Acquisition & Divestiture

Family Entertainment Center Acquisition & DivestiturePinnacle is well experienced at understanding and valuing family entertainment assets. Our business is positioned to keep our fingers on the pulse of every sector within the family entertainment marketplace. We can play a high-value role in brokering acquisitions or joining your due diligence team.

Similarly, when exiting a market, it is important to make sure you are getting top dollar for your facility and assets.

The staff of Pinnacle Entertainment Advisors have expertise in all phases of a family entertainment center's life cycle. Whether you are just getting started, looking to expand, or leaving a market, Pinnacle can help you have the confidence to make the right choices.

[click here for a complete client list]Acquisition & Divestiture Clients

National Retail Properties, Inc.
National Retail Properties is a real estate investment trust, investing in single-tenant retail properties generally subject to long-term, net leases. National Retail first retained Pinnacle to assess two of its tenant locations, big box family entertainment center/pizza buffet operations. We performed an appraisal, including site survey, contents inventory and valuation on all entertainment equipment, restaurant equipment, furniture, and fixtures for the two sites in the Denver and Dallas markets. We continued to serve the client in a subsequent engagement six months later. Pinnacle conducted an appraisal and valuation of five FEC properties located in three cities. Scope included appraisal, including site survey, contents inventory and valuation on all entertainment equipment, restaurant equipment, furniture, and fixtures for each of the five sites.
Fun Enterprises, Inc
Pinnacle provides management services for this arcade and FEC chain's operations in Puerto Rico. We began this ten year relationship by securing a lease for the company in Plaza del Sol, Puerto Rico's newest shopping mall. We also assisted with design, economic planning, attraction selection, construction, and grand opening. We retained an interest in the project and continued to serve the client through a multi year management and consulting agreement. We then structured the company for sale, developed the prospectus and marketed the business, negotiating the successful sale of the business to an international operator.
Namco Cybertainment, Inc, Chicago, IL
Namco Cybertainment, Inc.
Pinnacle has been retained by this nationwide game and FEC chain to assist with the marketing of certain assets as part of a strategic repositioning of its operations.
The Enchanted Castle
Assisted the owner in developing the sale prospectus for the business, as well as developing the marketing strategy, which contributed to its successful sale.
Namco Cybertainment, Inc, Chicago, IL
Namco Cybertainment, Inc.
Pinnacle has been retained by this nationwide game and FEC chain to assist with the marketing of certain assets as part of a strategic repositioning of its operations.
The Enchanted Castle
Assisted the owner in developing the sale prospectus for the business, as well as developing the marketing strategy, which contributed to its successful sale.
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.

Founded by George McAuliffe in 1996, Pinnacle was an amusement operator in some 75 locations, primarily serving Wal-Mart Stores, Inc, in Southern Illinois and Eastern Missouri. Pinnacle partnered with a local operator in San Juan, PR to operate an additional 75 locations throughout Puerto Rico. Both businesses specialized in crane and merchandise machine operations, along with video games, kiddie rides, and bulk vending. Pinnacle was active in a series of acquisitions and divestitures:

August, 1996: Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. and Pinnacle Entertainment Group, Inc. founded.
October, 1999: Mr. McAuliffe negotiated the sale of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. to Family Golf Centers, Inc. (NASDAQ: FGCI).
February, 2001: Pinnacle Entertainment Group, Inc. acquired the assets of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. from FGCI.
January, 2002: Pinnacle Entertainment Group, Inc. acquired the assets of Lorin Associates, a St. Louis based amusement operator. Pinnacle incorporated many of the locations, sold others, and closed underperformers, liquidating excess inventory.
April, 2005: Pinnacle Entertainment Group sold all of its game assets to Coinstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSTR)
April, 2005-
April, 2008:
Pinnacle Entertainment Group, Inc. focuses on developing its consulting practice.
April, 2008: Pinnacle Entertainment Group, Inc. suspends operations, Mr. McAuliffe merges his consulting practice into Redemption Plus, LLC, which forms Pinnacle Entertainment Advisors by Redemption Plus to launch its consulting and Customer Success capabilities.
Sun Entertainment Investments
In 1995 Mr. McAuliffe served as chief executive of the $50 million entertainment division of Edison Brothers Stores, Inc. (NYSE:EBS) The parent company was a national retailer with $1.75 billion in shoe and apparel sales. Edison experienced a significant decline in the business of its core shoe and apparel stores which led the parent to file for Chapter 11 protection late in the year. Mr.McAuliffe structured a management buyout plan for his division, attracted the private equity firm Sun Capital Partners as equity investors, negotiated a binding finance agreement with a major Bank, and received bankruptcy court approval for the acquisition, subject to higher and better bids. The Sun Group withdrew at auction in competition with Namco Cybertainment, Inc. a Japanese industry manufacturer with US operations, collecting a break up fee. Over 90% of the entertainment locations continued in operation under the new owner.
National Video Game and Coin Op Museum
Advised the managing foundation on wind up and negotiated the placement of the collection.
Edison Brothers Stores
Divestiture of twenty properties through sale or liquidation resulting in income exceeding budget by over 100%, producing a return of over 80 cents per dollar of book value in a Chapter 11 environment.