DEF 14A of Rci Hospitality Holdings, Inc.
Filed Jul 16, 2024 · FY20230001628280-24-031961
NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS
NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS The persons named in the enclosed Proxy have been selected by the Board of Directors to serve as proxies (the “Proxies”) and will vote the shares represented by valid proxies at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and adjournments thereof. Unless otherwise instructed or unless authority to vote is withheld, the enclosed Proxy will be voted for the election of the nominees listed below. Each duly elected director will hold office until his successor shall have been elected and qualified. Although the Board of Directors does not contemplate that any of the nominees will be unable to serve, if such a situation arises prior to the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed Proxy will vote for the election of such other person(s) as may be nominated by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election of each of the nominees listed below. All of the nominees presently serve as directors. Eric S. Langan has been a director since 1998, and our President, CEO and Chairman since 1999. He began his career in the hospitality industry in 1989 and has developed significant expertise in sports bar/restaurants and adult entertainment nightclubs, including related areas of real estate development and finance. Mr. Langan built the XTC Cabaret nightclub brand and merged it into RCI in 1998, expanding the scope of the company. He has been instrumental in bringing professional marketing, management, finance, and technology practices and systems to the gentlemen’s club industry. As one of the original founders of the National Association of Club Executives (ACE), Mr. Langan has been an active member of its board of directors since 1999. Through these activities, Mr. Langan has acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully operate adult entertainment businesses. Involvement in certain legal proceedings: On September 21, 2020, as part of the settlement of a civil administrative proceeding with the SEC, the Company, Mr. Langan, and Phil Marshall (our former chief financial officer) agreed, without admitting or denying the findings, to a cease-and-desist order regarding certain sections of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and certain rules promulgated thereunder. The SEC’s order as to the Company, Mr. Langan, and Mr. Marshall found that, from fiscal 2014 through 2019, the Company failed to disclose a total of $615,000 in executive compensation in the form of perquisites. According to the order, these undisclosed perquisites included the cost of the personal use of the Company’s aircraft and Company-provided vehicles, reimbursements for personal airline flights, charitable corporate contributions to the school two of Mr. Langan’s children attended, and housing costs and meal allowance for Mr. Marshall. In addition, the order found that the Company failed to disclose related party transactions involving Mr. Langan’s father and brother and a director’s brother. The order further found that the Company failed to keep books and records that allowed it to report, and lacked sufficient internal controls concerning, these executive perquisites and related party transactions. The SEC’s order as to the Company, Mr. Langan, and Mr. Marshall found that the Company and Mr. Langan violated, and Mr. Langan and Mr. Marshall caused the Company to violate, the proxy solicitation provisions of Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules 14a-3 and 14a-9 thereunder. The order further found that the Company violated, and Mr. Langan and Mr. Marshall caused the Company to violate, the reporting provisions of Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act and Rules 13a-1 and 12b-20 thereunder, the books and records provisions of Sections 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act, and the disclosure controls provision of Rule 13a-15(a) under the Exchange Act. The Company, Mr. Langan, and Mr. Marshall agreed, without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings, to a cease-and-desist order and to pay civil penalties in the amounts of $400,000, $200,000, and $35,000, respectively. Travis Reese became a director and our Executive Vice President in 1999. Throughout his time with the Company, Mr. Reese has served many different roles, including, without limitation, overseeing information technology, working to create the Company’s intranet, permit tracking, and incident reporting systems, as well as other technology platforms the Company uses. Additionally, with his family history in military and aviation, he created the Company’s Bombshells Restaurant and Sports Bar concept in 2013. Mr. Reese has been involved in the adult entertainment industry since 1992. His experience and knowledge in this industry is essential to the Board’s oversight of our businesses. Luke Lirot became a director on July 31, 2007. Mr. Lirot received his law degree from the University of San Francisco in 1986. After serving as an intern in the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office in 1986, Mr. Lirot returned to Florida and established a private law practice where he continues to practice and specializes in adult entertainment issues. He is a past President of the First Amendment Lawyers’ Association and has actively participated in numerous state and federal legal matters. Mr. Lirot represents as counsel scores of individuals and entities within our industry. Having practiced in this area for over 30 years, he is aware of virtually every type of legal issue that can arise, making him an important member of the Board. Yura Barabash became a director on September 19, 2017. Since October 2021, he has served as the Vice President of Business Development at AVI-SPL, the world's largest AV/UCC integrator and digital solutions provider based in Florida. Mr. Barabash brings with him extensive corporate finance experience across various industries, both domestically and internationally. He has played a key role in numerous equity and debt financings, as well as mergers and acquisitions transactions involving public and private companies in the United States, Mexico, China, Brazil, and the European Union. From August 2019 to January 2021, Mr. Barabash was a Chief Operating Officer of Gingko Online Learning LLC, a private online learning company in Florida, and a consultant to Chengdu Gingko Education Management, an educational management company in Chengdu, China. From 2016 to June 2019, he was a Senior Vice President of Finance at Motorsport Network LLC (www.motorsportnetwork.com) in Miami, the largest motorsport digital media company in the world. Prior to joining Motorsport Network, he was an investment banker at Primary Capital from 2011 until 2016. Previously, Mr. Barabash was an investment banker at Rodman & Renshaw and Merrill Lynch. He holds a B.A. from Sevastopol City University in Ukraine and a Master in International Affairs from Columbia University in New York City, and is fluent in Russian. Mr. Barabash has recently attended the Harvard Business School Executive Education programs focusing on Audit and Compensation Committees.
NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS
Elaine J. Martin became a director on August 8, 2019. She is co-founder and general partner of two privately-held Houston area businesses for which she provides a broad array of management and accounting functions on a day-to-day basis. In 1993, she co-founded Medco Manufacturing LLC, which develops, manufactures, and sells, under Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines, equipment and disposable products used by plastic surgeons in domestic and international markets. In 1989, Ms. Martin co-founded Aero Tech Aviation LLC, which trains foreign nationals for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Frame and Power Plant examination for their license to repair US-origin aircraft. Earlier in her career, she was a Registered Nurse specializing in cosmetic surgery. Ms. Martin received her BS in Biology and Chemistry from Houston Baptist University. Her volunteer activities have included serving as a member of the board of directors of Texas A&M University Mothers’ Club (Aggie Moms). Ms. Martin’s business acumen and experience running companies make her an important member of the Board. Arthur Allan Priaulx became a director on August 8, 2019. He has more than 45 years of experience in the communications industry. Earlier in his career, he was Vice President and General Manager of King Features Division of Hearst Corporation, in charge of worldwide newspaper activities and product licensing. He was also publisher of American Banker, a leading trade publication in the financial services industry, when it was owned by Thomson Financial. In 1993, he founded Resource Media Group, a New York-based financial media and investor relations firm. His clients included a wide range of companies, including RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., for which he provided public and investor relations services from 1994 to 2013. Mr. Priaulx has been retired since 2014. He attended Dartmouth College and University of Southampton in the U.K. He has also completed graduate-level courses at INSEAD Business School in France and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. His volunteer activities have included serving as national vice president of United Cerebral Palsy.
OUR DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
OUR DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Our directors are elected annually and hold office until the next annual meeting of our stockholders or until their successors are elected and qualified. Officers are elected annually and serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors. There is no family relationship between or among any of our directors and executive officers. Our Board of Directors presently consists of six persons. The following table sets forth our directors and executive officers:
OUR DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
| Name | Age | Position | | Eric S. Langan | 56 | Director (Chairman) and CEO/President | | Bradley Chhay | 40 | Chief Financial Officer | | Travis Reese | 54 | Director and Executive Vice President | | Luke Lirot | 67 | Director | | Yura Barabash | 49 | Director | | Elaine J. Martin | 67 | Director | | Arthur Allan Priaulx | 84 | Director |
OUR DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Bradley Chhay was appointed as our CFO on September 14, 2020. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). He joined us in November 2015 as Controller in charge of migrating the Company to an upgraded ERP system and enhancing internal and external audit and SEC reporting functions. From 2007 through 2009, he was an auditor for Deloitte & Touche LLP. From 2009 through 2013, he served as Internal Audit Senior, IT Auditor, and Senior Fraud Auditor for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. of Beverly Hills, a publicly-traded company that markets tickets for live entertainment worldwide, owns and operates entertainment venues, and manages music artists. From 2013 through 2015, Mr. Chhay was an Audit Supervisor and Global ERP Project Lead for RigNet, Inc. of Houston, a publicly-traded digital technology company serving the oil and gas, maritime, and government markets. After RigNet, he briefly served as CFO for a smaller, privately-held, multi-unit restaurant chain. Board Diversity Matrix The demographic information presented below for our directors is based on voluntary self-identification by each director.
OUR DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
| | Langan | Reese | Lirot | Barabash | Martin | Priaulx | | Gender Identity | | | | | | | | Male | | x | x | x | | x | | Female | | | | | x | | | Non-Binary | | | | | | | | Did Not Disclose Gender | x | | | | | | | Demographic Background | | | | | | | | African American or Black | | | | | | | | Alaskan Native or Native American | | | | | | | | Asian | | | | | | | | Hispanic or Latinx | | | | | | | | Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | | | | | | | | White | | x | x | x | x | x | | Two or More Races or Ethnicities | | | | | | | | LGBTQ+ | | | | | | | | Did Not Disclose Demographic Background | x | | | | | |
RELATED TRANSACTIONS
RELATED TRANSACTIONS Presently, our Chairman and President, Eric Langan, personally guarantees all of the commercial bank indebtedness of the Company. Mr. Langan receives no compensation or other direct financial benefit for any of the guarantees. Three adult children of Mr. Langan are also employed by the Company in corporate shared services. Colby Langan, one of Eric Langan's adult children mentioned above, is currently the President of RCI Development Services, Inc., which manages strategy on the Company's new business ventures and received $184,068 and $138,762 in employment compensation during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, and 2022, respectively. In October 2021, we borrowed $500,000 from Ed Anakar, President of RCI Management Services, Inc. and our Director of Operations and brother of former director Nourdean Anakar, and $150,000 from Allen Chhay, brother of Company CFO, Bradley Chhay, as part of a larger group of private lenders (see Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements in our Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023). Their promissory notes bear interest at the rate of 12% per annum and mature in October 2026. The notes are payable in monthly installments of interest only with a balloon payment of all unpaid principal and interest due at maturity. The terms of the notes are the same as the rest of the lender group. Refer to Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements in our Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023, for the October 2023 extension of term of promissory notes. We paid Ed Anakar employment compensation of $718,539, $720,492, and $655,289 during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. We used the services of Nottingham Creations, and previously Sherwood Forest Creations, LLC, both furniture fabrication companies that manufacture tables, chairs and other furnishings for our Bombshells locations, as well as providing ongoing maintenance. Nottingham Creations is owned by a brother of Eric Langan (as was Sherwood Forest). Amounts billed to us for goods and services provided by Nottingham Creations and Sherwood Forest were approximately $195,000 in fiscal 2023, $207,000 in fiscal 2022, and $118,000 in fiscal 2021. As of September 30, 2023, and 2022, we owed Nottingham Creations and Sherwood Forest $10,700 and $92,808, respectively, in unpaid billings. TW Mechanical LLC (“TW Mechanical”) provided plumbing and HVAC services to both a third-party general contractor providing construction services to the Company, as well as directly to the Company during fiscal 2023, 2022, and 2021. A son-in-law of Eric Langan owns a 50% interest in TW Mechanical. Amounts billed by TW Mechanical to the third-party general contractor were approximately $443,295, $3,809, and $0 for the fiscal years 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. Amounts billed directly to the Company were approximately $9,430, $133,000, and $425,000 for the fiscal years 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. As of September 30, 2023, and 2022, the Company owed TW Mechanical approximately $0 and $9,338, respectively, in unpaid direct billings. Review, Approval, or Ratification of Related Transactions On September 23, 2019, the Board of Directors, acting upon the recommendation of its Audit Committee, adopted a written related party transaction policy, under which related party transactions are subject to review, approval, rejection, modification and/or ratification by the Audit Committee. The policy provides that prior to the entry into any transaction between the Company and one of its officers, directors, 5% shareholders or an immediate family member of any of the foregoing (a “related party”), such transaction will be reported to the Company’s chief compliance officer. The Company’s chief compliance officer will undertake an evaluation of the transaction. If that evaluation indicates that the transaction would require the Audit Committee’s approval, the Company’s chief compliance officer will report this transaction to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will review the material facts of all related party transactions that require the Audit Committee’s approval and either approve or disapprove of the entry into the related party transaction. If advance Audit Committee approval of a related party transaction is not feasible, then the related party transaction will be considered and, if the Audit Committee determines it to be appropriate, ratified at the Audit Committee’s next regularly scheduled meeting. In determining whether to approve or ratify a related party transaction, the Audit Committee will take into account factors it deems appropriate. In the event that the Audit Committee determines not to ratify and approve the related party transaction, then the Audit Committee will instruct that the related party transaction be rescinded or unwound. The Audit Committee will not approve or ratify any related party transaction unless it deems that the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction. No director will participate in any discussion or approval of a related party transaction for which he or she is a related party, except that the director shall provide all material information concerning the transaction to the Audit Committee. In reviewing related party transactions under the policy, the Audit Committee will review and consider one or more of the following as it seems appropriate for the circumstances: (1) the related party’s interest in the related party transaction; (2) the approximate dollar value of the amount involved in the related party transaction; (3) the approximate dollar value of the amount of the related party’s interest in the transaction without regard to the amount of any profit or loss; (4) whether the transaction was undertaken in the ordinary course of business of the Company; (5) whether the transaction with the related party is proposed to be, or was, entered into on terms no less favorable to the Company than terms that could have been reached with an unrelated third party; (6) the purpose of, and the potential benefits to the Company of, the related party transaction; (7) whether the related party transaction would impair the independence of an outside director; (8) required public disclosure, if any; and (9) any other information regarding the related party transaction or the related party in the context of the proposed transaction that would be material to investors in light of the circumstances of the particular transaction. The Audit Committee will review all relevant information available to it about the related party transaction. The Audit Committee may approve or ratify the related party transaction only if the Audit Committee determines in good faith that, under all of the circumstances, the transaction is fair as to the Company. The Audit Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose such condition as it deems appropriate on the Company or the related party in connection with approval of the related party transaction. Our Audit Committee is composed of all independent directors, including Yura Barabash, Elaine Martin, and Arthur Allan Priaulx. We additionally have one other independent director, Luke Lirot, who is not on the Audit Committee. The definition of “independent” used herein is based on the independence standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES All directors are expected to make every effort to attend meetings of the Board of Directors, meetings of any Board Committees on which such director serves, and annual meetings of stockholders. The Board of Directors held 10 meetings during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. The Board of Directors also executed 10 written consents to action in lieu of a meeting of the Board of Directors, which were approved unanimously. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, none of our then directors attended fewer than 75 percent of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors held during the period for which he was a director, and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on which he served during the periods that he served. Five of our six current directors attended the prior year’s annual meeting of stockholders in person, and the sixth director attended by telephone. There is no family relationship between or among any of our directors and executive officers. We have four directors who meet the definition of “independent director” under the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules, including Luke Lirot, Yura Barabash, Elaine Martin, and Arthur Allan Priaulx. Eric Langan serves as both Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. Of our four independent directors, no director has been designated “lead” independent director. Accordingly, all four independent directors have an equal role in the leadership of the Board. We believe that our overall leadership structure is appropriate based on our current size. As a part of its oversight function, the Board of Directors monitors how management operates the company. Risk is an important part of deliberations at the Board and committee level throughout the year. Committees consider risks associated with their particular areas of responsibility. The Board of Directors as a whole considers risks affecting us. To that end, the Board conducts periodic reviews of corporate risk management policies and procedures. The Board and its committees consider, among other things, the relevant risks to us when granting authority to management and approving business strategies. Through this risk oversight process, the Board reserves the right to make changes to our leadership structure in the future if it deems such changes are appropriate and in the best interest of our stockholders. AUDIT COMMITTEE We have an Audit Committee whose current members are Yura Barabash, Elaine Martin, and Arthur Allan Priaulx. All members of the Audit Committee are independent directors. The purpose of the Audit Committee is to (i) oversee our accounting and financial reporting processes, our disclosure controls and procedures and system of internal controls and audits of our consolidated financial statements, (ii) oversee the relationship with our independent auditors, including appointing or changing our auditors and ensuring their independence, and (iii) provide oversight regarding significant financial matters. The Audit Committee meets privately with our Chief Financial Officer and with our independent registered public accounting firm and evaluates the responses by the Chief Financial Officer both to the facts presented and to the judgments made by our outside independent registered public accounting firm. Yura Barabash serves as the Audit Committee’s financial expert. The Audit Committee held eight meetings during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. In June 2023, our Board adopted an updated Charter for the Audit Committee. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter can be found on our website at www.rcihospitality.com/investor. The Charter establishes the independence of our Audit Committee and sets forth the scope of the Audit Committee’s duties. The Audit Committee conducts an ongoing review of our financial reports and other financial information prior to their being filed with the SEC, or otherwise provided to the public. The Audit Committee also reviews our systems, methods and procedures of internal controls in the areas of: financial reporting, audits, treasury operations, corporate finance, managerial, financial and SEC accounting, compliance with law, and ethical conduct. NASDAQ Stock Market Rules require all members of the Audit Committee to be independent. The Audit Committee is objective, and reviews and assesses the work of our independent registered public accounting firm and our internal accounting department. Report of the Audit Committee The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. The Audit Committee discussed with Marcum LLP (“Marcum”), our independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed by the statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1, AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T. The Audit Committee has received from Marcum the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding Marcum’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with Marcum the independence of Marcum. Based on the review and discussions referred to in the paragraph above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. This report is furnished by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors, whose members are: Yura Barabash Elaine Martin Arthur Allan Priaulx NOMINATING COMMITTEE We have a Nominating Committee whose current members are Yura Barabash, Elaine Martin, Luke Lirot, and Arthur Allan Priaulx. In July 2004, the Board unanimously adopted a Charter with regard to the process to be used for identifying and evaluating nominees for director. The Charter establishes the independence of our Nominating Committee and sets forth the scope of the Nominating Committee’s duties. NASDAQ Stock Market Rules require all members of the Nominating Committee to be independent. Pursuant to its Charter, the Committee has the power and authority to consider Board nominees and proposals submitted by our stockholders and to establish any procedures, including procedures to facilitate stockholder communication with the Board of Directors, and to make any such disclosures required by applicable law in the course of exercising such authority. A copy of the Nominating Committee’s Charter can be found on our website at www.rcihospitality.com/investor. The Nominating Committee held one meeting during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES
Stockholders who wish to submit a proposal for consideration by the Nominating Committee should review the proposal requirements and deadlines referenced in the section “Future Proposals of Stockholders” below. Stockholder recommendations to the Board of Directors should be sent to 10737 Cutten Road, Houston, Texas 77066, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Any stockholder recommendations for consideration by the Nominating Committee should include the candidate’s name, biographical information, information regarding any current or past relationships between the candidate and RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., a description of our shares beneficially owned by the recommending stockholder, a description of all arrangements between the candidate and the recommending stockholder and any other person under which the candidate is being recommended, a written indication of the candidate’s willingness to serve on the Board of Directors, any other information required to be provided under securities laws and regulations, and a written indication to provide such other information as the Nominating Committee may reasonably request. All candidates, whether proposed by a stockholder or by any other means, will be evaluated based on the criteria established by the Board of Directors. Minimum criteria for non-employee candidates includes financial experience and “independence” as defined under applicable rules promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and NASDAQ Stock Market Rules. Additional criteria may include: (a) satisfactory results of any background investigation; (b) experience and expertise; (c) financial resources; (d) time availability; (e) community involvement; (f) diversity of viewpoints, backgrounds, experiences and other demographics, and (g) such other criteria as the Nominating Committee may determine to be relevant. COMPENSATION COMMITEE We have a Compensation Committee whose current members are Yura Barabash, Elaine Martin, Luke Lirot, and Arthur Allan Priaulx. In June 2014, the Compensation Committee adopted a Charter with regard to the Compensation Committee’s responsibilities, including evaluating, reviewing and determining the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers. A copy of the Compensation Committee’s Charter can be found on our website at www.rcihospitality.com/investor. The Compensation Committee held one meeting during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. Compensation Committee Report The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (see below) to be included in this Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this report. This report is furnished by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, whose members are: Yura Barabash Luke Lirot Elaine Martin Arthur Allan Priaulx Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation The Compensation Committee is comprised of Yura Barabash, Elaine Martin, Luke Lirot, and Arthur Allan Priaulx. No interlocking relationship exists between any member of the Compensation Committee and any member of any other company’s Board of Directors or compensation committee.
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS This compensation discussion and analysis describes the material elements of the Company’s compensation programs as they relate to our executive officers who are listed in the compensation tables appearing below. This compensation discussion and analysis focuses on the information contained in the following tables and related footnotes. The individuals who served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during fiscal 2023, as well as any other individuals included in the Summary Compensation Table, are referred to as “named executive officers” (“NEOs”). Overview of Compensation Committee Role and Responsibilities The Compensation Committee of the board of directors oversees our compensation plans and policies, reviews and approves all decisions concerning the named executive officers’ compensation, which may further be approved by the Board, and administers our stock option and equity plans, including reviewing and approving stock option grants and equity awards under the plans. The Compensation Committee’s membership is determined by the Board and is composed entirely of independent directors. Management plays a role in the compensation-setting process. The most significant aspects of management’s role are to evaluate employee performance and recommend salary levels and equity compensation awards. Our Chief Executive Officer often makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee and the Board concerning compensation for other executive officers. Our Chief Executive Officer is a member of the Board but does not participate in Board decisions regarding any aspect of his own compensation. The Compensation Committee can retain independent advisors or consultants. Compensation Committee Process The Compensation Committee reviews executive compensation in connection with the evaluation and approval of an employment agreement, an increase in responsibilities or other factors. With respect to equity compensation awarded to other employees, the Compensation Committee or the Board may grant stock options, often after receiving a recommendation from our Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee also evaluates proposals for incentive and performance equity awards, and other compensation. Compensation Philosophy The Compensation Committee emphasizes the important link between the Company’s performance, which ultimately affects stockholder value, and the compensation of its executives. Therefore, the primary goal of the Company’s executive compensation policy is to try to align the interests of the executive officers with the interests of the stockholders. In order to achieve this goal, the Company attempts to (i) offer compensation opportunities that attract and retain executives whose abilities and skills are critical to the long-term success of the Company and reward them for their efforts in ensuring the success of the Company, (ii) align the Company’s compensation programs with the Company’s long-term business strategies and objectives, and (iii) provide variable compensation opportunities that are directly linked to the Company’s performance and stockholder value, including an equity stake in the Company. Our named executive officers’ compensation utilizes two primary components — base salary and long-term equity compensation — to achieve these goals. Additionally, the Compensation Committee may award discretionary bonuses to certain executives based on the individual’s contribution to the achievement of the Company’s strategic objectives. Setting Executive Compensation We fix executive base compensation at a level we believe enables us to hire and retain individuals in a competitive environment and to reward satisfactory individual performance and a satisfactory level of contribution to our overall business goals. We also take into account the compensation that is paid by companies that we believe to be our competitors and by other companies with which we believe we generally compete for executives. In establishing compensation packages for executive officers, numerous factors are considered, including the particular executive’s experience, expertise and performance, our company’s overall performance and compensation packages available in the marketplace for similar positions. In arriving at amounts for each component of compensation, our Compensation Committee strives to strike an appropriate balance between base compensation and incentive compensation. The Compensation Committee also endeavors to properly allocate between cash and non-cash compensation and between annual and long-term compensation. The Role of Shareholder Say-on-Pay Votes At our annual meeting of shareholders held on August 28, 2023, approximately 96% of the shareholders who voted (including abstentions) on the “say-on-pay” proposal approved the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in the proxy statement. Although this advisory shareholder vote on executive compensation is non-binding, the Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for named executive officers. Base Salary The Company provides executive officers and other employees with base salary to compensate them for services rendered during the fiscal year. Subject to the provisions contained in employment agreements with executive officers concerning base salary amounts, base salaries of the executive officers are established based upon compensation data of comparable companies in our market, the executive’s job responsibilities, level of experience, individual performance and contribution to the business. We believe it is important for the Company to provide adequate fixed compensation to highly qualified executives in our competitive industry. In making base salary decisions, the Compensation Committee uses its discretion and judgment based upon personal knowledge of industry practice but does not apply any specific formula to determine the base salaries for the executive officers. Retirement Savings Plan The Company maintains a retirement savings plan for the benefit of our executives and employees. Our Simple IRA Plan is intended to qualify as a defined contribution arrangement under the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). Participants may elect to defer a percentage of their eligible pretax earnings each year or contribute a fixed amount per pay period up to the maximum contribution permitted by the Code. All participants’ plan accounts are 100% vested at all times. All assets of our Simple IRA Plan are invested based on participant-directed elections. We make certain matching contributions to the Simple IRA Plan, which are also 100% vested. Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits The Company’s executive officers participate in the Company’s other benefit plans on the same terms as other employees on a non-discriminatory basis. These plans include medical, dental, life and disability insurance. Relocation benefits also are reimbursed and are individually negotiated when they occur. The Company reimburses each executive officer for all reasonable business and other expenses incurred by them in connection with the performance of their duties and obligations. The Company does not provide named executive officers with any significant perquisites or other personal benefits except for personal travel using Company-owned automobiles and aircrafts. On August 28, 2023, the board of directors, after a recommendation from the Audit Committee, amended the corporate aircraft policy changing the allowed use to a maximum personal use each fiscal year, as follows: (i) 100 hours flown for the CEO and (ii) 48 hours flown each for other executive officers. Refer to footnote on All Other Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table below.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE The following table reflects all forms of compensation for services to us for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023, 2022, and 2021 of our named executive officers.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
| Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Option Awards(1) ($) | All Other Compensation(2) ($) | Total ($) | | Eric S. Langan | 2023 | 1,700,000 | — | — | 167,388 | 1,867,388 | | President and Chief Executive | 2022 | 1,700,000 | — | 1,568,500 | 151,353 | 3,419,853 | | Officer | 2021 | 1,436,539 | — | — | 108,679 | 1,545,218 | | Bradley Chhay | 2023 | 472,789 | — | — | 61,676 | 534,465 | | Chief Financial Officer | 2022 | 428,077 | — | 1,568,500 | 77,374 | 2,073,951 | | | 2021 | 431,442 | 7,500 | — | 66,055 | 504,997 | | Travis Reese | 2023 | 460,000 | 25,000 | — | 51,534 | 536,534 | | Executive Vice President | 2022 | 423,077 | — | 1,568,500 | 66,862 | 2,058,439 | | | 2021 | 437,827 | — | — | 65,537 | 503,364 |
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
(1)Amounts represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the stock options granted during the fiscal year, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Information about the assumptions used to value these stock option awards can be found in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023. (2)All Other Compensation consists of SIMPLE IRA matching contributions, automobile expenses, and personal use of aircraft. We account for personal use of aircraft to be the aggregate incremental cost of personal use of the company aircraft as calculated based on a cost-per-flight-hour charge developed by a nationally recognized and independent service. The charge reflects the direct cost of operating the aircraft, including fuel, additives, lubricants, maintenance labor, airframe parts, engine restoration, and major periodic maintenance. We added actual airport/hangar fees charged to the company on a per-flight basis. The charge does not include fixed costs that do not change based on usage, such as aircraft depreciation, home hangar expenses, and general taxes and insurance. We value automobile expenses based on the annual depreciation rate of automobiles assigned for use by the particular officer, plus cost of insurance, registration, repairs, maintenance, tolls, and fuel. Tax reimbursement benefit is based on automobile fringe benefits. A table of All Other Compensation for fiscal 2023 for our named executive officers is presented below:
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
| Name | SIMPLE IRA Matching Contribution ($) | Automobile Expenses ($) | Personal Use of Aircraft ($) | Tax Reimbursement ($) | Total All Other Compensation ($) | | Eric S. Langan | 18,539 | 23,740 | 114,401 | 10,708 | 167,388 | | Bradley Chhay | 14,069 | 39,225 | — | 8,382 | 61,676 | | Travis Reese | 13,800 | 22,095 | 10,420 | 5,219 | 51,534 |
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
CEO Pay Ratio We reviewed a comparison of annual total compensation of our CEO to the annual compensation of our median employee who was selected from all employees who were employed (other than the CEO) during our fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. The SEC’s rules for identifying the median compensated employee and calculating the pay ratio based on that employee’s annual total compensation allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions, and to make reasonable estimates and assumptions that reflect their employee populations and compensation practices. As a result, the pay ratio reported by other companies may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported below, as other companies have different employee populations and compensation practices and may utilize different methodologies, exclusions, estimates and assumptions in calculating their own pay ratios. The compensation for our CEO in fiscal 2023 of $1,862,465 was approximately 57 times the $32,496 compensation of our fiscal 2023 median employee. Pay vs. Performance We are providing the following information about the relationship between executive compensation actually paid and certain financial performance measures of the Company as required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank and Consumer Protection Act, and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K for fiscal 2023, 2022, and 2021, as it relates to our principal executive officer ("PEO") and certain non-PEO NEOs.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
| | | | | | | | | | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On: | | | | | | | | | Year | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO | | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO | | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs | | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs | | RICK Total Shareholder Return | | DJUSRU Total Shareholder Return | | Net Income | | Free Cash Flow | | | 2023 | $ | 1,862,465 | $ | 1,900,987 | $ | 536,608 | $ | 575,130 | $ | 296.39 | $ | 98.12 | $ | 29,100,000 | $ | 53,176,000 | | 2022 | $ | 3,419,853 | $ | 3,329,003 | $ | 2,066,195 | $ | 1,975,345 | $ | 319.02 | $ | 129.93 | $ | 46,060,000 | $ | 58,911,000 | | 2021 | $ | 1,545,218 | $ | 1,545,218 | $ | 504,181 | $ | 504,181 | $ | 336.19 | $ | 88.89 | $ | 30,150,000 | $ | 36,084,000 |
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
(1) Non-PEO NEOs represent Bradley Chhay and Travis Reese for each of the fiscal years presented. (2) We selected the Dow Jones U.S. Restaurants & Bars Index as our peer group for the purpose of calculating comparable total shareholder return ("TSR"). Also refer to Item 5 of Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023, for our and our peer group's five-year TSR. (3) We selected free cash flow as our Company-selected measure for this purpose. (4) "Compensation Actually Paid" is computed in the table below, in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
| | 2023 | | | | 2022 | | | | 2021 | | | | | | PEO | | Average for Non-PEO NEOs | | PEO | | Average for Non-PEO NEOs | | PEO | | Average for Non-PEO NEOs | | | Summary Compensation Table total | $ | 1,862,465 | $ | 536,608 | $ | 3,419,853 | $ | 2,066,195 | $ | 1,545,218 | $ | 504,181 | | Adjustments: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Deduct option awards granted during the year | — | | — | | (1,568,500) | | (1,568,500) | | — | | — | | | Add fair value of options granted and vested at the same year | — | | — | | 313,700 | | 313,700 | | — | | — | | | Add fair value of options granted during the year and remain unvested at year-end | — | | — | | 1,163,950 | | 1,163,950 | | — | | — | | | Increase (decrease) for change in fair value from prior year-end to current year-end of options granted in prior year | (62,527) | | (62,527) | | — | | — | | — | | — | | | Increase (decrease) for change in fair value from prior year-end to current year vesting date of options granted in prior year | 101,049 | | 101,049 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | | Compensation Actually Paid | $ | 1,900,987 | $ | 575,130 | $ | 3,329,003 | $ | 1,975,345 | $ | 1,545,218 | $ | 504,181 |
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The mix of compensation paid to our PEO and non-PEO NEOs is mostly cash salary that is fixed, as shown in the Summary Compensation Table above. Except for the stock options granted in fiscal 2022, there had been no stock-based compensation awarded since fiscal 2014. We also currently do not have long-term incentive plans that are based on the Company's stock price or any of our financial measures. As shown in the charts below, the compensation actually paid to our PEO and non-PEO NEOs is not directly aligned with our Company and peer group total shareholder return or with our Company's net income and free cash flow in the fiscal years presented.
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS There were no grants of plan-based awards for fiscal 2023.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END The following table sets forth information with respect to outstanding stock options awards for each of our named executive officers as of September 30, 2023.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
| | | Option Awards | | | | | Name | Grant Date | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | Option Exercise Price ($/Sh) | Option Expiration Date | | Eric S. Langan | 2/9/2022 | 20,000 | 30,000 | 100.00 | 2/9/2027 | | Bradley Chhay | 2/9/2022 | 20,000 | 30,000 | 100.00 | 2/9/2027 | | Travis Reese | 2/9/2022 | 20,000 | 30,000 | 100.00 | 2/9/2027 |
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED IN FISCAL YEAR 2023
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED IN FISCAL YEAR 2023 There were no stock options exercised nor stock that vested during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION We pay the expenses of our directors in attending board meetings. We paid no equity-based compensation during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, and we paid our independent directors $40,000 in cash for the fiscal year. The Audit Committee chair received additional compensation of $10,000 in cash. Following is a schedule of all compensation paid to our directors in the year ended September 30, 2023:
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
| Name | Fees earned or paid in cash ($) | | Luke C. Lirot | 40,000 | | Yura Barabash | 50,000 | | Elaine Martin | 40,000 | | Arthur Allan Priaulx | 40,000 | | Eric S. Langan | — | | Travis Reese | — |