Business Combination — Acquisition of Main Event

12 Months Ended

Jan. 29, 2023

Business Combination and Asset Acquisition [Abstract]

Business Combination — Acquisition of Main Event

On June 29, 2022, the Company acquired Main Event for approximately $832,472 in net cash and contingent consideration. Main Event, which debuted in 1998, is also focused on food, drinks, and amusements, including games, bowling and laser tag, largely for the demographic target of families with young children. The acquisition is expected to put the Company in a strategic position for accelerated, profitable growth in both brands as well as create cost synergies with our Dave & Buster’s brand.

The Main Event Acquisition was made at a price above the determined fair value of the acquired identifiable net assets, resulting in goodwill, primarily due to expectations of the synergies that will be realized by combining the businesses and the benefits that will be gained from the assembled workforce. These synergies include the elimination of redundant facilities, functions, and staffing. None of the goodwill recorded from this business combination is expected to be tax deductible.

The acquisition has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting (see Acquisitions in Note 1) with assets acquired and liabilities assumed recorded at fair value, and the results of Main Event have been included in the accompanying financial statements from June 29, 2022, the date of acquisition. Acquisition transaction costs totaling approximately $12,626 were recorded in general and administrative expenses as incurred.

The following summarizes the purchase consideration paid, which consisted of cash consideration of $835,000 (adjusted for cash on hand, payment of certain Ardent US liabilities and other normal closing adjustments), resulting in gross cash consideration paid of $853,219. The final cash consideration was subject to normal post-closing adjustments and was settled in the third quarter of 2022.

The preliminary allocation of the purchase price for the Acquisition was based on estimates of the fair value of the net assets acquired and are subject to adjustment for up to one year upon finalization, largely with respect to acquired property and equipment; lease assets and liabilities; deferred taxes; and contingent consideration. Measurements of these items inherently require significant estimates and assumptions considered to be Level Three fair value estimates.

The fair values of property and equipment were determined using a cost approach that utilized the Replacement Cost New and Reproduction Cost New methodologies. Key inputs and assumptions include current cost estimates, inflation rates, historical cost, normal useful life, and functional and economic obsolescence. The fair values of the real estate leases were determined using a market approach that utilized the Above-Below Regression methodology. Key inputs and assumptions include mean rental rates (based on metrics such as rent/revenue and operating cash flow/revenue) and discount rate. The fair value of the Main Event tradename was determined using an income approach that utilized the Relief from Royalty methodology. Key inputs and assumptions include the Company’s projected future revenues, earnings before income tax, royalty rates, discount rate, and long-term growth rate.

The components of the purchase price and net assets acquired in the Main Event Acquisition are as follows:


	January 29, 2023
Gross cash consideration	$	853,219
Contingent consideration (1)	13,794
Less: cash acquired	(34,541)
Total consideration	$	832,472

Assets:
Current assets	$	16,820
Property and equipment	338,275
Operating lease right of use assets	293,924
Tradenames	99,200
Other assets and deferred charges	5,841
Less Liabilities:
Accounts payable	20,118
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	11,651
Accrued liabilities	41,196
Operating lease liabilities	279,213
Deferred tax liabilities	34,975
Other liabilities	6,273
Net assets acquired, excluding goodwill	$	360,634
Goodwill	$	471,838

(1) The Company has an obligation to pay, in cash, an aggregate amount equal to any “Transaction Tax Benefits,” with respect to any taxable year of the Company after the Closing Date ending on or before December 31, 2028, including the current taxable year. Transaction Tax Benefits are generally defined as any reduction in the Company’s liabilities for U.S. federal and state income taxes due to the use of net operating losses generated prior to the Closing Date. The contingent consideration could range from $0 (if no Transaction Tax Benefits are achieved) to a cap, as defined in the Merger Agreement, of approximately $14,600 (undiscounted) and will be paid to the selling shareholders in cash. The contingent consideration was initially valued based on the present value of the maximum amount provided in the Merger Agreement pending completion of the valuation analysis.

Taxes – The preliminary allocation of the purchase price consideration is based on preliminary valuations performed to determine the fair value of the net assets as of the Closing Date. The Company has conducted a preliminary assessment of the valuations and has recognized provisional deferred income tax amounts in its preliminary allocation for the identified assets and liabilities. However, the Company is continuing its procedures to identify information pertaining to these matters during the measurement period. If new information is obtained about facts and circumstances that existed at the Closing Date, the Company will either adjust its measurement of provisional deferred income tax amounts or recognize and measure assets and liabilities not previously identified.

Unaudited Pro Forma Information – To reflect the Acquisition as if it had occurred on February 1, 2021, the unaudited pro forma results include adjustments to reflect, among other things, the interest expense from debt financings obtained to partially fund the cash consideration transferred. Pro forma adjustments were tax effected at the Company’s historical statutory rates in effect for the respective periods. The unaudited pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of the combined results of operations that would have been realized had the acquisitions and related financings occurred on the aforementioned dates, nor are they meant to be indicative of any anticipated combined results of operations that the Company will experience after the transaction. In addition, the amounts do not include any adjustments for actions that may be taken following the completion of the transaction, such as expected cost savings, operating synergies, or revenue enhancements that may be realized subsequent to the transaction.

The following unaudited pro forma information provides the effect of the Main Event Acquisition as if the acquisition had occurred on February 1, 2021:


	Fiscal Year Ended January 29, 2023		Fiscal Year Ended January 30, 2022
Total revenues	$	2,165,040	$	1,681,605
Net Income	$	88,173	$	75,744

The historical consolidated financial information of the Company and Main Event has been adjusted in the pro forma information to give effect to pro forma events that are directly attributable to the acquisition and related financing arrangements and are factually supportable.

Main Event’s total revenues and net income attributable to the Company for fiscal 2022, subsequent to the acquisition date, were $288,778 and $19,185, respectively, and are included in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.