Reading International Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Results 

and COVID-19 Business Update



Earnings Call Webcast to Discuss 2021 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results and COVID-19 Updates

Scheduled to Post to Corporate Website on Friday,  March 18, 2022



New York,  New York - (BUSINESS WIRE) March 16, 2022:  Reading International, Inc. (NASDAQ: RDI), an internationally diversified cinema and real estate company with operations and assets in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, today announced its results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2021.



President and Chief Executive Officer, Ellen Cotter said, “Our financial results for the fourth quarter 2021 were the strongest quarterly results since the onset of the pandemic. We reported significant improvement in earnings per share, worldwide revenues, and operating income at our global cinemas, despite the continuing pandemic challenges, including government mandated cinema closures for the early part of Q4 2021 in Australia and New Zealand and mandated seating capacity restrictions in certain markets.  We were also pleased to announce in February 2022 that, following the completion of construction and lease negotiations through the pandemic, we executed a long-term lease with a national retailer for three levels of our 44 Union Square building in New York City.” 



“The recent blockbuster performances of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Uncharted and The Batman at the global box office reinforce our confidence in the recovery of our global cinema business. Additionally, our belief that specialty audiences will continue seeing great films in a shared cinema environment was supported by the recent box office performance of films like The French Dispatch, Licorice Pizza, The Worst Person in the World and Parallel Mothers.”



“To date, our ‘two business/three country’ diversified business strategy has successfully supported our Company. I want to recognize and thank our employees whose dedication and hard work over the last two years have been instrumental in sustaining our Company through these difficult times. Throughout the pandemic, we looked solely to our own resources and took the steps that were, in our view, the most likely to protect our Company, our stockholders, employees, lenders and other major stakeholders while at the same time protecting our Company’s future. We re-evaluated our real estate portfolio in light of our liquidity needs and capital constraints and monetized five of our real estate assets, which were primarily non-income producing land or assets that would have required substantial capital investment to achieve any material enhancement in value, generating $142.0 million in cash. Our progress comes despite our ineligibility for any federal funding in the U.S. through the Shuttered Venue Operating Grant (SVOG) program given our public company status. Over the coming months, we will continue to pursue government funding that may become available to further bolster our recovery post-pandemic, however there is no assurance that such funding will be granted.” 



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Key Financial Results for Fourth Quarter of 2021















Key Financial Results for the Full Year 2021















Key Highlights from Our Cinema Business



Despite mandated cinema closures in the early part of Q4 2021 in Australia and New Zealand and seat capacity restrictions in certain markets, we achieved a cinema operating income of $2.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2021; our first quarter of positive operating income since the onset of the pandemic. Our global cinema revenues of $47.2 million increased by 288.8% in the fourth quarter of 2021, when compared to the same period in 2020. Our global cinema revenues for the year-ended December 31, 2021,  compared to 2020, increased by 89% to $126.8 million and our global cinema operating loss decreased by 59% to a loss of $18.6 million. As vaccination rates increased and certain government-imposed restrictions decreased, major movie studios began to release blockbuster films, like Spider-Man No Way Home, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and No Time to Die.



As of the date of this earnings release,  none of our cinemas are closed due to COVID-19. Further, we have not had to close any theaters due to foreclosures or lease terminations.



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Reinforcing our commitment to the strength of the cinema business, we continued investing in our cinema portfolio during 2021: (i) in June 2021, we opened a new state-of-the-art six-screen Reading Cinemas with two TITAN LUXE screens at Millers Junction Village, Victoria in Australia, (ii) in December 2021, we opened a new five screen Reading Cinemas in Traralgon, Victoria in Australia, (iii) in November 2021, we re-opened our Consolidated Theatre at the Kahala Mall in Honolulu following a renovation featuring conversion of all screens to recliner seating and the addition of a state-of-the art-kitchen and lobby redesign, and (iv) in Q4 2021, we commenced the renovation of our Consolidated Theatre in Kapolei in Western Oahu, Hawaii, which relaunched on March 3, 2022 with eight screens featuring recliner seating and a renovation of the lobby areas.



Key Highlights from Our Real Estate Business



Our global real estate revenues for the fourth quarter 2021 compared to 2020,  decreased by 7% to $2.8 million and our global real estate operating loss was $1.5 million. These results reflect (i) increased property carrying costs related to our 44 Union Square property, which had been capitalized in the past, as well as the commencement of depreciation for this property, and (ii) a decrease in property rental income in Australia due to the monetization of our Auburn/Redyard center during the second quarter of 2021.  However, our Live Theatres in New York City reported increased operating income during the fourth quarter 2021 as both the Orpheum and Minetta Lane Theatres were open and holding public performances for most of the fourth quarter 2021.



Our global real estate revenues for the year-ended December 31, 2021, compared to 2020,  decreased by 2% to $12.8 million and our global real estate operating loss was $5.4 million.  A decrease in property rental income in Australia due to the monetization of our Auburn/Redyard center during the second quarter of 2021, negatively impacted our annual results. But, again, the operating income of our Live Theatres in New York City increased compared to 2020, when the theaters closed in mid-March 2020 due to the pandemic. 



Strategic Asset Monetizations



Australia



On June 9, 2021,  we monetized our Auburn/Redyard center for $69.6 million (AU$90.0 million). We recognized a gain on sale after costs to sell of $38.7 million (AU$50.1 million) over our $30.2 million (AU$39.1 million) net book value. As part of the transaction, we entered into a lease with the purchaser to continue to operate our Reading Cinema at Auburn/Redyard.



New Zealand



On March 4, 2021,  we monetized our two industrial properties adjacent to the Auckland Airport in Manukau/Wiri in New Zealand, representing 70.4 acres, for $56.1 million (NZ $77.2 million). We recognized a gain on sale after costs to sell of $41.0 million (NZ$56.3 million) over our $13.6 million (NZ$18.7 million) net book value.



On August 30, 2021, we sold our cinema building and ancillary land in Invercargill for $3.8 million (NZ$5.4 million) to the owner of the adjacent shopping center property, which is currently undergoing a major redevelopment. As part of the transaction, we entered into a lease with the purchaser to continue to operate our Reading Cinema.



United States



On March 5, 2021, we monetized our approximately 202-acre raw land holdings in Coachella, California for $11.0 million (recognizing a gain on sale after costs to sell of $6.3 million over our $4.4 million net book value). As a 50% member of Shadow View Land and Farming LLC, the entity that owned the property, our Company received 50% of the sale proceeds, being $5.3 million. As raw land, this asset produced no operating income while continuing to generate carrying costs, such as taxes, insurance and maintenance.



On June 30, 2021, we monetized our Royal George Theatre property in Chicago for $7.1 million. We realized a gain on sale after costs to sell of $5.0 million over our $1.8 million net book value.



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Our Balance Sheet, Cash, and Liquidity



As of December 31, 2021,  our cash and cash equivalents were $83.3 million, which included approximately $10.9 million in the U.S., $49.5 million in Australia and $22.8 million in New Zealand. As of December 31, 2021,  our total outstanding bank borrowings were $236.9 million against total book value assets of $687.7 million. Through the pandemic, our top financial priority has been liquidity management. 



In response to the pandemic, we implemented the following:





For more information about our borrowings, please refer to Note 11 – Borrowings of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.







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Conference Call and Webcast



We plan to post our pre-recorded conference call and audio webcast on our corporate website on March 18, 2022, which will feature prepared remarks from Ellen Cotter, President and Chief Executive Officer; Gilbert Avanes, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; and Andrzej Matyczynski, Executive Vice President - Global Operations. 



A pre-recorded question and answer session will follow our formal remarks. Questions and topics for consideration should be submitted to InvestorRelations@readingrdi.com on March 17, 2022 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The audio webcast can be accessed by visiting https://investor.readingrdi.com/financials.



About Reading International, Inc.



Reading International, Inc. (NASDAQ: RDI), an internationally diversified cinema and real estate company operating through various domestic and international subsidiaries, is a leading entertainment and real estate company, engaging in the development, ownership, and operation of cinemas and retail and commercial real estate in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.



Reading’s cinema subsidiaries operate under multiple cinema brands: Reading Cinemas, Angelika Film Centers, Consolidated Theatres, and the State Cinema. Its live theatres are owned and operated by its Liberty Theaters subsidiary, under the Orpheum and Minetta Lane names. Its signature property developments are maintained in special purpose entities and operated under the names Newmarket Village, Cannon Park, and The Belmont Common in Australia, Courtenay Central in New Zealand, and 44 Union Square in New York City.



Additional information about Reading can be obtained from the Company's website: http://www.readingrdi.com.



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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements



This earnings release contains a variety of forward-looking statements as defined by the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those related to our expected ability to keep our cinemas and theatres open to the public and the availability of compelling movie content; our expected operated results; our belief regarding our business structure and diversification strategy; our belief regarding our ability to obtain additional rent relief from our cinema landlords; our belief regarding the branding and marketability of 44 Union Square to potential tenants; our expectations regarding credit facility covenant compliance and our ability to continue to obtain any necessary covenant waivers; and our expectations of our liquidity and capital requirements and the allocation of funds. You can recognize these statements by our use of words, such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” and “anticipate” or other similar terminology.



Given the variety and unpredictability of the factors that will ultimately influence our businesses and our results of operation, no guarantees can be given that any of our forward-looking statements will ultimately prove to be correct. Actual results will undoubtedly vary and there is no guarantee as to how our securities will perform either when considered in isolation or when compared to other securities or investment opportunities.



Forward-looking statements made by us in this earnings release are based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or to revise any of our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable law. Accordingly, you should always note the date to which our forward-looking statements speak.



Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, those factors discussed throughout Part I, Item 1A – Risk Factors – and Part II Item 7 – Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year, as well as the risk factors set forth in any other filings made under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, including any of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, for more information.



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Reading International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(U.S. dollars in thousands, except share information)











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Reading International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(U.S. dollars in thousands, except share information)

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Reading International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Segment Results

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Reading International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss)

(U.S. dollars in thousands)









Non-GAAP Financial Measures



This Earnings Release presents total segment operating income (loss), EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA, which are important financial measures for our Company, but are not financial measures defined by U.S. GAAP.



These measures should be reviewed in conjunction with the relevant U.S. GAAP financial measures and are not presented as alternative measures of earnings (loss) per share, cash flows or net income (loss) as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Total segment operating income (loss) and EBITDA, as we have calculated them, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.



Total segment operating income (loss) – we evaluate the performance of our business segments based on segment operating income (loss), and management uses total segment operating income (loss) as a measure of the performance of operating businesses separate from non-operating factors. We believe that information about total segment operating income (loss) assists investors by allowing them to evaluate changes in the operating results of our Company’s business separate from non-operational factors that affect net income (loss), thus providing separate insight into both operations and the other factors that affect reported results.



EBITDA – We use EBITDA in the evaluation of our Company’s performance since we believe that EBITDA provides a useful measure of financial performance and value. We believe this principally for the following reasons:



We believe that EBITDA is an accepted industry-wide comparative measure of financial performance. It is, in our experience, a measure commonly adopted by analysts and financial commentators who report upon the cinema exhibition and real estate industries, and it is also a measure used by financial institutions in underwriting the creditworthiness of companies in these industries. Accordingly, our management monitors this calculation as a method of judging our performance against our peers, market expectations, and our creditworthiness. It is widely accepted that analysts, financial commentators, and persons active in the cinema exhibition and real estate industries typically value enterprises engaged in these businesses at various multiples of EBITDA. Accordingly, we find EBITDA valuable as an indicator of the underlying value of our businesses. We expect that investors may use EBITDA to judge our ability to generate cash, as a basis of comparison to other companies engaged in the cinema exhibition and real estate businesses and as a basis to value our company against such other companies.



EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America and it should not be considered in isolation or construed as a substitute for net income (loss) or other operations data or cash flow data prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States for purposes of analyzing our profitability. The exclusion of various components, such as interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, limits the usefulness of these measures when assessing our financial performance, as not all funds depicted by EBITDA are available for management’s discretionary use. For example, a substantial portion

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of such funds may be subject to contractual restrictions and functional requirements to service debt, to fund necessary capital expenditures, and to meet other commitments from time to time.



EBITDA also fails to take into account the cost of interest and taxes. Interest is clearly a real cost that for us is paid periodically as accrued. Taxes may or may not be a current cash item but are nevertheless real costs that, in most situations, must eventually be paid. A company that realizes taxable earnings in high tax jurisdictions may, ultimately, be less valuable than a company that realizes the same amount of taxable earnings in a low tax jurisdiction. EBITDA fails to take into account the cost of depreciation and amortization and the fact that assets will eventually wear out and have to be replaced.



Adjusted EBITDA – using the principles we consistently apply to determine our EBITDA, we further adjusted the EBITDA for certain items we believe to be external to our core business and not reflective of our costs of doing business or results of operation. Specifically, we have adjusted for (i) legal expenses relating to extraordinary litigation, and (ii) any other items that can be considered non-recurring in accordance with the two-year SEC requirement for determining an item is non-recurring, infrequent or unusual in nature.

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