EX-99.1 3 pressrelease123103.htm PRESS RELEASE FOR DECEMBER 31, 2003

KCSA
PUBLIC RELATIONS
WORLDWIDE
                                               News


 

Public and Investor Relations, Corporate and Marketing Communications

FOR:                         4Kids Entertainment, Inc.

KCSA                       Todd Fromer / Michael Cimini
CONTACTS:            (212) 896-1215 / (212) 896-1233
                                  todd@kcsa.com / mcimini@kcsa.com


 

  4Kids Entertainment Breaks $100 Million In Revenues For 2003
  - - -
  Diluted EPS More Than Doubles From $0.51 In 2002 to $1.05 In 2003

  NEW YORK, March 15, 2004 –4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE), today announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2003.

          For fiscal year 2003, 4Kids Entertainment net revenues increased 92% to $102.1 million from $53.1 million in 2002. Net income for the year was $14.8 million, or $1.05 per diluted share, versus $7.0 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, reported in the prior fiscal year.

          The diluted weighted average common shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2003 were 14,156,291 shares compared with 13,726,642 shares for the prior year.

          Net revenues in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2003, were $32.4 million compared to $25.9 million in the year-earlier period. Fourth quarter net income was $5.3 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, compared to $2.2 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, in the same period from the previous year.

          Commenting on the results, Al Kahn, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “our annual revenues grew to over $100 million for the first time in the company’s history enabling us to more than double net income and earnings per share for the year”.

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          The Company noted that revenues were driven by strong consumer demand for Yu-Gi-Oh!™ and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles licensed merchandise which grew steadily throughout the year and into the holiday season. Additionally, business initiatives recently launched in 2002, such as the Fox Box which generated ad sales, and 4Kids Home Video, were contributors to higher revenues.

          “FoxBox™, 4Kids’ four hours of programming on Saturday mornings on the Fox Network, continues to be an important component of our content distribution strategy,” Kahn added. “The new 2003-2004 FoxBox™ line-up, launched in September, has given our properties greater overall exposure to our primary target audience of boys age 6-11. We anticipate that ad sales and FoxBox™ related merchandise licensing revenues will increase from 2003 levels.”

          Looking ahead, we are excited about our prospects for the upcoming year. The first Yu-Gi-Oh! ™ feature film is set to premiere in August and we are seeing sustained retail demand for Yu-Gi-Oh! ™ and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™ licensed merchandise thus far in 2004. We are planning the introduction of new licensed merchandise for these properties as well as the launch of a new licensing program for Shaman King™. In addition, we are planning the mid-year launch of Winx Club™, our first property targeting the girls market, on the FoxBox™.

          Over the last several years, we have diversified our revenue streams through the acquisition of new children’s properties and by entering complimentary business lines. Going forward, we will remain focused on identifying new and innovative kids content and bringing it broad exposure. Given our strong balance sheet and track record, we believe we are well positioned to grow our portfolio of kids properties,” concluded Kahn.

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  About 4Kids Entertainment: Headquartered in New York City with international offices in London, 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE) is a global provider of children’s entertainment and merchandise licensing. 4Kids, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, provides domestic and international merchandise licensing; product development; television, film, music and home video production and distribution; media buying and planning; and Web site development. For further information, please visit the company’s Web site at www.4KidsEntertainment.com.

  The information contained in this press release, other than historical information, consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These statements may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors beyond the Company’s control, including general economic conditions, consumer spending levels, competition from toy companies, motion picture studios and other licensing companies, the uncertainty of public response to the Company’s properties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations.


  This release and prior releases are available on the Company’s Worldwide Web site at www.4KidsEntertainment.com

  You may register to receive 4Kids Entertainment’s future press releases or to download a complete Digital Investor Kit™ including press releases, regulatory filings and corporate materials by clicking on the “Digital Investor Kit™" icon at www.kcsa.com.

  Tables Follow:

 



  4KIDS ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31, 2003 AND 2002

(In thousands of dollars, except share data)

ASSETS 2003
2002
CURRENT ASSETS:            
     Cash and cash equivalents   $ 95,136   $ 78,712  
     Investments    24,443    10,787  


     Total Cash and Investments    119,579    89,499  
     Accounts receivable - net    37,143    38,847  
     Prepaid Fox broadcast fee, net of accumulated amortization  
       of $10,817 and $9,444 in 2003 and 2002, respectively    8,688    9,857  
     Prepaid income taxes    2,670    1,635  
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets    1,690    3,871  


     Total current assets    169,770    143,709  


PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT - NET    3,350    3,853  
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE - Noncurrent, net    2,662    5,733  
INVESTMENT IN EQUITY SECURITIES    726    726  
FILM AND TELEVISION COSTS - NET    8,183    5,653  
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES - Noncurrent    2,575    917  
OTHER ASSETS - NET    6,014    2,248  


TOTAL ASSETS   $ 193,280   $ 162,839  


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY  
CURRENT LIABILITIES:  
     Due to licensors   $ 11,835   $ 9,063  
     Media payable    2,178    5,613  
     Accounts payable and accrued expenses    9,706    9,776  
     Deferred revenue    8,070    3,976  
     Deferred income taxes    52    983  


     Total current liabilities    31,841    29,411  


DEFERRED RENT    952    757  


     Total liabilities    32,793    30,168  


COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES  
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY  
     Preferred stock, $.01 par value - authorized, 3,000,000 shares;  
       none issued    --    --  
     Common stock, $.01 par value - authorized, 40,000,000 shares;  
       issued, 13,965,343 and 13,135,008 shares in 2003 and 2002, respectively    140    131  
     Additional paid-in capital    52,798    40,411  
     Accumulated other comprehensive income    693    72  
     Retained earnings    106,856    92,057  


     Total stockholders' equity    160,487    132,671  


TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY   $ 193,280   $ 162,839  



  4KIDS ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands of dollars, except share data)

Quarter Ended Year Ended
December 31,
2003

December 31,
2002

December 31,
2003

December 31,
2002

(UNAUDITED) (UNAUDITED)
NET REVENUES     $ 32,398   $ 25,902   $ 102,079   $ 53,140  
COSTS AND EXPENSES:  
  Selling, general and administrative    9,747    9,046    33,743    25,374  
  Production service costs    1,263    2,571    7,819    3,375  
  Amortization of television and film costs  
     and Fox broadcast fee    12,742    11,054    36,946    14,355  




           Total costs and expenses    23,752    22,671    78,508    43,104  




INCOME FROM OPERATIONS    8,646    3,231    23,571    10,036  
INTEREST INCOME    277    476    1,112    1,656  




INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX  
  PROVISION    8,923    3,707    24,683    11,692  
INCOME TAX PROVISION    3,606    1,461    9,884    4,702  




NET INCOME   $ 5,317   $ 2,246   $ 14,799   $ 6,990  




PER SHARE AMOUNTS:  
  Basic earnings per common share   $ 0.39   $ 0.17   $ 1.11   $ 0.55  




  Diluted earnings per common share   $ 0.36   $ 0.16   $ 1.05   $ 0.51  




  Weighted average common shares  
      outstanding - basic    13,649,050    12,847,922    13,292,852    12,653,102  




  Weighted average common shares  
      outstanding - diluted    14,568,176    13,936,207    14,156,291    13,726,642