~ Provides 2008 Outlook ~
~ Increases Quarterly Cash Dividend ~
National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCMI) (the Company), the managing
member and owner of 42.3% of National CineMedia, LLC (NCM LLC), the
operator of the largest digital in-theatre network in North America,
today announced consolidated results for the second fiscal quarter ended
June 26, 2008.
Total revenue for the second quarter 2008 grew 3.6% to $86.7 million
from $83.7 million for the comparable quarter last year. Advertising
revenue for the second quarter 2008 was $74.8 million, a decrease of
2.5% compared to $76.7 million for the comparable quarter last year.
Meetings and events revenue increased 70.0% to $11.9 million in the
second quarter of 2008 compared to $7.0 million for the comparable
quarter last year. National advertising inventory utilization for the
quarter was 66.2% versus 80.8% in the comparable period in 2007. Cost
per thousand (or CPM) advertising rates increased 12.5% in the quarter
versus the comparable period last year. Adjusted OIBDA declined 8.4% to
$42.8 million for the second quarter 2008 from $46.7 million for the
comparable quarter last year. Adjusted OIBDA as a percentage of total
revenue decreased from 55.8% in the second quarter of 2007 to 49.4% in
the current quarter. Net income for the second quarter 2008 was $4.3
million, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared to net income of $6.3
million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the comparable quarter last
year.
The Company completed its initial public offering (IPO) of stock and NCM
LLC completed its debt financing on February 13, 2007; therefore the
historical results prior to the IPO are not comparable to the post-IPO
results. The six months ended June 28, 2007 is divided into two periods,
pre-IPO from December 29, 2006 through February 12, 2007 for its
predecessor NCM LLC, and post-IPO from February 13, 2007 through June
28, 2007 for its consolidated results after the acquisition of its
interest in NCM LLC. CPMs and inventory utilization for 2007 have been
recalculated to conform to the current year presentation.
For the six months ended June 26, 2008, total revenue was $149.4 million
compared to $23.6 million for the pre-IPO period and $116.2 million of
revenue for the post-IPO period. Net income for the six months ended
June 26, 2008 was $3.9 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared to
a net loss of $4.2 million for the pre-IPO period and net income of $7.4
million for the post-IPO period last year.
The Company is also pleased to announce today that its Board of
Directors has authorized the Company’s second
quarter cash dividend of $0.16 per share of common stock, a one-cent, or
6.7% increase over previously declared quarterly dividends. The dividend
will be paid on September 4, 2008, to stockholders of record on August
21, 2008. The Company intends to pay a regular quarterly dividend for
the foreseeable future at the discretion of the Board of Directors
dependent on available cash, anticipated cash needs, overall financial
condition, future prospects for earnings and cash flows as well as other
relevant factors.
“While I am disappointed with our second
quarter results versus 2007, we are still on track with our long-term
business strategy as our original thesis about the migration of media
spending to new, more effective digital advertising platforms like ours
remains intact,” said Kurt Hall, National
CineMedia’s Chairman and CEO. “As
demonstrated by the growth implicit in our guidance for the second half
of 2008, our growth has not happened on a straight-line basis
quarter-to-quarter. Despite a slight decrease in our current quarter
OIBDA versus a very strong 2007, we made progress on our plan to expand
and improve the quality of our digital network and increase the future
spending commitments of existing clients and create relationships with
new clients. These are key building blocks of a successful future for
NCM as new digital mediums like cinema become an increasingly important
part of the media marketplace.”
Pro Forma Financial Information
In connection with the completion of the Company’s
IPO, the Company acquired an interest in NCM LLC and the Company and NCM
LLC entered into several new agreements. The Company and NCM LLC’s
founding members (AMC, Cinemark and Regal) entered into the amended LLC
operating agreement and NCM LLC entered into the restated exhibitor
services agreements, the Loews integration agreement with AMC and an
$805.0 million senior secured credit facility with a group of lenders,
of which $772.0 million was outstanding at June 26, 2008.
In order to facilitate additional comparative analysis between periods,
set forth below is pro forma financial information for the six months
ended June 28, 2007 that reflects the IPO and the related transactions
as if they had become effective on December 30, 2006.
Total revenue for the six months ended June 26, 2008 grew 2.4% to $149.4
million from total pro forma revenue of $145.9 million for the
comparable period last year. Advertising revenue decreased 3.1% to
$128.5 million for the first half of 2008 from pro forma advertising
revenue of $132.6 million for the comparable period last year. Adjusted
OIBDA decreased 12.3% to $63.5 million from pro forma Adjusted OIBDA of
$72.4 million for the first six months of 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Pro forma Adjusted OIBDA as a percentage of total pro forma revenue
decreased from 49.6% for the six months ended June 28, 2007 to 42.5% for
the six months ended June 26, 2008. Net income for the first half of
2008 decreased to $3.9 million compared to pro forma net income for the
first half of 2007 of $7.2 million. Earnings per diluted share decreased
to $0.09 per share for the first half of 2008 compared to pro forma
earnings per diluted share of $0.17 per share for the first half of 2007.
Outlook
The following is the Company’s outlook for
the third quarter of 2008 and full year 2008. This section contains
forward looking statements. Please see “Forward
Looking Statements” below.
For the third quarter of 2008, the Company expects total revenue to be
in the range of $103 million to $106 million and Adjusted OIBDA to be in
the range of $58 million to $60 million.
For the full year 2008, the Company expects total revenue to be in the
range of $360 million to $365 million and Adjusted OIBDA to be in the
range of $180 million to $185 million.
Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call and audio webcast with
investors, analysts and other interested parties today at 5:00 P.M.
Eastern time. The live call can be accessed by dialing (888) 599-8655 or
for international participants (913) 312-1456. Participants should
register at least 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the call.
Additionally, a live audio webcast will be available to interested
parties at www.ncm.com under the
Investor Relations section. Participants should allow at least 15
minutes prior to the commencement of the call to register, download and
install necessary audio software.
The replay of the conference call will be available until midnight
Eastern Time, August 20, 2008, by dialing (888) 203-1112 or for
international participants (719) 457-0820, and entering passcode 2959644.
OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA
Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization (OIBDA), Adjusted
OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA margin are not financial measures calculated in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the
United States. OIBDA represents operating income (loss) before
depreciation and amortization expense. Adjusted OIBDA excludes from
OIBDA non-cash severance plan costs, share based payment costs and
deferred stock compensation. Adjusted OIBDA margin is calculated by
dividing Adjusted OIBDA by total revenue. These non-GAAP financial
measures are used by management to evaluate operating performance and to
forecast future results. The Company believes these are important
supplemental measures of operating performance because they eliminate
items that have less bearing on its operating performance and so
highlight trends in its core business that may not otherwise be apparent
when relying solely on GAAP financial measures. The Company believes the
presentation of these measures is relevant and useful for investors
because it enables them to view performance in a manner similar to the
method used by the Company’s management,
helps improve their ability to understand the Company’s
operating performance and makes it easier to compare the Company’s
results with other companies that may have different depreciation and
amortization policies, non-cash share based compensation programs, net
interest or tax rates. A limitation of these measures, however, is that
they exclude depreciation and amortization, which represent the periodic
costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in
generating revenues in the Company’s
business. In addition, Adjusted OIBDA has the limitation of not
reflecting the effect of the Company’s
non-cash severance plan costs, share based payment costs and deferred
stock compensation. OIBDA or Adjusted OIBDA should not be regarded as an
alternative to operating income, net income or as indicators of
operating performance, nor should they be considered in isolation of, or
as substitutes for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.
The Company believes that operating income is the most directly
comparable GAAP financial measure to OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA. Because
not all companies use identical calculations, these presentations may
not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.
OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA do not reflect the AMC Loews integration
payments as those amounts were recorded directly to equity. AMC made
Loews payments to NCM LLC pursuant to the Loews screen integration
agreement, which were $3.2 million, $4.0 million, $2.8 million and $3.6
million for the quarter ended June 26, 2008, the six months ended June
26, 2008, the quarter ended June 28, 2007 and the 2007 post-IPO period,
respectively. The AMC Loews payment for the six months ended June 28,
2007 on a pro forma basis was $4.1 million. In addition, the payments
made by Regal associated with Consolidated Theatres payments, which were
$0.5 million for the quarter and six months ended June 26, 2008, were
recorded to the intangible asset.
Pro Forma Non-GAAP Information
The unaudited pro forma financial information for the six months ended
June 28, 2007 is included for informational purposes only and does not
purport to reflect the Company’s and NCM LLC’s
results of operations that would have occurred had they operated as a
separate, independent company during the periods presented. The
historical results of NCM LLC have been affected by related party
transactions as discussed more fully in the Company’s
public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The pro
forma financial information should not be relied upon as being
indicative of the Company’s and NCM LLC’s
results of operations had the IPO and other transactions contemplated in
connection with the IPO been completed on the dates assumed. The pro
forma financial information also does not project the results of
operations for any future periods. The pro forma information is included
because the Company believes it provides the most meaningful basis for
comparison between periods.
About National CineMedia, Inc.
NCM LLC operates the largest digital in-theatre network in North America
through long-term agreements with its founding members, AMC
Entertainment Inc., Cinemark USA Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal
Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC), the three largest theatre operators in
the U.S., and through multi-year agreements with several other theatre
operators. NCM LLC produces and distributes its FirstLook pre
feature program; cinema and lobby advertising products; comprehensive
meeting and event services and other entertainment programming content.
NCM LLC’s national network includes over
17,000 screens of which approximately 14,700 are part of the Company’s
Digital Content Network (DCN). NCM LLC’s
network covers 176 Designated Market Areas®
(49 of the top 50). During 2007, approximately 685 million patrons
attended movies shown in theatres currently included in our network
(excluding Consolidated Theatres and Star Theatres). National CineMedia,
Inc. (NASDAQ: NCMI) owns a 42.3% interest in and is the managing member
of NCM LLC. To learn more about National CineMedia Inc., please visit
the Company’s website at www.ncm.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains various forward-looking statements that
reflect management’s current expectations or
beliefs regarding future events, including statements regarding guidance
and the dividend policy. Investors are cautioned that reliance on
these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Although
the Company believes that the assumptions used in the forward looking
statements are reasonable, any of these assumptions could prove to be
inaccurate and, as a result, actual results could differ materially from
those expressed or implied in the forward looking statements. The
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements are, among
others, 1) the level of expenditures on cinema advertising; 2) increased
competition for advertising expenditures; 3) technological changes and
innovations; 4) popularity of major motion picture releases and level of
theatre attendance; 5) shifts in population and other demographics that
affect theatre attendance; 6) our ability to renew or replace expiring
advertising and content contracts; 7) our need for additional funding,
risks and uncertainties relating to our significant indebtedness; 8)
fluctuations in operating costs; 9) changes in interest rates, and 10)
changes in accounting principles. In addition, the outlook provided does
not include the impact of any future unusual or infrequent transactions;
unidentified restructuring charges; sales and acquisitions of operating
assets and investments; any future noncash impairments of goodwill,
intangible and fixed assets; amounts related to securities litigation;
or the related impact of taxes that may occur from time to time due to
management decisions and changing business circumstances. The Company is
currently unable to forecast precisely the timing and/or magnitude of
any such amounts or events. Please refer to the Company's Securities and
Exchange Commission filings for further information about these and
other risks.
|
NATIONAL CINEMEDIA, INC.
Statement of Operations
Unaudited
($ in millions, except per share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter Ended
June 26, 2008
|
|
Quarter Ended
June 28, 2007
|
|
REVENUE:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advertising (including revenue from founding members of $10.6 and
$11.8, respectively)
|
|
$
|
74.8
|
|
$
|
76.7
|
|
Meetings and events
|
|
|
11.9
|
|
|
7.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
86.7
|
|
|
83.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXPENSES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advertising operating costs
|
|
|
3.8
|
|
|
2.2
|
|
Meetings and events operating costs
|
|
|
7.3
|
|
|
3.9
|
|
Network costs
|
|
|
3.9
|
|
|
3.7
|
|
Theatre access fees—founding members
|
|
|
12.1
|
|
|
12.0
|
|
Selling and marketing costs
|
|
|
11.9
|
|
|
10.3
|
|
Administrative and other costs
|
|
|
5.7
|
|
|
5.8
|
|
Severance plan costs
|
|
|
0.1
|
|
|
0.5
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
2.8
|
|
|
1.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
47.6
|
|
|
39.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
|
|
|
39.1
|
|
|
44.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest Expense, Net
|
|
|
15.1
|
|
|
16.4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY INTEREST
|
|
|
24.0
|
|
|
27.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision for Income Taxes
|
|
|
10.5
|
|
|
11.3
|
|
Minority Interest, Net
|
|
|
9.2
|
|
|
10.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INCOME (LOSS)
|
|
$
|
4.3
|
|
$
|
6.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EARNINGS PER SHARE:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
NATIONAL CINEMEDIA, INC.
Statement of Operations
Unaudited
($ in millions, except per share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six Months Ended
June 26, 2008
|
|
Period
February 13,
2007 through
June 28, 2007
|
|
Period December
29, 2006 through
February 12, 2007
|
|
REVENUE:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advertising (including revenue from founding members of $20.8,
$17.3, and $0.0, respectively)
|
|
$
|
128.5
|
|
$
|
105.8
|
|
$
|
20.6
|
|
|
Administrative fees—founding members
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
0.1
|
|
|
Meetings and events
|
|
|
20.9
|
|
|
10.3
|
|
|
2.9
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
0.1
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
149.4
|
|
|
116.2
|
|
|
23.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXPENSES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advertising operating costs
|
|
|
6.5
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
|
1.1
|
|
|
Meetings and events operating costs
|
|
|
13.6
|
|
|
5.7
|
|
|
1.4
|
|
|
Network costs
|
|
|
8.0
|
|
|
5.6
|
|
|
1.7
|
|
|
Theatre access fees/circuit share costs—founding
members
|
|
|
23.6
|
|
|
17.5
|
|
|
14.4
|
|
|
Selling and marketing costs
|
|
|
23.5
|
|
|
15.4
|
|
|
5.2
|
|
|
Administrative and other costs
|
|
|
12.4
|
|
|
8.7
|
|
|
2.8
|
|
|
Severance plan costs
|
|
|
0.3
|
|
|
1.0
|
|
|
0.4
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
4.7
|
|
|
1.8
|
|
|
0.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
92.6
|
|
|
58.9
|
|
|
27.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
|
|
|
56.8
|
|
|
57.3
|
|
|
(4.1
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest Expense, Net
|
|
|
31.1
|
|
|
24.5
|
|
|
0.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY INTEREST
|
|
|
25.7
|
|
|
32.8
|
|
|
(4.2
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision for Income Taxes
|
|
|
11.2
|
|
|
13.2
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Minority Interest, Net
|
|
|
10.6
|
|
|
12.2
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INCOME (LOSS)
|
|
$
|
3.9
|
|
$
|
7.4
|
|
$
|
(4.2
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EARNINGS PER SHARE:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
0.09
|
|
$
|
0.17
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
0.09
|
|
$
|
0.17
|
|
|
|
NATIONAL CINEMEDIA, INC.
Selected Balance Sheet Data
Unaudited ($ in millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 26, 2008
|
|
December 27, 2007
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
|
|
$
|
18.1
|
|
|
$
|
29.9
|
|
|
Receivables, net
|
|
|
73.2
|
|
|
|
93.2
|
|
|
Property and equipment, net
|
|
|
27.0
|
|
|
|
22.2
|
|
|
Total Assets
|
|
|
540.1
|
|
|
|
463.6
|
|
|
Borrowings
|
|
|
772.0
|
|
|
|
784.0
|
|
|
Stockholders’ equity/(deficit)
|
|
|
(474.8
|
)
|
|
|
(572.4
|
)
|
|
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
|
|
|
540.1
|
|
|
|
463.6
|
|
|
NATIONAL CINEMEDIA, INC. (Historical)
Operating Data
Unaudited
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter and
Six Months
|
|
Quarter and
Six Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 26, 2008
|
|
June 28, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Screens at Period End (1) (6)
|
|
|
17,049
|
|
|
14,137
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Founding Member Screens at Period End (2) (6)
|
|
|
14,278
|
|
|
13,131
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Digital Screens at Period End (3)
|
|
|
14,696
|
|
|
12,339
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter
|
|
Quarter
|
|
Six Months
|
|
Six Months
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
June 26, 2008
|
|
June 28, 2007
|
|
June 26, 2008
|
|
June 28, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Attendance for Period (4) (6)
(in millions)
|
|
|
155.2
|
|
|
145.3
|
|
|
298.9
|
|
|
282.4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Founding Member Attendance for Period (5) (6)
(in millions)
|
|
|
134.0
|
|
|
137.7
|
|
|
262.0
|
|
|
268.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital Expenditures (in millions)
|
|
$
|
3.7
|
|
$
|
2.2
|
|
$
|
9.0
|
|
$
|
3.9
|
|
|
|
|
(1) Represents the sum of founding member screens and network
affiliate screens.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) Represents the sum of founding member screens.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3) Represents the total number of screens which are connected to
the digital content network.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4) Represents the total attendance within NCM LLC's advertising
network in theatres operated by the founding members and network
affiliates.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5) Represents the total attendance within NCM LLC's advertising
network in theatres operated by the founding members.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6) Excludes AMC Loews attendance and screens for 2007 and through
May 2008 and Star Theatres (a subsidiary of AMC Loews) and
Consolidated Theatres attendance and screens for 2007 and 2008.
|
|
NATIONAL CINEMEDIA, INC.
Operating Data
Unaudited
(in millions, except advertising revenue per attendee and per
share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Historical
|
|
Historical
|
|
Historical
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
Quarter
|
|
Quarter
|
|
Six Months
|
|
Six Months
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
June 26, 2008
|
|
June 28, 2007
|
|
June 26, 2008
|
|
June 28, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advertising Revenue
|
|
$
|
74.8
|
|
|
$
|
76.7
|
|
|
$
|
128.5
|
|
|
$
|
132.6
|
|
|
Total Revenue
|
|
|
86.7
|
|
|
|
83.7
|
|
|
|
149.4
|
|
|
|
145.9
|
|
|
Operating Income
|
|
|
39.1
|
|
|
|
44.0
|
|
|
|
56.8
|
|
|
|
66.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Attendance (1)
|
|
|
155.2
|
|
|
|
145.3
|
|
|
|
298.9
|
|
|
|
282.4
|
|
|
Advertising Revenue / Attendee
|
|
$
|
0.48
|
|
|
$
|
0.53
|
|
|
$
|
0.43
|
|
|
$
|
0.47
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OIBDA
|
|
$
|
41.9
|
|
|
$
|
45.3
|
|
|
$
|
61.5
|
|
|
$
|
69.4
|
|
|
Adjusted OIBDA
|
|
|
42.8
|
|
|
|
46.7
|
|
|
|
63.5
|
|
|
|
72.4
|
|
|
Adjusted OIBDA Margin
|
|
|
49.4
|
%
|
|
|
55.8
|
%
|
|
|
42.5
|
%
|
|
|
49.6
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings Per Share – Basic
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
|
$
|
0.09
|
|
|
$
|
0.17
|
|
|
Earnings Per Share – Diluted
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
|
$
|
0.09
|
|
|
$
|
0.17
|
|
|
|
|
(1) Represents the total attendance within NCM LLC's advertising
network in theatres operated by the founding members and network
affiliates. Excludes AMC Loews attendance and screens for 2007 and
through May 2008 and Star Theatres and Consolidated Theatres
attendance and screens for 2007 and 2008.
|
|
|
Pre-IPO
period
December 29,
2006 through
February 12, 2007 Historical
|
|
Post-IPO
period
February 13,
2007 through
June 28, 2007
Historical
|
|
|
Contractual Adjust-ments
|
|
|