EX-99 2 pressrelease4thqtr08.htm PRESS RELEASE DATED MARCH 16, 2009

 

 

 

INVESTOR CONTACTS:

MEDIA CONTACT:

 

Todd Fromer / Garth Russell

Barry Stagg

 

KCSA Strategic Communications

4Kids Entertainment

 

(212) 896-1215 / (212) 896-1250

(646) 822-4257

 

tfromer@kcsa.com / grussell@kcsa.com

bstagg@4kidsent.com

 

4Kids Entertainment Reports 2008 Fourth Quarter

and Year End Results

NEW YORK, March 16, 2009 – 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE), the global children’s entertainment and merchandise licensing company, today announced financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2008.

Net revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2008 totaled $14.3 million, compared to $16.5 million for the same period in 2007. The Company’s net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2008 was $(19.6) million, or $(1.48) per diluted share, as compared to a net loss of $(16.8) million, or $(1.26) per diluted share, for the same period in 2007.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2008, net revenues totaled $63.7 million, compared to $55.6 million for the same period in 2007. Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2008 included approximately $15.3 million from the sale of Chaotic® trading cards. The Company’s net loss for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $(36.8) million, or $(2.79) per diluted share, as compared to $(23.3) million, or $(1.77) per diluted share, for the same period in 2007.

 

“The sharp economic downturn and associated severe deterioration of consumer confidence starting in September 2008 deeply impacted our licensing revenue and trading card game sales in the fourth quarter. Our results were also impacted by declining licensing revenue throughout the year from some of our more established properties. While we are extremely disappointed by our results for 2008, we implemented significant cost cutting initiatives in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 that we expect to reduce our operating costs by $25 million in 2009 as compared with 2008,” stated Alfred R. Kahn, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, 4Kids Entertainment.

 

“While Chaotic trading card sales for the first nine months of 2008 were in line with our expectations, sales for fourth quarter fell well below our expectations at $0.5 million. This decline in sales is primarily due to retailers and distributors reducing, canceling or returning orders in an effort to reduce their inventory as they respond to the rapid, steep economic decline. In addition to impacting sales, it also triggered an increase in our reserve for returns and allowances and a $3 million write-down of our trading card inventory. Despite the fourth quarter sales numbers, Chaotic finished the year as the number three selling trading card game in the U.S. behind Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh!,” said Kahn.

 

“Looking forward, we believe Chaotic still offers a tremendous opportunity for 4Kids in the future as we roll out the Chaotic trading cards in the UK, France and Germany during

 


the first half of 2009. Chaotic will also be bolstered by the revised and improved Chaoticgame.com website that went live on March 3 and is now available in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian. We also expect additional Chaotic licensed products to be available from our master toy licensee, Spin Master, and our videogame partner, Activision Publishing, which is scheduled to release a Chaotic video game on the Wii™, Nintendo DS™, Xbox 360®, and PLAYSTATION®3 platforms in fall 2009.”

 

Bruce Foster, Chief Financial Officer of 4Kids, stated, “During the fourth quarter, we experienced a measurable decrease in our cash and investments of $32.6 million. This decrease was attributable to multiple factors, including declining revenue, as described above and continued investment spending in our trading card game and website subsidiaries, TC Digital Games and TC Websites. The decrease in cash also resulted from fourth quarter payments to Fox and The CW network of approximately $15 million and costs associated with the build up of Chaotic trading card inventory.

 

“During 2008, we recorded a temporary impairment of approximately $13.5 million, in addition to the $4 million temporary impairment recorded in 2007, due to a decline in value of our auction rate securities. In the fourth quarter, we also recorded a $7.8 million charge to operations resulting from the reclassification of certain auction rate securities as permanently impaired. This permanent impairment increased our fourth quarter loss to ($19.6) million,” said Foster.

 

About 4Kids Entertainment, Inc.

With U.S. headquarters in New York City, regional offices for its trading card business in San Diego, California and international offices in London, 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE) is a global organization devoted to the creation, development, production, broadcasting, distribution, licensing and manufacturing of children’s entertainment products.

 

Through its subsidiaries, 4Kids produces animated television series and films, distributes 4Kids’ produced or licensed animated television series for the domestic and international television and home video markets, licenses merchandising rights worldwide to 4Kids’ owned or represented properties, operates Websites to support 4Kids’ owned or represented properties, and produces and markets collectible trading card games. Additionally, the Company programs and sells the national advertising time in “TheCW4Kids” five-hour Saturday morning block on The CW television network.

 

Additional information is available on the www.4KidsEntertainment.com corporate Website and at the www.4Kids.tv game station site.

 

The information contained in this press release, other than historical information, consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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.

 

(Tables follow)

 

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4KIDS ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

DECEMBER 31, 2008 AND 2007

(In thousands of dollars, except share data)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

ASSETS:

 

2008

 

2007

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

13,503

 

$

24,872

 

Investments

 

 

 

 

36,106

 

Total cash, cash equivalents and investments

 

 

13,503

 

 

60,978

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable - net

 

 

22,818

 

 

21,403

 

Inventories - net

 

 

4,241

 

 

611

 

Prepaid income taxes

 

 

137

 

 

1,159

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

1,425

 

 

2,985

 

Current assets from discontinued operations

 

 

451

 

 

372

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

127

 

 

 

Total current assets

 

 

42,702

 

 

87,508

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment - net

 

 

4,287

 

 

4,255

 

Long term investments

 

 

21,617

 

 

31,806

 

Accounts receivable - noncurrent, net

 

 

180

 

 

208

 

Film and television costs - net

 

 

16,661

 

 

14,352

 

Non-current assets from discontinued operations

 

 

475

 

 

926

 

Other assets - net (includes related party amounts of $6,638 and $4,265, respectively)

 

 

14,652

 

 

12,024

 

Total assets

 

$

100,574

 

$

151,079

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due to licensors

 

$

5,651

 

$

4,420

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

 

16,202

 

 

14,969

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

3,270

 

 

2,984

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

25,123

 

 

22,373

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred rent

 

 

460

 

 

618

 

Total liabilities

 

 

25,583

 

 

22,991

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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, 15,246,579 and 15,099,812 shares; outstanding 13,227,019 and         13,332,207 shares in 2008 and 2007, respectively

 

 

152

 

 

151

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

65,107

 

 

63,679

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(17,396)

 

 

(2,562)

 

Retained earnings

 

 

63,504

 

 

100,323

 

 

 

111,367

 

 

161,591

 

Less cost of 2,019,560 and 1,767,605 treasury shares in 2008 and 2007, respectively

 

 

36,376

 

 

33,503

 

 

 

 

74,991

 

 

128,088

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

100,574

 

$

151,079

 

 

 

3

 

 


4KIDS ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 AND 2006

(In thousands of dollars, except share data)

 

 

 

2008

 

 

2007

 

 

2006

 

Net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenue

$

48,393

 

$

54,833

 

$

71,781

 

Product revenue

 

15,276

 

 

776

 

 

 

Total net revenues

 

63,669

 

 

55,609

 

 

71,781

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

54,280

 

 

44,180

 

 

39,155

 

Production service costs

 

6,752

 

 

7,195

 

 

11,259

 

Cost of sales of trading cards

 

10,625

 

 

352

 

 

 

Amortization of television and film costs

 

7,707

 

 

8,179

 

 

8,041

 

Amortization of 4Kids TV broadcast fee

 

16,022

 

 

21,472

 

 

22,462

 

Total costs and expenses

 

95,386

 

 

81,378

 

 

80,917

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from operations

 

(31,717

)

 

(25,769

)

 

(9,136

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

2,722

 

 

5,281

 

 

4,143

 

Impairment on investment securities

 

(7,834

)

 

 

 

 

Total other (expense) income

 

(5,112

)

 

5,281

 

 

4,143

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

 

(36,829

)

 

(20,488

)

 

(4,993

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Provision for) benefit from income taxes

 

(300

)

 

(2,436

)

 

3,506

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from unconsolidated operations –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

net of a tax benefit

 

 

 

 

 

(280

)

Loss on previously unconsolidated affiliate

 

 

 

(498

)

 

 

Minority interest

 

310

 

 

96

 

 

39

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations

 

(36,819

)

 

(23,326

)

 

(1,728

)

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

722

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

$

(36,819

)

$

(23,326

)

$

(1,006

)

Per share amounts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic (loss) earnings per common share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

$

(2.79

)

$

(1.77

)

$

(0.13

)

Discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

0.05

 

Basic loss per common share

$

(2.79

)

$

(1.77

)

$

(0.08

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted (loss) earnings per common share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

$

(2.79

)

$

(1.77

)

$

(0.13

)

Discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

0.05

 

Diluted loss per common share

$

(2.79

)

$

(1.77

)

$

(0.08

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

outstanding - basic

 

13,181,549

 

 

13,209,495

 

 

13,104,051

 

Weighted average common shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

outstanding - diluted

 

13,181,549

 

 

13,209,495

 

 

13,104,051

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

# # #

 

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