National CineMedia, Inc.
For the period ended Sep 25, 2025. Filed Oct 30, 2025.
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Sep 25, 2025 · Filed Oct 30, 2025
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Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
- THE COMPANY
Description of Business
National CineMedia, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“NCM, Inc.”), is a holding company with the sole purpose of becoming a member and sole manager of National CineMedia, LLC (“NCM LLC”), a Delaware limited liability company. NCM, Inc. currently owns 100.0% of NCM LLC. The terms “NCM”, “the Company” or “we” shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be deemed to reference the consolidated entity.
National CineMedia is the largest cinema advertising platform in the U.S. With unparalleled reach and scale, NCM connects brands to sought-after young, diverse audiences through the power of movies and pop culture. A premium video, full-funnel marketing solution for advertisers, NCM enhances advertisers’ ability to measure and drive results. NCM’s Noovie® Show is presented exclusively in 42 leading national and regional theater circuits including the only three national chains, Cinemark USA, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (“Cinemark”), American Multi-Cinema, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AMC Entertainment, Inc. (“AMC”) and Regal Cinemas, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cineworld Group plc and Regal Entertainment Group (“Regal”). NCM’s cinema advertising platform consists of more than 17,500 screens in over 1,350 theaters in 184 Designated Market Areas® (“DMA®”), including all of the top 50.
The Company has long-term exhibitor service agreements (“ESAs”) with Cinemark and AMC and long-term agreements with certain network affiliates, including Regal, which grant the Company the exclusive right in their respective theaters to sell advertising, subject to limited exceptions. As of September 25, 2025, the weighted average remaining term of the ESAs with Cinemark and AMC was approximately 15.9 years. The network affiliate agreements expire at various dates between January 2026 and July 2033. The weighted average remaining term of the ESAs and the network affiliate agreements together is 12.1 years as of September 25, 2025.
Bankruptcy Filing, Deconsolidation and Reconsolidation of NCM LLC
On April 11, 2023, NCM LLC filed a voluntary petition for reorganization (the “Chapter 11 Case”) with a prearranged Chapter 11 plan under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (“Bankruptcy Court”). During the Chapter 11 Case, the Company was deemed to no longer control NCM LLC for accounting purposes and NCM LLC was deconsolidated from the Company’s financial statements prospectively as of April 11, 2023 and the Company recorded a gain on deconsolidation of $557.7 million within the second quarter of 2023. NCM, Inc. continued to operate as the manager of the debtor-in-possession pursuant to the authority granted under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code throughout the Chapter 11 Case.
On June 27, 2023, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order (the “Confirmation Order”) confirming NCM LLC’s Modified First Amended Plan of Reorganization of National CineMedia, LLC Pursuant to Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code [Docket No. 428] (as may be amended, modified, or supplemented form time to time, the “Plan”) and approving the Amended Disclosure Statement for First Amended Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of National CineMedia, LLC [Docket No. 250] (the “Disclosure Statement”) on a final basis. Following confirmation of the Plan on August 7, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), all the conditions to effectiveness of the Plan were satisfied or waived, the Restructuring Transactions (as defined in the “Plan”) were substantially consummated and NCM LLC emerged from bankruptcy. Among other things, on the Effective Date, in accordance with the Plan, all common units under NCM LLC’s Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement (the “NCM LLC Operating Agreement”) were canceled and extinguished, NCM, Inc. received NCM LLC common units and transferred the NCM Capital Contribution (as defined in the Plan) of approximately $15.5 million to NCM LLC, NCM LLC assumed certain unexpired Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases (each, as defined in the Plan), including AMC’s and Cinemark’s ESAs, NCM LLC transferred $8.8 million of cash to a professional fees escrow account and $15.0 million to an unsecured creditor settlements escrow account for the General Unsecured Claim Pool (as defined in the Plan). NCM LLC commenced distributions to creditors, including the issuance of shares of NCM, Inc. common stock to holders of Secured Debt Claims (as defined in the Plan) and NCM LLC entered into an Exit Facility (as defined in the Plan and also referred to as the "Revolving Credit Facility 2023") to support operations upon emergence. As a result of the Plan, all historical debt of NCM LLC was discharged and NCM LLC recorded a gain on bankruptcy of $916.4 million for the year ended December 28, 2023.
Additionally, upon emergence from bankruptcy, NCM, Inc., regained control and retained 100.0% ownership of NCM LLC, after taking into account elections by the holders of Secured Debt Claims to receive NCM, Inc. common stock in lieu of NCM LLC common units and NCM LLC was therefore reconsolidated into the Company’s financial statements prospectively, as of August 7, 2023, akin to an acquisition under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 805 – Business Combinations. In accordance with ASC 805– Business Combinations, the assets and liabilities of NCM LLC were adjusted to their estimated fair value as of the Effective Date. All activity during the Chapter 11 Case from April 11, 2023 to August 7, 2023 when NCM LLC was deconsolidated from NCM, Inc. represents activity and balances for NCM, Inc. standalone. All activity and balances prior to the deconsolidation of NCM LLC on April 11, 2023 and after the reconsolidation of NCM LLC on August 7, 2023 represent NCM, Inc. consolidated, inclusive of NCM LLC.
As of September 25, 2025, the Company had not completed all agreed upon payments to the General Unsecured Claim Pool and held a total of $3.0 million within the escrow accounts and accruals, presented within ‘Restricted cash’ and ‘Accounts payable’ on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 25, 2025. On March 28, 2025, a final decree was entered by the Bankruptcy Court administratively closing the Chapter 11 Case. After this administrative closing, the Bankruptcy Court will continue to have jurisdiction over the ongoing claims related to the Chapter 11 Case.
Other Developments
Following redemptions of their outstanding membership units in 2022 and 2023, Cinemark and AMC's ownership interests in NCM LLC were reduced to 0.0%. On April 1, 2024, in accordance with the Common Unit Adjustment Agreement, NCM LLC issued 132,096 and 3,377 common membership units to Cinemark and AMC, respectively. On April 16, 2024, the Company elected to satisfy a redemption request from Cinemark for all of their outstanding common membership units through a cash settlement as provided in NCM LLC’s Operating Agreement. This redemption reduced Cinemark’s ownership interest in NCM LLC to 0.0% as of April 16, 2024. During the quarter ended March 27, 2025, in accordance with the Common Unit Adjustment Agreement, NCM LLC calculated a reduction of common membership units for AMC and Cinemark to be settled on April 2, 2025. During the quarter ended March 27, 2025, Cinemark, who held no membership units, remitted cash to settle the negative common membership unit adjustment. AMC returned all of their units during the quarter ended June 26, 2025 to partially settle the negative common membership unit adjustment. As of September 25, 2025, AMC and Cinemark holdno ownership interest in NCM LLC and, in accordance with the AMC Termination Agreement (as defined below), AMC is no longer a party to the Common Unit Adjustment Agreement and will no longer receive common membership units. AMC and Cinemark and their affiliates are referred to in this document as “ESA Parties”.
On April 17, 2025, the Company and AMC, entered into the Second Amended and Restated Exhibitor Services Agreement (the “2025 AMC Agreement”) and a separate termination agreement (the “AMC Termination Agreement”) by and among NCM LLC, NCM, Inc. and AMC. The 2025 AMC Agreement extended the term of the ESA byfive years and more closely aligns the program distributed by NCM LLC in AMC theaters to the predominant pre-feature program show structure distributed in the rest of NCM LLC's advertising network and adjusted the consideration paid by NCM LLC. The AMC Termination Agreement waived AMC’s rights under certain agreements entered into at the time of the IPO. The agreements were accounted for in accordance with the lease modification guidance within ASC 842—Leases, as the amended ESA contains a short-term operating lease of AMC’s screens. The agreements were considered combined as they were entered into contemporaneously by the same parties. As a result of the agreements, in the quarter ended June 26, 2025, NCM LLC released $21.6 million of the 'Payable under the TRA' and reversed the receivable of $10.6 million from AMC, related to unpaid integration payments, and released the receivable under the Common Unit Adjustment Agreement within 'Prepaid expenses and other assets' on the Company's unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. NCM will no longer have an obligation to make TRA payments to AMC, provide common units as a part of the Common Unit Adjustment Agreement or distribute NCM LLC's available cash to AMC, and the Company received the benefits of the revised ESA, including enhancements related to the pre-feature show structure and NCM's exclusive right to advertise in AMC's theaters. The net impact of these reversals was recorded to the 'Intangible Assets, net of amortization' as AMC's forfeiture of this net payable was considered akin to a lease incentive. The reduction in the intangible asset for the ESAs will result in reduced amortization expense, as it is considered akin to lease expense, for the remainder of the contract term. Refer to Note 4—Intangible Assets, Note 7—Income Taxes, and Note 8—Commitments and Contingenciesand the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 23, 2025 for additional detail surrounding these agreements.
On January 24, 2025, NCM LLC, as borrower, entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with U.S. Bank National Association, as lender (the “2025 Credit Facility”). The agreement provided for a $45.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility that matures on January 24, 2028. In connection with entering into the 2025 Credit Facility, NCM LLC repaid in full the $10.0 million balance outstanding and terminated all commitments under its Revolving Credit Facility 2023, and in connection with this termination, paid a prepayment fee equal to 1% of the total commitment. The 2025 Credit Facility is expected to result in a meaningful reduction of the Company’s overall interest expense, extends the maturity date to 2028 and is a cash flow-based revolving loan compared to the asset-based revolving loan of the Revolving Credit Facility 2023. As of September 25, 2025, NCM LLC hasno outstanding borrowings under the 2025 Credit Facility. Borrowings under the 2025 Credit Facility may be used for, among other things, working capital and other general corporate purposes of the Company and bear interest at a floating rate equal to term SOFR (subject to a floor ofzero) plus an applicable margin of 2.00%, which is subject to increase by an additional 2.00% upon the occurrence of an event of default.
Basis of Presentation
The Company has prepared the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes of NCM, Inc. in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures typically included in an annual report have been condensed or omitted for this quarterly report. The balance sheet as of December 26, 2024 is derived from the audited financial statements of NCM, Inc. Therefore, the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial
Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K filed for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2024.
In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly in all material respects the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented have been made and all intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company has reclassified certain historical amounts on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, Statements of Operations and Statements of Cash Flows to conform to current period presentation. Historically, the Company’s business has been seasonal and for this and other reasons operating results for interim periods have not been indicative of the Company’s full year results or future performance. As a result of the various related party agreements discussed in Note 5—Related Party Transactions, the operating results as presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that might have occurred if all agreements were with non-related third parties.
Estimates—The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include those related to undiscounted cash flows utilized in assessing whether there are impairment indicators for the Company's intangible assets, the reserve for uncollectible accounts receivable, share-based compensation and income taxes. Actual results could differ from estimates.
Significant Accounting Policies
The Company’s annual financial statements included in its Form 10-K, filed for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2024, contain a complete discussion of the Company’s significant accounting policies. The following is additional information related to the Company’s accounting policies.
Revenue Recognition—The Company derives revenue principally from the sale of advertising to national, regional and local businesses in Noovie®, our cinema advertising and entertainment show seen on movie screens across the U.S., as well as on our lobby network ("LEN"), a series of strategically-placed screens located in movie theater lobbies, as well as other forms of advertising, promotions and experiences in theater lobbies. In addition, the Company sells data and digital advertising, including through the NCMx™ suite of products and through NCM’s digital gaming products, which can be played on the mobile apps and through partnerships with certain internet platforms. Further, the Company sells advertising in a variety of complementary out-of-home venues. The Company also has a long-term agreement to exhibit the advertising of the ESA Parties’ beverage suppliers. Revenue is recognized over time as the customer receives the benefits provided by NCM LLC’s advertising services and the Company has the right to payment for performance to date. The Company considers the terms of each arrangement to determine the appropriate accounting treatment.
Concentration of Credit Risk and Significant Customers—The risk of credit loss related to the Company’s trade receivables and unbilled receivables balances is accounted for through the allowance for credit losses, a contra asset account which reduces the net receivables balance. The allowance for credit losses balance is determined by pooling the Company’s receivables with similar risk characteristics, specifically by type of customer (national or local/regional) and then age of receivable and applying historical write off percentages to these pools in order to determine the amount of expected credit losses as of the balance sheet date. National receivables are with large advertising agencies with strong reputations in the advertising industry and clients with stable financial positions and good credit ratings, represent larger receivables balances per customer and have significantly lower historical and expected credit loss patterns. Local and regional receivables are with smaller companies, sometimes with less credit history, represent smaller receivable balances per customer and have higher historical and expected credit loss patterns. The Company has smaller contracts with many local clients that are not individually significant. The Company also considers current economic conditions and trends to determine whether adjustments to historical loss rates are necessary. The Company also reserves for specific receivable balances that it expects to write off based on known concerns regarding the financial health of the customer. Receivables are written off when management determines amounts are uncollectible.
The Company hadone agency through which it sourced advertising revenue that accounted for 11.2% of the Company’s gross outstanding receivable balance, as of September 25, 2025, andhadone agency through which it sourced advertising revenue that accounted for 14.7% of the Company's gross outstanding receivable balance as of December 26, 2024. During the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025, and the three and nine months ended September 26, 2024, the Company hadno customers that accounted for more than 10.0% of the Company's revenue.
Long-lived Assets—The Company assesses impairment of long-lived assets pursuant to ASC 360—Property, Plant and Equipment. This includes determining whether certain triggering events have occurred that could affect the value of an asset. The Company didnot record losses related to long-lived assets during the three months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024, or the nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024, respectively.
Share-Based Compensation—The Company has issued stock options and restricted stock units to certain employees and its independent directors. The restricted stock unit grants for Company management vest upon the achievement of Company performance measures, market conditions and/or service conditions, while non-management grants vest only upon the achievement of service conditions. Compensation expense of restricted stock units that vest upon the achievement of Company performance measures is based on management’s financial projections and the probability of achieving the projections, which require considerable judgment. A cumulative adjustment is recorded to share-based compensation expense if management changes its estimate of the number of restricted stock units expected to vest in a specific period. Ultimately, the Company adjusts the expense recognized to reflect the actual vested shares following the resolution of the performance conditions. Compensation expense of restricted stock units that vest upon achievement of certain market conditions is based on an estimate of the fair value of the granted restricted stock units on the grant date, which requires considerable judgment. The fair value of the granted restricted stock units is expensed over an estimated derived service period, which also requires considerable judgment. In accordance with ASC 718—Stock Compensation, the Company does not adjust the expense recognized to reflect the actual vested shares following the resolution of the market condition. Dividends are accrued when declared on unvested restricted stock units that are expected to vest and are only paid with respect to shares that actually vest. During the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024,0.0 million,0.0 million,1.5 million and 6.4 million restricted stock units were granted, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024,0.3 million,0.2 million,1.3 million and 0.5 million restricted stock units vested, respectively. Additionally, the Company recorded $1.7 million, $3.1 million,$7.3 million and $9.2 million in share-based compensation expense during the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024, respectively, within ‘Network operating costs,’ ‘Selling and marketing costs’ and ‘Administrative and other costs’ within the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations or have been capitalized within ‘Property and equipment, net’ within the unaudited Condensed Balance Sheets. Certain awards were modified in the nine months ended September 25, 2025 resulting in incremental share-based compensation expense of $0.0 million and $0.4 million during the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025, respectively.
Share Repurchase Program—On March 18, 2024, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a stock repurchase program under which the Company is authorized to use assets of the Company to repurchase up to $100.0 million of shares of the Company’s Common Stock, exclusive of any fees, commissions or other expenses related to such repurchases, from time to time over a period ofthree years. Shares may be repurchased under the program through open market purchases, block trades, or accelerated or other structured share repurchase programs. There were 0.0 million,0.3 million,3.3 million and 2.2 million shares repurchased on the open market during the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024, respectively. In accordance with ASC 505 —Equity, the Company elected to retire the shares. Upon the retirement of these shares, any excess over par value paid, inclusive of direct costs, was recorded as a reduction to retained earnings of $0.0 million, $1.9 million, $18.8 million and $11.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024, respectively. As of September 25, 2025,5.8 million shares have been repurchased on the open market since the program's inception.
Segment Reporting—Advertising is the principal business activity of the Company and is the Company’s only operating and reportable segment under the requirements of ASC 280—Segment Reporting. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer is the chief operating decision maker who reviews financial information on a consolidated basis for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance. The accounting policies of the one operating and reportable segment are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. All segment revenues relate to services performed within the United States. The Company’s segment assets are generated and domiciled within the United States.
The chief operating decision maker assesses performance for theone operating and reportable segment and decides how to allocate resources using consolidated net loss, as presented on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as ‘Consolidated net loss,’ among other measures. Consolidated net loss is presented herein as the primary measure as it most closely aligns with US GAAP. The chief operating decision maker uses consolidated net loss to decide whether to utilize profits to invest in the Company or to recommend actions to the Board of Directors such as stock repurchases or future dividends. Consolidated net loss is also utilized to monitor actual results as compared to budgeted expectations to assess the performance of the one operating and reportable segment and in establishing management’s compensation. The Company’s significant segment expenses are consistent with the operating expense financial statement line items as presented within the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The Company’s other segment items are consistent with the non-operating income and expense financial statement line items as presented within the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
The measure of segment assets used to allocate resources is total assets as reported on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, inclusive of cash and cash equivalents as well as accounts receivable as reported on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as ‘Cash and cash equivalents’ and ‘Receivables, net of allowance,’ respectively.
Capital Expenditures—Capital expenditures include digital applications being developed primarily by the Company’s programmers and outside consultants, capitalized software development or upgrades for the Company’s Digital Content Software, audience targeting and data management systems, cinema advertising management system, equipment required for the Company’s Customer Experience Center and content production and post-production facilities, office leasehold improvements, desktop equipment for use by employees, and in certain cases, the costs necessary to install equipment at or digitize all or a portion of a network affiliate’s theaters when they are added to the Company’s network. Capital expenditures, for the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024, were $1.0 million, $0.6 million, $3.4 million and $3.4 million, respe ctively.
Consolidation—NCM, Inc. consolidates the accounts of NCM LLC, a variable interest entity wherein NCM, Inc. is the primary beneficiary, under the provisions of ASC 810—Consolidation. Upon NCM LLC’s emergence from bankruptcy, it was determined that NCM, Inc. holds the current rights that give it power to direct activities of NCM LLC that most significantly impact NCM LLC’s economic performance and that NCM, Inc. has the rights to receive the significant benefits or the obligations to absorb potentially significant losses, resulting in NCM, Inc. having a controlling financial interest in NCM LLC. As a result, NCM, Inc. was deemed to be the primary beneficiary of NCM LLC and the Company has consolidated NCM LLC under the variable interest entity provisions of ASC 810—Consolidation. The following table presents the changes in NCM, Inc.’s equity resulting from net income attributable to NCM, Inc. and transfers to or from noncontrolling interests (in millions):
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 25, 2025 | September 26, 2024 | September 25, 2025 | September 26, 2024 | |
| Net income (loss) attributable to NCM, Inc. | $1.6 | $(3.6) | $(39.9) | $(47.0) |
| NCM LLC equity issued for purchase of intangible asset | — | — | — | 0.7 |
| Income tax and other impacts of subsidiary ownership changes | — | — | — | 0.1 |
| Cash redemption of NCM LLC common membership units | — | — | — | (0.7) |
| Change from net income (loss) attributable to NCM, Inc. and transfers from noncontrolling interests | $1.6 | $(3.6) | $(39.9) | $(46.9) |
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
The Company did not adopt any accounting pronouncements during the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2024-03, Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (“ASU 2024-03”), which expands the disclosures about a public business entity’s expenses and addresses requests from investors for more detailed information about the types of expenses in commonly presented expense captions. Under the new guidance, entities must disclose additional information about certain costs and expenses on an annual and interim basis to enable investors to develop more decision-useful financial analyses. This guidance is effective for issuances on and after December 15, 2026. The Company does not believe this will have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In September 2025, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2025-06, Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software (“ASU 2025-06”), which modernizes the accounting for internally developed software costs. Under the new guidance, the accounting will better align with how software is developed and eliminates the stage-based rules by establishing a principles-based framework consistent with modern software development practices. This guidance is effective for issuances on and after December 15, 2027. The Company does not believe this will have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Company has considered all other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does not believe the adoption of such pronouncements will have a material impact on its unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto.
- REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Revenue Recognition
The Company derives revenue principally from the sale of advertising to national, regional and local businesses in the Noovie®show, the Company’s cinema advertising and entertainment pre-show. The Company also sells advertising through the LEN, a series of strategically placed screens located in movie theater lobbies, as well as other forms of advertising and promotions in theater lobbies. In addition, the Company sells data and digital advertising through the NCMx™ suite of products and the Company’s digital gaming products. Further the Company sells advertising in a variety of complementary out-of-home venues. The Company also has a long-term agreement to exhibit up to 90 seconds of advertising to satisfy the ESA Parties’ on-screen advertising commitments under their beverage concessionaire agreements at contractual rates outlined within the ESAs.
The Company makes contractual guarantees to deliver a specified number of impressions to view the customers’ advertising. If the contracted number of impressions are not delivered, the Company will run additional advertising to deliver the contracted impressions at a later date. The deferred portion of the revenue associated with undelivered impressions is referred to as a make-good provision. The Company defers the revenue associated with the make-good provision until the advertising airs to the audience specified in the advertising contract or the make-good period expires.
The Company hasone significant customer contract with a term in excess of one year that is noncancellable as of September 25, 2025. The remaining performance obligation under this contract is $2.8 million as of September 25, 2025 and represents commitments for future advertising services for which work has not been performed and revenues are to be recorded in future periods. The Company expects to recognize all of its remaining performance obligation under this contract within the next 18 months. Agreements with a duration of less than one year or are longer than one year that are cancellable are not considered within unsatisfied performance obligations as the Company elected to use the practical expedient in ASC 606-10-50-14 for those contracts.
Disaggregation of Revenue
The Company disaggregates revenue into the categories of national; local and regional and beverage concessionaire based upon a combination of multiple factors including the type of customer, the products included within a contract and the geographic scope. This method of disaggregation is in alignment with how revenue is reviewed by management and discussed with and historically disclosed to investors.
The following table summarizes revenue from contracts with customers for the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024 (in millions):
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 25, 2025 | September 26, 2024 | September 25, 2025 | September 26, 2024 | |
| National advertising revenue | $49.9 | $46.8 | $118.5 | $117.9 |
| Local and regional advertising revenue | 9.6 | 11.4 | 20.8 | 26.5 |
| ESA advertising revenue from beverage concessionaire agreements | 3.9 | 4.2 | 10.7 | 10.1 |
| Total revenue | $63.4 | $62.4 | $150.0 | $154.5 |
Deferred Revenue and Unbilled Accounts Receivable
Revenue recognized in the nine months ended September 25, 2025 that was included within the ‘Deferred revenue’ balance as of December 26, 2024, was $22.7 million. As of September 25, 2025 and December 26, 2024, the Company had $3.6 million and $2.5 million in unbilled accounts receivable, respectively, within ‘Receivables, net of allowance’ within the unaudited Condensed Balance Sheets.
Allowance for Credit Losses
The allowance for credit losses balance is determined separately for each pool of the Company’s receivables with similar risk characteristics. The Company has determined that the use of two pools, national customers and local/regional customers, is appropriate. The changes within the allowance for credit losses balances for the nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024, respectively, were as follows (in millions):
| Nine Months Ended | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 25, 2025 | September 26, 2024 | |||
| Allowance for National Customer Receivables | Allowance for Local/ Regional Customer Receivables | Allowance for National Customer Receivables | Allowance for Local/ Regional Customer Receivables | |
| Balance at beginning of period | $0.2 | $1.0 | $0.1 | $1.3 |
| Provision for bad debt | (0.1) | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 |
| Write-offs, net | — | (0.3) | (0.4) | (0.4) |
| Balance at end of period | $0.1 | $1.0 | $0.1 | $1.0 |
- INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE
Basic income (loss) per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted income (loss) per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding plus the effect of potentially dilutive common stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units using the treasury stock method. The components of basic and diluted income (loss) per NCM, Inc. share are as follows:
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 25, 2025 | September 26, 2024 | September 25, 2025 | September 26, 2024 | |
| Net income (loss) attributable to NCM, Inc. (in millions) | $1.6 | $(3.6) | $(39.9) | $(47.0) |
| Weighted average shares outstanding: | ||||
| Basic | 93,701,506 | 95,221,502 | 94,354,866 | 96,183,328 |
| Add: Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock and exchangeable membership units | 609,834 | — | — | — |
| Diluted | 94,311,340 | 95,221,502 | 94,354,866 | 96,183,328 |
| Income (loss) per NCM, Inc. share: | ||||
| Basic | $0.02 | $(0.04) | $(0.42) | $(0.49) |
| Diluted | $0.02 | $(0.04) | $(0.42) | $(0.49) |
The effect of the 0,19,566,1,160, and 6,522 weighted average exchangeable NCM LLC common units held by AMC, for the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024, respectively, have been excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted average shares and income (loss) per NCM, Inc. share as they were anti-dilutive. NCM LLC common units do not participate in dividends paid on NCM, Inc.'s common stock. In addition, there were 6,028,264,6,553,890,6,028,264, and 6,553,890 stock options and non-vested restricted stock units for the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024, respectively, excluded from the calculation as they were anti-dilutive. The Company’s non-vested (restricted) shares do not meet the definition of a participating security as the dividends will not be paid if the shares do not vest.
- INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The Company’s intangible assets consist of contractual rights to provide its services within the theaters under the ESAs and the network affiliate agreements, as well as for customer relationships developed and maintained by the Company’s sales force, trademarks held and used by the Company and datasets acquired and used by the Company. The Company's intangible assets, as of the reconsolidation date of August 7, 2023, were revalued at their estimated fair values, net of accumulated amortization. Subsequently acquired intangible assets are recorded at cost. The Company records amortization using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of each intangible asset. For the contractual rights to provide advertising services within the theaters under the ESA and network affiliate agreements, the estimated useful life corresponds to the term of the ESAs and the average renewable term of the contracts with the network affiliates. For the customer relationships developed and maintained by the Company’s sales force and trademarks held and used by the Company, the estimated useful life corresponds to industry standard lives for customer relationships and trademarks. For the datasets, the estimated useful life corresponds to the shorter of the use rights outlined in the contract under which they were acquired and the estimated rate of obsolescence of the datasets' usefulness. In accordance with ASC 360—Property, Plant and Equipment, the Company continuously monitors the performance of the underlying assets for potential triggering events suggesting an impairment review should be performed.
Upon entering into the 2025 AMC Agreement, the Company determined that there was a triggering event for the Company’s intangible asset group, including the amount related to AMC, under ASC 360—Impairment and Disposal of Long-Lived Assets during the quarter ended June 26, 2025. Management estimated future undiscounted cash flows, including the impacts of the new fee structure under the 2025 AMC Agreement, which has been adjusted to be based on the attendance, the operating screens and the revenue generated by the Company through the advertising displayed in AMC's theaters beginning on July 1, 2025, and the increase in the useful life due to thefive year extension. The estimated future cash flows calculated within the analysis were well in excess of the net book value of the Company’s intangible assets and no impairment was recorded in the quarter ended June 26, 2025. Such analysis required management to make estimates and assumptions based on historical data and consideration of future market conditions. Actual results may differ from the estimates and assumptions used, or conditions may change, which could result in impairment charges in the future.
Common Unit Adjustments—In accordance with NCM LLC’s Common Unit Adjustment Agreement, on an annual basis NCM LLC determines the amount of common membership units to be issued to or returned by AMC (through April 17, 2025) and Cinemark based on theater additions, new builds or dispositions during the previous year. In addition, NCM LLC’s Common Unit Adjustment Agreement required that a Common Unit Adjustment occur for either AMC or Cinemark if its acquisition or disposition of theaters, in a single transaction or cumulatively since the most recent Common Unit Adjustment, results in an attendance increase or decrease in excess of two percent of the annual total attendance at the prior adjustment date. In the event that the adjustment was negative and either AMC or Cinemark did not have sufficient common membership units to return, the adjustment was satisfied in cash in an amount calculated pursuant to NCM LLC’s Common Unit Adjustment Agreement. Upon the issuance of common membership units, the Company recorded an addition to the intangible asset related to AMC and Cinemark’s respective ESAs equal to the fair market value of NCM, Inc.’s publicly traded stock as of the date on which the common membership units were issued. NCM LLC common membership units are fully convertible into NCM, Inc.’s common stock. Subsequent to April 17, 2025 and in accordance with the AMC Termination Agreement, AMC is no longer a party to the Common Unit Adjustment Agreement and will no longer receive NCM LLC Common Units.
During the first quarter of 2025, in accordance with the Common Unit Adjustment Agreement, NCM LLC calculated a reduction of common membership units for AMC and Cinemark to be settled on April 2, 2025. Cinemark, who heldno membership units, remitted cash to settle the negative common membership unit adjustment. In connection with the Common Unit Adjustment Agreement and the AMC Termination Agreement, AMC returned all of its units and was forgiven any remaining negative common unit adjustment. These transactions resulted in a reduction of the intangible asset of $0.1 million during the nine months ended September 25, 2025. As of September 25, 2025, AMC and Cinemark held no ownership interest in NCM LLC.
During the second quarter of 2024, in accordance with the Common Unit Adjustment Agreement, NCM LLC issued 135,473 common membership units to AMC and Cinemark, with a net impact of $0.7 million to the intangible asset. On April 16, 2024, the Company elected to satisfy a redemption request from Cinemark for all of their outstanding common membership units through a cash settlement as provided in NCM LLC’s Operating Agreement. This redemption reduced Cinemark’s ownership interest in NCM LLC to 0.0% as of April 16, 2024 while AMC’s ownership interest was de minimis.
Integration Payments and Other Encumbered Theater Payments—If an existing on-screen advertising agreement with an alternative provider is in place with respect to any acquired theaters (“Encumbered Theaters”), the applicable ESA party, AMC (through April 17, 2025) or Cinemark, may elect to receive common membership units related to those Encumbered Theaters in connection with the Common Unit Adjustment. If the ESA party makes this election, then they are required to make payments on a quarterly basis in arrears in accordance with certain run-out provisions pursuant to the ESAs (“integration payments”). Integration payments were calculated based upon the advertising cash flow that the Company would have generated if it had exclusive access to sell advertising in the theaters with pre-existing advertising agreements. The ESAs with AMC and Cinemark additionally entitle NCM LLC to payments related to their on-screen advertising commitments under their beverage concessionaire agreements for Encumbered Theaters. The encumbered beverage payments are also accounted for as a reduction to the intangible asset related to the ESAs. Given that the Carmike Cinemas, Inc. (“Carmike”) theaters acquired by AMC are subject to an existing on-screen advertising agreement with an alternative provider, AMC made integration payments and encumbered beverage payments to NCM LLC prior to the 2025 AMC Agreement. Upon the effectiveness of the 2025 AMC Agreement, and assuming the opt out provision is not exercised, AMC is no longer required to make integration payments, and the $10.6 million in accrued integration payments owed by AMC was forgiven. The Company recorded the forgiveness of the receivable as an increase to the ESA Party intangible asset, during the quarter ended June 26, 2025, in accordance with the lease modification guidance outlined in ASC 842—Leases. During the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024, and prior to the effectiveness of the 2025 AMC Agreement, the Company recorded a reduction to net intangible assets of $0.0 million, $1.2 million, $0.6 million, and 2.2 million, respectively, related to integration and other Encumbered Theater payments. During the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024, AMC and Cinemark paid a total of $0.2 million, $0.5 million, $0.7 million, and$0.9 million, respectively, in integration and Encumbered Theater payments.
As of September 25, 2025 and December 26, 2024, the Company’s intangible assets related to the ESA Party agreements were $189.9 million, net of accumulated amortization of $37.4 million, and $212.3 million, net of accumulated amortization of $26.3 million, respectively, with weighted average remaining lives of 15.4 years and 11.6 years, respectively.
As of September 25, 2025 and December 26, 2024, the Company’s intangible assets related to the network affiliate agreements were $65.0 million, net of accumulated amortization of $10.0 million, and $68.5 million, net of accumulated amortization of $6.5 million, respectively, with weighted average remaining lives of 13.9 years and 14.6 years, respectively.
As of September 25, 2025 and December 26, 2024, the Company’s intangible assets related to customer relationships were $48.2 million, net of accumulated amortization of $26.8 million, and $57.6 million, net of accumulated amortization of $17.4 million, respectively, with weighted average remaining lives of 3.9 years and 4.6 years, respectively.
As of September 25, 2025 and December 26, 2024, the Company’s intangible asset related to the trademark was $11.0 million, net of accumulated amortization of $4.0 million, and $12.4 million, net of accumulated amortization of $2.6 million, respectively, with weighted average remaining lives of 5.9 years and 6.6 years, respectively.
As of September 25, 2025, the Company’s intangible assets related to the datasets were $0.3 million, net of accumulated amortization of $0.1 million, with a weighted average remaining lives of 2.3 years. This asset was obtained during the quarter ended June 26, 2025.
The estimated aggregate amortization expense for the remainder of fiscal 2025 is $7.9 million, $31.5 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2027, and $31.4 million for fiscal year 2028.
- RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
AC JV, LLC Transactions—In December 2013, NCM LLC sold its Fathom Events business to a newly formed limited liability company, AC JV, LLC, owned 32% each by AMC, Cinemark and Regal and 4% by NCM LLC. The Company accounts for its investment in AC JV, LLC under the equity method of accounting in accordance with ASC 323-30, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (“ASC 323-30”) because AC JV, LLC is a limited liability company with the characteristics of a limited partnership and ASC 323-30 requires the use of equity method accounting unless the Company’s interest is so minor that it would have virtually no influence over partnership operating and financial policies. Although NCM LLC does not have a representative on AC JV, LLC’s Board of Directors or any voting, consent or blocking rights with respect to the governance or operations of AC JV, LLC, the Company concluded that its interest was more than minor under the accounting guidance. The Company’s investment in AC JV, LLC was $0.7 million and $0.8 million as of September 25, 2025 and December 26, 2024, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024, NCM LLC received cash and accrued distributions from AC JV, LLC of $0.4 million, $0.3 million, $0.5 million, and $0.6 million, respectively. Equity in earnings from AC JV, LLC were $0.1 million, $0.5 million, $0.4 million, and $1.2 million, for the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024, respectively, and are included in “Other non-operating income, net” in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
- BORROWINGS
The following table summarizes total outstanding debt, as of September 25, 2025 and December 26, 2024, and the significant terms of its borrowing arrangements (in millions):
| Outstanding Balance as of | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borrowings | September 25, 2025 | December 26, 2024 | Maturity Date | Interest Rate |
| 2025 Credit Facility | $— | $— | January 24, 2028 | (1) |
| Revolving Credit Facility 2023 | — | 10.0 | August 7, 2026 | (2) |
| Total borrowings | — | 10.0 | ||
| Total borrowings, net | — | 10.0 | ||
| Carrying value of long-term debt | $— | $10.0 | ||
(1)
The interest rates on the 2025 Credit Facility are described below.
(2)
The interest rates on the Revolving Credit Facility 2023 are described below.
Debt Agreement—On January 24, 2025, NCM LLC, as borrower, entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with U.S. Bank National Association, as lender. The agreement provides for a $45.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility that matures on January 24, 2028. During the nine months ended September 25, 2025 NCM LLC has drawn $10.0 million from the facility and repaid $10.0 million of the facility resulting in an outstanding balance under the 2025 Credit Facility of $0.0 million as of September 25, 2025. Upon execution of the 2025 Credit Facility, NCM LLC recorded $0.9 million of debt issuance costs. As of September 25, 2025, NCM LLC's maximum availability under the $45.0 million 2025 Credit Facility was $44.4 million, net of letters of credit of $0.6 million.
Borrowings under the 2025 Credit Facility may be used for, among other things, working capital and other general corporate purposes of the Company and bear interest at a floating rate equal to term SOFR (subject to a floor ofzero) plus an applicable margin of 2.00%, which is subject to increase by an additional 2.00% upon the occurrence of an event of default. A commitment fee of 0.25% is payable quarterlyin arrears based on the average daily amount of the undrawn portion of the commitments under the 2025 Credit Facility for the preceding quarter. The 2025 Credit Facility has a $5.0 million sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit. Fees are payable on outstanding letters of credit at a per annum rate equal to 2.00%, plus certain customary fees payable in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal and extension of letters of credit and the processing of drawings thereunder.
Certain of NCM LLC’s future subsidiaries (collectively, the “Guarantors”) are required to guarantee the repayment of NCM LLC’s obligations under the 2025 Credit Facility. The obligations of NCM LLC and any such Guarantors with respect to the 2025 Credit Facility are and will be secured by a pledge of substantially all assets of NCM LLC and each of the Guarantors, including, without limitation, accounts receivables, deposit accounts, intellectual property, investment property, inventory, equipment and equity interests in their respective subsidiaries.
The 2025 Credit Facility contains affirmative and negative covenants customary for financings of this type, with which NCM LLC was in compliance at September 25, 2025, including limitations on NCM LLC’s and its subsidiaries ability to incur additional debt, grant or permit additional liens, make investments and acquisitions, merge or consolidate with others, dispose of assets, pay dividends and distributions, make equity repurchases, pay subordinated indebtedness and enter into affiliate transactions. In addition, the 2025 Credit Facility contains financial covenants requiring NCM LLC to maintain a maximum leverage ratio of no greater than 2.25 to 1.00 and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of no less than 1.50 to 1.00, each measured on a quarterly basis. The 2025
Credit Facility also includes events of default customary for facilities of this type and upon the occurrence of such events of default, subject to customary cure rights, all outstanding loans under the 2025 Credit Facility may be accelerated and/or the Company’s commitments terminated. The 2025 Credit Facility also contains representations, warranties, and events of defaults customary for this type of facility. As of September 25, 2025, the NCM LLC’s fixed charge coverage ratio was 5.4 to 1.0 (versus the required ratio of 1.50 to 1.00).
Loan, Security and Guarantee Agreement—On August 7, 2023, NCM LLC entered into a Loan, Security and Guarantee Agreement (the “Revolving Credit Facility 2023”) with CIT Northbridge Credit LLC as agent. The Revolving Credit Facility 2023 was an asset backed line facility where the capacity depends upon NCM LLC’s trade accounts receivable balance, as adjusted for aged balances and other considerations. The maximum availability NCM LLC had access to under the Revolving Credit Facility 2023 was $55,000,000. The proceeds of the Revolving Credit Facility 2023 could have been used for, inter alia, working capital and capital expenditures. The Revolving Credit Facility 2023 was to mature on August 7, 2026. The interest rate under the Revolving Credit Facility 2023 was a base rate of SOFR benchmark plus (i)3.75% if less than 50% of revolving commitments are utilized or (ii)4.50% if 50% or more of revolving commitments are utilized (utilizing the average revolver usage for the prior calendar month as a benchmark for this determination). The Revolving Credit Facility 2023 also contained a financial maintenance covenant requiring that the fixed charge coverage ratio ending on the last day of each fiscal month is at least 1.1 to 1.0 during a “Trigger Period.” A Trigger Period began upon (i) an event of default or (ii) if availability was less than the greater of (a) $5,000,000 and (b)10% of aggregate revolving commitments. A Trigger Period ended only if (i) no event of default existed for the preceding thirty (30) consecutive days and (ii) availability was greater than both (a) $5,000,000 and (b)10% of aggregate revolving commitments. Upon the effectiveness of the Revolving Credit Facility 2023, NCM LLC immediately drew $10.0 million from the facility, which represents the only amount outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility 2023 at any time. The Revolving Credit Facility 2023 also contained customary representations, warranties, covenants, events of default, terms and conditions, including limitations on liens, incurrence of debt, mergers and significant asset dispositions.
In connection with entering into the 2025 Credit Facility, NCM LLC repaid the $10.0 million balance outstanding in full and terminated all commitments under its Revolving Credit Facility 2023, and in connection with this termination, paid a prepayment fee equal to 1% of the total commitment. This resulted in a loss on debt extinguishment of $1.8 million within the nine months ended September 25, 2025.
- INCOME TAXES
Changes in the Company’s Effective Tax Rate—The Company recorded income tax expense of $0.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and for the three and nine months ended September 26, 2024, resulting in an effective tax rate of 0.0% for these periods. The Company held a full valuation allowance on its net deferred tax assets as of December 26, 2024 following the determination it was more-likely-than-not that the Company will not be able to realize the benefit of those assets. The Company maintained a full valuation allowance as of September 25, 2025, resulting in deferred tax expense of $0.0 million for the three months and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and the Company’s effective tax rate of 0.0%.
Adjustments to the Company's Payable under the TRA—In accordance with the AMC Termination Agreement, AMC waived all rights and interests as to the TRA and the Company reduced the 'Payable under the TRA' on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for the amounts recorded associated with AMC of $21.6 million. The cancellation of this payable was considered akin to a lease incentive related to the modification of the short-term operating lease of AMC's screens under ASC 842—Leases and it was recorded against the intangible asset for the ESA Parties upon the effectiveness of the AMC Termination Agreement within the nine months ended September 25, 2025. The adjustment will reduce amortization expense of the intangible over the remainder of its useful life, which is considered akin to lease expense.
Recently enacted tax legislation—On July 4, 2025, the U.S. enacted H.R. 1 “A bill to provide for reconciliation pursuant to Title II of H. Con. Res. 14”, commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The Company continues to maintain a full valuation allowance on its net deferred tax assets and this new legislation did not have a material impact on the Company.
- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Legal Actions—The Company is subject to claims and legal actions in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes such claims will not have a material adverse effect individually or in the aggregate on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Operating Commitments—Facilities—The Company has entered into operating lease agreements for its corporate headquarters and other regional offices. The Company has right-of-use (“ROU”) assets of $10.9 million and short-term and long-term lease liabilities of $2.0 million and $11.0 million, respectively, on the balance sheet as of September 25, 2025, for all material leases with terms longer than twelve months. As of December 26, 2024, the Company had ROU assets of $12.2 million and short-term and long-term lease liabilities of $1.7 million and $12.5 million, respectively, for all material leases with terms longer than twelve months. These balances are included within ‘Other assets’, ‘Other current liabilities’ and ‘Long-term lease liabilities’, respectively, on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of September 25, 2025, the Company had a weighted average remaining lease term of 7.0 years on these leases. When measuring the ROU assets and lease liabilities recorded, the Company utilized its incremental borrowing rate in order to determine the present value of the lease payments as the leases do not provide an implicit rate. The Company used the rate of interest that it would have paid to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term for an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. As of September 25, 2025, the Company’s weighted average annual discount rate used to establish the ROU assets and lease liabilities was 4.7%.
During the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024, the Company recognized the following components of total lease cost (in millions). These costs are presented within ‘Selling and marketing costs’ and ‘Administrative and other costs’ within the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations depending upon the nature of the use of the facility.
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 25, 2025 | September 26, 2024 | September 25, 2025 | September 26, 2024 | |
| Operating lease cost | $0.6 | $0.5 | $1.7 | $1.8 |
| Variable lease cost | — | — | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Total lease cost | $0.6 | $0.5 | $1.8 | $2.0 |
The Company made total lease payments of $0.6 million, $0.4 million, $1.6 million, and $1.6 million during the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024, respectively. These payments are included within cash flows from operating activities within the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
Operating Commitments—ESAs and Affiliate Agreements—The Company has entered into long-term ESAs and multi-year agreements with third-party theater circuits. The ESAs and network affiliate agreements grant NCM LLC exclusive rights in their theaters to sell advertising, subject to limited exceptions. The Company recognized the intangibles upon the reconsolidation of NCM LLC on August 7, 2023. Additions to the intangible assets may be recognized upon issuance of membership units to Cinemark in accordance with NCM LLC’s Common Unit Adjustment Agreement and upfront cash payments to the affiliates for the contractual rights to provide the Company’s services within their theaters as further discussed within Note 4—Intangible Assets. These ESAs and network affiliate agreements are considered leases under ASC 842—Leases("ASC 842") once the asset is identified and the period of control is determined upon the scheduling of the showtimes by the exhibitors, typically one week prior to the showtime. As such, the leases are considered short-term in nature, specifically less than one month. Under ASC 842, leases with terms of less than one month are exempt from the majority of the accounting and disclosure requirements, including disclosure of short-term lease expense. No ROU assets or lease liabilities were recognized for these agreements and no change to the balance sheet presentation of the intangible assets was necessary. However, the amortization of these intangible assets is considered lease expense and is presented within ‘Amortization expense’ within the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The Company recorded $4.3 million, $5.9 million, $14.6 million, and $17.6 million in amortization of these intangible assets in the three and nine months ended September 25, 2025 and September 26, 2024, respectively.
In consideration for NCM LLC’s access to the ESA Parties’ and network affiliate's theater attendees for on-screen advertising and use of lobbies and other space within the exhibitors’ theaters for the LEN and lobby promotions, the ESA Parties and network affiliates receive payments based either upon number of attendees (pre or post-showtime), a revenue share, a fee per screen or digital screen or a combination, including a minimum revenue guarantee per attendee. Many of these agreements contain increases annually or every five years to the respective fee structures or guaranteed minimums, either per patron, per theater and/or per digital screen in a range from 2% to 8% depending upon the underlying agreement. The theater access fee paid in the aggregate to Cinemark cannot be less than 12% of NCM LLC’s aggregate advertising revenue (as defined in the ESA), or it will be adjusted upward to reach this minimum payment. As of September 25, 2025 and December 26, 2024, the Company hadno liabilities recorded for the minimum payment, as the theater access fee was in excess of the minimum. The Company does not owe any theater access fees or revenue share when the theaters are not displaying the Company's pre-show or when the Company does not have access to the theaters. The digital screen fee is calculated based upon average screens in use during each month. As part of the AMC 2025 Agreement, the Company will modernize certain lobbies within AMC's theaters, which will require the Company to expend refurbishment costs upon identification of a third-party vendor.
As part of the network affiliate agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business under which the Company sells advertising for display in various network affiliate theater chains, the Company has agreed to certain minimum revenue guarantees on a per attendee basis. If a network affiliate achieves the attendance set forth in their respective agreement, the Company has guaranteed minimum revenue for the network affiliate per attendee if the amount paid under the revenue share arrangement is less than the guaranteed amount. As of September 25, 2025, the maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make pursuant to the minimum revenue guarantees is $277.2 million over the remaining terms of the network affiliate agreements, contingent upon the achievement of network affiliate minimum attendance thresholds. These minimum guarantees apply to various affiliate agreements ranging in term fromtwo years tofifteen years, prior to any renewal periods of which some are at the option of the Company. The Company accrued $0.6 million and $0.7 million related to affiliate agreements with guaranteed minimums in excess of the revenue share agreement as of September 25, 2025 and December 26, 2024, respectively, within ‘Accounts payable’ in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. As the guaranteed minimums are based upon agreed upon minimum attendance or affiliate revenue levels, the Company will not incur minimum revenue share fees if the minimum theater attendance or revenue levels are not met by the affiliate.
- FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
All current assets and liabilities are estimated to approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of these balances. Fair value is the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is estimated by applying the following hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels and bases the categorization within the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement:
Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2—Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3—Inputs that are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimate of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
Non-Recurring Measurements—Certain assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. These assets are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances. These assets include long-lived assets, intangible assets, other investments, notes receivable and borrowings.
Long-Lived Assets, Intangible Assets and Other Investments—The Company regularly reviews long-lived assets (primarily property, plant and equipment), intangible assets and investments accounted for under the cost or equity method for impairment whenever certain qualitative factors, events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be fully recoverable. When the estimated fair value is determined to be lower than the carrying value of the asset, an impairment charge is recorded to write the asset down to its estimated fair value.
Other investments consisted of the following (in millions):
| As of | ||
|---|---|---|
| September 25, 2025 | December 26, 2024 | |
| Investment in AC JV, LLC | $0.7 | $0.8 |
| Other investments | 6.4 | 3.0 |
| Total | $7.1 | $3.8 |
As of September 25, 2025, no observable price changes or impairments have been recorded as a result of the Company’s qualitative assessment of identified events or changes in the circumstances of the remaining investments. The investment in AC JV, LLC was initially valued using comparative market multiples. The other investments were recorded based upon the fair value of the services provided or to be provided in exchange for the investment. As the inputs to the determination of fair value are based upon non-identical assets and use significant unobservable inputs, they have been classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
Borrowings—The carrying amount of the Revolving Credit Facility 2023, as of December 26, 2024, was considered a reasonable estimate of fair value due to the respective floating-rate terms.
Recurring Measurements—All current assets and liabilities are estimated to approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of these balances. The Company hadno assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis pursuant to ASC 820-10 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures as of September 25, 2025. The fair values of the Company’s assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis pursuant to ASC 820-10 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, as of December 26, 2024, are as follows (in millions):
| Fair Value Measurements atReporting Date Using | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair ValueAs ofDecember 26, 2024 | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets(Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs(Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs(Level 3) | |
| ASSETS: | ||||
| Cash equivalents (1) | $41.2 | $41.2 | $— | $— |
| Short-term marketable securities (2) | 0.1 | — | 0.1 | — |
| Total assets | $41.3 | $41.2 | $0.1 | $— |
(1)
Cash equivalents—The Company’s cash equivalents are carried at estimated fair value. Cash equivalents consist of money market accounts which the Company has classified as Level 1 given the active market for these accounts.
(2)
Short-term marketable securities—The carrying amount and fair value of the marketable securities are equivalent since the Company accounts for these instruments at fair value. The Company’s certificates of deposit are valued at cost plus interest. The inputs in the valuation are classified as Level 1 if there is an active market for these securities; however, if an active market does not exist, the inputs are recorded at a lower level in the fair value hierarchy. The value of the certificates of deposit is derived from contractual terms. The inputs to the valuation pricing models are observable, and as such are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
- SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Share Repurchase Program—Subsequent to the nine months ended September 25, 2025, in accordance with the stock repurchase plan approved on March 18, 2024 by the Company’s Board of Directors,117,185 additional shares were repurchased on the open market for $0.5 million. In accordance with ASC 505 —Equity, these shares were retired and any excess over par value paid was recorded as a reduction to retained earnings.
Dividend—On October 30, 2025, the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.03 per share (approximately $2.8 million in the aggregate) on each share of the Company’s common stock (not including outstanding restricted stock units which will accrue dividends until the shares vest) to stockholders of record on November 10, 2025 to be paid on November 26, 2025.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.