Live Nation Entertainment Reports Third Quarter And Nine Months 2014 Financial Results

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) today released financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014. 

We had a great third quarter and 2014 is on track to be another record year delivering revenue, adjusted operating income, or AOI, and free cash flow growth. For the first nine months of the year, revenue is up 9%, and AOI is up 11%, with all divisions growing both top line and AOI. We are continuing to build share in concerts and artist management and drive growth in sponsorship and ticketing. The live business continues to have a robust outlook as artists are reliant on touring as their main earnings driver and the best means to engage and connect with their fan base. The ongoing flow of new artists continues to re-energize the business as fans more than ever find the live experience, from club shows to stadiums to festivals, a top entertainment choice and the best and most unique means to celebrate their favorite artist and share the experience with fans, both on-site and online.

The connected world and mobile access allow fans to become the greatest marketing boon for artists, as our research has shown that 64% of concertgoers engage in online activities at the show, 76% of concert attendees in the U.S. who took photos or videos at a concert post them online, and all of this generates billions of earned media impressions on social media from our shows, for our artists, every year. At Live Nation, we see great continued runway ahead given the fragmented global landscape in concerts, management and ticketing and as our scale grows, we continue to drive increasing economics in our business model, with higher profits per show, more advertising and improved ticket conversion.

Concerts

Concert fan demand remains strong globally and we are continuing to grow by taking share, promoting 22 of the top 25 global tours this year including Jay-Z and Beyonce, One Direction and Luke Bryan. We are also further growing our festival portfolio and we are expecting nearly five million fans across our 65 global festivals in 2014, 8% growth from 2013. We continue to add more markets to our global footprint of promoting concerts in 40 countries, adding a partner in the Philippines this quarter. And we are getting more fans to our shows, increasing our attendance per show by 4% through the first nine months as compared to the prior year.

Artist Nation

Artist management is now operating in full gear as we have attracted a number of new managers to the group this year, and we are managing additional acts including Madonna, Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj and Lil’ Wayne.

Sponsorship & Advertising

The Sponsorship & Advertising business continues to deliver strong margins and growth to drive our overall AOI. The success of our Live Nation channel at Yahoo! demonstrates the potential we have in further monetizing our concerts platform by creating compelling content that can be widely distributed and drive advertising revenue. We have now delivered over 100 continuous days of a live show a night with millions of viewers tuning in to watch.

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

We believe we have great growth opportunities as we improve the advertising experience for brands that want to reach the highly desirable music fan on-site and on all screens in a highly targeted fashion. Our combination of on-site touch, engaging content and data provides a unique and compelling network for advertisers.

Ticketing

Ticketmaster’s new product TM+ is working even better than our optimistic expectations of a year ago. It has been activated for over 13,000 events since its launch last September and year-on-year, as of September 2014, global secondary gross transaction value, or GTV, is up 44% year-to-date. The broad adoption of the platform by fans and teams gives us confidence that we will capture over $1 billion in resale GTV from our launch in September 2013 through the end of 2014.

As we near the end of 2014, Live Nation has never been in a stronger position. We are on track to deliver our three-year strategic plan for 2015, and have great confidence in our longer term growth opportunities as we see the global opportunities in our core businesses of concerts, sponsorship and advertising, ticketing, and artist management.

Michael Rapino
President and Chief Executive Officer
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

The company will webcast a teleconference today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its financial performance. Interested parties should visit the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at

investors.livenationentertainment.com
 to register for the webcast. Supplemental statistical and financial information to be provided on the call, if any, will be available under the same link. A replay of the webcast will also be available on the Live Nation website.



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS – 3rd QUARTER AND 9 MONTHS



(unaudited; $ in millions)


Q3 2014


Q3 2013


Growth


9 months 2014


9 months 2013


Growth


Revenue

Concerts


$


1,925.5


$


1,727.0


11%


$


3,760.1


$


3,433.5


10%

Ticketing


386.1


356.8


8%


1,111.6


1,019.8


9%

Artist Nation


130.9


111.1


18%


282.7


261.1


8%

Sponsorship & Advertising


114.6


110.2


4%


230.9


221.6


4%

Other & Eliminations


(55.1)


(42.9)


(28%)


(90.2)


(70.6)


(28%)


$


2,502.0


$


2,262.2


11%


$


5,295.1


$


4,865.4


9%


Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)

Concerts


$


82.8


$


70.7


17%


$


117.3


$


100.2


17%

Ticketing


85.8


80.3


7%


232.4


217.4


7%

Artist Nation


21.9


12.7


73%


30.2


20.1


50%

Sponsorship & Advertising


88.3


83.3


6%


163.1


154.3


6%

Other & Eliminations


1.8


(3.5)

**


(0.3)


(1.2)


75%

Corporate


(22.5)


(22.3)


(1%)


(60.0)


(56.9)


(5%)


$


258.1


$


221.2


17%


$


482.7


$


433.9


11%


Operating Income (Loss)

Concerts


$


49.9


$


44.6


12%


$


28.3


$


41.8


(32%)

Ticketing


30.5


28.0


9%


87.3


82.5


6%

Artist Nation


9.1


1.8

**


(3.9)


(12.0)


67%

Sponsorship & Advertising


86.7


83.2


4%


158.8


153.0


4%

Other & Eliminations


2.0


(3.1)

**


1.2


0.1

**

Corporate


(27.6)


(28.5)


3%


(77.7)


(74.7)


(4%)


$


150.6


$


126.0


19%


$


194.0


$


190.7


2%


         ** percentages are not meaningful

As of September 30, 2014, total cash and cash equivalents were $1.4 billion, which includes $532 million in ticketing client cash and $640 million in free cash. Event-related deferred revenue was $319 million as of September 30, 2014, compared to $313 million as of the same date in 2013. Free cash flow was $198 million for the third quarter of 2014 as compared to $167 million in the third quarter of last year, and $308 million for the first nine months of 2014 versus $283 million for the same period in 2013.


LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT, INC.


KEY OPERATING METRICS


Three Months Ended
     September 30,


Nine Months Ended
     September 30,



2014



2013



2014



2013


Concerts (1)

Total estimated events:

North America


4,102


3,864


11,369


11,215

International


1,055


1,209


4,253


4,672

Total estimated events


5,157


5,073


15,622


15,887

Total estimated fans (rounded):

North America


17,061,000


14,835,000


32,035,000


29,174,000

International


4,990,000


6,348,000


13,508,000


15,419,000

Total estimated fans


22,051,000


21,183,000


45,543,000


44,593,000


Ticketing

Number of tickets sold (in thousands) (2)


36,603


37,594


110,166


109,610


(1)

Events generally represent a single performance by an artist. Fans generally represent the number of people who attend an event. Festivals are counted as one event in the quarter in which the festival begins, but number of fans is based on the days the fan was present at the festival and thus can be reported across multiple quarters. Events and fan attendance metrics are estimated each quarter.


(2)

The number of tickets sold includes primary tickets only. This metric includes tickets sold during the period regardless of event timing except for our promoted events in our owned or operated venues and in certain European territories where these tickets are reported as the events occur. The total number of tickets sold reported above for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 excludes approximately 71 million and 75 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 excludes approximately 206 million and 214 million, respectively, of tickets sold using our Ticketmaster systems, through season seat packages and our venue clients’ box offices, for which we do not receive a fee.

About Live Nation Entertainment:

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, Live Nation Media & Sponsorship and Artist Nation Management. For additional information, visit
investors.livenationentertainment.com
.

Follow us @twitter.com/LiveNationInc


LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT, INC.


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS


(unaudited)


Three Months Ended
     September 30,


Nine Months Ended
     September 30,



2014



2013



2014



2013


(in thousands except share and per share data)

Revenue


$


2,502,008


$


2,262,236


$


5,295,109


$


4,865,447

Operating expenses:

Direct operating expenses


1,876,519


1,698,731


3,792,366


3,485,583

Selling, general and administrative expenses


349,676


325,005


978,006


900,246

Depreciation and amortization


97,925


92,729


256,732


257,582

Gain on disposal of operating assets


(1,696)


(9,060)


(4,977)


(42,856)

Corporate expenses


26,647


26,442


73,538


68,909

Acquisition transaction expenses


2,333


2,352


5,462


5,329

Operating income


150,604


126,037


193,982


190,654

Interest expense


28,113


29,393


80,195


87,585

Loss on extinguishment of debt


233


36,269


233


36,269

Interest income


(864)


(1,547)


(2,676)


(4,205)

Equity in losses (earnings) of nonconsolidated affiliates


(2,155)


2,363


(5,921)


(2,848)

Other expense (income), net


12,587


(5,269)


11,081


2,237

Income before income taxes


112,690


64,828


111,070


71,616

Income tax expense (benefit)


(3,137)


14,410


(482)


26,370

Net income


115,827


50,418


111,552


45,246

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests


10,664


6,644


15,903


6,581

Net income attributable to common stockholders of Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.


$


105,163


$


43,774


$


95,649


$


38,665

Basic net income per common share attributable to common stockholders of Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.


$


0.52


$


0.22


$


0.46


$


0.20

Diluted net income per common share attributable to common stockholders of Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.


$


0.49


$


0.22


$


0.45


$


0.19

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

Basic


199,261,810


196,396,704


198,612,221


192,792,286

    Diluted


221,581,583


202,109,783


206,233,574


197,266,289


LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT, INC.


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


(unaudited)


September 30,
 2014


December 31,
 2013


(in thousands)


ASSETS

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents


$


1,358,300


$


1,299,184

Accounts receivable, less allowance of $17,385 and $19,850, respectively


607,150


439,151

Prepaid expenses


484,603


378,342

Other current assets


47,882


43,427


Total current assets


2,497,935


2,160,104

Property, plant and equipment

Land, buildings and improvements


811,059


816,931

Computer equipment and capitalized software


430,443


421,846

Furniture and other equipment


208,679


210,866

Construction in progress


80,210


52,883


1,530,391


1,502,526

Less accumulated depreciation


834,450


795,726


695,941


706,800

Intangible assets

Definite-lived intangible assets, net


619,671


676,564

Indefinite-lived intangible assets


369,640


376,736

Goodwill


1,484,677


1,466,983

Other long-term assets


379,867


296,334


Total assets


$


6,047,731


$


5,683,521


LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Current liabilities

Accounts payable, client accounts


$


646,814


$


656,253

Accounts payable


96,104


111,320

Accrued expenses


763,800


668,799

Deferred revenue


399,534


486,433

Current portion of long-term debt


47,947


278,403

Other current liabilities


37,734


54,310


Total current liabilities


1,991,933


2,255,518

Long-term debt, net


2,027,209


1,530,484

Long-term deferred income taxes


165,224


161,637

Other long-term liabilities


107,684


85,035

Commitments and contingent liabilities

Redeemable noncontrolling interests


74,436


61,041

Stockholders’ equity

Common stock


1,998


1,978

Additional paid-in capital


2,403,316


2,368,281

Accumulated deficit


(856,147)


(951,796)

Cost of shares held in treasury


(6,865)


(6,865)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)


(37,577)


(2,370)


Total Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. stockholders’ equity


1,504,725


1,409,228

Noncontrolling interests


176,520


180,578


Total equity


1,681,245


1,589,806


Total liabilities and equity


$


6,047,731


$


5,683,521


LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT, INC.


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


(unaudited)


Nine Months Ended
     September 30,



2014



2013


(in thousands)


CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Net income


$


111,552


$


45,246

Reconciling items:

Depreciation


93,140


90,443

Amortization


163,592


167,139

Deferred income tax benefit


(21,463)


(8,230)

Amortization of debt issuance costs and discount/premium, net


13,375


15,409

Loss on extinguishment of debt


233


36,269

Non-cash compensation expense


31,531


23,224

Gain on disposal of operating assets


(4,977)


(42,856)

Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates


(5,921)


(2,848)

Other, net


(2,679)


221

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:

Increase in accounts receivable


(193,705)


(106,561)

Increase in prepaid expenses


(125,525)


(50,432)

Increase in other assets


(105,228)


(94,421)

Increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities


108,716


237,718

Decrease in deferred revenue


(76,473)


(45,783)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities


(13,832)


264,538


CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Distributions from nonconsolidated affiliates


7,303


13,104

Investments made in nonconsolidated affiliates


(11,324)


(7,505)

Purchases of property, plant and equipment


(98,248)


(103,577)

Proceeds from disposal of operating assets, net of cash divested


2,058


83,086

Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired


(48,527)


(26,418)

Purchases of intangible assets


(2,675)


(17)

Other, net


(8,279)


(1,163)

Net cash used in investing activities


(159,692)


(42,490)


CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Proceeds from long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs


515,258


870,324

Payments on long-term debt, including redemption costs


(245,014)


(854,277)

Contributions from noncontrolling interests


81


267

Distributions to noncontrolling interests


(23,964)


(12,382)

Purchases and sales of noncontrolling interests, net


(3,528)


(75)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options


14,142


80,593

Payments for deferred and contingent consideration


(5,722)


(750)

Net cash provided by financing activities


251,253


83,700

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents


(18,613)


(4,225)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents


59,116


301,523

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period


1,299,184


1,001,055

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period


$


1,358,300


$


1,302,578

Forward-Looking Statements, Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations:

Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the company’s anticipated revenue, adjusted operating income, and free cash flow growth in 2014 as compared to 2013; the company’s prospects for delivering its three-year strategic plan for 2015 and for longer term growth; the overall outlook for the live business, as well as the company’s prospects for driving increased economics in its business model, with higher profits per show, more advertising and improved ticket conversion; expected growth in the company’s festival portfolio and anticipated festival attendance for 2014; the company’s potential to further monetize its concerts platform through additional content creation; the company’s growth opportunities in its sponsorship and advertising business; and the company’s anticipated resale ticketing gross transaction value from September 2013 through the end of 2014. Live Nation wishes to caution you that there are some known and unknown factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to operational challenges in achieving strategic objectives and executing on the company’s plans, the risk that the company’s markets do not evolve as anticipated, the potential impact of any economic slowdown and operational challenges associated with selling tickets and staging events.

Live Nation refers you to the documents it files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, specifically the section titled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the company’s most recent Annual Report filed on Form 10-K, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Current Reports on Form 8-K, which contain and identify other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the company’s projections or forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date on which they are made. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements by or concerning Live Nation are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Live Nation does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.

This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC Regulation G. A reconciliation of each such measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, together with an explanation of why management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors, is provided below.

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss), or AOI, is a non-GAAP financial measure that the company defines as operating income (loss) before acquisition expenses (including transaction costs, changes in the fair value of accrued acquisition-related contingent consideration arrangements and acquisition-related severance), depreciation and amortization (including goodwill impairment), loss (gain) on disposal of operating assets and non-cash and certain stock-based compensation expense. The company uses AOI to evaluate the performance of its operating segments. The company believes that information about AOI assists investors by allowing them to evaluate changes in the operating results of the portfolio of the businesses separate from non-operational factors that affect net income, thus providing insights into both operations and the other factors that affect reported results. AOI is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP. A limitation of the use of AOI as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain amortizing assets used in generating revenue in the company’s business. Accordingly, AOI should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, operating income (loss), net income (loss), and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Furthermore, this measure may vary among other companies; thus, AOI as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that the company defines as AOI less maintenance capital expenditures, less net cash interest expense, less cash taxes, less net distributions to noncontrolling interest partners, plus distributions from investments in nonconsolidated affiliates net of contributions to investments in nonconsolidated affiliates. The company uses free cash flow, among other measures, to evaluate the ability of its operations to generate cash that is available for purposes other than maintenance capital expenditures. The company believes that information about free cash flow provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available to service debt and make acquisitions. Free cash flow is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP. A limitation of the use of free cash flow as a performance measure is that it does not necessarily represent funds available for operations and is not necessarily a measure of the company’s ability to fund its cash needs. Accordingly, free cash flow should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, operating income (loss) and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Furthermore, this measure may vary among other companies; thus, free cash flow as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Free Cash is a non-GAAP financial measure that the company defines as cash and cash equivalents less ticketing-related client funds, less event-related deferred revenue, less accrued expenses due to artists and cash collected on behalf of others for ticket sales, plus event-related prepaids. The company uses free cash as a proxy for how much cash it has available to, among other things, optionally repay debt balances, make acquisitions and fund revenue generating capital expenditures. Free cash is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP. A limitation of the use of free cash as a performance measure is that it does not necessarily represent funds available from operations and it is not necessarily a measure of our ability to fund our cash needs. Accordingly, free cash should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, cash and cash equivalents and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Furthermore, this measure may vary among other companies; thus, free cash as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.


Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures to Their Most Directly Comparable GAAP Measures (Unaudited)

 




Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) to Operating Income (Loss)

 
($ in millions)


Adjusted operating income (loss)


Non-cash and stock-based compensation expense


Loss (gain) on disposal of operating assets

 


Depreciation and


amortization


Acquisition expenses


Operating income (loss)


Three Months Ended September 30, 2014

Concerts


$


82.8


$


1.7


$


(0.1)


$


30.2


$


1.1


$


49.9

Ticketing


85.8


0.7


(1.6)


55.5


0.7


30.5

Artist Nation


21.9


2.1


—


10.5


0.2


9.1

Sponsorship & Advertising


88.3


0.3


—


1.3


—


86.7

Other and Eliminations


1.8


—


—


(0.2)


—


2.0

Corporate


(22.5)


4.2


—


0.6


0.3


(27.6)

Total Live Nation


$


258.1


$


9.0


$


(1.7)


$


97.9


$


2.3


$


150.6


Three Months Ended September 30, 2013

Concerts


$


70.7


$


1.6


$


(9.1)


$


32.8


$


0.8


$


44.6

Ticketing


80.3


2.9


—


49.2


0.2


28.0

Artist Nation


12.7


0.2


—


10.7


—


1.8

Sponsorship & Advertising


83.3


0.2


—


(0.1)


—


83.2

Other and Eliminations


(3.5)


0.1


—


(0.5)


—


(3.1)

Corporate


(22.3)


4.2


—


0.6


1.4


(28.5)

Total Live Nation


$


221.2


$


9.2


$


(9.1)


$


92.7


$


2.4


$


126.0


Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014

Concerts


$


117.3


$


5.5


$


(3.3)


$


84.9


$


1.9


$


28.3

Ticketing


232.4


3.5


(1.7)


142.5


0.8


87.3

Artist Nation


30.2


7.8


—


25.9


0.4


(3.9)

Sponsorship & Advertising


163.1


1.1


—


3.2


—


158.8

Other and Eliminations


(0.3)


0.1


—


(1.6)


—


1.2

Corporate


(60.0)


13.5


—


1.8


2.4


(77.7)

Total Live Nation


$


482.7


$


31.5


$


(5.0)


$


256.7


$


5.5


$


194.0


Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

Concerts


$


100.2


$


4.1


$


(43.6)


$


96.6


$


1.3


$


41.8

Ticketing


217.4


6.1


—


128.6


0.2


82.5

Artist Nation


20.1


0.4


0.7


30.9


0.1


(12.0)

Sponsorship & Advertising


154.3


0.6


—


0.7


—


153.0

Other and Eliminations


(1.2)


—


—


(1.3)


—


0.1

Corporate


(56.9)


12.0


—


2.1


3.7


(74.7)

Total Live Nation


$


433.9


$


23.2


$


(42.9)


$


257.6


$


5.3


$


190.7




Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) to Free Cash Flow


($ in millions)


Q3 2014


Q3 2013

Adjusted operating income


$


258.1


$


221.2

Less:  Cash interest expense — net


(30.3)


(28.3)

           Cash taxes


(9.2)


(9.9)

           Maintenance capital expenditures


(14.2)


(11.7)

           Distributions to noncontrolling interests — net


(5.9)


(10.4)

Distributions from (contributions to) investments in nonconsolidated affiliates


(0.5)


5.9


Free cash flow



$



198.0



$



166.8

Revenue generating capital expenditures


(14.0)


(13.1)

Net


$


184.0


$


153.7


($ in millions)


9 months 2014


9 months 2013

Adjusted operating income


$


482.7


$


433.9

Less:  Cash interest expense — net


(66.1)


(72.8)

           Cash taxes


(38.3)


(32.8)

           Maintenance capital expenditures


(46.5)


(38.5)

           Distributions to noncontrolling interests — net


(23.9)


(12.3)

Distributions from (contributions to) investments in nonconsolidated affiliates


(0.2)


5.6


Free cash flow



$



307.7



$



283.1

Revenue generating capital expenditures


(42.6)


(41.6)

Net


$


265.1


$


241.5




Reconciliation of Cash and Cash Equivalents to Free Cash


($ in millions)


September 30,
 2014

Cash and cash equivalents


$


1,358.3

Client cash


(531.7)

Deferred revenue — event-related


(318.7)

Accrued artist fees


(62.5)

Collections on behalf of others


(46.4)

Prepaid expenses — event-related


241.2

   Free cash


$


640.2

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141030/155616

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141030/155618

Contacts

Maili Bergman, (310) 867-7000, [email protected]

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