IMAX Corporation Reports First Quarter 2024 Earnings Results

• Global entertainment platform delivers Revenue of $79 million and strong profitability, including Net Income of $3.3 million up 33% YoY and Total Adjusted EBITDA Margin⁽¹⁾ of 40.5% up more than 300 basis points YoY.
• IMAX system installations climb +67% YoY to 15 in Q1; sales activity gaining momentum with 17 signings for new and upgraded IMAX systems worldwide year-to-date.
• IMAX Global Box Office (GBO) of $261 million marks Company's third highest grossing Q1 ever, driven by "Dune: Part Two", "Godzilla x Kong: New Empire"; IMAX-exclusive "Queen Rock Montreal"; and local language releases, which contributed 21% of quarterly GBO.
• IMAX delivers 5.9% of Domestic Box Office in Q1 — Company's highest quarterly market share ever in North America — and strong 3.4% of Global Box Office.

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

"IMAX powers awe-inspiring experiences for audiences around the world; our technology, deep relationships with creators, and global scale combine to make us a wholly differentiated platform, and as a result, one of the most consistent winners in global media and entertainment," said Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX.  

"Our industry leading momentum is fueled in part by our strategic expansion of the IMAX value proposition; increasingly, our technology is driving content creation as much as it is content delivery. "Oppenheimer", "Dune — Part Two", and "Godzilla x Kong" demonstrate that more and more of today's commercially and critically successful blockbusters are shot with IMAX cameras for the IMAX platform — which drives our global box office and makes our systems even more of a 'must have' for global exhibitors."  

"We currently have more films in production shooting with IMAX cameras than at any time in our history, and an unprecedented run of Filmed for IMAX^® titles scheduled for 2025 — including every one of our releases slated for the critical summer blockbuster season. We are also opening the aperture of The IMAX Experience^® by working with a wider variety of creators than ever across local language, documentaries, and music, gaming, sports, and live events."  

"IMAX is very well-positioned to accelerate growth and margin expansion with a promising slate for the duration of the year, 2025, and 2026, and strong sales activity across key global markets we're targeting for expansion."  

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First Quarter Financial Highlights 

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First Quarter Segment Results⁽¹⁾

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Please refer to the Company's Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2024 for additional segment information.

Content Solutions Segment

• Content Solutions revenue of $34 million increased 6% year-over-year driven by incremental revenue from alternative content including the Queen Rock Montreal concert film coupled with the strong March box office from "Dune: Part 2" and "Godzilla x Kong: New Empire". Gross box office from IMAX locations of $261 million compares to box office of $273 million in Q1 2023.
• Gross margin for Content Solutions of $22 million increased 23% year-over-year. Gross margin percent of 65% increased 900 basis points year-over-year driven by lower marketing expenses and the performance of alternative content.

Technology Products and Services Segment

• Technology Products and Services revenues and gross margin decreased 16% to $43 million and 21% to $24 million, respectively, reflecting lower system renewals and mix of fewer sale/hybrid installations. 
• During the first quarter the Company installed 15 systems compared to 9 systems in the first quarter of 2023. Of those, 5 systems were under sales arrangements compared to 8 systems in the prior year. 
• The Commercial network grew 4% year-over-year with the number of IMAX locations increasing to 1,697.  
• IMAX system backlog stands at 442 systems at the end of March including 377 new systems representing potential future network growth of approximately 21%. 

Operating Cash Flow and Liquidity

Net cash used in operating activities for the first quarter of 2024 was $11.0 million compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $21.2 million in the first quarter of 2023. The change year over year reflects the timing of box office and related collections. The first quarter of 2023 operating cash flows benefited from strong box office at the end of 2022 and in early 2023 driven by the film slate, which included Avatar: The Way of Water. In comparison, the first quarter of 2024 operating cash flows were negatively impacted from lower levels of box office in the fourth quarter 2023, and early 2024 due to the weaker film slate stemming from the Hollywood Actors and Writers strikes.

As of March 31, 2024, the Company's available liquidity was $367.0 million. The Company's liquidity includes cash and cash equivalents of $81.0 million, $231.0 million in available borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility, and $55.0 million in available borrowing capacity under IMAX China's revolving facilities. Total debt, excluding deferred financing costs, was $302.0 million as of March 31, 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 used in the calculation of adjusted EPS for the first quarter of 2024 were 52.5 million and 53.4 million, respectively, compared to 54.1 million and 55.0 million, respectively for the first quarter of 2023, a decrease year-over-year of 2.9% for both basic and diluted shares outstanding.

During the first quarter of 2024, the Company repurchased 1.2 million common shares at an average price of $13.99 per share, for a total of $16.2 million, excluding commission.

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 $400.0 million of its common shares, of which approximately $150.8 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 first 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/BI46ca10609420421dbc164d6f147fe1ff 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 March 31, 2024, there were 1,772 IMAX systems (1,697 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 LIVE^TM, IMAX Enhanced^®, IMAX StreamSmart^TM, 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 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.

The Company has the following reportable segments:

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

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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 attributable to common shareholders and adjusted net income 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 income (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 Company's 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. Adjusted EBITDA per Credit Facility 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 against 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