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INVESTMENTS
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
INVESTMENTS  
INVESTMENTS

NOTE 2—INVESTMENTS

        Investments in non-consolidated affiliates and certain other investments accounted for under the equity method generally include all entities in which the Company or its subsidiaries have significant influence, but not more than 50% voting control, and are recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in other long-term assets. Investments in non-consolidated affiliates as of March 31, 2014, include a 14.97% interest in National CineMedia, LLC ("NCM"), a 32% interest in AC JV, LLC, owner of Fathom Events, a 50% interest in two U.S. motion picture theatres and one IMAX screen, a 29% interest in Digital Cinema Implementation Partners, LLC ("DCIP"), and a 50% interest in Open Road Releasing, LLC, operator of Open Road Films, LLC ("Open Road Films"). Indebtedness held by equity method investees is non-recourse to the Company.

        RealD Inc. Common Stock.    The Company holds an investment in RealD Inc. common stock, which is accounted for as an equity security, available for sale, and is recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in other long-term assets at fair value (Level 1).

Equity in Earnings (Losses) of Non-Consolidated Entities

        Condensed financial information of the Company's non-consolidated equity method investments for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013 is shown below:

 
  Three Months Ended March 31, 2014  
(In thousands)
  DCIP   Open Road
Films
  NCM   Other   Total  

Revenues

  $ 42,688   $ 41,638   $ 70,200   $ 11,870   $ 166,396  

Operating costs and expenses

    37,160     59,018     73,000     11,807     180,985  
                       

Net earnings (loss)

  $ 5,528   $ (17,380 ) $ (2,800 ) $ 63   $ (14,589 )
                       
                       


 

 
  Three Months Ended March 31, 2013  
(In thousands)
  DCIP   Open Road
Films
  NCM   Other   Total  

Revenues

  $ 43,055   $ 65,177   $ 82,200   $ 2,866   $ 193,298  

Operating costs and expenses

    31,247     72,855     76,600     3,537     184,239  
                       

Net earnings (loss)

  $ 11,808   $ (7,678 ) $ 5,600   $ (671 ) $ 9,059  
                       
                       

        The components of the Company's recorded equity in earnings (losses) of non-consolidated entities are as follows:

 
  Three Months Ended  
(In thousands)
  March 31, 2014   March 31, 2013  

Digital Cinema Implementation Partners, LLC

  $ 3,647   $ 3,782  

Open Road Releasing, LLC

    (8,080 )   (3,219 )

National CineMedia, LLC

    (1,120 )   122  

Other

    169     (139 )
           

The Company's recorded equity in earnings (losses)

  $ (5,384 ) $ 546  
           
           

        DCIP Transactions.    The Company will make capital contributions to DCIP for projector and installation costs in excess of an agreed upon cap ($68,000 per system for digital conversions and $44,000 for new build locations). The Company pays equipment rent monthly and records the equipment rental expense on a straight-line basis over 12 years. The difference between the cash rent and straight-line rent is recorded to deferred rent, a long-term liability account.

        The Company recorded the following transactions with DCIP:

(In thousands)
  March 31, 2014   December 31, 2013  

Due from DCIP for equipment purchases

  $ 1,024   $ 663  

Deferred rent liability for digital projectors

    9,260     7,747  


 

 
  Three Months Ended  
(In thousands)
  March 31, 2014   March 31, 2013  

Digital equipment rental expense (continuing operations)

  $ 2,917   $ 2,707  

        Open Road Films Transactions.    During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company suspended equity method accounting for its investment in Open Road Films when the negative investment in Open Road Films reached the Company's capital commitment of $10,000,000.

        The Company recorded the following transactions with Open Road Films:

(In thousands)
  March 31, 2014   December 31, 2013  

Due from Open Road Films

  $ 846   $ 2,658  

Film rent payable to Open Road Films

    1,462     1,959  


 

 
  Three Months Ended  
(In thousands)
  March 31, 2014   March 31, 2013  

Gross film exhibition cost on Open Road Films

  $ 5,700   $ 7,000  

        NCM Transactions.    As of March 31, 2014, the Company owns 19,194,501 common membership units, or a 14.97% interest, in NCM. The estimated fair market value of the units in NCM was approximately $287,918,000, based on the publically quoted price per share of NCM, Inc. on March 31, 2014 of $15.00 per share.

        The Company recorded the following transactions with NCM:

(In thousands)
  March 31, 2014   December 31, 2013  

Due from NCM for on-screen advertising revenue

  $ 1,991   $ 2,266  

Due to NCM for Exhibitor Services Agreement

    1,418     2,429  


 

 
  Three Months Ended  
(In thousands)
  March 31, 2014   March 31, 2013  

Net NCM screen advertising revenues

  $ 8,628   $ 8,077  

NCM beverage advertising expense

    2,909     2,948  

        The Company recorded the following changes in the carrying amount of its investment in NCM and equity in earnings of NCM during the three months ended March 31, 2014:

(In thousands)
  Investment
in NCM(1)
  Exhibitor
Services
Agreement(2)
  Other
Comprehensive
(Income)
  Cash
Received
(Paid)
  Equity
in Loss
  Advertising
(Revenue)
 

Ending balance December 31, 2013

  $ 272,407   $ (329,913 ) $ (2,282 )                  

Receipt of common units(3)

    2,137     (2,137 )                      

Receipt of excess cash distributions

    (8,678 )         $ 8,678   $   $  

Amortization of deferred revenue

        3,791                 (3,791 )

Unrealized gain from cash flow hedge

    375         (375 )            

Equity in loss(4)

    (336 )               336      

Equity in loss from amortization of basis difference(5)

    (784 )               784      
                           

For the period ended or balance as of March 31, 2014

  $ 265,121   $ (328,259 ) $ (2,657 ) $ 8,678   $ 1,120   $ (3,791 )
                           
                           

(1)
As of the date of the Merger, August 30, 2012, the Company's investment in NCM consisted of a single investment tranche (Tranche 1 Investment) consisting of 17,323,782 membership units recorded at fair value (Level 1). Subsequent membership units received as provided under the Common Unit Adjustment Agreement dated as of February 13, 2007, are recorded in a separate tranche, (Tranche 2 Investments).

(2)
Represents the unamortized portion of the Exhibitor Services Agreement ("ESA") with NCM. Such amounts are being amortized to other theatre revenues over the remainder of the 30 year term of the ESA ending in 2036, using a units-of-revenue method, as described in ASC 470-10-35 (formerly EITF 88-18, Sales of Future Revenues).

(3)
In March 2014, the Company received 141,731 membership units recorded at a fair value of $15.08 per unit with a corresponding credit to the ESA.

(4)
Represents percentage of ownership equity in loss on both Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 Investments.

(5)
Certain differences between the Company's carrying value and the Company's share of NCM's membership equity have been identified and are amortized to equity in earnings over the respective lives of the assets and liabilities.

        During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company received payments of $8,045,000 and $3,677,000, respectively, related to the NCM tax receivable agreement. The receipts are recorded in investment income net of related amortization for the NCM tax receivable agreement intangible asset.