4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE), the global children’s
entertainment and merchandise licensing company, today announced
financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009.
Net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2009 totaled $10.2
million, compared to $15.0 million for the same period in 2008. The
Company’s net loss attributable to 4Kids Entertainment for the three
months ended March 31, 2009 was $(2.0) million, or $(0.15) per diluted
share, as compared to a net loss of $(6.4) million, or $(0.48) per
diluted share, for the same period in 2008. The Company’s results
reflect the adoption of SFAS No. 160 requiring losses attributable to
non-controlling interests of the Company to be excluded in their
entirety from the computation of the Company’s net losses beginning in
2009.
“Our first quarter results reflect a number of positive developments.
Our licensing revenue was flat year over year with Monster Jam,
Yu-Gi-Oh! and Cabbage Patch Kids being our top earning properties. We
also benefited from reducing our expenses and from the termination of
our agreement with Fox. We are on track to realize substantial cost
savings in 2009 as we expect additional cost cuts to further reduce
expenses as the year goes on,” stated Alfred R. Kahn, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, 4Kids Entertainment.
“Our trading card business, however, continued to be negatively impacted
by the economic recession and the erosion of customer spending and
confidence that began in October 2008. Revenue from the sale of Chaotic®
trading cards for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 was approximately
$437,000 compared to $2.4 million for the same period last year. The
substantial decline in Chaotic trading card sales resulted from our
distributors focusing on selling through existing Chaotic trading card
inventory rather than ordering new product. We are, however, beginning
to see a pickup in Chaotic trading card sales in the second quarter,
which we expect will continue assuming economic conditions stabilize or
improve,” said Kahn.
“I am pleased to report that we have just concluded a deal for Cartoon
Network to broadcast Chaotic and Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s as a strip beginning in
June, which we believe will bolster both brands. Chaotic will also be
supported by the planned fourth quarter 2009 release of a Chaotic
videogame by Activision and a Chaotic toy line by Spin Master,” said
Kahn.
“In the first quarter, the Chaotic TV series debuted on television in
the UK and France, with German TV expected to begin airing the series
late in the second quarter. In support of Chaotic’s expansion into
Europe, we’ve launched a new and improved Chaoticgame.com Website during
the first quarter that is available in English, French, German, Spanish
and Italian. European based Chaotic Website traffic is increasing as
European fans of the game register and upload their cards. European
sales of Chaotic trading cards should grow as the Chaotic TV series
receives more broadcast exposure,” Kahn commented.
“We are also excited at the prospect of a new Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtles theatrical film in late 2011. The movie deal, along with the
Turtles’ 25th anniversary “Shellebration” have triggered additional
licensing interest in the property,” concluded Kahn.
About 4Kids Entertainment, Inc.
With U.S. headquarters in New York City, regional offices for its
trading card business in San Diego, California and international offices
in London, 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE) is a global
organization devoted to the creation, development, production,
broadcasting, distribution, licensing and manufacturing of children’s
entertainment products.
Through its subsidiaries, 4Kids produces animated television series and
films, distributes 4Kids’ produced or licensed animated television
series for the domestic and international television and home video
markets, licenses merchandising rights worldwide to 4Kids’ owned or
represented properties, operates Websites to support 4Kids’ owned or
represented properties, and produces and markets collectible trading
card games. Additionally, the Company programs and sells the national
advertising time in “TheCW4Kids” five-hour Saturday morning block on The
CW television network.
Additional information is available on the www.4KidsEntertainment.com
corporate Website and at the www.4Kids.tv
game station site.
The information contained in this press release, other than
historical information, consists of forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These statements may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those described in such
statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations
reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give
no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct.
Important factors beyond the Company's control, including general
economic conditions, consumer spending levels, competition from toy
companies, motion picture studios and other licensing companies, the
uncertainty of public response to the Company's properties and other
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the
Company's expectations.
(Financial tables below)
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4KIDS ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
MARCH 31, 2009 and DECEMBER 31, 2008
(In thousands of dollars, except share data)
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ASSETS:
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2009
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2008
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Current assets:
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(Unaudited)
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Cash and cash equivalents
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$
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9,467
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$
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13,503
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Accounts receivable - net
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14,375
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22,818
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Inventories - net
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5,459
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4,241
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Prepaid income taxes
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100
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137
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets
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3,567
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1,876
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Deferred income taxes
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124
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|
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127
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Total current assets
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33,092
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42,702
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Property and equipment - net
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3,951
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4,287
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Long term investments
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19,454
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21,617
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Accounts receivable - noncurrent, net
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187
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655
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Film and television costs - net
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17,079
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16,661
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Other assets - net (includes related party amounts of $7,304 and
$6,638, respectively)
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16,861
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14,652
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Total assets
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$
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90,624
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$
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100,574
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LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
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Current liabilities:
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Due to licensors
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$
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5,822
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$
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5,651
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Accounts payable and accrued expenses
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12,927
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16,202
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Deferred revenue
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2,696
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3,270
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Total current liabilities
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21,445
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25,123
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Deferred rent
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419
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460
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Total liabilities
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21,864
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25,583
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Commitments and contingencies
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4Kids Entertainment, Inc. shareholders’ equity
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Preferred stock, $.01 par value - authorized, 3,000,000 shares; none
issued
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—
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—
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Common stock, $.01 par value - authorized, 40,000,000 shares;
issued, 15,246,579 shares; outstanding 13,227,019 shares in both
2009 and 2008
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152
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152
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Additional paid-in capital
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65,107
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65,107
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Accumulated other comprehensive loss
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(19,578
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)
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(17,396
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)
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Retained earnings
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61,464
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63,504
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|
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107,145
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|
|
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111,367
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Less cost of 2,019,560 treasury shares in both 2009 and 2008
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36,376
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36,376
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Total shareholders’ equity of 4Kids Entertainment, Inc.
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70,769
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74,991
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Noncontrolling interests
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(2,009
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)
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—
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Total equity
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|
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68,760
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|
|
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74,991
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Total liabilities and equity
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$
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90,624
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$
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100,574
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