Summary of Activity with NCM

Below is a summary of activity with NCM included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the periods indicated. See Note 5 for discussion of revenue recognition.

In addition to the activity in the table above, the Company made payments to NCM of approximately $74, $61 and $9  during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively, related to certain equipment used for digital advertising, which is included in theatre furniture and equipment on the consolidated balance sheets.

Investment in National CineMedia

NCM operates a digital in-theatre network in the U.S. for providing cinema advertising. The Company entered into an ESA with NCM, pursuant to which NCM primarily provides advertising to our theatres. On February 13, 2007, National Cinemedia, Inc. (“NCMI”), an entity that serves as the sole manager of NCM, completed an initial public offering (“IPO”) of its common stock.  In connection with the NCMI initial public offering, the Company amended its operating agreement and the ESA. At the time of the NCMI IPO and as a result of amending the ESA, the Company received approximately $174,000 in cash consideration from NCM.  The proceeds were recorded as deferred revenue or NCM screen advertising advances and was being amortized over the term of the Amended and Restated ESA, or through February 2041.  Following the NCMI IPO, the Company does not recognize undistributed equity in the earnings on its original NCM membership units (referred to herein as the Company’s Tranche 1 Investment) until NCM’s future net earnings, less distributions received, surpass the amount of the excess distribution. The Company recognizes equity in earnings on its Tranche 1 Investment only to the extent it receives cash distributions from NCM. The Company recognizes cash distributions it receives from NCM on its Tranche 1 Investment as a component of earnings as Distributions from NCM.  The Company believes that the accounting model provided by ASC Topic 323-10-35-22 for recognition of equity investee losses in excess of an investor’s basis is analogous to the accounting for equity income subsequent to recognizing an excess distribution.

Common Unit Adjustments

In addition to the consideration received upon the NCMI IPO and ESA modification in 2007, the Company also periodically receives consideration in the form of common units from NCM.  Pursuant to a Common Unit Adjustment Agreement dated as of February 13, 2007 between NCMI and the Company, annual adjustments to the common membership units are made primarily based on increases or decreases in the number of theatre screens operated and theatre attendance generated by each Founding Member. As discussed in Note 6 to the Company’s financial statements as included in its 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the common units received (collectively referred to as the Company’s “Tranche 2 Investment”) are recorded at estimated fair value as an increase in the Company’s investment in NCM with an offset to deferred revenue or NCM screen advertising advances. The Company’s Tranche 2 Investment is accounted for following the equity method, with undistributed equity earnings related to its Tranche 2 Investment included as a component of earnings in equity in income of affiliates and distributions received related to its Tranche 2 Investment are recorded as a reduction of investment basis

During March 2020, NCM performed its annual common unit adjustment calculation under the Common Unit Adjustment Agreement. As a result of the calculation, on March 31, 2020, the Company received an additional 1,112,368 common units of NCM, each of which is convertible into one share of NCMI common stock. The Company recorded the additional common units received at estimated fair value with a corresponding adjustment to deferred revenue of approximately $3,620. The fair value of the common units received was estimated based on the market price of NCMI common stock at the time the common units were determined, adjusted for volatility associated with the estimated time period it would take to convert the common units and register the respective shares.  The deferred revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the remaining term of the ESA.

Below is a summary of common units received by the Company under the Common Unit Adjustment (“CUA”) Agreement during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020:

Acquisition of Common Units

On July 5, 2018, the Company acquired 10,738,740 common units of NCM from AMC for $78,393 in cash, or approximately $7.30 per common unit.  As a result of the acquisition of these shares, the Company’s ownership of NCM increased from approximately 18% to 25%.  The amount paid for the additional common units was recorded as an increase in the Company’s Tranche 2 investment in NCM.

Impairment of Investment in NCM

As of December 31, 2020, the Company owned a total of 40,850,068 common units of NCM, which represented an interest of approximately 25%. The estimated fair value of the Company’s investment in NCM was approximately $151,962 based on NCMI’s stock price as of December 31, 2020 of $3.72 per share (Level 1 input as defined in FASB ASC Topic 820).  The Company and other industry participants, who are also members of the NCM network, have reopened some theatres and will continue to reopen theatres as local government restrictions allow.  However, the market value of NCM, Inc.’s stock price has been below the Company’s book value of its investment in NCM as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic since March of 2020.  Although the Company expects the industry to recover gradually over time, the investment in NCM was written down by $92,655, with a corresponding charge to impairment expense, in accordance with ASC 323-10-35.  The write-down was due to the prolonged period of time for which the share price of NCMI was below the Company’s carrying value per common unit of its investment in NCM.

Exhibitor Services Agreement

As previously discussed, the Company’s domestic theatres are part of the in-theatre digital network operated by NCM, the terms of which are defined in the ESA. NCM provides advertising to its theatres through its branded “Noovie” pre-show entertainment program and also handles lobby promotions and displays for our theatres.  The Company receives a monthly theatre access fee for participation in the NCM network and also earns screen advertising or screen rental revenue on a per patron basis.   Prior to September 17, 2019, the ESA was accounted for under ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.   Effective September 17, 2019, the Company signed an amendment to the ESA, under which the Company will provide incremental advertising time to NCM and has extended the term through February 2041.  Since the agreement was amended, the Company was required to evaluate the revised contract under ASC Topic 842, Leases, and as a result, determined that the ESA met the definition of a lease.  The Company leases nonconsecutive periods of use of its domestic theatre screens to NCM for purposes of showing third party advertising content.  The lease, which is classified as an operating lease, generally requires variable lease payments based on the number of patrons attending the showtimes during which such advertising is shown.  The lease agreement is considered short-term due to the fact that the nonconsecutive periods of use, or advertising time slots, are set on a weekly basis.  The revenues earned under the ESA, both before and after the amendment, are reflected in other revenue on the consolidated income statement.  

The recognition of revenue related to the deferred revenue or NCM screen advertising advances will continue to be recorded on a straight-line basis over the new term of the amended ESA through February 2041.

Significant Financing Component

In connection with the completion of the NCMI initial public offering, the Company amended and restated its ESA with NCM and received approximately $174,000 in cash consideration from NCM. The proceeds were recorded as deferred revenue and are being amortized over the term of the modified ESA, or through February 2041. In addition to the consideration received upon the ESA modification during 2007, the Company also receives consideration in the form of common units from NCM, at each annual common unit adjustment settlement, in exchange for exclusive access to the Company’s newly opened domestic screens under the ESA. Due to the significant length of time between receiving the consideration from NCM and fulfillment of the related performance obligation, the ESA includes an implied significant financing component, as per the guidance in ASC Topic 606.

The interest expense was calculated using the Company’s incremental borrowing rates at the time when the cash and each tranche of common units were received from NCM, which ranged from 4.4% to 8.3%. Effective September 17, 2019, upon the Company’s evaluation and determination that ASC Topic 842 applies to the amended ESA, the Company determined it acceptable to apply the significant financing component guidance from ASC Topic 606 by analogy as the economic substance of the agreement represents a financing arrangement.  

Summary Financial Information for NCM  

The tables below present summary financial information for NCM for the periods indicated: