Release Details

Reports 11.0% Increase in Comparable Store Sales

Generates Record-Setting Adjusted EBITDA and Margins for Second Quarter

Raises Full Year 2015 Pro-Forma Net Income Guidance by 20%

DALLAS, Sept. 8, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc., (NASDAQ:PLAY), ("Dave & Buster's" or "the "Company"), an owner and operator of dining and entertainment venues, today announced financial results for its second quarter 2015, which ended on August 2, 2015. The Company also raised its guidance for the full year 2015.

Key highlights from the second quarter 2015 compared to the second quarter 2014 include:

• Total revenues increased 19.8% to $217.3 million from $181.4 million.
• Comparable store sales increased 11.0% vs. a 5.7% increase in last year's second quarter.
• Opened two stores in the second quarter 2015.
• Adjusted EBITDA*, a non-GAAP measure, increased 37.1% to $52.7 million from $38.4 million. As a percentage of total revenues, Adjusted EBITDA increased approximately 300 basis points to 24.2%.
• Net income of $12.6 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $13.9 million, or $(0.42) per diluted share, in the second quarter 2014.
• Pro forma net income**, a non-GAAP measure, of $17.2 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, compared to $6.8 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, in the same period last year.

* A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net income, the most directly comparable financial measure presented in accordance with GAAP, is set forth in the attachment to this release.

** A reconciliation of Pro forma net income to Net income, the most directly comparable financial measure presented in accordance with GAAP, is set forth in the attachment to this release.

"Dave & Buster's is enjoying an incredible year of financial performance and we are once again delighted to be raising our annual guidance. During the second quarter, we generated a double-digit comparable store sales gain and have now exceeded the competitive industry benchmark for thirteen consecutive quarters. Our 2014 and 2015 classes meaningfully contributed to the 19.8% growth in our second quarter top-line, and similar to the first quarter, our strength was broad-based across our sales categories, operating days, day-parts, and geographies. We also achieved another second quarter record for Adjusted EBITDA and Margins as we benefitted from the continued shift in our business into our higher-margin amusement category even as our food and beverage categories grow, while our ability to leverage operating costs resulted in substantially higher profitability," said Steve King, Chief Executive Officer.

King concluded, "We have already opened five stores this year and are raising our development guidance to eight to nine stores, of which all but one will be in the large store format. Our long-term target for North America development is in excess of 200 stores which we intend to achieve through approximately 10% annual growth in our store base. We are also making progress in realizing our international opportunities, and are extremely close to signing a multi-store agreement for licensed development. Strengthening our positioning as the destination of choice for 'one of a kind' dining, entertainment, and sports viewing also necessitates making facility improvements to our existing store base. We therefore have substantially remodeled three locations and created D&B Sports lounges in five additional units to better serve our existing guests and attract new guests to our brand."

Review of Second Quarter 2015 Operating Results

Total revenues increased 19.8% to $217.3 million from $181.4 million in the second quarter 2014. Across all stores, Food and Beverage revenues increased 16.8% to $99.2 million and Amusements and Other revenues increased 22.4% to $118.1 million. Food and Beverage represented 45.6% of total revenues while Amusements and Other represented 54.4% of total revenues in the second quarter 2015. In last year's second quarter, Food and Beverage represented 46.8% of total revenues while Amusements and Other represented 53.2% of total revenues.

Comparable store sales increased 11.0% in the second quarter 2015 compared to a 5.7% increase in the same period last year. Our comparable store sales growth was driven by a 12.1% increase in walk-in sales and a 2.2% increase in special events sales. Non-comparable store revenues increased by $19.0 million or 84.0% in the second quarter 2015 to $41.6 million.

Store-level EBITDA* increased 37.1% to $62.5 million in the second quarter 2015 from $45.6 million in last year's second quarter. As a percentage of total revenues, Store-level EBITDA increased approximately 370 basis points to 28.8%. 

Adjusted EBITDA* increased 37.1% to $52.7 million in the second quarter 2015 from $38.4 million in the same period last year. As a percentage of total revenues, Adjusted EBITDA increased approximately 300 basis points to 24.2%. 

Operating income increased to $26.8 million in the second quarter 2015 from $16.7 million in last year's second quarter. As a percentage of total revenues, operating income increased approximately 310 basis points to 12.3%. 

Net income increased to $12.6 million, or $0.29 per diluted share (42.7 million diluted share base), in the second quarter 2015 compared to net loss of $13.9 million, or $(0.42) per diluted share (33.2 million diluted share base), in same period last year. Pro forma net income, a non-GAAP measure, was $17.2 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, compared to $6.8 million, or $0.16 per diluted share in the same period last year.

Development

In 2015, we now intend to open a total of eight to nine new stores (vs. seven to eight stores previously) and relocate one existing store during the third quarter. All but one of our new store openings will be in the large store format. 

We opened two stores during the second quarter in Kentwood, Michigan and Woburn, Massachusetts and a total of four stores through the first half of the year. We opened a store in Edina, Minnesota during the third quarter and we plan to open our new relocated Buffalo store at the beginning of October. During the fourth quarter, we will open stores in Friendswood (Houston), Texas and Glendale (Phoenix), Arizona, Springfield (Greater DC), Virginia as well as possibly one additional location.

Total capital additions (net of tenant improvement allowances) are expected in the $132 million to $142 million range for 2015 and include development costs for store openings, the relocation of our Buffalo store, several remodeling and related projects, new games and maintenance capital.

Financial Outlook

We are once again raising our financial outlook for 2015, which ends on January 31, 2016:

• Total revenues of $844 million to $853 million (vs. $822 million to $831 million previously).
• Comparable store sales increase of 6.5% to 7.5% (vs. 4% to 5% previously).
• Adjusted EBITDA* of $199 million to $203 million (vs. $187.5 million to $191.5 million previously).
• Effective tax rate of approximately 35% to 36% (vs. 37% to 38% previously).
• Pro-forma net income of $52.5 million to $55 million (vs. $43.5 million to $46 million previously). Pro-forma net income excludes the net impact of charges related to secondary offerings and loss on debt retirement.
• Diluted share count of 42.7 million to 42.8 million (vs. 43.8 million to 43.9 million previously).

Conference Call Today

Management will hold a conference call today to discuss these results at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time). The conference call can be accessed over the phone by dialing (888) 505-4369 or for international callers by dialing (719) 325-2435. A replay will be available after the call for one year beginning at 7:00 p.m. Central Time (8:00 p.m. Eastern Time) and can be accessed by dialing (877) 870-5176 or for international callers by dialing (858) 384-5517; the passcode is 6862079.

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available at www.daveandbusters.com under the Investor Relations section.

About Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc.

Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc., is the owner and operator of 77 venues in North America that combine dining and entertainment and offer customers the opportunity to "Eat Drink Play and Watch," all in one location. Dave & Buster's offers a full menu of "Fun American New Gourmet" entrées and appetizers, a full selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and an extensive assortment of entertainment attractions centered around playing games and watching live sports and other televised events.  Dave & Buster's currently has stores in 30 states and Canada.

Forward Looking Statements

The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and, consequently, could be affected by our level of indebtedness, general business and economic conditions, the impact of competition, the seasonality of the company's business, adverse weather conditions, future commodity prices, guest and employee complaints and litigation, fuel and utility costs, labor costs and availability, changes in consumer and corporate spending, changes in demographic trends, changes in governmental regulations, unfavorable publicity, our ability to open new stores, and acts of God. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements, and the Company therefore cautions you against relying on such forward-looking statements. Dave & Buster's intends these forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time of this release and does not undertake to update or revise them as more appropriate information becomes available, except as required by law.

Non-GAAP Measures

To supplement its consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, the Company uses the following non-GAAP financial measures: EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Store-level EBITDA, Pro forma net income (loss), and Pro forma net income (loss) per share (collectively the "non-GAAP financial measures"). The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. The Company believes that they provide useful information about operating results, enhance the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making. The Company also believes that these measures provide useful information to investors regarding our operating performance and our capacity to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures and are used by many investors, analysts and rating agencies as a measure of performance. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is consistent with that reported to our lenders to allow for leverage-based assessments. The non-GAAP measures used by the Company in this press release may be different from the methods used by other companies.

CONTACT: For Investor Relations Inquiries:

         Raphael Gross of ICR

         203.682.8253