FORM 6-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 6-K

 


 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of August 2004 (August 11, 2004)

 

Commission File Number: 1-9141

 


 

THE NEWS CORPORATION LIMITED

(Name of Registrant)

 


 

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

(Address of principal executive offices)

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

 

Form 20-F      X            Form 40-F              

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):

 

Yes                      No       X    

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):

 

Yes                      No       X    

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

 

Yes                      No       X    

 

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): Not Applicable

 

This Report is incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained in Registration Statement Nos. 33-43799, 33-71446, 33-86358, 33-89584, 333-4962, 333-6324, 333-6896, 333-7466, 333-10338, 333-10624, 333-12878, 333-8246, 333-13556, 333-106837, 333-112405, 333-112428 and 333-51434 filed by the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933.

 



Annexed hereto are excerpts from the announcements by The News Corporation Limited (“News Corporation”) of its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 in Australian and U.S. dollars.

 

Such announcements were filed with the Australian Stock Exchange and released in New York on August 11, 2004.


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

    THE NEWS CORPORATION LIMITED

Date: August 11, 2004

  By:  

/s/ Arthur M. Siskind


       

Arthur M. Siskind

       

Director


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit


  

Page No. in Sequential
Numbering System


A.     Excerpt from the announcement made by News Corporation of its financial results in Australian dollars for the quarter ended June 30, 2004.

   5

B.     Excerpt from the announcement made by News Corporation of its financial results in U.S. dollars for the quarter ended June 30, 2004.

   9


EXHIBIT A

 

EARNINGS RELEASE FOR THE QUARTER AND FISCAL YEAR ENDED

30 JUNE, 2004 IN AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS

 

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 1

 

     Note   

3 Months Ended

30 June,


   

12 Months Ended

30 June,


 
          2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 
          A$ Millions (except per share amounts)  

Sales revenue

   1    $ 7,697     $ 7,130     $ 29,428     $ 29,913  

Operating expenses

          (6,656 )     (6,248 )     (25,126 )     (25,561 )
         


 


 


 


Operating income

   1      1,041       882       4,302       4,352  

Net profit (loss) from associated entities

          116       338       322       (89 )

Borrowing costs

          (220 )     (231 )     (845 )     (1,000 )

Interest income

          70       60       215       209  
         


 


 


 


Net borrowing costs

          (150 )     (171 )     (630 )     (791 )

Exchangeable securities expense

          (33 )     (27 )     (113 )     (94 )

Other items before income tax, net

          (13 )     (277 )     (26 )     (378 )
         


 


 


 


Profit from ordinary activities before income tax

          961       745       3,855       3,000  
         


 


 


 


Income tax expense on:

                                     

Ordinary activities before other items

          (318 )     (202 )     (1,246 )     (989 )

Other items

          (3 )     155       (1 )     215  
         


 


 


 


Net income tax expense

          (321 )     (47 )     (1,247 )     (774 )
         


 


 


 


Net profit from ordinary activities after tax

          640       698       2,608       2,226  

Net profit attributable to outside equity interests

          (85 )     (86 )     (296 )     (418 )
         


 


 


 


Net Profit Attributable to Members of the Parent Entity

        $ 555     $ 612     $ 2,312     $ 1,808  
         


 


 


 


Net exchange gains (losses) recognised directly in equity

          2,016       (2,331 )     (389 )     (4,064 )

Other items recognised directly in equity

          —         —         —         152  
         


 


 


 


Total change in equity other than those resulting from transactions with owners as owners

        $ 2,571     $ (1,719 )   $ 1,923     $ (2,104 )
         


 


 


 


Diluted earnings per share on net profit attributable to members of the parent entity

                                     

Ordinary shares

        $ 0.083     $ 0.104     $ 0.364     $ 0.305  

Preferred limited voting ordinary shares

        $ 0.099     $ 0.124     $ 0.437     $ 0.366  

Ordinary and preferred limited voting ordinary shares

        $ 0.093     $ 0.116     $ 0.411     $ 0.342  

a Following the issuance in June 2002 of the revised Australian Accounting Standard AASB 1018 “Statement of Financial Performance” this statement has been reformatted from previous presentations to be consistent with the format prescribed in the revised Australian Accounting Standard.


STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

 

     30 June,
2004


   30 June,
2003


     A$ Millions

ASSETS

             

Current Assets

             

Cash

   $ 5,805    $ 6,746

Cash on deposit

     412      —  

Receivables

     6,039      5,701

Inventories

     2,193      1,931

Other

     563      483
    

  

Total Current Assets

     15,012      14,861
    

  

Non-Current Assets

             

Cash on deposit

     —        698

Receivables

     1,076      1,219

Investments in associated entities

     14,971      5,526

Other investments

     811      1,195

Inventories

     3,824      4,103

Property, plant and equipment

     5,565      6,299

Publishing rights, titles and television licenses

     31,185      32,724

Goodwill

     318      377

Other

     976      745
    

  

Total Non-Current Assets

     58,726      52,886
    

  

Total Assets

   $ 73,738    $ 67,747
    

  

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

             

Current Liabilities

             

Interest bearing liabilities

   $ 1,553    $ 33

Payables

     7,847      8,298

Tax liabilities

     705      714

Provisions

     332      258
    

  

Total Current Liabilities

     10,437      9,303
    

  

Non-Current Liabilities

             

Interest bearing liabilities

     10,917      12,396

Payables

     2,846      3,545

Tax liabilities

     974      666

Provisions

     982      1,032
    

  

Total Non-Current Liabilities Excluding Exchangeable Securities

     15,719      17,639
    

  

Exchangeable securities

     2,055      2,084
    

  

Total Liabilities

     28,211      29,026

Shareholders’ Equity

             

Contributed equity

     34,424      28,427

Reserves

     2,771      2,760

Retained profits

     2,682      1,137
    

  

Shareholders’ equity attributable to members of the parent entity

     39,877      32,324

Outside equity interests in controlled entities

     5,650      6,397
    

  

Total Shareholders’ Equity

     45,527      38,721
    

  

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 73,738    $ 67,747
    

  


STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

     12 Months Ended 30 June,

 
     2004

    2003

 
     A$ Millions  

Operating Activity

                

Net profit attributable to members of the parent entity

   $ 2,312     $ 1,808  

Adjustment for non-cash and non-operating activities:

                

Equity earnings, net

     (367 )     159  

Distributions from investees

     187       35  

Outside equity interest

     314       421  

Depreciation and amortisation

     844       776  

Other items, net

     54       90  

Change in assets and liabilities:

                

Receivables

     (480 )     (559 )

Inventories

     (459 )     (206 )

Payables

     465       (657 )

Other liabilities

     562       616  
    


 


Cash provided by operating activity

     3,432       2,483  

Investing and other activity

                

Property, plant and equipment

     (517 )     (551 )

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     (289 )     (644 )

Investments in associated entities

     (4,639 )     (794 )

Other investments

     (130 )     (145 )

Repayment of loans by associate

     —         170  

Proceeds from sale of non-current assets and business disposals

     1,245       167  
    


 


Cash used in investing activity

     (4,330 )     (1,797 )

Financing activity

                

Issuance of debt

     785       3,172  

Repayment of debt and exchangeable securities

     (1,351 )     (3,673 )

Increase (decrease) in cash on deposit

     232       (698 )

Issuance of shares

     834       1,927  

Dividends paid

     (289 )     (272 )
    


 


Cash provided by financing activity

     211       456  
    


 


Net (decrease) increase in cash

     (687 )     1,142  

Opening cash balance

     6,746       6,337  

Exchange movement on opening balance

     (254 )     (733 )
    


 


Closing cash balance

   $ 5,805     $ 6,746  
    


 



Note 1 – SEGMENT DATA

 

     3 Months Ended
30 June,


   

12 Months Ended

30 June,


 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 
     A$ Millions     A$ Millions  

BY GEOGRAPHIC AREAS

                                

Revenues

                                

United States

   $ 5,213     $ 5,128     $ 20,252     $ 22,689  

Europe

     1,808       1,374       6,559       4,713  

Australasia

     676       628       2,617       2,511  
    


 


 


 


     $ 7,697     $ 7,130     $ 29,428     $ 29,913  
    


 


 


 


Operating Income

                                

United States

   $ 822     $ 725     $ 3,630     $ 3,538  

Europe

     108       66       230       492  

Australasia

     111       91       442       322  
    


 


 


 


     $ 1,041     $ 882     $ 4,302     $ 4,352  
    


 


 


 


BY INDUSTRY SEGMENT

                                

Revenues

                                

Filmed Entertainment

   $ 1,921     $ 1,707     $ 7,283     $ 7,689  

Television

     1,783       1,807       7,059       8,162  

Cable Network Programming

     979       1,059       3,563       3,891  

Direct Broadcast Satellite Television*

     680       340       2,338       340  

Magazines and Inserts

     349       393       1,375       1,583  

Newspapers

     1,274       1,157       4,808       4,659  

Book Publishing

     371       365       1,791       1,992  

Other

     340       302       1,211       1,597  
    


 


 


 


     $ 7,697     $ 7,130     $ 29,428     $ 29,913  
    


 


 


 


Operating Income

                                

Filmed Entertainment

   $ 125     $ 116     $ 1,244     $ 1,099  

Television

     491       468       1,344       1,459  

Cable Network Programming

     215       145       867       736  

Direct Broadcast Satellite Television*

     (26 )     (104 )     (376 )     (104 )

Magazines and Inserts

     92       110       381       438  

Newspapers

     200       201       831       686  

Book Publishing

     7       (1 )     221       227  

Other

     (63 )     (53 )     (210 )     (189 )
    


 


 


 


     $ 1,041     $ 882     $ 4,302     $ 4,352  
    


 


 


 



* SKY Italia results consolidated as of 1 May, 2003.


EXHIBIT B

 

EARNINGS RELEASE FOR THE QUARTER AND FISCAL YEAR ENDED

JUNE 30, 2004 IN U.S. DOLLARS PREPARED FOR THE U.S. MARKET. AUSTRALIAN READERS

SHOULD REFER TO THE AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR EARNINGS RELEASE

 

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 2

 

     Note    3 Months Ended
June 30,


    12 Months Ended June
30,


 
          2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 
          US $ Millions (except per ADR amounts)  

Sales revenue

   1    $ 5,521     $ 4,592     $ 20,959     $ 17,474  

Operating expenses

          (4,774 )     (4,022 )     (17,895 )     (14,942 )
         


 


 


 


Operating income

   1      747       570       3,064       2,532  

Net profit (loss) from associated entities

          83       190       229       (52 )

Borrowing costs

          (158 )     (149 )     (602 )     (583 )

Interest income

          50       38       153       122  
         


 


 


 


Net borrowing costs

          (108 )     (111 )     (449 )     (461 )

Exchangeable securities expense

          (23 )     (17 )     (80 )     (55 )

Other items before income tax, net

          (9 )     (165 )     (18 )     (222 )
         


 


 


 


Profit from ordinary activities before income tax

          690       467       2,746       1,742  
         


 


 


 


Income tax expense on:

                                     

Ordinary activities before other items

          (228 )     (132 )     (887 )     (577 )

Other items

          (2 )     91       (1 )     125  
         


 


 


 


Net income tax expense

          (230 )     (41 )     (888 )     (452 )
         


 


 


 


Net profit from ordinary activities after tax

          460       426       1,858       1,290  

Net profit attributable to outside equity interests

          (61 )     (56 )     (211 )     (244 )
         


 


 


 


Net Profit Attributable to Members of the Parent Entity

        $ 399     $ 370     $ 1,647     $ 1,046  
         


 


 


 


Net exchange gains recognized directly in equity

          118       749       800       1,001  

Other items recognized directly in equity

          —         —         —         86  
         


 


 


 


Total change in equity other than those resulting from transactions with owners as owners

        $ 517     $ 1,119     $ 2,447     $ 2,133  
         


 


 


 


Diluted earnings per ADR on net profit attributable to members of the parent entity

                                     

Ordinary ADRs

        $ 0.24     $ 0.25     $ 1.04     $ 0.71  

Preferred limited voting ordinary ADRs

        $ 0.28     $ 0.30     $ 1.24     $ 0.85  

Ordinary and preferred limited voting ordinary ADRs

        $ 0.27     $ 0.28     $ 1.17     $ 0.79  

a Following the issuance in June 2002 of the revised Australian Accounting Standard AASB 1018 “Statement of Financial Performance” this statement has been reformatted from previous presentations to be consistent with the format prescribed in the revised Australian Accounting Standard.


STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

 

     June 30,
2004


   June 30,
2003


     US $ Millions

ASSETS

             

Current Assets

             

Cash

   $ 4,051    $ 4,477

Cash on deposit

     287      —  

Receivables

     4,214      3,784

Inventories

     1,530      1,282

Other

     393      321
    

  

Total Current Assets

     10,475      9,864
    

  

Non-Current Assets

             

Cash on deposit

     —        463

Receivables

     751      809

Investments in associated entities

     10,447      3,667

Other investments

     566      793

Inventories

     2,669      2,723

Property, plant and equipment

     3,883      4,180

Publishing rights, titles and television licenses

     21,761      21,719

Goodwill

     222      250

Other

     681      495
    

  

Total Non-Current Assets

     40,980      35,099
    

  

Total Assets

   $ 51,455    $ 44,963
    

  

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

             

Current Liabilities

             

Interest bearing liabilities

   $ 1,084    $ 22

Payables

     5,476      5,507

Tax liabilities

     492      474

Provisions

     232      171
    

  

Total Current Liabilities

     7,284      6,174
    

  

Non-Current Liabilities

             

Interest bearing liabilities

     7,618      8,227

Payables

     1,986      2,353

Tax liabilities

     680      442

Provisions

     685      685
    

  

Total Non-Current Liabilities Excluding Exchangeable Securities

     10,969      11,707
    

  

Exchangeable securities

     1,433      1,383
    

  

Total Liabilities

     19,686      19,264

Shareholders’ Equity

             

Contributed equity

     21,447      17,262

Reserves

     2,773      1,685

Retained profits

     3,606      2,506
    

  

Shareholders’ equity attributable to members of the parent entity

     27,826      21,453

Outside equity interests in controlled entities

     3,943      4,246
    

  

Total Shareholders’ Equity

     31,769      25,699
    

  

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 51,455    $ 44,963
    

  


STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

     12 Months Ended June 30,

 
     2004

    2003

 
     US $ Millions  

Operating Activity

                

Net profit attributable to members of the parent entity

   $ 1,647     $ 1,046  

Adjustment for non-cash and non-operating activities:

                

Equity earnings, net

     (261 )     93  

Distributions from investees

     133       20  

Outside equity interest

     224       246  

Depreciation and amortization

     601       453  

Other items, net

     38       54  

Change in assets and liabilities:

                

Receivables

     (335 )     (371 )

Inventories

     (320 )     (137 )

Payables

     276       (180 )

Other liabilities

     392       409  
    


 


Cash provided by operating activity

     2,395       1,633  

Investing and other activity

                

Property, plant and equipment

     (361 )     (366 )

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     (202 )     (427 )

Investments and acquisitions of interests in associated entities

     (3,237 )     (527 )

Other investments

     (91 )     (96 )

Repayment of loans by associate

     —         96  

Proceeds from sale of non-current assets and business disposals

     869       111  
    


 


Cash used in investing activity

     (3,022 )     (1,209 )

Financing activity

                

Issuance of debt

     548       2,105  

Repayment of debt and exchangeable securities

     (943 )     (2,438 )

Increase (decrease) in cash on deposit

     162       (463 )

Issuance of shares

     580       1,279  

Dividends paid

     (202 )     (181 )
    


 


Cash provided by financing activity

     145       302  
    


 


Net (decrease) increase in cash

     (482 )     726  

Opening cash balance

     4,477       3,574  

Exchange movement on opening balance

     56       177  
    


 


Closing cash balance

   $ 4,051     $ 4,477  
    


 



Note 1 – SEGMENT DATA

 

     3 Months Ended
June 30,


    12 Months Ended
June 30,


 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 
     US $ Millions     US $ Millions  

BY GEOGRAPHIC AREAS

                                

Revenues

                                

United States

   $ 3,740     $ 3,308     $ 14,424     $ 13,237  

Europe

     1,296       884       4,671       2,772  

Australasia

     485       400       1,864       1,465  
    


 


 


 


     $ 5,521     $ 4,592     $ 20,959     $ 17,474  
    


 


 


 


Operating Income

                                

United States

   $ 590     $ 474     $ 2,585     $ 2,064  

Europe

     77       39       164       280  

Australasia

     80       57       315       188  
    


 


 


 


     $ 747     $ 570     $ 3,064     $ 2,532  
    


 


 


 


BY INDUSTRY SEGMENT

                                

Revenues

                                

Filmed Entertainment

   $ 1,378     $ 1,103     $ 5,187     $ 4,486  

Television

     1,279       1,170       5,027       4,763  

Cable Network Programming

     702       669       2,538       2,270  

Direct Broadcast Satellite Television*

     488       220       1,665       220  

Magazines and Inserts

     250       250       979       923  

Newspapers

     914       738       3,425       2,718  

Book Publishing

     267       242       1,276       1,162  

Other

     243       200       862       932  
    


 


 


 


     $ 5,521     $ 4,592     $ 20,959     $ 17,474  
    


 


 


 


Operating Income

                                

Filmed Entertainment

   $ 91     $ 85     $ 886     $ 641  

Television

     351       291       957       851  

Cable Network Programming

     154       96       617       430  

Direct Broadcast Satellite Television*

     (19 )     (68 )     (267 )     (68 )

Magazines and Inserts

     66       70       271       256  

Newspapers

     144       126       592       400  

Book Publishing

     6       4       158       133  

Other

     (46 )     (34 )     (150 )     (111 )
    


 


 


 


     $ 747     $ 570     $ 3,064     $ 2,532  
    


 


 


 



* SKY Italia results consolidated as of May 1, 2003