Carmike Cinemas, Inc., a leading entertainment, digital cinema and 3-D motion picture exhibitor, today reported results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, as summarized below.

“Carmike’s theatre circuit outperformed box office and attendance gains in Q1, as well as our 17th straight quarter of higher year-over-year concessions and other per patron spending,” stated David Passman, Carmike Cinemas’ President and Chief Executive Officer. “The Company’s per screen admissions revenue and attendance grew approximately 12% and 9%, respectively, versus the prior-year period. This compares to reported domestic industry box office revenue and attendance growth of approximately 6% and 5%, respectively, during the quarter.

“A more compelling, diverse and well-spaced film slate, versus the comparable period, positive contributions from the first full quarter of operating results from the nine theatres and 147 screens we acquired from Muvico in late 2013, as well as several recently opened Carmike locations, drove strong top line financial performance in Q1.

“Innovative concessions and promotional strategies combined with Carmike’s customer-centric focus on providing guests with an exceptional experience on every visit, continue to be key elements of our operating success. Concessions and other sales per patron increased over 8% to a Company record $4.52 in Q1 2014, further underscoring our achievements.

“During the quarter, we announced plans to open three state-of-the-art theatres in Fayetteville, NC, Spring Hill, TN and Traverse City, MI. We have a total of six announced locations under construction. Subsequent to quarter-end, we also completed a remodel of our Mount Lebanon, PA theatre in the Pittsburgh suburbs and opened the Tiger 13 in Opelika, AL, not far from the Auburn University campus. There are a number of other new-builds in the planning or advanced negotiations stages. We continue to actively search for acquisitive and organic growth opportunities that will help us achieve our circuit expansion target.

“Today’s announcement by National CineMedia to acquire Screenvision, of which Carmike owns approximately 19%, represents the successful culmination of nearly three years of incredibly hard work by Screenvision’s management team, associates, partners and owners. We are pleased to be joining the NCM network in the near term, and look forward to working with Kurt Hall and the other members of the merged organization’s management team.

“We believe that Carmike is well positioned to capitalize on future opportunities for circuit growth. Our balance sheet continues to strengthen and we have ample cash balances on hand with a very manageable debt level. In addition, our operating results continue to improve as evidenced by our significant year over year Q1 growth in operating income and bottom line results. We consider the recent ratings upgrade of our senior secured notes further recognition of the continued improvement in our financial position as we continue to identify and act on growth opportunities in 2014,” concluded Mr. Passman.

Carmike Cinemas’ Chief Financial Officer Richard B. Hare stated, “Carmike generated another quarter of solid results, including increases in box office receipts of 20.4%, concessions and other revenue of 27.2% and total operating revenues of 22.9%. Average Q1 admissions per patron increased 2.4% to $7.19, while average concessions and other revenue per patron rose 8.1% to an all-time quarterly record of $4.52. In aggregate, during the 2014 first quarter Carmike guests spent $11.71 per visit to our entertainment complexes, also a record level.

“Carmike’s Q1 2014 film exhibition costs as a percentage of admissions revenues was 54.2%, compared to 53.1% in Q1 2013. The increase was largely due to higher film rent associated with top tier films compared to the year-ago period. Concession costs as a percentage of concessions and other revenue decreased from 12.3% in the first quarter of 2013 to 11.6% due primarily to a decrease in discount and other promotional activities.

“In an effort to enhance visibility into our theatre operating costs, we are now reporting separate line items for salaries and benefits, theatre occupancy costs and other operating costs on our consolidated statement of operations. These were previously included in other theatre operating costs. Salaries and benefits rose $3.2 million to $21.5 million and theatre occupancy costs rose $5.1 million to $20.4 million in Q1 2014 due primarily to recent acquisitions and new-builds. Other theatre operating costs were $29.4 million, compared to $23.8 million in the 2013 period, due primarily to incremental operating expenses resulting from our expanded circuit.

“General and administrative expenses were $7.5 million, versus $6.0 million in the 2013 period, partially due to outside professional fees. As expected, quarterly interest expense rose to $13.1 million, due principally to the assumption of long-term lease obligations associated with the acquired Muvico screens.

“Carmike’s Adjusted EBITDA rose 20.0% to $20.7 million and theatre level cash flow increased 21.3% to $27.5 million. At quarter-end we had $319.8 million of net debt, versus $311.4 million at December 31, 2013, reflecting an aggregate of capital leases and long-term financing obligations, plus senior notes. Carmike's quarter-ending balance sheet included cash of $133.9 million. Our top priority for cash deployment remains circuit growth,” concluded Mr. Hare.