Form 8-K DreamWorks Animation For: Jan 19

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 8-K

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CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section�13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January�19, 2015

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DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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Delaware	�	001-32337	�	68-0589190
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	�	(Commission File Number)	�	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

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1000 Flower Street, Glendale, California			�	91201
(Address of principal executive offices)			�	(Zip Code)

Registrant�s telephone number, including area code: (818)�695-5000

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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))

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ITEM�2.02

Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

See the discussion below under Items 2.05 and 8.01.

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ITEM�2.05

Cost Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.

On January�22, 2015, DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (the �Company�) announced restructuring initiatives (the �2015 Restructuring Plan�) involving the Company�s core feature animation business. In connection with the 2015 Restructuring Plan, the Company has also made changes in its senior leadership team and its feature film slate. The Company anticipates that the 2015 Restructuring Plan will result in a reduction of approximately 500 positions at the Company. The Company expects that the 2015 Restructuring Plan and related activities will result in pre-tax charges totaling approximately $290 million, of which approximately 75% is expected to be incurred in 2014, approximately 20% in 2015, and the balance in 2016. This amount includes charges of approximately $60 million primarily related to severance, benefits, relocation and other obligations with respect to its employees. The remaining pre-tax charge of approximately $230 million includes approximately $30 million of accelerated depreciation expense and other costs related to the closure of the Company�s Northern California studio, and approximately $200 million related to write-offs of capitalized production costs for unreleased projects and excess staffing and other costs related to changes in the release slate. The Company is still in the process of completing its year-end financial statement close process, and, as a result, these amounts may change.

The actions associated with the 2015 Restructuring Plan are expected to be substantially completed by the end of 2015. The Company expects that the plan will result in total cash payments of approximately $110 million, primarily related to severance, benefits, relocation and other employee-related obligations. The Company currently anticipates that the plan will result in annualized pre-tax cost savings of approximately $30 million in 2015, growing to approximately $60 million in 2017. A copy of the Company�s press release dated January�22, 2015 announcing the 2015 Restructuring Plan is provided as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

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ITEM�2.06

Material Impairments.

See the discussion above under the Item�2.05.

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ITEM�5.02

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

In connection with the 2015 Restructuring Plan, the Company also announced that Lewis Coleman, the Company�s Vice Chairman, and Mark Zoradi, the Company�s Chief Operating Officer, would be leaving the Company.�The Company currently anticipates that Mr.�Zoradi will leave the Company during the quarter ending�March 31, 2015�and Mr.�Coleman will retire from the Company on or about�January 30, 2015.�On January�19, 2015, Mr.�Coleman resigned from the Company�s Board of Directors effective immediately.

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ITEM�8.01

Other Events.

The Company is in the process of completing its financial close for the quarter ended December�31, 2014 and preparing its audited financial statements for calendar year 2014. The Company currently expects that it will release its results for the quarter ended December�31, 2014 on February�24, 2015. The Company anticipates that, in addition to the charges discussed above, in the quarter ended December�31, 2014, it will also record film impairment charges of approximately $55 million primarily related to The Penguins of Madagascar and Mr.�Peabody and Sherman, other write-downs in the aggregate amount of approximately $25 million related to, among other things, certain of the Company�s capitalized costs and other investments and a non-cash expense in the range of $80 million to $100 million comprised of a valuation allowance for its deferred tax assets (partially reduced by the estimated effect of a decrease in payable to former stockholder). The Company is still in the process of finalizing its year-end financial statement close process, and, as a result, these amounts may change. The Company may also record additional charges as a result of its customary close process of reviewing asset balances for recoverability.

In connection with the 2015 Restructuring Plan, the Company also announced that Dawn Taubin, who is primarily responsible for the Company�s marketing activities, will leave the Company during the quarter ending March�31, 2015.

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ITEM�9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

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(d)

Exhibits:

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Exhibit�No.	��	Description
99.1	��	Press release dated January�22, 2015

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SIGNATURES

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

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�	�	DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.
Date: January�22, 2015	�	By:	�	/s/ Fazal Merchant
	�		�	Fazal Merchant
	�		�	Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 99.1

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DREAMWORKS ANIMATION IMPLEMENTS NEW STRATEGIC PLAN

TO RESTRUCTURE FEATURE FILM BUSINESS

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Glendale, CA � Jan 22, 2015 � DreamWorks Animation is implementing a new strategic plan to restructure its core feature animation business to ensure the consistent and profitable delivery of the high quality films that audiences have come to expect from the studio. Following a full review of the business, the company will focus its feature production from three films per year down to two, maximize its creative talent and resources, reduce costs, and drive profitability.

Under the leadership of newly appointed Co-Presidents of Feature Animation Bonnie Arnold and Mireille Soria, the studio�s core feature animation production will now focus on six specific movies for the next three years - one original film and one sequel each year - including Kung Fu Panda 3 (March 18, 2016), Trolls (Nov. 4, 2016), Boss Baby (Jan. 13, 2017), The Croods 2 (Dec. 22, 2017), Larrikins (Feb. 16, 2018) and How to Train Your Dragon 3 (June 29, 2018). Captain Underpants, which will be produced outside of the studio�s pipeline at a significantly lower cost, is scheduled for release in 2017. The company�s 2015 release, Home, will premiere domestically on March 27.

�The number one priority for DreamWorks Animation�s core film business is to deliver consistent creative and financial success,� said DreamWorks Animation Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Katzenberg. �I am confident that this strategic plan will deliver great films, better box office results, and growing profitability across our complementary businesses.�

The overall reduction of DreamWorks Animation�s feature production output will result in a loss of approximately 500 jobs across all locations and all divisions of the studio. DreamWorks expects to incur a pre-tax charge of approximately $290 million in connection with the restructuring and related items. These costs are expected to be incurred primarily in the quarter ended December 31, 2014, with the remainder in 2015 and 2016. The plan will result in total cash payments of approximately $110 million incurred primarily in 2015. The restructuring plan is expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2015 and expected to result in annualized pre-tax cost savings of approximately $30 million in 2015, growing to roughly $60 million by 2017.

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Conference Call Information

DreamWorks Animation will host a conference call to discuss today�s announcement at 1:45 p.m. (PT) / 4:45 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015. The call will be available via live webcast at www.dreamworksanimation.com. To join the conference call by phone, please dial (800) 230-1766 in the U.S. and (612) 332-0430 internationally and identify �DreamWorks Animation Restructures Core Feature Film Business� to the operator. A replay of the conference call will be available shortly after the call ends on Thursday, January 22, 2015. To access the replay, dial (800) 475-6701 in the U.S. and (320) 365-3844 internationally and enter 351097 as the conference ID number. Both the press release and archived webcast will be available on the Company�s website at www.dreamworksanimation.com.

About DreamWorks Animation

DreamWorks Animation (Nasdaq: DWA) creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series and live entertainment properties, meant for audiences around the world. The company has world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced filmmaking technology and techniques. DreamWorks Animation has been named one of the �100 Best Companies to Work For� by FORTUNE^� Magazine for five consecutive years. In 2013, DreamWorks Animation ranked #12 on the list. All of DreamWorks Animation�s feature films are produced in 3D. The Company has theatrically released a total of 30 animated feature films, including the franchise properties of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, Puss In Boots, and The Croods.

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Contact:

Chip Sullivan

DreamWorks Animation Public Relations

(818) 695-4455

[email protected]

Additional Information

The Company is concurrently filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission describing the restructuring, as well as certain other charges that the Company expects to record during the quarter ended December 31, 2014. A copy of this Form 8-K filing is available on the Company�s website at www.dreamworksanimation.com.

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Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company�s plans and expectations regarding its recently announced restructuring plan as well as its beliefs and expectations concerning performance of our current and future releases and anticipated talent, directors and storyline for our upcoming films and other projects, constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry in which we operate and management�s beliefs and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of the business of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. These risks and uncertainties include: the timing and success of implementation of the restructuring plan, audience acceptance of our films, our dependence on the success of a limited number of releases each year, the increasing cost of producing and marketing feature films, piracy of motion pictures, the effect of rapid technological change or alternative forms of entertainment and our need to protect our proprietary technology and enhance or develop new technology. In addition, due to the uncertainties and risks involved in the development and production of animated feature projects, the release dates for the projects described in this document may be delayed. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. DreamWorks Animation is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

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