UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
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☑ | Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023
or
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☐ | 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: 1-35106
AMC Networks Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| | | | | | | | |
Delaware | 27-5403694 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| | |
11 Penn Plaza, | |
New York, | NY | 10001 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(212) 324-8500
(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 | AMCX | The | NASDAQ | Stock Market LLC |
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 þ 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 þ 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 (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). | | | | | | | | | | | |
Large accelerated filer | þ | Accelerated filer | ¨ |
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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 Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No þ
The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of October 27, 2023: | | | | | |
Class A Common Stock par value $0.01 per share | 32,073,020 |
Class B Common Stock par value $0.01 per share | 11,484,408 |
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| September 30, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
ASSETS | | | |
Current Assets: | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 955,187 | | | $ | 930,002 | |
Accounts receivable, trade (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $9,581 and $8,725) | 657,656 | | | 722,185 | |
Current portion of program rights, net | 11,978 | | | 10,807 | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 276,284 | | | 286,875 | |
Total current assets | 1,901,105 | | | 1,949,869 | |
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $390,887 and $344,906 | 172,897 | | | 202,034 | |
Program rights, net | 1,807,549 | | | 1,762,939 | |
Intangible assets, net | 300,763 | | | 354,676 | |
Goodwill | 640,143 | | | 643,419 | |
Deferred tax assets, net | 15,542 | | | 13,618 | |
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 81,783 | | | 108,229 | |
Other assets | 471,003 | | | 599,052 | |
Total assets | $ | 5,390,785 | | | $ | 5,633,836 | |
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | | | |
Current Liabilities: | | | |
Accounts payable | $ | 103,575 | | | $ | 172,009 | |
Accrued liabilities | 373,403 | | | 419,065 | |
Current portion of program rights obligations | 257,508 | | | 374,115 | |
Deferred revenue | 69,796 | | | 134,883 | |
Current portion of long-term debt | 459,063 | | | 33,750 | |
Current portion of lease obligations | 36,822 | | | 36,411 | |
Total current liabilities | 1,300,167 | | | 1,170,233 | |
Program rights obligations | 146,924 | | | 200,869 | |
Long-term debt, net | 2,334,216 | | | 2,778,703 | |
Lease obligations | 99,116 | | | 124,799 | |
Deferred tax liabilities, net | 117,687 | | | 112,642 | |
Other liabilities | 84,988 | | | 139,108 | |
Total liabilities | 4,083,098 | | | 4,526,354 | |
Commitments and contingencies | | | |
Redeemable noncontrolling interests | 225,400 | | | 253,669 | |
Stockholders' equity: | | | |
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 360,000 shares authorized, 66,666 and 66,118 shares issued and 32,073 and 31,525 shares outstanding, respectively | 666 | | | 661 | |
Class B Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 90,000 shares authorized, 11,484 shares issued and outstanding | 115 | | | 115 | |
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 45,000 shares authorized; none issued | — | | | — | |
Paid-in capital | 372,925 | | | 360,251 | |
Accumulated earnings | 2,342,914 | | | 2,105,641 | |
Treasury stock, at cost (34,593 and 34,593 shares Class A Common Stock, respectively) | (1,419,882) | | | (1,419,882) | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (246,052) | | | (239,798) | |
Total AMC Networks stockholders' equity | 1,050,686 | | | 806,988 | |
Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests | 31,601 | | | 46,825 | |
Total stockholders' equity | 1,082,287 | | | 853,813 | |
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 5,390,785 | | | $ | 5,633,836 | |
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Revenues, net | $ | 636,954 | | | $ | 681,843 | | | $ | 2,033,029 | | | $ | 2,132,025 | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | |
Technical and operating (excluding depreciation and amortization) | 284,900 | | | 293,459 | | | 933,590 | | | 903,468 | |
Selling, general and administrative | 187,232 | | | 207,972 | | | 567,136 | | | 670,444 | |
Depreciation and amortization | 28,009 | | | 29,735 | | | 79,629 | | | 79,556 | |
Impairment and other charges | 5,400 | | | — | | | 30,282 | | | — | |
Restructuring and other related charges | 10,563 | | | — | | | 22,537 | | | — | |
Total operating expenses | 516,104 | | | 531,166 | | | 1,633,174 | | | 1,653,468 | |
Operating income | 120,850 | | | 150,677 | | | 399,855 | | | 478,557 | |
Other income (expense): | | | | | | | |
Interest expense | (38,757) | | | (34,308) | | | (115,304) | | | (97,085) | |
Interest income | 11,686 | | | 3,625 | | | 26,944 | | | 8,552 | |
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Miscellaneous, net | (2,211) | | | (1,546) | | | 12,518 | | | 3,540 | |
Total other expense | (29,282) | | | (32,229) | | | (75,842) | | | (84,993) | |
Income from operations before income taxes | 91,568 | | | 118,448 | | | 324,013 | | | 393,564 | |
Income tax expense | (23,671) | | | (28,456) | | | (82,725) | | | (103,118) | |
Net income including noncontrolling interests | 67,897 | | | 89,992 | | | 241,288 | | | 290,446 | |
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (4,473) | | | (5,326) | | | (4,015) | | | (18,163) | |
Net income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders | $ | 63,424 | | | $ | 84,666 | | | $ | 237,273 | | | $ | 272,283 | |
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Net income per share attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders: |
Basic | $ | 1.44 | | | $ | 1.96 | | | $ | 5.42 | | | $ | 6.32 | |
Diluted | $ | 1.44 | | | $ | 1.94 | | | $ | 5.40 | | | $ | 6.23 | |
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Weighted average common shares: | | | | | | | |
Basic | 43,951 | | | 43,238 | | | 43,786 | | | 43,070 | |
Diluted | 44,041 | | | 43,732 | | | 43,905 | | | 43,707 | |
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Net income including noncontrolling interests | $ | 67,897 | | | $ | 89,992 | | | $ | 241,288 | | | $ | 290,446 | |
Other comprehensive income (loss): | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency translation adjustment | (27,860) | | | (54,896) | | | (6,216) | | | (125,229) | |
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Comprehensive income | 40,037 | | | 35,096 | | | 235,072 | | | 165,217 | |
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (3,389) | | | (3,136) | | | (4,053) | | | (13,114) | |
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders | $ | 36,648 | | | $ | 31,960 | | | $ | 231,019 | | | $ | 152,103 | |
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
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| Class A Common Stock | | Class B Common Stock | | Paid-in Capital | | Accumulated Earnings | | Treasury Stock | | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | | AMC Networks Stockholders’ Equity | | Noncontrolling Interests | | Total Stockholders' Equity |
Balance, June 30, 2023 | $ | 666 | | | $ | 115 | | | $ | 366,553 | | | $ | 2,279,490 | | | $ | (1,419,882) | | | $ | (219,276) | | | $ | 1,007,666 | | | $ | 32,585 | | | $ | 1,040,251 | |
Net income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders | — | | | — | | | — | | | 63,424 | | | — | | | — | | | 63,424 | | | — | | | 63,424 | |
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 417 | | | 417 | |
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Distribution to noncontrolling member | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (317) | | | (317) | |
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Other comprehensive income (loss) | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (26,776) | | | (26,776) | | | (1,084) | | | (27,860) | |
Share-based compensation expenses | — | | | — | | | 6,378 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 6,378 | | | — | | | 6,378 | |
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Net share issuances under employee stock plans | — | | | — | | | (6) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (6) | | | — | | | (6) | |
Balance, September 30, 2023 | $ | 666 | | | $ | 115 | | | $ | 372,925 | | | $ | 2,342,914 | | | $ | (1,419,882) | | | $ | (246,052) | | | $ | 1,050,686 | | | $ | 31,601 | | | $ | 1,082,287 | |
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| Class A Common Stock | | Class B Common Stock | | Paid-in Capital | | Accumulated Earnings | | Treasury Stock | | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | | AMC Networks Stockholders’ Equity | | Noncontrolling Interests | | Total Stockholders' Equity |
Balance, June 30, 2022 | $ | 660 | | | $ | 115 | | | $ | 341,403 | | | $ | 2,285,664 | | | $ | (1,419,882) | | | $ | (243,292) | | | $ | 964,668 | | | $ | 48,778 | | | $ | 1,013,446 | |
Net income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders | — | | | — | | | — | | | 84,666 | | | — | | | — | | | 84,666 | | | — | | | 84,666 | |
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 883 | | | 883 | |
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Distributions to noncontrolling member | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (407) | | | (407) | |
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Other comprehensive income (loss) | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (52,706) | | | (52,706) | | | (2,190) | | | (54,896) | |
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Share-based compensation expenses | — | | | — | | | 7,050 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 7,050 | | | — | | | 7,050 | |
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Net share issuances under employee stock plans | 1 | | | — | | | (1,249) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (1,248) | | | — | | | (1,248) | |
Balance, September 30, 2022 | $ | 661 | | | $ | 115 | | | $ | 347,204 | | | $ | 2,370,330 | | | $ | (1,419,882) | | | $ | (295,998) | | | $ | 1,002,430 | | | $ | 47,064 | | | $ | 1,049,494 | |
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Class A Common Stock | | Class B Common Stock | | Paid-in Capital | | Accumulated Earnings | | Treasury Stock | | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | | AMC Networks Stockholders’ Equity | | Noncontrolling Interests | | Total Stockholders' Equity |
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Balance, December 31, 2022 | $ | 661 | | | $ | 115 | | | $ | 360,251 | | | $ | 2,105,641 | | | $ | (1,419,882) | | | $ | (239,798) | | | $ | 806,988 | | | $ | 46,825 | | | $ | 853,813 | |
Net income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders | — | | | — | | | — | | | 237,273 | | | — | | | — | | | 237,273 | | | — | | | 237,273 | |
Net income (loss) attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (13,111) | | | (13,111) | |
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Distributions to noncontrolling member | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (2,151) | | | (2,151) | |
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Other comprehensive income (loss) | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (6,254) | | | (6,254) | | | 38 | | | (6,216) | |
Share-based compensation expenses | — | | | — | | | 19,908 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 19,908 | | | — | | | 19,908 | |
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Net share issuances under employee stock plans | 5 | | | — | | | (7,234) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (7,229) | | | — | | | (7,229) | |
Balance, September 30, 2023 | $ | 666 | | | $ | 115 | | | $ | 372,925 | | | $ | 2,342,914 | | | $ | (1,419,882) | | | $ | (246,052) | | | $ | 1,050,686 | | | $ | 31,601 | | | $ | 1,082,287 | |
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| Class A Common Stock | | Class B Common Stock | | Paid-in Capital | | Accumulated Earnings | | Treasury Stock | | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | | AMC Networks Stockholders’ Equity | | Noncontrolling Interests | | Total Stockholders' Equity |
Balance, December 31, 2021 | $ | 655 | | | $ | 115 | | | $ | 347,971 | | | $ | 2,098,047 | | | $ | (1,419,882) | | | $ | (175,818) | | | $ | 851,088 | | | $ | 51,584 | | | $ | 902,672 | |
Net income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders | — | | | — | | | — | | | 272,283 | | | — | | | — | | | 272,283 | | | — | | | 272,283 | |
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 5,192 | | | 5,192 | |
Distributions to noncontrolling member | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (3,366) | | | (3,366) | |
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | — | | | — | | | (3,066) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (3,066) | | | (1,297) | | | (4,363) | |
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Other comprehensive income (loss) | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (120,180) | | | (120,180) | | | (5,049) | | | (125,229) | |
Share-based compensation expenses | — | | | — | | | 23,862 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 23,862 | | | — | | | 23,862 | |
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Net share issuances under employee stock plans | 6 | | | — | | | (21,563) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (21,557) | | | — | | | (21,557) | |
Balance, September 30, 2022 | $ | 661 | | | $ | 115 | | | $ | 347,204 | | | $ | 2,370,330 | | | $ | (1,419,882) | | | $ | (295,998) | | | $ | 1,002,430 | | | $ | 47,064 | | | $ | 1,049,494 | |
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands) / (unaudited) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2023 | | 2022 |
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | |
Net income including noncontrolling interests | $ | 241,288 | | | $ | 290,446 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities: | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | 79,629 | | | 79,556 | |
Impairment and other charges | 24,882 | | | — | |
Share-based compensation expenses related to equity classified awards | 19,671 | | | 23,862 | |
Non-cash restructuring and other related charges | 11,916 | | | — | |
Amortization of program rights | 626,685 | | | 610,099 | |
Amortization of deferred carriage fees | 15,662 | | | 24,747 | |
Unrealized foreign currency transaction loss (gain) | 7,778 | | | (1,098) | |
Amortization of deferred financing costs and discounts on indebtedness | 5,876 | | | 5,778 | |
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Bad debt expense | 2,106 | | | 2,035 | |
Deferred income taxes | 2,973 | | | 46,292 | |
Gain on investments | — | | | (4,084) | |
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Other, net | (4,881) | | | (7,854) | |
Changes in assets and liabilities: | | | |
Accounts receivable, trade | 48,570 | | | 99,711 | |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 146,321 | | | (18,174) | |
Program rights and obligations, net | (844,332) | | | (1,065,937) | |
Income taxes payable | 16,198 | | | 13,181 | |
Deferred revenue | (65,548) | | | 66,822 | |
Deferred carriage fees, net | (4,725) | | | (22,285) | |
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities | (198,930) | | | (106,506) | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | 131,139 | | | 36,591 | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | | | |
Capital expenditures | (28,392) | | | (33,510) | |
Return of capital from investees | 696 | | | 1,771 | |
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Acquisition of investments | (283) | | | (5,002) | |
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Loans to investees | — | | | (2,456) | |
Principal payment received on loan to investee | 180 | | | 720 | |
Proceeds from sale of investments | 8,565 | | | 9,854 | |
Net cash used in investing activities | (19,234) | | | (28,623) | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | |
Payments for financing costs | (342) | | | — | |
Principal payments on long-term debt | (25,313) | | | (25,313) | |
Deemed repurchases of restricted stock units | (7,229) | | | (21,557) | |
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Principal payments on finance lease obligations | (3,134) | | | (2,606) | |
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Distributions to noncontrolling interests | (47,546) | | | (28,232) | |
Purchase of noncontrolling interests | (1,343) | | | (2,500) | |
Net cash used in financing activities | (84,907) | | | (80,208) | |
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from operations | 26,998 | | | (72,240) | |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (1,813) | | | (29,051) | |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 930,002 | | | 892,221 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 955,187 | | | $ | 790,930 | |
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
Note 1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation
Description of Business
AMC Networks Inc. ("AMC Networks") and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the "Company," "we," "us," or "our") own and operate entertainment businesses and assets. The Company is comprised of two operating segments:
•Domestic Operations: Includes our programming services, which consist of our five national programming networks, our global streaming services, our AMC Studios operation and IFC Films. Our national programming networks are AMC, WE tv, BBC AMERICA, IFC, and SundanceTV. Our global streaming services consist of our targeted subscription streaming services (Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, ALLBLK, and HIDIVE) and AMC+. Our AMC Studios operation produces original programming for our programming networks and third parties and also licenses programming worldwide, and IFC Films is our film distribution business. The operating segment also includes AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, our technical services business, which primarily services most of the national programming networks.
•International and Other: Includes AMC Networks International ("AMCNI"), our international programming businesses consisting of a portfolio of channels around the world, and 25/7 Media, our production services business.
Basis of Presentation
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AMC Networks and its subsidiaries in which a controlling financial interest is maintained or variable interest entities ("VIEs") in which the Company has determined it is the primary beneficiary. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Investments in business entities in which the Company lacks control but does have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.
Unaudited Interim Financial Statements
These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2022 contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K (our "2022 Form 10-K") filed with the SEC. The condensed consolidated financial statements presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, such financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented.
The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that might be expected for future interim periods or for the full year ending December 31, 2023.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements; and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates and judgments inherent in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements include the useful lives and methodologies used to amortize and assess recoverability of program rights, the estimated useful lives of intangible assets and the valuation and recoverability of goodwill and intangible assets.
Note 2. Revenue Recognition
Transaction Price Allocated to Future Performance Obligations
As of September 30, 2023, other than contracts for which the Company has applied the practical expedients, the aggregate amount of transaction price allocated to future performance obligations was not material to our consolidated revenues.
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
Contract Balances from Contracts with Customers
The following table provides information about receivables, contract assets, and contract liabilities from contracts with customers. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | | September 30, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
Balances from contracts with customers: | | | | |
Accounts receivable (including long-term receivables within Other assets) | | $ | 765,333 | | | $ | 1,003,505 | |
Contract assets, short-term (included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets) | | 2,364 | | | 48,594 | |
| | | | |
Contract liabilities, short-term (Deferred revenue) | | 69,796 | | | 134,883 | |
Contract liabilities, long-term (Deferred revenue included in Other liabilities) | | 181 | | | 683 | |
Revenue recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 relating to the contract liabilities at December 31, 2022 and 2021 was $102.6 million and $63.1 million, respectively.
In October 2023, the Company entered into an agreement enabling it to sell certain customer receivables to a financial institution on a recurring basis for cash. The transferred receivables will be fully guaranteed by a bankruptcy-remote entity and the financial institution that purchases the receivables will have no recourse to the Company's other assets in the event of non-payment by the customers. The Company can sell an indefinite amount of customer receivables under the agreement on a revolving basis, but the outstanding balance of unpaid customer receivables to the financial institution cannot exceed the initial program limit of $125.0 million at any given time. As of the date of this report, the Company has not yet sold any customer receivables under this agreement.
Note 3. Net Income per Share
The following is a reconciliation between basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding | 43,951 | | | 43,238 | | | 43,786 | | | 43,070 | |
Effect of dilution: | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Restricted stock units | 90 | | | 494 | | | 119 | | | 637 | |
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | 44,041 | | | 43,732 | | | 43,905 | | | 43,707 | |
As of September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022, 1.9 million and 0.9 million, respectively, of restricted stock units have been excluded from diluted weighted average common shares outstanding, as their impact would have been anti-dilutive.
Stock Repurchase Program
The Company's Board of Directors previously authorized a program to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of its outstanding shares of common stock (the "Stock Repurchase Program"). The Stock Repurchase Program has no pre-established closing date and may be suspended or discontinued at any time. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its Class A Common Stock. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had $135.3 million of authorization remaining for repurchase under the Stock Repurchase Program.
Note 4. Restructuring and Other Related Charges
On November 28, 2022, the Company commenced a restructuring plan (the “Plan”) designed to achieve significant cost reductions in light of “cord cutting” and the related impacts being felt across the media industry as well as the broader economic outlook. The Plan encompasses initiatives that include, among other things, strategic programming assessments and organizational restructuring costs. The Plan is intended to improve the organizational design of the Company through the elimination of certain roles and centralization of certain functional areas of the Company. The programming assessments pertain to a broad mix of owned and licensed content, including legacy television series and films that will no longer be in active rotation on the Company’s linear or streaming platforms.
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
During the third quarter of 2023, the Company substantially completed the Plan and exited a portion of its office space in its corporate headquarters in New York and office space in Silver Spring, Maryland and Woodland Hills, California. In connection with exiting a portion of the New York office, the Company recorded impairment charges of $11.6 million, consisting of $9.1 million for operating lease right-of use assets and $2.5 million for leasehold improvements. Fair values used to determine the impairment charge were determined using an income approach, specifically a discounted cash flow ("DCF") model. The DCF model includes significant assumptions about sublease income and enterprise specific discount rates. Given the uncertainty in determining assumptions underlying the DCF approach, actual results may differ from those used in the valuations.
As a result of the Plan, the Company recorded restructuring and other related charges of $10.6 million and $22.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, consisting primarily of charges relating to exiting a portion of office space in New York and severance and other personnel costs.
There were no restructuring and other related charges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022.
The following table summarizes the restructuring and other related charges (credits) recognized by operating segment:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
2023 | | | | 2023 |
Domestic Operations | $ | (783) | | | | | $ | 3,940 | | | |
International and Other | (4) | | | | | 1,642 | | | |
Corporate / Inter-segment eliminations | 11,350 | | | | | 16,955 | | | |
Total restructuring and other related charges | $ | 10,563 | | | | | $ | 22,537 | | | |
The following table summarizes the accrued restructuring and other related costs:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Severance and Employee-Related Costs | | Content Impairments and Other Exit Costs | | Total |
Balance at December 31, 2022 | $ | 37,150 | | | $ | 74,724 | | | $ | 111,874 | |
Charges (credits), net | 13,444 | | | 9,093 | | | 22,537 | |
Cash payments | (40,285) | | | (61,305) | | | (101,590) | |
Non-cash adjustments | — | | | (11,916) | | | (11,916) | |
Other | (56) | | | 1,481 | | | 1,425 | |
Balance at September 30, 2023 | $ | 10,253 | | | $ | 12,077 | | | $ | 22,330 | |
Accrued restructuring and other related costs of $20.1 million and $2.2 million are included in Accrued liabilities and Other liabilities, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2023. Accrued restructuring and other related costs of $108.0 million and $3.9 million are included in Accrued liabilities and Other liabilities, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2022.
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
Note 5. Program Rights
Total capitalized produced and licensed content by predominant monetization strategy is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| September 30, 2023 |
(In thousands) | Predominantly Monetized Individually | | Predominantly Monetized as a Group | | Total |
Owned original program rights, net: | | | | | |
Completed | $ | 198,647 | | | $ | 537,260 | | | $ | 735,907 | |
In-production and in-development | — | | | 284,783 | | | 284,783 | |
Total owned original program rights, net | $ | 198,647 | | | $ | 822,043 | | | $ | 1,020,690 | |
| | | | | |
Licensed program rights, net: | | | | | |
Licensed film and acquired series | $ | 1,276 | | | $ | 570,027 | | | $ | 571,303 | |
Licensed originals | 2,084 | | | 134,300 | | | 136,384 | |
Advances and content versioning costs | — | | | 91,150 | | | 91,150 | |
Total licensed program rights, net | 3,360 | | | 795,477 | | | 798,837 | |
Program rights, net | $ | 202,007 | | | $ | 1,617,520 | | | $ | 1,819,527 | |
| | | | | |
Current portion of program rights, net | | | | | $ | 11,978 | |
Program rights, net (long-term) | | | | | 1,807,549 | |
| | | | | $ | 1,819,527 | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2022 |
(In thousands) | Predominantly Monetized Individually | | Predominantly Monetized as a Group | | Total |
Owned original program rights, net: | | | | | |
Completed | $ | 215,496 | | | $ | 322,248 | | | $ | 537,744 | |
In-production and in-development | 45,098 | | | 294,086 | | | 339,184 | |
Total owned original program rights, net | $ | 260,594 | | | $ | 616,334 | | | $ | 876,928 | |
| | | | | |
Licensed program rights, net: | | | | | |
Licensed film and acquired series | $ | 3,092 | | | $ | 642,768 | | | $ | 645,860 | |
Licensed originals | 5,373 | | | 171,418 | | | 176,791 | |
Advances and content versioning costs | — | | | 74,167 | | | 74,167 | |
Total licensed program rights, net | 8,465 | | | 888,353 | | | 896,818 | |
Program rights, net | $ | 269,059 | | | $ | 1,504,687 | | | $ | 1,773,746 | |
| | | | | |
Current portion of program rights, net | | | | | $ | 10,807 | |
Program rights, net (long-term) | | | | | 1,762,939 | |
| | | | | $ | 1,773,746 | |
| | | | | |
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
Amortization of owned and licensed program rights, included in Technical and operating expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of income, is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 | | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 |
(In thousands) | Predominantly Monetized Individually | | Predominantly Monetized as a Group | | Total | | Predominantly Monetized Individually | | Predominantly Monetized as a Group | | Total |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Owned original program rights | $ | 21,116 | | | $ | 63,800 | | | $ | 84,916 | | | $ | 101,947 | | | $ | 165,547 | | | $ | 267,494 | |
Licensed program rights | 485 | | | 110,898 | | | 111,383 | | | 2,620 | | | 356,571 | | | 359,191 | |
Program rights amortization | $ | 21,601 | | | $ | 174,698 | | | $ | 196,299 | | | $ | 104,567 | | | $ | 522,118 | | | $ | 626,685 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 | | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 |
(In thousands) | Predominantly Monetized Individually | | Predominantly Monetized as a Group | | Total | | Predominantly Monetized Individually | | Predominantly Monetized as a Group | | Total |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Owned original program rights | $ | 33,728 | | | $ | 35,534 | | | $ | 69,262 | | | $ | 128,072 | | | $ | 82,850 | | | $ | 210,922 | |
Licensed program rights | 12,597 | | | 131,350 | | | 143,947 | | | 29,838 | | | 369,339 | | | 399,177 | |
Program rights amortization | $ | 46,325 | | | $ | 166,884 | | | $ | 213,209 | | | $ | 157,910 | | | $ | 452,189 | | | $ | 610,099 | |
For programming rights predominantly monetized individually or as a group, the Company periodically reviews the programming usefulness of licensed and owned original program rights based on several factors, including expected future revenue generation from airings on the Company's networks and streaming services and other exploitation opportunities, ratings, type and quality of program material, standards and practices, and fitness for exhibition through various forms of distribution. If events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of a film predominantly monetized individually or a film group is less than its unamortized cost, the Company will write off the excess to technical and operating expenses in the consolidated statements of income. Program rights with no future programming usefulness are substantively abandoned resulting in the write-off of remaining unamortized cost. There were no significant program rights write-offs included in technical and operating expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 or 2022.
In the normal course of business, the Company may qualify for tax incentives through eligible investments in productions. Receivables related to tax incentives earned on production spend were $191.7 million and $143.1 million as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, recorded in Prepaid expenses and other current assets, and $84.6 million and $104.5 million as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, recorded in Other assets.
Note 6. Investments
The Company holds several investments in and loans to non-consolidated entities which are included in Other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
Equity Method Investments
Equity method investments were $82.7 million and $79.6 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
Marketable Equity Securities
There were no investments in marketable equity securities at September 30, 2023 or December 31, 2022.
There were no realized or unrealized gains or losses on marketable equity securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. No gains or losses were recorded on marketable equity securities for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and $4.1 million of gains were recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, included in miscellaneous, net in the condensed consolidated statements of income. In April 2022, the Company sold its interest in a marketable equity security for $9.9 million.
Non-marketable Equity Securities
Investments in non-marketable equity securities were $41.3 million and $42.7 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. No gains or losses were recorded on non-marketable equity securities for the three months ended September 30, 2023, or the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022. During the nine months ended
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
September 30, 2023, the Company recognized impairment charges of $1.7 million on certain investments, which were included in miscellaneous, net in the consolidated statements of income.
Note 7. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The carrying amount of goodwill, by operating segment is as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Domestic Operations | | International and Other | | Total |
December 31, 2022 | $ | 349,292 | | | $ | 294,127 | | | $ | 643,419 | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Impairment charge | — | | | (1,877) | | | (1,877) | |
Amortization of "second component" goodwill | (560) | | | — | | | (560) | |
Foreign currency translation | — | | | (839) | | | (839) | |
September 30, 2023 | $ | 348,732 | | | $ | 291,411 | | | $ | 640,143 | |
As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, accumulated impairment charges in the International and Other segment totaled $165.7 million and $163.8 million, respectively.
The $1.9 million impairment charge for International and Other relates to the 25/7 Media reporting unit. See "Impairment Test of Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill" below for more details.
The reduction of $0.6 million in the carrying amount of goodwill for Domestic Operations is due to the realization of a tax benefit for the amortization of "second component" goodwill at SundanceTV. Second component goodwill is the amount of tax deductible goodwill in excess of goodwill for financial reporting purposes. In accordance with the authoritative guidance at the time of the SundanceTV acquisition, the tax benefits associated with this excess are applied to first reduce the amount of goodwill, and then other intangible assets for financial reporting purposes, if and when such tax benefits are realized in the Company's tax returns. All remaining tax benefits were realized during the second quarter of 2023.
The following tables summarize information relating to the Company's identifiable intangible assets:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | September 30, 2023 | | |
Gross | | Accumulated Amortization | | Net | | Estimated Useful Lives |
Amortizable intangible assets: | | | | | | | |
Affiliate and customer relationships | $ | 633,525 | | | $ | (410,571) | | | $ | 222,954 | | | 6 to 25 years |
Advertiser relationships | 46,282 | | | (37,598) | | | 8,684 | | | 11 years |
Trade names and other amortizable intangible assets | 105,441 | | | (56,216) | | | 49,225 | | | 3 to 20 years |
| | | | | | | |
Total amortizable intangible assets | 785,248 | | | (504,385) | | | 280,863 | | | |
Indefinite-lived intangible assets: | | | | | | | |
Trademarks | 19,900 | | | — | | | 19,900 | | | |
Total intangible assets | $ | 805,148 | | | $ | (504,385) | | | $ | 300,763 | | | |
| | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | December 31, 2022 | | |
Gross | | Accumulated Amortization | | Net | | |
Amortizable intangible assets: | | | | | | | |
Affiliate and customer relationships | $ | 634,000 | | | $ | (373,240) | | | $ | 260,760 | | | |
Advertiser relationships | 46,282 | | | (34,443) | | | 11,839 | | | |
Trade names and other amortizable intangible assets | 105,338 | | | (43,161) | | | 62,177 | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Total amortizable intangible assets | 785,620 | | | (450,844) | | | 334,776 | | | |
Indefinite-lived intangible assets: | | | | | | | |
Trademarks | 19,900 | | | — | | | 19,900 | | | |
Total intangible assets | $ | 805,520 | | | $ | (450,844) | | | $ | 354,676 | | | |
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
Aggregate amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $9.8 million and $10.2 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $30.7 million and $31.2 million, respectively. Estimated aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization for each of the following five years is:
| | | | | |
(In thousands) | |
Years Ending December 31, | |
2023 | $ | 40,454 | |
2024 | 39,128 | |
2025 | 37,420 | |
2026 | 33,076 | |
2027 | 28,272 | |
Impairment Test of Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill
25/7 Media is our production services business and is part of our International and Other operating segment. See "Item 1. Business - International and Other" in our 2022 Form 10-K for further details. During the second quarter of 2023, given the impact of market challenges at 25/7 Media, specifically as it relates to reduced demand for new content and series cancellations from third parties, the Company revised its outlook for the 25/7 Media business, resulting in lower expected future cash flows. As a result, the Company determined that sufficient indicators of potential impairment of long-lived assets existed at 25/7 Media. The Company performed a recoverability test and determined that the carrying amount of the 25/7 Media asset group was not recoverable. The carrying value of the asset group exceeded its fair value, therefore an impairment charge of $23.0 million was recorded for identifiable intangible assets, which is included in impairment and other charges in the consolidated statement of income within the International and Other operating segment. Fair values used to determine the impairment charge were determined using an income approach, specifically a DCF model, and a market comparables approach. The DCF model includes significant assumptions about revenue growth rates, long-term growth rates and enterprise specific discount rates. Given the uncertainty in determining assumptions underlying the DCF approach, actual results may differ from those used in the valuations.
During the second quarter of 2023, the Company also determined that a triggering event had occurred with respect to the 25/7 Media reporting unit, which required an interim goodwill impairment test to be performed. Accordingly, the Company performed a quantitative assessment using an income approach, specifically a DCF model, and a market comparables approach. Based on the valuations performed, a $1.9 million goodwill impairment charge was recorded, which is included in impairment and other charges in the consolidated statement of income, within the International and Other operating segment.
Note 8. Accrued Liabilities
Accrued liabilities consist of the following:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | September 30, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
Employee related costs | $ | 81,235 | | | $ | 97,362 | |
Participations and residuals | 152,030 | | | 138,384 | |
Interest | 22,006 | | | 37,105 | |
Restructuring and other related charges | 20,055 | | | 107,998 | |
Other accrued expenses | 98,077 | | | 38,216 | |
Total accrued liabilities | $ | 373,403 | | | $ | 419,065 | |
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
Note 9. Long-term Debt
The Company's long-term debt consists of the following:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | September 30, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
Senior Secured Credit Facility: (a) | | | |
Term Loan A Facility | $ | 615,938 | | | $ | 641,250 | |
Senior Notes: | | | |
| | | |
5.00% Notes due April 2024 | 400,000 | | | 400,000 | |
4.75% Notes due August 2025 | 800,000 | | | 800,000 | |
4.25% Notes due February 2029 | 1,000,000 | | | 1,000,000 | |
| | | |
Total long-term debt | 2,815,938 | | | 2,841,250 | |
Unamortized discount | (15,246) | | | (18,718) | |
Unamortized deferred financing costs | (7,413) | | | (10,079) | |
Long-term debt, net | 2,793,279 | | | 2,812,453 | |
Current portion of long-term debt | 459,063 | | | 33,750 | |
Noncurrent portion of long-term debt | $ | 2,334,216 | | | $ | 2,778,703 | |
(a)The Company's revolving credit facility remains undrawn at September 30, 2023. Total undrawn revolver commitments are available to be drawn for general corporate purposes of the Company.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company repaid a total of $25.3 million of the principal amount of the Term Loan A Facility in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
In April 2023, the Company entered into Amendment No. 2 ("Amendment No. 2") to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement"). Amendment No. 2 (i) reduced the aggregate principal amount of the revolving loan commitments under the Credit Agreement from $500 million to $400 million, (ii) replaced the interest rate based on London Interbank Offered Rate with an interest rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, (iii) increased the Company's ability to incur additional debt in the future to provide additional flexibility for future financings, including increasing the amount of the incremental debt basket to the greater of $1.2 billion and the amount that would not cause the senior secured leverage ratio to exceed 3.00 to 1.00 on a pro forma basis and (iv) made certain other modifications to the Credit Agreement. The maturity date of the Term Loan A Facility and revolving credit facility under the Credit Agreement is February 8, 2026. In connection with the modification of the revolving loan commitments, the Company recorded $0.6 million to write-off a portion of the unamortized deferred financing costs, which is included in interest expense within the consolidated statements of income for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
On November 3, 2023, the Company gave notice of its intention to redeem the remaining $400 million outstanding principal amount of its 5.00% senior notes due 2024 (the “2024 Notes”) on December 12, 2023 (the “Redemption Date”). The 2024 Notes will be redeemed at a redemption price of 100.000% of the principal amount of the 2024 Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.
Other Debt
During the second quarter of 2023, a majority owned subsidiary of the Company extended its credit facility totaling $4.5 million to July 21, 2024. The facility bears interest at the greater of 3.5% or the prime rate plus 1%. There were no outstanding borrowings under the credit facility as of September 30, 2023.
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
Note 10. Leases
The following table summarizes the leases included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Balance Sheet Location | | September 30, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
Assets | | | | | |
Operating | Operating lease right-of-use assets | | $ | 81,783 | | | $ | 108,229 | |
Finance | Property and equipment, net | | 10,159 | | | 10,982 | |
Total lease assets | | | $ | 91,942 | | | $ | 119,211 | |
Liabilities | | | | | |
Current: | | | | | |
Operating | Current portion of lease obligations | | $ | 32,313 | | | $ | 32,207 | |
Finance | Current portion of lease obligations | | 4,509 | | | 4,204 | |
| | | $ | 36,822 | | | $ | 36,411 | |
Noncurrent: | | | | | |
Operating | Lease obligations | | $ | 83,551 | | | $ | 105,768 | |
Finance | Lease obligations | | 15,565 | | | 19,031 | |
| | | $ | 99,116 | | | $ | 124,799 | |
| | | | | |
Total lease liabilities | | | $ | 135,938 | | | $ | 161,210 | |
In connection with exiting a portion of its office space in New York in the third quarter of 2023, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $9.1 million for operating lease right-of use assets. Refer to Note 4, Restructuring and Other Related Charges for additional details.
Note 11. Fair Value Measurement
The fair value hierarchy is based on inputs to valuation techniques that are used to measure fair value that are either observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources while unobservable inputs reflect a reporting entity's pricing based upon their own market assumptions. The fair value hierarchy consists of the following three levels:
•Level I - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.
•Level II - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.
•Level III - Instruments whose significant value drivers are unobservable.
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
The following table presents for each of these hierarchy levels, the Company's financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | | Level I | | Level II | | Level III | | Total |
At September 30, 2023: | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | |
Cash equivalents | | $ | 89,539 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 89,539 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency derivatives | | — | | | 6,070 | | | — | | | 6,070 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency derivatives | | — | | | 3,613 | | | — | | | 3,613 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
At December 31, 2022: | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | |
Cash equivalents | | $ | 80,000 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 80,000 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency derivatives | | — | | | 536 | | | — | | | 536 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency derivatives | | — | | | 8,965 | | | — | | | 8,965 | |
The Company's cash equivalents (comprised of money market mutual funds) are classified within Level I of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices.
The Company's foreign currency derivatives are classified within Level II of the fair value hierarchy as their fair values are determined based on a market approach valuation technique that uses readily observable market parameters and the consideration of counterparty risk.
At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company did not have any material assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis that would be considered Level III.
Fair value measurements are also used in nonrecurring valuations performed in connection with acquisition accounting and impairment testing. These nonrecurring valuations primarily include the valuation of program rights, goodwill, intangible assets and property and equipment. All of our nonrecurring valuations use significant unobservable inputs and therefore fall under Level III of the fair value hierarchy.
Credit Facility Debt and Senior Notes
The fair values of each of the Company's debt instruments are based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for instruments of the same remaining maturities.
The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Company's financial instruments, excluding those that are carried at fair value in the condensed consolidated balance sheets, are summarized as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | September 30, 2023 |
Carrying Amount | | Estimated Fair Value |
Debt instruments: | | | |
Term loan A facility | $ | 610,362 | | | $ | 585,141 | |
5.00% Notes due April 2024 | 399,463 | | | 393,000 | |
4.75% Notes due August 2025 | 795,796 | | | 738,000 | |
4.25% Notes due February 2029 | 987,658 | | | 616,250 | |
| | | |
| $ | 2,793,279 | | | $ | 2,332,391 | |
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | December 31, 2022 |
Carrying Amount | | Estimated Fair Value |
Debt instruments: | | | |
Term loan A facility | $ | 633,486 | | | $ | 615,600 | |
5.00% Notes due April 2024 | 398,687 | | | 375,348 | |
4.75% Notes due August 2025 | 794,171 | | | 607,000 | |
4.25% Notes due February 2029 | 986,109 | | | 620,818 | |
| | | |
| $ | 2,812,453 | | | $ | 2,218,766 | |
Fair value estimates related to the Company's debt instruments presented above are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgments and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.
Note 12. Derivative Financial Instruments
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
We are exposed to foreign currency risk to the extent that we enter into transactions denominated in currencies other than one of our subsidiaries' respective functional currencies (non-functional currency risk), such as affiliation agreements, programming contracts, certain accounts payable and trade receivables (including intercompany amounts) that are denominated in a currency other than the applicable functional currency.
The fair values of the Company's derivative financial instruments included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Balance Sheet Location | | September 30, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: | | | | | |
Assets: | | | | | |
Foreign currency derivatives | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | $ | 357 | | | $ | 141 | |
Foreign currency derivatives | Other assets | | 5,713 | | | 395 | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Liabilities: | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Foreign currency derivatives | Accrued liabilities | | $ | 1,694 | | | $ | 3,663 | |
Foreign currency derivatives | Current portion of program rights obligations | | 176 | | | 82 | |
Foreign currency derivatives | Other liabilities | | 1,743 | | | 5,220 | |
The amounts of gains and losses related to the Company's derivative financial instruments not designated as hedging instruments are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Earnings on Derivatives | | Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Earnings on Derivatives |
| | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| | | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency derivatives | Miscellaneous, net | | $ | (736) | | | $ | (2,947) | | | $ | 9,077 | | | $ | (6,708) | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
Note 13. Income Taxes
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, income tax expense was $23.7 million and $82.7 million, respectively, representing an effective tax rate of 26% for both periods. The items resulting in variances from the federal statutory rate of 21% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily consisted of state and local income tax expense and tax expense related to non-deductible compensation.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, income tax expense was $28.5 million and $103.1 million, respectively, representing an effective tax rate of 24% and 26%, respectively. The items resulting in variances from the federal statutory rate of 21% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, primarily consisted of state and local income tax expense, tax expense for an increase in the valuation allowance for foreign taxes and tax expense related to non-deductible compensation.
At September 30, 2023, the Company had foreign tax credit carry forwards of approximately $53.9 million, expiring on various dates from 2024 through 2033. These carryforwards have been reduced by a valuation allowance of $53.9 million as it is more likely than not that these carry forwards will not be realized. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, $0.4 million relating to amortization of tax deductible second component goodwill was realized as a reduction in tax liability (as determined on a 'with-and-without' approach).
As of September 30, 2023, approximately $198.0 million of cash and cash equivalents, previously held by foreign subsidiaries, was repatriated to the United States. Our consolidated cash and cash equivalents balance of $955.2 million, as of September 30, 2023, includes approximately $170.9 million held by foreign subsidiaries. Of this amount, approximately $60.0 million is expected to be repatriated to the United States with the remaining amount continuing to be reinvested in foreign operations. Tax expense related to the repatriated amount, as well as the expected remaining repatriation amount, has been accrued in the current period and the Company does not expect to incur any significant, additional taxes related to the remaining balance.
Note 14. Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments
As of September 30, 2023, the Company's contractual obligations not reflected on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet increased $20.6 million, as compared to December 31, 2022, to $932.8 million. The increase was primarily driven by additional program rights commitments and the renewal of a third-party service contract, partially offset by payments for program rights.
Legal Matters
On August 14, 2017, Robert Kirkman, Robert Kirkman, LLC, Glen Mazzara, 44 Strong Productions, Inc., David Alpert, Circle of Confusion Productions, LLC, New Circle of Confusion Productions, Inc., Gale Anne Hurd, and Valhalla Entertainment, Inc. f/k/a Valhalla Motion Pictures, Inc. (together, the "Plaintiffs") filed a complaint in California Superior Court in connection with Plaintiffs’ rendering of services as writers and producers of the television series entitled The Walking Dead, as well as Fear the Walking Dead and/or Talking Dead, and the agreements between the parties related thereto (the "Walking Dead Litigation"). The Plaintiffs asserted that the Company had been improperly underpaying the Plaintiffs under their contracts with the Company and they asserted claims for breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, inducing breach of contract, and liability for violation of Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200. The Plaintiffs sought compensatory and punitive damages and restitution. On August 8, 2019, the judge in the Walking Dead Litigation ordered a trial to resolve certain issues of contract interpretation only. Following eight days of trial in February and March 2020, on July 22, 2020, the judge issued a Statement of Decision finding in the Company's favor on all seven matters of contract interpretation before the court in this first phase trial. On January 20, 2021, the Plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint, eliminating eight named defendants and their claims under Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200. On May 5, 2021, the Plaintiffs filed a third amended complaint, repleading in part their claims for alleged breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, inducing breach of contract, and certain breach of contract claims. On June 2, 2021, the Company filed a demurrer and motion to strike seeking to dismiss the claim for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and certain tort and breach of contract claims asserted in the third amended complaint. On July 27, 2021, the court granted in part and denied in part the Company's motion. On January 12, 2022, the Company filed a motion for summary adjudication of many of the remaining claims. On April 6, 2022, the court granted the Company’s summary adjudication motion in part, dismissing the Plaintiffs’ claims for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and inducing breach of contract. On January 26, 2023, the Plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal of the court’s post-trial, demurrer, and summary adjudication decisions. The parties entered into an agreement to resolve through confidential binding arbitration the remaining claims in the litigation
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
(consisting mainly of ordinary course profit participation audit claims), and as a result, the court formally dismissed the case. The arbitration to resolve the two remaining claims for breach of contract was held between October 16 through October 20, 2023 and a final decision is not expected until 2024. While the ultimate outcome of this litigation is uncertain, we expect that the ultimate outcome is unlikely to have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.
On November 14, 2022, the Plaintiffs filed a separate complaint in California Superior Court (the “MFN Litigation”) in connection with the Company’s July 16, 2021 settlement agreement with Frank Darabont (“Darabont”), Ferenc, Inc., Darkwoods Productions, Inc., and Creative Artists Agency, LLC (the “Darabont Parties”), which resolved litigations the Darabont Parties had brought in connection with Darabont's rendering services as a writer, director and producer of the television series entitled The Walking Dead and the agreement between the parties related thereto (the “Darabont Settlement”). Plaintiffs assert claims for breach of contract, alleging that the Company breached the most favored nations (“MFN”) provisions of Plaintiffs’ contracts with the Company by failing to pay them additional contingent compensation as a result of the Darabont Settlement (the “MFN Litigation”). Plaintiffs claim in the MFN Litigation that they are entitled to actual and compensatory damages in excess of $200 million. The Plaintiffs also brought a cause of action to enjoin an arbitration the Company commenced in May 2022 concerning the same dispute. On December 15, 2022, the Company removed the MFN Litigation to the United States District Court for the Central District of California. On January 13, 2023, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the MFN Litigation and informed the court that the Company had withdrawn the arbitration Plaintiffs sought to enjoin. The motion is fully briefed and awaiting decision. The court has scheduled a trial date of September 17, 2024. The Company believes that the asserted claims are without merit and will vigorously defend against them if they are not dismissed. At this time, no determination can be made as to the ultimate outcome of this litigation or the potential liability, if any, on the part of the Company.
The Company is party to actions and claims arising from alleged violation of the federal Video Privacy Protection Act (the “VPPA”) and analogous state laws. In addition to certain putative class actions currently pending, the Company is facing a series of arbitration claims managed by multiple plaintiffs’ law firms. The class action complaints and the arbitration claims all allege that the Company’s use of a Meta Platforms, Inc. pixel on the websites for certain of its subscription video services, including AMC+ and Shudder, violated the privacy protection provisions of the VPPA and its state law analogues. On October 27, 2023, the Company reached a settlement in principle (which settlement is subject to court approval) with multiple plaintiffs’ law firms relating to their pending class actions alleging violations of the VPPA and analogous state laws. Although the outcome of the arbitration cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not believe that the resolution of these arbitrations will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business or financial position or the Company’s ability to meet its financial obligations as they become due. Any potential liability is expected to be reimbursed by the Company’s insurance carriers.
The Company is party to various lawsuits and claims in the ordinary course of business, including the matters described above, as well as other lawsuits and claims relating to employment, intellectual property, and privacy and data protection matters. Although the outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty and while the impact of these matters on the Company's results of operations in any particular subsequent reporting period could be material, management does not believe that the resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Company or the ability of the Company to meet its financial obligations as they become due.
Note 15. Equity Plans
During the second quarter of 2023, AMC Networks granted 1,792,097 restricted stock units ("RSUs") to certain executive officers and employees under the AMC Networks Inc. Amended and Restated 2016 Employee Stock Plan, which vest ratably over a three-year period, and 131,640 RSUs under the 2011 Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors to non-employee directors that vested on the date of grant.
In February 2023, AMC Networks granted 297,325 RSUs under the AMC Networks Inc. Amended and Restated 2016 Employee Stock Plan to its chief executive officer. The RSUs vest ratably over a three-year period.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, 883,424 RSUs of AMC Networks Class A Common Stock previously issued to employees of the Company vested, all of which occurred during the first two quarters of 2023. On the vesting date, 387,675 RSUs were surrendered to the Company to cover the required statutory tax withholding obligations and 495,749 shares of AMC Networks Class A Common Stock were issued. Units are surrendered to satisfy the employees' statutory minimum tax withholding obligations for the applicable income and other employment tax. The units surrendered during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 had an aggregate value of $7.2 million, which has been reflected as a financing activity in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
The Company recorded share-based compensation expenses of $6.4 million and $19.9 million (including $0.2 million recorded as part of Restructuring and other related charges) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and $7.1 million and $23.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively. Share-based compensation expenses are recognized in the consolidated statements of income as part of selling, general and administrative expenses.
As of September 30, 2023, there was $35.2 million of total unrecognized share-based compensation cost related to outstanding unvested share-based awards. The unrecognized compensation cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average remaining period of approximately 2.3 years.
Note 16. Noncontrolling Interests
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
In connection with the Company's previous acquisitions of New Video Channel America L.L.C (owner of the cable channel BBC America) and RLJ Entertainment, the terms of the acquisition agreements provide the noncontrolling members with a right to put all of their noncontrolling interest to subsidiaries of the Company at a future time. Since the exercise of these put rights is outside the Company's control, the noncontrolling interest in each entity is presented as a redeemable noncontrolling interest outside of stockholders' equity on the Company's consolidated balance sheet.
The following tables summarize activity related to redeemable noncontrolling interest for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022:
| | | | | |
(In thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 |
June 30, 2023 | $ | 241,486 | |
Net earnings | 4,056 | |
Distributions | (20,142) | |
| |
| |
September 30, 2023 | $ | 225,400 | |
| | | | | |
(In thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 |
June 30, 2022 | $ | 270,726 | |
Net earnings | 4,443 | |
Distributions | (2,686) | |
| |
| |
September 30, 2022 | $ | 272,483 | |
| | | | | |
(In thousands) | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 |
December 31, 2022 | $ | 253,669 | |
Net earnings | 17,126 | |
Distributions | (45,395) | |
| |
| |
September 30, 2023 | $ | 225,400 | |
| | | | | |
(In thousands) | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 |
December 31, 2021 | $ | 283,849 | |
Net earnings | 12,971 | |
Distributions | (24,866) | |
Other | 529 | |
| |
September 30, 2022 | $ | 272,483 | |
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
Note 17. Related Party Transactions
The Company and its related parties enter into transactions with each other in the ordinary course of business. Revenues, net from related parties amounted to $1.3 million and $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $3.9 million and $3.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Amounts charged to the Company, included in selling, general and administrative expenses, pursuant to transactions with its related parties amounted to $0.9 million and $3.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $7.5 million and $4.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
As disclosed in Note 20 of our 2022 Form 10-K, from time to time the Company enters into arrangements with 605, LLC. James L. Dolan, the Non-Executive Chairman and a director of the Company, and his spouse, Kristin A. Dolan, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and founder of 605, LLC, previously owned 100% of 605, LLC. Kristin A. Dolan also served as the Non-Executive Chairman of 605, LLC from February 2023 until September 13, 2023, and served as its Chief Executive Officer from its inception in 2016 until February 2023. 605, LLC provides audience measurement and data analytics services to the Company and its subsidiaries pursuant to a Master Services Agreement dated February 8, 2019 (the “Master Services Agreement"). On September 13, 2023, 605, LLC was sold to iSpot.tv, and James L. Dolan and Kristin A. Dolan now hold a minority interest in iSpot.tv. As a result, from and after September 13, 2023, 605, LLC is no longer considered to be a related party.
On August 1, 2022, the Audit Committee authorized the Company to enter into a Statement of Work for Strategic Analytic Services (the “Statement of Work”) with 605, LLC under the Master Services Agreement. The fees payable to 605, LLC by the Company for these services were $10.5 million payable in five installments. The initial term of the Statement of Work ran from August 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. The term was automatically extended to June 30, 2023 per the terms of the agreement. The Statement of Work expired by its terms on June 30, 2023.
Under the Statement of Work, 605, LLC was engaged in a strategic, research, market, business and financial assessment of the Company and its business, partnering with the Company’s management team. 605, LLC utilized their expertise, including assessment of extensive real-time business intelligence and consumer research, to enable potential further acceleration of the Company’s long-term growth and value creation. Among the analytic services provided by 605, LLC were situation analysis, customer experience, data utilization, addressing the market, content strategy and overview, sales strategy, pricing analysis, customer profiles, content (by offering), marketing strategy and financial analysis.
Note 18. Cash Flows
The Company's non-cash investing and financing activities and other supplemental data are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
2023 | | 2022 |
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities: | | | |
| | | |
| | | |
Operating lease additions | $ | 3,171 | | | $ | 7,527 | |
Capital expenditures incurred but not yet paid | 2,243 | | | 5,481 | |
Contingent consideration for purchase of noncontrolling interests | — | | | 2,806 | |
Supplemental Data: | | | |
Cash interest paid | 123,715 | | | 105,827 | |
Income taxes paid, net | 28,829 | | | 39,322 | |
Note 19. Segment Information
The Company classifies its operations into two operating segments: Domestic Operations and International and Other. These operating segments represent strategic business units that are managed separately.
The Company evaluates segment performance based on several factors, of which the primary financial measure is operating segment adjusted operating income ("AOI"). The Company defines AOI as operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, cloud computing amortization, share-based compensation expenses or benefit, impairment and other charges (including gains or losses on sales or dispositions of businesses), restructuring and other related charges and including the Company’s proportionate share of adjusted operating income (loss) from majority-owned equity method
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
investees. The Company has presented the components that reconcile adjusted operating income to operating income, and other information as to the continuing operations of the Company's operating segments below.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 |
Domestic Operations | | International and Other | | Corporate / Inter-segment Eliminations | | Consolidated |
Revenues, net | | | | | | | |
Subscription | $ | 332,135 | | | $ | 56,173 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 388,308 | |
Content licensing and other | 61,916 | | | 22,150 | | | (1,842) | | | 82,224 | |
Distribution and other | 394,051 | | | 78,323 | | | (1,842) | | | 470,532 | |
Advertising | 147,147 | | | 19,275 | | | — | | | 166,422 | |
Consolidated revenues, net | $ | 541,198 | | | $ | 97,598 | | | $ | (1,842) | | | $ | 636,954 | |
Operating income (loss) | $ | 161,627 | | | $ | 7,985 | | | $ | (48,762) | | | $ | 120,850 | |
Share-based compensation expenses | 3,494 | | | 815 | | | 2,069 | | | 6,378 | |
Depreciation and amortization | 11,536 | | | 4,271 | | | 12,202 | | | 28,009 | |
Impairment and other charges | 5,400 | | | — | | | — | | | 5,400 | |
Restructuring and other related charges (credits) | (783) | | | (4) | | | 11,350 | | | 10,563 | |
Cloud computing amortization | 5 | | | — | | | 2,331 | | | 2,336 | |
Majority-owned equity investees AOI | 3,732 | | | — | | | — | | | 3,732 | |
Adjusted operating income (loss) | $ | 185,011 | | | $ | 13,067 | | | $ | (20,810) | | | $ | 177,268 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 |
Domestic Operations | | International and Other | | Corporate / Inter-segment Eliminations | | Consolidated |
Revenues, net | | | | | | | |
Subscription | $ | 349,338 | | | $ | 52,765 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 402,103 | |
Content licensing and other | 57,793 | | | 29,124 | | | (4,816) | | | 82,101 | |
Distribution and other | 407,131 | | | 81,889 | | | (4,816) | | | 484,204 | |
Advertising | 180,258 | | | 17,381 | | | — | | | 197,639 | |
Consolidated revenues, net | $ | 587,389 | | | $ | 99,270 | | | $ | (4,816) | | | $ | 681,843 | |
Operating income (loss) | $ | 186,609 | | | $ | 8,291 | | | $ | (44,223) | | | $ | 150,677 | |
Share-based compensation expenses | 3,155 | | | 537 | | | 3,358 | | | 7,050 | |
Depreciation and amortization | 12,141 | | | 4,482 | | | 13,112 | | | 29,735 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Cloud computing amortization | 5 | | | — | | | 2,047 | | | 2,052 | |
Majority-owned equity investees AOI | 4,791 | | | — | | | — | | | 4,791 | |
Adjusted operating income (loss) | $ | 206,701 | | | $ | 13,310 | | | $ | (25,706) | | | $ | 194,305 | |
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 |
Domestic Operations | | International and Other | | Corporate / Inter-segment Eliminations | | Consolidated |
Revenues, net | | | | | | | |
Subscription | $ | 1,013,419 | | | $ | 170,143 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,183,562 | |
Content licensing and other | 246,093 | | | 76,668 | | | (6,816) | | | 315,945 | |
Distribution and other | 1,259,512 | | | 246,811 | | | (6,816) | | | 1,499,507 | |
Advertising | 475,359 | | | 58,163 | | | — | | | 533,522 | |
Consolidated revenues, net | $ | 1,734,871 | | | $ | 304,974 | | | $ | (6,816) | | | $ | 2,033,029 | |
Operating income (loss) | $ | 523,645 | | | $ | 10,422 | | | $ | (134,212) | | | $ | 399,855 | |
Share-based compensation expenses | 10,133 | | | 2,500 | | | 7,038 | | | 19,671 | |
Depreciation and amortization | 35,053 | | | 13,944 | | | 30,632 | | | 79,629 | |
Impairment and other charges | 5,400 | | | 24,882 | | | — | | | 30,282 | |
Restructuring and other related charges | 3,940 | | | 1,642 | | | 16,955 | | | 22,537 | |
Cloud computing amortization | 15 | | | — | | | 6,800 | | | 6,815 | |
Majority-owned equity investees AOI | 11,019 | | | — | | | — | | | 11,019 | |
Adjusted operating income (loss) | $ | 589,205 | | | $ | 53,390 | | | $ | (72,787) | | | $ | 569,808 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 |
Domestic Operations | | International and Other | | Corporate / Inter-segment Eliminations | | Consolidated |
Revenues, net | | | | | | | |
Subscription | $ | 1,040,110 | | | $ | 169,879 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,209,989 | |
Content licensing and other | 191,473 | | | 103,513 | | | (16,901) | | | 278,085 | |
Distribution and other | 1,231,583 | | | 273,392 | | | (16,901) | | | 1,488,074 | |
Advertising | 582,451 | | | 61,500 | | | — | | | 643,951 | |
Consolidated revenues, net | $ | 1,814,034 | | | $ | 334,892 | | | $ | (16,901) | | | $ | 2,132,025 | |
Operating income (loss) | $ | 573,943 | | | $ | 39,733 | | | $ | (135,119) | | | $ | 478,557 | |
Share-based compensation expenses | 10,000 | | | 1,758 | | | 12,104 | | | 23,862 | |
Depreciation and amortization | 37,716 | | | 14,018 | | | 27,822 | | | 79,556 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Cloud computing amortization | 17 | | | — | | | 5,306 | | | 5,323 | |
Majority-owned equity investees AOI | 13,733 | | | — | | | — | | | 13,733 | |
Adjusted operating income (loss) | $ | 635,409 | | | $ | 55,509 | | | $ | (89,887) | | | $ | 601,031 | |
Subscription revenues in the Domestic Operations segment include revenues related to the Company's streaming services of $142.5 million and $131.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $420.8 million and $362.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Corporate overhead costs not allocated to the segments include costs such as executive salaries and benefits and costs of maintaining corporate headquarters, facilities and common support functions.
AMC NETWORKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(unaudited)
Inter-segment eliminations are primarily licensing revenues recognized between the Domestic Operations and International and Other segments.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Inter-segment revenues | | | | | | | |
Domestic Operations | $ | (1,825) | | | $ | (3,864) | | | $ | (6,451) | | | $ | (14,308) | |
International and Other | (17) | | | (952) | | | (365) | | | (2,593) | |
| $ | (1,842) | | | $ | (4,816) | | | $ | (6,816) | | | $ | (16,901) | |
The table below summarizes revenues based on customer location:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Revenues | | | | | | | |
United States | $ | 524,044 | | | $ | 569,996 | | | $ | 1,681,909 | | | $ | 1,761,430 | |
Europe | 76,332 | | | 70,041 | | | 233,817 | | | 250,112 | |
Other | 36,578 | | | 41,806 | | | 117,303 | | | 120,483 | |
| $ | 636,954 | | | $ | 681,843 | | | $ | 2,033,029 | | | $ | 2,132,025 | |
One customer within the Domestic Operations segment accounted for approximately 12% and 13% of consolidated revenues, net for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, one customer within the Domestic Operations segment accounted for approximately 12% and 10%, respectively, of consolidated revenues, net.
The table below summarizes property and equipment based on asset location:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | September 30, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
Property and equipment, net | | | |
United States | $ | 160,796 | | | $ | 187,833 | |
Europe | 10,795 | | | 12,520 | |
Other | 1,306 | | | 1,681 | |
| $ | 172,897 | | | $ | 202,034 | |
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
This Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations there are statements concerning our future operating results and future financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "could," "potential," "continue," "intends," "plans" and similar words and terms used in the discussion of future operating results and future financial performance identify forward-looking statements. You are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties and that actual results or developments may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Factors that may cause such differences to occur include, but are not limited to:
•the level of our revenues;
•market demand, including changes in viewer consumption patterns, for our programming networks, our subscription streaming services, our programming, and our production services;
•demand for advertising inventory and our ability to deliver guaranteed viewer ratings;
•the highly competitive nature of the cable, telecommunications, streaming and programming industries;
•the cost of, and our ability to obtain or produce, desirable content for our programming services, other forms of distribution, including digital and licensing in international markets, as well as our film distribution businesses;
•market demand for our owned original programming and our film content;
•the loss of any of our key personnel and artistic talent;
•the impact of strikes, including those related to the Writers, Directors, and Screen Actors guilds;
•the security of our program rights and other electronic data;
•our ability to maintain and renew distribution or affiliation agreements with distributors;
•our ability to successfully launch our streaming services in countries outside of the United States;
•economic and business conditions and industry trends in the countries in which we operate, including increases in inflation rates and recession risk;
•fluctuations in currency exchange rates and interest rates;
•changes in domestic and foreign laws or regulations under which we operate;
•changes in laws or treaties relating to taxation, or the interpretation thereof, in the United States or in the countries in which we operate;
•the impact of existing and proposed federal, state and international laws and regulations relating to data protection, privacy and security, including the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR");
•our substantial debt and high leverage;
•reduced access to, or inability to access, capital or credit markets, or significant increases in costs to borrow;
•the level of our expenses;
•future acquisitions and dispositions of assets;
•our ability to successfully acquire new businesses and, if acquired, to integrate, and implement our plan with respect to businesses we acquire;
•problems we may discover post-closing with the operations, including the internal controls and financial reporting process, of businesses we acquire;
•uncertainties regarding the financial results of equity method investees, issuers of our investments in marketable equity securities and non-marketable equity securities and changes in the nature of key strategic relationships with partners and joint ventures;
•the outcome of litigation and other proceedings;
•whether pending uncompleted transactions, if any, are completed on the terms and at the times set forth (if at all);
•other risks and uncertainties inherent in our programming and streaming businesses;
•financial community and rating agency perceptions of our business, operations, financial condition and the industry in which we operate;
•the impact of pandemics or other health emergencies on the economy and our business;
•events that are outside our control, such as political unrest in international markets, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and other similar events; and
•the factors described under Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "2022 Form 10-K"), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").
We disclaim any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein, except as otherwise required by applicable federal securities laws.
Introduction
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, or MD&A, is a supplement to and should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere herein and our 2022 Form 10-K to enhance the understanding of our financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of our operations. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to "we," "us," "our," "AMC Networks" or the "Company" refer to AMC Networks Inc., together with its subsidiaries. The MD&A is organized as follows:
Business Overview. This section provides a general description of our business and our operating segments, as well as other matters that we believe are important in understanding our results of operations and financial condition and in anticipating future trends.
Consolidated Results of Operations. This section provides an analysis of our results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022. Our discussion is presented on both a consolidated and segment basis. Our two segments are: (i) Domestic Operations and (ii) International and Other.
Liquidity and Capital Resources. This section provides a discussion of our financial condition as of September 30, 2023, as well as an analysis of our cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. The discussion of our financial condition and liquidity includes summaries of (i) our primary sources of liquidity and (ii) our contractual obligations that existed at September 30, 2023 as compared to December 31, 2022.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates. This section provides an update, if any, to our significant accounting policies or critical accounting estimates since December 31, 2022.
Business Overview
Financial Highlights
The tables presented below set forth our consolidated revenues, net, operating income (loss) and adjusted operating income (loss) ("AOI")1, for the periods indicated.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Revenues, net | | | | | | | |
Domestic Operations | $ | 541,198 | | | $ | 587,389 | | | $ | 1,734,871 | | | $ | 1,814,034 | |
International and Other | 97,598 | | | 99,270 | | | 304,974 | | | 334,892 | |
Inter-segment Eliminations | (1,842) | | | (4,816) | | | (6,816) | | | (16,901) | |
| $ | 636,954 | | | $ | 681,843 | | | $ | 2,033,029 | | | $ | 2,132,025 | |
Operating Income (Loss) | | | | | | | |
Domestic Operations | $ | 161,627 | | | $ | 186,609 | | | $ | 523,645 | | | $ | 573,943 | |
International and Other | 7,985 | | | 8,291 | | | 10,422 | | | 39,733 | |
Corporate / Inter-segment Eliminations | (48,762) | | | (44,223) | | | (134,212) | | | (135,119) | |
| $ | 120,850 | | | $ | 150,677 | | | $ | 399,855 | | | $ | 478,557 | |
Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) | | | | | | | |
Domestic Operations | $ | 185,011 | | | $ | 206,701 | | | $ | 589,205 | | | $ | 635,409 | |
International and Other | 13,067 | | | 13,310 | | | 53,390 | | | 55,509 | |
Corporate / Inter-segment Eliminations | (20,810) | | | (25,706) | | | (72,787) | | | (89,887) | |
| $ | 177,268 | | | $ | 194,305 | | | $ | 569,808 | | | $ | 601,031 | |
1 Adjusted Operating Income (Loss), is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section on page 37 for additional information, including our definition and our use of this non-GAAP financial measure, and for a reconciliation to its most comparable GAAP financial measure.
Segment Reporting
We manage our business through the following two operating segments:
•Domestic Operations: Includes our programming services, which consist of our five national programming networks, our global streaming services, our AMC Studios operation and IFC Films. Our national programming networks are AMC, WE tv, BBC AMERICA, IFC, and SundanceTV. Our global streaming services consist of our targeted subscription streaming services (Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, ALLBLK, and HIDIVE) and AMC+. Our AMC Studios operation produces original programming for our programming services and third parties and also licenses programming worldwide, and IFC Films is our film distribution business. The operating segment also includes AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, our technical services business, which primarily services most of the national programming networks.
•International and Other: Includes AMC Networks International ("AMCNI"), our international programming businesses consisting of a portfolio of channels around the world, and 25/7 Media, our production services business.
Domestic Operations
In our Domestic Operations segment, we earn revenue principally from: (i) the distribution of our programming through our programming networks and streaming services, (ii) the sale of advertising, and (iii) the licensing of our original programming to distributors, including the distribution of programming of IFC Films. Subscription revenue includes fees paid by distributors and consumers for our programming networks and streaming services. Subscription fees paid by distributors represent the largest component of distribution revenue. Our subscription fee revenues for our programming networks are based on a per subscriber fee, and, to a lesser extent, fixed fees under multi-year contracts, commonly referred to as "affiliation agreements." The subscription fee revenues we earn vary from period to period, distributor to distributor and also vary among our programming services, but are generally based upon the number of each distributor's subscribers who receive our programming, referred to as viewing subscribers. Subscription fees for our streaming services are typically based on a per subscriber fee and are generally paid by distributors and consumers on a monthly basis.
Content licensing revenue is earned from the licensing of original programming for digital, foreign and home video distribution and is recognized upon availability or distribution by the licensee, and to a lesser extent, is earned through the distribution of AMC Studios produced series to third parties.
Under affiliation agreements with our distributors, we have the right to sell a specified amount of national advertising time on our programming networks. Our advertising revenues are more variable than subscription fee revenues because the majority of our advertising is sold on a short-term basis, not under long-term contracts. Our arrangements with advertisers provide for a set number of advertising units to air over a specific period of time at a negotiated price per unit. Additionally, in these advertising sales arrangements, our programming networks generally guarantee specified viewer ratings for their programming.
Programming expenses, included in technical and operating expenses, represent the largest expenses of the Domestic Operations segment and primarily consists of amortization of program rights, such as those for original programming, feature films and licensed series, as well as participation and residual costs. The other components of technical and operating expenses primarily include distribution and production related costs and program operating costs including cost of delivery, such as origination, transmission, uplinking and encryption.
The success of our business depends on original programming, both scripted and unscripted, across all of our programming services. These original series generally result in higher ratings for our networks and higher viewership on our streaming services. Among other things, higher audience ratings drive increased revenues through higher advertising revenues. The timing of exhibition and distribution of original programming varies from period to period, which results in greater variability in our revenues, earnings and cash flows from operating activities. There may be significant changes in the level of our technical and operating expenses due to the level of our content investment spend and the related amortization of content acquisition and/or original programming costs. Program rights that are predominantly monetized as a group are amortized based on projected usage, typically resulting in an accelerated amortization pattern and, to a lesser extent, program rights that are predominantly monetized individually are amortized based on the individual-film-forecast-computation method.
Most original series require us to make significant up-front investments. Our programming efforts are not always commercially successful, which could result in a write-off of program rights. If events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of program rights predominantly monetized individually or a film group is less than its unamortized cost, the Company will write off the excess to technical and operating expenses in the consolidated statements of income. Program rights with no future programming usefulness are substantively abandoned resulting in the write-off of remaining unamortized cost.
International and Other
Our International and Other segment primarily includes the operations of AMCNI and 25/7 Media.
In our International and Other segment, we earn revenue principally from the international distribution of programming and, to a lesser extent, the sale of advertising from our AMCNI programming networks. We also earn revenue through production services from 25/7 Media. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, distribution revenues represented 81% of the revenues of the International and Other segment. Distribution revenue primarily includes subscription fees paid by distributors to carry our programming networks and production services revenue generated from 25/7 Media. Our subscription revenues are generally based on either a per-subscriber fee or a fixed contractual annual fee, under multi-year affiliation agreements. Subscription revenues are derived from the distribution of our programming networks primarily in Europe, and to a lesser extent, Latin America. Our production services revenues are based on master production agreements whereby a third-party engages us to produce content on its behalf. Production services revenues are recognized based on the percentage of cost incurred to total estimated cost of the contract.
Programming expenses, program operating costs and production costs incurred to produce content for third parties are included in technical and operating expenses, and represent the largest expense of the International and Other segment. Programming expenses primarily consist of amortization of acquired content, costs of dubbing and sub-titling of programs, and production costs. Program operating costs include costs such as origination, transmission, uplinking and encryption of our linear AMCNI channels as well as content hosting and delivery costs at our various on-line content distribution initiatives. Our programming efforts are not all commercially successful, which could result in a write-off of program rights. If events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of program rights predominantly monetized individually or a film group is less than its unamortized cost, the Company will write off the excess to technical and operating expenses in the consolidated statements of income. Program rights with no future programming usefulness are substantively abandoned resulting in the write-off of remaining unamortized cost.
Corporate / Inter-segment Eliminations
Corporate operations primarily consist of executive management and administrative support services, such as executive salaries and benefits costs, costs of maintaining corporate headquarters, facilities and common support functions. The segment financial information set forth below, including the discussion related to individual line items, does not reflect inter-segment eliminations unless specifically indicated.
Impact of Economic Conditions
Our future performance is dependent, to a large extent, on general economic conditions including the impact of direct competition, our ability to manage our businesses effectively, and our relative strength and leverage in the marketplace, both with suppliers and customers. Additionally, changes in macroeconomic facts and circumstances, particularly high inflation and the rise in interest rates, may adversely impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial position or our ability to refinance our indebtedness on terms favorable to us, or at all.
Capital and credit market disruptions, as well as other events such as pandemics or other health emergencies, inflation, international conflict and recession, could cause economic downturns, which may lead to lower demand for our products, such as lower demand for television advertising and a decrease in the number of subscribers receiving our programming services. Events such as these may adversely impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial position.
Consolidated Results of Operations
The amounts presented and discussed below represent 100% of each operating segment's revenues, net and expenses. Where we have management control of an entity, we consolidate 100% of such entity in our consolidated statements of income notwithstanding that a third-party owns an interest, which may be significant, in such entity. The noncontrolling owner's interest in the operating results of consolidated subsidiaries are reflected in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in our consolidated statements of income.
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 and 2022
The following table sets forth our consolidated results of operations for the periods indicated.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
(In thousands) | 2023 | | 2022 | | Change | | 2023 | | 2022 | | Change |
Revenues, net: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Subscription | $ | 388,308 | | | $ | 402,103 | | | (3.4) | % | | $ | 1,183,562 | | | $ | 1,209,989 | | | (2.2) | % |
Content licensing and other | 82,224 | | | 82,101 | | | 0.1 | % | | 315,945 | | | 278,085 | | | 13.6 | % |
Distribution and other | 470,532 | | | 484,204 | | | (2.8) | % | | 1,499,507 | | | 1,488,074 | | | 0.8 | % |
Advertising | 166,422 | | | 197,639 | | | (15.8) | % | | 533,522 | | | 643,951 | | | (17.1) | % |
Total revenues, net | 636,954 | | | 681,843 | | | (6.6) | % | | 2,033,029 | | | 2,132,025 | | | (4.6) | % |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Technical and operating (excluding depreciation and amortization) | 284,900 | | | 293,459 | | | (2.9) | % | | 933,590 | | | 903,468 | | | 3.3 | % |
Selling, general and administrative | 187,232 | | | 207,972 | | | (10.0) | % | | 567,136 | | | 670,444 | | | (15.4) | % |
Depreciation and amortization | 28,009 | | | 29,735 | | | (5.8) | % | | 79,629 | | | 79,556 | | | 0.1 | % |
Impairment and other charges | 5,400 | | | — | | | n/m | | 30,282 | | | — | | | n/m |
Restructuring and other related charges | 10,563 | | | — | | | n/m | | 22,537 | | | — | | | n/m |
Total operating expenses | 516,104 | | | 531,166 | | | (2.8) | % | | 1,633,174 | | | 1,653,468 | | | (1.2) | % |
Operating income | 120,850 | | | 150,677 | | | (19.8) | % | | 399,855 | | | 478,557 | | | (16.4) | % |
Other income (expense): | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense, net | (27,071) | | | (30,683) | | | (11.8) | % | | (88,360) | | | (88,533) | | | (0.2) | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Miscellaneous, net | (2,211) | | | (1,546) | | | 43.0 | % | | 12,518 | | | 3,540 | | | 253.6 | % |
Total other expense | (29,282) | | | (32,229) | | | (9.1) | % | | (75,842) | | | (84,993) | | | (10.8) | % |
Income from operations before income taxes | 91,568 | | | 118,448 | | | (22.7) | % | | 324,013 | | | 393,564 | | | (17.7) | % |
Income tax expense | (23,671) | | | (28,456) | | | (16.8) | % | | (82,725) | | | (103,118) | | | (19.8) | % |
Net income including noncontrolling interests | 67,897 | | | 89,992 | | | (24.6) | % | | 241,288 | | | 290,446 | | | (16.9) | % |
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (4,473) | | | (5,326) | | | (16.0) | % | | (4,015) | | | (18,163) | | | (77.9) | % |
Net income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders | $ | 63,424 | | | $ | 84,666 | | | (25.1) | % | | $ | 237,273 | | | $ | 272,283 | | | (12.9) | % |
Revenues
Three months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Subscription revenues decreased 4.9% in our Domestic Operations segment primarily due to a decline in affiliate revenues, partially offset by an increase in streaming revenues. The decrease in our Domestic Operations segment was partially offset by a 6.5% increase in our International and Other segment primarily due to the favorable impact of foreign currency translation at AMCNI.
Subscription revenues vary based on the impact of renewals of affiliation agreements and the number of subscribers to our services. We expect linear subscriber decline to continue, consistent with the declines across the cable ecosystem.
Content licensing and other revenues increased 7.1% in our Domestic Operations segment primarily due to the timing and availability of deliveries. The increase in our Domestic Operations segment was partially offset by a 23.9% decrease in our International and Other segment primarily due to a reduction in the volume of productions at 25/7 Media driven by reduced demand for new content and series cancellations from third parties.
Content licensing revenues vary based on the timing of availability of our programming to distributors, including AMC Studios produced series for third parties, and the timing and volume of productions at 25/7 Media. In addition, we expect content licensing revenues in our Domestic Operations segment to face pressure in 2024 due to reduced availability of original programming.
Advertising revenues decreased 18.4% in our Domestic Operations segment primarily due to linear ratings declines, a challenging advertising market and fewer original programming episodes within the quarter, partially offset by digital and advanced advertising revenue growth. The decrease in our Domestic Operations segment was partially offset by a 10.9% increase in our International and Other segment primarily due to favorable impact of foreign currency translation at AMCNI and digital and advanced advertising growth in the U.K.
Advertising revenues vary based on the timing of our original programming series and the popularity of our programming as measured by Nielsen. Advertising revenue has declined in 2023 compared to 2022 and we expect advertising revenue to continue to decline as the advertising market gravitates toward other distribution platforms.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Subscription revenues decreased primarily due to a 2.6% decrease in our Domestic Operations segment due to a decline in affiliate revenues, partially offset by an increase in streaming revenues.
Content licensing and other revenues increased 28.5% in our Domestic Operations segment primarily due to the timing and availability of deliveries in the period, including $56.1 million for the delivery of the remaining episodes of an AMC Studios produced series to a third party and the $20.3 million impact associated with the termination of an output agreement that resulted in the acceleration of revenue previously anticipated to be recognized in 2024. The increase in our Domestic Operations segment was partially offset by a 25.9% decrease in our International and Other segment due to a reduction in the volume of productions at 25/7 Media driven by reduced demand for new content and series cancellations from third parties.
Advertising revenues decreased 18.4% in our Domestic Operations segment primarily due to linear ratings declines, softness in the advertising market and fewer original programming episodes within the period, partially offset by digital and advanced advertising revenue growth. Advertising revenues also decreased 5.4% in our International and Other segment, primarily due to the impact of the wind-down of two channels in 2022 and marketplace declines in the U.K.
Technical and operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)
The components of technical and operating expenses primarily include the amortization of program rights, such as those for original programming, feature films and licensed series, and other direct programming costs, such as participation and residual costs, distribution and production related costs and program delivery costs, such as transmission, encryption, hosting, and formatting.
There may be significant changes in the level of our technical and operating expenses due to original programming costs and/or content acquisition costs. As competition for programming increases, costs for content acquisition and original programming may increase.
Three months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Technical and operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) decreased 0.9% in our Domestic Operations segment primarily due to a decrease in program rights amortization. Technical and operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) also decreased 11.0% in our International and Other segment primarily due to a reduction in the volume of productions at 25/7 Media driven by reduced demand for new content and series cancellations from third parties.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Technical and operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) increased 8.2% in our Domestic Operations segment primarily due to costs associated with the delivery of the remaining episodes of an AMC Studios produced series to a third party and an increase in program rights amortization primarily driven by the impact associated with the termination of an output agreement that resulted in the acceleration of program rights amortization previously anticipated to be recognized in 2024. The increase in our Domestic Operations segment was partially offset by a 16.1% decrease in our International and Other segment primarily due to a reduction in the volume of productions at 25/7 Media driven by reduced demand for new content and series cancellations from third parties.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
The components of selling, general and administrative expenses primarily include sales, marketing and advertising expenses, administrative costs and costs of non-production facilities.
There may be significant changes in the level of our selling, general and administrative expenses due to the timing of promotions and marketing of original programming series.
Three months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Selling, general and administrative expenses (including share-based compensation expenses) decreased 15.4% in our Domestic Operations segment primarily due to lower marketing and subscriber acquisition expenses related to our streaming services. The decrease in our Domestic Operations segment was partially offset by an increase of 18.9% in our International and Other segment primarily due to an increase in corporate overhead costs allocated to AMCNI.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Selling, general and administrative expenses (including share-based compensation expenses) decreased 19.7% in our Domestic Operations segment primarily due to lower marketing and subscriber acquisition expenses related to our streaming services and decreased 12.5% in Corporate primarily due to lower employee related costs. The decrease in our Domestic Operations segment and in Corporate was partially offset by an increase of 4.9% in our International and Other segment primarily due to an increase in corporate overhead costs allocated to AMCNI.
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization expenses include depreciation of fixed assets and amortization of finite-lived intangible assets.
Three months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased primarily due to lower depreciation of equipment at Corporate and the impact of no longer amortizing intangible assets at 25/7 Media as a result of the impairment charge recognized in the second quarter of 2023.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Depreciation and amortization expense increased due to higher depreciation of equipment at Corporate, partially offset by the impact of fully depreciated equipment in our Domestic Operations segment and the impact of no longer amortizing intangible assets at 25/7 Media as a result of the impairment charge recognized in the second quarter of 2023.
Impairment and other charges
During the third quarter of 2023, the Company recorded a $5.4 million other charge.
During the second quarter of 2023, given the impact of market challenges at 25/7 Media, specifically as it relates to reduced demand for new content and series cancellations from third parties, the Company revised its outlook for the 25/7 Media business, resulting in lower expected future cash flows. As a result, the Company determined that sufficient indicators of potential impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill existed at 25/7 Media and an impairment charge of $24.9 million was recorded. Refer to Note 7, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets for additional details.
There were no impairment and other charges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Restructuring and other related charges
During the third quarter of 2023, the Company substantially completed its 2022 restructuring plan and exited a portion of its office space in its corporate headquarters in New York and office space in Silver Spring, Maryland and Woodland Hills, California. In connection with exiting a portion of the New York office space, the Company recorded impairment charges of $11.6 million, consisting of $9.1 million for operating right-of-use assets and $2.5 million for leasehold improvements. Refer to Note 4, Restructuring and Other Related Charges for additional details.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, additional restructuring and other related charges consisted primarily of severance and other employee-related costs, with $3.9 million related to our Domestic Operations segment, $1.6 million related to AMCNI and $5.4 million related to Corporate.
There were no restructuring and other related charges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Operating income
Three months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
The decrease in operating income was primarily attributable to a decrease in revenues, net of $44.9 million, restructuring and other related charges of $10.6 million, and an other charge of $5.4 million, partially offset by decreases in selling, general and administrative expenses of $20.7 million and technical and operating expenses of $8.6 million.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
The decrease in operating income was primarily attributable to a decrease in revenues, net of $99.0 million, an increase in technical and operating expenses of $30.1 million, impairment and other charges of $30.3 million, and restructuring and other related charges of $22.5 million, partially offset by a decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses of $103.3 million.
Interest expense, net
Three months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
The decrease in interest expense, net was primarily due to higher interest income from our money market mutual fund accounts and bank deposits, partially offset by higher interest rates on our Term Loan A Facility.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
The decrease in interest expense, net was primarily due to higher interest income from our money market mutual fund accounts and bank deposits, partially offset by higher interest rates on our Term Loan A Facility.
Miscellaneous, net
Three months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
The decrease in miscellaneous, net was primarily related to a $2.3 million unfavorable variance in the foreign currency remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities (principally intercompany loans) that are denominated in currencies other than the underlying functional currency of the applicable entity and $0.6 million of lower net earnings of equity method investees, partially offset by $2.2 million of lower net losses on derivative financial instruments as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
The increase in miscellaneous, net was primarily related to $15.8 million of higher net gains on derivative financial instruments as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. This increase was partially offset by $3.8 million of lower net gains on marketable securities and impairment charges of $1.7 million related to certain investments in 2023.
Income tax expense
Three months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
For the three months ended September 30, 2023, income tax expense was $23.7 million representing an effective tax rate of 26%. The items resulting in variances from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily consisted of state and local income tax expense and tax expense related to non-deductible compensation. For the three months ended September 30, 2022, income tax expense was $28.5 million representing an effective tax rate of 24%. The items resulting in variances from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily consisted of state and local income tax expense, tax expense for an increase in the valuation allowance for foreign taxes and tax expense related to non-deducible compensation.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, income tax expense was $82.7 million representing an effective tax rate of 26%. The items resulting in variances from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily consisted of state and local income tax expense and tax expense related to non-deductible compensation. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, income tax expense was $103.1 million representing an effective tax rate of 26%. The items resulting in variances from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily consisted of state and local income tax expense, tax expense for an increase in the valuation allowance for foreign taxes and tax expense related to non-deductible compensation.
Segment Results of Operations
Our segment operating results are presented based on how we assess operating performance and internally report financial information. We use segment adjusted operating income as the measure of profit or loss for our operating segments. See Non-GAAP Financial Measures section below for our definition of Adjusted Operating Income and a reconciliation from Operating Income to Adjusted Operating Income on a segment and consolidated basis.
Domestic Operations
The following table sets forth our Domestic Operations segment results for the periods indicated.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
(In thousands) | 2023 | | 2022 | | | Change | | 2023 | | 2022 | | | Change |
Revenues, net: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Subscription | $ | 332,135 | | | $ | 349,338 | | | | (4.9) | % | | $ | 1,013,419 | | | $ | 1,040,110 | | | | (2.6) | % |
Content licensing and other | 61,916 | | | 57,793 | | | | 7.1 | | | 246,093 | | | 191,473 | | | | 28.5 | |
Distribution and other | 394,051 | | | 407,131 | | | | (3.2) | | | 1,259,512 | | | 1,231,583 | | | | 2.3 | |
Advertising | 147,147 | | | 180,258 | | | | (18.4) | | | 475,359 | | | 582,451 | | | | (18.4) | |
Total revenues, net | 541,198 | | | 587,389 | | | | (7.9) | | | 1,734,871 | | | 1,814,034 | | | | (4.4) | |
Technical and operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)(a) | 236,595 | | | 238,752 | | | | (0.9) | | | 779,838 | | | 720,558 | | | | 8.2 | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses(b) | 123,324 | | | 146,727 | | | | (16.0) | | | 376,847 | | | 471,800 | | | | (20.1) | |
Majority-owned equity investees AOI | 3,732 | | | 4,791 | | | | (22.1) | | | 11,019 | | | 13,733 | | | | (19.8) | |
Segment adjusted operating income | $ | 185,011 | | | $ | 206,701 | | | | (10.5) | % | | $ | 589,205 | | | $ | 635,409 | | | | (7.3) | % |
(a) Technical and operating expenses exclude cloud computing amortization |
(b) Selling, general and administrative expenses exclude share-based compensation expenses |
Revenues
Three months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Subscription revenues decreased primarily due to a 13.1% decline in affiliate revenues, partially offset by an 8.6% increase in streaming revenues. Affiliate revenues decreased due to basic subscriber declines and a 3% impact of a strategic non-renewal that occurred at the end of 2022. Streaming revenues increased due to year-over-year subscriber growth and price increases. Subscription revenues include revenues related to the Company's streaming services of $142.5 million and $131.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Aggregate paid subscribers2 to our streaming services increased 3.8% to 11.1 million at September 30, 2023 compared to 10.7 million at September 30, 2022.
Content licensing and other revenues increased primarily due to the timing and availability of deliveries.
Advertising revenues decreased due to linear ratings declines, a challenging advertising market and fewer original programming episodes within the quarter, partially offset by digital and advanced advertising revenue growth.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Subscription revenues decreased primarily due to a 12.5% decline in affiliate revenues, partially offset by a 16.0% increase in streaming revenues. Affiliate revenues decreased due to basic subscriber declines and a 3% impact of a strategic non-renewal that occurred at the end of 2022. Streaming revenues increased due to year-over-year subscriber growth and price increases. Subscription revenues include revenues related to the Company's streaming services of $420.8 million and $362.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Content licensing and other revenues increased primarily due to the timing and availability of deliveries, including $56.1 million for the delivery of the remaining episodes of an AMC Studios produced series to a third party and a $20.3 million impact associated with the termination of an output agreement that resulted in the acceleration of revenue previously anticipated to be recognized in 2024.
Advertising revenues decreased due to linear ratings declines, softness in the advertising market and fewer original programming episodes within the period, partially offset by digital and advanced advertising revenue growth.
2 A paid subscription is defined as a subscription to a direct-to-consumer service or a subscription received through distributor arrangements, in which we receive a fee for the distribution of our streaming services.
Technical and operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)
Three months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Technical and operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) decreased primarily due to a decrease in program rights amortization.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Technical and operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) increased primarily due to costs associated with the delivery of the remaining episodes of an AMC Studios produced series to a third party and an increase in program rights amortization, including the impact associated with the termination of an output agreement that resulted in the acceleration of program rights amortization previously anticipated to be recognized in 2024.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Three months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased primarily due to lower marketing and subscriber acquisition expenses related to our streaming services.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased primarily due to lower marketing and subscriber acquisition expenses related to our streaming services.
Segment adjusted operating income
Three months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
The decrease in segment adjusted operating income was primarily attributable to a decrease in revenues, net of $46.2 million, partially offset by decreases in selling, general and administrative expenses of $23.4 million and technical and operating expenses of $2.2 million.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
The decrease in segment adjusted operating income was primarily attributable to a decrease in revenues, net of $79.2 million and an increase in technical and operating expenses of $59.3 million, partially offset by a decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses of $95.0 million.
International and Other
The following table sets forth our International and Other segment results for the periods indicated.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
(In thousands) | 2023 | | 2022 | | | Change | | 2023 | | 2022 | | | Change |
Revenues, net: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Subscription | $ | 56,173 | | | $ | 52,765 | | | | 6.5 | % | | $ | 170,143 | | | $ | 169,879 | | | | 0.2 | % |
Content licensing and other | 22,150 | | | 29,124 | | | | (23.9) | | | 76,668 | | | 103,513 | | | | (25.9) | |
Distribution and other | 78,323 | | | 81,889 | | | | (4.4) | | | 246,811 | | | 273,392 | | | | (9.7) | |
Advertising | 19,275 | | | 17,381 | | | | 10.9 | | | 58,163 | | | 61,500 | | | | (5.4) | |
Total revenues, net | 97,598 | | | 99,270 | | | | (1.7) | | | 304,974 | | | 334,892 | | | | (8.9) | |
Technical and operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) | 52,089 | | | 58,528 | | | | (11.0) | | | 162,630 | | | 193,924 | | | | (16.1) | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses(a) | 32,442 | | | 27,432 | | | | 18.3 | | | 88,954 | | | 85,459 | | | | 4.1 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Segment adjusted operating income | $ | 13,067 | | | $ | 13,310 | | | | (1.8) | % | | $ | 53,390 | | | $ | 55,509 | | | | (3.8) | % |
(a) Selling, general and administrative expenses exclude share-based compensation expenses |
Revenues
Three months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Subscription revenues increased primarily due to the favorable impact of foreign currency translation at AMCNI.
Content licensing and other revenues decreased due to a reduction in the volume of productions at 25/7 Media driven by reduced demand for new content and series cancellations from third parties.
Advertising revenues increased primarily due to the favorable impact of foreign currency translation at AMCNI and digital and advanced advertising growth in the U.K.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Subscription revenues increased primarily due to the favorable impact of foreign currency translation at AMCNI.
Content licensing and other revenues decreased due to a reduction in the volume of productions at 25/7 Media driven by reduced demand for new content and series cancellations from third parties.
Advertising revenues decreased primarily due to the impact of the wind-down of two channels in 2022 and marketplace declines in the U.K.
Technical and operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)
Three months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Technical and operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) decreased due to a reduction in the volume of productions at 25/7 Media driven by reduced demand for new content and series cancellations from third parties.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Technical and operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) decreased due to a reduction in the volume of productions at 25/7 Media driven by reduced demand for new content and series cancellations from third parties, as well as lower program rights amortization at AMCNI, primarily resulting from the impact of the wind-down of two channels in 2022 in the U.K.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Three months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased primarily due to an increase in corporate overhead costs allocated to AMCNI.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased primarily due to an increase in corporate overhead costs allocated to AMCNI.
Segment adjusted operating income
Three months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
The decrease in segment adjusted operating income was primarily attributable to an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses of $5.0 million and a decrease in revenues, net of $1.7 million, partially offset by a decrease in technical and operating expenses of $6.4 million.
Nine months ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
The decrease in segment adjusted operating income was primarily attributable to a decrease in revenues, net of $29.9 million and an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses of $3.5 million, partially offset by a decrease in technical and operating expenses of $31.3 million.
Corporate and Inter-segment Elimination
The following table sets forth our Corporate and Inter-segment Eliminations segment results for the periods indicated.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | |
(In thousands) | 2023 | | 2022 | | Change | | 2023 | | 2022 | | Change | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenues, net: | $ | (1,842) | | | $ | (4,816) | | | (61.8) | % | | $ | (6,816) | | | $ | (16,901) | | | (59.7) | % | | |
Technical and operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)(a) | (3,849) | | | (3,912) | | | (1.6) | % | | (9,071) | | | (11,295) | | | (19.7) | | | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses(b) | 22,817 | | | 24,802 | | | (8.0) | % | | 75,042 | | | 84,281 | | | (11.0) | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Segment adjusted operating income | $ | (20,810) | | | $ | (25,706) | | | (19.0) | % | | $ | (72,787) | | | $ | (89,887) | | | (19.0) | % | | |
(a) Technical and operating expenses exclude cloud computing amortization | | |
(b) Selling, general and administrative expenses exclude share-based compensation expenses and cloud computing amortization | | |
Revenues, net
Revenue eliminations are primarily related to inter-segment licensing revenues recognized between the Domestic Operations and International and Other segments.
Technical and operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)
Technical and operating expense eliminations are primarily related to inter-segment programming amortization recognized between the Domestic Operations and International and Other segments.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Corporate overhead costs not allocated to the segments include such costs as executive salaries and benefits, costs of maintaining corporate headquarters, facilities and common support functions.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to 2022 decreased primarily due to lower employee related costs.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We evaluate segment performance based on several factors, of which the primary financial measure is operating segment AOI. We define AOI, which is a financial measure that is not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), as operating income (loss) before share-based compensation expenses or benefit, depreciation and amortization, impairment and other charges (including gains or losses on sales or dispositions of businesses), restructuring and other related charges, cloud computing amortization and including the Company’s proportionate share of adjusted operating income (loss) from majority-owned equity method investees. From time to time, we may exclude the impact of certain events, gains, losses or other charges (such as significant legal settlements) from AOI that affect our operating performance.
We believe that AOI is an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating performance on both an operating segment and consolidated basis. AOI and similar measures with similar titles are common performance measures used by investors, analysts and peers to compare performance in the industry.
Internally, we use revenues, net and AOI as the most important indicators of our business performance, and evaluate management's effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators. AOI should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for operating income (loss), net income (loss), cash flows from operating activities and other measures of performance and/or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Since AOI is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, this measure may not be comparable to similar measures with similar titles used by other companies.
The following is a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to AOI for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 |
(In thousands) | Domestic Operations | | International and Other | | Corporate / Inter-segment Eliminations | | Consolidated |
Operating income (loss) | $ | 161,627 | | | $ | 7,985 | | | $ | (48,762) | | | $ | 120,850 | |
Share-based compensation expenses | 3,494 | | | 815 | | | 2,069 | | | 6,378 | |
Depreciation and amortization | 11,536 | | | 4,271 | | | 12,202 | | | 28,009 | |
Restructuring and other related charges (credits) | (783) | | | (4) | | | 11,350 | | | 10,563 | |
Impairment and other charges | 5,400 | | | — | | | — | | | 5,400 | |
Cloud computing amortization | 5 | | | — | | | 2,331 | | | 2,336 | |
Majority owned equity investees AOI | 3,732 | | | — | | | — | | | 3,732 | |
Adjusted operating income (loss) | $ | 185,011 | | | $ | 13,067 | | | $ | (20,810) | | | $ | 177,268 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 |
(In thousands) | Domestic Operations | | International and Other | | Corporate / Inter-segment Eliminations | | Consolidated |
Operating income (loss) | $ | 186,609 | | | $ | 8,291 | | | $ | (44,223) | | | $ | 150,677 | |
Share-based compensation expenses | 3,155 | | | 537 | | | 3,358 | | | 7,050 | |
Depreciation and amortization | 12,141 | | | 4,482 | | | 13,112 | | | 29,735 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Cloud computing amortization | 5 | | | — | | | 2,047 | | | 2,052 | |
Majority owned equity investees AOI | 4,791 | | | — | | | — | | | 4,791 | |
Adjusted operating income (loss) | $ | 206,701 | | | $ | 13,310 | | | $ | (25,706) | | | $ | 194,305 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 |
(In thousands) | Domestic Operations | | International and Other | | Corporate / Inter-segment Eliminations | | Consolidated |
Operating income (loss) | $ | 523,645 | | | $ | 10,422 | | | $ | (134,212) | | | $ | 399,855 | |
Share-based compensation expenses | 10,133 | | | 2,500 | | | 7,038 | | | 19,671 | |
Depreciation and amortization | 35,053 | | | 13,944 | | | 30,632 | | | 79,629 | |
Restructuring and other related charges | 3,940 | | | 1,642 | | | 16,955 | | | 22,537 | |
Impairment and other charges | 5,400 | | | 24,882 | | | — | | | 30,282 | |
Cloud computing amortization | 15 | | | — | | | 6,800 | | | 6,815 | |
Majority owned equity investees AOI | 11,019 | | | — | | | — | | | 11,019 | |
Adjusted operating income (loss) | $ | 589,205 | | | $ | 53,390 | | | $ | (72,787) | | | $ | 569,808 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 |
(In thousands) | Domestic Operations | | International and Other | | Corporate / Inter-segment Eliminations | | Consolidated |
Operating income (loss) | $ | 573,943 | | | $ | 39,733 | | | $ | (135,119) | | | $ | 478,557 | |
Share-based compensation expenses | 10,000 | | | 1,758 | | | 12,104 | | | 23,862 | |
Depreciation and amortization | 37,716 | | | 14,018 | | | 27,822 | | | 79,556 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Cloud computing amortization | 17 | | | — | | | 5,306 | | | 5,323 | |
Majority owned equity investees AOI | 13,733 | | | — | | | — | | | 13,733 | |
Adjusted operating income (loss) | $ | 635,409 | | | $ | 55,509 | | | $ | (89,887) | | | $ | 601,031 | |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our operations typically generate positive net cash flow from operating activities. However, each of our programming businesses has substantial programming acquisition and production expenditure requirements.
Our primary source of cash typically includes cash flow from operations. Sources of cash also include amounts available under our revolving credit facility and, subject to market conditions, access to capital and credit markets. Although we currently believe that amounts available under our revolving credit facility will be available when and if needed, we can provide no assurance that access to such funds will not be impacted by adverse conditions in the financial markets. The obligations of the financial institutions under our revolving credit facility are several and not joint and, as a result, a funding default by one or more institutions does not need to be made up by the others. As a public company, we may have access to capital and credit markets, although adverse conditions in the financial markets have in the past impacted, and are expected in the future to impact, access to those markets.
Our Board of Directors previously authorized a program to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of our outstanding shares of common stock (the "Stock Repurchase Program"). The Stock Repurchase Program has no pre-established closing date and may be suspended or discontinued at any time. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, we did not repurchase any of our Class A common stock. As of September 30, 2023, we had $135.3 million of authorization remaining for repurchase under the Stock Repurchase Program.
In October 2023, we entered into an agreement enabling us to sell certain customer receivables to a financial institution on a recurring basis for cash. The transferred receivables will be fully guaranteed by a bankruptcy-remote entity and the financial institution that purchases the receivables will have no recourse to our other assets in the event of non-payment by the customers. We can sell an indefinite amount of customer receivables under the agreement on a revolving basis, but the outstanding balance of unpaid customer receivables to the financial institution cannot exceed the initial program limit of $125.0 million at any given time. As of the date of this report, we have not yet sold any customer receivables under this agreement.
Our principal uses of cash include the production, acquisition and promotion of programming, technology investments, debt service and payments for income taxes. We continue to invest in original programming, the funding of which generally occurs a minimum of nine months in advance of a program's airing.
As of September 30, 2023, approximately $198.0 million of cash and cash equivalents, previously held by foreign subsidiaries, was repatriated to the United States. Our consolidated cash and cash equivalents balance of $955.2 million, as of September 30, 2023, includes approximately $170.9 million held by foreign subsidiaries. Of this amount, approximately $60.0 million is expected to be repatriated to the United States with the remaining amount continuing to be reinvested in foreign operations. Tax expense related to the repatriated amount, as well as the expected remaining repatriation amount, has been accrued in the current period and the Company does not expect to incur any significant, additional taxes related to the remaining balance.
We believe that a combination of cash-on-hand, cash generated from operating activities, availability under our revolving credit facility and new accounts receivable monetization program, borrowings under additional financing facilities and, when we have access to capital and credit markets, proceeds from the sale of new debt, will provide sufficient liquidity to service the principal and interest payments on our indebtedness, along with our other funding and investment requirements over the next twelve months and over the longer term. However, we do not expect to generate sufficient cash from operations to repay the then outstanding balances of our debt at the applicable maturity dates. As a result, we will be dependent upon our ability to access the capital and credit markets in order to repay, refinance, repurchase through privately negotiated transactions, open market repurchases, tender offers or otherwise or redeem the outstanding balances of our indebtedness. On November 3, 2023, we gave notice of our intention to redeem the remaining $400 million outstanding principal amount of our 5.00% senior notes due 2024 (the “2024 Notes”) on December 12, 2023 (the “Redemption Date”). The 2024 Notes will be redeemed at a redemption price of 100.000% of the principal amount of the 2024 Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date. Given the maturity date of our $800 million of 4.75% senior notes due 2025, we may access the capital or credit markets in the near term to refinance those senior notes through privately negotiated transactions, open market repurchases, tender offers or redemptions.
Failure to raise significant amounts of funding to repay our outstanding debt obligations at their respective maturity dates would adversely affect our business. In such a circumstance, we would need to take other actions including selling assets, seeking strategic investments from third parties or reducing other discretionary uses of cash. For information relating to our outstanding debt obligations, refer to Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Debt Financing Agreements" of our 2022 Form 10-K.
In addition, economic or market disruptions could lead to lower demand for our services, such as loss of subscribers and lower levels of advertising. These events would adversely impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial position.
The revolving credit facility was not drawn upon at September 30, 2023. The total undrawn revolver commitment is available to be drawn for our general corporate purposes.
In April 2023, the Company entered into Amendment No. 2 ("Amendment No. 2") to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement"). Amendment No. 2 (i) reduced the aggregate principal amount of the revolving loan commitments under the Credit Agreement from $500 million to $400 million, (ii) replaced the interest rate based on London Interbank Offered Rate with an interest rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, (iii) increased the Company's ability to incur additional debt in the future to provide additional flexibility for future financings, including increasing the amount of the incremental debt basket to the greater of $1.2 billion and the amount that would not cause the senior secured leverage ratio to exceed 3.00 to 1.00 on a pro forma basis and (iv) made certain other modifications to the Credit Agreement. The maturity date of the Term Loan A Facility and revolving credit facility under the Credit Agreement is February 8, 2026. In connection with the modification of the revolving loan commitments, the Company recorded $0.6 million to write-off a portion of the unamortized deferred financing costs, which is included in interest expense within the consolidated statements of income for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
AMC Networks was in compliance with all of its debt covenants as of September 30, 2023.
Cash Flow Discussion
The following table is a summary of cash flows provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
2023 | | 2022 |
Cash provided by operating activities | $ | 131,139 | | | $ | 36,591 | |
Cash used in investing activities | (19,234) | | | (28,623) | |
Cash used in financing activities | (84,907) | | | (80,208) | |
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from operations | $ | 26,998 | | | $ | (72,240) | |
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 amounted to $131.1 million and $36.6 million, respectively.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, net cash provided by operating activities primarily resulted from $1,033.6 million of net income before amortization of program rights, depreciation and amortization, and other non-cash items, partially offset by payments for program rights of $844.3 million and restructuring initiatives of $101.6 million. Changes in all other assets and liabilities resulted in a net cash inflow of $43.4 million.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net cash provided by operating activities primarily resulted from net income before amortization of program rights, depreciation and amortization, and other non-cash items of $1,069.8 million, partially offset by payments for program rights of $1,065.9 million. Changes in all other assets and liabilities resulted in a net cash inflow of $32.7 million.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 amounted to $19.2 million and $28.6 million, respectively.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, net cash used in investing activities consisted primarily of capital expenditures of $28.4 million, partially offset by proceeds from the sale of investments of $8.6 million.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net cash used in investing activities consisted of capital expenditures of $33.5 million and an additional investment in an equity security of $5.0 million, partially offset by proceeds from the sale of a marketable equity security of $9.9 million.
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 amounted to $84.9 million and $80.2 million, respectively.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, net cash used in financing activities primarily consisted of distributions to noncontrolling interests of $47.5 million, principal payments on the Term Loan A Facility of $25.3 million, taxes paid in lieu of shares issued for equity-based compensation of $7.2 million, and principal payments on finance leases of $3.1 million.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net cash used in financing activities consisted of distributions to noncontrolling interests of $28.2 million, principal payments on the Term Loan A Facility of $25.3 million, taxes paid in lieu of shares issued for equity-based compensation of $21.6 million, principal payments on finance leases of $2.6 million, and the purchase of noncontrolling interests of $2.5 million.
Contractual Obligations
As of September 30, 2023, our contractual obligations not reflected on the condensed consolidated balance sheet increased $20.6 million, as compared to December 31, 2022, to $932.8 million. The increase was primarily driven by additional program rights commitments and the renewal of a third-party service contract, partially offset by payments for program rights.
Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information
The following is a description of the terms and conditions of the guarantees with respect to the outstanding notes for which AMC Networks is the issuer.
Note Guarantees
Debt of AMC Networks as of September 30, 2023 included $400.0 million of the 2024 Notes, $800.0 million of 4.75% Notes due August 2025 and $1.0 billion of 4.25% Notes due February 2029 (collectively, the “notes”). The notes were issued by AMC Networks and are unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on an unsecured basis, by each of AMC Networks’ existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions (each, a “Guarantor Subsidiary,” and collectively, the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”). The obligations of each Guarantor Subsidiary under its note guarantee are limited as necessary to prevent such note guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law. A guarantee of the notes by a Guarantor Subsidiary is subject to release in the following circumstances: (i) any sale or other disposition of all of the capital stock of a Guarantor Subsidiary to a person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) a restricted subsidiary, in compliance with the terms of the applicable indenture; (ii) the designation of a restricted subsidiary as an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” under the applicable indenture; or (iii) the release or discharge of the guarantee (including the guarantee under the AMC Networks’ credit agreement) which resulted in the creation of the note guarantee (provided that such Guarantor Subsidiary does not have any preferred stock outstanding at such time that is not held by AMC Networks or another Guarantor Subsidiary).
Foreign subsidiaries of AMC Networks do not and will not guarantee the notes.
The following tables present the summarized financial information specified in Rule 1-02(bb)(1) of Regulation S-X for AMC Networks and each Guarantor Subsidiary. The summarized financial information has been prepared in accordance with Rule 13-01 of Regulation S-X.
Summarized Financial Information
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Income Statement | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 | | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 |
Parent Company | | Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Parent Company | | Guarantor Subsidiaries |
Revenues | $ | — | | | $ | 1,466,115 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,513,831 | |
Operating expenses | — | | | 1,107,533 | | | — | | | 1,104,348 | |
Operating income | $ | — | | | $ | 358,582 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 409,483 | |
Income before income taxes | $ | 307,735 | | | $ | 428,244 | | | $ | 365,942 | | | $ | 467,752 | |
Net income | 237,273 | | | 421,629 | | | 272,283 | | | 461,433 | |
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Balance Sheet | September 30, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
(In thousands) | Parent Company | | Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Parent Company | | Guarantor Subsidiaries |
Assets | | | | | | | |
Amounts due from subsidiaries | $ | — | | | $ | 33,374 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 79,020 | |
Current assets | 7,980 | | | 1,437,697 | | | 44,045 | | | 1,258,759 | |
Non-current assets | 4,147,117 | | | 3,457,558 | | | 3,893,205 | | | 3,706,858 | |
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Liabilities and equity: | | | | | | | |
Amounts due to subsidiaries | $ | 71,910 | | | $ | 1,836 | | | $ | 68,682 | | | $ | 6,783 | |
Current liabilities | 587,762 | | | 629,004 | | | 157,658 | | | 872,109 | |
Non-current liabilities | 2,516,659 | | | 232,256 | | | 2,972,602 | | | 330,467 | |
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
We describe our significant accounting policies in Note 2 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2022 Form 10-K. There have been no significant changes in our significant accounting policies since December 31, 2022.
We discuss our critical accounting estimates in Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," in our 2022 Form 10-K. There have been no significant changes in our critical accounting estimates since December 31, 2022.
During the third quarter of 2023, the Company substantially completed its 2022 restructuring plan and exited a portion of its office space in its corporate headquarters in New York and office space in Silver Spring, Maryland and Woodland Hills, California. In connection with exiting a portion of the New York office, the Company recorded impairment charges of $11.6 million, consisting of $9.1 million for operating lease right-of use assets and $2.5 million for leasehold improvements. Fair values used to determine the impairment charge were determined using an income approach, specifically a discounted cash flow ("DCF") model. The DCF model includes significant assumptions about sublease income and enterprise specific discount rates. Given the uncertainty in determining assumptions underlying the DCF approach, actual results may differ from those used in the valuations.
25/7 Media is our production services business and is part of our International and Other segment. See "Item 1. Business - International and Other" in our 2022 Form 10-K for further details. During the second quarter of 2023, given the impact of market challenges at 25/7 Media, specifically as it relates to reduced demand for new content and series cancellations from third parties, the Company revised its outlook for the 25/7 Media business, resulting in lower expected future cash flows. As a result, the Company determined that sufficient indicators of potential impairment of long-lived assets existed at 25/7 Media. The Company performed a recoverability test and determined that the carrying amount of the 25/7 Media asset group was not recoverable. The carrying value of the asset group exceeded its fair value, therefore an impairment charge of $23.0 million was recorded for identifiable intangible assets, which is included in impairment and other charges in the consolidated statement of income within the International and Other operating segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Fair values used to determine the impairment charge were determined using an income approach, specifically a DCF model, and a market comparables approach. The DCF model includes significant assumptions about revenue growth rates, long-term growth rates and enterprise specific discount rates. Given the uncertainty in determining assumptions underlying the DCF approach, actual results may differ from those used in the valuations.
During the second quarter of 2023, the Company also determined that a triggering event had occurred with respect to the 25/7 Media reporting unit, which required an interim goodwill impairment test to be performed. Accordingly, the Company performed a quantitative assessment using an income approach, specifically a DCF model, and a market comparables approach. Based on the valuations performed, a $1.9 million goodwill impairment charge was recorded, which is included in impairment and other charges in the consolidated statement of income, within the International and Other operating segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Fair Value of Debt
Based on the level of interest rates prevailing at September 30, 2023, the carrying value of our fixed rate debt of $2.18 billion was more than its fair value of $1.75 billion by approximately $435.7 million. The fair value of these financial instruments is estimated based on reference to quoted market prices for these or comparable securities. A hypothetical 100 basis point decrease in interest rates prevailing at September 30, 2023 would increase the estimated fair value of our fixed rate debt by approximately $41.4 million to approximately $1.79 billion.
Managing our Interest Rate Risk
To manage interest rate risk, we enter into interest rate swap contracts from time to time to adjust the amount of total debt that is subject to variable interest rates. Such contracts effectively fix the borrowing rates on floating rate debt to limit the exposure against the risk of rising rates. We do not enter into interest rate swap contracts for speculative or trading purposes and we only enter into interest rate swap contracts with financial institutions that we believe are credit worthy counterparties. We monitor the financial institutions that are counterparties to our interest rate swap contracts and to the extent possible diversify our swap contracts among various counterparties to mitigate exposure to any single financial institution. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, we did not have any interest rate swap contracts outstanding.
As of September 30, 2023, we had $2.8 billion of debt outstanding (excluding finance leases), of which $615.9 million is outstanding under our loan facility and is subject to variable interest rates. A hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest
rates prevailing at September 30, 2023 would increase our annual interest expense by approximately $6.2 million. The interest rate paid on approximately 78% of our debt (excluding finance leases) as of September 30, 2023 is fixed.
Managing our Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
We are exposed to foreign currency risk to the extent that we enter into transactions denominated in currencies other than our subsidiaries' respective functional currencies (non-functional currency risk), such as affiliation agreements, programming contracts, certain trade receivables and accounts payable (including intercompany amounts) that are denominated in a currency other than the applicable functional currency. Changes in exchange rates with respect to amounts recorded in our consolidated balance sheets related to these items will result in unrealized (based upon period-end exchange rates) or realized foreign currency transaction gains and losses upon settlement of the transactions. Moreover, to the extent that our revenue, costs and expenses are denominated in currencies other than our respective functional currencies, we will experience fluctuations in our revenue, costs and expenses solely as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company recognized losses of $3.3 million and $0.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and losses of $1.0 million and $0.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, related to foreign currency transactions. Such amounts are included in miscellaneous, net in the condensed consolidated statements of income.
To manage foreign currency exchange rate risk, we enter into foreign currency contracts from time to time with financial institutions to limit our exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We do not enter into foreign currency contracts for speculative or trading purposes.
We also are exposed to fluctuations of the U.S. dollar (our reporting currency) against the currencies of our operating subsidiaries when their respective financial statements are translated into U.S. dollars for inclusion in our condensed consolidated financial statements. Cumulative translation adjustments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as a separate component of equity. Any increase (decrease) in the value of the U.S. dollar against any foreign currency that is the functional currency of one of our operating subsidiaries will cause us to experience unrealized foreign currency translation losses (gains) with respect to amounts already invested in such foreign currencies. Accordingly, we may experience a negative impact on our comprehensive income (loss) and equity with respect to our holdings solely as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
An evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based upon that evaluation as of September 30, 2023, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During the three months ended September 30, 2023, there were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
See Note 14, Commitments and Contingencies to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a description of our legal proceedings.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, Use of Proceeds, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Company's Board of Directors has authorized a program to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of its outstanding shares of common stock (the "Stock Repurchase Program"). The authorization of up to $500 million was announced on March 7, 2016, an additional authorization of $500 million was announced on June 7, 2017, and an additional authorization of $500 million was announced on June 13, 2018. The Stock Repurchase Program has no pre-established closing date and may be suspended or discontinued at any time.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company did not repurchase any of its Class A common stock. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had $135.3 million of authorization remaining for repurchase under the Stock Repurchase Program.
Item 6. Exhibits.
(a)Index to Exhibits.
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101.INS | XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within Inline XBRL document. |
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101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. |
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101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. |
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101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase. |
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101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. |
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101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. |
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104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
SIGNATURES
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.
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| | | | AMC Networks Inc. |
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Date: | November 3, 2023 | | By: | /s/ Patrick O'Connell |
| | | | Patrick O'Connell |
| | | | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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Date: | November 3, 2023 | | By: | /s/ Michael J. Sherin III |
| | | | Michael J. Sherin III |
| | | | Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer |
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