Bowlero Reports First Quarter Results for Fiscal Year 2025

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Nov 04, 2024

Bowlero Corp. (NYSE: BOWL) (“Bowlero” or the “Company”), one of the world’s premier operators of location-based entertainment, today provided financial results for the first quarter of the 2025 Fiscal Year, which ended on September 29, 2024.

Quarter Highlights:

  • Revenue increased 14.4% to $260.2 million from $227.4 million in the previous year
  • Total Location Revenue increased 17.5% versus the prior year
  • Same Store Revenue increased 0.4% versus the prior year
  • Net income of $23.1 million versus prior year income of $18.2 million
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $62.9 million versus $52.1 million in the prior year
  • From July 1, 2024 through November 4, 2024, opened two new builds and acquired one bowling location, five family entertainment centers and one water park. Total locations in operation as of November 4, 2024 is 3611

“Total Location Revenue grew 17.5% year over year in the quarter as we outperformed the market driven by increased customer wallet share through heightened food, beverage, and experiential offerings,” said Founder, Chairman, and CEO Thomas Shannon. “Raging Waves, the largest waterpark in Illinois, outperformed expectations throughout the summer, in part from an expanded season pass offering. We acquired Boomers Parks, a leading family entertainment center brand in California and Florida. In addition, we recently acquired Spectrum Entertainment Complex, a 52-lane bowling and events venue near Grand Rapids, Michigan, and opened two Lucky Strike locations in Denver. We expect to open the flagship Lucky Strike Beverly Hills and Lucky Strike Ladera Ranch California, shortly. The M&A market is extremely active, and we look to continue to deploy capital at attractive returns through our long-proven underwriting process and operational excellence.”

“Cash flow from operations in the quarter was a record for the seasonally small first quarter as we focus on operational efficiencies to expand margins and improve cash flow conversion. Mobile ordering is now available in all locations. We also have reformatted our income statement to provide investors new visibility into revenue segments and 4-wall profitability,” added Bobby Lavan, Chief Financial Officer.

Share Repurchase and Capital Return Program Update

From July 1, 2024 through October 30, 2024, the Company repurchased 0.8 million shares of Class A common stock for approximately $8 million. The company has $156 million currently remaining under the share repurchase program.

The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.055 per share of common stock for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025. The dividend will be payable on December 6, 2024, to stockholders of record on November 22, 2024.

Fiscal Year 2025 Guidance

After completing the first quarter, Bowlero is increasing the low end of its total revenue guidance for fiscal year 2025 by $10 million. We expect total Revenue to be up mid-single digits to 10%+ year-over-year, which equates to $1.23 billion to $1.28 billion of total Revenue. Adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to be 32% to 34%, which equates to Adjusted EBITDA of $390 million to $430 million.

Investor Webcast Information

Listeners may access an investor webcast hosted by Bowlero. The webcast and results presentation will be accessible at 4:30 PM ET on November 4, 2024 in the Events & Presentations section of the Bowlero Investor Relations website at https://ir.bowlerocorp.com/overview/default.aspx.

About Bowlero Corp.

Bowlero Corporation is one of the world’s premier operators of location-based entertainment. With over 360 locations across North America, including bowling and our other location-based entertainment offerings like Octane Raceway, Raging Waves water park and Boomers Parks, the Company serves more than 40 million guest visits annually through a family of brands that include Lucky Strike, Bowlero and AMF. In 2019, Bowlero acquired the Professional Bowlers Association, the major league of bowling and a growing media property that boasts millions of fans around the globe. For more information on Bowlero, please visit BowleroCorp.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risk, assumptions and uncertainties, such as statements of our plans, objectives, expectations, intentions and forecasts. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "anticipate," "believe," “confident,” “continue,” "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," “likely,” "may," "plan," “possible,” "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would" and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements reflect our views with respect to future events as of the date of this release and are based on our management’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts, projections, assumptions, beliefs and information. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct. All such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control, and could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this document. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. These risks include, but are not limited to: our ability to design and execute our business strategy; changes in consumer preferences and buying patterns; our ability to compete in our markets; the occurrence of unfavorable publicity; risks associated with long-term non-cancellable leases for our locations; our ability to retain key managers; risks associated with our substantial indebtedness and limitations on future sources of liquidity; our ability to carry out our expansion plans; our ability to successfully defend litigation brought against us; our ability to adequately obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property and proprietary rights and claims of intellectual property and proprietary right infringement, misappropriation or other violation by competitors and third parties; failure to hire and retain qualified employees and personnel; the cost and availability of commodities and other products we need to operate our business; cybersecurity breaches, cyber-attacks and other interruptions to our and our third-party service providers’ technological and physical infrastructures; catastrophic events, including war, terrorism and other conflicts; public health emergencies and pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, or natural catastrophes and accidents; changes in the regulatory atmosphere and related private sector initiatives; fluctuations in our operating results; economic conditions, including the impact of increasing interest rates, inflation and recession; and other factors described under the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by the Company on September 5, 2024, as well as other filings that the Company will make, or has made, with the SEC, such as Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this press release and in other filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To provide investors with information in addition to our results as determined under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), we disclose Revenue Excluding Service Fee Revenue, Total Location Revenue, Same Store Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA as “non-GAAP measures”, which management believes provide useful information to investors because each measure assists both investors and management in analyzing and benchmarking the performance and value of our business. Accordingly, management believes that these measurements are useful for comparing general operating performance from period to period, and management relies on these measures for planning and forecasting of future periods. Additionally, these measures allow management to compare our results with those of other companies that have different financing and capital structures. These measures are not financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for revenue, net income, or any other operating performance or liquidity measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, and may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure reported by other companies. Our fiscal year 2025 guidance measures (other than revenue) are provided on a non-GAAP basis without a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measure because the Company is unable to predict with a reasonable degree of certainty certain items contained in the GAAP measures without unreasonable efforts. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. Such items include, but are not limited to, acquisition related expenses, share-based compensation and other items not reflective of the company's ongoing operations.

Revenue Excluding Service Fee Revenue represents total Revenue less Service Fee Revenue. Total Location Revenue represents total Revenue less Non-Location Related Revenue, Revenue from Closed Locations, and Service Fee Revenue, if applicable. Same Store Revenue represents total Revenue less Non-Location Related Revenue, Revenue from Closed Locations, Service Fee Revenue, if applicable, and Acquired Revenue. Adjusted EBITDA represents Net Income (Loss) before Interest Expense, Income Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, Impairment and Other Charges, Share-based Compensation, EBITDA from Closed Locations, Foreign Currency Exchange Loss (Gain), Asset Disposition Loss (Gain), Transactional and other advisory costs, changes in the value of earnouts, and other.

The Company considers Revenue Excluding Service Fee Revenue as an important financial measure because it provides a financial measure of revenue directly associated with consumer discretionary spending and Total Location Revenue as an important financial measure because it provides a financial measure of revenue directly associated with location operations. The Company also considers Same Store Revenue as an important financial measure because it provides comparable revenue for locations open for the entire duration of both the current and comparable measurement periods.

The Company considers Adjusted EBITDA as an important financial measure because it provides a financial measure of the quality of the Company’s earnings. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, which might limit its usefulness as a comparative measure. Adjusted EBITDA is used by management in addition to and in conjunction with the results presented in accordance with GAAP. We have presented Adjusted EBITDA solely as a supplemental disclosure because we believe it allows for a more complete analysis of results of operations and assists investors and analysts in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are that Adjusted EBITDA:

  • do not reflect every expenditure, future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
  • do not reflect changes in our working capital needs;
  • do not reflect the interest expense, or the amounts necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our outstanding debt;
  • do not reflect income tax (benefit) expense, and because the payment of taxes is part of our operations, tax expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to operate;
  • do not reflect non-cash equity compensation, which will remain a key element of our overall equity based compensation package; and
  • do not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations.

1 Two properties from a recent acquisition are excluded from the count

GAAP Financial Information

Bowlero Corp.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

September 29,
2024

June 30,
2024

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

38,448

$

66,972

Accounts and notes receivable, net

5,666

6,757

Inventories, net

13,650

13,171

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

30,365

25,316

Assets held-for-sale

20

1,746

Total current assets

88,149

113,962

Property and equipment, net

892,782

887,738

Operating lease right of use assets

554,474

559,168

Finance lease right of use assets, net

520,218

524,392

Intangible assets, net

45,111

47,051

Goodwill

833,961

833,888

Deferred income tax asset

122,847

112,106

Other assets

34,884

35,730

Total assets

$

3,092,426

$

3,114,035

Liabilities, Temporary Equity and Stockholders’ Deficit

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$

146,022

$

135,784

Current maturities of long-term debt

9,106

9,163

Current obligations of operating lease liabilities

28,811

28,460

Other current liabilities

8,381

9,399

Total current liabilities

192,320

182,806

Long-term debt, net

1,130,141

1,129,523

Long-term obligations of operating lease liabilities

567,209

561,916

Long-term obligations of finance lease liabilities

681,222

680,213

Long-term financing obligations

442,980

440,875

Earnout liability

88,741

137,636

Other long-term liabilities

26,093

26,471

Deferred income tax liabilities

4,129

4,447

Total liabilities

3,132,835

3,163,887

Commitments and Contingencies

September 29,
2024

June 30,
2024

Temporary Equity

Series A preferred stock

$

123,918

$

127,410

Stockholders’ Deficit

Class A common stock

11

11

Class B common stock

6

6

Additional paid-in capital

509,929

510,675

Treasury stock, at cost

(392,735

)

(385,015

)

Accumulated deficit

(280,064

)

(303,159

)

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

(1,474

)

220

Total stockholders’ deficit

(164,327

)

(177,262

)

Total liabilities, temporary equity and stockholders’ deficit

$

3,092,426

$

3,114,035

Bowlero Corp.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

September 29,
2024

October 1,
2023

Revenues

Bowling

$

122,203

$

116,430

Food & beverage

88,039

74,913

Amusement & other

49,953

36,062

Total revenues

260,195

227,405

Costs and expenses

Location operating costs, excluding depreciation and amortization

86,228

73,373

Location payroll and benefit costs

67,436

63,054

Location food and beverage costs

20,530

16,685

Selling, general and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization

34,811

38,124

Depreciation and amortization

36,983

31,352

Loss (gain) on impairment and disposal of fixed assets, net

1,472

(1

)

Other operating income, net

(211

)

(538

)

Total costs and expenses

247,249

222,049

Operating income

12,946

5,356

Other (income) expenses

Interest expense, net

48,670

37,449

Change in fair value of earnout liability

(48,921

)

(40,682

)

Other expense

53

Total other income

(251

)

(3,180

)

Income before income tax benefit

13,197

8,536

Income tax benefit

(9,898

)

(9,683

)

Net income

$

23,095

$

18,219

Bowlero Corp.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

September 29,
2024

October 1,
2023

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

29,413

$

16,083

Net cash used in investing activities

(39,924

)

(176,576

)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

(17,806

)

5,091

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

(207

)

(143

)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(28,524

)

(155,545

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

66,972

195,633

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

38,448

$

40,088

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of September 29, 2024 and June 30, 2024, our calculation of net debt was as follows:

(in thousands)

September 29,
2024

June 30,
2024

Cash and cash equivalents

$

38,448

$

66,972

Bank debt and loans

1,151,951

1,152,200

Net debt

$

1,113,503

$

1,085,228

As of September 29, 2024 and June 30, 2024, our cash on hand and revolving borrowing capacity was as follows:

(in thousands)

September 29,
2024

June 30,
2024

Cash and cash equivalents

$

38,448

$

66,972

Revolver Capacity

335,000

285,000

Revolver capacity committed to letters of credit

(18,584

)

(15,834

)

Total cash on hand and revolving borrowing capacity

$

354,864

$

336,138

GAAP to non-GAAP Reconciliations

Same Store Revenue

Three Months Ended

(in thousands)

October 1,
2023

September 29,
2024

Total Revenue - Reported

$

227,405

$

260,195

less: Service Fee Revenue

(1,621

)

(650

)

Revenue Excluding Service Fee Revenue

$

225,784

$

259,545

less: Non-Location Related (including Closed Centers)

(7,985

)

(3,597

)

Total Location Revenue

$

217,799

$

255,948

less: Acquired Revenue

(1,211

)

(38,425

)

Same Store Revenue

$

216,588

$

217,523

% Year-over-Year Change

Total Revenue – Reported

14.4

%

Total Revenue excluding Service Fee Revenue

15.0

%

Total Location Revenue

17.5

%

Same Store Revenue

0.4

%

Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

Three Months Ended

(in thousands)

September 29,
2024

October 1,
2023

Consolidated

Revenue

$

260,195

$

227,405

Net income - GAAP

23,095

18,219

Net income margin

8.9

%

8.0

%

Adjustments:

Interest expense

48,670

39,032

Income tax benefit

(9,898

)

(9,683

)

Depreciation and amortization

37,437

32,000

Loss (gain) on impairment, disposals, and other charges, net

1,472

(1

)

Share-based compensation

4,503

1,911

Closed location EBITDA (1)

2,205

2,462

Transactional and other advisory costs (2)

3,259

8,398

Changes in the value of earnouts (3)

(48,921

)

(40,682

)

Other, net (4)

1,121

478

Adjusted EBITDA

$

62,943

$

52,134

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

24.2

%

22.9

%

[1] The closed location adjustment is to remove EBITDA for closed locations. Closed locations are those locations that are closed for a variety of reasons, including permanent closure, newly acquired or built locations prior to opening, locations closed for renovation or rebranding and conversion. If a location is not open on the last day of the reporting period, it will be considered closed for that reporting period. If the location is closed on the first day of the reporting period for permanent closure, the location will be considered closed for that reporting period.
[2] The adjustment for transaction costs and other advisory costs is to remove charges incurred in connection with any transaction, including mergers, acquisitions, refinancing, amendment or modification to indebtedness, dispositions and costs in connection with an initial public offering, in each case, regardless of whether consummated.
[3]

The adjustment for changes in the value of earnouts is to remove of the impact of the revaluation of the earnouts. Changes in the fair value of the earnout liability is recognized in the statement of operations. Decreases in the liability will have a favorable impact on the statement of operations and increases in the liability will have an unfavorable impact.

[4] Other includes the following related to transactions that do not represent ongoing or frequently recurring activities as part of the Company’s operations: (i) non-routine expenses, net of recoveries for matters outside the normal course of business, (ii) costs incurred that have been expensed associated with obtaining an equity method investment in a subsidiary of VICI, (iii) severance expense, and (iv) other individually de minimis expenses. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

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