RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS INC

4. Segment Information

The Company owns and operates adult nightclubs and Bombshells Restaurants and Bars. The Company has identified such segments based on management responsibility and the nature of the Company’s products, services, and costs. There are no major distinctions in geographical areas served as all operations are in the United States. The Company measures segment profit (loss) as income (loss) from operations. Segment assets are those assets controlled by each reportable segment. The Other category below includes our media and energy drink divisions that are not significant to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Below is the financial information related to the Company’s segments (in thousands):

4. Segment Information—continued

Excluded from revenues in the table above are intercompany rental revenues of the Nightclubs and Corporate segments for the three months ended December 31, 2024, amounting to $4.7 million and $385,000, respectively, and for the three months ended December 31, 2023, amounting to $4.5 million and $227,000, respectively; and intercompany sales of Robust Energy Drink included in Other segment for the three months ended December 31, 2024, and 2023 amounting to $72,000 and $39,000, respectively. These intercompany revenue amounts are eliminated upon consolidation.

General corporate expenses include corporate salaries, health insurance and social security taxes for officers, legal, accounting and information technology employees, corporate taxes and insurance, legal and accounting fees, depreciation and other corporate costs such as automobile and travel costs. Management considers these to be non-allocable costs for segment purposes.

Certain real estate assets previously wholly assigned to Bombshells have been subdivided and allocated to other future development or investment projects. Accordingly, those asset costs have been transferred out of the Bombshells segment.

5. Selected Account Information

The components of receivables, net are as follows (in thousands):

Notes receivable consist primarily of secured promissory notes executed between the Company and various buyers of our businesses and assets with interest rates ranging from 6% to 9% per annum and having original terms ranging from 1 to 20 years.

5. Selected Account Information—continued

The components of prepaid expenses and other current assets are as follows (in thousands):

The components of accrued liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

The components of other long-term liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

5. Selected Account Information—continued

The components of selling, general and administrative expenses are as follows (in thousands):

The components of other gains, net are as follows (in thousands):

6. Income Taxes

Income tax expense was $1.8 million and $1.8 million during the three months ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively. The effective income tax rate was 16.9% and 19.9% for the three months ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively. Our effective income tax rate is affected by state taxes, permanent differences, and tax credits, including the FICA tip credit, for both years, as presented below.

6. Income Taxes—continued

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various states. Fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, and subsequent years remain open to federal tax examination. The Company ordinarily goes through various federal and state reviews and examinations for various tax matters.

7. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Matters

Indemnity Insurance Corporation

As previously reported, the Company and its subsidiaries were insured under a liability policy issued by Indemnity Insurance Corporation, RRG (“IIC”) through October 25, 2013. The Company and its subsidiaries changed insurance companies on that date.

On November 7, 2013, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware entered a Rehabilitation and Injunction Order (“Rehabilitation Order”), which declared IIC impaired, insolvent and in an unsafe condition and placed IIC under the supervision of the Insurance Commissioner of the State of Delaware (“Commissioner”) in her capacity as receiver (“Receiver”). The Rehabilitation Order empowered the Commissioner to rehabilitate IIC through a variety of means, including gathering assets and marshaling those assets as necessary. Further, the order stayed or abated pending lawsuits involving IIC as the insurer until May 6, 2014.

On April 10, 2014, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware entered a Liquidation and Injunction Order With Bar Date (“Liquidation Order”), which ordered the liquidation of IIC and terminated all insurance policies or contracts of insurance issued by IIC. The Liquidation Order further ordered that all claims against IIC must have been filed with the Receiver before the close of business on January 16, 2015 and that all pending lawsuits involving IIC as the insurer were further stayed or abated until October 7, 2014. As a result, the Company and its subsidiaries no longer had insurance coverage under the liability policy with IIC. The Company has retained counsel to defend against and evaluate these claims and lawsuits. We are funding 100% of the costs of litigation and will seek reimbursement from the bankruptcy receiver. The Company filed the appropriate claims against IIC with the Receiver before the January 16, 2015 deadline and has provided updates as requested; however, there are no assurances of any recovery from these claims. It is unknown at this time what effect this uncertainty will have on the Company. As previously stated, since October 25, 2013, the Company has obtained general liability coverage from other insurers, which have covered and/or will cover any claims arising from actions after that date. As of December 31, 2024, we have 1 remaining unresolved claim out of the original 71 claims.

7. Commitments and Contingencies—continued

Other

On June 23, 2014, Mark H. Dupray and Ashlee Dupray filed a lawsuit against Pedro Antonio Panameno and our subsidiary JAI Dining Services (Phoenix) Inc. (“JAI Phoenix”) in the Superior Court of Arizona for Maricopa County. The suit alleged that Mr. Panameno injured Mr. Dupray in a traffic accident after being served alcohol at an establishment operated by JAI Phoenix. The suit alleged that JAI Phoenix was liable under theories of common law dram shop negligence and dram shop negligence per se. After a jury trial proceeded to a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs against both defendants, in April 2017 the Court entered a judgment under which JAI Phoenix’s share of compensatory damages is approximately $1.4 million and its share of punitive damages is $4.0 million. In May 2017, JAI Phoenix filed a motion for judgment as a matter of law or, in the alternative, motion for new trial. The Court denied this motion in August 2017. In September 2017, JAI Phoenix filed a notice of appeal. In June 2018, the matter was heard by the Arizona Court of Appeals. On November 15, 2018 the Court of Appeals vacated the jury’s verdict and remanded the case to the trial court. A new trial has been set for June 2025. JAI Phoenix will continue to vigorously defend itself.

As set forth in the risk factors as disclosed in this report, the adult entertainment industry standard is to classify adult entertainers as independent contractors, not employees. While we take steps to ensure that our adult entertainers are deemed independent contractors, from time to time, we are named in lawsuits related to the alleged misclassification of entertainers. Claims are brought under both federal and where applicable, state law. Based on the industry standard, the manner in which the independent contractor entertainers are treated at the clubs, and the entertainer license agreements governing the entertainer’s work at the clubs, the Company believes that these lawsuits are without merit. Lawsuits are handled by attorneys with an expertise in the relevant law and are defended vigorously.

In March 2023, the New York State Department of Labor assessed a final judgment against one of our subsidiaries in a state unemployment tax matter for the years 2009-2022. The assessment of $2.8 million, which was recorded by the Company during the quarter ended March 31, 2023, was issued in final notice by the NY DOL after several appeals were denied by the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Third Department. In September 2023, the NY DOL assessed another of our subsidiaries for approximately $280,000 on the same matter for the period January 2015 through June 2022. We recorded this latter assessment during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

On or about May 29, 2024, search warrants were executed on the Company’s corporate headquarters in Houston, Texas, three separate clubs in New York, New York, and for the mobile phone ofthree individuals (includingtwo executive officers and a non-executive corporate employee) by the New York State Attorney General (“NY AG”) and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (“NY DTF”). On June 7, 2024, the Company received a subpoena from the NY AG requesting documents and other information with respect to certain clubs in New York and Florida. The investigation appears to be related to the Company’s New York State tax filings and possible entertainment benefits provided to NY DTF personnel. The Company is cooperating with the NY AG and its investigation. As a result of this investigation, a non-executive corporate employee was placed on administrative leave during the pendency of an internal review process. It is not possible at this time to determine whether the Company will incur (or to reasonably estimate the amount of) any fines, penalties, or liabilities in connection with the investigation.

7. Commitments and Contingencies—continued

General

In the regular course of business affairs and operations, we are subject to possible loss contingencies arising from third-party litigation and federal, state, and local environmental, labor, health and safety laws and regulations. We assess the probability that we could incur liability in connection with certain of these lawsuits. Our assessments are made in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, as codified in ASC 450-20, and is not an admission of any liability on the part of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. In certain cases that are in the early stages and in light of the uncertainties surrounding them, we do not currently possess sufficient information to determine a range of reasonably possible liability. In matters where there is insurance coverage, in the event we incur any liability, we believe it is unlikely we would incur losses in connection with these claims in excess of our insurance coverage.

The Company recorded lawsuit settlements incurred amounting to $179,000 and $0 for the three months ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, and September 30, 2024, the Company has accrued $2.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively, related to settlement of lawsuits, which is included in accrued liabilities in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Self-insurance Liability

In fiscal 2025, the Company started self-insuring a significant portion of expected losses under its general liability and liquor insurance programs due to increasingly prohibitive costs of such coverage from third-party insurers. The Company continues to purchase insurance for workers' compensation, property, auto, and business interruption, as well as the minimum insurance coverage where it is required by law for licensing requirements.

We record a liability for unresolved claims and for an estimate of incurred but not reported claims based on historical experience. The estimated liability is based on a number of assumptions and factors regarding economic conditions, the frequency and severity of claims development history, and settlement practices. Our assumptions are reviewed, monitored, and adjusted when warranted by changing circumstances. Our initial accrual for estimated self-insurance liability during the quarter ended December 31, 2024, amounted to $4.1 million (see Note 5).

8. Related Party Transactions

Presently, our Chairman and President, Eric Langan, personally guarantees all of the commercial bank indebtedness of the Company. Mr. Langan receives no compensation or other direct financial benefit for any of the guarantees. The balance of our commercial bank indebtedness, net of debt discount and issuance costs, as of December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024, was $135.1 million and $135.3 million, respectively.

Included in the debt balance as of December 31, 2024, and September 30, 2024, are notes borrowed from related parties—one note for $500,000 (from Ed Anakar, an employee of the Company and brother of our former director Nourdean Anakar) and another note for $150,000 (from a brother of Company CFO, Bradley Chhay) in which the terms of the notes are the same as the rest of the lender group.

We used the services of Nottingham Creations, and previously Sherwood Forest Creations, LLC, both furniture fabrication companies that manufacture tables, chairs and other furnishings for our Bombshells locations, as well as providing ongoing maintenance. Nottingham Creations is owned by a brother of Eric Langan (as was Sherwood Forest). Amounts billed to us for goods and services provided by Nottingham Creations and Sherwood Forest were $2,780 and $142,098 during the three months ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, and September 30, 2024, we owed Nottingham Creations and Sherwood Forest $3,300 and $18,700, respectively, in unpaid billings.

8. Related Party Transactions—continued

TW Mechanical LLC provided plumbing and HVAC services to both a third-party general contractor providing construction services to the Company, as well as directly to the Company during fiscal 2025 and 2024. A son-in-law of Eric Langan owns a 50% interest in TW Mechanical. Amounts billed by TW Mechanical to the third-party general contractor were $0 and $0 for the three months ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively. Amounts billed directly to the Company were $720 and $2,932 for the three months ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024, the Company owed TW Mechanical $0 and $0, respectively, in unpaid direct billings.

9. Leases

Total lease expense included in selling, general and administrative expenses in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income for the three months ended December 31, 2024, and 2023 is as follows (in thousands):