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Thursday, May 14, 2009

Reading International Announces 1st Quarter 2009 Results

Reading International Announces 1st Quarter 2009 Results

- Revenue from operations was up 19.8% over the 2008 quarter, to $46.1 million

LOS ANGELES, May 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Reading International, Inc. (NYSE Amex: RDI) announced today results for its quarter ended March 31, 2009.

   (Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030403/LATH058LOGO)    First Quarter 2009 Highlights    The following impacted our first quarter 2009 business:   --  the remaining retail condominium of our Place 57 joint venture was       sold in February 2009 for approximately $4.0 million of which $304,000       was attributable to our equity earnings from investment which passed       through the income statement.  In April, we received a cash       disbursement from this investment of $1.2 million of which $859,000       was a return of investment;   --  we completed the construction of our Indooroopilly, Brisbane,       Australia office development in April 2009 with an approximate total       construction cost of $9.0 million (AUS$13.0 million) which was       primarily financed with a construction loan of $5.0 million (AUS$7.2       million);   --  in March 2009, we received the third of five payments, this one in the       amount of $265,000 (AUS$400,000) for the sale option on our Auburn       property.  To date, we have received $1.5 million (AUS$2.0 million) of       the $2.5 million (AUS$3.6 million) in option installments required by       the option agreement.  Based on the conforming nature of this       agreement, we believe that buyers will exercise their option to       purchase the property for $28.5 million (AUS$36.0 million);   --  our real estate segment revenue was slightly higher for the 2009       Quarter compared to the 2008 Quarter.  The increase in real estate       expense was primarily due to certain property holding costs that were       previously capitalized in the 2008 Quarter, but, due to our property       development efforts being curtailed, were expensed during the 2009       Quarter. Also, real estate expense increased relating to our newly       acquired Consolidated Entertainment cinemas that have ancillary real       estate activities.  Please see attached supplemental segment reporting       schedule;   --  during the quarter, we reacquired a portion of our Trust Preferred       Securities for $11.5 million for which we were able to extinguish       $22.9 million of our debt related to these securities on April 30,       2009.  This resulted in a decrease in our cash balance from $30.9       million in December 2008 to $14.5 million in March 2009;   --  we secured on December 31, 2008, a waiver of covenants for our Trust       Preferred Securities for a period of nine years;   --  we have entered into settlement negotiations with the defendants of       our Malulani Investment Litigation which has resulted in an agreed       upon cash payment to us of $2.5 million and a promissory note to us       for $6.75 million.  Based on our shareholders' agreement with Magoon       Investments, we are entitled to recover substantially all of our       litigation costs and investment before any distributions are made to       them; and    --  the decrease in the value of the Australian and New Zealand dollars       vis-a-vis the US dollar from $0.9132 and $0.7860, respectively, as of       March 31, 2008 to $0.6926 and $0.5715, respectively, as of March 31,       2009.  The devaluation of these currencies has resulted in lower       operational earnings for the 2009 Quarter compared to the 2008 Quarter       even though our earnings in the local currencies have increased.  By       way of example, our Australian cinema revenues in local currency       increased by 12.9% whereas the same revenues translated to the U.S.       dollar decreased by 14.5% due to the aforementioned currency       fluctuations.     First Quarter 2009 Discussion   

On February 22, 2008, we acquired 15 cinemas with 181 screens in Hawaii and California, the "Consolidated Entertainment" acquisition. As a result of this acquisition the 2008 quarter included only 39 days of these cinemas' operating results. These assets provided an operational income before depreciation and amortization in the 2009 Quarter of $2.0 million.

Revenue from operations increased from $38.5 million in the 2008 quarter to $46.1 million in 2009, a 19.8% increase. The cinema revenue increase of $8.4 million was due to the US segment, which was further the result of the Consolidated Entertainment acquisition. The results of Australia and New Zealand were affected negatively by the previously mentioned currency change even though we noted increased foreign revenues in the local currencies for the periods mentioned. The top 3 grossing films for the quarter in our circuit worldwide were: "Slumdog Millionaire," "Gran Torino" and "He's Just Not That into You," which between them accounted for approximately 20.3% of our cinema box office revenue. The real estate revenue was flat from quarter to quarter.

As a percentage of revenue, operating expense, at 78.5% in the 2009 quarter was higher than the 74.3% of the 2008 quarter. The primary driver for this was the higher film rent expense associated with our Consolidated Entertainment cinemas' acquisition, whose film product is primarily wide release films resulting in higher film rent cost compared to our predominantly pre-acquisition art cinemas in the United States.

Depreciation and amortization increased by $180,000, or 4.9%, from $3.7 million in the 2008 quarter to $3.8 million in the 2009 quarter, primarily due to the increase in assets as a result of the Consolidated Entertainment acquisition.

General and administrative expense decreased by $253,000 or 5.4%, from $4.7 million to $4.4 million in the 2009 quarter. This decrease was primarily related to lower legal and professional fees and travel expenses, which in 2008 were primarily related to our acquisition of the Consolidated Entertainment cinema circuit.

Interest expense increased by $1.6 million to $4.4 million in the 2009 quarter. This was primarily related to our discontinuing of capitalizing interest on our development properties, where development has been substantially curtailed.

The other significant driver that affected the 2009 quarter compared to the 2008 quarter was the reported $300,000 Other expense for the 2009 quarter, compared to $1.7 million "other income" in the 2008 quarter. The $2.0 million change was primarily due to a realized loss on marketable securities of $746,000 during the 2009 quarter and to one-time settlements on our Burstone litigation and credit card dispute in the 2008 quarter of approximately $1.2 million.

As a result of the above, we reported a net loss of $3.4 million for the 2009 quarter compared to a net loss of $226,000 in the 2008 quarter.

Our EBITDA(1) at $5.2 million for the 2009 quarter was $1.7 million lower than the 2008 quarter of $6.9 million, predominantly driven by better operating margins (approximately $280,000) offset by lower "other income" as described above from certain settlements in 2008 (approximately $1.2 million) and a realized loss on marketable securities in 2009 (approximately $746,000).

Our adjusted EBITDA(1) for the 2009 quarter was $5.9 million after excluding:

   --  $746,000 related to an mark-to-market expense for our Becker       available-for-sale shares.    

Our adjusted EBITDA(1) for the 2008 quarter was $5.7 million after excluding:

   --  $830,000 of a one time gain on litigation settlement for our Burstone       litigation; and    --  $385,000 of a one time gain on settlement of our credit card dispute       with Radiant     Balance Sheet   

Our total assets at March 31, 2009 were $361.3 million compared to $371.9 million at December 31, 2008. The currency exchange rates for Australia and New Zealand as of March 31, 2009 were $0.6926 and $0.5715, respectively, and as of December 31, 2008, these rates were $0.6983 and $0.5815, respectively. As a result, currency had a small negative effect on the balance sheet at March 31, 2009 compared to December 31, 2008.

Our cash position at March 31, 2009 was $14.5 million compared to $30.9 million at December 31, 2008, reflecting the $11.5 million used to effectively repurchase $22.9 million of our Trust Preferred Securities (TRUPS) in the first quarter of 2009.

At the present time we have approximately $3.8 million (AUS$5.5 million) in undrawn funds under our Australian Corporate Credit Facility. We have undrawn funds of $25.7 million (NZ$45.0 million) against our line of credit in New Zealand. We are in the process of renegotiating our New Zealand line of credit with a view of extending the term on the line. Accordingly, we believe that we have sufficient borrowing capacity under our Australian Corporate Credit Facility and our New Zealand line of credit to meet our anticipated short-term working capital requirements.

Our positive working capital at March 31, 2009 of $12.5 million compares to a positive working capital of $32.6 million at December 31, 2008, again driven by the TRUPS repurchase.

Stockholders' equity was $64.2 million at March 31, 2009 compared to $69.4 million at December 31, 2008.

   Subsequent Events    TPS Retirement of Debt   

In January and February 2009, Reading reacquired approximately $22.9 million of the Trust Preferred Securities in exchange for certain marketable securities. On April 30, 2009, Reading extinguished $22.9 million of these Trust Preferred Securities which will result in a second quarter gain on extinguishment of debt of approximately $11.5 million.

Place 57 Distribution

On April 11, 2009, we received $1.2 million in association with our investment in the Place 57 joint venture representing a return of substantially all of our initial investment.

Manukau Land Purchase

On April 30, 2009, we entered into an agreement to purchase for $2.9 million (NZ$5.2 million) a property adjacent to our Manukau property. The agreement is conditioned upon us getting regulatory approval and calls for a deposit of $147,000 (NZ$258,000) to be paid immediately which is returnable to us if we are unable to get regulatory approval, a second deposit to be made of $440,000 (NZ$773,000) upon regulatory approval, and the remaining balance to be paid on the settlement date of March 31, 2010.

About Reading International, Inc.

Reading International (http://www.readingrdi.com/) is in the business of owning and operating cinemas and developing, owning and operating real estate assets. Our business consists primarily of:

   --  the development, ownership and operation of multiplex cinemas in the       United States, Australia and New Zealand; and    --  the development, ownership and operation of retail and commercial real       estate in Australia, New Zealand and the United States, including       entertainment-themed retail centers ("ETRC") in Australia and New       Zealand and live theater assets in Manhattan and Chicago in the United       States.    

Reading manages its worldwide cinema business under various different brands:

   --  in the United States, under the       --  Reading brand,       --  Angelika Film Center brand (http://angelikafilmcenter.com/),       --  Consolidated Theatres brand           (http://www.consolidatedtheatres.com/), and       --  City Cinemas brand (http://citycinemas.moviefone.com/);   --  in Australia, under the Reading brand       (http://www.readingcinemas.com.au/); and   --  in New Zealand, under the       --  Reading (http://www.readingcinemas.co.nz/),       --  Rialto (http://www.rialto.co.nz/), and        --  Berkeley Cinemas (http://www.berkeleycinemas.co.nz/) brands.    

Our statements in this press release contain a variety of forward-looking statements as defined by the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect only our expectations regarding future events and operating performance and necessarily speak only as of the date the information was prepared. No guarantees can be given that our expectation will in fact be realized, in whole or in part. You can recognize these statements by our use of words such as, by way of example, "may," "will," "expect," "believe," and "anticipate" or other similar terminology.

These forward-looking statements reflect our expectation after having considered a variety of risks and uncertainties. However, they are necessarily the product of internal discussion and do not necessarily completely reflect the views of individual members of our Board of Directors or of our management team. Individual Board members and individual members of our management team may have different view as to the risks and uncertainties involved, and may have different views as to future events or our operating performance.

Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or underlying our forward-looking statements are the following:

   --  With respect to our cinema operations:       --  The number and attractiveness to movie goers of the films released           in future periods;       --  The amount of money spent by film distributors to promote their           motion pictures;       --  The licensing fees and terms required by film distributors from           motion picture exhibitors in order to exhibit their films;       --  The comparative attractiveness of motion pictures as a source of           entertainment and willingness and/or ability of consumers (i) to           spend their dollars on entertainment and (ii) to spend their           entertainment dollars on movies in an outside the home           environment; and        --  The extent to which we encounter competition from other cinema           exhibitors, from other sources of outside of the home           entertainment, and from inside the home entertainment options,           such as "home theaters" and competitive film product distribution           technology such as, by way of example, cable, satellite broadcast,           DVD and VHS rentals and sales, and so called "movies on demand;"     --  With respect to our real estate development and operation activities:       --  The rental rates and capitalization rates applicable to the           markets in which we operate and the quality of properties that we           own;       --  The extent to which we can obtain on a timely basis the various           land use approvals and entitlements needed to develop our           properties;       --  the risks and uncertainties associated with real estate           development;       --  The availability and cost of labor and materials;       --  Competition for development sites and tenants; and        --  The extent to which our cinemas can continue to serve as an anchor           tenant which will, in turn, be influenced by the same factors as           will influence generally the results of our cinema operations;     --  With respect to our operations generally as an international company       involved in both the development and operation of cinemas and the       development and operation of real estate; and previously engaged for       many years in the railroad business in the United States:       --  Our ongoing access to borrowed funds and capital and the interest           that must be paid on that debt and the returns that must be paid           on such capital;       --  The relative values of the currency used in the countries in which           we operate;       --  Changes in government regulation, including by way of example, the           costs resulting from the implementation of the requirements of           Sarbanes-Oxley;       --  Our labor relations and costs of labor (including future           government requirements with respect to pension liabilities,           disability insurance and health coverage, and vacations and           leave);       --  Our exposure from time to time to legal claims and to uninsurable           risks such as those related to our historic railroad operations,           including potential environmental claims and health related claims           relating to alleged exposure to asbestos or other substances now           or in the future recognized as being possible causes of cancer or           other health-related problems;       --  Changes in future effective tax rates and the results of currently           ongoing and future potential audits by taxing authorities having           jurisdiction over our various companies; and        --  Changes in applicable accounting policies and practices.    

The above list is not necessarily exhaustive, as business is by definition unpredictable and risky, and subject to influence by numerous factors outside of our control such as changes in government regulation or policy, competition, interest rates, supply, technological innovation, changes in consumer taste and fancy, weather, and the extent to which consumers in our markets have the economic wherewithal to spend money on beyond-the-home entertainment.

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

Finally, please understand that we undertake no obligation to publicly update or to revise any of our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable law. Accordingly, you should always note the date to which our forward-looking statements speak.

Additionally, certain of the presentations included in this press release may contain "pro forma" information or "non-US GAAP financial measures." In such case, a reconciliation of this information to our US GAAP financial statements will be made available in connection with such statements.

(1) The Company defines EBITDA as net income (loss) before net interest expense, income tax benefit, depreciation, and amortization. EBITDA is presented solely as a supplemental disclosure as we believe it to be a relevant and useful measure to compare operating results among our properties and competitors, as well as a measurement tool for evaluation of operating personnel. EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under the promulgations of generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). EBITDA should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, net loss, operating loss or cash flows from operations determined in accordance with GAAP. Finally, EBITDA is not calculated in the same manner by all companies and accordingly, may not be an appropriate measure for comparing performance amongst different companies. See the "Supplemental Data" table attached for a reconciliation of EBITDA to net income (loss).

   For more information, contact:    Andrzej Matyczynski, Chief Financial Officer   Reading International, Inc.    (213) 235 2240                                   (TABLES FOLLOW)     Reading International, Inc. and Subsidiaries   Supplemental Data   Reconciliation of EBITDA to Net Loss (Unaudited)   (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)                                              Three Months Ended   Statements of Operations                       March 31,                                            2009             2008    Revenue                                $46,120          $38,482   Operating expense     Cinema/real estate                    36,186           28,575     Depreciation and amortization          3,837            3,657     General and administrative             4,435            4,688        Operating income                     1,662            1,562    Interest expense, net                   (4,390)          (2,838)   Other income (expense)                    (300)           1,736   Income from discontinued operations        224               74   Income tax expense                        (351)            (417)   Minority interest expense                 (238)            (343)        Net loss                           $(3,393)           $(226)    Basic and diluted loss per share        $(0.15)          $(0.01)    EBITDA*                                 $5,185           $6,911    EBITDA* change                                  $(1,726)    *  EBITDA presented above is net loss adjusted for interest expense      (net of interest income), income tax expense, depreciation and      amortization expense, and an adjustment for discontinued operations      (this includes interest expense and depreciation and amortization      for the discontinued operations).     Reconciliation of EBITDA to the net loss is presented below:                                                    Three Months Ended                                                       March  31,                                                 2009              2008    Net loss                                    $(3,393)           $(226)     Add: Interest expense, net                  4,390            2,838     Add: Income tax provision                     351              417     Add: Depreciation and amortization          3,837            3,657     Add:  EBITDA adjustment for discontinued      operations                                    --              225        EBITDA                                   $5,185           $6,911      Reading International, Inc. and Subsidiaries   Supplemental Data   Segment Reporting (Unaudited)   (dollars in thousands)    Three months ended March                Real   Intersegment    31, 2009                    Cinema    Estate  Eliminations  Total   Revenue                     $42,773    $5,663    $(2,316)   $46,120   Operating expense            35,738     2,764     (2,316)    36,186   Depreciation & amortization   2,902       681         --      3,583   General & administrative    expense                        802       181         --        983   Segment operating income     $3,331    $2,037        $--     $5,368    Three months ended March                Real   Intersegment    31, 2008                    Cinema    Estate  Eliminations  Total    Revenue                     $34,347    $5,524    $(1,389)   $38,482   Operating expense            28,116     1,848     (1,389)    28,575   Depreciation & amortization   2,594       885         --      3,479   General & administrative    expense                        770       247         --      1,017   Segment operating income     $2,867    $2,544        $--     $5,411     Reconciliation to net loss attributable to          2009         2008    Reading International, Inc. shareholders:         Quarter      Quarter   Total segment operating income                     $5,368       $5,411     Non-segment:       Depreciation and amortization expense             254          178       General and administrative expense              3,452        3,671   Operating income                                    1,662        1,562     Interest expense, net                            (4,390)      (2,838)     Other income (expense)                             (795)       1,377     Income from discontinued operation                  224           74     Income tax expense                                 (351)        (417)     Equity earnings of unconsolidated joint      ventures and entities                              495          359   Net income (loss)                                  (3,155)         117     Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling      interest                                          (238)        (343)   Net loss attributable to Reading    International, Inc. common shareholders          $(3,393)       $(226)      Reading International, Inc. and Subsidiaries   Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)   (U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)                                                       Three Months Ended                                                           March 31,                                                       2009         2008   Revenue     Cinema                                          $42,773      $34,347     Real estate                                       3,347        4,135                                                      46,120       38,482   Operating expense     Cinema                                           33,422       26,727     Real estate                                       2,764        1,848     Depreciation and amortization                     3,837        3,657     General and administrative                        4,435        4,688                                                      44,458       36,920    Operating income                                    1,662        1,562      Interest income                                     517          237     Interest expense                                 (4,907)      (3,075)     Other income (expense)                             (795)       1,377   Income (loss) before discontinued    operations, income tax expense, and equity    earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures    and entities                                      (3,523)         101   Income from discontinued operations, net of tax       224           74   Income (loss) before income tax expense and    equity earnings of unconsolidated joint    ventures and entities                             (3,299)         175   Income tax expense                                   (351)        (417)   Loss before equity earnings of    unconsolidated joint ventures and entities        (3,650)        (242)   Equity earnings of unconsolidated joint    ventures and entities                                495          359   Net income (loss)                                 $(3,155)        $117   Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling    interest                                            (238)        (343)   Net loss attributable to Reading    International, Inc. common shareholders          $(3,393)       $(226)    Earnings (loss) per common share of Reading    International, Inc. - basic and diluted:     Loss from continued operations                   $(0.16)      $(0.01)     Earnings from discontinued operations              0.01         0.00   Basic and diluted loss per share    attributable to Reading International,    Inc. common shareholders                          $(0.15)      $(0.01)   Weighted average number of shares    outstanding - basic                           22,573,737   22,476,355   Weighted average number of shares    outstanding - dilutive                        22,573,737   22,476,355   Amounts attributable to Reading    International, Inc. common shareholders     Income from continuing operations, net of      tax                                             (3,617)        (300)     Discontinued operations, net of tax                 224           74   Net loss                                          $(3,393)       $(226)      Reading International, Inc. and Subsidiaries   Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)   (U.S. dollars in thousands)                                             March 31,    December 31,                                              2009           2008   ASSETS   Current Assets:   Cash and cash equivalents                 $14,511       $30,874   Receivables                                 7,319         7,868   Inventory                                     645           797   Investment in marketable securities         2,326         3,100   Restricted cash                             1,223         1,656   Assets held for sale                       19,948        20,119   Prepaid and other current assets            3,091         2,324      Total current assets                    49,063        66,738   Property held for and under development    68,169        67,600   Property & equipment, net                 151,084       154,959   Investments in unconsolidated    joint ventures and entities               11,861        11,643   Investment in Reading    International Trust I                      1,547         1,547   Investment in Reading    International Trust Preferred    Securities (net of $11,363 discount)      11,463            --   Goodwill                                   34,590        34,964   Intangible assets, net                     24,452        25,118   Other assets                                9,116         9,301          Total assets                      $361,345      $371,870    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY   Current Liabilities:   Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  $12,042       $13,170   Film rent payable                           5,399         7,315   Notes payable - current portion             7,967         1,347   Taxes payable                               6,335         6,425   Deferred current revenue                    4,646         5,645   Other current liabilities                     206           201      Total current liabilities               36,595        34,103   Notes payable - long-term portion         163,206       172,268   Notes payable to related party -    long-term portion                         14,000        14,000   Subordinated debt                          51,547        51,547   Noncurrent tax liabilities                  6,475         6,347   Deferred non-current revenue                  573           554   Other liabilities                          24,758        23,604        Total liabilities                    297,154       302,423   Commitments and contingencies   Stockholders' equity:   Class A Nonvoting Common Stock,    par value $0.01, 100,000,000    shares authorized, 35,564,339    issued and 21,084,582    outstanding at March 31, 2009    and 35,564,339 issued and    20,987,115 outstanding at    December 31, 2008                            216           216   Class B Voting Common Stock, par    value $0.01, 20,000,000 shares    authorized and 1,495,490 issued    and outstanding at March 31,    2009 and at December 31, 2008                 15            15   Nonvoting Preferred Stock, par    value $0.01, 12,000 shares    authorized and no outstanding    shares                                        --            --   Additional paid-in capital                134,123       133,906   Accumulated deficit                       (72,870)      (69,477)   Treasury shares                            (4,306)       (4,306)   Accumulated other comprehensive income      4,995         7,276      Total Reading International, Inc.       stockholders' equity                   62,173        67,630   Noncontrolling interest                     2,018         1,817        Total stockholders' equity            64,191        69,447          Total liabilities and           stockholders' equity             $361,345      $371,870  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: Katie.smith@readingrdi.com

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030403/LATH058LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Reading International, Inc.

CONTACT: Andrzej Matyczynski, Chief Financial Officer of Reading
International, Inc., +1-213-235-2240

Web Site: http://www.readingrdi.com/


Profile: International Entertainment

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