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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended
December 31, 2019
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to .
Commission file number
001-34003
TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
51-0350842
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
110 West 44th Street
10036
New York
New York
(Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code:
(
646
)
536-2842
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading symbol
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.01 par value
TTWO
NASDAQ Global Select Market
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
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
ý
No
o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes
ý
No
o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
ý
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
Smaller reporting company
☐
Emerging growth company
☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
☐
No
ý
As of January 27, 2020, there were
113,424,323
shares of the Registrant's Common Stock outstanding, net of treasury stock.
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $443 and $995 at December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019, respectively
647,460
395,729
Inventory
24,426
28,200
Software development costs and licenses
59,802
28,880
Deferred cost of goods sold
33,079
51,867
Prepaid expenses and other
228,567
186,688
Total current assets
3,435,037
2,827,835
Fixed assets, net
127,417
127,882
Right-of-use assets
153,053
—
Software development costs and licenses, net of current portion
440,752
603,436
Deferred cost of goods sold, net of current portion
912
1,028
Goodwill
391,815
381,717
Other intangibles, net
56,596
73,115
Deferred tax assets
110,831
134,732
Other assets
163,220
93,320
Total assets
$
4,879,633
$
4,243,065
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
82,491
$
72,797
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
1,147,918
1,035,695
Deferred revenue
841,814
843,302
Lease liabilities
24,108
—
Total current liabilities
2,096,331
1,951,794
Non-current deferred revenue
32,962
21,058
Non-current lease liabilities
151,400
—
Other long-term liabilities
196,905
229,633
Total liabilities
$
2,477,598
$
2,202,485
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 13)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019
—
—
Common stock, $.01 par value, 200,000 shares authorized; 135,771 and 134,602 shares issued and 113,350 and 112,181 outstanding at December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019, respectively
1,358
1,346
Additional paid-in capital
2,100,373
2,019,369
Treasury stock, at cost; 22,421 common shares at December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
1.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (the "Company," "we," "us," or similar pronouns) was incorporated in the state of Delaware in 1993. We are a leading developer, publisher, and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe. We develop and publish products through our labels Rockstar Games, 2K, and Private Division, as well as Social Point, a leading developer of mobile games. Our products are designed for console systems and personal computers, including smart phones and tablets, and are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms, and cloud streaming services.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and, in our opinion, reflect all normal and recurring adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. Interim results may not be indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. As permitted under U.S. GAAP, interim accounting for certain expenses, including income taxes, are based on full year assumptions when appropriate. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), although we believe that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with our annual Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019.
Certain immaterial reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting for Leases
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new guidance related to the accounting for leases codified under
Topic 842, Leases
. The new lease accounting standard replaces all current U.S. GAAP guidance on this topic. The new standard, among other things, requires a lessee to classify a lease as either an operating or financing lease and to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset for its leases. On April 1, 2019, we adopted the new lease accounting standard using the alternative transition approach provided in ASU 2018-11,
“Leases (Topic 842) - Targeted Improvements,”
which allows initial application of the new standard using the modified retrospective method.
As part of the adoption, the new lease accounting standard allows a number of practical expedients and exemptions. At transition, we elected the following:
•
The package of practical expedients, which allows us to carryforward our historical lease classification, our assessment of whether a contract is or contains a lease and our initial direct costs for any leases that exist prior to adoption of the new standard;
•
The practical expedient to not separate non-lease components from the related lease components; and
•
The exemption to not apply the balance sheet recognition requirements for leases with a lease term of 12 months or less and instead expense those costs on a straight-line basis over the lease term or in the period in which the obligation is incurred, if such costs are variable.
As a result of the adoption, we have updated our significant accounting policy disclosure as set forth below to include our accounting policy under
Topic 842
for transactions from April 1, 2019 and thereafter:
8
Leases
We determine if an arrangement is a lease at contract inception. If there is an identified asset in the contract (either explicitly or implicitly) and we have control over its use, the contract is (or contains) a lease. In certain of our lease arrangements, primarily those related to our data center arrangements, judgment is required in determining if a contract contains a lease. For these arrangements, there is judgment in evaluating if the arrangement provides us with an asset that is physically distinct, or that represents substantially all of the capacity of the asset, and if we have the right to direct the use of the asset. Lease assets and liabilities are recognized based on the present value of future lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date. Included in the lease liability are future lease payments that are fixed, in-substance fixed, or payments based on an index or rate known at the commencement date of the lease. Variable lease payments are recognized as lease expenses as incurred. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made prior to commencement, initial direct costs incurred, and lease incentives received. All ROU assets are reviewed for impairment.
As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we generally use our incremental borrowing rate in determining the present value of future lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate represents the rate required to borrow funds over a similar term to purchase the leased asset and is based on an unsecured borrowing rate and risk-adjusted to approximate a collateralized rate at the commencement date of the lease.
In determining our lease liability, the lease term includes options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise such option. For operating leases, the lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Lease modifications result in remeasurement of the lease liability. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet, and we recognize lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Impact of adoption
As a result of adopting Topic 842, the following adjustments, including reclassifying prepaid and deferred rent to ROU assets, were made to our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at April 1, 2019:
March 31, 2019
Adjustments
April 1, 2019
ASSETS
Prepaid expenses and other
$
186,688
$
(
792
)
$
185,896
Right-of-use assets
$
—
$
118,799
$
118,799
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
$
1,035,695
$
(
2,976
)
$
1,032,719
Lease liabilities
$
—
$
18,937
$
18,937
Non-current lease liabilities
$
—
$
122,041
$
122,041
Other long-term liabilities
$
229,633
$
(
19,995
)
$
209,638
The adoption of Topic 842 did not have an impact on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operation or Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting for Income Taxes
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12,
Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes
, which enhances and simplifies various aspects of the income tax accounting guidance, including requirements such as tax basis step-up in goodwill obtained in a transaction that is not a business combination, ownership changes in investments, and interim-period accounting for enacted changes in tax law. ASU 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning December 15, 2020 (April 1, 2021 for the Company), with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this guidance on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Accounting for Fair Value Measurement
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13,
Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement
, which modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements by removing, modifying, or adding certain disclosures. ASU 2018-13 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning December 15, 2019 (April 1, 2020 for the Company), with early adoption
9
permitted. Certain disclosures in ASU 2018-13 are required to be applied on a retrospective basis and others on a prospective basis. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this guidance on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Accounting for Credit Losses
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13,
Financial Instruments - Credit Losses
, which replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current U.S. GAAP with a methodology that will require the reflection of expected credit losses and will also require consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to determine credit loss estimates. It also eliminates the concept of other-than-temporary impairment and requires credit losses related to available-for-sale debt securities to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than as a reduction in the amortized cost basis of the securities. For most financial instruments, the standard will require the use of a forward-looking expected loss model rather than the incurred loss model for recognizing credit losses, which will generally result in the earlier recognition of credit losses on financial instruments. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning December 15, 2019 (April 1, 2020 for the Company), with early adoption permitted. These changes will be applied on a modified retrospective basis, with the cumulative effect of adoption recorded as an adjustment to retained earnings. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this guidance on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
2.
REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS
Disaggregation of revenue
Product revenue
Product revenue is primarily comprised of the portion of revenue from software products that is recognized when the customer takes control of the product (i.e. upon delivery of the software product).
Service and other revenue
Service and other revenue is primarily comprised of revenue from game related services, virtual currency transactions, and in-game purchases which are recognized over an estimated service period.
Net revenue by product revenue and service and other was as follows:
Three Months Ended December 31,
Nine Months Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2019
2018
Net revenue recognized:
Service and other
481,301
311,282
1,327,433
933,663
Product
448,828
937,456
1,000,996
1,195,724
Total net revenue
$
930,129
$
1,248,738
$
2,328,429
$
2,129,387
Full game and other revenue
Full game and other revenue primarily includes the initial sale of full game software products, which may include offline and/or significant game related services.
Recurrent consumer spending revenue
Recurrent consumer spending revenue is generated from ongoing consumer engagement and includes revenue from virtual currency, add-on content, and in-game purchases.
Net revenue by full game and other revenue and recurrent consumer spending was as follows:
Three Months Ended December 31,
Nine Months Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2019
2018
Net revenue recognized:
Full game and other
589,633
952,182
1,354,607
1,351,202
Recurrent consumer spending
340,496
296,556
973,822
778,185
Total net revenue
$
930,129
$
1,248,738
$
2,328,429
$
2,129,387
10
Geography
We attribute net revenue to geographic regions based on software product destination. Net revenue by geographic region was as follows:
Three Months Ended December 31,
Nine Months Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2019
2018
Net revenue recognized:
United States
$
536,841
$
651,568
$
1,361,981
$
1,152,285
International
393,288
597,170
966,448
977,102
Total net revenue
$
930,129
$
1,248,738
$
2,328,429
$
2,129,387
Platform
Net revenue by platform was as follows:
Three Months Ended December 31,
Nine Months Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2019
2018
Net revenue recognized:
Console
$
679,799
$
1,144,459
$
1,766,431
$
1,811,429
PC and other
250,330
104,279
561,998
317,958
Total net revenue
$
930,129
$
1,248,738
$
2,328,429
$
2,129,387
Distribution channel
Our products are delivered through digital online services (digital download, online platforms, and cloud streaming) and physical retail and other.
Net revenue by distribution channel was as follows:
Three Months Ended December 31,
Nine Months Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2019
2018
Net revenue recognized:
Digital online
$
700,321
$
594,722
$
1,743,876
$
1,268,140
Physical retail and other
229,808
654,016
584,553
861,247
Total net revenue
$
930,129
$
1,248,738
$
2,328,429
$
2,129,387
Deferred Revenue
We record deferred revenue when payments are due or received in advance of the fulfillment of our associated performance obligations. Deferred revenue, including current and non-current balances as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019 were $
874,776
and $
864,360
, respectively. For the nine months ended December 31, 2019, the additions to our deferred revenue balance were due primarily to cash payments received or due in advance of satisfying our performance obligations, while the reductions to our deferred revenue balance were due primarily to the recognition of revenue upon fulfillment of our performance obligations, both of which were in the ordinary course of business.
During the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, $
193,468
and $
80,471
, respectively, of revenue was recognized that was included in the deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the respective period. During the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, $
758,301
and $
504,600
, respectively, of revenue was recognized that was included in the deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period. As of December 31, 2019, the aggregate amount of contract revenue allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations is $
967,609
, which includes our deferred revenue balances and amounts to be invoiced and recognized in future periods. We expect to recognize approximately $
872,647
of this balance as revenue over the next 12 months, and the remainder thereafter. This balance does not include an estimate for variable consideration arising from sales-based royalty license revenue in excess of the contractual minimum guarantee.
11
As of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019, our contract asset balances were $
74,412
and $
57,643
, respectively, which are recorded within Prepaid expenses and other in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
3.
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
In November 2017, we entered into a new management agreement (the "2017 Management Agreement"), with ZelnickMedia Corporation ("ZelnickMedia") that replaces our previous agreement with ZelnickMedia and pursuant to which ZelnickMedia provides financial and management consulting services through March 31, 2024. The 2017 Management Agreement became effective January 1, 2018. As part of the 2017 Management Agreement, Strauss Zelnick, the President of ZelnickMedia, continues to serve as Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Karl Slatoff, a partner of ZelnickMedia, continues to serve as President of the Company. The 2017 Management Agreement provides for an annual management fee of $
3,100
over the term of the agreement and a maximum annual bonus opportunity of $
7,440
over the term of the agreement, based on the Company achieving certain performance thresholds.
In consideration for ZelnickMedia's services, we recorded consulting expense (a component of General and administrative expenses) of $
3,166
and $
3,432
during the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $
6,541
and $
6,842
during the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. We recorded stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock units granted to ZelnickMedia, which is included in General and administrative expenses, of $
5,956
and $
5,555
during the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $
17,457
and $
15,574
during the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
In connection with the 2017 Management Agreement, we have granted restricted stock units as follows:
(1)
Represents the maximum number of shares eligible to vest.
Time-based restricted stock units granted in fiscal year 2020 will vest on April 13, 2021, and those granted in fiscal year 2019 will vest on April 13, 2020, in each case provided that the 2017 Management Agreement has not been terminated prior to such vesting date.
Market-based restricted stock units granted in fiscal year 2020 are eligible to vest on April 13, 2021, and those granted in fiscal year 2019 are eligible to vest on April 13, 2020, in each case provided that the 2017 Management Agreement has not been terminated prior to such vesting date. Market-based restricted stock units are eligible to vest based on the Company's Total Shareholder Return (as defined in the relevant grant agreement) relative to the Total Shareholder Return (as defined in the relevant grant agreement) of the companies that constitute the NASDAQ Composite Index as of the grant date measured over a two-year period. To earn the target number of market-based restricted stock units (which represents
50
% of the number of the market-based restricted stock units set forth in the table above), the Company must perform at the
50th
percentile, with the maximum number of market-based restricted stock units earned if the Company performs at the
75th
percentile.
Performance-based restricted stock units granted in fiscal year 2020 are eligible to vest on April 13, 2021, and those granted in fiscal year 2019 are eligible to vest on April 13, 2020, in each case provided that the 2017 Management Agreement has not been terminated prior to such vesting date. The performance-based restricted stock units, of which
50
% are tied to "IP" and
50
% to "RCS" (as defined in the relevant grant agreement), are eligible to vest based on the Company's achievement of certain performance metrics (as defined in the relevant grant agreement) of either individual product releases of "IP" or "RCS" measured over a two-year period. The target number of performance-based restricted stock units that may be earned pursuant to these grants is equal to
50
% of the grant amounts set forth in the above table (the numbers in the table represent the maximum number of performance-based restricted stock units that may be earned). At the end of each reporting period, we assess the
probability of each performance metric and upon determination that certain thresholds are probable, we record expense for the unvested portion of the shares of performance-based restricted stock units.
The unvested portion of time-based, market-based and performance-based restricted stock units held by ZelnickMedia were
613
and
526
as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019, respectively.
209
restricted stock units previously granted to ZelnickMedia vested and
20
restricted stock units were forfeited by ZelnickMedia during the nine months ended December 31, 2019.
4.
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The carrying amounts of our financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities, approximate fair value because of their short maturities.
We follow a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. This hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of "observable inputs" and minimize the use of "unobservable inputs." The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:
•
Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
•
Level 2—Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
•
Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.
The table below segregates all assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (which is measured at least annually) into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement date.
December 31, 2019
Quoted prices
in active
markets for
identical
assets
(level 1)
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (level 1)
Significant other observable inputs (level 2)
Significant unobservable inputs (level 3)
Balance Sheet Classification
Money market funds
$
389,936
$
389,936
$
—
$
—
Cash and cash equivalents
Commercial paper
39,246
—
39,246
—
Cash and cash equivalents
US Treasuries
25,449
25,449
—
—
Cash and cash equivalents
Money market funds
565,461
565,461
—
—
Restricted cash and cash equivalents
Bank-time deposits
387,720
387,720
—
—
Short-term investments
Corporate bonds
296,141
—
296,141
—
Short-term investments
US Treasuries
55,634
55,634
—
—
Short-term investments
Commercial paper
4,990
—
4,990
—
Short-term investments
Cross-currency swap
791
—
791
—
Prepaid expenses and other
Private equity
1,823
—
—
1,823
Other assets
Foreign currency forward contracts
(
423
)
—
(
423
)
—
Accrued and other current liabilities
Total recurring fair value measurements, net
$
1,766,768
$
1,424,200
$
340,745
$
1,823
We did not have any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements, nor did we have any transfers into or out of Level 3 during the nine months ended December 31, 2019.
5.
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
Our Short-term investments consisted of the following:
December 31, 2019
Gross
Unrealized
Cost or
Amortized Cost
Gains
Losses
Fair Value
Short-term investments
Bank time deposits
$
273,000
$
—
$
—
$
273,000
Available-for-sale securities:
Corporate bonds
302,418
1,049
(
7
)
303,460
US Treasuries
16,030
6
(
3
)
16,033
US Agencies
3,499
—
—
3,499
Commercial paper
103,277
—
—
103,277
Total Short-term investments
$
698,224
$
1,055
$
(
10
)
$
699,269
14
March 31, 2019
Gross
Unrealized
Cost or
Amortized Cost
Gains
Losses
Fair Value
Short-term investments
Bank time deposits
$
387,720
$
—
$
—
$
387,720
Available-for-sale securities:
Corporate bonds
295,526
742
(
127
)
296,141
US Treasuries
55,656
27
(
49
)
55,634
Commercial paper
4,990
—
—
4,990
Total short-term investments
$
743,892
$
769
$
(
176
)
$
744,485
Based on our review of investments with unrealized losses, we did not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired as of December 31, 2019 or March 31, 2019. We do not intend to sell any of our investments with unrealized losses, nor is it more likely than not that we will be required to sell those investments.
The following table summarizes the contracted maturities of our short-term investments at December 31, 2019:
December 31, 2019
Amortized
Cost
Fair
Value
Short-term investments
Due in 1 year or less
$
576,141
$
576,830
Due in 1 - 2 years
122,083
122,439
Total short-term investments
$
698,224
$
699,269
6.
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
Our risk management strategy includes the use of derivative financial instruments to reduce the volatility of earnings and cash flows associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We do not enter into derivative financial contracts for speculative or trading purposes. We recognize derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, and we measure those instruments at fair value. We classify cash flows from derivative transactions as cash flows from operating activities in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Foreign currency forward contracts
The following table shows the gross notional amounts of foreign currency forward contracts:
December 31, 2019
March 31, 2019
Forward contracts to sell foreign currencies
$
180,722
$
116,590
Forward contracts to purchase foreign currencies
56,062
87,793
For the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, we recorded a loss of $
556
and a gain of $
10,811
, respectively, and for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, we recorded a loss of $
1,643
and gain of $
12,968
, respectively, related to foreign currency forward contracts in Interest and other, net in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Our foreign currency exchange forward contracts are not designated as hedging instruments under hedge accounting and are used to reduce the impact of foreign currency on certain balance sheet exposures and certain revenue and expense. These instruments are generally short-term in nature, with typical maturities of less than one year, and are subject to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
Cross-currency swaps
We entered into a cross-currency swap agreement in August 2017 related to an intercompany loan that has been designated and accounted for as a cash flow hedge of foreign currency exchange risk. The intercompany loan is related to the acquisition of Social Point. As of December 31, 2019, the notional amount of the cross-currency swap is $
115,641
. This cross-currency swap mitigates the exposure to fluctuations in the U.S. dollar-euro exchange rate related to the intercompany loan. The
critical terms of the cross-currency swap agreement correspond to the intercompany loan and both mature at the same time in 2027; as such, there was no ineffectiveness during the period.
Changes in the fair value of this cross-currency swap are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and offset the change in value of interest and principal payment as a result of changes in foreign exchange rates. Resulting gains or losses from the cross-currency swap are reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to earnings to completely offset foreign currency transaction gains and losses recognized on the intercompany loan. We recognize the difference between the U.S. dollar interest payments received from the swap counterparty and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the euro interest payments made to the swap counterparty in Interest and other, net on our Consolidated Statement of Operations. There are no credit-risk related contingent features associated with these swaps.
7.
INVENTORY
Inventory balances by category were as follows:
December 31, 2019
March 31, 2019
Finished products
$
23,231
$
24,847
Parts and supplies
1,195
3,353
Inventory
$
24,426
$
28,200
Estimated product returns included in inventory at December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019 were $
1,054
and $
491
, respectively.
8.
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT COSTS AND LICENSES
Details of our capitalized software development costs and licenses were as follows:
December 31, 2019
March 31, 2019
Current
Non-current
Current
Non-current
Software development costs, internally developed
$
24,864
$
362,952
$
14,809
$
434,712
Software development costs, externally developed
31,385
75,730
3,655
168,381
Licenses
3,553
2,070
10,416
343
Software development costs and licenses
$
59,802
$
440,752
$
28,880
$
603,436
During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2019, we recorded $
0
, and during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2018, we recorded $
7,426
, of software development impairment charges (a component of Cost of goods sold). For the nine months ended December 31, 2018, the impairment charges relate to a decision not to proceed with further development of certain interactive entertainment software.
9.
ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following:
On February 8, 2019, we entered into an unsecured Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement runs through February 8, 2024. The Credit Agreement provides for an unsecured five-year revolving credit facility with commitments of $
200,000
, including sublimits for (i) the issuance of letters of credit in an aggregate face amount of up to $
25,000
and (ii) borrowings and letters of credit denominated in Pounds Sterling, Euros and Canadian Dollars in an aggregate principal amount of up to $
25,000
. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains uncommitted incremental capacity permitting the incurrence of up to an additional $
250,000
in term loans or revolving credit facilities.
Loans under the New Credit Agreement will bear interest at a rate of (a)
0.250
% to
0.750
% above a certain base rate (
5.50
% at December 31, 2019) or (b)
1.125
% to
1.750
% above LIBOR (approximately
1.66
% at December 31, 2019), which rates are determined by reference to our consolidated total net leverage ratio. We had
no
outstanding borrowings at December 31, 2019.
Information related to availability on our Credit Agreement was as follows:
December 31, 2019
March 31, 2019
Available borrowings
$
198,336
$
198,336
Outstanding letters of credit
1,664
1,664
We recorded interest expense and fees related to the Credit Agreement of $
82
and $
248
for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2019, respectively, and $
111
and $
332
for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2018, respectively, under a prior credit arrangement, which was terminated on the same day that we entered into the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement also includes, among other terms and conditions, maximum leverage ratio, minimum cash reserves and, in certain circumstances, minimum interest coverage ratio financial covenants, as well as limitations on us and each of our subsidiaries’ ability to: create, incur, assume or be liable for indebtedness; dispose of assets outside the ordinary course; acquire, merge or consolidate with or into another person or entity; create, incur or allow any lien on any of its property; make investments; or pay dividends or make distributions, in each case subject to certain exceptions. In addition, the Credit Agreement provides for certain events of default such as nonpayment of principal and interest when due thereunder, breaches of representations and warranties, noncompliance with covenants, acts of insolvency and default on indebtedness held by third parties (subject to certain limitations and cure periods).
11.
EARNINGS PER SHARE ("EPS")
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
Three Months Ended December 31,
Nine Months Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2019
2018
Computation of Basic earnings per share:
Net income
$
163,642
$
179,948
$
281,737
$
277,007
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic
113,251
113,433
112,996
113,390
Basic earnings per share
$
1.44
$
1.59
$
2.49
$
2.44
Computation of Diluted earnings per share:
Net income
$
163,642
$
179,948
$
281,737
$
277,007
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic
113,251
113,433
112,996
113,390
Add: dilutive effect of common stock equivalents
1,003
1,304
1,013
1,528
Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted
114,254
114,737
114,009
114,918
Diluted earnings per share
$
1.43
$
1.57
$
2.47
$
2.41
Certain of our unvested stock-based awards (including restricted stock units and restricted stock awards) are considered participating securities since these securities have non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents during
17
the contractual period of the award and thus requires the two-class method of computing EPS. As of December 31, 2019, we have no material participating securities outstanding.
During the nine months ended December 31, 2019,
1,674
restricted stock awards vested, we granted
887
unvested restricted stock awards, and
80
unvested restricted stock awards were forfeited.
12.
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
The following table provides the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Nine Months Ended December 31, 2019
Foreign
currency
translation
adjustments
Unrealized
gain (loss) on
forward contracts
Unrealized
gain (loss) on
cross-currency swap
Unrealized
gain (loss) on
available-for-
sales
securities
Total
Balance at March 31, 2019
$
(
33,090
)
$
600
$
(
5,285
)
$
586
$
(
37,189
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
(
3,192
)
—
2,598
453
(
141
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
—
—
(
1,157
)
—
(
1,157
)
Balance at December 31, 2019
$
(
36,282
)
$
600
$
(
3,844
)
$
1,039
$
(
38,487
)
Nine Months Ended December 31, 2018
Foreign
currency
translation
adjustments
Unrealized
gain (loss) on
derivative
instruments
Unrealized
gain (loss) on
cross-currency swap
Unrealized
gain (loss) on
available-for-
sales
securities
Total
Balance at March 31, 2018
$
(
4,287
)
$
600
$
(
10,191
)
$
(
1,854
)
$
(
15,732
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
(
40,666
)
—
1,158
1,058
(
38,450
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
—
—
3,228
—
3,228
Balance at December 31, 2018
$
(
44,953
)
$
600
$
(
5,805
)
$
(
796
)
$
(
50,954
)
13.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
We have entered into various agreements in the ordinary course of business that require substantial cash commitments over the next several years. Other than agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and in addition to the agreements requiring known cash commitments as reported in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, we did not have any significant changes to our commitments since March 31, 2019.
Legal and Other Proceedings
We are, or may become, subject to demands and claims (including intellectual property claims) and are involved in routine litigation in the ordinary course of business which we do not believe to be material to our business or financial condition or results of operations. We have appropriately accrued amounts related to certain of these claims and legal and other proceedings. While it is reasonably possible that a loss may be incurred in excess of the amounts accrued in our financial statements, we believe that such losses, unless otherwise disclosed, would not be material.
14.
BUSINESS REORGANIZATION
In the first quarter of fiscal year 2018, we announced and initiated actions to implement a strategic reorganization at one of our labels (the "2018 Plan"). In connection with this initiative, we recorded a benefit of $
246
and expense of $
467
for business reorganization during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2019, respectively, due to updating estimates for employee separation costs and did not make any payments related to these reorganization activities. As of December 31, 2019, $
3,747
remained accrued in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities and $
2,991
in Other non-current liabilities. Although
we may record additional expense or benefit in future periods to true-up estimates, we do not expect to incur additional reorganization costs in connection with the 2018 Plan.
In fiscal 2016, we announced and initiated actions to implement a strategic reorganization at one of our labels (the "2016 Plan"), including reorganizing one development studio and closing two development studios and incurred business reorganization expense of $
71,285
due primarily to employee separation costs in connection with this initiative. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2018, we recognized a benefit of $
5,930
as a result of updating our estimate of costs to complete the 2016 Plan.
15.
INCOME TAXES
The provision for income taxes for the three months ended December 31, 2019 is based on our projected annual effective tax rate for fiscal year 2020, adjusted for specific items that are required to be recognized in the period in which they are incurred. The provision for income taxes was $
25,134
for the three months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to a benefit of $
120,098
for the prior year period due primarily to a change in our valuation allowance.
When compared to the statutory rate of 21%, the effective tax rate of
13.3
% for the three months ended December 31, 2019 was due primarily to tax benefits of $
9,118
as a result of tax credits anticipated to be utilized and $
2,638
due to geographic mix of earnings.
The provision for income taxes for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 is based on our projected annual effective tax rate for fiscal year 2020, adjusted for specific items that are required to be recognized in the period in which they are incurred. The provision for income taxes was $
52,068
for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to a benefit of $
108,750
for the prior year period.
When compared to the statutory rate of 21%, the effective tax rate of
15.6
% for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 was due primarily to a tax benefit of $
11,641
from changes in unrecognized tax benefits due to audit settlements, a benefit of $
15,144
as a result of tax credits anticipated to be utilized, and a benefit of $
5,808
from our geographic mix of earnings. To a lesser extent the rate was also affected by excess tax benefits from employee stock-based compensation. These benefits were partially offset by a tax expense of $
19,826
from the reversal of net deferred tax benefits relating to the Altera case, discussed below.
On July 27, 2015, the U.S. Tax Court issued an opinion in Altera Corp. v. Commissioner, which concluded that related parties in an intercompany cost-sharing arrangement are not required to share costs related to stock-based compensation. In February 2016, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service appealed the decision to the U.S Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On June 7, 2019, the Ninth Circuit reversed the 2015 decision of the U.S. Tax Court. As a result of this decision, we are no longer reflecting a net tax benefit within our financial statements related to the removal of stock-based compensation from our intercompany cost-sharing arrangement. During the nine months ended December 31, 2019, we removed the deferred tax asset and a deferred tax liability associated with this matter from our financial statements, resulting in a cumulative net discrete income tax expense of $
19,826
. The taxpayer requested a rehearing before the full Ninth Circuit which was denied on November 12, 2019. The case remains potentially open for judicial review by the U.S. Supreme Court. As a result, the final outcome of the case is uncertain. We will continue to monitor ongoing developments of this matter and potential impacts to our financial statements.
On June 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, which overturned previous case law that precluded states from requiring retailers to collect and remit sales and use tax collection on sales made to in-state customers unless the retailer had physical presence in the state. Although this case is limited to sales tax collection obligations, we continue to monitor the potential impact of this decision on our state income tax footprint.
On May 19, 2019, a public referendum held in Switzerland approved the Federal Act on Tax Reform and AVH (Old-Age and Survivors Insurance) Financing ("TRAF"), which was effective for us on January 1, 2020. The tax reform abolished preferential tax regimes for holding companies, domicile companies, and mixed companies at the cantonal level. The TRAF allows the cantons to establish transition rules, the implementation of which may be subject to a ruling from the canton. Any deferred tax assets arising from tax basis step-up would be recorded once the cantonal process is complete. As of December 31, 2019, the TRAF did not have a material effect on the Company.
We are regularly examined by domestic and foreign taxing authorities. Examinations may result in tax assessments in excess of amounts claimed and the payment of additional taxes. We believe our tax positions comply with applicable tax law, and that we have adequately provided for reasonably foreseeable tax assessments. It is possible that settlement of audits or the expiration of the statute of limitations may have an impact on our effective tax rate in future periods.
Our lease arrangements are primarily for (1) corporate, administrative, and development studio offices and (2) data centers and server equipment. Our existing leases have remaining lease terms ranging from one to
fifteen years
. In certain instances, such leases include one or more options to renew, with renewal terms that generally extend the lease term by one to
five years
for each option. The exercise of lease renewal options is generally at our sole discretion. Additionally, the majority of our leases are classified as operating leases.
Information related to our operating leases are as follows:
Three Months Ended
December 31, 2019
Nine Months Ended December 31, 2019
Lease costs
Operating lease costs
$
7,340
$
20,904
Short term lease costs
$
662
$
2,017
Nine Months Ended December 31, 2019
Supplemental operating cash flow information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
$
20,718
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations
$
49,767
At December 31, 2019
Weighted average information
Remaining lease term
9.4
Discount rate
5.0
%
Future undiscounted lease payments for our operating lease liabilities, and a reconciliation of these payments to our operating lease liabilities at December 31, 2019, are as follows:
For the years ending March 31,
Remaining 2020
$
6,480
2021
31,889
2022
32,212
2023
29,896
2024
22,711
Thereafter
97,636
Total future lease payments
220,824
Less imputed interest
(
45,316
)
Total lease liabilities
$
175,508
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
CAUTIONARY NOTE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The statements contained herein which are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws and may be identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "seeks," "should" "will," or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for the Company's future business and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may vary materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of risks and
uncertainties including those contained herein, in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, in the section entitled "Risk Factors," and the Company's other periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements and speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Our Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A") is provided in addition to the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and notes to assist readers in understanding our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the MD&A and our annual consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019.
Overview
Our Business
We are a leading developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe. We develop and publish products through our labels Rockstar Games, 2K, and Private Division, as well as Social Point, a leading developer of mobile games. Our products are currently designed for console gaming systems, such as Sony's PlayStation®4 ("PS4"), Microsoft's Xbox One® ("Xbox One"), or Nintendo's Switch™ ("Switch"), and personal computers ("PC"), including smartphones and tablets. We deliver our products through physical retail, digital download, online platforms, and cloud streaming services.
We endeavor to be the most creative, innovative, and efficient company in our industry. Our core strategy is to capitalize on the popularity of video games by developing and publishing high-quality interactive entertainment experiences across a range of genres. We focus on building compelling entertainment franchises by publishing a select number of titles for which we can create sequels and incremental revenue opportunities through virtual currency, add-on content, and in-game purchases. Most of our intellectual property is internally owned and developed, which we believe best positions us financially and competitively. We have established a portfolio of proprietary software content for the major hardware platforms in a wide range of genres, including action, adventure, family/casual, racing, role-playing, shooter, sports, and strategy, which we distribute worldwide. We believe that our commitment to creativity and innovation is a distinguishing strength, enabling us to differentiate our products in the marketplace by combining advanced technology with compelling storylines and characters that provide unique gameplay experiences for consumers. We have created, acquired, or licensed a group of highly recognizable brands to match the broad consumer demographics that we serve, ranging from adults to children and game enthusiasts to casual gamers. Another cornerstone of our strategy is to support the success of our products in the marketplace through innovative marketing programs and global distribution on platforms and through channels that are relevant to our target audience.
Our revenue is primarily derived from the sale of internally developed software titles and software titles developed by third parties. Operating margins are dependent in part upon our ability to release new, commercially successful software products and to manage effectively their development and marketing costs. We have internal development studios located in Australia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Software titles published by our Rockstar Games label are primarily internally developed. We expect Rockstar Games, our wholly-owned publisher of the
Grand Theft Auto
,
Max Payne
,
Midnight Club
,
Red Dead
Redemption
, and other popular franchises, to continue to be a leader in the action/adventure product category and to create groundbreaking entertainment by leveraging our existing titles as well as by developing new brands. We believe that Rockstar Games has established a uniquely original, popular cultural phenomenon with its
Grand Theft Auto
series, which is the interactive entertainment industry's most iconic and critically acclaimed brand and has sold-in over 310 million units. The latest installment,
Grand Theft Auto V
, has sold in over 120 million units worldwide and includes access to
Grand Theft Auto Online
. On October 26, 2018, Rockstar Games launched
Red Dead Redemption 2,
which has been a critical and commercial success that set numerous entertainment industry records. To date,
Red Dead Redemption 2
has sold-in more than 25 million units worldwide. Rockstar Games is also well known for developing brands in other genres, including the
L.A. Noire
,
Bully,
and
Manhunt
franchises. Rockstar Games continues to expand on our established franchises by developing sequels, offering downloadable episodes, content, and virtual currency, and releasing titles for smartphones and tablets.
Our 2K label has published a variety of popular entertainment properties across all key platforms and across a range of genres including shooter, action, role-playing, strategy, sports and family/casual entertainment. We expect 2K to continue to develop new, successful franchises in the future. 2K's internally owned and developed franchises include the critically acclaimed, multi-million unit selling
BioShock
,
Mafia
,
Sid Meier's Civilization,
and
XCOM
series. 2K also publishes externally developed brands, such as
Borderlands
. The latest installment,
Borderlands 3
, launched on September 13, 2019. 2K's realistic
sports simulation titles include our flagship
NBA 2K
series, which continues to be the top-ranked NBA basketball video game, the
WWE 2K
professional wrestling series, and the
Golf Club
.
Our Private Division label is dedicated to bringing titles from top independent developers to market and is the publisher of
Kerbal Space Program
. During fiscal year 2020, Private Division released
The Outer Worlds
and
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
, based on new IP from renowned industry creative talent. Private Division has announced that
Kerbal Space Program 2
and
Disintegration
are planned for release in fiscal year 2021.
Social Point develops and publishes popular free-to-play mobile games that deliver high-quality, deeply engaging entertainment experiences, including its two most successful games,
Dragon City
and
Monster Legends
. In addition, Social Point has a robust development pipeline with a number of exciting games planned for launch in the coming years.
We are continuing to execute on our growth initiatives in Asia, where our strategy is to broaden the distribution of our existing products and expand our online gaming presence, especially in China and South Korea. 2K has secured a multi-year license from the NBA to develop an online version of the NBA simulation game in China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.
NBA 2K Online
, our free-to-play NBA simulation game, that is based on the console edition of
NBA 2K
, which was co-developed by 2K and Tencent, is the top online PC sports game in China with over 48 million registered users. We have released two iterations of
NBA 2K Online
and continue to enhance the title with new features.
In February 2017, we expanded our relationship with the NBA through the creation of the NBA 2K League. Launched in May 2018, this groundbreaking competitive gaming league is jointly owned by us and the NBA and consists of teams operated by actual NBA franchises, who will be joined by a team from Shanghai for the 2020 season. The NBA 2K League follows a professional sports league format: head-to-head competition throughout a regular season, followed by a bracketed playoff system and a finals match-up that was held in August of each of the NBA 2K League's first two seasons.
Trends and Factors Affecting our Business
Product Release Schedule.
Our financial results are affected by the timing of our product releases and the commercial success of those titles. Our
Grand Theft Auto
products in particular have historically accounted for a significant portion of our revenue. Sales of
Grand Theft Auto
products generated 21.5% of our net revenue for the nine months ended December 31, 2019. In October 2018, we released
Red Dead Redemption 2
. Sales of
Red Dead Redemption
products generated 14.8% of our net revenue for the nine months ended December 31, 2019. The timing of our
Grand Theft Auto
or
Red Dead Redemption
product releases may affect our financial performance on a quarterly and annual basis.
Economic Environment and Retailer Performance.
We continue to monitor economic conditions that may unfavorably affect our businesses, such as deteriorating consumer demand, pricing pressure on our products, credit quality of our receivables, and foreign currency exchange rates. Our business is dependent upon a limited number of customers that account for a significant portion of our revenue. Our five largest customers accounted for 70.0% and 68.3% of net revenue during the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019, our five largest customers comprised 63.6% and 66.6% of our gross accounts receivable, respectively, with our significant customers (those that individually comprised more than 10% of our gross accounts receivable balance) accounting for 48.9% and 55.8% of such balance at December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019, respectively. We had two customers who accounted for 34.4% and 14.4%, respectively, of our gross accounts receivable as of December 31, 2019 and two customers who accounted for 40.1% and 15.7%, respectively, of our gross accounts receivable as of March 31, 2019. The economic environment has affected our customers in the past and may do so in the future. Bankruptcies or consolidations of our large retail customers could seriously hurt our business, due to uncollectible accounts receivables and the concentration of purchasing power among the remaining large retailers. Certain of our large customers sell used copies of our games, which may negatively affect our business by reducing demand for new copies of our games. While the online and downloadable content that we now offer for certain of our titles may serve to reduce used game sales, we expect used game sales to continue to adversely affect our business.
Hardware Platforms.
We derive most of our revenue from the sale of software products made for video game consoles manufactured by third parties, such as Sony's PS4, Microsoft's Xbox One, and Nintendo's Switch, which comprised 75.9% of our net revenue by product platform for the nine months ended December 31, 2019. The success of our business is dependent upon the consumer acceptance of these platforms and continued growth in their installed base. When new hardware platforms are introduced, demand for software used on older platforms typically declines, which may negatively affect our business during the market transition to the new consoles. Accordingly, our strategy is to focus our development efforts on a select number of the highest quality titles for these platforms, while also expanding our offerings for emerging platforms such as tablets, smartphones and online games.
Online Content and Digital Distribution.
The interactive entertainment software industry is delivering a growing amount of content through digital online delivery methods. We provide a variety of online delivered products and offerings.
Virtually all of our titles that are available through retailers as packaged goods products are also available through direct digital download (from websites we own and others owned by third parties) as well as a larger selection of our catalog titles. In addition, we aim to drive ongoing engagement and incremental revenue from recurrent consumer spending, which is generated from ongoing consumer engagement and includes revenue from virtual currency, add-on content, and in-game purchases. We also publish an expanding variety of titles for tablets and smartphones, which are delivered to consumers through digital download. Our "Results of Operations" discloses that net revenue from digital online channels comprised 74.9% of our net revenue by distribution channel for the nine months ended December 31, 2019. We expect online delivery of games and game offerings to continue to grow and to become an increasing part of our business over the long-term.
Product Releases
We released the following key titles during the nine months ended December 31, 2019:
Title
Publishing
Label
Internal or External
Development
Platform(s)
Date Released
Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition
2K
External
PS4, Xbox One, PC
April 3, 2019
NBA 2K Mobile
2K
Internal
Android
April 17, 2019
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
Private Division
External
PC (digital only)
August 27, 2019
NBA 2K20
2K
Internal
PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, iOS, Android
September 6, 2019
Borderlands 3
2K
Internal / External
PS4, Xbox One, PC
September 13, 2019
WWE 2K20
2K
Internal
PS4, Xbox One, PC
October 22, 2019
The Outer Worlds
Private Division
External
PS4, Xbox One, PC
October 25, 2019
Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar Games
Internal
PC
November 5, 2019
Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar Games
Internal
Google Stadia
November 19, 2019
NBA 2K20
2K
Internal
Google Stadia
November 19, 2019
Sid Meier's Civilization VI
2K
Internal
PS4, Xbox One
November 22, 2019
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
Private Division
External
PS4, Xbox One
December 6, 2019
Borderlands 3
2K
Internal / External
Google Stadia
December 17, 2019
Product Pipeline
We have announced the following future key titles to date (this list does not represent all titles currently in development):
Our most critical accounting policies, which are those that require significant judgment, include revenue recognition; price protection and allowances for returns; capitalization and recognition of software development costs and licenses; fair value estimates including valuation of goodwill, intangible assets, and long-lived assets; valuation and recognition of stock-based compensation; and income taxes. In-depth descriptions of these can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019.
During the nine months ended December 31, 2019, there were no significant changes to the above critical accounting policies and estimates, with the exception of our adoption of Topic 842,
Leases
. Refer to Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for disclosures regarding our updated lease accounting policies.
Recently Adopted and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies for further discussion.
Operating Metric
Net Bookings
We monitor Net Bookings as a key operating metric in evaluating the performance of our business. Net Bookings is defined as the net amount of products and services sold digitally or sold-in physically during the period and includes licensing fees, merchandise, in-game advertising, strategy guides, and publisher incentives. Net Bookings were as follows:
Three Months Ended December 31,
Nine Months Ended December 31,
2019
2018
Increase/
(decrease)
% Increase/
(decrease)
2019
2018
Increase/
(decrease)
% Increase/
(decrease)
Net Bookings
$
888,179
$
1,568,568
$
(680,389)
(43.4)
%
$
2,260,935
$
2,440,314
$
(179,379)
(7.4)
%
For the three months ended December 31, 2019, Net Bookings decreased by $680.4 million as compared to the prior year period due primarily to
Red Dead Redemption 2,
which released on PS4 and Xbox One in October 2018, partially offset by an increase in Net Bookings from
The Outer Worlds, Borderlands 3, Grand Theft Auto Online, Grand Theft Auto V,
and
Red Dead Online.
For the nine months ended December 31, 2019, Net Bookings decreased by $179.4 million as compared to the prior year period due primarily to
Red Dead Redemption 2,
partially offset by an increase in Net Bookings from
Borderlands 3
,
The Outer Worlds,
our
NBA 2K
franchise,
Grand Theft Auto Online
,
and
Red Dead Online.
Results of Operations
The following tables set forth, for the periods indicated, our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, net revenue by geographic region, net revenue by platform, net revenue by distribution channel, and net revenue by content type:
(1)
Includes $33,048 and $96,082 of stock-based compensation expense in 2019 and 2018, respectively, in software development costs and royalties.
For the three months ended December 31, 2019, net revenue decreased by $318.6 million as compared to the prior year period. The decrease was due to (i) a decrease in net revenue of $577.2 million from
Red Dead Redemption 2,
which released in October 2018, partially offset by an increase in net revenue of (ii) $153.9 million from
The Outer Worlds
which released in October 2019, (iii) $65.8 million from
Borderlands 3,
which released in September 2019,
and (iv) $45.7 million from our
NBA
2K franchise.
Net revenue from console games decreased by $464.7 million and accounted for 73.1% of our total net revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to 91.6% for the prior year period. The decrease was due to a decrease in net revenue from
Red Dead Redemption 2,
partially offset by an increase in net revenue from
The Outer Worlds, Borderlands 3,
and our
NBA 2K
franchise
.
Net revenue from PC and other increased by $146.1 million and accounted for 26.9% of our total net revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to 8.4% for the prior year period. The increase was due to net revenue from
Red Dead Redemption 2,
which released on PC in November 2019,
The Outer Worlds,
and
Borderlands 3
.
Net revenue from digital online channels increased by $105.6 million and accounted for 75.3% of our total net revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to 47.6% for the prior year period. The increase was due to an increase in net revenue from
The Outer Worlds,
Borderlands 3
, and our
NBA 2K
franchise, partially offset by a decrease in net revenue from
Red Dead Redemption 2.
Net revenue from physical retail and other channels decreased by $424.2 million and accounted for 24.7% of our total net revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to 52.4% for the same period in the prior year period. The decrease in net revenue from physical retail and other channels was due to a decrease in net revenue from
Red Dead Redemption 2,
partially offset by an increase in net revenue from
The Outer Worlds.
Recurrent consumer spending is generated from ongoing consumer engagement and includes revenue from virtual currency, add-on content, and in-game purchases. Net revenue from recurrent consumer spending increased by $43.9 million and accounted for 36.6% of net revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to 23.7% of net revenue for the prior year period. The increase in net revenue from recurrent consumer spending is due primarily to an increase in net
revenue from our
NBA 2K
franchise.
Net revenue from full game and other decreased by $362.5 million and accounted for 63.4% of net revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to 76.3% of net revenue for the prior year period. The decrease in net revenue from full game and other was due to a decrease in net revenue from
Red Dead Redemption 2,
partially offset by an increase in net revenue from
The Outer Worlds
and
Borderlands 3
.
Gross profit as a percentage of net revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2019 was 53.0% as compared to 28.0% for the prior year period. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of net revenue was due to lower royalties and amortization of capitalized software costs as a percentage of net revenue due primarily to the timing of releases.
Net revenue earned outside of the United States decreased by $203.9 million and accounted for 42.3% of our total net revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to 47.8% in the prior year period. The decrease in net revenue outside of the United States was due to a decrease in net revenue from
Red Dead Redemption 2,
partially offset by an increase in net revenue from
The Outer Worlds
and
Borderlands 3
. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates decreased net revenue by $1.9 million and decreased gross profit by $0.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to the prior year period.
(1)
Includes stock-based compensation expense, which was allocated as follows (in thousands):
2019
2018
Selling and marketing
$
4,113
$
6,673
General and administrative
14,911
13,790
Research and development
11,327
7,123
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates decreased total operating expenses by $0.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to the prior year period.
Selling and marketing
Selling and marketing expenses decreased by $24.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to the prior year period, due primarily to lower advertising expenses for
Red Dead Redemption 2,
which released in October 2018, partially offset by higher advertising expenses for
The Outer Worlds, Grand Theft Auto Online, Borderlands 3,
and
Red Dead Online
. The decrease was partially offset by higher personnel expenses due to increased headcount.
General and administrative
General and administrative expenses increased by $13.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to the prior year period, due to increases in (i) personnel expenses for additional headcount, (ii) increased professional fees due to an insurance recovery in the prior year period, and (iii) IT-related expenses for cloud-based services.
General and administrative expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 included occupancy expense (primarily rent, utilities and office expenses) of $6.6 million and $5.5 million, respectively, related to our development studios.
Research and development
Research and development expenses increased by $20.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to the prior year period, due primarily to increases in (i) production and development expenses for titles for which technological feasibility has not been established and (ii) personnel expenses for additional headcount.
Depreciation and amortization expenses increased by $2.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to the prior year period, due primarily to IT infrastructure.
Business reorganization
During the three months ended December 31, 2019, business reorganization expense increased $5.7 million due to a benefit in the prior year related to updating estimates for our 2016 Plan, partially offset by updating estimates for our 2018 Plan with no corresponding expense in the prior year period.
Interest and other, net
Interest and other, net was income of $11.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to $8.1 million for the prior year period. The change was due primarily to higher interest income due to the nature of our investments, higher invested balances, and higher interest rates on those investments.
Provision for Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes for the three months ended December 31, 2019 is based on our projected annual effective tax rate for fiscal year 2020, adjusted for specific items that are required to be recognized in the period in which they are incurred. The provision for income taxes was $25.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to a benefit for income taxes of $120.1 million for the prior year period.
When compared to the statutory rate of 21.0%, the effective tax rate of 13.3% for the three months ended December 31, 2019 was due primarily to tax benefits of $9.1 million as a result of tax credits anticipated to be utilized and $2.6 million due to a geographic mix of earnings.
In the prior year period, when compared to our statutory rate of 21%, the effective tax rate of (200.7)% for the three months ended December 31, 2018 was due primarily to a tax benefit of $108.7 million resulting from changes in our valuation allowance on certain U.S. deferred tax assets that are more-likely-than-not to be realized, a tax benefit of $15.4 million due to the geographic mix of earnings, a tax benefit of $12.0 million for excess tax benefits from employee stock compensation, and a tax benefit of $6.5 million as a result of tax credits anticipated to be utilized. To a lesser extent, our rate was also affected by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (herein referred to as the "Tax Act").
The change in the effective tax rate, when compared to the prior year period's effective tax rate, is due primarily to decreased benefits from changes in our valuation allowance, our geographic mix in earnings, and excess benefits from stock compensation.
We anticipate that additional excess tax benefits or shortfalls from employee stock compensation, tax credits, and changes in our geographic mix of earnings could have a significant impact on our effective tax rate in the future. In addition, we are regularly examined by domestic and foreign taxing authorities. Examinations may result in tax assessments in excess of amounts claimed and the payment of additional taxes. We believe our tax positions comply with applicable tax law, and that we have adequately provided for reasonably foreseeable tax assessments. It is possible that settlement of audits and/or the expiration of the statute of limitations could have an impact on our effective tax rate in future periods.
The accounting for share-based compensation will increase or decrease our effective tax rate based on the difference between our share-based compensation expense and the deductions taken on our tax return, which depends on the stock price at the time of the employee award vesting. Since we recognize excess tax benefits on a discrete basis, we anticipate that our effective tax rate will vary from quarter to quarter depending on our stock price in each period.
On June 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, which overturned previous case law that precluded states from requiring retailers to collect and remit sales tax on sales made to in-state customers unless the retailer had physical presence in the state. Although this case is limited to sales tax collection obligations, we continue to monitor the potential impact of this decision on our state income tax footprint.
On May 19, 2019, a public referendum held in Switzerland approved the Federal Act on Tax Reform and AVH (Old-Age and Survivors Insurance) Financing ("TRAF"), which was effective for us on January 1, 2020. The tax reform abolished preferential tax regimes for holding companies, domicile companies and mixed companies at the cantonal level. The TRAF allows the cantons to establish transition rules, the implementation of which may be subject to a ruling from the canton. Any deferred tax assets arising from tax basis step-up would be recorded once the cantonal process is complete. As of December 31, 2019, the TRAF did not have a material effect on the Company.
For the three months ended December 31, 2019, net income was $163.6 million, as compared to $179.9 million in the prior year period. Diluted earnings per share for the three months ended December 31, 2019, was $1.43, as compared to diluted earnings per share of $1.57 in the prior year period. Diluted weighted average shares of 114.3 million were 0.5 million shares lower as compared to the prior year period, due primarily to share repurchases in the last three quarters of fiscal year 2019. See Note 11 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding earnings per share.
Nine Months Ended December 31, 2019 Compared to December 31, 2018
(thousands of dollars)
2019
%
2018
%
Increase/
(decrease)
% Increase/
(decrease)
Net revenue
$
2,328,429
100.0
%
$
2,129,387
100.0
%
$
199,042
9.3
%
Software development costs and royalties(1)
451,422
19.4
%
337,603
15.9
%
113,819
33.7
%
Internal royalties
339,312
14.6
%
536,662
25.2
%
(197,350)
(36.8)
%
Product costs
225,162
9.7
%
277,234
13.0
%
(52,072)
(18.8)
%
Licenses
130,914
5.6
%
113,231
5.3
%
17,683
15.6
%
Cost of goods sold
1,146,810
49.3
%
1,264,730
59.4
%
(117,920)
(9.3)
%
Gross profit
$
1,181,619
50.7
%
$
864,657
40.6
%
$
316,962
36.7
%
(1)
Includes $91,678 and $107,740 of stock-based compensation expense in 2019 and 2018, respectively, in software development costs and royalties.
For the nine months ended December 31, 2019, net revenue increased by $199.0 million as compared to the prior year period. The increase was due primarily to (i) $321.3 million in net revenue from
Borderlands 3,
which released in September 2019
,
(ii) $153.9 million from
The Outer Worlds,
which released in October 2019, and (iii) an increase of $132.0 million from our
NBA 2K
franchise. These increases were offset by a decrease of $419.8 million in net revenue from
Red Dead Redemption 2
, which released in October 2018.
Net revenue from console games decreased by $45.0 million and accounted for 75.9% of our total net revenue for the nine months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to 85.1% for the prior year period. The decrease was due to a decrease in net revenue from
Red Dead Redemption 2,
our
WWE 2K
franchise, and
Grand Theft Auto Online
, partially offset by an increase in net revenue from
Borderlands 3,
our
NBA 2K
franchise,
The Outer Worlds,
and
Red Dead Online
. Net revenue from PC and other increased by $244.0 million and accounted for 24.1% of our total net revenue for the nine months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to 14.9% for the prior year period. The increase was due an increase in net revenue from
Borderlands 3, Red Dead Redemption 2,
which released on PC in November 2019, and
The Outer Worlds
.
Net revenue from digital online channels increased by $475.7 million and accounted for 74.9% of our total net revenue for the nine months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to 59.6% for the prior year period. The increase was due to an increase in net revenue from
Borderlands 3
,
our
NBA 2K
franchise, and
The Outer Worlds,
partially offset by a decrease in net revenue from
Red Dead Redemption 2
.
Net revenue from physical retail and other channels decreased by $276.7 million and accounted for 25.1% of our total net revenue for the nine months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to 40.4% for the same period in the prior year period. The decrease was due to a decrease in net revenue from
Red Dead Redemption 2,
partially offset by an increase in net revenue from
Borderlands 3
.
Recurrent consumer spending is generated from ongoing consumer engagement and includes revenue from virtual currency, add-on content, and in-game purchases. Net revenue from recurrent consumer spending increased by $195.6 million and accounted for 41.8% of net revenue for the nine months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to 36.5% of net revenue for the prior year period. The increase was due to an increase in net revenue from our
NBA 2K
franchise,
Borderlands 3
, and
Red Dead Online,
partially offset by a decrease in net revenue from
Grand Theft Auto Online.
Net revenue from full game and other increased by $3.4 million and accounted for 58.2% of net revenue for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to 63.5% of net revenue for the prior year period. The increase was due to net revenue from
Borderlands 3,
The Outer Worlds, The Ancestors,
and
Civilization VI,
which released on PS4 and Xbox One in November 2019, partially offset by a decrease in net revenue from
Red Dead Redemption 2,
our
WWE 2K
franchise, our
NBA 2K
franchise, and
Grand Theft Auto V.
Gross profit as a percentage of net revenue for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 was 50.7% as compared to 40.6% for the prior year period. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of net revenue was due to lower royalties as a percentage of net revenue due primarily to the timing of releases.
Net revenue earned outside of the United States decreased by $10.7 million, and accounted for 41.5% of our total net revenue for the nine months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to 45.9% in the prior year period. The decrease in net revenue outside of the United States was due to a decrease in net revenue from
Red Dead Redemption 2, Grand Theft Auto V,
and our
WWE 2K
franchise, partially offset by an increase in net revenue from
Borderlands 3, The Outer Worlds, Civilization VI, The Ancestors,
and
Red Dead Redemption Online
. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates decreased net revenue by $9.7 million and decreased gross profit by $2.8 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to the prior year period.
Operating Expenses
(thousands of dollars)
2019
% of net revenue
2018
% of net revenue
Increase/
(decrease)
% Increase/
(decrease)
Selling and marketing
$
378,455
16.3
%
$
313,793
14.7
%
$
64,662
20.6
%
General and administrative
236,023
10.1
%
205,693
9.7
%
30,330
14.7
%
Research and development
227,680
9.8
%
173,582
8.2
%
54,098
31.2
%
Depreciation and amortization
35,611
1.5
%
29,151
1.4
%
6,460
22.2
%
Business reorganization
467
—
%
(6,172)
(0.3)
%
6,639
(107.6)
%
Total operating expenses (1)
$
878,236
37.7
%
$
716,047
33.6
%
$
162,189
22.7
%
(1)
Includes stock-based compensation expense, which was allocated as follows (in thousands):
2019
2018
General and administrative
$
42,054
$
38,234
Selling and marketing
14,333
16,321
Research and development
28,533
16,314
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates decreased total operating expenses by $7.9 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to the prior year period.
Selling and marketing
Selling and marketing expenses increased by $64.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to the prior year period, due primarily to higher advertising expenses for
Borderlands 3, Red Dead Online, Grand Theft Auto Online,
and
The Outer Worlds,
partially offset by lower advertising expenses for
Red Dead Redemption 2.
The increase was also due to higher personnel expenses due to increased headcount.
General and administrative
General and administrative expenses increased by $30.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to the prior year period, due to increases in personnel expenses for additional headcount and IT related expenses for cloud-based service and IT infrastructure.
General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 included occupancy expense (primarily rent, utilities and office expenses) of $18.9 million and $16.5 million, respectively, related to our development studios.
Research and development
Research and development expenses increased by $54.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to the prior year period, due primarily to increases in (i) production and development expenses for titles for which technological feasibility has not been established and (ii) personnel expenses due to increased headcount.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expenses for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 increased by $6.5 million, as compared to the prior year period, due primarily to IT infrastructure.
During the nine months ended December 31, 2019, business reorganization expense increased $6.6 million due to a benefit in the prior year related to updating estimates for our 2016 Plan and updating estimates for our 2018 Plan with no corresponding expense in the prior year period.
Interest and other, net
Interest and other, net was income of $30.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to income of $19.6 million for the prior year period. The change was due primarily to higher interest income due to the nature of our investments, higher invested balances, and higher interest rates on those investments, partially offset by foreign currency losses.
Provision for Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 is based on our projected annual effective tax rate for fiscal year 2020, adjusted for specific items that are required to be recognized in the period in which they are incurred. The provision for income taxes was $52.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to a benefit from income taxes of $108.8 million for the prior year period.
When compared to the statutory rate of 21.0%, the effective tax rate of 15.6% for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 was due primarily to a benefit of $15.1 million as a result of tax credits anticipated to be utilized, a tax benefit of $11.6 million from changes in unrecognized tax benefits due to audit settlements, and a benefit of $5.8 million from our geographic mix of earnings. To a lesser extent the rate was also affected by excess tax benefits from employee stock-based compensation. These benefits were partially offset by a tax expense of $19.8 million from the reversal of net deferred tax benefits relating to the Altera case, discussed below.
In the prior year period, when compared to our blended statutory rate of 21%, the effective tax rate of (64.6)% for the nine months ended December 31, 2018 was due primarily to a tax benefit of $108.7 million as a result of changes in our valuation allowance on certain U.S. deferred tax assets that are more-likely-than-not to be realized, a tax benefit of $18.9 million for excess tax benefits from employee stock compensation, a tax benefit of $15.3 million as a result of tax credits anticipated to be utilized, and a net tax benefit of $4.7 million due to the geographic mix of earnings. To a lesser extent, our rate was also affected by the Tax Act.
The change in the effective tax rate, when compared to the prior year period's effective tax rate, is due primarily to increased tax expense relating to the Altera case, discussed below, decreased benefits from changes in our valuation allowance relating to temporary items and tax carryforwards anticipated to be utilized, and excess tax benefits from employee stock-based compensation partially offset by increased discrete tax benefits recorded from changes in unrecognized tax benefits due primarily to audit settlements.
We anticipate that additional excess tax benefits from employee stock compensation, tax credits, and changes in our geographic mix of earnings could have a significant impact on our effective tax rate in the future. In addition, we are regularly examined by domestic and foreign taxing authorities. Examinations may result in tax assessments in excess of amounts claimed and the payment of additional taxes. We believe our tax positions comply with applicable tax law, and that we have adequately provided for reasonably foreseeable tax assessments. It is possible that settlement of audits and/or the expiration of the statute of limitations could have an impact on our effective tax rate in future periods.
The accounting for share-based compensation will increase or decrease our effective tax rate based on the difference between our share-based compensation expense and the deductions taken on our tax return, which depends on the stock price at the time of the employee award vesting. Since we recognize excess tax benefits on a discrete basis, we anticipate that our effective tax rate will vary from quarter to quarter depending on our stock price in each period.
On July 27, 2015, the U.S. Tax Court issued an opinion in Altera Corp. v. Commissioner, which concluded that related parties in an intercompany cost-sharing arrangement are not required to share costs related to stock-based compensation. In February 2016, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On June 7, 2019, the Ninth Circuit reversed the 2015 decision of the U.S. Tax Court. As a result of this decision, we are no longer reflecting a net tax benefit within our financial statements related to the removal of stock-based compensation from our intercompany cost-sharing arrangement. During the nine months ended December 31, 2019, we removed the deferred tax asset and a deferred tax liability associated with this matter, resulting in a cumulative net discrete income tax expense of $19,826. The taxpayer requested a rehearing before the full Ninth Circuit which was denied on November 12, 2019. The case remains
potentially open for judicial review by the U.S. Supreme Court. As a result, the final outcome of the case is uncertain. We will continue to monitor ongoing developments of this matter and potential impacts to our financial statements.
On June 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, which overturned previous case law that precluded states from requiring retailers to collect and remit sales tax on sales made to in-state customers unless the retailer had physical presence in the state. Although this case is limited to sales tax collection obligations, we continue to monitor the potential impact of this decision on our state income tax footprint.
On May 19, 2019, a public referendum held in Switzerland approved the Federal Act on Tax Reform and AVH (Old-Age and Survivors Insurance) Financing ("TRAF"), which was effective for us on January 1, 2020. The tax reform abolished preferential tax regimes for holding companies, domicile companies and mixed companies at the cantonal level. The TRAF allows the cantons to establish transition rules, the implementation of which may be subject to a ruling from the canton. Any deferred tax assets arising from tax basis step-up would be recorded once the cantonal process is complete. As of December 31, 2019, the TRAF did not have a material effect on the Company.
Net income and earnings per share
For the nine months ended December 31, 2019, net income was $281.7 million, as compared to net income of $277.0 million in the prior year period. For the nine months ended December 31, 2019, diluted earnings per share was $2.47 as compared to diluted earnings per share of $2.41 in the prior year period. Diluted weighted average shares of 114 million were 0.9 million shares lower as compared to the prior year period, due primarily to share repurchases in the last three quarters of fiscal year 2019. See Note 11 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding earnings per share.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary cash requirements have been to fund (i) the development, manufacturing, and marketing of our published products, (ii) working capital, (iii) acquisitions, and (iv) capital expenditures. We expect to rely on cash and cash equivalents as well as on short-term investments, funds provided by our operating activities, and our Credit Agreement to satisfy our working capital needs.
Short-term Investments
As of December 31, 2019, we had $699.3 million of short-term investments, which are highly liquid in nature and represent an investment of cash that is available for current operations. From time to time, we may purchase additional short-term investments depending on future market conditions and liquidity needs.
Credit Agreement
On February 8, 2019, we entered into an unsecured Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement runs through February 8, 2024. The Credit Agreement provides for an unsecured five-year revolving credit facility with commitments of $200 million, including sublimits for (i) the issuance of letters of credit in an aggregate face amount of up to $25 million and (ii) borrowings and letters of credit denominated in Pounds Sterling, Euros and Canadian Dollars in an aggregate principal amount of up to $25 million. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains uncommitted incremental capacity permitting the incurrence of up to an additional $250 million in term loans or revolving credit facilities.
Loans under the Credit Agreement will bear interest at a rate of (a) 0.250% to 0.750% above a certain base rate (5.50% at December 31, 2019) or (b) 1.125% to 1.750% above LIBOR (approximately 1.66% at December 31, 2019), which rates are determined by reference to our consolidated total net leverage ratio.
As of December 31, 2019, there was $198.3 million available to borrow under the Credit Agreement and we had $1.7 million of letters of credit outstanding. At December 31, 2019, we had no outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement.
The Credit Agreement also includes, among other terms and conditions, maximum leverage ratio, minimum cash reserves and, in certain circumstances, minimum interest coverage ratio financial covenants, as well as limitations on the Company’s and each of its subsidiaries’ ability to: create, incur, assume or be liable for indebtedness; dispose of assets outside the ordinary course; acquire, merge or consolidate with or into another person or entity; create, incur or allow any lien on any of its property; make investments; or pay dividends or make distributions, in each case subject to certain exceptions. In addition, the Credit Agreement provides for certain events of default such as nonpayment of principal and interest when due thereunder, breaches of representations and warranties, noncompliance with covenants, acts of insolvency and default on indebtedness held by third parties (subject to certain limitations and cure periods).
We are subject to credit risks, particularly if any of our receivables represent a limited number of customers or are concentrated in foreign markets. If we are unable to collect our accounts receivable as they become due, it could adversely affect our liquidity and working capital position.
Generally, we have been able to collect our accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business. We do not hold any collateral to secure payment from customers. We have trade credit insurance on the majority of our customers to mitigate accounts receivable risk.
A majority of our trade receivables are derived from sales to major retailers and distributors. Our five largest customers accounted for 70.0% and 68.3% of net revenue during the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019, five customers accounted for 63.6% and 66.6% of our gross accounts receivable, respectively. Customers that individually accounted for more than 10% of our gross accounts receivable balance comprised 48.9% and 55.8% of such balances at December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019, respectively. We had two customers who accounted for 34.4% and 14.4% of our gross accounts receivable as of December 31, 2019, respectively, and two customers who accounted for 40.1% and 15.7% of our gross accounts receivable as of March 31, 2019, respectively. Based upon performing ongoing credit evaluations, maintaining trade credit insurance on a majority of our customers and our past collection experience, we believe that the receivable balances from these largest customers do not represent a significant credit risk, although we actively monitor each customer's credit worthiness and economic conditions that may affect our customers' business and access to capital. We are monitoring the current global economic conditions, including credit markets and other factors as it relates to our customers in order to manage the risk of uncollectible accounts receivable.
We believe our current cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and projected cash flows from operations, along with availability under our Credit Agreement will provide us with sufficient liquidity to satisfy our cash requirements for working capital, capital expenditures and commitments on both a short-term and long-term basis.
As of December 31, 2019, the amount of cash and cash equivalents held outside of the U.S. by our foreign subsidiaries was $447.3 million. These balances are dispersed across various locations around the world. We believe that such dispersion meets the business and liquidity needs of our foreign affiliates. In addition, we expect for the foreseeable future to have the ability to generate sufficient cash domestically to support ongoing operations.
Our Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 14,218 shares of our common stock. Under this program, we may purchase shares from time to time through a variety of methods, including in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, in accordance with applicable securities laws. Repurchases are subject to the availability of stock, prevailing market conditions, the trading price of the stock, our financial performance and other conditions. The program may be suspended or discontinued at any time for any reason.
During the nine months ended December 31, 2019, we did not make any repurchases of our common stock in the open market. We have repurchased a total of 10,400 shares of our common stock under the program, and as of December 31, 2019, 3,818 shares of our common stock remained available for repurchase under the share repurchase program.
Our changes in cash flows were as follows:
Nine Months Ended
December 31,
(thousands of dollars)
2019
2018
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
439,975
$
390,199
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
(27,077)
22,278
Net cash used in financing activities
(60,745)
(348,229)
Effects of foreign currency exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
(1,705)
(15,124)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
$
350,448
$
49,124
At December 31, 2019, we had $1,742.4 million of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, compared to $1,392.0 million at March 31, 2019. The increase was due to Net cash provided by operating activities from sales of our products, partially offset by the timing of payments. This net increase was partially offset by (1) Net cash used in financing activities, which was primarily for tax payments related to net share settlements of our restricted stock awards and (2) Net cash used in investing activities primarily related to the purchases of fixed assets and purchases of long-term investments.
We have entered into various agreements in the ordinary course of business that require substantial cash commitments over the next several years. Other than agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and in addition to the agreements requiring known cash commitments as reported in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, we did not have any significant changes to our commitments since March 31, 2019.
Legal and Other Proceedings:
We are, or may become, subject to demands and claims (including intellectual property claims) and are involved in routine litigation in the ordinary course of business which we do not believe to be material to our business or financial statements. We have appropriately accrued amounts related to certain of these claims and legal and other proceedings. While it is reasonably possible that a loss may be incurred in excess of the amounts accrued in our financial statements, we believe that such losses, unless otherwise disclosed, would not be material.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019, we did not have any material relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial parties, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As such, we are not exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if we had engaged in such relationships.
International Operations
Net revenue earned outside of the United States is principally generated by our operations in Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada and Latin America. For the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, 42.3% and 47.8%, respectively, and for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, 41.5% and 45.9%, respectively, of our net revenue was earned outside of the United States. We are subject to risks inherent in foreign trade, including increased credit risks, tariffs and duties, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, shipping delays and international political, regulatory and economic developments, all of which can have a significant effect on our operating results.
Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results and Seasonality
We have experienced fluctuations in quarterly and annual operating results as a result of the timing of the introduction of new titles; variations in sales of titles developed for particular platforms; market acceptance of our titles; development and promotional expenses relating to the introduction of new titles; sequels or enhancements of existing titles; projected and actual changes in platforms; the timing and success of title introductions by our competitors; product returns; changes in pricing policies by us and our competitors; the accuracy of retailers' forecasts of consumer demand; the size and timing of acquisitions; the timing of orders from major customers; and order cancellations and delays in product shipment. Sales of our products are also seasonal, with peak shipments typically occurring in the fourth calendar quarter as a result of increased demand for products during the holiday season. For certain of our software products, we allocate a portion of the amount to be recognized as revenue over an estimated service period, which generally ranges from 9 to 15 months. As a result, the quarter in which we generate the highest net sales volume may be different from the quarter in which we recognize the highest amount of net revenues. Quarterly comparisons of operating results are not necessarily indicative of future operating results.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk is the potential loss arising from fluctuations in market rates and prices. Our market risk exposures primarily include fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates.
Interest Rate Risk
Our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates relates primarily to our short-term investment portfolio and variable rate debt under the Credit Agreement.
We seek to manage our interest rate risk by maintaining a short-term investment portfolio that includes corporate bonds with high credit quality and maturities less than two years. Since short-term investments mature relatively quickly and can be reinvested at the then-current market rates, interest income on a portfolio consisting of short-term securities is more subject to market fluctuations than a portfolio of longer-term maturities. However, the fair value of a short-term portfolio is less sensitive to market fluctuations than a portfolio of longer-term securities. We do not currently use derivative financial instruments in our short-term investment portfolio. Our investments are held for purposes other than trading.
As of December 31, 2019, we had $699.3 million of short-term investments, which included $426.3 million of available-for-sale securities. The available-for-sale securities were recorded at fair market value with unrealized gains or losses
resulting from changes in fair value reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, in stockholders' equity. We also had $1,284.9 million of cash and cash equivalents that are comprised primarily of money market funds and bank-time deposits. We determined that, based on the composition of our investment portfolio, there was no material interest rate risk exposure to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements or liquidity as of December 31, 2019.
Historically, fluctuations in interest rates have not had a significant effect on our operating results. Under our Credit Agreement, outstanding balances bear interest at our election of (a) 0.250% to 0.750% above a certain base rate (5.50% at December 31, 2019), or (b) 1.125% to 1.750% above the LIBOR rate (approximately 1.66% at December 31, 2019), with the margin rate subject to the achievement of certain average liquidity levels. Changes in market rates may affect our future interest expense if there is an outstanding balance on our line of credit.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
We transact business in foreign currencies and are exposed to risks resulting from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Accounts relating to foreign operations are translated into United States dollars using prevailing exchange rates at the relevant period end. Translation adjustments are included as a separate component of stockholders' equity. For the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, our foreign currency translation adjustment was a gain of $18.2 million and a loss of $16.3 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, we recognized a foreign currency translation adjustment loss of $3.2 million and a loss of $40.7 million, respectively. For the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, we recognized a foreign currency exchange transaction gain of $1.0 million and a gain of $2.2 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, we recognized a foreign currency exchange transaction loss of $1.7 million and a gain of $2.7 million, respectively, included in interest and other, net in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Balance Sheet Hedging Activities
We use foreign currency forward contracts to mitigate foreign currency exchange rate risk associated with non-functional currency denominated cash balances and intercompany funding loans, non-functional currency denominated accounts receivable and non-functional currency denominated accounts payable. These transactions are not designated as hedging instruments and are accounted for as derivatives whereby the fair value of the contracts is reported as either assets or liabilities on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, and gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair value are reported in Interest and other, net, in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. We do not enter into derivative financial contracts for speculative or trading purposes. At December 31, 2019, we had $180.7 million of forward contracts outstanding to sell foreign currencies in exchange for U.S. dollars and $56.1 million of forward contracts outstanding to buy foreign currencies in exchange for U.S. dollars, all of which have maturities of less than one year. At March 31, 2019, we had $116.6 million of forward contracts outstanding to sell foreign currencies in exchange for U.S. dollars and $87.8 million of forward contracts outstanding to buy foreign currencies in exchange for U.S. dollars, all of which have maturities of less than one year. For the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, we recorded a loss of $0.6 million and a gain of $10.8 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, we recorded a loss of $1.6 million and a gain of $13.0 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, the fair value of these outstanding forward contracts was an immaterial gain and was included in Prepaid expenses and other, and, as of March 31, 2019, the fair value of outstanding forward contracts was an immaterial loss and was included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities. The fair value of these outstanding forward contracts is estimated based on the prevailing exchange rates of the various hedged currencies as of the end of the period.
Our hedging programs are designed to reduce, but do not entirely eliminate, the effect of currency exchange rate movements. We believe the counterparties to these foreign currency forward contracts are creditworthy multinational commercial banks and that the risk of counterparty nonperformance is not material. Notwithstanding our efforts to mitigate some foreign currency exchange rate risks, there can be no assurance that our hedging activities will adequately protect us against the risks associated with foreign currency fluctuations. For the three months ended December 31, 2019, 42.3% of our revenue was generated outside the United States. Using sensitivity analysis, a hypothetical 10% increase in the value of the U.S. dollar against all currencies would decrease revenues by 4.2%, while a hypothetical 10% decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar against all currencies would increase revenues by 4.2%. In our opinion, a substantial portion of this fluctuation would be offset by cost of goods sold and operating expenses incurred in local currency.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Based on an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of management, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act") were effective as of the end of the period
covered by this report to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2019, which were identified in connection with management's evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures
In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Inherent limitations to any system of disclosure controls and procedures include, but are not limited to, the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of such controls by one or more persons. In addition, we have designed our system of controls based on certain assumptions, which we believe are reasonable, about the likelihood of future events, and our system of controls may therefore not achieve its desired objectives under all possible future events.
35
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
We are, or may become, subject to demands and claims (including intellectual property claims) and are involved in routine litigation in the ordinary course of business which we do not believe to be material to our business or financial statements. We have appropriately accrued amounts related to certain of these claims and legal and other proceedings. While it is reasonably possible that a loss may be incurred in excess of the amounts accrued in our financial statements, we believe that such losses, unless otherwise disclosed, would not be material.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes to the Risk Factors disclosed in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Share Repurchase Program
—In January 2013, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 7,500 shares of our common stock. On May 13, 2015, our Board of Directors approved an increase of 6,718 shares to our share repurchase program, increasing the total number of shares that we are permitted to repurchase to 14,218 shares of our common stock. The authorizations permit us to purchase shares from time to time through a variety of methods, including in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, in accordance with applicable securities laws. Repurchases are subject to the availability of stock, prevailing market conditions, the trading price of the stock, our financial performance and other conditions. The program may be suspended or discontinued at any time for any reason. During the three months ended December 31, 2019, we did not make any repurchases of our common stock in the open market. As of December 31, 2019, we have repurchased a total of 10,400 shares of our common stock under this program and 3,818 shares of common stock remained available for repurchase under our share repurchase program. The table below details the share repurchases made by us during the three months ended December 31, 2019:
Period
Shares
purchased
Average price
per share
Total number of
shares purchased
as part of publicly
announced plans
or programs
Maximum number
of shares that
may yet be
purchased under
the repurchase
program
Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following formatted in Inline XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018; and (vi) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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