Eone Annual Report 2019
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2019 Annual Report and Accounts Unlocking the power & value of creativity We are focused on building the leading talent-driven, platform- agnostic entertainment company in the world. Through our deep creative relationships we are able to produce the highest quality content for the world’s markets. We are powered by global reach, scale and local market knowledge to generate maximum value for this content. Strategic Report SR Governance G Financial Statements FS Unlocking the Unlocking the value of originality power & value p.10 of creativity Unlocking the power of creativity p.12 Strategic report Governance 02 At a glance 66 Corporate governance 04 Chairman’s statement 68 Board of Directors 06 Chief Executive Officer’s review 70 Corporate governance report 10 Unlocking the power 78 Audit Committee report & value of creativity Unlocking the 86 Nomination Committee report value of direction 20 Market Review 90 Directors’ Remuneration report p.14 22 Business Model 118 Directors’ report: 24 Strategy additional information 26 Key performance indicators Financial statements Business review 122 Independent auditor’s report 28 Family & Brands 127 Consolidated financial statements 36 Film, Television & Music 131 Notes to the consolidated financial statements Unlocking the 46 Finance review power of storytelling 51 Principal risks and uncertainties Visit our website: entertainmentone.com p.16 58 Corporate responsibility Unlocking the value of talent p.18 entertainmentone.com 1 AT A GLANCE Performance highlights Strong growth in underlying EBITDA in FY19 up 21% to £198 million, with EBITDA margin up 510 basis points 60 to 21.0% funded television projects currently in development Family & Brands continue to deliver strong growth in revenue US$2.5bn and underlying EBITDA Family & Brands retail sales (FY18: US$2.4bn) Film, Television & Music earnings mix rebalancing towards television and music activities US$2.0bn independent valuation of the content library (FY18: US$1.7bn) Acquisitions during the year secure additional US$6m creative and management talent as well as global savings realised through to FY19 due to the integration of content rights Television & Film divisions 2 eOne Annual Report and Accounts 2019 SR G FS Revenue1 Adjusted diluted Underlying EBITDA earnings per share £941.2 million £197.6 million -9% (2018: £1,029.0m) 25.0 pence +21% (2018: £163.6m) +30% (2018: £19.3p) 0 6 . 5 7 7 2 9 . 1 0 2 . 8 6 . 8 . 2 0 9 . 2 3 4 0 0 . 3 . 2 , 0 0 1 2 1 6 9 9 0 2 , 6 4 1 1 1 1 1 7 . 1 9 5 . 2 9 5 0 2 8 1 3 8 . 7 7 0 1 15 16 17 18 19 15 16 17 18 19 15 16 17 18 19 Dividend Profit before tax2 Net debt 1.5 pence £36.8 million £341.5 million +7% (2018: 1.4p) £28.1m lower (2018: £64.9m) £27.0m higher (2018: £314.5m) 5 . 5 . 1 4 1 . 5 1 4 . 3 . 3 4 1 9 1 2 . 3 1 4 1 . 6 1 9 . 9 . 4 7 0 2 4 . 8 4 2 . 4 7 8 0 4 9 8 . 1 8 6 5 1 3 3 15 16 17 18 19 15 16 17 18 19 15 16 17 18 19 Alternative performance measures We use both statutory and adjusted measures in our strategic report. A �ull reconciliation between our reported and adjusted results is provided in our Appendix to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 183. Reported 2018 amounts have been restated �or IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, re�er to Note 1 o� the Consolidated Financial Statements �or more details. 1. Revenue in FY15, FY16 and FY17 is presented under IAS 18. Revenue in FY18 and FY19 is presented applying IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers 2. Decrease in pro�t be�ore tax driven by year-on-year increase in one-of items o� £60.9 million, mainly driven by the closure o� the Group’s physical home entertainment operations. entertainmentone.com 3 CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT Unlocking the power and value of creativity The creative industries are going through an unprecedented period of transition and change, with new entrants to the market creating attractive opportunities and novel ways for us to do business. Entertainment One remains focused on developing relationships with the best creatives in the industry, supported by our deep customer reach. Vibrant, dynamic content markets Entertainment One is now positioned at the heart of a mid-roll, rather like linear broadcast but for premium vibrant content ecosystem – no mean feat as we look advertisers. Other broadcasters are uniting to launch back on a dynamic industry that has seen the pace of new subscription-based themed channels outside their change accelerate over the last few years. There are few domestic markets, such as Britbox, a joint venture signs that this rate of evolution will abate any time soon. between ITV and BBC for British content available We have commented regularly on how consumers are only in North America. increasingly taking greater control of their content choices, demanding the very best films and television We have also seen major new entrants in the market. shows to consume at a time and place of their In November 2019, Disney will launch its new Disney + convenience. This is particularly true among the younger subscription service, which combines content from Walt viewing audiences, who are using mobile handsets and Disney Studios and Walt Disney Television. As well as tablets as their primary entertainment device. offering its catalogue of content to subscribers it will also develop new films and television shows for the platform, To satisfy this demand the number of new platforms continuing to work in partnership with independent continues to rise and consumers are faced with a diverse producers such as Entertainment One. Apple is also and often confusing range of viewing options. Linear entering the market following the announcement of broadcasters and pay-TV networks continue to be the launch of its Apple TV+ SVOD service this autumn. challenged as the subscription video on demand (SVOD) platforms evolve their models from pure streaming to This is just a snapshot of the vibrancy of our marketplace. now offer download capabilities and access to Yet, despite all the changes taking place one thing aggregated channels via top-up subscriptions (for remains constant – the demand for the best quality example Amazon Prime Video subscribers can now content. Entertainment One remains unwaveringly access add-on channels such as Discovery, ITV Hub, focused on satisfying this demand by continuing to build StarzPlay and Eurosport). Google continues to develop relationships with the best content producers across YouTube advertiser funded VOD (AVOD) and premium family, film, television and music to unlock the power subscription-based channels. Some broadcasters, such and value of content. Our platform-agnostic approach as UK’s Channel 4, are launching new broadcast video enables us to work with any broadcaster, network or on demand (BVOD) services to allow users to access digital platform, with our extensive sales presence streaming content that has advertising breaks embedded providing deep customer reach around the world. 4 eOne Annual Report and Accounts 2019 SR G FS Operational highlights traditional and digital networks. Our music business has performed strongly and we were excited to welcome the In this year’s Annual Report and Accounts we are Audio Networks team to eOne following the conclusion pleased to report another record year of underlying of the financial year. EBITDA performance for our company, with strong adjusted earnings per share growth of 30%. This reflects Shareholder engagement both the dynamic market conditions we have highlighted above but also the changes management has brought An active dialogue with shareholders is an important about during the period to align ourselves fully with our aspect to any publicly-listed company’s governance creative talent partners, content buying customers and responsibilities. Following the 2018 Annual General consumer audiences. Meeting, we have undertaken a shareholder engagement programme led by our Senior Independent The Family & Brands business continues to consolidate Director, Mark Opzoomer. We continue to evaluate the its position as one of the leading pre-school brands information gathered during the process and we would businesses in the world today. Both Peppa Pig and like to thank our shareholders for their feedback. You can PJ Masks have been fully launched to broadcast find more details in the Corporate governance report. audiences in China across cable and SVOD networks and consumer launches for each brand have taken place. Our people In particular, engagement around the Peppa Pig property My final words, as ever, are reserved for the people has been enhanced through the release of the Peppa Pig at Entertainment One. The diverse range of skills, Celebrates Chinese New Year film and the opening of experience and knowledge across our offices around the first Peppa Pig World of Play through our partner the world gives the Company its unique can-do culture. Merlin Entertainments with Dallas following soon after. A skilled, passionate and fully-engaged workforce at all Further Peppa Pig World of Play locations are being levels of the Company brings both social and economic planned alongside other experiential formats. benefits to our trading partners, our shareholders and the communities in which we operate; we work tirelessly to Our Film, Television & Music businesses also promote the right environment for this culture to develop experienced a successful year. Over the last two years and flourish. Our people are encouraged to engage in we have transitioned our film operations away from and contribute socially across our businesses – through distribution activities towards production as industry formal activities such as our Diversity Council and Pride dynamics have changed.