Edgar Filing: CEC ENTERTAINMENT INC

Large accelerated filer

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Non-accelerated filer

x (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company

10-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

________________________________________________

FORM 10-K

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

For the fiscal year ended January 3, 2016



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

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 1-13687

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CEC ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified, in its charter)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Kansas		48-0905805
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)
1707 Market Place Blvd, Suite 200 Irving, Texas		75063
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(972) 258-8507

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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



Title of each class		Name of each exchange on which registered
None		None

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

None

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨ No x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No x

As of June 28, 2015, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, no voting or non-voting common equity of the registrant is held by non-affiliates.

As of February 22, 2016, an aggregate of 200 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, were outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None

CEC ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS



		Page
	Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements	3

PART I
ITEM 1.	Business	4
ITEM 1A.	Risk Factors	9
ITEM 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	18
ITEM 2.	Properties	19
ITEM 3.	Legal Proceedings	21
ITEM 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	24

PART II
ITEM 5.	Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	25
ITEM 6.	Selected Financial Data	26
ITEM 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	29
ITEM 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	49
ITEM 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	50
ITEM 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	97
ITEM 9A.	Controls and Procedures	97
ITEM 9B.	Other Information	97

PART III
ITEM 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	98
ITEM 11.	Executive Compensation	101
ITEM 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	101
ITEM 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	102
ITEM 14.	Principal Accountant Fees and Services	103

PART IV
ITEM 15.	Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules	104

SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX

As used in this report, the terms “CEC Entertainment,” “we,” “Company,” “us,” and “our” refer to CEC Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this report, other than historical information, may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Statements that are not historical in nature and which may be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “believe,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “plan,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “future,” “project,” “estimate,” and similar expressions (or the negative of such expressions) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future events and, therefore, involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ from those anticipated, estimated or expected. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to:


•	The success of our capital initiatives, including new store development and existing store evolution;


•	Our ability to successfully implement our marketing strategy;


•	Competition in both the restaurant and entertainment industries;


•	Economic uncertainty and changes in consumer discretionary spending in the United States and Canada;


•	Negative publicity concerning food quality, health, general safety and other issues, and changes in consumer preferences;


•	Expansion in international markets;


•	Our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet our debt service payments;


•	Increases in food, labor and other operating costs;


•	Disruptions of our information technology systems and technologies, including, but not limited to, data security breaches;


•	Any disruption of our commodity distribution system;


•	Our dependence on a limited number of suppliers for our games, rides, entertainment-related equipment, redemption prizes and merchandise;


•	Product liability claims and product recalls;


•	Government regulations;


•	Litigation risks;


•	Adverse effects of local conditions, natural disasters and other events;


•	Fluctuations in our quarterly results of operations due to seasonality;


•	Inadequate insurance coverage;


•	Loss of certain key personnel;


•	Our ability to adequately protect our trademarks or other proprietary rights;


•	Risks in connection with owning and leasing real estate;


•	Our ability to successfully integrate the operations of companies we acquire; and


•	Litigation risks associated with our merger.

The forward-looking statements made in this report relate only to events as of the date on which the statements were made. Except as may be required by law, we undertake no obligation to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events and circumstances after the date on which the statements were made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

PART I

ITEM 1. Business.

Company Overview

The Company was originally incorporated under the name ShowBiz Pizza Place, Inc. and began trading on the NASDAQ Stock Market in 1989. In 1998, the Company changed its name to CEC Entertainment, Inc. and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange. CEC Entertainment, Inc. remained a publicly traded company until its common stock ceased to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange after close of market on February 14, 2014 in connection with the Merger (as defined below).

On October 16, 2014, we completed the acquisition of Peter Piper Pizza (“PPP”), a leading Arizona-based pizza and entertainment restaurant chain. PPP was founded in 1973 in Glendale, Arizona and has evolved from a discount pizza restaurant to one of the leading pizza and entertainment restaurant chains in the southwestern United States and Mexico.

We develop, operate and franchise family dining and entertainment centers (also referred to as “stores”) under the names “Chuck E. Cheese’s” and, since the acquisition of Peter Piper Pizza in October 2014, “Peter Piper Pizza.” Our stores are located in 47 states and 12 foreign countries and territories. As of January 3, 2016, we and our franchisees operated a total of 732 stores, of which 556 were Company-owned stores located in 44 states and Canada. Our franchisees operated a total of 176 stores located in 16 states and 11 foreign countries and territories including Chile, Colombia, Guam, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad & Tobago and the United Arab Emirates. We consider the family dining and entertainment business to be our sole reportable segment.

Chuck E. Cheese’s and Peter Piper Pizza stores offer a wholesome family dining experience, video games, skill games, rides and other attractions, along with tokens, tickets and prizes. Chuck E. Cheese’s stores are designed to uniquely appeal to its primary customer base of families with children between two and 12 years of age. Chuck E. Cheese’s and Peter Piper Pizza stores offer a variety of pizzas, wings, appetizers, salads and desserts, as well as certain gluten-free options. Soft drinks, coffee, and tea are also served, along with beer and wine in some locations. Chuck E. Cheese’s stores also offer sandwiches. Most Peter Piper Pizza stores offer lunch buffet options with unlimited pizza, salad and breadsticks. We are currently testing a lunchtime buffet concept at some of our Chuck E. Cheese’s stores.

We believe that the dining and entertainment components of our business are interdependent, and therefore, we primarily manage and promote them as an integrated product. Our typical guest experience involves a combination of wholesome family dining and entertainment comprised of games, rides and other activities. We also believe our unique integrated experience drives our strategic plan as we continuously endeavor to increase customer traffic in our stores, benefiting both dining and entertainment revenue.

Merger

On February 14, 2014, pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”), an entity controlled by Apollo Global Management, LLC (“Apollo”) and its subsidiaries merged with and into CEC Entertainment Inc., with CEC Entertainment Inc. surviving the merger (the “Merger” or the “Acquisition”). As a result of the Merger, the shares of CEC Entertainment Inc. common stock ceased to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange after close of market on February 14, 2014. The aggregate consideration paid to acquire the Company was $1.4 billion, including the payoff of net debt of $348.0 million and $65.7 million in transaction and debt issuance costs. The Acquisition was funded by (a) $350.0 million of equity contributions from investment funds directly or indirectly managed by Apollo (the “Apollo Funds”); (b) $248.5 million of borrowings under a bridge loan facility, which were shortly thereafter repaid using the proceeds from our issuance of $255.0 million of senior notes; and (c) $760.0 million of borrowings under a term loan facility. In addition, we also entered into a $150.0 million revolving credit facility in connection with the Acquisition, which was undrawn at closing. We refer to our term loan facility and revolving credit facility together as the “Secured Credit Facilities.” See Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis - Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources - Debt Financing” for additional discussion of the senior notes, term loan facility and revolving credit facility.

We completed the Merger on February 14, 2014. As a result of the Merger, we applied the acquisition method of accounting and established a new basis of accounting on February 15, 2014. Periods presented prior to and including February 14, 2014 represent the operations of the predecessor company (“Predecessor”) and the periods presented after February 14, 2014 represent the operations of the successor company (“Successor”). The fifty-two weeks ended December 28, 2014 include

the 47 day Predecessor period from December 30, 2013 through February 14, 2014 (“Predecessor Period”) and the 317 day Successor period from February 15, 2014 through December 28, 2014 (“Successor Period”).

Sale Leaseback Transaction

On August 25, 2014, the Company closed a sale leaseback transaction (the “Sale Leaseback”) with National Retail Properties, Inc. (“NNN”). Pursuant to the Sale Leaseback, we sold 49 properties located throughout the United States to NNN, and we leased each of the 49 properties back from NNN pursuant to two separate master leases on a triple-net basis for their continued use as Chuck E. Cheese’s family dining and entertainment centers. The leases have an initial term of 20 years, with four five-year options to renew. The aggregate sale price for the properties in connection with the Sale Leaseback was $183.7 million in cash, and the proceeds, net of taxes and transaction costs, realized by the Company were $143.2 million. A portion of the proceeds from the Sale Leaseback was used for the Peter Piper Pizza acquisition. A majority of the remaining proceeds from the Sale Leaseback was used for capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes.

Acquisition of Peter Piper Pizza

On October 15, 2014, the Company entered into an agreement and plan of merger to acquire Peter Piper Pizza (“PPP”), a leading pizza and entertainment restaurant chain operating in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico (the “PPP Acquisition”), for an aggregate purchase price of $113.1 million, net of cash acquired, which was funded with a portion of the net proceeds from the Sale Leaseback. We completed the PPP Acquisition on October 16, 2014.

Our Competitive Strengths

We attribute our success in large part to our established recognized brands, our unique and differentiated experience, our value-oriented family experience, our diversified and resilient business model and our experienced management team. Our stores are unique in that we combine a wholesome family dining offering with distinctive family-oriented games, rides, activities, shows and other entertainment alternatives, all under one roof and within convenient driving distance from our guests’ homes. Many of our high quality entertainment offerings, including all of our live and interactive shows in Chuck E. Cheese’s stores, guest WiFi in all our stores, and live television in our Peter Piper Pizza stores, can be experienced free of charge. We are also offering live television on a test basis in some of our Chuck E. Cheese’s stores. We also offer our guests packaged deals whereby they can receive a combination of food, drinks and tokens or game credits at discounted prices. We believe that we benefit from strong and consistent demand for our entertainment offerings from families who desire high quality, safe, clean, convenient and affordable ways to spend time with their children outside of the home. Our executive management team has significant experience in the leisure, hospitality, entertainment and family dining industries and has significant expertise in operating complex, themed family entertainment businesses.

Our Strategic Plan

Our strategic plan is focused on increasing comparable store sales, improving profitability and margins and expanding our stores domestically and internationally.

Increase Comparable Store Sales. We have multiple drivers to increase our comparable store sales. We believe that guest experience is a key driver of our sales and have remained focused on refreshing and optimizing our offerings in order to continue to provide our guests with a highly engaging and entertaining environment. During 2015, we continued to focus on the experience we deliver to children, while improving the experience for moms and dads. Improvements to the Chuck E. Cheese’s stores included the introduction of a new menu, launched in the second quarter of 2015, offering additional items, such as desserts, wraps and thin-crust specialty pizzas. In the fourth quarter of 2015, we introduced our first limited-time-only menu item, the MacCheesy pizza. We intend to continue to provide other new limited-time-only menu items in 2016. We also tested weekday lunch buffets in 84 Chuck E. Cheese’s stores in 2015 and plan to introduce them in our other 440 Chuck E. Cheese’s Company-owned stores in 2016.

In addition to our enhanced food offerings, we have introduced several new initiatives to improve our overall guest experience. We introduced free Wi-Fi to all of our Chuck E. Cheese’s stores in 2015. Additionally, we introduced and tested a proprietary card system, which we refer to as PlayPass, in 41 of our Company-owned Chuck E. Cheese’s stores. Our customers have reacted positively to the PlayPass experience, and we expect to introduce PlayPass in all of our Company-owned Chuck E. Cheese’s stores throughout 2016 and 2017. We also expect to drive favorable comparable store sales performance through improved marketing efforts by focusing our marketing message towards kids via national television, cinema and promotional opportunities and marketing to moms through digital advertising, social media, public relations and e-mail. Finally, we believe that we can modify pricing, couponing and packaging in select markets across the U.S. while still continuing to provide our guests with a strong value proposition when compared to other family dining-entertainment options.

Improve Profitability and Margins. We continuously focus on driving financial performance through expense rationalization across all of our stores and corporate functions. We believe that continued focus on operating margins and the deployment of best practices across each of our brands, and our corporate functions, will yield continued margin improvement. Our general managers at our stores and our corporate management staff have both revenue and profit incentives, which fosters a strict focus on both expense control and providing a high-quality experience for our guests. Additionally, we have implemented a number of cost saving initiatives across our business, such as an enhanced labor management tool that we introduced late in 2015 at all of our Chuck E. Cheese’s stores. In 2016, we plan to roll-out an improved store inventory management system. We expect these initiatives to generate cost savings in a number of key areas, including labor, utilities, supplies, food and general and administrative expenses. Our business model benefits from substantial operating leverage, enabling us to continue to drive margin improvement as we realize our strategic plan to grow our comparable store sales and our domestic and international store base.

Expand Our Stores Domestically and Internationally. We have developed a successful track record of opening new Chuck E. Cheese’s stores at attractive rates of return. We strategically locate our stores within convenient driving distance to large metropolitan areas with favorable demographic conditions. We believe that there are a significant number of additional locations, both domestically and internationally, with these characteristics in which a Chuck E. Cheese’s or Peter Piper Pizza store can be successful. For domestic new store openings, we undergo a rigorous due diligence and site selection process. This disciplined process has enabled us to achieve highly attractive returns, generating unlevered returns on our investment in new company-operated stores in excess of 20% on average (excluding allocated advertising and cannibalization of existing stores). Internationally, we have focused on our franchise model, through which we have developed partnerships with strong and reputable counterparties in order to grow our concept globally. Over the last few years, we have experienced growth in our international franchise store count, and we expect this to be a key area of growth going forward. Our franchise model is highly attractive in that it enables us to earn predictable and high-margin cash flow without any upfront capital requirements. We also benefit from a highly scalable existing platform that enables us to manage additional domestic and international stores without any material incremental costs.

We also believe that there are a significant number of domestic locations in which we can open new Peter Piper Pizza stores at similar attractive rates of return. The opening of new domestic PPP stores undergoes the same rigorous due diligence and site selection process as employed with Chuck E. Cheese’s store openings. Moving forward we plan to emphasize new Peter Piper Pizza locations as part of our domestic growth plans.

In 2015, we opened five new Company-owned Chuck E. Cheese’s stores in the United States, including two relocated stores, and 10 new franchise Chuck E. Cheese’s stores and two new franchise Peter Piper Pizza stores collectively in six countries, including two relocated stores. We did not open any new Company-owned Peter Piper Pizza stores in 2015. In 2016, we expect to open three to four Company-owned Chuck E. Cheese’s stores and five to nine Company-owned Peter Piper Pizza stores in the United States. We also expect to open 18 franchised Chuck E. Cheese’s stores and three franchised Peter Piper Pizza stores in 2016.

See Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources – Capital Expenditures” for more information regarding our capital initiatives and expenditures.

Food and Beverages

Each Chuck E. Cheese’s and Peter Piper Pizza store offers a variety of pizzas, wings, appetizers, salads and desserts, as well as certain gluten-free options. Soft drinks, coffee and tea are also served, along with beer and wine in some locations. Chuck E. Cheese’s stores also offer sandwiches, and most Peter Piper Pizza stores offer lunch buffet options with unlimited pizza, salad and breadsticks. We continuously focus on delivering a quality-driven product and believe the quality of our food compares favorably with that of our competitors.

Food and beverage sales represented 45.1%, 43.2%, 44.8% and 45.1% of our Company store sales during Fiscal 2015, the Successor 2014 period, the Predecessor 2014 period and Fiscal 2013, respectively.

Entertainment and Merchandise

Each of our Chuck E. Cheese’s and Peter Piper Pizza stores has a playroom area, which includes an array of amusement and entertainment options. These options range from classic skill games, such as air hockey, skee-ball and basketball, to rides, such as mini trains, motorcycles and various driving games. At Chuck E. Cheese’s, we also offer musical and comical entertainment that features our iconic Chuck E. Cheese character with live performances and frequent appearances on our showroom and playroom floor. Each Peter Piper Pizza store also offers flat-screen televisions located throughout the dining area. Historically, tokens have been used to activate the games and rides in the playroom area; however, in 2015 we

began testing PlayPass, a new proprietary game card system, in 41 of our Chuck E. Cheese’s Company-owned stores. PlayPass is similar to a debit card and allows customers to activate games and rides with their own personal card. Based on the results of this pilot program, we plan to introduce PlayPass to the rest of our Chuck E. Cheese’s Company-owned stores in 2016 and 2017. A number of games dispense tickets that can be redeemed by guests for prize merchandise such as toys and plush items. Our guests can also purchase this merchandise directly for cash.

Entertainment and merchandise sales represented 54.9%, 56.8%, 55.2% and 54.9% of our Company store sales during Fiscal 2015, the Successor 2014 period, the Predecessor 2014 period and Fiscal 2013, respectively.

Franchising

As of January 3, 2016, we franchised a total of 68 Chuck E. Cheese’s stores, with 29 stores located in the United States and 39 stores located in 11 foreign countries and territories, and a total of 108 Peter Piper Pizza stores, with 62 stores located in the United States and 46 stores located in Mexico. We also had 21 signed development and franchise agreements with rights to open another 116 Chuck E. Cheese’s stores in 18 countries, and five signed development and franchise agreements with rights to open another 20 Peter Piper Pizza stores in Texas. See Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” for more information regarding the risks associated with franchise development agreements.

Our standard franchise agreements grant the franchisee the right to construct and operate a store and use our associated trade names, trademarks and service marks in accordance with our standards and guidelines. Most of our existing Chuck E. Cheese’s franchise agreements have an initial term of 15 to 20 years and include a 10-year renewal option. Peter Piper Pizza’s franchise agreements are for a 10-year term and include a 10-year successor agreement on Peter Piper Pizza’s then standard form of agreement. The standard franchise agreement provides us with a right of first refusal should a franchisee decide to sell a store. We also enter into area development agreements, which grant franchisees exclusive rights to open a specified number of stores in a designated geographic area within a specified period of time. In addition to initial franchise and area development fees, the franchisee is charged a continuing monthly royalty fee equal to a percentage of its gross monthly sales, generally up to 6%, which varies by location and brand.

In 1985, we and our Chuck E. Cheese’s franchisees formed the International Association of CEC Entertainment, Inc. (the “Association”) to discuss and consider matters of common interest relating to the operation of Company-owned and franchised Chuck E. Cheese’s stores. Routine business matters of the Association are conducted by a board of directors, composed of five members appointed by us and five members elected by the franchisees. The Association serves as an advisory council that, among other responsibilities, oversees expenditures, including (a) the costs of development, purchasing and placement of advertising programs, including websites; (b) the costs to develop and improve audio-visual and animated entertainment attractions, as well as the development and implementation of new entertainment concepts; and (c) the purchase of national network television advertising.

The franchise agreements governing existing franchised Chuck E. Cheese’s in the United States currently require each franchisee to pay to the Association a monthly contribution equal to a certain percentage of its gross monthly sales. Additionally, under these franchise agreements, we are required, with respect to Chuck E. Cheese’s Company-owned stores, to contribute at the same rates, or at higher rates in certain instances, as our franchisees. We and our franchisees are also required to spend minimum amounts on local advertising and could be required to make additional contributions to fund any deficits that may be incurred by the Association. Certain franchise agreements governing existing franchised Chuck E. Cheese’s outside of the United States currently require each franchisee to pay a certain percentage of their gross monthly sales to the Association to fund various advertising, media, and entertainment costs.

We do not currently have any advertising co-ops or a franchise advisory council with our Peter Piper Pizza franchisees, but we reserve the right to require the formation, merger or dissolution of either or both. Franchisees are required to contribute (a) 5% of weekly gross sales to be used to develop, produce, distribute and administer specific advertising, public relations and promotional programs that promote the services offered by system franchisees; and (b) 0.5% of weekly gross sales to be used to research, develop, produce, and support creative ideas and materials for use in commercial advertisements, public relations, and promotional campaigns in the United States (“U.S.”) and Mexico. We may elect at any time not to collect or maintain all or any portion of the amount contributed to fund advertising related programs and activities and, during such time that we have made such election, the monies not collected must be expended by the franchisees in their own markets. In addition, we are required, with respect to Company-owned Peter Piper Pizza restaurants, to contribute funds on the same basis as our franchisees.

Royalties, franchise and area development fees and other miscellaneous franchise income represented 1.9%, 0.9%, 0.6% and 0.6% of our total consolidated revenues during Fiscal 2015, the Successor 2014 period, the Predecessor 2014 period and Fiscal 2013, respectively.

Third-Party Suppliers

We use a network of 15 distribution centers operated by a single company to distribute most of the products and supplies used in our Chuck E. Cheese’s branded stores and one distribution center for our Peter Piper Pizza branded stores. We believe that alternative third-party distributors are available for our products and supplies, but we may incur additional costs if we are required to replace our distributors or obtain the necessary products and supplies from other suppliers.

We have not entered into any hedging arrangements to reduce our exposure to commodity price volatility; however, we typically enter into short-term purchasing arrangements, which may contain pricing designed to minimize the impact of commodity price fluctuations.

We procure games, rides and other entertainment-related equipment from a limited number of suppliers, some of which are located in China. The number of suppliers from which we purchase games, rides and other entertainment-related equipment has declined due to industry consolidation over the past several years. See Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” for more information regarding the risks associated with our third-party suppliers.

Competition

The family dining and entertainment industries are highly competitive, with a number of major national and regional chains operating in each of these markets. In this regard, we compete for customers on the basis of (a) our name recognition; (b) the price, quality, variety and perceived value of our food and entertainment offerings; (c) the quality of our customer service; and (d) the convenience and attractiveness of our stores. Although there are other concepts that presently utilize the combined family dining and entertainment format, these competitors primarily operate on a regional or market-by-market basis. To a lesser extent, we also compete directly and/or indirectly with other dining and entertainment formats, including full-service and quick-service restaurants appealing to families with young children, the quick service pizza segment, movie theaters, themed amusement attractions, and other entertainment facilities for children.

Intellectual Property

We own various trademarks and proprietary rights, including Chuck E. Cheese’s^®, Where A Kid Can Be A Kid^®, Peter Piper Pizza^® and the Chuck E. Cheese character image used in connection with our business, which have been registered with the appropriate patent and trademark offices. The duration of such trademarks is unlimited, subject to continued use and renewal. We believe that we hold the necessary rights for protection of the trademarks considered essential to conduct our business. We believe our trade names and our ownership of trademarks and proprietary rights in the names and character likenesses featured in the operation of our stores provide us with an important competitive advantage, and we actively seek to protect our interests in such property.

Seasonality

Our operating results fluctuate seasonally. We typically generate our highest sales volumes during the first quarter of each fiscal year due to the timing of school vacations, holidays and changing weather conditions. School operating schedules, holidays and weather conditions may also affect our sales volumes in some operating regions differently than others. Because of the seasonality of our business, results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for our full fiscal year.

Government Regulation

We and our franchisees are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations affecting the development and operation of Chuck E. Cheese’s and Peter Piper Pizza stores. For a discussion of government regulation risks to our business, see Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”

Employees

As of January 3, 2016, we employed approximately 19,000 employees, including approximately 18,600 in the operation of our Company-owned stores and approximately 400 in our corporate offices. Our employees do not belong to any union or collective bargaining group. We believe that our employee relations are satisfactory, and we have not experienced any work stoppages at any of our stores.

Each Chuck E. Cheese’s and Peter Piper Pizza store typically employs a general manager, one or more managers, an electronic specialist who is responsible for repair and maintenance of the show, games and rides and approximately 20 to 40

food preparation and service employees, many of whom work part-time. Our staffing requirements are seasonal, and the number of people we employ at our stores will fluctuate throughout the year.

Available Information

We make financial information, news releases and other information available on our corporate website at www.chuckecheese.com. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file these reports and amendments, or furnish them to, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). This information may also be obtained by contacting Investor Relations at 1707 Market Place Blvd, Suite 200, Irving, Texas 75063 or call (972) 258-4525 to obtain a hard copy of these reports without charge. We do not intend for information contained on our website to be part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 1A. Risk Factors.

Our business operations and the implementation of our business strategy are subject to significant risks inherent in our business, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties described below. The occurrence of any one or more of the risks or uncertainties described below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K could have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Because these forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions that are subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control or are subject to change, actual results could be materially different.

If we are unable to successfully open new stores or appropriately update and evolve our current store base, our business and our consolidated financial results could be adversely affected.

Our ability to increase revenues and improve financial results depends, to a significant degree, on our ability to successfully implement and refine our long-term growth strategy. As part of our long-term growth strategy, we plan to upgrade the games, rides and entertainment in some of our existing stores, remodel and expand certain of our existing stores and open additional new stores in selected markets. The opening and success of new Chuck E. Cheese’s and Peter Piper Pizza stores is dependent on various factors, including but not limited to the availability of suitable sites, the negotiation of acceptable lease terms for such locations, our ability to meet construction schedules, our ability to manage such expansion and hire and train personnel to manage the new stores, the potential cannibalization of sales at our adjacent stores located in the market, as well as general economic and business conditions. Our ability to successfully open new stores or remodel, expand or upgrade the entertainment at existing stores will also depend upon the availability of sufficient capital for such purposes, including operating cash flow, our existing credit facility, future debt financings, future equity offerings, or a combination thereof. There can also be no assurance that we will be successful in opening and operating the number of anticipated new stores on a timely or profitable basis. There can be no assurance that we can continue to successfully remodel or expand our existing facilities or upgrade the games and entertainment or obtain a reasonable return on such investments.

Our growth is also dependent on our ability to continually evolve and update our business model to anticipate and respond to changing customer preferences and competitive conditions. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully anticipate changes in competitive conditions or customer preferences or that the market will accept our business model. If revenues and/or operating results are lower than our current estimates, we may incur additional charges for asset impairments in the future, which could adversely impact our consolidated financial results. Additionally, we incur significant costs each time we open a new store and other expenses when we relocate or remodel existing stores. The expenses of opening, relocating, or remodeling any of our stores may be higher than anticipated. If we are unable to open or are delayed in opening new or relocated stores, we may incur significant costs, which could adversely affect our consolidated financial results. If we are unable to remodel or are delayed in remodeling stores, we may incur significant costs, which could adversely affect our business and our consolidated financial results.

If we are unable to successfully open new stores or appropriately update and evolve our current store base, our business and our consolidated financial results could be adversely affected.

personnel to manage the new stores, the potential cannibalization of sales at our adjacent stores located in the market, as well as general economic and business conditions. Our ability to successfully open new stores or remodel, expand or upgrade the entertainment at existing stores will also depend upon the availability of sufficient capital for such purposes, including operating cash flow, our existing credit facility, future debt financings, future equity offerings, or a combination thereof. There can also be no assurance that we will be successful in opening and operating the number of anticipated new stores on a timely or profitable basis. There can be no assurance that we can continue to successfully remodel or expand our existing facilities or upgrade the games and entertainment or obtain a reasonable return on such investments.

We may not be successful in the implementation of our marketing strategy, which could adversely affect our business and our consolidated financial results.

Our long-term growth is dependent on the success of strategic initiatives to effectively market and advertise our concept to our target audience. In recent years, we have made significant changes to our marketing and advertising strategy, including (a) the introduction of an updated Chuck E. Cheese character; (b) change in the mix of our media expenditures; (c) an increase in advertising directed to parents; and (d) promoting our brand and reasons to visit through free-standing inserts in newspapers, on television, and online. There can be no assurance that these changes to our traditional media strategy, which was heavily weighted towards kids’ television advertising, free-standing inserts in newspapers, and significant couponing, will be effective at reaching customers or be accepted by customers. If we are not effective in reaching our target audience with our new marketing and advertising strategy or if these changes are not accepted by guests, we may incur additional advertising costs, and our business and our consolidated financial results could be adversely affected.

The restaurant and entertainment industries are highly competitive, and that competition could harm our business and our consolidated financial results.

We believe that our combined restaurant and entertainment center concept puts us in a niche, which combines elements of both the restaurant and entertainment industries. As a result, we compete with entities in both industries. The family dining industry and the entertainment industry are highly competitive, with a number of major national and regional chains operating in each of these spaces. Although other restaurant chains presently utilize the concept of combined family dining-entertainment operations, we believe these competitors operate primarily on a local, regional or market-by-market basis. Within the traditional restaurant sector, we compete with other casual dining restaurants on a nationwide basis with respect to price, quality, and speed of service; type and quality of food; personnel; the number and location of restaurants; attractiveness of facilities; effectiveness of advertising; and marketing programs and new product development. To a lesser extent, our competition also includes quick service restaurants with respect to pricing, service, experience, and perceived value. Within the entertainment sector, we compete with movie theaters, bowling alleys, theme parks, and other family-oriented concepts on a nationwide basis with respect to perceived value and overall experience. Additionally, children’s interests and opportunities for entertainment continue to expand. If we are unable to successfully evolve our concept, including new food and entertainment offerings, we may lose market share to our competition. These competitive market conditions, including the emergence of significant new competition, could adversely affect our business and our consolidated financial results.

We may not be successful in the implementation of our marketing strategy, which could adversely affect our business and our consolidated financial results.

new marketing and advertising strategy or if these changes are not accepted by guests, we may incur additional advertising costs, and our business and our consolidated financial results could be adversely affected.

The restaurant and entertainment industries are highly competitive, and that competition could harm our business and our consolidated financial results.

Economic uncertainty and changes in consumer discretionary spending in the U.S. and Canada could reduce sales at our stores and have an adverse effect on our business and our consolidated financial results.

Purchases at our stores are discretionary for consumers; therefore, our consolidated results of operations are susceptible to economic slowdowns and recessions. We are dependent in particular upon discretionary spending by consumers living in the communities in which our stores are located. A significant portion of our stores are clustered in certain geographic areas. Currently, a total of 179 Chuck E. Cheese’s stores are located in California, Texas, and Florida (176 are Company-owned and three are franchised locations), and a total of 134 Peter Piper Pizza stores are located in Arizona, Texas, and Mexico (30 are Company-owned and 104 are franchised locations). A significant weakening in the local economies of these geographic areas, or any of the areas in which our stores are located, may cause consumers to curtail discretionary spending, which in turn could reduce our Company store sales and have an adverse effect on our business and our consolidated financial results.

The future performance of the U.S. and global economies are uncertain and are directly affected by numerous national and global financial, political and other factors that are beyond our control. Our target market of families with young children can be highly sensitive to adverse economic conditions, which may impact their desire to spend discretionary dollars, resulting in lower customer traffic levels in our stores. Increases in credit card debt, home mortgage and other borrowing costs and declines in housing values could further weaken the U.S. or Canadian economies, leading to a further decrease in discretionary consumer spending. In addition, reduced consumer confidence as a result of a renewed recession, job losses, home foreclosures, investment losses in the financial markets, personal bankruptcies, and reduced access to credit may also result in lower levels of traffic to our stores. Moreover, our customer traffic may be impacted by major changes in U.S. fiscal policy. We believe that consumers generally are more willing to make discretionary purchases, including at our stores, during periods in which favorable economic conditions prevail. Further, fluctuations in the retail price of gasoline and the potential for future increases in gasoline and other energy costs may affect consumers’ disposable incomes available for entertainment and dining. Changes in consumer spending habits as a result of a recession or a reduction in consumer confidence are likely to reduce our customer traffic and sales performance, which could have an adverse effect on our business and our consolidated financial results. In addition, these economic factors could affect our level of spending on planned capital initiatives at our stores, and thereby impact our future sales, and could also result in potential asset impairments and store closures.

Negative publicity concerning food quality, health, general safety or other issues, and changes in consumer preferences, could negatively affect our brand image and adversely affect our consolidated financial results.

Food service businesses can be adversely affected by litigation and complaints from guests, consumer groups, or government authorities, resulting from food quality, illness, injury or other health concerns, or operating issues stemming from one store or a limited number of stores. Publicity concerning food-borne illnesses, injuries caused by food tampering, and general safety issues could negatively affect our operations, reputation and brand. Families with young children may be highly sensitive to adverse publicity that may arise from an actual or perceived negative event within one or more of our stores. We have, from time to time, received negative publicity related to altercations and other safety-related incidents in certain of our stores. There can be no assurance that in the future we will not experience negative publicity regarding one or more of our

stores, and the existence of negative publicity could adversely affect our brand image with our customers and our consolidated financial results.

The speed at which negative publicity can be disseminated has increased dramatically with electronic communication, including social media. Many social media platforms allow for users to immediately publish content without checking the accuracy of the content posted. If we are unable to quickly and effectively respond to such information, we may suffer declines in guest traffic, which could adversely impact our consolidated financial results.

In addition, our industry is affected by consumer preferences and perceptions. Changes in prevailing health or dietary preferences and perceptions may cause consumers to avoid certain products we offer in favor of alternative or healthier foods. If consumer eating habits change significantly and we are unable to respond with appropriate menu offerings, it could adversely affect our brand image and consolidated financial results.

Our business may also be impacted by certain public health issues including epidemics, pandemics and the rapid spread of certain illnesses and contagious diseases. To the extent that our customers feel uncomfortable visiting public locations, particularly locations with a large number of children, due to a perceived risk of exposure to a public health issue, we could experience a reduction in customer traffic, which could adversely affect our consolidated financial results.

Increases in food, labor, and other operating costs could adversely affect our consolidated financial results.

The performance of our stores is affected by changes in the costs for food products we purchase, including but not limited to cheese, dough, produce, chicken, and beef. The commodity prices for these food products vary throughout the year and may be affected by changes in supply, demand, and other factors beyond our control. We have not entered into any hedging arrangements to reduce our exposure to commodity price volatility associated with commodity prices; however, we typically enter into short-term purchasing arrangements, which may contain pricing designed to minimize the impact of commodity price fluctuations. An increase in our food costs could negatively affect our profit margins and adversely affect our consolidated financial results.

A significant number of our store-level employees are subject to various laws concerning compensation. Several states and cities in which we operate stores have established a minimum wage higher than the federally-mandated minimum wage. There may be similar increases implemented in other jurisdictions in which we operate or seek to operate. Additionally, a number of our employees could be subject to changes in federal rules and regulations concerning increases to salary and compensation levels necessary for white collar workers to be classified as exempt in 2016 and beyond, as well as state-specific laws governing relative pay for male and female employees. Such changes in the minimum wage and other wage or salary requirements could increase our labor costs and could have an adverse effect on our profit margins and our consolidated financial results.

The performance of our stores could also be adversely affected by increases in the price of utilities on which the stores depend, such as electricity and natural gas, whether as a result of inflation, shortages or interruptions in supply, or otherwise. Our business also incurs significant costs for, among other things, insurance, marketing, taxes, real estate, borrowing, and litigation, all of which could increase due to inflation, rising interest rates, changes in laws, competition, or other events beyond our control, which could have an adverse effect on our consolidated financial results.

Our strategy to open international franchised stores may not be successful and may subject us to unanticipated conditions in foreign markets, which could adversely impact our business and our ability to operate effectively in those markets.

Part of our growth strategy depends on our ability to attract new international franchisees and the ability of these franchisees to open and operate new stores on a profitable basis. As we do not have a long history of significant international growth experience, there can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully execute this strategy in the future. Delays or failures in identifying desirable franchise partners and opening new franchised stores could adversely affect our planned growth. Moreover, our franchisees depend on the availability of financing to construct and open new stores. If these franchisees experience difficulty in obtaining adequate financing, our growth strategy and franchise revenues could be adversely affected. Additionally, our growth strategy depends on the ability of our international franchisees to learn and implement our business strategy, while adapting to the local culture. There can be no assurance that the Chuck E. Cheese’s and Peter Piper Pizza concepts will be accepted in targeted international markets.

Currently, our international franchisees operate stores in Chile, Colombia, Guam, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad & Tobago, and the United Arab Emirates. We and our franchisees are subject to the regulatory, economic, and political conditions of any foreign market in which our franchisees operate stores. Any change in the laws, regulations, and economic and political stability of these foreign markets could adversely affect our consolidated financial results. Changes in foreign markets that could affect our consolidated financial results include, but are not limited to, taxation,

inflation, currency fluctuations, political instability, economic instability, war or conflicts, increased regulations and quotas, tariffs, and other protectionist measures. Additionally, our long-term growth strategy includes adding franchisees in additional foreign markets in the future. To the extent unfavorable conditions exist in the foreign markets we plan to expand into or we are unable to secure intellectual property rights sufficient to operate in such foreign markets, we and our international franchise partners may not be successful in opening the number of anticipated new stores on a timely and profitable basis. Delays or failures in opening new foreign market store locations could adversely affect our planned growth.

Our business dealings with foreign franchisees and vendors are subject to U.S. and foreign anti-corruption law, and investigations or enforcement actions brought under such law could adversely impact our business and our ability to operate effectively in those markets.

As a business that regularly enters into negotiations and contractual relationships with franchisees and vendors located in foreign countries, we are subject to the requirements of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other domestic and foreign laws and regulations governing such activities. Although we have a strong compliance program that includes regular training and reinforcement of our employees who represent us in dealings with foreign individuals and entities on the laws impacting such dealings, we may be faced with investigations or enforcement actions by the United States or foreign governments arising from such dealings. Responding to such investigations or enforcement actions would be costly and may divert management’s attention and resources from the regular operation of our business, and together with any fines, penalties, or other actions ordered by governmental authorities, could adversely affect our business and consolidated financial results.

Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital or to fund our operations, expose us to interest rate risk to the extent of our variable rate debt, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy, and prevent us from making debt service payments.

We are a highly leveraged company. As of January 3, 2016, we had $1,001.8 million face value of outstanding indebtedness (excluding capital lease and sale leaseback obligations), in addition to $139.1 million available for borrowing under our revolving credit facility at that date. For the Fiscal year ended January 3, 2016, we had total debt service payments of $69.8 million.

Our substantial indebtedness could have important consequences for us, including, but not limited to, the following:


•	limit our ability to borrow money for our working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, strategic initiatives or other purposes;


•	make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our indebtedness, and any failure to comply with the obligations of any of our debt instruments, including restrictive covenants and borrowing conditions, could result in an event of default under the indenture and the agreements governing other indebtedness;


•	require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to the repayment of our indebtedness, thereby reducing funds available to us for other purposes;


•	limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our operations or business;


•	make us more highly leveraged than some of our competitors, which may place us at a competitive disadvantage;


•	impact our rent expense on leased space, which could be significant;


•	make us more vulnerable to downturns in our business or the economy;


•	restrict us from making strategic acquisitions, engaging in development activities, introducing new technologies, or exploiting business opportunities;


•	cause us to make non-strategic divestitures;


•	limit, along with the financial and other restrictive covenants in our indebtedness, among other things, our ability to borrow additional funds or dispose of assets;


•	limit our ability to repurchase shares and pay cash dividends; and


•	expose us to the risk of increased interest rates, as certain of our borrowings are at variable rates of interest.

In addition, our credit agreement contains restrictive covenants that will limit our ability to engage in activities that may be in our long-term best interest. Our failure to comply with those covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of substantially all of our indebtedness.

We may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, subject to the restrictions contained in our revolving credit facility. If new indebtedness is added to our current debt levels, the related risks described above could intensify.

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness, and we may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness that may not be successful.

Our ability to pay principal and interest on our debt obligations will depend upon, among other things, (a) our future financial and operating performance (including the realization of any cost savings described herein), which will be affected by prevailing economic, industry and competitive conditions and financial, business, legislative, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond our control; and (b) our future ability to borrow under our revolving credit facility, the availability of which depends on, among other things, our complying with the covenants in the credit agreement governing such facility.

We cannot assure you that our business will generate cash flow from operations, or that we will be able to draw under our revolving credit facility or otherwise, in an amount sufficient to fund our liquidity needs, including the payment of principal and interest on our debt. If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to service our indebtedness, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets, seek additional capital, or restructure or refinance our indebtedness, including the senior notes. These alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. Our ability to restructure or refinance our debt will depend on the condition of the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of our debt could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict our business operations. In addition, the terms of existing or future debt agreements may restrict us from adopting some of these alternatives. In the absence of such operating results and resources, we could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet our debt service and other obligations. We may not be able to consummate those dispositions for fair market value or at all. Furthermore, any proceeds that we could realize from any such dispositions may not be adequate to meet our debt service obligations then due. Apollo and its affiliates have no continuing obligation to provide us with debt or equity financing. Our inability to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our debt obligations, or to refinance our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all, could result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition, and could negatively impact our ability to satisfy our debt obligations.

If we cannot make scheduled payments on our indebtedness, we will be in default, and holders of our senior notes could declare all outstanding principal and interest to be due and payable, the lenders under the Secured Credit Facilities could terminate their commitments to loan money, our secured lenders could foreclose against the assets securing their loans, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.

Our variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our debt service obligations to increase significantly.

Borrowings under the Secured Credit Facilities are at variable rates of interest and expose us to interest rate risk. Assuming the revolving credit facility remains undrawn, each 1% change in assumed interest rates, excluding the impact of our 1% interest rate floor, would result in an approximate $7.5 million increase in annual interest expense on indebtedness under the Secured Credit Facilities. In the future, we may enter into interest rate swaps that involve the exchange of floating for fixed rate interest payments in order to reduce interest rate volatility. However, we may not maintain interest rate swaps with respect to all of our variable rate indebtedness, and any swaps we enter into may not fully mitigate our interest rate risk, may prove disadvantageous, or may create additional risks.

If we are unable to maintain and protect our information technology systems and technologies, we could suffer disruptions in our business, damage our reputation with customers, and incur substantial costs.

The operation of our business is heavily dependent upon the implementation, integrity, security, and successful functioning of our computer networks and information systems, including the point-of-sales systems in our stores, data centers that process transactions, the enterprise resource planning system, the birthday reservation system, and various software applications used in our operations. In the ordinary course of our business, we also collect and store on our computer networks and information systems sensitive data, including intellectual property, our proprietary business information and that of our customers, suppliers and business partners, and personally identifiable information of our customers and employees. A failure of our systems to operate effectively as a result of a cyber-attack, damage to, interruption, or failure of any of these systems could result in a failure to meet our reporting obligations, material misstatements in our Consolidated Financial Statements, or losses due to the disruption of our business operations. These adverse situations could also lead to loss of sales or profits or cause us to incur additional development costs. We purchase insurance coverage related to network security and privacy to limit the cost of any such failure or cyber-attack. However it is difficult to procure enough insurance to cover a cyber-attack. Despite

our efforts to secure our computer networks and information systems, security could be compromised or confidential information could be misappropriated, resulting in a loss of customers’ or employees’ personal information, negative publicity or harm to our business and reputation that could cause us to incur costs to reimburse third parties for damages or to pay governmental fines, or cause a decrease in guest traffic.

Any disruption of our commodity distribution system could adversely affect our business and our consolidated financial results.

We use a network of 15 distribution centers operated by a single company to distribute most of the products and supplies used in our Chuck E. Cheese’s branded stores and one distribution center for our Peter Piper Pizza branded stores. Any failure by these distributors to adequately distribute products or supplies to our stores could increase our costs and have an adverse effect on our business and our consolidated financial results. Although we believe that alternative third-party distributors are available for our products and supplies, we may incur additional costs if we are required to replace our distributors or obtain the necessary products and supplies from other suppliers, and there can be no assurance that our business would not be disrupted.

Our procurement of games, rides, entertainment-related equipment, redemption prizes, and merchandise is dependent upon a few global providers, the loss of any of which could adversely affect our business and our consolidated financial results.

Our ability to continue to procure new games, rides, entertainment-related equipment, redemption prizes and merchandise is important to our business strategy. The number of suppliers from which we can purchase these items is limited due to industry consolidation over the past several years. To the extent that the number of suppliers continues to decline, we could be subject to the risk of distribution delays, pricing pressure, lack of innovation, and other associated risks. Furthermore, some of our suppliers are located in China, and continuing and increasing tension between the U.S. and Chinese governments could also result in interruptions in our ability to procure these products, which could adversely affect our business and our consolidated financial results.

We face risks with respect to product liability claims and product recalls, which could adversely affect our reputation, business and consolidated financial results.

We purchase merchandise from third parties and offer this merchandise to customers in exchange for prize tickets or for sale. This merchandise could be subject to recalls and other actions by regulatory authorities. Changes in laws and regulations could also impact the type of merchandise we offer to our customers. We have experienced, and may in the future experience, issues that result in recalls of merchandise. In addition, individuals may in the future assert claims or file lawsuits, alleging that they have sustained injuries from third-party merchandise offered by us. There is a risk that these claims or liabilities may exceed, or fall outside of the scope of, our insurance coverage. Any of the issues mentioned above could result in damage to our reputation, diversion of development and management resources, or reduced sales and increased costs, any of which could adversely affect our business and our consolidated financial results.

We are subject to various government regulations, which could adversely affect our business and our consolidated financial results.

The development and operation of our stores are subject to various federal, state, and local laws and regulations in many areas of our business, including but not limited to those that impose restrictions, levy a fee or tax, or require a permit, license or other regulatory approval, and those that relate to the operation of redemption, video, and arcade games and rides, the preparation of food and beverages, the sale and service of alcoholic beverages, and building and zoning requirements. Difficulties or failure in obtaining required permits, licenses, or other regulatory approvals could delay or prevent the opening of a new store, remodel or expansion, and the suspension of, or inability to renew, a license or permit could interrupt operations at an existing store.

We are also subject to laws governing our relationship with our employees, including minimum wage requirements, exempt status, overtime, other health insurance mandates, working and safety conditions, immigration status requirements, child labor laws, and non-discrimination laws. Additionally, potential changes in federal labor laws, including card verification regulations, could result in portions of our workforce being subjected to greater organized labor influence. This could result in an increase to our labor costs. A significant portion of our store personnel are paid at rates related to the minimum wage established by federal, state and municipal law. Increases in the minimum wage result in higher labor costs, which may be only partially offset by price increases and operational efficiencies. Furthermore, we are also subject to certain laws and regulations that govern our handling of customers’ personal information. A failure to protect the integrity and security of our customers’ personal information could expose us to litigation, as well as materially damage our reputation.

We are also subject to the rules and regulations of the Federal Trade Commission and various state laws regulating the offer and sale of franchises. The Federal Trade Commission and various state laws require that we furnish a franchise disclosure document containing certain information to prospective franchisees, and a number of states require registration of the franchise disclosure document with state authorities. Substantive state laws that regulate the franchisor-franchisee relationship presently exist in a substantial number of states, and bills have been introduced in Congress from time to time that would provide for federal regulation of the franchisor-franchisee relationship. The state laws often limit, among other things, the duration and scope of non-competition provisions, the ability of a franchisor to terminate or refuse to renew a franchise and the ability of a franchisor to designate sources of supply. We believe that our franchise disclosure document, together with any applicable state versions or supplements, and franchising procedures, comply in all material respects with both the Federal Trade Commission guidelines and all applicable state laws regulating franchising in those states in which we have offered franchises.

While we endeavor to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, governmental and regulatory bodies may change such laws and regulations in the future, which may require us to incur substantial cost increases. If we fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, we may be subject to various sanctions, penalties, and/or fines, or may be required to cease operations until we achieve compliance, which could have an adverse effect on our business and our consolidated financial results.

We face litigation risks from customers, employees, franchisees and other third parties in the ordinary course of business, which could adversely affect our business and our consolidated financial results.

Our business is subject to the risk of litigation by customers, current and former employees, franchisees, suppliers, stockholders, or others, through private actions, class actions, administrative proceedings, regulatory actions, or other litigation. The outcome of litigation, particularly class action lawsuits and regulatory actions, is difficult to assess or quantify. Plaintiffs in these types of lawsuits may seek recovery of very large or indeterminate amounts, and the magnitude of the potential loss relating to such lawsuits may remain unknown for substantial periods of time. The cost to defend future litigation may be significant. There may also be adverse publicity associated with litigation that could decrease customer acceptance of our food or entertainment offerings, regardless of whether the allegations are valid or whether we are ultimately found liable. From time to time, we are also involved in lawsuits with respect to alleged infringement of third party intellectual property rights, as well as challenges to our intellectual property.

We are continuously subject to risks from litigation and regulatory action regarding advertising to our market of children between the ages of two and 12 years old. In addition, since certain of our stores serve alcoholic beverages, we are subject to “dram shop” statutes. These statutes generally allow a person injured by an intoxicated person to recover damages from an establishment that wrongfully served alcoholic beverages to the intoxicated person. Although we believe we are adequately protected against such losses by insurance, a judgment against us under a “dram shop” statute in excess of the liability covered by insurance could have an adverse effect on our business and our consolidated financial results.

Our business may be adversely affected by local conditions, natural disasters, and other events.

Certain regions in which our facilities (including our Support Center, stores, and warehouses) are located may be subject to adverse local conditions, natural disasters, and other events. Severe weather, such as heavy snowfall, ice, or extreme temperatures, may discourage or restrict customers in affected regions from traveling to our stores or prevent employees from performing their work in our facilities, which could adversely affect our sales. If severe weather conditions occur during the first quarter of the year, the adverse impact to our sales and profitability could be even greater than at other times during the year because we typically generate our highest sales and profits during the first quarter. Natural disasters including tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and earthquakes may damage our facilities, which may adversely affect our business and our consolidated financial results.

Our business is seasonal, and quarterly results may fluctuate significantly as a result of this seasonality.

We have experienced, and in the future could experience, quarterly variations in our consolidated revenues and profitability as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are outside our control, including the timing of school vacations, holidays, and changing weather conditions. We typically generate our highest sales volumes and profitability in the first quarter of each fiscal year. If there is a material decrease in the customer traffic in our stores during the first quarter of the year due to unusually cold or inclement weather or other circumstances outside of our control, our operating results could be materially, adversely affected for that quarter and further, may have an adverse effect on our consolidated financial results for the fiscal year.

Public health issues could adversely affect our consolidated financial results.

Our business may be impacted by certain public health issues including epidemics, pandemics and the rapid spread of certain illnesses and contagious diseases. To the extent that our customers feel uncomfortable visiting public locations, particularly locations with a large number of children, due to a perceived risk of exposure to a public health issue, we could experience a reduction in customer traffic, which could adversely affect our consolidated financial results.

Our current insurance policies may not provide adequate levels of coverage against all claims, and we could incur losses that are not covered by our insurance, which could adversely affect our business and our consolidated financial results.

We have procured and maintain insurance coverage at levels that we believe are typical for a business of our type and size. However, we could experience a loss that either cannot be insured against or is not commercially reasonable to insure. For example, insurance covering liability for violations of wage and hour laws is generally not available. Under certain circumstances, plaintiffs may file certain types of claims that may not be covered by insurance. In some cases, plaintiffs may seek punitive damages, which may also not be covered by insurance. Losses such as these, if they occur, could adversely affect our business and our consolidated financial results.

We are dependent on the service of certain personnel, and the loss of any of these personnel could harm our business.

Our success significantly depends on the continued employment and performance of our senior management team. We have employment agreements with certain members of our senior management team. However, we cannot prevent the members of our senior management team from terminating their employment with us. Losing the services of any member of senior management could harm our business until a suitable replacement is hired, and such replacement may not have equal experience or capabilities. Additionally, economic conditions or concerted overtures by competitors may lead to resignations of significant numbers of members of our operations management team, which may also negatively impact our consolidated financial results in the short term.

We may not be able to adequately protect our trademarks or other proprietary rights, which could have an adverse effect on our business and our consolidated financial results.

We own certain common law trademark rights and a number of federal and international trademark and service mark registrations, Internet domain name registrations and other proprietary rights relating to our operations. We believe that our trademarks and other proprietary rights are important to our success and our competitive position. We therefore devote appropriate resources to the protection of our trademarks and proprietary rights. However, the protective actions that we take may not be enough to prevent unauthorized usage or imitation by others, which could harm our image, brand, or competitive position, and if we commence litigation to enforce our rights, we may incur significant legal fees.

There can be no assurance that third parties will not claim that our trademarks, menu offerings, or advertising claims infringe upon their proprietary rights or constitute unfair competition. Any such claim, whether or not it has merit, may result in costly litigation, cause delays in introducing new menu items in the future, interfere with our international development agreements, lead to delays or cancellation of pre-paid marketing campaigns, or require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements. As a result, any such claim could have an adverse effect on our business and our consolidated financial results.

We are subject to risks in connection with owning and leasing real estate, which could adversely affect our consolidated financial results.

As an owner or lessee of the land and/or building for our Company-owned stores, we are subject to all of the risks generally associated with owning and leasing real estate, including changes in the supply and demand for real estate in general and the supply and demand for the use of the stores. We may be compelled to continue to operate a non-profitable store due to our obligations under lease agreements, or we may close a non-profitable store and continue making rental payments with respect to the lease, which could adversely affect our consolidated financial results. Furthermore, economic instability may inhibit our landlords from securing financing and maintaining good standing in their existing financing arrangements, which could result in their inability to keep existing tenants or attract new tenants, thereby reducing customer traffic to our stores. The lease terms for our leased facilities vary, and some have only a short term remaining. Most-but not all-of our leased facilities have renewal terms. When a lease term expires, the Company may not be able to renew such lease on reasonable economic and commercial terms, or at all. Such failure to renew leases on reasonable economic and commercial terms could adversely affect our business and consolidated financial results.

We may not be successful in integrating the operations of companies we acquire, which could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

We have engaged in acquisition activity and we may in the future engage in acquisitions or other strategic transactions, such as investments in other entities. Strategic transactions, such as the Peter Piper Pizza acquisition completed in October 2014, involve risks, including those associated with integrating operations or maintaining operations as separate (as applicable); financial reporting; disparate technologies and personnel of acquired companies; the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns; unknown risks; and the potential loss of key employees, customers, and strategic partners of acquired companies or companies in which we may make strategic investments. We may not successfully integrate any businesses or technologies we may acquire or strategically develop in the future and may not achieve anticipated revenue and cost benefits relating to any such strategic transactions. Strategic transactions may be expensive and time consuming, and may strain our resources. Strategic transactions may not be accretive and may negatively impact our results of operations as a result of, among other things, the incurrence of debt, write-offs of goodwill and amortization expenses of other intangible assets.

We are involved in litigation relating to the Merger Agreement that could divert management’s attention and harm our business.

As described in Part I, Item 3 of this report, “Legal Proceedings,” in 2014 the Company and individual former members of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) were named as defendants in a number of lawsuits related to the Merger Agreement and the Merger. These suits, which were subsequently consolidated into one action, generally allege, among other things, that the former directors breached their fiduciary duties owed to the Company’s stockholders by, among other things, agreeing to an inadequate tender price, the adoption on January 15, 2014 of a Rights Agreement, and certain provisions in the Merger Agreement that allegedly made it less likely that the Board would consider alternative acquisition proposals. These suits also allege that The Goldman Sachs Group aided and abetted the former directors’ alleged breaches of fiduciary duty in connection with the Company’s entry into the Merger Agreement as a result of various alleged conflicts of interest facing the bank. Although we believe this suit is without merit, the defense of this action is expensive and may divert management’s attention and resources, which could adversely affect our business.

ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

ITEM 2. Properties.

Chuck E. Cheese’s and Peter Piper Pizza stores are typically located in densely populated locations within a 20-minute drive of our guests and are predominantly situated in shopping centers or in free-standing buildings near shopping centers. On average, Chuck E. Cheese’s existing stores are approximately 12,700 square feet, with table and chair seating generally averaging between 400 to 450 guests per store, and include approximately 70 to 80 games, rides and attractions. On average, Peter Piper Pizza existing stores are approximately 10,100 square feet, with table and chair seating generally averaging between 350 to 400 guests per store, and include approximately 40 games, rides and attractions.

The following tables summarize information regarding the number and location of stores we and our franchisees operated as of January 3, 2016:



Domestic	Company-Owned Stores	Franchised Stores	Total
Chuck E. Cheese’s	512	29	541
Peter Piper Pizza	32	62	94
Total domestic	544	91	635
International
Chuck E. Cheese’s	12	39	51
Peter Piper Pizza	—	46	46
Total international	12	85	97
Total stores in operation	556	176	732



Domestic	Company- Owned Stores	Franchised Stores	Total
Alabama	8	1	9
Alaska	1	—	1
Arizona	32	17	49
Arkansas	6	—	6
California	81	4	85
Colorado	10	—	10
Connecticut	4	—	4
Delaware	2	—	2
Florida	31	—	31
Georgia	15	—	15
Hawaii	—	2	2
Idaho	1	—	1
Illinois	22	—	22
Indiana	13	—	13
Iowa	4	—	4
Kansas	4	—	4
Kentucky	5	—	5
Louisiana	10	2	12
Maryland	16	—	16
Massachusetts	11	—	11
Michigan	16	—	16
Minnesota	8	—	8
Mississippi	3	2	5
Missouri	8	—	8
Montana	—	1	1
Nebraska	2	—	2
Nevada	6	—	6
New Hampshire	2	—	2
New Jersey	15	—	15
New Mexico	5	3	8
New York	22	—	22
North Carolina	13	2	15
North Dakota	—	1	1
Ohio	19	1	20
Oklahoma	6	—	6
Oregon	1	2	3
Pennsylvania	23	—	23
Rhode Island	1	—	1
South Carolina	7	—	7
South Dakota	2	—	2
Tennessee	12	—	12
Texas	65	46	111
Utah	2	1	3
Virginia	12	3	15
Washington	8	3	11
West Virginia	1	—	1
Wisconsin	9	—	9
Total domestic	544	91	635



International	Company- Owned Stores	Franchised Stores	Total
Canada	12	—	12
Chile	—	7	7
Guam	—	1	1
Guatemala	—	2	2
Mexico	—	54	54
Panama	—	2	2
Peru	—	3	3
Puerto Rico	—	3	3
Trinidad	—	1	1
Saudi Arabia	—	9	9
United Arab Emirates	—	2	2
Total international	12	85	97
Total stores in operation	556	176	732

Company Store Leases

Of the 524 Company-owned Chuck E. Cheese’s stores as of January 3, 2016, 10 are owned premises and 514 are leased. All of the 32 Company-owned Peter Piper Pizza stores as of January 3, 2016 are leased premises.

The terms of our store leases vary in length from lease to lease, although generally a lease provides for an initial primary term of 10 years, with two additional five-year options to renew. As of January 3, 2016, two of our leases were month-to-month and 36 of our leases were set to expire in 2016. Of those set to expire in 2016, five have no available renewal options and the remainder have available renewal options expiring between 2017 and 2036. Our remaining leases are set to expire at various dates through 2035, with available renewal options that expire at various dates through 2054.

These leases generally require us to pay the cost of repairs, other maintenance costs, insurance and real estate taxes and, in some instances, may provide for additional rent equal to the amount by which a percentage of revenues exceed the minimum rent. It is common for us to take possession of leased premises prior to the commencement of rent payments for the purpose of constructing leasehold improvements.

Corporate Offices and Warehouse Facilities

We lease 55,257 square feet of space in an office building in Irving, Texas, which serves as our corporate office and support services center. This lease expires in July 2026 with options to renew through July 2036.

Peter Piper Pizza leases a 5,243 square foot office building in Phoenix, Arizona, which serves primarily as its corporate office. The lease expires in September 2018 with no options to renew.

We also lease a 166,432 square foot warehouse building in Topeka, Kansas, which primarily serves as a storage, distribution and refurbishing facility for our store fixtures and game equipment. The lease expires in August 2024 with options to renew through August 2034.

ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings.

From time to time, we are involved in various inquiries, investigations, claims, lawsuits and other legal proceedings that are incidental to the conduct of our business. These matters typically involve claims from customers, employees or other third parties involved in operational issues common to the retail, restaurant and entertainment industries. Such matters typically represent actions with respect to contracts, intellectual property, taxation, employment, employee benefits, personal injuries and other matters. A number of such claims may exist at any given time, and there are currently a number of claims and legal proceedings pending against us.

In the opinion of our management, after consultation with legal counsel, the amount of liability with respect to claims or proceedings currently pending against us is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Employment-Related Litigation: On January 27, 2014, former store employee Franchesca Ford filed a purported class action lawsuit against the Company in San Francisco County Superior Court, California (the “Ford Litigation”). The plaintiff claims to represent other similarly-situated hourly non-exempt employees and former employees of the Company in California who were employed during the period January 27, 2010 to the present. She alleges violations of California state wage and hour

laws governing vacation pay, meal and rest period pay, wages due upon termination, and waiting time penalties, and seeks an unspecified amount in damages. In March 2014, the Company removed the Ford Litigation to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division, and subsequently defeated the plaintiff’s motion to remand the case to California state court. On May 22, 2015, the parties reached an agreement to settle the lawsuit on a class-wide basis. The settlement would result in the plaintiffs’ dismissal of all claims asserted in the action, as well as certain related but unasserted claims, and grant of complete releases, in exchange for the Company’s settlement payment. The settlement currently awaits the Court’s approval. The settlement of this action did not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, liquidity or capital resources.

On March 24, 2014, Franchesca Ford and Isabel Rodriguez filed a purported class action lawsuit against the Company in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, San Diego Division. The plaintiffs claim to represent other similarly-situated applicants who were subject to pre-employment background checks with the Company in California and across the United States from March 24, 2012 to the present. The lawsuit alleges violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the California Consumer Credit Reporting and Investigative Reporting Agencies Act. The plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages. On September 23, 2014, the Company reached an agreement to settle the lawsuit on a class-wide basis. The settlement would result in the plaintiffs’ dismissal of all claims asserted in the action, as well as certain related but unasserted claims, and grant of complete releases, in exchange for the Company’s settlement payment. On July 7, 2015, the Court entered an order preliminarily approving the settlement. On January 6, 2016, the Court signed the judgment approving the settlement. The Company expects this case to be closed during the second quarter of 2016. The settlement of this action did not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, liquidity or capital resources.

On October 17, 2014, former store employee Wiley Wright filed a purported class action lawsuit against the Company in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, claiming to represent other similarly-situated salaried exempt current and former employees of the Company in the state of New York during the period October 17, 2008, as well as similarly-situated salaried exempt current and former employees throughout the remainder of the United States during the period October 17, 2011 to the present. The lawsuit alleges that current and former Assistant Managers and Senior Assistant Managers were unlawfully classified as exempt from overtime protections and worked more than 40 hours a week without overtime premium pay in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and New York Labor Law. The plaintiff seeks an unspecified amount in damages. On December 12, 2014, plaintiff moved for conditional certification of the putative class of employees; the Company filed its response to this motion on January 19, 2015. On July 16, 2015, the Court granted conditional certification of a collective group that included only the Assistant Managers and Senior Assistant Managers who worked in the four New York stores where plaintiff worked during his employment with the Company, while permitting plaintiff to obtain further discovery from the Company relating to his original motion. On November 18, 2015, the parties reached an agreement to settle the litigation. A draft of the proposed settlement agreement and the notice to class members are being finalized. The settlement would result in the plaintiffs’ dismissal of all claims asserted in the action, as well as certain related but unasserted claims, and grant of complete releases, in exchange for the Company’s settlement payment. Upon execution of the settlement agreement, the parties will submit the agreement to the Court for preliminary approval. The settlement of this action did not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, liquidity or capital resources.

On October 10, 2014, former store General Manager Richard Sinohui filed a purported class action lawsuit against the Company in the Superior Court of California, Riverside County (the “Sinohui Litigation”), claiming to represent other similarly-situated current and former General Managers of the Company in California during the period October 10, 2010 to the present. The lawsuit alleges current and former California General Managers were unlawfully classified as exempt from overtime protections and worked more than 40 hours a week without overtime premium pay, paid rest periods and paid meal periods, in violation of the California Labor Code, California Business and Professions Code, and the applicable Wage Order issued by the California Industrial Welfare Commission. The plaintiff seeks an unspecified amount in damages. On December 5, 2014, the Company removed the Sinohui Litigation to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division. On December 30, 2014, the plaintiff petitioned the court to remand the Sinohui Litigation to California state court. On January 9, 2015, the Company filed a Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Second, Third, Seventh and Eighth Causes of Action. The court has not ruled on this motion. On February 26, 2015, the Court overruled the plaintiff’s motion to remand. On October 9, 2015, Plaintiff filed its Motion for Class Certification. On January 8, 2016, the court held a hearing on Plaintiff’s Motion for Class Certification. We expect the court to rule on the motion by the end of the first quarter of 2016. We believe the Company has meritorious defenses to this lawsuit and we intend to vigorously defend it. While no assurance can be given as to the ultimate outcome of this matter, we currently believe that the final resolution of this action will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, liquidity or capital resources.

Litigation Related to the Merger: Following the January 16, 2014 announcement that the Company had entered into the Merger Agreement, four putative shareholder class actions were filed in the District Court of Shawnee County, Kansas, on behalf of purported stockholders of the Company against the Company, its directors, Apollo, Parent and Merger Sub, in connection with the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. The first purported class action, styled

Hilary Coyne v. Richard M. Frank et al. (the “Coyne Action”), was filed on January 21, 2014. The second, styled John Solak v. CEC Entertainment, Inc. et al. (the “Solak Action”), was filed on January 22, 2014. The third, styled Irene Dixon v. CEC Entertainment, Inc. et al. (the “Dixon Action”), was filed on January 24, 2014, and additionally names as defendants Apollo Management VIII, L.P. and the AP VIII Queso Holdings, L.P. The fourth, styled Louisiana Municipal Public Employees’ Retirement System v. Frank, et al. (the “LMPERS Action”), was filed on January 31, 2014, and additionally names as defendants, Apollo Management VIII, L.P. and AP VIII Queso Holdings, L.P. (collectively, Coyne, Solak, and Dixon Actions shall be referred to as the “Shareholder Actions”).

Each of the Shareholder Actions alleges that the Company’s directors breached their fiduciary duties to the Company’s stockholders in connection with their consideration and approval of the Merger Agreement by, among other things, agreeing to an inadequate tender price, the adoption on January 15, 2014 of a Rights Agreement, and certain provisions in the Merger Agreement that allegedly made it less likely that the Board would be able to consider alternative acquisition proposals. The Coyne, Dixon and LMPERS Actions further allege that the Board was advised by a conflicted financial advisor. The Solak, Dixon and LMPERS Actions further allege that the Board was subject to material conflicts of interest in approving the Merger Agreement and that the Board breached its fiduciary duties in allowing allegedly conflicted members of management to negotiate the transaction. The Dixon and LMPERS Actions further allege that the Board breached its fiduciary duties in approving the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (together with the exhibits and annexes thereto, as it may be amended or supplemented, the “Statement”) filed with the SEC on January 22, 2014, which allegedly contained material misrepresentations and omissions.

Each of the Shareholder Actions allege that Apollo aided and abetted the Board’s breaches of fiduciary duties. The Solak and Dixon Actions allege that CEC also aided and abetted such breaches, and the Solak and LMPERS Actions further allege that Parent and the Merger Sub aided and abetted such actions. The LMPERS Action further alleges that Apollo Management VIII, L.P. and AP VIII Queso Holdings, L.P. aided and abetted such actions.

The Shareholder Actions seek, among other things, rescission of the transactions, damages, attorneys’ and experts’ fees and costs, and other unspecified relief.

On January 24, 2014, the plaintiff in the Coyne Action filed an amended complaint (the “Coyne Amended Complaint”), and on January 30, 2014, the plaintiff in the Solak Action filed an amended complaint (the “Solak Amended Complaint”) (together, the “Amended Complaints”). The Amended Complaints incorporated all of the allegations in the original complaints, added allegations that the Board-approved Statement omitted certain material information, in further violation of the Board’s fiduciary duties, and requested an order directing the Board to disclose such allegedly-omitted material information. The Solak Amended Complaint also added allegations that the Board breached its fiduciary duties in allowing an allegedly conflicted financial advisor and management to lead the sales process.

On March 7, 2014, the Coyne, Solak, Dixon and LMPERS Actions were consolidated into one action. On July 21, 2015 a consolidated class action petition was filed as the operative consolidated complaint by Twin City Pipe Trades Pension Trust that continued to assert claims against CEC and its former directors; added The Goldman Sachs Group (“Goldman Sachs”) as a defendant; and removed all Apollo entities as defendants (“Consolidated Class Action Petition”). The Consolidated Class Action Petition alleges that the Company’s directors breached their fiduciary duties to the Company’s stockholders in connection with their consideration and approval of the Merger Agreement by, among other things, conducting a deficient sales process, agreeing to an inadequate tender price, agreeing to certain provisions in the Merger Agreement, and filing materially deficient disclosures regarding the transaction. The Consolidated Class Action Petition also alleges that two members of the Company’s board who also served as the senior managers of the Company had material conflicts of interest and that Goldman Sachs aided and abetted the board’s breaches as a result of various conflicts of interest facing the bank. The Consolidated Class Action Petition seeks, among other things, to recover damages, attorneys’ fees and costs. On October 22, 2015, the Company and its former directors filed a Motion to Dismiss and are currently awaiting the Court’s ruling. The Court has not yet set this case for trial. The Company believes the Consolidated Class Action Petition is without merit and intends to defend it vigorously. While no assurance can be given as to the ultimate outcome of the consolidated matter, we currently believe that the final resolution of the action will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, liquidity or capital resources.

On June 10, 2014, Magnetar Global Event Driven Fund Ltd., Spectrum Opportunities Master Fund, Ltd., Magnetar Capital Master Fund, Ltd., and Blackwell Partners LLC, as the purported beneficial owners of shares held as of record by the nominal petitioner Cede & Co., (the “Appraisal Petitioners”), filed an action for statutory appraisal under Kansas state law against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, captioned Magnetar Global Event Driven Master Fund Ltd, et al. v. CEC Entertainment, Inc., 2:14-cv-02279-RDR-KGS. The Appraisal Petitioners sought appraisal of 750,000 shares of common stock. The Company answered the complaint and filed a verified list of stockholders, as required under Kansas law. The parties completed discovery in the case. On December 11, 2015, the court scheduled the trial in the case for February 16, 2016. On January 20, 2016, the court rescheduled the trial to February 22, 2016. On January 26, 2016, the parties

settled the litigation on terms that included the plaintiffs’ dismissal of all claims asserted in the action, as well as certain related but unasserted claims, and grant of complete releases, in exchange for the Company’s cash settlement. The settlement payment was accrued in Fiscal 2015 and is included in “Transaction, severance and related litigation costs” in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings in our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

None.

PART II

ITEM 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Market Information and Dividends

Prior to the Acquisition, our common stock was listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CEC.” As of January 3, 2016, all of our outstanding common stock was privately held and there was no established public trading market for our common stock.

In 2015, we declared and paid a dividend of $70 million. We did not declare any dividends in 2014.

Our ability to pay and declare dividends is restricted by our Secured Credit Facilities and senior notes. See further discussion of the Merger in Part I, Item 1. “Business - Merger” and Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Note 2. Acquisition of CEC Entertainment, Inc.” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. See Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” for a discussion of factors that might affect our financial performance and compliance with debt covenants, including covenants that affect our ability to pay dividends. Pursuant to our current revolving credit facility agreement, there are restrictions on the amount of cash dividends that we may pay on our common stock. See the discussion of our current revolving credit facility agreement included in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources – Debt Financing.”

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

There were no repurchases of our common stock during Fiscal 2015.

ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data.

The following selected financial data presented below should be read in conjunction with Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”



	Fiscal Year 2015 ⁽¹⁾			For the 317 Day Period Ended December 28, 2014 ^{(5) (6)}			For the 47 Day Period Ended February 14, 2014 ⁽⁷⁾			Fiscal Year 2013 ⁽¹⁾			Fiscal Year 2012 ⁽¹⁾			Fiscal Year 2011 ⁽¹⁾
	Successor			Successor			Predecessor			Predecessor			Predecessor			Predecessor

	(in thousands, except percentages and store number amounts)
Statements of Earnings Data:
Company store sales	$	905,110		$	712,098		$	113,556		$	816,739		$	798,937		$	815,894
Sales percent increase (decrease):
Total company store sales	NM			NM			NM			2.2		%	(2.1		)%	0.3		%
Comparable store sales ⁽²⁾	NM			NM			NM			0.4		%	(2.9		)%	(2.0		)%
Total revenues	$	922,589		$	718,581		$	114,243		$	821,721		$	803,480		$	821,178
Revenues percent increase (decrease)	NM			NM			NM			2.3		%	(2.2		)%	0.5		%
Operating income (loss)	$	55,131		$	(32,259	)	$	2,873		$	83,471		$	79,071		$	97,979
As a percent of total revenues	6.0		%	NM			2.5		%	10.2		%	9.8		%	11.9		%
Net income (loss)	$	(12,510	)	$	(62,088	)	$	704		$	47,824		$	43,590		$	54,962
Balance Sheet Data (end of year):
Total assets	$	1,733,035		$	1,836,113		NM			$	791,611		$	801,806		$	772,471
Total debt ⁽³⁾	$	994,448		$	999,783		NM			$	382,879		$	412,216		$	400,509
Stockholders’ equity	$	208,546		$	292,586		NM			$	160,768		$	143,274		$	124,177
Dividends declared	$	70,000		$	—		$	—		$	17,372		$	16,182		$	15,806
Non-GAAP Financial Measures:
Adjusted EBITDA ⁽⁴⁾	$	220,936		$	170,456		$	24,967		$	186,131		$	184,024		198,412
Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of Total revenues	23.9		%	23.7		%	21.9		%	22.7		%	22.9		%	24.2		%
Number of Stores (end of period):
Company-owned	556			559			NM			522			514			507
Franchised	176			172			NM			55			51			49
	732			731			NM			577			565			556

_______________________


(1)	We operate on a 52 or 53 week fiscal year ending on the Sunday nearest December 31. Fiscal year 2015 was 53 weeks in length and all other fiscal years presented were 52 weeks.

(2)

We define comparable store sales as the percentage change in sales for our domestic Company-owned stores that have been open for at least 18 months as of the beginning of each respective fiscal year or acquired stores we have operated for at least 12 months as of the beginning of the applicable fiscal period. We believe comparable store sales to be a key performance indicator used within our industry; it is a critical factor in evaluating our performance, as it is indicative of acceptance of our strategic initiatives and local economic and consumer trends. Our comparable store sales for Fiscal 2015 and the Successor 2014 period exclude the Peter Piper Pizza stores that were acquired in October 2014 as we had operated them for less than 12 months at the beginning of each respective fiscal year. Chuck E. Cheese’s comparable store sales for Fiscal 2015 decreased 0.4% in 2015. On a proforma basis, combining the successor and predecessor 2014 periods, Chuck E. Cheese’s comparable store sales decreased 2.2% in 2014. On a standalone basis, Peter Piper Pizza’s comparable store sales increased 5.2% in 2015, 4.6% in 2014, 4.9% in 2013 and 4.6% in 2012. The impact of the 53rd week on comparable store sales was excluded from these percentages for Fiscal 2015.


(3)	Total debt includes our senior notes, our outstanding borrowings under the term loan facility, the revolving credit facility, and the Predecessor Facility, and capital lease obligations.


(4)	See the definition of Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Income Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) and the reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA in “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.


(5)	The financial results for the period February 15, 2014 through December 28, 2014 represent the 317 day Successor period following the Merger.


(6)	Results for the Successor 2014 period include the revenues and expenses for Peter Piper Pizza for the 73 day period from October 17, 2014 through December 28, 2014.


(7)	The financial results for the period December 29, 2013 through February 14, 2014 represent the 47 day Predecessor period prior to the Merger.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA, a measure used by management to assess operating performance, is defined as Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization adjusted to exclude unusual items and other adjustments required or permitted in calculating covenant compliance under the indenture and/or the Secured Credit Facilities (see discussion of our senior notes and Secured Credit Facilities in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources - Debt Financing).

We have provided Adjusted EBITDA in this report because we believe it provides investors with additional information to measure our performance. We believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA is appropriate to provide additional information to investors about certain material non-cash items and about unusual items that we do not expect to continue at the same level in the future, as well as other items. Further, we believe Adjusted EBITDA provides a meaningful measure of operating profitability because we use it for evaluating our business performance and understanding certain significant items.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a presentation made in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), and our use of the term Adjusted EBITDA varies from others in our industry. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to operating income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP as measures of operating performance or cash flows as a measure of liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA has important 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. For example, Adjusted EBITDA:


•	excludes certain tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to us;


•	does not reflect any cash capital expenditure requirements for the assets being depreciated and amortized that may have to be replaced in the future;


•	does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;


•	does not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our indebtedness.


•	does not include one-time expenditures;


•	excludes the impairment of Company-owned stores or impairments of long-lived assets, gains or losses upon disposal of property or equipment and inventory obsolescence charges outside of the ordinary course of business;


•	excludes non-cash equity based compensation expense;


•	reflects the removal of the non-cash portion of rent expense relating to the impact of straight-line rent and the amortization of cash incentives and allowances received from landlords, plus the actual cash received from landlords incentives and allowances in the period;


•	reflects franchise fees received on a cash basis post-acquisition;


•	excludes the purchase accounting impact to unearned revenue at the time of the acquisition;


•	excludes start-up and marketing costs incurred prior to the opening of new Company-owned stores;

•

excludes non-recurring income and expenses primarily related to (i) non-recurring franchise fee income; (ii) severance costs; (iii) integration costs in connection with acquisitions; (iv) employee and other legal claims and settlements; (v) costs incurred in connection with the relocation of our corporate offices; (vi) actual cash landlord incentives received on our new corporate offices; (vii) sales and use tax refunds relating to prior periods; (viii) miscellaneous professional fees; and (ix) certain insurance recoveries relating to prior year expense;


•	includes estimated cost savings, including some adjustments not permitted under Article 11 of Regulation S-X; and


•	does not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters that we, the initial purchasers of the senior notes, the current holders of the senior notes or the lenders under the Secured Credit Facilities may consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations.

Our definition of Adjusted EBITDA allows us to add back certain non-cash and non-recurring charges or costs that are deducted in calculating Net income. However, these are expenses that may recur, vary greatly and are difficult to predict. They can represent the effect of long-term strategies as opposed to short-term results. In addition, certain of these expenses can represent the reduction of cash that could be used for other corporate purposes. Because of these limitations, we rely primarily on our GAAP results and use Adjusted EBITDA only as supplemental information.



	Fiscal 2015			For the 317 Day Period Ended December 28, 2014			For the 47 Day Period Ended February 14, 2014			Fiscal 2013			Fiscal 2012			Fiscal 2011
	Successor			Successor			Predecessor			Predecessor			Predecessor			Predecessor
				(in thousands)
Total revenues	$	922,589		$	718,581		$	114,243		$	821,721		$	803,480		$	821,178

Net income (loss) as reported	$	(12,510	)	$	(62,088	)	$	704		$	47,824		$	43,590		$	54,962
Interest expense	70,582			60,952			1,151			7,453			9,401			8,875
Income tax expense (benefit)	(2,941		)	(31,123		)	1,018			28,194			26,080			34,142
Depreciation and amortization	119,294			118,556			9,883			79,028			79,510			81,560
Non-cash impairments, gain or loss on disposal ⁽¹⁾	8,934			9,841			294			6,360			10,314			5,774
Non-cash stock-based compensation ⁽²⁾	838			703			12,639			8,481			7,468			7,185
Rent expense book to cash ⁽³⁾	8,463			10,616			(1,190		)	714			(313		)	1,675
Franchise revenue, net cash received ⁽⁴⁾	1,217			2,585			—			—			—			—
Impact of purchase accounting ⁽⁵⁾	995			1,496			—			—			—			—
Store pre-opening costs ⁽⁶⁾	792			1,166			131			2,057			1,525			391
One-time items ⁽⁷⁾	23,085			55,109			(165		)	(40		)	99			372
Cost savings initiatives ⁽⁸⁾	2,187			2,643			502			6,060			6,350			3,476
Adjusted EBITDA	$	220,936		$	170,456		$	24,967		$	186,131		$	184,024		$	198,412
Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of total revenues	23.9		%	23.7		%	21.9		%	22.7		%	22.9		%	24.2		%

__________________


(1)	Relates primarily to (i) the impairment of Company-owned stores or impairments of long lived assets; (ii) gains or losses upon disposal of property or equipment; and (iii) inventory obsolescence charges outside of the ordinary course of business.


(2)	Represents non-cash equity-based compensation expense.


(3)	Represents (i) the removal of the non-cash portion of rent expense relating to the impact of straight-line rent and the amortization of cash incentives and allowances received from landlords, plus (ii) the actual cash received from landlord incentives and allowances in the period in which it was received.


(4)	Represents the actual cash received for franchise fees received in the period for post-acquisition franchise development agreements, which are not recorded as revenue until the franchise store is opened.


(5)	Represents revenue related to unearned gift cards and unearned franchise fees that were removed in purchase accounting, and therefore were not recorded as revenue.


(6)	Relates to start-up and marketing costs incurred prior to the opening of new Company-owned stores and generally consists of payroll, recruiting, training, supplies and rent incurred prior to store opening.

(7)

Represents non-recurring income and expenses primarily related to (i) transaction costs associated with the Merger, Sale Leaseback transaction and PPP Acquisition; (ii) severance expense and executive termination benefits; (iii) integration costs in connection with the PPP Acquisition; (iv) employee and other legal claims and settlements; (v) costs incurred in connection with the relocation of our corporate offices; (vi) actual cash landlord incentives received on our new corporate offices; (vii) sales and use tax refunds relating to prior periods; (viii) miscellaneous professional fees; and (ix) certain insurance recoveries relating to prior year expense.

(8)

Relates to estimated net cost savings primarily from (i) the change from public to private ownership upon the closing of the Acquisition and elimination of public equity securities, with reductions in investor relations activities, directors’ fees and certain legal and other securities and filing costs; (ii) the full-year effect of cost savings initiatives implemented by the Company in 2013; (iii) the estimated effect of cost savings following the Acquisition from participation in Sponsor-leveraged purchasing programs including various supplies, travel and communications purchasing categories; (iv) the net impact of labor savings associated with changes in management; (v) cost savings in connection with the relocation of the Company’s corporate offices in 2015; (vi) labor savings associated with planned headcount reductions in 2015; (vii) estimated cost savings associated with the integration of PPP; (viii) the full-year effect of costs savings associated with upgrades to our telephone communication systems; and net of (ix) the estimated incremental costs associated with our new IT systems and post-closing insurance arrangements.

ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

As used in this report, the terms “CEC Entertainment,” “CEC”, the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to CEC Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to provide the readers of our Consolidated Financial Statements with a narrative from the perspective of our management on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and certain other factors that may affect our future results. Our MD&A should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our MD&A includes the following sub-sections:


•	Executive Summary;


•	Overview of Operations;


•	Results of Operations;


•	Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources;


•	Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations;


•	Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates; and


•	Recently Issued Accounting Guidance.

Fiscal Year

We operate on a 52 or 53 week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday nearest to December 31. Each quarterly period has 13 weeks, except for a 53 week year, when the fourth quarter has 14 weeks. The fiscal year ended January 3, 2016 consisted of 53 weeks and the fiscal years ended December 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013 each consisted of 52 weeks. References to 2015 and 2013 are for the fiscal years ended January 3, 2016 and December 29, 2013, respectively.

As discussed below, we completed the Merger on February 14, 2014. As a result of the Merger, we applied the acquisition method of accounting and established a new basis of accounting on February 15, 2014. Periods presented prior to and including February 14, 2014 represent the operations of the predecessor company (“Predecessor”) and the period presented after February 14, 2014 represent the operations of the successor company (“Successor”). The fifty-two weeks ended December 28, 2014 include the 47 day Predecessor period from December 30, 2013 through February 14, 2014 (“Predecessor Period”) and the 317 day Successor period from February 15, 2014 through December 28, 2014 (“Successor Period”).

Executive Summary

Our Strategic Plan

Our strategic plan is focused on increasing comparable store sales, improving profitability and margins and expanding our stores domestically and internationally. See discussion of our strategic plan included in Part I, Item 1. “Business - Our Strategic Plan.”

The Merger

On February 14, 2014, pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”), an entity controlled by Apollo Global Management, LLC (“Apollo”) and its subsidiaries merged with and into CEC Entertainment Inc., with CEC Entertainment Inc. surviving the merger (the “Merger” or the “Acquisition”). As a result of the Merger, the shares of CEC Entertainment Inc. common stock ceased to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange after close of market on February 14, 2014. The aggregate consideration paid to acquire the Company was $1.4 billion, including the payoff of net debt of $348.0 million and $65.7 million in transaction and debt issuance costs. The Acquisition was funded by (a) $350.0 million of equity contributions from investment funds directly or indirectly managed by Apollo (the “Apollo Funds”); (b) $248.5 million of borrowings under a bridge loan facility, which were shortly thereafter repaid using the proceeds from our issuance of $255.0 million of senior notes; and (c) $760.0 million of borrowings under a term loan facility. In addition, we also entered into a $150.0 million revolving credit facility in connection with the Acquisition, which was undrawn at closing. See “Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources - Debt Financing” for additional discussion of the senior notes, term loan facility and revolving credit facility.

Acquisition of Peter Piper Pizza

On October 15, 2014, the Company entered into an agreement and plan of merger to acquire PPP, a leading pizza and entertainment restaurant chain operating in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, for an aggregate purchase price of $113.1 million, net of cash acquired (the “PPP Acquisition”). We completed the PPP Acquisition on October 16, 2014, and funded it with a portion of the cash proceeds from the sale leaseback transaction we completed on August 25, 2014 with National Retail Properties, Inc. (the “Sale Leaseback”).

53rd Week Impact

Our Successor 2015 period (as defined below) consisted of 53 weeks compared to 52 weeks in the combined Successor and Predecessor 2014 periods, resulting in one additional operating week in the fourth quarter of the Successor 2015 period. The favorable impact to total revenues and company store sales from the additional operating week was approximately $24.7 million, and $24.5 million, respectively. We estimate that the additional operating week benefited the Successor 2015 period net income by approximately $3.5 million and Adjusted EBITDA by approximately $11.5 million, primarily due to the operating leverage obtained from the additional high sales volume in the 53rd week.

Fiscal 2015 Overview

In the following MD&A, we have presented the results of operations and cash flows separately for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2016 (“Successor 2015 period”), the 317 day period from February 15, 2014 to December 28, 2014 (the “Successor 2014 period”), the 47 day period from December 29, 2014 to February 14, 2014 (the “Predecessor 2014 period”) and the fiscal year ended December 29, 2013 (the “Predecessor 2013 period”). The Successor and Predecessor periods have been demarcated by a solid black line.


•	Total revenues of $922.6 million in the Successor 2015 period compared to total revenues of $718.6 million in the Successor 2014 period and $114.2 million in the Predecessor 2014 period.


•	Adjusted EBITDA of $220.9 million in the Successor 2015 period compared to adjusted EBITDA of $170.5 million in the Successor 2014 period and $25.0 million in the Predecessor 2014 period. We estimate our Adjusted EBITDA for 2015, before the impact of the 53^rd week, to be approximately $209.4 million.


•	Net loss of $12.5 million in the Successor 2015 period compared to a net loss of $62.1 million in the Successor 2014 period and net income of $0.7 million in the Predecessor 2014 period.


•	Cash provided by operations was $100.6 million for the Successor 2015 period compared to $48.1 million for the Successor 2014 period and $22.3 million for the Predecessor 2014 period. The increase in the Successor 2015 period was primarily driven by an additional week of operations in 2015, transaction, severance and related litigation costs incurred in 2014 in connection with the Merger.

Overview of Operations

We currently operate and franchise family dining and entertainment centers under the names “Chuck E. Cheese’s” and “Peter Piper Pizza.” We are located in 47 states and 12 foreign countries and territories. Our stores provide our guests with a variety of family entertainment and dining alternatives. Our family leisure offerings include video games, skill games, rides, musical and comical shows and other attractions along with tokens, tickets and prizes for kids. Our wholesome family dining offerings are centered on made-to-order pizzas, salads, sandwiches, wings, appetizers, beverages and desserts.

The following table summarizes information regarding the number of Company-owned and franchised stores for the periods presented:



	Twelve Months Ended
	January 3, 2016		December 28, 2014		December 29, 2013
Number of Company-owned stores:
Beginning of period	559		522		514
New⁽¹⁾	5		11		13
Acquired by the Company ⁽²⁾	—		32		—
Acquired from franchisee	—		1		—
Closed⁽¹⁾	(8	)	(7	)	(5	)
End of period	556		559		522
Number of franchised stores:
Beginning of period	172		55		51
New ⁽³⁾	12		10		6
Acquired by the Company ⁽²⁾	—		110		—
Acquired from franchisee	—		(1	)	—
Closed ⁽³⁾	(8	)	(2	)	(2	)
End of period	176		172		55
Total number of stores:
Beginning of period	731		577		565
New ⁽⁴⁾	17		21		19
Acquired by the Company ⁽²⁾	—		142		—
Acquired from franchisee	—		—		—
Closed ⁽⁴⁾	(16	)	(9	)	(7	)
End of period	732		731		577

__________________


(1)	The number of new and closed Company-owned stores during 2015, 2014 and 2013 included two, two and one stores, respectively,

that were relocated.


(2)	In October 2014, we acquired Peter Piper Pizza, including 32 Company-owned stores and 110 franchised stores.


(3)	The number of new and closed franchise stores during 2015, 2014 and 2013 included two, one, and one stores, respectively, that were relocated.


(4)	The number of new and closed stores during 2015, 2014 and 2013 included four, three and two stores, respectively, that were relocated.

Comparable store sales. We define “comparable store sales” as the percentage change in sales for our domestic Company-owned stores that have been open for more than 18 months as of the beginning of each respective fiscal year or acquired stores we have operated for at least 12 months as of the beginning of Fiscal 2015. Comparable store sales is a key performance indicator used within our industry and is a critical factor when evaluating our performance, as it is indicative of acceptance of our strategic initiatives and local economic and consumer trends.

The following table summarizes information regarding our average annual comparable store sales and comparable store base:



	Fiscal Year Ended ⁽¹⁾
	January 3, 2016		December 28, 2014		December 29, 2013
	(in thousands, except store number amounts)
Average annual sales per comparable store ^{(2) (3)}	$	1,563	$	1,550	$	1,573
Number of stores included in our comparable store base ⁽³⁾	489		485		485

__________________


(1)	The information for the Fiscal year ended January 3, 2016 is presented on a 52 week basis.

(2)

Average annual sales per comparable store is calculated based on the average weekly sales of our comparable store base. The amount of average annual sales per comparable store cannot be used to compute year-over year comparable store sales increases or decreases due to the change in the comparable store base. Additionally, the average annual sales amount for Fiscal 2015 excludes the impact of an additional 53^rd week of sales. Including the 53^rd week in Fiscal 2015, the average annual sales per comparable store in thousands was $1,607.


(3)	Average annual sales per comparable store and the comparable store base exclude the Peter Piper Pizza branded stores that were acquired in October 2014 as we have operated them for less than 12 months as of the beginning of Fiscal 2015 and 2014.

The PPP Company-owned stores have achieved excellent comparable store sales growth over the past several years. For Fiscal 2015, excluding the 53^rd week of operations, Fiscal 2014 and Fiscal 2013, PPP comparable store sales growth has been 5.2%, 4.6% and 4.9%, respectively. Including the impact of the 53rd week in 2015, the PPP comparable store sales growth for Fiscal 2015 was 7.3%.

Revenues. Our primary source of revenues is sales at our Company-owned stores (“company store sales”), which consist of the sale of food, beverages, game-play tokens, PlayPass card game credits and merchandise. A portion of our company store sales are from sales of value-priced combination packages generally comprised of food, beverage and game tokens (“Package Deals”), which we promote through in-store menu pricing, our website and coupon offerings. We allocate the revenues recognized from the sale of our Package Deals and coupons between “Food and beverage sales” and “Entertainment and merchandise sales” based upon the price charged for each component when it is sold separately, or in limited circumstances, our best estimate of selling price if a component is not sold on a stand-alone basis, which we believe approximates each component’s fair value.

Food and beverage sales include all revenues recognized with respect to stand-alone food and beverage sales, as well as the portion of revenues allocated from Package Deals and coupons that relate to food and beverage sales. Entertainment and merchandise sales include all revenues recognized with respect to stand-alone game token sales, as well as a portion of revenues allocated from Package Deals and coupons that relate to entertainment and merchandise.

Franchise fees and royalties are another source of revenues. We earn monthly royalties from our franchisees based on a percentage of each franchise store’s sales. We also receive development and initial franchise fees to establish new franchised stores, as well as earn revenues from the sale of equipment and other items or services to franchisees. We recognize development and franchise fees as revenues when the franchise store has opened and we have substantially completed our obligations to the franchisee relating to the opening of a store.

Company store operating costs. Certain of our costs and expenses relate only to the operation of our Company-owned stores. These costs and expenses are listed and described below:


•	Cost of food and beverage includes all direct costs of food, beverages and costs of related paper and birthday supplies, less rebates from suppliers;


•	Cost of entertainment and merchandise includes all direct costs of prizes provided and merchandise sold to our customers, as well as the cost of tickets dispensed to customers;


•	Labor expenses consist of salaries and wages, bonuses, related payroll taxes and benefits for store personnel;


•	Depreciation and amortization includes expenses that are directly related to our Company-owned stores’ property and equipment, including leasehold improvements, game and ride equipment, furniture, fixtures and other equipment;


•	Rent expense includes lease costs for Company-owned stores, excluding common occupancy costs (e.g., common area maintenance (“CAM”) charges and property taxes); and


•	Other store operating expenses primarily include utilities, repair and maintenance costs, liability and property insurance, CAM charges, property taxes, credit card processing fees, licenses, preopening expenses, store asset disposal gains and losses and all other costs directly related to the operation of a store.

The “Cost of food and beverage” and “Cost of entertainment and merchandise” mentioned above exclude any allocation of (a) store employee payroll, related payroll taxes and benefit costs; (b) depreciation and amortization expense; (c) rent expense; and (d) other direct store operating expenses associated with the operation of our Company-owned stores. We believe that presenting store-level labor costs, depreciation and amortization expense, rent expense and other store operating expenses in the aggregate provides the most informative financial reporting presentation. Our rationale for excluding such costs is as follows:


•	our store employees are trained to sell and attend to both our dining and entertainment operations. We believe it would be difficult and potentially misleading to allocate labor costs between “Cost of Food and beverage sales” and “Cost of Entertainment and merchandise sales”; and

•

while certain assets are individually dedicated to either our food service operations or game activities, we also have significant capital investments in shared depreciating assets, such as leasehold improvements, point-of-sale systems and showroom fixtures. Therefore, we believe it would be difficult and potentially misleading to allocate depreciation and amortization expense or rent expense between “Cost of Food and beverage sales” and “Cost of Entertainment and merchandise sales.”

“Cost of food and beverage” and “Cost of entertainment and merchandise,” as a percentage of company store sales, are influenced both by the cost of products and the overall mix of our Package Deals and coupon offerings. “Entertainment and merchandise sales” have higher margins than “Food and beverage sales.”

Advertising expense. Advertising expense includes production costs for television commercials, newspaper inserts, Internet advertising, coupons, media expenses for national and local advertising and consulting fees, partially offset by contributions from our franchisees.

General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses represent all costs associated with operating our corporate office, including regional and district management and corporate personnel payroll and benefits, depreciation and amortization of corporate assets, back-office support systems and other administrative costs not directly related to the operation of our Company-owned stores.

Asset impairments. Asset impairments represent non-cash charges for the estimated write down or write-off of the carrying amount of certain long-lived assets within our stores to their estimated fair value, which are incurred when a store’s operation is not expected to generate sufficient projected future cash flows to recover the current net book value of the long-lived assets within the store. We believe our assumptions in calculating the fair value of our long-lived assets is similar to those used by other marketplace participants.

Adjusted EBITDA. We define Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization adjusted to exclude unusual items and other adjustments required or permitted in calculating covenant compliance under the indenture governing our senior notes and/or our Secured Credit Facilities (see discussion of our senior notes and Secured Credit Facilities under “Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources - Debt Financing”). Adjusted EBITDA is a measure used by management to evaluate our performance. Adjusted EBITDA provides additional information about certain trends, material non-cash items and unusual items that we do not expect to continue at the same level in the future, as well as other items. See Part II, Item 6. “Selected Financial Data - Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional information about Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA.

Results of Operations

The following table summarizes our principal sources of Total company store sales expressed in dollars and as a percentage of Total company store sales for the periods presented:



	Fiscal Year Ended				For the 317 Day Period Ended				For the 47 Day Period Ended				Fiscal Year Ended
	January 3, 2016 ^{(1) (2)}				December 28, 2014 ⁽¹⁾				February 14, 2014				December 29, 2013
	Successor				Successor				Predecessor				Predecessor

Food and beverage sales	$	408,095	45.1	%	$	307,696	43.2	%	$	50,897	44.8	%	$	368,584	45.1	%
Entertainment and merchandise sales	497,015		54.9	%	404,402		56.8	%	62,659		55.2	%	448,155		54.9	%
Total company store sales	$	905,110	100.0	%	$	712,098	100.0	%	$	113,556	100.0	%	$	816,739	100.0	%

__________________


(1)	Company store sales for the Successor 2014 period include sales from the acquired Peter Piper Pizza stores for the 73 day period from October 17, 2014 through December 28, 2014. Total Food and beverage sales and Entertainment and merchandise sales from PPP stores were $8.0 million and $2.5 million, respectively, for the 2014 Successor period since the PPP Acquisition.


(2)	Company store sales for Fiscal 2015 include the impact of an additional 53^rd week of revenues. Excluding the 53^rd week in 2015, total company store sales were approximately $880.7 million.

The following table summarizes our revenues and expenses expressed in dollars and as a percentage of Total revenues (except as otherwise noted) for the periods presented:



	Fiscal Year Ended					For the 317 Day Period Ended					For the 47 Day Period Ended				Fiscal Year Ended
	January 3, 2016					December 28, 2014 ⁽⁴⁾					February 14, 2014				December 29, 2013
	Successor					Successor					Predecessor				Predecessor
	(in thousands, except percentages)
Total company store sales	$	905,110		98.1	%	$	712,098		99.1	%	$	113,556	99.4	%	$	816,739	99.4	%
Franchise fees and royalties	17,479			1.9	%	6,483			0.9	%	687		0.6	%	4,982		0.6	%
Total revenues	922,589			100.0	%	718,581			100.0	%	114,243		100.0	%	821,721		100.0	%
Company store operating costs:
Cost of food and beverage⁽¹⁾	104,434			25.6	%	79,996			26.0	%	12,285		24.1	%	90,363		24.5	%
Cost of entertainment and merchandise⁽²⁾	31,519			6.3	%	24,608			6.1	%	3,729		6.0	%	29,775		6.6	%
Total cost of food, beverage, entertainment and merchandise⁽³⁾	135,953			15.0	%	104,604			14.7	%	16,014		14.1	%	120,138		14.7	%
Labor expenses⁽³⁾	250,584			27.7	%	200,855			28.2	%	31,998		28.2	%	229,172		28.1	%
Depreciation and amortization⁽³⁾	115,236			12.7	%	115,951			16.3	%	9,733		8.6	%	78,167		9.6	%
Rent expense⁽³⁾	96,669			10.7	%	76,698			10.8	%	12,365		10.9	%	78,463		9.6	%
Other store operating expenses⁽³⁾	143,078			15.8	%	119,896			16.8	%	15,760		13.9	%	131,035		16.0	%
Total Company store operating costs⁽³⁾	741,520			81.9	%	618,004			86.8	%	85,870		75.6	%	636,975		78.0	%
Other costs and expenses:
Advertising expense	47,146			5.1	%	33,702			4.7	%	5,903		5.2	%	41,217		5.0	%
General and administrative expenses	66,003			7.2	%	48,182			6.7	%	7,963		7.0	%	56,691		6.9	%
Transaction, severance and litigation related costs	11,914			1.3	%	50,545			7.0	%	11,634		10.2	%	316		—	%
Asset impairments	875			0.1	%	407			0.1	%	—		—	%	3,051		0.4	%
Total operating costs and expenses	867,458			94.0	%	750,840			104.5	%	111,370		97.5	%	738,250		89.8	%
Operating income (loss)	55,131			6.0	%	(32,259		)	(4.5	)%	2,873		2.5	%	83,471		10.2	%
Interest expense	70,582			7.7	%	60,952			8.5	%	1,151		1.0	%	7,453		0.9	%
Income (loss) before income taxes	(15,451		)	(1.7	)%	$	(93,211	)	(13.0	)%	$	1,722	1.5	%	$	76,018	9.3	%

__________________


(1)	Percent amount expressed as a percentage of Food and beverage sales.


(2)	Percent amount expressed as a percentage of Entertainment and merchandise sales.


(3)	Percent amount expressed as a percentage of Company store sales.


(4)	Results for the Successor 2014 period include the revenues and expenses for PPP for the 73 day period from October 17, 2014 through December 28, 2014.

Due to rounding, percentages presented in the table above may not sum to total. The percentage amounts for the components of Cost of food and beverage and the Cost of entertainment and merchandise may not sum to total due to the fact that Cost of food and beverage and Cost of entertainment and merchandise are expressed as a percentage of related Food and beverage sales and Entertainment and merchandise sales, as opposed to Total Company store sales.

Successor 2015 Period (Fiscal 2015) Compared to Successor 2014 Period (317 day period ended December 28, 2014) and Predecessor 2014 Period (47 day period ended February 14, 2014)

Our 2015 fiscal year consisted of 53 weeks compared to 52 weeks for the combined Successor and Predecessor 2014 periods. We have estimated the fiscal 2015 operating results on a comparable 52-week basis under the caption “53rd Week Impact.”

Revenues

Company store sales were $905.1 million for the Successor 2015 period compared to $712.1 million for the Successor 2014 period and $113.6 million for the Predecessor 2014 period. Total company store sales in the Successor 2015 period reflect revenues from our Peter Piper stores of $61.4 million, compared to $10.5 million in the Successor 2014 period, and approximately $24.5 million in Company-store sales generated from an additional week of operations in the Successor 2015 period. Before the impact of the extra week of operations in the Successor 2015 period, Chuck E. Cheese’s comparable store sales decreased (0.4)% due to a decrease in comparable store sales in the first quarter of 2015 followed by three consecutive quarters of comparable store sales growth. Excluding the additional week of operations in 2015, the PPP Company-owned stores achieved comparable store sales growth of 5.2% for the 2015 fiscal year compared to the 2014 fiscal year.

Franchise fees and royalties were $17.5 million in the Successor 2015 Period compared to $6.5 million in the Successor 2014 period and $0.7 million in the Predecessor 2014 period. The increase in the Successor 2015 period was primarily due to an increase in the number of Chuck E. Cheese’s franchise stores and franchise fees and royalties from our PPP franchise stores of $9.2 million.

Company Store Operating Costs

Generally, company store operating expenses as a percentage of sales benefited from operating leverage associated with the additional week of operations in 2015.

The cost of food, beverage, entertainment and merchandise, as a percentage of Total company store sales, was 15.0% in the Successor 2015 period compared to 14.7% in the Successor 2014 period and 14.1% in the Predecessor 2014 period. The Successor 2015 and Successor 2014 periods include the addition of PPP Company-owned stores, which have higher cost margins than our existing Chuck E. Cheese’s Company-owned stores due to the higher mix of food and beverage at our PPP Company-owned stores.

Labor expenses, as a percentage of Total company store sales, were 27.7% in the Successor 2015 period, 28.2% in the Successor 2014 period and 28.2% in the Predecessor 2014 period. The Successor 2015 period reflects improved labor management offset by an increase in minimum wage rates in certain states over the past year.

Depreciation and amortization expense was $115.2 million in the Successor 2015 period, $116.0 million in the Successor 2014 period and $9.7 million in the Predecessor 2014 period. The decrease in depreciation and amortization in the Successor 2015 period is primarily due to an increase in depreciation expense during the Successor 2014 period from certain property, plant and equipment assets that were assigned short useful lives from the acquisition method of accounting as a result of the Merger, partially offset by a full year’s depreciation of the property, plant and equipment assets acquired in the PPP Acquisition..

Rent expense was $96.7 million in the Successor 2015 period, $76.7 million in the Successor 2014 period and $12.4 million in the Predecessor 2014 period. As a result of the acquisition method of accounting related to the Merger, non-cash rent expense was $7.3 million in the Successor 2015 period and $6.9 million in the Successor 2014 period compared to $(0.9) million in the Predecessor 2014 period. The increase in rent in the Successor 2015 period also reflects an increase in cash rent from new store development and expansions of existing stores.

Advertising Expenses

Advertising expenses were $47.1 million in the Successor 2015 period, $33.7 million in the Successor 2014 period and $5.9 million in the Predecessor 2014 period. As a percentage of Total Company sales, advertising expenses were 5.1%, 4.7% and 5.2%, respectively, in the Successor 2015 period, Successor 2014 period, and Predecessor 2014 period. The Successor 2015 period reflects an increase in advertising directed to Moms, advertising to support our new menu launch, and an increase in advertising agency fees in connection with our transition in 2015 to new advertising agencies for our Chuck E. Cheese’s stores. Advertising expense also increased as a result of PPP, which was acquired in October 2014 and therefore not included in the Successor 2014 period prior to the date of the PPP Acquisition and the Predecessor 2014 period.

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses were $66.0 million in the Successor 2015 period, $48.2 million in the Successor 2014 period and $8.0 million in the Predecessor 2014 period. The increase in general and administrative expenses in the Successor 2015 period is primarily due to a $2.3 million increase in PPP integration costs, costs related to the relocation of our corporate offices and incremental general and administrative expenses for PPP, which was acquired in October 2014 and therefore not included in the Successor 2014 period prior to the date of the PPP Acquisition.

Transaction, Severance and Related Litigation Costs

Transaction, severance and related litigation costs were $11.9 million for the Successor 2015 period, $50.5 million for the Successor 2014 period and $11.6 million for the Predecessor 2014 period. The Transaction, severance and related litigation costs for the Successor 2015 period relate primarily to $11.1 million in legal fees and settlements related to Merger related litigation, and severance payments of $0.7 million The Transaction, severance and related litigation costs in the Successor 2014 period include transaction costs of $42.5 million related to the Merger, the Sale Leaseback and the PPP Acquisition, Merger related litigation costs of $1.8 million, and employee benefits of $6.3 million related to the departure of our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer as a result of the Merger. The Transaction, severance and related litigation costs in the Predecessor 2014 period include $11.1 million in accelerated stock-based compensation costs also related to the Merger.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $70.6 million in the Successor 2015 period, $61.0 million in the Successor 2014 period, and $1.2 million in the Predecessor 2014 period. Interest expense in the Successor 2015 period reflects a full year of interest on the debt issued to fund a portion of the Merger when compared to the Successor 2014 period. Our weighted average effective interest rate under our Secured Credit Facilities and senior notes was 5.5% for the Successor 2015 period and 6.2% for the Successor 2014 period (including the bridge loan). Excluding the impact of $4.9 million of issuance costs and interim interest related to the bridge loan facility, our weighted average effective interest rate would have been 5.7% for the Successor 2014 period.

Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rate was 19.0% in the Successor 2015 period, 33.4% in the Successor 2014 period and 59.1% in the Predecessor 2014 period. Our effective income tax rate for the Successor 2015 period differs from the statutory rate primarily due to the unfavorable impact of non-deductible legal fees and settlements related to the Merger, partially offset by benefits stemming from federal and state employment related income tax credits. Our effective income tax rate for the Successor 2014 period differs from the statutory rate primarily due to the unfavorable impact of non-deductible costs related to the Merger and acquisition of PPP, partially offset by the favorable impact of a net decrease in our liability for uncertain tax positions. Our effective income tax rate for the Predecessor 2014 period differs from the statutory rate due to the unfavorable impact of non-deductible costs related to the Merger, a net increase in our liability for uncertain tax positions, and an increase in income tax expense resulting from certain state income tax credits carried forward which we estimate will expire unused, partially offset by federal employment related income tax credits.

Successor 2014 Period (317 day period ended December 28, 2014) Compared to Predecessor 2014 Period (47 day period ended February 14, 2014) and Predecessor 2013 Period (Fiscal 2013)

Revenues

Company store sales were $712.1 million for the Successor 2014 period, compared to $113.6 million for the Predecessor 2014 period and $816.7 million for the Predecessor 2013 period. Company store sales in the Successor 2014 period reflect revenues from eleven additional Chuck E. Cheese’s branded stores opened, less revenues from seven stores closed since February 14, 2014, and store sales from Peter Piper Pizza branded stores of $10.5 million. Total company store sales in the Successor 2014 period and Predecessor 2014 period reflect a 2.2% decrease in comparable store sales. Franchise fees and royalties were $6.5 million in the Successor 2014 period, $0.7 million in the Predecessor 2014 period and $5.0 million in the Predecessor 2013 period. The increase in the Successor 2014 period was primarily due to an increase in the number of Chuck E. Cheese’s franchise stores and franchise fees and royalties from our PPP franchise stores of $1.8 million.

Company Store Operating Costs

The cost of food, beverage, entertainment and merchandise, as a percentage of Total Company store sales, was 14.7% in the Successor 2014 period, 14.1% in the Predecessor 2014 period, and 14.7% in Predecessor 2013 period. The decrease in

the Predecessor 2014 period was attributable to our cost savings initiatives that were fully implemented in the second quarter of 2013, partially offset by commodity cost inflation during 2014.

Labor expenses, as a percentage of Total Company store sales, were 28.2% in the Successor 2014 period, 28.2% in the Predecessor 2014 period, and 28.1% in Predecessor 2013 period. Labor expenses remained relatively flat as a percentage of sales.

Depreciation and amortization expense was $116.0 million in the Successor 2014 period, $9.7 million in the Predecessor 2014 period and $78.2 million in Predecessor 2013 period. The increase in depreciation and amortization in the Successor 2014 period is primarily due to a higher basis in our property, plant and equipment from the acquisition method of accounting as a result of the Merger.

Rent expense was $76.7 million in the Successor 2014 period, $12.4 million in the Predecessor 2014 period and $78.5 million in Predecessor 2013 period. As a result of the acquisition method of accounting related to the Merger, non-cash rent expense was $6.9 million in the Successor 2014 period compared to $(0.9) million in the Predecessor 2014 period and $1.3 million in the Predecessor 2013 period. The increase in rent in the Successor 2014 period also reflects an increase in cash rent from new store development and expansions of existing stores.

Advertising Expenses

Advertising expenses were $33.7 million in the Successor 2014 period, $5.9 million in the Predecessor 2014 period, and $41.2 million in the Predecessor 2013 period. As a percentage of Total company sales, advertising expenses were 4.7%, 5.2%, and 5.0%, respectively, in the Successor 2014 period, Predecessor 2014 period and Predecessor 2013 period, reflecting a reduction in digital brand advertising spend and a decrease in television production costs, partially offset by an increase in national television advertising.

Transaction, Severance and Related Litigation Costs

Transaction, severance and related litigation costs were $50.5 million for the Successor 2014 period and $11.6 million for the Predecessor 2014 period. The Transaction, severance and related litigation costs in the Successor 2014 period include transaction costs of $42.5 million related to the Merger, the Sale Leaseback and the PPP Acquisition, Merger related litigation costs of $1.8 million, and employee benefits of $6.3 million related to the departure of our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer as a result of the Merger. The Transaction, severance and related litigation costs in the Predecessor 2014 period include $11.1 million in accelerated stock-based compensation costs also related to the Merger. There were $0.3 million of Transaction, severance and related litigation costs in Predecessor 2013 period.

Asset Impairments

In the Successor 2014 period, we recognized an asset impairment charge of $0.4 million primarily related to four stores. In the Predecessor 2013 period, we recognized an asset impairment charge of $3.1 million primarily related to seven stores, of which three stores were previously impaired. We continue to operate all but one of these stores. The impairment charge was based on the determination that these stores were adversely impacted by various economic factors in the markets in which they are located. Management determined that the estimated fair value of certain long-lived assets at these stores (determined from discounted future projected operating cash flows of the stores over their remaining lease term) had declined below their carrying amount. For additional information about these impairment charges, refer to Note 6. “Property and Equipment - Asset Impairments” in our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $61.0 million in the Successor 2014 period, $1.2 million in the Predecessor 2014 period, and $7.5 million in the Predecessor 2013 period. Interest expense in the Successor 2014 period reflects an increase in our level of debt compared to the Predecessor 2014 and 2013 periods, as a result of debt issued to fund a portion of the Merger, as well as an increase in our weighted average effective interest rate. Interest expense for the Successor 2014 period also includes amortization of debt issuance costs related to our Secured Credit Facilities and senior notes, amortization of our term loan facility original issue discount, commitment and other fees related to our Secured Credit Facilities and interest related to the Sale Leaseback and capital leases. Our weighted average effective interest rate under our Secured Credit Facilities and senior notes, including the bridge loan, for the Successor 2014 period was 6.2%. Excluding the impact of $4.9 million of issuance costs and interim interest related to the bridge loan facility, our weighted average effective interest rate would have been 5.7% for the Successor 2014 period.

Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rate was 33.4% in the Successor 2014 period, 59.1% in the Predecessor 2014 period, and 37.1% in Predecessor 2013 period. Our effective income tax rate for the Successor 2014 period differs from the statutory rate primarily due to the unfavorable impact of non-deductible costs related to the Merger and the PPP Acquisition, partially offset by the favorable impact of a net decrease in our liability for uncertain tax positions (primarily resulting from the expiration of statutes of limitations). Our effective income tax rate for the Predecessor 2014 period differs from the statutory rate due to the unfavorable impact of non-deductible costs related to the Merger, a net increase in our liability for uncertain tax positions, an increase in income tax expense resulting from certain state income tax credits carried forward which we estimate will expire unused, partially offset by federal employment related tax credits. The Predecessor 2013 period effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate primarily as a result of federal Work Opportunity Tax Credits which were greater in amount for the year due to the retroactive reinstatement of the credit program enacted January 2, 2013, as well as the favorable impact of a net decrease in our liability for uncertain tax positions (primarily resulting from the settlement of positions with tax authorities and the expiration of statutes of limitations).

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview of Liquidity

We finance our business activities through cash flows provided by our operations.

The primary components of working capital are as follows:


•	our store customers pay for their purchases in cash or credit cards at the time of the sale and the cash from these sales is typically received before our related accounts payable to suppliers and employee payroll becomes due;


•	frequent inventory turnover results in a limited investment required in inventories; and


•	our accounts payable are generally due within five to 30 days.

As a result of these factors, our requirement for working capital is not significant and we are able to operate with a net working capital deficit (current liabilities in excess of current assets), similar to other companies in the restaurant industry.

The following tables present summarized consolidated financial information that we believe is helpful in evaluating our liquidity and capital resources as of the periods presented:



	Fiscal Year Ended			For the 317 Day Period Ended			For the 47 Day Period Ended			Fiscal Year Ended
	January 3, 2016			December 28, 2014			February 14, 2014			December 29, 2013
	Successor						Predecessor
	(in thousands)
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	100,613		$	48,091		$	22,314		$	138,664
Net cash used in investing activities	(78,191		)	(1,124,285		)	(9,659		)	(70,942		)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(81,599		)	1,168,448			(13,844		)	(66,031		)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash	(1,163		)	(444		)	(313		)	(641		)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	$	(60,340	)	$	91,810		$	(1,502	)	$	1,050
Interest paid	$	73,255		$	41,801		$	938		$	7,798
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	$	13,346		$	24,424		$	(79	)	$	31,614



	Successor
	January 3, 2016		December 28, 2014
	(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	50,654	$	110,994
Term loan facility	$	746,700	$	756,200
Senior notes	$	255,000	$	255,000
Note payable	$	63	$	113
Net availability on undrawn revolving credit facility	$	139,100	$	139,100

Funds generated by our operating activities and available cash and cash equivalents continue to be our primary sources of liquidity. We believe these sources of liquidity will be sufficient to finance our strategic plan and capital initiatives for the next twelve months. Our revolving credit facility is also available for additional working capital needs and investment opportunities. However, in the event of a material decline in our sales trends or operating margins, there can be no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash flows at or above our current levels. Our ability to access our revolving credit facility is subject to our compliance with the terms and conditions of the credit agreement governing such facility, including our compliance with certain prescribed covenants, as more fully described below. Our primary uses for cash provided by operating activities relate to funding our ongoing business activities, planned capital expenditures, servicing our debt, and the payment of income taxes.

Our cash and cash equivalents totaled $50.7 million as of January 3, 2016. Cash and cash equivalents as of January 3, 2016 includes $6.2 million of undistributed income from our Canadian subsidiary that we consider to be permanently invested.

Our strategic plan does not require that we enter into any material development or contractual purchase obligations. Therefore, we have the flexibility necessary to manage our liquidity by promptly deferring or curtailing any planned capital spending. In 2016, our planned capital spending includes new store development, existing store improvements, improvements to our various information technologies platforms and other capital initiatives.

Sources and Uses of Cash - Successor 2015 period Compared to Successor 2014 period and Predecessor 2014 period

Net cash provided by operating activities was $100.6 million in the Successor 2015 period, $48.1 million in the Successor 2014 period and $22.3 million in the Predecessor 2014 period. The Successor 2014 period reflects the impact of transaction, severance and related litigation costs that were expensed in connection with the Merger, as well as an increase in interest expense related to the new debt issued in connection with the Merger. The net cash provided by operating activities in the Predecessor 2014 period also reflects the impact of transaction costs expensed in connection with the Merger.

Net cash used in investing activities was $78.2 million in the Successor 2015 period, $1,124.3 million in the Successor 2014 period and $9.7 million in the Predecessor 2014 period. Net cash used in investing activities in the Successor 2015 period relates primarily to store related capital expenditures. The net cash used in investing activities in the Successor 2014 period relates primarily to consideration paid in connection with the Merger and the PPP acquisition of $946.9 million and $113.1 million, respectively.

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities was $(81.6) million in the Successor 2015 period, $1,168.4 million in the Successor 2014 period and $(13.8) million in the Predecessor 2014 period. In Fiscal 2015, we paid a $70.0 million dividend, which is reflected as cash used in financing activities in the Successor 2015 period. The cash provided by financing activities in the Successor 2014 period relates primarily to the proceeds from the issuance of debt of $1,011.2 million, the Apollo Funds’ equity contribution of $350.0 million, also in connection with the Merger, and proceeds from the Sale Leaseback of $183.7 million, partially offset by the repayment of the Predecessor revolving credit facility of $348.0 million.

Sources and Uses of Cash - Successor 2014 period Compared to Predecessor 2014 period and Predecessor 2013 period

Net cash provided by operating activities was $48.1 million in the Successor 2014 period, $22.3 million in the Predecessor 2014 period and $138.7 million in the Predecessor 2013 period. The Successor 2014 period reflects the impact of transaction, severance and related litigation costs that were expensed in connection with the Merger and the PPP Acquisition, as well as an increase in interest expense related to the new debt issued in connection with the Merger. The net cash provided by operating activities for the Predecessor 2014 period reflects the impact of transaction costs incurred in connection with the Merger.

Net cash used in investing activities was $1,124.3 million in the Successor 2014 period, relates primarily to consideration paid in connection with the Merger and the PPP Acquisition of $946.9 million and $113.1 million, respectively. Net cash used in investing activities in the Predecessor 2014 period and in Predecessor 2013 period relates primarily to store related capital expenditures.

Net cash provided by financing activities was $1,168.4 million in the Successor 2014 period, relating primarily to the proceeds from the issuance of debt in connection with the Merger totaling $1,011.2 million, the Apollo Funds’ equity contribution of $350 million, also in connection with the Merger, and proceeds from the Sale Leaseback of $183.7 million, partially offset by the repayment of the Predecessor revolving credit facility of $348.0 million. The net cash used in financing activities in the Predecessor 2014 period primarily relates to repayments on the Predecessor revolving credit facility, while Predecessor 2013 period includes repayments on the Predecessor revolving credit facility of $28.0 million, dividends paid of $17.1 million and common stock repurchases of $18.1 million.

Debt Financing

Predecessor Facility

In connection with the Merger on February 14, 2014, we repaid the total outstanding borrowings of $348.0 million under the Predecessor revolving credit facility (the “Predecessor Facility”), as well as all incurred and unpaid interest on the Predecessor Facility. The debt financing costs related to the Predecessor Facility were removed from our Consolidated Balance Sheet through acquisition accounting.

Secured Credit Facilities

In connection with the Merger on February 14, 2014, we entered into new senior secured credit facilities (the “Secured Credit Facilities”), which include a $760.0 million term loan facility with a maturity date of February 14, 2021 (the “term loan facility”) and a $150.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility with a maturity date of February 14, 2019, which includes a letter of credit sub-facility and a $30.0 million swingline loan sub-facility (the “revolving credit facility”and, together with the term loan facility, the “Secured Credit Facilities”). As of January 3, 2016 and December 28, 2014, we had no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility and $10.9 million of letters of credit issued but undrawn under the facility.

In addition, we may request one or more incremental term loan facilities and/or increase commitments under our revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount of up to the sum of (a) $200.0 million plus (b) such additional amount so long as, (i) in the case of loans under additional credit facilities that rank equally and without preference with the liens on the collateral securing the Secured Credit Facilities, our consolidated net first lien senior secured leverage ratio would be no greater than 4.25 to 1.00 and (ii) in the case of loans under additional credit facilities that rank junior to the liens on the collateral securing the Secured Credit Facilities, our consolidated total net secured leverage ratio would be no greater than 5.25 to 1.00, subject to certain conditions, and receipt of commitments by existing or additional lenders.

All borrowings under our revolving credit facility are subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions, including the absence of a default and the accuracy of representations and warranties.

We received net proceeds from the term loan facility of $756.2 million, net of original issue discount of $3.8 million, which were used to fund a portion of the Acquisition. We paid $17.8 million and $3.4 million in debt financing costs related to the term loan facility and revolving credit facility, respectively, which we capitalized in “Bank indebtedness and other long-term debt, net of deferred financing costs” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The original issue discount and deferred financing costs are amortized over the lives of the facilities and are included in “Interest expense” on our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Borrowings under the Secured Credit Facilities bear interest at a rate equal to, at our option, either (a) a London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) determined by reference to the costs of funds for Eurodollar deposits for the interest period relevant to such borrowings, adjusted for certain additional costs, subject to a 1.00% floor in the case of term loans or (b) a base

rate determined by reference to the highest of (i) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50%; (ii) the prime rate of Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch; and (iii) the one-month adjusted LIBOR plus 1.00%, in each case plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin for borrowings is 3.25% with respect to LIBOR borrowings and 2.25% with respect to base rate borrowings under the term loan facility and base rate borrowings and swingline borrowings under the revolving credit facility. The applicable margin for borrowings under the term loan facility is subject to one step down to 3.00% based on our net first lien senior secured leverage ratio, and the applicable margin for borrowings under the revolving credit facility is subject to two step-downs to 3.00% and 2.75% based on our net first lien senior secured leverage ratio. During Fiscal 2015, the federal funds rate ranged from 0.06% to 0.37%, the prime rate was 3.25% and the one-month LIBOR ranged from 0.17% to 0.43%.

In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the Secured Credit Facilities, we are required to pay a commitment fee equal to 0.50% per annum to the lenders under the revolving credit facility in respect of the unutilized commitments thereunder. The applicable commitment fee under the revolving credit facility is subject to a step-down to 0.375% based on our first lien senior secured leverage ratio. We are also required to pay customary agency fees, as well as letter of credit participation fees computed at a rate per annum equal to the applicable margin for LIBOR rate borrowings on the dollar equivalent of the daily stated amount of outstanding letters of credit, plus such letter of credit issuer’s customary documentary and processing fees and charges and a fronting fee computed at a rate equal to 0.125% per annum on the daily stated amount of each letter of credit.

After the third quarter of 2014, our applicable margin under the term loan facility stepped down to 3.00% with respect to LIBOR borrowings, 2.00% with respect to base rate borrowings, and 0.375% with respect to commitment fees. However, these margins returned to their initial rates after the third quarter of 2015. As a result of our net first lien senior secured leverage ratio for the period ending January 3, 2016, we believe our applicable margin will step down during the first quarter of 2016 to 3.00% with respect to LIBOR borrowings, 2.00% with respect to base rate borrowings, and 0.375% with respect to commitment fees.

The weighted average effective interest rate incurred on our borrowings under our Secured Credit Facilities was 4.6% during Fiscal 2015 and 4.8% for the 317 day period ended December 28, 2014, which includes amortization of debt issuance costs related to our Secured Credit Facilities, amortization of our term loan facility original issue discount, and commitment and other fees related to our Secured Credit Facilities. The weighted average effective interest rate incurred on our borrowings under our Predecessor Facility for the 47 day period ended February 14, 2014 was 1.6%.

The Secured Credit Facilities require scheduled quarterly payments on the term loan equal to 0.25% of the original principal amount of the term loan from July 2014 to December 2020, with the remaining balance paid at maturity, February 14, 2021. In addition, the Secured Credit Facilities include customary mandatory prepayment requirements based on certain events, such as asset sales, debt issuances and defined levels of excess cash flow.

We may voluntarily repay outstanding loans under the Secured Credit Facilities at any time, without prepayment premium or penalty, except in connection with a repricing event as described below, subject to customary “breakage” costs with respect to LIBOR rate loans. Any refinancing through the issuance or repricing amendment of any debt that results in a repricing event applicable to the term loan facility borrowings resulting in a lower yield occurring at any time during the first six months after the closing date will be accompanied by a 1.00% prepayment premium or fee, as applicable.

Our revolving credit facility includes a springing financial maintenance covenant that requires our net first lien senior secured leverage ratio not to exceed 6.25 to 1.00 (the ratio of consolidated net debt secured by first-priority liens on the collateral to last twelve month’s EBITDA, as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities). The covenant will be tested quarterly when the revolving credit facility is more than 30.0% drawn (excluding outstanding letters of credit) and will be a condition to drawings under the revolving credit facility that would result in more than 30.0% drawn thereunder. As of January 3, 2016 and December 28, 2014, the borrowings under the revolving credit facility were less than 30.0% of the outstanding commitments; therefore, the springing financial maintenance covenant under our revolving credit facility was not in effect.

The Secured Credit Facilities also contain customary affirmative covenants and events of default, and the negative covenants limit our ability to, among other things: (i) incur additional debt or issue certain preferred shares; (ii) create liens on certain assets; (iii) make certain loans or investments (including acquisitions); (iv) pay dividends on or make distributions in respect of our capital stock or make other restricted payments; (v) consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets; (vi) sell assets; enter into certain transactions with our affiliates; (vii) enter into sale-leaseback transactions; (viii) change our lines of business; restrict dividends from our subsidiaries or restrict liens; (ix) change our fiscal year; and (x) modify the terms of certain debt or organizational agreements.

All obligations under the Secured Credit Facilities are unconditionally guaranteed by Parent on a limited-recourse basis and each of our existing and future direct and indirect material, wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions. The obligations are secured by a pledge of our capital stock and substantially all of our assets and those of each subsidiary guarantor, including capital stock of the subsidiary guarantors and 65.0% of the capital stock of the first-tier foreign

subsidiaries that are not subsidiary guarantors, in each case subject to exceptions. Such security interests will consist of a first-priority lien with respect to the collateral.

Senior Unsecured Debt

Also in connection with the Merger on February 14, 2014, we borrowed $248.5 million under a bridge loan facility (the “bridge loan facility”) and used the proceeds to fund a portion of the Acquisition. We incurred $4.7 million of financing costs and $0.2 million of interest related to the bridge loan facility, which are included in “Interest expense” in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the 317 day period ended December 28, 2014.

On February 19, 2014, we issued $255.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.000% Senior Notes due in 2022 (the “senior notes”) in a private offering. The senior notes bear interest at a rate of 8.000% per year and mature on February 15, 2022. On or after February 15, 2017, we may redeem some or all of the senior notes at certain redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the senior notes (the “indenture”). Prior to February 15, 2017, we may redeem (i) up to 40.0% of the original aggregate principal amount of the senior notes with the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings at a price equal to 108.0% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, or (ii) some or all of the notes at a price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, plus the applicable “make-whole” premium set forth in the indenture.

On December 2, 2014 we completed an exchange offer whereby the original senior notes were exchanged for new notes (the “exchange notes”) which are identical to the initial senior notes except that the issuance of the exchange notes is registered under the Securities Act, the exchange notes do not bear legends restricting their transfer and they are not entitled to registration rights under our registration rights agreement. The exchange notes will evidence the same debt as the initial notes, and both the initial senior notes and the exchange notes are governed by the same indenture. We refer to the senior notes and the exchange notes collectively as the “senior notes.”

We paid $6.4 million in debt issuance costs related to the senior notes issued in February 2014, which we recorded as an offset to “Bank indebtedness and other long-term debt, less current portion” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The deferred financing costs are being amortized over the life of the senior notes to “Interest expense” on our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

The weighted average effective interest rate incurred on borrowings under our senior notes was 8.3% for both the 2015 fiscal year and the 317 day period ended December 28, 2014, which included amortization of debt issuance costs and other fees related to our senior notes.

Our obligations under the senior notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by our present and future direct and indirect wholly-owned material domestic subsidiaries that guarantee our Secured Credit Facilities.

The indenture contains restrictive covenants that limit our ability to, among other things: (i) incur additional debt or issue certain preferred shares; (ii) create liens on certain assets; (iii) make certain loans or investments (including acquisitions); (iv) pay dividends on or make distributions in respect of our capital stock or make other restricted payments; (v) consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets; (vi) sell assets; (vii) enter into certain transactions with our affiliates; and (viii) restrict dividends from our subsidiaries.

Capital Expenditures

We intend to continue to focus our future capital expenditures on reinvestment into our existing Company-owned Chuck E. Cheese’s and PPP stores through various planned capital initiatives and the development or acquisition of additional Company-owned stores. During Fiscal 2015, we completed 268 game enhancements, 26 major remodels and one store expansion, and we opened five new domestic Company-owned Chuck E. Cheese’s stores, including two relocated stores. We have funded and expect to continue to fund our capital expenditures through existing cash flows from operations. Capital expenditures in 2015 totaled approximately $77.8 million.

The following table reconciles the approximate total capital spend by initiative to our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the periods presented:



	Fiscal Year Ended		For the 317 Day Period Ended		For the 47 Day Period Ended		Fiscal Year Ended
	January 3, 2016		December 28, 2014		February 14, 2014		December 29, 2013
	Successor				Predecessor
	(in thousands)
Growth capital spend ⁽¹⁾	$	35,482	$	32,084	$	5,102	$	48,175
Maintenance capital spend ⁽²⁾	29,267		27,608		4,608		23,010
IT capital spend	13,087		4,995		—		2,900
Total Capital Spend	$	77,836	$	64,687	$	9,710	$	74,085

__________________

(1) Growth capital spend includes major remodels, store expansions, major attractions and new store development, including relocations and franchise

acquisitions.

(2) Maintenance capital spend includes game enhancements, general store capital expenditures and corporate capital expenditures.

We currently estimate our capital expenditures in 2016 will total approximately $105 million to $115 million. These capital expenditures consist of the following: (i) approximately $30 million for maintenance capital which includes games enhancements and general store maintenance capital expenditures; (ii) approximately $10 million for investments in one-time information technology initiatives; (iii) approximately $40 million to $45 million for various growth initiatives, including new store openings and major remodels and (iv) approximately $25 million to $30 million related to our PlayPass initiative. We currently expect to open eight to 13 new Company-owned Chuck E. Cheese’s and Peter Piper Pizza stores. In addition we are re-evaluating our store design for Chuck E. Cheese’s stores as part of an effort to launch a new store prototype to regional markets. We expect to fund our capital expenditures through cash flows from operations and existing cash on hand.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

As of January 3, 2016, we had no off-balance sheet financing arrangements as described in Regulation S-K Item 303(a)(4)(ii).

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of January 3, 2016: