Fox 10-K 2022-06-30
Filed 2022-08-12. 18 sections, 486K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown · JSON
Cover and table of contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Mark One)
| x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022
or
| o | 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 001-38776
FOX CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| Delaware | 83-1825597 | |||||||
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 1211 Avenue of the Americas | ||||||||||||||
| New York, | New York | 10036 | ||||||||||||
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code) |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (212) 852-7000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Trading Symbols | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | ||||||
| Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | FOXA | The Nasdaq Global Select Market | ||||||
| Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | FOX | The Nasdaq Global Select Market |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
(Title of class)
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x
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 o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | x | Accelerated filer | o | |||||||||||
| Non-accelerated filer | o | Smaller reporting company | o | |||||||||||
| Emerging growth company | o |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of December 31, 2021, which was the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the registrant's Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, held by non-affiliates was approximately $11.5 billion, based upon the closing price of $36.90 per share as quoted on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on that date, and the aggregate market value of the registrant's Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, held by non-affiliates was approximately $4.9 billion, based upon the closing price of $34.27 per share as quoted on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on that date.
As of August 9, 2022, 306,477,328 shares of Class A Common Stock and 242,640,680 shares of Class B Common Stock were outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Certain information required for Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference to the Fox Corporation definitive Proxy Statement for its 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is intended to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, within 120 days of Fox Corporation's fiscal year end.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
Item 1. BUSINESS
Background
Fox Corporation is a news, sports and entertainment company, which manages and reports its businesses in the following segments:
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Cable Network Programming**, which produces and licenses news and sports content distributed through traditional cable television systems, direct broadcast satellite operators and telecommunication companies ("traditional MVPDs"), virtual multi-channel video programming distributors ("virtual MVPDs") and other digital platforms, primarily in the U.S.
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Television**, which produces, acquires, markets and distributes programming through the FOX broadcast network, advertising supported video-on-demand ("AVOD") service TUBI, 29 full power broadcast television stations, including 11 duopolies, and other digital platforms, primarily in the U.S. Eighteen of the broadcast television stations are affiliated with the FOX Network, 10 are affiliated with MyNetworkTV and one is an independent station.
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Other, Corporate and Eliminations**, which principally consists of the FOX Studio Lot, Credible Labs Inc. ("Credible"), corporate overhead costs and intracompany eliminations. The FOX Studio Lot, located in Los Angeles, California, provides television and film production services along with office space, studio operation services and includes all operations of the facility. Credible is a U.S. consumer finance marketplace.
Unless otherwise indicated, references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this "Annual Report") for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 ("fiscal 2022") to "FOX," the "Company," "we" or "us" mean Fox Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. We use the term "MVPDs" to refer collectively to traditional MVPDs and virtual MVPDs.
FOX became a standalone publicly traded company on March 19, 2019, when Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. ("21CF") spun off the Company to 21CF stockholders and FOX's Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (collectively, the "Common Stock") began trading on The Nasdaq Global Select Market (the "Transaction"). The Walt Disney Company ("Disney") acquired the remaining 21CF assets and 21CF became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Disney. The Company is party to a separation and distribution agreement and a tax matters agreement that govern certain aspects of the Company's relationship with 21CF and Disney following the Transaction. The core transition services agreements entered into in connection with the Transaction terminated in accordance with their terms in fiscal 2022.
The Company's fiscal year ends on June 30 of each year. The Company was incorporated in 2018 under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company's principal executive offices are located at 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036 and its telephone number is (212) 852-7000. The Company's website is www.foxcorporation.com. The Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), are available, free of charge, through the Company's website as soon as reasonably practicable after the material is electronically filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. We are providing our website address solely for the information of investors. We do not intend the address to be an active link or to otherwise incorporate the contents of the website, including any reports that are noted in this Annual Report as being posted on the website, into this Annual Report.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical or current fact are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of federal and state securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include, among others, the words "may," "will," "should," "likely," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "outlook" or any other similar words. Although
the Company's management believes that the expectations reflected in any of the Company's forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any forward-looking statements. The Company's future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and to inherent risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from those estimates or projections contained in the Company's forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, government regulation, economic, strategic, political and social conditions and the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19") and other widespread health emergencies or pandemics and measures to contain their spread. For more detailed information about these factors, see Item 1A, "Risk Factors," and Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements."
Forward-looking statements in this Annual Report speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or release any revisions to any forward-looking statement made herein or to report any events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in our expectations, except as required by law.
Business Overview
FOX produces and delivers compelling news, sports and entertainment content through its primary iconic brands, including FOX News Media, FOX Sports, FOX Entertainment and FOX Television Stations, and leading AVOD service TUBI. The Company, with a simple structure focused on two principal reporting segments, differentiates itself in a crowded media and entertainment marketplace through the leadership positions of the Company's brands and premium programming that focus on live and "appointment-based" content, a significant presence in major markets, and broad distribution of the Company's content across traditional and digital platforms.
Our Competitive Strengths
Premium brands that resonate deeply with viewers.
Under the FOX banner, we produce and distribute content through some of the world's leading and most valued brands. Our long track record of challenging the status quo emboldens us to continue making innovative decisions, disrupting competitors and forming deeper relationships with audiences. FOX News Media is among the most influential and recognized news brands in the world. FOX Sports has earned a reputation for bold sports programming and, with its far-reaching presence in virtually every U.S. household, is a leading destination for live sports events and sports commentary. FOX Entertainment is renowned for its engaging primetime entertainment, including dramas 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Lone Star and new arrival The Cleaning Lady, its longstanding Sunday animation block featuring The Simpsons, Family Guy and Bob's Burgers and unscripted programming such as The Masked Singer and programming starring Gordon Ramsay, including Hell's Kitchen, MasterChef and Next Level Chef. These brands and others in our portfolio, including our owned and operated local television stations broadcasting under the FOX brand, hold cultural significance with consumers and commercial importance for distributors and advertisers. TUBI, a leading AVOD service, attracts a young, diverse and loyal audience to its over
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Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
Prospective investors should consider carefully the risk factors set forth below before making an investment in the Company's securities.
Risks Related to Macroeconomic Conditions, Our Business and Our Industry
Changes in consumer behavior and evolving technologies and distribution platforms may adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
The ways in which consumers view content and technology and business models in our industry continue to rapidly evolve and new distribution platforms and increased competition from new entrants and emerging technologies have added to the complexity of maintaining predictable revenue streams. Technological advancements have driven changes in consumer behavior as consumers seek more control over when, where and how they consume content and have affected advertisers' options for reaching their target audiences. Consumer preferences have evolved towards SVOD and AVOD services and other direct-to-consumer offerings and there has been a substantial increase in the availability of content with reduced advertising or without advertising at all. As consumers switch to digital consumption of video content, there is still to be developed a consistent, broadly accepted measure of multiplatform audiences across the industry. In addition, consumers are increasingly using time-shifting and advertising-skipping technologies such as DVRs that enable them to fast-forward or circumvent advertisements. Substantial use of these technologies could impact the attractiveness of the Company's programming to advertisers and adversely affect our advertising revenues.
Changes in consumer behavior and technology have also had an adverse impact on MVPDs that deliver the Company's broadcast and cable networks to consumers. Consumers are increasingly turning to alternatives, including direct-to-consumer offerings, which has contributed to industry-wide declines in subscribers to MVPD services over the last several years. These declines are expected to continue and possibly accelerate in the future. If consumers increasingly favor alternative offerings over MVPD subscriptions, the Company may continue to experience a decline in viewership and ultimately demand for the programming on its networks, which could lead to lower affiliate fee and advertising revenues. Changing distribution models may also negatively impact the Company's ability to negotiate affiliation agreements on favorable terms, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Our affiliate fee and advertising revenues also may be adversely affected by consumers' use of antennas (and their integration with set-top boxes or other consumer devices) to access broadcast signals to avoid subscriptions.
To remain competitive in this evolving environment, the Company must effectively anticipate and adapt to new market changes. The Company continues to focus on expanding its digital distribution offerings and direct engagement with consumers, including through TUBI, FOX Nation, FOX Weather and other offerings. However, if the Company fails to protect and exploit the value of its content while responding to, and developing new technology and business models to take advantage of, technological developments and consumer preferences, it could have a significant adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
Declines in advertising expenditures could cause the Company's revenues and operating results to decline significantly in any given period or in specific markets.
The Company derives substantial revenues from the sale of advertising, and its ability to generate advertising revenues depends on a number of factors. The strength of the advertising market can fluctuate in response to the economic prospects of specific advertisers or industries, advertisers' spending priorities and the economy in general or the economy of an individual geographic market. In addition, pandemics, natural and other disasters, acts of terrorism, wars, and political uncertainties and hostilities can also lead to a reduction in advertising expenditures as a result of economic uncertainty, disrupted programming and services or reduced advertising spots due to pre-emptions. As described below, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused some of the Company's advertisers to reduce their spending in recent years, which has had a negative impact on the Company's advertising revenues.
Major sports events, such as the NFL's Super Bowl and the FIFA World Cup and the state, congressional and presidential election cycles also may cause the Company's advertising revenues to vary substantially from year to year. Political advertising expenditures are impacted by the ability and willingness of candidates and
political action campaigns to raise and spend funds on advertising and the competitive nature of the elections affecting viewers in markets featuring our programming.
Advertising expenditures may also be affected by changes in consumer behavior and evolving technologies and platforms. There is increasing competition for the leisure time of audiences and demand for the Company's programming as measured by ratings points is a key factor in determining the advertising rates as well as the affiliate rates the Company receives. In addition, as described above, newer technologies and platforms are increasing the number of media and entertainment choices available to audiences. Some of these technologies and platforms allow users to view programming from a remote location or on a time-delayed basis and provide users the ability to fast-forward, rewind, pause and skip programming and advertisements, which could negatively affect the attractiveness of the Company's offerings to advertisers. The pricing and volume of advertising may also be affected by shifts in spending toward digital and mobile offerings, which can deliver targeted advertising more promptly, from traditional media, or toward newer ways of purchasing advertising such as through automated purchasing, dynamic advertising insertion, third parties selling local advertising spots and advertising exchanges, some or all of which may not be as beneficial to the Company as traditional advertising methods. The Company also generates advertising revenues through its TUBI AVOD service. The market for AVOD advertising campaigns is relatively new and evolving and if this market develops slower or differently than we expect, it could adversely affect our advertising revenues. Declines in advertising revenues may also be caused by regulatory intervention or other third-party action that impacts where and when advertising may be placed.
Advertising sales also largely depend on audience measurement and could be negatively affected if measurement methodologies do not accurately reflect actual viewership levels. Although Nielsen's statistical sampling method is the primary measurement methodology used for our linear television advertising sales, we measure and monetize our digital platforms based on a combination of internal and third-party data, including demographic composite estimates. A consistent, broadly accepted measure of multiplatform audiences across the industry remains to be developed. Although we expect multiplatform measurement innovation and standards to benefit us as the video advertising market continues to evolve, we are still partially dependent on third parties to provide these solutions.
A decrease in advertising expenditures, reduced demand for the Company's programming or the inability to obtain market ratings that adequately measure demand for the Company's content on all platforms could lead to a reduction in pricing and advertising spending, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
**Because the Company derives a significant portion of its
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Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
FOX owns the FOX Studio Lot in Los Angeles, California. The historic lot is located on over 50 acres of land and has over 1.85 million square feet of space for both administration and production/post-production services available to service a wide array of industry clients, including 15 sound stages, two broadcast studios, theaters and screening rooms, editing rooms and other television and film production facilities. The FOX Studio Lot provides two primary revenue streams — the lease of a portion of the office space to 21CF and other third parties and the operation of studio facilities for third party productions, which until 2026 will predominantly be Disney productions.
In addition to the FOX Studio Lot in Los Angeles, California, FOX also owns and leases various real properties, primarily in the U.S., that are utilized in the conduct of its businesses. Each of these properties is considered to be in good condition, adequate for its purpose and suitably utilized according to the individual nature and requirements of the relevant operations. FOX's policy is to improve and replace property as considered appropriate to meet the needs of the individual operations.
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
See Note 14—Commitments and Contingencies to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of FOX under the heading "Contingencies" for a discussion of the Company's legal proceedings.
Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Fox Corporation's Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Class A Common Stock"), and Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Class B Common Stock" and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the "Common Stock"), are listed and traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbols "FOXA" and "FOX," respectively. As of June 30, 2022, there were approximately 16,700 holders of record of shares of Class A Common Stock and approximately 4,600 holders of record of shares of Class B Common Stock.
Below is a summary of the Company's repurchases of its Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock during fiscal 2022:
| Total number of shares purchased**(a)** | Average price paid per share**(b)** | Approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the program**(b)(c)** | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total first quarter fiscal 2022 | |||||||||||||||||
| Class A Common Stock | 4,740,533 | $ | 36.92 | ||||||||||||||
| Class B Common Stock | 2,195,707 | 34.16 | |||||||||||||||
| Total second quarter fiscal 2022 | |||||||||||||||||
| Class A Common Stock | 4,521,550 | 38.20 | |||||||||||||||
| Class B Common Stock | 2,097,244 | 35.52 | |||||||||||||||
| Total third quarter fiscal 2022 | |||||||||||||||||
| Class A Common Stock | 4,359,323 | 40.59 | |||||||||||||||
| Class B Common Stock | 1,984,188 | 37.29 | |||||||||||||||
| Total fourth quarter fiscal 2022 | |||||||||||||||||
| Class A Common Stock | 5,107,914 | 34.26 | |||||||||||||||
| Class B Common Stock | 2,421,822 | 31.73 | |||||||||||||||
| Total fiscal 2022 | |||||||||||||||||
| Class A Common Stock | 18,729,320 | 37.36 | |||||||||||||||
| Class B Common Stock | 8,698,961 | 34.52 | |||||||||||||||
| 27,428,281 | $ | 1,400 |
| (a) | The Company has not made any purchases of Common Stock other than in connection with the publicly announced stock repurchase program described below. | |||||||||||||
| (b) | These amounts exclude any fees, commissions or other costs associated with the share repurchases. | |||||||||||||
| (c) | The Company's Board of Directors has authorized a $4 billion stock repurchase program, under which the Company can repurchase Common Stock. The program has no time limit and may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time. | |||||||||||||
In total, the Company repurchased approximately 27 million shares of Common Stock for $1 billion during fiscal 2022.
Item 6. [RESERVED]
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Readers should carefully review this document and the other documents filed by Fox Corporation ("FOX" or the "Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). This section should be read
together with the consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated financial statements are referred to as the "Financial Statements" herein.
INTRODUCTION
The Distribution
On March 19, 2019, the Company became a standalone publicly traded company through the pro rata distribution by Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. ("21CF") of all of the issued and outstanding common stock of FOX to 21CF stockholders (other than holders that were subsidiaries of 21CF) (the "Distribution") in accordance with the Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 20, 2018, by and between 21CF and 21CF Distribution Merger Sub, Inc. Following the Distribution, the Company's Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Class A Common Stock"), and Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Class B Common Stock" and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the "Common Stock") began trading independently on The Nasdaq Global Select Market. In connection with the Distribution, the Company entered into the Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of March 19, 2019 (the "Separation Agreement"), with 21CF, which effected the internal restructuring (the "Separation") whereby The Walt Disney Company ("Disney") acquired the remaining 21CF assets and 21CF became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Disney. The Separation and the Distribution were effected as part of a series of transactions contemplated by the Amended and Restated Merger Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 20, 2018 (the "21CF Disney Merger Agreement"), by and among 21CF, Disney and certain subsidiaries of Disney.
Pursuant to the 21CF Disney Merger Agreement, immediately prior to the Distribution, the Company paid to 21CF a dividend in the amount of $8.5 billion (the "Dividend"). The final determination of the taxes in respect of the Separation and the Distribution for which the Company is responsible pursuant to the 21CF Disney Merger Agreement and a prepayment of the estimated taxes in respect of divestitures (collectively, the "Transaction Tax") was $6.5 billion. Following the Distribution, on March 20, 2019 the Company received a cash payment in the amount of $2.0 billion from Disney, which had the net effect of reducing the Dividend the Company paid to 21CF. The Transaction Tax included a prepayment of the Company's share of the estimated tax liabilities resulting from the anticipated divestitures by Disney of certain assets, principally the FOX Sports Regional Sports Networks ("RSNs"), which were sold by Disney during calendar year 2019 ("Divestiture Tax"). This prepayment was in the amount of approximately $700 million and is subject to adjustment in the future, when the actual amounts of all such tax liabilities are reported on the federal income tax returns of Disney or a subsidiary of Disney. Any such adjustment is not expected to have a material impact on the results of the Company. During the first quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company and Disney reached an agreement to settle the majority of the prepaid Divestiture Tax and the Company received $462 million from Disney as reimbursement of the Company's prepayment based upon the sales price of the RSNs. This reimbursement was recorded in Other, net in the Statement of Operations (See Note 20—Additional Financial Information to the accompanying Financial Statements under the heading "Other, net").
As a result of the Separation and the Distribution, which was a taxable transaction for which the estimated tax liability of $5.8 billion was included in the Transaction Tax paid by the Company, FOX obtained a tax basis in its assets equal to their respective fair market values. This resulted in estimated annual tax deductions of approximately $1.5 billion, principally over the next several years related to the amortization of the additional tax basis. This amortization is estimated to reduce the Company's annual cash tax liability by $370 million per year at the current combined federal and state applicable tax rate of approximately 25%. Such estimates are subject to revisions, which could be material, based upon the occurrence of future events.
In connection with the Separation, the Company entered into several agreements that govern certain aspects of the Company's relationship with 21CF and Disney following the Separation, including the Separation Agreement and a tax matters agreement. The core transition services agreements entered into in connection with the Separation terminated in accordance with their terms in fiscal 2022.
Basis of Presentation
The Company's financial statements are presented on a consolidated basis.
Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is intended to help provide an understanding of the Company's financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations. This discussion is organized as follows:
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Overview of the Company's Business**—This section provides a general description of the Company's businesses, as well as developments that occurred either during the fiscal year ended June 30, ("fiscal") 2022 or early fiscal 2023 that the Company believes are important in understanding its results of operations and financial condition or to disclose known trends.
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Results of Operations**—This section provides an analysis of the Company's results of operations for fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020. This analysis is presented on both a consolidated and a segment basis. In addition, a brief description is provided of significant transactions and events that impact the comparability of the results being analyzed.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources**—This section provides an analysis of the Company's cash flows for fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020, as well as a discussion of the Company's outstanding debt and commitments, both firm and contingent, that existed as of June 30, 2022. Included in the discussion of outstanding debt is a discussion of the amount of financial capacity available to fund the Company's future commitments and obligations, as well as a discussion of other financing arrangements.
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Critical Accounting Policies**—This section discusses accounting policies considered important to the Company's financial condition and results of operations, and which require significant judgment and estimates on the part of management in application. In addition, Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the accompanying Financial Statements summarizes the Company's significant accounting policies, including the critical accounting policy discussion found in this section.
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Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements**—This section provides a description of the use of forward-looking information appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Such information is based on management's current expectations about future events which are subject to change and to inherent risks and uncertainties. Refer to Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in this Annual Report for a discussion of the risk factors applicable to the Company.
OVERVIEW OF THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS
The Company is a news, sports and entertainment company, which manages and reports its businesses in the following segments:
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Cable Network Programming**, which produces and licenses news and sports content distributed through traditional cable television systems, direct broadcast satellite operators and telecommunication companies ("traditional MVPDs"), virtual multi-channel video programming distributors ("virtual MVPDs") and other digital platforms, primarily in the U.S.
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T
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Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company has exposure to two types of market risk: changes in interest rates and stock prices. The Company neither holds nor issues financial instruments for trading purposes.
The following sections provide quantitative and qualitative information on the Company's exposure to interest rate risk and stock price risk. The Company makes use of sensitivity analyses that are inherently limited in estimating actual losses in fair value that can occur from changes in market conditions.
Interest Rates
The Company's current financing arrangements and facilities include $7.25 billion of outstanding fixed-rate debt, before adjustments for unamortized discount and debt issuance costs (See Note 9—Borrowings to the accompanying Financial Statements).
Fixed and variable-rate debts are impacted differently by changes in interest rates. A change in the interest rate or yield of fixed-rate debt will only impact the fair market value of such debt, while a change in the interest rate of variable-rate debt will impact interest expense, as well as the amount of cash required to service
such debt. As of June 30, 2022, all the Company's financial instruments with exposure to interest rate risk were denominated in U.S. dollars and no variable-rate debt was outstanding. Information on financial instruments with exposure to interest rate risk is presented below:
| As of June 30, | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| Fair Value | |||||||||||
| Borrowings: liability | $ | 7,084 | $ | 9,474 | |||||||
| Sensitivity Analysis | |||||||||||
| Potential change in fair values resulting from a 10% adverse change in quoted interest rates | $ | (270) | $ | (173) |
Stock Prices
The Company has common stock investments in publicly traded companies that are subject to market price volatility. Information on the Company's investments with exposure to stock price risk is presented below:
| As of June 30, | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| Fair Value | |||||||||||
| Total fair value of common stock investments | $ | 435 | $ | 788 | |||||||
| Sensitivity Analysis | |||||||||||
| Potential change in fair values resulting from a 10% adverse change in quoted market prices | $ | (43) | $ | (79) |
Concentrations of Credit Risk
See Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the accompanying Financial Statements under the heading "Concentrations of credit risk."
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
FOX CORPORATION
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MANAGEMENT'S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management of Fox Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
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pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of Fox Corporation;
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provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America;
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provide reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures of Fox Corporation are being made only in accordance with authorization of management and directors of Fox Corporation; and
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provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Fox Corporation's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting, no matter how well designed, may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, the assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting was made as of a specific date. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management, including the Company's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of Fox Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2022, based on the framework set forth in "Internal Control — Integrated Framework" issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013. Based on this evaluation, management determined that, as of June 30, 2022, Fox Corporation maintained effective internal control over financial reporting.
Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm who audited and reported on the Consolidated Financial Statements of Fox Corporation included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, has audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Their report appears on the following page.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Fox Corporation:
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Fox Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Fox Corporation (the "Company") maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2022, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of Fox Corporation as of June 30, 2022 and 2021, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and equity for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2022, and the related notes and our report dated August 12, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessar
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Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
None.
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company's management, with the participation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report. Based on such evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act and were effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management's report and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon are set forth on pages 59 and 60, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the Company's fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.
Not applicable.
Item 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEMS 10, 11, 12, 13 AND 14. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE; EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION; SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS; CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE; PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
The information required by Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part III is incorporated by reference from the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with its 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to Regulation 14A.
PART IV
Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report:
1.The Company's Consolidated Financial Statements required to be filed as part of this Annual Report and the Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are included in Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
2.All other financial statement schedules are omitted because the required information is not applicable or because the information called for is included in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements or the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
3.The exhibits listed on the Exhibit Index below are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this Annual Report.
EXHIBIT INDEX
| ѱ | Certain schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit will be furnished supplementally to the SEC upon request. | ||||
| * | Filed herewith. | ||||
| + | This exhibit is a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. | ||||
| ** | Furnished herewith. |
The Registrant hereby agrees to furnish to the SEC at its request copies of long-term debt instruments defining the rights of holders of outstanding long-term debt that are not required to be filed herewith.
Item 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY.
Not applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| Fox Corporation (Registrant) | ||||||||
| By: | /S/ Steven Tomsic | |||||||
| Steven Tomsic Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
| Date: August 12, 2022 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
| Signature | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
| /S/ LACHLAN K. MURDOCH | Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | August 12, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Lachlan K. Murdoch | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ STEVEN TOMSIC | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | August 12, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Steven Tomsic | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ K. RUPERT MURDOCH | Chair | August 12, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| K. Rupert Murdoch | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ WILLIAM A. BURCK | Director | August 12, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| William A. Burck | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ CHASE CAREY | Director | August 12, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Chase Carey | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ ANNE DIAS | Director | August 12, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Anne Dias | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ ROLAND A. HERNANDEZ | Director | August 12, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Roland A. Hernandez | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ JACQUES NASSER | Director | August 12, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Jacques Nasser | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ PAUL D. RYAN | Director | August 12, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Paul D. Ryan |