AMC Theatres (AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc.) (NYSE: AMC) ("AMC") and Carmike Cinemas, Inc. (NASDAQ: CKEC) ("Carmike") announced today they have entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which AMC will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Carmike for $30.00 per share in cash. The transaction is valued at approximately $1.1 billion, including the assumption of Carmike net indebtedness. The purchase price per screen is approximately $376,000, and the per share purchase price represents an approximate 19.47% premium to Carmike's March 3, 2016 closing stock price.
"Our combination with
AMC is a transformative milestone for Carmike and one that provides significant value to Carmike shareholders"
AMC is one of the nation's premier entertainment companies with 5,426 screens and the most productive theatres in the country's top markets. Carmike, America's hometown theatre circuit, has 2,954 screens, primarily located in mid-size, non-urban communities. Together
AMC and Carmike would have well over 600 theatre locations in 45 states across the country, including the District of Columbia. The transaction is expected to provide significant growth for
AMC and will allow it to bring its innovative amenities and best-in-class customer experience to enhance the movie-going experience for more customers in more areas.
The transaction is expected to result in free cash flow per share accretion, exclusive of one-time transaction-related charges, in 2017 and beyond, and is expected to produce annual cost synergies of approximately $35 million. Other key benefits of the transaction include:
Diversifying AMC's footprint by adding theatres with complementary geographic and guest demographic profiles that strengthen the combined company's admissions growth potential with limited geographic overlap;
Expanding AMC's proven and successful guest experience strategies to millions of new guests in complementary markets;
Reducing related General and Administrative expenses by combining back-of-the-house functions such as accounting, finance and technology. The result is a more efficient and effective competitor through greater scale, scope and expertise. The combined company will be headquartered in Leawood, Kansas. Adam Aron will serve as Chief Executive Officer and President, and Craig Ramsey will serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer;
The maintenance of AMC's quarterly dividend;
The maintenance of AMC's balance sheet flexibility and attractive
LEVERAGE profile; and
AMC's receiving substantial additional value in NCM LLC, a subsidiary of National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCMI).
Commenting on the transaction,
AMC Chief Executive Officer and President, Adam Aron said, "This is a compelling transaction that brings together two great companies with complementary strengths to create substantial value for our guests and shareholders. Through this transaction we expect to unlock synergies, sufficient we believe to make this transaction accretive in 2017.
AMC also gets to extend the reach of our innovative, guest-experience strategies to further transform the movie-going experience for millions of new guests. We also look forward to welcoming so many talented Carmike employees to the
AMC team."
"Our combination with
AMC is a transformative milestone for Carmike and one that provides significant value to Carmike shareholders," stated David Passman, Carmike President and Chief Executive Officer. "By joining with AMC, we are bringing together two highly complementary theatre footprints and a shared commitment to service and innovation, positioning the combined company to deliver an even more compelling movie-going experience in many more locations across the country. I am proud of the Carmike employees whose dedication and hard work have made this combination and its many benefits possible. We look forward to working together with the
AMC team to complete the transaction and to ensure a seamless transition."
Aron added, "By broadening AMC's geographic and demographic base for delivering our groundbreaking guest experience innovations in comfort and convenience -- such as plush power-recliners, enhanced food and beverage, premium sight and sound, greater guest engagement and targeted programming --
AMC is poised to deliver the best possible movie experience to more movie-goers than ever before."
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