10-Q 1 cecfy201910-qq1.htm 10-Q Document

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549 
_______________________________________________________________________
FORM 10-Q 
______________________________________________________________________
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2019
OR 
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                  to                     
Commission File Number: 001-13687 
____________________________________
CEC ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
____________________________________
Kansas
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  
48-0905805
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
1707 Market Place Blvd
Irving, Texas
  
75063
(Address of principal executive offices)
  
(Zip Code)
(972) 258-8507
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) 
____________________________________
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 such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes   ý     No   ¨
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).     Yes   ý     No   ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
Large accelerated filer
¨
Accelerated filer
¨
Non-accelerated filer
ý
Smaller reporting company
¨
 
 
Emerging growth company
¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  ý
As of April 30, 2019, an aggregate of 200 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share were outstanding.



CEC ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2


PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Financial Statements.
CEC ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share information)
 
 
March 31,
2019
 
December 30,
2018
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
112,030

 
$
63,170

Restricted cash
 
266

 
151

Accounts receivable
 
20,747

 
24,020

Income taxes receivable
 

 
10,160

Inventories
 
24,593

 
23,807

Prepaid expenses
 
18,712

 
25,424

Total current assets
 
176,348

 
146,732

Property and equipment, net
 
533,610

 
539,185

Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
 
544,592

 

Goodwill
 
484,438

 
484,438

Intangible assets, net
 
470,242

 
477,085

Other noncurrent assets
 
18,883

 
18,725

Total assets
 
$
2,228,113

 
$
1,666,165

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Bank indebtedness and other long-term debt, current portion
 
$
7,600

 
$
7,600

Operating lease liability, current portion
 
47,509

 

Accounts payable
 
38,848

 
31,410

Accrued expenses
 
40,405

 
36,030

Unearned revenues
 
22,706

 
18,124

Accrued interest
 
2,417

 
7,463

Other current liabilities
 
5,332

 
5,955

Total current liabilities
 
164,817

 
106,582

Operating lease obligations, less current portion
 
529,972

 

Bank indebtedness and other long-term debt, net of deferred financing costs, less current portion
 
960,715

 
961,514

Deferred tax liability
 
108,450

 
107,058

Accrued insurance
 
9,861

 
9,861

Other noncurrent liabilities
 
190,510

 
238,579

Total liabilities
 
1,964,325

 
1,423,594

Stockholder’s equity:
 
 
 
 
Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 1,000 shares; 200 shares issued as of March 31, 2019 and December 30, 2018
 

 

Capital in excess of par value
 
359,696

 
359,570

Accumulated deficit
 
(94,414
)
 
(115,660
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(1,494
)
 
(1,339
)
Total stockholder’s equity
 
263,788

 
242,571

Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity
 
$
2,228,113

 
$
1,666,165


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

3


CEC ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
COSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
2019
 
April 1,
2018
REVENUES:
 
 
 
Food and beverage sales
$
117,815

 
$
118,377

Entertainment and merchandise sales
149,677

 
131,117

Total company venue sales
267,492


249,494

Franchise fees and royalties
5,820

 
5,410

Total revenues
273,312


254,904

OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES:
 
 
 
Company venue operating costs (excluding Depreciation and amortization):
 
 
 
Cost of food and beverage
26,652

 
27,360

Cost of entertainment and merchandise
11,746

 
9,382

Total cost of food, beverage, entertainment and merchandise
38,398


36,742

Labor expenses
72,505

 
67,349

Lease costs
27,027

 
24,049

Other venue operating expenses
35,297


38,062

Total company venue operating costs
173,227

 
166,202

Other costs and expenses:
 
 
 
Advertising expense
12,253

 
13,974

General and administrative expenses
15,243

 
12,909

Depreciation and amortization
24,334

 
26,572

Transaction, severance and related litigation costs
23

 
534

Total operating costs and expenses
225,080


220,191

Operating income
48,232


34,713

Interest expense
19,808

 
18,557

Income before income taxes
28,424


16,156

Income tax expense
7,178

 
3,933

Net income
$
21,246


$
12,223


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements.


4


CEC ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)

 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
2019
 
April 1,
2018
Net income
$
21,246

 
$
12,223

Components of other comprehensive income, net of tax:
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
(155
)
 
154

Comprehensive income
$
21,091

 
$
12,377


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements.



5


CEC ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
2019
 
April 1,
2018
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Net income
$
21,246

 
$
12,223

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
  Depreciation and amortization
24,334

 
26,572

  Deferred income taxes
1,448

 
(672
)
  Stock-based compensation expense
1,162

 
64

  Amortization of lease related liabilities

 
(211
)
  Amortization of original issue discount and deferred debt financing costs
1,059

 
1,137

  Loss on asset disposals, net
954

 
1,237

  Non-cash lease expense
732

 
1,181

  Change in operating lease liabilities
(152
)
 

  Other adjustments
112

 
(26
)
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
  Accounts receivable
3,369

 
3,071

  Inventories
(864
)
 
(1,641
)
  Prepaid expenses
(2,079
)
 
442

  Accounts payable
7,692

 
2,195

  Accrued expenses
1,638

 
1,916

  Unearned revenues
4,578

 
3,908

  Accrued interest
(4,975
)
 
(5,010
)
  Income taxes receivable
10,224

 
4,426

  Deferred landlord contributions

 
1,752

Net cash provided by operating activities
70,478

 
52,564

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Purchases of property and equipment
(18,372
)
 
(18,060
)
Development of internal use software
(282
)
 
(515
)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
21

 
158

Net cash used in investing activities
(18,633
)
 
(18,417
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Repayments on senior term loan
(1,900
)
 
(1,900
)
Payments on financing lease obligations
(168
)
 
(145
)
Payments on sale leaseback obligations
(803
)
 
(688
)

6

CEC ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS, CONT'D
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)

  Return of capital

 

Net cash used in financing activities
(2,871
)
 
(2,733
)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash
1

 
46

Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
48,975

 
31,460

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
63,321

 
67,312

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$
112,296

 
$
98,772

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
2019
 
April 1,
2018
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
 
 
 
Interest paid
$
23,799

 
$
22,546

Income taxes (refunded) paid, net
$
(4,493
)
 
$
180

NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Accrued construction costs
$
1,062

 
$
634

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the statement of financial position that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the statement of cash flows.
 
March 31,
2019
 
April 1,
2018
 
Three Months Ended
Cash and cash equivalents
$
112,030

 
$
98,686

Restricted cash(1)
266

 
86

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
$
112,296

 
$
98,772

__________________

(1) 
Restricted cash represents cash balances held by the Association that are restricted for use in our advertising, entertainment and media programs.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

7


CEC ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Note 1. Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:
Description of Business
The use of the terms “CEC Entertainment,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” throughout these unaudited notes to the interim Consolidated Financial Statements refer to CEC Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
We currently operate and franchise Chuck E. Cheese’s and Peter Piper Pizza family dining and entertainment venues in 47 states and 14 foreign countries and territories. As of March 31, 2019 we and our franchisees operated a total of 748 venues, of which 554 were Company-operated venues located in 44 states and Canada. Our franchisees operated a total of 194 venues located in 15 states and 13 foreign countries and territories, including Chile, Colombia, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad & Tobago, and the United Arab Emirates. As of March 31, 2019, a total of 181 Chuck E. Cheese's venues are located in California, Texas, and Florida (178 are Company-operated and three are franchised locations), and a total of 133 Peter Piper Pizza venues are located in Arizona, Texas, and Mexico (33 are Company-operated and 100 are franchised locations).
All of our venues utilize a consistent restaurant-entertainment format that features both family dining and entertainment areas with a mix of food, entertainment and merchandise. The economic characteristics, products and services, preparation processes, distribution methods and types of customers are substantially similar for each of our venues. Therefore, we aggregate each venue’s operating performance into one reportable segment for financial reporting purposes.
Basis of Presentation
The Company has a controlling financial interest in International Association of CEC Entertainment, Inc. (the “Association”), a variable interest entity (“VIE”). The Association primarily administers the collection and disbursement of funds (the “Association Funds”) used for advertising, entertainment and media programs that benefit both us and our Chuck E. Cheese’s franchisees. We and our franchisees are required to contribute a percentage of gross sales to these funds and could be required to make additional contributions to fund any deficits that may be incurred by the Association. We include the Association in our Consolidated Financial Statements, as we concluded that we are the primary beneficiary of its variable interests because we (a) have the power to direct the majority of its significant operating activities; (b) provide it unsecured lines of credit; and (c) own the majority of the venues that benefit from the Association’s advertising, entertainment and media expenditures. We eliminate the intercompany portion of transactions with VIEs from our financial results. The assets, liabilities and operating results of the Association are not material to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Association Funds are required to be segregated and used for specified purposes. Cash balances held by the Association are restricted for use in our advertising, entertainment and media programs, and are recorded as “Restricted cash” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Contributions to the advertising, entertainment and media funds from our franchisees were $0.8 million and $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018, respectively. Our contributions to the Association Funds are eliminated in consolidation.
The preparation of these unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Interim Financial Statements
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018 are unaudited and are presented in accordance with the requirements for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and, consequently, do not include all of the information and footnote disclosures required by GAAP. In the opinion of management, the Consolidated Financial Statements include all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for the fair statement of its consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows as of the dates and for the periods presented in accordance with GAAP and the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). All intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.
Consolidated results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 12, 2019.

8


Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance
Effective December 31, 2018, the beginning of our Fiscal 2019 year, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”) and subsequent amendment ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Target Improvements (“ASU 2018-11”). This new standard introduces a new lease model that requires the recognition of lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities on the balance sheet and the disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements. While this new standard retains most of the principles of the existing lessor model under U.S. GAAP, it aligns many of those principles with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606: Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2018-11 provides for another transition method in addition to the modified retrospective approach required by ASU 2016-02. This option allows for entities to initially apply the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative adjustment to the opening balance sheet of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The cumulative impact of adopting the new lease guidance did not require us to record an adjustment to opening accumulated deficit as of December 31, 2018 in our Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02, we applied the package of practical expedients included therein, which eliminated the requirements to reassess prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification, and initial direct costs. We did not elect the hindsight practical expedient, which permits the use of hindsight when determining lease term. Further, we elected a short-term lease exception policy, permitting us to not apply the recognition requirements of this standard to short-term leases (i.e. leases with terms of 1 year or less) and an accounting policy to account for lease and non-lease components as a single component for real estate operating leases. We also utilized the transition method included in ASU 2018-11. By applying ASU 2016-02 at the adoption date, as opposed to at the beginning of the earliest period presented, the presentation of financial information for periods prior to December 31, 2018 remained unchanged and in accordance with Leases (Topic 840). The adoption of the guidance in ASU 2016-02 resulted in the recognition as of December 31, 2018 of Right-of-Use assets related to our operating leases of $557.1 million and lease liabilities related to our operating leases of $590.8 million. In addition, as a result of electing to account for lease and non-lease components as a single component for certain classes of assets, lease costs for the three months ended March 31, 2019 includes $3.5 million of common area maintenance charges, which was previously included in “Other venue operating expenses” in our Consolidated Statement of Earnings. Other venue operating expenses in our Consolidated Statement of Earnings for the three months ended April 1, 2018 includes common area maintenance charges of $3.6 million. The adoption of the guidance did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
Note 2. Unearned Revenue:
Liabilities relating to unused game credits, gift card liabilities and deferred franchise and development fees are included in “Unearned revenues” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table presents changes in the Company’s Unearned revenue balances during the three months ended March 31, 2019:
 
Balance at
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at
 
December 31, 2018
 
Revenue Deferred
 
Revenue Recognized
 
March 31, 2019
 
(in thousands)
PlayPass related deferred revenue
$
5,561

 
$
14,346

 
$
(12,455
)
 
$
7,452

Gift card related deferred revenue
5,253

 
1,926

 
(2,882
)
 
4,297

Unearned franchise and development fees
6,321

 
2,572

 
(29
)
 
8,864

Other unearned revenues
989

 
9,101

 
(7,997
)
 
2,093

Total unearned revenue
$
18,124

 
$
27,945

 
$
(23,363
)
 
$
22,706



9


Note 3. Intangible Assets, Net:
The following table presents our indefinite and definite-lived intangible assets at March 31, 2019:
 
Weighted Average Life (Years)
 
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Net Carrying Amount
 
 
 
(in thousands)
Chuck E. Cheese's tradename
Indefinite
 
$
400,000

 

 
$
400,000

Peter Piper Pizza tradename
Indefinite
 
26,700

 

 
26,700

Franchise agreements
25
 
53,300

 
(9,758
)
 
43,542

 
 
 
$
480,000

 
$
(9,758
)
 
$
470,242

In connection with the adoption of ASU 2016-02 effective December 31, 2018, we reclassified $6.3 million related to the net carrying amount of our favorable lease definite-lived intangible asset from “Intangible Assets, Net” to “Operating lease right-of-use assets, net” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 1. “Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance” and Note 4. “Leases” for further discussion on the adoption of ASU 2016-02.
Amortization expense related to favorable lease agreements was $0.4 million for the three months ended April 1, 2018, and is included in “Lease costs” in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings. As described above, in connection with the adoption of ASU 2016-02 at the beginning of Fiscal 2019, our favorable lease definite-lived intangible asset from “Intangible Assets, Net” to “Operating lease right-of-use assets, net” and therefore we no longer have any amortization expense related to favorable lease agreements. Amortization expense related to franchise agreements was $0.5 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018, respectively, and is included in “Depreciation and amortization” in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
Note 4. Leases:
We lease certain venues, warehouses, office space and equipment. The leases generally require us to pay minimum rent, property taxes, insurance, and other maintenance costs. Certain lease agreements include rental payments based on a percentage of retail sales over contractual levels and others include rental payments adjusted periodically for inflation. Our lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants
    

10


Most leases generally have initial terms of 10 to 20 years and include one or more options to renew. The exercise of lease renewal options is at our sole discretion and based on our history of exercising renewal lease options, our operating lease liabilities typically assume the exercise of two lease renewal options. The depreciable life of assets and leasehold improvements are limited by the expected lease term.
 
 
March 31, 2019
 
Balance Sheet Classification
(in thousands)
Assets
 
 
Operating
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
$
544,592

Finance
Property and equipment, net (1)
9,839

Total leased assets
 
$
554,431

 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
Current
 
 
Operating
Operating lease liability, current portion
$
47,509

Finance
Other current liabilities
735

Noncurrent
 
 
Operating
Operating lease obligations, less current portion
529,972

Finance
Other noncurrent liabilities
12,104

Total leased liabilities
 
$
590,320

__________________
(1) Finance lease assets are recorded net of accumulated amortization of $5.2 million as of March 31, 2019.
As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our estimated incremental borrowing rate based on the current cost of debt on our secured credit facilities at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments.
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2019
 
 
Statement of Earnings Classification
 
(in thousands)
Operating lease cost
 
Lease costs
 
$
27,027

Operating lease cost (2)
 
General and administrative
 
323

Finance lease cost
 
 
 
 
Amortization of leased assets
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
248

Interest on lease liabilities
 
Net interest expense
 
381

Net lease cost
 
 
 
$
27,979

__________________
(1) Includes common area maintenance charges of $3.5 million.
(2) Represents the lease cost associated with operating leases relating to our corporate offices and warehouse facilities.


11


Maturity of Lease Liabilities
 
Operating
Leases (1)
 
Finance
Leases (2)
 
Total
 
 
(in thousands)
Remainder of 2019
 
$
69,565

 
$
2,192

 
$
71,757

2020
 
91,300

 
2,204

 
93,504

2021
 
89,249

 
2,181

 
91,430

2022
 
87,383

 
2,147

 
89,530

2023
 
84,958

 
1,920

 
86,878

After 2023
 
451,203

 
13,216

 
464,419

Total lease payments
 
873,658

 
23,860

 
897,518

Less: interest
 
296,177

 
11,021

 
307,198

Present value of lease liabilities
 
$
577,481

 
$
12,839

 
$
590,320

__________________
(1) Operating lease payments include payments related to options to extend lease terms that are reasonably certain of being exercised and exclude legally binding minimum lease payments for leases signed but not yet commenced.
(2) Finance lease payments include payments related to options to extend lease terms that are reasonably certain of being exercised and exclude legally binding minimum lease payments for leases signed but not yet commenced.
Lease Term and Discount Rate
March 31,
2019
Weighted average remaining lease term (years):
 
Operating leases
 
10.3

Finance leases
 
11.4

Weighted average discount rate:
 
 
Operating leases
 
8.0
%
Finance leases
 
13.6
%
The following table includes supplemental cash flow information related to leases:
 
March 31,
2019
 
 
(in thousands)
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
 
Operating cash flows for operating leases
$
23,398

Operating cash flows for finance leases
381

Financing cash flows for finance leases
168

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
 
Operating lease liabilities
 
234

Finance lease liabilities
 


12


The following table illustrates the Company’s future minimum rental payments for non-cancelable leases as of December 30, 2018:
 
Financing
 
Operating
Fiscal Years
(in thousands)
2019
2,182

 
92,435

2020
2,214

 
90,983

2021
2,201

 
88,914

2022
2,184

 
87,183

2023
1,956

 
84,806

Thereafter
13,266

 
457,277

Future minimum lease payments
24,003

 
901,598

Less amounts representing interest
(10,996
)
 
 
Present value of future minimum lease payments
13,007

 
 
Less current portion
(677
)
 
 
Finance lease liability, net of current portion
$
12,330

 
 

Note 5. Accounts Payable:
Accounts payable consisted of the following as of the dates presented:
 
March 31, 2019
 
December 30, 2018
 
(in thousands)
Trade and other amounts payable
$
26,962

 
$
20,685

Book overdraft
11,886

 
10,725

       Accounts payable
$
38,848

 
$
31,410


The book overdraft balance represents checks issued but not yet presented to banks.


13


Note 6. Indebtedness and Interest Expense:
 Our long-term debt consisted of the following as of the dates presented:
 
March 31,
2019
 
December 30,
2018
 
(in thousands)
Term loan facility
$
722,000

 
$
723,900

Senior notes
255,000

 
255,000

     Total debt outstanding
977,000

 
978,900

Less:
 
 
 
    Deferred financing costs, net
(7,667
)
 
(8,633
)
    Unamortized original issue discount
(1,018
)
 
(1,153
)
    Current portion of term loan facility
(7,600
)
 
(7,600
)
Bank indebtedness and other long-term debt, net of deferred financing costs, less current portion
$
960,715

 
$
961,514

We were in compliance with the debt covenants in effect as of March 31, 2019 for both the secured credit facilities and the senior notes.
Secured Credit Facilities
Our secured credit facilities include (i) a $760.0 million term loan facility with a maturity date of February 14, 2021 (the “term loan facility”) and (ii) a $95.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility with a maturity date of November 16, 2020 (as discussed in more detail below, $95.0 million of our original $150.0 million revolving credit facility maturing on February 14, 2019, was extended to November 16, 2020). The revolving credit facility includes a letter of credit sub-facility and a $30.0 million swingline loan sub-facility (the “revolving credit facility” and together with the term loan facility, the “secured credit facilities”). The term loan facility requires scheduled quarterly payments equal to 0.25% of the original principal amount from July 2014 to December 2020, with the remaining balance paid at maturity, February 14, 2021.
As of March 31, 2019, we had no borrowings outstanding and an $8.5 million letter of credit issued but undrawn under the revolving credit facility, and a $9.0 million letter of credit issued but undrawn under the revolving credit facility, as of December 30, 2018. On May 8, 2018 we entered into an incremental assumption agreement with certain of our revolving credit facility lenders to extend the maturity on $95.0 million of the revolving credit facility through November 16, 2020.  In connection with the extension of the maturity date, we agreed to the following covenants for the benefit of the revolving credit facility lenders:  (a) with respect to each fiscal year (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 30, 2018), to the extent we have excess cash flow (as defined in the secured credit facilities agreement), we are required to make a mandatory prepayment of term loan principal to the extent that 75% times our excess cash flow (as defined in the secured credit facilities agreement and subject to step-downs based on our net first lien senior secured leverage ratio) exceeds $10 million with any such required mandatory payment reduced by any optional prepayments of principal that may have occurred during the fiscal year, and (b) we shall not incur additional first lien debt in connection with certain acquisitions, mergers or consolidations unless our net first lien senior secured leverage ratio is greater than 3.65 to 1.00 on a pro forma basis. The remaining $55.0 million of the original revolving credit facility matured on February 14, 2019 with no borrowing thereunder outstanding thereunder. All borrowings under our revolving credit facility are subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions, including the absence of a default and the accuracy of representations and warranties.
The term loan was issued net of $3.8 million of original issue discount. We also paid $17.8 million and $3.8 million in debt financing costs related to the term loan facility and revolving credit facility (inclusive of costs incurred in connection with the May 8, 2018 incremental assumption agreement), respectively. All debt financing costs were capitalized in “Bank indebtedness and other long-term debt, net of deferred financing costs” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The original issue discount and deferred financing costs related to the term loan facility are amortized over the life of the term loan facility, and the deferred financing costs related to the revolving credit facility are being amortized through November 16, 2020, and are included in “Interest expense” on our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
Borrowings under the secured credit facilities bear interest at a rate equal to, at our option, either (a) a London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) determined by reference to the costs of funds for Eurodollar deposits for the interest period relevant to such borrowings, adjusted for certain additional costs, subject to a 1.00% floor in the case of term loans or (b) a base

14


rate determined by reference to the highest of (i) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50%; (ii) the prime rate of Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch; and (iii) the one-month adjusted LIBOR plus 1.00%, in each case plus an applicable margin. The base applicable margin is 3.25% with respect to LIBOR borrowings and 2.25% with respect to base rate borrowings under the
term loan facility and base rate borrowings and swingline borrowings under the revolving credit facility. The applicable margin
for LIBOR borrowings under the term loan facility is subject to one step-down from 3.25% to 3.00% based on our net first lien senior secured leverage ratio and the applicable margin for LIBOR borrowings under the revolving credit facility is subject to two step-downs from 3.25% to 3.00% and 2.75% based on our net first lien senior secured leverage ratio. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the applicable margin for LIBOR borrowings under both the term loan facility and the revolving credit facility was 3.25%.
In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the secured credit facilities, we are required to pay a commitment fee to the lenders under the revolving credit facility with respect to the unutilized commitments thereunder. The base applicable commitment fee rate under the revolving credit facility is 0.50% per annum and is subject to one step-down from 0.50% to 0.375% based on our net first lien senior secured leverage ratio. During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018 the commitment fee rate was 0.50%. We are also required to pay customary agency fees, as well as letter of credit participation fees computed at a rate per annum equal to the applicable margin for LIBOR rate borrowings on the dollar equivalent of the daily stated amount of outstanding letters of credit, plus such letter of credit issuer’s customary documentary and processing fees and charges and a fronting fee computed at a rate equal to 0.125% per annum on the daily stated amount of such letter of credit.
During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the federal funds rate ranged from 2.40% to 2.43%, the prime rate was 5.50% and the one-month LIBOR ranged from 2.48% to 2.52%.
The weighted average effective interest rate incurred on our borrowings under our secured credit facilities was 6.2% and 5.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018, respectively, which includes amortization of deferred financing costs related to our secured credit facilities, amortization of our term loan facility original issue discount and commitment and other fees related to our secured credit facilities.
Obligations under the secured credit facilities are unconditionally guaranteed by Queso Holdings Inc. (“Parent”) on a limited-recourse basis and each of our existing and future direct and indirect material, wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions. The obligations are secured by a pledge of our capital stock and substantially all of our assets and those of each subsidiary guarantor, including capital stock of the subsidiary guarantors and 65% of the capital stock of the first-tier foreign subsidiaries that are not subsidiary guarantors, in each case subject to exceptions. Such security interests consist of first priority liens with respect to the collateral.
The secured credit facilities also contain customary affirmative and negative covenants, and events of default, which limit our ability to, among other things: incur additional debt or issue certain preferred shares; create liens on certain assets; make certain loans or investments (including acquisitions); pay dividends on or make distributions with respect to our capital stock or make other restricted payments; consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets; sell assets; enter into certain transactions with our affiliates; enter into sale-leaseback transactions; change our lines of business; restrict dividends from our subsidiaries or restrict liens; change our fiscal year; and modify the terms of certain debt or organizational agreements.
Our revolving credit facility includes a springing financial maintenance covenant that requires our net first lien senior secured leverage ratio not to exceed 6.25 to 1.00 (the ratio of consolidated net debt secured by first-priority liens on the collateral to the last twelve months’ EBITDA, as defined in the senior credit facilities). The covenant will be tested quarterly if the revolving credit facility is more than 30% drawn (excluding outstanding letters of credit) and will be a condition to drawings under the revolving credit facility that would result in more than 30% drawn thereunder.
Senior Unsecured Debt
Our senior unsecured debt consists of $255.0 million aggregate principal amount borrowings of 8.0% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “senior notes”). The senior notes bear interest at a rate of 8.0% per year payable February 15th and August 15th each year and mature on February 15, 2022. We may call some or all of the senior notes at 102% on or after February 15, 2019 and at 100% on or after February 15, 2020 as set forth in the indenture governing the senior notes (the “indenture”).
We paid $6.4 million in debt issuance costs related to the senior notes, which we capitalized in “Bank indebtedness and other long-term debt, net of deferred financing costs” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The deferred financing costs are being amortized over the life of the senior notes and are included in “Interest expense” in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

15


Our obligations under the senior notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by our present and future direct and indirect wholly-owned material domestic subsidiaries that guarantee our secured credit facilities.
The indenture contains restrictive covenants that limit our ability to, among other things: (i) incur additional debt or issue certain preferred shares; (ii) create liens on certain assets; (iii) make certain loans or investments (including acquisitions); (iv) pay dividends on or make distributions in respect of our capital stock or make other restricted payments; (v) consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets; (vi) sell assets; (vii) enter into certain transactions with our affiliates; and (viii) restrict dividends from our subsidiaries.
The weighted average effective interest rate incurred on borrowings under our senior notes was 8.2% for both the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018, which included amortization of deferred financing costs and other fees related to our senior notes.
Interest Expense
Interest expense consisted of the following for the periods presented:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31, 2019
 
April 1, 2018
 
(in thousands)
Term loan facility (1)
$
10,666

 
$
9,119

Senior notes
5,082

 
5,082

Finance lease obligations
381

 
428

Sale leaseback obligations
2,695

 
2,630

Amortization of deferred financing costs
924

 
1,001

Other
60

 
297

Total interest expense
$
19,808

 
$
18,557

 __________________
(1)    Includes amortization of original issue discount.
The weighted average effective interest rate incurred on our borrowings under our secured credit facilities and senior notes (including amortized debt issuance costs, amortization of original issue discount, commitment and other fees related to the secured credit facilities and senior notes) was 6.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 6.2% for the three months ended April 1, 2018, respectively.
We were in compliance with the debt covenants in effect as of March 31, 2019 for both the secured credit facilities and the senior notes.
Note 7. Fair Value of Financial Instruments:
Fair value measurements of financial instruments are determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy) has been established.

16



The following table presents information on our financial instruments as of the periods presented:
 
 
March 31, 2019
 
 
December 30, 2018
 
 
Carrying Amount (1) 
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
 
Carrying Amount (1) 
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
 
(in thousands)
Financial Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bank indebtedness and other long-term debt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Current portion
 
$
7,600

 
$
7,391

 
 
$
7,600

 
$
7,051

     Long-term portion (2)
 
968,382

 
929,021

 
 
970,147

 
885,212

Bank indebtedness and other long-term debt:
 
$
975,982

 
$
936,412

 
 
$
977,747

 
$
892,263

 _________________
(1)    Excluding net deferred financing costs.
(2)    Net of original issue discount.
Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, our secured credit facilities and our senior notes. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates fair value because of their short maturities. The estimated fair value of our secured credit facilities, term loan facility and senior notes was determined by using the respective average of the ask and bid price of our outstanding borrowings under our term loan facility and the senior notes as of the nearest open market date preceding the reporting period end. The average of the ask and bid price are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Our non-financial assets, which include long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, operating lease right-of-use assets, goodwill and intangible assets, are reported at carrying value and are not required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. However, on a periodic basis, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable, we assess our long-lived assets for impairment.
During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018, there were no significant transfers among Level 1, 2 or 3 fair value determinations.
Note 8. Other Noncurrent Liabilities:
Other noncurrent liabilities consisted of the following as of the dates presented:
 
 
March 31, 2019
 
December 30, 2018
 
 
(in thousands)
Sale leaseback obligations, less current portion (1)
 
$
172,543

 
$
174,520

Lease related liabilities (2)
 

 
45,195

Financing lease obligations, less current portion

 
12,104

 
12,330

Other
 
5,863

 
6,534

Total other noncurrent liabilities
 
$
190,510

 
$
238,579

 _________________
(1)  
The sale leaseback obligations are accounted for under the financing method, rather than as completed sales. Under the financing method the sales proceeds received are included in other long-term liabilities until our continuing involvement with the properties is terminated. The rental payments related to the sale leaseback properties are recorded as interest expense and a reduction of the sale leaseback obligation.      
(2)  
Lease liabilities totaling $45.2 million were reclassified in connection with the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on December 31, 2018.See Note 1. “Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance” and Note 4. “Leases” for further discussion on the adoption of ASU 2016-02.



17


Note 9. Income Taxes:
Our income tax expense consists of the following for the periods presented:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31, 2019
 
April 1, 2018
 
(in thousands)
Federal and state income taxes
$
6,898

 
$
3,535

Foreign income taxes (1)
280

 
398

      Income tax expense
$
7,178

 
$
3,933

__________________
(1)    Including foreign taxes withheld.
Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was 25.3% as compared to 24.3% for the three months ended April 1, 2018. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018 were favorably impacted by employment-related federal income tax credits, offset by state taxes and the negative impact of nondeductible litigation costs related to the Merger, nondeductible penalties, and foreign income taxes (taxes withheld on royalties and franchise fees earned from international franchisees not offset by foreign tax credits due to the foreign tax credit limitation).
For the periods presented herein, we have used the year-to-date effective tax rate (the “discrete method”), as prescribed by ASC 740-270, Accounting for Income Taxes-Interim Reporting when a reliable estimate of the estimated annual rate cannot be made. We believe at this time, the use of the discrete method is more appropriate than the annual effective tax rate method due to significant variations in the customary relationship between income tax expense and projected annual pre-tax income or loss which occurs when annual projected pre-tax income or loss nears a relatively small amount in comparison to the differences between income and deductions determined for financial statement purposes versus income tax purposes. Using the discrete method, we have determined our current and deferred income tax expense as if the interim period were an annual period.
Our liability for uncertain tax positions (excluding interest and penalties) was $4.2 million as of March 31, 2019 and $4.3 million as of December 30, 2018 and if recognized would decrease our provision for income taxes by $3.3 million. Within the next twelve months, we could settle or otherwise conclude certain ongoing income tax audits and resolve uncertain tax positions as a result of expiring statutes of limitations or payment. As such, it is reasonably possible that the liability for uncertain tax positions could decrease by as much as $3.7 million within the next twelve months.
Total accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits was $1.1 million as of March 31, 2019 and December 30, 2018. On the Consolidated Balance Sheets, we include current interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in “Accrued interest,” current penalties in “Accrued expenses” and noncurrent accrued interest and penalties in “Other noncurrent liabilities.”

18


Note 10. Stock-Based Compensation Arrangements:
2014 Equity Incentive Plan
The 2014 Equity Incentive Plan provides Parent authority to grant equity incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock bonus awards or performance compensation awards to certain directors, officers or employees of the Company. A summary of the options outstanding under the equity incentive plan as of March 31, 2019 and the activity for the three months ended March 31, 2019 is presented below:
 
Stock Options
Weighted Average Exercise Price (1)
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
 
 
($ per share)
 
($ in thousands)
Outstanding stock options, December 30, 2018
1,987,331

$8.87


     Options Granted
424,985

$8.86


     Options Forfeited
(5,366
)
$8.58


Outstanding stock options, March 31, 2019
2,406,950

$8.87
6.1
$
2,197

Stock options expected to vest, March 31, 2019
1,624,580

$9.05
6.5
$
1,182

Exercisable stock options, March 31, 2019
601,862

$8.31
5.0
$
883

 
 
 
 
 
__________________
(1)    The weighted average exercise price reflects the original grant date fair value per option as adjusted for the dividend payment made in August 2015.
As of March 31, 2019, we had $1.7 million of total unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to unvested options, which is expected to be amortized over the remaining weighted-average period of 4.4 years.
Stock Awards
During the first quarter of 2019, certain officers of the Company were granted stock bonus awards under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. The number of common shares of Parent awarded was based on the fair market value of Parent’s common stock as of December 31, 2018. The shares granted to the officers were fully vested immediately on the date that they were granted. In addition, during 2019, the Company agreed to issue fully vested common shares of Parent to certain officers of the Company in the first quarter 2020 based on the Company’s financial performance for Fiscal 2019.
The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense and the associated tax benefit recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements for the periods presented:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
2019
 
April 1,
2018
 
(in thousands)
Stock-based compensation costs related to stock awards
$
1,031

 
$

Stock-based compensation costs related to incentive stock options
126

 
67

Portion capitalized as property and equipment (1)
(10
)
 
(3
)
Stock-based compensation expense recognized
$
1,147

 
$
64

Payroll taxes related to stock awards
$
15

 
$

 __________________
(1)
We capitalize the portion of stock-based compensation costs related to our design, construction, facilities and legal departments that are directly attributable to our venue development projects, such as the design and construction of a new venue and the remodeling and expansion of our existing venues. Capitalized stock-based compensation costs attributable to our venue development projects are included in “Property and equipment, net” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.


19


Note 11. Stockholder’s Equity:
The following table summarizes the changes in stockholder’s equity during the three months ended March 31, 2019:
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
Capital In
Excess of
Par Value
 
Accumulated Deficit
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
 
 
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 
(in thousands, except share information)
Balance at December 30, 2018
 
200

 
$

 
$
359,570

 
$
(115,660
)
 
$
(1,339
)
 
$
242,571

Net loss
 

 

 

 
21,246

 

 
21,246

Other comprehensive income
 

 

 

 

 
(155
)
 
(155
)
Stock-based compensation costs
 

 

 
126

 

 

 
126

Balance March 31, 2019
 
200

 
$

 
$
359,696

 
$
(94,414
)
 
$
(1,494
)
 
$
263,788


12. Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information:
On February 14, 2014, CEC Entertainment, Inc. (the “Issuer”) merged with and into an entity controlled by Apollo Global Management, LLC and its subsidiaries, which we refer to as the “Merger.” The senior notes issued by the Issuer, in conjunction with the Merger, are our unsecured obligations and are fully and unconditionally, jointly and severally guaranteed by all of our 100% wholly-owned U.S. subsidiaries (the “Guarantors”). Our wholly-owned foreign subsidiaries and our less-than-wholly-owned U.S. subsidiaries are not a party to the guarantees (the “Non-Guarantors”). The following schedules present the condensed consolidating financial statements of the Issuer, Guarantors and Non-Guarantors, as well as consolidated results, for the periods presented:

20


CEC Entertainment, Inc.
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
As of March 31, 2019
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Issuer
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
104,407

 
$
5,065

 
$
2,558

 
$

 
$
112,030

Restricted cash
 

 

 
266

 

 
266

Accounts receivable
 
13,946

 
5,950

 
5,834

 
(4,983
)
 
20,747

Inventories
 
18,658

 
5,641

 
294

 


 
24,593

Prepaid expenses
 
8,030

 
9,740

 
942

 


 
18,712

Total current assets
 
145,041

 
26,396

 
9,894

 
(4,983
)
 
176,348

Property and equipment, net
 
459,345

 
68,873

 
5,392

 

 
533,610

Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
 
485,766

 
48,717

 
10,109

 

 
544,592

Goodwill
 
433,024

 
51,414

 

 

 
484,438

Intangible assets, net
 
8,584

 
461,658

 

 

 
470,242

Intercompany
 
57,340

 
80,658

 

 
(137,998
)
 

Investment in subsidiaries
 
491,735

 

 

 
(491,735
)
 

Other noncurrent assets
 
7,104

 
11,759

 
20

 

 
18,883

Total assets
 
$
2,087,939

 
$
749,475

 
$
25,415

 
$
(634,716
)
 
$
2,228,113

Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bank indebtedness and other long-term debt, current portion
 
$
7,600

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
7,600

Operating lease liability, current portion
 
42,988

 
3,399

 
1,122

 

 
47,509

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
57,215

 
41,414

 
5,747

 

 
104,376

Other current liabilities
 
5,317

 

 
15

 

 
5,332

Total current liabilities
 
113,120

 
44,813

 
6,884

 

 
164,817

Operating lease obligations, less current portion
 
463,959

 
56,689

 
9,324

 

 
529,972

Bank indebtedness and other long-term debt, net of deferred financing costs, less current portion
 
960,715

 

 

 

 
960,715

Deferred tax liability
 
91,990

 
18,037

 
(1,577
)
 

 
108,450

Intercompany
 

 
116,598

 
26,383

 
(142,981
)
 

Other noncurrent liabilities
 
194,367

 
5,970

 
34

 

 
200,371

Total liabilities
 
1,824,151

 
242,107

 
41,048

 
(142,981
)
 
1,964,325

Stockholder's equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
 

 

 

 

 

Capital in excess of par value
 
359,696

 
466,114

 
3,241

 
(469,355
)
 
359,696

Retained earnings (deficit)
 
(94,414
)
 
41,254

 
(17,224
)
 
(24,030
)
 
(94,414
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(1,494
)
 

 
(1,650
)
 
1,650

 
(1,494
)
Total stockholder's equity
 
263,788

 
507,368

 
(15,633
)
 
(491,735
)
 
263,788

Total liabilities and stockholder's equity
 
$
2,087,939

 
$
749,475

 
$
25,415

 
$
(634,716
)
 
$
2,228,113


21


CEC Entertainment, Inc.
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
As of December 30, 2018
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Issuer
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
54,775

 
$
6,725

 
$
1,670

 
$

 
$
63,170

Restricted cash
 

 

 
151

 

 
151

Accounts receivable
 
28,421

 
4,956

 
4,117

 
(3,314
)
 
34,180

Inventories
 
16,896

 
6,617

 
294

 

 
23,807

Prepaid expenses
 
14,264

 
10,562

 
598

 

 
25,424

Total current assets
 
114,356

 
28,860

 
6,830

 
(3,314
)
 
146,732

Property and equipment, net
 
468,827

 
64,721

 
5,637

 

 
539,185

Goodwill
 
433,024

 
51,414

 

 

 
484,438

Intangible assets, net
 
14,716

 
462,369

 

 

 
477,085

Intercompany
 
78,402

 
66,373

 

 
(144,775
)
 

Investment in subsidiaries
 
477,556

 

 

 
(477,556
)
 

Other noncurrent assets
 
7,292

 
11,409

 
24

 

 
18,725

Total assets
 
$
1,594,173

 
$
685,146

 
$
12,491

 
$
(625,645
)
 
$
1,666,165

Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bank indebtedness and other long-term debt, current portion
 
$
7,600

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
7,600

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
56,277

 
34,429

 
2,321

 

 
93,027

Other current liabilities
 
5,429

 
510

 
16

 

 
5,955

Total current liabilities
 
69,306

 
34,939

 
2,337

 

 
106,582

Bank indebtedness and other long-term debt, net of deferred financing costs, less current portion
 
961,514

 

 

 

 
961,514

Deferred tax liability
 
91,049

 
17,866

 
(1,857
)
 

 
107,058

Intercompany
 

 
119,498

 
28,591

 
(148,089
)
 

Other noncurrent liabilities
 
229,733

 
18,191

 
516

 

 
248,440

Total liabilities
 
1,351,602

 
190,494

 
29,587

 
(148,089
)
 
1,423,594

Stockholder's equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
 

 

 

 

 

Capital in excess of par value
 
359,570

 
466,114

 
3,241

 
(469,355
)
 
359,570

Retained earnings (deficit)
 
(115,660
)
 
28,538

 
(18,691
)
 
(9,847
)
 
(115,660
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(1,339
)
 

 
(1,646
)
 
1,646

 
(1,339
)
Total stockholder's equity
 
242,571

 
494,652

 
(17,096
)
 
(477,556
)
 
242,571

Total liabilities and stockholder's equity
 
$
1,594,173

 
$
685,146

 
$
12,491

 
$
(625,645
)
 
$
1,666,165



22


CEC Entertainment, Inc.
Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Issuer
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Food and beverage sales
 
$
102,113

 
$
14,223

 
$
1,479

 
$

 
$
117,815

Entertainment and merchandise sales
 
133,650

 
13,207

 
2,820

 

 
149,677

Total company venue sales
 
235,763

 
27,430

 
4,299

 

 
267,492

Franchise fees and royalties
 
685

 
4,294

 
841

 

 
5,820

International Association assessments and other fees
 
315

 
11,785

 
11,319

 
(23,419
)
 

Total revenues
 
236,763

 
43,509

 
16,459

 
(23,419
)
 
273,312

Operating Costs and Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company venue operating costs (excluding Depreciation and amortization):

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of food and beverage
 
22,428

 
3,734

 
490

 

 
26,652

Cost of entertainment and merchandise
 
11,044

 
443

 
259

 

 
11,746

Total cost of food, beverage, entertainment and merchandise
 
33,472

 
4,177

 
749

 

 
38,398

Labor expenses
 
66,240

 
4,941

 
1,324

 

 
72,505

Lease costs
 
24,594

 
1,861

 
572

 

 
27,027

Other venue operating expenses
 
42,811

 
3,737

 
849

 
(12,100
)
 
35,297

Total company venue operating costs
 
167,117

 
14,716

 
3,494

 
(12,100
)
 
173,227

Advertising expense
 
11,324

 
1,600

 
10,648

 
(11,319
)
 
12,253

General and administrative expenses
 
5,106

 
10,398

 
(261
)
 

 
15,243

Depreciation and amortization
 
21,426

 
2,467

 
441

 

 
24,334

Transaction, severance and related litigation costs
 
23

 

 

 

 
23

Total operating costs and expenses
 
204,996

 
29,181

 
14,322

 
(23,419
)
 
225,080

Operating income
 
31,767

 
14,328

 
2,137

 

 
48,232

Equity in earnings (loss) in affiliates
 
14,386

 

 

 
(14,386
)
 

Interest expense
 
18,915

 
711

 
182

 

 
19,808

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
27,238

 
13,617

 
1,955

 
(14,386
)
 
28,424

Income tax expense
 
5,992

 
903

 
283

 

 
7,178

Net income (loss)
 
$
21,246

 
$
12,714

 
$
1,672

 
$
(14,386
)
 
$
21,246


 


 


 


 


 


Components of other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
(155
)
 

 
(155
)
 
155

 
(155
)
Comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
21,091

 
$
12,714

 
$
1,517

 
$
(14,231
)
 
$
21,091


23


CEC Entertainment, Inc.
Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the Three Months Ended April 1, 2018
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Issuer
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Food and beverage sales
 
$
102,648

 
$
13,958

 
$
1,771

 
$

 
$
118,377

Entertainment and merchandise sales
 
115,275

 
12,727

 
3,115

 

 
131,117

Total company venue sales
 
217,923

 
26,685

 
4,886

 

 
249,494

Franchise fees and royalties
 
572

 
4,143

 
695

 

 
5,410

International Association assessments and other fees
 
341

 
9,038

 
10,562

 
(19,941
)
 

Total revenues
 
218,836

 
39,866

 
16,143

 
(19,941
)
 
254,904

Operating Costs and Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company venue operating costs (excluding Depreciation and amortization):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of food and beverage
 
22,884

 
3,891

 
585

 

 
27,360

Cost of entertainment and merchandise
 
8,766

 
446

 
170

 

 
9,382

Total cost of food, beverage, entertainment and merchandise
 
31,650

 
4,337

 
755

 

 
36,742

Labor expenses
 
60,829

 
5,095

 
1,425

 

 
67,349

Lease costs
 
21,797

 
1,689

 
563

 

 
24,049

Other venue operating expenses
 
42,908

 
3,590

 
969

 
(9,405
)
 
38,062

Total company venue operating costs
 
157,184

 
14,711

 
3,712

 
(9,405
)
 
166,202

Advertising expense
 
10,985

 
1,941

 
11,584

 
(10,536
)
 
13,974

General and administrative expenses
 
4,195

 
8,168

 
546

 

 
12,909

Depreciation and amortization
 
23,377

 
2,732

 
463

 

 
26,572

Transaction, severance and related litigation costs
 
313

 
221

 

 

 
534

Total operating costs and expenses
 
196,054

 
27,773

 
16,305

 
(19,941
)
 
220,191

Operating income (loss)
 
22,782

 
12,093

 
(162
)
 

 
34,713

Equity in earnings (loss) in affiliates
 
8,645

 

 

 
(8,645
)
 

Interest expense
 
17,528

 
844

 
185

 

 
18,557

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
13,899

 
11,249

 
(347
)
 
(8,645
)
 
16,156

Income tax expense
 
1,676

 
2,186

 
71

 

 
3,933

Net income (loss)
 
$
12,223

 
$
9,063

 
$
(418
)
 
$
(8,645
)
 
$
12,223

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Components of other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
154

 

 
154

 
(154
)
 
154

Comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
12,377

 
$
9,063

 
$
(264
)
 
$
(8,799
)
 
$
12,377






24


CEC Entertainment, Inc.
Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Issuer
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Consolidated
Cash flows provided by operating activities:
 
$
64,577

 
$
4,743

 
$
1,158

 
$
70,478

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Purchases of property and equipment
 
(12,602
)
 
(5,699
)
 
(71
)
 
(18,372
)
  Development of internal use software
 
421

 
(703
)
 

 
(282
)
  Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
 
21

 

 

 
21

Cash flows used in investing activities
 
(12,160
)
 
(6,402
)
 
(71
)
 
(18,633
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Repayments on senior term loan
 
(1,900
)
 

 

 
(1,900
)
  Payments on capital lease obligations
 
(165
)
 

 
(3
)
 
(168
)
  Payments on sale leaseback transactions
 
(803
)
 

 

 
(803
)
Cash flows used in financing activities
 
(2,868
)
 

 
(3
)
 
(2,871
)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash
 

 

 
1

 
1

Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
 
49,549

 
(1,659
)
 
1,085

 
48,975

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
 
54,775

 
6,725

 
1,821

 
63,321

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
 
$
104,324

 
$
5,066

 
$
2,906

 
$
112,296



25


CEC Entertainment, Inc.
Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
For the Three Months Ended April 1, 2018
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Issuer
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Consolidated
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
 
$
38,848

 
$
18,807

 
$
(5,091
)
 
$
52,564

 
 
 
 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:
 

 

 

 

  Purchases of property and equipment
 
(9,502
)
 
(7,868
)
 
(690
)
 
(18,060
)
  Development of internal use software
 
(622
)
 
107

 

 
(515
)
  Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment
 
316

 
(158
)
 

 
158

Cash flows used in investing activities
 
(9,808
)

(7,919
)

(690
)

(18,417
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Repayments on senior term loan
 
(1,900
)
 

 

 
(1,900
)
 Payments on capital lease obligations
 
(143
)
 

 
(2
)
 
(145
)
 Payments on sale leaseback transactions
 
(688
)
 

 

 
(688
)
Cash flows used in financing activities
 
(2,731
)



(2
)

(2,733
)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash
 

 

 
46

 
46

Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
 
26,309


10,888


(5,737
)

31,460

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
 
59,948

 
410

 
6,954

 
67,312

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
 
$
86,257

 
$
11,298

 
$
1,217

 
$
98,772

13. Related Party Transactions:
We reimburse Apollo Management, L.P. for certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with travel and Board of Directors related expenses. In addition, CEC Entertainment engages Apollo portfolio companies to provide various services, including security services to its venues, licensed music video content for use in its venues, and employment screening services to its recruiting functions. Included in our Total operating costs and expenses are related expenses totaling $0.4 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018.
Included in our Accounts Receivable balance are amounts due from Parent totaling $2.6 million at both March 31, 2019 and December 30, 2018, primarily related to various general and administrative and transaction related expenses paid on behalf of Parent.
Note 14. Commitments and Contingencies:
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we are involved in various inquiries, investigations, claims, lawsuits and other legal proceedings that are incidental to the conduct of our business. These matters typically involve claims from customers, employees or other third parties involved in operational issues common to the retail, restaurant and entertainment industries. Such matters typically represent actions with respect to contracts, intellectual property, taxation, employment, employee benefits, personal injuries and other matters. A number of such claims may exist at any given time, and there are currently a number of claims and legal proceedings pending against us.
In the opinion of our management, after consultation with legal counsel, the amount of liability with respect to claims or proceedings currently pending against us is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. All necessary loss accruals based on the probability and estimate of loss have been recorded.
Litigation Related to the Merger: Following the January 16, 2014 announcement that CEC Entertainment had entered into an agreement (“Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which an entity controlled by Apollo Global Management, LLC and its

26


subsidiaries merged with and into CEC Entertainment, with CEC Entertainment surviving the merger (“the Merger”), four putative shareholder class actions were filed in the District Court of Shawnee County, Kansas, on behalf of purported stockholders of CEC Entertainment, against A.P. VIII Queso Holdings, L.P., CEC Entertainment, CEC Entertainment's directors, Apollo and Merger Sub (as defined in the Merger Agreement), in connection with the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. These actions were consolidated into one action (the “Consolidated Shareholder Litigation”) in March 2014, and on July 21, 2015, a consolidated class action petition was filed as the operative consolidated complaint, asserting claims against CEC’s former directors, adding The Goldman Sachs Group (“Goldman Sachs”) as a defendant, and removing all Apollo entities as defendants (the “Consolidated Class Action Petition”). The Consolidated Class Action Petition alleges that CEC Entertainment’s directors breached their fiduciary duties to CEC Entertainment’s stockholders in connection with their consideration and approval of the Merger Agreement by, among other things, conducting a deficient sales process, agreeing to an inadequate tender price, agreeing to certain provisions in the Merger Agreement, and filing materially deficient disclosures regarding the transaction. The Consolidated Class Action Petition also alleges that two members of CEC Entertainment’s board who also served as the senior managers of CEC Entertainment had material conflicts of interest and that Goldman Sachs aided and abetted the board’s breaches as a result of various conflicts of interest facing the bank. The Consolidated Class Action Petition seeks, among other things, to recover damages, attorneys’ fees and costs. The Company assumed the defense of the Consolidated Shareholder Litigation on behalf of CEC’s named former directors and Goldman Sachs pursuant to existing indemnity agreements. On March 23, 2016, the Court conducted a hearing on the defendants’ Motion to Dismiss the Consolidated Class Action Petition and on March 1, 2017, the Special Master appointed by the Court issued a report recommending to the Court that the Consolidated Class Action Petition be dismissed. On September 9, 2018, the Court accepted the Special Master’s recommendations and dismissed the lawsuit in its entirety. On October 8, 2018, the Plaintiff in the Consolidated Shareholder Litigation filed a notice of appeal of the District Court’s decision. The parties have filed their briefs and are awaiting a setting for oral argument. While no assurance can be given as to the ultimate outcome of the consolidated matter, we currently believe that the final resolution of the action will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, liquidity or capital resources.
Note 15. Subsequent Events:
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through May 14, 2019, and determined that there have been no events that have occurred that would require adjustments to our disclosures in the consolidated financial statements except for the transaction described below:
Business Combination: On April 7, 2019, Parent and Leo Holdings Corp. (“Leo”), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, together with Parent’s controlling stockholder, an entity owned by funds managed by affiliates of Apollo, entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Leo Merger Agreement”). Also concurrent with the closing of the transaction, Leo will domesticate as a Delaware corporation, following which Parent will merge with and into Leo with the result that the Company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leo, which will be renamed Chuck E. Cheese Brands Inc. (the “Business Combination”). Concurrent with the consummation of the Business Combination, additional investors will purchase $100 million of common stock of Leo in a private placement. After giving effect to any redemptions by the public shareholders of Leo, the balance of the approximately $200 million in cash held in Leo Holdings’ trust account, together with the $100 million in private placement proceeds, will be used to pay transaction expenses and de-leverage the Company’s existing capital structure by repaying all, or substantially all, of the $255 million senior notes (see Note 6. “Indebtedness and Interest Expense -Senior Unsecured Debt”). It is expected that existing shareholders including funds managed by affiliates of Apollo, will hold an approximately 51% stake in the Company upon completion of the Business Combination.
In connection with the proposed Business Combination, including the domestication of Leo as a Delaware corporation, on April 29, 2019 Leo filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 containing a preliminary proxy statement and a preliminary prospectus of Leo. After the registration statement is declared effective, Leo will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed Business Combination and other relevant materials for the proposed Business Combination to its shareholders as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed Business Combination.

27



ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
As used in this report, the terms “CEC Entertainment,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to CEC Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to provide the readers of our Consolidated Financial Statements with a narrative from the perspective of our management on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and certain other factors that may affect our future results. Our MD&A should be read in conjunction with (i) our Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included in Part I, Item 1. “Financial Statements” of this report and (ii) Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2018, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 12, 2019. Our MD&A includes the following sub-sections:
Presentation of Operating Results;
Executive Summary;
Key Measure of Our Financial Performance and Key Non-GAAP Measures;
Key Income Statement Line Item Descriptions;
Results of Operations;
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources;
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations;
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates;
Recently Issued Accounting Guidance;
Non-GAAP Financial Measures; and
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.

Presentation of Operating Results
We operate on a 52 or 53 week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday nearest to December 31. Each quarterly period has 13 weeks, except for a 53 week year when the fourth quarter has 14 weeks. Our current fiscal year, which ends on December 29, 2019, and our fiscal year ended December 30, 2018, each consist of 52 weeks.
Seasonality and Variation in Quarterly Results
Our operating results fluctuate seasonally due to the timing of school vacations, holidays and changing weather conditions. As a result, we typically generate higher sales volumes during the first quarter of each fiscal year. School operating schedules, holidays and weather conditions may affect sales volumes in some operating regions differently than others. Because of the seasonality of our business, results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full fiscal year.
Executive Summary
General
We develop, operate and franchise family dining and entertainment centers (also referred to as “venues”) under the names “Chuck E. Cheese’s” (“Where A Kid Can Be A Kid”) and “Peter Piper Pizza” (“Pizza Made Fresh, Families Made Happy”). Our venues deliver a lively, kid-friendly atmosphere that feature a broad array of entertainment offerings including arcade-style and skill-oriented games, rides, live entertainment shows, and other attractions, with the opportunity for kids to win tickets that they can redeem for prizes. We combine this memorable entertainment experience with a broad and creative menu that combines kid-friendly classics as well as a selection of more sophisticated options for adults. We operate 554 venues and have an additional 194 venues operating under franchise arrangements across 47 states and 14 foreign countries and territories as of March 31, 2019.

28


The following table summarizes information regarding the number of Company-operated and franchised venues for the periods presented:
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
2019
 
April 1,
2018
Number of Company-operated venues:
 
 
 
 
Beginning of period
 
554

 
562

       New
 

 

Acquired from franchisee (1)
 
1

 

       Closed
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
End of period
 
554

 
561

Number of franchised venues:
 
 
 
 
Beginning of period
 
196

 
192

       New
 

 
4

Acquired from franchisee (1)
 
(1
)
 

       Closed
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
End of period
 
194

 
195

Total number of venues:
 
 
 
 
Beginning of period
 
750

 
754

       New
 

 
4

Acquired from franchisee
 

 

       Closed
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
End of period
 
748

 
756

__________________
(1)
The number of new Company-operated venues and closed franchised venues during the three months ended March 31, 2019 included one store that was acquired from a franchisee.
Key Measure of Our Financial Performance and Key Non-GAAP Measures
Comparable venue sales. We define “comparable venue sales” as the sales for our domestic Company-operated venues that have been open for more than 18 months as of the beginning of each respective fiscal year or acquired venues we have operated for at least 12 months as of the beginning of each respective fiscal year. Comparable venue sales excludes sales for our domestic Company-owned venues that are expected to be temporarily closed for more than three months primarily as a result of natural disasters, fires, floods and property damage. We define “comparable venue sales change” as the percentage change in comparable venue sales for each respective fiscal period. We believe comparable venue sales change to be a key performance indicator used within our industry; it is a critical factor when evaluating our performance, as it is indicative of acceptance of our strategic initiatives and local economic and consumer trends.
Adjusted EBITDA and Margin. We define Adjusted EBITDA, a measure used by management to assess operating performance, as net income (loss) plus interest expense, income tax expense (benefit), depreciation and amortization expense, impairments, gains and losses on asset disposals, and stock based compensation. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA excludes other items we consider unusual or non-recurring and certain other adjustments required or permitted in calculating covenant compliance under the indenture governing our senior notes and/or our secured credit facilities. Adjusted EBITDA Margin represents Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of total revenues.
Key Income Statement Line Item Descriptions
Revenues. Our primary source of revenues is sales at our Company-operated venues (“company venue sales”), which consist of the sale of food, beverages, unlimited game-play time blocks, game-play credits, and merchandise. A portion of our company venue sales are from sales of value-priced combination packages generally comprised of food, beverage, and through the end of the second quarter of 2018, game plays and/or time blocks, which we promote through in-venue menu pricing, our website and coupon offerings. Beginning in the third quarter of 2018, we offer combination packages comprised of food and beverage only (“Package Deals”), with game plays and/or time blocks available for purchase separately. Prior to the bifurcation of the “Food and beverage sales” and “Entertainment and merchandise sales” components of combination packages, we allocated the revenues recognized from the sale of combination packages and coupons between “Food and beverage sales” and “Entertainment and merchandise sales” based upon the price charged for each component when it is sold separately, or in limited circumstanc

29


es, our best estimate of selling price if a component is not sold on a stand-alone basis, which we believe approximates each component’s fair value.
Food and beverage sales include all revenues recognized with respect to stand-alone food and beverage sales, and through the end of the second quarter of 2018, the portion of revenues allocated from combination packages and coupons that relate to food and beverage sales. Entertainment and merchandise sales include all revenues recognized with respect to stand-alone sales of game-play credits and unlimited game-play time blocks, and through the end of the second quarter of 2018, a portion of revenues allocated from combination packages and coupons that relate to entertainment and merchandise.
Franchise fees and royalties are another source of revenues. We earn monthly royalties from our franchisees based on a percentage of each franchise venue’s sales. We also receive development and initial franchise fees to establish new franchised venues, as well as earn fees from the sale of equipment and other items or services to franchisees. We recognize initial and renewal development and franchise fees as revenues on a straight-line basis over the life of the franchise agreement starting when the franchise venue has opened. Our national advertising fund receipts from members of the International Association of CEC Entertainment, Inc. (the “Association”) are accounted for on a gross basis as revenue from franchisees.
Company venue operating costs. Certain of our costs and expenses relate only to the operation of our Company-operated venues. These costs and expenses are listed and described below:
Cost of food and beverage includes all direct costs of food, beverages and costs of related paper and birthday supplies, less rebates from suppliers;
Cost of entertainment and merchandise includes all direct costs of prizes provided and merchandise sold to our customers.
Labor expenses consist of salaries and wages, bonuses, related payroll taxes and benefits for venue personnel;
Lease costs includes lease costs for Company-operated venues, including common area maintenance (“CAM”) charges; and
Other venue operating expenses primarily include utilities, repair and maintenance costs, liability and property insurance, property taxes, credit card processing fees, licenses, preopening expenses, venue asset disposal gains and losses and all other costs directly related to the operation of a venue.
“Cost of food and beverage” and “Cost of entertainment and merchandise,” as a percentage of Company venue sales, are influenced both by the cost of products and by the overall mix of our Package Deals and coupon offerings. “Entertainment and merchandise sales” have higher margins than “Food and beverage sales.”
Advertising expense. Advertising expense includes production costs for television commercials, newspaper inserts, Internet advertising, coupons, media expenses for national and local advertising, consulting fees and other forms of advertising such as social media.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses represent all costs associated with operating our corporate office, including regional and district management and corporate personnel payroll and benefits, back-office support systems, costs of outsourced functions, and other administrative costs not directly related to the operation of our Company-operated venues.
Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization includes expenses that are directly related to our Company-operated venues’ property and equipment, including leasehold improvements, game and ride equipment, furniture, fixtures and other equipment, and depreciation and amortization of corporate assets and intangibles.
Results of Operations
The following table summarizes our principal sources of company venue sales expressed in dollars and as a percentage of total company venue sales for the periods presented:
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31, 2019
 
April 1, 2018
 
 
(in thousands, except percentages)
Food and beverage sales
 
$
117,815

 
44.0
%
 
$
118,377

 
47.4
%
Entertainment and merchandise sales
 
149,677

 
56.0
%
 
131,117

 
52.6
%
Total company venue sales
 
$
267,492

 
100.0
%
 
$
249,494

 
100.0
%




30


The following table summarizes our revenues and expenses expressed in dollars and as a percentage of Total revenues (except as otherwise noted) for the periods presented:
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31, 2019
 
April 1, 2018
 
 
(in thousands, except percentages (4))
Total company venue sales
 
$
267,492

 
97.9
%
 
$
249,494

 
97.9
%
Franchise fees and royalties
 
5,820

 
2.1
%
 
5,410

 
2.1
%
Total revenues
 
273,312

 
100.0
%
 
254,904

 
100.0
%
Operating Costs and Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of food and beverage (1)
 
26,652

 
22.6
%
 
27,360

 
23.1
%
Cost of entertainment and merchandise (2)
 
11,746

 
7.8
%
 
9,382

 
7.2
%
Total cost of food, beverage, entertainment and merchandise (3)
 
38,398

 
14.4
%
 
36,742

 
14.7
%
Labor expenses (3)
 
72,505

 
27.1
%
 
67,349

 
27.0
%
Lease costs (3)
 
27,027

 
10.1
%
 
24,049

 
9.6
%
Other venue operating expenses (3)
 
35,297

 
13.2
%
 
38,062

 
15.3
%
Total company venue operating costs (3)
 
134,829

 
50.4
%
 
129,460

 
51.9
%
Other costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advertising expense
 
12,253

 
4.5
%
 
13,974

 
5.5
%
General and administrative expenses
 
15,243

 
5.6
%
 
12,909

 
5.1
%
Depreciation and amortization
 
24,334

 
8.9
%
 
26,572

 
10.4
%
Transaction, severance and related litigation costs
 
23

 
%
 
534

 
0.2
%
Total operating costs and expenses
 
225,080

 
82.4
%
 
220,191

 
86.4
%
Operating income
 
48,232

 
17.6
%
 
34,713

 
13.6
%
Interest expense
 
19,808

 
7.2
%
 
18,557

 
7.3
%
Income before income taxes
 
$
28,424

 
10.4
%
 
$
16,156

 
6.3
%
 __________________
(1)
Percent amount expressed as a percentage of Food and beverage sales.
(2)
Percent amount expressed as a percentage of Entertainment and merchandise sales.
(3)
Percent amount expressed as a percentage of Total company venue sales.
(4)
Due to rounding, percentages presented in the table above may not sum to total. The percentage amounts for the components of Cost of food and beverage and the Cost of entertainment and merchandise may not sum to total due to the fact that Cost of food and beverage and Cost of entertainment and merchandise are expressed as a percentage of related Food and beverage sales and Entertainment and merchandise sales, as opposed to Total company venue sales. 

Three months ended March 31, 2019 Compared to the Three months ended April 1, 2018
Revenues
Company venue sales were $267.5 million and $249.5 million for the first quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2018, respectively. The increase in Company venue sales is primarily attributable to a 7.7% increase in comparable venue sales. In addition, revenue deferrals were $1.9 million and $3.2 million for the first quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2018, respectively, declining as a result of the introduction of AYCP, our time-based play offering, in the third quarter of 2018. These favorable impacts were partially offset by a $1.5 million decrease in revenue related to venue closures in 2018.
Franchise fees and royalties increased from $5.4 million to $5.8 million or 7.6% in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the first quarter of 2018, primarily due to a net increase in franchise locations.
Company Venue Operating Costs
The cost of food, beverage, entertainment and merchandise, as a percentage of total company venue sales, was 14.4% and 14.7% for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018 , respectively, as sales shifted towards higher margin entertainment and merchandise sales from food and beverage sales.

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The cost of food and beverage, as a percentage of food and beverage sales, was 22.6% and 23.1% for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively. The decrease in the cost of food and beverage on a percentage basis in the first quarter of 2019 was primarily driven by favorability in commodity prices and volume, partially offset by an increase in beverage costs.
The cost of entertainment and merchandise, as a percentage of entertainment and merchandise sales, was 7.8% and 7.2% for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in the cost of entertainment and merchandise on a percentage of sales basis in the first quarter of 2019 reflects the impact of the All You Can Play and More Tickets initiatives we launched nationally in all of our Chuck E. Cheese Company-operated venues during the third quarter of 2018.
Gross profit, which represents Revenues less total cost of food, beverage, entertainment and merchandise, as a percentage of Total revenues was 86.0% and 85.6% for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of Total revenues was driven by the shift in Company venue sales towards entertainment and merchandise sales.
Labor expenses, as a percentage of sales, were 27.1% and 27.0% for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively, as wage pressures exceeded productivity gains.
Lease costs, as a percentage of sales, were 10.1% and 9.6%, for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively. Lease costs for the first quarter of 2019 were impacted by the adoption of a new lease standard effective December 31, 2018, the first day of Fiscal 2019, that requires us to recognize lease and non-lease components, such as CAM charges, as lease costs, rather than reflecting CAM charges as Other venue operating expenses. Excluding CAM charges, Lease costs, as a percentage of sales, would have been 8.8% for the first quarter of 2019.
Other venue operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, were 13.2% and 15.3% for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively. Other venue operating expenses for the first quarter of 2019 were impacted by the adoption of a new lease standard, as discussed in the previous paragraph under Lease costs. Other venue operating expenses as a percentage of sales, including the impact of CAM charges, would have been 14.5% for the first quarter of 2019, reflecting savings initiatives in general costs.
Advertising Expense
Advertising expense was $12.3 million and $14.0 million for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively, due to a shift in our marketing strategy.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses were $15.2 million and $12.9 million for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2019 is primarily due to an increase in performance-based compensation as a result of improved operating results.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization was $24.3 million and $26.6 million for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively. The decrease in depreciation and amortization is primarily due to the impact of eight venue closures and non-cash venue impairments recorded in 2018, as well as certain property plant and equipment having reached the end of their depreciable lives.
Income Taxes
Our effective income tax rate was 25.3% and 24.3% for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively. Our effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018 were both favorably impacted by employment-related federal income tax credits, offset by state income taxes, the negative impact of nondeductible litigation costs related to the Merger, nondeductible penalties, and foreign income taxes (taxes withheld on royalties and franchise fees earned from international franchisees not offset by foreign tax credits due to the foreign tax credit limitation).
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview of Liquidity

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We finance our business activities through cash flows provided by our operations.
The primary components of working capital are as follows:
our guests pay for their purchases in cash or credit cards at the time of the sale and the cash from these sales is typically received before our related accounts payable to suppliers and employee payroll become due;
frequent inventory turnover results in a limited investment required in inventories; and
our accounts payable cash management strategies.
As a result of these factors, our requirement for working capital is not significant and we are able to operate with a net working capital deficit (current liabilities in excess of current assets), similar to other companies in the restaurant industry. As part of our capital allocation strategy, we may elect from time to time to retire certain of our debt obligations through voluntary prepayments or open market purchases.
Sources and Uses of Cash
The following tables present summarized consolidated financial information that we believe is helpful in evaluating our liquidity and capital resources as of and for the periods presented:
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
2019
 
April 1,
2018
 
 
(in thousands)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
70,478

 
$
52,564

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(18,633
)
 
(18,417
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(2,871
)
 
(2,733
)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash
 
1

 
46

Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
 
$
48,975

 
$
31,460

Interest paid
 
$
23,799

 
$
22,546

Income taxes paid (refunded), net
 
$
(4,493
)
 
$
180

 
 
March 31,
2019
 
December 30,
2018
 
 
($ in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
112,030

 
$
63,170

Restricted cash
 
266

 
151

Term loan facility
 
722,000

 
723,900

Senior notes
 
255,000

 
255,000

Available unused commitments under revolving credit facility
 
86,538

 
141,000

Sources and Uses of Cash - Three months ended March 31, 2019 Compared to the Three months ended April 1, 2018
Net cash provided by operating activities was $70.5 million and $52.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2019 and the three months ended April 1, 2018, respectively. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities is primarily due to an increase in net income, income tax refunds received, and fluctuations in our working capital.
Net cash used in investing activities was $18.6 million and $18.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2019 and the three months ended April 1, 2018, respectively. Net cash used in investing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018 relates primarily to capital expenditures.
Net cash used in financing activities was $2.9 million and $2.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2019 and the three months ended April 1, 2018, relating primarily to principal payments on our term loan and other lease related obligations.
Debt Financing
Secured Credit Facilities

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Our secured credit facilities include (i) a $760.0 million term loan facility with a maturity date of February 14, 2021 (the “term loan facility”) and (ii) a $95.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility with a maturity date of November 16, 2020 (as discussed in more detail below, $95.0 million of our original $150.0 million revolving credit facility maturing on February 14, 2019, was extended to November 16, 2020). The revolving credit facility includes a letter of credit sub-facility and a $30.0 million swingline loan sub-facility (the “revolving credit facility” and together with the term loan facility, the “secured credit facilities”). On May 8, 2018 we entered into an incremental assumption agreement with certain of our revolving credit facility lenders to extend the maturity on $95.0 million of the revolving credit facility through November 16, 2020. In connection with the extension of the maturity date, we agreed to the following covenants for the benefit of the revolving facility lenders: (a) with respect to each fiscal year (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 30, 2018), to the extent we have excess cash flow (as defined in the secured credit facilities agreement), we are required to make a mandatory prepayment of term loan principal to the extent that 75% times our excess cash flow (as defined in the secured credit facilities agreement and subject to step-downs based on our net first lien senior secured leverage ratio) exceeds $10 million with any such required mandatory payment reduced by any optional prepayments of principal that may have occurred during the fiscal year, and (b) we shall not incur additional first lien senior secured debt in connection with certain acquisitions, mergers or consolidations unless our net first lien senior secured leverage ratio is greater than 3.65 to 1.00 on a pro forma basis. The remaining $55.0 million of the original revolving credit facility matured on February 14, 2019 with no borrowing thereunder outstanding thereunder.
The secured credit facilities require scheduled quarterly payments on the term loan facility equal to 0.25% of the original principal amount of the term loan facility from July 2014 to December 2020, with the balance paid at maturity, February 14, 2021.
As of March 31, 2019, we had no borrowings outstanding and $8.5 million of letters of credit issued but undrawn under the revolving credit facility leaving $86.5 million in borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility as of March 31, 2019. As of December 30, 2018, we had no borrowings outstanding and $9.0 million of letters of credit issued but undrawn under the revolving credit facility.
Borrowings under the secured credit facilities bear interest at a rate equal to, at our option, either (a) a London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) determined by reference to the costs of funds for Eurodollar deposits for the interest period relevant to such borrowings, adjusted for certain additional costs, subject to a 1.00% floor in the case of term loans or (b) a base rate determined by reference to the highest of (i) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.5%; (ii) the prime rate of Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch; and (iii) the one-month adjusted LIBOR plus 1.00%; in each case plus an applicable margin. The base applicable margin is 3.25% with respect to LIBOR borrowings and 2.25% with respect to base rate borrowings under the term loan facility, and base rate borrowings and swingline borrowings under the revolving credit facility. The applicable margin for LIBOR borrowings under the term loan facility is subject to one step down from 3.25% to 3.00%, based on our net first lien senior secured leverage ratio. The applicable margin for LIBOR borrowings under the revolving credit facility is subject to two step-downs from 3.25% to 3.00% and 2.75% based on our net first lien senior secured leverage ratio. During both the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018, the applicable margin for LIBOR borrowings under both the term loan facility and the revolving facility was 3.25%.
During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the federal funds rate ranged from 2.40% to 2.43%, the prime rate was 5.50% and the one-month LIBOR ranged from 2.48% to 2.52%.
In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the secured credit facilities, we are required to pay a commitment fee to the lenders under the revolving credit facility with respect to the unutilized commitments thereunder. The base applicable commitment fee rate under the revolving credit facility is 0.5% per annum and is subject to one step-down from 0.5% to 0.375% based on our net first lien senior secured leverage ratio. During both the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018, the commitment fee rate was 0.5%. We are also required to pay customary agency fees, as well as letter of credit participation fees computed at a rate per annum equal to the applicable margin for LIBOR rate borrowings on the dollar equivalent of the daily stated amount of outstanding letters of credit, plus such letter of credit issuer’s customary documentary and processing fees and a fronting fee computed at a rate equal to 0.125% per annum on the daily stated amount of such letter of credit.
All borrowings under our revolving credit facility are subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions, including the absence of a default and the accuracy of representations and warranties.
Senior Unsecured Notes
Our senior unsecured notes consist of $255.0 million aggregate principal amount borrowings of 8.0% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “senior notes”) and mature on February 15, 2022. The senior notes bear interest at a rate of 8.0% per year payable February 15th and August 15th of each year.
We may call some or all of the senior notes at 102% on or after February 15, 2019 and at 100% on or after February 15, 2020 as set forth in the indenture governing the senior notes (the “indenture”).

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Capital Expenditures
We intend to continue to focus our future capital expenditures on reinvestment into our existing Company-operated Chuck E. Cheese’s and Peter Piper Pizza venues through various planned capital initiatives and the development or acquisition of additional Company-operated venues. We have funded and expect to continue to fund our capital expenditures through existing cash flows from operations. Capital expenditures in the first three months of 2019 totaled approximately $18.7 million.
The following table reconciles the approximate total capital spend by initiative to our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the periods presented:
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31, 2019

April 1, 2018
 
 
(in thousands)
Growth capital spend (1)
 
$
4,904

 
$
5,307

Maintenance capital spend (2)
 
13,332

 
12,138

IT capital spend
 
418

 
1,139

Total Capital Spend
 
$
18,654

 
$
18,584

__________________
(1)
Growth capital spend includes major remodels, including the re-imaging effort to update Chuck E. Cheese venues to a new look and feel, venue expansions, new venue development, including relocations and franchise acquisitions.
(2)    Maintenance capital spend includes game enhancements, general venue capital expenditures and corporate capital expenditures.
We currently estimate our capital expenditures in 2019 will total approximately $95 million to $105 million, inclusive of maintenance capital, growth capital and IT related capital.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations
As of March 31, 2019, we had no off-balance sheet financing arrangements as described in Regulation S-K Item 303(a)(4)(ii).
For information regarding our contractual obligations, refer to “Off Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations” in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 12, 2019.
See further discussion of our indebtedness and future debt obligations in “Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources - Debt Financing” of this report. There have been no other material changes to our contractual obligations since December 30, 2018.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Information with respect to our critical accounting policies and estimates, which we believe could have the most significant effect on our reported consolidated results and require difficult, subjective or complex judgment by management are described under “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 12, 2019. Except for the adoption of Accounting Standards Update ASU 2016-12, Leases (Topic 842) and subsequent amendment ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Target Improvements, there has been no other material change to the information concerning our critical accounting policies and estimates since December 30, 2018 (see Note 1.Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1. “Financial Statements” of this report).
Recently Issued Accounting Guidance
Refer to Note 1 “Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1. “Financial Statements” of this report for a description of recently issued accounting guidance.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA, a measure used by management to assess operating performance, is defined as Net income (loss) plus interest expense, income tax expense (benefit), depreciation and amortization expense, impairments, gains and losses on asset disposals, and stock based compensation. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA excludes other items we consider unusual or non-recurring and certain other adjustments required or permitted in calculating covenant compliance under our secured credit facilities and the indenture governing our senior notes (see discussion of our senior notes in Note 6 “Indebtedness and Interest Expense” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1. “Financial Statements” and above under the heading “Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources - Debt Financing”).

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Adjusted EBITDA is presented because we believe that it provides useful information to investors regarding our operating performance and our capacity to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is used by many investors, analysts and rating agencies as a measure of performance. We also present Adjusted EBITDA because it is substantially similar to Credit Agreement EBITDA, a measure used in calculating financial ratios and other calculations under our debt agreements, except for excluding the annualized full year effect of Company-operated and franchised venues that were opened and closed during the year. By reporting Adjusted EBITDA, we provide a basis for comparison of our business operations between current, past and future periods by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance.
Our definition of Adjusted EBITDA allows for the exclusion of certain non-cash and other income and expense items that are used in calculating net income from continuing operations. However, these are items that may recur, vary greatly and can be difficult to predict. They can represent the effect of long-term strategies as opposed to short-term results. In addition, certain of these items can represent the reduction of cash that could be used for other corporate purposes. These measures should not be considered as alternatives to operating income, cash flows from operating activities or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP as measures of operating performance, or cash flows as measures of liquidity. These measures have important limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because of these limitations, we rely primarily on our U.S. GAAP results and use Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin, only supplementally.

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The following table sets forth a reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin for the periods presented:
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31, 2019
 
April 1,
2018
 
 
(in thousands, except percentages)
Total revenues
 
$
273,312

 
$
254,904

Net income as reported
 
$
21,246


$
12,223

   Interest expense
 
19,808


18,557

   Income tax expense
 
7,178


3,933

   Depreciation and amortization
 
24,334


26,572

EBITDA
 
72,566

 
61,285

Loss on asset disposals, net (1)
 
954


1,237

Unrealized (gain) loss on foreign exchange (2)
 
(342
)
 
356

Non-cash stock-based compensation (3)
 
1,162


64

Rent expense book to cash (4)
 
732


2,174

Franchise revenue, net cash received (5)
 
698


421

Venue pre-opening costs (6)
 
65


23

One-time and unusual items (7)
 
300


762

Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
76,135

 
$
66,322

Adjusted EBITDA Margin
 
27.9
%
 
26.0
%
____________
(1)
Relates primarily to gains or losses upon disposal of property or equipment.
(2)
Relates to unrealized gains or losses on the revaluation of our indebtedness with our Canadian subsidiary.
(3)
Represents non-cash equity-based compensation expense.
(4)
Represents (i) the removal of the non-cash portion of rent expense relating to the impact of straight-line rent and the amortization of cash incentives and allowances received from landlords, plus (ii) the actual cash received from landlords incentives and allowances in the period in which it was received.
(5)
Represents the actual cash received for franchise fees received in the period for post-acquisition franchise development agreements, which we do not start recognizing into revenue until the franchise venue is opened.
(6)
Relates to start-up and marketing costs incurred prior to the opening of new Company-owned venues and generally consists of payroll, recruiting, training, supplies and rent incurred prior to venue opening.
(7)
Represents non-recurring income and expenses primarily related to (i) legal fees, claims and settlements related to litigation in respect of the merger in 2014 of CEC Entertainment, Inc. with and into an entity controlled by Apollo Global Management, LLC and its subsidiaries (referred to as the “Merger”); (ii) severance expense and executive termination benefits; (iii) legal claims and settlements related to employee class action lawsuits and settlements; (iv) sales and use tax refunds relating to prior periods; (v) professional fees incurred in connection with one-time strategic corporate and tax initiatives, such as accounting and consulting fees related to incurred to enhance transfer pricing; (vi) legal fees incurred in connection with certain potential transactions the Company did not pursue; (vii) removing current period property losses and insurance recoveries relating to prior period business interruption losses at certain venues, primarily relating to disaster recoveries, such as natural disasters, fires, floods and property damage; (viii) one-time costs related to the early termination of a supplier contract in connection with the transition to a new supplier; (ix) one-time marketing expenses related to the grand openings of our re-imaged Chuck E. Cheese venues; and (x) one-time training and travel-related costs incurred in connection with training venue employees in connection with the implementation of our PlayPass initiative and the re-imaging effort of the venues in our Chuck E. Cheese portfolio.
    
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intent,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this report, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objections of management and expected market growth are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future events and, therefore, involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 12, 2019. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ from those anticipated, estimated or expected. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including, but are not limited to:
our strategy, outlook and growth prospects;
our operational and financial targets and dividend policy;
our planned expansion of the venue base and the implementation of the new design in our existing venues;
general economic trends and trends in the industry and markets; and
the competitive environment in which we operate.
These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our results to vary from expectations include, but are not limited to:
negative publicity and changes in consumer preferences;
our ability to successfully expand and update our current venue base;
our ability to successfully implement our marketing strategy;
our ability to compete effectively in an environment of intense competition;
our ability to weather economic uncertainty and changes in discretionary spending;
increases in food, labor and other operating costs;
the impact of labor scheduling legislation;
our ability to successfully open international franchises and to operate under the United States and foreign anti-corruption laws that govern those international ventures;
risks related to our substantial indebtedness;
failure of our information technology systems to support our current and growing business;
disruptions to our commodity distribution system;
our dependence on third-party vendors to provide us with sufficient quantities of new entertainment-related equipment, prizes and merchandise at acceptable prices;
risks from product liability claims and product recalls;
the impact of governmental laws and regulations and the outcomes of legal proceedings;
potential liability under certain state property laws;
fluctuations in our financial results due to new venue openings;
local conditions, natural disasters, terrorist attacks and other events and public health issues;
the seasonality of our business;
inadequate insurance coverage;
labor shortages and immigration reform;
loss of certain personnel;
our ability to protect our trademarks or other proprietary rights;
our ability to pay our fixed rental payments;
our ability to successfully integrate the operations of companies we acquire;
impairment charges for goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets or other long-lived assets;

37


our failure to maintain adequate internal controls over our financial and management systems;
risks associated with our proposed business combination and the related business combination agreement, and following the consummation of the proposed business combination, the increased costs, and the risks, associated with being a reporting company with publicly traded equity; and
other risks, uncertainties and factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 12, 2019.
The forward-looking statements made in this report reflect our views with respect to future events as of the date of this report and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this report and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or review publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this report. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. This report should be read completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments we may undertake. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.


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ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We are exposed to various types of market risk in the normal course of business, including the impact of interest rates, commodity price changes and foreign currency fluctuation.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to market risk from changes in the variable interest rates related to borrowings from our secured credit facilities. All of our borrowings outstanding under the secured credit facilities, $722.0 million as of March 31, 2019, accrue interest at variable rates. Assuming the revolving credit facility remains undrawn, each 1% change in assumed interest rates, excluding the impact of our 1% interest rate floor, would result in a $7.2 million change in annual interest expense on indebtedness under the secured credit facilities.
Commodity Price Risk
We are exposed to commodity price changes related to certain food products that we purchase, primarily related to the prices of cheese and dough, which can vary throughout the year due to changes in supply, demand, and other factors. We have not entered into any hedging arrangements to reduce our exposure to commodity price volatility associated with such commodity prices; however, we typically enter into short-term purchasing contracts, which may contain pricing arrangements designed to minimize the impact of commodity price fluctuations, and derivative instruments such as futures contracts to mitigate our exposure to commodity price fluctuations.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018, the average cost of a block of cheese was $1.68 and $1.70, respectively. The estimated increase in our food costs from a hypothetical 10% increase in the average cost of a block of cheese would have been $0.3 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018, the average cost of dough per pound was $0.47 and $0.48, respectively. The estimated increase in our food costs from a hypothetical 10% increase in the average cost of dough per pound would have been $0.1 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018,.
Foreign Currency Risk
We are exposed to foreign currency fluctuation risk associated with changes in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar as we operate a total of 11 Company-operated venues in Canada. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, our Canadian venues generated operating income of $0.6 million, compared to our consolidated operating income of $48.2 million .
Changes in the currency exchange rate result in cumulative translation adjustments and are included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets and potentially result in transaction gains or losses, which are included in our earnings. The low and high currency exchange rates for a Canadian dollar into a United States dollar for the three months ended March 31, 2019 were $0.733 and $0.764, respectively. A hypothetical 10% devaluation in the average quoted U.S. dollar-equivalent of the Canadian dollar exchange rate during the three months ended March 31, 2019 would have decreased our reported consolidated operating results by $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

39


ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2019 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, was (a) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms; and (b) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During the quarterly period covered by this report there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting, other than as set forth below.
In the first quarter, we completed the implementation of a lease administrative and reporting system to increase the efficiency of our existing lease administration and financial reporting process. Internal controls and processes have been designed to address changes in the business applications and financial processes as a result of this implementation.

40



PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings.
Refer to Note 14 “Commitments and Contingencies” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1. “Financial Statements” of this report for a discussion of our legal proceedings.
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors.
Other than as set forth below, we believe there have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 12, 2019.
We are subject to risks arising from the proposed business combination
On April 7, 2019, Parent and Leo Holdings Corp. (“Leo”), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, together with Parent’s controlling stockholder, an entity owned by funds managed by affiliates of Apollo, entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Leo Merger Agreement”). Pursuant to the Leo Merger Agreement, following Leo’s domestication as a Delaware corporation, Parent will merge with and into Leo with the result that the Company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leo, which will be renamed Chuck E. Cheese Brands Inc. (the “Business Combination”). Existing shareholders, including the funds managed by affiliates of Apollo, will hold an approximate 51% stake in Chuck E. Cheese Brands Inc. upon completion of the Business Combination.
Consummation of the Business Combination is subject to various conditions, including certain approvals by the shareholders of Leo and the consummation of a concurrent $100 million private placement by Leo of its common stock. There can be no assurance that the Business Combination will be consummated as contemplated or at all. The failure of the Business Combination to be consummated for any reason could negatively impact the reputation of the Company.
In addition, management and employees of the Company are devoting significant time and resources to the completion of the Business Combination.
Upon consummation of the Business Combination, the Company intends to repay all, or substantially all, of the $255 million senior notes.
Following consummation of the Business Combination, the Company will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of a publicly traded company. As a result, the Company, and its Parent, will be subject to increased costs and other risks associated with being a company with publicly traded equity.
Refer to Note 15. “Subsequent Events” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1. “Financial Statements” of this report for a discussion of our legal proceedings.
ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

NONE.


41


ITEM 6. Exhibits.
EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 __________________
*    Filed herewith.
**    Furnished herewith.
    

42


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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
CEC ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
May 14, 2019
 
By:
 
/s/ James A. Howell
 
 
 
 
James A. Howell
 
 
 
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
May 14, 2019
 
By:
 
/s/ David Rappaport
 
 
 
 
David Rappaport
 
 
 
 
Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
 
 
 
 
(Principal Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
 
 

43


EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
__________________
*    Filed herewith.
**    Furnished herewith.