AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. Completes Acquisition of Nordic Cinema Group

Press Release

LEAWOOD, Kan. & STOCKHOLM–(BUSINESS WIRE)– AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AMC) (“AMC”), the world’s largest movie exhibitor, announced today it has completed its acquisition of Stockholm-based Nordic Cinema Group Holding AB (“Nordic”), the largest theatre operator in the Nordic and Baltic countries. AMC completed the purchase in all-cash transaction of SEK 5,756 million (USD $651.9 million), which includes payment of interest on the equity value and repayment of shareholder loans. In addition, AMC repaid indebtedness of Nordic of approximately SEK 1,274 million (USD $144.3 million) and indebtedness of approximately EUR €156 million (USD $168.2 million) as of March 28, 2017. All amounts have been converted into US Dollar amounts assuming an SEK/USD exchange rate of .11326 and a EUR/USD exchange rate of 1.0783, which were the exchange rates on March 23, 2017.

With Nordic added to its portfolio of theatre assets in Europe and the U.S., AMC has hit the never-before-reached movie exhibitor milestones of 1,000 theatres and 11,000 screens across the globe. AMC now operates theatres in 15 countries, is the market leader in nine of those, and is the largest operator in each of the U.S., and Europe and worldwide.

Nordic will operate as a subsidiary of London-based Odeon Cinemas Group, which AMC acquired in November of 2016. Jan Bernhardsson, formerly President and CEO of Nordic Cinema Group, has been promoted to become Chief Operating Officer of Odeon Cinemas Group and Executive Vice President, AMC Europe. Jan will be in charge of all the AMC controlled theatres across 14 countries in Europe, and will report to Mark Way, Managing Director of Odeon Cinemas and President, AMC Europe.

Nordic collectively has 68 theatres with 463 screens and approximately 68,000 seats in nearly 50 large and medium-sized cities in the Nordic and Baltic nations, and a substantial minority investment (approximately 50%) in another 50 associated theatres with 201 screens, to which it provides a variety of shared services. Nordic theatres are number one in market share in Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and currently number two in market share in Norway. With a new theatre scheduled to open next year in Norway, Nordic is expected to increase market share to number one here as well. Additional associated theatres also operate in Denmark.

All Nordic activities are conducted locally in seven markets under several brands, including SF Bio in Sweden, SF Kino in Norway, Finnkino in Finland, and Forum Cinemas in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Nordic had approximately SEK 2,938 million ($349 million USD)¹ of revenue in 2015, including box office revenues of SEK 1,928 million ($229 million USD)¹. Total revenues for the 12-month period ended September 30, 2016, were SEK 3,159 million ($375 million USD)² and operating margins for that 12-month period exceeded those of AMC.

AMC purchased Nordic from European private equity firm Bridgepoint and Swedish media group Bonnier Holding. The transaction received antitrust clearance by the European Commission on March 21, 2017.

The Combined Companies After Transaction Close

With the transaction now complete, Odeon Cinemas Group has 361 theatres and 2,926 screens in its European portfolio, including theatres it directly operates and associate theatres. In addition to its Nordic subsidiaries, Odeon also operates 243 theatres with 2,262 screens in its four primary markets: Odeon theatres in the U.K./Ireland, UCI theatres in Italy and Portugal, UCI Kinowelt in Germany/Austria, and Cinesa in Spain. Odeon Cinemas Group is the largest operator in the U.K./Ireland, Italy and Spain, the number two market share in Austria and Portugal and the number four market share in Germany.

Transaction Rationale

• Highly profitable circuit with minimal deferred capital expenditures: Nordic theatres are highly profitable, with attractive operating margins and free cash flow generation. Nordic has a track record of multiple years of growth. Nordic’s theatres generally are in excellent condition and the circuit has been updated to like-new condition over the last few years. Accordingly, capital expenditure needs going forward for the existing theatres are expected to be modest.
• #1 Market share leadership position: Nordic is the current market share leader in five of the seven countries in which it operates, including Sweden and Finland, and is the #2 exhibitor in Norway, which are among the wealthiest countries in the world. The market share position in Norway is expected to increase to #1 when a new theatre opens in Oslo in 2018. Average market share across the circuit now exceeds 50%.
• Strong value proposition from a pipeline of development theatres: Nordic currently has 10 theatres in active development or re-development, across six countries, with most of these expected to open in 2017 and 2018. These new theatres represent a key valuation component underlying AMC’s acquisition decision, as AMC believes these theatres will deliver significant revenue and earnings growth.
• Extremely well run company and able management team: Senior executives in Nordic’s highly capable and proven management team have two decades of theatre experience and will join the well-regarded team at Odeon Cinemas Group.
• Solidifies AMC’s #1 position and expands global platform: The Nordic acquisition enhances AMC’s position as the #1 movie exhibition company in Europe going forward, and broadens and diversifies AMC’s European platform. Adding Nordic to AMC creates an established presence for AMC across 15 countries with approximately 1,000 theatres and 11,000 screens and positions AMC with substantial scale, diversification and growth opportunities.

Comments

“This acquisition contributes immediately to AMC’s continuing growth, furthers our geographic diversification and provides the potential for significant future growth opportunities in key European markets,” said AMC CEO and President Adam Aron. “A primary motivation for this acquisition was the fact that Nordic is an extremely well-run, modern and fast growing circuit. It is also an important consideration that the leadership of Odeon will be strengthened as talented leaders from the Nordic team, especially including President and CEO Jan Bernhardsson, will assume additional duties for AMC as we continue to build our industry-leading European movie exhibition business. Clearly, Europe will be a significant part of the AMC growth story, and AMC looks forward to bringing to Europe the innovative theatre experiences for which we are known in the U.S. to delight movie fans across Europe.”

Mark Way, Managing Director Odeon Cinemas Group and President, AMC Europe, remarked, “Uniting the Odeon and Nordic teams brings together some of the most experienced and respected cinema operators in Europe. Our businesses are built on very similar values of developing excellent cinemas, creating amazing experiences for our guests, and offering fantastic careers for our people. We’ll create a successful integrated business that delivers further growth through market leading experiences for our guests”.

Jan Bernhardsson, Chief Operating Officer of Odeon Cinemas and Executive Vice President, AMC Europe, added, “I am excited to be joining Odeon and AMC. The market leading positions of Odeon and Nordic are already impressive, and together we will be even stronger. The prospects ahead for AMC in Europe are ever so bright.”

Additional Details

• AMC expects to realize approximately $5 million of annual cost synergies.
• AMC will continue to be headquartered in Leawood, Kansas. Adam Aron will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer and President, and Craig Ramsey will continue to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
• AMC expects to maintain its current quarterly dividend.
• Citi served as exclusive financial advisor to AMC in the transaction. Pinsent Masons LLP; Husch Blackwell LLP; Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and Lindahl served as AMC’s lead legal advisors.