UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 3, 2007
ACTIVISION, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware |
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001-15839 |
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95-4803544 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
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(Commission File Number) |
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(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
3100 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA |
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90405 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (310) 255-2000
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Conditions.
On May 3, 2007, Activision, Inc. (the Company) issued a press release announcing preliminary net revenue for its fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 and its net revenue outlook for future periods. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. The Company plans to host a conference call shortly after it has filed its restated financial statements on which it will disclose additional financial results of operations for its fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 and additional information on outlook for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008.
The Company is continuing to work toward the final completion of its review of historical stock option grants and the restatement of past financial statements. At present, the Company expects to record additional non-cash charges for stock-based compensation expenses in prior periods totaling approximately $67 million before taxes from stock options granted over a thirteen fiscal year period from 1994 - 2006. The Company hopes to be in a position to file its restated financial statements and become current with its period filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the end of May 2007.
The Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council (the Listing Council) has granted a request by the Company for additional time to regain compliance with Nasdaq listing requirements, beyond the May 9, 2007 deadline granted by a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel. As a consequence of this action, the Nasdaq Hearing Review Council will review the Nasdaq Listing Qualification Panels February 8, 2007 decision. Under the schedule established by the Listing Council, the Company has until May 23, 2007 to provide an updated qualifications sheet and until June 1, 2007 to submit any additional information that it wishes the Listing Council to consider in its review, but otherwise no dates have been set for the Listing Council to complete its review or render a decision. The Company currently expects to complete the restatement of its financial statements, make all required filings, and regain compliance with Nasdaq listing requirements before the completion of the Listing Councils review; however, there can be no assurance of this and there can be no assurance that the listing of the Companys stock on the Nasdaq will be maintained.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
99.1 Press Release dated May 3, 2007 (furnished in part and filed in part)
Certain Information Not Filed. The information in this Form 8-K and the Exhibit attached hereto pertaining to the Companys results of operations or financial condition or otherwise provided in response to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this Form 8-K that involves the Companys expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future are
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forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. In this report they are identified by references to dates after the date of this report and words such as will, will be, remains, to be, plans, believes, may, expects, intends, and similar expressions. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, a change in the amount of additional stock-based compensation expenses and other additional expenses to be recorded in connection with affected option grants, and any corresponding adjustments to our financial statements; further action by the Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council relating to the continuation of the listing of the Companys common stock on the Nasdaq market; the completion of remaining work in follow-up to the findings of the special sub-committee of independent directors established by the board of directors of the Company in July 2006 to review the Companys historical stock option granting practices; the completion of work by Company management and the Companys auditors on the restatement of the Companys financial statements in response to the special sub-committees findings; the completion and filing of overdue reports and amendments to previously filed reports with the SEC; the implementation, acceptance and effectiveness of the remedial measures recommended or adopted by the sub-committee, the board and the Company; the outcome of the informal inquiry opened by the SEC in July 2006 and the derivative litigation filed in July 2006 against certain current and former directors and officers of the Company relating to the Companys stock option granting practices, and the possibility that additional claims and proceedings will be commenced, including additional stockholder litigation, employee litigation, and additional action by the SEC and/or other regulatory agencies. Other factors that could cause the Companys actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, without limitation, other litigation (unrelated to stock option granting practices), sales of the Companys titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, the Companys ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware platforms (including next-generation hardware), declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of the Companys products, adoption rate of new hardware and related software, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers, international economic and political conditions, integration of recently acquired subsidiaries and identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities, and the risks identified in the Companys most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q and recent reports on Form 8-K.
The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this Form 8-K, and the Company assumes no obligations to update any such forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: May 3, 2007 |
ACTIVISION, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Thomas Tippl |
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Thomas Tippl |
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Chief Financial Officer of Activision Publishing, Inc. |
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(Principal Financial Officer of |
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Exhibit No. |
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Description |
99.1 |
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Press Release dated May 3, 2007 (furnished in part and filed in part) |
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Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
For Information Contact: |
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Maryanne Lataif |
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Vice President, Corporate Communications |
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Activision, Inc. |
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(310) 255-2704 |
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mlataif@activision.com |
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Kristin Southey |
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Vice President, Investor Relations |
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Activision, Inc. |
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(310) 255-2635 |
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ksouthey@activision.com |
ACTIVISION ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY RECORD FISCAL 2007
NET REVENUES AND PROVIDES UPDATE ON OPTION REVIEW
Santa Monica, CA May 3, 2007 Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced record preliminary net revenues for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2007. The companys net revenues should be considered preliminary until Activision files its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the second and third fiscal 2007 quarters and annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2007.
For the fiscal year, Activision expects to report record net revenues of $1.51 billion, as compared to net revenues of $1.47 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006 and the companys outlook of $1.40 billion. These results mark 15 consecutive years of revenue growth for Activision and were driven by better-than-expected consumer response to the companys titles and the strength of the software market overall.
Robert Kotick, Chairman and CEO, commented, Fiscal 2007 net revenues are expected to be the highest in Activisions history. Our results were driven by our proven properties Call of Duty® 3, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and Tony Hawks Project 8; our successful integration of the RedOctane business and expansion of the Guitar Hero franchise globally; our early leadership position on the next-gen consoles; and the strength of our distribution business. We ended fiscal 2007 as the #2 U.S. third-party publisher, grew our market share in the U.S. and had two of the top 10 best selling U.S. titles, according to The NPD Group.
For the fiscal fourth quarter, the company expects to report record net revenues of $313 million, as compared to $188 million for the fourth quarter of last fiscal year and the companys prior outlook of $200 million. The companys fiscal fourth quarter
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revenues were fueled by Guitar Hero II and Call of Duty 3, as well as better-than-expected performance of the companys distribution business due to the European launch of the PLAYSTATION® 3.
As of today, Activision is not in a position to provide preliminary GAAP earnings per share as it has not yet determined the companys fiscal 2007 tax rate, which will be impacted by expenses related to review of its stock option grant practices. As previously announced, the company believes that its fiscal fourth quarter results will be significantly impacted by higher legal expenses and professional fees relating primarily to its internal review of historical stock option practices, including the special sub-committee review, Nasdaq proceedings, informal SEC inquiry and derivative litigation.
Update Regarding Review of Stock Option Grant Practices
Separately, Activision announced that it expects to record additional non-cash charges for stock-based compensation expenses in prior periods totaling approximately $67 million before taxes from stock options granted over a 13 fiscal year period from 1994 - 2006. The company hopes to complete its review of historical stock option grants and be in a position to file its restated financial statements and become current with its period filings with the SEC by the end of May 2007. The company has been granted additional time, beyond the May 9 deadline previously reported, to regain compliance with Nasdaq listing requirements.
Company Outlook
Additionally, Activision reaffirmed its fiscal year 2008 net revenue outlook which is expected to exceed $1.6 billion. The company expects to provide more detailed guidance on fiscal year 2008, as well as additional financial results of operations for its fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 on a conference call which the company plans to host shortly after filing its restated financial statements and becoming current with its period filings with the SEC.
About Activision
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $1.47 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006.
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Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia, Scandinavia, Spain, the Netherlands and South Korea. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the companys World Wide Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activisions expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. In this release they are identified by references to dates after the date of this release and words such as will, will be, remains, to be, plans, believes, may, expects, intends, and similar expressions. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, a change in the amount of additional stock-based compensation expenses and other additional expenses to be recorded in connection with affected option grants, and any corresponding adjustments to our financial statements; further action by the Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council relating to the continuation of the listing of Activisions common stock on the Nasdaq market; the completion of remaining work in follow-up to the findings of the special sub-committee of independent directors established by the board of directors of the Activision in July 2006 to review the Activisions historical stock option granting practices; the completion of work by Activision management and Activisions auditors on the restatement of Activisions financial statements in response to the special sub-committees findings; the completion and filing of overdue reports and amendments to previously filed reports with the SEC; the implementation, acceptance and effectiveness of the remedial measures recommended or adopted by the sub-committee, the board and the Activision; the outcome of the informal inquiry opened by the SEC in July 2006 and the derivative litigation filed in July 2006 against certain current and former directors and officers of the Activision relating to the Activisions stock option granting practices, and the possibility that additional claims and proceedings will be commenced, including additional stockholder litigation, employee litigation, and additional action by the SEC and/or other regulatory agencies. Other factors that could cause the Activisions actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, without limitation, other litigation (unrelated to stock option granting practices), sales of the Activisions titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, the Activisions ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware platforms (including next-generation hardware), declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of the Activisions products, adoption rate of new hardware and related software, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers, international economic and political conditions, integration of recently acquired subsidiaries and identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities, and the risks identified in the Activisions most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q and recent reports on Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to the Activision as of the date of this release, and the Activision assumes no obligations to update any such forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations.
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