UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2019
OR
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
COMMISSION FILE NO.: 001-39012
KURA SUSHI USA, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
26-3808434
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
17932 Sky Park Circle, Suite H, Irvine, California 92614
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(657) 333-4100
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Trading
Symbol(s)
KRUS
Title of Each Class
Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered
Nasdaq Global Market
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 ☒
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 ☒
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 ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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
such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting, or an
emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth
company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer
☐
Non-Accelerated Filer
☒
Emerging Growth Company ☒
Accelerated Filer
Smaller Reporting Company
☐
☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with
any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of February 28, 2019, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, there was no public market for the
registrant’s common equity.
As of November 20, 2019, the registrant had 7,335,000 shares of Class A common stock outstanding and 1,000,050 shares of Class B common
stock outstanding.
The information required by Part III of this Form 10-K, to the extent not set forth herein, is incorporated by reference from the registrant’s definitive
proxy statement for the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be filed no later than 120 days after the close of the registrant’s fiscal year
ended August 31, 2019.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
Item 1. Business....................................................................................................................................................
Item 1A.Risk Factors.............................................................................................................................................
Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments ..................................................................................................................
Item 2. Properties ................................................................................................................................................
Item 3. Legal Proceedings ...................................................................................................................................
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures .........................................................................................................................
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases
of Equity Securities.................................................................................................................................
Item 6. Selected Financial and Operating Data ................................................................................................
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ..........
Item 7A.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk ..........................................................
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data ..................................................................................
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountant on Accounting and Financial Disclosure ...........
Item 9A.Controls and Procedures........................................................................................................................
Item 9B.Other Information ..................................................................................................................................
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Item 11. Executive Compensation
PART III
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder
Matters
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules .......................................................................................
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary .............................................................................................................................
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K other than
statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, our
business strategy and plans, and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. The terms such
as “target,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “objective,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “would,” “expect,” “believe,”
“design,” “estimate,” “continue,” “predict,” “potential,” “plan,” “anticipate” or the negative of these terms, and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements
largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our
financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and
objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and
assumptions, including but are not limited to:
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our ability to successfully maintain increases in our comparable restaurant sales and average unit volumes
(“AUVs”);
our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy and open new restaurants that are profitable;
our ability to expand in existing and new markets;
our projected growth in the number of our restaurants;
macroeconomic conditions and other economic factors;
our ability to compete with many other restaurants;
our reliance on vendors, suppliers and distributors, including our parent company Kura Sushi, Inc.;
concerns regarding food safety and foodborne illness;
changes in consumer preferences and the level of acceptance of our restaurant concept in new markets;
minimum wage increases and mandated employee benefits that could cause a significant increase in our
labor costs;
the failure of our automated equipment or information technology systems or the breach of our network
security;
the loss of key members of our management team;
the impact of governmental laws and regulations;
volatility in the price of our common stock;
those other risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to
time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our
business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from
those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions,
the future events and trends discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K may not occur and actual results could
differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.
We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking
statements, except as required by law. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on such forward-looking statements.
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TRADEMARKS, SERVICE MARKS AND TRADE NAMES
We own or have rights to various trademarks, service marks and trade names that we use in connection with the
operation of our business. This report may also contain trademarks, service marks and trade names of third parties,
which are the property of their respective owners. Our use or display of third parties’ trademarks, service marks, trade
names or food products in this report is not intended to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship by,
these other parties. Solely for convenience, the trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this report
may appear without the ®, TM or SM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we
will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensor to these
trademarks, service marks and trade names.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
“Kura Sushi USA,” “Kura Sushi,” “Kura,” “we,” “us,” “our,” “our company” and the “Company” refer to Kura
Sushi USA, Inc. unless expressly indicated or the context otherwise requires.
We refer to our Class A common stock as “common stock,” unless the context otherwise requires. We
sometimes refer to our Class A common stock and Class B common stock as “equity interests” when described on
an aggregate basis.
The Company’s fiscal year begins on September 1 and ends on August 31. We refer to our fiscal years as “fiscal
year 2019,” “fiscal year 2018” and “fiscal year 2017.”
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Item 1.
Business
Company Overview
PART I
Kura Sushi USA, Inc. is a fast-growing, technology-enabled Japanese restaurant concept that provides guests
with a distinctive dining experience by serving authentic Japanese cuisine through an engaging revolving sushi service
model, which we refer to as the “Kura Experience”. We encourage healthy lifestyles by serving freshly prepared
Japanese cuisine using high-quality ingredients that are free from artificial seasonings, sweeteners, colorings, and
preservatives. We aim to make quality Japanese cuisine accessible to our guests across the United States through
affordable prices and an inviting atmosphere.
Kura Sushi is headquartered in Irvine, California and was established in 2008 as a subsidiary of Kura Sushi, Inc.
(“Kura Japan”), a Japan-based revolving sushi chain with over 400 restaurants and 35 years of brand history. Kura
Sushi opened its first restaurant in Irvine, California in 2009, and currently operates 23 restaurants across five states.
Corporate Overview
In November 2008, our parent company, Kura Japan, organized our predecessor, Kula West Irvine, Inc., a
California corporation, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kura Japan. In June 2011, Kula West Irvine, Inc. changed its
name to Kula Sushi USA, Inc., or “Kula Sushi”. In October 2017, Kula Sushi reincorporated to Delaware through a
merger with a newly-formed wholly-owned Delaware subsidiary of Kura Japan named “Kura Sushi USA, Inc.” with
a dual class structure. As of August 31, 2018, the Company had 20,000,000 authorized shares of Class A common
stock, with zero shares issued and outstanding and 10,000,100 authorized shares of Class B common stock, all of
which were issued and outstanding and held by Kura Japan, representing 100% of our issued and outstanding capital
stock.
On January 25, 2019, the Company entered into a Share Exchange Agreement (the “Share Exchange
Agreement”) with Kura Japan to exchange 4,000,000 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock for 4,000,000
shares of the Company’s Class A common stock on a post-Reverse Stock Split basis.
On July 30, 2019, we effected a 1-for-2 reverse stock split of our Class A common stock and Class B common
stock (the “Reverse Stock Split”).
Following the closing of our initial public offering (“IPO”) and after giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split,
Kura Japan currently owns all of our Class B common stock and 4,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock,
representing approximately 81% of the combined voting power of our equity interests. As a result, we are a “controlled
company” within the meaning of the corporate governance rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, and Kura Japan can
exert significant voting influence over fundamental and significant corporate matters and transactions and may have
interests that differ from yours. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure.”
Our Strengths
Authentic Japanese Cuisine—A Tribute to Our Roots. We provide our guests with a Kura Experience that is
uniquely Japanese and is based on the legacy built by Kura Japan. Kura Japan opened its first revolving sushi restaurant
in 1984 and was among the pioneers of the revolving sushi restaurant model. Our various sushi items are made fresh
using high-quality fish and certified 100% organic rice. Our vinegar, made using old-world methods, is sourced from
Japan. Our broths are made in-house daily using ingredients that impart complex umami flavors. To complement our
sushi selection, we offer a variety of side dishes and desserts including gyoza, tempura, soups, ramen, ojyu boxes,
mochi, and cheesecake. In our commitment to our Japanese heritage and traditional cooking methods, we have
prepared our food without artificial sweeteners, seasonings, colorings, or preservatives since our formation.
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“Revolutionary” and Engaging Dining Experience. The Kura Experience is a multi-sensory experience for
our guests comprised of the sight of our beautifully crafted cuisine weaving through our restaurants, the motion of
dishes zipping by tables on the express belt, the sound of anime videos playing on tableside touch screens, the thrill
of being rewarded for achieving dining milestones, and the flavor of authentic Japanese dishes, which collectively
creates a highly entertaining and engaging environment for our guests. Our revolving conveyor belt service model
offers a steady stream of dishes which feature a spiral green design and continuous service which we believe builds
anticipation and a sense of discovery among our guests. To simplify the guest experience, all plates on the revolving
conveyor belt are the same price within a restaurant. In addition, items ordered on our on-demand screen arrive on
the express belt in a theatrical fashion, which we believe our guests find entertaining and also adds to the sense of
constant motion in our restaurants. Our menu of small plates allows our guests to sample a variety of dishes, and
with over 140 items on our menu, there is always something new to enjoy when our guests return. We also seek to
delight and reward our guests for achieving dining milestones with short anime videos and a rotating selection of
small toys from our Bikkura-Pon rewards machines. For every five spiral green plates placed into the plate slot, the
tableside touch screen plays a short anime video, and for every 15 plates, our proprietary tableside Bikkura-Pon
rewards machine dispenses a toy. We believe our Bikkura-Pon rewards machines encourage guests to consume a
greater quantity of plates as they work towards achieving the next dining milestone. Our continuous service model
creates an atmosphere of active participation where food is at the center of the conversation, and we believe it also
creates a memorable and shareable experience for our guests.
Compelling Value Proposition with Broad Appeal. Our service model allows our guests to control their dining
experience, from food variety to time spent on a meal, and from portions to check size. With instant access to food on
the revolving conveyor belt, our guests can drop in for a quick meal or stay longer for a more relaxed dining
experience. Our guests can enjoy high-quality dishes at affordable prices as a result of our efficient kitchen operations
and low front-of-house labor needs. The majority of our menu items is priced below $3.00, which appeals to guests
with appetites and budgets both large and small. We believe that our authentic approach to a popular cuisine and
unique and flexible dining experience appeal to a wide range of demographics. In addition, we believe our commitment
to high-quality and non-artificial ingredients in our food is at the forefront of current dining trends as consumers
continue to seek healthy and natural food options.
Highly Attractive Restaurant-Level Economics. At Kura Sushi, we leverage the disciplined operational expertise
honed over the 35-year history of Kura Japan to help us achieve strong restaurant-level economics. We believe our
results are driven by our high-volume restaurants, intelligent and efficient operations, and flexible real estate model:
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High-Volume Restaurants: We believe the combination of authentic Japanese cuisine at an accessible
price point and a service model that promotes discovery, fun, and optionality for guests creates a highly
differentiated dining experience that drives traffic and robust sales in our restaurants;
Intelligent and Efficient Operations: Our revolving conveyor belt, express belt, and touch screen menu
enable self-service dining and reduce our need for service staff. In addition, our use of sushi robots,
vinegar mixing machines, and automatic rice washers in our kitchens eliminates the need for highly
trained and expensive sushi chefs. The proprietary technology deployed in our kitchens allows us to
collect real-time data on food consumption and guest preferences which we analyze to further optimize
our restaurants and enhance the dining experience; and
Flexible Real Estate: We have a flexible restaurant model which has allowed us to open restaurants as
small as 1,600 square feet and as large as 6,800 square feet. We believe this allows us to maximize our
sales per square foot.
Our Growth Strategies
Pursue New Restaurant Development. We have pursued a disciplined new unit growth strategy having expanded
our concept and operating model across varying restaurant sizes and geographies. We plan to leverage our expertise
opening new restaurants to fill in existing markets and expand into new geographies with the same careful planning
as we have demonstrated in the past. See also our current real estate strategy under “Site Development and Expansion
– Site Selection Process”. We believe that we have the potential to become a national Japanese restaurant brand, with
a long-term total restaurant potential in the United States for over 290 restaurants, and we aim to achieve a 20%
average annual restaurant growth rate over the next five years. While we currently aim to achieve a 20% average
annual unit growth rate over the next five years, we cannot predict the time period of which we can achieve any level
of restaurant growth or whether we will achieve this level of growth at all. Our ability to achieve new restaurant growth
is impacted by a number of risks and uncertainties beyond our control, including those described under the caption
“Risk Factors.”
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Deliver Consistent Comparable Restaurant Sales Growth. We believe we will be able to generate comparable
restaurant sales growth by growing traffic through increased brand awareness, consistent delivery of a unique and
engaging dining experience, new menu offerings, and restaurant renovations. We will continue to manage our menu
and pricing as part of our overall strategy to drive traffic and increase average check. We are also exploring initiatives
to grow sales of alcoholic beverages at our restaurants, increase off-premises sales, pilot a rewards program, and
improve our mobile application. We are piloting a rewards program at selected restaurants that tracks participants’
spending and provides a discount voucher if a spending threshold is achieved. To participate, guests sign up with their
email addresses, download a virtual rewards card which is stored on their phones, and display the rewards card in the
restaurant when paying the bill. Based on the performance of the pilot program, we may roll out the program across
our entire restaurant base.
Increase Profitability. During our expansion, we have invested in our infrastructure and personnel, which we
believe positions us to continue to scale our business operations. As we continue to grow, we expect to drive higher
profitability both at a restaurant-level and corporate-level by taking advantage of our increasing buying power with
suppliers and leveraging our existing support infrastructure. Additionally, we believe we will be able to optimize
labor costs at existing restaurants as our restaurant base matures and AUVs increase. We believe that as our restaurant
base grows, our general and administrative costs will increase at a slower rate than our sales.
Heighten Brand Awareness. We intend to continue to pursue targeted local marketing efforts and plan to increase
our investment in advertising while managing margins. We intend to continue to promote limited time offerings to
build guest loyalty and brand awareness.
Site Development and Expansion
Site Selection Process
We consider site selection and real estate development to be critical to our success. As part of our strategic site
selection process, our primary broker receives potential site locations from networks of local brokers, which are then
reviewed by our store development and senior management teams. This review includes site visits and analyses of the
profitability of proposed properties.
Our current real estate strategy focuses on high-traffic retail centers in markets with a diverse population and
above-average household income. In site selection, we also consider factors such as residential and commercial
population density, restaurant visibility, traffic patterns, accessibility, availability of suitable parking, proximity to
highways, universities, shopping areas and office parks, the degree of competition within the market area, and general
availability of restaurant-level employees. We also invest in site analytics tools for demographic analysis and data
collection for both existing and new market areas, which we believe allows us to further understand the market area
and determine whether to open new restaurants in that location.
Our flexible physical footprint allows us to open in-line and end-cap restaurant formats at strip malls and shopping
centers and penetrate markets in both suburban and urban areas. We believe we have the ability to open additional
restaurants in our existing metropolitan areas. We also believe there is significant opportunity to employ this strategy
in new markets with similar demographics and retail environments.
Expansion Strategy
We plan to pursue a two-pronged expansion strategy by opening new restaurants in both new and existing
markets. We believe this expansion will be crucial to executing our growth strategy and building awareness of Kura
Sushi as a national Japanese casual dining brand. Expansion into new markets occurs in parallel with ongoing
evaluation of existing markets, with the goal of maintaining a pipeline of top-tier development opportunities.
Upon selecting a new market, we typically build one restaurant to prove concept viability in that market. We
have developed a remote management system whereby our operations team is able to monitor restaurants in real-time
from our headquarters using approximately 20 to 30 cameras installed in each restaurant. We utilize this remote
management system to maintain operational quality while minimizing inefficiencies caused by a lack of economies
of scale in new markets.
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Due to our relatively small restaurant count, new restaurants have an outsized impact on our financial
performance. In order to mitigate risk, we look to expand simultaneously in new and existing markets. We base our
site selection on our most successful existing restaurants and frequently reevaluate our strategy, pacing and markets.
Restaurant Design
Restaurant design is handled by our in-house real estate team in conjunction with outsourced vendor
relationships. Our restaurant size currently averages approximately 3,200 square feet. Seating in our restaurant is
comprised of a combination of booths and bar seats with an average seating capacity of 110 guests. Our restaurant
layout evokes a Japanese dining experience characterized by wooden booths and wood paneling to house the revolving
conveyor belt and the Bikkura-Pon rewards machines.
Construction of a new restaurant takes approximately four to five months. We oversee and coordinate
engagement with our preferred general contractors for the restaurant construction process. On average, our restaurants
opened in fiscal year 2019 required a cash build-out cost of approximately $1.8 million per restaurant, net of tenant
allowances and pre-opening costs, but this figure could be materially higher or lower depending on the market,
restaurant size, and condition of the premises upon landlord delivery.
Restaurant Management and Operations
Restaurant Management and Employees
Our restaurants typically employ one restaurant manager, two to four assistant managers, and approximately 30
to 70 additional team members depending on the store size. Managers, assistant managers and management trainees
are cross-trained throughout the restaurant in order to create competency across critical restaurant functions, both in
the dining area and in the kitchen.
In addition, our operations team monitors restaurants in real-time from our headquarters using our remote
management system of approximately 20 to 30 cameras installed in each restaurant. These team members are
responsible for different components of the restaurant: cleanliness, service, and food quality. We believe that
establishing the operations team has enabled our restaurant managers to focus on guest service and efficient operations
in our restaurants, and has eliminated the need for a regional management structure.
Training and Employee Programs
We devote significant resources to identifying, selecting, and training all employees. Restaurant management
trainees undergo training in order to develop a deep understanding of our operations. In addition, we have extensive
training manuals that cover all aspects of restaurant-level operations.
Our traveling “opening team” provides training to team members in advance of opening a new restaurant. We
believe the opening team facilitates a smooth opening process and efficient restaurant operations from the first day a
restaurant opens to the public. The opening team is typically on-site at new restaurants from two weeks before opening
to four weeks after opening.
Food Preparation, Quality and Safety
Food safety is essential to our success and we have established procedures to help ensure that our guests enjoy
safe, quality food. We require each employee to complete food handler safety certification upon hiring. We have taken
various additional steps to mitigate food quality and safety risks, including the following:
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HACCP. To minimize the risk of food-borne illness, we have implemented a Hazard Analysis and Critical
Control Points (“HACCP”) system for managing food safety and quality for sushi rice and other foods
which require time and temperature control for safety;
Mr. Fresh. We use the proprietary Mr. Fresh dome, developed by Kura Japan, to protect each plate on the
revolving conveyor belt. The Mr. Fresh dome is a plastic cover that opens when a guest selects the plate
beneath the dome;
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Revolving Conveyor Belt Time Limit. We limit the amount of time that our dishes remain on the revolving
conveyor belt to two hours, which is shorter than the time required by local health authorities where we
operate our restaurants. Once the RFID tag on Mr. Fresh registers over two hours, a robotic arm in our
kitchen automatically removes the plate from the revolving conveyor belt; and
Suppliers and Third-Party Reviews. Our restaurants undergo internal safety audits and routine health
inspections. We also consider food safety and quality assurance when selecting our distributors and
suppliers.
Shared Services Agreement with Kura Japan
Following the IPO, Kura USA operates independently from Kura Japan but does utilize Kura Japan for certain
services. On August 5, 2019, in connection with the closing of our IPO, the Company entered into a Shared Services
Agreement with Kura Japan, pursuant to which Kura Japan will provide the Company with certain strategic,
operational and other support services, including assigning certain employees to work for the Company as expatriates
to provide support to the Company’s operations, sending its employees to the Company on a short-term basis to
provide support for the opening of new restaurants or renovation of existing restaurants, and providing the Company
with certain supplies, parts and equipment for use in the Company’s restaurants. In addition, the Company has agreed
to continue to provide Kura Japan with certain translational support services and market research analyses. In exchange
for such services, supplies, parts and equipment, the parties will pay fees to each other as set forth under the Shared
Services Agreement. The Shared Services Agreement may be modified or supplemented to include additional services
under terms and conditions to be mutually agreed upon in good faith by the parties. The fees for additional services
shall be mutually agreed upon by the parties.
Marketing and Advertising
We use a variety of marketing and advertising channels to build brand awareness, attract new guests, increase
dining frequency, support new restaurant openings, and promote Kura Sushi as an authentic Japanese restaurant
with high-quality cuisine and a distinctive dining experience. Our primary advertising channels include digital,
social, and print. Our Bikkura-Pon rewards machine prizes are an additional form of marketing that we believe
differentiates the Kura brand.
We maintain a presence on several social media platforms allowing us to regularly communicate with guests,
alert guests of new offerings, and conduct promotions. Our dining experience is built to provide our guests social
media shareable moments, which we believe extends our advertising reach.
We focus advertising efforts on new menu offerings to broaden our appeal to guests and drive traffic. Our menu
changes twice per year to introduce new items and remove underperforming items. We promote these new menu
additions through various social media platforms, our website and in-restaurant signage.
Each month, we offer guests our limited-time offer promotions during which our restaurants feature premium,
seasonal, and limited-availability ingredients from Japan. Most premium items are priced the same as standard menu
items, thereby offering significant value to our guests.
Suppliers
We carefully select suppliers based on product quality and authenticity and their understanding of our brand,
and we seek to develop long-term relationships with them. We identify and procure high-quality ingredients at
competitive prices. We make a portion of our purchases annually in bulk at fixed prices, and we do not engage in any
hedging agreements to manage our exposure to fluctuations in the price of seafood or other food commodities.
We source through the following two major Japanese-related distributors: JFC, a subsidiary of Kikkoman
Corporation, and Wismettac, a subsidiary of Nishimoto Co., Ltd. Our spend with JFC accounted for approximately
55%, 47%, and 29% of total food and beverage costs for fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. Our spend
with Wismettac was approximately 28% of our total food and beverage costs for fiscal years 2019 and 2018, and 15%
of total food and beverage costs for fiscal year 2017. Our relationships with both Wismettac and JFC have been in
place since 2009. We also source from other distributors. Our suppliers deliver to our restaurants approximately three
times per week. If we are no longer able to source through any of our suppliers, we intend to replace the supplier with
a different source, but there can be no assurance that any such replacement will provide goods at the prices and level
of quality of our current suppliers.
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Management Information Systems
All of our restaurants use computerized management information systems, which we believe are scalable to
support our future growth plans. We use proprietary technology developed by Kura Japan to record a table’s food
consumption. Our point of sales system is used to tally food consumption, produce the final bill, and process credit
cards. Transaction data is used to generate customizable reports that our restaurant managers, operations team, and
senior management use to analyze sales, product mix, and average check.
We use a proprietary kitchen and in-restaurant back office computer system designed to assist in the management
of our restaurants and provide labor and food cost management tools. Our systems analyze customer traffic, order
demand, timestamps on Mr. Fresh RFID tags for plates on the revolving conveyor belt, and plate classification and
quantities on the revolving conveyor belt. Our systems communicate restaurant-level data to our corporate
headquarters to track and manage inventory and labor at the restaurant-level, and generate reports for our management
team to track performance.
Competition
The restaurant industry is divided into several primary categories, including limited-service and full-service
restaurants, which are generally categorized by price, quality of food, service, and location. The Kura model sits at
the intersection of these two categories offering the experience and food quality of a full-service restaurant and the
speed of service of a limited-service restaurant. We primarily compete with other full-service restaurants.
We face significant competition from a variety of locally owned restaurants and national chain restaurants
offering both Asian and non-Asian cuisine, as well as takeaway options from grocery stores. We believe that we
compete primarily based on product quality, dining experience, ambience, location, convenience, value perception,
and price. Our competition continues to intensify as competitors increase the breadth and depth of their product
offerings and open new restaurants.
Seasonality
Seasonal factors and the timing of holidays cause our sales to fluctuate from quarter to quarter. As we expand
by opening more restaurants in cold weather climates, the seasonality impact may be amplified. Adverse weather
conditions may also affect guest traffic. As a result of these factors, our financial results for any single quarter or for
periods less than a year are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for a full fiscal year.
Employees
As of August 31, 2019, we had approximately 1,400 employees, of whom 75 were exempt employees and the
remainder were non-exempt employees. None of our employees are unionized or covered by collective bargaining
agreements, and we consider our current employee relations to be good.
Government Regulation and Environmental Matters
We are subject to extensive and varied federal, state and local government regulation, including regulations
relating, among others, to public and occupational health and safety, nutritional menu labeling, healthcare, the
environment, sanitation and fire prevention. We operate each of our restaurants in accordance with standards and
procedures designed to comply with applicable codes and regulations. However, an inability to obtain or retain health
department or other licenses would adversely affect our operations. Although we have not experienced, and do not
anticipate, any significant difficulties, delays or failures in obtaining required licenses, permits or approvals, any such
problem could delay or prevent the opening of, or adversely impact the viability of, a particular restaurant or group of
restaurants. Additionally, difficulties, delays or failure to retain or renew licenses, permits or approvals, or increased
compliance costs due to changed regulations, could adversely affect operations at existing restaurants.
10
In addition, in order to develop and construct restaurants, we must comply with applicable zoning, land use and
environmental regulations. Federal and state environmental regulations have not had a material effect on our
operations to date, but more stringent and varied requirements of local governmental bodies with respect to zoning,
land use and environmental factors could delay or even prevent construction and increase development costs for new
restaurants. We are also required to comply with the accessibility standards mandated by the U.S. Americans with
Disabilities Act, which generally prohibits discrimination in accommodation or employment based on disability. We
may in the future have to modify restaurants, for example, by adding access ramps or redesigning certain architectural
fixtures, to provide service to or make reasonable accommodations for disabled persons. While these expenses could
be material, our current expectation is that any such actions will not require us to expend substantial funds.
A small amount of our sales is attributable to the sale of alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverage control
regulations require each of our restaurants to apply to a state authority and, in certain locations, county or municipal
authorities for a license that must be renewed annually and may be revoked or suspended for cause at any time.
Alcoholic beverage control regulations relate to numerous aspects of daily operations of our restaurants, including
minimum age of patrons and employees, hours of operation, advertising, trade practices, wholesale purchasing, other
relationships with alcohol manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors, inventory control and handling, storage and
dispensing of alcoholic beverages. We are also subject in certain states to “dram shop” statutes, which generally
provide a person injured by an intoxicated person the right to recover damages from an establishment that wrongfully
served alcoholic beverages to the intoxicated person. We carry liquor liability coverage as part of our existing
comprehensive general liability insurance. Currently, one of our restaurants does not have a liquor license. We may
decide not to obtain liquor licenses in certain jurisdictions due to the high costs associated with obtaining liquor
licenses in such jurisdictions.
Further, we are subject to the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act, the U.S. Immigration Reform and Control Act of
1986, the Occupational Safety and Health Act and various other federal and state laws governing similar matters
including minimum wages, overtime, workplace safety and other working conditions. Significant numbers of our food
service and preparation personnel are paid at rates related to the applicable minimum wage, and further increases in the
minimum wage or other changes in these laws could increase our labor costs. Our ability to respond to minimum wage
increases by increasing menu prices will depend on the responses of our competitors and guests. Our distributors and
suppliers also may be affected by higher minimum wage and benefit standards, which could result in higher costs of
goods and services supplied by us. We may also be subject to lawsuits from our employees, the U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission or others alleging violations of federal and state laws regarding workplace and employment
matters, discrimination and similar matters.
There has been increased regulation of certain food establishments in the United States, such as the requirements
to maintain a HACCP system. HACCP refers to a management system in which food safety is addressed through the
analysis and control of potential hazards from production, procurement and handling, to manufacturing, distribution
and consumption of the finished product. Many states have required restaurants to develop and implement HACCP
systems and the U.S. government continues to expand the sectors of the food industry that must adopt and implement
HACCP programs. Although we have implemented a HACCP system for managing food safety and quality at our
restaurants for sushi rice and other foods which require time and temperature control for safety, we cannot assure you
that we will not have to expend additional time and resources to comply with new food safety requirements either
required by current or future federal food safety regulation or legislation. Additionally, our suppliers may initiate or
otherwise be subject to food recalls that may impact the availability of certain products, result in adverse publicity or
require us to take actions that could be costly for us or otherwise harm our business.
A number of states, counties and cities have enacted menu labeling laws requiring multi-unit restaurant operators
to disclose to consumers certain nutritional information, or have enacted legislation restricting the use of certain types
of ingredients in restaurants. Many of these requirements are inconsistent or interpreted differently from one
jurisdiction to another. These requirements may be different or inconsistent with requirements that we are subject to
under the ACA, which establishes a uniform, federal requirement for certain restaurants to post nutritional information
on their menus. Specifically, the ACA requires chain restaurants with 20 or more locations in the United States
operating under the same name and offering substantially the same menus to publish the total number of calories of
standard menu items on menus and menu boards, along with a statement that puts this calorie information in the
context of a total daily calorie intake. The ACA also requires covered restaurants to provide to consumers, upon
request, a written summary of detailed nutritional information for each standard menu item, and to provide a statement
on menus and menu boards about the availability of this information upon request. While our ability to adapt to
consumer preferences is a strength of our concepts, the effect of such labeling requirements on consumer choices, if
any, is unclear at this time.
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We are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations concerning waste disposal,
pollution, protection of the environment, and the presence, discharge, storage, handling, release and disposal of, or
exposure to, hazardous or toxic substances (“environmental laws”). These environmental laws can provide for
significant fines and penalties for non-compliance and liabilities for remediation, sometimes without regard to whether
the owner or operator of the property knew of, or was responsible for, the release or presence of the hazardous or toxic
substances. Third parties may also make claims against owners or operators of properties for personal injuries and
property damage associated with releases of, or actual or alleged exposure to, such substances. We are not aware of
any environmental laws that will materially affect our earnings or competitive position, or result in material capital
expenditures relating to our restaurants. However, we cannot predict what environmental laws will be enacted in the
future, how existing or future environmental laws will be administered, interpreted or enforced, or the amount of future
expenditures that we may need to make to comply with, or to satisfy claims relating to, environmental laws. It is
possible that we will become subject to environmental liabilities at our properties, and any such liabilities could
materially affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are also subject to laws and regulations relating to information security, privacy, cashless payments, gift
cards and consumer credit, protection and fraud, and any failure or perceived failure to comply with these laws could
harm our reputation or lead to litigation, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of
operations.
Furthermore, we are subject to import laws and tariffs which could impact our ability to source and secure food
products, other supplies and equipment necessary to operate our restaurants.
For a discussion of the various risks we face from regulation and compliance matters, see “Item 1A. Risk
Factors.”
Intellectual Property and Trademarks
Kura Japan owns a number of patents, trademarks and service marks registered or pending with the U.S. Patent
and Trademark Office (“PTO”). Kura Japan has registered the following patents and marks with the PTO: Food
Management System (Patent No.: US 9,193,535 B2), Food Plate Carrier (Patent No.: US 8,550,229 B2) which is
known to us as Mr. Fresh, “Kura Sushi” (Trademark Reg. No 5,460,596) and “Kura Revolving Sushi Bar” (Trademark
Reg. No. 5,557,000). The first of these patents is set to expire on approximately August 2032. In addition, we have
registered the Internet domain name www.kurasushi.com. The information on, or that can be accessed through, our
website is not part of this report.
We license certain intellectual property critical to our business from Kura Japan, including, but not limited to,
the trademarks “Kura Sushi” and “Kura Revolving Sushi Bar,” and patents for a food management system and
Mr. Fresh dome. Any termination or limitation of, or loss of exclusivity under, our exclusive license agreement would
have a material adverse effect on us and could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of
operations. On August 5, 2019, in connection with the completion of our IPO, we entered into an amended and restated
exclusive license agreement with regard to the intellectual property we license from Kura Japan.
We believe that the trademarks, service marks and other intellectual property rights that we license from Kura
Japan have significant value and are important to the marketing and reputation of our brand. It is our policy to pursue
registration of our intellectual property whenever possible and to oppose vigorously any infringement thereof. However,
we cannot predict whether steps taken to protect such rights will be adequate or whether Kura Japan will take steps to
enforce such rights with regard to any intellectual property that we license from them. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—We may become involved in lawsuits involving Kura Japan as the owner
of intellectual property, or us as a licensee of intellectual property from Kura Japan, to protect or enforce our intellectual
property rights, which could be expensive, time consuming, and unsuccessful.” We are aware of third-party restaurants
with names similar to our restaurant name in certain limited geographical areas. However, we believe such uses will not
adversely affect us.
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Available Information
Our website is located at www.kurasushi.com, including an investor relations section at ir.kurausa.com in which
we routinely post important information, such as webcasts of quarterly calls and other investor events in which we
participate or host, and any related materials.
Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and
amendments to reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(“Exchange Act”) are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). We are subject to the
informational requirements of the Exchange Act and file or furnish reports, proxy statements, and other information
with the SEC. Such reports and other information filed by the Company with the SEC are available free of charge on
our website at www.kurasushi.com when such reports are available on the SEC’s website.
The contents of our website referred to above are not incorporated into this report. Further, any references to
our website are intended to be inactive textual references only.
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
Please carefully consider the risks described below, together with all other information included or
incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. If any of the following risks actually occur, our
business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected. In these
circumstances, the market price of our Class A common stock could decline significantly, and you could lose part or
all of your investment.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
Our long-term success is highly dependent on our ability to successfully identify and secure appropriate sites and
timely develop and expand our operations in existing and new markets.
One of the key means of achieving our growth strategies will be through opening and operating new restaurants
on a profitable basis for the foreseeable future. We opened three new restaurants in fiscal year 2017, four new
restaurants in fiscal year 2018, and six new restaurants in fiscal year 2019. We plan to open six new restaurants in
fiscal year 2020. We identify target markets where we can enter or expand, taking into account numerous factors such
as the locations of our current restaurants, demographics, traffic patterns and information gathered from various
sources. We may not be able to open our planned new restaurants within budget or on a timely basis, if at all, given
the uncertainty of these factors, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of
operations. As we operate more restaurants, our rate of expansion relative to the size of our restaurant base will
eventually decline.
The number and timing of new restaurants opened during any given period may be negatively impacted by a
number of factors including, without limitation:
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identification and availability of locations with the appropriate size, traffic patterns, local retail and business
attractions and infrastructure that will drive high levels of guest traffic and sales per unit;
competition in existing and new markets, including competition for restaurant sites;
the ability to negotiate suitable lease terms;
the lack of development and overall decrease in commercial real estate due to a macroeconomic downturn;
recruitment and training of qualified personnel in the local market;
our ability to obtain all required governmental permits, including zonal approvals, on a timely basis;
our ability to control construction and development costs of new restaurants;
landlord delays;
the proximity of potential sites to an existing restaurant, and the impact of cannibalization on future
growth;
anticipated commercial, residential and infrastructure development near our new restaurants; and
the cost and availability of capital to fund construction costs and pre-opening costs.
Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully expand as we may not correctly analyze
the suitability of a location or anticipate all of the challenges imposed by expanding our operations. Our growth strategy,
and the substantial investment associated with the development of each new restaurant, may cause our operating results
to fluctuate and be unpredictable or adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. If we
are unable to expand in existing markets or penetrate new markets, our ability to increase our sales and profitability
may be materially harmed or we may face losses.
In addition, our restaurant count potential based on our current whitespace analysis by Buxton may change in the
future, or we may conduct future analyses that yield results inconsistent with our earlier analysis.
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Our restaurant base is geographically concentrated in California and Texas, and we could be negatively affected
by conditions specific to these states.
Approximately 90% of our restaurants are located in California and Texas. Adverse changes in demographic,
unemployment, economic, regulatory or weather conditions in California and Texas have had, and may continue to
have, material adverse effects on our business, financial condition or results of operations. As a result of our
concentration in these markets, we have been, and in the future may be, disproportionately affected by adverse
conditions in either of these markets compared to other chain restaurants with a national footprint.
Our expansion into new markets may present increased risks due in part to our unfamiliarity with the areas and
also due to consumer unfamiliarity with our revolving sushi bar concept and may make our future results
unpredictable.
As of August 31, 2019, we operate our restaurants in five states: California, Texas, Georgia, Illinois, and
Nevada. We opened six new restaurants in fiscal year 2019, and we plan to continue to increase the number of our
restaurants in the next several years as part of our expansion strategy. We may in the future open restaurants in
markets where we have little or no operating experience. This growth strategy and the substantial investment
associated with the development of each new restaurant may cause our operating results to fluctuate and be
unpredictable or adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Restaurants we open in
new markets may take longer to reach expected sales and profit levels on a consistent basis and may have higher
construction, occupancy or operating costs than restaurants we open in existing markets, thereby affecting our overall
profitability. New markets may have competitive conditions, consumer tastes and discretionary spending patterns
that are more difficult to predict or satisfy than our existing markets and there may be little or no market awareness
of our brand or revolving sushi bar concept in these new markets. We may need to make greater investments than
we originally planned in advertising and promotional activity in new markets to build brand awareness. We also may
find it more difficult in new markets to hire, motivate and keep qualified employees who share our vision, passion
and business culture. If we do not successfully execute our plans to enter new markets, our business, financial
condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
New restaurants, once opened, may not be profitable, and the increases in average restaurant sales and comparable
restaurant sales that we have experienced in the past may not be indicative of future results.
Our new restaurants have historically opened with above-average volumes, which then decline after the initial
sales surge that comes with interest in a new restaurant opening. New restaurants may not be profitable and their sales
performance may not follow historical patterns. In addition, our average restaurant sales and comparable restaurant
sales may not increase at the rates achieved over the past several years. Our ability to operate new restaurants profitably
and increase average restaurant sales and comparable restaurant sales will depend on many factors, some of which are
beyond our control, including:
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consumer awareness and understanding of our brand and our revolving sushi bar concept;
general economic conditions, which can affect restaurant traffic, local labor costs and prices we pay for
the food products and other supplies we use;
changes in consumer preferences and discretionary spending;
competition, either from our competitors in the restaurant industry or our own restaurants;
temporary and permanent site characteristics of new restaurants; and
changes in government regulation.
If our new restaurants do not perform as planned, our business and future prospects could be harmed. In addition,
if we are unable to achieve our expected average restaurant sales, our business, financial condition or results of
operations could be adversely affected.
15
Our sales and profit growth could be adversely affected if comparable restaurant sales are less than we expect.
The level of comparable restaurant sales growth, which represents the change in year-over-year sales for
restaurants open for at least 18 months, could affect our sales growth. Our ability to increase comparable restaurant
sales depends in part on our ability to successfully implement our initiatives to build sales. It is possible such initiatives
will not be successful, that we will not achieve our target comparable restaurant sales growth or that the change in
comparable restaurant sales could be negative, which may cause a decrease in our profitability and would materially
adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Comparable Restaurant Sales Growth.”
Our failure to manage our growth effectively could harm our business and operating results.
Our growth plan includes opening new restaurants. Our existing restaurant management systems, financial and
management controls and information systems may be inadequate to support our planned expansion. Managing our
growth effectively will require us to continue to enhance these systems, procedures and controls and to hire, train and
retain managers and team members. We may not respond quickly enough to the changing demands that our expansion
will impose on our management, restaurant teams and existing infrastructure which could harm our business, financial
condition or results of operations.
Our limited number of restaurants, the significant expense associated with opening new restaurants, and the unit
volumes of our new restaurants makes us susceptible to significant fluctuations in our results of operations.
As of August 31, 2019, we operate 23 restaurants. We opened three new restaurants in fiscal year 2017 and four
new restaurants in fiscal year 2018. We opened six new restaurants in fiscal year 2019 and plan to open six new
restaurants in fiscal year 2020. The capital resources required to develop each new restaurant are significant. On
average, our restaurants opened in fiscal year 2019 required a cash build-out cost of approximately $1.8 million per
restaurant, net of landlord tenant improvement allowances and pre-opening costs and assuming that we do not purchase
the underlying real estate. Actual costs may vary significantly depending upon a variety of factors, including the site
and size of the restaurant and conditions in the local real estate and labor markets. The combination of our relatively
small number of existing restaurants, the significant investment associated with each new restaurant, variance in the
operating results in any one restaurant, or a delay or cancellation in the planned opening of a restaurant could materially
affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
A decline in visitors to any of the retail centers, shopping malls, lifestyle centers, or entertainment centers where
our restaurants are located could negatively affect our restaurant sales.
Our restaurants are primarily located in high-activity areas such as retail centers, shopping malls, lifestyle
centers, and entertainment centers. We depend on high visitor rates at these centers to attract guests to our restaurants.
Factors that may result in declining visitor rates include economic or political conditions, anchor tenants closing in
retail centers or shopping malls in which we operate, changes in consumer preferences or shopping patterns, changes
in discretionary consumer spending, increasing petroleum prices, or other factors, which may adversely affect our
business, financial condition or results of operations.
We have historically received strategic, operational and financial support from Kura Japan, and as we increase
our independence from Kura Japan, we may face difficulties replacing certain services, supplies and financial
assistance Kura Japan has provided to us.
We have been a subsidiary of Kura Japan since 2008 and have benefited from our relationship as a consolidated
and wholly-owned subsidiary. As a result of the IPO, we are a majority owned subsidiary of Kura Japan and we utilize
Kura Japan for certain strategic, operational and financial support. Because we have no independent operating history,
our historical results may not be indicative of our future performance. Our future results depend on various factors,
including those identified in these risk factors.
16
For example, Kura Japan provides us from time to time with employees from its operations in Japan to assist
us with meeting our workforce requirements and opening new restaurants. Our President and Chief Executive Officer
was previously employed by Kura Japan, our Chief Operating Officer is currently employed by Kura Japan and both
were appointed to their respective positions by Kura Japan to lead the operation of our business in the United States.
We also benefit from our relationship with Kura Japan and the intellectual property that we license from Kura Japan
in the operation of our business. As of the date of this report, Kura Japan owns approximately 81% of the combined
voting power of our equity interests. Kura Japan is not subject to any contractual obligation to maintain its ownership
position in our shares, except that it has agreed not to sell or otherwise dispose of any of our equity interests for a
period ending 180 days after July 31, 2019, the date of the final prospectus filed with the SEC in connection with
our IPO without the prior written consent of the representatives of the underwriters for our IPO, as described in “—
Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure—Future sales of our shares by Kura Japan could depress our Class A
common stock price.” If Kura Japan’s ownership interest in our company declines significantly in the future, this
may affect our ongoing relationship. In connection with the completion of the IPO, we have entered into a shared
services agreement and an amended and restated exclusive license agreement with Kura Japan, to clarify and
memorialize our existing business relationship. Although we expect Kura Japan to continue providing services to us,
Kura Japan does not have any contractual obligation to provide strategic, operational or other support to us except
as required under our shared services agreement and amended and restated exclusive license agreement with them.
See “Note 5. Related Party Transactions” to our audited financial statements included in “Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K for additional information.
As an additional example, we from time to time purchase certain supplies, parts and equipment for use in our
restaurants from Kura Japan. We believe that Kura Japan obtains these supplies, parts and equipment at a discounted
price due to Kura Japan’s higher purchasing power with suppliers. If Kura Japan’s ownership interest in our
company declines significantly in the future, this may also affect their provision of supplies, parts and equipment
to us. Kura Japan has no contractual obligation to continue providing us with such supplies, parts and equipment
except as required under our shared services agreement with them. See “Note 5. Related Party Transactions” to our
audited financial statements included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K
for additional information.
As a final example, historically, we have relied on financial support from Kura Japan, including capital
contributions by Kura Japan of $5.0 million to the Company in each of fiscal years 2017 and 2018. We do not expect
to receive any additional capital contributions from Kura Japan.
We depend on our senior management team and other key employees, and the loss of one or more key personnel
or an inability to attract, hire, integrate and retain highly skilled personnel could have an adverse effect on our
business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our success depends largely upon the continued services of our key executives. We also rely on our leadership
team in setting our strategic direction, operating our business, identifying, recruiting and training key personnel,
identifying expansion opportunities, arranging necessary financing, and for general and administrative functions.
From time to time, there may be changes in our executive management team resulting from the hiring or departure
of executives, which could disrupt our business. In addition, a small portion of our workforce is Japanese expatriates
whose services we have secured from Kura Japan, including our Chief Operating Officer, who is currently employed
by Kura Japan and who was appointed to his position by Kura Japan to assist in the operation of our business in the
United States. Our Chief Operating Officer may be recalled to Kura Japan at any time at Kura Japan’s option. The
loss or replacement of one or more of our executive officers or other key employees could have a serious adverse
effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
17
To continue to execute our growth strategy, we also must identify, hire and retain highly skilled personnel,
which may include the services of personnel who are Japanese expatriates whose services we secure due to our
relationship with Kura Japan. We might not be successful in continuing to attract and retain qualified personnel.
Failure to identify, hire and retain necessary key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition or results of operations.
Opening new restaurants in existing markets may negatively affect sales at our existing restaurants.
The consumer target area of our restaurants varies by location, depending on a number of factors, including
population density, other local retail and business attractions, area demographics and geography. As a result, the
opening of a new restaurant in or near markets in which we already have restaurants could adversely affect the sales
of these existing restaurants and thereby adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Existing restaurants could also make it more difficult to build our consumer base for a new restaurant in the same
market. Our core business strategy does not entail opening new restaurants that we believe will materially affect sales
at our existing restaurants, but we may selectively open new restaurants in and around areas of existing restaurants
that are operating at or near capacity to effectively serve our guests. Sales cannibalization between our restaurants
may become significant in the future as we continue to expand our operations and could affect our sales growth, which
could, in turn, materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Operating results at our restaurants could be significantly affected by competition in the restaurant industry in general
and, in particular, within the dining segments of the restaurant industry in which we compete.
We face significant competition from a variety of restaurants offering both Asian and non-Asian cuisine, as well
as takeout offerings from grocery stores and other outlets where Asian food is sold. These segments are highly
competitive with respect to, among other things, product quality, dining experience, ambience, location, convenience,
value perception, and price. Our competition continues to intensify as competitors increase the breadth and depth of
their product offerings and open new locations. These competitors may have, among other things, chefs who are
widely known to the public that may generate more notoriety for those competitors as compared to our brand. We also
compete with many restaurant and retail establishments for site locations and restaurant-level employees.
Several of our competitors offering Asian and related choices may look to compete with us on price, quality and
service. Any of these competitive factors may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results
of operations.
Negative publicity relating to one of our restaurants could reduce sales at some or all of our other restaurants.
Our success is dependent in part upon our ability to maintain and enhance the value of our brand and consumers’
connection to our brand. We may, from time to time, be faced with negative publicity relating to food quality,
restaurant facilities, guest complaints or litigation alleging illness or injury, health inspection scores, integrity of our
or our suppliers’ food processing, employee relationships or other matters, regardless of whether the allegations are
valid or whether we are held to be responsible. The negative impact of adverse publicity relating to one restaurant
may extend far beyond the restaurant involved to affect some or all of our other restaurants, thereby causing an adverse
effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. A similar risk exists with respect to unrelated food
service businesses, if consumers associate those businesses with our own operations.
The considerable expansion in the use of social media over recent years can further amplify any negative
publicity that could be generated by such incidents. Many social media platforms immediately publish the content
their subscribers and participants post, often without filters or checks on accuracy of the content posted. Information
posted on such platforms may be adverse to our interests and/or may be inaccurate. The dissemination of inaccurate
or irresponsible information online could harm our business, reputation, prospects, financial condition, or results of
operations, regardless of the information’s accuracy. The damage may be immediate without affording us an
opportunity for redress or correction.
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Additionally, employee claims against us based on, among other things, wage and hour violations,
discrimination, harassment or wrongful termination may also create negative publicity that could adversely affect us
and divert our financial and management resources that would otherwise be used to benefit the future performance of
our operations. A significant increase in the number of these claims or an increase in the number of successful claims
could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Consumer demand for our
restaurants and our brand’s value could diminish significantly if any such incidents or other matters create negative
publicity or otherwise erode consumer confidence in us or our restaurants, which would likely result in lower sales
and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Food safety and foodborne illness concerns could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or
results of operations.
We cannot guarantee that our internal controls and training will be fully effective in preventing all food safety
issues at our restaurants, including any occurrences of foodborne illnesses such as salmonella, E. coli and hepatitis A.
In addition, there is no guarantee that our restaurant locations will maintain the high levels of internal controls and
training we require at our restaurants. Furthermore, we rely on third-party vendors, making it difficult to monitor food
safety compliance and increasing the risk that foodborne illness would affect multiple locations rather than a single
restaurant. Some foodborne illness incidents could be caused by third-party vendors and transporters outside of our
control. New illnesses resistant to our current precautions may develop in the future, or diseases with long incubation
periods could arise, that could give rise to claims or allegations on a retroactive basis. One or more instances of
foodborne illness in any of our restaurants or markets or related to food products we sell could negatively affect our
restaurant sales nationwide if highly publicized on national media outlets or through social media. This risk exists even
if it were later determined that the illness was wrongly attributed to us or one of our restaurants. A number of other
restaurant chains have experienced incidents related to foodborne illnesses that have had a material adverse effect on
their operations. The occurrence of a similar incident at one or more of our restaurants, or negative publicity or public
speculation about an incident, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Governmental regulation may adversely affect our ability to open new restaurants or otherwise adversely affect our
business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are subject to various federal, state and local regulations. Our restaurants are subject to state and local
licensing and regulation by health, alcoholic beverage, sanitation, food and occupational safety and other agencies. We
may experience material difficulties or failures in obtaining the necessary licenses, approvals or permits for our
restaurants, which could delay planned restaurant openings or affect the operations at our existing restaurants. In
addition, stringent and varied requirements of local regulators with respect to zoning, land use and environmental factors
could delay or prevent development of new restaurants in particular locations.
We are subject to the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act and similar state laws that give civil rights protections
to individuals with disabilities in the context of employment, public accommodations and other areas, including our
restaurants. We may in the future have to modify restaurants, for example, by adding access ramps or redesigning
certain architectural fixtures, to provide service to or make reasonable accommodations for disabled persons. The
expenses associated with these modifications could be material.
Our operations are also subject to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Act, which governs worker health and
safety, the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act, which governs such matters as minimum wages and overtime, and a variety
of similar federal, state and local laws that govern these and other employment law matters. In addition, federal, state
and local proposals related to paid sick leave or similar matters could, if implemented, materially adversely affect our
business, financial condition or results of operations.
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We rely significantly on certain vendors and suppliers, which could adversely affect our business, financial
condition or results of operations.
Our ability to maintain consistent price and quality throughout our restaurants depends in part upon our ability
to acquire specified food products and supplies in sufficient quantities from third-party vendors and suppliers at a
reasonable cost. In addition, we are dependent upon a few suppliers for certain specialized equipment utilized in our
restaurants, such as our conveyor belts and other parts of our proprietary system. We rely on JFC International Inc.
(“JFC”), a subsidiary of Kikkoman Corporation, as one of our primary suppliers. JFC provided us with food products
and supplies equaling approximately 55% and 47% of our total food and beverage costs in fiscal years 2019 and 2018,
respectively. We also rely on Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc. (formerly Nishimoto Trading Co., Ltd.) (“Wismettac”), a
subsidiary of Nishimoto Co., Ltd., which provided us with food products and supplies equaling approximately 28%
of our total food and beverage costs for both fiscal years 2019 and 2018. We do not control the businesses of our
vendors and suppliers and our efforts to specify and monitor the standards under which they perform may not be
successful. Furthermore, certain food items are perishable, and we have limited control over whether these items will
be delivered to us in appropriate condition for use in our restaurants. If any of our vendors or other suppliers are unable
to fulfill their obligations to our standards, or if we are unable to find replacement providers in the event of a supply
or service disruption, we could encounter supply shortages and incur higher costs to secure adequate supplies, which
could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
In addition, we use various third-party vendors to provide, support and maintain most of our management
information systems. We also outsource certain accounting, payroll and human resource functions to business process
service providers. The failure of such vendors to fulfill their obligations could disrupt our operations. Additionally,
any changes we may make to the services we obtain from our vendors, or new vendors we employ, may disrupt our
operations. These disruptions could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of
operations.
Changes in food and supply costs could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our profitability depends in part on our ability to anticipate and react to changes in food and supply costs.
Shortages or interruptions in the availability of certain supplies caused by unanticipated demand, problems in
production or distribution, food contamination, inclement weather or other conditions could adversely affect the
availability, quality and cost of our ingredients, which could harm our operations. Any increase in the prices of the
food products most critical to our menu, such as rice, fish and other seafood, as well as fresh vegetables, could
adversely affect our business, financial condition or results from operations. Although we try to manage the impact
that these fluctuations have on our operating results, we remain susceptible to increases in food costs as a result of
factors beyond our control, such as general economic conditions, seasonal fluctuations, weather conditions, demand,
food safety concerns, generalized infectious diseases, product recalls and government regulations.
If any of our distributors or suppliers performs inadequately, or our distribution or supply relationships are
disrupted for any reason, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be adversely
affected. If we cannot replace or engage distributors or suppliers who meet our specifications in a short period of time,
that could increase our expenses and cause shortages of food and other items at our restaurants, which could cause a
restaurant to remove items from its menu. If that were to happen, affected restaurants could experience significant
reductions in sales during the shortage or thereafter, if guests change their dining habits as a result. In addition, because
we provide moderately priced food, we may choose not to, or may be unable to, pass along commodity price increases
to consumers. These potential changes in food and supply costs could materially adversely affect our business,
financial condition or results of operations.
20
Failure to receive frequent deliveries of fresh food ingredients and other supplies could harm our business,
financial condition or results of operations.
Our ability to maintain our menu depends in part on our ability to acquire ingredients that meet our specifications
from reliable suppliers, including, but not limited to, rice vinegar from Kura Japan, which owns the recipe of such rice
vinegar and is our sole supplier of rice vinegar. Shortages or interruptions in the supply of ingredients caused by
unanticipated demand, problems in production or distribution, food contamination, inclement weather or other conditions
could adversely affect the availability, quality and cost of our ingredients, which could harm our business, financial
condition or results of operations. If any of our distributors or suppliers performs inadequately, or our distribution or
supply relationships are disrupted for any reason, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be
adversely affected. If we cannot replace or engage distributors or suppliers who meet our specifications in a short period
of time, that could increase our expenses and cause shortages of food and other items at our restaurants, which could
cause a restaurant to remove items from its menu. If that were to happen, affected restaurants could experience significant
reductions in sales during the shortage or thereafter, if guests change their dining habits as a result. This reduction in sales
could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
In addition, our approach to competing in the restaurant industry depends in large part on our continued ability
to provide authentic and traditional Japanese cuisine that is free from artificial ingredients. As we increase our use of
these ingredients, the ability of our suppliers to expand output or otherwise increase their supplies to meet our needs
may be constrained. We could face difficulties to obtain a sufficient and consistent supply of these ingredients on a
cost-effective basis.
Labor disputes may disrupt our operations and affect our profitability, thereby causing a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
As an employer, we are presently, and may in the future be, subject to various employment-related claims, such
as individual or class actions or government enforcement actions relating to alleged employment discrimination,
employee classification and related withholding, wage-hour, labor standards or healthcare and benefit issues. On May
31, 2019, a putative class action complaint was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging violations of
California wage and hour laws. This action, or any future actions if brought against us and successful in whole or in
part, may affect our ability to compete or could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results
of operations.
The minimum wage, particularly in California, continues to increase and is subject to factors outside of our control.
We have a substantial number of hourly employees who are paid wage rates based on the applicable federal or
state minimum wage. Since January 1, 2019, the State of California has a minimum wage of $12.00 per hour. Moreover,
municipalities may set minimum wages above the applicable state standards. The federal minimum wage has been
$7.25 per hour since July 24, 2009. Any of federally-mandated, state-mandated or municipality-mandated minimum
wages may be raised in the future which could have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition or
results of operations. If menu prices are increased by us to cover increased labor costs, the higher prices could
adversely affect sales and thereby reduce our margins and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results
of operations.
21
Changes in employment laws may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash
flow.
Various federal and state labor laws govern the relationship with our employees and affect operating costs.
These laws include employee classification as exempt/non-exempt for overtime and other purposes, minimum wage
requirements, tips and gratuity payments, unemployment tax rates, workers’ compensation rates, immigration status
and other wage and benefit requirements. Significant additional government-imposed increases in the following
areas could materially affect our business, financial condition, operating results or cash flow:
•
•
•
•
•
•
minimum wages;
tips and gratuities;
mandatory health benefits;
vacation accruals;
paid leaves of absence, including paid sick leave; and
tax reporting.
If we face labor shortages, increased labor costs or unionization activities, our growth, business, financial condition
and operating results could be adversely affected.
Labor is a primary component in the cost of operating our restaurants. If we face labor shortages or increased
labor costs because of increased competition for employees, higher employee turnover rates, increases in federal, state
or local minimum wage rates or other employee benefits costs (including costs associated with health insurance
coverage), our operating expenses could increase and our growth could be adversely affected. In addition, our success
depends in part upon our ability to attract, motivate and retain a sufficient number of well-qualified restaurant
operators and management personnel, as well as a sufficient number of other qualified employees, to keep pace with
our expansion schedule. Qualified individuals needed to fill these positions are in short supply in some geographic
areas. In addition, restaurants have traditionally experienced relatively high employee turnover rates. Although we
have not yet experienced significant problems in recruiting or retaining employees, our ability to recruit and retain
such individuals may delay the planned openings of new restaurants or result in higher employee turnover in existing
restaurants, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
If we are unable to continue to recruit and retain sufficiently qualified individuals, our business and our growth
could be adversely affected, thereby adversely affecting or business, financial condition or results of operations.
Competition for these employees could require us to pay higher wages, which could result in higher labor costs. In
addition, increases in the minimum wage would increase our labor costs. Additionally, costs associated with workers’
compensation are rising, and these costs may continue to rise in the future. We may be unable to increase our menu
prices in order to pass these increased labor costs on to consumers, in which case our margins would be negatively
affected, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Although none of our employees are currently covered under collective bargaining agreements, our employees
may elect to be represented by labor unions in the future. If a significant number of our employees were to become
unionized and collective bargaining agreement terms were significantly different from our current compensation
arrangements, it could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
22
Our business could be adversely affected by a failure to obtain visas or work permits or to properly verify the
employment eligibility of our employees.
Some of our corporate employees’ ability to work in the United States depends on obtaining and maintaining
necessary visas and work permits. On certain occasions we have been, and in the future we may be, unable to obtain
visas or work permits to bring necessary employees to the United States for any number of reasons including, among
others, limits set by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or the U.S. Department of State.
Although we require all workers to provide us with government-specified documentation evidencing their
employment eligibility, some of our employees may, without our knowledge, be unauthorized workers. We currently
participate in the “E-Verify” program, an Internet-based, free program run by the U.S. government to verify
employment eligibility, in states in which participation is required, and we plan to introduce its use across all our
restaurants. However, use of the “E-Verify” program does not guarantee that we will properly identify all applicants
who are ineligible for employment. Unauthorized workers are subject to deportation and may subject us to fines or
penalties, and if any of our workers are found to be unauthorized, we could experience adverse publicity that may
negatively impact our brand and may make it more difficult to hire and keep qualified employees. Termination of a
significant number of employees who are unauthorized employees may disrupt our operations, cause temporary
increases in our labor costs as we train new employees and result in adverse publicity. We could also become subject
to fines, penalties and other costs related to claims that we did not fully comply with all recordkeeping obligations of
federal and state immigration compliance laws. These factors could materially adversely affect our business, financial
condition or results of operations.
Compliance with environmental laws may negatively affect our business.
We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations concerning waste disposal, pollution, protection
of the environment, and the presence, discharge, storage, handling, release and disposal of, and exposure to, hazardous
or toxic substances. These environmental laws provide for significant fines and penalties for noncompliance and
liabilities for remediation, sometimes without regard to whether the owner or operator of the property knew of, or was
responsible for, the release or presence of hazardous toxic substances. Third parties may also make claims against
owners or operators of properties for personal injuries and property damage associated with releases of, or actual or
alleged exposure to, such hazardous or toxic substances at, on or from our restaurants. Environmental conditions
relating to releases of hazardous substances at prior, existing or future restaurant sites could materially adversely affect
our business, financial condition or results of operations. Further, environmental laws, and the administration,
interpretation and enforcement thereof, are subject to change and may become more stringent in the future, each of
which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Changes in economic conditions could materially affect our ability to maintain or increase sales at our restaurants
or open new restaurants.
The restaurant industry depends on consumer discretionary spending. The United States in general or the specific
markets in which we operate may suffer from depressed economic activity, recessionary economic cycles, higher fuel
or energy costs, low consumer confidence, high levels of unemployment, reduced home values, increases in home
foreclosures, investment losses, personal bankruptcies, reduced access to credit or other economic factors that may
affect consumers’ discretionary spending. Sales in our restaurants could decline if consumers choose to dine out less
frequently or reduce the amount they spend on meals while dining out. Negative economic conditions might cause
consumers to make long-term changes to their discretionary spending behavior, including dining out less frequently on
a permanent basis. If restaurant sales decrease, our profitability could decline as we spread fixed costs across a lower
level of sales. Reductions in staff levels, asset impairment charges and potential restaurant closures could result from
prolonged negative restaurant sales, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results
of operations.
23
New information or attitudes regarding diet and health could result in changes in regulations and consumer consumption
habits that could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Changes in attitudes regarding diet and health or new information regarding the adverse health effects of
consuming certain foods could result in changes in government regulation and consumer eating habits that may impact
our business, financial condition or results of operations. These changes have resulted in, and may continue to result in,
laws and regulations requiring us to disclose the nutritional content of our food offerings, and they have resulted in, and
may continue to result in, laws and regulations affecting permissible ingredients and menu offerings. For example, a
number of jurisdictions have enacted menu labeling laws requiring multi-unit restaurant operators to disclose to
consumers certain nutritional information, or have enacted legislation restricting the use of certain types of ingredients
in restaurants. These requirements may be different or inconsistent with requirements we are subject to under the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act,
collectively, the “ACA,” which establishes a uniform, federal requirement for certain restaurants to post nutritional
information on their menus. Specifically, the ACA requires chain restaurants with 20 or more locations operating under
the same name and offering substantially the same menus to publish the total number of calories of standard menu items
on menus and menu boards, along with a statement that puts this calorie information in the context of a total daily
calorie intake. The ACA also requires covered restaurants to provide to consumers, upon request, a written summary
of detailed nutritional information for each standard menu item, and to provide a statement on menus and menu boards
about the availability of this information upon request. Unfavorable publicity about, or guests’ reactions to, our menu
ingredients, the size of our portions or the nutritional content of our menu items could negatively influence the demand
for our offerings, thereby adversely affecting our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Compliance with current and future laws and regulations regarding the ingredients and nutritional content of
our menu items may be costly and time-consuming. Additionally, if consumer health regulations or consumer eating
habits change significantly, we may be required to modify or discontinue certain menu items, and we may experience
higher costs associated with the implementation of those changes, as well as adversely affect the attractiveness of our
restaurants to new or returning guests. We cannot predict the impact of any new nutrition labeling requirements. The
risks and costs associated with nutritional disclosures on our menus could also impact our operations, particularly
given differences among applicable legal requirements and practices within the restaurant industry with respect to
testing and disclosure, ordinary variations in food preparation among our own restaurants, and the need to rely on the
accuracy and completeness of nutritional information obtained from third-party suppliers.
We may not be able to effectively respond to changes in consumer health perceptions or successfully implement
the nutrient content disclosure requirements and to adapt our menu offerings to trends in eating habits. The imposition
of menu labeling laws and an inability to keep up with consumer eating habits could materially adversely affect our
business, financial condition or results of operations, as well as our position within the restaurant industry in general.
Failure to comply with antibribery or anticorruption laws could adversely affect our reputation, business, financial
condition or results of operations.
The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other similar applicable laws prohibiting bribery of government
officials and other corrupt practices are the subject of increasing emphasis and enforcement around the world. Although
we have implemented policies and procedures designed to promote compliance with these laws, there can be no
assurance that our employees, contractors, agents, or other third parties will not take actions in violation of our policies
or applicable law. Any such violations or suspected violations could subject us to civil or criminal penalties, including
substantial fines and significant investigation costs, and could also materially damage our reputation, brands,
international expansion efforts and growth prospects, business, financial condition and results of operations. Publicity
relating to any noncompliance or alleged noncompliance could also harm our reputation and adversely affect our
business, financial condition or results of operations.
24
Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.
As of August 31, 2019, we had federal net operating loss carryforwards of $3.8 million and federal tax credit
carryover of $1.8 million. Under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”), if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net
operating loss carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset its post-change income may be limited. In
general, an “ownership change” generally occurs if there is a cumulative change in our ownership by “5-percent
shareholders” that exceeds 50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period. Similar rules may apply under state
tax laws. We did not experience an ownership change as a result of our IPO. However, we may have experienced an
ownership change in the past and may experience ownership changes in the future as a result of our IPO and future
transactions in our stock, some of which may be outside our control. As a result, if we earn net taxable income, our
ability to use our pre-change net operating loss carryforwards, or other pre-change tax attributes, to offset U.S. federal
and state taxable income may be subject to significant limitations. Those net operating loss carryforwards and general
business tax credits resulted in a tax effected deferred tax asset of $2.6 million at August 31, 2019.
Our indebtedness may limit our ability to invest in the ongoing needs of our business and if we are unable to comply
with our financial covenants, our liquidity and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Our existing non-revolving line of credit, inclusive of any amounts converted to be payable on a term loan basis,
under that certain Business Loan Agreement, dated January 31, 2019 (the “Credit Facility”) is comprised of an
equipment purchase facility and a tenant improvements subfacility, on a non-revolving basis, in the aggregate principal
amount of up to $5.0 million and is collateralized by a first-priority interest in, among other things, our inventory,
equipment, accounts, general intangibles and fixtures. During fiscal year 2019, we drew down and paid off $3.9 million.
As of August 31, 2019, we had $1.1 million available under our Credit Facility. In the future, we may, from time to
time, incur additional indebtedness under our Credit Facility, up to the aggregate principal amount of $1.1 million, and
any amounts exceeding $300,000 under the Credit Facility will be converted into term loans upon such terms as
established between us and our Credit Facility bank.
Our Credit Facility places certain limitations on our ability to incur additional senior indebtedness. The Credit
Facility also places certain limitations on, among other things, our ability to create any encumbrance other than
permitted encumbrances, make capital expenditures not in the ordinary course of business or transfer or sell certain
assets or merge or consolidate with or into or acquire any other business organization. Failure to comply with certain
covenants could result in the acceleration of our obligations under the Credit Facility, which would have an adverse
effect on our liquidity, capital resources and results of operations. Our Credit Facility also requires us to comply with
certain financial covenants regarding our liquidity, fixed charge coverage ratio and tangible net worth ratio. Our failure
to comply with or perform any term, obligation or covenant under our Credit Facility is also a default under our term
loans. Changes in our financial condition causing a breach of any of these financial covenants could result in a default
and an acceleration of our obligations under the Credit Facility or term loans, which could have an adverse effect on
our liquidity, capital resources and results of operations.
We may need capital in the future, and we may not be able to raise that capital on favorable terms.
Developing our business will require significant capital in the future. Historically, we have relied on financial
support from Kura Japan, including capital contributions by Kura Japan of $5.0 million to the Company in each of
fiscal years 2017 and 2018. We do not expect to receive any additional capital contributions from Kura Japan. To
meet our capital needs, we expect to rely on our cash flows from operations, the proceeds from our IPO, borrowings
under our existing Credit Facility for equipment financing and facility improvements, future offerings and other
third-party financing. Third-party financing in the future may not, however, be available on terms favorable to us,
or at all. Our ability to obtain additional funding will be subject to various factors, including market conditions, our
operating performance, lender sentiment and our ability to incur additional debt in compliance with other
contractual restrictions such as financial covenants under our Credit Facility, term loans or other debt documents.
These factors may make the timing, amount, or terms and conditions of additional financings unattractive. Our
inability to raise capital could impede our growth and could materially adversely affect our business, financial
condition or results of operations.
25
We are subject to all of the risks associated with leasing space subject to long-term non-cancelable leases.
We do not own any real property. Payments under our operating leases account for a significant portion of our
operating expenses and we expect the new restaurants we open in the future will similarly be leased. The majority
of our operating leases have lease terms of twenty years, inclusive of customary extensions which are at the option
of the Company. Most of our leases require a fixed annual rent which generally increases each year, and some require
the payment of additional rent if restaurant sales exceed a negotiated amount. Generally, our leases are “net” leases,
which require us to pay all of the cost of insurance, taxes, maintenance and utilities. We generally cannot cancel
these leases. Additional sites that we lease are likely to be subject to similar long-term non-cancelable leases. If an
existing or future restaurant is not profitable, and we decide to close it, we may nonetheless be committed to perform
our obligations under the applicable lease including, among other things, paying the base rent for the balance of the
lease term. In addition, as each of our leases expires, we may fail to negotiate renewals, either on commercially
acceptable terms or at all, which could cause us to pay increased occupancy costs or to close restaurants in desirable
locations. If we fail to negotiate renewals, we may have to dispose of assets at such restaurant locations and incur
closure costs as well as impairment of property and equipment. Furthermore, if we fail to negotiate renewals, we
may incur additional costs associated with moving transferable furniture, fixtures and equipment. These potential
increased occupancy and moving costs, as well as closures of restaurants, could materially adversely affect our
business, financial condition or results of operations.
Macroeconomic conditions, including economic downturns, may cause landlords of our leases to be unable to
obtain financing or remain in good standing under their existing financing arrangements, resulting in failures to pay
required tenant improvement allowances or satisfy other lease covenants to us. In addition, tenants at shopping centers
in which we are located or have executed leases, or to which our locations are near, may fail to open or may cease
operations. Decreases in total tenant occupancy in shopping centers in which we are located, or to which our locations
are near, may affect traffic at our restaurants. All of these factors could have a material adverse impact on our business,
financial condition or results of operations.
We have licensed certain intellectual property critical to our business from Kura Japan. Any events or
circumstances that result in the termination or limitation of our rights under our agreement between us and Kura
Japan of our intellectual property could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or
results of operations.
The intellectual property that is critical to our business has been licensed to us by Kura Japan which owns
approximately 81% of the combined voting power of our equity interests. Any termination or limitation of, or loss of
exclusivity under, our exclusive license agreement with Kura Japan would have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition or results of operations. We have entered into an amended and restated exclusive license
agreement with regard to the intellectual property we license from Kura Japan. See “Note 5. Related Party
Transactions” to our audited financial statements included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”
in this Form 10-K for additional information.
We may become involved in lawsuits involving Kura Japan as the owner of intellectual property, or us as a licensee
of intellectual property from Kura Japan, to protect or enforce intellectual property rights, which could be
expensive, time consuming, and unsuccessful.
Third parties may sue Kura Japan or us for alleged infringement of their proprietary rights. The party claiming
infringement might have greater resources than we do to pursue its claims, and we could be forced to incur substantial
costs and devote significant management resources to defend against such litigation, even if the claims are meritless
and even if we ultimately prevail. If the party claiming infringement were to prevail, we could be forced to pay
significant damages, or enter into expensive royalty or licensing arrangements with the prevailing party. In addition,
any payments we are required to make, and any injunction we are required to comply with as a result of such
infringement, could harm our reputation and our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Infringements on Kura Japan’s intellectual property rights, including Kura Japan’s service marks and trade
secrets, could result in additional expense and could devalue our brand equity, as well as substantially affect our
business, financial condition or results of operations.
26
Other parties may infringe on our intellectual property rights, including those which we develop or otherwise
license to use, and may thereby dilute our brand in the marketplace. Any such infringement of our intellectual property
rights would also likely result in a commitment of our time and resources to protect these rights through litigation or
otherwise.
Our business prospects depend in part on our ability to develop favorable consumer recognition of the Kura Sushi
name. Although “Kura Sushi” and “Kura Revolving Sushi Bar” are federally registered service marks owned by Kura
Japan, such marks could be imitated in ways that we or Kura Japan cannot prevent. Alternatively, third parties may
attempt to cause us to change our name or not operate in a certain geographic region if our name is confusingly similar
to their name. In addition, we rely on trade secrets, proprietary know-how, concepts, and recipes, some of which we
license from Kura Japan. Our methods or Kura Japan’s methods of protecting this information may not be adequate.
Moreover, we or Kura Japan may face claims of misappropriation or infringement of third parties’ rights that could
interfere with our use of this information. Defending these claims may be costly and, if unsuccessful, may prevent us
from continuing to use this proprietary information in the future, and may result in a judgment or monetary damages. We
do not maintain confidentiality and non-competition agreements with all of our executives, key personnel, or suppliers.
If competitors independently develop or otherwise obtain access to the trade secrets, proprietary know-how, concepts, or
recipes we rely upon to operate our restaurants, some of which we license from Kura Japan, the appeal of our restaurants
could be significantly reduced and our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected.
A breach of security of confidential consumer information related to our electronic processing of credit and debit card
transactions, as well as a breach of security of our employee information, could substantially affect our reputation,
business, financial condition of results of operations.
The majority of our restaurant sales are by credit or debit cards. Other restaurants and retailers have experienced
security breaches in which credit and debit card information has been stolen. We may in the future become subject to
claims for purportedly fraudulent transactions arising out of the actual or alleged theft of credit or debit card information,
and we may also be subject to lawsuits or other proceedings relating to these types of incidents. We may ultimately be
held liable for the unauthorized use of a cardholder’s card number in an illegal activity and be required by card issuers to
pay charge-back fees. In addition, most states have enacted legislation requiring notification of security breaches
involving personal information, including credit and debit card information. Any such claim or proceeding could cause
us to incur significant unplanned expenses, which could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition
or results of operations. Further, adverse publicity resulting from these allegations may have a material adverse effect
on us and could substantially affect our reputation and business, financial condition or results of operations.
In addition, our business requires the collection, transmission and retention of large volumes of guest and
employee data, including personally identifiable information, in various information technology systems that we
maintain and in those maintained by third parties with whom we contract to provide services. The collection and use
of such information is regulated at the federal and state levels, as well as at the international level, in which regulatory
requirements have been increasing. As our environment continues to evolve in the digital age and reliance upon new
technologies becomes more prevalent, it is imperative we secure the privacy and sensitive information we collect.
Failure to do so, whether through fault of our own information systems or those of outsourced third-party providers,
could not only cause us to fail to comply with these laws and regulations, but also could cause us to face litigation and
penalties that could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Our brand’s reputation
and image as an employer could also be harmed by these types of security breaches or regulatory violations.
27
We rely significantly on the operation of our revolving and express conveyor belts, sushi robots and other automated
equipment, and any mechanical failure could prevent us from effectively operating our restaurants.
The operation of our restaurants relies on technology and equipment such as our revolving and express conveyor
belts, the Bikkura-Pon rewards machine and touch screen menus. In our kitchens, we use automated equipment and
systems such as sushi robots, RFID readers, robotic arms, vinegar mixing machines, rice washers and dishwashers.
Our ability to safely, efficiently and effectively manage our restaurants depends significantly on the reliability and
capacity of these systems. Mechanical failures and our inability to service such equipment in a timely manner could
result in delays in customer service and reduce efficiency of our restaurant operations, including a loss of sales.
Remediation of such problems could result in significant, unplanned capital investments and any equipment failure
may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations due to our reliance on such
equipment.
We rely significantly on information technology, and any material failure, weakness, interruption or breach of
security could prevent us from effectively operating our business.
We rely significantly on information systems, including point-of-sale processing in our restaurants for
management of our supply chain, payment of obligations, collection of cash, credit and debit card transactions and
other processes and procedures. We also operate tableside access to touch screen ordering systems to allow guests to
place special orders. Our ability to efficiently and effectively manage our business depends significantly on the
reliability and capacity of these systems. Failures of these systems to operate effectively, maintenance problems,
upgrading or transitioning to new platforms, or a breach in security of these systems could result in delays in customer
service and reduce efficiency in our operations. Remediation of such problems could result in significant, unplanned
capital investments.
Our marketing programs may not be successful, and our new menu items, advertising campaigns and restaurant designs
and remodels may not generate increased sales or profits.
We incur costs and expend other resources in our marketing efforts on new menu items, advertising campaigns
and restaurant designs and remodels to raise brand awareness and attract and retain guests. These initiatives may not be
successful, resulting in expenses incurred without the benefit of higher sales. Additionally, some of our competitors
have greater financial resources, which enable them to spend significantly more on marketing and advertising and other
initiatives than we are able to. Should our competitors increase spending on marketing and advertising and other
initiatives or our marketing funds decrease for any reason, or should our advertising, promotions, new menu items and
restaurant designs and remodels be less effective than our competitors, there could be a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our inability or failure to recognize, respond to and effectively manage the accelerated impact of social media
could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our marketing efforts rely heavily on the use of social media. In recent years, there has been a marked increase
in the use of social media platforms, including weblogs (blogs), mini-blogs, chat platforms, social media websites,
and other forms of Internet-based communications which allow individuals access to a broad audience of consumers
and other interested persons. Many of our competitors are expanding their use of social media, and new social media
platforms are rapidly being developed, potentially making more traditional social media platforms obsolete. As a
result, we need to continuously innovate and develop our social media strategies in order to maintain broad appeal
with guests and brand relevance. We also continue to invest in other digital marketing initiatives that allow us to reach
our guests across multiple digital channels and build their awareness of, engagement with, and loyalty to our brand.
These initiatives may not be successful, resulting in expenses incurred without the benefit of higher sales or increased
brand recognition.
28
We could be party to litigation that could adversely affect us by distracting management, increasing our expenses
or subjecting us to material money damages and other remedies.
Our guests may file complaints or lawsuits against us alleging we caused an illness or injury they suffered at
or after a visit to our restaurants, or that we have problems with food quality or operations. We are also subject to a
variety of other claims arising in the ordinary course of our business, including personal injury claims, contract
claims and claims alleging violations of federal and state law regarding workplace and employment matters, equal
opportunity, discrimination and similar matters, and we are presently subject to class action and other lawsuits with
regard to certain of these matters and could become subject to additional class action or other lawsuits related to
these or different matters in the future. Regardless of whether any claims against us are valid, or whether we are
ultimately held liable, claims may be expensive to defend and may divert time and money away from our operations
and hurt our performance. A judgment in excess of our insurance coverage for any claims could materially and
adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Any adverse publicity resulting from these
allegations may also materially and adversely affect our reputation or prospects, which in turn could materially
adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are subject to state and local “dram shop” statutes, which may subject us to uninsured liabilities. 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. Because a plaintiff may seek punitive damages,
which may not be fully covered by insurance, this type of action could have an adverse impact on our business,
financial condition or results of operations. A judgment in such an action significantly in excess of, or not covered by,
our insurance coverage could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Further,
adverse publicity resulting from any such allegations may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results
of operations.
Our current insurance may not provide adequate levels of coverage against claims.
There are types of losses we may incur that cannot be insured against or that we believe are not economically
reasonable to insure. Such losses could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of
operations. In addition, our current insurance policies may not be adequate to protect us from liabilities that we incur in
our business in areas such as workers’ compensation, general liability, auto and property. In the future, our insurance
premiums may increase, and we may not be able to obtain similar levels of insurance on reasonable terms, or at all. Any
substantial inadequacy of, or inability to obtain, insurance coverage could materially adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations. Following the IPO, we adjusted our existing directors’ and officers’
insurance. Failure to maintain adequate directors’ and officers’ insurance would likely adversely affect our ability to
attract and retain qualified officers and directors.
Failure to obtain and maintain required licenses and permits or to comply with alcoholic beverage or food control
regulations could lead to the loss of our liquor and food service licenses and, thereby, harm our business, financial
condition or results of operations.
The restaurant industry is subject to various federal, state and local government regulations, including those
relating to the sale of food and alcoholic beverages. Such regulations are subject to change from time to time. The
failure to obtain and maintain licenses, permits and approvals relating to such regulations could adversely affect our
business, financial condition or results of operations. Typically, licenses must be renewed annually and may be revoked,
suspended or denied renewal for cause at any time if governmental authorities determine that our conduct violates
applicable regulations. Difficulties or failure to maintain or obtain the required licenses and approvals could adversely
affect our existing restaurants and delay or result in our decision to cancel the opening of new restaurants, which would
adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Alcoholic beverage control regulations generally require our restaurants to apply to a state authority and, in
certain locations, county or municipal authorities for a license that must be renewed annually and may be revoked or
suspended for cause at any time. Alcoholic beverage control regulations relate to numerous aspects of daily operations
of our restaurants, including minimum age of patrons and employees, hours of operation, advertising, trade practices,
wholesale purchasing, other relationships with alcohol manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors, inventory control
and handling, storage and dispensing of alcoholic beverages. Any future failure to comply with these regulations and
obtain or retain liquor licenses could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
29
Failure to establish and maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act could have a material adverse effect on our business and stock price.
As a publicly traded company, we are required to comply with the SEC's rules implementing Section 302 and
404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires management to certify financial and other information in our quarterly
and annual reports and provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of internal controls over financial
reporting. Though we are required to disclose changes made in our internal controls and procedures on a quarterly
basis, we will not be required to make our first annual assessment of our internal control over financial reporting
pursuant to Section 404 until 2020. Pursuant to the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm will
not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting until the date we are no
longer an emerging growth company, which may be up to five full fiscal years following our IPO.
To comply with the requirements of being a public company, we may need to undertake various actions, such
as implementing new internal controls and procedures and hiring additional accounting or internal audit staff. In
addition, we may identify material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting that we may not be able
to remediate in time to meet the applicable deadline imposed upon us for compliance with the requirements of
Section 404. In connection with the audit of our financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2017, we identified
a material weakness related to a lack of sufficient segregation of duties within the Company’s financial record and
reporting IT systems.
If we identify weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, are unable to comply with the
requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner or to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is
effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness
of our internal control over financial reporting, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of
our financial reports and the market price of our common stock could be negatively affected, and we could become
subject to investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and
management resources.
Changes to accounting rules or regulations may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of
operations.
Changes to existing accounting rules or regulations may impact our business, financial condition or results of
operations. Other new accounting rules or regulations and varying interpretations of existing accounting rules or
regulations have occurred and may occur in the future. For instance, accounting regulatory authorities have recently
issued new accounting rules which require lessees to capitalize operating leases in their financial statements. When
adopted, such change would require us to record significant operating lease obligations on our balance sheet and make
other changes to our financial statements. This and other future changes to accounting rules or regulations could
materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We incur increased costs as a result of being a public company.
As a public company, we face significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private
company prior to the completion of our IPO in August 2019, particularly after we are no longer an “emerging growth
company” as defined under the JOBS Act. In addition, new and changing laws, regulations and standards relating to
corporate governance and public disclosure, including the Dodd-Frank Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
and to be promulgated thereunder, as well as under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the JOBS Act, have created uncertainty
for public companies and increased costs and time that boards of directors and management must devote to complying
with these rules and regulations. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related rules of the SEC and the Nasdaq Stock Market
regulate corporate governance practices of public companies. Compliance with these rules and regulations has increased
and will continue to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and can lead to a diversion of management time
and attention from sales-generating activities. For example, we are required to adopt new internal controls and
disclosure controls and procedures. In addition, we incur additional expenses associated with our SEC reporting
requirements and increased compensation for our management team. We cannot predict or estimate the amount of
additional costs we will continue to incur as a public company or the specific timing of such costs.
30
We are an “emerging growth company,” and we cannot be certain if the reduced reporting and disclosure
requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our common stock less attractive to investors.
For as long as we remain an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act, we may take advantage
of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not
“emerging growth companies.” These exceptions provide for, but are not limited to, relief from the auditor attestation
requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, less extensive disclosure obligations regarding executive
compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, exemptions from the requirements to hold a nonbinding
advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously
approved and an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. While we have
chosen to “opt out” of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards, we may
take advantage of the other reporting exemptions until we are no longer an “emerging growth company”. We will
remain an “emerging growth company” until the earliest of: (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have $1.07
billion or more in annual gross revenues; (ii) the date on which we become a “large accelerated filer” (which means
the year-end at which the total market value of our common equity securities held by non-affiliates is $700 million or
more as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter); (iii) the date on which we have
issued more than $1 billion of non-convertible debt securities over a three-year period; and (iv) the last day of the
fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of our IPO. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less
attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock to be less attractive as
a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and the market price of our common stock
may be more volatile.
Our management has limited experience managing a U.S. public company and our current resources may not be
sufficient to fulfill our public company obligations.
As a newly public company, we are subject to various new regulatory requirements, including those of the SEC
and Nasdaq Stock Market. These requirements include recordkeeping, financial reporting and corporate governance
rules and regulations. Our management team has limited experience in managing a U.S. public company and
historically, has not had the resources typically found in a public company. Our internal infrastructure may not be
adequate to support our increased reporting obligations and we may be unable to hire, train or retain necessary staff
and may be reliant on engaging outside consultants or professionals to overcome our lack of experience or employees.
Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected if our internal infrastructure is
inadequate, including if we are unable to engage outside consultants or are otherwise unable to fulfill our public
company obligations.
Pursuant to the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the
effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
for so long as we are an “emerging growth company.”
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our
internal control over financial reporting, starting with the second annual report that we file with the SEC as a public
company, and generally requires in the same report a report by our independent registered public accounting firm on
the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. However, under the JOBS Act, our independent
registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial
reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act until we are no longer an “emerging growth company.”
We will be an “emerging growth company” until the earliest of: (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have
$1.07 billion or more in annual gross revenues; (ii) the date on which we become a “large accelerated filer” (which
means the year-end at which the total market value of our common equity securities held by non-affiliates is $700
million or more as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter); (iii) the date on
which we have issued more than $1 billion of non-convertible debt securities over a three-year period; and (iv) the
last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of our IPO.
31
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage
of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities
Act”) for complying with new or revised accounting standards. An “emerging growth company” can therefore delay
the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies.
However, we are choosing to “opt out” of such extended transition period and, as a result, we will comply with new
or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging
growth companies. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that our decision to opt out of the extended transition period
for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable.
Risks Related to Ownership of Our Class A Common Stock
There may be an adverse effect on the value and liquidity of our Class A common stock due to the disparate voting
rights of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock.
With the exception of voting rights and certain conversion rights for the Class B common stock, holders of our
Class A common stock and Class B common stock have identical rights. On all matters to be voted on by stockholders,
holders of our Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share while holders of our Class B common stock
are entitled to 10 votes per share. The difference in the voting rights of our Class A common stock and Class B common
stock could adversely affect the value of the Class A common stock to the extent that any investor or potential future
purchaser of our Class A common stock ascribes value to the superior voting rights of our Class B common stock. The
existence of two separate classes of common stock could result in less liquidity for our Class A common stock than if
there were only one class of our common stock. In addition, if we issue additional shares of Class B common stock in
the future, there will be further dilution to investors or potential future purchasers of our Class A common stock.
Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly and could fall below the expectations of securities analysts
and investors due to seasonality and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, resulting in a decline in our
stock price.
Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly because of several factors, including:
•
the timing of new restaurant openings and related expense;
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
restaurant operating costs for our newly-opened restaurants, which are often materially greater during the
first several months of operation than thereafter;
labor availability and costs for hourly and management personnel;
profitability of our restaurants, especially in new markets;
changes in interest rates;
increases and decreases in AUVs and comparable restaurant sales;
impairment of long-lived assets and any loss on restaurant closures;
macroeconomic conditions, both nationally and locally;
negative publicity relating to the consumption of seafood or other food products we serve;
changes in consumer preferences and competitive conditions;
expansion in existing and new markets;
increases in infrastructure costs; and
fluctuations in commodity prices.
Seasonal factors and the timing of holidays also cause our sales to fluctuate from quarter to quarter. As a result
of these factors, our quarterly and annual operating results and comparable restaurant sales may fluctuate significantly.
Accordingly, results for any one quarter are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any other quarter
or for any year and comparable restaurant sales for any particular future period may decrease. In addition, as we
expand by opening more restaurants in cold weather climates, the seasonality of our business may be amplified. In the
future, operating results may fall below the expectations of securities analysts and investors. In that event, the price
of our common stock could be adversely impacted.
32
The price of our common stock may be volatile and you may lose all or part of your investment.
The market price of our common stock could fluctuate significantly, and you may not be able to resell your
shares at or above the purchase price. Those fluctuations could be based on various factors in addition to those
otherwise described in this report, including those described under “—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry”
and the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
our operating performance and the performance of our competitors or restaurant companies in general;
the public’s reaction to our press releases, our other public announcements and our filings with the SEC;
changes in earnings estimates or recommendations by research analysts who follow us or other companies
in our industry;
global, national or local economic, legal and regulatory factors unrelated to our performance;
future sales of our common stock or our equity interests by our officers, directors and significant
stockholders;
the arrival or departure of key personnel; and
other developments affecting us, our industry or our competitors.
In addition, in recent years the stock market has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations. These
fluctuations may be unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations
may cause declines in the market price of our common stock. The price of our common stock could fluctuate based
upon factors that have little or nothing to do with our business, financial condition or results of operations, and those
fluctuations could adversely impact our common stock price.
Future sales of our common stock, or the perception that such sales may occur, could depress our common stock
price.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that such
sales may occur, could depress the market price of our common stock. This would include sales by Kura Japan, as
detailed below under “—Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure—Future sales of our shares by Kura Japan
could depress our Class A common stock price.” Our executive officers and directors and holders of all of our options
and equity interests, including Kura Japan, have agreed with the underwriters for our IPO not to offer, sell, dispose
of or hedge any shares of common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock
(including shares of our Class B common stock), subject to specified limited exceptions and extensions, during the
period ending 180 days after July 31, 2019, the date of the final prospectus filed with the SEC in connection with
our IPO, except with the prior written consent of the representatives of the underwriters.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorize us to issue up to 50,000,000 shares of Class A
common stock and 10,000,100 shares of Class B common stock, of which, as of the date of this report, 7,335,000
shares of Class A common stock and 1,000,050 shares of Class B common stock are outstanding, and 405,302 shares
of Class A common stock will be issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options. The shares of Class A
common stock offered are freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act, except for any shares of our
common stock that is held by our directors, executive officers and other affiliates, as that term is defined in the
Securities Act, which will be restricted securities under the Securities Act. Restricted securities may not be sold in the
public market unless the sale is registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from registration is available.
After the expiration of the lock-up agreements, shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock
held by our affiliates will continue to be subject to the volume and other restrictions of Rule 144 under the Securities
Act. The representatives of the underwriters may, in its sole discretion and at any time without notice, release all or
any portion of the shares subject to the lock-up.
In addition, we filed a registration statement on Form S-8 registering under the Securities Act 700,000 shares
of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under our 2018 Incentive Compensation Plan.
33
In the future, we may also issue common stock or other securities. The number of new shares of our common
stock issued in connection with raising additional capital could constitute a material portion of the then outstanding
shares of our common stock and dilute our current stockholders.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our
business, our stock price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our common stock will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or
industry analysts publish about us or our business. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrades our
common stock or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price would likely
decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of us or fails to publish reports on us regularly, demand for
our common stock could decrease, which could cause our stock prices and trading volume to decline.
We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future.
We may retain future earnings, if any, for future operations, expansion and debt repayment and have no current
plans to pay any cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Any future determination to declare and pay cash dividends
will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our financial condition, results
of operations, cash requirements, contractual restrictions and such other factors as our board of directors deems relevant.
Our ability to pay dividends may also be limited by covenants under our Credit Facility, terms loans or of any future
outstanding indebtedness we, our subsidiaries or affiliates (including Kura Japan) incur. As a result, you may not receive
any return on an investment in our common stock unless you sell our common stock for a price greater than that which
you paid for it.
Provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law may delay or prevent our acquisition by a third party.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, and Delaware law,
contain several provisions that may make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us without the approval
of our board of directors. These provisions may make it more difficult or expensive for a third party to acquire a
majority of our outstanding equity interests. These provisions also may delay, prevent or deter a merger, acquisition,
tender offer, proxy contest or other transaction that might otherwise result in our stockholders receiving a premium
over the market price for their common stock.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws each contain an exclusive forum
provision, which could limit a stockholder’s ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our
directors, officers or other employees.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws each contain an
exclusive forum provision providing that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and
exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim
of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by, or other wrongdoing by, any of our directors, officers, employees, agents or
stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation
Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws, or (iv) any action
asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. However, Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates
exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or
the rules and regulations thereunder. As a result, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to
enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have
exclusive jurisdiction. In addition, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and
state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and
regulations thereunder. As a result, the exclusive forum provisions will not apply to suits brought to enforce any duty
or liability created by the Securities Act or any other claim for which the federal and state courts have concurrent
jurisdiction, and our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws
and the rules and regulations thereunder.
34
Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to
have notice of and to have consented to this provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our
amended and restated bylaws. The exclusive forum provisions, if enforced, may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring
a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees,
which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find the exclusive forum provisions to be
inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in
other jurisdictions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of
operations and growth prospects. For example, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware recently determined
that a provision stating that U.S. federal district courts are the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting
a cause of action arising under the Securities Act is not enforceable.
Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure
We are controlled by Kura Japan, whose interests may differ from those of our other stockholders.
As of the date of this report, Kura Japan controls approximately 81% of the combined voting power of our
equity interests through their ownership of both Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Kura Japan will,
for the foreseeable future, have significant influence over corporate management and affairs, and will be able to control
virtually all matters requiring stockholder approval so long as Kura Japan owns a majority of the combined voting
power of our outstanding equity interests. As of the date of this report, Kura Japan owns 1,000,050 shares of Class B
common stock and a majority of the combined voting power of our outstanding equity interests, and effectively control
the outcome of matters submitted to stockholders that require a majority vote based on 7,335,000 shares of Class A
common stock and 1,000,050 shares of Class B common stock outstanding. Kura Japan is able to, subject to applicable
law, elect a majority of the members of our board of directors and control actions to be taken by us and our board of
directors, including amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and approval of significant corporate
transactions, including, among other matters, mergers and sales of substantially all of our assets, as well as incurrence
of indebtedness by us. The directors so elected will have the authority, subject to the terms of our indebtedness and
applicable rules and regulations, to issue additional stock, implement stock repurchase programs, declare dividends
and make other decisions. It is possible that the interests of Kura Japan may in some circumstances conflict with our
interests and the interests of our other stockholders, including you. For example, Kura Japan may have different tax
positions from us that could influence their decisions regarding whether and when to dispose of assets and whether
and when to incur new or refinance existing indebtedness. Such indebtedness could contain covenants that prevent us
from declaring dividends to stockholders. In addition, the determination of future tax reporting positions and the
structuring of future transactions may take into consideration Kura Japan’s tax or other considerations, which may
differ from our considerations or our other stockholders. For additional information about our relationships with Kura
Japan, you should read the information under “Note 5. Related Party Transactions” to our audited financial statements
included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K for additional information.
We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing standards and, as a result, will qualify for, and
may rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. You will not have the same protections
afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such requirements.
As of the date of this report, Kura Japan controls approximately 81% of the combined voting power of our
equity interests through their ownership of both Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Because of the
voting power of Kura Japan, we are considered a “controlled company” for the purposes of the Nasdaq Stock Market.
As such, we are exempt from certain corporate governance requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market, including (i)
the requirement that a majority of the board of directors consist of independent directors, (ii) the requirement that
we have a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee that is composed entirely of independent directors and
(iii) the requirement that we have a Compensation Committee that is composed entirely of independent directors.
We may rely on the above-stated exemptions so long as we are considered a “controlled company” under the Nasdaq
Stock Market requirements. Accordingly, you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of
companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market. We currently
have a board composed of independent directors and our Compensation Committee is composed entirely of
independent directors but we do not have a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
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The interests of Kura Japan may conflict with ours or yours in the future.
Various conflicts of interest between Kura Japan and us could arise. Ownership interests of directors or officers
of Kura Japan in our common stock, or a person’s service as either a director or officer of both companies, could
create or appear to create potential conflicts of interest when those directors and officers are faced with decisions that
could have different implications for Kura Japan and Kura Sushi USA. These decisions could, for example, relate to:
•
•
•
•
•
disagreement over corporate opportunities;
management stock ownership;
employee retention or recruiting;
our dividend policy; and
the services and arrangements from which we benefit as a result of its relationship with Kura Japan.
Potential conflicts of interest could also arise if we enter into any new commercial arrangements with Kura
Japan in the future. Our directors and officers who have interests in both Kura Japan and us may also face conflicts of
interest with regard to the allocation of their time between Kura Japan and Kura Sushi USA.
The corporate opportunity provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation could enable Kura
Japan to benefit from corporate opportunities that might otherwise be available to Kura Sushi USA.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions related to corporate opportunities that
may be of interest to both Kura Japan and us. It provides that if a corporate opportunity is offered to:
•
•
•
one of our officers or employees who is also a director (but not an officer or employee) of Kura Japan,
that opportunity will belong to us unless expressly offered to that person primarily in his or her capacity
as a director of Kura Japan, in which case it will belong to Kura Japan;
one of our directors who is also an officer or employee of Kura Japan, that opportunity will belong to
Kura Japan unless expressly offered to that person primarily in his or her capacity as our director, in which
case it will belong to us; and
any person who is either (1) an officer or employee of both us and Kura Japan or (2) a director of both us
and Kura Japan (but not an officer or employee of either one), that opportunity will belong to Kura Japan
unless expressly offered to that person primarily in his or her capacity as our director, in which case such
opportunity shall belong to us.
Manabu Kamei, our Chief Operating Officer and a member of our board of directors, is also a member of the
board of directors and an employee of Kura Japan, but none of our other officers, employees or directors are also an
officer, employee or director of Kura Japan. Accordingly, no officers or employees of the Company fit the description
of the first bullet above, and only Mr. Kamei fits the description of personnel described in the second and third bullets
above given his roles at our company and Kura Japan.
In following these procedures, any person who is offered a corporate opportunity will have satisfied his or her
fiduciary duties to our stockholders and us. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides
that any corporate opportunity that belongs to Kura Japan or to us, as the case may be, may not be pursued by the other,
unless and until the party to whom the opportunity belongs determines not to pursue the opportunity and so informs the
other party. Furthermore, so long as the material facts of any transaction between us and Kura Japan have been disclosed
to or are known by our board of directors or relevant board committee, and the board or such committee (which may,
for quorum purposes, include directors who are directors or officers of Kura Japan) authorizes the transaction by an
affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, then Kura Japan will have satisfied its fiduciary duties and
will not be liable to us or our stockholders for any breach of fiduciary duty or duty of loyalty relating to that transaction.
These provisions create the possibility that a corporate opportunity that may be pertinent to us may be used for the
benefit of Kura Japan.
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Future sales of our shares by Kura Japan could depress our Class A common stock price.
Subject to a lock-up period, Kura Japan may sell all or a portion of the shares of our Class A common stock and
Class B common stock that it owns (which shares of Class B common stock would be converted automatically into
Class A shares in connection with any sale). Sales by Kura Japan in the public market could depress our Class A
common stock price. Kura Japan is not subject to any contractual obligation to maintain its ownership position in our
shares, except that it has agreed not to sell or otherwise dispose of any of our equity interests for a period ending 180
days after July 31, 2019, the date of the final prospectus filed with the SEC in connection with our IPO without the
prior written consent of the representatives of the underwriters. Consequently, Kura Japan may decide not to maintain
its ownership of our equity interests once the lock-up period expires.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2.
Properties
As of August 31, 2019, we operate 23 restaurants in five states. We operate a variety of restaurant formats,
including in-line and end-cap restaurants located in retail centers of varying sizes. Our restaurants range in size from
1,600 to 6,800 square feet, with an average of approximately 3,200 square feet. We lease the property for our corporate
offices located in Irvine, California and all of the properties on which we operate our restaurants.
The table below shows the locations of our restaurants as of August 31, 2019:
City
Irvine
Los Angeles (Little Tokyo)
Torrance
Brea
Rancho Cucamonga
Los Angeles (Sawtelle)
San Diego
Cupertino
Plano
Carrollton
Austin
Doraville
State
California
California
California
California
California
California
California
California
Texas
Texas
Texas
Georgia
Opened
Sep-2009
Jan-2012
Apr-2012
May-2012
Aug-2012
Aug-2013
Mar-2015
Feb-2016
May-2016
Jul-2016
May-2017
Jul-2017
City
Houston (Westheimer)
Sugar Land
Houston (Midtown)
Pleasanton
Frisco
Cerritos
Schaumburg
Cypress
Sacramento
Las Vegas
Garden Grove
State
Texas
Texas
Texas
California
Texas
California
Illinois
California
California
Nevada
California
Opened
Aug-2017
Jan-2018
Mar-2018
Apr-2018
May-2018
Oct-2018
Nov-2018
Jan-2019
Mar-2019
Jul-2019
Aug-2019
We are obligated under non-cancelable leases for the majority of our restaurants, as well as our corporate offices.
The majority of our restaurant leases have lease terms of twenty years, inclusive of customary extensions which are at
the option of the Company. Our restaurant leases generally require us to pay a proportionate share of real estate taxes,
insurance, common area maintenance charges, and other operating costs. Some restaurant leases provide for contingent
rental payments based on sales thresholds, although we generally do not expect to pay significant rent on these
properties based on the thresholds in those leases.
37
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
We are currently involved in various claims, investigations and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of
our business, including claims and investigations resulting from employment-related matters. On May 31, 2019, a
putative class action complaint was filed by a former employee Brandy Gomes in Los Angeles County Superior Court,
alleging violations of California wage and hour laws. The Company was served with this complaint on June 28, 2019.
The Company disputes any allegations of wrongdoing and intends to defend itself vigorously in this matter. The
Company is currently unable to estimate the range of possible losses associated with this proceeding.
In the opinion of management, none of these matters, including the putative class action matter referenced above,
has had a material effect on us, and as of the date of this report, we are not party to any material pending legal
proceedings and are not aware of any claims that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, a significant increase in the number of these claims or an
increase in amounts owing under successful claims, including the putative class action referenced above, could
materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
38
PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of
Equity Securities
Market Information for Common Stock
Our common stock has traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “KRUS” since it began trading
on August 1, 2019. Before then, there was no public market for our common stock.
Holders of Record
As of November 20, 2019, we had 2 holders of record of our Class A common stock and one holder of our Class
B common stock. The number of holders of record is based upon the actual number of holders registered as of such
date and does not include holders of shares in “street name” or persons, partnerships, associates, corporations or other
entities in security position listings maintained by depositories.
Dividends
We have not declared, and currently do not plan to declare in the foreseeable future, dividends on our common
stock. Instead, we anticipate that all our earnings in the foreseeable future, if any, will be used for the operation and
growth of our business. Any future determination to pay dividends on our common stock will be at the discretion of
our board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition, our results of operations,
our liquidity, legal requirements, restrictions that may be imposed by the terms of current and future financing
instruments and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors.
39
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph presents a comparison from August 1, 2019 (the date our common stock commenced
trading on the Nasdaq Global Market) through August 31, 2019 of the cumulative return of our common stock, the
Nasdaq Composite Index and the S&P 600 Restaurants Index. The graph assumes investment of $100 on August 1,
2019 in our common stock and in each of the two indices and the reinvestment of dividends. This graph is furnished
and not “filed” with the SEC or “soliciting material” under the Exchange Act and shall not be incorporated by reference
into any such filings, irrespective of any general incorporation contained in such filing.
Comparison of Cumulative Total Return of Kura Sushi USA, Inc.
$140
$130
$120
$110
$100
$90
$80
8/1/2019
8/7/2019
8/13/2019
8/19/2019
8/25/2019
8/31/2019
Kura Sushi USA, Inc.
Nasdaq Composite
S&P 600 Restaurants
Total Return Analysis
Kura Sushi USA, Inc. ............................................................... $
Nasdaq Composite.................................................................... $
S&P 600 Restaurants Index...................................................... $
8/1/2019
100.00 $
100.00 $
100.00 $
8/31/2019
127.84
98.17
106.77
Use of Proceeds from Initial Public Offering of Class A Common Stock
On July 31, 2019, we priced the initial public offering of our Class A common stock pursuant to a registration
statement (File No. 333-232551), that was declared effective on July 31, 2019. The offering closed on August 5, 2019
after all of the securities registered in the registration statement were sold.
Under the registration statement, we sold an aggregate of 3,335,000 of Class A common stock at a price of
$14.00 per share. This included 435,000 shares issued and sold by us pursuant to the exercise of the underwriters’
option to purchase additional shares. The shares were sold to the underwriters at the IPO price of $14.00 per share less
an underwriting discount of $0.98 per share. BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Stephens Inc. acted as representatives
of the underwriters for the offering. We received aggregate net proceeds of approximately $39 million after deducting
the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We used a portion of the
net proceeds to repay all of the approximately $3.1 million borrowings outstanding under our Credit Facility, with the
remaining proceeds, have and will support new unit growth, for working capital and general corporate purposes. No
payments were made by us to directors, officers or persons owning 10% or more of our common stock or to their
associates, or to our affiliates.
40
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
During fiscal year 2019, we did not sell any securities without registration under the Securities Act of 1933.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
We did not repurchase any of our equity securities during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
For equity compensation plan information, refer to “Part III, Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 6.
Selected Financial and Operating Data
The following tables set forth selected historical financial data, for the periods and as of the dates indicated,
derived from our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These tables
should be read in conjunction with “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and our financial statements and notes thereto included in “Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” of this report. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of
future results.
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2018
(amounts in thousands, except per share data)
2019
2017
Statements of Operations Data:
Sales ....................................................................................... $
Restaurant operating costs:
Food and beverage costs ...................................................
Labor and related costs .....................................................
Occupancy and related expenses ......................................
Depreciation and amortization expenses ..........................
Other costs ........................................................................
Total restaurant operating costs .............................
General and administrative expenses .....................................
Depreciation and amortization expenses................................
Impairment of long-lived asset, net........................................
Total operating expenses ..................................................
Operating income ...................................................................
Other expense (income):
Interest expense.................................................................
Interest income..................................................................
Income before income taxes...................................................
Income tax expense ................................................................
Net income ............................................................................. $
Net income per share attributable to Class A
and Class B common stockholders
64,245 $
51,744 $
37,251
21,048
19,942
4,593
2,055
7,088
54,726
7,748
110
—
62,584
1,661
188
(51)
1,524
68
1,456 $
17,594
15,994
3,013
1,624
5,404
43,629
5,965
51
236
49,881
1,863
128
(12)
1,747
5
1,742 $
13,389
12,117
2,077
1,345
3,907
32,835
3,364
25
—
36,224
1,027
85
(5)
947
240
707
Basic ............................................................................ $
Diluted ......................................................................... $
0.28 $
0.26 $
0.35 $
0.34 $
0.14
0.14
Weighted average shares used to compute net
income per share attributable to Class A and
Class B common stockholder
Basic ............................................................................
Diluted .........................................................................
5,283
5,512
5,000
5,050
5,000
5,000
41
2019
As of August 31,
2018
(amounts in thousands)
2017
Balance Sheet Data:
Cash and cash equivalents...................................................... $
Total assets .............................................................................
Capital leases - non-current....................................................
Total liabilities........................................................................
Total stockholders' equity.......................................................
38,044 $
76,410
2,424
14,229
62,181
5,711 $
32,069
3,443
10,564
21,505
2,882
23,160
2,878
8,502
14,658
2019
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2018
(dollar amounts in thousands)
2017
Key Financial and Operational Metrics:
Restaurants at the end of period ............................................
Average Unit Volumes(a) .......................................................
Comparable restaurant sales growth(b) ..................................
EBITDA(c) ............................................................................. $
Adjusted EBITDA(c) .............................................................. $
as a percentage of sales .........................................................
Operating income .................................................................. $
Operating profit margin.........................................................
Restaurant-level Contribution(c) ............................................ $
Restaurant-level Contribution margin(c) ................................
23
3,498
3,826
5,782
$
6.2%
$
$
9.0%
$
2.6%
$
20.1%
1,661
12,945
17
3,457
3,538
4,506
$
2.9%
$
$
8.7%
$
3.6%
$
20.1%
1,863
10,380
14
3,358
34.8%
2,397
3,107
8.3%
1,027
2.8%
6,471
17.4%
(a) Average Unit Volumes (AUVs) consist of the average annual sales of all restaurants that have been open for 18
months or longer at the end of the fiscal year presented. The AUVs measure is calculated excluding the Laguna
Hills, California restaurant, which closed in fiscal year 2018, and has also been adjusted for restaurants that
were not open for the entire fiscal year presented (such as a restaurant closed for renovation) to annualize sales
for such period of time. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations” for the definition of AUVs.
(b) Comparable restaurant sales growth represents the change in year-over-year sales for restaurants open for at
least 18 months prior to the start of the accounting period presented, including those temporarily closed for
renovations during the year. The comparable restaurant sales growth measure is calculated excluding the Laguna
Hills, California restaurant, which closed in fiscal year 2018.
(c)
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Restaurant-level Contribution and Restaurant-level Contribution margin are non-
GAAP measures that are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with, accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). We are presenting EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA,
Restaurant-level Contribution and Restaurant-level Contribution margin because we believe that they provide
useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to our
financial condition and operating results. Additionally, we present Restaurant-level Contribution because it
excludes the impact of general and administrative expenses which are not incurred at the restaurant-level. We
also use Restaurant-level Contribution to measure operating performance and returns from opening new
restaurants. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations – EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA and Restaurant-level Contribution and Restaurant-level
Contribution Margin” for additional information and reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP
financial measures.
42
Item 7.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations
together with the “Selected Financial Data” and our financial statements and the related notes and other financial
information included elsewhere in this report. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or
set forth elsewhere in this report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business,
includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. You should review the “Special Note
Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” sections of this report for a discussion of important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-
looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.
Overview
Kura Sushi USA, Inc. is a fast-growing, technology-enabled Japanese restaurant concept that provides guests
with a distinctive dining experience by serving authentic Japanese cuisine through an engaging revolving sushi service
model, which we refer to as the “Kura Experience”. We encourage healthy lifestyles by serving freshly prepared
Japanese cuisine using high-quality ingredients that are free from artificial seasonings, sweeteners, colorings, and
preservatives. We aim to make quality Japanese cuisine accessible to our guests across the United States through
affordable prices and an inviting atmosphere.
Business Trends
We have expanded our restaurant base from eight restaurants in California as of the beginning of fiscal year
2016 to 23 restaurants in five states as of the end of fiscal year 2019. We opened four restaurants in fiscal year 2018
and six restaurants in fiscal year 2019. We expect to open six new restaurants in fiscal year 2020 and therefore, we
expect our revenue and restaurant operating costs to significantly increase in fiscal year 2020. Additionally, we expect
our general and administrative expenses will increase as a percentage of sales in our fiscal year 2020 due to additional
costs associated with being a public company.
Key Financial Definitions
Sales. Sales represent sales of food and beverages in restaurants. Restaurant sales in a given period are directly
impacted by the number of restaurants we operate and comparable restaurant sales growth.
Food and beverage costs. Food and beverage costs are variable in nature, change with sales volume and are
influenced by menu mix and subject to increases or decreases based on fluctuations in commodity costs. Other
important factors causing fluctuations in food and beverage costs include seasonality and restaurant-level management
of food waste. Food and beverage costs are a substantial expense and are expected to grow proportionally as our sales
grows.
Labor and related expenses. Labor and related expenses include all restaurant-level management and hourly
labor costs, including wages, employee benefits and payroll taxes. Similar to the food and beverage costs that we
incur, labor and related expenses are expected to grow proportionally as our sales grows. Factors that influence
fluctuations in our labor and related expenses include minimum wage and payroll tax legislation, the frequency and
severity of workers’ compensation claims, healthcare costs and the performance of our restaurants.
Occupancy and related expenses. Occupancy and related expenses include rent for all restaurant locations and
related taxes.
Depreciation and amortization expenses. Depreciation and amortization expenses are periodic non-
cash charges that consist of depreciation of fixed assets, including equipment and capitalized leasehold improvements.
Depreciation is determined using the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated useful lives, ranging from three
to 20 years.
Other costs. Other costs include utilities, repairs and maintenance, credit card fees, royalty payments to Kura
Japan, stock-based compensation expenses for restaurant-level employees and other restaurant-level expenses.
43
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses include expenses associated with
corporate and regional supervision functions that support the operations of existing restaurants and development of
new restaurants, including compensation and benefits, travel expenses, stock-based compensation expenses for
corporate-level employees, legal and professional fees, marketing costs, information systems, corporate office rent
and other related corporate costs. General and administrative expenses are expected to grow as our sales grows,
including incremental legal, accounting, insurance and other expenses incurred as a public company.
Interest expense. Interest expense includes cash and non-cash charges related to our line of credit and capital
lease obligations.
Interest income. Interest income includes income earned on our investments.
Income tax expense (benefit). Provision for income taxes represents federal, state and local current and deferred
income tax expense.
Results of Operations
The following table presents selected comparative results of operations from our audited financial statements
for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2019 compared to the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018, and the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2018 compared to the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017. Our financial results for these periods are not
necessarily indicative of the financial results that we will achieve in future periods. Certain totals for the table below
may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2017
2018
2019
Increase / (Decrease)
2019 vs 2018
2018 vs 2017
(dollar amounts in thousands)
Sales ............................................. $ 64,245 $ 51,744 $ 37,251 $ 12,501
Restaurant operating costs
24.2% $ 14,493
38.9%
Food and beverage costs ......... 21,048 17,594 13,389
Labor and related costs ........... 19,942 15,994 12,117
Occupancy and related
expenses ...............................
Depreciation and
amortization expenses..........
Other costs ..............................
Total restaurant operating
costs ................................ 54,726 43,629 32,835 11,097
3,454
3,948
1,624
5,404
431
1,684
1,345
3,907
2,055
7,088
3,013
1,580
2,077
4,593
19.6
24.7
52.4
26.5
31.2
4,205
3,877
31.4
32.0
936
45.1
279
1,497
20.7
38.3
25.4
10,794
32.9
General and administrative
expenses ....................................
Depreciation and amortization
expenses ....................................
Impairment of long-lived asset,
net .................................................
Operating income .........................
Other expense (income)
7,748
5,965
3,364
1,783
29.9
2,601
77.3
110
51
25
59
115.7
26
103.8
(236)
—
Total operating expenses ... 62,584 49,881 36,224 12,703
(202)
1,863
1,027
1,661
236
—
(100.0)
25.5
(10.8)
236
13,657
836
*
37.7
81.5
188
Interest expense.......................
(51)
Interest income........................
1,524
Income before income taxes.........
Income tax expense ......................
68
Net income ................................... $ 1,456 $
128
(12)
1,747
5
1,742 $
85
(5)
947
240
707 $
60
(39)
(223)
46.9
325.0
(12.8)
63 1,260.0
(286)
-16.4% $
43
(7)
800
(235)
1,035
50.5
144.6
84.5
(98.0)
146.4%
44
Sales.......................................................................
Restaurant operating costs
Food and beverage costs ..................................
Labor and related costs ....................................
Occupancy and related expenses .....................
Depreciation and amortization expenses .........
Other costs .......................................................
Total restaurant operating costs..................
General and administrative expenses ....................
Depreciation and amortization expenses ...............
Impairment of long-lived asset, net .......................
Total operating expenses ............................
Operating income ..................................................
Other expense (income)
Interest expense................................................
Interest income.................................................
Income before income taxes..................................
Income tax expense ...............................................
Net income.............................................................
2019
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2018
(as a percentage of sales)
100.0%
100.0%
2017
32.8
31.0
7.1
3.2
11.0
85.2
12.1
0.2
—
97.4
2.6
34.0
30.9
5.8
3.1
10.4
84.2
11.5
0.1
0.5
96.3
3.6
0.3
(0.1)
2.4
0.1
2.3%
0.2
0.0
3.4
0.0
3.4%
100.0%
35.9
32.5
5.6
3.6
10.5
88.1
9.0
0.1
—
97.2
2.8
0.2
0.0
2.5
0.6
1.9%
Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2019 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2018
Sales. Sales were $64.2 million for fiscal year 2019 compared to $51.7 million for fiscal year 2018, representing
an increase of approximately $12.5 million, or 24.2%. The increase in sales was primarily driven by six new
restaurants that opened during fiscal year 2019 and a full year of sales related to the four restaurants that opened in
fiscal year 2018, as well as a 6.2% comparable restaurant sales growth and increase in menu prices. The increase was
partially offset by the loss of sales from the closure of the Laguna Hills restaurant in the last month of fiscal year 2018.
Food and beverage costs. Food and beverage costs were $21.0 million for fiscal year 2019 compared to
$17.6 million for fiscal year 2018, representing an increase of approximately $3.4 million, or 19.6%. The increase in
food and beverage costs was primarily driven by sales from the six new restaurants that opened during fiscal year
2019 and a full year of expenses related to the four restaurants that opened in fiscal year 2018. As a percentage of
sales, food and beverage costs decreased to 32.8% in fiscal year 2019, compared to 34.0% in fiscal year 2018. The
decrease in food and beverage costs as a percentage of sales was primarily driven by the increases in our menu prices.
Labor and related costs. Labor and related costs were $19.9 million for fiscal year 2019 compared to
$16.0 million for fiscal year 2018, representing an increase of approximately $3.9 million, or 24.7%. The increase in
labor and related costs was driven by additional labor costs incurred with respect to the six new restaurants that opened
during fiscal year 2019 and a full year of expenses related to the four restaurants that opened in fiscal year 2018, as
well as wage increases. As a percentage of sales, labor and related costs remained consistent at 31.0% in fiscal year
2019, compared to 30.9% in fiscal year 2018.
Occupancy and related expenses. Occupancy and related expenses were $4.6 million for fiscal year 2019
compared to $3.0 million for fiscal year 2018, representing an increase of approximately $1.6 million, or 52.4%. The
increase was primarily a result of additional lease expense incurred with respect to six new restaurants that opened
during fiscal year 2019 and a full year of expenses related to the four restaurants that opened in fiscal year 2018. As a
percentage of sales, occupancy and other operating expenses increased to 7.1% in fiscal year 2019, compared to 5.8%
in fiscal year 2018. The increase in occupancy and related expenses as a percentage of sales was primarily driven by
the increase in pre-opening rent expense in fiscal year 2019.
45
Depreciation and amortization expenses. Depreciation and amortization expenses incurred as part of restaurant
operating costs were $2.1 million for fiscal year 2019 compared to $1.6 million for fiscal year 2018, representing an
increase of approximately $0.5 million, or 26.5%. The increase was primarily due to depreciation of property and
equipment related to the opening of six new restaurants in fiscal 2019 and a full year of expense related to the four
restaurants opened in fiscal 2018. As a percentage of sales, depreciation and amortization expenses at the restaurant-
level remained consistent at 3.2% in fiscal year 2019 as compared to 3.1% in fiscal year 2018. Depreciation and
amortization expenses incurred at the corporate-level were immaterial for fiscal years 2019 and 2018, and as a
percentage of sales remained relatively consistent at 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively.
Other costs. Other costs were $7.1 million for fiscal year 2019 compared to $5.4 million for fiscal year 2018,
representing an increase in approximately $1.7 million, or 31.2%. The increase was primarily due to $1.4 million in
costs related to the opening of six new restaurants in fiscal 2019, such as credit card fees, kitchen supplies, advertising
and promotions, royalty fees and utilities. The remaining year-over-year increase is due to repair and maintenance
costs and other individually insignificant items. As a percentage of sales, other costs increased to 11.0% in fiscal year
2019 from 10.4% during fiscal year 2018. See “Note 5 - Related Party Transactions” for additional information on
royalty payments.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses were $7.7 million for fiscal year
2019 compared to $6.0 million for fiscal year 2018, representing an increase of approximately $1.7 million, or 29.9%.
This increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to employee compensation-related expenses
associated with increased wages and additional headcount to support our growth in operations, as well as increase in
public company costs and $75 thousand in expenses related to a legal settlement. As a percentage of sales, general
and administrative expenses increased to 12.1% in fiscal year 2019 from 11.5% in fiscal year 2018, primarily due to
the increase in the expenses mentioned above.
Interest expense. Interest expense increased approximately $0.1 million, or 46.9%, in fiscal year 2019. The
increase in interest expense was primarily due to interest expense on the line of credit that the Company drew down
on during the third quarter of fiscal year 2019. The Company paid down the line of credit in the fourth quarter of fiscal
year 2019.
Income tax expense. Income tax expense was $0.1 million in fiscal year 2019 and was insignificant in fiscal
year 2018. The increase in income tax expense was primarily due to income tax benefits from the increase in general
business credits and the impact from the Tax Reform and Jobs Act in fiscal year 2018. For further discussion of our
income taxes, see “Note 9 - Income Taxes”.
Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2018 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2017
Sales. Sales were $51.7 million for fiscal year 2018 compared to $37.3 million for fiscal year 2017, representing
an increase of approximately $14.5 million, or 38.9%. The increase in sales was primarily driven by $12.8 million
from four new restaurants that opened during fiscal year 2018 and the three new restaurants that opened in the last
two quarters of fiscal year 2017. Additionally, restaurants included in the comparable restaurant base contributed
$1.7 million to the increase in sales during fiscal year 2018.
Food and beverage costs. Food and beverage costs were $17.6 million for fiscal year 2018 compared to
$13.4 million for fiscal year 2017, representing an increase of approximately $4.2 million, or 31.4%. The increase in
food and beverage costs was primarily driven by sales from the four new restaurants opened during fiscal year 2018
and the three new restaurants that were opened in the last two quarters of fiscal year 2017. As a percentage of sales,
food and beverage costs decreased to 34.0% in fiscal year 2018, compared to 35.9% in fiscal year 2017.
Labor and related costs. Labor and related costs were $16.0 million for fiscal year 2018 compared to
$12.1 million for fiscal year 2017, representing an increase of approximately $3.9 million, or 32.0%. The increase in
labor and related costs was driven by additional labor costs incurred with respect to the four new restaurants opened
during fiscal year 2018 and the three new restaurants that were opened in the last two quarters of fiscal year 2017. As
a percentage of sales, labor and related costs decreased to 30.9% in fiscal year 2018, compared to 32.5% in fiscal year
2017. The decrease was primarily due to opening three new restaurants in fiscal year 2018 and three new restaurants
in the last two quarters in fiscal year 2017 in states with lower wage rates.
46
Occupancy and related expenses. Occupancy and related expenses were $3.0 million for fiscal year 2018
compared to $2.1 million for fiscal year 2017, representing an increase of approximately $0.9 million, or 45.1%. The
increase was primarily a result of an additional $0.6 million of rental costs incurred with respect to four new restaurants
opened during fiscal year 2018, and an additional $0.2 million for the three restaurants that opened in the last two
quarters of fiscal year 2017. As a percentage of sales, occupancy and other operating expenses increased to 5.8% in
fiscal year 2018, compared to 5.6% for fiscal year 2017.
Depreciation and amortization expenses. Depreciation and amortization expenses incurred as part of restaurant
operating costs were $1.6 million for fiscal year 2018 compared to $1.3 million for fiscal year 2017, representing an
increase of approximately $0.3 million, or 20.8%. The increase was primarily due to depreciation of property and
equipment related to the opening of four new restaurants. As a percentage of sales, depreciation and amortization
expenses at the restaurant-level decreased to 3.1% in fiscal year 2018 from 3.6% in fiscal year 2017, primarily due to
higher sales from the four new restaurants that opened during fiscal year 2018 and the three new restaurants that
opened in the last two quarters of fiscal year 2017. Depreciation and amortization expenses incurred at the corporate-
level were immaterial for fiscal years 2017 and 2018, and as a percentage of sales remained relatively consistent at
0.1%.
Other costs. Other costs were $5.4 million for fiscal year 2018 compared to $3.9 million for fiscal year 2017,
representing an increase in approximately $1.5 million, or 38.3%. The increase was primarily due to an increase of
$0.4 million in credit card fees as a result of higher sales, as well as $0.3 million in royalty payments to Kura Japan
as a result of executing a licensing agreement with Kura Japan in fiscal year 2018. The remaining year-over-year
increase is due to individually insignificant items. As a percentage of sales, other costs decreased to 10.4% in fiscal
year 2018 from 10.5% in fiscal year 2017, primarily due to the increase in sales year-over-year. Additional information
on royalty payments is set forth in Note 5 to our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses were $6.0 million for fiscal year
2018 compared to $3.4 million for fiscal year 2017, representing an increase of approximately $2.6 million, or 77.3%.
This increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to $1.8 million in higher salary and employee
compensation-related expenses associated with the hiring of additional executives and administrative employees to
support our growth in operations. The remaining year-over-year increase is due to increases in professional services,
travel expenses and corporate-level recruiting costs to support our growth plans and the opening of our new
restaurants. As a percentage of sales, general and administrative expenses increased to 11.5% in fiscal year 2018 from
9.0% in fiscal year 2017, primarily due to the increase in the expenses mentioned above.
Interest expense. Interest expense increased approximately $0.1 million, or 50.5%, in fiscal year 2018. The
increase in interest expense was primarily due to interest incurred from additional capital leases as a result of restaurant
openings during fiscal year 2018.
Income tax expense. Income tax expense was insignificant in fiscal year 2018 compared to $0.2 million in fiscal
year 2017, representing a decrease of approximately $0.2 million or 98.0%. This decrease in income tax expense was
primarily due to income tax benefits from the increase in general business credits.
Key Performance Indicators
In assessing the performance of our business, we consider a variety of financial and performance measures. The
key measures for determining how our business is performing include sales, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Restaurant-
level Contribution, Restaurant-level Contribution margin, Average Unit Volumes (AUVs), comparable restaurant
sales growth, and number of restaurant openings.
47
Sales
Sales represents sales of food and beverages in restaurants, as shown on our statements of operations. Several
factors affect our restaurant sales in any given period including the number of restaurants in operation, guest traffic
and average check.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA is defined as net income before interest, income taxes and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted
EBITDA
is defined as EBITDA plus stock-based compensation expense, pre-opening rent expense, pre-
opening costs, non-cash rent expense and asset disposals, closure costs and restaurant impairments, as well as certain
items that are not indicative of core operating results. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures which
are intended as supplemental measures of our performance and are neither required by, nor presented in accordance
with, GAAP. We believe that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide useful information to management and
investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and operating results.
We believe that the use of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provides an additional tool for investors to use in
evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing the Company’s financial measures with those of
comparable companies, which may present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. However, you should
be aware when evaluating EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA that in the future we may incur expenses similar to those
excluded when calculating these measures. In addition, our presentation of these measures should not be construed as
an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Our computation of Adjusted
EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures computed by other companies, because all
companies may not calculate Adjusted EBITDA in the same fashion.
Because of these limitations, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a
substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We compensate for these limitations by
relying primarily on our GAAP results and using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA on a supplemental basis. You
should review the reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA below and not rely on any single
financial measure to evaluate our business.
The following table reconciles net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal years ended
August 31, 2019, August 31, 2018, and August 31, 2017, respectively:
Net income, as reported............................................... $
Interest, net ..................................................................
Taxes............................................................................
Depreciation and amortization ....................................
EBITDA ......................................................................
Stock-based compensation expense(a)..........................
Pre-opening rent expense(b) .........................................
Pre-opening costs(c)......................................................
Non-cash rent expense(d)..............................................
Impairment of long-lived assets, net(e).........................
Other(f) .........................................................................
Adjusted EBITDA ....................................................... $
2019
2017
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2018
(amounts in thousands)
1,742 $
116
5
1,675
3,538
105
197
77
353
236
—
4,506 $
1,456 $
137
68
2,165
3,826
590
556
273
462
—
75
5,782 $
707
80
240
1,370
2,397
—
203
341
166
—
—
3,107
(a)
Stock-based compensation expense includes non-cash stock-based compensation, which is comprised of
restaurant-level stock-based compensation included in other costs in the statements of operations and of
corporate-level stock-based compensation included in general and administrative expenses in the statements of
operations. In fiscal year 2019, restaurant-level stock-based compensation was $80 thousand and corporate-
level stock-based compensation was $510 thousand. In fiscal year 2018, restaurant-level stock-based
compensation was $14 thousand and corporate-level stock-based compensation was $91 thousand.
48
(b)
(c)
Pre-opening rent expense includes rent expenses incurred between date of possession and opening day of our
restaurants
Pre-opening costs represent labor costs for new employees (trainees) and includes hourly wages, payroll taxes
and benefits, travel expenses for trainees and trainers and recruitment fees for the training period
(d) Non-cash rent expense includes rent expense pro-rated from the opening date of our restaurants that did not
require cash outlay in the respective periods
(e)
Impairment of long-lived assets, net includes losses incurred due to the impairment of property and equipment
related to a restaurant closure partially offset by a reimbursement from the landlord for the termination of the
lease.
(f)
Other adjustments include a $75 thousand expense related to a legal settlement.
Restaurant-level Contribution and Restaurant-level Contribution Margin
Restaurant-level Contribution is defined as operating income plus depreciation and amortization, stock-based
compensation expense, pre-opening rent expense, pre-opening costs, non-cash rent expense, asset disposals, closure
costs and restaurant impairments, general and administrative expenses, less corporate-level stock-based compensation
expense. Restaurant-level Contribution margin is defined as Restaurant-level Contribution divided by sales.
Restaurant-level Contribution and Restaurant-level Contribution margin are intended as supplemental measures of our
performance and are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with, GAAP. We believe that Restaurant-level
Contribution and Restaurant-level Contribution margin provide useful information to management and investors
regarding certain financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and operating results. We expect
Restaurant-level Contribution to increase in proportion to the number of new restaurants we open and our comparable
restaurant sales growth.
We present Restaurant-level Contribution because it excludes the impact of general and administrative expenses,
which are not incurred at the restaurant-level. We also use Restaurant-level Contribution to measure operating
performance and returns from opening new restaurants. Restaurant-level Contribution margin allows us to evaluate
the level of Restaurant-level Contribution generated from sales.
However, you should be aware that Restaurant-level Contribution and Restaurant-level Contribution margin are
financial measures which are not indicative of overall results for the Company, and Restaurant-level Contribution and
Restaurant-level Contribution margin do not accrue directly to the benefit of stockholders because of corporate-level
expenses excluded from such measures.
49
In addition, when evaluating Restaurant-level Contribution and Restaurant-level Contribution margin, you
should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses similar to those excluded when calculating these measures.
Our presentation of these measures should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected
by unusual or non-recurring items. Our computation of Restaurant-level Contribution and Restaurant-level
Contribution margin may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures computed by other companies, because
all companies may not calculate Restaurant-level Contribution and Restaurant-level Contribution margin in the same
fashion. Restaurant-level Contribution and Restaurant-level Contribution margin have limitations as analytical tools,
and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. The
following table reconciles operating income to Restaurant-level Contribution and Restaurant-level Contribution
margin for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019, August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2017, respectively:
Operating income, as reported ...................................
Depreciation and amortization ...................................
Stock-based compensation expense(a) ........................
Pre-opening rent expense(b) ........................................
Pre-opening costs(c) ....................................................
Non-cash rent expense(d) ............................................
Impairment of long-lived assets, net(e) .......................
General and administrative expenses .........................
Corporate-level stock-based compensation
included in General and administrative expenses ...
Restaurant-level Contribution ....................................
Operating profit margin..............................................
Restaurant-level Contribution margin ........................
2019
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2018
(amounts in thousands)
$
$
2017
$
1,661
2,165
590
556
273
462
—
7,748
1,863
1,675
105
197
77
353
236
5,965
1,027
1,370
—
203
341
166
—
3,364
$ 12,945
$ 10,380
(510)
2.6%
20.1%
(91)
$
3.6%
20.1%
—
6,471
2.8%
17.4%
(a)
(b)
(c)
Stock-based compensation expense includes non-cash stock-based compensation, which is comprised of
restaurant-level stock-based compensation included in other costs in the statements of operations and of
corporate-level stock-based compensation included in general and administrative expenses in the statements of
operations. In fiscal year 2019, restaurant-level stock-based compensation was $80 thousand and corporate-
level stock-based compensation was $510 thousand. In fiscal year 2018, restaurant-level stock-based
compensation was $14 thousand and corporate-level stock-based compensation was $91 thousand.
Pre-opening rent expense includes rent expenses incurred between date of possession and opening day of our
restaurants
Pre-opening costs represent labor costs for new employees (trainees) and includes hourly wages, payroll taxes
and benefits, travel expenses for trainees and trainers and recruitment fees for the training period.
(d) Non-cash rent expense includes rent expense pro-rated from the opening date of our restaurants that did not
require cash outlay in the respective periods.
(e)
Impairment of long-lived assets, net includes losses incurred due to the impairment of property and equipment
related to a restaurant closure partially offset by a reimbursement from the landlord for the termination of the
lease.
50
Average Unit Volumes (AUVs)
“Average Unit Volumes” or “AUVs” consist of the average annual sales of all restaurants that have been open
for 18 months or longer at the end of the fiscal year presented due to new restaurants experiencing a period of higher
sales upon opening. AUVs are calculated by dividing (x) annual sales for the fiscal year presented for all such
restaurants by (y) the total number of restaurants in that base. We make fractional adjustments to sales for restaurants
that were not open for the entire fiscal year presented (such as a restaurant closed for renovation) to annualize sales
for such period of time. This measurement allows management to assess changes in consumer spending patterns at
our restaurants and the overall performance of our restaurant base. The AUVs measure is calculated excluding the
Laguna Hills, California restaurant, which closed in fiscal year 2018.
The following table shows the AUVs for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019, August 31, 2018, and August
31, 2017 respectively:
2019
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2018
(in thousands)
2017
Average Unit Volumes ................................................ $
3,498 $
3,457 $
3,358
Comparable Restaurant Sales Growth
Comparable restaurant sales growth refers to the change in year-over-year sales for the comparable restaurant
base. We include restaurants in the comparable restaurant base that have been in operation for at least 18 months prior
to the start of the accounting period presented due to new restaurants experiencing a period of higher sales upon
opening, including those temporarily closed for renovations during the year. For restaurants that were temporarily
closed for renovations during the year, we make fractional adjustments to sales such that sales are annualized in the
associated period. The comparable restaurant sales growth measure is calculated excluding the Laguna Hills,
California restaurant, which closed in fiscal year 2018.
Measuring our comparable restaurant sales growth allows us to evaluate the performance of our existing
restaurant base. Various factors impact comparable restaurant sales, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
consumer recognition of our brand and our ability to respond to changing consumer preferences;
overall economic trends, particularly those related to consumer spending;
our ability to operate restaurants effectively and efficiently to meet consumer expectations;
pricing;
guest traffic;
per-guest spend and average check;
marketing and promotional efforts;
local competition; and
opening of new restaurants in the vicinity of existing locations.
Since opening new restaurants will be a significant component of our sales growth, comparable restaurant sales
growth is only one measure of how we evaluate our performance. The following table shows the comparable restaurant
sales growth for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019, August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2017, respectively:
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2018
2017
2019
Comparable restaurant sales growth (%) ....................
Comparable restaurant base ........................................
6.2%
10
2.9%
8
34.8%
6
51
Number of Restaurant Openings
The number of restaurant openings reflects the number of restaurants opened during a particular reporting
period. Before we open new restaurants, we incur pre-opening costs. New restaurants may not be profitable, and their
sales performance may not follow historical patterns. The number and timing of restaurant openings has had, and is
expected to continue to have, an impact on our results of operations. The following table shows the growth in our
restaurant base for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019, August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2017, respectively:
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2018
2017
2019
Restaurant activity:
Beginning of period.....................................................
Openings......................................................................
Closing.........................................................................
End of period ...............................................................
17
6
—
23
14
4
(1)
17
11
3
—
14
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary uses of cash are for operational expenditures and capital investments, including new restaurants,
costs incurred for restaurant remodels and restaurant fixtures. Historically, our main sources of liquidity have been
cash flows from operations and annual capital contributions from Kura Japan. Kura Japan made capital contributions
to us of $5.0 million in each of fiscal years 2018 and 2017. No capital contributions were received in fiscal year 2019.
The significant components of our working capital are liquid assets such as cash, cash equivalents and
receivables, reduced by accounts payable and accrued expenses. Our working capital position benefits from the fact
that we generally collect cash from sales to guests the same day or, in the case of credit or debit card transactions,
within several days of the related sale, while we typically have longer payment terms with our vendors.
We believe that cash provided by operating activities, cash on hand and availability under our existing line of
credit will be sufficient to fund our lease obligations, capital expenditures and working capital needs for at least the
next 12 months.
Summary of Cash Flows
Our primary sources of liquidity and cash flows are operating cash flows and cash on hand. We use this to fund
investing expenditures for new restaurant openings, reinvest in our existing restaurants, and increase our working
capital. Our working capital position benefits from the fact that we generally collect cash from sales to guests the same
day, or in the case of credit or debit card transactions, within several days of the related sale, and we typically have at
least 30 days to pay our vendors.
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods presented:
2019
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2018
(amounts in thousands)
2017
Statement of Cash Flow Data:
Net cash provided by operating activities ................... $
Net cash used in investing activities ...........................
Net cash provided by financing activities ...................
5,993 $
(11,255)
37,595
5,243 $
(6,590)
4,176
2,936
(6,042)
4,595
52
Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities during the fiscal year 2019 was $6.0 million, which results from net
income of $1.5 million, non-cash charges of $2.2 million for depreciation and amortization, $0.6 million for stock-
based compensation, offset by $0.1 million of increase in deferred tax assets, and net cash inflows of approximately
$1.8 million from changes in operating assets and liabilities. The net cash inflows from changes in operating assets
and liabilities were primarily the result of increases of $1.6 million for accounts payable, $1.1 million for deferred
rent and tenant allowances, $1.1 million for accrued expenses and other current liabilities and $0.5 million in salary
and wages payable, partially offset by an increase of $1.1 million in prepaid expenses and other current assets, $0.8
million in deposits and other assets and $0.4 million in accounts receivable. The increase in the above-mentioned
items was primarily due to the six new restaurants opened during the fiscal year 2019.
Net cash provided by operating activities during the fiscal year 2018 was $5.2 million, which resulted from net
income of $1.7 million, non-cash charges of $1.7 million for depreciation and amortization, $0.1 million for stock-
based compensation, $0.2 million for loss on disposal of property and equipment, and net cash inflows of $1.5 million
from changes in operating assets and liabilities. The net cash inflows from changes in operating assets and liabilities
were primarily the result of increases of $0.6 million in deferred rent and tenant allowances, $0.3 million in accounts
payable and $0.3 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. The increase in deferred rent and tenant
allowances was primarily due to the number of restaurant openings during the year. The increase in accounts payable
and accrued expenses and other current liabilities was primarily due to the timing of cash payments and increased
activities to support overall business growth. The increase in salary and wages payable is due to hiring of executives
in fiscal year 2018.
Net cash provided by operating activities during the fiscal year 2017 was $2.9 million, which resulted from net
income of $0.7 million, non-cash charges of $1.4 million for depreciation and amortization, $0.2 million for deferred
income taxes, and net cash inflows of $0.7 million from changes in operating assets and liabilities. The net cash
inflows from changes in operating assets and liabilities were primarily the result of increases of $0.5 million in
accounts payable and $0.5 million in deferred rent and tenant allowances, partially offset by an increase of $0.5 million
in accounts receivables. The increase in deferred rent and tenant allowances, as well as accounts receivables, was
primarily due to the number of restaurant openings during the fiscal year 2017. The increase in accounts payable was
primarily due to the timing of cash payments and increased activities to support overall business growth.
Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities during the fiscal year 2019 was $11.4 million, primarily due to purchases
of property and equipment. The increase in purchases of property and equipment in fiscal year 2019 is primarily
related to capital expenditures for current and future restaurant openings, renovations, maintaining our existing
restaurants and other projects.
Net cash used in investing activities during the fiscal year 2018 was $6.6 million, primarily due to purchases of
property and equipment of $7.1 million, partially offset by $0.5 million in proceeds from disposal of property and
equipment. The increase in purchases of property and equipment in fiscal year 2018 is primarily related to capital
expenditures for current and future restaurant openings, renovations, maintaining our existing restaurants and other
projects.
Net cash used in investing activities during the fiscal year 2017 was $6.0 million, primarily due to purchases of
property and equipment of $6.0 million.
Cash Flows Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities during fiscal year 2019 was $37.6 million primarily due to $43.4
million received as proceeds from our IPO, net of discounts and commission and $3.9 million in borrowings under
our line of credit, partially offset by $1.0 million repayment of principal on capital leases, $4.8 million payment of
costs associated with IPO, and repayment of $3.9 million in borrowings.
53
Net cash provided by financing activities during the fiscal year 2018 was $4.2 million primarily due to
$5.0 million cash received for additional capital investment from Kura Japan, partially offset by $0.8 million
repayments of principal balances on capital leases of equipment.
Net cash provided by financing activities during the fiscal year 2017 was $4.6 million primarily due to
$5.0 million cash received for additional capital investment from Kura Japan, partially offset by $0.4 million in
repayments of principal balances on capital leases of equipment.
Contractual Obligations
The following table presents our commitments and contractual obligations as of August 31, 2019, as well as our
long-term obligations:
Payments due by period as of August 31, 2019
Operating lease payments(1)....................................... $ 80,954 $
Capital lease payments(2) ...........................................
3,649
Purchase obligations(3)...............................................
4,535
Total contractual obligations ..................................... $ 89,138 $
Less
than 1
Year
Total
1 – 3
Years
(amounts in thousands)
8,912 $
2,047
4,256 $
1,113
4,535
9,904 $ 10,959 $
3 – 5
Years
More
than 5
years
9,072 $ 58,714
—
489
9,561 $ 58,714
(1) Represent future minimum lease payments for our restaurant operations and corporate office. Operating lease
payments excludes contingent rent payments that may be due under certain of our leases based on a percentage
of sales in excess of specified thresholds.
(2) Reflects the aggregate principal and interest payments during the lease terms, which includes $0.2 million of
interest payments.
(3) Reflects contractual purchase commitments for goods related to restaurant operations and commitments for
construction of new restaurants.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of August 31, 2019, we did not have any material off-balance sheet arrangements, except for restaurant
operating leases.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of operating results and financial condition are based upon our financial statements.
The preparation of our financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, sales, expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and
liabilities. We base our estimates on past experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the
circumstances, and we evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis.
Our critical accounting policies are those that materially affect our financial statements and involve subjective
or complex judgments by management. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of
current events and actions that may impact us in the future, actual results may be materially different from the
estimates. We believe the following critical accounting policies are affected by significant judgments and estimates
used in the preparation of our financial statements and that the judgments and estimates are reasonable.
Operating and Capital Leases
We currently lease all of our restaurant locations, corporate offices, and some of the equipment used in our
restaurants. At the inception of each lease, we determine the appropriate classification as an operating lease or a capital
54
lease. This lease accounting evaluation may require significant judgment in determining the fair value and useful life
of the leased property and appropriate lease term, which typically does not change once determined at the inception
of the lease. All of our restaurant and office leases are classified as operating leases and equipment leases are classified
as capital leases.
Our office leases provide for fixed minimum rent payments. Most of our restaurants provide for fixed minimum
rent payments and some require additional contingent rent payments based upon sales in excess of specified thresholds.
When achievement of such sales thresholds is deemed probable, contingent rent is accrued in proportion to the sales
recognized in the period. For operating leases that include free-rent periods and rent escalation clauses, we recognize
rent expense based on the straight-line method. For the purpose of calculating rent expenses under the straight-line
method, the lease term commences on the date we obtain control of the property. The difference between the rent
expense and rent payments is recorded as deferred rent in the accompanying balance sheet. Allowance for tenant
allowances is included in deferred rent liability and recognized over the lease term as a reduction of rent expenses.
Assets we acquired under capital lease arrangements are recorded at the lower of the present value of future
minimum lease payments or fair value of the assets at the inception of the lease. Capital lease assets are amortized
over the shorter of the useful life of the assets or the lease term, and the amortization expense is included in the
depreciation and amortization financial statement line item on the accompanying financial statements.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Changes in projections or estimates, a deterioration of operating results and the related cash flow effect could
decrease the estimated fair value of long-lived assets and result in impairments. We assess potential impairments of
our long-lived assets in accordance with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)
Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360—Property, Plant and Equipment. An impairment review is
performed whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be
recoverable. Factors considered by us include, but are not limited to: significant underperformance relative to expected
historical or projected future operating results; significant changes in the manner of use of the acquired assets or the
strategy for the overall business; and significant negative industry or economic trends.
We recognized $0.2 million impairment loss during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018. No impairment loss
was recognized during fiscal years ended August 31, 2019 and August 31, 2017.
Common Stock Valuations
Prior to our IPO, in the absence of a public trading market, the fair value of our common stock was determined
by our board of directors, with input from management, taking into account the most recent valuations performed by
an independent third-party valuation specialist. The valuations of our common stock were determined in accordance
with the guidelines outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Aid, Valuation of
Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation. The assumptions we use in the valuation models
were highly complex and subjective. These assumptions were based on future expectations combined with
management judgment, and considered numerous objective and subjective factors to determine the fair value of our
common stock as of the date of each option grant, including the following factors:
•
•
•
•
•
•
our operating and financial performance;
the prevailing business conditions and projections;
the hiring of key personnel;
the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event for the shares of common stock underlying these stock
options, such as an initial public offering, given prevailing market conditions;
any adjustment necessary to recognize a lack of marketability of the common stock underlying the granted
options;
the market performance of comparable publicly-traded companies; and
55
•
the U.S. and global capital market conditions.
In valuing our common stock at various dates in fiscal years 2018 and 2019, our board determined the equity
value of our business using various valuation methods including combinations of income and market approaches. The
income approach estimates value based on the expectation of future cash flows that a company will generate. These
future cash flows are discounted to their present values using a discount rate derived from an analysis of the cost of
capital of comparable publicly traded companies in our industry or similar lines of business as of each valuation date
and is adjusted to reflect the risks inherent in our cash flows. The market approach estimates value considering an
analysis of guideline public companies. The guideline public company method estimates value by applying a
representative revenue multiple from a peer group of companies in similar lines of business to us to our forecasted
sales.
The equity values implied by the income and market approaches reasonably approximated each other as of each
valuation date.
For financial reporting purposes, we considered the amount of time between the valuation date and the grant
date to determine whether to use the latest common stock valuation. This determination included an evaluation of
whether the subsequent valuation indicated that any significant change in valuation had occurred between the previous
valuation and the grant date.
Subsequent to the IPO, we relied on the closing price of our Class A common stock as reported by the Nasdaq
Stock Market on the date of grant to determine the fair value of our Class A common stock. There were no equity
award grants subsequent to our IPO.
Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Securities Act, as modified
by the JOBS Act. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the
extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised
accounting standards. In other words, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting
standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail
ourselves of this extended transition period and, as a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards on the
relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for other public companies.
Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, we are also eligible for and intend to take advantage of
certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging
growth companies, including (i) the exemption from the auditor attestation requirements with respect to internal
control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (ii) the exemptions from say-on-pay,
say-on-frequency and say-on-golden parachute voting requirements and (iii) reduced disclosure obligations regarding
executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. We may take advantage of these exemptions
until we are no longer an emerging growth company. We will continue to be an emerging growth company until the
earliest to occur of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which the market value of our Class A common stock that is
held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of June 30 of that fiscal year, (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which
we had total annual gross revenue of $1 billion or more during such fiscal year (as indexed for inflation), (iii) the date
on which we have issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt in the prior three-year period or (iv) the last day
of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the completion of our IPO.
56
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure of Market Risks
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to interest rate risk through fluctuations in interest rates on our debt obligations. Our Credit
Facility carries interest at a floating rate. We seek to manage exposure to adverse interest rate changes through our
normal operating and financing activities. As of August 31, 2019, we had no outstanding borrowings under the Credit
Facility.
Commodity and Food Price Risks
Our profitability is dependent on, among other things, our ability to anticipate and react to changes in the costs
of key operating resources, including food and beverage and other commodities. We have been able to partially offset
cost increases resulting from a number of factors, including market conditions, shortages or interruptions in supply
due to weather or other conditions beyond our control, governmental regulations and inflation, by increasing our menu
prices, as well as making other operational adjustments that increase productivity. However, substantial increases in
costs and expenses could impact our operating results to the extent that such increases cannot be offset by menu price
increases or operational adjustments.
Inflation Risk
The primary inflationary factors affecting our operations are food and beverage costs, labor costs, and energy
costs. Our restaurant operations are subject to federal and state minimum wage and other laws governing such matters
as working conditions, overtime and tip credits. Significant numbers of our restaurant personnel are paid at rates
related to the federal and/or state minimum wage and, accordingly, increases in the minimum wage increase our labor
costs. To the extent permitted by competition and the economy, we have mitigated increased costs by increasing menu
prices and may continue to do so if deemed necessary in future years. Substantial increases in costs and expenses
could impact our operating results to the extent such increases cannot be passed through to our guests. Historically,
inflation has not had a material effect on our results of operations. Severe increases in inflation, however, could affect
the global and U.S. economies and could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of
operations.
While we have been able to partially offset inflation and other changes in the costs of core operating resources
by gradually increasing menu prices, coupled with more efficient purchasing practices, productivity improvements
and greater economies of scale, there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to do so in the future. From
time to time, competitive conditions could limit our menu pricing flexibility. In addition, macroeconomic conditions
could make additional menu price increases imprudent. There can be no assurance that future cost increases can be
offset by increased menu prices or that increased menu prices will be fully absorbed by our guests without any resulting
change to their visit frequencies or purchasing patterns. In addition, there can be no assurance that we will generate
same sales growth in an amount sufficient to offset inflationary or other cost pressures.
57
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm...............................................................................
Balance Sheets ....................................................................................................................................................
Statements of Operations....................................................................................................................................
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity....................................................................................................................
Statements of Cash Flows...................................................................................................................................
Notes to Financial Statements ............................................................................................................................
Page
59
60
61
62
63
64
58
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of Kura Sushi USA, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Kura Sushi USA, Inc. (the "Company") as of August 31, 2019
and 2018, and the related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in
the period ended August 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our
opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of
August 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended August 31, 2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with
respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform,
an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding
of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements,
whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included
examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also
included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Los Angeles, California
November 26, 2019
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2017.
59
Kura Sushi USA, Inc.
Balance Sheets
(amounts in thousands, except par value)
Assets..................................................................................................................
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents............................................................................. $
Accounts receivable ......................................................................................
Inventories.....................................................................................................
Due from affiliate ..........................................................................................
Prepaid expenses and other current assets.....................................................
Total current assets .............................................................................................
Non-current assets:
Property and equipment—net .......................................................................
Deposits and other assets ..............................................................................
Deferred tax assets ........................................................................................
Total assets.......................................................................................................... $
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable .......................................................................................... $
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities..............................................
Salaries and wages payable ...........................................................................
Capital leases.................................................................................................
Due to affiliate...............................................................................................
Sales tax payable ...........................................................................................
Total current liabilities........................................................................................
Non-current liabilities:
Capital leases—non-current ..........................................................................
Deferred rent .................................................................................................
Tenant allowances .........................................................................................
Other liabilities..............................................................................................
Total liabilities ....................................................................................................
Commitments and contingencies (Note 4)
Stockholders' equity:
Class A common stock, $0.001 par value; 20,000 authorized, 7,335 and
4,000 issued and outstanding as of August 31, 2019 and August 31,
2018, respectively ......................................................................................
Class B common stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000 authorized, 1,000 issued
and outstanding as of August 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018....................
Additional paid-in capital..............................................................................
Retained earnings ..........................................................................................
Total stockholders' equity ...................................................................................
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity ............................................................ $
See accompanying notes to financial statements
As of August 31,
2019
2018
38,044 $
948
539
226
1,744
41,501
31,917
1,865
1,127
76,410 $
3,684 $
1,635
1,348
994
83
547
8,291
2,424
2,188
1,089
237
14,229
5,711
521
384
4
662
7,282
23,195
520
1,072
32,069
1,959
507
817
1,010
114
395
4,802
3,443
1,371
787
161
10,564
7
4
1
59,442
2,731
62,181
76,410 $
1
20,225
1,275
21,505
32,069
60
Kura Sushi USA, Inc.
Statements of Operations
(amounts in thousands, except income per share data)
Sales .................................................................................................. $
Restaurant operating costs:
Food and beverage costs..............................................................
Labor and related costs ................................................................
Occupancy and related expenses .................................................
Depreciation and amortization expenses .....................................
Other costs ...................................................................................
Total restaurant operating costs .............................................
General and administrative expenses ................................................
Depreciation and amortization expenses...........................................
Impairment of long-lived assets, net .................................................
Total operating expenses........................................................
Operating income ..............................................................................
Other expense (income):
Interest expense ...........................................................................
Interest income ............................................................................
Income before income taxes .............................................................
Income tax expense ...........................................................................
Net income ........................................................................................ $
Net income per Class A and Class B shares
Basic ............................................................................................ $
Diluted ......................................................................................... $
Weighted average Class A and Class B shares
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2018
2017
2019
64,245 $
51,744 $
37,251
21,048
19,942
4,593
2,055
7,088
54,726
7,748
110
—
62,584
1,661
188
(51)
1,524
68
1,456 $
0.28 $
0.26 $
17,594
15,994
3,013
1,624
5,404
43,629
5,965
51
236
49,881
1,863
128
(12)
1,747
5
1,742 $
0.35 $
0.34 $
13,389
12,117
2,077
1,345
3,907
32,835
3,364
25
—
36,224
1,027
85
(5)
947
240
707
0.14
0.14
Basic ............................................................................................
Diluted .........................................................................................
5,283
5,512
5,000
5,050
5,000
5,000
See accompanying notes to financial statements
61
Kura Sushi USA, Inc.
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
(amounts in thousands)
Common Stock
Class A
Shares
Amount
Class B
Amount
Shares
4
1,000 $
Retained
Earnings
(Accumulated
Deficit)
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
1 $ 10,120 $
—
—
4
—
—
—
—
4
—
—
—
1,000
—
—
—
—
1,000
—
—
—
1
—
—
—
—
1
—
5,000
—
15,120
—
105
5,000
—
20,225
590
Total
Stockholders'
Equity
(1,174) $
8,951
—
707
(467)
—
—
—
1,742
1,275
—
5,000
707
14,658
—
105
5,000
1,742
21,505
590
3,335
—
7,335 $
3
—
7
—
—
1,000 $
38,627
—
—
—
1 $ 59,442 $
—
1,456
2,731 $
38,630
1,456
62,181
4,000 $
—
—
4,000
—
—
—
—
4,000
—
Balances as of September 1, 2016 ....
Additional capital investment
from affiliate ............................
Net income ..................................
Balances as of August 31, 2017 ........
Issuance of common stock ..........
Stock-based compensation..........
Additional capital investment
from affiliate ............................
Net income ..................................
Balances as of August 31, 2018 ........
Stock-based compensation..........
Issuance of common stock
in connection with initial
public offering, net of
underwriter discounts and
issuance costs ...........................
Net income ..................................
Balances as of August 31, 2019 ........
See accompanying notes to financial statements
62
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2018
2017
2019
1,456 $
1,742 $
707
Kura Sushi USA, Inc.
Statements of Cash Flows
(amounts in thousands)
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net income .............................................................................................. $
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities
Depreciation and amortization....................................................
Stock-based compensation..........................................................
Loss on disposal of property and equipment ..............................
Deferred income taxes ................................................................
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable....................................................................
Inventories ..................................................................................
Due from affiliate .......................................................................
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ..................................
Deposits and other assets ............................................................
Accounts payable........................................................................
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities ...........................
Sales tax payable.........................................................................
Salary and wages payable ...........................................................
Due to affiliate ............................................................................
Deferred rent and tenant allowances...........................................
Net cash provided by operating activities .....................................................
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Payments for short-term investment .......................................................
Redemption of short-term investment ....................................................
Payments for property and equipment ....................................................
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment................................
Payment for purchase of liquor license...................................................
Net cash used in investing activities .............................................................
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Cash received for additional capital investment from affiliate...............
Repayment of principal on capital lease .................................................
Proceeds from the initial public offering, net of discounts
and commissions..................................................................................
Payments of costs related to the initial public offering...........................
Proceeds from borrowings of debt..........................................................
Repayment on debt .................................................................................
Net cash provided by financing activities .....................................................
Increase in cash and cash equivalents .......................................................
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year ..............................................
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year......................................................... $
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
2,165
590
—
(61)
(427)
(155)
(222)
(1,082)
(816)
1,646
1,135
152
531
(38)
1,119
5,993
—
—
(10,726)
—
(529)
(11,255)
—
(1,035)
43,422
(4,792)
3,921
(3,921)
37,595
32,333
5,711
38,044 $
1,675
105
234
(60)
170
(115)
3
66
53
250
311
60
124
28
597
5,243
—
12
(7,089)
502
(15)
(6,590)
5,000
(824)
—
—
—
—
4,176
2,829
2,882
5,711 $
116 $
4 $
1,370
—
10
173
(480)
(41)
(6)
(102)
(100)
523
52
79
202
19
530
2,936
(12)
12
(6,028)
7
(21)
(6,042)
5,000
(405)
—
—
—
—
4,595
1,489
1,393
2,882
80
137
Cash paid for interest .............................................................................. $
Cash paid for income taxes (net of refunds) ........................................... $
189 $
56 $
Noncash investing and financing activities
Acquisition of capital leases ................................................................... $
Amounts included in accounts payable for purchases of
property and equipment ....................................................................... $
— $
1,733 $
1,927
142 $
57 $
270
See accompanying notes to financial statements
63
Note 1—Organization and Description of Business
Kura Sushi USA, Inc. is a fast-growing, technology-enabled Japanese restaurant concept that provides guests
with a distinctive dining experience by serving authentic Japanese cuisine through an engaging revolving sushi service
model, which we refer to as the “Kura Experience”. Kura Sushi encourages healthy lifestyles by serving freshly
prepared Japanese cuisine using high-quality ingredients that are free from artificial seasonings, sweeteners, colorings,
and preservatives. Kura Sushi aims to make quality Japanese cuisine accessible to our guests across the United States
through affordable prices and an inviting atmosphere.
Initial Public Offering
On August 5, 2019, the Company completed the initial public offering of its Class A common stock at a public
offering price of $14.00 per share. The Company issued 3,335,000 shares, including 435,000 shares sold to the
underwriters pursuant to their over-allotment option. After underwriter discounts and commissions and offering
expenses, net proceeds from the offering were approximately $39 million. A portion of the proceeds have been used
to repay all outstanding indebtedness of approximately $3.1 million under the Company’s existing term loans. The
remainder of the net proceeds will be used for working capital, to fund new unit growth, and for other general corporate
purposes.
Note 2—Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States (“GAAP”). The Company’s fiscal year begins on September 1 and ends on August 31
and references made to “fiscal year 2019”, “fiscal year 2018” and “fiscal year 2017” refer to the Company’s fiscal
years ended August 31, 2019, August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2017, respectively.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at
the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods
presented.
Significant items subject to such estimates include asset retirement obligations, stock-based compensation, the
useful lives of assets, the assessment of the recoverability of long-lived assets, and income taxes. The Company
evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, and adjusts
those estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Actual results could differ materially from
those estimates and assumptions.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist principally of
cash and cash equivalents. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents with financial institutions and, at
times, the balance may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation federally insured limits. The Company has
never experienced any losses related to these balances.
Concentration of Significant Suppliers
The Company relies on third parties for specified food products and supplies. In instances where these parties
fail to perform their obligations, the Company may be unable to find alternative suppliers. The Company is subject to
supplier concentration risk as JFC International Inc., a subsidiary of Kikkoman Corporation and the Company’s largest
supplier, accounted for approximately 55%, 47%, and 29% of total food and beverage costs for fiscal years 2019,
2018, and 2017, respectively. The Company also relies on Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc. (formerly Nishimoto Trading
Co., Ltd.), a subsidiary of Nishimoto Co., Ltd., which provided food products and supplies equaling approximately
28% of total food and beverage costs for fiscal years 2019 and 2018, and 15% of total food and beverage costs for
fiscal year 2017. Additionally, the Company relied on True World Foods LLC, which accounted for approximately
15% of total food and beverage costs in fiscal year 2017. The Company’s spend with True World Foods LLC was
immaterial for fiscal year 2018 and 2019.
64
Segment Information
Management has determined that the Company has one operating segment and therefore one reportable segment.
The Company’s chief operating decision maker, who is its Chief Executive Officer, reviews financial performance
and allocates resources. All of the Company’s sales are derived in the United States of America.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of primarily cash on hand, deposits with banks, and term deposits with
maturities of three months or less. As of August 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018, cash equivalents consist of money
market funds and time deposits of approximately $37.0 million and $ 1.8 million, respectively. Due to the short-term
maturities and their relatively low interest rates, the carrying value of the money market accounts approximates their
fair value hierarchy. Cash and cash equivalents are maintained at financial institutions with strong credit ratings. The
Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity at the date of purchase of three months or
less to be cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable consist primarily of receivables from landlords for tenant allowances and credit card
receivables. The Company does not extend credit to guests and thus does not have credit risk from guests. Accounts
receivable balances are stated at the amounts management expects to collect from balances outstanding at fiscal year
end, accordingly no allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded as of August 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018.
Tenants allowance receivable ....................................... $
Credit card receivable ...................................................
$
As of August 31,
2019
2018
(amounts in thousands)
215 $
733
948 $
223
298
521
Inventories
Inventories consist of food and beverages, and are stated at the lower of cost or market with cost determined on
a first-in, first-out basis.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consists of computer equipment, vehicles, software, furniture and fixtures, leasehold
improvements and leased assets. Property and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and
amortization. Depreciation and amortization on property and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method
over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, ranging from three to 20 years. Leasehold improvements are
amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the remaining lease term or estimated life of the improvements.
The following table represents the various types of property and equipment and their respective useful lives:
Property and Equipment
Computer equipment
Vehicles
Software
Furniture and fixtures
Leasehold improvements
Lease assets
Useful Life
3 – 10 years
5 years
5 years
10 years
Shorter of useful life or remaining lease term
Fixed lease term
65
Long-lived assets to be held and used are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances
indicate that the related carrying amount may be impaired. If an impairment loss has occurred, a charge is recorded to
reduce the carrying amount of the asset to its estimated fair value.
Liquor Licenses
Liquor licenses are deemed to have indefinite useful lives and are subject to annual impairment testing. Liquor
licenses are included in deposits and other assets in the accompanying balance sheets.
Asset Retirement Obligations
Asset retirement obligations (“ARO”) represents the estimated present value of future expenses the Company
expects to incur at the end of a lease to restore the location to its original condition. The ARO is recorded as a liability
at its estimated present value at inception with an offsetting increase in the carrying amount of the related property
and equipment in the accompanying balance sheet. Periodic accretion of the discount of the estimated liability is
recorded as an interest expense in the accompanying statements of operations. Asset retirement obligations are
amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the remaining lease term or estimated life of the leasehold
improvements. The Company’s ARO liability is approximately $0.2 million as of August 31, 2019 and August 31,
2018 and is included in other liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets.
Impairment of Long-lived Assets
The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets for potential impairment whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. The Company records
an impairment loss if (i) the undiscounted future cash flows are found to be less than the carrying amount of the asset
or asset group, and (ii) the carrying amount of the asset or asset group exceeds fair value.
During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018, one of the Company’s restaurants exited a lease prior to the end
of the lease term. As a result, the property and equipment held at that location were deemed to be not recoverable,
which was determined by comparing the net carrying value of the assets to the undiscounted net cash flows from the
eventual disposition of the assets. Given the property and equipment at the restaurant will no longer be in use, the net
carrying value of the assets were deemed to have zero value. This impairment was offset by a reimbursement from
the landlord of $0.5 million for the termination of the lease, hence resulting in a net impairment charge of $0.2 million,
which is included in operating income. During the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019 and August 31, 2017, there
were no impairment charges recognized.
Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes, income taxes payable, and deferred income taxes are determined using the asset
and liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between
the financial carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts
in the future. Such deferred income tax asset and liability computations are based on enacted tax laws and rates
applicable to periods in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company establishes a valuation allowance
to the extent that it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will not be recoverable against future taxable income.
Income tax expense or benefit is the income tax payable or refundable for the period, plus or minus the change during
the period to deferred income tax assets and liabilities.
The Company regularly evaluates the likelihood of realizing the benefit for income tax positions it has taken in
federal and state filings by considering all facts, circumstances, and information available. For those benefits that the
Company believes it is more likely than not will be sustained, it recognizes the largest amount it believes is
cumulatively greater than 50% likely to be realized.
66
Revenue Recognition
Revenue from sales is recognized when food and beverages are sold to customers. Sales are presented net of
discounts and sales taxes collected from customers.
Sales Taxes
Sales taxes are imposed by state, county, and city governmental authorities, collected from customers and
remitted to the appropriate governmental agency. The Company’s policy is to record the sales taxes collected as a
liability on the books and then remove the liability when the sales tax is remitted. There is no impact on the statements
of operations income as restaurant sales are recorded net of sales tax.
Operating and Capital Leases
The Company leases all of its restaurant locations, its corporate offices, and some of the equipment used in its
restaurants. At the inception of each lease, the Company determines its classification as an operating lease or a capital
lease. All of the Company’s restaurant and office leases are classified as operating leases and equipment leases are
classified as capital leases. The restaurant leases generally contain renewal options and the Company anticipates that
most of these leases will be renewed.
Most of the restaurant and office leases provide for fixed minimum rent payments and/or contingent rent
payments based upon sales in excess of specified thresholds. When achievement of such sales thresholds is deemed
probable, contingent rent is accrued in proportion to the sales recognized in the period. For operating leases that
include free-rent periods and rent escalation clauses, the Company recognizes rent expenses based on the straight-line
method. For the purpose of calculating rent expenses under the straight-line method, the lease term commences on the
date the Company obtains control of the property. The difference between the rent expenses and payments is recorded
as deferred rent in the accompanying balance sheets. Tenant allowance and deferred rent liability are amortized over
the lease term including renewal options as a reduction of rent expenses.
Assets acquired under capital lease arrangements are recorded at the lower of the present value of future
minimum lease payments or fair value of the assets at the inception of the lease. Capital lease assets are amortized
over the shorter of the useful life of the assets or the lease term, and the amortization expense is included in the
depreciation and amortization financial statement line item under restaurant operating costs on the accompanying
statements of operations.
Other Costs
Other costs in restaurant operating costs in the accompanying statements of operations include utilities, repairs
and maintenance, credit card fees, royalty payments, stock-based compensation for restaurant-level employees, and
other restaurant-level expenses. The Company incurred approximately $7.1 million, $5.4 million and $3.9 million in
other costs for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019, August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2017, respectively.
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred on the restaurant-level, and are included in other costs in the
accompanying statements of operations. The Company incurred approximately $0.4 million, $0.3 million and $0.2
million in advertising expenses for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019, August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2017,
respectively.
Fair Value Measurements
The Company defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid
to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction
between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize
the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The fair value measurement accounting
guidance creates a fair value hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used to measure fair value into three categories. A
financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input significant to the fair
value measurement, where Level 1 is the highest and Level 3 is the lowest. The three levels are defined as follows:
67
Level 1 – Observable inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active
markets. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and
volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
Level 2 – Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as unadjusted quoted prices for similar assets or
liabilities in active markets, unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not
active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full
term of the assets or liabilities; and
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the
fair value of the assets or liabilities. These inputs are based on the Company’s own assumptions used to measure assets
and liabilities at fair value and require significant management judgment or estimation.
The Company’s financial statements include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable,
accrued expenses and other current liabilities, and salaries and wages payable for which the carrying amounts
approximate fair value due to their short-term maturity. The fair value of all of the Company’s assets and liabilities
are determined using Level 1 inputs. The fair value of payments due to or from Kura Japan is not determinable due to
its related-party nature.
Stock-based Compensation
Stock-based compensation consists of stock options issued to employees and non-employees. The Company
measures and recognizes stock-based compensation for the estimated fair value of stock options based on the grant
date fair value of the award. The fair value of stock options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model
and is impacted by the fair value of the Company’s common stock, as well as changes in assumptions regarding a
number of highly complex and subjective variables. These variables include, but are not limited to, the expected
common stock price volatility over the term of the stock option awards, the expected term of the awards, risk-free
interest rates and the expected dividend yield.
The Company granted 22,000 stock options and 419,091 stock options for the fiscal years ended August 31,
2019 and August 31, 2018, respectively. No stock options were granted for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017. For
stock options that are based on a service requirement, the cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite
service period, which is typically the vesting period. The majority of the stock options granted in fiscal year 2019 and
fiscal year 2018 have a vesting period of approximately 45 months. The Company adopted the Accounting Standards
Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-
Based Payment Accounting in fiscal year 2018 and accounts for forfeitures as they occur.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from
transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Comprehensive income is the same as net
income for all periods presented. Therefore, a separate statement of comprehensive income is not included in the
accompanying financial statements.
Earnings Per Share
Earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average shares outstanding during the
period, without consideration of common stock equivalents. Diluted earnings per share assumes the conversion,
exercise or issuance of all potential dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding for the period. For the purposes of
this calculation, options are considered to be common stock equivalents and are only included in the calculation of
diluted earnings per share when their effect is dilutive. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting weighted
average shares outstanding for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents outstanding for the period, determined
using the treasury-stock method.
68
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update
(“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which was issued to replace the current
revenue recognition guidance, and requires the recognition of revenue when promised goods or services are transferred
to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for
those goods and services. ASC 606 also includes Subtopic 340-40, Other Assets and Deferred Costs—Contracts with
Customers, which requires the deferral of incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer. In August 2015,
the FASB deferred the effective date for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company
adopted the new standard for the fiscal year and quarter beginning on September 1, 2018, using the modified
retrospective method. The Company’s revenue is derived from sales of food and beverages which are recognized at
the point of sale, therefore, the new revenue guidance does not have an impact on the Company’s timing of revenue
recognition and the cumulative effect of adopting this new standard had no impact on the Company’s retained
earnings. Results for reporting periods beginning on or after September 1, 2018 are presented in accordance with ASC
606. Prior period amounts were not revised and continue to be reported in accordance with ASC 605, the accounting
standard then in effect.
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718):
Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2018-07”), to align the accounting for
share-based payment awards issued to employees and nonemployees, particularly with regard to the measurement date
and the impact of performance conditions. The new guidance requires equity-classified share-based payment awards
issued to nonemployees to be measured on the grant date, instead of being re-measured through the performance
completion date under the current guidance. For public entities, ASU 2018-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 2018, and early adoption is permitted. The Company chose to early adopt ASU 2018-07 effective
for its financial statements starting September 1, 2018 and the cumulative adjustment upon adoption was immaterial.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires lessees to recognize
assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. The recognition,
measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on
its classification as a capital or operating lease. ASU No. 2016-02 is effective for reporting periods beginning after
December 15, 2018, and early adoption is permitted. In July, 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic
842): Targeted Improvements, which provides entities the option to use the effective date as the date of initial
application on transition to the new guidance. The Company will use this transition method, and as a result, the
Company will not adjust comparative information for prior periods. ASU No. 2016-02 is to be applied at the beginning
of the earliest period presented in the financial statements using the optional transition method permitted under
ASU 2018-11. The Company has elected to take advantage of the practical expedient options which allows an entity
to not reassess whether any existing or expired contracts contain leases, not reassess lease classification for existing
or expired leases, and an entity does not need to reassess initial direct costs for any existing leases. The Company
expects the adoption to have a significant impact to the balance sheet given the extent of the real estate lease portfolio.
The Company currently expects the adoption to result in an increase of between $38 million and $41 million in
operating lease liabilities based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments using discount rates
as of the effective date and an increase of between $35 million and $38 million in operating right-of-use assets based
upon the operating lease liabilities adjusted for deferred rent, lease incentives and initial direct costs on its balance
sheet at adoption. The difference between the additional operating lease assets and operating lease liabilities, net of
tax, will be recorded as an adjustment to equity. The Company will adopt the new standard for the fiscal year and
quarter beginning September 1, 2019.
69
Note 3—Balance Sheet Components
Inventories
Inventories as of August 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018 consists of the following:
Food .............................................................................. $
Liquor and beverages ....................................................
$
As of August 31,
2019
2018
(amounts in thousands)
491 $
48
539 $
349
35
384
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets as of August 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018 consists of the following:
Prepaid expenses ........................................................... $
Other current assets .......................................................
$
1,293 $
451
1,744 $
538
124
662
As of August 31,
2019
2018
(amounts in thousands)
Property and Equipment, net
Property and equipment, net as of August 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018 consists of the following:
As of August 31,
2019
2018
(amounts in thousands)
Leasehold improvements .............................................. $
Lease assets...................................................................
Furniture and fixtures ...................................................
Computer equipment ....................................................
Vehicles ........................................................................
Software........................................................................
Construction in progress ...............................................
Property and equipment, gross ................................
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization........
Total property and equipment, net .......................... $
24,926 $
6,037
5,600
599
75
428
1,127
38,792
(6,875)
31,917 $
17,720
6,037
2,493
248
43
214
1,155
27,910
(4,715)
23,195
Depreciation and amortization expense for property and equipment was approximately $2.2 million,
$1.7 million and $1.4 million for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019, August 31, 2018, and August 31, 2017,
respectively. Amortization expense related to leased assets for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019, August 31,
2018, and August 31, 2017 was immaterial.
70
Deposits and Other Assets
Deposits and other assets, as of August 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018 consists of the following:
Liquor license................................................................ $
Initial direct costs ..........................................................
Security deposits ...........................................................
$
As of August 31,
2019
2018
(amounts in thousands)
638 $
530
697
1,865 $
89
—
431
520
Note 4—Commitments and Contingencies
Leases—The Company leases its corporate offices and all of its restaurant locations under non-
cancelable operating leases. The majority of these leases have initial lease terms between five and 10 years. Certain
leases are extendable by an exercise of a renewal option, which provides the Company with the option to extend the
lease term in five-year increments at its discretion if exercised before the expiration date.
Certain lease agreements have contingent rental payments based on sales thresholds in the agreement. Accrued
liabilities for contingent rent was approximately $0.1 million as of August 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018, which is
included in the accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the accompanying balance sheets.
Lease expense was approximately $4.7 million, $3.0 million, and $2.1 million, including contingent rent
expenses of approximately $0.2 million for each of the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019, August 31, 2018 and
August 31, 2017.
The Company leases some of its equipment used in restaurant operations under capital leases that expire at
various dates through November 2023. The future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable leases as of
August 31, 2019, are as follows:
Fiscal Years Ending August 31,
Operating Lease
Payments
(amounts in thousands)
Capital Lease
Payments
2020 ........................................................................... $
2021 ...........................................................................
2022 ...........................................................................
2023 ...........................................................................
2024 ...........................................................................
Thereafter...................................................................
Total........................................................................... $
Less interest ...............................................................
Total capital lease obligation.....................................
Less current portion of capital lease obligation.........
Non-current portion of capital lease obligation.........
4,256 $
4,435
4,477
4,465
4,607
58,714
80,954 $
$
1,113
1,075
972
476
13
—
3,649
(231)
3,418
(994)
2,424
Contingencies— On May 31, 2019, a putative class action complaint was filed by a former employee Brandy
Gomes in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging violations of California wage and hour laws. The Company
was served with this complaint on June 28, 2019. The Company disputes any allegations of wrongdoing and intends
to defend itself vigorously in this matter. The Company is currently unable to estimate the range of possible losses
associated with this proceeding.
71
The Company is involved from time to time in various legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of our
business, including but not limited to commercial disputes, environmental matters, employee related claims,
intellectual property disputes and litigation in connection with transactions including acquisitions and divestitures. In
the opinion of management, the Company does not believe that such litigation, claims, and administrative proceedings,
including the putative class action matter referenced above, will have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, a significant increase in the number of these claims
or an increase in amounts owing under successful claims, including the putative class action referenced above, could
materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. The Company
records a liability when a loss is considered probable, and the amount can be reasonably estimated.
Note 5—Related Party Transactions
Kura Japan is a majority stakeholder of the Company, and is incorporated and headquartered in Japan. In August
2019, in connection with the closing of the IPO, the Company entered into a Shared Services Agreement with Kura
Japan, pursuant to which Kura Japan will provide the Company with certain strategic, operational and other support
services, including assigning certain employees to work for the Company as expatriates to provide support to the
Company’s operations, sending its employees to the Company on a short-term basis to provide support for the opening
of new restaurants or renovation of existing restaurants, and providing the Company with certain supplies, parts and
equipment for use in the Company’s restaurants. In addition, the Company has agreed to continue to provide Kura
Japan with certain translational support services and market research analyses. In exchange for such services, supplies,
parts and equipment, the parties will pay fees to each other as set forth under the Shared Services Agreement. The
Company reimburses Kura Japan for purchases of supplies, expatriate salaries and travel and other administrative
expenses. These expenses are included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of
operations. Purchases of equipment from Kura Japan are included in property and equipment in the accompanying
balance sheets.
In August 2019, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Exclusive License Agreement (the
“License Agreement”) with Kura Japan. Pursuant to the License Agreement, the Company will pay Kura Japan a
royalty fee of 0.5% of the Company’s net sales in exchange for an exclusive, royalty-bearing license for use of certain
of Kura Japan’s intellectual property rights, including, but not limited to, Kura Japan’s trademarks “Kura Sushi” and
“Kura Revolving Sushi Bar,” and patents for a food management system and the Mr. Fresh protective dome, among
other intellectual property rights necessary to continue operation of the Company’s restaurants. Royalty payments to
Kura Japan are included in other costs at the restaurant-level in the accompanying statements of operations.
Kura Japan contributed $5.0 million to the Company in both fiscal years 2018 and 2017 and made no capital
contributions in fiscal year 2019. No additional shares were issued in exchange for the capital contribution.
Balances with Kura Japan as of August 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018 are as follows:
Due from affiliate.......................................................... $
Due to affiliate ..............................................................
As of August 31,
2019
2018
(amounts in thousands)
226 $
83
4
114
72
Transactions with Kura Japan for fiscal years ended August 31, 2019, August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2017 are
as follows:
2019
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2018
(amounts in thousands)
2017
Related party transactions:
Purchases of administrative supplies from Kura
Japan ...................................................................... $
Expatriate salaries expense incurred from Kura
Japan ......................................................................
Royalty payments...................................................
Travel and other administrative expenses..............
Purchases of equipment from Kura Japan..............
Total related party transactions ................................... $
Additional investment received................................... $
46 $
59 $
54
147
321
49
685
1,248 $
— $
95
279
78
650
1,161 $
5,000 $
74
—
89
949
1,166
5,000
Note 6—Incentive Compensation Plan
The Company adopted the 2018 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Stock Incentive Plan”) in January 2018.
Under the Stock Incentive Plan, the Company may grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock,
restricted stock units, as well as performance awards in the form of shares and cash. Stock options granted under the
Stock Incentive Plan include both incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options. This plan authorizes
700,000 awards to be granted.
Activity under the Stock Incentive Plan is as follows:
Options Outstanding
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(Years)
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Number of
shares
underlying
outstanding
options
Outstanding—August 31, 2017 .............................
— $
Options granted ................................................ 419,091
—
Options exercised.............................................
(1,819)
Options canceled/forfeited ...............................
—
Options expired ................................................
Outstanding—August 31, 2018 ............................. 417,272 $
22,000
—
(33,970)
—
Outstanding—August 31, 2019 ............................. 405,302 $
Options exercisable ............................................... 143,223 $
Options granted ................................................
Options exercised.............................................
Options canceled/forfeited ...............................
Options expired ................................................
—
4.26
4.26
4.26
8.76
—
4.78
4.46
4.33
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(amounts in thousands)
—
—
9.8 $
1,665
8.8 $
8.7 $
8,353
2,970
Stock-based compensation related to the stock options issued under the Stock Incentive Plan was $0.6 million,
and $0.1 million for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019, and August 31, 2018 respectively, and is included in
restaurant operating costs and in general and administrative expenses on the accompanying statements of operations.
There were no stock options outstanding for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017. Stock options granted to non-
employees, and the related stock-based compensation expense, was $0.1 million for fiscal year 2019 and immaterial
to the financial statements for fiscal year 2018. Aggregate intrinsic value represents the difference between the exercise
price of the stock options and the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock as determined by the board of
directors.
73
The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted was $6.91 and $4.05 for the fiscal years ended
August 31, 2019, and August 31, 2018, respectively. The total fair value of options vested was approximately $0.6
million and $0.1 million for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018. As of August 31, 2019,
unrecognized stock-based compensation of $1.3 million related to unvested stock options is expected to be recognized
on a straight-line basis over a weighted average period of 2.6 years.
Stock-based Compensation
Stock-based compensation for restaurant-level employees is included in other costs and stock-based
compensation for corporate-level employees is included in general and administrative expenses in the statements of
operations. The total stock-based compensation recognized for stock options granted under the Stock Incentive Plan
in the statements of operations is as follows:
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2019
2018
(amounts in thousands)
Restaurant-level stock-based compensation included in
Other costs...................................................................... $
Corporate-level stock-based compensation included in
General and administrative expenses .............................
Total stock-based compensation ....................................... $
80 $
510
590 $
14
91
105
Determination of Fair Value
Expected term (in years) ..................................................
Expected volatility ...........................................................
Risk-free interest rate.......................................................
Dividend rate ...................................................................
Fair value of common stock............................................. $
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2019
5.96
64%
2018
5.50 - 5.96
64%
2.77% 2.83% - 2.85%
—
6.70
—
10.75
$
The fair value of each grant of stock options was determined by the Company and its board of directors using
the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and assumptions discussed below. Each of these inputs is subjective and
generally requires significant judgment to determine.
Expected Term - The expected term represents the period that the Company’s stock-based awards are expected
to be outstanding. For option grants that are considered to be “plain vanilla,” the Company determines the expected
term using the simplified method. The simplified method deems the term to be the average of the time-to-vesting and
the contractual life of the options.
Expected Volatility - Since the Company does not have a trading history of its common stock, the expected
volatility is derived from the average historical stock volatilities of several unrelated public companies within the
Company’s industry that the Company considers to be comparable to its business over a period equivalent to the
expected term of the stock option grants.
Risk-Free Interest Rate - The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time
of grant for zero-coupon U.S. Treasury notes with maturities approximately equal to the option’s expected term.
Dividend Rate - The expected dividend is assumed to be zero as the Company has never paid dividends and has
no current plans to do so.
74
Fair Value of Common Stock - Given the absence of a public trading market prior to the IPO, the Company’s
board of directors considers numerous objective and subjective factors to determine the fair value of its common stock
at each grant date. These factors include, but are not limited to (i) independent contemporaneous third-party valuations
of common stock; (ii) the lack of marketability of its common stock; and (iii) the likelihood of achieving a liquidity
event, such as an initial public offering of the Company, given prevailing market conditions. Subsequent to the IPO,
the fair value of common stock is based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock, as reported on The
Nasdaq Global Market.
Note 7—Debt
On January 31, 2019, the Company secured a non-revolving line of credit in the amount of up to $5 million (the
“Credit Facility”) that matures on July 31, 2020. All borrowings under the Credit Facility will bear interest at the
Company’s option at either (a) the prime lending rate of the lender less one-half of one percent (0.5%), or (b) one-
month LIBOR plus one and one-half percent (1.5%). At any time the Company has an aggregate principal balance of
at least $300,000 outstanding, that had not previously been converted to a term loan, the aggregate principal balance
outstanding shall be converted to be payable on a term loan basis. The Company also has the option to convert the
principal balance outstanding to a term loan by providing written notice to the creditor at least 30 days prior to the
maturity date. Each term loan will have a maturity of not more than 36 months. The obligations of the Company under
the Credit Facility are collateralized by substantially all assets of the Company. The Credit Facility also requires the
Company to comply with certain financial covenants regarding the Company’s liquidity, fixed charge coverage ratio
and tangible net worth ratio. Changes in the Company’s financial condition that cause a breach of any of these financial
covenants could result in a default and an acceleration of our obligations under the Credit Facility, which could have
an adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, capital resources and results of operations. The Company was in
compliance with all financial-related covenants under the Credit Facility as of August 31, 2019.
During fiscal year 2019, the Company drew down and paid off $3.9 million in aggregate from the Credit Facility.
The Company converted the outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility to be repaid on a term loan basis over
a 36-month period. The term loans accrue interest at a variable interest rate based on one-month LIBOR plus one and
one-half percent (1.5%) and the Company is obligated to make fully-amortized monthly principal payments over the
36-month period. Subsequent to the Company’s IPO in August 2019, the Company used a portion of the IPO proceeds
to repay the outstanding $3.1 million borrowings. As of August 31, 2019, the Company has no outstanding borrowings.
Note 8—Earnings Per Share
The net income per share attributable to common stockholder is allocated based on the contractual participation
rights of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock as if the income for the year has been distributed. As
the liquidation and dividend rights for Class A and Class B common stock are identical, the net income attributable to
common stockholder is allocated on a proportionate basis.
75
The following table sets forth the computation of the Company’s basic and diluted net income per share:
2019
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2018
2017
Class A
Class B
Class A
Class B
Class A
Class B
(amounts in thousands, except per share data)
Net income per share attributable to
common stockholder—basic:
Numerator:
Net income attributable to common
stockholder—basic .......................................... $ 1,180 $
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic .... 4,283
Net income per share attributable to
common stockholder—basic ........................... $ 0.28 $
Net income per share attributable to
common stockholder—diluted:
Numerator:
Net income attributable to common
stockholder—diluted ....................................... $ 1,192 $
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic .... 4,283
Options to purchase common stock ...................
229
Weighted average shares outstanding—
diluted.............................................................. 4,512
Net income per share attributable to
common stockholder—diluted ........................ $ 0.26 $
276 $ 1,394 $
348 $
566 $
141
1,000
4,000
1,000
4,000
1,000
0.28 $
0.35 $
0.35 $
0.14 $
0.14
264 $ 1,394 $
348 $
566 $
141
1,000
—
4,000
50
1,000
—
4,000
—
1,000
—
1,000
4,050
1,000
4,000
1,000
0.26 $
0.34 $
0.35 $
0.14 $
0.14
The Company computes basic income per common share using net income and the weighted average number
of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted income per common share is computed using net income
and the weighted average number of common shares and potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the
period. Potentially dilutive common shares include dilutive outstanding employee stock options.
There was no antidilutive effect from stock options during the fiscal years ending August 31, 2019 and August
31, 2018.
Note 9—Income Taxes
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was signed into law. The Act, among other
changes, reduces the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% as of January 1, 2018 (25.3% applicable for
fiscal year 2018 or 21% applicable for fiscal year 2019 and after), limits the deductibility of interest, changes the rules
on utilization and carryover of net operating losses, limits the deductibility of officers’ compensation, allows for
expensing of certain qualified fixed assets, and implements a modified territorial tax system that includes other U.S.
international tax provisions.
The Company has re-measured the U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the enacted tax rates which
will be in effect when these differences reverse, which is estimated to be either the blended tax rate of 25.3% for fiscal
year 2018 or 21% for after fiscal year 2019 or after. The Company has completed their assessment and reflected the
income tax effects of the Act on the Company’s financial statements.
76
The components of income before provision for taxes are as follows:
US ................................................................................ $
Total............................................................................. $
The components of the provision for income taxes are as follows:
2019
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2018
(amounts in thousands)
1,747 $
1,747 $
1,524 $
1,524 $
2017
947
947
2019
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2018
(amounts in thousands)
2017
Current:
Federal ................................................................... $
State .......................................................................
Total current .....................................................
Deferred:
Federal ...................................................................
State .......................................................................
Total deferred ...................................................
Total ............................................................................ $
— $
129
129
(47)
(14)
(61)
68 $
— $
65
65
(146)
86
(60)
5 $
(7)
74
67
141
32
173
240
The Company had an effective tax rate of 4.5%, 0.3% and 14.2% for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019,
2018, and 2017 respectively. The reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the Company’s effective
tax rate was as follows:
Fiscal Years Ended August 31,
2018
2017
2019
Tax at federal statutory rate ........................................
Employer tip credit......................................................
Other items ..................................................................
State tax, net of federal benefit ...................................
Effective tax rate .........................................................
21.0%
(20.2)
(2.2)
5.9
4.5%
25.3%
(23.5)
(7.8)
6.3
0.3%
34.0%
(19.6)
1.0
(1.2)
14.2%
The Company recorded an income tax provision of approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the fiscal
years ended August 31, 2019 and August 31, 2017, respectively. The income tax provision was immaterial for the
fiscal year ended August 31, 2018. The primary difference between the effective tax rate and the federal statutory tax
rate relates to federal and state losses for which the Company does not recognize a benefit, with other offsets for
certain differences related to the employer tip credit.
The deferred income taxes reflect the tax effects of the temporary differences between the carrying amounts of
assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and amounts used for income tax purposes.
77
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities
are as follows:
As of August 31,
2019
2018
(amounts in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
General business credit............................................ $
NOL carryover ........................................................
Deferred rent............................................................
Tenant allowance.....................................................
State tax deduction ..................................................
Other ........................................................................
Gross deferred tax assets....................................
1,789 $
792
602
324
29
14
3,550
1,355
854
370
230
21
32
2,862
Deferred tax liabilities:
Basis difference on fixed assets...............................
State .........................................................................
Net deferred tax.................................................. $
(2,408)
(15)
1,127 $
(1,777)
(13)
1,072
As of August 31, 2019, the Company has U.S. federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryover of approximately
$3.8 million and federal tax credit carryover of approximately $1.8 million. Utilization of the Company’s NOL and
federal tax credit carryover may be subject to a substantial annual limitation due to ownership change limitations that
may have occurred or that could occur in the future, as required by Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended.
The Company has not recorded any unrecognized tax benefits as of August 31, 2019. Tax benefits of uncertain
tax positions are recognized only if it is more likely than not that the Company will be able to sustain a position taken
on an income tax return. The Company has no liability for uncertain positions. Interest and penalties, if any, related
to unrecognized tax benefits would be recognized as income tax expense.
Note 10—Selected Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)
The following table sets forth certain unaudited financial information for each quarter of fiscal years 2019 and
2018. The unaudited quarterly information has been prepared using unaudited financial statements and includes all
adjustments consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the
interim periods.
Sales..................................................................................... $
Operating income (loss).......................................................
Net income (loss) .................................................................
Basic income (loss) per share of Class A and
Class B common stock...................................................... $
Diluted income (loss) per share of Class A and
Class B common stock...................................................... $
First
Fiscal Quarter of 2019
Third
Second
Fourth
(amounts in thousands, except per share data)
13,420 $
(420)
(391)
15,117 $
282
212
16,955 $
834
719
18,753
965
916
(0.08) $
0.04 $
0.14 $
0.15
(0.08) $
0.04 $
0.14 $
0.15
78
Sales..................................................................................... $
Operating income.................................................................
Net income...........................................................................
Basic income per share of Class A and Class B
common stock................................................................... $
Diluted income per share of Class A and Class B
common stock................................................................... $
Note 11—Subsequent Events
First
Fiscal Quarter of 2018
Third
Second
Fourth
(amounts in thousands, except per share data)
11,695 $
97
62
11,748 $
113
296
13,656 $
557
404
14,645
1,096
980
0.01 $
0.06 $
0.08 $
0.20
0.01 $
0.06 $
0.08 $
0.20
In September 2019, the Company entered into an agreement for a non-cancelable operating lease for a new
restaurant space extending through 2031. The lease includes two five-year options to extend the lease term, for a total
extension period of ten years. The total minimum lease payments for the lease agreement under the non-cancelable
period are $1.9 million. Total minimum lease payments under the extension period are $2.5 million to be paid between
2031 and 2041.
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountant on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal
executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this
report. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our
disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
The design of any system of control is based upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events,
and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated objectives under all future events,
no matter how remote, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may not deteriorate. Because
of its inherent limitations, disclosure controls and procedures may not prevent or detect all misstatements.
Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving
their control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there
are resource constraints and that management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible
controls and procedures relative to their costs.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include a report of management’s assessment regarding internal
control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-l5(f) of the Exchange Act) or an attestation report of our
independent registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by the rules of the SEC for newly
public companies.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent
fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over
financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information
None.
79
The information required by Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 will be furnished (and are hereby incorporated by
reference) by an amendment hereto or pursuant to our definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A for the
2020 annual meeting of stockholders that will contain such information.
PART III
80
PART IV
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1). Financial Statements. See “Table of Contents” on page 58.
(a)(2). Financial Statement Schedules.
All schedules are omitted because they are not required or applicable, or the required information is included in
our financial statements or related notes.
(a)(3). Exhibits. See “Index to Exhibits.”
81
Exhibit
Number
3.1
3.2
4.1
10.1†
10.2†
10.3†
10.4†
10.5
10.6
10.7
10.8
10.9
10.10
10.11
10.12
10.13
10.14
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Description
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to our current report on Form
8-K filed with the SEC on August 5, 2019 as Exhibit 3.1)
Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the
SEC on August 5, 2019 as Exhibit 3.2)
Specimen Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form S-1/A (File
No. 333-232551) filed with the SEC on July 22, 2019 as Exhibit 4.1)
Kura Sushi USA, Inc. 2018 Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to our registration
statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-232551) filed with the SEC on July 3, 2019 as Exhibit 10.1)
Employment Agreement between Kura Sushi USA, Inc. and Hajime Uba (incorporated by reference to our
current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 5, 2019 as Exhibit 10.3)
Employment Agreement between Kura Sushi USA, Inc. and Koji Shinohara (incorporated by reference to
our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 5, 2019 as Exhibit 10.4)
Employment Agreement between Kura Sushi USA, Inc. and Manabu Kamei (incorporated by reference to
our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 5, 2019 as Exhibit 10.5)
Form of Indemnification Agreement between Kura Sushi USA, Inc. and each of its directors and executive
officers (incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-232551) filed
with the SEC on July 16, 2019 as Exhibit 10.5)
Amended and Restated Exclusive License Agreement between Kura Sushi USA, Inc. and Kura Sushi, Inc.
(incorporated by reference to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 5, 2019 as
Exhibit 10.2)
Shared Services Agreement between Kura Sushi USA, Inc. and Kura Sushi, Inc. (incorporated by reference
to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 5, 2019 as Exhibit 10.1)
Business Loan Agreement, dated January 31, 2019, between Kura Sushi USA, Inc. and Bank of the West
(incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-232551) filed with the
SEC on July 3, 2019 as Exhibit 10.8)
Promissory Note, dated January 31, 2019, between Kura Sushi USA, Inc. and Bank of the West, in the
principal amount of $5,000,000 (incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File
No. 333-232551) filed with the SEC on July 3, 2019 as Exhibit 10.9)
Commercial Security Agreement, dated January 31, 2019, between Kura Sushi USA, Inc. and Bank of the
West (incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-232551) filed with
the SEC on July 3, 2019 as Exhibit 10.10)
Promissory Note, dated May 20, 2019, between Kura Sushi USA, Inc. and Bank of the West, in the principal
amount of $1,233,290 (incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-
232551) filed with the SEC on July 3, 2019 as Exhibit 10.11)
Commercial Security Agreement, dated May 20, 2019, between Kura Sushi USA, Inc. and Bank of the
West (incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-232551) filed with
the SEC on July 3, 2019 as Exhibit 10.12)
Promissory Note, dated May 24, 2019, between Kura Sushi USA, Inc. and Bank of the West, in the principal
amount of $811,353.14 (incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-
232551) filed with the SEC on July 3, 2019 as Exhibit 10.13)
Commercial Security Agreement, dated May 24, 2019, between Kura Sushi USA, Inc. and Bank of the
West (incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-232551) filed with
the SEC on July 3, 2019 as Exhibit 10.14)
82
10.15
10.16
Promissory Note, dated June 6, 2019, between Kura Sushi USA, Inc. and Bank of the West, in the principal
amount of $1,010,204.95 (incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No.
333-232551) filed with the SEC on July 3, 2019 as Exhibit 10.15)
Commercial Security Agreement, dated June 6, 2019, between Kura Sushi USA, Inc. and Bank of the West
(incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-232551) filed with the
SEC on July 3, 2019 as Exhibit 10.16)
10.17#† Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement
10.18#† Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement
23.1#
24.1#
31.1#
31.2#
32.1#
32.2#
†
#
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this report)
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Management contract or compensatory plan.
Filed herewith.
Item 16.
Form 10-K Summary
None.
83
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: November 26, 2019
KURA SUSHI USA, INC.
/s/ Koji Shinohara
By:
Name: Koji Shinohara
Title: Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal
Accounting Officer)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes
and appoints Hajime Uba and Koji Shinohara, and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as
he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that all said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any of them or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the
following persons in their indicated capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
/s/ Hajime Uba
Hajime Uba
/s/ Koji Shinohara
Koji Shinohara
/s/ Manabu Kamei
Manabu Kamei
/s/ Seitaro Ishii
Seitaro Ishii
/s/ Shintaro Asako
Shintaro Asako
Title
Date
Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and
Secretary (Principal Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer)
November 26, 2019
November 26, 2019
Chief Operating Officer and Director
November 26, 2019
Director
Director
November 26, 2019
November 26, 2019
84