Bowlero Corp (“Bowlero”), the world’s largest owner and operator of
bowling centers as well as owner of the Professional Bowlers
Association (PBA), and Isos Acquisition Corporation (NYSE: ISOS.U.,
“Isos”), today announced a definitive agreement for a business
combination that would result in Bowlero becoming a publicly listed
company.
Upon closing of the transaction, the combined
company will be named “Bowlero” and its common stock and warrants
are expected to trade on NYSE under the new ticker symbols “BOWL”
and “BOWL WS”, respectively. The pro forma implied enterprise value
of the combined company is approximately $2.6 billion. Once the
transaction closes, Bowlero will continue to be led by its existing
management team and is expected to have a nine-person board
composed of a majority of independent directors.
The transaction supports the continued expansion
of Bowlero’s footprint in the $4.5 billion total addressable U.S.
bowling market – which has grown 50% over last decade – while
becoming the dominant player in the $11 billion global bowling
market and grabbing a growing piece of the $100 billion global
out-of-home entertainment market. Bowlero has a significant
opportunity to accelerate already robust organic growth by
developing greenfield locations, acquisitions and upgrading and
converting current centers. The opportunity to upgrade about 180 of
Bowlero’s centers which are yet to receive significant investment
provides an ample runway for continued high returns on internal
investments.
Bowling is the largest participatory sport in
the U.S. with approximately 70 million people bowling each year.
Moreover, bowling is a highly fragmented industry with about 3,500
independent operators in the U.S. alone, which represents an
attractive consolidation opportunity to drive further growth.
Bowlero operates approximately 300 bowling centers in North America
– nearly eight times more centers than its nearest rival -
including facilities carrying the Bowlero, Bowlmor Lanes, and AMF
brands. Over 26 million guests bowled on Bowlero’s more than 12,000
bowling lanes in the 12 months ending February 2020. Bowlero
bowling centers’ average annual revenue is more than double the
industry average.
“Starting with the purchase of the original
Bowlmor Lanes in 1997 and its conversion into a Manhattan hotspot,
we’ve been revolutionizing the bowling industry, and we’re just
getting started,” said Tom Shannon, Founder, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Bowlero. “With our acquisition of the
Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) and partnership with FOX
Sports, we intend to continue to reenergize the PBA and bring the
sport to millions of fans. This transaction will allow us to
further expand the Bowlero ecosystem which covers leisure, media
and gaming.”
Bowlero has other additional growth
opportunities around the engagement and monetization of media,
gamification and sports betting. With more than 70 hours per year
of original first-run linear programming on Fox, the PBA had more
than 23 million viewers in 2020, its largest viewing audience ever,
despite Covid-related production limitations. Bowlero is adding or
upgrading arcades at its centers, more than 230 of which already
have them. The firm also plans to further amplify revenue through
recurring tournaments powered by an exclusive technology
partnership for real-time scoring across all participating Bowlero
locations, app-based scoring integration to allow bowlers to make
wagers and win prizes, as well as further brand integration with
sportsbook partners.
“As the global leisure industry continues its
strong rebound from last year, the strength of our brand and
business model leave us extremely well-positioned to benefit. Since
pandemic capacity restrictions have started to lift, location
revenue has sharply rebounded to greater than pre-pandemic levels
despite continued restrictions in certain locations,” said Brett
Parker, Bowlero’s President and Chief Financial Officer. “We
anticipate that EBITDA will grow at more than an 11% (CAGR) through
2023 from pre-pandemic levels, with normalized EBITDA margins north
of 30% as we further grow the business and execute our plan.”
- Average revenue and EBITDA per
center increased 8% and 13% per year, respectively, between fiscal
year 2016 and pre-pandemic TTM Feb 2020.
- Store level margins for calendar
year 2022 are projected to be 38.2%.
- Total company EBITDA margin for
calendar year 2022 is projected to be 32.6%.
Bowlero has bowling centers in highly attractive
markets across North America with 286 in the U.S., 7 in Mexico, 2
in Canada and another 26 signed or under a letter of intent. More
than 70% of the firm’s revenue is generated in the top 25
metropolitan areas of North America or adjacent areas.
George Barrios and Michelle Wilson, Co-CEOs of
Isos Acquisition Corporation stated, “We are excited about the
incredible business that Tom and Brett have expertly built. They
have created a branded community poised for long-term growth driven
by global demand for premium live experiences augmented by
engagement opportunities across leisure, media, and gaming. We view
this business combination as highly strategic with committed
capital that gives Bowlero even more financial flexibility to
execute on organic and inorganic growth plans. We look forward to
joining the Bowlero Board and driving shareholder value with the
combined experience and network of our two teams.”
Transaction Overview
The business combination values Bowlero at an
implied $2.6 billion pro forma enterprise value. A $450 million
fully committed PIPE transaction consisting of convertible
preferred and common stock has been secured in consideration for
$345 million in cash and $105 million of Atairos’ existing equity
in Bowlero, anchored by investors including funds managed by
affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc., Brigade Capital
Management, Soros Fund Management LLC, The Donerail Group LP and
Wells Fargo Asset Management. The perpetual convertible preferred
stock has a 5.5% dividend and a conversion price of $13.00 and
mandatorily converts into common stock after two years if the
common share price is at least $16.90. The transaction will provide
cash to repurchase a portion of its existing equity and leave
Bowlero with adequate cash to fund its operations and growth.
The boards of directors of both Bowlero and Isos
have approved the proposed transaction, which is expected to be
completed in October 2021, subject to, among other things, the
approval by Isos’ stockholders and satisfaction or waiver of the
other conditions stated in the definitive documentation.
Additional information about the proposed
transaction, including a copy of the business combination agreement
and investor presentation, will be provided in a Current Report on
Form 8-K to be filed by Isos with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, which can be accessed at www.sec.gov as well as online
at www.isosacquisitioncorp.com/investor-relations.
Advisors
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as
financial advisor to Bowlero. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton &
Garrison LLP is acting as legal advisor to Bowlero. Davis Polk is
acting as legal advisor to Atairos, a significant current holder of
Bowlero’s equity. Proskauer is acting as legal advisor to
management.
LionTree Advisors LLC is serving as financial
advisor and placement agent to Isos. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is
acting as lead placement agent and capital markets advisor to Isos.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is acting as legal
advisor to J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and LionTree Advisors LLC in
their capacities as placement agents. Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP
is acting as legal advisor to Isos.
Investor Webcast
Information
Listeners may access an investor webcast hosted
by Bowlero and Isos management. The webcast is accessible in the
Investor Relations section of the Isos website at
www.isosacquisitioncorp.com/investor-relations.
About Bowlero Corp
Bowlero Corp is the worldwide leader in bowling
entertainment, media, and events. With more than 300 bowling
centers across North America, Bowlero Corp serves more than 26
million guests each year through a family of brands that includes
Bowlero, Bowlmor Lanes, and AMF. In 2019, Bowlero Corp acquired the
Professional Bowlers Association, the major league of bowling,
which boasts thousands of members and millions of fans across the
globe. For more information on Bowlero Corp, please
visit BowleroCorp.com.
About Isos Acquisition
Corporation
Isos Acquisition Corporation (NYSE: ISOS.U) is a
blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger,
share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization
or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The
Company is led by Co-Chief Executive Officers George Barrios and
Michelle Wilson. For more information on Isos Acquisition
Corporation, please visit www.isosacquisitioncorp.com.
Important Information and Where to Find
It
This press release relates to a proposed
transaction between Isos and Bowlero. Isos intends to file a
registration statement (“Registration Statement”), which will
include a proxy statement for the solicitation of Isos shareholder
approval and a prospectus for the offer and sale of Isos securities
in the transaction, and other relevant documents with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to be used at its
extraordinary general meeting of shareholders to approve the
proposed transaction with Bowlero. The proxy statement will be
mailed to shareholders as of a record date to be established for
voting on the proposed business combination. INVESTORS AND SECURITY
HOLDERS OF ISOS AND BOWLERO ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT, PROXY STATEMENT, PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS
THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY
WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security
holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration
statement, proxy statement, prospectus and other documents
containing important information about Isos and Bowlero once such
documents are filed with the SEC, through the website maintained by
the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders
will be able to obtain free copies of the documents filed with the
SEC by Isos in the Investor Relations section of Isos’ website at
www.isosacquisitioncorp.com/investor-relations.
Participants in the
Solicitation
Isos, Bowlero and their respective directors and
executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the
solicitation of proxies of Isos’s shareholders in connection with
the proposed transaction. Investors and securityholders may obtain
more detailed information regarding the names and interests in the
proposed transaction of Isos’ directors and officers in Isos’
filings with the SEC, including the forthcoming proxy/prospectus
statement and Isos’ prospectus in connection with its initial
public offering, which was filed with the SEC on March 4, 2021.
Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be
deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies to Isos’
shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination
will be set forth in the Registration Statement for the proposed
business combination when available.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication shall not constitute a
solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to
any securities or in respect of the proposed transactions. This
communication shall also not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be
any sale of securities in any jurisdictions in which such offer,
solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or
qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a
prospectus meeting the requirements of section 10 of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
including statements regarding the proposed transactions and CF
III. Isos’ and Bowlero’s actual results may differ from its
expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you
should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions
of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,”
“budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,”
“will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,”
“continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements
include, without limitation, Isos’ and Bowlero’s expectations with
respect to future performance and anticipated financial impacts of
the proposed transaction.
These forward-looking statements involve
significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual
results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of
these factors are outside Isos’ and Bowlero’s control and are
difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences
include, but are not limited to: (1) the approvals, timing, and
ability to complete the proposed business combination; (2) the
benefits of the proposed business combination, including future
financial and operating results of the combined company; (3) the
impact of COVID-19 or other adverse public health developments; (4)
costs related to the proposed business combination; (5) changes in
applicable laws or regulations; (6) the possibility that the
combined company may be adversely affected by other economic,
business, and/or competitive factors; and (7) other risks and
uncertainties that will be detailed in the proxy
statement/prospectus to be filed on Form S-4 with the SEC and as
indicated from time to time in Isos’ filings with the SEC. Forward
looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Except
as required by law, neither Isos nor Bowlero has any intention or
obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any
revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect
actual results, future events or developments, changes in
assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the
forward-looking statements.
Contacts:
For Media:ICR, Inc.Tom
VogelTom.Vogel@icrinc.com
Phil DenningPhil.Denning@icrinc.com
For Investors:ICR, Inc.Ashley DeSimone
Ashley.desimone@icrinc.com
Ryan LawrenceRyan.Lawrence@icrinc.com
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