From 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2006

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Commission File Number 001-32502

 


 

Warner Music Group Corp.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   13-4271875

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

75 Rockefeller Plaza

New York, NY 10019

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(212) 275-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

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  ¨    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.)    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

As of July 27, 2006, the number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding was 148,505,691.787.

 



Table of Contents

WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP.

 

INDEX

 

         Page

Part I.

  Financial Information     

Item 1.

 

Financial Statements (unaudited)

   2
   

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005

   2
   

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005

   3
   

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005

   4
   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005

   5
   

Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2006

   6
   

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

   7
   

Supplementary Information—Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements

   22

Item 2.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   29

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   56

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

   57

Part II.

  Other Information     

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

   60

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

   61

Item 2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   72

Item 3.

 

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

   72

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   72

Item 5.

 

Other Information

   72

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

   73

Signatures

   74

 

1


Table of Contents

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     June 30,
2006


    September 30,
2005


 
     (unaudited)     (audited)  
     (in millions)  

Assets

                

Current assets:

                

Cash and equivalents

   $ 306     $ 288  

Short-term investments

     29       —    

Accounts receivable, less allowances of $205 and $218 million

     524       637  

Inventories

     50       52  

Royalty advances expected to be recouped within one year

     209       190  

Deferred tax assets

     40       36  

Other current assets

     47       39  
    


 


Total current assets

     1,205       1,242  

Royalty advances expected to be recouped after one year

     209       190  

Investments

     24       21  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     144       157  

Goodwill

     946       869  

Intangible assets subject to amortization, net

     1,746       1,815  

Intangible assets not subject to amortization

     100       100  

Other assets

     109       104  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 4,483     $ 4,498  
    


 


Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

                

Current liabilities:

                

Accounts payable

   $ 202     $ 247  

Accrued royalties

     1,146       1,057  

Taxes and other withholdings

     34       23  

Current portion of long-term debt

     17       17  

Dividends payable

     22       —    

Other current liabilities

     336       404  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     1,757       1,748  

Long-term debt

     2,234       2,229  

Dividends payable

     3       5  

Deferred tax liabilities, net

     193       201  

Other noncurrent liabilities

     216       226  
    


 


Total liabilities

     4,403       4,409  
    


 


Commitments and Contingencies (See Note 10)

                

Shareholders’ equity:

                

Common stock ($0.001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 148,503,900 and 148,455,313 shares issued and outstanding)

     —         —    

Additional paid-in capital

     560       548  

Accumulated deficit

     (509 )     (480 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net

     29       21  
    


 


Total shareholders’ equity

     80       89  
    


 


Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 4,483     $ 4,498  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes.

 

2


Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005

 

     Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2006


    Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2005


 
     (in millions, except per share amounts)  

Revenues (b)

   $ 822     $ 742  

Costs and expenses:

                

Cost of revenues (a)

     (445 )     (396 )

Selling, general and administrative expenses (a) (b)

     (301 )     (318 )

Amortization of intangible assets

     (48 )     (47 )

Loss on termination of management agreement

     —         (73 )
    


 


Total costs and expenses

     (794 )     (834 )
    


 


Operating income (loss)

     28       (92 )

Interest expense, net

     (45 )     (50 )

Net investment related gains

     —         1  

Loss on repayment of Holdings Notes

     —         (35 )

Other income, net

     1       1  
    


 


Loss before income taxes

     (16 )     (175 )

Income tax benefit (expense)

     2       (4 )
    


 


Net loss

   $ (14 )   $ (179 )
    


 


Net loss per common share:

                

Basic and diluted

   $ (0.10 )   $ (1.41 )
    


 


Weighted average common shares:

                

Basic and diluted

     143.7       127.0  
    


 



                

(a)    Includes depreciation expense of

   $ (10 )   $ (12 )
    


 


(b)    Includes the following expenses resulting from transactions with related companies:

                

Revenues

   $ 8     $ —    

Selling, general and administrative expense

   $ (2 )   $ (1 )

 

See accompanying notes.

 

3


Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

Nine Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005

 

     Nine Months
Ended
June 30, 2006


    Nine Months
Ended
June 30, 2005


 
     (in millions, except per share amounts)  

Revenues (b)

   $ 2,662     $ 2,597  

Costs and expenses:

                

Cost of revenues (a)

     (1,384 )     (1,377 )

Selling, general and administrative expenses (a) (b)

     (918 )     (942 )

Amortization of intangible assets

     (143 )     (140 )

Loss on termination of management agreement

     —         (73 )
    


 


Total costs and expenses

     (2,445 )     (2,532 )
    


 


Operating income

     217       65  

Interest expense, net (b)

     (135 )     (140 )

Net investment related gains

     —         1  

Equity in the gains (losses) of equity-method investees, net

     1       (1 )

Loss on repayment of Holdings Notes

     —         (35 )

Unrealized gain on warrants

     —         17  

Minority interest expense (b)

     —         (5 )

Other income, net

     3       5  
    


 


Income (loss) before income taxes

     86       (93 )

Income tax expense

     (38 )     (46 )
    


 


Net income (loss)

   $ 48     $ (139 )
    


 


Net income (loss) per common share:

                

Basic

   $ 0.34     $ (1.22 )
    


 


Diluted

   $ 0.32     $ (1.22 )
    


 


Weighted average common shares:

                

Basic

     142.3       114.1  
    


 


Diluted

     150.8       114.1  
    


 



                

(a)    Includes depreciation expense of

   $ (32 )   $ (40 )
    


 


(b)    Includes the following expenses resulting from transactions with related companies:

                

Revenues

     12       —    

Selling, general and administrative expense

     (10 )     (6 )

Interest expense

     —         (1 )

Minority interest expense

     —         (5 )

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

Nine Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005

 

     Nine Months
Ended
June 30, 2006


    Nine Months
Ended
June 30, 2005


 
     (in millions)  

Cash flows from operating activities

                

Net income (loss)

   $ 48     $ (139 )

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

                

Depreciation and amortization

     175       180  

Non-cash interest expense

     39       52  

Non-cash, stock-based compensation expense

     12       18  

Deferred taxes

     (17 )     (7 )

Net investment related gains

     —         (1 )

Equity in the (gains) losses of equity-method investees, including distributions

     (1 )     1  

Loss on repayment of debt

     —         35  

Unrealized gain on warrants

     —         (17 )

Minority interest expense

     —         5  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                

Accounts receivable

     121       77  

Inventories

     3       6  

Royalty advances

     (54 )     (2 )

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (81 )     (22 )

Other balance sheet changes

     (22 )     (14 )
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     223       172  
    


 


Cash flows from investing activities

                

Investments and acquisitions

     (95 )     (84 )

Investments in short-term investments

     (29 )     —    

Investment proceeds

     —         50  

Capital expenditures

     (18 )     (20 )
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (142 )     (54 )
    


 


Cash flows from financing activities

                

Borrowings, net of financing costs

     —         926  

Debt repayments

     (13 )     (584 )

Cash paid to repurchase warrant

     —         (138 )

Proceeds from the issuance of common stock

     —         554  

Costs to issue common stock

     —         (27 )

Proceeds from the issuance of restricted shares

     —         1  

Repurchase of subsidiary preferred stock

     —         (200 )

Dividends paid on subsidiary preferred stock

     —         (9 )

Dividends and returns of capital paid

     (55 )     (917 )

Loans to third parties

     —         (10 )

Other

     —         (3 )
    


 


Net cash used in financing activities

     (68 )     (407 )

Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash

     5       (1 )
    


 


Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents

     18       (290 )

Cash and equivalents at beginning of period

     288       555  
    


 


Cash and equivalents at end of period

   $ 306     $ 265  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes.

 

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Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity (Unaudited)

Nine Months Ended June 30, 2006

 

     Common Stock

   Additional
Paid-in
Capital


   Retained
Earnings
(Deficit)


    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)


    Total
Shareholders’
Equity


 
     Shares

   Value

         
     (in millions, except number of common shares)  

Balance at September 30, 2005

   148,455,313    $ —      $ 548    $ (480 )   $ 21     $ 89  

Comprehensive income:

                                           

Net income

   —        —        —        48       —         48  

Foreign currency translation adjustment

   —        —        —        —         (4 )     (4 )

Deferred gains on derivative financial instruments

   —        —        —        —         12       12  
    
  

  

  


 


 


Total comprehensive income

   —        —        —        48       8       56  

Dividends

   —        —        —        (76 )     —         (76 )

Issuance of stock options and restricted shares of common stock, net

   48,587      —        12      —         —         12  

Other

   —        —        —        (1 )     —         (1 )
    
  

  

  


 


 


Balance at June 30, 2006

   148,503,900    $ —      $ 560    $ (509 )   $ 29     $ 80  
    
  

  

  


 


 


 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

1. Description of Business

 

Warner Music Group Corp. (the “Company”) was formed by a private equity consortium of Investors (the “Investor Group”) on November 21, 2003. The Company is the direct parent of WMG Holdings Corp. (“Holdings”), which is the direct parent of WMG Acquisition Corp. (“Acquisition Corp.”). Acquisition Corp. is one of the world’s major music content companies and the successor to substantially all of the interests of the recorded music and music publishing businesses of Time Warner Inc. (“Time Warner”). Effective March 1, 2004, Acquisition Corp. acquired such interests from Time Warner for approximately $2.6 billion (the “Acquisition”). On May 10, 2005, the Company sold 32,600,000 shares of its common stock in an initial public offering (the “Initial Common Stock Offering”) and became a public company.

 

The Company classifies its business interests into two fundamental areas: recorded music and music publishing. A brief description of those operations is presented below.

 

The Company’s business is seasonal. Therefore, operating results for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for fiscal 2006.

 

Recorded Music Operations

 

The Company’s recorded music operations consist of the discovery and development of artists and the related marketing and distribution of recorded music produced by such artists. In addition to the more traditional methods of discovering and developing artists, the Company has implemented new initiatives to identify and nurture artists earlier in the development process and reduce development costs by leveraging its independent distribution network. The Company refers to these new business models as incubator initiatives. Asylum and East West are the current recorded music incubator labels. In addition, the Company launched Cordless Recordings an “e-label” that gives artists the ability to come to market with one or several songs in digital formats without the need to create an entire album. Asylum, East West and Cordless Recordings are a part of the Company’s Independent Label Group (“ILG”). The Company has also entered into strategic ventures with other record labels.

 

The Company’s recorded music operations also include a catalog division called Rhino Entertainment (“Rhino”). Rhino specializes in marketing the Company’s music catalog through compilations and reissuances of previously released music and video titles, as well as in the licensing of tracks to and from third parties for various uses, including film and television soundtracks.

 

On May 31, 2006, the Company completed the acquisition of Ryko Corporation (“Ryko”), a leading independent, integrated music and entertainment company. See Note 3.

 

The Company’s principal recorded music distribution operations include Warner-Elektra-Atlantic Corporation (“WEA Corp.”), which primarily distributes the Company’s music products to retailers and wholesale distributors in the U.S.; a 90% interest in Alternative Distribution Alliance (“ADA”), a distribution company which primarily distributes the products of independent record labels to retailers and wholesale distributors; Ryko Distribution, which distributes music and DVD releases from Rykodisc, Ryco’s recorded music label, and third-party record and video labels; various distribution centers and ventures operated internationally; an 80% interest in Word Entertainment, whose distribution operations specialize in the distribution of music products in the Christian retail marketplace; and ADA U.K., which provides ADA’s distribution services to independent labels in Europe.

 

 

In the U.S., the Company’s recorded music operations are conducted principally through its major record labels—Warner Bros. Records Inc. and The Atlantic Records Group. In markets outside the U.S., recorded music activities are conducted through the Warner Music International (“WMI”) division and its various subsidiaries, affiliates and non-affiliated licensees.

 

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Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

 

The Company plays an integral role in virtually all aspects of the music value chain from discovering and developing talent, to producing albums and promoting artists and their product. After an artist has entered into a contract with one of the Company’s record labels, a master recording of the artist’s music is created. The recording is then replicated for sale to consumers primarily in CD and digital formats. In the U.S., WEA Corp. and ADA market, sell and deliver products, either directly or through sub-distributors and wholesalers, to thousands of record stores, mass merchants and other retailers throughout the country. Recorded music products are also sold in physical form to Internet physical retailers. In addition, the Internet and wireless networks have become increasingly important sales channels for records in non-physical forms.

 

Music Publishing Operations

 

The Company’s music publishing business is focused on the exploitation of songs as intellectual property. In return for promoting, placing, marketing and administering the creative output of a songwriter, or engaging in those activities for other rightsholders, the Company’s music publishing business garners a share of the revenues generated. In addition to the more traditional methods, the Company has implemented new initiatives to promote and develop emerging songwriters. For example, the Company’s music publishing business has its own incubator label, Perfect Game Recording Co.

 

Warner/Chappell is the Company’s global music publishing company, headquartered in Los Angeles, with operations in over 50 countries through various subsidiaries, affiliates and non-affiliated licensees. The Company owns or controls rights to more than one million musical compositions, including numerous pop hits, American standards, folk songs and motion picture and theatrical compositions. The music publishing library includes many standard titles that span multiple music genres. Warner/Chappell also administers the music and soundtracks of several third-party television and film producers and studios, including Lucasfilm, Ltd. and Hallmark Entertainment.

 

The Company also previously owned Warner Bros. Publications (“WBP”), which printed and distributed a broad selection of sheet music, books and educational materials, orchestrations, folios, personality books, and arrangements from the catalogs of Warner/Chappell and other music publishers. On May 31, 2005, the Company sold WBP to Alfred Publishing. See Note 3.

 

Music publishing revenues are derived from four main sources:

 

    Mechanical: the licensor receives royalties with respect to compositions embodied in recordings sold in any format or configuration, including singles, albums, CDs, digital downloads and mobile phone ringtones.

 

    Performance: the licensor receives royalties when the composition is performed publicly (e.g., broadcast radio and television, movie theater, concert, nightclub or Internet and wireless streaming).

 

    Synchronization: the licensor receives royalties or fees for the right to use the composition in combination with visual images (e.g., in films, television commercials and programs and videogames).

 

    Other: the licensor receives royalties from other uses such as stage productions.

 

2. Basis of Presentation

 

Interim Financial Statements

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are unaudited but, in the opinion of management, contain all the adjustments (consisting of those of a normal recurring nature) considered necessary to present

 

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Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

 

fairly the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) applicable to interim periods. The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005 (Registration No. 001-32502).

 

Recapitalization

 

As discussed above, on May 10, 2005, the Company sold 32,600,000 shares of its common stock in the Initial Common Stock Offering. In connection with the Initial Common Stock Offering, the Company (i) converted all its formerly outstanding shares of Class L Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock, (ii) renamed all of its formerly outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock as “common stock”, which had the effect of eliminating from the Company’s authorized capital stock the Class L Common Stock, and Class A Common Stock and (iii) authorized an approximately 1,139 to 1 split of the Company’s common stock (collectively, the “Recapitalization”).

 

Accordingly, historical financial statements have been restated to reflect the Recapitalization for all periods occurring after the Acquisition that was effective as of March 1, 2004. Such restatement primarily related to common stock and equivalent shares information, net income per common share computations and stock-based compensation disclosures.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period’s financial information in order to conform to the current period’s presentation.

 

Basis of Consolidation

 

The consolidated accounts include 100% of the assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, income, losses and cash flows of the Company and all entities in which the Company has a controlling voting interest and/or variable interest entities required to be consolidated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Short-term Investments

 

The Company considers all investments with maturities greater than three months, but less than one year, when purchased to be short-term investments. Short-term investments include high-quality, investment grade securities such as taxable auction rate securities as well as commercial paper and corporate bonds. Auction rate securities are classified as available for sale and are carried at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on such securities are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Commercial paper and corporate bonds that the Company has both the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are carried at cost and classified as held to maturity.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Statement No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” (“FAS 123(R)”) which revises FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“FAS 123”). FAS 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized as compensation expense based on their fair value. Effective March 1, 2004, in connection with the Acquisition, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of FAS 123 to account for all stock-based compensation plans adopted subsequent to the Acquisition. Under the fair value

 

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Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

 

recognition provisions of FAS 123, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the vesting period. The Company expenses deferred stock-based compensation on an accelerated basis over the vesting period of the stock award. Effective October 1, 2005, the Company adopted FAS 123(R) using the modified prospective method. There was no impact to the Company’s results of operations or financial position as a result of the adoption of FAS 123(R).

 

Comprehensive (Loss) Income

 

Comprehensive (loss) income consists of net (loss) income and other gains and losses affecting equity that, under U.S. GAAP, are excluded from net income. For the Company, the components of other comprehensive income primarily consist of foreign currency translation gains and losses and deferred gains and losses on financial instruments designated as hedges under FASB Statement No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative and Hedging Activities”, which include interest-rate swaps and foreign exchange contracts. The following summary sets forth the components of comprehensive (loss) income, net of related taxes, for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 (in millions):

 

     Three Months
Ended
June 30,
2006


    Three Months
Ended
June 30,
2005


    Nine Months
Ended
June 30,
2006


    Nine Months
Ended
June 30,
2005


 

Net (loss) income

   $ (14 )   $ (179 )   $ 48     $ (139 )

Foreign currency translation gains (losses)

     (2 )     13       (4 )     1  

Derivative financial instruments gains

     3       —         12       10  
    


 


 


 


Comprehensive (loss) income

   $ (13 )   $ (166 )   $ 56     $ (128 )
    


 


 


 


 

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

 

The Company computes net income (loss) per common share in accordance with FASB Statement No. 128, “Earnings per Share” (“FAS 128”). Under the provisions of FAS 128, basic net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) applicable to common shares after preferred dividend requirements, if any, by the weighted average of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income (loss) per common share adjusts basic net income (loss) per common share for the effects of stock options, warrants and other potentially dilutive financial instruments, only in the periods in which such effect is dilutive.

 

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Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share (in millions, except per share amounts):

 

     Three Months
Ended
June 30,
2006


    Three Months
Ended
June 30,
2005


    Nine Months
Ended
June 30,
2006


   Nine Months
Ended
June 30,
2005


 

Basic and diluted net (loss) income per common share:

                               

Numerator:

                               

Net (loss) income for basic calculation

   $ (14 )   $ (179 )   $ 48    $ (139 )
    


 


 

  


Net (loss) income for diluted calculation

   $ (14 )   $ (179 )   $ 48    $ (139 )
    


 


 

  


Denominator:

                               

Weighted average common shares outstanding for basic calculation (a)

     143.7       127.0       142.3      114.1  
    


 


 

  


Weighted average common outstanding shares for diluted calculation

     143.7       127.0       150.8      114.1  
    


 


 

  


Net income (loss) per common
share—basic

   $ (0.10 )   $ (1.41 )   $ 0.34    $ (1.22 )
    


 


 

  


Net income (loss) per common
share—diluted

   $ (0.10 )   $ (1.41 )   $ 0.32    $ (1.22 )
    


 


 

  



(a) The denominator excludes the effect of unvested common shares subject to repurchase or cancellation.

 

The calculation of diluted net income (loss) per common share for each of the periods includes the effects of the assumed exercise of any outstanding stock options or warrants and the assumed vesting of shares of restricted stock where dilutive. The assumed exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants and the assumed vesting of restricted stock represent the following dilutive effect (in millions of shares):

 

     Three Months
Ended
June 30,
2006


   Three Months
Ended
June 30,
2005


   Nine Months
Ended
June 30,
2006


   Nine Months
Ended
June 30,
2005


Stock options

   3.0    3.0    2.8    6.3

Restricted stock

   4.5    6.6    5.7    2.2

Warrants

   —      —      —      1.5
    
  
  
  
     7.5    9.6    8.5    10.0
    
  
  
  

 

The Company recognized a net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2006, the three months ended June 30, 2005 and the nine months ended June 30, 2005. Therefore, the effects from the assumed exercise of any outstanding stock options or warrants, or the assumed vesting of shares of restricted stock, during such periods would be antidilutive. Accordingly, they have not been included in the presentation of diluted net income (loss) per common share for the respective periods.

 

11


Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

 

See Note 19 in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2005 for a summary of the terms of the warrants that were issued to Time Warner in connection with the Acquisition. In connection with the Initial Common Stock Offering, the Company repurchased the warrants from Time Warner in May 2005 for approximately $138 million, which approximated fair value at that date.

 

3. Significant Acquisitions and Dispositions

 

Acquisition of Ryko Corporation

 

On May 31, 2006, the Company completed the acquisition of Ryko, a leading independent, integrated music and entertainment company, for approximately $67.5 million in cash. Ryko consists of a recorded music label, Rykodisc, which focuses on a range of contemporary music and comedy releases and numerous film and television soundtracks and Ryko Distribution, which distributes music and DVD releases from Rykodisc as well as from independent third-party record and video labels. Additionally, Ryko owns a catalog of more than 1,000 titles of rock, folk, jazz, world, blues and alternative albums including Restless Records’ catalog of punk, new wave and soundtrack recordings. The catalog and roster includes artists such as Frank Zappa, Joe Jackson, Soul Asylum, The Flaming Lips and They Might Be Giants. The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting, and the results of operations of Ryko are included in the Company’s results of operations from the acquisition date of Ryko. The purchase price was preliminarily allocated to the underlying net assets acquired in proportion to the estimated fair value, principally recorded music catalog and goodwill.

 

Formation of Bad Boy Records LLC

 

On April 8, 2005, the Company entered into an agreement with an affiliate of Sean “Diddy” Combs to form Bad Boy Records LLC (“Bad Boy”), a joint venture, owned 50% by the Company and 50% by the affiliate. The Company purchased its 50% membership interest in Bad Boy Records LLC for approximately $30 million in cash. Mr. Combs is the CEO of the joint venture and supervises its staff and day-to-day operations. The Company provides funding, marketing, promotion and certain back-office services for the joint venture. The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting, and the results of operations of Bad Boy are included in the Company’s results of operations from its acquisition date.

 

Sale of Warner Bros. Publications

 

In May 2005, the Company sold WBP, which conducted the Company’s sheet music operations, to Alfred Publishing. As part of the transaction, the Company agreed to license the right to use its music publishing copyrights in the exploitation of printed sheet music and songbooks for a twenty-year period of time. No gain or loss was recognized on the transaction as the historical book basis of the net assets being sold was adjusted to fair value in connection with the accounting for the Acquisition. Due to the Company’s continuing involvement with WBP, it was not reported as discontinued operations.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2005, the operations sold generated revenues of approximately $8 million; operating income of $1 million; operating income before depreciation and amortization expense of $1 million; and net income of approximately $1 million. For the nine months ended June 30, 2005, the operations sold generated revenues of approximately $34 million; operating income of $1 million; operating income before depreciation and amortization expense of $1 million; and net income of approximately $1 million.

 

12


Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

 

Acquisition of Maverick Recording Company

 

In November 2004, the Company acquired an additional 30% interest in Maverick Recording Company (“Maverick”) from its existing partner for approximately $17 million and certain amounts previously owed by such partner to the Company, bringing its total interest in Maverick to 80%. The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting and the purchase price was allocated to the underlying net assets of Maverick in proportion to the estimated fair value, principally artist contracts and recorded music catalog.

 

On July 14, 2006, the Company acquired the remaining 20% interest in Maverick from its existing partner. The additional purchase price will be allocated to the underlying net assets of Maverick in proportion to the estimated fair value, principally goodwill.

 

4. Inventories

 

Inventories consist of the following (in millions):

 

     June 30,
2006


    September 30,
2005


 
     (unaudited)     (audited)  

Compact discs, cassettes and other music-related products

   $ 89     $ 84  

Published sheet music and song books

     2       2  
    


 


       91       86  

Less reserve for obsolescence

     (41 )     (34 )
    


 


     $ 50     $ 52  
    


 


 

5. Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets consist of the following (in millions):

 

     September 30,
2005


    Acquisitions

   Other (a)

   June 30,
2006


 
     (audited)               (unaudited)  

Intangible assets subject to amortization:

                              

Record music catalog

   $ 1,242     $ 32    $ 6    $ 1,280  

Music publishing copyrights

     817       16      18      851  

Artist contracts

     31       5      —        36  

Trademarks

     10       —        —        10  

Other intangible assets

     4       —        —        4  
    


 

  

  


       2,104       53      24      2,181  

Accumulated amortization

     (289 )                   (435 )
    


               


Total net intangible assets subject to amortization

     1,815                     1,746  

Intangible assets not subject to amortization:

                              

Trademarks and brands

     100                     100  
    


               


Total net other intangible assets

   $ 1,915                   $ 1,846  
    


               



(a) Other represents foreign currency translation adjustments.

 

13


Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

 

6. Restructuring Costs

 

Acquisition-Related Restructuring Costs

 

As of June 30, 2006, the Company had approximately $34 million of liabilities for Acquisition-related restructuring costs that were recognized as part of the cost of the Acquisition. These liabilities represent estimates of future cash obligations for all restructuring activities that have been implemented, as well as for all restructuring activities that have been committed to by management but have yet to occur. The outstanding balance of these liabilities primarily relates to extended payment terms for severance obligations and long-term lease obligations for vacated facilities. These remaining lease obligations are expected to be settled by 2019. The Company expects to pay the majority of the remaining employee termination costs in fiscal 2006.

 

     Employee
Terminations


    Other Exit
Costs


    Total

 
     (in millions)  

Liability as of September 30, 2005

   $ 14     $ 35     $ 49  

Cash paid during the nine months ended June 30, 2006

     (8 )     —         (8 )

Non-cash reductions during the nine months ended June 30, 2006 (a)

     —         (3 )     (3 )

Reversal of excess liabilities (b)

     (1 )     (3 )     (4 )
    


 


 


Liability as of June 30, 2006

   $ 5     $ 29     $ 34  
    


 


 



(a) Principally relates to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the non-cash write-off of the carrying value of advances relating to terminating certain artist, songwriter and co-publisher contracts.
(b) Excess liabilities were reversed through the statement of operations, or were recorded as a reduction of the initial purchase price of the Acquisition.

 

7. Debt

 

The Company’s long-term debt consists of (in millions):

 

     June 30,
2006


    September 30,
2005


 
     (unaudited)     (audited)  

Senior secured credit facility:

                

Revolving credit facility

   $ —       $ —    

Term loan

     1,417       1,430  
    


 


       1,417       1,430  

7.375% U.S. dollar-denominated Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014—Acquisition Corp

     465       465  

8.125% Sterling-denominated Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014—Acquisition Corp

     183       177  

9.5% Senior Discount Notes due 2014—Holdings

     186       174  
    


 


Total debt

     2,251       2,246  

Less current portion

     (17 )     (17 )
    


 


Total long term debt

   $ 2,234     $ 2,229  
    


 


 

The Holdings Refinancing

 

In December 2004, Holdings issued $847 million principal amount at maturity of debt consisting of (i) $250 million principal amount of Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2011 (the “Holdings Floating Rate Notes”), (ii) $397

 

14


Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

 

million principal amount at maturity of 9.5% Senior Discount Notes due 2014, which had an initial issuance discount of $147 million (the “Holdings Discount Notes”) and (iii) $200 million principal amount of Floating Rate Senior PIK Notes due 2014 (the “Holdings PIK Notes”, and collectively, the “Holdings Notes”), which had an initial discount of $4 million. The gross proceeds of $696 million received from the issuance of the Holdings Notes were used to (i) redeem the remaining shares of cumulative preferred stock of Holdings at a redemption price of $209 million, including $9 million of accrued and unpaid dividends, (ii) pay a return of capital to the Company’s shareholders in the aggregate amount of $472 million and (iii) pay debt-related issuance costs of approximately $15 million.

 

The Holdings Redemption

 

In June 2005, using proceeds from the Company’s Initial Common Stock Offering and approximately $57 million of cash on hand, Holdings redeemed all of the Holdings Floating Rate Notes, all of the Holdings PIK Notes, and 35% of the aggregate outstanding principal at maturity of the Holdings Discount Notes.

 

The Holdings Discount Notes were issued at a discount and have an initial accreted value of $630.02 per $1,000 principal amount at maturity. Prior to December 15, 2009, no cash interest payments are required. However, interest accrues on the Holdings Discount Notes in the form of an increase in the accreted value of such notes such that the accreted value of the Holdings Discount Notes will equal the principal amount at maturity on December 15, 2009. Thereafter, cash interest on the Holdings Discount Notes is payable semiannually at a fixed rate of 9.5% per annum. The Holdings Discount Notes mature on December 15, 2014. The Company redeemed 35% of the Holdings Discount Notes on June 15, 2005.

 

In connection with the redemption of the Holdings Floating Rate Notes and 35% of the Holdings Discount Notes, the Company was required to pay redemption premiums of $10 million and $9 million, respectively, which the Company paid on June 15, 2005 and recorded as a loss on the repayment of the notes in the consolidated statement of operations for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005. The Company also wrote off the remaining balance of debt-issuance costs of $12 million related to the notes redeemed and the remaining unamortized original issue discount of $4 million related to the Holdings PIK Notes. Such amounts, $35 million in the aggregate, were recorded as a loss on the repayment of the notes in the consolidated statement of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2005.

 

The Company was also required to pay all accrued interest as of the redemption date related to the Holdings Notes that were redeemed. This amount consisted of $5 million related to the Holdings Floating Rate Notes, $9 million related to the Holdings PIK notes, and $4 million in accreted value of the 35% of the Holdings Discount Notes redeemed. Of such amount, $8 million had been expensed in previous quarters and $10 million was recorded as interest expense in the consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2005.

 

The Company has fully and unconditionally guaranteed the remaining Holdings Discount Notes. The Holdings Discount Notes are unsecured and subordinated to all of Holdings’ existing and future secured debt, including Holdings’ guarantee of borrowings by Acquisition Corp. under the Company’s senior secured credit facility. In addition, the Holdings Discount Notes are structurally subordinated to the Senior Subordinated Notes of Acquisition Corp.

 

The indenture governing the Holdings Notes limits Holdings’ ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to (i) incur additional indebtedness or issue certain preferred shares, (ii) pay dividends on or make other distributions in respect of its capital stock or make other restricted payments, (iii) make certain

 

15


Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

 

investments, (iv) sell certain assets, (v) create liens on certain debt without securing the notes, (vi) consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, (vii) enter into certain transactions with affiliates and (viii) designate its subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries.

 

Restricted Net Assets

 

The Company is a holding company that conducts substantially all its business operations through its subsidiary, Acquisition Corp. and its subsidiaries. Accordingly, the ability of the Company to obtain funds from its subsidiaries is restricted by the senior secured credit facility of Acquisition Corp., the indenture for the Acquisition Corp. Senior Subordinated Notes issued by Acquisition Corp. and the indenture for the Holdings Notes.

 

8. Stock-based Compensation

 

The following table represents the expense recorded by the Company with respect to its stock-based awards for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 by segment and on a consolidated basis (in millions):

 

    

Three Months

Ended

June 30, 2006


  

Three Months

Ended

June 30, 2005


  

Nine Months

Ended

June 30, 2006


  

Nine Months

Ended

June 30, 2005


Recorded Music

   $ 3    $ 6    $ 7    $ 12

Music Publishing

     —        1      1      2

Corporate expenses

     1      2      4      4
    

  

  

  

Total

   $ 4    $ 9    $ 12    $ 18
    

  

  

  

 

Certain of the stock options and restricted shares of common stock awarded by the Company vest upon the occurrence of a 3x liquidity event, which is defined with respect to the awards as the occurrence of an event that implies an aggregate value for the equity held by the Investor Group of 3x its initial value, as adjusted for prior dividends or other returns of capital received. In April 2006, the 3x liquidity event, as defined, occurred, which resulted in the vesting of 1,169,932 shares of restricted common stock awarded to or purchased by employees of the Company and 516,719 stock options awarded to employees of the Company. In addition, the Company paid out accrued dividends owed to restricted stockholders of $1.3 million upon the occurrence of the 3x liquidity event and the subsequent vesting of their restricted shares. In accordance with the requirements of FAS 123(R), the Company recognizes the compensation for these awards over the employee’s requisite service period. Accordingly, there is no impact of this event to the Company’s statement of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2006.

 

Payments Relating to Executive Compensation

 

Concurrent with the Initial Common Stock Offering, the Company determined that certain shares of restricted stock issued in 2004 and early 2005 may have been sold at prices below fair market value on the applicable date of sale and certain options to purchase shares of the Company’s stock granted may have had exercise prices below fair market value on the applicable date of grant. As a result, certain U.S. employee holders of the restricted stock who made elections under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code would be subject to additional ordinary income tax to the extent of the fair market value of the restricted stock received over the purchase price they paid for such stock. In other cases, certain employees who did not make such an election will be subject to higher taxes on their restricted shares at the time of vesting than would have been the case had they

 

16


Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

 

purchased the shares for fair market value. In addition, under the provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, signed into law in October 22, 2004, U.S. employee option holders whose options vest with exercise prices below fair market value on the date of grant are subject to significant penalties under new Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. IRS Notice 2005-1 provides transitional guidance on the application of Section 409A which, among other things, permits options with exercise prices below the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant to be amended or replaced with new options having an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value on the grant date. Non-U.S. employee holders of restricted stock or options may be subject to similar or other related issues. In order for the Company to address these issues the Company’s Board of Directors, based on a re-assessment of fair market values on the applicable dates, approved the actions discussed below.

 

Restricted Stock

 

The Company was authorized to pay a cash bonus to each employee who purchased restricted stock at prices that were below fair market value on the date of purchase. The bonus was calculated as either an amount equal to the tax liability incurred by the employee on the grant date or an estimate of the additional future tax which would be incurred by the employee upon the vesting of the shares, depending upon the employee’s Section 83(b) election. Additionally, the Company paid the employees an amount necessary to pay the related taxes on the bonus. This resulted in total cash payments of approximately $10 million, which the Company expensed in the quarter ended June 30, 2005.

 

Options

 

The Company revised the exercise prices of certain options to purchase its common stock to prices equal to the applicable re-determined fair market values of the common stock on the dates of the respective grants. The Company compensated the grantees with a cash bonus representing the loss of value created by this adjustment to the option exercise prices. This resulted in total cash bonuses paid of approximately $9 million. The Company treated the revision of the exercise prices as a modification of these awards and $6 million related to the modification was expensed in the quarter ended June 30, 2005.

 

Further, in connection with the $100.5 million cash dividend the Company declared and paid to holders of its common stock, consisting of the Investor Group and certain members of management who held shares of common stock prior to the Initial Common Stock Offering, the Company made an adjustment to all options to purchase common stock outstanding at the time of declaration of the dividend. The adjustment consisted of a cash make-whole payment to each option holder equal to the pro-rata amount that would have been received per share had all outstanding options been exercised at the time of the declaration of the dividend. The amounts were adjusted down to reflect a present value discount based on the earliest possible exercise dates. The Company recorded approximately $3 million of expense related to such payments in the quarter ended June 30, 2005.

 

9. Shareholders’ Equity

 

Return of Capital and Dividends Paid

 

In September 2004, the Company declared a $342 million dividend to its Class L common shareholders in the form of a note payable. The note payable was paid in October 2004 using proceeds received from a return of capital previously invested in Acquisition Corp.

 

In connection with the Holdings Refinancing, the Company paid a $465 million return of capital to its Class L common shareholders, of which $422 million was paid in December 2004 and $43 million was paid in March 2005. The remaining $7 million from the Holdings Refinancing was declared and paid as a dividend to the Company’s shareholders in May 2005.

 

17


Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

 

On October 3, 2005, December 29, 2005, March 14, 2006 and June 7, 2006, the Company declared dividends on its outstanding common stock at a rate of $0.13 per share. The dividends were paid on November 23, 2005, February 17, 2006, May 3, 2006, and July 27, 2006, respectively, except for the portion of the dividends with respect to unvested restricted stock, which will be paid at such time as such shares become vested.

 

During the nine months ended June 30, 2006, 2,479,501 shares of restricted stock purchased by or awarded to certain employees vested.

 

10. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Radio Promotion Activities

 

On September 7, 2004, November 22, 2004 and March 31, 2005, the Attorney General of the State of New York served the Company with requests for information in connection with an industry-wide investigation of the relationship between music companies and radio stations, including the use of independent promoters and accounting for any such payments. The investigation was pursuant to New York Executive Law §63(12) and New York General Business Law §349, both of which are consumer fraud statutes. On November 22, 2005, the Company reached a settlement with the Attorney General in connection with this investigation. As part of such settlement, the Company agreed to make $5 million in charitable payments and to abide by a list of permissible and impermissible promotional activities. The Attorney General has also reached settlements with all of the other major music companies in connection with this investigation. Two independent labels have filed related antitrust suits against the Company alleging that its radio promotion activities are anticompetitive. Radikal Records, Inc. v. Warner Music Group, et al. was filed on March 21, 2006 in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California, Western Division. TSR Records, Inc. v. Warner Music Group, et al. was filed on March 28, 2006 in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California, Western Division. The Company filed a Notice of Related Case and was successful in having both of these cases consolidated. On May 23, 2006, the Company filed a Motion to Dismiss in both cases. Decisions on these motions are pending. The Company intends to defend against these lawsuits vigorously, but is unable to predict the outcome of these suits. Any litigation the Company may become involved in as a result of the settlement with the Attorney General, regardless of the merits of the claim, could be costly and divert the time and resources of management.

 

Pricing of Digital Music Downloads

 

On December 20, 2005 and February 3, 2006, the Attorney General of the State of New York served the Company with requests for information in the form of a subpoena duces tecum and subpoena ad testificandum in connection with an industry-wide investigation as to whether the practices of industry participants concerning the pricing of digital music downloads violate Section 1 of the Sherman Act, New York State General Business Law §§ 340 et seq., New York Executive Law §63(12), and related statutes. On February 28, 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice served the Company with a request for information in the form of a Civil Investigative Demand as to whether its activities relating to the pricing of digitally downloaded music violate Section 1 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1). The Company intends to fully cooperate with the Attorney General’s and Department of Justice’s industry-wide inquiries. Subsequent to the announcements of the above governmental investigations, a total of twenty-seven putative class action lawsuits concerning the pricing of digital music downloads have been filed. The Company has not yet been served in some of the cases but expects they will all be consolidated into one case. The lawsuits are all based on the same general subject matter as the Attorney General’s request for information alleging a conspiracy among record companies to fix prices for downloads, and, accordingly to some of the complaints, protect allegedly inflated prices for compact discs. The complaints generally seek unspecified compensatory, statutory and treble damages. The Company intends to defend against these lawsuits vigorously, but is unable to predict the outcome of these suits. Any litigation the Company may

 

18


Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

 

become involved in as a result of the inquiries of the Attorney General and Department of Justice, regardless of the merits of the claim, could be costly and divert the time and resources of management.

 

Other Matters

 

In addition to the matters discussed above, the Company is involved in other litigation arising in the normal course of our business. Management does not believe that any legal proceedings pending against the Company will have, individually, or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on its business. However, the Company cannot predict with certainty the outcome of any litigation or the potential for future litigation. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on the Company, including its brand value, because of defense costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.

 

11. Derivative Financial Instruments

 

During the nine months ended June 30, 2006, the Company did not enter into additional interest rate swap agreements to hedge the variability of its expected future cash interest payments or any new foreign currency hedge programs. However, the Company extended the terms of certain existing interest rate swap agreements. As of June 30, 2006, the Company had interest rate swap agreements to hedge a total notional debt amount of $897 million and recorded deferred gains in comprehensive income of $21 million. Additionally, as of June 30, 2006 the Company had less than $1 million of deferred net losses in comprehensive income related to foreign currency hedging.

 

The Company recorded unrealized gains of $17 million on its stock warrants issued to Time Warner in connection with the Acquisition for the nine-months ended June 30, 2005. On May 16, 2005, the Company repurchased the three-year warrants from Time Warner at a cost of approximately $138 million, which approximated fair value at that date.

 

12. Segment Information

 

As discussed more fully in Note 1, based on the nature of its products and services, the Company classifies its business interests into two fundamental areas: recorded music and music publishing. Information as to each of these operations is set forth below.

 

The Company evaluates performance based on several factors, of which the primary financial measure is operating income (loss) before non-cash depreciation of tangible assets and non-cash amortization of intangible assets (“OIBDA”). The Company has supplemented its analysis of OIBDA results by segment with an analysis of operating income (loss) by segment.

 

The Company accounts for inter-segment sales at fair value as if the sales were to third parties. While intercompany transactions are treated like third-party transactions to determine segment performance, the revenues (and corresponding expenses recognized by the segment that is counterparty to the transaction) are eliminated in consolidation and, therefore, do not themselves impact consolidated results.

 

    

Three Months

Ended

June 30, 2006


   

Three Months

Ended

June 30, 2005


   

Nine Months

Ended

June 30, 2006


   

Nine Months

Ended

June 30, 2005


 
     (in millions)  

Revenues

                                

Recorded music

   $ 678     $ 588     $ 2,274     $ 2,149  

Music publishing

     150       161       410       470  

Corporate expenses and eliminations

     (6 )     (7 )     (22 )     (22 )
    


 


 


 


Total revenues

   $ 822     $ 742     $ 2,662     $ 2,597  
    


 


 


 


 

19


Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

 

    

Three Months

Ended

June 30, 2006


   

Three Months

Ended

June 30, 2005


   

Nine Months

Ended

June 30, 2006


   

Nine Months

Ended

June 30, 2005


 
     (in millions)  

OIBDA

                                

Recorded music

   $ 92     $ 47     $ 379     $ 313  

Music publishing

     23       28       91       99  

Corporate expenses and eliminations

     (29 )     (108 )     (78 )     (167 )
    


 


 


 


Total OIBDA

   $ 86     $ (33 )   $ 392     $ 245  
    


 


 


 


    

Three Months

Ended

June 30, 2006


   

Three Months

Ended

June 30, 2005


   

Nine Months

Ended

June 30, 2006


   

Nine Months

Ended

June 30, 2005


 
     (in millions)  

Depreciation of Property, Plant and Equipment

                                

Recorded music

   $ 6     $ 7     $ 20     $ 25  

Music publishing

     —         2       2       4  

Corporate expenses and eliminations

     4       3       10       11  
    


 


 


 


Total depreciation

   $ 10     $ 12     $ 32     $ 40  
    


 


 


 


    

Three Months

Ended

June 30, 2006


   

Three Months

Ended

June 30, 2005


   

Nine Months

Ended

June 30, 2006


   

Nine Months

Ended

June 30, 2005


 
     (in millions)  

Amortization of Intangibles Assets

                                

Recorded music

   $ 34     $ 34     $ 101     $ 100  

Music publishing

     14       13       42       40  

Corporate expenses and eliminations

     —         —         —         —    
    


 


 


 


Total amortization

   $ 48     $ 47     $ 143     $ 140  
    


 


 


 


                                  
    

Three Months

Ended

June 30, 2006


   

Three Months

Ended

June 30, 2005


   

Nine Months

Ended

June 30, 2006


   

Nine Months

Ended

June 30, 2005


 
     (in millions)  

Operating Income (Loss)

                                

Recorded music

   $ 52     $ 6     $ 258     $ 188  

Music publishing

     9       13       47       55  

Corporate expenses and eliminations

     (33 )     (111 )     (88 )     (178 )
    


 


 


 


Total operating income (loss)

   $ 28     $ (92 )   $ 217     $ 65  
    


 


 


 


    

Three Months

Ended

June 30, 2006


   

Three Months

Ended

June 30, 2005


   

Nine Months

Ended

June 30, 2006


   

Nine Months

Ended

June 30, 2005


 
     (in millions)  

Reconciliation of OIBDA to Operating Income (Loss)

                                

OIBDA

   $ 86     $ (33 )   $ 392     $ 245  

Depreciation expense

     (10 )     (12 )     (32 )     (40 )

Amortization expense

     (48 )     (47 )     (143 )     (140 )
    


 


 


 


Operating income

   $ 28     $ (92 )   $ 217     $ 65  
    


 


 


 


 

20


Table of Contents

Warner Music Group Corp.

 

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

 

13. Additional Financial Information

 

Cash Interest and Taxes

 

The Company made interest payments of approximately $118 million and $129 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Company paid approximately $49 million and $36 million of income and withholding taxes in the nine months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Company received $5 million and $8 million of income tax refunds in the nine months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Non-cash Transactions

 

There were no significant non-cash investing and financing activities during the nine months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005.

 

14. Subsequent Event

 

The major record companies have reached a global out-of-court settlement of international copyright litigation against the operators of the Kazaa peer-to-peer network. Under the terms of the settlement, the Kazaa defendants have agreed to pay $100,000,000 in compensation to the record companies that brought the action. Kazaa will also introduce filtering technologies to prevent the continued infringement in the Kazaa system. The settlement money is being held in escrow until the plaintiffs agree on the proper allocation of the funds. The Company does not know yet what its portion of the settlement will be.

 

21


Table of Contents

WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP.

 

Supplementary Information

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements of Registrant

 

The Company is the direct parent of Holdings, which is the direct parent of Acquisition Corp.

 

Holdings has issued and outstanding the Holdings Discount Notes. The Holdings Discount Notes are guaranteed by the Company. These guarantees are full, unconditional, joint and several. The following condensed consolidating financial statements are presented for the information of the holders of the Holdings Discount Notes and present the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of (i) the Company, which is the guarantor of the Holdings Discount Notes, (ii) Holdings, which is the issuer of the Holdings Discount Notes, (iii) the subsidiaries of Holdings (WMG Acquisition Corp. is the only direct subsidiary of Holdings) and (iv) the eliminations necessary to arrive at the information for the Company on a consolidated basis. Investments in consolidated subsidiaries are presented under the equity method of accounting.

 

The Company and Holdings are holding companies that conduct substantially all their business operations through Acquisition Corp. Accordingly, the ability of the Company to obtain funds from its subsidiaries is restricted by the senior secured credit facility of Acquisition Corp., the indenture for the Senior Subordinated Notes issued by Acquisition Corp. and the indenture for the Holdings Notes.

 

22


Table of Contents

WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP.

 

Supplementary Information

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (unaudited)

June 30, 2006

 

     Warner
Music
Group Corp.


    WMG
Holdings
Corp. (issuer)


   WMG
Acquisition
Corp.


   Eliminations

    Warner Music
Group Corp.
Consolidated


     (in millions)

Assets:

                                    

Current assets:

                                    

Cash and equivalents

   $ 37     $ —      $ 269    $ —       $ 306

Short-term investments

     28       —        1      —         29

Accounts receivable, net

     —         —        524      —         524

Due from (to) affiliates

     (3 )     —        3      —         —  

Inventories

     —         —        50      —         50

Royalty advances expected to be recouped within one year

     —         —        209      —         209

Deferred tax assets

     —         —        40      —         40

Other current assets

     —         —        47      —         47
    


 

  

  


 

Total current assets

     62       —        1,143      —         1,205

Royalty advances expected to be recouped after one year

     —         —        209      —         209

Investments in and advances to (from) consolidated subsidiaries

     46       228      —        (274 )     —  

Investments

     —         —        24      —         24

Property, plant and equipment

     —         —        144      —         144

Goodwill

     —         —        946      —         946

Intangible assets subject to amortization

     —         —        1,746      —         1,746

Intangible assets not subject to amortization

     —         —        100      —         100

Other assets

     —         4      105      —         109
    


 

  

  


 

Total assets

   $ 108     $ 232    $ 4,417    $ (274 )   $ 4,483
    


 

  

  


 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:

                                    

Current liabilities:

                                    

Accounts payable

   $ —       $ —      $ 202    $ —       $ 202

Accrued royalties

     —         —        1,146      —         1,146

Taxes and other withholdings

     —         —        34      —         34

Current portion of long-term debt

     —         —        17      —         17

Dividends payable

     22       —        —        —         22

Other current liabilities

     3       —        333      —         336
    


 

  

  


 

Total current liabilities

     25       —        1,732      —         1,757

Long-term debt

     —         186      2,048      —         2,234

Dividends payable

     3       —        —        —         3

Deferred tax liabilities, net

     —         —        193      —         193

Other noncurrent liabilities

     —         —        216      —         216
    


 

  

  


 

Total liabilities

     28       186      4,189      —         4,403

Total shareholders’ equity

     80       46      228      (274 )     80
    


 

  

  


 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 108     $ 232    $ 4,417    $ (274 )   $ 4,483
    


 

  

  


 

 

23


Table of Contents

WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP.

 

Supplementary Information

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (audited)

September 30, 2005

 

    

Warner

Music

Group Corp.


  

WMG

Holdings
Corp.

(issuer)


   

WMG

Acquisition

Corp.


   Eliminations

   

Warner Music

Group Corp.

Consolidated


     (in millions)

Assets:

                                    

Current assets:

                                    

Cash and equivalents

   $ 40    $ 1     $ 247    $ —       $ 288

Accounts receivable, net

     —        —         637      —         637

Due from (to) affiliates

     15      (23 )     8      —         —  

Inventories

     —        —         52      —         52

Royalty advances expected to be recouped within one year

     —        —         190      —         190

Deferred tax assets

     —        —         36      —         36

Other current assets

     —        —         39      —         39
    

  


 

  


 

Total current assets

     55      (22 )     1,209      —         1,242

Royalty advances expected to be recouped after one year

     —        —         190      —         190

Investments in and advances to (from) consolidated subsidiaries

     43      235       —        (278 )     —  

Investments

     —        —         21      —         21

Property, plant and equipment

     —        —         157      —         157

Goodwill

     —        —         869      —         869

Intangible assets subject to amortization

     —        —         1,815      —         1,815

Intangible assets not subject to amortization

     —        —         100      —         100

Other assets

     —        4       100      —         104
    

  


 

  


 

Total assets

   $ 98    $ 217     $ 4,461    $ (278 )   $ 4,498
    

  


 

  


 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:

                                    

Current liabilities:

                                    

Accounts payable

   $ 1    $ —       $ 246    $ —       $ 247

Accrued royalties

     —        —         1,057      —         1,057

Taxes and other withholdings

     —        —         23      —         23

Current portion of long-term debt

     —        —         17      —         17

Other current liabilities

     1      —         403      —         404
    

  


 

  


 

Total current liabilities

     2      —         1,746      —         1,748

Long-term debt

     —        174       2,055      —         2,229

Dividends payable

     5      —         —        —         5

Deferred tax liabilities, net

     —        —         201      —         201

Other noncurrent liabilities

     2      —         224      —         226
    

  


 

  


 

Total liabilities

     9      174       4,226      —         4,409

Total shareholders’ equity

     89      43       235      (278 )     89
    

  


 

  


 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 98    $ 217     $ 4,461    $ (278 )   $ 4,498
    

  


 

  


 

 

24


Table of Contents

WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP.

 

Supplementary Information

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (unaudited)

For The Three Months Ended June 30, 2006 and June 30, 2005

 

     Three months ended June 30, 2006

 
    

Warner Music

Group Corp.


   

WMG Holdings

Corp. (issuer)


   

WMG

Acquisition

Corp.


    Eliminations

  

Warner Music

Group Corp.

Consolidated


 
     (in millions)  

Revenues

   $ —       $ —       $ 822     $ —      $ 822  

Costs and expenses:

                                       

Cost of revenues

     —         —         (445 )     —        (445 )

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     —         —         (301 )     —        (301 )

Amortization of intangible assets

     —         —         (48 )     —        (48 )
    


 


 


 

  


Total costs and expenses

     —         —         (794 )     —        (794 )
    


 


 


 

  


Operating income

     —         —         28       —        28  

Interest expense, net

     —         (4 )     (41 )     —        (45 )

Equity in the gains (losses) of consolidated subsidiaries

     (14 )     (10 )     —         24      —    

Other expense, net

             —         1              1  
    


 


 


 

  


Income (loss) before income taxes

     (14 )     (14 )     (12 )     24      (16 )

Income tax expense

     —         —         2       —        2  
    


 


 


 

  


Net (loss) income

   $ (14 )   $ (14 )   $ (10 )   $ 24    $ (14 )
    


 


 


 

  


 

     Three months ended June 30, 2005

 
     Warner Music
Group Corp.


    WMG Holdings
Corp. (issuer)


    WMG
Acquisition
Corp.


    Eliminations

   Warner Music
Group Corp.
Consolidated


 
     (in millions)  

Revenues

   $ —       $ —       $ 742     $ —      $ 742  

Costs and expenses:

                                       

Cost of revenues

     —         —         (396 )     —        (396 )

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     —         —         (318 )     —        (318 )

Amortization of intangible assets

     —         —         (47 )     —        (47 )

Loss on termination of management fee

     —         —         (73 )     —        (73 )
    


 


 


 

  


Total costs and expenses

     —         —         (834 )     —        (834 )
    


 


 


 

  


Operating income

     —         —         (92 )     —        (92 )

Interest expense, net

     —         (13 )     (37 )     —        (50 )

Equity in the losses of equity-method investees, net

     (179 )     (131 )     —         310      —    

Net investment related gains

     —         —         1       —        1  

Loss on repayment of Holdings debt

     —         (35 )     —         —        (35 )

Other expense, net

     —         —         1       —        1  
    


 


 


 

  


(Loss) income before income taxes

     (179 )     (179 )     (127 )     310      (175 )

Income tax expense

     —         —         (4 )     —        (4 )
    


 


 


 

  


Net (loss) income

   $ (179 )   $ (179 )   $ (131 )   $ 310    $ (179 )
    


 


 


 

  


 

25


Table of Contents

WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP.

 

Supplementary Information

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (unaudited)

For The Nine Months Ended June 20, 2006 and June 30, 2005

 

     Nine months ended June 30, 2006

 
    

Warner Music

Group Corp.


  

WMG Holdings

Corp. (issuer)


   

WMG

Acquisition

Corp.


    Eliminations

   

Warner Music

Group Corp.

Consolidated


 
     (in millions)  

Revenues

   $ —      $ —       $ 2,662     $ —       $ 2,662  

Costs and expenses:

                                       

Cost of revenues

     —        —         (1,384 )     —         (1,384 )

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     —        —         (918 )     —         (918 )

Amortization of intangible assets

     —        —         (143 )     —         (143 )
    

  


 


 


 


Total costs and expenses

     —        —         (2,445 )     —         (2,445 )
    

  


 


 


 


Operating income

     —        —         217       —         217  

Interest expense, net

     —        (12 )     (123 )     —         (135 )

Equity in the gains (losses) of equity method investees

     —        —         1       —         1  

Equity in the gains (losses) of consolidated subsidiaries

     48      60       —         (108 )     —    

Other income, net

     —        —         3       —         3  
    

  


 


 


 


Income before income taxes

     48      48       98       (108 )     86  

Income tax expense

     —        —         (38 )     —         (38 )
    

  


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

   $ 48    $ 48     $ 60     $ (108 )   $ 48  
    

  


 


 


 


 

     Nine months ended June 30, 2005

 
     Warner Music
Group Corp.


    WMG Holdings
Corp. (issuer)


    WMG
Acquisition
Corp.


    Eliminations

   Warner Music
Group Corp.
Consolidated


 
     (in millions)  

Revenues

   $ —       $ —       $ 2,597     $ —      $ 2,597  

Costs and expenses:

                                       

Cost of revenues

     —         —         (1,377 )     —        (1,377 )

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     —         —         (942 )     —        (942 )

Amortization of intangible assets

     —         —         (140 )     —        (140 )

Loss on termination of management fee

     —         —         (73 )     —        (73 )
    


 


 


 

  


Total costs and expenses

     —         —         (2,532 )     —        (2,532 )
    


 


 


 

  


Operating income

     —         —         65       —        65  

Interest expense, net

     (1 )     (31 )     (108 )     —        (140 )

Net investment-related gains

     —         —         1       —        1  

Equity in the losses of equity-method investees, net

     (155 )     (84 )     (1 )     239      (1 )

Loss on repayment of Holdings debt

     —         (35 )     —         —        (35 )

Unrealized gain on warrant

     17       —         —         —        17  

Minority interest expense

     —         (5 )     —         —        (5 )

Other expense, net

     —         —         5       —        5  
    


 


 


 

  


(Loss) income before income taxes

     (139 )     (155 )     (38 )     239      (93 )

Income tax expense

     —         —         (46 )     —        (46 )
    


 


 


 

  


Net (loss) income

   $ (139 )   $ (155 )   $ (84 )   $ 239    $ (139 )
    


 


 


 

  


 

26


Table of Contents

WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP.

 

Supplementary Information

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited)

For The Nine Months Ended June 30, 2006

 

    

Warner Music

Group Corp.


   

WMG Holdings

Corp. (issuer)


   

WMG

Acquisition

Corp.


    Eliminations

    Consolidated

 
     (in millions)  

Cash flows from operating activities:

                                        

Net income

   $ 48     $ 48     $ 60     $ (108 )   $ 48  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

                                        

Depreciation and amortization

     —         —         175       —         175  

Non-cash interest expense

     —         12       27       —         39  

Non-cash stock compensation expense

     —         —         12       —         12  

Deferred taxes

     —         —         (17 )     —         (17 )

Equity in the losses of equity-method investees, including distributions

     —         —         (1 )     —         (1 )

Equity in the losses of consolidated subsidiaries

     (48 )     (60 )     —         108       —    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                                        

Accounts receivable

     —         —         121       —         121  

Inventories

     —         —         3       —         3  

Royalty advances

     —         —         (54 )     —         (54 )

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     —         —         (81 )     —         (81 )

Other balance sheet changes

     (2 )     —         (20 )     —         (22 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

     (2 )     —         225       —         223  
    


 


 


 


 


Cash flows from investing activities:

                                        

Investments and acquisitions

     —         —         (95 )     —         (95 )

Investments in short term investments

     (28 )     —         (1 )     —         (29 )

Capital expenditures

     —         —         (18 )     —         (18 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (28 )     —         (114 )     —         (142 )
    


 


 


 


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

                                        

Quarterly debt repayments

     —         —         (13 )     —         (13 )

Capital contributions received/paid

     (3 )     3       —         —         —    

Increase in intercompany

     3       (8 )     5       —         —    

Returns of capital and dividends paid

     27       4       (86 )     —         (55 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     27       (1 )     (94 )     —         (68 )
    


 


 


 


 


Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash

     —         —         5       —         5  
    


 


 


 


 


Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents

     (3 )     (1 )     22       —         18  

Cash and equivalents at beginning of period

     40       1       247       —         288  
    


 


 


 


 


Cash and equivalents at end of period

   $ 37     $ —       $ 269     $ —       $ 306  
    


 


 


 


 


 

27


Table of Contents

WARNER MUSIC GROUP CORP.

 

Supplementary Information

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited)

For The Nine Months Ended June 30, 2005

 

     Warner Music
Group Corp.


    WMG Holdings
Corp. (issuer)


    WMG
Acquisition
Corp.


    Eliminations

    Consolidated

 
     (in millions)  

Cash flows from operating activities:

                                        

Net loss

   $ (139 )   $ (155 )   $ (84 )   $ 239     $ (139 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

                                        

Depreciation and amortization

     —         —         180       —         180  

Deferred taxes

     —         —         (7 )     —         (7 )

Loss on repayment of debt

     —         35       —         —         35  

Non-cash interest expense

     —         26       26       —         52  

Non-cash stock compensation expense

                     18               18  

Net investment-related gains

                     (1 )             (1 )

Equity in the losses of equity-method investees, including distributions

     155       84       1       (239 )     1  

Minority interest

     —         5       —         —         5  

Unrealized gain on warrant

     (17 )     —         —         —         (17 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                                     —    

Accounts receivable

     —         —         77       —         77  

Inventories

     —         —         6       —         6  

Royalty advances

     —         —         (2 )     —         (2 )

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     —         —         (22 )     —         (22 )

Other balance sheet changes

     1       2       (17 )     —         (14 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     —         (3 )     175       —         172  
    


 


 


 


 


Cash flows from investing activities:

                                        

Investments and acquisitions

     —         —         (84 )     —         (84 )

Investment proceeds

     —         —         50       —         50  

Capital expenditures

     —         —         (20 )     —         (20 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     —         —         (54 )     —         (54 )
    


 


 


 


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

                                        

Borrowings, net of financing costs

     —         679       247       —         926  

Debt repayments

     —         (574 )     (10 )     —         (584 )

Capital contributions

     (590 )     517       73       —         —    

Proceeds from the issuance of common stock

     554       —         —         —         554  

Costs to issue common stock

     (27 )     —         —                 (27 )

Repurchase of warrants

     (126 )     (12 )     —         —         (138 )

Repurchase of subsidiary preferred stock

     —         (200 )     —         —         (200 )

Dividends paid to minority interest shareholders

     —         (9 )     —         —         (9 )

Proceeds from the issuance of restricted shares

     1       —         —         —         1  

Return of capital received

     1,157       742       —         (1,899 )     —    

Return of capital paid

     (917 )     (1,157 )     (742 )     1,899       (917 )

Change in inter-company

     (12 )     18       (6 )     —         —    

Loan to third party

     —         —         (10 )     —         (10 )

Other

     —         —         (3 )     —         (3 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     40       4       (451 )     —         (407 )
    


 


 


 


 


Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash

     —         —         (1 )     —         (1 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents

     40       1       (331 )     —         (290 )

Cash and equivalents at beginning of period

     —         —         555       —         555  
    


 


 


 


 


Cash and equivalents at end of period

   $ 40     $ 1     $ 224     $ —       $ 265  
    


 


 


 


 


 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

You should read the following discussion of our results of operations and financial condition with the unaudited interim financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2006 (the “Quarterly Report”). This discussion contains forward-looking statements and involves numerous risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

 

We make available on our Internet website free of charge our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K as soon as practicable after we electronically file such reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Our website address is www.wmg.com. The information contained in our website is not incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report.

 

“SAFE HARBOR” STATEMENT UNDER PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

 

This Quarterly Report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Quarterly Report, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, savings and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe” or “continue” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Such statements include, among others, statements regarding our ability to develop talent and attract future talent, to reduce future capital expenditures, to monetize our music content, including through new distribution channels and formats, to effectively deploy our capital, the development of digital music and the effect of digital distribution channels on our business, including whether or not the Internet will become an important sales channel and whether we will be able to achieve higher margins from digital sales, our success in limiting piracy, our ability to compete in the highly competitive markets in which we operate, the growth of the music industry and the effect of our and the music industry’s efforts to combat piracy on the industry, our intention to pay regular quarterly dividends, the adequacy of our existing sources of cash to support our existing operations the next twelve months, the effect of litigation and other investigations on us and the impact of recent developments regarding EMI Group plc (“EMI”) and Sony BMG Music Entertainment (“Sony BMG”) on us. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct.

 

There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report. Additionally important factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this Quarterly Report. As stated elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, such risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among others:

 

    the impact of our substantial leverage on our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, on our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry and on our ability to meet our obligations under our indebtedness;

 

    the decline over the past five years in the global physical recorded music industry and the rate of overall decline in the music industry;

 

    our ability to continue to identify, sign and retain desirable talent at manageable costs;

 

    the threat posed to our business by piracy of music by means of home CD-R activity and Internet peer-to-peer file-sharing;

 

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    the significant threat posed to our business and the music industry by organized industrial piracy;

 

    the popular demand for particular recording artists and/or songwriters and albums and the timely completion of albums by major recording artists and/or songwriters;

 

    the diversity and quality of our portfolio of songwriters;

 

    the diversity and quality of our album releases;

 

    significant fluctuations in our results of operations and cash flows due to the nature of our business;

 

    our involvement in intellectual property litigation;

 

    the possible downward pressure on our pricing and profit margins;

 

    the seasonal and cyclical nature of recorded music sales;

 

    our ability to continue to enforce our intellectual property rights in digital environments;

 

    the ability to develop a successful business model applicable to a digital environment;

 

    the ability to maintain product pricing in a competitive environment;

 

    the impact of heightened and intensive competition in the recorded music and music publishing businesses and our inability to execute our business strategy;

 

    risks associated with our non-U.S. operations, including limited legal protections of our intellectual property rights and restrictions on the repatriation of capital;

 

    the impact of legitimate music distribution on the Internet or the introduction of other new music distribution formats;

 

    the impact of rate regulations on our music publishing business;

 

    the impact of rates on other income streams that may be set by arbitration proceedings on our business;

 

    risks associated with the fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;

 

    our ability and the ability of our joint venture partners to operate our existing joint ventures satisfactorily;

 

    the enactment of legislation limiting the terms by which an individual can be bound under a “personal services” contract;

 

    potential loss of catalog if it is determined that recording artists have a right to recapture recordings under the U.S. Copyright Act;

 

    changes in law and government regulations;

 

    legal or other developments related to pending litigation or investigations by the Attorney General of the State of New York and the Department of Justice;

 

    trends that affect the end uses of our musical compositions (which include uses in broadcast radio and television, film and advertising businesses);

 

    the growth of other products that compete for the disposable income of consumers;

 

    risks inherent in relying on one supplier for manufacturing, packaging and distribution services in North America and Europe;

 

    risks inherent in our acquiring or investing in other businesses;

 

    the possibility that our owners’ interests will conflict with ours or yours;

 

    our ability to act as a stand-alone company;

 

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    increased costs and diversion of resources associated with complying with the internal control reporting or other requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley;

 

    weaknesses in our internal controls related to U.S. royalties that could affect our ability to ensure reliable financial reports;

 

    the effects associated with the formation of Sony BMG; and

 

    failure to attract and retain key personnel.

 

There may be other factors not presently known to us or which we currently consider to be immaterial that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements.

 

All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf apply only as of the date of this Quarterly Report and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this Quarterly Report. We disclaim any duty to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Warner Music Group Corp. (the “Company”) was formed by a private equity consortium of Investors (the “Investor Group”) on November 21, 2003. The Company is the direct parent of WMG Holdings Corp. (“Holdings”), which is the direct parent of WMG Acquisition Corp. (“Acquisition Corp.”). Acquisition Corp. is one of the world’s major music content companies and the successor to substantially all of the interests of the recorded music and music publishing businesses of Time Warner Inc. (“Time Warner”). Effective March 1, 2004, Acquisition Corp. acquired such interests from Time Warner for approximately $2.6 billion (the “Acquisition”).

 

The Company and Holdings are holding companies that conduct substantially all of their business operations through their subsidiaries. The terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “ours,” and the “Company” refer collectively to Warner Music Group Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries, except where otherwise indicated.

 

Management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition (“MD&A”) is provided as a supplement to the unaudited financial statements and footnotes included elsewhere herein to help provide an understanding of our financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of our operations. MD&A is organized as follows:

 

    Overview. This section provides a general description of our business, as well as recent developments that we believe are important in understanding our results of operations and financial condition and in anticipating future trends.

 

    Results of operations. This section provides an analysis of our results of operations for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005. This analysis is presented on both a consolidated and segment basis.

 

    Financial condition and liquidity. This section provides an analysis of our cash flows for the nine months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, as well as a discussion of our financial condition and liquidity as of June 30, 2006. The discussion of our financial condition and liquidity includes (i) our available financial capacity under the revolving credit portion of our senior secured credit facility and (ii) a summary of our key debt compliance measures under our debt agreements.

 

Use of OIBDA

 

We evaluate our operating performance based on several factors, including our primary financial measure of operating income (loss) before non-cash depreciation of tangible assets and non-cash amortization of intangible assets (which we refer to as “OIBDA”). We consider OIBDA to be an important indicator of the operational strengths and performance of our businesses, including the ability to provide cash flows to service debt.

 

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However, a limitation of the use of OIBDA as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues in our businesses. Accordingly, OIBDA should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, operating income (loss), net income (loss) and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

OVERVIEW

 

Description of Business

 

We are one of the world’s major music content companies. We classify our business interests into two fundamental areas: Recorded Music and Music Publishing. A brief description of each of those operations is presented below.

 

Our business is seasonal. Therefore, operating results for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for fiscal 2006.

 

Recorded Music Operations

 

Our Recorded Music business consists of the discovery and development of artists and the related marketing, distribution and licensing of recorded music produced by such artists. In the U.S., our operations are conducted principally through our major record labels—Warner Bros. Records Inc. and The Atlantic Records Group. Internationally, our Recorded Music operations are conducted through our Warner Music International division (“WMI”), which includes various subsidiaries, affiliates and non-affiliated licensees in more than 50 countries outside the U.S. In addition to the more traditional methods of discovering and developing artists, we have implemented new initiatives to identify and nurture artists earlier in the development process and reduce development costs by leveraging our independent distribution network. We refer to these new business models as incubator initiatives. Asylum and East West are the current recorded music incubator labels. In addition, we have launched Cordless Recordings, an “e-label” that gives its artists the ability to come to market with one or several songs in the digital formats without the need to create an entire album. Asylum, East West and Cordless Recordings are a part of our Independent Label Group (“ILG”). We have also entered into strategic ventures with other record labels.

 

Our Recorded Music operations also include a catalog division named Rhino Entertainment (“Rhino”). Rhino specializes in marketing our music catalog through compilations and reissuances of previously released music and video titles, as well as in the licensing of recordings to and from third parties for various uses, including film and television soundtracks.

 

On May 31, 2006, we completed our acquisition of Ryko Corporation, a leading independent, integrated music and entertainment company.

 

Our principal Recorded Music distribution operations include Warner-Elektra-Atlantic Corporation (“WEA Corp.”), which primarily markets and sells music products to retailers and wholesale distributors in the U.S.; a 90% interest in Alternative Distribution Alliance, a distribution company that primarily distributes the products of independent labels to retail and wholesale distributors in the U.S.; Ryko Distribution, which distributes music and DVD releases from Rykodisc, Ryko’s record music label, and third-party record and video labels, various distribution centers and ventures operated internationally; an 80% interest in Word Entertainment, whose distribution operations specialize in the distribution of music products in the Christian retail marketplace; and ADA U.K., which provides ADA’s distribution services to independent labels in Europe.

 

 

Our principal recorded music revenue sources are sales of CDs, digital downloads and other recorded music products and license fees received for the ancillary uses of our recorded music catalog. The principal costs associated with our Recorded Music operations are as follows:

 

    artist and repertoire costs—the costs associated with (i) signing and developing artists, (ii) creating master recordings in the studio, (iii) creating artwork for album covers and liner notes and (iv) paying royalties to artists, producers, songwriters, other copyright holders and trade unions;

 

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    manufacturing, packaging and distribution costs—the costs to manufacture and distribute product to wholesale and retail distribution outlets;

 

    marketing and promotion costs—the costs associated with the promotion of artists and recorded music products, including costs to produce music videos for promotional purposes and artist tour support; and

 

    administration costs—the costs associated with general overhead and other administrative costs, as well as costs associated with anti-piracy initiatives.

 

Music Publishing Operations

 

Our Music Publishing operations include Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, and certain other music publishing affiliates. We own or control the rights to more than one million musical compositions, including numerous pop music hits, American standards, folk songs and motion picture and theatrical compositions. Our Music Publishing operations also formerly included Warner Bros. Publications (“WBP”), which marketed printed versions of our music throughout the world. On May 31, 2005, we sold WBP to Alfred Publishing. In addition to the more traditional methods, we have implemented new initiatives to promote and develop emerging songwriters. For example, our music publishing business has its own incubator label, Perfect Game Recording Co.

 

Publishing revenues are derived from four main sources:

 

    Mechanical: the licensor receives royalties with respect to compositions embodied in recordings sold in any format or configuration, including singles, albums, CDs, digital downloads and mobile phone ringtones.

 

    Performance: the licensor receives royalties if the composition is performed publicly (e.g., broadcast radio and television, movie theater, concert, nightclub or Internet and wireless streaming).

 

    Synchronization: the licensor receives royalties or fees for the right to use the composition in combination with visual images (e.g., in films, television commercials and programs and videogames).

 

    Other: the licensor receives royalties from other uses such as stage productions.

 

The principal costs associated with our Music Publishing operations are as follows:

 

    artist and repertoire costs—the costs associated with (i) signing and developing songwriters and (ii) paying royalties to songwriters, co-publishers and other copyright holders in connection with income generated from the exploitation of their copyrighted works; and

 

    administration costs—the costs associated with general overhead and other administrative costs.

 

Recent Developments

 

EMI

 

 

 

 

On May 1, 2006, EMI made an unsolicited proposal to acquire the Company for $28.50 per share (consisting of $20 per share in cash and $8.50 per share in EMI stock). Our board unanimously rejected that proposal on May 2, 2006, determining that it was not in the best interests of our shareholders. On June 14, 2006, we made a proposal to purchase EMI for 315 pence per share in cash. EMI rejected that proposal on June 23, 2006, when it made its revised proposal to acquire us for $31 per share in cash. On June 27, 2006, our board unanimously rejected EMI’s revised proposal, determining that it was not in the best interests of our shareholders. We simultaneously made a revised proposal to purchase EMI for 320 pence per share in cash. On June 28, 2006, EMI rejected our revised proposal. On July 13, 2006, the European Court of First Instance annulled the European Commission’s decision approving the formation of Sony BMG. Sony and Bertelsmann

 

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will now have to re-apply to the European Commission to seek clearance for the formation of Sony BMG and the European Commission will have to re-examine the combination. As a result of this re-examination, the European Commission could clear the transaction without conditions, clear the transaction with conditions or block the transaction forcing Sony BMG to unwind. In the interim, the European Commission, Sony or Bertelsmann can appeal the ruling to the European Court of Justice. We cannot predict what actions will be taken by the European Commission, Sony or Bertelsmann as a result of the ruling or the outcome or timing of the European Commission’s re-examination of Sony BMG or the appeal of the ruling. On July 27, 2006, EMI announced that, against this backdrop, the Board of EMI has decided not to pursue a combination with us for the time being. The EMI Board noted that it will review this position in the light of future developments. Later on July 27, 2006, we announced that the ruling of the European Court of First Instance regarding Sony BMG had created uncertainty regarding a potential combination of us and EMI. We further announced that we would monitor the situation carefully, but until matters become clearer, for instance as a result of the re-review of Sony BMG by the European Commission or through an appeal to the European Court of Justice, we did not believe that it would be prudent to pursue a combination of us and EMI. Accordingly, we do not intend to make an offer for EMI at this time. There can be no certainty that any transaction between the two companies will take place.

 

Factors Affecting Results of Operations and Financial Condition

 

Market Factors

 

Over the past five years, the recorded music industry has been unstable, which has adversely affected our operating results. The industry-wide decline can be attributed primarily to digital piracy. Other drivers of this decline are the bankruptcies of record retailers and wholesalers, growing competition for consumer discretionary spending and retail shelf space and the maturation of the CD format, which has slowed the historical growth pattern of recorded music sales. However, new avenues for selling recorded music product have been created, including the legal downloading of digital music using the Internet and DVD-Audio formats and the distribution of music on mobile devices, and revenue streams from these new sources are beginning to emerge. As reported by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), sales of music via the Internet and mobile phones generated sales of $1.1 billion for record companies in 2005, up from $380 million in the prior-year. As of July 30, 2006, year-to-date U.S. recorded music sales (excluding sales of digital tracks) are down approximately 5.5% year-over-year. However, sales of music through new avenues are beginning to offset the declines seen in prior-years. It is too soon to determine if the industry has stabilized or the impact of sales of music through new channels might have on the industry and the recorded music industry performance may continue to negatively impact our operating results. In addition, a declining recorded music industry could continue to have an adverse impact on the music publishing business. This is because our music publishing business generates a significant portion of its revenues from mechanical royalties received from the sale of music in CD and other recorded music formats.

 

Restructuring

 

Due in part to the development of the new channels mentioned above and ongoing anti-piracy initiatives, we believe that the recorded music industry is positioned to improve over the coming years. However, the industry may relapse into a period of decline. In addition, there can be no assurances as to the timing or the extent of any improvement in the industry. Accordingly, in connection with the Acquisition, we executed a number of cost-saving initiatives in an attempt to realign our cost structure with the changing economics of the industry. These initiatives, primarily implemented in fiscal 2004 and the first half of fiscal 2005, included significant headcount reductions from the consolidation of operations and the streamlining of corporate and label overhead, exiting certain leased facilities in an effort to consolidate locations and the sale of our manufacturing, packaging and physical distribution operations. We completed substantially all of our restructuring efforts in fiscal 2005.

 

Initial Common Stock Offering

 

In May 2005, we completed the initial public offering of our common stock (the “Initial Common Stock Offering”). Prior to the consummation of the Initial Common Stock Offering, we, among other things, renamed all of our outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock as common stock and authorized an approximately 1,139 for 1 split of our common stock. We contributed the net proceeds from the Initial Common Stock Offering of

 

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$517 million to Holdings as an equity capital contribution. Holdings used all of such funds and approximately $57 million of cash received through dividends from Acquisition Corp. to redeem its outstanding notes as discussed below.

 

In addition, in connection with the Initial Common Stock Offering, we, among other things, repurchased the warrants issued as part of the initial purchase price consideration for the Acquisition from Time Warner for $138 million, we declared and paid a dividend to our stockholders prior to the Initial Common Stock Offering of $100.5 million, terminated a management agreement with the Investor Group as discussed below, borrowed an additional $250 million under the term loan portion of our senior secured credit facility and paid a $10 million cash bonus to our employees.

 

Payments Relating to Executive Compensation

 

Concurrent with the Initial Common Stock Offering, we determined that certain shares of restricted stock issued in 2004 and early 2005 may have been sold at prices below fair market value on the applicable date of sale and certain options to purchase shares of our stock granted may have had exercise prices below fair market value on the applicable date of grant. As a result, certain U.S. employee holders of the restricted stock who made elections under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code would be subject to additional ordinary income tax to the extent of the fair market value of the restricted stock received over the purchase price they paid for such stock. In other cases, certain employees who did not make such an election will be subject to higher taxes on their restricted shares at the time of vesting than would have been the case had they purchased the shares for fair market value. In addition, under the provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, signed into law in October 22, 2004, U.S. employee option holders whose options vest with exercise prices below fair market value on the date of grant are subject to significant penalties under new Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. IRS Notice 2005-1 provides transitional guidance on the application of Section 409A which, among other things, permits options with exercise prices below the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant to be amended or replaced with new options having an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value on the grant date. Non-U.S. employee holders of restricted stock or options may be subject to similar or other related issues. In order for us to address these issues our Board of Directors, based on a re-assessment of fair market values on the applicable dates, approved the actions discussed below.

 

Restricted Stock. We were authorized to pay a cash bonus to each employee who purchased restricted stock at prices that were below fair market value on the date of purchase. The bonus was calculated as either an amount equal to the tax liability incurred by the employee at the grant date or an estimate of the additional tax which would be incurred by the employee upon vesting of the shares, depending upon the employee’s Section 83(b) election. Additionally, we paid the employees an amount necessary to pay the related taxes on the bonus. This resulted in total cash payments of approximately $10 million, which we expensed in the quarter ended June 30, 2005.

 

Options. We revised the exercise prices of certain options to purchase our common stock to prices equal to the applicable re-determined fair market values of the common stock on the dates of the respective grants. We compensated the grantees with a cash bonus representing the loss of value created by this adjustment to the option exercise prices. This resulted in total cash bonuses paid of approximately $9 million. The revision of the exercise prices was treated as a modification of these awards and $6 million related to this modification was expensed in the quarter ended June 30, 2005.

 

Further, in connection with the $100.5 million cash dividend we declared and paid to holders of our common stock, consisting of the Investor Group and certain members of management who held shares of common stock prior to the Initial Common Stock Offering, we made an adjustment to all options to purchase common stock outstanding at the time of declaration of the dividend. The adjustment consisted of a cash make- whole payment to each option holder equal to the pro-rata amount that would have been received per share had all outstanding options been exercised at the time of the declaration of the dividend. The amounts were adjusted down to reflect a present value discount based on the earliest possible exercise dates. We recorded approximately $3 million of expense related to such payments in the quarter ended June 30, 2005.

 

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Holdings Refinancing and Redemption

 

In December 2004, Holdings issued $847 million principal amount of debt. The $847 million principal amount of Holdings’ debt consisted of (i) $250 million principal amount of Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2011 (the “Holdings Floating Rate Notes”), (ii) $397 million principal amount at maturity of 9.5% Senior Discount Notes due 2014, which had an initial issuance discount of $147 million (the “Holdings Discount Notes”) and (iii) $200 million principal amount of Floating Rate Senior PIK Notes due 2014 (the “Holdings PIK Notes”, and collectively, the “Holdings Notes”).

 

In connection with the Initial Common Stock Offering, we used $517 million of proceeds from the offering along with $57 million of available cash to redeem certain of the Holdings Notes outstanding. As of June 30, 2006, Holdings had $186 million of debt on its balance sheet relating to such securities, net of issuance discounts.

 

The Holdings Floating Rate Notes were redeemed in full on June 15, 2005. From the issuance date through the redemption date, the notes bore interest at a quarterly floating rate based on three-month LIBOR rates plus a margin equal to 4.375%. Interest was payable quarterly in cash beginning on March 15, 2005.

 

The Holdings Discount Notes were issued at a discount and had an initial accreted value of $630.02 per $1,000 principal amount at maturity. Prior to December 15, 2009, no cash interest payments are required. However, interest accrues on the Holdings Discount Notes in the form of an increase in the accreted value of such notes such that the accreted value of the Holdings Discount Notes will equal the principal amount at maturity on December 15, 2009. Thereafter, cash interest on the Holdings Discount Notes is payable semiannually at a fixed rate of 9.5% per annum. The Holdings Discount Notes mature on December 15, 2014. The Company redeemed 35% of the Holdings Discount Notes on June 15, 2005.

 

The Holdings PIK Notes were redeemed in full on June 15, 2005. From the date of issuance through the date of redemption, the notes bore interest at a semi-annual floating rate based on six-month LIBOR rates plus a margin equal to 7%. Interest was accrued in the form of additional PIK notes at the election of the Company. Such amounts were also repaid in connection with the redemption.

 

In connection with the redemption of the Holdings Floating Rate Notes and 35% of the Holdings Discount Notes, we were required to pay redemption premiums of $10 million and $9 million, respectively, which the we paid on June 15, 2005 and recorded as a loss on the repayment of the notes in the consolidated statement of operations for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005. We also wrote off the remaining balance of debt-issuance costs of $12 million related to the notes redeemed and the remaining unamortized original issue discount of $4 million related to the Holdings PIK Notes. Such amounts $35 million in the aggregate, were recorded as a loss on the repayment of the notes in the consolidated statement of operations for the three months and nine ended June 30, 2005.

 

Termination of Management/Monitoring Agreement

 

As described in Note 20 to our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2005, we entered into a management monitoring agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Investor Group in connection with the Acquisition.

 

Under the Management Agreement, we were required to pay the Investor Group an aggregate annual fee of $10 million per year (the “Periodic Fees”) in consideration for ongoing consulting and management advisory services.

 

The Management Agreement provided that it would continue in full force and effect until December 30, 2014, provided, however, that the Investor Group could cause the agreement to terminate at any time. In the event of the termination of the Management Agreement, the Company, Holdings and Acquisition Corp. were required by the terms of the agreement to pay each of the Investor Group any unpaid portion of the Periodic Fees,

 

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any Subsequent Fees and any expenses due with respect to periods prior to the date of termination plus the net present value (using a discount rate equal to the then yield on U.S. Treasury Securities of like maturity) of the Periodic Fees that would have been payable with respect to the period from the date of termination until December 30, 2014.

 

The Investor Group terminated the Management Agreement and on May 16, 2005, we paid the Investor Group a $73 million termination fee, which was reflected in our statement of operations for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005. As a result, certain fees paid in prior periods do not appear in subsequent periods. We paid $1 million and $6 million of Periodic Fees under the Management Agreement during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005, respectively. We no longer pay any Periodic Fees following the termination of the agreement.

 

Sale of Warner Bros. Publications

 

In May 2005, we sold WBP, which conducted our sheet music operations, to Alfred Publishing. No gain or loss was recognized on the transaction, as the historical book basis of the net assets being sold was adjusted to fair value in connection with the accounting for the Acquisition. Due to our continuing involvement with WBP, it was not reported as discontinued operations. For the three months ended June 30, 2005, the operations sold generated revenues of approximately $8 million; operating income of $1 million; operating income before depreciation and amortization expense of $1 million; and net income of approximately $1 million. For the nine months ended June 30, 2005, the operations sold generated revenues of approximately $34 million; operating income of $1 million; operating income before depreciation and amortization expense of $1 million; and net income of approximately $1 million.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2006 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2005

 

The following table summarizes our historical results of operations:

 

     Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2006


    Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2005


 
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
     (in millions)  

Revenues

   $ 822     $ 742  

Costs and expenses:

                

Cost of revenues

     (445 )     (396 )

Selling, general and administrative expenses (1)

     (301 )     (318 )

Amortization of intangible assets

     (48 )     (47 )

Loss on termination of management agreement

     —         (73 )
    


 


Total costs and expenses

     (794 )     (834 )
    


 


Operating income (loss)

     28       (92 )

Interest expense, net

     (45 )     (50 )

Net investment-related gains

     —         1  

Loss on repayment of Holdings Notes

     —         (35 )

Other income, net

     1       1  
    


 


Loss before income taxes

   $ (16 )   $ (175 )

Income tax benefit (expense)

     2       (4 )
    


 


Net loss

   $ (14 )   $ (179 )
    


 



(1) Includes depreciation expense of $10 million and $12 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

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Consolidated Historical Results

 

Revenues

 

Our revenues increased $80 million, or 11%, to $822 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to $742 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005. Excluding a $4 million unfavorable impact of foreign currency exchange rates and prior-year revenue of $8 million related to our sheet music business, which was sold in May 2005, total revenue increased by $92 million or 13%. Recorded Music revenues increased by $90 million, to $678 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. Excluding a $4 million unfavorable impact of foreign currency exchange rates, Recorded Music revenues rose $94 million, or 16%, comprised of a $44 million increase in physical sales and a $50 million increase in digital sales. Music Publishing revenues declined by $11 million to $150 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. Excluding $8 million of prior-year revenue related to our sheet music business sold in May 2005, Music Publishing revenue declined $3 million or 2%. International operations represented $416 million of consolidated revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to $375 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005, comprising 51% of total revenues for each period.

 

Overall digital revenues grew to $92 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to $90 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and $44 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005. Digital revenues represented 11% of consolidated revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2006, consistent with the most recent reported quarter and up from 6% in the prior-year quarter. Total digital revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2006 was comprised of U.S. revenues of $68 million, or 74% of total digital revenues, and international revenues of $24 million, or 26% of total digital revenues. The increase in digital revenues resulted from continued efforts to develop our digital business including efforts to further monetize existing content through new formats and new distribution channels and the increased usage of legal, online and mobile distribution channels for the music industry.

 

See “Business Segment Results” presented hereinafter for a discussion of revenue by business segment.

 

Cost of revenues

 

Our cost of revenues increased $49 million, or 12%, to $445 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to $396 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005. Excluding a $2 million benefit of foreign currency exchange rates and $5 million of costs related to our sheet music business, which was sold in May 2005, our cost of revenues increased by $56 million. Expressed as a percent of revenues, cost of revenues was 54% and 53% for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase related primarily to an increase in product costs of $20 million as a result of higher physical sales and an increase in artist and repertoire costs and licensing costs of $36 million related to increased royalty expense resulting from the increases in both physical and digital sales. While recorded music artist and repertoire costs remained consistent as a percentage of sales, music publishing artist and repertoire costs, excluding the impact of the sheet music business, increased as a percentage of sales due to increased investment in our music publishing business.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

Our selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $17 million, to $301 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to $318 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005. Expressed as a percent of revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses were 37% and 43% for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Excluding a $1 million benefit of foreign currency exchange rates and $2 million of expenses related to our print operations which were sold in May 2005, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $14 million, or 4%, primarily related to $29 million of one-time compensation expenses recorded in the three months ended June 30, 2005, consisting of a $10 million one-time

 

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bonus to employees related to the Company’s Initial Common Stock Offering and $19 million of one-time payments to holders of restricted stock and stock options primarily to compensate them for certain amounts related to stock awards issued at prices that were below fair value at the grant date. This decline was offset by a $6 million increase in selling and marketing expense, which was the result of the timing of marketing costs incurred in relation to our product release schedule in the current quarter, and a $6 million increase in distribution costs, directly related to the increase in physical sales. Stock compensation expense amounted to $4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and $9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005.

 

Loss on termination of management agreement

 

Concurrent with our Initial Common Stock Offering, the Investor Group terminated the Management Agreement with us. Under the Management Agreement, we were required to pay the Investor Group annual fees in consideration for ongoing consulting and management advisory services and transaction based fees for services provided in connection with any future acquisition, disposition or financing. The Investor Group terminated the Management Agreement on May 10, 2005 and on May 16, 2005 we paid a $73 million termination fee.

 

Reconciliation of Consolidated Historical OIBDA to Operating Income (Loss) and Net Loss

 

As previously described, we use OIBDA as our primary measure of financial performance. The following table reconciles OIBDA to operating income (loss) and further provides the components from operating income (loss) to net loss for purposes of the discussion that follows:

 

     Three Months
Ended June 30,
2006


    Three Months
Ended June 30,
2005


 
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
     (in millions)  

OIBDA

   $ 86     $ (33 )

Depreciation expense

     (10 )     (12 )

Amortization expense

     (48 )     (47 )
    


 


Operating income (loss)

     28       (92 )

Interest expense, net

     (45 )     (50 )

Net investment-related gains

     —         1  

Loss on repayment of Holdings Notes

     —         (35 )

Other income, net

     1       1  
    


 


Loss before income taxes

   $ (16 )   $ (175 )

Income tax benefit (expense)

     2       (4 )
    


 


Net loss

   $ (14 )   $ (179 )
    


 


 

OIBDA

 

Our OIBDA increased $119 million to $86 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to a loss of $33 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005. Expressed as a percentage of revenues, total OIBDA margin was 11% for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to (4)% for the three months ended June 30, 2005. The increase was primarily a result of the increased revenues and absence of certain one-time expenses which were included in the three months ended June 30, 2005, including the $73 million payment on termination of the Management Agreement and $29 million of one-time compensation expenses, consisting of a $10 million one-time bonus to employees related to the Company’s Initial Common Stock Offering and $19 million of one-time payments to holders of restricted stock and stock options primarily to compensate them for certain amounts related to stock awards issued at prices that were below fair value at the grant date, which are more fully discussed above. See “Business Segment Results” presented hereinafter for a discussion of OIBDA by business segment.

 

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Depreciation expense

 

Our depreciation expense decreased by $2 million to $10 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to $12 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005. The decrease primarily relates to lower capital spending since the date of the Acquisition.

 

Amortization expense

 

Our amortization expense increased by $1 million, or 2%, to $48 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to $47 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005. The increase is due to various acquisitions of recorded music catalogs and music publishing copyrights since the prior-year.

 

Operating income (loss)

 

Our operating income increased $120 million, to $28 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to an operating loss of $92 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005. The increase in operating income was primarily a result of the increase in OIBDA, which is more fully discussed above. See “Business Segment Results” presented hereinafter for a discussion of operating income by business segment.

 

Interest expense, net

 

Our interest expense decreased to $45 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 compared to $50 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005. The decrease in interest expense is due to a higher average debt balance in the prior-year, as the three months ended June 30, 2005 included interest expense related to the outstanding Holdings Floating Rate Notes and Holdings PIK Notes, which were fully redeemed in June 2005, as well as the Holdings Discount Notes, which were partially redeemed in June 2005. The decline was partially offset by the additional interest on an additional $250 million borrowed under the term loan portion of our senior secured credit facility in connection with the Initial Common Stock Offering in May 2005, as well as higher interest rates on outstanding debt during the current period. See “—Financial Condition and Liquidity” for more information.

 

Net investment-related gains

 

We recognized a $1 million investment-related gain for the three months ended June 30, 2005 primarily related to the sale of our interest in an equity-method investment. We did not recognize any investment-related gains or losses for the three months ended June 30, 2006.

 

Loss on repayment of Holdings Notes

 

In June 2005, we redeemed all of the outstanding Holdings Floating Rate Notes, all of the outstanding Holdings PIK Notes and 35% of the outstanding Holdings Discount Notes. In connection with the redemption, we paid approximately $19 million of redemption premiums, and wrote off approximately $12 million related to the carrying value of the unamortized debt issuance costs related to our Holdings Notes and approximately $4 million related to the carrying value of the unamortized discount on the issuance of the Holdings Notes. See “—Financial Condition and Liquidity” for more information.

 

Other income, net

 

Other income, net relates to foreign currency exchange rate movements associated with intercompany receivables and payables that are short-term in nature, and therefore required to be recognized in the statement of operations under U.S. GAAP. We recognized $1 million of other income, net for each of the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 as a result of favorable foreign currency exchange rate movements.

 

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Income tax benefit (expense)

 

We provided an income tax benefit of $2 million and income tax expense of $4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The current quarter tax benefit related to a discreet period item that resulted from the completion in the current quarter of an analysis of the allocation of our operating expenses charged to affiliates. The analysis resulted in a higher percentage of operating expenses being allocated to foreign income, thereby reducing foreign income taxes. In connection with the Acquisition we made a joint election with Time Warner under Section 338(h)(10) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code to treat the Acquisition as an asset purchase. There was no offsetting income tax benefit on U.S. domestic tax losses recognized due to the uncertain nature of these deferred tax assets. Our income tax expense for the three months ended June 30, 2005 primarily relates to the tax provisions on foreign income.

 

Net loss

 

Our net loss declined $165 million, to a net loss of $14 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to a net loss of $179 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005. The decrease is primarily the result of increases in revenues and the absence of certain one-time expenses which were included in the three months ended June 30, 2005, including the $73 million payment on termination of the Management Agreement, $29 million of one-time compensation expenses and the $35 million loss on the repayment of the Holdings Notes, which are more fully discussed above.

 

Business Segment Results

 

Revenue, OIBDA and operating income (loss) by business segment are as follows:

 

    

Three Months

Ended
June 30, 2006


   

Three Months

Ended
June 30, 2005


 
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
     (in millions)  

Recorded Music

                

Revenue

   $ 678     $ 588  

OIBDA

   $ 92     $ 47  

Operating income

   $ 52     $ 6  

Music Publishing

                

Revenue

   $ 150     $ 161  

OIBDA

   $ 23     $ 28  

Operating income

   $ 9     $ 13  

Corporate and Revenue Eliminations

                

Revenue

   $ (6 )   $ (7 )

OIBDA

   $ (29 )   $ (108 )

Operating loss

   $ (33 )   $ (111 )

Total

                

Revenue

   $ 822     $ 742  

OIBDA

   $ 86     $ (33 )

Operating income (loss)

   $ 28     $ (92 )

 

Recorded Music

 

Recorded Music revenues increased by $90 million, or 15%, to $678 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 from $588 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005. Excluding a $4 million unfavorable impact of foreign currency exchange rates, Recorded Music revenues increased by $94 million, or 16%, which was driven by an increase in digital sales of approximately $50 million and an increase in physical sales of $44

 

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million. Digital sales totaled $88 million, or 13% of Recorded Music revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2006 compared to $38 million, or 6%, for the three months ended June 30, 2005. Digital sales totaled $86 million, or 13% for the immediately preceding three months ended March 31, 2006. Worldwide physical sales increased as a result of significant sales of new releases in the three months ended June 30, 2006, as well as increased sales of a number of carryover and catalog releases. Domestic physical sales increased $18 million, and excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, international physical sales increased $26 million.

 

Recorded Music revenues represented 82% and 79% of consolidated revenues, prior to corporate and revenue eliminations, for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. U.S. Recorded Music revenues were $347 million and $292 million, or 51% and 50% of consolidated Recorded Music revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. International Recorded Music revenues were $331 million and $296 million, or 49% and 50% of consolidated Recorded Music revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Recorded Music OIBDA increased by $45 million, to $92 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 compared to $47 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005. Expressed as a percentage of Recorded Music revenues, Recorded Music OIBDA was 14% and 8% for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase in OIBDA was primarily a result of the $90 million increase in revenues more fully described above and a $22 million decrease in general and administrative expense, primarily due to the absence of a $20 million impact related to one-time compensation expenses consisting of a one-time bonus to employees related to the Company’s Initial Common Stock Offering and one-time payments to holders of restricted stock and stock options primarily to compensate them for certain amounts related to stock awards issued at prices that were below fair value at the grant date. These increases in OIBDA were offset by (i) a $20 million increase in product costs and a $6 million increase in distribution costs directly related to the increase in physical sales previously described and (ii) a $24 million increase in artist and repertoire costs primarily related to increased royalty expense as a result of our increases in both physical and digital sales previously described. As a percentage of Recorded Music revenues, artist and repertoire costs were flat, excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, as compared to the prior-year quarter.

 

Recorded Music operating income was $52 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to $6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. Recorded Music operating income included the following components:

 

     Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2006


     Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2005


 
     (unaudited)      (unaudited)  
     (in millions)  

OIBDA

   $ 92      $ 47  

Depreciation and amortization

     (40 )      (41 )
    


  


Operating income

   $ 52      $ 6  
    


  


 

The $46 million increase in Recorded Music operating income related to the $45 million increase in Recorded Music OIBDA more fully discussed above, and a decrease in Recorded Music depreciation and amortization of $1 million.

 

Music Publishing

 

Music Publishing revenues decreased $11 million, or 7%, to $150 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to $161 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005. Excluding prior-year revenue of $8 million from our sheet music business, which was sold in May 2005, Music Publishing revenues

 

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declined $3 million, or 2%, and such decline was comprised of a $4 million decrease in mechanical revenue and a $12 million decline in synchronization revenue, offset by increases in performance revenue of $8 million and other revenues of $5 million. Mechanical revenue declines reflect prior-year industry declines in physical record sales. Synchronization revenues declined as a result of variability in the film and television commercial markets as well as the timing of payments received from key licensors of our copyrights. The increase in performance revenue reflects a change in the timing of payments received from a U.S. performing rights organization. Other revenue consists primarily of print licensing fees and royalties from other sources such as stage productions. Music Publishing revenues consisted of $62 million of mechanical revenues, $58 million of performance revenues, $21 million of synchronization revenues, $4 million of revenues from digital sales and $5 million of other revenues. Digital sales represented 3% and 4% of Music Publishing revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Music Publishing revenues represented 18% and 22% of consolidated revenues, prior to corporate and revenue eliminations, for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Music Publishing OIBDA declined $5 million to $23 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to $28 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005. Excluding $1 million in prior-year OIBDA from our sheet music business, OIBDA decreased by $4 million primarily as a result of the decrease in revenues discussed above. Expressed as a percentage of Music Publishing revenues, Music Publishing OIBDA was 15% and 17% for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Music Publishing operating income was $9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to $13 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005. Music Publishing operating income includes the following components:

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30, 2006


    Three Months Ended
June 30, 2005


 
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
     (in millions)  

OIBDA

   $ 23     $ 28  

Depreciation and amortization

     (14 )     (15 )
    


 


Operating income

   $ 9     $ 13  
    


 


 

The $4 million decline in Music Publishing operating income related to the $5 million decrease in Music Publishing OIBDA, more fully discussed above, and a $1 million decrease in depreciation and amortization.

 

Corporate Expenses and Eliminations

 

Corporate expenses before depreciation and amortization expense decreased $79 million to $29 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to $108 million for the three months ended June 30, 2005. Corporate expenses decreased primarily due to the lack of a $73 million payment on termination of management fee, described more fully above. Additionally, prior-year corporate expenses were impacted by $8 million of one-time payments to holders of restricted stock and stock options primarily to compensate them for certain amounts related to stock awards issued at prices that were below fair value at the grant date.

 

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Nine Months Ended June 30, 2006 Compared to Nine Months Ended June 30, 2005

 

The following table summarizes our historical results of operations:

 

    

Nine Months

Ended

June 30, 2006


   

Nine Months

Ended

June 30, 2005


 
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
     (in millions)  

Revenues

   $ 2,662     $ 2,597  

Costs and expenses:

                

Cost of revenues(1)

     (1,384 )     (1,377 )

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     (918 )     (942 )

Amortization of intangible assets

     (143 )     (140 )

Loss on termination of management agreement

     —         (73 )
    


 


Total costs and expenses

     (2,445 )     (2,532 )
    


 


Operating income

     217       65  

Interest expense, net

     (135 )     (140 )

Net investment-related gains

     —         1  

Equity in the gains (losses) of equity-method investees, net

     1       (1 )

Loss on repayment of Holdings Notes

     —         (35 )

Unrealized gain on warrants

     —         17  

Minority interest expense

     —         (5 )

Other income, net

     3       5  
    


 


Income (loss) before income taxes

     86       (93 )

Income tax expense

     (38 )     (46 )
    


 


Net income (loss)

   $ 48     $ (139 )
    


 



(1) Includes depreciation expense of $32 million and $40 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Consolidated Historical Results

 

Revenues

 

Our revenues increased $65 million, or 3%, to $2.662 billion for the nine months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to $2.597 billion for the nine months ended June 30, 2005. Excluding a $62 million unfavorable impact of foreign currency exchange rates and prior-year revenue of $34 million related to our sheet music business, which was sold in May 2005, total revenue increased by $161 million, or 6%, primarily due to significant increases in digital sales. Recorded Music revenues increased by $125 million, to $2.274 billion for the nine months ended June 30, 2006. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, Recorded Music revenues increased by $173 million or 8%, primarily driven by an increase in worldwide Recorded Music digital sales of $148 million and an increase in worldwide Recorded Music licensing revenue and physical sales of $25 million. Music Publishing revenues declined by $60 million, to $410 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2006. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates and the prior-year revenue related to our sheet music business, Music Publishing revenue declined $12 million, or 3%. International operations represented $1.380 billion of consolidated revenues for each of the nine months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, comprising 52% and 53% of total revenues, respectively.

 

Overall digital revenues grew $147 million to $251 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to $104 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2005. Digital revenues represented 9% and 4% of consolidated revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Total digital revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2006 were comprised of U.S revenues of $181 million, or 72% of total digital

 

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revenues, and international revenues of $70 million, or 28% of total digital revenues. The increase in digital revenues resulted from continued efforts to develop our digital business including efforts to further monetize existing content through new formats and new distribution channels and the increased usage of legal, online and mobile distribution channels for the music industry.

 

See “Business Segment Results” presented hereinafter for a discussion of revenue by business segment.

 

Cost of revenues

 

Our cost of revenues increased by $7 million, or 1%, to $1.384 billion for the nine months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to $1.377 billion for the nine months ended June 30, 2005. Expressed as a percent of revenues, cost of revenues was 52% and 53% for the nine months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Excluding a $38 million favorable impact of foreign currency exchange rates and $22 million of expenses related to our sheet music business, which was sold in May 2005, our cost of revenues increased $67 million, or 5%. The increase was primarily due to an increase in product costs of $45 million, directly related to our higher physical sales and a $22 million increase in artist and repertoire and licensing expenses related primarily to increased royalty expense as a result of our increases in physical and digital sales.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

Our selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $24 million, or 3%, to $918 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to $942 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2005. Expressed as a percent of revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses were 34% and 36% for the nine months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Excluding a $17 million benefit of foreign currency exchange rates and $11 million of expenses related to our sheet music business, selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $4 million. The increase primarily related to (i) a $35 million increase in selling and marketing due to the timing of marketing costs incurred in relation to our product release schedule in the current period and (ii) a $7 million increase in distribution costs related to our increase in physical sales. These increases were offset by an $18 million decrease in general and administrative expenses, primarily due to the absence of $29 million of one-time compensation expenses recorded in the nine months ended June 30, 2005, consisting of a $10 million one-time bonus to employees related to the Company’s Initial Common Stock Offering and $19 million of one-time payments to holders of restricted stock and stock options primarily to compensate them for certain amounts related to stock awards issued at prices that were below fair value at the grant date and $6 million of management fees incurred related to the terminated Management Agreement described below. This was partially offset by a severance payment of $8 million related to the departure of the chairman of WMI recorded in the nine months ended June 30, 2006. Additionally, the increase was offset by an $8 million decrease in depreciation expense, discussed more fully below. Stock compensation expense amounted to $12 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2006 and $18 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2005.

 

Loss on termination of management agreement

 

Concurrent with our Initial Common Stock Offering, the Investor Group terminated the Management Agreement. Under the Management Agreement, we were required to pay the Investor Group annual fees in consideration for ongoing consulting and management advisory services and transaction based fees for services provided in connection with any future acquisition, disposition, or financing. The Investor Group terminated the Management Agreement on May 10, 2005 and on May 16, 2005 we paid a $73 million termination fee.

 

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Reconciliation of Consolidated Historical OIBDA to Operating Income and Net Income (Loss)

 

As previously described, we use OIBDA as our primary measure of financial performance. The following table reconciles OIBDA to operating income and further provides the components from operating income to net income (loss) for purposes of the discussion that follows:

 

    

Nine Months
Ended

June 30, 2006


   

Nine Months
Ended

June 30, 2005


 
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
     (in millions)  

OIBDA

   $ 392     $ 245  

Depreciation expense

     (32 )     (40 )

Amortization expense

     (143 )     (140 )
    


 


Operating income

     217       65  
    


 


Interest expense, net

     (135 )     (140 )

Net investment-related gains

     —         1  

Equity in the gains (losses) of equity-method investees, net

     1       (1 )

Loss on repayment of Holdings Notes

     —         (35 )

Unrealized gain on warrants

     —         17  

Minority interest expense

     —         (5 )

Other income, net

  <