Topic: How To Invest

Q: Pat, we have held Cineplex for many years for the dividend they paid. Now that the dividend has been cancelled—and with the present COVID-19 crisis closing theatres—what is your recommendation? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

A: Cineplex Inc., $8.18, symbol CGX on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 63.3 million; Market cap: $523.8 million, www.cineplex.com), is the dominant movie theatre operator in Canada and the fourth largest in North America. In December 2019, Cineplex agreed to a $2.8-billion friendly takeover. That was before the pandemic, although theatres were already struggling with declining attendance and increased competition for moviegoers’ attention. Under the terms of the deal, U.K.-based Cineworld Group plc agreed to pay $34 cash per Cineplex share. But in June 2020, Cineplex announced that Cineworld had delivered notice to terminate the agreement. Cineplex believes that Cineworld has no legal basis to back out of its offer, and it has filed a lawsuit to recover all damages available to it. However, the outcome of its legal action is far from certain. Due to COVID-19, Cineplex faces a slower reopening of theatres than originally expected (the company shut all of its venues on March 16 and most remain closed). U.S. theatre chains AMC, Cinemark,…