USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 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.

USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates include deferred tax asset valuation allowances, valuing 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.

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method. As of the acquisition date, the acquirer recognizes, separately from goodwill, the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree. Goodwill is initially measured at cost, being the excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the aggregate of the consideration transferred, measured at acquisition date fair value and the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree. If the cost of acquisition is lower than the fair value of the net identifiable assets, the difference is recognized in profit. Acquisition costs are expensed as incurred.

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. Pre-opening and closing expenses are expensed as incurred.

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 December 31, 2018 and 2017, 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.

LEASES

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:

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. See the table below for the impact of adoption of Topic 842 on the Company’s balance sheet accounts as of the day of adoption, January 1, 2019:

LEASES

The Company leases certain property under operating leases. The Company also finances certain property using capital leases, with the asset and obligation recorded at an amount equal to the present value of the minimum lease payments during the lease term.

Many of these lease agreements contain rent holidays, rent escalation clauses and/or contingent rent provisions. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term, including cancelable option periods when failure to exercise such options would result in an economic penalty. The Company also may receive tenant improvement allowances in connection with its leases, which are capitalized as leasehold improvements with a corresponding liability recorded in the deferred rent liability line in the consolidated balance sheet. The tenant improvement allowance liability is amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The rent commencement date of the lease term is the earlier of the date when the Company becomes legally obligated for the rent payments or the date when the Company takes access to the property or the grounds for build out. Certain leases contain percentage rent provisions where additional rent may become due if the location exceeds certain sales thresholds. The Company recognizes expense related to percentage rent obligations at such time as it becomes probable that the percent rent threshold will be met.

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:

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 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 consolidated statement of operations. 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.

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 previously determined this intangible asset to be indefinite lived based on the Company’s expectations of franchisee renewals. During 2017, management reevaluated the expected life of the BGR franchise intangible and determined that the asset was impaired, resulting in an impairment charge of $264 thousand. Management also revised its estimated useful life of the related intangible asset and began amortizing the related asset over the weighted average life of the underlying franchise agreements.

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.

ADVERTISING

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expenses which are included in restaurant operating expenses and general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations, totaled $0.4 million and $0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

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.

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

The Company maintains its cash with major financial institutions. Cash held in U.S. bank institutions is currently insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $250,000 at each institution. No similar insurance or guarantee exists for cash held in South Africa or the United Kingdom bank accounts. There was approximately $97,000 and $202,000 in aggregate uninsured cash balances at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and created Topic 606 (ASC 606), requiring an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASC 606 replaced most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP and is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017.

The core principle of the standard is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The new standard also requires significantly more comprehensive disclosures than the existing standard. Guidance subsequent to ASU 2014-09 has been issued to clarify various provisions in the standard, including principal versus agent considerations, identifying performance obligations, licensing transactions, as well as various technical corrections and improvements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, that amends the guidance on the classification and measurement of financial instruments (Subtopic 825-10). ASU 2016-01 becomes effective in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods therein. ASU 2016-01 removes equity securities from the scope of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 320 and creates ASC Topic 321, Investments – Equity Securities. Under the new guidance, all equity securities with readily determinable fair values are measured at fair value on the statement of financial position, with changes in fair value recorded through earnings. The update eliminates the option to record changes in the fair value of equity securities through other comprehensive income. Transitional guidance provided that entities with unrealized gains or losses on available for sale (“AFS”) equity securities were required to reclassify those amounts to beginning retained earnings in the year of adoption. The Company adopted the guidance within ASU 2016-01 as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. ASU 2016-15 clarifies how cash receipts and cash payments in certain transactions are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The effective date of this update is for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The update requires retrospective application to all periods presented but may be applied prospectively if retrospective application is impracticable. The Company adopted the guidance within ASU 2016-15 as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. ASU 2016-18 requires that the statement of cash flows explain the changes in the combined total of restricted and unrestricted cash balance. Amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents will be combined with unrestricted cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning and end of period balances on the statement of cash flows. Further, the ASU requires a reconciliation of balances from the statement of cash flows to the balance sheet in situations in which the balance sheet includes more than one-line item of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash. Companies will also be disclosing the nature of the restrictions. ASU 2016-18 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted the guidance within ASU 2016-18 as of January 1, 2018. The impact of ASU 2016-18 on its financial statements was as follows: (1) changes in restricted cash balances are no longer shown in the statements of cash flows as previously presented in investing activities, as these balances are now included in the beginning and ending cash balances in the statements of cash flows.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business (Topic 805). This ASU clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The guidance is effective for fiscal years that begin after December 15, 2017 and is to be applied prospectively. The Company adopted the guidance within ASU 2017-01 as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting, which provides guidance on determining which changes to the terms and conditions of share-based payment awards require an entity to apply modification accounting. This update is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years. The Company adopted the guidance within ASU 2017-01 as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The new standard provides that a lessee should recognize the assets and the liabilities that arise from leases, including operating leases. Under the new requirements, a lessee will recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and the right-of-use asset representing the right to the underlying asset for the lease term. For leases with a term of twelve months or less, the lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. The recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee have not significantly changed from the previous GAAP. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within such fiscal year, with early adoption permitted. The ASU requires a modified retrospective transition method with the option to elect a package of practical expedients.

The Company will adopt the standard on January 1, 2019, electing the optional transition method to apply the standard as of the transition date. As a result, the Company will not apply the standard to the comparative periods presented.

The Company has elected the transition package of three practical expedients permitted under the new standard, which among other things, allows us to carryforward our historical lease classifications. The Company also made certain accounting policy elections for new leases post-transition, including the election to combine components.

The adoption will have a significant impact to our consolidated balance sheet given the extent of the Company’s real estate lease portfolio. The Company will derecognize all landlord funded assets, deemed financing liabilities and deferred rent liabilities upon transition. The Company will record a right-of-use asset and lease liability for those leases as well as all other existing leases, the majority of which are real estate operating leases. The Company expects the adoption to result in a net increase of between $16 million to $17 million in lease assets and lease liabilities. The difference between the additional lease assets and lease liabilities, net of tax, will be recorded as an adjustment through equity. We are substantially complete with our implementation efforts.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This standard significantly changes how entities will measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income, including trade receivables. The standard requires an entity to estimate its lifetime “expected credit loss” for such assets at inception, and record an allowance that, when deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset, presents the net amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. For public business entities that are SEC filers, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods therein. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of the standard on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This ASU simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step Two from the goodwill impairment test. Step Two measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Under this standard, an entity will recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. The standard is effective for any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and is to be applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company early adopted as of December 31, 2018 in its annual goodwill impairment test.