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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: Regal Responds about Carmike and State of Theater Industry
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Tyler Skinner
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 115
From: Pa
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-14-2000 07:08 PM
To: Corporate Employees, Theatre Managers From: Michael L. Campbell Date: August 14, 2000 I m sure that all of you are hearing or have heard the rumors surrounding our industry. These rumors were sparked by last Tuesday s news of Carmike filing for bankruptcy protection. The press has also been full of news of other exhibitor s problems, even speculating on future filings for bankruptcy protection. The industry is going through difficult times. We are all struggling with excess capacity, over-leveraged balance sheets, and limited availability to additional capital.
We are no exception. We were obviously very disappointed with the second quarter results. The June box office was down approximately 16%, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation & amortization (EBITDA) was down approximately 12%. However, our company has been aggressive and will continue to be aggressive in dealing with the issues that face us in this difficult environment. As a circuit, we are curtailing our capital programs and working to accelerate our screen closings. We have done an extensive strategic review of each of our theatres and each of our markets and have targeted a significant number of sites and markets for potential closure or disposal. We are also pursuing a number of operations / profit enhancing initiatives. We have engaged outside resources to help us implement this plan. By using outside resources, management can focus on maximizing results from our base of high performance sites that will remain long-term quality assets for the company. In addition to our operational restructuring efforts, the Company remains focused on generating additional sources of liquidity. We believe that as of today, we have an adequate liquidity reserve for the balance of the fiscal year. We have negotiated $45 million in sale - leaseback transactions, of which $20 million has already been received. The company is also evaluating other liquidity sources including without limitation additional financing and the sale of certain non - strategic assets. There is no doubt that this is a tough operating environment, and will likely remain difficult while the industry rationalization of its screens progresses. For our part, we intend to continue to be a leader in the industry. We intend to implement our restructuring plan as quickly and in as non disruptive a way as possible. We intend to continue to proactively look for solutions. Even in our tough industry environment, we continue to have our employees best interests at heart. We appreciate your continued enthusiasm and commitment to this Company and the theatre industry. As the dust settles over the next couple of years, we are confident that our industry will rebound as it has numerous times before in the face of adversity. Thank You, Mike Campbell Chief Executive Officer
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Scott D. Neff
Theatre Dork
Posts: 919
From: San Francisco, CA
Registered: Oct 1999
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posted 08-15-2000 12:44 PM
Our company has stripped out many many theatres that were not our own. And yes -- EVERYTHING is taken -- from ceiling to floor.Things I never would think about - the owner takes. Door closers, exit signs, emregency lights, railings, etc. EVERYTHING. Although ususally the seats are old and dingy so we leave those. If anybody needs a theatre cleaned out --- we're pros.
------------------ Scott D. Neff ---------------- www.cinema-west.com
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Russ Kress
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 202
From: Charleston, WV, USA
Registered: May 2000
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posted 08-15-2000 11:21 PM
Tyler, I too have done this before, only on a smaller scale. We would send out up-beat communications to theatres even as our fleet of U-Hauls was proceeding to the next victim!In our hey-day (at my previous company), all concession and booth supplies became sunk costs once they were delivered to theatres. All of the sudden, corporate had us inventorying and calculating values for all stock and supplies previously delivered. When my boss (and friend) finally came to me and advised that I have an alternate employer lined up, he was pleased to find that I already had a list of prospects that I shared with him! Some of these big players today owe more than all of their un-used xenon lamps and popcorn cups will ever add up to. The president of that chain was a "Mike Cambell" wan-a-be, so that little chain just folded sooner. Good luck to you. Russ
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Jason Burroughs
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 654
From: Allen, TX
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 08-17-2000 01:03 PM
I think that there were several factors that killed the Skillman, Yes Cinemark did a fantastic job of remodeling the theatre, but it may not have been enough, It was only 6 screens and was the typical UA "Shoebox" configuration, it didn't have the featrues of the new theatres just down the highway: Better sightlines, Stadium Seating, etc, UA ran the theatre into the ground and I don't think it ever recoverd from that reputation. Plus I heard there was some stink over the lease agreement, Supposedly UA stated that when the let go of their lease that the building could no longer be used for first run exhibition, I was run semi-successfully as a sub run house by an independent for a little while and later by cinemark, who remodeled it completely, and continued to run it as a sub-run for a little while, but then they changed it to a first run, upsetting UA. Even the Walunt Hill theatre has long been since closed and is now opening as a gentleman's club I belive. The AMC Prestonwood is now a series of night clubs as well.
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