UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

[X] Quarterly Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020

 

[  ] Transition Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the transition period from __________ to __________

 

Commission file number: 000-56145

 

AMERGENT HOSPITALITY GROUP, INC.

 

Delaware   84-4842958
(State or Other Jurisdiction of   (IRS Employer
Incorporation or Organization)   Identification Number)

 

7621 Little Avenue Suite 414    
Charlotte, NC   28226
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(704) 366-5122

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock   AMHG   OTCQB

 

Indicate by check mark whether the issuer (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 has 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 [X] 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 [X] No [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a 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 [X] Smaller reporting company [X]
   
  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 is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [  ] No [X]

 

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s $0.001 par value common stock as of November 23, 2020, was 14,282,736 shares.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page No.
     
Part I Financial Information 4
     
Item 1: Financial Statements 4
     
  Condensed Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2020 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2019 4
  Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Operations (Unaudited) – For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 5
  Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited) - For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 6
  Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) (Unaudited) – For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 7
  Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) – For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 9
  Notes to Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements (Unaudited) 11
Item 2: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 37
Item 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 46
Item 4: Controls and Procedures 46
     
Part II Other Information 47
     
Item 1: Legal Proceedings 47
Item 1A: Risk Factors 47
Item 2: Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 50
Item 3: Defaults Upon Senior Securities 50
Item 4: Mine Safety Disclosures 50
Item 5: Other Information 50
Item 6: Exhibits 50
     
Signatures   51

 

2

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Report”) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are identified by terms and phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” and “will” and similar expressions and include references to assumptions and relate to our future prospects, developments and business strategies. There are a number of important factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by us. These factors include, but are not limited to:

 

  the accuracy of our estimates regarding expenses, capital requirements and need for additional financing;
     
  our ability to operate our business and generate profits. We have not been profitable to date;
     
  decline in global financial markets and economic downturn resulting from the coronavirus COVID-19 global pandemic,
     
  Business interruptions resulting from the coronavirus COVID-19 global pandemic;
     
  Our ability to remediate weaknesses we identified in our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting in a timely enough manner to eliminate the risks posed by such material weaknesses in future periods;
     
  general risk factors affecting the restaurant industry, including current economic climate, costs of labor and food prices;
     
  intensive competition in our industry and competition with national, regional chains and independent restaurant operators;
     
  our rights to operate and franchise the Hooters-branded restaurants are dependent on the Hooters’ franchise agreements;
     
  our ability, and our dependence on the ability of our franchisees, to execute on business plans effectively;
     
  actions of our franchise partners or operating partners which could harm our business;
     
  failure to protect our intellectual property rights, including the brand image of our restaurants;
     
  changes in customer preferences and perceptions;
     
  increases in costs, including food, rent, labor and energy prices;
     
  constraints could affect our ability to maintain competitive cost structure, including, but not limited to labor constraints;
     
  work stoppages at our restaurants or supplier facilities or other interruptions of production;
     
  the risks associated with leasing space subject to long-term non-cancelable leases;
     
  we may not attain our target development goals and aggressive development could cannibalize existing sales;
     
  negative publicity about the ingredients we use, or the potential occurrence of food-borne illnesses or other problems at our restaurants;
     
  breaches of security of confidential consumer information related to our electronic processing of credit and debit card transactions;
     
  we may be unable to reach agreements with various taxing authorities on payment plans to pay off back taxes; and
     
  our debt financing agreements expose us to interest rate risks, contain obligations that may limit the flexibility of our operations, and may limit our ability to raise additional capital.

 

We undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements included in this Report, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this Report. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences are discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included herein.

 

Unless otherwise noted, references in this Report to the “Registrant,” “Company,” “Amergent,” “Spin-Off Entity,” “we,” “our” or “us” means Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation and our subsidiaries..

 

3

 

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

 

  

September 30, 2020

  

December 31, 2019

 
        (Note 1) 
ASSETS          
Current assets:          
Cash  $1,561,309   $500,681 
Restricted cash   1,250,336    336 
Accounts and other receivables   100,773    131,887 
Inventories   219,062    287,111 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   472,348    249,579 
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS   3,603,828    1,169,594 
Property and equipment, net   4,139,625    5,630,490 
Operating lease asset   10,117,900    11,668,026 
Goodwill   8,541,392    8,567,888 
Intangible assets, net   3,135,439    3,656,995 
Investments   875,002    381,397 
Deposits and other assets   294,567    309,462 
Assets of discontinued operations   30,084    149,000 
TOTAL ASSETS  $30,737,837   $31,532,852 
           
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE SHARES, AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT      
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable and accrued expenses  $8,066,683   $8,165,195 
Current maturities of long-term debt and notes payable   1,717,447    6,630,961 
Current operating lease liabilities   1,563,446    3,299,309 
Derivative liabilities   1,195,724     
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES   12,543,300    18,095,465 
           
Redeemable preferred stock Series 1: no par value; 0 and 62,876 shares issued and outstanding, net of discount of $0 and $139,131 at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively       709,695 
Long-term operating lease liabilities   15,115,651    14,382,354 
Deferred revenue   887,802    959,445 
Deferred tax liabilities   102,304    102,304 
Long-term debt and notes payable   1,301,629     
Convertible debt, net of debt discount of $268,418 at September 30, 2020   3,769,472     
Liabilities of discontinued operations   179,625    435,600 
TOTAL LIABILITIES   33,899,783    34,684,863 
           
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 11)          
           
Convertible Preferred Stock: Series 2: $1,000 stated value; authorized 1,500 and no shares; 787 and no shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively   459,608     
           
Stockholders’ Deficit:          
Common stock: $0.0001 par value; authorized 50,000,000 and 45,000,000 shares; 14,282,736 and 10,404,342 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively   1,434    1,041 
Additional paid-in-capital   92,433,338    71,505,989 
Accumulated deficit   (95,208,526)   (75,068,385)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (83,703)   (46,437)
Total Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc., Stockholders’ Deficit   (2,857,457)   (3,607,792)
Non-controlling interests   (764,097)   455,781 
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT   (3,621,554)   (3,152,011)
TOTAL LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE SHARES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT  $30,737,837    31,532,852 

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated and combined financial statements

 

4

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

 

   Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30, 2020   September 30, 2019   September 30, 2020   September 30, 2019 
Revenue:                    
Restaurant sales, net  $4,509,082   $7,087,199   $13,881,380   $22,655,730 
Gaming income, net   107,403    121,453    236,615    347,074 
Franchise income   85,666    117,361    183,864    461,737 
Management fee income               50,000 
Total revenue   4,702,151    7,326,013    14,301,859    23,514,541 
Expenses:                    
Restaurant cost of sales   1,498,922    2,294,045    4,458,983    7,364,409 
Restaurant operating expenses   3,462,279    4,662,917    10,349,516    15,075,733 
Restaurant pre-opening and closing expenses       125,000    20,730    267,888 
General and administrative expenses   1,255,918    1,431,467    3,891,739    4,290,257 
Asset impairment charge   1,231,352    2,637,969    1,505,279    4,007,050 
Depreciation and amortization   277,999    450,098    1,109,608    1,381,411 
Total expenses   7,726,470    11,601,496    21,335,855    32,386,748 
Operating loss   (3,024,319)   (4,275,483)   (7,033,996)   (8,872,207)
Other (expense) income:                    
Interest expense   (177,422)   (170,162)   (499,870)   (542,135)
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities   (6,536,241)       (394,724)    
Change in the fair value of investment   (199,152)       (1,152,185)    
Debt extinguishment expense           (11,808,111)    
Other income (expense)   (37,390)   103,819    (85,399)   (207,555)
Total other expense   (6,950,205)   (66,343)   (13,940,289)   (749,690)
Loss before income taxes   (9,974,524)   (4,341,826)   (20,974,285)   (9,621,897)
Income tax expense   (28,473)   (4,803)   (32,149)   (61,213)
Loss from continuing operations   (10,002,997)   (4,346,629)   (21,006,434)   (9,683,110)
Discontinued operations                    
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax       55,344        67,496 
Consolidated net loss   (10,002,997)   (4,291,285)   (21,006,434)   (9,615,614)
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests   453,296    517,809    413,969    731,014 
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest of discontinued operations       (111,265)       (90,012)
                     
Net loss attributable to Amergent Hospitality Group Inc.   (9,549,701)   (3,884,741)   (20,592,465)   (8,974,612)
Dividends on redeemable preferred stock       (28,219)   (28,219)   (84,019)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders of Amergent Hospitality Group Inc.  $(9,549,701)  $(3,912,960)  $(20,620,684)  $(9,058,631)
                     
Net loss attributable to Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc. per common share, basic and diluted:  $(0.67)  $(0.39)  $(1.53)  $(1.54)
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted   14,282,736    9,939,521    13,516,339    5,892,639 

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated and combined financial statements

 

5

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Comprehensive Loss

(Unaudited)

 

   Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30, 2020   September 30, 2019   September 30, 2020   September 30, 2019 
Net loss attributable to Amergent Hospitality Group  $(9,549,701)  $(3,884,741)  $(20,592,465)  $(8,974,612)
Foreign currency translation gain/(loss)   50,344    (159,759)   (37,266)   (189,754)

Total other comprehensive

income (loss)

   50,344    (159,759)   (37,266)   (189,754)
Comprehensive loss  $(9,499,357)  $(4,044,500)  $(20,629,731)  $(9,164,366)

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated and combined financial statements

 

6

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

(Unaudited)

 

   (Temporary equity)
Preferred Shares 2
   Common Stock  

Additional

Paid-in

  

Common

Stock

   Subscriptions  

Accumulated

Other Comprehensive

   Accumulated   Non- Controlling     
   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Capital   Subscribed   Receivable   Loss   Deficit   Interest   Total 
Balance, December 31, 2019      $    10,404,342   $1,041   $71,505,989   $      $      $(46,437)  $(75,068,385)  $455,781   $(3,152,011)
Preferred unit dividend           37,518    4    19,519                (28,219)       (8,696)
Exercise of warrants           2,414,022    246    1,528,867                (325,366)       1,203,747 
Preferred shares - Series 2:                                                       
Issuance of shares, net of transaction costs of $95,000   1,500    1,405,000                                     
Bifurcation of derivative liability       (529,000)                                    
Beneficial conversion feature       (729,000)           729,000                        729,000 
Preferred stock deemed dividend       729,000            (729,000)                       (729,000)
Conversion of Series 2 preferred to common   (713)   (416,392)   1,426,854    143    416,249                        416,392 
Foreign currency translation                               (81,069)           (81,069)
Non-controlling interest distributions                                            
Net loss                                   (1,921,569)   129,043    (1,792,526)
Balance, March 31, 2020   787    459,608    14,282,736    1,434      73,470,624                               —    (127,506)     (77,343,539)   584,824    (3,414,163)
                                                        
Reclassification of non-controlling interest                                   805,909    (805,909)    
Cash merger consideration, net of transaction costs of $588,255                   5,411,745                        5,411,745 
Contribution of warrant portion of merger consideration                   1,628,909                        1,628,909 
Foreign currency translation                               (6,541)           (6,541)
Net loss                                   (9,121,195)   (89,716)   (9,210,911)
Balance, June 30, 2020   787    459,608    14,282,736    1,434    80,511,278            (134,047)   (85,658,825)   (310,801)   (5,590,961)
                                                        
Warrants issued for extension of the make-whole provision                   28,060                        28,060 
Reclassification of warrants and conversion feature                   11,894,000                        11,894,000 
Foreign currency translation                               50,344            50,344 
Net loss                                   (9,549,701)   (453,296)   (10,002,997)
Balance, September 30, 2020   787   $459,608      14,282,736   $1,434   $92,433,338   $   $   $(83,703)  $(95,208,526)  $(764,097)  $(3,621,554)

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated and combined financial statements

 

7

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

(Unaudited)

 

  

(Temporary equity)

Preferred Shares 2

   Common Stock  

Additional

Paid-in

  

Common

Stock

   Subscriptions  

Accumulated Other

Comprehensive

   Accumulated  

Non-

Controlling

     
   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Capital   Subscribed   Receivable   Loss   Deficit   Interest   Total 
Balance, December 31, 2018      $       —    3,715,444   $373   $  64,756,903   $   $   $(202,115)  $  (57,124,673)  $827,037   $8,257,525 
Common stock and warrants issued for:                                                       
Preferred unit dividend           16,342    1    19,521                (27,795)       (8,273)
Share-based compensation                    100,707                        100,707 
Foreign currency translation                                37,832            37,832 
Non-controlling interest contributions                                        575,000    575,000 
Non-controlling interest distributions                                        (10,804)   (10,804)
Reclassification of minority Interest                    249,104                    (249,104)    
Net loss                                    (1,873,072)   (115,591)   (1,988,663)
Balance, March 31, 2019           3,731,786    374    65,126,235            (164,283)   (59,025,540)   1,026,538    6,963,324 
                                                        
Common stock and warrants issued for:                                                       
Director fees           104,828    10    252,949                        252,959 
Consulting services           36,765    4    117,087                        117,091 
Preferred unit dividend           11,844    1    19,097                (28,005)       (8,907)
Accrued interest on note payable           8,800    1    13,839                        13,840 
Share-based compensation           45,000    5    8,704                        8,709 
Stock issued to settle convertible debt and note payable           3,075,000    308    3,074,692                        3,075,000 
Subscriptions pursuant to rights offering, net                   2,614,623    300    (2,694,530)               (79,607)
Foreign currency translation                               (67,827)           (67,827)
Shareholder payment for short swing                   1,676                        1,676 
Non-controlling interest distributions                                       (16,779)   (16,779)
Reclassification of minority interest                   (18,699)                   18,699     
Net loss                                   (3,216,799)   (118,867)   (3,335,666)
Balance, June 30, 2019           7,014,023    703    71,210,203    300    (2,694,530)   (232,110)   (62,270,344)   909,591    6,923,813 
                                                        
Common stock and warrants issued for:                                                       
Preferred unit dividend           19,387    2    19,006                (28,219)       (9,211)
Subscriptions pursuant to rights offering, net           3,009,733    300    (308)   (300)   2,694,530                2,694,222 
Share-based compensation                   8,709                        8,709 
Foreign currency translation                               (159,759)           (159,759)
Non-controlling interest distributions                                       (33,605)   (33,605)
Reclassification of minority interest                   (15,598)                   15,598     
Net loss                                   (3,884,741)   (406,544)   (4,291,285)
Balance, September 30, 2019      $    10,043,143   $1,005   $71,222,012   $   $   $(391,869)  $(66,183,304)  $485,040   $5,132,884 

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated and combined financial statements

 

8

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

(Unaudited)

 

   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30, 2020   September 30, 2019 
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Net loss from continuing operations  $(21,006,434)  $(9,683,110)
Net income from discontinued operations       67,496 
Net loss   (21,006,434)   (9,615,614)
           
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows from continuing operations          
Depreciation and amortization   1,109,608    1,432,848 
Amortization of operating lease assets   990,305    1,330,137 
Asset impairment charges   1,505,279    4,007,050 
Warrant issued for extension of True-Up Payment   28,060     
Write-off of HOA       435,000 
Common stock and warrants issued for services       24,507 
Stock-based compensation       118,120 
Loss (gain) on investments   1,152,185    (11,142)
Gain on tax settlements       (265,996)
Amortization of debt discount   89,472    26,087 
Loss on extinguishment of redeemable Series 1 Preferred   161,899     
Loss on debt extinguishment   11,808,111     
Loss on derivative liabilities revaluation   394,724     
Change in assets and liabilities          
Accounts and other receivables   149,288    121,228 
Prepaid and other assets   (232,878)   (177,006)
Inventories   58,791    3,034 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   (26,761)   1,616,020 
Change in amounts payable to related parties       (287,256)
Deferred income taxes       43,150 
Operating lease liabilities   (1,002,566)   (1,348,376)
Deferred revenue   (71,644)   (191,018)
Net cash flows from operating activities   (4,892,561)   (2,739,227)
Net cash used in operating activities from discontinued operations       (309,822)
Net cash used in operations   (4,892,561)   (3,049,049)
           
Cash flows from investing activities:          
Purchase of property and equipment   (29,821)   (473,496)
Proceeds from tenant improvement allowances       335,075 
Proceeds from rights offering       2,694,530 
Proceeds from sale of assets       173,977 
Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities   (29,821)   2,730,086 
Net cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations       (2,586)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities   (29,821)   2,727,500 
           
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Proceeds from Series 2 Preferred   1,405,000     
Proceeds from warrant exercises   885,046     
Redemption of Series 1 Preferred   (880,289)    
Loan proceeds   2,989,350    207,146 
Loan repayments   (2,563,346)   (547,036)
Merger consideration, net   5,411,745     
Distributions to non-controlling interests       (61,186)
Contributions from non-controlling interests       575,000 
Net cash flows from financing activities   7,247,506    173,924 
Net cash provided by financing activities from discontinued operations       178,905 
Net cash provided by financing activities   7,724,506    352,829 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash   (14,496)   (13,229)
Effect of exchange rate changes from discontinued operations on cash        10,563 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash including cash classified within assets held for sale        28,614  
Less: net increase in cash and restricted cash classified within assets held for sale        (21,193)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash   2,310,628    7,421 
Cash and restricted cash, beginning of period   501,017    630,206 
Cash and restricted cash, end of period  $2,811,645   $637,627 

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated and combined financial statements

 

9

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

(Unaudited)

 

   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30, 2020   September 30, 2019 
Supplemental cash flow information:          
Cash paid for interest and income taxes          
Interest  $222,173   $515,568 
Income taxes  $   $97,734 
           
Non-cash investing and financing activities          
Convertible debt and notes payable settled through subscriptions in the rights offerings  $   $3,075,000 
Preferred stock dividends paid through issuance of common stock  $19,523   $57,624 
Conversion of Preferred stock - Series 2 to common stock  $416,392   $ 
Accrued interest paid through warrant exercise  $318,700   $ 
Bifurcation of derivative liability from Preferred Stock - Series 2  $529,000   $ 
Warrant portion of merger consideration  $1,628,909   $ 
Equity classification of Oz Rey warrants and conversion feature  $11,894,000   $ 

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated and combined financial statements

 

10

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

1. NATURE OF BUSINESS

 

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc. (“Amergent”) was incorporated on February 18, 2020 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chanticleer Holdings, Inc. (“Chanticleer”) for the purpose of conducting the business of Chanticleer and its subsidiaries after completion of the spin-off of Amergent to the shareholders of Chanticleer. The spin-off transaction was completed on April 1, 2020. Amergent is in the business of owning, operating and franchising fast casual dining concepts domestically and internationally.

 

On March 31, 2020, Chanticleer contributed all its assets and liabilities, including the stock interest in all its subsidiaries (other than Amergent), to Amergent. Based on this being a transaction between entities under common control the carryover basis of accounting was used to record the assets and liabilities contributed to Amergent. Further, as a common control transaction the consolidated and combined financial statements of Amergent reflect the transaction as if the contribution had occurred as of the earliest period presented herein.

 

As such, the accompanying consolidated and combined financial statements include the accounts of Amergent and its subsidiaries along with Chanticleer and its subsidiaries (collectively “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”). All intercompany and inter-entity balances have been eliminated in consolidation and combination.

 

ORGANIZATION, MERGER, SPIN-OFF, REVERSE SPLIT

 

On April 1, 2020, Chanticleer completed its merger transaction with Sonnet BioTherapeutics, Inc. (“Sonnet”), in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 10, 2019, among Chanticleer, Sonnet, Biosub Inc. (“Merger Sub”), and Sonnet Sub, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of February 7, 2020 (as so amended, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which Merger Sub merged with and into Sonnet Sub, with Sonnet Sub surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chanticleer (the “Merger”). On April 1, 2020, in connection with the Merger, Chanticleer changed its name to “Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.”

 

In connection with and prior to the Merger, Chanticleer contributed and transferred to Amergent, a newly-formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of Chanticleer, all of the assets and liabilities relating to Chanticleer’s restaurant business. On March 16, 2020, the board of directors of Chanticleer declared a dividend with respect to the shares of Chanticleer’s common stock outstanding at the close of business on March 26, 2020 of one share of the Amergent common stock held by Chanticleer for each outstanding share of Chanticleer common stock. The dividend, which together with the contribution and transfer of Chanticleer’s restaurant business described above, is referred to as the “Spin-Off.” Prior to the Spin-Off, Amergent engaged in no business or operations.

 

The Spin-Off of Amergent to the stockholders of record on March 26, 2020 occurred prior to the Merger on April 1, 2020 (“Spin-Off Date”). As a result of the Spin-Off, Amergent emerged as successor to the business, operations, assets and liabilities of pre-merger Chanticleer. Additionally, Amergent’s shareholder base and their holdings (on a pro-rata basis) are substantially identical to that of pre-merger Chanticleer.

 

In connection with the Merger on April 1, 2020, Amergent received proceeds from Sonnet of $6,000,000 as well as a warrant to purchase 2% of the outstanding common shares of Sonnet (186,161 shares) for $0.01 per share (“Merger Consideration”). Amergent simultaneously entered into agreements to refinance a note payable and issue warrants to the note holder. See Note 7 for additional information on the note refinancing.

 

11

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

GENERAL

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated and combined financial statements included in this report have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim reporting and include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation. These condensed consolidated and combined financial statements have not been audited. The condensed consolidated and combined balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 has been derived from the audited consolidated and combined financial statements as of December 31, 2019 and for the year then ended included in Amergent’s annual report filed with the SEC on July 2, 2020 in connection with Amergent’s finalized Form 10/A. The results of operations for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year ending December 31, 2020.

 

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in unaudited condensed consolidated and combined financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations for interim reporting. The Company believes that the disclosures contained herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. However, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated and combined financial statements and notes thereto included in Amergent’s Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2019 previously filed with the SEC.

 

LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL RESOURCES AND GOING CONCERN

 

Liquidity, Capital Resources and Going Concern

 

As of September 30, 2020, the Company’s cash balance was $2,811,645, of which $1,250,336 was restricted cash, its working capital deficiency was $8,939,472, and it had significant near-term commitments and contractual obligations. The level of additional cash needed to fund operations and our ability to conduct business for the next 12 months will be influenced primarily by the following factors:

 

  our ability to access the capital and debt markets to satisfy current obligations and operate the business;
  our ability to refinance or otherwise extend maturities of current debt obligations;
  the level of investment in acquisition of new restaurant businesses and entering new markets;
  our ability to manage our operating expenses and maintain gross margins as we grow;
  our ability to actively trade our common stock;
  popularity of and demand for our fast-casual dining concepts; and
  general economic conditions and changes in consumer discretionary income.

 

 

We have typically funded our operating costs, acquisition activities, working capital requirements and capital expenditures with proceeds from the issuances of our common stock and other financing arrangements, including convertible debt, lines of credit, notes payable, capital leases, and other forms of external financing.

 

On February 7, 2020, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement for the sale (the “Bridge Financing”) of up to 1,500 shares of a new series of convertible preferred stock of the Company (the “Series 2 Preferred Stock”) with an institutional investor for gross proceeds to the Company of up to $1,500,000 (the “Preferred Securities Purchase Agreement”). The transaction occurred in two closings, the first of which, for 1,000 shares, occurred in mid-February 2020, and the second of which, for 500 shares, occurred in March 2020. In March 2020, an aggregate of 713 shares of Series 2 Preferred Stock were converted into 1,426,854 shares of common stock. In connection with the Merger, all outstanding shares of the Series 2 Preferred Stock were automatically cancelled and exchanged for substantially similar shares of preferred stock in Amergent.

 

12

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

On March 10, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the novel COVID-19 virus as a global pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak in the United States has resulted in a significant impact throughout the hospitality industry. The Company has been impacted due to restrictions placed by state and local governments that caused temporary restaurant closures or significantly reduced the Company’s ability to operate, restricting the Company’s restaurants to take-out only. It is difficult to estimate the length or severity of this outbreak; however, the Company has made operational changes, as needed, to reduce the impact. However, there can be no certainty regarding the length and severity of the outbreak and such its ultimate financial impact on the Company’s operations.

 

On March 27, 2020, Congress passed “The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” (CARES Act), which included the “Paycheck Protection Program” (PPP) for small businesses. On April 27, 2020, Amergent received a PPP loan in the amount of $2.1 million. Due to the Spin-Off and Merger, Amergent was not publicly traded at the time of the loan application or funding.

 

The note bears interest at 1% per year, matures in April 2022, and requires monthly interest and principal payments of approximately $119,000 beginning in November 2020 and through maturity. The currently issued guidelines of the program allow for the loan proceeds to be forgiven if certain requirements are met. Any loan proceeds not forgiven will be repaid in full.

 

As a result of the Merger on April 1, 2020, Amergent received $6,000,000 in gross proceeds from Sonnet and a warrant to purchase 186,161 shares of Sonnet’s common stock, as well as paid down and refinanced certain debt obligations.

 

Even considering the additional liquidity obtained on April 1, 2020 in connection with the Merger and through the PPP loan proceeds received on April 27, 2020 and EID loans received on August 4, 2020, there can be no assurances that Amergent will not need to seek additional debt or equity funding or that such funding would be available at commercially reasonable terms, if at all.

 

As Amergent executes its business plan over the next 12 months, it intends to carefully monitor its working capital needs and cash balances relative to the availability of cost-effective debt and equity financing. In the event that capital is not available, Amergent may then have to scale back or freeze its growth plans, sell assets on less than favorable terms, reduce expenses, and/or curtail future acquisition plans to manage its liquidity and capital resources.

 

The Company’s current operating losses, combined with its working capital deficit and uncertainties regarding the impact of COVID-19, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated and combined financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

There have been no changes to our significant accounting policies described in the Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on July 2, 2020, in connection with the Company’s Form 10/A, that would have had a significant impact on these unaudited condensed consolidated and combined financial statements and related notes.

 

USE OF ESTIMATES

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates include the valuation of the investments, deferred tax asset valuation allowances, valuing derivatives, options and warrants using the Binomial Lattice and Black-Scholes models, intangible asset valuations and useful lives, depreciation and uncollectible accounts and reserves. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

13

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

REVENUE RECOGNITION

 

The Company generates revenues from the following sources: (i) restaurant sales; (ii) management fee income; (iii) gaming income; and (iv) franchise revenues, consisting of royalties based on a percentage of sales reported by franchise restaurants and initial signing fees.

 

Restaurant Sales, Net

 

The Company records revenue from restaurant sales at the time of sale, net of discounts, coupons, employee meals, and complimentary meals and gift cards. Sales tax and value added tax (“VAT”) collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are presented on a net basis within revenue in our consolidated and combined statements of operations.

 

Management Fee Income

 

The Company received revenue from management fees from certain non-affiliated companies in 2019, including from managing its investment in Hooters of America, which are generally earned and recognized over the performance period. No management fee income has been recognized during the three and nine month period ended September 30, 2020.

 

Gaming Income

 

The Company receives revenue from operating a gaming facility adjacent to its Hooters restaurant in Jantzen Beach, Oregon. Revenue from gaming is recognized as earned from gaming activities, net of payouts to customers, taxes and government fees. These fees are recognized as they are earned based on the terms of the agreements.

 

Franchise Income

 

The Company grants franchises to operators in exchange for initial franchise license fees and continuing royalty payments. The license granted for each restaurant or area is considered a performance obligation. All other obligations (such as providing assistance during the opening of a restaurant) are combined with the license and were determined to be a single performance obligation. Accordingly, the total transaction price (comprised of the restaurant opening and territory fees) is allocated to each restaurant expected to be opened by the licensee under the contract. There are significant judgments regarding the estimated total transaction price, including the number of stores expected to be opened. We recognize the fee allocated to each restaurant as revenue on a straight-line basis over the restaurant’s license term, which generally begins upon the signing of the contract for area development agreements and upon the signing of a store lease for franchise agreements. The payments for these upfront fees are generally received upon contract execution. Continuing fees, which are based upon a percentage of franchisee revenues and are not subject to any constraints, are recognized on the accrual basis as those sales occur. The payments for these continuing fees are generally made on a weekly basis.

 

Deferred Revenue

 

Deferred revenue consists of contract liabilities resulting from initial and renewal franchise license fees paid by franchisees, which are generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the underlying franchise agreement, as well as upfront development fees paid by franchisees, which are generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the underlying franchise agreement once it is executed or if the development agreement is terminated.

 

14

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

RESTAURANT PRE-OPENING AND CLOSING EXPENSES

 

Restaurant pre-opening and closing expenses are non-capital expenditures and are expensed as incurred. Restaurant pre-opening expenses consist of the costs of hiring and training the initial hourly work force for each new restaurant, travel, the cost of food and supplies used in training, grand opening promotional costs, the cost of the initial stocking of operating supplies and other direct costs related to the opening of a restaurant, including rent during the construction and in-restaurant training period. Restaurant closing expenses consists of the costs related to the closing of a restaurant location and include write-off of property and equipment, lease termination costs and other costs directly related to the closure, and have been treated as an asset impairment charge in the income statement. Pre-opening and closing expenses are expensed as incurred.

 

LIQUOR LICENSES

 

The costs of obtaining non-transferable liquor licenses that are directly issued by local government agencies for nominal fees are expensed as incurred. The costs of purchasing transferable liquor licenses through open markets in jurisdictions with a limited number of authorized liquor licenses are capitalized as indefinite-lived intangible assets and included in other assets. Liquor licenses are reviewed for impairment annually or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Annual liquor license renewal fees are expensed over the renewal term.

 

ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

 

The Company monitors its exposure for credit losses on its receivable balances and the credit worthiness of its receivables on an ongoing basis and records related allowances for doubtful accounts. Allowances are estimated based upon specific customer and other balances where a risk of default has been identified, and also include a provision for non-customer specific defaults based upon historical experience. The majority of the Company’s accounts are from customer credit card transactions with minimal historical credit risk. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company has not recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts. If circumstances related to specific customers change, estimates of the recoverability of receivables could also change.

 

INVENTORIES

 

Inventories are recorded at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value, and consist primarily of restaurant food items, supplies, beverages and merchandise.

 

LEASES

 

We determine if a contract contains a lease at inception. Our material operating leases consist of restaurant locations and office space. Our leases generally have remaining terms of 1-20 years and most include options to extend the leases for additional 5-year periods. Generally, the lease term is the minimum of the non-cancelable period of the lease or the lease term inclusive of reasonably certain renewal periods up to a term of 20 years. If the estimate of our reasonably certain lease term was changed, our depreciation and rent expense could differ materially.

 

Operating lease assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date. Operating lease liabilities represent the present value of lease payments not yet paid. Operating lease assets represent our right to use an underlying asset and are based upon the operating lease liabilities adjusted for prepayments or accrued lease payments, initial direct costs, lease incentives, and impairment of operating lease assets. To determine the present value of lease payments not yet paid, we estimate incremental borrowing rates corresponding to the reasonably certain lease term. We estimated this rate based on prevailing financial market conditions, comparable company and credit analysis, and management judgment. If the estimate of our incremental borrowing rate was changed, our operating lease assets and liabilities could differ materially.

 

15

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

The Company measures and records certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis. U.S. GAAP provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority, referred to as Level 1, to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities. The next priority, referred to as Level 2, is given to quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; that is, markets in which there are few transactions for the asset or liability. The lowest priority, referred to as Level 3, is given to unobservable inputs. The table below reflects the level of the inputs used in the Company’s fair value calculations:

 

   Quoted Prices in Active Markets
(Level 1)
  

Significant
Observable Inputs

(Level 2)

  

Significant Unobservable Inputs

(Level 3)

  

Total Fair

Value

 
September 30, 2020                    
Assets (Note 4)                    
Warrants to purchase common stock of Sonnet  $      $476,724   $   $476,724 
Liabilities (Note 10)                    
Make-whole provision of Convertible Preferred Series 2  $   $   $1,195,724   $1,195,724 

 

Inputs used in the Company’s Level 3 calculation of fair value are discussed in Note 10.

 

There were no assets or liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2019.

 

The Company is required to disclose fair value information about financial instruments when it is practicable to estimate that value. The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash, accounts receivable, other receivables, accounts payable, other current liabilities, convertible notes payable and notes payable approximate fair value due to the short-term maturities of these financial instruments and/or because related interest rates offered to the Company approximate current rates.

 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation and amortization, which includes amortization of assets held under capital leases, are recorded generally using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets or, if shorter, the term of the lease for certain assets held under a capital lease. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the expected lease term, or the estimated useful lives of the related assets using the straight-line method. Maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the useful lives of the assets are not considered assets and are charged to expense when incurred.

 

The estimated useful lives used to compute depreciation and amortization are as follows:

 

Leasehold improvements 5-15 years
Restaurant furnishings and equipment 3-10 years
Furniture and fixtures 3-10 years
Office and computer equipment 3-7 years

 

16

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

LONG-LIVED ASSETS

 

Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, operating lease assets, and purchased intangible assets subject to depreciation and amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Some of the events or changes in circumstances that would trigger an impairment test include, but are not limited to:

 

  significant under-performance relative to expected and/or historical results (negative comparable sales growth or operating cash flows for two consecutive years);
  significant negative industry or economic trends;
  knowledge of transactions involving the sale of similar property at amounts below the Company’s carrying value; or
  the Company’s expectation to dispose of long-lived assets before the end of their estimated useful lives, even though the assets do not meet the criteria to be classified as “Held for Sale.”

 

If circumstances require a long-lived asset or asset group be tested for possible impairment, the Company first compares undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by that asset or asset group to its carrying value. If the carrying value of the long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, an impairment is recognized to the extent that the carrying value exceeds its fair value. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third-party independent appraisals, as considered necessary.

 

During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020 the Company determined that triggering events occurred related to the COVID-19 outbreak requiring management to review the Company’s long-lived assets for impairment. Based on the analysis performed, management determined impairment indicators existed related to the Company’s tradename/trademark intangible asset, property and equipment and operating lease assets. See Notes 5,6 and 11.

 

GOODWILL

 

Goodwill, which is not subject to amortization, is evaluated for impairment annually as of the end of the Company’s year-end, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change, such as material deterioration in performance or a significant number of store closures, that would indicate an impairment may exist. Goodwill is tested for impairment at a level of reporting referred to as a reporting unit. Management determined that the Company has one reporting unit.

 

As discussed in Note 1, in March 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus COVID-19 a global pandemic. Due to the continued impact of this pandemic on the Company’s business, management has performed an updated impairment analysis of goodwill as of September 30, 2020.

 

When evaluating goodwill for impairment based on the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company may first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit is impaired. If we do not perform a qualitative assessment, or if we determine that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, we perform a quantitative assessment and calculate the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value, an impairment charge is recorded to reduce the carrying value to the estimated fair value. The Company’s decision to perform a qualitative impairment assessment is influenced by a number of factors, including the significance of the excess of the reporting unit’s estimated fair value over carrying value at the last quantitative assessment date, the amount of time in between quantitative fair value assessments, and the price of our common stock.

 

17

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The Company performed a quantitative assessment and determined that goodwill was not impaired as of September 30, 2020 due to the excess fair value of the reporting unit over its carrying value based on the best judgement of management for the future of the unit and on information known at the time of the assessment. Step one of the impairment test is based upon a comparison of the carrying value of net assets, including goodwill balances, to the fair value of net assets. Fair value is measured using a discounted cash flow model approach. The Company reviewed and adjusted the revenues for the remaining portion of 2020, as well as adjusted the ongoing operating cost structure to reflect management’s best estimate of the performance of the Company for the remaining portion of 2020. Then, the Company reviewed the projected performance of the business into 2021 and beyond. Additionally, the Company evaluated the key input factors in the models used to determine whether a moderate change in any input factor or combination of factors would significantly change the results of the tests. As a result of this impairment test the Company determined that the fair value of the reporting unit over book value was in excess of $8.6 million at September 30, 2020.

 

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

Trade Name/Trademark

 

The fair value of trade name/trademarks are estimated and compared to the carrying value. The Company estimates the fair value of trademarks using the relief-from-royalty method, which requires assumptions related to projected sales from its annual long-range plan; assumed royalty rates that could be payable if the Company did not own the trademarks; and a discount rate. Certain of the Company’s trade name/trademarks have been determined to have a definite-lived life and are being amortized on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives of 10 years. The amortization expense of these definite-lived intangibles is included in depreciation and amortization in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. Certain of the Company’s trade name/trademarks have been classified as indefinite-lived intangible assets and are not amortized, but instead are reviewed for impairment at least annually or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist.

 

As discussed in Note 1, in March 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus COVID-19 a global pandemic. Due to the continued impact of this pandemic on the Company’s business, management has performed an updated impairment analysis of its tradename/trademarks as of September 30, 2020 and determined that the carrying value of the asset was impaired (see Note 6). The determination was based on the best judgment of management for the future of the asset and on information known at the time of the assessment.

 

Franchise Costs

 

Intangible assets are recorded for the initial franchise fees for our Hooter’s restaurants. The Company amortizes these amounts over a 20-year period, which is the life of the franchise agreement. The Company also has intangible assets representing the acquisition date fair value of customer contracts acquired in connection with BGR’s franchise business. The Company also amortizes these amounts over its estimated useful life of the related intangible asset and amortizes the related asset over the weighted average life of the underlying franchise agreements.

 

18

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

INCOME TAXES

 

Deferred income taxes are provided on the liability method whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax basis. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.

 

In connection with the Merger and Spin-Off, Amergent performed an analysis of the existing net operating loss carryforwards of Chanticleer and, based on the rules of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”), has preliminarily determined that Amergent expects to have approximately $20,100,000 of net operating loss carryforwards available to the Company as of April 1, 2020 to offset future taxable income of the Company. Approximately $7,200,000 of the net operating loss carryforwards available will be limited by section 382 of the IRC. Management expects to complete its analysis of the net operating loss carryforward but does not expect a significant change in the amount of available net operating loss carryforwards. There were no other income tax implications to Amergent as a result of the Merger and Spin-off.

 

The Company has provided a valuation allowance for the full amount of the deferred tax assets in the accompanying condensed combined and consolidated financial statements.

 

As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had no accrued interest or penalties relating to any income tax obligations. The Company currently has no federal or state examinations in progress, nor has it had any federal or state tax examinations since its inception. The last three years of the Company’s tax years are subject to federal and state tax examination.

 

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

The compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions (including the cost of all employee stock options) is required to be recognized in the financial statements. That cost is measured based on the estimated fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. A wide range of share-based compensation arrangements including share options, restricted share plans, performance-based awards, share appreciation rights and employee share purchase plans are included.

 

LOSS PER COMMON SHARE

 

The Company computes net loss per share using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Basic and diluted net loss per share are the same because the conversion, exercise or issuance of all potential common stock equivalents, which comprise the entire amount of the Company’s outstanding warrants, as described in Note 9, and the potential conversion of the convertible debt, as described in Note 7, would be anti-dilutive.

 

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION

 

Assets and liabilities denominated in local currency are translated to U.S. dollars using the exchange rates as in effect at the balance sheet date. Results of operations are translated using average exchange rates prevailing throughout the period. Adjustments resulting from the process of translating foreign currency financial statements from functional currency into U.S. dollars are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss within stockholders’ equity. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in current earnings. The Company has determined that local currency is the functional currency for each of its foreign operations.

 

19

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

Standards for reporting and displaying comprehensive income (loss) and its components (revenues, expenses, gains and losses) in a full set of general-purpose financial statements requires that all items that are required to be recognized under accounting standards as components of comprehensive income (loss) be reported in a financial statement that is displayed with the same prominence as other financial statements. We are required to (a) classify items of other comprehensive income (loss) by their nature in financial statements, and (b) display the accumulated balance of other comprehensive income (loss) separately in the equity section of the balance sheet for all periods presented. Other comprehensive income (loss) represents foreign currency translation adjustments.

 

RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” along with related clarifications and improvements. This pronouncement requires lessees to recognize a liability for lease obligations, which represents the discounted obligation to make future lease payments, and a corresponding right-of-use asset on the balance sheet. The guidance requires disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements that is intended to give financial statement users the ability to assess the amount, timing, and potential uncertainty of cash flows related to leases. The Company elected the optional transition method to apply the standard as of the effective date and therefore, the Company has not applied the standard to the comparative period presented in its condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

The practical expedients elected in connection with the adoption of Leases Topic 842 were as follows:

 

    Implications as of January 1, 2019
Practical expedient package   The Company has not reassessed whether any expired or existing contracts are, or contain, leases.
    The Company has not reassessed the lease classification for any expired or existing leases.
    The Company has not reassessed initial direct costs for any expired or existing leases.
Hindsight practical expedient   The Company has not elected the hindsight practical expedient, which permits the use of hindsight when determining lease term and impairment of operating lease asset

 

Upon adoption of Leases (Topic 842), the Company recorded operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities and derecognized deferred rent liabilities (including unamortized tenant improvement allowances) and favorable/unfavorable lease assets and liabilities upon transition. Upon adoption, the Company recorded operating lease liabilities of approximately $22.1 million based on the present value of the remaining rental payments using discount rates as of the effective date. In addition, the Company recorded corresponding operating lease right-of-use assets of approximately $19.8 million, calculated as the initial amount of the Company’s operating lease liabilities adjusted for deferred rent (including unamortized tenant improvement allowances) and unamortized favorable/unfavorable lease assets and lease liabilities. As of September 30, 2020, the Company maintained an operating lease right-of-use assets of approximately $10.1 million, and operating lease liabilities (current and long-term) of approximately $16.7 million.

 

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board “FASB” issued Accounting Standards Update “ASU” 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 requires companies to measure credit losses utilizing a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires a consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020 did not result in a material change to our consolidated and combined financial statements.

 

20

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

We reviewed all other recently issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that they were either not applicable or not expected to have a significant impact to the condensed consolidated and combined financial statements.

 

3. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

The Company sold Just Fresh and its South Africa Hooters locations in 2019. Because of the sale, the Company has reclassified the operations of Just Fresh and the South Africa Hooters locations to discontinued operations as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.

 

The carrying amount of major classes of assets and liabilities included as part of discontinued operations are as follows:

 

   September 30, 2020   December 31, 2019 
         (Note 1) 
Other receivable  $30,084   $149,000 
Total assets   30,084    149,000 
           
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   179,625    435,600 
Total liabilities   179,625    435,600 
           
Net assets of discontinued operations  $(149,541)  $(286,600)

 

The major line items comprising the loss of discontinued operations are as follows:

 

   Three Months
September 30, 2020
   Three Months
September 30, 2019
 
Restaurant revenues  $       $2,327,427 
Expenses:          
Administration expenses       (141,306)
Cost of sales       (867,335)
Depreciation and amortization       (81,167)
Restaurant operating expenses       (1,195,578)
Other income       13,303 
        (2,272,083)
Income of discontinued operations      $55,344 

 

21

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

   Nine Months
September 30, 2020
   Nine Months
September 30, 2019
 
Restaurant revenues  $        $7,047,442 
Expenses:          
Administration expenses       (494,533)
Cost of sales       (2,589,736)
Depreciation and amortization       (246,271)
Restaurant operating expenses       (3,770,721)
Other income       121,315 
        (6,979,946)
Income of discontinued operations  $   $67,496 

 

Cash flows from discontinued operations is as follows:

 

   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30, 2020   September 30, 2019 
Cash flows used in Operations Activities  $        $(309,822)
Cash flows used in Investing Activities       (2,586 )
Cash flows provided by Financing Activities       178,905 
Effect of exchange rate changes from discontinued operations on cash        10,563 
Net cash used in Discontinued Operations  $   $(122,940)

 

4. INVESTMENTS

 

Investments consist of the following at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

 

   September 30, 2020   December 31, 2019 
         (Note 1) 
Warrants to purchase common stock of Sonnet  $476,724   $ 
Chanticleer Investors, LLC   398,278    381,397 
Total   875,002    381,397 

 

Warrant to purchase common stock of Sonnet

 

Upon consummation of the Merger discussed in Note 1, the Company received a warrant to purchase 2% of the common stock of Sonnet as part of the Merger Consideration. Amergent cannot exercise the warrant until 180 days after the closing of the Merger.

 

22

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The estimated fair value of the warrant to purchase 2% of the common stock of Sonnet (186,161 shares) was $1,628,909 as of April 1, 2020 and $476,724 as of September 30, 2020. The warrant has an exercise price of $0.01 per share and is exercisable beginning on September 28, 2020 through April 1, 2025. The estimated fair value of the warrant was determined based on the $8.76 and $2.57 closing stock price of a common share of Sonnet as of April 1, 2020 and September 30, 2020, respectively, net of the $0.01 exercise price multiplied by the 186,161 shares issuable upon exercise of the warrant. This value is also equal to the value under the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following inputs:

 

As of April 1, 2020    
Fair value of Sonnet common stock  $8.76 
Exercise price  $0.01 
Term   5 years 
Volatility   103%
Risk-free interest rate   0.37%

 

As of September 30, 2020    
Fair value of Sonnet common stock  $2.57 
Exercise price  $0.01 
Term   5 years 
Volatility   106%
Risk-free interest rate   0.28%

 

The fair value of the warrant as of April 1, 2020 of $1,628,909 was recorded as an increase in additional paid-in-capital as of the Merger date. The decrease in fair value through September 30, 2020 was recorded as an investment loss in the accompanying condensed combined and consolidated statement of operations with $199,152 and $1,152,185 recognized in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

 

Chanticleer Investors LLC

 

The Company invested $800,000 during 2011 and 2012 in exchange for a 22% ownership stake in Chanticleer Investors, LLC, which in turn held a 3% interest in Hooters of America, the operator and franchisor of the Hooters Brand worldwide. As a result, the Company’s effective economic interest in Hooters of America was approximately 0.6%. Effective June 28, 2019, Hooters of America closed on the sale of a controlling interest in the company. The consideration paid in the sale transaction was a combination of cash proceeds and equity in the newly formed company. The Company netted approximately $48,000 in cash upon the transaction and retained a non-controlling interest in the equity of the newly-formed company.

 

23

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

5. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

 

Property and equipment, net consists of the following at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

 

   September 30, 2020   December 31, 2019 
         (Note 1) 
Leasehold improvements  $7,136,742   $7,926,789 
Restaurant furniture and equipment   3,321,987    3,032,859 
Construction in progress   5,450    650 
Office and computer equipment   154,635    62,304 
Office furniture and fixtures   59,635    169,034 
    10,678,449    11,191,636 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization   (6,538,824)   (5,561,146)
   $4,139,625   $5,630,490 

 

As discussed in Note 1, the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States has resulted in a significant impact throughout the hospitality industry. The impact has varied by state/geographical area within the United States at various intervals since the pandemic has been declared. Accordingly, the operating results and cash flows at the store level have varied significantly leading to an analysis of impairment at the store level in the three months ended September 30, 2020. Several stores were permanently closed during the period while others are operating at reduced capacity. Based on the assessment of recoverability, an impairment charge of $555,702 and $685,333 for property and equipment was recorded for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

 

6. INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

 

GOODWILL

 

A roll-forward of goodwill is as follows:

 

   Nine months ended
September 30, 2020
   Year ended
December 31, 2019
 
         (Note 1) 
Beginning balance  $8,567,888   $10,564,353 
Impairment       (2,025,720)
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)   (26,496)   29,255 
Ending balance  $8,541,392   $8,567,888 

 

24

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

Franchise and trademark/tradename intangible assets consist of the following at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

 

      September 30, 2020   December 31, 2019 
            (Note 1) 
Trademark, Tradenames:             
American Roadside Burger  10 years   1,786,930   $1,786,930 
BGR: The Burger Joint  Indefinite   739,245    985,996 
Little Big Burger  Indefinite   1,550,000    1,550,000 
       4,076,175    4,322,926 
Acquired Franchise Rights:             
BGR: The Burger Joint  7 years   462,733    827,757 
              
Franchise License Fees:             
Hooters Pacific NW  20 years   74,507    74,507 
Hooters UK  5 years   12,495    12,917 
       87,002    87,424 
Total intangibles at cost      4,625,910    5,238,107 
Accumulated amortization      (1,490,471)   (1,581,112)
Intangible assets, net     $3,135,439   $3,656,995 

 

Based on an analysis of the recoverability of the carrying value as of September 30, 2020, an impairment charge of $246,751 was recorded during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020 relating to trademarks/tradenames for BRG: The Burger Joint. No other intangible assets were impaired as of September 30, 2020.

 

25

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

7. DEBT AND NOTES PAYABLE

 

Debt and notes payable are summarized as follows at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

 

   September 30, 2020   December 31, 2019 
         (Note 1) 
Notes Payable (a)  $   $6,000,000 
Notes Payable TowneBank (b)       142,746 
Receivables financing facilities (c)   66,550    23,958 
Notes Payable (d)   25,850    25,580 
Notes Payable (e)   62,806    90,408 
Contractor note (f)   348,269    348,269 
PPP loan (g)   2,215,702     
EIDL Loans (h)   299,900     
Convertible debt (i)   4,037,889     
Total Debt   7,056,966    6,630,961 
Less: discount on convertible debt (i)   (268,418)    
Total Debt, net of discount  $6,788,548   $6,630,961 
           
Current portion of long-term debt  $1,717,447   $6,630,961 
Long-term debt, less current portion  $5,071,101   $ 

 

(a) On May 4, 2017, pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company issued 8% non-convertible secured debentures in the principal amount of $6,000,000 and warrants to purchase 1,199,978 shares of common stock to accredited investors. The debentures bore an interest at a rate of 8% per year and were payable in cash quarterly in arrears.

 

The Company lowered the strike price for several classes of warrants to $0.50 to allow for warrant holders to exercise their warrants in order to induce the exercise thereof and raise capital for the Company. See Note 9 for further discussion of warrant modification.

 

In connection with and prior to the Merger and Spin-Off, on April 1, 2020, pursuant to an agreement among Chanticleer, Oz Rey LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Oz Rey”), the Company and certain other original holders of the 8% non-convertible secured debentures, the Company was released from all of its obligations under the 8% non-convertible secured debentures, and the 8% non-convertible secured debentures were cancelled. In exchange, Amergent (i) issued a 10% convertible secured debenture in principal amount of $4,037,889 to Oz Rey, (ii) issued warrants to purchase 2,925,200 of shares of common stock of Amergent to Oz Rey and certain of the original holders of the 8% non-convertible secured debentures, and (iii) remitted payment of $650,000 prior to March 31, 2020 and an additional $1,350,000 plus reimbursement of certain expenses to the purchasers on April 1, 2020. See further discussion in (i) below.

 

(b) The Company had one outstanding term loan with TowneBank, all of which was collateralized by all assets of the Company and personally guaranteed by our Chief Executive Officer. In connection with and prior to the Merger and Spin-Off, on April 1, 2020, the Company paid off the outstanding balance owed to TowneBank in full.

 

26

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

(c) During January 2020, in consideration for proceeds of $194,800, the Company agreed to make payments of $585 per day on two separate agreements for 220 days. The Company granted a security interest in the credit card receivables of the specified restaurants in connection with each of the Receivables Financing Agreements. Total outstanding on these advances is $66,550 and $23,958 at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. In connection with and prior to the Merger and Spin-Off, on April 1, 2020, these notes were assumed by Amergent.

 

(d) In connection with the assets acquired from the two BGR franchisees, the Company entered into notes payable of $9,600 and $187,000 during 2018. The notes bear interest at 4% and are due within 12 months of each acquisition date. Principal and interest payments are due monthly. The total outstanding on these two notes is $25,850 and $25,580 at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. In connection with and prior to the Merger and Spin-Off, on April 1, 2020, these notes were assumed by Amergent.

 

(e) During September 2019 and October 2019, the Company entered into two merchant capital advances in the amount of $46,000 and $84,700, respectively. The Company agreed to repay these advances through daily payments until those amounts are repaid with the specified interest rate per those agreements. Total outstanding on these advances is $62,806 and $90,408 as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. In connection with and prior to the Merger and Spin-Off, on April 1, 2020, these notes were assumed by Amergent.

 

(f) The Company entered into a promissory note to repay a contractor for the build-out of a new Little Big Burger location. The note had a balance of $348,269 as of both September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, and a stated interest rate of 12% per year. In connection with and prior to the Merger and Spin-Off, on April 1, 2020, this note was assumed by Amergent.

 

(g) On March 27, 2020, Congress passed “The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” (CARES Act), which included the “Paycheck Protection Program” (PPP) for small businesses. On April 27, 2020, Amergent received a PPP loan in the amount of approximately $2.1 million. Due to the Spin-Off and Merger, Amergent was not publicly traded at the time of the loan application or funding. The note bears interest at 1% per year, matures in April 2022, and requires monthly interest and principal payments of approximately $119,000 beginning in November 2020 and through maturity. The currently issued guidelines of the program allow for the loan proceeds to be forgiven if certain requirements are met. Any loan proceeds not forgiven will be repaid in full.

 

(h) On August 4, 2020 the Company obtained two loans under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) assistance program from the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business. The principal amount of the loans is $299,900, with proceeds to be used for working capital purposes. Interest accrues at the rate of 3.75% per year. Total installment payments, including principal and interest, are due monthly beginning August 4, 2021 in the amount of $1,762 monthly. The balance of principal and interest is payable over thirty years from the date of the promissory note. There are no penalties for prepayment.

 

(i) In connection with and prior to the Spin-Off and Merger, on April 1, 2020, pursuant to an agreement among Chanticleer, Oz Rey and certain original holders of the 8% non-convertible debentures (see (a) above), the Company issued a 10% secured convertible debenture to Oz Rey in exchange for the 8% non-convertible debentures. The principal amount of the 10% secured convertible debenture is $4,037,889, payable in full on April 1, 2022, subject to extension by the holders in two-year intervals for up to 10 years from the issuance date upon Amergent meeting certain conditions. Interest is payable quarterly in cash. Prior to August 17, 2020, the 10% secured convertible debenture was convertible at any time by Oz Rey into common stock at the lower of $0.10 per share and the volume weighted average price on the last 10 trading days immediately prior to conversion. The 10% secured convertible debenture is also subject to adjustment if Amergent sells securities below this price (down round protection), among other triggers. In connection with the exchange of the debentures, Amergent issued warrants to Oz Rey and the original 8% non-convertible debenture holders to purchase 2,925,200 shares of common stock. The exercise price is $0.125 for 2,462,600 warrants and $0.50 for 462,500 warrants. The warrants can be exercised on a cashless basis and expire 10 years from the issuance date.

 

27

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Through August 16, 2020, Amergent did not have an adequate amount of authorized common stock to cover shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and conversion of the 10% convertible notes. As such, the warrants were liability classified and the conversion feature was bifurcated from the host debt instrument and accounted for as a derivative and recorded as a liability in the accompanying condensed consolidated and combined balance sheet through August 16, 2020, with the change in the liability for the warrants and the conversion feature from the April 1, 2020 issuance date through August 16, 2020 recorded in the accompanying condensed consolidated and combined statement of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020.

 

The warrants issued had an estimated fair value of $935,000 as of April 1, 2020 using a Monte Carlo simulation to determine the value. The fair value of the conversion feature was $11,231,000 as of April 1, 2020 using a Monte Carlo simulation to determine the value. The estimated carrying value of the 10% convertible secured debentures without the conversion feature was $3,680,000, and with the conversion feature was $14,911,000.

 

On August 17, 2020, the Company and Oz Rey amended the 10% secured convertible debenture to fix the conversion rate into common stock at $0.10 per share. Further, the amendment provides a limitation on Oz Rey’s ability to convert the debenture into common stock so that the conversion would not result in the issuance of common stock exceeding the amount of authorized shares. Oz Rey may; however, upon reasonably notice to the Company, require the Company to include in its proxy materials, for any annual meeting of shareholders being held by the Company, a proposal to amend the Company’s certificate of incorporation to increase the Company’s authorized shares to a number sufficient to allow for conversion of all shares underlying the debenture, on a fully diluted basis. Oz Rey also agreed that the Company would not be required under any circumstances to make a cash payment to settle the conversion feature not exercisable due to the authorized share cap or in an event that the Company was unable to deliver shares under the conversion feature. Oz Rey also agreed to waive any event of default under the debenture that occurred or existed prior to August 17, 2020. As a result of these modifications, the warrants are no longer liability classified and the conversion feature is no longer required to be bifurcated from the debt host as of the date of the amendment.

 

Through the date of the amendment, the warrants and the conversion feature were marked to fair value with the change in the liability recorded in the accompanying condensed consolidated and combined statement of operations. The liabilities for the warrants and conversion feature were reclassified into additional-paid-in-capital at the amendment date. The estimated fair value of the warrants and conversion feature at August 16, 2020 were $924,000 and $10,970,000, respectively. The change in value of these instruments from the issuance date through August 16, 2020 of ($11,000) and ($261,000) has been recorded as a component of other expense (income) and included in change in fair value of derivative liabilities and warrants in the accompanying condensed consolidated and combined statements of operations for the nine month period ended September 30, 2020. See note 10 for further discussion of determining the estimated fair value of these instruments.

 

The exchange of the notes has been accounted for as the extinguishment of the 8% non-convertible notes with the difference in the carrying value of the 8% non-convertible notes, $4,037,889, and the fair value of the 10% convertible notes and warrants, $15,846,000, at the date of the exchange recorded as a debt extinguishment charge of $11,808,111 in the accompanying condensed consolidated and combined statement of operations for the nine month period ended September 30, 2020.

 

The Company recorded a debt discount of approximately $358,000 for the difference between the face value of the 10% secured convertible debenture and the estimated fair value at the April 1, 2020 issuance date and is amortizing this discount over the two-year period of the notes. Amortization of approximately $45,000 and $90,000 was recorded as interest expense during three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

 

28

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The Company’s various loan agreements contain financial and non-financial covenants and provisions providing for cross-default. The evaluation of compliance with these provisions is subject to interpretation and the exercise of judgment.

 

Redeemable Preferred Stock – Series 1

 

Beginning in December 2016, the Company conducted a rights offering of units, each unit consisting of one share of 9% Redeemable Series 1 Preferred Stock (“Series 1 Preferred”) and one Series 1 Warrant (“Series 1 Warrant”) to purchase 10 shares of common stock. In connection with the Merger, on April 1, 2020, all outstanding Series 1 Preferred units, comprised of shares of Series 1 Preferred and Series 1 Warrants, were redeemed and extinguished for their cash redemption price of $0.50 per unit. The difference between the carrying value of the Series 1 Preferred and the cash redemption amount of $161,899 was recognized as a loss on extinguishment and included in other expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020.

 

8. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses are summarized as follows:

 

   September 30, 2020   December 31, 2019 
         (Note 1) 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses  $4,394,005   $4,230,640 
Accrued taxes (VAT, Sales, Payroll, etc.)   3,156,776    3,319,928 
Accrued income taxes   7,633    (1,906)
Accrued interest   508,269    616,533 
   $8,066,683   $8,165,195 

 

As of September 30, 2020, approximately $2.7 million of employee and employer taxes and associated interest and penalties that have been accrued but not remitted to certain taxing authorities by the Company prior to 2019 for cash compensation paid. As a result, the Company is liable for such payroll taxes and any related penalties and interest.

 

9. STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY

 

The Company had 50,000,000 and 45,000,000 shares of $0.0001 par value common stock authorized at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The Company had 14,282,736 and 10,404,342 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

 

The Company has 5,000,000 shares of its no par value preferred stock authorized at both September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The Company had 787 shares of convertible Series 2 Preferred outstanding as of September 30, 2020 and 62,876 shares of Series 1 Preferred outstanding as of December 31, 2019. The Series 1 Preferred was classified as a liability.

 

As a result of the Merger, the following reflects the net equity contribution of Merger Consideration to the Company which reflects the gross proceeds received, offset of the direct costs incurred for the transaction, the difference between the redemption payment and carrying value of the Redeemable Preferred Stock - Series 1, and redemption of certain warrants.

 

Contributed cash portion of Merger Consideration  $6,000,000 
Contribution of Sonnet warrant portion of Merger Consideration   1,628,909 
Transaction cost incurred   (588,255)
   $7,040,654 

 

29

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

2019 Rights Offering

 

In 2019 the Company conducted a rights offering of units to its stockholders of record to purchase common stock at a subscription price of $1.00 per share. The rights offering was made pursuant to Chanticleer’s effective registration statement on Form S-1 on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and accompanying prospectus filed with the SEC on June 12, 2019.

 

Upon closing of the rights offering in July 2019, a total of 1,894,308 shares of common stock were issued pursuant to record holders’ basic subscription privilege and a total of 4,190,524 shares of common stock were issued pursuant to record holders’ over subscription. The Company accepted subscriptions to purchase 6,084,728 shares in the rights offering upon expiration of the rights offering on June 28, 2019. The Company received $6,009,733 in gross proceeds from the rights offering and $3,075,000 was subscribed by certain record holders’ through the reduction in outstanding debt obligations of the Company. The shares associated with the reduction in outstanding debt obligations were deemed issued at June 30, 2019. The remaining proceeds of approximately $2.7 million, which is net of fees owed to the dealer-managers and other offering costs, were received in early July 2019 after the closing of the rights offering.

 

Chardan Capital Markets, LLC and The Oak Ridge Financial Services Group Inc. were the co-dealer-managers on the transaction and the Company agreed to pay the dealer-managers a fee equal to 7% of the gross proceeds of the rights offering (excluding proceeds from the reduction of the debt obligations) and to reimburse the dealer-managers for their expenses up to $75,000 for an aggregate commission of approximately $286,000. Additional offering costs were incurred for legal, accounting and transfer agent services.

 

2020 Bridge Financing

 

Pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement dated February 7, 2020, Chanticleer sold 1,500 shares of a new series of convertible preferred stock of Chanticleer (the “Series 2 Preferred Stock”) to an institutional investor for gross proceeds to the Company of $1,500,000 less transaction costs of $95,000. In addition, pursuant to Chanticleer’s original agreement with the investors, Amergent issued 5-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 350,000 shares of Amergent’s common stock to the investors at $1.25 per share. Each share of Series 2 Preferred has a stated value of $1,000. Upon issuance, the Company bifurcated and recorded, as a liability, an embedded derivative (more fully described below and in Note 10) in the amount of $529,000. The effective conversion price of the Series 2 Preferred Stock after the bifurcation of the derivative resulted a beneficial conversion feature of $729,000, which was then immediately recorded as a deemed dividend as the preferred stock is immediately convertible. In March 2020, an aggregate of 713 shares of Series 2 Preferred Stock were converted into 1,426,854 shares of common stock. In connection with the Merger, all remaining outstanding shares of the Series 2 Preferred Stock were automatically cancelled and exchanged for substantially similar shares of preferred stock in Amergent.

 

On August 17, 2020, the Company and the holders of the Series 2 entered into a Waver, Consent, and Amendment to the Certificate of Designations (the “Extension Agreement”) which included provisions for an extension of the true-up payment discussed below from August 7, 2020 to December 10, 2020, the Company paying all expenses incurred by the institutional investor in connection with the Extension Agreement and certain consideration for the institutional in investor’s willingness to extend the date of the true-up payment. The consideration included $66,000 of cash and warrants to purchase 134,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with a value of $28,060 (see below).

 

30

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The Series 2 Preferred Stock is classified in the accompanying condensed consolidated and combined balance sheet at September 30, 2020 as temporary equity due to certain contingent redemption features which are outside the control of the Company.

 

Designations, rights and preferences of Series 2 Preferred Stock:

 

Stated value: Each share of Series 2 Preferred Stock had a stated value of $1,000.

 

True-Up Payment: Amergent is required to pay the holder an amount in cash equal to the dollar value of 125% of the stated value of the Series 2 Preferred Stock less the proceeds previously realized by the holder from the sale of all conversion shares received by holder in the Company and Amergent, net of brokerage commissions and any other fees incurred by the holder in connection with the sale of any conversion shares on December 10, 2020. The True-Up Payment will be paid by the Amergent out of (i) the proceeds from the exercise by Amergent of the warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock to be held by the Spin-Off Entity after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the “merger”) or (ii) the segregated cash account of $1,250,000. Non-payment of the True-Up Payment when it is due will trigger default interest rate of 18% per year.

 

The Company determined that the True-Up Payment constituted a “make-whole” provision as defined by U.S. GAAP that is required to be settled in cash and as such, was bifurcated from the host instrument, the Series 2 Preferred Stock, and is accounted for as a derivative liability. The fair value of the derivative was estimated using a Monte Carlo model and a liability of $529,000 was recorded at the Series 2 Preferred Stock issuance date. The fair value is remeasured on a quarterly basis and as of September 30, 2020 and a liability of $1,195,724 was recorded in the accompanying condensed combined and consolidated balance sheet. The $243,759 decrease in the liability from June 30, 2020 through September 30, 2020 and the $666,724 increase in the liability from the issuance date through September 30, 2020 is recorded as a component of the change in derivative liabilities in the accompanying interim combined and consolidated statement of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. See Note 10 for further information.

 

Redemption: If the Merger was not completed within six months of issuance of the Series 2 Preferred Stock, the Company would have been required to redeem all the outstanding Series 2 Preferred Stock for 125% of the aggregate stated value of the Series 2 Preferred Stock then outstanding plus any default interest and any other fees or liquidated damages then due and owing thereon under the Certificate of Designations. Additionally, there are other triggering events, as defined, that can cause the Series 2 Preferred Stock to be redeemable at the option of the holder of which some are outside of the control of the Company.

 

Conversion at option of holder/ beneficial ownership limitation The Series 2 Preferred Stock is convertible at the option of holder at the lesser of (i) $1.00 (subject to adjustment for forward and reverse stock splits, recapitalizations and the like) or (ii) 90% of the five day average volume weighted average price of the common, provided the conversion price has a floor of $0.50 (subject to adjustment for forward and reverse stock splits, recapitalizations and the like). Conversion is subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 4.99%. This limitation was increased by the holder to 9.99% prior to the Merger.

 

Forced conversion: The Company had the right to require the holder to convert up to 1,400 shares of Series 2 Preferred Stock upon delivery of notice three days prior to the Merger, subject to the beneficial ownership limitation and applicable Nasdaq rules. Unconverted shares of Series 2 Preferred Stock automatically were exchanged for an equal number of shares of Series 2 Preferred Stock in Amergent on substantially the same terms.

 

Liquidation preference Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, the holder is entitled to receive out of the assets, whether capital or surplus, an amount equal to 125% of the stated value plus any default interest and any other fees or liquidated damages then due and owing thereon under the Certificate of Designations, for each share of Series 2 Preferred Stock before any distribution or payment to the holders of common stock.

 

31

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Voting rights: The holder of Series 2 Preferred Stock has the right to vote together with the holders of common stock as a single class on an as-converted basis on all matters presented to the holders of common stock and shall vote as a separate class on all matters presented to the holders of Series 2 Preferred Stock. In addition, without the approval of the holder, the Company is required to obtain the approval of Series 2 Preferred Stock, as is customary, for certain events and transactions not contemplated by the merger.

 

Triggering Events: Breach of Company’s obligations will trigger a redemption event.

 

Anti-Dilution: Customary adjustments in the event of dividends or stock splits and anti-dilution protection.

 

Concurrently with the Preferred Securities Purchase Agreement, the parties entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Preferred Registration Rights Agreement”). Pursuant to the Preferred Registration Rights Agreement, the Company was required to file a registration statement registering the conversion shares no later than 15 days from the closing of this transaction.

 

Options and Warrants

 

The Company’s shareholders approved the Chanticleer Holdings, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) authorizing the issuance of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and units, performance shares and units, phantom stock and other stock-based and dividend equivalent awards. Pursuant to the approved 2014 Plan, 400,010 were approved for grant. This Plan did not survive the Merger. Amergent intends to adopt a new equity incentive plan subject to shareholder approval in the near future.

 

As of and in connection with the Merger and Spin-Off, all restricted and unrestricted stock options were cancelled and no awards have been granted since that date.

 

In March 2020, the Company lowered the strike price for certain warrants from within several classes of warrants to $0.50 as an inducement to incentivize the warrant holders to exercise their warrants. The Company accounted for the warrant inducement as a deemed dividend based on the difference in the Black-Scholes value of the warrants immediately before and immediately after the inducement. The significant assumptions used in the Company included common stock volatility of between 88% - 95%, risk free rate between 1.7% and 0.84%, a weighted average term between 6.5 and 8 years and the stock price of the Company as of the date of inducement. Based on the Black-Scholes values calculated the Company recorded a deemed dividend to additional paid in capital and retained earnings on the inducement of approximately $325,000 and received proceeds from the warrants exercised of approximately $1.2 million.

 

In connection with the Merger and Spin-Off on April 1, 2020, 261,050 warrants were redeemed by the Company for $66,900 and 525,554 warrants remained with the Company. Additionally, 3,275,200 warrants were issued of which 2,925,200 warrants were issued with an exercise price ranging between $.125 and $.50 in connection with the issuance of the Company’s 10% convertible note agreement and 350,000 warrants with an exercise price of $1.25 were issued to the Company’s bridge financing investor.

 

On August 17, 2020, warrants for 134,000 shares of common stock were issued in connection with the extension of the True-Up Payment provision. See Note 9. The warrants are immediately exercisable at $1.25 per share and expire in August 2025. The value of these warrants was $28,060.

 

A summary of the warrant activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 is presented below:

 

   Number of Warrants   Weighted Average Exercise Price   Weighted Average Remaining Life 
Outstanding at December 31, 2019   3,306,238   $6.00    6.8 
Granted  3,409,200    0.34   8.8 
Exercised   (2,414,022)   0.50     
Forfeited/Other Adjustments   (892,216)        
Outstanding at September 30, 2020   3,409,200   $0.34    8.8 
                
Exercisable September 30, 2020   3,409,200   $0.34    8.8 

 

32

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

10. DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES

 

The derivative liabilities at September 30, 2020 consist of a True-Up Payment provision of the Series 2 Preferred Stock (See Note 9). There were no derivative liabilities at December 31, 2019.

 

As discussed in Note 7(i), warrants were issued in connection with the 10% convertible note. The Company did not have an adequate amount of authorized common shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and conversion of the 10% convertible note. As such, the warrants were liability classified and the conversion feature was bifurcated from the host debt instrument and both instruments were accounted for as derivatives. As a result of the amendment to the note discussed in Note 7(i), the warrant and conversion feature no longer required liability classification and were reclassified to equity.

 

The table presented below is a summary of changes in the fair market value of the Company’s Level 3 valuations for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

 

   True-Up Payment   Warrants   Debt Conversion Feature   Total 
Balance at December 31, 2019  $   $   $   $ 
Inception of the instrument   529,000    935,000    11,231,000    12,695,000 
Change in fair value during the period   666,724    (11,000)   (261,000)   394,724 
Instruments no longer meeting liability classification     (924,000)  (10,970,000)  (11,894,000)
Balance at September 30, 2020  $1,195,724   $   $   $1,195,724 

 

Assumptions used in calculating the fair value of the warrants as of April 1, 2020 and as of August 16, 2020 include the following:

 

As of April 1, 2020
Stock price per share  $0.34 
Term   10.0 years 
Expected volatility   102%
Dividend yield   %
Risk-free interest rate   0.62%

 

As of August 16, 2020
Stock price per share  $0.34 
Term   9.5 years 
Expected volatility   102%
Dividend yield   %
Risk-free interest rate   0.65%

 

33

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The Company also considered the probability, timing and amount of future capital raises.

 

Assumptions used in calculating the fair value of the convertible notes as of April 1, 2020 and as of August 16, 2020 include the following:

 

As of April 1, 2020
Face value  $4,037,889 
Term   2.0 years 
Expected volatility   120%
Risk-free interest rate   0.23%
Coupon   10.00%
Coupon price   0.10%
Credit spread   15.0%

 

As of August 16, 2020
Face value  $4,037,889 
Term   1.5 years 
Expected volatility   127%
Risk-free interest rate   0.23%
Coupon   10.00%
Coupon price   0.10%
Credit spread   15.0%

 

The Company also considered the probability, timing and amount of future capital raises.

 

Assumptions used in calculating the fair value of the True-Up Payment provision at the issuance date and as of September 30, 2020 include the following:

 

Issuance Date
Term   .5 years 
Expected volatility   83%
Dividend yield   %
Risk-free interest rate   0.13%

 

September 30, 2020
Term   .2 years 
Expected volatility   83%
Dividend yield   —  %
Risk-free interest rate   0.10%

 

34

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Legal proceedings

 

On March 26, 2013, our South African operations received Notice of Motion filed in the Kwazulu-Natal High Court, Durban, Republic of South Africa, filed against Rolalor (PTY) LTD (“Rolalor”) and Labyrinth Trading 18 (PTY) LTD (“Labyrinth”) by Jennifer Catherine Mary Shaw (“Shaw”). It was requested that the Respondents, Rolalor and Labyrinth, be wound up in satisfaction of an alleged debt owed in the total amount of R4,082,636 (approximately $480,000). The outcome of the case resulted in the proposed liquidation of Rolalor in which the Company did not object as the entity has no assets. The Company does not expect there to be a material impact as a result of the proceedings, as the South African entities were sold and the buyers retained any and all liabilities.

 

No amounts have been accrued as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 in the accompanying condensed consolidated and combined balance sheets.

 

From time to time, the Company may be involved in legal proceedings and claims that have arisen in the ordinary course of business are generally covered by insurance. As of September 30, 2020, the Company does not expect the amount of ultimate liability with respect to these matters to be material to the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Leases

 

The Company’s leases typically contain rent escalations over the lease term. The Company recognizes expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Additionally, tenant incentives used to fund leasehold improvements are recognized when earned and reduce our right-of-use asset related to the lease. These are amortized through the right-of-use asset as reductions of expense over the lease term.

 

Some of the Company’s leases include rent escalations based on inflation indexes and fair market value adjustments. Certain leases contain contingent rental provisions that include a fixed base rent plus an additional percentage of the restaurant’s sales in excess of stipulated amounts. Operating lease liabilities are calculated using the prevailing index or rate at lease commencement. Subsequent escalations in the index or rate and contingent rental payments are recognized as variable lease expenses. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. As part of the lease agreements, the Company is also responsible for payments regarding non-lease components (common area maintenance, operating expenses, etc.) and percentage rent payments based on monthly or annual restaurant sales amounts which are considered variable costs and are not included as part of the lease liabilities.

 

Related to the adoption of Leases Topic 842, our policy elections were as follows:

 

35

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Separation of lease and non-lease components

 

The Company elected this expedient to account for lease and non-lease components as a single component for the entire population of operating lease assets.

 

Short-term policy

 

The Company has elected the short-term lease recognition exemption for all applicable classes of underlying assets. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less, that do not include an option to purchase the underlying asset that we are reasonably certain to exercise, are not recorded on the balance sheet.

 

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:

 

Operating Leases  Classification  September 30, 2020   December 31, 2019 
            (Note 1)  
Right-of-use assets  Operating lease assets  $10,117,900   $11,668,026 
              
Current lease liabilities  Current operating lease liabilities   1,563,446    3,299,309 
Non-current lease liabilities  Long-term operating lease liabilities   15,115,651    14,382,354 
      $16,679,097   $17,681,663 

 

Lease term and discount rate were as follows:

 

   September 30, 2020   December 31, 2019 
             (Note 1) 
Weighted average remaining lease term (years) 7.44    8.19 
Weighted average discount rate   10%   10%

 

As discussed in Note 5, COVID-19 has negatively impacted operating results and cash flows at significantly varying amounts at the store level. Several stores were permanently closed during the three month period ended September 30, 2020 while others operated at a reduced capacity. Based on an assessment of the recoverability of the right-of-use asset as of September 30, 2020 an impairment charge of $428,899 and $559,821 was recorded for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

 

12. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

The Company has evaluated subsequent events from the balance sheet date through the date of issuance and there are no other items requiring disclosure.

 

36

 

 

ITEM 2: MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our financial statements and the related notes and the other financial information included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10Q (“Report”). This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and elsewhere in this Report, particularly those under “Risk Factors.”

 

Overview

 

As of September 30, 2020, we operated and franchised a system-wide total of 43 fast casual restaurants, of which 32 were company-owned and 11 were owned and operated by franchisees under franchise agreements. Of the company-owned stores, there were five restaurants that were temporarily closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic as of September 30, 2020. During the three month period ended September 30, 2020, three of the company-owned stores were permanently closed.

 

American Burger Company (“ABC”) is a fast-casual dining chain consisting of 4 locations (which includes 1 temporarily closed due to COVID-19) in North Carolina and New York, known for its diverse menu featuring fresh salads, customized burgers, milk shakes, sandwiches, and beer and wine.

 

BGR: The Burger Joint (“BGR”) was acquired in March 2015 and consists of 7 company-owned locations in the United States and 11 franchisee-operated locations in the United States and the Middle East (2 of the franchisee-operated locations were purchased by the Company in 2018 and became company-owned locations).

 

Little Big Burger (“LBB”) was acquired in September 2015 and consists of 19 company-owned locations (which includes 4 temporarily closed due to COVID-19) in the Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, and Charlotte, North Carolina areas. Of the company-owned restaurants, 8 of those locations are operated under partnership agreements with investors where we control the management and operations of the stores and the partner supplied the capital to open the store in exchange for a noncontrolling interest.

 

We also operated 1 Hooters full-service restaurant in the United States and 1 located in the United Kingdom. Hooters restaurants, which are casual beach-themed establishments featuring music, sports on large flat screens, and a menu that includes seafood, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and of course, Hooters original chicken wings and the “nearly world famous” Hooters Girls. The Company started initially as an investor in corporate owned Hooters and, subsequently, evolved into a franchisee operator. We hold a minority investment stake in Hooters of America.

 

Recent Developments

 

Merger

 

On April 1, 2020, Chanticleer completed its merger transaction with Sonnet BioTherapeutics, Inc. (“Sonnet”), in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 10, 2019, among the Company, Sonnet, Biosub Inc. (“Merger Sub”), and Sonnet Sub, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of February 7, 2020 (as so amended, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which Merger Sub merged with and into Sonnet Sub, with Sonnet Sub surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chanticleer (the “Merger”). On April 1, 2020, in connection with the Merger, Chanticleer changed its name to “Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.”

 

37

 

 

Spin-Off

 

In connection with and prior to the Merger, Chanticleer contributed and transferred to Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc. (“Amergent”), a newly-formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of Chanticleer, all of the assets and liabilities relating to Chanticleer’s restaurant business. On March 16, 2020, the board of directors of Chanticleer declared a dividend with respect to the shares of Chanticleer’s common stock outstanding at the close of business on March 26, 2020 of one share of the Amergent common stock held by Chanticleer for each outstanding share of Chanticleer common stock. The dividend, which together with the contribution and transfer of Chanticleer’s restaurant business described above, is referred to as the “Spin-Off.” Prior to the Spin-Off, Amergent engaged in no business or operations.

 

PPP Loan

 

On March 27, 2020 Congress passed “The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” (CARES Act), which included the “Paycheck Protection Program” (PPP) for small businesses. On April 27, 2020, Amergent received a PPP loan of $2.1 million. Due to the Spin-Off and Merger, Amergent was not publicly traded at the time of the loan application or funding.

 

The note bears interest at 1% per year, matures in April 2022, and requires monthly interest and principal payments of approximately $119,000 beginning in November 2020 and through maturity. The currently issued guidelines of the program allow for the loan proceeds to be forgiven if certain requirements are met. Any loan proceeds not forgiven will be repaid in full.

 

EID Loan

 

On August 4, 2020 we obtained two loans under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) assistance program from the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business. The principal amount of the loans is $299,900, with proceeds to be used for working capital purposes. Interest accrues at the rate of 3.75% per year. Total installment payments, including principal and interest, are due monthly beginning August 4, 2021 in the amount of $1,762 monthly. The balance of principal and interest is payable over the next thirty years from the date of the promissory note. There are no penalties for prepayment.

 

38

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 COMPARED TO THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

 

Our results of operations are summarized below:

 

   Three Months Ended     
   September 30, 2020   September 30, 2019     
   Amount   % of Revenue*   Amount   % of Revenue*   % Change 
Restaurant sales, net  $4,509,082    95.9%  $7,087,199    96.7%   (0.8)%
Gaming income, net   107,403    2.3%   121,453    1.7%   0.6%
Franchise income   85,666    1.8%   117,361    1.6%   0.2%
Management fee income       %       %   %
Total revenue   4,702,151         7,326,013           
                          
Expenses                         
Restaurant cost of sales   1,498,922    33.2%   2,294,045    32.4%   0.8%
Restaurant operating expenses   3,462,279    76.8%   4,662,917    65.8%   11.0%
Restaurant pre-opening and closing expenses       %   125,000    1.8%   (1.8)%
General and administrative expenses   1,255,918    26.7%   1,431,467    19.5%   7.2%
Asset impairment charge   1,231,352    26.2%   2,637,969    36.0%   (9.8)%
Depreciation and amortization   277,999    5.9%   450,098    6.1%   (0.2)%
Total expenses   7,726,470    164.3%   11,601,496    158.4%   5.9%
Operating loss   (3,024,319)        (4,275,483)          
Other (expense) income:                         
Interest expense   (177,422)   (3.8)%   (170,162)   (2.3)%   (1.5)%
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities   (6,536,241)   (139.0)%       %   (139.0)%
Change in the fair value of investment   (199,152)   (4.2)%       %   (4.2)%
Debt extinguishment expense       %       %   %
Other income (expense)   (37,390)   (0.8)%   103,819    1.4%   (2.2)%
Total other expense   (6,950,205)        (66,343)          
Loss before income taxes   (9,974,524)        (4,341,826)          
Income tax expense   (28,473)   (0.6)%   (4,803)   (0.1)%   (0.5)%
Loss from continuing operations   (10,002,997)        (4,346,629)          
Discontinued operations                         
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax       %   55,344    0.8%   (0.8)%
Consolidated net loss  $  (10,002,997)       $(4,291,285)          

 

* Restaurant cost of sales, operating expenses and pre-opening and closing expense percentages are based on restaurant sales, net. Other percentages are based on total revenue.

 

39

 

 

   Nine Months Ended     
   September 30, 2020   September 30, 2019     
   Amount   % of Revenue*   Amount   % of Revenue*   % Change 
Restaurant sales, net  $13,881,380    97.0%  $22,655,730    96.3%   0.7%
Gaming income, net   236,615    1.7%   347,074    1.5%   0.2%
Franchise income   183,864    1.3%   461,737    2.0%   (0.7)%
Management fee income       %   50,000    0.2%   (0.2)%
Total revenue   14,301,859         23,514,541           
                          
Expenses                         
Restaurant cost of sales   4,458,983    32.1%   7,364,409    32.5%   (0.4)%
Restaurant operating expenses   10,349,516    74.6%   15,075,733    66.5%   8.1%
Restaurant pre-opening and closing expenses   20,730    0.1%   267,888    1.2%   (1.1)%
General and administrative expenses   3,891,739    27.2%   4,290,257    18.2%   9.0%
Asset impairment charge   1,505,279    10.5%   4,007,050    17.0%   (6.5)%
Depreciation and amortization   1,109,608    7.8%   1,381,411    5.9%   1.9%
Total expenses   21,335,855    149.2%   32,386,748    137.7%   11.5%
Operating loss   (7,033,996)        (8,872,207)          
Other (expense) income:                         
Interest expense   (499,870)   (3.5)%   (542,135)   (2.3)%   (1.2)%
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities   (394,724)   (2.8)%       %   (2.8)%
Change in the fair value of investment   (1,152,185)   (8.1)%       %   (8.1)%
Debt extinguishment expense   (11,808,111)   (82.6)%       %   (82.6)%
Other income (expense)   (85,399)   (0.6)%   (207,555)   (0.9)%   0.3%
Total other expense   (13,940,289)        (749,690)          
Loss before income taxes   (20,974,285)        (9,621,897)          
Income tax expense   (32,149)   (0.2)%   (61,213)   (0.3)%   0.1%
Loss from continuing operations   (21,006,434)        (9,683,110)          
Discontinued operations                         
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax       %   67,496    0.3%   (0.3)%
Consolidated net loss  $  (21,006,434)       $(9,615,614)          

 

* Restaurant cost of sales, operating expenses and pre-opening and closing expense percentages are based on restaurant sales, net. Other percentages are based on total revenue.

 

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Revenue

 

Total revenue decreased to $4.7 million and $14.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, from $7.3 million and $23.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively.

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30, 2020
   Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2020
 
   Amount   % of Revenue*   Amount   % of Revenue* 
Restaurant sales, net  $4,509,082    95.9%  $13,881,380    97.0%
Gaming income, net   107,403    2.3%   236,615    1.7%
Franchise income   85,666    1.8%   183,864    1.3%
Management fee income       %       %
Total revenue  $4,702,151    100%  $14,301,859    100%

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30, 2019
   Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2019
 
   Amount   % of Revenue*   Amount   % of Revenue* 
Restaurant sales, net  $7,087,199    96.7%  $22,655,730    96.3%
Gaming income, net   121,453    1.7%   347,074    1.5%
Franchise income   117,361    1.6%   461,737    2.0%
Management fee income       %   50,000    0.2%
Total revenue  $7,326,013    100%  $23,514,541    100%

 

  Revenue from Restaurant Sales decreased 36.4% to $4.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. Revenue from Restaurant Sales decreased 38.7% to $13.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The primary reason for the decline in revenue is the closing of non-performing stores. Additionally, there was a decline due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, where a portion of the restaurants were temporarily closed, and the units that remained open were only able to provide take-out and delivery orders for customers due to government restrictions and mandates.
     
  Gaming income decreased 11.6% to $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. Gaming income decreased 31.8% to $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The primary reason for this decline was due to the affect COVID-19 pandemic had on operations. This gaming location in Portland was closed for 6 weeks in 2020 due to COVID-19.
     
  Franchise Income decreased 27.0% to $85,666 for the three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. Franchise Income decreased 60.2% to $183,864 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The primary reason for this decline was due to the affect COVID-19 pandemic had on revenue of franchise locations.

 

Restaurant cost of sales

 

Restaurant cost of sales decreased to $1.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 from $2.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019. Restaurant cost of sales decreased to $4.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 from $7.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The percent of restaurant sales increased to 33.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2020 from 32.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2019. The percent of restaurant sales decreased to 32.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 from 32.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The overall decrease in cost of sales was due to the 39.2% decline in overall revenue to $14.3 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2020 compared to $23.5 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2019.

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30, 2020
   Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2020
     
   Amount   % of Restaurant Net Sales   Amount   % of Restaurant Net Sales   % Change 
Cost of Restaurant Sales                         
Total Company  $1,498,922    33.2%  $4,458,983    32.1%   1.1%

 

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   Three Months Ended
September 30, 2019
   Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2019
     
   Amount   % of Restaurant Net Sales   Amount   % of Restaurant Net Sales   % Change 
Cost of Restaurant Sales                         
Total Company  $2,294,045    32.4%  $7,364,409    32.5%   (0.1)%

 

Restaurant operating expenses

 

Restaurant operating expenses decreased to $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 from approximately $4.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019. Restaurant operating expenses decreased to $10.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 from $15.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The overall decrease of restaurant operating expenses was driven by the overall decline of revenue as described in the revenue section above, and the corresponding adjustment of labor at the store level and tighter controls of store level operating expenses.

 

Restaurant pre-opening and closing expenses

 

Restaurant pre-opening and closing expenses decreased to $0 for the three months ended September 30, 2020 compared with $125,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2019. Restaurant pre-opening and closing expenses decreased to $20,730 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared with $267,888 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The Company records rent and other costs to pre-opening expenses while the restaurants are under construction, so these expenses fluctuate depending on the numbers of restaurants under construction. There were no restaurants under construction during the three and nine period ended September 30, 2020.

 

General and administrative expense (“G&A”)

 

G&A expenses decreased to $1.3 million and $3.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, from $1.4 million and $4.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. The decreased in G&A was driven by the reduction of Salaries and Benefits resulting from the departure of two senior management personnel, and a reduction in travel and entertainment due to not having to manage unionization efforts that occurred in 2019, and improvements in management of operations. Significant components of G&A are summarized as follows:

 

   Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2020   2019   2020   2019 
Audit, legal an other professional services  $615,098   $494,621   $1,722,687   $1,392,852 
Salary and benefits   455,540    585,493    1,459,628    1,773,719 
Travel and entertainment   11,299    48,053    34,299    159,817 
Shareholder services and fees   (51,150)   21,742    116,562    69,144 
Advertising, Insurance and other   225,131    281,558    558,563    894,725 
Total G&A Expenses  $1,255,918    1,431,467   $3,891,739    4,290,257 

 

Asset impairment charges

 

Asset impairment charges decreased to $1.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $2.6 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019. There was an asset impairment charge of $1.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared with $4.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. During the nine month ended September 30, 2019 the Company impaired certain assets in connection with the closure of four locations as well as impaired goodwill by $495,755. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company impaired certain assets in connect with the closure of three locations. In addition, in the 2020 period, the Company recorded an impairment on tradenames/trademarks of $246,751, property and equipment of $555,702 and right of use asset of $428,899 primarily due to the lower level of cash flow at the store level due to the impact of COVID-19 on operations.

 

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Depreciation and amortization

 

Depreciation and amortization expense was $0.3 million and $1.1 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, compared to $0.5 million and $1.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively. The Company has curtailed opening new stores in the past several years and in making acquisitions of property and equipment due to its financial condition.

 

Other (expense) income

 

Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2020 of $177,422 was comparable to the comparative period in 2019 of $170,162. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 interest was $499,870, a decrease of $42,265 from the $542,135 incurred for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Although overall debt increased by approximately $374,601 from September 30, 2019 to September 30, 2020, the borrowings of $2.2 million under the PPP loan and $0.3 million under the EDI loans are at 1% and 3.75% per year, respectively, rates lower than on debt outstanding in 2019.

 

During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2020 the change in fair value of derivative liabilities was an expense of $6.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively. The derivative liabilities arise from transactions in 2020 and as such, there was no charge in 2019. The derivative liabilities are marked to market at each quarter end. The expense in the three months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily due to an increase in the Company’s stock price at September 30, 2020 compared to June 30, 2020, thus driving an increase in the value of the derivative instruments (primarily the conversion feature of the 10% debenture). An amendment was entered into on August 17, 2020 (see Note 7 in the interim financial statements) which eliminated the requirement to continue to mark-to-market these instruments. The True-Up Payment derivative will continue to be recorded at fair value through the scheduled settlement date in December 2020.

 

In connection with the Merger, the Company obtained warrants to purchase 186,101 shares of Sonnet at $0.001 per share. The share price of Sonnet decreased from $8.76 at April 1, 2020 (the Merger date) to $2.57 at September 30, 2020 causing a loss on investment of $0.2 million and $1.2 million for the three and nine month period ended September 30, 2020, respectively. This instrument will continue to be recorded at fair value until the warrants are exercised and the underlying common stock security is sold.

 

On April 1, 2020, the Company exchanged the then existing 8% non-convertible notes for 10% convertible notes. Warrants to purchase common stock were also issued in connection with the issuance of the new notes. The Company recorded a $11.8 million loss on the extinguishment of the 8% notes based on the difference in the carrying value of the old notes and the fair value of the new notes and warrants issued. See Note 7 to the interim financial statements for further discussion.

 

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STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 COMPARED TO THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

 

   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2020   2019 
Net cash used in operating activities  $(4,892,561)  $(3,049,049)
Net cash used in investing activities   (29,821)   2,727,500 
Net cash provided by financing activities   7,247,506    352,829 
Net cash activities within assets held for sale   -    (21,193)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates   (14,496)   (2,666)
   $2,310,628   $7,421 

 

Cash used in operating activities was approximately $4.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to cash used in operating activities of approximately $3.0 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. This use of cash was primarily driven by the net loss incurred during each period of $21.0 million and $9.6 million offset by non-cash charges to operations of $17.2 million and $7.1 million for 2020 and 2019, respectively. The non-cash charges in 2020 consist primarily of loss on debt extinguishment of $11.8 million, loss on investments of $1.2 million, asset impairment charges of $1.5 million and depreciation and amortization of property and equipment, intangible assets and right-of-use assets totaling $2.1 million. The non-cash charges in 2019 consist primarily of asset impairment charges, of $4.0 million, and depreciation and amortization of property and equipment, intangible assets and right-of-use assets totaling $2.8 million. Additionally, in 2020 net assets and liabilities were reduced by $1.1 million, primarily from a reduction in operating lease liabilities. In 2019, net assets and liabilities were reduced by $0.2 million and cash flows from discontinued operations of $0.3 million. The Company obtained cash of $6.0 million from the Merger and used a portion to reduce its liabilities in 2020.

 

Cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared was $29,821 compared to cash provided of $2.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The cash provided from investing activities in 2019 was related to $2.7 million received in a rights offering.

 

Cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was approximately $7.2 million compared to cash provided by financing activities of approximately $0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The primary drivers of the cash provided by financing activities during 2020 were proceeds from the bridge preferred equity investment, the exercise of warrants, and the Merger Consideration received of $6.0 million.

 

LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL RESOURCES AND GOING CONCERN

 

Liquidity, Capital Resources and Going Concern

 

As of September 30, 2020, the Company’s cash balance was approximately $2.8 million, of which $1.25 million was restricted, its working capital deficiency was approximately $8.9 million, and it had significant near-term commitments and contractual obligations. The level of additional cash needed to fund operations and our ability to conduct business for the next 12 months will be influenced primarily by the following factors:

 

  our ability to access the capital and debt markets to satisfy current obligations and operate the business;
  our ability to refinance or otherwise extend maturities of current debt obligations;
  the level of investment in acquisition of new restaurant businesses and entering new markets;
  our ability to manage our operating expenses and maintain gross margins as we grow;
  popularity of and demand for our fast-casual dining concepts; and
  general economic conditions and changes in consumer discretionary income.

 

We have typically funded our operating costs, acquisition activities, working capital requirements and capital expenditures with proceeds from the issuances of our common stock and other financing arrangements, including convertible debt, lines of credit, notes payable, capital leases, and other forms of external financing.

 

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On March 10, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the novel COVID-19 virus as a global pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak in the United States has resulted in a significant impact throughout the hospitality industry. The Company has been impacted due to restrictions placed on them by state and local governments that caused temporary restaurant closures or significantly reduced the Company’s ability to operate, restricting the Company’s restaurants to take-out only. It is difficult to estimate the length or severity of this outbreak; however, the Company has made operational changes, as needed, to reduce the impact. However, there can be no certainty regarding the length and severity of the outbreak and such its ultimate financial impact on the restaurant operations.

 

As a result of the Merger on April 1, 2020, Amergent received $6,000,000 in cash and warrants to purchase 186,161 shares of the Company’s common stock of Sonnet as well as paid down and refinanced certain debt obligations. Even considering the additional liquidity on April 1, 2020, and proceeds from the PPP loan on April 27, 2020 and EID loans on April 4, 2020, there can be no assurances that Amergent will not need to seek additional debt or equity funding or that such funding would be available at commercially reasonable terms, if at all.

 

As Amergent executes its business plan over the next 12 months, it intends to carefully monitor the impact of its working capital needs and cash balances relative to the availability of cost-effective debt and equity financing. In the event that capital is not available, Amergent may then have to scale back or freeze its operations plans, sell assets on less than favorable terms, reduce expenses, and/or curtail future acquisition plans to manage its liquidity and capital resources.

 

The Company’s current operating losses, combined with its working capital deficit and uncertainties regarding the impact of COVID-19, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

In addition, our business is subject to additional risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described in Item 1A. “Risk Factors”.

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated and combined financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

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ITEM 3: QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 4: Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

We evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”)) as of September 30, 2020, the end of the period covered by this Report. Based on this evaluation, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and our Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at the reasonable assurance level at September 30, 2020 because of the material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that existed at December 31, 2019 that has not been fully remediated by the end of the three month period ended September 30, 2020.

 

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Due to the inherent limitations of control systems, not all misstatements may be detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. Controls and procedures can only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the above objectives have been met.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Other than the material weakness and remediation activities discussed below, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended September 30, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Material Weakness in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Material Weaknesses. A material weakness is a control deficiency, or a combination of control deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

 

Management identified the following deficiency in its internal control over financial reporting:

 

  We identified a deficiency related to our financial close process including maintaining a sufficient compliment of personnel commensurate with our accounting and financial reporting requirements as well as development and extension of controls over the recording of journal entries and proper cut-off of accounts payable and accrued expenses at period end.

 

Management determined that the deficiency could potentially result in a material misstatement of the consolidated and combined financial statements in a future annual or interim period that would not be prevented or detected. Therefore, the deficiency constitutes a material weakness in internal control.

 

Remediation Plans

 

Prior to the Merger, we initiated several steps to evaluate and implement measures designed to improve our internal control over financial reporting in order to remediate the control deficiencies noted above, including recruitment of a an accounting consultant and seeking outside advice from other third party consultants to assist in improving the Company’s internal controls, simplify its reporting processes and reduced the risk of undetected errors. In June, 2020, the Company hired an accounting consultant that has appropriate expertise in accounting and reporting under U.S. GAAP and SEC regulations and has allowed the Company to be better aligned with segregation of duties. With the hiring of this consultant, the Company will be instituting monthly and quarterly meetings to identify significant, infrequent and unusual transactions as well as ensure timely reporting. Additionally in September, 2020 the Company has engaged a third party accounting and advisory firm to assist with, among other areas, the analysis of complex, infrequent and unusual transactions as well as provide valuation services to the Company. The Chief Financial Officer has initiated a preliminary assessment of management’s internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with the 2013 integrated framework, as prescribed by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, or COSO.

 

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part II – Other information

 

ITEM 1: LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Various subsidiaries of Amergent are delinquent in payment of payroll taxes to taxing authorities. As of September 30, 2020, approximately $3.0 million of employee and employer taxes (including estimated penalties and interest) was accrued but not remitted in years prior to 2019 to certain taxing authorities by certain of these subsidiaries for cash compensation paid. As a result, these subsidiaries are liable for such payroll taxes. These subsidiaries have received warnings and demands from the taxing authorities and management is prioritizing and working with the taxing authorities to make these payments in order to avoid further penalties and interest. Failure to remit these payments promptly could result in increased penalty fees.

 

Amergent is not aware of changes to claims previously reported or other claims that it deems as claims outside the ordinary course of business or otherwise, at this time, material.

 

From time to time, Amergent may be involved in legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business, and may generally be covered by insurance or otherwise determined to be immaterial to the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

ITEM 1A: RISK FACTORS

 

We may not be entitled to forgiveness of our recently received Paycheck Protection Program Loan, and our application for the Paycheck Protection Program Loan could in the future be determined to have been impermissible.

 

On April 27, 2020, we were granted a Paycheck Protection Program loan (the “PPP loan”) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (the “SBA”) in the aggregate amount of $2.2 million pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”) under the CARES Act. Due to the Spin-Off and Merger, Amergent was not publicly traded at the time of the loan application or funding.

 

The note bears interest at 1% per year, matures in April 2022, and requires monthly interest and principal payments of approximately $119,000 beginning in November 2020 and through maturity. The currently issued guidelines of the program allow for the loan proceeds to be forgiven if certain requirements are met. Any loan proceeds not forgiven will be repaid in full.The PPP loan agreement is unsecured and guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

 

Under the CARES Act, as amended in June 2020, loan forgiveness is generally available for the sum of documented payroll costs, covered rent payments, covered mortgage interest and covered utilities during the “Covered Period”, which is 8 weeks or 24 weeks (at the election of the Company) beginning on the date of the first disbursement of the PPP Loan. We will be required to repay any portion of the outstanding principal that is not forgiven, along with accrued interest, and we cannot provide any assurance that we will be eligible for loan forgiveness, that we will apply for forgiveness, or that any amount of the PPP Loan will ultimately be forgiven by the SBA. In order to apply for the PPP Loan, we were required to certify, among other things, that the current economic uncertainty made the PPP Loan request necessary to support our ongoing operations. We made this certification in good faith after analyzing, among other things, the maintenance of our workforce, our need for additional funding to continue operations, and our ability to access alternative forms of capital in the current market environment to offset the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following this analysis, we believe that we satisfied all eligibility criteria for the PPP Loan, and that our receipt of the PPP Loan is consistent with the broad objectives of the CARES Act. The certification described above is subject to interpretation. On April 23, 2020, the SBA issued guidance stating that it is unlikely that a public company with substantial market value and access to capital markets will be able to make the required certification in good faith. The lack of clarity regarding loan eligibility under the Paycheck Protection Program has resulted in significant media coverage and controversy with respect to public companies applying for and receiving loans. If, despite our good-faith belief that given our circumstances we satisfied all eligible requirements for the PPP Loan, we are later determined to have not been in compliance with these requirements or it is otherwise determined that we were ineligible to receive the PPP Loan, we may be required to repay the PPP Loan in its entirety and/or be subject to additional penalties. Should we be audited or reviewed by federal or state regulatory authorities as a result of filing an application for forgiveness of the PPP Loan or otherwise, such audit or review could result in the diversion of management’s time and attention and the incurrence of additional costs. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

47

 

 

Various subsidiaries of the Company are delinquent in payment of payroll taxes to taxing authorities prior to the current year when previous management was in place, and a failure to remit these payments promptly or through settlements could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

As of September 30, 2020, approximately $3.0 million of employee and employer taxes (including estimated penalties and interest) has been accrued but not remitted in years prior to 2019 to certain taxing authorities by certain subsidiaries of the Company for cash compensation paid. As a result, these subsidiaries of the Company are liable for such payroll taxes. These various subsidiaries of the Company have received warnings and demands from the taxing authorities and management is prioritizing and working with the taxing authorities to make these payments in order to avoid further penalties and interest. Failure to remit these payments promptly could result in increased penalty fees and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Interest and penalties on the remaining liability are accruing at approximately $26,000 per month.

 

If an existing or future restaurant is not profitable, and we decide to close it, we may nonetheless be committed to perform our obligations under the applicable lease including, among other things, paying the base rent for the balance of the lease term. In addition, as each of our leases expires, we may fail to negotiate renewals, either on commercially acceptable terms or at all, which could cause us to pay increased occupancy costs or to close restaurants in desirable locations. These potential increased occupancy costs and closed restaurants could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

As of September 30, 2020, there were four restaurants that the Company had abandoned and maintained its operating lease liabilities as the Company had not negotiated the termination of the underlying leases with its landlord. Such liabilities amount to approximately $3.0 million at September 30, 2020 and are reflected as operating lease liabilities on the interim consolidated and combined balance sheet included in this report.

 

We are not contractually obligated to guarantee leasing arrangements between franchisees and their landlords.

 

Pandemics or disease outbreaks, such as the recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19 virus), have disrupted, and may continue to disrupt, our business, and have materially affected our operations and results of operations.

 

Pandemics or disease outbreaks such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19 virus) have and may continue to have a negative impact on customer traffic at our restaurants, may make it more difficult to staff our restaurants and, in more severe cases, may cause a temporary inability to obtain supplies and/or increase to commodity costs and have caused closures of affected restaurants, sometimes for prolonged periods of time. We have temporarily shifted to a “to-go” only operating model, suspending sit-down dining. We have also implemented closures, modified hours or reductions in onsite staff, resulting in cancelled shifts for some of our employees. COVID-19 may also materially adversely affect our ability to implement our growth plans, including delays in construction of new restaurants, or adversely impact our overall ability to successfully execute our plans to enter into new markets. These changes have negatively impacted our results of operations, and these and any additional changes may materially adversely affect our business or results of operations in the future, and may impact our liquidity or financial condition, particularly if these changes are in place for a significant amount of time. In addition, our operations could be further disrupted if any of our employees or employees of our business partners were suspected of having contracted COVID19 or other illnesses since this could require us or our business partners to quarantine some or all such employees or close and disinfect our impacted restaurant facilities. If a significant percentage of our workforce or the workforce of our business partners are unable to work, including because of illness or travel or government restrictions in connection with pandemics or disease outbreaks, our operations may be negatively impacted, potentially materially adversely affecting our business, liquidity, financial condition or results of operations. Furthermore, such viruses may be transmitted through human contact, and the risk of contracting viruses could continue to cause employees or guests to avoid gathering in public places, which has had, and could further have, adverse effects on our restaurant guest traffic or the ability to adequately staff restaurants, in addition to the measures we have already taken with respect to shifting to a “to-go” only operating model. We could also be adversely affected if government authorities continue to impose restrictions on public gatherings, human interactions, operations of restaurants or mandatory closures, seek voluntary closures, restrict hours of operations or impose curfews, restrict the import or export of products or if suppliers issue mass recalls of products. Additional regulation or requirements with respect to the compensation of our employees could also have an adverse effect on our business. Even if such measures are not implemented and a virus or other disease does not spread significantly within a specific area, the perceived risk of infection or health risk in such area may adversely affect our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. The COVID-19 pandemic and mitigation measures have also had an adverse impact on global economic conditions, which could have an adverse effect on our business and financial condition. Our revenue and operating results may be affected by uncertain or changing economic and market conditions arising in connection with and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including prolonged periods of high unemployment, inflation, deflation, prolonged weak consumer demand, a decrease in consumer discretionary spending, political instability or other changes. The significance of the operational and financial impact to us will depend on how long and widespread the disruptions caused by COVID-19, and the corresponding response to contain the virus and treat those affected by it, prove to be. Currently, many states and municipalities in the U.S. and abroad have temporarily suspended the operation of restaurants in light of COVID-19.

 

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We have identified a material weakness in our internal control and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. If not remediated, our failure to establish and maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting could result in material misstatements in our financial statements and a failure to meet our reporting and financial obligations, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and the trading price of our common stock.

 

Maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and effective disclosure controls and procedures are necessary for us to produce reliable financial statements. We have re-evaluated our internal control over financial reporting and our disclosure controls and procedures and concluded that they were not effective as of September 30, 2020 and we concluded there was a material weakness in the design of our internal control over financial reporting.

 

A material weakness is defined as a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

 

The material weakness that we identified related to our financial close process including maintaining a sufficient compliment of personnel commensurate with our accounting and financial reporting requirements as well as development and extension of controls over the recording of journal entries and proper cut-off of accounts payable and accrued expenses at period end.

 

The Company is committed to remediating its material weaknesses as promptly as possible. Implementation of the Company’s remediation plans has commenced and is being overseen by the audit committee. As part of its remediation efforts, the Company hired two third party accounting firms with technical accounting experience during 2020 to support management to ensure accurate reporting. Further, the Company is in the process of designing and implementing procedures for control over the segregation of duties for the preparation of, approval and recording of journal entries and procedure to obtain the proper cut-off of accounts payable and accrued expenses in a period. However, there can be no assurance as to when these material weaknesses will be remediated or that additional material weaknesses will not arise in the future. Even effective internal control can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements. Any failure to remediate the material weaknesses, or the development of new material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, could result in material misstatements in our financial statements, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and the trading price of our common stock and we could fail to meet our financial reporting obligations.

 

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ITEM 2: UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

None.

 

ITEM 3: DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4: MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5: OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

ITEM 6: EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.   Description
     
31.1   Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), filed herewith.
     
31.2   Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), filed herewith.
     
32.1**   Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b), filed herewith.
     
32.2**   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b), filed herewith.
     
101.INS*   XBRL Instance Document
     
101.SCH*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
     
101.CAL*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
     
101.DEF*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
     
101.LAB*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
     
101.PRE*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

* XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

** Furnished, not filed.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on November 23, 2020.

 

  AMERGENT HOSPITALITY GROUP, INC.
     
Date: November 23, 2020 By: /s/ Michael D. Pruitt
    Michael D. Pruitt
    Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)
     
    /s/ Patrick Harkleroad
    Patrick Harkleroad
    Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial Officer)

 

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