RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. 10-K

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K ☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended September 30 , 2021 ☐ Transition report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Commission file number: 001-13992 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Texas 76-0458229 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (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 Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common stock, $0.01 par value RICK 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 $ 526,136,029 . As of December 10, 2021, there were approximately 9,499,910 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 4 Item 1A. Risk Factors 9 Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 19 Item 2. Properties 19 Item 3. Legal Proceedings 20 Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 20 PART II Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities 21 Item 6. [Reserved] 23 Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 24 Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 42 Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 42 Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 84 Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 84 Item 9B. Other Information 86 PART III Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 88 Item 11. Executive Compensation 92 Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters 98 Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence 99 Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services 100 PART IV Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules 101 Item 16. Form 10-K Summary 102 Signatures 103 3 PART I Item 1. Business. OVERVIEW RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. is a holding company. Through our subsidiaries, we engaged in a number of activities in the hospitality and other businesses. As of September 30, 2021, our subsidiaries operated a total of 48 establishments that offer live adult entertainment and/or restaurant and bar operations, including 2 locations that were temporarily closed. 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 2021, 2020, and 2019 are for fiscal years ended September 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019, 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 Since the U.S. declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic in March 2020, we have had a major disruption in our business operations that threatened to significantly impact our cash flow. 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. To adapt to the situation, we took significant steps to augment an anticipated decline in operating cash flows, including negotiating deferment of some of our debts, reducing the number of our employees and related payroll costs where necessary, and deferring or modifying certain fixed and variable monthly expenses, among others. The temporary closure of our clubs and restaurants caused by the COVID-19 pandemic presented operational challenges. Our strategy has been to open locations and operate in accordance with local and state guidelines. As of the date of this report, all locations closed due to pandemic-related restrictions were open. We believe that we can borrow capital if needed but currently we do not have unused credit facilities so there can be no guarantee that additional liquidity will be readily available or available on favorable terms. 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, 9 and 10 to our consolidated financial statements. 4 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. Closures and operating restrictions, 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. We continue to adhere to state and local government mandates regarding the pandemic and, since March 2020, have closed and reopened a number of our locations depending on changing government mandates, including operating hour and limited occupancy restrictions, where applicable. 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.” During fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019, on a consolidated basis, revenues were $195.3 million, $132.3 million, and $181.1 million, respectively, generating diluted earnings (loss) per share of $3.37, $(0.66), and $2.10, respectively. Fiscal 2020 was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 2021, our Nightclub segment sales mix was 40% service revenue; 40% alcoholic beverages; and 20% food, merchandise and other. Segment gross margin (revenues less cost of goods sold, divided by revenues) was approximately 88%. Our Nightclubs segment revenue increased by 55% and income from operations increased by more than 230% compared to prior year. Same-stores sales for Nightclubs in 2021 was -2.1% 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 25), Nightclubs same-store sales would be +59.2%. 5 Our Nightclubs segment continues to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as most states we operate in have reissued directives for strict safety restrictions due to the resurgence of cases. On October 18, 2021, we and certain of our subsidiaries completed our acquisition of eleven gentlemen’s clubs, six related real estate properties, and associated intellectual property for a total agreed acquisition price of $88.0 million (with a total consideration preliminary fair value of $88.4 million based on the Company’s stock price at acquisition date and discounted due to the lock-up period). See Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements for details of the transaction. 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 franchising under our subsidiary, BMB Franchising Services, Inc., which has been approved to sell franchises in all 50 states. On December 22, 2020, the Company signed a franchise development agreement with a group of private investors to open three Bombshells locations in San Antonio, Texas over a period of five years, and the right of first refusal for three more locations in Corpus Christi, New Braunfels, and San Marcos, all in Texas. See Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements. As of September 30, 2021, we operated ten Bombshells locations, all in Texas with one in Dallas, one in Austin, and eight in the Greater Houston area. During fiscal 2021, Bombshells sales mix was 57% alcoholic beverages and 43% food, merchandise, and other. Segment gross margin (revenues less cost of goods sold, divided by revenues) was approximately 76%. We grew Bombshells segment revenue by 31% and income from operations by 44% from prior year despite the lingering effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Same-stores sales for Bombshells in 2021 was +7.7% 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 25), Bombshells same-store sales would be +24.8%. 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 fiscal 2020, we opened one Bombshells in Katy, Texas (BMB Katy) in October 2019, and another on U.S. Highway 59 (BMB 59) in Houston, Texas in January 2020. Of the ten active Bombshells as of September 30, 2021, eight are freestanding pad sites and two are inline locations. In December 2021, we opened a new Bombshells location in Arlington, Texas. Currently, we have one Bombshells franchised location that is under construction. 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; and produces the Annual Gentlemen’s Club Owners EXPO, a national convention and tradeshow. 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. 6 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, dining experience, and top-notch service; 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. Since the first full year of implementing our capital allocation strategy in fiscal 2016 up to fiscal 2021, we improved diluted earnings per share at a compounded annual growth rate (“CAGR”) of 24.9%, which was mainly caused by increasing revenue at a CAGR of 7.7%, flowing through net income at a CAGR of 23.6%. As a result, net cash provided by operating activities improved at 12.8% and free cash flow at 12.0% CAGR for the same period. See discussions of our non-GAAP financial measures starting on page 35. 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,” “Foxy’s Cabaret,” “Mile High Men’s Club,” “Country Rock Cabaret,” “PT’s,” and “Diamond 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. 7 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. In relation to acquisitions that closed in October and November 2021, we now have club locations in Denver, Colorado; Louisville, Kentucky; Raleigh, North Carolina; Portland, Maine; Indianapolis, Indiana; Sauget, Illinois; and Newburgh, New York. 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,” “Vee Lounge,” “Mile High Men’s Club,” “Country Rock Cabaret,” “PT’s,” and “Diamond Cabaret” 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,” “TOYS FOR TATAS,” and “BOMBSHELLS OFFICER’S CLUB” 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,” “JAGUARS,” “THE MANSION,” and ‘LA BOHEME GENTLEMAN’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. As a result of an acquisition that closed on October 18, 2021 (see Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements), we obtained the rights to the following service mark registrations from the Patent and Trademark Office: “MILE HIGH MEN’S CLUB,” “MHMC logo,” “AFTER DARK,” “COUNTRY ROCK CABARET,” “PT’S,” “DIAMOND CABARET,” and “NAUGHTY MOMMIES NIGHT OUT.” 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, 2021, we had the following employees: Operations Managers Non-Managers Corporate Total Hourly 15 2,135 20 2,170 Salaried 273 28 58 359 288 2,163 78 2,529 Additionally, as of September 30, 2021, 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. 8 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 ○ 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. ○ We have recorded impairment charges in current and past periods and may record additional impairment charges in future periods. 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. ○ 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. ○ Our revenues could be significantly affected by limitations relating to permits to sell alcoholic beverages. ○ 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. 9 Risks related to our business ○ We may deviate from our present capital allocation strategy. ○ We may need additional financing, or our business expansion plans may be significantly limited. ○ 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. ○ 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. ○ Security breaches of confidential customer information or personal employee information may adversely affect our business. ○ Our acquisitions may result in disruptions in our business and diversion of management’s attention. ○ We face a variety of risks associated with doing business with franchisees and licensees. ○ The impact of new club or restaurant openings could result in fluctuations in our financial performance. ○ Our ability to grow sales through delivery orders is uncertain. ○ We incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management devotes substantial time to new compliance initiatives. ○ We have identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. ○ We may have uninsured risks in excess of our insurance coverage. ○ Our previous liability insurer may be unable to provide coverage to us and our subsidiaries. ○ The protection provided by our service marks is limited. ○ We are dependent on key personnel. ○ A failure to maintain food safety throughout the supply chain and food-borne illness concerns may have an adverse effect on our business. ○ Other risk factors may adversely affect our financial performance. Risk related to our common stock ○ We must continue to meet NASDAQ Global Market Continued Listing Requirements, or we risk delisting. ○ 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. ○ 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. ○ Anti-takeover effects of the issuance of our preferred stock could adversely affect our common stock. ○ Future sales or the perception of future sales of a substantial amount of our common stock may depress our stock price. ○ Our stock price has been volatile and may fluctuate in the future. ○ Cumulative voting is not available to our stockholders. ○ Our directors and officers have limited liability and have rights to indemnification. 10 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. 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. 11 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, 2021, we were in compliance with all covenants. However, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, our total revenues decreased significantly (although they have since recovered), 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 current and 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 $13.6 million in 2021 (representing $6.3 million goodwill impairment on seven clubs, $5.3 million SOB license impairment on three clubs, and $2.0 million property and equipment impairment on four clubs and one held-for-sale property); $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); and $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). A huge portion, if not all, of the impairments in 2021 and 2020 related to the 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. 12 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. 13 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 diluted. 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 in 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. 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. 14 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. We face a variety of risks associated with doing business with franchisees and licensees. We have started franchising Bombshells. We believe that we have selected highly competent operating partners and franchisees with significant experience in restaurant operations, and we are providing them training and support on the Bombshells brand. However, the probability of opening, ultimate success and quality of any franchise or licensed restaurant rests principally with the franchisee. If the franchisee does not successfully open and operate its restaurants in a manner consistent with our standards, or if guests have negative experiences due to issues with food quality or operational execution, our brand value could suffer, which could have an adverse impact on our business. 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. 15 Our ability to grow sales through delivery orders is uncertain. Part of our strategy for restaurant growth is dependent on increased sales from guests that want our food delivered to them. We currently rely on third-party delivery providers for the ordering and payment platforms that receive guest orders and that send orders directly to our point-of-sale system. These platforms could be damaged or interrupted by technological failures, cyber-attacks, or other factors, which may adversely impact our sales through these channels. Delivery providers generally fulfill delivery orders through drivers that are independent contractors. These drivers may make errors, fail to make timely deliveries, damage our food, or poorly represent our brands, which may lead to customer disappointment, reputational harm and unmet sales expectations. Our sales may also be adversely impacted if there is a shortage of drivers that are willing and available to make deliveries from our restaurants. We also incur additional costs associated with delivery orders, and it is possible that these orders could cannibalize more profitable in-restaurant visits or take-out orders. We incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management devotes substantial time to new compliance initiatives. We 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, 2021 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, 2021 and concluded that we did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting. Specifically, management identified a material weakness over the impairment of goodwill, indefinite-lived intangibles and long-lived assets, specifically over the precision of management’s review of certain assumptions—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. 16 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, 2021, we had 2 remaining unresolved claims out of the original 71 claims. One of the two remaining claims was settled in November 2021. 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,” “Vee Lounge,” “Mile High Men’s Club,” “Country Rock Cabaret,” “PT’s,” and “Diamond Cabaret” 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,” “TOYS FOR TATAS,” and BOMBSHELLS OFFICER’S CLUB 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,” “JAGUARS”, “THE MANSION,” and “LA BOHEME GENTLEMAN’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. 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. As a result of the acquisition that closed on October 18, 2021, we obtained the rights to the following service mark registrations from the Patent and Trademark Office: “MILE HIGH MEN’S CLUB,” “MHMC logo,” “AFTER DARK,” “COUNTRY ROCK CABARET,” “PT’S,” “DIAMOND CABARET,” and “NAUGHTY MOMMIES NIGHT OUT”. 17 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. Although Messrs. Langan and Chhay have signed employment agreements with us (as described herein), there can be no assurance that Mr. Langan or Mr. Chhay will continue to be employed by us. 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 or COVID-19), 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. We are also subject to the general risks of inflation, increases in minimum wage, health care, and other benefits that may have a material adverse effect on our cost structure, and the disruption in our supply chain caused by several factor, including the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. 18 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, 2021, we own 51 real estate properties. On 37 of these properties, we operate clubs or restaurants, including those temporarily closed. We lease multiple other properties to third-party tenants. Four of our owned properties are in locations where we previously operated clubs, but now lease the buildings to third parties. Ten are non-income-producing properties for corporate use (including our corporate office) or future club or restaurant locations, 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. In March 2021, we acquired approximately 57,000-square foot of land across the street from our corporate office. We plan to build a warehouse on that land in the coming months. See Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements. 19 Below is a list of locations we operated as of September 30, 2021: Name of Establishment Fiscal Year Acquired/Opened Club Onyx, Houston, TX 1995 Rick’s Cabaret, Minneapolis, MN 1998 XTC Cabaret, Austin, TX 1998 XTC Cabaret, San Antonio, TX 1998 (2) Rick’s Cabaret, New York City, NY 2005 Club Onyx, Charlotte, NC 2005 (1) Rick’s Cabaret, San Antonio, TX 2006 XTC Cabaret, South Houston 2006 (1) Rick’s Cabaret, Fort Worth, TX 2007 Tootsie’s Cabaret, Miami Gardens, FL 2008 XTC Cabaret, Dallas, TX 2008 Rick’s Cabaret, Round Rock, TX 2009 Cabaret East, Fort Worth, TX 2010 Rick’s Cabaret DFW, Fort Worth, TX 2011 Downtown Cabaret, Minneapolis, MN 2011 Temptations, Aledo, TX 2011 (1) Silver City Cabaret, Dallas, TX 2012 Jaguars Club, Odessa, TX 2012 Jaguars Club, Phoenix, AZ 2012 Jaguars Club, Lubbock, TX 2012 Jaguars Club, Longview, TX 2012 Jaguars Club, Tye, TX 2012 Jaguars Club, Edinburg, TX 2012 Jaguars Club, El Paso, TX 2012 Jaguars Club, Harlingen, TX 2012 Studio 80, Fort Worth, TX 2013 (1) Bombshells, Dallas, TX 2013 Temptations, Sulphur, LA 2013 (2) Temptations, Beaumont, TX 2013 Vivid Cabaret, New York, NY 2014 (1) Bombshells, Austin, TX 2014 (1) Rick’s Cabaret, Odessa, TX 2014 Bombshells, Spring, TX 2014 (1) Bombshells Fuqua, Houston, TX 2014 (1) Foxy’s Cabaret, Austin TX 2015 The Seville, Minneapolis, MN 2015 Hoops Cabaret and Sports Bar, New York, NY 2016 (1) Bombshells, Highway 290 Houston, TX 2017 (1) Scarlett’s Cabaret, Washington Park, IL 2017 Scarlett’s Cabaret, Miami, FL 2017 (1) Bombshells, Pearland, TX 2018 Kappa Men’s Club, Kappa, IL 2018 Rick’s Cabaret, Chicago, IL 2019 Rick’s Cabaret, Pittsburgh, PA 2019 Bombshells I-10, Houston, TX 2019 Bombshells 249, Houston, TX 2019 Bombshells, Katy, TX 2020 Bombshells 59, Houston, TX 2020 (1) Leased location. (2) Currently closed. 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, 2021, certain of our owned properties were collateral for mortgage debt amounting to approximately $102.3 million. See related information in Notes 6, 9 and 19 to our consolidated financial statements. Item 3. Legal Proceedings. See the “ Legal Matters ” section within Note 11 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. 20 PART II Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. Our common stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “RICK.” Holders On December 10, 2021, the closing stock price for our common stock as reported by NASDAQ was $63.66, and there were 147 stockholders of record of our common stock (excluding broker held shares in “street name”). Currently, we estimate that there are approximately 9,300 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, the second and fourth quarters of fiscal 2020, and all four quarters of fiscal 2021 when we paid $0.04 per share. During fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019, we paid cash dividends totaling $1.4 million, $1.3 million, and $1.3 million, respectively. In connection with the September 2021 Refinancing Note (see Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements), we have agreed to not pay out any dividends or distributions; provided that, we are permitted to continue to pay our quarterly dividend in the amount of $0.04 per share per quarter ($0.16 per year) unless the debt service coverage in connection with the loan falls below 1.4x for three consecutive quarters, in which event such quarterly dividend must be suspended until such time as the 1.4x debt service coverage is achieved. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer During the three months ended September 30, 2021, we did not repurchase any shares of our common stock. 21 Equity Compensation Plan Information None. 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 2000 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, 2016 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. 9/30/2016 9/30/2017 9/30/2018 9/30/2019 9/30/2020 9/30/2021 RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. $ 100.00 $ 215.03 $ 255.84 $ 178.60 $ 176.60 $ 593.72 NASDAQ Composite Index $ 100.00 $ 122.29 $ 151.47 $ 150.59 $ 210.23 $ 272.00 Dow Jones U.S. Restaurant & Bar Index $ 100.00 $ 115.78 $ 130.42 $ 170.09 $ 172.30 $ 211.21 Russell 2000 Index $ 100.00 $ 119.11 $ 135.55 $ 121.71 $ 120.46 $ 176.12 22 Item 6. [Reserved] 23 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. Ongoing Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Since the U.S. declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic in March 2020, we have had a major disruption in our business operations that threatened to significantly impact our cash flow. 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 that were mandated or encouraged by federal, state, and local governments. To adapt to the situation, we took significant steps to augment an anticipated decline in operating cash flows, including negotiating deferment of some of our debts, reducing the number of our employees and related payroll costs where necessary, and deferring or modifying certain fixed and variable monthly expenses, among others. The temporary closure of our clubs and restaurants caused by the COVID-19 pandemic presented operational challenges. Our strategy is to open locations and operate in accordance with local and state guidelines. We believe that we can borrow capital if needed but currently we do not have unused credit facilities so 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. Compared to fiscal 2020, which showed a significant impact of the pandemic in terms of revenues and bottom line, in fiscal 2021 our operations exhibited tremendous recovery. Revenues were up by 47.6% from prior year and up by 7.8% from pre-pandemic fiscal 2019. Net income increased by 47.5% from fiscal 2019 (fiscal 2020 had a net loss) and free cash flow increased by 167.7% from fiscal 2020 and by 8.3% from fiscal 2019. 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. Closures and operating restrictions, 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. OUR BUSINESS The following are our operating segments: Nightclubs 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, Tye, Lubbock, Aledo, Round Rock, 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. In relation to acquisitions that closed in October and November 2021, we now have club locations in Denver, Colorado; Louisville, Kentucky; Raleigh, North Carolina; Portland, Maine; Indianapolis, Indiana; Sauget, Illinois; and Newburgh, New York. Bombshells Our wholly-owned subsidiaries own and operate restaurants and sports bars in Houston, Dallas, Austin, Spring, Pearland, Tomball and Katy, Texas under the brand name Bombshells Restaurant & Bar. Other 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. 24 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 definitions stated above. Revenues outside of our Nightclubs and Bombshells reportable segments’ core business 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. 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 2021, we impaired one property that was reclassified to assets held for sale for $1.4 million, and during the fourth quarter of 2021, we impaired four clubs for $584,000. During the second quarter of 2020, we impaired one club and one Bombshells unit for 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. 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. 25 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 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, 2021, we identified seven reporting units that were impaired and recognized a goodwill impairment loss totaling $6.3 million. 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 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 $5.3 million in 2021 related to three clubs, $2.3 million in 2020 related to two clubs, and $178,000 in 2019 related to one club. 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. Legal and Other Contingencies As mentioned in Item 3 – “Legal Proceedings” and in a more detailed discussion in Note 11 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. 26 OPERATIONS REVIEW Highlights of operations from fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019 are as follows (in thousands, except percentages and per share amounts): 2021 Inc (Dec) 2020 Inc (Dec) 2019 Revenues Consolidated $ 195,258 47.6 % $ 132,327 (26.9 )% $ 181,059 Nightclubs $ 137,348 55.4 % $ 88,373 (40.5 )% $ 148,606 Bombshells $ 56,621 31.0 % $ 43,215 40.2 % $ 30,828 Same-store sales Consolidated 1.5 % (4.4 )% Nightclubs (2.1 )% (9.0 )% Bombshells 7.7 % 18.3 % Income from operations Consolidated $ 38,548 1,303.8 % $ 2,746 (92.1 )% $ 34,701 Nightclubs $ 43,815 235.6 % $ 13,056 (74.3 )% $ 50,724 Bombshells $ 13,264 43.6 % $ 9,237 300.4 % $ 2,307 Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 3.37 $ (0.66 ) $ 2.10 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 41,991 168.6 % $ 15,632 (57.9 )% $ 37,174 Free cash flow* $ 36,084 167.7 % $ 13,481 (59.5 )% $ 33,316 * 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 three most recently completed fiscal years: 2021 2020 2019 Revenues Sales of alcoholic beverages 44.4 % 44.6 % 41.5 % Sales of food and merchandise 21.1 % 18.5 % 14.3 % Service revenues 28.4 % 31.1 % 37.6 % Other 6.1 % 5.8 % 6.6 % Total revenues 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % Cost of goods sold Alcoholic beverages 18.3 % 18.8 % 20.4 % Food and merchandise 33.6 % 33.0 % 35.1 % Service and other 0.6 % 0.5 % 0.7 % Total cost of goods sold (exclusive of items shown separately below) 15.4 % 14.7 % 13.8 % Salaries and wages 25.9 % 29.5 % 27.5 % Selling, general and administrative 28.0 % 39.1 % 33.1 % Depreciation and amortization 4.2 % 6.7 % 5.0 % Other charges, net 6.8 % 8.0 % 1.4 % Total operating expenses 80.3 % 97.9 % 80.8 % Income from operations 19.7 % 2.1 % 19.2 % Other income (expenses) Interest expense (5.1 )% (7.4 )% (5.6 )% Interest income 0.1 % 0.2 % 0.2 % Non-operating gains (losses), net 2.7 % (0.0 )% (0.3 )% Income (loss) before income taxes 17.5 % (5.1 )% 13.4 % Income tax expense (benefit) 2.0 % (0.4 )% 2.1 % Net income (loss) 15.4 % (4.8 )% 11.3 % † Percentages may not foot due to rounding. Percentage of revenue for individual cost of goods sold items pertains to their respective revenue line. 27 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) Better (Worse) 2021 vs. 2020 2020 vs. 2019 Amount % Amount % Sales of alcoholic beverages $ 27,605 46.7 % $ (16,060 ) (21.4 )% Sales of food and merchandise 16,651 68.1 % (1,370 ) (5.3 )% Service revenues 14,299 34.7 % (26,893 ) (39.5 )% Other 4,376 57.4 % (4,409 ) (36.6 )% Total revenues 62,931 47.6 % (48,732 ) (26.9 )% Cost of goods sold Alcoholic beverages (4,786 ) (43.1 )% 4,206 27.5 % Food and merchandise (5,653 ) (69.4 )% 915 10.1 % Service and other (177 ) (89.8 )% 381 65.9 % Total cost of goods sold (exclusive of items shown separately below) (10,616 ) (54.6 )% 5,502 22.1 % Salaries and wages (11,557 ) (29.6 )% 10,763 21.6 % Selling, general and administrative (2,916 ) (5.6 )% 8,204 13.7 % Depreciation and amortization 598 6.8 % 236 2.6 % Other charges, net (2,638 ) (25.0 )% (7,928 ) (302.6 )% Total operating expenses (27,129 ) (20.9 )% 16,777 11.5 % Income from operations 35,802 1,303.8 % (31,955 ) (92.1 )% Other income/expenses Interest expense (181 ) (1.8 )% 398 3.9 % Interest income (71 ) (21.9 )% (15 ) (4.9 )% Non-operating gains (losses), net 5,394 * 548 89.5 % Income/loss before income taxes 40,944 601.7 % (30,994 ) (128.1 )% Income tax expense/benefit (4,482 ) * 4,237 113.2 % Net income/loss $ 36,462 * $ (26,757 ) (130.9 )% * Not meaningful. Revenues Overall, our consolidated revenues trended significantly better in fiscal 2021 compared to the more pandemic impacted fiscal 2020 with a 47.6% increase. But even though 2021 was still affected by the pandemic, revenues grew 7.8% compared to pre-pandemic fiscal 2019. Excluding COVID-19 impact, consolidated same-store sales increase in 2021 was 1.5%. Including the impact of COVID-19 on comparable units (see definition of Adjusted Same-Store Sales on page 25), adjusted same-store sales in 2021 would be an increase of 48.7%. Consolidated revenues decreased by $48.7 million, or 26.9%, from 2019 to 2020. 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 in 2020 was 4.4%. Including the impact of COVID-19 on comparable units, adjusted same-store sales in 2020 would be a decrease of 34.7%. 28 Segment contribution to total revenues was as follows (in thousands): 2021 2020 2019 Nightclubs Sales of alcoholic beverages $ 54,305 $ 31,950 $ 57,277 Sales of food and merchandise 17,221 8,561 13,051 Service revenues 55,146 41,004 67,893 Other revenues 10,676 6,858 10,385 137,348 88,373 148,606 Bombshells Sales of alcoholic beverages 32,380 27,130 17,863 Sales of food and merchandise 23,890 15,899 12,779 Service revenues 315 158 162 Other revenues 36 28 24 56,621 43,215 30,828 Other Other revenues 1,289 739 1,625 $ 195,258 $ 132,327 $ 181,059 Nightclubs segment revenues. Nightclubs revenues increased by 55.4% from 2020 to 2021 and decreased by 40.5% from 2019 to 2020. A breakdown of the changes compared to total change in Nightclubs revenues is as follows: 2021 vs. 2020 2020 vs. 2019 Impact of 2.1% and 9.0% decrease in same-store sales, respectively, to total revenues (excluding COVID-19 impact) (1.2 )% (4.9 )% Newly acquired and reconcepted units - 0.9 % Closed units (including COVID-19 impact) 56.4 % (36.3 )% Other 0.2 % (0.2 )% 55.4 % (40.5 )% Including the impact of COVID-19 on comparable Nightclubs locations (see Adjusted Same-Store Sales on page 25), the breakdown would have been: 2021 vs. 2020 2020 vs. 2019 Impact of 59.2% increase and 41.7% decrease in same-store sales, respectively, to total revenues (including COVID-19 impact) 56.9 % (40.3 )% Newly acquired and reconcepted units - 0.9 % Closed units (excluding COVID-19 impact) (1.8 )% (0.9 )% Other 0.2 % (0.2 )% 55.4 % (40.5 )% By type of revenue line item, changes in Nightclubs segment revenue dollars are broken down as: 2021 vs. 2020 2020 vs. 2019 Sales of alcoholic beverages 70.0 % (44.2 )% Sales of food and merchandise 101.2 % (34.4 )% Service revenues 34.5 % (39.6 )% Other 55.7 % (34.0 )% Nightclubs segment sales mix did not change much through the three fiscal years: 2021 2020 2019 Sales of alcoholic beverages 39.5 % 36.2 % 38.5 % Sales of food and merchandise 12.5 % 9.7 % 8.8 % Service revenues 40.2 % 46.4 % 45.7 % Other 7.8 % 7.7 % 7.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % Included in the 2019 new units are Rick’s Cabaret Chicago and Rick’s Cabaret Pittsburgh, which were acquired in November 2018 (see Note 15 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 and 2021. Included in other revenues of the Nightclubs segment is real estate rental revenue amounting to $1.5 million in 2021, $1.3 million in 2020, and $1.7 million in 2019. 29 Bombshells segment revenues. Bombshells revenues increased by 31.0% from 2020 to 2021 and by 40.2% from 2019 to 2020. A breakdown of the changes compared to total changes in Bombshells revenues is as follows: 2021 vs. 2020 2020 vs. 2019 Impact of 7.7% and 18.3% increase in same-store sales, respectively, to total revenues (excluding COVID-19 impact) 5.2 % 9.7 % New units 9.6 % 35.0 % Closed units (including COVID-19 impact) 16.2 % (4.5 )% 31.0 % 40.2 % Including the impact of COVID-19 on comparable Bombshells locations (see Adjusted Same-Store Sales on page 25), the breakdown would have been: 2021 vs. 2020 2020 vs. 2019 Impact of 24.8% and 6.5% increase in same-store sales, respectively, to total revenues (including COVID-19 impact) 21.4 % 5.1 % New units 9.6 % 35.0 % Closed units (excluding COVID-19 impact) - 0.1 % 31.0 % 40.2 % By type of revenue line item, changes in Bombshells segment revenues are broken down as: 2021 vs. 2020 2020 vs. 2019 Sales of alcoholic beverages 19.4 % 51.9 % Sales of food and merchandise 50.3 % 24.4 % Service and other revenues 88.7 % 0.0 % Bombshells segment sales mix for the three fiscal years is as follows: 2021 2020 2019 Sales of alcoholic beverages 57.2 % 62.8 % 57.9 % Sales of food and merchandise 42.2 % 36.8 % 41.5 % Service and other revenues 0.6 % 0.4 % 0.6 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 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. No new Bombshells location was opened in 2021. Other segment revenues. Other revenues included revenues from Drink Robust in all three fiscal years presented. Drink Robust sales were $249,000, $150,000, and $231,000 in fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, which excludes intercompany sales to Nightclubs and Bombshells units amounting to $141,000, $70,000, and $140,000 in fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Media business revenues were $1.0 million, $589,000, and $1.4 million in fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 ED EXPO that was supposed to be held in August 2020 (fiscal 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 consolidated revenues, were 80.3%, 97.9%, and 80.8% for the fiscal year 2021, 2020, and 2019, 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 Drink Robust. As a percentage of consolidated revenues, consolidated cost of goods sold was 15.4%, 14.7%, and 13.8% for fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019, 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 11.8%, 10.7%, and 11.2% for fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, which was primarily caused by shifts in sales mix. Bombshells cost of goods sold was 23.8%, 22.6%, and 25.3% for fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, which was mainly driven by the shift in sales mix to lower-margin food sales in 2021, to higher-margin alcoholic beverage sales in 2020, and from food cost inflation in 2019. 30 Consolidated salaries and wages increased by $11.6 million, or 29.6%, from 2020 to 2021 and decreased by $10.8 million, or 21.6%, from 2019 to 2020. The dollar decrease from 2019 to 2020 was mainly from furloughed employees due to COVID-19, which increased back in 2021 due to hiring and rehiring after easing restrictions. As a percentage of revenues, consolidated salaries and wages were 25.9%, 29.5%, and 27.5% in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, mainly due to sales trend and the impact of fixed salaries on lower sales. Corporate salary pay cuts made in 2020 during the height of the pandemic restrictions were paid back in 2021. By reportable segment, salaries and wages are broken down as follows (in thousands): 2021 2020 2019 Nightclubs $ 26,986 $ 19,590 $ 32,267 Bombshells 13,041 10,427 8,887 Other 582 491 617 General corporate 10,018 8,562 8,062 $ 50,627 $ 39,070 $ 49,833 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): Years Ended September 30, Percentage of Revenues 2021 2020 2019 2021 2020 2019 Taxes and permits $ 8,701 $ 8,071 $ 10,779 4.5 % 6.1 % 6.0 % Advertising and marketing 6,676 5,367 8,392 3.4 % 4.1 % 4.6 % Supplies and services 6,190 4,711 5,911 3.2 % 3.6 % 3.3 % Insurance 5,676 5,777 5,429 2.9 % 4.4 % 3.0 % Lease 3,942 4,060 3,896 2.0 % 3.1 % 2.2 % Legal 3,997 4,725 5,180 2.0 % 3.6 % 2.9 % Utilities 3,366 2,945 3,165 1.7 % 2.2 % 1.7 % Charge card fees 3,376 2,382 3,803 1.7 % 1.8 % 2.1 % Security 3,892 2,582 2,973 2.0 % 2.0 % 1.6 % Accounting and professional fees 2,031 3,463 2,815 1.0 % 2.6 % 1.6 % Repairs and maintenance 2,767 2,289 2,980 1.4 % 1.7 % 1.6 % Other 3,994 5,320 4,573 2.0 % 4.0 % 2.5 % $ 54,608 $ 51,692 $ 59,896 28.0 % 39.1 % 33.1 % By reportable segment, selling, general and administrative expenses are broken down as follows (in thousands): 2021 2020 2019 Nightclubs $ 32,725 $ 30,105 $ 40,033 Bombshells 14,883 11,735 10,441 Other 237 268 356 General corporate 6,763 9,584 9,066 $ 54,608 $ 51,692 $ 59,896 31 The significant variances in selling, general and administrative expenses are as follows: In light of decreased sales activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2020, 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. Conversely, due to the increase in revenues in 2021 from 2020, almost all selling, general and administrative expenses consequently increased except accounting and professional fees, insurance, leases, and legal. Accounting and legal fees primarily decreased from prior year’s SEC matters; lease expense decreased due to lease credits we received from certain landlords; while insurance decreased due to credits given by insurers for unused coverage due to COVID-19 closures in 2020. Depreciation and amortization decreased by $598,000, or 6.8%, from 2020 to 2021 and by $236,000, or 2.6%, from 2019 to 2020. The decrease from 2019 to 2020 was mainly due to properties sold or disposed during the current and prior year, while the decrease from 2020 to 2021 was mainly from significantly low capital expenditure in 2020. The components of other charges, net are in the table below (dollars in thousands): Years Ended September 30, Percentage of Revenues 2021 2020 2019 2021 2020 2019 Impairment of assets $ 13,612 $ 10,615 $ 6,040 7.0 % 8.0 % 3.3 % Settlement of lawsuits 1,349 174 225 0.7 % 0.1 % 0.1 % Gain on sale of businesses and assets (522 ) (661 ) (2,877 ) (0.3 )% (0.5 )% (1.6 )% Loss (gain) on insurance (1,253 ) 420 (768 ) (0.6 )% 0.3 % (0.4 )% Total other charges, net $ 13,186 $ 10,548 $ 2,620 6.8 % 8.0 % 1.4 % The significant variances in other charges, net are discussed below: During 2021, we recorded aggregate impairment charges amounting to $13.6 million related to goodwill of seven clubs ($6.3 million), SOB licenses of three clubs ($5.3 million), and property and equipment of five clubs, one of which is held for sale ($2.0 million). During 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 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). See Notes 2 and 15 to our consolidated financial statements. In 2021, we settled a case with one of our Bombshells landlord for $1.0 million. See Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements. In relation to insurance claims and recoveries, we recognized a $1.3 million gain in 2021, a $420,000 loss in 2020, and a $768,000 gain in 2019 mainly related to a fire in one of our clubs in Washington Park, Illinois toward the end of fiscal 2018 and a hurricane that damaged one of our clubs in Sulphur, Louisiana in August 2020. Gains related to insurance recoveries were recognized when the contingencies related to the insurance claims have been resolved, which may be in a subsequent reporting period. See Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements. Income from Operations During fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019, our consolidated operating margin was 19.7%, 2.1%, and 19.2%, respectively. Below is a table which reflects segment contribution to income from operations (in thousands): 2021 2020 2019 Nightclubs $ 43,815 $ 13,056 $ 50,724 Bombshells 13,264 9,237 2,307 Other 35 (614 ) (309 ) General corporate (18,566 ) (18,933 ) (18,021 ) $ 38,548 $ 2,746 $ 34,701 Nightclubs operating margin was 31.9%, 14.8%, and 34.1% in 2021, 2020, and 2019, 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 $13.6 million, $10.4 million, and $5.9 million for 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Bombshells operating margin was 23.4%, 21.4%, and 7.5% in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, mainly due to two new units and same-store sales increase in 2021, partially offset by COVID-19 impact in 2020, and pre-opening expenses in 2019 (particularly in salaries and wages and selling, general and administrative expenses. 32 Excluding certain items, non-GAAP operating income (loss) and non-GAAP operating margin are computed in the tables below (dollars in thousands). Refer to discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures on page 35. For the Year Ended September 30, 2021 Nightclubs Bombshells Other Corporate Total Income (loss) from operations $ 43,815 $ 13,264 $ 35 $ (18,566 ) $ 38,548 Amortization of intangibles 187 14 57 - 258 Settlement of lawsuits 275 59 5 1,010 1,349 Impairment of assets 13,612 - - - 13,612 Costs and charges related to debt refinancing 17 - - 40 57 Loss (gain) on sale of businesses and assets (580 ) 72 - (14 ) (522 ) Gain on insurance (1,209 ) - - (44 ) (1,253 ) Non-GAAP operating income (loss) $ 56,117 $ 13,409 $ 97 $ (17,574 ) $ 52,049 GAAP operating margin 31.9 % 23.4 % 2.7 % (9.5 )% 19.7 % Non-GAAP operating margin 40.9 % 23.7 % 7.5 % (9.0 )% 26.7 % For the Year Ended September 30, 2020 Nightclubs Bombshells Other Corporate Total Income (loss) from operations $ 13,056 $ 9,237 $ (614 ) $ (18,933 ) $ 2,746 Amortization of intangibles 211 15 383 - 609 Settlement of lawsuits 174 - - - 174 Impairment of assets 10,370 245 - - 10,615 Loss (gain) on sale of businesses and assets (639 ) 16 - (38 ) (661 ) Loss (gain) on insurance 433 - - (13 ) 420 Non-GAAP operating income (loss) $ 23,605 $ 9,513 $ (231 ) $ (18,984 ) $ 13,903 GAAP operating margin 14.8 % 21.4 % (83.1 )% (14.3 )% 2.1 % Non-GAAP operating margin 26.7 % 22.0 % (31.3 )% (14.3 )% 10.5 % For the Year Ended September 30, 2019 Nightclubs Bombshells Other Corporate Total Income (loss) from operations $ 50,724 $ 2,307 $ (309 ) $ (18,021 ) $ 34,701 Amortization of intangibles 230 11 383 - 624 Settlement of lawsuits 169 3 - 53 225 Impairment of assets 5,920 - - 120 6,040 Loss (gain) on sale of businesses and assets (2,858 ) 27 - (46 ) (2,877 ) Gain on insurance (654 ) - - (114 ) (768 ) Non-GAAP operating income (loss) $ 53,531 $ 2,348 $ 74 $ (18,008 ) $ 37,945 GAAP operating margin 34.1 % 7.5 % (19.0 )% (10.0 )% 19.2 % Non-GAAP operating margin 36.0 % 7.6 % 4.6 % (9.9 )% 21.0 % Other Income/Expenses Interest expense increased by $181,000 from 2020 to 2021 and decreased by $398,000 from 2019 to 2020. The net increase in interest expense in 2021 was primarily caused by the expensed loan costs and written off unamortized debt issuance costs related to the September 2021 Refinancing Note (see Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements), partially offset by the impact of a lower average debt balance. The decrease in interest expense in 2020 was primarily due to the lower average debt balance. 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 were deferred, but we continue to accrue interest on these debts. At the end of 2021, we refinanced several of our existing bank and seller-financed real estate debt with the issuance of a $99.1 million 5.25% note with a term of 10 years. 33 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 caused by the pandemic as shown below. 2021 2020 2019 Rent 2.0 % 3.1 % 2.2 % Interest 4.8 % 7.4 % 5.6 % Total occupancy cost 6.8 % 10.5 % 7.8 % The 2021 interest expense rate above excludes certain costs and charges related to the September 2021 Refinancing Note amounting to approximately $637,000, or 0.3% of consolidated revenues. The $637,000 interest expense includes $103,000 in unamortized debt issuance costs that were written off and $228,000 in expensed new loan costs. In fiscal 2021, we received 11 notices of forgiveness for our PPP loans approving the forgiveness of 100% of each of the 11 PPP loans amounting to $5.3 million in principal and interest, which were included in non-operating gains (losses), net. In November 2021, we received a partial forgiveness of the remaining $124,000 PPP loan for $85,000 in principal and interest. See Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements. Income Taxes Income taxes were an expense of approximately $4.0 million in 2021, a benefit of $493,000 in 2020, and an expense of $3.7 million in 2019. Our effective income tax rate was a 11.7% expense in 2021, 7.2% benefit in 2020, and a 15.5% expense in 2019. The components of our annual effective income tax rate are the following: 2021 2020 2019 Federal statutory income tax expense/benefit 21.0 % 21.0 % 21.0 % State income taxes, net of federal benefit 2.1 % (3.7 )% 2.8 % Permanent differences (1.3 )% (5.8 )% 0.2 % Change in state tax rate (2.4 )% - - Change in valuation allowance (1.9 )% (18.7 )% - Tax credits (3.5 )% 13.9 % (3.7 )% Other (2.4 )% 0.6 % (4.8 )% Total effective income tax rate 11.7 % 7.2 % 15.5 % * Positive or negative percentages are in relation to income or loss before income taxes of the respective fiscal year. Percentages may not foot due to rounding. The effective income tax rate difference from the statutory federal corporate tax rate of 21% comes 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 changes in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance in fiscal 2021 and 2020. 34 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, (e) settlement of lawsuits, and (f) costs and charges related to debt refinancing. 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) gain on debt extinguishment, (i) costs and charges related to debt refinancing, (j) the income tax effect of the above-described adjustments, and (k) change in 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 13.5%, 26.0%, and 15.5% effective tax rate of the pre-tax non-GAAP income before taxes for the 2021, 2020, and 2019, 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. 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, (h) settlement of lawsuits, and (i) gain on debt extinguishment. 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. 35 The following tables present our non-GAAP performance measures for the periods indicated (in thousands, except per share amounts and percentages): For the Year Ended September 30, 2021 2020 2019 Reconciliation of GAAP net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA Net income (loss) attributable to RCIHH common stockholders $ 30,336 $ (6,085 ) $ 20,294 Income tax expense (benefit) 3,989 (493 ) 3,744 Interest expense, net 9,739 9,487 9,900 Settlement of lawsuits 1,349 174 225 Impairment of assets 13,612 10,615 6,040 Gain on sale of businesses and assets (522 ) (661 ) (2,877 ) Depreciation and amortization 8,238 8,836 9,072 Unrealized loss on equity securities 84 64 612 Gain on debt extinguishment (5,329 ) - - Loss (gain) on insurance (1,253 ) 420 (768 ) Adjusted EBITDA $ 60,243 $ 22,357 $ 46,242 Reconciliation of GAAP net income (loss) to non-GAAP net income Net income (loss) attributable to RCIHH common stockholders $ 30,336 $ (6,085 ) $ 20,294 Amortization of intangibles 258 609 624 Settlement of lawsuits 1,349 174 225 Impairment of assets 13,612 10,615 6,040 Gain on sale of businesses and assets (522 ) (661 ) (2,877 ) Costs and charges related to debt refinancing** 694 - - Unrealized loss on equity securities 84 64 612 Gain on debt extinguishment (5,329 ) - - Loss (gain) on insurance (1,253 ) 420 (768 ) Change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance (632 ) 1,273 - Net income tax effect (1,845 ) (1,700 ) (580 ) Non-GAAP net income $ 36,752 $ 4,709 $ 23,570 For the Year Ended September 30, 2021 2020 2019 Reconciliation of GAAP diluted earnings (loss) per share to non-GAAP diluted earnings per share Diluted shares 9,005 9,199 9,657 GAAP diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 3.37 $ (0.66 ) $ 2.10 Amortization of intangibles 0.03 0.07 0.06 Settlement of lawsuits 0.15 0.02 0.02 Impairment of assets 1.51 1.15 0.63 Gain on sale of businesses and assets (0.06 ) (0.07 ) (0.30 ) Costs and charges related to debt refinancing** 0.08 - - Unrealized loss on equity securities 0.01 0.01 0.06 Gain on debt extinguishment (0.59 ) - - Loss (gain) on insurance (0.14 ) 0.05 (0.08 ) Change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance (0.07 ) 0.14 - Net income tax effect (0.20 ) (0.18 ) (0.05 ) Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share $ 4.08 $ 0.51 $ 2.44 Reconciliation of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP operating income Income from operations $ 38,548 $ 2,746 $ 34,701 Amortization of intangibles 258 609 624 Settlement of lawsuits 1,349 174 225 Impairment of assets 13,612 10,615 6,040 Gain on sale of businesses and assets (522 ) (661 ) (2,877 ) Costs and charges related to debt refinancing** 57 - - Loss (gain) on insurance (1,253 ) 420 (768 ) Non-GAAP operating income $ 52,049 $ 13,903 $ 37,945 Reconciliation of GAAP operating margin to non-GAAP operating margin GAAP operating margin 19.7 % 2.1 % 19.2 % Amortization of intangibles 0.1 % 0.5 % 0.3 % Settlement of lawsuits 0.7 % 0.1 % 0.1 % Impairment of assets 7.0 % 8.0 % 3.3 % Gain on sale of businesses and assets (0.3 )% (0.5 )% (1.6 )% Costs and charges related to debt refinancing** 0.0 % - - Loss (gain) on insurance (0.6 )% 0.3 % (0.4 )% Non-GAAP operating margin 26.7 % 10.5 % 21.0 % * Per share amounts and percentages may not foot due to rounding. ** Costs and charges related to debt refinancing consist of $637,000 in interest expense and $57,000 in legal and professional fees. The $637,000 interest expense portion above includes $103,000 in unamortized debt issuance costs that were written off and $228,000 in expensed new loan costs. 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. 36 LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES At September 30, 2021, our cash and cash equivalents were approximately $35.7 million compared to $15.6 million at September 30, 2020. Because of the large volume of cash we handle, we have very stringent cash controls. As of September 30, 2021, we had working capital of $26.1 million compared to a negative working capital of $5.9 million as of September 30, 2020, excluding net assets held for sale (net of associated liabilities of $1.1 million and $0, respectively) amounting to $3.8 million and $0 as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, 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 presented operational challenges. Our strategy was to open locations and operate in accordance with local and state guidelines. Revenues seem favorable now that all our locations are not under pandemic-related closure mandates. We believe that we can borrow capital if needed but currently we do not have unused credit facilities so there can be no guarantee that additional liquidity will be readily available or available on favorable terms. In fiscal 2020, to adapt to the situation, we took significant steps to augment an anticipated decline in operating cash flows, including negotiating deferment of some of our debts, reducing the number of our employees and related payroll costs where necessary, and deferring or modifying certain fixed and variable monthly expenses, 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 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 utilized all of the PPP funds and submitted its forgiveness applications. During the year ended September 30, 2021, we received 11 Notices of PPP Forgiveness Payment from the Small Business Administration out of the 12 of our PPP loans granted. All of the notices received forgave 100% of each of the 11 PPP loans totaling the amount of $5.3 million in principal and interest during the period and were included in non-operating gains (losses), net in our consolidated statement of operations. In November 2021, we received a partial forgiveness of the remaining $124,000 PPP loan for $85,000 in principal and interest. The remaining unforgiven portion of approximately $41,000 in principal will be repaid as debt plus accrued interest. 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. Closures and operating restrictions, 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. We continue to adhere to state and local government mandates regarding the pandemic and, since March 2020, have closed and reopened a number of our locations depending on changing government mandates, including operating hour and limited occupancy restrictions, where applicable. Currently, all of our locations are open except two clubs that are being renovated and/or remodeled. 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. On October 18, 2021, we and certain of our subsidiaries completed our acquisition of eleven gentlemen’s clubs, six related real estate properties, and associated intellectual property for a total agreed acquisition price of $88.0 million (with a total consideration preliminary fair value of $88.4 million based on the Company’s stock price at acquisition date and discounted due to the lock-up period). The acquisition gives the Company presence in six additional states. We paid for the acquisition with $36.8 million in cash, $21.2 million in four seller-financed notes, and 500,000 shares of our common stock. 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): Year Ended September 30, 2021 2020 2019 Operating activities $ 41,991 $ 15,632 $ 37,174 Investing activities (6,814 ) (994 ) (27,147 ) Financing activities (15,096 ) (13,130 ) (13,656 ) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents $ 20,081 $ 1,508 $ (3,629 ) 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. 37 Cash Flows from Operating Activities Following are our summarized cash flows from operating activities (in thousands): Year Ended September 30, 2021 2020 2019 Net income (loss) $ 30,150 $ (6,312 ) $ 20,445 Depreciation and amortization 8,238 8,836 9,072 Deferred tax expense (benefit) (1,253 ) (1,268 ) 821 Impairment of assets 13,612 10,615 6,040 Gain on debt extinguishment (5,298 ) - - Net change in operating assets and liabilities (3,451 ) 1,380 2,822 Other (7 ) 2,381 (2,026 ) Net cash provided by operating activities $ 41,991 $ 15,632 $ 37,174 Net cash flows from operating activities increased from 2020 to 2021 mainly due to significantly higher income from operations partially offset by higher interest payments, which included deferred debt interest payments from 2020, and higher income taxes paid. Net cash flows from operating activities significantly decreased in 2020 mainly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and partially offset by lower interest and income taxes paid. Cash Flows from Investing Activities Following are our summarized cash flows from investing activities (in thousands): Year Ended September 30, 2021 2020 2019 Proceeds from sale of businesses and assets $ 5,415 $ 2,221 $ 7,223 Proceeds from insurance and notes receivable 1,282 2,521 258 Issuance of notes receivable - - (420 ) Payments for property and equipment and intangible assets (13,511 ) (5,736 ) (20,708 ) Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired - - (13,500 ) Net cash used in investing activities $ (6,814 ) $ (994 ) $ (27,147 ) In 2021, we acquired four real estate properties either for future club or restaurant locations or for corporate use. On one of the real properties purchased, we opened a Bombshells restaurant on December 6, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. There were no new Bombshells units opened in 2021. We also sold two real estate properties in 2021. We opened two new Bombshells units in 2020 (one in Katy, Texas and another on U.S. Highway 59 in Houston, Texas) and sold three real estate properties. In 2019, we opened four new units (acquired two clubs in Chicago, Illinois and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and built two new Bombshells in Houston, Texas) and seven real estate properties sold. As of September 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019, we had $3.4 million, $20,000, and $8.9 million in construction-in-progress related mostly to Bombshells opening in the subsequent fiscal year. In 2019, we acquired two clubs (one in Pittsburgh and another in Chicago) where we paid a total of $13.5 million at closing. See Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements. Following is a reconciliation of our additions to property and equipment for the years ended September 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019 (in thousands): Year Ended September 30, 2021 2020 2019 New capital expenditures in new clubs and Bombshells units and equipment* $ 7,604 $ 3,585 $ 16,850 Maintenance capital expenditures 5,907 2,151 3,858 Total capital expenditures, excluding business acquisitions $ 13,511 $ 5,736 $ 20,708 * Includes real estate except those acquired through business acquisitions. See discussion of acquisitions subsequent to September 30, 2021 in Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements, the most significant of which is our acquisition of eleven clubs on October 18, 2021 for which part of the total acquisition price was paid with $36.8 million in cash at closing. 38 Cash Flows from Financing Activities Following are our summarized cash flows from financing activities (in thousands): Year Ended September 30, 2021 2020 2019 Proceeds from long-term debt $ 38,490 $ 6,503 $ 13,511 Payments on long-term debt (49,178 ) (8,832 ) (22,924 ) Payment of dividends (1,440 ) (1,286 ) (1,252 ) Purchase of treasury stock (1,794 ) (9,484 ) (2,901 ) Payment of loan origination costs (1,174 ) - (20 ) Distribution to noncontrolling interests - (31 ) (70 ) Net cash used in financing activities $ (15,096 ) $ (13,130 ) $ (13,656 ) See Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements for a detailed discussion of our debt obligations. We purchased shares of our common stock representing 74,659 shares, 516,102 shares, and 128,040 shares in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. We paid quarterly dividends of $0.03 per share in fiscal 2020 and 2019, except for the fourth quarter of 2019 and the second and fourth quarter of 2020 where we paid $0.04 per share. We paid quarterly dividends of $0.04 per share in fiscal 2021. Non-GAAP Cash Flow Measure Management also uses certain non-GAAP cash flow measures such as free cash flow. 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): 2021 2020 2019 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 41,991 $ 15,632 $ 37,174 Less: Maintenance capital expenditures 5,907 2,151 3,858 Free cash flow $ 36,084 $ 13,481 $ 33,316 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. Debt Financing Significant financing activities were as follows: ● $99.1 million bank refinancing loan on September 30, 2021 ● $17.0 million borrowings from private investors on October 12, 2021 (subsequent to year-end) ● $21.2 million seller-financed notes related to the October 18, 2021 acquisition (subsequent to year-end) See Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements for more details regarding our debt activity. 39 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 as of September 30, 2021. Payments Due by Period Total 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Thereafter Long-term debt – regular (a) $ 60,843 $ 6,625 $ 4,825 $ 5,094 $ 5,409 $ 5,745 $ 33,145 Long-term debt – balloon (a) 65,953 - 3,676 - - - 62,277 Interest payments on debt 52,213 6,933 6,324 5,996 5,681 5,345 21,934 Operating leases (b) 36,766 3,296 3,173 3,177 3,245 3,304 20,571 (a) See Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements. (b) See Note 19 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): Increase Increase 2021 (Decrease) 2020 (Decrease) 2019 Sales of alcoholic beverages $ 86,685 46.7 % $ 59,080 (21.4 )% $ 75,140 Sales of food and merchandise 41,111 68.1 % 24,460 (5.3 )% 25,830 Service revenues 55,461 34.7 % 41,162 (39.5 )% 68,055 Other 12,001 57.4 % 7,625 (36.6 )% 12,034 Total revenues $ 195,258 47.6 % $ 132,327 (26.9 )% $ 181,059 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 41,991 168.6 % $ 15,632 (57.9 )% $ 37,174 Adjusted EBITDA* $ 60,243 169.5 % $ 22,357 (51.7 )% $ 46,242 Free cash flow* $ 36,084 167.7 % $ 13,481 (59.5 )% $ 33,316 Debt (end of period) $ 125,168 (11.5 )% $ 141,435 (1.5 )% $ 143,528 * See definition and calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow under Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Liquidity and Capital Resources above. 40 We have not established financing other than the notes payable discussed in Note 9 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 2021, 2020, and 2019, we paid for treasury stock amounting to $1.8 million, $9.5 million, and $2.9 million representing 74,659 shares, 516,102 shares, and 128,040 shares, respectively. On February 6, 2020, the Board of Directors increased the repurchase authorization by an additional $10.0 million. We have approximately $9.0 million remaining to purchase additional shares as of September 30, 2021. 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 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, 2021 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. 41 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 15 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 15 to the consolidated financial statements for details of the disposition. We opened two new Bombshells units in fiscal 2020. On October 18, 2021, we and certain of our subsidiaries completed our acquisition of eleven gentlemen’s clubs, six related real estate properties, and associated intellectual property for a total agreed acquisition price of $88.0 million (with a total consideration preliminary fair value of $88.4 million based on the Company’s stock price at acquisition date and discounted due to the lock-up period). See Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements for details of the transaction. On November 8, 2021, the Company acquired a club and related real estate in Newburgh, New York for a total purchase price of $3.5 million, by which $2.5 million was paid in cash at closing and $1.0 million through a seller-financed 7-year promissory note with an interest rate of 4.0% per annum. The note is payable $13,669 per month, including principal and interest. See Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements. In December 2021, we opened a new Bombshells location in Arlington, Texas. 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, 2021. 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 43. 42 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Table of Contents Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 44 Consolidated Financial Statements: Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2021 and 2020 45 Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended September 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019 46 Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended September 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019 47 Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended September 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019 48 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019 49 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 50 43 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, 2021 and 2020, 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, 2021, and the related notes and schedule (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, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended September 30, 2021, 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”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2021, 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, 2021 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. Critical Audit Matter The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates. Impairment of Goodwill, Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets, and Long-lived Assets As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company reviews goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets on an annual basis for impairment, or when events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. Additionally, 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. The Company’s evaluation of goodwill for impairment involves the comparison of the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value, and impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets is recognized in the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceed their fair value. Recoverability of long-lived assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the assets to the future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the assets. If these assets are determined to be impaired, the amount of impairment recognized is the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds their fair value. Fair value is generally determined using forecasted cash flows discounted using an estimated weighted average cost of capital. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had goodwill of approximately $39.4 million, indefinite-lived intangible assets of approximately $67.4 million. Long-lived assets consisted of property and equipment, net, intangible assets subject to amortization, and right of use assets, net, totaling approximately $200.7 million. During the year ended September 30, 2021 the Company recorded an impairment of these assets of approximately $13.6 million. We identified the evaluation of the impairment analysis of goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets, and long-lived assets as a critical audit matter. There was a high degree of subjective auditor judgment in evaluating the estimated undiscounted future cash flows used to test operating locations for recoverability and the determination of fair value of the relevant assets when required. Specifically, a high degree of subjective auditor judgment was required to evaluate future revenues and operating cash flows, including consideration of the impact of COVID-19. The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Company’s goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible asset, and long-lived asset impairment process, including controls over the identification of relevant assets at risk of impairment, the determination of estimated undiscounted future cash flows and the fair value of individual reporting unit, as necessary, and controls over the key assumptions as noted above. Additionally, we: (1) compared the Company’s historical projected operating location-level cash flows to the actual operating location-level cash flows to assess management’s ability to accurately estimate, (2) compared the Company’s estimated future revenue growth rates to the historical trends of the operating locations and, (3) compared the Company’s projected operating location cash flows as a percentage of revenue to historical actual percentages. /s/ Friedman LLP We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019. Marlton, New Jersey December 14, 2021 44 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except per share data) September 30, 2021 2020 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 35,686 $ 15,605 Accounts receivable, net 7,570 6,767 Current portion of notes receivable 220 201 Inventories 2,659 2,372 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,928 6,488 Assets held for sale 4,887 - Total current assets 52,950 31,433 Property and equipment, net 175,952 181,383 Operating lease right-of-use assets, net 24,308 25,546 Notes receivable, net of current portion 2,839 2,908 Goodwill 39,379 45,686 Intangibles, net 67,824 73,077 Other assets 1,367 900 Total assets $ 364,619 $ 360,933 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 4,408 $ 4,799 Accrued liabilities 10,403 14,573 Current portion of long-term debt 6,434 16,304 Current portion of operating lease liabilities 1,780 1,628 Total current liabilities 23,025 37,304 Deferred tax liability, net 19,137 20,390 Debt, net of current portion and debt discount and issuance costs 118,734 125,131 Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion 24,150 25,439 Other long-term liabilities 350 362 Total liabilities 185,396 208,626 Commitments and contingencies (Note 11) - - 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; 9,000 shares and 9,075 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively 90 91 Additional paid-in capital 50,040 51,833 Retained earnings 129,693 100,797 Total RCIHH stockholders’ equity 179,823 152,721 Noncontrolling interests ( 600 ) ( 414 ) Total equity 179,223 152,307 Total liabilities and equity $ 364,619 $ 360,933 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 45 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except per share data) Years Ended September 30, 2021 2020 2019 Revenues Sales of alcoholic beverages $ 86,685 $ 59,080 $ 75,140 Sales of food and merchandise 41,111 24,460 25,830 Service revenues 55,461 41,162 68,055 Other 12,001 7,625 12,034 Total revenues 195,258 132,327 181,059 Operating expenses Cost of goods sold Alcoholic beverages sold 15,883 11,097 15,303 Food and merchandise sold 13,794 8,071 9,056 Service and other 374 267 578 Total cost of goods sold (exclusive of items shown separately below) 30,051 19,435 24,937 Salaries and wages 50,627 39,070 49,833 Selling, general and administrative 54,608 51,692 59,896 Depreciation and amortization 8,238 8,836 9,072 Other charges, net 13,186 10,548 2,620 Total operating expenses 156,710 129,581 146,358 Income from operations 38,548 2,746 34,701 Other income (expenses) Interest expense ( 9,992 ) ( 9,811 ) ( 10,209 ) Interest income 253 324 309 Non-operating gains (losses), net 5,330 ( 64 ) ( 612 ) Income (loss) before income taxes 34,139 ( 6,805 ) 24,189 Income tax expense (benefit) 3,989 ( 493 ) 3,744 Net income (loss) 30,150 ( 6,312 ) 20,445 Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests 186 227 ( 151 ) Net income (loss) attributable to RCIHH common stockholders $ 30,336 $ ( 6,085 ) $ 20,294 Earnings (loss) per share Basic and diluted $ 3.37 $ ( 0.66 ) $ 2.10 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding Basic and diluted 9,005 9,199 9,657 Dividends per share $ 0.16 $ 0.14 $ 0.13 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 46 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (in thousands) 2021 2020 2019 Years Ended September 30, 2021 2020 2019 Net income (loss) $ 30,150 $ ( 6,312 ) $ 20,445 Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income - - ( 220 ) Comprehensive income (loss) 30,150 ( 6,312 ) 20,225 Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests 186 227 ( 151 ) Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. $ 30,336 $ ( 6,085 ) $ 20,074 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 47 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY Years Ended September 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019 (in thousands) Common Stock Additional Accumulated Other Treasury Stock Number Paid-In Retained Comprehensive Number Noncontrolling Total of Shares Amount Capital Earnings Income of Shares Amount Interests Equity Balance at September 30, 2018 9,719 $ 97 $ 64,212 $ 88,906 $ 220 - $ - $ ( 103 ) $ 153,332 Reclassification upon adoption of ASU 2016-01 - - - 220 ( 220 ) - - - - Purchase of treasury shares - - - - - ( 128 ) ( 2,901 ) - ( 2,901 ) Canceled treasury shares ( 128 ) ( 1 ) ( 2,900 ) - - 128 2,901 - - Payment of dividends - - - ( 1,252 ) - - - - ( 1,252 ) Payments to noncontrolling interests - - - - - - - ( 70 ) ( 70 ) Divestiture in other entities - - - - - - - ( 134 ) ( 134 ) Net income - - - 20,294 - - - 151 20,445 Balance at September 30, 2019 9,591 96 61,312 108,168 - - - ( 156 ) 169,420 Purchase of treasury shares - - - - - ( 516 ) ( 9,484 ) - ( 9,484 ) Canceled treasury shares ( 516 ) ( 5 ) ( 9,479 ) - - 516 9,484 - - Payment of dividends - - - ( 1,286 ) - - - - ( 1,286 ) Payments to noncontrolling interests - - - - - - - ( 31 ) ( 31 ) Net loss - - - ( 6,085 ) - - - ( 227 ) ( 6,312 ) Balance at September 30, 2020 9,075 91 51,833 100,797 - - - ( 414 ) 152,307 Purchase of treasury shares - - - - - ( 75 ) ( 1,794 ) - ( 1,794 ) Canceled treasury shares ( 75 ) ( 1 ) ( 1,793 ) - - 75 1,794 - - Payment of dividends - - - ( 1,440 ) - - - - ( 1,440 ) Net income (loss) - - - 30,336 - - - ( 186 ) 30,150 Balance at September 30, 2021 9,000 $ 90 $ 50,040 $ 129,693 $ - - $ - $ ( 600 ) $ 179,223 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 48 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) 2021 2020 2019 Years Ended September 30, 2021 2020 2019 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income (loss) $ 30,150 $ ( 6,312 ) $ 20,445 Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 8,238 8,836 9,072 Deferred tax expense (benefit) ( 1,253 ) ( 1,268 ) 821 Gain on sale of businesses and assets ( 714 ) ( 777 ) ( 2,966 ) Impairment of assets 13,612 10,615 6,040 Amortization and writeoff of debt discount and issuance costs 311 236 334 Doubtful accounts expense (reversal) on notes receivable ( 80 ) 602 - Unrealized loss on equity securities 84 64 612 Loss (gain) on insurance ( 1,337 ) 596 ( 288 ) Noncash lease expense 1,729 1,660 - Deferred rent expense - - 282 Gain on debt extinguishment ( 5,298 ) - - Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable ( 769 ) ( 294 ) 457 Inventories ( 287 ) 226 ( 216 ) Prepaid expenses, other current assets and other assets 4,120 1,633 ( 681 ) Accounts payable and accrued liabilities ( 6,515 ) ( 185 ) 3,262 Net cash provided by operating activities 41,991 15,632 37,174 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from sale of businesses and assets 5,415 2,221 7,223 Proceeds from notes receivable 130 1,576 158 Proceeds from insurance 1,152 945 100 Issuance of notes receivable - - ( 420 ) Payments for property and equipment and intangible assets ( 13,511 ) ( 5,736 ) ( 20,708 ) Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired - - ( 13,500 ) Net cash used in investing activities ( 6,814 ) ( 994 ) ( 27,147 ) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from long-term debt 38,490 6,503 13,511 Payments on long-term debt ( 49,178 ) ( 8,832 ) ( 22,924 ) Purchase of treasury stock ( 1,794 ) ( 9,484 ) ( 2,901 ) Payment of dividends ( 1,440 ) ( 1,286 ) ( 1,252 ) Payment of loan origination costs ( 1,174 ) - ( 20 ) Distribution to noncontrolling interests - ( 31 ) ( 70 ) Net cash used in financing activities ( 15,096 ) ( 13,130 ) ( 13,656 ) NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 20,081 1,508 ( 3,629 ) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR 15,605 14,097 17,726 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR $ 35,686 $ 15,605 $ 14,097 CASH PAID DURING YEAR FOR: Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized $ 10,362 $ 8,695 $ 9,797 Income taxes paid (net of refunds of $ 2,201 , $ 153 , and $ 42 , in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively) $ 5,389 $ 2,200 $ 3,686 Non-cash investing and financing transactions: Years Ended September 30, 2021 2020 2019 Debt incurred with seller in connection with acquisition of businesses $ - $ - $ 12,000 Notes receivable received as proceeds from sale of assets $ - $ - $ 1,775 Accounts receivable converted to notes receivable $ - $ 122 $ - Refinanced long-term debt $ 62,832 $ 11,292 $ 400 Operating lease right-of-use assets established upon adoption of ASC 842 $ - $ 27,310 $ - Deferred rent liabilities reclassified upon adoption of ASC 842 $ - $ 1,241 $ - Operating lease liabilities established upon adoption of ASC 842 $ - $ 28,551 $ - Adjustment to operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities related to renewed leases $ 491 $ - $ - Unpaid liabilities on capital expenditures $ 830 $ 29 $ 476 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 49 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 1. Nature of Business 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, Tomball, Katy, Pearland, Odessa, Lubbock, Longview, Tye, Aledo, Round Rock, 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. In relation to acquisitions that closed in October and November 2021, we now have club locations in Denver, Colorado; Louisville, Kentucky; Raleigh, North Carolina; Portland, Maine; Indianapolis, Indiana; Sauget, Illinois; and Newburgh, New York. 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 2021, 2020, and 2019 are for fiscal years ended September 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019, 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. 50 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 $ 382,000 and $ 261,000 as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively (see Note 5). Allowance for doubtful accounts balance related to notes receivable was $ 102,000 and $ 182,000 as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Inventories Inventories include alcoholic beverages, energy drinks, food, and Company merchandise. Inventories are carried at the lower of cost (on a first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) basis), or 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 $ 0 in fiscal 2021, $ 156,000 in fiscal 2020, and $ 597,000 in fiscal 2019. 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. 51 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued 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 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, 2021, we identified seven reporting units that were impaired and recognized a goodwill impairment loss totaling $ 6.3 million. 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 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 $ 5.3 million in 2021 related to three clubs, $ 2.3 million in 2020 related to two clubs (see Note 3), and $ 178,000 in 2019 related to one club, which are included in other charges, net in the consolidated statements of operations. 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 2021, the Company impaired five clubs (including one later reclassified as held for sale) for a total of $ 2.0 million ; during fiscal 2020, the Company impaired one club and one Bombshells unit for a total of $ 302,000 ; and during fiscal 2019, the Company impaired two clubs for a total of $ 4.2 million. The Company also impaired one club in fiscal of 2020 for operating lease right-of-use assets amounting to $ 104,000 . See Notes 6 and 19. 52 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 fiscal 2019). Revenue from initial franchise and area development fees are recognized as the performance obligations are satisfied over the term of the franchise agreement. Franchise royalties and advertising contributions, which are a percentage of net sales of franchised restaurants, are recognized in the period the related sales occur. Refer to Notes 4 and 19 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 5. 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. 53 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued 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. Paycheck Protection Program The Company’s policy is to account for the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans as debt (see Note 9). The Company will continue to record the loans 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). During the years ended September 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019, the Company did not have any 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, 2021 and 2020, the Company has no stock options outstanding, since as of September 30, 2020, the Company’s 2010 Stock Option Plan contractually expired. 54 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 less than $ 1,000 and approximately $ 84,000 respectively as of September 30, 2021 and 2020. 55 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued 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, 2021, 2020, and 2019. 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): Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Nonrecurring Basis Fair Value at Reporting Date Using September 30, Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Asset Significant Other Observable Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs Description 2021 (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) Property and equipment $ 2,044 $ - $ - $ 2,044 Indefinite-lived intangibles 2,008 - - 2,008 Goodwill 2,096 - - 2,096 Operating lease right-of-use assets* 491 - - 491 Operating lease liabilities* ( 491 ) - - ( 491 ) Asset held for sale 3,007 - 3,007 - * Measured at the lease modification dates. Fair Value at Reporting Date Using September 30, Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Asset Significant Other Observable Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs Description 2020 (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) Property and equipment $ 6,042 $ - $ - $ 6,042 Indefinite-lived intangibles 656 - - 656 Goodwill 5,883 - - 5,883 Operating lease right-of-use assets ** 27,310 - - 27,310 Operating lease liabilities ** ( 28,551 ) - - ( 28,551 ) Other assets (equity securities) 84 84 - - ** M easured at October 1, 2019, upon the adoption of ASC 842. 56 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - continued Unrealized Gain (Loss/Impairments) Recognized Years Ended September 30, Description 2021 2020 2019 Goodwill $ ( 6,307 ) $ ( 7,944 ) $ ( 1,638 ) Property and equipment, net (including held for sale) ( 2,202 ) ( 302 ) ( 4,224 ) Indefinite-lived intangibles ( 5,296 ) ( 2,265 ) ( 178 ) Operating lease right-of-use assets - ( 104 ) - Other assets (equity securities) ( 84 ) ( 64 ) ( 612 ) The significant unobservable inputs used in our level 3 fair value measurements are as follows: Schedule of Significant Unobservable Inputs Used in Level 3 Fair Value Measurement Assets Valuation Techniques Unobservable Input Range (Weighted Average) Property and equipment Discounted cash flow EBITDA multiple 8 x (8x) Revenue/EBITDA growth rate 0 % - 2.5 % ( 1 %) Weighted average cost of capital 13 % - 17 % ( 15 %) Goodwill Discounted cash flow EBITDA multiple 8 x (8x) Revenue/EBITDA growth rate 0 % - 2.5 % ( 1 %) Weighted average cost of capital 13 % - 17 % ( 15 %) SOB licenses Multiperiod excess earnings EBITDA multiple 8 x (8x) Revenue/EBITDA growth rate 0 % - 2.5 % ( 1 %) Weighted average cost of capital 13 % - 17 % ( 15 %) Contributory asset charges rate 1.4 % - 8.0 % ( 4 %) Tradename Relief-from-royalty method Revenue growth rate 0 % - 2.5 % ( 2.5 %) Terminal multiple 8 x (8x) Weighted average cost of capital 15 % ( 15 %) Operating lease right-of-use assets Discounted cash flow EBITDA growth rate 0 % - 2.5 % ( 1 %) Weighted average cost of capital 13 % - 17 % ( 15 %) Reclassification Certain reclassifications of cost of goods sold components with immaterial amounts have been made to prior year’s financial statements to conform to the current year financial statement presentation. There is no impact in total cost of goods sold, results of operations, and cash flows in all periods presented. Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards 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. We adopted ASU 2016-13 as of October 1, 2020. Our adoption of this guidance did not have a significant 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. We adopted ASU 2018-03 as of October 1, 2020. Our adoption did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements. 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. We adopted ASU 2019-01 as of October 1, 2020. Our adoption did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements. 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. In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers . This ASU amends ASC 805 to require acquiring entities to apply ASC 606 to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities in business combinations. The ASU is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We have not yet determined the timing of adoption but we do not expect the ASU to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. 57 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 3. Ongoing Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Since the U.S. declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic in March 2020, we have had a major disruption in our business operations that threatened to significantly impact our cash flow. 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. To adapt to the situation, we took significant steps to augment an anticipated decline in operating cash flows, including negotiating deferment of some of our debts, reducing the number of our employees and related payroll costs where necessary, and deferring or modifying certain fixed and variable monthly expenses, among others. The temporary closure of our clubs and restaurants caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has presented operational challenges. Our strategy is to open locations and operate in accordance with local and state guidelines. We believe that we can borrow capital if needed but currently we do not have unused credit facilities so 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. 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 9 and 10. 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. Closures and operating restrictions, 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. We continue to adhere to state and local government mandates regarding the pandemic and, since March 2020, have closed and reopened a number of our locations depending on changing government mandates, including operating hour and limited occupancy restrictions, where applicable. 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 interim and annual periods since the pandemic emerged, we determined that during the year ended 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 $ 104,00 0 in operating lease right-of-use assets, with an additional $ 13.6 million of impairment recognized during the year ended September 30, 2021 comprised of $ 6.3 million in goodwill, $ 5.3 million in SOB licenses, and $ 2.0 million in property and equipment, which included one property later reclassified as held for sale. 58 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 4. Revenues Revenues, as disaggregated by revenue type, timing of recognition, and reportable segment (see also Note 17), are shown below (in thousands). Schedule of Disaggregation of Segment Revenues Fiscal 2021 Nightclubs Bombshells Other Total Sales of alcoholic beverages $ 54,305 $ 32,380 $ - $ 86,685 Sales of food and merchandise 17,221 23,890 - 41,111 Service revenues 55,146 315 - 55,461 Other revenues 10,676 36 1,289 12,001 $ 137,348 $ 56,621 $ 1,289 $ 195,258 Recognized at a point in time $ 135,799 $ 56,617 $ 1,284 $ 193,700 Recognized over time 1,549 4 5 1,558 $ 137,348 $ 56,621 $ 1,289 $ 195,258 Fiscal 2020 Nightclubs Bombshells Other Total Sales of alcoholic beverages $ 31,950 $ 27,130 $ - $ 59,080 Sales of food and merchandise 8,561 15,899 - 24,460 Service revenues 41,004 158 - 41,162 Other revenues 6,858 28 739 7,625 $ 88,373 $ 43,215 $ 739 $ 132,327 Recognized at a point in time $ 87,049 $ 43,215 $ 725 $ 130,989 Recognized over time 1,324 - 14 1,338 $ 88,373 $ 43,215 $ 739 $ 132,327 Fiscal 2019 Nightclubs Bombshells Other Total Sales of alcoholic beverages $ 57,277 $ 17,863 $ - $ 75,140 Sales of food and merchandise 13,051 12,779 - 25,830 Service revenues 67,893 162 - 68,055 Other revenues 10,385 24 1,625 12,034 $ 148,606 $ 30,828 $ 1,625 $ 181,059 Recognized at a point in time $ 146,938 $ 30,828 $ 1,572 $ 179,338 Recognized over time 1,668 - 53 1,721 $ 148,606 $ 30,828 $ 1,625 $ 181,059 * Lease revenue (included in Other Revenues) is covered by ASC 842 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, and ASC 840 in fiscal 2019. All other revenues are covered by ASC Topic 606. 59 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 4. Revenues - continued 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 (in thousands): Schedule of Reconciliation of Contract Liabilities with Customers Balance at September 30, 2019 Consideration Received Recognized in Revenue Balance at September 30, 2020 Consideration Received Recognized in Revenue Balance at September 30, 2021 Ad revenue $ 76 $ 538 $ ( 522 ) $ 92 $ 593 $ ( 601 ) $ 84 Expo revenue - 211 - 211 393 ( 453 ) 151 Other (including franchise fees, see below) 7 40 ( 14 ) 33 94 ( 8 ) 119 $ 83 $ 789 $ ( 536 ) $ 336 $ 1,080 $ ( 1,062 ) $ 354 Contract liabilities with customers are included in accrued liabilities as unearned revenues in our consolidated balance sheets (see also Note 5), while the revenues associated with these contract liabilities are included in other revenues in our consolidated statements of operations. On December 22, 2020, the Company signed a franchise development agreement with a group of private investors to open three Bombshells locations in San Antonio, Texas over a period of five years, and the right of first refusal for three more locations in Corpus Christi, New Braunfels, and San Marcos, all in Texas. Upon execution of the agreement, the Company collected $ 75,000 in development fees representing 100 % of the initial franchise fee of the first restaurant and 50 % of the initial franchise fee of the second restaurant. 5. Selected Account Information The components of accounts receivable, net are as follows (in thousands): Schedule of Accounts Receivable 2021 2020 September 30, 2021 2020 Credit card receivables $ 1,447 $ 880 Income tax refundable 4,472 4,325 Insurance receivable 185 191 ATM-in-transit 277 160 Other (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $ 382 and $ 261 , respectively) 1,189 1,211 Total accounts receivable, net $ 7,570 $ 6,767 Notes receivable consist primarily of secured promissory notes executed between the Company and various buyers of our businesses and assets with interest rates ranging from 6 % to 9 % per annum and having original terms ranging from 1 to 20 years. The components of prepaid expenses and other current assets are as follows (in thousands): Schedule of Components of Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets 2021 2020 September 30, 2021 2020 Prepaid insurance $ 277 $ 4,884 Prepaid legal 112 735 Prepaid taxes and licenses 380 428 Prepaid rent 309 37 Other 850 404 Total prepaid expenses and other current assets $ 1,928 $ 6,488 The components of accrued liabilities are as follows (in thousands): Schedule of Accrued Liabilities 2021 2020 September 30, 2021 2020 Insurance $ 54 $ 4,405 Payroll and related costs 3,220 2,419 Property taxes 2,178 2,003 Sales and liquor taxes 2,261 2,613 Interest 145 1,390 Patron tax 452 309 Lawsuit settlement 378 100 Unearned revenues 354 336 Other 1,361 998 Accrued liabilities $ 10,403 $ 14,573 60 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 5. Selected Account Information - continued The components of selling, general and administrative expenses are as follows (in thousands): Schedule of Selling, General and Administrative Expenses 2021 2020 2019 Years Ended September 30, 2021 2020 2019 Taxes and permits $ 8,701 $ 8,071 $ 10,779 Advertising and marketing 6,676 5,367 8,392 Supplies and services 6,190 4,711 5,911 Insurance 5,676 5,777 5,429 Lease 3,942 4,060 3,896 Legal 3,997 4,725 5,180 Utilities 3,366 2,945 3,165 Charge cards fees 3,376 2,382 3,803 Security 3,892 2,582 2,973 Accounting and professional fees 2,031 3,463 2,815 Repairs and maintenance 2,767 2,289 2,980 Other 3,994 5,320 4,573 Selling, general and administrative expenses $ 54,608 $ 51,692 $ 59,896 The components of other charges, net are as follows (in thousands): Schedule of Components of Other Charges, Net 2021 2020 2019 Years Ended September 30, 2021 2020 2019 Impairment of assets $ 13,612 $ 10,615 $ 6,040 Settlement of lawsuits 1,349 174 225 Gain on sale of businesses and assets ( 522 ) ( 661 ) ( 2,877 ) Loss (gain) on insurance ( 1,253 ) 420 ( 768 ) Other charges $ 13,186 $ 10,548 $ 2,620 6. Property and Equipment Property and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands): Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment September 30, 2021 2020 Buildings and land $ 162,217 $ 163,938 Equipment 38,046 37,000 Leasehold improvements 28,681 29,776 Furniture 10,207 9,614 Total property and equipment 239,151 240,328 Less accumulated depreciation ( 63,199 ) ( 58,945 ) Property and equipment, net $ 175,952 $ 181,383 Included in buildings and leasehold improvements above are construction-in-progress amounting to $ 3.4 million and $ 20,000 as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which are mostly related to Bombshells projects. Depreciation expense was approximately $ 8.0 million, $ 8.2 million, and $ 8.4 million for fiscal years 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Impairment loss for property and equipment, including those later reclassified to assets held for sale, was $ 2.0 million, $ 302,000 , and $ 4.2 million for fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. 61 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 7. Assets Held for Sale As of September 30, 2020, the Company had no properties classified as held for sale. During fiscal 2021, the Company classified as held-for-sale three real estate properties with an aggregate carrying value of $ 8.6 million, which was later remeasured at lower of carrying value and net realizable value less cost to sell of $ 7.2 million. In May 2021, the Company sold one property with a carrying value of $ 2.3 million for $ 3.1 million (see Note 15). 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. As of September 30, 2021, liabilities associated with held-for-sale assets amounted to $ 1.1 million. Gains or losses on the sale of properties held for sale are included in other charges (gains), net within the consolidated statements of operations (see Note 5). 8. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill and other intangible assets consisted of the following (in thousands): Schedule of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets 2021 2020 September 30, 2021 2020 Indefinite useful lives: Goodwill $ 39,379 $ 45,686 Licenses 65,186 70,332 Tradename and domain name 2,238 2,215 Indefinite Intangible Assets, Net, Total 106,803 118,233 Amortization Period Definite useful lives: Discounted leases 18 & 6 years 86 93 Non-compete agreements 5 years 182 362 Software 5 years 132 23 Distribution agreement 3 years - 52 400 530 Total goodwill and other intangible assets $ 107,203 $ 118,763 Schedule of Indefinite-lived, Definite-lived Intangible Assets and Goodwill 2021 2020 Definite- Lived Intangibles Indefinite- Lived Intangibles Goodwill Definite- Lived Intangibles Indefinite- Lived Intangibles Goodwill Beginning balance $ 530 $ 72,547 $ 45,686 $ 1,139 $ 74,812 $ 53,630 Acquisitions 128 173 - - - - Impairment - ( 5,296 ) ( 6,307 ) - ( 2,265 ) ( 7,944 ) Amortization ( 258 ) - - ( 609 ) - - Ending balance $ 400 $ 67,424 $ 39,379 $ 530 $ 72,547 $ 45,686 As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, the accumulated impairment balance of indefinite-lived intangibles was $ 13.7 million and $ 8.4 million, respectively, while the accumulated impairment balance of goodwill was $ 20.6 million and $ 14.3 million, respectively. Future amortization expense related to definite-lived intangible assets that are subject to amortization at September 30, 2021 is: 2022 - $ 138,000 ; 2023 - $ 60,000 ; 2024 - $ 11,000 ; 2025 - $ 8,000 ; 2026 - $ 7,000 ; and thereafter - $ 176,000 . Indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of sexually oriented business licenses and tradenames, 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, 2021, the Company recognized a $ 5.3 million impairment related to SOB licenses of three clubs and a $ 6.3 million related to goodwill of seven clubs. 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. 62 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 9. Debt Debt consisted of the following (in thousands): Schedule of Long-term Debt September 30, 2021 2020 $ 785 $ 886 Notes payable at 5.5 %, matures January 2023 (d)(1) $ 785 $ 886 Non-interest-bearing debts to State of Texas, mature March 2022 and May 2022 , interest imputed at 9.6 % (d)(2) 813 2,177 Note payable at 5.75 %, matures December 2027 , as amended *(a)(6ii)(7) - 9,715 Note payable at 5.95 %, matures December 2027 , as amended *(a)(6iii)(7) - 5,787 Note payable at 12 % , matures February 2030 , as amended (d)(3)(25) - 5,031 Notes payable at 12 % , mature November 2021 , as amended (d)(4)(26) - 1,940 Note payable at 8 % , matures October 2027 , as amended (b)(5)(23) 3,025 3,025 Note payable at 8 % , matures May 2029 (b)(5) 11,549 12,599 Note payable at 5.75 % , matures December 2027 , as amended *(a)(6i)(7)(8)(9) - 49,830 Note payable at 5.99 % , matures September 2033 , as amended (c) (10) 6,089 6,395 Note payable at 5 % , matures August 2029 *(a)(12) - 2,165 Note payable at prime plus 0.5 % with a 5.5 % floor, matures September 2035 , as amended *(a)(13) - 2,099 Note payable initially at prime plus 0.5 % with a 5.5 % floor, matures September 2030 *(a)(13) - 2,861 Note payable at 8 % , matures May 2021 (a)(14) - 582 Note payable at 5.95 % , matures August 2039 , as amended *(a)(11) - 6,979 Note payable at 12 % , matures February 2030 , as amended (d)(15)(24) - 3,875 Note payable at 9 % , matures September 2028 (a)(17) 1,063 1,167 Note payable at 5.95 % , matures September 2028 , as amended *(a)(16) - 1,489 Note payable at 6 % , matures February 2040 , as amended *(a)(22) - 4,066 Note payable at 5.49 % , matures March 2039 , as amended (c)(21) 2,075 2,125 Note payable at 7 % , matures November 2024 (b)(19) - 3,319 Note payable at 7 % , matures February 2021 , as amended (b)(20) - 2,000 Notes payable at 12 % , mature November 2021 (d)(18) - 2,350 Note payable at 8 % , matures November 2028 (b)(20) - 4,790 Note payable at 3.99 % , matures January 2041 *(a)(28) 2,127 - Note payable at 5.25 % , matures September 2031 *(a)(29) 99,146 - Paycheck Protection Program loans at 1 % , matures May 2022 (d)(27) 124 5,422 Total debt 126,796 142,674 Less unamortized debt discount and issuance costs ( 1,628 ) ( 1,239 ) Less current portion ( 6,434 ) ( 16,304 ) Total long-term portion of debt, net $ 118,734 $ 125,131 * These commercial bank debts are guaranteed by the Company’s CEO. See Note 18. 63 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 9. Debt - continued Following is a summary of long-term debt at September 30 (in thousands): Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments 2021 2020 (a) Secured by real estate $ 102,336 $ 86,740 (b) Secured by stock in subsidiary 14,574 25,733 (c) Secured by other assets 8,164 8,520 (d) Unsecured 1,722 21,681 $ 126,796 $ 142,674 (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 was 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. This note was paid off entirely on September 30, 2021. (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 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. These notes were paid off on September 30, 2021. (5) On May 8, 2017, in relation to the Scarlett’s acquisition (see Note 15), 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 has amended the $ 5.0 million short-term note payable several times, which has a remaining balance of $ 3.0 million, extending the maturity date and increasing the interest rate. Presently, the maturity date is October 1, 2027 and the interest rate is 8 % for its remaining term. Refer to December 2019 amendment below. 64 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 9. Debt - continued (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 consisted of three promissory notes: i) The first note amounted 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 amounted 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 amounted 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 was 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 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 were certain financial covenants with which the Company must be in compliance related to this financing. All three notes in the preceding paragraph were refinanced as part of the September 2021 Refinancing Note (see below). 65 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 9. Debt - continued (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 bore 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 was payable interest-only during the first 18 months, after which monthly payments of principal and interest were to 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 an additional construction loan having a maximum availability of $ 7.4 million. The new note had 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 was 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. This note was paid off in relation to the September 2021 Refinancing Note. (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 bore an interest rate of prime plus 0.5 % with a floor of 5.0 % and was to mature on August 20, 2029 . During the first 18 months of the construction loan, the Company made 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 was to be in compliance related to this financing. This note was paid off in relation to the September 2021 Refinancing Note. (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 was to mature in 24 months, by which date the principal was to be 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 had an interest rate of prime plus 0.5 %, with a 5.5 % floor, and payable in 12 years. The first 24 months were to be interest-only payments, after which monthly payments of principal and interest were to be made based on a 20 -year amortization. There were certain financial covenants with which the Company was to be in compliance related to this financing. These notes were paid off in relation to the September 2021 Refinancing Note. (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 was to mature in three years and was payable in monthly installments of $ 20,276 , including interest, based on a five-year amortization with the remaining balance to be paid at maturity. This note was fully paid in May 2021. 66 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 9. Debt - continued (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. This note was paid off on September 30, 2021. (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 had 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, were 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 were certain financial covenants with which the Company was to be in compliance related to this note. This note was paid off in relation to the September 2021 Refinancing Note. (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 were to mature on November 1, 2021 . The notes paid interest-only in equal monthly installments, with a lump sum principal payment at maturity. Among the promissory notes were 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 18) 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. These notes were paid off in relation to the September 2021 Refinancing Note. (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 15. This note was paid off in relation to the September 2021 Refinancing Note. (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 15. On September 30, 2020, the maturity date for the first note was extended to and fully paid off in February 2021 . The second note was paid off in relation to the September 2021 Refinancing Note. (21) On December 11, 2018, the Company purchased an aircraft for $ 2.8 million with a $ 554,000 down payment and financed for 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 had 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 had a maximum availability of $ 4.1 million, was to mature in 252 months from closing date and was 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 were certain financial covenants with which the Company was to be in compliance related to this financing. In March 2020, certain principal and interest payments for this note were deferred to its maturity date. This note was paid off in relation to the September 2021 Refinancing Note. (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 eliminated 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. This note was paid off in relation to the September 2021 Refinancing Note. (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 eliminated 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. This note was paid off in relation to the September 2021 Refinancing Note. (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 was then $ 1,940,000 . On October 31, 2020, the Company negotiated extensions to November 1, 2021 on $ 1,690,000 of the $ 1,940,000 that were due on November 1, 2020. The Company paid $250,000 to a certain lender who only extended a portion of his original note. The remaining balance of these notes were paid off in relation to the September 2021 Refinancing Note. (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 September 30, 2021, we have received eleven Notices of PPP Forgiveness Payment from the Small Business Administration out of the twelve of our PPP loans granted. All of those notices received forgave 100% of each of the eleven PPP loans totaling the amount of $5.3 million in principal and interest. In November 2021, we received a partial forgiveness of the remaining $ 124,000 PPP loan for $ 85,000 in principal and interest. The remaining unforgiven portion of approximately $ 41,000 in principal will be repaid as debt plus accrued interest. See Notes 3 and 10. 67 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 9. Debt – continued (28) On January 25, 2021, the Company borrowed $ 2.175 million from a bank lender by executing a 20 -year promissory note with an initial interest rate of 3.99 % per annum. The note is payable $ 13,232 per month for the first five years after which the interest rate will be repriced at the then-current prime rate plus 1.0 % per annum, with a floor rate of 3.99 %. The Company paid approximately $ 25,000 in debt issuance costs at closing. See Note 15. (29) On September 30, 2021, we entered into a $ 99.1 million term loan refinancing $ 85.7 million of existing bank and seller-financed real estate debt and to provide $ 12.3 million in cash that will be used to pay off existing high-interest unsecured debt (“September 2021 Refinancing Note”), enabling those creditors to provide financing for the acquisition of 11 clubs and related real estate (see Note 15). The $ 99.1 million note has a term of 10 years with an initial interest rate of 5.25 % per annum for the first five years , then adjusted to a rate equal to the then weekly average yield of U.S. Treasury Securities plus 350 basis points, with a floor rate of 5.25 %. The note is payable in monthly payments of principal and interest of $ 668,051 , based on a 20 -year amortization period, with the balance paid at maturity. In connection with the transaction, we wrote off to interest expense approximately $ 103,000 of unamortized debt issuance costs related to the paid-off debts. We also paid approximately $ 1.0 million in loan costs, approximately $ 567,000 of which is capitalized and will be amortized together with the remaining unamortized debt issuance costs of some of the existing refinanced debts for the term of the new note using the effective interest method. Future maturities of debt obligations as of September 30, 2021 consist of the following (in thousands): Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt Regular Amortization Balloon Payments Total Payments 2022 $ 6,625 $ - $ 6,625 2023 4,825 3,676 8,501 2024 5,094 - 5,094 2025 5,409 - 5,409 2026 5,745 - 5,745 Thereafter 33,145 62,277 95,422 Total maturities of long-term debt, net of debt discount $ 60,843 $ 65,953 $ 126,796 (30) On October 12, 2021, we closed a debt financing transaction with 28 investors for unsecured promissory notes with a total principal amount of $ 17.0 million, all of which bear interest at a rate of 12 % per annum. Of this amount, $ 9.5 million are promissory notes, payable interest only monthly (or quarterly) in arrears, with a final lump sum payment of principal and accrued and unpaid interest due on October 1, 2024 . The remaining amount of the financing is $ 7.5 million in promissory notes, payable in monthly payments of principal and interest based on a 10 -year amortization period, with the balance of the entire principal amount together with all accrued and unpaid interest due and payable in full on October 12, 2024 . Included in the $ 17.0 million borrowing are two notes for $ 500,000 and $ 150,000 borrowed from related parties (see Note 18) and two notes for $ 500,000 and $ 300,000 borrowed from two non-officer employees in which the terms of the notes are the same as the rest of the lender group. (31) On October 18, 2021, in relation to an acquisition (see Note 15), the Company executed four seller-financed promissory notes. The first promissory note was a 10 -year $ 11.0 million 6 % note payable in 120 equal monthly payments of $ 122,123 in principal and interest. The second promissory note was a 20 -year $ 8.0 million 6 % note payable in 240 equal monthly payments of $ 57,314 in principal and interest. The third promissory note was a 10 -year $ 1.2 million 5.25 % note payable in monthly payments of $ 8,086 in principal and interest based on a 20 -year amortization period, with the balance payable at maturity date. The fourth note was a 20 -year $ 1.0 million 6 % note payable in 240 equal monthly payments of $ 7,215 in principal and interest. (32) On November 8, 2021, in relation to an acquisition (see Note 15), the Company executed a $ 1.0 million 7 -year promissory note with an interest rate of 4.0 % per annum. The note is payable $ 13,669 per month, including principal and interest. 10. Income Taxes Income tax expense (benefit) consisted of the following (in thousands): Schedule of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) 2021 2020 2019 Years Ended September 30, 2021 2020 2019 Current Federal $ 4,598 $ 215 $ 1,886 State and local 644 560 1,037 Total current income tax expense 5,242 775 2,923 Deferred Federal ( 161 ) ( 1,248 ) 913 State and local ( 1,092 ) ( 20 ) ( 92 ) Total deferred income tax expense (benefit) ( 1,253 ) ( 1,268 ) 821 Total income tax expense (benefit) $ 3,989 $ ( 493 ) $ 3,744 The Company and its subsidiaries do not operate in tax jurisdictions outside of the United States. 68 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 10. Income Taxes - continued 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): Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) 2021 2020 2019 Years Ended September 30, 2021 2020 2019 Federal statutory income tax expense (benefit) $ 7,169 $ ( 1,429 ) $ 5,080 State income taxes, net of federal benefit 716 253 672 Permanent differences ( 434 ) 395 45 Change in state tax rate ( 804 ) - - Change in valuation allowance ( 632 ) 1,273 - Tax credits ( 1,207 ) ( 945 ) ( 900 ) Other ( 819 ) ( 40 ) ( 1,153 ) Total income tax expense (benefit) $ 3,989 $ ( 493 ) $ 3,744 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): Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities 2021 2020 September 30, 2021 2020 Deferred tax assets: Patron tax $ - $ 349 Capital loss carryforwards 899 1,263 Net operating loss carryforwards 664 - Other 247 2,046 Valuation allowance ( 641 ) ( 1,273 ) Net deferred tax assets 1,169 2,385 Deferred tax liabilities: Intangibles ( 12,174 ) ( 14,106 ) Property and equipment ( 8,132 ) ( 8,669 ) Deferred tax liabilities ( 20,306 ) ( 22,775 ) Net deferred tax liability $ ( 19,137 ) $ ( 20,390 ) Included in the Company’s deferred tax liabilities at September 30, 2021 and 2020 is the tax effect of indefinite-lived intangible assets from club acquisitions amounting to approximately $ 17.1 million and $ 14.9 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 2019, the Company released the remaining amount accrued when the examination was closed. 69 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 10. Income Taxes - continued The following table shows the changes in the Company’s uncertain tax positions (in thousands): Schedule of Uncertain Tax Positions Years Ended September 30, 2021 2020 2019 Balance at beginning of year $ - $ - $ 165 Additions for tax positions of prior years - - - Decrease related to settlements with taxing authorities - - - Reduction due to lapse from closed examination - - ( 165 ) Balance at end of year $ - $ - $ - 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 (“IRS”) with no changes. The Company ordinarily goes through various federal and state reviews and examinations for various tax matters. 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, former 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 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. During fiscal 2021, we received 11 Notices of PPP Forgiveness Payment from the Small Business Administration out of the 12 of our PPP loans granted. All of the notices received forgave 100% of each of the 11 PPP loans totaling the amount of $5.3 million in principal and interest and were included in non-operating gains (losses), net in our consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. In November 2021, we received a partial forgiveness of the remaining $ 124,000 PPP loan for $ 85,000 in principal and interest. The remaining unforgiven portion of approximately $ 41,000 in principal will be repaid as debt plus accrued interest. See Note 3. 11. Commitments and Contingencies Leases See Note 19. 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 approximately $ 813,000 and $ 2.2 million as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, 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. 70 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, 2021, we had 2 remaining unresolved claims out of the original 71 claims. One of the two remaining claims was settled in November 2021. 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 (who is no longer an officer of the Company)); 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 former directors Nourdean Anakar and 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. On March 31, 2021, the court denied defendants’ motion to dismiss the lawsuit. On April 14, 2021, defendants filed their answer and affirmative defenses, denying liability as to all claims. On June 14, 2021, a scheduling order was entered in the case, setting January 9, 2023 as the trial date. 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 (who is no longer a director), Yura Barabash, Luke Lirot, Travis Reese, former director Steven Jenkins, and RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., as nominal defendant. The action, styled Cecere v. Langan, et al. , 4:19-cv-03080, alleged 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 asserted 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 sought injunctive relief, damages, restitution, costs, and attorneys’ fees. On June 1, 2021, the Company and the individual defendants moved to dismiss the lawsuit based on the plaintiff’s failure to make a pre-suit demand prior to filing of the derivative action, as is required under Texas law. In response, the plaintiff filed a motion to voluntarily dismiss his claims. On June 21, 2021, the court granted that motion and entered an order dismissing this lawsuit in its entirety, without prejudice. 71 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Legal Matters – continued 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 was sued by a commercial landlord in the 333rd Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas for a Houston Bombshells which was under renovation in 2015. The Plaintiff alleged 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 failed to provide Plaintiff with proposed plans before beginning construction. Plaintiff asserted RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. was also liable as the 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. denied liability and asserted that Plaintiff failed to mitigate its claimed damages. Further, BMB Dining Services (Willowbrook), Inc. asserted that Plaintiff affirmatively represented that construction of the patio was permitted under the lease and accordingly, pursued counter claims against Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s manager for breach of the parties’ agreement. The case was tried to a jury in late September 2018 and an adverse judgment was entered in January 2019 in an amount totaling more than $ 1.15 million, including damages, costs, attorney fees, and interest. The matter was appealed to the Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas. The appeal process required that funds be deposited in the registry of the court in the amount of $ 690,000 , which was deposited in April 2019 and is included in other current assets in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2020. On June 3, 2021, the Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court’s judgment in the case. A motion to reconsider this decision was denied. This matter was subsequently settled for $ 1.0 million in exchange for a full and complete release of all claims. The settlement funds are comprised of the funds on deposit in the court registry, which total $ 705,876 with interest, and a wire transfer of the remaining $ 294,124 . This settlement will fully resolve this matter. 72 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Legal Matters – continued 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. 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, 2021, 2020, and 2019 total $ 1.3 million, $ 174,000 , and $ 225,000 , respectively. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company has accrued $ 378,000 and $ 100,000 in accrued liabilities, respectively, related to settlement of lawsuits. 73 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 12. Common Stock 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. During the year ended September 30, 2021, the following common stock transactions occurred: ● The Company acquired 74,659 shares of its own common stock at a cost of $ 1.8 million. These shares were subsequently retired. ● The Company paid quarterly dividends of $ 0.04 per share for an aggregate amount of $ 1.4 million. On October 18, 2021, we partially paid for an acquisition using 500,000 shares of our common stock. See Note 15. 13. 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 $ 209,000 , $ 171,000 , and $ 164,000 for the years ended September 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. 14. 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): Schedule of Business Insurance Recoveries For the Year Ended September 30, Included in 2021 2020 2019 Consolidated balance sheets (period end) Insurance receivable Account receivable, net $ 186 $ 191 $ 1,197 Consolidated statements of operations – loss (gain) Business interruption Other charges, net $ - $ ( 176 ) $ ( 484 ) Property Other charges, net $ ( 1,337 ) $ 596 $ ( 284 ) Consolidated statements of cash flows Proceeds from business interruption insurance claims Operating activity $ 106 $ 384 $ 100 Proceeds from property insurance claims Investing activity $ 1,152 $ 945 $ 100 The net property insurance gain/loss amount in fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019 was net of assets written off and expenses amounting to $ 88,000 , $ 728,000 , and $ 629,000 , respectively. 74 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 15. Acquisitions and Dispositions 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. The following information summarizes the allocation of fair values assigned to the assets at acquisition date (in thousands): Schedule of Allocation of Fair Values Assigned to Assets at Acquisition Land and building $ 4,325 Inventory 57 Furniture and equipment 50 Noncompete 100 SOB license 5,252 Goodwill 2,003 Deferred tax liability ( 1,287 ) Net assets $ 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): Schedule of Allocation of Fair Values Assigned to Assets at Acquisition Land and building $ 5,000 Inventory 23 Furniture and equipment 200 Noncompete 100 Goodwill 9,677 Net assets $ 15,000 2019 Dispositions 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. 75 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 15. Acquisitions and Dispositions - continued 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 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. 2021 Acquisitions On December 28, 2020, the Company acquired the real estate and other business assets of a club in Centerville, Illinois for $ 500,000 in cash. The Company is leasing out this property to a club operator for $ 48,000 annually. On January 26, 2021, the Company acquired land for a future Bombshells location in Arlington, Texas for $ 2.9 million. The Company paid approximately $ 754,000 in cash including closing costs and financed $ 2.175 million with a bank lender for a 20 -year promissory note with an initial interest rate of 3.99 % per annum. See Note 9. On March 10, 2021, the Company acquired approximately 57,000 -square foot of land across the street from our corporate office for $ 475,000 in cash. The Company plans to build a warehouse on that land in the coming months. On March 22, 2021, the Company acquired land adjacent to a Bombshells location in Houston, Texas for $ 1.04 million in cash. On April 7, 2021, the Company acquired land near our Bombshells location in Pearland, Texas for $ 1.275 million in cash. 2021 Dispositions On May 7, 2021, the Company sold one of the properties held for sale for $ 3.1 million. The property had a carrying value of $ 2.3 million. We recorded a net gain of approximately $ 657,000 after closing costs and we paid related debt amounting to $ 2.0 million from the proceeds of the sale. See Note 7. On September 21, 2021, the Company sold land where a club used to be operated for $ 2.25 million with a net gain of approximately $ 54,000 after closing costs. We paid $ 1.2 million of related debt with the proceeds of the sale. 76 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 15. Acquisitions and Dispositions - continued 2022 Acquisitions On October 18, 2021, we and certain of our subsidiaries completed our acquisition of eleven gentlemen’s clubs, six related real estate properties, and associated intellectual property for a total agreed acquisition price of $ 88.0 million (with a total consideration preliminary fair value of $ 88.4 million based on the Company’s stock price at acquisition date and discounted due to the lock-up period). The acquisition gives the Company presence in six additional states. We paid for the acquisition with $ 36.8 million in cash, $ 21.2 million in four seller-financed notes (see Note 9), and 500,000 shares of our common stock. We have not completed our valuation of the assets acquired, therefore, we do not have an allocation of the acquisition price at this time. In connection with the acquisition, we incurred acquisition-related expenses of approximately $ 347,000 , of which $ 174,000 was expensed in fiscal 2021 and $ 173,000 will be expensed in fiscal 2022, and in both periods included in selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statement of operations. The following table presents the unaudited pro forma combined results of operations of the Company and the eleven acquired clubs and related assets as though the acquisition occurred at the beginning of fiscal 2021 (in thousands, except per share amount): Schedule of Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Results of Operations For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2021 Pro forma revenues $ 217,996 Pro forma net income attributable to RCIHH common stockholders $ 25,290 Pro forma earnings per share - basic and diluted $ 2.66 Pro forma weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted 9,500 The above unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that would have been achieved if the acquisition had taken place at the beginning of fiscal 2021. The unaudited pro forma financial information reflects material, nonrecurring adjustments directly attributable to the acquisition including acquisition-related expenses, interest expense, and any related tax effects. Since we do not have a valuation of the assets that we acquired yet, the unaudited pro forma financial information does not have adjustments related to changes in recognized expenses caused by the fair value of assets acquired, such as depreciation and amortization and related tax effects. Pro forma net income and pro forma earnings per share include acquisition-related expenses that will be recorded in fiscal 2022 amounting to $ 173,000 and interest expense of $ 3.3 million related to the 28 private lender group notes and 4 seller-financed notes in the acquisition. Pro forma weighted average number of common shares outstanding includes the impact of 500,000 shares of our common stock issued as partial consideration for the acquisition. On November 8, 2021, the Company acquired a club and related real estate in Newburgh, New York for a total purchase price of $ 3.5 million, by which $ 2.5 million was paid in cash at closing and $ 1.0 million through a seller-financed 7 -year promissory note with an interest rate of 4.0 % per annum. The note is payable $ 13,669 per month, including principal and interest. See Note 9. Since this acquisition is not material, we are not providing supplemental pro forma disclosures. 77 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 16. Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited) The following tables summarize unaudited quarterly data for fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019 (in thousands, except per share data): Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2020 March 31, 2021 June 30, 2021 September 30, 2021 Revenues (1) $ 38,398 $ 44,059 $ 57,860 $ 54,941 Income from operations (1) $ 6,583 $ 9,841 $ 18,507 $ 3,617 Net income attributable to RCIHH stockholders (1) $ 9,643 $ 6,091 $ 12,302 $ 2,300 Earnings per share (1) Basic and diluted $ 1.07 $ 0.68 $ 1.37 $ 0.26 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding Basic and diluted 9,019 9,000 9,000 9,000 For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2019 March 31, 2020 June 30, 2020 September 30, 2020 Revenues (2) $ 48,394 $ 40,426 $ 14,721 $ 28,786 Income (loss) from operations (2) $ 9,686 $ ( 2,475 ) $ ( 4,657 ) $ 192 Net income (loss) attributable to RCIHH stockholders (2) $ 5,634 $ ( 3,452 ) $ ( 5,474 ) $ ( 2,793 ) Earnings (loss) per share (2) Basic and diluted $ 0.60 $ ( 0.37 ) $ ( 0.60 ) $ ( 0.31 ) Weighted average number of common shares outstanding Basic and diluted 9,322 9,225 9,125 9,124 For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2018 March 31, 2019 June 30, 2019 September 30, 2019 Revenues $ 44,023 $ 44,826 $ 47,027 $ 45,183 Income from operations (3) $ 11,132 $ 11,166 $ 9,974 $ 2,429 Net income attributable to RCIHH stockholders (3) $ 7,463 $ 6,735 $ 5,638 $ 458 Earnings per share (3) Basic and diluted $ 0.77 $ 0.70 $ 0.59 $ 0.05 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding Basic and diluted 9,713 9,679 9,620 9,616 78 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (1) Fiscal year 2021 revenues were significantly higher compared to prior year, except for the first quarter, which was still affected by the lockdowns and social restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Net income attributable to RCIHH stockholders and earnings per share were heavily impacted by the gain on debt extinguishment ($ 4.9 million in the first quarter and $ 380,000 in the second quarter), asset impairments totaling $ 13.6 million ($ 1.4 million in the second quarter, $ 271,000 in the third quarter, and $ 11.9 million in the fourth quarter), and gain on insurance totaling $ 1.3 million ($ 197,000 in the first quarter, $ 12,000 in the second quarter, and $ 1.0 million in the fourth quarter). Quarterly effective income tax expense (benefit) rate was ( 4.2 )% , 24.3 % , 24.4 % , and ( 210.4 )% from first to fourth quarter, respectively, including the impact of the release of a $ 462,000 deferred tax asset valuation allowance in the fourth quarter. (2) 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. (3) 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. 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. 79 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 17. 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. Below is the financial information related to the Company’s reportable segments (in thousands): Schedule of Segment Reporting Information 2021 2020 2019 Revenues (from external customers) Nightclubs $ 137,348 $ 88,373 $ 148,606 Bombshells 56,621 43,215 30,828 Other 1,289 739 1,625 $ 195,258 $ 132,327 $ 181,059 Income (loss) from operations Nightclubs $ 43,815 $ 13,056 $ 50,724 Bombshells 13,264 9,237 2,307 Other 35 ( 614 ) ( 309 ) General corporate ( 18,566 ) ( 18,933 ) ( 18,021 ) $ 38,548 $ 2,746 $ 34,701 Capital expenditures Nightclubs $ 6,890 $ 3,477 $ 6,645 Bombshells 5,895 2,114 10,457 Other 157 - 27 General corporate 569 145 3,579 $ 13,511 $ 5,736 $ 20,708 Depreciation and amortization Nightclubs $ 5,494 $ 5,799 $ 6,401 Bombshells 1,824 1,785 1,374 Other 87 415 416 General corporate 833 837 881 $ 8,238 $ 8,836 $ 9,072 September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 September 30, 2019 Total assets Nightclubs $ 280,561 $ 277,960 $ 274,071 Bombshells 52,073 48,991 44,144 Other 1,573 1,269 1,773 General corporate 30,412 32,713 34,768 $ 364,619 $ 360,933 $ 354,756 Excluded from revenues in the table above are intercompany rental revenues of the Nightclubs segment amounting to $ 11.5 million, $ 11.1 million, and $ 10.0 million for 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, and intercompany sales of Robust Energy Drink of Other segment amounting to $ 141,000 , $ 70,000 , and $ 140,000 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. 80 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 18. 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, 2021 and 2020 was $ 99.7 million and $ 83.8 million, respectively. Included in the $ 2.35 million borrowing on November 1, 2018 (see Note 9) were notes borrowed from related parties—one note for $ 500,000 (Ed Anakar, an employee of the Company and brother of our former director Nourdean Anakar) and another note for $ 100,000 (from a 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. These notes were paid off in relation to the September 2021 Refinancing Note (see Note 9). Included in the $ 17.0 million borrowing on October 12, 2021 (see Note 9) are notes borrowed from related parties—one note for $ 500,000 (Ed Anakar, see above) and another note for $ 150,000 (from a brother of Company CFO, Bradley Chhay, see above) in which the terms of the notes are the same as the rest of the lender group. We used the services of Nottingham Creations, and previously Sherwood Forest Creations, LLC, both furniture fabrication companies that manufacture tables, chairs and other furnishings for our Bombshells locations, as well as providing ongoing maintenance. Nottingham Creations is owned by a brother of Eric Langan (as was Sherwood Forest). Amounts billed to us for goods and services provided by Nottingham Creations and Sherwood Forest were approximately $ 118,000 in fiscal 2021, $ 59,000 in fiscal 2020, and $ 134,000 in fiscal 2019. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, we owed Nottingham Creations and Sherwood Forest $ 12,205 and $ 0 , 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 2021, 2020, and 2019. A son-in-law of Eric Langan owns a 50% interest in TW Mechanical. Amounts billed by TW Mechanical to the third-party general contractor were approximately $ 0 , $ 19,000 , and $ 452,000 for the fiscal years 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Amounts billed directly to the Company were approximately $ 425,000 , $ 62,000 , and $ 47,000 for the fiscal years 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company owed TW Mechanical approximately $ 7,500 and $ 5,700 , respectively, in unpaid direct billings. 19. Leases ASC 840 (Related to Fiscal 2019) 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. 81 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Included in lease expense in our consolidated statements of operations (see Note 5) 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 and $ 78,000 for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, 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 for the year ended September 30, 2019. ASC 842 (Related to Fiscal 2021 and 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. Future maturities of ASC 842 lease liabilities as of September 30, 2021 are as follows (in thousands): Schedule of Future Maturities of Lease Liabilities Principal Payments Interest Payments Total Payments October 2021 - September 2022 $ 1,780 $ 1,516 $ 3,296 October 2022 - September 2023 1,764 1,409 3,173 October 2023 - September 2024 1,877 1,300 3,177 October 2024 - September 2025 2,062 1,183 3,245 October 2025 - September 2026 2,251 1,053 3,304 Thereafter 16,196 4,375 20,571 $ 25,930 $ 10,836 $ 36,766 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, 2021 and 2020 as follows (in thousands): Schedule of Lease Expense Year Ended September 30, 2021 Year Ended September 30, 2020 Operating lease expense – fixed payments $ 3,325 $ 3,244 Variable lease expense 349 381 Short-term equipment and other lease expense (includes $ 298 and $ 315 recorded in advertising and marketing for fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $ 397 and $ 372 recorded in repairs and maintenance, respectively; see Note 5) 955 1,122 Sublease income ( 6 ) ( 9 ) Total lease expense, net $ 4,623 $ 4,738 Other information: Operating cash outflows from operating leases $ 4,522 $ 4,562 Weighted average remaining lease term 12 years 13 years Weighted average discount rate 6.0 % 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. We recorded impairment charges of operating lease right-of-use assets amounting to $ 0 , $ 104,000 , and $ 0 during fiscal years 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. 82 RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Amounts in Thousands) Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Balance at beginning of year Charged to costs and expenses (1) Deductions (2) Balance at end of year Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable Fiscal 2019 $ - $ 241 $ ( 140 ) $ 101 Fiscal 2020 $ 101 $ 347 $ ( 187 ) $ 261 Fiscal 2021 $ 261 $ 215 $ ( 94 ) $ 382 Allowance for doubtful notes receivable Fiscal 2019 $ - $ - $ - $ - Fiscal 2020 $ - $ 602 $ ( 420 ) $ 182 Fiscal 2021 $ 182 $ ( 80 ) $ - $ 102 Deferred tax asset valuation allowance (3) Fiscal 2019 $ - $ - $ - $ - Fiscal 2020 $ - $ 1,273 $ - $ 1,273 Fiscal 2021 $ 1,273 $ - $ (632 ) $ 641 (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. 83 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, 2021. 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, 2021. 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, 2021, 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 estimates relating to the impairment of goodwill, indefinite-lived intangibles and long-lived assets, specifically over the precision of management’s review of certain assumptions. 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, 2021. 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, 2021 in the audit report that appears at the end of Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 84 Remediation Plan for Existing Material Weakness Management is committed to the remediation of the material weakness described above. As such, controls will be added to both increase the precision of the review of all assumptions used in the impairment valuation model, as well as to conduct senior management reviews of any and all material estimates that are applied in these instances. 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, 2020, we identified a material weakness in internal control related to management’s review of the income tax provision. Remediation Efforts to Address Material Weakness In response to the previously reported material weakness, management has made the following changes: ● developed enhanced review procedures that are performed by senior management over the income tax provision; and ● retained the services of a new third-party income tax consultant to assist in the preparation and review of the income tax provision. During the fourth quarter of 2021, we completed our testing of the operating effectiveness of the implemented controls. The Company has completed the documentation and testing of the corrective actions described above and has concluded that the remediation activities implemented are sufficient to conclude that the previously disclosed material weakness on management’s review of the income tax provision has been remediated as of September 30, 2021. 85 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 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Item 9B. Other Information. None 86 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, 2021, 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, 2021, 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 Company’s estimates relating to the impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets and long-lived assets, specifically related to the precision of management’s review of the assumptions used in the impairment analysis. This material weakness was considered in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the 2021 consolidated financial statements, and this report does not affect our report dated December 14, 2021, 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, 2021, 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, 2021 87 PART III Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 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 14, 2021: Name Age Position Eric S. Langan 53 Director, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President Bradley Chhay 38 Chief Financial Officer Travis Reese 52 Director and Executive Vice President Luke Lirot 65 Director Yura Barabash 47 Director Elain J. Martin 65 Director Arthur Allan Priaulx 81 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, the Company, Mr. Langan and Phil Marshall (our former chief financial officer) 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. The SEC’s order as to the Company, Mr. Langan and Mr. 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 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. 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. 88 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. Yura Barabash became a director on September 19, 2017. Mr. Barabash has been a Vice President of Business Development at AVI-SPL, a global market leader in audio visual and unified communications based in Florida since October 2021. 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 August 2019 to January 2021, Mr. Barabash was a Chief Operating Officer of Gingko Online Learning LLC, private online learning company in Florida and a consultant to Chengdu Gingko Education Management, educational management company in Chengdu, China. 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. 89 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. 90 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, 2021, 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, 2021. 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. 91 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 2021, 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 may grant 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. 92 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, 2021, approximately 94.7% of the shareholders who voted (including abstentions) 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. 93 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, 2021, 2020, and 2019 of our named executive officers. All Other Name and Salary Bonus Compensation (1) Total Principal Position Year ($) ($) ($) ($) Eric S. Langan 2021 1,436,539 - 108,679 1,545,218 President and Chief Executive Officer 2020 1,073,077 - 95,975 1,169,052 2019 1,200,000 - 81,355 1,281,355 Bradley Chhay 2021 431,442 7,500 66,055 504,997 Chief Financial Officer 2020 269,231 25,000 50,333 344,564 Travis Reese 2021 437,827 - 65,537 503,364 Executive Vice President 2020 348,750 - 66,418 415,168 2019 390,000 - 76,622 466,622 (1) All Other Compensation consists of SIMPLE IRA matching contributions, automobile expenses, personal use of aircraft, and housing and living expenses. We account for personal use of aircraft to be the aggregate incremental cost of personal use of the company aircraft as calculated based on a cost-per-flight-hour charge developed by a nationally recognized and independent service. The charge reflects the direct cost of operating the aircraft, including fuel, additives, lubricants, maintenance labor, airframe parts, engine restoration, and major periodic maintenance. We added actual airport/hangar fees charged to the company on a per-flight basis. The charge does not include fixed costs that do not change based on usage, such as aircraft depreciation, home hangar expenses, and general taxes and insurance. We value automobile expenses based on the annual depreciation rate of automobiles assigned for use by the particular officer (until fiscal 2019), plus cost of insurance, registration, repairs, maintenance, tolls, fuel, and starting fiscal 2020, tax reimbursement on automobile fringe benefits. A table of All Other Compensation for fiscal 2021 for our named executive officers is presented below: SIMPLE IRA Matching Contribution Automobile Expenses Personal Use of Aircraft Tax Reimbursement Total All Other Compensation Name ($) ($) ($) ($) ($) Eric S. Langan 18,403 21,477 58,744 10,055 108,679 Bradley Chhay 13,402 33,876 10,974 7,803 66,055 Travis Reese 17,550 21,337 18,238 8,412 65,537 94 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, 2021. 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, 2021, a sizable number of employees have been rehired due to the recovery from the pandemic. We recalculated and identified a new median employee using the same methodology as mentioned above. The compensation for our CEO in fiscal 2021 of $1,545,218 was approximately 50 times the compensation of our fiscal 2021 median employee of $31,039. GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS There were no grants of plan-based awards for fiscal 2021. Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End There were no outstanding equity awards as of September 30, 2021. OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED IN FISCAL YEAR 2021 There were no stock options exercised nor stock that vested during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. As of September 30, 2020, the Company’s 2010 Stock Option Plan contractually expired. 95 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, 2021, and we paid our independent directors $30,000 in cash for the fiscal year. Following is a schedule of all compensation paid to our directors in the year ended September 30, 2021: Fees earned or paid in cash Name ($) Nourdean Anakar* 30,000 Luke C. Lirot 30,000 Yura Barabash 30,000 Elaine Martin 30,000 Arthur Allan Priaulx 30,000 Eric S. Langan - Travis Reese - * Mr. Anakar did not stand for reelection during the September 2021 annual meeting of stockholders. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS On July 1, 2021, we entered into new two-year employment agreements with each of our executive officers, including Eric Langan, our Chief Executive Officer and President; Bradley Chhay, our Chief Financial Officer; and Travis Reese, our Executive Vice President and Secretary. Under their respective new agreements, Mr. Langan’s annual salary is $1,700,000; Mr. Chhay’s annual salary is $425,000; and Mr. Reese’s annual salary is $420,000. Each of the agreements has a term that commenced on July 1, 2021 and ends on June 30, 2023. Each of the agreements also provides for bonus eligibility, expense reimbursement, health benefits, participation in our benefit plans, use of a company-owned automobile, access to company-owned aircraft (subject to the terms and conditions of our corporate aircraft policy), and two weeks paid vacation annually. Under the terms of the agreements, each executive is bound to a confidentiality provision and cannot compete with us for a period upon termination of the agreement. 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. There are presently no outstanding employee stock options. 96 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. 97 Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters. The following table sets forth certain information at December 10, 2021, 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 9,499,910 shares of common stock outstanding at December 10, 2021. Generally, in computing the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we deem 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 10, 2021 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 10, 2021; we do not deem these shares outstanding, however, for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Presently, there are no outstanding securities that are exercisable or convertible into shares of common stock. Beneficial ownership representing less than 1% is denoted with an asterisk (*). Name/Address Number of shares Title of class Percent of Class (1) Executive Officers and Directors Eric S. Langan 701,870 (2) Common stock 7.39 % Bradley Chhay 4,020 (3)(4) Common stock * Yura Barabash 504 Common stock * Travis Reese 14,141 (5) Common stock * Luke Lirot 518 Common stock * Elaine Martin 7,221 Common stock * Arthur Allan Priaulx 2,000 Common stock * All of our Directors and Officers as a Group of seven persons 726,534 Common stock 7.65 % Other > 5% Security Holders BlackRock, Inc. (6) 578,760 Common stock 6.09 % ADW Capital Partners, L.P. (7) 899,900 Common stock 9.47 % Greenhaven Road Investment Management, L.P. (8) 580,531 Common stock 6.11 % Troy Lowrie (9) 500,000 Common stock 5.26 % (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) Number of shares is rounded to the nearest whole number. The actual amount is 4,020.317 shares. (4) 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 4.1% of the investment club. (5) 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 1.8% of the investment club. (6) Based on the most recently available Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 1, 2021 by BlackRock Inc. BlackRock beneficially owned 578,760 shares, with sole voting power over 571,090 shares and sole dispositive power over 578,760 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 January 8, 2021 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 899,900 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 February 16, 2021 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. (9) Based on the most recently available Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on November 17, 2021 by Troy Lowrie. Mr. Lowrie is the controlling person of Family Dog, LLC and Club Licensing, LLC, which are the record and direct beneficial owners of 300,000 shares and 200,000 shares, respectively, with each such entity having sole voting power and sole dispositive power over all its respective shares. The address of Mr. Lowrie is 735 S Xenon Ct, Ste 101, Lakewood, CO 80228. 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. 98 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. Two adult children of Mr. Langan are also employed by the Company in corporate shared services. 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. Ed Anakar is the brother of Nourdean Anakar, a former director of the Company. Allen Chhay is the brother of Bradley Chhay, our CFO, and is not employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Their promissory notes bore interest at the rate of 12% per annum and were to mature in November 2021. The notes were payable in monthly installments of interest only with a balloon payment of all unpaid principal and interest due at maturity. Both notes were paid off in relation to the September 2021 Refinancing Note. See Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements. In October 2021, we borrowed $500,000 from Ed Anakar and $150,000 from Allen Chhay as part of a larger group of private lenders (see Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements). Their promissory notes bear interest at the rate of 12% per annum and mature in October 2024. The notes are payable in monthly installments of interest only with a balloon payment of all unpaid principal and interest due at maturity. The terms of the notes are the same as the rest of the lender group We paid Ed Anakar, our director of operations – club division, employment compensation of $655,289, $502,404, and $550,000 during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. We used the services of Nottingham Creations, and previously Sherwood Forest Creations, LLC, both furniture fabrication companies that manufacture tables, chairs and other furnishings for our Bombshells locations, as well as providing ongoing maintenance. Nottingham Creations is owned by a brother of Eric Langan (as was Sherwood Forest). Amounts billed to us for goods and services provided by Nottingham Creations and Sherwood Forest were approximately $118,000 in fiscal 2021, $59,000 in fiscal 2020, and $134,000 in fiscal 2019. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, we owed Nottingham Creations and Sherwood Forest $12,205 and $0, 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 2021, 2020, and 2019. A son-in-law of Eric Langan owns a 50% interest in TW Mechanical. Amounts billed by TW Mechanical to the third-party general contractor were approximately $0, $19,000, and $452,000 for the fiscal years 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Amounts billed directly to the Company were approximately $425,000, $62,000, and $47,000 for the fiscal years 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company owed TW Mechanical approximately $7,500 and $5,700, 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 one other independent director, Luke Lirot, who is not on the Audit Committee. The definition of “independent” used herein is based on the independence standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC. 99 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 2021 and 2020 (in thousands). 2021 2020 Audit fees $ 695 $ 1,945 Audit-related fees 7 - Tax fees - - All other fees - - Total $ 702 $ 1,945 “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. “Audit-related fees” include professional services in relation to a Form S-3 filing. “Tax fees” include 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 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. 100 PART IV Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules. Exhibit No. Description 3.1 Articles of Incorporation dated December 9, 1994. (Incorporated by reference from Form SB-2 filed with the SEC on January 11, 1995.) * 3.2 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.) * 3.3 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.) * 3.4 Amended and Restated Bylaws (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 16, 2016.) * 4.1 Consolidated, Amended and Restated Promissory Note for $99,145,838.22 with Centennial Bank (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 4, 2021) * 4.2 12% Unsecured Promissory Note (form of interest-only version of the note) (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 18, 2021) * 4.3 12% Unsecured Promissory Note (form of amortizing payment schedule version of the note) (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 18, 2021) * 4.4 10-Year Secured Promissory Note for $11,000,000 by Big Sky Hospitality Holdings, Inc. to Family Dog, LLC (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 21, 2021) * 4.5 20-Year Secured Promissory Note for $8,000,000 by Big Sky Hospitality Holdings, Inc. to Family Dog, LLC (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 21, 2021) * 4.6 10-Year Promissory Note for $1,200,000 by RCI Holdings, Inc. to 3480 South Galena, LLC (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 21, 2021) * 4.7 IP Promissory Note for $1,000,000 by Big Sky Hospitality Holdings, Inc. to Club Licensing, LLC (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 21, 2021) * 4.8 The description of our common stock (Incorporated by reference from Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 14, 2020) * 10.1 Employment Agreement with Eric S. Langan. (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 2, 2021) * 10.2 Employment Agreement with Bradley Chhay (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 2, 2021) * 10.3 Employment Agreement with Travis Reese (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 2, 2021) * 10.4 Asset Purchase Agreement with Glenarm Restaurant Concepts, LLC dated July 23, 2021 (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2021) * 10.5 Asset Purchase Agreement with Glendale Restaurant Concepts, LLC dated July 23, 2021 (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2021) * 10.6 Asset Purchase Agreement with Illinois Restaurant Concepts, LLC dated July 23, 2021 (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2021) * 10.7 Asset Purchase Agreement with Indy Restaurant Concepts, LLC dated July 23, 2021 (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2021) * 10.8 Asset Purchase Agreement with MRC, LLC dated July 23, 2021 (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2021) * 10.9 Asset Purchase Agreement with Raleigh Restaurant Concepts, LLC dated July 23, 2021 (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2021) * 10.10 Asset Purchase Agreement with Stout Restaurant Concepts, LLC dated July 23, 2021 (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2021) * 10.11 Asset Purchase Agreement with VCG Restaurants Denver, LLC dated July 23, 2021 (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2021) * 10.12 Asset Purchase Agreement with Market Entertainment, Inc. dated July 23, 2021 (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2021) * 10.13 Asset Purchase Agreement with OG1, LLC dated July 23, 2021 (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2021) * 10.14 Stock Purchase Agreement with HWL-3 LLLP (for the purchase of Kenkev, Inc.) dated July 23, 2021 (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2021) * 10.15 Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement with Real Property Sellers dated July 23, 2021 (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2021) * 10.16 Loan Agreement between RCI Holdings, Inc. and Centennial Bank (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 4, 2021) * 10.17 Absolute Unconditional and Continuing Guaranty of RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 4, 2021) * 10.18 Absolute Unconditional and Continuing Guaranty of Eric S. Langan (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 4, 2021) * 10.19 Intellectual Property Purchase Agreement between Big Sky Hospitality Holdings, Inc. and Club Licensing, LLC (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 21, 2021) * 10.20 Guaranty by RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. in favor of Family Dog (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 21, 2021) * 10.21 Guaranty by RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. in favor of 3480 South Galena LLC (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 21, 2021) * 10.22 Guaranty by RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. in favor of Club Licensing, LLC (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 21, 2021) * 10.23 Lock-Up Agreement between RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. and Family Dog, LLC (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 21, 2021) * 10.24 Lock-Up Agreement by RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. in favor of Club Licensing, LLC (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 21, 2021) * 21.1 Subsidiaries 23.1 Consent of Friedman LLP 101 31.1 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. 31.2 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. 32.1 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 Inline XBRL Instance Document 101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema 101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase 101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definitions Linkbase 101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase 101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) * Incorporated by reference from our previous filings with the SEC. Item 16. Form 10-K Summary. None. 102 SIGNATURES 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, 2021. 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 Director, Chief Executive Officer, and President December 14, 2021 /s/ Bradley Chhay Bradley Chhay Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer December 14, 2021 /s/ Travis Reese Travis Reese Director and Executive Vice President December 14, 2021 /s/ Yura Barabash Yura Barabash Director December 14, 2021 /s/ Luke Lirot Luke Lirot Director December 14, 2021 /s/ Elaine Martin Elaine Martin Director December 14, 2021 /s/ Arthur Allan Priaulx Arthur Allan Priaulx Director December 14, 2021 103