ELECTRONIC ARTS REPORTS Q1 FY14 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Q1 Non-GAAP Net Revenue and EPS Results Exceed Guidance

Q1 Non-GAAP Digital Net Revenue Up 17% Versus Prior Year

EA Signs Publishing Agreement with TenCent for FIFA Online 3 in China

EA Received 116 Awards from Over 220 Industry Nominations at E3

 

REDWOOD CITY, CA – July 23, 2013 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced preliminary financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2013.

“EA had a solid quarter driven by continued digital growth and disciplined cost management,” said Executive Chairman Larry Probst.  “We are also executing on a clear set of goals for leadership on mobile, PC, current and next generation consoles.”

“EA delivered first quarter EPS above our guidance through a combination of revenue growth, phasing of expenses, and cost control,” said Chief Financial Officer Blake Jorgensen.  “We are reaffirming our annual non-GAAP guidance of $4 billion net revenue and $1.20 earnings per share.”

This release, along with ongoing updates regarding EA’s business, is available on EA’s blog at http://ea.com/news.

Selected Operating Highlights and Metrics:

*On a non-GAAP basis

• EA was the #1 publisher in Western retail markets in calendar year 2013, and the #4 global publisher in the iOS game market in the June quarter.
• EA received 116 E3 awards from over 220 industry nominations, including 8 out of 15 awards from the official E3 Game Critics.  Battlefield 4™ won a total of 21 awards at E3, including GameSpot’s Best of E3 award, Need for Speed™ Rivals was named Best Racing Game, and NHL® 14 took the honors for Best Sports Game.  Titanfall™ from Respawn Entertainment won six major awards, including Best of Show, Best Original Game, Best Console Game, Best PC Game, Best Action Game and Best Online Multiplayer.
• The Simpsons™: Tapped Outrecorded its highest revenue quarter* in Q1 since launching in August 2012.
• EA’s mobile and handheld digital revenue generated $103 million* in the quarter, a 30% year-over-year increase in digital net revenue.
• Real Racing™ 3, the #1 racing title on iOS, has generated more than 45 million downloads, and has averaged over 2 million daily active users since launching in March.
• The Battlefield 3™ Premium community continues to grow with over 4 million members to date.
• FIFA 13 digital net revenue topped $70 million* in the quarter, a 92% increase versus FIFA 12 in Q1 FY 2013.
• FIFA Online 3 digital net revenue in grew 88%* in the first quarter compared FIFA Online 2 in the prior year, and was the #1 online sports game in Korea based on revenue and traffic.
• EA signs publishing agreement with TenCent for FIFA Online 3 in China, with details to be announced in an upcoming joint press release from EA and TenCent.
• EA’s Origin™ platform for downloading digital games has registered over 50 million users, including 22 million mobile users.
• Trailing twelve-month non-GAAP digital net revenue was up 28% to a record $1.72 billion*.

Q1 Financial Highlights:

For the quarter, non-GAAP net revenue of $495 million was above our guidance of $450 million.  Non-GAAP diluted loss per share of ($0.40) was above our guidance of ($0.62).

 

(in millions of $, except per share amounts)	Quarter Ended 6/30/13	Quarter Ended 6/30/12
GAAP Digital Net Revenue	$482	$342
GAAP Publishing Packaged Goods and Other Net Revenue	452	592
GAAP Distribution Packaged Goods Net Revenue	15	21
GAAP Total Net Revenue	$949	$955
Non-GAAP Digital Net Revenue	$378	$324
Non-GAAP Publishing Packaged Goods and Other Net Revenue	102	146
Non-GAAP Distribution Packaged Goods Net Revenue	15	21
Non-GAAP Total Net Revenue	$495	$491
GAAP Net Income	$222	$201
Non-GAAP Net Loss	(121)	(130)
GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share	0.71	0.63
Non-GAAP Diluted Loss Per Share	(0.40)	(0.41)
Cash Used in Operations	($248)	($244)

 

Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) Financial Highlights:

(in millions of $)	TTM Ended 6/30/13	TTM Ended 6/30/12
GAAP Net Revenue	$3,791	$4,099
GAAP Net Income	119	56
Non-GAAP Net Revenue	3,797	4,153
Non-GAAP Net Income	273	277
Cash Provided by Operations	$320	$307

 

Business Outlook as of July 23, 2013

The following forward-looking statements, as well as those made above, reflect expectations as of July 23, 2013. Electronic Arts assumes no obligation to update these statements. Results may be materially different and are affected by many factors detailed in this release and in EA’s annual and quarterly SEC filings.

Fiscal Year 2014 Expectations – Ending March 31, 2014

- GAAP net revenue is expected to be approximately $3.50 billion.

- Non-GAAP net revenue is expected to be approximately $4.00 billion.

- GAAP diluted loss per share is expected to be approximately ($0.98).

- Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share is expected to be approximately $1.20.

- The Company estimates a share count of 315 million for purposes of calculating fiscal year 2014   diluted earnings per share, and 308 million for diluted loss per share.

- Expected non-GAAP net income excludes the following from expected GAAP net loss:

• Non-GAAP net revenue is expected to be approximately $500 million higher than GAAP net revenue due to the impact of the change in deferred net revenue (online-enabled games);
• Approximately $150 million of stock-based compensation;
• Approximately $82 million of acquisition-related expenses;
• Approximately $4 million of restructuring charges;
• Approximately $20 million from the amortization of debt discount; and
• Non-GAAP tax expense is expected to be approximately $76 million higher than GAAP tax expense.

Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2014 Expectations – Ending September 30, 2013

- GAAP net revenue is expected to be approximately $625 million.

- Non-GAAP net revenue is expected to be approximately $975 million.

- GAAP diluted loss per share is expected to be approximately ($1.22).

- Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share is expected to be approximately $0.12.

- The Company estimates a share count of 316 million for purposes of calculating second quarter fiscal year 2014 diluted earnings per share, and 308 million for diluted loss per share.

- Expected non-GAAP net loss excludes the following from expected GAAP net income:

• Non-GAAP net revenue is expected to be approximately $350 million higher than GAAP net revenue due to the impact of the change in deferred net revenue (online-enabled games);
• Approximately $40 million of stock-based compensation;
• Approximately $20 million of acquisition-related expenses;
• Approximately $1 million of restructuring charges;
• Approximately $5 million from the amortization of debt discount; and
• Non-GAAP tax expense is expected to be $3 million higher than GAAP tax expense.

 

Conference Call and Supporting Documents

Electronic Arts will host a conference call on July 23, 2013 at 2:00 pm PT (5:00 pm ET) to review its results for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2013 and its outlook for the future.  During the course of the call, Electronic Arts may disclose material developments affecting its business and/or financial performance.  Listeners may access the conference call live through the following dial-in number: 773-799-3213 (domestic) or 888-677-1083 (international), using the password “EA” or via webcast at http://ir.ea.com.

EA will also post a slide presentation that accompanies the call at http://ir.ea.com.

A dial-in replay of the conference call will be provided until August 6, 2013 at the following number: 203-369-0099 (domestic) or 866-356-3373 (international).  A webcast replay of the conference call will be available for one year at http://ir.ea.com. 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures 

To supplement the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, Electronic Arts uses certain non-GAAP measures of financial performance. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with the Company’s results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures used by Electronic Arts include: non-GAAP net revenue, non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP operating income (loss), non-GAAP net income (loss) and historical and estimated non-GAAP diluted earnings (loss) per share.  These non-GAAP financial measures exclude the following items, as applicable in a given reporting period, from the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations:

• Acquisition-related expenses
• Amortization of debt discount
• Certain non-recurring litigation expenses
• Change in deferred net revenue (online-enabled games)
• Loss (gain) on strategic investments
• Restructuring charges
• Stock-based compensation
• Income tax adjustments

Electronic Arts may consider whether other significant non-recurring items that arise in the future should also be excluded in calculating the non-GAAP financial measures it uses. 

Electronic Arts believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when taken together with the corresponding GAAP financial measures, provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s performance by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of the Company’s core business, operating results or future outlook. Electronic Arts’ management uses, and believes that investors benefit from referring to, these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the Company’s operating results both as a consolidated entity and at the business unit level, as well as when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate comparisons of the Company’s performance to prior periods. 

In addition to the reasons stated above, which are generally applicable to each of the items Electronic Arts excludes from its non-GAAP financial measures, the Company believes it is appropriate to exclude certain items for the following reasons:

Acquisition-Related Expenses.  GAAP requires expenses to be recognized for various types of events associated with a business acquisition.  These events include, expensing acquired intangible assets, including acquired in-process technology, post-closing adjustments associated with changes in the estimated amount of contingent consideration to be paid in an acquisition, and the impairment of accounting goodwill created as a result of an acquisition when future events indicate there has been a decline in its value.  When analyzing the operating performance of an acquired entity, Electronic Arts’ management focuses on the total return provided by the investment (i.e., operating profit generated from the acquired entity as compared to the purchase price paid including the final amounts paid for contingent consideration) without taking into consideration any allocations made for accounting purposes.  Because the final purchase price paid for an acquisition necessarily reflects the accounting value assigned to both contingent consideration and to the intangible assets (including goodwill), when analyzing the operating performance of an acquisition in subsequent periods, the Company’s management excludes the GAAP impact of any adjustments to the fair value of these acquisition-related balances to its financial results. 

Amortization of Debt Discount on the Convertible Senior Notes.  Under GAAP, certain convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash on conversion are required to be separately accounted for as liability (debt) and equity (conversion option) components of the instrument in a manner that reflects the issuer’s non-convertible debt borrowing rate.  Accordingly, for GAAP purposes, we are required to amortize as a debt discount an amount equal to the fair value of the conversion option as interest expense on the Company’s $632.5 million of 0.75% convertible senior notes that were issued in a private placement in July 2011 over the term of the notes.  Electronic Arts’ management will exclude the effect of this amortization when evaluating the Company’s operating performance and the performance of its management team during this period and will continue to do so, when it plans, forecasts and analyzes future periods.

Certain non-recurring litigation expenses. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, Electronic Arts recognized a $27 million expense related to a settlement of a litigation matter.  This significant non-recurring litigation expense is excluded from our non-GAAP financial measures in order to provide comparability between periods.  Further, the Company excluded this expense when evaluating its operating performance and the performance of its management team during this period and will continue to do so when it plans, forecasts and analyzes future periods.

Change in Deferred Net Revenue (Online-enabled Games).  The majority of our software games can be connected to the Internet whereby a consumer may be able to download unspecified content or updates on a when-and-if-available basis (“unspecified updates”) for use with the original game software.  In addition, we may also offer an online matchmaking service that permits consumers to play against each other via the Internet.  GAAP requires us to account for the consumer’s right to receive unspecified updates or the matchmaking service for no additional fee as a “bundled” sale, or multiple-element arrangement. Electronic Arts is not able to objectively determine the fair value of these unspecified updates or online services included in certain of its online-enabled games.  As a result, the Company recognizes the revenue from the sale of these online-enabled games on a straight-line basis over the estimated offering period.  Internally, Electronic Arts’ management excludes the impact of the change in deferred net revenue related to online-enabled games in its non-GAAP financial measures when evaluating the Company’s operating performance, when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods, and when assessing the performance of its management team.  The Company believes that excluding the impact of the change in deferred net revenue from its operating results is important to (1) facilitate comparisons between periods in understanding our underlying sales performance for the period, and (2) understanding our operations because all related costs of revenue are expensed as incurred instead of deferred and recognized ratably.

Loss (gain) on Strategic Investments.  From time to time, the Company makes strategic investments.  Electronic Arts’ management excludes the impact of any losses and gains on such investments when evaluating the Company’s operating performance, when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods, and when assessing the performance of its management team.  In addition, the Company believes that excluding the impact of such losses and gains on these investments from its operating results is important to facilitate comparisons to prior periods.

Restructuring Charges. Although Electronic Arts has engaged in various restructuring activities in the past, each has been a discrete, extraordinary event based on a unique set of business objectives.  Each of these restructurings has been unlike its predecessors in terms of its operational implementation, business impact and scope.  As such, the Company believes it is appropriate to exclude restructuring charges from its non-GAAP financial measures.

Stock-Based Compensation.  When evaluating the performance of its individual business units, the Company does not consider stock-based compensation charges.  Likewise, the Company’s management teams exclude stock-based compensation expense from their short and long-term operating plans.  In contrast, the Company’s management teams are held accountable for cash-based compensation and such amounts are included in their operating plans.  Further, when considering the impact of equity award grants, Electronic Arts places a greater emphasis on overall shareholder dilution rather than the accounting charges associated with such grants. 

Income Tax Adjustments.The Company uses a fixed, long-term projected tax rate internally to evaluate its operating performance, to forecast, plan and analyze future periods, and to assess the performance of its management team.  Prior to April 1, 2013, a 28 percent tax rate was applied to its non-GAAP financial results.  Based on a re-evaluation of its fixed, long-term projected tax rate, beginning in fiscal year 2014, the Company has applied a tax rate of 25 percent to its non-GAAP financial results. 

In the financial tables below, Electronic Arts has provided a reconciliation of the most comparable GAAP financial measures to non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some statements set forth in this release, including the information relating to EA’s fiscal 2014 guidance information under the heading “Business Outlook”, contain forward-looking statements that are subject to change.  Statements including words such as "anticipate", "believe", “estimate” or "expect" and statements in the future tense are forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are preliminary estimates and expectations based on current information and are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or actual future results to differ materially from the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements. 

Some of the factors which could cause the Company’s results to differ materially from its expectations include the following: sales of the Company’s titles; the Company’s ability to manage expenses; the competition in the interactive entertainment industry; the effectiveness of the Company’s sales and marketing programs; timely development and release of Electronic Arts’ products; the Company’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions; the consumer demand for, and the availability of an adequate supply of console hardware units; the Company’s ability to predict consumer preferences among competing platforms; the Company’s ability to service and support digital product offerings, including managing online security; general economic conditions; and other factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013. 

These forward-looking statements are current as of July 23, 2013.  Electronic Arts assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.  In addition, the preliminary financial results set forth in this release are estimates based on information currently available to Electronic Arts. 

While Electronic Arts believes these estimates are meaningful, they could differ from the actual amounts that Electronic Arts ultimately reports in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2013.  Electronic Arts assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these estimates prior to filing its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2013.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company’s game franchises are offered as both packaged goods products and online services delivered through Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and tablets. EA has more than 300 million registered players and operates in 75 countries.

In fiscal year 2013, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.8 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster franchises such as The Sims™, Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speed™, Battlefield™, and Mass Effect™. More information about EA is available at http://info.ea.com.  

EA SPORTS, Origin, The Sims, Real Racing, Need for Speed, Mass Effect, Battlefield, Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4 are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc and its subsidiaries. The Simpsons TM & © 2012 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Titanfall is a trademark of Respawn Entertainment, LLC.  John Madden, NFL, NHL and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.