Azteca Announces Sales of Ps.2,417 Million and EBITDA of Ps.614 Million for the First Quarter of 2013


MEXICO CITY, April 23, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV:AZTECA) (Latibex:XTZA), one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language television programming in the world, announced today financial results for the first quarter of 2013.

First quarter results

Net sales for the quarter were Ps.2,417 million, from Ps.2,751 million for the same quarter of 2012. The decrease in sales was caused mainly by the change in administrations of the Mexican government, which tends to redefine marketing projects; the company expects advertising investment levels to recover during 2013.

Total costs and expenses were Ps.1,803 million, 5% below Ps.1,901 million in the same period of the previous year. As a result, Azteca reported EBITDA of Ps.614 million, compared to Ps.850 million from last year. The EBITDA margin was 25%.

The company registered net income of Ps.152 million, from Ps.438 million for the same quarter of 2012.

 
  1Q 2012 1Q 2013 Change
      Ps. %
         
Net sales  $ 2,751  $ 2,417  $ (334) -12%
         
EBITDA  $ 850  $ 614  $ (237) -28%
         
Net income  $ 438  $ 152  $ (286) -65%
         
Net income per CPO  $ 0.15  $ 0.05  $ (0.10) -65%
 
Figures in millions of pesos.
EBITDA: Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization. 
The number of CPOs outstanding as of March 31, 2012 was 2,983 million and as of March 31, 2013 was 2,984 million.

Net sales

Domestic ad sales were Ps.2,135 million in the period, compared to Ps.2,463 million for the same period of the previous year. Sales were complemented by revenue from Azteca America—the company's wholly-owned broadcast television network focused on the U.S. Hispanic market—of Ps.250 million, compared to Ps.251 million a year ago.

Programming sales to other countries were Ps.32 million in the period, from Ps.37 million from the previous year. The revenue resulted from the export of programs such as La Otra Cara del Alma, in Central and South America, and Los Rey in Europe.

Costs and expenses

Costs and expenses decreased 5% during the period, as the result of a 9% reduction in production, programming and transmission costs—to Ps.1,423 million, from Ps.1,555 million in the same period a year ago— and a 10% increase in selling and administrative expenses—to Ps.380 million, compared to Ps.345 million in the same quarter of 2012.

The reduction in costs results from higher efficiency in the production of successful content, derived from solid strategies that control disbursements effectively; while the performance of sales and administrative expenses is mainly related to operations and personnel expenses in the period.

EBITDA and net income

EBITDA was Ps.614 million, compared to Ps.850 million in the same period of last year. The most significant change below EBITDA was a Ps.23 million deterioration in equity in income from affiliates, resulting from losses from which we recognize results under the participation method, compared to profit from last year.

Net income for the quarter was Ps.152 million, from Ps.438 million last year.

Debt

As of March 31, 2013, Azteca's outstanding debt—excluding Ps.1,480 million debt due in 2069—was Ps.8,658 million, 9% below the Ps.9,466 million from the previous year.  

The cash balance of the company was Ps.7,264 million, compared to Ps.8,239 million a year ago. As a result, net debt was Ps.1,394 million, from Ps.1,227 million from the prior year. Debt to last twelve months (LTM) EBITDA ratio was 2 times, and net debt to LTM EBITDA was 0.3 times.

Company Profile

Azteca is one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language television programming in the world, operating two national television networks in Mexico, Azteca 13 and Azteca 7, through more than 300 owned and operated stations across the country. Azteca affiliates include Azteca America Network, a broadcast television network focused on the rapidly growing U.S. Hispanic market, and Azteca Web, an Internet company for North American Spanish speakers.

Azteca is a Grupo Salinas company (www.gruposalinas.com), a group of dynamic, fast-growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder value, contributing to build the middle class of the countries in which they operate, and improving society through excellence. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates a as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies. The companies include: Azteca (www.irtvazteca.com), Azteca America (www.aztecaamerica.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Advance America (www.advanceamerica.net), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx) and Grupo Iusacell (www.iusacell.com). Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. However, member companies share a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Other risks that may affect Azteca and its subsidiaries are identified in documents sent to securities authorities.

TV AZTECA, S.A.B. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(Millions of Mexican pesos of March 31 of 2012 and 2013)
             
             
  First Quarter of :      
  2012   2013      
          Change
             
Net revenue  Ps 2,751 100%   Ps 2,417 100%   Ps (334) -12%
             
Programming, production and transmission costs  1,555 57%  1,423 59%  (132) -9%
Selling and administrative expenses  345 13%  380 16%  35 10%
Total costs and expenses  1,901 69%  1,803 75%  (98) -5%
             
EBITDA  850 31%  614 25%  (237) -28%
             
Depreciation and amortization  129    149    19  
Other expense -Net  58    59    1  
             
Operating profit  663 24%  406 17%  (257) -39%
             
Equity in income from affiliates  13    (10)    (23)  
             
Comprehensive financing result:            
Interest expense  (244)    (240)    3  
Other financing expense  (13)    (12)    1  
Interest income  54    41    (13)  
Exchange loss -Net  201    207    6  
   (1)    (4)    (2)  
             
Income before the following provision  675 25%  392 16%  (283) -42%
             
Provision for income tax  (241)    (244)    (4)  
             
Net income   Ps 434     Ps 148     Ps (286)  
             
Non-controlling share in net profit   Ps (3)     Ps (4)     Ps (0)  
             
Controlling share in net profit    Ps 438 16%   Ps 152 6%   Ps (286) -65%
 
TV AZTECA, S.A.B. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Millions of Mexican pesos of March 31 of 2012 and 2013)
         
         
  At March 31    
  2012 2013    
      Change
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents   Ps 8,239   Ps 7,264   Ps (975)  
Accounts receivable  8,548  7,114  (1,434)  
Other current assets  2,280  2,409  129  
         
Total current assets  19,067  16,787  (2,280) -12%
         
Exhibition rights  1,274  1,589  315  
Property, plant and equipment-Net  3,343  3,451  108  
Television concessions-Net  7,721  7,721  --   
Other assets  1,054  1,585  531  
Deferred income tax asset  4,286  4,286  --   
Total long term assets  17,678  18,632  954 5%
         
Total assets   Ps 36,745   Ps 35,419   Ps (1,326) -4%
         
         
Current liabilities:        
Short-term debt   Ps 667   Ps 667   Ps --   
Other current liabilities  2,180  2,435  255  
         
Total current liabilities  2,847  3,102  255 9%
         
Long-term debt:        
Structured Securities Certificates  5,020  4,358  (662)  
Long-term debt  3,779  3,633  (146)  
Total long-term debt  8,799  7,991  (808)  
Other long term liabilities:        
Advertising advances  9,350  7,851  (1,499)  
American Tower Corporation (due 2069)  1,539  1,480  (59)  
Deferred income tax asset  3,106  3,112  6  
         
Total other long-term liabilities   13,995   12,443   (1,552) -11%
         
Total liabilities  25,641  23,536  (2,105) -8%
         
Total stockholders' equity  11,104  11,883  779 7%
         
Total liabilities and equity   Ps 36,745   Ps 35,419   Ps (1,326) -4%


            

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