Click Here for entire release in PDF format.
British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC
8 February 2002
Results for the six months ended 31 December 2001
BSkyB continues to deliver growth on all fronts
Tony Ball, Chief Executive of British Sky Broadcasting Group plc, said:
'The last six months have seen another strong operating performance. We have over 5.7 million subscribers, revenue per subscriber is growing by 10% a year and we are now generating positive free cashflow. Sky's investment in digital has peaked and we now look forward to reaping the benefit.'
'We have today announced the write-off of the goodwill of £985 million relating to our investment in KirchPayTV. However, we remain focused on protecting our rights and securing full value from our put option.'
Enquiries:
Analysts/Investors:
Neil Chugani
Tel: 020 7705 3837
Andrew Griffith
Tel: 020 7705 3118
E-mail: investor-relations@bskyb.com
Press:
Julian Eccles
Tel: 020 7705 3267
Robert Fraser
Tel: 020 7705 3036
E-mail: corporate.communications@bskyb.com
Portland:
Tim Allan
Tel: 020 7404 5344
E-mail: tim.allan@portlandpr.co.uk
There will be a presentation to analysts and investors at 9.30 a.m. today at The Gibson Hall, 13 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4QB and to the press at 11.00 a.m. at the same venue. A webcast of the presentation to analysts, together with this press release will be available from 2.00 p.m. today on Sky's corporate website (www.sky.com/corporate).
A conference call for US analysts will be held at 9.30 a.m. (EST) today. Details of this call have been sent to US institutions and can be obtained from Patrick Lyon at Taylor Rafferty on +1 212 889 4350.
OPERATING REVIEW
At 31 December 2001 the total number of direct-to-home (DTH) satellite subscribers in the UK and Ireland was 5,716,000, all of whom were digital subscribers. This represents a net increase of 218,000 in the three months to 31 December 2001 ('the quarter'). The total number of subscribers to Sky's channels across all platforms increased by 1.0 million in the quarter to 11.2 million (representing approximately 44% of UK and Ireland TV households).
The quarterly annualised average revenue per DTH subscriber (ARPU) at 31 December 2001 was £331, an increase of 11% over the three months ended 31 December 2000. As a result of Sky's policy of targeting high yielding customers, the take up of premium channels remains high, with over 80% of new DTH subscribers in the quarter taking the top-tier Sky World package (compared with 57% across the whole subscriber base). Digital DTH churn for the year to date (annualised) stands at 10.4%.
Sky successfully launched two new subscription products during the period: Extra Digibox and Sky+. At 31 December 2001, there were 17,000 subscribers to the Extra Digibox and 11,000 subscribers to Sky+ (approximately 40% of Sky+ subscribers are also Extra Digibox subscribers).
Cable and DTT subscribers to Sky channels in the UK and Ireland grew by 813,000 in the quarter, mainly due to the fact that Sky One and Sky News are now available in the basic package for all NTL television homes.
Sky channels' share of viewing in all UK homes was 5.9% in the period. Sky One continues to be the first to bring the best new shows from the US to UK television. The first three episodes of the new series of Star Trek, Enterprise, were each watched by over 1 million viewers and achieved an average 9.6% share of viewing in multi-channel homes.
In November, Sky Sports won exclusive live rights to the ATP Masters Tennis for the next three seasons and coverage will begin in March. Viewers are enjoying the closest Premiership football title race for years and can also look forward to live coverage of England's international cricket matches in New Zealand, three England Rugby Union internationals against Ireland, Wales and France, and World Cup warm-up matches for the England and Republic of Ireland football teams. In October, American Football became the ninth sport to go interactive with Sky Sports Active. Interactive Formula One coverage will be available on Sky for the next two years, starting in March 2002.
In the next few months, Sky Box Office will be showing the UK television premieres of Hannibal, Enemy at the Gates, Bridget Jones' Diary and Pearl Harbor. Sky Premier's line up will include Charlie's Angels, Little Nicky, Meet the Parents, Cast Away and Traffic.
Sky continues to benefit as an increasing number of viewers embrace the greater choice and convenience offered by multi-channel television. The combined viewing share of multi-channel services in all UK homes rose to 19.6% in 2001 from 16.6% in 2000. The parallel decline in terrestrial viewing was reflected by falls in the audience shares of ITV1 to 26.9% from 29.3% and of BBC1 to 26.9% from 27.2%.
Sky has recently won contracts to produce regular programming for two terrestrial broadcasters. A joint bid submitted by Sky and Princess Productions won the contract to produce a new breakfast show to replace Channel 4's The Big Breakfast from the spring. Since 7 January 2002, Channel 5 has been simulcasting Sky News Sunrise for half an hour on weekdays and one hour on Saturdays. These contracts will enable Sky to demonstrate its production talent, creativity and professionalism to new audiences.
The launch of Sky Active on 1 October 2001, providing access to many of Sky's interactive services through a channel interface as well as the main menu, has continued the strategy of integrating interactivity more closely with programming. Messaging facilities such as email and SMS, and information services such as cinema listings are now all available without interrupting TV viewing. Sky Active has continued to migrate its services to WML browser technology, making them faster and simpler to access.
Sky is leading the way in interactivity on the digital satellite platform, and third party channels are increasingly making use of the interactive potential it offers. Amongst others, the BBC, Channel 4, E4, Discovery, MTV, Nickelodeon, QVC, Cartoon Network and Disney have successfully launched interactive services and more third party channels are expected to launch interactivity soon. As the operator of the platform, Sky receives a share of interactive revenues generated by third parties who use the platform's interactive functionality. Sky expects that enhanced programming will become increasingly common and that broadcasters will continue to develop new business models which create revenue generating features tied in to programming.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Sky continues to increase its operating profitability year on year and has achieved its target of becoming free cashflow positive from 1 January 2002. Operating profit before goodwill and exceptional items for the six months to 31 December 2001 ('the period') was £70 million, an increase of 39% on the six months to 31 December 2000 ('the comparable period'). EBITDA for the period (calculated as operating profit before exceptional items, depreciation and amortisation of goodwill and intangible assets) increased by 43% to £111 million.
Revenues increased by £234 million to £1,320 million, up 22% on the comparable period. Operating expenditure increased by a smaller amount, up £215 million to £1,250 million, before goodwill and exceptional items, as the Group continued to focus on tight control of costs.
Before goodwill and exceptional items, the loss before tax was £62 million, an improvement of £50 million on the comparable period. After goodwill, interest, share of joint ventures' losses and exceptional items (principally relating to KirchPayTV), the loss before tax was £1,253 million. The loss after tax was £1,354 million, resulting in a loss of 71.8 pence per share.
Net debt at 31 December 2001 peaked in line with expectations at £1,833 million and had fallen to below £1,800 million at the end of January 2002. Net debt has now peaked and will reduce further over the remainder of the current financial year.
Revenues
DTH revenues increased by 27% to £905 million as a result of a 17% increase in the average number of DTH subscribers, and an 11% increase in core ARPU to £318.
An increase in the average number of cable and DTT subscribers receiving the basic channels Sky One and Sky News was almost wholly offset by a decline in the average number of premium channels taken by these subscribers. Consequently cable and DTT revenue increased by 1% in the period to £147 million.
The Group's advertising revenue fell by 12% on the comparable period to £118 million as a result of the significant advertising market downturn. This was mitigated in part by continued growth in market share and the development of airtime sales in Ireland.
Interactive revenues increased by 149% to £91 million, of which £49 million related to betting via interactive television, the internet and the telephone. The remaining £42 million represented Sky's share of revenues from interactive services on the digital satellite platform generated by Sky Active and by third parties. Interactive ARPU was £13, an increase of 7% on the comparable period.
Costs
Programming costs increased by £121 million to £657 million. Sports costs increased by £80 million to £273 million mainly due to the £69 million increase in the cost for the period of the new Premier League contract, which started in August 2001. An increase in movie costs of £18 million to £180 million, reflected an increased proportion of 'hit' titles, a 6% increase in the average number of movie subscribers and increased volumes of pay-per-view purchases.
Marketing costs increased 3% to £220 million as reductions in set top box costs and above-the-line spending were offset by the consolidation of BiB's set top box subsidy. On a pro forma basis, the subscriber acquisition cost (SAC) has fallen from approximately £250 in the comparable period to £235, reaching the target set for the current financial year six months early.
Subscriber management costs increased by 25% to £146 million, due to the 17% increase in the average number of DTH subscribers over the comparable period and the introduction of several new products.
Goodwill amortisation of £60 million included in operating profit relates principally to the goodwill arising on the acquisitions of Sports Internet Group and BiB which is being amortised over 7 years.
The Group's share of the operating losses of joint ventures was reduced from £99 million in the comparable period to £60 million in the period, following the acquisition of BiB. KirchPayTV accounted for £57 million of these losses.
The Group has made a provision against its minority equity investments in football clubs, reflecting the accounting treatment of these investments required by UK GAAP. This has led to a non-cash exceptional charge of £60 million, which is accounted for below operating profit.
KirchPayTV
The Directors believe that the Group's investment in KirchPayTV ('KPTV') is impaired and have therefore made an impairment charge of £985 million in respect of the carrying value of the goodwill in KPTV. The ongoing losses experienced by KPTV, the Group's concerns over the adequacy of funding in place to support KPTV's business plan for the 12 month period from the date of announcing these financial statements, and the Group's evaluation of limited information it has received from KPTV regarding the expected financial effects of certain strategic, operational and management decisions made by KPTV, do not at present provide the Group with sufficient confidence that the value of KPTV is able to support the carrying value of the Group's investment in KPTV.
The Group has the right to exercise a put option in respect of its stake in KPTV, and has therefore considered whether the put option could be used to support the carrying value of the Group's investment in KPTV. The put option becomes exercisable from 1 October 2002, or earlier in certain circumstances, if no initial public offering of KPTV has occurred before then. If the put option were exercised, Taurus Holding (formerly known as Kirch Holding), KPTV's largest shareholder, would be required to pay EUR 1.3 billion in cash, an amount equal to the cost of acquisition at the time the Group entered into the investment agreement, plus compound interest at 12%.
The Group has not been able to obtain any evidence to its satisfaction that the resources of Taurus Holding will be sufficient to satisfy the put option if exercised. The Group has also requested detailed information from the Kirch Gruppe in order to allow it to evaluate its options. However, the Group has not yet received all of the information requested. Therefore, due to the lack of sufficient information from any source over the realisability of contractual payments specified by the put option, the Directors are currently unable to determine the amount, if any, likely to be received in the event of exercising the put option.
Given the uncertainties described above, the Directors consider the most appropriate accounting treatment is to write down the carrying value of its investment in KPTV to nil. If these uncertainties are resolved in future accounting periods, the write down of £985 million may be partially or wholly reversed under UK GAAP.
The Group's share of KPTV's operating losses has been extracted from financial statements prepared by KPTV's management on a going concern basis. KPTV management has informed the Group that its auditors, KPMG, have not provided a SAS71 review on the results of KPTV for the six months to 30 September 2001, principally due to KPMG's questioning of the appropriateness of the going concern basis for the financial statements. A shareholder, other than the Group, has committed to provide temporary financing up to a specified maximum, until such time as additional financing may be obtained, for a period expiring on 30 June 2002. However, the Group has concerns over the adequacy of the funding in place to support KPTV's business plan. Arthur Andersen have drawn attention in their review report to the fundamental uncertainties over the financing and performance of KPTV and the value of the Group's put option. Arthur Andersen's report is not qualified in this respect.
Following the impairment charge made in respect of the Group's investment in KirchPayTV, the Group has also written down a UK deferred tax asset, as there is no longer sufficient evidence under FRS 19 to support the recognition of this asset, although the Directors ultimately expect it to be fully recovered. This led to an exceptional taxation charge of £96 million in the period.
Cashflow
The Group's operating cash outflow was £178 million in the period, compared to an operating cash outflow of £86 million in the comparable period. This included increases in working capital (principally related to the timing of payments for sports rights) of £262 million. After capital expenditure of £49 million, net interest payments of £62 million and other net inflows of £2 million, net debt increased by £287 million to £1,833 million.
Corporate
On 17 December 2001, the Office of Fair Trading announced that it was proposing to make a decision that Sky has behaved anti-competitively, infringing UK competition law. Sky maintains that it has not infringed the Competition Act and welcomes its first opportunity to put its case to the OFT. Sky has now been made aware of the detailed allegations against it and will defend itself robustly in the next stage of the process. The OFT has said that it does not anticipate being in a position to make a final decision before summer 2002. Decisions of the OFT are subject to a right of appeal to the Competition Commission Appeals Tribunal.
On 18 January 2002, Sky informed the cable companies and ITV Digital that it was modifying its wholesale prices for its premium channels to be consistent with the OFT's new position on wholesale pricing set out in its Rule 14 notice. The modifications address, but in no way imply acceptance of, the allegations made by the OFT against Sky in its Rule 14 Notice. The effect of these new prices is expected to be broadly neutral on Sky's wholesale revenue.
NTL is a major customer of the Group, accounting for a substantial proportion of wholesale revenues. In the light of NTL's announcement on 31 January 2002 that it has appointed advisers to consider strategic and recapitalization alternatives to strengthen the company's balance sheet and reduce debt, Sky is keeping its trading relationship with NTL under close review.
On 6 February 2002, Dr Dieter Hahn resigned as a non-executive director of the Company.
Appendix 1
Subscribers to Sky Channels
Prior Year Opening
Q2 2000/01 Q4 2000/01 Q1 2001/02 Q2 2001/02
as at 31/12/00 as at 30/6/01 as at 30/9/01 as at 31/12/01
DTH(1,2)
Digital 4,669,000 5,308,000 5,498,000 5,716,000
Analogue 382,000 145,000 - -
Total DTH 5,051,000 5,453,000 5,498,000 5,716,000
Cable - UK 3,093,000 2,865,000 2,914,000 3,676,000
Cable - Ireland 631,000 621,000 602,000 613,000
DTT(3) 975,000 1,105,000 1,178,000 1,218,000
Total 9,750,000 10,044,000 10,192,000 11,223,000
DTH Churn rate for 9.8% 10.0% 10.4%(4) 10.4%(4)
year to date
(annualised)
(1): Includes DTH subscribers in Ireland (220,000 as at 31 December 2001).
(2): DTH subscribers includes only primary subscriptions to Sky (no additional
units are counted for Sky+ or Extra Digibox subscriptions).
(3): Includes all DTT subscribers, excluding promotional and non-activated
subscribers, as disclosed in ITV Digital press releases. As at 30 September
2001, 75% of these subscribed to Sky One and 29% subscribed to one or more Sky
premium channels (based on figures reported to Sky by ITV Digital). DTT
subscribers as at 31 December 2001 are based on Sky estimates.
(4): Excludes analogue churn up to 27 September 2001 and the effect of the
termination of the analogue service on 27 September 2001.
Consolidated Profit and Loss Account for the half year ended 31 December 2001
2001/2002 2001/2002 2001/2002 2000/2001 2000/2001 2000/2001 2000/2001
Half year Half year Half year Half year Half year Half year Full year
Before Goodwill Total Before Goodwill Total Total
goodwill and goodwill and as restated
and exceptional and exceptional
exceptional items exceptional items
items items as restated
as restated
£m £m £m £m £m £m £m
Notes (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
Turnover: 1,413.7 - 1,413.7 1,188.0 - 1,188.0 2,530.1
Group and
share of
joint
ventures
Less: share (93.1) - (93.1) (102.0) - (102.0) (224.1)
of joint
ventures'
turnover
Group 2 1,320.6 - 1,320.6 1,086.0 - 1,086.0 2,306.0
turnover
Operating 3 (1,250.5) (59.8) (1,310.3) (1,035.4) (17.9) (1,053.3) (2,213.2)
expenses,
net
EBITDA 13 111.1 - 111.1 77.7 - 77.7 208.2
Depreciation (41.0) - (41.0) (27.1) - (27.1) (71.1)
Amortisation 8 - (59.8) (59.8) - (17.9) (17.9) (44.3)
Operating 70.1 (59.8) 10.3 50.6 (17.9) 32.7 92.8
profit
(loss)
Share of 4 (59.8) - (59.8) (98.6) - (98.6) (255.7)
operating
results of
joint
ventures
Joint 9 - (1,083.4) (1,083.4) - (36.2) (36.2) (101.1)
ventures'
goodwill
amortisation*
Profit on 9 - 2.3 2.3 - - - -
sale of
fixed asset
investment
Share of 9 - - - - (69.5) (69.5) (69.5)
joint
venture's
loss on
sale of
fixed asset
investment
Amounts 9 - (60.0) (60.0) - (24.5) (24.5) (38.6)
written off
fixed asset
investments
Release of 8 - 10.0 10.0 - - - (10.0)
provision
(provision)
for loss on
disposal of
subsidiary
Profit 10.3 (1,190.9) (1,180.6) (48.0) (148.1) (196.1) (382.1)
(loss) on
ordinary
activities
before
interest
and
taxation
Interest 8.5 - 8.5 10.0 - 10.0 20.9
receivable
and similar
income
Interest (80.3) - (80.3) (74.1) - (74.1) (153.3)
payable and
similar
charges
Loss on (61.5) (1,190.9) (1,252.4) (112.1) (148.1) (260.2) (514.5)
ordinary
activities
before
taxation
Taxation 5 (5.5) (95.6) (101.1) (1.7) - (1.7) (24.1)
charge
Loss on (67.0) (1,286.5) (1,353.5) (113.8) (148.1) (261.9) (538.6)
ordinary
activities
after
taxation
Equity 6 - - -
dividends -
paid and
proposed
Retained 11 (1,353.5) (261.9) (538.6)
loss
Loss per 7 (3.6p) (68.2p) (71.8p) (6.2p) (8.0p) (14.2p) (29.2p)
share -
basic and
diluted
* Included within joint ventures' goodwill amortisation of £1,083.4 million for the 2001/2002 half year is £984.9
million in respect of an impairment of KirchPayTV goodwill (see note 9).
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this consolidated profit and loss account.
Consolidated Profit and Loss Account for the three months ended 31 December 2001
Before Goodwill and Three months Before Goodwill Three months
goodwill and exceptional ended 31 goodwill and ended 31
exceptional items December 2001 and exceptional December 2000
items Total exceptional items
items as restated Total
as restated as restated
£m £m £m £m £m £m
(unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
Turnover: Group 725.5 - 725.5 624.4 - 624.4
and share of
joint ventures
Less: share of (47.6) - (47.6) (58.7) - (58.7)
joint ventures'
turnover
Group turnover 677.9 - 677.9 565.7 - 565.7
Operating (652.4) (30.1) (682.5) (551.3) (12.5) (563.8)
expenses, net
EBITDA 46.6 - 46.6 28.8 - 28.8
Depreciation (21.1) - (21.1) (14.4) - (14.4)
Amortisation - (30.1) (30.1) - (12.5) (12.5)
Operating 25.5 (30.1) (4.6) 14.4 (12.5) 1.9
profit (loss)
Share of (28.9) - (28.9) (61.3) - (61.3)
operating
results of
joint ventures
Joint ventures' - (1,034.2) (1,034.2) - (19.4) (19.4)
goodwill
amortisation *
Amounts written - (60.0) (60.0) - (24.5) (24.5)
off fixed asset
investments
Loss on (3.4) (1,124.3) (1,127.7) (46.9) (56.4) (103.3)
ordinary
activities
before interest
and taxation
Interest 4.4 - 4.4 6.4 - 6.4
receivable and
similar income
Interest (39.9) - (39.9) (39.7) - (39.7)
payable and
similar charges
Loss on (38.9) (1,124.3) (1,163.2) (80.2) (56.4) (136.6)
ordinary
activities
before taxation
Taxation 0.1 (95.6) (95.5) 3.6 - 3.6
(charge) credit
Loss on (38.8) (1,219.9) (1,258.7) (76.6) (56.4) (133.0)
ordinary
activities
after taxation
Equity - -
dividends -
paid and
proposed
Retained loss (1,258.7) (133.0)
Loss per share (2.1p) (64.6p) (66.7p) (4.2p) (3.0p) (7.2p)
- basic and
diluted
* Included within joint ventures' goodwill amortisation of £1,034.2 million for the 3 months ended 31 December 2001
is £984.9 million in respect of an impairment of KirchPayTV goodwill (see note 9).
Consolidated Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses for the half year
ended 31 December 2001
2000/2001
2001/2002 Half year 2000/2001
Half year as restated Full year
£m £m £m
Notes (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
Loss for the period 11 (1,353.5) (260.1) (538.6)
Net loss on deemed disposals - (20.6) (20.7)
Translation differences on foreign currency net 11 1.4 3.2 (2.1)
investment
Total gains and losses relating to the period (1,352.1) (277.5) (561.4)
Prior year adjustment 5 - 148.7 150.5
Total gains and losses recognised since the last (1,352.1) (128.8) (410.9)
financial statements
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this consolidated statement of
total recognised gains and losses.
Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2001
31 December
31 December 2000 30 June
2001 as restated 2001
£m £m £m
Notes (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
Fixed assets
Intangible assets 8 714.5 256.6 789.3
Tangible assets 314.4 247.2 315.4
Investments 9 109.2 1,483.8 1,305.9
1,138.1 1,987.6 2,410.6
Current assets
Stocks 648.9 483.2 424.1
Debtors: Amounts falling due within one year 521.4 506.8 493.4
Debtors: Amounts falling due after more than one year 216.9 386.7 324.6
Cash at bank and in hand 86.5 42.4 223.6
1,473.7 1,419.1 1,465.7
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
- short-term borrowings (2.6) (0.1) (2.1)
- other creditors (938.5) (994.9) (988.7)
(941.1) (995.0) (990.8)
Net current assets 532.6 424.1 474.9
Total assets less current liabilities 1,670.7 2,411.7 2,885.5
Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year
- long-term borrowings (1,917.1) (1,482.2) (1,768.0)
- other creditors (12.1) (17.1) (13.9)
(1,929.2) (1,499.3) (1,781.9)
Provisions for liabilities and charges 10 (15.6) (123.2) (43.0)
Total net (liabilities) assets (274.1) 789.2 1,060.6
Capital and reserves - equity
Called-up share capital 11 946.3 924.2 944.4
Share premium 11 2,404.8 2,217.7 2,377.6
Shares to be issued 11 256.9 - 256.9
Merger reserve 11 304.2 240.0 340.8
Profit and loss account 11 (4,186.3) (2,592.7) (2,859.1)
Total shareholders' (deficit) funds 11 (274.1) 789.2 1,060.6
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this consolidated balance sheet.
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the half year ended 31 December 2001
2001/2002 2000/2001 2000/2001
Half year Half year Full year
£m £m £m
Notes (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
Net cash (outflow) inflow from operating activities 12a (177.9) (86.0) 38.9
Returns on investments and servicing of finance
Interest received and similar income 6.7 8.2 4.6
Interest paid and similar charges on external financing (68.9) (62.7) (118.6)
Interest element of finance lease payments (0.2) (0.5) (1.7)
Net cash outflow from returns on investments and (62.4) (55.0) (115.7)
servicing of finance
Taxation
Consortium relief paid - (16.2) (16.2)
Net cash outflow from taxation - (16.2) (16.2)
Capital expenditure and financial investment
Payments to acquire tangible fixed assets (49.3) (46.5) (133.3)
Payments to acquire fixed asset investments - (25.0) (25.5)
Receipts from sales of fixed asset investments 0.4 - -
Receipts from sales of intangible assets 0.6 - 0.2
Purchase of own shares (6.7) - -
Net cash outflow from capital expenditure and financial (55.0) (71.5) (158.6)
investment
Acquisitions and disposals
Purchase of subsidiary undertakings - - (27.3)
Net cash acquired with subsidiary undertakings - 5.0 11.7
Funding to joint ventures (3.3) (74.1) (137.3)
Repayments of funding from joint ventures 1.9 - -
Net cash outflow from acquisitions and disposals (1.4) (69.1) (152.9)
Net cash outflow before management of liquid resources (296.7) (297.8) (404.5)
and financing
Management of liquid resources
Decrease in short-term deposits 12b 55.3 155.0 85.0
Financing
Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares 11.8 4.3 6.5
Payments made on the issue of ordinary shares (1.8) (1.4) (3.5)
Net increase in total debt 12b 149.6 69.8 357.6
Net cash inflow from financing 159.6 72.7 360.6
(Decrease) increase in cash 12b (81.8) (70.1) 41.1
Increase in net debt 12b (286.7) (294.9) (401.5)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this consolidated cash flow
statement.
1 Basis of preparation
The interim accounts for the half year ended 31 December 2001 have been prepared
in accordance with accounting policies consistent with those applied in the
accounts for the year ended 30 June 2001, which were approved by the Directors
on 24 July 2001. The interim accounts for the six months ended 31 December 2001
do not constitute statutory accounts and are unaudited, but have been formally
reviewed by Arthur Andersen who have drawn attention in their review report to
the fundamental uncertainties over the financing and performance of KirchPayTV
and the value of the Group's put option. Arthur Andersen's report is not
qualified in this respect. The interim accounts were approved by the Board of
Directors on 7 February 2002.
The financial information for the 2000/2001 full year is extracted from the
accounts for that year which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies.
The auditors' report on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain any
statement under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985.
At 31 December 2001, the Group's balance sheet showed net liabilities of £274.1
million. The Directors consider that the operating cash flows of the Group,
together with its own bank facilities, will be sufficient to cover the Group's
projected operating requirements and to settle or refinance the Group's other
liabilities as they fall due. Accordingly the interim accounts are prepared on
a going concern basis.
2 Turnover
The Group's turnover, whilst deriving from one class of business, has been
analysed as follows:
2001/2002 2000/2001 2000/2001
Half year Half year Full year
£m £m £m
(unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
Direct-To-Home subscribers 904.9 714.7 1,536.7
Cable and DTT subscribers 147.5 146.1 299.1
Advertising 118.1 133.7 270.5
Interactive * 91.0 36.6 93.0
Other 59.1 54.9 106.7
1,320.6 1,086.0 2,306.0
* Interactive income includes income from gaming, online advertising, internet,
e-commerce, interconnect, text services and Sky Interactive set-top box subsidy
recovery.
3 Operating expenses, net
2001/2002 2001/2002 2000/2001 2000/2001
Half year Half year Half year Half year
Before Goodwill 2001/2002 Before Goodwill 2000/2001 2000/2001
goodwill goodwill
and and Half year and and Half year Full year
exceptional exceptional exceptional exceptional
items items Total items items Total Total
£m £m £m £m £m £m £m
(unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
Programming * 657.4 - 657.4 536.2 - 536.2 1,133.8
Transmission and related 71.9 - 71.9 55.1 - 55.1 128.6
functions *
Marketing 220.2 - 220.2 213.3 - 213.3 378.1
Subscriber management 146.5 - 146.5 117.6 - 117.6 243.4
Administration ** 107.8 59.8 167.6 80.4 17.9 98.3 254.0
Interactive 46.7 - 46.7 32.8 - 32.8 75.3
1,250.5 59.8 1,310.3 1,035.4 17.9 1,053.3 2,213.2
* The amounts shown are net of £5.0 million (2000/2001: half year £6.0 million;
full year £55.1 million) receivable from the disposal of programming rights not
acquired for use by the Group, and £11.9 million (2000/2001: half year £28.7
million; full year £53.9 million) in respect of the provision to third party
broadcasters of spare transponder capacity.
** Administration costs for the full year include goodwill and exceptional items
of £67.4 million.
4 Share of operating results of joint ventures
2001/2002 2000/2001 2000/2001
Half year Half year Full year
£m £m £m
(unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
KirchPayTV GmbH & Co KGaA ('KirchPayTV') 57.1 46.4 116.0
British Interactive Broadcasting ('BiB') - 52.0 135.4
Programming joint ventures, net 2.7 0.2 4.3
59.8 98.6 255.7
This relates to the Group's equity share of the operating results of the Group's
joint ventures.
The Group recognised 32.5% of the results of BiB up until November 2000. From
this date, to 9 May 2001, 100% of BiB's losses were recognised due to the
agreement dated 17 July 2000, under which the Group agreed to provide 100% of
BiB's funding after existing funding had been utilised. From 9 May 2001, the
Group fully consolidated BiB as a subsidiary (see note 9).
In the absence to date of results for KirchPayTV for the period from 1 July 2001
to 31 December 2001, the results for a similar period, to 30 September 2001,
have been used.
5 Taxation
Analysis of charge in period:
2000/2001
2001/2002 Half year 2000/2001
Half year as restated Full year
£m £m £m
(unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
Tax charge (credit) on profit before exceptional
items:
Deferred tax 4.9 1.8 23.3
Share of joint ventures' tax charge (credit) 0.6 (0.1) -
5.5 1.7 23.3
Tax charge - exceptional items:
Deferred tax 95.6 - 0.8
101.1 1.7 24.1
The Group adopted FRS 19, Deferred tax, in June 2001 and has restated the 2000/
2001 half year figures accordingly.
Adoption has resulted in the recognition of deferred tax assets in respect of
losses and other timing differences incurred in prior years, and corresponding
restatement of the prior period results.
Following the impairment charge made in respect of the Group's investment in
KirchPayTV (see note 9), there is currently insufficient evidence to support
recognition of a deferred tax asset arising on losses incurred by certain UK
companies. Accordingly, this asset has been written off as at 31 December 2001,
although the Directors do expect it ultimately to be recovered in full.
6 Dividends
No interim dividend is proposed (2000/2001: half year nil; full year nil).
7 Loss per share
Basic and diluted loss per share represents the loss attributable to the equity
shareholders divided by the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue
during the period of 1,886,064,965 (2000/2001: half year 1,839,868,141; full
year 1,847,057,433).
8 Intangible assets
The movement in the period was as follows:
Goodwill Other Total
£m £m £m
(unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
Net book value at 1 July 2001 788.4 0.9 789.3
Fair value adjustments to BiB provisional goodwill (24.3) - (24.3)
Disposals - (0.7) (0.7)
Amortisation (59.8) - (59.8)
Release of provision for loss on disposal of 10.0 - 10.0
subsidiary
Net book value at 31 December 2001 714.3 0.2 714.5
Goodwill of £272.4 million arising on the acquisition of SIG is being amortised
over a period of 7 years on a straight-line basis. Provisional goodwill of
£540.6 million arising on the acquisition of BiB is being amortised over a
period of 7 years on a straight-line basis. Provisional goodwill of £5.2
million arising on the acquisition of WAP TV is being amortised over a period of
7 years on a straight-line basis.
On 16 October 2001, the Group and Ladbrokes, the betting and gaming division of
Hilton Group plc, announced that they had discontinued negotiations relating to
a proposed joint venture to offer a fixed odds betting service on Sky Sports
channels and other media. As a result, the provision for loss on disposal of a
subsidiary has been written back.
9 Fixed asset investments
31 December 31 December 30 June
2001 2000 2001
£m £m £m
(unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
Joint ventures:
- KirchPayTV - 1,283.5 1,142.1
- BiB - 20.0 -
- Programming joint ventures 22.3 23.9 21.6
Total investments in joint ventures 22.3 1,327.4 1,163.7
Investment in own shares 22.0 19.1 19.1
Other investments 64.9 137.3 123.1
Total investments 109.2 1,483.8 1,305.9
KirchPayTV
The charge of £1,083.4 million in the half year period to 31 December 2001 in
respect of joint ventures goodwill amortisation includes an impairment charge of
£984.9 million in respect of the Group's interest in KirchPayTV (see below).
The Directors believe that the Group's investment in KirchPayTV is impaired and
have therefore made an impairment charge of £984.9 million in respect of the
carrying value of the goodwill in KirchPayTV. The ongoing losses experienced by
KirchPayTV, the Group's concerns over the adequacy of funding in place to
support KirchPayTV's business plan for the 12 month period from the date of
announcing these financial statements, and the Group's evaluation of limited
information it has received from KirchPayTV regarding the expected financial
effects of certain strategic, operational and management decisions made by
KirchPayTV, do not at present provide the Group with sufficient confidence that
the value of KirchPayTV is able to support the carrying value of the Group's
investment in KirchPayTV.
The Group has the right to exercise a put option in respect of its stake in
KirchPayTV, and has therefore considered whether the put option could be used to
support the carrying value of the Group's investment in KirchPayTV. The put
option becomes exercisable from 1 October 2002, or earlier in certain
circumstances, if no initial public offering of KirchPayTV has occurred before
then. If the put option were exercised, Taurus Holding (formerly known as Kirch
Holding), KirchPayTV's largest shareholder, would be required to pay Euro 1.3
billion in cash, an amount equal to the cost of acquisition at the time the
Group entered into the investment agreement, plus compound interest at 12%.
The Group has not been able to obtain any evidence to its satisfaction that the
resources of Taurus Holding will be sufficient to satisfy the put option if
exercised. The Group has also requested detailed information from the Kirch
Gruppe in order to allow it to evaluate its options. However, the Group has not
yet received all of the information requested. Therefore, due to the lack of
sufficient information from any source over the realisability of contractual
payments specified by the put option, the Directors are currently unable to
determine the amount, if any, likely to be received in the event of exercising
the put option.
Given the uncertainties described above, the Directors consider the most
appropriate accounting treatment is to write down the carrying value of its
investment in KirchPayTV to nil. If these uncertainties are resolved in future
accounting periods, the write down of £984.9 million may be partially or wholly
reversed under UK GAAP.
9 Fixed asset investments (continued)
KirchPayTV (continued)
The Group's share of KirchPayTV's operating losses has been extracted from
financial statements prepared by KirchPayTV's management on a going concern
basis. KirchPayTV management has informed the Group that its auditors, KPMG,
have not provided a SAS71 review on the results of KirchPayTV for the six months
to 30 September 2001, principally due to KPMG's questioning of the
appropriateness of the going concern basis for the financial statements. A
shareholder, other than the Group, has committed to provide temporary financing
up to a specified maximum, until such time as additional financing may be
obtained, for a period expiring on 30 June 2002. However, the Group has
concerns over the adequacy of the funding in place to support KirchPayTV's
business plan. Arthur Andersen have drawn attention in their review report to
the fundamental uncertainties over the financing and performance of KirchPayTV
and the value of the Group's put option. Arthur Andersen's report is not
qualified in this respect.
On 31 August 2000, KirchPayTV disposed of their remaining 58 million holding of
BSkyB shares. The Group's share of the loss on disposal was £69.5 million. The
loss was calculated as BSkyB's share of the difference between the balance sheet
value of the 58 million shares at £15.21 per share (based on the value of the
shares at the date of acquisition of 24% of KirchPayTV by BSkyB) and the net
proceeds realised by KirchPayTV of £10.05 per share.
BiB
The Group recognised 32.5% of the results of BiB up until November 2000, from
which date 100% of BiB's losses were recognised due to the arrangement dated 17
July 2000, under which the Group agreed to provide 100% of BiB's funding after
existing funding had been utilised. Following the acquisition of a further
47.6% of BiB on 9 May 2001, the results of BiB have been fully consolidated
within the Group. As a result BiB was consolidated from 9 May 2001. On 28 June
2001, the Group acquired the remaining 19.9%, increasing the Group's interest to
100%.
Investment in own shares
During the period, the Trustees of the Group's employee ownership trust ('ESOP
'), as authorised by the Board, purchased 900,000 of the Company's Ordinary
Shares in the open market, funded by a loan from the Company. These shares will
be utilised, together with shares already held by the ESOP, to satisfy the
exercise of employee share options and share awards under certain long-term
incentive schemes.
At 31 December 2001, the ESOP held 3.6 million Ordinary Shares in the Company at
an average value of £6.12 per share, primarily to hedge the obligations of the
Group then outstanding under various share option schemes against further
increases in the Company's share price.
Other investments
At 31 December 2001, the Group has made a provision against its minority equity
investments in football clubs leading to a non-cash exceptional charge of £60.0
million.
At 31 December 2000, £24.5 million was provided against minority investments in
new media companies of which £24.0 million related to investments held by the
Group and £0.5 million related to investments held by the BiB joint venture. An
additional £15.5 million was provided against these investments at 31 March
2001. This brought the carrying value of the Group's minority investments in
new media companies to nil. At 30 June 2001, the provision was reduced by £1.4
million to reflect the post year end disposal of the Group's unlisted investment
in Static 2358 Limited, which the Group disposed of on 2 July 2001 for total
consideration of £3.7 million, comprising a mixture of cash and shares in Open
TV. The Group made a profit on disposal of £2.3 million.
10 Provisions for liabilities and charges
Sky In-Home
Analogue Service Sky Provision 31 December 31 December 30 June
Limited Interactive for
termination Transition reorganisation reorganisation closure of 2001 2000 2001
provision provision provision provision Sky Total Total Total
Pictures
£m £m £m £m £m £m £m £m
(unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
At beginning of 8.2 18.6 0.4 15.5 0.3 43.0 225.5 225.5
period
Charged to profit - - - - - - - 12.4
and loss account
Subsidiary acquired - - - - - - - 3.4
Utilised in period (3.3) (18.6) (0.1) (5.2) (0.2) (27.4) (102.3) (198.3)
At end of period 4.9 - 0.3 10.3 0.1 15.6 123.2 43.0
The analogue termination provision principally comprises the cost of early
termination of analogue transponder leases and various other costs incurred in
terminating the Group's analogue operations.
The transition provision utilised during the period of £18.6 million (2000/2001:
half year £95.1 million; full year £174.3 million) is net of £2.2 million (2000
/2001: half year £14.1 million; full year £21.2 million) of installation income
received from subscribers. The transition provision comprised the cost of the
set-top box, installation costs, Sky Interactive set-top box subsidy costs and
various other costs incurred in enabling a subscriber to use the digital
service, less any upfront income received from the subscriber.
The Sky In-Home Service Limited reorganisation provision principally comprises
the costs of staff redundancies.
The Sky Interactive reorganisation provision relates to costs associated with
the reorganisation and consolidation of all interactive and online activities
within the division 'Sky Interactive'. The post acquisition provision
principally comprises the cost of termination of certain contracts, the closure
of duplicate sites and a reduction in headcount.
The Sky Pictures provision principally comprises the cost of a reduction in
headcount.
11 Reconciliation of movement in shareholders' funds (deficit)
Total
Share Share Shares to Merger Profit and shareholders'
loss
capital premium be issued reserve account funds
(deficit)
£m £m £m £m £m £m
(unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
At 1 July 2001 944.4 2,377.6 256.9 340.8 (2,859.1) 1,060.6
Issue of share capital 1.9 29.0 - - (11.7) 19.2
Share issue costs - (1.8) - - - (1.8)
Loss for the period - - - - (1,353.5) (1,353.5)
Transfer from merger reserve - - - (36.6) 36.6 -
Translation differences on foreign - - - - 1.4 1.4
currency net investment
At 31 December 2001 946.3 2,404.8 256.9 304.2 (4,186.3) (274.1)
During the period the Company issued shares with a market value of £30.9 million
(2000/2001: half year £9.7 million; full year £15.6 million) in respect of the
exercise of options awarded under various share option schemes, with £11.8
million (2000/2001: half year £4.3 million; full year £6.5 million) received
from employees.
12a Reconciliation of operating profit to operating cash flows
2001/2002 2000/2001 2000/2001
Half year Half year Full year
£m £m £m
(unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
Operating profit 10.3 32.7 92.8
Depreciation 41.0 27.1 71.1
Goodwill amortisation 59.8 17.9 44.3
Increase in working capital (261.6) (73.8) (6.7)
Provisions utilised, net (27.4) (89.9) (162.6)
Net cash (outflow) inflow from operating activities (177.9) (86.0) 38.9
12b Analysis of changes in net debt
As at 31
As at 1 December
July
2001 Cash flow 2001
£m £m £m
(audited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
Overnight deposits 91.9 (64.5) 27.4
Other cash 61.7 (17.3) 44.4
153.6 (81.8) 71.8
Short-term deposits 70.0 (55.3) 14.7
Cash at bank and in hand less bank overdrafts 223.6 (137.1) 86.5
Debt due after more than one year (1,759.1) (150.0) (1,909.1)
Finance leases (11.0) 0.4 (10.6)
Total debt (1,770.1) (149.6) (1,919.7)
Total net debt (1,546.5) (286.7) (1,833.2)
13 EBITDA
EBITDA (Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) is
calculated as operating profit before depreciation and amortisation of goodwill
and intangible assets.