Note 1 – Description of Business

The ONE Group Hospitality, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) is a global hospitality company that develops, owns and operates, manages and licenses upscale and polished casual, high-energy restaurants and lounges and provides turn-key food and beverage (“F&B”) services for hospitality venues including hotels, casinos and other high-end locations. Turn-key F&B services are food and beverage services that can be scaled, customized and implemented by the Company at a particular hospitality venue and customized for the client. The Company’s primary restaurant brands are STK, a multi-unit steakhouse concept that combines a high-energy, social atmosphere with the quality and service of a traditional upscale steakhouse, and Kona Grill, a polished casual bar-centric grill concept featuring American favorites, award-winning sushi, and specialty cocktails in a polished casual atmosphere.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company owned, operated, managed or licensed 54 venues including 20 STKs and 24 Kona Grills in major metropolitan cities in North America, Europe and the Middle East and 10 F&B venues in five hotels and casinos in the United States and Europe. In January 2021, we opened a managed STK restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona. For those restaurants and venues that are managed or licensed, we generate management fees based on top-line revenues and incentive fee revenue based on a percentage of the location’s revenues and net profits.

On October 4, 2019, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Kona Grill Inc. and its affiliates (“Kona Grill”), which was composed of 24 domestic restaurants. The Company purchased the assets for a contractual price of $25.0 million plus approximately $1.5 million of consideration paid primarily for the apportionment of rent and utilities. The Company also assumed approximately $7.7 million in current liabilities. The Company has integrated Kona Grill by leveraging its corporate infrastructure, hospitality business knowledge and unique Vibe Dining program, elevating the brand experience and driving improved performance. The results of operations of these restaurants are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.

COVID-19

The novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic has significantly impacted the Company’s business, and public concerns about the spread of COVID-19 continue to be widespread. The Company experienced a significant reduction in guest traffic at its restaurants as a result of restrictions mandated by state and local governments and temporary closure of several restaurants and the shift in operations to provide only take-out and delivery service. Starting in May 2020, state and local governments began easing restrictions on stay-at-home orders; however, certain states have reimposed  restrictions as COVID-19 cases increased during the fall of 2020. Currently, all domestic Company-owned restaurants are open for outdoor dining or in-person dining with seating capacity restrictions. Certain of the Company’s managed and licensed venues internationally are temporarily closed or on to-go/delivery only due to COVID-19. The Company has taken significant steps to adapt its business to increase sales while providing a safe environment for guests and employees. 

In response to these conditions, and out of concern for its customers and partners, the Company has implemented enhanced safety measures and sanitation procedures to allow for in-person dining at its restaurants. As the Company navigates through the pandemic, it has also implemented measures to reduce its costs including the deferral of capital projects and negotiations with suppliers and landlords regarding deferral or abatement of payments.

Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company cannot reasonably predict when its restaurants will be able to return to normal dining room operations. The Company expects that its results of operations could be materially and negatively affected by COVID-19 in 2021. The Company’s resumption of normal dining operations is subject to events beyond its control, including the effectiveness of governmental efforts to halt the spread of COVID-19.