National CineMedia, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal Third Quarter 2021

National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCMI) (the Company), the managing member and owner of 48.3% of National CineMedia, LLC (NCM LLC), the operator of the largest cinema advertising network reaching movie audiences in the U.S., announced today consolidated results for the fiscal third quarter ended September 30, 2021.

COVID-19 Pandemic

Beginning in 2021, the FDA approved multiple COVID-19 vaccines, which have been widely administered throughout the United States. As a result, during the second quarter of 2021, government restrictions lessened allowing theaters in key larger markets to fully reopen and by the third quarter of 2021 all of the theaters within the Company’s network were open. Multiple successful major motion pictures were released during the second and third quarters of 2021 resulting in the highest theater attendance since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The movie slate for the remainder of 2021 and into 2022 remains packed due to the addition of the major motion pictures originally scheduled for 2020.

Despite the increase in network attendance, in-theater advertising revenue for the third quarter of 2021 remained significantly below historical levels. Given these lower revenue levels and future market uncertainties, the Company continued to manage its liquidity position through various cost-control measures. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company has significantly reduced payroll related costs through a combination of temporary furloughs, permanent layoffs and salary reductions. In total, the Company’s headcount has been reduced by almost 35% as compared to headcount levels prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NCM LLC’s cash balance as of September 30, 2021 was $64.4 million. Including the $46.9 million at NCM, Inc, the Company had $111.3 million of cash, cash equivalents and investments as of September 30, 2021. Much of NCM LLC's non-employee related operating cost structure is variable based on the level of advertising revenue and theater attendance. Costs such as theater access fees, network affiliate payments and Platinum Spot revenue share payments were not incurred during periods when the theaters were closed and were reduced for the period of time that attendance and theatrical release schedules were less than historical levels. Following the reopening of all of the theaters within our network and the increase in attendance in the third quarter of 2021, these costs increased towards historical levels.

While the COVID-19 pandemic makes it challenging for management to estimate the future performance of our business, particularly over the near to medium term, the Company began to ramp up its business during the second and third quarters of 2021 and expects to continue to increase advertising revenues in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Q3 2021 Results

Total revenue for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021 increased 428.3% to $31.7 million as compared to $6.0 million for the comparable quarter last year. Operating loss improved to $18.7 million for the third quarter of 2021 from $21.3 million for the third quarter of 2020. Adjusted OIBDA improved to negative $8.2 million for the third quarter of 2021 from negative $11.2 million for the third quarter of 2020. Net loss for the third quarter of 2021 was $15.2 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $12.7 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2020. As adjusted to exclude the impairment of long-lived assets and executive transition costs, net loss per share for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021 and net loss per share for the third quarter ended September 24, 2020 would have remained the same. Adjusted OIBDA, adjusted net loss and adjusted loss per share are non-GAAP measures. See the tables at the end of this release for the reconciliations to the closest GAAP basis measurements.

Total revenue for the first nine months ended September 30, 2021 decreased 31.6% to $51.1 million from $74.7 million for the comparable period last year. Operating loss increased 90.5% to $76.6 million for the first nine months of 2021 from $40.2 million for the first nine months of 2020. Adjusted OIBDA decreased to negative $43.1 million for the first nine months of 2021 from negative $9.5 million for the first nine months of 2020. Net loss for the first nine months of 2021 was $57.3 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, compared to $30.2 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2020. As adjusted to exclude the impairment of long-lived assets and executive transition costs, net loss per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 would have remained the same and net loss for the nine months ended September 24, 2020 would have decreased to $0.38 per diluted share. Adjusted OIBDA, adjusted net loss and adjusted loss per share are non-GAAP measures. See the tables at the end of this release for the reconciliations to the closest GAAP basis measurements.

Dividend

The Company announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized the Company’s quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share of common stock. The dividend will be paid on December 7, 2021 to stockholders of record on November 22, 2021. The Company intends to pay a regular quarterly dividend for the foreseeable future at the discretion of the Board of Directors consistent with the Company’s intention to distribute substantially all its free cash flow to stockholders through its quarterly dividend. The declaration, payment, timing and amount of any future dividends payable will be at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors who will consider general economic and advertising market business conditions, the Company’s financial condition, available cash, current and anticipated cash needs, and any other factors that the Board of Directors considers relevant which includes short-term and long-term impacts to the Company related to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions under the NCM LLC Credit Agreement.

From the CEO

Commenting on the Company’s third quarter 2021 operating results and future outlook, NCM CEO Tom Lesinski said, “Advertisers are beginning to come back to the cinema as fall attendance levels were well in excess of original aggregate projections. Beginning with a strong Labor Day weekend performance, which exceeded the 2019 level, the box office continued to pick up through October, resulting in one of the best Octobers ever. For the first time since the pandemic started there has been consistent and meaningful week-to-week theater attendance. These favorable market trends are once again attracting major brands that value our young, engaged movie audience and are finding it more and more challenging to achieve their marketing goals on TV networks as their audiences continue to age and decline. This recent strong momentum puts us back on track to reestablish the growth that we had created before the pandemic started.”

2021 Outlook

Due to the continued uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic over the near term and the impact of changes in consumer behavior on attendance following the reopening of the theaters, the Company is not providing revenue and Adjusted OIBDA guidance for the fiscal year ending December 30, 2021. The Company anticipates reviewing this guidance policy when it has more visibility into theater attendance trends and the level of commitments received in the national scatter market and as a result of our participation in the television upfront selling process. While the Company's third quarter advertising revenue lagged the cinema recovery, the Company began to significantly reduce its cash burn rate and with stronger fourth quarter national bookings and a recovering local and regional business, the fourth quarter is shaping-up to be a turning point for the Company as it expects to achieve positive quarterly Adjusted OIBDA for the first time since the pandemic started. The Company is also well-positioned going into 2022 given the progress of the Company's digital and audience diversification strategies and expects upfront national bookings of approximately 75% of 2019 levels including commitments from several existing and many new clients.

Supplemental Information

Integration and other encumbered theater payments due from AMC associated primarily with Carmike Theaters for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 and September 24, 2020 and the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and September 24, 2020, were $0.2 million, $0.0 million, $0.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively. Integration theater payments decreased from the nine months ended September 24, 2020 to the nine months ended September 30, 2021 because the Company generated negative Adjusted OIBDA during this period. These payments were recorded as a reduction of an intangible asset on the Balance Sheet and are not included in operating results or Adjusted OIBDA.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call and audio webcast with investors, analysts and other interested parties November 8, 2021 at 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time. The live call can be accessed by dialing 1-844-835-9946 or for international participants 1-412-542-4113. 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, November 22, 2021, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 or for international participants 1-412-317-6671, and entering conference ID 10161567.

About National CineMedia, Inc.

National CineMedia (NCM) is America’s Movie Network. As the largest cinema advertising network in the U.S., we unite brands with the power of movies and engage movie fans anytime and anywhere. NCM’s Noovie® pre-show is presented exclusively in 50 leading national and regional theater circuits including AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE:AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (a subsidiary of Cineworld Group PLC, LON: CINE). NCM’s cinema advertising network offers broad reach and unparalleled audience engagement with over 20,700 screens in over 1,600 theaters in 195 Designated Market Areas® (all of the top 50). NCM Digital and Digital-Out-Of-Home (DOOH) go beyond the big screen, extending in-theater campaigns into online, mobile, and place-based marketing programs to reach entertainment audiences. National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:NCMI) owns a 48.3% interest in, and is the managing member of, National CineMedia, LLC. For more information, visit www.ncm.com and www.noovie.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains various forward-looking statements that reflect management’s current expectations or beliefs regarding future events. 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) level of theater attendance or viewership of the Noovie pre-show; 2) the impact of pandemics, epidemics or disease outbreaks, such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the success of actions taken to mitigate such situations, vaccine rollouts, vaccine or mask mandates and potential changes to consumer behavior; 3) the availability and predictability of major motion pictures displayed in theaters; 4) increased competition for advertising expenditures; 5) our need for additional funding including the approved revolving loan agreement between NCM Inc. and NCM LLC, and risks and uncertainties relating to our significant indebtedness; 6) changes to relationships with NCM LLC’s founding members; 7) inability to implement or achieve new revenue opportunities; 8) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the 2019 amendments to the Company's exhibitor service agreements with Regal and Cinemark; 9) technological changes and innovations; 10) economic conditions, including the level of expenditures on and perception of cinema advertising; 11) our ability to renew or replace expiring advertising and content contracts; 12) reinvestment in our network and product offerings may require significant funding and resulting reallocation of resources; 13) fluctuations in and timing of operating costs; and 14) changes in interest rates. In addition, the outlook provided does not include the impact of any future unusual or infrequent transactions; sales and acquisitions of operating assets and investments; any future non-cash impairments of intangible and fixed assets; amounts related to 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, including the “Risk Factor” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as updated in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, for further information about these and other risks. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result, of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

NATIONAL CINEMEDIA, INC.
Non-GAAP Reconciliations
Unaudited

Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA Margin

Adjusted Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization (“Adjusted OIBDA”) and Adjusted OIBDA margin are not financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP in the United States. Adjusted OIBDA represents operating income (loss) before depreciation expense adjusted to also exclude amortization of intangibles recorded for network theater screen leases, the impairment of long-lived assets, executive transition costs and non-cash share-based compensation costs. Adjusted OIBDA margin is calculated by dividing Adjusted OIBDA by total revenue. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate operating performance, to forecast future results and as a basis for compensation. The Company believes these are important supplemental measures of operating performance because they eliminate items that have less bearing on the Company's 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 policies, amortization of intangibles recorded for network theater screen leases, the impairment of long-lived assets, levels of executive transitions, non-cash share based compensation programs, debt levels or income tax rates. A limitation of these measures, however, is that they exclude depreciation and amortization of intangibles recorded for network theater screen leases, which represent a proxy for 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 share-based payment costs, the impairment of long-lived assets or costs associated with the transition of executive officers. Adjusted OIBDA should not be regarded as an alternative to operating income, net income or as an indicator of operating performance, nor should it be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes that operating income (loss) is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to Adjusted OIBDA. Because not all companies use identical calculations, these non-GAAP presentations may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies, or calculations in the Company’s debt agreement.

The following tables reconcile operating loss to Adjusted OIBDA for the periods presented (dollars in millions):

Adjusted Net Loss and Loss per Share

Adjusted net loss and loss per share are not financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP in the United States. Adjusted net loss and loss per share are calculated using reported net loss and loss per share and exclude the impairment of long-lived assets. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures as an additional tool to evaluate operating performance. 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 a method used by the Company’s management and helps improve their ability to understand the Company’s operating performance. Adjusted net loss and loss per share should not be regarded as alternatives to net loss and loss per share 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 net loss and loss per share are the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Because not all companies use identical calculations, these presentations may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

The following table reconciles as reported net loss and loss per share to adjusted net loss and loss per share excluding the impairment of long-lived assets and executive transition costs for the periods presented (dollars in millions):

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