iPic Entertainment Announces Initial Full Year 2018 Outlook Nasdaq:IPIC

(MENAFNEditorial) Expects 2018 Comparable-Store Sales Growth of 0% to +5%
Articulates Four Key Strategic Initiatives to Create Long-Term Value
Company Reports Third Quarter 2017 Results and Expects to File 10-Q Shortly
Reports Preliminary Full Year 2017 Results

BOCA RATON, Fla., March 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iPic® Entertainment Inc. ('iPic' or the 'Company') (NASDAQ: IPIC ), America's premier luxury restaurant-and-theater brand, today announced its initial full year 2018 outlook, including expectations for annual comparable-store sales growth of 0% to +5%, and articulated four key strategic initiatives to create long-term value for stockholders. The Company also reported its third quarter 2017 results, expects to file its 10-Q shortly, as well as reported preliminary, unaudited full year 2017 results.

Hamid Hashemi, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of iPic® Entertainment, commented, 'With the completion of our Initial Public Offering in February, we are excited to begin our journey as a public company. iPic® Entertainment is America's premier luxury restaurant-and-theater brand that strives to be our guest's favorite local destination for a night out on the town. Our concept is well-positioned within today's ever-increasing experiential economy to deliver a one-of-a-kind, four-hour guest experience.'

Hashemi continued, 'We currently operate 115 screens at 15 locations in 9 states with the goal of reaching 200 locations across the US. We believe that we are still in the very nascent stage of our domestic growth story but also see significant opportunity to expand internationally. We are laser focused on executing on our four key strategic initiatives to meaningfully improve our top and bottom-line performance in 2018 and beyond while creating long-term value for our stockholders.'

Initial Full Year 2018 Financial Outlook

For the year ending December 31, 2018, the Company currently expects the following:

Total revenue growth of +3% to +7%. Comparable-store sales growth in the range of 0% to +5%. Store-level EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, growth of +20% to +30%. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, loss of $(1.5) million to $(0.5) million. At least three remodels of existing locations with Generation I auditoriums. Capital expenditures of $20 million to $25 million, net of tenant improvement dollars.

Key Strategic Initiatives

iPic plans to execute on four key strategic initiatives in order to meaningfully improve its top and bottom-line results over time and create long-term value for stockholders.

1. Improving Profitability from Existing Locations:

A significant revenue driver going forward will be the remodeling of the Company's Generation I legacy locations into Generation III designs that, among other things, will include the installation of predominately Premium-Plus seating, including iPic's latest Patented Pod Seats and Chaise Lounges. Premium-Plus seating currently comprises approximately 35% of seating in our Generation I auditoriums. Our Generation III designs, which contain significantly more Premium-Plus seating, generate significantly higher revenue per screen than our Generation I locations.

iPic expects to complete a minimum of three remodels in 2018.

After a detailed review of all eight locations with Generation I auditoriums, the Company has decided against reinvestment at its Glendale, Wisconsin location, where the Bayshore Mall is now in receivership. The Company has instead closed this location effective March 8, 2018. In 2017, this location generated a store-level EBITDA loss.

2. Opening New iPic Locations Domestically:

The Company currently operates 115 screens at 15 locations in 9 states with the ultimate long-term goal of reaching 200 locations across the US.

iPic recently signed leases for two new iPic locations in Fort Lauderdale, FL and Atlanta, GA and has a robust pipeline of additional sites in lease negotiations.

The Company plans to open at least four new domestic locations per year starting in 2019.

3. Pursuing International Growth Opportunities:

The Company is actively exploring the potential to expand the iPic brand internationally through licensed and/or asset-light partnerships.

iPic announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with BAS Global Investments to develop its one-of-a-kind, world-class luxurious restaurant-and-theater iPic locations throughout The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. If the Company is able to finalize all agreements and successfully obtain needed operating licenses, iPic believes there is the potential for 25 to 30 iPic locations within the next ten years, and would expect to expand in all parts of the country starting in Riyadh and Jeddah.

4. Increasing Digital Growth Options (Membership and Sponsorship):

The Company plans to leverage its growing membership network as the brand expands and increases its market presence. In 2017, iPic's active users that have visited a location over the past year accounted for approximately 47% of revenue.

In 2017, the Company earned $1.8 million from corporate sponsorships and believes that it has the opportunity to significantly grow its local and national sponsorship revenue.

Financial Results

The Company reported third quarter results, ended September 30, 2017, including:

Total revenue of $32.6 million. Comparable-store sales decrease of 16.5%. Store-level EBITDA*, a non-GAAP measure, of $2.7 million. EBITDA*, a non-GAAP measure, loss of $(2.4) million. Adjusted EBITDA*, a non-GAAP measure, loss of $(1.7) million. Net loss was $(11.5) million.

The Company reported preliminary, unaudited full year 2017 results, ended December 31, 2017, including:

Total revenue of $139 million to $140 million. Comparable-store sales decrease of 7.5% to 8.0%. Store-level EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, of $13.7 million to $14.3 million. EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, loss of $(9.0) million to $(8.5) million. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, loss of $(1.5) million to $(1.0) million. Net loss between $(45) million and $(44) million. * Store-level EBITDA, EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations of store-level EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), the most directly comparable financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP, are set forth in the schedules accompanying this release. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Initial Public Offering and Subsequent Events

On February 1, 2018, the Company successfully closed its initial public offering ("IPO") of common stock at a price to the public of $18.50 per share. iPic issued 1,248,159 shares of Class A common stock (which included converting 429,730 Class B common stock to Class A common stock) and received gross proceeds of approximately $15.1 million.

Separately, on February 1, 2018, the Company closed a private placement of $2.5 million from an affiliate of one of its existing investors, Regal Cinemas, which had previously invested $12 million at a price of $18.13 per share in April 2017. Additionally, PVR Cinemas, the largest exhibitor in India, invested $4 million at the same price of $18.13 per share in November 2017.

Conference Call

iPic will host a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. EST. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (201) 493-6779. A replay will be available after the call and can be accessed by dialing (412) 317-6671; the passcode is 13676497. The replay will be available until Sunday, April 8, 2018.

The conference call will also be webcast live from the Company's Investor Relations website at investors.ipictheaters.com . An archive of the webcast will be available at the same location on the website shortly after the call has concluded.

Key Financial Definitions

New store openings – Our ability to expand our business and reach new guests is influenced by the opening of additional iPic locations in both new and existing markets. The success of our new iPic locations is indicative of our brand appeal and the efficacy of our site selection and operating models.

Comparable-store sales – Comparable-store sales are a year-over-year comparison of sales at iPic locations open at the end of the period which have been open for at least 12 months prior to the start of such quarterly period. It is a key performance indicator used within the industry and is indicative of acceptance of our initiatives as well as local economic and consumer trends. Our comparable iPics consisted of 11 and 14 iPics as of the end of 2016 and 2017, respectively. From period to period, comparable-store sales are generally impacted by attendance and average spend per person. Spend per person is, in turn, composed of pricing and sales-mix changes.

Store-level EBITDA – A non-GAAP measure, store-level EBITDA consists of total revenues less store-level expenses that include food-and beverage cost-of-goods sold, box-office-and-other-income costs-of-goods-sold, labor costs, occupancy expenses and other-operating expenses.

EBITDA – A non-GAAP measure, is defined as net income before net interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Adjusted EBITDA – A non-GAAP measure, is defined as net income before net interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and which also excludes equity-based compensation expense, losses on the disposal of property and equipment, as well as certain non-recurring items that the Company does not believe directly reflect its core operations.

About iPic® Entertainment Inc.

Established in 2010 and headquartered in Boca Raton, FL, iPic® Entertainment is America's premier luxury restaurant-and-theater brand. A pioneer of the dine-in theater concept, iPic® Entertainment's mission is to provide visionary entertainment escapes, presenting high-quality, chef-driven culinary and mixology in architecturally unique destinations that include premium movie theaters and restaurants. iPic® Theaters offers guests two tiers of luxury leather seating, Premium Chaise lounge and Premium Plus pod or reclining seating options. iPic® Theaters currently operates 15 locations with 115 screens in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington and new locations planned for Florida, Georgia, Texas, California and Connecticut. For more information, visit www.iPic.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes ''forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding our financial outlook for the 2018 full year; our expectations with respect to the opening of new locations in the near and long term; our expectations with respect to capital expenditures and improvements to existing locations; our expectations with respect to international growth; and our ability to increase our digital growth. Such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as ''should,'' ''may,'' ''intends,'' ''anticipates,'' ''believes,'' ''estimates,'' ''projects,'' ''forecasts,'' ''expects,'' ''plans,'' and ''proposes'' or other variation of these or similar words, or by discussions of future events, strategies or risks and uncertainties. Such forward looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, including risks related to the following: our inability to successfully identify and secure appropriate sites and timely develop and expand our operations in existing and new markets; our inability to optimize our theater circuit through new construction and transforming our existing theaters; competition from other theater chains and restaurants; our inability to operate profitably; our dependence on a small number of suppliers for motion picture products; our inability to manage fluctuations in attendance in the motion picture exhibition industry; our inability to address the increased use of alternative film delivery methods or other forms of entertainment; our ability to serve menu items that appeal to our guests and to avoid food safety problems; our inability to obtain sufficient capital to open up new units, to renovate existing units and to deploy strategic initiatives; our ability to address issues associated with entering into long-term non-cancelable leases; our inability to protect against security breaches of confidential guest information; our inability to manage our growth; our inability to maintain sufficient levels of cash flow, or access to capital, to meet growth expectations; our inability to manage our substantial level of outstanding debt; our ability to continue as a going concern; our failure to meet any operational and financial performance guidance we provide to the public; our ability to compete and succeed in a highly competitive and evolving industry; and other factors described in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, each as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Although the forward-looking statements in this press release are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations, taking into account all information currently available to us, we cannot guarantee future transactions, results, performance, achievements or outcomes. No assurance can be made that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements will be attained. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties referred to above materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove to be incorrect, our actual results may vary in material and adverse respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

iPic-Gold Class Entertainment, LLC
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands) September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,868 $ 4,653 Accounts receivable 3,496 4,081 Inventories 1,065 1,227 Prepaid expenses 715 2,816 Total current assets 9,145 12,777 Property and equipment, net 144,881 164,439 Deposits 217 232 Convertible note receivable 250 - Total assets 154,493 177,448 Liabilities and Members' Deficit Accounts payable 10,275 11,797 Accrued expenses 3,502 2,601 Accrued interest 3,680 955 Accrued payroll 2,124 3,609 Accrued insurance - 1,327 Taxes payable 1,315 2,435 Deferred revenue 6,524 7,234 Deposits and other current liabilities 464 - Total current liabilities 27,883 29,958 Long-term debt – related party 138,225 127,713 Notes payable to related parties 50,385 47,688 Deferred rent 51,197 50,336 Accrued construction liabilities - 12,771 Accrued interest – long-term 4,555 2,903 Total liabilities 272,245 271,369 Members' Deficit Members' contributions 34,493 24,369 Accumulated deficit (152,245 ) (118,290 ) Total members' deficit (117,752 ) (93,921 ) Total liabilities and members' deficit 154,493 177,448

iPic-Gold Class Entertainment, LLC
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share data) Nine Months Nine Months Three Months Three Months Ended Ended Ended Ended September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 Revenues Food and beverage $ 55,270 $ 44,865 $ 17,569 $ 15,750 Theater 45,550 40,038 14,770 14,095 Other 1,145 527 252 237 Total revenues 101,966 85,430 32,591 30,082 Operating expenses Cost of food and beverage 15,154 12,067 4,847 4,304 Cost of theater 17,522 15,564 5,238 5,395 Operating payroll and benefits 28,480 21,964 9,574 7,475 Occupancy expenses 13,443 12,377 4,677 4,043 Other operating expenses 18,765 14,371 6,228 5,356 General and administrative expenses 11,062 9,196 4,423 3,355 Depreciation and amortization expense 14,552 11,293 4,974 4,001 Pre-opening expenses 1,634 3,094 2 2,223 Impairment of property and equipment 3,332 - - - Operating expenses 123,943 99,926 39,964 36,153 Operating loss (21,977 ) (14,496 ) (7,373 ) (6,070 ) Other income (expense) Interest income (expense), net (11,918 ) (8,532 ) (4,135 ) (3,273 ) Other income (expense) 5 - - - Total other income (expense) (11,913 ) (8,532 ) (4,135 ) (3,273 ) Net loss before income tax expense (33,890 ) (23,028 ) (11,508 ) (9,343 ) Income tax expense 65 46 22 16 Net loss $ (33,955 ) $ (23,074 ) $ (11,530 ) $ (9,359 )

iPic-Gold Class Entertainment, LLC
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands) Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 2016 Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss $ (33,955 ) $ (23,074 ) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 14,552 11,205 Impairment of property and equipment 3,332 - Loss on disposal of property and equipment 8 89 Amortization of deferred rent (511 ) (111 ) Lease incentive payments received from lessors 140 18,261 Effective interest adjustment (266 ) (117 ) Net changes in operating assets and liabilities: Tenant improvement receivable - 4,609 Accounts receivable 2,849 444 Inventory 162 98 Prepaid expenses 2,101 1,480 Deposits 15 ( 60 ) Accounts payable (1,459 ) (2,223 ) Accruals (2,564 ) (3,239 ) Accrued interest 12,379 8,397 Interest paid (7,736 ) (8,670 ) Deferred revenue (717 ) (1,087 ) Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (11,670 ) 6,002 Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of property and equipment (14,468 ) (46,787 ) Investment in convertible note receivable (250 ) - Net cash used in investing activities (14,718 ) (46,787 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Capital contributions 12,394 - Repayment of notes payable to related parties (341 ) - Loan proceeds 13,550 36,530 Net cash provided by financing activities 25,603 36,530 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (785 ) (4,255 ) Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period 4,653 8,182 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period $ 3,868 $ 3,927 Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized $ 7,680 $ 9,232 Cash paid for income taxes $ 87 $ 61 Supplemental disclosures of non-cash flow activity: Property and equipment financed through liabilities $ 2,118 $ 1,035 Non-cash capital distributions $ 2,270 $ - Non-GAAP Measures

Certain financial measures presented in this press release, such as EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Store-Level EBITDA are not recognized under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which we refer to as 'GAAP.' We define these terms as follows:

'EBITDA' means, for any reporting period, net loss before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, 'Adjusted EBITDA' is a supplemental measure of our performance and is also the basis for performance evaluation under our executive compensation programs. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA adjusted for the impact of certain non-cash and other items that we do not consider in our evaluation of ongoing operating performance. These items include, among other things, equity-based compensation expense, pre-opening expenses, other income and loss on disposal of property and equipment, impairment of property and equipment as well as certain non-recurring charges. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is an appropriate measure of operating performance because it eliminates the impact of expenses that do not relate to our ongoing business performance. 'Store-Level EBITDA' is a supplemental measure of our performance which we believe provides management and investors with additional information to measure the performance of our locations, individually and as an entirety. Store-Level EBITDA is defined by us as EBITDA adjusted for pre-opening expenses, other income, loss on disposal of property and equipment, impairment of property and equipment, non-recurring charges, and general and administrative expense. We use Store-Level EBITDA to measure operating performance and returns from opening new stores. We believe that Store-Level EBITDA is another useful measure in evaluating our operating performance because it removes the impact of general and administrative expenses, which are not incurred at the store level, and the costs of opening new stores, which are non-recurring at the store-level, and thereby enables the comparability of the operating performance of our stores for the periods presented. We also believe that Store-Level EBITDA is a useful measure in evaluating our operating performance within the entertainment and dining industry because it permits the evaluation of store-level productivity, efficiency and performance, and we use Store-Level EBITDA as a means of evaluating store financial performance compared with our competitors. You are encouraged to evaluate the adjustments we have made to GAAP financial measures and the reasons we consider them appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA and Store-Level EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may incur income and expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments used to calculate the non-GAAP financial measures contained in this press release.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are included in this press release because they are key metrics used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. Store-Level EBITDA is utilized to measure the performance of our locations, both individually and in entirety.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not GAAP measures of our financial performance or liquidity and should not be considered as alternatives to net income (loss) as a measure of financial performance or cash flows from operations as measures of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and Store-Level EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Additionally, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not intended to be measures of free cash flow for management's discretionary use, as they do not reflect tax payments, debt service requirements, capital expenditures, iPic openings and certain other cash costs that may recur in the future, including, among other things, cash requirements for working capital needs and cash costs to replace assets being depreciated and amortized. Management compensates for these limitations by relying on our GAAP results in addition to using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA supplementally. Our measures of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled captions of other companies due to different methods of calculation.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures $ Thousands Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Net loss $ (33,955 ) $ (23,074 ) $ (11,530 ) $ (9,359 ) Plus: Interest expense 11,918 8,532 4,135 3,273 Income tax expense 65 46 22 16 Depreciation and amortization expense 14,552 11,293 4,974 4,001 EBITDA (7,421 ) (3,202 ) (2,399 ) (2,069 ) Plus: Pre-opening expenses 1,634 3,094 2 2,223 Other income (5 ) - - - Impairment of property and equipment 3,332 - - - Non-recurring charges 1,069 - 696 - Adjusted EBITDA (1,391 ) (109 ) (1,701 ) 154 Plus: General and administrative expense 11,062 9,196 4,423 3,355 Store-Level EBITDA 9,671 9,088 2,722 3,509 Investor Relations:
ICR
Melissa Calandruccio, CFA

646-277-1273

Media Relations:
The Gab Group for iPic® Entertainment Corporate
Michelle Soudry

561-750-3500

Jonesworks
Stephanie Jones/Michelle Bower

212-839-0111