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IMAX CORP

For the period ended Jun 30, 2024. Filed Jul 25, 2024.

View on SEC.gov

About this filing

A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.

Jun 30, 2024 · Filed Jul 25, 2024

IMAX$47.67-1.0%Stored close · as of Nov 6, 2026

What changed in Risk Factors?

Read the current filing

Previous report: 10-Q

Period ended 2024-03-31; filed 2024-04-25.

0000950170-24-047943

Item 1A. Risk FactorsUnregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Current report: 10-Q

Period ended 2024-06-30; filed 2024-07-25.

0000921582-24-000010

Item 1A. Risk FactorsUnregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.

Compared 9 previous paragraphs and 19 current paragraphs.

4 unchanged; 5 reworded; 10 added; 0 removed; 0 previous and 0 current paragraphs rearranged.

Tables are not compared: 1 previous and 1 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.

A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.

Added paragraphs (10)

Current report

The Company faces risks in connection with its significant presence in China and the continued expansion of its business there.

Current report

Greater China is the Company’s largest market by revenue, with approximately 26% of overall revenues generated from its Greater China operations for the six months ended June 30, 2024. As of June 30, 2024, the Company had 803 IMAX Systems operating in Greater China with an additional 263 systems in backlog, which represent 52% of the Company’s current backlog. Of the IMAX Systems currently scheduled to be installed in Greater China, 77% are under joint revenue sharing arrangements, which further increases the Company’s ongoing exposure to box office performance in this market.

Current report

The China market faces a number of risks, including a continued slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in laws and regulations, currency fluctuations, increased competition, and changes in economic conditions, including the risk of an economic downturn or recession, trade embargoes, restrictions or other barriers, as well as other conditions that may impact the Company’s exhibitor and studio partners, and consumer spending. The market’s slow recovery from the pandemic has caused some theatrical exhibitors in Mainland China, including several of the Company’s exhibitor partners, to experience financial difficulties which, in certain cases, has resulted in delays in meeting payment and theater system installation obligations to the Company. There are no guarantees that such financial difficulties will not continue, or that partner delays or failures to meet contractual obligations will not occur in the future, adversely impacting the Company’s future revenues and cash flows.

Current report

The Company does not believe that it is currently required to obtain any permission or approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the Cyberspace Administration of China or any other regulatory authority in the PRC for its operations, but there can be no assurance that such permissions or approvals would not be required in the future and, if required, that they would be granted in a timely manner, on acceptable terms, or at all. Furthermore, PRC regulators, including the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Public Security, have been increasingly focused on regulation in data security and data protection. Regulatory requirements concerning data protection and cybersecurity, as well as other requirements concerning operations of foreign businesses, in the PRC are evolving, and their enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation involve significant uncertainties. To the extent any additional PRC laws and regulations become applicable to the Company, it may be subject to increased risks and uncertainties associated with the legal system in the PRC, including with respect to the enforcement of laws and the possibility of changes of rules and regulations with little or no advance notice.

Current report

Certain risks and uncertainties of doing business in China are solely within the control of the Chinese government, and Chinese law regulates both the scope of the Company’s continued expansion in China and the Company’s business within China. For instance, the Chinese government regulates the number, timing, and terms of Hollywood films released to the China market. A number of prominent Hollywood films were denied release dates in China in 2021 and 2022, including several films released in IMAX format in other markets. While significantly more Hollywood films were given release dates in China in 2023 and 2024, several of the prominent Hollywood sequels or franchise films released into China have underperformed their predecessors in that market. The Company cannot provide assurance that the Chinese government will continue to permit the release of Hollywood IMAX films in China or that the timing, number or performance of IMAX releases will be favorable to the Company. There are also uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of laws and regulations and the enforceability of intellectual property and contract rights in China. If the Company were unable to navigate China’s regulatory environment, or if the Company were unable to enforce its intellectual property or contract rights in China, the Company’s business could be adversely impacted.

Current report

The worsening of United States–China political tensions could exacerbate any or all of these risks, and adverse developments in any of these areas could impact the Company’s future revenues and cash flows and could cause the Company to fail to achieve anticipated growth in Mainland China.

Current report

The Company may not convert all of its backlog into revenue and cash flows.

Current report

As of June 30, 2024, the Company’s backlog included 504 IMAX Systems, consisting of 177 IMAX Systems under sales or lease arrangements and 327 IMAX Systems under joint revenue sharing arrangements. The Company lists signed contracts for IMAX Systems for which revenue has not been recognized as backlog prior to the time of revenue recognition. The total value of the backlog represents all binding IMAX System sale or lease agreements scheduled to be installed in the future. Backlog value includes initial fees along with the estimated present value of contractual ongoing fees due over the term, and a variable consideration estimate for the IMAX Systems under sales arrangements, but excludes amounts allocated to maintenance and extended warranty revenues. Notwithstanding their legal obligations, some of the Company’s exhibition customers with which it has signed contracts may be delinquent in their contractual payments and/or not accept delivery of IMAX Systems that are included in the Company’s backlog. An economic or industry downturn may exacerbate exhibition customer liquidity constraints and the risk of customers not accepting delivery of IMAX Systems. Customers sometimes request that the Company agree to modify their obligations concerning systems in backlog, which the Company has agreed to do in the past under certain circumstances, and may agree to do in the future. Customer-requested delays in the installation of IMAX Systems in backlog remain a recurring and unpredictable part of the Company’s business. China’s slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has caused several of the Company’s exhibition partners there to delay payment or theater system installation obligations to the Company. Any reduction or change in backlog could adversely affect the Company’s future revenues and cash flows.

Current report

There is collection risk associated with payments to be received over the terms of the Company’s IMAX System agreements.

Current report

The Company is dependent in part on the viability of its exhibitors for collections under long-term leases, sales financing agreements, and joint revenue sharing arrangements. Exhibitors or other operators may experience financial difficulties that could cause them to be unable to fulfill their contractual payment obligations to the Company. As a result, the Company’s future revenues and cash flows could be adversely affected.
Reworded paragraphs (5)

Previous wording

This Form 10-Q should be read together with, and supplement, the risk factors in Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company’s 2023 Form 10-K, which describes various risks and uncertainties to which the Company is or may become subject. The risk factors included in the Company’s 2023 Form 10-K are not the only risks facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Company or that the Company currently deems to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect its business, financial condition and/or operating results.

Current wording

This Form 10-Q should be read together with, and supplement, the risk factors in Item 1A “Risk Factors” in the Company’s 2023 Form 10-K, which describes various risks and uncertainties to which the Company is or may become subject. The risk factors described below update certain risk factors included in the Company’s 2023 Form 10-K in light of recent events. The below risk factors and the risk factors included in the Company’s 2023 Form 10-K are not the only risks facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Company or that the Company currently deems to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect its business, financial condition and/or operating results.

Previous wording

On June 12, 2017, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a $200.0 million share repurchase program for its common shares that would have expired on June 30, 2020, which was subsequently extended for a 12-month period in 2020, 2021, and 2023 and increased in the total share repurchase authority to $400.0 million. In 2023, the Board of Directors approved a 36-month extension to the share repurchase program through June 30, 2026. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had $150.8 million available under the program. The repurchases may be made either in the open market or through private transactions, including repurchases made pursuant to a plan intended to comply with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements, and other relevant factors. The Company has no obligation to repurchase shares and the share repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued by the Company at any time.

Current wording

On June 12, 2017, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a $200.0 million share repurchase program for its common shares that would have expired on June 30, 2020, which was subsequently extended for a 12-month period in 2020, 2021, and 2022 and increased in the total share repurchase authority to $400.0 million. In 2023, the Board of Directors approved a 36-month extension to the share repurchase program through June 30, 2026. As of June 30, 2024, the Company had $150.7 million available under the program. The repurchases may be made either in the open market or through private transactions, including repurchases made pursuant to a plan intended to comply with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements, and other relevant factors. The Company has no obligation to repurchase shares and the share repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued by the Company at any time.

Previous wording

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company repurchased 1,158,724 common shares at an average price of $13.99 per share for a total of $16.2 million, excluding commission. All share repurchases were made under the Company’s publicly announced program, and there are no other programs under which the Company repurchases shares.

Current wording

During the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Company repurchased 7,646 common shares at an average price of $14.98 per share for a total of $0.1 million, excluding commission. All share repurchases were made under the Company’s publicly announced program, and there are no other programs under which the Company repurchases shares.

Previous wording

In 2022, IMAX China’s shareholders granted its Board of Directors a general mandate authorizing the Board, subject to applicable laws, to repurchase shares of IMAX China not to exceed 10% of the total number of issued shares as of June 23, 2022 (34,063,480 shares). This program expired on the date of the 2023 Annual General Meeting of IMAX China on June 6, 2023. During the 2023 Annual General Meeting, shareholders approved the repurchase of shares of IMAX China not to exceed 10% of the total number of shares as of June 7, 2023 (33,959,314 shares). This program will be valid until the 2024 Annual General Meeting of IMAX China. The repurchases may be made in the open market or through other means permitted by applicable laws. IMAX China has no obligation to repurchase its shares and the share repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued by IMAX China at any time. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, IMAX China did not repurchase any common shares.

Current wording

In 2023, IMAX China's shareholders granted its Board of Directors a general mandate authorizing the Board, subject to applicable laws, to repurchase shares of IMAX China not to exceed 10% of the total number of issued shares as of June 7, 2023 (33,959,314 shares). This program expired on the date of the 2024 Annual General Meeting of IMAX China on June 7, 2024. During the 2024 Annual General Meeting, shareholders approved the repurchase of shares of IMAX China not to exceed 10% of the total number of shares as of June 7, 2024 (34,000,845 shares). This program will be valid until the 2025 Annual General Meeting of IMAX China. The repurchases may be made in the open market or through other means permitted by applicable laws. IMAX China has no obligation to repurchase its shares and the share repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued by IMAX China at any time. During the three months ended June 30, 2024, IMAX China repurchased 119,900 ordinary shares at an average price of HKD 7.43 per share ($0.95 per share) for a total of HKD 0.9 million ($0.1 million).

Previous wording

See Note 6 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 for a summary of the material terms and conditions of the Company’s revolving credit facility, which include a limitation of the number of permitted share repurchases.

Current wording

(Refer to Note 6 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 for a summary of the material terms and conditions of the Company’s revolving credit facility, which include a limitation of the amount of permitted share repurchases.)