MARCUS CORP - Quarter Report: 2014 August (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended August 28, 2014

For the transition period from __________ to __________

Commission File Number 1-12604

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (414) 905-1000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check One).

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 – 18,662,326

CLASS B COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 – 8,731,786

THE MARCUS CORPORATION

INDEX

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements

THE MARCUS CORPORATION

Consolidated Balance Sheets

See accompanying condensed notes to consolidated financial statements.

THE MARCUS CORPORATION

Consolidated Balance Sheets

See accompanying condensed notes to consolidated financial statements.

THE MARCUS CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

See accompanying condensed notes to consolidated financial statements.

THE MARCUS CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

See accompanying condensed notes to consolidated financial statements.

THE MARCUS CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

See accompanying condensed notes to consolidated financial statements.

THE MARCUS CORPORATION

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE 13 WEEKS ENDED AUGUST 28, 2014

1. General

Accounting Policies – Refer to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements (including footnotes) for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2014, contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for such year, for a description of the Company’s accounting policies.

Basis of Presentation – The unaudited consolidated financial statements for the 13 weeks ended August 28, 2014 and August 29, 2013 have been prepared by the Company. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the unaudited interim financial information at August 28, 2014, and for all periods presented, have been made. The results of operations during the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the entire year or other interim periods. However, the unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 29, 2014.

Depreciation and Amortization – Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment are provided using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or any related lease terms. Depreciation expense totaled $8,960,000 and $8,207,000 for the 13 weeks ended August 28, 2014 and August 29, 2013, respectively.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss – Accumulated other comprehensive loss presented in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets consists of the following, all presented net of tax:

⁽¹⁾ Amounts are included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of earnings.

Earnings Per Share – Net earnings per share (EPS) of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock is computed using the two class method. Basic net earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, adjusted for the effect of dilutive stock options using the treasury method. Convertible Class B Common Stock is reflected on an if-converted basis. The computation of the diluted net earnings per share of Common Stock assumes the conversion of Class B Common Stock, while the diluted net earnings per share of Class B Common Stock does not assume the conversion of those shares.

Holders of Common Stock are entitled to cash dividends per share equal to 110% of all dividends declared and paid on each share of Class B Common Stock. As such, the undistributed earnings for each period are allocated based on the proportionate share of entitled cash dividends. The computation of diluted net earnings per share of Common Stock assumes the conversion of Class B Common Stock and, as such, the undistributed earnings are equal to net earnings for that computation.

The following table illustrates the computation of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock basic and diluted net earnings per share for net earnings and provides a reconciliation of the number of weighted-average basic and diluted shares outstanding:

Equity – Activity impacting total shareholders’ equity attributable to The Marcus Corporation and noncontrolling interests for the 13 weeks ended August 28, 2014 and August 29, 2013 was as follows:

Fair Value Measurements – Certain financial assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value in the consolidated financial statements. Some are measured on a recurring basis while others are measured on a non-recurring basis. Financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis are those that are adjusted to fair value each time a financial statement is prepared. Financial assets and liabilities measured on a non-recurring basis are those that are adjusted to fair value when a significant event occurs. A fair value measurement assumes that a transaction to sell an asset or transfer a liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or liability.

The Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified in one of the following categories:

Level 1 – Assets or liabilities for which fair value is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments as of the reporting date. At August 28, 2014 and May 29, 2014, the Company’s $70,000 of available for sale securities were valued using Level 1 pricing inputs and were included in other current assets.

Level 2 – Assets or liabilities for which fair value is based on pricing inputs that were either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date. At August 28, 2014 and May 29, 2014, respectively, the $170,000 and $56,000 asset related to the Company’s interest rate swap contract was valued using Level 2 pricing inputs.

Level 3 – Assets or liabilities for which fair value is based on valuation models with significant unobservable pricing inputs and which result in the use of management estimates. At August 28, 2014 and May 29, 2014, none of the Company’s fair value measurements were valued using Level 3 pricing inputs.

Defined Benefit Plan – The components of the net periodic pension cost of the Company’s unfunded nonqualified, defined-benefit plan are as follows:

New Accounting Pronouncement – In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue From Contracts With Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The guidance will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for the Company in fiscal 2018 and early application is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company has not yet selected a transition method and is evaluating the effect that the guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

2. Derivatives and Hedging Activities

The Company utilizes derivatives principally to manage market risks and reduce its exposure resulting from fluctuations in interest rates. The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk-management objectives and strategies for undertaking various hedge transactions.

The Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement on February 28, 2013 covering $25,000,000 of floating rate debt, which expires January 22, 2018, and requires the Company to pay interest at a defined rate of 0.96% while receiving interest at a defined variable rate of one-month LIBOR (0.19% at August 28, 2014). The Company recognizes derivatives as either assets or liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and on the type of hedging relationship. Derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting must be adjusted to fair value through earnings. The Company’s interest rate swap agreement is considered effective and qualifies as a cash flow hedge. For derivatives that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. As of August 28, 2014, the interest rate swap was considered effective. The notional amount of the swap is $25,000,000 and the fair value of the swap was $170,000 and $56,000 as of August 28, 2014 and May 29, 2014, respectively, and is included in other (long-term assets). The Company does not expect the interest rate swap to have any material effect on earnings within the next 12 months.

3. Capital Lease Obligation

During fiscal 2012, the Company entered into a master licensing agreement with CDF2 Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp (CDF2), whereby CDF2 purchased on the Company’s behalf, and then deployed and licensed back to the Company, digital cinema projection systems (the “systems”) for use by the Company in its theatres. As of August 28, 2014, 642 of the Company’s screens were utilizing the systems under a 10-year master licensing agreement with CDF2. Included in furniture, fixtures and equipment is $45,510,000 related to the digital systems as of August 28, 2014 and May 29, 2014, which is being amortized over the remaining estimated useful life of the assets. Accumulated amortization of the digital systems was $13,803,000 and $12,259,000 as of August 28, 2014 and May 29, 2014, respectively.

Under the terms of the master licensing agreement, the Company made an initial one-time payment to CDF2. The Company expects that the balance of CDF2’s costs to deploy the systems will be covered primarily through the payment of virtual print fees (VPF’s) from film distributors to CDF2 each time a digital movie is booked on one of the systems deployed on a Company screen. The Company agreed to make an average number of bookings of eligible digital movies on each screen on which a licensed system has been deployed to provide for a minimum level of VPF’s paid by distributors (standard booking commitment) to CDF2. To the extent the VPF’s paid by distributors are less than the standard booking commitment, the Company must make a shortfall payment to CDF2. Based upon the Company’s historical booking patterns, the Company does not expect to make any shortfall payments during the life of the agreement. Accounting Standards Codification No. 840, Leases, requires that the Company consider the entire amount of the standard booking commitment minimum lease payments for purposes of determining the capital lease obligation. The maximum amount per year that the Company could be required to pay is approximately $6,163,000 until the obligation is fully satisfied.

The Company’s capital lease obligation is being reduced as VPF’s are paid by the film distributors to CDF2. The Company has recorded the reduction of the obligation associated with the payment of VPF’s as a reduction of the interest related to the obligation and the amortization incurred related to the systems, as the payments represent a specific reimbursement of the cost of the systems by the studios. Based on the Company’s expected minimum number of eligible movies to be booked, the Company expects the obligation to be reduced by at least $4,950,000 within the next 12 months. This reduction will be recognized as an offset to amortization and is expected to offset the majority of the amortization of the systems.

4. Income Taxes

The Company’s effective income tax rate, adjusted for losses from noncontrolling interests, for the 13 weeks ended August 28, 2014 and August 29, 2013 was 39.1% and 40.2%, respectively. The Company does not include the income tax expense or benefit related to the net earnings or loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in its income tax expense as the entities are considered pass-through entities and, as such, the income tax expense or benefit is attributable to its owners.

5. Business Segment Information

The Company’s primary operations are reported in the following business segments: Theatres and Hotels/Resorts. Corporate items include amounts not allocable to the business segments. Corporate revenues consist principally of rent and the corporate operating loss includes general corporate expenses. Corporate information technology costs and accounting shared services costs are allocated to the business segments based upon several factors, including actual usage and segment revenues.

Following is a summary of business segment information for the 13 weeks ended August 28, 2014 and August 29, 2013 (in thousands):

THE MARCUS CORPORATION

Item 2.       Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q are “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may generally be identified as such because the context of such statements include words such as we “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect” or words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our future plans, objectives or goals are also forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially from those expected, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) the availability, in terms of both quantity and audience appeal, of motion pictures for our theatre division, as well as other industry dynamics such as the maintenance of a suitable window between the date such motion pictures are released in theatres and the date they are released to other distribution channels; (2) the effects of adverse economic conditions in our markets, particularly with respect to our hotels and resorts division; (3) the effects on our occupancy and room rates of the relative industry supply of available rooms at comparable lodging facilities in our markets; (4) the effects of competitive conditions in our markets; (5) our ability to achieve expected benefits and performance from our strategic initiatives and acquisitions; (6) the effects of increasing depreciation expenses, reduced operating profits during major property renovations, impairment losses, and preopening and start-up costs due to the capital intensive nature of our businesses; (7) the effects of adverse weather conditions, particularly during the winter in the Midwest and in our other markets; (8) our ability to identify properties to acquire, develop and/or manage and the continuing availability of funds for such development; and (9) the adverse impact on business and consumer spending on travel, leisure and entertainment resulting from terrorist attacks in the United States or incidents such as the tragedy in a movie theatre in Colorado in July 2012. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are made only as of the date of this Form 10-Q and we undertake no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

General

We report our consolidated and individual segment results of operations on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Thursday in May. Fiscal 2015 is a 52-week year, as was fiscal 2014. We divide our fiscal year into three 13-week quarters and a final quarter consisting of 13 or 14 weeks. Our primary operations are reported in the following two business segments: movie theatres and hotels and resorts.

The following table sets forth revenues, operating income, other income (expense), net earnings and net earnings per common share for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014 (in millions, except for per share and variance percentage data):

Revenues increased during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the same period last year primarily due to increased revenues from our hotels and resorts division. Operating income (earnings before other income/expense and income taxes) and net earnings attributable to The Marcus Corporation decreased during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the same period last year due to reduced operating results from our theatre division. Operating results from our hotels and resorts division were favorably impacted by higher occupancy rates and average daily room rates during the fiscal 2015 first quarter compared to the first quarter last year. Operating results from our theatre division were negatively impacted by a weaker slate of movies during the fiscal 2015 first quarter compared to the same period last year.

We did not have any significant variations in investment income, interest expense, gains or losses on the disposition of property, equipment and other assets or net equity losses from unconsolidated joint ventures during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the same quarter last year. Changes in our borrowing levels due to variations in our operating results, capital expenditures, share repurchases and asset sale proceeds, among other items, may impact our actual reported interest expense in future periods. The timing of periodic sales of our property and equipment varies from quarter to quarter, resulting in variations in our reported gains or losses on disposition of property and equipment.

We reported income tax expense for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 of $8.0 million, a decrease of $1.0 million, or 11.7%, compared to income tax expense of $9.0 million for the same period of fiscal 2014. Our fiscal 2015 first quarter effective income tax rate, after adjusting for a loss from noncontrolling interests that is not tax-effected because the entities involved are tax pass-through entities, was 39.1%, compared to our fiscal 2014 first quarter effective income tax rate of 40.2%. We currently anticipate that our effective income tax rate for the remaining quarters of fiscal 2015 will remain close to our historical 39-40% average, excluding any changes in our liability for unrecognized tax benefits or potential changes in federal and state income tax rates. Our actual fiscal 2015 effective income tax rate may be different from our estimated quarterly rates depending upon actual facts and circumstances.

The operating results of two majority-owned hotels, The Skirvin Hilton and The Cornhusker, A Marriott Hotel, are included in the hotels and resorts division revenue and operating income, and the after-tax net earnings or loss attributable to noncontrolling interests is deducted from or added to net earnings on the consolidated statements of earnings. We reported a net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests of $156,000 during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to a loss of $585,000 during the first quarter of fiscal 2014. The loss during the first quarter of fiscal 2014 was primarily due to a true-up of a prior-year allocation of earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests and, as a result, negatively impacted comparisons to our fiscal 2015 results by approximately $0.01 per share.

Theatres

The following table sets forth revenues, operating income and operating margin for our theatre division for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014 (in millions, except for variance percentage and operating margin):

Consistent with the seasonal nature of the motion picture exhibition industry, the first quarter is typically the strongest period of our fiscal year for our theatre division due to the traditionally strong summer movie season. Fiscal 2015 first quarter theatre division revenues increased slightly compared to the prior year quarter due to increased concession revenues, partially offset by reduced box office receipts. Operating income and operating margin in our theatre division decreased in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the same period in the prior year due primarily to the impact of a weaker film slate during the first quarter of fiscal 2015.

Comparisons to fiscal 2014 first quarter record operating results were also negatively impacted by the fact that fiscal 2014 first quarter results included a $300,000 property tax refund at one of our Chicago-area theatres and fiscal 2015 first quarter results include preopening expenses of approximately $200,000 related to the opening of several new amenities in our theatres. In addition, depreciation and amortization expense in our theatre division increased by approximately $740,000 during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the same period last year due to capital expenditures made in our theatres and an increase in net depreciation of our digital cinema systems in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, as we continue to amortize our initial license fees and capital lease obligation against continued reductions of the obligation resulting from earned virtual print fees. Also contributing to our decrease in operating income during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 was approximately $400,000 in costs that we incurred in the current-year quarter related to our new loyalty program, including advertising, material costs and the cost of accruing expected rewards being earned by our new members. We expect these costs to provide future benefits to our theatre division operating results, as we attempt to increase movie-going frequency through targeted communications to our members.

The following table breaks down the components of revenues for the theatre division for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014 (in millions, except for variance percentage):

The decrease in our box office receipts for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the same period last year was due primarily to a lack of the typical number of blockbuster films and family-oriented movies during the current-year summer, particularly during the month of July (historically our strongest month of the year). According to data received from Rentrak (a national box office reporting service for the theatre industry) and compiled by us to evaluate our fiscal 2015 first quarter results, United States box office receipts decreased 12.7% during our fiscal 2015 first quarter, indicating that our box office receipts in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 outperformed the industry by nearly 11 percentage points (the third consecutive quarter in which we have outperformed the industry average). We believe we significantly outperformed the industry average during our fiscal 2015 first quarter due to the recent investments we have made in new features and amenities in select theatres and our implementation of innovative operating and marketing strategies, including our $5 Tuesday promotion.

Our average ticket price decreased 10.6% during the fiscal 2015 first quarter compared to the same period last year. The decrease was directly attributable to our $5 Tuesday promotion and the fact that a weak slate of movies during July limited the number of customers paying full price on what historically has been some of our busiest weekends of the year. We rolled out the $5 Tuesday promotion to our entire circuit in mid-November 2013, so we believe that comparisons to last year will be impacted during our fiscal 2015 second quarter as well. In addition, we made the strategic decision not to increase our admission prices during the first year of the introduction of many of our new theatre amenities, including our DreamLounger^SM recliner seating. In fact, we have not increased our regular admission prices in our theatre circuit since April 2013, nearly one and one-half years ago. We currently anticipate increasing selected ticket prices later this fall, with a particular focus on theatre locations where we have established a strong price/value proposition for our customers as a result of our recent capital investments in those theatres.

Our fiscal 2015 first quarter concession revenues increased compared to the same period last year entirely as a result of increased attendance at comparable theatres, partially offset by a 4.3% decrease in our average concession revenues per person compared to our fiscal 2014 first quarter. The decrease in our fiscal 2015 first quarter concession revenues per person was due primarily to the fact that we offered a free small popcorn to our loyalty program members on Tuesdays. In addition, the fact that our top two films during the fiscal 2014 first quarter were animated family movies (Despicable Me 2 and Monsters University) also likely contributed to our decrease in concession sales per person in the current-year quarter, as these types of films typically result in stronger concession sales compared to more adult-oriented films and the film slate during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 was lacking in strong family-oriented movies. Other revenues decreased slightly during our fiscal 2015 first quarter compared to the same period last year due primarily to a minor decrease in marketing and advertising income.

Comparable theatre attendance increased 9.9% during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the same period last year, despite the lackluster film slate. We believe a combination of several factors contributed to this significant increase in attendance and our above-described industry outperformance. In addition to the $5 Tuesday promotion, our fiscal 2015 first quarter attendance was favorably impacted by increased attendance at eight theatres that added our spacious new DreamLounger electric all-recliner seating during fiscal 2014.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2015, the first three weeks in June were good weeks at the box office, and the last four weeks in August were very strong, with box office receipts approximately 30% higher than comparable weeks last year. Unfortunately, the six weeks in between, including all of July, produced lower box office receipts than the comparable weeks during fiscal 2014. The week that included the July 4th holiday, historically one of our strongest weeks of the entire fiscal year, was so lacking in strong film product that it was our second worst week of our entire 13-week fiscal 2015 first quarter. Our highest grossing films during the fiscal 2015 first quarter included Guardians of the Galaxy, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Maleficent, 22 Jump Street and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. The film slate during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 was lacking the usual quantity of strong blockbuster movies, as evidenced by the fact that our top five films during our fiscal 2015 first quarter only accounted for 30% of our total box office results compared to 39% for the top five films during the first quarter of last year, both expressed as a percentage of the total box office receipts for the period. This decline in summer blockbuster films was likely due in large part to the reported fact that the studios released only 12 movies with budgets close to or more than $100 million between May and August 2014, compared to 22 such films during the same period in calendar 2013. Production delays on several would-be blockbuster movies were one of the reported reasons for the decline in larger-budget films this quarter.

September is typically the slowest month of the year for our theatre division. Film product for the second quarter of fiscal 2015 has thus far produced box office results slightly higher than the same period last year. Films scheduled to be released this fall and during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday period that may generate substantial box office interest include Fury, Interstellar, Big Hero 6 and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part I. The highest grossing films released during the second quarter last year included The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Gravity, Thor: The Dark World, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 and Captain Phillips. Revenues for the theatre business and the motion picture industry in general are heavily dependent on the general audience appeal of available films, together with studio marketing, advertising and support campaigns and the maintenance of the current “windows” between the date a film is released in theatres and the date a motion picture is released to other channels, including video on-demand and DVD. These are factors over which we have no control.

We launched our new customer loyalty program, Magical Movie Rewards™ on March 30, 2014. We are very encouraged by the response to this program to date, which has added more than 640,000 members in its first six months. In addition to earning points for each dollar spent, members also receive special concession offers, promotions and exclusive screening opportunities. We believe the benefit of this program to us is the ability to better understand customer preferences and to engage loyalty program members with customized communications and rewards. We believe that this will result in increased frequency, higher average concession revenues per person, increased loyalty to Marcus Theatres and ultimately, continued improved operating results.

We ended the first quarter of fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014 with a total of 674 company-owned screens in 53 theatres and 11 managed screens in two theatres. We opened three new Take Five Lounge^SM outlets and three Zaffiro’s® Express lobby dining outlets during our fiscal 2015 first quarter. Early in our fiscal 2015 second quarter, we opened two additional Take Five Lounges and Zaffiro’s Express outlets, bringing our total number of each concept to 11. We have also commenced construction on the conversion of another theatre to DreamLounger recliner seating, as well as the conversion of two more UltraScreen DLX auditoriums and the addition of one more Take Five Lounge and Zaffiro’s Express. All of these new amenities are scheduled to open in November or December 2014. We also continued construction on our new theatre in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, The Palace at Sun Prairie. Designed to replace an existing nearby theatre, this new 12-screen theatre will incorporate each of the above-referenced amenities, as well as four Big Screen Bistro^SM in-theatre dining auditoriums, and is currently scheduled to open in May 2015.

Hotels and Resorts

The following table sets forth revenues, operating income and operating margin for our hotels and resorts division for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014 (in millions, except for variance percentage and operating margin):

Our first quarter is historically the strongest quarter of our fiscal year for our hotels and resorts division due to increased travel during the summer months at our predominantly Midwestern properties. Division revenues and operating income increased during our fiscal 2015 first quarter compared to the prior year first quarter due to both increased occupancy percentage and average daily room rate. In fact, our operating income during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 was the highest we have reported since fiscal 2007, which we believe is an indicator of steady improvement in both the lodging industry and our hotels and resorts division.

The following table sets forth certain operating statistics for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014, including our average occupancy percentage (number of occupied rooms as a percentage of available rooms), our average daily room rate, or ADR, and our total revenue per available room, or RevPAR, for company-owned properties:

(1)          These operating statistics represent averages of our nine distinct company-owned hotels and resorts, branded and unbranded, in different geographic markets with a wide range of individual hotel performance. The statistics are not necessarily representative of any particular hotel or resort.

RevPAR increased at six of our nine company-owned properties during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the same period last year. According to data received from Smith Travel Research and compiled by us in order to evaluate our fiscal 2015 first quarter results, comparable “upper upscale” hotels throughout the United States experienced an increase in RevPAR of 8.1% during our fiscal 2015 first quarter compared to our fiscal 2014 first quarter, greater than the increase of 6.5% we experienced. We believe our RevPAR increases during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 were negatively impacted by a difficult comparison in the Chicago hotel market (even though our hotel outperformed the market), and a recent increase in room supply in one of our markets.

The lodging industry continued to recover at a steady pace during the first quarter of our fiscal 2015. Fiscal 2015 first quarter occupancy rates showed improvement over the same period during the prior year and continued to be at record levels for this division, significantly higher than prior to the recession-driven downturn in the hotel industry. However, one of the continued challenges facing our hotels and resorts division, and the industry as a whole, has been the slow recovery of ADR compared to pre-recession levels. Recent trends in ADR have been positive, and we are pleased to report our 15th straight quarter of year-over-year ADR increases during our fiscal 2015 first quarter. In fact, our ADR during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 for our eight comparable hotels exceeded our pre-recession fiscal 2008 ADR for those same hotels by 0.4% – the first quarter since the end of the recession that we have exceeded comparable quarter fiscal 2008 ADR.

Strong group business at several of our hotels contributed to our improved operating results during the first quarter of fiscal 2015. Typically, when we have substantial blocks of rooms committed to group business, we are able to raise rates with non-group business, which we believe contributed to our 8%-9% increase in ADR at selected hotels during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the prior-year first quarter. Ultimately, we believe our best way of increasing our operating margins in future periods is by increasing our ADR. We are encouraged by the fact that our group booking pace for fiscal 2015 is running ahead of fiscal 2014 as of the date of this report.

Whether the current positive trends continue depends in large part on the economic environment in which we operate, as hotel revenues have historically tracked very closely with traditional macroeconomic statistics such as the Gross Domestic Product. We generally expect our favorable revenue trends to continue in future periods and to generally track the overall industry trends. We expect to begin construction on our conversion of our Chicago hotel into an AC Hotel by Marriott in November 2014. Although we will keep the hotel open, under the name “Hotel Rush,” for most of the construction period until the scheduled completion in Spring 2015, we anticipate that the disruption associated with the construction will negatively impact operating results at that hotel. Conversely, we completed the final phase of our major renovation of The Cornhusker, a Marriott Hotel, in Lincoln, Nebraska, during the first quarter of fiscal 2015, and we expect to recognize favorable year-over-year comparisons in operating results from that hotel in future periods. We also continue to monitor our important Milwaukee market very closely, as this market continues to experience an increase in room supply. Late in our fiscal 2015 first quarter, a new 381-room casino hotel opened near downtown Milwaukee.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2015, we completed our first summer of managing the Heidel House Resort & Spa in Green Lake, Wisconsin. Early in our fiscal 2015 second quarter, we entered into an agreement to assume management of The Hotel Zamora and Castile Restaurant in St. Pete Beach, Florida, effective November 1, 2014. We also acquired a 10% minority ownership interest in the hotel and restaurant. The Hotel Zamora offers 72 luxurious guest rooms, including 22 two-bedroom suites, and has 9,000 square feet of meeting space, including one of the most scenic rooftops in Florida. This boutique luxury property opened in June 2014 and overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico. Castile is the hotel’s destination restaurant and rooftop lounge.

We have a number of additional potential growth opportunities that we are currently evaluating. The timing and nature of the opportunities may vary and include pure management contracts, management contracts with equity and joint venture investments.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity

Our movie theatre and hotels and resorts businesses each generate significant and consistent daily amounts of cash, subject to previously-noted seasonality, because each segment’s revenue is derived predominantly from consumer cash purchases. We believe that these relatively consistent and predictable cash sources, as well as the availability of approximately $141 million of unused credit lines as of the end of our fiscal 2015 first quarter, will be adequate to support the ongoing operational liquidity needs of our businesses during the remainder of fiscal 2015.

Financial Condition

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased by $5.1 million to $16.6 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $21.7 million during the first quarter of the prior year. The decrease was due primarily to decreased net earnings and the unfavorable timing in the payment of accrued compensation, income taxes and other accrued liabilities.

Net cash used in investing activities during the fiscal 2015 first quarter totaled $14.6 million, compared to $7.9 million during the fiscal 2014 first quarter. The increase in net cash used in investing activities was the result of increased capital expenditures and an increase in restricted cash. Total cash capital expenditures (including normal continuing capital maintenance and renovation projects) totaled $13.1 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to $8.7 million during the first quarter of the prior year. Approximately $300,000 of our capital expenditures during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 was related to the development of a new theatre. We did not incur any acquisition-related capital expenditures during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 or fiscal 2014.

Fiscal 2015 first quarter cash capital expenditures included approximately $7.7 million incurred in our theatre division, including costs associated with the completion of several previously-described fiscal 2014 projects (DreamLounger recliner seating additions and new Take Five Lounge and Zaffiro’s Express outlets). We also incurred capital expenditures in our hotel division during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 of approximately $5.0 million, including costs associated with the completion of the fiscal 2014 renovation of the tower guest rooms of the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and completion of the renovation of The Cornhusker. Fiscal 2014 first quarter capital expenditures included approximately $4.8 million incurred in our theatre division, including costs associated with the renovation of a theatre in Omaha, Nebraska, the addition of a Take Five Lounge at theatres in Omaha and Madison, Wisconsin, and the construction of an UltraScreen in Gurnee, Illinois. We also incurred capital expenditures in our hotel division during the first quarter of fiscal 2014 of approximately $3.9 million, including costs associated with the renovation of The Cornhusker.

Net cash used in financing activities during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 totaled $3.3 million compared to $11.8 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2014. We used excess cash during both periods to reduce our borrowings under our revolving credit facility. As short-term borrowings became due, we replaced them as necessary with new short-term borrowings. As a result, we added $32.5 million of new debt and we made $33.6 million of principal payments on long-term debt during our fiscal 2015 first quarter (net reduction in long-term debt of $1.1 million) compared to $64.5 million of new debt added (including $50 million of newly issued senior notes) and $72.4 million of principal payments made during our fiscal 2014 first quarter (net reduction in long-term debt of $7.9 million), accounting for the majority of the decrease in net cash used in financing activities during the current-year quarter. Our debt-to-capitalization ratio was 0.42 at August 28, 2014 and at our fiscal 2014 year-end.

We repurchased approximately 1,000 shares of our common stock in conjunction with the exercise of stock options during the first quarter of fiscal 2015. We repurchased approximately 48,000 shares of our common stock for approximately $600,000 during the first quarter of fiscal 2014 in conjunction with the exercise of stock options and the purchase of shares in the open market. As of August 28, 2014, approximately 3.3 million shares remained available for repurchase under prior Board of Directors repurchase authorizations. We expect that we will execute any future repurchases on the open market or in privately-negotiated transactions, depending upon a number of factors, including prevailing market conditions.

Dividend payments during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 totaled $2.5 million compared to dividend payments of $2.2 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2014. The increase in dividend payments was the result of an 11.8% increase in our regular quarterly dividend payment initiated during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. During the first quarter of fiscal 2015, we made distributions to noncontrolling interests of $700,000, compared to distributions of $1.1 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2014.

We previously indicated that we expected our full-year fiscal 2015 capital expenditures, including potential purchases of interests in joint ventures (but excluding any significant unidentified acquisitions), to be in the $70-$90 million range. We are still finalizing the scope and timing of the various projects requested by our two divisions, but at this time, we are not adjusting this estimate. Some of these projects may carry over to the next fiscal year, and if that occurs, it would be more likely that we would incur capital expenditures in the current year at the lower end of that range. The actual timing and extent of the implementation of all of our current expansion plans will depend in large part on industry and general economic conditions, our financial performance and available capital, the competitive environment, evolving customer needs and trends and the availability of attractive opportunities. It is likely that our plans will continue to evolve and change in response to these and other factors.

We also continue to pursue an opportunity to be the co-developer of a previously-described mixed-use retail development known as The Corners of Brookfield. During the first quarter of fiscal 2015, we continued to make progress on our negotiations with our potential equity partners, and a joint venture structure that would include a minority interest for us advanced nearer to completion. We also made progress during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 on obtaining a sufficient number of leases to proceed with this project. The actual timing and extent of any additional expenditures for this project may change, depending upon the satisfactory and timely completion of the items noted above. We continue to target a Fall 2016 project opening, if all necessary milestones are reached.

We have not experienced any material changes in our market risk exposures since May 29, 2014.

a.           Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

Based on their evaluations and the evaluation of management, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.

b.           Changes in internal control over financial reporting

There were no significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act that occurred during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Risk factors relating to us are contained in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2014. No material change to such risk factors has occurred during the 13 weeks ended August 28, 2014.

The following table sets forth information with respect to purchases made by us or on our behalf of our Common Stock during the periods indicated. All of these repurchases were made in conjunction with the exercise of stock options and the purchase of shares in the open market and pursuant to the publicly announced repurchase authorization described below.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

THE MARCUS CORPORATION