Form 20-F/A

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 20-F/A

 


 

(Mark One)

 

¨ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

OR

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission file number 1-9141

 


 

THE NEWS CORPORATION LIMITED

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Australia

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

2 Holt Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2010

(Address of principal executive offices)

 


 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class


  

Name of each exchange on

which registered


Ordinary Shares    New York Stock Exchange (1)
Preferred Limited Voting Ordinary Shares    New York Stock Exchange (1)
American Depositary Shares, each of which represents four Ordinary Shares of The News Corporation Limited    New York Stock Exchange
American Depositary Shares, each of which represents four Preferred Limited Voting Ordinary Shares of The News Corporation Limited    New York Stock Exchange


Guarantee of the 8 5/8% Cumulative Guaranteed Preference Shares, Series A, of Newscorp Overseas Limited    New York Stock Exchange (2)
Guarantee of the Adjustable Rate Cumulative Preference Shares, Series B, of Newscorp Overseas Limited    New York Stock Exchange (2)

(1) The listing of Registrant’s Ordinary Shares and Preferred Limited Voting Ordinary Shares on the New York Stock Exchange is for technical purposes only and without trading privileges.
(2) This Guarantee does not trade separately from the Preference Shares of Newscorp Overseas Limited.

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

 

Guarantees by The News Corporation Limited of the following securities issued by News America Incorporated: (i) 8 1/2% Senior Notes due 2005; (ii) 6.625% Senior Debentures due 2008; (iii) 7 3/8% Senior Debentures due 2008; (iv) 4.750% Senior Notes due 2010; (v) 9 1/4% Senior Debentures due 2013; (vi) 8 5/8% Senior Debentures due 2014; (vii) 7.6% Senior Debentures due 2015; (viii) 8% Senior Debentures due 2016; (ix) 7 1/4% Senior Debentures due 2018; (x) 8 1/4% Senior Debentures due 2018; (xi) Liquid Yield Option Notes due 2021; (xii) 8 7/8% Senior Debentures due 2023; (xiii) 6.55% Senior Debentures due 2023; (xiv) Senior Exchangeable BUCS due 2023 and related securities; (xv) TOPrS due 2016 and related securities; (xvi) 7 3/4% Senior Debentures due 2024; (xvii) 7 3/4% Senior Debentures due 2024; (xviii) 9 1/2% Senior Debentures due 2024; (xix) 8 1/2% Senior Debentures due 2025; (xx) 7.7% Senior Debentures due 2025; (xxi) 7.43% Senior Debentures due 2026; (xxii) 7 1/8% Senior Debentures due 2028; (xxiii) 7.3% Senior Debentures due 2028; (xxiv) 7.28% Senior Debentures due 2028; (xxv) 7.625% Senior Debentures due 2028; (xxvi) 6.703% Mandatory Par Put Remarketed Securities due 2034; (xxvii) 8.45% Senior Debentures due 2034; (xxviii) 8.15% Senior Debentures due 2036; (xxix) 6 3/4% Senior Debentures due 2038; (xxx) 7.75% Senior Debentures due 2045; (xxxi) 7.9% Senior Debentures due 2095; and (xxxii) 8 1/4% Senior Debentures due 2096.

 


 

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

 

Ordinary Shares

   2,097,411,050

Preferred Limited Voting Ordinary Shares

   3,230,365,260

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.    Item 17  ¨    Item 18  x

 



EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

This Form 20-F/A hereby amends Items 18 and 19 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003, which was filed on October 29, 2003. This amendment includes only the Annual Financial Statements for British Sky Broadcasting Group plc, which were not available at the time the original report was filed.

 


ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.    The News Corporation Limited and Subsidiaries*     
     Annual Financial Statements     
    

Report of Independent Auditors

    
    

Statement of Financial Performance for the fiscal years ended 30 June, 2003, 2002 and 2001

    
    

Statement of Financial Position at 30 June, 2003 and 2002

    
    

Statement of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended 30 June, 2003, 2002 and 2001

    
    

Statement of Shareholders’ Equity for the fiscal years ended 30 June, 2003, 2002 and 2001

    
    

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

    
2.    Fox Entertainment Group, Inc.*     
     Annual Financial Statements     
    

Report of Independent Auditors

    
    

Copy of 2001 Report of Independent Public Accountants

    
    

Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2003 and 2002

    
    

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended June 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001

    
    

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended June 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001

    
    

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended June 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001

    
    

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

    
3.    British Sky Broadcasting Group plc**     
     Report of Independent Auditors    B-1
    

Consolidated Profit and Loss Accounts for the years ended June 30, 2001, 2002 and 2003

   B-2
    

Consolidated Statements of Total Recognized Gains and Losses for the years ended June 30, 2001, 2002 and 2003

   B-2
    

Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2002 and 2003

   B-3
    

Consolidated Cash Flow Statements for the years ended June 30, 2001, 2002 and 2003

   B-4
    

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   B-7
4.    Stream S.p.A.*     
     Annual Financial Statements     
    

Report of Independent Auditors

    
    

Copy of 2000 Report of Independent Auditors

    
    

Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2001and 2002

    
    

Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002

    
    

Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002

    
    

Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002

    
    

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

    
5.    Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc.***     
     Annual Financial Statements     
    

Report of Independent Auditors

    
    

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2002 and 2001

    
    

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the nine months ended December 31, 2000

    
    

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the nine months ended December 31, 2000

    
    

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the nine months ended December 31, 2000

    
    

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

    

* Previously filed on Form 20-F on October 30, 2003
** Filed herewith
*** Previously filed on Form 20-F/A on July 1, 2003

 

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ITEM 19. EXHIBITS

 

Number

  

Description


1.1    Memorandum and Constitution of The News Corporation Limited, as amended on October 18, 1994. 1
1.2    Amendments to the Constitution of The News Corporation Limited, dated January 31, 1995 and October 10, 1995.2
1.3    Extract from the Notice of Annual General Meeting of The News Corporation Limited setting forth amendments to its Constitution, adopted at its Annual General Meeting held on October 7, 1997.3
2.1    Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of December 3, 1996, among The News Corporation Limited, Citibank, N.A. and the holders from time to time of American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder, representing American Depositary Shares of The News Corporation Limited each representing four Preferred Shares.4
2.2    Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of October 29, 1996, among The News Corporation Limited, Citibank, N.A. and the holders from time to time of American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder, representing American Depositary Shares of The News Corporation Limited each representing four Ordinary Shares.5
2.3    Five Year Credit Agreement, dated as of June 27, 2003, among News America Incorporated et al, several lenders, agents and banks.6
2.4    Form of Preferred Ordinary Shares of The News Corporation Limited.7
2.5    Form of Preferred American Depositary Shares of The News Corporation Limited.8
2.6    Form of Ordinary Shares of The News Corporation Limited.9
2.7    Form of Ordinary American Depositary Shares of The News Corporation Limited.10
2.8    Indenture, dated as of February 28, 2001, by and among News America Incorporated, The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to the Liquid Yield Option Notes due February 28, 2021.11
2.9    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 27, 2003, by and among News America Incorporated, The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to the Liquid Yield Option Notes due February 28, 2021. 12
2.10    Indenture, dated as of January 28, 1993, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company and The First National Bank of Boston), as Trustee, with respect to the senior debt securities.13
2.11    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 24, 1993, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company and The First National Bank of Boston), as Trustee, with respect to the senior debt securities. 14
2.12    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 8, 1993, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited,

 

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     the other Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company and The First National Bank of Boston), as Trustee, with respect to the senior debt securities. 15
2.13    Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 20, 1993, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company and The First National Bank of Boston), as Trustee, with respect to the senior debt securities. 16
2.14    Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 28, 1993, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company and The First National Bank of Boston), as Trustee, with respect to the senior debt securities. 17
2.15    Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated July 21, 1993, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company and The First National Bank of Boston), as Trustee, with respect to the senior debt securities. 18
2.16    Form of Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 25, 1994, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company and The First National Bank of Boston), as Trustee, with respect to the senior debt securities. 19
2.17    Form of Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 4, 1994, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company and The First National Bank of Boston), as Trustee, with respect to the senior debt securities. 20
2.18    Form of Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 12, 1994, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company and The First National Bank of Boston), as Trustee, with respect to the senior debt securities. 21
2.19    Form of Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1995, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company and The First National Bank of Boston), as Trustee, with respect to the senior debt securities. 22
2.20    Form of Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 2, 2000, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company and The First National Bank of Boston), as Trustee, with respect to the senior debt securities. 23
2.21    Form of Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 14, 2001, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company and The First National Bank of Boston), as Trustee, with respect to the senior debt securities. 24

 

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2.22    Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 27, 2003, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company and The First National Bank of Boston), as Trustee, with respect to the senior debt securities. 25
2.23    Amended and Restated Indenture, dated as of March 24, 1993, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to senior debt securities. 26
2.24    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 20, 1993, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to senior debt securities. 27
2.25    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 28, 1993, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to senior debt securities. 28
2.26    Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 21, 1993, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to senior debt securities. 29
2.27    Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 20, 1995, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to senior debt securities. 30
2.28    Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 8, 1998, by and among News America Incorporated, The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to senior debt securities. 31
2.29    Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1999, by and among News America Incorporated, The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to senior debt securities. 32
2.30    Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 14, 2001, by and among News America Incorporated, The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to senior debt securities. 33
2.31    Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 27, 2003, by and among News America Incorporated, The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to senior debt securities. 34
2.32    Indenture, dated as of November 12, 1996, by and among News America Incorporated (formerly News America Holdings Incorporated), The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to the 5% Subordinated Discount Debentures due 2016. 35
2.33    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 2, 2000, by and among News America Incorporated, The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to the 5% Subordinated Discount Debentures due 2016. 36
2.34    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 14, 2001, by and among News America Incorporated, The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to the 5% Subordinated Discount Debentures due 2016. 37

 

4


2.35    Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 27, 2003, by and among News America Incorporated, The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to the 5% Subordinated Discount Debentures due 2016. 38
2.36    Indenture, dated as of March 21, 2003, by and among News America Incorporated, The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to the Beneficial Unsecured exChangeable Securities. 39
2.37    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 27, 2003, by and among News America Incorporated, The News Corporation Limited, the other Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to the Beneficial Unsecured exChangeable Securities. 40
2.38    Letter Amendment No. 1 to Five Year Credit Agreement, dated as of August 13, 2003, among News America Incorporated, several lenders, agents and banks. 41
4.1    Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 9, 2003, by and among The News Corporation Limited, Hughes Electronics Corporation and General Motors Corporation. 42
4.2    Amendment No. 1 to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2003, by and among The News Corporation Limited, Hughes Electronics and General Motors Corporation. 43
4.3    Amendment No. 2 to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 20, 2003, by and among The News Corporation Limited, Hughes Electronics Corporation and General Motors Corporation. 44
4.4    Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 9, 2003, by and among Hughes Electronics Corporation, The News Corporation Limited and GMH Merger Sub, Inc. 45
4.5    Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 16, 2003, by and among Hughes Electronics Corporation, The News Corporation Limited and GMH Merger Sub, Inc. 46
4.6    Employee Matters Agreement, dated as of April 9, 2003, by and between Hughes Electronics Corporation and The News Corporation Limited. 47
4.7    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 9, 2003, by and between The News Corporation Limited and General Motors Corporation. 48
8    List of Subsidiaries.49
11    Standards of Business Conduct of The News Corporation Limited and Subsidiaries50
12.1    Certification of the Chairman and Chief Executive pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
12.2    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
13.1    Certification of the Chairman and Chief Executive pursuant to USC Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
13.2    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to USC Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
14.1    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP regarding British Sky Broadcasting Group plc.*

* Filed herewith.

 

5


1 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.3 to the Annual Report of The News Corporation Limited on Form 20-F (File No. 1-9141) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1994.
2 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Annual Report of The News Corporation Limited on Form 20-F (File No. 1-9141) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1995.
3 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.3 to the Annual Report of The News Corporation Limited on Form 20-F (File No. 1-9141) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997.
4 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement of The News Corporation Limited on Form F-4 (Registration No. 333-6190) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 20, 1996.
5 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement of The News Corporation Limited on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-10338) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 1999.
6 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Annual Report of Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. on Form 10-K (File No. 1-14595) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.
7 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) to the Registration Statement of The News Corporation Limited on Form 8-A (File No. 1-9141) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 2, 1994.
8 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit A of Exhibit 4.2 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of The News Corporation Limited on Form F-3 (Registration No. 333-13556) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2001.
9 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) to the Registration Statement of The News Corporation Limited on Form 8-A/A No. 4 (File No. 1-9141) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 2, 1994.
10 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit A of Exhibit (c) to the Registration Statement of The News Corporation Limited on Form 8-A (File No. 1-9141) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 2, 1994.
11 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of The News Corporation Limited on Form F-3 (Registration No. 333-13556) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2001.
12 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.29 to the Annual Report of Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. on Form 10-K (File No. 1-14595) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.
13 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to the Report of The News Corporation Limited on Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission dated January 28, 1993.
14 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to the Report of The News Corporation Limited on Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission dated April 26, 1993.
15 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Report of The News Corporation Limited on Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission dated April 26, 1993.
16 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Registration Statement of News America Holdings Incorporated (currently News America Incorporated) on Form F-3 (Registration No. 33-63604) and Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-3 of News America Holdings Incorporated (Registration No. 33-59688) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 28, 1993.
17 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the Registration Statement of News America Holdings Incorporated (currently News America Incorporated) on Form F-3 (Registration No. 33-63604) and Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-3 of News America Holdings Incorporated (Registration No. 33-59688) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 28, 1993.
18 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Registration Statement of News America Holdings Incorporated (currently News America Incorporated) on Form F-3 (Registration No. 33-74574) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 28, 1994.

 

6


19 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of News America Holdings Incorporated (currently News America Incorporated) on Form F-3 (Registration No. 33-74574) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 4, 1994.
20 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of News America Holdings Incorporated (currently News America Incorporated) on Form F-3 (Registration No. 33-79334) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 14, 1994.
21 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of News America Holdings Incorporated (currently News America Incorporated) on Form F-3 (Registration No. 33-79334) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 14, 1994.
22 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to the Registration Statement of News America Holdings Incorporated (currently News America Incorporated) on Form F-3 (Registration No. 33-94868) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 24, 1995.
23 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Annual Report of Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. on Form 10-K (File No. 1-14595) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 28, 2001.
24 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Annual Report of Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. on Form 10-K (File No. 1-14595) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 28, 2001.
25 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.14 to the Annual Report of Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. on Form 10-K (File No. 1-14595) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.
26 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of News America Holdings Incorporated (currently News America Incorporated) on Form F-3 (Registration No. 33-59688) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 24, 1993.
27 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement of The News America Holdings Incorporated (currently News America Incorporated) on Form F-3 (Registration No. 33-63604) and Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of News America Holdings Incorporated on Form F-3 (Registration No. 33-59688) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 28, 1993.
28 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement of News America Holdings Incorporated (currently News America Incorporated) on Form F-3 (Registration No. 33-63604) and Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of News America Holdings Incorporated on Form F-3 (Registration No. 33-59688) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 28, 1993.
29 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.14 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of News America Holdings Incorporated (currently News America Incorporated) on Form F-3 (Registration No. 33-98238) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 23, 1995.
30 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.15 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of News America Holdings Incorporated (currently News America Incorporated) on Form F-3 (Registration No. 33-98238) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 23, 1995.
31 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Registration Statement of News America Incorporated on Form F-4 (Registration No. 333-8744) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 1998.
32 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Annual Report of Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. on Form 10-K (File No. 1-14595) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 28, 2001.
33 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Annual Report of Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. on Form 10-K (File No. 1-14595) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 28, 2001.
34 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.23 to the Annual Report of Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. on Form 10-K (File No. 1-14595) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.
35 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(i) to the Registration Statement of The News Corporation Limited on Form F-3 (Registration No. 333-6896) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 9, 1997.
36 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.39 to the Annual Report of The News Corporation Limited on Form 20-F (File No. 1-9141) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001.

 

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37 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.40 to the Annual Report of The News Corporation Limited on Form 20-F (File No. 1-9141) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001.
38 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.27 to the Annual Report of Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. on Form 10-K (file No. 1-14595) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.
39 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-3/S-3 of News America Incorporated (Registration No. 333-106837) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 19, 2003.
40 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-3/S-3 of News America Incorporated (Registration No. 333-106837) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 19, 2003.
41 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Annual Report of Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. on Form 10-K (File No. 1-9141) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.
42 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.A to the Current Report on Form 6-K of The News Corporation Limited (Registration No. 1-9141) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 14, 2003.
43. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Registration Statement of The News Corporation Limited on Form F-4 (Registration No. 333-105853) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 5, 2003.
44 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.7 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement of The News Corporation Limited on Form F-4 (Registration Statement No. 333-105853) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 21, 2003.
45 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.B to the Current Report on Form 6-K of The News Corporation Limited (Registration No. 1-9141) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 14, 2003.
46 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.5 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of The News Corporation Limited on Form F-4 (Registration No. 333-105853) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 24, 2003.
47 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.5 to the Registration Statement of The News Corporation Limited on Form F-4 (Registration No. 333-105853) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 5, 2003.
48 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.6 to the Registration Statement of The News Corporation Limited on Form F-4 (Registration No. 333-105853) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 5, 2003.
49 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8 to the Annual Report of The News Corporation Limited on Form 20-F (File No. 1-9141) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.
50 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 11 to the Annual Report of The News Corporation Limited on Form 20-F (File No. 1-9141) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.

 

8


INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.   

The News Corporation Limited and Subsidiaries*

    
    

Annual Financial Statements

    
    

Report of Independent Auditors

    
    

Statement of Financial Performance for the fiscal years ended 30 June, 2003, 2002 and 2001

    
    

Statement of Financial Position at 30 June, 2003 and 2002

    
    

Statement of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended 30 June, 2003, 2002 and 2001

    
    

Statement of Shareholders’ Equity for the fiscal years ended 30 June, 2003, 2002 and 2001

    
    

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

    
2.   

Fox Entertainment Group, Inc.*

    
    

Annual Financial Statements

    
    

Report of Independent Auditors

    
    

Copy of 2001 Report of Independent Public Accountants

    
    

Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2003 and 2002

    
    

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended June 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001

    
    

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended June 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001

    
    

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended June 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001

    
    

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

    
3.   

British Sky Broadcasting Group plc**

    
    

Report of Independent Auditors

   B-1
    

Consolidated Profit and Loss Accounts for the years ended June 30, 2001, 2002 and 2003

   B-2
    

Consolidated Statements of Total Recognized Gains and Losses for the years ended June 30, 2001, 2002 and 2003

   B-2
    

Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2002 and 2003

   B-3
    

Consolidated Cash Flow Statements for the years ended June 30, 2001, 2002 and 2003

   B-4
    

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   B-7
4.   

Stream S.p.A.*

    
    

Annual Financial Statements

    
    

Report of Independent Auditors

    
    

Copy of 2000 Report of Independent Auditors

    
    

Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2001and 2002

    
    

Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002

    
    

Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002

    
    

Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002

    
    

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

    
5.   

Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc.***

    
    

Annual Financial Statements

    
    

Report of Independent Auditors

    
    

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2002 and 2001

    
    

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the nine months ended December 31, 2000

    
    

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the nine months ended December 31, 2000

    
    

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the nine months ended December 31, 2000

    
    

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

    

* Previously filed on Form 20-F on October 30, 2003
** Filed herewith
*** Previously filed on Form 20-F/A on July 1, 2003

 

9


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

 

To the Board of Directors and Members of:

British Sky Broadcasting Group plc

Grant Way

Isleworth

Middlesex

TW7 5QD

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of British Sky Broadcasting Group plc and subsidiaries (collectively, “the Group”) as at June 30, 2002 and 2003, and the related consolidated profit and loss accounts, consolidated statements of total recognized gains and losses, and consolidated cash flow statements for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2003, and notes thereto, all expressed in pounds sterling. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Group’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall consolidated financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Group as at June 30, 2002 and 2003, and the consolidated results of its operations and its consolidated cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2003 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United Kingdom.

 

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United Kingdom vary in significant respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The application of the latter would have affected the determination of consolidated net profit (loss) for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2003 and determination of consolidated shareholders’ funds (deficit) at June 30, 2002 and 2003, to the extent summarized in Note 28 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Our audits also comprehended the translation of pounds sterling amounts into U.S. dollar amounts and, in our opinion, such translation has been made in conformity with the basis stated in Note 28. Such U.S. dollar amounts are presented solely for the convenience of readers in the United States of America.

 

As discussed in Note 28 to the consolidated financial statements, the Group was required to adopt Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, effective July 1, 2002.

 

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

London, United Kingdom

August 11, 2003

(October 16, 2003 as to notes 26, 28, 30 and 31)

 

B-1


CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNTS

 

         June 30, 2001

    June 30, 2002

    June 30, 2003

 
     Notes

 

Before

goodwill

and

exceptional

items


   

Goodwill

and

exceptional

items


    Total

   

Before

goodwill

and

exceptional

items


   

Goodwill

and

exceptional

items


    Total

   

Before

goodwill

and

exceptional

items


   

Goodwill

and

exceptional

items


    Total

 
         £m     £m     £m     £m     £m     £m     £m     £m     £m  

Turnover: Group turnover and share of joint ventures’ turnover

       2,530.1     —       2,530.1     2,915.3     —       2,915.3     3,262.5     —       3,262.5  

Less: Share of joint ventures’ turnover

       (224.1 )   —       (224.1 )   (139.2 )   —       (139.2 )   (76.5 )   —       (76.5 )
        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group turnover

   2   2,306.0     —       2,306.0     2,776.1     —       2,776.1     3,186.0     —       3,186.0  

Operating expenses, net

   3   (2,145.8 )   (67.4 )   (2,213.2 )   (2,584.6 )   (136.5 )   (2,721.1 )   (2,815.3 )   (116.7 )   (2,932.0 )
        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit (loss)

       160.2     (67.4 )   92.8     191.5     (136.5 )   55.0     370.7     (116.7 )   254.0  

Share of operating results of joint ventures

   5   (239.2 )   (16.5 )   (255.7 )   (76.7 )   —       (76.7 )   3.4     —       3.4  

Joint ventures’ goodwill amortization, net*

   14   —       (101.1 )   (101.1 )   —       (1,069.9 )   (1,069.9 )   —       —       —    

Profit on sale of fixed asset investments

   4   —       —       —       —       2.3     2.3     —       —       —    

Share of joint venture’s loss on sale of fixed asset investment

   4   —       (69.5 )   (69.5 )   —       —       —       —       —       —    

Amounts written off fixed asset investments, net

   4   —       (38.6 )   (38.6 )   —       (60.0 )   (60.0 )   —       (15.1 )   (15.1 )

(Provision) release of provision for loss on disposal of subsidiary

   4   —       (10.0 )   (10.0 )   —       10.0     10.0     —       —       —    
        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) profit on ordinary activities before interest and taxation

       (79.0 )   (303.1 )   (382.1 )   114.8     (1,254.1 )   (1,139.3 )   374.1     (131.8 )   242.3  

Interest receivable and similar income

   6   18.2     2.7     20.9     11.1     —       11.1     3.7     —       3.7  

Interest payable and similar charges

   6   (153.3 )   —       (153.3 )   (148.0 )   —       (148.0 )   (118.2 )   —       (118.2 )
        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) profit on ordinary activities before taxation

   7   (214.1 )   (300.4 )   (514.5 )   (22.1 )   (1,254.1 )   (1,276.2 )   259.6     (131.8 )   127.8  

Tax on (loss) profit on ordinary activities

   9   (23.3 )   (0.8 )   (24.1 )   (28.6 )   (77.8 )   (106.4 )   (58.7 )   121.2     62.5  
        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) profit on ordinary activities after taxation

       (237.4 )   (301.2 )   (538.6 )   (50.7 )   (1,331.9 )   (1,382.6 )   200.9     (10.6 )   190.3  

Equity dividends — paid and proposed

   10               —                   —                   —    
                    

             

             

Retained (loss) profit for the financial year

   24               (538.6 )               (1,382.6 )               190.3  
                    

             

             

Basic (loss) earnings per share

   11               (29.2p )               (73.3p )               9.9p  
                    

             

             

Diluted (loss) earnings per share

   11               (29.2p )               (73.3p )               9.8p  
                    

             

             


Details of movements on reserves are shown in note 24.

 

All results relate to continuing operations.

 

* Included within fiscal 2002 joint ventures’ goodwill amortization of £1,069.9 million for the year is £971.4 million in respect of an impairment of KirchPayTV GmbH & Co KGaA (“KirchPayTV”) goodwill (see notes 4 and 14).

 

B-2


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF TOTAL RECOGNIZED GAINS AND LOSSES

 

     Notes

  

June 30,

2001


   

June 30,

2002


   

June 30,

2003


          £m     £m     £m

(Loss) profit for the financial year*

   24    (538.6 )   (1,382.6 )   190.3

Net loss on deemed disposals

   24    (20.7 )   —       —  

Translation differences on foreign currency net investment

   24    (2.1 )   1.4     —  
         

 

 

Total recognized gains and losses relating to the year

        (561.4 )   (1,381.2 )   190.3
         

 

 

* Included within the profit (loss) for the year is a £1.5 million profit (2002: £80.9 million loss; 2001: £350.0 million loss) in respect of the Group’s share of the results of joint ventures.

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

B-3


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

    

Notes


   June 30,

 
      2002

    2003

 
          £m     £m  

Fixed assets

                 

Intangible assets

   12    657.4     535.9  

Tangible assets

   13    343.0     346.2  

Investments:

                 

Investments in joint ventures: Share of gross assets

        88.7     86.8  

                                               : Share of gross liabilities

        (68.5 )   (59.0 )

                                               : Transfer to creditors

        1.6     2.6  
         

 

Total investment in joint ventures

   14    21.8     30.4  

Other fixed asset investments

   15    107.1     78.5  
         

 

Total investments

        128.9     108.9  
         

 

          1,129.3     991.0  
         

 

Current assets

                 

Stocks

   16    414.2     370.4  

Debtors: Amounts falling due within one year

                 

— deferred tax assets

   18    13.9     30.8  

— other

        387.0     363.3  
         

 

     17    400.9     394.1  

Debtors: Amounts falling due after more than one year

                 

— deferred tax assets

   18    24.9     159.0  

— other

        182.1     63.9  
         

 

     17    207.0     222.9  

Cash at bank and in hand

        50.3     46.4  
         

 

          1,072.4     1,033.8  
         

 

Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

                 

— short-term borrowings

   19    (1.5 )   (0.2 )

— other creditors

   19    (903.9 )   (955.0 )
         

 

          (905.4 )   (955.2 )
         

 

Net current assets

        167.0     78.6  
         

 

Total assets less current liabilities

        1,296.3     1,069.6  
         

 

Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year

                 

— long-term borrowings

   20    (1,576.9 )   (1,151.6 )

— other creditors

   20    (16.0 )   (20.5 )
         

 

          (1,592.9 )   (1,172.1 )
         

 

Provisions for liabilities and charges

   22    (4.1 )   (3.2 )
         

 

          (300.7 )   (105.7 )
         

 

Capital and reserves — equity

                 

Called-up share capital

   23    946.7     968.9  

Share premium

   24    2,409.8     2,535.5  

Shares to be issued

   24    255.8     2.7  

Merger reserve

   24    266.7     299.0  

Profit and loss account

   24    (4,179.7 )   (3,911.8 )
         

 

Total shareholders’ deficit

   24    (300.7 )   (105.7 )
         

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

B-4


CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENTS

 

    

Notes


   June 30,

 
      2001

    2002

    2003

 
          £m     £m     £m  

Net cash inflow from operating activities

   a    38.9     249.7     663.6  
         

 

 

Dividends received from joint ventures

        —       —       4.0  
         

 

 

Returns on investments and servicing of finance

                       

Interest received and similar income

        4.6     8.8     3.2  

Interest paid and similar charges on external financing

        (118.6 )   (141.0 )   (127.3 )

Interest element of finance lease payments

        (1.7 )   (0.6 )   (0.5 )
         

 

 

Net cash outflow from returns on investments and servicing of finance

        (115.7 )   (132.8 )   (124.6 )

Taxation

                       

UK corporation tax paid

        —       —       (17.6 )

Consortium relief (paid) received

        (16.2 )   22.5     (0.3 )
         

 

 

Net cash (outflow) inflow from taxation

        (16.2 )   22.5     (17.9 )

Capital expenditure and financial investment

                       

Payments to acquire tangible fixed assets

        (133.3 )   (100.8 )   (98.4 )

Payments to acquire fixed asset investments

        (25.5 )   —       —    

Receipts from sales of tangible fixed assets

        —       —       0.6  

Receipts from sales of fixed asset investments

        —       0.4     0.8  

Receipts from sales of intangible fixed assets

        0.2     0.6     —    

Purchase of own shares for Employee Share Ownership Plan (“ESOP”)

        —       (26.9 )   —    
         

 

 

Net cash outflow from capital expenditure and financial investment

        (158.6 )   (126.7 )   (97.0 )

Acquisition and disposals

                       

Purchase of subsidiary undertakings

        (27.3 )   —       —    

New cash acquired with subsidiary undertakings

        11.7     —       —    

Funding to joint ventures

        (137.3 )   (11.6 )   (14.6 )

Repayments of funding from joint ventures

        —       4.8     4.5  
         

 

 

Net cash outflow from acquisitions and disposals

        (152.9 )   (6.8 )   (10.1 )

Net cash (outflow) inflow before management of liquid resources and financing

        (404.5 )   5.9     418.0  
         

 

 

Management of liquid resources

                       

Decrease in short-term deposits

   c    85.0     69.5     0.5  
         

 

 

Financing

                       

Proceeds from issue of Ordinary Shares

        6.5     14.3     4.8  

Payments made on the issue of Ordinary Shares

        (3.5 )   (1.8 )   (0.1 )

Capital element of finance lease payments

   b    (2.1 )   (1.7 )   (1.6 )

Net increase (decrease) in total debt

   b    359.7     (190.0 )   (425.0 )
         

 

 

Net cash inflow (outflow) from financing

        360.6     (179.2 )   (421.9 )

Increase (decrease) in cash

   c    41.1     (103.8 )   (3.4 )
         

 

 

(Increase) decrease in net debt

   c    (401.5 )   18.4     422.7  
         

 

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

B-5


a) Reconciliation of operating profit to operating cash flows

 

     2001

    2002

    2003

 
    

Before

goodwill

and

exceptional

items


   

Goodwill

and

exceptional

items


    Total

   

Before

goodwill

and

exceptional

items


   

Goodwill

and

exceptional

items


    Total

   

Before

goodwill

and

exceptional

items


    

Goodwill

and

exceptional

items


     Total

 
     £m     £m     £m     £m     £m     £m     £m      £m      £m  

Operating profit (loss)

   160.2     (67.4 )   92.8     191.5     (136.5 )   55.0     370.7      (116.7 )    254.0  

Depreciation

   64.1     7.0     71.1     81.1     —       81.1     97.9      —        97.9  

Amortization of goodwill and other intangible fixed assets

   —       44.3     44.3     0.1     118.3     118.4     —        121.5      121.5  

Profit on sale of fixed assets

   —       —       —       —       —       —       (0.3 )    —        (0.3 )

(Increase) decrease in stock

   (43.1 )   —       (43.1 )   9.9     —       9.9     43.8      —        43.8  

(Increase) decrease in debtors

   (23.4 )   —       (23.4 )   77.9     22.3     100.2     88.0      —        88.0  

Increase (decrease) in creditors

   59.8     —       59.8     (80.5 )   —       (80.5 )   59.6      —        59.6  

Provision provided (utilized), net

   0.3     (162.9 )   (162.6 )   (0.3 )   (34.1 )   (34.4 )   (0.9 )    —        (0.9 )
    

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

Net cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities

   217.9     (179.0 )   38.9     279.7     (30.0 )   249.7     658.8      4.8      663.6  
    

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

 

b) Analysis of changes in net debt

 

    

At

July 1,
2001


    Cash flow

   

At

July 1,
2002


    Cash flow

   

At

June 30,
2003


 
     £m     £m     £m     £m     £m  

Overnight deposits

   91.9     (53.2 )   38.7     (6.0 )   32.7  

Other cash

   61.7     (50.6 )   11.1     2.6     13.7  
    

 

 

 

 

     153.6     (103.8 )   49.8     (3.4 )   46.4  

Short-term deposits

   70.0     (69.5 )   0.5     (0.5 )   —    
    

 

 

 

 

Cash at bank and in hand

   223.6     (173.3 )   50.3     (3.9 )   46.4  
    

 

 

 

 

Debt due after more than one year

   (1,759.1 )   190.0     (1,569.1 )   425.0     1,144.1 )

Finance leases

   (11.0 )   1.7     (9.3 )   1.6     (7.7 )
    

 

 

 

 

Total debt

   (1,770.1 )   191.7     (1,578.4 )   426.6     1,151.8 )
    

 

 

 

 

Total net debt

   (1,546.5 )   18.4     (1,528.1 )   422.7     (1,105.4 )
    

 

 

 

 

 

c) Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt

 

     2001

    2002

    2003

 
     £m     £m     £m  

Increase (decrease) in cash

   41.1     (103.8 )   (3.4 )

Decrease in short-term deposits

   (85.0 )   (69.5 )   (0.5 )

Cash (inflow) outflow resulting from (increase) decrease in debt and lease financing

   (357.6 )   191.7     426.6  
    

 

 

(Increase) decrease in net debt

   (401.5 )   18.4     422.7  

Net debt at beginning of year

   (1,145.0 )   (1,546.5 )   (1,528.1 )
    

 

 

Net debt at end of year

   (1,546.5 )   (1,528.1 )   (1,105.4 )
    

 

 

 

B-6


d) Major non-cash transactions

 

2003

 

Issue of shares — deferred consideration for British Interactive Broadcasting Holdings Limited (“BiB”)

 

On November 11, 2002, the Company issued 43.2 million shares with a fair value of £253.1 million to HSBC, Matsushita and BT in respect of deferred consideration for the acquisition of the remaining 67.5% of BiB in May and June 2001.

 

2002

 

Impairment of investment in KirchPayTV

 

Effective December 31, 2001, the Group wrote down the carrying value of its investment in KirchPayTV to nil (see note 14). The write-down resulted in a net non-cash exceptional charge to the profit and loss account of £971.4 million.

 

2001

 

Acquisition of 67.5% of BiB

 

During 2001, the Group acquired a further 67.5% of BiB, 47.6% on May 9, 2001 and 19.9% on June 28, 2001, increasing the Group’s interest to 100%. The consideration was satisfied by the issue to HSBC, Matsushita and BT of 39,674,765 new BSkyB shares, with a fair value of £290.9 million and deferred consideration of new BSkyB shares or loan notes, with a fair value of £253.1 million, payable 18 months after the date of acquisition. Our Board determined that there was no genuine commercial possibility that loan notes will be issued and therefore this deferred consideration was included within Shareholders’ funds as “Shares to be issued”.

 

Acquisition of 100% of Sports Internet Group (“SIG”)

 

In July 2000, the Group acquired 100% of SIG. The consideration was satisfied by the issue to SIG shareholders of 21,633,099 new BSkyB shares, with a fair value of £267.3 million.

 

Acquisition of 5% of WAPTV

 

In May 2001, the Group acquired the remaining 5% minority interest in WAPTV. The consideration was satisfied by the issue of 169,375 new BSkyB shares, with a fair value of £1.3 million and contingent consideration of 508,130 new BSkyB shares with a fair value of £3.7 million.

 

B-7


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. Accounting policies

 

Description of business

 

British Sky Broadcasting Group plc and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Group”) operate a leading pay TV service, principally in the UK and Ireland, deriving revenues from television broadcasting services and certain ancillary functions which are provided to both retail and wholesale customers.

 

Sky is an established and widely recognized brand, with a reputation for quality and innovation. Sky operates and distributes 25 wholly-owned channels and retails a further 91 third party channels to direct-to-home viewers via its digital service. In addition to this, Sky operates the Sky Box Office service, which provides pay-per-view services covering films, sporting events and concerts.

 

The principal accounting policies are summarized below. All of these have been applied consistently throughout the year and the two preceding years.

 

a) Basis of accounting

 

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of certain investments, and in accordance with applicable UK financial reporting and accounting standards, which differ in certain significant respects from those applicable in the US (see note 28).

 

b) Basis of consolidation

 

The Group financial statements consolidate the financial statements of the Company and all of its subsidiary undertakings. All companies are consolidated using acquisition accounting and all inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.

 

In the preparation of these consolidated financial statements, estimates and assumptions have been made by management concerning selection of useful economic lives of fixed assets and goodwill, provisions necessary for trade receivables and liabilities, the carrying value of investments, income tax valuation allowances and other similar evaluations. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

The Group maintains a 52 or 53 week fiscal year ending on the Sunday nearest to June 30, in each year. In fiscal year 2003 this date was June 29, 2003, this being a 52 week year (2002: June 30, 2002, 52 week year; 2001: July 1, 2001, 52 week year).

 

c) Acquisitions

 

On the acquisition of a business, fair values are attributed to the Group’s share of separable net assets acquired. Adjustments are also made to bring the accounting policies into line with those of the Group. Where statutory merger relief is applicable, the difference between the fair value of the shares issued as purchase consideration and the nominal value of the shares issued as purchase consideration is treated as a merger reserve in the consolidated accounts. The results and cash flows relating to an acquired business are included in the consolidated profit and loss account and the consolidated cash flow statement from the date of acquisition.

 

On disposal or closure of a previously acquired business, any goodwill previously written off to reserves will be included in calculating the profit or loss on disposal.

 

d) Goodwill and other intangible assets

 

Where the cost of acquisition exceeds the fair values attributable to the net assets acquired, the difference is treated as purchased goodwill and capitalized on the Group balance sheet in the year of acquisition. Purchased goodwill arising on acquisitions from July 1, 1998 is capitalized. Prior to July 1, 1998, goodwill arising on acquisitions was eliminated against reserves. As permitted by FRS 10 — Goodwill and Intangible Assets, this goodwill has not been restated on the balance sheet.

 

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Other intangible assets, all of which have been acquired which are controlled through custody or legal rights and could be sold separately from the rest of the business are capitalized, where fair value can be reliably measured.

 

Where capitalized goodwill and intangible assets are regarded as having a limited useful economic life, the cost is amortized on a straight-line basis over that life, of up to 20 years. Impairment reviews are carried out to ensure that goodwill and intangible assets are not carried at above their recoverable amounts. Any amortization or impairment write-downs are charged to the profit and loss account.

 

e) Interests in joint ventures

 

Joint ventures are entities in which the Group holds a long-term interest and shares control under a contractual arrangement. These investments are dealt with by the gross equity method of accounting. Provision is made within creditors where the Group’s share of a joint venture’s losses exceeds the Group’s funding to date.

 

f) Fixed asset investments

 

The Company’s shares held by the ESOP are included in the consolidated balance sheet as fixed asset investments until such time as the interest in the shares is transferred unconditionally to the employees. Provision is made for any permanent diminution in the value of shares held by the ESOP.

 

A charge is made in the profit and loss account in relation to the shares held by the ESOP for awards under the Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”), the Key Contributor Plan (“KCP”) and the Equity Bonus Plan (“EBP”), based on an assessment of the probability of the performance criteria under the LTIP, KCP and EBP being met. The charge is allocated on a straight-line basis over the vesting periods of the LTIP, KCP and EBP.

 

The Group’s other fixed asset investments are stated at cost, less any provision for permanent diminution in value.

 

g) Tangible fixed assets

 

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and any provision for impairment. Land and assets in the course of construction are not depreciated.

 

Depreciation is provided to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life. Principal annual rates used for this purpose are:

 

Freehold buildings    4%
Leasehold improvements    Lower of lease period or life of the asset
Equipment, fixtures and fittings:     
— Fixtures and fittings    10% — 20%
— Computer equipment    20% — 33 1/3%
— Technical equipment    10% — 20%
— Motor vehicles    25%

 

h) Impairment of fixed assets and goodwill

 

Intangible fixed assets, goodwill and tangible fixed assets are reviewed for impairment if events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill and intangible fixed assets are also reviewed for impairment at the end of the first full financial year after acquisition. Should an impairment review be required, this is performed in accordance with FRS 11 — Impairment of fixed assets and goodwill.

 

i) Stocks

 

Television program rights

 

Program rights are stated at cost (including, where applicable, estimated escalation payments) less accumulated amortization. Provisions are made for any program rights which are surplus to Group requirements or which will not be shown for any other reason.

 

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Contractual obligations for program rights not yet available for transmission are not included in the cost of program rights, but are disclosed as contractual commitments (see note 25). Payments made upon receipt of commissioned and acquired programming, but in advance of the legal right to broadcast the programs, are treated as prepayments.

 

Acquired and commissioned program rights are recorded in stock at cost when the programs are available for transmission.

 

Amortization is provided to write off the cost of acquired and commissioned program rights as follows:

 

Sports

  

— 100% on first showing, or where contracts provide for sports rights for multiple seasons or competitions, the amortization of each contract is based on anticipated revenue.

Current affairs

  

— 100% on first showing.

General entertainment

  

— Straight-line basis on each transmission at the following rates:

    

    — One showing planned — 100%

    

    — Two showings planned — 60%; 40%

    

    — Three showings planned — 50%; 30%; 20%

    

    — Four showings planned — 40%; 30%; 20%; 10%

Movies

  

— Acquired movies are amortized on a straight-line basis over the period of transmission rights. Where acquired movie rights provide for a second availability window, 10% of the cost is allocated to that window. Own movie productions are amortized in line with anticipated revenue over a maximum of five years.

 

Set-top boxes and related equipment

 

Set-top boxes and related equipment include digital set-top boxes, Low Noise Blockers (“LNBs”) and mini-dishes. These stocks are valued at the lower of cost and Net Realizable Value (“NRV”) (which reflects the value to the business of the set-top box and the related equipment in the hands of the customer). Any subsidy is expensed on enablement, which is the process of activating the viewing card once inserted in the set-top box upon installation, so as to enable a viewer to view encrypted broadcast services, and effectively represents the completion of the installation process for new subscribers.

 

Raw materials, consumables and goods held for resale

 

Raw materials, consumables and goods held for resale are valued at the lower of cost and NRV.

 

j) Transponder rentals

 

Payments made in advance to secure satellite capacity have been recorded as prepaid transponder rentals. These payments are amortized on a straight-line basis to the profit and loss account from commencement of broadcasting to the end of the rental period, normally ten years.

 

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k) Taxation

 

Corporation tax payable is provided at current rates on all taxable profits.

 

l) Deferred taxation

 

Deferred tax is recognized in respect of timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date, where transactions or events that result in an obligation to pay more tax in the future or a right to pay less tax in the future have occurred at the balance sheet date.

 

A net deferred tax asset is regarded as recoverable and therefore recognized only when, on the basis of all available evidence, it can be regarded as more likely than not that there will be suitable taxable profits against which carried forward tax losses can be offset and from which the future reversal of underlying timing differences can be deducted.

 

Deferred tax is measured at the average tax rates that are expected to apply in the periods in which the timing differences are expected to reverse, based on tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date. Deferred tax is measured on a non-discounted basis.

 

m) Foreign currency

 

Trading activities denominated in foreign currencies are recorded in sterling at actual exchange rates as of the date of the transaction or at the contracted rate if the transaction is covered by a forward foreign exchange contract or other hedging instrument. Monetary assets, liabilities and commitments denominated in foreign currencies at the year end are reported at the rates of exchange prevailing at the year end or, if hedged, at the appropriate hedged rate.

 

The results of overseas subsidiaries and joint ventures are translated at the average rates of exchange during the period and the balance sheet is translated at the rates ruling at the balance sheet date. Exchange differences arising on translation of the opening net assets and results of the overseas subsidiaries and joint ventures and on foreign currency borrowings, to the extent that they hedge the Group’s investment in these operations, are dealt with through reserves.

 

n) Derivatives and other financial instruments

 

The Group uses a limited number of derivative financial instruments to hedge its exposures to fluctuations in interest and foreign exchange rates. Instruments accounted for as hedges are structured so as to reduce the market risk associated with the underlying transaction being hedged and are designated as a hedge at the inception of the contract. Receipts and payments on interest rate instruments are recognized on an accruals basis, over the life of the instrument. Gains and losses on instruments used for hedging are not recognized until the hedged position is recognized.

 

Cash flows associated with derivative financial instruments are classified in the cash flow statement in a manner consistent with those of the underlying transactions being hedged. If an instrument ceases to be accounted for as a hedge, for example, by the underlying hedged position being eliminated, the instrument is marked to market and any resulting gain or loss is recognized in the profit and loss account.

 

The Group does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.

 

o) Turnover

 

Turnover, which excludes value added tax and sales between Group companies, represents the value of products and services sold. The Group’s main sources of turnover are recognized as follows:

 

  Revenues from the provision of direct-to-home (“DTH”) subscription services are recognized as the services are provided. Pay-per-view revenue is recognized when the event, movie or football match is viewed.

 

  Cable revenue is recognized as the services are provided to the cable wholesalers and is based on the number of subscribers taking the Sky Channels as reported to the Group by the cable companies and the applicable rate card.

 

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  Advertising sales revenues are recognized when the advertising is broadcast.

 

  Interactive turnover includes income from betting and gaming, online advertising, internet, e-commerce, interconnect, text services and set-top box subsidy recovery revenues from conditional access and access control customers on the Sky digital platform. Betting and gaming revenues represent: a) amounts receivable in respect of bets placed on events which occur in the year; and b) net customer losses in the year in respect of the on-line casino operations. All other Interactive revenues are recognized when the goods or services are delivered.

 

  Other revenue principally includes income from installations (net of any discount), service call revenues, warranty revenue, marketing contributions from third party channels, conditional access fees and access control fees. Other revenues are recognized, net of any discount given, when the relevant service has been provided.

 

p) Pension costs

 

The Group provides pensions to eligible employees through the BSkyB Pension Plan which is a defined contribution scheme. The amount charged to the profit and loss account in the year represents the cost of contributions payable by the Group to the scheme in that year. The assets of the BSkyB Pension Plan are held independently of the Group.

 

q) Leases

 

Assets held under finance leases are treated as tangible fixed assets. Depreciation is provided over the shorter of the lease term and the asset’s useful economic life, and the deemed capital element of future rentals is included within creditors. Deemed interest is charged as interest payable over the period of the lease.

 

The rental costs arising from operating leases are charged to the profit and loss account in the year in which they are incurred.

 

2. Turnover

 

     2001

   2002

   2003

     £m    £m    £m

DTH subscribers

   1,536.7    1,929.2    2,341.2

Cable and digital terrestrial television (“DTT”) subscribers

   299.1    279.4    202.2

Advertising

   270.5    250.7    283.6

Interactive

   93.0    186.0    218.3

Other

   106.7    130.8    140.7
    
  
  
     2,306.0    2,776.1    3,186.0
    
  
  

 

All Group turnover is derived from the Group’s sole class of business, being television broadcasting together with certain ancillary functions, and arises principally within the United Kingdom from activities conducted from the United Kingdom, with the exception of £0.4 million of turnover (2002: £23.0 million; 2001: £65.2 million) which relates to activities conducted from the Channel Islands. The Group’s sole class of business is consistent with its internal management reporting structure. In order to provide shareholders with additional information, the Group’s turnover has been analyzed as shown above.

 

All turnover arises from services provided to the United Kingdom, with the exception of £92.9 million (2002: £62.4 million; 2001: £32.6 million) which arises from services provided to Ireland and £9.0 million (2002: £7.7 million; 2001: £5.4 million) which arises from services provided to the Channel Islands.

 

The Group’s profit before tax and its net liabilities relate to activities conducted in the United Kingdom, with the exception of £0.8 million loss (2002: £0.3 million loss; 2001: £1.2 million loss) and £0.9 million of net assets (2002: £0.3 million net assets; 2001: £1.5 million net liabilities) which relate to activities conducted in the Channel Islands. The Group’s loss before tax and its net liabilities in fiscal 2002 also included a £1,143.5 million loss (2001: £292.4 million loss) and nil assets (2001: £1,142.1 million net assets) which related to activities conducted in Germany.

 

Long-lived assets outside the United Kingdom comprise less than 10% of consolidated long-lived assets.

 

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3. Operating expenses, net

 

     2001

   2002

   2003

     Before
goodwill
and
exceptional
items


   Goodwill
and
exceptional
items


   Total

   Before
goodwill
and
exceptional
items


   Goodwill
and
exceptional
items


    Total

   Before
goodwill
and
exceptional
items


   Goodwill
and
exceptional
items


   Total

     £m    £m    £m    £m    £m     £m    £m    £m    £m

Programming(i)

   1,133.8    —      1,133.8    1,439.3    —       1,439.3    1,603.9    —      1,603.9

Transmission and related functions(i)

   128.6    —      128.6    146.6    (4.1 )   142.5    142.8    —      142.8

Marketing

   378.1    —      378.1    416.6    —       416.6    400.5    —      400.5

Subscriber management

   243.4    —      243.4    291.1    —       291.1    324.4    —      324.4

Administration

   186.6    67.4    254.0    203.2    140.6     343.8    236.1    116.7    352.8

Betting

   75.3    —      75.3    87.8    —       87.8    107.6    —      107.6
    
  
  
  
  

 
  
  
  
     2,145.8    67.4    2,213.2    2,584.6    136.5     2,721.1    2,815.3    116.7    2,932.0
    
  
  
  
  

 
  
  
  

(i) The amounts shown are net of £12.0 million (2002: £15.3 million; 2001: £55.1 million) receivable from the disposal of programming rights not acquired for use by the Group, and £25.5 million (2002: £23.7 million; 2001: £53.9 million) in respect of the provision to third party broadcasters of spare transponder capacity.

 

4. Exceptional items

 

     2001

    2002

    2003

 
    

Charge

(credit)

before

taxation


   

Taxation

charge


   Total

   

Charge

(credit)

before

taxation


   

Taxation

(credit)

charge


    Total

   

Charge

(credit)

before

taxation


   

Taxation

charge

(credit)


    Total

 
     £m     £m    £m     £m     £m     £m     £m     £m     £m  

Estimated cost of reorganization of Sky Interactive (k)

   23.1     —      23.1     —       —       —       —       —       —    

Provision (release of provision) against ITV Digital programming debtors (a) (d)

   —       —      —       22.3     (6.7 )   15.6     (4.8 )   1.4     (3.4 )

Release of analog termination provision (e)

   —       —      —       (4.1 )   1.2     (2.9 )   —       —       —    
    

 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exceptional operating items

   23.1     —      23.1     18.2     (5.5 )   12.7     (4.8 )   1.4     (3.4 )
    

 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joint ventures’ goodwill amortization, net (f)

   —       —      —       971.4     —       971.4     —       —       —    

Profit on sale of fixed asset investment (g)

   —       —      —       (2.3 )   —       (2.3 )   —       —       —    

Share of joint venture’s operating exceptional item (l)

   16.5     —      16.5     —       —       —       —       —       —    

Share of joint venture’s loss on sale of fixed asset investment (m)

   69.5     —      69.5     —       —       —       —       —       —    

Amounts written off fixed asset investments, net (see note 15) (b) (j) (n)

   38.6     —      38.6     60.0     —       60.0     15.1     —       15.1  

Provision (release of provision) for loss on disposal of subsidiary (h) (o)

   10.0     —      10.0     (10.0 )   —       (10.0 )   —       —       —    

Finance credit (see note 6) (p)

   (2.7 )   0.8    (1.9 )   —       —       —       —       —       —    

Write down (recognition) of deferred tax asset (c) (i)

   —       —      —       —       83.3     83.3     —       (122.6 )   (122.6 )
    

 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total exceptional items

   155.0     0.8    155.8     1,037.3     77.8     1,115.1     10.3     (121.2 )   (110.9 )
    

 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2003

 

Exceptional operating items

 

a) ITV Digital

 

The Group provided in full against all unprovided balances owed by ITV Digital, following the announcement made on April 30, 2002 (see note (d) below). During the year, the Group received £4.8 million from ITV Digital’s administrators and released £4.8 million of its exceptional operating provision accordingly.

 

 

B-13


Other exceptional items

 

b) Amounts written off fixed asset investments, net

 

At December 31, 2002, the Group made a further provision against its minority investments in football clubs, leading to a non-cash exceptional charge of £21.0 million. Subsequently, the Group reduced its provision against its investment in Chelsea Village plc at June 30, 2003 by £3.2 million, following the agreement to sell its minority investment in July 2003.

 

At December 31, 2002, the Group reduced its deferred revenue balance relating to minority investments in new media companies by £5.1 million, and reduced both its investment and its provision against the investment in these companies accordingly.

 

At December 31, 2002, the Group made a provision against its investment in Open TV shares, leading to a non-cash exceptional charge of £2.9 million, bringing the carrying value of the Group’s investment in Open TV to £0.3 million. During February and March 2003, the Group disposed of its entire investment in Open TV shares, leading to a loss on disposal of £0.1 million.

 

c) Recognition of deferred tax asset

 

Following a review of the forecast utilization of tax losses within the Group, and as a consequence of a planned reorganization of certain assets within the Group, there is now sufficient evidence to support the recognition of a deferred tax asset arising on losses incurred in the Company. Accordingly, a deferred tax credit of £122.6 million has been recognized as an exceptional item.

 

2002

 

Exceptional operating items

 

d) ITV Digital

 

At March 27, 2002, the date on which the ITV Digital DTT platform was put into administration, the Group had balances owed to it and unprovided for, in respect of programming licensed to ITV Digital, of £22.3 million. On April 30, 2002, the joint administrators of ITV Digital announced the closure of pay television services on the platform and their intention to close the administration. Accordingly, the Group made an exceptional operating provision against the whole of this balance (see note (a) above).

 

e) Release of analog termination provision

 

On September 27, 2001, the Group terminated its analog operation. From the original exceptional operating provision of £41.0 million, taken at June 30, 2000, £4.1 million of provision had not been utilized at June 30, 2002, and was therefore released to the profit and loss account as an exceptional credit.

 

Other exceptional items

 

f) Joint ventures’ goodwill amortization, net

 

The exceptional item of £971.4 million of joint ventures’ goodwill amortization, net, relates to the impairment charge taken against the carrying value of the Group’s interest in KirchPayTV of £984.9 million as at December 31, 2001, net of an amount of £13.5 million released from the provision matching the Group’s share of losses for the period from January 1, 2002 to February 8, 2002, at which date the Group ceased to gross equity account for KirchPayTV’s results (see notes 5 and 14).

 

g) Profit on sale of fixed asset investment

 

On July 2, 2001, the Group disposed of its unlisted investment in Static 2358 Limited, realizing a profit on disposal of £2.3 million (see note 15).

 

B-14


h) Release of provision for loss on disposal of subsidiary

 

On October 16, 2001, the Group and Ladbrokes, the betting and gaming division of Hilton Group plc, announced that they had agreed not to pursue the proposed joint venture to offer a fixed odds betting service on Sky Sports channels and other media. As a result, the provision for loss on disposal of the subsidiary, taken at June 30, 2001, was written back, resulting in a non-cash exceptional profit of £10.0 million (see note (o) below). The Group continues to operate and develop interactive TV betting services through its wholly-owned bookmaker, SkyBet (formerly known as Surrey Sports).

 

i) Write down of deferred tax asset

 

Following the impairment charge made in respect of the Group’s investment in KirchPayTV at December 31, 2001 (see note 14) there was insufficient evidence to support the recognition of a deferred tax asset arising on losses incurred by certain UK companies. Accordingly, the deferred tax asset of £95.6 million was written off in full at December 31, 2001, although by June 30, 2002, £12.3 million of this amount had been written back due to the utilization of tax losses.

 

j) Amounts written off fixed asset investments

 

At December 31, 2001, the Group made a provision against its minority investments in football clubs, leading to a non-cash exceptional charge of £60.0 million.

 

2001

 

Exceptional operating items

 

k) Reorganization of Sky Interactive

 

In May 2001, the Group announced the consolidation of all of its interactive and online activities within the ‘Sky Interactive’ division. The costs of reorganization within Sky Interactive were estimated at £23.1 million and principally comprised the cost of termination of certain contracts, the closure of duplicate sites and a reduction in headcount. Of these costs, £7.0 million were included within fixed assets, £4.0 million were included within other creditors and the remainder within provisions.

 

Other exceptional items

 

l) Share of joint venture’s operating exceptional item

 

In April 2001, BiB incurred exceptional operating costs of £16.5 million, which principally comprised the cost of the write-down of the current platform. Of these costs, £13.1 million were included within fixed assets and the remainder within provisions.

 

m) Share of joint venture’s loss on sale of fixed asset investment

 

On August 31, 2000, KirchPayTV disposed of their remaining 58 million holding of BSkyB shares. The Group’s share of the loss on disposal was £69.5 million. The loss was calculated as the Group’s share of the difference between the balance sheet value of the 58 million shares at £15.21 per share (based on the value of the shares at the date of acquisition of 24% of KirchPayTV by the Group) and the net proceeds realized by KirchPayTV of £10.05 per share.

 

n) Amounts written off fixed asset investments

 

At June 30, 2001, £38.6 million was provided against the Group’s minority investments in new media companies.

 

o) Provision for loss on disposal of subsidiary

 

On July 11, 2001, the Group and Ladbrokes, the betting and gaming division of Hilton Group plc, reached agreement to form a 50:50 joint venture to develop and operate a fixed-odds and pools betting business linked to Sky channels on Sky digital. The agreement was for the Group to contribute its wholly-owned bookmaker, Surrey Sports, to the joint venture and a provision was made in the year to June 30, 2001 for the adjustment to existing goodwill which would have been necessary when Surrey Sports was transferred to the new joint venture. This provision was subsequently reversed when the Group and Ladbrokes agreed not to pursue the proposed joint venture in October 2001 (see note (h) above).

 

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p) Finance credit

 

An exceptional accrual was made in June 1999 in respect of the mark-to-market of a floating-to-fixed interest rate swap over £100 million of the £1,000 million revolving credit facility (“RCF”) which was no longer required when the RCF was cancelled and replaced with a £750 million RCF. The swap was closed out in September 2000, and the remaining accrual of £2.7 million was released.

 

5. Share of operating results of joint ventures

 

     2001

     2002

     2003

     £m      £m      £m

KirchPayTV operating loss

   (116.0 )    (70.0 )    —  

BiB

   (118.9 )    —        —  

BiB — exceptional item (see note 4)

   (16.5 )    —        —  

Programming joint ventures operating (loss) profit, net

   (4.3 )    (6.7 )    3.4
    

  

  

Total (losses) profits

   (255.7 )    (76.7 )    3.4
    

  

  

 

This relates to the Group’s equity share of the operating results of the Group’s joint ventures.

 

KirchPayTV

 

By February 8, 2002, the Group considered that its relationship with KirchPayTV had irrevocably changed and that the Group had not exercised significant influence since that date. Therefore, the Group believed that, from February 8, 2002, it was no longer appropriate to account for its interest in KirchPayTV as a joint venture, and ceased accounting for KirchPayTV’s losses using the gross equity method from that date.

 

As the Group has no intention of providing any future funding to KirchPayTV and the Group, on a consolidated basis, has no financial commitments, outstanding financial liabilities or contingent liabilities in respect of KirchPayTV, an amount of £13.5 million was released from the impairment provision made at December 31, 2001, in order to match the Group’s share of KirchPayTV’s losses for the period from January 1, 2002 to February 8, 2002.

 

BiB

 

The Group recognized 32.5% of the results of BiB up until November 2000. From this date to May 9, 2001, 100% of BiB’s losses were recognized due to the agreement dated July 17, 2000, under which the Group agreed to provide 100% of BiB’s funding after existing funding had been utilized. From May 9, 2001, the Group fully consolidated BiB as a subsidiary.

 

6. Interest

 

a) Interest receivable and similar income

 

     2001

   2002

   2003

     £m    £m    £m

Interest receivable on short-term deposits

   3.8    8.2    2.6

Share of joint ventures’ interest receivable

   3.5    2.0    0.5

Interest receivable on funding to joint ventures

   10.4    0.3    0.1

Other interest receivable and similar income

   0.5    0.6    0.5
    
  
  
     18.2    11.1    3.7

Exceptional finance credit (see note 4)

   2.7    —      —  
    
  
  
     20.9    11.1    3.7
    
  
  

 

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b) Interest payable and similar charges

 

     2001

   2002

   2003

     £m    £m    £m

On bank loans, overdrafts and other loans repayable within five years, not by installments:

              

— £200 million RCF (previously £300 million RCF)*

   0.8    10.8    2.5

— £750 million RCF**

   38.5    46.3    27.0

— £600 million RCF**

   —      —      3.7

US$650 million of 8.200% Guaranteed Notes, repayable in 2009

   31.6    31.6    31.1

£100 million of 7.750% Guaranteed Notes, repayable in 2009

   7.8    7.8    7.8

US$600 million of 6.875% Guaranteed Notes, repayable in 2009

   30.1    30.1    30.1

US$300 million of 7.300% Guaranteed Notes, repayable in 2006

   15.5    15.1    13.8

Finance lease interest

   0.9    1.0    1.0

Share of joint ventures’ interest payable

   27.8    4.9    0.3

Other interest payable and similar charges

   0.3    0.4    0.9
    
  
  
     153.3    148.0    118.2
    
  
  

* In March 2003, the Group voluntarily cancelled £100 million of its £300 million RCF. The maturity date of the resultant £200 million RCF is still June 2004.
** In addition, in March 2003 the Group entered into a new £600 million RCF. This facility was used to cancel the £750 million RCF, which was entered into in July 1999, and will be used for general corporate purposes. The new £600 million RCF has a maturity date of March 2008.

 

7. (Loss) profit on ordinary activities before taxation

 

The (loss) profit on ordinary activities before taxation is stated after charging (crediting):

 

     2001

     2002

     2003

 
     £m      £m      £m  

— depreciation (see note 13)

                    

— owned assets

   70.8      79.5      96.2  

— assets held under finance leases

   0.3      1.6      1.7  

— amortization and impairment of intangible fixed assets (see note 12)

   44.3      118.4      121.5  

— joint ventures’ goodwill amortization, net (see note 14)

   101.1      1,069.9      —    

— amounts written off fixed asset investments, net (see note 15)

   38.6      60.0      15.1  

— profit on disposals of fixed assets and fixed asset investments

   —        (2.3 )    (0.2 )

— rentals on operating leases and similar arrangements:

                    

— land and buildings

   7.2      8.2      9.0  

— plant and machinery

   112.2      76.4      80.0  

— sub-lease rentals on operating leases received in respect of plant and machinery

   (53.9 )    (23.7 )    (25.5 )

— sub-lease rentals on operating leases received in respect of land and buildings

   (1.4 )    (1.4 )    (1.5 )

— staff costs (see note 8)

   260.9      276.9      299.1  

 

B-17


Amounts payable to the auditors are analyzed below:

 

     2001

   2002

   2003

     £m    £m    £m

Statutory audit services

   0.6    0.7    0.8

Audit-related fees

   0.4    0.8    0.6
    
  
  

Audit and audit-related services

   1.0    1.5    1.4
    
  
  

Tax advisory services

   0.6    0.4    0.6
    
  
  

Customer relationship management center development

   4.9    4.8    5.1

Website development

   6.0    0.5    —  

Other services

   1.9    1.0    0.7
    
  
  

Non-audit-related services

   12.8    6.3    5.8
    
  
  

 

During the year, the auditors received £5.1 million (2002: £4.8 million; 2001: £4.9 million) in respect of on-going contact center development services. Due to the complex and long-term nature of the infrastructure development work, the Group is satisfied that Deloitte & Touche should continue to provide these services.

 

In addition to the amounts above, the Group understands that, during fiscal 2002, its auditors indirectly received £4.0 million (2001: £2.9 million) from the Group, through the performance of sub-contracted services for one of the Group’s customer relationship management center consultants. The Group understands that no such payments were made during 2003.

 

8. Staff costs

 

 

a) Employee costs

 

Employee costs for permanent and temporary employees, and Executive Directors during the year amounted to:

 

     2001

   2002

   2003

     £m    £m    £m

Wages and salaries

   213.2    227.1    234.3

Costs of LTIP, KCP, EBP and other share-related bonus schemes

   14.0    17.2    27.4

Social security costs

   25.4    22.0    25.9

Other pension costs

   8.3    10.6    11.5
    
  
  
     260.9    276.9    299.1
    
  
  

 

The Group operates a defined contribution pension scheme through the BSkyB Pension Plan. The pension charge for the year represents the cost of contributions payable by the Group to the Plan during the year and amounted to £11.5 million (2002: £10.6 million; 2001: £8.3 million). The Group’s contributions owing to the plan at June 30, 2003 were £0.8 million (2002: £0.7 million).

 

The average monthly number of full time equivalent people (including temporary employees) employed by the Group during the year was as follows:

 

     2001

   2002

   2003

     Number    Number    Number

Programming

   1,134    1,131    1,106

Transmission and related functions

   1,071    1,274    1,383

Marketing

   173    193    199

Subscriber management

   6,472    5,432    5,381

Administration

   872    965    954

Betting

   226    88    109
    
  
  
     9,948    9,083    9,132
    
  
  

 

There are approximately 1,115 temporary staff included within the average number of full time equivalent people employed by the Group.

 

B-18


b) Directors’ emoluments

 

The emoluments of the Directors for the year are shown below:

 

    

Total

emoluments

including

pensions

2001


  

Total

emoluments

including

pensions

2002


  

Salary

and fees


  

Bonus

schemes


   Benefits

  

Total

emoluments

before

pensions


   Pensions

  

Total

emoluments

including

pensions

2003


     £    £    £    £    £    £    £    £

Executive

                                       

Tony Ball

   1,964,383    2,049,343    762,134    1,500,000    41,436    2,303,570    156,167    2,459,737

Martin Stewart

   821,451    713,517    400,000    500,000    24,750    924,750    31,686    956,436

Non-Executive

                                       

Rupert Murdoch

   —      —      17,741    —      —      17,741    —      17,741

Philip Bowman

   30,750    45,000    46,750    —      —      46,750    —      46,750

Chase Carey(i)

   —      —      13,946    —      —      13,946    —      13,946

David DeVoe

   —      —      17,741    —      —      17,741    —      17,741

David Evans

   —      27,057    39,994    —      —      39,994    —      39,994

Allan Leighton

   25,500    39,698    41,750    —      —      41,750    —      41,750

James Murdoch(ii)

   —      —      13,946    —      —      13,946    —      13,946

Jacques Nasser(iii)

   —      —      26,923    —      —      26,923    —      26,923

Gail Rebuck(iv)

   —      —      25,596    —      —      25,596    —      25,596

Arthur Siskind

   —      —      15,843    —      —      15,843    —      15,843

Lord St. John of Fawsley

   25,500    35,000    40,673    —      —      40,673    —      40,673

John Thornton

   28,125    49,522    53,744    —      —      53,744    —      53,744

Lord Wilson of Dinton(v)

   —      —      13,946    —      —      13,946    —      13,946

Leslie Hinton(vi)

   —      —      —      —      —      —      —      —  

Martin Pompadur(vii)

   —      —      —      —      —      —      —      —  

Former directors

   120,268    —      —      —      —      —      —      —  

Total emoluments

   3,015,977    2,959,137    1,530,727    2,000,000    66,186    3,596,913    187,853    3,784,766

(i) Chase Carey was appointed a Director of the Company on February 13, 2003.
(ii) James Murdoch was appointed a Director of the Company on February 13, 2003.
(iii) Jacques Nasser was appointed a Director of the Company on November 8, 2002.
(iv) Gail Rebuck was appointed a Director of the Company on November 8, 2002.
(v) Lord Wilson of Dinton was appointed a Director of the Company on February 13, 2003.
(vi) Leslie Hinton resigned as a Director of the Company on February 13, 2003.
(vii) Martin Pompadur resigned as a Director of the Company on February 13, 2003.

 

Executive bonuses

 

The amounts received by the Directors under bonus schemes for the year are shown below:

 

    

Additional

Executive

Bonus

Scheme(i)


  

Senior

Management

Bonus

Scheme(ii)


   Total

     £    £    £

Executive

              

Tony Ball

   —      1,500,000    1,500,000

Martin Stewart

   —      500,000    500,000

(i) Additional Executive Bonus Scheme

Tony Ball has rights over 600,000 notional shares which became exercisable during the year. The notional shares have an exercise price of £5.35 but the gain on exercise is limited to a maximum of 48 pence per notional share.

 

B-19


During the year to June 30, 2003 no shares (notional or actual) were awarded or exercised under this scheme.

 

(ii) Senior Management Bonus Scheme

 

The amounts shown above are those which have been approved by the Remuneration Committee for the year ended June 30, 2003.

 

PENSION

 

The amounts received by the Directors under pension arrangements are detailed below.

 

During the year the Company reviewed the operation of its pension arrangements for Executive Directors and Senior Executives whose Pension Plan contributions are restricted due to Inland Revenue limits. For these Executives, in the first instance, employee contributions are reduced and where employer contributions need to be restricted, a cash supplement is paid to the individual equal to the shortfall in the 8% employer contribution rate.

 

Tony Ball received a one-off payment of £113,883 and a further payment of £10,421 in relation to the shortfall in his pension arrangements that resulted from historical differences between employer contributions, as capped by Inland Revenue limits, and 8% of his pensionable salary. Employer contributions of £31,863 were paid into the BSkyB Pension Plan.

 

Martin Stewart received a further payment of £4,213 in relation to the shortfall in his pension arrangements, as described above. Employer contributions of £27,473 were paid into the BSkyB Pension Plan.

 

SHARE OWNERSHIP

 

LTIP

 

Details of outstanding awards receivable under the LTIP are shown below:

 

     Number of shares under award

                   
    

At

June 30,
2002


    Granted
during
the year


    Exercised
during
the year


  

At

June 30,
2003


   Exercise
price


   Market
price at
date of
exercise


   Date from
which
exercisable


   Expiry
date


Name of Directors

                                           

Tony Ball

   454,000 (i)   —       —      454,000    £ 10.04    N/A    03.11.02    03.11.10
     454,000 (i)   —       —      454,000    £ 10.04    N/A    30.06.03    03.11.10
     454,000 (i)   —       —      454,000    £ 8.30    N/A    30.06.03    21.11.11
     454,000 (ii)   —       —      454,000    £ 8.30    N/A    30.06.04    21.11.11
     —       227,110 (iii)   —      227,110    £ 5.55    N/A    31.07.04    31.07.12
     —       227,110 (iii)   —      227,110    £ 5.55    N/A    31.07.05    31.07.12
     —       11,466 (iii)   —      11,466    £ 5.60    N/A    31.07.04    31.07.12
     —       11,466 (iii)   —      11,466    £ 5.60    N/A    31.07.05    31.07.12
    

 

 
  
  

  
  
  

Martin Stewart

   227,000 (i)   —       —      227,000    £ 10.04    N/A    03.11.02    03.11.10
     227,000 (i)   —       —      227,000    £ 10.04    N/A    30.06.03    03.11.10
     227,000 (i)   —       —      227,000    £ 8.30    N/A    30.06.03    21.11.11
     227,000 (ii)   —       —      227,000    £ 8.30    N/A    30.06.04    21.11.11
     —       113,555 (iii)   —      113,555    £ 5.55    N/A    31.07.04    31.07.12
     —       113,555 (iii)   —      113,555    £ 5.55    N/A    31.07.05    31.07.12
     —       5,733 (iii)   —      5,733    £ 5.60    N/A    31.07.04    31.07.12
     —       5,733 (iii)   —      5,733    £ 5.60    N/A    31.07.05    31.07.12

Awards under the LTIP take the form of a market value option with a cash bonus equal to the lower of the exercise price and the share price at the date of exercise, with the exception of shares awarded as part of an agreement to meet the employer’s National Insurance obligations, which do not attract a cash bonus.

 

The aggregate gain made by the Directors under the LTIP during the year was nil (2002: £7,777,500).

 

Notes:

 

(i) These awards vested during the year.

 

(ii) These awards will vest subject to meeting performance conditions on June 30, 2004. The vesting date for this award was amended during the year from an original vesting date of July 31, 2004, in order to align the vesting date with the Company’s financial year.

 

B-20


(iii) In August 2002, awards were granted over performance periods ending in July 2004 and July 2005.

 

Equity Bonus Plan

 

     Number of shares under award

                   
    

At

June 30,
2002


   Granted
during
the year


   Exercised
during
the year


  

At

June 30,
2003


   Exercise
price(i)


   Market
price at
date of
exercise


   Date from
which
exercisable


   Expiry
date


Name of Directors

                                       

Tony Ball

   —      52,000    —      52,000    N/A    N/A    31.07.04    31.07.12
     —      52,000    —      52,000    N/A    N/A    31.07.05    31.07.12
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Martin Stewart

   —      26,000    —      26,000    N/A    N/A    31.07.04    31.07.12
     —      26,000    —      26,000    N/A    N/A    31.07.05    31.07.12

Note:

 

(i) Awards under the EBP take the form of a contingent right to acquire existing BSkyB shares at the vesting date, for nil consideration.

 

The performance conditions applicable to the awards under the EBP were measured at June 30, 2003. The plan will deliver the shares in equal measures at July 31, 2004 and July 31, 2005.

 

Executive share options

 

Details of all outstanding options held under the Executive Schemes and Sharesave Scheme are shown below:

 

     Number of options

                   
    

At

June 30,
2002


    Granted
during
the year


   Exercised
during
the year


  

At

June 30,
2003


   Exercise
price


   Market
price at
date of
exercise


   Date from
which
exercisable


   Expiry
date


Name of Directors

                                            

Tony Ball

   5,145 (i)   —      —      5,145    £ 5.83      N/A    12.08.02    12.08.09
     594,855 (i)   —      —      594,855    £ 5.83      N/A    12.08.02    12.08.06
     600,000     —      —      600,000    £ 7.35      N/A    05.06.05    05.06.12
    

 
  
  
  

  

  
  

Martin Stewart

   2,096 (ii)   —      2,096    —      £ 4.62    £ 6.62    —      —  

Note:

 

(i) The options, granted to Tony Ball on August 12, 1999, became exercisable during the year.

 

(ii) These options were granted under the Company’s Sharesave Scheme and were exercised on May 22, 2003 following their maturity. The gain on exercise of the Sharesave options was £4,192.

 

During the year ended June 30, 2003 the share price traded within the range of £4.58 to £7.06 per share. The middle-market closing price on the last working day of the financial year was £6.72.

 

B-21


9. Taxation

 

a) Analysis of charge (credit) in year

 

     2001

   2002

   2003

 
    

Tax charge

on profit

before

exceptional

items


  

Exceptional

tax charge


   Total

  

Tax charge

on profit

before

exceptional

items


  

Exceptional

tax charge

(ii)


   Total

  

Tax charge

(credit)

on profit

before

exceptional

items


    

Exceptional

tax charge

(credit)


     Total

 
     £m    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m      £m      £m  

Current tax

   —      —      —      —      —      —      85.0      1.4      86.4  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  

Deferred tax:

                                                  

Origination and reversal of timing differences

   23.3    0.8    24.1    27.3    77.8    105.1    (26.6 )    (122.6 )    (149.2 )

Increase in estimate of recoverable deferred tax asset in respect of prior years

   —      —      —      —      —      —      (1.8 )    —        (1.8 )
    
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  

Total deferred tax (i)

   23.3    0.8    24.1    27.3    77.8    105.1    (28.4 )    (122.6 )    (151.0 )
    
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  

Share of joint ventures’ tax charge

   —      —      —      1.3    —      1.3    2.1      —        2.1  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  

     23.3    0.8    24.1    28.6    77.8    106.4    58.7      (121.2 )    (62.5 )
    
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  


(i) During the year the Group recorded a deferred tax credit of £163.3 million relating to deferred tax assets not previously recognized. The Directors consider that there is now sufficient evidence to support the recognition of these deferred tax assets on the basis that it is more likely than not that there will be suitable taxable profits against which these assets can be utilized. £122.6 million of the deferred tax credit has been treated as an exceptional item.
(ii) An exceptional deferred tax charge of £95.6 million was made at December 31, 2001, against which £12.3 million has been written back at June 30, 2002 as a result of the utilization of tax losses. This was offset by a £5.5 million tax credit on a provision against ITV Digital’s programming debtor and the release of the analog termination provision, treated as exceptional operating items.

 

b) Factors affecting the current tax charge for the year

 

The current tax charge for the year is higher than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK (30%). The differences are explained below:

 

     2001

     2002

     2003

 
     £m      £m      £m  

(Loss) profit on ordinary activities before tax

   (514.5 )    (1,276.2 )    127.8  

Less: Share of joint ventures’ loss (profit) before tax

   350.0      79.6      (3.6 )
    

  

  

(Loss) profit on ordinary activities before tax

   (164.5 )    (1,196.6 )    124.2  
    

  

  

(Loss) profit on ordinary activities multiplied by standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 30% (2002 and 2001: 30%)

   (49.4 )    (359.0 )    37.3  

Effects of:

                    

Write-down of KirchPayTV not deductible for tax purposes

   —        291.4      —    

Other expenses not deductible for tax purposes (primarily goodwill amortization)

   63.9      77.8      42.5  

Other timing differences

   (2.9 )    19.2      11.8  

Utilization of tax losses

   (11.3 )    (30.6 )    (7.3 )

Consortium relief

   (0.3 )    1.2      2.1  
    

  

  

Current tax charge for the year

   —        —        86.4  
    

  

  

 

c) Factors that may affect future tax charges

 

At June 30, 2003, a deferred tax asset of £12.5 million (2002: £149.6 million) arising from UK losses in the Group, has not been recognized. These losses can be offset only against taxable profits generated in the entities concerned. Although the Directors ultimately expect sufficient profits to arise, there is currently insufficient evidence to support recognition of a deferred tax asset relating to these losses. The losses are available to be carried forward indefinitely under current law.

 

B-22


Deferred tax assets of £63.7 million (2002: £63.7 million) have not been recognized in respect of trading losses in the Group’s German holding companies of KirchPayTV, and £450.0 million (2002: £450.0 million) have not been recognized in respect of potential capital losses related to the Group’s holding of KirchPayTV. These losses are available to be carried forward indefinitely under current law. A deferred tax asset of £4.6 million (2002: £18.0 million) arising principally on other timing differences has not been recognized on the basis that these timing differences are not more likely than not to reverse.

 

10. Dividends

 

The Directors do not propose an interim or final dividend for the financial year (2002: nil; 2001: nil). At June 30, 2003, the Company had a deficit on its company-only profit and loss account reserve of £1,120.4 million. The Company is currently not in a position to pay a dividend.

 

The ESOP has waived its rights to dividends.

 

11. (Loss) earnings per share

 

Basic (loss) earnings per share represents the (loss) profit on ordinary activities after taxation attributable to the equity shareholders, divided by the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue during the year, less the weighted average number of shares held in the Group’s ESOP trust during the year.

 

Diluted (loss) earnings per share represents the (loss) profit on ordinary activities after taxation attributable to the equity shareholders divided by the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue during the year, less the weighted average number of shares held in the Group’s ESOP trust during the year plus the weighted average number of dilutive shares resulting from share options and other potential shares outstanding during the year (see below).

 

The weighted average number of shares in the year was:

 

     2001

     2002

     2003

 
    

Millions

of shares

    

Millions

of shares

    

Millions

of shares

 

Ordinary Shares

   1,851.1      1,891.2      1,921.2  

ESOP trust shares

   (4.0 )    (3.8 )    (6.2 )
    

  

  

Basic shares

   1,847.1      1,887.4      1,915.0  

Dilutive Ordinary Shares from share options and other potential Ordinary Shares outstanding

   —   *    —   *    27.2  
    

  

  

Diluted shares

   1,847.1      1,887.4      1,942.2  
    

  

  


* As the Group made a loss on ordinary activities after taxation in 2001 and 2002, no share options or other potential Ordinary Shares outstanding were considered to be dilutive.

 

The number of anti-dilutive shares at June 30, 2003 was 36,779,664 shares (2002: 83,438,705 shares; 2001: 70,237,843 shares) which comprised share options of 36,779,664 (2002: 42,845,578 shares; 2001: 32,712,169 shares) and deferred consideration of nil (2002: 40,593,127 shares; 2001: 37,558,480 shares).

 

B-23


12. Intangible fixed assets

 

The movement in the year was as follows:

 

     Goodwill(i),(ii)

   

Other

intangible

fixed

assets


    Total

 
     £m     £m     £m  

Cost

                  

At June 30, 2001

   842.6     1.0     843.6  

Fair value adjustments to BiB provisional goodwill

   (22.9 )   —       (22.9 )

Disposals

   —       (0.6 )   (0.6 )
    

 

 

At June 30, 2002

   819.7     0.4     820.1  
    

 

 

At June 30, 2003

   819.7     0.4     820.1  
    

 

 

Amortization

                  

At June 30, 2001

   54.2     0.1     54.3  

Charge

   118.3     0.1     118.4  

Release of provision for loss on disposal of subsidiary (see note 4)

   (10.0 )   —       (10.0 )
    

 

 

At June 30, 2002

   162.5     0.2     162.7  

Charge

   116.3     —       116.3  

Impairment losses (ii)

   5.2     —       5.2  
    

 

 

At June 30, 2003

   284.0     0.2     284.2  
    

 

 

Net book value

                  

At June 30, 2001

   788.4     0.9     789.3  
    

 

 

At June 30, 2002

   657.2     0.2     657.4  
    

 

 

At June 30, 2003

   535.7     0.2     535.9  
    

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

(i) Goodwill of £272.4 million, £542.1 million and £5.2 million, arising on the acquisitions of SIG, BiB and WAPTV respectively, is being amortized over periods of seven years on a straight-line basis.

 

In accordance with FRS 11, impairment reviews were performed on the carrying values of BiB and SIG goodwill balances at the end of the first full financial year after acquisition, at June 30, 2002. These reviews showed that no impairment was identified in either case. Consistent with the Group strategy, the business plans on which these reviews were based reflected significant projected increases in betting and other interactive revenues over the subsequent five years. Since the time of these reviews the performance of these operations has been broadly in line with the forecasts in the business plans used for these reviews, and no indications of impairment have arisen.

 

(ii) At December 31, 2002, the Group made a provision of £5.2 million, included within amortization, against goodwill which arose on the acquisition of Opta Index Limited (“Opta”) (a subsidiary of SIG, which provides statistics on the sports industry), reducing the carrying value of the goodwill to nil. The provision was made as a result of the Group’s announcement in December 2002 that it would close Opta.

 

Other intangible fixed assets

 

Other intangible fixed assets comprise internet domain names, which are being amortized over a period of seven years on a straight-line basis. During fiscal 2002, the Group disposed of betting shop licenses that were included in other intangible fixed assets.

 

B-24


13. Tangible fixed assets

 

The movement in the year was as follows:

 

    

Freehold

land and

buildings(i)


  

Short

leasehold

improvements


   

Equipment,

fixtures

and fittings(ii)


   

Assets in

course of

construction


    Total

 
     £m    £m     £m     £m     £m  

Cost

                             

At June 30, 2001

   29.9    80.5     481.5     7.0     598.9  

Additions

   8.0    3.0     75.8     27.9     114.7  

Disposals

   —      (0.2 )   (7.9 )   —       (8.1 )

Transfers

   —      —       5.0     (5.0 )   —    
    
  

 

 

 

At June 30, 2002

   37.9    83.3     554.4     29.9     705.5  

Additions

   0.4    3.2     73.0     24.8     101.4  

Disposals

   —      —       (10.9 )   —       (10.9 )

Transfers

   —      —       25.8     (25.8 )   —    
    
  

 

 

 

At June 30, 2003

   38.3    86.5     642.3     28.9     796.0  
    
  

 

 

 

Depreciation

                             

At June 30, 2001

   5.0    39.7     238.8     —       283.5  

Charge

   1.0    3.7     76.4     —       81.1  

Transferred from provisions

   —      —       4.5     —       4.5  

Disposals

   —      (0.1 )   (6.5 )   —       (6.6 )
    
  

 

 

 

At June 30, 2002

   6.0    43.3     313.2     —       362.5  

Charge

   2.3    4.0     91.6     —       97.9  

Disposals

   —      —       (10.6 )   —       (10.6 )
    
  

 

 

 

At June 30, 2003

   8.3    47.3     394.2     —       449.8  
    
  

 

 

 

Net book value

                             

At June 30, 2001

   24.9    40.8     242.7     7.0     315.4  
    
  

 

 

 

At June 30, 2002

   31.9    40.0     241.2     29.9     343.0  
    
  

 

 

 

At June 30, 2003

   30.0    39.2     248.1     28.9     346.2  
    
  

 

 

 


(i) The amounts shown include assets held under finance leases with a net book value of £6.3 million (2002: £6.7 million). The cost of these assets was £8.6 million (2002: £8.6 million) and the accumulated depreciation was £2.3 million (2002: £1.9 million). Depreciation charged during the year on these assets was £0.4 million (2002: £0.3 million; 2001: £0.3 million).

 

Depreciation was not charged on £9.4 million of land (2002: £9.4 million).

 

(ii) The amounts shown include assets held under finance leases with a net book value of £2.3 million (2002: £3.6 million). The cost of these assets was £4.9 million (2002: £4.9 million) and the accumulated depreciation was £2.6 million (2002: £1.3 million). Depreciation charged during the year on these assets was £1.3 million (2002: £1.3 million; 2000: nil).

 

B-25


14. Investments in joint ventures

 

The movement in the year was as follows:

 

     2002

     2003

 
     £m      £m  

Cost and funding, excluding goodwill

             

Beginning of year

   217.9      224.7  

Loans advanced to joint ventures

   11.6      14.6  

Loans repaid by joint ventures

   (4.8 )    (4.5 )
    

  

End of year

   224.7      234.8  
    

  

Transfer to creditors(i)

   1.6      2.6  
    

  

Movement in share of underlying net assets

             

Beginning of year

   (195.7 )    (204.5 )

Share of operating results of joint ventures (see note 5)

   (76.7 )    3.4  

Share of joint ventures’ interest receivable (see note 6)

   2.0      0.5  

Share of joint ventures’ interest payable (see note 6)

   (4.9 )    (0.3 )

Share of joint ventures’ tax charges (see note 9)

   (1.3 )    (2.1 )

Dividends received from joint venture

   —        (4.0 )

Exchange adjustments

   1.4      —    

Transferred to other fixed asset investments

   70.7      —    
    

  

End of year

   (204.5 )    (207.0 )
    

  

Goodwill

             

Beginning of year

   1,140.6      —    

Amortization

   (98.5 )    —    

Amounts provided, net (see note 4)

   (971.4 )    —    

Transferred to other fixed asset investments

   (70.7 )    —    
    

  

End of year

   —        —    
    

  

Net book value(ii)

             

Beginning of year

   1,163.7      21.8  
    

  

End of year

   21.8      30.4  
    

  


(i) The investment in joint ventures excludes cumulative losses of £2.6 million (2002: £1.6 million), which represent losses in excess of the funding provided. The related obligation is recorded within creditors.
(ii) The net book value above includes listed investments with a net book value of £5.0 million at June 30, 2003 (2002: £6.2 million). The aggregate market value of these investments at June 30, 2003 was £4.8 million (2002: £3.5 million).

 

KirchPayTV

 

At December 31, 2001, the carrying value of the Group’s investment in its KirchPayTV joint venture was written down to nil, following an exceptional charge to joint ventures’ goodwill amortization of £984.9 million. Joint ventures’ goodwill amortization also included goodwill amortization of £98.5 million for the six months ended December 31, 2001. The Group’s investment in KirchPayTV was treated as a joint venture until February 8, 2002, after which date the Group considered that it was no longer able to exercise significant influence over KirchPayTV. Accordingly on February 8, 2002, the investment was transferred within Fixed Asset Investments to Other investments at a net book value of nil. On August 1, 2002, formal insolvency proceedings were opened for KirchPayTV. The Group does not expect to receive any funds from these proceedings. On May 13, 2002, the Group exercised a put option to transfer its interest in KirchPayTV to Taurus Holding GmbH & Co KG, a company which became the subject of formal insolvency proceedings on September 13, 2002. The Group does not expect to receive a significant amount, if any, from the exercise of its put option.

 

B-26


The following information is given in respect of the Group’s share of all joint ventures:

 

     2001(i)

     2002(ii)

     2003

 
     £m      £m      £m  

Turnover

   224.1      139.2      76.5  

Fixed assets

   139.7      3.6      4.1  

Current assets

   130.8      85.1      82.7  

Liabilities due within one year

   (124.2 )    (66.0 )    (47.6 )

Liabilities due after more than one year

   (124.1 )    (2.5 )    (11.4 )

(i) This includes the Group’s share of BiB’s turnover up until BiB was consolidated as a subsidiary from May 9, 2001.
(ii) This includes the Group’s 22% share of KirchPayTV’s turnover up until it ceased to be treated as a joint venture on February 8, 2002.

 

    

Group’s share

of KirchPayTV

(as adjusted)

Year to

March 31, 2001


    

Group’s share

of KirchPayTV

(as adjusted)

April 1, to

November 8, 2001


 
     £m      £m  

Turnover

   117.4      66.5  
    

  

Operating loss

   (116.0 )    (70.0 )

Loss on sale of fixed asset investment (see note 4)

   (69.5 )    —    

Net interest payable

   (9.7 )    (3.6 )
    

  

Loss before taxation

   (195.2 )    (73.6 )

Taxation

   —        —    
    

  

Loss after taxation

   (195.2 )    (73.6 )
    

  

Fixed assets

   135.5      —    
    

  

Current assets

   67.9      —    
    

  

Liabilities due within one year

   (110.8 )    —    
    

  

Liabilities due after more than one year

   (91.1 )    —    
    

  

 

As KirchPayTV ceased to be treated as a joint venture from February 8, 2002, no joint venture balance sheet disclosure has been provided for either 2003 or 2002.

 

In the absence of KirchPayTV results for the period from July 1, 2001 to February 8, 2002, the results for a similar period, the period from April 1, 2001 to November 8, 2001, have been used. In June 2001, due to the absence of results for KirchPayTV for the year from July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2001, the results for a similar period, the year to March 31, 2001, were used.

 

B-27


15. Other fixed asset investments

 

Principal Group investments

 

The investments of the Group which principally affect the consolidated results and net assets of the Group are as follows:

 

Name


  

Country of

incorporation/

operation


  

Description and

proportion of

shares held (%)


  

Principal activity


Subsidiaries: Direct holdings               
British Sky Broadcasting Limited    England and
Wales
   10,000,002 Ordinary Shares of £1 each (100%)    The transmission of the Group’s English language satellite television broadcasting services
Sky Television Limited    England and
Wales
   13,376,982 Ordinary Shares of £1 each (100%)    Holding company
Sky In-Home Service Limited    England and
Wales
   1,576,000 Ordinary Shares of £1 each (100%)    The supply, installation and maintenance of satellite
               television receiving equipment
Sports Internet Group Limited    England and
Wales
   38,247,184 Ordinary Shares of 5p each (100%)    The provision of sports content, betting and e-commerce services
British Interactive Broadcasting Holdings Limited(i)    England and
Wales
   651,960 Ordinary Shares of £1 each (100%)    The transmission of interactive services
Subsidiaries: Indirect holdings               
Sky Subscribers Services Limited    England and
Wales
   2 Ordinary Shares of £1 each (100%)    The provision of ancillary functions supporting the satellite television broadcasting operations of the Group
Hestview Limited    England and
Wales
   108 Ordinary Shares of £1 each (100%)    Licensed bookmakers
Sky Interactive Limited    England and
Wales
   2 Ordinary Shares of £1 each (100%)    The provision of interactive television services
Sky Ventures Limited    England and
Wales
   912 Ordinary Shares of £1 each (100%)    Holding company for joint ventures
British Sky Broadcasting SA    Luxembourg    12,500 Ordinary Shares of £12 each (100%)    Digital satellite transponder leasing company
Sky New Media Ventures Limited (formerly Sky New Media Ventures plc)    England and
Wales
   12,500 Ordinary Shares of £1 each (100%)    Holding company for new media investments
Joint ventures               
Nickelodeon UK    England and
Wales
   104 B Shares of £0.01 each (50%)    The transmission of children’s television services
The History Channel (UK)    England and
Wales
   50,000 A shares of £1 each (50%)    The transmission of history and biography television services
Paramount UK(ii)    England and
Wales
   Partnership interest (25%)    The transmission of a general entertainment comedy channel
Australian News Channel Pty Limited    Australia    1 Ordinary Share of AUS$1 (33.33%)    The transmission of a 24-hour news channel
Granada Sky Broadcasting Limited(iii)    England and
Wales
   800 B Shares of £1 each (80%)    The transmission of general entertainment channels

 

B-28


MUTV

   England and
Wales
   100 B Shares of £1 each (33.33%)    The transmission of the
Manchester United
football channel

National Geographic Channel(iv)

   England and
Wales
   Partnership interest (50%)    The transmission of natural
history and adventure
channels

Music Choice Europe Limited

   England and
Wales
   44,001,120 A Shares of £1 each (36.4%)    The transmission of audio
music channels

attheraces Holdings Limited

   England and
Wales
   1,000 Ordinary Shares of £1 each (33.33%)    The transmission of a
horse racing service and
related on-line activities

Chelsea Digital Media Limited

   England and
Wales
   19,800 B Shares of £0.01 each (20%) and 3,860,174 redeemable preference shares of £1 each    The production and
marketing of the Chelsea
Football Club football
channel

Notes

(i) 80.1% directly held by British Sky Broadcasting Group plc and 19.9% held by British Sky Broadcasting Limited.
(ii) The registered address of Paramount UK is 180, Oxford Street, London W1N 0DS.
(iii) The economic interest held in Granada Sky Broadcasting Limited is 49.5%.
(iv) The registered address of National Geographic Channel is Grant Way, Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 5QD.

 

The following are included in the net book value of other fixed asset investments:

 

     2002

   2003

     £m    £m

Investment in own shares (a)

   42.2    34.6

Other investments (b)

   64.9    43.9
    
  
     107.1    78.5
    
  

 

(a) Investment in own shares

 

The movement in the year was as follows:

 

     2002

     2003

 
    

Number of

Ordinary Shares


     £m

    

Number of

Ordinary Shares


     £m

 

At beginning of year

   3,354,512      19.1      6,599,637      42.2  

Share options exercised during the year

   (654,875 )    (3.8 )    (1,142,625 )    (7.6 )

Shares purchased during the year

   3,900,000      26.9      —        —    
    

  

  

  

At end of year

   6,599,637      42.2      5,457,012      34.6  
    

  

  

  

 

At June 30, 2003, the Group’s ESOP held 5.5 million Ordinary Shares in the Company (2002: 6.6 million) at an average value of £6.34 per share (2002: £6.39 per share). These shares were designated to hedge a portion of the Group’s obligations outstanding under share schemes: the LTIP (4.0 million shares), the EBP (0.4 million shares) and the KCP (1.1 million shares).

 

The 1.1 million Ordinary Shares utilized during the year relate to the exercise of LTIP and KCP awards.

 

The cost to the Group of the LTIP, EBP and KCP awards hedged by the ESOP is accrued over the relevant vesting periods of these schemes. An amount of £28.3 million is included within accruals (2002: £19.3 million).

 

The market value of shares held by the ESOP at June 30, 2003 was £36.6 million (2002: £41.5 million), and the nominal value was £2.7 million (2002: £3.3 million).

 

B-29


(b) Other investments

 

     2002

       2003

 
     £m        £m  

Cost

               

Beginning of year

   161.2        1,119.9  

Additions (vi)

   3.2        —    

Transfer from joint ventures (x)

   971.4        —    

Transfer to joint ventures (ii)

   —          (1.0 )

Disposals (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (viii), (ix)

   (15.9 )      (14.0 )
    

    

End of year

   1,119.9        1,104.9  
    

    

Provision

               

Beginning of year

   38.1        1,055.0  

Disposals (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (viii), (ix)

   (14.5 )      (13.7 )

Transfer from joint ventures (x)

   971.4        —    

Transfer to joint ventures (ii)

   —          (1.0 )

Provided during the year, net (i), (iv), (vii)

   60.0        20.7  
    

    

End of year

   1,055.0        1,061.0  
    

    

Net book value

               

Beginning of year

   123.1        64.9  
    

    

End of year

   64.9        43.9  
    

    


2003

(i) At December 31, 2002, the Group made a further provision against its minority equity investments in football clubs, leading to a non-cash exceptional charge of £21.0 million, reduced by £3.2 million to reflect the post year end disposal of its investment in Chelsea Village plc (see note 31).
(ii) In April 2003, the Group’s total investment in Mykindaplace increased to 26%. The investment was subsequently transferred to Investments in Joint Ventures from Other Investments at its net book value of nil.
(iii) At December 31, 2002, the Group reduced its deferred revenue balance relating to minority investments in new media companies by £5.1 million, and reduced both its investment and its provision against the investment in these companies accordingly.
(iv) At December 31, 2002, the Group made a provision against its investment in Open TV shares, leading to a non-cash exceptional charge of £2.9 million. This reduced the carrying value of the Group’s investment in Open TV to £0.3 million. Between February 12, 2003 and March 24, 2003, the Group disposed of its entire investment in Open TV shares for total consideration of £0.2 million, resulting in a loss of £0.1 million.
(v) In March 2003, the Group disposed of its investment in Streetsonline for total consideration of £0.6 million which had been held at cost of £6.0 million less provision of £6.0 million. These amounts were written back upon disposal of the Group’s investment in Streetsonline.

 

2002

(vi) On July 2, 2001, the Group disposed of its unlisted investment in Static 2358 Limited for total consideration of £3.7 million, comprising a mixture of cash and shares in Open TV. The Group made a profit on disposal of £2.3 million. The investment in Open TV shares is included as an addition to other investments in the period.
(vii) At December 31, 2001, the Group made a provision against its minority equity investments in football clubs, leading to a non-cash exceptional charge of £60.0 million.
(viii) On February 26, 2002, the Group sold its listed investment in Gameplay plc for total consideration of £0.03 million, realizing a profit on disposal of £0.03 million. The Group’s investment in Gameplay plc was held at cost of £12.3 million less provision of £12.3 million. These amounts were written back upon disposal of the Group’s investment in Gameplay plc.

 

B-30


(ix) On June 7, 2002, the Group disposed of its listed investment in Toyzone plc following its liquidation. The Group’s investment in Toyzone plc was held at cost of £2.2 million less provision of £2.2 million. These amounts were written back upon disposal of the Group’s investment in Toyzone plc.
(x) The Group’s investment in KirchPayTV was treated as a joint venture until February 8, 2002, after which date the Group considered that it was no longer able to exercise significant influence over KirchPayTV. The investment is now treated as a fixed asset investment and was transferred from Investments in Joint Ventures to Other Investments on February 8, 2002 at a net book value of nil.

 

Further analysis of listed investments is shown below:

 

     2002

   2003

     £m    £m

Carrying value of listed investments included above (i)

   49.4    37.4

Aggregate market value of listed investments at end of year

   40.1    44.6

(i) Including investments listed on OFEX.

 

No tax liability would arise on the sale of these listed investments at the market value shown above as no gains would arise.

 

16. Stocks

 

     2002

   2003

     £m    £m

Television program rights

   367.3    337.2

Set-top boxes and related equipment

   42.2    29.0

Raw materials and consumables

   4.4    1.6

Goods held for resale

   0.3    2.6
    
  
     414.2    370.4
    
  

 

At least 79% (2002: 77%) of the existing television program rights at June 30, 2003 will be amortized within one year.

 

17. Debtors

 

     2002

   2003

     £m    £m

Debtors: Amounts falling due within one year

         

Trade debtors

   177.5    170.9

Amounts owed by joint ventures (see note 27)

   15.2    16.0

Amounts owed by other related parties (see note 27)

   1.0    0.4

Other debtors

   8.5    6.4

Prepaid program rights

   80.5    53.8

Prepaid transponder rentals

   15.5    16.9

Advance Corporation Tax

   18.2    39.7

Deferred tax assets (see note 18)

   13.9    30.8

Prepaid media agency rights

   3.7    2.6

Other prepayments and accrued income

   66.9    56.6
    
  
     400.9    394.1
    
  

Debtors: Amounts falling due after more than one year

         

Prepaid program rights

   38.6    2.7

Prepaid transponder rentals

   55.6    48.7

Advance Corporation Tax

   67.1    —  

Deferred tax assets (see note 18)

   24.9    159.0

Prepaid media agency rights

   12.8    5.5

Other prepayments and accrued income

   8.0    7.0
    
  
     207.0    222.9
    
  

 

B-31


Trade debtors are shown net of certain provisions. The movement in these provisions is as follows:

 

     Provisions

 
     £m  

At July 1, 2000

   (31.9 )

Utilized during fiscal 2001

   3.9  

Provided during fiscal 2001

   (19.1 )
    

At July 1, 2001

   (47.1 )

Utilized during fiscal 2002

   1.5  

Provided during fiscal 2002

   (15.8 )
    

At July 1, 2002

   (61.4 )

Utilized during fiscal 2003

   4.6  

Provided during fiscal 2003

   (42.2 )
    

At June 30, 2003

   (99.0 )
    

 

The Group does not have any significant concentrations of credit risk.

 

18. Deferred tax asset

 

     2002

     2003

     £m      £m

Included within debtors due within one year:

           

— tax losses carried forward

   11.7      20.7

— accelerated capital allowances

   2.2      6.7

— short-term timing differences

   —        3.4
    

  
     13.9      30.8
    

  

Included within debtors due after more than one year:

           

— tax losses carried forward

   —        125.0

— accelerated capital allowances

   24.9      21.5

— short-term timing differences

   —        12.5
    

  
     24.9      159.0
    

  
     38.8      189.8
    

  

Deferred tax asset

           

Beginning of year

   143.9      38.8

(Charge) credit in the profit and loss account during the year

   (105.1 )    151.0
    

  

End of year

   38.8      189.8
    

  

 

Included within the total deferred tax recognized at June 30, 2003 is £145.7 million (2002: £11.7 million), relating to carried-forward tax losses.

 

Following a review of the forecast utilization of tax losses within the Group, and as a consequence of a planned reorganization of certain assets within the Group, the Directors consider that there is now sufficient evidence to support the recognition of these deferred tax assets on the basis that it is more likely than not that there will be suitable taxable profits against which these assets can be utilized.

 

The amount of unrecognized deferred tax present within the Group is disclosed in note 9.

 

B-32


19. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

 

     2002

   2003

     £m    £m

Short-term borrowings

         

£200 million RCF (see note 20a)

   —      —  

Obligations under finance leases

   1.5    0.2
    
  
     1.5    0.2
    
  

Other

         

Trade creditors

   311.1    323.4

Amounts due to joint ventures (see note 27)

   —      0.8

Amounts due to related parties (see note 27)

   20.4    24.6

UK corporation tax

   4.7    27.6

VAT

   86.2    61.7

Social security and PAYE

   7.0    0.4

Other creditors

   42.0    43.5

Accruals and deferred income

   432.5    473.0
    
  
     903.9    955.0
    
  
     905.4    955.2
    
  

 

Included within trade creditors are £226.2 million (2002: £243.6 million) of US dollar-denominated program creditors. At least 90% (2002: 90%) of these were covered by forward rate currency contracts (see note 25).

 

20. Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year

 

     2002

   2003

     £m    £m

Long-term borrowings

         

£750 million RCF (a)

   500.0    —  

£600 million RCF (a)

   —      75.0

US$650 million of 8.200% Guaranteed Notes, repayable in 2009 (b)

   412.5    412.5

£100 million of 7.750% Guaranteed Notes, repayable in 2009 (b)

   100.0    100.0

US$600 million of 6.875% Guaranteed Notes, repayable in 2009 (b)

   367.2    367.2

US$300 million of 7.300% Guaranteed Notes, repayable in 2006 (b)

   189.2    189.2

Obligations under finance leases (c)

   7.8    7.5

Other borrowings

   0.2    0.2
    
  
     1,576.9    1,151.6
    
  

Other

         

Accruals and deferred income

   16.0    20.5
    
  
     1,592.9    1,172.1
    
  

 

(a) RCFs

 

In March 2003 the Group entered into a new £600 million RCF. This facility was used to cancel the £750 million RCF, which was entered into in July 1999, and will be used for general corporate purposes. The new £600 million RCF has a maturity date of March 2008 and interest accrues at a margin of between 0.600% and 1.125% above the London Inter-Bank Offer Rate (“LIBOR”), dependent on the Group’s leverage ratio of net debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) (as defined in the loan agreement). Until June 2004, the margin is fixed at 1.125% and shall not fall below 0.700% per annum above LIBOR prior to March 2006.

 

Also in March 2003, the Group voluntarily cancelled £100 million of the £300 million March 2001 RCF. The maturity date of the resultant £200 million RCF is still June 2004 and should it be drawn upon, accrues interest at between 0.500% and 1.750% (presently 1.125%) per annum above LIBOR dependent on the Group’s credit rating. This facility reduction, together with the replacement of the Group’s £750 million RCF as described above, reduced the Group’s aggregate available facilities from £1,050 million to £800 million. In June 2004, when the £200 million RCF matures, the aggregate facilities available to the Group will be reduced to £600 million. These reductions in committed bank facilities are consistent with the Group’s anticipated liquidity requirements.

 

Each of the Group’s RCFs contain certain financial covenants which are tested at the end of each six-monthly accounting period. For the £200 million RCF the key financial covenants are the ratio of annualized EBITDA to net interest payable; and the ratio of total

 

B-33


consolidated senior debt (as defined in the loan agreement) to annualized EBITDA. The ratio of total consolidated senior debt to annualized EBITDA is also tested on draw-down or rollover of drawn amounts. The Group must currently maintain these ratios as follows at all times:

 

annualized EBITDA to net interest payable must be at least 3.5:1; and

 

total consolidated senior debt to annualized EBITDA must be no more than 3:1.

 

The loan agreement provides for the exclusion from these financial ratio calculations of specified subscriber acquisition costs. The costs excluded are capped at an agreed maximum for each six monthly accounting period until the maturity of the loan agreement in June 2004. EBITDA is calculated as operating profit before depreciation and amortization of goodwill and intangible assets.

 

For the £600 million facility the key financial covenants are the ratio of EBITDA to net interest payable; and the ratio of net debt (as defined in the loan agreement) to EBITDA. Both ratios are tested at the end of each six monthly accounting period, not on draw-down or rollover dates as for the £200 million facility. Until June 2004 the ratios benefit from the same exclusion of specified subscriber acquisition costs as described above for the £200 million RCF. EBITDA in this instance is calculated in the same way as described above for the £200 million facility, but on a last twelve months basis rather than on an annualized basis. The Group must currently maintain these ratios as follows:

 

EBITDA to net interest payable must be at least 3.5:1; and

 

net debt to EBITDA must be no more than 3.5:1.

 

The ratio of EBITDA to net interest payable was 4.1:1. At June 30, 2003, the ratio of net debt to EBITDA was 2.4:1.

 

For the £200 million RCF only, a change of control provision is included in the list of potential events of default, the effect of which is that the facility may become due and payable in the event that (except for News Corporation and Vivendi Universal SA (which acquired Pathé, a founding shareholder of the Company) or any member of their respective groups) any person or nominee of such person, together with any “connected person” or “persons acting in concert” (if any) (each as defined under applicable English law or regulation) becomes a holder of more than 30% in aggregate of the voting rights of the Company.

 

Commitment fees of £2.9 million (2002: £1.2 million; 2001: £1.6 million) were payable for undrawn amounts available under the RCFs, based on a rate equal to 45% of the applicable margin over LIBOR for each facility.

 

(b) Guaranteed notes

 

At June 30, 2003 the Group also had in issue the following publicly-traded guaranteed notes:

 

US$650 million of 8.200% Guaranteed Notes, repayable in July 2009. At the time of issuing these notes, the US dollar proceeds were swapped into pounds sterling at an average fixed rate of 7.653% payable semi-annually. In December 2002 and March 2003, the Group amended the terms relating to £63.5 million of these swap arrangements, the effect of which was to fix the interest rate on £63.5 million at 5.990% until January 2004, after which time it will revert to a floating rate equal to six months LIBOR plus a margin of 3.390%.

 

£100 million of 7.750% Guaranteed Notes, repayable in July 2009. The fixed coupon is payable annually.

 

US$600 million of 6.875% Guaranteed Notes, repayable in February 2009. At the time of issuing these notes, the US dollar proceeds were swapped into pounds sterling at an average fixed rate of 8.200%, payable semi-annually.

 

US$300 million of 7.300% Guaranteed Notes repayable in October 2006. At the time of issuing these notes, the Group entered into swap transactions to convert the dollar proceeds to pounds sterling, half of which carries a fixed rate of interest of 8.384% until maturity, payable semi-annually. The remainder was fixed at 7.940% until April 15, 2002, thereafter floating at 0.620% over six months LIBOR, again payable semi-annually. In respect of this remaining floating exposure, on January 16, 2002, the Group entered into a further interest rate hedging arrangement to fix the rate at 6.130% from April 15, 2002, payable semi- annually for the remainder of the life of the Notes.

 

B-34


Both the bank facilities and the publicly-traded guaranteed notes have been guaranteed by British Sky Broadcasting Limited and Sky Subscribers Services Limited (see note 25).

 

Borrowings outstanding, which exclude finance leases, are repayable as follows:

 

     Year ending June 30,

     2007

   2008

   2009

   2010

£600 million RCF

   —      75.0    —      —  

US$650 million of 8.200% Guaranteed Notes, repayable in 2009

   —      —      —      412.5

£100 million of 7.750% Guaranteed Notes, repayable in 2009

   —      —      —      100.0

US$600 million of 6.875% Guaranteed Notes, repayable in 2009

   —      —      367.2    —  

US$300 million of 7.300% Guaranteed Notes, repayable in 2006

   189.2    —      —      —  

Other borrowings

   —      —      —      0.2
    
  
  
  
     189.2    75.0    367.2    512.7
    
  
  
  

 

(c) Finance leases

 

Obligations under finance leases are payable as follows:

 

     £m

Amounts repayable in the year ending June 30:

    

2004

   0.2

2005

   0.3

2006

   0.3

2007

   0.3

2008

   0.3

After five years

   6.3
    
     7.7
    

 

At June 30, 2003, all obligations under finance leases represent amounts drawn down in connection with the Customer Relationship Management Center in Dunfermline. Repayments of £0.7 million (2002: £0.8 million) were made against the Customer Relationship Management Center lease and repayments of £1.5 million (2002: £2.4 million) were made against the IT asset leases, which were fully repaid in the current year. A proportion of these payments has been allocated to any capital amount outstanding. The Customer Relationship Management Center lease bears interest at a rate of 8.5% and expires in September 2020.

 

21. Derivatives and other financial instruments

 

Treasury policy and risk management

 

The Group’s treasury function is responsible for raising finance for the Group’s operations, together with managing foreign exchange, interest rate and counterparty risks. Treasury operations are conducted within a framework of policies and guidelines authorized and reviewed by both the Audit Committee and the Board, who receive regular updates of treasury activity. A further quarterly review of Treasury activities and controls is carried out by the Treasury Committee. Derivative instruments are transacted for risk management purposes only. It is the Group’s policy that all hedging is to cover known risks and that no trading in financial instruments is undertaken.

 

Regular and frequent reporting to management is required for all transactions and exposures and the internal control environment is subject to periodic review by the Group’s internal audit team. The amount of cash placed with any one institution is restricted to ensure counterparty risks are minimized.

 

The Group’s principal market risks are its exposures to changes in interest rates and currency exchange rates, which arise both from the Group’s sources of finance and from its operations. Following evaluation of those positions, the Group selectively enters into derivative financial instruments to manage these exposures. Interest rate swaps are used to hedge interest rate risks, forward rate agreements to hedge transactional currency exposures and cross-currency interest rate swaps to hedge exposures on long-term foreign currency debt.

 

B-35


Interest rate management

 

The Group has financial exposures to both sterling and US dollar interest rates, arising primarily from bank borrowings and long-term bonds. These exposures are managed by borrowing at fixed and variable rates of interest and by using interest rate swaps to manage exposure to interest rate fluctuations. The principal method of hedging interest rate risk is to enter into cross-currency swap arrangements, the effects of which are to fix the Group’s sterling interest costs at certain rates. The majority of these arrangements relate to the Group’s dollar-denominated debt and provide for the exchange, at specified intervals, of fixed-rate amounts of dollars in return for fixed-rate amounts of sterling. All of the Group’s debt exposure is denominated in sterling after cross-currency swaps are taken into account; however, at June 30, 2003, the split of aggregate net borrowings into its core currencies was US dollar 84% and sterling 16% (June 30, 2002: US dollar 62% and sterling 38%).

 

The Group also enters into sterling interest rate swap arrangements that provide for the exchange, at specified intervals, of the difference between fixed rates and variable rates, calculated by reference to an agreed notional sterling amount. The fair value of interest rate and cross currency swaps held as of June 30, 2003 was approximately £7 million in the Group’s favor (June 30, 2002: £60 million in the Group’s favor).

 

The Group’s exposure to floating interest rates is currently limited to drawings upon its revolving credit bank facilities. At June 30, 2003 bank facility drawings represented 7% of the Group’s total debt (June 30, 2002: 32%). 93% of the Group’s total debt at June 30, 2003 is fixed-rate after taking account of interest rate swaps (June 30, 2002: 87%).

 

To ensure continuity of funding, the Group’s policy is to ensure that available funding matures over a period of years. At June 30, 2003, 47% of the Group’s available funding was due to mature in more than five years (June 30, 2002: 42%).

 

Currency exchange rates

 

The Group’s revenues are substantially denominated in pounds sterling, although a significant proportion of operating costs is denominated in US dollars. In fiscal 2003, 15% of operating costs (£423.7 million) were denominated in US dollars (fiscal 2002: 15% (£393.0 million)). These costs relate mainly to the Group’s long-term programming contracts with US suppliers.

 

The Group currently manages its US dollar/pound sterling exchange risk exposure by the purchase of forward foreign exchange agreements for up to 18 months ahead. All forward rate agreements are in respect of firm commitments only, and represent approximately 90% of dollar-denominated costs over the relevant 18-month period.

 

At June 30, 2003, the Group had outstanding commitments to purchase in aggregate US$903 million, at average rates of US$1.493 to £1.00. Although these financial instruments can mitigate the effect of short-term fluctuations in exchange rates, there can be no effective or complete hedge against long-term currency fluctuations.

 

The Group’s primary euro exposure arises as a result of revenues generated from subscribers in the Republic of Ireland. These euro-denominated revenues are offset to a certain extent by euro-denominated costs, relating mainly to certain transponder rentals, which results in a euro surplus.

 

During the year, surplus euros were exchanged for sterling on currency spot markets. In the twelve months to June 30, 2003, euro 59 million (2002: euro 55 million) was exchanged at spot rates for sterling. A further euro 30 million has been retained to meet obligations under forward foreign exchange contracts for the purchase of Swiss francs (see below).

 

During the period, the Group acquired the Pay TV rights to certain UEFA Champions League football matches from the 2003/04 season to the end of the 2005/06 season. Payments in respect of these rights will be made pursuant to the contract in Swiss francs, which means that the Group will be exposed to the Swiss franc/pound sterling exchange rate. In line with the Group’s policy of limiting foreign exchange transactions to fixed price instruments, all of this exposure for 2003/04 (CHF 99 million) has been hedged via the use of forward contracts for the exchange of euros and Swiss francs. In line with treasury policies, the remaining commitment of CHF 199 million will be hedged in advance of each fiscal year in which the liability crystalizes.

 

B-36


Interest rate risks

 

After taking into account interest rate swaps and forward foreign currency contracts entered into by the Group, the interest rate profile of the Group’s financial liabilities was:

 

     2002

    2003

 
     Fixed

    Floating

    Total

    Fixed

    Floating

    Total

 

£m

   1,378.2     200.2     1,578.4     1,076.6     75.2     1,151.8  

Weighted average interest rate

   7.7 %   5.4 %   7.4 %   7.7 %   4.8 %   7.5 %

Weighted average period for which the rate is fixed (years)

   5.1     N/A     N/A     5.2     N/A     N/A  

Weighted average term (years)

   5.5     2.0     5.0     5.4     4.8     5.4  

 

Further details of interest rates on long-term borrowings are given in note 20.

 

In addition, cash at bank and in hand of £46.4 million (2002: £50.3 million) consists of sterling deposits, in bank accounts or on money markets, at overnight rates or on time deposits. At June 30, 2003, there were no time deposit balances (2002: £0.5 million, expiring within 14 days of year end at an average interest rate of 3.75%).

 

Currency risks

 

The table below shows the Group’s currency exposures after hedging that give rise to the net currency gains and losses recognized in the profit and loss account. Such exposures comprise the net monetary assets and liabilities of the Group that are not denominated in the functional currency of the operating unit involved and principally consist of cash deposits, trade debtors and trade creditors.

 

     Net foreign currency monetary assets (£m)

     2002

   2003

     USD

   euros

   Total

   USD

   euros

   Total

Functional currency of Group operating unit

                             

Sterling

   1.5    7.4    8.9    13.9    29.8    43.7

 

At June 30, 2003 and June 30, 2002, the Group also held open various currency forward contracts that the Group had taken out to hedge expected future foreign currency commitments (see note 25(a)).

 

Liquidity risks

 

The profile of the Group’s financial liabilities, other than short-term creditors, is shown in note 20. The expected profile of provisions is discussed in note 22. The Group’s undrawn committed bank facilities, subject to covenants, were as follows:

 

     2002

   2003

     £m    £m

Expiring within one year

   —      200.0

Expiring between one and two years

   550.0    —  

Expiring between two and five years

   —      525.0
    
  

Total

   550.0    725.0
    
  

 

B-37


Fair values

 

Set out below is a comparison by category of the book values and the estimated fair values of the Group’s financial assets and financial liabilities, and associated derivative financial instruments at June 30, 2003 and June 30, 2002:

 

     2002

     2003

 
     Book value

     Fair value

     Book value

     Fair value

 
     £m      £m      £m      £m  

Primary financial instruments held or issued to finance the Group’s operations

                           

Bank borrowings

   (500.2 )    (500.2 )    (75.2 )    (75.2 )

Quoted bond debt

   (1,068.9 )    (1,067.8 )    (1,068.9 )    (1,185.2 )

Finance leases

   (9.3 )    (9.3 )    (7.7 )    (7.7 )

Cash deposits

   50.3      50.3      46.4      46.4  

Derivative financial instruments held to manage the interest rate and currency profile

                           

Combined interest and exchange rate swaps

   —        60.2      —        7.0  

Forward foreign currency contracts

   —        (50.3 )    —        (51.4 )

 

The fair values of quoted bond debt are based on period-end mid-market quoted prices. The fair values of other borrowings are estimated by discounting the future cash flows to net present value. The fair values of derivative financial instruments are estimated by calculating the difference between the contracted rates and the appropriate market rates prevailing at the period ends.

 

In addition to the financial instruments in the above fair value table, the Group had holdings in the equity share capital of other listed investments at June 30, 2003 and June 30, 2002. See notes 14 and 15 for disclosure of their book and fair values.

 

The difference between book value and fair value reflects unrealized gains or losses inherent in the instrument, based on valuations as at June 30, 2003 and June 30, 2002. The volatile nature of the markets means that values at any subsequent date could be significantly different from the values reported above.

 

Hedges

 

The Group’s policy is to hedge the following exposures:

 

  interest rate risk, using interest rate and cross currency swaps

 

  transactional currency exposures, using forward foreign currency contracts

 

  exposures on long-term foreign currency debt, using cross currency swaps

 

B-38


Gains and losses on instruments used for hedging are not recognized until the hedged position is recognized. Unrecognized gains and losses on instruments used for hedging, and the movements therein, are as follows:

 

     2002

    2003

 
     Gains

    Losses

   

Total net

gains

(losses)


    Gains

    Losses

   

Total net

gains

(losses)


 
     £m     £m     £m     £m     £m     £m  

Unrecognized gains and losses at the beginning of the year

   113.7     (23.7 )   90.0     73.8     (63.9 )   9.9  

Gains and losses arising in previous years that were recognized in the year

   (13.1 )   4.0     (9.1 )   (0.1 )   45.5     45.4  
    

 

 

 

 

 

Gains and losses arising before the beginning of the year that were not recognized in the year

   100.6     (19.7 )   80.9     73.7     (18.4 )   55.3  

Gains and losses arising in the year that were not recognized in the year

   (26.8 )   (44.2 )   (71.0 )   (34.9 )   (64.8 )   (99.7 )
    

 

 

 

 

 

Unrecognized gains and losses on hedges at the end of the year

   73.8     (63.9 )   9.9     38.8     (83.2 )   (44.4 )
    

 

 

 

 

 

Of which:

                                    

Gains and losses expected to be recognized in the next year

   0.1     (37.7 )   (37.6 )   0.1     (46.4 )   (46.3 )
    

 

 

 

 

 

Gains and losses expected to be recognized after the next year

   73.7     (26.2 )   47.5     38.7     (36.8 )   1.9  
    

 

 

 

 

 

 

22. Provisions for liabilities and charges

 

    

Analog

termination

provision


   

Transition

provision


   

Sky In-Home

Service Limited

reorganization

provision(a)


   

Sky Interactive

reorganization

provision(b)


   

Provision for

closure of

Sky Pictures


    Total

 
     £m     £m     £m     £m     £m     £m  

At July 1, 2001

   8.2     18.6     0.4     15.5     0.3     43.0  

Utilized in year

   (4.1 )   (18.6 )   (0.2 )   (7.1 )   (0.3 )   (30.3 )

Released in year

   (4.1 )   —       —       —       —       (4.1 )

Transferred to fixed

assets

   —       —       —       (4.5 )   —       (4.5 )
    

 

 

 

 

 

At June 30, 2002

   —       —       0.2     3.9     —       4.1  

Utilized in year

   —       —       (0.1 )   (0.8 )   —       (0.9 )
    

 

 

 

 

 

At June 30, 2003

   —       —       0.1     3.1     —       3.2  
    

 

 

 

 

 


(a) The remaining Sky In-Home Service Limited reorganization provision principally comprises the costs of onerous lease contracts and is expected to be utilized by June 2005.
(b) The remaining Sky Interactive reorganization provision principally comprises the cost of onerous contracts associated with the reorganization and consolidation of all interactive and on-line activities within the division “Sky Interactive”, and is expected to be utilized by June 2009.

 

B-39


23. Called-up share capital

 

     2002

     2003

     £m      £m

Authorized

           

3,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares of 50p

   1,500.0      1,500.0
    
    

Allotted, called-up and fully paid — equity

           

Ordinary Shares — 1,937,754,876 (2002: 1,893,428,580) of 50p

   946.7      968.9
    
    

 

Allotted and fully paid during the year


  

Number of

Ordinary Shares


Beginning of year

   1,893,428,580

Options exercised under the Executive Share Option Scheme at between £0.500 and £6.385

   666,838

Options exercised under the Sharesave Scheme at between £2.050 and £6.110

   423,822

Shares issued in respect of deferred consideration for the acquisition of BiB

   43,235,636
    

End of year

   1,937,754,876
    

 

Movements in share capital in the year ended June 30, 2003 are described in note 24.

 

Share option and contingent share award schemes

 

The number of shares which may be allocated under the Executive and Sharesave Schemes on any day shall not, when added to the aggregate of the number of shares which have been allocated in the previous 10 years under the Schemes and any other Employees’ Share Scheme adopted by the Company, exceed such number as represents five percent of the ordinary share capital of the Company in issue immediately prior to that day. In determining this limit no account shall be taken of any shares where the right to acquire such shares was released, lapsed or otherwise became incapable of exercise. Options and Awards, which will be satisfied by ESOP shares do not fall within these headroom limits.

 

Total options and contingent share awards in existence at June 30, 2003 were as follows:

 

Scheme


  

Number of

Ordinary Shares


Executive Share Option Scheme Options(a)

   41,052,567

Sharesave Scheme Options(b)

   3,749,134

LTIP Awards(c)

   7,269,683

KCP Awards(d)

   1,135,000

EBP Awards(e)

   397,000
    
     53,603,384
    

 

B-40


(a) Executive Share Option Scheme Options

 

Options in existence at June 30, 2003 under the Executive Schemes are shown in the table below:

 

Date of grant


  

Number of

Ordinary Shares


   Option price

  

Exercisable

from


          £     

8-Dec-94

   172,795    2.560    8-Dec-97

15-May-97

   266,078    5.675    15-May-00

10-Jun-97

   15,061    5.975    10-Jun-00

18-Aug-97

   6,864    4.370    18-Aug-00

18-Aug-97

   21,809    4.420    18-Aug-00

14-Nov-97

   7,308    4.105    14-Nov-00

14-Nov-97

   36,253    4.030    14-Nov-00

4-Feb-98

   8,298    3.615    4-Feb-01

1-Dec-98

   3,624,812    5.010    1-Dec-01

7-May-99

   4,589    4.350    7-May-02

12-Aug-99

   600,000    5.830    12-Aug-02

18-Oct-99

   1,124    0.980    18-Oct-02

29-Oct-99

   4,382,303    6.385    29-Oct-02

1-Nov-99

   214,231    6.535    1-Nov-02

22-Nov-99

   107,775    6.495    22-Nov-02

5-Apr-00

   41,517    13.970    5-Apr-03

12-May-00

   20,800    12.980    12-May-03

22-May-00

   21,842    10.530    22-May-03

23-May-00

   126,529    9.800    23-May-03

12-Jun-00

   34,993    11.430    12-Jun-03

30-Jun-00

   100,931    12.880    30-Jun-03

26-Jul-00

   46,077    12.370    26-Jul-03

30-Aug-00

   267,535    11.400    30-Aug-03

23-Nov-00

   5,698,957    9.900    23-Nov-01

1-Dec-00

   3,901,500    9.840    1-Dec-03

4-Jan-01

   59,534    10.750    4-Jan-02

26-Feb-01

   66,746    9.340    26-Feb-02

6-Mar-01

   92,416    9.290    6-Mar-02

14-Mar-01

   121,289    8.950    14-Mar-02

21-May-01

   74,644    7.190    21-May-02

4-Jun-01

   94,480    7.165    4-Jun-02

26-Jul-01

   184,815    7.080    26-Jul-02

6-Nov-01

   9,565,078    7.940    6-Nov-02

13-Nov-01

   26,668    8.360    13-Nov-02

4-Jan-02

   88,057    7.890    4-Jan-03

14-Feb-02

   12,479    7.005    14-Feb-03

26-Feb-02

   20,343    6.850    26-Feb-03

14-May-02

   32,689    6.820    14-May-03

5-Jun-02

   600,000    7.350    5-Jun-05

28-Jun-02

   13,725    6.290    28-Jun-03

5-Aug-02

   9,832,806    5.300    5-Aug-04

20-Sep-02

   47,815    5.185    20-Sep-04

30-Sep-02

   20,672    5.305    30-Sep-04

2-Jan-03

   229,296    6.390    2-Jan-05

20-Feb-03

   64,362    6.010    20-Feb-05

18-Mar-03

   74,672    6.100    18-Mar-05
    
         
     41,052,567          
    
         

 

The Group operates both an Approved and an Unapproved Executive Share Option Scheme.

 

The Company follows a policy of granting options over BSkyB shares to eligible employees linked to salary. This is then subject to approval by the department heads who may recommend that the individual receives an additional allocation for exceptional performance. There is no limit on the number of share options that may be granted to an individual (other than for the purposes of

 

B-41


granting Inland Revenue approved options), however, any proposal to make a one-off grant of share options over four times salary would require the prior approval of the Remuneration Committee (irrespective of the employee’s level of salary). No such grant has been made to date.

 

The performance conditions for option awards granted before August 2002 were based on key strategic measures for the Group, including subscriber growth measures, profit before tax and earnings per share (“EPS”) targets.

 

For awards made during the year ended June 30, 2003, the performance target was based on EPS. The use of EPS as a performance measure for the awards aligns the interests of employees with shareholders. Growth in EPS will have to exceed RPI plus 3% per annum in order for awards to vest. Given that EPS was negative at the date of grant, growth is to be measured from the actual EPS achieved for the year to June 30, 2003.

 

(b) Sharesave Scheme Options

 

Options in existence at June 30, 2003 under the Sharesave Scheme are shown in the table below:

 

Date of grant


  

Number of

Ordinary Shares


  

Option

price


  

Exercisable

from


          £     

25-Oct-95

   6,841    3.020    1-Feb-03

2-Nov-96

   17,752    4.620    1-Jan-04

27-Oct-97

   30,066    3.720    1-Jan-03

27-Oct-97

   26,932    3.720    1-Jan-05

28-Sep-98

   164,341    3.780    1-Dec-03

28-Sep-98

   89,830    3.780    1-Dec-05

18-Oct-99

   96,553    4.620    1-Jan-03

18-Oct-99

   172,190    4.620    1-Jan-05

18-Oct-99

   41,899    4.620    1-Jan-07

3-Oct-00

   254,788    9.710    1-Jan-04

3-Oct-00

   79,489    9.710    1-Jan-06

3-Oct-00

   27,677    9.710    1-Jan-08

28-Sep-01

   520,428    6.110    1-Jan-05

28-Sep-01

   133,085    6.110    1-Jan-07

28-Sep-01

   39,898    6.110    1-Jan-09

30-Sep-02

   1,424,523    4.750    1-Jan-06

30-Sep-02

   506,511    4.750    1-Jan-08

30-Sep-02

   116,331    4.750    1-Jan-10
    
         
     3,749,134          
    
         

 

The Sharesave Scheme is open to all employees, including Executive Directors. Options (over BSkyB shares) are normally exercisable after either three, five or seven years from the date of grant. The price at which options are offered is not less than 80% of the middle-market price on the dealing day immediately preceding the date of invitation. It is the policy of the Group to make an invitation for the employees to participate in the scheme following the announcement of the end of year results.

 

B-42


(c) LTIP Awards

 

Awards in existence at June 30, 2003 under the LTIP are shown in the table below:

 

Date of grant


  

Number of

Ordinary Shares


  

Option

price


  

Exercisable

from


          £     

3-Nov-00

   936,375    10.040    3-Nov-02

3-Nov-00

   1,532,250    10.040    30-Jun-03

21-Nov-01

   1,489,686    8.300    30-Jun-03

21-Nov-01

   1,489,689    8.300    30-Jun-04

2-Aug-02

   779,600    5.550    31-Jul-04

2-Aug-02

   779,601    5.550    31-Jul-05

13-Aug-02

   39,361    5.600    31-Jul-04

13-Aug-02

   39,361    5.600    31-Jul-05

2-Jan-03

   91,880    6.390    31-Jul-04

2-Jan-03

   91,880    6.390    31-Jul-05
    
         
     7,269,683          
    
         

 

The Company operates an LTIP for Executive Directors and Senior Executives. An award under the existing LTIP comprised a retention element Core Award (which makes up 5% of the award) and a Performance Award (which makes up 95% of the award). The Core Award vests dependent on continued service with the Group for a specified period and is not subject to the performance conditions. It is intended that no future Core Awards will be made under the LTIP. The Performance Award vests, in full or in part, dependent on the satisfaction of specified performance targets. Awards are not transferable or pensionable and are made over a number of shares in the Company, determined by the Remuneration Committee. Awards may be in a variety of forms, including grants of shares, nil-priced options or market-value options with a cash bonus, all of which would have the same value to the participant.

 

Outstanding awards under the LTIP take the form of a market value option with a cash bonus equal to the lower of the exercise price and the share price at the date of exercise with the exception of shares awarded as part of an agreement to meet the employer’s National Insurance obligations, which do not attract a cash bonus. Where the market price of a share at the date of vesting is below the exercise price, awards in this form have been treated as having lapsed and participants have been eligible to receive shares for no consideration, equal to the value of their vested award.

 

The performance targets selected for the Awards made to date have been based on a combination of business measures derived from the Group’s business plan, and the Group’s relative total shareholder return performance against a range of comparable companies in the UK and international media and telecommunications sectors.

 

(d) KCP Awards

 

Awards in existence at June 30, 2003 under the KCP are shown in the table below:

 

Date of grant


  

Number of

Ordinary Shares


  

Option

price


  

Exercisable

from


          £     

21-Nov-01

   61,750    8.300    31-Jul-02

21-Nov-01

   577,500    8.300    31-Jul-03

4-Mar-02

   15,750    7.175    31-Jul-03

9-Aug-02

   237,500    5.700    31-Jul-03

9-Aug-02

   237,500    5.700    31-Jul-04

14-Aug-02

   2,500    5.655    31-Jul-03

14-Aug-02

   2,500    5.655    31-Jul-04
    
         
     1,135,000          
    
         

 

B-43


(e) EBP Awards

 

Awards in existence at June 30, 2003 under the EBP are shown in the table below:

 

Date of grant


  

Number of

Ordinary Shares


  

Option

price


  

Exercisable

from


          £     

02-Aug-02

   178,500    N/A    31-Jul-04

02-Aug-02

   178,500    N/A    31-Jul-05

02-Jan-03

   20,000    N/A    31-Jul-04

02-Jan-03

   20,000    N/A    31-Jul-05
    
         
     397,000          
    
         

 

Awards under the EBP take the form of a contingent right to acquire existing BSkyB shares at the vesting date for nil consideration.

 

During the year the Company introduced an EBP for Executive Directors and Senior Executives. This plan rewards performance against key commercial measures over the financial year, with stretching targets derived from the Group’s business plan. Awards under the plan are made in the form of BSkyB shares, subject to performance achieved in the financial year. For the 2002 EBP, the awards of these shares are deferred in equal amounts for a further one and two years, subject to continuing employment.

 

24. Reconciliation of movement in shareholders’ funds

 

Movement in shareholders’ funds includes all movements in reserves.

 

    

Share

capital


  

Share

premium


   

Shares

to be

issued


   

Merger

reserve


   

Profit and

loss

account


   

Total

equity

shareholders’

funds

(deficit)


 
     £m    £m     £m     £m     £m     £m  

At July 1, 2000

   912.9    2,209.9     —       —       (2,325.9 )   796.9  

Issue of share capital

   31.5    171.2     —       378.1     (9.1 )   571.7  

Shares to be issued

   —      —       256.9     —       —       256.9  

Share issue costs

   —      (3.5 )   —       —       —       (3.5 )

Loss for the financial year

   —      —       —       —       (538.6 )   (538.6 )

Net loss on deemed disposals

   —      —       —       —       (20.7 )   (20.7 )

Transfer from merger reserve

   —      —       —       (37.3 )   37.3     —    

Translation differences on foreign currency net investment

   —      —       —       —       (2.1 )   (2.1 )
    
  

 

 

 

 

At July 1, 2001

   944.4    2,377.6     256.9     340.8     (2,859.1 )   1,060.6  

Issue of share capital

   2.3    34.0     (1.1 )   —       (13.5 )   21.7  

Share issue costs

   —      (1.8 )   —       —       —       (1.8 )

Loss for the financial year

   —      —       —       —       (1,382.6 )   (1,382.6 )

Transfer from merger reserve

   —      —       —       (74.1 )   74.1     —    

Translation differences on foreign currency net investment

   —      —       —       —       1.4     1.4  
    
  

 

 

 

 

At July 1, 2002

   946.7    2,409.8     255.8     266.7     (4,179.7 )   (300.7 )

Issue of share capital

   22.2    125.8     (253.1 )   111.5     (1.6 )   4.8  

Share issue costs

   —      (0.1 )   —       —       —       (0.1 )

Profit for the financial year

   —      —       —       —       190.3     190.3  

Transfer from merger reserve

   —      —       —       (79.2 )   79.2     —    
    
  

 

 

 

 

At June 30, 2003

   968.9    2,535.5     2.7     299.0     (3,911.8 )   (105.7 )
    
  

 

 

 

 

 

2003

 

At June 30, 2003, the cumulative goodwill written off directly to reserves by the Group amounted to £523.8 million (2002: £523.8 million).

 

B-44


During the year, £35.6 million (2002: £35.6 million) relating to the amortization of BiB goodwill and £43.6 million (2002: £38.5 million) relating to the amortization of SIG goodwill was transferred from the Group merger reserve to the Group profit and loss reserve.

 

During the year the Company issued shares with a market value of £6.4 million (2002: £35.2 million) in respect of the exercise of options awarded under various share option schemes, with £4.8 million (2002: £14.3 million) received from employees.

 

On November 11, 2002, the Company issued 43.2 million shares with a fair value of £253.1 million to HSBC, Matsushita and BT (“the selling shareholders”) in respect of deferred consideration for the acquisition of the remaining 67.5% of BiB in May and June 2001. The Group also agreed with the selling shareholders certain other terms relating to the agreement reached on July 15, 2000 for the acquisition by the Group of the interest of the selling shareholders in BiB. These included the waiver of the selling shareholders’ rights under the earn out provisions. The earn out provisions provided that if the valuation of BiB was £3 billion or more in January or July 2003, further contingent consideration would have been payable to the selling shareholders. No liability had been recorded in the prior year in respect of this earn out. Additional Group merger reserve of £111.5 million was created in relation to 20.8 million shares issued to BT in respect of deferred consideration for the acquisition of 19.9% of BiB.

 

2002

 

In June 2002, the Company issued 169,375 new shares, which were used to satisfy part of the contingent consideration in respect of the acquisition of the remaining 5% minority interest in WAPTV Limited in May 2001. A further 338,755 new shares are expected to be issued in September 2003 to satisfy the remaining contingent consideration.

 

During 2002, £35.6 million relating to the amortization of BiB goodwill and £38.5 million relating to the amortization of SIG goodwill was transferred from the Group merger reserve to the Group profit and loss account reserve.

 

25. Guarantees, contingencies and other financial commitments

 

(a) Future expenditure

 

     2002

   2003

     £m    £m

Contracted for, but not provided for in the accounts

         

— television program rights(i)

   2,165.6    1,617.8

— set-top boxes and related equipment

   126.9    106.0

— third party payments(ii)

   58.3    46.1

— capital expenditure

   5.9    2.5

— other purchase obligations

   —      7.5
    
  
     2,356.7    1,779.9
    
  

(i) Of the commitments for television program rights, £692 million (2002: £1,005 million) related to commitments payable in US dollars for periods of up to ten years (2002: seven years) and £136 million (2002: nil) related to commitments payable in Swiss francs for periods of up to three years. At June 30, 2003, the US dollar commitments have been translated at the year end rate of US$1.6497:£1 (2002: US$1.5347:£1), except for US$566 million (2002: US$585 million) covered by forward rate contracts where the average forward rate of US$1.4925:£1 (2002: US$1.3856:£1) has been used. The Swiss franc commitments have been translated at the year end rate of CHF2.2288:£1, except for CHF99 million covered by forward rate contracts where the average forward rate of CHF2.1068:£1 has been used.

 

The US dollar commitment disclosed above is subject to price escalation clauses in accordance with the terms of certain of the movie program rights contracts. The extent of the escalation, and hence of the commitments, is dependent both upon the number of subscribers to the relevant movie channel in certain cases and upon inflationary increases. If subscriber numbers were to remain at June 30, 2003 levels, the additional commitment in respect of subscriber escalation would be £213 million (US$351 million) (2002: £251 million (US$386 million)).

 

(ii)

The third party payment commitments in respect of distribution agreements for the Sky Distributed channels disclosed above are subject to price escalation clauses in accordance with the terms of certain of the distribution agreements. The extent of the escalation, and levels of the commitments, are dependent upon the number of DTH subscribers to the relevant Sky Distributed

 

B-45


 

channels and in certain cases upon inflationary increases. If both the DTH subscriber levels to these channels and the rate payable for each Sky Distributed channel were to remain at June 30, 2003 levels, the additional commitment in respect of subscriber escalation would be £799 million (2002: £885 million), for periods of up to six years (2002: six years).

 

At June 30, 2003, the Group had outstanding forward rate contract commitments to purchase in aggregate US$903 million (2002: US$920 million) at an average rate of US$1.4925:£1 (2002: US$1.3856:£1). The Group also had outstanding forward rate contract commitments to purchase in aggregate CHF99 million (2002: nil) at average rates of CHF2.0834:£1 and CHF1.4844:EUR1.

 

(b) Contingent liabilities

 

The Group has contingent liabilities by virtue of its investments in unlimited companies, or partnerships, which include Nickelodeon UK, The History Channel (UK), Paramount UK, QVC and National Geographic Channel UK.

 

The Directors do not expect any material loss to arise from the above contingent liabilities.

 

(c) Guarantees

 

Two of the Group’s subsidiary undertakings, British Sky Broadcasting Limited and Sky Subscribers Services Limited, have given joint and several guarantees in relation to the Company’s £200 million and £600 million RCFs and the US$650 million, US$600 million, US$300 million and £100 million Guaranteed Notes (see note 20).

 

The Group has agreed to provide additional funding to several of its investments in limited and unlimited companies and partnerships in accordance with funding agreements.

 

(d) Contingent consideration

 

On May 29, 2001 the Group acquired the 5% minority interest in WAPTV Limited for a total consideration of £5.0 million. The consideration comprised 169,375 new BSkyB Ordinary Shares issued on May 29, 2001, contingent consideration which was satisfied by the issue of a further 169,375 new BSkyB Ordinary Shares on June 30, 2002, and contingent consideration which will be satisfied by the issue of 338,755 new BSkyB Ordinary Shares on September 30, 2003. The contingent consideration is contingent upon the vendors remaining continuously in the employment of a member of the Group from completion until the date the deferred consideration is due. The remaining contingent consideration has been recognized and recorded within shares to be issued as it is considered probable that these criteria will be fulfilled.

 

(e) Lease and similar commitments

 

The minimum annual rentals under these arrangements are as follows:

 

     Property

  

Plant and

machinery


   Total

     £m    £m    £m

June 30, 2003

              

Operating leases and similar arrangements which expire:

              

— within one year

   0.5    3.4    3.9

— between two and five years

   2.4    26.2    28.6

— after five years

   7.9    35.1    43.0
    
  
  
     10.8    64.7    75.5
    
  
  

June 30, 2002

              

Operating leases and similar arrangements which expire:

              

— within one year

   0.8    0.5    1.3

— between two and five years

   0.9    14.6    15.5

— after five years

   9.2    43.1    52.3
    
  
  
     10.9    58.2    69.1
    
  
  

 

The Group leases certain land and buildings on short-term and long-term operating leases. The rents payable under these leases are subject to renegotiation at the various intervals specified in the leases.

 

B-46


Summarized below at June 30, 2003, are the minimum lease payments for non-cancelable operating leases and similar arrangements.

 

    

Operating leases

and similar

arrangements


     £m

Year ending June 30:

    

2004

   75.5

2005

   80.3

2006

   77.2

2007

   72.7

2008

   55.8

After five years

   133.8
    
     495.3
    

 

Payments made under non-cancelable operating leases and similar arrangements in the year ended June 30, 2003, totaled £9.0 million (2002: £8.2 million; 2001: £7.2 million) in respect of property and £80.0 million (2002: £76.4 million; 2001: £112.2 million) in respect of transponders, computer and technical equipment.

 

Summarized below at June 30, 2003, are the minimum sub-lease rentals to be received under non-cancelable operating subleases.

 

     Sub-leases

     £m

Year ending June 30:

    

2004

   23.3

2005

   18.6

2006

   13.6

2007

   12.3

2008

   9.8

After five years

   11.8
    
     89.4
    

 

26. Regulatory update

 

Office of Fair Trading (“OFT”)

 

On December 5, 2000 the OFT announced that it was to conduct an inquiry into the affairs of British Sky Broadcasting Limited (“BSkyB Limited”), under the UK Competition Act 1998 (“Competition Act”), in particular the wholesale supply by BSkyB Limited of certain of its channels to third party distributors in the UK(1). BSkyB Limited maintained that it had not infringed the Competition Act and, on December 17, 2002, following submission by BSkyB Limited of written and oral representations, the OFT announced that BSkyB Limited had not been found in breach of competition law. Such findings by the OFT may be appealed by third parties who have a “sufficient interest” in accordance with the provisions of the Competition Act.

 

EC Investigation — FAPL

 

The EC Commission has commenced investigations into a number of agreements, decisions or practices leading to the acquisition of broadcast rights to football events within the EEA, including the sale of exclusive broadcast rights to Premier League football by the Football Association Premier League Limited (“FAPL”). On June 21, 2002, BSkyB Limited and the FAPL notified BSkyB Limited’s current arrangements for the broadcast of FAPL football matches to the EC Commission seeking either a clearance or an exemption from Article 81 of the EC Treaty. The FAPL has also notified the rules of the FAPL to the EC Commission. On December 20, 2002, the EC Commission issued a Statement of Objections to the FAPL outlining certain concerns in respect of the FAPL’s joint


(1) Where an undertaking has intentionally or negligently infringed the Competition Act, it may be fined up to a maximum of 10% of its total UK turnover for each year it is found to be in breach, up to a maximum of three years. In addition, third parties, such as customers and competitors, may be entitled to recover damages where they have suffered loss as a result of conduct in breach of the Competition Act.

 

B-47


selling of broadcast rights to Premier League football. On July 30, 2003 and October 3, 2003, the Group received requests for information from the EC Commission concerning the bidding process undertaken by the FAPL in relation to the sale of Premier League football rights in respect of the three year period 2004-2007. Whilst this EC investigation remains ongoing, the FAPL has announced that the Group has been awarded (subject to contract) all four packages of exclusive live UK rights to FAPL football and two “near live” packages of UK rights to FAPL football (both on a delayed basis) from the beginning of the 2004/05 season to the end of the 2006/07 season. The Group is currently unable to assess whether this EC investigation will have a material effect on the Group and its financial results.

 

EC Investigation — Movie Contracts

 

The EC Commission is investigating the terms on which movies produced by major US movie studios are supplied to distributors, including pay TV operators, throughout the European Union. The Group is co-operating with this investigation. At this stage, the Group is unable to determine whether it will have a material effect on the Group and its financial results.

 

27. Transactions with related parties and major shareholders

 

(a) Transactions with major shareholders

 

The Company and Group conduct business transactions on an arm’s length basis with shareholder companies or members of their groups and associated undertakings.

 

A number of transactions are conducted with members of the News Corporation Group. These companies include Twentieth Century Fox, NDS Limited (“NDS”), Broadsystem Ventures Limited (“BVL”), and STAR Television Group (“STAR”) with which the Group has significant contracts.

 

Twentieth Century Fox supplied programming with a total value of £63.2 million in the year (2002: £55.9 million; 2001: £44.8 million), the majority of which is supplied under arrangements extending to December 2004, with a variable annual value dependent on the number of films supplied. The Group also earned £0.5 million (2002: nil; 2001: nil) from Twentieth Century Fox in respect of programming-related fees.

 

NDS supplied smart cards and encryption services with a value of £49.7 million in the year (2002: £44.5 million; 2001: £46.1 million) under a contract extending to September 2010. The Group also has a number of contracts with NDS for the supply of digital equipment, of which £3.7 million (2002: £5.1 million; 2001: nil) was paid during the year.

 

BVL supplied telephony services with a value of £3.0 million during the year (2002: £2.0 million; 2001: £2.2 million). The Group also earned £4.2 million (2002: £1.0 million; 2001: nil) from BVL in respect of telephony services.

 

News International plc and News America Publishing provided media-based advertising services worth £5.2 million in the year (2002: £4.9 million; 2001: £5.8 million) and News International plc provided rental premises at a cost to the Group of £0.4 million in the year (2002: £0.4 million; 2001: £0.4 million). The Group also earned £1.7 million (2002: £1.1 million; 2001: £1.8 million) from News International plc for the provision of airtime.

 

Orbis Technology Limited and Visonik supplied interactive and internet-based services of £2.3 million in the year (2002: £0.9 million; 2001: nil).

 

National Rugby League Limited and News Interactive sold sports rights to the Group during the year worth £4.0 million (2002: £3.4 million; 2001: £3.0 million).

 

STAR, Fox News Channel and Phoenix Chinese News and Entertainment paid the Group £1.4 million during the year (2002: £1.3 million; 2001: £0.6 million) for the provision of transponder capacity. The Group paid STAR £1.5 million (2002: £1.2 million; 2001: £0.3 million) in respect of carriage fees for the supply of programming.

 

JSkySports Corporation, ESPN STAR Sports and Fancy A Flutter Limited paid the Group £0.9 million (2002: £0.5 million; 2001: £0.9 million) of fees related to programming.

 

B-48


Balances payable to the above companies which form part of The News Corporation Group, analyzed by activity:

 

     2002

   2003

     £m    £m

Programming

   18.2    22.6

Encryption services

   2.2    0.7

Telephony services

   —      0.9

Advertising

   —      0.4
    
  
     20.4    24.6
    
  

 

Balances receivable from members of The News Corporation Group, analyzed by activity:

 

     2002

   2003

     £m    £m

Transponders

   0.4    0.1

Other

   0.6    0.3
    
  
     1.0    0.4
    
  

 

In March and April 2003, News Corporation Finance Trust II, in which News Corporation, directly or indirectly, owns all of the beneficial interests in the assets of the trust, issued and sold 0.75% Senior Exchangeable BUCS, in a private placement to certain institutions. Each BUCS is exchangeable on or after April 2, 2004 for the value of reference shares, which initially consist of 77.09 ordinary shares of the Company for each US$1,000 original liquidation preference of BUCS. The BUCS may also be tendered for redemption on March 15, 2010, March 15, 2013 or March 15, 2018 for payment of the adjusted liquidation preference, which may be paid, at the election of the trust, in cash, ordinary shares of the Company, preferred American Depositary Shares of News Corporation representing the preferred limited voting ordinary shares of News Corporation, or a combination thereof. News Corporation and News America have agreed to indemnify the Group and our directors, officers, agents and employees against certain liabilities arising out of or in connection with the BUCS.

 

In November 1996, News Corporation, through subsidiaries, issued Exchangeable Trust Originated Preferred Securities (“Exchangeable TOPrS”), in a private placement to certain institutions. The Exchangeable TOPrS are exchangeable for certain other securities of subsidiaries of News Corporation, including warrants entitling the holders to purchase the Company’s ordinary shares, or ADSs representing the Company’s ordinary shares, from News America. The aggregate number of the Company’s ordinary shares subject to such warrants is 90,098,598. Upon the exercise of a warrant, News America has the right to elect to pay the holder in cash, in ordinary shares or ADSs, or any combination thereof. The warrants are redeemable at the option of News America, on or after November 12, 2001, and expire on November 12, 2016. News Corporation and News America have agreed to indemnify the Group and our directors, officers, agents and employees against certain liabilities arising out of or in connection with the TOPrS.

 

News Corporation has entered into an agreement with the Group pursuant to which it has been agreed that, for so long as News Corporation directly or indirectly holds an interest of 30% or more in us, News Corporation will not engage in the business of satellite broadcasting in the UK or Ireland.

 

As far as is known to the Group, there are no arrangements the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control of the Company.

 

(b) Transactions with joint ventures

 

All transactions with joint ventures are conducted on an arm’s length basis.

 

     2001

   2002

   2003

     £m    £m    £m

Revenue

   25.9    23.0    19.4

Operating costs

   43.4    53.9    63.8

 

B-49


Revenues are primarily generated from the provision of transponder capacity, marketing and support services, together with commissions receivable. Operating costs represent fees payable for channel carriage.

 

     2002

   2003

     £m    £m

Funding to joint ventures (see note 14)

   224.7    234.8

Amounts owed by joint ventures (see note 17)

   15.2    16.0

Amounts owed to joint ventures (see note 19)

   —      0.8

 

The funding to joint ventures is in the form of loans which bear interest at rates of between zero and three month LIBOR plus 1%.

 

(c) Other transactions with related parties

 

Elisabeth Murdoch is the daughter of Rupert Murdoch, and sister to James Murdoch, both Directors of the Company, and owns 60% of the ordinary share capital of Shine Entertainment Limited, in which the Group has a 3.5% equity shareholding. During the year, the Group incurred development and production costs for television of £2.0 million (2002: £1.3 million; 2001: £0.3 million) from Shine Entertainment Limited. At June 30, 2003, there were no outstanding amounts due to or from Shine Entertainment Limited (2002: nil).

 

Allan Leighton is one of the Company’s Non-Executive Directors and is also Deputy Chairman of Leeds United plc. The Group has a 9.1% equity interest in Leeds United plc and has been appointed the exclusive commercial and media agent for certain commercial and audiovisual rights available for exploitation by such company or its affiliates.

 

In addition to the foregoing, we have engaged in a number of transactions on an arm’s length basis with companies of which some of our Directors are also directors.

 

28. Summary of differences between United Kingdom and United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

 

(i) Differences giving rise to accounting adjustments

 

The Group’s accounts are prepared in accordance with GAAP applicable in the UK, which differ in certain significant respects from those applicable in the US.

 

The following is a summary of the significant adjustments to operating profit (loss), net income (loss), shareholders’ funds (deficit) and certain other balance sheet items required when reconciling such amounts recorded in the accounts to the corresponding amounts in accordance with US GAAP. A convenience translation of pounds sterling amounts to US dollar amounts for the year ended June 30, 2003, at a rate of £1:$1.6529, (the noon buying rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on June 30, 2003) is presented solely for the convenience of the reader. No representation is made that the pounds sterling amounts shown could have been, or could be, converted into US dollars at that or any other rate.

 

B-50


     Year ended June 30,

     Convenience
translation
2003


 
     2001

     2002

     2003

    
     £m      £m      £m      $m  
     (except per share data)  

Operating profit (loss):

                           

Operating profit under UK GAAP

   93      55      254      420  

Adjustments:

                           

Goodwill — subsidiary(1)

   (14 )    (27 )    117      193  

Transition provision(3)

   (151 )    (19 )    —        —    

Employee stock-based compensation(4)

   (15 )    (14 )    4      6  

Derivative accounting(5)

   (22 )    14      17      28  

Capitalized interest(6)

   —        (2 )    (2 )    (4 )

Provision for loss on disposal of subsidiary(9)

   (10 )    —        —        —    

Fixed asset investments(10)

   (59 )    (37 )    (18 )    (30 )

Sky+ set-top boxes profit on sale(12)

   —        —        (2 )    (3 )
    

  

  

  

Operating (loss) profit before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

   (178 )    (30 )    370      610  

Cumulative effect on prior years (to June 30, 2000) of implementation of SFAS 133(5)

   2      —        —        —    
    

  

  

  

Operating (loss) profit under US GAAP

   (176 )    (30 )    370      610  
    

  

  

  

Net income (loss):

                           

(Loss) profit on ordinary activities after taxation under UK GAAP

   (539 )    (1,383 )    190      315  

Adjustments:

                           

Goodwill — subsidiary(1)

   (14 )    (27 )    117      193  

Goodwill — joint venture(1)

   30      358      —        —    

Transition provision(3)

   (174 )    (19 )    —        —    

Employee stock-based compensation(4)

   (15 )    (14 )    4      6  

Derivative accounting(5)

   (22 )    14      17      28  

Capitalized interest(6)

   (1 )    —        (1 )    (1 )

Deferred taxation on US GAAP adjustments(7)

   59      —        (15 )    (25 )

Deferred taxation(7)

   —        —        (21 )    (35 )

Provision for loss on disposal of subsidiary(9)

   —        (10 )    —        —    

Amounts (written off) written back to fixed asset investments(10)

   (20 )    20      (3 )    (5 )

Share of joint venture’s loss on sale of investment(11)

   69      —        —        —    

Sky+ set-top boxes profit on sale(12)

   —        —        (2 )    (3 )

Share of results of joint ventures(14)

   —        14      —        —    
    

  

  

  

Net (loss) profit before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

   (627 )    (1,047 )    286      473  

Cumulative effect on prior years (to June 30, 2000) of implementation of SFAS 133(5)

   2      —        —        —    
    

  

  

  

Net (loss) profit under US GAAP

   (625 )    (1,047 )    286      473  
    

  

  

  

Basic (loss) earnings per share under US GAAP (before cumulative effect of accounting change)(8)

   (33.9p )    (55.5p )    14.9 p    24.7 c
    

  

  

  

Basic (loss) earnings per share under US GAAP (after cumulative effect of accounting change)(8)

   (33.8p )    (55.5p )    14.9 p    24.7 c
    

  

  

  

Diluted (loss) earnings per share under US GAAP (before cumulative effect of accounting change)(8)

   (33.9p )    (55.5p )    14.7 p    24.3 c
    

  

  

  

Diluted (loss) earnings per share under US GAAP (after cumulative effect of accounting change)(8)

   (33.8p )    (55.5p )    14.7 p    24.3 c
    

  

  

  

 

B-51


     As at June 30,

    

Convenience
translation

2003


 
     2002

     2003

    
     £m      £m      $m  

Shareholders’ (deficit) funds:

                    

Capital and reserves under UK GAAP

   (301 )    (106 )    (175 )

Adjustments:

                    

Goodwill — subsidiary(1)

   400      496      820  

Goodwill — joint venture(1)

   26      26      43  

ESOP(2)

   (42 )    (35 )    (58 )

Employee stock-based compensation(4)

   26      48      79  

Derivative accounting(5)

   (6 )    11      18  

Capitalized interest(6)

   8      7      12  

Deferred taxation(7)

   10      (5 )    (8 )

Fixed asset investments(10)

   (9 )    8      13  

Installation, set-top boxes and related equipment revenues(12)

   —        (2 )    (3 )

Deferred consideration(13)

   (253 )    —        —    
    

  

  

Shareholders’ (deficit) funds under US GAAP

   (141 )    448      741  
    

  

  

Total assets:

                    

Under UK GAAP

   2,201      2,025      3,347  

Adjustments:

                    

Goodwill — subsidiary(1)

   400      496      820  

Goodwill — joint venture(1)

   26      26      43  

ESOP(2)

   (42 )    (35 )    (58 )

Derivative accounting(5)

   74      71      117  

Capitalized interest(6)

   8      7      12  

Deferred taxation(7)

   10      (5 )    (8 )

Fixed asset investments(10)

   (9 )    8      13  

Installation, set-top boxes and related equipment costs(12)

   185      217      359  
    

  

  

Under US GAAP

   2,853      2,810      4,645  
    

  

  

Total liabilities:

                    

Under UK GAAP

   (2,502 )    (2,131 )    (3,522 )

Adjustments:

                    

Employee stock-based compensation(4)

   26      48      79  

Derivative accounting(5)

   (80 )    (60 )    (99 )

Installation, set-top boxes and related equipment revenues(12)

   (185 )    (219 )    (362 )

Deferred consideration(13)

   (253 )    —        —    
    

  

  

Under US GAAP

   (2,994 )    (2,362 )    (3,904 )
    

  

  


Notes

 

(1) Goodwill

 

Under UK GAAP prior to July 1, 1998, goodwill arising on acquisitions was eliminated against reserves. From July 1, 1998, FRS 10 required future goodwill to be capitalized, although, as permitted by FRS 10, goodwill previously written off has not been restated on the balance sheet. On disposal or closure of a previously acquired business, any goodwill previously written off to reserves will be included in calculating the profit or loss on disposal. Where capitalized goodwill is regarded as having a limited useful economic life, FRS 10 provides that the cost is amortized on a straight-line basis over that life, of up to 20 years. Impairment reviews, as required by FRS 11, are carried out to ensure that goodwill is not carried at above the recoverable amount. Any amortization or impairment write-downs are charged to the profit and loss account.

 

Under US GAAP, prior to July 1, 2002, goodwill arising on acquisitions was recognized in the balance sheet and amortized by charges against income over its useful life, which was not to exceed 40 years. The Group considered various factors in determining its amortization period, including competitive, legal, regulatory and other factors. As was required by APB Opinion No. 17

 

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“Intangible Assets”, the Group limited its amortization period to the specified maximum life of 40 years. Goodwill was accounted for at amortized cost, less provision for impairment. Whenever events or changes in circumstances indicated that current net book value may not be recoverable, the net book value was compared to the undiscounted net cash flows estimated to be generated by such goodwill. When these undiscounted cash flows were less than net book value, a provision for impairment was recorded to write down the net book value of the goodwill to the value in use by reference to discounted net future cash flows.

 

Under US GAAP, following the adoption of SFAS No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (SFAS No. 142), from July 1, 2002, the accounting for goodwill has changed. SFAS No. 142 bases the accounting for goodwill on reporting units, which are operating segments, as defined in SFAS No. 131 “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information”, or one level lower. SFAS No. 142 does not presume that goodwill is a wasting asset that should be amortized on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life; instead, it must be tested for impairment on an annual basis and whenever indicators of impairment arise. Upon adoption of SFAS No. 142, the Group ceased the amortization of goodwill with a net carrying value of £1,084 million. Goodwill was then tested for impairment using a two-step process that begins with an estimation of the fair value of each reporting unit. The first step is a screen for potential impairment, and the second step measures the amount of impairment, if any. SFAS No. 142 does provide that, if certain criteria are met, the requirement to test goodwill for impairment annually can be satisfied without a remeasurement of the fair value of a reporting unit.

 

The initial and annual impairment tests were completed during the current year. Since there were no quoted market prices in active markets for the Group’s reporting units, the measurement of fair value for each reporting unit was based on the best information available for that reporting unit, which was determined to be future discounted cash flows. The fair value measurements were compared to the carrying amounts of each reporting unit and it was determined that goodwill was not impaired on the implementation date or when tested during the year.

 

A reconciliation of the previously reported net (loss) profit to the amounts adjusted for the exclusion of amortization of goodwill is as follows:

 

     Year ended June 30,

 
     2001

    2002

    2003

    2003

 
     £m     £m     £m     $m  

Reported net (loss) profit under US GAAP

   (625 )   (1,047 )   286     473  

Add: goodwill amortization

   129     214     —       —    
    

 

 

 

Adjusted net (loss) profit

   (496 )   (833 )   286     473  

Basic (loss) earnings per share:

                        

Reported net (loss) profit under US GAAP

   (33.8p )   (55.5p )   14.9 p   24.7 c

Add: goodwill amortization

   7.0p     11.3p     —       —    
    

 

 

 

Adjusted (loss) earnings per share

   (26.8p )   (44.2p )   14.9 p   24.7 c

Diluted (loss) earnings per share:

                        

Reported net (loss) profit under US GAAP

   (33.8p )   (55.5p )   14.7 p   24.3 c

Add: goodwill amortization

   7.0p     11.3p     —       —    
    

 

 

 

Adjusted diluted (loss) earnings per share

   (26.8p )   (44.2p )   14.7 p   24.3 c

 

Under SFAS No. 142, equity method goodwill is no longer amortized. Equity method investments, however, continue to be reviewed for impairment in accordance with APB Opinion No. 18 “The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock”, which requires that a loss in value of an investment which is other than a temporary decline, be recognized. In the current year, no such loss has been recognized.

 

Under UK GAAP, provisions for impairment may be written back. Under US GAAP, the restoration of a previously recognized impairment loss is prohibited. Under UK GAAP, the fair value of consideration is determined as at the date the acquisition becomes unconditional. Under US GAAP, the fair value is based on the share price prior to and post the date of agreement and announcement of the acquisition.

 

Subsidiaries

 

Sky Television Limited

 

The goodwill of £491.5 million arising on the acquisition of Sky Television Limited (“Sky”) on November 3, 1990 (reduced by £20 million for the restatement of a shareholder loan to fair value as at the date of acquisition and by £33 million from July 1,

 

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1993, for the SFAS No. 109 “Accounting for Income Taxes” (SFAS No. 109) treatment of acquisition adjustments) was being amortized under US GAAP on a straight-line basis over 40 years, from November 4, 1990. From July 1, 2002, no further amortization has been recorded under US GAAP following the adoption of SFAS No. 142. Under UK GAAP, the goodwill arising on the acquisition of Sky was eliminated against reserves.

 

BiB

 

Goodwill arising on the acquisition of the Group’s 67.5% interest in BiB was £542 million under UK GAAP, based on the fair value of the Group’s shares on May 9, 2001, for the acquisition of the 47.6% interest and June 28, 2001, for the acquisition of the remaining 19.9% interest. Under US GAAP, the goodwill arising was £664 million, based on the fair value of the Group’s shares on July 17, 2000 for the acquisition of the 47.6% interest and May 14, 2001 for the acquisition of the remaining 19.9% interest. Under UK GAAP, the goodwill is being amortized on a straight-line basis over 7 years from the dates of acquisition. Under US GAAP, no amortization has been charged from July 1, 2002 following the adoption of SFAS No. 142.

 

During the year the Group recognized, under both UK and US GAAP, a deferred tax asset of £24 million in respect of BiB tax losses carried forward. Under UK GAAP this has resulted in a reduction of £24 million in the current year tax charge. Under US GAAP, the tax benefits of BiB’s tax losses carried forward that were not recognized at the acquisition date of £21 million have been applied to reduce goodwill related to the acquisition. The remaining £3 million reduced the current year tax charge.

 

Opta Index Limited

 

During fiscal 2003, we made a provision of £5 million under UK GAAP, included within amortization, against goodwill which arose on the acquisition of Opta. This provision was made as a result of the Group’s announcement in December 2002 that it would close Opta and the carrying value of this goodwill was reduced to nil. The goodwill was not provided against at this time under US GAAP due to the fact that the business had not ceased operations at December 31, 2002 nor was it considered to be an “available for sale” asset.

 

At June 30, 2003, under US GAAP, we determined that the assets of Opta that were held for sale met the requirements of SFAS No. 144 “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”, to be classified as held for sale. We then measured these assets at the lower of the carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell, which was determined to be close to nil based on expected sales price. As Opta was not classified as a separate reporting unit, we determined that Opta’s recorded assets (primarily goodwill) constituted a business under EITF 98-3 “Determining Whether a Nonmonetary Transaction Involves Receipt of Productive Assets or of a Business”, and therefore, under SFAS No. 142, the £5 million of goodwill is required to be included in the carrying amount of the Opta assets that were held for sale when measuring the gain or loss on sale. As a result, we recorded a loss of £5 million, consistent with the UK GAAP provision. An agreement to sell Opta assets that were held for sale has been reached in September 2003.

 

Joint ventures

 

Granada Sky Broadcasting

 

Goodwill of £32 million arising on the acquisition of an additional 9.5% in Granada Sky Broadcasting in March 1998 was being amortized over a 20 year period from July 1, 1998. From July 1, 2002, no further amortization has been recorded under US GAAP following the adoption of SFAS No. 142. Under UK GAAP, the goodwill arising on the acquisition of Granada Sky Broadcasting was eliminated against reserves.

 

KirchPayTV

 

Goodwill arising on the acquisition of the Group’s interest in KirchPayTV was £1,252 million under UK GAAP, based on the fair value of the Group’s shares as at April 14, 2000, and £858 million under US GAAP, based on the fair value of the Group’s shares as at December 3, 1999. All such amounts are stated net of a deemed disposal of a 1.97% interest which arose in August and September 2000. As at December 31, 2001, a provision of £985 million was recorded against KirchPayTV goodwill under UK GAAP following an impairment review under FRS 11, resulting in a carrying value of the investment of nil. Under UK GAAP £13.5 million of the provision was subsequently released to match the recognition of KirchPayTV losses from January 1, 2002 to February 8, 2002 from which date no further losses were recognized under UK GAAP. Under US GAAP, no such release was made as no further losses were recognized after December 31, 2001. At June 30, 2003 and June 30, 2002, the carrying value of our investment in KirchPayTV was nil under both UK and US GAAP.

 

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From acquisition until April 1, 2001, KirchPayTV goodwill was amortized over a period of 20 years under both UK and US GAAP. From April 1, 2001 it was considered appropriate to revise KirchPayTV’s useful economic life from 20 to seven years, and so until December 31, 2001, the goodwill was amortized over a period of seven years under both UK and US GAAP. Following the impairment review reducing the carrying value of the investment to nil at December 31, 2001, there has been no further amortization of KirchPayTV goodwill under UK and US GAAP.

 

Under UK GAAP, goodwill arising on acquisition of the KirchPayTV joint venture was treated as a sterling-denominated balance, calculated at the historical exchange rate when the transaction was completed, and is therefore not retranslated at the year end. Under US GAAP, this goodwill was treated as a Deutschmark denominated balance. Following the impairment review as at December 31, 2001, the goodwill balance has not been retranslated.

 

(2) Employee Share Ownership Plan (“ESOP”)

 

As at June 30, 2003, the ESOP held 5.5 million (fiscal 2002: 6.6 million) Ordinary Shares in the Company, at an average value of £6.34 per share (fiscal 2002: £6.39 per share). Under US GAAP these are classified within shareholders’ funds, whereas they are classified within investments under UK GAAP.

 

(3) Transition provision

 

Under UK GAAP, a provision of £58 million was recognized during fiscal 2000, in addition to a provision of £450 million recognized during fiscal 1999. These provisions were in respect of the net costs of the marketing promotion committed to by the Group, to transition its existing analog subscribers to its digital service. The provision was fully utilized by June 30, 2002.

 

Under UK GAAP, a provision is recognized when a legal or constructive obligation exists as a result of a past event or action and it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required to settle the obligation. Under EITF 94-3 “Liability Recognition for Certain Employees Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including certain costs incurred in a restructuring)” (EITF 94-3) of US GAAP, a provision should only be recognized when the company has a legal commitment, which we did not in this case. As a result, these expenses were recorded as incurred under US GAAP. Although EITF 94-3 has been superseded by SFAS No. 146 “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit and Disposal Activities”, this standard only applies prospectively to provisions made after December 31, 2002, and therefore had not been adopted by the Group at the time of the provision.

 

(4) Employee stock-based compensation

 

Under UK GAAP, a charge is recorded in the profit and loss account in relation to options for any difference between the market price on the date of grant and the exercise price. Where shares have been purchased through the Company’s ESOP trust to satisfy the exercise of employee stock options, the profit and loss account charge in respect of these options is equal to the difference between the cost of the ESOP shares and the exercise price. The charge is allocated on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the options. Under US GAAP, for performance-related options deemed to be variable plans under APB Opinion No. 25 “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (APB No. 25), compensation expense is measured as the difference between the quoted market price at the date when the number of shares is known and the exercise price; the cost is recognized over the period the employee performs related services. Since the ultimate compensation is unknown until the performance conditions are satisfied, estimates of compensation expense are recorded before the measurement date based on the quoted market price of the common shares at the intervening dates, in situations where it is probable that the performance conditions will be attained. Options that will vest conditional only on continued employment are deemed to be fixed plans under APB No. 25, with the excess of the market price over the exercise price on the date of the grant being charged against income over the vesting period of the options.

 

In accordance with US GAAP, the cost of compensatory stock options is charged against operating income in the profit and loss account and recognized within shareholders’ funds in the balance sheet. There is an additional US GAAP credit for the year amounting to £2 million (fiscal 2002: charge of £15 million; fiscal 2001: charge of £15 million), as the stock compensation expense was less than that recorded under UK GAAP.

 

Contingent payments to the selling shareholders of WAPTV Limited, in the form of the Company’s shares, are linked to their continuing employment within the Group. Under UK GAAP, these amounts were included as purchase consideration in calculating

 

B-55


goodwill. Under US GAAP, these payments were classified as stock-based compensation and, as such, were recorded within shareholders’ funds and are being amortized over the period of contingency, between 13 and 28 months from the date of acquisition. The US GAAP stock compensation charge for fiscal 2003 amounts to £1 million (fiscal 2002: charge of £2 million; fiscal 2001: nil).

 

Under UK GAAP, National Insurance is accrued over the vesting period of the share options. Under EITF 00-16 “Recognition and Measurement of Employer Payroll Taxes on Employee Stock-Based Compensation” of US GAAP, the accrual for National Insurance should be recognized on the date of the event triggering the measurement and payment of tax to the tax authority (i.e. the exercise date). The additional US GAAP credit arising for fiscal 2003 amounts to £3 million (fiscal 2002: credit of £3 million; fiscal 2001: nil), as the National Insurance paid was less than that accrued under UK GAAP.

 

The cumulative balance sheet effect in respect of all employee stock-based compensation at June 30, 2003, amounts to a decrease in UK GAAP accruals of £48 million (fiscal 2002: decrease of £26 million). The cumulative effect on shareholders’ funds is greater than the cumulative effect of the differences described above as the accrual made for stock-based compensation is recorded in liabilities under UK GAAP and in shareholders’ funds under US GAAP.

 

(5) Derivative accounting

 

Under UK GAAP, investments or financial derivative instruments accounted for as hedges are structured so as to reduce the market risk associated with the underlying transaction being hedged and are designated as hedges at the inception of the contract. Receipts and payments on interest rate instruments are recognized on an accruals basis, over the life of the instrument. Gains and losses hedging forecast transactional cash flows are recognized in the hedged periods. Under UK GAAP, all derivative contracts have been accounted for on the basis that they are hedging applicable monetary items. Under UK GAAP, commercial activities denominated in foreign currencies are recorded in sterling at actual exchange rates as at the date of the transaction or at the contracted rate if the transaction is covered by a forward foreign exchange contract or other hedging instruments. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the year end are reported at the rates of exchange prevailing at the year end or, if hedged, at the appropriate hedged rate.

 

Under US GAAP, the Group has applied SFAS No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (SFAS No. 133) as of July 1, 2000, and is marking all derivatives to market on the basis that such derivatives have not been sufficiently designated against monetary items to allow the Group to utilize hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133. As such, all derivative contracts have been recorded in the balance sheet at market value at the year end (with changes in fair value being charged to operating income) and all monetary assets and liabilities have been retranslated at spot rates. The net gain of £2 million on the date of adopting SFAS No. 133 as at July 1, 2000, was recorded as a cumulative change in accounting principle in the profit and loss account.

 

(6) Capitalized interest

 

Under UK GAAP, the capitalization of interest is not required, and the Group expenses interest charges to the profit and loss account in the year in which they are incurred. Under US GAAP, interest charges on funds invested in the construction of major capital assets are required to be capitalized and depreciated over the average life of the assets concerned.

 

Cumulative capitalized interest on assets under construction as at June 30, 2003 amounted to £7 million (fiscal 2002: £8 million). During fiscal 2003, interest of £1 million (fiscal 2002: £2 million; fiscal 2001: nil) was capitalized in respect of assets under construction, and depreciation of £2 million (fiscal 2002: £2 million; fiscal 2001: £1 million) was charged in respect of capitalized interest on assets in use.

 

(7) Deferred taxation

 

Under UK GAAP, deferred tax is recognized in respect of timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date, where transactions or events that result in an obligation to pay more tax in the future or a right to pay less tax in the future have occurred at the balance sheet date. A net deferred tax asset is regarded as recoverable and therefore recognized only when, on the basis of all available evidence, it is regarded as more likely than not that there will be suitable taxable profits against which to recover carried forward tax losses and from which the future reversal of underlying timing differences can be deducted.

 

Under US GAAP, deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences (differences between the carrying value of assets and liabilities and their corresponding tax bases). A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that some or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

 

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FRS 19 “Deferred tax” (FRS 19), the current UK accounting standard on deferred taxes, was first implemented in fiscal 2001. Subsequent to that date, while differences between FRS 19 and SFAS No. 109 exist, such differences have not had a material effect on the Group from a measurement perspective and hence, since June 30, 2001, the UK and US GAAP accounting for deferred tax has been aligned more closely. As a result, since fiscal 2001, the net deferred tax asset recognized under UK and US GAAP has primarily differed only in respect of deferred tax on other UK to US GAAP adjustments. There has been an exception to this in the current year as described in note (ii) to the table below.

 

Under UK GAAP, as at June 30, 2003, there is a deferred tax asset of £190 million (2002: £39 million), which arose principally as a result of carried forward trading losses. In addition, under UK GAAP, there is an Advance Corporation Tax (“ACT”) debtor of £40 million (2002: £85 million). Under US GAAP, the ACT debtor is treated as a deferred tax asset.

 

Under US GAAP, at June 30, 2003, there is a gross deferred tax asset of £790 million (2002: £833 million); offset by a valuation allowance of £565 million (2002: £699 million). In determining the appropriate level of valuation provision we considered guidance set out in SFAS No. 109, including the use of prudent and feasible tax planning strategies, and other relevant literature. The net deferred tax asset is comprised as follows:

 

     Deferred tax asset
June 30, 2002


   Deferred tax asset
June 30, 2003


    

Gross

asset


  

Valuation

provision


    

Net

asset


  

Gross

asset


  

Valuation

provision


    

Net

asset


     £m    £m      £m    £m    £m      £m

ACT(i)

   85    —        85    40    —        40

Future tax depreciation

   31    (5 )    26    41    (13 )    28

Operating losses carried forward(ii)

   225    (202 )    23    222    (76 )    146

Fixed asset investments(iii)

   478    (478 )    —      471    (471 )    —  

Other temporary differences

   14    (14 )    —      16    (5 )    11
    
  

  
  
  

  
     833    (699 )    134    790    (565 )    225
    
  

  
  
  

  

(i) During fiscal 2003, £45 million of ACT brought forward was utilized to reduce the Group’s cash tax liability.
(ii) At June 30, 2003, a valuation allowance was provided for a deferred tax asset of £12 million arising from losses in the Group. These losses can be offset only against taxable profits generated in the entities concerned. Although the Directors ultimately expect sufficient profits to arise, there is currently insufficient evidence to support recognition of a deferred tax asset relating to these losses. The losses are available to be carried forward indefinitely under current law. A valuation allowance has also been provided for deferred tax assets of £64 million in respect of trading losses in the Group’s German holding companies of KirchPayTV. Included within the movement of the valuation provision in 2003 is a provision of £24 million against a deferred tax asset that resulted from the acquisition of BiB. As described in “Goodwill” above, £21 million of the total amount of £24 million has been applied to reduce goodwill on acquisition under US GAAP. Under UK GAAP, this has resulted in a reduction of £24 million in the current year tax charge.
(iii) At June 30, 2003, a valuation allowance was provided for a deferred tax asset of £450 million in respect of potential capital losses related to the Group’s holding of KirchPayTV. A valuation allowance has also been provided for deferred tax assets of £21 million in respect of potential capital losses related to the mark-to-market adjustments of the Group’s holdings in certain fixed asset investments.

 

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The US GAAP tax charge (benefit), which wholly relates to UK corporation tax on continuing operations, comprises:

 

     2001

     2002

     2003

 
     %      %      %  

UK corporation tax rate

   30.0      30.0      30.0  

Permanent differences:

                    

  —  Goodwill  —  subsidiary

   (2.6 )    (4.6 )    0.6  

  —  Goodwill  —  joint ventures

   (3.2 )    (2.6 )    —    

  —  Other

   (1.6 )    (1.0 )    —    

Fixed asset investments

   —        (20.1 )    2.1  

Joint venture losses

   (15.9 )    (2.8 )    1.2  

Charges relating to prior periods

   (0.1 )    —        1.9  

Valuation provision

   (1.3 )    (10.2 )    (46.7 )

Other

   —        —        0.5  
    

  

  

US GAAP income tax charge (benefit)

   5.3      (11.3 )    (10.4 )
    

  

  

 

(8) Per share data

 

The equivalent earnings (loss) per ADS outstanding is as follows:

 

     Year ended June 30,

   

Convenience
translation

2003


 
     2001

    2002

    2003

   
     £     £     £     $  

Basic (loss) earnings per ADS under US GAAP (before cumulative effect of accounting change)*

   (135.8p )   (221.9p )   59.7 p   98.6 c

Basic (loss) earnings per ADS under US GAAP (after cumulative effect of accounting change)*

   (135.4p )   (221.9p )   59.7 p   98.6 c

Diluted (loss) earnings per ADS under US GAAP (before cumulative effect of accounting change)*

   (135.8p )   (221.9p )   58.9 p   97.4 c

Diluted (loss) earnings per ADS under US GAAP (after cumulative effect of accounting change)*

   (135.4p )   (221.9p )   58.9 p   97.4 c

* Accounting change referred to is cumulative effect on prior years (to June 30, 2000) of implementation of SFAS No. 133.

 

In prior period reporting, the (loss) earnings per ADS have been calculated using the weighted average number of ADSs outstanding on the basis of 1 ADS for 6 Ordinary Shares. On December 23, 2002 the ratio was revised to reflect a new ratio of 1 ADS representing 4 Ordinary Shares. Therefore, the current and prior period (loss) earnings per ADS have been calculated using a weighted average number of ADSs outstanding on the basis of 1 ADS for 4 Ordinary Shares. (Loss) earnings per ADS is not exactly four times (loss) earnings per share due to rounding differences.

 

(9) Provision for loss on disposal of subsidiary

 

Under UK GAAP, in fiscal 2001 the £10 million provision for the disposal of Surrey Sports was taken below operating profit. Under US GAAP, this amount has been reclassified within operating profit. In fiscal 2002, the provision was reversed under UK GAAP. Under US GAAP this reversal is prohibited.

 

(10) Fixed asset investments

 

Under UK GAAP, a fixed asset investment in a publicly traded entity, which is not equity accounted or consolidated on a group basis, is recorded at cost, less any provision for permanent diminution in value. Amounts provided against these investments are charged to the profit and loss account below operating profit.

 

Under US GAAP, the Group has accounted for these investments as “available for sale” securities and has therefore marked such

 

B-58


investments to market, with any movements in the carrying values net of tax being recorded in other comprehensive income until realized. Market value must be determined by reference to quoted market prices irrespective of the size of the Group’s interest. Provisions for other than temporary impairments are charged to operating profit and the restoration of a previously recognized impairment loss is prohibited. Any premium to market value of investments acquired is charged to the profit and loss account.

 

Under US GAAP, the Group has accounted for investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value under the cost method of accounting. When factors indicate that a decrease in value of the investment has occurred which is other than temporary, a charge to operating profit is recorded.

 

The US GAAP reconciling adjustments to fixed asset investments, within operating profit, are summarized as follows:

 

     Year ended June 30,

      

Convenience
translation

2003


 
     2001

     2002

     2003

      
     £m      £m      £m        $m  

Write-down of football club investments(i)

   (19 )    (41 )    (21 )      (35 )

Write-down of other investments(ii)

   (39 )    —        (3 )      (5 )

Other

   (1 )    4      6        10  
    

  

  

    

     (59 )    (37 )    (18 )      (30 )
    

  

  

    


(i) In fiscal 2001, under US GAAP, a provision of £19 million was taken against football club investments (no such write-down was taken under UK GAAP). In fiscal 2002, a £60 million provision was taken against football club investments under UK GAAP as an exceptional item below operating profit. Under US GAAP, this was reduced by the £19 million provision taken in fiscal 2001, and was reclassified within operating profit. As at December 31, 2002, a further £21 million provision was taken against football club investments under UK GAAP as an exceptional item below operating profit. This provision was made due to the continued decline over the previous months in the market value of the investments, leading us to believe that an other than temporary diminution in value had occurred. Subsequently, in fiscal 2003, under UK GAAP, this provision was reduced by £3 million, following the agreement to sell our minority interest in Chelsea Village plc in July 2003. Under US GAAP, the reversal of a previously recognized impairment is not permitted, and the full £21 million provision has been recorded as a loss within operating profit.
(ii) In fiscal 2001, under UK GAAP, a £39 million provision was taken against new media investments as an exceptional item below operating profit. Under US GAAP, the provision was reclassified within operating profit. In fiscal 2003, under UK GAAP, a £3 million provision was taken against the investment in Open TV shares, as an exceptional item below operating profit. Under US GAAP, the provision was reclassified within operating profit.

 

The US GAAP reconciling adjustments to fixed asset investments, within net income, are summarized as follows:

 

     Year ended June 30,

      

Convenience
translation

2003


 
     2001

     2002

   2003

      
     £m      £m    £m        $m  

Movements on provisions against football club investments

   (19 )    19    (3 )      (5 )

Other

   (1 )    1    —          —    
    

  
  

    

     (20 )    20    (3 )      (5 )
    

  
  

    

 

The US GAAP reconciling adjustments to fixed asset investments, within assets and shareholders’ funds, are summarized as follows:

 

     Year ended June 30,

      

Convenience
translation

2003


 
     2002

     2003

      
     £m      £m        $m  

Mark-to-market of football club investments

   (7 )    11        18  

Mark-to-market of new media investments

   (2 )    —          —    

Write-back of football club investments

   —        (3 )      (5 )
    

  

    

     (9 )    8        13  
    

  

    

 

B-59


(11) Share of joint venture’s loss on sale of investment

 

Under UK GAAP, the Group’s share in KirchPayTV’s loss on the sale of its holding of shares in the Company was recognized in the profit and loss account in fiscal 2001. Under US GAAP, the Group’s share of KirchPayTV’s loss on the sale of its holding of such shares was treated as a capital transaction and taken through equity in fiscal 2001.

 

(12) Installation, set-top boxes and related equipment revenues and costs

 

Under UK GAAP, installation, set-top boxes (including Sky+ set-top boxes) and related equipment revenues and costs are recognized once the installation is complete. Under US GAAP, these revenues are recognized over the period that a customer is expected to subscribe to the related service. For set-top boxes and related equipment, the churn rate varies according to the product purchased. Under US GAAP, where installation or set-top boxes and related equipment costs for a particular product exceed revenues, the excess costs are charged in the profit and loss account immediately upon installation. All other costs directly attributable to the income deferred are recognized over the same period as the revenues under US GAAP.

 

In the year ended June 30, 2003, under UK GAAP, installation, set-top boxes and related equipment revenues of £61 million (2002: £44 million; 2001: £80 million) were recognized. Under US GAAP, deferred revenue recorded on the balance sheet in respect of installations, set-top boxes and related equipment revenues amounted to £219 million (2002: £185 million). Under US GAAP, installation, set-top boxes and related equipment costs, which are expensed immediately under UK GAAP, have been deferred to match the period over which revenues are recognized; therefore at June 30, 2003, deferred costs held on the balance sheet in respect of installations, set-top boxes and related equipment amounted to £217 million (2002: £185 million). Installation, set-top boxes and related equipment revenues that have been recognized during the year amount to £27 million (2002: £22 million; 2001: £15 million). Related costs of £27 million (2002: £22 million; 2001: £15 million) for installation, set-top boxes and related equipment were recognized during the year.

 

The net impact on both operating profit and net income of these US GAAP adjustments is a reduction of £2 million in fiscal 2003 (2002: nil; 2001: nil). This was a result of the profit on sale of Sky+ set-top boxes in the current year.

 

(13) Deferred consideration

 

In fiscal 2001, deferred consideration of £253 million, relating to the Group’s acquisition of BiB, was to be issued as shares or loan notes, as was to be determined on the settlement date. The Board determined that there was no genuine commercial possibility that loan notes would be issued and therefore, under UK GAAP, this deferred consideration was included in shareholders’ funds within shares to be issued. Under US GAAP, it was classified within liabilities.

 

The deferred consideration was settled on November 11, 2002 by the issue of shares.

 

(14) Share of results of joint ventures

 

Under UK GAAP, we recognized KirchPayTV’s losses for the period from January 1, 2002, to February 8, 2002. By February 8, 2002, we considered that our relationship with KirchPayTV had irrevocably changed and that we have not exercised significant influence since that date. Therefore, from February 8, 2002, it was no longer appropriate to account for our investment in KirchPayTV as a joint venture under UK GAAP, and we ceased to account for KirchPayTV’s losses using the gross equity method from that date. No future profits or losses will be equity accounted for unless the nature of the relationship changes in the future.

 

As we have no intention of providing any future funding to KirchPayTV, an amount of £13.5 million was released from the provision against the carrying value of the investment made at December 31, 2001, matching our share of KirchPayTV’s losses for the period from January 1, 2002 to February 8, 2002.

 

Under US GAAP, when the carrying amount of an equity-accounted investment is reduced to zero, the investor ordinarily should discontinue applying the equity method and should not provide for additional losses unless the investor has guaranteed obligations of the investee or is otherwise committed to provide further financial support for the investee. If the investee subsequently reports net income, the investor should resume applying the equity method only after its share of that net income equals the share of net losses not recognized during the period equity accounting was suspended, or where there is an expectation that the investee will return to a profit-making position in the foreseeable future. Furthermore, if the investor ceases to exercise significant influence, the investment is no longer accounted for using the equity method.

 

B-60


Under US GAAP, the carrying value of the KirchPayTV investment was reduced to nil at December 31, 2001, as a result of the impairment in carrying value at that date and therefore under US GAAP we ceased to recognize losses from December 31, 2001. As no losses were recognized in the period from January 1, 2002 to February 8, 2002 under US GAAP, the £13.5 million write-back of losses under UK GAAP appears as a US GAAP net income reconciling item. This investment is no longer accounted for as a joint venture using the equity method as we no longer exercise significant influence.

 

Due to the fact that KirchPayTV was unable to provide information on a timely basis, their results were included in the Group’s results on a three month time lag basis. On that basis, the final summarized financial information for KirchPayTV provided to the Group was at September 30, 2001, and is as follows:

 

    

Group’s share of

KirchPayTV

(as adjusted)

Six months to

September 30, 2001


 
     £m  

Turnover

   57.0  
    

Operating loss

   (57.1 )

Net interest payable

   (3.0 )
    

Loss before taxation

   (60.1 )
    

Fixed assets

   134.3  
    

Current assets

   45.2  
    

Liabilities due within one year

   (104.8 )
    

Liabilities due after more than one year

   (131.9 )
    

 

(15) Consolidated Statements of Financial Performance

 

Turnover

 

Under UK GAAP, amounts receivable from the disposal of programming rights not acquired for use by the Group of £12 million (2002: £15 million; 2001: £55 million) and amounts receivable in respect of provision to third party broadcasters of spare transponder capacity of £26 million (2002: £24 million; 2001: £54 million) are classified within “operating expenses, net”. Under US GAAP, these amounts are classified within “turnover”.

 

Under UK GAAP, betting costs from internet casino betting are offset against betting revenues within “turnover”. Costs of £108 million (2002: £88 million; 2001: £75 million) from all other betting are shown within “operating expenses, net”. Under US GAAP, all betting costs are offset against betting revenues within “turnover”.

 

Exceptional items

 

Under UK GAAP, exceptional items are material items which derive from events or transactions that fall within the ordinary activities of a reporting entity and which individually or, if of a similar type in aggregate, need to be disclosed by virtue of their size or incidence if the financial statements are to give a true and fair view. US GAAP does not allow the presentation of exceptional items and such items would not be presented as such under US GAAP.

 

Non-operating profits

 

Under UK GAAP, profits or losses on disposals of operations and fixed assets, and provisions for fixed asset investments are recognized below operating profit under FRS 3 “Reporting Financial Performance”. Under US GAAP, such items would be presented as components of discontinued operations, if certain criteria are met, or within operating profit. Under UK GAAP, the share of joint ventures’ operating results excludes our share of joint ventures’ interest, our share of joint ventures’ exceptional items and our share of joint ventures’ tax. These amounts are included within “interest payable and similar charges” or “interest receivable and similar income”, “exceptional Items” and “taxation charge” respectively. Under US GAAP, all of these amounts are included within “equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates”.

 

B-61


(16) Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

Under UK GAAP, long-term debtors (including prepaid program rights and transponder rentals) are classified as “debtors falling due after more than one year” within current assets. Under US GAAP, long-term debtors are classified within other non-current assets.

 

Under UK GAAP, deferred tax assets are classified within “debtors falling due within one year” or “debtors falling due after more than one year”. Under US GAAP, deferred tax assets are classified within “other current assets” or “other non-current assets”.

 

Under UK GAAP, fixed asset investments are classified under the heading “investments” within fixed assets. Under US GAAP, fixed asset investments are classified within “other non-current assets”, when the investments are not expected to be sold within one year, and within “other current assets” when the investments are expected to be sold within one year.

 

Under UK GAAP, investments in joint ventures are classified under the heading “investments” within fixed assets. Under US GAAP, investments in joint ventures are classified as “investments in equity affiliates”.

 

Under UK GAAP, a merger reserve is included as part of capital and reserves. The merger reserve was created in accordance with the merger relief provisions under section 131 of the United Kingdom Companies Act 1985 relating to accounting for acquisitions involving the issue of shares at a premium. Merger relief provides relief from the requirement to create a share premium account in a parent company’s balance sheet. In preparing group consolidated financial statements, the amount by which the fair value of the shares issued exceeds their nominal value is recorded within a merger reserve on consolidation, rather than in a share premium account.

 

Merger relief is available when three conditions have been satisfied:

 

  1. When a company secures at least 90 per cent of the nominal value of each class of the equity share capital of another company, as a result of an arrangement.

 

  2. The arrangement provides for the allotment of equity shares by the acquirer.

 

  3. Consideration for the shares is either the issue or transfer of shares to the acquirer of equity shares in the acquired company; or the cancellation of those equity shares in the acquired company which the acquirer does not already hold.

 

The merger reserve was created as a result of the acquisition by the Group of interests in two entities:

 

  1. SIG

 

The acquisition of 100% of SIG on July 12, 2000, where consideration was paid by the issue of equity shares in BSkyB.

 

  2. BiB

 

Consideration was paid in BSkyB shares on June 28, 2001 and on November 11, 2002; this consideration related to the acquisition by the Group of the 19.9% of BiB it did not previously own from British Telecommunications plc (the Group previously held 80.1% of BiB).

 

Under UK GAAP, the amount recorded in the merger reserve can be transferred to the profit and loss reserve in line with the amortization of the associated goodwill. Accordingly, the £79.2 million that was transferred from the merger reserve to the profit and loss reserve in fiscal 2003 (fiscal 2002: £74.1 million) equals the aggregate amortization charge in that period relating to SIG goodwill and the goodwill recognized on the acquisition of the remaining 19.9% stake in BiB.

 

Under US GAAP, the amount by which the fair value of the BSkyB shares issued on acquisition of SIG and the remaining 19.9% of BiB exceeded their nominal value is recorded within additional-paid-in-capital.

 

(17) Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

 

The Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows prepared under UK GAAP in accordance with FRS 1 (Revised) — Cash Flow

 

B-62


Statements, presents substantially the same information as that required under US GAAP. Under US GAAP however, there are certain differences from UK GAAP with regard to classification of items within the cash flow statement and with regard to the definition of cash and cash equivalents. Cash flow under UK GAAP represents increases or decreases in “cash”, which comprises cash in hand and deposits repayable on demand and overdrafts. Under US GAAP, cash flow represents increases or decreases in “cash and cash equivalents”, which includes short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of less than three months, and excludes overdrafts.

 

Under UK GAAP, cash flows are presented separately for operating activities, returns on investments and servicing of finance, taxation, capital expenditure and financial investment, acquisitions and disposals, equity dividends, management of liquid resources and financing activities. Under US GAAP only three categories of cash flow activity are reported, being cash flows relating to operating activities, investing activities and financing activities. Cash flows from taxation and returns on investments and servicing of finance are, with the exception of servicing of shareholder finance, included as operating activities under US GAAP. The servicing of shareholder finance would be included under financing activities under US GAAP.

 

A reconciliation between the consolidated statements of cash flows presented in accordance with UK and US GAAP is presented below:

 

     Year Ended June 30,

    

Convenience
translation

2003


 
     2001

     2002

     2003

    
     £m      £m      £m      $m  

Operating Activities

                           

Cash flow from operating activities under UK GAAP

   39      250      664      1,098  

Dividends received from joint ventures

   —        —        4      7  

Interest received and similar income

   5      9      3      5  

Interest paid and similar charges on external finance

   (119 )    (141 )    (127 )    (210 )

Interest element of finance lease payments

   (2 )    (1 )    (1 )    (2 )

Corporation tax (paid) received

   (16 )    23      (18 )    (30 )
    

  

  

  

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities under US GAAP

   (93 )    140      525      868  
    

  

  

  

Investing activities

                           

Net cash outflow from capital expenditure and financial investment under UK GAAP

   (158 )    (127 )    (97 )    (160 )

Acquisitions, net of new cash acquired

   (16 )    —        —        —    

Funding to joint ventures

   (137 )    (12 )    (15 )    (25 )

Repayments of funding from joint ventures

   —        5      5      8  
    

  

  

  

Net cash used in investing activities under US GAAP

   (311 )    (134 )    (107 )    (177 )
    

  

  

  

Financing activities

                           

Cash inflow (outflow) from financing under UK GAAP

   347      (180 )    (422 )    (698 )
    

  

  

  

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities under US GAAP

   347      (180 )    (422 )    (698 )
    

  

  

  

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents under US GAAP

   (57 )    (174 )    (4 )    (7 )
    

  

  

  

Cash and cash equivalents under US GAAP at the beginning of the period

   281      224      50      83  

Cash and cash equivalents under US GAAP at the end of the period

   224      50      46      76  
    

  

  

  

 

B-63


(ii) Additional US GAAP Disclosures

 

(a) Stock-based compensation

 

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation under the expense recognition provisions of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (APB No. 25) and provides disclosures of pro-forma stock compensation expense in accordance with SFAS No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (SFAS No. 123). Included in the profit and loss account for all the share option schemes under APB No. 25 was a charge of £13 million, net of tax (2002: £32 million; 2001: £30 million). The net difference between the UK GAAP charge and the APB No. 25 charge in the current year was a US GAAP credit of £4 million, net of tax (2002: charge of £17 million; 2001: charge of £15 million). Had compensation expense for share options granted under these schemes been determined based on fair value at the grant dates consistent with the method required in accordance with SFAS No. 123, the Group’s net income (loss) and earnings per share for 2001, 2002 and 2003 would have been reduced to the pro-forma amounts shown below:

 

     Year ended June 30,

    

Convenience
translation

2003


 
     2001

     2002

     2003

    
     £m      £m      £m      $m  

Net (loss) income under US GAAP:

                           

As reported

   (625 )    (1,047 )    286      473  

Add: APB No. 25 stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net (loss) income, net of related tax effects

   30      32      13      21  

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

   (43 )    (40 )    (68 )    (112 )
    

  

  

  

Pro-Forma

   (638 )    (1,055 )    231      382  
    

  

  

  

Net (loss) earnings per share under US GAAP:

                           

Basic — as reported(i)

   (33.8 )p    (55.5 )p    14.9 p    24.7 c

Basic — pro-forma(i)

   (34.6 )p    (55.9 )p    12.1 p    19.9 c

Diluted — as reported(i)

   (33.8 )p    (55.5 )p    14.7 p    24.3 c

Diluted — pro-forma(i)

   (34.6 )p    (55.9 )p    11.9 p    19.7 c

(i) All net earnings (loss) per share are disclosed after cumulative effect on prior years (to June 30, 2000) of implementation of SFAS No. 133.

 

The movement in stock-based awards outstanding during the three years ended June 30, 2003 is summarized in the following table:

 

    

Number of shares

under option


    

Weighted average

exercise price


Outstanding at June 30, 2000

   19,924,492      £ 5.65

Granted during fiscal 2001

   17,232,761      £ 9.85

Lapsed during fiscal 2001

   (513,319 )    £ 10.48

Cancelled during fiscal 2001

   (293,629 )    £ 13.54

Exercised during fiscal 2001

   (2,808,136 )    £ 5.28
    

      

Outstanding at June 30, 2001

   33,542,169      £ 7.69

Granted during fiscal 2002

   16,280,669      £ 7.83

Lapsed during fiscal 2002

   (1,639,388 )    £ 8.61

Cancelled during fiscal 2002

   (66,170 )    £ 8.78

Exercised during fiscal 2002

   (5,104,577 )    £ 5.64
    

      

Outstanding at June 30, 2002

   43,012,703      £ 7.95

Granted during fiscal 2003

   15,401,535      £ 5.31

Lapsed during fiscal 2003

   (2,575,366 )    £ 7.23

Exercised during fiscal 2003

   (2,235,488 )    £ 7.08
    

      

Outstanding at June 30, 2003

   53,603,384      £ 7.26
    

      

 

B-64


The awards outstanding can be summarized as follows:

 

Scheme


  

Number of

Ordinary Shares

June 30, 2002


  

Number of

Ordinary Shares

June 30, 2003


Executive Share Option Scheme options

   32,522,881    41,052,567

Sharesave Scheme options

   3,113,822    3,749,134

LTIP awards

   6,043,875    7,269,683

KCP awards

   1,332,125    1,135,000

EBP awards

   —      397,000
    
  
     43,012,703    53,603,384
    
  

 

Included within the total awards outstanding as at June 30, 2003, are 40,518,101 options (2002: 31,851,759) granted under the Executive Schemes, 7,269,683 options (2002: 6,043,875) granted under the LTIP and 1,135,000 options (2002: 1,165,000) granted under the KCP, which may be exercised in the final year before their lapsing date, regardless of meeting performance criteria, if applicable, provided that the employee remains in employment with the Group. As at June 30, 2003 and 2002, all the Sharesave Scheme options outstanding have no performance criteria attached. Included within the total outstanding Executive Schemes options, there are 3,907,213 options (2002: 4,357,856) to which no performance criteria are attached. In addition to the awards granted under the Executive Schemes that may be exercised in the final year before their lapsing date, regardless of meeting performance criteria, there are also 534,466 options (2002: 671,122) that vest only if performance criteria are met. Furthermore, all awards granted under the EBP vest only if performance criteria are met.

 

Included within the KCP shares at June 30, 2002 were 167,125 shares awarded under the 2000 KCP award. Under UK GAAP these are not disclosed within share options, as they were an award of shares with no option attached. Under US GAAP, due to their vesting being dependent upon meeting performance criteria, they were subject to variable plan accounting in accordance with APB No. 25. These awards were exercised in the current year.

 

The weighted average fair value of options granted in the current year was estimated at approximately £3.16 (2002: £4.77; 2001: £5.13) as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes stock option pricing model, based on the following weighted average assumptions: no annual dividend; annual standard deviation (volatility) of 43% (2002: 44%; 2001: 38%); risk free interest rate of 4.39% (2002: 4.31%; 2001: 5.51%); and expected term of 8.9 years (2002: 9.4 years; 2001: 7.5 years).

 

Additionally, the weighted average exercise price and fair value for options granted in the current year with an exercise price below the market price at grant were estimated at £4.75 and £2.90 (2002: £6.11 and £3.49; 2001: £8.24 and £5.25) respectively. For options granted in the current year with an exercise price equal to market price at grant date, the weighted average exercise price and fair value at grant date were estimated at £5.40 and £3.20 (2002: £8.00 and £4.90; 2001: £9.97 and £5.13) respectively.

 

The exercise prices for options outstanding at June 30, 2003 ranged from £0.98 to £13.97 (2002: £0.50 to £16.27; 2001: £0.50 to £16.27).

 

The following table summarizes information about the stock options outstanding at June 30, 2003:

 

     Options outstanding

   Options currently exercisable

Range of exercise prices


   Number

   Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life


   Weighted
average
exercise price


   Number

   Weighted
average
exercise price


£0.00-£1.00

   1,124    6.3 years    £ 0.98    1,124    £ 0.98

£2.00-£3.00

   172,795    1.4 years    £ 2.56    172,795    £ 2.56

£3.00-£4.00

   326,308    2.0 years    £ 3.75    45,205    £ 3.59

£4.00-£5.00

   2,452,582    3.4 years    £ 4.72    173,376    £ 4.43

£5.00-£6.00

   16,882,167    7.3 years    £ 5.30    4,505,951    £ 5.16

£6.00-£7.00

   6,056,567    4.1 years    £ 6.36    4,771,066    £ 6.40

£7.00-£8.00

   10,635,303    8.4 years    £ 7.88    10,620,303    £ 7.88

£8.00-£9.00

   3,766,582    5.4 years    £ 8.32    1,727,268    £ 8.35

£9.00-£10.00

   10,248,102    7.2 years    £ 9.86    5,984,648    £ 9.88

£10.00-£11.00

   2,550,001    4.1 years    £ 10.06    2,550,001    £ 10.06

£11.00-£12.00

   302,528    7.1 years    £ 11.40    34,993    £ 11.43

£12.00-£13.00

   167,808    7.0 years    £ 12.75    121,731    £ 12.90

£13.00-£14.00

   41,517    6.8 years    £ 13.97    41,517    £ 13.97
    
  
  

  
  

     53,603,384    6.6 years    £ 7.26    30,749,978    £ 7.82
    
  
  

  
  

 

B-65


(b) Statement of comprehensive (loss) income

 

     2001

     2002

     2003

  

Convenience

translation

2003


     £m      £m      £m    $m

Net (loss) income in accordance with US GAAP

   (625 )    (1,047 )    286    473

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

                       

Unrealized (loss) gain on certain fixed asset investments

   (56 )    24      20    33

Foreign exchange (losses) gains recorded in cumulative translation reserve

   (28 )    11      —      —  

Profit on deemed disposals

   14      —        —      —  
    

  

  
  

Net comprehensive (loss) income in accordance with US GAAP

   (695 )    (1,012 )    306    506
    

  

  
  

 

In fiscal 2003, there was no tax impact on net comprehensive income (loss) of the above reconciling items (fiscal 2002 and 2001: nil).

 

At June 30, 2003, the cumulative effect on US GAAP shareholders’ funds was a net gain of £11 million for fixed asset investments (2002: net loss of £9 million), a net loss of £10 million for foreign exchange differences (2002: net loss of £10 million) and a net profit of £14 million for deemed disposals (2002: net profit of £14 million).

 

(c) Guarantees

 

The Company and various of its subsidiaries have undertaken, in the normal course of business, to provide support to several of the Company’s subsidiaries to meet their liabilities. The liabilities of these subsidiaries are already included in BSkyB’s consolidated accounts. These undertakings have been given for at least one year from the date of the signing of the latest UK statutory accounts of the subsidiary entity. A payment under these undertakings would only be required in the event of a subsidiary being unable to pay its liabilities. The maximum potential amount of future payments which would be made by the Company to its wholly-owned subsidiaries under these undertakings cannot be determined as the net liability position of the subsidiaries up to at least one year into the future is not known.

 

As at June 30, 2003, two of the Group’s subsidiary undertakings, British Sky Broadcasting Limited and Sky Subscribers Services Limited, have given joint and several guarantees in respect of the Company’s obligations under £200 million and £600 million revolving credit facilities and the $650 million, $600 million, $300 million and £100 million Guaranteed Notes. The term of these guarantees corresponds with the term of the relevant obligations.

 

The Company and various of its subsidiaries have undertaken, in the normal course of business, to provide support to several of the Company’s investments in both limited and unlimited companies and partnerships, to meet their liabilities. Several of these undertakings contain financial limits. These undertakings have been given for at least one year from the date of the signing of the UK statutory accounts of the related entity. A payment under these undertakings would be required in the event of an investment being unable to pay its liabilities. The Company and various of its subsidiaries have also agreed to provide additional funding to several of the Company’s investments in both limited and unlimited companies and partnerships. Payment of this additional funding would be required if requested by the investees in accordance with the funding agreements. The maximum potential amount of future payments which may be required to be made by the Company and various of its subsidiaries to its investments in both limited and unlimited companies and partnerships under the undertakings and additional funding agreements is £15 million.

 

(d) Adoption of new standards

 

SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other intangible Assets”

 

For a description of the implications of implementing SFAS No. 142 in the current year see Note 28 — “Goodwill”.

 

B-66


SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure — an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123”

 

In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure — an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123 (“SFAS No. 148”). This Statement amends SFAS No. 123 to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, this Statement amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. SFAS No. 148 shall be effective for financial statements for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2002, and in some cases for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2002. The Group has adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148 in the current year and is in the process of evaluating the recognition provisions.

 

SFAS No. 149, “Amendments of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”

 

In April 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 149, Amendments of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (“SFAS No. 149”). SFAS No. 149 amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133. SFAS No. 149 clarifies the circumstances in which a contract with an initial net investment meets the definition of a derivative, clarifies when a derivative contains a financing component that warrants special cash flow reporting, and amends the definition of an underlying within a derivative. This statement is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003.

 

The Group does not believe that the adoption of SFAS No. 149 will have a material impact on the Group results of operations or its financial position.

 

SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity”

 

In May 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity (“SFAS No. 150”). SFAS No. 150 clarifies the accounting for certain financial instruments that issuers previously accounted for as equity, requiring such instruments to be classified as liabilities in certain situations. SFAS No. 150 is effective for all financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003 and for interim periods beginning after June 15, 2003.

 

The Group has adopted SFAS No. 150 in the current year without a material impact on the Group results of operations or its financial position.

 

FASB Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantors Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others”

 

In November 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantors Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others (“FIN No. 45”). This Interpretation elaborates on the disclosures to be made by a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about its obligations under certain guarantees that it has issued. It also clarifies that a guarantor is required to recognize, at the inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee. This Interpretation does not prescribe a specific approach for subsequently measuring the guarantor’s recognized liability over the term of the related guarantee. This Interpretation also incorporates, without change, the guidance in FIN No. 34, Disclosure of Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others, which is being superseded.

 

The provisions related to recognizing a liability at inception for the fair value of the guarantor’s obligation do not apply in several circumstances. One of the exceptions is in the case of a parent’s guarantee of a subsidiary’s debt to a third party, and a subsidiary’s guarantee of the debt owed to a third party by either its parent or another subsidiary of that parent, as is the case for the Group. The initial recognition and initial measurement provisions of this Interpretation are applicable on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002, irrespective of the guarantor’s fiscal year end. The disclosure requirements in this Interpretation are effective for financial statements of interim or annual periods ending after December 15, 2002.

 

B-67


The Group has adopted FIN No. 45 in the current year without a material impact on the Group results of operations or its financial position.

 

FASB Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities”

 

In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (“FIN No. 46”). This clarification of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements, applies to certain entities in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. FIN No. 46 explains how to identify variable interest entities and how an enterprise assesses its interests in a variable interest entity to decide whether to consolidate that entity. It requires existing unconsolidated variable interest entities to be consolidated by their primary beneficiaries if the entities do not effectively disperse risk among the parties involved. It also requires certain disclosures by the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity and by an enterprise that holds significant variable interests in a variable interest entity where the enterprise is not the primary beneficiary.

 

FIN No. 46 is effective immediately for variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003, and to variable interest entities in which an enterprise obtains an interest after that date. It applies in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003, to variable interest entities in which an enterprise holds a variable interest that it acquired before February 1, 2003, with early adoption encouraged. FIN No. 46 requires an entity to disclose certain information regarding a variable interest entity, if, when the Interpretation becomes effective, it is reasonably possible that an enterprise will consolidate or have to disclose information about that variable interest entity, regardless of the date on which the variable interest entity was created. This Interpretation may be applied prospectively with a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date on which it is first applied or by restating previously issued financial statements for one or more years with a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the first year restated.

 

The Group has adopted the disclosure provisions of FIN No. 46 in the current year, has not created any new variable interest entities after January 31, 2003, and does not believe that the adoption of FIN No. 46 will have a material impact on the Group results of operations or its financial position.

 

EITF 00-21, “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables”

 

In November 2002, the Emerging Issues Task Force reached a consensus on EITF 00-21, Revenue Arrangement with Multiple Deliverables. The consensus addresses how to account for arrangements that may involve multiple revenue-generating activities, for example, the delivery or performance of multiple products, services, and/or rights to use assets. In applying this guidance, separate contracts with the same party, entered into at or near the same time, will be presumed to be a package, and the consideration will be measured and allocated to the separate units, based on their relative fair values. This consensus guidance is effective for revenue agreements entered into in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2003.

 

The Group is in the process of evaluating the requirements of this pronouncement.

 

29. Financing arrangements

 

At June 30, 2003, the Group’s balance sheet showed net liabilities of £105.7 million. The Directors consider that the operating cash flows of the Group, together with its own bank facilities, will be sufficient to cover the Group’s projected operating requirements and to settle or refinance the Group’s other liabilities as they fall due, for a minimum period of 12 months from the date of signing these financial statements. Accordingly the financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis.

 

30. Supplemental guarantor information

 

From time to time the Company may issue debt securities which are guaranteed, on a full and unconditional basis, by the Company’s two main wholly owned operating subsidiaries, British Sky Broadcasting Limited and Sky Subscribers Services Limited. The Company has issued in the US public debt market in October 1996 US$300 million of 7.300% Guaranteed Notes repayable in October 2006, and in February 1999 US$600 million of 6.875% Guaranteed Notes repayable in February 2009. In July 1999 the Company issued US$650 million and £100 million of Regulation S/144A bonds with SEC registration rights repayable in July 2009 at rates of 8.200% and 7.750% respectively.

 

Supplemental condensed consolidating financial information for the guarantors is presented below prepared in accordance with the

 

B-68


Group’s accounting policies set out on pages F-7 to F-11, except to the extent that investments in subsidiaries have been accounted for by the equity method and push down accounting has been applied for subsidiaries as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Group’s accounting policies are in accordance with UK GAAP. This supplemental financial information should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

B-69


SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

 

As at June 30, 2002(2)

 

(£ millions)

 

    

(3)

British Sky

Broadcasting

Group plc


   

(1)(3)

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Reclassifications

and

eliminations


   

BSkyB

Group and

Subsidiaries


 

Fixed assets

                              

Intangible assets

   —       —       657     —       657  

Tangible assets

   2     323     18     —       343  

Investments

                              

— Joint ventures

   —       —       22     —       22  

— Own shares

   —       42     —       —       42  

— Investment in football clubs and new media

   61     1     3     —       65  

— Investments in subsidiary undertakings under the equity method

   1,392     104     580     (2,076 )   —    
    

 

 

 

 

     1,455     470     1,280     (2,076 )   1,129  
    

 

 

 

 

Current assets

                              

Stocks

   —       365     49     —       414  

Debtors: Amounts due after one year

                              

— Third party debtors

   60     85     62     —       207  

Debtors: Amounts due within one year

                              

— Intragroup debtors

   952     603     601     (2,156 )   —    

— Third party debtors

   4     335     62     —       401  

Cash at bank and in hand

   —       42     8     —       50  
    

 

 

 

 

     1,016     1,430     782     (2,156 )   1,072  
    

 

 

 

 

Creditors

                              

Amounts falling due within one year

                              

— Intragroup creditors

   (418 )   (1,153 )   (577 )   2,148     —    

— Third party creditors

   (49 )   (782 )   (74 )   —       (905 )
    

 

 

 

 

     (467 )   (1,935 )   (651 )   2,148     (905 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net current assets (liabilities)

   549     (505 )   131     (8 )   167  
    

 

 

 

 

Total assets less current liabilities

   2,004     (35 )   1,411     (2,084 )   1,296  
    

 

 

 

 

Creditors

                              

Amounts falling due after one year

                              

— Intragroup borrowings

   (736 )   —       (211 )   947     —    

— Third party borrowings

   (1,569 )   (8 )   —       —       (1,577 )

— Other

   —       (15 )   (1 )   —       (16 )
    

 

 

 

 

     (2,305 )   (23 )   (212 )   947     (1,593 )

Provisions

   —       —       (4 )   —       (4 )
    

 

 

 

 

     (301 )   (58 )   1,195     (1,137 )   (301 )
    

 

 

 

 

Capital and reserves — equity

                              

Called-up share capital

   947     10     877     (887 )   947  

Share premium account

   2,410     242     2,242     (2,484 )   2,410  

Shares to be issued

   256     —       —       —       256  

Profit and loss account

   (4,180 )   (310 )   (3,491 )   3,801     (4,180 )

Application of push down accounting

   —       —       657     (657 )   —    

Other reserves

   266     —       910     (910 )   266  
    

 

 

 

 

TOTAL CAPITAL AND RESERVES

   (301 )   (58 )   1,195     (1,137 )   (301 )
    

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation to US GAAP:

                              

Capital and reserves under UK GAAP

   (301 )   (58 )   1,195     (1,137 )   (301 )

Adjustments:

                              

Goodwill

   426     —       426     (426 )   426  

ESOP

   (42 )   (42 )   —       42     (42 )

Employee stock-based provision

   26     26     —       (26 )   26  

Derivative accounting

   (6 )   (25 )   —       25     (6 )

Capitalized interest

   8     8     —       (8 )   8  

Deferred taxation

   10     10     —       (10 )   10  

Fixed asset investments

   (9 )   —       (3 )   3     (9 )

Deferred consideration

   (253 )   —       —       —       (253 )
    

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ (deficit) funds under US GAAP

   (141 )   (81 )   1,618     (1,537 )   (141 )
    

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to supplemental guarantor information.

 

B-70


SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

 

As at June 30, 2003(2)

 

(£ millions)

 

    

(3)

British Sky

Broadcasting

Group plc


    

(1)(3)

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Non-

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Reclassifications

and

eliminations


   

BSkyB

Group and

Subsidiaries


 

Fixed assets

                               

Intangible assets

   —        —       536     —       536  

Tangible assets

   2      323     19     2     346  

Investments

                               

— Joint ventures

   —        —       30     —       30  

— Own shares

   —        35     —       —       35  

— Investment in football clubs and new media

   43      1     —       —       44  

— Investments in subsidiary undertakings under the equity method

   1,525      222     734     (2,481 )   —    
    

  

 

 

 

     1,570      581     1,319     (2,479 )   991  
    

  

 

 

 

Current assets

                               

Stocks

   —        330     41     —       371  

Debtors: Amounts due after one year

                               

— Third party debtors

   112      51     60     —       223  

Debtors: Amounts due within one year

                               

— Intragroup debtors

   506      853     680     (2,039 )   —    

— Third party debtors

   38      304     52     —       394  

Cash at bank and in hand

   —        40     6     —       46  
    

  

 

 

 

     656      1,578     839     (2,039 )   1,034  
    

  

 

 

 

Creditors

                               

Amounts falling due within one year

                               

— Intragroup creditors

   (416 )    (861 )   (1,026 )   2,303     —    

— Third party creditors

   (36 )    (856 )   (63 )   —       (955 )
    

  

 

 

 

     (452 )    (1,717 )   (1,089 )   2,303     (955 )
    

  

 

 

 

Net current assets (liabilities)

   204      (139 )   (250 )   264     79  
    

  

 

 

 

Total assets less current liabilities

   1,774      442     1,069     (2,215 )   1,070  
    

  

 

 

 

Creditors

                               

Amounts falling due after one year

                               

— Intragroup borrowings

   (736 )    (214 )   (45 )   995     —    

— Third party borrowings

   (1,144 )    (8 )   —       —       (1,152 )

— Other

   —        (21 )   —       —       (21 )
    

  

 

 

 

     (1,880 )    (243 )   (45 )   995     (1,173 )

Provisions

   —        —       (3 )   —       (3 )
    

  

 

 

 

     (106 )    199     1,021     (1,220 )   (106 )
    

  

 

 

 

Capital and reserves — equity

                               

Called-up share capital

   969      10     576     (586 )   969  

Share premium account

   2,535      242     2,250     (2,492 )   2,535  

Shares to be issued

   3      —       —       —       3  

Profit and loss account

   (3,912 )    (53 )   (3,251 )   3,304     (3,912 )

Application of push down accounting

   —        —       536     (536 )   —    

Other reserves

   299      —       910     (910 )   299  
    

  

 

 

 

TOTAL CAPITAL AND RESERVES

   (106 )    199     1,021     (1,220 )   (106 )
    

  

 

 

 

Reconciliation to US GAAP:

                               

Capital and reserves under UK GAAP

   (106 )    199     1,021     (1,220 )   (106 )

Adjustments:

                               

Goodwill

   522      —       522     (522 )   522  

ESOP

   (35 )    (35 )   —       35     (35 )

Employee stock-based provision

   48      48     —       (48 )   48  

Derivative accounting

   11      (29 )   —       29     11  

Capitalized interest

   7      7     —       (7 )   7  

Deferred taxation

   (5 )    7     —       (7 )   (5 )

Fixed asset investments

   8      —       —       —       8  

Installation, set-top boxes and related equipment revenues

   (2 )    —       (2 )   2     (2 )
    

  

 

 

 

Shareholders’ funds under US GAAP

   448      197     1,541     (1,738 )   448  
    

  

 

 

 

 

See notes to supplemental guarantor information.

 

B-71


SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

 

For the year ended June 30, 2001(2)

 

(£ millions)

 

    

(3)

British Sky

Broadcasting

Group plc


   

(1)(3)

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Reclassifications

and

eliminations


   

BSkyB

Group and

Subsidiaries


 

Turnover

   —       2,314     535     (543 )   2,306  

Operating expenses, net

   —       (2,136 )   (626 )   549     (2,213 )
    

 

 

 

 

Operating profit (loss)

   —       178     (91 )   6     93  

Share of results of joint ventures

   —       (131 )   (323 )   198     (256 )

Share of losses of subsidiary undertakings

   (163 )   (39 )   —       202     —    

Joint ventures’ goodwill amortization

   —       —       (101 )   —       (101 )

Provision against investments

   —       —       (10 )   —       (10 )

Loss on sale of fixed asset investment

   —       —       (70 )   —       (70 )
    

 

 

 

 

(Loss) profit on ordinary activities before interest and taxation

   (163 )   8     (595 )   406     (344 )

Interest receivable and similar income

   82     16     120     (197 )   21  

Interest payable and similar charges

                              

— on external financing

   (124 )   (1 )   (28 )   —       (153 )

— intragroup interest

   (60 )   (90 )   (47 )   197     —    

Amounts written off investments

   (286 )   —       (1,126 )   1,373     (39 )
    

 

 

 

 

Loss on ordinary activities before taxation

   (551 )   (67 )   (1,676 )   1,779     (515 )

Taxation

   12     (34 )   (2 )   —       (24 )
    

 

 

 

 

Loss for the year

   (539 )   (101 )   (1,678 )   1,779     (539 )
    

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation to US GAAP:

                              

Net loss under UK GAAP

   (539 )   (101 )   (1,678 )   1,779     (539 )

Adjustments:

                              

Goodwill

   16     —       16     (16 )   16  

Transition provision

   (174 )   (174 )   —       174     (174 )

Employee stock-based compensation

   (15 )   (15 )   —       15     (15 )

Derivative accounting

   (22 )   (9 )   —       9     (22 )

Capitalized interest

   (1 )   (1 )   —       1     (1 )

Deferred taxation

   59     55     —       (55 )   59  

Amounts written off fixed asset investments

   (20 )   —       (1 )   1     (20 )

Share of joint venture’s loss on sale of investment

   69     —       69     (69 )   69  
    

 

 

 

 

Net loss before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

   (627 )   (245 )   (1,594 )   1,839     (627 )

Cumulative effect on prior years (to June 30, 2000) of implementation of SFAS 133

   2     —       —       —       2  
    

 

 

 

 

Net loss under US GAAP

   (625 )   (245 )   (1,594 )   1,839     (625 )
    

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to supplemental guarantor information.

 

B-72


SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

 

For the year ended June 30, 2002(2)

 

(£ millions)

 

    

(3)

British Sky

Broadcasting

Group plc


   

(1)(3)

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Reclassifications

and

eliminations


   

BSkyB

Group and

Subsidiaries


 

Turnover

   —       2,745     616     (585 )   2,776  

Operating expenses, net

   —       (2,538 )   (780 )   597     (2,721 )
    

 

 

 

 

Operating profit (loss)

   —       207     (164 )   12     55  

Share of results of joint ventures

   —       —       (76 )   —       (76 )

Share of (losses) profits of subsidiary undertakings

   (43 )   69     —       (26 )   —    

Joint ventures’ goodwill amortization

   —       —       (1,070 )   —       (1,070 )

Release of provision against investments

   —       —       10     —       10  

Profit on sale of fixed asset investment

   —       —       2     —       2  
    

 

 

 

 

(Loss) profit on ordinary activities before interest and taxation

   (43 )   276     (1,298 )   (14 )   (1,079 )

Interest receivable and similar income

   97     19     41     (146 )   11  

Interest payable and similar charges

                              

— on external financing

   (142 )   (1 )   (5 )   —       (148 )

— intragroup interest

   (26 )   (110 )   (10 )   146     —    

Amounts written off investments

   (1,206 )   —       —       1,146     (60 )
    

 

 

 

 

(Loss) profit on ordinary activities before taxation

   (1,320 )   184     (1,272 )   1,132     (1,276 )

Taxation

   (63 )   (30 )   (14 )   —       (107 )
    

 

 

 

 

(Loss) profit for the year

   (1,383 )   154     (1,286 )   1,132     (1,383 )
    

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation to US GAAP:

                              

Net (loss) profit under UK GAAP

   (1,383 )   154     (1,286 )   1,132     (1,383 )

Adjustments:

                              

Goodwill

   331     —       331     (331 )   331  

Transition provision

   (19 )   (19 )   —       19     (19 )

Employee stock-based compensation

   (14 )   (14 )   —       14     (14 )

Derivative accounting

   14     (16 )   —       16     14  

Provision for loss on disposal of subsidiary

   (10 )   —       (10 )   10     (10 )

Amounts written back to fixed asset investments

   20     —       1     (1 )   20  

Share of results of joint ventures

   14     —       14     (14 )   14  
    

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) profit under US GAAP

   (1,047 )   105     (950 )   845     (1,047 )
    

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to supplemental guarantor information.

 

B-73


SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

 

For the year ended June 30, 2003(2)

 

(£ millions)

 

    

(3)

British Sky

Broadcasting

Group plc


   

(1)(3)

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Reclassifications

and

eliminations


   

BSkyB

Group and

Subsidiaries


 

Turnover

   —       3,179     580     (573 )   3,186  

Operating expenses, net

   (5 )   (2,804 )   (698 )   575     (2,932 )
    

 

 

 

 

Operating (loss) profit

   (5 )   375     (118 )   2     254  

Share of results of joint ventures

   —       —       3     —       3  

Share of profits (losses) of subsidiary undertakings

   135     (21 )   —       (114 )   —    

Amounts written off fixed asset investments, net

   (18 )   (91 )   —       94     (15 )
    

 

 

 

 

Profit (loss) on ordinary activities before interest and taxation

   112     263     (115 )   (18 )   242  

Interest receivable and similar income

   73     130     7     (206 )   4  

Interest payable and similar charges

                              

— on external financing

   (117 )   (1 )   —       —       (118 )

— intragroup interest

       (75 )   (11 )   86     —    
    

 

 

 

 

Profit (loss) on ordinary activities before taxation

   68     317     (119 )   (138 )   128  

Taxation

   122     (58 )   (2 )   —       62  
    

 

 

 

 

Profit (loss) for the year

   190     259     (121 )   (138 )   190  

Dividends

   —       —       (116 )   116     —    
    

 

 

 

 

Transfer to (from) reserves

   190     259     (237 )   (22 )   190  
    

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation to US GAAP:

                              

Net profit (loss) under UK GAAP

   190     259     (121 )   (138 )   190  

Adjustments:

                              

Goodwill

   117     —       117     (117 )   117  

Employee stock-based compensation

   4     4     —       (4 )   4  

Derivative accounting

   17     (4 )   —       4     17  

Capitalized interest

   (1 )   (1 )   —       1     (1 )

Deferred taxation

   (36 )   (3 )   (20 )   23     (36 )

Amounts written off fixed asset investments

   (3 )   —       —       —       (3 )

Sky+ set-top boxes profit on sale

   (2 )   —       (2 )   2     (2 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net profit (loss) under US GAAP

   286     255     (26 )   (229 )   286  
    

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to supplemental guarantor information.

 

B-74


SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

 

For the year ended June 30, 2001(2)

 

(£ millions)

 

    

British Sky

Broadcasting

Group plc


   

(1)

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Reclassifications

and

eliminations


   

BSkyB

Group and

Subsidiaries


 

Operating activities

                              

Operating profit (loss)

   —       178     (91 )   6     93  

Depreciation charges

   —       59     12     —       71  

Amortization charges

   —       —       44     —       44  

Increase in stock

   —       (39 )   (4 )   —       (43 )

Decrease (increase) in debtors

   2     (43 )   18     —       (23 )

Increase (decrease) in creditors

   6     140     (82 )   —       64  

Deferred revenue released

   —       (4 )   —       —       (4 )

Movement on provisions

   —       (174 )   11     —       (163 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities

   8     117     (92 )   6     39  

Returns on investments and servicing of finance

                              

Interest received and similar income

   —       5     —       —       5  

Interest paid and similar charges

   (119 )   (2 )   —       —       (121 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash (outflow) inflow from returns on investments and servicing of finance

   (119 )   3     —       —       (116 )

Taxation

                              

Consortium relief paid

   —       (16 )   —       —       (16 )
    

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditure and financial investment

                              

Payments to acquire fixed assets

   —       (127 )   (6 )   —       (133 )

Payments to acquire fixed asset investments

   (25 )   (1 )   —       —       (26 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash outflow from capital expenditure and financial investment

   (25 )   (128 )   (6 )   —       (159 )

Acquisitions and disposals

                              

Purchase of subsidiary undertakings

   (27 )   —       —       —       (27 )

Net cash acquired with subsidiary undertakings

   —       —       12     —       12  

Funding to joint ventures

   —       —       (137 )   —       (137 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash outflow from acquisitions and disposals

   (27 )   —       (125 )   —       (152 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash outflow before management of liquid resources and financing

   (163 )   (24 )   (223 )   6     (404 )
    

 

 

 

 

Management of liquid resources

                              

Decrease in short term deposits

   —       85     —       —       85  

Financing

                              

Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares

   7     —       —       —       7  

Increase in total external debt

   358     —       —       —       358  

Loans (to) from group companies

   (198 )   (20 )   224     (6 )   —    

Payments made on the issue of ordinary shares

   (4 )   —       —       —       (4 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash inflow (outflow) from financing

   163     (20 )   224     (6 )   361  
    

 

 

 

 

Increase in cash

   —       41     1     —       42  
    

 

 

 

 

Increase in net debt

   (160 )   (25 )   (223 )   6     (402 )
    

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation to US GAAP

                              

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

   (111 )   104     (92 )   6     (93 )

Net cash used in investing activities

   (52 )   (128 )   (131 )   —       (311 )

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

   163     (34 )   224     (6 )   347  
    

 

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

   —       (58 )   1     —       (57 )

Cash and cash equivalents under US GAAP at the beginning of the year

   —       276     5     —       281  
    

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents under US GAAP at the end of the year

   —       218     6     —       224  
    

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to supplemental guarantor information.

 

B-75


SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

 

For the year ended June 30, 2002(2)

 

(£ millions)

 

    

British Sky

Broadcasting

Group plc


   

(1)

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Reclassifications

and

eliminations


   

BSkyB

Group and

Subsidiaries


 

Operating activities

                              

Operating profit (loss)

   —       207     (164 )   12     55  

Depreciation charges

   —       70     11     —       81  

Amortization charges

   —       —       118     —       118  

(Increase) decrease in stock

   —       (12 )   22     —       10  

Decrease in debtors

   —       88     13     —       101  

Decrease in creditors

   —       (39 )   (41 )   —       (80 )

Deferred revenue released

   —       (1 )   —       —       (1 )

Movement on provisions

   —       (26 )   (8 )   —       (34 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities

   —       287     (49 )   12     250  

Returns on investments and servicing of finance

                              

Interest received and similar income

   1     8     —       —       9  

Interest paid and similar charges

   (141 )   (1 )   —       —       (142 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash (outflow) inflow from returns on investments and servicing of finance

   (140 )   7     —       —       (133 )
    

 

 

 

 

Taxation

                              

Consortium relief received

   —       —       23     —       23  
    

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditure and financial investment

                              

Payments to acquire fixed assets

   —       (96 )   (5 )   —       (101 )

Receipt from sales of intangible assets

   —       —       1     —       1  

Purchase of own shares

   —       (27 )   —       —       (27 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash outflow from capital expenditure and financial investment

   —       (123 )   (4 )   —       (127 )

Acquisitions and disposals

                              

Funding to joint ventures

   —       —       (12 )   —       (12 )

Repayment of funding from joint ventures

   —       —       5     —       5  
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash outflow from acquisitions and disposals

   —       —       (7 )   —       (7 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash (outflow) inflow before management of liquid resources and financing

   (140 )   171     (37 )   12     6  
    

 

 

 

 

Management of liquid resources

                              

Decrease in short term deposits

   —       70     —       —       70  

Financing

                              

Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares

   14     —       —       —       14  

Decrease in total external debt

   (190 )   (2 )   —       —       (192 )

Loans from (to) group companies

   318     (345 )   39     (12 )   —    

Payments made on the issue of ordinary shares

   (2 )   —       —       —       (2 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash inflow (outflow) from financing

   140     (347 )   39     (12 )   (180 )
    

 

 

 

 

(Decrease) increase in cash

   —       (106 )   2     —       (104 )
    

 

 

 

 

(Increase) decrease in net debt

   (128 )   171     (37 )   12     18  
    

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation to US GAAP

                              

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

   (140 )   294     (26 )   12     140  

Net cash used in investing activities

   —       (123 )   (11 )   —       (134 )

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

   140     (347 )   39     (12 )   (180 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

   —       (176 )   2     —       (174 )

Cash and cash equivalents under US GAAP at the beginning of the year

   —       218     6     —       224  
    

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents under US GAAP at the end of the year

   —       42     8     —       50  
    

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to supplemental guarantor information.

 

B-76


SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

 

For the year ended June 30, 2003(2)

 

(£ millions)

 

    

British Sky

Broadcasting

Group plc


   

(1)

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Reclassifications

and

eliminations


   

BSkyB

Group and

Subsidiaries


 

Operating activities

                              

Operating (loss) profit

   (5 )   375     (118 )   2     254  

Depreciation charges

   —       93     5     —       98  

Amortization charges

   —       —       122     —       122  

Decrease in stock

   —       36     8     —       44  

Decrease in debtors

   —       60     28     —       88  

Increase (decrease) in creditors

   —       75     (15 )   —       60  

Profit on sale of fixed assets

   —       (1 )   —       —       (1 )

Movement on provisions

   —       —       (1 )   —       (1 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash (outflow) inflow from operating activities

   (5 )   638     29     2     664  

Dividends received from joint ventures

   —       —       4     —       4  
    

 

 

 

 

Returns on investments and servicing of finance

                              

Interest received and similar income

   —       3     —       —       3  

Interest paid and similar charges

   (127 )   (1 )   —       —       (128 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash (outflow) inflow from returns on investments and servicing of finance

   (127 )   2     —       —       (125 )
    

 

 

 

 

Taxation

                              

Corporation tax paid

   —       (18 )   —       —       (18 )
    

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditure and financial investment

                              

Payments to acquire tangible fixed assets

   —       (90 )   (9 )   —       (99 )

Receipts from sales of tangible fixed assets

   —       1     —       —       1  

Receipts from sales of fixed asset investments

   —       —       1     —       1  
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash outflow from capital expenditure and financial investment

   —       (89 )   (8 )   —       (97 )

Acquisitions and disposals

                              

Funding to joint ventures

   —       —       (15 )   —       (15 )

Repayment of funding from joint ventures

   —       —       5     —       5  
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash outflow from acquisitions and disposals

   —       —       (10 )   —       (10 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash (outflow) inflow before management of liquid resources and financing

   (132 )   533     15     2     418  
    

 

 

 

 

Management of liquid resources

                              

Decrease in short term deposits

   —       1     —       —       1  

Financing

                              

Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares

   5     —       —       —       5  

Decrease in total external debt

   (425 )   (2 )   —       —       (427 )

Loans from (to) group companies

   552     (533 )   (17 )   (2 )   —    
    

 

 

 

 

Net cash inflow (outflow) from financing

   132     (535 )   (17 )   (2 )   (422 )
    

 

 

 

 

Decrease in cash

   —       (1 )   (2 )   —       (3 )
    

 

 

 

 

(Increase) decrease in net debt

   (127 )   533     15     2     423  
    

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation to US GAAP

                              

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

   (132 )   622     33     2     525  

Net cash used in investing activities

   —       (89 )   (18 )   —       (107 )

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

   132     (535 )   (17 )   (2 )   (422 )
    

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

   —       (2 )   (2 )   —       (4 )

Cash and cash equivalents under US GAAP at the beginning of the year

   —       42     8     —       50  
    

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents under US GAAP at the end of the year

   —       40     6     —       46  
    

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to supplemental guarantor information.

 

B-77


Notes to Supplemental Guarantor Information

 

(1) The Guarantors are:

 

British Sky Broadcasting Limited

   Operates one of the leading pay TV broadcasting services in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Company’s principal activities consist of the operation and distribution of twenty-five wholly-owned television channels in digital including the following fifteen channels and their multiplex versions: Sky Premier, Sky MovieMax, Sky Cinema, Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports 3, Sky Sports Xtra, Sky One, Sky News, Sky Sports News, Sky Travel, Sky Travel Shop, Flaunt, Scuzz and The Amp. In addition, the Company currently markets to DTH viewers channels owned and broadcast by third parties.

Sky Subscribers Services Limited

   Provides support services (including conditional access and subscriber management) and acts as an agent for the DTH pay TV business of its parent undertaking, British Sky Broadcasting Limited. The Company also provides similar services to a fellow subsidiary undertaking and to third party broadcasters.

 

(2) Certain reclassifications were made to conform all of the financial information to the financial presentation of the Group. The principal elimination entries relate to investments in subsidiaries and intercompany balances.

 

(3) Investments in Group subsidiaries are accounted for by their parent company under the equity method of accounting for the purposes of the supplemental combining presentation only. Under the equity method, earnings of subsidiary undertakings are reflected in the parent company’s investment account and earnings.

 

Separate financial statements of the subsidiary guarantors are not included herein because the Company has determined that such financial statements are not material to investors.

 

31. Subsequent events

 

On July 22, 2003, the Group entered into a binding agreement for the sale of its 9.9% equity investment in Chelsea Village plc for consideration in cash of £5.9 million.

 

On August 8, 2003, it was announced that the Group had successfully bid for all four packages of exclusive live UK rights to FA Premier League football from the beginning of the 2004/05 season to the end of the 2006/07 season. The total cost of the new agreement for the four UK live packages is £1,024 million over three years. The Group has received a request for information from the European Commission concerning the bidding process in relation to these rights, among others, as described in note 26.

 

On October 6, 2003, the Group entered into a binding agreement for the sale of its 9.9% equity investment in Manchester United PLC for consideration in cash of £62.0 million.

 

B-78


SIGNATURES

 

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F/A and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this amendment to the annual report on its behalf.

 

    THE NEWS CORPORATION LIMITED

Date: December 8, 2003

       
   

By:

 

/s/ ARTHUR M. SISKIND


        Arthur M. Siskind
        Director