Reading International Concludes Purchase of Hawaii and California Cinemas
February 22 2008 - 9:34PM
PR Newswire (US)
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Reading
International, Inc. (AMEX:RDIAMEX:andAMEX:RDIB) announced today
that it completed the acquisition of 15 leasehold cinema complexes
and related assets through its newly formed subsidiary,
Consolidated Amusement Theatres, Inc. ("Consolidated"). The cinemas
comprise 181 screens and generate revenues of approximately $80
million annually. Nine of the complexes (98 screens) are located in
Hawaii and represented nearly 70% of the Hawaiian box office
receipts reported in 2007. The other six complexes (83 screens) are
located in California, and consist of a 16-screen complex in
Bakersfield, a 16-screen complex in Sonoma County, and four
locations in San Diego. The San Diego cinemas represent the third
largest market share in the area at approximately 12%. RDI also
acquired in the transaction the Consolidated Amusement trade name,
recognized in the Hawaiian Islands for some 75 years. The
acquisition was structured as a purchase of 14 locations and a
management agreement for one location. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030403/LATH058LOGO ) The
purchase price of the cinemas and other assets was $69.3 million,
and was financed primarily by a $50 million term loan and a $5
million revolving line of credit provided by institutional lenders.
While the term financing is initially guaranteed by RDI, the
guarantee will expire once the debt-to-cash flow ratio falls below
a certain threshold. Based on management's estimates this should
occur in about 18 to 24 months, upon the debt being reduced to
approximately $38 million, by applying most of the theaters' net
cash flow during that same timeframe to paying down the financing.
An additional $21 million of financing was provided under a term
loan from an affiliate of the sellers. Recourse under the seller
financing is limited to Consolidated and its assets. In addition to
the acquired assets, RDI has contributed to Consolidated two of
RDI's domestic theaters located in New Jersey and Dallas. An
affiliate of the sellers also has agreed to provide up to $3
million of additional term loans to RDI at its request. Management
believes that the purchase price paid for these assets, compares
favorably to other recent publicly reported cinema acquisitions,
and is grateful for having been invited onto the short list of
prospective buyers for these theaters. The sellers of the cinema
assets are Pacific Theatres Exhibition Corp., and its affiliates
("Pacific"). An affiliate of Pacific is a shareholder in RDI. Mr.
Cotter, RDI's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, was an
executive and a director of Pacific for over thirty years. The
management team knows these markets and assets extremely well, and
believes the price and financing terms will allow the company to
achieve an attractive return on this investment for its
shareholders. Management further believes that this transaction is
a good opportunity to expand upon its current base of US cinemas,
into desirable markets but with limited capital exposure. The
Company has plans to immediately invest in renovating the Kapolei
Theater in Hawaii and the Carmel Mountain Theater in San Diego,
acquired in the transaction. About Reading International, Inc.
Reading International (http://www.readingrdi.com/) is in the
business of owning and operating cinemas and developing, owning and
operating real estate assets. RDI's business consists primarily of:
-- the development, ownership and operation of multiplex cinemas in
the United States, Australia and New Zealand; and -- the
development, ownership and operation of retail and commercial real
estate in Australia, New Zealand and the United States, including
entertainment-themed retail centers ("ETRC") in Australia and New
Zealand and live theater assets in Manhattan and Chicago in the
United States. Forward-Looking Statements This press release
contains certain statements that are "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements
are qualified by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding
future expectations generally and also may materially differ from
actual future experience involving any one or more of such
statements. Such risks and uncertainties include the possibility
that the actual market share of the acquired cinemas and
anticipated reduction in the acquisition financing will differ from
these forward-looking statements, as well the risks and
uncertainties set forth from time to time in RDI's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The inclusion of a
forward-looking statement in this press release should not be
regarded as a representation by RDI that its objectives will be
achieved. RDI undertakes no obligation to publicly update
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise. Contact Information: Reading
International, Inc. Andrzej Matyczynski Telephone: (213) 235-2240
DATASOURCE: Reading International, Inc. CONTACT: Andrzej
Matyczynski, of Reading International, Inc., +1-213-235-2240 Web
site: http://www.readingrdi.com/
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