Columbia Music
Entertainment Issues Notice of Consolidated Business Results for First
Half of Fiscal Year Ending March 2008
Tokyo - November 16, 2007 - Columbia Music
Entertainment Inc. (hereinafter CME; Head Office: Minato-ku,
Tokyo; Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Sadahiko Hirose, Chairman: Strauss
Zelnick) today issued its consolidated business results indicating the
Company’s overall performance for the first half (April 1 ~ September
30, 2007) of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008.
During the first half of
the current fiscal year, although consolidated sales for the fiscal half
year under review fell below the initially planned figure, the Company
was nevertheless able to surpass its initially planned figures for
operating profit, ordinary profit, and overall net profit for the
period.
The Company’s
consolidated sales totaled 8,723 million yen (a decline of 27.6%
compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year). This result
was due mainly to a reduction of 2,311 million yen based upon a change
in the accounting procedure for sales in the P&D business from a total
sales method to a handling fee method, and also due to the paring down
of releases of less profitable works.
Moving on to the profit
and loss situation: Although younger audiences are buying fewer CDs ,
audio software purchases by older consumers are flourishing. As a result
of strong sales of catalogue titles that yield high profit margins,
the Company’s gross profit margin was at about the same level as in the
same period of the previous fiscal year at 43.8%. In addition, the
Company’s sales expenses and general administrative expenses declined
compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, while our
custom sales, mail order, digital, and overseas music production
subsidiaries all posted profits exceeding those of the same period of
the previous fiscal year.
However, because of the
overall decline in sales, the operating loss for the fiscal half-year
under review was 267 million yen (compared with a loss of 177 million
yen for the same period of the previous fiscal year) while the ordinary
loss was 323 million yen (compared with a loss of 321 million yen for
the same period of the previous fiscal year). Accordingly, the overall
net loss for the fiscal half-year under review was 311 million yen
(compared with an overall half-year loss of 314 million yen for the same
period of the previous fiscal year).
Full Year Business Result Forecast for Fiscal Year Ending March 2008
At the present time, the
Columbia Group’s revised consolidated business result forecast for the
full year ending March 2008 (April 1, 2007 ~ March 31, 2008) (including
for TDK Core) anticipates sales of 21.5 billion yen (up by 1.5 billion
yen or 7.5% compared with the initial business performance plan),
operating profit of 600 million yen (up 100 million yen or 20%),
ordinary profit of 550 million yen (up 100 million yen or 22.2%), and
net income for the term of 400 million yen (no change). We are expecting
the above-mentioned increases in income and profit for the entire
Columbia Group) as a result of CME’s acquisition of a 100% shareholding
in TDK Core with effect from November 1, 2007.
Concerning the outlook for the Columbia Group’s consolidated business
performance for the second half of the current fiscal year,
we have scheduled the release of several major works, and so apart from
results related to TDK Core, there is no change from the initial
performance plan.
The
business forecast for TDK Core anticipates sales 1.5 billion yen, and
operating profit of 50 million yen.
In
accordance with the implementation of the Second Career Program
(announced on October 3), the Company’s operating profit for the current
period will increase by 50 million yen. We are planning to record a
one-time extraordinary loss of 100 million yen reflecting special
retirement allowances in line with this program. Meanwhile, by carrying
out this program, we expect to be able to achieve an effective reduction
in personnel expenses of approximately 140 million yen annually from the
next fiscal year.
In the second half of
the year as well, we will proceed to make effective use of our rich
music catalogue. In addition to realizing the synergy effects from the
acquisition of TDK Core at the earliest possible date, we will proceed
with our active efforts to pursue new business ventures, including by
expanding our investment for obtaining new content, developing new
methods of discovering talented new artists, and considering potential
acquisitions.
CME will strive to make
its management even more efficient and to improve its profitability by
further bolstering the music production business and promoting the
expansion of its operations through additional M&A activities.
Artists
and Titles Making Major Contributions to Sales
<Music Software>
•
Enka/Kayokyoku Dept.
Kiyoshi Hikawa—
Abayo/Asagao Nikki
Kiyoshi no Soran Bushi/Kibo to Iu Na no Saishu Ressha
Enka
Meikyoku Collection 7 ~ Abayo—Kiyoshi no Soran Bushi
Chiyoko
Shimakura—
Okaerinasai/Aono Koro e
Sachiko Kobayashi—
Koi-zakura/Hora, Hitori Janai Yo
Kenji Niinuma—
Tabiji/Nagaruru Mamani
Miki Matsukawa—
Onna Hamauta/Tsugaru Onago Bushi
•
J-Pop/J-Rock Dept.
Yo Hitoto—
Tsunaide Te/Domino/Sasayaki Namiki
BESTYO+CONCERTYO
Sadistic Mika Band—
LIVE in Tokyo (produced by Kazuhiko Kato)
Ryuichi Kawamura—
Dare no Tame demo naku…Kimi ni/Flow, ORANGE
Clammbon—
Musical
Kaela Kimura—
Samantha/Honey B~Mitsubachi Dance
•
International Dept.
Simian Mobile Disco—
Attack Decay Sustain Release
The Pigeon Detectives—
Wait for Me
• Educational Dept.
Fuuka, Wanwan, Uutan—
Inai Inai Baa! Series
2007 Pop Hit March
2007 Anime & Kid’s Hit March
• Animation Dept.
THE IDOLM@STER MASTER
ARTIST Series
Takayoshi Tanimoto/Ichiro
Mizuki—
Theme song from Juuken Sentai Gekiranger
• Hogaku
Dept.
Furusato no Minyo
Shinosuke Tatekawa—
Shinosuke Rakugo BOX (Part 1)
• Classic Dept.
Saori
Yano—
I&I, Yano Saori Best ~ Jazz Kaiki ~
Minako
Honda—
Classic Best ~ Ten ni Hibiku Uta ~
•
Catalogue Products
Hibari
Misora—
Misora Hibari Special Best
Duet Dai Hit Dai Zenshu
Showa no Dai Hit Dai Zenshu
<Video Software>
Kaela
Kimura—
LIVE Scratch ~ Agattemasutteba TOUR@Budokan
Fuuka, Wanwan, Uutan—
NHK Inai Inai Baa! Series
Kiyoshi
Hikawa—
Hikawa Kiyoshi Special Concert 2006 Kiyoshi kono Yoru
Vol. 6
Nazo no
Shin Unit STA☆MEN—
Nazo no Shin Unit STA☆MEN
Awa Sorimachi
<Mail Order Business>
Naomi
Chiaki— Chiaki Naomi Showa Kokoro Uta
Hibari
Misora— Misora Hibari Showa o Utau
Kazuo
Funaki— Funaki Kazuo Omoide Album
<Incoming Call
Melodies>
Kaela
Kimura— Samantha, Magic Music, Snowdome
Yo Hitoto— Hanamizuki,
Morainaki
Hibari
Misora— Kawa no Nagare no yo ni
<P&D (Production & Distribution) Business>
◇
R and C Ltd.
Downtown—
DOWNTOWN no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! Series
Hitoshi Matsumoto &
others—
Hitoshi Matsumoto no Suberanai Hanashi
Foxxi misQ—
GLOSS
◇
Video Arts Music Inc.
Ann
Sally—
Kokorouta
■
Columbia Music Entertainment Inc.
Company
Name:
Columbia Music Entertainment Inc.
Address:
Roppongi 21 Mori Bldg., 1-4-33 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative:
Representative Director and
CEO Sadahiko Hirose
Business
contents:
Production, advertising and sales, of music software, etc. and music art
management
Paid-in
capital:
\1,000,000,000
URL:
http://www.columbia.co.jp
■
For further information concerning this subject please
contact:
Columbia Music Entertainment, Inc.
Ms. Tomoko Isawa or Mr. Hideki Nomura,
PR/ER Group, Strategic Planning Division
Telephone: 03-3588-2250
Facsimile: 03-3589-5382
email: Tomoko Isawa isawa_tomoko@columbia.co.jp
Hideki Nomura nomura_hideki@columbia.co.jp