Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY) 10-Q 2021 Q3 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form

10-Q

(Mark One)

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED October 31, 2021

OR

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROMTO

Commission File

No. 001-35664

Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	35-2382255
(State of Incorporation)	(I.R.S. Employer ID)
2481 Mañana Drive, Dallas, Texas, 75220	(214) 357-9588
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)	(Registrant’s telephone number)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock $0.01 par value	PLAY	NASDAQ Global Select Market

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by checkmark 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

  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a

non-accelerated

filer, 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	☐	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 checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in

Rule 12b-2

of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

As of December 2, 2021, the registrant had 48,422,820 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding.

DAVE & BUSTER’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

FORM

10-Q

FOR QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
PART I	FINANCIAL INFORMATION		3
Item 1.	Financial Statements		3
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		18
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		31
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		32
PART II	OTHER INFORMATION		32
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		32
Item 1A.	Risk Factors		32
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		33
Item 6.	Exhibits		34
	Signatures		35

2

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

DAVE & BUSTER’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

	October 31,			January 31,
	2021			2021
	(unaudited)			(audited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	27,005		$	11,891
Inventories		37,256			23,807
Prepaid expenses		12,376			11,878
Income taxes receivable		67,646			70,064
Other current assets		2,101			1,231
Total current assets		146,384			118,871
Property and equipment (net of $891,352 and $798,804 accumulated depreciation as of October 31, 2021 and January 31, 2021, respectively)		779,518			815,027
Operating lease right of use assets		1,038,269			1,037,569
Deferred tax assets		9,467			5,874
Tradenames		79,000			79,000
Goodwill		272,561			272,597
Other assets and deferred charges		25,517			23,886
Total assets	$	2,350,716		$	2,352,824
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	39,295		$	36,400
Accrued liabilities		250,948			234,790
Income taxes payable		435			446
Total current liabilities		290,678			271,636
Deferred income taxes		12,606			13,658
Operating lease liabilities		1,270,929			1,267,791
Other liabilities		45,267			50,119
Long-term debt, net		484,677			596,388
Commitments and contingencies		0			0
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, par value $0.01; authorized: 400,000,000 shares; issued: 61,364,015 shares at October 31, 2021 and 60,488,833 shares at January 31, 2021; outstanding: 48,342,301 shares at October 31, 2021 and 47,646,606 shares at January 31, 2021		614			605
Preferred stock,  50,000,000 authorized; NaN issued		0—			0—
Paid-in capital		545,168			531,191
Treasury stock, 13,021,714 and 12,842,227 shares as of October 31, 2021 and January 31, 2021, respectively		(603,745	)		(595,970	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(4,959	)		(9,085	)
Retained earnings		309,481			226,491
Total stockholders’ equity		246,559			153,232
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,350,716		$	2,352,824

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

3

DAVE & BUSTER’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

	Thirteen Weeks			Thirteen Weeks
	Ended			Ended
	October 31, 2021			November 1, 2020
Food and beverage revenues	$	107,747		$	38,346
Amusement and other revenues		210,229			70,706
Total revenues		317,976			109,052
Cost of food and beverage		30,082			10,664
Cost of amusement and other		22,531			7,244
Total cost of products		52,613			17,908
Operating payroll and benefits		78,995			27,704
Other store operating expenses		103,322			70,783
General and administrative expenses		22,104			11,746
Depreciation and amortization expense		34,381			34,384
Pre-opening costs		2,092			2,570
Total operating costs		293,507			165,095
Operating income (loss)		24,469			(56,043	)
Interest expense, net		13,423			8,213
Loss on debt extinguishment / refinancing		2,829			904
Income (loss) before benefit for income taxes		8,217			(65,160	)
Benefit for income taxes		(2,368	)		(17,117	)
Net income (loss)		10,585			(48,043	)
Unrealized foreign currency translation gain (loss)		(34	)		34
Unrealized gain on derivatives, net of tax		1,371			1,370
Total other comprehensive income		1,337			1,404
Total comprehensive income (loss)	$	11,922		$	(46,639	)
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic	$	0.22		$	(1.01	)
Diluted	$	0.21		$	(1.01	)
Weighted average shares used in per share calculations:
Basic		48,277,358			47,613,741
Diluted		49,283,503			47,613,741

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

4

DAVE & BUSTER’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

	Thirty-Nine Weeks		Thirty-Nine Weeks
	Ended		Ended
	October 31, 2021		November 1, 2020
Food and beverage revenues	$	316,511	$	119,268
Amusement and other revenues		644,443		200,423
Total revenues		960,954		319,691
Cost of food and beverage		86,366		32,667
Cost of amusement and other		63,729		21,997
Total cost of products		150,095		54,664
Operating payroll and benefits		209,897		85,197
Other store operating expenses		292,883		229,137
General and administrative expenses		57,665		35,587
Depreciation and amortization expense		104,355		104,896
Pre-opening costs		5,427		8,781
Total operating costs		820,322		518,262
Operating income (loss)		140,632		(198,571	)
Interest expense, net		41,971		22,491
Loss on debt extinguishment / refinancing		2,829		904
Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes		95,832		(221,966	)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		12,842		(71,777	)
Net income (loss)		82,990		(150,189	)
Unrealized foreign currency translation gain (loss)		12		(97	)
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives, net of tax		4,114		(2,207	)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		4,126		(2,304	)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	$	87,116	$	(152,493	)
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic	$	1.73	$	(3.56	)
Diluted	$	1.68	$	(3.56	)
Weighted average shares used in per share calculations:
Basic		48,050,558		42,185,163
Diluted		49,257,269		42,185,163

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

5

DAVE & BUSTER’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except share amounts)

	Thirteen Weeks Ended October 31, 2021
	Common Stock				Paid-In Capital		Treasury Stock At Cost					Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Retained Earnings		Total
	Shares		Amt.				Shares		Amt.
Balance August 1, 2021		61,276,473	$	613	$	540,348		13,020,098	$	(603,686	)	$	(6,296	)	$	298,896	$	229,875
Net income		—		—		—		—		—			—			10,585		10,585
Unrealized foreign currency translation loss		—		—		—		—		—			(34	)		—		(34	)
Unrealized gain on derivatives, net of tax		—		—		—		—		—			1,371			—		1,371
Share-based compensation		—		—		3,778		—		—			—			—		3,778
Issuance of common stock		87,542		1		1,042		—		—			—			—		1,043
Repurchase of common stock		—		—		—		1,616		(59	)		—			—		(59	)
Balance October 31, 2021		61,364,015	$	614	$	545,168		13,021,714	$	(603,745	)	$	(4,959	)	$	309,481	$	246,559

	Thirteen Weeks Ended November 1, 2020
	Common Stock				Paid-In Capital		Treasury Stock At Cost					Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Retained Earnings			Total
	Shares		Amt.				Shares		Amt.
Balance August 2, 2020		60,422,212	$	604	$	526,253		12,827,300	$	(595,728	)	$	(12,077	)	$	331,319		$	250,371
Net loss		—		—		—		—		—			—			(48,043	)		(48,043	)
Unrealized foreign currency translation gain		—		—		—		—		—			34			—			34
Unrealized gain on derivatives, net of tax		—		—		—		—		—			1,370			—			1,370
Share-based compensation		—		—		2,999		—		—			—			—			2,999
Issuance of common stock		61,518		1		271		—		—			—			—			272
Repurchase of common stock		—		—				14,401		(229	)		—			—			(229	)
Balance November 1, 2020		60,483,730	$	605	$	529,523		12,841,701	$	(595,957	)	$	(10,673	)	$	283,276		$	206,774

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

6

DAVE & BUSTER’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except share amounts)

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended October 31, 2021
	Common Stock				Paid-In Capital		Treasury Stock At Cost					Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Retained Earnings		Total
	Shares		Amt.				Shares		Amt.
Balance January 31, 2021		60,488,833	$	605	$	531,191		12,842,227	$	(595,970	)	$	(9,085	)	$	226,491	$	153,232
Net income		—		—		—		—		—			—			82,990		82,990
Unrealized foreign currency translation gain		—		—		—		—		—			12			—		12
Unrealized gain on derivatives, net of tax		—		—		—		—		—			4,114			—		4,114
Share-based compensation		—		—		9,936		—		—			—			—		9,936
Issuance of common stock		875,182		9		4,041		—		—			—			—		4,050
Repurchase of common stock		—		—		—		179,487		(7,775	)		—			—		(7,775	)
Balance October 31, 2021		61,364,015	$	614	$	545,168		13,021,714	$	(603,745	)	$	(4,959	)	$	309,481	$	246,559

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 1, 2020
	Common Stock				Paid-In Capital		Treasury Stock At Cost					Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Retained Earnings			Total
	Shares		Amt.				Shares		Amt.
Balance February 2, 2020		43,386,852	$	434	$	339,161		12,783,512	$	(595,041	)	$	(8,369	)	$	433,465		$	169,650
Net loss		—		—		—		—		—			—			(150,189	)		(150,189	)
Unrealized foreign currency translation loss		—		—		—		—		—			(97	)		—			(97	)
Unrealized loss on derivatives, net of tax		—		—		—		—		—			(2,207	)		—			(2,207	)
Share-based compensation		—		—		5,344		—		—			—			—			5,344
Issuance of common stock		17,096,878		171		185,018		—		—			—			—			185,189
Repurchase of common stock		—		—				58,189		(916	)		—			—			(916	)
Balance November 1, 2020		60,483,730	$	605	$	529,523		12,841,701	$	(595,957	)	$	(10,673	)	$	283,276		$	206,774

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

7

DAVE & BUSTER’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands)

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended October 31, 2021			Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 1, 2020
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$	82,990		$	(150,189	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense		104,355			104,896
Non-cash interest expense		5,660			4,088
Impairment of long-lived assets		—			13,727
Deferred taxes		(6,191	)		(17,730	)
Loss on disposal of fixed assets		634			541
Loss on debt extinguishment or refinancing		2,829			904
Share-based compensation		9,936			5,344
Other, net		3,250			1,292
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Inventories		(13,449	)		7,745
Prepaid expenses		(498	)		2,761
Income tax receivable		2,418			(42,243	)
Other current assets		(870	)		2,580
Other assets and deferred charges		(1,859	)		(3	)
Accounts payable		(3,419	)		(11,945	)
Accrued liabilities		19,069			44,742
Income taxes payable		(11	)		(2,639	)
Other liabilities		(6,346	)		4,375
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		198,498			(31,754	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(63,559	)		(72,604	)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment		550			234
Net cash used in investing activities		(63,009	)		(72,370	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt		37,000			688,000
Payments of debt		(152,000	)		(760,250	)
Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock		—			182,207
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options		4,050			465
Dividends paid		—			(4,891	)
Repurchases of common stock to satisfy employee withholding tax obligations		(7,775	)		(16,805	)
Debt issuance costs and prepayment premiums		(1,650	)		(916	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(120,375	)		87,810
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		15,114			(16,314	)
Beginning cash and cash equivalents		11,891			24,655
Ending cash and cash equivalents	$	27,005		$	8,341
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Increase (decrease) in fixed asset accounts payable	$	6,314		$	(12,315	)
Cash paid (refund received) for income taxes, net	$	16,043		$	(9,281	)
Cash paid for interest, net	$	43,910		$	17,306

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

8

DAVE & BUSTER’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. (referred to herein as the “Company”, “we,” “us” and “our”), any predecessor companies and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Dave & Buster’s Holdings, Inc. (“D&B Holdings”), which owns 100% of the outstanding common stock of Dave & Busters, Inc. (“D&B Inc”), the operating company. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company, headquartered inDallas, Texas, is a leading operator of high-volume entertainment and dining venues (“stores”) in North America for adults and families under the name “Dave & Buster’s”. The Company operates its business as 1 operating and 1 reportable segment. During the thirteen weeks ended October 31, 2021, we opened 1 new store located in Bellevue, Washington and during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021, we opened three new stores. At October 31, 2021, we owned and operated 143 stores located in 40 states, Puerto Rico and 1 Canadian province.

The Company operates on a 52 or

53-week

fiscal year that ends on the Sunday after the Saturday closest to January 31. Each quarterly period reported has 13 weeks. Fiscal 2021 and 2020, which end on January 30, 2022 and January 31, 2021, respectively, contain 52 weeks

.

The Company’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States for interim financial information as prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods indicated. Our quarterly financial data should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended January 31, 2021, included in our Annual Report on Form

10-K

as filed with the SEC.

COVID-19

Considerations

— On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the

COVID-19

outbreak to be a global pandemic and on March 13, 2020, the United States declared a National Public Health Emergency. As a result, several state and local mandates were implemented that encouraged the practice of social distancing, placed restrictions from individuals gathering in groups and, in many areas, placed complete restrictions on

non-essential

movement outside of the home. Shortly after the national emergency declaration, state and local officials began placing restrictions on businesses, some of which allowed

To-Go

or curbside service only while others limited capacity in the dining room or midway. By March 20, 2020, all our 137 operating stores were temporarily closed. On April 30, 2020, our first store

re-opened

to the public, as state and local guidelines began to allow dining rooms and arcades to open at limited capacity and/or limited hours of operation. By the end of fiscal 2020,

107 of our 140 stores were open and operating in limited capacity, including five new stores for which construction had commenced prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company re-opened the remaining

 34 stores that had been temporarily

closed by August 1, 2021, the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2021.

As stores were

re-opened

during fiscal 2020, typically in limited capacity, the Company reduced labor and other operating costs. During fiscal 2020, the Company also negotiated with landlords and other vendors to negotiate relief from cash payments under existing lease and trade payable obligations, extending or reducing payment terms with several vendors. Regarding negotiations with landlords, a total of 126 initial rent relief agreements related to our operating locations and corporate headquarters were executed during fiscal 2020, which generally provided for rent deferrals on all or a portion of rent for up to six months. As the

COVID-19

pandemic continued to impact our business into the fourth quarter, the Company renewed negotiations with the majority of these landlords in order to provide additional rent relief, generally seeking to delay or extend the terms of deferral pay back periods and/or provide rent relief beyond the periods in the initial agreements. The second phase of negotiations resulted in 99 additional rent relief agreements, the last of which were executed in the third quarter of fiscal 2021.

In addition to reducing or deferring expenditures, including capital expenditures and discretionary spending, during the first half of fiscal 2020, the Company obtained additional liquidity through the sale of common stock, which resulted in net proceeds of $182,207. On October 27, 2020, D&B Inc completed the private sale of $550,000 in aggregate principal amount of 7.625% senior secured notes due 2025. At the same time, the revolving credit commitments under our existing credit facility were extended through August 17, 2024, and the suspension of our financial ratio covenants was extended until the last day of the first quarter of fiscal year 2022. On September 20, 2021, the Company redeemed $55,000 outstanding principal amount of the senior secured notes. See Note 3, Debt, for more information on these

transactions.

9

The measures taken by the Company as well as the

re-opening

of the Company’s stores provide sufficient liquidity to meet estimated cash flow needs and covenant compliance obligations for at least the next twelve months from the issuance of the financial statements. We cannot predict whether, when or the manner in which the conditions surrounding

COVID-19,

particularly as a result of new variants of

COVID-19,

will change, including possible vaccination or mask mandates, capacity restrictions or

re-closures

of our currently open stores and customer engagement with our brand.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and for the period then ended. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Operating results for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the fiscal year ending January 30, 2022.

Cash and cash equivalents

— We consider transaction settlements in process from credit card companies and all highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Our cash management system provides for the daily funding of all major bank disbursement accounts as checks are presented for payment. Under this system, outstanding checks in excess of the cash balances at certain banks creates book overdrafts. A book overdraft of $8,168 is presented in “Accounts payable” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 31, 2021. There was no book overdraft as of October 31, 2021. Changes in the book overdraft position are presented within “Net cash provided by (used in)

operating

activities” within the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Fair value of financial instruments

— Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. In determining fair value, the accounting standards establish a three-level hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: Level One inputs are quoted prices available for identical assets or liabilities in active markets; Level Two inputs are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; and Level Three inputs are unobservable and reflect management’s own assumptions.

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable, and other current liabilities approximate fair value because of their short-term nature. The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap is determined based upon Level Two inputs which includes valuation models as reported by our counterparties and third-party valuation specialists. These valuation models are based on the present value of expected cash flows using forward rate curves. The fair value of borrowings under our revolving credit facility was $62,114 as of January 31, 2021, and the fair value of our senior secured notes was $527,776 and $576,033 as of October 31, 2021 and January 31, 2021, respectively. The fair value of the Company’s debt is determined based on a discounted cash flow method, using a sector-specific yield curve based on market-derived, trade price data as of the measurement date, and is classified as a Level Two input within the fair value hierarchy.

The Company also measures certain

non-financial

assets (primarily property and equipment,

right-of-use

(“ROU”) assets, goodwill, tradenames and other assets) at fair value on a

non-recurring

basis in connection with its periodic evaluations of such assets for potential impairment.

During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020, the Company recorded an impairment charge for its long-lived assets, including ROU assets, of $0 and $6,746, respectively, primarily driven by the expected impact of the

COVID-19

pandemic on future cash flows of specific stores. During the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021, the Company did not identify triggering events which would require a change in management’s estimate regarding the recoverability of store asset values, and 0 impairment related to our operating stores was recognized. The Company has determined no events and circumstances existed during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 that would indicate it is more likely than not that its goodwill or tradename are impaired. The ultimate severity and longevity of the

COVID-19

pandemic is unknown, and therefore, it is possible that impairments could be identified in future periods, and such amounts could be material.

During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020, the Company recorded an impairment loss and related contract termination costs of $0 and $6,981 related to projects in development and discussions to terminate several executed lease contracts that had not yet commenced, which is included in “Other store operating expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). There were no impairment charges related to our potential future sites during the thirty-nine weeks

ended October 31, 2021.

Interest rate swaps

— Effective February

 28, 2019, the Company entered into three interest rate swap agreements to manage our exposure to interest rate movements on our variable rate credit facility. The agreements entitle the Company to receive at specified intervals, a variable rate of interest based on

one-month

LIBOR in exchange for the payment of a fixed rate of interest throughout the life of the agreements. The notional amount of

the

swap agreements, which mature August 17, 2022, totals $

350,000

and the fixed rate of interest for all agreements is

2.47

%.

10

The Company initially designated its interest rate swap agreements as a cash flow hedge and accounted for the underlying activity in accordance with hedge accounting. Effective April 14, 2020, the Company amended its existing credit facility agreement to obtain relief from its financial covenants, and as a result, the variable interest rate terms were modified to create an interest rate floor of 1.00%. Accordingly, and as a result of the then current forward interest rate curve, the Company discontinued the hedging relationship as of April 14, 2020

(de-designation

date). Given the continued existence of the hedged interest payments, the Company is reclassifying its accumulated other comprehensive loss of $17,609 as of the

de-designation

date into “Interest expense, net” using a straight-line approach over the remaining life of the originally designated hedging relationship. The amount of

pre-tax

losses in accumulated other comprehensive loss reclassified into interest expense subsequent to the

de-designation

date was $5,660 and $4,088 for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 and November 1, 2020, respectively, and the Company expects to reclassify $5,975 within the next twelve months. Effective with the

de-designation,

any gain or loss on the derivatives are recognized in earnings in the period in which the change occurs. For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 and November 1, 2020, a gain of $92 and aloss of $1,578, respectively, were recognized, which are included in “Other store operating expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Prior to the

de-designation,

changes in the fair values of the interest rate swaps were recorded as a component of other comprehensive loss until the interest payments being hedged were recorded as interest expense, at which time the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss were reclassified as an adjustment to interest expense. Cash flows related to the interest rate swaps were included as a component of interest expense and in operating activities.

Credit risk related to the failure of our counterparties to perform under the terms of the swap agreements is minimized by entering transactions with carefully selected, credit-worthy parties and the fact that the swap contracts are distributed among several financial institutions to reduce the concentration of credit risk. Our swap agreements with our derivative counterparties contain a provision where if the Company defaults on any of its indebtedness, and repayment of the indebtedness has been accelerated, the Company could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations.

The following derivative instruments were outstanding as of the end of the periods indicated:

			Fair Value
	Balance Sheet Location		October 31, 2021			January 31, 2021
Interest rate swaps		Accrued liabilities	$	(6,384	)	$	(8,350	)
Interest rate swaps		Other liabilities		—			(4,416	)
Total derivatives			$	(6,384	)	$	(12,766	)

The following table summarizes the activity in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to our derivative instruments:

	Thirteen weeks ended						Thirty-nine weeks ended
	October 31, 2021			November 1, 2020			October 31, 2021			November 1, 2020
Loss recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income	$	0		$	0		$	—		$	7,602
Loss reclassified into income (1)	$	(1,886	)	$	(1,886	)	$	(5,660	)	$	(4,566	)
Income tax expense (benefit) in accumulatedother comprehensive income	$	515		$	516		$	1,546		$	(829	)

(1) Amounts reclassified into income are included in “Interest expense, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Revenue recognition

— Amusement revenues are primarily recognized upon utilization of game play credits on power cards purchased and

used

by customers to activate video and redemption games. Redemption games allow customers to earn tickets, which may be redeemed for prizes in our WIN! area. We have deferred a portion of amusement revenues for the estimated unfulfilled performance obligations based on an estimated rate of future use by customers of unused game play credits and the material right provided to customers to redeem tickets in the future for prizes. During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021, we recognized revenue of approximately $12,900 and $37,700, respectively, related to the amount in

deferred

amusement revenue as of the end of fiscal 2020.

11

In jurisdictions where we do not have a legal obligation to remit unredeemed gift card balances to a legal authority, we recognize revenue on unredeemed gift cards in proportion to the pattern of redemption by the customers. During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021, we recognized revenue of approximately $1,200 and $3,000, respectively, related to the amount in deferred gift card revenue as of the end of fiscal 2020,

of

which approximately $690 and $930, respectively, was breakage

revenue

.

Stockholders’ equity

— In our consolidated financial statements, the Company treats shares withheld for tax purposes on behalf of our employees in connection with the vesting of time-based and performance restricted stock units as common stock repurchases because they reduce the number of shares that would have been issued upon vesting. During the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 and November 1, 2020, we withheld 179,487 and 58,189 shares of common stock to satisfy $7,775 and $916 of employees’ tax obligations, respectively. The share activity in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020 includes the settlements of $2,517 cash obligations through the issuance of 160,540 shares of common stock.

On April 14, 2020, pursuant to an open market sale agreement, the Company sold 6,149,936 shares of its common stock at a price of $12.20 per share, for proceeds of $75,000, prior to deducting offering expenses related to the offering. During May 2020, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement, pursuant to which it sold an additional 10,593,416 shares of its common stock (including shares under an over-allotment option) at a price of $10.44 per share, for proceeds of $110,600, prior to deducting offering costs.

Effective March 18, 2020, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted a

364-day

duration Shareholder Rights Plan (the “Rights Plan”) and declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right for each outstanding share of common stock to shareholders of record on March 30, 2020 to purchase from the Company one

one-ten

thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company for an exercise price of $45.00, once the rights become exercisable, subject to adjustment as provided in the related rights agreement. The

Rights Plan expired on March 17, 2021.

Earnings per share

— Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the reporting period. Diluted net income (loss) per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. For the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share, the basic weighted average shares outstanding is increased by the dilutive effect of stock options and restricted share awards. Stock options and restricted share awards with an anti-dilutive effect are not included in the diluted net income (loss) per share calculation. For the thirteen weeks ended October 31, 2021 and November 1, 2020, the Company excluded anti-dilutive awards from the calculation of approximately 236,279 and 1,652,925, respectively. For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 and November 1, 2020, the Company excluded anti-dilutive awards from the calculation of approximately 161,093 and 1,523,945, respectively. Basic weighted average shares outstanding are reconciled to diluted weighted average shares outstanding as follows:

	Thirteen weeks ended				Thirty-nine weeks ended
	October 31, 2021		November 1, 2020		October 31, 2021		November 1, 2020
Basic weighted average shares outstanding		48,277,358		47,613,741		48,050,558		42,185,163
Weighted average dilutive impact of awards (1)		1,006,145		0		1,206,711		0
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		49,283,503		47,613,741		49,257,269		42,185,163

(1) Amounts exclude all potential common and common equivalent shares for periods when there is a net loss.

Recently adopted accounting guidance

— In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)

2019-12,

Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes

, which removes certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocations, the calculation of income taxes in interim periods, and the recognition of deferred taxes for taxable goodwill. The Company adopted this standard as of the beginning of fiscal year 2021, and the adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated

financial

statements.

Recent accounting pronouncements

— In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU

2020-04,

Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Reform on Financial Reporting

, which provides temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the current guidance for contract modifications and hedging relationships through December 31, 2022, that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. A contract modification resulting from reference rate reform may be accounted for as a continuation of the existing contract rather than the creation of a new contract. Additionally, changes in the critical terms of hedging relationships, caused by reference rate reform, should not result in the

de-designation

of the instrument, provided certain criteria are met. Although the Company has swap agreements based on LIBOR rates, the guidance is not expected to have an impact on our consolidated financial statements due to the

de-designation

of our hedging relationships in fiscal 2020.

12

Note 2: Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consist of the following as of the end of each period:     

	October 31, 2021		January 31, 2021
Deferred amusement revenue	$	92,909	$	78,852
Current portion of operating lease liabilities, net (1)		51,735		46,471
Compensation and benefits		24,702		13,846
Current portion of deferred occupancy costs		22,564		36,121
Property taxes		10,449		8,149
Deferred gift card revenue		9,564		10,918
Current portion of derivatives		6,384		8,350
Utilities		5,453		4,151
Current portion of long-term insurance		5,100		5,100
Sales and use taxes		4,177		1,385
Customer deposits		4,130		1,373
Accrued interest		256		11,321
Other		13,525		8,753
Total accrued liabilities	$	250,948	$	234,790

(1) The balance of leasehold incentive receivables of $3,823 and $8,763 as of October 31, 2021 and January 31, 2021, respectively, is reflected as a reduction of the current portion of operating lease liabilities .

Note 3: Debt

Long-term debt consi

s

ts of thefollowing:

	October 31, 2021			January 31, 2021
Senior secured notes	$	495,000		$	550,000
Credit facility - revolver		0			60,000
Total debt outstanding		495,000			610,000
Less debt issuance costs		(10,323	)		(13,612	)
Long-term debt, net	$	484,677		$	596,388

On October 27, 2020, the Company issued $550,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.625% senior secured notes (the “Notes”). Interest on the Notes accrues from October 27, 2020 and is payable in arrears on November 1 and May 1 of each year, commencing on May 1, 2021. The Notes mature on November 1, 2025, unless earlier redeemed, and are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the related indenture. Prior to November 1, 2022, but not more than once during any twelve-month period commencing with the issue date of the Notes, the Company may redeem up to 10% of the original principal amount of the Notes at a redemption price of 103% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, at the redemption date. After November 1, 2022, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at certain specified redemption prices, plus accrued and unpaid interest, at the redemption date. The Notes were issued by D&B Inc and are unconditionally guaranteed by D&B Holdings and certain of D&B Inc’s existing and future wholly owned material domestic subsidiaries, which is substantially the same as the guarantors of the Company’s existing credit facility.

The Company used the proceeds of the Notes offering, along with cash on hand, to repay the $255,000 principal balance of the term loan facility, $463,000

of borrowings under the revolving credit facility, and related accrued interest.    The Company incurred debt costs of

 $18,300, which are being amortized over the terms of the respective Notes and revolving credit facility. The Company also recorded a loss of $904 related to the unamortized debt costs associated with the term portion of the credit facility.

Concurrent and subject to the issuance of the Notes, the Company entered into a second amendment to its existing credit facility, which included relief from testing compliance with certain financial covenants until the last day of the fiscal quarter ending on May 1, 2022. During the financial covenant suspension period the Company is required to maintain minimum liquidity (primarily availability under the credit facility) of $150,000. The second amendment extended the maturity date of the $500,000 revolving portion of

the

13

facility from August 17, 2022 to August 17, 2024, increased the interest rate spread to 4.00% during the financial covenant suspension period, and instituted a 1.00% utilization fee during that same time. The utilization fee is due at maturity. The financial covenant suspension period may end earlier, at the Company’s election, if certain predetermined financial covenant ratios are achieved. After the financial covenant suspension period, the interest rate spread ranges from 1.25% to 3.00%. The second amendment terminated the term loan portion of the credit facility, which triggered payment of $1,900 of lender debt costs associated with the first amendment. The first amendment, effective April 14, 2020, provided initial relief from compliance with financial covenants after the

COVID-19

pandemic and increased the interest rate spread on variable rate debt to 2.00% plus a LIBOR floor of 1.00%. 

Our credit facility and Notes contain restrictive covenants that, among other things, place certain limitations on our ability to incur additional indebtedness, make loans or advances to subsidiaries and other entities, pay dividends, acquire other businesses or sell assets.

On September 20, 2021, the Company redeemed $55,000 outstanding principal amount of the Notes. In connection with the early redemption of the Notes, the Company paid a prepayment premium of $1,650, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption, pursuant to the terms of the indenture governing the Notes. Additionally, the early redemption of the Notes resulted in aloss on extinguishment of $1,179 related to a proportionate amount of unamortized issuance

costs. Refer to Note 8 regarding additional early redemption in fiscal 2021.

For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 and November 1, 2020, respectively, the Company’s weighted average interest rate on outstanding borrowings was 10.26% and 4.17%, respectively. At October 31, 2021, we had letters of credit outstanding of $10,486 and an unused commitment balance of $489,514 under the revolving credit facility.

Interest expense, net

— The following table sets forth our recorded interest expense, net:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	October 31, 2021			November 1, 2020			October 31, 2021			November 1, 2020
Interest expense on debt	$	10,782		$	6,092		$	33,921		$	17,255
Interest associated with swap agreements		1,886			1,886			5,660			4,566
Amortization of issuance cost		1,070			427			3,275			1,081
Interest income		—			—			—			(22	)
Capitalized interest		(315	)		(192	)		(885	)		(389	)
Total interest expense, net	$	13,423		$	8,213		$	41,971		$	22,491

Note 4: Leases

We currently lease most of the buildings or sites for our stores, corporate office, and warehouse space under facility operating leases. These leases typically have initial terms ranging from ten to twenty years and include one or more options to renew. When determining the lease term, we include option periods for which renewal is reasonably certain. Most of the leases require us to pay property taxes, insurance and maintenance of the leased assets. Our lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. Operating leases also includes certain equipment leases that have a term in excess of one year. Certain facility leases also have provisions for additional contingent rentals based on revenues.

Operating lease cost, variable lease cost and short-term lease cost related primarily to our facilities is included in “Other store operating expenses” for our operating stores,

“Pre-opening

costs” for our stores not yet operating, or “General and administrative expenses” for our corporate office and warehouse, in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

The components of lease expense, including variable lease costs primarily consisting of common area maintenance charges and property taxes, are as follows for the fiscal year ended:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	October 31, 2021		November 1, 2020		October 31, 2021		November 1, 2020
Operating lease cost	$	33,915		33,278	$	100,506		100,162
Variable lease cost		7,862		5,351		22,492		18,405
Short-term lease cost		121		102		431		329
Total	$	41,898	$	38,731	$	123,429	$	118,896

14

During fiscal 2020, the Company entered into 126 initial rent relief agreements with ourrespective landlords on operating locations and our corporate headquarters. Under these agreements, certain rent payments will be abated, deferred or modified without penalty for various periods, generally providing for full deferral for three months beginning April 2020, with partial deferrals continuing for periods of up to six months at approximately 50% of those locations. As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact our business into the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company renewed negotiations with the majority of these landlords in order to provide additional rent relief, generally seeking to delay or extend the terms of deferral pay back periods and/or provide rent relief beyond the periods in the initial agreements. The second phase of negotiations resulted in 99 additional rent relief agreements, the last of which were executed in the third quarter of fiscal 2021. The Company has elected to apply the practical expedient to account for lease concessions and deferrals resulting directly from COVID-19 as though the enforceable rights and obligations to the deferrals existed in the respective contracts at lease inception and will not account for the concessions as lease modifications unless the concession results in a substantial increase in the Company’s obligations. A total of 208 of our 225 rent relief agreements qualified for this accounting election, and the remaining agreements were treated as lease modifications, primarily due to a significant extension of the lease term. The Company has bifurcated our current operating lease liabilities into the portion that remains subject to accretion and the portion that is accounted for as a deferral of payments or as short payments. The current portion of deferred occupancy costs or short pays is included in “Accrued liabilities” and the balance, or 

$12,175 and $16,243 as of October 31, 2021 and January 31, 2021, respectively, is included in “Other liabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Note 5: Commitments and Contingencies

We are subject to certain legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business, including claims alleging violations of federal and state law regarding workplace and employment matters, discrimination,

slip-and-fall

and other customer-related incidents and similar matters. In the opinion of management, based upon consultation with legal counsel, the amount of ultimate liability, with respect to such legal proceedings and claims will not materially affect the consolidated results of our operations or our financial condition. Legal costs related to such claims are expensed as incurred.

The Company is a defendant in several lawsuits filed in courts in California alleging violations of California Business and Professions Code, industry wage orders,

wage-and-hour

laws and rules and regulations pertaining primarily to the failure to pay proper regular and overtime wages, failure to pay for missed meals and rest periods, pay stub violations, failure to pay all wages due at the time of termination and other employment related claims (the “California Cases”). Some of the California Cases purport or may be determined to be class actions or Private Attorneys General Act representative actions and seek substantial damages and penalties. During fiscal 2020, the Company settled a portion of the cases at the approximate amount estimated and accrued. For the remaining cases, the Company’s assessments are based on assumptions that have been deemed reasonable by management, but that may prove to be incomplete or inaccurate, and unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that might cause the Company to change those estimates and assumptions. Management’s assessment of these California Cases, as well as other lawsuits, could change because of future determinations or the discovery of facts that are not presently known. Accordingly, the ultimate costs of resolving these cases may be substantially higher or lower than estimated. The Company continues to aggressively defend the remaining

cases.

15

Note 6: Share-Based Compensation

Compensation expense related to stock options and restricted stock units is included in “General and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) and is as follows:     

	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	October 31, 2021		November 1, 2020		October 31, 2021		November 1, 2020
Stock options	$	88		269	$	446		1,099
Restricted stock units		3,690		2,730		9,490		4,245
Share-based compensation expense	$	3,778	$	2,999	$	9,936	$	5,344

Transactions related to stock option awards during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 were as follows:

	2014 Stock Incentive Plan					2010 Stock Incentive Plan
	Number			Wtd. Avg.		Number			Wtd. Avg.
	of Options			Exercise Price		of Options			Exercise Price
Outstanding at January 31, 2021		1,231,601		$	36.77		173,563		$	7.51
Granted		—			—		—			—
Exercised		(203,861	)		16.48		(100,009	)		6.90
Forfeited		(13,167	)		45.75		—			—
Outstanding at October 31, 2021		1,014,573		$	40.73		73,554		$	8.33
Exercisable at October 31, 2021		950,187		$	39.97		73,554		$	8.33

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 was $8,756. The unrecognized expense related to our stock option plan totaled approximately $125 as of October 31, 2021 and will be expensed over a weighted average period of 0.4 years.

Transactions related to restricted stock units during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021, were as follows:

				Wtd. Avg.
	Shares			Fair Value
Outstanding at January 31, 2021		1,116,341		$	17.32
Granted		301,847			47.82
Performance adjusted units		362,491			15.30
Vested		(571,312	)		15.39
Forfeited		(51,686	)		38.01
Outstanding at October 31, 2021		1,157,681		$	24.67

Fair value of our time-based and performance-based restricted stock units is based on our closing stock price on the date of grant. The grant date fair value of market stock units was determined using a Monte-Carlo simulation model. The unrecognized expense related to restricted stock units was $13,692 as of October 31, 2021 and will be expensed over a weighted average period of 1.8 years.

During the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 and November 1, 2020, excess tax expense (benefit) of $(6,034) and $431, respectively, were recognized in the “Provision (benefit) for income taxes” in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) and classified as a source in operating activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

Note 7: Income Taxes

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed into law. Intended to provide economic relief to those impacted by the

COVID-19

pandemic, the CARES Act includes provisions, among others, allowing for the carryback of net operating losses generated in fiscal 2018, 2019 and 2020 and technical amendments regarding the expensing of qualified improvement property. The application of the technical amendments made by the CARES Act to qualified improvement property resulted in additional tax net operating losses which were carried back from fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 to years with a higher federal corporate income tax rate. During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company filed the fiscal 2020 carryback claims for federal tax refunds of approximately $57,400. Due to government delays in processing these claims, we do not expect to receive

a

 majority of these funds until fiscal 2022.

16

The effective tax rate for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021, was

 13.4%, compared to a benefit of 32.3% for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020. The current year tax provision includes higher excess tax benefits associated with share-based compensation while the prior year tax provision was a tax benefit primarily due to the impact of the

pre-tax

loss and the impact of the tax provisions within the CARES Act.

Note 8: Subsequent Event

On November 11, 2021, the Company redeemed an additional

$55,000

outstanding principal amount of the Notes using available cash and funds from its revolving credit facility. In connection with the early redemption of the Notes, the Company paid a prepayment premium of 

$1,650

, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption, pursuant to the terms of the indenture governing the Notes. The early redemption of the Notes resulted in a loss on extinguishment of approximately

 $1,100

related to a proportionate amount of unamortized issuance costs. At November 28, 2021, the Company’s total debt outstanding was $

463,000

, consisting of $

440,000

of Notes and $

23,000

in borrowing under the revolving

credit facility.

On December 7, 2021, the Company filed notice with the credit facility administrative agent to immediately terminate the covenant suspension period.

17

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related notes in Item 1 and with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in our Annual Report on Form

10-K

as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 31, 2021. Unless otherwise specified, the meanings of all defined terms in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” are consistent with the meanings of such terms as defined in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. This discussion contains statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “will” or “should” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this report and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which we operate.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this quarterly report as a result of various factors, including those set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form

10-K

filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this Form

10-Q,

those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods.

Recent Developments

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the

COVID-19

outbreak to be a global pandemic and on March 13, 2020, the United States declared a National Public Health Emergency. Shortly after the national emergency declaration, state and local officials began placing restrictions on businesses, some of which allowed

To-Go

or curbside service only while others limited capacity in the dining room or midway. By March 20, 2020, all our 137 operating stores were temporarily closed. On April 30, 2020, our first store

re-opened

to the public, as state and local guidelines began to allow dining rooms and arcades to open at limited capacity and/or limited hours of operation. By the end of fiscal 2020, 107 of our 140 stores were open and operating in limited capacity, including five new stores for which construction had commenced prior to the outbreak of the

COVID-19

pandemic. The Company

re-opened

the remaining 34 stores that had been temporarily closed by August 1, 2021, the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2021.

The Company continues to be subject to risks and uncertainties as a result of the

COVID-19

pandemic, particularly as a result of new variants of

COVID-19,

which appears to be causing an increase in

COVID-19

cases. Public health officials and medical professionals have warned that a resurgence of

COVID-19

cases may continue, particularly if vaccination rates do not quickly increase or if additional potent variants emerge. It is unclear how long a resurgence may last, how severe it may be, and what safety measures governments may impose in response to it. For instance, a few jurisdictions that our stores operate have recently imposed proof of vaccination requirements for our customers and team members, and many of our stores have face mask requirements. We cannot predict with certainty how quickly our customers will return to our stores once all restrictions have been lifted or the impact this will have on consumer spending habits. Additionally, in connection with the

COVID-19

pandemic, there have been disruptions in various food and amusement supply chains, and we have incurred expenses to recall, hire and retain team members as our operating stores have

re-opened

and the majority of operating hour and capacity restrictions have been lifted.

Key Third Quarter 2021 Highlights

• Revenues totaled $317,976 compared with $299,352 in the third quarter of 2019. Revenues totaled $109,052 in the third quarter of 2020, which ended with 104 of our 137 stores open and operating in limited capacity.

• Overall comparable store sales were relatively flat, decreasing 0.4% compared with the same period in 2019 and increased 189.3% compared with the same period in 2020, which ended with 84 of our 114 comparable stores open and operating in limited capacity.

18

• Net income totaled $10,585, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared with net income of $482, or $0.02 per diluted share in the same period of 2019. In the same period of 2020, we recorded a net loss of $48,043.

• EBITDA totaled $58,850, or 18.5% of revenues, compared with EBITDA of $39,839 or 13.3% of revenues in the third quarter of 2019. The increase in EBITDA over fiscal 2019 is largely driven by the higher mix of amusements, reductions in hourly labor costs, and reduced discretionary marketing spend. We recorded an EBITDA loss of $21,659 in the third quarter of 2020.

• Ended the quarter with $27,005 in cash and approximately $340,000 of liquidity available under the Company’s revolving credit facility, net of a $150,000 minimum liquidity covenant and $10,486 in letters of credit.

General

We are a leading owner and operator of high-volume venues in North America that combine dining and entertainment for both adults and families under the name “Dave & Buster’s”. Founded in 1982, the core of our concept is to offer our customers the opportunity to “Eat Drink Play and Watch” all in one location. Eat and Drink are offered through a full menu of entrées and appetizers and a full selection of

non-alcoholic

and alcoholic beverages. Our Play and Watch offerings provide an extensive assortment of entertainment attractions centered around playing games and watching live sports and other televised events. Our brand appeals to a relatively balanced mix of male and female adults, as well as families and teenagers. We believe we appeal to a diverse customer base by providing a highly customizable experience in a dynamic and fun setting.

Our stores, which average 40,000 square feet, range in size between 16,000 and 70,000 square feet. Our stores are generally open seven days a week, with normal hours of operation typically from 11:30 a.m. to midnight.

Key Measures of Our Performance

We monitor and analyze several key performance measures to manage our business and evaluate financial and operating performance. These measures include:

Comparable store sales.

Comparable store sales are a comparison of sales to the same period of prior years for the comparable store base. We historically define the comparable store base to include those stores open for a full 18 months before the beginning of the fiscal year and excluding stores permanently closed during the period. Due to the limitations of store operations during the

COVID-19

pandemic, the comparable store base for fiscal 2021 is defined as stores open for a full 18 months before the beginning of fiscal 2020 and excludes two stores that the Company elected not to reopen after they were closed in March 2020 due to local operating limitations. At October 31, 2021, our comparable store base consisted of 114 stores.

New store openings.

Our ability to expand our business and reach new customers is influenced by the opening of additional stores in both new and existing markets. The success of our new stores is indicative of our brand appeal and the efficacy of our site selection and operating models. Between November 2, 2020 and October 31, 2021, we opened six new stores (three in fiscal 2020 and three in fiscal 2021).

Non-GAAP

Financial Measures

In addition to the results provided in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), we provide

non-GAAP

measures which present operating results on an adjusted basis. These are supplemental measures of performance that are not required by or presented in accordance with GAAP and include Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization and Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization Margin (defined below). These

non-GAAP

measures do not represent and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or cash flows from operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and our calculations thereof may not be comparable to similarly entitled measures reported by other companies and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Although we use these

non-GAAP

measures to assess the operating performance of our business, they have significant limitations as an analytical tool because they exclude certain material costs. For example, Adjusted EBITDA does not take into account a number of significant items, including our interest expense and depreciation and amortization expense. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA excludes

pre-opening

and other costs which may be important in analyzing our GAAP results. Because Adjusted EBITDA does not account for these expenses, its utility as a measure of our operating performance has material limitations. Our calculations of Adjusted EBITDA adjust for these amounts because they vary from period to period and do not directly relate to the ongoing operations of the currently underlying business of our stores and therefore complicate comparison of underlying business between periods. Nevertheless, because of the limitations described above, management does not view Adjusted EBITDA or Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization in isolation and also uses other measures, such as revenues, gross margin, operating income and net income, to measure operating performance.

19

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin

. We define “Adjusted EBITDA” as net income (loss) plus interest expense, net, loss on debt extinguishment or refinancing, provision (benefit) for income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, loss on asset disposal, impairment of long-lived assets, share-based compensation,

pre-opening

costs, currency transaction (gains) losses and other costs. “Adjusted EBITDA Margin” is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenues.

Adjusted EBITDA is presented because we believe that it provides useful information to investors and analysts regarding our operating performance. 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.

Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization and Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization Margin.

We define “Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization” as operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization expense, general and administrative expenses and

pre-opening

costs. “Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization Margin” is defined as Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization divided by total revenues. Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization Margin allows us to evaluate operating performance of each store across stores of varying size and volume.

We believe that Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization is another useful measure in evaluating our operating performance because it removes the impact of general and administrative expenses, which are not incurred at the store-level, and the costs of opening new stores, which are

non-recurring

at the store-level, and thereby enables the comparability of the operating performance of our stores for the periods presented. We also believe that Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization is a useful measure in evaluating our operating performance within the entertainment and dining industry because it permits the evaluation of store-level productivity, efficiency and performance, and we use Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization as a means of evaluating store financial performance compared with our competitors. However, because this measure excludes significant items such as general and administrative expenses and

pre-opening

costs, as well as our interest expense, net and depreciation and amortization expense, which are important in evaluating our consolidated financial performance from period to period, the value of this measure is limited as a measure of our consolidated financial performance.

Presentation of Operating Results

We operate on a 52 or

53-week

fiscal year that ends on the Sunday after the Saturday closest to January 31. Each quarterly period has 13 weeks, except in a

53-week

year when the fourth quarter has 14 weeks. All references to the third quarter of 2021 relate to the

13-week

period ended October 31, 2021. All references to the third quarter of 2020 relate to the

13-week

period ended November 1, 2020. All references to the third quarter of 2019 relate to the

13-week

period ended November 3, 2019. Fiscal 2021, fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 consist of 52 weeks. All dollar amounts are presented in thousands, unless otherwise noted, except share and per share amounts.

Store-Level Variability, Quarterly Fluctuations, Seasonality and Inflation

We have historically operated stores varying in size and have experienced significant variability among stores in volumes, operating results and net investment costs.

Our new stores historically open with sales volumes in excess of their expected long-term

run-rate

levels, which we refer to as a “honeymoon” effect. We traditionally expect our new store sales volumes in year two to be 10% to 20% lower than our year one targets, and to grow in line with the rest of our comparable store base thereafter. As a result of the substantial revenues associated with each new store, the number and timing of new store openings may result in significant fluctuations in quarterly results.

In the first year of operation new store operating margins (excluding

pre-opening

expenses) typically benefit from honeymoon sales leverage on occupancy, management labor, and other fixed costs. This benefit is partially offset by normal inefficiencies in hourly labor and other costs associated with establishing a new store. In year two, operating margins may decline due to the loss of honeymoon sales leverage on fixed costs which is partially offset by improvements in store operating efficiency. Furthermore, rents in our new stores are typically higher than our comparable store base.

Our operating results fluctuate significantly due to seasonal factors. Typically, we have higher revenues associated with spring and

year-end

holidays which will continue to be susceptible to the impact of severe or unseasonably mild weather on customer traffic and sales during that period. Our third quarter, which encompasses the

back-to-school

fall season, has historically had lower revenues as compared to the other quarters.

We expect that economic and environmental conditions and changes in regulatory legislation will continue to exert pressure on both supplier pricing and consumer spending related to entertainment and dining alternatives. Although there is no assurance that our

20

cost of products will remain stable or that federal, state or local minimum wage rates will not increase beyond amounts currently legislated, the effects of any supplier price increase or wage rate increases might be partially offset by selected menu price increases if competitively appropriate. In addition, how quickly, and to what extent, normal economic and operating conditions can resume cannot be predicted, and the resumption of normal business operations may be delayed or constrained by lingering effects of the

COVID-19

pandemic on us or our suppliers, third-party service providers, and/or customers.

Thirteen Weeks Ended October 31, 2021 Compared to Thirteen Weeks Ended November 1, 2020

Results of operations.

The following table sets forth selected data, in thousands of dollars and as a percentage of total revenues (unless otherwise noted) for the periods indicated. All information is derived from the accompanying unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

	Thirteen Weeks					Thirteen Weeks
	Ended					Ended
	October 31, 2021					November 1, 2020
Food and beverage revenues	$	107,747		33.9	%	$	38,346		35.2	%
Amusement and other revenues		210,229		66.1			70,706		64.8
Total revenues		317,976		100.0			109,052		100.0
Cost of food and beverage (as a percentage of food and beverage revenues)		30,082		27.9			10,664		27.8
Cost of amusement and other (as a percentage of amusement and other revenues)		22,531		10.7			7,244		10.2
Total cost of products		52,613		16.5			17,908		16.4
Operating payroll and benefits		78,995		24.8			27,704		25.4
Other store operating expenses		103,322		32.5			70,783		64.9
General and administrative expenses		22,104		7.0			11,746		10.8
Depreciation and amortization expense		34,381		10.8			34,384		31.5
Pre-opening costs		2,092		0.7			2,570		2.4
Total operating costs		293,507		92.3			165,095		151.4
Operating income (loss)		24,469		7.7			(56,043	)	(51.4	)
Interest expense, net		13,423		4.2			8,213		7.6
Loss on debt extinguishment / refinancing		2,829		0.9			904		0.8
Income (loss) before benefit for income taxes		8,217		2.6			(65,160	)	(59.8	)
Benefit for income taxes		(2,368	)	(0.7	)		(17,117	)	(15.7	)
Net income (loss)	$	10,585		3.3	%	$	(48,043	)	(44.1	)%
Change in comparable store sales (1)				189.3	%				(65.6	)%
Company-owned stores at end of period (1)				143					137
Comparable stores at end of period (1)				114					114

(1)   As of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2020, 104 of our 137 total stores and 84 of our 114 comparable stores were open and operating in limited capacity. Our comparable store count as of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2020 excludes a store in Chicago, Illinois and a store in Houston, Texas, which were at or near the end of their respective lease terms, when the Company decided not to re-open.

21

Reconciliations of

Non-GAAP

Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA

The following table reconciles (in dollars and as a percent of total revenues) Net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated:

	Thirteen Weeks					Thirteen Weeks
	Ended					Ended
	October 31, 2021					November 1, 2020
Net income (loss)	$	10,585		3.3	%	$	(48,043	)	-44.1	%
Interest expense, net		13,423					8,213
Loss on debt extinguishment / refinancing		2,829					904
Benefit for income taxes		(2,368	)				(17,117	)
Depreciation and amortization expense		34,381					34,384
EBITDA		58,850		18.5	%		(21,659	)	-19.9	%
Loss on asset disposal		377					124
Share-based compensation		3,778					2,999
Pre-opening costs		2,092					2,570
Other costs (1)		3,112					(5	)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	68,209		21.5	%	$	(15,971	)	-14.6	%

(1)  Primarily represents costs related to currency transaction (gains) or losses. The third quarter of fiscal 2021 includes a $3,230 severance obligation to the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, who terminated his service in this position effective September 30, 2021.

Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization

The following table reconciles (in dollars and as a percent of total revenues) Operating income (loss) to Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization for the periods indicated:

	Thirteen Weeks				Thirteen Weeks
	Ended				Ended
	October 31, 2021				November 1, 2020
Operating income (loss)	$	24,469	7.7	%	$	(56,043	)	-51.4	%
General and administrative expenses		22,104				11,746
Depreciation and amortization expense		34,381				34,384
Pre-opening costs		2,092				2,570
Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization	$	83,046	26.1	%	$	(7,343	)	-6.7	%

Capital Additions

The table below reflects accrual-based capital additions. Capital additions do not include any reductions for accrual-based leasehold improvement incentives or proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions (collectively, “Payments from landlords”).

	Thirteen Weeks		Thirteen Weeks
	Ended		Ended
	October 31, 2021		November 1, 2020
New store and operating initiatives	$	20,616	$	7,700
Games		195		361
Maintenance capital		8,402		1,208
Total capital additions	$	29,213	$	9,269
Payments from landlords	$	5,717	$	4,709

22

Results of Operations

Revenues

In response to the

COVID-19

outbreak, which was declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020 and a National Public Health Emergency in the United States on March 13, 2020, the Company temporarily closed all of our stores by March 20, 2020. On April 30, 2020, our first store

re-opened

to the public, as state and local guidelines began to allow dining rooms and arcades to open with capacity and other restrictions, with two additional stores offering limited food and beverage for

off-premises

dining by the end of our first quarter of fiscal 2020. By the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2020, 104 of our 137 stores were open and operating with a combination of limited menus, reduced dining room seating, reduced games in the midway, reduced operating hours and other restrictions referred to as “limited operations”. Of these 104 open stores, 84 were comparable stores. By the end of our second quarter of the current fiscal year, all of the Company’s stores were open and operating, the majority of which having no operating restrictions.

Selected revenue and store data for the periods indicated are as follows:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	October 31, 2021		November 1, 2020			Change
Total revenues	$	317,976	$	109,052		$	208,924
Total store operating weeks		1,854		1,221			633
Comparable store revenues	$	259,206	$	89,592		$	169,614
Comparable store operating weeks		1,482		993			489
Noncomparable store revenues	$	55,356		20,092		$	35,264
Noncomparable store operating weeks		372		228			144
Other revenues and deferrals	$	3,414	$	(632	)	$	4,046

Total revenues increased $208,924, or 191.6%, to $317,976 in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to total revenues of $109,052 in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The increase in revenue is attributable primarily to more store operating weeks in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the prior year due to temporary store closures during the third quarter of fiscal 2020, as a result of the

COVID-19

pandemic. For the thirteen weeks ended October 1, 2021, we derived 22.7% of our total revenue from food sales, 11.2% from beverage sales, 65.5% from amusement sales and 0.6% from other sources. For the thirteen weeks ended November 1, 2020, we derived 23.2% of our total revenue from food sales, 12.0% from beverage sales, 64.4% from amusement sales and less than 0.4% from other sources. The shift in mix from food and beverage sales to amusement sales of 109 basis points is due, in part, to reduced special events and less discounting of amusements, offset somewhat by food price increases effective midway through the third quarter of fiscal 2021.

Comparable store revenue increased $169,614 or 189.3%, in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2020, due primarily to an 49.2% increase in comparable store operating weeks. Comparable store sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 were approximately 99.6% of the levels achieved

pre-pandemic

during the third quarter of fiscal 2019. Our individual comparable stores generally experienced gradual increases in weekly sales performance as operating weeks increased. Individual store performance after

re-opening

was also impacted by changes in local operating restrictions and consumer reactions to changes in local

COVID-19

infection rates.

Food sales at comparable stores increased by $39,049, or 187.8%, to $59,842 in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 from $20,793 in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. Beverage sales at comparable stores increased by $19,129, or 176.6%, to $29,959 in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 from $10,830 in the 2020 comparison period. Comparable store amusement and other revenues in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 increased by $111,436, or 192.2%, to $169,405 from $57,969 in the comparable period of fiscal 2020.

Non-comparable

store revenue increased $35,264 in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2020, for the same reasons noted above, including 144 more store operating weeks.

Cost of products

The total cost of products was $52,613 for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 and $17,908 for the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The total cost of products as a percentage of total revenues increased 10 basis points to 16.5% for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to 16.4% for the third quarter of fiscal 2020.

23

Cost of food and beverage products increased to $30,082 compared to $10,664 for the third quarter of fiscal 2020. Cost of food and beverage products, as a percentage of food and beverage revenues, increased 10 basis points to 27.9% for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 from 27.8% for the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The impact of year-over-year cost increases primarily in meat and poultry products were partially offset by lower closure-related spoilage costs and food price increases effective midway through the third quarter of fiscal 2021.

Cost of amusement and other increased to $22,531 in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $7,244 in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The costs of amusement and other, as a percentage of amusement and other revenues, increased 50 basis points to 10.7% for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 from 10.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. This increase was driven primarily by higher freight costs and higher cost per ticket resulting from disruptions in the supply chain.

Operating payroll and benefits

Total operating payroll and benefits increased by $51,291, or 185.1%, to $78,995 in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $27,704 in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. Nearly all our store workforce, except a small team of essential personnel, were furloughed in

mid-March

2020. Hourly team members began to return as stores

re-opened

at reduced staffing levels. The total cost of operating payroll and benefits as a percentage of total revenues was 24.8% in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to 25.4% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. This decrease is primarily due to favorable leveraging on management labor and benefits and lower labor hours due to labor efficiency initiatives and hourly labor staffing shortages, partially offset by increases in the hourly labor cost and higher incentive compensation, including referral and retention incentives implemented during the second quarter of fiscal 2021.

Other store operating expenses

Other store operating expenses increased by $32,539, or 46.0%, to $103,322 in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $70,783 in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The increase is primarily due to the impact of increased store weeks during the third quarter of fiscal 2021 on costs such as utilities, supplies, maintenance, and other services. Other store operating expense as a percentage of total revenues decreased to 32.5% in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to 64.9% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. This decrease was due primarily to favorable sales leveraging on occupancy costs and utilities and reduced marketing spend in the third quarter of fiscal 2021.

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses increased by $10,358, or 88.2%, to $22,104 in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $11,746 in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The increase in general and administrative expenses was driven primarily by higher incentive compensation, professional fees, salaries and benefits, board fees, officer insurance, and share-based compensation. The third quarter of fiscal 2021 also includes a $3,230 severance obligation to the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, who terminated his service in this position effective September 30, 2021. During the third quarter of fiscal 2020, some corporate team members continued on furlough and board fees remained suspended.

Depreciation and amortization expense

Depreciation and amortization expense was relatively flat at $34,381 in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $34,384 in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. Increased depreciation due to our 2021 and 2020 capital expenditures for new stores, operating initiatives, games and maintenance capital, was offset by other assets reaching the end of their depreciable lives.

Pre-opening

costs

Pre-opening

costs decreased by $478 to $2,092 in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $2,570 in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 due to a decrease in the number of planned new store openings after construction was reduced as a result of impacts of the

COVID-19

pandemic which began during the first quarter of fiscal 2020.

Interest expense, net and Loss on debt extinguishment / refinancing

Interest expense, net increased by $5,210 to $13,423 in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $8,213 in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 due primarily to an increase in the weighted average effective interest rate, offset slightly by a decrease in average outstanding debt. In connection with the September 20, 2021 early extinguishment of a portion of the Notes, The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of $2,829 during the third quarter of fiscal 2021. In connection with the October 27, 2020 debt refinancing, the Company recorded a charge of $904 during the third quarter of fiscal 2020. These events are explained further in Note 3 to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

24

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

The effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was a benefit of 28.8%, compared to a benefit of 26.3% for the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The current quarter tax provision includes higher excess tax benefits associated with share-based compensation and the reduction of certain valuation allowances related to our state net operating loss carryovers. The prior quarter tax provision was a tax benefit primarily due to the impact of the

pre-tax

loss and the impact of the tax provisions within the CARES Act.

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended October 31, 2021 Compared to the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 1, 2020

Results of operations.

The following table sets forth selected data, in thousands of dollars and as a percentage of total revenues (unless otherwise noted) for the periods indicated. All information is derived from the accompanying unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

	Thirty-Nine Weeks				Thirty-Nine Weeks
	Ended				Ended
	October 31, 2021				November 1, 2020
Food and beverage revenues	$	316,511	32.9	%	$	119,268		37.3	%
Amusement and other revenues		644,443	67.1			200,423		62.7
Total revenues		960,954	100.0			319,691		100.0
Cost of food and beverage (as a percentage of food and beverage revenues)		86,366	27.3			32,667		27.4
Cost of amusement and other (as a percentage of amusement and other revenues)		63,729	9.9			21,997		11.0
Total cost of products		150,095	15.6			54,664		17.1
Operating payroll and benefits		209,897	21.8			85,197		26.6
Other store operating expenses		292,883	30.5			229,137		71.8
General and administrative expenses		57,665	6.0			35,587		11.1
Depreciation and amortization expense		104,355	10.9			104,896		32.8
Pre-opening costs		5,427	0.6			8,781		2.7
Total operating costs		820,322	85.4			518,262		162.1
Operating income (loss)		140,632	14.6			(198,571	)	(62.1	)
Interest expense, net		41,971	4.3			22,491		7.0
Loss on debt extinguishment / refinancing		2,829	0.3			904		0.3
Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes		95,832	10.0			(221,966	)	(69.4	)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		12,842	1.4			(71,777	)	(22.4	)
Net income (loss)	$	82,990	8.6	%	$	(150,189	)	(47.0	)%
Change in comparable store sales (1)			195.8	%				(70.2	)%
Company-owned stores at end of period (1)			143					137
Comparable stores at end of period (1)			114					114

(1)  As of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2020, 104 of our 137 total stores and 84 of our 114 comparable stores were open and operating in limited capacity. Our comparable store count as of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2020 excludes a store in Chicago, Illinois and a store in Houston, Texas, which were at or near the end of their respective lease terms, when the Company decided not to re-open.

25

Reconciliations of

Non-GAAP

Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA

The following table reconciles (in dollars and as a percent of total revenues) Net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated:

	Thirty-Nine Weeks				Thirty-Nine Weeks
	Ended				Ended
	October 31, 2021				November 1, 2020
Net income (loss)	$	82,990	8.6	%	$	(150,189	)	-47.0	%
Interest expense, net		41,971				22,491
Loss on debt extinguishment / refinancing		2,829				904
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		12,842				(71,777	)
Depreciation and amortization expense		104,355				104,896
EBITDA		244,987	25.5	%		(93,675	)	-29.3	%
Loss on asset disposal		634				541
Impairment of long-lived assets and lease termination costs		—				13,727
Share-based compensation		9,936				5,344
Pre-opening costs		5,427				8,781
Other costs (1)		3,082				54
Adjusted EBITDA	$	264,066	27.5	%	$	(65,228	)	-20.4	%

(1)  Primarily represents costs related to currency transaction (gains) or losses. The third quarter of fiscal 2021 includes a $3,230 severance obligation to the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, who terminated his service in this position effective September 30, 2021.

Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization

The following table reconciles (in dollars and as a percent of total revenues) Operating income (loss) to Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization for the periods indicated:

	Thirty-Nine Weeks				Thirty-Nine Weeks
	Ended				Ended
	October 31, 2021				November 1, 2020
Operating income (loss)	$	140,632	14.6	%	$	(198,571	)	-62.1	%
General and administrative expenses		57,665				35,587
Depreciation and amortization expense		104,355				104,896
Pre-opening costs		5,427				8,781
Store Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization	$	308,079	32.1	%	$	(49,307	)	-15.4	%

Capital Additions

The table below reflects accrual-based capital additions. Capital additions do not include any reductions for Payments from landlords.

	Thirty-Nine Weeks		Thirty-Nine Weeks
	Ended		Ended
	October 31, 2021		November 1, 2020
New store and operating initiatives	$	40,372	$	48,222
Games		12,809		9,079
Maintenance capital		16,692		2,988
Total capital additions	$	69,873	$	60,289
Payments from landlords	$	7,802	$	8,723

26

Results of Operations

Revenues

Selected revenue and store data for the periods indicated are as follows:

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	October 31, 2021			November 1, 2020			Change
Total revenues	$	960,954		$	319,691		$	641,263
Total store operating weeks		5,304			2,682			2,622
Comparable store revenues	$	794,033		$	268,426		$	525,607
Comparable store operating weeks		4,243			2,184			2,059
Noncomparable store revenues	$	179,603			54,763		$	124,840
Noncomparable store operating weeks		1,061			498			563
Other revenues and deferrals	$	(12,682	)	$	(3,498	)	$	(9,184	)

Total revenues increased $641,263, or 200.6%, to $960,954 in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 compared to total revenues of $319,691 in the comparable period of fiscal 2020. The increase in revenue is attributable primarily to more store operating weeks in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 compared to the prior year which was impacted by more temporary store closures and store capacity limitations due to the

COVID-19

pandemic. For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021, we derived 22.4% of our total revenue from food sales, 10.5% from beverage sales, 66.7% from amusement sales and 0.4% from other sources. For the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020, we derived 24.6% of our total revenue from food sales, 12.7% from beverage sales, 62.2% from amusement sales and 0.5% from other sources. The shift in mix from food and beverage sales to amusement sales of 452 basis points is due, in part, to reduced special events, less discounting of amusements, and greater capacity restrictions in our dining area due to the impacts of the

COVID-19

pandemic.

Comparable store revenue increased $525,607 or 195.8%, in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 compared to the comparable period of fiscal 2020, due primarily to a 94.3% increase in comparable store operating weeks. Comparable store sales and comparable store weeks in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 were approximately 88.0% and 95.4%, respectively, of the levels achieved

pre-pandemic

during the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2019. Our individual comparable stores generally experienced gradual increases in weekly sales performance as operating weeks increased. Individual store performance after

re-opening

was impacted by changes in local operating restrictions and consumer reactions to changes in local

COVID-19

infection rates.

Food sales at comparable stores increased by $111,111, or 169.3%, to $176,738 in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 from $65,627 in the comparable period of fiscal 2020. Beverage sales at comparable stores increased by $49,967, or 145.3%, to $84,348 in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 from $34,381 in the 2020 comparison period. Comparable store amusement and other revenues in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 increased by $364,529, or 216.4%, to $532,947 from $168,418 in the comparable thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2020.

Non-comparable

store revenue increased $124,840 in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 compared to the comparable period of fiscal 2020, for the same reasons noted above, including 563 more store operating weeks.

Cost of products

The total cost of products was $150,095 for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 and $54,664 for the comparable period of fiscal 2020. The total cost of products as a percentage of total revenues decreased 150 basis points to 15.6% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 compared to 17.1% for the comparable period of fiscal 2020.

Cost of food and beverage products increased to $86,366 for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 compared to $32,667 for the comparable period of fiscal 2020. Cost of food and beverage products, as a percentage of food and beverage revenues, decreased 10 basis points to 27.3% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 from 27.4% for the comparable period of fiscal 2020. The impact of year-over-year cost increases in food products, including meat and poultry, were offset by lower closure-related spoilage costs.

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Cost of amusement and other increased to $63,729 in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 compared to $21,997 in the comparable period of fiscal 2020. The costs of amusement and other, as a percentage of amusement and other revenues, decreased 110 basis points to 9.9% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 from 11.0% in the comparable period of fiscal 2020. This decrease was driven primarily by lower ticket redemption activity as a percent of tickets issued during the first half of fiscal 2021, offset somewhat by higher freight costs and higher cost per ticket resulting from disruptions in the supply chain.

Operating payroll and benefits

Total operating payroll and benefits increased by $124,700, or 146.4%, to $209,897 in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 compared to $85,197 in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020. Nearly all our store workforce, with the exception of a small team of essential personnel, were furloughed in

mid-March

2020. Hourly team members began to return as stores

re-opened

at reduced staffing levels. The total cost of operating payroll and benefits as a percentage of total revenues was 21.8% in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 compared to 26.6% in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020. This decrease is primarily due to favorable leveraging on management labor and benefits and lower labor hours due to labor efficiency initiatives and hourly labor staffing shortages, partially offset by increases in the hourly labor costs and higher incentive compensation, including referral and retention incentives implemented during the second quarter of fiscal 2021.

Other store operating expenses

Other store operating expenses increased by $63,746, or 27.8%, to $292,883 in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 compared to $229,137 in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020. The increase is primarily due to the impact of increased store weeks during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 on costs such as utilities, supplies, maintenance, and other services. These increases were offset somewhat by a $13,727 charge for impairment of long-lived assets and lease termination costs incurred during the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020. Other store operating expense as a percentage of total revenues decreased to 30.5% in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 compared to 71.8% in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020. This decrease was due primarily to favorable sales leveraging on occupancy costs and utilities and the absence of any impairment charges in fiscal 2021.

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses increased by $22,078, or 62.0%, to $57,665 in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 compared to $35,587 in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020. The increase in general and administrative expenses was driven primarily by higher incentive compensation, salaries and benefits, professional fees, board fees, officer insurance, and share-based compensation. The third quarter of fiscal 2021 also includes a $3,230 severance obligation to the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, who terminated his service in this position effective September 30, 2021. Effective near the end of March 2020, as a result of the impacts of the

COVID-19

pandemic, most of our corporate team members were furloughed, with reduced pay and benefits for the remaining team members for a twelve-week period, and board fees were temporarily suspended. Share-based compensation was also lower during that same time due to changes in performance stock unit expense.

Depreciation and amortization expense

Depreciation and amortization expense was relatively flat at $104,355 in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 compared to $104,896 in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020. Increased depreciation due to our 2021 and 2020 capital expenditures for new stores, operating initiatives, games and maintenance capital, was offset by other assets reaching the end of their depreciable lives.

Pre-opening

costs

Pre-opening

costs decreased by $3,354 to $5,427 in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 compared to $8,781 in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020 due to a decrease in the number of planned new store openings after construction was reduced as a result of impacts of the

COVID-19

pandemic which began during the first quarter of fiscal 2020.

Interest expense, net and Loss on debt extinguishment / refinancing

Interest expense, net increased by $19,480 to $41,971 in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 compared to $22,491 in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020 due primarily to an increase in the weighted average effective interest rate, offset slightly by a decrease in average outstanding debt. In connection with the September 20, 2021 early extinguishment of a portion of the Notes, the Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of $2,829 during the third quarter of fiscal 2021. In connection with the October 27, 2020 debt refinancing, the Company recorded a charge of $904 during the third quarter of fiscal 2020. These events are explained further in Note 3 to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Provision (benefit) for income taxes

The effective tax rate for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021, was 13.4%, compared to a benefit of 32.3% for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020. The current year tax provision includes higher excess tax benefits associated with share-based compensation while the prior year was a tax benefit primarily due to the impact of the

pre-tax

loss and the impact of the tax provisions within the CARES Act.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

In response to the business disruption caused by the

COVID-19

pandemic which began in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company took the following actions to enable it to meet its obligations over the next twelve months:

• sold shares of our common stock, generating gross proceeds of $185,600;

• negotiated two amendments with our lenders, resulting in an extension of the maturity date of our revolving credit facility to August 17, 2024 and relief from testing compliance with certain financial covenants until the last day of the fiscal quarter ending on May 1, 2022;

• issued $550,000 of senior secured notes, maturing November 1, 2025; and

• negotiated with our landlords, vendors, and other business partners to temporarily reduce our lease and contract payments and obtain other concessions. During fiscal 2020, a total of 126 initial rent relief agreements related to our operating locations and corporate headquarters were initially executed, which generally provide for full deferral for three months beginning April 2020, with partial deferral continuing for periods of up to six months, at approximately 50% of those locations. As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact our business into the fourth quarter, the Company renewed negotiations with the majority of these landlords in order to provide additional rent relief, generally seeking to delay or extend the terms of deferral pay back periods and/or provide rent relief beyond the periods in the initial agreements. The second phase of negotiations resulted in 99 additional rent relief agreements, the last of which were executed in the third quarter of fiscal 2021.

Although uncertainty persists surrounding

COVID-19,

particularly as a result of new variants of

COVID-19,

including the potential that a resurgence of

COVID-19

cases may continue, how long such a resurgence may last, how severe it may be, and what safety measures governments may impose in response to it, as well as how quickly customers will return to our stores, the Company has taken measures to provide sufficient liquidity to meet estimated cash flow needs and covenant compliance obligations for at least the next twelve months. All the Company’s stores were open and operating as of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2021, and as of October 31, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $27,005. We expect to spend between $95,000 and $100,000, net of payments from landlords in capital additions during fiscal 2021. On an ongoing basis, we will continue to pursue long-term operating efficiencies and other cost savings initiatives.

The Company is also taking measures to strengthen its financial position. During the third quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company redeemed $55,000 outstanding principal amount of the Notes, and subsequent to the end of our third quarter, the Company redeemed an additional $55,000 outstanding principal amount of the Notes. The early redemptions are expected to reduce net cash interest on the Notes by approximately $8,400 annually.

Debt and Derivatives

Effective April 14, 2020, we amended our existing credit facility, to provide relief from compliance with financial covenants through the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The interest rate spread increased to 2.00% plus a LIBOR floor of 1.00%.

On October 27, 2020, the Company issued $550,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.625% senior secured notes (the “Notes”). Interest on the Notes accrues from October 27, 2020 and is payable in arrears on November 1 and May 1 of each year, commencing on May 1, 2021. The Notes mature on November 1, 2025, unless earlier redeemed, and are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the related indenture. Prior to November 1, 2022, but not more than once during any twelve-month period commencing with the issue date of the Notes, the Company may redeem up to 10% of the original principal amount of the Notes at a redemption price of 103% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, at the redemption date. After November 1, 2022, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at certain specified redemption prices, plus accrued and unpaid interest, at the redemption date. The Notes were issued by Dave & Buster’s, Inc. and are unconditionally guaranteed by Dave & Buster’s Holdings, Inc. and certain of Dave & Buster’s, Inc. existing and future wholly owned material domestic subsidiaries, which is substantially the same as the guarantors of the Company’s existing credit facility.

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The Company used the proceeds of the Notes offering, along with cash on hand, to repay the $255,000 principal balance of the term loan facility, $463,000 of borrowings under the revolving credit facility, and related accrued interest.    The Company incurred debt issuance costs of $18,300, which are being amortized over the terms of the respective Notes and revolving credit facility. The Company also recorded a loss of $904 related to the unamortized debt costs associated with the term portion of the credit facility.

Concurrent and subject to the issuance of the Notes, the Company entered into a second amendment to its existing credit facility, which included relief from testing compliance with certain financial covenants until the last day of the fiscal quarter ending on May 1, 2022. During the financial covenant suspension period the Company is required to maintain a minimum liquidity (primarily availability under the credit facility) of $150,000. The second amendment extended the maturity date of the $500,000 revolving portion of the facility from August 17, 2022 to August 17, 2024, increased the interest rate spread to 4.00% during the financial covenant suspension period, and instituted a 1.00% utilization fee during that same time. The utilization fee is due at maturity. The financial covenant suspension period may end earlier, at the Company’s election, if certain predetermined financial covenant ratios are achieved. After the financial covenant suspension period, the interest rate spread ranges from 1.25% to 3.00%. The second amendment terminated the term loan portion of the credit facility, which triggered payment of $1,900 of lender debt costs associated with the first amendment.

On September 20, 2021, the Company redeemed $55,000 outstanding principal amount of the Notes. In connection with the early redemption of the Notes, the Company paid a prepayment premium of $1,650, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption, pursuant to the terms of the indenture governing the Notes. Additionally, the early redemption of the Notes resulted in a loss on extinguishment of $1,179 related to a proportionate amount of unamortized issuance costs.

For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 and November 1, 2020, the Company’s weighted average interest rate on outstanding borrowings was 10.26% and 4.17%, respectively. The rate has increased due to the issuance of the Notes and the second amendment to the credit facility. As of October 31, 2021, we had letters of credit outstanding of $10,486 and an unused commitment balance of $489,514 under the revolving credit facility.

Our credit facility and Notes contain restrictive covenants that, among other things, place certain limitations on our ability to incur additional indebtedness, make loans or advances to subsidiaries and other entities, pay dividends, acquire other businesses or sell assets.

During fiscal 2019, we entered into interest rate swap agreements to manage our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on our variable rate credit facility. Our swap agreements with our derivative counterparties contain a provision where if the Company defaults on any of its indebtedness and repayment of the indebtedness has been accelerated, the Company could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations. Refer to Note 1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of our swap agreements, which were

de-designated

as hedges effective April 14, 2020, the date of the first amendment to our credit facility.

Dividends and Share Repurchases

As a result of the impacts to our business arising from the

COVID-19

pandemic, dividend payments are currently suspended, and the previously established share repurchase program was allowed to expire at the end of fiscal 2020.

Cash Flow Summary

The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $27,005 on October 31, 2021.

Operating Activities

— Cash flow from operations typically provides us with a significant source of liquidity. Our operating cash flows result primarily from cash received from our customers, offset by cash payments we make for products and services, employee compensation, operations, and occupancy costs. Cash from operating activities is also subject to changes in working capital. Working capital at any specific point in time is subject to many variables, including seasonality, the timing of cash receipts and payments, and vendor payment terms.

Cash flow from operating activities increased $230,252 in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021 compared to the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020 driven primarily by the impact of approximately 2,600 more store weeks.

Investing Activities

— Cash flow from investing activities primarily reflects capital expenditures.

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During the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021, the Company spent approximately $35,700 for new store construction and operating improvement initiatives ($27,900 net of payments from landlords), $12,800 for game refreshment and $15,000 for maintenance capital.

During the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020, the Company spent approximately $55,800 for new store construction and operating improvement initiatives ($47,100 net of payments from landlords), $9,500 for game refreshment and $7,300 for maintenance capital.

Financing Activities

— During the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2021, the Company had net repayments of $60,000 of its revolving credit facility and a repayment related to the early extinguishment of $55,000 principal of the Notes. During the third quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company issued $550,000 of the Notes in a private offering, from which the proceeds, along with cash on hand, were used to pay debt issuance costs, the $255,000 balance of the term portion of the credit facility, and $463,000 of outstanding borrowings under the revolving portion of the credit facility. Prior to the offering and primarily during the first and second quarters of fiscal 2020, the Company received $95,750 of net proceeds from borrowings of debt and approximately $182,200 of net proceeds from the issuance of shares of our common stock.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

There have been no material changes outside the ordinary course of business to our contractual obligations since January 31, 2021, as reported on

Form10-K

filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021.

Accounting policies and estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. These estimates and assumptions affect amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of gain and loss contingencies at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Our current estimates are subject to change if different assumptions as to the outcome of future events were made. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis, and we adjust our assumptions and judgments when facts and circumstances dictate. Since future events and their effects cannot be determined with absolute certainty, actual results may differ from the estimates we used in preparing the accompanying consolidated financial statements. A complete description of our critical accounting policies and estimates is included in our annual consolidated financial statements and the related notes in our Annual Report on Form

10-K

filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021.

Recent accounting pronouncements

Refer to Note 1 to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding new accounting pronouncements.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Commodity Price Risk

We are exposed to market price fluctuation in food and beverage product prices. Given the historical volatility of certain of our food product prices, including proteins, seafood, produce, dairy products, and cooking oil, these fluctuations can materially impact our food costs. While our purchasing commitments partially mitigate the risk of such fluctuations, there is no assurance that supply and demand factors such as disease or inclement weather will not cause the prices of the commodities used in our restaurant operations to fluctuate. Additionally, the cost of purchased materials may be influenced by tariffs and other trade regulations which are outside of our control. To the extent that we do not pass along cost increases to our customers, our results of operations may be adversely affected. At this time, we do not use financial instruments to hedge our commodity risk.

Interest Rate Risk

Our variable rate indebtedness under our $500,000 revolving credit facility is based on

one-month

LIBOR, with a LIBOR floor of 1.00%. Our interest rate swap agreements, with a combined notional amount of $350,000, convert

one-month

LIBOR to a fixed interest rate of approximately 2.47% through August 17, 2022. At October 31, 2021,

one-month

LIBOR is below 1.00%.

Inflation

The primary inflationary factors affecting our operations are food, amusement offerings, labor costs, and energy costs. Many of our leases require us to pay taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance, and utilities, all of which are generally subject to inflationary increases. Finally, the cost of constructing our stores is subject to inflationary increases in the costs of labor and material.

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A large portion of our hourly employees are paid wage rates at or based on the applicable federal, state or city minimum wage and increases in the minimum wage will increase our labor costs. Several states and local jurisdictions in which we operate have enacted legislation to increase the minimum wage and/or minimum tipped wage rates by varying amounts, with more planned increases in the future.

In general, we have been able to partially offset cost increases resulting from inflation by increasing prices of food and amusement offerings, improving productivity, or other operating changes. We may or may not be able to offset cost increases in the future.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules

13a-15

and

15d-15

promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in the Exchange Act

Rules 13a-15(f)

and

15d-15(f))

that occurred during our third quarter ended October 31, 2021, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Information regarding legal proceedings is incorporated by reference from Note 5 to our Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part I of this report.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The Company is supplementing the Risk Factors previously disclosed in Item 1A of the Annual Report on Form

10-K

for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021, (the “Annual Report”). The following risk factor should be read in conjunction with the Risk Factors disclosed in the Annual Report.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration vaccine mandate for employers with more than 100 employees could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

On September 9, 2021, President Biden announced plans for the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) mandating that all employers with more than 100 employees ensure their workers are either fully vaccinated against

COVID-19

or produce, on a weekly basis, a negative COVID test (the “vaccine mandate”). On November 4, 2021, OSHA issued the ETS, which will require covered employers to comply with the vaccine mandate beginning January 4, 2022 or face substantial penalties for

non-compliance.

Currently, the implementation of the vaccine mandate has been blocked by a federal appeals court, subject to the resolution of ongoing litigation challenging the constitutionality of the rules. In addition to the vaccine mandate, it is possible that additional mandates may be announced by local jurisdictions that could impact our workforce and operations. Such mandates could result in increased labor attrition and disruption, as well as difficulty securing future labor needs, and could adversely impact our results of operations.

Although we cannot predict with certainty the impact that the potential vaccine mandate and any other related measures may have on our workforce and operations, these requirements and any future requirements may require significant managerial time and attention to implement, increase our operating costs, result in attrition, including attrition of key employees, and impede our ability to recruit and retain our workforce. These measures also may further disrupt the national supply chain, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

There were no repurchases of our common stock under our share repurchase plan during the thirteen weeks ended October 31, 2021.

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Item 6.     Exhibits

Exhibit Number	Description
10.1*	Transition and Separation Agreement and Release by and between Brian A. Jenkins and Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. and Dave & Buster’s Management Corporation.
10.2*	Interim CEO Letter Agreement by and between Kevin Sheehan and Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. and Dave & Buster’s Management Corporation.
10.3*	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement by and between Kevin Sheehan and Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc.
10.4*	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement by and between Kevin Sheehan and Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc.
31.1*	Certification of Kevin Sheehan, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to 17 CFR 240.13a-14(a) or 17 CFR 240.15d-14(a).
31.2*	Certification of Scott J. Bowman, Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to 17 CFR 240.13a-14(a) or 17 CFR 240.15d-14(a).
32.1*	Certification of Kevin Sheehan, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2*	Certification of Scott J. Bowman, Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS	XBRL Inline Instance Document—the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH	XBRL Inline Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL	XBRL Inline Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF	XBRL Inline Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB	XBRL Inline Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE	XBRL Inline Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

* Filed herein

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

	DAVE & BUSTER’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC., a Delaware corporation
Date: December 7, 2021	By:	/s/ Kevin Sheehan
		Kevin Sheehan
		Interim Chief Executive Officer
Date: December 7, 2021	By:	/s/ Scott J. Bowman
		Scott J. Bowman
		Chief Financial Officer

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