Michael Heim, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Energy & Transportation, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Indo extended its Kruh Block contract five years with an increased after-tax split. Indo’s contract with Pertamina, the state-owned oil and gas company, now extends to September 2035. The amended contract increases Indo’s after-tax split to 35% from 15%. The extension, while not unexpected, comes after Indo had suspended drilling in the Kruh Block to complete a well workover. The favorable extension helps justify Indo taking its time in the Kruh Block as it completes a 3D seismic program to optimize drilling locations. We believe the government was willing to agree to the settlement as a way to spur Indo to increase drilling activity.
An operational update provides little new information. The company also updated investors regarding drilling plans in the Kruh Block and the Citarum Block. Management reiterated plans to drill 14 additional wells in the Kruh Block by the end of 2026 with the next well starting in 2024. Management did indicate that it expects to receive an environmental permit for seismic activity in the Citarum Block in 2023-4Q with work to begin in 2024-1Q. Our models assume one well drilled in the Citarum Block and two wells drilled in the Kruh Block in 2024.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Bowlero Corp. is the worldwide leader in bowling entertainment, media, and events. With more than 300 bowling centers across North America, Bowlero Corp. serves more than 26 million guests each year through a family of brands that includes Bowlero, Bowlmor Lanes, and AMF. In 2019, Bowlero Corp. acquired the Professional Bowlers Association, the major league of bowling, which boasts thousands of members and millions of fans across the globe. For more information on Bowlero Corp., please visit BowleroCorp.com.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Jacob Mutchler, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Solid Q4 Full year results. The company reported Q4 revenue and adj. EBITDA of $239.4 million and $64.5 million, respectively, both of which were roughly in-line with our estimates. While the company faced difficult comps in Q4, event revenue was up 7% in the quarter, and 43% for the year.
A year of investment. Management highlighted that revenue in fiscal full year 2024 is expected to increase in the range of 10% to 15% from full year 2023. Given planned investment spending, adj. EBITDA is expected to grow less than revenues, with adj. EBITDA margins in the range of 32% to 34%, slightly below that of the 34.7% adj. EBITDA margins for fiscal 2023. The company also plans to invest $160 million for acquisitions, $40 million for new builds and $75 million for conversions.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
NEW ALBANY, Ohio, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CVG (NASDAQ: CVGI) announced today that Andy Cheung, Chief Financial Officer, will meet with investors at the D.A. Davidson Annual Diversified Industrials & Services Conference on September 21-22, 2023.
At CVG, we deliver real solutions to complex design, engineering and manufacturing problems while creating positive change for our customers, industries, and communities we serve. Information about the Company and its products is available on the internet at www.cvgrp.com.
Investor Relations Contact: Ross Collins or Stephen Poe Alpha IR Group CVGI@alpha-ir.com
Neumora and RayzeBio, two emerging small cap biotech companies, filed on Monday for initial public offerings (IPOs) on the Nasdaq exchange. The firms are seeking to raise over $200 million each through their stock market debuts.
Neumora, a neuroscience startup, plans to offer 14.7 million shares priced between $16-18 to raise around $227 million under the ticker symbol NMRA. RayzeBio, a radiopharmaceuticals developer, aims to raise about $206 million by offering 13.2 million shares priced at $16-18 per share and trading as RYZB.
As small cap biotechs in earlier stages of development, Neumora and RayzeBio are seen as riskier investments than large cap pharmaceutical firms. However, both companies have drugs in late-stage pipelines and will use their IPO proceeds to fund Phase 3 clinical trials.
Neumora’s lead candidate is a depression drug called navacaprant, while RayzeBio is focused on advancing its radioligand therapy RYZ101 for rare tumors through Phase 3. Their ability to progress their pipelines with capital from the IPOs could improve their growth prospects as public companies.
The biotech IPO market has been tepid so far in 2023, making the environment challenging for small cap biotech listings. But Neumora and RayzeBio’s offerings may provide a test for investor appetite for new issues in the sector. Strong demand could reopen the IPO window for other young biotechs seeking to raise growth capital this year.
Consumer foods giant J.M. Smucker has agreed to purchase bakery company Hostess Brands for $5.6 billion in a major food industry acquisition. The deal will expand Smucker’s snacks and sweets portfolio with the addition of iconic Hostess brands such as Twinkies, Ding Dongs, and Donettes.
Under the terms of the acquisition, Smucker will pay $34.25 per share for Hostess in a cash and stock deal. This represents a premium of about 20% over Hostess’ closing share price on Friday. Smucker will also take on approximately $900 million of Hostess’ debt.
For Smucker, the deal provides an avenue for growth as demand for its key categories like jam and peanut butter has slowed. Twinkies and other Hostess snacks can tap into rising consumer appetites for nostalgic comfort foods. The acquisition also boosts Smucker’s presence in the in-store bakery section and convenience stores.
Meanwhile, Hostess Brands has faced slipping sales volumes after raising prices to offset inflationary pressures. As growth stalled, larger rivals circled with takeover interest to tap into the strong consumer awareness of brands like Twinkies. Hostess ultimately opted for Smucker’s buyout offer.
The transaction comes amid a wave of deal-making in the food industry, as companies look to acquisitions for expansion. With the Hostess deal, Smucker follows in the footsteps of rivals like Campbell Soup, Mars, and Unilever which have all acquired brands in recent months to spur growth.
The Hostess acquisition is expected to close in January 2024 after customary approvals. It will add an estimated $1.4 billion in Hostess net sales to Smucker’s portfolio upon completion.
Take a look at Fat Brands Inc., a leading global franchising company that acquires, markets and develops fast casual and casual dining restaurant concepts around the world.
Online grocery delivery firm Instacart is gearing up to go public and has set the terms for its initial public offering (IPO). In a regulatory filing on Monday, Instacart outlined plans to raise around $616 million through the offering of 22 million shares priced between $26 and $28 each.
The IPO would give Instacart a fully diluted valuation of up to $9.3 billion. This is below earlier estimates of a $40 billion valuation, indicating moderating growth expectations. Nonetheless, the offering could still mark one of the largest public listings this year amid a freeze on IPOs over the past year due to market volatility.
Founded in 2012, San Francisco-based Instacart has established itself as a leading online grocery platform in the U.S. It partners with grocers and retailers to deliver items to customers’ doors in as little as an hour. Instacart competes in a crowded space against entrenched firms like Walmart and Amazon as well as delivery apps like DoorDash and GoPuff.
Take a moment to look at 1-800 Flowers.com, a leading e-commerce business platform that delivers gifts designed to help inspire customers to give more, connect more, and build more relationships.
Instacart plans to sell 14.1 million newly issued shares in the IPO, with the remainder offered by existing shareholders. Multiple prominent investors have committed to buying shares in the offering, including PepsiCo, which is investing $175 million, and Norges Bank Investment Management, Norway’s sovereign wealth fund.
Proceeds from the IPO will provide funding for Instacart to invest in areas like technology, fulfillment, and advertising as it aims to turn a profit. The company posted revenues of $1.8 billion in 2020 but has yet to become profitable.
The upcoming listing will test investor appetite for high-growth tech IPOs after a yearlong freeze. Instacart’s debut performance will depend on prevailing market sentiment closer to its trading date. But a successful IPO could boost Instacart’s brand and validate its status as a leading next-generation grocery platform.
An enormous lithium deposit estimated to hold up to 40 million metric tons has recently been discovered in the United States underneath an ancient supervolcano straddling the Nevada-Oregon border. This lithium trove, the largest known supply in the world, could provide major opportunities for lithium companies and boost renewable energy efforts as demand for lithium batteries is projected to skyrocket.
Lithium, an extremely light metallic element, is an essential component of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, grid storage, smartphones, laptops and other key technologies. With electric vehicle adoption accelerating globally and increasing need for batteries to store solar and wind energy, lithium is becoming integral to a clean energy future.
For lithium companies, this huge deposit represents a potentially massive new source of supply to power growth. Lithium exploration and mining companies will likely ramp up operations in the region to benefit from burgeoning demand. Those able to cost-effectively extract lithium from the volcanic crater could be poised to reap sizable revenues.
Access to substantial lithium resources located within the US rather than relying heavily on imports could also help enhance energy security as the country moves away from fossil fuels. Domestic supply could additionally stabilize lithium prices and support US-based jobs.
The lithium deposit was uncovered within Oregon’s McDermitt Caldera, the remnants of an ancient supervolcano that exploded around 16 million years ago. With lithium demand expected to expand fivefold or more by 2030, this huge supply could be a game-changer, diversifying and elevating global lithium sources to meet increasing battery requirements.
For lithium companies and renewable energy companies alike, this deposit represents a monumental opportunity. Responsible extraction will be key to unlocking the full potential of this transformative mineral discovery.
Take moment to look at companies Lithium Bank and Century Lithium who are focused on exploration, development, and production of lithium.
Multi-antigen Vaccine Designed to Protect Against Evolving SARS-CoV-2 Variants
ATLANTA, GA, September 11, 2023 – GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), a biotechnology company developing immunotherapies and vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, today announced that it has met the enrollment target for its Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating GEO-CM04S1 as a booster for healthy patients who have previously received the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccine (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04639466).
The study is designed to evaluate the safety profile and immunogenicity of two GEO-CM04S1 dose levels administered as a COVID-19 vaccine booster among healthy individuals previously vaccinated with one of the FDA approved SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines. The immunological responses measured throughout the study will include both the level of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and specific T cell responses.
GEO-CM04S1 is a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine based on GeoVax’s MVA viral vector platform, which supports the presentation of multiple vaccine antigens to the immune system in a single dose. GEO-CM04S1 encodes for both the spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) antigens of SARS-CoV-2 and is specifically designed to induce both antibody and T cell responses to those parts of the virus less likely to mutate over time. The more broadly functional engagement of the immune system is designed to protect against severe disease caused by continually emerging variants of COVID-19. Vaccines of this format should not require frequent and repeated modification or updating.
“We would like to thank everyone who partnered with us to complete this important clinical trial enrollment milestone, especially the study volunteers and research staff at our clinical sites in the United States,” said David Dodd, GeoVax Chairman and CEO. “We believe the unique properties of GEO-CM04S1 potentially offer a more robust, durable degree of protection than the current authorized COVID-19 vaccines, not only as a booster vaccine to the currently authorized mRNA vaccines, but as a primary vaccine for highly vulnerable immunocompromised patients.”
Additional Ongoing Trials of GEO-CM04S1
In addition to the booster vaccine trial for which patient enrollment was just completed, GEO-CM04S1 is being evaluated in two other Phase 2 clinical trials:
As a primary vaccine in immunocompromised patients (with hematologic cancers receiving cell transplants or CAR-T therapy). ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04977024. A recent presentation of unpublished data from the open-label portion of the trial indicates that GEO-CM04S1 is highly immunogenic in these patients, inducing both antibody responses, including neutralizing antibodies, and T cell responses. These data support the progression of the Phase 2 clinical study, which includes a direct comparison to currently approved mRNA vaccines.
As a booster vaccine in immunocompromised patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a recognized high-risk group for whom current mRNA vaccines and monoclonal antibody (MAb) therapies appear inadequate relative to providing protective immunity. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05672355.
Further underscoring the need for next-generation COVID-19 vaccines such as GEO-CM04S1, GeoVax scientists co-authored an article titled, “MVA-Vectored Universal Beta-Coronavirus Vaccine Design & Development”, published in the June 2023 issue of the online journal Vaccine Insights. The article, accessible here, provides expert insight into the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), the risk of new “spillover events” from animal hosts, and how this risk can be addressed proactively. Regarding COVID-19 and its continually evolving variants, the authors describe the limitations of first-generation vaccines and the potential for MVA-vectored vaccines such as GEO-CM04S1 to overcome these limitations.
About GeoVax
GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel therapies and vaccines for solid tumor cancers and many of the world’s most threatening infectious diseases. The company’s lead program in oncology is a novel oncolytic solid tumor gene-directed therapy, Gedeptin®, presently in a multicenter Phase 1/2 clinical trial for advanced head and neck cancers. GeoVax’s lead infectious disease candidate is GEO-CM04S1, a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine targeting high-risk immunocompromised patient populations. Currently in three Phase 2 clinical trials, GEO-CM04S1 is being evaluated as a primary vaccine for immunocompromised patients such as those suffering from hematologic cancers and other patient populations for whom the current authorized COVID-19 vaccines are insufficient, and as a booster vaccine in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In addition, GEO-CM04S1 is in a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the vaccine as a more robust, durable COVID-19 booster among healthy patients who previously received the mRNA vaccines. GeoVax has a leadership team who have driven significant value creation across multiple life science companies over the past several decades. For more information, visit our website: www.geovax.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements regarding GeoVax’s business plans. The words “believe,” “look forward to,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “will,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Actual results may differ materially from those included in these statements due to a variety of factors, including whether: GeoVax is able to obtain acceptable results from ongoing or future clinical trials of its investigational products, GeoVax’s immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines can provoke the desired responses, and those products or vaccines can be used effectively, GeoVax’s viral vector technology adequately amplifies immune responses to cancer antigens, GeoVax can develop and manufacture its immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines with the desired characteristics in a timely manner, GeoVax’s immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines will be safe for human use, GeoVax’s vaccines will effectively prevent targeted infections in humans, GeoVax’s immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines will receive regulatory approvals necessary to be licensed and marketed, GeoVax raises required capital to complete development, there is development of competitive products that may be more effective or easier to use than GeoVax’s products, GeoVax will be able to enter into favorable manufacturing and distribution agreements, and other factors, over which GeoVax has no control.
Further information on our risk factors is contained in our periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K that we have filed and will file with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
Record Full Year 2023 with $1,059 million of Revenue. 16.1% Revenue Growth over FY22 and 57.5% Revenue Growth over FY19
RICHMOND, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Bowlero Corp. (NYSE: BOWL) (“Bowlero” or the “Company”), the world’s largest owner and operator of bowling centers, today provided financial results for the fourth quarter and the full 2023 Fiscal Year, which ended on July 2, 2023. Fourth quarter 2022 and Fiscal Year 2022 had an extra week of results compared to Fourth quarter 2023 and Fiscal Year 2023.
Fourth Quarter Highlights:
Revenue was $239.4 million, down $28.3 million or (10.6)% from $267.7 million in the prior year, in which out-of-period Service Revenue and the 53rd week & related calendar shift totaled $29.7 million. Revenue was up 54.0% versus Fourth quarter Fiscal Year 2019
Total Bowling Center Revenue grew $5.4 million or 2.4% versus prior year and 54.1% versus Fourth quarter Fiscal Year 2019
Normalized Calendar Same Store Revenue decline of (2.6)% versus prior year and growth of 29.3% versus Fourth quarter Fiscal Year 2019
Net income of $146.2 million
Adjusted EBITDA of $64.5 million
Total centers in operation as of July 2, 2023 were 328
Fiscal Year 2023 Highlights:
Revenue was $1,058.8 million, up $147.1 million or 16.1% versus $911.7 million in the prior year, which included revenue from the 53rd week & related calendar shift totaling $20.7 million. Revenue was up 57.5% versus Fiscal Year 2019
Total Bowling Center Revenue grew $165.2 million or 19.4% versus prior year and 57.8% versus Fiscal Year 2019
Normalized Calendar Same Store Revenue growth of 12.8% versus prior year and 31.9% versus Fiscal Year 2019
Net income of $82.0 million
Adjusted EBITDA of $354.3 million
16 new centers added to the portfolio
“We finished Fiscal Year 2023 with 16% growth over Fiscal Year 2022 and 58% over Fiscal Year 2019. The same-store comp against a strong fourth quarter in Fiscal 2022 was down low-single digits in one of our seasonally smallest quarters. While April began with a decline versus the prior year, we saw an improving trend over the course of the quarter in conjunction with innovating our offerings to encourage more retail spend in our centers. We are in the early stages of pioneering new ways to increase wallet share from our vast customer base, and these changes are resonating with our guests,” said Tom Shannon, Founder, Chief Executive Officer and President. “The capital deployment opportunities are significant. Fiscal Year 2024 will be an investment year to drive top and bottom line growth. We remain confident in the upcoming fiscal year in which we have several exciting initiatives underway, including the acquisition of Lucky Strike, a robust M&A pipeline, new build activity in marquee markets, accelerated center conversions, and the continued rollout of initiatives to enhance the customer experience and increase wallet share. Additionally, as we anniversary the second year of our go-public transaction and 27th since our first center acquisition, we are excited to provide Fiscal Year 2024 guidance.”
Remediation of Material Weaknesses
In our Fiscal Year 2022 Form 10-K, material weaknesses were identified in controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, related to certain financial reporting processes. Throughout fiscal year 2023, management implemented measures designed to remediate the identified material weaknesses. Management has determined that the material weaknesses identified in the prior year have been remediated as of July 2, 2023.
Share Repurchase Program
During the quarter, the Company repurchased 6.4 million shares of Class A common stock at an average price of $12.64, bringing the total shares acquired under the program to 11.3 million and the average purchase price to $11.90. Pro forma for additional Class A common stock repurchased subsequent to quarter end, the total Class A and Class B shares outstanding as of August 30, 2023 are 160.2 million. On September 6, 2023, the Board authorized an increase to the share repurchase program to $200 million.
Fiscal Year 2024 Guidance
Today, the Company provided financial guidance for fiscal year 2024. We expect Revenue to be up 10% to 15% excluding the $21 million of Service Revenue, which equates to $1.14 billion to $1.19 billion of Revenue. Adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to be 32% to 34%, which equates to Adjusted EBITDA of $365 million to $405 million. We expect to heavily reinvest in the business in fiscal year 2024, with more than $160 million allocated to acquisitions, $40 million to new builds, and $75 million to conversions.
Investor Webcast Information
Listeners may access an investor webcast hosted by Bowlero. The webcast and results presentation will be accessible at 10:00 AM ET on September 11, 2023 in the Events & Presentations section of the Bowlero Investor Relations website at https://ir.bowlerocorp.com/overview/default.aspx.
About Bowlero Corp.
Bowlero Corp. is the worldwide leader in bowling entertainment. With 328 bowling centers across North America, Bowlero Corp. serves nearly 30 million guests each year through a family of brands that includes Bowlero and AMF. Bowlero Corp. is also home to the Professional Bowlers Association, which boasts thousands of members and millions of fans across the globe. For more information on Bowlero Corp., please visit BowleroCorp.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risk, assumptions and uncertainties, such as statements of our plans, objectives, expectations, intentions and forecasts. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “confident,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements reflect our views with respect to future events as of the date of this release and are based on our management’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts, projections, assumptions, beliefs and information. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct. All such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control, and could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this document. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. These risks include, but are not limited to: our ability to design and execute our business strategy; changes in consumer preferences and buying patterns; our ability to compete in our markets; the occurrence of unfavorable publicity; risks associated with long-term non-cancellable leases for our centers; our ability to retain key managers; risks associated with our substantial indebtedness and limitations on future sources of liquidity; our ability to carry out our expansion plans; our ability to successfully defend litigation brought against us; our ability to adequately obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property and proprietary rights and claims of intellectual property and proprietary right infringement, misappropriation or other violation by competitors and third parties; failure to hire and retain qualified employees and personnel; the cost and availability of commodities and other products we need to operate our business; cybersecurity breaches, cyber-attacks and other interruptions to our and our third-party service providers’ technological and physical infrastructures; catastrophic events, including war, terrorism and other conflicts; public health emergencies and pandemics, such as COVID-19 pandemic, or natural catastrophes and accidents; changes in the regulatory atmosphere and related private sector initiatives; fluctuations in our operating results; economic conditions, including the impact of increasing interest rates, inflation and recession; and other factors described under the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by the Company on September 11, 2023, as well as other filings that the Company will make, or has made, with the SEC, such as Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this press release and in other filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To provide investors with information in addition to our results as determined under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), we disclose Total Bowling Center Revenue, Normalized Calendar Same Store Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA as “non-GAAP measures”, which management believes provide useful information to investors because each measure assists both investors and management in analyzing and benchmarking the performance and value of our business. Accordingly, management believes that these measurements are useful for comparing general operating performance from period to period, and management relies on these measures for planning and forecasting of future periods. Additionally, these measures allow management to compare our results with those of other companies that have different financing and capital structures. These measures are not financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for revenue, net income, or any other operating performance or liquidity measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, and may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure reported by other companies.
Total Bowling Center Revenue represents Total Revenue less Non-Center Related Revenue, Revenue from Closed Centers (as defined below), Service Revenue, and Revenue from the 53rd Week and associated Calendar Shift, if applicable. Normalized Calendar Same Store Revenue represents Total Revenue less Non-Center Related Revenue, Revenue from Closed Centers, Service Revenue, Revenue from the 53rd Week and associated Calendar Shift, if applicable, and Acquired Revenue. Adjusted EBITDA represents Net Income (Loss) before Interest, Income Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, Share-based Compensation, EBITDA from Closed Centers, Foreign Currency Exchange Loss (Gain), Asset Disposition Loss (Gain), Transactional and other advisory costs, changes in the value of earnouts and warrants and settlement costs, and other.
The Company considers Total Bowling Center Revenue as an important financial measure because it provides a financial measure of revenue directly associated with bowling center operations. The Company also considers Normalized Calendar Same Store Revenue as an important financial measure because it provides comparable revenue for centers open for the entire duration of both the current and comparable measurement periods, and removes the impact of the 53rd week and associated calendar shift that are non-recurring in nature.
The Company considers Adjusted EBITDA as an important financial measure because it provides a financial measure of the quality of the Company’s earnings. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, which might limit its usefulness as a comparative measure. Adjusted EBITDA is used by management in addition to and in conjunction with the results presented in accordance with GAAP. We have presented Adjusted EBITDA solely as a supplemental disclosure because we believe it allows for a more complete analysis of results of operations and assists investors and analysts in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are that Adjusted EBITDA:
do not reflect every expenditure, future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
do not reflect changes in our working capital needs;
do not reflect the interest expense, or the amounts necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our outstanding debt;
do not reflect income tax (benefit) expense, and because the payment of taxes is part of our operations, tax expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to operate;
do not reflect non-cash equity compensation, which will remain a key element of our overall equity based compensation package; and
do not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations.
GAAP Financial Information
Bowlero Corp.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
July 2, 2023
July 3, 2022
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
195,633
$
132,236
Accounts and notes receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $551 and $504, respectively
3,092
5,227
Inventories, net
11,470
10,310
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
18,395
12,732
Assets held-for-sale
2,069
8,789
Total current assets
230,659
169,294
Property and equipment, net
697,850
534,721
Internal use software, net
17,914
11,423
Property and equipment under capital leases, net
—
262,703
Operating lease right of use assets, net
449,085
—
Finance lease right of use assets, net
515,339
—
Intangible assets, net
90,986
92,593
Goodwill
753,538
742,669
Deferred income tax asset
73,807
—
Other assets
12,096
41,022
Total assets
$
2,841,274
$
1,854,425
Liabilities, Temporary Equity and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$
121,226
$
101,071
Current maturities of long-term debt
9,338
4,966
Current obligations of operating lease liabilities
23,866
—
Other current liabilities
14,281
13,123
Total current liabilities
168,711
119,160
Long-term debt, net
1,138,687
865,090
Long-term obligations under capital leases
—
397,603
Long-term obligations of operating lease liabilities
431,295
—
Long-term obligations of financing lease liabilities
652,450
—
Earnout liability
112,041
210,952
Other long-term liabilities
34,380
54,418
Deferred income tax liabilities
4,160
14,882
Total liabilities
2,541,724
1,662,105
Commitments and Contingencies
Temporary Equity
Series A preferred stock
$
144,329
$
206,002
Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
Class A common stock
11
11
Class B common stock
6
6
Additional paid-in capital
506,112
335,015
Treasury stock, at cost
(135,401
)
(34,557
)
Accumulated deficit
(219,659
)
(312,851
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
4,152
(1,306
)
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)
155,221
(13,682
)
Total liabilities, temporary equity and stockholders’ equity (deficit)
$
2,841,274
$
1,854,425
Bowlero Corp.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
Twelve Months Ended
July 2,2023
July 3,2022
July 2,2023
July 3,2022
Revenues
$
239,420
$
267,717
$
1,058,790
$
911,705
Costs of revenues
182,172
185,229
716,384
609,971
Gross profit
57,248
82,488
342,406
301,734
Operating (income) expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses
35,082
35,689
137,919
180,702
Asset impairment
1,028
1,548
1,601
1,548
Gain on sale of assets
(70
)
(2,354
)
(2,240
)
(4,109
)
Other operating expense
1,701
1,260
4,326
6,968
Total operating expense
37,741
36,143
141,606
185,109
Operating profit
19,507
46,345
200,800
116,625
Other expenses (income):
Interest expense, net
30,785
25,359
110,851
94,460
Change in fair value of earnout liability
(73,406
)
2,564
85,352
25,800
Change in fair value of warrant liability
—
6,092
—
26,840
Other expense
1,436
(12
)
6,792
149
Total other (income) expense
(41,185
)
34,003
202,995
147,249
Income (loss) before income tax benefit
60,692
12,342
(2,195
)
(30,624
)
Income tax (benefit) Expense
(85,528
)
5,399
(84,243
)
(690
)
Net income (loss)
146,220
6,943
82,048
(29,934
)
Bowlero Corp.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
Twelve Months Ended
July 2,2023
July 3,2022
July 2,2023
July 3,2022
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
8,985
$
34,809
$
217,787
$
177,670
Net cash used in investing activities
(65,269
)
(41,601
)
(253,218
)
(220,345
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
90,993
(33,888
)
98,957
(12,136
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
(120
)
(61
)
(129
)
(46
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
34,589
(40,741
)
63,397
(54,857
)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
161,044
172,977
132,236
187,093
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$
195,633
$
132,236
$
195,633
$
132,236
GAAP to non-GAAP Reconciliations
Same Store Reconciliation – FY23 vs. FY19
Same Store Reconciliation – FY23 vs. FY22
(in thousands)
4Q FY19
4Q FY23
FY19
FY23
4Q FY22
4Q FY23
FY22
FY23
Total Revenue – Reported
$
155,494
$
239,420
$
672,175
$
1,058,790
$
267,717
$
239,420
$
911,705
$
1,058,790
less: Non-Center Related
(including Closed Centers)
(6,344
)
(5,545
)
(28,387
)
(21,613
)
(7,868
)
(5,545
)
(25,287
)
(21,613
)
less: Service Revenue
—
(4,088
)
—
(21,019
)
(14,796
)
(4,088
)
(14,796
)
(21,019
)
less: 53rd Week / Calendar Shift
—
—
—
—
(20,663
)
—
(20,663
)
—
Total Bowling Center Revenue
$
149,150
$
229,787
$
643,788
$
1,016,158
$
224,390
$
229,787
$
850,959
$
1,016,158
less: Acquired Revenue
(1,382
)
(38,729
)
(17,419
)
(189,715
)
(168
)
(11,406
)
(47,168
)
(109,737
)
Normalized Calendar Same Store Revenue
$
147,768
$
191,058
$
626,369
$
826,443
$
224,222
$
218,381
$
803,791
$
906,421
% Year-over-Year Change
Total Revenue – Reported
54.0
%
57.5
%
(10.6
)%
16.1
%
Total Bowling Center Revenue
54.1
%
57.8
%
2.4
%
19.4
%
Normalized Calendar Same Store Revenue
29.3
%
31.9
%
(2.6
)%
12.8
%
Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
Three Months Ended
Twelve Months Ended
(in thousands)
July 2, 2023
July 3, 2022
July 2, 2023
July 3, 2022
Consolidated
Revenue
$239,420
$267,717
$1,058,790
$911,705
Net income (loss) – GAAP
$146,220
$6,943
$82,048
$(29,934)
Net income (loss) margin
61.1%
2.6%
7.7%
(3.3)%
Adjustments:
Interest expense
32,095
25,359
112,160
94,460
Income tax (benefit) expense
(85,528)
5,399
(84,243)
(690)
Depreciation, amortization and impairment charges
31,693
30,018
117,281
108,505
Share-based compensation
3,851
3,860
15,742
50,236
Closed center EBITDA (1)
1,692
51
3,319
1,480
Foreign currency exchange (gain) loss
(128)
(26)
(53)
5
Asset disposition gain
(70)
(2,355)
(2,240)
(4,109)
Transactional and other advisory costs (2)
6,804
2,762
23,635
43,512
Changes in the value of earnouts and warrants (3)
(73,406)
8,644
85,352
52,789
Other, net (4)
1,270
1,737
1,343
121
Adjusted EBITDA
$64,493
$82,392
$354,344
$316,375
Adjusted EBITDA Margin
26.9%
30.8%
33.5%
34.7%
(1)
The closed center adjustment is to remove EBITDA for closed centers. Closed centers are those centers that are closed for a variety of reasons, including permanent closure, newly acquired or built centers prior to opening, centers closed for renovation or rebranding and conversion. If a center is not open on the last day of the reporting period, it will be considered closed for that reporting period. If the center is closed on the first day of the reporting period for permanent closure, the center will be considered closed for that reporting period.
(2)
The adjustment for transaction costs and other advisory costs is to remove charges incurred in connection with any transaction, including mergers, acquisitions, refinancing, amendment or modification to indebtedness, dispositions and costs in connection with an initial public offering, in each case, regardless of whether consummated.
(3)
The adjustment for changes in the value of earnouts and warrants is to remove of the impact of the revaluation of the earnouts and warrants. As a result of the Business Combination, the Company recorded liabilities for earnouts and warrants. Changes in the fair value of the earnout and warrant liabilities are recognized in the statement of operations. Decreases in the liability will have a favorable impact on the statement of operations and increases in the liability will have an unfavorable impact. The adjustment also includes realized costs associated with the settlement of warrants during past reporting periods.
(4)
Other includes the following related to transactions that do not represent ongoing or frequently recurring activities as part of the Company’s operations: (i) non-routine expenses, net of recoveries for matters outside the normal course of business and (ii) other individually de minimis expenses. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.
Leaders with Johnson Controls, Kaiser Permanente, LTIMindtree, McKesson and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory named winners in five award categories
STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a leading global technology research and advisory firm, today announced the winners of the second annual ISG Women in Digital Awards program for the Americas, recognizing women and their achievements in the digital world.
At a live, virtual award ceremony the evening of September 7, leaders with Johnson Controls, Kaiser Permanente, LTIMindtree, McKesson and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory were honored as winners in five categories, as selected by a panel of industry judges.
“The ISG Women in Digital Awards program received an overwhelming response in our second year, reflecting the large and growing pool of talented women in digital roles,” said Lois Coatney, ISG partner and president, and executive sponsor of the ISG Women in Digital program. “The women chosen as winners have made impressive, impactful and important contributions to the digital industry as a whole. We celebrate their accomplishments.”
An independent panel of judges, comprised of Nidhi Alexander, chief marketing officer, Hexaware; Shannon Bjerregaard, senior vice president and CIO of medical surgical at McKesson; Chris Putur, retired CIO of REI and member of the board of directors of ISG and RealTruck; Sarah Urbanowicz, senior vice president and CIO, AECOM, and Mary Rivard, partner, ISG technology modernization, evaluated the nominations and selected the following winners:
Rising Star: for demonstrating exceptional and continuous growth, with increasing levels of leadership, responsibility and sphere of impact: Gold Winner: Melissa Rojo Salazar, U.S. senior director of consulting, co-lead of product services and innovation, LTIMindtree Silver Winner: Bernice Wong, senior design manager, Albertsons Bronze Winner: Devon Reilly, senior business process lead, PVH Corp.
Women’s Advocate: for playing an active role guiding women to succeed in the digital world: Gold Winner: Diane Schwarz, vice president and CIO, Johnson Controls Silver Winner: Shatabdi Sharma, vice president, Global Application Services, PVH Corp. Bronze Winner: Heather Bunyard, customer success officer, Birlasoft
Digital Innovator: for making a significant impact on an organization, business or client through creative use of digital solutions: Gold Winner: Bridget Karlin, senior vice president of IT, Kaiser Permanente Silver Winner: Richa Agarwal, senior director of digital go-to-market, PVH Corp. Bronze Winner: Ellen Trager, chief digital and information officer, Carrier
Rock Star Leader: for leading a major transformation with significant business impact and demonstrating exceptional leadership skills: Gold Winner: Nancy Avila, executive vice president, chief information officer and chief technology officer, McKesson Silver Winner: Sruti Patnaik, chief information officer, Camping World Bronze Winner: Giao Carrico, senior partner, consulting practice leader for data technology and AI, Genpact
Dr. Annabelle Pratt, principal engineer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, was chosen by the judges as the Digital Titan of the Year for the Americas from the entire pool of regional nominees, recognizing her as the most outstanding woman in digital for 2023.
The awards program, launched in the Americas in 2022, was expanded for 2023 to the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific regions, including India. The global program received a total of 327 nominees, who are listed in an online ISG Women in Digital eBook. Awards for Asia Pacific and India will be presented October 11, at 6 p.m., AEDT, and awards for EMEA will be presented October 26, at 6 p.m., GMT.
“Women are breaking barriers and making lasting, positive changes in digital and technology leadership roles,” said Kimberly Tobias, ISG director and head of the ISG Women in Digital program. “We are delighted to recognize the success of each person nominated and to offer our sincere congratulations to our 2023 winners.”
Created in 2018, the ISG Women in Digital community provides a platform to exchange practical advice and innovative ideas on diversity and advancement in the workplace. The community hosts a LinkedIn page, an ongoing ISG Digital Dish podcast series, and regular events for ISG employees and the greater IT and business services industry.
For more information about the ISG Women in Digital Awards, contact ISG.
About ISG
ISG (Information Services Group) (Nasdaq: III) is a leading global technology research and advisory firm. A trusted business partner to more than 900 clients, including more than 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is committed to helping corporations, public sector organizations, and service and technology providers achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm specializes in digital transformation services, including automation, cloud and data analytics; sourcing advisory; managed governance and risk services; network carrier services; strategy and operations design; change management; market intelligence and technology research and analysis. Founded in 2006, and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG employs more than 1,600 digital-ready professionals operating in more than 20 countries—a global team known for its innovative thinking, market influence, deep industry and technology expertise, and world-class research and analytical capabilities based on the industry’s most comprehensive marketplace data. For more information, visit www.isg-one.com.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) have jointly released a new policy paper laying out recommendations for regulating cryptocurrencies and crypto assets. The paper comes at the request of India, which currently holds the presidency of the G20 intergovernmental forum.
The policy recommendations aim to provide guidance to various jurisdictions on addressing risks associated with crypto activities, particularly those related to stablecoins and decentralized finance (DeFi). However, the paper does not set any new policies or regulatory expectations itself.
Stablecoins have emerged as a major focus area. The IMF and FSB warn that stablecoins pegged to hold a stable value can suddenly become volatile. This may pose threats to financial stability, especially as adoption of stablecoins grows.
The paper also examines risks from the fast-growing DeFi ecosystem. It argues that while DeFi aims to replicate traditional financial functions in a decentralized manner, it does not substantively differ in the services offered. Furthermore, DeFi may propagate similar risks seen in traditional finance around liquidity mismatches, interconnectedness, leverage, and inadequate governance.
However, the IMF and FSB continue to argue against blanket bans on cryptocurrencies. They state that policy should instead focus on understanding and addressing the underlying consumer demand for digital assets and payments.
Take a moment to look at Bit Digital Inc., a sustainability focused generator of digital assets.
The policy recommendations could have significant impacts on crypto companies. Stablecoin issuers and DeFi platforms would likely face greater regulatory scrutiny and standards around risk management. Exchanges may see heightened AML/CFT rules, while custodial services could get more consumer protection and security requirements. Miners and infrastructure providers may also face new oversight on risks and energy usage.
Crypto firms would likely need to invest substantially in compliance to meet new regulatory mandates. While this could raise costs, it may also boost institutional confidence in the emerging crypto space. As crypto adoption grows globally, regulators are trying to balance innovation with appropriate safeguards.
A different play in the Bitcoin space, Bitcoin Depot (BTM) provides its users with simple, efficient and intuitive means of converting cash into Bitcoin, which users can deploy in the payments, spending and investing space. Users can convert cash to Bitcoin at Bitcoin Depot’s kiosks and at thousands of name-brand retail locations through its BDCheckout product.
Schwazze (OTCQX:SHWZ, NEO:SHWZ) is building a premier vertically integrated regional cannabis company with assets in Colorado and New Mexico and will continue to take its operating system to other states where it can develop a differentiated regional leadership position. Schwazze is the parent company of a portfolio of leading cannabis businesses and brands spanning seed to sale. The Company is committed to unlocking the full potential of the cannabis plant to improve the human condition. Schwazze is anchored by a high-performance culture that combines customer-centric thinking and data science to test, measure, and drive decisions and outcomes. The Company’s leadership team has deep expertise in retailing, wholesaling, and building consumer brands at Fortune 500 companies as well as in the cannabis sector. Schwazze is passionate about making a difference in our communities, promoting diversity and inclusion, and doing our part to incorporate climate-conscious best practices.
Joe Gomes, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Insider Buying. From August 15th through August 26th, Schwazze Director Jeff Garwood purchased 128,155 SHWZ shares on the open market at prices ranging from $0.65 to $0.75 per share. The additional purchases increased Mr. Garwood’s overall Schwazze common stock ownership to 452,783 shares. We positively view insiders putting their own money into share purchases.
Garwood Background. Mr. Garwood joined the Schwazze Board in March 2021, Mr. Garwood is the founder and is currently the managing member of Liberation Capital, LLC, a private equity fund that is focused on providing modular, repeatable waste to value project finance. Prior to Liberation Capital, Mr. Garwood held a variety of senior leadership positions with General Electric including President and CEO of GE Water and Process Technologies, and President and CEO of GE Fanuc. He was also President of Garrett Aviation, and worked for numerous years at the strategic consulting firm McKinsey and Company.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Pioneering innovation. Century Lithium has developed a proprietary system for lithium extraction that reflects innovations developed at its lithium extraction facility or pilot plant. Century Lithium received a provisional patent protecting the company’s system and methods for extracting lithium solids, including clay.
Extracting lithium from solids. The company’s patent pending system is based on the extraction of lithium from solids using products of a chlor-alkali process, including hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. Exclusive of the direct lithium extraction (DLE) process where lithium is recovered, protected intellectual property includes the method of treating lithium-bearing solids with chloride solution and the handing of solutions, precipitates, and residues. DLE using Li-Pro is a component process proprietary to Koch Technology Solutions.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.