IMAX Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2024 Earnings Results

• Global entertainment platform delivers solid results, including Revenue of $89 million, Net Income of $3.6 million, EPS⁽¹⁾ of 7 cents, Total Adjusted EBITDA⁽²⁾ of $31 million and Adjusted EPS⁽¹⁾ of 18 cents.
• Signings for new and upgraded IMAX systems grow to 87 (+89%) in the quarter; system installations climb to 24 (+20%) as Company raises installation guidance to 130 to 150 systems for full-year 2024 vs. 128 in full-year 2023.
• June surge of film hits pushes quarterly Global Box Office to $196 million; third quarter off to strong start with “Twisters” and this weekend’s “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
• Quarterly revenue bolstered by sale of IMAX original documentary “The Blue Angels” as Company further diversifies content portfolio and revenue mix.
• Cash from Operations climbs to $35 million in the quarter, up significantly year-over-year from $5 million in the prior-year quarter.

NEW YORK, July 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) today reported financial results for the second quarter of 2024, demonstrating the value of its unique global entertainment platform and broad content portfolio.

“With the strikes — and the lingering effects of the pandemic — firmly behind us, we are in an excellent position to fully realize the benefits of our strong, asset-lite business model,” said Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX. “The second quarter offered strong evidence that we are at in inflection point in our business; we are on a tear with system sales activity, our system installations are up significantly, and the slate through 2026 is as strong as we’ve ever seen.”

“Several signs across our financial and operating performance in the second quarter underscore our building momentum — we beat consensus across most metrics, generated strong cash flow, delivered our most quarterly signings for IMAX systems in six years, and expect to install a higher number of IMAX systems in 2024 over the year prior.”

“We continue to grow our unique global network across key regions including India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, while fortifying our most important exhibition partnerships — including our deal with China’s Wanda Film, our biggest exhibition agreement in five years.” 

“Our ongoing strategic network expansion will enable IMAX to fully capitalize on the tremendous film slate over the next several years — featuring new releases from some of our most successful filmmaking partners and studio franchises, as well as a record of at least 14 films shot with IMAX cameras in 2025.” 

Content Solutions Segment

• Content Solutions revenues of $35 million increased 12% year-over-year. The sale of the commercial and streaming rights of “The Blue Angels” documentary more than offset the Hollywood strike impacted lower IMAX gross box office in Q2 2024 of $196 million compared to $268 million in Q2 2023.
    
• Gross margin for Content Solutions was $16 million and decreased 19% compared to the second quarter of the prior year period driven by the lower box office and the mix of revenues.

Technology Products and Services Segment

• Technology Products and Services revenues and gross margin decreased 20% year-over-year to $51 million and 29% year-over-year to $26 million, respectively, which reflects the lower box office tied rental revenues as well as fewer sale/hybrid installations and a lower contribution from amendments and renewals.
    
• During the second quarter the Company installed 24 systems compared to 20 systems in the second quarter of 2023. Of those, 10 systems were under sales and hybrid JRSA arrangements, compared to 13 systems in the prior year.
    
• Commercial network growth accelerated with the number of IMAX locations increasing 4% year-over-year to 1,705. The Company ended Q2 2024 with a backlog of 504 IMAX systems.

Operating Cash Flow and Liquidity

Net cash provided by operating activities for the first half of 2024 was $24 million compared to $26 million in the prior year period. Second quarter 2024 net cash provided by operating activities was $35 million compared to $5 million in the prior year period with the increase reflecting timing of collections and improvements in working capital.

As of June 30, 2024, the Company’s available liquidity was $392 million. The Company’s liquidity includes cash and cash equivalents of $92 million, $246 million in available borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility, and $55 million in available borrowing capacity under IMAX China’s revolving facilities. Total debt, excluding deferred financing costs, was $287 million as of June 30, 2024.

In 2021, the Company issued $230.0 million of 0.500% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (“Convertible Notes”). In connection with the pricing of the Convertible Notes, the Company entered into privately negotiated capped call transactions with an initial cap price of $37.2750 per share of the Company’s common shares. 

Share Count and Capital Return

The weighted average basic and diluted shares outstanding in the second quarter of 2024 were 52.6 million and 53.4 million, respectively, compared to 54.6 million and 55.3 million in the second quarter of 2023, a decrease of 3.6% and 3.4%, respectively.

During the first half of 2024 the Company repurchased 1,166,370 common shares at an average price of $13.99 for a total of $16 million, excluding commissions

On June 14, 2023, the Company announced a 3-year extension to its share-repurchase program through June 30, 2026. The current share-repurchase program authorizes the Company to repurchase up to $400 million of its common shares, of which approximately $151 million remains available.

Supplemental Materials

For more information about the Company’s results, please refer to the IMAX Investor Relations website located at investors.imax.com.

Investor Relations Website and Social Media

On a monthly basis, the Company posts quarter-to-date box office results on the IMAX Investor Relations website located at investors.imax.com. The Company expects to provide such updates within five business days of month-end, although the Company may change this timing without notice.

The Company may post additional information on the Company’s corporate and Investor Relations website which may be material to investors. Accordingly, investors, media and others interested in the Company should monitor the Company’s website in addition to the Company’s press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts, for additional information about the Company.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call today at 8:30 AM ET to discuss its second quarter 2024 financial results. This call is being webcast and can be accessed at investors.imax.com. To access the call via telephone, interested parties please pre-register here:

https://register.vevent.com/register/BIaceefcc683494a839687115352a98934 and you will be provided with a dial-in number and unique pin. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial into the conference call ten minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. A replay of the call will be available via webcast at investors.imax.com.

About IMAX Corporation

IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture, and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you’ve never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX systems to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, making IMAX’s network among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles, with additional offices in London, Dublin, Tokyo, and Shanghai. As of June 30, 2024, there were 1,780 IMAX systems (1,705 commercial multiplexes, 12 commercial destinations, 63 institutional) operating in 89 countries and territories. Shares of IMAX China Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code “1970”.

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, Experience It In IMAX®, The IMAX Experience®, DMR®, Filmed For IMAX®, IMAX LIVETM, IMAX Enhanced®, IMAX StreamSmartTM, and SSIMWAVE® are trademarks and trade names of IMAX Corporation or its subsidiaries that are registered or otherwise protected under laws of various jurisdictions. For more information, visit www.imax.com. You can also connect with IMAX on Instagram (www.instagram.com/company/imax), Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/imax), X (www.twitter.com/imax), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

For additional information please contact:

Forward-Looking Statements

This earnings release contains forward looking statements that are based on IMAX management’s assumptions and existing information and involve certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, references to business and technology strategies and measures to implement strategies, competitive strengths, goals, expansion and growth of business, operations and technology, future capital expenditures (including the amount and nature thereof), industry prospects and consumer behavior, plans and references to the future success of IMAX Corporation together with its consolidated subsidiaries (the “Company”) and expectations regarding the Company’s future operating, financial and technological results. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform with the expectations and predictions of the Company is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks associated with investments and operations in foreign jurisdictions and any future international expansion, including those related to economic, political and regulatory policies of local governments and laws and policies of the United States and Canada, as well as geopolitical conflicts; risks related to the Company’s growth and operations in China; the performance of IMAX remastered films and other films released to the IMAX network; the signing of IMAX System agreements; conditions, changes and developments in the commercial exhibition industry; risks related to currency fluctuations; the potential impact of increased competition in the markets within which the Company operates, including competitive actions by other companies; the failure to respond to change and advancements in technology; risks relating to consolidation among commercial exhibitors and studios; risks related to brand extensions and new business initiatives; conditions in the in-home and out-of-home entertainment industries; the opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to and pursued by the Company; risks related to cyber-security and data privacy; risks related to the Company’s inability to protect the Company’s intellectual property; risks associated with the Company’s use of artificial intelligence and exploration of additional use cases of artificial intelligence; risks related to climate change; risks related to weather conditions and natural disasters that may disrupt or harm the Company’s business; risks related to the Company’s indebtedness and compliance with its debt agreements; general economic, market or business conditions; risks related to political, economic and social instability; the failure to convert system backlog into revenue; changes in laws or regulations; any statements of belief and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing; other factors and risks outlined in the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this earnings release are qualified by these cautionary statements, and actual results or anticipated developments by the Company may not be realized, and even if substantially realized, may not have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. These factors, other risks and uncertainties and financial details are discussed in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Primary Reporting Groups

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) is its Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), as such term is defined under U.S. GAAP. The CODM assesses segment performance based on segment revenues and segment gross margins. Selling, general and administrative expenses, research and development costs, the amortization of intangible assets, provision for (reversal of) current expected credit losses, certain write-downs, interest income, interest expense, and income tax (expense) benefit are not allocated to the Company’s segments.

In the first quarter of 2023, the Company revised its internal segment reporting, including the information provided to the CODM to assess segment performance and allocate resources. Accordingly, the Company has two reportable segments:

Transactions between segments are valued at exchange value. Inter-segment profits are eliminated upon consolidation, as well as for the disclosures below.

IMAX CORPORATION
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(In thousands of U.S. dollars)

In this release, the Company presents adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders and adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders per basic and diluted share, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA per Credit Facility, Adjusted EBITDA margin as supplemental measures of the Company’s performance, which are not recognized under U.S. GAAP. Adjusted net income or loss attributable to common shareholders and adjusted net income or loss attributable to common shareholders per basic and diluted share exclude, where applicable: (i) share-based compensation; (ii) realized and unrealized investment gains or losses; (iii) transaction-related expenses; and (iv) restructuring and executive transition costs, as well as the related tax impact of these adjustments.

The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are important supplemental measures that allow management and users of the Company’s financial statements to view operating trends and analyze controllable operating performance on a comparable basis between periods without the after-tax impact of share-based compensation and certain unusual items included in net loss attributable to common shareholders. Although share-based compensation is an important aspect of the Company’s employee and executive compensation packages, it is a non-cash expense and is excluded from certain internal business performance measures.

A reconciliation from net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders and the associated per share amounts to adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders and adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders per diluted share is presented in the table below. Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders and the associated per share amounts are the most directly comparable GAAP measures because they reflect the earnings relevant to the Company’s shareholders, rather than the earnings attributable to non-controlling interests.

In addition to the non-GAAP financial measures discussed above, management also uses “EBITDA,” as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement, and which is referred to herein as “Adjusted EBITDA per Credit Facility.” As allowed by the Credit Agreement, Adjusted EBITDA per Credit Facility includes adjustments in addition to the exclusion of interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Accordingly, this non-GAAP financial measure is presented to allow a more comprehensive analysis of the Company’s operating performance and to provide additional information with respect to the Company’s compliance with its Credit Agreement requirements, when applicable. In addition, the Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA per Credit Facility presents relevant and useful information widely used by analysts, investors and other interested parties in the Company’s industry to evaluate, assess and benchmark the Company’s results.

EBITDA is defined as net income or loss excluding: (i) income tax expense or benefit; (ii) interest expense, net of interest income; (iii) depreciation and amortization, including film asset amortization; and (iv) amortization of deferred financing costs. Adjusted EBITDA per Credit Facility is defined as EBITDA excluding: (i) share-based and other non-cash compensation; (ii) realized and unrealized investment gains or losses; (iii) transaction-related expenses; (iv) restructuring and executive transition costs; and (v) write- downs, net of recoveries, including asset impairments and credit loss expense.

A reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders, which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA per Credit Facility is presented in the table below. Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders is the most directly comparable GAAP measure because it reflects the earnings relevant to the Company’s shareholders, rather than the earnings attributable to non-controlling interests.

In this release, the Company also presents free cash flow, which is not recognized under U.S. GAAP, as a supplemental measure of the Company’s liquidity. The Company definition of free cash flow deducts only normal recurring capital expenditures, including the Company’s investment in joint revenue sharing arrangements, the purchase of property, plant and equipment and the acquisition of other intangible assets (from the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows), from net cash provided by or used in operating activities. Management believes that free cash flow is a supplemental measure of the cash flow available to reduce debt, add to cash balances, and fund other financing activities. Free cash flow does not represent residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. A reconciliation of cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow is presented below.

These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts reported by other companies. Additionally, the non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, the comparable GAAP amounts.

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SOURCE IMAX Corporation