Quarterlytics / Consumer Cyclical / Restaurants / RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. / FY2020 Annual Report

RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc.
Annual Report 2020

RICK · NASDAQ Consumer Cyclical
Claim this profile
Ticker RICK
Exchange NASDAQ
Sector Consumer Cyclical
Industry Restaurants
Employees 3613
← All annual reports
FY2020 Annual Report · RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc.
Loading PDF…
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

Transition report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020

Commission file number: 001-13992

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Texas
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

76-0458229
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

10737 Cutten Road
Houston, Texas 77066
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(281) 397-6730
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Title of each class
Common stock, $0.01 par value

Trading Symbol(s)
RICK

Name of each exchange on which registered
The 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, smaller reporting 
company,  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 ☐ Accelerated  filer ☒ Non-
accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company ☒ Emerging growth 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 has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of 
its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public 
accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

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

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at 
which the common equity was last sold as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was 
$83,621,092.

As of December 8, 2020, there were approximately 8,999,910 shares of common stock outstanding.

NOTE ABOUT 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.  These  statements  include,  among other  things,  statements  regarding  plans,  objectives,  goals,  strategies,  future  events  or 
performance  and  underlying  assumptions  and  other  statements,  which  are  other  than  statements  of  historical  facts.  Forward-looking 
statements may appear throughout this report, including without limitation, the following sections: Item 1 – “Business,” Item 1A – “Risk 
Factors,” and Item 7 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Forward-looking 
statements generally can be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” 
“projects,”  “will  be,”  “will  continue,”  “will  likely  result,”  and  similar  expressions.  These  forward-looking  statements  are  based  on 
current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause our actual results to differ materially 
from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not 
limited to, those discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and, in particular, the risks discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” 
in Item 1A and those discussed in other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Important factors 
that in our view could cause material adverse effects on our financial condition and results of operations include, but are not limited to, 
the  risks  and  uncertainties  associated  with  (i)  operating  and  managing  an  adult  business,  (ii)  the  business  climates  in  cities  where  it 
operates, (iii) the success or lack thereof in launching and building the company’s businesses, (iv) cyber security, (v) conditions relevant 
to  real  estate  transactions,  (vi)  the  impact  of  the  COVID-19  pandemic,  and  (vii)  numerous  other  factors  such  as  laws  governing  the 
operation  of  adult  entertainment  businesses,  competition  and  dependence  on  key  personnel.  We  undertake  no  obligation  to  revise  or 
publicly  release  the  results  of  any  revision  to  any  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.

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page No.

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 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 Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

Item 9B.

Other Information

PART III

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

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 Accounting Fees and Services

PART IV

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

Item 16.

Form 10-K Summary

Signatures

3

4

8

17

17

18

18

19

21

22

40

40

87

87

89

91

95

101

102

103

104

105

106

Item 1. Business.

INTRODUCTION

PART I

RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. is a holding company. Through our subsidiaries, we engaged in a number of activities in the hospitality 
and  related  businesses.  As  of  September  30,  2020,  our  subsidiaries  operated  a  total  of  48  establishments  that  offer  live  adult 
entertainment and/or restaurant and bar operations. Together with its subsidiaries, RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. is collectively referred 
to  as  “RCIHH,”  the  “Company,”  “we,”  “us,”  or  “our”  in  this  report.  We  also  operate  a  leading  business  communications  company 
serving the multibillion-dollar adult nightclubs industry. RCIHH was incorporated in the State of Texas in 1994 and became public in 
1995.

Our fiscal year ends on September 30. References to years 2020, 2019, and 2018 are for fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, 
and 2018, respectively. Our fiscal quarters chronologically end on December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 30.

Our corporate website address is www.rcihospitality.com. Upon written request, we make available free of charge our Annual Report on 
Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably 
practicable  after  such  material  is  electronically  filed  with  the  SEC  under  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended 
(www.sec.gov). Information contained in the corporate website shall not be construed as part of this Form 10-K.

COVID-19 PANDEMIC

In  March  2020,  President  Donald  Trump  declared  the  coronavirus  disease  2019  (“COVID-19”)  pandemic  as  a  national  public  health 
emergency.  The  declaration  resulted  in  a  significant  reduction  in  customer  traffic  in  our  clubs  and  restaurants  due  to  changes  in 
consumer behavior as social distancing practices, dining room closures and other restrictions were mandated or encouraged by federal, 
state and local governments. Since March 2020, we have temporarily closed and reopened several of our clubs and restaurants.

The  temporary  closure  of  our  clubs  and  restaurants  caused  by  the  COVID-19  pandemic  has  presented  operational  challenges.  Our 
strategy  is  to  open locations in  accordance  with local and  state  guidelines and  it is  too early  to  know  when  and  if  they  will  generate 
positive  cash  flows  for  us.  Depending  on  the  timing  and  number  of  locations  we  are  allowed  to  open,  and  their  ability  to  generate 
positive cash flow, we may need to borrow funds to meet our obligations or consider selling certain assets. The COVID-19 pandemic is 
adversely affecting the availability of liquidity generally in the credit markets, and there can be no guarantee that additional liquidity 
will be readily available or available on favorable terms, especially the longer the COVID-19 pandemic lasts.

To augment an expected decline in operating cash flows caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we instituted the following measures:

● Arranged and continue to arrange for deferment of principal and interest payment on certain of our debts;

● Furloughed employees working at our clubs and restaurants, except for a limited number of managers;

● Pay cut for all remaining salaried and hourly employees and deferral of board of director compensation;

● Deferred or modified certain fixed monthly expenses such as insurance, rent, and taxes, among others;

● Canceled  certain  non-essential  expenses  such  as  advertising,  cable,  pest  control,  point-of-sale  system  support,  and  investor 

relations coverage, among others.

On May 8, 2020, the Company received approval and funding under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) of the Coronavirus Aid, 
Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) for its restaurants, shared service entity and lounge. See Notes 3, 10 and 11 to 
our consolidated financial statements. Ten of our restaurant subsidiaries received amounts ranging from $271,000 to $579,000 for an 
aggregate amount of $4.2 million; our shared-services subsidiary received $1.1 million; and one of our lounges received $124,000. None 
of our adult nightclub and other non-core business subsidiaries received funding under the PPP. The Company believes it has used the 
entire loan amount for qualifying expenses. Under the terms of the PPP, certain amounts of the loan may be forgiven if they are used for 
qualifying  expenses  as  described  in  the  CARES  Act.  The  Company  has  currently  utilized  all  of  the  PPP  funds  and  has  submitted  its 
forgiveness  applications.  As  of  the  filing  of  this  report,  we  have  received  ten  Notices  of  PPP  Forgiveness  Payment  from  the  Small 
Business Administration out of the twelve of our PPP loans granted. All of the notices received forgave 100% of each of the ten PPP 
loans  totaling  the  amount  of  $4.9  million.  No  assurance  can  be  provided  that  the  Company  will  in  fact  obtain  forgiveness  of  the 
remaining two PPP loans in whole or in part.

As of the release of this report, we do not know the future extent and duration of the impact of COVID-19 on our businesses. Lower 
sales, as caused by local, state and national guidelines, could lead to adverse financial results. However, we will continually monitor and 
evaluate the situation and will determine any further measures to be instituted, including refinancing several of our debt obligations.

We  continue  to  adhere  to  state  and  local  government  mandates  regarding  the  pandemic  and,  since  March  2020,  have  closed  and 
reopened several of our locations depending on changing government mandates. As of the release of this report, we have reopened many 
of our club and Bombshells locations with certain operating hour restrictions and with limited occupancy.

OUR BUSINESS

We  operate  several  businesses,  which  we  aggregate  for  financial  reporting  purposes  into  two  reportable  segments  –  Nightclubs  and 
Bombshells. Businesses not included as Nightclubs or Bombshells are combined as “Other.”

Nightclubs Segment

We  operate  our  adult  entertainment  nightclubs  through  several  brands  that  target  many  different  demographics  of  customers  by 
providing a unique, quality entertainment environment. Our clubs do business as Rick’s Cabaret, Jaguars Club, Tootsie’s Cabaret, XTC 
Cabaret,  Club  Onyx,  Hoops  Cabaret  and  Sports  Bar,  Scarlett’s  Cabaret,  Temptations  Adult  Cabaret,  Foxy’s  Cabaret,  Vivid  Cabaret, 
Downtown Cabaret, Cabaret East, The Seville, Silver City Cabaret, and Kappa Men’s Club. We also operate one dance club under the 
brand name Studio 80.

We generate revenue from our nightclubs through the sale of alcoholic beverages, food and merchandise items; service in the form of 
cover charge, dance fees, and room rentals; and through other related means such as ATM commissions and vending income, among 
others.

During fiscal 2020, our Nightclub segment sales mix was 46% service revenue; 36% alcoholic beverages; and 18% food, merchandise 
and other. Segment gross margin (revenues less cost of goods sold, divided by revenues) was approximately 89%. During the COVID-
19  pandemic,  our  Nightclubs  segment  revenue  declined  by  41%  and  income  from  operations  declined  by  74%  from  the  prior  year. 
Same-stores sales for Nightclubs in 2020 was -9.0% with the impact of the pandemic excluded from comparable sales. With the impact 
of the pandemic included in comparable sales (see Adjusted Same-Store Sales on page 23), same-store sales would be -41.7%.

4

Our  Nightclubs  segment  continues  to  be  heavily  affected  by  the  COVID-19  pandemic  as  most  states  have  reissued  directives  for 
lockdowns and stricter safety restrictions in the fall of 2020 due to the resurgence of cases.

On November 5, 2019, the Company announced that its subsidiaries had signed definitive agreements to acquire the assets and related 
real estate of a well-established, top gentlemen’s club located in the Northeast Corridor for $15.0 million. The agreements terminated 
prior to closing. We provided the sellers notice of the termination in April 2020.

A list of our nightclub locations is in Item 2— “Properties.”

Bombshells Segment

Our Bombshells segment operates a restaurant and bar concept that sets itself apart with décor that pays homage to all branches of the 
U.S.  military.  Locations  feature  local  DJs,  large  outdoor  patios,  and  more  than  75  state-of-the-art  flat  screen  TVs  for  watching  your 
favorite sports. All food and drink menu items have military names. Bombshell Girls, with their military-inspired uniforms, are a key 
attraction. Their mission, in addition to waitressing, is to interact with guests and generate a fun atmosphere. Bombshells is also open to 
franchising  under  our  subsidiary,  BMB  Franchising  Services,  Inc.,  which  has  been  approved  to  sell  franchises  in  all  50  states.  As  of 
September  30,  2020,  we  operated  ten  Bombshells  locations,  all  in  Texas  with  one  in  Dallas,  one  in  Austin,  and  eight  in  the  Greater 
Houston area.

During fiscal 2020, Bombshells sales mix was 63% alcoholic beverages and 37% food, merchandise and other. Segment gross margin 
(revenues less cost of goods sold, divided by revenues) was approximately 77%. We grew Bombshells segment revenue by 40% and 
income  from  operations  by  300%  from  prior  year  despite  the  COVID-19  pandemic.  This  was  a  result  of  being  able  to  open  the 
Bombshells locations as restaurants while bars were closed and the contribution of two new locations that opened in fiscal 2020. Same-
stores sales for Bombshells in 2020 was +18.3% with the impact of the pandemic excluded from comparable sales. With the impact of 
the pandemic included in comparable sales (see Adjusted Same-Store Sales on page 23), same-store sales would be +6.5%.

We opened the first Bombshells in March 2013 in Dallas, quickly becoming one of the most popular restaurant destinations in the area. 
Within  six  years,  eight  more  opened  in  the  Austin  and  Houston,  Texas  areas,  including  two  that  were  opened  in  fiscal  2019.  In 
September 2016, we closed one Bombshells location in Webster, Texas. We opened one Bombshells on Interstate 10 (BMB I-10), east 
of Houston in December 2018, and another one on State Highway 249 (BMB 249), northwest of Houston in March 2019. In the current 
fiscal 2020, we opened one Bombshells in Katy, Texas (BMB Katy) in October 2019, and another on Southwest Freeway (BMB 59) in 
Houston, Texas in January 2020. Of the ten active Bombshells as of September 30, 2020, eight are freestanding pad sites and two are 
inline locations.

For a list of our Bombshells locations, refer to Item 2—“Properties.”

Other Segment

We group together all businesses not belonging to either Nightclubs and Bombshells as Other reportable segment. This is made up of 
several wholly-owned subsidiaries composed primarily of our Media Group and Drink Robust. Our Media Group is the leading business 
communications  company  serving  the  multibillion-dollar  adult  nightclubs  industry  and  the  adult  retail  products  industry.  It  owns  a 
national industry convention and tradeshow; two national industry trade publications; two national industry award shows; and more than 
a  dozen  industry  and  social  media  websites.  Included  in  the  Media  Group  is  ED  Publications,  publishers  of  the  bimonthly  ED  Club 
Bulletin, the only national business magazine serving the 2,200-plus adult nightclubs in North America, which collectively have annual 
revenues in excess of $5 billion, according to the Association of Club Executives. ED Publications, founded in 1991, also publishes the 
Annual  VIP  Guide  of  adult  nightclubs,  touring  entertainers  and  industry  vendors;  produces  the  Annual  Gentlemen’s  Club  Owners 
EXPO, a national convention and tradeshow; and offers the exclusive ED VIP Club Card, honored at more than 850 adult nightclubs. 
The Media Group produces two nationally recognized industry award shows for the readers of both ED Club Bulletin and StorErotica 
magazines, and maintains a number of B-to-B and consumer websites for both industries. Drink Robust is licensed to sell Robust Energy 
Drink in the United States.

5

OUR STRATEGY

Our  overall  objective  is  to  create  value  for  our  shareholders  by  developing  and  operating  profitable  businesses  in  the  hospitality  and 
related space. We strive to achieve  that  by providing an attractive price-value entertainment and dining experience;  by attracting and 
retaining  quality  personnel;  and  by  focusing  on  unit-level  operating  performance.  Aside  from  our  operating  strategy,  we  employ  a 
capital allocation strategy.

Capital Allocation Strategy

Our capital allocation strategy provides us with disciplined guidelines on how we should use our free cash flows; provided however, that 
we  may  deviate from this strategy  if  other strategic  rationale warrants. We calculate free  cash  flow as  net cash flows from operating 
activities minus maintenance capital expenditures. Using the after-tax yield of buying our own stock as baseline, management believes 
that we are able to make better investment decisions.

Based on our current capital allocation strategy:

● We  consider  acquiring  or  developing  our  own clubs  or  restaurants  that  we  believe  have  the  potential  to  provide  a  minimum 

cash on cash return of 25%-33%, absent an otherwise strategic rationale;

● We consider disposing of underperforming units to free up capital for more productive use;

● We consider buying back our own stock if the after-tax yield on free cash flow is above 10%;

● We consider paying down our most expensive debt if it makes sense on a tax-adjusted basis, or there is an otherwise strategic 

rationale.

COMPETITION

The adult entertainment and the restaurant/sports bar businesses are highly competitive with respect to price, service and location. All of 
our nightclubs compete with a number of locally owned adult clubs, some of whose brands may have name recognition that equals that 
of  ours.  The  names  “Rick’s”  and  “Rick’s  Cabaret,”  “Tootsie’s  Cabaret,”  “XTC  Cabaret,”  “Scarlett’s,”  “Silver  City,”  “Club  Onyx,” 
“Downtown  Cabaret,”  “Temptations,”  “The  Seville,”  “Jaguars,”  “Hoops  Cabaret,”  and  “Foxy’s  Cabaret”  are  proprietary.  In  the 
restaurant/sports bar business, “Bombshells” is also proprietary. We believe that the combination of our existing brand name recognition 
and the distinctive entertainment environment that we have created allows us to compete effectively in the industry and within the cities 
where we operate. Although we believe that we are well positioned to compete successfully, there can be no assurance that we will be 
able to maintain our high level of name recognition and prestige within the marketplace.

GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS

We are subject to  various federal, state and local laws affecting our business activities. Particularly in Texas, the authority to issue a 
permit to sell alcoholic beverages is governed by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (“TABC”), which has the authority, in its 
discretion,  to  issue the  appropriate permits. We presently  hold a  Mixed  Beverage  Permit  and  a Late  Hour  Permit  at  numerous  Texas 
locations.  Minnesota,  North  Carolina,  Louisiana,  Arizona,  Pennsylvania,  Florida,  New  York,  and  Illinois  have  similar  laws  that  may 
limit the availability of a permit to sell alcoholic beverages or that may provide for suspension or revocation of a permit to sell alcoholic 
beverages in certain circumstances. It is our policy, prior to expanding into any new market, to take steps to ensure compliance with all 
licensing and regulatory requirements for the sale of alcoholic beverages, as well as the sale of food.

6

In addition to various regulatory requirements affecting the sale of alcoholic beverages, in many cities where we operate, the location of 
an adult entertainment cabaret is subject to restriction by city, county or other governmental ordinance. The prohibitions deal generally 
with  distance  from  schools,  churches  and  other  sexually  oriented  businesses,  and  contain  restrictions  based  on  the  percentage  of 
residences within the immediate vicinity of the sexually oriented business. The granting of a sexually oriented business permit is not 
subject to discretion; the permit must be granted if the proposed operation satisfies the requirements of the ordinance. In all states where 
we  operate,  management  believes  we  are  in  compliance  with  applicable  city,  county,  state  or  other  local  laws  governing  the  sale  of 
alcohol and sexually oriented businesses.

TRADEMARKS

Our rights to the trade names “RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc.,” “Rick’s,” “Rick’s Cabaret,” “Tootsie’s Cabaret,” “Club Onyx,” “XTC 
Cabaret,” “Temptations,” “Jaguars,” “Downtown Cabaret,” “Cabaret East,” “Bombshells Restaurant and Bar,” and “Vee Lounge” are 
established under common law, based upon our substantial and continuous use of these trade names in interstate commerce, some of 
which  have  been  in  use  at  least  as  early  as  1987.  We  have  registered  our  service  mark,  “RICK’S  AND  STARS  DESIGN,”  and  the 
“BOMBSHELLS RESTAURANT & BAR” logo design with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. We have also obtained 
service  mark  registrations  from  the  Patent  and  Trademark  Office  for  “RICK’S  AND  STARS  DESIGN”  logo,  “RCI  HOSPITALITY 
HOLDINGS, INC.,” “RICK’S,” “RICK’S CABARET,” “CLUB ONYX,” “XTC CABARET,” “SCARLETT’S CABARET,” “SILVER 
CITY  CABARET,”  “BOMBSHELLS  RESTAURANT  AND  BAR,”  “THE  SEVILLE  CLUB,”  “DOWN  IN  TEXAS  SALOON,” 
“CLUB  DULCE,”  “THE  BLACK  ORCHID,”  “HOOPS  CABARET,”  “VEE  LOUNGE,”  “STUDIO  80,”  “FOXY’S  CABARET,” 
“EXOTIC DANCER,” and “TOYS FOR TATAS” are registered through service mark registrations issued by the United States Patent 
and Trademark Office. As of this date, we have pending registration applications for the names “TOOTSIES CABARET,” “In The Biz,” 
and “Bombshells Officer’s Club.” We also own the rights to numerous trade names associated with our media division. There can be no 
assurance  that  these  steps  we  have  taken  to  protect  our  service  marks  will  be  adequate  to  deter  misappropriation  of  our  protected 
intellectual property rights.

EMPLOYEES AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

Our people are employed by the parent company or by any of its subsidiaries. Executive officers are employed by the parent company; 
shared services personnel and managers responsible for multiple clubs or restaurants are employed by RCI Management Services, Inc.; 
and the rest are employed by the individual operating entities. As of September 30, 2020, we had the following employees:

Hourly
Salaried

Operations

Managers

Non-Managers

Corporate

Total

17
228
245

1,735
21
1,756

20
53
73

1,772
302
2,074

Additionally, as of September 30, 2020, we had independent contractor entertainers who are self-employed and conduct business at our 
locations  on  a  non-exclusive  basis.  Our  entertainers  at  Rick’s  Cabaret  in  Minneapolis,  Minnesota  and  at  Jaguars  Club  in  Phoenix, 
Arizona  act  as  commissioned  employees.  All  employees  and  independent  contractors  sign  arbitration  non-class-action  participation 
agreements  where  allowed  by  federal  and  state  laws.  None  of  our  employees  are  represented  by  a  union.  We  consider  our  employee 
relations to be good.

We believe that the adult entertainment industry standard of treating entertainers as independent contractors provides us with safe harbor 
protection to preclude payroll tax assessment. We have prepared plans that we believe will protect our profitability in the event that the 
sexually oriented business industry is required in all states to convert entertainers, who are now independent contractors, into employees. 
See related discussion in “Risk Factors” below.

7

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

An  investment  in  our  common  stock  involves  a  high  degree  of  risk.  You  should  carefully  consider  the  risks  described  below  before 
deciding to purchase shares of our common stock. If any of the events, contingencies, circumstances or conditions described in the risks 
below  actually  occurs,  our  business,  financial  condition  or  results  of  operations  could  be  seriously  harmed.  The  trading  price  of  our 
common stock could, in turn, decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.

A summary of our risk factors is as follows:

Risks related to general macroeconomic and safety conditions

o

o

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted and is expected to continue to disrupt our business, which has and 
could continue to materially affect our operations, financial condition and results of operations for an extended period of time.

If we are unable to maintain compliance with certain of our debt covenants or unable to obtain waivers, we may be unable to 
make additional borrowings and be declared in default where our debt will be made immediately due and payable. In addition, 
global economic conditions may make it more difficult to access new credit facilities.

o We have recorded impairment charges in past periods and may record additional impairment charges in future periods.

Risks related to regulations and/or regulatory agencies

o Our business operations are subject to regulatory uncertainties which may affect our ability to continue operations of existing 

nightclubs, acquire additional nightclubs, or be profitable.

o

The adult entertainment industry standard is to classify adult entertainers as independent contractors, not employees. If federal 
or state law mandates that they be classified as employees, our business could be adversely impacted.

o Our revenues could be significantly affected by limitations relating to permits to sell alcoholic beverages.

o Activities  or  conduct  at  our  nightclubs  may  cause  us  to  lose  necessary  business  licenses,  expose  us  to  liability,  or  result  in 

adverse publicity, which may increase our costs and divert management’s attention from our business.

Risks related to our business

o We may deviate from our present capital allocation strategy.

o We may need additional financing, or our business expansion plans may be significantly limited.

o

o

o

There is substantial competition in the nightclub entertainment industry, which may affect our ability to operate profitably or 
acquire additional clubs.

The adult entertainment industry is extremely volatile.

Private advocacy group actions targeted at the kind of adult entertainment we offer could result in limitations and our inability 
to operate in certain locations and negatively impact our business.

o We  rely  heavily  on  information  technology  in  our  operations  and  any  material  failure,  weakness,  interruption  or  breach  of 

security could prevent us from effectively operating our business.

o

Security breaches of confidential customer information or personal employee information may adversely affect our business.

o Our acquisitions may result in disruptions in our business and diversion of management’s attention.

o

The impact of new club or restaurant openings could result in fluctuations in our financial performance.

o We incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management devotes substantial time to new 

compliance initiatives.

o We have identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting.

o We may have uninsured risks in excess of our insurance coverage.

o Our previous liability insurer may be unable to provide coverage to us and our subsidiaries.

o

The protection provided by our service marks is limited.

o We are dependent on key personnel.

o A failure to maintain food safety throughout the supply chain and food-borne illness concerns may have an adverse effect on 

our business.

o Other risk factors may adversely affect our financial performance.

Risk related to our common stock

o We must continue to meet NASDAQ Global Market Continued Listing Requirements, or we risk delisting.

o We may be subject to allegations, defamations, or other detrimental conduct by third parties, which could harm our reputation 

and cause us to lose customers and/or contribute to a deflation of our stock price.

o Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate 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.

o Anti-takeover effects of the issuance of our preferred stock could adversely affect our common stock.

o

Future sales or the perception of future sales of a substantial amount of our common stock may depress our stock price.

o Our stock price has been volatile and may fluctuate in the future.

o Cumulative voting is not available to our stockholders.

o Our directors and officers have limited liability and have rights to indemnification.

Details of our risk factors are as follows:

Risks related to general macroeconomic and safety conditions

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted and is expected to continue to disrupt our business, which has and could 
continue to materially affect our operations, financial condition and results of operations for an extended period of time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse effect that is material on our business. The COVID-19 pandemic, federal, state and local 
government responses to COVID-19, our customers’ responses to the pandemic, and our Company’s responses to the pandemic have all 
disrupted and will continue to disrupt our business. In the United States, as well as globally, individuals are being encouraged to practice 
social distancing, restricted from gathering in groups and, in some areas, placed on complete restriction from non-essential movements 
outside of their homes. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and these changing conditions, we temporarily closed all of our clubs 
and restaurants on March 18, 2020. We furloughed club and restaurant employees, except for a limited number of unit managers, and 
implemented  cost  savings  measures  throughout  our  operations.  We  have  since  reopened  many  of  our  club  and  Bombshells  locations 
with  certain  operating  hour  restrictions  and  with  limited  occupancy.  The  COVID-19  pandemic’s  impact  on  the  economy  in  general 
could also adversely affect our customers’ financial condition, resulting in reduced spending at our clubs and restaurants. The COVID-
19 pandemic and these responses have affected and will continue to adversely affect our customer traffic, sales and operating costs and 
we cannot predict how long the pandemic will last or what other government responses may occur.

If  the  business  interruptions  caused  by  COVID-19  last  longer  than  we  expect,  we  may  need  to  seek  other  sources  of  liquidity.  The 
COVID-19 pandemic is adversely affecting the availability of liquidity generally in the credit markets, and there can be no guarantee 
that additional liquidity will be readily available or available on favorable terms, especially the longer the COVID-19 pandemic lasts.

Our  club  and  restaurant  operations  could  be  further  disrupted  if  any  of  our  employees  are  diagnosed  with  COVID-19  and  the 
circumstances  require  quarantine  of  some  or  all  of  a  club  or  restaurant’s  employees  and  disinfection  of  the  facilities.  If  a  significant 
percentage  of  our  workforce  is  unable  to  work,  whether  because  of  illness,  quarantine,  limitations  on  travel  or  other  government 
restrictions  in  connection  with  COVID-19,  our  operations  may  be  negatively  impacted,  potentially  materially  adversely  affecting  our 
liquidity,  financial  condition  or  results  of  operations.  Those  employees  might  seek  and  find  other  employment  during  our  business 
interruption, which could materially adversely affect our ability to properly staff and reopen our clubs and restaurants with experienced 
team members when permitted to do so by governments.

Our  suppliers  could  be  adversely  impacted  by  the  COVID-19  pandemic.  If  our  suppliers’  employees  are  unable  to  work,  whether 
because  of  illness,  quarantine,  limitations  on  travel  or  other  government  restrictions  in  connection  with  COVID-19,  we  could  face 
shortages of food items or other supplies at our restaurants and our operations and sales could be adversely impacted by such supply 
interruptions.

The equity markets in the United States have been extremely volatile due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Company’s stock price 
has fluctuated significantly.

We cannot predict how soon we will be able to reopen all our clubs and restaurants, as our ability to reopen our locations will depend in 
part  on  the  actions  of  a  number  of  governmental  bodies  over  which  we  have  no  control.  Moreover,  once  restrictions  are  lifted,  it  is 
unclear  how  quickly  customers  will  return  to  our  clubs  and  restaurants,  which  may  be  a  function  of  continued  concerns  over  safety 
and/or depressed consumer sentiment due to adverse economic conditions, including job losses. Considering the significant uncertainty 
as  to  when  we  can  reopen  some  or  all  of  our  locations  and  the  uncertain  customer  demand  environment,  in  addition  to  the  actions 
described  above,  we  have  taken  action  to  reduce  our  cash  expenditures,  which  may  impact  our  future  growth,  refer  to  Item  7  - 
Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations  discussions  on  Liquidity  for  further 
information.

8

If we are unable to maintain compliance with certain of our debt covenants or unable to obtain waivers, we may be unable to make 
additional  borrowings  and  be  declared  in  default  where  our  debt  will  be  made  immediately  due  and  payable.  In  addition,  global 
economic conditions may make it more difficult to access new credit facilities.

Our  liquidity  position  is,  in  part,  dependent  upon  our  ability  to  borrow  funds  from  financial  institutions  and/or  private  individuals. 
Certain  of  our  debts  have  financial  covenants  that  require  us  to  maintain  certain  operating  income  to  debt  service  ratios.  As  of 
September  30,  2020,  we  were  in  compliance  with  all  covenants  or  have  obtained  waivers.  However,  as  a  result  of  the  COVID-19 
outbreak, our total revenues have decreased significantly, and we have implemented certain operational changes in order to address the 
evolving challenges presented by the global pandemic on our operations. Due to the impact of COVID-19, our financial performance in 
future fiscal quarters will be negatively impacted. A failure to comply with the financial covenants under our credit facility or obtain 
waivers would give rise to an event of default under the terms of certain of our debts, allowing the lenders to accelerate repayment of 
any outstanding debt.

We have recorded impairment charges in past periods and may record additional impairment charges in future periods.

Our nightclubs are often acquired with a purchase price based on historical EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and 
Amortization). This results in certain nightclubs carrying a substantial amount of intangible asset value, mostly allocated to licenses and 
goodwill. Generally accepted accounting principles require periodic impairment review of indefinite-lived intangible assets, long-lived 
assets, and goodwill to determine if, or when events and circumstances indicate that, the fair value of these assets is not recoverable. As 
a  result  of  our  periodic  impairment  reviews,  we  recorded  impairment  charges  of  $10.6  million  in  2020  (representing  $7.9  million 
goodwill impairment on seven club reporting units, $2.3 million of license impairment on two clubs, $302,000 property and equipment 
impairment on one club and one Bombshells, and $104,000 of operating lease right-of-use asset impairment on one club); $6.0 million 
in 2019 (representing $4.2 million property and equipment impairment on two clubs, $1.6 million goodwill impairment on four clubs, 
and  $178,000  of  license  impairment  on  one  club);  and  $5.6  million  in  2018  (representing  a  $1.6  million  of  property  and  equipment 
impairment on one club and one Bombshells, $834,000 goodwill impairment on two clubs, and $3.1 million of license impairment on 
three clubs). A huge portion, if not all, of the impairments in 2020 relates to the current and projected decline in EBITDA caused by the 
COVID-19  pandemic.  If  difficult  market  and  economic  conditions  materialize  over  the  next  year  and/or  we  experience  a  decrease  in 
revenue at one or more nightclubs or restaurants, we could incur a decline in fair value of one or more of our nightclubs or restaurants. 
This  could  result  in  future  impairment  charges  of  up  to  the  total  value  of  our  tangible  and  intangible  assets,  including  goodwill.  We 
actively monitor our clubs and restaurants for any indication of impairment.

Risks related to regulations and/or regulatory agencies

Our  business  operations  are  subject  to  regulatory  uncertainties  which  may  affect  our  ability  to  continue  operations  of  existing 
nightclubs, acquire additional nightclubs, or be profitable.

Adult entertainment nightclubs are subject to local, state and federal regulations. Our business is regulated by local zoning, local and 
state liquor licensing, local ordinances, and state and federal time place and manner restrictions. The adult entertainment provided by 
our nightclubs has elements of speech and expression and, therefore, enjoys some protection under the First Amendment to the United 
States Constitution. However, the protection is limited to the expression, and not the conduct of an entertainer. While our nightclubs are 
generally  well  established  in  their  respective  markets,  there  can  be  no  assurance  that  local,  state  and/or  federal  licensing  and  other 
regulations will permit our nightclubs to remain in operation or profitable in the future.

The adult entertainment industry standard is to classify adult entertainers as independent contractors, not employees. If federal or 
state law mandates that they be classified as employees, our business could be adversely impacted.

The  adult  entertainment  industry  standard  is  to  classify  adult  entertainers  as  independent  contractors,  not  employees.  The  Internal 
Revenue Service regulations and applicable state law guidelines regarding independent contractor classification are subject to judicial 
and  agency  interpretation,  and  it  could  be  determined  that  the  independent  contractor  classification  is  inapplicable.  Further,  if  legal 
standards for classification of independent contractors change, it may be necessary to modify our compensation structure for these adult 
entertainers,  including  by  paying  additional  compensation  or  reimbursing  expenses.  While  we  take  steps  to  ensure  that  our  adult 
entertainers  are  deemed  independent  contractors,  if  our  adult  entertainers  are  determined  to  have  been  misclassified  as  independent 
contractors,  we  would  incur  additional  exposure  under  federal  and  state  law,  workers’  compensation,  unemployment  benefits,  labor, 
employment and tort laws, including for prior periods, as well as potential liability for employee benefits and tax withholdings. Any of 
these outcomes could result in substantial costs to us, could significantly impair our financial condition and our ability to conduct our 
business as we choose, and could damage our ability to attract and retain other personnel.

Our revenues could be significantly affected by limitations relating to permits to sell alcoholic beverages.

We derive a significant portion of our revenues from the sale of alcoholic beverages. States in which we operate may have laws which 
may limit the availability of a permit to sell alcoholic beverages, or which may provide for suspension or revocation of a permit to sell 
alcoholic beverages in certain circumstances. The temporary or permanent suspension or revocations of any such permits would have a 
material  adverse  effect  on  our  revenues,  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations.  In  all  states  where  we  operate,  management 
believes we are in compliance with applicable city, county, state or other local laws governing the sale of alcohol.

Activities or conduct at our nightclubs may cause us to lose necessary business licenses, expose us to liability, or result in adverse 
publicity, which may increase our costs and divert management’s attention from our business.

We are subject to risks associated with activities or conduct at our nightclubs that are illegal or violate the terms of necessary business 
licenses. Some of our nightclubs operate under licenses for sexually oriented businesses and are afforded some protection under the First 
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. While we believe that the activities at our nightclubs comply with the terms of such licenses, and 
that  the  element  of  our  business  that  constitutes  an  expression  of  free  speech  under  the  First  Amendment  to  the  U.S.  Constitution  is 
protected, activities and conduct at our nightclubs may be found to violate the terms of such licenses or be unprotected under the U.S. 
Constitution.  This  protection  is  limited  to  the  expression  and  not  the  conduct  of an  entertainer.  An  issuing  authority  may  suspend  or 
terminate a license for a nightclub found to have violated the license terms. Illegal activities or conduct at any of our nightclubs may 
result  in  negative  publicity  or  litigation.  Such  consequences  may  increase  our  cost  of  doing  business,  divert  management’s  attention 
from  our  business  and  make  an  investment  in  our  securities  unattractive  to  current  and  potential  investors,  thereby  lowering  our 
profitability and our stock price.

We have developed comprehensive policies aimed at ensuring that the operation of each of our nightclubs is conducted in conformance 
with local, state and federal laws. We have a “no tolerance” policy on illegal drug use in or around our facilities. We continually monitor 
the actions of entertainers, waitresses and customers to ensure that proper behavior standards are met. However, such policies, no matter 
how well designed and enforced, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the policies’ objectives are being achieved. 
Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems and policies, there can be no assurance that our policies will prevent deliberate 

acts  by  persons  attempting  to  violate  or  circumvent  them.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  limitations,  management  believes  that  our 
policies are reasonably effective in achieving their purposes.

Risks related to our business

We may deviate from our present capital allocation strategy.

We believe that our present capital allocation strategy will provide us with optimized returns. However, implementation of our capital 
allocation strategy depends on the interplay of several factors such as our stock price, our outstanding common shares, the interest rates 
on  our  debt,  and  the  rate  of  return  on  available  investments.  If  these  factors  are  not  conducive  to  implementing  our  present  capital 
allocation strategy, or we determine that adopting a different capital allocation strategy is in the best interest of shareholders, we reserve 
the right to deviate from this approach. There can be no assurance that we will not deviate from or adopt an alternative capital allocation 
strategy moving forward.

9

We may need additional financing, or our business expansion plans may be significantly limited.

If cash generated from our operations is insufficient to satisfy our working capital and capital expenditure requirements, we will need to 
raise  additional  funds  through  the  public  or  private  sale  of  our  equity  or  debt  securities.  The  timing  and  amount  of  our  capital 
requirements  will  depend  on  a  number  of  factors,  including  cash  flow  and  cash  requirements  for  nightclub  acquisitions  and  new 
restaurant  development.  If  additional  funds  are  raised  through  the  issuance  of  equity  or  convertible  debt  securities,  the  ownership 
percentage  of  our  then-existing  shareholders  will  be  reduced.  We  cannot  ensure  that  additional  financing  will  be  available  on  terms 
favorable to us, if at all. Any future equity financing, if available, may result in dilution to existing shareholders; and debt financing, if 
available,  may  include  restrictive  covenants.  Any  failure  by  us  to  procure  timely  additional  financing,  if  needed,  will  have  material 
adverse consequences on our business operations.

There  is  substantial  competition  in  the  nightclub  entertainment  industry,  which  may  affect  our  ability  to  operate  profitably  or 
acquire additional clubs.

Our nightclubs face substantial competition. Some of our competitors may have greater financial and management resources than we do. 
Additionally, the industry is subject to unpredictable competitive trends and competition for general entertainment dollars. There can be 
no assurance that we will be able to remain profitable in this competitive industry.

The adult entertainment industry is extremely volatile.

Historically,  the  adult  entertainment,  restaurant  and  bar  industry  has  been  an  extremely  volatile  industry.  The  industry  tends  to  be 
extremely  sensitive  to  the  general  local  economy,  in  that  when  economic  conditions  are  prosperous,  adult  entertainment  industry 
revenues increase, and when economic conditions are unfavorable, entertainment industry revenues decline. Coupled with this economic 
sensitivity  are  the  trendy  personal  preferences  of  the  customers  who  frequent  adult  cabarets.  We  continuously  monitor  trends  in  our 
customers’ tastes and entertainment preferences so that, if necessary, we can make appropriate changes which will allow us to remain 
one of  the premiere  adult cabarets. However, any significant  decline in general  corporate conditions  or uncertainties regarding future 
economic prospects that affect consumer spending could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, we have historically 
catered to a clientele base from the upper end of the market. Accordingly, further reductions in the amounts of entertainment expenses 
allowed as deductions from income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, could adversely affect sales to customers 
dependent upon corporate expense accounts.

Private advocacy group actions targeted at the kind of adult entertainment we offer could result in limitations and our inability to 
operate in certain locations and negatively impact our business.

Our ability to operate successfully depends on the protection provided to us under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. From 
time to time, private advocacy groups have sought to target our nightclubs by petitioning for non-renewal of certain of our permits and 
licenses.  Furthermore,  private  advocacy  groups  which  have  influences  on  certain  financial  institutions  have  managed  to  sway  these 
financial  institutions  into  not  doing  business  with  us.  In  addition  to  possibly  limiting  our  operations  and  financing  options,  negative 
publicity campaigns, lawsuits and boycotts could negatively affect our businesses and cause additional financial harm by discouraging 
investors from investing in our securities or requiring that we incur significant expenditures to defend our business.

10

We rely heavily on information technology in our operations and any material failure, weakness, interruption or breach of security 
could prevent us from effectively operating our business.

Our  operations  and  corporate  functions  rely  heavily  on  information  systems,  including  point-of-sale  processing,  management  of  our 
supply chain, payment of obligations, collection of cash, electronic communications, data warehousing to support analytics, finance and 
accounting  systems,  mobile  technologies  to  enhance  the  customer  experience,  and  other  various  processes  and  procedures,  some  of 
which are handled by third parties. Our ability to efficiently and effectively manage our business depends significantly on the reliability 
and capacity of these systems. The failure of these systems to operate effectively, maintenance problems, upgrading or transitioning to 
new platforms, or a breach in security relating to these systems could result in delays in consumer service and reduce efficiency in our 
operations.  These  problems  could  adversely  affect  our  results  of  operations,  and  remediation  could  result  in  significant,  unplanned 
capital investments.

11

Security breaches of confidential customer information or personal employee information may adversely affect our business.

A significant portion of our revenues are paid through debit and credit cards. Other restaurants and retailers have experienced significant 
security breaches in which debit and credit card information or other personal information of their customers have been stolen. We also 
maintain  certain  personal  information  regarding  our  employees.  Although  we  aim  to  safeguard  our  technology  systems,  they  could 
potentially be vulnerable to damage, disability or failures due to physical theft, fire, power outage, telecommunication failure or other 
catastrophic events, as well as from internal and external security breaches, employee error or malfeasance, denial of service attacks, 
viruses, worms and other  disruptive problems caused  by hackers  and  cyber criminals. A  breach in our systems  that compromises the 
information of our customers or employees could result in widespread negative publicity, damage to our reputation, a loss of customers, 
and legal liabilities. We may in the future become subject to lawsuits or other proceedings for purportedly fraudulent transactions arising 
from the actual or alleged theft of our customers’ debit and credit card information or if customer or employee information is obtained 
by unauthorized persons or used inappropriately. Any such claim or proceeding, or any adverse publicity resulting from such an event, 
may have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our acquisitions may result in disruptions in our business and diversion of management’s attention.

We have made and may continue to make acquisitions of complementary nightclubs, restaurants or related operations. Any acquisitions 
will require the integration of the operations, products and personnel of the acquired businesses and the training and motivation of these 
individuals. Such acquisitions may disrupt our operations and divert management’s attention from day-to-day operations, which could 
impair our relationships with current employees, customers and partners. We may also incur debt or issue equity securities to pay for 
any  future  acquisitions.  These  issuances  could  be  substantially  dilutive  to  our  stockholders.  In  addition,  our  profitability  may  suffer 
because  of  acquisition-related  costs  or  amortization,  or  impairment  costs  for  acquired  goodwill  and  other  intangible  assets.  If 
management is unable to fully integrate acquired business, products or persons with existing operations, we may not receive the benefits 
of the acquisitions, and our revenues and stock trading price may decrease.

The impact of new club or restaurant openings could result in fluctuations in our financial performance.

Performance  of  any  new  club  or  restaurant  location  will  usually  differ  from  its  originally  targeted  performance  due  to  a  variety  of 
factors, and these differences may be material. New clubs and restaurants typically encounter higher customer traffic and sales in their 
initial months, which may decrease over time. Accordingly, sales achieved by new or reconcepted locations may not be indicative of 
future  operating  results.  Additionally,  we  incur  substantial  pre-opening  expenses  each  time  we  open  a  new  establishment,  which 
expenses may be higher than anticipated. Due to the foregoing factors, results for any one fiscal quarter are not necessarily indicative of 
results to be expected for any other fiscal quarter or for a full fiscal year.

12

We  incur  significant  costs  as  a  result  of  operating  as  a  public  company,  and  our  management  devotes  substantial  time  to  new 
compliance initiatives.

We will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that our non-public competition does not incur. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act 
of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), as well as new rules subsequently implemented by the SEC, have imposed various requirements on 
public companies, including requiring certain corporate governance practices. Our management and other personnel devote a substantial 
amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations increase our legal and financial compliance costs 
and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly.

In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and 
effective  disclosure  controls  and  procedures.  In  particular,  under  Section  404  of  the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act,  we  are  required  to  perform 
system  and  process  evaluation  and  testing  on  the  effectiveness  of  our  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  and  our  independent 
registered public accounting firm is required to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In performing 
this  evaluation  and  testing,  both  our  management  and  our  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm  concluded  that  our  internal 
control over financial reporting is not effective as of September 30, 2020 because of a material weakness. We are, however, addressing 
this  issue and remediating our  material  weakness.  Upon  finalizing the remediation  of  this  material  weakness,  we believe  our  internal 
control will be deemed effective. Correcting this issue, and thereafter our continued compliance with Section 404 will require that we 
incur substantial  accounting expense and expend significant management efforts. Moreover, if we are not able to correct our  internal 
control issues and comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner, or if in the future we or our independent registered 
public accounting firm identifies deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses, 
the  market  price  of  our  stock  could  decline,  and  we  could  be  subject  to  sanctions  or  investigations  by  the  SEC  or  other  regulatory 
authorities, which would require additional financial and management resources.

We have identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting.

Management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, assessed the effectiveness of our internal control 
over  financial  reporting  as  of  September  30,  2020  and  concluded  that  we  did  not  maintain  effective  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting.  Specifically,  management  identified  a  material  weakness  over  the  income  tax  provision—see  Item  9A,  “Controls  and 
Procedures,” below. While certain actions have been taken to implement a remediation plan to address this material weakness and to 
enhance our internal control over financial reporting, if this material weakness is not remediated, it could adversely affect our ability to 
report  our  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations  in  a  timely  and  accurate  manner,  which  could  negatively  affect  investor 
confidence in our company, and, as a result, the value of our common stock could be adversely affected.

13

We may have uninsured risks in excess of our insurance coverage.

We maintain insurance in amounts we consider adequate for personal injury and property damage to which the business of the Company 
may be subject. However, there can be no assurance that uninsured liabilities in excess of the coverage provided by insurance, which 
liabilities may be imposed pursuant to the Texas “dram shop” statute or similar “dram shop” statutes or common law theories of liability 
in  other  states  where  we operate or  expand. For example, the Texas  “dram shop”  statute  provides a person  injured by  an intoxicated 
person the right to recover damages from an establishment that wrongfully served alcoholic beverages to such person if it was apparent 
to the server that the individual being sold, served or provided with an alcoholic beverage was obviously intoxicated to the extent that he 
presented  a  clear  danger  to  himself  and  others.  An  employer  is  not  liable  for  the  actions  of  its  employee  who  over-serves  if  (i)  the 
employer requires its employees to attend a seller training program approved by the TABC; (ii) the employee has actually attended such 
a training program; and (iii) the employer has not directly or indirectly encouraged the employee to violate the law. It is our policy to 
require that all servers of alcohol working at our clubs in Texas be certified as servers under a training program approved by the TABC, 
which certification gives statutory immunity to the sellers of alcohol from damage caused to third parties by those who have consumed 
alcoholic beverages at such establishment pursuant to the TABC. There can be no assurance, however, that uninsured liabilities may not 
arise in the markets in which we operate which could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Our previous liability insurer may be unable to provide coverage to us and our subsidiaries.

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

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

On  April  10,  2014,  the  Court  of  Chancery  of  the  State  of  Delaware  entered  a  Liquidation  and  Injunction  Order  With  Bar  Date 
(“Liquidation Order”), which ordered the liquidation of IIC and terminated all insurance policies or contracts of insurance issued by IIC. 
The Liquidation Order further ordered that all claims against IIC must have been filed with the Receiver before the close of business on 
January 16, 2015 and that all pending lawsuits involving IIC as the insurer were further stayed or abated until October 7, 2014. As a 
result, the Company and its subsidiaries no longer had insurance coverage under the liability policy with IIC. The Company has retained 
counsel  to  defend  against  and  evaluate  these  claims  and  lawsuits.  We  are  funding  100%  of  the  costs  of  litigation  and  will  seek 
reimbursement  from  the  bankruptcy  receiver.  The  Company  filed  the  appropriate  claims  against  IIC  with  the  Receiver  before  the 
January 16, 2015 deadline and has provided updates as requested; however, there are no assurances of any recovery from these claims. It 
is  unknown  at  this  time  what  effect  this  uncertainty  will  have  on  the  Company.  As  previously  stated,  since  October  25,  2013,  the 
Company obtained general liability coverage from other insurers, which have covered and/or will cover any claims arising from actions 
after that date. As of September 30, 2020, we have 2 remaining unresolved claims out of the original 71 claims.

14

The protection provided by our service marks is limited.

Our rights to the trade names “RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc.,” “Rick’s,” “Rick’s Cabaret,” “Tootsie’s Cabaret,” “Club Onyx,” “XTC 
Cabaret,” “Temptations,” “Jaguars,” “Downtown Cabaret,” “Cabaret East,” “Bombshells Restaurant and Bar,” and “Vee Lounge” are 
established under common law, based upon our substantial and continuous use of these trade names in interstate commerce, some of 
which  have  been  in  use  at  least  as  early  as  1987.  We  have  registered  our  service  mark,  “RICK’S  AND  STARS  DESIGN,”  and  the 
“BOMBSHELLS RESTAURANT & BAR” logo design with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. We have also obtained 
service  mark  registrations  from  the  Patent  and  Trademark  Office  for  “RICK’S  AND  STARS  DESIGN”  logo,  “RCI  HOSPITALITY 
HOLDINGS, INC.,” “RICKS,” “RICK’S CABARET,” “CLUB ONYX,” “XTC CABARET,” “SCARLETT’S CABARET,” “SILVER 
CITY  CABARET,”  “BOMBSHELLS  RESTAURANT  AND  BAR,”  “THE  SEVILLE  CLUB,”  “DOWN  IN  TEXAS  SALOON,” 
“CLUB  DULCE,”  “THE  BLACK  ORCHID,”  “HOOPS  CABARET,”  “VEE  LOUNGE,”  “STUDIO  80,”  “FOXY’S  CABARET,” 
“EXOTIC DANCER,” and “TOYS FOR TATAS” are registered through service mark registrations issued by the United States Patent 
and Trademark Office. As of this date, we have pending registration applications for the names “TOOTSIES CABARET,” “In The Biz,” 
and “Bombshells Officer’s Club.” We also own the rights to numerous trade names associated with our media division. There can be no 
assurance  that  the  steps  we  have  taken  to  protect  our  service  marks  will  be  adequate  to  deter  misappropriation  of  our  protected 
intellectual property rights. Litigation may be necessary in the future to protect our rights from infringement, which may be costly and 
time  consuming.  The  loss  of  the  intellectual  property  rights  owned  or  claimed  by  us  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our 
business.

15

We are dependent on key personnel.

Our future success is dependent, in a large part, on retaining the services of Eric Langan, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and 
Bradley Chhay, our Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Langan possesses a unique and comprehensive knowledge of our industry. While Mr. 
Langan has no present plans to leave or retire in the near future, his loss could have a negative effect on our operating, marketing and 
financial performance if we are unable to find an adequate replacement with similar knowledge and experience within our industry. Mr. 
Chhay possesses thorough familiarity with our accounting system and how it affects our operations. Mr. Chhay is also vital in our due 
diligence  efforts  when  acquiring  clubs.  We  maintain  key-man  life  insurance  with  respect  to  Mr.  Langan  but  not  for  Mr.  Chhay.  Mr. 
Langan’s  employment  agreement  recently  expired.  Although  we  are  presently  in  the  process  of  negotiating  a  new  employment 
agreement with Mr. Langan, there can be no assurance that Mr. Langan will continue to be employed by us. We have not entered into a 
formal employment agreement with Mr. Chhay since his appointment as CFO in September 2020.

16

A failure to maintain food safety throughout the supply chain and food-borne illness concerns may have an adverse effect on our 
business.

Food  safety  is  a  top  priority,  and  we  dedicate  substantial  resources  to  ensuring  that  our  guests  enjoy  safe,  quality  food  products. 
However, food safety issues could be caused at the point of source or by food suppliers or distributors and, as a result, be out of our 
control.  In  addition,  regardless  of  the  source  or  cause,  any  report  of  food-borne  illnesses  such  as  E.  coli,  hepatitis  A,  trichinosis  or 
salmonella, and other food safety issues including food tampering or contamination, at one of our restaurants or clubs could adversely 
affect the reputation of our brands and have a negative impact on our sales. Even instances of food-borne illness, food tampering or food 
contamination  occurring  solely  at  restaurants  of  our  competitors  could  result  in  negative  publicity  about  the  food  service  industry 
generally and adversely impact our sales. The occurrence of food-borne illnesses or food safety issues could also adversely affect the 
price and availability of affected ingredients, resulting in higher costs and lower margins.

Other risk factors may adversely affect our financial performance.

Other  risk  factors  that  could  cause  our  actual  results  to  differ  materially  from  those  indicated  in  the  forward-looking  statements  by 
affecting, among many things, pricing, consumer spending and consumer confidence, include, without limitation, changes in economic 
conditions and financial and credit markets, credit availability, increased fuel costs and availability for our employees, customers and 
suppliers, health epidemics or pandemics or the prospects of these events (such as reports on avian flu), consumer perceptions of food 
safety, changes in consumer tastes and behaviors, governmental monetary policies, changes in demographic trends, terrorist acts, energy 
shortages and rolling blackouts, and weather (including, major hurricanes and regional snow storms) and other acts of God.

Risk related to our common stock

We must continue to meet NASDAQ Global Market Continued Listing Requirements, or we risk delisting.

Our  securities  are  currently  listed  for  trading  on  the  NASDAQ  Global  Market.  We  must  continue  to  satisfy  NASDAQ’s  continued 
listing  requirements  or  risk  delisting  which  would  have  an  adverse  effect  on  our  business.  If  our  securities  are  ever  delisted  from 
NASDAQ, they may trade on the over-the-counter market, which may be a less liquid market. In such case, our shareholders’ ability to 
trade  or  obtain  quotations  of  the  market  value  of  shares  of  our  common  stock  would  be  severely  limited  because  of  lower  trading 
volumes  and  transaction  delays.  These  factors  could  contribute  to  lower  prices  and  larger  spreads  in  the  bid  and  ask  prices  for  our 
securities.

We may be subject to allegations, defamations, or other detrimental conduct by third parties, which could harm our reputation and 
cause us to lose customers and/or contribute to a deflation of our stock price.

We have been subject to allegations by third parties or purported former employees, negative internet postings, and other adverse public 
exposure  on  our  business,  operations  and  staff  compensation.  We  may  also  become  the  target  of  defamations  or  other  detrimental 
conduct by third parties or disgruntled former or current employees. Such conduct may include complaints, anonymous or otherwise, to 
regulatory agencies, media or other organizations. We may be subject to government or regulatory investigation or other proceedings as 
a result of such third-party conduct and may be required to spend significant time and incur substantial costs to address such third-party 
conduct, and there is no assurance that we will be able to conclusively refute each of the allegations within a reasonable period of time, 
or  at  all.  Any  government  or  regulatory  investigations  initiated  as  a  result  of  the  above  may  cause  a  deflation  in  our  stock  price. 
Additionally, allegations, directly or indirectly against us, may be posted on the internet, including social media platforms by anyone, 
whether  or  not  related  to  us,  on  an  anonymous  basis.  Any  negative  publicity  on  us  or  our  management  can  be  quickly  and  widely 
disseminated.  Social  media  platforms  and  devices  immediately  publish  the  content  of  their  subscribers  and  participants  post,  often 
without filters or checks on accuracy of the content posted. Information posted may be inaccurate and adverse to us, and it may harm our 
reputation,  business  or  prospects.  The  harm  may  be  immediate  without  affording  us  an  opportunity  for  redress  or  correction.  Our 
reputation  may  be  negatively  affected  as  a  result  of  the  public  dissemination  of  negative  and  potentially  false  information  about  our 
business and operations, which in turn may cause us to lose customers.

Our  quarterly  operating  results  may  fluctuate  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  nightclub  operations  are  affected  by  seasonal  factors.  Historically,  we  have  experienced  reduced  revenues  from  April  through 
September with the strongest operating results occurring from October through March. As a result, our quarterly and annual operating 
results  and  comparable  restaurant  sales  may  fluctuate  significantly  as  a  result  of  seasonality  and  the  factors  discussed  above. 
Accordingly, results for any one fiscal quarter are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any other fiscal quarter or for 
any fiscal year and same-store sales for any particular future period may decrease. In the future, operating results may fall below the 
expectations of securities analysts and investors. In that event, the price of our common stock would likely decrease.

Anti-takeover effects of the issuance of our preferred stock could adversely affect our common stock.

Our Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, to fix the number of 
shares constituting any such series, and to fix the rights and preferences of the shares constituting any series, without any further vote or 
action by the stockholders. The issuance of preferred stock by the Board of Directors could adversely affect the rights of the holders of 
our common stock. For example, such issuance could result in a class of securities outstanding that would have preferences with respect 
to  voting  rights  and  dividends  and  in  liquidation  over  the  common  stock,  and  could  (upon  conversion  or  otherwise)  enjoy  all  of  the 
rights  appurtenant to common  stock. The Board’s authority  to  issue preferred stock could discourage potential  takeover attempts and 
could delay or prevent a change in control of the Company through merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise by making such 
attempts more difficult to achieve or costlier. There are no issued and outstanding shares of preferred stock; there are no agreements or 
understandings for the issuance of preferred stock; and the Board of Directors has no present intention to issue preferred stock.

Future sales or the perception of future sales of a substantial amount of our common stock may depress our stock price.

The  market  price  of  our  common  stock  could  decline  as  a  result  of  sales  of  substantial  amounts  of  our  common  stock  in  the  public 
market, or as a result of the perception that these sales could occur. In addition, these factors could make it more difficult for us to raise 
funds through future offerings of common stock.

Our stock price has been volatile and may fluctuate in the future.

The trading price of our securities may fluctuate significantly. This price may be influenced by many factors, including:

● our performance and prospects;

● the depth and liquidity of the market for our securities;

● investor perception of us and the industry in which we operate;

● changes in earnings estimates or buy/sell recommendations by analysts;

● general financial and other market conditions; and

● domestic economic conditions.

Public  stock  markets  have  experienced,  and  may  experience,  extreme  price  and  trading  volume  volatility.  These  broad  market 
fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our securities.

Cumulative voting is not available to our stockholders.

Cumulative voting in the election of Directors is expressly denied in our Articles of Incorporation. Accordingly, the holder or holders of 
a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock may elect all of our Directors.

Our directors and officers have limited liability and have rights to indemnification.

Our  Articles  of  Incorporation  and  Bylaws  provide,  as  permitted  by  governing  Texas  law,  that  our  directors  and  officers  shall  not  be 
personally liable to us or any of our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, with certain 
exceptions. The Articles further provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers against expenses and liabilities they incur to 
defend, settle, or satisfy any civil litigation or criminal action brought against them on account of their being or having been its directors 
or officers unless, in such action, they are adjudged to have acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct.

The inclusion of these provisions in the Articles may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors 
and officers and may discourage or deter stockholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against directors and officers for breach 
of their duty of care, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have benefited us and our stockholders.

The Articles provide for the indemnification of our officers and directors, and the advancement to them of expenses in connection with 
any proceedings and claims, to the fullest extent permitted by Texas law. The Articles include related provisions meant to facilitate the 
indemnitee’s  receipt  of  such  benefits.  These  provisions  cover,  among  other  things:  (i)  specification  of  the  method  of  determining 
entitlement  to  indemnification  and  the  selection  of  independent  counsel  that  will  in  some  cases  make  such  determination,  (ii) 
specification of certain time periods by which certain payments or determinations must be made and actions must be taken, and (iii) the 
establishment of certain presumptions in favor of an indemnitee.

Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under  the  Securities  Act  may  be  permitted  to  our  directors,  officers  and  controlling 
persons  pursuant  to  the  foregoing  provisions,  we  have  been  advised  that  in  the  opinion  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission, 
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 2. Properties.

As  of  September  30,  2020,  we  own  46  real  estate  properties.  On  37  of  these  properties,  we  operate  clubs  or  restaurants.  We  lease 
multiple other properties to third-party tenants. Three of our owned properties are in locations where we previously operated clubs, but 
now lease the buildings to third parties. Six are non-income-producing properties for corporate use, including our corporate office, or 
may be offered for sale in the future. Eleven of our clubs and restaurants are in leased locations.

Our  principal  corporate  office  is  located  at  10737  Cutten  Road,  Houston,  Texas  77066,  consisting  of  a  21,000-square  foot  corporate 
office and an 18,000-square foot warehouse facility.

17

Below is a list of locations we operated as of September 30, 2020:

Name of Establishment

Fiscal Year 
Acquired/Opened

Club Onyx, Houston, TX
Rick’s Cabaret, Minneapolis, MN
XTC Cabaret, Austin, TX
XTC Cabaret, San Antonio, TX
Rick’s Cabaret, New York City, NY
Club Onyx, Charlotte, NC
Rick’s Cabaret, San Antonio, TX
XTC Cabaret, South Houston
Rick’s Cabaret, Fort Worth, TX
Tootsie’s Cabaret, Miami Gardens, FL
XTC Cabaret, Dallas, TX
Rick’s Cabaret, Round Rock, TX
Cabaret East, Fort Worth, TX
Rick’s Cabaret DFW, Fort Worth, TX
Downtown Cabaret, Minneapolis, MN
Temptations, Aledo, TX
Silver City Cabaret, Dallas, TX
Jaguars Club, Odessa, TX
Jaguars Club, Phoenix, AZ
Jaguars Club, Lubbock, TX
Jaguars Club, Longview, TX
Jaguars Club, Tye, TX
Jaguars Club, Edinburg, TX
Jaguars Club, El Paso, TX
Jaguars Club, Harlingen, TX
Studio 80, Fort Worth, TX
Bombshells, Dallas, TX
Temptations, Sulphur, LA
Temptations, Beaumont, TX
Vivid Cabaret, New York, NY
Bombshells, Austin, TX
Rick’s Cabaret, Odessa, TX
Bombshells, Spring TX
Bombshells, Houston, TX
Foxy’s Cabaret, Austin TX
The Seville, Minneapolis, MN
Hoops Cabaret and Sports Bar, New York, NY
Bombshells, Highway 290 Houston, TX
Scarlett’s Cabaret, Washington Park, IL
Scarlett’s Cabaret, Miami, FL
Bombshells, Pearland, TX
Kappa Men’s Club, Kappa, IL
Rick’s Cabaret, Chicago, IL
Rick’s Cabaret, Pittsburgh, PA
Bombshells I-10, Houston, TX
Bombshells 249, Houston, TX
Bombshells, Katy, TX
Bombshells 59, Houston, TX

(1) Leased location.

1995
1998
1998
1998
2005
2005(1)
2006
2006(1)
2007
2008
2008
2009
2010
2011
2011
2011(1)
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2013(1)
2013
2013
2013
2014(1)
2014(1)
2014
2014(1)
2014(1)
2015
2015
2016(1)
2017(1)
2017
2017(1)
2018
2018
2019
2019
2019
2019
2020
2020

Our property leases are typically for a fixed rental rate without revenue percentage rentals. The lease terms generally have initial terms 
of  10  to  20  years  with  renewal  terms  of  5  to  20  years.  At  September  30,  2020,  certain  of  our  owned  properties  were  collateral  for 
mortgage debt amounting to approximately $86.7 million. See related information in Notes 7, 10 and 22 to our consolidated financial 
statements.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

See the “Legal Matters” section within Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements within this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
requirements of this Item, which section is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

18

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

PART II

Our common stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “RICK.”

Holders

On  December  8,  2020,  the  closing  stock  price  for  our  common  stock  as  reported  by  NASDAQ  was  $28.01,  and  there  were 
approximately 150 stockholders of record of our common stock (excluding broker held shares in “street name”). Currently, we estimate 
that there are approximately 5,500 stockholders having beneficial ownership in street name.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar  for our common stock is Colonial Stock Transfer Company, Inc., 66 Exchange Place, 1st Floor, Salt 
Lake City, Utah 84111.

Dividend Policy

Prior to 2016, we had not paid cash dividends on our common stock. Starting in March 2016, in conjunction with our share buyback 
program (see discussion below), our Board of Directors has declared regular quarterly cash dividends of $0.03 per share, except for the 
fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 and the second and fourth quarters of fiscal 2020 when we paid $0.04 per share. During fiscal 2020, 2019, 
and 2018, we paid cash dividends totaling $1.3 million, $1.3 million, and $1.2 million, respectively.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer

Following is a summary of our purchases during the quarter ended September 30, 2020:

Period
July 1-31, 2020
August 1-31, 2020
September 1-30, 2020
Total

Total Number of Shares 
(or Units) Purchased

Average Price Paid per 
Share (or Unit)(1)

-
-
50,712
50,712

$
$

19.64
19.64

(1) Prices include any commissions and transaction costs.

Total Number of Shares 
(or Units) Purchased as 
Part of Publicly 
Announced Plans or 
Programs(2)

Maximum Number (or 
Approximate Dollar 
Value) of Shares (or Units) 
That May Yet be 
Purchased Under the Plans 
or Programs

-
-
50,712
50,712

$
$
$

11,751,514
11,751,514
10,755,434

(2) All shares were purchased pursuant to the repurchase plans approved by the Board of Directors.

Subsequent to September 30, 2020 through the filing date of this report, we purchased 74,659 shares of the Company’s common stock 
for a total of $1.8 million.

19

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The Company’s 2010 Stock Option Plan expired on September 30, 2020.

Stock Performance Graph

The  following  chart  compares  the  5-year  cumulative  total  stock  performance  of  our  common  stock;  the  NASDAQ  Composite  Index 
(IXIC); the Russell 200 Index (RUT); and the Dow Jones U.S. Restaurant & Bar Index (DJUSRU), our peer index. The graph assumes a 
hypothetical investment of $100 on September 30, 2015 in each of our common stock and each of the indices, and that all dividends 
were reinvested. The measurement points utilized in the graph consist of the last trading day as of September 30 each year, representing 
the last day of our fiscal year. The calculations exclude trading commissions and taxes. We have selected the Dow Jones U.S. Restaurant 
&  Bar  Index  as  our  peer  index  since  it  represents  a  broader  group  of  restaurant  and  bar  operators  that  are  more  aligned  to  our  core 
business  operations.  RICK  is  a  component  of  the  NASDAQ  Composite  Index  and  the  Russell  2000  Index.  The  historical  stock 
performance presented below is not intended to and may not be indicative of future stock performance.

20

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

The following tables set forth certain of the Company’s historical financial data. The selected historical consolidated financial position 
data as of September 30, 2020 and 2019 and results of operations data for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 (as revised), 2018 
have been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual 
Report on Form 10-K. The selected historical consolidated financial data as of September 30, 2018, 2017, and 2016 and for the years 
ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 have been derived from the Company’s audited financial statements for such years, which are not 
included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The selected historical consolidated financial data set forth are not necessarily indicative 
of the results of future operations and should be read in conjunction with the discussion under the heading “Management’s Discussion 
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and the historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying 
notes included herein to enhance understanding of these data (in thousands, except per share data and percentages).

Financial Statement Data:

Revenue
Income from operations
Operating margin
Net income (loss) attributable to RCIHH
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
Capital expenditures
Dividends declared per share

Cash and cash equivalents
Total current assets
Total assets
Total current liabilities (excluding current portion of 
long-term debt and operating lease liabilities)
Long-term debt (including current portion)
Total liabilities
Total RCIHH stockholders’ equity
Common shares outstanding

Non-GAAP Measures(1) and Other Data:

Adjusted EBITDA
Non-GAAP operating income
Non-GAAP operating margin
Non-GAAP net income
Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share
Free cash flow
Same-store sales

2020
132,327
2,746

2.1%

(6,085)
(0.66)
5,736
0.14

2020

15,605
31,433
360,933

19,372
141,435
208,626
152,721
9,075

2020
22,357
13,903

10.5%

4,709
0.51
13,481

$
$

$
$
$
$

$
$
$

$
$
$
$

$
$

$
$
$

$
$

$
$
$
$

$
$
$

$
$
$
$

$
$

$
$
$

Years Ended September 30,

2019(2)
181,059
34,701

19.2%

20,294
2.10
20,708
0.13

2019

14,097
35,890
354,756

18,454
143,528
185,336
169,576
9,591

2018
165,748
27,562

16.6%

20,879
2.15
25,263
0.12

$
$

$
$
$
$

September 30,

$
$
$

$
$
$
$

2018

17,726
36,802
329,732

14,798
140,627
176,400
153,435
9,719

$
$

$
$
$
$

$
$
$

$
$
$
$

2017
144,896
23,139

16.0%

8,259
0.85
11,249
0.12

2017

9,922
26,242
299,884

13,671
124,352
164,659
132,745
9,719

Years Ended September 30,

2019
46,242
37,945

21.0%

23,570
2.44
33,316

$
$

$
$
$

2018
44,387
37,000

22.3%

21,160
2.18
23,242

$
$

$
$
$

2017
37,348
30,668

21.2%

13,953
1.43
19,281

2016
134,860
20,693

15.3%

11,218
1.11
28,148
0.09

2016

11,327
29,387
276,061

17,087
105,886
146,722
126,755
9,808

2016
34,531
27,566

20.4%

13,302
1.32
20,513

$
$

$
$
$
$

$
$
$

$
$
$
$

$
$

$
$
$

-4.4%

-0.3%

+4.6%

+4.9%

-1.3%

(1) Reconciliation and discussion of non-GAAP financial measures are included under the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of 
Item 7 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” that follows. These measures 
should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, U.S. GAAP measures. 

(2) We revised the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2019 and the consolidated statements of operations and cash flows 
for  the  year  ended  September  30,  2019  due  to  an  error  in  our  income  tax  provision.  See  Note  4  to  our  consolidated  financial 
statements.

21

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

OVERVIEW

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to help 
the  reader  understand  RCI  Hospitality  Holdings,  Inc.,  our  operations  and  our  present  business  environment.  MD&A  is  provided  as  a 
supplement  to,  and  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with,  our  consolidated  financial  statements  and  the  accompanying  notes  thereto 
contained  in  Item  8  –  “Financial  Statements  and  Supplementary  Data”  of  this  report.  This  overview  summarizes  the  MD&A,  which 
includes the following sections:

● Our Business — a general description of our business and the adult nightclub industry, our objective, our strategic priorities, 

our core capabilities, and challenges and risks of our business.

● Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates — a discussion of accounting policies that require critical judgments and estimates.

● Operations  Review  —  an  analysis  of  our  Company’s  consolidated  results  of  operations  for  the  three  years  presented  in  our 

consolidated financial statements.

● Liquidity and Capital Resources — an analysis of cash flows, aggregate contractual obligations, and an overview of financial 

position.

Pre-COVID-19 Financial Performance

During our first quarter ended December 31, 2019, total revenues were $4.4 million higher, or 9.9%, than the same quarter in the prior 
year. Consolidated same-store sales were up by 0.7%. During the first two months of the second quarter (January and February 2020), 
our  consolidated  same-store  sales  were  up by  12.4%, giving  us  a  cumulative  five-month  same-store  sales  increase of  5.3%. With the 
outbreak of the coronavirus and COVID-19 national emergency guidelines put in place, we experienced a significant downturn in sales 
brought about by the temporary closure of all of our clubs and restaurants as of March 18, 2020.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

Because  of  stay-at-home  orders  and  social  distancing  guidelines  put  into  place,  our  total  revenues  for  the  full  fiscal  year  ended 
September 30, 2020 declined by 26.9% versus last year. Though we earned no revenues from our core businesses during the period of 
closures, we continued to incur expenses. To alleviate our cash flow situation, we instituted the following measures:

● Arranged and continue to arrange for deferment of principal and interest payment on certain of our debts;

● Furloughed employees working at our clubs and restaurants, except for a limited number of managers;

● Pay cut for all remaining salaried and hourly employees and deferral of board of director compensation;

● Deferred or modified certain fixed monthly expenses such as insurance, rent, and taxes, among others;

● Canceled  certain  non-essential  expenses  such  as  advertising,  cable,  pest  control,  point-of-sale-system  support,  and  investor 

relations coverage, among others.

As of the release of this report, we do not know the future extent and duration of the impact of COVID-19 on our businesses. Lower 
sales, as caused by local, state and national guidelines, could lead to adverse financial results. However, we will continually monitor and 
evaluate the situation and will determine any further measures to be instituted, including refinancing several of our debt obligations.

OUR BUSINESS

The following are our operating segments:

Nightclubs

Bombshells

Other 

Our  wholly-owned  subsidiaries  own  and/or  operate  upscale  adult  nightclubs  serving  primarily 
businessmen  and  professionals.  These  nightclubs  are  in  Houston,  Austin,  San  Antonio,  Dallas,  Fort 
Worth,  Beaumont,  Longview,  Harlingen,  Edinburg,  Abilene,  Lubbock,  El  Paso  and  Odessa,  Texas; 
Charlotte,  North  Carolina;  Minneapolis,  Minnesota;  New  York,  New  York;  Miami  Gardens  and 
Pembroke  Park,  Florida;  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania;  Phoenix,  Arizona;  and  Washington  Park,  Kappa 
and Chicago, Illinois. No sexual contact is permitted at any of our locations. We also own and operate 
a Studio 80 dance club in Fort Worth, Texas. We also own and lease to third parties real properties 
that are adjacent to (or used to be locations of) our clubs.

Our  wholly-owned  subsidiaries  own  and  operate  restaurants  and  sports  bars  in  Houston,  Dallas, 
Austin, Spring, Pearland and Katy, Texas under the brand name Bombshells Restaurant & Bar.

Our  wholly-owned  subsidiaries  own  a  media  division  (“Media  Group”),  including  the  leading  trade 
magazine  serving  the  multibillion-dollar  adult  nightclubs  industry  and  the  adult  retail  products 
industry. We also own an industry trade show, an industry trade publication and more than a dozen 
industry and social media websites. Included here is Drink Robust, which is licensed to sell  Robust 
Energy Drink in the United States.

Our revenues are derived from the sale of liquor, beer, wine, food, merchandise; service revenues such as cover charges, membership 
fees, and facility use fees; and other revenues such as commissions from vending and ATM machines, real estate rental, valet parking, 
and other products and services for both nightclub and restaurant/sports bar operations. Other revenues include Media Group revenues 
for  the  sale  of  advertising  content  and  revenues  from  our  annual  Expo  convention,  and  Drink  Robust  sales.  Our  fiscal  year-end  is 
September 30.

22

Same-Store  Sales.  We  calculate  same-store  sales  by  comparing  year-over-year  revenues  from  nightclubs  and  restaurants/sports  bars 
starting in the first full quarter of operations after at least 12 full months for Nightclubs and at least 18 full months for Bombshells. We 
consider the first six months of operations of a Bombshells unit to be the “honeymoon period” where sales are significantly higher than 
normal.  We  exclude  from  a  particular  month’s  calculation  units  previously  included  in  the  same-store  sales  base  that  have  closed 
temporarily for more than 15 days until its next full month of operations. We also exclude from the same-store sales base units that are 
being reconcepted or are closed due to renovations or remodels. Acquired units are included in the same-store sales calculation as long 
as  they  qualify  based  on  the  definition  stated  above.  Revenues  outside  of  our  Nightclubs  and  Bombshells  reportable  segments  are 
excluded from same-store sales calculation.

Adjusted Same-Store Sales. Due to the disruption created by the COVID-19 pandemic and in an effort to minimize the complexity in the 
calculation of same-store sales caused by closing and opening again our locations, we are presenting two alternative same-store sales 
results calculated with and without the impact of closures caused by state and local government mandates. In the alternative calculation, 
a comparable location will remain in the same-store sales base regardless of closing and reopening due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Our goal is to use our Company’s assets—our brands, financial strength, and the talent and strong commitment of our management and 
employees—to become more competitive and to accelerate growth.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which 
have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  accounting  principles  generally  accepted  in  the  United  States  (“GAAP”).  The  preparation  of 
these  consolidated  financial  statements  requires  our  management  to  make  assumptions  and  estimates  about  future  events  and  apply 
judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and 
liabilities.  These  estimates  are  based  on  management’s  historical  and  industry  experience  and  on  various  other  assumptions  that  are 
believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. On a regular basis, we evaluate these accounting policies, assumptions, estimates and 
judgments to ensure that our financial statements are presented fairly and in accordance with GAAP. However, because future events 
and  their  effects  cannot  be  determined  with  certainty,  actual  results  may  differ  from  our  estimates,  and  such  differences  could  be 
material.

A full discussion of our significant accounting policies is contained in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements, which is included 
in Item 8 – “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report. We believe that the following accounting estimates are the 
most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our financial results. These estimates require our most difficult, subjective or 
complex judgments because they relate to matters that are inherently uncertain. We have reviewed these critical accounting policies and 
estimates and related disclosures with our Audit Committee.

We adopted ASC 842, Leases, as of October 1, 2019. Our adoption of ASC  842 resulted  in an increase of $27.3 million in our total 
assets  as  of  the  adoption  date  due  to  the  recognition  of  operating  lease  right-of-use  assets  net  of  the  reclassification  of  deferred  rent 
liability of $1.2 million and an increase in total liabilities due to the recognition of a $28.6 million operating lease liabilities.

Long-Lived Assets

We review long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, and intangible assets subject to amortization, for impairment whenever 
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. These events or 
changes in circumstances include, but are not limited to, significant underperformance relative to 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. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the 
asset group to the estimated undiscounted cash flows over the estimated remaining useful life of the primary asset included in the asset 
group. If the asset group is not recoverable, the impairment loss is calculated as the excess of the carrying value over the fair value. We 
define our asset group as an operating club or restaurant location, which is also our reporting unit or the lowest level for which cash 
flows can be identified. Key estimates in the undiscounted cash flow model include management’s estimate of the projected revenues 
and operating margins. If fair value is used to determine an impairment loss, an additional key assumption is the selection of a weighted-
average cost of capital to discount cash flows. Assets to be disposed of are separately presented in the balance sheet and reported at the 
lower  of  the  carrying  amount  or  fair  value  less  costs  to  sell  and  are  no  longer  depreciated.  During  the  second  quarter  of  2020,  we 
impaired two clubs to a total of $302,000, and during the third quarter of 2020, we impaired one club for its operating lease right-of-use 
asset for $104,000. During the fourth quarter of 2019, we impaired two clubs for a total of $4.2 million. During the fourth quarter of 
2018, we impaired one club and one Bombshells by a total of $1.6 million.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and other intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives are tested annually for impairment during our fourth fiscal quarter 
and are tested for impairment more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.

23

Our impairment calculations require management to make assumptions and  to apply judgment in  order to estimate fair  values.  If  our 
actual results are not consistent with our estimates and assumptions, we may be exposed to impairments that could be material. We do 
not believe that there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a change in the estimates or assumptions we used that could cause a 
material change in our calculated impairment charges.

For our goodwill impairment review, we have the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than 
not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value. This assessment is based on several factors, including industry 
and  market  conditions,  overall  financial  performance,  including  an  assessment  of  cash  flows  in  comparison  to  actual  and  projected 
results of prior periods. If it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying 
value based on our qualitative analysis, or if we elect to skip this step, we perform a Step 1 quantitative analysis to determine the fair 
value of the reporting unit. The fair value is determined using market-related valuation models, including earnings multiples, discounted 
cash flows, and comparable asset market values. Key estimates in the discounted cash flow model include management’s estimate of the 
projected  revenues  and  operating  margins,  along  with  the  selection  of  a  weighted-average  cost  of  capital  to  discount  cash  flows.  We 
recognize goodwill impairment in the amount that the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, not 
to  exceed  the  amount  of  goodwill  allocated  to  the  reporting  unit,  based  on  the  results  of  our  Step  1  analysis.  For  the  year  ended 
September  30,  2020, we  identified  seven  reporting  units  that  were  impaired  and recognized  a  goodwill  impairment  loss  totaling  $7.9 
million.  For  the  year  ended  September  30,  2019,  we  identified  four  reporting  units  that  were  impaired  and  recognized  a  goodwill 
impairment loss totaling $1.6 million. For the year ended September 30, 2018, we identified two reporting units that were impaired and 
recognized a goodwill impairment loss totaling $834,000.

For indefinite-lived intangibles, specifically SOB licenses, we determine fair value by estimating the multiperiod excess earnings of the 
asset with key assumptions being similar to those used in the goodwill impairment valuation model. For indefinite-lived tradename, we 
determine fair value by using the relief from royalty method. The fair value is then compared to the carrying value and an impairment 
charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the asset. We recorded impairment charges 
for SOB licenses amounting to $2.3 million in 2020 related to two clubs, $178,000 in 2019 related to one club, and $3.1 million in 2018 
related to three clubs.

Investment

Available-for-sale investments are carried at fair value with the unrealized gain or loss recorded in other comprehensive income until 
our adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01 on October 1, 2018, at which the change in fair value is recorded in current 
earnings.

Income Taxes

We  estimate  certain  components  of  our  provision  for  income  taxes  including  the  recoverability  of  deferred  tax  assets  that  arise  from 
temporary differences between the tax and book carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. These 
estimates include depreciation and amortization expense allowable for tax purposes, allowable tax credits for items such as taxes paid on 
employee  tip  income,  effective  rates  for  state  and  local  income  taxes,  and  the  deductibility  of  certain  other  items,  among  others.  We 
adjust  our  annual  effective  income  tax  rate  as  additional  information  on  outcomes  or  events  becomes  available.  When  necessary,  we 
record a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to a balance that is more likely than not to be realized.

On  December  22,  2017,  the  Tax  Act  was  signed  into  law.  The  Tax  Act  contains  significant  changes  to  corporate  taxation,  including 
reduction of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, additional limitations on the tax deductibility of interest, immediate deductions for 
certain  new  investments  instead  of  deductions  for  depreciation  expense  over  time,  and  modification  or  repeal  of  many  business 
deductions and credits. Our federal corporate income tax rate for fiscal 2018 was 24.5% and represents a blended income tax rate for 
that fiscal year. For fiscal 2020 and 2019, our federal corporate income tax rate was 21%.

Legal and Other Contingencies

As mentioned in Item 3 – “Legal Proceedings” and in a more detailed discussion in Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements, we 
are involved in various suits and claims in the normal course of business. We record a liability when it is probable that a loss has been 
incurred and the amount is reasonably estimable. There is significant judgment required in both the probability determination and as to 
whether an exposure can be reasonably estimated. In the opinion of management, there was not at least a reasonable possibility that we 
may have incurred a material loss, or a material loss in excess of a recorded accrual, with respect to loss contingencies for asserted legal 
and  other  claims.  However,  the  outcome  of  legal  proceedings  and  claims  brought  against  the  Company  is  subject  to  significant 
uncertainty. Therefore, although management considers the likelihood of such an outcome to be remote, if one or more of these legal 
matters were resolved against the Company in a reporting period for amounts in excess of management’s expectations, the Company’s 
consolidated financial statements for that reporting period could be materially adversely affected. In matters where there is insurance 
coverage, in the event we incur any liability, we believe it is unlikely we would incur losses in connection with these claims in excess of 
our insurance coverage.

24

OPERATIONS REVIEW

Highlights of operations from fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019 (with fiscal 2018 comparative data) are as follows:

● Consolidated revenues of $132.3 million compared to $181.1 million, a 26.9% decrease

Nightclubs revenue of $88.4 million compared to $148.6 million in 2019, a 40.5% decrease

Bombshells revenue of $43.2 million compared to $30.8 million in 2019, a 40.2% increase

Fiscal 2018 total revenues of $165.7 million (Nightclubs revenue of $140.1 million and Bombshells revenue of $24.1 
million)

● Consolidated same-store sales, as defined on page 23, decrease of 4.4% (9.0% decrease for Nightclubs and 18.3% increase for 
Bombshells);  adjusted  to  keep  the  impact  of  the  COVID-19  pandemic  in  same-store  sales,  adjusted  consolidated  same-store 
sales, as defined on page 23, decreased by 34.7% (41.7% decrease for Nightclubs and 6.5% increase for Bombshells)

Consolidated, Nightclubs and Bombshells same-store sales in 2019 (compared to 2018) of -0.3%, +0.6% and -6.1%, 
respectively

Consolidated, Nightclubs and Bombshells same-store sales in 2018 (compared to 2017) of +4.6%, +5.8% and -3.3%, 
respectively

● Diluted earnings (loss) per share of $(0.66) compared to $2.10, a 131% decrease (non-GAAP diluted EPS* of $0.51 compared 

to $2.44, a 79% decrease) (diluted EPS of $2.15 and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $2.18 in fiscal 2018)

● Free cash flow* of $13.5 million compared to $33.3 million, a 59.5% decrease ($23.2 million in fiscal 2018)

* Reconciliation and discussion of non-GAAP financial measures are included under the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of 

this Item. These measures should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, U.S. GAAP measures.

The following common size tables present a comparison of our results of operations as a percentage of total revenues for the past three 
fiscal years (see Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements regarding revision of prior year immaterial misstatement in fiscal 2019):

2020

2019

2018

Revenues

Sales of alcoholic beverages
Sales of food and merchandise
Service revenues
Other

Total revenues
Cost of goods sold

Alcoholic beverages
Food and merchandise
Service and other

Total cost of goods sold (exclusive of items shown separately 
below)
Salaries and wages
Selling, general and administrative
Depreciation and amortization
Other charges, net

Total operating expenses

Income from operations
Other income (expenses)

Interest expense
Interest income
Unrealized loss on equity securities

Income (loss) before income taxes
Income tax expense (benefit)
Net income (loss)

44.6%
18.5%
31.1%
5.8%
100.0%

18.8%
33.0%
0.5%

14.7%
29.5%
39.1%
6.7%
8.0%
97.9%
2.1%

(7.4)%
0.2%
(0.0)%
(5.1)%
(0.4)%
(4.8)%

41.5%
14.3%
37.6%
6.6%
100.0%

20.4%
35.1%
0.7%

13.8%
27.5%
33.1%
5.0%
1.4%
80.8%
19.2%

(5.6)%
0.2%
(0.3)%
13.4%
2.1%
11.3%

41.7%
13.5%
38.7%
6.1%
100.0%

20.7%
36.3%
0.6%

13.8%
26.9%
32.5%
4.7%
5.5%
83.4%
16.6%

(6.0)%
0.1%
-
10.8%
(1.9)%
12.6%

†

Percentages may not foot due to rounding. Percentage of revenue for individual cost of goods sold items pertains to their respective 
revenue line.

25

Below  is  a  table  presenting  the  changes  in  each  line  item  of  the  income  statement  for  the  last  three  fiscal  years  (dollar  amounts  in 
thousands)

Increase (Decrease)

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

Amount

%

Amount

%

Sales of alcoholic beverages
Sales of food and merchandise
Service revenues
Other

Total revenues

Cost of goods sold

Alcoholic beverages
Food and merchandise
Service and other

Total cost of goods sold (exclusive of items shown 
separately below)

Salaries and wages
Selling, general and administrative
Depreciation and amortization
Other charges, net

Total operating expenses

Income from operations
Other income/expenses
Interest expense
Interest income
Unrealized loss on equity securities

Income/loss before income taxes
Income tax expense/benefit
Net income/loss

Revenues

$

$

(16,060)
(1,370)
(26,893)
(4,409)
(48,732)

(4,206)
(985)
(311)

(5,502)
(10,763)
(8,204)
(236)
7,928
(16,777)
(31,955)

(398)
15
(548)
(30,994)
(4,237)
(26,757)

(21.4)% $

(5.3)%
(39.5)%
(36.6)%
(26.9)%

(27.5)%
(10.9)%
(53.8)%

(22.1)%
(21.6)%
(13.7)%
(2.6)%
302.6%
(11.5)%
(92.1)%

(3.9)%
4.9%
(89.5)%
(128.1)%
(113.2)%
(130.9)% $

6,020
3,397
3,951
1,943
15,311

976
923
129

2,028
5,286
6,072
1,350
(6,564)
8,172
7,139

255
75
612
6,347
6,862
(515)

8.7%
15.1%
6.2%
19.3%
9.2%

6.8%
11.3%
28.7%

8.9%
11.9%
11.3%
17.5%
(71.5)%
5.9%
25.9%

2.6%
32.1%
100.0%
35.6%
220.1%
(2.5)%

Consolidated revenues decreased by $48.7 million, or 26.9%, from 2019 to 2020, and increased by $15.3 million, or 9.2%, from 2018 to 
2019. The decrease from 2019 to 2020 was mainly caused by significantly lower traffic due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Excluding 
COVID-19 impact, consolidated same-store sales decrease was 4.4%. Including the impact of COVID-19 on comparable units, same-
store sales would be a decrease of 34.7%. The increase from 2018 to 2019 was mainly due to a 10.9% increase from newly acquired or 
constructed units and a 0.3% increase in other revenues, partially offset by a 1.7% decrease from closed units and the impact of the 0.3% 
decline in same-store sales.

26

By reportable segment, revenues were as follows (in thousands):

Nightclubs
Bombshells
Other

2020

2019

2018

$

$

88,373
43,215
739
132,327

$

$

148,606
30,828
1,625
181,059

$

$

140,060
24,094
1,594
165,748

Nightclubs segment revenues. Nightclubs revenues decreased by 40.5% from 2019 to 2020 and increased by 6.1% from 2018 to 2019. A 
breakdown of the changes compared to total change in Nightclubs revenues is as follows:

Impact of 9.0% decrease and 0.6% increase in same-store sales, respectively, to 
total revenues (excluding COVID-19 impact)
Newly acquired and reconcepted units
Closed units (including COVID-19 impact)
Other

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

(4.9)%
0.9%
(36.3)%
(0.2)%
(40.5)%

0.5%
7.4%
(2.1)%
0.4%
6.1%

Including the impact of COVID-19 on comparable Nightclubs locations (see Adjusted Same-Store Sales on page 23), the breakdown 
would have been:

Impact of 41.7% decrease and 0.6% increase in same-store sales, respectively, to 
total revenues (including COVID-19 impact)
Newly acquired and reconcepted units
Closed units (excluding COVID-19 impact)
Other

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

(40.3)%
0.9%
(0.9)%
(0.2)%
(40.5)%

By type of revenue line item, changes in Nightclubs segment revenue dollars are broken down as:

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

Sales of alcoholic beverages
Sales of food and merchandise
Service revenues
Other

Nightclubs segment sales mix did not change much through the three fiscal years:

Sales of alcoholic beverages
Sales of food and merchandise
Service revenues
Other

2020

2019

2018

36.2%
9.7%
46.4%
7.7%
100.0%

38.5%
8.8%
45.7%
7.0%
100.0%

(44.2)%
(34.4)%
(39.6)%
(34.0)%

39.1%
9.1%
45.7%
6.1%
100.0%

0.5%
7.4%
(2.1)%
0.4%
6.1%

4.5%
2.5%
6.0%
22.6%

Included  in  the  2018  new  units  is  Kappa  Men’s  Club,  which  was  acquired  in  May  2018.  Included  in  the  2019  new  units  are  Rick’s 
Cabaret  Chicago  and  Rick’s  Cabaret  Pittsburgh,  which  were  acquired  in  November  2018  (see  Note  16  to  our  consolidated  financial 
statements) and contributed $5.0 million and $4.6 million in revenues for 2019 since acquisition date. No new clubs were acquired or 
constructed in 2020.

Included in other revenues of the Nightclubs segment is real estate rental revenue amounting to $1.3 million in 2020, $1.7 million in 
2019, and $1.2 million in 2018.

27

Bombshells  segment  revenues.  Bombshells  revenues  increased  by  40.2%  from  2019  to  2020  and  by  27.9%  from  2018  to  2019.  A 
breakdown of the changes compared to total changes in Bombshells revenues is as follows:

Impact of 18.3% increase and 6.1% decrease in same-store sales, respectively, to 
total revenues (excluding COVID-19 impact)
New units
Closed units (including COVID-19 impact)

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

9.7%
35.0%
(4.5)%
40.2%

(5.1)%
32.4%
0.6%
27.9%

Including the impact of COVID-19 on comparable Bombshells locations (see Adjusted Same-Store Sales on page 23), the breakdown 
would have been:

Impact of 6.5% increase and 6.1% decrease in same-store sales, respectively, to 
total revenues (including COVID-19 impact)
New units
Closed units (excluding COVID-19 impact)

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

5.1%
35.0%
0.1%
40.2%

By type of revenue line item, changes in Bombshells segment revenues are broken down as:

Sales of alcoholic beverages
Sales of food and merchandise
Service and other revenues

Bombshells segment sales mix for the three fiscal years is as follows:

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

51.9%
24.4%
0.0%

(5.1)%
32.4%
0.6%
27.9%

24.7%
31.7%
154.8%

Sales of alcoholic beverages
Sales of food and merchandise
Service and other revenues

2020

2019

2018

62.8%
36.8%
0.4%
100.0%

57.9%
41.5%
0.6%
100.0%

59.4%
40.3%
0.3%
100.0%

Bombshells  Pearland  was  opened  in  the  third  quarter  of  2018.  Bombshells  I-10  was  opened  in  the  first  quarter  of  2019,  while 
Bombshells 249 was opened in the second quarter of 2019. Bombshells Katy was opened in the first quarter of 2020, while Bombshells 
59 was opened in the second quarter of 2020.

Other segment revenues. Other revenues included revenues from Drink Robust in all three fiscal years presented. After a brief period 
when  a  majority  of  our  interest  in  Drink  Robust  was  sold,  we  later  reacquired  Drink  Robust  in  March  2018  (see  Note  16  to  our 
consolidated  financial  statements).  Drink  Robust  sales  were  $150,000,  $231,000,  and  $141,000  in  fiscal  2020,  2019,  and  2018, 
respectively,  which  excludes  intercompany  sales  to  Nightclubs  and  Bombshells  units.  Media  business  revenues  were  $589,000,  $1.4 
million, and $1.4 million in fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 ED EXPO that was 
supposed to be held in August 2020 was canceled. All unearned sponsorship and advertising revenues related to the event were either 
further deferred or refunded and no revenue was recognized.

Operating Expenses

Total  operating  expenses,  as  a  percent  of  revenues,  were  97.9%,  80.8%,  and  83.4%  for  the  fiscal  year  2020,  2019,  and  2018, 
respectively. Significant contributors to the change in operating expenses as a percent of revenues are explained below.

Cost  of  goods  sold  includes  cost  of  alcoholic  and  non-alcoholic  beverages,  food,  cigars  and  cigarettes,  merchandise,  media 
printing/binding and media. As a percentage of consolidated revenues, consolidated cost of goods sold was 14.7%, 13.8%, and 13.8% 
for fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. See above for breakdown of percentages for each line item of consolidated cost of goods 
sold as  it  relates  to  the  respective consolidated  revenue line. For the Nightclubs segment,  cost of  goods  sold was  10.7%,  11.2%, and 
11.8% for fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively, which was primarily caused by sales mix shifting over to higher-margin service 
revenues. Bombshells cost of goods sold was 22.6%, 25.3%, and 24.7% for fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively, which was mainly 
driven by the shift in sales mix to higher-margin alcoholic beverage sales in 2020 and from food cost inflation in 2019. A significant 
decrease in cost of goods sold dollars was caused by COVID-19-related closures and indoor dining occupancy restrictions.

28

Consolidated  salaries  and  wages  decreased  by  $10.8  million,  or  21.6%,  from  2019  to  2020  and  increased  by  $5.3  million,  or  11.9%, 
from  2018  to  2019.  The  dollar  decrease  from  2019  to  2020  was  mainly  from  furloughed  employees  due  to  COVID-19.  The  dollar 
increase from 2018 to 2019 primarily came from newly opened units plus the impact of pre-opening salaries and wages on still under-
construction Bombshells units. As a percentage of revenues, consolidated salaries and wages has been fairly stable at 27.5% and 26.9% 
for 2019 and 2018, respectively, but rose to 29.5% in 2020 due to fixed salaries paid on significantly lower sales.

By reportable segment, salaries and wages are broken down as follows (in thousands):

Nightclubs
Bombshells
Other
General corporate

2020

2019

2018

$

$

19,590
10,427
491
8,562
39,070

$

$

32,267
8,887
617
8,062
49,833

$

$

30,788
5,804
789
7,166
44,547

Unit-level manager payroll is included in salaries and wages of each location, while payroll for regional manager and above are included 
in general corporate.

The components of consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses are in the tables below (dollars in thousands):

Taxes and permits
Advertising and marketing
Supplies and services
Insurance
Rent
Legal
Utilities
Charge card fees
Security
Accounting and professional fees
Repairs and maintenance
Other

$

$

Years Ended September 30,
2019
$ 10,779
8,392
5,911
5,429
3,896
5,180
3,165
3,803
2,973
2,815
2,980
4,573
$ 59,896

2018
9,545
7,536
5,344
5,473
3,720
3,586
2,969
3,244
2,617
2,944
2,184
4,662
$ 53,824

2020
8,071
5,367
4,711
5,777
4,060
4,725
2,945
2,382
2,582
3,463
2,289
5,320
$ 51,692

Percentage of Revenues
2019

2018

2020

6.1%
4.1%
3.6%
4.4%
3.1%
3.6%
2.2%
1.8%
2.0%
2.6%
1.7%
4.0%
39.1%

6.0%
4.6%
3.3%
3.0%
2.2%
2.9%
1.7%
2.1%
1.6%
1.6%
1.6%
2.5%
33.1%

5.8%
4.5%
3.2%
3.3%
2.2%
2.2%
1.8%
2.0%
1.6%
1.8%
1.3%
2.8%
32.5%

By reportable segment, selling, general and administrative expenses are broken down as follows (in thousands):

Nightclubs
Bombshells
Other
General corporate

2020

2019

2018

$

$

$

$

30,105
11,735
268
9,584
51,692

29

40,033
10,441
356
9,066
59,896

$

$

38,200
7,454
467
7,703
53,824

The significant variances in selling, general and administrative expenses are as follows:

In  light  of  decreased  sales  activity  caused  by  the  COVID-19  pandemic,  most  of  our  selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses  for 
2020 decreased, except for relatively fixed expenses such as insurance, rent, and accounting and professional fees. As a percentage of 
revenues,  relatively  fixed  expenses  increased  in  rate  due  to  lower  sales,  while  more  discretionary/controllable  expenses  such  as 
advertising and marketing were kept to a minimum. Discussions below relate mainly to significant fluctuations from 2018 to 2019.

Taxes and permits increased by $1.2 million, or 12.9%, from 2018 to 2019 primarily due to new units, higher taxes on those new units, 
and increases in patron taxes and property taxes as a result of increased sales revenues. As a percentage of revenues, taxes and permits 
were 6.0% and 5.8% for 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Advertising and marketing increased by $856,000, or 11.4%, from 2018 to 2019 mainly due to new units. As a percentage of revenues, 
advertising and marketing was relatively flat at 4.6% and 4.5% for 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Rent expense increased by $176,000, or 4.7%, from 2018 to 2019 mainly due to adjustments in deferred rent liability in fiscal year 2018. 
As a percentage of revenues, rent expense has been flat at 2.2% in 2019 and 2018.

Legal expenses increased in 2019 from 2018 by $1.6 million, or 44.5%, mainly due to SEC-related matters.

Charge  card  fees  increased  by  $559,000,  or  17.5%,  from  2018  to  2019  mainly  from  higher  revenues.  As  a  percentage  of  revenues, 
charge card fees were 2.1% and 2.0% in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Accounting and professional fees decreased by $129,000, or 4.4%, from 2018 to 2019 mainly due to consulting services during our ERP 
implementation in 2018.

30

Depreciation and amortization decreased by $236,000, or 2.6%, from 2019 to 2020 and increased by $1.4 million, or 17.5%, from 2018 
to 2019. The increase from 2018 to 2019 came from newly acquired and constructed units, while the decrease from 2019 to 2020 was 
mainly due to properties sold or disposed during the current and prior year.

The components of other charges, net are in the table below (dollars in thousands):

Impairment of assets
Settlement of lawsuits
Loss (gain) on sale of businesses and assets
Loss (gain) on insurance
Total other charges, net

Years Ended September 30,
2019
$ 6,040
225
(2,877)
(768)
$ 2,620

2020
$ 10,615
174
(661)
420
$ 10,548

2018
$ 5,570
1,669
1,965
(20)
$ 9,184

Percentage of Revenues
2019

2018

2020

8.0%
0.1%
(0.5)%
0.3%
8.0%

3.3%
0.1%
(1.6)%
(0.4)%
1.4%

3.4%
1.0%
1.2%
(0.0)%
5.5%

The significant variances in other charges, net are discussed below:

During the year ended September 30, 2020, we recorded aggregate impairment charges amounting to $10.6 million related to goodwill 
of  seven  clubs  ($7.9  million),  SOB  licenses  of  two  clubs  ($2.3  million),  and  $406,000  of  long-lived  assets  of  one  club  and  one 
Bombshells restaurant (including impairment on operating lease right-of-use assets of $104,000). During the year ended September 30, 
2019,  we  recorded  aggregate  impairment  charges  amounting  to  $6.0  million  related  to  goodwill  of  four  clubs  ($1.6  million),  SOB 
license of one club ($178,000), and property and equipment of two clubs ($4.2 million). During the year ended September 30, 2018, we 
recorded  a  loss  on the  note owed  to  us  the by  former owner  of  Drink Robust  in  relation to our  reacquisition of Drink  Robust ($1.55 
million in the second quarter), impairment related to SOB licenses of three clubs ($3.1 million in the fourth quarter), impairment related 
to goodwill of two clubs ($834,000 in the fourth quarter), and impairment related to long-lived assets of a club that closed and a still-
operating  Bombshells  ($1.6  million  in  the  fourth  quarter).  See  Notes  16  and  18  to  our  consolidated  financial  statements  for  further 
discussion.

Income from Operations

Below is a table which reflects segment contribution to income from operations (in thousands):

Nightclubs
Bombshells
Other
General corporate

2020

2019

2018

$

$

13,118
9,245
(684)
(18,933)
2,746

$

$

50,724
2,307
(309)
(18,021)
34,701

$

$

43,624
2,040
(252)
(17,850)
27,562

Our operating margin (income from operations divided by revenues) was 2.1% in 2020, 19.2% in 2019, and 16.6% in 2018. Nightclubs 
operating margin was 14.8%, 34.1%, and 31.1% in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively, primarily due to the impact of the COVID-19 
pandemic  in  2020  and  the  closure  of  underperforming  units,  fixed  expense  leverage  on  increasing  sales,  and  impairment  of  assets  of 
$10.4 million, $5.9 million, and $4.4 million for 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Bombshells operating margin was 21.4%, 7.5%, 
and 8.5% in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively, mainly due to two new units partially offset by COVID-19 impact in 2020, pre-opening 
expenses in 2019 (particularly in salaries and wages and selling, general and administrative expenses), and impairment of assets of $1.1 
million in 2018.

31

Excluding  the  impact  of  settlement  of  lawsuits,  impairment  of  assets,  gain  on  insurance,  gain  on  sale  of  businesses  and  assets,  and 
amortization of intangibles, operating margin for the Nightclub segment would have been 26.8%, 35.9%, and 35.1% for 2020, 2019, and 
2018,  respectively.  Excluding  the  impact  of  impairment  of  assets,  loss  on  sale  of  assets,  settlement  of  lawsuits,  and  amortization  of 
intangibles, Bombshells segment operating margin would have been 22.0%, 7.6%, and 15.1% for 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. 
Refer to discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures on page 33.

Interest Expense

Interest  expense  decreased  by  $398,000  from  2019  to  2020  and  increased  by  $255,000  from  2018  to  2019.  The  decrease  in  interest 
expense  in  2020  was  primarily  due  to  the  lower  average  debt  balance.  The  increase  in  interest  expense  in  2019  was  due  to  higher 
average debt balance partially offset by lower weighted average interest rate. During the first quarter of 2018, we significantly increased 
our  debt  balance  with  our  $81  million  refinancing,  but  that  transaction  also  significantly  reduced  our  weighted  average  interest  rate. 
During  2019,  our  debt  repayments  were  significantly  higher  than  our  borrowing,  excluding  borrowings  from  acquisitions,  thereby 
reducing interest expense as a percentage of revenue. During 2020, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, certain debt principal 
and interest payments have been deferred, but we continue to accrue interest on these debts.

We  consider  rent  plus  interest  expense  as  our  occupancy  costs  since  most  of  our  debts  are  for  real  properties  where  our  clubs  and 
restaurants  are  located.  For  occupancy  cost  purposes,  we  exclude  non-real-estate-related  interest  expense.  Total  occupancy  cost  rate 
(total occupancy cost as a percentage of revenues) increased in 2020 due to lower sales activity (i.e. base) caused by the pandemic as 
shown below.

Rent
Interest
Total occupancy cost

Income Taxes 

2020

2019

2018

3.1%
7.4%
10.5%

2.2%
5.6%
7.8%

2.2%
5.4%
7.7%

Income  taxes  were  a  benefit  of  $493,000  in  2020,  an  expense  of  $3.7  million  in  2019,  and  a  benefit  of  $3.1  million  in  2018.  Our 
effective income tax rate was a 7.2% benefit in 2020, a 15.5% expense in 2019, and a 17.5% benefit in 2018. The components of our 
annual effective income tax rate are the following:

Computed expected income tax expense
State income taxes, net of federal benefit
Deferred taxes on subsidiaries acquired/sold
Permanent differences
Change in deferred tax liability rate
Change in valuation allowance
Tax credits
Other
Total effective income tax rate

2020

2019

2018

21.0%
(3.7)%
-
(5.8)%
-
(18.7)%
13.9%
0.6%
7.2%

21.0%
2.8%
-
0.2%
-
-
(3.7)%
(4.8)%
15.5%

24.5%
4.5%
4.0%
0.5%
(49.5)%
-
(4.5)%
3.1%
(17.5)%

On December 22, 2017, during our first quarter 2018, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was enacted into law, which provided 
for significant changes to the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, such as a reduction in the statutory federal corporate tax 
rate  from  a  maximum  of  35%  to  a  flat  21%  rate  effective  from  January  1,  2018  forward  and  changes  and  limitations  to  certain  tax 
deductions. The Company has a fiscal year end of September 30, so the change to the statutory corporate tax rate resulted in a blended 
federal statutory rate of 24.5% for its fiscal year 2018.

During fiscal 2020 and 2019, the effective income tax rate has changed to 7.2% and 15.5%, respectively, with the rate difference from 
the statutory federal corporate tax rate of 21% coming from offsetting impact of state income tax, net of federal benefit, and tax credits 
that are mostly FICA tip credits. The effective income tax rate for fiscal 2020 was also affected by the pre-tax loss mostly caused by the 
pandemic and the recognition of a deferred tax asset valuation allowance amounting to $1.3 million.

32

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to our financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures, 
within the meaning of the SEC Regulation G, to clarify and enhance understanding of past performance and prospects for the future. 
Generally,  a  non-GAAP  financial  measure  is  a  numerical  measure  of  a  company’s  operating  performance,  financial  position  or  cash 
flows  that  excludes  or  includes  amounts  that  are  included  in  or  excluded  from  the  most  directly  comparable  measure  calculated  and 
presented in accordance with GAAP. We monitor non-GAAP financial measures because it describes the operating performance of the 
Company  and  helps  management  and  investors  gauge  our  ability  to  generate  cash  flow,  excluding  (or  including)  some  items  that 
management believes are not representative of the ongoing business operations of the Company, but are included in (or excluded from) 
the most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Relative to each of the non-GAAP financial 
measures, we further set forth our rationale as follows:

Non-GAAP Operating Income and Non-GAAP Operating Margin. We calculate non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP operating 
margin  by  excluding  the  following  items  from  income  from  operations  and  operating  margin:  (a)  amortization  of  intangibles,  (b) 
impairment of assets, (c) gains or losses on sale of businesses and assets, (d) gains or losses on insurance, and (e) settlement of lawsuits. 
We believe that excluding these items assists investors in evaluating period-over-period changes in our operating income and operating 
margin without the impact of items that are not a result of our day-to-day business and operations.

Non-GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Net Income per Diluted Share. We calculate non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income 
per  diluted  share  by  excluding  or  including  certain  items  to  net  income  attributable  to  RCIHH  common  stockholders  and  diluted 
earnings per share. Adjustment items are: (a) amortization of intangibles, (b) impairment of assets, (c) costs and charges related to debt 
refinancing, (d) gains or losses on sale of businesses and assets, (e) gains or losses on insurance, (f) unrealized loss on equity securities, 
(g) settlement of lawsuits, (h) the income tax effect of the above described adjustments, and (i) deferred tax asset valuation allowance. 
Included in the income tax effect of the above adjustments is the net effect of the non-GAAP provision for income taxes, calculated at 
26.0%, 15.5%, and 24.5% effective tax rate of the pre-tax non-GAAP income before taxes for the 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively, 
and the GAAP income tax expense (benefit). We believe that excluding and including such items help management and investors better 
understand  our  operating  activities.  The  calculated  amount  for  adjustment  (h)  above  in  fiscal  2018  was  significantly  affected  by  the 
change in the statutory federal corporate tax rate caused by the Tax Act.

Adjusted EBITDA. We calculate adjusted EBITDA by excluding the following items from net income attributable to RCIHH common 
stockholders: (a) depreciation and amortization, (b) income tax expense (benefit), (c) net interest expense, (d) gains or losses on sale of 
businesses and assets, (e) gains or losses on insurance (f) unrealized gains or losses on equity securities, (g) impairment of assets, and 
(h)  settlement  of  lawsuits.  We  believe  that  adjusting  for  such  items  helps  management  and  investors  better  understand  our  operating 
activities. Adjusted EBITDA provides a core operational performance measurement that compares results without the need to adjust for 
federal,  state  and  local  taxes  which  have  considerable  variation  between  domestic  jurisdictions.  The  results  are,  therefore,  without 
consideration  of  financing  alternatives  of  capital  employed.  We  use  adjusted  EBITDA  as  one  guideline  to  assess  the  unleveraged 
performance return on our investments. Adjusted EBITDA multiple is also used as a target benchmark for our acquisitions of nightclubs.

We also use certain non-GAAP cash flow measures such as free cash flow. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section for further 
discussion.

33

The following tables present our non-GAAP performance measures for the periods indicated (in thousands, except per share amounts 
and percentages):

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

Reconciliation of GAAP net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA
Net income (loss) attributable to RCIHH common stockholders
Income tax expense (benefit)
Interest expense, net
Settlement of lawsuits
Impairment of assets
Loss (gain) on sale of businesses and assets
Depreciation and amortization
Unrealized loss on equity securities
Loss (gain) on insurance
Adjusted EBITDA

Reconciliation of GAAP net income (loss) to non-GAAP net 
income
Net income (loss) attributable to RCIHH common stockholders
Amortization of intangibles
Settlement of lawsuits
Impairment of assets
Loss (gain) on sale of businesses and assets
Costs and charges related to debt refinancing
Unrealized loss on equity securities
Loss (gain) on insurance
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance
Net income tax effect
Non-GAAP net income

Reconciliation of GAAP diluted earnings (loss) per share to non-
GAAP diluted earnings per share
Diluted shares

GAAP diluted earnings (loss) per share
Amortization of intangibles
Settlement of lawsuits
Impairment of assets
Loss (gain) on sale of businesses and assets
Costs and charges related to debt refinancing
Unrealized loss on equity securities
Loss (gain) on insurance
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance
Net income tax effect
Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share

Reconciliation of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP 
operating income
Income from operations
Amortization of intangibles
Settlement of lawsuits
Impairment of assets
Loss (gain) on sale of businesses and assets
Loss (gain) on insurance
Non-GAAP operating income

Reconciliation of GAAP operating margin to non-GAAP 
operating margin
GAAP operating margin
Amortization of intangibles
Settlement of lawsuits
Impairment of assets
Loss (gain) on sale of businesses and assets
Loss (gain) on insurance
Non-GAAP operating margin

2020

For the Year Ended
September 30,
2019

2018

(6,085)
(493)
9.487
174
10,615
(661)
8,836
64
420
22,357

(6,085)
609
174
10,615
(661)
-
64
420
1,273
(1,700)
4,709

$

$

$

$

20,294
3,744
9,900
225
6,040
(2,877)
9,072
612
(768)
46,242

20,294
624
225
6,040
(2,877)
-
612
(768)
-
(580)
23,570

$

$

$

$

20,879
(3,118)
9,720
1,669
5,570
1,965
7,722
-
(20)
44,387

20,879
254
1,669
5,570
1,965
827
-
(20)
-
(9,984)
21,160

2020

For the Year Ended
September 30,
2019

2018

$

$

$

$

9,199
(0.66)
0.07
0.02
1.15
(0.07)
-
0.01
0.05
0.14
(0.18)
0.51

2,746
609
174
10,615
(661)
420
13,903

2.1%
0.5%
0.1%
8.0%
(0.5)%
0.3%
10.5%

$

$

$

$

9,657
2.10
0.06
0.02
0.63
(0.30)
-
0.06
(0.08)
-
(0.05)
2.44

34,701
624
225
6,040
(2,877)
(768)
37,945

19.2%
0.3%
0.1%
3.3%
(1.6)%
(0.4)%
21.0%

9,719
2.15
0.03
0.17
0.57
0.20
0.09
-
(0.00)
-
(1.02)
2.18

27,562
254
1,669
5,570
1,965
(20)
37,000

16.6%
0.2%
1.0%
3.4%
1.2%
(0.0)%
22.3%

* Per share amounts and percentages may not foot due to rounding.

The adjustments to reconcile net income attributable to RCIHH common stockholders to non-GAAP net income exclude the impact of 
adjustments related to noncontrolling interests, which is immaterial.

34

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

At September 30, 2020, our cash and cash equivalents were approximately $15.6 million compared to $14.1 million at September 30, 
2019. Because of the large volume of cash we handle, we have very stringent cash controls. As of September 30, 2020, we had negative 
working capital of $5.9 million compared to a negative working capital of $1.2 million as of September 30, 2019, excluding net assets 
held  for  sale  of  $0  and  $2.9  million  as  of  September  30,  2020  and  September  30,  2019,  respectively.  Although  we  believe  that  our 
ability to generate cash from operating activities is one of our fundamental financial strengths, the temporary closure of our clubs and 
restaurants  caused  by  the  COVID-19  pandemic  has  presented  operational  challenges.  Our  strategy  is  to  open  locations  in  accordance 
with local and state guidelines and it is too early to know when and if they will generate positive cash flows for us. Depending on the 
timing and number of locations we are allowed to open, and their ability to generate positive cash flow, we may need to borrow funds to 
meet  our  obligations  or  consider  selling  certain  assets.  Based  upon  the  current  state  of  allowed  openings  in  Texas,  revenues  seem 
favorable. We are hopeful that we can become profitable within a relatively short period of time after a majority of our locations have 
reopened, assuming these results can be sustained and the other locations, once opened, follow these early results. But if the business 
interruptions  and  occupancy  limitations  caused  by  COVID-19  last  longer  than  we  expect,  we  may  need  to  seek  other  sources  of 
liquidity. The COVID-19 pandemic is adversely affecting the availability of liquidity generally in the credit markets, and there can be no 
guarantee  that  additional  liquidity  will  be  readily  available  or  available  on  favorable  terms,  especially  the  longer  the  COVID-19 
pandemic lasts.

Our net cash flow from operating activities for 2020 has gone down to less than half of last year’s result. To augment the current and 
expected future decline in operating cash flows caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we instituted the following measures:

● Arranged and continue to arrange for deferment of principal and interest payment on certain of our debts;

● Furloughed employees working at our clubs and restaurants, except for a limited number of managers;

● Pay cut for all remaining salaried and hourly employees and deferral of board of director compensation;

● Deferred or modified certain fixed monthly expenses such as insurance, rent, and taxes, among others;

● Canceled  certain  non-essential  expenses  such  as  advertising,  cable,  pest  control,  point-of-sale  system  support,  and  investor 

relations coverage, among others.

On  May  8,  2020,  the  Company  received  approval  and  funding  under  the  Paycheck  Protection  Program  of  the  CARES  Act  for  its 
restaurants, shared service entity and lounge. Ten of our restaurant subsidiaries received amounts ranging from $271,000 to $579,000 
for  an  aggregate  amount  of  $4.2  million;  our  shared-services  subsidiary  received  $1.1  million;  and  one  of  our  lounges  received 
$124,000. None of our adult nightclub and other non-core business subsidiaries received funding under the PPP. The Company believes 
it has used the entire loan amount for qualifying expenses. Under the terms of the PPP, certain amounts of the loan may be forgiven if 
they are used for qualifying expenses as described in the CARES Act. The Company has currently utilized all of the PPP funds and has 
submitted its forgiveness applications. As of the filing of this report, we have received ten Notices of PPP Forgiveness Payment from the 
Small Business Administration out of the twelve of our PPP loans granted. All of the notices received forgave 100% of each of the ten 
PPP loans totaling the amount of $4.9 million. No assurance can be provided that the Company will in fact obtain forgiveness of the 
remaining two PPP loans in whole or in part.

As of the release of this report, we do not know the future extent and duration of the impact of COVID-19 on our businesses. Lower 
sales, as caused by local, state and national guidelines, could lead to adverse financial results. However, we will continually monitor and 
evaluate  our  cash  flow  situation  and  will  determine  any  further  measures  to  be  instituted,  including  refinancing  several  of  our  debt 
obligations.

We  continue  to  adhere  to  state  and  local  government  mandates  regarding  the  pandemic  and,  since  March  2020,  have  closed  and 
reopened several of our locations depending on changing government mandates. As of the release of this report, we have reopened many 
of our club and Bombshells locations with certain operating hour restrictions and with limited occupancy.

We have not recently raised capital through the issuance of equity securities. Instead, we use debt financing to lower our overall cost of 
capital and increase our return on stockholders’ equity. We have a history of borrowing funds in private transactions and from sellers in 
acquisition transactions and have secured traditional bank financing on our new development projects and refinancing of our existing 
notes payable, but with the significant global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there can be no assurance that any of these financing 
options would be presently available on favorable terms, if at all. We also have historically utilized these cash flows to invest in property 
and equipment, adult nightclubs, and restaurants/sports bars.

Though our cash flows are not as we expected at the beginning of the year, we expect to generate adequate cash flows from operations 
for the next 12 months from the issuance of this report.

The following table presents a summary of our net cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities (in thousands):

Operating activities
Investing activities
Financing activities
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

$

$

15,632
(994)
(13,130)
1,508

$

$

$

37,174
(27,147)
(13,656)
(3,629) $

25,769
(26,339)
8,374
7,804

2020

Year Ended September 30,
2019

2018

We  require  capital  principally  for  the  acquisition  of  new  clubs,  construction  of  new  Bombshells,  renovation  of  older  units,  and 
investments in technology. We also utilize capital to repurchase our common stock as part of our share repurchase program, based on 
our capital allocation strategy guidelines, and to pay our quarterly dividends.

35

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Following are our summarized cash flows from operating activities (in thousands):

Net income (loss)
Depreciation and amortization
Deferred tax expense (benefit)
Impairment of assets
Net change in operating assets and liabilities
Other
Net cash provided by operating activities

2020

Year Ended September 30,
2019

2018

$

$

(6,312) $
8,836
(1,268)
10,615
1,380
2,381
15,632

$

20,445
9,072
821
6,040
2,822
(2,026)
37,174

$

$

20,960
7,722
(6,775)
5,570
(5,156)
3,448
25,769

Net  cash  flows  from  operating  activities  significantly  decreased  from  2019  to  2020  mainly  due  to  the  impact  of  the  COVID-19 
pandemic  on  our  operations  and  partially  offset  by  lower  interest  and  income  taxes  paid.  Net  cash  flows  from  operating  activities 
increased from 2018 to 2019 primarily from higher income from operations plus lower income taxes paid.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Following are our summarized cash flows from investing activities (in thousands):

Proceeds from sale of businesses and assets
Proceeds from insurance and notes receivable
Issuance of notes receivable
Payments for property and equipment and intangible 
assets
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
Net cash used in investing activities

2020

Year Ended September 30,
2019

2018

$

2,221
2,521
-

(5,736)
-
(994) $

$

7,223
258
(420)

811
147
-

(20,708)
(13,500)
(27,147) $

(25,263)
(2,034)
(26,339)

$

$

We opened two new Bombshells units in 2020 (one in Katy, Texas and another on Southwest Freeway in Houston, Texas); opened four 
new  units  in  2019  (acquired  two  clubs  in  Chicago,  Illinois  and  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  and  built  two  new  Bombshells  in  Houston, 
Texas); and opened two new units in 2018 (one acquired club in Kappa, Illinois and one built Bombshells in Pearland, Texas). See Note 
16 to our consolidated financial statements. As of September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018, we had $20,000, $8.9 million, and $6.4 million 
in construction-in-progress related mostly to Bombshells opening in the subsequent fiscal year.

Following is a reconciliation of our additions to property and equipment for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018 (in 
thousands):

Purchase of real estate*
New capital expenditures in new clubs and Bombshells 
units and equipment
Maintenance capital expenditures
Total capital expenditures, excluding business 
acquisitions

$

$

* Excludes real estate acquired through business acquisitions.

2020

Year Ended September 30,
2019

2018

-

$

-

$

12,260

3,585
2,151

16,850
3,858

10,476
2,527

5,736

$

20,708

$

25,263

36

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Following are our summarized cash flows from financing activities (in thousands):

Proceeds from long-term debt
Payments on long-term debt
Payment of dividends
Purchase of treasury stock
Payment of loan origination costs
Debt prepayment penalty
Distribution of noncontrolling interests
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

2020

Year Ended September 30,
2019

2018

$

$

$

6,503
(8,832)
(1,286)
(9,484)
-
-
(31)
(13,130) $

$

13,511
(22,924)
(1,252)
(2,901)
(20)
-
(70)
(13,656) $

84,233
(72,830)
(1,168)
-
(1,138)
(543)
(180)
8,374

We  purchased  shares  of  our  common  stock  representing  516,102  shares,  128,040  shares,  and  0  shares  in  2020,  2019,  and  2018, 
respectively. We have paid quarterly dividends of $0.03 per share for fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018, except for the fourth quarter of 2019 
and the second and fourth quarter of 2020 where we paid $0.04 per share. See Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements for a 
detailed discussion of our debt obligations.

Non-GAAP Cash Flow Measure

Management also uses certain non-GAAP cash flow measures such as free cash flows. We define free cash flow as net cash provided by 
operating activities less maintenance capital expenditures. We use free cash flow as the baseline for the implementation of our capital 
allocation strategy. See table below (in thousands):

Net cash provided by operating activities
Less: Maintenance capital expenditures

Free cash flow

2020

2019

2018

$

$

15,632
2,151
13,481

$

$

37,174
3,858
33,316

$

$

25,769
2,527
23,242

We do not include total capital expenditures as a reduction from net cash flow from operating activities to arrive at free cash flow. This 
is because, based on our capital allocation strategy, acquisitions and development of our own clubs and restaurants are our primary uses 
of free cash flow. Our free cash flow after long-term debt repayments was $4.6 million, $10.4 million, and $(49.6) million during fiscal 
2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Free cash flow after long-term debt repayments in fiscal 2018 was significantly impacted by our 
$81.2 million refinancing in December 2017.

Debt Financing

See Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements for detail regarding our long-term debt activity.

37

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

We  have  long-term  contractual  obligations  primarily  in  the  form  of  debt  obligations  and  operating  leases.  The  following  table  (in 
thousands)  summarizes  our  contractual  obligations  and  their  aggregate  maturities  as  well  as  future  minimum  rent  payments.  Future 
interest payments related to debt were estimated using the interest rate in effect at September 30, 2020.

Long-term debt – regular
Long-term debt – balloon
Interest payments on debt
Operating leases(a)

$

Total
90,252
52,422
51,559
39,413

$

2021
12,098
4,405
8,835
3,221

$

2022
11,032
2,350
7,798
3,233

$

$

8,090
3,676
6,920
3,065

2024

2025

$

8,642
-
6,307
3,058

8,479
-
5,703
3,124

Thereafter
41,911
$
41,991
15,996
23,712

Payments Due by Period
2023

(a) Effective October 1, 2019, we adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which will significantly 

affect our accounting of all leases. See Notes 2 and 22 to our consolidated financial statements. 

Other  than  the  potentially  prolonged  effect  of  the  COVID-19  pandemic  and  the  notes  payable  financing  described  above,  we  are  not 
aware  of  any  event  or  trend  that  would  adversely  impact  our  liquidity.  In  our  opinion,  working  capital  is  not  a  true  indicator  of  our 
financial  status.  Typically,  businesses  in  our  industry  carry  current  liabilities  in  excess  of  current  assets  because  businesses  in  our 
industry  receive  substantially  immediate  payment  for  sales,  with  nominal  receivables,  while  inventories  and  other  current  liabilities 
normally  carry  longer  payment  terms.  Vendors  and  purveyors  often  remain  flexible with  payment  terms,  providing  businesses  in  our 
industry with opportunities to adjust to short-term business downturns. We consider the primary indicators of financial status to be the 
long-term trend of revenue growth, the mix of sales revenues, overall cash flow, profitability from operations and the level of long-term 
debt.

The following table presents a summary of such indicators (dollars in thousands):

Sales of alcoholic beverages
Sales of food and merchandise
Service revenues
Other

Total revenues

Net cash provided by operating activities
Adjusted EBITDA*
Free cash flow*
Debt (end of period)

2020

Increase
(Decrease)

2019

Increase
(Decrease)

$

$
$
$
$
$

59,080
24,460
41,162
7,625
132,327
15,632
22,357
13,481
141,435

(21.4)% $
(5.3)%
(39.5)%
(36.6)%
(26.9)% $
(57.9)% $
(51.7)% $
(59.5)% $
(1.5)% $

75,140
25,830
68,055
12,034
181,059
37,174
46,242
33,316
143,528

8.7% $
15.1%
6.2%
19.3%
9.2% $
44.3% $
4.2% $
43.3% $
2.1% $

2018

69,120
22,433
64,104
10,091
165,748
25,769
44,387
23,242
140,627

*  See  definition  and  calculation  of  Adjusted  EBITDA  and  Free  Cash  Flow  under  Non-GAAP  Financial  Measures  and  Liquidity  and 
Capital Resources above.

38

We have not established financing other than the notes payable discussed in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements. There can 
be no assurance that we will be able to obtain additional financing on reasonable terms in the future, if at all, should the need arise.

Share Repurchase

As part of our capital allocation strategy, we buy back shares in the open market or through negotiated purchases, as authorized by our 
Board of Directors. During fiscal years 2020, 2019, and 2018, we paid for treasury stock amounting to $9.5 million, $2.9 million, and $0 
representing  516,102  shares,  128,040  shares,  and  0  shares,  respectively.  On  February  6,  2020,  the  Board  of  Directors  increased  the 
repurchase authorization by an additional $10.0 million. We have $10.8 million remaining to purchase additional shares as of September 
30,  2020.  Subsequent  to  September  30,  2020  through  the  filing  date  of  this  report,  we  purchased  74,659  shares  of  the  Company’s 
common stock for a total of $1.8 million.

For additional details regarding our Board approved share repurchase plans, please refer to Item 5 – Market for Registrant’s Common 
Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

IMPACT OF INFLATION

We have not experienced a material overall impact from inflation in our operations during the past several years. To the extent permitted 
by competition, we have managed to recover increased costs through price increases and may continue to do so. However, there can be 
no assurance that we will be able to do so in the future.

SEASONALITY

Our  nightclub  operations  are  affected  by  seasonal  factors.  Historically,  we  have  experienced  reduced  revenues  from  April  through 
September (our fiscal third and fourth quarters) with the strongest operating results occurring during October through March (our fiscal 
first and second quarters), but in fiscal 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, revenues during the second through the fourth quarter 
were significantly reduced. Our revenues in certain markets are also affected by sporting events that cause unusual changes in sales from 
year to year.

GROWTH STRATEGY

We  believe  that  our  nightclub  operations  can  continue  to  grow  organically  and  through  careful  entry  into  markets  and  demographic 
segments  with  high  growth  potential.  Our  growth  strategy  involves  the  following:  (i)  to  acquire  existing  units  in  locations  that  are 
consistent with our growth and income targets and which appear receptive to the upscale club formula we have developed; (ii) to open 
new units after market analysis; (iii) to franchise our Bombshells brand; (iv) to form joint ventures or partnerships to reduce start-up and 
operating costs, with us contributing equity in the form of our brand name and management expertise; (v) to develop new club concepts 
that  are  consistent  with  our  management  and  marketing  skills;  (vi)  to  develop  and  open  our  restaurant  concepts  as  our  capital  and 
manpower allow; and (vii) to control the real estate in connection with club operations, although some units may be in leased premises.

We believe that Bombshells can grow organically and through careful entry into markets and demographic segments with high growth 
potential.  All  ten  of  the  existing  Bombshells  as  of  September  30,  2020  are  located  in  Texas.  Our  growth  strategy  is  to  diversify  our 
operations with these units which do not require SOB licenses, which are sometimes difficult to obtain. While we are searching for adult 
nightclubs to acquire, we are able to also search for restaurant/sports bar locations that are consistent with our income targets.

39

During fiscal 2018, we reacquired Drink Robust (see Note 16 to our consolidated financial statements). Also in fiscal 2018, we acquired 
a club in Kappa, Illinois for $1.5 million, financed by a $1.0 million seller note with interest at 8%. The Kappa transaction provides for 
the  purchase  of  the  real  estate  for  $825,000  and  other  non-real-estate  business  assets  for  $180,000,  with  goodwill  amounting  to 
$495,000. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements for details of the transactions.

During  fiscal  2019,  we  acquired  two  clubs,  one  in  Illinois  (rebranded  as  Rick’s  Cabaret  Chicago)  and  another  in  Pennsylvania 
(rebranded  as  Rick’s  Cabaret  Pittsburgh)  for  an  aggregate  purchase  price  of  $25.5  million.  See  Note  16  to  the  consolidated  financial 
statements for details of the transactions.

We opened two new Bombshells units in fiscal 2019.

In  October  2018,  the  Company  sold  its  nightclub  in  Philadelphia  for  a  total  sales  price  of  $1.0  million,  payable  $375,000  in  cash  at 
closing and a 9% note payable over a 10-year period. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements for details of the disposition.

We opened two new Bombshells units in fiscal 2020.

On November 5, 2019, we announced that our subsidiaries had signed definitive agreements to acquire the assets and related real estate 
of  a  well-established,  top  gentlemen’s  club  located  in  the  Northeast  Corridor  for  $15.0  million.  The  agreements  terminated  prior  to 
closing. We provided the sellers notice of the termination in April 2020.

We continue to evaluate opportunities to acquire new nightclubs and anticipate acquiring new locations that fit our business model as we 
have done in the past. The acquisition of additional clubs may require us to take on additional debt or issue our common stock, or both. 
There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain additional financing on reasonable terms in the future, if at all, should the need 
arise. An inability to obtain such additional financing could have an adverse effect on our growth strategy.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The items in our financial statements subject to market risk are potential debt instruments with variable interest rates. We do not carry 
any debt with a variable interest rate in effect as of September 30, 2020. Certain of our debt have variable interest rates but will only be 
effective in future years.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The information required by this Item begins on page 41.

40

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated Financial Statements:

Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2020 and 2019

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc.

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) as of September 30, 
2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity, and cash flows 
for  each  of  the  years  in  the  three-year  period  ended  September  30,  2020,  and  the  related  notes  (collectively  referred  to  as  the 
“consolidated  financial  statements”).  In  our  opinion,  the  consolidated  financial  statements  present  fairly,  in  all  material  respects,  the 
financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the 
years  in  the  three-year  period  ended  September  30,  2020,  in  conformity  with  accounting  principles  generally  accepted  in  the  United 
States of America.

We  also  have  audited,  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board  (United  States) 
(“PCAOB”),  RCI  Hospitality  Holdings,  Inc.’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of  September  30,  2020,  based  on  criteria 
established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway 
Commission (“COSO”) and our report dated December 14, 2020 expressed an adverse opinion.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion 
on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the 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 audits 
to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about  whether  the  consolidated  financial  statements  are  free  of  material  misstatement,  whether  due  to 
error  or  fraud.  Our  audits  included  performing  procedures  to  assess  the  risks  of  material  misstatement  of  the  consolidated  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  consolidated  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 consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Friedman LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019.

Marlton, New Jersey

December 14, 2020

42

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share data)

September 30,

2020

2019
(As Revised)

ASSETS
Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable, net
Current portion of notes receivable
Inventories
Prepaid insurance
Other current assets
Assets held for sale

Total current assets
Property and equipment, net
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
Notes receivable, net of current portion
Goodwill
Intangibles, net
Other assets

Total assets

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities

Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt
Current portion of operating lease liabilities

Total current liabilities

Deferred tax liability, net
Debt, net of current portion and debt discount and issuance costs
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion
Other long-term liabilities

Total liabilities

Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)

Equity

Preferred stock, $0.10 par value per share; 1,000 shares authorized; none 
issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share; 20,000 shares authorized; 9,075 
shares and 9,591 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2020 and 
2019, respectively
Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings
Total RCIHH stockholders’ equity
Noncontrolling interests
Total equity
Total liabilities and equity

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

15,605
6,767
201
2,372
4,884
1,604
-
31,433
181,383
25,546
2,908
45,686
73,077
900
360,933

4,799
14,573
16,304
1,628
37,304
20,390
125,131
25,439
362
208,626

14,097
7,408
954
2,598
5,446
2,521
2,866
35,890
183,956
-
4,211
53,630
75,951
1,118
354,756

3,810
14,644
15,754
-
34,208
21,658
127,774
-
1,696
185,336

-

-

91
51,833
100,797
152,721
(414)
152,307
360,933

$

96
61,312
108,168
169,576
(156)
169,420
354,756

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

43

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)

2020

Years Ended September 30,
2019
(As Revised) 

2018

Revenues

Sales of alcoholic beverages
Sales of food and merchandise
Service revenues
Other

Total revenues
Operating expenses

Cost of goods sold

Alcoholic beverages sold
Food and merchandise sold
Service and other

Total cost of goods sold (exclusive of items shown separately 
below)
Salaries and wages
Selling, general and administrative
Depreciation and amortization
Other charges, net

Total operating expenses

Income from operations
Other income (expenses)

Interest expense
Interest income
Unrealized loss on equity securities

Income (loss) before income taxes
Income tax expense (benefit)
Net income (loss)
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to RCIHH common stockholders

Earnings (loss) per share
Basic and diluted

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

Basic and diluted

Dividends per share

$

$

$

$

59,080
24,460
41,162
7,625
132,327

11,097
8,071
267

19,435
39,070
51,692
8,836
10,548
129,581
2,746

(9,811)
324
(64)
(6,805)
(493)
(6,312)
227
(6,085)

$

$

75,140
25,830
68,055
12,034
181,059

15,303
9,056
578

24,937
49,833
59,896
9,072
2,620
146,358
34,701

(10,209)
309
(612)
24,189
3,744
20,445
(151)
20,294

(0.66)

$

2.10

$

$

$

9,199

9,657

0.14

$

0.13

$

69,120
22,433
64,104
10,091
165,748

14,327
8,133
449

22,909
44,547
53,824
7,722
9,184
138,186
27,562

(9,954)
234
-
17,842
(3,118)
20,960
(81)
20,879

2.15

9,719

0.12

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

44

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands)

Net income (loss)
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income:

Unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities, net of tax 
of $85 in 2018

Comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to RCI Hospitality 
Holdings, Inc.

$

$

2020

Years Ended September 30,
2019
(As Revised) 

2018

(6,312)
-

$

20,445
(220)

$

20,960
-

-
(6,312)
227

-
20,225
(151)

220
21,180
(81)

(6,085)

$

20,074

$

21,099

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

45

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
Years Ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018
(in thousands)

Common Stock

Number
of Shares Amount

Additional
Paid-In
Capital

Retained
Earnings

Accumulated
Other

Treasury Stock

Comprehensive Number

Noncontrolling
Interests

Total
Equity

Balance at September 30, 2017
Payment of dividends
Payments to noncontrolling interests
Equity impact of additional 
investment in TEZ
Change in marketable securities
Net income 

Balance at September 30, 2018 
Reclassification upon adoption of 
ASU 2016-01
Purchase of treasury shares
Canceled treasury shares
Payment of dividends
Payments to noncontrolling interests
Divestiture in other entities
Net income (as revised)

Balance at September 30, 2019 (as 
revised)
Purchase of treasury shares
Canceled treasury shares
Payment of dividends
Payments to noncontrolling interest
Net loss

9,719 $
-
-

97 $ 63,453 $ 69,195 $
-
-

(1,168)
-

-
-

-
-
-

-
-
-

759
-
-

-
-
20,879

9,719

97

64,212

88,906

-
-
(128)
-
-
-
-

9,591
-
(516)
-
-
-

-
-
(1)
-
-
-
-

96
-
(5)
-
-
-

-
-
(2,900)
-
-
-
-

220
-
-
(1,252)
-
-
20,294

61,312
-
(9,479)
-
-
-

108,168
-
-
(1,286)
-
(6,085)

Balance at September 30, 2020

9,075 $

91 $ 51,833 $100,797 $

of Shares Amount
- $
-
-

- $
-
-

-
-
-

-

-
(128)
128
-
-
-
-

-
(516)
516
-
-
-

-
-
-

-

-
(2,901)
2,901
-
-
-
-

-
(9,484)
9,484
-
-
-

Income

-
-
-

-
220
-

220

(220)
-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-
-
-
-

-

2,480 $135,225
(1,168)
(180)

-
(180)

(2,484)
-
81

(1,725)
220
20,960

(103)

153,332

-
-
-
-
(70)
(134)
151

(156)
-
-
-
(31)
(227)

-
(2,901)
-
(1,252)
(70)
(134)
20,445

169,420
(9,484)
-
(1,286)
(31)
(6,312)

- $

- $

(414) $152,307

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

46

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

2020

Years Ended September 30,
2019
(As Revised)

2018

$

(6,312)

$

20,445

$

20,960

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by 
operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization
Deferred tax expense (benefit)
Loss (gain) on sale of businesses and assets
Impairment of assets
Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs
Doubtful accounts expense on notes receivable
Unrealized loss on equity securities
Loss (gain) on insurance
Noncash lease expense
Deferred rent expense
Debt prepayment penalty
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable
Inventories
Prepaid insurance, other current assets and other assets
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Net cash provided by operating activities

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from sale of businesses and assets
Proceeds from notes receivable
Proceeds from insurance
Issuance of notes receivable
Payments for property and equipment and intangible assets
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired

Net cash used in investing activities

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from long-term debt
Payments on long-term debt
Purchase of treasury stock
Payment of dividends
Payment of loan origination costs
Debt prepayment penalty
Distribution to noncontrolling interests
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH 
EQUIVALENTS
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR

CASH PAID DURING YEAR FOR:

Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized
Income taxes paid (net of refunds of $153, $42, and $42 in 2020, 
2019, and 2018, respectively)

Non-cash investing and financing transactions:  

Debt incurred with seller in connection with acquisition of businesses
Notes receivable received as proceeds from sale of assets
Unrealized gain on marketable securities
Accounts receivable converted to notes receivable
Refinanced long-term debt
Net increase in notes payable from trade-in of aircraft
Operating lease right-of-use assets established upon adoption of ASC 
842
Deferred rent liabilities reclassified upon adoption of ASC 842
Operating lease liabilities established upon adoption of ASC 842
Unpaid liabilities on capital expenditures

$

$

$

$
$
$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$

8,836
(1,268)
(777)
10,615
236
602
64
596
1,660
-
-

(294)
226
1,633
(185)
15,632

2,221
1,576
945
-
(5,736)
-
(994)

6,503
(8,832)
(9,484)
(1,286)
-
-
(31)
(13,130)

1,508
14,097
15,605

8,695

2,200

$

$

$

9,072
821
(2,966)
6,040
334
-
612
(288)
-
282
-

457
(216)
(681)
3,262
37,174

7,223
158
100
(420)
(20,708)
(13,500)
(27,147)

13,511
(22,924)
(2,901)
(1,252)
(20)
-
(70)
(13,656)

(3,629)
17,726
14,097

9,797

3,686

2020

Years Ended September 30,
2019

-
-
-
122
11,292
-

27,310
1,241
28,551
29

$
$
$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$

12,000
1,775
-
-
400
-

-
-
-
476

$

$

$

$
$
$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$

7,722
(6,775)
2,162
5,570
560
-
-
(20)
-
203
543

(3,622)
(199)
(2,589)
1,254
25,769

811
127
20
-
(25,263)
(2,034)
(26,339)

84,233
(72,830)
-
(1,168)
(1,138)
(543)
(180)
8,374

7,804
9,922
17,726

9,685

5,832

2018

1000
-
305
-
8,354
5,063

-
-
-
-

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

47

1. Nature of Business

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a holding company incorporated in Texas in 1994. Through its 
subsidiaries,  the  Company  currently  owns  and  operates  establishments  that  offer  live  adult  entertainment,  restaurant,  and/or  bar 
operations.  These  establishments  are  located  in  Houston,  Austin,  San  Antonio,  Dallas,  Fort  Worth,  Odessa,  Lubbock,  Longview, 
Abilene, Edinburg, El Paso, Harlingen and Beaumont, Texas, as well as Minneapolis, Minnesota; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Charlotte, 
North  Carolina;  New  York,  New  York;  Pembroke  Park  and  Miami  Gardens,  Florida;  Phoenix,  Arizona;  Sulphur,  Louisiana;  and 
Chicago,  Washington  Park  and  Kappa,  Illinois.  The  Company  also  owns  and  operates  media  businesses  for  adults.  The  Company’s 
corporate offices are located in Houston, Texas.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Accounting

The  accounts  are  maintained  and  the  consolidated  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  using  the  accrual  basis  of  accounting  in 
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP” or “GAAP”).

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries in which a controlling interest is owned. 
Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Fiscal Year

Our fiscal year ends on September 30. References to years 2020, 2019, and 2018 are for fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, 
and 2018, respectively. Our fiscal quarters chronologically end on December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 30.

Use of Estimates

The  preparation  of  consolidated  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  U.S.  GAAP  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and 
assumptions  that  affect  certain  reported  amounts  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  accompanying  notes.  Estimates  and 
assumptions are based on historical experience, forecasted future events, and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable 
under the circumstances. Estimates and assumptions may vary under different circumstances and conditions. We evaluate our estimates 
and assumptions on an ongoing basis.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers as cash equivalents all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased. The 
Company maintains deposits in several financial institutions, which may at times exceed amounts covered by insurance provided by the 
U.S.  Federal  Deposit  Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). The Company has not experienced any losses related to amounts in excess  of 
FDIC limits.

48

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued

Accounts and Notes Receivable

Accounts receivable for club and restaurant operations are primarily comprised of credit card charges, which are generally converted to 
cash in two to five days after a purchase is made. The media division’s accounts receivable are primarily comprised of receivables for 
advertising  sales  and  Expo  registration.  Accounts  receivable  also  include  employee  advances,  construction  advances,  and  other 
miscellaneous receivables. Long-term notes receivable, which have original maturity of more than one year, include consideration from 
the sale of certain investment interest entities and real estate. The Company recognizes interest income on notes receivable based on the 
terms of the agreement and based upon management’s evaluation that the notes receivable and interest income will be collected. The 
Company  recognizes  allowances  for  doubtful  accounts  or  notes  when,  based  on  management  judgment,  circumstances  indicate  that 
accounts or notes receivable will not be collected. Allowance for doubtful accounts balance related to accounts receivable was $261,000 
and $101,000 as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively (see Note 6). Allowance for doubtful accounts balance related to notes 
receivable was $182,000 and $0 as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories include alcoholic beverages, energy drinks, food, and Company merchandise. Inventories are carried at net realizable value.

Property and Equipment

Property  and  equipment  are  stated  at  cost.  Provisions  for  depreciation  and  amortization  are  made  using  straight-line  rates  over  the 
estimated useful lives of the related assets, and the shorter of useful lives or terms of the applicable leases for leasehold improvements. 
Buildings have estimated useful lives ranging from 29 to 40 years. Furniture and equipment have estimated useful lives of 5 to 7 years, 
while leasehold improvements are depreciated at the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life. Expenditures for major renewals 
and betterments that extend the useful lives are capitalized. Expenditures for normal maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. 
The cost of assets sold, retired or abandoned and the related accumulated depreciation are written off from the accounts, and any gains 
or  losses  are charged or  credited in the  accompanying consolidated statement  of operations of the respective period. Interest  expense 
from related debt incurred during site construction is capitalized, which amounted to $156,000 in 2020, $597,000 in fiscal 2019, and 
$319,000 in fiscal 2018.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized but reviewed on an annual basis for impairment. Definite-
lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated lives.

The  costs  of  transferable  licenses  purchased  through  open  markets  are  capitalized  as  indefinite-lived  intangible  assets.  The  costs  of 
obtaining  non-transferable  licenses  that  are  directly  issued  by  local  government  agencies  are  expensed  as  incurred.  Annual  license 
renewal fees are expensed over their renewal term.

Goodwill and other intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives are tested annually for impairment during our fourth fiscal quarter 
and are tested for impairment more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. An impairment loss 
is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds the asset’s fair value.

49

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For our goodwill impairment review, we have the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than 
not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value. This assessment is based on several factors, including industry 
and  market  conditions,  overall  financial  performance,  including  an  assessment  of  cash  flows  in  comparison  to  actual  and  projected 
results of prior periods. If it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying 
value based on our qualitative analysis, or if we elect to skip this step, we perform a Step 1 quantitative analysis to determine the fair 
value of the reporting unit. The fair value is determined using market-related valuation models, including earnings multiples, discounted 
cash  flows,  and  comparable  asset  market  values.  We  recognize  goodwill  impairment  in  the  amount  that  the  carrying  value  of  the 
reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, not to exceed the amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit, based on 
the results of our Step 1 analysis. For the year ended September 30, 2020, we identified seven reporting units that were impaired and 
recognized a goodwill impairment loss totaling $7.9 million. See related discussion in Note 3. For the year ended September 30, 2019, 
we  identified  four  reporting  units  that  were  impaired  and  recognized  a  goodwill  impairment  loss  totaling  $1.6  million.  For  the  year 
ended  September  30,  2018,  we  identified  two  reporting  units  that  were  impaired  and  recognized  a  goodwill  impairment  loss  totaling 
$834,000. See Note 18.

For indefinite-lived intangibles, specifically SOB licenses, we determine fair value by estimating the multiperiod excess earnings of the 
asset. For indefinite-lived tradename, we determine fair value by using the relief from royalty method. The fair value is then compared 
to the carrying value and an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the 
asset. We recorded impairment charges for SOB licenses amounting to $2.3 million in 2020 related to two clubs (see Note 3), $178,000 
in 2019 related to one club, and $3.1 million in 2018 related to three clubs, which are included in other charges, net in the consolidated 
statements of operations. See Note 18.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The  Company  reviews  long-lived  assets,  such  as  property  and  equipment,  intangible  assets  subject  to  amortization,  and  right-of-use 
assets on operating leases for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or 
asset  group  may  not  be  recoverable.  These  events  or  changes  in  circumstances  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  significant 
underperformance relative to  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. Recoverability of assets to be held 
and  used  is  measured  by  a  comparison  of  the  carrying  amount  of  the  asset  group  to  the  estimated  undiscounted  cash  flows  over  the 
estimated remaining useful life of the primary asset included in the asset group. If the asset group is not recoverable, the impairment loss 
is calculated as the excess of the carrying value over the fair value. We define our asset group as an operating club or restaurant location, 
which  is  also  our  reporting  unit  or  the  lowest  level  for  which  cash  flows  can  be  identified.  Assets  to  be  disposed  of  are  separately 
presented  in  the  balance  sheet  and  reported  at  the  lower  of  the  carrying  amount  or  fair  value  less  costs  to  sell  and  are  no  longer 
depreciated.  For  assets  held  for sale, we  measure fair  value using  an  estimation based on  quoted  prices for  similar  items in active  or 
inactive markets (level 2) developed using observable data. The assets and liabilities of a disposal group classified as held for sale are 
presented separately in the appropriate asset and liability sections of the balance sheet. During fiscal 2020, the Company impaired one 
club and one Bombshells unit for a total of $302,000; during fiscal 2019, the Company impaired two clubs for a total of $4.2 million; 
and during fiscal 2018, the Company impaired one club and one Bombshells for a total of $1.6 million. The Company also impaired one 
club in fiscal of 2020 for operating lease right-of-use assets amounting to $104,000. See Notes 7 and 18.

50

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The  Company  calculates  the  fair  value  of  its  assets  and  liabilities  which  qualify  as  financial  instruments  and  includes  this  additional 
information in the notes to consolidated financial statements when the fair value is different than the carrying value of these financial 
instruments.  The  estimated  fair  value  of  accounts  receivable,  accounts  payable  and  accrued  liabilities  approximate  their  carrying 
amounts due to the relatively short maturity of these instruments. The carrying value of notes receivable and short and long-term debt 
also  approximates  fair  value  since  these  instruments  bear  market  rates  of  interest.  None  of  these  instruments  are  held  for  trading 
purposes.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) is the total of net income or loss and all other changes in net assets arising from non-owner sources, which 
are  referred  to  as  items  of  other  comprehensive  income  (loss).  An  analysis  of  changes  in  components  of  accumulated  other 
comprehensive income is presented in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages, food and merchandise, service and other revenues at the point-
of-sale upon receipt of cash, check, or credit card charge, net of discounts and promotional allowances based on consideration specified 
in  implied  contracts  with  customers.  Sales  and  liquor  taxes  collected  from  customers  and  remitted  to  governmental  authorities  are 
presented on a net basis in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The Company recognizes revenue when it satisfies 
a performance obligation (point in time of sale) by transferring control over a product or service to a customer.

Commission revenues, such as ATM commission, are recognized when the basis for such commission has transpired. Revenues from the 
sale  of  magazines  and  advertising  content  are  recognized  when  the  issue  is  published  and  shipped.  Revenues  and  external  expenses 
related to the Company’s annual Expo convention are recognized upon the completion of the convention, which normally occurs during 
our  fiscal  fourth  quarter.  Lease  revenue  (included  in  other  revenues)  is  recognized  when  earned  (recognized  over  time)  and  is  more 
appropriately covered by guidance under ASC 842, Leases (ASC 840 in prior year).

Refer to Notes 5 and 22 for additional disclosures on revenues and leases, respectively.

Advertising and Marketing

Advertising and marketing expenses are primarily comprised of costs related to public advertisements and giveaways, which are used 
for  promotional  purposes.  Advertising  and  marketing  expenses  are  expensed  as  incurred  and  are  included  in  selling,  general  and 
administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. See Note 6.

Income Taxes

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax and income taxes imposed in the state and local jurisdictions 
where we operate our businesses. Deferred income taxes are determined using the liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are 
recognized  for  the  future  tax  consequences  attributable  to  differences  between  the  financial  statement  carrying  amounts  of  existing 
assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to 
apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred 
tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. In addition, a 
valuation allowance is established to reduce any deferred tax asset for which it is determined that it is more likely than not that some 
portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

51

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

U.S.  GAAP  creates  a  single  model  to  address  accounting  for  uncertainty  in  tax  positions  by  prescribing  a  minimum  recognition 
threshold  a  tax  position  is  required  to  meet  before  being  recognized  in  the  financial  statements.  We  recognize  penalties  related  to 
unrecognized  tax  benefits  as  a  component  of  selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses,  and  recognize  interest  accrued  related  to 
unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense.

Investments

Investments in companies in which the company has a 20% to 50% interest are accounted for using the equity method, which are carried 
at cost and adjusted for the Company’s proportionate share of their undistributed earnings or losses. Investments in companies in which 
the Company owns less than a 20% interest, or where the Company does not exercise significant influence, are accounted for at cost and 
reviewed for any impairment. Cost and equity method investments are included in other assets in the Company’s consolidated balance 
sheets.  In  relation  to  the  reacquisition  of  Drink  Robust  in  2018,  which  we  partially  sold  in  fiscal  2016,  we  have  consolidated  the 
operations of Drink Robust and eliminated the investment in consolidation. See Note 16.

Paycheck Protection Program

The  Company’s  policy  is  to  account  for  the  Paycheck  Protection  Program  (“PPP”)  loan  as  debt  (see  Note  10).  The  Company  will 
continue to record the loan as debt until either (1) the loans are partially or entirely forgiven and the Company has been legally released 
from the obligation, at which point the amount forgiven will be recorded as income, or (2) the Company pays off the loans.

Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Basic  earnings  (loss)  per  share  includes  no  dilution  and  is  computed  by  dividing  income  available  to  common  stockholders  by  the 
weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share reflect the potential dilution of 
securities that could share in the earnings or losses of the Company. Potential common stock shares consist of shares that may arise from 
outstanding  dilutive common  restricted  stock,  stock  options  and  warrants (the number of  which is computed using  the  treasury  stock 
method)  and  from  outstanding  convertible  debentures  (the  number  of  which  is  computed  using  the  if-converted  method).  Diluted 
earnings (loss) per share considers the potential dilution that could occur if the Company’s outstanding common restricted stock, stock 
options, warrants and convertible debentures were converted into common stock that then shared in the Company’s earnings or losses 
(as adjusted for interest expense, that would no longer be incurred if the debentures were converted).

52

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

During  the  years  ended  September  30,  2020,  2019,  and  2018,  the  Company  did  not  have  any  outstanding  dilutive  securities  that  are 
considered adjustment items to reconcile the numerator and the denominator in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per 
share.

Stock Options

The Company  recognizes all  employee stock-based compensation  as a  cost  in  the consolidated financial statements. Equity-classified 
awards  are  measured  at  the  grant  date  fair  value  of  the  award  and  recognized  as  expense  over  their  requisite  service  period.  The 
Company estimates grant date fair value using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The critical estimates are volatility, expected life 
and risk-free rate.

At September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company has no stock options outstanding, and as of September 30, 2020, the Company’s 2010 
Stock Option Plan contractually expired.

53

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued

Legal and Other Contingencies

The  Company  records  a  liability  when  it  is  probable  that  a  loss  has  been  incurred  and  the  amount  is  reasonably  estimable.  There  is 
significant judgment required in both the probability determination and as to whether an exposure can be reasonably estimated. In the 
opinion of management, there was not at least a reasonable possibility that we may have incurred a material loss, or a material loss in 
excess of a recorded accrual, with respect to loss contingencies for asserted legal and other claims. The Company recognizes legal fees 
and expenses, including those related to legal contingencies, as incurred.

Generally, the Company recognizes gain contingencies when they are realized or when all related contingencies have been resolved.

The Company maintains insurance that covers claims arising from risks associated with the Company’s business including claims for 
workers’ compensation, general liability, property, auto, and business interruption coverage. The Company carries substantial insurance 
to cover such risks with large deductibles and/or self-insured retention. These policies have been structured to limit our per-occurrence 
exposure. The Company believes, and the Company’s experience has been, that such insurance policies have been sufficient to cover 
such risks.

Fair Value Accounting

The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to 
the extent possible. The Company determines fair value based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or 
liability in the principal or most advantageous market. When considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the 
following fair value hierarchy distinguishes between observable and unobservable inputs, which are categorized in one of the following 
levels.

U.S. GAAP establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring 
fair value:

● Level 1 – Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

● Level 2 – Include other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.

● Level 3 – Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity.

The fair value hierarchy also requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs 
when measuring fair value.

The Company  classifies  its  marketable securities as available-for-sale, which are  reported  at fair  value. Unrealized  holding gains and 
losses,  net  of  the  related  income  tax  effect,  if  any,  on  available-for-sale  securities  were  excluded  from  income  and  were  reported  as 
accumulated other comprehensive income in equity until our adoption of ASU 2016-01 as of October 1, 2018. Realized gains and losses 
(and  unrealized  gains  and  losses  upon  the  adoption  of  ASU  2016-01)  from  securities  classified  as  available-for-sale  are  included  in 
comprehensive  income  (loss).  The  Company  measures  the  fair  value  of  its  marketable  securities  based  on  quoted  prices  for  identical 
securities  in  active  markets,  or  Level  1  inputs.  Available-for-sale  securities,  which  are  included  in  other  assets  in  the  consolidated 
balance sheets, had a balance of $84,000 and $148,000 as of September 30, 2020 and 2019.

54

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company reviews its marketable securities to determine whether a decline in fair value of a security 
below the cost basis is other than temporary. Should the decline be considered other than temporary, the Company writes down the cost 
basis of the security and include the loss in current earnings as opposed to an unrealized holding loss. No losses or other-than-temporary 
impairments in our marketable securities portfolio were recognized during the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

Assets and Liabilities that are Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

Assets  and  liabilities  that  are  measured  at  fair  value  on  a  nonrecurring  basis  relate  primarily  to  tangible  property  and  equipment, 
goodwill  and  other  intangible  assets,  which  are  remeasured  when  the  derived  fair  value  is  below  carrying  value  in  the  consolidated 
balance sheets. For these assets, the Company does not periodically adjust carrying value to fair value except in the event of impairment. 
If it is determined that impairment has occurred, the carrying value of the asset is reduced to fair value and the difference is included in 
other charges, net in the consolidated statements of operations.

Assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are as follows (in thousands):

Description
Property and equipment
Indefinite-lived intangibles
Goodwill
Operating lease right-of-use assets*
Operating lease liabilities*
Other assets (equity securities)

$

September 30,
2020

6,042
656
5,883
27,310
(28,551)
84

*

Measured at October 1, 2019 upon the adoption of ASC 842.

Description
Property and equipment
Indefinite-lived intangibles
Definite-lived intangibles
Goodwill
Other assets (equity securities)

$

September 30,
2019

10,926
5,323
200
11,627
148

Fair Value at Reporting Date Using

Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Asset
(Level 1)

-
-
-
-
-
84

Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)

$

-
-
-
-
-
-

Fair Value at Reporting Date Using

Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Asset
(Level 1)

Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)

$

-
-
-
-
148

-
-
-
-
-

$

$

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

6,042
656
5,883
27,310
(28,551)
-

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

10,926
5,323
200
11,627
-

$

$

55

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Description
Goodwill
Property and equipment, net
Indefinite-lived intangibles
Operating lease right-of-use assets
Other assets (equity securities)

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Unrealized Gain (Loss/Impairments) Recognized
Years Ended September 30,
2019

2018

2020

$

$

(7,944)
(302)
(2,265)
(104)
(64)

$

(1,638)
(4,224)
(178)
-
(612)

(834)
(1,615)
(3,121)
-
305

In  February  2016,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  (“FASB”)  issued  Accounting  Standards  Update  (“ASU”)  No.  2016-02, 
Leases (Topic 842), on accounting for leases which requires lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets for the rights and 
obligations created by those leases. The guidance requires enhanced disclosures regarding the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash 
flows arising from leases, and will be effective for interim and  annual  periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is 
permitted. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11 providing for certain practical expedients in the implementation of ASU 2016-
02.  The  guidance  requires  the  use  of  a  modified  retrospective  approach.  We  adopted  ASU  2016-02  and  related  amendments  as  of 
October 1, 2019 and elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which 
among other things, allows us to retain historical lease classification, as well as relief from reviewing expired and existing contracts to 
determine if they contain leases. Our adoption of the new leasing standard resulted in an increase of $27.3 million in our total assets as 
of October 1, 2019 due to the recognition of operating lease right-of-use assets net of the reclassification of deferred rent liability of $1.2 
million and an increase in total liabilities due to the recognition of a $28.6 million operating lease liabilities. Our adoption of ASC 842 
did  not  have  an  impact  on  our  consolidated  statements  of  operations  and  cash  flows,  except  for  additional  required  disclosures.  See 
additional disclosures in Note 22.

56

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

In  June  2016,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  2016-13,  Financial  Instruments—Credit  Losses  (Topic  326):  Measurement  of  Credit  Losses  on 
Financial Instruments. This ASU requires, among other things, the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at 
the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. ASU 2016-13 replaces 
the  existing  incurred  loss  impairment  model  with  an  expected  loss  model  which  requires  the  use  of  forward-looking  information  to 
calculate  credit  loss  estimates.  It also eliminates the  concept of other-than-temporary  impairment  and  requires  credit  losses related  to 
available-for-sale debt securities to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than as a reduction in the amortized cost 
basis of the securities. These changes will result in earlier recognition of credit losses. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim 
periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early application will be permitted for all entities for fiscal years, 
and  interim  periods  within  those  fiscal  years,  beginning  after  December  15,  2018.  Our  evaluation  indicates  that  our  consolidated 
financial statements will not be significantly impacted upon adoption of this guidance.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification 
of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This ASU provides financial statement preparers with an option 
to  reclassify  stranded  tax  effects  within  accumulated  other  comprehensive  income  (“AOCI”)  to  retained  earnings  in  each  period  in 
which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”) is recorded. The 
ASU requires financial statement preparers to disclose (1) a description of the accounting policy for releasing income tax effects from 
AOCI; (2) whether they elect to reclassify the stranded income tax effects from the Tax Act; and (3) information about the other income 
tax effects that are reclassified. The amendments affect any organization that is required to apply the provisions of Topic 220, Income 
Statement—Reporting  Comprehensive  Income,  and  has  items  of  other  comprehensive  income  for  which  the  related  tax  effects  are 
presented in other comprehensive income as required by GAAP. The ASU is effective for all organizations for fiscal years beginning 
after  December  15,  2018,  and  interim  periods  within  those  fiscal  years.  Early  adoption  is  permitted.  Organizations  should  apply  the 
proposed amendments either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in 
the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Act is recognized. We adopted ASU 2018-02 as of October 1, 2019. Our adoption 
of this guidance did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the 
Disclosure  Requirements  for  Fair  Value  Measurement.  ASU  2018-13  modifies  the  disclosure  requirements  of  Accounting  Standards 
Codification  (“ASC”)  Topic  820  with  certain  removals,  modifications,  and  additions.  Eliminated  disclosures  that  may  affect  the 
Company include (1) transfers between level 1 and level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, and (2) policies related to valuation processes and 
the  timing  of  transfers  between  levels  of  the  fair  value  hierarchy.  Modified  disclosures  that  may  affect  the  Company  include  (1)  a 
requirement to disclose the timing of liquidation of an investee’s assets and the date when restrictions from redemption might lapse if 
the entity has communicated the timing publicly for investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value, and (2) clarification that 
the measurement uncertainty disclosure is to communicate information about the uncertainty in measurement as of the reporting date. 
Additional  disclosures  that  may  affect  the  Company  include  (1)  disclosure  of  changes  in  unrealized  gains  and  losses  for  the  period 
included in other comprehensive income for recurring level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period, and (2) 
disclosure of the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop level 3 fair value measurements. The 
update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is 
permitted for any removed or modified disclosures upon issuance of the ASU and delay adoption of the additional disclosures until the 
effective date. Our evaluation indicates that fair value disclosures in our consolidated financial statements will be minimally impacted 
by the requirements of this ASU.

In March 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-01, Leases (Topic 842): Codification Improvements. ASU 2019-01 aligns the guidance 
for  fair  value  of  the  underlying  asset  by  lessors  with  existing  guidance  in  Topic  842.  The  ASU  requires  that  the  fair  value  of  the 
underlying asset at lease commencement is its cost reflecting in volume or trade discounts that may apply. However, if there has been a 
significant  lapse  of  time  between  the  date  the  asset  was  acquired  and  the  lease  commencement  date,  the  definition  of  fair  value  as 
outlined in Topic 820 should be applied. In addition, the ASU exempts both lessees and lessors from having to provide certain interim 
disclosures in the fiscal year in which a company adopts the new leases standard. The update is effective for fiscal years, and interim 
periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Our evaluation indicates that our consolidated financial statements 
will not be significantly impacted upon adoption of this guidance.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. This ASU 
simplifies accounting for income taxes by removing the following exceptions: (1) exception to the incremental approach for intraperiod 
tax  allocation,  (2)  exceptions  to  accounting  for  basis  differences  when  there  are  ownership  changes  in  foreign  investments,  and  (3) 
exception  in  interim  period  income  tax  accounting  for  year-to-date  losses  that  exceed  anticipated  losses.  The  ASU  also  improves 
financial  statement  preparers’  application  of  income  tax  related  guidance  for  franchise  taxes  that  are  partially  based  on  income; 
transactions with a government that result in a step up in the tax basis of goodwill; separate financial statements of legal entities that are 
not subject to tax; and enacted changes in tax laws in interim periods. The ASU is effective for public business entities for fiscal years 
beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for public business entities 
for periods for which financial statements have not been issued. An entity that elects early adoption in an interim period should reflect 
any  adjustments  as  of  the  beginning  of  the  annual  period  that  includes  that  interim  period.  Additionally,  an  entity  that  elects  early 
adoption  should  adopt  all  the  amendments  in  the  same  period.  We  are  still  evaluating  the  impact  of  this  ASU  on  the  Company’s 
consolidated financial statements.

57

3. Liquidity and Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

In  March  2020,  President  Donald  Trump  declared  the  coronavirus  disease  2019  (“COVID-19”)  pandemic  as  a  national  public  health 
emergency.  The  declaration  resulted  in  a  significant  reduction  in  customer  traffic  in  our  clubs  and  restaurants  due  to  changes  in 
consumer behavior as social distancing practices, dining room closures and other restrictions were mandated or encouraged by federal, 
state and local governments. Since March 2020, we have temporarily closed and reopened several of our clubs and restaurants.

The  temporary  closure  of  our  clubs  and  restaurants  caused  by  the  COVID-19  pandemic  has  presented  operational  challenges.  Our 
strategy  is  to  open locations in  accordance  with local and  state  guidelines and  it is  too early  to  know  when  and  if  they  will  generate 
positive  cash  flows  for  us.  Depending  on  the  timing  and  number  of  locations  we  are  allowed  to  open,  and  their  ability  to  generate 
positive cash flow, we may need to borrow funds to meet our obligations or consider selling certain assets. The COVID-19 pandemic is 
adversely affecting the availability of liquidity generally in the credit markets, and there can be no guarantee that additional liquidity 
will be readily available or available on favorable terms, especially the longer the COVID-19 pandemic lasts.

To augment an expected decline in operating cash flows caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we instituted the following measures:

● Arranged and continue to arrange for deferment of principal and interest payment on certain of our debts;

● Furloughed employees working at our clubs and restaurants, except for a limited number of managers;

● Pay cut for all remaining salaried and hourly employees and deferral of board of director compensation;

● Deferred or modified certain fixed monthly expenses such as insurance, rent, and taxes, among others;

● Canceled  certain  non-essential  expenses  such  as  advertising,  cable,  pest  control,  point-of-sale  system  support,  and  investor 

relations coverage, among others.

On May 8, 2020, the Company received approval and funding under the PPP of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act 
(the “CARES Act”) for its restaurants, shared service entity and lounge. See Notes 10 and 11. Ten of our restaurant subsidiaries received 
amounts  ranging  from  $271,000  to  $579,000  for  an  aggregate  amount  of  $4.2  million;  our  shared-services  subsidiary  received  $1.1 
million;  and  one  of  our  lounges  received  $124,000.  None  of  our  adult  nightclub  and  other  non-core  business  subsidiaries  received 
funding under the PPP. The Company believes it has used the entire loan amount for qualifying expenses. Under the terms of the PPP, 
certain amounts of the loan may be forgiven if they are used for qualifying expenses as described in the CARES Act. The Company has 
currently utilized all of the PPP funds and has submitted its forgiveness applications. As of the filing of this report, we have received ten 
Notices of PPP Forgiveness Payment from the Small Business Administration out of the twelve of our PPP loans granted. All of the 
notices received forgave 100% of each of the ten PPP loans totaling the amount of $4.9 million. No assurance can be provided that the 
Company will in fact obtain forgiveness of the remaining two PPP loans in whole or in part.

As of the release of this report, we do not know the future extent and duration of the impact of COVID-19 on our businesses. Lower 
sales, as caused by local, state and national guidelines, could lead to adverse financial results. However, we will continually monitor and 
evaluate the situation and will determine any further measures to be instituted, including refinancing several of our debt obligations.

We  continue  to  adhere  to  state  and  local  government  mandates  regarding  the  pandemic  and,  since  March  2020,  have  closed  and 
reopened several of our locations depending on changing government mandates. As of the release of this report, we have reopened many 
of our club and Bombshells locations with certain operating hour restrictions and with limited occupancy.

Valuation of Goodwill, Indefinite-Lived Intangibles and Long-Lived Assets

We  consider  the  COVID-19  pandemic  as  a  triggering  event  in  the  assessment  of  recoverability  of  the  goodwill,  indefinite-lived 
intangibles, and long-lived assets in our clubs and restaurants that are affected. We evaluated forecasted cash flows considering future 
assumed  impact  of  COVID-19  pandemic  on  sales.  Based  on  our  evaluation  we  conducted  during  the  quarters  since  the  pandemic 
emerged,  we  determined  that  as  of  September  30,  2020  our  assets  are  impaired  in  a  total  amount  of  approximately  $10.6  million 
comprised of $7.9 million in goodwill, $2.3 million in SOB licenses, $302,000 in property and equipment, and $104,000 in operating 
lease right-of-use assets.

58

4. Revision of Prior Year Immaterial Misstatement

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

During the fourth quarter ended September 30, 2020, the Company identified an error in the calculation of income taxes in relation to a 
disposed  entity  during  the  fiscal  2019  first  quarter  ended  December  31,  2018.  The  error  related  to  the  recognition  of  income  tax 
receivable on the disposed entity. The Company determined the amount of the income tax receivable to be recognized with a consequent 
credit to income tax expense as $1.1 million.

The Company assessed  the materiality of the error considering both qualitative and quantitative factors and determined that the error 
was  immaterial  for  fiscal  2019  but  material  if  recorded  as  an  out-of-period  adjustment  in  fiscal  2020.  Therefore,  the  Company  has 
decided to correct the error as a revision to our previously issued financial statements and has adjusted this Form 10-K insofar as fiscal 
2019 is concerned.

The tables below present the impact of the revision in the Company’s consolidated financial statements (in thousands, except per share 
amounts):

Consolidated Statement of Income/Comprehensive Income:
As previously reported —

Income tax expense
Net income
Net income attributable to RCIHH common stockholders
Earnings per share - basic and diluted
Comprehensive income
Comprehensive income attributable to RCIHH common stockholders

Adjustments —

Income tax expense
Net income
Net income attributable to RCIHH common stockholders
Earnings per share - basic and diluted
Comprehensive income
Comprehensive income attributable to RCIHH common stockholders

As revised —

Income tax expense
Net income
Net income attributable to RCIHH common stockholders
Earnings per share - basic and diluted
Comprehensive income
Comprehensive income attributable to RCIHH common stockholders

$
$
$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$
$
$

Fiscal 2019

First Quarter

Full Year

1,811
6,404
6,344
0.65
6,404
6,344

(1,119)
1,119
1,119
0.12
1,119
1,119

692
7,523
7,463
0.77
7,523
7,463

$
$
$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$
$
$

4,863
19,326
19,175
1.99
19,106
18,955

(1,119)
1,119
1,119
0.12
1,119
1,119

3,744
20,445
20,294
2.10
20,225
20,074

December 31,
2018

March 31,
2019

June 30,
2019

September 30,
2019

December 31,
2019

March 31,
2020

June 30,
2020

Consolidated Balance 
Sheet:
As previously 
reported —

Accounts 
receivable, net
Total current 
assets
Total assets
Retained 
earnings
Total RCIHH 
stockholders’ 
equity
Total equity

Adjustments —
Accounts 
receivable, net
Total current 
assets
Total assets
Retained 
earnings
Total RCIHH 
stockholders’ 
equity
Total equity

As revised —

Accounts 
receivable, net
Total current 
assets
Total assets
Retained 
earnings
Total RCIHH 
stockholders’ 
equity
Total equity

$

$
$

$

$
$

$

$
$

$

$
$

$

$
$

$

$
$

5,583

25,067
349,522

95,179

159,133
159,090

1,119

1,119
1,119

1,119

1,119
1,119

6,702

26,186
350,641

96,298

160,252
160,209

$

$
$

$

$
$

$

$
$

$

$
$

5,579

21,859
350,873

101,623

163,971
163,936

6,698

22,978
351,992

102,742

165,090
165,055

$

$
$

$

$
$

$

$
$

$

$
$

5,001

22,597
350,878

106,976

168,921
168,906

6,120

23,716
351,997

108,095

170,040
170,025

$

$
$

$

$
$

$

$
$

$

$
$

6,289

34,771
353,637

107,049

168,457
168,301

7,408

35,890
354,756

108,168

169,576
169,420

$

$
$

$

$
$

$

$
$

$

$
$

3,131

30,899
376,173

112,404

167,371
167,205

4,250

32,018
377,292

113,523

168,490
168,324

$

$
$

$

$
$

$

$
$

$

$
$

3,559

26,767
361,896

108,584

161,504
161,276

4,678

27,886
363,015

109,703

162,623
162,395

$

$
$

$

$
$

$

$
$

$

$
$

5,529

28,350
360,374

102,837

155,757
155,435

6,648

29,469
361,493

103,956

156,876
156,554

The consolidated statement of cash flows are not presented because there is no impact on total cash flows from operating, investing, and 
financing  activities.  Certain  components  of  net  cash  provided  by  operating  activities  changed  due  to  the  revision  but  the  net  change 
amounted to zero for both the quarter ended December 31, 2018 and fiscal year ended September 30, 2019.

59

5. Revenues

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Revenues,  as  disaggregated  by  revenue  type,  timing  of  recognition,  and  reportable  segment  (see  also  Note  19),  are  shown  below  (in 
thousands).

Sales of alcoholic beverages
Sales of food and merchandise
Service revenues
Other revenues

Recognized at a point in time
Recognized over time

Sales of alcoholic beverages
Sales of food and merchandise
Service revenues
Other revenues

Recognized at a point in time
Recognized over time

Sales of alcoholic beverages
Sales of food and merchandise
Service revenues
Other revenues

Recognized at a point in time
Recognized over time

Nightclubs

Bombshells

Other

Total

Fiscal 2020

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

31,950
8,561
41,004
6,858
88,373

87,049
1,324
88,373

Nightclubs

57,277
13,051
67,893
10,385
148,606

146,938
1,668
148,606

Nightclubs

54,800
12,732
64,054
8,474
140,060

138,847
1,213
140,060

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

27,130
15,899
158
28
43,215

43,215
-
43,215

$

$

$

$

-
-
-
739
739

725
14
739

Fiscal 2019

Bombshells

Other

17,863
12,779
162
24
30,828

30,828
-
30,828

$

$

$

$

-
-
-
1,625
1,625

1,572
53
1,625

Fiscal 2018

Bombshells

Other

14,320
9,701
50
23
24,094

24,094
-
24,094

$

$

$

$

-
-
-
1,594
1,594

1,516
78
1,594

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

59,080
24,460
41,162
7,625
132,327

130,989
1,338
132,327

Total

75,140
25,830
68,055
12,034
181,059

179,338
1,721
181,059

Total

69,120
22,433
64,104
10,091
165,748

164,457
1,291
165,748

* Lease revenue (included in Other Revenues) is covered by ASC 842 in the current year (and ASC 840 in the prior years. All other 
revenues are covered by ASC Topic 606.

60

5. Revenues - continued

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The Company does not have contract assets with customers. The Company’s unconditional right to consideration for goods and services 
transferred  to  the  customer  is  included  in  accounts  receivable,  net  in  our  consolidated  balance  sheet.  A  reconciliation  of  contract 
liabilities with customers, included in accrued liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets, is presented below:

Ad revenue
Expo revenue
Other

Balance at 
September 
30, 2018
$

126 $
-
8
134 $

$

Consideration 
Received

Recognized 
in Revenue

Balance at 
September 
30, 2019

Consideration 
Received

Recognized 
in Revenue

602  $
602
52

(652) $
(602)
(53)

1,256 $ (1,307) $

76 $
-
7
83 $

538 $
211
40
789 $

Balance at 
September 
30, 2020
92
211
33
336

(522) $
-
(14)
(536) $

6. Selected Account Information

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

Credit card receivables
Income tax refundable
Insurance receivable
ATM-in-transit
Other (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $261 and $101, respectively)

September 30,

2020

2019

(As Revised)

880
4,325
191
160
1,211
6,767

$

$

1,396
2,900
1,197
780
1,135
7,408

$

$

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

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

Insurance
Payroll and related costs
Property taxes
Sales and liquor taxes
Interest
Patron tax
Lawsuit settlement
Unearned revenues
Other

September 30,

2020

2019

4,405
2,419
2,003
2,613
1,390
309
100
336
998
14,573

$

$

4,937
2,892
1,675
3,086
508
595
115
83
753
14,644

$

$

61

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6. Selected Account Information - continued

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

Taxes and permits
Advertising and marketing
Supplies and services
Insurance
Lease
Legal
Utilities
Charge cards fees
Security
Accounting and professional fees
Repairs and maintenance
Other

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

Impairment of assets
Settlement of lawsuits
Loss (gain) on sale of businesses and assets
Loss (gain) on insurance

7. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):

Buildings and land
Equipment
Leasehold improvements
Furniture
Total property and equipment
Less accumulated depreciation
Property and equipment, net

2020

Years Ended September 30,
2019

2018

8,071
5,367
4,711
5,777
4,060
4,725
2,945
2,382
2,582
3,463
2,289
5,320
51,692

$

$

10,779
8,392
5,911
5,429
3,896
5,180
3,165
3,803
2,973
2,815
2,980
4,573
59,896

2020

Years Ended September 30,
2019

10,615
174
(661)
420
10,548

$

$

6,040
225
(2,877)
(768)
2,620

$

$

$

$

9,545
7,536
5,344
5,473
3,720
3,586
2,969
3,244
2,617
2,944
2,184
4,662
53,824

2018

5,570
1,669
1,965
(20)
9,184

$

$

$

$

September 30,

2020

2019

163,938
37,000
29,776
9,614
240,328
(58,945)
181,383

$

$

159,969
37,031
32,868
9,393
239,261
(55,305)
183,956

$

$

Included  in  buildings  and  leasehold  improvements  above  are  construction-in-progress  amounting  to  $20,000  and  $8.9  million  as  of 
September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, which are mostly related to Bombshells projects.

Depreciation  expense  was  approximately  $8.2  million,  $8.4  million,  and  $7.5  million  for  fiscal  years  2020,  2019,  and  2018, 
respectively. Impairment loss for property and equipment was $302,000, $4.2 million, and $1.6 million for fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018, 
respectively.

62

8. Assets Held for Sale

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

As of September 30, 2019, the Company had two real estate properties for sale. The aggregate estimated fair value of the properties less 
cost  to  sell  as  of  September  30,  2019  was  approximately  $2.9  million  and  was  reclassified  to  assets  held  for  sale  in  the  Company’s 
consolidated balance sheet. The assets were measured at the carrying value as adjusted for depreciation, which was lower than the fair 
value at the date reclassified.

During  the  three  months  ended  December  31,  2019,  the  Company  classified  as  held-for-sale  another  real  estate  property  with  an 
aggregate estimated fair value of the property less cost to sell of $1.9 million. This property was later reclassified out of held-for-sale 
assets and back to property and equipment during the three months ended June 30, 2020 due to a change in management’s plan with the 
property.

During the three months ended June 30, 2020, the Company sold one held-for-sale property valued at $853,000 for $1.5 million.

During the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Company reverted the remaining held-for-sale real estate property with a value 
of $2.0 million as held and used.

The Company expects the properties held for sale, which are primarily comprised of land and buildings, to be sold within 12 months 
through property listings by our real estate brokers.

No liabilities were associated with held-for-sale assets as of September 30, 2019. Gains or losses on the sale of properties held for sale 
are included in other charges (gains), net within the consolidated statements of operations.

63

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

9. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and other intangible assets consisted of the following (in thousands):

Indefinite useful lives:

Goodwill
Licenses
Tradename

Definite useful lives:
Discounted leases
Non-compete agreements
Software
Distribution agreement

Total goodwill and other intangible assets

Beginning balance
Acquisitions
Impairment
Amortization
Ending balance

September 30,

2020

2019

$

$

45,686
70,332
2,215
118,233

Amortization Period

18 & 6 years
5 years
5 years
3 years

$

93
362
23
52
530
118,763

$

53,630
72,597
2,215
128,442

101
565
315
158
1,139
129,581

Definite- 
Lived 
Intangibles
1,139
$
-
-
(609)
530

$

2020
Indefinite- 
Lived 
Intangibles
$ 74,812
-
(2,265)
-
$ 72,547

Goodwill
$ 53,630
-
(7,944)
-
$ 45,686

Definite- 
Lived 
Intangibles
1,794
$
243
-
(898)
1,139

$

2019
Indefinite- 
Lived 
Intangibles
$ 69,738
5,252
(178)
-
$ 74,812

Goodwill
$ 43,591
11,677
(1,638)
-
$ 53,630

As  of  September  30,  2020  and  2019,  the  accumulated  impairment  balance  of  indefinite-lived  intangibles  was  $8.4  million  and  $6.1 
million, respectively, while the accumulated impairment balance of goodwill was $14.3 million and $6.3 million, respectively. Future 
amortization  expense  related  to  definite-lived  intangible  assets  that  are  subject  to  amortization  at  September  30,  2020  is:  2021  - 
$263,000; 2022 - $134,000; 2023 - $59,000; 2024 - $11,000; 2025 - $7,000; and thereafter - $56,000.

Indefinite-lived  intangible  assets  consist  of  sexually  oriented  business  licenses  and  tradename,  which  were  obtained  as  part  of 
acquisitions. These licenses are the result of zoning ordinances, thus are valid indefinitely, subject to filing annual renewal applications, 
which are done at minimal costs to the Company. The discounted cash flow of the income approach method was used in calculating the 
value of these licenses in a business combination, while the relief-from-royalty method was used in calculating the value of tradenames. 
During  the  fiscal  year  ended  September  30,  2020,  the  Company  recognized  a  $2.3  million  impairment  related  to  two  clubs’  SOB 
licenses  and  a  $7.9  million  impairment  related  to  the  goodwill  of  seven  reporting  units  (see  Note  3).  During  the  fiscal  year  ended 
September 30, 2019, the Company recognized a $178,000 impairment related to one club’s SOB license and a $1.6 million impairment 
related to the goodwill of four reporting units. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, the Company recognized a $3.1 million 
impairment related to three clubs’ SOB licenses and an $834,000 impairment related to the goodwill of two reporting units. See Note 18.

64

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

10. Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

Notes payable at 5.5%, matures January 2023
Non-interest-bearing debts to State of Texas, mature March 2022 and May 2022, interest 
imputed at 9.6%

Note payable at 5.75%, matures December 2027, as amended

Note payable at 5.95%, matures December 2027, as amended

Note payable at 12%, matures February 2030, as amended

Notes payable at 12%, mature November 2021, as amended

Note payable at 8%, matures October 2022, as amended
Note payable at 8%, matures May 2029

Note payable at 5.75%, matures December 2027, as amended

Note payable at 5.99%, matures September 2033, as amended

Note payable at 5%, matures August 2029

Note payable at prime plus 0.5% with a 5.5% floor, matures September 2035, as amended

Note payable initially at prime plus 0.5% with a 5.5% floor, matures September 2030

Note payable at 8%, matures May 2021

Note payable at 5.95%, matures August 2039, as amended

Note payable at 12%, matures February 2030, as amended

Note payable at 9%, matures September 2028

Note payable at 5.95%, matures September 2028, as amended

Note payable at 6%, matures February 2040, as amended

Note payable at 5.49%, matures March 2039, as amended

Note payable at 7%, matures November 2024

Note payable at 7%, matures February 2021, as amended

Notes payable at 12%, mature November 2021

Note payable at 8%, matures November 2028

Paycheck Protection Program loans at 1%, matures May 2022
Total debt
Less unamortized debt discount and issuance costs
Less current portion
Total long-term portion of debt, net

*

These commercial bank debts are guaranteed by the Company’s CEO. See Note 21.

65

September 30,

2020

2019

(d)(1) $

886

$

981

(d)(2) 
*(a)
(6ii)
(7)
*(a)
(6iii)
(7)
 (d)(3)
(25)
 (d)(4)
(26)
(b)(5)
(23)
(b)(5)
*(a)
(6i)(7)
(8)(9)
 (c)
(10)
*(a)
(12)
*(a)
(13)
*(a)
(13)
(a)
(14)
*(a)
(11)

 (d)
(15)
(24)
(a)
(17)
*(a)
(16)
*(a)
(22)
(c)
(21) 
(b)
(19)
(b)
(20)
(d)
(18) 
(b)
(20)
(d)
(27)

2,177

3,379

9,715

9,877

5,787

5,031

1,940

3,025
12,599

6,776

5,518

2,040

3,025
13,569

49,830

51,167

6,395

2,165

2,099

2,861

582

6,979

3,875

1,167

1,489

4,066

2,125

3,319

2,000

2,350

4,790

6,555

3,709

2,099

2,619

771

6,858

4,000

1,263

1,511

3,608

2,156

3,982

2,000

2,350

5,190

5,422
142,674
(1,239)
(16,304)
125,131

$

-
145,003
(1,475)
(15,754)
127,774

$

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

10. Debt - continued

Following is a summary of long-term debt at September 30 (in thousands):

(a) Secured by real estate
(b) Secured by stock in subsidiary
(c) Secured by other assets
(d) Unsecured

2020

2019

86,740
25,733
8,520
21,681
142,674

$

$

90,258
27,766
8,711
18,269
145,003

$

$

(1) In connection with the acquisition of Silver City in January 2012, the Company executed notes to the seller in the amount of $1.5 
million. The notes are payable over eleven years at $12,256 per month including interest and have an adjustable interest rate of 5.5%. 
The rate adjusts to prime plus 2.5% in the 61st month, not to exceed 9%. In the same transaction, the Company also acquired the related 
real  estate  and  executed  notes  to  the  seller  for  $6.5  million,  which  have  been paid  off  in  relation  to the  December  2017  Refinancing 
Loan,  as  discussed  below.  The  notes  are  also  payable  over  eleven  years  at  $53,110  per  month  including  interest  and  have  the  same 
adjustable interest rate of 5.5%.

(2) In 2015, the Company reached a settlement with the State of Texas over payment of the state’s Patron Tax on adult club customers. 
To  resolve  the  issue  of  taxes  owed,  the  Company  agreed  to  pay  $10.0  million  in  equal  monthly  installments  of  $119,000,  without 
interest,  over  84  months,  beginning  in  June  2015,  for  all  but  two  nonsettled  locations.  For  accounting  purposes,  the  Company  has 
discounted the $10.0 million at an imputed interest rate of 9.6%, establishing a net present value for the settlement of $7.2 million. In 
March 2017, the Company settled with the State of Texas for one of the two remaining unsettled Patron Tax locations. The Company 
agreed to pay a total of $687,815 with $195,815 paid at the time the settlement agreement was executed followed by 60 equal monthly 
installments  of  $8,200  without  interest.  In  March  2017,  the  present  value  of  the  second  note  was  approximately  $390,000  after 
discounting  using  an  imputed  interest  rate  of  9.6%.  Going  forward,  the  Company  agreed  to  remit  the  Patron  Tax  on  a  regular  basis, 
based on the current rate of $5 per customer.

(3) On October 5, 2016, the Company refinanced $8.0 million of long-term debt by borrowing $9.9 million. The new unsecured debt is 
payable $118,817 per month, including interest at 12%, and matures in five years with a balloon payment for the remaining balance at 
maturity. This note has been partially paid in relation to the first note of the December 2017 Refinancing Loan, as discussed below. Also 
refer to the February 20, 2020 loan restructuring below.

(4)  On  May  1,  2017, the Company raised $5.4 million  through  the  issuance  of 12%  unsecured  promissory notes  to  certain  investors, 
which notes mature on May 1, 2020. The notes pay interest-only in equal monthly installments, with a lump sum principal payment at 
maturity. On August 15, 2018 and September 26, 2018, the Company refinanced $2.0 million and $500,000 of the notes, respectively. 
The $2.0 million note was exchanged for a $4.0 million 12% note maturing in three years with interest-only payments until maturity, 
where the full principal is to be paid. The $500,000 note was exchanged for a $1.35 million 9% note maturing in 10 years with monthly 
payments of $17,101, including interest. On November 1, 2018, the Company refinanced two notes with a total principal of $400,000 
with  certain investors. See succeeding paragraph related to  November 1, 2018 financing below.  Included in the balance  of long-term 
debt as of September 30, 2020 and 2019 is a $200,000 note, that is a part of the May 1, 2017 financing, borrowed from a non-officer 
employee in which the terms of the note are the same as the rest of the lender group. Refer to May 1, 2020 extension below.

(5) On May 8, 2017, in relation to the Scarlett’s acquisition (see Note 16), the Company executed two promissory notes with the sellers: 
(i) a 5% short-term note for $5.0 million payable in lump sum after six months from closing date and (ii) a 12-year amortizing 8% note 
for $15.6 million. The 12-year note is payable $168,343 per month, including interest. The Company amended the $5.0 million short-
term note payable, which had a remaining balance of $3.0 million as of amendment date, several times extending the maturity date to 
October 1, 2022 and increasing the interest rate to 8% for its remaining term. Refer to December 2019 amendment below.

66

10. Debt - continued

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(6) On December 14, 2017, the Company entered into a loan agreement (“December 2017 Refinancing Loan”) with a bank for $81.2 
million.  The  December  2017  Refinancing  Loan  fully  refinanced  20  of  the  Company’s  notes  payable  and  partially  paid  down  1  note 
payable (collectively, “Repaid Notes”) with interest rates ranging from 5% to 12% covering 43 parcels of real properties the Company 
previously acquired (“Properties”). The December 2017 Refinancing Loan consists of three promissory notes:

i) The  first  note  amounts  to  $62.5  million  with  a  term  of  10  years  at  a  5.75%  fixed  interest  rate  for  the  first  five  years,  then 
repriced  one  time  at  the  then  current  U.S.  Treasury  rate  plus  3.5%,  with  a  floor  rate  of  5.75%,  and  payable  in  monthly 
installments of $442,058, based upon a 20-year amortization period, with the balance payable at maturity;

ii) The second note amounts to $10.6 million with a term of 10 years at a 5.45% fixed interest rate until July 2020, after which to 
be repriced at a fixed interest rate of 5.75% until the fifth anniversary of this note, and then to be repriced again at the then 
interest rate of the first note. This note was payable $78,098 monthly for principal and interest until July 2020, based upon a 
20-year amortization period, after which the monthly payment for principal and interest was adjusted accordingly based on the 
repricing, with the balance payable at maturity; and

iii) The third note amounts to $8.1 million with a term of 10 years at a 5.95% fixed interest rate until August 2021, after which to 
be repriced at 5.75% until the fifth anniversary of this note, and then to be repriced again at the then interest of the first note. 
This note is payable $100,062 monthly for principal and interest until August 2021, based upon a 20-year amortization period, 
after  which  the  monthly  payment  for  principal  and  interest  is  adjusted  accordingly  based  on  the  repricing,  with  the  balance 
payable at maturity.

(7) In addition to the monthly principal and interest payments as provided above, the Company paid monthly installments of principal of 
$250,000, applied to the first note, until the loan-to-value ratio of the Properties, based upon reduced principal balance of the December 
2017 Refinancing Loan and the then current value of the Properties, is not greater than 65%. The loan-to-value ratio of the Properties 
fell below 65% in October 2019, hence, we stopped paying the additional $250,000 monthly. The December 2017 Refinancing Loan has 
eliminated  balloon  payments  of  the  Repaid  Notes  worth  $2.9  million  originally  scheduled  in  fiscal  2018,  $19.4  million  originally 
scheduled  in  fiscal  2020  and  $5.3  million  originally  scheduled  in  fiscal  2021.  There  are  certain  financial  covenants  with  which  the 
Company  must  be  in  compliance  related  to  this  financing.  We  obtained  waivers  of  compliance  from  the  bank  lender  for  financial 
covenants as of September 30, 2020.

67

10. Debt - continued

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(8)  In  connection  with  the  Repaid  Notes,  we  wrote  off  $279,000  of  unamortized  debt  issuance  costs  to  interest  expense.  Prior  to 
September 30, 2017, the Company paid a portion of debt issuance costs amounting to $612,500, which was included in other assets until 
the  closing  of  the  transaction.  At  closing,  the  Company  paid  an  additional  $764,000  in  debt  issuance  costs,  which  together  with  the 
$612,500  prepayment  will  be  amortized  for  the  term  of  the  loan  using  the  effective  interest  rate  method.  We  also  paid  prepayment 
penalties  amounting  to  $543,000  on  the  Repaid  Notes,  which  was  included  in  interest  expense  in  our  consolidated  statement  of 
operations for the year ended September 30, 2018.

(9) Included in the $62.5 million first note of the December 2017 Refinancing Loan was $4.6 million that was escrowed at closing due 
to the bank lender of one of the Repaid Notes. The amount was released from escrow in June 2018 when the construction, for which the 
original note was borrowed, was completed. In March and August 2020, certain principal and interest payments for the three notes of the 
December 2017 Refinancing Loan were deferred to their maturity dates.

(10) On December 7, 2017, the Company borrowed $7.1 million from a lender to purchase an aircraft at 5.99% interest. The transaction 
was partly funded by trading in an aircraft that the Company owned with a carrying value of $3.4 million, with an assumption of the old 
aircraft’s  note  payable  liability  of  $2.0  million.  The  aircraft  note  is  payable  in  15  years  with  monthly  payments  of  $59,869,  which 
includes interest. In March 2020, this loan was extended to September 2033.

(11) On February 15, 2018, the Company borrowed $3.0 million from a bank for the purchase of land at a cost of $4.0 million with the 
difference paid by the Company in cash. The bank note bears interest at 5.25% adjusted after 36 months to prime plus 1% with a floor of 
5.2%  and  matures  on  February  15,  2038.  The  bank  note  is  payable  interest-only  during  the  first  18  months,  after  which  monthly 
payments of principal and interest will be made based on a 20-year amortization with the remaining balance to be paid at maturity. On 
August 28, 2018, this note was refinanced for additional construction loan having a maximum availability of $7.4 million. The new note 
has  an  initial  interest  rate  of  5.95%,subject  to  a  repricing  after  72  months  to  prime  plus  1%  with  a  5.9%  floor.  The  note  is  payable 
$53,084 per month, including interest, for  72 months, then adjusted based on repriced interest rate until its  August 2039 maturity. In 
May 2020, certain principal and interest payments for this note were deferred to its maturity date.

(12) On February 20, 2018, the Company refinanced a bank note with a balance of $1.9 million, bearing interest of 2% over prime with 
a 5.5% floor, with the same bank for a construction loan with maximum availability of $4.7 million. The construction loan agreement 
bears  an  interest  rate  of  prime  plus  0.5%  with  a  floor  of  5.0%  and  matures  on  August  20,  2029.  During  the  first  18  months  of  the 
construction loan, the Company will make monthly interest-only payments, and after such, monthly payments of principal and interest 
will be made based on a 20-year amortization with the remaining balance to be paid at maturity. There are certain financial covenants 
with which the Company must be in compliance related to this financing. We are in compliance with these financial covenants as of 
September 30, 2020.

(13) On April 24, 2018, the Company acquired certain land for future development of a Bombshells in Houston, Texas for $5.5 million, 
financed with a bank note for $4.0 million, payable interest only at prime plus 0.5% with a floor of 5% per annum. The note matures in 
24 months, by which date the principal is payable in full. In March and July 2020, in view of the pandemic, the bank lender and the 
Company agreed to defer the maturity of this note to October 2020. In September 2020, they further negotiated to refinance the note 
with a deferral of maturity to September 2035 with monthly amortization payments of $16,396, including interest. On September 17, 
2018, the Company and the bank lender agreed to carve out a portion of the loan that relates to the land where the Bombshells location 
is to be built amounting to $960,000, and added a construction loan with a maximum availability of $2.9 million. The new $2.9 million 
construction  loan  has  an  interest  rate  of  prime  plus  0.5%,  with  a  5.5%  floor,  and  payable  in  12  years.  The  first  24  months  will  be 
interest-only payments, after which monthly payments of principal and interest will be made based on a 20-year amortization. There are 
certain financial covenants with which the Company must be in compliance related to this financing. We are in compliance with these 
financial covenants as of September 30, 2020.

(14)  On  May  25,  2018,  the  Company  acquired  a  club  in  Kappa,  Illinois  for  $1.5  million,  financed  by  a  $1.0  million  seller  note  with 
interest  at  8%.  The  note  matures  in  three  years  and  is  payable  in  monthly  installments  of  $20,276,  including  interest,  based  on  a 
five-year amortization with the remaining balance to be paid at maturity.

68

10. Debt - continued

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(15) On August 15, 2018, the Company refinanced a $2.0 million note payable for $4.0 million from a private lender by executing a 
12%  3-year  note  payable $40,000  monthly  starting September  15,  2018, with  the  remaining  principal  and interest balance  payable at 
maturity. See February 20, 2020 extension below.

(16) On September 6, 2018, the Company borrowed $1.55 million from a bank lender to finance the acquisition of the remaining not-
owned interest in a joint venture. The 10-year note payable has an initial interest rate of 5.95% until after five years when the interest 
rate is adjusted to the U.S. Treasury rate plus 3.5%, with a 5.95% floor. Monthly payments of $11,138, including interest, is due for five 
years until an adjustment in monthly payments based on the interest rate repricing. The Company paid approximately $40,000 in debt 
issuance costs at closing. In March and August 2020, certain principal and interest payments for this note were deferred to its maturity 
date. There are certain financial covenants with which the Company must be in compliance related to this note. We obtained a waiver of 
compliance from the bank lender for financial covenants as of September 30, 2020.

(17)  On  September  26,  2018,  the  Company  refinanced  a  $500,000  12%  note  payable  for  $1.35  million  from  a  private  lender  by 
executing a 9% 10-year note payable $17,101 monthly, including interest, until maturity.

(18)  On  November  1,  2018,  the  Company  raised  $2.35  million  through  the  issuance  of  12%  unsecured  promissory  notes  to  certain 
investors,  which  notes  mature  on  November  1,  2021.  The  notes  pay  interest-only  in  equal  monthly  installments,  with  a  lump  sum 
principal payment at maturity.  Among the  promissory  notes are  two notes with  a  principal  of  $450,000 and  $200,000. The  $450,000 
note was in exchange for a $300,000 12% note and the $200,000 note was in exchange for a $100,000 note, both of which were included 
in the May 1, 2017 financing to acquire Scarlett’s Cabaret in Miami. Also included in the $2.35 million borrowing are two notes for 
$500,000 and $100,000 borrowed from related parties (see Note 21) and one note for $300,000 borrowed from a non-officer employee 
in which the terms of the notes are the same as the rest of the lender group.

(19)  On  November  1,  2018,  we  acquired  a  club  in  Chicago  that  was  partially  financed  by  a  $4.5  million  6-year  7%  seller  note.  See 
additional details related to the acquisition in Note 16.

(20) On November 5, 2018, we acquired a club in Pittsburgh that was partially financed by two seller notes payable. The first note is a 
2-year 7% note for $2.0 million and the second is a 10-year 8% note for $5.5 million. See additional details related to the acquisition in 
Note 16. On September 30, 2020, the maturity date for the first note was extended to February 2021.

(21)  On  December  11,  2018,  the  Company  purchased  an  aircraft  for  $2.8  million  with  a  $554,000  down  payment  and  financed  the 
remaining $2.2 million with a 5.49% promissory note payable in 20 years with monthly payments of $15,118, including interest. Certain 
principal and interest payments during the quarter ended June 30, 2020 were deferred until maturity date.

(22) On February 8, 2019, the Company refinanced a one-year bank note with a balance of $1.5 million, bearing an interest rate of 6.1%, 
with a construction loan with another bank, which has an interest rate of 6.0% adjusted after five years to prime plus 0.5% with a 6.0% 
floor per annum. The new construction loan, which has a maximum availability of $4.1 million, matures in 252 months from closing 
date and is payable interest-only for the first 12 months, then principal and interest of $29,571 monthly for the next 48 months, and the 
remaining  term  monthly  payments  of  principal  and  interest  based  on  the  adjusted  interest  rate.  The  Company  paid  approximately 
$69,000  in  loan  costs  of  which  approximately  $19,600  was  capitalized  as  debt  issuance  costs  on  the  new  construction  loan  with  the 
remaining charged to interest expense. The Company also wrote off the remaining unamortized debt issuance costs of the old bank note 
to interest expense. There are certain financial covenants with which the Company must be in compliance related to this financing. In 
March 2020, certain principal and interest payments for this note were deferred to its maturity date. We are in compliance with these 
financial covenants as of September 30, 2020. 

(23)  In  December  2019,  the  Company  amended  the  $5.0  million  short-term  note  payable  related  to  the  Scarlett’s  acquisition  in  May 
2017, which had a balance of $3.0 million as of the amendment date, extending the maturity date to October 1, 2022. The amendment 
did not have an impact in the Company’s results of operations and cash flows.

(24)  On  February  20,  2020,  in  relation  to  a  $4.0  million  12%  note  payable  earlier  refinanced  on  August  15,  2018,  the  Company 
restructured the note with a private lender by executing a 12% 10-year note payable $57,388 monthly, including interest, starting March 
2020. The restructured note eliminates a scheduled balloon principal payment of $4.0 million in August 2021. The refinancing did not 
have an impact on the Company’s results of operations and cash flows.

(25) On February 20, 2020, in relation to a $9.9 million 12% note payable that was partially paid during the December 2017 Refinancing 
Loan, the Company restructured the note, which had a balance of $5.2 million as of the amendment date, by executing a 12% 10-year 
note payable $74,515 monthly, including interest, starting March 2020. The restructured note eliminates a scheduled balloon principal 
payment of $3.8 million in October 2021. As a result of the refinancing, the Company wrote off approximately $25,400 in unamortized 
debt issuance cost as interest expense in our consolidated statement of operations for the year ended September 30, 2020.

(26) On May 1, 2020, the Company negotiated extensions to November 1, 2020 on $1,740,000 of $2,040,000 of notes to individuals that 
were due on May 1, 2020. The Company paid $300,000 to certain lenders and received $200,000 in new debt from existing lenders and 
their affiliates. The aggregate amount of debt due on these notes is now $1,940,000. In October 2020, $1,690,000 of these notes were 
again extended to November 2021.

(27) On May 8, 2020, the Company received approval and funding under the PPP of the CARES Act for its restaurants, shared service 
entity and lounge amounting to $5.4 million. If not forgiven, under the terms of the loans as provided by the CARES Act, the twelve 
PPP  loans  bear  an  interest  rate  of  1%  per  annum.  As  of  the  filing  of  this  report,  we  have  received  ten  Notices  of  PPP  Forgiveness 
Payment from the Small Business Administration out of the twelve of our PPP loans granted. All of the notices received forgave 100% 
of each of the ten PPP loans totaling the amount of $4.9 million. See Notes 3 and 11.

69

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

10. Debt – continued

Future maturities of debt obligations as of September 30, 2020 consist of the following (in thousands):

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Thereafter

11. Income Taxes

Regular 
Amortization

12,098
11,032
8,090
8,642
8,479
41,911
90,252

$

$

Balloon Payments
4,405
$
2,350
3,676
-
-
41,991
52,422

$

$

$

Total Payments

16,503
13,382
11,766
8,642
8,479
83,902
142,674

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”) was enacted on December 22, 2017, and includes, among other items, a reduction in the federal 
corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. Our federal corporate income tax rate for fiscal 2018 was 24.5% 
and represents a blended income tax rate for that fiscal year. For fiscal 2020 and 2019, our federal corporate income tax rate was 21%.

Additionally, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 740, we remeasured our deferred tax 
balances to reflect the reduced rate that will apply when these deferred taxes are settled or realized in future periods. The remeasurement 
resulted  in  a  $8.8  million  one-time  adjustment  of  our  net  deferred  tax  liabilities  reflected  in  our  consolidated  balance  sheet  as  of 
September 30, 2018 and a corresponding income tax benefit reflected in our consolidated statements of operations for the fiscal year 
ended September 30, 2018. We recorded no remeasurement adjustment related to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118.

Income tax expense (benefit) consisted of the following (in thousands):

Current

Federal
State and local
Total current income tax expense (benefit)

Deferred
Federal
State and local
Total deferred income tax expense (benefit)

Total income tax expense (benefit)

2020

Years Ended September 30,
2019

(As Revised)

2018

$

$

$

215
560
775

$

1,886
1,037
2,923

(1,248)
(20)
(1,268)

913
(92)
821

(493)

$

3,744

$

2,438
1,219
3,657

(8,096)
1,321
(6,775)

(3,118)

The Company and its subsidiaries do not operate in tax jurisdictions outside of the United States.

70

11. Income Taxes - continued

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Income tax expense (benefit) differs from the “expected” income tax expense computed by applying the U.S. federal statutory rate to 
earnings before income taxes for the years ended September 30 as a result of the following (in thousands):

Computed expected income tax expense (benefit)
State income taxes, net of federal benefit
Deferred taxes on subsidiaries acquired/sold
Permanent differences
Change in deferred tax liability rate
Change in valuation allowance
Tax credits
Other
Total income tax expense (benefit)

2020

Years Ended September 30,
2019

2018

$

$

(1,429)
253
-
395
-
1,273
(945)
(40)
(493)

$

$

5,080
672
-
45
-
-
(900)
(1,153)
3,744

$

$

4,371
804
709
85
(8,832)
-
(808)
553
(3,118)

Deferred  income  taxes  reflect  the  net  tax  effects  of  temporary  differences  between  the  carrying  amounts  of  assets  and  liabilities  for 
financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The significant components of the Company’s deferred tax 
assets and liabilities were as follows (in thousands):

Deferred tax assets:

Patron tax
Capital loss carryforwards
Other
Valuation allowance

Deferred tax liabilities:

Intangibles
Property and equipment
Other

September 30,

2020

2019

$

$

349
1,263
2,046
(1,273)
2,385

(14,106)
(8,669)
-
(22,775)
(20,390)

$

$

621
420
-
- 
1,041

(14,491)
(8,024)
(184)
(22,699)
(21,658)

Included in the Company’s deferred tax liabilities at September 30, 2020 and 2019 is the tax effect of indefinite-lived intangible assets 
from  club  acquisitions  amounting  to  approximately  $14.9  million  and  $19.3  million,  respectively,  which  are  not  deductible  for  tax 
purposes.  These  deferred  tax  liabilities  will  remain  in  the  Company’s  consolidated  balance  sheet  until  the  related  clubs  are  sold  or 
impaired.

The Company may recognize the tax benefit from uncertain tax positions only if it is at least more likely than not that the tax position 
will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in 
the  financial  statements  from  such  a  position  should  be  measured  based  on  the  largest  benefit  that  has  a  greater  than  fifty  percent 
likelihood  of  being  realized  upon  settlement  with  the  taxing  authorities.  We  recognize  accrued  interest  related  to  unrecognized  tax 
benefits as a component of accrued liabilities. We recognize penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of selling, 
general  and  administrative  expenses,  and  recognize  interest  accrued  related  to  unrecognized tax benefits  in interest  expense.  In  fiscal 
2018, the Company released $700,000 of uncertain tax positions due to a settlement with New York state. In fiscal 2019, the Company 
released the remaining amount accrued when the examination was closed.

71

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

11. Income Taxes - continued

The following table shows the changes in the Company’s uncertain tax positions (in thousands):

Balance at beginning of year

Additions for tax positions of prior years
Decrease related to settlements with taxing authorities
Reduction due to lapse from closed examination

Balance at end of year

2020

Years Ended September 30,
2019

2018

  -
-
-
-
-

$

$

165
-
-
(165)
-

$

$

865
-
(700) 
-
165

$

$

The full balance of uncertain tax positions, if recognized, would affect the Company’s annual effective tax rate, net of any federal tax 
benefits.  The  Company  does  not  expect  any  changes  that  will  significantly  impact  its  uncertain  tax  positions  within  the  next  twelve 
months.

The  Company  or  one  of  its  subsidiaries  files  income  tax  returns  in  the  U.S.  federal  jurisdiction,  and  various  states.  The  Company’s 
federal income tax returns for the years ended September 30, 2013 through 2017 have been examined by the Internal Revenue Service 
with only immaterial changes. Fiscal year ended September 30, 2018 and subsequent years remain open to federal tax examination. The 
Company is also being examined for state income taxes, the outcome of which may occur within the next twelve months.

On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the CARES Act into law. As a result of this, additional avenues of relief may be available 
to workers and families through enhanced unemployment insurance provisions and to small businesses through programs administered 
by  the  Small  Business  Administration.  The  CARES  Act  includes,  among  other  items,  provisions  relating  to  payroll  tax  credits  and 
deferrals, net operating loss carryback periods, alternative minimum tax credits and technical corrections to tax depreciation methods for 
qualified improvement property. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of the CARES Act. The CARES Act 
also established a Paycheck Protection Program, whereby certain small businesses are eligible for a loan to fund payroll expenses, rent, 
and related costs. The loan may be forgiven if the funds are used for payroll and other qualified expenses. The Company has submitted 
its application for a PPP loan and on May 8, 2020 has received approval and funding for its restaurants, shared service entity and lounge. 
Ten of our restaurant subsidiaries received amounts ranging from $271,000 to $579,000 for an aggregate amount of $4.2 million; our 
shared-services subsidiary received $1.1 million; and one of our lounges received $124,000. None of our adult nightclub and other non-
core  business  subsidiaries  received  funding  under  the  PPP.  The  Company  believes  it  has  used  the  entire  loan  amount  for  qualifying 
expenses. Under the terms of the PPP, certain amounts of the loan may be forgiven if they are used for qualifying expenses as described 
in the CARES Act. The Company has currently utilized all of the PPP funds and has submitted its forgiveness applications. As of the 
filing  of  this  report,  we  have  received  ten  Notices  of  PPP  Forgiveness  Payment  from  the  Small  Business  Administration  out  of  the 
twelve  of  our PPP  loans granted.  All of  the  notices received  forgave 100%  of  each  of  the ten PPP  loans totaling the  amount  of $4.9 
million. No assurance can be provided that the Company will in fact obtain forgiveness of the remaining two PPP loans in whole or in 
part. See Note 3.

12. Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

See Note 22.

Legal Matters

Texas Patron Tax

In 2015, the Company reached a settlement with the State of Texas over the payment of the state’s Patron Tax on adult club customers. 
To  resolve  the  issue  of  taxes  owed,  the  Company  agreed  to  pay  $10.0  million  in  equal  monthly  installments  of  $119,000,  without 
interest, over 84 months, beginning in June 2015, for all but two non-settled locations. The Company agreed to remit the Patron Tax on 
a monthly basis, based on the current rate of $5 per customer. For accounting purposes, the Company has discounted the $10.0 million 
at an imputed interest rate of 9.6%, establishing a net present value for the settlement of $7.2 million. As a consequence, the Company 
recorded an $8.2 million pre-tax gain for the third quarter ended June 30, 2015, representing the difference between the $7.2 million and 
the amount previously accrued for the tax.

In March 2017, the Company settled with the State of Texas for one of the two remaining unsettled Patron Tax locations. To resolve the 
issue  of  taxes  owed,  the  Company  agreed  to  pay  a  total  of  $687,815  with  $195,815  paid  at  the  time  the  settlement  agreement  was 
executed followed by 60 equal monthly installments of $8,200 without interest.

The  aggregate  balance  of  Patron  Tax  settlement  liability,  which  is  included  in  long-term  debt  in  the  consolidated  balance  sheets, 
amounted to $2.2 million and $3.4 million as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

A  declaratory  judgment  action  was  brought  by  five  operating  subsidiaries  of  the  Company  to  challenge  a  Texas  Comptroller 
administrative rule related to the $5 per customer Patron Tax Fee assessed against Sexually Oriented Businesses. An administrative rule 
attempted  to  expand  the  fee  to  cover  venues  featuring  dancers  using  latex  cover  as  well  as  traditional  nude  entertainment.  The 
administrative rule was challenged on both constitutional and statutory grounds. On November 19, 2018, the Court issued an order that a 
key aspect of the administrative rule is invalid based on it exceeding the scope of the Comptroller’s authority. On March 6, 2020, the 
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division, ruled that the Texas Patron Tax is unconstitutional as it has been 
applied  and  enforced  by  the  Comptroller.  The  State  of  Texas  has  filed  an  appeal.  We  will  continue  to  vigorously  defend  the  matter 
through the appeals process.

72

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Legal Matters – continued

Indemnity Insurance Corporation

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

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

On  April  10,  2014,  the  Court  of  Chancery  of  the  State  of  Delaware  entered  a  Liquidation  and  Injunction  Order  With  Bar  Date 
(“Liquidation Order”), which ordered the liquidation of IIC and terminated all insurance policies or contracts of insurance issued by IIC. 
The Liquidation Order further ordered that all claims against IIC must have been filed with the Receiver before the close of business on 
January 16, 2015 and that all pending lawsuits involving IIC as the insurer were further stayed or abated until October 7, 2014. As a 
result,  the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  no  longer  have  insurance  coverage  under  the  liability  policy  with  IIC.  The  Company  has 
retained counsel to defend against and evaluate these claims and lawsuits. We are funding 100% of the costs of litigation and will seek 
reimbursement  from  the  bankruptcy  receiver.  The  Company  filed  the  appropriate  claims  against  IIC  with  the  Receiver  before  the 
January 16, 2015 deadline and has provided updates as requested; however, there are no assurances of any recovery from these claims. It 
is  unknown  at  this  time  what  effect  this  uncertainty  will  have  on  the  Company.  As  previously  stated,  since  October  25,  2013,  the 
Company  has  obtained  general  liability  coverage  from  other  insurers,  which  have  covered  and/or  will  cover  any  claims  arising  from 
actions after that date. As of September 30, 2020, we have 2 unresolved claims out of the original 71 claims.

Shareholder Class and Derivative Actions

In May and June 2019, three putative securities class action complaints were filed against RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. and certain of 
its  officers  in  the  Southern  District  of  Texas,  Houston  Division.  The  complaints  allege  violations  of  Sections  10(b)  and  20(a)  of  the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 10b-5 promulgated thereunder based on alleged materially false and misleading statements made 
in  the  Company’s  SEC  filings  and  disclosures  as  they  relate  to  various  alleged  transactions  by  the  Company  and  management.  The 
complaints seek unspecified damages, costs, and attorneys’ fees. These lawsuits are Hoffman v. RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., et al.
(filed May 21, 2019, naming the Company and Eric Langan); Gu v. RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., et al. (filed May 28, 2019, naming 
the Company, Eric Langan, and Phil Marshall); and Grossman v. RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., et al. (filed June 28, 2019, naming the 
Company,  Eric  Langan,  and  Phil  Marshall).  The  plaintiffs  in  all  three  cases  moved  to  consolidate  the  purported  class  actions.  On 
January 10, 2020 an order consolidating the Hoffman, Grossman, and Gu cases was entered by the Court. The consolidated case is styled 
In re RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., No. 4:19-cv-01841. On February 24, 2020, the plaintiffs in the consolidated case filed an Amended 
Class Action Complaint, continuing to allege violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 10b-5 
promulgated thereunder. In addition to naming the Company, Eric Langan, and Phil Marshall, the amended complaint also adds director 
Nourdean  Anakar  and  former  director  Steven  Jenkins  as  defendants.  On  April  24,  2020,  the  Company  and  the  individual  defendants 
moved  to  dismiss  the  amended  complaint  for  failure  to  state  a  claim  upon  which  relief  can  be  granted.  As  of  December  12,  2020, 
briefing on the motion to dismiss is complete, and we are currently waiting for the court to rule on the motion. The Company intends to 
continue to vigorously defend against this action. This action is in its preliminary phase, and a potential loss cannot yet be estimated.

On August 16, 2019, a shareholder derivative action was filed in the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division against officers and 
directors Eric S. Langan, Phillip Marshall, Nourdean Anakar, Yura Barabash, Luke Lirot, Travis Reese, former director Steven Jenkins, 
and RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., as nominal defendant. The action alleges that the individual officers and directors made or caused 
the  Company  to  make  a  series  of  materially  false  and/or  misleading  statements  and  omissions  regarding  the  Company’s  business, 
operations, prospects, and legal compliance and engaged in or caused the Company to engage in, inter alia, related party transactions, 
questionable uses of corporate assets, and failure to maintain internal controls. The action asserts claims for breach of fiduciary duty, 
unjust enrichment, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets, and violations of Sections 14(a), 10(b) and 20(a) 
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The complaint seeks injunctive relief, damages, restitution, costs, and attorneys’ fees. The case, 
Cecere v. Langan, et al., is in its early stage, and a potential loss cannot yet be estimated.

73

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Legal Matters – continued

SEC Matter and Internal Review

In mid- and late 2018, a series of negative articles about the Company was anonymously published in forums associated with the short-
selling community. Subsequently in 2019, the SEC initiated an informal inquiry. In connection with these events, a special committee of 
the Company’s audit committee engaged independent outside counsel to conduct an internal review. Management of the Company fully 
cooperated with the internal review conducted by the special committee and its outside counsel. The board of directors has implemented 
the recommendations resulting from the internal review. As of the date hereof, the internal review has been completed.

Since the initiation of the informal inquiry in early 2019 and the investigation conducted by the SEC thereafter, the Company and its 
management have fully cooperated with the SEC.

On  September  21,  2020,  the  SEC  concluded  its  investigation  and  reached  a  settlement  with  the  Company,  Eric  Langan,  and  Phil 
Marshall. Separately, the SEC also reached a settlement with a former director. As part of the settlement, the Company, Eric Langan, 
and Phil Marshall agreed, without admitting or denying the allegations, to an order instituting cease-and-desist proceedings regarding 
certain sections of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and certain rules promulgated thereunder.

The SEC’s order as to the Company, Eric Langan, and Phil Marshall found that, from fiscal 2014 through 2019, the Company failed to 
disclose a total of $615,000 in executive compensation in the form of perquisites. According to the order, these undisclosed perquisites 
included  the cost of  the  personal use  of the Company’s aircraft and  Company-provided  vehicles, reimbursements for  personal  airline 
flights, charitable corporate contributions to the school two of Mr. Langan’s children attended, and housing costs and meal allowance 
for  Mr.  Marshall.  In  addition,  the  order  found  that  the  Company  failed  to  disclose  related  party  transactions  involving  Mr.  Langan’s 
father and brother and a director’s brother. The order further found that the Company failed to keep books and records that allowed it to 
report, and lacked sufficient internal controls concerning, these executive perquisites and related party transactions.

The SEC’s order as to the Company, Mr. Langan, and Mr. Marshall found that the Company and Mr. Langan violated, and Mr. Langan 
and Mr. Marshall caused the Company to violate, the proxy solicitation provisions of Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934  and  Rules  14a-3  and  14a-9  thereunder.  The  order  further  found  that  the  Company  violated,  and  Mr.  Langan  and  Mr.  Marshall 
caused the Company to violate, the reporting provisions of Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act and Rules 13a-1 and 12b-20 thereunder, 
the books and records provisions of Sections 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act, and the disclosure controls provision of 
Rule 13a-15(a) under the Exchange Act. The Company, Mr. Langan, and Mr. Marshall have agreed, without admitting or denying the 
SEC’s findings, to a cease-and-desist order and to pay civil penalties in the amounts of $400,000, $200,000, and $35,000, respectively.

Other

On March 26, 2016, an image infringement lawsuit was filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York against the Company 
and several of its subsidiaries. Plaintiffs allege that their images were misappropriated, intentionally altered and published without their 
consent by clubs affiliated with the Company. The causes of action asserted in Plaintiffs’ Complaint include alleged violations of the 
Federal Lanham Act, the New York Civil Rights Act, and other statutory and common law theories. The Company contends that there is 
insurance coverage under an applicable insurance policy. The insurer has raised several issues regarding coverage under the policy. At 
this  time,  this  disagreement  remains  unresolved.  The  Company  has  denied  all  allegations,  continues  to  vigorously  defend  against  the 
lawsuit and continues to believe the matter is covered by insurance.

The Company has been sued by a landlord in the 333rd Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas for a Houston Bombshells which 
was under renovation in 2015. The plaintiff alleges RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc.’s subsidiary, BMB Dining Services (Willowbrook), 
Inc., breached a lease agreement by constructing an outdoor patio, which allegedly interfered with the common areas of the shopping 
center,  and  by  failing  to  provide  Plaintiff  with  proposed  plans  before  beginning  construction.  Plaintiff  also  asserts  RCI  Hospitality 
Holdings, Inc. is liable as guarantor of the lease. The lease was for a Bombshells restaurant to be opened in the Willowbrook Shopping 
Center in Houston, Texas. Both RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. and BMB Dining Services (Willowbrook), Inc. have denied liability and 
assert that Plaintiff has failed to mitigate its claimed damages. Further, BMB Dining Services (Willowbrook), Inc. asserts that Plaintiff 
affirmatively represented that the patio could be constructed under the lease and has filed counter claims and third-party claims against 
Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s manager asserting that they committed fraud and that the landlord breached the applicable agreements. The case 
was tried to a jury in late September 2018 and an adverse judgment was entered in January 2019 in the amount totaling $1.0 million, 
which includes damages, attorney fees and interest. The matter is being appealed. The appeal process required that a check be deposited 
in the registry of the court in the amount of $690,000, which was deposited in April 2019 and included in other current assets in both 
consolidated  balance  sheets  as  of  September  30,  2020  and  2019.  Management  believes  that  the  case  has  no  merit  and  is  vigorously 
defending itself in the appeal.

74

Legal Matters – continued

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

On June 23, 2014, Mark H. Dupray and Ashlee Dupray filed a lawsuit against Pedro Antonio Panameno and our subsidiary JAI Dining 
Services (Phoenix)  Inc. (“JAI  Phoenix”)  in the Superior  Court  of Arizona for  Maricopa County.  The  suit alleged  that Mr.  Panameno 
injured Mr. Dupray in a traffic accident after being served alcohol at an establishment operated by JAI Phoenix. The suit alleged that 
JAI  Phoenix  was  liable  under  theories  of  common  law  dram  shop  negligence  and  dram  shop  negligence  per  se.  After  a  jury  trial 
proceeded to a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs against both defendants, in April 2017 the Court entered a judgment under which JAI 
Phoenix’s share of compensatory damages is approximately $1.4 million and its share of punitive damages is $4 million. In May 2017, 
JAI Phoenix filed a motion for judgment as a matter of law or, in the alternative, motion for new trial. The Court denied this motion in 
August  2017.  In  September  2017,  JAI  Phoenix  filed  a  notice  of  appeal.  In  June  2018,  the  matter  was  heard  by  the  Arizona  Court  of 
Appeals.  On  November  15,  2018  the  Court  of  Appeals  vacated  the  jury’s  verdict  and  remanded  the  case  to  the  trial  court.  It  is 
anticipated that a new trial will occur at some point in the future. JAI Phoenix will continue to vigorously defend itself.

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

Due to several COVID-19 regulations and restrictions imposed on some of our businesses by local municipalities and/or States, certain 
of  our  subsidiaries  are  plaintiffs  to  lawsuits  that  have  been  filed  on  behalf  of  the  affected  entities  to  have  the  restrictions  eased  or 
removed entirely. The lawsuits may increase or decrease based on the spread of the disease and new or additional restrictions placed on 
our businesses.

General

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

Settlement of lawsuits for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018 total $174,000, $225,000, and $1.7 million, respectively. 
As  of  September  30,  2020 and  2019, the Company  has accrued  $100,000  and  $115,000  in  accrued  liabilities,  respectively,  related  to 
settlement of lawsuits.

75

13. Common Stock

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

During the year ended September 30, 2018, the Company paid quarterly dividends of $0.03 per share for an aggregate amount of $1.2 
million.

During the year ended September 30, 2019, the following common stock transactions occurred:

● The  Company  acquired  128,040  shares  of  its  own  common  stock  at  a  cost  of  $2.9  million.  These  shares  were  subsequently 

retired.

● The Company paid quarterly dividends of $0.03 per share, except for the fourth quarter when $0.04 per share was paid, for an 

aggregate amount of $1.3 million.

During the year ended September 30, 2020, the following common stock transactions occurred:

● The  Company  acquired  516,102  shares  of  its  own  common  stock  at  a  cost  of  $9.5  million.  These  shares  were  subsequently 

retired.

● The Company paid quarterly dividends of $0.03 per share, except for the second and fourth quarters when $0.04 per share was 

paid, for an aggregate amount of $1.3 million.

Subsequent to September 30, 2020 through the filing date of this report, we purchased 74,659 shares of the Company’s common stock 
for a total of $1.8 million.

14. Employee Retirement Plan

The  Company  sponsors  a  Simple  IRA  plan  (the  “Plan”),  which  covers  all  of  the  Company’s  corporate  employees.  The  Plan  allows 
corporate employees to contribute up to the maximum amount allowed by law, with the Company making a matching contribution of up 
to 3% of the employee’s salary. Expenses related to matching contributions to the Plan approximated $171,000, $164,000, and $160,000 
for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

15. Insurance Recoveries

One of our clubs in Washington Park, Illinois was temporarily closed due to a fire during the third quarter of 2019, and another club in 
Fort  Worth,  Texas  sustained  weather-related  damage  toward  the  end  of  fiscal  2018.  During  the  fourth  quarter  of  2020,  one  club  in 
Sulphur, Louisiana incurred damage from a hurricane. We wrote off the net carrying value of the assets destroyed in the said events and 
recorded  corresponding  recovery  of  losses  or  gains  in  as  much  as  the  insurers  have  paid  us  or  where  contingencies  relating  to  the 
insurance claims have been resolved.

In relation to these casualty events, we recorded the following in our consolidated financial statements (in thousands):

Included in

For the Year Ended September 30,
2019

2018

2020

Consolidated balance sheets (period end)

Insurance receivable

Account receivable, net

Consolidated statements of operations – loss 
(gain)

Business interruption
Property 

Other charges, net
Other charges, net

Consolidated statements of cash flows

Proceeds from business interruption insurance 
claims
Proceeds from property insurance claims

Operating activity
Investing activity

$

$
$

$
$

191

$

1,197

$

-

(176)
596

384
945

$
$

$
$

(484)
(284)

100
100

$
$

$
$

-
(20)

-
20

The net property insurance gain/loss amount in fiscal 2020, 2019, and  2018 was net of assets written off and  expenses amounting to 
$728,000, $629,000, and $0, respectively.

76

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

16. Acquisitions and Dispositions

2018 Acquisitions

At September 30, 2017, the Company held a $2.0 million note receivable related to the Drink Robust, Inc. (“Drink Robust”) disposition 
that occurred in September 2016. The note required interest-only monthly payments at a per annum rate of 4% beginning January of 
2017  and  principal  and  interest  payments  due  monthly  commencing  in  January  2018  and  ending  December  2032.  Interest  payments 
from January 2017 through December 2017 were made in the form of shares of the common stock of a manufacturing company. Cash 
was received for the January 2018 principal and interest payment; however, in April of 2018, the Company was informed that the note 
holder  did  not  intend  to  make  any  future  principal  or  interest  payments  due  on  the  note.  The  Company  had  recourse  to  the  personal 
assets of the note holder in the amount of $500,000 and entered into negotiations for settlement of the note in April 2018. On April 26, 
2018,  the  Company  forgave  the  $500,000  guaranteed  portion  of  the  note  for  750,000  shares  of  common  stock  of  the  manufacturing 
company.  Additionally,  as  part  of  the  settlement,  the  Company  acquired  78.5%  of  the  remaining  80%  ownership  interest  in  Drink 
Robust,  bringing  its  ownership  interest  to  98.5%  with  the  payment  of  an  outstanding  liability  to  the  Drink  Robust  distributor  of 
$250,000.  As  a  result  of  the  payment,  Drink  Robust  also  obtained  a  three-year  exclusive  right  of  distribution  for  the  Robust  Energy 
Drinks in the United States. The Company estimated the fair value of the shares of the manufacturing company and the interest acquired 
in  Drink  Robust.  The  estimated  fair  value  totals  $450,000,  which  is  net  of  the  consideration  of  $250,000  owed  to  the  Drink  Robust 
distributor. As a result of the transaction, the Company impaired $1.55 million of the note receivable during the quarter ended March 31, 
2018,  with  a  remaining  balance  of  $450,000  recorded  within  long-term  assets  at  June  30,  2018.  The  Company  accounted  for  the 
acquisition in the third quarter of 2018, when the transaction was executed and has finalized its estimate of the fair value of the shares 
acquired in the transaction, as well as its accounting for such ownership. The Company then acquired the remaining 1.5% interest in 
Drink Robust from an individual investor to complete its 100% ownership.

On May 25, 2018, the Company acquired a club in Kappa, Illinois for $1.5 million, financed by a $1.0 million seller note with interest at 
8%. The transaction provides for the purchase of the real estate for $825,000 and other non-real estate business assets for $180,000, with 
goodwill amounting to $495,000, which is deductible for tax purposes. Since the acquisition date, the acquired club generated revenues 
of approximately $442,000 that are included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the year ended September 30, 
2018.

On September 6, 2018, a subsidiary acquired the remaining 49% of TEZ Real Estate that it did not own for $1,550,000 in cash. The 
acquisition was principally funded by a loan on the property from a commercial bank. The Company accounted for the transaction as an 
equity  transaction  in  accordance  with  ASC  505.  The  difference  between  the  fair  value  of  the  consideration  paid  and  the  amount  by 
which the noncontrolling interest was adjusted, in the amount of approximately $759,000 (net of tax), was recognized in additional paid-
in capital.

2018 Disposition

On December 11, 2017, the Company sold one of the properties held for sale for $675,000, recognizing a gain of $481,000. During the 
quarter ended June 30, 2018, the Company decided to offer for sale a real estate property in Dallas, Texas, which was a location of a 
recently  closed  club,  with  an  estimated  fair  value  of  $2.0  million.  During  the  quarter  ended  September  30,  2018,  the  Company 
reclassified two properties held for sale with an aggregate carrying value of $7.2 million into held and used property and equipment, net 
in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2018. Also, during the quarter ended September 30, 2018, the Company decided 
to offer four real estate properties for sale, with an aggregate fair value less cost to sell of approximately $2.5 million.

2019 Acquisitions

On November 1, 2018, the Company acquired the stock of a club in Chicago for $10.5 million with $6.0 million cash paid at closing and 
the $4.5 million in a 6-year seller-financed note with interest at 7%. The Company paid approximately $37,000 in acquisition-related 
costs for this transaction, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statement of operations. 
In  fiscal  2019,  the  club  generated  revenue  of  approximately  $5.0  million  since  acquisition  date.  In  relation  to  this  acquisition,  on 
September 25, 2018, the Company borrowed $5.0 million through a credit facility with a bank lender. The loan has a 7% fixed interest 
rate  with  a  maturity  date  in  May  2019.  The  loan  was  fully  paid  as  of  June  30,  2019.  Goodwill  and  SOB  license  for  the  Chicago 
acquisition are not amortized but are tested at least annually for impairment. Goodwill recognized for this transaction is not deductible 
for tax purposes. Noncompete is amortized on a straight-line basis over five years from acquisition date.

77

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

16. Acquisitions and Dispositions - continued

The following information summarizes the allocation of fair values assigned to the assets at acquisition date (in thousands):

Land and building
Inventory
Furniture and equipment
Noncompete
SOB license
Goodwill
Deferred tax liability
Net assets

$

$

4,325
57
50
100
5,252
2,003
(1,287)
10,500

On November 5, 2018, the Company acquired the assets of a club in Pittsburgh for $15.0 million, with $7.5 million cash paid at closing 
and two seller notes payable. The first note is a 2-year 7% note for $2.0 million, and the second is a 10-year 8% note for $5.5 million. 
The Company  paid  acquisition-related costs  for this transaction  of approximately $134,000,  which  is included in selling, general and 
administrative expenses  in  our consolidated  statement of operations. The  club generated  revenue  of approximately $4.6  million since 
acquisition  date.  Goodwill  for  the  Pittsburgh  acquisition  is  not  amortized  but  is  tested  at  least  annually  for  impairment.  Goodwill 
recognized  for  this  transaction  is  deductible  for  tax  purposes.  Noncompete  is  amortized  on  a  straight-line  basis  over  five  years  from 
acquisition date.

The following information summarizes the allocation of fair values assigned to the assets at acquisition date (in thousands):

Land and building
Inventory
Furniture and equipment
Noncompete
Goodwill
Net assets

2019 Dispositions

$

$

5,000
23
200
100
9,677
15,000

In  October  2018,  the  Company  sold  its  nightclub  in  Philadelphia  for  a  total  sales  price  of  $1.0  million,  payable  $375,000  in  cash  at 
closing  and  a  $625,000  9%  note  payable  to  us  over  a  10-year  period.  The  note  is  payable  interest-only  for  twelve  months  at  the 
conclusion of which time a balloon payment of $250,000 is due, and then the remainder of the principal and interest is payable in 108 
equal installments of $5,078 per month until October 2028. The buyer will lease the property from the Company’s real estate subsidiary 
under the following terms: $36,000 per month lease payments for ten years; renewal option for a succeeding ten years at a minimum of 
$48,000 per month; lessee has option to purchase the property for $6.0 million during a term beginning November 2023 and expiring in 
October  2028.  The  Company  recorded  a  gain  on  the  sale  transaction  of  approximately  $879,000,  which  is  included  in  other  charges 
(gains), net in our consolidated statement of operations during the quarter ended December 31, 2018. In July 2019, the Company and the 
buyer  agreed  to  modify  the  promissory  note  to  include  in  principal  (i)  rental  payments  from  April  to  September  2019,  (ii)  accrued 
property  taxes,  (iii)  accrued  occupancy  taxes,  and  (iv)  two  months  of  outstanding  interest  payments  for  a  total  principal  balance  of 
$879,085.  The  note,  as  modified,  still  bears  interest  at  9%  and  is  payable  in  108  equal  monthly  installments  of  $11,905,  including 
principal and interest, until July 2028.

78

16. Acquisitions and Dispositions - continued

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

In  November  2018,  the  Company  sold  two  assets  held  for  sale  in  Houston  and  San  Antonio,  Texas  for  a  combined  sales  price  of 
$868,000.  Net  gain  on  the  two  transactions  amounted  to  $273,000  after  closing  costs.  The  Company  used  the  proceeds  to  pay  down 
$945,000 in loans related to the properties.

On  January  24,  2019,  the  Company  sold  a  held-for-sale  property  in  Dallas,  Texas  for  a  total  sales  price  of  $1.4  million,  payable 
$163,000 in cash at closing, net of closing costs and property taxes of $87,000, and a $1.15 million 8% note payable over a three-year 
period.  The  note  is  payable  $9,619  per  month,  principal  and  interest,  for  the  first  35  months  with  the  remaining  balance  payable  at 
maturity. The buyer has the option to extend the maturity date by one year at least 60 days prior to maturity, as long as the buyer is not 
in default. The Company recorded a gain on the sale transaction of approximately $383,000.

On March 21, 2019, the Company sold a held-for-sale property adjacent to our Bombshells 249 location for a total sales price of $1.4 
million in cash. Net gain on the transaction amounted to approximately $628,000 after closing costs. The Company used $980,000 of the 
proceeds to pay off a loan related to the property.

In April 2019, the Company sold another held-for-sale property adjacent to our Bombshells I-10 location for a total sales price of $1.1 
million in cash. Net gain on the transaction amounted to approximately $331,000 after closing costs. The Company used $942,000 of the 
proceeds to pay off a loan related to the property.

In June 2019, the Company sold a property located in Lubbock, Texas for $350,000 in cash. Net loss on the transaction amounted to 
$376,000 after closing costs. The Company used $331,000 of the proceeds from the sale to pay down debt.

In June 2019, the Company sold an aircraft for $690,000 in cash. Net loss on the transaction amounted to $9,000 after closing costs. The 
Company used $666,000 of the proceeds from the sale to pay down related debt.

On July 23, 2019, the Company sold an aircraft for a total sales price of $382,000 for net gain of $16,000. Proceeds were used to pay off 
the remaining note payable balance of approximately $217,000.

On September 30, 2019, the Company sold its Bombshells Webster location for a total sales price of $85,000 in cash. Net loss on the 
transaction amounted to approximately $156,000.

2020 Acquisition

On November 5, 2019, we announced that our subsidiaries had signed definitive agreements to acquire the assets and related real estate 
of  a  well-established,  top  gentlemen’s  club  located  in  the  Northeast  Corridor  for  $15.0  million.  The  agreements  terminated  prior  to 
closing. We provided the sellers notice of the termination in April 2020.

2020 Dispositions

On April 1, 2020, the Company sold a corporate housing property to an employee for $375,000 in cash with an approximate gain of 
$20,000.

On May 22, 2020, the Company sold land adjacent to one of our Bombshells locations in Houston for $1.5 million in cash. Net gain on 
the transaction was $583,000 after closing costs. The net proceeds of $1.4 million were used to pay down related debt.

On August 6, 2020, the Company sold another corporate housing property for $176,000 in cash with an approximate gain of $26,000. 
The net proceeds of $160,500 were used to pay down related debt.

79

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

17. Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)

The following tables summarize unaudited quarterly data for fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018 (in thousands, except per share data):

December 31, 2019

March 31, 2020

June 30, 2020

September 30, 2020

For the Three Months Ended

Revenues(1)
Income (loss) from operations(1)
Net income (loss) attributable to 
RCIHH stockholders(1)
Earnings (loss) per share(1)

Basic and diluted

Weighted average number of 
common shares outstanding

Basic and diluted

Revenues
Income from operations(2)
Net income attributable to RCIHH 
stockholders(2)
Earnings per share(2)
Basic and diluted

Weighted average number of 
common shares outstanding

Basic and diluted

Revenues
Income from operations(3)
Net income (loss) attributable to 
RCIHH stockholders(3)
Earnings (loss) per share(3)

Basic and diluted

Weighted average number of 
common shares outstanding

Basic and diluted

$
$

$

$

$
$

$

$

$
$

$

$

48,394
9,686

5,634

0.60

9,322

December 31, 2018

44,023
11,132

7,463

0.77

9,713

December 31, 2017

41,212
9,140

14,311

1.47

9,719

$
$

$

$

$
$

$

$

$
$

$

$

40,426
$
(2,475) $

14,721
$
(4,657) $

(3,452) $

(5,474) $

(0.37) $

(0.60) $

28,786
192

(2,793)

(0.31)

9,225

9,125

9,124

For the Three Months Ended

March 31, 2019

June 30, 2019

September 30, 2019

$
$

$

$

44,826
11,166

6,735

0.70

9,679

47,027
9,974

5,638

0.59

9,620

For the Three Months Ended

March 31, 2018

June 30, 2018

$
$

$

$

41,226
8,231

4,685

0.48

9,719

42,634
9,492

5,389

0.55

9,719

80

$
$

$

$

$
$

$

$

45,183
2,429

458

0.05

9,616

September 30, 2018

40,676
699

(3,506)

(0.36)

9,719

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(1) Fiscal year 2020 revenues during the second through the fourth quarter were significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Income (loss) from operations, net income (loss) attributable to RCIHH stockholders, and earnings (loss) per share included the 
impact  of  a  $10.6  million  in  asset  impairments  ($8.2  million  in  the  second  quarter,  $982,000  in  the  third  quarter,  and  $1.4 
million in the fourth quarter). Net loss attributable to RCIHH stockholders and loss per share during the fourth quarter was also 
affected by the $1.3 million valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets. Quarterly effective income tax expense (benefit) 
rate was 22.0%, (28.9)%, (20.5)%, and 36.3% from first to fourth quarter, respectively.

(2) Fiscal year 2019 income from operations, net income attributable to RCIHH stockholders, and earnings per share included the 
impact of a $6.0 million in asset impairments in the fourth quarter, a $2.9 million net gain on sale of businesses and assets ($1.2 
million in the first quarter, $1.1 million in the second quarter, $0.3 million in the third quarter, and $0.4 million in the fourth 
quarter), and a $0.8 million net  gain on insurance ($0.1 million net loss  in the third quarter and $0.9 million net gain in the 
fourth  quarter).  Quarterly  effective  income  tax  expense  (benefit)  rate  was  8.4%,  22.3%,  24.1%,  and  (371.7)%  from  first  to 
fourth quarter, respectively. See Note 4 related to revision of prior year immaterial misstatement.

(3) Fiscal year 2018 income from operations, net income attributable to RCIHH stockholders, and earnings per share included the 
impact  of  a  $1.6  million  loss  on  disposition  in  the  second  quarter,  a  $5.6  million  in  asset  impairments  ($1.6  million  in  the 
second quarter and $4.0 million in the fourth quarter), and a $8.8 million deferred income tax benefit related to the revaluation 
of  deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  ($9.7  million  credit  in  the  first  quarter,  $38,000  expense  in  the  second  quarter,  and 
$827,000 expense in the fourth quarter). Quarterly effective income tax expense (benefit) rate was (134.3)%, 24.2%, 25.3%, 
and 103.8% from first to fourth quarter, respectively.

Our  nightclub  operations  are  normally  affected  by  seasonal  factors.  Historically,  we  have  experienced  reduced  revenues  from  April 
through September (our fiscal third and fourth quarters) with the strongest operating results occurring during October through March 
(our fiscal first and second quarters), but in fiscal 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, revenues during the second through the fourth 
quarter were significantly reduced. Our revenues in certain markets are also affected by sporting events that cause unusual changes in 
sales from year to year.

81

18. Impairment of Assets

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

During the year ended September 30, 2018, we recorded aggregate impairment charges of $5.6 million comprised of $1.6 million for 
property  and  equipment  of  one  club  and  one  Bombshells,  $834,000  for  goodwill  impairment  of  two  club  reporting  units,  and  $3.1 
million for SOB licenses of three clubs.

During the year ended September 30, 2019, we recorded aggregate impairment charges of $6.0 million comprised of $1.6 million for the 
goodwill of four club reporting units, $4.2 million for property and equipment of two clubs, and $178,000 for SOB license of one club.

During the year ended September 30, 2020, we recorded aggregate impairment charges of $10.6 million comprised of $7.9 million for 
goodwill of seven club reporting units, $2.3 million for SOB licenses of two clubs, $406,000 for long-lived assets of one club and one 
Bombshells unit ($302,000 for property and equipment and $104,000 for operating lease right-of-use assets). The impairment charges 
for fiscal 2020 were mainly due to lower cash flow projections and uncertainty risk caused by the pandemic.

19. Segment Information

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

82

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

19. Segment Information - continued

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

2020

2019

2018

Revenues (from external customers)

Nightclubs
Bombshells
Other

Income (loss) from operations

Nightclubs
Bombshells
Other
General corporate

Capital expenditures

Nightclubs
Bombshells
Other
General corporate

Depreciation and amortization

Nightclubs
Bombshells
Other
General corporate

Total assets(1)
Nightclubs
Bombshells
Other
General corporate

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

88,373
43,215
739
132,327

13,118
9,245
(684)
(18,933)
2,746

3,477
2,114
-
145
5,736

5,799
1,785
415
837
8,836

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

148,606
30,828
1,625
181,059

50,724
2,307
(309)
(18,021)
34,701

6,645
10,457
27
3,579
20,708

6,401
1,374
416
881
9,072

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

140,060
24,094
1,594
165,748

43,624
2,040
(252)
(17,850)
27,562

2,052
22,522
33
656
25,263

5,404
1,265
179
874
7,722

September 30, 2020

September 30, 2019

September 30, 2018

$

$

277,960
48,991
1,269
32,713
360,933

$

$

274,071
44,144
1,773
34,768
354,756

$

$

252,335
39,560
1,978
35,859
329,732

(1) See Note 4 for a discussion of revision of prior year immaterial misstatement.

Excluded  from  revenues  in  the  table  above  are  intercompany  rental  revenues  of  the  Nightclubs  segment  amounting  to  $11.1  million, 
$10.0  million,  and  $9.0  million  for  2020,  2019,  and  2018,  respectively,  and  intercompany  sales  of  Robust  Energy  Drink  of  Other 
segment  amounting  to  $70,000,  $140,000,  and  $26,000  for  the  same  respective  years.  These  intercompany  revenue  amounts  are 
eliminated upon consolidation.

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

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

83

20. Noncontrolling Interests

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Noncontrolling  interests  represent  the  portion  of  equity  in  a  consolidated  entity  held  by  owners  other  than  the  consolidating  parent. 
Noncontrolling interests are reported in the consolidated balance sheets within equity. Revenue, expenses and net income attributable to 
both the Company and the noncontrolling interests are reported in the consolidated statements of operations.

Until September 2018, our consolidated financial statements included noncontrolling interests related to the Company’s ownership of 
51% of an entity which owns the real estate for the Company’s nightclub in Philadelphia. The Company acquired the remaining not-
owned portion of the entity in September 2018.

Our  consolidated  financial  statements  include  noncontrolling  interests  related  principally  to  the  Company’s  ownership  of  51%  of  an 
entity which owns one of the Company’s nightclubs in New York City.

21. Related Party Transactions

Presently, our Chairman and President, Eric Langan, personally guarantees all of the commercial bank indebtedness of the Company. 
Mr. Langan receives no compensation or other direct financial benefit for any of the guarantees. The balance of our commercial bank 
indebtedness,  net  of  debt  discount  and  issuance  costs,  as  of  September  30,  2020  and  2019  was  $83.8  million  and  $86.8  million, 
respectively.

Included in the $2.35 million borrowing on November 1, 2018 (see Note 10) were notes borrowed from related parties—one note for 
$500,000 (Ed Anakar, an employee of the Company and brother of our director Nourdean Anakar) and another note for $100,000 (Allen 
Chhay, brother of Company CFO, Bradley Chhay) as part of a larger group of private lenders. The terms of this related party note are 
the same as the rest of the lender group in the November 1, 2018 transaction.

We  used  the  services  of  Nottingham  Creations  (formerly  Sherwood  Forest  Creations,  LLC),  a  furniture  fabrication  company  that 
manufactures tables, chairs and other furnishings for our Bombshells locations, as well as providing ongoing maintenance. Nottingham 
Creations is owned by a brother of Eric Langan (as was Sherwood Forest). Amounts billed to us for goods and services provided by 
Nottingham Creations and Sherwood Forest were approximately $59,000 in fiscal 2020, $134,000 in fiscal 2019, and $321,000 in fiscal 
2018. As of September 30, 2020 and 2019, we owed Nottingham Creations and Sherwood Forest $0 and $6,588, respectively, in unpaid 
billings.

TW  Mechanical  LLC  (“TW  Mechanical”)  provided  plumbing  and  HVAC  services  to  both  a  third-party  general  contractor  providing 
construction services to the Company, as well as directly to the Company during fiscal 2020 and 2019. A son-in-law of Eric Langan 
owns  a  noncontrolling  interest  in  TW  Mechanical.  Amounts  billed  by  TW  Mechanical  to  the  third-party  general  contractor  were 
approximately $19,000, $452,000, and $120,000 for the fiscal years 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Amounts billed directly to the 
Company were approximately $62,000, $47,000, and $7,000 for the fiscal years 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. As of September 
30, 2020 and 2019, the Company owed TW Mechanical approximately $5,700 and $0, respectively, in unpaid direct billings.

22. Leases

ASC 840 (Related to Fiscal 2019 and 2018)

The  Company  leases  certain  facilities  and  equipment  under  operating  leases.  Under  ASC  840,  lease  expense  for  the  Company’s 
operating leases, which generally have escalating rentals over the term of the lease, is recorded using the straight-line method over the 
initial lease term whereby an equal amount of lease expense is attributed to each period during the term of the lease, regardless of when 
actual payments are made. Generally, this results in lease expense in excess of cash payments during the early years of a lease and lease 
expense  less  than  cash  payments  in  the  later  years.  The  difference  between  lease  expense  recognized  and  actual  lease  payments  is 
accumulated and included in other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

84

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Included in lease expense in our consolidated statements of operations (see Note 6) were lease payments for a house that the Company’s 
CEO  rented  to  the  Company  for  corporate  housing  for  its  out-of-town  Bombshells  management  and  trainers,  of  which  lease  expense 
totaled $19,500, $78,000, and $55,250 for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. This lease terminated on 
December 31, 2019 and was scoped out upon adoption of ASC 842 on October 1, 2019.

Included in the future minimum lease obligations are billboard and outdoor sign leases. These leases were recorded as advertising and 
marketing expenses, and included in selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of operations. Under 
ASC  840,  we  recorded lease expense  amounting  to  $3.9  million and $3.8 million for the  years  ended September 30,  2019 and 2018, 
respectively.

ASC 842 (Related to Fiscal 2020)

The Company adopted ASC 842 as of October 1, 2019. The Company’s adoption of ASC 842 included renewal or termination options 
for  varying  periods  which  we  deemed  reasonably  certain  to  exercise.  This  determination  is  based  on  our  consideration  of  certain 
economic, strategic and other factors that we evaluate at lease commencement date and reevaluate throughout the lease term.

Some leasing arrangements require variable payments that are dependent on usage or may vary for other reasons, such as payments for 
insurance and tax payments. The variable portion of lease payments is not included in our right-of-use assets or lease liabilities. Rather, 
variable payments, other than those dependent upon an index or rate, are expensed when the obligation for those payments is incurred 
and are included in lease expenses recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statement of operations.

We have elected to apply the short-term lease exception for all underlying asset classes, which mainly includes equipment leases. That 
is, leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recognized on the balance sheet, but rather expensed on a straight-line basis over the 
lease term. We do not include significant restrictions or covenants in our lease agreements, and residual value guarantees are generally 
not included within our operating leases.

Our adoption of ASC 842 did not have a material impact on our lease revenue accounting as a lessor. See Note 5.

Future maturities of ASC 842 lease liabilities as of September 30, 2020 are as follows (in thousands):

October 2020 - September 2021
October 2021 - September 2022
October 2022 - September 2023
October 2023 - September 2024
October 2024 - September 2025
Thereafter

Principal
Payments

Interest
Payments

Total
Payments

1,628
1,742
1,678
1,775
1,953
18,291
27,067

$

$

1,593
1,491
1,387
1,283
1,171
5,421
12,346

$

$

3,221
3,233
3,065
3,058
3,124
23,712
39,413

$

$

Total  lease  expense,  under  ASC  842,  was  included  in  selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses  in  our  consolidated  statement  of 
operations,  except  for  sublease  income  which  was  included  in  other  revenue,  for  the  year  ended  September  30,  2020  as  follows  (in 
thousands):

Operating lease expense – fixed payments
Variable lease expense
Short-term equipment and other lease expense (includes $315 recorded in 
advertising and marketing, and $372 recorded in repairs and maintenance; see 
Note 6)
Sublease income

Total lease expense, net

Other information:

Operating cash outflows from operating leases
Weighted average remaining lease term
Weighted average discount rate

$

$

$

Year Ended
September 30, 2020

3,244
381

1,122
(9)
4,738

4,562
13 years

6.1%

In relation to certain rent concessions that we received from certain of our lessors in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, we accounted for 
those  rent  concessions  as  deferral  of  payments  as  if  the  lease  is  unchanged.  Any  reduction  in  total  lease  expense  during  the  period 
caused by either an extension of the lease term or a forgiveness of certain lease payments is accounted for as variable lease payment 
adjustments.

85

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC.
Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
(Amounts in Thousands)

Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable

Fiscal 2018
Fiscal 2019
Fiscal 2020

Allowance for doubtful notes receivable

Fiscal 2018
Fiscal 2019
Fiscal 2020

Deferred tax asset valuation allowance(3)

Fiscal 2018
Fiscal 2019
Fiscal 2020

Balance at 
beginning of 
year

Charged to 
costs and 
expenses(1)

Deductions(2)

Balance at end 
of year

$
$
$

$
$
$

$
$
$

-
-
101

-
-
-

-
-
-

$
$
$

$
$
$

$
$
$

106
241
347

-
-
602

-
-
1,273

$
$
$

$
$
$

$
$
$

(106)
(140)
(187)

-
-
(420)

-
-
-

$
$
$

$
$
$

$
$
$

-
101
261

-
-
182

-
-
1,273

(1) Charged  to  bad  debts  expense  (under  other  selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses)  in  the  consolidated  statements  of 

operations.

(2) Written off against gross receivable and allowance.
(3) Included in deferred tax liability, net in the consolidated balance sheets.

86

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

There have been no disagreements with accountants on accounting and financial disclosure.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

In connection with the preparation of this report, an evaluation was carried out by certain members of Company management, with the 
participation of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of the effectiveness of the Company’s 
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) as of September 30, 2020. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to 
ensure  that  information  required  to  be  disclosed  in  reports  filed  or  submitted  under  the  Exchange  Act  is  recorded,  processed, 
summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and 
communicated to management, including the CEO and the CFO, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Due  to  a  material  weakness  in  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  described  below,  management  concluded  that  the  Company’s 
disclosure  controls  and  procedures  were  not  effective  as  of  September  30,  2020.  Notwithstanding  the  existence  of  this  material 
weakness,  management  believes  that  the  consolidated  financial  statements  in  this  annual  report  filed  on  Form  10-K  present,  in  all 
material  respects,  the  Company’s  financial  condition  as  reported,  in  conformity  with  United  States  Generally  Accepted  Accounting 
Principles (“U.S. GAAP”).

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management  of  the  Company  is  responsible  for  establishing  and  maintaining  adequate  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as 
defined  in  Rule  13a-15(f)  under  the  Exchange  Act.  Our  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  is  designed  to  provide  reasonable 
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance 
with  U.S.  GAAP  and  includes  those  policies  and  procedures  that:  (1)  pertain  to  the  maintenance  of  records  that  in  reasonable  detail 
accurately and fairly reflect our transactions and the dispositions of our assets; (2) provide reasonable assurance that our transactions are 
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that 
our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with appropriate authorizations; and (3) provide reasonable assurance 
regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on 
our consolidated financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of 
any  evaluation  of  effectiveness  to  future  periods  are  subject  to  the  risk  that  controls  may  become  inadequate  because  of  changes  in 
conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Under  the  supervision  of  and  with  the  participation  of  our  management,  we  assessed  the  effectiveness  of  our  internal  control  over 
financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway 
Commission  (“COSO”)  in  Internal  Control—Integrated  Framework  (2013).  A  material  weakness  is  a  deficiency,  or  combination  of 
deficiencies,  in  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  such  that  there  is  a  reasonable  possibility  that  a  material  misstatement  of  the 
Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

We identified a material weakness in internal control related to the proper design and implementation of controls over our income tax 
provision, specifically over management’s review of the income tax provision. Based on our evaluation and as a result of the material 
weakness identified, our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, concluded that our 
internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of September 30, 2020.

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Friedman, LLP, has expressed an adverse opinion on our internal control 
over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020 in the audit report that appears at the end of Part II of this Annual Report on Form 
10-K.

87

Remediation Plan for Existing Material Weakness

Management is committed to the remediation of the material weakness described above, as well as the continued improvement of the 
Company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting.  Management  has  been  implementing,  and  continues  to  implement,  measures 
designed to ensure that control deficiencies contributing to the material weakness are remediated, such that these controls are designed, 
implemented, and operating effectively.

Management  will  enhance  our  risk  assessment  process  over  the  design  and  implementation  of  internal  controls  over  the  income  tax 
provision, including enhanced review controls to be performed by senior accounting management.

It is our belief that these added controls will effectively remediate the existing material weakness.

Previously Reported Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

As disclosed in Item 9A Controls and Procedures in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, we 
identified a material weakness in internal control related to ineffective financial statement close and reporting controls in the areas of 
management review of financial statement information, independent review of journal entries, disclosure of related party transactions 
and accounting for loss contingencies.

Remediation Efforts to Address Material Weakness

In response to the previously reported material weakness, management has made the following changes:

● developed policies and procedures to enhance the precision of management review of financial statement information;
● implemented policies and procedures to enhance independent review of journal entries;
● developed and implemented procedures to ensure the completeness of related party disclosures; and
● developed and implemented procedures related to the identification and accounting for loss contingencies.

During the fourth quarter of 2020, we completed our testing of the operating effectiveness of the implemented controls and, with the 
exception  of  the  new  material  weakness  related  to  the  income  tax  provision  described  above,  management  has  concluded  that  the 
previously reported material weakness has been remediated.

88

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Except for the changes discussed above, there have been no other changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in 
Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2020 that have materially affected, or are 
reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

We  have  not  experienced  any  material  impact  to  our  internal  controls  over  financial  reporting  despite  the  fact  that  many  of  our 
employees are working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are continually monitoring and assessing the COVID-19 situation 
on our internal controls to minimize the impact on their design and operating effectiveness.

Item 9B. Other Information.

None

89

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc.

Adverse Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc.’s (the “Company’s”) internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, 
based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations 
of  the  Treadway  Commission  (“COSO”).  In  our  opinion,  because  of  the  effect  of  the  material  weakness  described  in  the  following 
paragraph on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, the Company has not maintained effective internal control over 
financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by 
COSO.

A material weakness is a control deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there 
is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or 
detected on a timely basis. The following material weakness has been identified and included in management’s assessment:

Ineffective controls related to management’s review of the income tax provision.

This  material  weakness  was  considered  in  determining  the  nature,  timing,  and  extent  of  audit  tests  applied  in  our  audit  of  the  2020 
consolidated financial statements, and this report does not affect our report dated December 14, 2020, on those consolidated financial 
statements.

We do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance on management’s statements referring to any corrective actions taken by 
the Company after the date of management’s assessment.

We  also  have  audited,  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board  (United  States) 
(“PCAOB”),  the  consolidated  balance  sheets  and  the  related  consolidated  statements  of  operations,  comprehensive  income  (loss), 
changes in equity, and cash flows of the Company, and our report dated December 14, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of 
the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying “Item 9A - Management’s Annual Report on 
Internal Control over Financial Reporting”. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial 
reporting  based  on  our  audit.  We  are  a  public  accounting  firm  registered  with  the  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 audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to 
obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our 
audit  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  included  obtaining  an  understanding  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting, 
assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control 
based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. 
We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of 
financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting 
principles.  A  company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  includes  those  policies  and  procedures  that  (1)  pertain  to  the 
maintenance  of  records  that,  in  reasonable  detail,  accurately  and  fairly  reflect  the  transactions  and  dispositions  of  the  assets  of  the 
company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in 
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in 
accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention 
or  timely  detection  of  unauthorized  acquisition,  use,  or  disposition  of  the  company’s  assets  that  could  have  a  material  effect  on  the 
financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of 
any  evaluation  of  effectiveness  to  future  periods  are  subject  to  the  risk  that  controls  may  become  inadequate  because  of  changes  in 
conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Friedman LLP

Marlton, New Jersey
December 14, 2020

90

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

PART III

Our Directors are elected annually and hold office until the next annual meeting of our stockholders or until their successors are elected 
and qualified. Officers are appointed by the Board of Directors annually and serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors (subject to 
any existing employment agreements). There is no family relationship between or among any of our directors and executive officers. 
Our Board of Directors consists of seven persons. The following table sets forth our Directors and executive officers as of December 8, 
2020:

Name
Eric S. Langan
Bradley Chhay
Travis Reese
Luke Lirot
Nourdean Anakar
Yura Barabash
Elain J. Martin
Arthur Allan Priaulx

Age
52
37
51
64
63
45
63
80

Position
Director, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President
Chief Financial Officer
Director and Executive Vice President
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director

Eric S. Langan has been a director since 1998, and our President, CEO and Chairman since 1999. He began his career in the hospitality 
industry in 1989 and has developed significant expertise in sports bar/restaurants and adult entertainment nightclubs, including related 
areas  of  real  estate  development  and  finance.  Mr.  Langan  built  the  XTC  Cabaret  nightclub  brand  and  merged  it  into  RCI  in  1998, 
expanding  the  scope  of  the  company.  He  has  been  instrumental  in  bringing  professional  marketing,  management,  finance,  and 
technology practices and systems to the gentlemen’s club industry. As one of the original founders of the National Association of Club 
Executives (ACE), Mr. Langan has been an active member of its Board of Directors since 1999. Through these activities, Mr. Langan 
has acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully operate adult entertainment businesses.

Involvement in certain legal proceedings: On September 21, 2020, as part of the settlement of a civil administrative proceeding with the 
SEC,  Mr.  Langan  agreed,  without  admitting  or  denying  the  findings,  to  a  cease-and-desist  order  regarding  certain  sections  of  the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and certain rules promulgated thereunder. See the subsection “SEC Matter and Internal Review” under 
the  “Legal  Matters”  section  within  Note  12  to  our  consolidated  financial  statements  within  this  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for  a 
description of the settlement and order, which description is incorporated herein by reference.

Bradley Chhay was appointed as our CFO on September 14, 2020. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner 
(CFE),  and  Certified  Information  Systems  Auditor  (CISA).  He  joined  us  in  November  2015  as  Controller  in  charge  of  migrating  the 
company to an upgraded ERP system and enhancing internal and external audit and SEC reporting functions. From 2007 through 2009, 
he  was  an  auditor  for  Deloitte &  Touche  LLP.  From  2009  through  2013,  he  served  as  Internal  Audit Senior,  IT  Auditor,  and  Senior 
Fraud  Auditor  for  Live  Nation  Entertainment,  Inc.  of  Beverly  Hills,  a  publicly-traded  company  that  markets  tickets  for  live 
entertainment  worldwide,  owns  and  operates  entertainment  venues,  and  manages  music  artists.  From  2013  through  2015,  Mr.  Chhay 
was  an  Audit  Supervisor  and  Global  ERP  Project  Lead  for  RigNet,  Inc.  of  Houston,  a  publicly-traded  digital  technology  company 
serving the oil and gas, maritime and government markets. After RigNet, he briefly served as CFO for a smaller, privately-held, multi-
unit restaurant chain.

Travis  Reese  became  a  director  and  our  Executive  Vice  President  in  1999.  From  1997  through  1999,  Mr.  Reese  had  been  a  senior 
network administrator at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico. During 1997, Mr. Reese was a computer systems engineer 
with  Deloitte  &  Touche.  From  1995  until  1997,  Mr.  Reese  was  Vice  President  with  Digital  Publishing  Resources,  Inc.,  an  Internet 
service provider. From 1994 until 1995, Mr. Reese was a pilot with Continental Airlines. From 1992 until 1994, Mr. Reese was a pilot 
with  Hang  On,  Inc.,  an  airline  company.  Mr.  Reese  has  an  Associate’s  Degree  in  Aeronautical  Science  from  Texas  State  Technical 
College. Mr. Reese has been involved in the adult entertainment industry since 1992. His experience and knowledge in this industry is 
essential to the Board’s oversight of our businesses.

91

Luke Lirot became a director on July 31, 2007. Mr. Lirot received his law degree from the University of San Francisco in 1986. After 
serving as an intern in the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office in 1986, Mr. Lirot returned to Florida and established a private law 
practice  where  he  continues  to  practice  and  specializes  in  adult  entertainment  issues.  He  is  a  past  President  of  the  First  Amendment 
Lawyers’ Association and has actively participated in numerous state and federal legal matters. Mr. Lirot represents as counsel scores of 
individuals and entities within our industry. Having practiced in this area for over 30 years, he is aware of virtually every type of legal 
issue that can arise, making him an important member of the Board.

Nourdean Anakar became a director on September 14, 2010. Mr. Anakar is a seasoned gaming and hospitality senior executive with a 
28-year  successful  track  record  in  leading  the  development  and  management  of  top  ranked  gaming  and  hospitality  operations  in  the 
United States, Europe, and Latin America. He was Chairman and CEO of Sorteo Games Inc. from 2002 through 2014 and since 2015 
has  been  a partner  of  the  McKinney  Capital  Group and  oversees  all international  developments. He  received  his BA in  Management 
Science from Duke University and CHA in Hospitality Management from the Conrad Hilton College at the University of Houston. Mr. 
Anakar’s experience managing and developing businesses in industries with similar characteristics to ours make him an excellent fit to 
the Board.

Yura Barabash became a director on September 19, 2017. Mr. Barabash has been a Chief Operating Officer of Gingko Online Learning 
LLC,  private  online  learning  company  in  Florida  since  July  2020  and  a  consultant  to  Chengdu  Gingko  Education  Management, 
educational  management  company  in  Chengdu,  China  since  August  2019.  Mr.  Barabash  has  extensive  corporate  finance  experience 
across  multiple  industries  domestically  and  internationally,  and  has  been  involved  in  multiple  equity  and  debt  financings  and  M&A 
transactions for public and private companies in the US, China, Brazil, EU and Russia. From 2016 to June 2019 he was a Senior Vice 
President of Finance at Motorsport Network LLC (www.motorsportnetwork.com) in Miami, the largest motorsport data enabled digital 
media  company  in  the  world.  Prior  to  joining  Motorsport  Network,  he  was  an  investment  banker  at  Primary  Capital  from  2011  until 
2016. Previously, Mr. Barabash was an investment banker at Rodman & Renshaw and Merrill Lynch. He holds a B.A. from Sevastopol 
City University in Ukraine and a Master in International Affairs from Columbia University in New York City, and is fluent in Russian. 
Mr.  Barabash  is  a  valuable  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  based  on  his  extensive  corporate  finance  and  investment  banking 
experience  across  multiple  industries  domestically  and  internationally  with  a  wide  range  of  transactions  (debt  and  equity).  He  also 
possesses extensive financial modeling and investor relationship experience and experience in diligence, governance and accounting.

Elaine  J.  Martin  became  a  director  on  August  8,  2019.  She  is  co-founder  and  general  partner  of  two  privately-held  Houston  area 
businesses  for  which  she  provides  a  broad  array  of  management  and  accounting  functions  on  a  day-to-day  basis.  In  1993,  she  co-
founded Medco Manufacturing LLC, which develops, manufactures and sells, under Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines, 
equipment  and  disposable  products  used  by  plastic  surgeons  in  domestic  and  international  markets.  In  1989,  Ms.  Martin  co-founded 
Aero  Tech  Aviation  LLC,  which  trains  foreign  nationals  for  the  Federal  Aviation  Administration  (FAA)  Air  Frame  and  Power  Plant 
examination,  for  their  license  to  repair  US-origin  aircraft.  Earlier  in  her  career,  she  was  a  Registered  Nurse  specializing  in  cosmetic 
surgery. Ms. Martin received her BS in Biology and Chemistry from Houston Baptist University. Her volunteer activities have included 
serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Texas A&M University Mothers’ Club (Aggie Moms). Ms. Martin’s business acumen 
and experience running companies make her an important member of the Board.

Arthur Allan Priaulx became a director on August 8, 2019. He has more than 45 years of experience in the communications industry. 
Earlier  in  his  career,  he  was  Vice  President  and  General  Manager  of  King  Features  Division  of  Hearst  Corporation,  in  charge  of 
worldwide  newspaper  activities  and  product  licensing.  He  was  also  publisher  of  American  Banker,  a  leading  trade  publication  in  the 
financial services industry, when it was owned by Thomson Financial. In 1993, he founded Resource Media Group, a New York-based 
financial media and investor relations firm. His clients included a wide range of companies, including RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., 
for which he provided public and investor relations services from 1994 to 2013. Mr. Priaulx has been retired since 2014. He attended 
Dartmouth  College  and  University  of  Southampton  in  the  U.K.  He  has  also  completed  graduate-level  courses  at  INSEAD  Business 
School in France and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. His volunteer activities have included serving as national 
vice president of United Cerebral Palsy.

92

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AUDIT COMMITTEE

We have an Audit Committee whose members are Yura Barabash, Elaine Martin and Arthur Allan Priaulx. All members of the Audit 
Committee  are  independent  directors.  The  purpose  of  the  Audit  Committee  is  to  (i)  oversee  our  accounting  and  financial  reporting 
processes, our disclosure controls and procedures and system of internal controls and audits of our consolidated financial statements, (ii) 
oversee the relationship with our independent auditors, including appointing or changing our auditors and ensuring their independence, 
and  (iii)  provide  oversight  regarding  significant  financial  matters.  The  Audit  Committee  meets  privately  with  our  Chief  Financial 
Officer and with our independent registered public accounting firm and evaluates the responses by the Chief Financial Officer both to 
the facts presented and to the judgments made by our outside independent registered public accounting firm. Yura Barabash serves as 
the Audit Committee’s financial expert.

In August 2015, our Board adopted a new Charter for the Audit Committee. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter can be found on 
our  website  at  www.rcihospitality.com/investor.  The  Charter  establishes  the  independence  of  our  Audit  Committee  and  sets  forth the 
scope of the Audit Committee’s duties. The Audit Committee conducts an ongoing review of our financial reports and other financial 
information prior to their being filed with the SEC, or otherwise provided to the public. The Audit Committee also reviews our systems, 
methods  and  procedures  of  internal  controls  in  the  areas  of:  financial  reporting,  audits,  treasury  operations,  corporate  finance, 
managerial,  financial  and  SEC  accounting,  compliance  with  law,  and  ethical  conduct.  NASDAQ  Stock  Market  Rules  require  all 
members  of  the  Audit  Committee  to  be  independent.  The  Audit  Committee  is  objective,  and  reviews  and  assesses  the  work  of  our 
independent registered public accounting firm and our internal accounting department.

93

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

We have a Nominating Committee whose current members are Elaine Martin, Luke Lirot, Yura Barabash and Arthur Allan Priaulx. In 
July 2004, the Board unanimously adopted a Charter with regard to the process to be used for identifying and evaluating nominees for 
director.  The  Charter  establishes  the  independence  of  our  Nominating  Committee  and  sets  forth  the  scope  of  the  Nominating 
Committee’s duties. NASDAQ Stock Market Rules require all members of the Nominating Committee to be independent. Pursuant to its 
Charter, the Committee has the power and authority to consider Board nominees and proposals submitted by our stockholders and to 
establish any procedures, including procedures to facilitate stockholder communication with the Board of Directors, and to make any 
such disclosures required by applicable law in the course of exercising such authority. A copy of the Nominating Committee’s Charter 
can be found on our website at www.rcihospitality.com/investor.

COMPENSATION COMMITEE

We have a Compensation Committee whose current members are Elaine Martin, Luke Lirot, Yura Barabash and Arthur Allan Priaulx. 
In June 2014, the Compensation Committee adopted a Charter with regard to the Compensation Committee’s responsibilities, including 
evaluating,  reviewing  and  determining  the  compensation  of  our  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  other  executive  officers.  A  copy  of  the 
Compensation Committee’s Charter can be found on our website at www.rcihospitality.com/investor.

DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our directors and executive officers, and persons who own beneficially 
more than ten percent of our common stock, to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission.  Based  solely  upon  a  review  of  Forms  3,  4  and  5  furnished  to  us  during  the  fiscal  year  ended  September  30,  2020,  we 
believe  that  the  directors,  executive  officers,  and  greater  than  ten  percent  beneficial  owners  have  complied  with  all  applicable  filing 
requirements during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, except for (i) two untimely Form 4s filed on March 19, 2020 and July 24, 
2020 by Elaine Martin, our director, with respect to a total of seven transactions occurring on March 13, 16, and 19, 2020, and (ii) an 
untimely Form 4 filed on February 12, 2020 by each of Eric Langan, our Chief Executive Officer; Phillip Marshall, our former Chief 
Financial  Officer;  and  Travis  Reese,  our  Director  and  Executive  Vice  President,  with  respect  to  the  same  transaction  involving  an 
investment club.

CODE OF ETHICS

We have adopted a code of ethics for our principal executive and senior financial officers, a copy of which can be found on our website 
at www.rcihospitality.com.

94

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

This compensation discussion and analysis describes the material elements of the Company’s compensation programs as they relate to 
our executive officers who are listed in the compensation tables appearing below. This compensation discussion and analysis focuses on 
the information contained in the following tables and related footnotes. The individuals who served as the Company’s Chief Executive 
Officer and Chief Financial Officer during fiscal 2020, as well as any other individuals included in the Summary Compensation Table, 
are referred to as “named executive officers.”

Overview of Compensation Committee Role and Responsibilities

The  Compensation  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Directors  oversees  our  compensation  plans  and  policies,  reviews  and  approves  all 
decisions concerning the named executive officers’ compensation, which may further be approved by the Board, and administers our 
stock  option  and  equity  plans,  including  reviewing  and  approving  stock  option  grants  and  equity  awards  under  the  plans.  The 
Compensation Committee’s membership is determined by the Board and is composed entirely of independent directors.

Management  plays  a  role  in  the  compensation-setting  process.  The  most  significant  aspects  of  management’s  role  are  to  evaluate 
employee  performance  and  recommend  salary  levels  and  equity  compensation  awards.  Our  Chief  Executive  Officer  often  makes 
recommendations  to  the  Compensation  Committee  and  the  Board  concerning  compensation  for  other  executive  officers.  Our  Chief 
Executive Officer is a member of the Board but does not participate in Board decisions regarding any aspect of his own compensation. 
The Compensation Committee can retain independent advisors or consultants.

Compensation Committee Process

The  Compensation  Committee  reviews  executive  compensation  in  connection  with  the  evaluation  and  approval  of  an  employment 
agreement,  an  increase  in  responsibilities  or  other  factors.  With  respect  to  equity  compensation  awarded  to  other  employees,  the 
Compensation Committee or the Board grants stock options, often after receiving a recommendation from our Chief Executive Officer. 
The Compensation Committee also evaluates proposals for incentive and performance equity awards, and other compensation.

Compensation Philosophy

The  Compensation  Committee  emphasizes  the  important  link  between  the  Company’s  performance,  which  ultimately  affects 
stockholder value, and the compensation of its executives. Therefore, the primary goal of the Company’s executive compensation policy 
is to try to align the interests of the executive officers with the interests of the stockholders. In order to achieve this goal, the Company 
attempts to (i) offer compensation opportunities that attract and retain executives whose abilities and skills are critical to the long-term 
success  of  the  Company  and  reward  them  for  their  efforts  in  ensuring  the  success  of  the  Company,  (ii)  align  the  Company’s 
compensation  programs  with  the  Company’s  long-term  business  strategies  and  objectives,  and  (iii)  provide  variable  compensation 
opportunities that are directly linked to the Company’s performance and stockholder value, including an equity stake in the Company. 
Our named executive officers’ compensation utilizes two primary components — base salary and long-term equity compensation — to 
achieve  these  goals.  We  have  not,  however,  granted  any  equity  awards  to  our  executive  officers  since  2014.  Additionally,  the 
Compensation  Committee  may  award  discretionary  bonuses  to  certain  executives  based  on  the  individual’s  contribution  to  the 
achievement of the Company’s strategic objectives.

95

Setting Executive Compensation

We fix executive base compensation at a level we believe enables us to hire and retain individuals in a competitive environment and to 
reward  satisfactory  individual  performance  and  a  satisfactory  level  of  contribution  to  our  overall  business  goals.  We  also  take  into 
account  the  compensation  that  is  paid  by  companies  that  we  believe  to  be  our  competitors  and  by  other  companies  with  which  we 
believe we generally compete for executives.

In  establishing  compensation  packages  for  executive  officers,  numerous  factors  are  considered,  including  the  particular  executive’s 
experience, expertise and performance, our company’s overall performance and compensation packages available in the marketplace for 
similar  positions.  In  arriving  at  amounts  for  each  component  of  compensation,  our  Compensation  Committee  strives  to  strike  an 
appropriate balance between base compensation and incentive compensation. The Compensation Committee also endeavors to properly 
allocate between cash and non-cash compensation and between annual and long-term compensation.

The Role of Shareholder Say-on-Pay Votes

At our annual meeting of shareholders held on September 14, 2020, approximately 96.6% of the shareholders who voted on the “say-on-
pay” proposal approved the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in the proxy statement. Although this advisory 
shareholder vote on executive compensation is non-binding, the Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of the vote when 
making future compensation decisions for named executive officers.

Base Salary

The Company provides executive officers and other employees with base salary to compensate them for services rendered during the 
fiscal year. Subject to the provisions contained in employment agreements with executive officers concerning base salary amounts, base 
salaries of the executive officers are established based upon compensation data of comparable companies in our market, the executive’s 
job  responsibilities,  level  of  experience,  individual  performance  and  contribution  to  the  business.  We  believe  it  is  important  for  the 
Company  to  provide  adequate  fixed  compensation  to  highly  qualified  executives  in  our  competitive  industry.  In  making  base  salary 
decisions, the Compensation Committee uses its discretion and judgment based upon personal knowledge of industry practice but does 
not apply any specific formula to determine the base salaries for the executive officers.

96

Retirement Savings Plan

The Company maintains a retirement savings plan for the benefit of our executives and employees. Our Simple IRA Plan is intended to 
qualify  as  a  defined  contribution  arrangement  under  the  Internal  Revenue  Code  (the  “Code”).  Participants  may  elect  to  defer  a 
percentage  of  their  eligible  pretax  earnings  each  year  or  contribute  a  fixed  amount  per  pay  period  up  to  the  maximum  contribution 
permitted  by  the  Code.  All  participants’  plan  accounts  are  100%  vested  at  all  times.  All  assets  of  our  Simple  IRA  Plan  are  invested 
based on participant-directed elections. We make certain matching contributions to the Simple IRA Plan, which are also 100% vested.

Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits

The Company’s  executive officers  participate  in the Company’s other  benefit  plans  on  the  same  terms  as other employees  on a  non-
discriminatory basis. These plans include medical, dental, life and disability insurance. Relocation benefits also are reimbursed and are 
individually negotiated when they occur. The Company reimburses each executive officer for all reasonable business and other expenses 
incurred by them in connection with the performance of their duties and obligations. The Company does not provide named executive 
officers with any significant perquisites or other personal benefits except for personal travel using Company-owned automobiles and/or 
aircrafts, and housing and living expenses for our former CFO. In September 2019, the board of directors approved an aircraft policy 
allowing personal use of Company  aircrafts as follows: (1) 25 hours per fiscal quarter for our CEO, and (2) 12 hours each per fiscal 
quarter for other executive officers.

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table reflects all forms of compensation for services to us for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018 
of our named executive officers.

Name and
Principal Position
Eric S. Langan

President and Chief Executive Officer

Bradley Chhay(2)

Chief Financial Officer

Travis Reese

Executive Vice President

Phillip K. Marshall(2)

Former Chief Financial Officer

Salary
($)
1,073,077
1,200,000
1,015,384

Bonus
($)

-
-
-

All Other
Compensation(1)
($)

95,975
81,355
119,904

Total
($)
1,169,052
1,281,355
1,135,288

269,231

25,000

50,333

344,564

348,750
390,000
346,854

290,625
325,000
294,231

-
-
-

25,000
-
-

66,418
76,622
73,722

58,837
34,067
32,580

415,168
466,622
420,576

374,462
359,067
326,811

Year
2020
2019
2018

2020

2020
2019
2018

2020
2019
2018

(1) All  Other  Compensation  consists  of  SIMPLE  IRA  matching  contributions,  automobile  expenses,  personal  use  of  aircraft,  and 
housing and  living expenses. We  account for  personal use of aircraft  to  be the aggregate incremental cost of  personal use of the 
company  aircraft  as  calculated  based  on  a  cost-per-flight-hour  charge  developed  by  a  nationally  recognized  and  independent 
service. The charge reflects the direct cost of operating the aircraft, including fuel, additives, lubricants, maintenance labor, airframe 
parts, engine restoration, and major periodic maintenance. We added actual airport/hangar fees charged to the company on a per-
flight basis. The charge does not include fixed costs that do not change based on usage, such as aircraft depreciation, home hangar 
expenses,  and  general  taxes  and  insurance.  We  value  automobile  expenses  based  on  the  annual  depreciation  rate  of  automobiles 
assigned for use by the particular officer (until fiscal 2019), plus cost of insurance, registration, repairs, maintenance, tolls, fuel, and 
starting fiscal 2020, tax reimbursement on automobile fringe benefits.

A table of All Other Compensation for fiscal 2020 for our named executive officers is presented below:

Name
Eric S. Langan

Bradley Chhay

Travis Reese

Phillip K. Marshall

SIMPLE IRA 
Matching 
Contribution
($)
16,880

Automobile 
Expenses
($)
33,006

Personal Use 
of Aircraft
($)
46,089

8,394

6,750

8,906

38,840

59,668

33,059

3,099

-

-

Housing and 
Living 
Expenses
($)

-

-

-

Total All 
Other 
Compensation
($)
95,975

50,333

66,418

16,872

58,837

(2) Mr.  Chhay  assumed  the  role  of  Chief  Financial  Officer  when  Mr.  Marshall  retired  as  the  Company’s  Chief  Financial  Officer  on 

September 14, 2020.

97

CEO Pay Ratio

We  reviewed  a  comparison  of  annual  total  compensation  of  our  CEO  to  the  annual  compensation  of  our  median  employee  who  was 
selected from all employees who were employed (other than the CEO) during our fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.

The SEC’s rules for identifying the median compensated employee and calculating the pay ratio based on that employee’s annual total 
compensation allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions, and to make reasonable estimates and 
assumptions that reflect their employee populations and compensation practices. As a result, the pay ratio reported by other companies 
may  not  be  comparable  to  the  pay  ratio  reported  below,  as  other  companies  have  different  employee  populations  and  compensation 
practices and may utilize different methodologies, exclusions, estimates and assumptions in calculating their own pay ratios.

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, the employment of the median employee that was identified in our Form 10-K for the 
fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 was terminated. We recalculated and identified a new median employee using the same 
methodology as mentioned above.

The compensation for our CEO in fiscal 2020 of $1,169,052 was approximately 17 times the compensation of our fiscal 2020 median 
employee of $67,654.

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

There were no grants of plan-based awards for fiscal 2020.

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

There were no outstanding equity awards as of September 30, 2020.

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED IN FISCAL YEAR 2019

There were no stock options exercised nor stock that vested during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.

98

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

We pay the expenses of our directors in attending board meetings. We paid no equity-based compensation during the fiscal year ended 
September  30,  2020,  and  we  paid  our  independent  directors  $30,000  in  cash  for  the  fiscal  year.  Following  is  a  schedule  of  all 
compensation paid to our directors in the year ended September 30, 2020:

Name
Nourdean Anakar
Luke C. Lirot
Yura Barabash
Elaine Martin
Arthur Allan Priaulx
Eric S. Langan
Travis Reese

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

Fees earned 
or paid in 
cash
($)

30,000
30,000
30,000
30,000
30,000
-
-

On January 31, 2020, the employment agreements with Eric S. Langan, our Chief Executive Officer and President, and Travis Reese, 
our  Executive  Vice  President,  expired.  We  are  presently  in  the  process  of  negotiating  new  employment  agreements  with  these 
individuals. During this process, the Compensation Committee has determined that these executive officers will continue to receive the 
pay and benefits provided under their previous employment agreements. Under their respective agreements, Mr. Langan’s annual salary 
was  $1,200,000  and  Mr.  Reese’s  annual  salary  was  $390,000.  Each  of  the  agreements  also  provided  for  bonus  eligibility,  expense 
reimbursement, participation in all benefit plans maintained by us for salaried employees and two weeks paid vacation.

We are also in the process of negotiating an employment agreement with Bradley Chhay who was appointed Chief Financial Officer on 
September 14, 2020. During this process, the Compensation Committee has determined to pay him an annual salary of $400,000.

Currently, our executive officers do not have long-term incentive plans or defined benefit or actuarial plans outstanding.

EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLANS

The Company’s 2010 Stock Option Plan, as amended, contractually expired on September 30, 2020.

99

COMPENSATION POLICIES AND PRACTICES AS THEY RELATE TO RISK MANAGEMENT

We attempt to make our compensation programs discretionary, balanced and focused on the long term. We believe goals and objectives 
of our compensation programs reflect a balanced mix of quantitative and qualitative performance measures to avoid excessive weight on 
a  single  performance  measure.  Our  approach  to  compensation  practices  and  policies  applicable  to  employees  and  consultants  is 
consistent with that followed for our executives. Based on these factors, we believe that our compensation policies and practices do not 
create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis to be included 
in this Form 10-K. Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Compensation Committee recommends to the Board of 
Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis referred to above be included in this report. This report is furnished by the 
Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, whose members are:

Elaine Martin
Luke Lirot
Yura Barabash
Arthur Allan Priaulx

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The Compensation Committee is comprised of Ms. Martin and Messrs. Lirot, Barabash, and Priaulx. No interlocking relationship exists 
between any member of the Compensation Committee and any member of any other company’s Board of Directors or compensation 
committee.

100

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

The following table sets forth certain information at December 8, 2020, with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of common 
stock by (i) each person known to us who owns beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of common stock, (ii) each of our 
directors,  (iii)  each  of  our  executive  officers  and  (iv)  all  of  our  executive  officers  and  directors  as  a  group.  Unless  otherwise  noted 
below, the address of each beneficial owner listed in the table is c/o RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., 10737 Cutten Road, Houston, Texas 
77066. We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Except as indicated by the footnotes below, 
we  believe,  based  on  the  information  furnished  to  us,  that  the  persons  and  entities  named  in  the  table  below  have  sole  voting  and 
investment power with respect to all shares of common stock that they beneficially own, subject to applicable community property laws. 
Applicable percentage ownership is based on 8,999,910 shares of common stock outstanding at December 8, 2020. In computing the 
number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we deemed outstanding 
shares of common stock subject to stock options or warrants held by that person that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 
days  of  December  8,  2020  and  shares  of  common  stock  issuable  upon  conversion  of  other  securities  held  by  that  person  that  are 
currently convertible or convertible within 60 days of December 8, 2020. We did not deem these shares outstanding, however, for the 
purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Beneficial ownership representing less than 1% is denoted with an 
asterisk (*).

Name/Address
Executive Officers and Directors

Number of shares

Title of class

Percent of Class (1)

701,870(2)

Common stock

7.80%

Eric S. Langan

Bradley Chhay

Yura Barabash

Travis Reese

Nourdean Anakar

Luke Lirot

Elaine Martin

Arthur Allan Priaulx

All  of  our  Directors  and  Officers  as  a 
Group of eight persons

Other > 5% Security Holders 

3,370(3)

Common stock

-0-

Common stock

14,141(4)

Common stock

-0-

518

7,221

2,000

Common stock

Common stock

Common stock

Common stock

725,380

Common stock

Cooper Capital Securities, L.P. (5)

547,170

Common stock

BlackRock, Inc. (6)

ADW Capital Partners, L.P.(7)

Greenhaven Road Investment 
Management, L.P. (8)

596,667

Common stock

457,000

Common stock

500,010

Common stock

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

8.06%

6.08%

6.63%

5.08%

5.56%

(1) These percentages exclude treasury shares in the calculation of percentage of class.

(2) Includes 1,870 shares held in an investment club over which Mr. Langan has shared voting and investment power. As of the 

date of this report, Mr. Langan owns less than 0.1% of the investment club.

(3) Includes 1,870 shares held in an investment club over which Mr. Chhay has shared voting and investment power. As of the date 

of this report, Mr. Chhay owns approximately 3.8% of the investment club.

(4) Includes 1,870 shares held in an investment club over which Mr. Reese has shared voting and investment power. As of the date 

of this report, Mr. Reese owns approximately 1.6% of the investment club.

(5) Based on the most recently available Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 10, 2020 by Cooper Capital Securities, 
L.P., Cooper Capital Management, LLC, Adam Mikkelsen and Yilaap Lai. Cooper Capital Management is the general partner 
of Cooper Capital Securities; Adam Mikkelsen is the managing member of Cooper Capital Management; and Yilaap Lai is the 
limited partner of Cooper Capital Securities. Cooper Capital Securities beneficially owned 547,170 shares, with shared voting 
power over 425,852 shares, and shared dispositive power over 425,852 shares. The address of Cooper Capital Securities is 520 
Newport Center Drive, Suite 500, Newport Beach, California 92660.

(6) Based  on  the  most  recently  available  Schedule  13G  filed  with  the  SEC  on  February  7,  2020  by  BlackRock  Inc.  BlackRock 
beneficially  owned  596,667  shares,  with  sole  voting  power  over  581,097  shares  and  sole  dispositive  power  over  596,667 
shares. The address of BlackRock is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055.

(7) Based on the most recently available Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on May 21, 2020 by ADW Capital Partners, L.P., ADW 
Capital  Management,  LLC  and  Adam  D.  Wyden.  ADW  Capital  Management,  LLC  is  the  general  partner  and  investment 
manager of ADW Capital Partners, L.P. Mr. Wyden is the sole manager of ADW Capital Management, LLC. ADW Capital 
Partners, L.P is the record and direct beneficial owner of 457,000 shares, with sole voting power and sole dispositive power 
over all such shares. The address of each of these reporting persons is 1133 Broadway, Suite 719, New York, New York 10010. 

(8) Based  on  the  most  recently  available  Schedule  13G  filed  with  the  SEC  on  September  4,  2020  by  Scott  Stewart  Miller, 
Greenhaven  Road  Investment  Management,  LP  (the  “Investment  Manager”),  MVM  Funds,  LLC  (the  “General  Partner”), 
Greenhaven Road Capital Fund 1, L.P. (“Fund 1”), and Greenhaven Road Capital Fund 2, L.P. (“Fund 2”, and together with 
Fund 1, the “Funds”). Each Fund is a private investment vehicle. The Funds directly beneficially own the common stock. The 

Investment Manager is the investment manager of the Funds. The General Partner is the general partner of the Funds and the 
Investment Manager. Mr. Miller is the controlling person of the General Partner. Mr. Miller, the Investment Manager and the 
General  Partner  may  be  deemed  to  beneficially  own  the  common  stock  directly  beneficially  owned  by  the  Funds,  with  sole 
voting power and sole dispositive power over all such shares. The address of each of these reporting persons is c/o Royce & 
Associates LLC, 8 Sound Shore Drive, Suite 190, Greenwich, CT 06830.

The Company is not aware of any arrangements that could result in a change in control of the Company.

The disclosure required by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K is set forth in Item 5 herein and is incorporated herein by reference.

101

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

Presently, our  Chairman and President, Eric Langan, personally guarantees  all of the  commercial bank  indebtedness  of the company. 
Mr. Langan receives no compensation or other direct financial benefit for any of the guarantees.

In November 2018, we borrowed $500,000 from Ed Anakar and $100,000 from Allen Chhay as part of a larger group of private lenders. 
The note bears interest at the rate of 12% per annum and matures in November 2021. The note is payable in monthly installments of 
interest only with a balloon payment of all unpaid principal and interest due at maturity. Ed Anakar is the brother of Nourdean Anakar, a 
director  of  the  Company.  We  paid  Ed  Anakar,  our  director  of  operations  –  club  division,  employment  compensation  of  $502,404, 
$550,000, and $488,462 during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Allen Chhay is the brother of 
Bradley Chhay, our CFO, and is not employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

We  used  the  services  of  Nottingham  Creations  (formerly  Sherwood  Forest  Creations,  LLC),  a  furniture  fabrication  company  that 
manufactures tables, chairs and other furnishings for our Bombshells locations, as well as providing ongoing maintenance. Nottingham 
Creations is owned by a brother of Eric Langan (as was Sherwood Forest). Amounts billed to us for goods and services provided by 
Nottingham Creations and Sherwood Forest were approximately $59,000 in fiscal 2020, $134,000 in fiscal 2019, and $321,000 in fiscal 
2018. As of September 30, 2020 and 2019, we owed Nottingham Creations and Sherwood Forest $0 and $6,588, respectively, in unpaid 
billings.

TW  Mechanical  LLC  (“TW  Mechanical”)  provided  plumbing  and  HVAC  services  to  both  a  third-party  general  contractor  providing 
construction services to the Company, as well as directly to the Company during fiscal 2020 and 2019. A son-in-law of Eric Langan 
owns  a  noncontrolling  interest  in  TW  Mechanical.  Amounts  billed  by  TW  Mechanical  to  the  third-party  general  contractor  were 
approximately $19,000, $452,000, and $120,000 for the fiscal years 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Amounts billed directly to the 
Company were approximately $62,000, $47,000, and $7,000 for the fiscal years 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. As of September 
30, 2020 and 2019, the Company owed TW Mechanical approximately $5,700 and $0, respectively, in unpaid direct billings.

Review, Approval, or Ratification of Related Transactions

On  September  23,  2019,  the  Board  of  Directors,  acting  upon  the  recommendation  of  its  Audit  Committee,  adopted  a  written  related 
party  transaction  policy,  under  which  related  party  transactions  are  subject  to  review,  approval,  rejection,  modification  and/or 
ratification by the Audit Committee. The policy provides that prior to the entry into any transaction between the Company and one of its 
officers, directors, 5% shareholders or an immediate family member of any of the foregoing (a “related party”), such transaction will be 
reported  to  the  Company’s  chief  compliance  officer.  The  Company’s  chief  compliance  officer  will  undertake  an  evaluation  of  the 
transaction.  If  that  evaluation  indicates  that  the  transaction  would  require  the  Audit  Committee’s  approval,  the  Company’s  chief 
compliance officer will report this transaction to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will review the material facts of all related 
party  transactions  that  require  the  Audit  Committee’s  approval  and  either  approve  or  disapprove  of  the  entry  into  the  related  party 
transaction. If advance Audit Committee approval of a related party transaction is not feasible, then the related party transaction will be 
considered  and,  if  the  Audit  Committee  determines  it  to  be  appropriate,  ratified  at  the  Audit  Committee’s  next  regularly  scheduled 
meeting. In determining whether to approve or ratify a related party transaction, the Audit Committee will take into account factors it 
deems appropriate. In the event that the Audit Committee determines not to ratify and approve the related party transaction, then the 
Audit  Committee  will  instruct  that  the  related  party  transaction  be  rescinded  or  unwound.  The  Audit  Committee  will  not  approve  or 
ratify any related party transaction unless it deems that the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an 
unaffiliated  third-party  under  the  same  or  similar  circumstances  and  the  extent  of  the  related  party’s  interest  in  the  transaction.  No 
director will participate in any discussion or approval of a related party transaction for which he or she is a related party, except that the 
director shall provide all material information concerning the transaction to the Audit Committee.

In reviewing related party transactions under the policy, the Audit Committee will review and consider one or more of the following as 
it  seems  appropriate  for  the  circumstances:  (1)  the  related  party’s  interest  in  the  related  party  transaction;  (2)  the  approximate  dollar 
value  of  the  amount  involved  in  the  related  party  transaction;  (3)  the  approximate  dollar  value  of  the  amount  of  the  related  party’s 
interest in the transaction without regard to the amount of any profit or loss; (4) whether the transaction was undertaken in the ordinary 
course of business of the Company; (5) whether the transaction with the related party is proposed to be, or was, entered into on terms no 
less  favorable  to  the  Company  than  terms  that  could  have  been  reached  with  an  unrelated  third  party;  (6)  the  purpose  of,  and  the 
potential  benefits  to  the  Company  of,  the  related  party  transaction;  (7)  whether  the  related  party  transaction  would  impair  the 
independence  of  an  outside  director;  (8)  required  public  disclosure,  if  any;  and  (9)  any  other  information  regarding  the  related  party 
transaction or the related party in the context of the proposed transaction that would be material to investors in light of the circumstances 
of the particular transaction. The Audit Committee will review all relevant information available to it about the related party transaction. 
The  Audit  Committee  may  approve  or  ratify  the  related  party  transaction  only  if  the  Audit  Committee  determines  in  good  faith  that, 
under all of the circumstances, the transaction is fair as to the Company. The Audit Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose such 
condition as it deems appropriate on the Company or the related party in connection with approval of the related party transaction.

Our Audit Committee is composed of all independent directors, including Yura Barabash, Elaine Martin and Arthur Allan Priaulx. We 
additionally  have  two  other  independent  directors,  Nourdean  Anakar  and  Luke  Lirot,  who  are  not  on  the  Audit  Committee.  The 
definition of “independent” used herein is based on the independence standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC.

102

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

The following  table sets forth the aggregate fees paid or  accrued for professional services and the  aggregate fees  paid or accrued for 
audit-related services and all other services rendered by Friedman LLP for the fiscal year 2020 and partial 2019, and by BDO USA, LLP 
for partial fiscal 2019 (in thousands).

Audit fees
Audit-related fees
Tax fees
All other fees

Total

Friedman 2020

Friedman 2019

BDO 2019

$

$

$

1,945
       -
-
-

$

401
-
-
-

670
-
208
237

1,945

$

401

$

1,115

“Audit  fees”  include  fees  billed  for  professional  services  rendered  in  connection  with  the  annual  audit  and  quarterly  reviews  of  the 
Company’s consolidated financial statements, the audit of internal control over financial reporting as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley 
Act of 2002, and assistance with securities filings other than periodic reports.

There were no “Audit-related fees” in fiscal 2020 or 2019.

The category of “Tax fees” includes consultation related to tax compliance and tax structuring.

“All other fees” include fees billed for professional services rendered in connection with the SEC investigation.

All above audit services, audit-related services and tax services were pre-approved by the Audit Committee, which concluded that the 
provision of such services by Friedman, LLP or BDO USA, LLP was compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence in 
the  conduct  of  its  auditing  functions.  The  Audit  Committee’s  outside  auditor  independence  policy  provides  for  pre-approval  of  all 
services performed by the outside auditors.

103

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

Exhibit No. Description

PART IV

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

10.1

10.2

10.3

10.4

10.5

10.6

16.1

21.1

23.1 

Articles  of  Incorporation  dated  December  9, 1994.  (Incorporated  by reference  from  Form SB-2 filed  with the  SEC  on 
January 11, 1995.) *

Certificate  of  Amendment  to  Articles  of  Incorporation  dated  September  9,  2008.  (Incorporated  by  reference  from 
Definitive Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on July 21, 2008.) *

Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation dated August 6, 2014. (Incorporated by reference from Definitive 
Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on June 24, 2014.) *

Amended and Restated Bylaws (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 16, 2016.) *

Consolidated,  Amended  and  Restated  Promissory  Note  for  $62,539,366.08  with  Centennial  Bank  (Incorporated  by 
reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 19, 2017) *

Amended  and  Restated  Promissory  Note  for  $10,558,311.35  with  Centennial  Bank  (Incorporated  by  reference  from 
Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 19, 2017) *

Amended and Restated Promissory Note for $8,147,572.57 with Centennial Bank (Incorporated by reference from Form 
8-K filed with the SEC on December 19, 2017) *

The description of our common stock

Employment Agreement with Eric S. Langan. (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 4, 
2018.) *

Employment  Agreement  with  Travis  Reese.  (Incorporated  by  reference  from  Form  8-K  filed  with  the  SEC  on  May  4, 
2018.) *

Employment Agreement with Phillip K. Marshall. (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 
4, 2018.) *

Loan Agreement between RCI Holdings, Inc. and Centennial Bank (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with 
the SEC on December 19, 2017) *

Absolute Unconditional and Continuing Guaranty of RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. to Centennial Bank (Incorporated by 
reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 19, 2017) *

Absolute Unconditional and Continuing Guaranty of Eric S. Langan to Centennial Bank (Incorporated by reference from 
Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 19, 2017) *

Letter  from  BDO  USA,  LLP  to  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (Incorporated  by  reference  from  Form  8-K 
filed with the SEC on July 18, 2019) *

Subsidiaries

Consent of Friedman LLP

104

31.1

31.2

32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer of RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. required by Rule 13a-14(1) or Rule 15d - 14
(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Certification of Chief Financial Officer of RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. required by Rule 13a-14(1) or Rule 15d - 14(a) 
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Certification  of  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  of  RCI  Hospitality  Holdings,  Inc.  pursuant  to 
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Section 1350 of 18 U.S.C. 63.

101.INS

XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

101.CAL

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

101.DEF

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definitions Linkbase

101.LAB

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase

101.PRE

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

* Incorporated by reference from our previous filings with the SEC.

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.

None.

105

In accordance with the requirements of Section 13 of 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Registrant has caused this report to be 

signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on December 14, 2020.

SIGNATURES

RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc.

By: /s/ Eric S. Langan
Eric S. Langan
Chief Executive Officer and President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities 

and on the dates indicated:

Signature

Title

Date

/s/ Eric S. Langan
Eric S. Langan

/s/ Bradley Chhay
Bradley Chhay

/s/ Travis Reese
Travis Reese

/s/ Nourdean Anakar
Nourdean Anakar

/s/ Yura Barabash
Yura Barabash

/s/ Luke Lirot
Luke Lirot

/s/ Elaine Martin
Elaine Martin

/s/ Arthur Allan Priaulx
Arthur Allan Priaulx

Director, Chief Executive Officer, and President

December 14, 2020

Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer

December 14, 2020

Director and Executive Vice President

December 14, 2020

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

106

December 14, 2020

December 14, 2020

December 14, 2020

December 14, 2020

December 14, 2020

Exhibit 4.4

Description of Common Stock of RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc.

The  holders  of  Common  Stock  are  entitled  to  one  vote  per  share  with  respect  to  all  matters  required  by  law  to  be  submitted  to 
stockholders of RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”). The holders of Common Stock have the sole right to vote, except as 
otherwise  provided  by  law  or  by  the  Company’s  Articles  of  Incorporation,  including  provisions  governing  any  Preferred  Stock.  The 
Common Stock does not have any cumulative voting, preemptive, subscription or conversion rights. General stockholder action requires 
the affirmative vote of a majority of shares represented at a meeting in which a quorum is represented; provided, however, that directors 
are  elected  by  a  plurality  of  the  votes  cast  by  stockholders  entitled  to  vote  at  a  meeting  in  which  a  quorum  is  represented.  The 
outstanding shares of Common Stock are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

Subject to the rights of any outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends when, 
as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up 
of the affairs of the Company, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining available for distribution 
to them after payment or provision for all liabilities and any preferential liquidation rights of any Preferred Stock then outstanding.

Subsidiaries of the Registrant

Exhibit 21.1

Name

10557 Wireway, Inc.
12291 CBW LLC
2151 Manana, Inc.
BGC 135 9th Street, Inc.
BMB Dining Services (249), Inc.
BMB Dining Services (290), Inc.
BMB Dining Services (360), Inc.
BMB Dining Services (59), Inc.
BMB Dining Services (Austin), Inc.
BMB Dining Services (Beaumont), Inc.
BMB Dining Services (Frisco), Inc.
BMB Dining Services (Fuqua), Inc.
BMB Dining Services (I-10 East), Inc.
BMB Dining Services (Katy), Inc.
BMB Dining Services (Lewisville), Inc.
BMB Dining Services (Pearland), Inc.
BMB Dining Services (Pembroke Pines), Inc.
BMB Dining Services (Spring), Inc.
BMB Dining Services (Stemmons), Inc.
BMB Dining Services (Willowbrook), Inc.
BMB Franchising Services, Inc.
CA Ault Investments, Inc.
Cabaret North Parking, Inc.
California Grill LLC
Citation Land LLC
Drink Robust, Inc.
E. D. Publications, Inc.
Fantastic Dining, Inc.
Fine Dining Club Inc.
Global Marketing Agency, Inc.
Green Star Inc.
Hotel Development Texas Ltd.
Jaguars Acquisition, Inc.
Jaguars Holdings, Inc.
JAI Dining Services (Beaumont), Inc.
JAI Dining Services (Edinburg), Inc.
JAI Dining Services (El Paso), Inc.
JAI Dining Services (Harlingen), Inc.
JAI Dining Services (Longview), Inc.
JAI Dining Services (Lubbock), Inc.
JAI Dining Services (Odessa II), Inc.
JAI Dining Services (Odessa), Inc.
JAI Dining Services (Phoenix), Inc.
JAI Dining Services (Tye), Inc.
Joint Ventures, Inc.
JW Lee, Inc.
Kingsbury Acquisition, Inc.
Manana Entertainment, Inc.
Miami Gardens Square One, Inc.
New Spiros, LLC
North IH 35 Investments, Incorporated
Peregrine Enterprises, Inc.
Pooh Bah Enterprises, Inc.
RB Restaurants, Inc.
RCI 33rd Street Ventures, Inc.
RCI Dating Services, Inc.
RCI Debit Services, Inc.
RCI Dining (DFW), LLC

State of
Organization

Texas
Texas
Texas
Pennsylvania
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Florida
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
 Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Florida
Illinois
Texas
Florida
Texas
Texas
New York
Illinois
Texas
New York
Texas
Texas
Texas

Name

RCI Dining Services (16328 I-35), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (37th Street), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Airport Freeway), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Beaumont), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Charlotte), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Glenwood), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Harvey), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Hobby), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Imperial Valley), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Inwood), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Kappa), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Manana), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (New York), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Pembroke Park), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Round Rock), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Stemmons), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Stemmons2), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Sulphur), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Superior Parkway), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Tarrant County), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Vee), Inc.
RCI Dining Services (Washington Park), Inc.
RCI Dining Services MN (4th Street), Inc.
RCI Entertainment (3105 I-35), Inc.
RCI Entertainment (3315 N FWY FW), Inc.
RCI Entertainment (Austin), Inc.
RCI Entertainment (Dallas), Inc.
RCI Entertainment (Fort Worth), Inc.
RCI Entertainment (Media Holdings), Inc.
RCI Entertainment (Minnesota), Inc.
RCI Entertainment (New York), Inc.
RCI Entertainment (North Carolina), Inc.
RCI Entertainment (North FW), Inc.
RCI Entertainment (Northwest Hwy), Inc.
RCI Entertainment (Philadelphia), Inc.
RCI Entertainment (San Antonio), Inc.
RCI Entertainment (Texas), Inc.
RCI Entertainment MN (300 South 3rd Street), Inc.
RCI Holdings, Inc.
RCI IH 635 Property, Inc.
RCI Internet Services, Inc.
RCI Leasing LLC
RCI Management Services, Inc.
RCI Wireway, Inc.
S Willy’s Lubbock LLC
Sadco, Inc.
SP Administration, Inc.
Spiros Partners Ltd.
Stellar Management Corporation
StorErotica, Inc.
Tantra Dance, Inc.
Tantra Parking, Inc.
TEZ Management LLC
TEZ Real Estate LP
Top Shelf Entertainment LLC
Trumps, Inc.
TRR Leasing, Inc.
TT Leasing LLC
WKC, Inc.
XTC Cabaret (Dallas), Inc.
XTC Cabaret, Inc.

State of
Organization

Texas
New York
Texas
Texas
North Carolina
Minnesota
Illinois
Texas
Texas
Texas
Illinois
Texas
New York
Florida
Texas
Texas
Texas
Louisiana
Texas
Texas
Texas
Illinois
Minnesota
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Minnesota
New York
North Carolina
Texas
Texas
Pennsylvania
Texas
Texas
Minnesota
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Florida
Delaware
Texas
Texas
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
North Carolina
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (No. 333-174207 and No. 333-194343) 
of  RCI  Hospitality  Holdings,  Inc.  (the  “Company”)  of  our  reports  dated  December  14,  2020,  relating  to  the  consolidated  financial 
statements, and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, which appear in this Form 10-K. Our report 
on  the  effectiveness  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  expresses  an  adverse  opinion  on  the  effectiveness  of  the  Company’s 
internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020.

Exhibit 23.1

/s/ Friedman LLP

Marlton, New Jersey
December 14, 2020

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Eric S. Langan, Chief Executive Officer of RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., certify that:

1.

2.

3.

4.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc.;

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact 
necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading 
with respect to the period covered by this report;

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all 
material  respects  the  financial  condition,  results  of  operations  and  cash  flows  of  the  registrant  as  of,  and  for,  the  periods 
presented in this report;

The  registrant’s  other  certifying  officer  and  I  are  responsible  for  establishing  and  maintaining  disclosure  controls  and 
procedures  (as  defined  in  Exchange  Act  Rules  13a-15(e)  and  15d-15(e))  and  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  (as 
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed 
under  my  supervision,  to  ensure  that  material  information  relating  to  the  registrant,  including  its  consolidated 
subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is 
being prepared;

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be 
designed under my supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the 
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

Evaluated  the  effectiveness  of  the  registrant’s  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  and  presented  in  this  report  our 
conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by 
this report based on such evaluation; and

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the 
registrant’s  most  recent  fiscal  year  that  has  materially  affected,  or  is  reasonably  likely  to  materially  affect,  the 
registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The  registrant’s  other  certifying  officer  and  I  have  disclosed,  based  on  our  most  recent  evaluation  of  internal  control  over 
financial reporting, to the registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm and the audit committee of the registrant’s 
board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)

(b)

All  significant  deficiencies  and  material  weaknesses  in  the  design  or  operation  of  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting  which  are  reasonably  likely  to  adversely  affect  the  registrant’s  ability  to  record,  process,  summarize  and 
report financial information; and

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the 
registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: December 14, 2020

By: /s/ Eric S. Langan
Eric S. Langan
Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Bradley Chhay, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer of RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., certify that:

1.

2.

3.

4.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc.;

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact 
necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading 
with respect to the period covered by this report;

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all 
material  respects  the  financial  condition,  results  of  operations  and  cash  flows  of  the  registrant  as  of,  and  for,  the  periods 
presented in this report;

The  registrant’s  other  certifying  officer  and  I  are  responsible  for  establishing  and  maintaining  disclosure  controls  and 
procedures  (as  defined  in  Exchange  Act  Rules  13a-15(e)  and  15d-15(e))  and  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  (as 
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed 
under  my  supervision,  to  ensure  that  material  information  relating  to  the  registrant,  including  its  consolidated 
subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is 
being prepared;

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be 
designed under my supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the 
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

Evaluated  the  effectiveness  of  the  registrant’s  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  and  presented  in  this  report  our 
conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by 
this report based on such evaluation; and

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the 
registrant’s  most  recent  fiscal  year  that  has  materially  affected,  or  is  reasonably  likely  to  materially  affect,  the 
registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The  registrant’s  other  certifying  officer  and  I  have  disclosed,  based  on  our  most  recent  evaluation  of  internal  control  over 
financial reporting, to the registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm and the audit committee of the registrant’s 
board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)

(b)

All  significant  deficiencies  and  material  weaknesses  in  the  design  or  operation  of  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting  which  are  reasonably  likely  to  adversely  affect  the  registrant’s  ability  to  record,  process,  summarize  and 
report financial information; and

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the 
registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: December 14, 2020

By: /s/ Bradley Chhay
Bradley Chhay
Chief Financial Officer/Principal Accounting Officer

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(b) OR
RULE 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Sec.1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

Exhibit 32.1

In  connection  with  the  annual  report  of  RCI  Hospitality  Holdings,  Inc.  (the  “Company”)  on  Form  10-K  for  the  year  ended 
September  30,  2020  as  filed  with  the Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on  the  date hereof (the  “Report”),  the undersigned Chief 
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of 
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that based on their knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The  information  contained  in  the  Report  fairly  presents,  in  all  material  respects,  the  financial  condition  and  results  of 

operations of the Company.

/s/ Eric S. Langan
Eric S. Langan
Chief Executive Officer
December 14, 2020

/s/ Bradley Chhay
Bradley Chhay
Chief Financial Officer
December 14, 2020

A  signed  original  of  this  written  statement  required  by  Section  906,  or  other  document  authenticating,  acknowledging,  or  otherwise 
adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has 
been provided to RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. and will be retained by RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. and furnished to the Securities 
and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

The foregoing certification is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Form 10-K and shall not 
be considered filed as part of the Form 10-K.