TV Azteca strengthened its generation of cutting-edge content, which further boosted its competitive position in the media market

MEXICO CITY, April 30, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: AZTECACPO; Latibex: XTZA), one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language television programming in the world, today announced financial results for the first quarter 2019.

"TV Azteca continues with its transformation process to make the company more agile and dynamic for the future," commented Benjamín Salinas, CEO of TV Azteca.

"During the period, the media market in Mexico was affected by lower government demand for advertising, which had a negative impact on revenues and profitability of TV Azteca," added Mr. Salinas. "However, the TV Azteca of the future is under constant construction to react dynamically to the demand of the audience through our strong process of producing innovative content of remarkable quality, which allows clients to reach their target market effectively through our platforms, and further boosts the company's competitive position in the market."

First quarter results

Net revenue for the period was Ps.3,248 million, 5% lower than the Ps.3,427 million for the same quarter of last year. Total costs and expenses were Ps.2,867 million, 1% less compared to Ps.2,906 million for the previous year.

As a result, TV Azteca reported EBITDA of Ps.381 million, 27% less than the Ps.521 million of last year; EBITDA margin for the quarter was 12%. Operating income was Ps.111 million, in comparison with Ps.216 million for the previous year.

The company registered a net loss of Ps.387 million, compared to a net income of Ps.173 million for the same period of 2018.

	1Q 2018	1Q 2019	Change
			Ps.	%
Net sales	$3,427	$3,248	$(180)	-5%
EBITDA	$521	$381	$(140)	-27%
Operating income	$216	$111	$(105)	-49%
Net result	$173	$(387)	$(560)	----
Net result per CPO	$0.06	$(0.13)	$(0.19)	----

Figures in millions of pesos.
EBITDA: Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization.       
The number of CPOs outstanding as of March 31, 2018 was 2,986 million and as of March 31, 2019 was 2,987 million.

Net sales

Advertising sales in Mexico decreased 6% to Ps.2,557 million, from Ps.2,712 million from the previous year, mainly as a result of lower government demand for advertising in the media market this quarter.

During the period, content sales to other countries were Ps.40 million in comparison with Ps.87 million in the previous year. Revenue for the quarter resulted mainly from the commercialization of the shows María Magdalena in Europe, Siempre tuya Acapulco in South America and Europe, and Cuando seas mía in Africa, as well as the sale of TV Azteca content to pay TV channels in the rest of the world.

Revenue from TV Azteca Guatemala and TV Azteca Honduras was Ps.18 million, in comparison with Ps.12 million of the previous year.

Azteca Comunicaciones Perú reported revenue of Ps.96 million, in comparison with Ps.94 million a year ago. The revenue resulted from telecommunications services and reimbursements from the Peruvian government for maintenance and operation of the fiber optic network.

During the quarter, TV Azteca organized the WGC Mexico Championship golf tournament for the third consecutive year, one of the most important sporting events in the world, creating synergies relevant to the company. The income generated from this tournament was Ps.537 million, 3% higher in comparison to Ps.522 million from previous year.

Costs and SG&A Expenses

Total costs and expenses decreased 1% in the quarter as a result of a 3% reduction in production, programming and transmission costs, and telecommunications services to Ps.2,533 million, from Ps.2,601 million a year ago. This is in conjunction with a 9% increase in selling and administrative expenses, to Ps.334 million, compared to Ps.306 million in the previous year.

The reduction in production costs results from strategies aimed at strengthening the efficiency in the generation of content while preserving the optimum quality of programming.

The costs of Azteca Comunicaciones Perú were Ps.93 million, from Ps.111 million a year ago. The lower costs are derived from operation efficiencies, as well as from the successful negotiation of a transmission infrastructure rent reduction.

The costs related to the WGC Mexico Championship golf tournament were Ps.534 million this period, from Ps.541 million a year ago.

The increase in expenses at TV Azteca reflects higher expenses for advisory services, partially offset by lower personnel and operating expenses this quarter.

Consolidated EBITDA and net result

Consolidated EBITDA of the company was Ps.381 million, compared to Ps.521 million for the same period of the prior year. Operating profit was Ps.111 million, in comparison to Ps.216 million a year ago.

The most significant variations below EBITDA were the following:

A decrease of Ps.40 million in other expenses resulted from lower donations and legal services this quarter.

A reduction of Ps.490 million in foreign exchange gains, as a result of lower net monetary liabilities in dollars, compared to the previous year, combined with lower appreciation of the peso this quarter.

TV Azteca registered a net loss of Ps.387 million for the quarter, compared to a net profit of Ps.173 million for the same period a year ago.

Cash Flow

During the quarter, TV Azteca generated cash flow from operations of Ps.1,117 million, in comparison to Ps.217 million negative flow of the previous year. Once the cash flows from investment and financing activities are included, the increase in cash and cash equivalents of the company was Ps.415 million in the period, which additionally strengthened the balance sheet of TV Azteca.

"The strong generation of operating cash flow results, to a large extent, from superior efficiency in collecting from clients, as well as an adequate management of inventories and exhibition rights, within the framework of a solid administration of working capital in the company," commented Esteban Galíndez, CFO of TV Azteca.

Debt
As of March 31, 2019, TV Azteca’s outstanding debt was Ps.13,295 million, in comparison to Ps.12,741 million in the previous year.

The cash and cash equivalents balance at the end of the quarter totaled Ps.2,117 million, from Ps.2,823 million a year ago. The reduction resulted from the payment made for the renewal of TV Azteca´s television channel concessions in the fourth quarter of 2018, for Ps.3,940 million, as previously detailed, partially offset by the generation of cash in the period.

Net debt of the company as of March 31, 2019 was Ps.11,178 million, in comparison to Ps.9,918 million a year ago.

About TV Azteca

TV Azteca is one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language television programming in the world, operating four television networks in Mexico:  Azteca uno, Azteca 7, adn40 and a+ through more than 300 owned and operated stations across the country. The company also operates TV Azteca Digital, the operator of several Mexico’s most visited websites and social media platforms.

TV Azteca is a Grupo Salinas company (www.gruposalinas.com), a group of dynamic, fast growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating: economic value through market innovation and goods and services that improve standards of living; social value to improve community wellbeing; and environmental value by reducing the negative impact of its business activities. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies. These companies include TV Azteca (www.TVazteca.com; www.irtvazteca.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), Punto Casa de Bolsa (www.puntocasadebolsa.mx), Totalplay (www.totalplay.com.mx) and Totalplay Empresarial (totalplayempresarial.com.mx). TV Azteca and Grupo Elektra trade shares on the Mexican Stock Market and in Spains' Latibex market. Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. The group of companies shares 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 concepts about the future that involve risks and uncertainty that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Other risks that may affect TV Azteca and its subsidiaries are presented in documents sent to the securities authorities.

Investor Relations:

Bruno Rangel Grupo Salinas Tel. +52 (55) 2601-5400, ext. 11502 jrangelk@gruposalinas.com.mx

Rolando Villarreal TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. Tel. +52 (55) 2601-5400, ext. 11508 rvillarreal@gruposalinas.com.mx

Press Relations:
Luciano Pascoe
Tel. +52 (55) 1720 1313 ext. 36553
lpascoe@gruposalinas.com.mx

TV AZTECA, S.A.B. DE C.V.  AND  SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(Millions of Mexican pesos of March 31 of  2018 and  2019)
	First Quarter  of :
	2018					2019
											Change
Net revenue	Ps	3,427		100	%	Ps	3,248		100	%	Ps	(180	)	-5	%
Programming, production and transmission costs		2,601		76	%		2,533		78	%		(68	)	-3	%
Selling and administrative expenses		306		9	%		334		10	%		28		9	%
Total costs and expenses		2,906		85	%		2,867		88	%		(40	)	-1	%
EBITDA		521		15	%		381		12	%		(140	)	-27	%
Depreciation and amortization		190					195					5
Other expense -Net		115					75					(40	)
Operating profit		216		6	%		111		3	%		(105	)	-49	%
Equity in income from affiliates		3					3					0
Comprehensive financing result:
Interest expense		(334	)				(336	)				(3	)
Other financing expense		(65	)				(57	)				8
Interest income		34					28					(6	)
Exchange loss  -Net		581					91					(490	)
		216					(274	)				(490	)
Income before the following provision		435		13	%		(160	)	-5	%		(595	)
Provision for income tax		(261	)				(226	)				35
Net income	Ps	173				Ps	(387	)			Ps	(560	)
Non-controlling share in net profit	Ps	(0	)			Ps	0				Ps	0
Controlling share in net profit	Ps	174		5	%	Ps	(387	)	-12	%	Ps	(560	)

 

TV AZTECA, S.A.B.  DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Millions of Mexican pesos of March 31 of 2018 and 2019)
	At March 31
	2017			2018
							Change
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	Ps	2,823		Ps	2,117		Ps	(706	)
Accounts receivable		5,260			4,240			(1,020	)
Other current assets		5,211			3,891			(1,320	)
Total current assets		13,294			10,248			(3,046	)	-23	%
Accounts receivable		-			61			61
Exhibition rights		1,881			2,334			453
Property, plant and equipment-Net		3,720			3,934			214
Television concessions-Net		5,484			9,426			3,942
Other assets		1,480			1,851			371
Deferred income tax asset		1,123			788			(335	)
Total long term assets		13,688			18,394			4,706		34	%
Total assets	Ps	26,982		Ps	28,642		Ps	1,660		6	%
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt	Ps	-		Ps	1,708		Ps	1,708
Other current liabilities		4,978			4,632			(346	)
Total current liabilities		4,978			6,340			1,362		27	%
Long-term debt:
Securities Certificates		3,952			3,971			19
Long-term debt		7,113			7,616			503
Total long-term debt		11,065			11,587			522		5	%
Other long term liabilities:
Advertising advances		4,814			6,657			1,843
American Tower Corporation (due 2069)		1,676			-			(1,676	)
Deferred income tax		312			721			409
Other long term liabilities		35			436			401
Total other long-term liabilities		6,837			7,814			977		14	%
Total liabilities		22,880			25,741			2,861		13	%
Total stockholders' equity		4,102			2,901			(1,201	)	-29	%
Total liabilities and equity		26,982		Ps	28,642		Ps	1,660		6	%

 

TV AZTECA, S.A.B. DE C.V.  AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Millions of Mexican pesos of March 31 of  2018 and  2019)
		Period ended March 31,
		2018				2019
Operating activities:
Cash flow generated before taxes to income	Ps	320			Ps	315
Accounts receivable		(129	)			1,041
Inventories and performance rights		62				329
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and taxes on earnings		(470	)			(568	)
Net cash flow from operating activities		(217	)			1,117
Investing activities:
Acquisitions of property and equipment, intangibles and others		(146	)			(175	)
Net sale of Azteca America assets		830				-
Net cash flows from investing activities		684				(175	)
Financing activities:
Interest paid		(427	)			(528	)
Others		0				(0	)
Net cash flows from financing activities		(427	)			(528	)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents		40				415
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		2,783				1,702
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	Ps	2,823			Ps	2,117