UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
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☒ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023
OR
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☐ | 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 001-40605
Soho House & Co Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
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Delaware | 86-3664553 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
180 Strand London, WC2R 1EA United Kingdom | WC2R 1EA |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: +44 (0) 207 8512 300
Membership Collective Group Inc.
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class | | Trading Symbol(s) | | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | | SHCO | | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ NO ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ NO ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large accelerated filer |
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| Accelerated filer |
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Non-accelerated filer |
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| Smaller reporting company |
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Emerging growth company | | ☒ | | | | |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the closing price of the shares of Class A Common Stock on June 30, 2023 (the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter) as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on such date was approximately $268,400,069. Shares of the registrant’s common stock held by each executive officer and director and by each other person who may be deemed to be an affiliate of the registrant have been excluded from this computation. This calculation does not reflect a determination that certain persons are affiliates of the registrant for any other purpose. As of March 12, 2024, the registrant had 195,673,947 shares outstanding, comprised of 54,173,562 Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding and 141,500,385 shares of Class B common stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement for the Registrant's 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report. The Registrant expects to file such proxy statements within 120 days after the end of its fiscal year.
Table of Contents
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) that are based on our beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements include information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations and expenses, business strategies and plans, trends, market sizing, competitive position, industry environment, potential growth opportunities and product capabilities, among other things. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and, in some cases, can be identified by terms such as “aim,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “goal,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “strive,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms.
As used in this report, any reference to ‘Soho House & Co,’ ‘SHCO,’ ‘our company,’ ‘the company,’ ‘us,’ ‘we’ and ‘our’ refers to: (i) if prior to the exchange of equity interests by equity holders in Soho House Holdings Limited for shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (as applicable) in Soho House & Co Inc. as described in this report, to Soho House Holdings Limited and its consolidated subsidiaries, and (ii) if following such exchange, to Soho House & Co Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and elsewhere in this report. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may also include information related to Revenue per Available Room (“RevPAR”), average daily rate (“ADR”) occupancy and other future demand trends and expectations. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements:
•we have incurred net losses in each year since our inception, and we may not be able to achieve profitability;
•our planned growth could put strains on our senior management, employees, information systems and internal controls which may adversely impact our business, financial condition and operations;
•our success depends on the strength of our name, image and brands, and if the value of our name, image or brands diminishes, our business, financial condition and operations would be adversely affected;
•our intellectual property rights are valuable, and any failure to obtain, maintain, protect, defend and enforce our intellectual property, including due to ‘brand squatting,’ could have a negative impact on the value of our brand names and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operations;
•we depend on our senior management for the future success of our business, and the loss of one or more of our key personnel could have an adverse effect on our ability to manage our business, financial conditions and operations and implement our growth strategies;
•changes in consumer discretionary spending and general economic factors may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations including but not limited to increased global inflationary pressures;
•we have substantial debt, and we may incur additional indebtedness, which may negatively affect our business and financial results as well as limit our ability to pursue our growth strategy;
•increased use of social media could create and/or amplify the effects of negative publicity and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations;
•we identified material weaknesses in connection with our internal controls over financial reporting. Although we are taking steps to remediate these material weaknesses, there is no assurance we will be successful in doing so in a timely manner, or at all, and we may identify other material weaknesses;
•our future performance depends in part on our ability to respond to changes in consumer tastes, preferences and perceptions;
•difficult conditions in the global financial markets and the economy generally could affect our ability to obtain capital or financing and materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations;
•our continued growth depends on our ability to expand our presence in new and existing markets and develop complementary properties, concepts and product lines;
•foreign currency fluctuations may reduce our net income and our capital levels, adversely affecting our business, financial condition and results of operations;
•Yucaipa, through its participation in the Voting Group, has significant influence over us, including control over decisions that require the approval of stockholders;
•restrictions imposed by our outstanding indebtedness and any future indebtedness may limit our ability to operate our business and to finance our future operations or capital needs or to engage in other business activities;
•the use of joint ventures or other entities, over which we may not have full control, for development projects or acquisitions could prevent us from achieving our objectives;
•a cybersecurity attack, ‘data breach’ or other security incident experienced by us or our third-party service providers may result in negative publicity, claims, investigations and litigation and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition;
•actions by so-called short sellers, including the publication of reports by such parties which contain statements that we view as factually inaccurate and otherwise misleading, may result in negative publicity, claims, investigations and litigation and adversely affect the price of our common stock and our business, results of operations and financial condition;
•if we fail to properly maintain the confidentiality and integrity of our data, including member and other customer credit or debit card and bank account information and other personally identifiable information ("PII"), or if we fail to comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations, industry standards and contractual obligations relating to data privacy, protection and security, it may adversely affect our reputation, business, financial condition and operations;
•we could face costs, liabilities and risks associated with, or arising out of, environmental, health and safety laws and regulations;
•the future outbreak of any other highly infectious or contagious diseases similar to the COVID-19 pandemic, may cause disruption to our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations;
•litigation concerning food quality, health and safety, employee conduct and other issues could require us to incur additional liabilities or cause customers to avoid our businesses;
•anticipated changes in effective tax rates or adverse outcomes resulting from our exposure to various tax regimes in the countries in which we operate;
•disruptions in the global economy caused by Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East may adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations; and
•the other factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
PART I
Item 1. Business.
On March 17, 2023, we filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to change our corporate name from Membership Collective Group Inc. to Soho House & Co Inc., which became effective on March 20, 2023. In connection with our name change, our board of directors (“Board”) adopted amended bylaws to reflect the corporate name Soho House & Co Inc., also effective on March 20, 2023. No other changes were made to our bylaws. Prior to the change of our corporate name, our stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “MCG.” From March 20, 2023, our common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “SHCO.”
As used in this annual report, unless the context otherwise indicates, any reference to ‘Soho House & Co,’ ‘SHCO,’ ‘our company,’ ‘the company,’ ‘us,’ ‘we’ and ‘our’ refers (i) prior to the exchange of equity interests by equity holders in Soho House Holdings Limited for shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (as applicable) in Soho House & Co Inc. to Soho House Holdings Limited and its consolidated subsidiaries and (ii) following such exchange, to Soho House & Co Inc. (or Membership
Collective Group prior to the March 20, 2023 name change referred to above), the issuer of the Class A Common Stock being referred hereby, together with its consolidated subsidiaries.
OUR BUSINESS
Soho House & Co (“SHCO”) is a global membership platform of physical and digital spaces that connects a vibrant, diverse group of members from across the world. These members use the SHCO platform to both work and socialize, to connect, create, have fun and drive a positive change.
We began with the opening of the first Soho House in 1995 and remain the only company to have scaled a private membership platform with a global presence. Over the last 29 years, we have significantly expanded our membership expertise and diversified our offerings—both physically and digitally. As of December 31, 2023, we have approximately 259,900 members (including approximately 193,900 Soho House members) who engage with SHCO through our global portfolio of 42 Soho Houses, 9 Soho Works, Scorpios Beach Club in Mykonos, Soho Home, our interiors and lifestyle retail brand, and our digital channels. The Ned hotels in London, New York and Doha and The LINE and Saguaro hotels in North America also form part of SHCO’s wider portfolio via management agreements to operate the properties.
Our central pillar is Soho House, which continues to drive the majority of our membership and revenue today. A Soho House membership offers access to a network of distinctive and carefully curated Houses, across North America, the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia, which serve as the cornerstone of our member experience. We enhance our member experience through our digital channels, including the Soho House App and our website. Our vision for the Soho House App has always been for it to be like having a House in your pocket. It’s our central destination for members to make bookings, invite guests, make payments, and connect with each other. We host thousands of member events worldwide, spanning film, fashion, art, food and drink, well-being, work and music—and help our members forge connections to bring them closer together.
Our membership expertise, honed through the growth of Soho House, has led to our evolution into SHCO, a home to numerous memberships including Cities Without Houses, Soho Works, Soho Friends and Ned’s Club. By designing, curating and growing our membership offering, our membership platform can respond to shifting lifestyle trends and the evolution of our members’ needs. Our memberships work together, allowing us to reach new audiences with a set of interconnected offerings.
Everything we do across these memberships begins and ends with our members. The foundation of our member experience has been crafted over our 29-year history and is built on the following pillars:
•Membership: We are in the business of forging connections and bringing people together. Our diverse global membership is the soul of our company. It is the people that define our culture and shape the experience – in turn attracting new members.
•Physical and digital spaces: We create and operate interconnected spaces. Each of our physical locations is designed to reflect our members and the local community that they serve. Our digital platforms extend our connection with members beyond our physical spaces, in turn significantly enhancing the member experience.
•Design: Our design DNA is instantly recognizable across all of our membership models, whether in our Houses, Soho Works, The Ned, Scorpios Beach Club or Soho Home. While each House and property is unique, they each have a consistency in their architectural and interior style that has come to define the Soho House experience. In each new House or site that we develop for our other brands, this style is interpreted for local tastes and preferences, reflecting the culture of the respective city.
•Services, products and experiences: Our member-obsessed culture drives us to relentlessly improve the quality of the services, products and experiences we offer to our members. We do not cut corners or compromise on quality, taking the long-term view that there is no substitute for the highest quality services, products and experiences when it comes to fostering loyalty from our members.
•Innovation: We have always strived to adapt and evolve by anticipating our members’ needs and wants. Innovation has always been part of our culture and approach, and we have used that mindset to create new memberships to serve a wider audience of people who desire personal connection via new channels.
•House Foundations: We are committed to integrating the pillars of our social responsibility and sustainability program, House Foundations, into everything we do.
Our membership has remained resilient through multiple economic cycles and other macroeconomic dislocations, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The power of our model is driven by the important role we believe that we play in our members’ lives and the value we consistently provide them for their membership fees. We believe our retention compares very favorably to leading consumer
subscriptions or memberships—across music, media, fitness, entertainment and commerce—despite, in many cases, their significantly lower price points.
The demand for our membership is also demonstrated by our large and growing global wait list, which as of December 31, 2023 stands at over 99,000 applicants. Awareness of our distinct membership offerings and their scarcity is spread by our members organically through word of mouth, social media and press coverage.
There are multiple consumer forces at play that have increased the relevance of our memberships. We have observed a secular shift in the ways that people live and work—with less time spent in traditional corporate offices and more time in social spaces that encourage creativity and mutual engagement. We believe that these trends will only accelerate, and that the freedom to be able to choose where to live and work will likely have a significant impact on our target market. We believe this will create an even greater demand for curated communities that can grow and thrive in a more deliberate environment.
OUR ASSET LIGHT STRATEGY
We have made significant investments in the development and opening of our Houses via material investment in the build out of the property, most often via leasehold improvements and fixtures and fittings, and less frequently purchasing an ownership position alongside our landlords. Beginning in fiscal 2020, with the growing reputation of Soho House as a marquee tenant, we began opening some of our new Houses under an asset light development model to conserve and drive improved return on our capital. For new House openings under this model, our landlord typically agrees to fund a substantial portion, and sometimes all, of the development costs of a House, to our design specifications, with us typically funding pre-opening expenses, art and occasionally other unique interior design elements. There are times when we fund a portion of development costs. However, this investment is typically significantly less than it has been in years prior to the incorporation of the capital light development model into our new opening strategy. A significant portion of the Houses that have been opened since fiscal 2020 and that we plan to open in the foreseeable future reflect this asset-light model. However, we continue to explore new openings on a case by case basis to balance member experience whilst seeking to optimize returns and capital efficiency.
For openings that do not follow an asset light development model, we expect our initial investment to be in the $10 million to $20 million range in most cases. This may be exceeded for larger sites. Where new openings are made under an asset-light model our total contribution is expected in the $2 million to $8 million range in most cases, including pre-opening. Whilst we believe asset light openings have a modest increase in average rents compared to openings where we have more significantly contributed, we believe the reduced capital investment results in meaningfully improved cash-on-cash returns and capital efficiency for openings that follow the asset light model.
A new Soho House membership incurs no significant membership acquisition cost, since we do not conduct any paid marketing for Soho House. Driven by consistently high retention and minimal costs associated with retaining or supporting our members, Soho House enjoys a very attractive member lifetime value. We believe new memberships provide compelling economics and be accretive to our profit, as they can often be created in an asset-light manner that leverages our existing platform.
REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
Our operations consist of three reportable segments and one non-reportable segment that we present as “all other”. Each of our segments includes all operations in that region including our Houses and all associated facilities, spas and stand-alone restaurants.
Our three reportable segments and our “other” segment are as follows:
United Kingdom. This segment encompasses operating units in the UK, including:
•Our thirteen Soho Houses in and around London;
•Two townhouses encompassing bedrooms and public restaurants, four stand-alone restaurants and four apartments;
•Soho Friends – UK membership fees; and
•The management fees under a hotel management contract for the operation of The Ned London.
North America. This segment encompasses operating units in North America, including:
•Our thirteen Soho Houses, our Toronto (Canada) House, which is a joint venture entity, and the management fees from Soho Beach House Canouan;
•Four stand-alone US restaurants and the Willows Inn in Palm Springs, California;
•Soho Friends – US membership fees; and
•The management fees under various hotel management contracts including the operation of The LINE and Saguaro Hotels, and The Ned NoMad in New York.
Europe and Rest of the World (“RoW”). This segment encompasses operating units in continental Europe and RoW, currently comprised of:
•Our eleven Houses in Europe including Soho House Barcelona and Little Beach House Barcelona, which are joint venture entities, and Soho House Istanbul which is under a management agreement;
•Two Houses in Asia and the management fees from Soho House Mumbai;
•Our majority interest in Scorpios Beach Club Mykonos;
•Soho Friends – Europe and RoW membership fees; and
•The management fees under a hotel management contract for the operation of The Ned Doha in Qatar.
All Other. This segment includes the following:
•Our Soho Home retail offerings;
•Cowshed products and spa services outside of our Soho Houses;
•Our Cities Without Houses membership;
•Our Soho Works clubs; and
•Soho House Design which provides the design of our Houses, properties and other units.
OUR MEMBERSHIP PLATFORM
All of our memberships have been built to enrich the lives of their members, as well as expand our membership offering to a broader audience.
Soho House
Soho House remains at the core of our membership platform by creating a foundation upon which additional membership businesses can be built and scaled. While our physical Houses provide our foundation, the people inside them are the soul of Soho House. As a membership founded for the creative industries, we are proud to have championed members who have gone on to shape our cultural landscape as world class writers, artists, performers, directors, founders, designers, and producers – all reflecting the spirit and energy of Soho House.
The membership of each House is assembled by a select committee of influential creatives and innovators that represent the local area in which the membership is founded. Our members actively engage in creating the culture of each House, helping to shape and localize it by participating in member events and contributing to editorial and digital content. We believe this adds to the value of each House, enriching the membership and enhancing the attractiveness of membership to prospective members worldwide. With a current US Every House annual membership fee of approximately $4,800, providing access to all of our Houses globally, we believe our membership offering provides compelling value to our members that increases as we add new Houses and more members to our global community. Our Houses attract members from every demographic, with members from “Generation Z” (26 years old and younger) and “Millennials”(27- to 42-year-olds) constituting the fastest-growing cohorts. We also believe that the pricing of our In-House offerings represents great value to our members because of the level of quality provided, reinforcing the overall membership experience, rewarding their brand loyalty and creating opportunities for future and recurring revenues.
We provide the following types of membership under Soho House to reach a broader audience and enhance the experience of our existing members:
The Cities Without Houses (“CWH”) membership opens up the Soho House membership to people who live in cities where we do not yet have a physical House. This membership allows us to welcome members to our global community in new geographies, generates additional revenues on our existing base of Houses and provides intelligence for future growth. We have leveraged CWH to open new Houses in certain locations, including Bangkok, Thailand (February 2023), and Mexico City, Mexico (September 2023). As of December 31, 2023, we have 10,622 CWH members across 82 cities.
There are a significant number of people who enjoy the Soho House way of living and who have already visited our Houses as guests, stayed in our bedrooms, or visited our public restaurants and spas, but do not currently have a Soho House membership. Soho Friends membership caters to this audience for an annual subscription cost of approximately $130. We offer access to physical spaces, including Soho House bedrooms, and screenings, with additional benefits from
our restaurants, spas and online retail brands, although Soho Friends do not have full access to our Houses. As of December 31, 2023, we had 59,971 Soho Friends members. We have and continue to grow this membership brand in a measured way so that our Soho House members continue to account for the majority of visitors to our Houses and restaurants.
Soho Works provides its members with the space and resources to work alongside other like-minded individuals and businesses—facilitating connections and providing the tools to flourish. Aimed primarily at existing Soho House and Soho Friends members, Soho Works draws on the same design principles and membership ethos as Soho House, but is a space purposed entirely for work and creative collaboration.
We operate nine Soho Works sites in London, New York and Los Angeles and as of December 31, 2023, we had 6,048 Soho Works members. Soho Works membership rates vary by location and Soho House membership status. For Soho House members, a US Soho Works membership fee ranges from $400 to $750 per month, depending on membership type.
Soho Home
Soho Home was created as a result of the consistent requests from our members to recreate the look and feel of the Houses in their own homes. Soho Home is an interiors and lifestyle retail brand that offers handcrafted furniture, lighting, textiles, tableware and accessories mostly through ecommerce. Over the past few years, we have transformed Soho Home into a high growth retail business.
Scorpios Beach Club
Set in a cove on the southern tip of Mykonos, Scorpios offers a one of a kind beach experience with a well-established globally recognized brand. With a restaurant, terraces and daybeds, and a distinctive wellness offering, Scorpios enriches the lives of its guests who are looking to escape from their daily lives. We believe the Scorpios concept has significant potential to expand into additional locations as a key part of our platform and we expect to open other sites in Tulum, Mexico and Bodrum, Turkey in the next 12 to 18 months.
The Ned
The Ned brand seeks to embody a “city within a city” full-service destination, by playing host to multiple restaurants, bedrooms, a range of grooming services, spa, gym and a full-service members’ club. The membership offered by The Ned (“Ned’s Club”) including Ned’s Friends is aimed at a broader audience of professional people. As of December 31, 2023, Ned’s Club in London, New York and Doha have approximately 4,600 total members. The Ned offers its members The Ned’s Club app, which allows members to make bookings, publish benefits, events and club related information. We receive management fees under hotel management contracts for each of the operations of The Ned sites.
The LINE
On June 22, 2021, we acquired the operating agreements relating to the ‘The LINE’ and ‘Saguaro’ hotels. The hotels that are currently operational are located in Los Angeles, Washington, Austin, Palm Springs, and San Francisco, and among them offer a variety of food and beverage offerings together with approximately 1,500 hotel rooms. We receive management fees under hotel management contract for the operation of these hotels. The transaction has broadened our geographic reach in North America. Refer to Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 3 - Acquisitions for further information.
OUR GROWTH PLAN
The Soho House business is our key driver of global expansion. We are primarily focused on growing and enhancing Soho House membership value proposition to drive long-term recurring revenue as well as delivering operational excellence to drive profitability and free cash flow.
Membership is the core to everything we do and growing and enhancing the membership experience remains the principal driver of growth for the business. Expansion of Soho House into new areas is exciting for us and our members, and both furthers the reach and strengthens our brand. Opening Houses in existing cities satisfies unmet demand (as represented by our local wait lists), and leverages our existing infrastructure.
During fiscal 2023, we increased our total House count to 42 Houses compared to 40 Houses as of the end of fiscal 2022. Our recent development pipeline has extended our global footprint to exciting cities such as Mexico City and Bangkok. We continue to see substantial long-term growth opportunities globally. In the current environment, we currently anticipate a growth target of two to four
Soho House openings annually over the next two years, before we expect openings to ramp up again thereafter. Our current pipeline anticipates our Soho House portfolio expanding to 44-46 Houses by year-end 2024.
Notably, aside from the temporary closure of certain Houses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, regional events including recent instability in Israel when our Tel Aviv House was temporary closed and closures for refurbishment, we have never closed a House at any point in our 29-year history. We have a proven track record of consistently opening successful new sites that achieve member growth targets.
We have developed a digital platform that enables and supports all our memberships. The platform is a collection of software, both off the shelf and built in-house, and supports experience digitally for both prospective members and existing members, through our app, website, contact centers and in our physical spaces. The platform is scalable enabling it to support our continuing international growth and contains rich features (including digital membership card, multiple types of bookings, guest invitations, payments, content publishing, subscription management and social connectivity) that manage and improve member experience. Our global website is the primary place for new member acquisitions and majority of our members use the app regularly.
In fiscal 2023, there were over one million non-member guests who visited our Houses, many of whom visited frequently. Our intention is to continue to convert these customers into Soho Friends and House members. We continue to leverage our House Guest system to collect data and better understand our customers and visitors. Through this and offering access to bedrooms and discounts, we continue to convert many of these visitors into Soho House and Soho Friends members. In addition, our members and guests get to experience the design elements of our Houses and often are interested in buying them for their own homes. In fiscal 2023, Soho Home grew its sales by 13% and we believe Soho Home has significant potential to continue its strong growth. We also continue to grow and expand Scorpios and The Ned, where we have a management contract, to additional locations.
HOUSE FOUNDATIONS
Our Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) program, House Foundations, is focused on making a positive impact on our employees, the lives of our members and the environment.
Aligning with the key impact areas of our business, our ESG strategy has a focus on value creation to attract and retain members and employees and to protect our surroundings, as part of a long-term goal to support the sustainable growth of Soho House.
People are at the heart of everything we do, and as such, our ESG progress to date has had a principal emphasis on social impact. As a global membership of creatives, we are committed to using our platform to help people from underrepresented and lower socio-economic backgrounds gain access to the creative industries. Alongside this, we have strong focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in our teams and supply chain, and on supporting the communities around us, through Soho Give.
We have also developed a sustainability program to reduce the impact of our business on the environment. We have set ambitious 2030 goals, as well as yearly roadmaps to reduce carbon emissions in our direct operations and supply chain in line with the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, to promote responsible consumption and divert food and non-food waste from landfill, to minimize environmentally harmful practices in our sites, and to uphold an environmental and ethical standard in our supply chain through a supplier code of conduct. Our impact is tracked and measured against the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and to show our commitment to working towards a fair and sustainable planet we have signed the UN Global Compact.
House Foundations is the vision of our Founder Nick Jones and is led and championed by our CEO Andrew Carnie and CFO Thomas Allen, the Board and our wider leadership team. Our internal team, supported by our expert external advisors (The Sustainability Group), aims to integrate social, environmental and ethical practices into the running of our business. We believe House Foundations adds more to our member experience and improves the well-being of our teams.
SEASONALITY
The hospitality industry is seasonal in nature. The periods during which our properties experience higher or lower levels of demand vary from property to property, depending principally upon their location and type of property. Our In-House revenues generally fluctuate quarterly and is typically highest in the fourth quarter and lowest in the first quarter of our fiscal year. Fourth quarter revenue benefits from holiday season spending while first quarter revenue is affected by colder weather impacting tourism to some of our major markets and a general reduction in in-house expenditures by members in January following the end of the holiday season.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Our portfolio of brand offerings, including Soho House, Soho Works, Scorpios, The Ned, The LINE and Saguaro, Cowshed, Soho House Design, Soho Home and Cecconi’s, and the digital platform that supports these are very important to us. We rely on trademarks, copyrights, know-how and expertise, registered domain names, license agreements, intellectual property assignment agreements, confidentiality procedures and nondisclosure agreements to establish and protect our intellectual property and proprietary
rights. We seek to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights, including our proprietary technology, know-how and brand, by relying on a combination of federal, state, and common law rights in the US and other jurisdictions, as well as on contractual measures. As of February 21, 2024, we owned approximately 84 registered US trademarks, 10 pending US trademark applications, 534 registered non-US trademarks and 40 pending non-US trademark applications. As of February 21, 2024, we owned approximately 694 US and international registered domain names, including www.sohohouse.com.
Our strategy for opening any operation is to register national trademarks early in the process of expanding into new territories to prevent third parties from trademark squatting and registering their own competing trademarks before us. However, the efforts we take and have taken to protect our intellectual property rights may not be sufficient or effective. For example, brand squatting is an issue for us, particularly in places such as South America and Asia. In China and Australia, the presence of third-party rights holders with ‘Soho’ trademarks has made registering our ‘Soho House’ trademark a challenge. Where there are third-party rights in a particular jurisdiction, we generally assess the risk associated with such rights and take steps to oppose or negotiate with the trademark owner as appropriate, to protect our family of brands from dilution and customer confusion. Additionally, third parties have in the past and may in the future assert claims of infringement, misappropriation and other violations of intellectual property rights against us. Our trademarks have in the past and may in the future be opposed, contested, circumvented or found to be unenforceable, weak or invalid, and we may not be able to prevent third parties from infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating them. To counter infringement or unauthorized use of our trademarks, we may deem it necessary to file infringement claims, which can be expensive and time consuming. For more information, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Our intellectual property rights are valuable, and any failure to obtain, maintain, protect, defend and enforce our intellectual property, including due to ‘brand squatting,’ could have a negative impact on the value of our brand names and adversely affect our business and operations."
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, DATA PRIVACY AND CYBERSECURITY
We are committed to protecting the security of member data and other personally identifiable information ("PII"). We undertake measures to protect our systems, including the Soho House App and our website, and the member data and other PII that our systems collect, store, share, transmit, disclose and otherwise process. We have developed policies and procedures designed to manage data security risks. We employ technical security defenses, monitor servers and systems, and use technical measures such as data encryption. We also use third parties to assist in our security practices as well as to prevent and detect fraud. We are subject to a number of stringent, complex and evolving federal, state and local data protection, privacy and security laws, rules, regulations, policies, industry standards and other legal obligations in the US and around the world. Any actual or perceived failure by us or our third-party service providers to comply with our posted privacy policies or with any applicable federal, state, local or similar foreign laws, rules, regulations, industry standards, policies, certifications or orders relating to data privacy and security, or any compromise of security, including in connection with the Soho House App, that results in the theft, unauthorized access, acquisition, use, disclosure, or misappropriation of PII or other member data, could result in significant awards, fines, civil and/or criminal penalties or judgments, proceedings or litigation by governmental agencies or customers, including class action privacy litigation in certain jurisdictions and negative publicity and reputational harm, one or all of which could have an adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations. For more information, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to our Technology and Data—A cybersecurity attack, ‘data breach’ or other security incident experienced by us or our third-party service providers may result in negative publicity, claims, investigations and litigation and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition” and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to our Technology and Data—If we fail to properly maintain the confidentiality and integrity of our data, including member and customer credit or debit card and bank account information and other PII, or if we fail to comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations, industry standards and contractual obligations relating to data privacy, protection and security, it may adversely affect our reputation, business and operations.”
We expect to continue to invest in technology capabilities to support, protect and drive our business.
EMPLOYEES AND HUMAN CAPITAL RESOURCES
As of March 1, 2024, Soho House employed 7,852 individuals including in our support offices of whom 846 are based at our support offices in London, New York and Los Angeles.
Labor laws in the United Kingdom and European Union provide minimum standards regarding annual paid and unpaid leave, sick leave, maternity leave and other provisions regarding leave from work, severance pay, pension contributions and other terms of employment. We contribute to pension schemes (or similar type schemes) for our employees in the United Kingdom and European Union.
We are committed to a policy of recruitment, promotion and training on the basis of aptitude and ability. We have dedicated Learning teams across all four of our major regions of the Americas, United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia, and we offer a wide range of training and development programs. Training offered includes customer service and leadership courses to food tasting and cocktail training,
first aid at work and health and safety courses. We also operate dedicated Cook House and House Tonic training programs for our chefs and bartenders to ensure that each customer receives consistent food and drink across all of our Houses and restaurants. We are committed to encouraging people’s development and retention, including by providing sponsorship so that employees can increase know-how and widen their skill bases by attending third-party training and courses. We also operate a group-wide program that rewards employees that go the extra mile.
We follow a robust pledge and commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion across all our functions in areas of representation, recruitment, culture, education, community engagement, and accountability. Our mission statement and values set have also been rewritten to support these initiatives. In our pledge we have committed to increasing BIPOC representation in our leadership, as well as any underrepresented functions like Design and Retail — and we aim to achieve this via outreach to diverse organizations and networks in our recruitment initiatives. We have rolled out a global training series on anti-racism and allyship. Our employee handbook reflects progressive policies regarding Parental Leave, Flexible Working, and Company Sick Pay. We have developed a performance driven culture with feedback platforms that allow for objective evaluations of our staff and development plans for their growth.
With a view to building a strong community within our workforce, we have implemented dedicated communication channels for employees, led by Facebook Workplace.
COMPETITION
We believe that we are the only company to have pioneered and scaled a private membership club platform with global presence, and our first-mover advantage has created a significant barrier to entry.
Though we face direct competition from other private members’ clubs that exist in proximity to our own Houses (as well as in numerous segments of the restaurant, hotel, co-working spaces, fitness and beauty care services and products industries), we believe that we do not have a direct competitor given the combination of different sectors in which we operate, combined with our wide geographical reach. Some membership clubs use a similar model, but we do not believe that they have been able to replicate our reach across the multiple cities, continents, and spaces in which we operate. In our view, there is a high barrier to entry, as to catch up with the size of our platform would take significant time and investment.
We believe that these business sectors are each highly competitive. Primary competitive factors include name recognition, demographic considerations, effectiveness of public relations and brand recognition, level of service, convenience of location, quality of the property, pricing, product or service and range and quality of services and amenities offered.
We also compete with other restaurants, boutique hotels, co-working spaces, beauty care providers and retailers on a local level, as well as on a global level against certain larger chains with properties in the markets in which we operate.
REGULATION
We are subject to numerous foreign, federal, state and local government laws and regulations, including those relating to the preparation and sale of food and beverages, building, zoning and environmental requirements, health and safety and fire codes, data privacy, protection and security and general business license and permit requirements, in the various jurisdictions in which we design, construct, manage, lease and/or own or operate properties. In addition, the retail nature of a portion of our business requires us to comply with laws and regulations including product safety and testing, as well as consumer rights. Our ability to develop new Houses and privately commissioned projects and to remodel, refurbish or add to our existing Houses is also dependent on obtaining permits from local authorities.
Regulations concerning the supply and sale of alcoholic beverages require us to apply to relevant local authorities for a license that must be renewed (usually on an annual basis) and which may be revoked or suspended for cause at any time. Applicable alcoholic beverage control regulations and licensing conditions apply to the supply of alcohol across our business, including in relation to the minimum age of patrons and employees, hours of operation, advertising, trade practices, wholesale purchasing, other relationships with alcohol manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors, inventory control and handling, storage and dispensing of alcoholic beverages.
We are also subject to laws governing our relationships with employees, including minimum wage requirements, overtime, working conditions, hiring and firing, non-discrimination for disabilities and other individual characteristics, work permits and benefit offerings. Federal, state and provincial laws and regulations require certain registration, disclosure statements, compliance with specific standards of conduct and other practices with respect to issuance of memberships.
ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY MATTERS
We are committed to providing safe and healthy premises, which are compliant with environmental, health and safety regulations, for our members and other customers to enjoy and our colleagues to work in. Our operations and properties are subject to extensive laws and regulations relating to environmental, health and safety requirements in the UK, the US and every other country and locality in which we operate. We receive internal and external expert guidance from safety professionals who support the business, providing advice and guidance on compliance and best practices, auditing and monitoring site conditions, along with compliance with both our safety management systems and legislative requirements, and updating our environmental, health and safety management systems in light of new or changes to existing environmental and health and safety laws and regulations.
From time to time, our operations or products have resulted in, or may result in, non-compliance with, or liability pursuant to, environmental, health and safety laws or regulations. Historically, the costs of achieving and maintaining compliance with environmental laws and regulations have not been material. However, we cannot assure you that future costs and expenses required for us to comply with any new, or changes to existing, environmental, health and safety laws and regulations or new or discovered environmental conditions will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers, their ages and positions as of December 31, 2023:
| | | | |
NAME | | AGE | | POSITION |
Ron Burkle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | | 71 | | Executive Chairman and Director |
Andrew Carnie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | | 49 | | Chief Executive Officer and Director |
Nick Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | | 60 | | Founder and Director |
Thomas Allen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | | 41 | | Chief Financial Officer |
| | | | |
Ron Burkle has been a member of the Soho House & Co Board and the executive chairman since 2012. He founded The Yucaipa Companies in 1986 and is widely recognized as one of the most successful investors in the hospitality, retail, manufacturing and distribution sectors. He is a controlling stockholder of a number of businesses and a trustee of some key philanthropic organizations. We believe Ron is qualified to serve as a member of our Board due to his deep experience in the finance and hospitality industries.
Andrew Carnie has served as Chief Executive Officer of Soho House & Co since November 2022 and President since September 2020. He previously served as the Chief Commercial Officer of Soho House from June 2019 to September 2020. From November 2013 to April 2019, Andrew worked in various positions at Anthropologie Group, including as President from April 2018 to April 2019. We believe Andrew is qualified to serve as a member of our Board due to his experience in the retail and consumer industries.
Nick Jones is the founder of Soho House and has been a member of the Soho House & Co Board since its inception. He opened Cafe Boheme on Old Compton Street in 1992 in London’s Soho, and went on to open the first House, Greek Street, in the space above in 1995. Nick has overseen every step of the growth of Soho House. He was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2017 New Year’s Honours List. We believe Nick Jones is qualified to serve as a member of our Board as a long-term founder of the business, and due to his deep experience across all areas of the business including his membership and hospitality experience.
Thomas Allen has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Soho House & Co since June 2022. Previously, Thomas worked at Morgan Stanley from 2006 to 2022, most recently as Managing Director overseeing US Gaming, Lodging and Leisure Equity Research. He was recognized as a Top 3 ranked analyst in the Institutional Investor All Americas poll in 2021.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and, if applicable, amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are available free of charge on or through our website, www.sohohouseco.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov, contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our website and the information on it or connected to it is not incorporated by reference and should not be considered a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or any other filings with the SEC.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Investing in our Class A Common Stock involves a high degree of risk, including the potential loss of all or part of your investment. Before making a decision to invest in our Class A Common Stock, you should carefully read and consider all of the risks and uncertainties described below, as well as other information included in this annual report, including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K. The occurrence of any of the following risks or additional risks and uncertainties that are currently immaterial or unknown could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows or prospects. This annual report also contains forward-looking statements and estimates that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of specific factors, including the risks and uncertainties described below. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Market Data.”
Risks Related to our Business
We have incurred net losses in each year since our inception, and we may not be able to achieve profitability.
We have incurred net losses of $117 million, $220 million, and $269 million in fiscal 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $1,360 million and as of January 1, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $1,242 million. Historically, we have invested significantly in efforts to open new Houses, launch and grow complimentary businesses, hire additional employees, and enhance our membership experience. Throughout fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2022, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic we significantly reduced our fixed and variable costs including by reducing discretionary capital spend. Nevertheless, we have continued to make significant investments in our membership platforms, including through our digital platforms and in new Houses. These efforts have and may continue to prove more expensive than we currently anticipate, and we may not succeed in increasing our revenue from these investments or otherwise sufficiently offset these expenses. While we have enacted measures to reduce our expenses, we incurred a Net Loss in fiscal 2023.
The growth of our business presents many risks, including risks related to the incurrence of debt or the expenditure of cash on new businesses, the risk that we may not be able to integrate new membership concepts into our existing business, which may prevent us from realizing the strategic and financial goals contemplated at the time of any such transaction and thus adversely affect our business and operations.
Our business has grown, in part, through a number of carefully selected investment opportunities several of which we have financed through the incurrence of indebtedness. Any strategic transaction we may undertake in the future could likewise result in the incurrence of debt and contingent liabilities or in the use by us of available cash on hand to finance any such acquisitions or other opportunities. We may experience difficulties in integrating new Soho House, Ned’s Club, Scorpios, Soho Home, digital or other membership concepts into our business. In addition, our management may be distracted by the development and opening of new Houses and growth of new businesses. Thus, if we fail to integrate new membership concepts, there could be a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
In addition, our debt burden may increase if, as we have from time to time in the past, we borrow funds to finance any future investment or expansion opportunities, which could have a negative impact on our cash flows and our ability to finance our overall operations. Although we analyze and conduct due diligence (including detailed feasibility studies and site visits) on potential new Houses and other opportunities, our assessments are subject to a number of assumptions, including but not limited to, profitability, growth, interest rates and company valuations, and our inquiries may fail to uncover relevant information. There can be no assurance that our assessments or due diligence of and assumptions regarding new Houses or other opportunities will prove to be correct, and actual developments may differ significantly from our expectations.
Our planned growth could put strains on our senior management, employees, information systems and internal controls which may adversely impact our business and operations.
We have experienced significant growth in our business activities and operations in the past few years, including the number of Houses and new business areas that form part of our operations. In fiscal 2023 we opened two Houses: Bangkok, Thailand (February 2023) and Mexico City, Mexico (September 2023). In fiscal 2022 we opened seven new Houses: Nashville (February 2022), Brighton, UK (March 2022), Holloway House (May 2022), Little House Balham (July 2022), Copenhagen (July 2022), Stockholm (December 2022) and Little Pool House Miami (December 2022). Our past expansion has placed, and our planned future expansion, including our investments in our digital platforms and new Houses, will place, significant demands on our administrative, operational, financial and other resources. Any failure by us to manage growth effectively could seriously harm our business. To be successful, we will need to
continue to implement management information systems and improve our operating, administrative, financial and accounting systems and controls.
As a result of our planned growth, we will need to recruit and train new employees and maintain close coordination among our executive, accounting, finance, legal, human resources, risk management, marketing, technology, sales, membership and operations functions. These processes may be extremely time consuming and expensive, increase management responsibilities and require significant management attention, and we may not realize a return on our investment in these processes and there can be no assurance that such processes will be successful.
Our success depends on the strength of our name, image and brands, and if the value of our name, image or brands diminishes, our business and operations would be adversely affected.
Our trademarks, trade names, image and brands, including Soho House & Co, Soho House, Soho Home and Scorpios, have been associated with creativity, design, quality, exclusivity, service and style, and we have been recognized for providing our members with access to a community that provides curated member events programming and services, including high-quality food and beverage offerings, accommodation, working spaces, luxury beach settings, and wellness and beauty-care services. Our Houses have regularly attracted international press and social media coverage as a result of our association with leading cultural and creative influencers and innovators, exclusive events and—we believe—exceptionally high service standards. A key component of our image and brands lies in our ability to develop and offer dining, hospitality and lifestyle experiences that cater to our members and guests. There can be no assurance that we will continue to be successful in this regard or that we will be able to maintain such levels of quality and exclusivity and avoid the dilution, infringement, misappropriation or other violation of our names, image, brands, trademarks or other intellectual property rights, particularly as we continue to expand.
Our success largely depends on our membership bases. The strength of our name, images, brands, trademarks and other intellectual property rights are a fundamental part of our ability to attract new members and retain current members, and our businesses would be adversely affected if our public image, reputation, brands, trademarks or other intellectual property rights were to be diminished, infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated. If an event occurs that negatively affects our members’ perception of our name, images or brands, members may cancel their memberships or visit our properties and use our other offerings less frequently, or public perception of our names, images or brands may be negatively impacted which, in turn, could result in reduced traffic at our stand-alone restaurants, working spaces and/or spas, adversely affecting our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows or prospects. Further, we are also at risk that the public may confuse our name, images, brands, trademarks and other intellectual property with other similarly-named brands. Such similarly-named brands may not operate at the same high standards that we do, resulting in negative goodwill for our name, images and brands.
In general, incidents that could be damaging to our brand may arise from events that are or may be beyond our ability to control, such as:
•actions taken (or not taken) by our employees relating to health, safety, construction, welfare, or otherwise;
•security or data breaches or incidents, fraudulent activities associated with our membership database or electronic payment systems or unauthorized access to or use or disclosure of confidential, sensitive or PII;
•litigation and legal claims, regardless of the merits or the outcome;
•third-party misappropriation, dilution, infringement or other violation of our intellectual property; and
•illegal activity targeted at us or others.
Our brand value could be diminished significantly if any such incidents or other matters erode confidence in our systems, which could result in fewer memberships being sold or renewed and ultimately lower Membership revenues, which may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Finally, if we expand too rapidly we are susceptible to the perceived erosion of the desirability of our brand. In any such event, attrition among existing members may increase markedly, and we may encounter difficulties in attracting new members, any of which may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We may have to significantly increase our advertising, communications and marketing costs to prevent our name, image and brand value from diminishing, which may adversely affect our business and operations.
We largely rely on our existing membership base and our members’ personal networks for public relations and advertising our products and services and, as a result, historically we have had virtually no marketing or sales costs associated with acquiring new
Soho House members, and very low sales costs to market our products. However, as our business continues to grow and we seek to attract a larger membership or customer base for our different services and products, we may need to significantly increase and evolve our advertising, communications and marketing strategies, and more traditional advertising and marketing campaigns may not be successful, particularly in jurisdictions where the membership model for private members' clubs is not well known or is less developed. This may result in us incurring significantly more costs and expending other resources and investment to attract and retain members and other customers, which may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our intellectual property rights are valuable, and any failure to obtain, maintain, protect, defend and enforce our intellectual property, including due to ‘brand squatting,’ could have a negative impact on the value of our brand names and adversely affect our business and operations.
We rely on intellectual property registrations and trademark, trade dress and copyright laws in the US and internationally, as well as technological measures and contractual provisions, such as confidentiality agreements with our employees, contractors and consultants, to establish and protect our brands, maintain our competitive position and protect our intellectual property from infringement, misappropriation or other violation. The success of our business depends partly upon our continued ability to obtain and use our trademarks, service marks and trade names to increase awareness of our brands and to assist with their roll out and expansion across the world. Effective protection of intellectual property rights is expensive and difficult to maintain, both in terms of application and registration costs as well as the costs of defending and enforcing those rights. It is challenging for us to monitor the unauthorized use of our intellectual property for every brand in our business across multiple jurisdictions, and we will not be able to protect our intellectual property rights if we are unable to enforce our rights or if we do not detect unauthorized use, infringement, misappropriation or other violation of our intellectual property rights. We rely on, and will continue to rely on, litigation and regulatory actions to enforce our intellectual property rights against third parties who infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate our intellectual property rights, which could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources (particularly management time) for us, may result in counterclaims or other claims against us, and may also harm our reputation or limit our business operations.
As we have grown, we have sought to register and protect our intellectual property rights in an increasing number of jurisdictions, a process that can be expensive and may not always be successful. In particular, the legal systems of some foreign countries can make it difficult to protect our intellectual property rights to the same degree as under the laws of the UK, the EU and the US, and we may fail to maintain or be unable to obtain adequate protections for certain of our intellectual property rights in all countries in which we operate. Brand squatting has been an issue for us in places such as South America and Asia, and particularly in China and Australia, where the presence of pre-existing third-party rights holders with ‘Soho’ trademarks has made registering our ‘Soho House’ trademark a challenge. We cannot be certain that all the steps we take and have taken to date are adequate to prevent imitation, use, infringement, misappropriation or other violation of our trademarks by others.
Currently, we do not own registered trademarks for all of our Houses and other brands, and while we may have unregistered rights in these trademarks, it may be harder for us to rely on any such unregistered rights to prevent third parties from copying or using our trademarks or logos without our permission. We have not been able to protect our trademarks in significant jurisdictions, such as China and Mexico. Our trademarks may be opposed, contested, circumvented or found to be unenforceable, weak or invalid, and we may not be able to prevent third parties from infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating our trademarks or using similar trademarks in a manner that causes confusion or dilutes the value or strength of our brand. Failing to adequately obtain, maintain, protect, defend and enforce our portfolio of our brands and other intellectual property could diminish their value, goodwill and market acceptance and may also result in customer confusion. This may adversely affect our business and operations or our ability to implement our growth strategy.
In addition to registered intellectual property rights, we rely on non-registered proprietary information, technology and intellectual property rights, including with respect to the Soho House App and our other software, such as unregistered copyrights, confidential information, trade secrets, know-how and technical information. We attempt to protect our intellectual property, technology, and confidential information in part through confidentiality, non-disclosure and invention assignment agreements with our employees, consultants, contractors, corporate collaborators, advisors and other third parties who develop intellectual property on our behalf or with whom we share information. However, we cannot guarantee that we have entered into such agreements with each party who has developed intellectual property on our behalf or each party that has or may have had access to our confidential information, know-how and trade secrets. These agreements may not be self-executing or may be insufficient or breached, or may not effectively prevent unauthorized access to or unauthorized use, disclosure, misappropriation or reverse engineering of, our confidential information, intellectual property, or technology. Moreover, these agreements may not provide an adequate remedy for breaches or in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure of our confidential information or technology or infringement of our intellectual property. Additionally, individuals not subject to invention assignment agreements may make adverse ownership claims in respect of our current and future intellectual property, and, to the extent that our employees, independent contractors or other third parties with whom we do business use intellectual property owned by others in their work for us, disputes may arise as to the rights in related or resulting know-how and inventions.
We may have disputes with, or be sued by, third parties for infringement, misappropriation or other violation of their intellectual property or proprietary rights, which could have a negative impact on our business and operations.
Third parties may assert claims that we are infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating their trademark, copyright or other intellectual property rights, and any claims or litigation, regardless of the outcome, may cause us to incur significant expenses and have a negative impact on our business and operations. We cannot assure you that third parties will not seek to block, enjoin, oppose, or invalidate our use of certain trademarks or other intellectual property, seek monetary damages or other remedies for the prior use of our brand names or other intellectual property, or allege that the sale of our products or services is a violation of their trademark, copyright or other intellectual property rights. Defending any claims or litigation, even those without merit, could divert our management’s attention, consume significant time, result in costly legal fees or settlement, licensing, royalty or damages payments, restrict our business by requiring us to cease offering or re-design certain products or services, impose other unfavorable terms, require us to satisfy indemnification obligations and damage our reputation, which may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We depend on our senior management for the future success of our business, and the loss of one or more of our key personnel could have an adverse effect on our ability to manage our business and implement our growth strategies.
Our future success and our ability to manage future growth depend, in large part, upon the efforts of our senior management team. Our senior management team is comprised of highly regarded and experienced figures within our industry with proven track records of successful international expansion. They have extensive experience with, and an understanding of, our members and customers who appreciate high quality alternatives to the traditional dining, entertainment and accommodation options and the price points at which such members and customers are willing to pay for the distinctiveness of the products or services. It could be difficult for us to find appropriate replacements for our senior management, as competition for such personnel is intense. While in 2022 we experienced a successful CEO transition to Andrew Carnie from our founder Nick Jones, we continue to retain the benefit of Mr. Jones' service and performance in his role as founder and director, and the loss of the services of Mr. Jones or one or more members of our senior management team could have an adverse effect on our ability to manage our business and implement our growth strategies.
We identified material weaknesses in connection with our internal control over financial reporting. Although we are taking steps to remediate these material weaknesses, there is no assurance we will be successful in doing so in a timely manner, or at all, and we may identify other material weaknesses.
In connection with the audits of our consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021, our management and independent registered public accounting firm identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. The material weaknesses related to (i) our lack of a sufficient number of personnel with an appropriate level of knowledge and experience with the application of US generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and with our financial reporting requirements; and (ii) the fact that policies and procedures with respect to the review, supervision and monitoring of our accounting and reporting functions, including IT general controls, were either not designed and in place, or not operating effectively. These material weaknesses resulted in adjustments to our financial statements and included lease accounting, income tax accounting, impairment of long-lived assets accounting, related party transactions and disclosures and balance sheet reclassifications during the course of the audit process.
As a public company, we are required to maintain internal control over financial reporting and to report any material weaknesses in such internal control. In addition, we are required to furnish a report by our management on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Additional control deficiencies may in the future be identified by our management or independent registered public accounting firm, and such control deficiencies may also represent one or more material weaknesses in addition to those previously identified. We are currently in the process of remediating these material weaknesses and we are taking steps that we believe will address their underlying causes. We have enlisted the help of external advisors to provide assistance in the areas of internal controls and financial reporting in the short term, and are evaluating the longer-term resource needs of our accounting staff, including GAAP expertise. These remediation measures may be time-consuming and costly, and might place significant demands on our financial, accounting and operational resources. In addition, there is no assurance that we will be successful in hiring any necessary finance and accounting personnel in a timely manner, or at all.
Assessing our procedures to improve our internal control over financial reporting is an ongoing process. We can provide no assurance that our remediation efforts described herein will be successful and that we will not have material weaknesses in the future. Any material weaknesses we identify could result in an adverse reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our consolidated financial statements.
We have incurred significant losses.
During fiscal 2023, we incurred a consolidated net loss of $117 million and positive cash flows from operations of $50 million. Our financial statements have been prepared on the basis that we will continue to operate as a going concern, contemplate the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of our business and make certain assumptions surrounding working capital events, projected cash flows and our ability to control expenses as necessary. While we believe these assumptions are reasonable, we can make no assurance that they will ultimately prove to be true. In particular, key factors such as the ability of our Houses to continue to operate without significant interruption and in a manner compliant with local laws and regulations (as well as anticipated demand), the level of in-House sales (primarily sales of food and beverage) that may be subject to further closures, reduced capacity as a result of potential ongoing restrictions, the continued high level of membership retention and renewals and the implementation of extensive cost reduction measures and anticipated levels of activities will all affect our future cash flows and accordingly our ability to continue to operate as a going concern.
Our future performance depends in large part on our ability to respond to changes in consumer tastes, preferences and perceptions.
Our industry is driven in large part by consumer preferences and perceptions. Our success depends significantly on our ability to anticipate and respond to dynamic and evolving consumer tastes and preferences in a timely manner. If we fail to continue to create and offer quality Houses, restaurants, co-working spaces, wellness and other offerings, or provide superior service, we may not be able to sustain or increase membership and other member traffic, which may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. With respect to our restaurants, we may invest in the development of menu items and concepts which may not be as successful as we anticipate. If consumer tastes and preferences change, we may be required to adapt our offerings and we may not be able to do so quickly or successfully at a manageable cost. Moreover, if prevailing preferences and perceptions cause consumers to avoid our Houses, restaurants and other offerings in favor of alternatives, our business would materially suffer.
Our continued growth depends on our ability to expand our presence in new and existing markets and develop complementary properties, concepts and product lines.
A substantial amount of our historical growth has been due to successfully establishing Houses in key cultural cities and other locations around the world and integrating our complementary products and services inside and outside of our Houses. We intend to replicate our model on an individualized but consistent basis in each city or such other location and continue focusing on the cross-selling opportunities created by our comprehensive portfolio of offerings. Our continued growth is dependent upon a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including but not limited to our ability to: find quality locations and reach commercially acceptable agreements regarding the lease or, more rarely, the purchase or management of sites; compete for appropriate sites; convey the appeal and exclusivity of each of our brands to new markets to attract our target membership; comply with applicable zoning, land use, environmental, health and safety laws, and data privacy, protection and security laws, regulations and requirements; obtain, maintain, protect, defend and enforce our intellectual property rights, raise or have available an adequate amount of money for construction, development and/or opening costs; obtain appropriate permits and licensing; secure acceptable suppliers, particularly in emerging markets; and timely hire, train and retain the skilled management, chefs and other employees necessary to meet staffing needs. Additionally, recent inflation of material and labor costs have resulted in higher costs of expansion and openings. Any failure on our part to recognize or respond to each of these challenges may adversely affect the success of any new properties.
Typically, there has been a ‘ramp-up’ period of time before we consider a House to be ‘mature’ and expect it to achieve our targeted level of performance. Consumer recognition of our brand has been important in the success of our Houses in our existing markets and recognition may be lacking in new geographic markets. We believe pent-up demand supports our continued growth but there can be no assurance we will successfully attract enough members and guests to new Houses and associated offerings, or that the operating results generated at new Houses and associated offerings will meet our expectations or equal the operating results generated at our existing Houses and offerings or that we will successfully complete development and expansion projects on a timely basis. Our capital and other expenditures may also be higher than expected due to cost overruns, unexpected delays or other unforeseen factors. We may also incur costs for Houses and other concepts which fail to open due to unforeseen circumstances, which could lead to material adverse effects on our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows or prospects.
We are exposed to the risks that pertain to the specific jurisdictions in which we currently or may in the future operate, which could hinder our ability to maintain and expand our international operations.
We currently own, lease and/or operate (pursuant to the terms of a management contract) Houses or other properties in the UK, the US, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Canada, Turkey, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, India, Hong Kong, France, Italy, Israel, Sweden, Denmark, Thailand and Mexico and plan in the next few years to expand to other international markets, including
South America. The success and profitability of our current and future international operations are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties in each of these jurisdictions, many of which are outside of our control, such as exchange rate fluctuations, local economic conditions, availability of talented and qualified employees, import and export restrictions and tariffs, litigation in foreign jurisdictions, differing or limited protection of our intellectual property rights, cultural differences, increased expenses from inflation, political or economic instability, taxes and payment terms. Furthermore, changes in policies and/or laws in the UK, the US or other foreign jurisdictions resulting in, among other things, higher taxation or currency conversion limitations could reduce the anticipated benefits of our international operations. Any actions by countries or other jurisdictions in which we conduct or plan to conduct business to reverse policies that encourage foreign trade and investment could adversely affect our business relationships and gross profit. We may not be able to maintain and expand our international operations successfully or on economically favorable terms and, as a result, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
Foreign currency fluctuations may reduce our net income and our capital levels, adversely affecting our financial condition.
Our financial statements are prepared, and our financial results will be reported in, US dollars. As a result, we are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk both as a result of our operations in a variety of non-US countries, and in particular, the United Kingdom, and our investments that are denominated in currencies other than the US dollar. We currently have no hedging arrangements in place to manage our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk.
Our results or equity may be reduced by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates that could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Because of the global nature of our business, unfavorable economic or political conditions or volatility in currency exchange rates could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Given that we operate globally, our business is subject to economic and political conditions throughout the world, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza and the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. During periods of unfavorable or volatile economic conditions in the global economy, such as those noted above, demand from our members and customers and their travel habits may be significantly impacted. If unfavorable economic conditions occur, particularly over an extended period, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected, as we saw in fiscal 2023 with the temporary closure of our House in Tel Aviv because of the political conflict and instability in the region. In addition, significant or volatile changes in exchange rates between the US dollar and other currencies, and the imposition of exchange controls or other currency restrictions, may have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, financial conditions and results of operations. Further expansion or escalation of military confrontations or related geopolitical tensions, including increased restrictions on global trade, could result in, among other things, lower travel demand, cyberattacks, terrorist activities, supply disruptions, workforce volatility and changes to foreign currency exchange rates and constraints, volatility or disruption in financial markets including increases in interest rates, any of which may adversely affect the global economy and our business. In addition, the effects of the ongoing conflict could intensify or otherwise affect many of the other risks described in these "Risk Factors" or elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We have certain fixed costs which we may be unable to adjust in a timely manner in response to a reduction in revenue.
The costs associated with owning, leasing and/or operating our Houses are significant, some of which may not be altered in a timely manner in response to changes in demand for our services. Rent expenses and property taxes constitute our primary fixed costs, and our profitability is dependent on our ability to anticipate and react to increases in food, energy costs, labor, employee benefits and similar costs over which we have limited or no control. Food and beverage costs are a significant part of our operating expenses and have increased significantly in recent years and we anticipate those increases may continue. Our profitability is also adversely affected by the increases in the price of utilities, including natural gas, electricity and water, whether as a result of inflation, shortages, interruptions in supply, global events, such as the Russian invasion in Ukraine, or otherwise. If our revenues decline and we are unable to reduce our expenses in a timely manner, or are unable or unwilling to pass these costs on to our members and guests, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
Food shortages or increases in food costs could slow our growth or harm our business and operations.
A key part of our business is the supply of quality food that meets our requirements at prices that remain attractive to our customers. This means we need to achieve favorable commercial terms with our suppliers and ensure there is an uninterrupted supply chain which keeps pace with our growth in each of the jurisdictions in which we are based. If there is an interruption to food supply or a food shortage on a local or global scale (including as a result of inclement weather, issues in production or distribution, unanticipated demand or other conditions), this could reduce the availability of food in, and increase the pricing of, the food chain supplies that we use to run our operations. As we continue to expand into new territories in lesser developed countries, the risk of an interruption in our supply chain is more likely. Failure to source quality food at prices that are attractive to our customers may force us to increase our
own pricing or remove certain items from our menus. This could make us less attractive to our members and customers who may then choose to reduce their dining in our businesses. The inflation in food prices due to labor shortages, global events, the effects of climate change and increases in fuel and transportation costs, may make our food costs increase significantly. Alternatively, we may be unwilling to pass these increased costs on to our members and customers, which would decrease our profit margins. In either case, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We are a holding company and our principal asset is our direct ownership of Soho House Holdings Limited and its operating companies. We are dependent upon distributions from our subsidiaries to pay dividends (if any) taxes and other expenses.
Soho House & Co Inc. is a holding company and our principal asset is our direct ownership of Soho House Holdings Limited and its operating companies. We have no independent means of generating revenue. We have and continue to intend to cause Soho House Holdings Limited and the other operating companies to make distributions to us in an amount sufficient to allow us to pay our taxes and operating expenses, but we are limited in our ability to cause Soho House Holdings Limited and its operating companies to make these and other distributions to us (including for purposes of paying corporate and other overhead expenses and dividends) under our credit facilities. Our existing credit facilities and any future indebtedness we may incur may restrict the ability of Soho House Holdings Limited and its operating companies to make distributions to us. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
Yucaipa, through its participation in the Voting Group, has significant influence over us, including control over decisions that require the approval of stockholders, which could limit your ability to influence the outcome of matters submitted to stockholders for a vote.
We are currently controlled by the Voting Group of which Yucaipa is a part. The Voting Group has agreed to vote with the other members of the Voting Group in favor of the election of Directors nominated by members of the Voting Group in accordance with a stockholders’ agreement entered into on July 19, 2021 (the “Stockholders' Agreement”) between us and each member of the Voting Group. Affiliates of Yucaipa own approximately 56.0% of our Class B Common Stock, or approximately 54.0% of the combined voting power of our common stock outstanding, and the Voting Group own Class B Common Stock representing approximately 96.5% of the combined voting power of our common stock outstanding. Once the Voting Group owns less than 15% of the shares of our total outstanding common stock, all remaining Class B Common Stock will automatically convert on a one-for-one basis into Class A Common Stock, however the Voting Group will continue to be entitled to certain board nomination rights for so long as it continues to own at least 9% of the shares of our total outstanding common stock.
The holders of our Class B Common Stock, which comprise certain affiliates of Yucaipa, our founder (Mr. Jones), and a member of our Board (Mr. Caring), are entitled to ten votes per share of Class B Common Stock, whereas the holders of our Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share of Class A Common Stock. As long as the Voting Group owns or controls common stock representing at least a majority of our outstanding combined voting power, and its members agree to act together, it will have the ability to exercise substantial control over all corporate actions requiring stockholder approval, irrespective of how our other stockholders may vote, including the election and removal of directors and the size of our Board and the approval of any significant corporate transaction, including a sale of all or substantially all of our assets. Even if the Voting Group’s ownership falls below 50% of the combined voting power of our outstanding common stock, acting together, it may continue to be able to strongly influence or effectively control our decisions, including as a result of the right of the Voting Group to nominate individuals for election to our board. Additionally, the Voting Group’s interests may not align with the interests of our other stockholders. Yucaipa and Mr. Caring are in the business of making investments in companies and may acquire and hold interests in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us. Yucaipa and Mr. Caring may also pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business, and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us.
Our audit committee is responsible for reviewing all related party transactions for potential conflict of interest situations and approving all such transactions. Our audit committee consists of directors who are independent as required by SEC and the listing rules of the NYSE, subject to the permitted phase-in period afforded by such rules. In addition, our code of ethics contains provisions designed to address conflicts of interest. However, such provisions may not be effective in limiting Yucaipa’s significant influence over us.
Disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or similar public health threats that may arise in the future, and measures implemented to combat them have had, and may in the future have, a material adverse effect on our business.
The COVID-19 pandemic, the measures governments implemented in order to stem its spread, and the general concern about the virus had a material adverse effect on the demand for worldwide for travel compared to historical levels and resulted in mandatory temporary closures of our Houses and sites. Similar disease outbreaks or public health threats that may arise in the future could have similarly adverse effects on our business. Our operations were, and could in the future be, negatively affected further if our employees
are quarantined or sickened as a result of exposure to a disease outbreak, or as a result of a similar public health crisis, or if they are subject to additional governmental curfews, health orders or similar restrictions. We are unable to predict the extent to which disease outbreaks or other public health threats that may arise in the future may change our members and customers' behavior or travel patterns, which could have a material impact on our business. The degree to which any future disease outbreaks or public health threats may impact our revenues, results of operations and financial condition is uncertain and will depend on future developments.
Increasing inflation could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Inflation and some of the measures taken by or that may be taken by the governments in countries where we operate in an attempt to curb inflation may have negative effects on the economies of those countries generally. If the United States or other countries where we operate continue to experience substantial inflation, our business may be adversely affected. In addition, we may not be able to adjust the prices we charge our members to offset the impact of inflation on our expenses, leading to an increase in our operating expenses and a reduction in our House-Level Contribution Margin and Other Contribution Margin. This could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected by disruptions in the global economy caused by Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine and disruptions and conflict in the Middle East
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has negatively affected the global economy. Financial and economic sanctions imposed on certain industry sectors and parties in Russia by the US, United Kingdom and European Union, as well as potential retaliatory actions by Russia, could also have a negative impact on the global economy. Although the Company does not operate in Russia or Ukraine, the broader consequences of this conflict, including rising energy prices and shortages of and increased costs for food, goods and services and transportation or further escalation in adjacent areas could have negative downstream effects on our business and operations. Further expansion or escalation of military confrontations or related geopolitical tensions, including increased restrictions on global trade, could result in, among other things, lower travel demand, cyberattacks, terrorist activities, supply disruptions, workforce volatility and changes to foreign currency exchange rates and constraints, volatility or disruption in financial markets including increases in interest rates, any of which may adversely affect the global economy and our business.
Additionally, the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza may adversely affect the global economy as energy prices may be adversely affected from the disruptions in the region. Specifically, our Tel Aviv house was temporarily closed because of the conflict and our revenues from that location may be adversely affected from time to time depending on the length and extent of the conflict.
Moreover, the effects of the ongoing conflict could intensify or otherwise affect many of the other risks described in these "Risk Factors" or elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Risks Related to Our Indebtedness
We have substantial debt, and we may incur additional indebtedness, which may negatively affect our business and financial results as well as limit our ability to pursue our growth strategy.
We have a substantial amount of debt, which requires significant principal and interest payments. As of December 31, 2023, we have an outstanding debt balance, net of issuance costs, of $957 million comprised of Senior Secured Notes, Other loans (as described in Note 12 Debt), finance leases and financing obligations (see Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 6 Leases and Note 12 Debt in this Annual Report on Form 10-K). Subject to the restrictions contained in our debt facilities, we may be able to incur additional indebtedness from time to time to finance working capital, capital expenditure or investments, or for other purposes. These restrictions will not prevent us from incurring obligations that do not constitute indebtedness, may be waived by certain votes of debt holders and, if we refinance our existing indebtedness, such refinancing indebtedness may contain fewer restrictions on our activities. To the extent new indebtedness or other financial obligations are added to our and our subsidiaries’ currently anticipated indebtedness levels, the related risks that we and our subsidiaries face could intensify.
Our substantial debt could adversely affect our financial condition and increase the possibility that we may be unable to generate cash sufficient to pay, when due, the principal of, interest on, or other amounts due in respect of our indebtedness. Our substantial indebtedness, combined with our other existing and any future financial obligations and contractual commitments, could have important consequences. For example, it could:
•make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our indebtedness, and any failure to comply with the obligations under our credit facilities, including restrictive covenants, could result in an event of default under such facilities;
•increase our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions, which could place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have proportionately less indebtedness;
•require the dedication of a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations towards the payment of amounts due on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of such cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, joint ventures and development or other corporate purposes;
•increase our cost of borrowing and cause us to incur substantial fees from time to time in connection with debt amendments or refinancing;
•limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and our industry;
•restrict us from making strategic acquisitions or cause us to make non-strategic divestitures to service or repay such indebtedness; and
•limit our ability to borrow additional funds, or dispose of assets to raise funds, if needed, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, and other corporate purposes.
Each of these factors may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Restrictions imposed by our outstanding indebtedness and any future indebtedness may limit our ability to operate our business and to finance our future operations or capital needs or to engage in other business activities.
The terms of our outstanding indebtedness restrict us from engaging in specified types of transactions. These covenants restrict our ability, among other things, to:
•incur indebtedness or guarantees or engage in sale and leaseback transactions;
•engage in mergers, acquisitions and asset sales;
•alter the business conducted today by the company and its restricted subsidiaries;
•make investments and loans;
•declare dividends or other distributions;
•enter into agreements limiting restricted subsidiary distributions; and
•engage in certain transactions with affiliates.
Our indebtedness limits our ability to engage in these types of transactions even if we believe that a specific transaction would contribute to our future growth or improve our results of operations. We believe that we will be able to operate our business without breaching the terms of our indebtedness. In addition, the credit agreements governing our credit facilities require us to meet specified financial and operating results and maintain compliance with specified financial covenants and ratios. In particular, under our amended senior revolving facility agreement (the "Revolving Credit Facility") with HSBC Bank PLC ("HSBC") dated December 5, 2019 (the tenor of which was extended on November 10, 2022 to July 25, 2026), from March 2023 we are required to maintain certain leverage covenants (as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility) which are only applicable when 40% or more of the facility is drawn. As of December 31, 2023, the facility remains undrawn with £71 million ($90 million) available to draw under this facility and £4 million ($5 million) utilized as a letter of guarantee against one of our operating lease agreements.
A breach of any of the restrictive covenants in our credit facilities or senior secured notes could result in an event of default, which could trigger acceleration of our indebtedness and may result in the acceleration of, or default under, any other debt we have incurred or we may incur in the future to which a cross-acceleration or cross-default provision applies, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations. In the event of any default under our credit facilities or senior secured notes, the applicable lenders or notes purchasers could elect to terminate borrowing commitments and declare all borrowings and loans outstanding, together with accrued and unpaid interest and any fees and other obligations, to be immediately due and payable. In addition, or in the alternative, the applicable lenders or agents could exercise their rights under the security documents, entered into in connection with our credit facilities and our senior secured notes. We have pledged a significant portion of our assets as collateral under our credit facilities and our senior secured notes.
If we were unable to repay or otherwise refinance these borrowings and loans when due, the applicable lenders or agents could proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure that indebtedness, which could force us into bankruptcy or liquidation. In the
event the applicable lenders or agents accelerate the repayment of our borrowings, we and our subsidiaries may not have sufficient assets to repay that indebtedness. Any acceleration of amounts due under the agreements governing our credit facilities or senior secured notes or the exercise by the applicable lenders or agents of their rights under the security documents would likely have a material adverse effect on our business and operations. As a result of these restrictions, we may be:
•limited in how we conduct our business;
•unable to raise additional debt or equity financing on terms acceptable to us, or at all, to operate during general economic or business downturns; or
•unable to compete effectively or to take advantage of new business opportunities
These restrictions may affect our ability to grow in accordance with our strategy.
Our variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our indebtedness service obligations to increase significantly.
Borrowings under our credit facilities are at variable rates of interest and expose us to interest rate risk. If interest rates increase, our debt service obligations on variable rate indebtedness would increase even though the amount borrowed remained the same, and our net income and cash flows, including cash available for servicing our indebtedness, would correspondingly decrease.
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a floating rate equal to SONIA, with a floor of 0%, plus an applicable margin of 3.25%. The applicable margin will reduce from 3.25% if our Net Leverage decreases below certain levels as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility. If the specified SONIA rate were to increase, our debt service obligations would increase even though the amount borrowed remained the same, and our net income and cash flows, including cash available for servicing our indebtedness, would correspondingly decrease.
We may enter into interest rate swaps, caps or other derivative financial instruments that involve the exchange of floating for fixed rate interest payments in order to reduce interest rate volatility. However, we currently have no hedging arrangements in place, and as such do not maintain derivative financial instruments with respect to all of our variable rate indebtedness, and any swaps we enter into in the future may not fully mitigate our interest rate risk.
We will require a significant amount of cash to service our indebtedness. The ability to generate cash or refinance our indebtedness as it becomes due depends on many factors, some of which are beyond our control.
We are a holding company, and as such have no independent operations or material assets other than our ownership of equity interests in our subsidiaries and joint ventures, and our subsidiaries’ and our joint ventures’ contractual arrangements with members and customers, and we will depend on our subsidiaries and joint ventures to distribute funds to us so that we may pay our obligations and expenses.
Our ability to make scheduled payments on, or to refinance our respective obligations under, our indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures and other corporate expenses will depend on the ability of our subsidiaries and joint ventures to make distributions, dividends or advances to us, which in turn will depend on our subsidiaries’ and joint ventures’ future operating performance and on economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors and any legal and regulatory restrictions on the payment of distributions and dividends to which they may be subject. Many of these factors are beyond our control.
As part of the going concern assessment, we have modeled a number of different scenarios. Given current economic conditions, our modeling of various scenarios, as compared to detailed forecasts, considers the potential impact of such generalized economic uncertainties on our business across all regions and the extent to which this could adversely affect House openings and cash flows. However, we can provide no assurance that the scenarios included in our models will ultimately provide to be true, our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations, that currently anticipated cost savings and operating improvements will be realized, or that future borrowings will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to satisfy our respective obligations under our indebtedness or to fund our other needs without taking other steps to reduce or delay expenditure. In order for us to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness and fund planned capital expenditures, we must continue to execute our business strategy or take such other steps to reduce or delay expenditure. If we are unable to do so, we may need to reduce or delay our planned capital expenditures or refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity. Significant delays in our planned capital expenditures may materially and adversely affect our future revenue prospects. In addition, we can provide no assurance that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness when it falls due for renewal, on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
Risks Related to Our Properties
Our properties are currently geographically concentrated in a limited number of cities and, accordingly, we could be disproportionately harmed by an economic downturn in these cities or by a disaster, such as a hurricane, earthquake or terrorist attack, among other catastrophes.
The concentration of certain of our properties in a limited number of cities exposes us to greater risk to local economic, business and other conditions than more geographically diversified companies. For example, an economic downturn, a natural disaster, a terrorist attack, civil disturbances or similar catastrophes in London, New York or Los Angeles would likely have a disproportionate effect on our overall results of operations. In addition, certain of our properties are located in markets that are more susceptible to natural disasters than others, which could adversely affect those properties, the local economies, or both. Specifically, the Miami, Florida area, where Soho Beach House is located, is susceptible to hurricanes, such as those that occurred in 2017, and St Vincent and the Grenadines, where Soho Beach House Canouan is located, is also susceptible to hurricanes; West Hollywood, California, where Soho House West Hollywood and Soho House Holloway are located, and Istanbul, Turkey, where Soho House Istanbul is located, are susceptible to earthquakes; and there have been multiple terrorist attacks in areas where a number of our Houses are located, including London, Istanbul, Tel Aviv and Mumbai. Our properties are also at risk of man-made disasters, particularly fires. Our properties are also at risk of being negatively impacted by civil disturbances, protest or rioting, such as the 2019 political protests which impacted Soho House Hong Kong. While we maintain property and business interruption insurance, we carry large deductibles, and there can be no assurance that if an earthquake, hurricane or other natural or man-made disaster or other catastrophe should affect our geographical areas of operations, we would be able to maintain our current level of operations or profitability, or that property and business interruption insurance would adequately reimburse us for our losses. Any such economic downturn, disaster or other catastrophe could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We own some of our properties, which exposes us to a fall in property prices which could harm our business.
While our model is to lease our properties, there are certain properties within our portfolio that we own or where it is owned by a joint venture —Babington House (Somerset, England), High Road House (London, England), Soho Beach House (Miami, US), Ludlow House (New York, US), 56-60 Redchurch (London, England), Little Beach House Barcelona (Garraf, Spain) and Soho House Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain). The property market in any jurisdiction may fall resulting in an erosion of value that we have built up in the owned properties and therefore adversely impacting our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our efforts to develop, redevelop or renovate our owned and leased properties could be delayed or become more expensive, which could reduce revenues or impair our ability to compete effectively.
The condition of aging properties could negatively impact our ability to attract members, or result in higher operating and capital costs, either of which could reduce revenues or profits. While we have budgeted for replacements and repairs to furniture, fixtures and equipment at our properties, there can be no assurance that these replacements and repairs will occur, or even if completed, will result in improved performance. In addition, these efforts are subject to a number of risks, including:
•construction delays or cost overruns (including with respect to labor and materials) that may increase project costs;
•obtaining zoning, occupancy, and other required permits or authorizations;
•changes in economic conditions that may result in weakened or lack of demand or negative project returns;
•governmental restrictions on the size or kind of development;
•lack of availability of rooms or spaces for revenue-generating activities during construction, modernization or renovation projects;
•environmental conditions of properties being developed;
•force majeure events, including earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods or tsunamis; and
•design defects that could increase costs.
If properties under development or renovation are delayed in opening as scheduled, or if renovation investments adversely affect or fail to improve performance, this could lead to material adverse effects on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Because most of our properties are leased, we are subject to the risk that these leases could expire or be terminated, including as a result of our default on payments under the lease, either of which would cause us to lose the ability to operate these properties.
Most of our Houses and the properties from which we operate our businesses are occupied under leases and the operation of our businesses in those Houses depends on our right to use the premises demised by the relevant lease. We are subject to the risk that a lessor could refuse to extend the agreed term of any lease agreement or that a lease agreement could be terminated before expiration of the lease term (e.g., due to a contractual break option available to the lessor or a breach of a statutory provision applicable to certain fixed-term lease agreements in the UK and Germany) or not be renewed on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Under the typical terms of the relevant leases, in the event of certain material breaches by us, the landlord may enforce its right to forfeit or terminate the lease. In some instances, the tenant has customary rights to apply for relief from any such forfeiture or termination, which application is likely to be successful if the relevant breach is remedied at the same time. However, more generally, there can be no assurances that any affected landlord will continue to allow us to use the land demised by the lease if we fail to meet our contractual obligations thereunder.
We are subject to the risk of condemnation or compulsory forfeiture.
Our business would be materially adversely affected if a condemnation or compulsory purchase order occurs in respect of any properties in which we have a long leasehold or freehold interest, since we would no longer be able to use and occupy the relevant property, and it would be unlikely that the amount received pursuant to the condemnation or compulsory purchase would represent the fair market value of the relevant property. Any property in any jurisdiction in which we operate may at any time be expropriated or compulsorily acquired by, among others, a local authority or a governmental department in connection with redevelopment or infrastructure projects which are of public benefit. Any of these developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, or results of operations and financial condition.
Any mortgage debt obligations we incur will expose us to increased risk of property losses due to foreclosure, including as a result of our cross- defaults to other indebtedness which could have a material adverse effect on us, including our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
Incurring mortgage debt increases our risk of property losses because any defaults on indebtedness secured by our owned properties may result in foreclosure actions initiated by lenders and ultimately our loss of the property securing the loan for which we are in default. For tax purposes, a foreclosure of any non-recourse mortgage on any of our properties may be treated as a sale of the property for a purchase price equal to the outstanding balance of the debt secured by the mortgage. In certain of the jurisdictions in which we operate, if any such foreclosure is treated as a sale of the property and the outstanding balance of the debt secured by the mortgage exceeds our tax basis in the property, we could recognize taxable income upon foreclosure but may not receive any cash proceeds.
In addition, any default under our mortgage debt obligations may increase the risk of cross-default on our other indebtedness, including other mortgage debt. If this occurs, we may not be able to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, which could have a material adverse effect on us, including our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We believe that we will be able to operate our business without breaching the terms of any of our mortgage debt obligations. We are currently in compliance with all such terms.
The use of joint ventures or other entities, over which we may not have full control, for development projects or acquisitions could prevent us from achieving our objectives.
We have in the past and may in the future acquire, develop or redevelop properties through joint ventures with third parties, acquiring non-controlling interests in or sharing responsibility for managing the affairs of a House, joint venture or other entity. To the extent we own or lease properties through joint ventures or other entities, we may not be in a position to exercise sole decision-making authority regarding the ownership or operations of such House or property, joint venture or other entity. Investments in joint ventures or other entities may, under certain circumstances, involve risks not present were a third-party not involved, including the possibility that partners might become bankrupt or fail to fund their share of required capital contributions. Likewise, partners may have economic or other business interests or goals which are inconsistent or compete with our business interests or goals and may be in a position to take actions contrary to our policies or objectives. Such investments may also have the potential risk of creating impasses on decisions if neither we nor our partner have full control over the joint venture or other entity. Disputes between us and our partners may result in litigation or arbitration that would increase our expenses and prevent management from focusing their time and effort on our business. Consequently, actions by, or disputes with, our partners might result in subjecting Houses or other properties owned or leased by the joint venture to additional risk. In addition, we may, in certain circumstances, be liable for the actions of our partners.
Preparing our consolidated financial statements requires us to have access to information regarding the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of our joint ventures. Any deficiencies in our joint ventures’ internal controls over financial reporting may affect our ability to report our financial results accurately or prevent or detect fraud. Such deficiencies also could result in restatements of, or other adjustments to, our previously reported or announced operating results, which could diminish investor confidence and
reduce the market price for our shares. Additionally, if our joint ventures are unable to provide this information for any meaningful period or fail to meet expected deadlines, we may be unable to satisfy our financial reporting obligations or timely file our periodic reports.
We may be subject to unknown latent defects or contingent liabilities related to our existing properties or properties that we acquire, which could have a material adverse effect on us, including our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects.
Our properties or properties that we may acquire in the future may be subject to unknown latent defects or contingent liabilities for which we may have no recourse, or only limited recourse, against the sellers. In general, the representations and warranties provided under the transaction agreements related to our existing properties and any future acquisitions of properties by us may not survive the closing of the transactions. Furthermore, indemnification under such agreements may not exist or be limited and subject to various exceptions or materiality thresholds, a significant deductible or an aggregate cap on losses. As a result, there is no guarantee that we will recover any amounts with respect to losses due to breaches by the transferors or sellers of their representations and warranties or other prior actions by the sellers. In addition, the total amount of costs and expenses that may be incurred with respect to liabilities associated with these properties may exceed our expectations, and we may experience other unanticipated adverse effects, all of which may materially and adversely affect us, including our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our properties or properties that we may lease or acquire may contain or develop harmful mold that could lead to liability for adverse health effects and costs of remediating the problem, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our results of operations.
When excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mold growth may occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or is not addressed over a period of time. Some molds may produce airborne toxins or irritants. Concern about indoor exposure to mold has been increasing as exposure to mold may cause a variety of adverse health effects and symptoms, including allergic or other reactions. Some of the properties in our portfolio or properties that we may acquire or lease may contain microbial matter, such as mold and mildew, which could require us to undertake a costly remediation program to contain or remove the mold from the affected property. Furthermore, we can provide no assurances that we will be successful in identifying harmful mold and mildew at properties that we seek to acquire or lease in the future, which could require us to take remedial action at such properties. The presence of mold could expose us to liability from guests, employees, contractors and others if property damage or health concerns arise, which could have a material adverse effect on us, including our results of operations and financial condition.
Risks Related to our Technology and Data
Our business relies heavily on information systems and technology, and any failure, interruption or weakness in our or our third-party service providers’ information systems or technology may prevent us from effectively operating our business and damage our reputation. A failure to adequately update our existing systems and implement new systems could harm our businesses and adversely affect our results of operations.
We increasingly rely on information technology ("IT") systems, including our point-of-sale processing systems in our Houses, restaurants and other businesses and other information systems managed by third-party service providers, to interact with our members and customers and collect, maintain, store, transfer, disclose and otherwise process customer and member information and other PII, including for our operations, collection of cash, management of our supply chain, accounting, staffing, payment obligations, Automated Clearing House ("ACH") transactions, credit and debit card transactions, and other processes and procedures. We leverage our internal IT systems, and those of our third-party service providers, to enable, sustain, and support our business interests.
Given the communication channels through which we engage with our members, customers and employees, and other aspects of our business, it is important that we and our third-party service providers maintain uninterrupted operation of our business-critical computer systems. Our operations depend upon our ability, and the ability of our third-party service providers, to protect our computer equipment and other systems against damage, failure, interruption and security incidents. Our systems, and those of our third-party service providers, including back-up systems, are subject to damage, interruption, disruption or outage from, among other things, physical theft, human error, power outages and loss, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses and worms, installation of malicious software, internal or external security or data breaches, phishing, ransomware, malware, social engineering attacks, credential stuffing, denial-of-service attacks, catastrophic events and natural disasters such as fires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes, wars, terrorism, fraud, negligence, misconduct or errors by our employees or other third parties, including state-sponsored organizations with significant financial and technological resources, and other disruptive problems or security breaches. If our or our third-party service providers’ systems are damaged or cease to function properly, we may have to make significant investments to fix or replace them, and we may suffer interruptions in our operations in the interim. Any material impairment of our systems, including the theft, damage, or corruption of information in our systems, could have a material adverse
effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Among other things, this could result in interruptions to, or delays in, our business and member and customer service, unauthorized access or misuse of data, including PII, and may reduce efficiency in our operations.
In addition, the implementation of technology changes and upgrades to maintain current systems and integrate new systems, as well as transitions from one service provider to another, may also cause service interruptions, disruptions or outages, operational delays due to the learning curve associated with using a new system, transaction processing errors and system conversion delays, and may cause us to fail to comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, industry standards, contractual obligations and other legal requirements related to data privacy, protection and security. If our information systems or those of our third-party service providers fail, and our or our third-party service providers’ back-up or disaster recovery plans are not adequate to address such failures, such events may adversely affect our business and operations. If we need to move to a different third-party system, our operations, including electronic funds transfer drafting, could be interrupted. In addition, remediation of such problems could result in significant, unplanned operating or capital expenditures, which may have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
A cybersecurity attack, ‘data breach’ or other security incident experienced by us or our third-party service providers may result in negative publicity, claims, investigations and litigation and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our IT and other systems, and those of our third-party service providers, are vulnerable to cybersecurity risks. For example, certain persons and entities may attempt to penetrate our network, the systems hosting our website, the Soho House App or our other networks and systems, and may otherwise seek to misappropriate our proprietary or confidential information, including PII, or cause interruptions of our service. Because the techniques used by such persons and entities to access or sabotage networks and systems are increasingly diverse and sophisticated, change frequently and may not be recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques. Back-up and redundant systems may be insufficient or may fail, which may result in a disruption of availability of our products or services to our members or compromise the integrity or availability of our members’ information.
In addition, sophisticated operating system software and applications that we procure from third parties may contain defects in design or manufacture, including “bugs” and other problems that could unexpectedly interfere with the operation of our networks, system, or our processing of personal information or other data. Furthermore, we depend upon our employees, independent contractors, consultants and other third parties with whom we do business to appropriately handle confidential data and deploy our IT resources in a safe and secure fashion that does not expose our network systems to security breaches and the loss of data. Accordingly, if any of our IT or cybersecurity systems, processes or policies, or those of any of our manufacturers, logistics providers, customers, independent contractors or other third-party service providers fail to protect against or effectively and timely remediate unauthorized access, sophisticated hacking or terrorism, the mishandling, misuse or misappropriation of data, including PII, by employees, contractors or other persons or entities, software errors, failures or crashes, interruptions in power supply, virus proliferation or malware, communications failures, acts or war or sabotage, denial-of-service attacks or other cybersecurity breaches or security incidents, our ability to conduct our business effectively could be damaged in a number of ways, including:
•sensitive data regarding our business, including intellectual property, personal information (including PII), and other confidential and proprietary data, could be stolen;
•our electronic communications systems, including email and other methods, could be disrupted, delayed, or damaged, and our ability to conduct our business operations could be seriously damaged until such systems can be restored;
•our ability to process membership and other fees, customer orders, and our distribution channels could be disrupted, interrupted or damaged, resulting in delays in revenue recognition, harm to our relationships with customers and prospective customers and harm to our reputation;
•accidental release or loss of or access to information maintained in our or third-party service providers’ information systems and networks, including PII of our employees and our members, may occur; and
•PII relating to various parties, including members, customers, employees and business partners, could be compromised, and we may be found to be in violation of applicable data privacy, security and protection laws, rules, regulations, industry standards, policies or contractual obligations.
Furthermore, outside parties may attempt to fraudulently induce our employees or employees of our third-party service providers to disclose sensitive or confidential information in order to gain access to our or our third-party service providers’ systems and processes. The number and complexity of these threats continue to increase over time. Although we have implemented and maintain systems and controls designed to prevent cybersecurity events from occurring, including policies and processes designed to identify and mitigate threats, such efforts may not be able to prevent all security breaches or unauthorized attempts to access our systems or data, including
PII and confidential data. The development and maintenance of our IT systems, controls, and processes require ongoing monitoring and updating as technologies evolve and efforts to intrude into our IT systems become more sophisticated. Despite our best efforts, including the implementation of threat protection, information and network security measures and business continuity and disaster recovery plans, our systems and those of our third-party service providers may be vulnerable to attacks, and we cannot guarantee that the inadvertent or unauthorized use of confidential, sensitive or personal information, including PII, will not occur, or that third parties will not gain unauthorized access to such information.
A number of the states, counties and cities in which we maintain facilities issued “shelter in place” and similar orders in response to the global outbreak of COVID-19, which caused a proportion of our employees to work remotely on less secure systems. We have, and may in the future, need to devote additional resources to enhance the security of our IT systems, which may not successfully prevent against all risks. Future additional transitions to a remote work environment may exacerbate certain risks to our business, including increasing the stress on, and our vulnerability to disruptions of, our IT infrastructure and computer systems, increased risk of phishing and other cybersecurity attacks, and increased risk of unauthorized dissemination of personal or confidential information. Additionally, our third-party vendors are may also experience similar challenges as they provide services to us.
Should any of the above events occur, we could be subject to significant claims for liability from our customers, members, employees or other third parties and legal or regulatory investigations, inquiries or actions from governmental agencies or competent courts. In addition, our ability to protect our intellectual property rights could be compromised and our reputation and competitive position could be significantly harmed. Any regulatory, contractual or other actions, litigation, investigations, fines, penalties and liabilities relating to any actual or alleged misuse or misappropriation of PII or other confidential or proprietary information could be significant in terms of monetary exposure and reputational impact, and may necessitate changes to our business operations that may be disruptive to us. Additionally, we could incur significant costs in order to upgrade our cybersecurity systems, processes, policies and procedures and remediate damages. While we maintain cyber risk insurance, in the event of a significant security or data breach, this insurance may not cover all of the losses that we may suffer. The successful assertion of one or more large claims against us that exceed our available insurance coverage, or the occurrence of changes in our insurance policies, including premium increases or the imposition of large deductible or co-insurance requirements, could adversely affect our reputation and our business, financial condition and results of operations. We also cannot ensure that our existing insurance coverage will continue to be available on acceptable terms or will be available in sufficient amounts to cover one or more large claims related to a security incident or breach, or that the insurer will not deny coverage as to any future claim. Consequently, our financial performance and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
In addition, certain jurisdictions have enacted laws requiring companies to notify individuals of data security breaches involving certain types of personal data. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (2016/679) ("EU GDPR") and national laws supplementing the EU GDPR across the European Economic Area ("EEA") and in the UK, require companies to notify individuals of personal data breaches that are likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of these individuals. Additionally, laws in all 50 US states require businesses to provide notice to customers whose PII has been disclosed as a result of a data breach. In some cases, our agreements with certain customers may require us to notify them in the event of a security incident. Such mandatory disclosures could lead to negative publicity and may cause our current and prospective customers to lose confidence in the effectiveness of our data security measures. Moreover, if we, or a third-party service provider or a similar provider in our industry were to experience a security breach, customers may lose trust in the security of the business model and underlying technology generally, which could adversely impact our ability to retain existing customers or attract new ones.
Any actual or perceived threat of breach or disruption to our services or any compromise of personal data, including PII, or any actual or perceived violations of cybersecurity laws, rules or regulations, could impair our reputation, cause us to lose customers, members or revenue, cause us to face costly litigation or administrative or regulatory proceedings, result in member complaints, necessitate customer service or repair work, require increased security protection costs by deploying additional personnel and modifying or enhancing our protection technologies, require the investigation and remediation of any information security vulnerabilities and defending against and resolving legal and regulatory claims, all of which would involve substantial costs, divert our management’s attention and resources and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we fail to properly maintain the confidentiality and integrity of our data, including member and customer credit or debit card and bank account information and other PII, or if we fail to comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations, industry standards and contractual obligations relating to data privacy, protection and security, it may adversely affect our reputation, business and operations.
In the ordinary course of business, we collect, use, transmit, store, share and otherwise process member, customer and employee data, including credit and debit card numbers, bank account information, dates of birth, location information and other types of personal data. Some of this data is sensitive and could be an attractive target for criminal attack by malicious third parties with a wide range of expertise and motives (including financial gain), including organized criminal groups, hackers, disgruntled current or former
employees, and others. In particular, the increasing sophistication and resources of cyber criminals and other non-state threat actors and increased actions by nation-state actors make keeping up with new threats difficult and could result in a breach of security. The integrity, protection and security of such member, customer and employee data is critical to us.
Despite the security measures we and our third-party service providers have in place to protect confidential information and PII and to comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations, industry standards and contractual obligations relating to data privacy, protection and security, our facilities and systems and those of our third-party service providers, as well as the Soho House App, may be vulnerable to security or data breaches, acts of cyber terrorism or sabotage, vandalism or theft, computer viruses, misplaced, corrupted or lost data, programming or human errors or other similar events. Furthermore, the size and complexity of our IT systems and those of our third-party service providers make such systems potentially vulnerable to security or data breaches and other security incidents from inadvertent or intentional actions by our employees or third-party service providers or from attacks by malicious third parties. Because such attacks are increasing in sophistication and change frequently in nature, we and our third-party service providers may be unable to anticipate these attacks or implement adequate preventative measures, and any compromise of our systems, or those of our third-party vendors, may not be discovered, mitigated or remediated promptly or effectively.
Additionally, the collection, maintenance, use, disclosure, storage, transmission, disposal and other processing of PII by our businesses are regulated at the federal, state local, provincial and international levels as well as by certain industry groups, such as the Payment Card Industry organization and the National Automated Clearing House Association, and we cannot guarantee that we have been and will be in compliance with all such applicable laws, rules, regulations and standards. The regulatory framework for data privacy and security worldwide is continuously evolving and developing and, as a result, interpretation and implementation standards and enforcement practices are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. The occurrence of unanticipated events and the development of evolving technologies often rapidly drives the adoption of legislation or regulation affecting the use, collection or other processing of data. New laws, amendments to or reinterpretations of existing laws, regulations, standards and other obligations may require us to change our business operations with respect to how we use, collect, store, transfer or otherwise process certain types of PII, implement new processes, and incur additional costs to comply with those laws and our members’ exercise of their rights thereunder.
Foreign data protection, privacy, consumer protection and other laws and regulations are often more restrictive than those in the United States. In particular, the EEA (comprised of the EU member states and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and the UK, have traditionally taken broader views as to types of data that are subject to privacy and data protection. In the EU, the processing of personal data (i.e., data which identifies an individual or from which an individual is identifiable) is governed by the EU GDPR. The UK has implemented the EU GDPR into its national law by virtue of section 3 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (known as the "UK GDPR", and together with the EU GDPR, the "GDPR") which sits alongside the UK Data Protection Act 2018. The GDPR imposes a number of obligations on controllers, including, among others: (i) accountability and transparency requirements, which require controllers to demonstrate and record compliance with the GDPR and to provide more detailed information to data subjects regarding processing; (ii) requirements to process personal data lawfully including specific requirements for obtaining valid consent where consent is the lawful basis for processing; (iii) obligations to consider data protection as any new products or services are developed and designed and to limit the amount of personal data processed; (iv) obligations to comply with data protection rights of data subjects including a right of access to and rectification of personal data, a right to obtain restriction of processing or to withdraw consent to processing, or to object to processing of personal data and a right to ask for a copy of personal data to be provided to a third party in a usable format and a right to erasure of personal data in certain circumstances; (v) obligations to implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to safeguard personal data; and (vi) obligations to report certain personal data breaches to the relevant supervisory authority without undue delay (and no later than 72 hours where feasible) and affected individuals where the personal data breach is likely to result in a high risk to their rights and freedoms.
In addition, the EU GDPR prohibits the international transfer of personal data from the EEA to countries outside of the EEA unless made to a country deemed to have adequate data privacy laws by the European Commission or a data transfer mechanism in accordance with the EU GDPR has been put in place or a derogation under the EU GDPR can be relied on. In July 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union ("CJEU") in its Schrems II ruling invalidated the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework, a self-certification mechanism that facilitated the lawful transfer of personal data from the EEA to the United States, with immediate effect. The CJEU upheld the validity of standard contractual clauses ("EU SCCs") as a legal mechanism to transfer personal data but companies relying on EU SCCs will need to carry out a transfer impact assessment ("TIA"), which among other things, assesses laws governing access to personal data in the recipient country and considers whether supplementary measures that provide privacy protections additional to those provided under EU SCCs will need to be implemented to ensure an 'essentially equivalent' level of data protection to that afforded in the EEA. The UK GDPR imposes similar restrictions on transfers of personal data from the UK to jurisdictions that the UK does not consider adequate. This may have implications for our cross-border data flows and may result in compliance costs.
Further, on October 7, 2022, the U.S. President introduced an Executive Order to facilitate a new Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework ("DPF"), and on July 10, 2023, the European Commission adopted its Final Implementing Decision granting the U.S. adequacy ("Adequacy Decision") for EU-US transfers of personal data for entities self-certified to the DPF. Entities relying on EU SCCs for transfers to the U.S. are also able to rely on the analysis in the Adequacy Decision as support for their TIA regarding the equivalence of U.S. national security safeguards and redress.
It should also be noted that the UK government has published its own form of EU SCCs known as the UK International Data Transfer Agreement and an International Data Transfer Addendum to the new EU SCCs. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office ("ICO") has also published its own version of the TIA and guidance on international transfers, although entities may choose to adopt either the EU or UK style TIA. Further, on September 21, 2023, the UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology established a UK-U.S. data bridge (i.e., a UK equivalent of the Adequacy Decision) and adopted UK regulations to implement the UK-U.S. data bridge ("UK Adequacy Regulations"). Personal data may now be transferred from the UK under the UK-U.S. data bridge through the UK extension to the DPF to organizations self-certified under the UK extension to DPF.
The GDPR also introduces fines of up to €20 million (under the EU GDPR) or £17.5 million (under the UK GDPR) or up to 4% of the annual global turnover of the noncompliant company, whichever is greater, for serious violations of certain of the GDPR's requirements. The GDPR identifies a list of points to consider when determining the level of fines to impose (including the nature, gravity and duration of the infringement). Data subjects also have a right to compensation for financial or non-financial losses (e.g., distress). Complying with the GDPR may cause us to incur substantial operational and compliance costs or require us to change our business practices. Despite our efforts to bring practices into compliance with the GDPR, we may not be successful either due to internal or external factors such as resource allocation limitations or a lack of vendor cooperation. Non-compliance could result in proceedings against us by governmental entities, regulators, customers, data subjects, suppliers, vendors or other parties. Further, there is a risk that the measures will not be implemented correctly or that individuals within the business will not be fully compliant with the new procedures. If there are breaches of these measures, we could face significant administrative and monetary sanctions as well as reputational damage which may have a material adverse effect on our operations, financial condition and prospects. There is a risk that we could be impacted by a cybersecurity incident that results in loss or unauthorized disclosure of personal data, potentially resulting in us facing harms similar to those described above.
The EU has also proposed the draft ePrivacy Regulation, which, once finalized and in effect, will replace both the ePrivacy Directive and all the national laws implementing this Directive. The ePrivacy Regulation, as proposed in its current form, would impose strict opt-in marketing rules, change rules about the use of cookies, web beacons and related technologies, and significantly increase penalties for violations. Such regulations could limit our ability to collect, use and share EU and UK data, could cause our compliance costs to increase and could increase our potential liability, ultimately having an adverse impact on our business, and harm our business and financial condition.
In the US, numerous states have enacted or are in the process of enacting comprehensive data privacy laws and regulations governing the collection, use, and other processing of personal information and providing rights to state residents to access, delete, correct and opt out of the sale or use of their personal information for targeted advertising and for certain other uses of personal data. Our business operates in some, but not all, of these states. These laws are enforceable only by state attorney generals, district attorneys in some states, and in California, the state’s new privacy agency; there is no private right of action to enforce these laws. Prosecutors can recover civil (and for California, administrative) penalties, often on a per-person and per-incident basis, which could be substantial. To date, there have been limited public enforcement actions, but that could change in the coming year. California’s law also authorizes private parties to bring suits against regulated businesses for negligent data breaches, and plaintiffs can recover statutory damages for such claims, in addition to actual damages and injunctive relief; those cases are proliferating. These laws and expanded enforcement actions and authorities could increase our potential liability and could have an adverse impact on our business, including its financial condition.
In addition, the plaintiffs’ bar is increasingly active and has brought hundreds of cases in recent years under privacy-related legal theories, including the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), otherwise known as California’s wiretapping law. These cases typically concern allegations that the use of common third-party vendors or tools on a website constitute interceptions of confidential communications that allegedly constitute wiretapping, which can only be done with the consent of both parties to the communication. These wiretapping cases can be brought in a class action or in a mass arbitration setting. If such suits are brought against us, defending against them in court or in arbitration could substantially increase our legal costs, potential liability, and involve members of our legal teams to assist in defending these claims.
We make public statements about our use, collection, disclosure and other processing of PII through our privacy policies, information provided on our website and press statements. Although we endeavor to comply with our public statements and documentation, we may at times fail to do so or it may be alleged that we have failed to do so. The publication of our privacy policies and other
statements that provide promises and assurances about data privacy and security can subject us to potential government or legal action if they are found to be deceptive, unfair or misrepresentation of our actual practices.
Specifically, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and many state attorneys general are interpreting existing federal and state consumer protection laws to impose evolving standards for the collection, use, dissemination and security of personal information. Courts may also adopt the standards for fair information practices promulgated by the FTC, which concern consumer notice, choice, security and access. If such information that we publish is considered untrue, we may be subject to government claims of unfair or deceptive trade practices, which could lead to significant liabilities and consequences. Furthermore, according to the FTC, violating consumers’ privacy rights or failing to take appropriate steps to keep consumers’ personal information secure may constitute unfair acts or practices in, or affecting, commerce in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act. Additionally, the FTC recently published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on commercial surveillance and data security, and is seeking comment on whether it should implement new trade regulation rules or other regulatory alternatives concerning the ways in which companies (1) collect, aggregate, protect, use, analyze, and retain consumer data, as well as (2) transfer, share, sell, or otherwise monetize that data in ways that are unfair or deceptive.
Many of these laws and regulations are still evolving and being tested in courts and could be interpreted or applied in ways that could harm our business, particularly in the new and rapidly evolving industry in which we operate. Federal, state, local, provincial, and international regulators and industry groups may also consider and implement from time to time new data privacy, security and protection laws, rules, regulations and requirements that apply to our businesses, and we cannot yet determine the impact that such future laws, regulations and standards may have on our business. For example, laws in all 50 US states require businesses to provide notice under certain circumstances to customers whose PII has been disclosed as a result of a data breach. Compliance with evolving data privacy and security laws, rules, requirements and regulations may result in cost increases due to necessary changes to our systems and practices, new limitations or constraints on our business models, the development of new administrative processes and may prevent us from providing certain offerings in certain jurisdictions in which we currently operate and in which we may operate in the future. They also may impose further restrictions on our processing, sharing, transmission, collection, disclosure and use of PII in connection with the Soho House App or that are housed in one or more databases maintained by us or our third-party service providers. Any actual or perceived noncompliance with applicable data privacy, security and protection laws, rules and regulations, industry group requirements, contractual obligations, consent requirements or a security or data breach involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized disclosure of personal, sensitive or confidential information, including PII, whether by us or by one of our third-party service providers, and lawsuits brought under state wiretapping laws could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations, brand, reputation and financial condition, including decreased revenue, material fines and penalties, litigation, increased financial processing fees, compensatory, statutory, punitive or other damages, adverse actions against our licenses to do business and injunctive relief by court or consent order.
Risks Related to Regulations
We are subject to unionization and labor and employment laws and regulations, which could increase our costs and restrict our operations in the future.
As a result of our entry into operating agreements (including in relation to “The Ned Nomad” in New York and “The LINE” and “Saguaro” hotels in New York and California), as well opening Houses in Stockholm, Mexico City and Sao Paolo, we currently have employees represented by unions. Attempts may be made to organize more of our employee base, particularly in areas with a strong union presence or historical focus on labor rights, including New York and Los Angeles. As we continue to expand and enter new territories, unions may make further attempts to organize all or part of our employee base. If more or all of our workforce were to become unionized, and the terms of the collective bargaining agreement were significantly different from our current compensation arrangements, it would likely increase our costs and adversely impact our profitability. Additionally, responding to such organization attempts could distract our management and would likely result in increased legal and other professional fees, and potential labor union contracts could put us at increased risk of labor strikes and disruption of our operations.
Our business is subject to a variety of employment laws and regulations and may become subject to additional requirements in the future. Although we believe we are in material compliance with applicable employment laws and regulations, in the event of a change in requirement, we may be required to modify our operations or to utilize resources to maintain compliance with such laws and regulations. Moreover, we may be subject to various employment-related claims, such as individual or class actions or government enforcement actions relating to alleged employment discrimination, employee classification and related withholding, wage-hour, labor standards or healthcare, pension and benefit issues. We may not be able to successfully defend such claims. We also may not be able to maintain a level of insurance that would provide adequate coverage against such potential claims. Our failure to comply with applicable employment laws and regulations and related legal actions against us may affect our ability to compete or have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The industries in which we operate are heavily regulated and a failure to comply with regulatory requirements and protocols may result in an adverse effect on our business.
Our various properties are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations, including those relating to the preparation and sale of food and beverages, and specifically alcohol. The failure to comply with any such laws or regulations could subject us to a number of adverse consequences, including revocation or suspension of our liquor licenses by the relevant authorities and potential litigation. We are also subject to laws governing our relationship with our employees in such areas as minimum wage and maximum working hours, overtime, working conditions, hiring and firing employees and work permits. Also, our ability to remodel, refurbish or add to our existing properties may be dependent upon our ability to obtain necessary building permits or other authorizations from local authorities. In addition, we are subject to the numerous rules and regulations relating to taxation. Finally, the products that we sell as part of our retail offerings are subject to various laws and regulations, including with regard to product and fire safety and labeling. We expect our business to expand into new and complementary lines of businesses which may subject us to additional laws and regulations and further increase the regulatory burden on us. Any failure to comply with these and other regulatory requirements may result in an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We could face costs, liabilities and risks associated with, or arising out of, environmental, health and safety laws and regulations.
We are subject to various federal, state, local and foreign environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that, among other matters, (i) regulate certain activities and operations, such as the use, management, generation, release, treatment, storage or disposal of, and exposure to, regulated or hazardous materials, substances or wastes, (ii) impose liability for costs of investigating and cleaning up, and for damages to natural resources from, spills, contamination from waste disposals on and off-site, or other releases of hazardous materials or regulated substances, and (iii) regulate workplace safety. Compliance with these laws and regulations could increase our cost of operation. Violation of these laws and regulations may subject us to sanctions or liabilities, including significant fines, penalties or other costs, suspension of our business or activities, or restrictions or revocation of licenses or permits, which could negatively impact our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows or prospects. We could also be responsible for the investigation and remediation of environmental conditions at currently or formerly owned, operated or leased sites, as well as for associated liabilities, including liabilities for natural resource damages, third-party property damage or personal injury. Given that joint and several liability for contamination under certain environmental laws can be imposed on current or past owners or operators of a site without regard to fault, we may be subject to these liabilities regardless of whether we lease or own the property, and regardless of whether such environmental conditions were created by us or by a prior owner or tenant, third-party or a neighboring facility whose operations may have affected such property. We can also be liable for contamination at third-party sites to which we sent waste. In addition, from time to time, we may be required to remove, abate or manage certain substances such as asbestos, mold, radon gas, lead, or hazardous building materials or other hazardous conditions at our properties. We cannot assure you that environmental conditions relating to our prior, existing or future sites or those of predecessor companies whose liabilities we may have assumed or acquired will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, new laws, regulations or policies or changes in existing laws, regulations or policies or in their enforcement, future spills or accidents or the discovery of currently unknown conditions or non-compliance may give rise to investigation and remediation liabilities, compliance costs, fines and penalties or other sanctions, or liability and claims for alleged natural resource damages, personal injury or property damage, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Litigation concerning food quality, health and safety, employee conduct and other issues could require us to incur additional liabilities or cause customers to avoid our businesses, including our restaurants.
Companies operating restaurants have from time to time faced lawsuits alleging that a guest suffered illness or injury during or after a visit to a restaurant, including actions seeking damages resulting from food borne illness and relating to notices with respect to chemicals contained in food products required under applicable laws. Similarly, food tampering, employee hygiene and cleanliness failures or improper employee conduct at the restaurants we operate could lead to product liability or other claims. We cannot guarantee to our customers that our internal controls and training will be fully effective in preventing such issues and associated claims. Regardless of whether any claims against us are valid or whether we are ultimately held liable, claims against us may receive significant media focus and publicity, may be expensive to defend and may divert management attention and other resources from our operations and hurt our business, brand, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows or prospects. A judgment or settlement significantly in excess of our insurance coverage for any claims could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We may not be able to successfully defend such claims. We also may not be able to maintain a level of insurance that would provide adequate coverage against such potential claims.
Failure to comply with the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA"), the UK Bribery Act 2010 ("Bribery Act") and similar laws associated with our activities could subject us to penalties and other adverse consequences.
We face significant risks if we fail to comply with the FCPA, the Bribery Act and other laws that prohibit improper payments or offers of payment to governments and their officials and political parties by us and other business entities for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. In many countries, particularly in countries with developing economies, some of which represent significant markets for us, it may be a local custom that businesses operating in such countries engage in business practices that are prohibited by the FCPA, the Bribery Act or other laws and regulations. Although we have implemented a company policy requiring our employees and consultants to comply with the FCPA, the Bribery Act and similar laws, such policy may not be effective at preventing all potential FCPA, Bribery Act or other violations. We also cannot guarantee the compliance by our vendors, suppliers, agents and joint venture partners with applicable US laws, including the FCPA or other applicable non-US laws, including the Bribery Act. Therefore, there can be no assurance that none of our employees or agents will take actions in violation of our policies or of applicable laws, for which we may be ultimately held responsible. As a result of our focus on managing our growth, our development of infrastructure designed to identify FCPA and Bribery Act matters and monitor compliance is at an early stage. Any violation of the FCPA or the Bribery Act and related policies could result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Risks Related to Taxation
Anticipated changes in effective tax rates or adverse outcomes resulting from our exposure to various tax regimes in the countries in which we operate.
We will be subject to income taxes in the US, the UK and other jurisdictions in which we operate, and our domestic and foreign tax liabilities will be subject to the allocation of expenses in differing jurisdictions. Our future effective tax rates could be subject to volatility or adversely affected by a number of factors, including:
•changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities;
•expected timing and amount of the release of any tax valuation allowances;
•tax effects of share-based compensation;
•costs related to intercompany restructurings;
•changes in tax laws, regulations, cross-border taxes, nexus-based tax practices, double taxation agreements, transfer pricing documentation rules, or in the interpretation, administration, or application thereof (in particular, as a result of Brexit and the ongoing base erosion and profit shifting ("BEPS" project); or
•lower than anticipated future earnings in jurisdictions where we have lower statutory tax rates and higher than anticipated future earnings in jurisdictions where we have higher statutory tax rates.
In addition, we may be subject to audits of our income, sales and other transaction taxes by US federal and state and foreign authorities. Outcomes from these audits could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Net operating losses and excess interest deductions to offset future taxable income may be subject to certain limitations or forfeiture.
Realization of these tax losses and interest deductions depends on future income, and there is a risk that our existing NOLs in certain jurisdictions including the US could expire unused and be unavailable to offset future income tax liabilities, which could adversely affect our operating results.
With respect to US net operating losses, there is no assurance that they will be used given the current assessment of the limitations on their use or the current projection of future taxable income in the entities to which these losses relate. In addition, future changes in our stock ownership, the causes of which may be outside of our control, could result in an additional ownership change under Section 382 of the Code. Our NOLs may also be impaired under US state laws. In addition, under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, NOLs generated in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 may be utilized to offset no more than 80% of taxable income annually.
There is a risk that some of our US and UK losses and interest loss carryforwards may be restricted as a result of the changes in our stock ownership following the completion of our initial public offering on July 19, 2021.
Risks Related to Being a Public Company
We incur increased costs as a result of operating as a public company and our management is required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives and corporate governance practices of which we have limited experience.
As a public company, and increasingly after we cease to be an ‘emerging growth company,’ we incur significant legal, accounting, administrative and other costs and expenses that we have not previously incurred or experienced as a private company. We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, which require, among other things, that we file with the SEC annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and the NYSE, impose numerous requirements on public companies, including establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. Further, pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, the SEC has adopted additional rules and regulations in these areas, such as mandatory ‘say on pay’ voting requirements that will apply to us when we cease to be an emerging growth company. Stockholder activism, the current political environment and the current high level of government intervention and regulatory reform may lead to substantial new regulations and disclosure obligations, which may lead to additional compliance costs and may impact the manner in which we operate our business in ways we cannot currently anticipate. Our management and other personnel need to devote a substantial amount of time to compliance with these laws and regulations. These requirements have increased and will continue to increase our legal, accounting and financial compliance costs and have made and will continue to make some activities more time consuming and costly. For example, we expect these rules and regulations to make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to incur substantial costs to maintain the same or similar coverage. These rules and regulations could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our Board or our board committees, or as executive officers.
The increased costs will decrease our net income or increase our net loss, and may require us to reduce costs in other areas of our business or increase the prices of our products or services. We cannot predict or estimate the amount or timing of additional costs we may incur to respond to these requirements and appropriately train our employees and management or bring in additional resources. However, these rules and regulations are often subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices.
If we do not have sufficiently experienced employees in the business or are not able to hire additional qualified employees, we may not be able to successfully manage our businesses and pursue our strategic objectives.
The financial and legal workforce of our business are predominantly based in the UK and historically our business has been subject to accounting principles generally accepted in the UK and English law. We also report our financial results under GAAP and are subject to US-related regulations, including applicable SEC and NYSE regulations. As a result, we need to hire employees with sufficient expertise to ensure our compliance with these and other regulations. Competition for such employees can be intense, and an inability to attract or recruit additional qualified employees in order to ensure regulatory compliance, to ensure the integrity of our own financial reporting processes and to expand our business, or the loss of any existing employees experienced in these fields, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows or prospects.
If our existing material weaknesses persist or we experience additional material weaknesses in the future or otherwise fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls in the future, we may not be able to accurately report our financial condition or results of operations, which may adversely affect investor confidence in us and, as a result, the value of our Class A Common Stock and our overall business.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we assess the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting annually and the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures quarterly. In particular, Section 404(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or Section 404(a), requires us to perform system and process evaluation and testing of our internal control over financial reporting to allow management to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, ("Section 404(b)"), also requires our independent registered public accounting firm to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. As an ‘emerging growth company’ we avail ourselves of the exemption from the requirement that our independent registered public accounting firm attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b). However, we may no longer avail ourselves of this exemption when we are no longer an ‘emerging growth company.’ When our independent registered public accounting firm is required to undertake an assessment of our internal control over financial reporting, the cost of our compliance with Section 404(b) will correspondingly increase. Our compliance with applicable provisions of Section 404 require that we incur substantial accounting expense and expend significant management time on compliance-related issues as we implement additional corporate governance practices and comply with reporting requirements.
Furthermore, investor perceptions of our company may suffer if additional deficiencies are found in our internal control over financial reporting, and this could cause a decline in the market price of our Class A Common Stock and accordingly our overall business. Regardless of compliance with Section 404, our failure to remediate the material weaknesses which have been identified or any additional failure of our internal control over financial reporting could have a material adverse effect on our stated operating results and harm our reputation. If we are unable to implement these requirements effectively or efficiently, it could harm our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows or prospects and could result in an adverse opinion on our internal controls from our independent registered public accounting firm. The material weaknesses related to (i) our lack of a sufficient number of personnel with an appropriate level of knowledge and experience with the application of US generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and with our financial reporting requirements; and (ii) the fact that policies and procedures, with respect to the review, supervision and monitoring of our accounting and reporting functions, including IT general controls were either not designed and in place, or not operating effectively. These material weaknesses resulted in adjustments to our financial statements and included lease accounting, income tax accounting, impairment of long-lived assets accounting, related party transactions and disclosures and balance sheet reclassifications during the course of the audit process.
We are an ‘emerging growth company,’ and the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to such companies could make our Class A Common Stock less attractive to investors.
We are an ‘emerging growth company,’ as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups, ("JOBS Act"), enacted in April 2012, and may remain an ‘emerging growth company’ until the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering. However, if certain events occur prior to the end of such five-year period, including if we become a ‘large accelerated filer,’ our annual gross revenues equals or exceeds $1.235 billion or we issue more than $1 billion of non-convertible debt in any three-year period, we will cease to be an ‘emerging growth company’ prior to the end of such five-year period. For as long as we remain an ‘emerging growth company,’ we are permitted and intend to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not ‘emerging growth companies.’
These exemptions include:
•being permitted to provide only two years of audited financial statements, in addition to any required unaudited interim financial statements, with correspondingly reduced “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of operations” disclosure;
•not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting;
•reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation; and
•exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
The JOBS Act provides that an ‘emerging growth company’ can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards, thereby delaying the adoption of these accounting standards until they would apply to private companies. We cannot predict if investors will find our Class A Common Stock less attractive because we rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our Class A Common Stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A Common Stock, and the price of our Class A Common Stock may be more volatile.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
The dual class structure of our common stock has the effect of concentrating voting control with the Voting Group, including control over decisions that require the approval of stockholders; this will limit or preclude your ability to influence corporate matters submitted to a stockholder vote.
Each share of our Class B Common Stock is entitled to ten votes, and each share of our Class A Common Stock is entitled to one vote. Stockholders who beneficially own Class B Common Stock, including affiliates of Yucaipa and certain other stockholders (including Mr. Caring and Mr. Jones and their respective affiliates and family members) who together constitute the Voting Group, control approximately 96.6% of the combined voting power of our outstanding common stock. Pursuant to our Certificate of Incorporation, each holder of our Class B Common Stock has the right to convert its shares of Class B Common Stock to shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis. Additionally, shares of Class B Common Stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A Common Stock, on a one-for-one basis, upon transfer to any non-permitted holder of Class B Common Stock.
Because of the ten-to-one voting ratio between shares of our Class B Common Stock and Class A Common Stock, the Voting Group (which collectively holds all of our outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock) collectively controls a majority of the combined
voting power of our common stock and therefore is able to control all matters submitted to our stockholders, and will be so long as the Voting Group owns a requisite percentage of our total outstanding common stock. Pursuant to the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the Voting Group and its members are entitled to designate individuals to be included in the nominees recommended by our Board for election to our Board as follows:
•so long as the Voting Group owns at least 35% of our total outstanding shares of common stock, it will be entitled to designate nine directors for nomination, of which Yucaipa shall have the right to designate seven directors for nomination, Mr. Caring shall have the right to designate one director for nomination and Mr. Jones shall have the right to designate one director for nomination;
•so long as the Voting Group owns less than 35% but at least 15% of our total outstanding shares of common stock, it will be entitled to designate six directors for nomination, of which Yucaipa shall have the right to designate four directors for nomination, Mr. Caring shall have the right to designate one director for nomination and Mr. Jones shall have the right to designate one director for nomination;
•so long as the Voting Group owns less than 15% but at least 9% of our total outstanding shares of common stock, it will be entitled to designate three directors for nomination, of which Yucaipa shall have the right to designate one director for nomination, Mr. Caring shall have the right to designate one director for nomination and Mr. Jones shall have the right to designate one director for nomination; and
•in the event that the Voting Group owns less than 9% of our total outstanding shares of common stock, neither the Voting Group nor any member will be entitled to designate any individuals for nomination for election to the Board; provided, however, that in the event at any time either Mr. Caring or Mr. Jones (in the case of Mr. Jones, at such time as Mr. Jones is not also our Chief Executive Officer) (including their respective affiliates and family members) shall own less than 5% of the shares of our outstanding common stock, such member shall no longer have the nominee designation rights set forth above and such designation shall instead be made by Yucaipa, unless, in each case, any individual member of the Voting Group owns more than 5% of our total outstanding common stock (at such time after the Voting Group owns less than 9% of our total outstanding shares of common stock), in which case such member will be entitled to nominate one director for election (though no other Voting Group member shall have any obligation to vote in favor of such nomination). As Mr. Jones no longer serves as our Chief Executive Officer, he is no longer required to remain (although he continues to be) a director on our Board.
•Once the Voting Group owns less than 15% of the shares of our total outstanding shares of common stock, all remaining shares of Class B Common Stock will automatically convert on a one-for-one basis into shares of Class A Common Stock. Until such time as no members of the Voting Group are entitled to designate individuals to be included in the nominees recommended by our Board for election to our Board, or the Stockholders’ Agreement is otherwise terminated in accordance with its terms, the Voting Group acting together will agree to vote their Class B Common Stock in favor of the election of the nominees selected by the Voting Group as set forth above. As a result, for so long as any shares of Class B Common Stock remain outstanding, the Voting Group will have the ability to elect all of the members it nominates to our Board, and thereby, will exert a significant amount of control over our management and affairs. This concentrated control will limit or preclude your ability to influence corporate matters for the foreseeable future. The difference in voting rights could also adversely affect the value of our Class A Common Stock by, for example, delaying or deferring a change of control or if investors view, or any potential future purchaser of our company views, the superior voting rights of the Class B Common Stock to have value.
In addition, our Certificate of Incorporation permits the issuance of additional shares of Class B Common Stock to members of the Voting Group. If any such additional shares of Class B Common Stock were to be issued to members of the Voting Group, because of the ten-to-one voting ratio between our Class B Common Stock and Class A Common Stock holders of Class A Common Stock would experience a further and potentially significant lessening of their voting power and ability to influence matters submitted to our stockholders.
Additionally, the Voting Group’s interests may not align with the interests of our other stockholders. Yucaipa and Mr. Caring are in the business of making investments in companies and may acquire and hold interests in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us. Yucaipa and Mr. Caring may also pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business, and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us.
We are a ‘controlled company’ within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE and, as a result, we qualify for, and currently rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements; you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all such requirements.
Because the Voting Group controls a majority of the combined voting power of our common stock, and will continue to for so long as it owns a requisite percentage of our total outstanding common stock, we are a ‘controlled company’ within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the NYSE. Under these rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, group or another company is a ‘controlled company’ and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirements that it has, within one year of the date of the listing of our shares of Class A Common Stock:
•a Board that is composed of a majority of independent directors, as defined under the listing rules of the NYSE;
•a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors; and
•a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors.
We currently utilize certain of these exemptions. As a result, our compensation committee does not consist entirely of independent directors. Accordingly, you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE. Our status as a ‘controlled company’ could make our Class A Common Stock less attractive to some investors or otherwise negatively impact the price of our Class A Common Stock.
Certain of our directors have relationships with Yucaipa, which may cause conflicts of interest with respect to our business.
One of our directors, the Executive Chairman, Mr. Burkle, is affiliated with and is the founder of Yucaipa. Our Yucaipa-affiliated directors have fiduciary duties to us and, in addition, have duties to Yucaipa. As a result, Mr. Burkle may face real or apparent conflicts of interest with respect to matters affecting both us and Yucaipa, whose interests may be adverse to ours in some circumstances.
Short sellers of our stock may be manipulative and may drive down the market price of our common stock.
Short selling is the practice of selling securities that the seller does not own but rather has borrowed or intends to borrow from a third party with the intention of buying identical securities at a later date to return to the lender. A short seller hopes to profit from a decline in the value of the securities between the sale of the borrowed securities and the purchase of the replacement shares, as the short seller expects to pay less in that purchase than it received in the sale. Since it is in the short seller’s interest for the price of the stock to decline, some short sellers publish, or arrange for the publication of, opinions or characterizations regarding the relevant issuer, its business prospects and similar matters calculated to or which may create negative market momentum, which may permit them to obtain profits for themselves as a result of selling the stock short. Issuers whose securities have historically had limited trading volumes and/or have been susceptible to relatively high volatility levels can be particularly vulnerable to such short seller attacks. On February 7, 2024, a short seller report that contained various allegations against the Company was published, which had an adverse impact on the market price of our common stock. This report disclosed the writer had a short position and put options with respect to our common stock. On February 7, 2024, the closing price of our common was $5.00, representing a decrease of $1.18 or 19% compared to the closing price of our common stock on February 6, 2024 prior to the publication of the report. Although we have timely responded to what we believe are the false allegations and misleading statements in the report, we cannot assure you that others will not publish similar misleading reports in the future. The publication of any such commentary regarding us may bring about a temporary, or long term, decline in the market price of our common stock. No assurances can be made that similar declines in the market price of our common stock will not occur in the future, in connection with such commentary by short sellers or otherwise. In addition, when the publication of such commentary occurs, holders of that stock have sometimes instituted securities class action litigation against the company that issued the stock. Additionally, any such allegations, whether substantiated or not, could result in investigations by regulators, including the Securities and Exchange Commission. If any of our stockholders brought a lawsuit against us or we were subject to such investigations as a result of such allegations, we could incur substantial costs defending the Company from the lawsuit or such investigation. These could also divert time and attention of our management from our business and result in negative publicity, which could significantly harm our profitability and reputation.
Our Certificate of Incorporation contains a provision renouncing our interest and expectancy in certain corporate opportunities.
Under our Certificate of Incorporation, none of Yucaipa, the companies owned or controlled by Yucaipa, any affiliates of Yucaipa, or any of their respective officers, directors, principals, partners, members, managers, employees, agents or other representatives has any duty to refrain from engaging, directly or indirectly, in the same business activities, similar business activities or lines of business in which we operate. In addition, our Certificate of Incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no officer or director of ours who is also an officer, director, principal, partner, member, manager, employee, agent or other representative of Yucaipa or its affiliates will be liable to us or our stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty by reason of the fact that any such individual directs a corporate opportunity to Yucaipa or its affiliates and representatives, instead of us, or does not communicate information regarding a corporate opportunity to us that such individual has directed to Yucaipa or its affiliates and representatives.
For instance, a director of our company who also serves as a director, officer or employee of Yucaipa or any of its portfolio companies or other affiliates may pursue certain acquisitions or other opportunities that may be complementary to our business and, as a result, such acquisition or other opportunities may not be available to us. Our Board consists of fourteen members, one of whom is affiliated with Yucaipa. These potential conflicts of interest could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects if attractive corporate opportunities are allocated by any of Yucaipa to itself or its affiliated funds, the portfolio companies owned by such funds or any of their affiliates instead of to us.
Anti-takeover provisions contained in our Certificate of Incorporation could impair a takeover attempt.
Certain provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation are intended to have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control or changes in our management. For example, our Certificate of Incorporation includes provisions that establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder resolutions to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our Board. Additionally, our Certificate of Incorporation provides that we are not governed by Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL"), which, in the absence of such provisions, would have imposed additional requirements regarding mergers and other business combinations. However, our Certificate of Incorporation includes a provision that restricts us from engaging in any business combination with an interested stockholder for three years following the date that person becomes an interested stockholder, but such restrictions shall not apply to any business combination between our controlling stockholder and any affiliate thereof or its direct and indirect transferees, on the one hand, and us, on the other. These provisions could delay or prevent hostile takeovers and changes in control or changes in our management, even if these events would be beneficial for our stockholders.
Our Certificate of Incorporation designates a state or federal court located within the State of Delaware as the exclusive forum for substantially all disputes between us and our stockholders, which limits our stockholders’ ability to choose the judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf under Delaware law, (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders, (3) any action arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws, (4) any other action asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine or (5) any other action asserting an “internal corporate claim,” as defined in Section 115 of the DGCL, shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) in all cases subject to the court having jurisdiction over indispensable parties named as defendants. These exclusive-forum provisions do not apply to claims under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
To the extent that any such claims may be based upon federal law claims, Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. However, our Certificate of Incorporation contains a federal forum provision which provides that unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the US federal district courts will be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act.
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our securities shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this provision. This exclusive-forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum of its choosing for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and other employees and increase the costs to stockholders of bringing such a claim. If a court were to find the exclusive-forum provision in our Certificate of Incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving the dispute in other jurisdictions, which could harm our results of operations.
Sales of substantial amounts of our Class A Common Stock in the public markets, or the perception that they might occur, could cause the market price of our Class A Common Stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our Class A Common Stock in the public market could occur at any time. These sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of shares of our Class A Common Stock. As of December 31, 2023, we have 53,741,731 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding and 141,500,385 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding, which are convertible on a one-for-one basis into shares of our Class A Common Stock. All of the shares of Class A Common Stock are freely tradable without restrictions or further registration under the
Securities Act, except for any shares held by our affiliates as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (including shares purchased by our affiliates in the IPO). Future sales of a substantial amount of our Class A Common Stock, particularly sales by our directors, executive officers or principal stockholders, or the perception that such sales might occur in the future, could cause the market price of our Class A Common Stock to fluctuate or make it more difficult for you to sell your Class A Common Stock at a time and price that you deem appropriate.
We have also filed a Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register all shares of Class A Common Stock that we may issue under our equity compensation plans. In addition, the Voting Group and certain of our other equity holders have certain demand registration rights that could require us in the future to file registration statements in connection with sales of our Class A Common Stock by the Voting Group. Such sales by the Voting Group and certain of our other equity holders could be significant. Once we register these shares, they can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to any lock-up agreements. Once any restrictions on resale end, the market price of shares of our Class A Common Stock could decline if the holders of currently restricted shares sell them or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them or are released from any restrictions, which may make it more difficult for you to sell your shares of Class A Common Stock at a time and price that you deem appropriate.
We have never paid dividends on our share capital and do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our share capital. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, you may have to sell some or all of your shares of Class A Common Stock in order to generate cash flow from your investment. You may not receive a gain on your investment when you sell shares and you may lose the entire amount of the investment.
Future sales, or the perception of future sales, of our Class A Common Stock may depress the price of our Class A Common Stock.
If we sell, or any of our stockholders sells, a large number of shares of our Class A Common Stock, or if we issue a large number of shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with future acquisitions, financings or other transactions, the market price of shares of our Class A Common Stock could decline significantly. Moreover, the perception in the public market that we might issue, or our stockholders might sell, shares of Class A Common Stock could depress the market price of those shares.
Additionally, each holder of our Class B Common Stock has the right, pursuant to our Certificate of Incorporation, to convert its shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of our Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis. Such a conversion would increase the number of shares of Class A Common Stock available for sale and could have the effect of depressing the trading price of our shares of Class A Common Stock.
We cannot predict the size of future issuances of shares of our Class A Common Stock or the effect, if any, that future issuances or sales of our shares will have on the market price of such shares. Sales of substantial amounts of our shares, including sales by significant stockholders, and shares issued in connection with any conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock or any additional acquisition, or the perception that such conversions or sales could occur, may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our shares of Class A Common Stock. Possible sales also may make it more difficult for us to sell equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price we deem necessary or appropriate.
Our operating results and share price may be volatile.
Our annual and quarterly operating results are likely to fluctuate in the future. In addition, securities markets worldwide have experienced, and are likely to continue to experience, significant price and volume fluctuations. This market volatility, as well as general economic, market or political conditions, could subject the market price of our shares to wide price fluctuations regardless of our operating performance. Our operating results and the trading price of shares of our Class A Common Stock may fluctuate in response to various factors, including:
•market conditions in the broader stock market;
•actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly financial and operating results;
•introduction of new products or services by us or our competitors;
•issuance of new or changed securities analysts’ reports or recommendations;
•results of operations that vary from expectations of securities analysis and investors;
•guidance, if any, that we provide to the public, any changes in such guidance or our failure to meet such guidance;
•strategic actions by us or our competitors;
•announcement by us, our competitors or our vendors of significant contracts or acquisitions;
•sales, or anticipated sales, of large blocks of our common stock;
•additions or departures of key personnel;
•regulatory, legal or political developments;
•public responses to press releases or other public announcements by us or third parties, including our filings with the SEC;
•litigation and governmental investigations;
•expiration of any lock-up agreements;
•changing economic conditions;
•changes in accounting principles;
•default under agreements governing our indebtedness;
•exchange rate fluctuations; and
•other events or factors, including those from natural or man-made disasters, war, acts of terrorism or responses to these events.
These and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, may cause our operating results and the market price and demand for our shares to fluctuate substantially. While we believe that operating results for any particular quarter are not necessarily a meaningful indication of future results, fluctuations in our quarterly operating results could limit or prevent investors from readily selling their shares and may otherwise negatively affect the market price and liquidity of our shares. In addition, in the past, when the market price of a stock has been volatile, holders of that stock have sometimes instituted securities class action litigation against the company that issued the stock. If any of our stockholders brought a lawsuit against us, we could incur substantial costs defending the lawsuit. Such a lawsuit could also divert time and attention of our management from our business, which could significantly harm our profitability and reputation.
If our operating and financial performance in any given period does not meet the guidance that we provide to the public, the price of shares of our Class A Common Stock may decline.
We may provide public guidance on our expected operating and financial results for future periods. Any such guidance will be comprised of forward-looking statements subject to the risks and uncertainties described in our other public filings and public statements. Our actual results may not always be in line with or exceed any guidance we have provided, especially in times of economic uncertainty. If, in the future, our operating or financial results for a particular period do not meet any guidance we provide or the expectations of investment analysts or if we reduce our guidance for future periods, the market price of shares of our Class A Common Stock may decline as well.
General Risks
Increased use of social media could create and/or amplify the effects of negative publicity and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows or prospects.
Events reported in the media, including social media, whether or not accurate or involving us, could create and/or amplify scrutiny and negative publicity for us or for the industry or market segments in which we operate. Such media topics could include, among other topics, food-borne or hygiene-related illnesses, issues with food traceability, contamination, unsanitary restaurant environments, issues relating to quality of service or product quality, allegations of discriminatory acts, injuries or guest misbehavior. Media reports relating to any of these topics, even where not involving us or inaccurate statements, could reduce demand for our products and/or services and could result in a decrease in customer traffic to or for any of our services. A decrease in traffic to our offerings could result in a decline in sales, which would have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If we are unable to compete effectively, our business and operations will be adversely affected.
We compete in numerous segments of the restaurant, hotel, working spaces, well-being, digital and retail industries, each of which faces its own challenges. Although we do not believe that we have a single direct competitor across all of the different sectors and geographies in which we operate, we face direct competition from other private members’ clubs, restaurants, bars, spas, hotels and co-working spaces that exist locally in proximity to our own Houses. No assurances can be given that these competing local clubs, restaurants, accommodation, co-working spaces, well-being, digital or retail providers, or other new entrants in any of these industries, will not expand and compete with us locally or globally. We believe that these business sectors are each highly competitive and primary competitive factors include name recognition, demographic considerations, effectiveness of public relations and brand recognition, level of service, convenience of location, quality of the property, pricing, product or service and range and quality of services and amenities offered. We compete with other restaurants, boutique hotels, co-working spaces and beauty care and retailers on a local level, as well as on a global level against certain larger chains with properties in the markets in which we operate. This competition may limit our ability to attract and retain existing members and customers and our ability to attract new members and customers. If we are unable to compete effectively in any of these market sectors, we could lose market share, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Difficult conditions in the global financial markets and the economy generally could affect our ability to obtain capital or financing and materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Any disruption in the global financial markets could materially impact liquidity in the financial markets and affect the availability and cost of credit. As part of our strategy, we focus on growing our presence in both new and existing markets, through the establishment of new properties, expansion of existing properties and expanding complementary concepts and product lines. These investments require significant capital expenditures, especially since new Houses typically generate little or no cash flow until sometime after the project’s completion and the House has reached a maturation point. To the extent expenditure is significant, we may rely upon the availability of debt or additional equity capital. In addition, our working capital and liquidity reserves may not be adequate to cover all of our cash needs and we may have to obtain additional equity or debt financing. Any disruption or uncertainty in the credit markets could negatively impact our ability to access additional financing. Sufficient financing may not be available or, if available, may not be available on terms acceptable to us, which may force us to seek alternative sources of potentially less attractive capital or financing or adversely cause us to suspend, abandon or delay development and other activities, including the opening of new Houses or expansion of existing Houses, in a manner that adversely affects our business.
Changes in consumer discretionary spending and general economic factors may adversely affect our results of operations.
Because a substantial portion of our revenues are derived from In-House revenues, we believe our ability to generate revenues is correlated to discretionary spending, which is influenced by general economic conditions, and the availability of discretionary income and consumer confidence. National, regional and local economic conditions can adversely affect disposable consumer income and consumer confidence. Economic conditions remain volatile in certain of the jurisdictions in which we operate. As a result, our members and other guests may have lower disposable income and reduce the frequency with which they dine out, travel or utilize our other products or services, or they may choose less expensive restaurants, lower cost hotels or otherwise reduce the costs or frequency of their travel and leisure activities in the future. An uncertain economic outlook may adversely affect consumer spending in our hospitality operations, as consumers may spend less in anticipation of a potential prolonged economic downturn. Unfavorable changes in these factors or in other general economic conditions affecting our members and guests could reduce their spending at our properties, impose practical limits on our pricing (including our membership fees) and increase our costs. Any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
As we expand our footprint internationally outside of the US and Europe, we are exposed to additional risks, including increased complexity and costs of managing projects and international operations and geopolitical instability.
As we open additional properties and expand our presence in new markets over the next few years where we have little to no experience, we expect to face numerous challenges and risks, including:
•geopolitical and economic instability and military conflicts;
•limited protection of our intellectual property and other assets;
•compliance with local laws and regulations and unanticipated changes in local laws and regulations, including tax laws and regulations;
•trade and foreign exchange restrictions and higher tariffs;
•timing and availability of import and export licenses and other governmental approvals, permits and licenses, including export classification requirements;
•foreign currency fluctuations and exchange losses;
•transportation delays and other consequences of limited local infrastructure, and disruptions, such as large-scale outages or interruptions of service from utilities or telecommunications providers;
•potential difficulties in staffing international operations;
•local business and cultural factors that differ from our normal standards and practices;
•differing employment practices and labor relations;
•heightened risk of terrorist acts;
•regional health issues, travel restrictions and natural disasters; and
Increases in energy costs could have an adverse effect on our business.
We may be adversely affected by an increase in energy costs to our businesses (including electricity, gas and water). This may be driven by energy shortages, interruptions to our business supply, inflation, or the availability of energy supplier offerings. In addition, the increasing focus on climate change, both in the US and across other countries, could lead to additional regulations resulting in increased energy costs. The ability of our business to respond to such increased costs will depend on our ability to anticipate, react and respond to such increases in a timely manner which we may be unable to do as this is outside of our control and can be difficult to predict. As a result, energy cost increases could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Labor shortages or increases in labor costs could slow our growth or harm our business.
Our success depends in part upon our ability to attract, motivate and retain a sufficient number of highly qualified employees necessary to staff our Houses and other membership platforms and keep pace with our growth. The qualified individuals that we need to fill these positions are in short supply, and competition for such employees is intense. If we are unable to recruit and retain sufficiently qualified individuals, our business and growth could be adversely affected. Competition for qualified employees could require us to pay higher wages, which could result in higher labor costs. If our labor costs increase, our business, results of operations, and financial condition will be adversely affected.
We may incur property, casualty or other losses not covered by our insurance.
We maintain insurance coverage for certain catastrophic risks, for employee health care benefits, workers’ compensation, general liability, property damage, directors’ and officers’ liability, vehicle liability and inventory loss. In North America, we maintain a self-insured employee health care policy. The types and amounts of insurance may vary from time to time based on our decisions with respect to risk retention and regulatory requirements. The occurrence of significant claims, a substantial rise in costs to maintain our insurance or the failure to maintain adequate insurance coverage could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows or prospects.
An active trading market for our Class A Common Stock may not develop or continue to be liquid and the market price of our common stock may be volatile.
An active market for our Class A Common Stock may not develop or be sustained, which could depress the market price of our Class A Common Stock and could affect your ability to sell your shares. In the absence of an active public trading market, you may not be able to liquidate your investment in our Class A Common Stock. An inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital by selling our Class A Common Stock, our ability to motivate our employees through equity incentive awards and our ability to expand our business by using our Class A Common Stock as consideration. In addition, the market price of our Class A Common Stock may fluctuate significantly in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. In particular, we cannot assure you that you will be able to resell your Class A Common Stock at or above the price the shares were purchased at. The stock markets have experienced volatility in recent years that has been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our Class A Common Stock. In addition to the factors discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, the factors that could affect our share price are:
•US and international political and economic factors unrelated to our performance;
•actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results;
•changes in or failure to meet publicly disclosed expectations as to our future financial performance;
•changes in securities analysts’ estimates of our financial performance or lack of research and reports by industry analysts;
•action by institutional stockholders, including purchases or sales of large blocks of common stock;
•speculation in the press or investment community;
•changes in market valuations or earnings of similar companies; and
•announcements by us or our competitors of significant contracts, acquisitions or strategic partnerships.
In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, class action litigation has often been instituted against the relevant company. Any litigation of this type brought against us could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention and resources, which would harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish misleading or unfavorable research about our business, our share price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our shares of Class A Common Stock depends in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. While there is currently coverage of our company by securities and industry analysts, if one or more of these analysts downgrades our shares of Class A Common Stock or publishes misleading or unfavorable research about our business, our share price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of our company or fails to publish reports on us regularly, demand for shares of our Class A Common Stock could decrease, which could cause our share price or trading volume to decline.
We could be subject to securities class action litigation.
In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been instituted. As a result of a recent short seller’s report, some plaintiffs’ lawyers are currently soliciting shareholders to institute class action suits against us for securities laws violations alleged in such report. A securities class action suit against us could result in substantial costs, potential liabilities and the diversion of management’s attention and resources.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 1C. Cyber Security.
Management policies and procedures
We recognize the need to protect our data, systems and technology. We have described related risks in Item 1A under the heading “Risks Related to our Technology and Data.” We have previously assessed and periodically measure our security maturity using the US National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework. (“NIST CSF”) supported by other internal and third party assessments. Gaps or perceived weaknesses in our NIST CSF score are highlighted to our Cybersecurity Risk Committee and subsequently to the Board of Directors. A reassessment of our maturity using NIST CSF is being carried out in the early part of 2024. These assessments allow us to prioritize investment into those areas which provide the greatest improvement in the CSF scoring and by implication, our ability to identify, protect, detect, respond and recover from information and cybersecurity incidents. Risks are recorded in OneTrust and are formally assessed monthly, considering likelihood and potential impact and mitigating actions are implemented where possible to reduce identified risks. Controls designed to reduce or eliminate risk are designed into our technology, processes and management of third parties. We conduct regular vulnerability scanning and use a third party for regular penetration testing designed to help us identify new weaknesses or vulnerabilities. In addition, we use the same third party to help us conduct cybersecurity incident simulation which is subsequently used to inform updates to our Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan. We also have procedures designed to assess risks related to the use of third-party suppliers.
In the previous 12 months, we have not identified any risks from cybersecurity threats, including those from any previous cybersecurity incidents, that have materially affected us, our business strategy, results of operation or financial condition. For additional information about the cybersecurity risks we face, see the risk factors entitled, “A cybersecurity attack, ‘data breach’ or other security incident experienced by us or our third-party service providers may result in negative publicity, claims, investigations and litigation and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition,” and “If we fail to properly maintain the
confidentiality and integrity of our data, including member and customer credit or debit card and bank account information and other PII, or if we fail to comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations, industry standards and contractual obligations relating to data privacy, protection and security, it may adversely affect our reputation, business and operations,” in Item 1A Risk Factors.
Governance
We have implemented a governance program which facilitates senior management oversight of cybersecurity risk management. An operational risk group comprising senior SHCO Cyber Risk and third party Cyber Risk professionals together with the IT Infrastructure lead meet monthly to review emerging risks, progress with mitigation of identified risk and prioritization of risk reduction activities. The output from this group is shared quarterly with the Cyber Security Risk Committee (“CSRC”) a Board Sub-Committee which comprises the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Chief Legal Officer (CLO) and Director of Information Security. The CSRC is responsible for reviewing the top strategic cyber risks, progress against cyber maturity improvement and recommending funding and resource requirements. The CSRC reports twice per year to the Audit Committee and the Board. The CSRC is also the body that collectively assess materiality in the event of a cybersecurity incident and meets as required to assess materiality.
Management’s role and relevant experience in assessing and managing cybersecurity
The NIST CSF is used to assess cybersecurity maturity. An initial baseline assessment has been used to inform our Cybersecurity Strategy and periodic assessments are used to update the NIST CSF scoring. These assessments are carried out by an independent third party to provide appropriate objectivity and challenge. In addition, we are progressing towards certification to the international information security management standard - ISO27001 and the related standard ISO27701 for privacy information management. Execution of our cybersecurity strategy is overseen by our Director of Information Security who is a qualified CSIM, CISA and a Fellow of the UK Chartered Institute of Information Security and has over 30 years of experience in cyber security. The Director of Information Security provides the CTO with periodic updates and also chairs the Cyber Security Risk Committee which provides a forum for senior management to discuss cyber risk management in greater detail.
Item 2. Properties.
Our principal office is located at 180 Strand, London, WC2R 1EA, United Kingdom, which is approximately 22,776 square feet. We lease our main office and substantially all of the properties on which we operate.
Owned properties
As of December 31, 2023, we directly own two properties in the UK: Babington House, a 300 year old Grade II* listed (by the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission in England and Wales) manor house in Somerset, and High Road House in London. We also directly own one property in the US, Soho Beach House in Miami.
Joint venture owned properties
We own a share of four properties, through joint venture,: Soho House Barcelona, Spain; Little Beach House Barcelona, Spain; Ludlow House in New York, US; and the hotel rooms and restaurant at 56-60 Redchurch Street, London through our joint venture companies. Refer to Note 5 Equity Method Investments in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.
Leased and managed properties
The rest of our properties are leased or managed, which reflects our asset-light real estate model. The terms of our typical lease agreements are generally 20-25 years and provide for fixed rents, although certain of our leases provide for periodic rent increases (usually pursuant to a reference index). Refer to Note 6 Leases in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.
Our property portfolio mainly consists of our Soho Houses; however, we also lease and operate 5 Soho Home and Cowshed retail stores, 9 Soho Works locations; 10 stand-alone public restaurants, Scorpios Beach Club in Mykonos and other support locations in the US and UK. In addition, our Townhouse properties have two sites in London with restaurants and bedrooms. Dean Street Townhouse has an dining room in the heart of Soho, offering a menu of British classics. Above the restaurant, there are 39 bedrooms featuring beds, rainforest showers and freestanding bathtubs. Redchurch Townhouse is located in Shoreditch and includes 37 bedrooms and a Cecconi’s restaurant on the ground floor.
While we operate Soho House Istanbul, Soho House Mumbai, Soho Beach House Canouan, The LINE and Saguaro hotels and The Ned hotels, these properties are leased or owned by our local partners and we have no real estate interests in these properties.
The following table sets forth our Soho Houses by geographic location as of December 31, 2023 which represent our material property arrangements.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
# Houses | House Name | Segment | Country | Arrangement Type | Territory | Opening | Years of Operation | Club Space | Gym/Health Club | Spa | Pool | Public F&B/ Friends Studio |
1 | 40 Greek Street | UK | UK | Leased | UK | Jan-95 | 29 | ✓ | - | - | - | - |
2 | Babington House | UK | UK | Owned | UK | Sep-98 | 25 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - |
3 | Electric House | UK | UK | Leased | UK | Apr-02 | 21 | ✓ | - | - | - | ✓ |
4 | Soho House New York | North America | USA | Leased | Americas | Jun-03 | 20 | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | - |
5 | High Road House | UK | UK | Owned | UK | Jul-06 | 17 | ✓ | - | - | - | ✓ |
6 | Shoreditch House | UK | UK | Leased | UK | Jun-07 | 16 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - |
7 | Soho House West Hollywood | North America | USA | Leased | Americas | Mar-10 | 14 | ✓ | - | - | - | - |
8 | Soho House Berlin | Europe and RoW | Germany | Leased | Europe | May-10 | 13 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
9 | Soho Beach House Miami | North America | USA | Owned | Americas | Oct-10 | 13 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
10 | Little House Mayfair | UK | UK | Leased | UK | Apr-12 | 11 | ✓ | - | - | - | - |
11 | Soho House Toronto | North America | Canada | Joint Venture | Americas | Oct-12 | 11 | ✓ | - | - | - | - |
12 | Soho House Chicago | North America | USA | Leased | Americas | Aug-14 | 9 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
13 | Soho House Istanbul | Europe and RoW | Turkey | HMA* | Europe | Apr-15 | 8 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
14 | Soho Farmhouse | UK | UK | Leased | UK | Jun-15 | 8 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - |
15 | 76 Dean Street | UK | UK | Leased | UK | Aug-15 | 8 | ✓ | - | - | - | - |
16 | Little Beach House Malibu | North America | USA | Leased | Americas | May-16 | 7 | ✓ | - | - | - | - |
17 | Ludlow House | North America | USA | Leased | Americas | Jul-16 | 7 | ✓ | - | - | - | - |
18 | Soho House Barcelona | Europe and RoW | Spain | Joint Venture | Europe | Oct-16 | 7 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
19 | Kettner's | UK | UK | Leased | UK | Jan-18 | 6 | ✓ | - | - | - | ✓ |
20 | White City House | UK | UK | Leased | UK | May-18 | 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
21 | DUMBO House | North America | USA | Leased | Americas | May-18 | 5 | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ |
22 | Soho House Amsterdam | Europe and RoW | The Netherlands | Leased | Europe | May-18 | 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
23 | Little Beach House Barcelona | Europe and RoW | Spain | Joint Venture | Europe | Aug-18 | 5 | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | - |
24 | Soho House Mumbai | Europe and RoW | India | HMA* | Asia | Nov-18 | 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
25 | Soho House Hong Kong | Europe and RoW | Hong Kong | Leased | Asia | Sep-19 | 4 | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | - |
26 | Soho Warehouse, DTLA | North America | USA | Leased | Americas | Oct-19 | 4 | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | - |
27 | Soho Roc House | Europe and RoW | Greece | Leased | Europe | Jul-20 | 3 | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | - |
28 | Soho Beach House Canouan | North America | St Vincent & The Grenadines | HMA* | Americas | Apr-21 | 2 | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - |
29 | 180 House | UK | UK | Leased | UK | Apr-21 | 2 | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ |
30 | Soho House Austin | North America | USA | Leased | Americas | May-21 | 2 | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | - |
31 | Soho House Tel Aviv | Europe and RoW | Israel | Leased | Europe | Aug-21 | 2 | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | - |
32 | Soho House Paris | Europe and RoW | France | Leased | Europe | Sep-21 | 2 | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | - |
33 | Soho House Rome | Europe and RoW | Italy | Leased | Europe | Oct-21 | 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
34 | Soho House Nashville | North America | USA | Leased | Americas | Feb-22 | 2 | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | - |
35 | Brighton Beach House | UK | UK | Leased | UK | Mar-22 | 2 | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | - |
36 | Holloway House | North America | USA | Leased | Americas | May-22 | 1 | ✓ | - | - | - | - |
37 | Little House Balham | UK | UK | Leased | UK | Jul-22 | 1 | ✓ | - | - | - | - |
38 | Soho House Copenhagen | Europe and RoW | Denmark | Leased | Europe | Jul-22 | 1 | ✓ | - | - | - | - |
39 | Soho House Stockholm | Europe and RoW | Sweden | Leased | Europe | Dec-22 | 1 | ✓ | - | - | - | - |
40 | Miami Pool House | North America | USA | Leased | Americas | Dec-22 | 1 | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | - |
41 | Soho House Bangkok | Europe and RoW | Thailand | Leased | Asia | Feb-23 | 0 | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | - |
42 | Soho House Mexico City | North America | Mexico | Leased | Americas | Sep-23 | 0 | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | - |
*SHCO operates these properties under a hotel management agreement.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
From time to time we are subject to legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that the outcome of any of those matters will have a significant adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, the results of litigation and arbitration are inherently unpredictable and the possibility exists that the ultimate resolution of matters to which we are or could become subject could result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Refer to Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 18 Commitments and Contingencies in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
None.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market for SHCO's Common Stock
Our Class A Common Stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "MCG" on July 15, 2021. Prior to that date, there was no public trading market for our Class A Common Stock. Our Class B Common Stock is not listed or traded on any stock exchange.
On March 17, 2023, we filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to change our corporate name from Membership Collective Group Inc. to Soho House & Co Inc., which became effective on March 20, 2023. From March 20, 2023, our common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “SHCO”.
Holders of SHCO’s Class A Common Stock
As of March 12, 2024, there were 1,576 registered holders of our Class A Common Stock and 8 registered holders of our Class B Common Stock. Because many of our shares of Class A Common Stock are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, we are unable to estimate the total number of stockholders represented by these record holders.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The information required by this item will be included in our Proxy Statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and is incorporated herein by reference.
The following performance graph shall not be deemed soliciting material or to be filed with the SEC for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any of our other filings under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act.
The graph below compares the cumulative total stockholder return on our Class A Common Stock with the cumulative total return on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and the NYSE Composite Index. The graph assumes an initial investment of $100 in our common stock at the market close on July 15, 2021, which was our initial trading day. Data for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and the NYSE Composite Index assume reinvestment of dividends.
The comparisons in the graph below are based upon historical data and are not indicative of, nor intended to forecast, future performance of our common stock.
Dividend Policy
We do not currently pay dividends on any shares of our common stock and we currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation of our business. We may, however, pay cash dividends on our shares of common stock, including our shares of Class A Common Stock, in the future. Any future determination to pay dividends will be made at the discretion of our Board and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition, earnings, legal and regulatory requirements, restrictions in our debt agreements and other factors our Board deems relevant. If we issue preference shares in the future, our Board may declare and pay a dividend on one or more classes of shares to the extent one or more classes of shares ranks senior to or has a priority over another class of shares.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock during the quarter ended December 31, 2023.
Item 6. [Reserved]
None.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We have elected not to include a discussion of the earliest year. Such disclosure can be reviewed in Item 7of the prior filing. Such discussion is not directly comparable due to an inconsistent constant currency basis which uses a different factor to convert the 2021 financial information within the prior filing.
In addition to historical financial information, this discussion and other parts of this report contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, based upon current expectations 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 set forth in the “Risk Factors” section in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ from those anticipated. These statements are based upon information currently available to us, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements, like all statements in this report, speak only as of their date, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements in light of future developments. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
Overview
SHCO is a global membership platform that connects a vibrant, diverse group of members from across the world. These members use the platform to both work and socialize, to connect, create, have fun and drive a positive change. The central pillar of SHCO is Soho House, which drives the majority of our membership and revenue today. A Soho House membership offers access to a network of distinctive and carefully curated Houses, across North America, the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia, which serve as the cornerstone of our member experience. We enhance our member experience through our digital channels, including the Soho House App and our website.
Over the last 29 years, we have expanded our membership expertise and diversified our offerings—both physically and digitally. As of December 31, 2023, we have approximately 259,900 members (including approximately 193,900 Soho House Members) who engage with SHCO through our global portfolio of 42 Soho Houses, 9 Soho Works, Scorpios Beach Club in Mykonos, Soho Home, our interiors and lifestyle retail brand, and our digital channels. The Ned hotels in London, New York and Doha and The LINE and Saguaro hotels in North America also form part of SHCO’s wider portfolio via management agreements to operate the properties.
Our membership expertise, honed through the growth of Soho House, has led to our evolution into Soho House & Co, a home to numerous memberships including Cities Without Houses, Soho Works, Soho Friends, and Ned’s Club. By designing, curating and growing our membership offering, our membership platform can quickly and easily respond to shifting lifestyle trends and the evolution of our members’ needs. Our memberships work together, allowing us to reach new audiences with a set of interconnected offerings.
Our membership has remained resilient through multiple economic cycles and other macroeconomic dislocations, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The power of our model is driven by the important role we believe that we play in our members’ lives and the value we consistently provide them for their membership fees. We believe our retention compares favorably to leading consumer subscriptions or memberships—across music, media, fitness, entertainment and commerce—despite, in many cases, their significantly lower price points.
The demand for our membership is also demonstrated by our large and growing SHCO global waitlist, which as of December 31, 2023 stands at over 99,000 applicants. Awareness of our distinct membership offerings and their scarcity is spread by our members organically through word of mouth, social media and press coverage.
Further, we have observed a secular shift in the ways that people live and work—with less time spent in traditional corporate offices and more time in social spaces that encourage creativity and mutual engagement. We believe that these trends will only accelerate, and that the freedom to be able to choose where to live and work will likely have a significant impact on our target market. We believe this will create an even greater demand for curated communities that can grow and thrive in a more deliberate environment.
For fiscal 2023, of our $1,136 million in Total revenues, $361 million (32%) was attributable to Membership revenues, $482 million (42%) to In-House revenues, and $292 million (26%) to Other revenues. For fiscal 2022, of our $972 million in Total revenues, $273 million (28%) was attributable to Membership revenues, $427 million (44%) to In-House revenues, and $273 million to Other revenues (28%).
Membership revenues are comprised of annual membership fees, one-time legacy initial registration fees paid by members, prior to April 4, 2022 and unredeemed House Introduction Credits. Refer to Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Basis of Presentation in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information on one-time legacy initial registration fees and the introduction of House Introduction Credits from April 4, 2022.
In-House revenues include all revenues realized within our Houses, including food and beverage, accommodation, and spa products and treatments. We view Membership Revenues and In-House Revenues as interrelated, although there is no minimum spend for any member on our In-House offerings that generate In-House Revenues. In practice the significant majority of In-House Revenues are generated by our members, and the pricing of our In-House offerings reflects that accordingly, with pricing of such In-House offerings being identical for both members and non-members.
Other revenues include all revenues not realized within our Houses, including Scorpios, Soho Works and stand-alone restaurants, design and procurement fees from Soho House Design, Soho Home and Cowshed retail products and other revenues from products and services that we provide outside of our Houses, as well as management fees from hotel management contracts for The Ned Sites and The LINE and Saguaro hotels.
Our Membership Platform
All of our memberships have been built to enrich the lives of their members, as well as expand our membership offering to a broader audience.
Soho House
Soho House remains at the core of our membership platform by creating a foundation upon which additional membership businesses can be built and scaled.
Every House annual membership fee is approximately $4,800, excluding local sales taxes, which provides access to all of our Houses globally. Our Houses attract members from every demographic, with members from “Generation Z” (26 years old and younger) and “Millennials” (27 to 42 year-olds) constituting the fastest-growing cohorts. We believe the pricing of our In-House offerings represents great value to our members because of the level of quality provided, reinforcing the overall membership experience, rewarding their brand loyalty and creating opportunities for future and recurring revenues.
We created the following types of membership under Soho House to reach a broader audience and enhance the experience of our existing members:
This membership allows us to welcome members to our global community in new geographies where we do not have a physical House. Through this membership we are able to generate additional revenues on our existing base of Houses and gather intelligence for future growth, which we have leveraged to open new Houses in certain
locations, including Bangkok, Thailand (February 2023), Mexico City, Mexico (September 2023), Portland, USA (March 2024), and planned future openings in Sao Paulo, Brazil (2024), and Manchester, United Kingdom (2024). As of December 31, 2023, we have 10,622 CWH members across 82 cities.
Through this membership we offer access to some physical House spaces, including Soho House bedrooms, and screenings, with additional benefits from our restaurants, spas and online retail brands to an audience who enjoy the Soho House offerings but do not have a Soho House Membership. Soho Friends annual membership is approximately $130 and does not provide full access to our Houses. As of December 31, 2023, we had 59,971 Soho Friends members. We intend to grow this membership brand in a measured way so that our Soho House Adult Paying Members continue to account for the majority of visitors to our Houses and restaurants.
Soho Works provides its members with the space and resources to work alongside other like-minded individuals and businesses—facilitating connections and providing the tools to flourish. Aimed primarily at existing Soho House and Soho Friends members, with locations in LA, New York and London. Soho Works draws on the same design principles and membership ethos as Soho House, but is a space purposed entirely for work and creative collaboration.
As of December 31, 2023, we had 6,048 Soho Works members. Soho Works membership rates vary by location and Soho House membership status. For Adult Paying Members, a US Soho Works membership ranges from $400 to $750 per month, depending on membership type.
Scorpios Beach Club
Set in a cove on the southern tip of Mykonos, Scorpios offers a one of a kind beach experience with a well-established globally recognized brand. With a restaurant, terraces and daybeds, and a distinctive wellness offering, Scorpios enriches the lives of its guests who are looking to escape from their daily lives. We believe the Scorpios concept has significant potential to expand into additional locations as a key part of our platform and we expect to open new sites in Tulum, Mexico and Bodrum, Turkey in 2024-2025.
The Ned
The Ned brand seeks to embody a “city within a city” full-service destination, by playing host to multiple restaurants, bedrooms, a range of grooming services, spa, gym and a full-service members’ club. The membership offered by The Ned (“Ned’s Club”), including Ned's Friends, is aimed at a broader group of professional people. As of December 31, 2023, Ned’s Club London, New York and Doha have approximately 4,600 members. The Ned offers its members The Ned’s Club app, which allows members to make bookings, publish benefits, events and club related information. We receive management fees under hotel management contracts for each of the operations of The Ned sites.
The LINE
On June 22, 2021, we acquired the operating agreements relating to the ‘The LINE’ and ‘Saguaro’ hotels. The hotels that are currently operational are located in Los Angeles, Washington, Austin, Palm Springs, and San Francisco, and among them offer a variety of food and beverage offerings together with approximately 1,500 hotel rooms. We receive management fees under hotel management contract for the operation of these hotels. The transaction has broadened our geographic reach in North America. Refer to Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 3 - Acquisitions for further information.
Factors Affecting Our Business
We believe the coveted lifestyle brand we have created has significant and proven growth potential. This potential, combined with the stability of our membership base, we believe will enable us to maintain our position as an industry leader in the future. We expect to grow our member base by growing the number of Soho Houses, continuing to scale our existing membership brands and launching and growing new membership brands. We believe our track record in expanding and growing our platform will position us to achieve significant and sustained growth.
A significant portion of our revenues is derived from House Revenues which consist of Membership Revenues and In-House Revenues. Our Membership Revenues, which are reflective of our steady and growing global brand, help to provide us with a recurring revenue base that limits the impact of fluctuations in regional economic conditions.
Our business and future performance is also affected by a variety of factors, including:
•The ability to grow our member base. Long-term member growth is a direct driver of Membership Revenue growth and an important factor in driving In-House Revenue growth. The impact of long-term member growth on Membership Revenues can be particularly impactful to our earnings given the lower direct expenses associated with incremental Membership Revenues relative to our other revenue streams.
•Our ability to grow In-House Revenues. In addition to their annual membership fee, our members pay for goods and services that they consume, which we refer to as In-House Revenues. We continue to actively develop the offerings in our Soho Houses and our other membership brands to improve overall experience and capture greater spend on food and beverage, accommodation, spa services, private events and our other goods and services. We believe that the pricing of our In-House offerings, which is reflective of the membership fees we receive from members who consume most of our In-House offerings, represents great value to our members for the level of quality provided, reinforcing the overall membership experience, rewarding brand loyalty and creating the opportunity for future revenue enhancement. Our proven ability to drive long-term member growth at existing Houses is also an important contributing factor in sustaining In-House Revenue growth.
•Our ability to adjust membership pricing. As we expand our number of Soho Houses globally and continue to invest in maintaining the quality of our existing Soho Houses, we are able to grow Membership Revenues by periodically reviewing our membership fee rates, as well as migrating members from Local House to Every House membership, which also has the effect of increasing Membership Revenues and offering new membership brands to join. Contrary to traditional hospitality companies which may experience brand dilution as they expand, the value of our membership and brand strengthens as we expand into new cities and properties and new membership brands. As we expand globally, the value of an Every House membership becomes more compelling to both new and existing members, enhancing our revenue potential. Historically, our membership price increases have not had a material impact on our retention rates and we believe this provides a strong indication of demand and price inelasticity for our memberships.
•Our ability to grow our membership brands and products. We believe the strength of our brand and our culture of creativity and innovation will allow us to continue to capitalize on opportunities in complementary concepts and product lines and that our adjacent lines of business can achieve substantial stand-alone scale. Our expansion into new products and businesses can contribute meaningfully to our revenue in the future as we tap into our existing and growing membership base.
Reportable Segments
Our operations consist of three reportable segments (United Kingdom, North America, Europe and Rest of the World (“ROW”)) and one non-reportable segment that we present as “All Other”. Each of our segments includes all operations in that region including our Houses and all associated facilities, spas and stand-alone restaurants. Refer to Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 21 Segments in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information on reportable segments.
Key Performance, Operating Metrics and Additional Financial Measures and Other Data Evaluated by Management
In assessing the performance of our business, we consider a variety of operating and financial measures and metrics. These measures and metrics include:
NUMBER OF SOHO HOUSES. The number of Soho Houses reflects the total number of Soho Houses in operation in any period, irrespective of whether each House is (i) controlled by us, (ii) operated through a non-controlling interest in a joint venture or (iii) operated under a management contract.
We review the number of members from all Houses to assess new member growth, total House Revenues, and House-Level Contribution.
NUMBER OF SOHO HOUSE MEMBERS. Our Soho House membership model is an integral part of our business and has a significant impact on our profitability and financial performance. Typically, members hold an Every House membership or a Local House membership. Member count is the primary driver of Membership Revenues and is also a critical factor in driving In-House Revenues as members utilize the offerings that are provided within the Houses. Soho House members include all active, frozen and non-paying members.
The extent to which we achieve growth in our membership base, retain existing members and periodically increase our membership fee rates will impact our profitability. We have historically enjoyed strong member loyalty, reflected by very high retention rates. Robust demand for our memberships is also evidenced by considerable wait lists for our Houses.
The year-over-year increase in our total number of Soho House Members is driven by a combination of increases in membership at existing Houses and members from new Houses.
SOHO HOUSE MEMBER RETENTION. Soho House Member Retention is defined as the number of Adult Paying Members (being all Soho House members excluding child members and complimentary members) at the beginning of a period less the number of Adult Paying Members who canceled their membership during that same period (without giving any effect to Adult Paying Members who froze their memberships during such period), as a proportion of total Adult Paying Members at the beginning of such period.
NUMBER OF OTHER MEMBERS. Other members include members of Soho Works and Soho Friends which are key to our growth strategy and enhancing our Soho House member experience. Like Adult Paying members, other memberships are an integral part of our business and we believe will have a significant impact on our profitability and financial performance in the future.
FROZEN MEMBERS. Frozen Members refers to Adult Paying Members who have elected to suspend their membership payments on a six, nine or twelve month basis during which period the member is not able to gain access to a Soho House site as a member, access our membership Apps, or book bedrooms or Cowshed treatments or products on discounted member rates. Frozen Members are not included in Adult Paying Members, but are included in the total number of Soho House members.
MEMBERSHIP REVENUES. Membership Revenues are comprised of House Membership Revenues (as defined below) and Non-House Membership Revenues (as defined below). House Membership Revenues and Non-House Membership Revenues are each comprised primarily of annual membership fees and one-time registration fees which are amortized over 20 years. The one-time registration fee is no longer applicable to new members admitted from April 4, 2022; see "House Introduction Credits" below. Membership Revenues are a function of the number of members, membership mix, and membership pricing. For GAAP, we report Membership Revenues only from Houses and sites in which we own a controlling interest. Our membership pricing varies by geographic segment and membership offering and, as such, our mix of House and Soho Works club openings can affect our revenue growth and profitability over time. Prices are generally higher in North America and the ROW compared with the UK and Europe. Membership Revenues provide a stable and recurring source of revenues which have few direct costs and, as such, is a reliable and predictable source of cash flow.
HOUSE INTRODUCTION CREDITS. New members admitted from April 4, 2022 have been required to purchase House Introduction Credits as part of their membership, per the House rules. House Introduction Credits are credits of an equivalent value to cash within Houses and are redeemable to purchase food and beverage items, and bedroom stays, at the Houses. House Introduction Credits expire after the first three months from the date of issuance, where legally permitted in the regions we operate, if not utilized or if the Company terminates a member’s House membership. House Introduction Credits are recognized upon issuance as deferred revenue on our consolidated balance sheets. Revenue from House Introduction Credits are recognized as In-House revenues when redeemed by members, and as breakage revenue within Membership revenues upon expiration or in the period that we are able to reliably estimate expected breakage to the extent that they are unredeemed, are recognized. House Introduction Credits expire three months from the date of issue.
HOUSE MEMBERSHIP REVENUES. House Membership Revenues are comprised primarily of annual membership fees and one-time legacy registration fees from Adult Paying Members which are amortized over 20 years. The one-time registration fee is no longer applicable to new members admitted from April 4, 2022; see "House Introduction Credits" above.
IN-HOUSE REVENUES. In-House Revenues refer to all revenues realized within our Houses, and primarily includes revenues from food and beverage, accommodation, and spa products and treatments.
HOUSE REVENUES. House Revenues is defined as House Membership Revenues plus In-House Revenues, less Non-House Membership Revenues. Our management views House Membership Revenues and In-House Revenues as interrelated and their aggregation as important in tracking House performance. Although there is no minimum spend for any member on In-House offerings, in practice most members consume food and beverage, accommodations and other offerings at our Houses. The pricing of our In-House offerings is reflective of the fact that the significant majority of In-House offerings that generate In-House revenues are consumed by members who also pay a membership fee in relation to that House, with pricing of such In-House offerings being identical for both members and non-members.
OTHER REVENUES. Other revenues are defined as total revenues that are not realized within our Houses, including revenues from Scorpios, Soho Works and our stand-alone restaurants, procurement fees from SHD, Soho Home and Cowshed retail products and other revenues from products and services that we provide outside of our Houses, as well as management fees from hotel management contracts for The Ned Sites and The LINE and Saguaro hotels.
NON-HOUSE MEMBERSHIP REVENUES. Non-House Membership Revenues are comprised of Soho Works membership revenues, Soho Friends membership revenue.
ACTIVE APP USERS. Active App Users is defined as unique users who have logged into any of our membership Apps within the previous three months.
AVERAGE DAILY RATE ("ADR"). Average Daily Rate represents the average rental income per paid occupied room. We believe this is a meaningful indicator of our performance.
REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM ("RevPAR"). The key industry standard for measuring hotel-operating performance is RevPAR, which is calculated by multiplying the percentage of occupied rooms to available rooms by the ADR realized. We believe RevPAR is a meaningful indicator of our performance because it measures the period-over-period change in room revenues for comparable properties. RevPAR may not be comparable to similarly titled measures, such as revenues, and should not be viewed as necessarily correlating with our revenue. We also believe occupancy and ADR, which are components of calculating RevPAR, are meaningful indicators of our performance. Where this is presented on a like-for like basis, RevPAR is adjusted for new or divested sites, for example Houses that were not open in the comparison period.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We refer to Adjusted EBITDA, House-Level Contribution, House-Level Contribution Margin, Other Contribution and Other Contribution Margin throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as we use these measures to evaluate our operating performance and each of these measures is defined in “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.” We believe these measures are useful to investors in evaluating our operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA, House-Level Contribution, House-Level Contribution Margin, Other Contribution and Other Contribution Margin are all supplemental measures of our performance that are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with, GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA, House-Level Contribution, House-Level Contribution Margin, Other Contribution and Other Contribution Margin should not be considered as substitutes for GAAP metrics such as Operating Income (Loss) and Net Loss or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. Some of our financial and operational data that we disclose in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are presented on a ‘constant currency’ basis to isolate the effect of currency changes during the period. Where we refer to a measure being calculated in ‘constant currency’, we are calculating the USD change and the percent change as if the exchange rate that is being used in the current period was in effect for the prior period presented. We believe that this calculation provides a more meaningful indication of actual year-over-year performance and eliminates the fluctuations from currency exchange rates.
KEY PERFORMANCE AND OPERATING METRICS
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | As of | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 | |
| | (Unaudited) | |
Number of Soho Houses | | | 42 | | | | 40 | | | | 33 | |
North America | | | 15 | | | | 14 | | | | 11 | |
United Kingdom | | | 13 | | | | 13 | | | | 11 | |
Europe/RoW | | | 14 | | | | 13 | | | | 11 | |
Number of Soho House Members | | | 193,865 | | | | 161,975 | | | | 122,807 | |
North America | | | 70,284 | | | | 60,439 | | | | 45,733 | |
United Kingdom | | | 70,865 | | | | 60,909 | | | | 48,575 | |
Europe/RoW | | | 42,094 | | | | 33,827 | | | | 23,847 | |
All Other | | | 10,622 | | | | 6,800 | | | | 4,652 | |
Number of Other Members | | | 66,019 | | | | 64,855 | | | | 33,029 | |
North America | | | 17,615 | | | | 17,864 | | | | 7,944 | |
United Kingdom | | | 40,024 | | | | 39,325 | | | | 22,131 | |
Europe/RoW | | | 8,380 | | | | 7,666 | | | | 2,954 | |
Number of Total Members | | | 259,884 | | | | 226,830 | | | | 155,836 | |
Number of Active App Users | | | 201,211 | | | | 168,641 | | | | 119,677 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | For the Fiscal Year Ended | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | |
| | Actuals | | | Constant Currency(1) | |
| | (Unaudited, dollar amounts in thousands) | |
Membership Revenue growth year over year | | | 33 | % | | | 44 | % | | | 32 | % | | | 61 | % |
North America | | | 28 | % | | | 48 | % | | | 28 | % | | | 48 | % |
United Kingdom | | | 36 | % | | | 28 | % | | | 35 | % | | | 43 | % |
Europe/RoW | | | 49 | % | | | 50 | % | | | 48 | % | | | 68 | % |
All Other | | | 30 | % | | | 68 | % | | | 29 | % | | | 87 | % |
Operating loss | | $ | (23,003 | ) | | $ | (147,481 | ) | | $ | (23,003 | ) | | $ | (152,137 | ) |
Operating loss margin | | | (2 | )% | | | (15 | )% | | | (2 | )% | | | (15 | )% |
House-Level Contribution | | | 218,037 | | | | 144,425 | | | | 218,037 | | | | 145,678 | |
House-Level Contribution Margin | | | 27 | % | | | 22 | % | | | 27 | % | | | 22 | % |
Other Contribution | | | 70,002 | | | | 52,524 | | | | 70,002 | | | | 52,980 | |
Other Contribution Margin | | | 21 | % | | | 17 | % | | | 21 | % | | | 17 | % |
Adjusted EBITDA | | | 128,000 | | | | 60,741 | | | | 128,000 | | | | 61,268 | |
Percentage of total revenues | | | 11 | % | | | 6 | % | | | 11 | % | | | 6 | % |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for an explanation of our constant currency results.
COMPARISON OF THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 AND JANUARY 1, 2023
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | | | | January 1, 2023 Constant | | | | |
| | Actuals | | | | | | Currency(1) | | | | |
| | (Dollar amounts in thousands) | | | Change % | | | (Dollar amounts in thousands) | | | Constant Currency Change %(1) | |
| | (Unaudited) | |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Membership revenues | | $ | 361,487 | | | $ | 272,809 | | | | 33 | % | | $ | 274,014 | | | | 32 | % |
In-House revenues | | | 482,066 | | | | 426,602 | | | | 13 | % | | | 428,653 | | | | 12 | % |
Other revenues | | | 292,326 | | | | 272,803 | | | | 7 | % | | | 274,606 | | | | 6 | % |
Total revenues | | | 1,135,879 | | | | 972,214 | | | | 17 | % | | | 977,273 | | | | 16 | % |
Operating expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In-House operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)(2) | | | (589,357 | ) | | | (524,929 | ) | | | (12 | )% | | | (529,484 | ) | | | (11 | )% |
Other operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)(3) | | | (258,483 | ) | | | (250,336 | ) | | | (3 | )% | | | (252,508 | ) | | | (2 | )% |
General and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)(4) | | | (143,583 | ) | | | (123,435 | ) | | | (16 | )% | | | (124,506 | ) | | | (15 | )% |
Pre-opening expenses | | | (18,604 | ) | | | (14,081 | ) | | | (32 | )% | | | (14,203 | ) | | | (31 | )% |
Depreciation and amortization | | | (111,403 | ) | | | (99,930 | ) | | | (11 | )% | | | (100,797 | ) | | | (11 | )% |
Share-based compensation | | | (20,230 | ) | | | (27,681 | ) | | | 27 | % | | | (27,921 | ) | | | 28 | % |
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net | | | 36,196 | | | | (69,600 | ) | | n/m | | | | (70,204 | ) | | n/m | |
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets | | | (47,455 | ) | | | — | | | n/m | | | | — | | | n/m | |
Other, net | | | (5,963 | ) | | | (9,703 | ) | | | 39 | % | | | (9,787 | ) | | | 39 | % |
Total operating expenses | | | (1,158,882 | ) | | | (1,119,695 | ) | | | (3 | )% | | | (1,129,410 | ) | | | (3 | )% |
Operating loss | | | (23,003 | ) | | | (147,481 | ) | | | 84 | % | | | (152,137 | ) | | | 85 | % |
Other (expense) income | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense, net | | | (84,136 | ) | | | (71,499 | ) | | | (18 | )% | | | (72,119 | ) | | | (17 | )% |
Gain (loss) on sale of property and other, net | | | (1,038 | ) | | | 390 | | | n/m | | | | 393 | | | n/m | |
Share of income (loss) of equity method investments | | | 1,900 | | | | 3,941 | | | | (52 | )% | | | 3,975 | | | | (52 | )% |
Total other expense, net | | | (83,274 | ) | | | (67,168 | ) | | | (24 | )% | | | (67,751 | ) | | | (23 | )% |
Loss before income taxes | | | (106,277 | ) | | | (214,649 | ) | | | 50 | % | | | (219,888 | ) | | | 52 | % |
Income tax expense | | | (10,811 | ) | | | (5,131 | ) | | n/m | | | | (5,176 | ) | | n/m | |
Net loss | | | (117,088 | ) | | | (219,780 | ) | | | 47 | % | | | (225,064 | ) | | | 48 | % |
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interest | | | (865 | ) | | | (800 | ) | | | (8 | )% | | | (807 | ) | | | (7 | )% |
Net loss attributable to Soho House & Co Inc. | | $ | (117,953 | ) | | $ | (220,580 | ) | | | 47 | % | | $ | (225,871 | ) | | | 48 | % |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Constant Currency” for an explanation of our constant currency results.
(2)In-House operating expenses is exclusive of depreciation and amortization of $67,786 and $55,587 ($67,786 and $56,069 in constant currency) for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively.
(3)Other operating expenses is exclusive of depreciation and amortization of $29,615 and $30,262 ($29,615 and $30,525 in constant currency) for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively.
(4)General and administrative expenses is exclusive of depreciation and amortization of $14,002 and $14,081 ($14,002 and $14,203 in constant currency) for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively.
OVERVIEW
In fiscal 2023 we delivered strong growth across our core business, seen in both our Houses and other channels. Despite continuing inflationary pressures we were able to drive operational efficiencies and deliver year-on-year improvements in net loss, while successfully opening two new Soho Houses in Bangkok and Mexico City.
During fiscal 2023, our global number of Soho House members increased by 31,890, or 20%, we slightly reduced our Soho Works members by 600 and grew our Soho Friends by 1,800. Adult Paying Members increased by over 23,800 and frozen members grew from 2,256 members to 7,512. Due to the increase in Adult Paying Members and our Non-House members across fiscal 2023, Membership revenues increased by $88,678, or 33%.
Total In-House revenues increased by $55,464 in fiscal 2023, or 13%, as a result of increased members and the addition of two Soho Houses that opened throughout fiscal 2023 as well as a full year of In-House revenues for the seven Soho Houses we opened in fiscal 2022. Other revenues increased by 7% in fiscal 2023 driven by growth in Soho Home and Soho Works revenues year-on-year, plus Ned New York (which opened in June 2022) and Ned Doha (which opened in November 2022), in respect of which we recognized a full year of management fees.
Operating loss for fiscal 2023 was $23,003 a decrease of $124,478 from that in fiscal 2022 of $147,481 driven by increased revenues year-on-year coupled with foreign exchange gains on revaluation of borrowings. Although we saw higher In-House and Other operating expenses year-on-year in line with higher volumes and inflationary pressures, both House-Level Contribution and Other Contribution increased in fiscal 2023, primarily as a result of improved operational efficiencies, selective price increases and higher Membership revenues.
Net loss attributable to Soho House & Co decreased to $117,953 in fiscal 2023 from $220,580 in fiscal 2022. Adjusted EBITDA increased from $60,741 in fiscal 2022 to $128,000 in fiscal 2023 driven by strong growth in our revenues, operational efficiencies, and some normalization of trading activity levels post-COVID-19.
TOTAL REVENUES
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | Percent Change | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | Actuals | | | Constant Currency(1) | |
| | (Dollar amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited) | |
Total revenues | | $ | 1,135,879 | | | $ | 972,214 | | | | 17 | % | | | 16 | % |
North America | | | 441,005 | | | | 389,124 | | | | 13 | % | | | 13 | % |
United Kingdom | | | 350,515 | | | | 299,929 | | | | 17 | % | | | 16 | % |
Europe/RoW | | | 183,260 | | | | 135,104 | | | | 36 | % | | | 34 | % |
All Other | | | 161,099 | | | | 148,057 | | | | 9 | % | | | 8 | % |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Constant Currency” for an explanation of our constant currency results.
MEMBERSHIP REVENUES
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | Percent Change | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | Actuals | | | Constant Currency(1) | |
| | (Dollar amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited) | |
Membership revenues | | $ | 361,487 | | | $ | 272,809 | | | | 33 | % | | | 32 | % |
North America | | | 170,946 | | | | 133,889 | | | | 28 | % | | | 28 | % |
United Kingdom | | | 104,387 | | | | 76,507 | | | | 36 | % | | | 35 | % |
Europe/RoW | | | 39,240 | | | | 26,287 | | | | 49 | % | | | 48 | % |
All Other | | | 46,914 | | | | 36,126 | | | | 30 | % | | | 29 | % |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Constant Currency” for an explanation of our constant currency results.
Membership revenues increased by 33% to $361,487 in fiscal 2023 predominantly driven by an increase in Adult Paying Members of 18%, or 23,800, who joined after the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. Additionally, the Soho House Every House membership fee was increased at the start of fiscal 2022 which impacted existing Every House members on their renewal date throughout fiscal 2022, meaning in fiscal 2023 we captured a full year of these increases.
All Soho House Adult paying fees were also increased in January 2023, with a mid single-digit price rise generally for existing members and a low double-digit increase in price for new members. This increase impacts new members on the date they join and existing members on their renewal date, and did not have had a significant material impact at the end of fiscal 2023.
There was also an increase in Non-House Membership revenues of $36,159, following the increase in the number of Soho Friends, with approximately 1,200 additional Non-House members at the end of fiscal 2023 as compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022.
In constant currency, Membership revenues increased by $87,473, or 32% in fiscal 2023.
North America segment saw an increase in membership revenues of $37,057, or 28%, due to approximately 7,300, or 14% increase in Adult Paying Soho House members year-on-year, with the partial opening of Miami Pool House (December 2022) and Soho House Mexico City (September 2023), as well as membership growth across all existing Houses. The impact of the House membership fee increases noted above also contributed to the increase in Membership revenues year-on-year.
Our United Kingdom segment saw an increase in Membership revenues of $27,880, or 36%, due to approximately 7,800, or 15% increase in Adult Paying members, driven by growth in existing Houses, coupled with the impact of the House membership fee increases as noted above. In constant currency, Membership revenues in the United Kingdom segment increased by $27,216, or 35%.
The Europe/RoW segment saw an increase in Membership revenues of $12,953, or 49%, due to approximately 5,500, or 27% increase in Adult Paying Members, predominantly from the opening of two new Houses in the second half of fiscal 2022; Copenhagen (July 2022) and Stockholm (December 2022), and the opening of Soho House Bangkok (February 2023), as well as the revenue impact of the House membership fee increases as noted above. In constant currency, Membership revenues in the Europe/ROW segment increased by $12,725, or 48%.
All Other saw an increase in Membership revenues of $10,788, or 30%, predominantly driven by approximately 3,300, or 53%, more CWH Adult Paying Members as well as approximately 1,200 additional Non-House members in comparison to the end of fiscal 2022. In constant currency, All Other Membership revenues increased by $10,475, or 29%.
IN-HOUSE REVENUES
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | Percent Change | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | Actuals | | | Constant Currency(1) | |
| | (Dollar amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited) | |
In-House revenues | | $ | 482,066 | | | $ | 426,602 | | | | 13 | % | | | 12 | % |
North America | | | 199,665 | | | | 190,176 | | | | 5 | % | | | 5 | % |
United Kingdom | | | 182,363 | | | | 166,016 | | | | 10 | % | | | 9 | % |
Europe/RoW | | | 100,038 | | | | 70,410 | | | | 42 | % | | | 41 | % |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Constant Currency” for an explanation of our constant currency results.
In-House revenues were $482,066 in fiscal 2023, an increase of $55,464 versus fiscal 2022. The increase was driven by higher sales volume year-on-year in existing sites, further boosted by the nine new Houses that have opened since the start of fiscal 2022.
In constant currency, In-House Revenues increased by $53,413, or 12% in fiscal 2023.
North America In-House revenues were $199,665 in fiscal 2023, an increase of $9,489 versus fiscal 2022. We saw higher sales volumes in fiscal 2023 coupled with select price increases resulting in an increase in In-House revenues year-on-year. Additionally, the opening of Soho House Holloway (May 2022) and Soho House Mexico City (September 2023) has further boosted In-House revenues in North America. The In-House revenues for the region were, however, adversely impacted by entertainment industry strikes in fiscal 2023 resulting in lower footfall and expenditure at our North American Houses that generally cater to the industry.
In-House revenues in our United Kingdom segment saw an increase of $16,347 in fiscal 2023 versus fiscal 2022, driven by growth in existing sites as a result of increased footfall and strong accommodation revenues alongside the opening of Brighton Beach House (March 2022) and Little House Balham (July 2022). In constant currency, In-House Revenues in the United Kingdom segment increased by $14,907, or 9% in fiscal 2023.
The Europe/RoW segment saw an increase of $29,628 for In-House revenues year-on-year, driven from new openings, including Soho House Copenhagen (July 2022), Soho House Stockholm (December 2022) and Soho House Bangkok (February 2023). The region saw an increase in accommodation revenue driven by occupancy and RevPAR improvements year-on-year however was negatively impacted by the closure of the Tel Aviv property in the fourth quarter. In addition to this, within fiscal 2023 we recognized approximately $1,800 from the Dutch government related to COVID-19 subsidies and approximately $1,100 related to a settlement to
recover costs from a former development partner incurred in connection with the development of a House in Europe. In constant currency, In-House Revenues in the Europe/RoW segment increased by $29,017 or 41% in fiscal 2023.
OTHER REVENUES
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | Percent Change | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | Actuals | | | Constant Currency(1) | |
| | (Dollar amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited) | |
Other revenues | | $ | 292,326 | | | $ | 272,803 | | | | 7 | % | | | 6 | % |
North America | | | 70,393 | | | | 64,983 | | | | 8 | % | | | 8 | % |
United Kingdom | | | 63,766 | | | | 57,310 | | | | 11 | % | | | 10 | % |
Europe/RoW | | | 43,982 | | | | 38,408 | | | | 15 | % | | | 14 | % |
All Other | | | 114,185 | | | | 112,102 | | | | 2 | % | | | 1 | % |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Constant Currency” for an explanation of our constant currency results.
Other revenues were $292,326 in fiscal 2023, compared to $272,803 in fiscal 2022, an increase of $19,523. The increase is predominantly driven by additional revenues from sites that have opened since the start of fiscal 2022, including Ned Doha, Ned NoMad, New York and Cecconi's Bicester. This is coupled with an increase in Soho Home and Works revenues and growth in management fees from Soho House Mumbai and Soho House Istanbul alongside strong performance from Scorpios, Mykonos.
In constant currency, Other Revenues increased by $17,720, or 6% in fiscal 2023.
Other revenues in the North America segment have increased by $5,410, or 8% in fiscal 2023, versus fiscal 2022 predominantly driven by increased management fees at Ned NoMad, New York which opened in June 2022 and higher Mandolin revenue, which was offset by revenue declines in Cecconi's sites and reduced management fees from The LINE and Saguaro business.
The United Kingdom segment saw an increase in Other revenues of $6,456, or 11% in fiscal 2023, versus fiscal 2022 driven by an additional Cecconi's site in Bicester Village (November 2022) and increased Partnerships revenue, partially offset by closure of a number of legacy stand-alone restaurant sites that closed in fiscal 2022 and 2023. In constant currency, Other Revenues in the United Kingdom segment increased by $5,959 or 10% in fiscal 2023.
Other revenues in the Europe/RoW segment have increased compared to fiscal 2022 driven by strong performance at Scorpios, Mykonos, growing year-on-year alongside an additional Ned site in Doha and increased management fees from Soho House Mumbai and Soho House Istanbul. In constant currency, Other Revenues in the Europe/RoW segment increased by $5,241, or 14% in fiscal 2023.
Other revenues in All Other increased by $2,083, or 2% in fiscal 2023, versus fiscal 2022 driven by year-on-year growth in Soho Home with strong growth in both e-commerce and retail, supported by an additional Los Angeles location (which opened in August 2022). We also recognized revenue from property development fees of $6,700 and $2,600 in respect of a lease promote for a property in Rome, compared to a $4,000 lease promote for a property in Paris in fiscal 2022. This is partially offset by a decline in Design fees in fiscal 2023 of $13,200. In constant currency, Other Revenues in All Other increased by $1,110, or 1%, in fiscal 2023.
IN-HOUSE OPERATING EXPENSES AND HOUSE-LEVEL CONTRIBUTION
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | Percent Change | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | Actuals | | | Constant Currency(1) | |
| | (Dollar amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited) | |
In-House operating expenses | | $ | (589,357 | ) | | $ | (524,929 | ) | | | (12 | )% | | | (11 | )% |
Percentage of total House revenues | | | (73 | )% | | | (78 | )% | | | | | | |
Operating Loss | | $ | (23,003 | ) | | $ | (147,481 | ) | | | 84 | % | | | 85 | % |
Operating loss margin | | | (2 | )% | | | (15 | )% | | | | | | |
House-Level Contribution | | $ | 218,037 | | | $ | 144,425 | | | | 51 | % | | | 50 | % |
House-Level Contribution Margin | | | 27 | % | | | 22 | % | | | 5 | % | | | |
House-Level Contribution by segment: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
North America | | $ | 108,835 | | | $ | 83,134 | | | | 31 | % | | | 31 | % |
United Kingdom | | | 87,975 | | | | 55,609 | | | | 58 | % | | | 57 | % |
Europe/RoW | | | 7,509 | | | | (2,810 | ) | | n/m | | | n/m | |
All Other | | | 13,718 | | | | 8,492 | | | | 62 | % | | | 60 | % |
House-Level Contribution Margin by segment: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
North America | | | 29 | % | | | 26 | % | | | | | | |
United Kingdom | | | 31 | % | | | 23 | % | | | | | | |
Europe/RoW | | | 5 | % | | | (3 | )% | | | | | | |
All Other | | | 89 | % | | | 85 | % | | | | | | |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Constant Currency” for an explanation of our constant currency results.
IN-HOUSE OPERATING EXPENSES & HOUSE-LEVEL CONTRIBUTION.
In-House Operating Expenses were $589,357 in fiscal 2023, an increase of $64,428 from fiscal 2022. The increase is a result of the nine new Houses opened since the start of fiscal 2022 and was also driven by wage inflation, retention initiatives across all regions alongside energy and rent cost increases. In constant currency, In-House Operating Expenses increased by $59,873 in fiscal 2023.
House-Level Contribution, which is defined as House Revenues less In-House Operating Expenses, was $218,037 in fiscal 2023 compared to $144,425 in fiscal 2022, an increase of $73,612. The increase in House-Level Contribution predominantly relates to strong flow through from increased Soho House membership revenues and accommodation revenue year-on-year. This increase is partially offset by the opening of two additional Houses in fiscal 2023, with newer Houses tending to have negative House-Level Contribution in their first year of operation.
House-Level Contribution Margin was 27% in fiscal 2023, an increase of 5% from fiscal 2022 due to increased Membership revenues. Included within this is the one time benefit from an out of period adjustment of $5,758 which further contributed to the improved margins in fiscal 2023. There was a $5,439 adjustment relating to out of period operating lease liability correction in Fiscal 2022. Further detail with respect to these out of period adjustment can be found in the table that reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss, see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for this table.
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES AND OTHER CONTRIBUTION
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | Percent Change | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | Actuals | | | Constant Currency(1) | |
| | (Dollar amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited) | |
Other operating expenses | | $ | (258,483 | ) | | $ | (250,336 | ) | | | (3 | )% | | | (2 | )% |
Percentage of total other revenues | | | (79 | )% | | | (83 | )% | | | | | | |
Operating loss | | $ | (23,003 | ) | | $ | (147,481 | ) | | n/m | | | n/m | |
Operating loss margin | | | (2 | )% | | | (15 | )% | | | | | | |
Other Contribution | | $ | 70,002 | | | $ | 52,524 | | | | 33 | % | | | 32 | % |
Other Contribution Margin | | | 21 | % | | | 17 | % | | | 4 | % | | | 13 | % |
Other Contribution by segment: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
North America | | $ | 16,180 | | | $ | 14,964 | | | | 8 | % | | | 8 | % |
United Kingdom | | | 24,545 | | | | 20,998 | | | | 17 | % | | | 16 | % |
Europe/RoW | | | 15,405 | | | | 14,844 | | | | 4 | % | | | 3 | % |
All Other | | | 13,872 | | | | 1,718 | | | n/m | | | n/m | |
Other Contribution Margin by segment: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
North America | | | 23 | % | | | 22 | % | | | | | | |
United Kingdom | | | 37 | % | | | 35 | % | | | | | | |
Europe/RoW | | | 34 | % | | | 38 | % | | | | | | |
All Other | | | 10 | % | | | 1 | % | | | | | | |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Constant Currency” for an explanation of our constant currency results.
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES.
Other operating expenses were $258,483 for fiscal 2023, compared with $250,336 for fiscal 2022, an increase of $8,147, or 3%. The increase year-on-year was predominantly driven by increased sales made by Soho Home from additional sites and online demand. In addition to this, new restaurant and hotel sites in the UK and North America resulted in increased costs. This was offset by a cost reduction in respect of the annual Coachella event and Soho House Design spend versus fiscal 2022 and the permanent closure of all of our legacy stand-alone Soho Restaurants sites, excluding Cecconi's, at the start of fiscal 2023 plus the closure of our operations at The Hoxton, Shoreditch (which ceased in July 2023). In constant currency, Other Operating Expenses increased by $5,975, or 2% in fiscal 2023.
OTHER CONTRIBUTION.
Other Contribution, which we define as Other Revenues plus Non-House Membership Revenues less Other Operating Expenses, was $70,002 in fiscal 2023, compared to $52,524 for fiscal 2022, an increase of $17,478. Other Contribution Margin was 21% in fiscal 2023, an increase of 4% from fiscal 2022. The increase in both absolute Other Contribution and Margin was predominantly driven by higher Non-House Membership Revenues year-on-year due to consistently higher Non-House members, strong accommodation flow through from Townhouses, the closure of non profitable Soho Restaurants sites, as well as the receipt of the development fees described above.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | Percent Change | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | Actual | | | Constant Currency(1) | |
| | (Dollar amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited) | |
General and administrative expenses | | $ | 143,583 | | | $ | 123,435 | | | | 16 | % | | | 15 | % |
Percentage of total revenues | | | 13 | % | | | 13 | % | | | | | | |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Constant Currency” for an explanation of our constant currency results.
General and Administrative Expenses were $143,583 in fiscal 2023, compared with $123,435 fiscal 2022 an increase of $20,148, or 16%. The increase was driven by additional cost and headcount to support business expansion, including the nine new Soho Houses that have opened since the start of fiscal 2022.
In constant currency, General and Administrative Expenses had an increase of $19,077, or 15% in fiscal 2023.
PRE-OPENING EXPENSES
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | Percent Change | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | Actual | | | Constant Currency(1) | |
| | (Dollar amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited) | |
Pre-opening expenses | | $ | 18,604 | | | $ | 14,081 | | | | 32 | % | | | 31 | % |
Percentage of total revenues | | | 2 | % | | | 1 | % | | | | | | |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Constant Currency” for an explanation of our constant currency results.
Pre-opening expenses were $18,604 in fiscal 2023.This represented an increase of $4,523 in comparison to $14,081 in fiscal 2022. The year-on-year increase was driven predominantly by delays in the full opening of Miami Pool House, which has only been open during fiscal 2023 for select events, resulting in pre-opening expenses being incurred over a longer period than is typical for new openings. Also contributing to the increase are the characteristics of upcoming openings, in comparison to the comparative period, including size and location of openings. In constant currency, Pre-opening expenses increased by $4,401, or 31% in fiscal 2023.
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | Percent Change | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | Actual | | | Constant Currency(1) | |
| | (Dollar amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited) | |
Depreciation and amortization | | $ | 111,403 | | | $ | 99,930 | | | | 11 | % | | | 11 | % |
Percentage of total revenues | | | 10 | % | | | 10 | % | | | | | | |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Constant Currency” for an explanation of our constant currency results.
Depreciation and amortization were $111,403 in fiscal 2023, an increase of $11,473, or 11%, from fiscal 2022. This increase year-on-year was driven by the nine new Soho Houses that opened in fiscal 2022 and 2023, increased spend in IT to support key membership and compliance initiatives, and approximately $5,000 relating to one off lease reclassification. This was partially offset by approximately $3,000 of one-time expense in fiscal 2022 relating to accelerated depreciation for one of our sites. In constant currency, depreciation and amortization expenses increased by $10,606, or 11%.
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION, FOREIGN EXCHANGE, LOSS ON IMPAIRMENT, AND OTHER
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | Percent Change | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | Actual | | | Constant Currency(1) | |
| | (Dollar amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited) | |
Share-based compensation | | $ | 20,230 | | | $ | 27,681 | | | | (27 | )% | | | (28 | )% |
Percentage of total revenues | | | 2 | % | | | 3 | % | | | | | | |
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net | | $ | (36,196 | ) | | $ | 69,600 | | | n/m | | | n/m | |
Percentage of total revenues | | | (3 | )% | | | 7 | % | | | | | | |
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets | | $ | 47,455 | | | $ | - | | | n/m | | | n/m | |
Percentage of total revenues | | | 4 | % | | | 0 | % | | | | | | |
Other, net | | $ | 5,963 | | | $ | 9,703 | | | | (39 | )% | | | (39 | )% |
Percentage of total revenues | | | 1 | % | | | 1 | % | | | | | | |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Constant Currency” for an explanation of our constant currency results.
Share-based compensation expense decreased by $7,451 to $20,230 in fiscal 2023, primarily because of grants made under the Company's 2020 equity and incentive plan becoming fully vested in the first quarter of fiscal 2023. This has been partially offset by the impact of new grants made since this period and the related amortization impact.
Foreign exchange (gain) loss, net, which is unrealized and non-cash in nature, moved by $105,796 to $(36,196) in fiscal 2023, primarily driven by foreign exchange revaluation of our borrowings.
During fiscal 2023, the Company recorded impairment losses of $47,455 related to long-lived assets, of which $36,640 relates to long-lived assets and PPE in Soho Works North America owing to expected future operating results not being sufficient for the Company to fully recover its long-lived asset investment in North America.
Other expenses decreased by $3,740 to $5,963 in fiscal 2023, primarily related to $4 million of expenses incurred in fiscal 2022 with respect to an internal strategic reorganization program of the Company's support and operations teams. In the current fiscal year, the expense primarily related to the Cowshed's brand license inventory provision of $5 million.
INTEREST EXPENSE, NET
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | Percent Change | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | Actual | | | Constant Currency(1) | |
| | (Dollar amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited) | |
Interest expense, net | | $ | 84,136 | | | $ | 71,499 | | | | 18 | % | | | 17 | % |
Percentage of total revenues | | | 7 | % | | | 7 | % | | | | | | |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Constant Currency” for an explanation of our constant currency results.
Net Interest Expense was $84,136 for fiscal 2023, an increase of $12,637, or 18%, compared to fiscal 2022. This increase was primarily due to the loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $3,000 incurred following the refinancing of Soho Beach House Miami in May 2023, $3,000 resulting from the compounding of interest on our senior facility, $1,500 of additional interest following the Soho Beach House Miami refinancing because at a higher rate and $1,500 of full year interest following the senior facility draw down in fiscal 2022 being a partial period (drawn in the first quarter). In constant currency, net interest increased by $12,017, or 17%.
GAIN ON SALE OF PROPERTY AND OTHER, NET
The Company recognized Gains (loss) on disposal of property and other, net of $(1,038) and $390 during fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022, respectively.
SHARE OF INCOME (LOSS) OF EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS
We maintain a portfolio of equity method investments owned and operated through non-controlling interests in investments with one or more partners. Two of our Houses are owned and operated by us through non-controlling interests and we own and operate certain of our other businesses through non-controlling interest in joint ventures. The Company recognized share of income of equity method investment of $1,900 during fiscal 2023, a decrease of $2,041 on fiscal 2022.
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
Income tax expense was $10,811 for fiscal 2023 compared to $5,131 for fiscal 2022, an increase in expense of $5,680. This increase was driven by taxes payable in the certain non-US jurisdictions due to limitations on the use of attributes and an increase in profitability, offset by tax benefits related to return to provision adjustments.
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHCO
Net loss attributable to SHCO was $117,953 for fiscal 2023, compared with $220,580 for fiscal 2022, a decrease in loss of $102,627. This was attributable primarily to improvement in trading conditions where Total revenue growth outpaced the growth in costs with favorable unrealized foreign exchange movements contributing to this.
ADJUSTED EBITDA
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | Percent Change |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | Actual | | Constant Currency(1) |
| | (Dollar amounts in thousands) | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited) |
Adjusted EBITDA | | $ | 128,000 | | | $ | 60,741 | | | n/m | | n/m |
Percentage of total revenues | | | 11 | % | | | 6 | % | | | | |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Constant Currency” for an explanation of our constant currency results.
Adjusted EBITDA was $128,000 in fiscal 2023, in comparison to $60,741 in fiscal 2022, an increase of $67,259. The increase was driven by increased membership revenues from both Soho House and Non-House members versus the comparative period as well as higher In-House and Other revenues. These were partially offset by an increase in General and Administrative and Operating expenses year-on-year. In constant currency, adjusted EBITDA increased by $66,732.
For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss, see “—Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
A reconciliation of Net Loss to Adjusted EBITDA is set forth below for the periods specified:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | Percent Change | |
| | December 31, 2023 Actuals | | | January 1, 2023 Actuals | | | Actuals | | | Constant Currency(1) | |
| | (Unaudited, dollar amounts in thousands) | |
Net loss | | $ | (117,088 | ) | | $ | (219,780 | ) | | | 47 | % | | | 47 | % |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 111,403 | | | | 99,930 | | | | 11 | % | | | 11 | % |
Interest expense, net | | | 84,136 | | | | 71,499 | | | | 18 | % | | | 17 | % |
Income tax expense | | | 10,811 | | | | 5,131 | | | n/m | | | n/m | |
EBITDA | | | 89,262 | | | | (43,220 | ) | | n/m | | | n/m | |
Gain (loss) on sale of property and other, net | | | 1,038 | | | | (390 | ) | | n/m | | | n/m | |
Share of (income) loss of equity method investments | | | (1,900 | ) | | | (3,941 | ) | | | 52 | % | | | 52 | % |
Foreign exchange(2) | | | (36,196 | ) | | | 69,600 | | | n/m | | | n/m | |
Share of equity method investments EBITDA | | | 9,319 | | | | 7,577 | | | | 23 | % | | | 22 | % |
Adjusted share-based compensation expense(2) (3) | | | 20,230 | | | | 25,101 | | | | (19 | )% | | | (20 | )% |
Operational reorganization and severance expense(4) | | | — | | | | 9,339 | | | n/m | | | n/m | |
Membership credits expense(5) | | | — | | | | 1,201 | | | n/m | | | n/m | |
Out of period operating lease liability adjustment(6) | | | (5,779 | ) | | | (5,439 | ) | | | (6 | )% | | | (5 | )% |
Employment related settlement expense(7) | | | — | | | | 913 | | | n/m | | | n/m | |
Brand license inventory provision(8) | | | 4,571 | | | | — | | | n/m | | | n/m | |
Impairment relating to long-lived assets(9) | | | 47,455 | | | | — | | | n/m | | | n/m | |
Adjusted EBITDA | | $ | 128,000 | | | $ | 60,741 | | | n/m | | | n/m | |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Constant Currency” for an explanation of our constant currency results.
(2)See "Comparison of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023 - Other Expenses” for information regarding the increase in foreign exchange and share-based compensation expense period-on-period.
(3)For fiscal year ended January 1, 2023 this excludes a $5,000 non-cash expense, which is included within Share-based compensation expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, separately presented within Operational reorganization and severance expense below. It also includes an expense of $3,000, which is excluded from Share-based compensation expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, in respect of a non-recurring cash payment in connection with the Growth Shares.
(4)Represents $4,000 of expenses incurred with respect to a strategic reorganization program of the Company's operations and support teams. This also includes a non-cash share-based compensation expense of $5,000. The non-cash share-based compensation expense is reported within Share-based compensation expense.
(5)Beginning on March 14, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we issued membership credits to active members of our closed Houses to be redeemed for certain Soho Home products and services. Membership credits were a one-time goodwill gesture, issued as a marketing offer to active members. The expense represents our best estimate of the cost in fulfilling the membership credits.
(6)Represents out-of-period adjustments correcting errors with respect to the estimation of the operating lease liability identified during fiscal 2023 and 2022 but relating to fiscal years 2022, 2021, 2020 & 2019 and 2021, 2020 & 2019, respectively. There is no material impact from the correction of this error to previously reported periods. Refer to Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Basis of Presentation for further information.
(7)Represents expenses incurred with respect to a historic settlement of an employment related legal claim. The Company has remediated its operating processes to mitigate a similar issue from recurring.
(8)In November 2023, the Company entered into a 10-year licensing agreement with a third party to manufacture and distribute the Company’s Cowshed brand, commencing January 1, 2024. This agreement has restricted the Company’s ability to sell certain inventories it acquired prior to entering into the agreement. As such, the Company has provided in full for the inventory it is unable to recover as a result of the entering into the agreement.
(9)Following the Company's impairment review in fiscal 2023, the Company recognized $47 million of impairment losses on long-lived assets (comprised of $33 million in respect of Operating lease assets and $14 million of Property and equipment, net), of which $37 million is in respect of Soho Works North America.
The computation of House-Level Contribution and Other Contribution is set forth below:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | Change % | | | January 1, 2023 Constant Currency(1) | | | Constant Currency Change %(1) | |
| | Actuals | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited, dollar amounts in thousands) | |
Operating loss | | $ | (23,003 | ) | | $ | (147,481 | ) | | | 84 | % | | $ | (152,137 | ) | | | 85 | % |
General and administrative | | | 143,583 | | | | 123,435 | | | | 16 | % | | | 124,506 | | | | 15 | % |
Pre-opening expenses | | | 18,604 | | | | 14,081 | | | | 32 | % | | | 14,203 | | | | 31 | % |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 111,403 | | | | 99,930 | | | | 11 | % | | | 100,797 | | | | 11 | % |
Share-based compensation | | | 20,230 | | | | 27,681 | | | | (27 | )% | | | 27,921 | | | | (28 | )% |
Foreign exchange (gain) loss, net | | | (36,196 | ) | | | 69,600 | | | n/m | | | | 70,204 | | | n/m | |
Other, net | | | 5,963 | | | | 9,703 | | | | (39 | )% | | | 9,787 | | | | (39 | )% |
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets | | | 47,455 | | | | — | | | n/m | | | | — | | | n/m | |
Non-House membership revenues | | | (36,159 | ) | | | (30,057 | ) | | | (20 | )% | | | (30,318 | ) | | | (19 | )% |
Other revenues | | | (292,326 | ) | | | (272,803 | ) | | | (7 | )% | | | (274,606 | ) | | | (6 | )% |
Other operating expenses | | | 258,483 | | | | 250,336 | | | | 3 | % | | | 252,508 | | | | 2 | % |
House-Level Contribution | | $ | 218,037 | | | $ | 144,425 | | | | 51 | % | | $ | 142,865 | | | | 53 | % |
Operating Loss margin | | | (2 | )% | | | (15 | )% | | | | | | (15 | )% | | | |
House-Level Contribution Margin | | | 27 | % | | | 22 | % | | | | | | 22 | % | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | Change % | | | January 1, 2023 Constant Currency(1) | | | Constant Currency Change %(1) | |
| | Actuals | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited, dollar amounts in thousands) | |
Membership revenues | | $ | 361,487 | | | $ | 272,809 | | | | 33 | % | | $ | 274,014 | | | | 32 | % |
Less: Non-House membership revenues | | | (36,159 | ) | | | (30,057 | ) | | | (20 | )% | | | (30,318 | ) | | | (19 | )% |
Add: In-House revenues | | | 482,066 | | | | 426,602 | | | | 13 | % | | | 428,653 | | | | 12 | % |
Total House revenues | | | 807,394 | | | | 669,354 | | | | 21 | % | | | 672,349 | | | | 20 | % |
Less: In-House operating expenses | | | (589,357 | ) | | | (524,929 | ) | | | (12 | )% | | | (529,484 | ) | | | (11 | )% |
House-Level Contribution | | $ | 218,037 | | | $ | 144,425 | | | | 51 | % | | $ | 142,865 | | | | 53 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | Change % | | | January 1, 2023 Constant Currency(1) | | | Constant Currency Change %(1) | |
| | Actuals | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited, dollar amounts in thousands) | |
Operating loss | | $ | (23,003 | ) | | $ | (147,481 | ) | | | 84 | % | | $ | (152,137 | ) | | | 85 | % |
General and administrative | | | 143,583 | | | | 123,435 | | | | 16 | % | | | 124,506 | | | | 15 | % |
Pre-opening expenses | | | 18,604 | | | | 14,081 | | | | 32 | % | | | 14,203 | | | | 31 | % |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 111,403 | | | | 99,930 | | | | 11 | % | | | 100,797 | | | | 11 | % |
Share-based compensation | | | 20,230 | | | | 27,681 | | | | (27 | )% | | | 27,921 | | | | (28 | )% |
Foreign exchange (gain) loss, net | | | (36,196 | ) | | | 69,600 | | | n/m | | | | 70,204 | | | n/m | |
Other, net | | | 5,963 | | | | 9,703 | | | | (39 | )% | | | 9,787 | | | | (39 | )% |
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets | | | 47,455 | | | | — | | | n/m | | | | — | | | n/m | |
House membership revenues | | | (325,328 | ) | | | (242,752 | ) | | | (34 | )% | | | (243,696 | ) | | | (33 | )% |
In-House revenues | | | (482,066 | ) | | | (426,602 | ) | | | (13 | )% | | | (428,653 | ) | | | (12 | )% |
In-House operating expenses | | | 589,357 | | | | 524,929 | | | | 12 | % | | | 529,484 | | | | 11 | % |
Total Other Contribution | | $ | 70,002 | | | $ | 52,524 | | | | 33 | % | | $ | 52,416 | | | | 34 | % |
Operating Loss margin | | | (2 | )% | | | (15 | )% | | | | | | (15 | )% | | | |
Other Contribution Margin | | | 21 | % | | | 17 | % | | | | | | 17 | % | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | Change % | | | January 1, 2023 Constant Currency(1) | | | Constant Currency Change %(1) | |
| | Actuals | | | | | | | |
| | (Unaudited, dollar amounts in thousands) | |
Other Contribution | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Non-House membership revenues | | $ | 36,159 | | | $ | 30,057 | | | | 20 | % | | $ | 30,318 | | | | 19 | % |
Add: other revenues | | | 292,326 | | | | 272,803 | | | | 7 | % | | | 274,606 | | | | 6 | % |
Less: other operating expenses | | | (258,483 | ) | | | (250,336 | ) | | | (3 | )% | | | (252,508 | ) | | | (2 | )% |
Other Contribution | | $ | 70,002 | | | $ | 52,524 | | | | 33 | % | | $ | 52,416 | | | | 34 | % |
(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Constant Currency” for an explanation of our constant currency results.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity is the ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the cash requirements of our business operations. Our principal sources of liquidity are operating cash flows, holdings of cash and cash equivalents and availability under our Revolving Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2023, we maintained a cash and cash equivalents balance of $162 million and a restricted cash balance of $2 million.
Our primary requirements for liquidity are to fund our working capital needs, operating and finance lease obligations, capital expenditures and general corporate needs. Our ongoing capital expenditures are principally related to opening new Houses, refurbishing and maintaining the existing House portfolio as well as investments in our corporate technology infrastructure to support our digital strategy and technology infrastructure.
In a given year, our primary cash inflows and outflows relate to the following:
•from operating activities, our cash inflows include Membership revenues, In-House revenues and Other revenues, such as the sale of retail products. The primary cash outflows from operating activities include general operating expenses and interest payments;
•from investing activities, our cash inflows include the proceeds from sale of property and equipment and the sales of subsidiaries. The primary cash outflows from investing activities include the purchase of property and equipment as well as intangibles; and
•from financing activities, our cash inflows from financing activities include proceeds from borrowings and from the issuance of shares. The primary cash outflows from financing activities include repayments of borrowings and legal and professional fees from debt or equity related transactions.
We believe our existing cash and marketable securities balances will be sufficient to fund our operating and finance lease obligations, capital expenditures and working capital needs for at least the next 12 months from the date of the issuance of our financial statements and the foreseeable future.
Note Purchase Agreement
On March 31, 2021, Soho House Bond Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Soho House Holdings Limited, issued pursuant to a Notes Purchase Agreement an aggregate of $441 million in senior secured notes (the "Initial Notes"), which were subscribed for by certain funds managed, sponsored or advised by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and its affiliates. The Initial Notes mature on March 31, 2027 and bear interest at a fixed rate equal to a cash margin of 2.0192% per annum plus a payment-in-kind (capitalized) margin of 6.1572% per annum.
The terms of the Senior Secured Notes Facility include an option to issue, and a commitment on the part of the purchasers to subscribe for, further notes in one or several issuances on or prior to March 31, 2022 in an aggregate amount of up to $100 million. This option was exercised on March 9, 2022 (the "Additional Notes" and, together with the Initial Notes, the "Senior Secured Notes"). The Additional Notes bear interest at a fixed rate equal to a cash margin of 2.125% plus a payment-in-kind (capitalized) margin of 6.375%. As of December 31, 2023, the outstanding balance on the Senior Secured Notes is $616 million. For further information, refer to Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 12 Debt in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Revolving Credit Facility
On November 10, 2022, Soho House Bond Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into the Third Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement (the "Third Amendment") which further amends and restates the Revolving Credit Facility, originally entered into by the Company on December 5, 2019 (the original and amended facility refer to as the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Third Amendment amends the Revolving Credit Facility to extend the maturity date from January 25, 2024 to July 25, 2026. In addition, the Third Amendment provides that from March 2023 we are required to maintain certain leverage covenants (as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility) which are applicable when 40% or more of the facility is drawn. As of December 31, 2023, the facility remains undrawn with £71 million ($90 million) available to draw under this facility and £4 million ($5 million) utilized as a letter of guarantee in respect of one of the Company’s lease agreements. The facility is secured on a fixed and floating charge basis over certain assets of the Company.
Loans under the Revolving Credit Facility are capable of being borrowed, repaid and reborrowed at any time. For further information, refer to Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 12 Debt in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
CASH FLOWS AND WORKING CAPITAL
The following table provides a summary of cash flow data for the periods presented:
| | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | |
| | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | |
| | (Unaudited, dollar amounts in thousands) | |
Net cash generated by (used in) | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | | $ | 49,812 | | | $ | 14,682 | |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | | | (84,213 | ) | | | (94,137 | ) |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | | | 4,905 | | | | 52,835 | |
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents | | | 3,060 | | | | (3,999 | ) |
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | | $ | (26,436 | ) | | $ | (30,619 | ) |
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
The primary cash inflows from operating activities include Membership Revenues, In-House Revenues and Other Revenues, such as the sale of retail products. The primary cash outflows from operating activities include general operating expenses and interest payments.
For fiscal 2023, Net cash by operating activities was $49,812 compared to Net cash in operating activities of $14,682 in fiscal 2022. The increase in cash provided by operating activities of $35,130 was primarily due to the reduction in Net loss in fiscal 2023.
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
The primary cash outflows from investing activities include the purchase of property and equipment, intangibles and the acquisition of noncontrolling interests.
For fiscal 2023, Net cash used by investing activities was $84,213 compared to $94,137 in fiscal 2022. The decrease in net cash used of $9,924 was primarily due to $10,630 less cash used in the purchase of property and equipment and the the purchase of intangible assets.
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
The primary cash inflows from financing activities include proceeds from borrowings of $140,000 as a result of the Miami refinancing. The primary cash outflows from financing activities include principal payments on borrowings, primarily the Miami refinancing, and repurchases of shares.
For fiscal 2023, Net cash provided by financing activities was $4,905 compared to $52,835 in fiscal 2022. The decrease in cash generated of $47,930 as compared to fiscal 2022 was primarily due to proceeds from borrowings in fiscal 2022. During fiscal 2023, whilst there were net cash inflows from the refinancing of Soho Beach House Miami, this was comparatively less than the amount drawn in fiscal 2022 under the senior facility which was partially offset by shares repurchased.
CASH REQUIREMENTS FROM CONTRACTUAL AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
Material contractual obligations arising in the normal course of business primarily consist of operating and finance lease obligations and long-term debt facilities. The timing and nature of these commitments are expected to have an impact on our liquidity and capital requirements in future periods. Refer to Note 6 Leases in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information relating to our operating and financing leases and Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 12 Debt in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information related to our long-term debt.
Purchase obligations include all legally binding contracts, including commitments for the fitting out of real estate and software development/license commitments and service contracts. The majority of our purchase obligations are due within the next 12 months. Refer to Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 18 Commitments and Contingencies in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.
Leases
As of December 31, 2023, we have entered into 15 operating lease agreements for Houses, hotels, restaurants, and other properties which have not commenced. We will determine the classification as of these leases at the relevant lease commencement date, but currently expect these under construction leases to be classified as operating leases. We estimate the total undiscounted lease payments for these leases commencing in fiscal years 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2028 to be $349 million, $224 million, $351 million and $390 million respectively.
For fiscal years 2024 and 2025, our contractual lease payments from existing lease agreements will total $158,411 and $161,643 respectively. Refer to Note 6 Leases in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information relating to our operating and financing leases.
Except for operating leases entered into in the normal course of business where we have not yet taken physical possession of the leased property, certain letters of credit entered into as security under the terms of several of our leases and the unrecorded contractual obligations set forth above, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of January 1, 2023.
Soho Works Limited loan
In 2017, Soho Works Limited ("SWL") entered into a term loan facility agreement for a £40 million term loan facility. The SWL loan bears interest at 7% and matures on September 29, 2024. This loan has been subsequently extended by 12 months to September 29, 2025 by an amendment entered into in March 2024.
Goldman Sachs Senior secured notes
On March 9, 2022, Soho House Bond Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, exercised its option under the Senior Secured Notes to issue $100 million of additional notes. The net proceeds drawn down were used, in part, to finance the $50 million share repurchase program (refer to note 17 Loss Per Share and Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit) in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information) with the remaining $50 million being used for general corporate purposes.
Property Mortgage Loans
In May 2023, the Company refinanced the existing term loan of $55 million, interest at 5.34%, and mezzanine loan of $62 million, interest at 7.25% with a new $140 million loan agreement with JP Morgan Chase Bank, National Association and Citi Real Estate Funding Inc. The new term loan is secured with a recorded and insured first priority mortgage on Soho Beach House Miami Property as well as first priority security interests in all collateral related to the property. The new term loan matures in June 2033 and bears interest at 6.99%. The Company incurred interest expense on these facilities of $13 million, $8 million, and $8 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively.
Refer to Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 12 Debt in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND SIGNIFICANT JUDGMENTS AND ESTIMATES
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that can have a significant impact on the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenue and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, at the respective dates of our financial statements. We base our estimates, assumptions and judgments on historical experience and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or
conditions. We evaluate our estimates, assumptions and judgments on a regular basis and make changes accordingly. We also discuss our critical accounting estimates with our audit committee.
We believe the following to be critical accounting policies because they are important to the portrayal of our financial condition or results of operations and they require critical management estimates and judgments about matters that are uncertain:
•Goodwill and purchased intangible asset impairment
•Impairment of other long-lived assets
•Variable interest entities, and
•Share-based compensation
GOODWILL AND PURCHASED INTANGIBLE ASSET IMPAIRMENT
Our methodology for allocating the purchase price relating to purchase acquisitions is determined through established valuation techniques. Goodwill represents a residual value as of the acquisition date, which in most cases results in measuring goodwill as an excess of the purchase consideration transferred plus the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquired company over the fair value of net assets acquired, including contingent consideration. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment or one level below an operating segment) on an annual basis on the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. These events or circumstances could include a significant change in the business climate, legal factors, operating performance indicators, competition, or sale or disposition of a significant portion of a reporting unit.
We make judgments about the recoverability of purchased intangible assets with finite lives whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment may exist. Recoverability of purchased intangible assets with finite lives is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate. Significant judgment is involved in determining the assumptions used in estimating future cash flows, including projected revenue growth, operating margins, economic conditions and changes in the operating environment. Changes in these assumptions could have a significant impact on the recoverability of the asset and may result in additional impairment charges.
In accordance with GAAP, we review indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. We perform a qualitative assessment first to determine whether it is necessary to perform a subsequent quantitative impairment test. If the qualitative assessment determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of any reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the quantitative impairment test is required to be performed; otherwise, no further testing of impairment is required. Qualitative factors that we consider include macroeconomic and industry conditions, our overall financial performance, and other relevant entity-specific events. Alternatively, we can choose not to first assess qualitative factors and instead perform the quantitative impairment test only. When performing the quantitative goodwill impairment test, the Company compares the estimated fair value of a reporting unit with the respective carrying value. If the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the excess of the carrying value of the reporting unit over its fair value is recognized as a goodwill impairment. When performing a quantitative goodwill impairment assessment, the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is calculated using the income approach and the market approach. For the income approach, the Company uses internally developed discounted cash flow models that include the following assumptions, among others: projections of revenues, expenses, and related cash flows based on assumed long-term growth rates and demand trends; expected net working capital and capital expenditure requirements; and estimated discount rates. For the market approach, the Company relies upon valuation multiples derived from stock prices and enterprise values of publicly-traded companies that are comparable to the reporting unit being evaluated.
The goodwill balance recorded in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023 was $206 million and $200 million, respectively. In response to changes in industry and market conditions, we could be required to strategically realign our resources and consider restructuring, disposing of, or otherwise exiting businesses, which could result in an impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets.
The Company believes the estimated fair values of its reporting units exceed their carrying values in fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022. There was no impairment of goodwill or purchased intangible assets in fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022, or fiscal 2021.
IMPAIRMENT OF OTHER LONG-LIVED ASSETS
The Company recognized $47 million of impairment losses on long-lived assets (comprised of $33 million in respect of Operating lease assets and $14 million of Property and equipment, net) during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. No impairment losses were recorded for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2023 or January 2, 2022.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, due to the continued challenges in the cost of real estate and the decreased performance of various Soho Works locations in the USA and UK, Soho House and Co Inc determined that a triggering event had occurred in Q4 2023. The Company performed an impairment analysis on five Soho Work sites primarily in the United States. As a result of the fourth quarter of 2023 analysis, a $40.0 million non-cash impairment charge was recorded for these Soho Works sites. The high property costs associated with these locations being the primary factor of the asset impairment. The non-cash impairment charge is included in impairments of assets in the consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.
The primary assumptions, which requires significant level of judgement, that affects the undiscounted cash flows determination is management's estimate of future revenues, operating margins, economic conditions and changes in the operating environment. The forecasts used in the impairment assessments was developed by management based on projected revenues derived largely from forecasted member attendance. Management also makes estimates on the expected costs and the expected operating lease costs. Changes in these assumptions could have a significant impact on the recoverability of the assets and may result in additional impairment charges.
The combined carrying value of the Soho Works locations was $112 million at December 31, 2023.
Changes in the membership, operating margins and economic growth and the contracted operating rental costs beyond what has already been assumed in the assessments could cause management to revise the forecast and assumptions. Unfavorable revisions to these assumptions or estimates could possibly result in further impairment of some or all of the assets.
LEASES
We have entered into lease agreements for our Houses, hotels, restaurants, spas and other properties. We account for our leases under Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842).
We determine the initial classification and measurement of our right-of-use assets and lease liabilities at the lease commencement date and thereafter if modified. The determination of operating and finance leases requires significant judgments, including estimation of the rate implicit in the lease, incremental borrowing rates and reasonably assured lease terms. The lease term includes any renewal options and termination options that we are reasonably assured to exercise. The present value of lease payments is determined by using the interest rate implicit in the lease for finance leases and the incremental borrowing rate for operating leases. The incremental borrowing rate is determined by using a portfolio approach based on the rate of interest that we would pay to borrow on a collateralized basis an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. We recognized operating lease assets of $1,150 million and $1,086 million and operating lease liabilities of $1,354 million and $1,249 million at December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively.
INCOME TAXES
We are subject to income taxes in the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Our effective tax rates differ from the statutory rates, primarily due to the valuation allowances on certain deferred tax assets, foreign tax rate differential, and uncertain tax positions and as further described in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report on Form 10-K. Our effective tax rate was (10)%, (2)% and 0% in fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021, respectively. In fiscal 2023 we incurred an expense to our consolidated statement of operations, of $11 million, an expense for fiscal 2022 of $5 million, and an expense for fiscal 2021 of $1 million.
Significant judgment is required in evaluating our uncertain tax positions and determining our provision for income taxes. Although we believe our reserves are reasonable, no assurance can be given that the final tax outcome of these matters will not be different from that which is reflected in our historical income tax provisions and accruals. We adjust these reserves in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the closing of a tax audit or the refinement of an estimate. To the extent that the final tax outcome of these matters is different than the amounts recorded, such differences will impact the provision for income taxes in the period in which such determination is made. The provision for income taxes includes the impact of reserve provisions and changes to reserves that are considered appropriate, as well as the related net interest.
Significant judgment is also required in determining any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, we consider all available evidence, including past operating results, estimates of future taxable income, reversal patterns of taxable and deductible temporary differences and the feasibility of tax planning strategies. In the event that we change our determination as to the amount of deferred tax assets that can be realized, we will adjust our valuation allowance with a corresponding impact to the provision for income taxes in the period in which such determination is made.
Our provision for income taxes is subject to volatility and could be adversely impacted by earnings being lower than anticipated in countries that have lower tax rates and higher than anticipated in countries that have higher tax rates; by changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities; by tax effects of non-deductible compensation; by tax costs related to intercompany realignments; by changes in accounting principles; or by changes in tax laws and regulations.
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
We analyze our variable interests, including loans, guarantees, and equity investments, to determine if the entity in which we have a variable interest is a VIE. For those entities determined to be VIEs a quantitative and qualitative analysis is performed to determine if we will be deemed to be the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is defined as the variable interest holder that has a controlling financial interest in the VIE.
A controlling financial interest is defined as one that has (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
In evaluating whether we have the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance, we base our qualitative analysis on our review of the design of the entity, its organizational structure including decision-making abilities and the relevant development, ownership interest, operating, management and financial agreements. This evaluation requires consideration of all facts and circumstances relevant to decision-making that affect the entity’s future performance and the exercise of professional judgment in deciding which decision-making rights are most important.
We consolidate those entities in which it is determined that we are the primary beneficiary. If we are not determined to be the primary beneficiary but can exercise significant influence over these entities, these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting.
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
In August 2020, the Company established the 2020 Equity and Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”) under which SHHL Share Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) and SHHL Growth Shares were issued to certain employees. In connection with the IPO in July 2021, 25% of the outstanding awards accelerated in accordance with the original plan and all of the outstanding awards were exchanged into awards that will be settled in Class A Common Stock of SHCO. The exchanged awards are subject to the same vesting conditions as the original awards. The Company treated the exchange as a Type I probable-to-probable modification.
In July 2021, the Company established its 2021 Equity and Incentive Plan (the "2021 Plan"). The 2021 Plan allows for grants of nonqualified stock options, SARs, and RSUs, or performance awards. There were 12,107,333 shares initially available for all awards under the 2021 Plan and the shares available may, subject to board approval, increase annually on the first day of each calendar year, beginning with the calendar year ending December 31, 2022. The annual increase is capped at 5% of shares outstanding.
Share-based compensation expense is measured based on the grant-date fair value of those awards. All the Company awards in issue have graded-vesting features and are service conditions only awards and therefore compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the total requisite service period for the entire award.
For the Company’s SAR and Growth Share awards, the grant-date fair value of the awards is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and involves several assumptions, including the expected term of the option, expected volatility and risk-free interest rate. We have limited historical data of our own to utilize in determining our assumptions, as there has only been a public market for our shares following the IPO in July 2021. As such, for SAR and Growth Share awards granted and/or modified in fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021, we based our volatility assumption on that of a selected peer group. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur for all equity awards.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
A description of recently issued accounting pronouncements that may potentially impact our financial position and results of operations is disclosed in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Basis of Presentation to our consolidated financial statements appearing in Item 8 and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Emerging Growth Company Status
We are an ‘emerging growth company,’ as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, (the "JOBS Act"), and are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not ‘emerging growth companies,’ including, but not limited to: presenting only two years of audited financial statements in addition to any required unaudited interim financial statements with correspondingly reduced “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Sarbanes-Oxley; having reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy or information statements; being exempt from the requirements to hold a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation or seek stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved; and not being required to adopt certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Foreign Exchange Risk
We principally operate in the UK and North America, although we have significant operations in Europe. Therefore, we are exposed to reporting foreign exchange risk in Pound sterling and Euros.
We have not, to date, used any material financial instruments to mitigate our foreign exchange risk. The directors and management will keep this situation under review. As income is received and suppliers paid in respect of the UK and European operation in Pound sterling or Euros respectively, this acts as a natural hedge against foreign exchange risk.
If the US Dollar had strengthened/weakened by 10% versus the Pound sterling, revenue would have been approximately $59 million lower and approximately $65 million higher, respectively, and net loss would have been approximately $8 million lower and approximately $9 million higher, respectively, for fiscal 2023.
If the Euro had strengthened/weakened by 10% versus the Pound sterling, revenue would have been approximately $15 million higher and approximately $13 million lower, respectively, and net loss would have been approximately less than $1 million lower and approximately less than $1 million higher, respectively, for fiscal 2023.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Credit risk is the risk of loss from amounts owed by financial counter-parties. Credit risk can occur at multiple levels as a result of broad economic conditions, challenges within specific sectors of the economy, or from issues affecting individual companies. Financial instruments that potentially subject us to credit risk consist of cash equivalents and accounts receivable.
We maintain cash and cash equivalents with major financial institutions. Our cash and cash equivalents consist of bank deposits held with banks, and money market funds that, at times, exceed federally or locally insured limits. We limit our credit risk by dealing with customers, counterparties and institutions that are considered to be of high credit quality and by performing periodic evaluations of accounts receivable and investments and of the relative credit standing of our customers, counterparties and financial institutions as applicable.
Liquidity Risk
We seek to manage our financial risks to ensure that sufficient liquidity is available to meet our foreseeable needs. We believe we have significant flexibility to control our capital expenditure commitments in new House developments through different investment formats. As of December 31, 2023, we had $162 million in Cash and cash equivalents on the balance sheet and £70.8m undrawn on the Revolving Credit Facility (subject to complying with our covenants) to meet our funding needs.
Cash Flow and Fair Value Interest Rate Risk
We have historically financed our operations through a mixture of bank borrowings and bond notes which are generally fixed, and expect to finance our operations through operating cash flows and availability under our Revolving Credit Facility. We seek to manage exposure to adverse interest rate changes through our normal operating and financing activities.
Inflation Risk
Inflation has an impact on food, utility, labor, rent, and other costs which materially impact operations. Severe increases in inflation could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. If several of the various costs in our business experience inflation at the same time, we may not be able to adjust prices to sufficiently offset the effect of the various cost increases without negatively impacting consumer demand.
Commodity Price Risks
We are exposed to commodity price risks specially foodstuffs, natural gas and oil. Many of the ingredients we use to prepare our food and beverages are commodities or are affected by the price of other commodities. Factors that affect the price of commodities are generally outside of our control and include foreign currency exchange rates, foreign and domestic supply and demand, inflation, weather, the geopolitical situation, and seasonality.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
| |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (BDO LLP: London, United Kingdom: PCAOB ID # 1295) | 73 |
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023 | 74 |
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Fiscal Years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022 | 76 |
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the Fiscal Years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022 | 77 |
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Redeemable Shares and Shareholders’ (Deficit) Equity for the Fiscal Years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022 | 78 |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Fiscal Years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022 | 80 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | 82 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Shareholders and Board of Directors
Soho House & Co Inc.
London, United Kingdom
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Soho House & Co Inc (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, changes in redeemable shares and shareholders’ (deficit) equity, and cash flows for the 52-week periods ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the 52-week periods ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ BDO LLP
BDO LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2008
London, United Kingdom
March 15, 2024
Soho House & Co Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023
| | | | | | | |
| As of | |
(in thousands, except for par value and share data) | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | |
Assets | | | | | |
Current assets | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 161,656 | | | $ | 182,115 | |
Restricted cash | | 1,951 | | | | 7,928 | |
Accounts receivable, net | | 58,158 | | | | 42,215 | |
Inventories | | 60,768 | | | | 57,848 | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | 112,512 | | | | 91,101 | |
Total current assets | | 395,045 | | | | 381,207 | |
Property and equipment, net | | 627,035 | | | | 647,001 | |
Operating lease assets | | 1,150,165 | | | | 1,085,579 | |
Goodwill | | 206,285 | | | | 199,646 | |
Other intangible assets, net | | 127,240 | | | | 125,968 | |
Equity method investments | | 21,695 | | | | 21,629 | |
Deferred tax assets | | 740 | | | | 295 | |
Other non-current assets | | 9,597 | | | | 6,571 | |
Total non-current assets | | 2,142,757 | | | | 2,086,689 | |
Total assets | $ | 2,537,802 | | | $ | 2,467,896 | |
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity | | | | | |
Current liabilities | | | | | |
Accounts payable | $ | 70,316 | | | $ | 80,741 | |
Accrued liabilities | | 84,815 | | | | 84,112 | |
Current portion of deferred revenue | | 117,129 | | | | 91,611 | |
Indirect and employee taxes payable | | 38,169 | | | | 38,088 | |
Current portion of debt, net of debt issuance costs | | 29,290 | | | | 25,617 | |
Current portion of operating lease liabilities—sites trading less than one year | | 1,721 | | | | 4,176 | |
Current portion of operating lease liabilities—sites trading more than one year | | 49,436 | | | | 35,436 | |
Other current liabilities | | 33,633 | | | | 36,019 | |
Total current liabilities | | 424,509 | | | | 395,800 | |
Debt, net of current portion and debt issuance costs | | 635,576 | | | | 579,904 | |
Property mortgage loans, net of debt issuance costs | | 137,099 | | | | 116,187 | |
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion - sites trading less than one year | | 68,762 | | | | 227,158 | |
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion - sites trading more than one year | | 1,234,140 | | | | 982,306 | |
Finance lease liabilities | | 78,481 | | | | 76,638 | |
Financing obligation | | 76,624 | | | | 76,239 | |
Deferred revenue, net of current portion | | 25,787 | | | | 27,118 | |
Deferred tax liabilities | | 1,510 | | | | 1,666 | |
Other non-current liabilities | | 5,941 | | | | 256 | |
Total non-current liabilities | | 2,263,920 | | | | 2,087,472 | |
Total liabilities | | 2,688,429 | | | | 2,483,272 | |
Commitments and contingencies (Note 18) | | | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023
| | | | | | | |
| As of | |
(in thousands, except for par value and share data) | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | |
Shareholders’ equity | | | | | |
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 64,208,851 shares issued and 53,741,731 outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 62,189,717 issued and 53,722,597 outstanding as of January 1, 2023; Class B common stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 141,500,385 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023 | | 2,057 | | | | 2,037 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | 1,231,941 | | | | 1,213,086 | |
Accumulated deficit | | (1,360,365 | ) | | | (1,242,412 | ) |
Accumulated other comprehensive income | | 30,000 | | | | 54,853 | |
Treasury stock, at cost; 10,467,120 shares as of December 31, 2023 and 8,467,120 shares as of January 1, 2023 | | (62,000 | ) | | | (50,000 | ) |
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to Soho House & Co Inc. | | (158,367 | ) | | | (22,436 | ) |
Noncontrolling interest | | 7,740 | | | | 7,060 | |
Total shareholders’ equity | | (150,627 | ) | | | (15,376 | ) |
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 2,537,802 | | | $ | 2,467,896 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the Fiscal Year Ended | |
(in thousands except for per share data) | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 | |
Revenues | | | | | | | | |
Membership revenues | $ | 361,487 | | | $ | 272,809 | | | $ | 189,189 | |
In-House revenues | | 482,066 | | | | 426,602 | | | | 217,934 | |
Other revenues | | 292,326 | | | | 272,803 | | | | 153,431 | |
Total revenues | | 1,135,879 | | | | 972,214 | | | | 560,554 | |
Operating expenses | | | | | | | | |
In-House operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization of $67,786, $55,587 and $53,568 for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022, respectively) | | (589,357 | ) | | | (524,929 | ) | | | (308,840 | ) |
Other operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization of $29,615, $30,262 and $23,831 for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022, respectively) | | (258,483 | ) | | | (250,336 | ) | | | (167,152 | ) |
General and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization of $14,002, $14,081, and $6,214 for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022 respectively) | | (143,583 | ) | | | (123,435 | ) | | | (89,383 | ) |
Pre-opening expenses | | (18,604 | ) | | | (14,081 | ) | | | (21,294 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization | | (111,403 | ) | | | (99,930 | ) | | | (83,613 | ) |
Share-based compensation | | (20,230 | ) | | | (27,681 | ) | | | (26,660 | ) |
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net | | 36,196 | | | | (69,600 | ) | | | (25,541 | ) |
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets (Note 6 and Note 9) | | (47,455 | ) | | | — | | | | — | |
Other, net | | (5,963 | ) | | | (9,703 | ) | | | (26,097 | ) |
Total operating expenses | | (1,158,882 | ) | | | (1,119,695 | ) | | | (748,580 | ) |
Operating income (loss) | | (23,003 | ) | | | (147,481 | ) | | | (188,026 | ) |
Other (expense) income | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense, net | | (84,136 | ) | | | (71,499 | ) | | | (84,382 | ) |
Gain (loss) on sale of property and other, net | | (1,038 | ) | | | 390 | | | | 6,837 | |
Share of income (loss) of equity method investments | | 1,900 | | | | 3,941 | | | | (2,249 | ) |
Total other expense, net | | (83,274 | ) | | | (67,168 | ) | | | (79,794 | ) |
Loss before income taxes | | (106,277 | ) | | | (214,649 | ) | | | (267,820 | ) |
Income tax (expense) benefit | | (10,811 | ) | | | (5,131 | ) | | | (894 | ) |
Net loss | | (117,088 | ) | | | (219,780 | ) | | | (268,714 | ) |
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests | | (865 | ) | | | (800 | ) | | | 3,319 | |
Net loss attributable to Soho House & Co Inc. | $ | (117,953 | ) | | $ | (220,580 | ) | | $ | (265,395 | ) |
Net loss per share attributable to Class A and Class B common stock | | | | | | | | |
Basic and diluted (Note 17) | $ | (0.60 | ) | | $ | (1.10 | ) | | $ | (1.88 | ) |
Weighted average shares outstanding: | | | | | | | | |
Basic and diluted (Note 17) | | 195,590 | | | | 199,985 | | | | 173,691 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
For the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the Fiscal Year End | |
(in thousands) | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 | |
Net loss | $ | (117,088 | ) | | $ | (219,780 | ) | | $ | (268,714 | ) |
Other comprehensive income (loss) | | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency translation adjustment | | (24,648 | ) | | | 47,480 | | | | 20,185 | |
Comprehensive loss | | (141,736 | ) | | | (172,300 | ) | | | (248,529 | ) |
Loss attributable to non-controlling interest | | (865 | ) | | | (800 | ) | | | 3,319 | |
Foreign currency translation adjustment attributable to non-controlling interest | | (205 | ) | | | 476 | | | | (31 | ) |
Total comprehensive loss attributable to Soho House & Co Inc. | $ | (142,806 | ) | | $ | (172,624 | ) | | $ | (245,241 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Redeemable Shares and Shareholders’ (Deficit) Equity
For the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | Soho House Holdings Limited Redeemable Preferred Shares | | Soho House Holdings Limited Redeemable C Ordinary Shares | | Soho House Holdings Limited Ordinary Shares | | Soho House & Co Inc. Common Stock | | Additional Paid-In Capital | | Accumulated Deficit | | Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income | | Treasury Stock | | Total Shareholders’ (Deficit) Equity Attributable to Soho House & Co Inc. | | Non-controlling Interest | | Total Shareholders’ (Deficit) Equity | |
As of January 3, 2021 | $ | 14,700 | | $ | 160,405 | | $ | 265,181 | | $ | — | | $ | 72,755 | | $ | (757,103 | ) | $ | (13,257 | ) | $ | - | | $ | (432,424 | ) | $ | 58,431 | | $ | (373,993 | ) |
Net loss | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (265,395 | ) | | — | | | — | | | (265,395 | ) | | (3,319 | ) | | (268,714 | ) |
Distributions to non-controlling interest | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (700 | ) | | (700 | ) |
Contributions from non-controlling interest | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 644 | | | 644 | |
Issuance of senior convertible preference shares (Note 15) | | 175,000 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Senior convertible preference shares issuance costs (Note 15) | | (13,426 | ) | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Non-cash dividends on senior convertible preference shares (Note 15) | | 4,335 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (4,335 | ) | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (4,335 | ) | | — | | | (4,335 | ) |
Proceeds from issuance of SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares (Note 16) | | — | | | 47,000 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
SHHL C2 ordinary shares issued in connection with the Cipura Acquisition (Note 3) | | — | | | — | | | 905 | | | — | | | 7,795 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 8,700 | | | — | | | 8,700 | |
SHHL C2 ordinary shares issued in connection with the Mandolin Acquisition (Note 3) | | — | | | — | | | 130 | | | — | | | 1,120 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 1,250 | | | — | | | 1,250 | |
Purchase of non-controlling interests (Note 3) | | — | | | — | | | 6,405 | | | — | | | 33,821 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 40,226 | | | (49,029 | ) | | (8,803 | ) |
SHHL C2 ordinary shares issued in connection with The LINE and Saguaro Acquisition (Note 3) | | — | | | — | | | 2,644 | | | — | | | 23,001 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 25,645 | | | — | | | 25,645 | |
Accretion of redeemable preferred shares to redemption value, net of foreign currency remeasurement gain (Note 15) | | 5,197 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (5,863 | ) | | 666 | | | — | | | — | | | (5,197 | ) | | — | | | (5,197 | ) |
Effect of the Reorganization Transactions (Note 1) | | — | | | (207,405 | ) | | (275,265 | ) | | 1,564 | | | 481,106 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 207,405 | | | — | | | 207,405 | |
Issuance of common stock in connection with initial public offering, net of offering costs, underwriting discounts and commissions | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 306 | | | 387,232 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 387,538 | | | — | | | 387,538 | |
Conversion of senior convertible preference shares into Class A common stock | | (165,907 | ) | | — | | | — | | | 155 | | | 165,752 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 165,907 | | | — | | | 165,907 | |
Redemption of the May 2016 preferred shares (Note 15) | | (19,899 | ) | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Share-based compensation, net of tax (Note 14) | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 26,660 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 26,660 | | | — | | | 26,660 | |
Net change in cumulative translation adjustment | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 20,154 | | | — | | | 20,154 | | | 31 | | | 20,185 | |
As of January 2, 2022 | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 2,025 | | $ | 1,189,044 | | $ | (1,021,832 | ) | $ | 6,897 | | $ | — | | $ | 176,134 | | $ | 6,058 | | $ | 182,192 | |
Net (loss) income | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (220,580 | ) | | — | | | — | | | (220,580 | ) | | 800 | | | (219,780 | ) |
Purchase of non-controlling interests in connection with the Soho Restaurants Acquisition (Note 3) | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (1,884 | ) | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (1,884 | ) | | 1,884 | | | — | |
Distributions to non-controlling interest | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (1,206 | ) | | (1,206 | ) |
Shares repurchased (Note 17) | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (50,000 | ) | | (50,000 | ) | | — | | | (50,000 | ) |
Non-cash share-based compensation (Note 14) | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 12 | | | 26,195 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 26,207 | | | — | | | 26,207 | |
Additional IPO costs | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (269 | ) | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (269 | ) | | — | | | (269 | ) |
Net change in cumulative translation adjustment | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 47,956 | | | — | | | 47,956 | | | (476 | ) | | 47,480 | |
As of January 1, 2023 | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 2,037 | | $ | 1,213,086 | | $ | (1,242,412 | ) | $ | 54,853 | | $ | (50,000 | ) | $ | (22,436 | ) | $ | 7,060 | | $ | (15,376 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Redeemable Shares and Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)
For the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | Common Stock | | Additional Paid-In Capital | | Accumulated Deficit | | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | | Treasury Stock | | Total Shareholders’ Deficit Attributable to Soho House & Co Inc. | | Non-controlling Interest | | Total Shareholders’ Equity | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As of January 1, 2023 | $ | 2,037 | | $ | 1,213,086 | | $ | (1,242,412 | ) | $ | 54,853 | | $ | (50,000 | ) | $ | (22,436 | ) | $ | 7,060 | | $ | (15,376 | ) |
Net (loss) income | | — | | | — | | | (117,953 | ) | | — | | | — | | | (117,953 | ) | | 865 | | | (117,088 | ) |
Distributions to non-controlling interest | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (390 | ) | | (390 | ) |
Shares repurchased (Note 17) | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (12,000 | ) | | (12,000 | ) | | — | | | (12,000 | ) |
Non-cash share-based compensation (Note 14) | | 20 | | | 18,855 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 18,875 | | | — | | | 18,875 | |
Net change in cumulative translation adjustment | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (24,853 | ) | | — | | | (24,853 | ) | | 205 | | | (24,648 | ) |
As of December 31, 2023 | $ | 2,057 | | $ | 1,231,941 | | $ | (1,360,365 | ) | $ | 30,000 | | $ | (62,000 | ) | $ | (158,367 | ) | $ | 7,740 | | $ | (150,627 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the Fiscal Year End | |
(in thousands) | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 | |
Cash flows from operating activities | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | $ | (117,088 | ) | | $ | (219,780 | ) | | $ | (268,714 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | 111,403 | | | | 99,930 | | | | 83,613 | |
Non-cash share-based compensation (Note 14) | | 18,875 | | | | 26,207 | | | | 26,660 | |
Deferred tax expense (benefit) | | (607 | ) | | | 237 | | | | (273 | ) |
Loss (gain) on sale of property and other, net | | 1,038 | | | | (390 | ) | | | (6,837 | ) |
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets (Note 6 and Note 9) | | 47,455 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Provision for write-down of inventories | | 6,827 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Share of (income) loss of equity method investments | | (1,900 | ) | | | (3,941 | ) | | | 2,249 | |
Amortization of debt issuance costs | | 2,808 | | | | 4,315 | | | | 4,632 | |
Loss on debt extinguishment (Note 12) | | 3,278 | | | | — | | | | 14,126 | |
PIK interest (settled), net of non-cash interest | | 39,300 | | | | 36,254 | | | | (57,634 | ) |
Distributions from equity method investees | | 368 | | | | 3,281 | | | | 601 | |
Foreign exchange loss (gain), net | | (36,196 | ) | | | 69,600 | | | | 25,541 | |
Changes in assets and liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Accounts receivable | | (14,228 | ) | | | (24,109 | ) | | | (5,860 | ) |
Inventories | | (9,747 | ) | | | (31,029 | ) | | | (7,561 | ) |
Operating leases, net | | (2,194 | ) | | | 25,190 | | | | 26,973 | |
Other operating assets | | (17,952 | ) | | | (38,667 | ) | | | (19,379 | ) |
Deferred revenue | | 13,845 | | | | 20,131 | | | | 27,251 | |
Accounts payable and accrued and other liabilities | | 4,527 | | | | 47,453 | | | | 27,193 | |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | | 49,812 | | | | 14,682 | | | | (127,419 | ) |
Cash flows from investing activities | | | | | | | | |
Purchase of property and equipment | | (67,763 | ) | | | (73,729 | ) | | | (90,812 | ) |
Proceeds from sale of assets | | 1,368 | | | | 926 | | | | — | |
Purchase of intangible assets | | (17,966 | ) | | | (21,672 | ) | | | (12,270 | ) |
Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired (Note 3) | | — | | | | — | | | | 559 | |
Acquisition of non-controlling interests (Note 3) | | — | | | | — | | | | (8,803 | ) |
Investments in equity method investees (Note 5) | | — | | | | — | | | | (7,813 | ) |
Property and casualty insurance proceeds received | | 148 | | | | 338 | | | | — | |
Net cash used in investing activities | | (84,213 | ) | | | (94,137 | ) | | | (119,139 | ) |
Cash flows from financing activities | | | | | | | | |
Repayment of borrowings (Note 12) | | (117,790 | ) | | | (736 | ) | | | (613,984 | ) |
Payment for debt extinguishment costs (Note 12) | | (1,686 | ) | | | — | | | | (9,109 | ) |
Issuance of related party loans | | — | | | | 3,217 | | | | 4,014 | |
Proceeds from borrowings (Note 12) | | 140,000 | | | | 105,795 | | | | 465,948 | |
Payments for debt issuance costs | | (2,822 | ) | | | (1,860 | ) | | | (13,251 | ) |
Principal payments on finance leases | | (407 | ) | | | (528 | ) | | | (281 | ) |
Proceeds from financing obligation | | — | | | | — | | | | 0 | |
Principal payments on financing obligation | | — | | | | (1,578 | ) | | | (1,334 | ) |
Distributions to non-controlling interest | | (390 | ) | | | (1,206 | ) | | | (700 | ) |
Contributions from non-controlling interest | | — | | | | — | | | | 644 | |
Senior convertible preference shares issued, net of issuance costs (Note 15) | | — | | | | — | | | | 161,574 | |
Purchase of treasury stock, inclusive of commissions (Note 17) | | (12,000 | ) | | | (50,000 | ) | | | — | |
Proceeds from issuance of SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares, net of issuance costs (Note 16) | | — | | | | — | | | | 47,000 | |
SHHL Redeemable preferred shares redeemed (Note 15) | | — | | | | — | | | | (19,899 | ) |
Proceeds from initial public offering, net of offering costs (Note 1 and Note 2) | | — | | | | (269 | ) | | | 387,538 | |
Net cash provided by financing activities | | 4,905 | | | | 52,835 | | | | 408,160 | |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash | | 3,060 | | | | (3,999 | ) | | | (910 | ) |
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash | | (26,436 | ) | | | (30,619 | ) | | | 160,692 | |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of year | | 190,043 | | | | 220,662 | | | | 59,970 | |
End of year | $ | 163,607 | | | $ | 190,043 | | | $ | 220,662 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the Fiscal Year End | |
(in thousands) | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 | |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash are comprised of: | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 161,656 | | | $ | 182,115 | | | $ | 212,833 | |
Restricted cash | | 1,951 | | | | 7,928 | | | | 7,829 | |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022 | $ | 163,607 | | | $ | 190,043 | | | $ | 220,662 | |
Supplemental disclosures: | | | | | | | | |
Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest | $ | 32,254 | | | $ | 29,893 | | | $ | 130,263 | |
Cash paid for income taxes | | 5,541 | | | | 585 | | | | 310 | |
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities: | | | | | | | | |
Conversion of senior convertible preference shares to Class A common stock (Note 15) | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 165,907 | |
SHHL C2 ordinary shares issued in exchange for acquisitions of businesses and non-controlling interests (Note 3) | | — | | | | — | | | | 75,825 | |
Conversion of related party loan to SHHL A ordinary shares (Note 12) | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Operating lease assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities | | 124,779 | | | | 133,743 | | | | 170,105 | |
Acquisitions of property and equipment under finance leases (Note 12) | | 33 | | | | 12,315 | | | | — | |
Non-cash dividends on senior convertible preference shares (Note 15) | | — | | | | — | | | | 4,335 | |
Accrued capital expenditures as of December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022 | | 13,760 | | | | 15,257 | | | | 6,422 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
Soho House & Co Inc. (“SHCO”) is a global membership platform of physical and digital spaces that connects a vibrant, diverse group of members from across the world. Our members engage with us through our global portfolio of 42 Soho Houses, 9 Soho Works Clubs, The Ned in London, New York and Doha, The Line and Saguaro hotels in North America, Scorpios Beach Club in Mykonos, Soho Home, our interiors and lifestyle retail brand, and our digital channels.
On March 17, 2023, we filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to change our corporate name from Membership Collective Group Inc. to Soho House & Co Inc., which became effective on March 20, 2023. In connection with our name change, our board of directors amended our bylaws to reflect the corporate name Soho House & Co Inc., also effective on March 20, 2023. No other changes were made to our bylaws. Prior to the change of our corporate name, our stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “MCG”. From March 20, 2023, our common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “SHCO”.
The consolidated entity presented is referred to herein as “SHCO”, “we”, “us”, “our”, or the “Company”, as the context requires and unless otherwise noted.
2.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. The Company's significant estimates relate to the valuation of financial instruments, equity method investments, the measurement of goodwill and intangible assets, contingent liabilities, income taxes, leases and long-lived assets. Although the estimates have been prepared using management's best judgment and management believes that the estimates used are reasonable, actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences could be material.
We operate on a fiscal year calendar consisting of a 52-or 53-week period ending on the last Sunday in December or the first Sunday in January of the next calendar year. In a 52-week fiscal year, each quarter contains 13 weeks of operations; in a 53-week fiscal year, each of the first, second and third quarters includes 13 weeks of operations and the fourth quarter includes 14 weeks of operations.
Our 2023 fiscal year ended on December 31, 2023 ("Fiscal 2023"), 2022 fiscal year ended on January 1, 2023 ("Fiscal 2022"), and our 2021 fiscal year ended on January 2, 2022 ("Fiscal 2021"). Fiscal 2023 was a 52-week year, Fiscal 2022 was a 52-week year and Fiscal 2021 was a 52-week year.
The consolidated statement of operations for Fiscal 2023 and the consolidated balance sheet as of Fiscal 2023 include the correction of an error identified during Fiscal 2023. This error pertains to the estimation of the historical operating lease liabilities, resulting in an overstatement of historical operating lease liabilities and assets by $7 million each as of Fiscal 2022 and by $8 million and $7 million, respectively, as of Fiscal 2021. Additionally, in connection to this error, there was an understatement of property and equipment, net, and debt by $7 million and $10 million, respectively, as of Fiscal 2022, and $8 million and $11 million, respectively, as of Fiscal 2021. The correction of this error is presented within operating lease assets, operating lease liabilities, property and equipment, net, and debt, net of current portion and debt issuance costs, in the consolidated balance sheet as of Fiscal 2023 amounting to $7 million, $6 million, $8 million and $10 million, respectively. The error also resulted in the overstatement of operating lease expenses and understatement of interest expense and depreciation expense, with a cumulative impact of $1 million for Fiscal 2022 and $1 million for Fiscal 2021. The correction of this cumulative error is presented within In-House operating expenses, depreciation and amortization and interest expense, net in the consolidated statement of operations for Fiscal 2023.
The consolidated balance sheet for Fiscal 2022 includes the correction of an error, which was identified in Fiscal 2023, relating to the classification of the SWL term loan facility agreement. As of the year ended January 1, 2023 the SWL loan in the amount of $24,612 was presented within current portion of related party loans on the consolidated balance sheet. During the fiscal year ended December
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
31, 2023 the Company concluded that the two individuals who are the counterparties to the SWL loan were no longer a related party as of January 1, 2023. The comparative period consolidated balance sheet as of the current year ended includes a reclassification to present the SWL loan balance within current portion of debt, net of debt issuance costs as of January 1, 2023. The Company has determined a current classification of this loan is appropriate as it best reflects the substance of the agreement with the lenders given that the annual loan extensions provided by the lenders each year are in effect short-term in nature at 12 months to the previous maturation date per amendment. There is no impact to the consolidated statements of operations as a result of the reclassification for Fiscal 2022 or Fiscal 2023, respectively.
Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. The going concern basis of presentation assumes that we will continue in operation for at least a period of 12 months after the date these financial statements are issued, and contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
The entire balance of accumulated other comprehensive income is related to the cumulative translation adjustment in each of the periods presented. The changes in the balance of accumulated other comprehensive income are attributable solely to the net change in the cumulative translation adjustment in each of the periods presented, and include the error correction described above during Fiscal 2023.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of Soho House & Co Inc. and its subsidiaries, as well as certain consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which the Company is considered the primary beneficiary (see Note 4, Consolidated Variable Interest Entities, for additional information). Other parties’ interests in entities that the Company consolidates are reported as noncontrolling interests within shareholders’ (deficit) equity. Net loss and each component of other comprehensive loss are attributed to the owners of the Company and to any noncontrolling interests. All intra-company assets and liabilities, equity, income, expenses and cash flows are eliminated in full on consolidation.
Equity Method Investments
The Company’s equity method investments consist of investments in which the Company does not control the investee but can exert significant influence over the financial and operating policies, as well as joint ventures where there is joint control (and in both cases if the investee is a VIE, where the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the VIE). The ability to exert significant influence is generally considered to exist when the Company owns between 20% and 50% of voting equity securities of the investee, in the case of corporate entities.
When the Company sells an interest in a subsidiary which then becomes an equity method investment, the retained interest is remeasured at fair value.
Investments are initially recognized at cost when purchased for cash, or at the fair value of shares received when acquired. The investments are subsequently carried at cost adjusted for the Company’s share of net income or loss and other changes in comprehensive income (loss) of the joint venture, less any dividends or distributions received by the Company. The investments are presented as equity method investments in the consolidated balance sheets. Income or loss from these investments is recorded as a separate line item in the consolidated statements of operations. Intercompany profits or losses associated with the Company’s equity method investments are eliminated until realized by the investee in transactions with third parties. Where distributions from equity-method investees and the Company’s share of investee losses are in excess of the carrying amount of the investment (including, where applicable, advances made by the Company to the investee), after the Company’s equity-method investment balance is reduced to zero, additional losses are recognized to the extent that the Company has guaranteed the investee’s obligations or has otherwise incurred legal or constructive obligations or has made payments on behalf of the investee.
The Company considers whether its equity method investments are impaired when events or circumstances suggest that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment charge is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations for a decline in value that is determined to be other-than-temporary. Once a determination is made that an other-than-temporary impairment exists, the
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
investment is written down to its fair value. There were no other-than-temporary impairments recorded during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022.
Variable Interest Entities
The Company analyzes its variable interests, including loans, guarantees, and equity investments, to determine if the entity in which the Company has a variable interest is a VIE. For those entities determined to be VIEs a quantitative and qualitative analysis is performed to determine if the Company will be deemed the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is defined as the variable interest holder that has a controlling financial interest in the VIE. A controlling financial interest is defined as one that has i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance and ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
In evaluating whether the Company has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance, the Company bases its qualitative analysis on its review of the design of the entity, its organizational structure including decision-making ability and the relevant development, ownership interest, operating, management and financial agreements. This evaluation requires consideration of all facts and circumstances relevant to decision-making that affect the entity’s future performance and the exercise of professional judgment in deciding which decision-making rights are most important.
The Company consolidates those entities in which it is determined to be the primary beneficiary. If the Company is not determined to be the primary beneficiary but can exercise significant influence over these entities, these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Credit risk is the risk of loss from amounts owed by customers and financial counterparties. Credit risk can occur at multiple levels; as a result of broad economic conditions, challenges within specific sectors of the economy, or from issues affecting individual companies. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, and other receivables.
The Company maintains cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash with major financial institutions. The Company’s cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash consist of bank deposits held with banks that, at times, exceed federally insured limits. The Company limits its credit risk by dealing with counterparties that are considered to be of high credit quality.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, demand deposits, and all highly liquid investments with original maturities, when purchased, of three months or less.
Restricted Cash
Restricted cash represents cash that is not available to the Company due to restrictions related to its use. As of December 31, 2023, the Company holds restricted cash related to its financing arrangements for the Soho Beach House in Miami. As of January 1, 2023, restricted cash related primarily to balances with the Company’s payments service provider and financing arrangements for the Soho Beach House in Miami. During the fiscal ended December 31, 2023 the balances with the Company’s payments service provider was released from restricted cash following the resolution of the restriction.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Accounts receivable include amounts due from customers and development partners in connection with the Company’s in-house design and other development related services whereby the Company extends credit, generally without requiring collateral, based on its evaluation of the customer’s or development partner's financial condition. Accounts receivable also include amounts due from customers, guests and members relating to services rendered. Any allowance for doubtful accounts includes management’s estimate of the amounts expected to be uncollectible on specific accounts receivable, taking into account the creditworthiness of the counterparty, the aging of the outstanding balance, and historical recoverability patterns. Allowance for doubtful accounts was $2 million as of December 31, 2023 and $4 million as of January 1, 2023.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
While the Company has a concentration of credit risk in relation to certain customers, this risk is mitigated by payments on account and credit checks on customers. Typically, accounts receivable have terms ranging from 0-60 days and do not bear interest. As of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, there were no customers which individually accounted for more than 10% of trade receivables; there were no customers which individually accounted for more than 10% of revenue during the fiscal years then ended.
Inventories
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value and cost is determined using a weighted-average cost method. Inventories primarily consist of finished goods for the Company's Retail operations, which are externally sourced, as well as service stock and supplies (primarily food and beverage). Finished goods totaled $34 million and $39 million as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively. Service stock and supplies totaled $27 million and $19 million as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively. The Company records a reserve for obsolete or unusable inventory, where applicable. The reserve was $2 million and less than $1 million as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively. Note that the reserve of $2 million, as for December 31, 2023, excludes the $5 million as a result of the Cowshed brand licensing agreement, described below, meaning the total reserve is $7 million.
In November 2023, the Company entered into a 10-year licensing agreement with a third party to manufacture and distribute the Company’s Cowshed brand, commencing January 1, 2024. This has restricted the Company’s ability to sell certain inventories it acquired prior to entering into the agreement. As such, the Company has provided in full for the $5 million of inventory it is unable to recover as a result of entering into the agreement. This is presented within other, net in the consolidated statement of operations for Fiscal 2023.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment relate to buildings for owned Houses, leasehold improvements for leased Houses, fixtures and fittings and other office equipment. Property and equipment are recorded at cost, or if acquired in a business combination, at fair value as of the acquisition date, less accumulated depreciation. Costs of improvements that extend the economic life or improve service potential are capitalized. Capitalized costs are depreciated over the assets’ estimated useful lives. Costs for normal repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. The carrying amounts of assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation are eliminated in the year of disposal, with resulting gains or losses included in gain (loss) on sale of property and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations.
Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated useful lives, which are generally as follows:
| |
Buildings | 50-100 years* |
Leasehold improvements | Lesser of useful life or remaining lease term |
Fixtures and fittings | 2-5 years |
Office equipment and other | 2-4 years |
Finance lease property | Reasonably assured lease term |
Depreciation expense is included in depreciation and amortization in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Assets under construction relate mainly to the build out of future Houses, are stated at cost and depreciation begins when the asset is placed in service. For property under construction, the Company capitalizes all specifically identifiable costs related to development activities, as well as interest costs incurred while activities necessary to get the property ready for its intended use are in progress. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, there was no capitalized interest.
*The Company wholly owns three buildings, Soho Beach House, High Road House, and Babington House which is a 300 year old Grade II* listed (by the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission England and Wales) manor house. Babington House is the only building that the Company depreciates over 100 years, because of it's historical significance and status as a listed building.
Impairment of Property and Equipment and Other Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews its property and equipment and other long-lived assets for impairment indicators at each reporting date. Impairment losses are required to be recorded for long-lived assets to be held and used by the Company when indicators of impairment are present and the carrying value of the assets exceeds the future undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
those assets. When an asset group to be held and used by the Company is determined to be impaired, the related carrying amount of the asset is adjusted to its estimated fair value. Recoverability of long-lived assets is measured by comparison of (i) the carrying amount of assets against (ii) the future undiscounted cash flows that the assets are expected to generate over their remaining lives. If the carrying amount of the assets is not recoverable, the amount of impairment, if any, is measured as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the impaired assets. If the Company determines that the remaining useful life is shorter than originally estimated, it amortizes the remaining carrying value over the new shorter useful life. The Company recognized $14 million of impairment losses related to property and equipment as well as other long-lived asset impairment losses of $33 million (see Notes 6 and 9) included within loss on impairment of long-lived assets on the consolidated statement of operations during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. The Company believes the expected future operating results will not be sufficient for the Company to fully recover its long-lived asset investment in certain asset groups. The Company has estimated the fair value of the impaired assets using a discounted cash flow analysis.
The Company recognized $47 million of impairment losses on long-lived assets (comprised of $33 million in respect of Operating lease assets and $14 million of Property and equipment, net) during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. No impairment losses were recorded for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2023 or January 2, 2022.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, due to the continued challenges in the cost of real estate and the decreased performance of various Soho Works locations in the USA and UK, Soho House and Co Inc determined that a triggering event had occurred in Q4 2023. The Company performed an impairment analysis on five Soho Work sites primarily in the United States. As a result of the fourth quarter of 2023 analysis, a $40.0 million non-cash impairment charge was recorded for these Soho Works sites. The high property costs associated with these locations being the primary factor of the asset impairment. The non-cash impairment charge is included in impairments of assets in the consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.
The primary assumptions, which requires significant level of judgement, that affects the undiscounted cash flows determination is management's estimate of future revenues, operating margins, economic conditions and changes in the operating environment. The forecasts used in the impairment assessments was developed by management based on projected revenues derived largely from forecasted member attendance. Management also makes estimates on the expected costs and the expected operating lease costs. Changes in these assumptions could have a significant impact on the recoverability of the assets and may result in additional impairment charges.
The combined carrying value of the Soho Works locations was $112 million at December 31, 2023.
Changes in the membership, operating margins and economic growth and the contracted operating rental costs beyond what has already been assumed in the assessments could cause management to revise the forecast and assumptions. Unfavorable revisions to these assumptions or estimates could possibly result in further impairment of some or all of the assets.
No impairment losses were recorded for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022.
Business Combinations
The Company accounts for its business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting. The consideration transferred in a business combination is measured as the aggregate of the acquisition date fair values of the assets transferred by the Company to the sellers and equity instruments issued. Transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition are expensed as incurred. Identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed are measured separately at their fair values as of the acquisition date, irrespective of the extent of any noncontrolling interests. The excess of (i) the total consideration transferred, fair value of the noncontrolling interests and acquisition date fair value of any previously held equity interest in the acquiree over (ii) the fair value of the identifiable net assets of the acquiree is recorded as goodwill. If the consideration transferred is less than the fair value of the net assets of the acquiree, the difference is recognized directly in the consolidated statements of operations as a gain. During the measurement period, which can be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. See Note 3, Acquisitions, for additional information.
Transactions between entities under common control are excluded from the scope of the business combinations guidance. The Company accounts for transfers of assets, net assets or equity interests between entities under common control prospectively at the parent's carrying values.
Intangible Assets with Finite Useful Lives
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
The Company has certain finite lived intangible assets that were initially recorded at their fair values. These intangible assets consist primarily of brand names, membership lists, hotel management agreements, internally developed software and trademarks. Intangible assets with finite useful lives, which have a weighted-average life of 15 years, are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives.
All finite lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment when circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable; for example, when there are material adverse changes in projected revenues or expenses, significant underperformance relative to historical or projected operating results, or significant negative industry or economic trends. The Company evaluates recoverability of a finite lived intangible asset by comparing its carrying value to its estimated fair value, which is determined through the income approach, the market approach or another appropriate method based on the circumstances. If a finite lived intangible asset’s estimated current fair value is less than its respective carrying value, the excess of the carrying value over the estimated fair value is recognized as an impairment loss in the consolidated statements of operations.
No impairment losses were recorded during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022.
Costs incurred during the application development stage for internal-use software are capitalized. Capitalized website development costs and internal-use software costs are amortized using the straight-line amortization method over the estimated useful life of the software.
Goodwill
In January 2012, affiliates of the Yucaipa Companies, LLC acquired 58.9% of the outstanding equity interests of the entity which subsequently became Soho House Holdings Limited through a series of transactions. The acquisition was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting, which resulted in a new basis for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the recognition of goodwill. In addition, the Company recognized goodwill as a result of the acquisition of a business in Mykonos, Greece during the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019, as well as the acquisition of a controlling interest in Soho House—Cipura (Miami), LLC ("Cipura") and the companies that together operate existing and future "The LINE" and "Saguaro" hotels in the United States during the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022. See Note 3, Acquisitions, for additional information.
Goodwill is not amortized, but instead is tested for impairment annually. The Company assesses goodwill for potential impairment on the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter, or during the year if an event or other circumstances indicate that the Company may not be able to recover the carrying amount of the net assets of the reporting unit. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below the operating segment level, which is referred to as a component. The Company identifies its reporting units by assessing whether components (i) have discrete financial information available; (ii) engage in business activities; and (iii) have a segment manager who regularly reviews the component’s operating results. Net assets and goodwill of acquired businesses are allocated to the reporting unit(s) associated with the acquired business based on the anticipated organizational structure of the combined entities. If two or more components are deemed economically similar, those components are aggregated into one reporting unit when performing the annual goodwill impairment review. As of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, the Company had seven reporting units with a goodwill balance.
In evaluating goodwill for impairment, the Company may first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (that is, a likelihood of more than 50%) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. Qualitative factors that the Company considers include, for example, macroeconomic and industry conditions, overall financial performance, and other relevant entity-specific events. If the Company bypasses the qualitative assessment or concludes that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, then a quantitative goodwill impairment test is performed to identify potential goodwill impairment and measure the amount of goodwill impairment that will be recognized, if any.
When performing the quantitative goodwill impairment test, the Company compares the estimated fair value of each of its reporting units with their respective carrying values. If the estimated fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill is not considered impaired. If, however, the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the excess of the carrying value of the reporting unit over its fair value is recognized as a goodwill impairment. When performing a quantitative goodwill impairment assessment, the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is calculated using the income approach and the market approach. For the income approach, the Company uses internally developed discounted cash flow models that include the following assumptions, among others: projections of revenues, expenses, and related cash flows based on assumed long-term growth rates and demand trends; expected net working capital and capital expenditure requirements; and estimated discount rates. For the market
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
approach, the Company relies upon valuation multiples derived from stock prices and enterprise values of publicly-traded companies that are comparable to the reporting units being evaluated.
While the Company tests its goodwill for impairment at least annually, it will test its goodwill for impairment if an event occurs or circumstances change which are considered to be a triggering event that would more likely than not reduce a reporting unit’s fair value below its carrying amount. In Fiscal 2023, the Company performed a qualitative goodwill assessment and concluded it was more likely than not that the fair value of the Company’s reporting units which carry goodwill exceeds their respective carrying amounts. In Fiscal 2022, the Company performed a quantitative impairment assessment for seven reporting units; based on these assessments, the Company determined that no goodwill impairment existed.
Leases
The Company has entered into lease agreements for its Houses, hotels, restaurants, spas and other properties. The Company accounts for its leases under ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842).
The Company determines the initial classification and measurement of its right-of-use assets and lease liabilities at the lease commencement date and thereafter if the leases are modified. The lease term includes any renewal options and termination options that the Company is reasonably assured to exercise. The present value of lease payments is determined by using the interest rate implicit in the lease, if that rate is readily determinable; otherwise, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate. The incremental borrowing rate is determined by using a portfolio approach based on the rate of interest that the Company would pay to borrow on a collateralized basis an amount equal to the lease payments for a similar term and in a similar economic environment.
Rent expense for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the reasonably assured lease term based on the total lease payments and is included in other in-house operating expenses and other operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
The Company recognizes the amortization of the right-of-use asset for its finance leases on a straight-line basis over the reasonably assured lease term in depreciation and amortization in the consolidated statements of operations. The interest expense related to finance leases is recognized using the effective interest method and is included within interest expense, net.
For all leases, rent payments that are based on a fixed index or rate at the lease commencement date are included in the measurement of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities at the lease commencement date. Rent payments that vary based on the outcome of future indices, rates, or the Company’s revenues are expensed in the period incurred.
The Company has previously elected the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components. The Company’s non-lease components are primarily related to property maintenance, which varies based on future outcomes, and thus is recognized in rent expense when incurred. In addition, the Company elected to exclude short-term leases, or leases with a term of 12 months or less that do not contain a purchase option that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise, from the right-of-use asset and lease liability balances.
Sale Leaseback Transactions
The Company accounts for a transaction as a sale of an asset and a leaseback of that asset only if the buyer-lessor obtains control of the asset in accordance with the provisions of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). In these circumstances, the Company (as the seller-lessee) derecognizes the carrying amount of the asset, recognizes the transaction price for the sale, and accounts for the lease in accordance with Topic 842. When a sale and leaseback transaction does not qualify for sale accounting, the Company does not derecognize the underlying asset and accounts for the transaction as a financing obligation.
Debt Issuance Costs
Debt issuance costs relate to the Company’s debt instruments. These costs are reflected as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt instrument, with the exception of the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility, for which debt issuance costs are reflected as a current asset following repayment in full of the amount drawn under the facility during the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022. Debt issuance costs are deferred and amortized over the term of the related debt instrument using the effective interest method. As of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, these costs totaled $11 million (including $1 million presented within prepaid expenses and other current assets) and $10 million (including $1 million presented within prepaid expenses and other current assets), respectively.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
Amortization expense associated with debt issuance costs (excluding write-offs recognized upon extinguishment of debt), which is included within interest expense, net, totaled $3 million, $4 million, and $5 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022, respectively.
Fair Value Measurements
The Company has various financial instruments measured at fair value on a periodic basis for disclosure purposes. See Note 13, Fair Value Measurements, for further information. The Company also applies the fair value measurement framework to various nonrecurring measurements for its financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities.
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date (an exit price). The Company uses the three-level valuation hierarchy for classification of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability and may be considered observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
Level 1 Valuation is based upon quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the instrument.
Level 3 Valuation is based upon other unobservable inputs that are significant to the fair value measurement.
The classification of assets and liabilities within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Proper classification of fair value measurements within the valuation hierarchy is considered each reporting period. The use of different market assumptions or estimation methods may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.
Revenue Recognition
A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the unit of account for purposes of recognizing revenue. The majority of the Company’s contracts have a single performance obligation as the promise to transfer the individual goods or services is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts and, therefore, not distinct. There is no variable consideration or obligations for returns or refunds, and no other related obligations in the Company’s contracts.
Payment terms and conditions vary by contract type and may include a requirement of payment typically up to 60 days (as described further below). In instances where the timing of revenue recognition differs from the timing of invoicing, the Company has determined its contracts do not include a significant financing component.
The Company’s revenues are primarily derived from the following sources and are recognized when or as the Company satisfies a performance obligation by transferring a good or service to a customer.
Membership Revenues
Membership revenues are comprised of annual membership fees and one-time initial registration fees.
Memberships are offered on an annual basis for access to Houses. Annual membership fees are paid annually, quarterly or monthly and are deferred and recognized over the term to which the payment relates. Revenue is measured based on the amount invoiced for the member’s annual membership fee. The current portion of deferred revenue relates primarily to annual membership fees. There is no non-current deferred revenue relating to annual membership fees.
One-time registration fees are non-refundable and are invoiced to the member on their acceptance of membership. Such registration fees are recognized as non-current deferred revenue upon payment, and are recognized as revenue over the estimated average
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
membership life of 20 years. Registration fees of $2 million, $2 million, and $2 million were recognized as revenue in the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022 respectively. As of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, current deferred revenue related to one-time registration fees totaled $2 million and $2 million, respectively, and non-current deferred revenue related to such fees totaled $26 million and $27 million, respectively.
House Introduction Credits
New members admitted on or after April 4, 2022 are required, in the majority of regions we operate, to purchase House Introduction Credits ("House Introduction Credits") as part of their membership, instead of one-time registration fees. House Introduction Credits are credits of an equivalent value to cash within Houses and are redeemable against purchases of food and beverage items and bedroom stays at the Houses. House Introduction Credits expire after three months from the date of issuance, where legally permitted in the regions we operate, if not utilized or if the Company terminates a member's House membership. House Introduction Credits are recognized upon issuance as deferred revenue on our consolidated balance sheets. Revenue from House Introduction Credits are recognized as In-House revenues when redeemed by members, and as breakage revenue within Membership revenues upon expiration, which is generally a period of three months, or earlier in the period when we are able to reliably estimate expected breakage to the extent that they are unredeemed and further redemption is deemed remote.
In-House Revenues
In-House revenues represent all revenues generated within our Houses and primarily include revenues from food and beverage, accommodation, and spa products and treatments.
Revenue from food and beverage sales in the Company’s Houses is measured based on the amount invoiced for food and beverage purchased by the customer. Revenues are recognized when the goods are consumed. Payment is collected from the customer at the same time as the performance obligation is satisfied and, therefore, there are no material receivables, contract assets or contract liabilities related to food and beverage sales.
Hotel accommodation revenue is recognized when the rooms are occupied. Revenue is measured based on the amount invoiced for the room as specified in the contract when the room booking is made. Deposits received in advance of the hotel accommodation are deferred as contract liabilities and recognized as revenue when the customer occupies the room. As of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, advance deposits of $13 million and $12 million, respectively, were recorded as accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
Retail sales represent sales of goods and services, including from spas and cinema properties. Revenue from these transactions is recognized at the point in time when the goods and services have been delivered or rendered. Sales made online include shipping revenue and are recognized on dispatch to the customer. Payment terms with respect to retail sales and wholesale sales range from immediate payment at point of sale up to approximately 60 days. Amounts invoiced to customers for completed sales are recorded within accounts receivable on the consolidated balance sheets.
Other Revenues
Other revenues include all revenues that are not generated within our Houses. This includes revenues from Scorpios, Soho Works and our stand-alone restaurants, procurement fees from Soho House Design ("SHD"), Soho Home and Cowshed retail products and other revenues from products and services that we provide outside of our Houses, as well as management fees from The Ned and The LINE and Saguaro hotels. For further information regarding the Company’s management agreement with The Ned, refer to Note 4, Consolidated Variable Interest Entities.
Revenue recognized from Soho House Design totaled $6 million, $22 million, and $13 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively. Some of SHD’s design services are provided as part of the Company’s in-house development activities, including to certain related parties as described in Note 22, Related Parties. The percentage of Soho House Design revenues relating to design contracts from unaffiliated third parties was 28% and 43% during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively. Soho House Design’s revenues relating to build-out and design contracts from unaffiliated third parties were immaterial during the fiscal year ended January 3, 2021.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
Design contracts consist of a single performance obligation which is satisfied over time as the design and build work is completed and verified by third party contractors against specified contract milestones (output method of progress). The Company invoices for the work completed in accordance with the payment terms of the customer’s contract.
Sponsorship income, also referred to as partnership income, is recognized upon the successful completion of the related event. Food and beverage sales from restaurants not located in one of the Company’s Houses or hotels are recognized in a manner similar to In-House food and beverage sales, as previously described.
Practical Expedients
The Company applies the practical expedient not to disclose the amount of the transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations and an explanation of when the Company expects to recognize that amount as revenue. In addition, the Company applies the practical expedient and does not disclose information about remaining performance obligations for contracts that have original expected durations of one year or less.
In-House Operating Expenses and Other Operating Expenses
In-House operating expenses represent the cost of sales of our In-House revenues and consist primarily of the cost of food and beverage products, employee-related costs for In-House staff members, rent expense, and utility costs. Other operating expenses represent the cost of sales of our Other revenues and consist primarily of the cost of retail products, food and beverage product costs associated with non-House restaurant operations, and employee-related costs for non-House staff members.
Government Grants
Government grants are recognized when there is reasonable assurance that cash will be received and that conditions attached to the grant have been met. Where the grant relates to reimbursement of specific costs that have been incurred, the grant is presented as a reduction of that specific expense. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, government grants totaled $5 million and were presented as a reduction of payroll expenses within In-House operating expenses ($4 million) and other operating expenses ($1 million) on the consolidated statements of operations. In addition, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 government grants of $2 million were included within In-House revenues.
Government grants totaled $5 million during the fiscal year ended January 1, 2023 and are presented as a reduction of payroll expenses within In-House operating expenses ($5 million) and other operating expenses (less than $1 million) on the consolidated statements of operations. During the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022, government grants totaled $21 million and were presented as a reduction of payroll expenses within In-House operating expenses ($17 million), other operating expenses ($3 million) and general and administrative expense ($1 million) on the consolidated statements of operations.
Interest Expense
Interest expense is charged to the consolidated statements of operations over the term of the debt such that the amount charged is at a constant rate on the carrying amount (i.e. using the effective interest method). Interest expense includes the amortization of debt issuance costs, which are initially recognized as a reduction in the proceeds of the associated debt instrument, and interest expense on finance leases.
Business Interruption and Other Insurance Claims
The Company maintains insurance policies to cover business interruption and property damage with terms that it believes to be adequate and appropriate. When the Company receives proceeds from the insurance claim in connection with property damage, which reimburses the replacement cost for repair or replacement of damaged assets, the proceeds are recognized as a reduction against the value of the assets written off. Business interruption proceeds which reimburse the time-element of actual costs and lost profits following damage to property are recognized as non-operating income. Business interruption proceeds related to the cost to expedite repairs, retention pay to workers temporarily displaced, and additional expenses to stay in business following damage to property are recognized as a reduction of the related expense line item. If there are any outstanding receivables in respect of insurance recoveries, they are recognized only when the Company deems collection to be virtually certain.
Income Taxes
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
Significant judgment is involved in determining the provision for income taxes. There are certain transactions for which the ultimate tax determination is unclear due to uncertainty in the ordinary course of business. The Company recognizes tax liabilities based on its assessment of whether its tax return positions are supportable, and more likely than not to be sustained, based on the technical merits and assuming the position will be examined by the relevant taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. Where the Company has determined that its tax return filing position does not satisfy the more likely than not recognition threshold, the Company will record an uncertain tax position. Each period the Company assesses uncertain tax positions for recognition, measurement and effective settlement. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties for any unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax (benefit) expense.
Income tax (benefit) expense consists of taxes currently payable and changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities calculated according to local tax rules. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are based on temporary differences that arise between carrying values of assets and liabilities used for financial reporting purposes and amounts used for taxation purposes and the future tax benefits of tax loss carry forwards. A deferred tax asset is recognized only to the extent that it is more likely than not that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be utilized.
Significant judgment is required in determining any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, management considers all available evidence for each jurisdiction, including past operating results, estimates of future taxable income and the feasibility of ongoing tax planning strategies. In the event that the Company changes its determination as to the amount of deferred tax assets that can be realized, the Company will adjust its valuation allowance with a corresponding impact to income tax (benefit) expense in the period in which such determination is made.
The amount of deferred tax recognized in any period is based on tax rates enacted as of the balance sheet date. The impact of tax law changes is recognized in periods when the change is enacted. The Company classifies all deferred tax assets and liabilities, including any related valuation allowance, as non-current on the consolidated balance sheets.
Indirect Taxes
The Company remits sales, value added and other indirect taxes to various taxing jurisdictions as a result of revenue earned from the sale of products and services to customers. Specific sales tax rates applicable to the Company’s products and services vary by taxing jurisdiction. The Company records sales, value added and other indirect taxes as liabilities when incurred. Revenue is recognized net of sales, value added and other indirect taxes.
Foreign Currency and Operations
The functional currency is the currency of the primary economic environment in which an entity’s operations are conducted. The functional currency of the Company’s subsidiaries is generally the same as their local currency. The Company translates the financial statements of its subsidiaries into the presentation currency using exchange rates in effect on the balance sheet date for assets and liabilities and average exchange rates for the period for statement of operations accounts, with the difference recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income. The following exchange rates were used to translate the financial statements of the Company and its foreign subsidiaries into USD:
| | | | | |
| As of |
| December 31, 2023 | | January 1, 2023 |
Great Britain pound sterling | $ | 1.27 | | $ | 1.21 |
Canadian dollar | | 0.76 | | | 0.74 |
Euro | | 1.10 | | | 1.07 |
Hong Kong dollar | | 0.13 | | | 0.13 |
Israeli new shekel | | 0.28 | | | 0.28 |
Danish krone | | 0.15 | | | 0.14 |
Swedish krona | | 0.10 | | | 0.10 |
Mexican peso | | 0.06 | | | 0.05 |
Qatari riyal | | 0.27 | | | 0.27 |
Thai baht | | 0.03 | | | N/A |
Brazilian real | | 0.21 | | | N/A |
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | |
| For the Fiscal Year Ended |
| December 31, 2023 | | January 1, 2023 | | January 2, 2022 |
Great Britain pound sterling | $ | 1.24 | | $ | 1.23 | | $ | 1.38 |
Canadian dollar | | 0.74 | | | 0.77 | | | 0.80 |
Euro | | 1.08 | | | 1.05 | | | 1.18 |
Hong Kong dollar | | 0.13 | | | 0.13 | | | 0.13 |
Israeli new shekel | | 0.27 | | | 0.30 | | | 0.31 |
Danish krone | | 0.15 | | | 0.14 | | | N/A |
Swedish krona | | 0.09 | | | 0.10 | | | N/A |
Mexican peso | | 0.06 | | | 0.05 | | | N/A |
Qatari riyal | | 0.27 | | | 0.28 | | | N/A |
Thai baht | | 0.03 | | | N/A | | | N/A |
Brazilian real | | 0.20 | | | N/A | | | N/A |
Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in other in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company recorded foreign currency transaction net gain of $36 million, net losses of $70 million, and net losses of $26 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively.
Pre-Opening Expenses
Pre-opening expenses include costs associated with the acquisition, opening, conversion and initial setup of new and converted sites, including rent, overhead expenses, pre-opening marketing and incremental wages to support the “ramp up” period of time to support the site in the initial period following opening. Expenses may also be included for unopened or partially opened sites, which, from time to time, may be over an extended time period if there are delays in site opening or the original requirements and planned usage of the site changes. These costs are expensed as incurred and are included in pre-opening expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. The entire balance of these costs is related to pre-opening and related activities for our sites in each of the periods presented.
Share-Based Compensation
Share-based compensation is measured at the estimated fair value of the award on the grant date and recognized as an expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the award. The Company does not reduce share-based compensation for an estimate of forfeitures and will account for forfeitures when they occur. In order to determine the grant date fair value of awards granted prior to IPO, the Company applied the Black-Scholes option-pricing valuation model. The determination of fair value of these awards is subjective and involves estimates and assumptions including expected term of the awards, volatility of the Company’s shares, expected dividend yield, and the risk-free rate. The Company uses the closing stock price on the date of grant to determine the grant date fair value for restricted stock units ("RSUs").
Share-based compensation expense is recorded within general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 14, Share-Based Compensation, for additional information.
Limited reorganization of support and operations functions
During the fourth quarter of fiscal year ended January 1, 2023, the Company engaged in a limited reorganization of its support and operations functions following a change in the Company’s senior leadership. This resulted in the termination of employees in our support and operations teams. The amount recognized as an expense in fiscal year ended January 1, 2023, in other expenses, net, which is not allocated to our Reported Segments, was $4 million. The majority of this obligation had been settled as of January 1, 2023, with less than $1 million being settled during fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Net Loss per Share
The Company computes net loss per share using the two-class method. As the liquidation and dividend rights are identical, the undistributed earnings or losses are allocated on a proportionate basis to each class of common stock, and the resulting basic and
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
diluted loss per share attributable to common stockholders are therefore the same for Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Basic loss per share is computed by dividing loss available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted loss per share is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period and respective share equivalents outstanding at the end of the period, unless the effect is anti-dilutive. An anti-dilutive impact is a reduction in net loss per share resulting from the conversion, exercise, or contingent issuance of certain securities. Since the Company had net losses for all the periods presented, basic and diluted loss per share are the same, and additional potential common shares have been excluded as their effect would be anti-dilutive.
SHHL Redeemable Preferred Shares and SHHL Redeemable C Ordinary Shares
Preferred shares subject to mandatory redemption as of a specified date are classified as debt and are initially measured at fair value. Contingently redeemable shares (including shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company's control) are classified as temporary equity and initially measured at fair value.
When redemption is deemed to be probable, if the carrying amount of the redeemable shares is less than the redemption value, the carrying value of the shares is increased by periodic accretions so that the carrying value is equal to the redemption amount at the earliest redemption date. Such accretion is recorded as a dividend in the consolidated statements of changes in shareholders' equity (deficit).
As of January 3, 2021, SHHL had redeemable preferred shares and redeemable C ordinary shares outstanding, which are collectively referred to as "redeemable shares." In addition, in March 2021, the Company issued senior convertible preference shares, which were subsequently converted into Class A common stock immediately after the IPO. During the second fiscal quarter of 2021, the Company concluded that certain SHHL redeemable preferred shares were probable of becoming redeemable and, therefore, the shares were accreted to their redemption value. See Note 15, SHHL Redeemable Preferred Shares and Note 16, SHHL C Ordinary Shares, for additional information.
Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is subject to loss contingencies that arise out of operations in the normal course of business. Periodically, the Company reviews the status of each significant matter and assesses the potential financial exposure. If the potential loss from any claim or legal proceeding is considered probable, and the amount can be reliably estimated, such amount is recognized in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
Contingent liabilities are measured at the Company’s best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation as of the end of the reporting period. If there is no best estimate, an amount is recorded for the lowest amount of the range of potential outcomes. Refer to Note 18, Commitments and Contingencies, for more information.
Future Accounting Standards
In June 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity which simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers. The ASU requires entities to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The update is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 or the interim period in which the Company loses emerging growth company status, and should be adopted using a prospective approach to business combinations occurring on or after the effective date of the amendments. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In May 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-05, Business Combinations—Joint Venture Formations (Subtopic 805-60), which requires a joint venture to initially measure all contributions received upon its formation at fair value. This accounting will largely be consistent with ASC 805, Business Combinations, although there are some specific exceptions. The new guidance should be applied prospectively and is effective for all newly-formed joint venture entities with a formation date on or after January 1, 2025, with early
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
adoption permitted. Joint ventures formed prior to the adoption date may elect to apply the new guidance retrospectively back to their original formation date. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Scorpios Acquisition
On April 30, 2021, the Company acquired an additional 12% equity interest from various noncontrolling interest holders of Paraga Beach S.A., the entity which owns and operates Scorpios Beach Club, for cash consideration of $9 million. On May 12, 2021, the Company issued 572,410 C2 ordinary shares of SHHL with an aggregate fair value of $8 million to Seligny Holdings Limited and Jaquelle Limited in order to acquire an additional 11% equity interest in Paraga Beach S.A (collectively, the “Scorpios Noncontrolling Interests Acquisitions”). The fair value of the SHHL C2 ordinary shares was derived by using an implied valuation of $13.49 per share which was supported by recent third-party capital raising transactions that occurred during Fiscal 2021. The Scorpios Noncontrolling Interests Acquisitions were accounted for as transactions with noncontrolling interest holders that did not result in a loss of control. In total, the Company derecognized noncontrolling interest of $16 million and recorded the difference between the fair value of consideration transferred to the noncontrolling interest holders and the carrying value of the noncontrolling interest as a reduction in additional paid-in capital. Following the Scorpios Noncontrolling Interests Acquisitions, Seligny Holdings Limited and Jaquelle Limited continue to hold a 10% ownership interest in Paraga Beach S.A.
Soho Restaurants Limited (previously known as Quentin Limited) Reorganization and Acquisition
On March 29, 2022, the Company acquired all of the outstanding equity interests of Soho Restaurants for nominal consideration (the “Soho Restaurants Acquisition”) from Quentin Partners. Because the Company consolidated Soho Restaurants prior to the Soho Restaurants Acquisition, the Company accounted for the Soho Restaurants Acquisition as a transaction with a noncontrolling interest holder that did not result in a change of control. The Company derecognized a noncontrolling deficit of $2 million and recorded the difference between the fair value of consideration transferred to Quentin Partners and the carrying value of the noncontrolling interest as a reduction in additional paid-in capital (i.e. a deemed distribution in the absence of retained earnings). Following the Soho Restaurants Acquisition, the Company became the sole equity owner of Soho Restaurants.
Also, on March 29, 2022, Soho Restaurants entered into a Trademark Assignment with Chick’n Limited, pursuant to which Soho Restaurants has agreed to transfer the rights to certain intangible assets to Chick’n Limited in exchange for three separate cash payments over a one-year period, commencing on March 29, 2022, totaling £1 million ($2 million), all of which was recognized in gain on sale of property and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2023.
Concurrently, on March 29, 2022, Soho Restaurants entered into a royalty-free Product License Agreement with Chick’n Limited, pursuant to which Chick’n Limited agreed to grant the Company a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to produce and sell certain burgers at certain Soho Restaurant properties for a term of two years. Other than with respect to this limited license, Soho Restaurants has no legal right to the product.
Cipura Acquisition
Prior to May 2021, the Company held a 50% interest in Cipura, which owns and operates the Mandolin Aegean Bistro, located in Miami, Florida. Historically, the Company accounted for its investment in Cipura using the equity method of accounting. On May 10, 2021, the Company acquired the remaining 50% ownership interest in Cipura in exchange for issuing 644,828 C2 ordinary shares of SHHL with an aggregate fair value of $9 million (the “Cipura Acquisition”). The fair value of the SHHL C2 ordinary shares was derived by using an implied valuation of $13.49 per share, as described above. In connection with the Cipura Acquisition, the Company derecognized its previous 50% ownership interest in Cipura, which was remeasured to fair value; as a result, the Company recognized a gain of $7 million, which is included in gain on sale of property and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022. The fair value of the Company’s previously held interest was determined based upon the purchase consideration for the remaining 50% ownership interest.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
As a result of the acquisition, the Company recognized goodwill of $17 million, which represents intellectual capital, know-how for potential future openings and undertakings, and economic benefits that the Company expects to derive from the ability to expand the Mandolin Aegean Bistro brand that do not qualify for separate recognition. The entire value of goodwill has been allocated to a separate reporting unit in our North America segment. The recognized goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.
The consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022 includes less than $1 million in acquisition related costs, which were expensed as incurred and are included in general and administrative expense.
Mandolin Acquisition
On May 10, 2021, the Company acquired the intellectual property rights for Mr. Mandolin and Mrs. Mandolin (the “Mandolin IP”) in exchange for issuing 92,647 C2 ordinary shares of SHHL with an aggregate fair value of $1 million (the “Mandolin Acquisition”). The fair value of the C2 ordinary shares was derived by using an implied valuation of $13.49, as described above. The Mandolin Acquisition was accounted for as an asset purchase, and the Mandolin IP has been recorded in other intangible assets, net.
Soho Works North America Acquisition
On May 10, 2021, the Company issued 3,984,883 C2 ordinary shares of SHHL with an aggregate fair value of $54 million to SW SPV, LLC (the “SW Seller”) in order to acquire the SW Seller’s 30% equity ownership interest in Soho Works North America, LLC (the “Soho Works Acquisition”). The fair value of the SHHL C2 ordinary shares was derived by using an implied valuation of $13.49 per share, as described above. Prior to the Soho Works Acquisition, the Company held a controlling interest in and therefore consolidated Soho Works North America, LLC. The Soho Works Acquisition was accounted for as a transaction with a noncontrolling interest holder that did not result in a loss of control. The Company derecognized noncontrolling interest of $33 million and recorded the difference between the fair value of consideration transferred to the SW Seller of $54 million and the carrying value of the noncontrolling interest as a reduction in additional paid-in capital (i.e. a deemed distribution in the absence of retained earnings). Following the Soho Works Acquisition, the Company became the sole equity owner of Soho Works North America, LLC.
The LINE and Saguaro Acquisition
On June 22, 2021 the Company entered into a membership interests purchase agreement with Sydell Group LLC (“Sydell”) to acquire all of the outstanding shares in the companies that together operate existing and future “The LINE” and “Saguaro” hotels in the United States (the “LINE and Saguaro Acquisition”). The Company issued 1,900,599 C2 ordinary shares of SHHL with an aggregate fair value of $26 million as consideration for The LINE and Saguaro Acquisition. The fair value of the SHHL C2 ordinary shares was derived by using an implied valuation of $13.49 per share, as described above.
The LINE and Saguaro Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under the acquisition method of accounting. The only acquired identifiable assets are related to the hotel management agreements intangible asset, which has a total fair value of $24 million and an estimated useful life of 15 years. The hotel management agreements were valued using the multi-period excess-earnings method, with key inputs consisting of the forecasted hotel management fees (including the probability of renewal of the hotel management agreements), profitability margins, and discount rate applied to the estimated net cash flows. The Company did not acquire any other assets or assume any other liabilities.
As a result of The LINE and Saguaro Acquisition, the Company recognized $2 million of goodwill, which represents the fair value of the assembled workforce that is not separately recognized from goodwill and the economic benefits that the Company expects to derive from the ability to expand the hotel management agreements that do not qualify for separate recognition. In addition, the goodwill relates to the synergies expected to be gained from the affiliation of The LINE hotels with the Soho House brand name. The entire value of goodwill has been allocated to a separate reporting unit in our North America segment. The recognized goodwill is deductible for tax purposes.
The consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022 includes $1 million in acquisition related costs, which were expensed as incurred and are included in general and administrative expense. The SHHL C2 ordinary shares issued in the transactions described above were exchanged, alongside all other holders of SHHL C2 ordinary, for Class A common stock of SHCO in connection with our IPO in July 2021.
4.Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
The Company determined that it is the primary beneficiary of the following material variable interest entities (“VIEs”):
Ned-Soho House, LLP
The Ned-Soho House, LLP joint venture maintains a management agreement to operate The Ned, which is owned by unconsolidated related parties to the Company. Management fees are recognized in other revenues in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company has a greater economic interest in Ned Soho House, LLP as compared to its related party venture partner and therefore the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary.
Soho Works Limited
The Soho Works Limited (“SWL”) joint venture develops and operates Soho-branded, membership-based co-working spaces, with four sites currently in operation in the UK. The joint venture agreement relates to the UK only. The joint venture was formed on September 29, 2017 when the Company granted to two unrelated individuals an option to subscribe for 30% of the issued shares of SWL. The option has not yet been exercised and, consequently, the Company has 100% economic interest in SWL. Upon exercise of the option, the Company would have 70% economic interest in SWL. The options carry voting rights such that the Company and other joint venture partners each hold 50% of the voting rights in respect of shareholder resolutions and certain reserved matters as defined in the joint venture agreement. The Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary because it has the power to direct all significant activities of the joint venture.
The following table summarizes the carrying amounts and classification of the consolidated VIEs’ assets and liabilities included in the consolidated balance sheets. The obligations of the consolidated VIEs other than Soho Restaurants Limited are non-recourse to the Company, and the assets of the VIEs can be used only to settle those obligations.
| | | |
| As of |
(in thousands) | December 31, 2023 | | January 1, 2023 |
Cash and cash equivalents | $6,482 | | $7,941 |
Accounts receivable | 4,530 | | 1,823 |
Inventories | 15 | | 19 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 3,404 | | 3,283 |
Total current assets | 14,431 | | 13,066 |
Property and equipment, net | 29,001 | | 32,288 |
Operating lease assets | 103,146 | | 99,717 |
Other intangible assets, net | 314 | | 284 |
Other non-current assets | 7,443 | | 181 |
Total assets | 154,335 | | 145,536 |
Accounts payable | 1,070 | | 337 |
Accrued liabilities | 4,050 | | 8,131 |
Indirect and employee taxes payable | 1,231 | | 1,548 |
Current portion of debt, net of debt issuance costs | 27,715 | | 24,612 |
Current portion of operating lease liabilities - sites trading more than one year | 6,250 | | 4,362 |
Other current liabilities | 6,770 | | 4,153 |
Total current liabilities | 47,086 | | 43,143 |
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion - sites trading more than one year | 116,251 | | 115,182 |
Total liabilities | 163,337 | | 158,325 |
Net assets (liabilities) | $(9,002) | | $(12,789) |
5.Equity Method Investments
The Company maintains a portfolio of equity method investments owned through noncontrolling interests in investments with one or more partners. Equity method investment ownership interests in each of the periods presented in these consolidated financial statements are as follows:
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ownership Interest (Percentage) | |
Equity Method Investment | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 | |
Soho House Toronto (House)* | | | | | | | | |
Soho House Toronto Partnership | | 50 | | | | 50 | | | | 50 | |
139 Ludlow Street New York (Property) | | | | | | | | |
139 Ludlow Acquisition, LLC | | 33.3 | | | | 33.3 | | | | 33.3 | |
56-60 Redchurch Street, London (Property and Hotel)* | | | | | | | | |
Raycliff Red LLP | | 50 | | | | 50 | | | | 50 | |
Raycliff Shoreditch Holdings LLP | | 50 | | | | 50 | | | | 50 | |
Redchurch Partner Limited | | 50 | | | | 50 | | | | 50 | |
Soho House Barcelona (Property and House) | | | | | | | | |
Mimea XXI S.L. | | 50 | | | | 50 | | | | 50 | |
Mirador Barcel S.L. | | 50 | | | | 50 | | | | 50 | |
Little Beach House Barcelona S.L. | | 50 | | | | 50 | | | | 50 | |
Soho Beach House Canouan (House) | | | | | | | | |
Soho Beach House Canouan Limited | | 20 | | | | 20 | | | | 20 | |
*Under applicable guidance for VIEs, the Company determined that its investments in Soho House Toronto Partnership ("Soho House Toronto") and the entities comprising 56-60 Redchurch Street, London are VIEs. Soho House Toronto owns and operates a House located in Toronto, while 56-60 Redchurch Street, London provides additional members’ accommodation capacity for Shoreditch House in London.
Toronto Joint Venture
On March 28, 2012, the Company and two unrelated investors (“Toronto Partners”) formed Soho House Toronto to establish and operate a house in Toronto, Canada. The Company is responsible for managing the development and operations of the property with key operating decisions requiring joint approval with the Toronto Partners. The Company owns a 50% interest and each of the Toronto Partners owns a 25% interest in Soho House Toronto. Each investor is entitled to a share of the profits or losses of Soho House Toronto in proportion to their respective ownership percentage. As part of the original agreement, the Toronto Partners received a put option to sell their interest in Soho House Toronto to the Company at fair value and the Company received a call option to purchase the Toronto Partners' interests at fair value. As of 2015, certain restrictions expired and the put and call options are exercisable. As of December 31, 2023, no options have been exercised.
Soho House Toronto entered into a 10-year lease agreement with a landlord to lease the Soho House Toronto property. This lease was extended for an additional 5 years in Fiscal 2021. A subsidiary of the Company provided a guarantee to the landlord for Soho House Toronto's rental liabilities.
56-60 Redchurch Street, London Joint Venture
On July 6, 2015, the Company and an unrelated investor (“Raycliff Partner”) formed Raycliff Red LLP (“Club Row Rooms”) to develop and operate a hotel at 58-60 Redchurch Street intended to provide additional members’ accommodation to the nearby Shoreditch House in London. This was later extended to include 56 Redchurch Street under the same terms. The Company is responsible for managing the operations of the property and the Raycliff Partner is responsible for managing the building. Each partner has a 50% interest in Club Row Rooms through equal ownership of B units. The Raycliff Partner owns all A units. All profits and losses from operations are shared between parties based on their respective ownership of B units. Distributions from cash flows not generated from operations are first allocated to holders of A units (for an amount of up to £500,000), with the remainder distributed to holders of B units in proportion to their holdings. Under a hotel management agreement and restaurant management agreement between the Company and Club Row Rooms, the Company also receives a 2.5% management fee in return for managing the hotel operations and a 3.5% management fee in return for managing the restaurant operations of the property. The amounts received to date under this agreement are immaterial. Club Row Rooms, which owns the rights to the property, financed the development of the property through third-party debt. The Company has entered into a security arrangement with the bank in relation to this debt (see Note 18, Commitments and Contingencies).
The Raycliff Partner holds a put option which requires the Company to purchase all the Raycliff Partner’s interest at fair value in the event the Company ceases to own a controlling interest in the nearby Shoreditch House. As of December 31, 2023, the put option has not been triggered.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
The Company concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of the Soho House Toronto or 56-60 Redchurch Street, London VIEs in any of the periods presented, as its joint venture partners have the power to participate in making decisions related to the majority of significant activities of each investee. Accordingly, the Company concluded that application of the equity method of accounting is appropriate for these investees.
Summarized Financial Information
The following tables present summarized financial information for all unconsolidated equity method investees. The Company’s maximum exposure to losses related to its equity method investments is limited to its ownership interests as well as certain guarantees as described in Note 18, Commitments and Contingencies.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | |
(in thousands) | | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 (1) | |
Revenues | | $ | 51,826 | | | $ | 45,274 | | | $ | 32,022 | |
Operating income (loss) | | | 9,149 | | | | 7,131 | | | | (4,442 | ) |
Net income (loss)(2) | | | 2,801 | | | | 3,133 | | | | (5,227 | ) |
(1)Includes the financial information of Cipura through May 10, 2021.
(2)The net income (loss) shown above relates entirely to continuing operations.
| | | | | | | | |
| | As of | |
(in thousands) | | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | |
Current assets | | $ | 46,771 | | | $ | 18,916 | |
Non-current assets | | | 143,704 | | | | 142,324 | |
Total assets | | | 190,475 | | | | 161,240 | |
Current liabilities | | | 12,436 | | | | 8,551 | |
Non-current liabilities | | | 115,495 | | | | 101,820 | |
Total liabilities | | | 127,931 | | | | 110,371 | |
Net assets | | $ | 62,544 | | | $ | 50,869 | |
The Company has entered into various lease agreements for its Houses, hotels, restaurants, spas and other properties across North America, Europe, and Asia. Additionally, the Company entered into 34 equipment leases during 2023. The Company’s material leases have reasonably assured lease terms ranging from 1 year to 30 years for operating leases and 50 years for finance leases. Certain operating leases provide the Company with multiple renewal options that generally range from 5 years to 10 years, with rent payments on renewal based on a predetermined annual increase or market rates at the time of exercise of the renewal. The Company has 3 material finance leases with 25 year renewal options, with rent payments on renewal based on upward changes in inflation rates. As of December 31, 2023, the Company recognized right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for 151 operating leases and 3 finance leases. When recognizing right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, the Company includes certain renewal options where the Company is reasonably assured to exercise the renewal option.
The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment when changes in circumstances indicate that the asset's carrying value may not be recoverable. During fiscal 2023, the Company performed recoverability tests for certain asset groups using the undiscounted cash flows approach. Significant judgment is involved in determining the assumptions used in estimating future cash flows, including projected revenue growth, operating margins, economic conditions and changes in the operating environment. Changes in these assumptions could have a significant impact on the recoverability of the asset and may result in additional impairment charges. Based on the assessments, certain stand-alone sites failed the recoverability tests resulting in an aggregate impairment loss of $47 million comprised of $33 million in respect of Operating lease assets and $14 million of Property and equipment, net. The $47 million impairment is reported within loss on impairment of long-lived assets on the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company believes that the expected future operating results will not be sufficient for the Company to fully recover its long-lived asset investment in certain asset groups.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
The maturity of the Company’s operating and finance lease liabilities as of December 31, 2023 is as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) Fiscal year ended | | Operating Leases | | | Finance Leases | |
Undiscounted lease payments | | | | | | |
2024 | | $ | 152,366 | | | $ | 6,045 | |
2025 | | | 155,559 | | | | 6,084 | |
2026 | | | 156,400 | | | | 6,007 | |
2027 | | | 147,933 | | | | 5,997 | |
2028 | | | 146,456 | | | | 5,997 | |
Thereafter | | | 1,673,916 | | | | 221,891 | |
Total undiscounted lease payments | | | 2,432,630 | | | | 252,021 | |
Present value adjustment | | | 1,078,571 | | | | 173,540 | |
Total net lease liabilities | | $ | 1,354,059 | | | $ | 78,481 | |
Certain lease agreements include variable lease payments that, in the future, will vary based on changes in the local inflation rates, market rate rents, or business revenues of the leased premises.
Straight-line rent expense recognized as part of in-House operating expenses for operating leases was $144 million, $133 million, and $117 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022 respectively. Variable lease payments recognized as part of In-House operating expense for operating leases were $21 million, $20 million, and $6 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively, including non-lease components such as common area maintenance fees.
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022 the Company recognized amortization expense related to the right-of-use asset for finance leases of $2 million, $2 million, and $2 million respectively, and interest expense related to finance leases of $7 million, $5 million, and $5 million respectively. There were no material variable lease payments for finance leases for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022.
New Houses typically have a maturation profile that commences sometime after the lease commencement date used in the determination of the lease accounting in accordance with Topic 842. The consolidated balance sheets set out the operating lease liabilities split between sites trading less than one year and sites trading more than one year. “Sites trading less than one year” and “sites trading more than one year” reference sites that have been open (as measured from the date the site first accepted a paying guest) for a period less than one year from the balance sheet date and those that have been open for a period longer than one year from the balance sheet date.
The following information represents supplemental disclosure for the statement of cash flows related to operating and finance leases:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | |
(in thousands) | | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 | |
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | | | | |
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: | | | | | | | | | |
Operating cash flows from operating leases | | $ | (137,856 | ) | | $ | (118,269 | ) | | $ | (86,523 | ) |
Interest payments for finance leases | | | (6,444 | ) | | | (5,002 | ) | | | (5,037 | ) |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | | |
Principal payments for finance leases | | $ | (407 | ) | | $ | (528 | ) | | $ | (281 | ) |
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities: | | | | | | | | | |
Operating lease assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities | | $ | 124,779 | | | $ | 133,743 | | | $ | 170,105 | |
Acquisitions of property and equipment under finance leases | | | 33 | | | | 12,315 | | | | - | |
The following summarizes additional information related to operating and finance leases:
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | |
| | As of |
| | December 31, 2023 | | January 1, 2023 |
Weighted-average remaining lease term | | | | |
Finance leases | | 42 years | | 43 years |
Operating leases | | 16 years | | 17 years |
Weighted-average discount rate | | | | |
Finance leases | | 7.29% | | 7.29% |
Operating leases | | 7.89% | | 7.93% |
As of December 31, 2023, the Company has entered into 15 operating lease agreements that are signed but have not commenced. Of these, 10 relate to Houses, hotels, restaurants, and other properties that are in various stages of construction by the Landlord. The Company will determine the classification as of the lease commencement date, but currently expects these under construction leases to be operating leases. SHD is involved to varying degrees in the design of these leased properties under construction. For certain of these leases, the SHD team is acting as the construction manager on behalf of the landlord. The Company does not control the underlying assets under construction. Pending significant completion of all landlord improvements and final execution of the related lease, the Company expects these leases to commence in fiscal years ending 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2028. The Company estimates the total undiscounted lease payments for the leases commencing in fiscal years 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2028 will be $349 million, $224 million, $351 million and $390 million, respectively, with weighted-average expected lease terms of 21 years, 20 years, 22 years and 15 years for 2024, 2025 2026 and 2028, respectively.
The following summarizes the Company’s estimated future undiscounted lease payments for current leases signed but not commenced, including properties where the SHD team is acting as the construction manager:
| | | | |
(in thousands) | | Operating Leases Under | |
Fiscal year ended | | Construction | |
Estimated total undiscounted lease payments | | | |
2024 | | $ | 3,439 | |
2025 | | | 15,470 | |
2026 | | | 23,817 | |
2027 | | | 31,016 | |
2028 | | | 48,361 | |
Thereafter | | | 1,191,909 | |
Total undiscounted lease payments expected for leases signed but not commenced | | $ | 1,314,011 | |
Financing Obligation
In April 2017, the Company entered into an agreement to sell a property in downtown Los Angeles (“DTLA property”) for $30 million with $9 million contingently held back by the buyer. The Company simultaneously entered into an agreement to lease the land and building back from the buyer. As an incentive to enter the lease, the buyer committed to provide an additional $59 million of funding towards the development of the property, which included the contingent proceeds held back upon the sale. This lease agreement has an original lease term of 20 years, with two 10-year renewal options. The lease payments for the original lease term and both renewal options, if exercised, are $6.4 million per year, adjusted upward for local inflation rates that will not be less than 2% increase per year.
The Company determined that the buyer/lessor did not obtain control of the property after the sale and will not obtain control throughout the construction period and subsequent leaseback period. Therefore, the transaction is accounted for as a financing obligation, and the Company will continue to recognize the building on its consolidated balance sheets. The Company also recognized a financing obligation for any funding received from the buyer/lessor along with accrued interest over the construction period. There was no current portion of the financing obligation as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023. The non-current portion of the financing obligation was $77 million and $76 million as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively.
Costs incurred related to the development of the property were capitalized as incurred as a component of construction in progress. At the end of September 2019, the construction was complete and the property opened for business. Upon completion of construction, the balance of construction in progress was reclassified to depreciable asset classes within property and equipment, net. After the completion of construction, the Company expenses interest using the effective interest method in the period incurred. As of December
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, the Company has capitalized $83 million and $85 million, respectively, pertaining to the DTLA property.
The following information represents supplemental disclosure for the statement of cash flows related to the financing obligation for the DTLA property:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the Fiscal Year Ended | |
(in thousands) | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 | |
Cash flows from operating activities | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest payments for financing obligation | $ | | (7,031 | ) | | $ | | (6,894 | ) | | $ | | (5,626 | ) |
Cash flows from investing activities | | | | | | | | | | | |
Capitalized interest | $ | | — | | | $ | | — | | | $ | | — | |
Purchase of property and equipment | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
Cash flows from financing activities | | | | | | | | | | | |
Principal payments on financing obligation | $ | | — | | | $ | | (1,578 | ) | | $ | | (1,334 | ) |
Proceeds from financing obligation | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
The following summarizes the Company's future undiscounted lease payments for the DTLA property:
| | | |
(in thousands) | Financing Obligation | |
Fiscal year ended | | |
Undiscounted lease payments | | |
2024 | $ | 7,172 | |
2025 | | 7,316 | |
2026 | | 7,462 | |
2027 | | 7,611 | |
2028 | | 7,763 | |
Thereafter | | 108,678 | |
Total undiscounted lease payments | | 146,002 | |
Present value adjustment | | 69,378 | |
Total net financing obligation | $ | 76,624 | |
Disaggregated revenue disclosures for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022 are included in Note 21, Segments.
Revenue from membership fees, legacy one-time registration fees, house introduction credits and build-out contracts are the primary arrangements for which revenue is recognized over time. Revenue from these sources combined accounted for 32%, 30%, and 36% of the Company's revenue for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively.
The following table includes estimated revenues expected to be recognized in the future related to performance obligations that were unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied) at the end of the reporting period ending December 31, 2023.
| | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | December 31, 2023 | | | Future periods | |
Membership, registration fees, and House Introduction Credits | $ | 100,006 | | | $ | 25,787 | |
Total future revenues | $ | 100,006 | | | $ | 25,787 | |
All consideration from contracts with customers is included in the amounts presented above.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
The following table provides information about contract receivables, contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with customers:
| | | | | | | | |
| | As of | |
(in thousands) | | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | |
Contract receivables | | $ | 58,158 | | | $ | 42,215 | |
Contract assets | | | 3,778 | | | | 9,344 | |
Contract liabilities | | | 155,356 | | | | 130,975 | |
Contract receivables comprises solely of Accounts receivable, net which comprise amounts due from customers and partners including amounts owed from sites operated under management contracts, amounts billed under build-out contracts and amounts due from Retail wholesale partners.
Contract assets consist of accrued unbilled income related to build-out contracts and are recognized in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Refer to Note 8, Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets. All contract assets recognized as of January 2, 2022 of $6 million were billed to customers and transferred to receivables as of January 1, 2023. All contract assets as of January 1, 2023 of $9 million were billed to customers and transferred to receivables as of December 31, 2023.
Contract liabilities include deferred membership revenue, hotel deposits (which are presented in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets), and gift vouchers. Significant changes in contract liabilities balances during the period are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | |
(in thousands) | | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 | |
Opening balance | | $ | 130,975 | | | $ | 113,630 | | | $ | 85,723 | |
Revenue recognized that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period | | | (85,846 | ) | | | (86,111 | ) | | | (61,763 | ) |
Increases due to cash received during the period | | | 109,684 | | | | 104,652 | | | | 89,914 | |
Foreign currency translation | | | 543 | | | | (1,196 | ) | | | (244 | ) |
Closing balance | | $ | 155,356 | | | $ | 130,975 | | | $ | 113,630 | |
8.Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
The table below presents the components of prepaid expenses and other current assets.
| | | | | | | | |
| | As of | |
(in thousands) | | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | |
Amounts owed by equity method investees | | $ | 1,323 | | | $ | 1,492 | |
Prepayments and accrued income | | | 35,688 | | | | 27,416 | |
Contract assets | | | 3,778 | | | | 9,344 | |
Inventory supplier advances | | | 18,656 | | | | 14,275 | |
Other receivables | | | 53,067 | | | | 38,574 | |
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets | | $ | 112,512 | | | $ | 91,101 | |
Inventory supplier advances primarily relate to cash deposits paid to the Company's suppliers of furniture for its retail operation.
9.Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment is comprised of the following:
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | |
| | As of | |
(in thousands) | | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | |
Land and buildings | | $ | 215,065 | | | $ | 213,901 | |
Leasehold improvements | | | 394,041 | | | | 353,181 | |
Fixtures and fittings | | | 355,604 | | | | 336,758 | |
Office equipment and other | | | 43,416 | | | | 42,660 | |
Construction in progress | | | 35,810 | | | | 20,394 | |
Finance property lease | | | 69,022 | | | | 64,521 | |
| | | 1,112,958 | | | | 1,031,415 | |
Less: Accumulated depreciation | | | (471,875 | ) | | | (384,414 | ) |
Less: Accumulated impairment | | | (14,048 | ) | | | — | |
| | $ | 627,035 | | | $ | 647,001 | |
The Company recorded depreciation expense of $89 million, $81 million, and $69 million in the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively, which is included in depreciation and amortization in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Additions totaled $68 million and $74 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively, and were primarily related to leasehold improvements and fixtures and fittings for existing sites and sites under development.
The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment when changes in circumstances indicate that the asset's carrying value may not be recoverable. During fiscal 2023, the Company performed recoverability tests for certain asset groups using the undiscounted cash flows approach. Based on the assessments, certain stand-alone sites failed the recoverability tests resulting in an aggregate impairment loss of $47 million (comprised of $33 million in respect of Operating lease assets and $14 million of Property and equipment, net), of which $37 million is in respect of Soho Works North America. The $47 million impairment included within loss on impairment of long-lived assets on the consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
10.Goodwill and Intangible Assets
A summary of goodwill for each of the Company’s applicable reportable segments from January 3, 2021 to December 31, 2023 is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | UK | | | North America | | | Europe and ROW | | | Total | |
January 3, 2021 | | $ | 101,602 | | | $ | 28,780 | | | $ | 71,100 | | | $ | 201,482 | |
Cipura Acquisition (Note 3) | | | — | | | | 16,623 | | | | — | | | | 16,623 | |
LINE and Saguaro Acquisition (Note 3) | | | — | | | | 2,043 | | | | — | | | | 2,043 | |
Foreign currency translation adjustment | | | (937 | ) | | | — | | | | (4,954 | ) | | | (5,891 | ) |
January 2, 2022 | | $ | 100,665 | | | $ | 47,446 | | | $ | 66,146 | | | $ | 214,257 | |
Foreign currency translation adjustment | | | (10,690 | ) | | | — | | | | (3,921 | ) | | | (14,611 | ) |
January 1, 2023 | | $ | 89,975 | | | $ | 47,446 | | | $ | 62,225 | | | $ | 199,646 | |
Foreign currency translation adjustment | | | 4,684 | | | | — | | | | 1,955 | | | | 6,639 | |
December 31, 2023 | | $ | 94,659 | | | $ | 47,446 | | | $ | 64,180 | | | $ | 206,285 | |
The opening goodwill balance originates from the acquisition of Soho House Holdings Limited by affiliates of the Yucaipa Companies, LLC, as described in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Goodwill. There were no goodwill impairment charges during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022.
A summary of finite-lived intangible assets as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023 is as follows:
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | As of | |
| | | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | |
(in thousands) | Average Amortization Period (in years) | | Gross Carrying Value | | | Accumulated Amortization | | | Net Carrying Value | | | Gross Carrying Value | | | Accumulated Amortization | | | Net Carrying Value | |
Brand | 24 | | $ | 111,634 | | | $ | 55,140 | | | $ | 56,494 | | | $ | 109,420 | | | $ | 50,358 | | | $ | 59,062 | |
Membership list | 20 | | $ | 15,905 | | | $ | 9,666 | | | $ | 6,239 | | | | 15,748 | | | | 8,890 | | | | 6,858 | |
Hotel management agreements | 15 | | $ | 23,600 | | | $ | 3,974 | | | $ | 19,626 | | | | 23,600 | | | | 2,401 | | | | 21,199 | |
Website, internal-use software development costs, and other | 5 | | $ | 94,366 | | | $ | 49,485 | | | $ | 44,881 | | | | 72,813 | | | | 33,964 | | | | 38,849 | |
| | | $ | 245,505 | | | $ | 118,265 | | | $ | 127,240 | | | $ | 221,581 | | | $ | 95,613 | | | $ | 125,968 | |
Refer to Note 3, Acquisitions, for information on additional intangible assets recognized during the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022 in connection with the Cipura Acquisition, Mandolin Acquisition, and The LINE and Saguaro Acquisition.
Accumulated amortization as of December 31, 2023 totaled $55 million for Brand, $10 million for Membership list, $4 million for hotel management agreement, and $49 million for Website, internal-use software development costs, and other. Accumulated amortization as of January 1, 2023 totaled $50 million for Brand, $9 million for Membership list, $2 million for hotel management agreement, and $34 million for Website, internal-use software development costs, and other.
Included within website, internal-use software development costs, and other are capitalized website development costs and internal-use software, net of accumulated amortization, which totaled $43 million and $35 million as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively.
Amortization expense related to the intangible assets totaled $22 million, $19 million, and $15 million in the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively. The following table represents estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the next five fiscal years:
| | | | |
(in thousands) | | | |
2024 | $ | | 21,931 | |
2025 | | | 19,888 | |
2026 | | | 15,806 | |
2027 | | | 12,489 | |
2028 | | | 8,205 | |
11.Accrued Liabilities and Other Current Liabilities
The table below presents the components of accrued liabilities.
| | | | | | | | |
| | As of | |
(in thousands) | | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | |
Accrued interest | | $ | 1,309 | | | $ | 440 | |
Hotel deposits | | | 12,628 | | | | 11,758 | |
Trade, capital and other accruals | | | 70,878 | | | | 71,914 | |
Total accrued liabilities | | $ | 84,815 | | | $ | 84,112 | |
Debt balances, net of debt issuance costs, are as follows:
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | |
| | As of | |
(in thousands) | | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | |
Senior Secured Notes, interest at 8.1764% for the Initial Notes and 8.5% for the Additional Notes, maturing March 2027 | | $ | 615,718 | | | $ | 570,712 | |
Soho Works Limited loans, unsecured, 7% interest bearing, maturing September 2025 (see additional description below) | | | 27,715 | | | $ | 24,612 | |
Other loans (see additional description below) | | | 21,433 | | | | 10,197 | |
| | | 664,866 | | | | 605,521 | |
Less: Current portion of long-term debt | | | (29,290 | ) | | | (25,617 | ) |
Total long-term debt, net of current portion | | $ | 635,576 | | | $ | 579,904 | |
Property mortgage loans, net of debt issuance costs, are as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | As of | |
(in thousands) | | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | |
Term loan, interest at 6.99%, maturing June 1, 2033 | | $ | 137,099 | | | $ | — | |
Term loan, interest at 5.34%, maturing February 6, 2024 | | | — | | | | 54,614 | |
Mezzanine loan, interest at 7.25%, maturing February 6, 2024 | | | — | | | | 61,573 | |
Total property mortgage loans | | $ | 137,099 | | | $ | 116,187 | |
The weighted-average interest rate on fixed rate borrowings was 8% as of December 31, 2023 and as of January 1, 2023. The were no outstanding floating rate borrowings as of December 31, 2023 or January 1, 2023.
Debt
The descriptions below show the financial instrument amounts in the currency of denomination with USD equivalent in parentheses, where applicable, translated using the exchange rates in effect at the time of the respective transaction.
On November 10, 2022, Soho House Bond Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into the Third Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement (the "Third Amendment") which further amends and restates the Revolving Credit Facility, originally entered into by the Company on December 5, 2019 (the original and amended facility refer to as the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Third Amendment amends the Revolving Credit Facility to extend the maturity date from January 25, 2024 to July 25, 2026. In addition, the Third Amendment provides that from March 2023 we are required to maintain certain leverage covenants (as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility) which are applicable when 40% or more of the facility is drawn. As of December 31, 2023, the facility remains undrawn with £71 million ($90 million) available to draw under this facility and £4 million ($5 million) utilized as a letter of guarantee in respect of one of the Company’s lease agreements. The facility is secured on a fixed and floating charge basis over certain assets of the Company. The Company incurred interest expense of $1 million, $3 million and $3 million in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022, respectively.
In 2017, Soho Works Limited entered into a term loan facility agreement. The SWL loan bears interest at 7% and matures, following the extensions described below, at the earliest of: (a) September 29, 2025; (b) the date of disposal of the whole or substantial part of the Soho Works Limited; (c) the date of sale by the shareholders of the entire issued share capital of Soho Works Limited to a third party; (d) the date of the admission of Soho Works Limited to any recognized investment exchange or multi-lateral trading facility; and (e) any later date that the lenders may determine in their sole discretion. The carrying amount of the term loan was £22 million ($28 million) and £20 million ($25 million) as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively. The Company incurred interest expense of $2 million, $3 million and $2 million on this facility during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022, respectively. In March 2024, this loan was subsequently extended by a further 12 months. The Company has determined a current classification of this loan is appropriate as it best reflects the substance of the agreement with the lenders given that the loan extension period is short-term in nature (12 months).
On March 31, 2021, Soho House Bond Limited issued pursuant to a Notes Purchase Agreement senior secured notes, which were subscribed for by certain funds managed, sponsored or advised by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC or its affiliates, in aggregate amounts equal to $295 million, €62 million ($73 million) and £53 million ($73 million) (the “Initial Notes”). The Notes Purchase Agreement included an option to issue, and a commitment on the part of the purchasers to subscribe for an aggregate amount of up to $100 million which were issued for the full amount on March 9, 2022 (the “Additional Notes” and, together with the Initial Notes, the “Senior Secured Notes”). The Senior Secured Notes mature on March 31, 2027 and bear interest at a fixed rate equal to a cash margin of 2.0192% per annum for the Initial Notes or 2.125% per annum for any Additional Notes, plus a payment-in-kind (capitalized)
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
margin of 6.1572% per annum for the Initial Notes or 6.375% per annum for any Additional Notes. The Senior Secured Notes issued pursuant to the Notes Purchase Agreement may be redeemed and prepaid for cash, in whole or in part, at any time in accordance with the terms thereof, subject to payment of redemption fees. The Senior Secured Notes are guaranteed and secured on substantially the same basis as our Revolving Credit Facility. The Company incurred interest expense of $52 million, $47 million and $30 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022, respectively.
The other loans consist of the following:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Currency | | Maturity date | | Principal balance as of December 31, 2023 | | | Applicable interest rate as of December 31, 2023 | |
Dean Street loan | | Great Britain pound sterling | | March 2040 | | $ | 9,740 | | | | 6.0 | % |
Copenhagen loan | | Danish krone | | November 2033 | | | 2,182 | | | | 8.0 | % |
Greek Street loan | | Great Britain pound sterling | | January 2028 | | | 2,970 | | | | 7.5 | % |
Compagnie de Phalsbourg credit facility | | Euro | | January 2025 | | | 5,716 | | | | 7.0 | % |
Greek government loan | | Euro | | July 2025 | | | 828 | | | | 3.1 | % |
Property Mortgage Loans
In March 2014, the Company completed a freehold property acquisition of the Soho Beach House Miami Property. In May 2023, the Company refinanced the existing term loan of $55 million, interest at 5.34%, and mezzanine loan of $62 million, interest at 7.25% with a new $140 million loan agreement with JP Morgan Chase Bank, National Association and Citi Real Estate Funding Inc. As a result of the debt extinguishment of the existing term loan and mezzanine loan, the Company recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $3 million which is reported in interest expense, net on the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. The new term loan is secured with a recorded and insured first priority mortgage on Soho Beach House Miami Property as well as first priority security interests in all collateral related to the property. The new term loan matures in June 2033 and bears interest at 6.99%.
The Company incurred interest expense of $5 million on the new term loan during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. The Company incurred interest expense of $13 million, $8 million and $8 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022, respectively.
Debt Issuance Costs
Property mortgage loans due after more than one year are net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $3 million and $1 million as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively. Other loans are net of unamortized debt issuance costs of less than $1 million and less than $1 million as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively. For the revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2023, $1 million of unamortized debt issuance costs have been included within prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet, following repayment in full of the outstanding balance of the facility. The Senior Secured Notes are net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $7 million as of December 31, 2023.
Future Principal Payments
The following table presents future principal payments for the Company’s debt and property mortgage loans as of December 31, 2023:
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | |
(in thousands) | | | |
2024 | | $ | 29,290 | |
2025 | | | 10,255 | |
2026 | | | 1,293 | |
2027 | | | 616,925 | |
2028 | | | 7,473 | |
Thereafter | | | 146,571 | |
Total future principal payments | | | 811,807 | |
Less: Unamortized debt issuance costs | | | (9,842 | ) |
Total debt | | $ | 801,965 | |
Financial Covenants
Some of the Company’s debt instruments contain a number of covenants that restrict the Company’s ability to incur debt in excess of calculated amounts, ability to make distributions under certain circumstances and generally require the Company to maintain certain financial metrics, such as leverage and minimum working capital levels. Failure by the Company to comply with the financial covenants contained in the debt instruments could result from, among other things, changes in its statement of operations, the incurrence of additional debt or changes in general economic conditions.
If the Company breaches the financial covenants contained in the debt instruments, the Company may attempt to negotiate waivers of the breaches or amend the terms of the applicable instruments, however, the Company can make no assurance that it would be successful in any such negotiations or that, if successful in obtaining waivers or amendments, such amendments or waivers would be on terms attractive to the Company.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants, current on all payments and not otherwise in default under any of the Company’s debt instruments.
13.Fair Value Measurements
Recurring and Non-recurring Fair Value Measurements
There were no assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring or non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company believes the carrying values of its financial instruments related to current assets and liabilities approximate fair value due to short-term maturities.
The Company has estimated the fair value of the Senior Secured Notes and the property mortgage loans as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023 using a discounted cash flow analysis. The fair value of the other non-current debt is estimated as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023 using a discounted cash flow analysis, except for the Dean Street Loan and the Copenhagen Loan where fair value is estimated to be equal to the current carrying value of each instrument as of December 31, 2023 based on a comparison of each instrument’s contractual terms to current market terms. The Company does not believe that the use of different market inputs would have resulted in a materially different fair value of debt as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023.
The following table presents the estimated fair values (all of which are Level 3 fair value measurements) of the Company’s debt instruments with maturity dates in 2025 and thereafter:
| | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | Carrying Value | | | Fair Value | |
December 31, 2023 | | | | | | |
Senior Secured Notes | | $ | 615,718 | | | $ | 597,063 | |
Property mortgage loans | | | 137,099 | | | | 117,488 | |
Other non-current debt | | | 21,433 | | | | 21,079 | |
| | $ | 774,250 | | | $ | 735,630 | |
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | Carrying Value | | | Fair Value | |
January 1, 2023 | | | | | | |
Senior Secured Notes | | $ | 570,712 | | | $ | 545,362 | |
Property mortgage loans | | | 116,187 | | | | 113,066 | |
Other non-current debt | | | 10,197 | | | | 9,647 | |
| | $ | 697,096 | | | $ | 668,075 | |
The carrying values of the Company’s other non-current liabilities and non-current assets approximate their fair values.
Share-Based Compensation
Equity and incentive plans
The Company operates two equity and incentive plan for the benefit of its employees and directors. In August 2020, the Company established the 2020 Equity and Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”) under which SHHL Share Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) and SHHL Growth Shares were issued to certain employees. In July 2021, the Company established its 2021 Equity and Incentive Plan (the "2021 Plan"). The 2021 Plan allows for grants of nonqualified stock options, SARs, and RSUs, or performance awards. There were 12,107,333 shares initially available for all awards under the 2021 Plan and the shares available is permitted to increase annually on the first day of each calendar year, beginning with the calendar year ended December 31, 2022, subject to approval by the board of directors. As of December 31, 2023, there were 3,812,339 shares available for future awards. The Company granted 1,023,030 new RSUs under the 2021 Plan during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Modifications of awards made under the plans
In December 2021, the Company granted 506,990 RSUs to certain employees that were scheduled to vest over a month under the 2021 Plan. On January 16, 2022, the vesting schedule of the RSUs was updated from one vesting end date of January 17, 2022 to a graded vesting schedule that vests 25% on each of January 24, January 31, February 7, and February 14, 2022, respectively. The Company accounted for the modification as a Type I modification and no incremental compensation cost was incurred related to the modification.
In September 2022, in conjunction with the departure of an employee, the Company modified the existing awards for this employee to allow continued vesting and issued 365,000 new RSUs under the 2021 Plan to the same former employee. The Company accounted for the modification of existing awards as a Type III modification.
In December 2022, the Company modified the exercise prices for the certain of the outstanding SARs to be $4.00 per share. As a result, the Company accounted for the modification as a Type I modification, resulting in $2.2 million of incremental fair value, of which $1.5 million was recorded immediately.
In August 2023, in conjunction with the anticipated departure of an employee, the Company modified the employee's outstanding SARs under the 2020 Plan and all outstanding RSUs to be accelerated as of the separation date of December 29, 2023. Management deemed the extension of contractual terms for vested SARs and the acceleration of vesting for SARs and RSUs to be a Type I and Type III modification, respectively, which resulted in $2 million of incremental compensation expense to be recognized through the separation date of December 29, 2023.
Awards outstanding under the plans
As of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, there were 2,327,384 and 2,998,865 RSUs outstanding under the 2021 Plan, respectively. As of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, there were 6,498,915 and 5,290,719 SARs outstanding under the 2020 Plan and 2021 Plan, respectively. As of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, there were zero and 146,574 restricted stock awards outstanding under the 2020 Plan, respectively.
Share-based Compensation Expense
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
Share-based compensation during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022 was recorded in the consolidated statements of operations within a separate line item as shown in the following table:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | |
(in thousands) | | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 | |
SARs | | $ | 7,485 | | | $ | 9,425 | | | $ | 15,998 | |
Restricted stock awards (Growth Shares) | | | 1,101 | | | | 2,285 | | | | 5,246 | |
RSUs | | | 8,446 | | | | 12,595 | | | | 5,416 | |
Type III modification | | | 1,843 | | | | 1,902 | | | | — | |
Employer-related payroll expense(1) | | | 1,355 | | | | 1,474 | | | | — | |
Total share-based compensation expense | | | 20,230 | | | | 27,681 | | | | 26,660 | |
Tax benefit for share-based compensation expense | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Share-based compensation expense, net of tax | | $ | 20,230 | | | $ | 27,681 | | | $ | 26,660 | |
(1)Relates to employment related taxes, including employer national insurance tax in the UK. These amounts were settled in cash and are not included in additional paid-in capital or as an adjustment to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
The weighted-average assumptions used in valuing SARs and restricted stock awards (previously zero granted as Growth Shares) granted during each period are set forth in the following table:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the Fiscal Year Ended | |
| December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 | |
Expected average life(1) | 1.70 - 5.56 years | | | 3.92 - 6.30 years | | | 3.50 years | |
Expected volatility(2) | 55% - 59% | | | | 56 | % | | 50 – 55% | |
Risk-free interest rate(3) | 3.54% - 5.01% | | | 3.78 - 4.25% | | | 0.32 – 0.43% | |
Expected dividend yield(4) | | 0.00 | % | | | 0.00 | % | | | 0.00 | % |
(1)The expected life assumption is based on the Company's expectation for the period before exercise.
(2)The expected volatility assumption is developed using leverage-adjusted historical volatilities for public peer companies for the period equal to the expected life of the awards.
(3)The risk-free rate is based on the bootstrap adjusted US Treasury Rate Yield Curve Rate as of the valuation date, term matched with expected life of the awards.
(4)The expected dividend yield is 0.0% since the Company does not expect to pay dividends.
The weighted-average grant date fair values for SARs granted during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022 were $2.06, zero and $4.43, respectively.
The following table shows a summary of all SARs:
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Number of Shares | | | Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share(1) | | | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term | | | Aggregate Intrinsic Value | |
Outstanding as of January 2, 2022 | | 5,840,483 | | | $ | 12.72 | | | | 8.61 | | | | 1,733,089 | |
Granted | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | |
Forfeited (post-IPO conversion) | | (549,764 | ) | | | 12.60 | | | | | | | |
Exercised | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | |
Outstanding as of January 1, 2023 | | 5,290,719 | | | $ | 7.49 | | | | 5.66 | | | $ | — | |
Exercisable as of January 1, 2023 | | 4,246,017 | | | | 7.49 | | | | 5.13 | | | | — | |
Vested and expected to vest as of January 1, 2023 | | 5,290,719 | | | $ | 7.49 | | | | 5.66 | | | $ | — | |
Granted | | 3,113,109 | | | | 5.00 | | | | | | | |
Forfeited (post-IPO conversion) | | (108,678 | ) | | | 5.73 | | | | | | | |
Exercised | | (802,482 | ) | | | 4.31 | | | | | | | |
Expired | | (993,753 | ) | | | 12.55 | | | | | | | |
Outstanding as of December 31, 2023 | | 6,498,915 | | | $ | 5.94 | | | | 6.88 | | | $ | 13,853,270 | |
Exercisable as of December 31, 2023 | | 4,426,827 | | | | 5.62 | | | | 5.88 | | | | 10,664,618 | |
Vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 2023 | | 6,498,915 | | | $ | 5.94 | | | | 6.88 | | | $ | 13,853,270 | |
(1) In December 2022, the Company modified the exercise prices for certain outstanding SAR awards to be $4.00 per share. This contributed to the reduction in the weighted average exercise price per share to $7.49.
As of December 31, 2023, total compensation expense not yet recognized related to unvested SARs is approximately $3 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.15 years.
The following table shows a summary of all restricted stock awards (previously granted as Growth Shares) granted:
| | | | | | | |
| Number of Shares | | | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | |
Nonvested as of January 2, 2022 | | 390,865 | | | $ | 13.28 | |
Vested and not yet released as of January 2, 2022 | | 390,866 | | | | 13.28 | |
Outstanding as of January 2, 2022 | | 781,731 | | | $ | 13.28 | |
Granted | | — | | | | — | |
Vested | | (260,577 | ) | | | 11.26 | |
Forfeited | | — | | | | — | |
Nonvested as of January 1, 2023 | | 130,288 | | | $ | 13.28 | |
Vested and not yet released as of January 1, 2023 | | 16,286 | | | | 5.19 | |
Outstanding as of January 1, 2023 | | 146,574 | | | $ | 12.38 | |
Granted | | — | | | | — | |
Vested | | (130,288 | ) | | | 13.28 | |
Forfeited | | — | | | | — | |
Nonvested as of December 31, 2023 | | — | | | $ | — | |
Vested and not yet released as of December 31, 2023 | | — | | | | — | |
Outstanding as of December 31, 2023 | | — | | | $ | — | |
As of December 31, 2023, there is no compensation expense not yet recognized related to unvested restricted stock awards (Growth Shares).
The following table shows a summary of all RSUs granted under the 2021 Plan:
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | |
| Number of Shares | | | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value(1) | |
Nonvested as of January 2, 2022 | | 2,622,877 | | | $ | 10.98 | |
Vested and not yet released as of January 2, 2022 | | — | | | | — | |
Outstanding as of January 2, 2022 | | 2,622,877 | | | $ | 10.98 | |
Granted | | 1,535,975 | | | | 4.79 | |
Vested | | (1,975,679 | ) | | | 8.11 | |
Forfeited | | — | | | | — | |
Nonvested as of January 1, 2023 | | 2,183,173 | | | $ | 8.44 | |
Vested and not yet released as of January 1, 2023 | | 815,692 | | | | 4.76 | |
Outstanding as of January 1, 2023 | | 2,998,865 | | | $ | 7.44 | |
Granted | | 1,023,030 | | | | 6.50 | |
Vested | | (1,437,153 | ) | | | 7.29 | |
Forfeited | | — | | | | — | |
Nonvested as of December 31, 2023 | | 1,769,050 | | | $ | 8.57 | |
Vested and not yet released as of December 31, 2023 | | 558,334 | | | | 4.72 | |
Outstanding as of December 31, 2023 | | 2,327,384 | | | $ | 8.57 | |
(1)The amount of share-based compensation for the RSUs is based on the fair value of our Class A common stock at the grant date.
As of December 31, 2023, total compensation expense not yet recognized related to unvested RSUs under the 2021 Plan is approximately $12 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.83 years.
15.SHHL Redeemable Preferred Shares
In May 2016, the Company issued 10,000,000, 7% SHHL redeemable preferred shares totaling £10 million ($15 million) to unrelated parties. These shares were redeemable by the holders upon an exit, such as an IPO, or sale of the Company and the cumulative dividends are only paid on redemption. As of January 3, 2021, redemption of the preferred shares was not probable. During the second quarter of Fiscal 2021, the Company concluded that the shares were probable of becoming redeemable and, therefore, accreted the shares to their redemption value. The accretion of $5 million is reflected as a reduction in additional paid-in capital on the consolidated statements of changes in redeemable shares and shareholders’ equity (deficit). In addition, the Company remeasured the SHHL redeemable preferred shares and recognized a foreign currency translation gain of $1 million for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022, which is reflected within accumulated deficit on the consolidated statements of changes in redeemable shares and shareholders’ equity (deficit). The Company redeemed these preferred shares for cash totaling $20 million in July 2021.
On March 31, 2021, the Company issued 12,970,766 senior SHHL convertible preference shares (the “Senior Preference Shares”) in an aggregate liquidation preference of $175 million, or approximately $13.49 per Senior Preference Share (the “Issuance Price”), to certain funds managed, sponsored or advised by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC or its affiliates (the “Preference Share Investors”). The Company received net proceeds of $162 million and incurred transaction costs of $13 million related to the Senior Preference Shares. The Senior Preference Shares accrue a non-cash dividend of 8% per annum on the investment amount of the Senior Preference Shares plus all previously compounded non-cash dividends. The Senior Preference Shares were initially presented as mezzanine equity due to the existence of certain redemption options. During the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022, the Company recognized non-cash preferred dividends of $4 million as an adjustment to the carrying value of the Senior Preference Shares, with a corresponding reduction in additional paid-in capital on the consolidated statements of changes in redeemable shares and shareholders’ equity (deficit). In addition, the Company recognized a deemed dividend of $51 million in connection with the conversion of the Senior Preference Shares into Class A common stock, because the conversion was effected at a discount to the public offering price. This deemed dividend is reflected as a reduction in additional paid-in capital on the consolidated statements of changes in redeemable preferred shares and shareholders' equity (deficit).
On July 19, 2021, all of the outstanding Senior Preference Shares were converted into an aggregate of 15,526,619 shares of Class A common stock of SHCO immediately upon the closing of the IPO.
16.SHHL C Ordinary Shares
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
On August 23, 2019, the Company issued 4,276,347 SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares to a third party for a total subscription price of $45 million. On the same date, the new investor purchased 475,150 SHHL A ordinary shares directly from Mr. Nick Jones for $5 million; these shares were immediately converted into an equal number of SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares. On November 4, 2019, the Company issued an additional 2,181,507 shares to the same investor for $20 million, resulting in a total of 6,933,004 SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of December 29, 2019. The Company received net proceeds of $63 million and incurred $5 million of share issuance costs in connection with these transactions.
On May 19, 2020, the Company issued an additional 9,502,993 SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares to a different third party for a total subscription price of $100 million, net of discount of $6 million. The Company received net proceeds of $94 million and incurred $1 million of share issuance costs in connection with this issuance. As a result, the Company had 16,435,997 SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of January 3, 2021. The Company recorded the SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares as mezzanine equity as a result of the redemption provision described below.
Upon meeting certain conditions, the holders of the SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares described above had the option to redeem all of the shares between October 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024 with respect to the shares issued in August 2019 or between August 23, 2023 and February 23, 2024 with respect to the shares issued in May 2020, provided that the Company had not completed a public listing of its shares prior to the beginning of the respective redemption period. The redemption amount would be determined using a 5% stated rate of return on the holders’ aggregate subscription price, calculated for the period between August 23, 2019 (or May 19, 2020 for the subsequent issuance) and the redemption date. As of January 3, 2021, redemption of the SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares was not probable and, therefore, the Company recorded the shares at their original issuance price and has not accreted the shares to their redemption value.
An investor option was provided in conjunction with the SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares issued on May 19, 2020. In March 2021, the investor option was exercised for the full $50 million, net of a discount of $3 million, and the Company issued an additional 4,751,497 SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares. The Company received net proceeds of $47 million and did not incur any material share issuance costs in connection with this issuance. As a result, the Company had 21,187,494 SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the IPO. Redemption of these SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares was not probable as of any period preceding the IPO.
On December 8, 2020, Mr. Nick Jones sold certain of his SHHL A ordinary shares to an unrelated third party and as a condition of the transaction, the A ordinary shares were converted into 1,710,546 SHHL C ordinary shares. Unlike the previously issued SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares described above, the investor does not have the right to redeem these converted SHHL C ordinary shares. Therefore, 1,710,546 of the total 18,146,543 SHHL C ordinary shares outstanding as of January 3, 2021 were classified as permanent equity instead of mezzanine equity.
In March 2021, the Company issued 4,751,497 SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares to an unrelated third party under an existing investor option. The Company received net proceeds of $47 million and did not incur any material share issuance costs. The SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares were classified as mezzanine equity due to the existence of certain redemption options. Immediately prior to the IPO, the Company had 21,187,494 SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares issued and outstanding. Redemption of these SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares was not probable as of any period preceding the IPO. On July 19, 2021, all of the outstanding SHHL C ordinary shares were exchanged into an aggregate of 6,592,023 shares of Class A common stock and 10,871,215 shares of Class B common stock of SHCO in connection with the IPO.
On July 19, 2021, all of the outstanding SHHL C ordinary shares were exchanged into an aggregate of 6,592,023 shares of Class A common stock and 10,871,215 shares of Class B common stock of SHCO in connection with the IPO.
17.Loss Per Share and Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)
Prior to the IPO, SHHL had five classes of ordinary shares: A ordinary shares, B ordinary shares, C ordinary shares (a portion of which had certain redemption rights), C2 ordinary shares and D ordinary shares.
Holders of SHHL A ordinary shares (par value of £1) were entitled to one vote for each A ordinary share held. Each A ordinary shareholder was entitled pari passu to dividend payments or any other distributions.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
In January 2012, the Company issued 4,469,417 of SHHL B ordinary shares with par value of £0.0001, which had no voting rights. These shares vested annually in equal installments over a period of five years, and all shares became vested on January 12, 2017. SHHL B ordinary shareholders were entitled to income rights in proportion to the SHHL A ordinary shareholders based on the number of shares held only after £167 million ($228 million, translated using the exchange rate on January 3, 2021) had been returned in aggregate to the holders of SHHL A ordinary shares, the SHHL C ordinary shares and the SHHL C2 ordinary shares.
As described in Note 16, SHHL C Ordinary Shares, in August and November 2019, the Company issued 6,933,004 SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares (par value of £1) to the same unrelated third party in two separate transactions. The Company issued an additional 9,502,993 SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares (par value of £1) to a separate unrelated third party in May 2020. The holders of SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares were entitled to one vote for each share held. In addition, so long as certain conditions were met, each of the investors was entitled to appoint one non-executive director and one non-voting observer director to the Company’s board and also had certain veto rights with respect to a sale of the Company prior to August 23, 2024. All SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares were entitled to dividend payments or any other distributions on a pari passu basis with other classes of SHHL ordinary shares. Upon a public listing of the Company’s shares, the SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares would convert into the same class of shares as the SHHL A ordinary shares on a 1:1 basis, subject to certain anti-dilution protection, whereby the holders of the SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares would receive additional shares if the value of the as-converted SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares was less than the investors’ initial subscription price.
Separate from the SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares discussed above, in December 2020, the Company converted 1,710,546 SHHL A ordinary shares into 1,710,546 SHHL C ordinary shares which were not redeemable by the Company. These SHHL C ordinary shares did not have any voting or veto rights. The shares were entitled to dividend payments or any other distributions on a pari passu basis with other classes of SHHL ordinary shares. Upon a public listing of the Company’s shares, the SHHL C ordinary shares would convert into the same class of shares as the SHHL A ordinary shares on a 1:1 basis, subject to certain anti-dilution protection, whereby the holders of the SHHL C ordinary shares would receive additional shares if the value of the as-converted SHHL C ordinary shares was less than the investors’ initial purchase price.
In December 2019, the Company issued 3,326,048 of non-voting SHHL C2 ordinary shares with par value of £1 to an unrelated third party. The Company incurred $1 million of share issuance costs in connection with this transaction. The SHHL C2 ordinary shares were entitled to dividend payments or any other distributions on a pari passu basis with other classes of SHHL ordinary shares.
In August 2020, the Company established the 2020 Plan, under which employees received SHHL SARs and SHHL Growth Shares which would be settled in SHHL D ordinary shares (par value of £0.0001). As of January 3, 2021, there are 2,850,897 SHHL D ordinary shares issued and outstanding. The SHHL D ordinary shares did not have any voting rights. SHHL D ordinary shareholders were entitled to income and distribution rights in proportion to the SHHL A ordinary, B ordinary, C ordinary and C2 ordinary shareholders based on the number of shares held only after $1,800 million had been returned to the holders of all other classes of SHHL ordinary shares.
Immediately prior to the closing of the IPO, affiliates of The Yucaipa Companies, LLC, and Messrs. Ron Burkle, Nick Jones, and Richard Caring exchanged their SHHL A ordinary shares, SHHL B ordinary shares, SHHL C ordinary shares and SHHL D ordinary shares for 141,500,385 shares of Class B common stock of SHCO having an equivalent value, while the other ordinary shareholders of SHHL exchanged their equity interests for 14,935,193 shares of Class A common stock of SHCO having an equivalent value.
The table below presents changes in each class of the Company’s redeemable preferred shares, ordinary shares and common stock, as applicable:
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | SHHL Ordinary Shares | | | | SHCO Common Stock | |
| SHHL Redeemable Preferred Shares | | SHHL Redeemable C Ordinary Shares | | | | A Ordinary Shares | | B Ordinary Shares | | C Ordinary Shares | | C2 Ordinary Shares | | D Ordinary Shares | | | | Class A Common Stock | | Class B Common Stock | |
As of January 3, 2021 | | 10,000,000 | | | 16,435,997 | | | | | 166,575,991 | | | 4,469,417 | | | 1,710,546 | | | 3,326,048 | | | 2,850,897 | | | | | — | | | — | |
Issuance of senior convertible preference shares (Note 15) | | 12,970,766 | | | — | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | — | | | — | |
Issuance of SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares (Note 16) | | — | | | 4,751,497 | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | — | | | — | |
SHHL C2 ordinary shares issued in connection with the Cipura Acquisition (Note 3) | | — | | | — | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 644,828 | | | — | | | | | — | | | — | |
SHHL C2 ordinary shares issued in connection with the Mandolin Acquisition (Note 3) | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 92,647 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
SHHL C2 ordinary shares issued in connection with the purchase of Soho Works North America non-controlling interests (Note 3) | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 3,984,883 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
SHHL C2 ordinary shares issued in connection with the purchase of Scorpios non-controlling interests (Note 3) | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 572,410 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
SHHL C2 ordinary shares issued in connection with The LINE and Saguaro Acquisition (Note 3) | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 1,900,599 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Effect of the Reorganization Transactions (Note 1) | | — | | | (21,187,494 | ) | | | | (166,575,991 | ) | | (4,469,417 | ) | | (1,710,546 | ) | | (10,521,415 | ) | | (2,850,897 | ) | | | | 14,935,193 | | | 141,500,385 | |
Issuance of common stock in connection with initial public offering (Note 1) | | — | | | — | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | 30,567,918 | | | — | |
Redemption of the May 2016 preferred shares (Note 15) | | (10,000,000 | ) | | — | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | — | | | — | |
Conversion of senior convertible preference shares into Class A common stock (Note 15) | | (12,970,766 | ) | | — | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | 15,526,619 | | | — | |
As of January 2, 2022 | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | 61,029,730 | | | 141,500,385 | |
| | | | | | |
| SHCO Common Stock | |
| Class A Common Stock | | Class B Common Stock | |
As of January 2, 2022 | | 61,029,730 | | | 141,500,385 | |
Shares repurchased | | (8,467,120 | ) | | — | |
Shares issued related to share-based compensation | | 1,159,987 | | | — | |
As of January 1, 2023 | | 53,722,597 | | | 141,500,385 | |
Shares repurchased | | (2,000,000 | ) | | — | |
Shares issued related to share-based compensation | | 2,019,134 | | | — | |
As of December 31, 2023 | | 53,741,731 | | | 141,500,385 | |
Stock Repurchase Program
On March 18, 2022, the Company’s Board and a relevant sub-committee thereof authorized and approved a stock repurchase program for up to $50 million of the currently outstanding shares of the Company’s Class A common stock. Under the stock repurchase program, the Company was authorized to repurchase from time-to-time shares of its outstanding Class A common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions in the United States. The timing and amount of stock repurchases will depended on a variety of factors, including market conditions as well as corporate and regulatory considerations. The stock repurchase program could be suspended, modified or discontinued at any time, in accordance with relevant and applicable regulatory requirements, and the Company has no obligation to repurchase any amount of its common stock under the program. The Company intends to make all repurchases in accordance with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as amended. Under the program, the repurchased shares were returned to the status of authorized, but unissued shares of common stock held in treasury at average cost. During the fiscal year ended January 1, 2023, the Company repurchased a total of 8,467,120 shares of Class A common stock for $50 million including commissions. Because the repurchase plan upper limit of $50 million was met, there was no further stock repurchased under the above plan.
On September 20, 2023, the Company repurchased 2 million shares of its Class A common stock from its Founder and director Nick Jones for $12 million. The privately negotiated transaction was approved by the board of directors. These shares are now held as treasury shares by the Company.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
Loss Per Share
The table below illustrates the reconciliation of the loss and the number of shares used in the calculations of basic and diluted loss per share:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended | |
(in thousands except share and per share amounts) | | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 | |
Net loss attributable to Soho House & Co Inc. | | $ | (117,953 | ) | | $ | (220,580 | ) | | $ | (265,395 | ) |
Less: Cumulative SHHL preferred shares undeclared dividends | | | — | | | | — | | | | (4,778 | ) |
Less: Incremental accretion of SHHL preferred shares to redemption value | | | — | | | | — | | | | (1,085 | ) |
Add: Foreign currency remeasurement of SHHL preferred shares | | | — | | | | — | | | | 666 | |
Less: Non-cash dividends on the SHHL senior convertible preference shares | | | — | | | | — | | | | (4,335 | ) |
Less: Preferred Shares deemed dividend upon conversion | | | — | | | | — | | | | (51,469 | ) |
Adjusted net loss attributable to Class A and Class B common stockholders | | | (117,953 | ) | | | (220,580 | ) | | | (326,396 | ) |
Weighted average shares outstanding for basic and diluted loss per share for Class A and Class B common stockholders | | | 195,589,859 | | | | 199,985,264 | | | | 173,691,203 | |
Basic and diluted loss per share | | $ | (0.60 | ) | | $ | (1.10 | ) | | $ | (1.88 | ) |
The net loss attributable to the Company in calculating basic and diluted loss per share for all periods presented is adjusted for cumulative undeclared dividends on the May 2016 preferred shares. In addition, the net loss attributable to the Company in calculating basic and diluted loss per share for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022 is adjusted for non-cash dividends on the Senior Preference Shares and the impact of the deemed dividend to the holders of Senior Preference Shares upon their conversion into SHCO Class A common stock.
The loss per share calculations for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022 exclude additional shares that would be issuable to the holders of SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares in the event of a public listing that resulted in the value of the SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares being less than the investor’s initial subscription price, because the impact of including such additional shares would be anti-dilutive. In addition, the loss per share calculations for the periods presented exclude the impact of unvested Growth Shares (which were exchanged into restricted stock awards in connection with the IPO) because the inclusion of such shares in diluted loss per share would be anti-dilutive.
18.Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation Matters
The Company is not a party to any litigation other than litigation in the ordinary course of business. The Company’s management and legal counsel do not expect that the ultimate outcome of any of its currently ongoing legal proceedings, individually or collectively, would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Commitments and Contingencies
On December 7, 2017, 139 Ludlow Acquisition LLC entered into a loan agreement with Natixis Real Estate Capital LLC. The borrower is a joint venture owned in equal thirds by Soho 139 Holdco, LLC (an entity controlled by the Company) and its two partners. Pursuant to the loan agreement, the lender advanced $33.5 million, the bulk of which proceeds were used to extinguish and refinance the borrower’s previous mortgage loan with Centennial Bank. The loan is secured with a first priority mortgage and security interest on the real property known as 139 Ludlow Street, New York (including an assignment of leases and rents and other customary mortgage documents). The loan is generally “non-recourse”, but subject to standard “carve-outs” for which US AcquireCo, Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) and its joint venture partners (the “Guarantors”) provided a guarantee of recourse obligations, pursuant to which such Guarantors are jointly and severally obligated to pay (without any cap or limit) the amounts of any actual loss, damage, cost, expense, liability, claim or other obligation incurred by the lender.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
In August 2014, the Company entered into a security arrangement with regard to Raycliff Red LLP’s (a VIE’s) £4 million ($7 million) bank loan to redevelop a property into an overflow location for Shoreditch House hotel rooms in the United Kingdom. In May 2016, the VIE extended the existing loan to £10 million ($15 million) to, inter alia, purchase an adjoining property that was redeveloped as an overflow location for Shoreditch House hotel rooms. In May 2017, the VIE extended the existing loan to £20 million ($26 million). In July 2018, the facility was extended by a further £0.4 million ($0.5 million). The Company has provided security in respect of the loan by granting the lender a charge over its membership interest in the VIE. The security will remain in effect until the VIE’s bank loan is repaid in full to the lender. In October 2019, the VIE entered into a term loan facility agreement with a new lender, the proceeds of which were used to repay the previous bank loan. As of December 31, 2023, the outstanding balance of the VIE’s term loan was £21 million ($27 million). The Company has provided security in respect of the term loan by granting the lender a charge over its membership interest in the VIE. The security will remain in effect until the VIE’s term loan is repaid in full to the lender.
On November 18, 2016, an existing mortgage loan over the Soho House Barcelona property was novated by the VIE to Banca March and extended to a total commitment of €18 million ($19 million). The loan was further refinanced and replaced by Mirador Barcel S.L with an amount of €53.85 million from Aareal Bank AG during 2023.
Capital Commitments
As of December 31, 2023, capital expenditure commitments contracted for but not yet incurred totaled $3 million and were related primarily to site improvement costs for Soho House Sao Paulo and Soho House Portland. As of January 1, 2023, capital expenditure commitments contracted for but not yet incurred totaled less than $1 million and were related primarily to site improvement costs for Soho House West Hollywood, Little Pool House Miami and Soho House Hong Kong.
The Company is not a party to any litigation other than litigation in the ordinary course of business. The Company’s management and legal counsel do not expect that the ultimate outcome of any of its currently ongoing legal proceedings, individually or collectively, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
19.Defined Contribution Plan
The Company operates a defined contribution pension plan, an occupational plan to which an individual and their employer make contributions. The assets of the plan are held separately from those of the Company in an independently administered fund. The plan charge amounted to $15 million, $12 million, and $9 million in the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively. There were no outstanding or prepaid contributions at either the beginning or end of the fiscal years presented in these consolidated financial statements.
Below are the components of loss before income taxes for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022 under the following tax jurisdictions:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the Fiscal Year Ended | |
(in thousands) | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 | |
Domestic | $ | (70,787 | ) | | $ | 1,734 | | | $ | (45,312 | ) |
Foreign | | (35,490 | ) | | | (216,383 | ) | | | (222,508 | ) |
| $ | (106,277 | ) | | $ | (214,649 | ) | | $ | (267,820 | ) |
The provision for income taxes is as follows:
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the Fiscal Year Ended | |
(in thousands) | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 | |
Current tax expense | | | | | | | | |
Domestic | $ | (59 | ) | | $ | 2,240 | | | $ | - | |
Foreign | | 11,477 | | | | 2,654 | | | | 1,167 | |
Total current | | 11,418 | | | | 4,894 | | | | 1,167 | |
Deferred tax expense (benefit) | | | | | | | | |
Domestic | | (690 | ) | | | 690 | | | | (891 | ) |
Foreign | | 83 | | | | (453 | ) | | | 618 | |
Total deferred | | (607 | ) | | | 237 | | | | (273 | ) |
Total income tax expense (benefit) | $ | 10,811 | | | $ | 5,131 | | | $ | 894 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Effective income tax rate | | (10 | %) | | | (2 | %) | | | (0 | %) |
A reconciliation of the US statutory income tax rate to the consolidated effective income tax rate is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the Fiscal Year Ended | |
| December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 | |
Benefit at US statutory income tax rate | | 21 | % | | | 21 | % | | | 21 | % |
Permanent differences | | (3 | %) | | | (2 | %) | | | (3 | %) |
Non deductible expenses | | (4 | %) | | | 0 | % | | | (3 | %) |
Change in unrecognized tax benefits | | (25 | %) | | | 0 | % | | | 0 | % |
Movement in valuation allowances | | (3 | %) | | | (9 | %) | | | (15 | %) |
Change in valuation allowance due to remeasurement of deferred taxes | | 0 | % | | | 0 | % | | | (7 | %) |
Differences in tax rates in other jurisdictions | | 3 | % | | | 0 | % | | | 0 | % |
Change in tax rates | | 0 | % | | | 0 | % | | | 7 | % |
Loss of tax attributes | | 0 | % | | | (13 | %) | | | 0 | % |
State and local | | (1 | %) | | | 0 | % | | | 0 | % |
True up | | 1 | % | | | 0 | % | | | 0 | % |
Other | | (0 | %) | | | 1 | % | | | 0 | % |
Effective income tax rate | | (10 | %) | | | (2 | %) | | | (0 | %) |
The effective income tax rate for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 differs from the US statutory rate primarily due to tax charges related to uncertain tax positions, current tax charges in certain jurisdictions where the Company's utilization of its tax attributes are limited, and current period losses in certain jurisdictions that require a valuation allowance.
The effective income tax rate for fiscal years ended January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022 are primarily due to current period losses in certain jurisdictions that require a valuation allowance. In the UK, non-trading losses of $29 million in 2023 and $2 million in 2022 have been extinguished due to rules which limit existence of losses subsequent to a change of control. This has resulted in a loss of tax attributes in the period.
Deferred Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following:
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | |
| As of | |
(in thousands) | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | |
Deferred tax assets | | | | | |
Property and equipment, net | $ | 35,077 | | | $ | 26,858 | |
Other short term differences | | 31,059 | | | | 54,497 | |
Lease liability | | 329,162 | | | | 304,717 | |
Interest limitation carryforward | | 55,223 | | | | 66,866 | |
Tax losses | | 104,214 | | | | 110,201 | |
Total gross deferred tax assets | | 554,735 | | | | 563,139 | |
Valuation allowance | | (187,743 | ) | | | (216,114 | ) |
Total deferred tax assets | $ | 366,992 | | | $ | 347,025 | |
Deferred tax liabilities | | | | | |
Property and equipment, net | $ | (29,136 | ) | | $ | (23,357 | ) |
Intangible assets | | (13,735 | ) | | | (13,093 | ) |
Right of use asset | | (323,744 | ) | | | (310,956 | ) |
Other | | (1,147 | ) | | | (990 | ) |
Total gross deferred tax liabilities | | (367,762 | ) | | | (348,396 | ) |
Total net deferred tax liabilities | $ | (770 | ) | | $ | (1,371 | ) |
Total net deferred taxes are classified as follows:
| | | | | | | |
| As of | |
(in thousands) | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | |
Non-current deferred tax assets | $ | 740 | | | $ | 295 | |
Non-current deferred tax liabilities | | (1,510 | ) | | | (1,666 | ) |
| $ | (770 | ) | | $ | (1,371 | ) |
As of December 31, 2023, deferred tax assets related to tax losses were $104 million and interest limitation carryforwards were $55 million which can be used to offset future taxable income. This includes $68 million of net operating losses, or "NOLs", and $47 million of interest limitation carryforwards in the US; $7 million of tax losses and $8 million of interest carryforwards in the UK and $11 million tax losses in Hong Kong.
As of December 31, 2023, the gross NOLs and interest limitation carryforwards generated in the US of $221 million and $176 million will not expire. US federal and state NOL carryforwards of $46 million and $250 million will expire, if not utilized, in 2032 to 2036 and in 2027 to 2038, respectively. Deferred tax assets related to the gross tax losses and interest carryforwards in the UK of $29 million and $32 million, respectively, as well as the tax losses in Hong Kong of $67 million will not expire.
As of January 2, 2022, deferred tax assets related to NOLs generated in the US of $238 million will not expire. Deferred tax assets related to US federal and state NOL carryforwards of $69 million and $185 million will expire, if not utilized, in 2031 to 2038 and in 2027 to 2038, respectively. Interest limitation carryforwards in the US do not expire. Deferred tax assets related to tax losses and interest limitation carryforwards in the UK of $35 million and $50 million will not expire. Deferred tax assets related to tax losses in Hong Kong of $10 million will not expire.
Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion of or all the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company has concluded that it is not more likely than not that the majority of the deferred tax assets can be realized and therefore a valuation allowance has been assigned to these deferred tax assets. If the Company is subsequently able to utilize all or a portion of the deferred tax assets for which a valuation allowance has been established, then it may be required to recognize these deferred tax assets through the reduction of the valuation allowance which could result in a material benefit to the results of operations in the period in which the benefit is determined.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets decreased by $28 million. This decrease mainly related to certain UK attributes which are no longer available. Of the decrease in valuation allowance of $28 million, $0.5 million was as a result of foreign exchange translation impact.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $108 million (January 1, 2023: $102 million; January 2, 2022: $54 million), $49 million (January 1, 2023: $90 million; January 2, 2022: $104 million), $12 million (January 1, 2023: $9 million; January 2, 2022: $8 million), and $18 million (January 1, 2023: $15 million; January 2, 2022: $8 million) in valuation allowances against the net US, UK, Hong Kong, and the rest of the world deferred tax assets, respectively.
A portion of the Company's US deferred tax assets relates to net operating losses, the use of which may not be available as a result of limitations under Section 382 of the US tax code. With respect to the US net operating losses, it is not practical to determine if such losses would be utilized based on Management's future projected taxable income.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had no undistributed earnings on which to provide tax. In the event the Company's subsidiaries become profitable, distributions are likely not to accrue additional taxes due to both the US and UK dividends received exemption regimes.
Impact of Global Intangible Low Taxed Income Provisions (United States)
The Company is subject to the US Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (GILTI) provisions which require US groups to include in taxable income certain earnings of their foreign controlled corporations. This provision did not impact the Company in the current year since these foreign controlled corporations generated an overall loss which has no impact on US taxable income. We have elected to treat any potential GILTI inclusions as a period cost.
Uncertain Tax Positions
The Company recognizes tax liabilities when, despite its belief that its tax return positions are supportable, management believes that certain positions may not be fully sustained upon review by tax authorities. Each period the Company assesses uncertain tax positions for recognition, measurement and effective settlement. Benefits from uncertain tax positions are measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement - the more likely than not recognition threshold. Where the Company has determined that its tax return filing position does not satisfy the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Company has recorded $46 million (January 1, 2023: $16 million; January 2, 2022: $16 million) of uncertain tax benefits.
The ongoing assessments of the more-likely-than-not outcomes of uncertain tax positions require judgment and can increase or decrease the Company's effective tax rate, as well as impact its operating results. It is reasonably possible that the amount of uncertain tax positions could significantly change within the next 12 months. The Company has ongoing income tax audits in various jurisdictions and evaluates uncertain tax provisions that may be challenged by local tax authorities and not fully sustained. These uncertain tax positions are reviewed on an ongoing basis and adjusted in light of facts and circumstances including progression of tax audits, developments in case law and closing of statute of limitations. As of December 31, 2023, the Company is not able to estimate the range by which these potential events could impact the uncertain tax benefits recorded within the next 12 months.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | | | January 2, 2022 | |
Balance at beginning of year | $ | 15,841 | | | $ | 15,129 | | | $ | 11,293 | |
Additions related to the current year | | 11,917 | | | | 5,359 | | | | 3,948 | |
Additions related to the prior years | | 17,899 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Reductions related to prior year positions | | (95 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Reductions due to expiry of state of limitations | | (176 | ) | | | (3,014 | ) | | | (3,822 | ) |
Change in tax rate | | - | | | | - | | | | 3,566 | |
Foreign exchange | | 1,503 | | | | (1,633 | ) | | | 144 | |
Balance at end of year | $ | 46,889 | | | $ | 15,841 | | | $ | 15,129 | |
Unrecognized tax benefits increased by $31,048 during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (fiscal year ended January 1, 2023: $712). During fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the net increase of $31,048 was primarily driven by a rebalancing of intercompany pricing throughout the Group. In fiscal year ended January 1, 2023, the net increase of $712 was driven by the treatment of Group costs in foreign companies.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, the Company did not recognize any interest and penalties associated with its unrecognized tax benefits in its consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2023, if
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
recognized, $6 million of its unrecognized tax benefits would impact the Company’s effective tax rate, the remaining balance is recognized against deferred tax assets and as a result of valuation allowances would not impact the Company's effective tax rate.
In the UK, US and Greece, the earliest tax years that remain subject to examination by the tax authorities are 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. To the extent US tax attributes generated in closed years are carried forward into years that are open to examination, they may be subject to adjustment in audit.
The Inflation Reduction Act (the “IRA”) was enacted in August 2022, the provisions of which include a minimum tax equal to 15% of the adjusted financial statement income of certain large corporations, as well as a 1% excise tax on certain share buybacks by public corporations that would be imposed on such corporations. The Company analyzed the impact of the IRA and the excise tax did not have a material impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations for fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. The Company will continue to monitor this going forward.
The European Union's Pillar Two Directive has been adopted by the EU member states as well as the UK, and various other territories the Company operates in, which generally provides for a minimum effective tax rate of 15%, as established by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Pillar Two Framework that was supported by over 130 countries worldwide. The EU effective dates were January 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025, for different aspects of the directive. The Company is continuing to evaluate the potential impact on future periods of the Pillar Two Framework, pending legislative adoption by additional individual countries, including those within the European Union. The Company will continue to monitor regulatory developments to assess potential impacts to the Company.
The Company’s core operations comprise of Houses and restaurants across a number of territories, which are managed on a geographical basis. There is a segment managing director for each of the UK, North America, and Europe and Rest of the World (“RoW”) who is responsible for Houses, hotels and restaurants in that region. Each operating segment manager reports directly to the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer combined. In addition to Houses and restaurants, the Company offers other products and services, such as retail, home & beauty products and services, which comprise its Retail operating segment; access to Soho Works collaboration spaces across the UK and North America, which comprise its Soho Works operating segment; and memberships for people who live in cities where physical Houses do not exist, which comprise its Cities Without Houses operating segment. The Retail, Soho Works, and Cities Without Houses operating segments also have segment managers which report directly to the CODM and are managed separately from the Houses and hotels in each region.
The Company has identified the following three reportable segments:
The Company analyzed the results of the Retail, Soho Works, Soho Restaurants, and Cities Without Houses operating segments and concluded that they did not warrant separate presentation as reportable segments as they do not provide additional useful information to the readers of the financial statements. Therefore, these segments are included as part of an “All Other” category.
Intercompany revenues and costs among the reportable segments are not material and accounted for as if the sales were to third parties because these items are based on negotiated fees between the segments involved. All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation. Intercompany revenues and costs between entities within a reportable segment are eliminated to arrive at segment totals. Segment revenue includes revenue of certain equity method investments, which are considered stand-alone operating segments, which are therefore not included in revenues as part of these consolidated financial statements. Eliminations between segments are separately presented. Corporate results include amounts related to Corporate functions such as administrative costs and professional fees. Income tax expense is managed by Corporate on a consolidated basis and is not allocated to the reportable segments.
The Company manages and assesses the performance of the reportable segments by Reportable segments EBITDA, which is defined as net income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net, provision (benefit) for income taxes,
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
adjusted to take account of the impact of certain non-cash and other items that the Company does not consider in its evaluation of ongoing operating performance. These other items include, but are not limited to, loss (gain) on sale of property and other, net, share of loss (profit) of equity method investments, foreign exchange, pre-opening expenses, non-cash rent, deferred registration fees, net, share of equity method investments EBITDA, share-based compensation expense and certain other expenses.
The following tables present disaggregated revenue for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022 and the key financial metrics reviewed by the CODM for the Company’s reportable segments:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2023 | |
(in thousands) | | North America | | | UK | | | Europe & ROW | | | Reportable Segment Total | | | All Other | | | Total | |
Membership revenues | | $ | 177,267 | | | $ | 104,387 | | | $ | 45,648 | | | $ | 327,302 | | | $ | 46,914 | | | $ | 374,216 | |
In-House revenues | | | 203,083 | | | | 182,363 | | | | 122,359 | | | | 507,805 | | | | — | | | | 507,805 | |
Other revenues | | | 76,066 | | | | 71,451 | | | | 43,982 | | | | 191,499 | | | | 114,185 | | | | 305,684 | |
Total segment revenue | | | 456,416 | | | | 358,201 | | | | 211,989 | | | | 1,026,606 | | | | 161,099 | | | | 1,187,705 | |
Elimination of equity accounted revenue | | | (15,411 | ) | | | (7,686 | ) | | | (28,729 | ) | | | (51,826 | ) | | | — | | | | (51,826 | ) |
Consolidated revenue | | $ | 441,005 | | | $ | 350,515 | | | $ | 183,260 | | | $ | 974,780 | | | $ | 161,099 | | | $ | 1,135,879 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended January 1, 2023 | |
(in thousands) | | North America | | | UK | | | Europe & ROW | | | Reportable Segment Total | | | All Other | | | Total | |
Membership revenues | | $ | 139,636 | | | $ | 76,603 | | | $ | 31,485 | | | $ | 247,724 | | | $ | 35,955 | | | $ | 283,679 | |
In-House revenues | | | 193,749 | | | | 166,016 | | | | 87,866 | | | $ | 447,631 | | | | — | | | | 447,631 | |
Other revenues | | | 70,658 | | | | 65,010 | | | | 38,408 | | | | 174,076 | | | | 112,102 | | | | 286,178 | |
Total segment revenue | | | 404,043 | | | | 307,629 | | | | 157,759 | | | | 869,431 | | | | 148,057 | | | | 1,017,488 | |
Elimination of equity accounted revenue | | | (14,919 | ) | | | (7,700 | ) | | | (22,655 | ) | | | (45,274 | ) | | | — | | | | (45,274 | ) |
Consolidated revenue | | $ | 389,124 | | | $ | 299,929 | | | $ | 135,104 | | | $ | 824,157 | | | $ | 148,057 | | | $ | 972,214 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended January 2, 2022 | |
(in thousands) | | North America | | | UK | | | Europe & RoW | | | Reportable Segment Total | | | All Other | | | Total | |
Membership revenues | | $ | 94,746 | | | $ | 59,722 | | | $ | 22,074 | | | $ | 176,542 | | | $ | 21,539 | | | $ | 198,081 | |
In-House revenues | | | 103,289 | | | | 88,987 | | | | 35,567 | | | | 227,843 | | | | — | | | | 227,843 | |
Other revenues | | | 42,111 | | | | 30,878 | | | | 22,778 | | | | 95,767 | | | | 70,885 | | | | 166,652 | |
Total segment revenue | | | 240,146 | | | | 179,587 | | | | 80,419 | | | | 500,152 | | | | 92,424 | | | | 592,576 | |
Elimination of equity accounted revenue | | | (13,438 | ) | | | (6,088 | ) | | | (12,496 | ) | | | (32,022 | ) | | | — | | | | (32,022 | ) |
Consolidated revenue | | $ | 226,708 | | | $ | 173,499 | | | $ | 67,923 | | | $ | 468,130 | | | $ | 92,424 | | | $ | 560,554 | |
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2023 | |
(in thousands) | | North America | | | UK | | | Europe & ROW | | | Reportable Segment Total | | | All Other | | | Total | |
Total consolidated segment revenue | | $ | 441,005 | | | $ | 350,515 | | | $ | 183,260 | | | $ | 974,780 | | | $ | 161,099 | | | $ | 1,135,879 | |
Total segment operating expenses | | | (366,328 | ) | | | (232,632 | ) | | | (177,154 | ) | | | (776,114 | ) | | | (170,967 | ) | | | (947,081 | ) |
Share of equity method investments EBITDA | | | 3,036 | | | | 1,239 | | | | 5,044 | | | | 9,319 | | | | — | | | | 9,319 | |
Reportable segments EBITDA | | | 77,706 | | | | 119,122 | | | | 11,150 | | | | 207,985 | | | | (9,868 | ) | | | 198,117 | |
Unallocated corporate overhead | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (38,576 | ) |
Consolidated Segmental EBITDA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 159,541 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (111,403 | ) |
Interest expense, net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (84,136 | ) |
Income tax expense | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (10,811 | ) |
Gain (loss) on sale of property and other, net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (1,038 | ) |
Share of income of equity method investments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,900 | |
Foreign exchange | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 36,196 | |
Pre-opening expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (18,604 | ) |
Non-cash rent(1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (7,621 | ) |
Deferred registration fees, net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,855 | |
Share of equity method investments EBITDA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (9,319 | ) |
Share-based compensation expense | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (20,230 | ) |
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets(2) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (47,455 | ) |
Other expenses, net(3) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (5,963 | ) |
Net loss | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | (117,088 | ) |
(1)Includes the effect of a prior-period error correction, as discussed in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Basis of Presentation.
(2)During fiscal 2023, the Company recognized $47 million of impairment losses on long-lived assets (comprised of $33 million in respect of Operating lease assets and $14 million of Property and equipment, net), of which $37 million is in respect of Soho Works North America.
(3)In November 2023, the Company entered into a 10-year licensing agreement with a third party to manufacture and distribute the Company’s Cowshed brand, commencing January 1, 2024. This agreement has restricted the Company’s ability to sell certain inventories it acquired prior to entering into the agreement. As such, the Company has provided in full for the $5 million of inventory it is unable to recover as a result of the entering into the agreement. This is presented within other, net in the consolidated statement of operations for Fiscal 2023.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended January 1, 2023 | |
(in thousands) | | North America | | | UK | | | Europe & ROW | | | Reportable Segment Total | | | All Other | | | Total | |
Total consolidated segment revenue | | $ | 389,124 | | | $ | 299,929 | | | $ | 135,104 | | | $ | 824,157 | | | $ | 148,057 | | | $ | 972,214 | |
Total segment operating expenses | | | (318,375 | ) | | | (238,733 | ) | | | (127,702 | ) | | | (684,810 | ) | | | (161,582 | ) | | | (846,392 | ) |
Share of equity method investments EBITDA | | | 2,610 | | | | 1,142 | | | | 3,825 | | | | 7,577 | | | | - | | | | 7,577 | |
Reportable segments EBITDA | | | 73,359 | | | | 62,338 | | | | 11,227 | | | | 146,924 | | | | (13,525 | ) | | | 133,399 | |
Unallocated corporate overhead | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (43,522 | ) |
Consolidated Segmental EBITDA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 89,877 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (99,930 | ) |
Interest expense, net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (71,499 | ) |
Income tax expense | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (5,131 | ) |
Gain on sale of property and other, net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 390 | |
Share of loss of equity method investments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,941 | |
Foreign exchange | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (69,600 | ) |
Pre-opening expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (14,081 | ) |
Non-cash rent (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (7,877 | ) |
Deferred registration fees, net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (924 | ) |
Share of equity method investments EBITDA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (7,577 | ) |
Share-based compensation expense(2) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (22,675 | ) |
Other expenses, net(2) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (14,694 | ) |
Net loss | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | (219,780 | ) |
(1)Includes the effect of a prior-period error correction related to the correction of the estimation of the historical operating lease liabilities. The error resulted in the overstatement of operating lease expenses, with a cumulative impact of $5 million for Fiscal 2021. The correction of this cumulative error is presented within In-House operating expenses in the consolidated statement of operations for Fiscal 2022.
(2)Other expenses, net includes share-based compensation and severance expense incurred related to the departure of the former Chief Operating Officer ($4 million) and another former employee ($1 million) of the Company of $5 million for fiscal year ended January 1, 2023. This balance is reported within Share-based compensation expense in the consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2023.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Fiscal Year Ended January 2, 2022 | |
(in thousands) | | North America | | | UK | | | Europe & RoW | | | Reportable Segment Total | | | All Other | | | Total | |
Total consolidated segment revenue | | $ | 226,708 | | | $ | 173,499 | | | $ | 67,923 | | | $ | 468,130 | | | $ | 92,424 | | | $ | 560,554 | |
Total segment operating expenses | | | (183,051 | ) | | | (145,293 | ) | | | (64,686 | ) | | | (393,030 | ) | | | (114,705 | ) | | | (507,735 | ) |
Share of equity method investments EBITDA | | | 2,289 | | | | 760 | | | | 1,613 | | | | 4,662 | | | | - | | | | 4,662 | |
Reportable segments EBITDA | | | 45,946 | | | | 28,966 | | | | 4,850 | | | | 79,762 | | | | (22,281 | ) | | | 57,481 | |
Unallocated corporate overhead | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (40,741 | ) |
Consolidated Segmental EBITDA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16,740 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (83,613 | ) |
Interest expense, net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (84,382 | ) |
Income tax benefit | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (894 | ) |
Gain on sale of property and other, net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6,837 | |
Share of loss of equity method investments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (2,249 | ) |
Foreign exchange (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (25,541 | ) |
Pre-opening expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (21,294 | ) |
Non-cash rent | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (12,651 | ) |
Deferred registration fees, net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (4,463 | ) |
Share of equity method investments EBITDA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (4,662 | ) |
Share-based compensation expense | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (26,660 | ) |
Other expenses, net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (25,882 | ) |
Net loss | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | (268,714 | ) |
(1) Includes the effect of a prior-period error correction. The error relates to the correction of a consolidating adjustment for foreign currency transaction gains of $13 million in the fiscal year ended January 3, 2021 and $4 million in the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019. The correction of this error is presented within other in the consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022 and within foreign currency translation adjustment in the consolidated statement of comprehensive loss for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022.
going conc
The following table presents long-lived asset information (which includes property and equipment, net, operating lease right-of-use assets and equity method investments) by geographic area as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023. Asset information by segment is not reported internally or otherwise regularly reviewed by the CODM.
| | | | | | | | |
| | As of | |
(in thousands) | | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | |
Long-lived assets by geography | | | | | | |
North America | | $ | 877,071 | | | $ | 901,505 | |
United Kingdom | | | 556,628 | | | | 509,221 | |
Europe | | | 317,502 | | | | 297,247 | |
Asia | | | 47,694 | | | | 46,236 | |
Total long-lived assets | | $ | 1,798,895 | | | $ | 1,754,209 | |
Following the Company's impairment review in fiscal 2023, the Company recognized $47 million of impairment losses on long-lived assets comprised of $33 million in respect of Operating lease assets and $14 million of Property and equipment, net. The long-lived assets presented by geography above include $39 million, $6 million and $2 million of impairment losses in North America, United Kingdom and Asia, respectively.
22.Related Party Transactions
The amounts owed by (to) equity method investees due within one year are as follows:
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
| | | | | | | | |
| | As of | |
(in thousands) | | December 31, 2023 | | | January 1, 2023 | |
Soho House Toronto Partnership | | $ | 608 | | | $ | 1,015 | |
Raycliff Red LLP | | | (5,669 | ) | | | (4,169 | ) |
Mirador Barcel S.L. | | | (784 | ) | | | (499 | ) |
Little Beach House Barcelona S.L. | | | (406 | ) | | | (313 | ) |
Mimea XXI S.L. | | | 715 | | | | 477 | |
| | $ | (5,536 | ) | | $ | (3,489 | ) |
Amounts owed by equity method investees due within one year are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Amounts owed to equity method investees due within one year are included in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
Through Soho Works 875 Washington, LLC, we are a party to a property lease agreement dated April 19, 2019, for 875 Washington Street, New York with 875 Washington Street Owner, LLC, an affiliate of Raycliff Capital, LLC controlled by a member of the SHCO board of directors. The handover of five floors of the leased property occurred on a floor-by-floor basis resulting in multiple lease commencement dates in 2019 and 2020. The various lease contracts run for a term of 15 years until March 31, 2036, with further options to extend. The total operating lease right-of-use asset and liability associated with this property were $35 million and $54 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2023 and $44 million and $56 million, respectively, as of January 1, 2023. The rent expense associated with this lease was $6 million, $5 million and $nil million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively.
The Company is party to a property lease arrangement with The Yucaipa Companies LLC for 9100-9110 West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. This lease runs for a term of 25 years until March 31, 2040. The operating right-of-use asset and liability associated with this lease are $13 million and $21 million as of December 31, 2023, respectively, and $17 million and $21 million as of January 1, 2023, respectively. Rent expense associated with this lease totaled $2 million, $2 million and $3 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively.
Through Soho-Ludlow Tenant LLC, the Company is a party to a property lease agreement dated May 3, 2019, for 137 Ludlow Street, New York with 137 Ludlow Gardens LLC, an affiliate of The Yucaipa Companies LLC. This lease runs for a term of 27 years until May 31, 2046, with options to extend for two additional five-year terms. The operating lease right-of-use asset and liability associated with this lease were $8 million and $15 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2023 and $8 million and $15 million, respectively, as of January 1, 2023. The rent expense associated with this lease was $2 million, $1 million and $1 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively.
The Company leases the Little House West Hollywood, 8465 Hollywood Drive, West Hollywood, California, from GHWHI, LLC, an affiliate of The Yucaipa Companies LLC. This lease commenced on October 16, 2021. This lease runs for a term of 25 years (15-year base lease term, including two 5-year renewal options). The operating lease right-of-use asset and liability associated with this lease were $64 million and $68 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2023 and $65 million and $69 million, respectively, as of January 1, 2023. The receivable recognized by Soho House is $1 million and less than $1 million for fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023 respectively. The rent expense associated with this lease $6 million, $5 million and $1 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively.
The Company leases the Tel Aviv House, 27 Yefet Street, Tel Aviv, Israel, from an affiliate of Raycliff Capital, LLC which held a portion of the SHHL redeemable C ordinary shares prior to the IPO and continues to hold Class A common stock of SHCO. This lease commenced on June 1, 2021. This lease runs for a term of 19 years until December 15, 2039. The operating lease right-of-use asset and liability associated with this lease were $22 million and $22 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2023 and $21 million and $22 million, respectively, as of January 1, 2023. The rent expense associated with this lease $3 million, $3 million and $2 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively.
The Company leases a property from GHPSI, LLC, an affiliate of The Yucaipa Companies LLC, in order to operate the Le Vallauris restaurant, 385 West Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California. This lease runs for a term of 15 years until March 16, 2037, with options to extend for two additional five-year terms. The operating lease right-of-use asset and liability associated with this lease were $6 million and $7 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2023 and $7 million and $7 million, respectively as of January 1, 2023. The rent expense associated with this lease $1 million, $1 million and $0 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
The Company leases a property located at 900 Campagna Lane, Kenwood, California from Kenwood Ranch, LLC, an affiliate of The Yucaipa Companies LLC. This lease runs for a term of 15 years, with options to extend for two additional five-year terms. The lease term, and rent payments under the lease, have not yet commenced as the property is not yet operational. This has lead to a receivable balance of less than $1 million for both fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023.
The Company leases a property located at 27984 Highway 189, Lake Arrowhead, California from RLAHI, LLC, an affiliate of The Yucaipa Companies LLC. This lease runs for a term of 15 years, with options to extend for two additional five-year terms. The lease term, and rent payments under the lease, have not yet commenced as the property is not yet operational. This has lead to a receivable balance of less than $1 million for both fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023.
The Company leases a property from GHPSI, LLC, an affiliate of The Yucaipa Companies, LLC, in order to operate the Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn, 412 West Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California. This lease commenced on September 15, 2022. This lease runs for a term of 15 years until September 14, 2037, with options to extend for two additional five-year terms. The operating lease right-of-use asset and liability associated with this lease were $14 million and $14 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2023 and $14 million and $14 million, respectively, as of January 1, 2023. The receivable due to Soho House associated with this lease was $1 million in both fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, and January 1, 2023. The rent expense associated with this lease was $2 million and $1 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, and January 1, 2023, respectively.
The Company leases the Soho House Stockholm property located at Majorsgatan 5, Stockholm, Sweden from Majorsbolaget AB, an affiliate of The Yucaipa Companies LLC, until October 2023 when ownership was transferred to a third party. This lease commenced on December 8, 2022. This lease runs for a term of 15 years. The operating lease right-of-use asset and liability associated with this lease were $29 million and $30 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2023 and $28 million and $28 million, respectively, as of January 1, 2023. The receivable associated with this lease was $3 million and $1 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, and January 1, 2023, respectively. The accrued income balance associated with this lease was $nil million and $2 million for fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, and January 1, 2023, respectively. The rent expense associated with this lease was $3 million and less than $1 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, and January 1, 2023, respectively.
Ned-Soho House, LLP recognized management fees, development fees and cost reimbursements from The Ned totaling a receivable of $3 million and $2 million and a payable of $2 million and $1 million for both fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively. Ned-Soho House, LLP also recognized a receivable relating to retail related revenue from Soho House brands for $2 million and $1 million for fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023 and a payable for less than $1 million for both fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023. The accrued revenue balance for Ned-Soho House LLP associated with the fees was $7 million and $3 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023. The revenue recognized from the management fees, development fees and cost reimbursements was $4 million, $4 million and $1 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively. The revenue recognized from the retail related services was less than $1 million during both the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023.
The Company recognized management fee income from an affiliate of The Yucaipa Companies LLC related to the operations of The Ned New York, which opened in June 2022, leading to a receivable of totaling $4 million and less than $1 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively. The fees totalled $2 million and $1 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively. The Company recognized management fees and cost reimbursements from affiliates of the Company related to the operations of The Ned Doha, which opened in November 2022, leading to a receivable balance totaling $2 million and $3 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively and an accrued revenue balance of $1 million and less than $1 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively. The fees totaled $1 million and less than $1 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively.
The Company recognized management fees under our hotel management contract for the operation of The LINE and Saguaro hotels from the owners of such properties, including certain affiliates of The Yucaipa Companies LLC. These fees lead to a receivable of $6 million and $3 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023. The fees also lead to an accrued revenue balance of $2 million and $3 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023. The fees, recorded under Other Revenue, amounted to $8 million, $8 million and $2 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively.
The Company recognized management fees under our studio, hotel and restaurant management contract for the operation of Redchurch Street studio space, hotel and Cecconi's from an affiliate of Raycliff Capital, LLC which is controlled by a member of the SHCO board of directors. These fees amounted to less than $1 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022.
Soho House & Co Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022
Fees from the provision of Soho House Design services were recognized from affiliates of the Company lead to a receivable totaling $1 million for both fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023. The fees received from affiliates totalled $1 million, $15 million and $1 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively. Costs incurred on behalf of affiliates of the Company in connection to the provision of Soho House Design services totaled less than $1 million, $4 million and less than $1 million during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, respectively.
In September 2023, the Company repurchased 2,000,000 shares of its Class A common stock from its Founder and director Nick Jones in a privately negotiated transaction for $12 million. These shares are held by the Company as Treasury shares by the Company.
In return for arranging, and providing financial and transaction advisory services in connection with, the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes and the Senior Preference Shares as described in Note 15, SHHL Redeemable Preferred Shares, respectively, an affiliate of Yucaipa Companies LLC recognized a fee in an aggregate amount of $10 million pursuant to a fee letter arrangement with the Company dated March 23, 2021.
In return for its role as sponsor in connection with our IPO, an affiliate of Yucaipa Companies LLC recognized a fee of $9 million pursuant to a fee letter arrangement with the Company dated July 19, 2021. The fee, which has been paid in full, has been recognized as a reduction of additional paid in capital.
As part of the reorganization of Soho Restaurants Limited in August 2020, various notes payable and receivable held by Soho Restaurants Limited were acquired, settled, or, in some cases, forgiven. A total of $1 million was recharged to Soho Restaurants Limited and Quentin Partners under these agreements during the fiscal years ended January 2, 2022. Refer to Note 3, Acquisitions, for information on the related party relationships with Soho Restaurants Limited and Quentin Partners.
23. Subsequent Events
Soho Works Limited Loan
In 2017, Soho Works Limited ("SWL") entered into a term loan facility agreement for a £40 million term loan facility. The SWL loan bears interest at 7% and originally matured on September 29, 2022. Since this date it has been subject to annual extensions. Most recently in February 2024 this loan was extended by a further 12 months from the prior extension in March 2023 to September 29, 2025.
Share issuances and grants of share awards
Between January and March 2024, the Company issued a total of 431,831 shares of Class A common stock as a result of RSU awards vesting and SAR exercises.
In January 2024, the Company granted 148,212 RSU awards.
Share buyback
On February 9, 2024, the Company announced that the Board had approved a new $50 million share repurchase authorization.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies may deteriorate. Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 using the criteria issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") in the 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework updated and reissued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations, or the COSO Framework.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Management have concluded that as of December 31, 2023 our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)), were not effective at the reasonable assurance level, due to material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, to provide reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Based on that evaluation, management believes that our internal control over financial reporting was ineffective as of December 31, 2023 because of the identification of two material weaknesses identified in our internal control over financial reporting. The material weaknesses related to (i) our lack of a sufficient number of personnel with an appropriate level of knowledge and experience with the application of US generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and with our financial reporting requirements; and (ii) the fact that policies and procedures with respect to the review, supervision and monitoring of our accounting and reporting functions, including IT general controls, were either not designed and in place, or not operating effectively. These material weaknesses resulted in adjustments to our financial statements and included lease accounting, income tax accounting, impairment of long-lived assets accounting, related party transactions and disclosures and balance sheet reclassifications during the course of the audit process.
As an ‘emerging growth company’ we avail ourselves of the exemption from the requirement that our independent registered public accounting firm attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b)
Actions to address the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting undertaken in fiscal 2022 are detailed below.
Remediation Status of our Material Weaknesses
During Fiscal 2023, the Company has continued with its formal plan to remediate the identified material weaknesses, and continues to monitor progress within its internal control working group, comprised of senior representatives from the Company’s finance and IT teams and a third-party internal audit services provider. The Company also formally updates its Audit Committee on a quarterly basis with progress against the plan.
During fiscal 2023, the Company has continued its program of internal control testing, supported by internal and external testing teams. Where controls were found not to be designed, implemented or operating effectively, the Company has implemented formal remediation plans and a program to subsequently re-test to validate effectiveness. Where manual controls are deemed inadequate, for example because of the volume of transactions, technological solutions are being developed and implemented as part of the remediation plan. Other remediation measures include enhancing the Company’s internal accounting policy and procedure written guidance for finance function employees, Group led reviews of critical accounting estimates and judgments made in the Company’s segments, hiring additional employees with significant GAAP knowledge and experience, hiring dedicated internal controls employees communicating roles and responsibilities to all personnel involved with or having an impact on the financial
reporting function, providing the necessary training to personnel and building internal control knowledge and enhancing the Company's existing financial and operational systems.
As part of its internal control program, the Company’s IT team continues to focus on the implementation of new enterprise systems to support control remediation. The Company’s IT team has continued with its remediation plans for user access and segregation of duties in the Company's teams.
The Company has implemented several company wide accounting policies and application guidance and procedures and will continue this in fiscal 2024. Whilst progress has been made since Fiscal 2022 with respect to remediation of the identified material weaknesses, a number of key internal control remediations remain ongoing during fiscal 2024 and will require full re-testing to validate their effectiveness and support full remediation of our identified material weaknesses. Management is committed to implementing measures to help ensure the control deficiencies contributing to the material weaknesses are remediated as soon as possible.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Other than the changes the Company has made to its internal control over financial reporting as a direct result of the implementation of the remediation plan described above, there were no other material changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. As described above, the Company is still finalizing the remediation of certain controls deemed to be ineffective and therefore there are likely to be further changes to the control environment as we continue to make progress in addressing material weaknesses and other deficiencies identified.
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and our management is required to apply judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs. The design of any disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting also are based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None of our directors or officers adopted, modified, or terminated a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement during the quarter ended December 31, 2023. Any Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements entered into will be in accordance with our Insider Trading Policy and any actual sale transactions made pursuant to such trading arrangements would be disclosed publicly in Section 16 filings with the SEC in accordance with applicable securities laws, rules and regulations.
During fiscal year 2023, the Company adopted a Dodd-Frank Clawback Policy (refer to Exhibit 97.1) to comply with SEC and NYSE listing rules. Under that policy, the Company is required in certain situations to recoup incentive compensation paid or payable to certain current or former executive officers of the Company, including the named executive officers, in the event of an accounting restatement.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
None.
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The information required by this Item 10 is incorporated by reference to the information that will be contained in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we intend to file no later than 120 days after the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The information required by this Item 11 is incorporated by reference to the information that will be contained in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we intend to file no later than 120 days after the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The information required by this Item 12 is incorporated by reference to the information that will be contained in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we intend to file no later than 120 days after the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
The information required by this Item 13 is incorporated by reference to the information that will be contained in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we intend to file no later than 120 days after the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
The information required by this Item 14 is incorporated by reference to the information that will be contained in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we intend to file no later than 120 days after the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
(a)The following documents are filed as a part of the report:
Consolidated financial statements filed as part of this report are listed under Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
(2)Financial Statement Schedules
No schedules are required because either the required information is not present or is not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule, or because the information required is included in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.
The exhibits listed on the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and such Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.
Exhibit Index
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Exhibit Number |
| Description |
2.1 | | Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of July 19, 2021, among Yucaipa American Alliance Fund II, L.P., Yucaipa American Alliance (Parallel) Fund II, L.P. Richard Caring, Nick Jones and Membership Collective Group Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on June 21, 2021). |
3.1 | | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Soho House & Co Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 20, 2023). |
3.2 | | Amended and Restated Bylaws of Soho House & Co Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 20, 2023). |
3.3 | | Third Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 19, 2021, among Soho House Holdings Limited, Yucaipa American Alliance Fund II, L.P., Yucaipa American Alliance (Parallel) Fund II, L.P., Richard Caring, Nick Jones and certain other parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on June 21, 2021). |
3.4 | | Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on June 21, 2021). |
4.1 | | Form of Share Certificate for Class A common stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on June 21, 2021). |
4.2 | | Form of Note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on June 21, 2021). |
4.3 | | Description of Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Annual Report filed with the SEC on March 16, 2022). |
10.1+ | | Employment Agreement of Nick Jones (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed with the SEC on July 6, 2021). |
10.2+ | | Employment Agreement of Andrew Carnie (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed with the SEC on July 6, 2021). |
10.3* | | Employment Agreement of Thomas Allen, dated September 29, 2022 |
10.4 | | Revolving Facility Agreement, dated December 5, 2019, between Soho House & Co Limited, Soho House Bond Limited, the Original Borrowers party thereto, the Original Guarantors party thereto, HSBC UK Bank PLC, the Original Lenders party thereto, Global Loan Agency Services Limited and Glas Trust Corporation Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on June 21, 2021). |
10.5 | | Note Purchase Agreement, dated March 23, 2021, among Soho House & Co Limited, Soho House Bond Limited, the Original Guarantors listed in Schedule I, the Original Notes Purchasers listed in Schedule I, Global Loan Agency Services Limited and GLAS Trust Corporation Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on June 21, 2021). |
10.6+ | | Soho House & Co, Inc. 2021 Equity and Incentive Plan Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Executive Officer) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed with the SEC on July 6, 2021). |
10.7+ | | Soho House & Co, Inc. 2021 Equity and Incentive Plan Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Non-Employee Director) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed with the SEC on July 6, 2021). |
10.8+ | | Soho House & Co, Inc. 2021 Equity and Incentive Plan Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (Growth Share Replacement Awards) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed with the SEC on July 6, 2021). |
10.9+ | | Soho House * Co Inc. 2021 Equity and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed with the SEC on July 6, 2021). |
10.10 | | First Amended and Restated Revolving Facility Agreement, dated November 15, 2021, between Soho House & Co Limited, Soho House Bond Limited, the Original Borrowers party thereto, the Original Guarantors party thereto, HSBC UK Bank PLC, the Original Lenders party thereto, Global Loan Agency Services Limited and Glas Trust Corporation Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 17, 2021). |
10.11 | | First Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated November 15, 2021, between Soho House & Co Limited, Soho House Bond Limited, the Original Guarantors party thereto, the Original Notes Purchasers party thereto, Global Loan Agency Services Limited, and Glas Trust Corporation Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 17, 2021). |
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10.12 | | Amendment Letter Agreement dated as of February 11, 2022 among Soho House Bond Limited, the subsidiary obligors party thereto and Global Loan Agency Services Limited, acting on behalf of the Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 14, 2022). |
10.13 | | Amendment to the £40 million Facility Agreement, dated March 11, 2022, between Soho Works Limited and the Issuers thereto, Mark Wadhwa, Timothy Joicey Robinson, Marshall Street Regeneration Limited, The Vinyl Factory Limited, Fineyork Limited, Brighton Seafront Regeneration Limited and Vinyl Factory Torstrasse 1 Berlin S.à.r.l (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company's Annual Report filed with the SEC on March 16, 2022). |
10.14 | | Notes Subscription Request to the Notes Purchase Agreement, dated March 9, 2022, among Soho House Bond Limited, the subsidiary obligors party thereto and Global Loan Agency Services Limited, acting on behalf of the Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Company's Annual Report filed with the SEC on March 16, 2022). |
10.15 | | Soho House UK Limited and Martin Kuczmarski Settlement Deed. dated as of September 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 16, 2022). |
10.16 | | Amendment Letter Agreement dated as of November 10, 2022 among Soho House Bond Limited, the subsidiary obligors party thereto and Global Loan Agency Services Limited, acting on behalf of the Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 10, 2022). |
10.17* | | Amendment to the £40 million Facility Agreement, dated March 15, 2024, between Soho Works Limited and the Issuers thereto, Mark Wadhwa, Timothy Joicey Robinson, Marshall Street Regeneration Limited, The Vinyl Factory Limited, Fineyork Limited, Brighton Seafront Regeneration Limited and Vinyl Factory Torstrasse 1 Berlin S.à.r.l. |
10.18 | | Employment Agreement of Tom Collins (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 13, 2023) |
21.1 | | Subsidiaries of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed with the SEC on July 6, 2021). |
23.1* | | Consent of BDO LLP, independent registered public accounting firm |
24.1* | | Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page to this Annual Report on Form 10-K) |
31.1* |
| Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
31.2* |
| Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
32.1* |
| Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
32.2* |
| Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
97.1* | | Soho House & Co Inc. Policy on Recoupment of Incentive Compensation |
101.INS |
| Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. |
101.SCH | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
101.CAL | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
101.DEF | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document |
101.LAB | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document |
101.PRE | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
104 | | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
* Filed herewith.
+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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| Soho House & Co Inc. |
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Date: March 18, 2024 |
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| By: |
| /s/ Andrew Carnie |
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| Andrew Carnie |
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| Chief Executive Officer |
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Date: March 18, 2024 |
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| By: |
| /s/ Thomas Allen |
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| Thomas Allen |
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| Chief Financial Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Andrew Carnie and Thomas Allen, and each of them, his or her true and lawful agent, proxy and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission this Form 10-K and any and all amendments and exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, granting unto each such attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary or appropriate to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby approving, ratifying and confirming all that such agent, proxy and attorney-in-fact or any of his or her substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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Name |
| Title |
| Date |
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| Chief Executive Officer |
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/s/ Andrew Carnie |
| (Principal Executive Officer) |
| March 18, 2024 |
Andrew Carnie |
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| Chief Financial Officer |
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/s/ Thomas Allen |
| (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
| March 18, 2024 |
Thomas Allen |
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/s/ Ronald Burkle |
| Executive Chairman and Director |
| March 18, 2024 |
Ronald Burkle |
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/s/ Nick Jones |
| Founder and Director |
| March 18, 2024 |
Nick Jones |
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/s/ Nicole Avant |
| Director |
| March 18, 2024 |
Nicole Avant |
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/s/ Richard Caring |
| Director |
| March 18, 2024 |
Richard Caring |
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/s/ Alice Delahunt |
| Director |
| March 18, 2024 |
Alice Delahunt |
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/s/ Mark Ein |
| Director |
| March 18, 2024 |
Mark Ein |
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/s/ Joe Hage |
| Director |
| March 18, 2024 |
Joe Hage |
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/s/ Yusef D. Jackson |
| Director |
| March 18, 2024 |
Yusef D. Jackson |
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/s/ Andrew Sasson | | Director | | March 18, 2024 |
Andrew Sasson | | | | |
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/s/ Ben Schwerin | | Director | | March 18, 2024 |
Ben Schwerin | | | | |
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/s/ Bippy Siegal | | Director | | March 18, 2024 |
Bippy Siegal | | | | |
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/s/ Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Al-Thani | | Director | | March 18, 2024 |
Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Al-Thani | | | | |
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/s/ Dasha Zhukova | | Director | | March 18, 2024 |
Dasha Zhukova | | | | |