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DreamWorks Animation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2008 Financial Results

By DreamWorks Animation
posted Mar 2, 2009, 13:11

(Glendale, CA) DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (NYSE: DWA) announces financial results for its fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2008. In the fourth quarter, the Company reported total revenue of $199.8 million and net income of $51.6 million, or $0.58 per share on a fully diluted basis. These results bring the full year reported revenue for 2008 to a total of $650.1 million and net income of $142.5 million, or $1.57 per share on a fully diluted basis.

"Box office receipts from Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - the two highest-grossing family films of the year - together exceeded $1.2 billion, making 2008 one of DreamWorks Animation's most successful years ever," said Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation.

Kung Fu Panda was the third highest-grossing film of the year, with over $630 million in worldwide box office. For the quarter, the title contributed $101.8 million of revenue, driven primarily by its release into the home video market. Through the end of 2008, Kung Fu Panda reached approximately 11.2 million units sold on a worldwide basis, net of actual and estimated future returns.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa was the seventh highest-grossing film of the year and has reached approximately $180 million in domestic box office and over $400 million internationally to date. The film contributed $24.0 million of revenue for the quarter, primarily from consumer products and revenue from the Company's distributor. The Company's 2006 summer release, Over the Hedge, contributed $23.2 million of revenue for the quarter, primarily from domestic network and international free television.

The Company's 2007 releases, Bee Movie and Shrek the Third, delivered $9.7 million and $9.3 million, respectively, of revenue to the quarter, primarily from home entertainment. Through the end of 2008, the titles reached 8.4 and 21.4 million units, respectively, net of actual and estimated future returns.

Flushed Away contributed $2.8 million of revenue for the quarter, primarily from catalogue home video performance. Library and other revenue, including Shrek The Musical and Shrek the Halls, contributed $29.0 million to the quarter, driven by continued catalogue home entertainment performance. Through the end of 2008, Shrek the Halls reached approximately 1.8 million units sold on a worldwide basis, net of actual and estimated future returns.

Costs of revenue for the quarter equaled $117.4 million. Selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $27.8 million (including approximately $8.6 million of stock compensation expense) as compared to $26.5 million (including approximately $8.6 million of stock compensation expense) for the comparable period of 2007.

Results for the quarter also included a tax benefit of $0.12 per share on a fully diluted basis, attributable to the resolution of a prior year tax reserve related to FIN 48.

Looking to 2009, the Company expects full year results to be driven primarily by Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Monsters vs. Aliens, which opens domestically on March 27, 2009.

"We believe that Monsters vs. Aliens will reset the bar for what moviegoers should expect from a CG animated film and are confident that it will offer our audiences a premium viewing opportunity," Katzenberg continued. "We look forward to sharing DreamWorks Animation's first 3D release with the world beginning on March 27th."

The Company also provided an update to its share repurchase program. For the full year 2008, the Company purchased $185 million, or 6.8 million shares, and currently has approximately $50 million remaining under its current authorization.

About DreamWorks Animation SKG (www.dreamworksanimation.com)

DreamWorks Animation is principally devoted to developing and producing computer generated, or CG, animated feature films. With world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced CG filmmaking technology and techniques, DreamWorks Animation makes high quality CG animated films meant for a broad movie-going audience. The Company anticipates releasing its feature films into both conventional and IMAX(R) theatres worldwide. The Company has theatrically released a total of seventeen animated feature films, including Shrek, Shrek 2, Shark Tale, Madagascar, Over the Hedge, Shrek the Third, Bee Movie, Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Monsters vs. Aliens opens in theaters on March 27, 2009. All of the Company's feature films are now being produced in stereoscopic 3D technology.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's plans, prospects, strategies, proposals and our beliefs and expectations concerning performance of our current and future releases and anticipated talent, directors and storyline for our upcoming films and other projects, constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry in which we operate and management's beliefs and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of the business of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. These risks and uncertainties include: audience acceptance of our films, our dependence on the success of a limited number of releases each year, the increasing cost of producing and marketing feature films, piracy of motion pictures, the effect of rapid technological change or alternative forms of entertainment and our need to protect our proprietary technology and enhance or develop new technology. In addition, due to the uncertainties and risks involved in the development and production of animated feature projects, the release dates for the projects described in this document may be delayed. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. DreamWorks Animation is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.