Form 8K September 8 2004
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
September 8, 2004
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The Walt Disney Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-11605 95-4545390
(COMMISSION FILE NUMBER) (IRS EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, California 91521
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE)
(818) 560-1000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable
(Former name or address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant
under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On September 8, 2004, Thomas O. Staggs, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant,
participated via videoconference in a question and answer session at Morgan Stanley's Annual Media and Communications Conference.
An outline of points covered by Mr. Staggs in the session is furnished as Exhibit 99 to this report on Form 8-K.
The Registrant believes that certain statements in the attached transcript may constitute "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of management's
views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements are made. Actual results may
differ materially from those expressed or implied. Information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those in forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in the Registrant's filings with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits.
Exhibit 99 Outline of Points Covered in September 8, 2004, question and answer session with Thomas O. Staggs, Senior
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the registrant, at Morgan Stanley's Annual Media
and Communications Conference.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
The Walt Disney Company
By: /s/ ROGER J. PATTERSON
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Roger J. Patterson
Vice President, Counsel
Dated: September 8, 2004
Exhibit 99
Outline of Points Covered in September 8, 2004, question and answer session with Thomas O. Staggs, Senior Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, at Morgan Stanley's Annual Media and Communications Conference
General Company Outlook
Some elements are beyond our control, like the economy and external conditions like the recent hurricanes that affected Orlando
Continue to expect earnings growth of 50+% in 2004, accompanied by improving ROIC and strong cash flow
We expect a roughly $0.01 EPS impact in Q4 from the hurricanes in Florida
Customer satisfaction and brand strength are high, both in the US and outside the US
Future returns from capital expected to benefit from the following:
1. Capital investment made over the last 5-7 years enhanced the competitive position of our company; do not anticipate having
a need to repeat that extraordinary investment, lowering our capital intensity going forward,
2. Proportion of our portfolio represented by less capital-intensive businesses, such as ESPN, has risen, making overall
business less capital-intensive, and
3. Focus for several years on improving cash flow has made us more efficient with our capital.
Since FY02, we have delivered growth in earnings, ROIC and cash flow and expect FY04 to be one of the company's strongest years
ever in terms of overall financial performance
Our success going forward will be driven in part by the Company's ability to:
1. Continue to feed great content into "virtuous cycle of content creation,"
2. Participate substantially in growing markets created by new technologies, and through strong international growth.
Expectations beyond fiscal 2004
1. Continue to target double-digit compound growth in EPS off of 2004 through at least 2007, given a positive economic
environment and excluding the potential impact from one-time items like the disposition of the Disney Stores.
2. Expect to surpass in fiscal 2005 all-time high in Operating Income, while simultaneously improving ROIC in existing
businesses and delivering strong cash flow.
3. Based on what we know today, expect operating income growth in each of our segments in '05
4. Overall debt levels provide meaningful financial flexibility to repurchase shares and to recommend to Board that we resume
a course of modest and sustainable dividend increases, beginning in fiscal 2005.
Theme Parks Pricing Strategy
Goal is to maximize share of market revenue, while ensuring that guests consistently give resorts very high ratings for
price-value.
Don't discount across the board; offer promotions on an opportunistic basis to encourage visitation.
Guests continue to rate the resorts as an excellent value for their money - 90 percent of WDW guests rate value of parks as
"good," "very good" or "excellent"
Domestic park single-day ticket price CAGR for the last 10 years has approximated the Admissions Index component of CPI.
Employee Benefits Costs
Expect pension and post-retirement component of employee benefits costs to moderate by roughly $50 - 60 million for the Company
as a whole in 2005, versus 2004.
Note that WDP&R represents roughly 70% of the Company's benefited employee base
Expect this to be offset, however, by a continued increase in health care costs, which represents a nationwide problem, not one
specific to Disney.
Focused on managing the health care side of the questions in a way that allows us to remain competitive in the marketplace,
while not overspending.
Studio Production Strategy
Confident in management team at the Studio and path we are following in film group
Will continue to limit investment in films, using capital scarcity to help reinforce our commitment to picking films we believe
in most and make them for a price that makes sense
Will increase efforts to leverage the market advantage of the Disney name.
1. Disney live action film product expected to account for roughly half of combined Disney/Touchstone live action slate
investment going forward.
2. Focus on Disney films because we expect double-digit return on investment over the life of the Disney live action films
released over the past 5 years.
Note that a very meaningful portion of Studio operating income is driven by Animated Library, Disney Video Premieres, and
our Theatrical Production businesses, each of whose profitability historically has been much less volatile than Live
Action.
Studio Animated Library / DVD Strategy
Managing the library is a critical part of maximizing performance at the Studio.
Have increased Platinum release strategy to 2 titles per year based upon judgment about how best to capitalize on the timing of
release windows and the pace of technology
Continue to evaluate strategy based upon pace of technological change, but for now believe that releasing two Platinum titles
per year is the correct approach
ABC Network - Ad Market and Profitability
Difficult to make predictions about the advertising environment but so far no signs that concern us.
Differing levels of strength across various markets. E.g., seeing greater strength at ESPN market than radio or local television.
Network TV market has held up reasonably well; we hope and expect that it will continue to do so.
In addition to a moderately strong scatter market, reaching profitability at the network in 2005 is dependent upon achieving
rating increases; hope for good news, but difficult to predict.
Capital Allocation
Don't believe any strategic holes in our asset portfolio; always looking for opportunities, whether acquisition or internal
investment, that can deliver meaningful, attractive and positive returns to shareholders.
Don't believe near term opportunities will use up excess cash flow and thus it is likely that we will repurchase shares in the
coming months.
Management will recommend to the board a course of modest and sustainable dividend increases, starting this year.
Will continue to look at acquisitions, and over the next 3 - 5 years expect opportunities, but approach will be pragmatic and
cautious.
"Buying In" EDL
Proposed restructuring of EDL is in the process of being finalized and calls for an increase in The Walt Disney Company's
percentage ownership of EDL.
In the future, there may be opportunities for us to buy in the EDL stock or we may conclude that continuing to have a
separately traded entity is in the best interest of both EDL and The Walt Disney Company.
Will evaluate options on an ongoing basis; currently comfortable with the anticipated outcome from the restructuring.