v2.4.0.8
INVESTMENTS
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 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 June 30, 2014, include a 14.96% interest in National CineMedia, LLC ("NCM"), a 32% interest in AC JV, LLC ("AC JV"), 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 June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2013 is shown below:

 
  Three Months Ended June 30, 2014  
(In thousands)
  DCIP   Open Road
Films
  NCM   AC JV   Other   Total  

Revenues

  $ 43,396   $ 49,845   $ 99,900   $ 10,296   $ 7,025   $ 210,462  

Operating costs and expenses

    24,331     51,983     73,500     9,182     6,921     165,917  
                           

Net earnings (loss)

  $ 19,065   $ (2,138 ) $ 26,400   $ 1,114   $ 104   $ 44,545  
                           
                           


 

 
  Three Months Ended June 30, 2013  
(In thousands)
  DCIP   Open Road
Films
  NCM   AC JV   Other   Total  

Revenues

  $ 45,022   $ 36,257   $ 122,800   $   $ 4,070   $ 208,149  

Operating costs and expenses

    42,566     14,479     81,700         3,426     142,171  
                           

Net earnings

  $ 2,456   $ 21,778   $ 41,100   $   $ 644   $ 65,978  
                           
                           

        Condensed financial information of the Company's non-consolidated equity method investments for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2013 is shown below:

 
  Six Months Ended June 30, 2014  
(In thousands)
  DCIP   Open Road
Films
  NCM   AC JV   Other   Total  

Revenues

  $ 86,084   $ 91,483   $ 170,100   $ 16,563   $ 12,628   $ 376,858  

Operating costs and expenses

    61,491     111,001     146,500     14,729     13,181     346,902  
                           

Net earnings (loss)

  $ 24,593   $ (19,518 ) $ 23,600   $ 1,834   $ (553 ) $ 29,956  
                           
                           


 

 
  Six Months Ended June 30, 2013  
(In thousands)
  DCIP   Open Road
Films
  NCM   AC JV   Other   Total  

Revenues

  $ 88,077   $ 101,434   $ 205,000   $   $ 6,936   $ 401,447  

Operating costs and expenses

    73,813     87,334     158,300         6,963     326,410  
                           

Net earnings (loss)

  $ 14,264   $ 14,100   $ 46,700   $   $ (27 ) $ 75,037  
                           
                           

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

 
  Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended  
(In thousands)
  June 30, 2014   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2013  

Digital Cinema Implementation Partners, LLC

  $ 5,898   $ 4,045   $ 9,545   $ 7,827  

Open Road Releasing, LLC

        10,269     (8,080 )   7,050  

National CineMedia, LLC

    3,129     8,577     2,009     8,699  

AC JV, LLC

    356         638      

Other

    214     383     101     244  
                   

The Company's recorded equity in earnings

  $ 9,597   $ 23,274   $ 4,213   $ 23,820  
                   
                   

        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 $41,500 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 Company recorded the following transactions with DCIP:

(In thousands)
  June 30, 2014   December 31, 2013  

Due from DCIP for equipment purchases

  $ 939   $ 663  

Deferred rent liability for digital projectors

    9,184     7,747  


 

 
  Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended  
(In thousands)
  June 30, 2014   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2013  

Digital equipment rental expense (continuing operations)

  $ 1,085   $ 2,662   $ 4,002   $ 5,369  

        Open Road Films Transactions.    During the three months and six months ended June 30, 2014, 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. As of June 30, 2014, the Company's share of unrecognized losses in excess of the capital commitment from Open Road Films was $1,680,000.

        The Company recorded the following transactions with Open Road Films:

(In thousands)
  June 30, 2014   December 31, 2013  

Due from Open Road Films

  $ 1,666   $ 2,658  

Film rent payable to Open Road Films

    1,305     1,959  


 

 
  Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended  
(In thousands)
  June 30, 2014   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2013  

Gross film exhibition cost on Open Road Films

  $ 3,400   $ 1,600   $ 9,100   $ 8,700  

        NCM Transactions.    As of June 30, 2014, the Company owns 19,194,501 common membership units, or a 14.96% interest, in NCM. The estimated fair market value of the units in NCM was approximately $336,096,000, based on the publically quoted price per share of NCM, Inc. on June 30, 2014 of $17.51 per share.

        On May 5, 2014, NCM, Inc., the sole manager of NCM, announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Screenvision, LLC for $375,000,000, consisting of cash and NCM, Inc. common stock. Consummation of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

        The Company recorded the following transactions with NCM:

(In thousands)
  June 30, 2014   December 31, 2013  

Due from NCM for on-screen advertising revenue

  $ 2,513   $ 2,266  

Due to NCM for Exhibitor Services Agreement

    2,287     2,429  


 

 
  Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended  
(In thousands)
  June 30, 2014   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2013  

Net NCM screen advertising revenues

  $ 8,744   $ 8,495   $ 17,372   $ 16,572  

NCM beverage advertising expense

    3,281     3,773     6,190     6,721  

        The Company recorded the following changes in the carrying amount of its investment in NCM and equity in earnings of NCM during the six months ended June 30, 2014:

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

    (10,401 )         $ 10,401   $   $  

Amortization of deferred revenue

        7,605                 (7,605 )

Unrealized gain from cash flow hedge

    755         (755 )            

Equity in earnings(4)

    3,576                 (3,576 )    

Equity in loss from amortization of basis difference(5)

    (1,567 )               1,567      
                           

For the period ended or balance as of June 30, 2014

  $ 266,907   $ (324,445 ) $ (3,037 ) $ 10,401   $ (2,009 ) $ (7,605 )
                           
                           

(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 earnings 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 six months ended June 30, 2014 and June 30, 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 expense (income) net of related amortization for the NCM tax receivable agreement intangible asset.

        AC JV Transactions.    In December 2013, NCM spun-off its Fathom Events business to AC JV, a newly formed limited liability company.

        The Company recorded the following transactions with AC JV:

(In thousands)
  June 30, 2014   December 31, 2013  

Due to AC JV for Fathom Events programming

  $ 57   $  


 

 
  Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended  
(In thousands)
  June 30, 2014   June 30, 2013   June 30, 2014   June 30, 2013  

Gross exhibition cost on Fathom Events programming

  $ 1,559   $   $ 2,515   $