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NOTE 15—THEATRE AND OTHER CLOSURE AND DISPOSITION OF ASSETS
The Company has provided reserves for estimated losses from theatres and screens which have been permanently closed and vacant space with no right to future use. As of March 29, 2012, the Company has reserved $65,471,000 for lease terminations which have either not been consummated or paid, related primarily to nine theatres and vacant restaurant space. The Company is obligated under long-term lease commitments with remaining terms of up to 16 years for theatres which have been closed. As of March 29, 2012, base rents aggregated approximately $9,773,000 annually and $63,279,000 over the remaining terms of the leases.
A rollforward of reserves for theatre and other closure is as follows:
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Fifty-two Week
Period |
|
Fifty-two Week
Period |
|
Fifty-two Week
Period |
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
March 29, 2012 |
|
March 31, 2011 |
|
April 1, 2010 |
|
|
Beginning balance |
|
$ |
73,852 |
|
$ |
6,694 |
|
$ |
7,386 |
|
|
Theatre and other closure expense |
|
|
7,449 |
|
|
60,763 |
|
|
2,573 |
|
|
Transfer of property tax liability |
|
|
539 |
|
|
550 |
|
|
715 |
|
|
Transfer of deferred rent obligations |
|
|
— |
|
|
11,230 |
|
|
2,112 |
|
|
Transfer of capitalized lease obligation |
|
|
32 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
Net book value of abandoned and other property dispositions |
|
|
(485 |
) |
|
(1,819 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
|
|
(511 |
) |
|
48 |
|
|
— |
|
|
Cash payments, net |
|
|
(15,405 |
) |
|
(3,614 |
) |
|
(6,092 |
) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ending balance |
|
$ |
65,471 |
|
$ |
73,852 |
|
$ |
6,694 |
|
| |
|
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The current portion of the ending balance is included with accrued expenses and other liabilities and the long-term portion of the ending balance is included with other long-term liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
During the fifty-two weeks ended March 29, 2012, the Company recognized $7,449,000 of theatre and other closure expense primarily related to accretion on previously closed properties with remaining lease obligations.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal year ending March 31, 2011, the Company evaluated excess capacity and vacant and under-utilized retail space throughout the theatre circuit. On March 28, 2011, management decided to permanently close 73 underperforming screens and auditoriums in six theatre locations in the United States and Canada while continuing to operate 89 screens at these locations. The permanently closed screens are physically segregated from the screens that will remain in operation and access to the closed space is restricted. Additionally, management decided to discontinue development of and cease use of (including for storage) certain vacant and under-utilized retail space at four other theatres in the United States and the United Kingdom. As a result of closing the screens and auditoriums and discontinuing the development of and use of the other spaces, the Company recorded a charge of $55,015,000 for theatre and other closure expense, which is included in operating expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011. The charge to theatre and other closure expense reflects the discounted contractual amounts of the existing lease obligations of $53,561,000 for the remaining 7 to 13 year terms of the leases as well as expenses incurred for related asset removal and shutdown costs of $1,454,000. A significant portion of each of the affected properties will be closed and no longer used. The charges to theatre and other closure expense do not result in any new, increased or accelerated obligations for cash payments related to the underlying long-term operating lease agreements.
In addition to the auditorium closures, the Company permanently closed 22 theatres with 144 screens in the U.S. during the fifty-two weeks ended March 31, 2011. The Company recorded $5,748,000 for theatre and other closure expense, which is included in operating expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, due primarily to the remaining lease terms of 5 theatre closures and accretion of the closure liability related to theatres closed during prior periods. Of the theatre closures in fiscal 2011, 9 theatres with 35 screens are owned properties that will be marketed for sale; 7 theatres with 67 screens that had leases were allowed to expire; a single screen theatre with a management agreement was allowed to expire; and 5 theatres with 41 screens were closed with remaining lease terms in excess of one month.
During the fifty-two weeks ended April 1, 2010, the Company recognized $2,573,000 of theatre and other closure expense due primarily to closure of one theatre and accretion of the closure liability related to theatres closed during prior periods
Theatre and other closure reserves for leases that have not been terminated are recorded at the present value of the future contractual commitments for the base rents, taxes and maintenance. As of March 29, 2012, the future lease obligations are discounted at annual rates ranging from 7.55% to 9.0%. |