognized ratably over the vesting period. Compensation expense for RSUs is based upon the market price of the shares underlying the awards on the grant date; however, compensation expense for performance-based awards is adjusted to reflect the estimated probability of vesting.
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The impact of stock options and RSUs on income and cash flow from continuing operations for fiscal 2007, 2006 and 2005 was as follows:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
Stock option compensation expense |
$ | 213 | $ | 241 | $ | 248 | |||
RSU compensation expense |
158 | 132 | 122 | ||||||
371 | 373 | 370 | |||||||
Equity-based compensation plan modification charge (1) |
48 | | | ||||||
Total equity-based compensation expense (2)(3) |
419 | 373 | 370 | ||||||
Tax impact |
(155) | (138) | (137) | ||||||
Reduction in net income |
$ | 264 | $ | 235 | $ | 233 | |||
Reduction in cash flow from continuing operating activities |
$ | 116 | $ | 133 | $ | 24 | |||
Increase in cash flow from continuing financing activities |
116 | 133 | 24 |
(1) |
In anticipation of the ABC Radio transaction, the Company needed to determine whether employee equity-based compensation awards would be adjusted for the dilutive impact of the transaction on the employee awards. Certain of the Companys plans required such adjustments to be made on an equitable basis. All other plans permitted such adjustments to be made. In order to treat all employees consistently with respect to the ABC Radio transaction (and other similar future transactions), the Company amended the plans such that all plans require equitable adjustments for such transactions. In connection with these amendments, the Company was required to record a non-cash charge of $48 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 representing the estimated fair value of this modification with respect to vested equity-based employee compensation awards. The estimated fair value of the modification with respect to unvested awards remaining at September 29, 2007 is $14 million and will be expensed over the vesting period of these awards. |
(2) |
Excludes amounts related to discontinued operations of $6 million, $9 million and $10 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. |
(3) |
Equity-based compensation expense is net of capitalized equity-based compensation and includes amortization of previously capitalized equity-based compensation costs. Capitalized equity-based compensation totaled $103 million, $52 million and $18 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. |
The following table summarizes information about stock option transactions (shares in millions):
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||||||
Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price | ||||||||||
Outstanding at beginning of year |
212 | $ | 25.85 | 212 | $ | 27.06 | 221 | $ | 26.50 | ||||||
Awards granted in Pixar acquisition |
| | 44 | 15.04 | | | |||||||||
Awards forfeited |
(5) | 27.71 | (7) | 28.34 | (7) | 25.99 | |||||||||
Awards granted |
25 | 34.22 | 24 | 25.33 | 19 | 27.91 | |||||||||
Awards exercised |
(53) | 24.52 | (56) | 21.42 | (18) | 20.22 | |||||||||
Awards expired/cancelled |
(2) | 56.00 | (5) | 56.91 | (3) | 34.83 | |||||||||
Outstanding at end of year |
177 | 27.36 | 212 | 25.85 | 212 | 27.06 | |||||||||
Exercisable at end of year |
108 | 27.07 | 130 | 27.57 | 142 | 28.47 | |||||||||
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The following tables summarize information about stock options vested and expected to vest at September 29, 2007 (shares in millions):
Vested | |||||||
Range of Exercise Prices |
Number of Options |
Weighted Average Exercise |
Weighted Averaged Remaining Years of Contractual Life | ||||
$ 0 $ 15 |
12 | $ | 9.00 | 3.9 | |||
$ 16 $ 20 |
11 | 17.83 | 5.9 | ||||
$ 21 $ 25 |
30 | 23.36 | 5.0 | ||||
$ 26 $ 30 |
27 | 29.16 | 3.5 | ||||
$ 31 $ 35 |
16 | 33.44 | 2.0 | ||||
$ 36 $ 40 |
7 | 39.04 | 1.8 | ||||
$ 41 $ 45 |
3 | 42.21 | 3.0 | ||||
$ 46 $365 |
2 | 116.11 | 2.4 | ||||
108 | |||||||
Expected to Vest | |||||||
Range of Exercise Prices |
Number of Options (1) |
Weighted Average Exercise |
Weighted Averaged Remaining Years of Contractual Life | ||||
$ 0 $ 15 |
4 | $ | 12.17 | 5.1 | |||
$ 16 $ 20 |
3 | 19.31 | 7.6 | ||||
$ 21 $ 25 |
16 | 24.71 | 6.8 | ||||
$ 26 $ 30 |
17 | 27.78 | 7.4 | ||||
$ 31 $ 35 |
19 | 34.24 | 7.9 | ||||
59 | |||||||
(1) |
Number of options expected to vest are net of estimated forfeitures. |
The following table summarizes information about RSU transactions (shares in millions):
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||||||
Restricted Stock |
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value |
Restricted Stock |
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value |
Restricted Stock |
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value | ||||||||||
Unvested at beginning of year |
23 | $ | 25.74 | 15 | $ | 26.04 | 9 | $ | 22.58 | ||||||
Awards granted in Pixar acquisition |
| | 1 | 29.09 | | | |||||||||
Granted |
12 | 34.22 | 11 | 24.83 | 9 | 27.98 | |||||||||
Vested |
(6) | 26.20 | (2) | 24.57 | (2) | 25.30 | |||||||||
Forfeited |
(2) | 27.78 | (2) | 25.87 | (1) | 20.34 | |||||||||
Unvested at end of year |
27 | 29.01 | 23 | 25.74 | 15 | 26.04 | |||||||||
RSUs representing 1.4 million shares, 2.2 million shares and 1.3 million shares that vest based upon the achievement of certain performance conditions were granted in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Approximately 4.2 million of the unvested RSUs as of September 29, 2007, vest upon the achievement of performance conditions.
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The weighted average grant-date fair values of options granted during 2007, 2006 and 2005 were $9.27, $7.26 and $7.71, respectively. The total intrinsic value (market value on date of exercise less exercise price) of options exercised and RSUs vested during 2007, 2006 and 2005 totaled $735 million, $506 million, and $198 million, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic values of stock options vested and expected to vest at September 29, 2007 were $948 million and $399 million, respectively.
As of September 29, 2007, there was $435 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options and $340 million related to unvested RSUs. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years for stock options and RSUs.
Cash received from option exercises for 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $1.3 billion, $1.1 billion and $370 million, respectively. Tax benefits realized from tax deductions associated with option exercises and RSU activity for 2007, 2006 and 2005 totaled $267 million, $180 million and $69 million, respectively.
In connection with the acquisition of Pixar on May 5, 2006, the Company converted previously issued vested and unvested Pixar stock-based awards into Disney stock-based awards consisting of 44 million stock options and 1 million RSUs. The fair value of these stock option awards was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, as the information required to use the binomial valuation model was not reasonably available. The methodology utilized to determine the assumptions in the Black-Scholes model was consistent with that used by the Company for its option-pricing models.
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12. | Detail of Certain Balance Sheet Accounts |
September 29, 2007 |
September 30, 2006 | |||||
Current receivables |
||||||
Accounts receivable |
$ | 4,724 | $ | 4,451 | ||
Other |
424 | 368 | ||||
Allowance for doubtful accounts |
(116) | (112) | ||||
$ | 5,032 | $ | 4,707 | |||
Other current assets |
||||||
Prepaid expenses |
$ | 446 | $ | 624 | ||
Other |
104 | 119 | ||||
$ | 550 | $ | 743 | |||
Parks, resorts and other property, at cost |
||||||
Attractions, buildings and improvements |
$ | 14,857 | $ | 14,209 | ||
Leasehold improvements |
500 | 497 | ||||
Furniture, fixtures and equipment |
11,272 | 10,746 | ||||
Land improvements |
3,631 | 3,391 | ||||
30,260 | 28,843 | |||||
Accumulated depreciation |
(15,145) | (13,781) | ||||
Projects in progress |
1,147 | 913 | ||||
Land |
1,171 | 1,192 | ||||
$ | 17,433 | $ | 17,167 | |||
Intangible assets |
||||||
Copyrights |
$ | 357 | $ | 355 | ||
Other amortizable intangible assets |
255 | 134 | ||||
Accumulated amortization |
(143) | (110) | ||||
Net amortizable intangible assets |
469 | 379 | ||||
FCC licenses |
897 | 1,400 | ||||
Trademarks |
1,108 | 1,108 | ||||
Other indefinite lived intangible assets |
20 | 20 | ||||
$ | 2,494 | $ | 2,907 | |||
Other non-current assets |
||||||
Receivables |
$ | 571 | $ | 500 | ||
Pension related assets |
275 | 283 | ||||
Other prepaid expenses |
120 | 25 | ||||
Other |
518 | 499 | ||||
$ | 1,484 | $ | 1,307 | |||
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities |
||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 3,996 | $ | 4,006 | ||
Payroll and employee benefits |
1,290 | 1,229 | ||||
Other |
663 | 682 | ||||
$ | 5,949 | $ | 5,917 | |||
Other long-term liabilities |
||||||
Deferred revenues |
$ | 369 | $ | 323 | ||
Capital lease obligations |
274 | 292 | ||||
Program licenses and rights |
288 | 224 | ||||
Participation and residual liabilities |
239 | 265 | ||||
Pension and postretirement medical plan liabilities |
966 | 872 | ||||
Other |
888 | 1,155 | ||||
$ | 3,024 | $ | 3,131 | |||
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13. | Financial Instruments |
Interest Rate Risk Management
The Company is exposed to the impact of interest rate changes primarily through its borrowing activities. The Companys objective is to mitigate the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows and on the market value of its investments and borrowings. In accordance with its policy, the Company maintains its fixed rate debt expressed as a percentage of its net debt between a minimum and maximum percentage.
The Company typically uses pay-floating and pay-fixed interest rate swaps to facilitate its interest rate risk management activities. Pay-floating swaps effectively convert fixed rate medium and long-term obligations to variable rate instruments indexed to LIBOR. Pay-floating swap agreements in place at year-end expire in 1 to 15 years. Pay-fixed swaps effectively convert floating rate obligations to fixed rate instruments. The pay-fixed swaps in place at year-end expire in 1 to 9 years. As of September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006 respectively, the Company held $157 million and $192 million notional value of pay-fixed swaps that do not qualify as hedges. The changes in market values of all swaps that do not qualify as hedges have been included in earnings.
The impact of hedge ineffectiveness was not significant for fiscal 2007, 2006 and 2005. The net amount of deferred gains in AOCI from interest rate risk management transactions was $1 million and $5 million at September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006 respectively.
Foreign Exchange Risk Management
The Company transacts business globally and is subject to risks associated with changing foreign exchange rates. The Companys objective is to reduce earnings and cash flow fluctuations associated with foreign exchange rate changes thereby enabling management to focus attention on core business issues and challenges.
The Company enters into various contracts that change in value as foreign exchange rates change to protect the value of its existing foreign currency assets, liabilities, firm commitments and forecasted but not firmly committed foreign currency transactions. The Company uses option strategies and forward contracts to hedge forecasted transactions. In accordance with policy, the Company hedges its forecasted foreign currency transactions for periods generally not to exceed five years within an established minimum and maximum range of annual exposure. The Company uses forward contracts to hedge foreign currency assets, liabilities and firm commitments. The gains and losses on these contracts offset changes in the U.S. dollar equivalent value of the related forecasted transaction, asset, liability or firm commitment. The principal currencies hedged are the Euro, British pound, Japanese yen and Canadian dollar. Cross-currency swaps are used to effectively convert foreign currency- denominated borrowings to U.S. dollars.
Mark to market gains and losses on contracts hedging forecasted foreign currency transactions are initially recorded to AOCI and are reclassified to current earnings when the hedged transactions are realized, offsetting changes in the value of the foreign currency transactions. At September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006, the Company had pre-tax deferred gains of $114 million and $106 million, respectively, and pre-tax deferred losses of $170 million and $60 million, respectively, related to cash flow hedges on forecasted foreign currency transactions.
Deferred amounts to be recognized in earnings will change with market conditions and will be substantially offset by changes in the value of the related hedged transactions. Deferred losses recorded in AOCI for contracts that will mature in the next twelve months totaled $106 million. The Company reclassified after-tax gains of $34 million and losses of $6 million from AOCI to earnings during fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively. These losses were offset by changes in the U.S. dollar equivalent value of the items being hedged.
During fiscal 2007 and 2006, the Company recorded the change in fair market value related to fair value hedges and the ineffectiveness related to cash flow hedges to earnings. The amounts of hedge ineffectiveness on cash flow hedges were not material for fiscal 2007, fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005. The total impact of foreign exchange risk management activities on operating income in 2007, 2006 and 2005 were losses of $139 million, $27 million, and $168 million, respectively. The net losses from these hedges offset changes in the U.S. dollar equivalent value of the related exposures being hedged.
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Fair Value of Financial Instruments
At September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006, the Companys financial instruments included cash, cash equivalents, investments, receivables, accounts payable, borrowings, and interest rate and foreign exchange risk management contracts.
At September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006, the fair values of cash and cash equivalents, receivables and accounts payable approximated the carrying values. The estimated fair values of other financial instruments subject to fair value disclosures, determined based on broker quotes or quoted market prices or interest rates for the same or similar instruments and the related carrying amounts are as follows:
2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||
Asset/(Liability) |
Carrying Amount |
Fair Value | Carrying Amount |
Fair Value | ||||||||
Investments |
$ | 101 | $ | 101 | $ | 87 | $ | 87 | ||||
Borrowings |
(15,172) | (15,594) | (13,525) | (13,837) | ||||||||
Risk management contracts: |
||||||||||||
Foreign exchange forwards |
$ | (98) | $ | (98) | $ | 49 | $ | 49 | ||||
Foreign exchange options |
(1) | (1) | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
Interest rate swaps |
25 | 25 | 32 | 32 | ||||||||
Cross-currency swaps |
| | 1 | 1 |
Credit Concentrations
The Company continually monitors its positions with, and the credit quality of, the financial institutions that are counterparties to its financial instruments and does not anticipate nonperformance by the counterparties.
The Company would not realize a material loss as of September 29, 2007 in the event of nonperformance by any single counterparty. The Company enters into transactions only with financial institution counterparties that have a credit rating of A- or better. The Companys current policy regarding agreements with financial institution counterparties is generally to require collateral in the event credit ratings fall below A- or in the event aggregate exposures exceed limits as defined by contract. In addition, the Company limits the amount of investment credit exposure with any one institution.
The Companys trade receivables and investments do not represent a significant concentration of credit risk at September 29, 2007 due to the wide variety of customers and markets into which the Companys products are sold, their dispersion across geographic areas, and the diversification of the Companys portfolio among issuers.
14. | Commitments and Contingencies |
Commitments
The Company has various contractual commitments for the purchase of broadcast rights for sports, feature films and other programming, aggregating approximately $22.8 billion, including approximately $1.1 billion for available programming as of September 29, 2007, and approximately $19.2 billion related to sports programming rights, primarily NFL, NBA, NASCAR, MLB and College Football.
The Company has entered into operating leases for various real estate and equipment needs, including retail outlets and distribution centers for consumer products, broadcast equipment, and office space for general and administrative purposes. Rental expense for the operating leases during 2007, 2006, and 2005, including common-area maintenance and contingent rentals, was $482 million, $455 million, and $482 million, respectively.
The Company also has contractual commitments under various creative talent and employment agreements including obligations to actors, producers, sports personnel, television and radio personalities, and executives.
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Contractual commitments for broadcast programming rights, future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases, and creative talent and other commitments totaled $28.6 billion at September 29, 2007, payable as follows:
Broadcast Programming |
Operating Leases |
Other | Total | |||||||||
2008 |
$ | 4,436 | $ | 327 | $ | 1,100 | $ | 5,863 | ||||
2009 |
3,016 | 276 | 703 | 3,995 | ||||||||
2010 |
3,041 | 236 | 459 | 3,736 | ||||||||
2011 |
2,863 | 196 | 847 | 3,906 | ||||||||
2012 |
3,121 | 167 | 785 | 4,073 | ||||||||
Thereafter |
6,310 | 648 | 82 | 7,040 | ||||||||
$ | 22,787 | $ | 1,850 | $ | 3,976 | $ | 28,613 | |||||
The Company has certain non-cancelable capital leases primarily for land and broadcast equipment, which had gross carrying values of $465 million and $466 million at September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006, respectively. Accumulated amortization primarily for broadcast equipment under capital lease totaled $127 million and $108 million at September 29, 2007 and September 30, 2006, respectively. Future payments under these leases as of September 29, 2007 are as follows:
2008 |
$ | 39 | |
2009 |
39 | ||
2010 |
37 | ||
2011 |
38 | ||
2012 |
37 | ||
Thereafter |
594 | ||
Total minimum obligations |
$ | 784 | |
Less amount representing interest |
(492) | ||
Present value of net minimum obligations |
292 | ||
Less current portion |
(18) | ||
Long-term portion |
$ | 274 | |
Contractual Guarantees
The Company has guaranteed certain special assessment and water/sewer revenue bonds issued by the Celebration Community Development District and the Enterprise Community Development District (collectively, the Districts). The bond proceeds were used by the Districts to finance the construction of infrastructure improvements and the water and sewer system in the mixed-use, residential community of Celebration, Florida. As of September 29, 2007, the remaining debt service obligation guaranteed by the Company was $66 million, of which $43 million was principal. The Company is responsible to satisfy any shortfalls in debt service payments, debt service and maintenance reserve funds, and to ensure compliance with specified rate covenants. To the extent that the Company has to fund payments under its guarantees, the districts have an obligation to reimburse the Company from District revenues.
The Company has also guaranteed certain bond issuances by the Anaheim Public Authority that were used by the City of Anaheim to finance construction of infrastructure and a public parking facility adjacent to the Disneyland Resort. Revenues from sales, occupancy and property taxes from the Disneyland Resort and non-Disney hotels are used by the City of Anaheim to repay the bonds. In the event of a debt service shortfall, the Company will be responsible to fund the shortfall. As of September 29, 2007, the remaining debt service obligation guaranteed by the Company was $386 million, of which $103 million was principal. To the extent that tax revenues exceed the debt service payments in subsequent periods, the Company would be reimbursed for any previously funded shortfalls.
To date, tax revenues have exceeded the debt service payments for both the Celebration and Anaheim bonds.
106
ESPN STAR Sports, a joint-venture in which ESPN owns a 50% equity interest, has an agreement for global programming rights to International Cricket Council Events from 2007 through 2015. Under the terms of the agreement, ESPN and the other joint-venture partner have jointly guaranteed the programming rights obligation of $1.0 billion over the remaining term of the agreement.
Legal Matters
Milne and Disney Enterprises, Inc. v. Stephen Slesinger, Inc. On November 5, 2002, Clare Milne, the granddaughter of A. A. Milne, author of the Winnie the Pooh books, and the Companys subsidiary Disney Enterprises, Inc. (DEI) filed a complaint against Stephen Slesinger, Inc. (SSI) in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. On November 4, 2002, Ms. Milne served notices to SSI and DEI terminating A. A. Milnes prior grant of rights to Winnie the Pooh, effective November 5, 2004, and granted all of those rights to DEI. In their lawsuit, Ms. Milne and DEI sought a declaratory judgment, under United States copyright law, that Ms. Milnes termination notices were valid; that SSIs rights to Winnie the Pooh in the United States terminated effective November 5, 2004; that upon termination of SSIs rights in the United States, the 1983 licensing agreement that is the subject of the Stephen Slesinger, Inc. v. The Walt Disney Company lawsuit terminated by operation of law; and that, as of November 5, 2004, SSI was entitled to no further royalties for uses of Winnie the Pooh. SSI filed (a) an answer denying the material allegations of the complaint and (b) counterclaims seeking a declaration that (i) Ms. Milnes grant of rights to DEI is void and unenforceable and (ii) DEI remains obligated to pay SSI royalties under the 1983 licensing agreement. The District Court ruled that Milnes termination notices were invalid. The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed, and on June 26, 2006, the United States Supreme Court denied Milnes petition for a writ of certiorari. On June 23, 2003, SSI filed an amended answer and counterclaims and a third-party complaint against Harriet Hunt (heir to E. H. Shepard, illustrator of the original Winnie the Pooh stories), who had served a notice of termination and a grant of rights similar to Ms. Milnes, and asserted counterclaims against the Company allegedly arising from the Milne and Hunt terminations and the grant of rights to DEI for (a) unlawful and unfair business practices; and (b) breach of the 1983 licensing agreement.
On October 19, 2006, the parties stipulated to SSIs filing its Fourth Amended Answer and Counterclaims (Fourth Amended Answer) seeking (a) to invalidate the Hunt termination notice, (b) to terminate the Companys rights vis-à-vis SSI, and (c) damages in excess of two billion dollars, among other relief. That stipulation also provided that Hunt and the Company need not respond to the Fourth Amended Answer until the conclusion of two events: the state court appeal in Stephen Slesinger, Inc. v. The Walt Disney Company, and the trial in the District Court on the validity of the Hunt termination notice. SSI then sought to withdraw both the Fourth Amended Answer and its stipulation, but on November 3, 2006, the District Court denied that request. SSIs motion for summary judgment on the validity of Hunts 2002 attempt to recapture E. H. Shepards rights was granted on February 15, 2007, and thereafter, on March 27, 2007, the District Court dismissed as moot all claims against Hunt and three of SSIs counterclaims against the Company related to the Companys agreements with Milne and Hunt concerning the termination and disposition of their rights. In a related development, on January 23, 2007, and on August 22, 2007, SSI initiated proceedings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) seeking, among other things, cancellation of certain Pooh trademark registrations. On February 22, 2007, the PTO suspended the first proceeding on the grounds that the relief sought is effectively duplicative of that sought in the Fourth Amended Answer, and on October 2, 2007, the Company moved to suspend the second proceeding on the same ground.
Stephen Slesinger, Inc. v. The Walt Disney Company. In this lawsuit, filed on February 27, 1991, in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, the plaintiff claims that a Company subsidiary defrauded it and breached a 1983 licensing agreement with respect to certain Winnie the Pooh properties, by failing to account for and pay royalties on revenues earned from the sale of Winnie the Pooh movies on videocassette and from the exploitation of Winnie the Pooh merchandising rights. The plaintiff seeks damages for the licensees alleged breaches as well as confirmation of the plaintiffs interpretation of the licensing agreement with respect to future activities. The plaintiff also seeks the right to terminate the agreement on the basis of the alleged breaches. If each of the plaintiffs claims were to be confirmed in a final judgment, damages as argued by the plaintiff could total as much as several hundred million dollars and adversely impact the value to the Company of any future exploitation of the licensed rights. On March 29, 2004, the Court granted the Companys motion for terminating sanctions against the plaintiff for a host of discovery abuses, including the withholding, alteration, and theft of documents and other information, and, on April 5, 2004, dismissed plaintiffs case with prejudice. On September 25, 2007, the California Court of Appeal affirmed the dismissal, and on November 5, 2007, plaintiff filed a petition seeking review by the California Supreme Court.
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Management believes that it is not currently possible to estimate the impact, if any, that the ultimate resolution of these matters will have on the Companys results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
The Company, together with, in some instances, certain of its directors and officers, is a defendant or co-defendant in various other legal actions involving copyright, breach of contract and various other claims incident to the conduct of its businesses. Management does not expect the Company to suffer any material liability by reason of such actions.
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(In millions, except per share data)
(unaudited) |
Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | ||||||||
2007 (1)(2) |
||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 9,581 | $ | 7,954 | $ | 9,045 | $ | 8,930 | ||||
Income from continuing operations |
1,676 | 919 | 1,196 | 883 | ||||||||
Net income |
1,701 | 931 | 1,178 | 877 | ||||||||
Earnings per share from continuing operations: |
||||||||||||
Diluted |
$ | 0.78 | $ | 0.43 | $ | 0.58 | $ | 0.44 | ||||
Basic |
0.81 | 0.45 | 0.60 | 0.46 | ||||||||
Earnings per share: |
||||||||||||
Diluted |
$ | 0.79 | $ | 0.44 | $ | 0.57 | $ | 0.44 | ||||
Basic |
0.83 | 0.46 | 0.59 | 0.45 | ||||||||
2006 (1)(3)(4) |
||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 8,713 | $ | 7,908 | $ | 8,474 | $ | 8,652 | ||||
Income from continuing operations |
713 | 724 | 1,095 | 772 | ||||||||
Net income |
734 | 733 | 1,125 | 782 | ||||||||
Earnings per share from continuing operations: |
||||||||||||
Diluted |
$ | 0.36 | $ | 0.37 | $ | 0.51 | $ | 0.36 | ||||
Basic |
0.37 | 0.38 | 0.53 | 0.37 | ||||||||
Earnings per share: |
||||||||||||
Diluted |
$ | 0.37 | $ | 0.37 | $ | 0.53 | $ | 0.36 | ||||
Basic |
0.38 | 0.38 | 0.54 | 0.38 |
(1) |
During fiscal 2007, the Company concluded the spin-off of the ABC Radio business and now reports ABC Radio as discontinued operations for all periods presented (see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion). |
(2) |
Results for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 include gains from the sales of E! Entertainment and Us Weekly ($0.31 per diluted share) and an equity-based compensation plan modification charge ($0.01 per diluted share). |
(3) |
Results for the third quarter of fiscal 2006 include a net benefit associated with the completion of the Pixar acquisition ($0.01 per diluted share). |
(4) |
Results for the first quarter of fiscal 2006 include gains on sales of a Spanish cable equity investment and Discover Magazine ($0.02 per diluted share). |
109