NEWS CORP - Quarter Report: 2020 September (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_________________________________________
FORM 10-Q
_________________________________________
(Mark One)
☒ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020
or
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number 001-35769
_________________________________________
![nws-20200930_g1.jpg](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001564708/000156470820000036/nws-20200930_g1.jpg)
NEWS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
_________________________________________
Delaware | 46-2950970 | |||||||||||||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||||||||
1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York | 10036 | |||||||||||||
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |||||||||||||
(212) 416-3400 | ||||||||||||||
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) |
_________________________________________
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | NWSA | The Nasdaq Global Select Market | ||||||
Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | NWS | The Nasdaq Global Select Market | ||||||
Class A Preferred Stock Purchase Rights | N/A | The Nasdaq Global Select Market | ||||||
Class B Preferred Stock Purchase Rights | N/A | The Nasdaq Global Select Market |
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 ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | ||||||||
Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | ||||||||
Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of October 30, 2020, 390,955,182 shares of Class A Common Stock and 199,630,240 shares of Class B Common Stock were outstanding.
NEWS CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |||||
PART I
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NEWS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited; millions, except per share amounts)
For the three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
Notes | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||
Circulation and subscription | $ | 1,002 | $ | 995 | ||||||||||
Advertising | 332 | 608 | ||||||||||||
Consumer | 441 | 387 | ||||||||||||
Real estate | 235 | 218 | ||||||||||||
Other | 107 | 132 | ||||||||||||
Total Revenues | 2 | 2,117 | 2,340 | |||||||||||
Operating expenses | (1,164) | (1,338) | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | (685) | (781) | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | (164) | (162) | ||||||||||||
Impairment and restructuring charges | 3 | (40) | (297) | |||||||||||
Equity losses of affiliates | 4 | (1) | (2) | |||||||||||
Interest (expense) income, net | (8) | 4 | ||||||||||||
Other, net | 12 | 17 | 4 | |||||||||||
Income (loss) before income tax (expense) benefit | 72 | (232) | ||||||||||||
Income tax (expense) benefit | 10 | (25) | 21 | |||||||||||
Net income (loss) | 47 | (211) | ||||||||||||
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (13) | (16) | ||||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to News Corporation stockholders | $ | 34 | $ | (227) | ||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to News Corporation stockholders per share: | 8 | |||||||||||||
Basic and diluted | $ | 0.06 | $ | (0.39) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
2
NEWS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited; millions)
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 47 | $ | (211) | |||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | 107 | (185) | |||||||||
Net change in the fair value of cash flow hedges(a) | (2) | (14) | |||||||||
Benefit plan adjustments, net(b) | 8 | 11 | |||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) | 113 | (188) | |||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | 160 | (399) | |||||||||
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (13) | (16) | |||||||||
Less: Other comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (17) | 45 | |||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to News Corporation stockholders | $ | 130 | $ | (370) |
(a) Net of income tax benefit of nil and $3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
(b) Net of income tax expense of $3 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
3
NEWS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Millions, except share and per share amounts)
Notes | As of September 30, 2020 | As of June 30, 2020 | |||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (audited) | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: | |||||||||||||||||
Current assets: | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,539 | $ | 1,517 | |||||||||||||
Receivables, net | 12 | 1,240 | 1,203 | ||||||||||||||
Inventory, net | 203 | 348 | |||||||||||||||
Other current assets | 453 | 393 | |||||||||||||||
Total current assets | 3,435 | 3,461 | |||||||||||||||
Non-current assets: | |||||||||||||||||
Investments | 4 | 314 | 297 | ||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 2,225 | 2,256 | |||||||||||||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 1,048 | 1,061 | |||||||||||||||
Intangible assets, net | 1,869 | 1,864 | |||||||||||||||
Goodwill | 3,997 | 3,951 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred income tax assets | 10 | 337 | 332 | ||||||||||||||
Other non-current assets | 12 | 1,175 | 1,039 | ||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 14,400 | $ | 14,261 | |||||||||||||
Liabilities and Equity: | |||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 322 | $ | 351 | |||||||||||||
Accrued expenses | 1,060 | 1,019 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred revenue | 2 | 409 | 398 | ||||||||||||||
Current borrowings | 5 | 78 | 76 | ||||||||||||||
Other current liabilities | 12 | 869 | 838 | ||||||||||||||
Total current liabilities | 2,738 | 2,682 | |||||||||||||||
Non-current liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
Borrowings | 5 | 1,206 | 1,183 | ||||||||||||||
Retirement benefit obligations | 260 | 277 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred income tax liabilities | 10 | 263 | 258 | ||||||||||||||
Operating lease liabilities | 1,135 | 1,146 | |||||||||||||||
Other non-current liabilities | 344 | 326 | |||||||||||||||
Commitments and contingencies | 9 | ||||||||||||||||
Class A common stock(a) | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||
Class B common stock(b) | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 12,075 | 12,148 | |||||||||||||||
Accumulated deficit | (3,207) | (3,241) | |||||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (1,235) | (1,331) | |||||||||||||||
Total News Corporation stockholders’ equity | 7,639 | 7,582 | |||||||||||||||
Noncontrolling interests | 815 | 807 | |||||||||||||||
Total equity | 6 | 8,454 | 8,389 | ||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 14,400 | $ | 14,261 |
(a) Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Class A Common Stock”), 1,500,000,000 shares authorized, 390,954,837 and 388,922,752 shares issued and outstanding, net of 27,368,413 treasury shares at par at September 30, 2020 and June 30, 2020, respectively.
(b) Class B common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Class B Common Stock”), 750,000,000 shares authorized, 199,630,240 shares issued and outstanding, net of 78,430,424 treasury shares at par at September 30, 2020 and June 30, 2020, respectively.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
4
NEWS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited; millions)
For the three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
Notes | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||
Operating activities: | ||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 47 | $ | (211) | ||||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 164 | 162 | ||||||||||||
Operating lease expense | 32 | 43 | ||||||||||||
Equity losses of affiliates | 4 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||
Cash distributions received from affiliates | 4 | 2 | ||||||||||||
Impairment charges | — | 273 | ||||||||||||
Other, net | 12 | (17) | (4) | |||||||||||
Deferred income taxes and taxes payable | 10 | 10 | (45) | |||||||||||
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: | ||||||||||||||
Receivables and other assets | (46) | (1,551) | ||||||||||||
Inventories, net | 2 | (72) | ||||||||||||
Accounts payable and other liabilities | (42) | 1,428 | ||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 155 | 27 | ||||||||||||
Investing activities: | ||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures | (93) | (117) | ||||||||||||
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired | (1) | — | ||||||||||||
Investments in equity affiliates and other | (7) | (5) | ||||||||||||
Proceeds from property, plant and equipment and other asset dispositions | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||
Other, net | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (96) | (118) | ||||||||||||
Financing activities: | ||||||||||||||
Borrowings | 5 | 123 | 199 | |||||||||||
Repayment of borrowings | 5 | (119) | (290) | |||||||||||
Dividends paid | (20) | (22) | ||||||||||||
Other, net | (34) | 18 | ||||||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (50) | (95) | ||||||||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | 9 | (186) | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 1,517 | 1,643 | ||||||||||||
Exchange movement on opening cash balance | 13 | (16) | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 1,539 | $ | 1,441 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
5
NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
News Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “News Corporation,” “News Corp,” the “Company,” “we” or “us”) is a global diversified media and information services company comprised of businesses across a range of media, including: digital real estate services, subscription video services in Australia, news and information services and book publishing.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, in connection with the Company's sale of its News America Marketing reporting unit and its annual review of its reportable segments, the Company determined to disaggregate its Dow Jones operating segment as a separate reportable segment in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 280, “Segment Reporting.” Previously, the financial information for this operating segment was aggregated with the businesses within the News Media operating segment and, together, formed the News and Information Services reportable segment. Following the sale of its News America Marketing business in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 and in conjunction with the Company’s annual budgeting process, the Company determined that aggregation was no longer appropriate as certain of the remaining businesses no longer shared similar economic characteristics. As a result, the Company has revised its historical disclosures for the prior period to reflect the new Dow Jones and News Media reportable segments.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company, which are referred to herein as the “Consolidated Financial Statements,” have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation have been reflected in these Consolidated Financial Statements. Operating results for the interim period presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. The preparation of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts that are reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying disclosures. The business and economic uncertainty resulting from the impacts of the ongoing novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic has been considered in making those estimates and assumptions. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Equity investments in which the Company exercises significant influence but does not exercise control and is not the primary beneficiary are accounted for using the equity method. Investments in which the Company is not able to exercise significant influence over the investee are measured at fair value, if the fair value is readily determinable. If an investment’s fair value is not readily determinable, the Company will measure the investment at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer.
The consolidated statements of operations are referred to herein as the “Statements of Operations.” The consolidated balance sheets are referred to herein as the “Balance Sheets.” The consolidated statements of cash flows are referred to herein as the “Statements of Cash Flows.”
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 11, 2020 (the “2020 Form 10-K”).
Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year presentation. Specifically, the Company reclassified certain costs at the Other segment that were previously included within Selling, general and administrative to Operating expenses. For the three months ended September 30, 2019, these reclassifications increased Operating expenses by $1 million.
The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Sunday closest to June 30. Fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020 include 52 weeks. All references to the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 relate to the three months ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019, respectively. For convenience purposes, the Company continues to date its Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30.
6
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Adopted
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2016-13”). The amendments in ASU 2016-13 require a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The Company adopted the amendments in ASU 2016-13 on a modified retrospective basis as of July 1, 2020 and the adoption did not have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company will continue to actively monitor the impact of COVID-19 on expected credit losses.
Allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated by pooling receivables with similar credit risks such as the level of delinquency, types of products or services and geographical locations and reflects the Company’s expected credit losses based on historical experience as well as current and expected economic conditions. Refer to Note 12—Additional Financial Information for further discussion.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement” (“ASU 2018-13”). ASU 2018-13 removes, modifies and adds certain disclosure requirements in Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement.” ASU 2018-13 eliminates certain disclosures related to transfers and the valuation process, modifies disclosures for investments that are valued based on net asset value, clarifies the measurement uncertainty disclosure, and requires additional disclosures for Level 3 fair value measurements. The Company adopted the amendments to disclosure requirements in ASU 2018-13 on a prospective basis as of July 1, 2020. The adoption did not have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
In March 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-02, “Entertainment—Films—Other Assets—Film Costs (Subtopic 926-20) and Entertainment—Broadcasters—Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Subtopic 920-350): Improvements to Accounting for Costs of Films and License Agreements for Program Materials (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force)” (“ASU 2019-02”). The amendments in ASU 2019-02 align the impairment model in Entertainment—Broadcasters—Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Subtopic 920-350) with the fair value model in Entertainment—Films—Other Assets—Film Costs (Subtopic 926-20). The Company adopted the amendments in ASU 2019-02 on a prospective basis as of July 1, 2020. The adoption did not have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. Refer to Note 12—Additional Financial Information for further discussion.
Issued
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes” (“ASU 2019-12”). The amendments in ASU 2019-12 remove certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and simplify other areas of Topic 740 including the accounting for and recognition of intraperiod tax allocation, deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences for certain foreign subsidiaries, year-to-date losses in interim periods, deferred tax assets for goodwill in business combinations and franchise taxes in income tax expense. ASU 2019-12 is effective for the Company for annual and interim reporting periods beginning July 1, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact ASU 2019-12 will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
7
NOTE 2. REVENUES
The following tables present the Company’s disaggregated revenues by type and segment for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:
For the three months ended September 30, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Digital Real Estate Services | Subscription Video Services | Dow Jones | Book Publishing | News Media | Total Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Circulation and subscription | $ | 8 | $ | 437 | $ | 311 | $ | — | $ | 246 | $ | 1,002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Advertising | 28 | 50 | 70 | — | 184 | 332 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Consumer | — | — | — | 441 | — | 441 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Real estate | 235 | — | — | — | — | 235 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | 19 | 9 | 5 | 17 | 57 | 107 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Revenues | $ | 290 | $ | 496 | $ | 386 | $ | 458 | $ | 487 | $ | 2,117 |
For the three months ended September 30, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Digital Real Estate Services | Subscription Video Services | Dow Jones | Book Publishing | News Media | Total Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Circulation and subscription | $ | 10 | $ | 451 | $ | 289 | $ | — | $ | 245 | $ | 995 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Advertising | 27 | 51 | 84 | — | 446 | 608 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Consumer | — | — | — | 387 | — | 387 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Real estate | 218 | — | — | — | — | 218 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | 17 | 12 | 9 | 18 | 76 | 132 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Revenues | $ | 272 | $ | 514 | $ | 382 | $ | 405 | $ | 767 | $ | 2,340 |
Contract liabilities and assets
The Company’s deferred revenue balance primarily relates to amounts received from customers for subscriptions paid in advance of the services being provided. The following table presents changes in the deferred revenue balance for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Balance, beginning of period | $ | 398 | $ | 428 | |||||||
Deferral of revenue | 707 | 821 | |||||||||
Recognition of deferred revenue(a) | (701) | (794) | |||||||||
Other | 5 | (7) | |||||||||
Balance, end of period | $ | 409 | $ | 448 |
(a)For the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company recognized $257 million and $266 million, respectively, of revenue which was included in the opening deferred revenue balance.
Contract assets were immaterial for disclosure as of September 30, 2020 and 2019.
8
Other revenue disclosures
The Company typically expenses sales commissions incurred to obtain a customer contract as those amounts are incurred as the amortization period is 12 months or less. These costs are recorded within Selling, general and administrative in the Statements of Operations. The Company also does not capitalize significant financing components when the transfer of the good or service is paid within 12 months or less, or the receipt of consideration is received within 12 months or less of the transfer of the good or service.
For the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recognized approximately $97 million in revenues related to performance obligations that were satisfied or partially satisfied in a prior reporting period. The remaining transaction price related to unsatisfied performance obligations as of September 30, 2020 was approximately $458 million, of which approximately $175 million is expected to be recognized over the remainder of fiscal 2021, approximately $119 million is expected to be recognized in fiscal 2022 and approximately $45 million is expected to be recognized in fiscal 2023, with the remainder to be recognized thereafter. These amounts do not include (i) contracts with an expected duration of one year or less, (ii) contracts for which variable consideration is determined based on the customer’s subsequent sale or usage and (iii) variable consideration allocated to performance obligations accounted for under the series guidance that meets the allocation objective under ASC 606, “Revenue From Contracts With Customers”.
NOTE 3 . RESTRUCTURING PROGRAMS
Restructuring
During the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $40 million and $24 million, respectively, of which $31 million and $18 million, respectively, related to the News Media segment. The restructuring charges recorded in fiscal 2021 primarily relate to exit costs associated with the anticipated closure of the Company’s Bronx print plant. In September 2020, the Company announced that it plans to close the plant and shift the printing of those publications in New York to a third party facility during the third quarter of fiscal 2021. Restructuring charges in fiscal 2020 were for employee termination benefits.
Changes in restructuring program liabilities were as follows:
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One time employee termination benefits | Other costs | Total | One time employee termination benefits | Facility related costs | Other costs | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, beginning of period | $ | 64 | $ | 9 | $ | 73 | $ | 28 | $ | 2 | $ | 10 | $ | 40 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additions | 19 | 21 | 40 | 24 | — | — | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Payments | (48) | — | (48) | (29) | — | — | (29) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | (1) | — | (1) | (1) | (2) | — | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, end of period | $ | 34 | $ | 30 | $ | 64 | $ | 22 | $ | — | $ | 10 | $ | 32 |
As of September 30, 2020, restructuring liabilities of approximately $35 million were included in the Balance Sheet in Other current liabilities and $29 million were included in Other non-current liabilities.
NOTE 4. INVESTMENTS
The Company’s investments were comprised of the following:
Ownership Percentage as of September 30, 2020 | As of September 30, 2020 | As of June 30, 2020 | |||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||
Equity method investments(a) | various | $ | 117 | $ | 120 | ||||||||||||
Equity securities(b) | various | 197 | 177 | ||||||||||||||
Total Investments | $ | 314 | $ | 297 |
9
(a)Equity method investments are primarily comprised of Foxtel’s investment in Nickelodeon Australia Joint Venture and Elara Technologies Pte. Ltd. (“Elara”), which operates PropTiger.com and Housing.com.
(b)Equity securities are primarily comprised of certain investments in China and the Company’s investment in HT&E Limited, which operates a portfolio of Australian radio and outdoor media assets.
The Company has equity securities with quoted prices in active markets as well as equity securities without readily determinable fair market values. Equity securities without readily determinable fair market values are valued at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes in fair value resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer. The components comprising total gains and losses on equity securities are set forth below:
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Total gains recognized on equity securities | $ | 9 | $ | 1 | |||||||
Less: Net gains recognized on equity securities sold | — | — | |||||||||
Unrealized gains recognized on equity securities held at end of period | $ | 9 | $ | 1 |
Equity Losses of Affiliates
The Company’s share of the losses of its equity affiliates was $1 million and $2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
NOTE 5. BORROWINGS
The Company’s total borrowings consist of the following:
Interest rate at September 30, 2020 | Maturity at September 30, 2020 | As of September 30, 2020 | As of June 30, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Foxtel Group | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Credit facility 2019(a) (c) | 3.15 | % | Nov 22, 2022 | $ | 383 | $ | 371 | ||||||||||||||||
Term loan facility 2019(b) | 6.25 | % | Nov 22, 2024 | 176 | 171 | ||||||||||||||||||
Working capital facility 2017(a) (c) | 3.15 | % | Nov 22, 2022 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Telstra Facility(d) | 7.90 | % | Dec 22, 2027 | 22 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||
US private placement 2012 — USD portion — tranche 2(e) | 4.27 | % | Jul 25, 2022 | 197 | 200 | ||||||||||||||||||
US private placement 2012 — USD portion — tranche 3(e) | 4.42 | % | Jul 25, 2024 | 148 | 150 | ||||||||||||||||||
US private placement 2012 — AUD portion | 7.04 | % | Jul 25, 2022 | 74 | 73 | ||||||||||||||||||
REA Group | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Credit facility 2018(f) | 0.99 | % | Apr 27, 2021 | 49 | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||
Credit facility 2019(g) | 0.99 | % | Dec 2, 2021 | 120 | 117 | ||||||||||||||||||
Credit facility 2020(h) | 2.14 | % | Dec 2, 2021 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Finance lease and other liabilities | 115 | 118 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total borrowings(i) | 1,284 | 1,259 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Less: current portion(j) | (78) | (76) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term borrowings | $ | 1,206 | $ | 1,183 |
(a)Borrowings under these facilities bear interest at a floating rate of the Australian BBSY plus an applicable margin of between 2.00% and 3.75% per annum depending on the Foxtel Debt Group’s (defined below) net leverage ratio.
(b)Borrowings under this facility bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.25% per annum.
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(c)As of September 30, 2020, the Foxtel Debt Group had undrawn commitments of A$95 million under these facilities for which it pays a commitment fee of 45% of the applicable margin.
(d)Borrowings under this facility bear interest at a variable rate of Australian BBSY plus a margin of 7.75%. The Company excludes borrowings under this facility from the Statements of Cash Flows as they are non-cash.
(e)The carrying values of the borrowings include any fair value adjustments related to the Company’s fair value hedges. See Note 7—Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements.
(f)Borrowings under this facility bear interest at a floating rate of the Australian BBSY plus a margin of between 0.85% and 2.75% depending on REA Group’s net leverage ratio.
(g)Borrowings under this facility bear interest at a floating rate of the Australian BBSY plus a margin of between 0.85% and 2.00% depending on REA Group’s net leverage ratio.
(h)Borrowings under this facility bear interest at a floating rate of the Australian BBSY plus a margin of 2.00% or 2.75% depending on REA Group’s net leverage ratio.
(i)The Company’s outstanding borrowings as of September 30, 2020 were incurred by certain subsidiaries of NXE Australia Pty Limited (“Foxtel” and together with such subsidiaries, the “Foxtel Debt Group”) and by REA Group and certain of its subsidiaries. Foxtel and REA Group are consolidated but non wholly-owned subsidiaries of News Corp. These borrowings are only guaranteed by Foxtel and REA Group and certain of their respective subsidiaries, as applicable, and are non-recourse to News Corp.
(j)The Company classifies the current portion of long term debt as non-current liabilities on the Balance Sheets when it has the intent and ability to refinance the obligation on a long-term basis, in accordance with ASC 470-50 “Debt.” $28 million relates to the current portion of finance lease liabilities.
REA Group has access to an A$20 million overdraft facility (the “2020 Overdraft Facility”). The 2020 Overdraft Facility is an uncommitted facility that will be reviewed annually by the lender and bears interest at a rate based on the lender’s benchmark borrowing rate less a discount of 4.22%. The 2020 Overdraft Facility carries an annual facility fee of 0.15% of the A$20 million overdraft limit. As of September 30, 2020, REA Group had not borrowed any funds under the 2020 Overdraft Facility. In October 2020, REA Group amended certain terms of its credit facilities to, among other things, require REA Group to maintain a net leverage ratio of not more than 3.50 to 1.0 subsequent to December 31, 2020.
The Company has access to an unsecured $750 million revolving credit facility (the “2019 News Corp Credit Facility”) under the Company’s 2019 Credit Agreement (the “2019 Credit Agreement”) that can be used for general corporate purposes. The 2019 News Corp Credit Facility has a sublimit of $100 million available for issuances of letters of credit. The Company may request increases in the amount of the facility up to a maximum amount of $1 billion. The lenders’ commitments to make the 2019 News Corp Credit Facility available terminate on December 12, 2024, and the Company may request that the commitments be extended under certain circumstances for up to two additional one-year periods.
Interest on borrowings under the 2019 News Corp Credit Facility is based on either (a) a Eurodollar Rate formula or (b) the Base Rate formula, each as set forth in the 2019 Credit Agreement. The applicable margin and the commitment fee are based on the pricing grid in the 2019 Credit Agreement, which varies based on the Company’s adjusted operating income net leverage ratio. As of September 30, 2020, the Company was paying a commitment fee of 0.20% on any undrawn balance and an applicable margin of 0.375% for a Base Rate borrowing and 1.375% for a Eurodollar Rate borrowing. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had not borrowed any funds under the 2019 News Corp Credit Facility.
Covenants
The Company’s borrowings contain customary representations, covenants and events of default, including those discussed in the Company’s 2020 Form 10-K. If any of the events of default occur and are not cured within applicable grace periods or waived, any unpaid amounts under the Company’s debt agreements may be declared immediately due and payable. The Company was in compliance with all such covenants at September 30, 2020.
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NOTE 6 . EQUITY
The following tables summarize changes in equity for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:
For the three months ended September 30, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A Common Stock | Class B Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Deficit | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Total News Corp Equity | Non-controlling Interests | Total Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, June 30, 2020 | 389 | $ | 4 | 200 | $ | 2 | $ | 12,148 | $ | (3,241) | $ | (1,331) | $ | 7,582 | $ | 807 | $ | 8,389 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | — | — | 34 | — | 34 | 13 | 47 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | — | — | 96 | 96 | 17 | 113 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends | — | — | — | — | (59) | — | — | (59) | (20) | (79) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | 2 | — | — | — | (14) | — | — | (14) | (2) | (16) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2020 | 391 | $ | 4 | 200 | $ | 2 | $ | 12,075 | $ | (3,207) | $ | (1,235) | $ | 7,639 | $ | 815 | $ | 8,454 |
For the three months ended September 30, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A Common Stock | Class B Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Deficit | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Total News Corp Equity | Non-controlling Interests | Total Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, June 30, 2019 | 386 | $ | 4 | 200 | $ | 2 | $ | 12,243 | $ | (1,979) | $ | (1,126) | $ | 9,144 | $ | 1,167 | $ | 10,311 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative impact from adoption of new standards | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 3 | 9 | — | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net (loss) income | — | — | — | — | — | (227) | — | (227) | 16 | (211) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | — | — | — | (143) | (143) | (45) | (188) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends | — | — | — | — | (59) | — | — | (59) | (22) | (81) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | 2 | — | — | — | (10) | — | — | (10) | (1) | (11) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2019 | 388 | $ | 4 | 200 | $ | 2 | $ | 12,174 | $ | (2,200) | $ | (1,266) | $ | 8,714 | $ | 1,115 | $ | 9,829 |
Stock Repurchases
The Company did not purchase any of its Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock during the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.
Dividends
In August 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) declared a semi-annual cash dividend of $0.10 per share for Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. This dividend was paid on October 14, 2020 to stockholders of record as of September 16, 2020. The timing, declaration, amount and payment of future dividends to stockholders, if any, is within the discretion of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors’ decisions regarding the payment of future dividends will depend on many factors, including the Company’s financial condition, earnings, capital requirements and debt facility covenants, other contractual restrictions, as well as legal requirements, regulatory constraints, industry practice, market volatility and other factors that the Board of Directors deems relevant.
NOTE 7. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
In accordance with ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements” (“ASC 820”) fair value measurements are required to be disclosed using a three-tiered fair value hierarchy which distinguishes market participant assumptions into the following categories:
•Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
•Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1. The Company could value assets and liabilities included in this level using dealer and broker quotations, certain pricing models, bid prices, quoted prices for
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similar assets and liabilities in active markets or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
•Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. For the Company, this primarily includes the use of forecasted financial information and other valuation related assumptions such as discount rates and long term growth rates in the income approach as well as the market approach which utilizes certain market and transaction multiples.
Under ASC 820, certain assets and liabilities are required to be remeasured to fair value at the end of each reporting period.
The following table summarizes those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
As of September 30, 2020 | As of June 30, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives - fair value hedges | $ | — | $ | 21 | $ | — | $ | 21 | $ | — | $ | 24 | $ | — | $ | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives - cash flow hedges | — | 87 | — | 87 | — | 98 | — | 98 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities(a) | 68 | — | 129 | 197 | 54 | — | 123 | 177 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 68 | $ | 108 | $ | 129 | $ | 305 | $ | 54 | $ | 122 | $ | 123 | $ | 299 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency derivatives - cash flow hedges | $ | — | $ | 3 | $ | — | $ | 3 | $ | — | $ | 3 | $ | — | $ | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate derivatives - cash flow hedges | — | 15 | — | 15 | — | 16 | — | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives - cash flow hedges | — | 18 | — | 18 | — | 18 | — | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities | $ | — | $ | 36 | $ | — | $ | 36 | $ | — | $ | 37 | $ | — | $ | 37 |
(a)See Note 4—Investments.
There have been no transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy during the periods presented.
Equity securities
The fair values of equity securities with quoted prices in active markets are determined based on the closing price at the end of each reporting period. These securities are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy outlined above. The fair values of equity securities without readily determinable fair market values are determined based on cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes in fair value resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer. These securities are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy outlined above.
A rollforward of the Company’s equity securities classified as Level 3 is as follows:
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Balance - beginning of period | $ | 123 | $ | 113 | |||||||
Additions | 6 | — | |||||||||
Foreign exchange and other | — | (1) | |||||||||
Balance - end of period | $ | 129 | $ | 112 |
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Derivative Instruments
The Company is directly and indirectly affected by risks associated with changes in certain market conditions. When deemed appropriate, the Company uses derivative instruments to mitigate the potential impact of these market risks. The primary market risks managed by the Company through the use of derivative instruments include:
•foreign currency exchange rate risk: arising primarily through Foxtel Debt Group borrowings denominated in United States (“U.S.”) dollars, payments for customer premise equipment, and certain programming rights; and
•interest rate risk: arising from fixed and floating rate Foxtel Debt Group borrowings.
The Company formally designates qualifying derivatives as hedge relationships (“hedges”) and applies hedge accounting when considered appropriate. For economic hedges where no hedge relationship has been designated, changes in fair value are included as a component of net income in each reporting period within Other, net in the Statements of Operations. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
Hedges are classified as current or non-current in the Balance Sheets based on their maturity dates. Refer to the table below for further details:
Balance Sheet Location | As of September 30, 2020 | As of June 30, 2020 | |||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives - fair value hedges | Other non-current assets | $ | 21 | $ | 24 | ||||||||||||
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives - cash flow hedges | Other non-current assets | 87 | 98 | ||||||||||||||
Foreign currency derivatives - cash flow hedges | Other current liabilities | (3) | (3) | ||||||||||||||
Interest rate derivatives - cash flow hedges | Other non-current liabilities | (15) | (16) | ||||||||||||||
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives - cash flow hedges | Other non-current liabilities | (18) | (18) |
Cash flow hedges
The Company utilizes a combination of foreign currency derivatives, interest rate derivatives and cross-currency interest rate derivatives to mitigate currency exchange and interest rate risk in relation to future interest and principal payments and payments for customer premise equipment.
The total notional value of foreign currency contract derivatives designated for hedging was $29 million as of September 30, 2020. The maximum hedged term over which the Company is hedging exposure to foreign currency fluctuations is to February 2021. As of September 30, 2020, the Company estimates that approximately $2 million of net derivative losses related to its foreign currency contract derivative cash flow hedges included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss will be reclassified into the Statements of Operations within the next 12 months.
The total notional value of interest rate swap derivatives designated as cash flow hedges was approximately A$300 million as of September 30, 2020. The maximum hedged term over which the Company is hedging exposure to variability in interest payments is to September 2022. As of September 30, 2020, the Company estimates that approximately $3 million of net derivative gains related to its interest rate swap derivative cash flow hedges included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss will be reclassified into the Statements of Operations within the next 12 months.
The total notional value of cross-currency interest rate swaps that were designated as cash flow hedges was approximately $280 million as of September 30, 2020. The maximum hedged term over which the Company is hedging exposure to variability in interest payments is to July 2024. As of September 30, 2020, the Company estimates that approximately $2 million of net derivative gains related to its cross-currency interest rate swap derivative cash flow hedges included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss will be reclassified into the Statements of Operations within the next 12 months.
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The following tables present the impact that changes in the fair values of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges had on Accumulated other comprehensive loss and the Statements of Operations during the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:
Gain (loss) recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss for the three months ended September 30, | (Gain) loss reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss for the three months ended September 30, | Income statement location | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency derivatives - cash flow hedges | $ | — | $ | (1) | $ | — | $ | (2) | Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives - cash flow hedges | (15) | 5 | 13 | (9) | Interest (expense) income, net | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate derivatives - cash flow hedges | — | (4) | 1 | (6) | Interest (expense) income, net | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | (15) | $ | — | $ | 14 | $ | (17) |
Upon adoption of ASU 2017-12 as of July 1, 2019, the Company reclassified $5 million in gains from Accumulated deficit to Accumulated other comprehensive loss related to amounts previously recorded for the ineffective portion of outstanding derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges. During the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company excluded the currency basis from the changes in fair value of the derivative instruments from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.
Fair value hedges
Borrowings issued at fixed rates and in U.S. dollars expose the Company to fair value interest rate risk and currency exchange rate risk. The Company manages fair value interest rate risk and currency exchange rate risk through the use of cross-currency interest rate swaps under which the Company exchanges fixed interest payments equivalent to the interest payments on the U.S. dollar denominated debt for floating rate Australian dollar denominated interest payments. The changes in fair value of derivatives designated as fair value hedges and the offsetting changes in fair value of the hedged items are recognized in Other, net. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, such adjustments increased the carrying value of borrowings by nil.
The total notional value of the fair value hedges was approximately $70 million as of September 30, 2020. The maximum hedged term over which the Company is hedging exposure to variability in interest payments is to July 2024.
During the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the amount recognized in the Statements of Operations on derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges related to the ineffective portion was nil and the Company excluded the currency basis from the changes in fair value of the derivative instruments from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.
The following sets forth the effect of fair value hedging relationships on hedged items in the Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2020 and June 30, 2020:
As of September 30, 2020 | As of June 30, 2020 | ||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Borrowings: | |||||||||||
Carrying amount of hedged item | $ | 70 | $ | 71 | |||||||
Cumulative hedging adjustments included in the carrying amount | 5 | 6 |
Other Fair Value Measurements
As of September 30, 2020, the carrying value of the Company’s outstanding borrowings approximates the fair value. The U.S. private placement borrowings are classified as Level 2 and the remaining borrowings are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
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NOTE 8 . EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
The following tables set forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share under ASC 260, “Earnings per Share”:
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
(in millions, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 47 | $ | (211) | |||||||
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (13) | (16) | |||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to News Corporation stockholders | $ | 34 | $ | (227) | |||||||
Weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding - basic | 589.5 | 586.7 | |||||||||
Dilutive effect of equity awards(a) | 1.3 | — | |||||||||
Weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding - diluted | 590.8 | 586.7 | |||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to News Corporation stockholders per share - basic and diluted | $ | 0.06 | $ | (0.39) |
(a)The dilutive impact of the Company’s performance stock units, restricted stock units and stock options has been excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share for the three months ended September 30, 2019 because their inclusion would have an antidilutive effect on the net loss per share.
NOTE 9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Commitments
The Company has commitments under certain firm contractual arrangements (“firm commitments”) to make future payments. These firm commitments secure the future rights to various assets and services to be used in the normal course of operations. The Company’s commitments as of September 30, 2020 have not changed significantly from the disclosures included in the 2020 Form 10-K.
Contingencies
The Company routinely is involved in various legal proceedings, claims and governmental inspections or investigations, including those discussed below. The outcome of these matters and claims is subject to significant uncertainty, and the Company often cannot predict what the eventual outcome of pending matters will be or the timing of the ultimate resolution of these matters. Fees, expenses, fines, penalties, judgments or settlement costs which might be incurred by the Company in connection with the various proceedings could adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition.
The Company establishes an accrued liability for legal claims when it determines that a loss is both probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Once established, accruals are adjusted from time to time, as appropriate, in light of additional information. The amount of any loss ultimately incurred in relation to matters for which an accrual has been established may be higher or lower than the amounts accrued for such matters. Legal fees associated with litigation and similar proceedings are expensed as incurred. Except as otherwise provided below, for the contingencies disclosed for which there is at least a reasonable possibility that a loss may be incurred, the Company was unable to estimate the amount of loss or range of loss. The Company recognizes gain contingencies when the gain becomes realized or realizable.
News America Marketing
In May 2020, the Company sold its News America Marketing business. In the transaction, the Company retained certain liabilities, including those arising from the legal proceedings with Insignia Systems, Inc. (“Insignia”) and Valassis Communications, Inc. (“Valassis”) described below.
Insignia Systems, Inc.
On July 11, 2019, Insignia filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota against News America Marketing FSI L.L.C. (“NAM FSI”), News America Marketing In-Store Services L.L.C. (“NAM In-Store”) and News
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Corporation (together, the “NAM Parties”) alleging violations of federal and state antitrust laws and common law business torts. The complaint seeks treble damages, injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees and costs. On August 14, 2019, the NAM Parties answered the complaint and asserted a counterclaim against Insignia for breach of contract, alleging that Insignia violated a prior settlement agreement between NAM In-Store and Insignia. On July 10, 2020, each of the NAM Parties and Insignia filed a motion for summary judgment on the counterclaim. While it is not possible at this time to predict with any degree of certainty the ultimate outcome of this action, the NAM Parties believe they have been compliant with applicable laws and intend to defend themselves vigorously.
Valassis Communications, Inc.
On November 8, 2013, Valassis filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (the “District Court”) against the NAM Parties and News America Incorporated (together, the “NAM Group”) alleging violations of federal and state antitrust laws and common law business torts, including unfair competition. The complaint seeks treble damages, injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees and costs. NAM In-Store and NAM FSI asserted a counterclaim against Valassis for unfair competition, alleging that Valassis has engaged in the same practices that it alleges to be unfair. In November 2019, the parties agreed to discontinue the unfair competition claim and counterclaim.
On December 19, 2013, the NAM Group filed a motion to dismiss the complaint and on March 30, 2016, the District Court dismissed Valassis’s bundling and tying claims. On September 25, 2017, the District Court granted Valassis’s motion to transfer the case to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “N.Y. District Court”). On April 13, 2018, the NAM Group filed a motion for summary judgment dismissing the case which was granted in part and denied in part by the N.Y. District Court on February 21, 2019. The N.Y. District Court found that the NAM Group’s bidding practices were lawful but denied its motion with respect to claims arising out of certain other alleged contracting practices. In addition, the N.Y. District Court also dismissed Valassis’s claims relating to free-standing insert products. On December 20, 2019, the N.Y. District Court granted the NAM Group’s motion to exclude the testimony of Valassis’s sole damages expert, but subsequently clarified that Valassis could seek the court’s permission to prove damages through other evidence. Valassis filed a motion to supplement and amend its expert and pre-trial damages disclosures, which the N.Y. District Court granted on April 24, 2020. On May 8, 2020, the NAM Group filed a motion to reconsider the N.Y. District Court’s April 24, 2020 decision, which the court denied on October 23, 2020. A trial date has not been set by the court. While it is not possible at this time to predict with any degree of certainty the ultimate outcome of this action, the NAM Group believes it has been compliant with applicable laws and intends to defend itself vigorously.
U.K. Newspaper Matters
Civil claims have been brought against the Company with respect to, among other things, voicemail interception and inappropriate payments to public officials at the Company’s former publication, The News of the World, and at The Sun, and related matters (the “U.K. Newspaper Matters”). The Company has admitted liability in many civil cases and has settled a number of cases. The Company also settled a number of claims through a private compensation scheme which was closed to new claims after April 8, 2013.
In connection with the separation of the Company from Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. (“21st Century Fox”) on June 28, 2013, the Company and 21st Century Fox agreed in the Separation and Distribution Agreement that 21st Century Fox would indemnify the Company for payments made after such date arising out of civil claims and investigations relating to the U.K. Newspaper Matters as well as legal and professional fees and expenses paid in connection with the previously concluded criminal matters, other than fees, expenses and costs relating to employees (i) who are not directors, officers or certain designated employees or (ii) with respect to civil matters, who are not co-defendants with the Company or 21st Century Fox. 21st Century Fox’s indemnification obligations with respect to these matters are settled on an after-tax basis. In March 2019, as part of the separation of Fox Corporation (“FOX”) from 21st Century Fox, the Company, News Corp Holdings UK & Ireland, 21st Century Fox and FOX entered into a Partial Assignment and Assumption Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, 21st Century Fox assigned, conveyed and transferred to FOX all of its indemnification obligations with respect to the U.K. Newspaper Matters.
The net expense related to the U.K. Newspaper Matters in Selling, general and administrative was $2 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. As of September 30, 2020, the Company has provided for its best estimate of the liability for the claims that have been filed and costs incurred, including liabilities associated with employment taxes, and has accrued approximately $54 million. The amount to be indemnified by FOX of approximately $61 million was recorded as a
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receivable in Other current assets on the Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2020. It is not possible to estimate the liability or corresponding receivable for any additional claims that may be filed given the information that is currently available to the Company. If more claims are filed and additional information becomes available, the Company will update the liability provision and corresponding receivable for such matters.
The Company is not able to predict the ultimate outcome or cost of the civil claims. It is possible that these proceedings and any adverse resolution thereof could damage its reputation, impair its ability to conduct its business and adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition.
Other
The Company’s tax returns are subject to on-going review and examination by various tax authorities. Tax authorities may not agree with the treatment of items reported in the Company’s tax returns, and therefore the outcome of tax reviews and examinations can be unpredictable.
The Company believes it has appropriately accrued for the expected outcome of uncertain tax matters and believes such liabilities represent a reasonable provision for taxes ultimately expected to be paid; however, these liabilities may need to be adjusted as new information becomes known and as tax examinations continue to progress, or as settlements or litigations occur.
NOTE 10. INCOME TAXES
At the end of each interim period, the Company estimates the annual effective tax rate and applies that rate to its ordinary quarterly earnings. The tax expense or benefit related to significant, unusual or extraordinary items that will be separately reported or reported net of their related tax effect are individually computed and recognized in the interim period in which those items occur. In addition, the effects of changes in enacted tax laws or rates or tax status are recognized in the interim period in which the change occurs. The changing and volatile macro-economic conditions connected with COVID-19 may cause fluctuations in forecasted earnings before income taxes. As such, the Company’s effective tax rate could be subject to volatility as forecasted earnings before income taxes are impacted by events which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.
For the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded income tax expense of $25 million on pre-tax income of $72 million, resulting in an effective tax rate that was higher than the U.S. statutory tax rate. The higher tax rate was primarily driven by the Company’s jurisdictional income (loss) mix which includes the impact of foreign operations which are subject to higher taxes.
For the three months ended September 30, 2019, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $21 million on a pre-tax loss of $232 million, resulting in an effective tax rate that was lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate. The lower tax rate was primarily due to the lower tax benefit recorded on the impairment of News America Marketing’s goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets and by valuation allowances being recorded against tax benefits in certain foreign jurisdictions with operating losses.
Management assesses available evidence to determine whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated to permit the use of existing deferred tax assets. Based on management’s assessment of available evidence, it has been determined that it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets in U.S. federal, state and foreign jurisdictions may not be realized and therefore, a valuation allowance has been established against those tax assets.
The Company’s tax returns are subject to on-going review and examination by various tax authorities. Tax authorities may not agree with the treatment of items reported in the Company’s tax returns, and therefore the outcome of tax reviews and examinations can be unpredictable. The Company is currently undergoing tax examinations in various U.S. state and foreign jurisdictions. During the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Company reached a final settlement with the Internal Revenue Service for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014 as the statute of limitations expired for that year. There was no change from the results that the Company recorded as of June 30, 2020 for this expiration of statute. The Company believes it has appropriately accrued for the expected outcome of uncertain tax matters and believes such liabilities represent a reasonable provision for taxes ultimately expected to be paid. However, the Company may need to accrue additional income tax expense and its liability may need to be adjusted as new information becomes known and as these tax examinations continue to progress, or as settlements or litigations occur.
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The Company paid gross income taxes of $23 million and $27 million during the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and received tax refunds of $8 million and $3 million, respectively.
NOTE 11. SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company manages and reports its businesses in the following six segments:
•Digital Real Estate Services—The Digital Real Estate Services segment consists of the Company’s 61.6% interest in REA Group and 80% interest in Move. The remaining 20% interest in Move is held by REA Group. REA Group is a market-leading digital media business specializing in property and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (“ASX”) (ASX: REA). REA Group advertises property and property-related services on its websites and mobile apps across Australia and Asia, including Australia’s leading residential, commercial and share property websites, realestate.com.au, realcommercial.com.au and Flatmates.com.au, and property portals in Asia. In addition, REA Group provides property-related data to the financial sector and financial services through an end-to-end digital property search and financing experience and a mortgage broking offering.
Move is a leading provider of digital real estate services in the U.S. and primarily operates realtor.com®, a premier real estate information and services marketplace. Move offers real estate advertising solutions to agents and brokers, including its ConnectionsSM Plus and AdvantageSM Pro products as well as its referral-based services. Move also offers a number of professional software and services products, including Top Producer® and ListHub™.
•Subscription Video Services—The Company’s Subscription Video Services segment provides video sports, entertainment and news services to pay-TV subscribers and other commercial licensees, primarily via cable, satellite and internet distribution, and consists of (i) the Company’s 65% interest in Foxtel (with the remaining 35% interest in Foxtel held by Telstra, an ASX-listed telecommunications company) and (ii) Australian News Channel (“ANC”). Foxtel is the largest pay-TV provider in Australia, with nearly 200 channels covering sports, general entertainment, movies, documentaries, music, children’s programming and news. Foxtel offers the leading sports programming content in Australia, with broadcast rights to live sporting events including: National Rugby League, Australian Football League, Cricket Australia, the domestic football league, the Australian Rugby Union and various motorsports programming. Foxtel also operates Foxtel Now, an over-the-top, or OTT, service that provides access across Foxtel’s live and on-demand content, Kayo, its sports OTT service, and Binge, its recently launched on-demand entertainment OTT service.
ANC operates the SKY NEWS network, Australia’s 24-hour multi-channel, multi-platform news service. ANC channels are distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand and available on Foxtel and Sky Network Television NZ. ANC also owns and operates the international Australia Channel IPTV service and offers content across a variety of digital media platforms, including web, mobile and third party providers.
•Dow Jones—The Dow Jones segment consists of Dow Jones, a global provider of news and business information, which distributes its content and data through a variety of media channels including newspapers, newswires, websites, applications, or apps, for mobile devices, tablets and e-book readers, newsletters, magazines, proprietary databases, live journalism, video and podcasts. Dow Jones’s products, which target individual consumer and enterprise customers, include The Wall Street Journal, Factiva, Dow Jones Risk & Compliance, Dow Jones Newswires, Barron’s and MarketWatch.
•Book Publishing—The Book Publishing segment consists of HarperCollins, the second largest consumer book publisher in the world, with operations in 17 countries and particular strengths in general fiction, nonfiction, children’s and religious publishing. HarperCollins owns more than 120 branded publishing imprints, including Harper, William Morrow, HarperCollins Children’s Books, Avon, Harlequin and Christian publishers Zondervan and Thomas Nelson, and publishes works by well-known authors such as Harper Lee, Chip and Joanna Gaines, David Walliams, Angie Thomas, Sarah Young and Agatha Christie and popular titles such as The Hobbit, Goodnight Moon, To Kill a Mockingbird, Jesus Calling and The Hate U Give.
•News Media—The News Media segment consists primarily of News Corp Australia, News UK and the New York Post and includes, among other publications, The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Courier Mail and The Advertiser in Australia and The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun and The Sun on Sunday in the U.K. This segment also includes Wireless Group, operator of talkSPORT, the leading sports radio network in the U.K.,
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and Storyful, a social media content agency. The segment included News America Marketing until the completion of the sale of the business on May 5, 2020.
•Other—The Other segment consists primarily of general corporate overhead expenses, the corporate Strategy Group, costs related to the U.K. Newspaper Matters and transformation costs associated with the Company’s global shared services program.
Segment EBITDA is defined as revenues less operating expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses. Segment EBITDA does not include: depreciation and amortization, impairment and restructuring charges, equity losses of affiliates, interest (expense) income, net, other, net and income tax (expense) benefit. Segment EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies, since companies and investors may differ as to what items should be included in the calculation of Segment EBITDA.
Segment EBITDA is the primary measure used by the Company’s chief operating decision maker to evaluate the performance of and allocate resources within the Company’s businesses. Segment EBITDA provides management, investors and equity analysts with a measure to analyze the operating performance of each of the Company’s business segments and its enterprise value against historical data and competitors’ data, although historical results may not be indicative of future results (as operating performance is highly contingent on many factors, including customer tastes and preferences).
Segment information is summarized as follows:
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||
Digital Real Estate Services | $ | 290 | $ | 272 | |||||||
Subscription Video Services | 496 | 514 | |||||||||
Dow Jones | 386 | 382 | |||||||||
Book Publishing | 458 | 405 | |||||||||
News Media | 487 | 767 | |||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 2,117 | $ | 2,340 | |||||||
Segment EBITDA: | |||||||||||
Digital Real Estate Services | $ | 119 | $ | 82 | |||||||
Subscription Video Services | 78 | 81 | |||||||||
Dow Jones | 72 | 49 | |||||||||
Book Publishing | 71 | 49 | |||||||||
News Media | (22) | 7 | |||||||||
Other | (50) | (47) | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | (164) | (162) | |||||||||
Impairment and restructuring charges | (40) | (297) | |||||||||
Equity losses of affiliates | (1) | (2) | |||||||||
Interest (expense) income, net | (8) | 4 | |||||||||
Other, net | 17 | 4 | |||||||||
Income (loss) before income tax (expense) benefit | 72 | (232) | |||||||||
Income tax (expense) benefit | (25) | 21 | |||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 47 | $ | (211) |
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As of September 30, 2020 | As of June 30, 2020 | ||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Total assets: | |||||||||||
Digital Real Estate Services | $ | 2,335 | $ | 2,322 | |||||||
Subscription Video Services | 3,513 | 3,459 | |||||||||
Dow Jones | 2,435 | 2,480 | |||||||||
Book Publishing | 2,233 | 2,212 | |||||||||
News Media | 2,075 | 1,994 | |||||||||
Other(a) | 1,495 | 1,497 | |||||||||
Investments | 314 | 297 | |||||||||
Total assets | $ | 14,400 | $ | 14,261 |
(a)The Other segment primarily includes Cash and cash equivalents.
As of September 30, 2020 | As of June 30, 2020 | ||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Goodwill and intangible assets, net: | |||||||||||
Digital Real Estate Services | $ | 1,567 | $ | 1,555 | |||||||
Subscription Video Services | 1,535 | 1,513 | |||||||||
Dow Jones | 1,719 | 1,722 | |||||||||
Book Publishing | 760 | 748 | |||||||||
News Media | 285 | 277 | |||||||||
Total Goodwill and intangible assets, net | $ | 5,866 | $ | 5,815 |
NOTE 12. ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Receivables, net
Receivables are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is an estimate of amounts that may not be collectible. The allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated based on historical experience, receivable aging, current and future economic trends and specific identification of certain receivables that are at risk of not being collected.
Receivables, net consist of:
As of September 30, 2020 | As of June 30, 2020 | ||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Receivables | $ | 1,315 | $ | 1,276 | |||||||
Allowance for doubtful accounts | (75) | (73) | |||||||||
Receivables, net | $ | 1,240 | $ | 1,203 |
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Other Non-Current Assets
The following table sets forth the components of Other non-current assets:
As of September 30, 2020 | As of June 30, 2020 | ||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Royalty advances to authors | $ | 346 | $ | 348 | |||||||
Retirement benefit assets | 108 | 94 | |||||||||
Inventory(a) | 282 | 133 | |||||||||
News America Marketing deferred consideration | 117 | 111 | |||||||||
Other | 322 | 353 | |||||||||
Total Other non-current assets | $ | 1,175 | $ | 1,039 |
(a)The balance as of September 30, 2020 primarily consists of the non-current portion of programming rights. Upon adoption of the Company reclassified the current portion of its programming rights, totaling $151 million, from Inventory, net to Other non-current assets. The Company’s programming rights are substantially all monetized as a film group.
Other Current Liabilities
The following table sets forth the components of Other current liabilities:
As of September 30, 2020 | As of June 30, 2020 | ||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Royalties and commissions payable | $ | 198 | $ | 169 | |||||||
Current operating lease liabilities | 124 | 131 | |||||||||
Allowance for sales returns | 175 | 174 | |||||||||
Current tax payable | 66 | 50 | |||||||||
Other | 306 | 314 | |||||||||
Total Other current liabilities | $ | 869 | $ | 838 |
Other, net
The following table sets forth the components of Other, net:
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Remeasurement of equity securities | $ | 9 | $ | 1 | |||||||
Dividends received from equity security investments | 2 | — | |||||||||
Other | 6 | 3 | |||||||||
Total Other, net | $ | 17 | $ | 4 |
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
The following table sets forth the Company’s cash paid for taxes and interest:
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Cash paid for interest | 16 | 16 | |||||||||
Cash paid for taxes | 23 | 27 |
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NOTE 13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Elara
In October 2020, REA Group entered into a binding agreement to increase its ownership interest in Elara. REA Group currently holds a 13.5% interest and on completion, is expected to have a shareholding of between 47.2% and 61.1% and hold five of nine seats on Elara’s Board of Directors. Upon completion of the transaction, REA Group will consolidate Elara's financial results. The total consideration for the transaction at the REA Group level is expected to be between $50 million to $70 million, with $34.5 million to be paid in cash and the remainder in newly-issued REA Group shares. In connection with the transaction, News Corp will also increase its interest in Elara to 38.9% for a cash payment of $34.5 million. On a consolidated basis, News Corp is expected to hold an 86.1% to 100% combined interest in Elara upon completion. The transaction, which remains subject to confirmatory due diligence and the renegotiation of key management employment contracts, is anticipated to be completed in the second quarter of fiscal 2021.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This document, including the following discussion and analysis, contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The words “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “believe” and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number of places in this discussion and analysis and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things, trends affecting the Company’s financial condition or results of operations, including expected impacts from the ongoing novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic and related public health measures, the Company’s strategy and strategic initiatives and the outcome of contingencies such as litigation and investigations. Readers are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, including those related to COVID-19. More information regarding these risks and uncertainties (many of which may be amplified by COVID-19) and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A. in News Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 11, 2020 (the “2020 Form 10-K”), and as may be updated in this and other subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Company does not ordinarily make projections of its future operating results and undertakes no obligation (and expressly disclaims any obligation) to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers should carefully review this document and the other documents filed by the Company with the SEC. This section should be read together with the unaudited consolidated financial statements of News Corporation and related notes set forth elsewhere herein and the audited consolidated financial statements of News Corporation and related notes set forth in the 2020 Form 10-K.
INTRODUCTION
News Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “News Corporation,” “News Corp,” the “Company,” “we,” or “us”) is a global diversified media and information services company comprised of businesses across a range of media, including: digital real estate services, subscription video services in Australia, news and information services and book publishing.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, in connection with the Company's sale of its News America Marketing reporting unit and its annual review of its reportable segments, the Company determined to disaggregate its Dow Jones operating segment as a separate reportable segment in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 280, “Segment Reporting.” Previously, the financial information for this operating segment was aggregated with the businesses within the News Media operating segment and, together, formed the News and Information Services reportable segment. Following the sale of its News America Marketing business in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 and in conjunction with the Company’s annual budgeting process, the Company determined that aggregation was no longer appropriate as certain of the remaining businesses no longer shared similar economic characteristics. As a result, the Company has revised its historical disclosures for the prior period to reflect the new Dow Jones and News Media reportable segments.
Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year presentation. Specifically, the Company reclassified certain costs at the Other segment that were previously included within Selling, general and administrative to Operating expenses. For the three months ended September 30, 2019, these reclassifications increased Operating expenses by $1 million.
The unaudited consolidated financial statements are referred to herein as the “Consolidated Financial Statements.” The consolidated statements of operations are referred to herein as the “Statements of Operations.” The consolidated balance sheets are referred to herein as the “Balance Sheets.” The consolidated statements of cash flows are referred to herein as the “Statements of Cash Flows.” The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is intended to help provide an understanding of the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations. This discussion is organized as follows:
•Overview of the Company’s Businesses—This section provides a general description of the Company’s businesses, as well as developments that occurred to date during fiscal 2021 that the Company believes are important in understanding its results of operations and financial condition or to disclose known trends.
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•Results of Operations—This section provides an analysis of the Company’s results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. This analysis is presented on both a consolidated basis and a segment basis. Supplemental revenue information is also included for reporting units within certain segments and is presented on a gross basis, before eliminations in consolidation. In addition, a brief description is provided of significant transactions and events that impact the comparability of the results being analyzed.
•Liquidity and Capital Resources—This section provides an analysis of the Company’s cash flows for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, as well as a discussion of the Company’s financial arrangements and outstanding commitments, both firm and contingent, that existed as of September 30, 2020.
OVERVIEW OF THE COMPANY’S BUSINESSES
The Company manages and reports its businesses in the following six segments:
•Digital Real Estate Services—The Digital Real Estate Services segment consists of the Company’s 61.6% interest in REA Group and 80% interest in Move. The remaining 20% interest in Move is held by REA Group. REA Group is a market-leading digital media business specializing in property and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (“ASX”) (ASX: REA). REA Group advertises property and property-related services on its websites and mobile apps across Australia and Asia, including Australia’s leading residential, commercial and share property websites, realestate.com.au, realcommercial.com.au and Flatmates.com.au, and property portals in Asia. In addition, REA Group provides property-related data to the financial sector and financial services through an end-to-end digital property search and financing experience and a mortgage broking offering.
Move is a leading provider of digital real estate services in the U.S. and primarily operates realtor.com®, a premier real estate information and services marketplace. Move offers real estate advertising solutions to agents and brokers, including its ConnectionsSM Plus and AdvantageSM Pro products as well as its referral-based services. Move also offers a number of professional software and services products, including Top Producer® and ListHub™.
•Subscription Video Services—The Company’s Subscription Video Services segment provides video sports, entertainment and news services to pay-TV subscribers and other commercial licensees, primarily via cable, satellite and internet distribution, and consists of (i) the Company’s 65% interest in Foxtel (with the remaining 35% interest in Foxtel held by Telstra, an ASX-listed telecommunications company) and (ii) Australian News Channel (“ANC”). Foxtel is the largest pay-TV provider in Australia, with nearly 200 channels covering sports, general entertainment, movies, documentaries, music, children’s programming and news. Foxtel offers the leading sports programming content in Australia, with broadcast rights to live sporting events including: National Rugby League, Australian Football League, Cricket Australia, the domestic football league, the Australian Rugby Union and various motorsports programming. Foxtel also operates Foxtel Now, an over-the-top, or OTT, service that provides access across Foxtel's live and on-demand content, Kayo, its sports OTT service, and Binge, its recently launched on-demand entertainment OTT service.
ANC operates the SKY NEWS network, Australia’s 24-hour multi-channel, multi-platform news service. ANC channels are distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand and available on Foxtel and Sky Network Television NZ. ANC also owns and operates the international Australia Channel IPTV service and offers content across a variety of digital media platforms, including web, mobile and third party providers.
•Dow Jones—The Dow Jones segment consists of Dow Jones, a global provider of news and business information, which distributes its content and data through a variety of media channels including newspapers, newswires, websites, applications, or apps, for mobile devices, tablets and e-book readers, newsletters, magazines, proprietary databases, live journalism, video and podcasts. Dow Jones’s products, which target individual consumer and enterprise customers, include The Wall Street Journal, Factiva, Dow Jones Risk & Compliance, Dow Jones Newswires, Barron’s and MarketWatch.
•Book Publishing—The Book Publishing segment consists of HarperCollins, the second largest consumer book publisher in the world, with operations in 17 countries and particular strengths in general fiction, nonfiction, children’s and religious publishing. HarperCollins owns more than 120 branded publishing imprints, including Harper, William Morrow, HarperCollins Children’s Books, Avon, Harlequin and Christian publishers Zondervan and Thomas Nelson, and publishes works by well-known authors such as Harper Lee, Chip and Joanna Gaines, David Walliams, Angie Thomas, Sarah Young and Agatha Christie and popular titles such as The Hobbit, Goodnight Moon, To Kill a Mockingbird, Jesus Calling and The Hate U Give.
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•News Media—The News Media segment consists primarily of News Corp Australia, News UK and the New York Post and includes, among other publications, The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Courier Mail and The Advertiser in Australia and The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun and The Sun on Sunday in the U.K. This segment also includes Wireless Group, operator of talkSPORT, the leading sports radio network in the U.K., and Storyful, a social media content agency. The segment included News America Marketing until the completion of the sale of the business on May 5, 2020.
•Other—The Other segment consists primarily of general corporate overhead expenses, the corporate Strategy Group, costs related to the U.K. Newspaper Matters (as defined in Note 9—Commitments and Contingencies to the Consolidated Financial Statements) and transformation costs associated with the Company’s global shared services program.
Other Business Developments
COVID-19 Impact
The impact of COVID-19 and measures to prevent its spread have continued to create significant economic volatility, uncertainty and disruption and have affected the Company’s businesses in a number of ways. During the three months ended September 30, 2020 and through the date of this filing, the Company observed the following effects on its businesses:
The real estate markets in Australia, Asia and the U.S. have been, and may continue to be, negatively impacted as a result of social distancing measures, business closures and economic uncertainty resulting from COVID-19, which has negatively impacted the Digital Real Estate Services segment. While real estate listings in Australia continued to be negatively impacted by government restrictions during the quarter, primarily in Melbourne, the overall decline in national new listings eased relative to last quarter and traffic to realestate.com.au remained strong. In October, national residential listings in Australia were down 1% compared to the prior year with improvement in both the Sydney and Melbourne markets. In the United States, the Company has seen stronger consumer traffic and higher leads in the quarter at Move driven by the easing of government imposed restrictions and increased buyer demand.
At its news and information services businesses, COVID-19 continued to exacerbate print advertising market weakness and negatively impact print volumes due to increased economic uncertainty and lower demand for single-copy and amenity newspapers driven by decreased foot traffic resulting from remote working, social distancing measures and other government restrictions. However, the Company has seen increases in digital paid subscribers as well as digital audience gains at online versions of many of its news properties.
Sports programming rights costs at the Subscription Video Services segment were negatively impacted by the deferral of costs from fiscal 2020 into fiscal 2021 due to the postponement of sporting events. The Company estimates that approximately $36 million of additional sports programming rights and production costs were recognized in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 due to such deferrals. In addition, the ongoing disruption in the operations of pubs and clubs and lower occupancy at hotels throughout Australia have continued to adversely impact commercial subscription revenues; however the Company has seen the gradual recovery of commercial subscribers which remains dependent on the easing of government restrictions and social distancing measures.
The ultimate impact of COVID-19, including the extent of adverse impacts on the Company’s business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, will depend on, among other things, the severity, duration, spread and any reoccurrence of COVID-19, the impact of governmental actions and business and consumer behavior in response to COVID-19, the effectiveness of actions taken to contain or mitigate the outbreak and prevent or limit any reoccurrence, the resulting global economic conditions and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. For additional information regarding risks related to COVID-19, please see “The ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and other similar epidemics, pandemics or widespread health crises could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, cash flows and financial position.” in Part I, Item 1A. of the 2020 Form 10-K.
Regional and community newspapers in Australia
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company decommissioned the print operations for its regional and community newspapers in Australia. These initiatives will result in a revenue decrease at News Corp Australia of approximately $111 million and have an immaterial impact on Segment EBITDA during fiscal 2021.
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Elara
In October 2020, REA Group entered into a binding agreement to increase its ownership interest in Elara Technologies Pte. Ltd. (“Elara”). REA Group currently holds a 13.5% interest and on completion, is expected to have a shareholding of between 47.2% and 61.1% and hold five of nine seats on Elara’s Board of Directors. Upon completion of the transaction, REA Group will consolidate Elara's financial results. The total consideration for the transaction at the REA Group level is expected to be between $50 million to $70 million, with $34.5 million to be paid in cash and the remainder in newly-issued REA Group shares. In connection with the transaction, News Corp will also increase its interest in Elara to 38.9% for a cash payment of $34.5 million. On a consolidated basis, News Corp is expected to hold an 86.1% to 100% combined interest in Elara upon completion. The transaction, which remains subject to confirmatory due diligence and the renegotiation of key management employment contracts, is anticipated to be completed in the second quarter of fiscal 2021.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Results of Operations—For the three months ended September 30, 2020 versus the three months ended September 30, 2019
The following table sets forth the Company’s operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019.
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions, except %) | Better/(Worse) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Circulation and subscription | $ | 1,002 | $ | 995 | $ | 7 | 1 | % | |||||||||||||||
Advertising | 332 | 608 | (276) | (45) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Consumer | 441 | 387 | 54 | 14 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Real estate | 235 | 218 | 17 | 8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Other | 107 | 132 | (25) | (19) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Revenues | 2,117 | 2,340 | (223) | (10) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | (1,164) | (1,338) | 174 | 13 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | (685) | (781) | 96 | 12 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | (164) | (162) | (2) | (1) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Impairment and restructuring charges | (40) | (297) | 257 | 87 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Equity losses of affiliates | (1) | (2) | 1 | 50 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest (expense) income, net | (8) | 4 | (12) | ** | |||||||||||||||||||
Other, net | 17 | 4 | 13 | ** | |||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before income tax (expense) benefit | 72 | (232) | 304 | ** | |||||||||||||||||||
Income tax (expense) benefit | (25) | 21 | (46) | ** | |||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | 47 | (211) | 258 | ** | |||||||||||||||||||
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (13) | (16) | 3 | 19 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to News Corporation stockholders | $ | 34 | $ | (227) | $ | 261 | ** |
** not meaningful
Revenues— Revenues decreased $223 million, or 10%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020, primarily driven by the $200 million impact from the sale of News America Marketing in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 and lower print advertising revenue in the News Media segment. The impact of foreign currency fluctuations of the U.S. dollar against local currencies resulted in a revenue increase of $50 million, or 2%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020.
The Company calculates the impact of foreign currency fluctuations for businesses reporting in currencies other than the U.S. dollar by multiplying the results for each quarter in the current period by the difference between the average exchange rate for that quarter and the average exchange rate in effect during the corresponding quarter of the prior year and totaling the impact for all quarters in the current period.
Operating expenses— Operating expenses decreased $174 million, or 13%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020, primarily driven by the sale of News America Marketing in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 as well as lower costs relating to the closure or transition to digital of certain regional and community
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newspapers in Australia. The impact of foreign currency fluctuations of the U.S. dollar against local currencies resulted in an Operating expense increase of $26 million, or 2%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020.
Selling, general and administrative—Selling, general and administrative decreased $96 million, or 12%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020, primarily driven by cost savings initiatives, the sale of News America Marketing in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 and the impact from the sale of Unruly in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The impact of foreign currency fluctuations of the U.S. dollar against local currencies resulted in a Selling, general and administrative increase of $16 million, or 2%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020.
Depreciation and amortization— Depreciation and amortization expense increased $2 million, or 1%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020, primarily due to the impact of foreign currency fluctuations of the U.S. dollar against local currencies, which resulted in a depreciation and amortization expense increase of $4 million, or 2%.
Impairment and restructuring charges—During the three months ended September 30, 2019, the Company recognized non-cash impairment charges of $273 million primarily related to the impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets at the News America Marketing reporting unit.
During the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $40 million and $24 million, respectively. See Note 3—Restructuring Programs in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.
Equity losses of affiliates— Equity losses of affiliates decreased by $1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020. See Note 4—Investments in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.
Interest (expense) income, net— Interest expense, net was $8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to interest income, net of $4 million in the corresponding period of fiscal 2020, primarily due to the absence of the impact from the settlement of cash flow hedges related to debt maturities in the first quarter of fiscal 2020.
Other, net— Other, net increased by $13 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020. See Note 12—Additional Financial Information in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.
Income tax (expense) benefit—For the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded income tax expense of $25 million on pre-tax income of $72 million, resulting in an effective tax rate that was higher than the U.S. statutory tax rate. The higher tax rate was primarily driven by the Company’s jurisdictional income (loss) mix which includes the impact of foreign operations which are subject to higher taxes.
For the three months ended September 30, 2019, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $21 million on a pre-tax loss of $232 million, resulting in an effective tax rate that was lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate. The lower tax rate was primarily due to the lower tax benefit recorded on the impairment of News America Marketing’s goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets and by valuation allowances being recorded against tax benefits in certain foreign jurisdictions with operating losses.
Management assesses available evidence to determine whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated to permit the use of existing deferred tax assets. Based on management’s assessment of available evidence, it has been determined that it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets in U.S. federal, state and foreign jurisdictions may not be realized and therefore, a valuation allowance has been established against those tax assets.
The changing and volatile macro-economic conditions connected with COVID-19 may cause fluctuations in forecasted earnings before income taxes. As such, the Company’s effective tax rate could be subject to volatility as forecasted earnings before income taxes are impacted by events which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.
Net income (loss)—Net income was $47 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to a net loss of $211 million in the corresponding period of fiscal 2020, an improvement of $258 million, primarily driven by the decrease in non-cash impairment charges discussed above.
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Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests—Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests decreased by $3 million, or 19%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020.
Segment Analysis
Segment EBITDA is defined as revenues less operating expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses. Segment EBITDA does not include: depreciation and amortization, impairment and restructuring charges, equity losses of affiliates, interest (expense) income, net, other, net and income tax (expense) benefit. Segment EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies, since companies and investors may differ as to what items should be included in the calculation of Segment EBITDA.
Segment EBITDA is the primary measure used by the Company’s chief operating decision maker to evaluate the performance of and allocate resources within the Company’s businesses. Segment EBITDA provides management, investors and equity analysts with a measure to analyze the operating performance of each of the Company’s business segments and its enterprise value against historical data and competitors’ data, although historical results may not be indicative of future results (as operating performance is highly contingent on many factors, including customer tastes and preferences).
Total Segment EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income (loss), cash flow and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. In addition, this measure does not reflect cash available to fund requirements and excludes items, such as depreciation and amortization and impairment and restructuring charges, which are significant components in assessing the Company’s financial performance. The Company believes that the presentation of Total Segment EBITDA provides useful information regarding the Company’s operations and other factors that affect the Company’s reported results. Specifically, the Company believes that by excluding certain one-time or non-cash items such as impairment and restructuring charges and depreciation and amortization, as well as potential distortions between periods caused by factors such as financing and capital structures and changes in tax positions or regimes, the Company provides users of its consolidated financial statements with insight into both its core operations as well as the factors that affect reported results between periods but which the Company believes are not representative of its core business. As a result, users of the Company’s consolidated financial statements are better able to evaluate changes in the core operating results of the Company across different periods.
The following table reconciles Net income (loss) to Total Segment EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 47 | $ | (211) | |||||||
Add: | |||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 25 | (21) | |||||||||
Other, net | (17) | (4) | |||||||||
Interest expense (income), net | 8 | (4) | |||||||||
Equity losses of affiliates | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
Impairment and restructuring charges | 40 | 297 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 164 | 162 | |||||||||
Total Segment EBITDA | $ | 268 | $ | 221 |
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The following table sets forth the Company’s Revenues and Segment EBITDA by segment for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | Revenues | Segment EBITDA | Revenues | Segment EBITDA | |||||||||||||||||||
Digital Real Estate Services | $ | 290 | $ | 119 | $ | 272 | $ | 82 | |||||||||||||||
Subscription Video Services | 496 | 78 | 514 | 81 | |||||||||||||||||||
Dow Jones | 386 | 72 | 382 | 49 | |||||||||||||||||||
Book Publishing | 458 | 71 | 405 | 49 | |||||||||||||||||||
News Media | 487 | (22) | 767 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||
Other | — | (50) | — | (47) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 2,117 | $ | 268 | $ | 2,340 | $ | 221 |
Digital Real Estate Services (14% and 12% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively)
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions, except %) | Better/(Worse) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Circulation and subscription | $ | 8 | $ | 10 | $ | (2) | (20) | % | |||||||||||||||
Advertising | 28 | 27 | 1 | 4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Real estate | 235 | 218 | 17 | 8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Other | 19 | 17 | 2 | 12 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Revenues | 290 | 272 | 18 | 7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | (43) | (45) | 2 | 4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | (128) | (145) | 17 | 12 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Segment EBITDA | $ | 119 | $ | 82 | $ | 37 | 45 | % |
For the three months ended September 30, 2020, revenues at the Digital Real Estate Services segment increased $18 million, or 7%, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020. Revenues at Move increased $15 million, or 12%, to $138 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 from $123 million in the corresponding period of fiscal 2020, primarily driven by higher real estate revenues from the referral model, which benefited from higher lead volumes and higher average home values. Revenues from the referral model represented approximately 30% of total Move revenues. At REA Group, revenues increased $3 million, or 2%, to $152 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 from $149 million in the corresponding period of fiscal 2020, primarily due to the $6 million positive impact of foreign currency fluctuations.
For the three months ended September 30, 2020, Segment EBITDA at the Digital Real Estate Services segment increased $37 million, or 45%, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020. The increase in Segment EBITDA was primarily driven by the $28 million higher contribution from Move resulting from the higher revenues discussed above and the impact of cost savings initiatives implemented in response to COVID-19 and the deferral of marketing costs at Move and REA Group.
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Subscription Video Services (23% and 22% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively)
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions, except %) | Better/(Worse) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Circulation and subscription | $ | 437 | $ | 451 | $ | (14) | (3) | % | |||||||||||||||
Advertising | 50 | 51 | (1) | (2) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Other | 9 | 12 | (3) | (25) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Revenues | 496 | 514 | (18) | (4) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | (333) | (344) | 11 | 3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | (85) | (89) | 4 | 4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Segment EBITDA | $ | 78 | $ | 81 | $ | (3) | (4) | % |
For the three months ended September 30, 2020, revenues at the Subscription Video Services segment decreased $18 million, or 4%, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020. The revenue decrease was primarily due to lower subscription revenues resulting from fewer residential broadcast subscribers and the $14 million decline in commercial subscription revenues due to ongoing restrictions on pubs, clubs and other commercial venues due to COVID-19. The decreases in revenues were partially offset by the positive impact of foreign currency fluctuations and $9 million of higher revenues from OTT products, primarily Kayo and Binge. The impact of foreign currency fluctuations of the U.S. dollar against local currencies resulted in a revenue increase of $20 million, or 3%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020.
For the three months ended September 30, 2020, Segment EBITDA decreased $3 million, or 4%, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020. The Segment EBITDA decrease was primarily due to the lower revenues discussed above, partially offset by cost savings primarily due to lower entertainment programming, employee and transmission costs, as savings from renegotiated sports rights were more than offset by the recognition of sports programming rights and production costs deferred from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.
The following tables provide information regarding certain key performance indicators for Foxtel, the primary reporting unit within the Subscription Video Services segment, as of and for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (see the Company’s 2020 Form 10-K for further detail regarding these performance indicators):
As of September 30, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
(in 000's) | |||||||||||
Broadcast Subscribers | |||||||||||
Residential(a) | 1,850 | 2,059 | |||||||||
Commercial(b) | 205 | 267 | |||||||||
OTT Subscribers (Total (Paid)) | |||||||||||
Foxtel Now(c) | 310 (298 paid) | 385 (375 paid) | |||||||||
Kayo(d) | 681 (644 paid) | 430 (364 paid) | |||||||||
Binge(e) | 321 (290 paid) | — | |||||||||
Total Paid Subscribers | 3,287 | 3,065 |
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
Broadcast ARPU(f) | A$79 (US$56) | A$78 (US$53) | |||||||||
Broadcast Subscriber Churn(g) | 14.6% | 14.4% |
(a) Subscribing households throughout Australia as of September 30, 2020 and 2019.
(b) Commercial subscribers throughout Australia as of September 30, 2020 and 2019. Commercial subscribers are calculated as residential equivalent business units and are derived by dividing total recurring revenue from these subscribers by an estimated average Broadcast ARPU which is held constant through the year.
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(c) Total and Paid Foxtel Now subscribers as of September 30, 2020 and 2019. Paid Foxtel Now subscribers excludes customers receiving service for no charge under certain new subscriber promotions.
(d) Total and Paid Kayo subscribers as of September 30, 2020 and 2019. Paid Kayo subscribers excludes customers receiving service for no charge under certain new subscriber promotions.
(e) Total and Paid Binge subscribers as of September 30, 2020. Binge was launched on May 25, 2020. Paid Binge subscribers excludes customers receiving service for no charge under certain new subscriber promotions.
(f) Average monthly broadcast residential subscription revenue per user (excluding Optus) (Broadcast ARPU) for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.
(g) Broadcast residential subscriber churn rate (excluding Optus) (Broadcast Subscriber Churn) for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. Broadcast subscriber churn represents the number of cable and satellite residential subscribers whose service is disconnected, expressed as a percentage of the average total number of cable and satellite residential subscribers, presented on an annual basis.
Dow Jones (18% and 16% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively)
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions, except %) | Better/(Worse) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Circulation and subscription | $ | 311 | $ | 289 | $ | 22 | 8 | % | |||||||||||||||
Advertising | 70 | 84 | (14) | (17) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Other | 5 | 9 | (4) | (44) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Revenues | 386 | 382 | 4 | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | (185) | (187) | 2 | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | (129) | (146) | 17 | 12 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Segment EBITDA | $ | 72 | $ | 49 | $ | 23 | 47 | % |
For the three months ended September 30, 2020, revenues at the Dow Jones segment increased $4 million, or 1%, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020 driven by growth in circulation and subscription revenues, partially offset by a decline in print advertising revenues. Digital revenues at the Dow Jones segment represented 73% of total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to 65% in the corresponding period of fiscal 2020. The impact of foreign currency fluctuations of the U.S. dollar against local currencies resulted in a revenue increase of $1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020.
Circulation and subscription revenues
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions, except %) | Better/(Worse) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Circulation and subscription revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Circulation and other | $ | 198 | $ | 178 | $ | 20 | 11 | % | |||||||||||||||
Professional information business | 113 | 111 | 2 | 2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Total circulation and subscription revenues | $ | 311 | $ | 289 | $ | 22 | 8 | % |
Circulation and subscription revenues increased $22 million, or 8%, during the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020. Circulation and other revenues increased $20 million, or 11%, primarily driven by growth in digital-only subscriptions at The Wall Street Journal and a $7 million increase in content licensing revenues, partially offset by print volume declines. During the three months ended September 30, 2020, average daily digital-only subscriptions at The Wall Street Journal increased 27% to 2.4 million as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020, and digital revenues represented 63% of circulation revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to 56% in the corresponding period of fiscal 2020. Professional information business revenues increased $2 million, or 2%, as growth of $6 million in Risk & Compliance revenues was mostly offset by lower revenues from other professional information business products.
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The following table summarizes average daily consumer subscriptions during the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 for select publications and for all consumer subscription products.(a)(b)
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except %) | Better/(Worse) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Wall Street Journal | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Digital-only subscriptions(c) | 2,354 | 1,854 | 500 | 27 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Total subscriptions | 3,104 | 2,618 | 486 | 19 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Barron’s | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Digital-only subscriptions(c) | 458 | 321 | 137 | 43 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Total subscriptions | 667 | 587 | 80 | 14 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Consumer(d) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Digital-only subscriptions(c) | 2,914 | 2,259 | 655 | 29 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Total subscriptions | 3,877 | 3,296 | 581 | 18 | % |
________________________
(a)Based on internal data for the periods from June 29, 2020 to September 27, 2020 and July 1, 2019 through September 29, 2019, respectively, with independent assurance over global total sales and subscriptions provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP UK.
(b)Subscriptions include individual consumer subscriptions, as well as subscriptions purchased by companies, schools, businesses and associations for use by their respective employees, students, customers or members. Subscriptions exclude single-copy sales and copies purchased by hotels, airlines and other businesses for limited distribution or access to customers.
(c)For some publications, including The Wall Street Journal and Barron’s, Dow Jones sells bundled print and digital products. For bundles that provide access to both print and digital products every day of the week, only one unit is reported each day and is designated as a print subscription. For bundled products that provide access to the print product only on specified days and full digital access, one print subscription is reported for each day that a print copy is served and one digital subscription is reported for each remaining day of the week.
(d)Total Consumer consists of The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, MarketWatch newsletters and Financial News, including Private Equity News.
Advertising revenues
Advertising revenues decreased $14 million, or 17%, during the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020, primarily driven by the $19 million decrease in print advertising revenues resulting from general market weakness and lower volume across The Wall Street Journal and Barron’s due to COVID-19, partially offset by a $5 million increase in digital advertising revenue, which represented 57% of advertising revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to 42% in the corresponding period of fiscal 2020.
Segment EBITDA
For the three months ended September 30, 2020, Segment EBITDA at the Dow Jones segment increased $23 million, or 47%, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020. The increase was mainly due to lower newsprint, production and distribution costs, driven by lower print volumes, lower travel and entertainment costs due to COVID-19 and the increase in revenues discussed above.
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Book Publishing (22% and 17% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively)
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions, except %) | Better/(Worse) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Consumer | $ | 441 | $ | 387 | $ | 54 | 14 | % | |||||||||||||||
Other | 17 | 18 | (1) | (6) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Revenues | 458 | 405 | 53 | 13 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | (304) | (279) | (25) | (9) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | (83) | (77) | (6) | (8) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Segment EBITDA | $ | 71 | $ | 49 | $ | 22 | 45 | % |
For the three months ended September 30, 2020, revenues at the Book Publishing segment increased $53 million, or 13%, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020. The increase for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily driven by the strong performance of titles in the General Books category such as The Order by Daniel Silva, The Guest List by Lucy Foley and How to Destroy America in Three Easy Steps by Ben Shapiro, as well as higher backlist sales of children’s titles and the $9 million impact from the acquisition of a book publisher in Europe in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. Digital sales increased by 20% as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020, primarily due to growth in both e-books and downloadable audiobooks. Digital sales represented approximately 23% of consumer revenues during the three months ended September 30, 2020. The impact of foreign currency fluctuations of the U.S. dollar against local currencies resulted in a revenue increase of $4 million, or 1%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020.
For the three months ended September 30, 2020, Segment EBITDA at the Book Publishing segment increased $22 million, or 45%, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020. The increase was primarily due to the higher revenues discussed above and the mix of titles.
News Media (23% and 33% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively)
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions, except %) | Better/(Worse) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Circulation and subscription | $ | 246 | $ | 245 | $ | 1 | — | % | |||||||||||||||
Advertising | 184 | 446 | (262) | (59) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Other | 57 | 76 | (19) | (25) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Revenues | 487 | 767 | (280) | (37) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | (299) | (483) | 184 | 38 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | (210) | (277) | 67 | 24 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Segment EBITDA | $ | (22) | $ | 7 | $ | (29) | ** | ||||||||||||||||
** not meaningful |
Revenues at the News Media segment decreased $280 million, or 37%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020. The revenue decrease was primarily due to lower advertising revenues of $262 million, driven by the sale of News America Marketing in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, which contributed $200 million to the decline, continued weakness in the print advertising market exacerbated by COVID-19 and the $29 million impact from the closure or transition to digital of regional and community newspapers in Australia. Other revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2020 decreased $19 million as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020, primarily due to the $10 million impact from the sale of Unruly in January 2020. Circulation and subscription revenues increased $1 million as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020 primarily due to digital subscriber growth across key mastheads, the $10 million positive impact of foreign currency fluctuations and price increases, partially offset by declines in print volume. The
34
impact of foreign currency fluctuations of the U.S. dollar against local currencies resulted in a revenue increase of $19 million, or 2%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020.
Segment EBITDA at the News Media segment declined $29 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020. The decrease was due to the net $12 million impact from the sales of News America Marketing and Unruly in fiscal 2020 and to lower contributions from News Corp Australia and News UK of $13 million and $9 million, respectively, primarily driven by lower revenues, partially offset by cost savings initiatives.
News Corp Australia
Revenues were $221 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of $55 million, or 20%, compared to revenues of $276 million in the corresponding period of fiscal 2020. The closure or transition to digital of regional and community newspapers in Australia resulted in a revenue decrease of $35 million. Advertising revenues decreased $52 million, primarily due to the closure or transition to digital of regional and community newspapers and continued weakness in the print advertising market exacerbated by COVID-19. Circulation and subscription revenues increased $5 million, primarily driven by digital subscriber growth and the positive impact from foreign currency fluctuations, which were mostly offset by print volume declines resulting from the closure or transition to digital of regional and community newspapers. The impact of foreign currency fluctuations of the U.S. dollar against local currencies resulted in a revenue increase of $9 million, or 3%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020.
News UK
Revenues were $206 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of $17 million, or 8%, as compared to revenues of $223 million in the corresponding period of fiscal 2020. Advertising revenues decreased $13 million, primarily due to continued weakness in the print advertising market exacerbated by COVID-19. Circulation and subscription revenues decreased $1 million, primarily driven by single-copy volume declines at The Sun, partially offset by the $6 million positive impact of foreign currency fluctuations, digital subscriber growth, mainly at The Times, and cover price increases, mainly at The Sun. The impact of foreign currency fluctuations of the U.S. dollar against local currencies resulted in a revenue increase of $9 million, or 4%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Current Financial Condition
The Company’s principal source of liquidity is internally generated funds and cash and cash equivalents on hand. As of September 30, 2020, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents were $1.5 billion. The Company also has available borrowing capacity under the 2019 News Corp Credit Facility (as defined below) and certain other facilities, as described below, and expects to have access to the worldwide credit and capital markets, subject to market conditions, in order to issue additional debt if needed or desired. The Company currently expects these elements of liquidity will enable it to meet its liquidity needs for at least the next 12 months, including repayment of indebtedness. However, the Company will continue to review its liquidity needs in light of the business and economic impacts resulting from COVID-19 and has taken various steps to offset the impact of COVID-19, including reducing variable costs and implementing cost savings initiatives across its businesses. Although the Company believes that its cash on hand and future cash from operations, together with its access to the credit and capital markets, will provide adequate resources to fund its operating and financing needs for at least the next 12 months, its access to, and the availability of, financing on acceptable terms in the future will be affected by many factors, including: (i) the financial and operational performance of the Company and/or its operating subsidiaries, as applicable, (ii) the Company’s credit ratings and/or the credit rating of its operating subsidiaries, as applicable, (iii) the provisions of any relevant debt instruments, credit agreements, indentures and similar or associated documents, (iv) the liquidity of the overall credit and capital markets and (v) the state of the economy. Some of these factors may be adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and there can be no assurances that the Company will continue to have access to the credit and capital markets on acceptable terms. See Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the 2020 Form 10-K for further discussion.
As of September 30, 2020, the Company’s consolidated assets included $778 million in cash and cash equivalents that were held by its foreign subsidiaries. Of this amount, $132 million is cash not readily accessible by the Company as it is held by REA Group, a majority owned but separately listed public company. REA Group must declare a dividend in order for the Company to have access to its share of REA Group’s cash balance. The Company earns income outside the U.S., which is deemed to be permanently reinvested in certain foreign jurisdictions. The Company does not currently intend to repatriate these earnings. Should the Company require more capital in the U.S. than is generated by and/or available to its domestic operations, the Company could elect to transfer funds held in foreign jurisdictions. The transfer of funds from foreign jurisdictions may be
35
cumbersome due to local regulations, foreign exchange controls and taxes. Additionally, the transfer of funds from foreign jurisdictions may result in higher effective tax rates and higher cash paid for income taxes for the Company.
The principal uses of cash that affect the Company’s liquidity position include the following: operational expenditures including employee costs and paper purchases; capital expenditures; income tax payments; investments in associated entities; acquisitions; and the repayment of debt and related interest. In addition to the acquisitions and dispositions disclosed elsewhere, the Company has evaluated, and expects to continue to evaluate, possible future acquisitions and dispositions of certain businesses. Such transactions may be material and may involve cash, the issuance of the Company’s securities or the assumption of indebtedness.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Company did not purchase any of its Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock during the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.
Dividends
In August 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors (“the Board of Directors”) declared a semi-annual cash dividend of $0.10 per share for Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. This dividend was paid on October 14, 2020 to stockholders of record as of September 16, 2020. The timing, declaration, amount and payment of future dividends to stockholders, if any, is within the discretion of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors’ decisions regarding the payment of future dividends will depend on many factors, including the Company’s financial condition, earnings, capital requirements and debt facility covenants, other contractual restrictions, as well as legal requirements, regulatory constraints, industry practice, market volatility and other factors that the Board of Directors deems relevant.
Sources and Uses of Cash—For the three months ended September 30, 2020 versus the three months ended September 30, 2019
Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was as follows (in millions):
For the three months ended September 30, | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 155 | $ | 27 |
Net cash provided by operating activities increased by $128 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. The increase was primarily due to higher Total Segment EBITDA and lower working capital.
Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was as follows (in millions):
For the three months ended September 30, | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | $ | (96) | $ | (118) |
Net cash used in investing activities decreased by $22 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. During the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Company used $93 million of cash for capital expenditures, of which $51 million related to Foxtel.
During the three months ended September 30, 2019, the Company used $117 million of cash for capital expenditures, of which $66 million related to Foxtel.
Net cash used in financing activities for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was as follows (in millions):
For the three months ended September 30, | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities | $ | (50) | $ | (95) |
Net cash used in financing activities decreased by $45 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. During the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Company repaid $119 million of borrowings related to Foxtel and made dividend payments of $20 million to REA Group minority stockholders. The net cash used in financing activities was partially offset by new borrowings related to Foxtel of $123 million.
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During the three months ended September 30, 2019, the Company repaid $290 million of borrowings related to Foxtel and made dividend payments of $22 million to REA Group minority stockholders. The net cash used in financing activities for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was partially offset by new borrowings related to Foxtel of $199 million and the net settlement of hedges of $57 million.
Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow Available to News Corporation
Free cash flow available to News Corporation is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as net cash provided by operating activities, less capital expenditures (“free cash flow”), less REA Group free cash flow, plus cash dividends received from REA Group. Free cash flow available to News Corporation should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, cash flows from operations and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Free cash flow available to News Corporation may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies, since companies and investors may differ as to what items should be included in the calculation of free cash flow.
The Company considers free cash flow available to News Corporation to provide useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash that is available to be used to strengthen the Company’s balance sheet and for strategic opportunities including, among others, investing in the Company’s business, strategic acquisitions, dividend payouts and repurchasing stock. The Company believes excluding REA Group’s free cash flow and including dividends received from REA Group provides users of its consolidated financial statements with a measure of the amount of cash flow that is readily available to the Company, as REA Group is a separately listed public company in Australia and must declare a dividend in order for the Company to have access to its share of REA Group’s cash balance. The Company believes free cash flow available to News Corporation provides a more conservative view of the Company’s free cash flow because this presentation includes only that amount of cash the Company actually receives from REA Group, which has generally been lower than the Company’s unadjusted free cash flow.
A limitation of free cash flow available to News Corporation is that it does not represent the total increase or decrease in the cash balance for the period. Management compensates for the limitation of free cash flow available to News Corporation by also relying on the net change in cash and cash equivalents as presented in the Statements of Cash Flows prepared in accordance with GAAP which incorporate all cash movements during the period.
The following table presents a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow available to News Corporation:
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 155 | $ | 27 | |||||||
Less: Capital expenditures | (93) | (117) | |||||||||
62 | (90) | ||||||||||
Less: REA Group free cash flow | (29) | (28) | |||||||||
Plus: Cash dividends received from REA Group | 32 | 35 | |||||||||
Free cash flow available to News Corporation | $ | 65 | $ | (83) |
Free cash flow available to News Corporation increased by $148 million in the three months ended September 30, 2020 to $65 million from $(83) million in the corresponding period of fiscal 2020, primarily due to higher net cash provided by operating activities as discussed above and lower capital expenditures.
Borrowings
As of September 30, 2020, the Company had total borrowings of $1.3 billion, including the current portion and finance lease liabilities. The Company’s borrowings as of such date primarily consisted of (i) $1,000 million of outstanding debt incurred by certain subsidiaries of NXE Australia Pty Limited (“Foxtel” and together with such subsidiaries, the “Foxtel Debt Group”) and (ii) $169 million of outstanding debt incurred by REA Group and certain of its subsidiaries (REA Group and such subsidiaries, the “REA Debt Group”). Both Foxtel and REA Group are consolidated but non wholly-owned subsidiaries of News Corp, and their indebtedness is only guaranteed by members of the Foxtel Debt Group and REA Debt Group and certain of their subsidiaries, respectively, and is non-recourse to News Corp.
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REA Group has access to an A$20 million overdraft facility (the “2020 Overdraft Facility”). The 2020 Overdraft Facility is an uncommitted facility that will be reviewed annually by the lender and bears interest at a rate based on the lender’s benchmark borrowing rate less a discount of 4.22%. The 2020 Overdraft Facility carries an annual facility fee of 0.15% of the A$20 million overdraft limit. As of September 30, 2020, REA Group had not borrowed any funds under the 2020 Overdraft Facility. In October 2020, REA Group amended certain terms of its credit facilities to, among other things, require REA Group to maintain a net leverage ratio of not more than 3.50 to 1.0 subsequent to December 31, 2020.
The Company has access to an unsecured $750 million revolving credit facility (the “2019 News Corp Credit Facility”) that can be used for general corporate purposes. The 2019 News Corp Credit Facility has a sublimit of $100 million available for issuances of letters of credit. The Company may request increases in the amount of the facility up to a maximum amount of $1 billion. The lenders’ commitments to make the 2019 News Corp Credit Facility available terminate on December 12, 2024, and the Company may request that the commitments be extended under certain circumstances for up to two additional one-year periods. As of September 30, 2020, the Company has not borrowed any funds under the 2019 News Corp Credit Facility.
All of the Company’s borrowings contain customary representations, covenants and events of default. The Company was in compliance with all such covenants at September 30, 2020.
See Note 5—Borrowings in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for further details regarding the Company’s outstanding debt, including certain information about interest rates and maturities related to such debt arrangements.
Commitments
The Company has commitments under certain firm contractual arrangements (“firm commitments”) to make future payments. These firm commitments secure the future rights to various assets and services to be used in the normal course of operations. The Company’s commitments as of September 30, 2020 have not changed significantly from the disclosures included in the 2020 Form 10-K.
Contingencies
The Company routinely is involved in various legal proceedings, claims and governmental inspections or investigations, including those discussed in Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The outcome of these matters and claims is subject to significant uncertainty, and the Company often cannot predict what the eventual outcome of pending matters will be or the timing of the ultimate resolution of these matters. Fees, expenses, fines, penalties, judgments or settlement costs which might be incurred by the Company in connection with the various proceedings could adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition.
The Company establishes an accrued liability for legal claims when it determines that a loss is both probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Once established, accruals are adjusted from time to time, as appropriate, in light of additional information. The amount of any loss ultimately incurred in relation to matters for which an accrual has been established may be higher or lower than the amounts accrued for such matters. Legal fees associated with litigation and similar proceedings are expensed as incurred. The Company recognizes gain contingencies when the gain becomes realized or realizable. See Note 9—Commitments and Contingencies in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Company’s tax returns are subject to on-going review and examination by various tax authorities. Tax authorities may not agree with the treatment of items reported in the Company’s tax returns, and therefore the outcome of tax reviews and examinations can be unpredictable. The Company believes it has appropriately accrued for the expected outcome of uncertain tax matters and believes such liabilities represent a reasonable provision for taxes ultimately expected to be paid. However, these liabilities may need to be adjusted as new information becomes known and as tax examinations continue to progress, or as settlements or litigations occur.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
There has been no material change in the Company’s assessment of its sensitivity to market risk since its presentation set forth in Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” in the Company’s 2020 Form 10-K.
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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a)Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report. Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act and were effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(b)Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2021 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
See Note 9—Commitments and Contingencies in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There have been no material changes to the risk factors described in the Company’s 2020 Form 10-K, except as set forth below:
Certain FCC Rules and Regulations and the Separation and Distribution Agreement May Restrict the Company From Acquiring or Owning Certain Types of Assets in the U.S.
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has promulgated certain rules and regulations that limit the common ownership of radio and television broadcast stations and the common ownership of broadcast stations and newspapers (the “Broadcast Ownership Rules”) and place commercial restrictions on a cable network programmer in which a cable television operator holds an ownership interest (the “Program Access Rules”). In November 2017, the FCC voted to eliminate the Broadcast Ownership Rules, and the order became effective in February 2018. However, in September 2019, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (the “Third Circuit”) issued an Order vacating the FCC’s order and reinstating the Broadcast Ownership Rules. The FCC’s petition for en banc review was denied in November 2019, following which a mandate reinstating the Broadcast Ownership Rules was issued. The FCC and certain other parties filed Petitions for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court appealing the Third Circuit’s decision which were granted in October 2020.
Under the FCC’s rules for determining ownership of the media assets described above, the Murdoch Family Trust’s ownership interest in both the Company and FOX would generally result in each company’s businesses and assets being attributable to the Murdoch Family Trust for purposes of determining compliance with the Broadcast Ownership Rules and the Program Access Rules. Consequently, the Company may be restricted from taking advantage of certain acquisition or investment opportunities, including, for example, the acquisition of a newspaper in the same local market in which FOX owns or operates a television station. In addition, the Company agreed in the Separation and Distribution Agreement, as amended, that if it acquires newspapers, radio or television broadcast stations or television broadcast networks in the U.S. and such acquisition would impede or be reasonably likely to impede FOX’s business under the Broadcast Ownership Rules or any other federal statute or FCC rule that limits, directly or indirectly, the ownership or control of radio broadcast stations, television broadcast stations, newspapers and/or television broadcast networks, including FOX’s ability to own and operate its television stations or otherwise comply with such rules or statutes, then the Company will be required to take certain actions, including divesting assets, in order to permit FOX to hold its media interests and to comply with such rules or statutes. The Company also agreed not to acquire an interest in a multichannel video programming distributor, including a cable television operator, if such acquisition would subject FOX to the Program Access Rules to which it is not then subject. This agreement effectively limits the activities or strategic business alternatives available to the Company if such activities or strategic business alternatives implicate the Broadcast Ownership Rules or Program Access Rules or any other federal statute or FCC rule that limits, directly or indirectly, the ownership or control of radio broadcast stations, television broadcast stations, newspapers and/or television broadcast networks, and would impede or be reasonably likely to impede FOX’s business.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
Not applicable.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
(a) Exhibits.
31.1 | ||||||||
31.2 | ||||||||
32.1 | ||||||||
101 | The following financial information from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (unaudited); (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (unaudited); (iii) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2020 (unaudited) and June 30, 2020 (audited); (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (unaudited); and (v) Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.* | |||||||
104 | The cover page from News Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, formatted in Inline XBRL (included as Exhibit 101).* |
* Filed herewith.
** Furnished herewith
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
NEWS CORPORATION (Registrant) | ||||||||
By: | /s/ Susan Panuccio | |||||||
Susan Panuccio Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
Date: November 6, 2020 |
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