SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 3, 1997 COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-21943
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FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
DELAWARE 95-4599440
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
2813 WEST ALAMEDA AVENUE
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA 91505
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant's telephone number including area code: 818-840-7000
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:
None
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT:
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X No
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Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K.
Yes X No
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The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of
the Registrant as of October 15, 1997 was $85,375,487.
As of October 15, 1997, 9,552,502 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock,
$.01 par value, were outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Part III incorporates information by reference from the definitive proxy
statement for the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on January 15,
1998.
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PART I
The following should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial
Statements and Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-K. When used in
the following discussion, the words "believes," "anticipates," "intends,"
"expects" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which
could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Readers
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which
speak only as of the date hereof.
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
The Company is a leading provider of technical and creative services to
owners, producers and distributors of television programming, feature films and
other entertainment content in the United States and Asia. The name Four Media
Company is derived from the Company's core competencies in film, video, sound
and data. The Company's services integrate and apply a variety of systems and
processes to enhance the creation and distribution of entertainment content. The
Company seeks to capitalize on growth in domestic and international demand for
original entertainment content and for existing television and film libraries
without taking production or ownership risk with respect to any specific
television program, feature film or other content.
Since its formation in 1993 through fiscal 1997, the Company has invested
$94.4 million in new digital systems and equipment. In addition, the Company has
successfully identified, acquired and integrated seven complementary businesses.
The Company acquired the assets of four companies in connection with its
formation in 1993, acquired the assets of a fifth company in 1994, capitalized
and commenced its Singapore broadcast operations in 1995 and acquired a seventh
company in 1997. As a result of its investments and acquisitions, the Company is
one of the largest and most diversified independent (not affiliated with or
related to a content owner) providers of technical and creative services to the
entertainment industry, and therefore is able to offer its customers a single
source for such services.
The Company has four wholly owned operating subsidiaries 4MC-Burbank ("4MC
Burbank"), Digital Magic Company ("DMC"), Anderson Video Company ("Anderson")
and Four Media Company Asia Pte. Ltd. ("4MC Asia"). The Company continues to be
acquisition minded and is constantly evaluating opportunities to enhance its
operations and profitability.
The Company has organized its activities into four divisions, each of which
offers services that are integral to the creation, enhancement and/or
distribution of entertainment content.
Studio Services. The studio services division provides owners of
television and film libraries with all of the facilities and services necessary
to manage, format and distribute content worldwide. These services include
restoring and preserving damaged content, archiving original elements and
working masters, creating working masters from original elements, duplicating
masters for professional applications and formatting masters to meet specific
end-user standards and requirements. The studio services division seeks to offer
customers lower operating costs, improved response time and reliability, access
to new technology, and adherence to quality standards that are recognized by the
international technical community. The division's customer base includes the
major domestic studios (and their international divisions) as well as
independent owners of television and film libraries. Studio services operations
are conducted in Burbank and Universal City, California.
Broadcast Services. The broadcast services division provides domestic and
international programmers with the facilities and services necessary to assemble
and distribute programming via satellite to viewers in the United States, Canada
and Asia. These services include assembly of programming provided by the
customer into a 24-hour "network" format; creating interstitial and
promotional graphics and other material that support
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the brand identity of the programming; providing production support and
facilities for the timely creation of original programming, such as announce and
news segments; and providing automated systems to broadcast the programming via
playback and uplink facilities. In addition, the broadcast services division
provides facilities and services for the delivery of syndicated television
programming in the United States and Canada and also transmits special events,
sports or news stories for insertion in a network, cable system or direct-to-
home broadcast. The division's customer base includes major entertainment
companies offering worldwide network programming, independent content owners
offering niche market programming, and pay-per-view channels marketing movies
and special events to the cable industry and direct-to-home viewers. Broadcast
services operations are conducted in Burbank and the Republic of Singapore.
Television Services. The television services division provides producers
of original television programming with the technical and certain of the
creative services that are necessary to conform original film or video principal
photography to a final product suitable for airing on network, syndicated, cable
or foreign television. These services include developing negative in the
Company's film laboratory; converting developed negative to videotape and/or
digital formats; creating music and sound effects; mixing sound elements for
laydown to the final program master; creating visual effects; integrating visual
effects in the final program master; correcting color; removing artifacts and
scratches from the program master; formatting for commercial integration; and
delivering (via tape or satellite) the program master for broadcast. The
division's customer base includes most of the major domestic studios and
broadcast networks that are engaged in the production of original programming as
well as a large number of independent production companies. In 1998, the
division's services will be expanded to provide these services for the
production of television commercials for advertisers. Television services
operations are conducted in Burbank, Universal City and Santa Monica.
Film Services. The film division (formerly called visual effects
services) commenced operations in January 1995 and provides creators of special
visual effects with certain services required to digitally create or manipulate
images in high resolution formats for integration in feature films. These
services include developing negative and correcting color in the Company's film
laboratory; digitally scanning film; and digitally compositing multiple layers
of effects and recording the result on film. The division's customer base
includes most of the major domestic studios as well as independent visual
effects supervisors. Visual effects operations are conducted in Burbank and
Santa Monica.
MARKETS
The entertainment industry creates motion pictures, television programming,
and interactive multimedia content for distribution through theatrical
exhibition, home video, pay and basic cable television, direct-to-home, private
cable, broadcast television, on-line services and video games. Content is
released into a "first-run" distribution channel, and later into one or more
additional channels or media. In addition to newly-produced content, film and
television libraries may be released repeatedly into distribution. Entertainment
content produced in the United States is exported, and is in increasingly high
demand internationally. The Company believes that several trends in the
entertainment industry will have a positive impact on the Company's business.
These trends include growth in worldwide demand for original entertainment
content, the development of new markets for existing content libraries,
increased demand for innovation and creative quality in entertainment markets
and wider application of digital technologies to content manipulation and
distribution, including the emergence of new distribution channels.
The Motion Picture Industry. The motion picture industry encompasses the
production, distribution and domestic exhibition of feature-length motion
pictures, including their distribution in home video, television and other
ancillary markets. While the domestic motion picture industry is dominated by
the major studios, including Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Corporation,
Twentieth Century Fox, Universal Pictures, The Walt Disney Company and Warner
Bros., independent production companies also play an important role in the
production of motion pictures for domestic and international feature film
markets. The major studios release as many as 200 new feature films a year and
domestic independent producers and distributors account for an estimated 180
films a year.
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In 1995, the worldwide revenue of United States motion picture distributors
totaled $18.3 billion, an increase of 6.2% over 1994. Recent growth in
international revenue has far exceeded growth in North American (United States
and Canada) revenues, with international revenue now accounting for nearly half
of total revenue. According to an August 1996 communications industry forecast,
it is expected that by the year 2000, international revenue from motion pictures
produced in the United States will surpass North American revenue. The Company's
studio services division provides services that support the preparation and
delivery of feature films for distribution in domestic and international home
video, television and other ancillary markets.
The Television Production Industry. The North American television
production and distribution industry serves the largest broadcast market in the
world, with a population of approximately 290 million and more than 95 million
homes. In North America, programming is delivered to the end user via
conventional broadcast networks, cable channels, individual television stations
and satellite delivery systems. The number of broadcast television networks in
the United States continues to increase, with United Paramount Network and the
Warner Bros. Network recently joining the established networks, ABC, NBC, CBS
and Fox. The established networks penetrate nearly 100% of domestic television
households and provide access to a broad-based mass audience for television
advertisers. Spending for television advertising, which drives the production of
new programming and the sale of existing content libraries, reached a record
level of $37.5 billion in 1995, compared to $29.0 billion in 1990.
The demand for entertainment content has increased significantly as a
result of the introduction of new broadcast networks, direct broadcast satellite
systems, pay television, increased cable penetration and the growth of home
video. The new television networks have created the need for more hours of
original programming and competition for viewers has increased the demand for
innovation and creative quality resulting in higher levels of spending. In 1995,
United States television broadcasters (including cable) spent approximately $8.9
billion for programming, compared to $7.2 billion in 1990. The Company's
television services division supports the creation of television programming for
domestic distribution and the Company's broadcast services division supports the
delivery of programming through various channels of distribution including cable
and satellite delivery systems.
In the last decade, the privatization of broadcasting systems outside the
United States, the proliferation of broadcast licenses, and the introduction of
sophisticated delivery technologies, such as cable and satellite transmission
systems, have led to significant growth of broadcasting and cable television
markets outside North America. European television is the most visible example
of the growth in programming outlets. Over the last 15 years, European
governments have encouraged a major expansion of the public and private
broadcasting sectors. For example, Germany and France each have added six
broadcast networks and the United Kingdom has added four. The introduction of
new television broadcast systems is just beginning in Asia and Eastern Europe.
Most foreign broadcasters require a mix of both indigenous programming to
satisfy the local content requirements of their broadcast licenses and popular
international programming, largely produced in the United States. The
substantial growth of broadcast markets outside North America has also increased
the demand for entertainment content produced in the United States. The
Company's television services division supports the creation of programming for
international distribution, the Company's studio services division supports the
preparation of content to be viewed in international markets, and the Company's
broadcast division supports the distribution of cable channels in Asia and is
seeking to establish a presence in other developing international markets.
The Multimedia Industry. The interactive multimedia industry encompasses
video games, edutaiment and on-line interactive services. While certain segments
of the industry such as video games are well established, the multimedia
industry is an emerging business with significant growth potential. Revenues
derived from the sale of video game systems and game software were approximately
$4.5 billion in 1995. Improvements in technology, the availability of
communication bandwidth, the proliferation of distribution channels for
entertainment products and services, and the involvement of large entertainment
companies, together, signify a critical mass to support such growth. On-line
services offer the consumer access to the Internet and the World Wide Web via
internet access providers such as Netcom(R) and UUNet(R), and to services such
as America On-line(R) and Prodigy(R) which offer both internet access and
proprietary features. Brand
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services have been introduced such as MSNBC(R) and ESPN SportZone(R). Numerous
companies provide Web site design and creation, such as Digital Planet(R),
Dimension X(R) and Starware(R), that integrate various forms of media including
live action video, animation, graphics and audio. Other interactive on-line
services such as video-on-demand are being deployed by cable television
operators and certain of the regional telephone companies. Although the Company
currently derives no significant revenues from these market segments, the
Company believes that its creative and technical processes will be marketable to
the multimedia industry specifically in the areas of video compression,
digitization, 2D and 3D graphics, and authoring for the more complex platforms
and applications such as digital versatile disk ("DVD") and server-based on-
demand services.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
The Company has defined its operating divisions in terms of the
entertainment industry market segments each serves. Each entertainment industry
market segment is driven by diverse but related economic factors, and as a
result, the Company is not solely dependent upon any single market segment
within the entertainment industry. The Company intends to maintain and expand
the diversity of its revenue sources and views such diversity as a significant
competitive operating and financial advantage.
For each of its operating divisions, the Company has defined a set of
services which support the entire technical and creative process of its
customers: studio services--"Content Preparation Process;" broadcast services--
"Network Delivery Process;" television services--"Original Programming Delivery
Process;" and visual effects--"Effects Creation Process."
STUDIO SERVICES
The studio services division offers a broad range of facilities and
technical services to owners of television and film libraries. The division
provides all of the services necessary to manage, format and distribute content
on an international scale. These services include archiving original elements
and working masters, restoring and preserving damaged content, creating working
masters from original elements, duplicating masters for professional
applications, and formatting masters to meet specific end-user standards and
requirements. As an outsourcing solution, the Company offers the customer lower
operating costs, improved response time and reliability, access to new
technology, and adherence to standards of quality that are recognized by the
international technical community.
The Company's Content Preparation Process consists of the services outlined
in the chart below. While the Company markets these services as a cost-effective
package, service offerings are available individually and priced separately.
The Content Preparation Process
Storage Restore Transfer Audio
Retrieval --- Preserve --- Transform --- Standards
Duplication
Archive. The storage and handling of videotape and film elements require
specialized security and environmental control procedures. Throughout the
entertainment industry, content representing millions of dollars of future
revenue is stored in physically small units that are subject to the risk of loss
resulting from physical deterioration, natural disaster, unauthorized
duplication or theft. The Company's archive is designed to store approximately
400,000 master videotapes and film elements in an environment protected from
temperature and humidity variation, seismic disturbance, fire, theft and other
external events. In addition to the physical security of the archive, content
owners require frequent and regular access to their libraries. Speed and
accuracy of access is a critical value added factor. The Company believes that
its archive, is the largest among independent service providers and among the
most advanced with respect to security, environmental control and access
features.
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Restoration. Substantially all film elements originating prior to 1983
have faded, degraded or been damaged in some way. Generally, damaged negatives
cannot be utilized in the Content Delivery Process because the resulting
broadcast submaster will not meet the minimum quality standards required in
domestic and foreign markets. The Company's technicians restore damaged film
negative to original and sometimes enhanced quality through the use of
proprietary optical and electronic equipment and techniques. The Company
believes it is well recognized for its ability to complete technically
challenging restoration assignments.
Preservation. Modern film stock, introduced in 1983, has a shelf life
exceeding 100 years. Because images recorded on old film stock degrade over time
resulting in the loss of color and in extreme cases the integrity of the film
itself, older film frequently is converted to a new archival film stock medium.
Film is the preferred archival medium because it has the highest image
resolution of any image storage medium. Using a proprietary process, the Company
takes the original (or restored) negative and creates an archival answer print
and interpositive (i.e., a new negative). The Company believes that, due to
technical and operational advances in its proprietary preservation process, it
is a market leader in the preservation of existing film content.
Transfer. Substantially all film content ultimately is distributed to the
home video, broadcast, cable or pay-per-view television markets, requiring that
film images be transferred to video images. Each frame must be color corrected
and adapted to the size and aspect ratio of a television screen in order to
ensure the highest level of conformity to the original film version. Because
certain film formats require transfers with special characteristics, it is not
unusual for a motion picture to be mastered in many different versions. For
example, anamorphic (Cinemascope) formats require mastering in at least two
aspect ratios (pan/scan and letter box) and certain international broadcasters
have other requirements. The Company transfers film to videotape using URSA
Gold(R) and URSA Diamond(R) telecine equipment and DaVinci(R) digital color
correction systems. Technological developments, such as the anticipated domestic
introduction of television sets with 16 x 9 aspect ratios and the implementation
of advanced definition digital television systems for terrestrial and satellite
broadcasting, if they occur, should contribute to the growth of the Company's
film-to-tape transfer business in the future.
Transform. Production companies may choose to originate their work on
videotape even though the ultimate market is a theatrical release on film. The
Company developed a proprietary process called Transform(R) to convert videotape
to film. Transform(R) uses an electron beam recorder and a patented color
imaging system to transform video pictures from all current broadcast standards
to 16mm or 35mm film. The process involves transferring red, blue and green
video images sequentially to a 16mm fine grain intermediate film stock using an
electron beam modulated with the video image. These fine grain separations are
then sequentially step-printed onto color negative film stock. The Transform(R)
process is applicable to advertising commercials and interstitial programming
material (less than 90 seconds in running length) as well as theatrical length
presentations including feature films, concerts and special events. The Company
currently transforms numerous short segments, special events, and six to ten
feature films per year.
Audio Layback. Audio layback is the process of creating duplicate
videotape masters with sound tracks that are different from the original
recorded master sound track. Content owners selling their assets in foreign
markets require the replacement of dialog with voices speaking local languages.
In some cases, all of the audio elements, including dialog, sound effects, music
and laughs, must be recreated, remixed and synchronized with the original
videotape. Audio sources are premixed foreign language tracks or tracks that
contain music and effects only. The latter is used to make a final videotape
product that will be sent to a foreign country to permit addition of a foreign
dialogue track to the existing music and effects track. The Company attracts
audio layback business by offering (i) optimum sound quality; (ii)
synchronization of audio to picture within a half frame accuracy; (iii)
consistent quality and accuracy; (iv) quick turnaround; and (v) competitive
pricing.
Conversion. Conversion is the process of changing the frame rates of a
video signal from one video standard (such as the United States standard) to
another (such as the European standard). Through the utilization of Digital
Electronic Film Transfer and Phase Correlation technologies, the Company
provides the highest quality conversion services available. The Company's
primary competitive advantages are its state-of-the-art
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equipment and its detailed knowledge of the international markets with respect
to quality-control requirements and technical specifications.
Duplication. The final step in the Content Preparation Process is the
creation of submasters for distribution to professional end users. Master tapes
are used to make submasters in NTSC, PAL and other formats. Videotape content is
copied for use in intermediate processes, such as editing, on-air backup and
screening, and for final delivery to cable and pay-per-view programmers,
broadcast networks, television stations, airlines, home video duplicators and
foreign distributors. The Company duplicates videotape in all international
standards in 22 tape formats. The Company believes that its professional
duplication facility is technically advanced and has unique characteristics that
significantly increase equipment capacity utilization while reducing error rates
and labor costs.
BROADCAST SERVICES
The broadcast services division offers a broad range of facilities and
technical and creative services to domestic and international programmers. The
Company provides all of the facilities and services necessary to assemble and
distribute programming via satellite to viewers in the United States, Canada and
Asia. These services include assembling programming provided by the customer
into a 24-hour "network" format, creating interstitial and promotional
graphics and other material that support the brand identity of the programming,
providing production support and facilities for the timely creation of original
programming such as announce and news segments, and providing automated systems
to deliver the programming to air via playback and uplink facilities. In
addition, the Company provides broadcast facilities and services for the
delivery of syndicated television programming in the United States and Canada
and transmits special events, sports or news stories for insertion in a network,
cable system or direct-to-home broadcast. The Company's customer base consists
of the major studios and entertainment companies offering world-wide network
programming, independent content owners offering niche market programming and
pay-per-view channels marketing movies and special events to the cable industry
and direct-to-home viewers. Broadcast service operations are conducted in
Burbank and the Republic of Singapore.
The Company's Network Delivery Process consists of the services outlined in
the chart below. While the Company markets these services as a cost-effective
package, service offerings are available individually and priced separately.
The Network Delivery Process
Production Assembly Uplink
Promotion --- Distribution --- Origination --- Transponder
Audio
Production and Promotion. A broadcaster's identity and continuity during
the broadcast day are established and enhanced when an on-camera personality is
used to introduce the channel or the channel's programming. Timely broadcast
programming, such as news, requires immediate and precise coordination of on-
camera talent, the script, the pre-recorded videotape and graphic materials and
the broadcast schedule. The Company operates a state-of-the-art production
studio in Singapore with three cameras, production and audio control rooms,
videotape playback and record, multi-language prompter, computerized lighting,
and dressing and makeup rooms. The studio is fully configured for host, news and
chroma key segments. A one-camera field crew is also available for electronic
field production recording, and the Company offers live-to-satellite interview
and other on-camera services. On-screen marketing and broadcast continuity also
depend on on-air promotional material to support the channel's brand identity
and the channel's programming. The Company, working in conjunction with the
client's writers and producers, offers a complete on-air promotional service,
including graphics, editing, voice-over record, sound effects editing, sound
mixing and music composition.
Audio. Programming designed for distribution in markets other than those
for which it was originally produced is prepared for export through language
translation and either subtitling or voice dubbing. The
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Company provides dubbed language versioning with an audio layback and conform
service that supports various audio and videotape formats to create an
international language-specific master videotape. The Company's Burbank facility
also creates music and effects tracks from programming shot before an audience
to prepare television sitcoms for dialog record and international distribution.
The Company's Singapore facility supports subtitling with translation
coordination and a complete on-screen and closed-caption subtitling facility.
Subtitling currently is available in Chinese; other languages can be added in
response to customer need.
Assembly. Prior to broadcast, program and interstitial material is
checked for quality control and may be pre-compiled into final broadcast form
prior to on-air playback. Interstitial pre-compilation is performed in Company
editing facilities, often using proprietary systems and software which permit
the efficient assembly of high production value visual effects. Syndicated
programming is also prepared for distribution with commercials and similar
elements inserted prior to distribution. Control procedures are used to ensure
on-air reliability. The Company provides programming to almost all United States
broadcast television stations through daily satellite feeds and tape shipments.
A variety of movie and show formatting and time compression services are
available to prepare programming for distribution. Commercial, promotional,
billboard, warning, logo and other integration, as well as closed captioning for
the hearing impaired and source identification encoding, is performed. The
Company also provides program log and traffic support to programmers; affiliate
relations and station coordination; library storage of broadcast master tapes;
and a syndication program library and recycled videotape inventory.
Network Origination. The Company provides videotape playback and
origination to cable, pay-per-view and direct-to-home networks and services. The
Company accepts daily program schedules, programs, promos and advertising, and
delivers 24 hours of seamless daily programming to cable affiliates and home
satellite subscribers. The Company uses automated robotics systems for broadcast
playback, which include proprietary systems and software. The Company also
operates industry-standard encryption and/or compression systems as needed for
customer satellite distribution. The Company uses a customized approach to
satisfy each customer's timeliness, flexibility and reliability requirements.
Playback systems are both videotape and video server-based, and subtitling and
"local avail" (head and commercial insertion) are supported. Quality control,
tape storage and trafficking services are also offered by the Company.
Currently, the Company supports over twenty 24-hour channels from its Burbank
facility, and two 24-hour channels originate from the Singapore facility.
Uplink and Satellite Transponders. The Company's Burbank facility
operates a C-band video-oriented satellite earth station facility with eight
transmit/receive antennas and over 30 transmit chains. The Company is licensed
by the FCC and operates as a common carrier. Facilities are staffed 24 hours a
day and also are used for downlink and turnaround services. The Company
currently communicates with a transponder on the Galaxy IV(R) satellite in
support of the Company's syndication and Canadian distribution businesses. The
Company accesses various "satellite neighborhoods" daily, including basic and
premium cable, broadcast syndication and direct-to-home markets. The Company
resells transponder capacity for ad hoc and other occasional use and bundles its
transponder capacity with other broadcast services to provide a complete
broadcast package at a fixed price.
TELEVISION SERVICES
The television services division provides a broad range of facilities and
technical and creative services directed to producers of original television
programming. The Company provides all of the technical and certain of the
creative services that are necessary to conform original film or video principal
photography to a final product suitable for network, syndicated, cable or
foreign television. These services include developing negative in the Company's
film laboratory, converting developed negative to video tape and/or digital
formats, creating music and sound effects, mixing all sound elements for laydown
to the final program master, creating visual effects in the final program
master, color correction, dirt and scratch removal, formatting for commercial
integrating and physical delivery via tape or digital delivery via satellite of
the program master for air. The Company's customer base includes most of the
major studios and broadcast networks that produce original
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programming as well as a large number of independent production companies.
Television operations are conducted in Burbank, Universal City and Santa Monica.
The Company's Programming Delivery Process consists of the services
outlined in the chart below. While the Company markets these services as a cost-
effective package, service offerings are available individually and priced
separately.
The Original Programming Delivery Process
Developing Off-Line Audio Assembly
Transform --- On-Line --- Visual Effects --- Formatting
Digitization Duplication
Negative Developing. Because of the creative freedom, high resolution
image quality and flexibility attained by working with film, the majority of
prime time network and first run syndicated television programming originates on
film. "Dailies" (camera original negative shot during each production day) for
one hour dramas, situation comedies and movies-of-the-week are delivered to the
Company's film laboratory to be developed overnight. The Company's film
laboratory specializes in negative developing for television applications and
has increased its television related activities in each year since the Company's
inception.
Transfer and Digitization. The transfer department accepts developed
negative from a laboratory and transfers the film to videotape. The transfer
process enables the customer to view the previous day's work on videotape and
begin the creative process of editing the footage. The transfer process is one
of the most technically and creatively challenging of any of the Company's
services. The Company must integrate various forms of audio and encode the video
picture with feet and frame numbers from the original film. The Company utilizes
state-of-the-art URSA Gold(R) and URSA Diamond(R) telecine equipment adapted for
television specifications. The Company believes that its equipment produces the
highest quality results attainable in the industry today in part because it uses
leading technology for television transfer services.
Off-Line Editing. The Company delivers low resolution digitized images to
the customer for processing by various non-linear editing work stations, such as
the Avid(R), Media Composer(R), Lightworks(R) and Heavyworks(R). Using these or
similar systems, the customer determines the programming content and creates an
edit decision list, which will eventually be used to assemble the source
material into a final product suitable for broadcast. The Company provides and
fully supports non-linear off-line editing with personnel and equipment for use
by the customer within the Company's facilities or at other locations designated
by the customer. In addition, the Company is currently constructing
communications infrastructure to provide digitized images directly from the
film-to-tape transfer room to work stations via dedicated phone lines.
Audio. After the customer has made substantially all of the creative
decisions necessary to determine the programming content, the Company offers
various services to enhance and conform the audio to the video image. The
Company creates sound effects, assists in replacing dialog and re-records all
the audio elements for integration with the final video product. The Company
designs sound effects to give life to the visual images with a proprietary
library of over 30,000 digital sound effects. Dialog replacement is sometimes
required to improve quality, replace lost dialog or eliminate extraneous noise
from the original recording. Re-recording combines sound effects, dialog, music
and laughter together to complete the final product. In addition, the re-
recording process allows the enhancement of the listening experience by adding
specialized sound treatments, such as stereo, Dolby(R) SR(R) and
Surroundsound(R). The Company's primary audio markets are situation comedies and
one-hour dramas. Finally, the Company has two theater sized re-recording stages
targeted at the feature film and made-for-TV movie markets. The Company employs
an award winning staff in both areas and is well respected for its technical and
creative contribution.
Visual Effects. Visual effects are used to enhance the visual experience
of the viewing audience by supplementing images obtained in principal
photography with computer generated images. Most often, visual effects create
images that cannot be created by any other means on a cost effective basis. DMC,
the Company's
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visual effects operation located in Santa Monica, specializes in creating visual
effects for television. DMC's compositing suites are configured for nine layers
of color correction and eight layers of compositing with powerful wipe
generators. These devices are used to generate bends, warps, morphs, 3D shapes
and transformations in real time. DMC also offers an array of graphics and
animation workstations using a variety of software to accomplish unique effects,
including 3D animation. The Company believes that DMC is a leader in providing
visual effects for the television industry as evidenced by its involvement in
numerous award winning series, including Star Trek(R)--The Next Generation(R),
Star Trek(R)--Deep Space Nine(R) and Star Trek(R)--Voyager(R).
Assembly, Formatting and Duplication. Once all of the creative decisions
have been made by the customer, including the integration of sound and visual
effects, the Company employs the edit decision list to assemble the source
material into its final form. To accomplish this, the Company utilizes a
combination of component digital linear assembly systems and super computer
based non-linear assembly systems. The Company believes that its assembly
systems, which became fully operational in fourth quarter of 1996, are among the
most technologically advanced in the industry. In addition, the Company utilizes
sophisticated computer graphics equipment to generate titles and characters and
to format the program to meet specific network requirements (e.g., time
compression and commercial blocks). Finally, the Company creates multiple
"masters" for delivery to the network for broadcast, archival and other
purposes designated by the customer.
FILM SERVICES
The film services division offers a broad range of facilities and technical
and creative services to creators of special visual effects for feature films
and television. The Company provides services required to digitally create or
manipulate images in high resolution formats for integration into feature films.
These services include negative developing and color correction utilizing the
Company's film laboratory facilities, film scanning and recording and digital
compositing. The Company bundles its film services in order to lower the cost of
certain visual effects, improve response time and the consistency of results,
and to provide customers access to new technology. The Company's customer base
includes most of the major studios as well as independent visual effects
supervisors contracted by producers of feature films. Film operations are
conducted in Burbank and Santa Monica.
The Company's Effect Creation Process consists of the services outlined in
the chart below. While the Company markets these services as a package, service
offerings are available individually and priced separately.
The Effect Creation Process
Pre-Production Design Scanning Correction
Consulting --- Creation --- Recording --- Developing
Printing
Pre-Production and Principal Photography Consulting. Using a script
provided by the production company, the Company provides a written outline for
implementing the effects, time frame and preliminary effects budget. The Company
makes recommendations on how best to realize each visual effect, taking into
consideration the complexity of the desired effect, the production schedule and
budget. Even projects that would not normally be considered a special effect
feature will make use of digital techniques to create sets, backgrounds,
lighting, crowds and other effects. The Company creates story boards in order to
reach an understanding as to which elements will be shot and by whom prior to
principal photography. Upon request, the Company will provide a visual effects
supervisor to assist in the principal photography that will later be
incorporated in a digital effect. Often, the Company assembles a film crew to
shoot elements that are necessary to properly integrate a visual effect into a
particular scene.
Effect Design and Creation. In order to reduce costs and meet shorter
release schedules, the studios have recently begun reducing the amount of time
available for the Effect Creation Process from twelve months to four months.
This acceleration is often at odds with the responsibility of the visual effects
supervisor to
10
evaluate many effect alternatives before making a final selection. In order to
minimize costs, the Company first designs effects in low (i.e., video)
resolution. Once the design is approved, the Company creates visual effects in
high (i.e., film) resolution using powerful super computers, such as the
Domino(R) Double Four(R) and the Silicon Graphics(R) Onyx Reality Engine II(R).
The Domino(R) is used for high speed digital image creation, animation,
compositing, retouching, rotoscoping, motion and color correction. The Reality
Engine(R) runs a variety of software packages, including Inferno(R) by Discrete
Logic(R), which is capable of creating elaborate digital multi-plane matte
paintings and live action effect composites. The Company also employs other
Silicon Graphics(R) work stations to run specialized software, including
Alias(R), Soft Image(R) and Elastic Reality(R) for 3D animation applications.
Film Scanning and Recording. An integral part of the Effect Creation
Process is the digitizing of principal photography so that images can be created
or manipulated in a digital work station. The Company digitizes film on a film
scanner and transfers the digital information to a central file server where it
can be accessed by any of the Company's work stations. Once the effect is
completed and approved by the visual effects supervisor, the Company downloads
the digital information to a digital film recorder, which records the digital
information on film. The completed conversion can then be assembled with the
film negative.
Color Correction, Negative Developing and Prints. Throughout the Effect
Creation Process the visual effects supervisor relies upon the film laboratory
to process and print the visual effects segments so that they can be viewed in
film resolution. In preparing the final cut it is often difficult to integrate
the effect seamlessly with the principal photography on a timely or cost
efficient basis. The Company's film laboratory offers a proprietary color
correction process designed to give the visual effects supervisor more control
over the integration of the digitally created images with the principal
photography. The Company believes that it has the only visual effects operation
that offers this film laboratory quality control feature.
CUSTOMERS
The Company's customer base includes the major studios, independent owners
of television and film libraries, programmers, producers of original television
programming and creators of visual effects. As of August 3, 1997, the Company's
customer base included approximately 2,000 customer accounts. The Company is
committed to building and retaining a loyal customer base by providing a broad
range of service offerings, state-of-the-art equipment and technology, and
superior customer service at competitive prices.
The Company's ten largest customers accounted for 57.4% and 52.0% of total
revenues in fiscal 1996 and 1997, respectively. In addition, 29.5% and 38.8% of
the Company's revenues were generated by the six major domestic studios (Disney,
Universal, Sony Pictures, Viacom/Paramount, Warner Bros./Turner and Twentieth
Century Fox) in fiscal 1996 and 1997, respectively. MTV Asia accounted for
15%and 13% of the Company's revenues in fiscal 1996 and 1997, respectively. No
other customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company's revenues. The Company
believes that the increase in the percentage of its revenues generated by the
major studios reflects the expansion of services provided by each of the
Company's operating divisions together with greater customer acceptance of the
Company's ability to provide complete outsourcing solutions. Except for MTV
Asia, TVN and a limited number of other customers, none of the Company's
customers has a long-term contractual relationship with the Company whereby the
customer is obligated to purchase any specified level of services from the
Company.
In the Company's television and film divisions, customer relationships also
can be measured by the number and types of projects completed by the Company
during the production season. During the 1995-1996 television season, the
Company provided one or more services to 67 episodic television programs. In the
1996-1997 season, the Company is providing one or more services to 84 episodic
television programs. The Company believes that the increase in its television
customer base is the result of an increased volume of television production, the
construction of a new television facility in Burbank (which was completed in the
fourth quarter of fiscal 1997), the acquisition of the assets of Anderson Film
Industries, Inc., and significantly improved coordination between the Company's
television facilities. In fiscal 1995, 1996 and 1997, the Company provided one
or more services in the film division to 8, 13 and 18 feature film projects,
respectively.
11
The Company's standard credit term for customers is "Net 30 Days,"
although, in the Company's experience, the prevailing practice among major
studios and certain other customers is to pay outstanding accounts within
approximately 60 to 90 days. The Company reviews a customer's credit history and
establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon factors surrounding
the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends, and other information.
During August 1997, the Company amended its long term agreement for services
with TVN under which TVN agreed to repay $4.4 million in outstanding accounts
receivable for broadcast services over five years in monthly installments of
principal and interest (at 10.0% per annum) commencing in March 1998.
TECHNOLOGY
The Company purchases hardware and software developed and manufactured by
others and integrates various systems and technologies in a proprietary manner
to accomplish the objectives of customers. The integration of hardware and
software often requires the development of new proprietary systems and
infrastructure by the Company. From time to time, the Company forms strategic
alliances with hardware and software manufacturers to jointly develop a specific
application. Examples of informal strategic alliances involving joint
development projects include: (i) BTS(R) and NVision(R) component digital
routing systems; (ii) Snell & Wilcox, Alchemist(R), phase correlation standards
conversion equipment; (iii) Cintel URSA Gold(R) and URSA Diamond(R) technology
deployment for television and feature mastering applications; (iv) SeaChange(R)
file server based broadcast systems; and (v) Quantel, Inc.(R) Edit Box(R) and
Clip Box(R) file server and non-linear editing technology for episodic
television assembly.
During fiscal 1997 the Company substantially completed the deployment of
new component digital infrastructure in its Burbank television and studio
services operations. The Company believes that this infrastructure is state-of-
the-art and sets the industry standard for performance, efficiency and
reliability. The Company intends to upgrade its broadcast services operation in
Burbank to accommodate new digital technologies and convert the remaining analog
portions of the Company's television business to component digital as it becomes
technically and operationally feasible. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
COMPETITION
Los Angeles is the center of domestic television and feature film
production and the exploitation of content libraries. It is also the largest and
most competitive market in the world in terms of total revenue potential in the
Company's studio, television and visual effects business segments. The
entertainment services industry in Los Angeles is highly fragmented, and no
single industry participant, including the Company, has a dominant market share
in any service offering. The Company believes that it is unique, however, among
industry competitors in terms of the breadth of its operating divisions and the
depth of service offerings within each business segment.
The Company experiences intense competition in each of its business
segments. Although the Company believes no one competitor offers a comparable
range of services, some of the Company's current and potential competitors,
particularly those who perform services in-house, have substantially greater
financial, technical, creative, marketing and other resources than the Company.
The Company's competitors may devote substantially greater resources to the
development and marketing of new competitive services. The Company expects that
competition will increase substantially as a result of industry consolidations
and alliances, as well as the emergence of new competitors. The Company also
actively competes with industry participants operating niche or specialty
businesses. In addition, certain of the Company's current and prospective
customers conduct in-house operations that the Company considers competitive.
For example, Warner Bros., a major customer, conducts extensive in-house
operations in several of the Company's business segments. The Company believes
that all of its services offerings are competitive with in-house operations and
other independent service providers.
12
The Company entered the international broadcast market with the completion
of its Singapore facility in 1995, and it will seek to provide services to
domestic and foreign programmers in regional television markets in Asia and
abroad. The Company competes with local service providers that may have
competitive advantages resulting from their experience in the region, including
in Singapore and elsewhere in Asia, who have well established customer
relationships and business operations.
EMPLOYEES
The Company employs creative, technical, engineering, administrative and
managerial staff in each operating division. In addition, the Company has
centralized certain financial and administrative functions, including
accounting, credit, billing, payroll and human resources. As of August 3, 1997,
the Company had a total of 833 full time employees, of which 566 were located in
Burbank, 92 in Santa Monica, 92 in Universal City and 83 in Singapore.
The Company has entered into employment agreements with certain members of
its creative and managerial staff to secure their services. The Company believes
that it provides compensation and benefits that are competitive with the market
for persons with the skills required by the Company. The Company has experienced
no work stoppages since its formation in 1993, and considers its relations with
employees to be good.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
The Communications Act prohibits the operation of satellite earth station
facilities such as those operated by the Company, except under licenses issued
by the FCC. The Company holds three satellite earth station licenses and other
authorizations required for the operation of the Company's business. One of the
licenses is for a transportable earth station, which is granted for a period of
one year and has been routinely renewed. The FCC has adopted but not yet
implemented an order to extend the term for all such licenses to ten years. The
Company also holds two licenses for fixed earth stations, granted for a period
of ten years, which expire in 2001 and 2004. While the FCC generally renews
licenses for satellite earth stations routinely, there can be no assurance that
the Company's licenses will be renewed at their expiration dates, which could
have a material adverse effect on the Company.
No FCC authorization is required for reception of transmission from
domestic satellites from points within the United States. The Company relies on
third party licenses or authorizations when it transmits domestic satellite
traffic through earth stations operated by such third parties. The FCC
establishes technical standards for satellite transmission equipment which
change from time to time, and also requires coordination of earth stations with
land-based microwave systems at certain frequencies to assure noninterference.
Transmission equipment must also be installed and operated in a manner that
avoids exposing humans to harmful levels of radio-frequency radiation. The
placement of earth stations or other antennae is typically subject to regulation
under local zoning ordinances.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company's principal executive offices, together with its facilities for
domestic broadcast, television and studio services, are located in four
buildings in the Burbank Media District and one in Universal City (on the
Universal Studios lot). The Company leases four of these facilities, which in
the aggregate occupy approximately 110,000 square feet, under agreements with
terms expiring between January 1999 and March 2002, and options to renew
extending through October 2014. The Company's film division and a portion of its
television division are located in Santa Monica in a 30,000 square foot
facility, which is leased under an agreement that expires in October 1999 and
may be renewed at the Company's option through October 2004. The Company's film
laboratory is located in an 18,000 square foot facility in Burbank, and is owned
by the Company. In December 1996, the Company purchased a 90,000 square foot
facility in Burbank in which the Company occupies 45,000 square feet to house
its archive. The film laboratory services both the television and the studio
services divisions. The Company leases 20,000 square feet in Singapore to house
its Singapore
13
broadcast facility. The lease expires in December 1999, and may be renewed at
the Company's option through December 2001. The Company believes that its
facilities are adequate for its current needs and that additional space will be
available as needed for future expansion. The Company believes that all of its
facilities substantially comply with applicable laws and regulations.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is involved in a legal proceeding with the International
Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees ("IATSE"), the union which formerly
represented approximately 100 employees of a defunct company whose assets the
Company acquired in 1993. ATS Acquisition Corp., Inc. v. National Labor
Relations Board ("NLRB") Case No. 31-CA-20089, IATSE argued that the Company
should have bargained with it as a labor law "successor" following the sale of
Compact's assets to the Company in August 1993. The Company refused to bargain
with IATSE, contending that only a broad, company-wide bargaining unit was
appropriate. In a decision issued in July, 1996, the NLRB ordered the Company to
bargain with IATSE on a prospective basis with regard to certain of the Compact
bargaining unit employees. The Company has continued to express its disagreement
with this bargaining unit. Since the NLRB's orders are not self-executing, the
NLRB has sought enforcement of its order in the United States Court of Appeals.
The Company will continue to assert that only company-wide bargaining is
appropriate following a secret ballot election conducted among its employees.
The Company will fulfill its legal obligations if bargaining is eventually
ordered by the courts. However, the National Labor Relations Act does not
require a party to compromise its position in collective bargaining. Moreover,
the NLRB has confirmed the Company's position that it lawfully implemented its
own wages, benefits and working conditions when it acquired the assets owned by
Compact in 1993 and denied the union's request for back pay. The NLRB's
bargaining order, therefore, provides for no backpay liability to the Company.
In addition, the Company is subject from time to time to litigation arising
in the ordinary course of its business, and the Company believes that no such
litigation is pending (including the IATSE matters referred to above) that would
have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations or
financial condition.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matter was submitted to a vote of security holders of the Company during
the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended August 3, 1997.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Since the completion of the Company's initial public offering on February
7, 1997 the Company's Common Stock has been traded over-the-counter under the
Nasdaq symbol "FOUR" and reported on the Nasdaq National Market System. The
Company has not paid any dividends. At October 24, 1997 there were 66 holders of
record of the Company's common stock. The following table sets forth the high
and low sales prices as reported on the Nasdaq National Market System.
FISCAL QUARTER ENDED HIGH LOW
-------------------- ---- ---
May 4, 1997 10 1/2 5 1/4
August 3, 1997 8 5/8 5 7/8
14
ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial data for the
Company. The selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction
with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto and
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" included elsewhere in this document. The financial data presented
represents the historical consolidated operations of the Company.
FISCAL YEARS ENDED
----------------------------------------------
JULY 31, JULY 30, AUGUST 4, AUGUST 3,
1994 1995 1996 1997
---------- -------- ---------- ---------
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenues:
Studio..................................................... $15,746 $20,677 $23,468 $26,658
Broadcast.................................................. 10,876 16,163 20,901 23,694
Television................................................. 15,639 22,712 23,343 30,768
Film....................................................... -- 1,452 2,316 3,407
------- ------- ------- -------
Total revenues......................................... 42,261 61,004 70,028 84,527
------- ------- ------- -------
Cost of services:
Personnel.................................................. 17,096 22,795 25,344 31,804
Material................................................... 4,240 6,424 7,354 7,315
Facilities................................................. 3,774 3,917 4,692 5,128
Other...................................................... 3,752 5,560 6,021 8,937
------- ------- ------- -------
Total cost of services.................................. 28,862 38,696 43,411 53,184
------- ------- ------- -------
Gross profit........................................... 13,399 22,308 26,617 31,343
------- ------- ------- -------
Operating expenses:
Sales, general and administrative.......................... 7,627 10,918 11,116 12,899
Depreciation and amortization.............................. 3,284 6,241 10,165 13,175
------- ------- ------- -------
Total operating expenses................................ 10,911 17,159 21,281 26,074
------- ------- ------- -------
Income from operations................................. 2,488 5,149 5,336 5,269
Interest expense, net....................................... 1,253 2,917 3,906 3,887
------- ------- ------- -------
Income before income tax benefits...................... 1,235 2,232 1,430 1,382
Income tax benefits......................................... -- 988 994 --
------- ------- ------- -------
Net income............................................. $ 1,235 $ 3,220 $ 2,424 $ 1,382
======= ======= ======= =======
Net income per share........................................ $ .19 $ .50 $ .37 $ .16
======= ======= ======= =======
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding(1)..... 6,475 6,475 6,475 8,563
======= ======= ======= =======
OTHER DATA:
EBITDA(2)................................................... $ 5,772 $11,390 $15,501 $18,444
Net cash provided by operations............................. 3,047 4,588 9,387 7,908
Net cash used in investing activities....................... 7,877 30,902 10,318 40,142
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities......... 8,972 28,102 (410) 33,164
15
AS OF
--------------------------------------------
JULY 31, JULY 30, AUGUST 4, AUGUST 3,
1994 1995 1996 1997
-------- -------- --------- ---------
(in thousands)
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash, including restricted cash.................. $ 4,691 $ 7,368 $ 6,021 $ 6,769
Working capital.................................. 4,674 5,665 1,642 1,829
Total assets..................................... 32,982 71,780 81,827 132,237
Long-term debt................................... 20,924 38,472 42,978 54,633
Total debt(3).................................... 21,556 41,942 49,131 65,192
Total stockholders' equity....................... 6,245 19,617 22,143 49,738
- -------------------
(1) Weighted average number of common shares outstanding has been presented to
reflect retroactively the Company's reorganization and related stock
exchange with and stock dividend to its sole stockholder in October and
November 1996. See notes to the financial statements.
(2) EBITDA does not take into account normal capital expenditures and does not
represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP,
is not to be considered as an alternative to net income or any other GAAP
measurements as a measure of operating performance and is not indicative of
cash available to fund all cash needs. The Company's definition of EBITDA
may not be identical to similarly titled measures of other companies. The
Company believes that in addition to cash flows and net income, EBITDA is a
useful financial performance measurement for assessing the operating
performance of the Company because, together with net income and cash
flows, EBITDA widely is used to provide investors with an additional basis
to evaluate the ability of the Company to incur and service debt and to
fund acquisitions or invest in new technologies. To evaluate EBITDA and the
trends it depicts, the components of EBITDA, such as net revenues, cost of
services, and sales, general and administrative expenses, should be
considered. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations." A reconciliation of net income to
EBITDA is as follows:
FISCAL YEARS ENDED
------------------------------------------------
JULY 31, JULY 30, AUGUST 4, AUGUST 3,
1994 1995 1996 1997
---------- --------- ---------- ----------
(in thousands)
Net income...................... $1,235 $ 3,220 $ 2,424 $ 1,382
Add (deduct):
Interest expense, net........... 1,253 2,917 3,906 3,887
Income tax benefits............. -- (988) (994) --
Depreciation and amortization... 3,284 6,241 10,165 13,175
------ ------- ------- -------
EBITDA.......................... $5,772 $11,390 $15,501 $18,444
====== ======= ======= =======
(3) Includes current and long-term portions of (i) term loan facilities and a
revolving line of credit; (ii) equipment notes payable; (iii) capital lease
obligations; and (iv) a subordinated note due to a Company stockholder,
TSP.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
OVERVIEW
The Company is a leading provider of technical and creative services to
owners, producers and distributors of television programming, feature films and
other entertainment content. The Company's services integrate and apply a
variety of systems and processes to enhance the creation and distribution of
entertainment content. The Company seeks to capitalize on domestic and
international growth in demand for original entertainment content as well as
from the exploitation of existing television and film libraries without taking
production or ownership risk with respect to any specific television program,
feature film or other content.
The Company's business is divided into studio, broadcast, television and
film services. In each of its four business divisions, the Company offers most
of the systems and technical solutions that constitute the processes that are
integral to the creation, enhancement and distribution of entertainment content.
The studio services division, located in Burbank, California manages, formats
and distributes existing content libraries to end users in the United States and
internationally. The broadcast services division, located in Burbank and the
Republic of Singapore, assembles and distributes cable television channels and
programming via satellite to viewers in the
16
United States, Canada and Asia. The television services division, located in
Burbank and Santa Monica, California assembles film or video principal
photography into a form suitable for domestic network, syndicated, cable or
foreign television. The film services division, located in Santa Monica,
digitally creates and manipulates images in high resolution formats for use in
feature films. The following table sets forth revenues by business division and
the related percentage of consolidated revenues for the periods indicated.
FISCAL YEARS ENDED
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
JULY 30, 1995 AUGUST 4, 1996 AUGUST 3, 1997
--------------- -------------- --------------
PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE
AMOUNT OF TOTAL AMOUNT OF TOTAL AMOUNT OF TOTAL
-------- ---------- -------- ---------- -------- ----------
(dollars in thousands)
Revenues by division:
Studio.......................... $20,677 33.9% $23,468 33.5% $26,658 31.5%
Broadcast....................... 16,163 26.5 20,901 29.9 23,694 28.0
Television...................... 22,712 37.2 23,343 33.3 30,768 36.4
Film............................ 1,452 2.4 2,316 3.3 3,407 4.1
------- ----- ------- ----- ------- -----
Total revenues................. $61,004 100.0% $70,028 100.0% $84,527 100.0%
======= ===== ======= ===== ======= =====
Revenues increased from $61.0 million in fiscal 1995 to $84.5 million in
fiscal 1997. The Company attributes this growth to several factors including:
(i) an increase in demand for the Company's services resulting from the growth
in worldwide demand for entertainment content; (ii) an expansion of capacity
resulting from its extensive investment in new digital infrastructure; (iii)
successful acquisitions and international expansion; (iv) the diversification of
its service offerings; and (v) the increasing acceptance of its bundled service
outsourcing solutions.
EBITDA increased from $11.4 million in fiscal 1995 to $18.4 million in
fiscal 1997. The Company attributes this growth to several factors including:
(i) growth in revenues from fiscal 1995 to fiscal 1997; (ii) improvement in the
Company's gross profit resulting from the efficiency of its new Singapore
operations and new domestic infrastructure; and (iii) decrease in the ratio of
overhead and fixed costs to revenues, as the Company has generally increased
capacity utilization and decreased the cost of adding new capacity. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and the financial statements and the related notes thereto included
elsewhere in this Annual Report.
The Company believes that EBITDA is an important measure of its financial
performance. "EBITDA" is defined as earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization, excluding gains and losses on asset sales and
nonrecurring charges. The Company's investments in new infrastructure, machine
capacity and technology have produced a relatively high depreciation expense and
will remain a significant non-cash charge to earnings. It is the Company's
policy to depreciate equipment and other capitalized items over a period of
three to seven years. EBITDA is calculated before depreciation and amortization
charges and, in businesses with significant non-cash expenses, widely is used as
a measure of cash flow available to pay interest, repay debt, make acquisitions
or invest in capital equipment and new technologies. As a result, the Company
intends to report EBITDA as a measure of financial performance. EBITDA does not
represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and should not be considered in
isolation or as a substitute for other measures of performance prepared in
accordance with GAAP. EBITDA does not reflect that portion of the Company's
capital expenditures which may be required to maintain the Company's market
share, revenues and leadership position in its industry. Moreover, not all
EBITDA will be available to pay interest or repay debt. The Company's
presentation of EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures
reported by other companies. See footnote 2 of "Selected Financial Data".
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth the percentage of revenues represented by
certain items in the Company's statement of operations and EBITDA.
17
FISCAL YEARS ENDED
------------------
JULY 30, AUGUST 4, AUGUST 3,
-------- --------- ---------
1995 1996 1997
-------- --------- ---------
Revenues.............................. 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Cost of services:
Personnel............................ 37.4 36.2 37.6
Material............................. 10.5 10.5 8.6
Facilities........................... 6.4 6.7 6.1
Other................................ 9.1 8.6 10.6
----- ----- -----
Total cost of services.............. 63.4 62.0 62.9
----- ----- -----
Gross profit...................... 36.6 38.0 37.1
----- ----- -----
Operating expenses:
Sales, general and administrative.... 17.9 15.9 15.3
Depreciation and amortization........ 10.2 14.5 15.6
----- ----- -----
Total operating expenses............ 28.1 30.4 30.9
----- ----- -----
Income from operations............ 8.5 7.6 6.2
Interest expense, net................. 4.8 5.5 4.6
----- ----- -----
Income before income tax benefits. 3.7 2.1 1.6
Income tax benefits................... 1.6 1.4 --
----- ----- -----
Net income........................ 5.3% 3.5% 1.6%
===== ===== =====
EBITDA................................ 18.7% 22.1% 21.8%
FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 3, 1997 COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 4, 1996
Revenues. Total revenues for fiscal 1997 increased 20.7% to $84.5 million
compared to $70.0 million in fiscal 1996. The revenue increase was attributable
primarily to the factors set forth below.
Studio services revenues for fiscal 1997 increased 13.6% to $26.7 million
compared to $23.5 million in fiscal 1996. The revenue increase was primarily
attributable to an increase in film to tape conversion revenues (25.6%) and
professional duplication revenues (20.0%). These revenue increases were
partially offset by a 9.1% decline in film laboratory revenue, resulting from a
temporary decline in the backlog of restoration and preservation work provided
by the major studios. In addition, the Company substantially increased the
number of master videotape and film elements stored in its archive facility
during fiscal 1997. The archive provides capacity to store, manage and
distribute up to 400,000 master videotapes and film elements. The Company
estimates that approximately 85.0% of this capacity was utilized as of the end
of fiscal 1997 compared to 50% at the end of fiscal 1996. The Company will
continue to develop infrastructure and add machine capacity in response to
market demand and opportunities to fill unused archive capacity.
Broadcast services revenues for fiscal 1997 increased 13.4% to $23.7
million compared to $20.9 million in fiscal 1996. The revenue increase was
attributable to an increase in revenues generated by the Company's Singapore
operations (25.0%) resulting from increased utilization by MTV Asia, a short
term contract associated with the launch of MGM Gold in Asia and the successful
marketing of the Company's Singapore facilities to various clients during the
year. The Company's domestic broadcast revenues did not increase in fiscal 1997
due to the lack of cable channel capacity to support the introduction of new
cable channels. The Company believes that the introduction of compression
technology, deployment of digital set top boxes to cable households and the
transition from analog to digital delivery of cable programming to cable head-
ends will increase demand for the Company's domestic broadcast services.
Television services revenues for fiscal 1997 increased 32.2% to $30.8
million compared to $23.3 million in fiscal 1996. The revenue increase is
primarily attributable to the increasing market acceptance of the Company's
outsourcing solutions and the successful introduction of expanded capacity and
service offerings. The Company's new Burbank facilities became operational
during the fourth quarter and successfully introduced server based non-linear
broadcast quality editing capabilities.
18
Film services revenues for fiscal 1997 increased 47.8% to $3.4 million
compared to $2.3 million in fiscal 1996. Substantially all of the revenue
increase is attributable to increased computer generated imaging capacity for
three-dimensional animation ("3D") and the improved marketability of the
Company's digital compositing capacity when combined with new 3D capabilities.
Gross Profit. Gross profit for fiscal 1997 increased 17.7% to $31.3
million (37.1% of revenues) compared to $26.6 million (38.0% of revenues) in
fiscal 1996. The decline of 0.9% in the Company's gross profit percentage was
the result of increased staffing levels in the Company's television services
division in advance of the commencement of the 1997-1998 television season and
increased space segment costs in anticipation of increased demand for the
Company's syndication services provided by the broadcast division and offset by
material costs which declined 1.9% as a percentage of revenue.
Sales, General and Administrative Expenses. Sales, general and
administrative expenses for fiscal 1997 increased 16.2% to $12.9 million (15.3%
of revenues) compared to $11.1 million (15.9% of revenues) in fiscal 1996. The
improvement of 0.6% in sales, general and administrative expenses as a
percentage of revenues is a result of the Company's ability to leverage its
existing corporate overhead to manage expanded domestic and international
operations. The improvement in sales, general and administrative expenses as a
percentage of revenues would have been greater except that 1996 expenses
reflected an offset of $900,000 of insurance proceeds received.
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses. Depreciation and amortization
expenses for fiscal 1997 increased 29.4% to $13.2 million compared to $10.2
million in fiscal 1996. The increase was primarily the result of $27.7 million
in capital expenditures for equipment made during fiscal 1997, and the
acquisition of the equipment of Anderson Film Industries, Inc. for $8.6 million.
Interest Expense. Interest expense remained constant at $3.9 million in
both 1997 and 1996. Increased interest expenses associated with new borrowings
required to fund working capital and capital expenditures was offset by the
retirement of debt from the proceeds of the Company's initial public offering.
Income Tax Benefits. The Company did not recognize, for financial
accounting purposes, any tax benefit in fiscal 1997 compared to the recognition
of a $1.0 million tax benefit in fiscal 1996. Recognition of tax benefits in
fiscal 1996 resulted from the Company's profitability in its domestic operations
which made recognition of future tax deductions (arising from, among other
things, net operating loss carryforwards) more certain. In fiscal 1997, the
Company generated a domestic tax basis loss and as a result, no recognition of
tax benefit was reflected in 1997.
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization. EBITDA
for fiscal 1997 increased 18.7% to $18.4 million compared to $15.5 million in
fiscal 1996. The increase in EBITDA was a result of an increase in revenues and
gross profit and a reduction in sales, general and administrative expenses as a
percentage of revenues. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources" for a discussion
of net cash provided by operating activities for the period. See footnote 2 to
"Selected Financial Data" for a discussion of EBITDA generally.
FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 4, 1996 COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR ENDED JULY 30, 1995
Revenues. Total revenues for fiscal 1996 increased 14.8% to $70.0 million
compared to $61.0 million in fiscal 1995. The revenue increase was attributable
primarily to the factors set forth below.
Studio services revenues for fiscal 1996 increased 13.5% to $23.5 million
compared to $20.7 million in fiscal 1995. Professional duplication led the
growth in the studio services division during fiscal 1996, increasing 35.0%. The
Company responded to increased demand for its services by adding machine
capacity, upgrading technology, improving service reliability and completing a
new archive during the period.
19
Broadcast services revenues for fiscal 1996 increased 29.3% to $20.9
million compared to $16.2 million in fiscal 1995. The increase reflects the
inclusion of a full year of operating results of the Company's Singapore
operations and the expansion of such operations (fiscal 1996 revenues of $11.0
million compared to fiscal 1995 revenues of $4.0 million). The results of the
Singapore operations consist almost entirely of revenues under a long-term
contract with MTV Asia. Under the contract, the Company's revenues from MTV Asia
are scheduled to increase 4.0% per year over the remaining term of the contract.
The increase in Singapore partially was offset by a decline in domestic
broadcast revenues due to the expiration of a service agreement with the Disney
Channel in the second quarter of fiscal 1996, resulting in a decline in revenues
from this source of $1.8 million over the prior fiscal year.
Television services revenues for fiscal 1996 increased 2.8% to $23.3
million compared to $22.7 million in fiscal 1995. The increase was a result of
the inclusion of a full year of operating results of the Company's Santa Monica
operations (1996 revenues of $10.6 million compared to 1995 revenues of $8.9
million). This increase partially was offset by a reduction in revenues due to
the loss of key creative talent in sound mixing and editing and reduced capacity
utilization resulting from the inefficiencies associated with the continued
operation of analog equipment.
Film services revenues for fiscal 1996 increased 59.5% to $2.3 million
compared to $1.5 million in fiscal 1995. The revenue increase was the result of
an increase in the Company's high resolution digital image processing capacity
and increased sales and marketing activity. During fiscal 1996, the film
services division completed projects for a number of prominent customers
including New Line Cinema (18%), Sony Pictures Corporation (15%), Twentieth
Century Fox (13%) and Paramount (5%).
Gross Profit. Gross profit for fiscal 1996 increased 19.3% to $26.6
million (38.0% of revenues) compared to $22.3 million (36.6% of revenues) in
fiscal 1995. The improvement of 1.4% in the Company's gross profit percentage
was attributable primarily to the inclusion of a full year of operating results
of the Company's Singapore operations. This improvement partially was offset by
a reduction in the gross profit in the Company's television operations, and
costs associated with the start-up and operation of the Company's new archive
facility.
Sales, General and Administrative Expenses. Sales, general and
administrative expenses for fiscal 1996 increased 1.8% to $11.1 million (15.9%
of revenues) compared to $10.9 million (17.9% of revenues) in fiscal 1995. The
improvement of 2.0% in sales, general and administrative expenses as a
percentage of revenues is a result of relatively low sales, general and
administrative expenses associated with the Singapore operations and the
Company's ability to leverage its existing corporate overhead to manage expanded
domestic and international operations. In addition, insurance proceeds received,
which offset expenses incurred of $900,000, further reduced sales, general and
administrative expenses.
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses. Depreciation and amortization
expenses for fiscal 1996 increased 62.9% to $10.2 million compared to $6.2
million in fiscal 1995. The increase was primarily the result of $18.9 million
in capital expenditures made during fiscal 1996.
Interest Expense. Interest expense for fiscal 1996 increased 33.9% to
$3.9 million compared to $2.9 million in fiscal 1995. The increase was
attributable to additional long term borrowings incurred by the Company to fund
capital expenditures in fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996, including the construction
of its Singapore broadcast facility.
Income Tax Benefits. Income taxes for fiscal 1996 reflected the
recognition, for financial accounting purposes, of a $1.0 million tax benefit.
Recognition of this tax benefit accounted for 41% of the Company's net income in
fiscal 1996. Recognition of tax benefits in fiscal 1996 resulted from the
Company's profitability in its third year of operations which made recognition
of future tax deductions (arising from, among other things, net operating loss
carryforwards) more certain.
20
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization. EBITDA
for fiscal 1996 increased 35.9% to $15.5 million compared to $11.4 million in
fiscal 1995. The increase in EBITDA was a result of an increase in revenues, an
improvement in gross profit and a reduction in sales, general and administrative
expenses as a percentage of revenues. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources"
for a discussion of net cash provided by operating activities for the period.
See footnote 2 to "Selected Financial Data" for a discussion of EBITDA
generally.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities. The Company's net cash
provided by operating activities was $4.6 million, $9.4 million and $7.9 million
in fiscal 1995, 1996 and 1997, respectively. The reduction in net cash provided
by operations in fiscal 1997 was primarily attributable to an increase in
accounts receivable in the second half of the year. Accounts receivable
increased due to (i) the 20.0% increase in revenues, (ii) the acquisition of
Anderson Film Industries, Inc. and (iii) an increase in the concentration of
revenues with the major studios which increased the number of days in the
Company's collection cycle. The additional working capital required financing
was provided by the revolving credit facility.
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities. The Company's net cash
provided by (used in) financing activities was $28.1 million, ($0.4 million) and
$33.2 million in fiscal 1995, 1996 and 1997, respectively. The Company obtained
third-party financing in the form of term debt, equipment notes and capital
leases of $21.6 million, $11.5 million and $14.5 million in fiscal 1995, 1996
and 1997, respectively. In fiscal 1995 the Company issued subordinated notes of
$9.0 million to its then sole stockholder. In October 1996, the Company entered
into a $34.0 million loan agreement (as of August 3, 1997 the Company had
borrowed $22.5 million under this agreement of which $11.7 million was used to
repay then outstanding debt). In December 1996, the Company obtained an $8.4
million mortgage loan to finance the purchase of a 90,000 square foot building
located in Burbank. In March 1997, the Company received, net of expenses, $26.7
million from its initial public offering, of which $9.0 million was used to
repay subordinated debt.
Capital Expenditures. Since its formation in 1993 through fiscal 1997,
the Company has invested $94.4 million to convert its infrastructure from analog
to component digital, develop management information systems, consolidate
various operations, expand into the Asian market and create new businesses. The
Company's capital expenditures illustrate a systematic concentration of
infrastructure and equipment investment across each business division, with
57.9% of total capital expenditures in broadcast services in fiscal 1995, 62.6%
of total capital expenditures in television services in fiscal 1996 and 51.4% of
total capital expenditures in television services in fiscal 1997. The following
table sets forth capital expenditures in each business division as well as
capital expenditures associated with new management information systems and real
estate purchases by amount and percentage of total capital expenditures for the
periods indicated.
21
FISCAL YEARS ENDED
------------------
JULY 30, 1995(1) AUGUST 4, 1996 AUGUST 3, 1997
---------------- -------------- --------------
PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE
AMOUNT OF TOTAL AMOUNT OF TOTAL AMOUNT OF TOTAL
------- ---------- ------- ---------- ------- ----------
(dollars in thousands)
Capital expenditures(2):
Studio.................................. $ 5,072 16.7% $ 3,175 16.8% $ 7,812 16.2%
Broadcast............................... 17,521 57.9 2,411 12.7 2,215 4.6
Television.............................. 3,291 10.9 11,853 62.6 24,745 51.4
Film.................................... 2,525 8.3 413 2.2 774 1.6
Management information systems.......... 1,878 6.2 1,084 5.7 822 1.7
Land and building....................... -- -- -- -- 11,811 24.5
------- ----- ------- ----- ------- -----
Total capital expenditures........... $30,287 100.0% $18,936 100.0% $48,179 100.0%
======= ===== ======= ===== ======= =====
(1) Reflects $1.1 million of organization costs for 4MC Asia.
(2) Does not include the net assets written off pertaining to the January
1994 earthquake of $1.9 million and $567,000 for the fiscal years
ended July 30, 1995 and August 4, 1996, respectively.
The Company completed its new television services facility in the
fourth quarter of fiscal 1997. The Company believes that, having completed that
facility, it has accomplished substantially all of the major infrastructure
upgrades required to convert its existing facilities from analog to digital,
except for an estimated $15.0 million in infrastructure upgrades to be completed
over the next two years for domestic broadcast and television sound facilities.
The Company's digital infrastructure facilitates the exploitation of business
opportunities in existing and new markets. In addition, the Company believes
that its infrastructure investments substantially reduce the risk of
technological obsolescence.
Substantially all of the Company's software and computer systems are Year
2000 compliant. Software and computer systems not currently Year 2000 compliant
will be upgraded to be Year 2000 compliant condition in fiscal 1998 under
existing maintenance agreements.
Credit Agreements and Other Indebtedness. In October 1996, the Company
entered into a loan agreement with The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc. and The
CIT Group/Equipment Financing, Inc. (the "CIT Facility") which provides for
secured revolving and term loan facilities of up to $34.0 million to 4MC Burbank
and DMC guaranteed by the Company. The agreement provides for three separate
loan facilities: (i) a $16.0 million term loan, which bears interest at a rate
of LIBOR plus 2.75% or Prime plus .75%, at the Company's option and is payable
in 84 monthly principal payments commencing November 1997; (ii) an $11.0 million
revolving line of credit which bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.5% or
Prime plus .50%, at the Company's option; and (iii) a $7.0 million capital
expenditure line of credit which bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.75% or
Prime plus .75%, at the Company's option and is payable in 60 equal monthly
installments commencing the month after funding. The Company may, at its option,
elect a fixed interest rate for the term loan at the treasury rate (applicable
for the remaining term of the loan) plus 3.35%. Total availability under the
revolving line of credit is subject to certain limitations related to the amount
of 4MC Burbank's and DMC's accounts receivable and inventory. At August 3, 1997,
the Company had borrowed approximately $5.3 million under this revolving line of
credit, and had additional availability of approximately $2.7 million.
The obligations of 4MC Burbank and DMC under the CIT Facility are secured
by substantially all of the assets of 4MC Burbank and DMC. The obligations are
also guaranteed by the Company and secured by a pledge of the capital stock of
4MC Burbank and DMC. The CIT Facility contains restrictive covenants that, among
other things, and with certain exceptions, limit the ability of 4MC Burbank and
DMC to pay dividends or make other distributions to the Company or to incur
additional indebtedness. 4MC Burbank and DMC also are required to satisfy
certain financial covenants and tests, including the maintenance of minimum net
worth, working capital, fixed charge coverage ratios and leverage ratios. The
Company is in compliance with all such covenants.
22
In February 1995, 4MC Asia borrowed $16.9 million Singapore dollars ($11.5
million U.S. dollars as of August 3, 1997) under a term loan facility with the
Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited ("HKSB") to fund the
construction of its Singapore broadcast facility. The term loan bears interest
at an annual rate equal to the HKSB prime rate plus 1.25% and is payable in 60
monthly installments commencing April 1997. The term loan is secured by
substantially all of the assets of 4MC Asia and is guaranteed by the Company.
The term loan facility contains restrictive covenants that, among other things,
will prohibit 4MC Asia from incurring additional indebtedness. Distributions to
the Company are limited by certain debt and equity ratios. The term loan also
provides that, through April 15, 2000, any decrease in the aggregate beneficial
shareholdings of Messrs. Walston, Donlon, Sabin, Schutz and Bailey below 15% of
the Company's shares outstanding shall constitute an event of default and may
result in acceleration of any outstanding amounts. The term loan will become due
and payable, at the option of HKSB, upon the termination of 4MC Asia's contract
with MTV Asia or the occurrence of certain other events of default. The Company
is in compliance with all HKSB loan covenants.
The Company has entered into various capital lease and equipment notes
related to the purchase of equipment. As of August 4, 1996 and August 3, 1997,
the Company's total obligations under capital leases and outstanding equipment
notes were $18.5 million and $25.0 million, respectively. These notes are due at
various times through 2004 and bear interest at rates of 8.3% to 13.0%. The
capital lease and equipment notes are collateralized by the assets acquired
under such leases and notes.
In December 1996, the Company purchased a 90,000 square foot building in
Burbank. Prior to the purchase, the Company subleased 45,000 square feet for use
as its archive facility. The additional 45,000 square feet is subleased by an
outside tenant through 1999. The purchase price was $11.3 million, of which $8.4
million was borrowed under a term loan agreement with the Tokai Bank of
California and the balance was paid from cash. The term loan provides for
monthly principal payments over a period of 84 months and a final payment at
maturity in December 2003. The term loan is collateralized by the building and
any improvements thereon and is guaranteed by 4MC Burbank and DMC. The term loan
bears interest at the lender's prime rate plus 1% or LIBOR plus 2.25%, at the
Company's option.
The Company believes that the cash flow from operations combined with
amounts available under the CIT Facility, and other borrowing capabilities of
the Company, will be sufficient to meet its anticipated working capital and
capital expenditure requirements through the end of 1998. The Company would have
to obtain other financing, either debt or equity, if it were to acquire
additional businesses for cash. Management has had discussions with numerous
funding sources, and believes the Company would be able to obtain the necessary
financing.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Substantially all of 4MC Asia's transactions are denominated in Singapore
dollars, including its bank borrowings. Although 4MC Asia is not subject to
foreign exchange transaction gains or losses, its financial statements are
translated into United States dollars as part of the Company's consolidated
financial reporting. Fluctuations in the exchange rate therefore will affect the
Company's consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations. Until
recently the Singapore dollar has been stable relative to the United States
dollar. However, between June and October 1997 the Singapore dollar has lost
approximately 9% of its value relative to the U.S. dollar.
QUARTERLY FLUCTUATIONS
The Company has experienced significant quarterly fluctuations in operating
results and anticipates that these fluctuations will continue. These
fluctuations have been caused by a number of factors, including: (i) with
respect to the Company's studio services division, seasonal and sometimes
fluctuating demand for programming by international broadcasters and other
content buyers, increased labor costs and uneven capacity utilization due
23
to delays caused by factors outside the Company's control (for example, changes
in customers' production schedules), and unanticipated production downtime due
to equipment failure, work stoppages or the absence of key personnel; (ii) with
respect to the Company's broadcast services division, the expiration of month-
to-month service contracts, the unpredictable use of the Company's facilities
for the broadcast of news stories and special events, and the inability of the
Company to remarket its unused transponder capacity consistently; (iii) with
respect to the Company's television services division, the unpredictability of
television production schedules; and (iv) with respect to the Company's film
services division, the absorption by the Company of cost overruns in fixed price
contracts and delays in meeting completion deadlines (for reasons other than the
fault of the Company). The Company therefore believes that quarter-to-quarter
comparisons of its results of operations are not necessarily meaningful and
should not be relied upon as indications of future performance.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 128, "Earnings Per Share." SFAS No.
128 supersedes and simplifies the existing computational guidelines under
Accounting Principals Board Opinion No. 15, "Earnings Per Share." It is
effective for financial statements issued for periods ending after December 15,
1997. Among other changes, SFAS No. 128 eliminates the presentation of primary
EPS and replaces it with basic EPS for which common stock equivalents are not
considered in the computation. It also revised the computation of diluted EPS.
It is not expected that the adoption of SFAS No. 128 will have a material impact
on the earnings per share results reported by the Company under the Company's
current capital structure.
In June 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive
Income". The standard establishes guidelines for the reporting and display of
comprehensive income and its components in financial statements. Comprehensive
income includes items such as foreign currency translation adjustments and
adjustments to the minimum pension liability that are currently presented as a
component of shareholders' equity. The Company will be required to report total
comprehensive income for interim periods beginning first fiscal quarter of 1999.
Disclosure of comprehensive income and its components will be required beginning
fiscal year end 1999.
In June 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures About Segments of
an Enterprise and Related Information". The standard requires that companies
disclose "operating segments" based on the way management disaggregates the
company for making internal operating decisions. The new rules will be effective
for the 1999 fiscal year. Abbreviated quarterly disclosure will be required
beginning first quarter of 1999, with both 1999 and 1998 information. The
Company does not believe that the new standard will have a material impact on
the reporting of its segments.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The Financial Statements required to be filed hereunder are set forth on
pages 26 to 45 of this report.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None
PART III
ITEMS 10, 11, 12 AND 13
The information required by Items 10, 11, 12 and 13 is hereby incorporated
by reference from the Registrant's definitive proxy statement for the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders to be held on January 15, 1998 which relates to the
election of directors and which will be filed with the Commission within 120
days after the close of the Company's fiscal year.
24
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
The following documents are filed as a part of this Report:
(a) The Financial Statements required to be filed hereunder are listed in
the index to the Financial Statements and Supplementary Data on page
26 of this report.
(b) The Exhibits required to be filed hereunder are listed in the exhibit
index included herein at page 46.
(c) The Registrant did not file any reports on Form 8-K during the last
quarter of its fiscal year ended August 3, 1997.
25
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Accountants................................................................. 27
Consolidated Balance Sheets at August 4, 1996 and August 3, 1997.................................. 28
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal years ended July 30, 1995,
August 4, 1996 and August 3, 1997............................................................... 29
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the fiscal years July 30, 1995,
August 4, 1996 and August 3, 1997............................................................... 30
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended July 30, 1995,
August 4, 1996 and August 3, 1997............................................................... 31
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements........................................................ 32
26
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Board of Directors
Four Media Company
Burbank, California
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Four Media
Company (the "Company") as of August 4, 1996 and August 3, 1997, and the
related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash
flows for each of the three fiscal years in the periods ended July 30, 1995,
August 4, 1996 and August 3, 1997. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of
Four Media Company as of August 4, 1996 and August 3, 1997, and the consolidated
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three fiscal
years in the periods ended July 30, 1995, August 4, 1996 and August 3, 1997, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
Los Angeles, California
October 6, 1997
27
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
AUGUST 4, AUGUST 3,
1996 1997
------------ ----------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash................................................................................................ $ 5,312 $ 6,089
Restricted cash..................................................................................... 709 680
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of
$823 and $1,873 as of August 4, 1996 and August 3, 1997, respectively............................. 8,622 18,755
Inventory........................................................................................... 867 952
Prepaid expenses and other current assets........................................................... 2,838 3,219
------- --------
Total current assets............................................................................... 18,348 29,695
Property, plant and equipment, net................................................................... 57,665 93,672
Deferred taxes....................................................................................... 2,000 2,000
Long-term receivable................................................................................. 2,008 4,067
Other assets......................................................................................... 1,806 2,803
------- --------
Total assets....................................................................................... $81,827 $132,237
======= ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations.................................. $ 6,153 $ 10,559
Accounts payable.................................................................................... 5,803 11,080
Accrued and other liabilities....................................................................... 4,750 6,227
------- --------
Total current liabilities.......................................................................... 16,706 27,866
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations......................................................... 33,978 54,633
Subordinated debt, due to stockholder................................................................ 9,000 --
------- --------
Total liabilities.................................................................................. 59,684 82,499
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized,
no shares issued and outstanding.................................................................. -- --
Common stock, $.01 par value; 1,000 shares authorized, issued
and outstanding at August 4, 1996................................................................. -- --
Common stock, $.01 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized,
9,552,502 shares issued and outstanding at August 3, 1997......................................... -- 96
Additional paid-in capital.......................................................................... 15,010 41,650
Foreign currency translation adjustment............................................................. 254 (269)
Retained earnings................................................................................... 6,879 8,261
------- --------
Total stockholders' equity......................................................................... 22,143 49,738
------- --------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity......................................................... $81,827 $132,237
======= ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
28
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
FISCAL YEAR ENDING
------------------------------------
JULY 30, AUGUST 4, AUGUST 3,
1995 1996 1997
---------- ---------- ----------
Revenues:
Studio....................................... $20,677 $23,468 $26,658
Broadcast.................................... 16,163 20,901 23,694
Television................................... 22,712 23,343 30,768
Film......................................... 1,452 2,316 3,407
------- ------- -------
Total revenues.............................. 61,004 70,028 84,527
------- ------- -------
Cost of services:
Personnel.................................... 22,795 25,344 31,804
Material..................................... 6,424 7,354 7,315
Facilities................................... 3,917 4,692 5,128
Other........................................ 5,560 6,021 8,937
------- ------- -------
Total cost of services...................... 38,696 43,411 53,184
------- ------- -------
Gross profit............................... 22,308 26,617 31,343
------- ------- -------
Operating expenses:
Sales, general and administrative............ 10,918 11,116 12,899
Depreciation and amortization................ 6,241 10,165 13,175
------- ------- -------
Total operating expenses.................... 17,159 21,281 26,074
------- ------- -------
Income from operations..................... 5,149 5,336 5,269
Interest expense, net......................... 2,917 3,906 3,887
------- ------- -------
Income before income tax benefits.......... 2,232 1,430 1,382
Income tax benefits........................... 988 994 --
------- ------- -------
Net income................................. $ 3,220 $ 2,424 $ 1,382
======= ======= =======
Net income per share.......................... $.50 $.37 $.16
======= ======= =======
Weighted average number of common shares
outstanding.................................. 6,475 6,475 8,563
======= ======= =======
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
29
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(IN THOUSANDS)
FOREIGN
COMMON STOCK ADDITIONAL CURRENCY TOTAL
-------------------- PAID-IN TRANSLATION RETAINED STOCKHOLDERS'
SHARES AMOUNT CAPITAL ADJUSTMENT EARNINGS EQUITY
-------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- -------------
Balance, July 31, 1994........................... 1 $-- $ 5,010 $ -- $1,235 $ 6,245
Stockholder subordinated debt conversion......... 10,000 10,000
Foreign currency translation adjustments......... 152 152
Net income....................................... 3,220 3,220
----- --- ------- ----- ------ -------
Balance, July 30, 1995........................... 1 -- 15,010 152 4,455 19,617
Net income....................................... 102 102
Foreign currency translation adjustments......... 2,424 2,424
----- --- ------- ----- ------ -------
Balance, August 4, 1996.......................... 1 -- 15,010 254 6,879 22,143
Reorganization and stock dividend................ 6,474 65 (65)
Issuance of common stock......................... 3,078 31 26,704 26,736
Foreign currency translation adjustments......... (523) (523)
Net income....................................... 1,382 1,382
----- --- ------- ----- ------ -------
Balance, August 3, 1997.......................... 9,553 $96 $41,650 $(269) $8,261 $49,738
===== === ======= ===== ====== =======
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
30
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)
JULY 30, AUGUST 4, AUGUST 3,
1995 1996 1997
------------- ------------- -------------
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income........................................................... $ 3,220 $ 2,424 $ 1,382
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization....................................... 6,241 10,165 13,175
Provision for doubtful accounts..................................... 215 580 871
Deferred taxes...................................................... (1,000) (1,000) --
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash............................ (717) 8 --
Increase in trade and long term receivables....................... (4,644) (1,469) (11,305)
(Increase) decrease in inventory.................................. (277) (172) --
Increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets............. (606) (1,289) (1,796)
Increase in accounts payable...................................... 3,148 792 5,277
Increase (decrease) in accrued and other liabilities.............. (992) (652) 304
-------- -------- --------
Net cash provided by operating activities........................ 4,588 9,387 7,908
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment........................... (25,077) (10,318) (30,720)
Organization costs for 4MC Asia...................................... (1,066) -- --
Acquisition of business.............................................. (4,759) -- (9,422)
-------- -------- --------
Net cash used in investing activities............................ (30,902) (10,318) (40,142)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from public offering........................................ -- -- 26,736
Proceeds from mortgage loan.......................................... -- -- 8,400
Proceeds from subordinated promissory note........................... 10,600 -- --
Proceeds from term loans............................................. 12,070 -- 16,000
Proceeds from revolving credit facility.............................. -- -- 5,287
Proceeds from term loan financing of acquisition..................... 3,542 -- --
Proceeds from equipment notes........................................ 3,723 3,685 4,583
Repayment of equipment notes and capital lease obligations........... (1,833) (4,095) (27,841)
-------- -------- --------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities.............. 28,102 (410) 33,164
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash............................... 172 2 (153)
-------- -------- --------
Net increase (decrease) in cash....................................... 1,960 (1,339) 777
Cash at beginning of year............................................. 4,691 6,651 5,312
-------- -------- --------
Cash at end of year................................................... $ 6,651 $ 5,312 $ 6,089
======== ======== ========
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the fiscal year for:
Interest............................................................ $ 3,664 $ 3,406 $ 4,305
Income taxes........................................................ -- -- --
Non cash investing and financing activities:
Capital lease obligations incurred.................................. $ 2,284 $ 7,851 $ 9,915
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
31
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. BUSINESS, ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Four Media Company (the "Company") is a provider of technical and
creative services to owners, producers and distributors of television
programming, feature films and other entertainment content. The Company's
services integrate and apply a variety of systems and processes to enhance the
creation and distribution of entertainment content.
While the Company believes that it operates in one business segment, which
is providing services to the entertainment industry, the Company has organized
its activities into four divisions: studio, broadcast, television and film
services. The studio services division located in Burbank and Universal City,
California, manages, formats and distributes content worldwide. The broadcast
services division, located in Burbank and the Republic of Singapore, assembles
and distributes television networks and programming via satellite to viewers in
the United States, Canada and Asia. The television services division, located in
Burbank, Universal City, and Santa Monica, California, assembles film or video
principal photography into a form suitable for network, syndicated, cable or
foreign television. The film services division, located in Santa Monica,
digitally creates and manipulates images in high-resolution formats for use in
feature films.
On October 17, 1996, the Company completed a reorganization (the
"Reorganization") which for accounting purposes was accounted for as of
September 29, 1996. Under the terms of the Reorganization which was accounted
for in a manner similar to a pooling of interests, the Company issued 5,900,000
shares of its common stock on October 17, 1996 to TSP (defined below) in
exchange for 1,000 shares of 4MC-Burbank, Inc. common stock, representing 100%
of the issued and outstanding shares of the corporation and 4MC-Burbank became a
wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. In conjunction with the Reorganization,
4MC-Burbank's interests in its wholly owned subsidiaries, DMC and 4MC Asia were
transferred to the Company in the form of a dividend distribution. Unless
otherwise specified, all references to "the Company" refer to Four Media Company
as of October 17, 1996, and 4MC-Burbank prior to October 17, 1996. The purpose
of the Reorganization was to facilitate future financing transactions and
acquisitions.
On February 7, 1997, the Company completed an initial public offering of
5,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 3,077,502 shares were sold by the
Company and 1,922,498 shares were sold by TSP (defined below), as the selling
stockholder. The offering generated approximately $26.7 million of proceeds to
the Company, net of underwriting discount and related expenses.
The Company was incorporated in July 1993 as a wholly owned subsidiary of
Technical Services Partners, L.P. ("TSP"), a limited partnership formed for
the purpose of acquiring certain defined net assets of Compact Video Group,
Inc., Compact Video Services, Inc., Image Transform, Inc. and Meridian Studios,
Inc. (collectively "Compact").
On October 26, 1994, 4MC Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of
the Company, acquired substantially all of the assets of Digital Magic and
Transfer Company ("DM&T") for a purchase price of $50,000 in cash. The
acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. The
purchase price was allocated, at fair value, to current assets of $1,001,000,
property, plant, and equipment of $6,639,000, and included $4,048,000 in assumed
liabilities and acquisition costs, and $3,542,000 in equipment notes. Subsequent
to this acquisition, 4MC Acquisition Corp. changed its name to Digital Magic
Company ("DMC").
On February 13, 1995, Four Media Company Asia PTE Ltd. ("4MC Asia"), a
wholly owned subsidiary of the Company registered in the Republic of Singapore,
entered into an agreement with a customer to provide production, post production
and network origination services. The agreement has a seven year term and
provides for early termination by the customer after five years by paying a fee,
as defined in the agreement, not to exceed $3,500,000.
32
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
1. BUSINESS, ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION, CONTINUED
On March 10, 1997, AV Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company, acquired substantially all of the assets of Anderson Film Industries
Corp and Anderson Graphics, LLC. (collectively, "Anderson"). The acquisition
was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. The purchase price
was allocated at a fair value to current assets of $1.8 million and property,
plant and equipment of $8.7 million. The total transaction cost was $10.5
million, comprised of $7.7 million in payments to secured and unsecured
creditors, $.9 million in assumed capital lease obligations and $1.9 million in
transaction costs. Subsequent to this transaction, AV Acquisition Corp. changed
its name to Anderson Video Company.
Results of operations include the 52 weeks ended July 30, 1995, the 53
weeks ended August 4, 1996 and the 52 weeks ended August 3, 1997.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements
include the accounts of Four Media Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries,
4MC-Burbank, Anderson Video Company., DMC and 4MC Asia. All intercompany
accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Revenue Recognition. Revenues are recognized when a product is shipped or
a service is provided.
Foreign Currency Translation. All balance sheet accounts of 4MC Asia are
translated at the current exchange rate as of the end of the year. Statement of
operation items are translated at average currency exchange rates. The resulting
translation adjustment is recorded as a separate component of stockholders'
equity. The functional currency in which 4MC Asia transacts business is the
Singapore dollar. Transaction gains and losses included in operations were not
significant in fiscal 1995, 1996 or 1997.
Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Statement of Cash Flows classifies changes
in cash and cash equivalents (short-term, highly liquid investments readily
convertible into cash with an original maturity of three months or less at the
date of purchase) according to operating, investing or financing activities. At
times, cash balances may be in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
insurance limits.
Inventory. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-
out) or market, and are comprised of raw materials and supplies.
Property, Plant and Equipment. Property, plant and equipment acquired
from Compact, DM&T and Anderson and were recorded at their acquisition cost
which resulted in a reduction of their historical carrying value in accordance
with Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 16. Additions to property,
plant and equipment subsequent to the date of acquisition are recorded at cost.
When properties are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related
accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and the resulting gain
or loss is credited or charged to operations. The policy of the Company is to
charge amounts expended for maintenance and repairs to current year expense and
to capitalize expenditures for major replacements and betterments.
33
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, CONTINUED
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation of property, plant and
equipment is computed by use of the straight-line method based on the estimated
useful lives of 3 to 7 years of the respective assets, except for leasehold
improvements, which are amortized using the straight-line method over the life
of the improvement or the length of the lease, whichever is shorter.
Amortization of assets recorded under capital leases is based on the term of the
lease. Interest costs incurred during construction totaling $490,000, $142,000
and $1,229,000 were capitalized for the years ended July 30, 1995, August 4,
1996 and August 3, 1997 respectively, and are being amortized over the related
assets estimated useful lives.
Other Assets. Other assets include costs incurred by 4MC Asia prior to
the commencement of operations and a lease interest associated with the
acquisition of the assets of DM&T. These assets are amortized on the straight-
line method over five to seven years. Other assets also include software
development costs. The Company capitalizes internal software development costs
when technological feasibility has been established. Capitalization ends when
the software is put into service. Amortization of software development costs is
computed by use of the straight-line method over three years.
Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements is in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and requires management
to make estimates and assumptions for the reporting period and as of the
financial statement date. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results
could differ from those estimates.
Long Lived Assets. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS")
No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived
Assets to be Disposed Of" requires that long-lived assets and certain
identifiable intangibles to be held and used or disposed of by an entity be
reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate
that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. During 1997, the
Company adopted this statement and determined that no impairment loss need be
recognized for applicable assets of continuing operations.
Stock Based Compensation. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" ("SFAS No. 123") encourages,
but does not require companies to record compensation cost for stock-based
employee compensation plans at fair value. The Company has chosen to continue
to account for stock-based compensation using the intrinsic value method
prescribed in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees," and related interpretations. Accordingly, compensation
cost for stock options is measured as the excess, if any, of the quoted market
price of the Company's stock at the date of the grant over the amount an
employee must pay to acquire the stock.
Fair Values of Financial Instruments. SFAS No. 107 "Disclosure About Fair
Value of Financial Instruments" ("SFAS No. 107"), requires disclosure of fair
value information about most financial instruments both on and off the balance
sheet, if it is practicable to estimate. SFAS No. 107 excludes certain financial
instruments such as certain insurance contracts and all non-financial
instruments from its disclosure requirements. A financial instrument is defined
as a contractual obligation that ultimately ends with the delivery of cash or an
ownership interest in an entity. Disclosure regarding the fair value of
financial instruments is derived using external market sources, estimates using
present value or other valuation techniques. Cash, accounts receivable, accounts
payable, accrued and other liabilities and short-term revolving credit
agreements and variable rate long-term debt instruments approximate their fair
value.
34
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, CONTINUED
Advertising. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and included in
sales, general and administrative expenses. Advertising expenses amounted to
$476,000, $287,000 and $225,000 in the years ended July 30, 1995, August 4, 1996
and August 3, 1997, respectively.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards. In February 1997, the Financial
Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(SFAS) No. 128, "Earnings Per Share." SFAS No. 128 supersedes and simplifies
the existing computational guidelines under Accounting Principals Board Opinion
No. 15, "Earnings Per Share." It is effective for financial statements issued
for periods ending after December 15, 1997. Among other changes, SFAS No. 128
eliminates the presentation of primary EPS and replaces it with basic EPS for
which common stock equivalents are not considered in the computation. It also
revised the computation of diluted EPS. It is not expected that the adoption of
SFAS No. 128 will have a material impact on the earnings per share results
reported by the Company under the Company's current capital structure.
In June 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive
Income". The standard establishes guidelines for the reporting and display of
comprehensive income and its components in financial statements. Comprehensive
income includes items such as foreign currency translation adjustments and
adjustments to the minimum pension liability that are currently presented as a
component of shareholders' equity. The Company will be required to report total
comprehensive income for interim periods beginning first fiscal quarter of 1999.
Disclosure of comprehensive income and its components will be required beginning
fiscal year end 1999.
In June 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures About Segments of
an Enterprise and Related Information". The standard requires that companies
disclose "operating segments" based on the way management disaggregates the
company for making internal operating decisions. The new rules will be effective
for the 1999 fiscal year. Abbreviated quarterly disclosure will be required
beginning first quarter of 1999, with both 1999 and 1998 information. The
Company does not believe that the new standard will have a material impact on
the reporting of its segments.
3. BUSINESS AND CREDIT CONCENTRATIONS
The Company grants credit to its customers, substantially all of whom are
participants in the entertainment industry. The Company reviews a customer's
credit history before extending credit. The Company establishes an allowance for
doubtful accounts based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific
customers, historical trends, and other information. For the fiscal year ended
August 4, 1996 one customer accounted for 10% of the Company's domestic sales
and 12% of net accounts receivable. For the fiscal years ended July 30, 1995 and
August 3, 1997 no single customer accounted for a significant amount of the
Company's domestic sales. During the fiscal year ended August 4, 1996, the
Company entered into a long term agreement for services with a customer and as a
part of the agreement the Company deferred payment in the amount of $3,300,000.
This amount was payable over three years in monthly installments of principal
and interest at 8%. In August 1997, based in part upon significant equity
financing obtained by this customer, the Company revised this agreement to cover
all outstanding amounts due from this customer at year end. This agreement
required payment of $2,300,000 within 30 days plus sixty monthly payments of
$98,972 commencing March 1998. The Company has received the $2,300,000. The new
obligation is for approximately $4,400,000 and the monthly payments include
interest at 10% per annum. There can be no assurance that this customer
ultimately will repay all outstanding amounts due to the Company. Principal
payments expected after July 1998 have been reflected as a non-current asset.
The Company will recognize interest income as received on a cash basis only. No
allowance related to this obligation has been recorded by the Company.
35
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
3. BUSINESS AND CREDIT CONCENTRATIONS, CONTINUED
Approximately 7%, 16% and 16% of the Company's revenues for the years ended
July 30, 1995, August 4, 1996 and August 3, 1997 respectively, related to 4MC
Asia. For the year ended August 3, 1997, 78% of 4MC Asia revenues and 13% of the
Company's consolidated total revenues were generated by one customer. This
customer accounted for 3% of the Company's consolidated net accounts receivable
at August 3, 1997. For the year ended August 4, 1996, 97% of 4MC Asia revenues
and 15% of the Company's consolidated total revenues were generated by one
customer. This customer accounted for 5% of the Company's consolidated net
accounts receivable at August 4, 1996.
4. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
The following is a summary of property, plant and equipment (in thousands):
AUGUST 4, AUGUST 3,
1996 1997
--------- -----------
Land............................................................. $ 925 $ 8,950
Buildings and building improvements.............................. 4,689 8,475
Machinery and equipment.......................................... 62,399 94,832
------- --------
68,013 112,257
Less, accumulated depreciation and amortization.................. 18,717 30,889
------- --------
49,296 81,368
Construction in progress......................................... 8,369 12,304
------- --------
Property, plant and equipment, net............................. $57,665 $ 93,672
======= ========
Included above is property and equipment under capital leases of:
Machinery and equipment........................................ 11,856 20,559
Less, accumulated amortization................................. 1,756 4,754
------- --------
Machinery and equipment under capital leases, net.............. $10,100 $ 15,805
======= ========
During the fiscal years ended July 30, 1995, August 4, 1996 and August 3,
1997 the Company expensed maintenance, repairs and spare parts in amounts of
$1,889,000, $1,795,000 and $1,831,000 respectively.
During the year ended August 4, 1996, the Company settled its claim arising
from the January 17, 1994 earthquake for $4,093,000. Of this amount $2,333,000
was received as partial settlement during the year ended July 30, 1995 and the
remainder amounting to $1,760,000 was received in the 1996 fiscal year.
Insurance proceeds in excess of the net book value of destroyed assets and
repair costs of damaged assets were approximately $1,098,000. Of this amount
$198,000 and $900,000 was credited to sales, general and administrative expense
as a recovery under the business interruption coverage of expenses incurred in
1995 and 1996, respectively.
The Company leases approximately 40,000 square feet of one of its buildings
to a third party at approximately $54,000 per month through January 2000.
36
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
5. INCOME TAXES
Deferred income taxes are determined in accordance with SFAS No. 109,
"Accounting for Income Taxes." Under this method, deferred income taxes are
recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the
tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at
each year-end based on enacted tax laws and statutory rates applicable to the
periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income.
Valuation allowances are established to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount
expected to be realized.
The income tax provision (benefit) consisted of the following (in
thousands):
1995 1996 1997
------ ------- -------
Current:
Federal................. $ -- $ 26 $ --
State................... 12 11 --
Deferred
Federal................. (768) (791) --
State................... (232) (240) --
----- ----- -----
Total................. $(988) $(994) $ --
===== ===== =====
The significant components of the deferred tax asset consisted of the
following (in thousands):
AUGUST 4, AUGUST 3,
1996 1997
---- ----
Deferred tax asset:
Allowance for doubtful accounts......... $ 339 $ 536
Plant, property & equipment............. 1,871 1,558
Intangible assets....................... 335 113
Accrued vacation........................ 168 210
Acquisition expenses.................... 43 36
Net operating loss carryforward......... 1,894 2,849
Deferred lease.......................... (12) --
Other................................... (191) (349)
Valuation allowance..................... (2,447) (2,953)
------- -------
Net deferred tax asset................. $ 2,000 $ 2,000
======= =======
At August 4, 1996 and August 3, 1997 the Company had a net deferred tax
asset before valuation allowance of $4,447,000 and $4,953,000, respectively.
The Company has evaluated its past earnings history and trends, budgeted
revenues and expiration dates of net operating loss carryforwards and has
determined that it is more likely than not that $2,000,000 of deferred tax
assets will be realized. The remaining valuation allowance of $2,953,000 is
maintained on deferred assets which the Company has not determined to be more
likely than not realizable at August 3, 1997. The Company will continue to
review this valuation allowance on a quarterly basis and make adjustments, as
appropriate.
37
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
5. INCOME TAXES, CONTINUED
1995 1996 1997
----- ----- -----
Federal tax at statutory rate........................... 34% 34% 34%
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefits......... 1 -- --
Permanent differences................................... 1 1 4
Foreign income not subject to taxes..................... (10) (33) (76)
Tax net operating loss carryforward..................... (25) -- --
Change in valuation allowance........................... (45) (70) 38
Other................................................... -- (2) --
---- ---- ----
(44)% (70)% --%
==== ==== ====
As of August 3, 1997, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards of
approximately $13,400,000 and $3,000,000 for Federal and California tax
purposes, respectively, not all of which has been reflected on the Company's
financial statements due to potential annual limitations concerning net
operating loss carryovers under the provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section
382 with respect to change in ownership. The net operating loss carryforwards
begin to expire in 2009 and 1999 for Federal and California income tax purposes,
respectively.
In 1995, the government of the Republic of Singapore granted 4MC Asia a
seven-year tax exemption as a "pioneer status" company. The resulting tax
savings reflected in net income amounted to $178,000, $378,000 and $877,000 in
fiscal 1995, 1996 and 1997, respectively.
6. LONG TERM DEBT
The following is a summary of long-term debt (in thousands):
AUGUST 4, AUGUST 3,
1996 1997
--------- ----------
CIT term loan......................... -- $16,000
CIT revolving credit facility......... -- 5,287
BABC term loan........................ $ 6,615 --
BABC revolving credit facility........ 3,200 --
HKSB term loan........................ 11,817 10,534
Real property loan.................... -- 8,334
Equipment notes....................... 8,645 8,832
Capital lease obligations............. 9,854 16,205
Subordinated promissory note.......... 9,000 --
------- -------
49,131 65,192
Less, current maturities.............. 6,153 10,559
------- -------
$42,978 $54,633
======= =======
38
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
6. LONG TERM DEBT, CONTINUED
Aggregate loan and capital lease obligation maturities for the next five
fiscal years are as follows (in thousands):
FUTURE
PRINCIPAL LEASE
PAYMENTS PAYMENTS TOTAL
----------- ----------- -----------
Fiscal years ending in
1998.................... $ 6,768 $ 3,791 $10,559
1999.................... 7,223 4,048 11,271
2000.................... 6,687 3,383 10,070
2001.................... 6,120 2,394 8,514
2002.................... 3,969 1,356 5,325
Thereafter.............. 18,220 1,233 19,453
------- ------- -------
Total................ $48,987 $16,205 $65,192
======= ======= =======
On August 4, 1994, the Company entered into a loan agreement with Bank of
America Business Credit ("BABC") in conjunction with the purchase of the
assets of Compact. The bank provided a senior term and revolving loan which were
collateralized by substantially all the assets of the Company and its
subsidiaries. The term loan was due July 31, 1998, with monthly installments of
$61,250 commencing August 1995, at an interest rate of 8.5%. The revolving
credit was due July 31, 1998 at an interest rate of 8.5% through July 31, 1995
and prime (8.25% as of August 4, 1996) plus 1.5% thereafter. The loan agreement
contained various covenants restricting the cash payments to stockholder for
management fees, dividends or repayment of the subordinated note payable. The
Company was also required to make mandatory capital expenditures, maintain
specified financial ratios and levels of net worth.
On October 17, 1996, the Company entered into a new credit agreement with
CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc. and CIT Group/Equipment Financing, Inc. ("CIT").
The agreement consists of a $34,000,000 credit facility including (I) a
$16,000,000 term loan, payable in 84 monthly principal payments commencing
November 1997 at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.75% or Prime plus .75% at the
Company's option, (ii) a $11,000,000 revolving line of credit at an interest
rate of LIBOR plus 2.5% or Prime plus .50%, at the Company's option; and (iii) a
$7,000,000 capital expenditures line of credit payable in 60 monthly
installments commencing three months after funding at an interest rate of LIBOR
plus 2.75% or Prime plus .75% at the Company's option. These loans, which are
collateralized by substantially all the assets of 4MC-Burbank and DMC, contain
various covenants restricting the cash payment to TSP for management fees or
dividends. The Company is also required to maintain specified financial ratios
and levels of net worth for both the Company and specified subsidiaries. As part
of this financing, the Company repaid the $9,693,000 BABC loans and $1,919,000
of equipment notes. The Company may, at its option, elect a fixed rate for the
term loan at the treasury rate (applicable for the remaining term of the loan)
plus 3.35%.
In December 1996, the Company borrowed $8,400,000 under a real property
loan for the purchase of a 90,000 square foot building. The term loan provides
for monthly principal payments over a period of 84 months and a final payment at
maturity in December 2003. The term loan is secured by the building and any
improvements thereon and is guaranteed by 4MC Burbank and DMC. The term loan
bears interest at the lender's prime rate plus 1% or LIBOR plus 2.25%, at the
Company's option.
39
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
6. LONG TERM DEBT, CONTINUED
On February 22, 1995, 4MC Asia entered into a loan agreement with The Hong
Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited ("HKSB"), providing a term loan
facility of SD$16,898,000 Singapore dollars (approximately $11,495,000 US
dollars at August 3, 1997). The loan is collateralized by substantially all of
4MC Asia's assets and is guaranteed by the Company. The loan is payable in 60
monthly installments commencing April 17, 1997 at a rate of 1.25% above the HKSB
prime rate (6.5% as of August 4, 1996 and August 3, 1997). The loan agreement
contains various restrictive covenants, including the maintenance of $1,000,000
Singapore dollars (approximately $709,000 U.S. dollars at August 4, 1996 and
$680,000 as of August 3, 1997) in cash deposits and certain debt-to-equity
ratios.
The Company has entered into various capital lease and equipment notes
related to the purchase of equipment. These notes and leases collateralized by
the related equipment are due through 2004 and are at interest rates of 8.3% to
13.0%.
On August 4, 1993, the Company entered into an agreement with TSP to
provide to the Company up to $10,000,000 in borrowings in the form of a
subordinated promissory note, at an interest rate of 10%, with no principal
payment required until August 1998. On September 6, 1993, TSP exchanged a
$4,000,000 note payable by the Company for 800 shares of Common Stock. On
November 17, 1994, the Company entered into an agreement for additional
borrowings of up to $9,000,000 under the same terms as the August 1993
subordinated promissory note. Repayment of borrowings under the August 1993 and
November 1994 subordinated notes was restricted under covenants contained in the
BABC loan agreement, various equipment notes and various capital lease
obligations. During the year ended July 30, 1995, TSP advanced to the Company
$10,600,000 under the subordinated promissory notes. On July 28, 1995, TSP
contributed $10,000,000 in subordinated promissory notes to the equity of the
Company. The remaining subordinated promissory note was repaid in March 1997
with proceeds from the Company's initial public offering.
7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company and certain subsidiaries have employment agreements with
certain members of their management and creative staff to secure their services
for up to five years at amounts approximating their current levels of
compensation. At August 3, 1997, the Company's remaining aggregate commitment
under such contracts is approximately $12,651,000.
The Company leases its production and office facilities under noncancelable
operating leases with initial terms up to five years through 2002. These leases
contain renewal options, require additional payments for property taxes,
utilities, insurance and maintenance costs and are subject to periodic
escalation charges. Facilities rent expense amounted to $4,327,000, $4,392,000,
and $3,757,000, for the fiscal years ended July 30, 1995, August 4, 1996 and
August 3, 1997, respectively. At August 3, 1997 the annual commitment under
these facilities leases is summarized as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal years ending in:
1998................ $ 5,083
1999................ 4,648
2000................ 973
2001................ 590
2002................ 355
-------
Total............ $11,649
=======
40
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES , CONTINUED
The Company leases certain office equipment under operating leases which
expire through 2000. Rent expense related to equipment amounted to $134,800,
$190,200, and $286,000 for the fiscal years ended July 30, 1995, August 4, 1996
and August 3, 1997, respectively. At August 3, 1997 the annual commitment under
various leases is summarized as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal years ending in:
1998................... $ 618
1999................... 578
2000................... 475
------
Total............... $1,671
======
The Company is involved in litigation matters arising in the normal
course of business. Management believes that the disposition of these lawsuits
will not materially affect the financial position or results of operations of
the Company.
In October 1997, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire real
property in Santa Monica, California for approximately $9,100,000.
8. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
The Company's savings and investment plan covers substantially all of the
employees of the Company. The participants may contribute up to 15% of their
annual compensation (subject to the annual IRS limitation) to the plan and the
Company will match the participant's contribution up to a maximum of 2% of the
participant's compensation. The Company expensed $208,000, $211,000 and $219,000
related to the plan for the years ended July 30, 1995, August 4, 1996 and August
3, 1997, respectively.
9. RELATED PARTIES
As of August 4, 1996, TSP was the holder of subordinated promissory notes
from the Company totaling $9,000,000. In addition, the Company owed $450,000 of
accrued interest to TSP as of August 4, 1996. During the years ended July 30,
1995, August 4, 1996, and August 3, 1997 the Company paid $1,762,000, $450,000,
and $928,000, respectively, to TSP in interest.
The Company paid consulting fees and expenses to a member of the Board of
Directors of the Company of $147,000 and $205,423 for the years ended July 30,
1995 and August 4, 1996, respectively. As of August 4, 1996, the director was no
longer affiliated with the Company.
The Company has entered into an agreement with an emerging company wherein
the Company would advance it up to $600,000. As of August 4, 1996 and August 3,
1997, the Company has advanced cash for operating purposes of approximately
$238,000 and $499,000, respectively. Beginning January 1, 1997 the Company has
the option to purchase a significant portion of the stock of the emerging
company. Management has not determined at this time whether this option will be
exercised.
41
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
9. RELATED PARTIES, CONTINUED
In connection with the acquisition of Compact in 1993, the Company's Chief
Executive Officer was granted a profit interest in TSP for identifying,
analyzing and consummating the acquisition. The profit interest is equal to 10%
of the excess, if any, by which the distributions (in cash or in kind) from TSP
exceed the partners' total investment in TSP plus a return of 9% per annum. As a
result of his profit interest in TSP, Mr. Walston beneficially owns
approximately 15% of the Company's common stock. Mr. Walston's percentage
ownership may increase based upon future distributions by TSP, as determined by
Mr. Walston and TSP.
10. STOCK OPTIONS
The Company has two option plans and a series of executive option
agreements (collectively "Plans") which reserve shares of common stock for
issuance to executives, key employees and directors. These Plans provide that
shares granted come from the Company's authorized but unissued or reacquired
common stock. The price of the options granted pursuant to these Plans will not
be less than 100 percent of the fair market value of the shares on the date of
grant. An option may not be exercised within one year from the date of grant and
no option will be exercisable after ten years from the date granted. Options
vest over a 3 to 6 year period from date of grant.
The Company has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation." Accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for the
Plans. Had compensation cost for the Company's Plans been determined based on
the fair value at the grant date for awards in fiscal 1997 consistent with the
provisions of SFAS No. 123, the Company's net earnings and earnings per share
would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:
1997
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings - as reported (in thousands) $1,382
Net earnings - pro forma (in thousands) $ 858
Earnings per share - as reported $ .16
Earnings per share - pro forma $ .10
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
The assumption regarding the stock options issued to executives in 1997 was
that the expense would be recognized in accordance with the vesting periods. The
fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average
assumptions used for grants in 1997: dividend yield of 0%; expected volatility
of 53.89%; risk-free rate of return equal to the interest rate on U.S. Zero
Coupon Bonds with time to maturity equal to the option's expected time to
exercise, which is one year after full vesting; and no options would be
forfeited before the expected time to exercise.
42
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
10. STOCK OPTIONS, CONTINUED
The following table summarizes stock option activity:
STOCK PRICE PER
OPTIONS SHARE
------- ---------
Outstanding at July 31, 1994 615,125 $ 0.34
Granted --
Expired or canceled --
Exercised --
Outstanding at July 30, 1995 615,125 $ 0.34
Granted --
Expired or canceled --
Exercised --
Outstanding at August 4, 1996 615,125 $ 0.34
Granted 1,000,000 $ 7.00-10.00
Expired or canceled --
Exercised --
Outstanding at August 3, 1997 1,615,125 $0.34 - 10.00
=========
Exercisable at:
August 4, 1996 308,179 $ 0.34
August 3, 1997 410,082 $ 0.34
Available for grant at:
August 4, 1996 --
August 3, 1997 1,827,625
The weighted average remaining contractual life of all the stock options
outstanding at August 3, 1997 is 8.35 years.
11. BUSINESS SEGMENTS
Information about the Company's operations in different geographic areas for
the years ended July 30, 1995, August 4, 1996 and August 3, 1997 are as follows
(in thousands):
43
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
11. BUSINESS SEGMENTS, CONTINUED
CONSOLIDATED
UNITED STATES ASIA CORPORATE TOTAL
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales to unaffiliated customers:
Year ended July 30, 1995 56,999 4,005 -- 61,004
Year ended August 4, 1996 58,970 11,058 -- 70,028
Year ended August 3, 1997 70,701 13,825 -- 84,527
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from operations:
Year ended July 30, 1995 9,249 1,107 (5,207) 5,149
Year ended August 4, 1996 7,095 2,922 (4,681) 5,336
Year ended August 3, 1997 6,824 4,198 (5,753) 5,269
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Identifiable assets:
Year ended July 30, 1995 46,364 21,620 3,796 71,780
Year ended August 4, 1996 54,741 22,307 4,779 81,827
Year ended August 3, 1997 99,342 19,835 13,060 132,237
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital expenditures:
Year ended July 30, 1995 9,131 17,362 1,934 28,427
Year ended August 4, 1996 14,978 2,208 983 18,169
Year ended August 3, 1997 35,335 731 12,113 48,179
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depreciation and amortization expense:
Year ended July 30, 1995 4,721 954 566 6,241
Year ended August 4, 1996 6,548 2,722 895 10,165
Year ended August 3, 1997 8,984 2,961 1,230 13,175
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
Summarized unaudited quarterly financial data (in thousands, except per
share data) for fiscal 1995, 1996 and 1997 is as follows:
NET NET INCOME(LOSS)
QUARTER REVENUES GROSS PROFIT INCOME(LOSS) PER SHARE
- ------------- --------------- --------------- ----------------- ------------------
1995
First $10,639 $3,294 $ 273 $ .04
Second 15,322 5,490 1,224 .19
Third 17,885 7,023 1,706 .26
Fourth 17,158 6,501 17 --
1996
First 17,632 $6,557 $ 313 $ .05
Second 17,085 6,108 (94) (.02)
Third 18,478 7,795 1,912 .30
Fourth 16,833 6,157 293 .05
1997
First $18,947 $7,242 $ 124 $ .02
Second 19,078 6,642 (395) (.06)
Third 23,728 9,532 1,226 .12
Fourth 22,774 7,927 427 .08
44
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
13. ACQUISITION OF ANDERSON
The following unaudited pro forma summary combines the consolidated results
of operations of the Company and Anderson as if the acquisition had occurred at
the beginning of fiscal 1996 and 1997 after giving effect to certain
adjustments, including reduced depreciation to reflect a bargain purchase and
reduced interest expense to reflect debt retirement. The pro forma summary does
not necessarily reflect the results of operations as they would have been if the
Company and Anderson had constituted a single entity during such periods.
1996 1997
-------- --------
Revenues..................... $84,656 $94,409
Net income................... 3,361 2,039
Net income per share......... $ .52 $ .24
45
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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 on the 31st day of
October 1997.
FOUR MEDIA COMPANY
By: /s/ Robert T. Walston
---------------------------------
Robert T. Walston, Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer
By: /s/ Alan S. Unger
---------------------------------
Alan S. Unger, Vice President, Interim Chief Financial and
Accounting Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant, in the capacities indicated on this 31st day of October 1997.
By: /s/ Robert T. Walston
---------------------------------
Robert T. Walston,
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
By: /s/ John H. Donlon
---------------------------------
John H. Donlon
President and Director
By: /s/ Gavin W. Schutz
---------------------------------
Gavin W. Schutz
Vice President, Chief Technology Officer and Director
By: /s/Robert Bailey
---------------------------------
Robert Bailey
Vice President, Director of Marketing and Director
By: /s/ Shimon Topor
---------------------------------
Shimon Topor
Director
By: /s/ Edward Kirtman
---------------------------------
Edward Kirtman
Director
By: /s/ Paul Bricault
---------------------------------
Paul Bricault
Director
By: /s/ Thomas Wertheimer
---------------------------------
Thomas Wertheimer
Director
46
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
- -------------
NUMBER
- -------------
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. (1)
3.2 By Laws of the Company. (filed herewith)
4.1 Specimen Common Stock Certificate. (3)
10.1 Four Media Company 1997 Stock Plan and Stock Option Agreement. (2)*
10.2 Four Media Company 1997 Director Option Plan and Director Stock Plan Stock Option
Agreement, as amended. (3)*
10.3 Form of Amended and Restated Indemnity Agreement between the Company and each of its
officers and directors. (filed herewith)*
10.4 Agreement dated as of February 13, 1995 between MTV Asia LDC and Four Media Company Asia
PTE. Ltd. +(2)
10.5 Guaranty by Viacom International Inc. of MTV Asia's obligations to Four Media Company
Asia PTE. Ltd. dated February 13, 1995. (1)
10.6 Guaranty by Four Media Company of obligations of Four Media Company Asia PTE. Ltd. dated
February 13, 1995 (1)
10.7 January 18, 1996 Amendment Letter re Agreement dated as of February 13, 1995 between MTV
Asia LDC and Four Media Company Asia PTE. Ltd. +(1)
10.8 Uplink-Playback Service Deal Memorandum between TVN Entertainment Corporation and
Compact Video Services, Inc. dated November 20, 1989, as amended. +(1)
10.9 Letter Agreement between Four Media Company and TVN Entertainment Corporation dated
March 18, 1996. +(1)
10.9A Addendum to Amendment between TVN Entertainment Corporation and Four Media Company dated
August 19, 1997. (filed herewith)
10.10 Agreement for Term Loan Facilities between The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited and Four Media Company Asia PTE. Ltd. dated February 22, 1995. (1)
10.10A Letter Agreement dated October 31, 1996 and Supplemental Loan Agreement dated February
3, 1997, amending the Agreement for Term Loan Facilities between The Hong Kong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and Four Media Company Asia PTE. Ltd. dated
February 22, 1995. (4)
10.11 Deed of Subordination between Four Media Company, Four Media Company Asia PTE. Ltd. and
The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited dated February 22, 1995. (1)
EXHIBIT
- -------------
NUMBER
- -------------
10.12 Deed of Debenture between Four Media Company Asia PTE. Ltd. and The Hong Kong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited dated February 22, 1995. (1)
10.13 Deed of Assignment between Four Media Company Asia PTE. Ltd. and The Hong Kong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited dated February 22, 1995. (1)
10.14 Guarantee by Four Media Company of Four Media Company Asia PTE. Ltd. liabilities to The
Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited dated February 22, 1995. (1)
10.15 Satellite Services Agreement re Transponder 7 between Global Access Telecommunications
Services, Inc. and Four Media Company dated April 12, 1996. (1)
10.16 Satellite Services Agreement re Transponder 5 between Global Access Telecommunications
Services, Inc. and Four Media Company dated April 12, 1996. (1)
10.17 Global Access Telecommunications Services, Inc. Standard Terms and Conditions. (1)
10.18 August 28, 1996 Letter Agreement to the Satellite Services Agreement re Transponder 5
dated April 12, 1996 and to the Satellite Service Agreement re Transponder 7 dated April
12, 1996. (1)
10.19 Financing agreement between the CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc., The CIT Group/Equipment
Financing, Inc., 4MC-Burbank, Inc. and Digital Magic Company dated October 17, 1996. (2)
10.20 Lease between Singapore Telecommunications Limited and Four Media Company Asia PTE. Ltd.
commencing December 15,1 994. (1)
10.21 Office Building Lease between Ford Motor Credit Company and Four Media Company dated
August 1, 1994. (1)
10.22 Employment Agreement between the Company and Robert T. Walston dated October 1, 1996, as
amended. (3)*
10.23 Employment Agreement between the Company and John H. Donlon dated as of October 1, 1996.
(2)*
10.24 Employment Agreement between the Company and John H. Sabin dated as of October 1, 1996
(2)*
10.25 Employment Agreement between the Company and Gavin W. Schutz dated as of October 1,
1996 (2)*
10.26 Employment Agreement between the Company and Robert Bailey dated as of October 1, 1996
(2)*
10.27 Purchase and Sale Agreement and Escrow Instructions between C.P. Private Partners,
L.P.I. and Four Media Company dated July 29, 1996. (1)
10.28 August 1, 1996 Amendment Letter re Agreement dated as of February 13, 1995 between MTV
Asia and Four Media Company Asia PTE. Ltd. + (2)
EXHIBIT
- -------------
NUMBER
- -------------
10.29 Term Loan Agreement between Tokai Bank of California and Four Media Company dated
December 5, 1996. (3)
10.30 Letter Agreement dated February 24, 1997 between Anderson Film Industries Corp. d/b/a/
Anderson Video and Four Media Company (contained in Exhibit No. 10.1). (5)
10.31 Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement between Earle Hagen, Assignee for the Benefit of
Creditors of Anderson Film Industries Corp. d/b/a/ Anderson Video and AV Acquisition
Corp. dated March 7, 1997 (without exhibits or schedules) (contained in Exhibit No.
10.2). (5)
10.32 Agreement dated March 10, 1997 between AV Acquisition Corp. and Anderson Graphics, LLC
(without exhibits) (contained in Exhibit No. 10.3). (5)
10.33 Employment Agreement dated March 10, 1997 between Four Media Company and Darrell L.
Anderson (contained in Exhibit No. 10.4). (5)
10.34 Employment Agreement dated March 10, 1997 between Four Media Company and Michael Doggett
(contained in Exhibit No. 10.4). (5)
10.35 Consulting Agreement dated March 10, 1997 between Four Media Company and Darrell A.
Anderson (contained in Exhibit No. 10.4). (5)
21. List of Subsidiaries. (filed herewith)
27.1 Financial Data Schedule. (filed herewith)
- ---------------------------
+ Portions of exhibits deleted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to a request for confidentiality.
(1) Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Registration Statement filed October
8, 1996.
(2) Incorporated herein by reference to Amendment No. 1 to the Company's Registration
Statement filed December 27, 1996.
(3) Incorporated herein by reference to Amendment No. 2 to the Company's Registration
Statement filed February 4, 1997.
(4) Incorporated herein by reference to Amendment No. 3 to the Company's Registration
Statement filed February 5, 1997.
(5) Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Current Report of Form 8-K filed March
24, 1997.
* Management contract, compensatory plan or arrangement.