Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Contingencies and Litigation

v3.24.3
Contingencies and Litigation
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Contingencies and Litigation

Note 16 – Contingencies and Litigation

Litigation – The Company has in the past been, is currently and expects to continue in the future to be a party to or involved in pre-litigation disputes, individual actions, putative class actions or other collective actions, U.S. and state government regulatory inquiries and investigations and various other legal proceedings arising in the normal course of its business, including with former or current employees, customers, franchisees, vendors, landlords or others. The Company intends to defend itself in any such matters. The Company believes that the ultimate determination of liability in connection with legal claims pending against it, if any, will not have a material adverse effect on its business, annual results of operations, liquidity or financial position, except for those matters discussed below. However, it is possible that the Company’s business, results of operations, liquidity or financial condition could be materially affected in a particular future reporting period by the unfavorable resolution of one or more matters or contingencies during such period.

As of the end of each applicable reporting period, the Company reviews each of its legal proceedings and, where it is probable that a liability has been incurred, the Company accrues for all probable and reasonably estimable losses. The Company accrued for estimated legal liabilities, where appropriate, or settlement agreements to resolve legal disputes and recorded an aggregate accrual of $6,727 and $1,343, which is included in accrued expenses in the condensed consolidated balance sheets, as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

The Company maintains insurance coverage which may cover certain losses and legal costs incurred. When losses exceed the applicable policy deductible and realization of recovery of the loss from existing insurance policies is deemed probable, the Company records receivables from the insurance company for the excess amount. The Company has not recorded any provision for insurance reimbursement as of September 30, 2024.

On November 22, 2023, former employees of a former franchisee of the Company filed a putative class action complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, captioned Shannon McGill et al. v. Xponential Fitness LLC, et al., Case No. 2:23-cv-03909, against the Company, as well as against a former franchisee of the Company and the franchisee’s legal entity, MD Pro Fitness, LLC. The complaint alleges violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, as well as employment laws from different states in connection with the franchisee’s owner-operated studio locations. The Company was served with the complaint on December 4, 2023. The Company intends to defend itself in this litigation. The Company recorded an accrual for estimated loss contingencies associated with this matter, which is included in accrued expenses in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2024, based on currently available information. The accrual does not reflect the Company’s views of the merits of claims in this action.

On February 28, 2024 , the landlord (the "New York Rumble Landlord") for a Rumble studio located in New York, New York (the "New York Studio") filed an Affidavit of Confession of Judgment with the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York (the “Court”), against Rumble Fitness, LLC (the “Rumble Sellers”), in its capacity as the former tenant under the lease for the New York Studio (the "New York Lease"), for rent arrears; which filing was triggered by the Company's failure to pay rent. As the current tenant under the New York Lease, the Company had been negotiating a settlement with the New York Rumble Landlord to settle all rent arrears, future rent, and to terminate the New York Lease. On October 15, 2024, the Company entered into two settlement agreements with the New York Rumble Landlord pursuant to which the parties agreed to terminate the New York Lease and settle all amounts owed for rent arrears and future rent. The Company recorded an accrual for estimated loss contingencies associated with this matter, which is included in accrued expenses in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2024.

On February 9, 2024, a federal securities class action lawsuit was filed against the Company and certain of the Company’s officers in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The complaint alleged, among other things, violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, regarding misstatements and/or omissions in certain of the Company’s financial statements, press releases, and SEC filings made during the putative class period of July 26, 2021 through December 7, 2023. On July 26, 2024, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, adding three Company directors as defendants, as well as the underwriters from the Company’s April 6, 2022 secondary offering, additionally bringing claims under Sections 11, 12(a)(2), and 15 of the Securities Act, and alleging a putative class period of July 23, 2021 through May 10, 2024. The Company intends to defend itself against this action and filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on October 8, 2024. The Court has scheduled a hearing on the Company’s motion to dismiss for February 14, 2025. The litigation is preliminary in nature and involves substantial uncertainties and the Company believes that a loss is not probable or estimable at this time. However, there can be no assurance that such legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.

On March 10, 2024, a shareholder derivative lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California by Gideon Akande, allegedly on behalf of Xponential Fitness, Inc., against certain current officers and directors as defendants,

and Xponential Fitness, Inc., as nominal defendant, for alleged wrongdoing committed by the individual defendants from July 26, 2021 to December 7, 2023. Plaintiff alleges claims for breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, gross mismanagement, abuse of control, waste of corporate assets, violations of Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act, violations of Sections 20(a) and 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act, and against Messrs. Geisler and Meloun for contribution or indemnification under Sections 10(b) and 21D of the Exchange Act. Plaintiffs seek, inter alia, damages with pre- and post-judgment interest, and an order directing the Company and the individual defendants to improve the Company’s corporate governance, and restitution by the individual defendants. On April 3, 2024, the court entered an Order granting the parties’ Joint Stipulation to Stay Proceedings, which stayed the proceeding pending final resolution of the securities class action. On May 10, 2024, a second derivative lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California by Patrick Ayers, purportedly on behalf of Xponential Fitness, Inc., alleging similar claims. On June 24, 2024, the Court stayed the Ayers action pending resolution of the securities class action and consolidated the proceedings with the Gideon Akande derivative lawsuit. The litigation is preliminary in nature and involves substantial uncertainties and the Company believes that a loss is not probable or estimable at this time. However, there can be no assurance that such legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.

On November 2, 2023, the Company received a letter from plaintiffs’ counsel purporting to represent unspecified current and former franchisees requesting settlement discussions. On July 31, 2024, plaintiffs’ counsel provided the Company with a list of approximately 250 current and former franchisees, certain of which current and former franchisees consist of more than one individual, that it purported to represent in this matter, who purport to have been aggrieved by alleged misstatements and omissions by the Company or an affiliate thereof. No litigation has been commenced, and the Company intends to vigorously defend itself in this matter. The Company recorded an accrual for estimated loss contingencies associated with this matter, which is included in accrued expenses in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The accrual does not reflect the Company’s views of the merits of claims in this action.

Government investigations – On December 5, 2023, the Company was contacted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), requesting that the Company provide it with certain information and documents. The Company received notice on May 7, 2024 of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California (the “USAO”). On July 29, 2024, the Company received a civil investigative demand from the United States Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”). The Company intends to cooperate fully with the SEC, USAO and FTC in these investigations, and the Company has incurred, and may continue to incur, significant expenses related to legal and other professional services in connection with matters relating to or arising from these investigations. At this stage, the Company is unable to assess whether any material loss or adverse effect is reasonably possible as a result of these investigations or estimate the range of any potential loss.

Contingent consideration from acquisitions – In connection with the Reorganization Transactions, the Parent merged with and into the Member. The Company recorded contingent consideration equal to the fair value of the shares issued in connection with the Rumble acquisition of $23,100 and a $10,600 receivable from shareholder for debt financing provided to the Rumble Seller. The shares issued to the Rumble Seller are treated as a liability on the Company's balance sheet as they are subject to vesting conditions. The fair value of the contingent consideration is measured at estimated fair value using a Monte Carlo simulation analysis, which represents a Level 3 measurement. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded an increase of $3,797 and $7,042 to contingent consideration, respectively, which were recorded as acquisition and transaction expense. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recorded a decrease to contingent consideration of $3,356 and $18,533, respectively, which was recorded as acquisition and transaction income. At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, contingent consideration of $14,921 and $7,879, respectively, was recorded as contingent consideration from acquisitions in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

In connection with the October 2021 acquisition of BFT, the Company agreed to pay contingent consideration to the seller consisting of quarterly cash payments based on the sales of the franchise system and equipment packages in the U.S. and Canada, as well as a percentage of royalties collected by the Company, provided that aggregate minimum payments of $5,000 AUD (approximately $3,694 USD based on the currency exchange rate as of the purchase date) are required to be paid to the seller for the two-year period ended December 31, 2023. The aggregate amount of such payments is subject to a maximum of $14,000 AUD (approximately $10,342 USD based on the currency exchange rate as of the purchase date). At the acquisition date, the Company determined that the fair value of the estimated contingent consideration liability was $9,388. The Company recorded additional contingent consideration of $31 and $108 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and $31 and $124 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, which was recorded as interest expense. The Company recorded a change to contingent consideration of $(302) and $(950) during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and $1,338 and $1,005 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, which was recorded as acquisition and transaction expense

(income). The Company paid no contingent consideration during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and $1,412 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, contingent consideration of $1,346 and $1,564 was recorded as accrued expenses, respectively, and $163 and $787 was recorded as contingent consideration from acquisitions, respectively, in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

In addition, in connection with the October 2021 acquisition of BFT, the Company entered into a Master Franchise Agreement (“MFA”) with an affiliate of the Seller (the “Master Franchisee”), pursuant to which the Company granted the Master Franchisee the master franchise rights for the BFTTM brands on a global basis, excluding the United States and Canada. In exchange, the Company is entitled to receive certain fees and royalties, including a percentage of the revenue generated by the Master Franchisee under the MFA. The MFA contains an option for the Company to repurchase the master franchise rights granted under the MFA at a purchase price based on the Master Franchisee’s EBITDA, which has been extended to 2025. If the Company (or a designee of the Company) does not exercise the option pursuant to the terms of the MFA, then the Company might be required to pay a cancellation fee to the Master Franchisee which might be material to the Company. If the Master Franchisee rejects an offer to repurchase the franchise rights, then the cancellation fee is not required to be paid. The Company believes the likelihood of a cancellation payment being required is remote as of September 30, 2024, and therefore no accrual has been recorded.

In connection with the January 2024 acquisition of Lindora, the Company agreed to pay contingent consideration to the seller subject to the achievement of certain milestones. Payment of additional consideration is contingent on Lindora reaching two milestones based on a certain gross sales target and the number of operating clinics during the 15-month and 24-month period following the acquisition date, respectively. At the acquisition date, the Company determined that the fair value of the estimated contingent consideration liability was $446. The Company recorded additional contingent consideration of $27 and $61 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, which was recorded as interest expense. The Company recorded additional contingent consideration of $169 and $342 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, which was recorded as acquisition and transaction expense. At September 30, 2024, contingent consideration of $440 and $410 was recorded as accrued expenses and contingent consideration from acquisitions, respectively, in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Letter of credit – In July 2022, the Company issued a $750 standby letter of credit to a third-party financing company, who provides loans to the Company's qualified franchisees. The standby letter of credit is contingent upon the failure of franchisees to perform according to the terms of underlying contracts with the third party. The Company deposited cash in a restricted account as collateral for the standby letter of credit. The Company has determined the fair value of these guarantees at inception was not material, and as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $305 and $536 accrual has been recorded for the Company’s potential obligation under its guaranty arrangement, respectively.

Lease guarantees – The Company has guaranteed lease agreements for certain franchisees. The Company’s maximum obligation, as a result of its guarantees of leases, is approximately $1,848 and $2,755 as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, and would only require payment upon default by the primary obligor. The Company has determined the fair value of these guarantees at inception is not material, and as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $842 and $0 accrual has been recorded for the Company’s potential obligation under its guaranty arrangement.