Note 16 – Contingencies and Litigation

Litigation – 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 in an amount equal to $900, which is included in accrued expenses in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 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 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 alleges, among other things, violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, alleging 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. The Company intends to defend itself against this action. At this stage, the Company is unable to provide an evaluation of the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or an estimate of the amount or range of potential loss, if any.

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 Xponential and the individual defendants to improve Xponential’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.

SEC investigation – 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 intends to cooperate fully with the SEC in this matter. 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 the SEC investigation. At this stage, the Company is unable to assess whether any material loss or adverse effect is reasonably possible as a result of the SEC’s investigation or estimate the range of any potential loss.

The Company is subject to normal and routine litigation brought by 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; 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. The Company accrued for estimated legal liabilities and has entered into certain settlement agreements to resolve legal disputes and recorded $831 and $443 which is included in accrued expenses in the condensed consolidated balance sheets, as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

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 $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. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded an increase of $4,450 and $15,975 to contingent consideration, respectively, which was recorded as acquisition and transaction expense (income). At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, contingent consideration totals $12,329 and $7,879, respectively, 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 ending 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 $41 and $49 during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which was recorded as interest expense. The Company recorded additional contingent consideration of $(363) and $(233) during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which was recorded as acquisition and transaction expense (income). In addition, the Company paid contingent consideration of $0 during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, contingent consideration was $1,746 and $1,564 recorded as accrued expenses, respectively, and $283 and $787 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 in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. In exchange, the Company will 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 in 2024 at a purchase price based on the Master Franchisee’s EBITDA. 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 March 31, 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 $17 during the three months ended March 31, 2024, which was recorded as interest expense. At March 31, 2024, contingent consideration was $104 and $359 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 March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $237 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 $1,644 and $2,755 as of March 31, 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 March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, no accrual has been recorded for the Company’s potential obligation under its guaranty arrangement.