# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001324272
**File Stem:** 0001437749-23-004380
**Filing Date:** 2023-2
**Character Count:** 348769
**Document Hash:** db8e7092cf63b0e498b5447dd34a8147
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001437749-23-004380.hdr.sgml**: 20230223

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001437749-23-004380

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 10-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 101

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20221225

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20230223

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20230223

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Ruths Hospitality Group, Inc.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001324272
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
- **IRS NUMBER:** 721060618
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** DE
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1225

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 10-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 000-51485
- **FILM NUMBER:** 23659474

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1030 W. CANTON AVENUE
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 100
- **CITY:** WINTER PARK
- **STATE:** FL
- **ZIP:** 32789
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** (407) 333-7440

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1030 W. CANTON AVENUE
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 100
- **CITY:** WINTER PARK
- **STATE:** FL
- **ZIP:** 32789

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** Ruths Chris Steak House, Inc.
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20050419

ruth20221231_10k.htm

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**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20549** 

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**FORM 10-K**

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**(Mark One)** 

☒ **ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934**

**FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED December 25, 2022**

**or**

☐ **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: 000-51485**

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## Ruth ' s Hospitality Group, Inc.
**(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)** 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Delaware** | **72-1060618** |
| **(State or other jurisdiction of**<br> **incorporation or organization)** | **(I.R.S. Employer**<br> **Identification No.)** |
| **1030 W. Canton Avenue, Suite 100,**<br> **Winter Park, FL** | **32789** |
| **(Address of principal executive offices)** | **(Zip code)** |

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**Registrant**'**s telephone number, including area code: (407) 333-7440**

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**Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:**

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common stock, par value $0.01 per share | RUTH | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |

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**Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:**

**None**

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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 Section 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 (2) 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, a 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 | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting<br> company | ☐ | Emerging growth<br> company |

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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 checkmark 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 recover 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 Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of June 24, 2022, the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the registrant's outstanding common stock, par value $0.01 per share, held by non-affiliates was $586,618,763.

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock as of February 17, 2023, was 32,003,406 which excludes 926,430 shares of unvested restricted stock.

**DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE** 

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The information required by Part III of Annual Report on Form 10-K, to the extent not set forth herein, is incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Proxy Statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after the close of the registrant's fiscal year.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Auditor Name: KPMG LLP | Location: Orlando, FL | Auditor Firm ID: 185 |

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[**Table of Contents**](#toc)

**TABLE OF CONTENTS** 

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  | **Page** |
| [**PART I**](#p1) | [**PART I**](#p1) | [**PART I**](#p1) |
| Item 1. | [Business](#i1) | 1 |
| Item 1A. | [Risk Factors](#i1a) | 7 |
| Item 1B. | [Unresolved Staff Comments](#i1b) | 17 |
| Item 2. | [Properties](#i2) | 17 |
| Item 3. | [Legal Proceedings](#i3) | 19 |
| Item 4. | [Mine Safety Disclosures](#i4) | 19 |
| [**PART II**](#p2) | [**PART II**](#p2) | [**PART II**](#p2) |
| Item 5. | [Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities](#i5) | 20 |
| Item 6. | [Reserved](#i6) | 22 |
| Item 7. | [Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations](#i7) | 23 |
| Item 7A. | [Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk](#i7a) | 32 |
| Item 8. | [Financial Statements and Supplementary Data](#i8) | 35 |
| Item 9. | [Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure](#i9) | 35 |
| Item 9A. | [Controls and Procedures](#i9a) | 35 |
| Item 9B. | [Other Information](#i9b) | 37 |
| Item 9C. | [Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions That Prevent Inspections](#i9c) | 37 |
| [**PART III**](#p3) | [**PART III**](#p3) | [**PART III**](#p3) |
| Item 10. | [Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance](#i10) | 38 |
| Item 11. | [Executive Compensation](#i11) | 38 |
| Item 12. | [Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters](#i12) | 38 |
| Item 13. | [Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence](#i13) | 39 |
| Item 14. | [Principal Accountant Fees and Services](#i14) | 39 |
| [**PART IV**](#p4) | [**PART IV**](#p4) | [**PART IV**](#p4) |
| Item 15. | [Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules](#i15) | 40 |
| Item 16. | [Form 10-K Summary](#i16) | 40 |
| [Signatures](#sig) | [Signatures](#sig) | 44 |

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**FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS**

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains "forward-looking statements", as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect, when made, the Company's expectations or beliefs concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements frequently are identified by the words "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "future," "intend," "likely result," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "seek", "should," "target," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," "would" and other similar words and phrases. Similarly, statements herein that describe the Company's objectives, plans or goals, including with respect to restaurant closures and re-openings, new restaurant openings and acquisitions or closures, capital expenditures, strategy, financial outlook, liquidity outlook, our effective tax rate, and the impact of inflation and recent accounting pronouncements, also are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those projected, implied or anticipated by the Company's forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the negative impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had and may continue to have on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows; reductions in the availability of, or increases in the cost of, USDA Prime grade beef, fish and other food items; changes in economic conditions, including inflation, increasing interest rates, higher unemployment, slowing growth or recession, reductions in consumer discretionary income, and general trends; the loss of key management personnel; the effect of market volatility on the Company's stock price; health concerns about beef or other food products; the effect of competition in the restaurant industry; changes in consumer preferences or discretionary spending or our ability to pass along rising costs through selling prices; labor shortages or increases in labor costs; the impact of federal, state or local government regulations relating to income taxes, unclaimed property, Company employees, the sale or preparation of food, the sale of alcoholic beverages and the opening of new restaurants; political conditions, civil unrest or other developments and risks in the markets where the Company's restaurants are located; harmful actions taken by the Company's franchisees; the inability to successfully integrate franchisee acquisitions into the Company's business operations; economic, regulatory and other limitations on the Company's ability to pursue new restaurant openings and other organic growth opportunities; a failure, interruption or security breach of the Company's information technology network; the Company's indemnification obligations in connection with its sale of the Mitchell's Restaurants; the Company's ability to protect its name and logo and other proprietary information; an impairment in the financial statement carrying value of our goodwill, other intangible assets or property; gains or losses on lease modifications; the impact of litigation; the restrictions imposed by the Company's credit agreement; changes in, or the suspension or discontinuation of, the Company's quarterly cash dividend payments or share repurchase program; and the inability to secure additional financing on terms acceptable to the Company. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update this Annual Report on Form 10-K to reflect events or circumstances after the date thereof. You should not assume that material events subsequent to the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K have not occurred.

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Unless the context otherwise indicates, all references in this report to the "Company," "Ruth's," "we," "us", "our" or similar words are to Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

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**PART I** 

**Item 1. BUSINESS** 

**Introduction** 

Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. develops and operates fine dining restaurants under the trade name Ruth's Chris Steak House. As of December 25, 2022, there were 154 Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants, including 77 Company-owned restaurants, three restaurants operating under contractual agreements and 74 franchisee-owned restaurants, including 23 international franchisee-owned restaurants in Aruba, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan. All Company-owned restaurants are located in the United States.

The Company has a 52/53-week fiscal year ending the last Sunday in December. Fiscal years 2022, 2021, and 2020 each had 52 weeks. The 2022 fiscal year ended December 25, 2022, the 2021 fiscal year ended December 26, 2021, and the 2020 fiscal year ended December 27, 2020. Fiscal year 2023 will have 53 weeks.

The following description of the Company's business should be read in conjunction with the information in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

**Background** 

Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. is a Delaware corporation formerly known as Ruth's Chris Steak House, Inc. The Company was founded in 1965 when Ruth Fertel mortgaged her home for $22 thousand to purchase "Chris Steak House," a 60-seat restaurant located near the New Orleans Fair Grounds racetrack. After a fire destroyed the original restaurant, Ruth relocated her restaurant to a new 160-seat facility nearby. As the terms of the original purchase prevented the use of the "Chris Steak House" name at a new restaurant, Ruth added her name to that of the original restaurant—thus creating the "Ruth's Chris Steak House" brand.

The Company's expansion began in 1972, when Ruth opened a second restaurant in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans. In 1976, the first franchisee-owned Ruth's Chris Steak House opened in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 2005, the Company and certain selling shareholders completed an initial public offering of the Company's common stock, which is currently listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol "RUTH".

**COVID-19 Impact**

The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in a significant reduction in revenue at the Company's restaurants due to mandatory restaurant closures, capacity limitations, social distancing guidelines or other restrictions mandated by governments across the world, including federal, state and local governments in the United States. As a result of these developments, the Company experienced a significant negative impact on its revenues, results of operations and cash flows. As of December 25, 2022, all of the Company-owned and managed Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurant dining rooms were open and its revenues, results of operations and cash flows were comparable to periods prior to the pandemic.

**Ruth**'**s Chris Steak House** 

With 154 restaurants as of December 25, 2022, Ruth's Chris Steak House is one of the largest upscale steakhouse companies in the world. The menu features a broad selection of high-quality USDA Prime and Choice grade steaks and other premium offerings served in Ruth's Chris' signature fashion —"sizzling"— complemented by other traditional menu items inspired by its New Orleans heritage. Ruth's Chris complements its distinctive food offerings with an award-winning wine list.

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The Ruth's Chris brand reflects its 57-year commitment to the core values instilled by its founder, Ruth Fertel, of caring for guests by delivering the highest quality food, beverages and genuine hospitality in a warm and inviting atmosphere.

**Strengths**

The Company believes that the key strengths of its business model are the following:

***Premier Upscale Steakhouse Brand***

With 154 restaurants as of December 25, 2022, Ruth's Chris Steak House is one of the strongest fine-dining steak house brands with 68% awareness on the most recent YouGov America Brand Ratings survey (Q4 2022). It also consistently ranks as one of the most beloved steak house chains in the US with high ratings for taste, service, and ambiance.

***Appealing Dining Experience***

At Ruth's Chris restaurants, the Company seeks to exceed guests' expectations by offering high-quality food with warm, friendly service. The Company's entire restaurant team is dedicated to ensuring that guests enjoy a superior dining experience. The Company's team-based approach to table service is designed to enhance the frequency of guest contact and speed of service without intruding on the guest experience.

**Strategy**

Historically, the Company's strategy is to deliver a total return to shareholders by maintaining a healthy core business, growing with a disciplined investment approach and returning excess capital to shareholders. The Company strives to maintain a healthy core business by growing sales through traffic, managing operating margins and leveraging its infrastructure. The Company has a balanced strategy that is focused on maintaining a healthy balance sheet and a healthy core business, being disciplined in evaluating future growth opportunities and returning excess capital to shareholders. The Company evaluates disciplined growth opportunities in markets with attractive sales attributes and solid financial returns. The Company believes that its franchisee program is a point of competitive differentiation and looks to grow its franchisee-owned restaurant locations as well. From time to time, the Company may also consider acquiring franchisee-owned restaurants at terms that it believes are beneficial to the Company.

***Improve Sales/Profitability***

The Company strives to improve sales and profitability by focusing on:

• Ensuring food quality through consistent preparation and presentation;

• Developing enhanced digital capabilities across commercial and operational platforms;

• Increasing brand awareness through enhanced media advertising at the national and local levels;

• Enhancing and/or developing innovative marketing programs through its website (e.g., www.ruthschris.com), social media, digital media and email communication;

• Creating and/or growing revenue opportunities via Ruth's Anywhere, Private Dining, the sale of Gift Cards and opening for lunch in selected markets; and

• Opening new restaurants and remodeling existing restaurants.

***Expand Relationships with New and Existing Franchisees and Others***

The Company intends to grow its franchising business primarily by expanding the rights of existing franchisees to open new restaurants. The Company believes that building relationships with quality franchisees is a cost-effective way to grow and strengthen the Ruth's Chris brand and generate additional revenues. The Company intends to continue to focus on providing operational guidance to its franchisees, including the sharing of "best practices" from Company-owned Ruth's Chris restaurants.

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In fiscal year 2022 one franchisee-owned restaurant was relocated within Wilmington, N.C. In fiscal year 2021 two new franchisee-owned restaurants were opened in Manila, Philippines and Changsha, China. In fiscal year 2020 one franchisee-owned restaurant was relocated within Chesterfield, MO.

The Company and its franchise and licensing partners have opened or relocated twelve new Ruth's Chris Steak Houses worldwide during the three-year period ended December 2022.

**Menu**

The Ruth's Chris menu features a broad selection of high-quality USDA Prime grade steaks and other premium offerings served in Ruth's Chris signature fashion—"sizzling" on a 500 degree plate and topped with butter and fresh parsley—complemented by other classic American steakhouse menu items. USDA Prime is the highest meat grade level, which refers to the superior quality and evenly distributed marbling that enhances the flavor of the steak. The Ruth's Chris menu also includes premium quality chicken, crab, fish, lamb chops and lobster.

The Ruth's Chris restaurants offer a variety of appetizer items, including calamari, New Orleans-style barbequed shrimp, mushrooms stuffed with crabmeat, seared ahi tuna, spicy shrimp, veal osso buco ravioli, goat cheese & artichoke dip, shrimp cocktail, chilled seafood tower and sizzling crab cakes, as well as four different salads. Our restaurants also offer a variety of potatoes and vegetables as side dishes. For dessert, crème brûlée, traditional bread pudding with whiskey sauce, chocolate sin cake, cheesecake and other selections are available.

The Company's wine list features bottles typically ranging in price from $48 to over $1,000. Individual restaurants may supplement their 175 – 185 bottle core wine list with approximately 20 additional selections that reflect local market tastes. Most of the Company's Ruth's Chris restaurants also offer over 19-21 wines-by-the-glass, 10 handcrafted cocktails and numerous beers, premium liquors and alcoholic dessert drinks.

Dinner entrees are generally priced from $38 to $115. Ruth's Chris is predominately open during dinner hours with only a limited number of restaurants open for lunch. The lunch menu offers lunch-specific entrees generally ranging in price from $16 to $41 and also features their signature steaks and seafood ranging in price from $42 to $71. The blended guest check average at Ruth's Chris was approximately $97 during fiscal year 2022 with food sales representing 80% of the guest check and the remainder represented by beverage sales. While the Ruth's Chris core menu is similar at all of its restaurants, the Company seasonally introduces new items such as limited time and prix fixe offerings that allow it to give its guests additional choices while taking advantage of fresh sourcing and advantageous cost opportunities.

**Restaurant Operations and Management**

The Ruth's Chris Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Operations have primary responsibility for managing Company-owned restaurants and participate in analyzing restaurant-level performance and strategic planning. The Company has eight regional vice presidents who oversee restaurant operations at Company-owned restaurants, one regional vice president who has oversight responsibility for certain company owned and all franchisee-owned restaurants and one vice president to whom the regional vice presidents report. In addition, restaurant education and training is overseen by a regional staff dedicated to the ongoing training and development of customer service employees and kitchen staff.

A typical Company-owned restaurant employs four to five managers, including a general manager, two or three front-of-the-house managers and an executive chef. The Company-owned restaurants also typically have approximately 55-65 hourly employees (higher volume locations will have more staff). Staffing levels at most Company-owned restaurants continue to be lower than pre-COVID levels due to labor efficiencies as well as the challenging labor market.

**Purchasing**

The Company's ability to maintain consistent quality throughout its restaurants depends in part upon its ability to acquire food and other supplies from reliable sources in accordance with its specifications. Purchasing for the restaurants is directed by the Vice President of Purchasing, Menu and Culinary as well as the Executive Chef using the Company's purchasing philosophy and specifications.

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During fiscal year 2022, the Company purchased substantially all the beef it used in Company-owned Ruth's Chris restaurants from two vendors, Sysco Specialty Meat Group (a subsidiary of Sysco) and Stock Yards Packing (a subsidiary of US Foods). Each vendor supplied about half of the Company's beef requirements. In addition, the Company has a distribution arrangement with a national food and restaurant supply distributor, Distribution Market Advantage, Inc. (DMA), which purchases products for the Company from various suppliers and through which all the Company-owned Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants receive a significant portion of their food supplies.

**Quality Control** 

The Company strives to maintain quality and consistency in its Company-owned restaurants through careful training and supervision of personnel and standards established for food and beverage preparation, maintenance of facilities and conduct of personnel. The primary goal of the Company's training and supervision programs is to ensure that its employees display the characteristics of its brand and values that distinguish it from its competitors. Restaurant managers in Company-owned restaurants must complete a training program that is typically seven to eight weeks long, during which they are instructed in multiple areas of restaurant management, including food quality and preparation, guest service, alcoholic beverage service, liquor regulation compliance and employee relations. Restaurant managers also receive operations manuals relating to food and beverage preparation and restaurant operations. Restaurant managers are certified by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation for food safety.

In addition to our internal quality control measures, the Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants also employ an independent third-party food safety firm to ensure proper training, food safety and the achievement of the highest standards for cleanliness throughout the restaurant through routine quarterly unannounced inspections. The Company instructs chefs and assistants on safety, sanitation, housekeeping, repair and maintenance, product and service specifications, ordering and receiving food products and quality assurance. At the Ruth's Chris restaurants, the executive chef, together with the restaurant managers, oversees a line check system of quality control and must complete a quality assurance checklist verifying the flavor, presentation and proper temperature of the food and beverages.

**Marketing and Promotions**

The goals of the Company's marketing efforts are to increase restaurant sales by attracting new guests, increasing the frequency of visits by current guests, enhancing the guest experience, driving innovation, improving brand recognition in new markets or markets where it intends to open a restaurant and to communicate the overall uniqueness, value and quality exemplified by the restaurants. The Company and its franchisees use multiple media channels to accomplish these goals and complements its national advertising with targeted local media such as print, digital media, influencer marketing, search engine marketing and outdoor billboards.

**Advertising**

In fiscal year 2022, the Company spent $17.4 million, or 3.4% of its revenues, in total marketing and advertising expenditures, which included spending on data and digital initiatives, in-store gift card promotion, traditional public relations, social media and influencer marketing. During fiscal year 2022, the Company's online strategy also included an emphasis on continued website improvement and personalized and targeted emails with special offers and announcements, as well as emails regarding off-premise dining options, holiday offers and personalized birthday and anniversary invitations. The Company's franchisees also conduct their own local media and advertising plans.

**Gift Cards**

The Company sells Ruth's Chris gift cards at most of its Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants, including franchises, on its website and through its toll-free number. E-gift cards, which may be purchased on the Company's e-commerce gift card website, are emailed directly to the recipient and are redeemable in the same manner as physical gift cards. Ruth's Chris gift cards are also sold in third-party retail outlets and are available through redemption of American Express Membership Rewards points. Offering gift cards at third-party retailers and e-gift cards gives Ruth's Chris the opportunity to maximize last-minute gift-giving and address its patrons' requests for convenient, immediate purchases. Ruth's Chris patrons frequently purchase gift cards for holidays, including Christmas, Hanukkah, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day, and other special occasions. In fiscal year 2022, Company and franchise sales of Ruth's Chris gift cards aggregated approximately $74.9 million system-wide, compared to $72.6 million in fiscal year 2021. Ruth's Chris gift cards are redeemable at both Company and franchisee-owned Ruth's Chris restaurants.

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**Franchise Program and Relationship**

Under the Company's franchise program, the Company offers certain services and licensing rights to the franchisee to help maintain consistency in system-wide operations. The Company's services include training of personnel, construction assistance, providing the new franchisee with standardized operating procedures and manuals, business and financial forms, consulting with the new franchisee on purchasing and supplies and performing supervisory quality control services. The Company conducts reviews of its franchisee-owned restaurants to ensure compliance with its standards.

As of December 25, 2022, the Company's 74 franchisee-owned Ruth's Chris restaurants are owned by 24 franchisees with the three largest franchisees owning 36 restaurants in total.

Under the Company's current franchise program, each franchise arrangement consists of a development agreement, if multiple restaurants are to be developed, with a separate franchise agreement executed for each restaurant. The Company's current form of development agreement grants exclusive rights to a franchisee to develop a minimum number of restaurants in a defined area, typically during a three-to-five-year period. Individual franchise agreements govern the operation of each restaurant opened and have a 20-year term with two renewal options each for additional ten-year terms if certain conditions are met. The Company's current form of franchise agreement requires franchisees to pay a 5% royalty on gross revenues plus up to a 1% advertising fee applied to national advertising expenditures.

Under the Company's current form of development agreement, and unless agreed otherwise, the Company collects a $50 thousand development fee, which is credited toward the $150 thousand franchise fee, for each restaurant the franchisee has rights to develop. Under the Company's current form of the franchise agreement, it collects up to $150 thousand of the full franchise fee at the time of executing the franchise agreement for each restaurant. If one restaurant is to be developed, a single unit franchise agreement is executed, and the $150 thousand franchise fee is collected at signing.

**Information Systems and Restaurant Reporting**

Each of the Company's restaurants use computerized point-of-sale systems, which are designed to promote operating efficiency, provide corporate management timely access to financial and marketing data and reduce restaurant and corporate administrative time and expense. These systems record each order and print the food requests in the kitchen for the cooks to prepare. The data captured for use by operations and corporate management includes gross sales amounts, cash and credit card receipts and quantities of each menu item sold. Sales and receipts information is generally transmitted to the corporate office daily.

The Company's corporate systems provide management with operating reports that show Company-owned restaurant performance comparisons with budget and prior year results. These systems allow the Company to monitor Company-owned restaurant sales, food and beverage costs, labor expense and other restaurant trends on a regular basis.

**Service Marks** 

The Company has registered the main service marks "Ruth's Chris" and its "Ruth's Chris Steak House, U.S. Prime & Design" logo, as well as other service marks used by its restaurants, with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and in the foreign countries in which its restaurants operate. The Company has also registered in other foreign countries in anticipation of new store openings within those countries. The Company is not aware of any infringing uses that could materially affect its business. The Company believes that its service marks are valuable to the operation of its restaurants and are important to its marketing strategy.

**Seasonality** 

The Company's business is subject to seasonal fluctuations. Historically, absent the impact of COVID-19 in fiscal years 2020 and 2021, the percentage of its annual revenues earned during the first and fourth fiscal quarters have been higher relative to other quarters due, in large part, to increased restaurant sales during the year-end holiday season and the popularity of dining out in the fall and winter months.

**Human Capital** 

Our approach to Human Capital is defined by our strong culture of taking care of people, which reflect our roots in the single steak house started by Ruth Fertel over fifty-seven years ago, define the essence of Ruth's Chris Steak House, and determine how we take care of each of Our People: Guests, Team Members, Franchise Owners, Vendor Partners, Community, and Investors.

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None of the Company's employees (our "Team Members") are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Over the course of 2022, the Company completed our transition out of its "COVID-response" approach to Human Capital, continued to adjust our health and safety protocols to align with changing federal, state and local requirements, and refocused our efforts on ensuring our restaurants were fully staffed, opening new restaurants, and developing our team members. As of December 25, 2022, our number of employees by functional area is set forth in the table below:

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|:---|:---|
| **Functional Area** | **Number of Employees** |
| Senior Officers / Corporate VPs / Operations VPs | 18 |
| General Managers/Regional General Managers | 76 |
| Managers | 199 |
| Executive Chefs/Regional Corporate Chefs | 79 |
| Non-Salaried Restaurant Staff | 4302 |
| Corporate Salaried | 58 |
| Corporate Non-salaried | 36 |
| Total number of employees | 4768 |

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We believe the stability of our leadership team is a critical driver of our ability to steward the Company's brand and to deliver consistently the brand standards and experiences our Guests expect. The average tenure of our Field Leadership (VP Level) is approximately sixteen years, the average tenure of our Restaurant Leadership (General Managers and Chefs) is approximately nine years, and the average tenure of our home office leadership is just shy of nine years. In addition, 23% of our General Managers and approximately 30% of our Chefs have been with the Company for more than fifteen years.

Our diverse team reflects our commitment to attracting, retaining, and developing a workforce that reflects the communities in which we live and work. Across the Company, approximately 55% of our Team Members are racially or ethnically diverse and 36% identify as female. Of our Named Executive Officers 60% identify as female and 63% of our Board of Directors identify as female. Consistent with our commitment to diversity, we hired a Director of Diversity and Inclusion in November of 2020.

We believe that providing competitive benefits to our Team Members is integral to ensuring we achieve our goal of attracting and retaining the best team in the industry. As such, we offer our Team Members competitive pay and health care benefits. Hourly Team Members are eligible for health care and vacation benefits after one year of service if they average 24 hours of work and receive company-paid life insurance when meeting the same criteria. We also held Team Member contributions to health care premiums flat in 2022 and shifted our 401(k) plan to a Safe Harbor plan. This new plan was accompanied by an increase in the amount and frequency of our Company match and allowing all Team Members to participate in the plan after 90 days of service.

Our commitment to our Team Members does not stop with providing competitive pay and benefits. In 2005, following the impact of Hurricane Katrina, we created the RUTHS Fund to support our Team Members experiencing hardship. The RUTHS Fund is supported primarily by home office and field Team Member contributions. Over the course of 2020 through 2022 the fund paid out $871 thousand in grants benefiting over 730 of our Team Members who applied for support.

Our commitment to our Team Members also extends to creating promotional opportunities for them and ensuring they are well prepared for those opportunities. In 2022, we took several steps to ensure we develop and retain our talent including only opening new restaurants with experienced Ruth's Chris management teams, expanding our Key Development program to provide the experiences needed to seamlessly enter Management, and implemented a Regional General Manager program to prepare our next generation of Regional Vice Presidents (multi-unit leaders).

**Government Regulation**

The Company is subject to extensive federal, state and local government regulation, including regulations relating to public health and safety, zoning and fire codes and the sale of alcoholic beverages and food. The Company maintains the necessary restaurant, alcoholic beverage and retail licenses, permits and approvals. Federal and state laws govern the Company's relationship with its employees, including laws relating to minimum wage requirements, overtime, tips, tip credits and working conditions. A significant number of the Company's hourly employees are paid at rates related to federal or state minimum wage. During 2022, governmental entities acted to increase minimum wage rates in several jurisdictions where Company-owned restaurants are located, and further increases are anticipated to take effect in coming years.

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The Company is subject to laws and regulations relating to the preparation and sale of food, including regulations regarding product safety, nutritional content and menu labeling. The Company is subject to laws and regulations requiring disclosure of calorie, fat, trans fat, salt and allergen content. Beginning in May 2018, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 ("ACA") has required restaurant companies, such as the Company, to disclose calorie information on their menus. The Food and Drug Administration has rules to implement this provision that require restaurants to post the number of calories for most items on menus or menu boards and to make available more detailed nutrition information upon request. A number of states, counties and cities have also enacted menu labeling laws requiring restaurant companies, such as the Company, to disclose certain nutrition information on their menus, or have enacted legislation restricting the use of certain types of ingredients in restaurants some of which are preempted by the federal law. Many of the current requirements are inconsistent or are interpreted differently from one jurisdiction to another.

The Company maintains an employee benefits program that provides self-insured and insured coverage to employees that meet the applicable requirements under the program. Employees can elect to enroll dependents that meet eligibility criteria. Coverage includes health, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, life insurance and other voluntary ancillary benefits. Employees share in the cost of other coverage at varying levels. The Company has historically funded a majority of the cost of employee health benefits. The ACA requires that employers offer health care coverage that is qualified and affordable. Coverage must be offered to all "full-time" employees, as defined by the ACA. The Company routinely reviews its health benefit plans to assure conformity with the ACA. The hours of service eligibility criteria the Company requires for health benefits are lower than required under the ACA. Approximately 62% of eligible employees elect to participate in the Company's health benefit plans.

The offer and sale of franchises are subject to regulation by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") and many states. The FTC requires that the Company furnish to prospective franchisees a franchise disclosure document containing prescribed information. A number of states also regulate the sale of franchises and require state registration of franchise offerings and the delivery of a franchise disclosure document to prospective franchisees. The Company's noncompliance could result in governmental enforcement actions seeking a civil or criminal penalty, rescission of a franchise, and loss of its ability to offer and sell franchises in a state, or a private lawsuit seeking rescission, damages and legal fees.

**Competition** 

The restaurant business is highly competitive and highly fragmented, and the number, size and strength of the Company's competitors vary widely by region. The Company believes that restaurant competition is based on, among other things, quality of food products, customer service, reputation, restaurant location, atmosphere, name recognition and price. The Company's restaurants compete with a number of upscale steakhouses within their markets, both locally owned restaurants and restaurants within regional or national chains. The principal upscale steakhouses with which the Company competes are Fleming's, The Capital Grille, Smith & Wollensky, The Palm, Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, Fogo de Chão, Morton's The Steakhouse, Eddie V's and other local fine dining restaurants. The Company's competitors may be better established in certain of the Company's existing markets and/or markets into which the Company intends to expand.

**Available Information** 

The Company maintains a website at **www.rhgi.com**. The Company makes available free of charge, through the investor relations section of its website, its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports electronically filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Such information is available on the Company's website as soon as reasonably practicable after it is filed with the SEC. Additionally, the Company's Code of Ethics may be accessed within the Investor Relations section of its website. Information found on the Company's website is not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K or any other report filed with the SEC.

**Item 1A. RISK FACTORS**

*In addition to the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the following risk factors should be considered carefully in evaluating the Company and its business. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that the Company currently deems immaterial may also impair its business operations. If any of these certain risks and uncertainties were to actually occur, the Company*'*s business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In such case, the trading price of the Company*'*s common stock could decline and its investors may lose all or part of their investment. These risks and uncertainties include the following:* 

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**Risks Related to Our Ability to Operate and Grow Our Business**

 ***Increases in the prices of, or reductions in the availability of, any of our core food products could reduce our operating margins and revenues.***

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We purchase large quantities of beef, particularly USDA Prime grade beef, which is subject to significant price fluctuations due to seasonal shifts, climate conditions, industry demand and other factors. Beef costs represent approximately 49% of our food and beverage costs during fiscal year 2022 . We typically buy our beef on the "spot" market and from time to time we will enter into longer term pricing and supply agreements. The market for USDA Prime grade beef is particularly volatile. If prices increase, or we are unsuccessful in our long-term pricing and supply agreements, or the supply of beef is reduced, our operating margins could be materially adversely affected.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In addition, under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act, the production, processing or interstate distribution of meat and poultry products is prohibited absent federal inspection. If there is a disruption to the meat inspection process, we could experience a reduction in supply and a corresponding increase in meat prices, which could be significant, either of which could materially impact our operating margin and results of operations.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In the recent past, certain types of seafood have experienced fluctuations in availability. Seafood is also subject to fluctuations in price based on availability, which is often seasonal. If certain types of seafood are unavailable, or if our costs increase, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

***The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted and may continue to disrupt our business, which has and could continue to materially affect our operations, financial condition and results of operations for an extended period of time.***

The government responses related to COVID-19 across the world and our Company's responses to the outbreak have disrupted and may continue to disrupt our business and adversely affect our revenue and operating margin and we cannot predict how long the outbreak will ultimately last or what other government responses may occur.

As of December 25, 2022, we were engaged in legal proceedings with three landlords. Subsequent to fiscal year 2022, we resolved two of these outstanding legal proceedings. We have pursued and continue to pursue the remaining outstanding matter vigorously, but there can be no assurance that we will prevail in litigation.

Additional government regulations or legislation due to COVID-19, in addition to decisions we have made and may make in the future, relating to the compensation of and benefit offerings for our restaurant Team Members could also have an adverse effect on our business. We cannot predict the types of additional government regulations or legislation that may be passed relating to employee compensation due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

We cannot predict the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic or future governmental regulations or legislation that may be passed as a result of ongoing or future COVID-19 outbreaks. The continued impact of COVID-19 and the enactment of additional governmental regulations and restrictions may further adversely impact the global economy, the restaurant industry, and our business specifically, despite prior or future actions taken by us.

***A lack of availability of suitable locations for new restaurants, the inability to renew leases at existing restaurants on similar terms and conditions, or a decline in the quality of the locations of our current restaurants may adversely affect our sales and results of operations.***

The success of our restaurants depends in large part on their locations. All but one of our Company-owned restaurant premises are leased. If we do not renew leases when the lease terms expire, or if we are unable to renew leases on favorable terms and conditions, our operating results could be negatively impacted. Possible declines in neighborhoods where our restaurants are located or adverse economic conditions in areas surrounding those neighborhoods could also result in reduced sales in those restaurants. Desirable locations for new restaurant openings or for the relocation of existing restaurants may not be available at an acceptable cost when we identify a particular opportunity for a new restaurant or relocation. In addition, construction costs for new locations may fluctuate. The occurrence of one or more of these events could have a significant adverse effect on our sales and results of operations.

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***Our strategy to open franchisee-owned restaurants subjects us to extensive government regulation, compliance with which might increase our investment costs and restrict our growth.***

We are subject to the rules and regulations of the FTC and various international and state laws regulating the offer and sale of franchises. The FTC requires that we furnish to prospective franchisees a franchise disclosure document containing prescribed information and can restrict our ability to sell franchises. A number of states also regulate the sale of franchises and require the obtaining of a permit and/or registration of the franchise disclosure document with state authorities and the delivery of the franchise disclosure document to prospective franchisees. Non-compliance with those laws could result in governmental enforcement actions seeking a civil or criminal penalty, rescission of a franchise, and loss of our ability to offer and sell franchises in a state, or a private lawsuit seeking rescission, damages and legal fees, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

***The terms of our senior credit agreement may restrict our ability to operate our business and to pursue our business strategies.***

Our senior credit agreement contains, and any agreements governing future indebtedness would likely contain, a number of restrictive covenants that impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us. Our senior credit agreement, which was entered into on February 2, 2017 and was amended and restated on October 18, 2021, may limit our ability, among other things, to:

• pay dividends or purchase stock in excess of the limits permitted under the credit facility;

• borrow money or issue guarantees;

• make investments;

• use assets as security in other transactions;

• sell assets or merge with or into other companies;

• enter into transactions with affiliates; and

• create or permit restrictions on our subsidiaries' ability to make payments to us.

Our ability to engage in these types of transactions is limited even if we believe that a specific transaction would contribute to our future growth or improve our operating results. Our senior credit agreement also requires us to maintain compliance with certain financial ratios. Our ability to comply with these ratios may be affected by events outside of our control. Any non-compliance would result in a default under our senior credit agreement and could result in our lenders declaring our senior debt immediately due and payable, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, consolidated results of operations and liquidity. For more information about senior credit agreement, see Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Senior Credit Facility, of this Annual Report on the Form 10-K.

We pay interest under our senior credit agreement based on the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"). At the end of 2021, the ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator for LIBOR, ceased publishing one-week and two-month U.S. dollar LIBOR and will cease publishing all remaining U.S dollar LIBOR tenors in mid-2023. Concurrently, the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority announced the cessation or loss of representativeness of the U.S dollar LIBOR tenors from those dates. The U.S Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of, among other entities, large U.S financial institutions, has recommended replacing U.S. dollar LIBOR with a new index that measures the cost of borrowing cash overnight, backed by U.S Treasury securities ("SOFR"). SOFR is observed and backward-looking, which stands in contrast with LIBOR, which is an estimated forward-looking rate and relies, to some degree, on the expert judgement of submitting panel members. The consequences of these developments with respect to LIBOR cannot be entirely predicted and may result in the level of interest payments on the portion of our indebtedness under our senior credit agreement to be affected, which may adversely affect the amount of our interest payments under such debt.

***In the future, we may depend on external sources of capital, which may not be available.***

Currently, we utilize our senior credit agreement to fund a portion of our working capital and other financing requirements. Any non-compliance with any restrictive or financial covenants in our senior credit agreement could result in a default and could result in our lenders declaring our senior debt immediately due and payable, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, consolidated results of operations and liquidity.

If we are required to seek other sources of capital, additional capital may or may not be available on favorable terms or at all. Our access to third-party sources of capital depends on a number of factors, including the market's perception of our current and potential future earnings. Furthermore, additional equity offerings may result in substantial dilution of stockholders' interests. If we are unable to access sufficient capital or enter into financing arrangements on favorable terms in the future, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

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***Food safety and food-borne illness concerns throughout the supply chain may have an adverse effect on our business.***

Food safety is a top priority, and we dedicate substantial resources to ensuring that our customers enjoy safe, quality food products. However, food safety risks are common throughout the restaurant industry and cannot be eliminated. Food safety issues could be caused by food suppliers, distributors or franchisees and, as a result, be out of our control. In addition, regardless of the source or cause, any report of food-borne illness such as E. coli, norovirus, hepatitis A, trichinosis, shigella, typhoid fever or salmonella, and other food safety issues including food tampering or contamination, at one of our restaurants could adversely affect the reputation of our brand and have a negative impact on our sales. Even instances of food-borne illness, food tampering or other food contamination occurring solely at restaurants of our competitors could result in negative publicity about the food service industry generally and adversely impact our sales. The occurrence of food-borne illnesses or food safety issues could also adversely affect the price and availability of affected ingredients, resulting in higher costs and lower margins.

***If our vendors or distributors do not deliver food and beverages in a timely manner we may experience supply shortages and/or increased food and beverage costs.***

Our ability to maintain consistent quality throughout Company-owned restaurants depends in part upon our ability to purchase USDA Prime and Choice grade beef, seafood and other food products in accordance with our rigid specifications. The Company did not experience any major disruption during the fiscal year 2022 and was able to purchase substantially all of the beef used in Company-owned Ruth's Chris restaurants from two vendors, Sysco Specialty Meat Group (a subsidiary of Sysco) and Stock Yards Packing (a subsidiary of US Foods). Each vendor supplied about half of the Company's beef requirements.

In addition, we currently have a long-term distribution arrangement with a national food and restaurant supply distributor, DMA, which purchases products for us from various suppliers, and through which each of our Company-owned Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants receive a significant portion of their food supplies. Consolidation in our supply chain due to mergers and acquisitions may change the relationships we have with our existing vendors and distributors and/or result in fewer alternative supply sources for purchasing our food supplies, which could result in an increase in prices. If for any reason our vendors or distributors cease doing business with us, we could experience supply shortages in certain Company-owned restaurants and could be required to purchase supplies at higher prices until we are able to secure an alternative supply source. Any delay we experience in replacing vendors or distributors on acceptable terms could increase food costs or, in extreme cases, require us to temporarily remove items from the menu at one or more Company-owned restaurants.

***Labor shortages or increases in labor costs could slow our growth or harm our business.***

Our success depends in part upon our ability to continue to attract, motivate and retain employees with the qualifications to succeed in our industry and the motivation to apply our core service philosophy, including regional operational managers, restaurant general managers and chefs. If we are unable to continue to recruit and retain sufficiently qualified individuals, our business and growth could be adversely affected. Competition for these employees could require us to pay higher wages, which could result in higher labor costs.

In addition, we have a substantial number of hourly employees who are paid wage rates at or based on the federal or state minimum wage and who rely on tips as a large portion of their income. Governmental entities have acted to increase minimum wage rates in several jurisdictions where Company-owned restaurants are located. The federal minimum wage may be increased and there likely will be additional minimum wage increases implemented in other states in which we operate or seek to operate. Likewise, changes to existing tip credit laws (which dictate the amounts an employer is permitted to assume an employee receives in tips when calculating the employee's hourly wage for minimum wage compliance purposes) continue to be proposed and implemented at both the federal and state government levels. As federal and/or state minimum wage rates increase and allowable tip credits decrease, we may need to increase not only the wage rates of our minimum wage employees but also the wages paid to our employees who are paid above the minimum wage, which will increase our labor costs. Proposals on paid sick leave could also increase our labor costs. None of our employees are represented by a collective bargaining unit. Should some of our employees elect to be represented by a collective bargaining unit, our labor costs may increase due to higher wage rates and/or the implementation of work rules. We may be unable to increase our prices to pass these increased labor costs on to our guests, in which case our margins would be negatively affected.

***Regulations affecting the operation of our restaurants could increase operating costs and restrict growth.***

Each of our restaurants must obtain licenses from regulatory authorities allowing us to sell liquor, beer and wine, and each restaurant must obtain a food service license from local health authorities. Each restaurant's liquor license must be renewed annually and may be revoked at any time for cause, including violation by the Company or its employees of any laws and regulations relating to the minimum drinking age, advertising, wholesale purchasing and inventory control.

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In certain states, including states where we have a large number of restaurants or where we may open restaurants in the future, the number of liquor licenses available is limited and licenses are traded at market prices. If we are unable to maintain existing licenses, or if we choose to open a restaurant in those states, the cost of a new license could be significant. Obtaining and maintaining licenses is an important component of each of our restaurant's operations, and the failure to obtain or maintain food and liquor licenses and other required licenses, permits and approvals would materially adversely impact existing restaurants or our growth strategy.

We are also subject to a variety of federal and state labor laws, pertaining to matters such as minimum wage and overtime pay requirements, unemployment tax rates, workers' compensation rates and citizenship requirements. Government-mandated increases in minimum wages, overtime pay, paid leaves of absence, mandated health benefits, COVID related labor regulations, or increased tax reporting and tax payment requirements for employees who receive gratuities or a reduction in the number of states that allow tips to be credited toward minimum wage requirements could increase our labor costs and reduce our operating margins. In addition, the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination based on disability in public accommodations and employment. Although our restaurants are designed to be accessible to the disabled, we could be required to make modifications to our restaurants to provide service to, or make reasonable accommodations for, disabled persons.

We are subject to a variety of federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the use, storage, discharge, emission and disposal of hazardous materials. There also has been increasing focus by United States and overseas governmental authorities on other environmental matters, such as climate change, the reduction of greenhouse gases and water consumption. This increased focus may lead to new initiatives directed at regulating a yet to be specified array of environmental matters. Legislative, regulatory or other efforts to combat climate change or other environmental concerns could result in future increases in the cost of raw materials, taxes, transportation and utilities, which could decrease our operating profits and necessitate future investments in facilities and equipment.

***We rely on information technology in our operations and a failure to maintain a continuous and secure network, free from material failure, interruption, or security breach, could harm our ability to effectively operate our business, damage our reputation and negatively affect our operations and profits.***

We rely on information systems across our operations, including for marketing programs, point-of-sale processing systems in our restaurants, online purchases of gift cards and various other processes and transactions. The failure of these systems to operate effectively, delays in transitioning to upgraded or replacement systems, a material network breach in the security of these systems, or any other failure to maintain a continuous and secure network could adversely affect our reputation, negatively affect our results of operations, subject us to litigation or action by regulatory authorities and result in substantial harm to us or an individual. As privacy and information security laws and regulations change and cyber risks evolve, we may incur additional costs to ensure we remain in compliance, to protect guest, employee and Company information. We currently carry insurance coverage to protect ourselves against some of these risks. However, our inability to renew this coverage or to obtain such insurance coverage at reasonable costs also could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We accept electronic payment cards, including credit, debit and gift cards, from our guests for payment in our restaurants and on our websites. We also receive and maintain certain personal information about our customers and employees. Most of our sensitive data, including information related to employees, guests, credit cards, gift cards and financial statements, is stored or processed by third-party vendors. We, and some of our vendors, have experienced breaches but they have not had a material impact on operations or our financial position. If we, or one of our vendors, experienced a material security breach, we could become subject to claims, lawsuits or other proceedings for purportedly fraudulent transactions arising out of the theft of credit or debit card information, theft of gift card information, compromised security and information systems, failure of our employees to comply with applicable laws, the unauthorized acquisition or use of such information by third parties, or other similar claims.

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We frequently defend against unauthorized attempts to breach our network. Like other companies, we have in the past experienced, and we expect to continue to experience, cyber-attacks, including phishing, attacks through vulnerabilities in widely deployed third-party software we deploy in the ordinary course of business, and other attempts to breach, or gain unauthorized access to, our systems. We employ both internal and external consultants to conduct auditing and testing for weaknesses in our systems, controls, firewalls and encryption and intend to maintain and upgrade our security technology and operational procedures to prevent such damage, security breaches or other disruptive problems. We continuously monitor data security and evaluate our network for known security breaches. However, because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, to disable or degrade service, or to sabotage computer systems change frequently and may be difficult to detect for long periods of time, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or successfully implement adequate preventive security measures. There can also be no assurance that we would detect a cyber incident or prevent cyberattacks from penetrating our systems. Any such incidents or proceedings could negatively affect our reputation and our results of operations, cause delays in guest service, require significant capital investments to remediate the problem, and could result in the imposition of penalties or cause us to incur significant unplanned losses and expenditures, including those necessary to remediate any damage to persons whose personal information may have been compromised. Furthermore, because of legislative and regulatory rules, we may be required to notify employees or the owners of the credit and debit card information of any data breaches, which could harm our reputation and financial results, as well as subject us to litigation or other proceedings by regulatory authorities.

***We may not be able to compete successfully with other restaurants, which could reduce revenues.***

The restaurant industry is intensely competitive with respect to price, service, location, food quality, atmosphere and overall dining experience. Our competitors include a large and diverse group of well-recognized upscale steakhouse and upscale casual restaurant chains, including steakhouse and seafood chains as well as restaurants owned by independent local operators. Some of our competitors have substantially greater financial, marketing and other resources, and may be better established in the markets where our restaurants are or may be located. If we cannot compete effectively in one or more of our markets, we may be unable to maintain recent levels of comparable restaurant sales growth and/or may be required to close existing restaurants.

***Evolving corporate governance and public disclosure regulations and expectations, including with respect to our environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments and disclosures, could expose us to numerous risks.***

We are subject to the evolving rules and regulations with respect to ESG matters of a number of governmental and self-regulatory bodies and organizations, including the SEC, Nasdaq and the Financial Accounting Standards Board, that could make compliance more difficult and uncertain. In addition, regulators, guests, investors, employees and other stakeholders are increasingly focused on ESG matters and related disclosures. These changing rules, regulations and stakeholder expectations have resulted in, and are likely to continue to result in, increased general and administrative expenses and increased management time and attention to comply with or meet those regulations and expectations. Developing and acting on ESG initiatives and collecting, measuring and reporting ESG-related information and metrics can be costly, difficult and time consuming. Further, ESG-related information is subject to evolving reporting standards, including the SEC's proposed climate-related reporting requirements. Our ESG initiatives and goals could be difficult and expensive to implement, and we could be criticized for the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of our ESG disclosures. Further, statements about our ESG-related initiatives and goals, and progress against those goals, may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve and assumptions that are subject to change in the future. In addition, we could be criticized for the scope or nature of such initiatives or goals, or for revisions to these goals. If our ESG-related data, processes and reporting are incomplete or inaccurate, or if we fail to achieve progress with respect to our ESG goals on a timely basis, or at all, our reputation and financial results could be adversely affected.

**Risks Related to Financial Performance or General Economic Conditions**

***An impairment in the financial statement carrying value of our goodwill, other intangible assets or property could adversely affect our financial condition and consolidated results of operations.***

Goodwill and owned franchise rights must be reviewed for potential impairment annually and when triggering events are detected. We performed our annual impairment test of goodwill and franchise rights as of November 27, 2022 using a qualitative assessment. Using the qualitative approach, we evaluated factors, including but not limited to: recent financial performance, forecasts for future cash flows, the Company's stock price and market capitalization, recent impairment tests, legal factors, the business climate, and the competitive environment.

We review property and equipment, which includes leasehold improvements, and operating lease right-of-use (ROU) assets for impairment when events or circumstances indicate these assets might be impaired. We test for impairment using historical cash flow, forecasts and other relevant facts and circumstances as the primary basis for our estimates of future cash flows. The analysis is performed quarterly at the restaurant level for indicators of impairment. In determining future cash flows, we make significant estimates with respect to future operating results of each restaurant over the expected remaining life of the primary asset in the restaurant.

We cannot accurately predict the amount and timing of any impairment of assets. Should the financial statement carrying value of goodwill, other intangible assets or property and equipment become impaired, there could be an adverse effect on our financial condition and consolidated results of operations.

***We cannot assure our stockholders that we will continue to pay quarterly cash dividends on our common stock or repurchase shares of our common stock under our share repurchase program. Failure to continue to pay quarterly cash dividends to our stockholders or repurchase shares of our common stock under our share repurchase program could cause the market price for our common stock to decline.***

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We repurchase of shares of our common stock under our share repurchase program. In fiscal year 2022, we resumed paying quarterly cash dividends to holders of our common stock. Our ability to pay future quarterly cash dividends or repurchase shares of our common stock will be subject to, among other things, our results of operations, financial condition, business prospects, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, any new indebtedness we may incur, restrictions imposed by applicable law, tax considerations and other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant. There can be no assurance that we will resume payment of a quarterly cash dividend or repurchase shares of our common stock in the future. Any reduction or discontinuance by us of the payment of quarterly cash dividends or the repurchase of shares of our common stock under our share repurchase program could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. Moreover, in the event our payment of quarterly cash dividends is reduced or discontinued, our failure or inability to resume paying quarterly cash dividends at historical levels could result in a lower market valuation of our common stock.

***Local conditions, adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, acts of violence, terrorism or civil unrest, could adversely affect our business.***

Certain of the regions in which we operate (including Florida and California where we have a significant number of restaurants) have been, and may in the future be, subject to adverse local conditions, events, terrorist attacks, adverse weather conditions, or natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and wildfires. Any of the foregoing events may result in physical damage, temporary or permanent closure, lack of an adequate work force, or temporary or long-term disruption in the supply of food, beverages, electric, water, sewer and waste disposal services necessary for our restaurants to operate. Depending upon its magnitude, any of the foregoing could severely damage our restaurants and/or adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

We currently maintain property and business interruption insurance through the aggregate property policy for each of our company-owned locations. However, if there is a major disaster, such coverage may not be adequate. In addition, upon the expiration of our current insurance policies, adequate insurance coverage may not be available at reasonable rates, or at all.

We have disaster recovery procedures and business continuity plans in place to address most events of a crisis nature (including hurricanes and other natural disasters) including back up and off-site locations for recovery of electronic and other forms of data and information. However, if we are unable to fully implement our disaster recovery plans, we may experience delays in recovery of data, inability to perform vital functions, tardiness in required reporting and compliance, failures to adequately support restaurant operations and other breakdowns in normal communication and operating procedures that may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and exposure to administrative and other legal claims.

***The cost of our employee health care benefit program may increase in the future.***

We maintain an employee benefits program that provides self-insured and insured coverage to employees that meet the applicable requirements under the program. Employees can elect to enroll dependents that meet eligibility criteria. Coverage includes health, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, life insurance and other voluntary ancillary benefits. Employees share in the cost of other coverage at varying levels. The Company has historically funded a majority of the cost of health benefits.

The Company routinely reviews its health benefit plans to assure conformity with government regulations. Approximately 62% of eligible employees elect to participate in our health benefit plans. The "hours of service" eligibility criteria for the Company's health benefits plan are lower than those required by law. In the future, proportionately more employees may elect to participate in our health benefit plans. We are unable to reliably predict to what extent, if any, the percentage of eligible employees who elect health care coverage will increase in the future. Because we fund a majority of the cost of health benefits, our financial accounting expense will increase to the extent that additional employees elect to participate in the Company's health benefit plans.

Certain other restaurant companies may curtail the ability of their employees to participate in their health benefit plans by increasing the hours worked eligibility requirement to the minimum required under the ACA. Such restaurant companies may gain a cost advantage compared to us by reducing the cost of their employee health benefit programs.

Also, medical inflation has historically tended to outpace general inflation. We are unable to reliably predict the extent to which future medical inflation will outpace general inflation. Additionally, because our medical benefit program is self-insured, an unusual incidence of large claims may cause our costs to unexpectedly increase.

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***Economic downturns or changes in consumer confidence may adversely impact consumer spending patterns.***

Economic downturns have in the past and could in the future negatively impact consumer spending patterns. Any decrease in consumer spending patterns or demand specific to our business may result in a decline in our operating performance. Economic downturns may reduce guest traffic and require us to lower our prices, which reduces our revenues and operating income, which may adversely affect the market price for our common stock. In addition, some of our restaurants are located in areas that we consider tourist or vacation destinations. In those locations, we depend in large part on vacation travelers to frequent our Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants, and such destinations typically experience a reduction in visitors during economic downturns, thereby reducing the potential guests that could visit our restaurants. A significant portion of our gross revenue comes from business guests and private dining which could also be negatively affected during an economic downturn or decrease in consumer confidence. This could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and growth strategy. Disasters occurring at one of our franchisee's locations could impact our reputation and our consumers' perception of our brand. Moreover, these types of events could negatively impact consumer spending in the impacted regions or, depending on the severity, globally, which could adversely impact our operating results.

***Litigation concerning food quality, health, employment practices, real estate and other issues could require us to incur additional liabilities and/or cause guests to avoid our restaurants.***

Occasionally, our guests file complaints or lawsuits against us alleging that we are responsible for some illness or injury they suffered at or after a visit to our restaurants. We are also subject to a variety of other claims arising in the ordinary course of our business, including personal injury claims, contract claims, claims from franchisees, claims from landlords, claims from suppliers, claims alleging violations of federal and state law regarding workplace and employment matters, harassment and discrimination and similar matters. In addition, we have in the past and could in the future become subject to class action lawsuits related to these matters. These actions and proceedings may involve allegations of illegal, unfair or inconsistent employment practices, including wage and hour violations and employment discrimination; guest discrimination; food safety issues including poor food quality, food-borne illness, food tampering, food contamination, and adverse health effects from consumption of various food productions or high-calorie foods. We, and other companies in the restaurant industry, have also been subject to a growing number of claims that the menus and actions of restaurant chains have led to the obesity of certain of their guests. In addition, we are subject to "dram shop" statutes. These statutes generally permit a person injured by an intoxicated person to recover damages from an establishment that wrongfully served alcoholic beverages to the intoxicated person. The restaurant industry has also faced recent claims related to sexual harassment. Regardless of whether any claims against us are valid or whether we are liable, claims may be expensive to defend and may divert time and money away from our operations and hurt our performance. A judgment that significantly exceeds our insurance coverage for any claims or for matters not covered by insurance could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Our inability to continue to obtain such insurance coverage at reasonable costs also could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Adverse publicity or a failure to respond effectively resulting from these claims may also negatively impact our reputation and revenues at one or more of our restaurants.

***If we fail to comply with applicable federal, state and local employment and labor laws and regulations, it could have a material, adverse impact on our business.***

Various federal, state and local employment and labor laws and regulations govern our relationships with our employees. These laws and regulations relate to matters such as employment discrimination, wage and hour laws, requirements to provide and document meal and rest periods or other benefits, family leave mandates, requirements regarding working conditions and accommodations to certain employees, citizenship or work authorization and related requirements, insurance and workers' compensation rules, healthcare laws, and anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws. We incur substantial costs to comply with these laws and regulations and non-compliance could expose us to significant liabilities. For example, a number of lawsuits previously have been filed against us alleging violations of federal and state laws regarding employee wages and payment of overtime, meal and rest breaks, employee classification, employee record-keeping and related practices with respect to our employees. We incur legal costs to defend these cases, and we could incur losses from these and similar cases, and the amount of such losses or costs could be material.

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In addition, several jurisdictions, including New York City, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Oregon have implemented fair workweek or "secure scheduling" legislation, which impose complex requirements related to scheduling for certain restaurant and retail employees, and additional jurisdictions are considering similar legislation. Several jurisdictions also have implemented sick pay and paid time off legislation, which requires employers to provide paid time off to employees, and "just cause" termination legislation, which restricts companies' ability to terminate employees or reduce employees' hours unless they can prove "just cause" or a "bona fide economic reason" for the termination or reduction in hours. All of these regulations impose additional obligations on us and our failure to comply with any of these regulations could subject us to penalties and other legal liabilities, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations and potentially cause us to close or reduce operating hours of some restaurants in these jurisdictions.

***Tax assessments or unclaimed property audits by governmental authorities could adversely impact our operating results.***

We remit a variety of taxes and fees to various governmental authorities, including federal and state income taxes, excise taxes, franchise taxes, property taxes, sales and use taxes, and payroll taxes. The taxes and fees remitted by us are subject to review and audit by the applicable governmental authorities, which can result in liability for additional assessments. In addition, we are subject to unclaimed or abandoned property (escheat) laws which require us to turn over to certain government authorities the property of others held by us that has been unclaimed for a specified period. We are subject to audits by individual U.S. states regarding our escheatment practices. The legislation and regulations related to tax and unclaimed property matters tend to be complex and subject to varying interpretations by both government authorities and taxpayers. Although management believes that the positions are reasonable, various taxing authorities have in the past and may in the future challenge certain of the positions we have taken, which may also potentially result in additional liabilities for taxes, unclaimed property and interest in excess of accrued liabilities. Our positions are reviewed as events occur such as the availability of new information, the lapsing of applicable statutes of limitations, the conclusion of tax audits, the measurement of additional estimated liability based on current calculations, the identification of new tax contingencies, or the rendering of relevant court decisions. An unfavorable resolution of assessments by a governmental authority could negatively impact our results of operations and cash flows in future periods.

***Market volatility could adversely affect our stock price.***

Many factors affect the trading price of our stock, including factors over which we have no control, such as trading activity or communications with activist investors, reports on the economy or the price of commodities, as well as negative or positive announcements by competitors, regardless of whether the report relates directly to our business. In addition to investor expectations, trading activity in our stock can reflect the portfolio strategies and investment allocation changes of institutional holders. Any failure to meet market expectations, whether for sales growth rates, earnings per share or other metrics, could adversely affect our share price.

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***In the future we could incur unexpected expenses resulting from the sale of the Mitchell***'***s Restaurants.***

Effective January 21, 2015, we sold the Mitchell's Restaurants and related assets to Landry's, Inc. and Mitchell's Entertainment, Inc., an affiliate of Landry's Inc. (together with Landry's Inc., "Landry's"). Pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement, upon closing of the sale of the Mitchell's Restaurants, Landry's assumed the lease obligations of the Mitchell's Restaurants. However, we have guaranteed Landry's lease obligations aggregating $8.3 million under four of the leases which extend until the leases terminate which may continue into 2040 assuming all options are exercised. Separate from the purchase agreement, Landry's has agreed to indemnify the Company in the event of a default under any of the leases. There is a risk that adverse events may occur that require us to defend against or fulfill an indemnity claim, which could result in unexpected expense.

**Risks Related to Our Brand**

***Negative publicity surrounding our brand, the consumption of beef generally, or shifts in consumer tastes, could reduce sales in one or more of our restaurants and make our brand less valuable.***

Our success depends, in large part, upon the reputation of our brand. Negative publicity resulting from poor food quality, illness, injury or other health concerns, or operating problems including disappointing customer experiences related to one or more restaurants, have occurred in the past, could occur in the future, and could make our restaurants less appealing to consumers. Further, the influence of social media could make it more difficult for us to respond to negative publicity in a timely or effective manner. Consumers value readily available information and often act on such information without further investigation and without regard to its accuracy. The harm may be immediate without affording us the opportunity for redress or correction. In addition, any shifts in consumer preferences away from the kinds of food we offer, particularly beef, whether because of environmental, dietary or other health concerns or otherwise, would make our restaurants less appealing and adversely affect revenues. Our restaurants are required to disclose calorie information on menus, which could have an adverse effect on our revenues and results of operations.

***Our franchisees could take actions that harm our reputation and reduce our royalty and restaurant revenues.***

We do not exercise control over the day-to-day operations of our franchisee-owned restaurants. While we strive to ensure that franchisee-owned restaurants maintain the same high operating standards that we demand of Company-owned restaurants, one or more of these restaurants may fail to maintain these standards or provide a customer experience consistent with our brand standards. Any operational or financial shortcomings of the franchisee-owned restaurants are likely to be attributed to our system-wide operations and could adversely affect our reputation and damage our brand as well as have a direct negative impact on the royalty income we receive from those restaurants. Franchisee noncompliance with the operational standards and the terms and conditions of our franchise agreements may reduce the overall goodwill of our brand, whether through the failure to meet health and safety standards, engage in quality control or maintain product consistency, adequate succession planning or through the participation in improper or objectionable business practices. Moreover, unauthorized third parties may use our intellectual property to trade on the goodwill of the Company's brand, resulting in consumer confusion or dilution. Any harm to our brand or goodwill, customer confusion or brand dilution could materially and adversely impact our business and results of operations.

***The operation of restaurants by franchisees in international markets also create additional risks to our brands and reputation.***

Our international operations are subject to all the same risks associated with our domestic operations, as well as numerous additional risks. These include, among other things, international economic and political conditions, foreign currency fluctuations and differing cultures and consumer preferences. We are also subject to governmental regulation in such international markets, including antitrust and tax requirements, anti-boycott regulations, COVID-19 related regulations, import/export/customs regulations and other international trade regulations, the USA Patriot Act and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Any new regulatory or trade initiatives could impact our operations in certain countries. Failure to comply with any such legal requirements could subject us to monetary liabilities and other sanctions, which could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

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***Our failure to enforce our service marks or other proprietary rights could adversely affect our competitive position or the value of our brands.***

We own certain common law service mark rights and a number of federal and international service mark registrations, most importantly the Ruth's Chris Steak House names and logos, copyrights relating to text and print uses, and other proprietary intellectual property rights. We believe that our service marks, copyrights and other proprietary rights are important to our success and competitive position. Protective actions we take with respect to these rights may fail to prevent unauthorized usage or imitation by others, which could harm our reputation, brand or competitive position and, if we commence litigation to enforce our rights, cause us to incur significant legal expenses.

**Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS** 

None.

**Item 2. PROPERTIES**

Company-owned restaurants are generally located in spaces leased by wholly-owned direct or indirect subsidiaries. Seventy-six of the Company-owned Ruth's Chris restaurants operate in leased space, of which the majority currently provide for an option to renew for terms ranging from approximately five years to twenty years. Historically, the Company has not had difficulty in renewing its leases in a timely manner. Restaurant leases provide for a specified annual rent, and some leases call for additional or contingent rent based on sales volumes over specified levels.

The corporate headquarters reside in leased space 11,784 square feet in Winter Park, Florida, with a term set to expire on August 31, 2026.

The Company owns the real estate for one Ruth's Chris operating restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (7,800 square feet).

The following table sets forth information about the Company's existing Company-owned and franchisee-owned restaurants as of December 25, 2022. As of this same date, the Company operated 77 Ruth's Chris restaurants and three restaurants operated under contractual agreements. In addition, franchisees operated 74 restaurants. Company-owned Ruth's Chris restaurants range in size from approximately 4,000 to approximately 13,000 square feet with approximately 180 to 375 seats. The Company expects that future restaurants will range in size from 6,000 to 10,000 square feet with approximately 200 to 300 seats.

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Company-Owned Ruth's Chris Restaurants** | **Company-Owned Ruth's Chris Restaurants** | **Company-Owned Ruth's Chris Restaurants** | **Franchisee-Owned Ruth's Chris Restaurants** | **Franchisee-Owned Ruth's Chris Restaurants** |
| **Year Opened** | **Locations** | **Property Leased or Owned** | **Year Opened** | **Locations** |
| 1972 | Metairie, LA | Leased | 1976 | Baton Rouge, LA |
| 1977 | Lafayette, LA | Leased | 1985 | Mobile, AL |
| 1985 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | Owned | 1986 | Atlanta, GA |
| 1985 | Austin, TX | Leased | 1987 | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 1986 | Nashville, TN | Leased | 1987 | Hartford, CT |
| 1988 | Philadelphia, PA | Leased | 1991 | Richmond, VA |
| 1988 | Seattle, WA | Leased | 1993 | Birmingham, AL |
| 1989 | Honolulu, HI | Leased | 1993 | San Antonio, TX |
| 1989 | Memphis, TN | Leased | 1993 | Taipei, Taiwan |
| 1990 | Weehawken, NJ | Leased | 1993 | Cancun, Mexico |
| 1990 | Scottsdale, AZ | Leased | 1994 | Indianapolis, IN |
| 1992 | Palm Desert, CA | Leased | 1995 | Toronto, Canada |
| 1992 | Minneapolis, MN | Leased | 1996 | Taichung, Taiwan |
| 1993 | Arlington, VA | Leased | 1996 | Indianapolis, IN |
| 1993 | Manhattan, NY | Leased | 1997 | Kowloon, Hong Kong |
| 1994 | San Diego, CA | Leased | 1997 | Raleigh (Cary), NC |
| 1995 | Long Island, NY | Leased | 1998 | Annapolis, MD |
| 1995 | Westchester, NY | Leased | 1999 | Atlanta, GA |
| 1996 | Dallas, TX | Leased | 2000 | Pikesville, MD |
| 1996 | Troy, MI | Leased | 2000 | San Antonio, TX |
| 1996 | Tampa, FL | Leased | 2001 | Kaohsiung, Taiwan |
| 1997 | Irvine, CA | Leased | 2001 | Queensway, Hong Kong |
| 1997 | Jacksonville, FL | Leased | 2001 | Cabo San Lucas, Mexico |
| 1998 | Louisville, KY | Leased | 2005 | Virginia Beach, VA |
| 1998 | Parsippany, NJ | Leased | 2005 | Baltimore, MD |
| 1998 | Northbrook, IL | Leased | 2005 | Atlantic City, NJ |
| 1999 | Coral Gables, FL | Leased | 2005 | Charlotte, NC |
| 1999 | Ponte Vedra, FL | Leased | 2006 | Ocean City, MD |
| 2000 | Sarasota, FL | Leased | 2006 | Destin, FL |
| 2000 | Del Mar, CA | Leased | 2006 | Huntsville, AL |
| 2000 | Boca Raton, FL | Leased | 2006 | Edmonton, Canada |
| 2000 | Wailea, HI | Leased | 2007 | Charlotte, NC |
| 2001 | Orlando, FL | Leased | 2007 | Columbia, SC |
| 2001 | Greensboro, NC | Leased | 2007 | Mishawaka, IN |
| 2002 | Woodland Hills, CA | Leased | 2007 | Tokyo, Japan |
| 2002 | Fairfax, VA | Leased | 2007 | Madison, WI |
| 2003 | Walnut Creek, CA | Leased | 2007 | Calgary, Canada |
| 2005 | Roseville, CA | Leased | 2007 | Rogers, AR |
| 2005 | Boston, MA | Leased | 2007 | Park City, UT |
| 2005 | Sacramento, CA | Leased | 2008 | Aruba |
| 2006 | Bonita Springs, FL | Leased | 2008 | Myrtle Beach, SC |
| 2006 | Pasadena, CA | Leased | 2008 | Wilkes-Barre, PA |
| 2007 | Lake Mary, FL\* | Land Leased | 2008 | Raleigh, NC |
| 2007 | Anaheim, CA\* | Land Leased | 2008 | Savannah, GA |
| 2007 | Biloxi, MS | Leased | 2009 | Greenville, SC |
| 2007 | Knoxville, TN | Leased | 2009 | St. Louis, MO |
| 2007 | Tyson's Corner, VA | Leased | 2009 | Durham, NC |
| 2007 | Waikiki, HI | Leased | 2009 | Kennesaw, GA |
| 2007 | West Palm Beach, FL | Leased | 2010 | Salt Lake City, UT |
| 2008 | Ft. Worth, TX | Leased | 2011 | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 2008 | New Orleans, LA | Leased | 2011 | Asheville, NC |
| 2008 | Princeton, NJ\* | Land Leased | 2012 | Singapore |
| 2008 | Fresno, CA | Leased | 2012 | Niagara Falls, Canada |
| 2008 | South Barrington, IL\* | Land Leased | 2013 | Las Vegas, NV |
| 2011 | Portland, OR | Leased | 2013 | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| 2012 | Cincinnati, OH | Leased | 2013 | Chattanooga, TN |
| 2013 | Houston, TX | Leased | 2013 | Shanghai, China |
| 2014 | Denver, CO | Leased | 2014 | Alpharetta, GA |
| 2014 | Gaithersburg, MD | Leased | 2014 | Boise, ID |
| 2014 | Marina del Rey, CA | Leased | 2014 | Taipei, Taiwan |
| 2015 | St. Petersburg, FL | Leased | 2015 | Ann Arbor, MI |
| 2016 | Albuquerque, NM | Leased | 2015 | San Antonio, TX |
| 2016 | El Paso, TX | Leased | 2016 | Jakarta, Indonesia |
| 2017 | Waltham, MA | Leased | 2016 | Odenton, MD |
| 2017 | Denver, CO | Leased | 2016 | Greenville, SC |
| 2018 | Jersey City, NJ | Leased | 2017 | Chengdu, China |
| 2018 | Paramus, NJ | Leased | 2017 | Toronto, Canada |
| 2019 | Columbus, OH | Leased | 2018 | Ft. Wayne, IN |
| 2019 | Somerville, MA | Leased | 2018 | Markham, Canada |
| 2020 | Washington, D.C. | Leased | 2019 | Chongqing, China |
| 2021 | Short Hills, NJ | Leased | 2020 | Chesterfield, MO |
| 2021 | Lake Grove, NY | Leased | 2021 | Manila, Philippines |
| 2022 | Worcester, MA | Leased | 2021 | Changsha, China |
| 2022 | Long Beach, CA | Leased | 2022 | Wilmington, NC |
| 2022 | Melville, NY | Leased |  |  |
| 2022 | Aventura, FL | Leased |  |  |
| 2022 | Winter Park, FL | Leased |  |  |
|  |  |  | **Ruth's Chris Restaurants Under Contractual Agreement** | **Ruth's Chris Restaurants Under Contractual Agreement** |
|  |  |  | **Year Opened** | **Locations** |
|  |  |  | 2012 | Cherokee, NC |
|  |  |  | 2017 | Tulsa, OK |
|  |  |  | 2018 | Reno, NV |

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**Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS**

See Note 10 of the Notes to the consolidated financial statements for a summary of legal proceedings.

**Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES** 

None.

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**PART II** 

**Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT**'**S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES**

The Company's common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the trading symbol "RUTH." As of February 17, 2023, there were 87 holders of record of its common stock.

**Common Stock Repurchase Program** 

In July 2022, our Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program authorizing us to repurchase up to $60 million of outstanding common stock from time to time in the open market, through negotiated transactions or otherwise (including, without limitation, the use of Rule 10b5-1 plans), depending on share price, market conditions and other factors. The new share repurchase program replaced, as of August 9, 2022, the Company's previous share repurchase program announced in October 2019. The previous share repurchase program had permitted the repurchase of up to $60 million of outstanding common stock, of which approximately $15.4 million was unused. The Company conducts any open market share repurchase activities in compliance with the safe harbor provisions of Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. The share repurchase program does not obligate the Company to repurchase any dollar amount or number of its shares. The program has no termination date. As of December 25, 2022, $40.0 million remained available for further purchases under the new program. The Company's ability to make future stock purchases under the program is currently limited by our credit agreement. The Company's amended and restated credit agreement currently does not limit dividends and share repurchases if the Company's Consolidated Leverage Ratio is less than 2.50:1.00 and holds a minimum liquidity of $25.0 million. As of December 25, 2022 our Consolidated Leverage Ratio was less than 2.50:1.00.

Stock repurchase activity during the fourth fiscal quarter ended December 25, 2022 was as follows:

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Period** | **Total Number of Shares Purchased** | **Average Price Paid per Share** | **Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of a Publicly Announced Program** | **Maximum Dollar Value that May Yet be Purchased under the Program – Amounts in thousands** |
| September 26, 2022 to October 30, 2022 | 282516 | $16.50 | 282516 | $49982 |
| October 31, 2022 to November 27, 2022 |  |  |  | $- |
| November 28, 2022 to December 25, 2022 | 622241 | $16.08 | 622241 | $39979 |
| Totals for the fiscal quarter | 904757 | $16.21 | 904757 | $39979 |

---

**Unregistered Recent Sales of Securities** 

None.

**Dividends** 

See Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information regarding dividends.

**Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans** 

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See Item 12, Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information regarding securities authorized for issuance under the Company's equity compensation plans.

**Performance Graph**

The following table and graph show the cumulative total stockholder return on the Company's Common Stock along with the S&P 500 Stock Index, the S&P Small Cap 600 Index and the Dow Jones U.S. Restaurants & Bars Index, in each case assuming an initial investment of $100 on December 31, 2017 and full dividend reinvestment.

![fiveyearreturn01.jpg](fiveyearreturn01.jpg)

**CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN** 

**Assuming an investment of $100 and reinvestment of dividends** 

---

| | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **12/31/2017** | **12/30/2018** | **12/29/2019** | **12/27/2020** | **12/26/2021** | **12/25/2022** |
| Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. | $100 | $105 | $104 | $83 | $98 | $77 |
| S&P 500 | $100 | $96 | $126 | $149 | $192 | $157 |
| S&P Smallcap 600 | $100 | $92 | $112 | $125 | $159 | $133 |
| Dow Jones US Restaurants & Bars | $100 | $109 | $135 | $159 | $195 | $180 |

---

All amounts rounded to the nearest dollar.

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*

The stock performance graph should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filing made by us under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate the stock performance graph by reference in another filing.

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**Item 6. [RESERVED]**

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**Item 7. MANAGEMENT**'**S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS**

This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes to the consolidated financial statements. We report our financial results on a 52/53-week fiscal year, which ends on the last Sunday in December. Fiscal years 2022, 2021 and 2020 all had 52 weeks of operations.

**Overview** 

Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. develops and operates fine dining restaurants under the trade name Ruth's Chris Steak House. As of December 25, 2022, there were 154 Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants, including 77 Company-owned restaurants, three restaurants operating under contractual agreements and 74 franchisee-owned restaurants, including 23 international franchisee-owned restaurants.

All Company-owned Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants are located in the United States. The franchisee-owned Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants include 23 international franchisee-owned restaurants in Aruba, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan. In fiscal year 2020, the Company relocated one of its Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants in Washington, D.C. Franchisees did not open any new restaurants in 2020. During fiscal year 2020 nine Company-owned Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants were permanently closed and one franchisee-owned Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurant was permanently closed. In fiscal year 2021, the Company opened two new Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants – one in Short Hills, NJ in September and one in Lake Grove, NY in December. The Company-owned Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurant in Bellevue, WA closed in April 2021, and the Bethesda, MD and Mauna Lani, HI locations closed in December 2021. Franchisees opened two new Ruth's Chris Steak Houses in fiscal year 2021 – one in Manila, Philippines in September and one in Changsha, China in November. In fiscal year 2022, four Company-owned restaurants were opened in Aventura, FL, Worchester, MA, Long Beach, CA and Melville, NY. In fiscal year 2022, one Company-owned restaurant was relocated in October 2022 in Winter Park, FL. In fiscal year 2022, one franchisee-owned restaurant was relocated within Wilmington, N.C.

The Ruth's Chris menu features a broad selection of high-quality USDA Prime and Choice grade steaks and other premium offerings served in Ruth's Chris' signature fashion—"sizzling" and topped with butter—complemented by other traditional menu items inspired by our New Orleans heritage. The Ruth's Chris restaurants reflect the 57-year commitment to the core values instilled by our founder, Ruth Fertel, of caring for our guests by delivering the highest quality food, beverages and service in a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Our Ruth's Chris restaurants cater to special occasion diners and frequent customers, in addition to the business clientele traditionally served by upscale steakhouses, by providing a dining experience designed to appeal to a wide range of guests. We believe our focus on creating this broad appeal provides us with opportunities to expand into a wide range of markets, including many markets not traditionally served by upscale steakhouses. We offer USDA Prime and other high-quality steaks that are aged and prepared to exact company standards and cooked in 1,800-degree broilers. We also offer veal, lamb, poultry and seafood dishes and a broad selection of appetizers. We complement our distinctive food offerings with an award-winning wine list. During the fiscal year 2022, the blended guest check average was $97 per person at Company-owned Ruth's Chris Restaurants.

**Recap of Fiscal Year 2022 and Fiscal Year 2021 Operating Results**

Operating income for fiscal year 2022 decreased from fiscal year 2021 by $2.7 million to $47.0 million. Operating income for fiscal year 2022 was impacted favorably by a $73.4 million increase in restaurant sales, a $2.0 million increase in franchise income, a $1.3 million increase in other operating income, a reduction in a loss of lease modification of $1.0 million and a reduction in a loss of impairment of $1.3 million, which were offset by a $6.0 million loss on legal settlement along with a combined $75.7 million increase in food and beverage costs, restaurant operating expenses, marketing and advertising, general and administrative costs, depreciation and amortization expenses, and pre-opening costs. Increased restaurant sales were attributable to an increase in average check and increase in traffic counts. After-tax net income during fiscal year 2022 decreased from fiscal year 2021 by $3.7 million to $38.6 million primarily due to the factors described above and an increase in income tax expense of $2.9 million, partially offset by an $2.0 million decrease in interest expense.

Operating income for fiscal year 2021 increased from fiscal year 2020 by $78.3 million to $49.7 million. Operating income for fiscal year 2021 was impacted favorably by a $141.3 million increase in restaurant sales, a reduction in loss on impairment of $14.7 million and increases in franchise income and other operating income, which were partially offset by increased food and beverage costs, restaurant operating expenses and marketing and advertising. Increased restaurant sales were attributable to the reduction of COVID-19 pandemic effects on Company-owned restaurant sales. After-tax net income from continuing operations during fiscal year 2021 increased from fiscal year 2020 by $67.6 million to $42.3 million.

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**Key Financial Terms and Metrics** 

We evaluate our business using a variety of key financial measures:

*Restaurant Sales.* Restaurant sales consist of food and beverage sales by Company-owned restaurants. Restaurant sales are primarily influenced by total operating weeks in the relevant period and comparable restaurant sales growth. Total operating weeks is the total number of Company-owned restaurants multiplied by the number of weeks each is in operation during the relevant period. Total operating weeks are impacted by restaurant openings and closings, as well as changes in the number of weeks included in the relevant period. Comparable restaurant sales growth reflects the change in year-over-year or quarter-over-quarter, as applicable, sales for the comparable restaurant base. We define the comparable restaurant base to be those Company-owned restaurants in operation for not less than eighteen months prior to the beginning of the fiscal year including the period being measured. Comparable restaurant sales growth is primarily influenced by customer traffic, which is measured by the number of entrées sold, and the average guest check. Customer traffic is influenced by the popularity of our menu items, our guest mix, our ability to deliver a high-quality dining experience and overall economic conditions. Average guest check, a measure of total restaurant sales divided by the number of entrées, is driven by menu mix and pricing.

*Franchise Income.* Franchise income includes (1) franchise and development fees charged to franchisees, (2) sales-based royalty income and (3) sales-based advertising fees. Franchise royalties consist of 5.0% of adjusted gross sales from each franchisee-owned restaurant. In addition, our more recent franchise agreements require an advertising fee of up to 1.0% of gross sales to be paid by the franchisee. Under our prior franchise agreements, the Company would pay 1.0% out of the 5.0% royalty toward national advertising. We evaluate the performance of our franchisees by measuring franchisee-owned restaurant operating weeks, which is impacted by franchisee-owned restaurant openings and closings, and comparable franchisee-owned restaurant sales growth, which together with operating weeks, drives royalty income.

*Other Operating Income.* Other operating income consists primarily of breakage income associated with gift cards, and includes fees earned from management agreements, banquet-related guarantee and services revenue and other incidental guest fees.

*Food and Beverage Costs.* Food and beverage costs include all restaurant-level food and beverage costs of Company-owned restaurants. We measure food and beverage costs by tracking cost of sales as a percentage of restaurant sales and cost per entrée. Food and beverage costs are generally influenced by the cost of food and beverage items, distribution costs and menu mix.

*Restaurant Operating Expenses.* We measure restaurant operating expenses for Company-owned restaurants as a percentage of restaurant sales. Restaurant operating expenses include the following:

• Labor costs, consisting of restaurant management salaries, hourly staff payroll and other payroll-related items, including taxes and fringe benefits. We measure our labor cost efficiency by tracking hourly and total labor costs as a percentage of restaurant sales;

• Operating costs, consisting of maintenance, utilities, bank and credit card charges, and any other restaurant-level expenses; and

• Occupancy costs, consisting of both fixed and variable portions of rent, common area maintenance charges, insurance premiums and real property taxes.

*Marketing and Advertising.* Marketing and advertising includes all media, production, consumer insight and related costs for both local restaurant advertising and national marketing. We measure the efficiency of our marketing and advertising expenditures by tracking these costs as a percentage of total revenues. We have historically spent approximately 2.5% to 4.0% of total revenues on marketing and advertising.

*General and Administrative.* General and administrative costs include costs relating to all corporate and administrative functions that support development and restaurant operations and provide an infrastructure to support future Company and franchisee growth. General and administrative costs are comprised of management, supervisory and staff salaries and employee benefits, travel, performance-based compensation, stock compensation, information systems, training, corporate rent, professional and consulting fees, technology and market research. We measure our general and administrative expense efficiency by tracking these costs as a percentage of total revenues.

*Depreciation and Amortization.* Depreciation and amortization includes depreciation of fixed assets and certain definite life intangible assets. We depreciate capitalized leasehold improvements over the shorter of the total expected lease term or their estimated useful life.

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*Pre-Opening Costs.* Pre-opening costs consist of costs incurred prior to opening a Company-owned restaurant, which are comprised principally of manager salaries and relocation costs, employee payroll and related training costs for new employees, including practice and rehearsal of service activities as well as lease costs incurred prior to opening.

*Loss (gain) on Lease Modifications.* Loss (gain) on lease modifications consist of gains and losses related to changes in the scope of a lease or the consideration for a lease that was not included in the original terms of the lease. Costs incurred related to the exit of a signed lease are also included.

*Loss on Legal Settlement.* Loss on legal settlement relates to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to settle certain class action litigations.

*Loss on Impairments.* Loss on impairments consist of charges recognized by which the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its fair value (net realizable value for inventory). Impairment charges were taken on fixed assets, inventory, liquor licenses and operating lease right-of-use assets.

**Results of Operations**

The table below sets forth certain operating data expressed as a percentage of total revenues, unless otherwise marked as a percentage of restaurant sales, for the periods indicated. Please refer to the Consolidated Statement of Operations for additional information regarding the Company's results of operations. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the operating results that may be expected in the future.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Fiscal Year Ended** | **Fiscal Year Ended** | **Fiscal Year Ended** |
|  | **2022** | **2021** | **2020** |
| Revenues: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Restaurant sales | 94.0% | 93.7% | 93.9% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Franchise income | 4.1% | 4.3% | 4.2% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Other operating income | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1.9% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Total revenues | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Costs and expenses: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Food and beverage costs (percentage of restaurant sales) | 31.8% | 32.0% | 29.1% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Restaurant operating expenses (percentage of restaurant sales) | 46.6% | 44.7% | 57.7% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Marketing and advertising | 3.4% | 3.1% | 2.5% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; General and administrative costs | 7.3% | 7.6% | 12.0% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Depreciation and amortization expenses | 4.4% | 4.8% | 7.9% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pre-opening costs | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Loss (gain) on lease modifications | 0.0% | 0.2% | (0.1%) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Loss on legal settlement | 1.2% |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Loss on impairment | 0.1% | 0.4% | 6.0% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Total costs and expenses | 90.7% | 88.4% | 110.3% |
| Operating income (loss) | 9.3% | 11.6% | (10.3%) |
| Other income (expense): |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interest expense, net | (0.3%) | (0.8%) | (1.7%) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Other | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense | 9.0% | 10.8% | (12.0%) |
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 1.4% | 0.9% | (2.9%) |
| Net income | 7.6% | 9.9% | (9.1%) |

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***Fiscal Year 2022 Compared to Fiscal Year 2021***

*Restaurant Sales.* Restaurant sales increased $73.4 million, or 18.2%, to $475.4 million during fiscal year 2022 from fiscal year 2021 driven by a $54.7 million or 13.8% increase in Company-owned comparable restaurant sales with the balance from non-comparable sales, primarily sales from six new restaurants. The increase in Company-owned comparable restaurant sales in fiscal year 2022 primarily from an increase of 8.3% in average check combined with a 5.1% increase in traffic.

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*Franchise Income*. Franchise income increased $2.1 million, or 11.4%, to $20.6 million during fiscal year 2022 from fiscal year 2021. The increase is primarily attributable to an increase in sales-based royalty income from increased sales at franchisee-owned restaurants during fiscal year 2022.

*Other Operating Income*. Other operating income increased $1.3 million, or 15.6%, to $9.9 million during fiscal year 2022 from fiscal year 2021. Other operating income includes our share of income from managed restaurants, gift card breakage revenue and miscellaneous restaurant income. The change in other operating income was primarily due to an increase of $1.0 million in breakage revenue.

*Food and Beverage Costs*. Food and beverage costs increased $22.8 million or 17.8%, to $151.3 million during fiscal year 2022 from fiscal year 2021. Food and beverage costs, as a percentage of restaurant sales, decreased 13 basis points to 31.8% compared to fiscal year 2021 largely due to a decrease of 1.4% in total beef costs.

*Restaurant Operating Expenses*. Restaurant operating expenses increased $41.7 million, or 23.2%, to $221.4 million during fiscal year 2022 from fiscal year 2021. Restaurant operating expenses, as a percentage of restaurant sales, increased 187 basis points to 46.6% compared to fiscal year 2021 primarily due to a 160 basis point increase in labor costs.

*Marketing and Advertising.* Marketing and advertising expenses increased $3.9 million, or 28.9% to $17.4 million during fiscal year 2022 from fiscal year 2021. Marketing and advertising, as a percentage of total revenue, increased 30 basis points to 3.4% compared to fiscal year 2021. The increase in marketing and advertising expenses during fiscal year 2022 was primarily attributable to $1.3 million related to national and local advertising campaigns, $1.5 million related to digital and data transformation and $853 thousand related to gift card expenses.

*General and Administrative*. General and administrative expenses increased $4.5 million or 14.0% to $37.1 million during fiscal year 2022 from fiscal year 2021. The variance is due to $800 thousand in professional fees and the remaining difference is primarily related to compensation expenses.

*Depreciation and Amortization Expenses*. Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $1.6 million to $22.1 million during fiscal year 2022, primarily due to depreciation expense from capital expenditures for new restaurants, technology, restaurant remodel and capital replacement projects.

*Pre-opening Costs*. Pre-opening costs of $3.1 million during fiscal year 2022 were primarily due to the openings of four new restaurants and the relocation of our Winter Park, FL restaurant. Pre-opening costs of $1.9 million in fiscal year 2021 were primarily related to openings of two new restaurants.

*Losses (Gains) on Lease Modifications.* Losses on lease modifications was $90 thousand in fiscal year 2022. The Company had $1.1 million in losses on lease modifications during fiscal year 2021. The losses in both 2022 and 2021 were due to terminating leases associated with closed restaurants.

*Loss on Legal Settlement.* During the fiscal year ended 2022, the Company recorded a $6.0 million loss on settlement. This expense relates to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to settle class action litigations. Further information can be found in Note 10 in the consolidated financial statements.

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*Loss on Impairment.* Loss on impairment was $574 thousand in fiscal year 2022 and $1.9 million in fiscal year in 2021. Loss on impairments consist of charges recognized by which the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its fair value (net realizable value for inventory). In fiscal year 2022, impairment charges were taken on fixed assets and the lease right-of-use asset for one location with a lease expiring in 2023. In fiscal year 2021, impairment charges were taken on fixed assets, inventory, liquor licenses and lease right-of-use assets triggered by the adverse economic impact of COVID-19.

*Interest Expense.* Interest expense decreased $2.0 million or 56.7% to $1.5 million during fiscal year 2022 from fiscal year 2021. The decrease in expense was primarily due to lower average debt balances partially offset by an increase in average interest rates during fiscal year 2022 compared to fiscal year 2021.

*Other Income (Expense).* During fiscal year 2022 we recognized $178 thousand of other income. During fiscal year 2021 we recognized $102 thousand of other income.

*Income Tax Expense (Benefit)*. The effective income tax rates for fiscal years 2022 and 2021 for continuing operations were 15.4% and 8.8%, respectively. The fiscal year 2021 continuing operations effective income tax rate is significantly lower than that of fiscal year 2022 as a result of the Company recognizing a discrete income tax benefit of $4.6 million in fiscal year 2021 related to the carryback of its tax year 2020 federal net operating loss (NOL) to tax years 2015 and 2016.

*Net Income.* Net income was $38.6 million during fiscal year 2022 compared to net income of $42.3 during fiscal year 2021 due to the factors noted above.

***Fiscal Year 2021 Compared to Fiscal Year 2020***

*Restaurant Sales.* Restaurant sales increased $141.3 million, or 54.2%, to $402.0 million during fiscal year 2021 from fiscal year 2020. Comparable Company-owned restaurant sales increased 58.6%, which consisted of an average check increase of 13.1%, and a 40.2% increase in traffic counts as a local restrictions and market conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic during fiscal year 2021

*Franchise Income*. Franchise income increased $6.8 million, or 57.9%, to $18.5 million during fiscal year 2021 from fiscal year 2020. The increase is primarily attributable to an increase in sales-based royalty income from a sales increase as local restrictions and market conditions improved relating to the COVID-19 pandemic during fiscal year 2021.

*Other Operating Income*. Other operating income increased $3.3 million, or 63.4%, to $8.6 million during fiscal year 2021 from fiscal year 2020. Other operating income includes our share of income from managed restaurants, gift card breakage revenue and miscellaneous restaurant income. The change in other operating income was primarily due to an increase of $1.5 million in income from restaurants operating under contractual agreements and $891 thousand in breakage revenue.

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*Food and Beverage Costs*. Food and beverage costs increased $52.6 million, or 69.4%, to $128.5 million during fiscal year 2021 from fiscal year 2020. Food and beverage costs, as a percentage of restaurant sales, increased 29 basis points to 32.0% compared to fiscal year 2020 largely due to an increase of 36.5% in total beef costs.

*Restaurant Operating Expenses*. Restaurant operating expenses increased $29.3 million, or 19.4%, to $179.7 million during fiscal year 2021 from fiscal year 2020. Restaurant operating expenses, as a percentage of restaurant sales, decreased 13.0% to 44.7% compared to fiscal year 2020 primarily due to labor efficiencies and the impact of fixed costs on higher restaurant sales in 2021.

*Marketing and Advertising.* Marketing and advertising expenses increased $6.6 million, or 96.3% to $13.5 million during fiscal year 2021 from fiscal year 2020. Marketing and advertising, as a percentage of total revenue, increased 60 basis points to 3.1% compared to fiscal year 2020. The increase in marketing and advertising expenses during fiscal year 2021 was attributable to $4.7 million related to digital and data transformation and increasing expenses as the Company resumes its marketing programs that were suspended as a result of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

*General and Administrative*. General and administrative expenses decreased $717 thousand or 2.2% to $32.5 million during fiscal year 2021 from fiscal year 2020. The decrease in general and administrative costs was primarily attributable to a reduction in compensation related costs in fiscal year 2021.

 *Depreciation and Amortization Expenses.* Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased $1.5 million to $20.5 million during fiscal year 2021, primarily due to reduced depreciation expenses from the permanent closure of nine Ruth's Chris Steak House locations in fiscal year 2020.

*Pre-opening Costs*. Pre-opening costs of $1.9 million during fiscal year 2021 were primarily due to the planned openings of two Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants in Short Hills, NJ and Lake Grove, NY totaling $1.3 million. The remaining $632 thousand of pre-opening expenses related to pre-opening rent expense on locations where the Company took possession of the property from the landlord. Pre-opening costs of $1.6 million in fiscal year 2020 primarily related to pre-opening rent expense on locations where the Company took possession of the property from the landlord.

*Losses (Gains) on Lease Modifications.* Losses on lease modifications was $1.1 million in fiscal year 2021. The Company had $206 thousand in gains on lease modifications during fiscal year 2020. Gains and losses on lease modifications consist of gains and losses related to changes in the scope of a lease or the consideration for a lease that was not included in the original terms of the lease. Costs incurred related to the exit of a signed lease are also included. The losses on lease modifications during fiscal year 2021 were attributable to the termination of a lease in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The gains on lease modifications during fiscal year 2020 were attributable to the changes of lease terms in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

*Loss on Impairment.* Loss on impairment decreased $14.7 million or 88.8% to $1.9 million in fiscal year 2021. Loss on impairments consist of charges recognized by which the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its fair value (net realizable value for inventory). Impairment charges were taken on fixed assets, inventory, liquor licenses and lease right-of-use assets triggered by the adverse economic impact of COVID-19.

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*Interest Expense.* Interest expense decreased $1.2 million or 25.7% to $3.5 million during fiscal year 2021 from fiscal year 2020. The decrease in expense was primarily due to lower average debt balances and average interest rates during fiscal year 2021 compared to fiscal year 2020.

*Other Income.* During fiscal year 2021 we recognized $102 thousand of other income. During fiscal year 2020 we recognized $26 thousand of other expense.

*Income Tax Expense (Benefit)*. The effective income tax rates for fiscal years 2021 and 2020 for continuing operations were 8.8% and 23.8%, respectively. The effective tax rate for fiscal year 2021 represents an income tax expense of $4.1 million, whereas the effective tax rate for fiscal year 2020 represents income tax benefit of $7.9 million. The significant change was driven primarily by the Company's generation of a pre-tax income from continuing operations in fiscal year 2021 partially offset by the generation of a $40.0 million federal tax NOL that the Company plans to carryback to tax years 2015 and 2016, compared with the generation of pre-tax losses in fiscal year 2020.

*Net Income (Loss)*. Net income was $42.3 million during fiscal year 2021 compared to a $25.3 million net loss during fiscal year 2020 due to the factors noted above.

**Segment Profitability**

Segment profitability information for the Company's two operating segments is presented in Note 16 of the consolidated financial statements.

**Potential Fluctuations in Quarterly Results and Seasonality** 

Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly as a result of a variety of factors. See "Risk Factors" and "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" for a discussion of certain material risks that could affect our quarterly operating results.

Our business is also subject to seasonal fluctuations. Historically, the percentages of our annual total revenues during the first and fourth fiscal quarters have generally been higher due, in part, to the year-end holiday season and the popularity of dining out in the fall and winter months. Accordingly, results for any one quarter are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any other quarter or for any year, and comparable restaurant sales for any particular period may decrease.

**Liquidity and Capital Resources** 

***Overview***

Our principal sources of cash during fiscal year 2022 was net cash provided by operating activities and borrowings from our senior credit facility. Our principal uses of cash during fiscal year 2022 were for operating expenses, principal repayments under our senior credit facility, capital expenditures, common stock repurchases and dividend payments.

In July 2022, the Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $60.0 million of outstanding common stock. The new share repurchase program replaced, as of August 9, 2022, the Company's previous share repurchase program announced in October 2019. The previous share repurchase program has permitted the repurchase of up to $60 million of outstanding common stock, of which approximately $15.4 million was unused. During fiscal year 2020, as a result of the impacts to our business arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company suspended its share repurchase program. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2021 the Company resumed its share repurchase program and repurchased 887,515 shares at an aggregate cost of $16.6 million or an average cost of $18.69 per share. In fiscal year 2022, the Company repurchased 1,733,105 at an aggregate cost of $29.6 million or an average cost of $17.06 per share. All repurchased shares were retired and cancelled. As of December 25, 2022, $40.0 million remained available for future purchases under the share repurchase program.

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2013, we commenced paying quarterly cash dividends to holders of common and restricted stock. The Company's amended and restated credit agreement currently does not limit the payment of dividends and share repurchases if our Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as defined in the revolving credit facility) as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter is less than 2.50:1.00 and we have a minimum liquidity of $25.0 million, defined as unrestricted cash and undrawn revolver availability. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2022, we paid a cash dividend of $0.12 per share, or $4.0 million in the aggregate. In each of the second, third and fourth quarters, we paid a cash dividend of $0.14 per share, or $4.7 million, $4.7 million and $4.6 million in the aggregate, respectively. On February 9, 2023, we announced that our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share, or $5.3 million in the aggregate, to be paid on March 24, 2023 to common and restricted stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 10, 2023. Future dividends will be subject to the approval of our Board of Directors.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We believe that our current cash position, $23.0 million as of December 25, 2022, coupled with our anticipated cash flow from operations should provide us with adequate liquidity for the next twelve months and, when combined with our anticipated access to additional capital, should provide us with adequate liquidity for the foreseeable future

 ***Senior Credit Facility***

As of December 25, 2022 , we had $30.0 million of outstanding indebtedness under our senior credit facility with approximately $105.3 million of borrowings available, net of outstanding letters of credit of approximately $4.7 million. As of December 25, 2022 , the interest rate on our outstanding debt was 5.5% and the weighted average interest rate on our outstanding letters of credit was 1.6%. In addition, the commitment fee on the daily unused average portion of our senior credit facility was 0.3%.

On October 18, 2021, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement, which amends and restates its prior credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as administrative agent, and certain other lenders (as amended and restated, the "Credit Agreement"). The Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility of $140.0 million with a $10.0 million sub-facility of letters of credit and a $5.0 million sub-facility for swingline loans. Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions and lender consent, the revolving credit facility may be increased up to a maximum of $200.0 million. The Credit Agreement has a maturity date of October 18, 2026.

The Credit Agreement contains customary representations and affirmative and negative covenants (including limitations on indebtedness and liens) as well as financial covenants, as described below, requiring a minimum fixed coverage charge ratio as defined in the Credit Agreement ("Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio") limiting the Company's actual leverage ratio as defined in the Credit Agreement ("Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio"). The Credit Agreement restored the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio to a ratio equal to or greater than 1.25:1.00 and restored the Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio to a ratio no greater than 3.00:1.00. Under the Credit Agreement, dividends and share repurchases are not limited if the Company's Consolidated Leverage Ratio is less than 2.50:1.00 and holds a minimum liquidity of $25.0 million. As of December 25, 2022 our Consolidated Leverage Ratio was less than 2.50:1.00. The Credit Agreement also contains events of default customary for credit facilities of this type (with customary grace periods, as applicable), including nonpayment of principal or interest when due; material incorrectness of representations and warranties when made; breach of covenants; bankruptcy and insolvency; unsatisfied ERISA obligations; unstayed material judgment beyond specified periods; default under other material indebtedness; and certain changes of control of the Company. If any event of default occurs and is not cured within the applicable grace period or waived, the outstanding loans may be accelerated by lenders holding a majority of the commitments and the lenders' commitments may be terminated. The obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain of the Company's subsidiaries and are secured by a lien on substantially all of the Company's personal property assets other than any equity interest in current and future subsidiaries of the Company.

At the Company's option, revolving loans may bear interest at either:

(i) LIBOR, plus an applicable margin, or

(ii) the highest of (a) the rate publicly announced by Wells Fargo as its prime rate, (b) the average published federal funds rate in effect on such day plus 0.50% and (c) one month LIBOR plus 1.00%, plus an applicable margin (the rate described in this clause (ii) prior to adding the applicable margin, the "Base Rate").

The applicable margin and the fee for the unused commitment is based on the Company's Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio, ranging (a) from 1.50% to 2.25% above the applicable LIBOR rate or (b) 0.50% to 1.25% above the applicable Base Rate. The Credit Agreement also includes a mechanism for an alternate rate to LIBOR, which is the highest of (a) the prime rate or (b) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%.

Subsequent to the end of fiscal year 2022, in January 2023, the Company paid down $15.0 million of the outstanding indebtedness on the revolving credit facility and increased its outstanding letters of credits to $5.0 million.

***Capital Expenditures and Acquisition of Restaurants***

Capital expenditures in fiscal year 2022, which aggregated to $47.0 million, pertained primarily to $23.9 million for new restaurants, $8.8 million for technology and $14.3 million for restaurant remodel and capital replacement projects. Capital expenditures in fiscal year 2021, which aggregated $19.7 million, pertained primarily to $9.0 million for new restaurants, $8.4 million for technology and $2.3 million for restaurant remodel and capital replacement projects. Capital expenditures in fiscal year 2020, which aggregated $10.6 million, pertained primarily to $6.7 million for new restaurants and $3.3 million for restaurant remodel and capital replacement projects. We anticipate capital expenditures in fiscal year 2023 will be approximately $45.0 to $50.0 million. We currently expect to open four more Company-owned restaurants at leased locations in fiscal year 2023.

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***Cash Flows***

The following table summarizes our primary sources and uses of cash (in thousands):

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Fiscal Year Ended** | **Fiscal Year Ended** | **Fiscal Year Ended** |
|  | **2022** | **2021** | **2020** |
| Net cash provided by (used in): |  |  |  |
| Operating activities | $67201 | $81391 | $20085 |
| Investing activities | (46958) | (19651) | (10620) |
| Financing activities | (89374) | (65009) | 80370 |
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | $(69131) | $(3269) | $89835 |

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*Operating Activities*. Operating cash inflows pertain primarily to restaurant sales and franchise income. Operating cash outflows pertain primarily to expenditures for food and beverages, restaurant operating expenses, marketing and advertising and general and administrative costs. Operating activities provided cash flow all three fiscal years primarily because operating revenues have exceeded cash-based expenses.

*Investing Activities*. Investing activities in fiscal years 2022, 2021 and 2020 primarily related to capital expenditure projects.

*Financing Activities*. Financing activities used cash in fiscal years 2022 and 2021 and provided cash in fiscal year 2020. During fiscal year 2022 we: reduced debt by $40.0 million; repurchased common stock of $29.6 million; paid dividends of $18.3 million; and paid $1.5 million in employee taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock. We paid $1.5 million in taxes in connection with vesting of restricted stock because some recipients elected to satisfy their individual tax withholding obligations by having us withhold a number of vested shares of restricted stock. During fiscal year 2021 we: reduced debt by $45.0 million; repurchased common stock of $16.6 million; paid $2.8 million in employee taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock; and paid $612 thousand in deferred financing costs. During fiscal year 2020 we: issued common stock for $49.6 million; increased the debt outstanding under our senior credit facility by $51.0 million; repurchased common stock of $13.2 million; paid dividends of $4.4 million; paid $1.6 million in employee taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock; and paid $962 thousand in deferred financing costs.

***Contractual Obligations***

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 25, 2022:

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Payments due by period** | **Payments due by period** | **Payments due by period** |
|  |  | **Less than** | **More than** |
|  | **Total** | **1 year** | **5 years** |
|  | **(in millions)** | **(in millions)** | **(in millions)** |
| Long-term debt obligations | $37.5 | $2.0 | $- |
| Operating lease obligations | $345.7 | $28.8 | $214.6 |
| Total | $383.2 | $30.8 | $214.6 |

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Long-term debt obligations include principal maturities and expected interest payments. Expected interest payments were estimated using the interest and fee rates under our senior credit facility as of December 25, 2022. Operating lease obligations do not include contingent rent, common area maintenance, property taxes and other pass through charges from our landlords. The above table does not include recorded liabilities to vendors or employees nor does it include routine purchase commitments shorter than twelve months in duration for food and supplies.

Pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement, upon closing of the sale of the Mitchell's Restaurants in January 2015, Landry's assumed the lease obligations of the Mitchell's Restaurants. However, the Company has guaranteed Landry's lease obligations aggregating to $8.3 million under four of the leases. Separate from the purchase agreement, Landry's has agreed to indemnify the Company in the event of a default under any of the leases. The above table does not include potential lease obligations for the Mitchell's Restaurants.

**Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements** 

As of December 25, 2022, we do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

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**Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates** 

Our discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition is based upon our audited consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements is based, in part, on our critical accounting policies that require us to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in those consolidated financial statements. Our significant accounting policies, which may be affected by our estimates and assumptions, are more fully described in Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements. Critical accounting policies are those that we believe are most important to portraying our financial condition and results of operations and also require the greatest amount of subjective or complex judgments by management. Judgments or uncertainties regarding the application of these policies may result in materially different amounts being reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. We consider the following policies to be the most critical in understanding the judgments that are involved in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

***Deferred Gift Card Revenue and Gift Card Breakage Revenue***

Revenue from restaurant sales is recognized when food and beverage products are sold. Deferred revenue primarily represents the Company's liability for gift cards that have been sold but not yet redeemed and is recorded at the expected redemption value. When the gift cards are redeemed, the Company recognizes restaurant sales and reduces the deferred revenue liability. Company issued gift cards redeemed at franchisee-owned restaurants reduce the deferred revenue liability but do not impact our restaurant sales. Gift card transactions involving franchisees are settled on a monthly basis through the Company's third-party gift card provider. The expected redemption value of gift cards represents the full value of all gift cards issued less the amount the Company has recognized as other operating income for gift cards that are not expected to be redeemed.

The portion of gift cards sold to customers which are never redeemed is commonly referred to as gift card breakage. Gift card breakage produces a revenue stream which is a key element of the profitability of the Company's gift card program and is classified as a component of other operating revenue.

The Company's accounting method for recognizing breakage revenue is the redemption method. Under the redemption method, breakage revenue is recognized and the gift card liability is derecognized for unredeemed gift cards in proportion to actual gift card redemptions based on historical breakage rates, including breakage rates during previous economic recessions. The Company continues to review historical gift card redemption information and considers any changes in redemption patterns as a result of the current economic environment, to assess the reasonableness of projected gift card breakage rates and patterns of redemption. Future gift card usage may be different than our historical experience and as result our estimate of cards not expected to be redeemed is subject to inherent uncertainty. If actual redemption activity differs significantly from our historical experience our deferred revenue liability and results of operations could be materially impacted.

***Impairment of Long-Lived Assets***

We review property and equipment (which includes leasehold improvements), purchased intangibles subject to amortization, and operating lease right-of-use (ROU) assets for impairment when events or circumstances indicate these assets might be impaired. We test impairment using historical cash flows and other relevant facts and circumstances as the primary basis for our estimates of future cash flows. The analysis is performed at the restaurant level for indicators of permanent impairment. In determining future cash flows, we make significant estimates with respect to future operating results of each restaurant over the expected remaining life of the primary asset in the restaurant. If assets are determined to be impaired, the loss on impairment is measured by calculating the amount by which the asset-carrying amount exceeds its fair value. This process requires the use of estimates and assumptions, which are subject to a high degree of judgment. If these assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record additional losses on impairment on these assets. During fiscal year 2022, the Company recorded a $574 thousand impairment charge for one restaurant location.

The judgments we make related to the expected useful lives of long-lived assets and our ability to realize undiscounted cash flows in excess of the carrying amounts of these assets are affected by factors such as the ongoing maintenance and improvements of the assets, changes in economic conditions, changes in usage or operating performance and desirability of the restaurant sites. As we assess the ongoing expected cash flows and carrying amounts of our long-lived assets, significant adverse changes in these factors could cause us to recognize a material loss on impairment.

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Generally, costs for exit or disposal activities, including restaurant closures, are expensed as incurred. The costs include the cost of disposing of the assets as well as other facility-related expenses from previously closed restaurants. For restaurants operated under operating leases, on the date we commit to a plan to abandon the related ROU asset, we evaluate the ROU asset for potential impairment and determine the go-forward accounting based on requirements in Topic 842.

***Valuation and Recoverability of Goodwill and Franchise Rights***

Goodwill and franchise rights arise primarily from our acquisition of franchisee-owned Ruth's Chris restaurants.

Goodwill is not subject to amortization and franchise rights acquired prior to 2008 are also not subject to amortization. Such assets must be tested for impairment annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The annual testing date for determining whether goodwill and franchise rights are impaired is the last day of the Company's 48<sup>th</sup> fiscal week, which in fiscal year 2022 was November 27, 2022. A variety of inherently uncertain estimates, judgments and projections are used in both assessing whether there has been an indicator that an impairment of an intangible asset may have occurred. We performed our annual impairment test of our goodwill and franchise rights using a qualitative assessment. In using the qualitative approach, we evaluated factors, including but not limited to, recent financial performance; forecasts for future cash flows; our stock price and market capitalization; recent impairment tests; legal factors; the business climate; and the competitive environment. If we determine that it is more likely than not that an intangible asset may be impaired, we are required to estimate its fair value. Because similar intangible assets are not bought and sold regularly in public markets, estimates of fair value of our intangible assets are inherently uncertain.

We evaluate the useful lives of our intangible assets to determine if they are definite or indefinite-lived. Reaching a determination on useful life requires significant judgments and assumptions regarding the future effects of obsolescence, demand, competition, other economic factors (such as the stability of the industry, legislative action that results in an uncertain or changing regulatory environment, and expected changes in distribution channels), the level of required capital expenditures, and the expected lives of other related groups of assets.

***Income Taxes***

We account for income taxes in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 740, Income Taxes (Topic 740). Topic 740 establishes financial accounting and reporting standards for the effects of income taxes that result from an enterprise's activities during the current and preceding years. It requires an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting of income taxes. We recognize deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future consequences of events that have been recognized in our consolidated financial statements or tax returns. In the event the future consequences of differences between financial reporting bases and tax bases of our assets and liabilities resulted in a net deferred tax asset, an evaluation is made of the probability of our ability to realize the future benefits indicated by such asset. A valuation allowance related to a deferred tax asset is recorded when it is more likely than not that some portion or the entire deferred tax asset will not be realized. The realization of such net deferred tax will generally depend on whether we will have sufficient taxable income of an appropriate character within the carry-forward period permitted by the tax law. Without sufficient taxable income to utilize the deductible amounts and carry forwards, the related tax benefits will expire unused. We have evaluated both positive and negative evidence in making a determination as to whether it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Measurement of deferred items is based on enacted tax laws.

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**Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK**

***Interest Rate Risk***

The Company is exposed to market risk from fluctuations in interest rates. For fixed rate debt, interest rate changes affect the fair market value of such debt but do not impact earnings or cash flows. Conversely for variable rate debt, including borrowings under the Company's credit facility, interest rate changes generally do not affect the fair market value of such debt, but do impact future earnings and cash flows, assuming other factors are held constant. As of December 25, 2022, the Company had $30.0 million in variable rate debt outstanding. The Company currently does not use financial instruments to hedge its risk to market fluctuations in interest rates. Holding other variables constant (such as debt levels), a hypothetical 100 basis point change in interest rates as of December 25, 2022 would be expected to have an impact on pre-tax earnings and cash flows for fiscal year 2023 of approximately $300 thousand.

***Effects of Healthcare Inflation***

The Company is exposed to market price fluctuations related to the cost of providing healthcare to its employees. Claim trends are predicted to outpace inflation throughout the upcoming year. Pharmacy costs are also rising in excess of general and medical cost inflation. If prices increase, or the Company experiences significantly more claims, operating margins could be materially adversely affected. Holding other variables constant, a hypothetical 10% fluctuation in healthcare costs would have an approximate impact on pre-tax earnings of approximately $1.0 million for the 2023 fiscal year.

***Foreign Currency Risk***

The Company believes that fluctuations in foreign exchange rates do not present a material risk to its operations. Franchise fee revenue from international locations aggregated $2.8 million in fiscal year 2022, $2.3 million in fiscal year 2021 and $1.9 million in fiscal year 2020.

***Commodity Price Risk***

The Company is exposed to market price fluctuations in beef and other food product prices. Given the historical volatility of beef and other food product prices, this exposure can impact the Company's food and beverage costs. As the Company typically sets its menu prices in advance of its beef and other food product purchases, the Company cannot quickly react to changing costs of beef and other food items. While the Company regularly reviews its prices, the timing of such reviews may not align with the changes to its beef and other food product purchases, which will result in the Company not being able to pass the increased costs on to its guests as quickly as it incurs the higher costs. To the extent that the Company is unable to pass the increased costs on to its guests through price increases, the Company's results of operations would be adversely affected. The Company experienced 1.4% deflation in beef prices in fiscal year 2022 compared to fiscal year 2021. The market for USDA Prime grade beef is particularly volatile. If prices increase, or the supply of beef is reduced, operating margins could be materially adversely affected. Holding other variables constant, a hypothetical 10% change, including market price fluctuations and general inflation, in beef prices would have an approximate impact on pre-tax earnings ranging from $6.0 million to $7.0 million for fiscal year 2023.

From time to time, the Company enters into purchase price agreements for other lower-volume food products, including poultry and seafood. In the past, certain types of poultry and seafood have experienced fluctuations in availability. Poultry and seafood are also subject to fluctuations in price based on availability, which is often seasonal. If certain types of poultry and seafood are unavailable, or if the Company's costs increase, the Company's results of operations could be adversely affected.

***Effects of Inflation***

Components of the Company's operations subject to inflation include food, beverage, lease and labor costs. The Company's leases require it to pay taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance and utilities, all of which are subject to inflationary increases. Routinely, governmental entities acted to increase minimum wage rates in jurisdictions where Company-owned restaurants are located, which increases our operating costs. Also, the U.S. government may act to further increase the federal minimum wage rate and/or decrease or eliminate the tip credit which could further increase employee compensation costs and related taxes in 2023 if adopted. The increased minimum wage rates are not expected to materially increase employee compensation and related taxes in fiscal year 2023 compared to fiscal year 2022. If prices increase, operating margins could be materially adversely affected. Holding other variables constant, a hypothetical 10% increase in restaurant operating costs, including labor, occupancy and other operating costs, would have an approximate impact on pre-tax earnings ranging from $24.0 million to $25.0 million for fiscal year 2023.

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**Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA** 

The Company's consolidated financial statements, together with the related notes and report of independent registered public accounting firm, are set forth in the pages indicated in Item 15, Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

**Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE** 

None.

**Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES** 

***Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures***

Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of December 25, 2022. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 25, 2022 to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted by the Company under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and that information required to be disclosed by the Company is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management to allow timely decisions regarding the required disclosure.

***Management***'***s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting***

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act).

Management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 25, 2022. In making this assessment, management applied the criteria based on the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013). The Company's assessment included documenting, evaluating and testing the design and operating effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Based upon this evaluation, management concluded that the Company's internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 25, 2022.

KPMG LLP, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the consolidated financial statements included herein and issued an audit report on the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 25, 2022, which follows.

Our system of internal control over financial reporting was designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance and may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, 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 or procedures may deteriorate.

***Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting***

During the fiscal quarter ended December 25, 2022, there was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that in the Company's judgment has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

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**Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors

Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc.:

*Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting*

We have audited Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. and subsidiaries' (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 25, 2022, based on criteria established in *Internal Control* — *Integrated Framework (2013)* issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 25, 2022, based on criteria established in *Internal Control* — *Integrated Framework (2013)* issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 25, 2022 and December 26, 2021, the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 25, 2022, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated February 23, 2023 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

*Basis for Opinion* 

The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying *Management*'*s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting*. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the 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 audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

*Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting* 

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, 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 or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Orlando, Florida

February 23, 2023

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**Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION** 

None.

**Item 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS** 

Not applicable.

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**PART III**

**Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE** 

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

We have adopted a Code of Conduct and Business Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. The text of our Code of Conduct and Business Ethics is posted on our website: www.rhgi.com. We intend to disclose future amendments to, or waivers from, certain provisions of the Code of Conduct and Business Ethics on our website within four business days following the date of such amendment or waiver. Stockholders may request a free copy of the Code of Conduct and Business Ethics from: Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc., Attention: Corporate Secretary, 1030 West Canton Avenue, Suite 100, Winter Park, Florida 32789.

**Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION** 

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

**Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS** 

Information about security ownership is incorporated by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Information as of December 25, 2022 concerning compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance was as follows:

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  |  | **Number of Securities** |
|  |  |  | **Remaining Available for** |
|  |  |  | **Future Issuance Under an** |
|  | **Number of Securities to** | **Weighted-Average** | **Equity Compensation Plan** |
|  | **be Issued Upon Exercise** | **Exercise Price of** | **(Excluding Securities** |
| **Plan Category** | **of Outstanding Awards** | **Outstanding Awards** | **Reflected in Column (a))** |
|  | **(a)** | **(b)** | **(c)** |
| Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders: |  |  |  |
| Amended and Restated 2005 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan | 30396 | N/A |  |
| 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan | 916938 | N/A | 1654859 |

---

(a) The number of securities to be issued includes outstanding restricted stock awards made to employees and officers of the Company and outstanding restricted stock units awarded to non-employee directors.

(b) The outstanding awards in column (a) do not have an exercise price.

(c) The total reflects all shares available for grant and could include restricted stock as further described in Note 13 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

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**Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE** 

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

**Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES** 

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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**PART IV** 

**Item 15. EXHIBIT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES** 

(a) Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules.

See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing on page F-1. All schedules have been omitted because they are not required or applicable or the information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

(b) Exhibits.

See Exhibit Index appearing on page 40 for a list of exhibits filed with or incorporated by reference as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

**Item 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY** 

None.

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**EXHIBITS**

*In reviewing the agreements included as exhibits to this report, please remember they are included to provide you with information regarding their terms and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about the Company, its subsidiaries or other parties to the agreements. The agreements contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and:* 

• *should not in all instances be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate;* 

• *have been qualified by disclosures that were made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the applicable agreement, which disclosures are not necessarily reflected in the agreement;* 

• *may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material to you or other investors; and* 

• *were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement and are subject to more recent developments.* 

*Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time. We acknowledge that, notwithstanding the inclusion of the foregoing cautionary statement, we are responsible for considering whether additional specific disclosures of material information regarding material contractual provisions are required to make the statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K not misleading. Additional information about the Company may be found elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company*'*s other public files, which are available without charge through the SEC*'*s website at http://www.sec.gov.* 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Exhibit** | **Description** |
| 2.1 | [Asset Purchase Agreement, dated November 2, 2017, by and among RCSH Operations, Inc., Desert Island Restaurants, L.L.C., Honolulu Steak House, LLC, Maui Steak House LLC, Wailea Steak House LLC, Beachwalk Steak House, LLC, Lava Coast Steak House, LLC, Kauai Steak House, LLC and the individual listed on the signature page thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 3, 2017) (Pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, the schedules to the Asset Purchase Agreement have been omitted and Ruth's Hospitality Group Inc. agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any such omitted schedule to the SEC upon request.).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000156459017021516/ruth-ex101_65.htm) |
| 3.1.1 | [Certificate of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 5, 2010).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000119312510049114/dex31.htm) |
| 3.1.2 | [Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 3, 2015).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000143774915011740/ex3-1.htm) |
| 3.1.3 | [Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 27, 2016).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000143774916032954/ex3-1.htm) |
| 3.2 | [Amended and Restated By-Laws of Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 5, 2022)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000143774922019067/ex_406746.htm). |
| 4.1 | [Description of Registrant Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 27, 2020).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000156459020007328/ruth-ex41_323.htm) |
| 10.1 | [License Agreement dated July 16, 1999 between Ruth U. Fertel and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed April 25, 2005).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000119312505083542/dex104.htm) |
| 10.2\* | [Amended and Restated 2005 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company's Proxy Statement filed April 19, 2013).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000119312513161859/d482173ddef14a.htm) |
| 10.3\* | [Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated 2005 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 8, 2017).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000143774917004007/ex10-3.htm) |

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| 10.4\* | [Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Company's 2005 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed August 8, 2005).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000119312505160008/dex1022.htm) |
| 10.5\* | [Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 8, 2017).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000143774917004007/ex10-5.htm) |
| 10.6\* | [Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (Performance Award) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 8, 2017).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000143774917004007/ex10-6.htm) |
| 10.7\* | [Omnibus Amendment to Award Agreements (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 8, 2017).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000143774917004007/ex10-7.htm) |
| 10.8\* | [Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Annex A of the registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement filed March 30, 2018).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000119312518102818/d541694ddef14a.htm#tx541694_19) |
| 10.9\* | [Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Director's Award) under the Company's 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company Current Report on Form 10-Q filed August 10, 2018).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000156459018021253/ruth-ex103_148.htm) |
| 10.10\* | [Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (Performance Award) under the Company's 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company Current Report on Form 10-Q filed August 10, 2018).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000156459018021253/ruth-ex104_150.htm) |
| 10.11\* | [Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (Tenure Award) under the Company's 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Company Current Report on Form 10-Q filed August 10, 2018).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000156459018021253/ruth-ex105_149.htm) |
| 10.12\* | [Ruth's Hospitality Group 2018 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 4, 2016).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000143774916026852/ex10-5.htm) |
| 10.13 | [Multi-Site Sale Leaseback Purchase Agreement dated August 1, 2008 among the Company, RCSH Operations, LLC, RCSH Operations, Inc. and RHG Kingfish, LLC and Sovereign Investment Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 5, 2008).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000118143108046217/rrd214967_25391.htm) |
| 10.14 | [Asset Purchase Agreement, dated May 1, 2019, by and among RCSH Operations, LLC, Marsha Brown Restaurants, L.P., Marsha Brown Restaurants, Inc., M.R. Brown, Inc., Marsha Brown Development Corporation, and Ophelia May LLC, and the individuals listed on the signature page thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 1, 2019).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000156459019015532/ruth-ex101_12.htm) |
| 10.15 | [Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2021, by and among the Company, the Guarantors, the Lenders and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, issuing lender and swingline lender (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 20, 2021).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000143774917001901/ex10-1.htm) |
| 10.16\* | [Employment Agreement dated August 1, 2022, between the Company and Cheryl J. Henry (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 5, 2022)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000143774922019067/ex_406747.htm) |
| 10.17\* | [Terms of Employment/Letter of Understanding and Salary Continuation Agreement dated June 4, 2018, between the Company and Michael P. O'Donnell (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 4, 2018).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000119312518182555/d596072dex102.htm) |
| 10.18\* | [Retirement, Transition, and Release of Claims Agreement, between the Company and Michael P. O'Donnell (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 9, 2020).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000156459020032133/ruth-ex101_7.htm) |
| 10.19\* | [Terms of Employment/Letter of Understanding and Salary Continuation Agreement, effective as of October 24, 2018, by and between Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. and Susan G. Mirdamadi (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 25, 2018).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000156459018025136/ruth-ex101_7.htm) |
| 10.20\* | [Form of Addendum to Employment Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 30, 2020).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000156459020013805/ruth-ex102_8.htm) |
| 10.21\* | [Employment Agreement dated August 1, 2022, between the Company and Kristy Chipman (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 5, 2022)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000143774922019067/ex_406748.htm) |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 42

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---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| 10.22\* | [Employment Agreement dated August 1, 2022 between the Company and Marcy Lynch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 5, 2022)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000143774922019067/ex_406749.htm) |
| 10.23\* | [Employment Agreement dated August 1, 2022 between the Company and David Hyatt (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Current Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 5, 2022)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000143774922019067/ex_406750.htm) |
| 10.24\* | [Employment Agreement dated November 14, 2022, between the Company and Mark Kupferman](ex_466196.htm) |
| 21.1 | [Subsidiaries of the Company.](ex_458863.htm) |
| 23.1 | [Consent of KPMG LLP.](ex_458864.htm) |
| 31.1 | [Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.](ex_458865.htm) |
| 31.2 | [Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.](ex_458866.htm) |
| 32.1 | [Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.](ex_458867.htm) |
| 32.2 | [Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.](ex_458868.htm) |
| 101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document - The instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because it's 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 Date File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) |

---

------

\* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 43

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**SIGNATURES** 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

February 23, 2023

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
|  | RUTH'S HOSPITALITY GROUP, INC. |
| By: | /s/ CHERYL J. HENRY |
|  | **Cheryl J. Henry**<br> **Chairperson of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer** |

---

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Signatures** | **Title** | **Dates** |
| /s/ CHERYL J. HENRY | Chairperson of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | February 23, 2023 |
| **Cheryl J. Henry** |  |  |
| /s/ KRISTY CHIPMAN | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Chief Operating Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | February 23, 2023 |
| **Kristy Chipman** |  |  |
| /s/ ROBIN P. SELATI | Lead Director | February 23, 2023 |
| **Robin P. Selati** |  |  |
| /s/ GIANNELLA ALVAREZ | Director | February 23, 2023 |
| **Giannella Alvarez** |  |  |
| /s/ MARY BAGLIVO | Director | February 23, 2023 |
| **Mary Baglivo** |  |  |
| /s/ CARLA R. COOPER | Director | February 23, 2023 |
| **Carla R. Cooper** |  |  |
| /s/ STEPHEN M. KING | Director | February 23, 2023 |
| **Stephen M. King** |  |  |
| /s/ MICHAEL P. O'DONNELL | Director | February 23, 2023 |
| **Michael P. O**'**Donnell** |  |  |
| /s/ MARIE L. PERRY | Director | February 23, 2023 |
| **Marie L. Perry** |  |  |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 44

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**RUTH**'**S HOSPITALITY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES** 

**INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
|  | **Page**  |
| [Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm](#report) | F-2 |
| [Consolidated Balance Sheets](#bs) | F-3 |
| [Consolidated Statements of Operations](#oper) | F-4 |
| [Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity](#equity) | F-5 |
| [Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows](#cf) | F-6 |
| [Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements](#notes) | F-7 |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F-1

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**Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors

Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc.:

*Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements*

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 25, 2022 and December 26, 2021, the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 25, 2022, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 25, 2022 and December 26, 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 25, 2022, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 25, 2022, based on criteria established in *Internal Control* – *Integrated Framework (2013)* issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated February 23, 2023 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

*Basis for Opinion*

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the 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. 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.

*Critical Audit Matter*

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

*Evaluation of the gift card breakage rate*

As discussed in Notes 2(k) and 4 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company's liability for gift cards sold but not yet redeemed as of December 25, 2022 was $74.1 million. The liability represents the full value of all gift cards sold less the amount the Company has recognized as income for gift cards that are not expected to be redeemed. The portion of gift cards sold to customers which are never redeemed is commonly referred to as gift card breakage. Gift card breakage is estimated based on historical breakage rates, including breakage rates during previous economic recessions, while considering any changes in redemption patterns as a result of the current economic environment.

We identified the evaluation of the gift card breakage rate as a critical audit matter. Testing the gift card breakage rate involved a high degree of subjectivity, because future gift card usage may be different than historical experience and is subject to inherent uncertainty.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F-2

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The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the critical audit matter. This included controls related to the Company's gift card process including the gift card issuance and redemption data used to develop the breakage rate. We assessed the Company's estimated breakage rate, including the underlying gift card issuance and redemption data. We compared an independent acceptable range to the amount recorded by the Company. We compared the historically estimated breakage, including breakage during previous economic recessions and recoveries, against actual breakage to assess the Company's ability to accurately forecast gift card breakage. We analyzed redemptions as a percentage of sales to identify any changes in redemption patterns as a result of the current economic environment.

/s/ KPMG LLP

We have served as the Company's auditor since 1994.

Orlando, Florida

February 23, 2023

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F-3

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[**Table of Contents**](#toc)

**RUTH'S HOSPITALITY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES**

**Consolidated Balance Sheets**

**(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)**

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***December 25,*** | ***December 26,*** |
|  | ***2022*** | ***2021*** |
| **Assets** |  |  |
| Current assets: |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cash and cash equivalents | $23002 | $92133 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts 2022 - $57; 2021 - $106 | 45013 | 41588 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Inventory | 9138 | 8554 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prepaid expenses and other | 4662 | 3919 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Total current assets | 81815 | 146194 |
| Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation 2022 - $205,849; 2021 - $195,853 | 148837 | 121706 |
| Operating lease right of use assets | 195703 | 173754 |
| Goodwill | 45549 | 45549 |
| Franchise rights, net of accumulated amortization 2022 - $11,025; 2021 - $8,779 | 39993 | 42239 |
| Other intangibles, net of accumulated amortization 2022 - $1,333; 2021 - $1,698 | 5002 | 4990 |
| Deferred income taxes | 3388 |  |
| Other assets | 1519 | 1547 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Total assets | $521806 | $535979 |
| **Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity** |  |  |
| Current liabilities: |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Accounts payable | 8736 | 11685 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Accrued payroll | 17107 | 17097 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Accrued expenses | 16997 | 12924 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Deferred revenue | 74375 | 69029 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Current operating lease liabilities | 16557 | 17006 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Other current liabilities | 4497 | 7674 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Total current liabilities | 138269 | 135415 |
| Long-term debt | 30000 | 70000 |
| Operating lease liabilities | 218804 | 192666 |
| Unearned franchise fees | 2257 | 2219 |
| Deferred income taxes |  | 399 |
| Other liabilities | 145 | 69 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Total liabilities | 389475 | 400768 |
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 10) |  |  |
| Shareholders' equity: |  |  |
| Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 32,010,919 shares issued and outstanding at December 25, 2022, 33,575,337 shares issued and outstanding at December 26, 2021 | 320 | 336 |
| Additional paid-in capital | 45727 | 68923 |
| Retained earnings | 86284 | 65952 |
| Treasury stock, at cost; 71,950 shares at December 25, 2022 and December 26, 2021 |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Total shareholders' equity | 132331 | 135211 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $521806 | $535979 |

---

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F-4

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**RUTH'S HOSPITALITY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES**

**Consolidated Statements of Operations**

**(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)**

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** |
|  | ***December 25,*** | ***December 26,*** | ***December 27,*** |
|  | ***2022*** | ***2021*** | ***2020*** |
| Revenues: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Restaurant sales | $475371 | $402015 | $260763 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Franchise income | 20571 | 18533 | 11737 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Other operating income | 9916 | 8575 | 5248 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Total revenues | 505858 | 429123 | 277748 |
| Costs and expenses: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Food and beverage costs | 151290 | 128450 | 75831 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Restaurant operating expenses | 221352 | 179671 | 150420 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Marketing and advertising | 17360 | 13464 | 6859 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; General and administrative costs | 37071 | 32531 | 33248 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Depreciation and amortization expenses | 22103 | 20487 | 21964 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pre-opening costs | 3058 | 1894 | 1633 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Loss on legal settlement | 6000 |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Loss (gain) on lease modifications | 90 | 1058 | (206) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Loss on impairment | 574 | 1854 | 16548 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Total costs and expenses | 458898 | 379409 | 306297 |
| Operating income (loss) | 46960 | 49714 | (28549) |
| Other income (expense): |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interest expense, net | (1507) | (3478) | (4681) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Other | 178 | 102 | 26 |
| Income (loss) before income tax expense | 45631 | 46338 | (33204) |
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 7010 | 4063 | (7910) |
| Net income (loss) | $38621 | $42275 | $(25294) |
| Basic earnings (loss) per common share | $1.16 | $1.23 | $(0.80) |
| Diluted earnings (loss) per common share | $1.15 | $1.23 | $(0.80) |
| Shares used in computing earnings (loss) per common share: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Basic | 33203263 | 34255966 | 31683920 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Diluted | 33495888 | 34468195 | 31683920 |
| Cash dividends declared per common share | $0.54 | $— | $0.15 |

---

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F-5

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**RUTH'S HOSPITALITY GROUP, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES**

**Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity**

**(Amounts in thousands)**

---

| | | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  |  | ***Additional*** |  |  |  |  |
|  | ***Common Stock*** | ***Common Stock*** | ***Paid-in*** | ***Retained*** | ***Treasury Stock*** | ***Treasury Stock*** | ***Shareholders'*** |
|  | ***Shares*** | ***Value*** | ***Capital*** | ***Earnings*** | ***Shares*** | ***Value*** | ***Equity*** |
| Balance at December 29, 2019 | 28419 | $284 | $40462 | $53399 | 72 |  | $94145 |
| Net loss | *—* | *—* | *—* | (25294) | *—* |  | (25294) |
| Stock issuance | 6455 | 65 | 49493 | *—* | *—* |  | 49558 |
| Cash dividends | *—* | *—* | *—* | (4428) | *—* |  | (4428) |
| Repurchase of common stock | (902) | (9) | (13217) | *—* | *—* |  | (13226) |
| Shares issued under stock compensation plan net of shares withheld for tax effects | 285 | 3 | (1576) | *—* | *—* |  | (1573) |
| Stock-based compensation | *—* | *—* | 8261 | *—* | *—* |  | 8261 |
| Balance at December 27, 2020 | 34257 | 343 | 83424 | 23677 | 72 |  | 107444 |
| Net income | *—* | *—* | *—* | 42275 | *—* |  | 42275 |
| Repurchase of common stock | (888) | (9) | (16577) | *—* | *—* |  | (16586) |
| Shares issued under stock compensation plan net of shares withheld for tax effects | 205 | 2 | (2813) | *—* | *—* |  | (2811) |
| Stock-based compensation | *—* | *—* | 4888 | *—* | *—* |  | 4888 |
| Balance at December 26, 2021 | 33575 | 336 | 68923 | 65952 | 72 |  | 135211 |
| Net income | *—* | *—* | *—* | 38621 | *—* |  | 38621 |
| Cash dividends | *—* | *—* | *—* | (18289) | *—* |  | (18289) |
| Repurchase of common stock | (1733) | (17) | (29547) | *—* | *—* |  | (29564) |
| Shares issued under stock compensation plan net of shares withheld for tax effects | 169 | 1 | (1521) | *—* | *—* |  | (1520) |
| Stock-based compensation | *—* | *—* | 7872 | *—* | *—* |  | 7872 |
| Balance at December 25, 2022 | 32011 | $*320* | $45727 | $86284 | 72 |  | $132331 |

---

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F-6

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**RUTH'S HOSPITALITY GROUP, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES**

**Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows**

**(Dollar amounts in thousands)**

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** |
|  | ***December 25,*** | ***December 26,*** | ***December 27,*** |
|  | ***2022*** | ***2021*** | ***2020*** |
| Cash flows from operating activities: |  |  |  |
| Net income (loss) | $38621 | $42275 | $(25294) |
| Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Depreciation and amortization | 22103 | 20487 | 21964 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Deferred income taxes | (3787) | 9015 | (3688) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Non-cash interest expense | 217 | 386 | 346 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Loss on impairment | 574 | 1854 | 16548 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Stock-based compensation expense | 7872 | 4888 | 8261 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Accounts receivable | 342 | (18471) | 1939 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Inventories | (716) | (1713) | 1983 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prepaid expenses and other | (215) | (265) | (603) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Other assets | (188) | 22 | (25) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 172 | 15076 | (13340) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Deferred revenue | 5346 | 9999 | 6174 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Operating lease liabilities and assets | (29) | (5782) | 5530 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Other liabilities | (3111) | 3620 | 290 |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 67201 | 81391 | 20085 |
| Cash flows from investing activities: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Acquisition of property and equipment | (46958) | (19651) | (10620) |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (46958) | (19651) | (10620) |
| Cash flows from financing activities: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Principal borrowings on long-term debt | 15000 |  | 85000 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Principal repayments on long-term debt | (55000) | (45000) | (34000) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Principal borrowings from the CARES Act loan |  |  | 20000 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Principal repayments on the CARES Act loan |  |  | (20000) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Repurchase of common stock | (29564) | (16586) | (13226) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Net proceeds from the sale of common stock |  |  | 49558 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cash dividend payments | (18289) |  | (4428) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tax payments from the vesting of restricted stock | (1521) | (2811) | (1573) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Deferred financing costs |  | (612) | (961) |
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (89374) | (65009) | 80370 |
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (69131) | (3269) | 89835 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | 92133 | 95402 | 5567 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | $23002 | $92133 | $95402 |
| Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: |  |  |  |
| Cash paid (received) during the period for: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interest, net of capitalized interest | $1162 | $3199 | $4299 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Income taxes | $12240 | $3064 | $(1428) |
| Noncash investing and financing activities: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Accrued acquisition of property and equipment | $473 | $2263 | $72 |

---

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F-7

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[**Table of Contents**](#toc)

**RUTH**'**S HOSPITALITY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES** 

**Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements** 

**(*1*) The Company, Organization and Description of Business** 

Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the Company) operate Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants and sell franchise rights to Ruth's Chris Steak House franchisees giving the franchisees the exclusive right to operate similar restaurants in a particular area designated in the franchise agreement.

As of *December 25, 2022*, there were 154 Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants, of which 77 were Company-owned, 74 were franchisee-owned, and three locations were operating under contractual agreements. All Company-owned restaurants are located in the United States. The franchisee-owned restaurants include 23 international restaurants in Aruba, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan. Four Company-owned Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurant opened during *2022,* in Aventura, FL, Worchester, MA, Melville, NY and Long Beach, CA.

The following table summarizes the changes in the number of Company-owned Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants and franchisee-owned restaurants during the *thirteen* and *fifty-two* weeks ended *December 25, 2022*.

---

| | | | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***13 Weeks Ending*** | ***13 Weeks Ending*** | ***13 Weeks Ending*** | ***13 Weeks Ending*** | ***52 Weeks Ending*** | ***52 Weeks Ending*** | ***52 Weeks Ending*** | ***52 Weeks Ending*** |
|  | ***December 25, 2022*** | ***December 25, 2022*** | ***December 25, 2022*** | ***December 25, 2022*** | ***December 25, 2022*** | ***December 25, 2022*** | ***December 25, 2022*** | ***December 25, 2022*** |
| Ruth's Chris Steak House | ***Company*** | ***Franchised*** | ***Managed*** | ***Total*** | ***Company*** | ***Franchised*** | ***Managed*** | ***Total*** |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Beginning of period | 77 | 74 | 3 | 154 | 73 | 74 | 3 | 150 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Acquired | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sold | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; New | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Closed | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; End of period | 77 | 74 | 3 | 154 | 77 | 74 | 3 | 154 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; % of total | 50% | 48% | 2% | 100% | 50% | 48% | 2% | 100% |

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***COVID-*19* Impact***

The novel coronavirus *2019* (COVID-*19*) pandemic resulted in a significant reduction in revenue at the Company's restaurants due to mandatory restaurant closures, capacity limitations, social distancing guidelines or other restrictions mandated by governments across the world, including federal, state and local governments in the United States. As a result of these developments, the Company experienced a significant negative impact on its revenues, results of operations and cash flows compared to periods prior to the onset of the pandemic. As of and throughout the fiscal year ended *December 25, 2022*, all of the Company-owned and -managed restaurants were open. The extent to which COVID-*19* will continue to impact the Company will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration and impact of variants of the COVID-*19* virus and the continued effectiveness of the COVID-*19* vaccines and boosters in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates, the actions taken to contain the impact of COVID-*19,* and further actions that *may* be taken to limit the resulting economic impact.

**(*2*) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies** 

***(a) Basis of Presentation***

The Company utilizes a *52*- or *53*-week reporting period ending on the last Sunday of *December.* The periods ended *December 25, 2022* (fiscal year *2022*), *December 26, 2021* (fiscal year *2021*) and *December 27, 2020* (fiscal year *2020*) each had a *52*-week reporting period. The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and include the financial statements of Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *8*

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The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

***(b) Contingencies***

The Company recognizes liabilities for contingencies when there is an exposure that indicates it is both probable that an asset has been impaired or that a liability has been incurred and that the amount of impairment or loss can be reasonably estimated.

 ****

***(c) Cash Equivalents***

For purposes of the consolidated financial statements, the Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of *three* months or less to be cash equivalents.

***(d) Accounts Receivable***

Accounts receivable consists primarily of bank credit cards receivable, income tax receivable, landlord contributions, franchise royalty payments receivable, receivables from gift card sales, banquet billings receivable and other miscellaneous receivables.

***(e) Allowance for Doubtful Accounts***

The Company performs a specific review of account balances and applies historical collection experience to the various aging categories of receivable balances in establishing an allowance.

***(f) Inventories***

Inventories consist of food, beverages and supplies and are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the *first*-in, *first*-out method.

***(g) Property and Equipment, net***

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for improvements and replacements are capitalized and maintenance and repairs are charged to expense. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized on the straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives for assets are as follows: Building and Building Improvements, 20 to 40 years; Equipment, 5 years; Furniture and Fixtures, 5 to 7 years; Computer Equipment, 3 to 5 years; and Leasehold Improvements, 5 to 20 years (limited by the lease term).

***(h) Goodwill and Franchise Rights***

Goodwill and franchise rights acquired in a business combination that are determined to have an indefinite useful life are *not* amortized, but reviewed for impairment at least annually in accordance with the provisions of FASB Accounting Standards Committee (ASC) Topic *350,* Intangibles-Goodwill and Other. The annual testing date for determining whether goodwill and franchise rights are impaired is the last day of the Company's *48*<sup>th</sup> fiscal week, which in fiscal year *2022* was *November 27, 2022.* Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment on a reporting unit basis and more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. For purposes of testing goodwill impairment, a reporting unit is defined as a group of restaurants with similar economic characteristics. All Company-owned restaurants are deemed to have similar economic characteristics and are deemed to be *one* reporting unit. An impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the financial statement carrying amount exceeds the asset's fair value.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *9*

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Franchise rights acquired prior to *2008* in a business combination that are determined to have an indefinite useful life are *not* amortized, but are reviewed for impairment at least annually and more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The Company allows and expects these franchisees to renew agreements indefinitely ensuring consistent cash flows. An impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds the asset's fair value. Franchise rights acquired after *2007* are *no* longer considered to have indefinite useful lives and are amortized in accordance with FASB ASC Topic *350* and reviewed for impairment under ASC Topic *360*-*10,* Property, Plant and Equipment – Impairment and Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (Topic *360*-*10*).

***(i) Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets***

In accordance with Topic *360*-*10,* long lived assets, such as property and equipment, operating lease right-of-use (ROU) assets and purchased intangibles subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset *may not* be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the financial statement carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and *third*-party independent appraisals, as considered necessary. Key assumptions in the determination of fair value are the future after-tax cash flows of the restaurant and discount rate. The after-tax cash flows incorporate reasonable sales growth and margin improvement assumptions that would be expected by a franchisee in the determination of a purchase price for the restaurant. Estimates of future cash flows are highly subjective judgments and can be significantly impacted by changes in the business or economic conditions. The discount rate used in the fair value calculations is our estimate of the required rate of return that a market participant would expect to receive when purchasing a similar restaurant or groups of restaurants and the related long-lived assets. The discount rate incorporates rates of returns for historical refranchising market transactions and is commensurate with the risks and uncertainty inherent in the forecasted cash flows.

We account for exit or disposal activities, including restaurant closures, in accordance with Topic *360*-*10.* Such costs include the cost of disposing of the assets as well as other facility-related expenses from previously closed restaurants. These costs are generally expensed as incurred. For restaurants operated under operating leases, on the date we commit to a plan to either abandon the related ROU asset or sublease the underlying asset, we evaluate the ROU asset for potential impairment and determine the go-forward accounting based on the requirements in ASC Topic *842,* Leases.

***(j) Deferred Financing Costs***

Deferred financing costs represent fees paid in connection with obtaining bank and other long-term financing. The Company paid $612 thousand in financing costs in fiscal year *2021* and $961 financing costs during fiscal year *2020*. The Company did not pay any financing costs in fiscal year *2022.* The Company amortizes deferred financing costs using a method that approximates the effective interest method over the term of the related financing. Amortization of deferred financing costs was $217 thousand in fiscal year *2022*, $386 thousand in fiscal year *2021* and $346 thousand in fiscal year *2020* and is included in interest expense on the consolidated statements of operations.

***(k) Revenues***

Revenues are derived principally from food and beverage sales. The Company does *not* rely on any major customers as a source of revenue.

*Restaurant Sales.* Restaurant sales consist of food and beverage sales by Company-owned restaurants. Revenue from restaurant sales is recognized when food and beverage products are sold. Restaurant sales are presented net of sales taxes and discounts. Gratuities remitted by customers for the benefit of restaurant staff are *not* included in either revenues or operating expenses. Restaurant sales are primarily influenced by total operating weeks in the relevant period and comparable restaurant sales growth. Total operating weeks is the total number of Company-owned restaurants multiplied by the number of weeks each is in operation during the relevant period. Comparable restaurant sales growth reflects the change in year-over-year or quarter-over-quarter, as applicable, sales for the comparable restaurants. The Company defines comparable restaurants to be those Company-owned restaurants in operation for *not* less than *eighteen* months prior to the beginning of the fiscal period.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *10*

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*Franchise Income.* Franchise income includes (*1*) franchise and development fees charged to franchisees, (*2*) sales-based royalty income and (*3*) sales-based advertising fees charged to franchisees. Franchise royalties consist of 5.0% of adjusted gross sales from each franchisee-owned restaurant. In addition, our more recent franchise agreements require up to a 1.0% of adjusted gross sales advertising fee to be paid by the franchisee, which is applied to national advertising expenditures. Both the *5.0%* royalty and the sales-based advertising fees are included in franchise income on the consolidated statements of operations. The Company recognizes franchise development and opening fees over the life of the applicable franchise agreements.

*Other Operating Income.* Other operating income consists primarily of breakage income associated with gift cards, and also includes fees earned from management agreements, banquet-related guarantee and services revenue and other incidental guest fees. The Company's accounting method for recognizing gift card breakage revenue is the redemption method. Under the redemption method, gift card breakage revenue is recognized and the gift card liability is derecognized for unredeemed gift cards in proportion to actual gift card redemptions. Gift card breakage rates are estimated based on historical breakage rates, including breakage rates during previous economic recessions, while also considering any changes in redemption patterns as a result of the current economic environment.

*Deferred Revenue.* Deferred revenue primarily includes (*1*) the Company's liability for gift cards that have been sold but *not* yet redeemed and (*2*) the Company's liability for franchise development and opening fees that will be recognized over the life of the applicable franchise agreements. When gift cards are redeemed (typically within five years), the Company recognizes restaurant sales and reduces the deferred revenue liability. A portion of gift cards redeemed are used by customers to pay for sales taxes and gratuities, neither of which results in Company restaurant sales. Company issued gift cards redeemed at franchisee-owned restaurants result in royalty-based franchise income and reduce the deferred revenue liability. The expected redemption value of gift cards represents the full consideration received for all gift cards issued less the amount the Company has recognized as other operating income for gift cards that are *not* expected to be redeemed (gift card breakage). The Company recognized gift card breakage revenue of $4.2 million in fiscal year *2022*, $3.2 million in fiscal year *2021* and $2.3 million in fiscal years *2020*.

***(l) International Revenues***

The Company currently has 23 international franchisee-owned restaurants in Aruba, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan. In accordance with its franchise agreements relating to these international restaurants, the Company receives royalty revenue from these franchisees in U.S. dollars. Franchise fee revenues from international restaurants were $2.8 million, $2.3 million and $1.9 million in fiscal years *2022*, *2021* and *2020*, respectively.

***(m) Rent***

The majority of our restaurant locations, as well as our corporate headquarters, are subject to a lease. We evaluate our leases at the lease commencement date to determine the classification as an operating or finance lease. All our existing leases are operating leases. In accordance with Topic *842,* we recognize operating lease liabilities based on the present value of future minimum lease payments over the expected lease term and corresponding right-of-use assets. To determine the present value of future minimum lease payments, the Company estimates incremental secured borrowing rates based on the information available at the lease commencement dates, or the transition date at adoption. The Company estimates its incremental borrowing rates by determining the synthetic credit rating of the Company using quantitative and qualitative analysis and then adjusting the synthetic credit rating to a collateralized credit rating. A spread curve is then developed using the U.S. corporate bond yield curve of the same credit rating and the U.S. Treasury curve to determine the rate for different terms.

We recognize lease expense related to operating leases on a straight-line basis. Many of our leases also require payment of property taxes, insurance and maintenance costs in addition to the minimum fixed lease payments. Certain of the Company's operating leases contain rent holidays and predetermined fixed escalations of the minimum rent during the term of the lease, as well as renewal periods. The effects of the holidays and escalations have been reflected in lease expense on a straight-line basis for operating leases over the expected term.

Many of our leases have renewal periods totaling up to 20 years, exercisable at our option. At lease inception, we include option periods that we are reasonably certain to exercise as failure to renew the lease would impose an economic penalty either from the loss of our investment in leasehold improvements or future cash flows from operating the restaurant. The consolidated financial statements reflect the same lease term for amortizing leasehold improvements as we use to determine finance versus operating lease classifications. Landlord allowances are recorded as an adjustment to the right-of-use assets.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *11*

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Additionally, certain of the Company's operating leases contain clauses that require additional variable rent based on a percentage of sales greater than certain specified target amounts. The Company recognizes variable rent expense prior to the achievement of the specified target that triggers the variable rent, provided achievement of that target is considered probable.

***(n) Marketing and Advertising***

Marketing and advertising expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations include expenses related to advertising, online initiatives, traditional public relations and consumer research. Advertising expenses were $3.1 million, $2.7 million and $2.9 million in fiscal years *2022*, *2021* and *2020*, respectively. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.

***(o) Insurance Liability***

The Company maintains various policies for workers' compensation, employee health, general liability and property damage. Pursuant to those policies, the Company is responsible for losses up to certain limits. The Company records liabilities for the estimated exposure for aggregate losses below those limits. The recorded liabilities are based on estimates of the ultimate costs to be incurred to settle known claims and claims incurred but *not* reported as of the balance sheet date. The estimated liabilities are *not* discounted and are based on a number of assumptions and factors, including historical trends, actuarial assumptions and economic conditions. Independent actuaries are used to develop estimates of the workers' compensation, general and employee health care liabilities.

***(p) Stock-Based Compensation***

The Company recognizes stock-based compensation in accordance with FASB ASC Topic *718,* Compensation—Stock Compensation, (Topic *718*). Stock-based compensation cost includes compensation cost for all share-based payments granted based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of Topic *718.* Compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of each award. The Company does *not* estimate forfeitures when recognizing compensation expense. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur.

***(q) Pre-Opening Costs***

Pre-opening costs incurred with the opening of new restaurants are expensed as incurred. These costs include rent expense, wages, benefits, travel and lodging for the training and opening management teams, and food, beverage and other restaurant operating expenses incurred prior to a restaurant opening for business.

***(r) Income Taxes***

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company applies the provisions of FASB ASC Topic *740,* Income Taxes (Topic *740*). Topic *740* requires that a position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return be recognized (or derecognized) in the financial statements when it is more likely than *not* that the position would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. A recognized tax position is then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company's continuing practice is to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.

***(s) Earnings (Loss) Per Share***

Basic earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Potentially dilutive securities include shares of non-vested stock awards. Diluted earnings (loss) per share considers the impact of potentially dilutive securities except in periods in which there is a loss because the inclusion of the potential common shares would have an antidilutive effect. Stock awards are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share in the event they are antidilutive.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *12*

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**(*3*) Leases**

At *December 25, 2022*, all of the Company-owned Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants operated in leased premises, with the exception of the restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, which is an owned property, and the restaurants in Anaheim, CA, Lake Mary, FL Princeton, NJ and South Barrington, IL, which operate on leased land. The leases generally provide for minimum annual rental payments with scheduled minimum rent payments increases during the terms of the leases. Certain leases also provide for rent deferral during the initial term, lease incentives in the form of tenant allowances to fund leasehold improvements, and/or contingent rent provisions based on the sales at the underlying restaurants. Most of the Company's restaurant leases have remaining lease terms of *1* year to 20 years, most of which include options to extend the leases for 5 years or more. The Company's lease agreements do *not* contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. The weighted average term and discount rate for operating leases as of *December 25, 2022* is 13.5 years and 5.7%, respectively. The weighted average term and discount rate for operating leases as of *December 26, 2021* is 12.9 years and 5.3%, respectively.

The components of lease expense are as follows (in thousands):

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** |
|  | ***Classification*** | ***December 25, 2022*** | ***December 26, 2021*** |
| Operating lease cost | *Restaurant operating expenses and General and administrative costs* | $25789 | $19553 |
| Variable lease cost | *Restaurant operating expenses and General and administrative costs* | 12833 | 13824 |
| *Total lease cost* | *Total lease cost* | $38622 | $33377 |

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As of *December 25, 2022*, maturities of lease liabilities are summarized as follows (in thousands):

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| | |
|:---|:---|
|  | ***Company Total*** |
| 2023 | $28812 |
| 2024 | 27125 |
| 2025 | 26002 |
| 2026 | 24812 |
| 2027 | 24388 |
| Thereafter | 214601 |
|  | 345740 |
| Imputed interest | (110379) |
|  | $235361 |

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Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows (in thousands):

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** |
|  | ***December 25, 2022*** | ***December 26, 2021*** |
| Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities | $25716 | $21898 |
| Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations | $40741 | $13042 |
| Reduction of right-of-use assets and lease obligations from lease modifications and terminations | $570 | $12594 |

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Additionally, as of *December 25, 2022*, the Company has executed four leases for new Ruth's Chris Steak House Restaurant locations with undiscounted fixed payments over the initial term of $21.7 million. These leases are expected to commence during the next *12* months and are expected to have an economic lease term of approximately 20 years. The leases will commence when the landlords make the properties available to the Company. The Company will assess the reasonably certain lease term at the lease commencement date.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *13*

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The Company previously operated eighteen Mitchell's Fish Markets and three Mitchell's/Cameron's Steakhouse restaurants (collectively, the Mitchell's Restaurants). The sale of the Mitchell's Restaurants to Landry's, Inc. and Mitchell's Entertainment, Inc., an affiliate of Landry's Inc. (together with Landry's Inc., Landry's) closed on *January 21, 2015.* The assets sold consisted primarily of leasehold interests, leasehold improvements, restaurant equipment and furnishings, inventory, and related intangible assets, including brand names and trademarks associated with the 21 Mitchell's Restaurants. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, upon closing of the sale of the Mitchell's Restaurants, Landry's assumed the lease obligations of the Mitchell's Restaurants. The Company guaranteed Landry's lease obligations aggregating $8.3 million under *four* of the Mitchell's Restaurants' leases which extend until the leases terminate which *may* continue into 2040, including remaining lease options. The Company did *not* record a financial accounting liability for the lease guarantees, because the likelihood of Landry's defaulting on the lease agreements was deemed to be remote. Separate from the purchase agreement, Landry's has agreed to indemnify the Company in the event of a default under any of the leases. The above tables do *not* include potential lease obligations for the Mitchell's Restaurants.

**(*4*) Revenue**

In the following tables, the Company's revenue is disaggregated by major component for each category on the consolidated statements of operations (in thousands).

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **52 Weeks Ended December 25, 2022:** | ***Domestic*** | ***International*** | ***Total Revenue*** |
| Restaurant sales | $475371 | $— | $475371 |
| Franchise income | 17726 | 2845 | 20571 |
| Other operating income | 9916 |  | 9916 |
| Total revenue | $503013 | $2845 | $505858 |

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **52 Weeks Ended December 26, 2021:** | ***Domestic*** | ***International*** | ***Total Revenue*** |
| Restaurant sales | $402015 | $— | $402015 |
| Franchise income | 16263 | 2270 | 18533 |
| Other operating income | 8575 |  | 8575 |
| Total revenue | $426853 | $2270 | $429123 |

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **52 Weeks Ended December 27, 2020:** | ***Domestic*** | ***International*** | ***Total Revenue*** |
| Restaurant sales | $260763 | $— | $260763 |
| Franchise income | 9880 | 1857 | 11737 |
| Other operating income | 5248 |  | 5248 |
| Total revenue | $275891 | $1857 | $277748 |

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The following table provides information about receivables and deferred revenue liabilities from contracts with customers (in thousands).

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***December 25,*** | ***December 26,*** |
|  | ***2022*** | ***2021*** |
| Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts 2022 - $57; 2021 - $106 | $27223 | $24179 |
| Deferred revenue | $74375 | $69029 |
| Unearned franchise fees | $2257 | $2219 |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *14*

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Significant changes in the deferred revenue balance and the unearned franchise fees balance during the *fifty-two* weeks of fiscal years *2022* and *2021* are presented in the following table (in thousands).

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***Deferred*** | ***Unearned*** |
|  | ***Revenue*** | ***Franchise Fees*** |
| Balance at December 27, 2020 | $59030 | $2186 |
| Decreases in the beginning balance from gift card redemptions | (30741) | *—* |
| Increases due to proceeds received, excluding amounts recognized during the period | 40757 | 265 |
| Decreases due to recognition of franchise development and opening fees | *—* | (232) |
| Other | (17) | *—* |
| Balance at December 26, 2021 | 69029 | 2219 |
| Decreases in the beginning balance from gift card redemptions | (36235) | *—* |
| Increases due to proceeds received, excluding amounts recognized during the period | 41844 | 305 |
| Decreases due to recognition of franchise development and opening fees | *(239*) | (299) |
| Other | (24) | 32 |
| Balance at December 25, 2022 | $74375 | $2257 |

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The projected recognition of revenue related to deferred franchise development and opening fees is as follows (in thousands).

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| | | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***Balance as of December 25, 2022*** | ***Fiscal Year 2023*** | ***Fiscal Year 2024*** | ***Fiscal Year 2025*** | ***Fiscal Year 2026*** | ***Fiscal Year 2027*** | ***Thereafter*** |
| Franchise development and opening fees | $2257 | $231 | $231 | 231 | 231 | $231 | $1102 |

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**(*5*) Fair Value Measurements**

Fair value is defined under FASB ASC Topic *820,* Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic *820*), as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Topic *820* also establishes a *three*-level hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability on the measurement date. The *three* levels of inputs are:

• Level *1—quoted* prices (unadjusted) for an identical asset or liability in an active market.

• Level *2—quoted* prices for a similar asset or liability in an active market or model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

• Level *3—unobservable* and significant to the fair value measurement of the asset or liability.

The following were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments:

• The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities are a reasonable estimate of their fair values due to their short duration.

• Borrowings under the senior credit facility as of *December 25, 2022* and *December 26, 2021* have variable interest rates that reflect currently available terms and conditions for similar debt. The carrying amount of this debt is a reasonable estimate of its fair value (Level *2*).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *15*

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During fiscal year *2022,* the Company determined that triggering events had occurred requiring an impairment evaluation of certain long-lived and inventory assets. In fiscal year *2022,* the Company recorded a $574 thousand impairment charge at one restaurant location. In fiscal year *2021,* the Company recorded $1.8 million of impairment losses related to long-lived assets at two restaurant locations and $88 thousand of impairment losses related to inventory at one closed restaurant. The impairments of long-lived assets were measured based on the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeded fair value. Fair value was estimated based on the income approach utilizing market participant assumptions reflecting all available information as of the balance sheet date. The impairment losses are included in the loss on impairment caption in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations. See Note *2*(i) for a description of the valuation techniques used to measure fair value of long-lived assets, as well as information used to develop the inputs to the fair value measurements.

The Company's non-financial assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of *December 25, 2022* were as follows (in thousands):

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***Fair Value as of December 25, 2022*** | ***Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)*** | ***Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)*** | ***Total Losses on Impairment*** |
| Long-lived assets | $281 | $– $| 281 | $574 |

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The Company's non-financial assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of *December 26, 2021* were as follows (in thousands):

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***Fair Value as of December 26, 2021*** | ***Total Losses on Impairment*** |
| Long-lived assets | $– $– $– $| 1766 |

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**(*6*) Goodwill and Intangible Assets**

In accordance with FASB ASC Topic *350,* goodwill and owned franchise rights with indefinite useful lives must be reviewed for potential impairment annually and when triggering events are detected. The Company performed its annual impairment test of its goodwill and franchise rights as of *November 27, 2022* using a qualitative assessment. Using the qualitative approach, the Company evaluated factors, including but *not* limited to, recent financial performance; forecasts for future cash flows; the Company's stock price and market capitalization; recent impairment tests; legal factors; the business climate; and the competitive environment.

If the qualitative assessment is *not* performed, or if the Company determines that it is *not* more likely than *not* that the fair values of the intangible assets exceed the carrying values, then the Company performs an analysis for franchise rights and goodwill to measure fair values.

The financial statement carrying values of the Company's goodwill was as follows (amounts in thousands):

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Gross Goodwill** | **Accumulated Goodwill Impairment Losses** | **Net Carrying Value of Goodwill** |
| Balance as of December 25, 2022 | $56107 | $(10558) | $45549 |
| Balance as of December 26, 2021 | $56107 | $(10558) | $45549 |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *16*

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The financial statement carrying values of the Company's franchise rights and other intangible assets were as follows (amounts in thousands):

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)*** | ***Gross Carrying Value*** | ***Accumulated Amortization*** | ***Net Carrying Value*** |
| Amortizing intangible assets: |  |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Franchise rights | 3.8 | $18818 | $(11025) | $7793 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lease assets | 8.1 | 2000 | (1333) | 667 |
|  |  | 20818 | (12358) | 8460 |
| Indefinite-lived intangible assets: |  |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Franchise rights |  | 32200 | *—* | 32200 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Liquor licenses |  | 4217 | *—* | 4217 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Other assets |  | 118 | *—* | 118 |
|  |  | 36535 | *—* | 36535 |
| Total intangible assets |  | $57353 | $(12358) | $44995 |

---

Aggregate amortization expense for amortizing intangible assets was $2.4 million for the fiscal year *2022*, $2.4 million for the fiscal year *2021* and $2.5 million for the fiscal year *2020*. Estimated amortization expense for the next *five* years is: $2.4 million in fiscal years *2023,* $2.2 million in fiscal year *2024,* $1.6 million in fiscal year *2025* and $1.6 million in fiscal year *2026,* $470 thousand in fiscal year *2027* and $243 thousand thereafter.

**(*7*) Property and Equipment, net** 

The Company recognized $19.7 million, $18.1 million and $19.5 million in depreciation expense during fiscal years *2022*, *2021* and *2020*, respectively.

Property and equipment consist of the following (amounts in thousands):

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***December 25,*** | ***December 26,*** |
|  | ***2022*** | ***2021*** |
| Land | $616 | $616 |
| Building and building improvements | 25496 | 25503 |
| Equipment | 46512 | 43427 |
| Computer hardware and software | 33358 | 16657 |
| Furniture and fixtures | 28677 | 26436 |
| Leasehold improvements | 205269 | 187905 |
| Construction-in-progress | 14758 | 17015 |
|  | 354686 | 317559 |
| Less accumulated depreciation | (205849) | (195853) |
|  | $148837 | $121706 |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *17*

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**(*8*) Long-term Debt**

Long-term debt consists of the following (amounts in thousands):

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***December 25,*** | ***December 26,*** |
|  | ***2022*** | ***2021*** |
| **Senior Credit Facility:** |  |  |
| Revolving credit facility | $30000 | $70000 |
| Less current maturities | *—* | *—* |
|  | $30000 | $70000 |

---

As of *December 25, 2022*, the Company had $30.0 million of outstanding indebtedness under its senior credit facility with approximately $105.3 million of borrowings available, net of outstanding letters of credit of approximately $4.7 million. As of *December 25, 2022*, the interest rate on the Company's outstanding debt was 5.5% and the weighted average interest rate on our outstanding letters of credit was 1.6%. In addition, the commitment fee on the daily unused average portion of the Company's senior credit facility was 0.3%.

On *October 18, 2021,* the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement, which amended and restated its prior credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as administrative agent, and certain other lenders (as amended and restated, the "Credit Agreement"). The Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility of $140.0 million with a $10.0 million sub-facility of letters of credit and a $5.0 million sub-facility for swingline loans. Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions and lender consent, the revolving credit facility *may* be increased up to a maximum of $200.0 million. The Credit Agreement has a maturity date of *October 18, 2026.*

The Credit Agreement contains customary representations and affirmative and negative covenants (including limitations on indebtedness and liens) as well as financial covenants, as described below, requiring a minimum fixed coverage charge ratio as defined in the Credit Agreement ("Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio") limiting the Company's actual leverage ratio as defined in the Credit Agreement ("Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio"). The *October 2021* amendment and restatement of the Credit Agreement set the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio to a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio equal to or greater than 1.25:1.00 and Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio *no* greater than 3.00:1.00. Effective with the *October 2021* amendment and restatement of the Credit Agreement, dividends and share repurchases are *not* limited if the Company's Consolidated Leverage Ratio is less than 2.50:1.00 and holds a minimum liquidity of $25.0 million. The Credit Agreement also contains events of default customary for credit facilities of this type (with customary grace periods, as applicable), including nonpayment of principal or interest when due; material incorrectness of representations and warranties when made; breach of covenants; bankruptcy and insolvency; unsatisfied ERISA obligations; unstayed material judgment beyond specified periods; default under other material indebtedness; and certain changes of control of the Company. If any event of default occurs and is *not* cured within the applicable grace period or waived, the outstanding loans *may* be accelerated by lenders holding a majority of the commitments and the lenders' commitments *may* be terminated. The obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain of the Company's subsidiaries and are secured by a lien on substantially all of the Company's personal property assets other than any equity interest in current and future subsidiaries of the Company.

Interest rate margins and the fee for the unused commitment will be calculated based on the Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio, and at the Company's option, revolving loans *may* bear interest at either:

(i) LIBOR, plus an applicable margin, or

(ii) the highest of (a) the rate publicly announced by Wells Fargo as its prime rate, (b) the average published federal funds rate in effect on such day plus 0.50% and (c) *one* month LIBOR plus 1.00%, plus an applicable margin (the rate described in this clause (ii) prior to adding the applicable margin, the "Base Rate").

The applicable margin is based on the Company's Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio, ranging (a) from 1.50% to 2.25% above the applicable LIBOR rate or (b) 0.50% to 1.25% above the applicable Base Rate.

Subsequent to the end of fiscal year *2022,* in *January 2023,* the Company paid down $15.0 million of the outstanding indebtedness on the revolving credit facility and increased its outstanding letters of credit to $5.0 million.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *18*

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**(*9*) Franchise Operations**

The Company franchises Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants. The Company executes franchise agreements for each franchisee-owned restaurant, which sets out the terms of its arrangement with the franchisee. The franchise agreements typically require the franchisee to pay an initial, non-refundable fee and continuing fees based upon a percentage of sales. The Company collects ongoing royalties of 5% of sales at franchisee-owned restaurants plus a 1% advertising fee applied to national advertising expenditures. The Company recognizes sales-based royalties when the royalties are due from the franchisee on a monthly basis. These ongoing royalties are reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations as franchise income. The Company records advertising contributions from franchisees as franchise income on the consolidated statement of operations.

The Company executes area development agreements with franchisees that gives each franchisee exclusive rights to develop a specific number of restaurants within a specified area. The Company receives a development fee at the time that an area development agreement is executed. The Company now recognizes franchise development over the life of the applicable franchise agreements. The Company also executes separate, site-specific franchise agreements for each restaurant developed by a franchisee under an area development agreement. The Company charges a site-specific fee at the time the franchise agreement is executed. This fee is related to construction assistance and consulting regarding operating procedures and purchasing. These services are performed prior to the restaurant opening. These site-specific franchise fees are recognized as revenue over the life of the applicable franchise agreements where the franchisee is deemed to benefit from the franchise agreement evenly over the life of the agreement.

The Company currently has 74 franchisee-owned Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants, including 23 international restaurants. In fiscal year *2022* one franchisee-owned restaurant was relocated within Wilmington, NC. In fiscal year *2021,* two new franchisee-owned restaurants were opened in Manila, Philippines and Changsha, China. In fiscal year *2020* no new franchisee-owned restaurants were opened however one franchisee-owned restaurant was located within Chesterfield, MO. Franchise income includes opening and development fees and income generated from existing franchisee-owned restaurants. The Company classifies franchise income separately in the consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***Fiscal Year*** | ***Fiscal Year*** | ***Fiscal Year*** |
|  | ***2022*** | ***2021*** | ***2020*** |
| Franchise income: |  |  |  |
| Income from existing franchise locations | $20496 | $18533 | $11663 |
| Opening, closing and development fee income | 75 |  | 74 |
| Total franchise income: | $20571 | $18533 | $11737 |

---

**(*10*) Commitments and Contingencies**

The Company is subject to various claims, possible legal actions and other matters arising in the normal course of business. Management does *not* expect disposition of these other matters to have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the Company. The Company expenses legal fees as incurred.

The legislation and regulations related to tax and unclaimed property matters are complex and subject to varying interpretations by both government authorities and taxpayers. The Company remits a variety of taxes and fees to various governmental authorities, including excise taxes, property taxes, sales and use taxes, and payroll taxes. The taxes and fees remitted by the Company are subject to review and audit by the applicable governmental authorities which could assert claims for additional assessments. Although management believes that the tax positions are reasonable and consequently there are *no* accrued liabilities for claims which *may* be asserted, various taxing authorities *may* challenge certain of the positions taken by the Company which *may* result in additional liability for taxes and interest. These tax positions are reviewed periodically based on the availability of new information, the lapsing of applicable statutes of limitations, the conclusion of tax audits, the identification of new tax contingencies, or the rendering of relevant court decisions. An unfavorable resolution of assessments by a governmental authority could negatively impact the Company's results of operations and cash flows in future periods.

The Company is subject to unclaimed or abandoned property (escheat) laws which require the Company to turn over to certain state governmental authorities the property of others held by the Company that has been unclaimed for specified periods of time. The Company is subject to audit by individual U.S. states with regard to its escheatment practices. The Company has a pending voluntary disclosure agreement with the State of Delaware to resolve potential liability surrounding gift cards.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *19*

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On *February 26, 2018,* a former restaurant hourly employee filed a class action lawsuit in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Riverside, alleging that the Company violated the California Labor Code and California Business and Professions Code, by failing to pay minimum wages, permit required meal and rest breaks, and provide accurate wage statements, among other claims. On *September 2, 2020,* the class action lawsuit was amended to include *two* additional proposed class representatives. This lawsuit seeks unspecified penalties under the California's Private Attorney's General Act in addition to other monetary payments (Quiroz Guerrero, et al. v. Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc., et al.; Case *No RIC1804127*). (the "Quiroz Guerrero Action"). Additionally, on *July 29, 2021, September 17, 2021,* and *October 19, 2021,* other former restaurant hourly employees filed complaints in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of San Francisco, the County of Los Angeles, and the County of Contra Costa alleging causes of action substantially similar to the allegations made in the Quiroz Guerrero Action (collectively, with the Quiroz Guerrero Action, the "Class Action Litigations"), which cases have been coordinated with the Quiroz Guerrero Action. On *May 11, 2022,* a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the plaintiffs in the Class Action Litigations agreeing to a $6.0 million legal settlement. On *June 8, 2022,* the plaintiffs submitted a Petition for Coordination and Motion for Stay to the Chairperson of the Judicial Council, requesting assignment of a judge to determine whether it is appropriate to coordinate the Class Action Litigations to effectuate settlement approval in *one* venue. On *September 12, 2022,* the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Riverside, granted the petition to coordinate the Class Action Litigations and recommended to the Chair of the Judicial Council that a judge of the Riverside County Superior Court be assigned to hear and determine the coordinated cases. On *October 27, 2022,* the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, assigned a coordination trial judge to the coordinated actions. The parties must still agree to the terms of a final settlement agreement, which could vary in certain respects from the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, and such final settlement agreement remains subject to court approval. The $6.0 million legal settlement amount remains accrued and unpaid on *December 25, 2022.*

The Company currently buys a majority of its beef from two suppliers. Although there are a limited number of beef suppliers, management believes that other suppliers could provide similar product on comparable terms. A change in suppliers, however, could cause supply shortages and a possible loss of sales, which would affect operating results adversely.

The Company could experience other potential impacts as a result of the COVID-*19* pandemic that are *not* completely known at this time, including, but *not* limited to, disruptions to our workforce and suppliers, additional government regulations or legislation and charges from potential adjustments to the carrying amount of goodwill, indefinite-lived intangibles and long-lived impairment charges. Our actual results *may* differ materially from the Company's current estimates as the scope of the COVID-*19* pandemic evolves.

**(*11*) Shareholders**' **Equity** 

The holders of the Company's common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted on by the Company's shareholders.

In *July 2022,* the Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $60.0 million of outstanding common stock. The new share repurchase program replaced, as of *August 9, 2022,* the Company's previous share repurchase program announced in *October 2019.* The previous share repurchase program had permitted the repurchase of up to $60 million of outstanding common stock, of which approximately $15.4 million was unused. During fiscal year *2022*, 1,203,371 shares were purchased at an aggregate cost of $20.0 million or an average cost of $16.61 per share under the new program and 529,734 shares were purchased at an aggregate cost of $9.5 million or an average cost of $18.01 per share under the original program. As of *December 25, 2022*, $40.0 million remained available for future purchases under the program.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *20*

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The Company repurchased 1,733,105, 887,515 and 902,000 shares under all repurchase programs during fiscal year *2022, 2021* and *2020* respectively. Share repurchases were accounted for under the cost method and all repurchased shares were retired and cancelled. The excess of the purchase price over the par value was recorded as a reduction in additional paid-in capital.

The Company's Board of Directors declared the following dividends during the periods presented (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Declaration Date** | ***Dividend per Share*** | ***Record Date*** | ***Total Amount*** | ***Payment Date*** |
| Fiscal Year 2022 |  |  |  |  |
| January 6, 2022 | $0.12 | February 2, 2022 | $4109 | February 17, 2022 |
| May 6, 2022 | $0.14 | May 19, 2022 | $4680 | June 2, 2022 |
| August 5, 2022 | $0.14 | August 19, 2022 | $4854 | September 2, 2022 |
| November 4, 2022 | $0.14 | November 18, 2022 | $4646 | December 2, 2022 |
| Fiscal Year 2020 |  |  |  |  |
| February 21, 2020 | $0.15 | March 6, 2020 | $4428 | March 20, 2020 |

---

The Company's Credit Agreement currently does *not* limit dividends and share repurchases to if our Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) is less than or equal to 2.50:1.00 and holds a minimum liquidity of $25.0 million.

**(*12*) Employee Benefit Plan** 

In *2000,* the Company established a *401*(k) and Profit-Sharing Plan. During the *fourth* quarter of fiscal year *2021,* the Company established a Safe-Harbor *401*(k) Plan effective *January 1, 2022.* The Company matches 100.0% of employee contributions up to 3.0% of an employee's compensation and then 50.0% of an employee's additional contributions up to a maximum of 5.0% of their compensation. The Company's expenses relating to matching contributions were approximately $1.6 million, $242 thousand and $240 thousand for fiscal years *2022*,*2021* and *2020*, respectively.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *21*

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**(*13*) Incentive and Stock Option Plans** 

***Long-Term Equity Incentive Plans***

In connection with the initial public offering, the Company adopted the Ruth's Chris Steak House, Inc. *2005* Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (the *2005* Equity Incentive Plan), which allows the Company's Board of Directors to grant stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, deferred stock units and other equity-based awards to non-employee directors, officers, key employees and other key individuals performing services for the Company. The restricted stock units are settled in shares upon vest. Initially, 2.4 million shares were authorized for issuance under the *2005* Equity Incentive Plan. The *2005* Equity Incentive Plan provides for granting of options to purchase shares of common stock at an exercise price *not* less than the fair value of the stock on the date of grant. Options are exercisable, and restricted stock vests, at various periods ranging from one to five years from date of grant. Effective *May 22, 2008,* the *2005* Equity Incentive Plan was amended, with stockholder approval, to increase the number of shares authorized for issuance under the plan by 1.5 million shares. The Amended and Restated *2005* Equity Incentive Plan was adopted on *October 26, 2012,* and the number of shares authorized for issuance under the Amended and Restated *2005* Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan was increased by 2.0 million shares at the *2013* annual meeting of stockholders. On *May 15, 2018,* the Company's stockholders approved a new *2018* Omnibus Incentive Plan (the *2018* Equity Incentive Plan) which replaces the Amended and Restated *2005* Equity Incentive Plan which expired on *May 30, 2018.* The *2018* Equity Incentive Plan authorizes 2.5 million shares reserved for future grants. Awards that were previously awarded under the *2005* Equity Incentive Plan that are forfeited or cancelled in the future will be made available for grant or issuance under the *2018* Equity Incentive Plan. The 1,649,394 shares that were authorized but unissued under the *2005* Equity Incentive Plan as of *May 15, 2018* were cancelled. As of *December 25, 2022*, there are 30,396 currently outstanding unvested restricted stock awards under the *2005* Equity Incentive Plan and 916,938 shares of currently outstanding unvested restricted stock awards and units outstanding under the *2018* Equity Incentive Plan and 1,654,859 shares available for future grants.

During fiscal year *2022*, the Company issued 247,163 awards of restricted stock awards to certain employees and executive officers, 184,931 awards of performance stock units and 33,625 awards of restricted stock units to non-employee directors from available shares under the *2018* Plan. All shares were issued with a grant date fair market value equal to the closing price of the stock on the date of the grants. The performance stock units will vest based on performance metrics at the end of a *three* year cycle, with the number of units that ultimately vest to be determined by the achievement of certain performance criteria. As of and for the fiscal year ended *December 25, 2022,* the Company assumed 100% of the awards to be vested at the end of the three year performance cycle. Of the 280,788 shares of restricted stock issued during *2022,* 103,389 shares will vest in fiscal year *2023,* 103,389 shares will vest in fiscal year *2024,* 66,789 shares will vest in fiscal year *2025* and 7,220 will vest in fiscal year *2027.* The 184,931 awards of performance stock units will vest in fiscal year *2025.*

The Company recorded $7.9 million, $4.9 million and $8.2 million in total restricted stock compensation expense during fiscal years *2022*, *2021*, and *2020*, respectively that was classified primarily as general and administrative costs. The Company recognized $165 thousand in income tax benefit related to stock-based compensation plans during fiscal year *2021.* During fiscal years *2022* and *2020,* the Company recognized income tax expense of $29 thousand and $494 thousand, respectively, related to stock-based compensation plans.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *22*

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A summary of the status of non-vested restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock units and market stock units as of *December 25, 2022* and changes during fiscal year *2022* is presented below.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***2022*** | ***2022*** |
|  | ***Shares*** | ***Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value Per Share*** |
| Non-vested shares at beginning of year | 744531 | $21.72 |
| Granted | 465719 | 24.01 |
| Vested | (227059) | 22.69 |
| Forfeited | (35857) | 21.18 |
| Non-vested shares at end of year | 947334 | $21.72 |

---

As of *December 25, 2022*, there was $13.0 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to 947,334 shares of non-vested restricted stock and market stock units. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 3.3 years.

**(*14*) Income Taxes** 

Total income tax expense (benefit) for fiscal years *2022*, *2021*, and *2020* was (in thousands):

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***2022*** | ***2021*** | ***2020*** |
| Total consolidated income tax expense (benefit) | $7010 | $4063 | $(7910) |

---

Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations consists of the following (in thousands):

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***Current*** | ***Deferred*** | ***Total*** |
| Year Ended December 25, 2022 |  |  |  |
| U.S. Federal | $7012 | $(3410) | $3602 |
| State | 3424 | (377) | 3047 |
| Foreign | 360 | *-* | 361 |
|  | $10796 | $(3787) | $7010 |
| Year Ended December 26, 2021 |  |  |  |
| U.S. Federal | $(7846) | $8780 | $934 |
| State | 2690 | 235 | 2925 |
| Foreign | 204 | *—* | 204 |
|  | $(4952) | $9015 | $4063 |
| Year Ended December 27, 2020 |  |  |  |
| U.S. Federal | $(4061) | $(4986) | $(9047) |
| State | (364) | 1298 | 934 |
| Foreign | 203 | *—* | 203 |
|  | $(4222) | $(3688) | $(7910) |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *23*

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Income tax expense (benefit) differs from amounts computed by applying the federal statutory income tax rate to income from continuing operations before income taxes as follows (in thousands):

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***2022*** | ***2021*** | ***2020*** |
| Income tax expense (benefit) at statutory rates | $9583 | $9731 | $(6973) |
| Increase (decrease) in income taxes resulting from: |  |  |  |
| State income taxes, net of federal benefit | 2121 | 1937 | (1410) |
| Employment-related tax credits, net | (5372) | (4277) | (2827) |
| Non-deductible executive compensation | 1095 | 960 | 1160 |
| Stock-based compensation | 25 | (141) | 377 |
| Impact of federal carryback under CARES Act |  | (4556) | (1026) |
| Change in valuation allowance | (690) | 298 | 2630 |
| Other | 248 | 111 | 159 |
|  | 7010 | $4063 | $(7910) |
| Effective tax rate | 15.4% | 8.8% | 23.8% |

---

On *March 27, 2020,* the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted. Intended to provide economic relief to those impacted by the COVID-*19* pandemic, the CARES Act include provisions, among others, addressing the carryback of net operating losses (NOL)s, temporary modifications to the interest expense deduction limits, and technical amendments for qualified improvement property (QIP). Additionally, the CARES Act provides for refundable employee retention payroll tax credits, and the deferral of the employer-paid portion of social security taxes.

The Company took advantage of the CARES Act's liquidity-enhancing provisions in the following manner:

• Claimed refundable employee retention credits of $381 thousand and $2.5 million in fiscal periods ending *December 26, 2021* and *December 27, 2020*, respectively;

• Elected to defer $3.9 million of the employer-paid portion of social security taxes during the fiscal year ended *December 27, 2020*. The deferred payroll taxes were repaid in full during the fiscal year ended *December 26, 2021*;

• Accelerated $32.7 million in tax depreciation deductions in the tax year ended *December 27, 2020* as a result of the technical amendments to QIP; and

• Generated a federal tax NOL of $40.0 million in the tax year ended *December 27, 2020* that the Company carried back to tax years *2015* and *2016.*

The Employment-related tax credits line in the effective tax rate schedule above is comprised mainly of federal FICA tip credits which the Company utilizes to reduce its periodic federal income tax expense. A restaurant company employer *may* claim a credit against the company's federal income taxes for FICA taxes paid on certain tip wages (the FICA tip credit). The credit against income tax liability is for the full amount of eligible FICA taxes. Employers cannot deduct from taxable income the amount of FICA taxes taken into account in determining the credit.

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are presented below (in thousands):

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***2022*** | ***2021*** |
| Deferred tax assets: |  |  |
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $15088 | $12223 |
| Operating lease liabilities | 57650 | 51221 |
| Net state operating loss carryforwards | 3235 | 4197 |
| Tax credit carryforwards | 338 | 389 |
| Other |  | 63 |
| Total gross deferred tax assets | 76311 | 68093 |
| Less valuation allowance | (4026) | (4847) |
| Net deferred tax assets | 72285 | 63246 |
| Deferred tax liabilities: |  |  |
| Property and equipment | (6848) | (7201) |
| Intangible assets | (12636) | (13301) |
| Operating lease right of use assets | (49391) | (43143) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Other | (22) |  |
| Total gross deferred tax liabilities | (68897) | (63645) |
| Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) | 3388 | $(399) |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *24*

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As of *December 25, 2022*, the Company has state net operating loss carry-forwards of $64.4 million and state tax credit carry-forwards of $428 thousand, which are available to offset state taxable income. The *first* of these carry forwards expires in 2022, with the last of such benefit expiring in 2041**.**

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than *not* that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will *not* be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities and projected future taxable income in making this assessment. Based on this evaluation, management has recorded a valuation allowance against the Company's gross deferred tax assets of $4.0 million and $4.8 million as of *December 25, 2022* and *December 26, 2021*, respectively, related to certain state net operating loss carry-forwards and tax credit carry-forwards. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it is more likely than *not* that the Company will realize the benefits of the net deferred tax assets.

As of *December 25, 2022*, the Company's gross unrecognized tax benefits totaled approximately $308 thousand, of which $244 thousand, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate. The Company does *not* anticipate there will be any material changes in the unrecognized tax benefits within the next *12* months. Our continuing practice is to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits follows (amounts in thousands):

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| Unrecognized tax benefits balance at December 26, 2021 | $300 |
| Gross increases for tax positions of prior years | 8 |
| Unrecognized tax benefits balance at December 25, 2022 | $308 |

---

The Company files consolidated and separate income tax returns in the United States Federal jurisdiction and many state jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is *no* longer subject to U.S. Federal or state and local income tax examinations for fiscal years before *2018.*

**(*15*) Earnings (Loss) Per Share**

Basic earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Potentially dilutive securities include shares of non-vested stock awards. Diluted earnings (loss) per share considers the impact of potentially dilutive securities except in periods in which there is a loss because the inclusion of the potential common shares would have an antidilutive effect. Stock awards are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share in the event they are antidilutive.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *25*

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The following table sets forth the computation of basic earnings (loss) per common share (amounts in thousands, except share and per share data):

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** |
|  | ***2022*** | ***2021*** | ***2020*** |
| Net income (loss) | $38621 | $42275 | $(25294) |
| Shares: |  |  |  |
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic | 33203263 | 34255966 | 31683920 |
| Basic earnings (loss) per common share | $1.16 | $1.23 | $(0.80) |

---

Diluted earnings (loss) per share for fiscal years *2022*, *2021* and *2020* excludes 19,716, 2,832 and 162,043 restricted shares with *no* exercise price, respectively, which were outstanding during the periods but were anti-dilutive. Fiscal year *2020* does *not* have any dilutive shares due to the fact that the Company has a net loss.

The following table sets forth the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share (amounts in thousands, except share and per share data):

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** |
|  | ***2022*** | ***2021*** | ***2020*** |
| Net income (loss) | $38621 | $42275 | $(25294) |
| Shares: |  |  |  |
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic | 33203263 | 34255966 | 31683920 |
| Dilutive shares | 292625 | 212229 |  |
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted | 33495888 | 34468195 | 31683920 |
| Diluted earnings (loss) per common share | $1.15 | $1.23 | $(0.80) |

---

**(*16*) Segment Information**

The Company has two reportable segments – the Company-owned steakhouse segment and the franchise operations segment.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *26*

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[**Table of Contents**](#toc)

The Company-owned Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants, all of which are located in North America, operate within the full-service dining industry, providing similar products to similar customers. Revenues are derived principally from food and beverage sales. As of *December 25, 2022*, (i) the Company-owned steakhouse restaurant segment included 77 Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants and three Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants operating under a management agreement and (ii) the franchise operations segment included 74 franchisee-owned Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants. Segment profits for the Company-owned steakhouse restaurant segments equal segment revenues less segment expenses. Segment revenues for the Company-owned steakhouse restaurants include restaurant sales, management agreement income and other restaurant income. Gift card breakage revenue is *not* allocated to operating segments. *Not* all operating expenses are allocated to operating segments. Segment expenses for the Company-owned steakhouse segment include food and beverage costs and restaurant operating expenses. *No* other operating costs are allocated to the segments for the purpose of determining segment profits because such costs are *not* directly related to the operation of individual restaurants. The accounting policies applicable to each segment are consistent with the policies used to prepare the consolidated financial statements. The profit of the franchise operations segment equals franchise income, which consists of franchise royalty fees and franchise opening fees. *No* costs are allocated to the franchise operations segment. Segment information related to the Company's *two* reportable business segments follows.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** |
|  | ***2022*** | ***2021*** | ***2020*** |
|  |  | (dollar amounts in thousands) |  |
| Revenues: |  |  |  |
| Company-owned steakhouse restaurants | $481129 | $407418 | $263731 |
| Franchise operations | 20571 | 18533 | 11737 |
| Unallocated other revenue and revenue discounts | 4158 | 3172 | 2280 |
| Total revenues | $505858 | $429123 | $277748 |
| Segment profits: |  |  |  |
| Company-owned steakhouse restaurants | $108487 | $99297 | $37480 |
| Franchise operations | 20571 | 18533 | 11737 |
| Total segment profit | 129058 | 117830 | 49217 |
| Unallocated operating income | 4158 | 3172 | 2280 |
| Marketing and advertising expenses | (17360) | (13464) | (6859) |
| General and administrative costs | (37071) | (32531) | (33248) |
| Depreciation and amortization expenses | (22103) | (20487) | (21964) |
| Pre-opening costs | (3058) | (1894) | (1633) |
| Gain (loss) on lease modifications | (90) | (1058) | 206 |
| Loss on impairment | (574) | (1854) | (16548) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Loss on legal settlement | (6000) |  |  |
| Interest expense, net | (1507) | (3478) | (4681) |
| Other income (expense) | 178 | 102 | 26 |
| Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense | $45631 | $46338 | $(33204) |
| Capital expenditures: |  |  |  |
| Company-owned steakhouse restaurants | $38110 | $11292 | $10294 |
| Corporate assets | 8848 | 8359 | 326 |
| Total capital expenditures | $46958 | $19651 | $10620 |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F- *27*

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[**Table of Contents**](#toc)

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** | ***Fiscal Year Ended*** |
|  | ***December 25,*** | ***December 26,*** | ***December 27,*** |
|  | ***2022*** | ***2021*** | ***2020*** |
|  |  | (dollar amounts in thousands) |  |
| Total assets: |  |  |  |
| Company-owned steakhouse restaurants | $453650 | $404929 | $420245 |
| Franchise operations | 2487 | 2801 | 1705 |
| Corporate assets - unallocated | 62281 | 128249 | 112108 |
| Deferred income taxes - unallocated | 3388 |  | 8616 |
| Total assets | $521806 | $535979 | $542674 |

---

**(*17*) Supplemental Consolidated Financial Statement Information** 

***Accounts Receivable, net*** <br>

Accounts receivable, net consists of the following (amounts in thousands):

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ***December 25,*** | ***December 26,*** |
|  | ***2022*** | ***2021*** |
| Bank credit card receivables | $12744 | $10820 |
| Landlord contributions | 4598 | 1734 |
| Franchise fees | 2487 | 2801 |
| Trade receivables | 750 | 574 |
| Receivable from gift card issuances | 11299 | 9847 |
| Income tax receivable | 13103 | 15225 |
| Other | 89 | 693 |
| Allowance for doubtful accounts | (57) | (106) |
|  | $45013 | $41588 |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F-28

## Exhibit 10.24

**Exhibit 10.24**

**<u>Employment Agreement</u>**

Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. (hereafter referred to as "<u>Employer</u>") and Mark Kupferman (hereinafter referred to as "<u>Employee</u>") agree upon the following terms of employment of Employee by Employer. This employment agreement (this "<u>Agreement</u>") shall take effect as of November 14, 2022 (the "<u>Effective Date</u>").

**NOW THEREFORE**, in consideration of Employer's continued employment of Employee and the mutual obligations and rights set forth in this Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1. **<u>Duties</u>**. Employee shall be employed during the Employment Term (as defined in <u>Section 3</u>) in the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. Employee will advance the best interests of Employer at all times during their employment and shall at all such times faithfully, industriously and to the best of their ability, perform all duties as may be required of them by virtue of their title and position and in accordance with the job description for their title and position as established by Employer's Board of Directors (the "<u>Board</u>") and/or its designee from time to time. Employee shall report to Employer's Chief Executive Officer. Employee shall comply with any and all written personnel policies, corporate policies and employment manuals of Employer in the conduct of their duties.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2. **<u>Extent of Service</u>**. Employee shall continue to devote their full time and best efforts to the performance of their duties to Employer, its parent and subsidiary entities, affiliates, successors and assigns (collectively, the "<u>Employer Group</u>"). Employee shall not engage in any business or perform any services in any capacity that would, in the reasonable judgment of the Board, interfere with the full and proper performance by Employee of their duties. The foregoing is not intended to restrict Employee's ability to: (a) engage in charitable, civic or community activities to the extent that such activities do not materially interfere with their duties hereunder; (b) serve on the board of directors (or similar governing bodies) of another company (<u>provided</u> that, the Board, in its sole discretion, has granted prior written consent, which consent shall not be reasonably withheld); nor (c) to enter into passive investments that do not compete in any way with Employer's business.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3. **<u>Term/Annual Renewals</u>**. This Agreement shall expire and terminate and be of no further effect (with the exception of periods herein that, by their terms, survive the termination of this Agreement) on the close of business of the first anniversary of the Effective Date; <u>provided</u>, <u>however</u>, that this Agreement shall automatically renew and extend for additional one-year periods if Employee is not otherwise in default, remains in the employ of Employer, and neither Employer or Employee has given the other party a minimum of 60 days' notice prior to the expiration of any given one-year period that this Agreement shall terminate upon expiration of the applicable period. The period of Employee's employment with Employer pursuant to the terms hereof shall be referred to herein as the "<u>Employment Term</u>."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4. **<u>Compensation</u>**.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a. <u>Salary</u>. For all duties to be performed by Employee in the capacity referenced hereunder, Employee shall receive an annual base salary of $365,000 (as adjusted, the "<u>Base Salary</u>"), less all applicable taxes and withholdings that cannot be reduced and that shall be paid in accordance with Employer's normal payroll practice. Employee's Base Salary will be subject to annual review by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "<u>Compensation Committee</u>").

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b. <u>Annual Bonus</u>. Following the end of each fiscal year, Employee will be entitled to a discretionary bonus of up to 60% of their then-current Base Salary (the "<u>Annual Bonus</u>"), based on achievement (as determined by the Compensation Committee) of the budget and performance targets set by the Compensation Committee on an annual basis pursuant to Employer's annual bonus plan applicable to the Employer's senior executives (the "<u>Bonus Plan</u>") and which may be increased or decreased according to the Bonus Plan. The Annual Bonus, if earned, shall be paid to Employee after the issuance of Employer's audited financial statements relating to the applicable bonus performance year, but in any event by March 15 of the calendar year following the applicable performance year.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c. <u>Automobile Allowance</u>. During the Employment Term, Employee shall receive from Employer a monthly automobile allowance of $700, less applicable taxes and withholdings.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5. **<u>Benefits</u>**.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a. <u>Vacation/Leave</u>. Employee shall be entitled to four weeks of paid vacation per calendar year, with normal sick and holiday leave as defined by Employer's policies.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b. <u>Benefit Plans</u>. Employee shall be entitled to participate in the health and welfare plans provided by Employer for its executives (including any and all applicable retirement plans) to the extent that Employee is eligible under the plan documents governing those programs. Employer benefits are subject to change at any time in Employer's sole discretion.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c. <u>Reimbursement of Expenses</u>. Employer agrees to reimburse Employee for reasonable and appropriate Employer-related expenses (as determined by Employer) paid by Employee in furtherance of their duties, including, but not limited to, travel expenses, food, lodging, entertainment expenses and automobile expenses, upon submission of proper accounting records for such expenses.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6. **<u>Termination</u>**. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the Employment Term shall be terminated as set forth in this <u>Section a</u>. The date on which the Employment Term ends pursuant to the terms hereof shall be referred to herein as the "<u>Separation Date</u>."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a. <u>General</u>. If the Employment Term ends for any reason (whether pursuant to actions taken by Employer, Employee or otherwise), then Employer shall pay or provide to Employee (or Employee's legal representative or estate, if applicable): (i) any earned but unpaid Base Salary or Annual Bonus through the Separation Date; (ii) any unpaid expense reimbursements in accordance with applicable policy (including any automobile reimbursements, if applicable); (iii) any accrued but unused vacation, which amounts shall be paid to Employee in a lump sum within 30 days following the Separation Date; and (iv) vested employee benefits payable in accordance with the terms of the applicable employee benefit plan (collectively, the "<u>Accrued Obligations</u>"). Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, Employee's rights in respect of equity-related awards will be determined by the terms of the applicable plan and agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b. <u>Disability or Incapacity</u>. If, for a period of 90 consecutive days during the Employment Term, Employee is disabled or incapacitated for mental, physical or other cause to the extent that they are unable to perform their duties as herein contemplated during such 90-day period, Employer shall immediately thereafter have the right to terminate this Agreement upon providing ten days' written notice to Employee and shall be obligated to pay Employee compensation up to the date of such termination.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c. <u>Death</u>. Employee's employment with Employer shall terminate immediately upon Employee's death. In the event of Employee's death, Employer shall pay Employee's Accrued Obligations and any outstanding Severance Benefits to either (i) the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated in writing by Employee to Employer and delivered to Employer prior to Employee's death or (ii) in the absence of such designation, in accordance with Section 222.15, Florida Statutes, or if there are no such family members, then to Employee's estate.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;d. <u>With or Without Cause</u>. Employer may terminate Employee's employment for any reason, with or without Cause, at any time. For purposes of this Agreement, "<u>Cause</u>" shall mean any of the following: (i) Employee's theft or embezzlement, or attempted theft or embezzlement, of money or property of the Employer Group, their perpetuation or attempted perpetuation of fraud, or their participation in a fraud or attempted fraud, in respect of the Employer Group or their unauthorized appropriation of, or their attempt to misappropriate, any tangible or intangible assets or property of the Employer Group; (ii) any material act or acts of disloyalty, misconduct or moral turpitude by Employee injurious to the interest, property, operations, business or reputation of the Employer Group or their commission of a crime that results in injury to any member of the Employer Group; or (iii) Employee's willful disregard of lawful directive given by a superior or the Board or a violation of an Employer employment policy injurious to the interest of Employer; <u>provided</u> that, in each case, Employee shall have been given written notice from Employer describing in reasonable detail the event or circumstance Employer believes gives rise to a right to terminate Employee for Cause and Employee shall have 15 days to remedy the condition to the satisfaction of Employer. Employee's failure to cure such condition(s) within such 15-day period shall result in the termination of Employee for Cause.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;e. <u>With or Without Good Reason</u>. Employee may terminate their employment with Employer for any reason, with or without Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "<u>Good Reason</u>" shall mean any of the following: (i) a material diminution of, or the assignment by the Board to Employee of any material duties that are clearly inconsistent with Employee's status, title and position as Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Employer (which includes Employee no longer holding their title in the ultimate parent company of Employer following a Change in Control (as defined below) of Employer); (ii) a reduction in Employee's Base Salary or target bonus opportunity or a failure by Employer to pay Employee any amounts required to be paid under this Agreement, which failure continues uncured for a period of 15 days after written notice thereof is given by Employee to the Board; (iii) the requirement that Employee relocate their principal work location by more than 50 miles from the Company's headquarters at 1030 West Canton Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789, other than in a direction that reduces Employee's daily commuting distance; (iv) Employer provides Employee notice as contemplated by <u>Section 3</u> of its decision not to renew this Agreement on the terms set forth herein; or (v) a material breach of the Agreement by Employer or any material and repeated interference by the Board or any Employer employee or stockholder with Employee's ability or authority to discharge their duties or responsibilities hereunder that continues after the reasonable notice and opportunity to cure. Notwithstanding the occurrence of any of the foregoing events or circumstances, a resignation shall not be deemed to constitute resignation for Good Reason unless (x) Employee gives Employer written notice of the purported Good Reason not more than 60 days after the initial existence of such event or circumstance, (y) such event or circumstance has not been cured within 30 days following Employer's receipt of such notice and (z) if Employer does not cure such circumstance, Employee actually terminates their employment not more than 30 days following the end of the applicable cure period.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;f. <u>Severance Benefits</u>. In the event Employee's employment is terminated by Employer without Cause or by Employee for Good Reason, then Employee shall be entitled to receive the following benefits (collectively, the "<u>Severance Benefits</u>"): (i) an amount equal to Employee's then-current Base Salary, payable in 12 equal monthly installments following the Separation Date; (ii) an amount equal to 50% of Employee's Annual Bonus for the performance year immediately preceding the year of the Separation Date, payable in 12 equal monthly installments following the Separation Date; (iii) a prorated share (based on the amount of days employed during the applicable performance year) of the Employee's Annual Bonus for the year of the Separation Date, based on actual performance for the year and payable when such Annual Bonus would have otherwise been payable (but no later than March 15 of the year immediately following the year of the Separation Date); (iv) continued health, welfare and retirement benefits according to the same terms and conditions to which Employee would have been entitled for 12 months following the Separation Date; and (v) continued automobile allowances (as set forth in <u>Section 4</u>) for one automobile, including reimbursement for fuel and routine maintenance costs, for 12 months following the Separation Date. The Severance Benefits are contingent on Employee's compliance with <u>Section 7</u> and Employee entering into a separation and release of claims agreement in a form substantially consistent with <u>Exhibit A</u> (the "<u>Release</u>"), and which Release must become irrevocable within 60 days following the Separation Date. Employer will provide Employee with the Severance Benefits, as applicable, in accordance with Employer's regular payroll practices, on or commencing on the first payroll period and paid monthly thereafter following the date the Release becomes irrevocable. To the extent that any of the benefits provided under this <u>Section 6f</u> constitutes "non-qualified deferred compensation" for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "<u>Code</u>"), any payment of any amount or provision of any benefit otherwise scheduled to occur prior to the 60th day following the Separation Date, but for the condition on executing the Release, shall not be made until the first regularly scheduled payroll date following such 60th day, after which any remaining benefits shall thereafter be provided to Employee according to the applicable schedule set forth herein. For the sake of clarity, in the event of any termination of Employee's employment for a reason other than Cause or for Good Reason, the Employee will be entitled solely to the Accrued Obligations.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;g. <u>Change in Control</u>. In the event Employee's employment is terminated by Employer without Cause or by Employee for Good Reason within 18 months following a Change in Control (as defined in Employer's 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the "<u>Incentive Plan</u>")), in addition to the Severance Benefits, Employee shall become entitled to the accelerated vesting of 100% of all equity incentives granted under the Incentive Plan (with performance vested equity being deemed to have vested at target level performance).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7. **<u>Restrictive Covenants</u>**.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a. <u>Disclosure of Information</u>. Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Employer Group's Confidential Information (as defined below) is regarded as valuable by Employer, is not generally known in the relevant industry, and that the Employer Group has a legitimate right and business need to protect its Confidential Information. Employee acknowledges that keeping the Employer Group's Confidential Information confidential is essential to the growth and stability of the Employer Group. Employee therefore agrees to hold such information in strictest confidence and shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, disclose such information to any third party or use such information other than for the benefit of the Employer Group. Employee shall disclose such information only to employees, representatives, and agents of the Employer Group with a need to know such information. The restrictions set forth in this paragraph shall apply during the Employment Term and following the termination of employment until the end of time, whether the termination of employment is voluntary or involuntary. For purposes of this Agreement, "<u>Confidential Information</u>" ****shall mean any information, knowledge, or data with respect to the Employer Group's business, services, trade secrets, technologies, systems, clients, prospects, and sales, marketing and service methods, including, but not limited to, discoveries, ideas, concepts, designs, drawings, specifications, equipment, techniques, computer flow charts and programs, computer software (whether owned or licensed by the Employer Group), hardware, firmware, models, data, documentation, manuals, diagrams, research and development, performance information, know-how, business pricing policies and other internal policies, data systems, methods, systems documentation, practices, inventions, processes, procedures, formulae, employee lists or resumes, financial information (including financial statements), tax returns, client lists, prospect lists, information relating to past, present or prospective clients, information belonging to the Employer Group's clients, personally identifiable information of clients' employees, salary and benefit information of clients' employees, market analysis, strategies, plans and projections for future growth and development, and compilations of information which are not readily available to the general public. Confidential Information includes all software development information, source and object codes, all information stored or maintained in any computer system or program used or maintained by the Employer Group, all information stored or maintained in any laptop computer or handheld device provided by the Employer Group to Employee, all client files, prospect files, legal contracts, purchase orders, and all information relating to client or vendor pricing. All of the foregoing information, whether oral, written, memorized, or electronically stored, together with analyses, compilations, studies, notes of conversation, or other documents prepared for or by the Employer Group or Employee that contain or otherwise reflect Confidential Information, is also included with the term Confidential Information. Confidential Information does not include (i) any information in the public domain; or (ii) any information received unsolicited from a third party under no obligation of secrecy.

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b. <u>Whistleblower Protection</u>. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement or in any other agreement between Employee and Employer or any affiliate thereof shall prohibit or restrict Employee from lawfully: (i) initiating communications directly with, cooperating with, providing information to, causing information to be provided to, or otherwise assisting in an investigation by, any governmental authority (including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) regarding a possible violation of any law; (ii) responding to any inquiry or legal process directed to Employee from any such governmental authority; (iii) testifying, participating or otherwise assisting in any action or proceeding by any such governmental authority relating to a possible violation of law, and/or pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; or (iv) making any other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any applicable law. Additionally, pursuant to the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (A) is made (1) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney and (2) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; (B) is made to the individual's attorney in relation to a lawsuit for retaliation against the individual for reporting a suspected violation of law; or (C) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Nothing in this Agreement requires Employee to obtain prior authorization before engaging in any conduct described in this paragraph, or to notify Employer or any affiliate that Employee has engaged in any such conduct.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c. <u>Return of Confidential Information</u>. Upon termination of Employee's employment with Employer for any reason whatsoever or upon the written request of Employer, Employee shall immediately destroy, delete and/or return to Employer all Confidential Information and all copies, abstracts, handwritten records and electronic records thereof, and Employee shall certify in writing to Employer that Employee does not retain originals, copies, abstracts, handwritten records or electronic records of any Confidential Information. Employee agrees that retention of any such Confidential Information in Employee's memory does not permit Employee to use or disclose such information following Employee's termination of employment with Employer.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;d. <u>Non-Compete</u>. In further consideration of the compensation to be paid to Employee hereunder, Employee acknowledges that in the course of their employment with the Employer Group (which, for purposes of this <u>Section 7(d)</u> and <u>Section 7(e)</u>, following a Change in Control, shall only include Employer and its subsidiaries, as determined immediately before such Change in Control), they shall become familiar, and during their employment with Employer they have become familiar, with Employer's trade secrets and with other Confidential Information concerning the Employer Group (and their respective its predecessors, subsidiaries and affiliates) and that their services have been and shall be of special, unique and extraordinary value to Employer. Therefore, Employee agrees that during their employment and for a period of one year following the Separation Date (the "<u>Non-Compete Period</u>"), Employee shall not directly or indirectly own any interest in, manage, control, participate in, consult with, render services for, or in any manner engage in any business or enterprise identical to or similar to any such business that is engaged in by the Employer Group and its respective franchises, which shall include any restaurant business that derives more than 25% of its revenues from the sale of steak and steak dishes and which has an average guest check greater than $65, escalating by 5% per year, as of the date of this Agreement and which is located in the United States, which shall for purposes of illustration and not limitation include the following chains and their parent companies, subsidiaries and other affiliates: Morton's Restaurant Group, The Palm, Smith & Wollensky, Del Frisco's, Sullivan's, The Capital Grille, Mastro's, Fleming's, and Shula's. Nothing herein shall prohibit Employee from being a passive owner of not more than 2% of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation that is publicly traded, so long as Employee has no active participation in the business of such corporation. This restriction will not apply if Employee is employed as an officer of a business, including, but not limited to, a casino or hotel, that as an ancillary service provides fine dining as defined in this paragraph. The term "ancillary" assumes that less than 50% of the business revenues are derived from its dining facilities.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;e. <u>Non-Solicit</u>. Employee acknowledges that the Employer Group's employees now or hereafter employed by the Employer Group are an integral part of the Employer Group's business, that information relating to such employees are part of the Employer Group's Confidential Information, and that the loss of such employees will have a substantial adverse effect on the Employer Group's business. Therefore, during the term of Employee's employment with the Employer Group and during the Non-Compete Period, Employee shall not directly or indirectly through another entity (i) induce or attempt to induce any non-hourly or management employee of any member of the Employer Group to leave the employ of the Employer Group or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Employer Group and any employee thereof, (ii) hire any person who was an employee of any member of the Employer Group at any time during Employee's employment with Employer, unless such person responded to a general solicitation or (iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee, licensor, franchisee or other business relation of any member of the Employer Group to cease doing business between any such customer, supplier, licensee or business relation and Employer or any subsidiary or affiliate (including, without limitation, making any negative, derogatory or disparaging statements or communications regarding the Employer Group).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;f. <u>Reasonableness and Modification of Restrictions</u>. Employee further acknowledges and agrees that the provisions set forth in this <u>Section 7</u> are reasonable in scope, duration, and area, and are reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Employer Group, and particularly the Employer Group's interest in protecting its Confidential Information, and the restrictive covenants in this Agreement are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other agreement between Employee and the Employer Group addressing confidentiality, non-competition and/or non-solicitation. If any provision of this <u>Section 7</u> is held to be unenforceable due to the scope, duration, or area of its application, the parties intend and agree that the court making such determination shall modify such scope, duration, or area, or all of them to what the court considers reasonable, and such provision shall then be enforced in such modified form.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9. **<u>Severability</u>**. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement or the validity, legality or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10. **<u>Notices</u>**. All notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when (a) delivered personally or by overnight courier to the following address of the other party hereto (or such other address for such party as shall be specified by notice given pursuant to this <u>Section 10</u>) or (b) sent by email to the following facsimile number of the other party hereto (or such other facsimile number for such party as shall be specified by notice given pursuant to this <u>Section 10</u>), with the confirmatory copy delivered by overnight courier to the address of such party pursuant to this <u>Section 10</u>:

**If to Employer, to:**

Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc.

Attention: General Counsel

1030 West Canton Ave., Suite 100

Winter Park, FL 32789

Email: mlynch@ruthschris.com

**If to Employee, to:**

the last known address of Employee according to Employer records.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;11. **<u>Governing Law and Resolution of Dispute</u>**. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of or applicable to the State of Florida. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to Employee's employment hereunder, or the breach therefore, shall be resolved by arbitration conducted in accordance with the rules then existing of the American Arbitration Association, applying the substantive law of the State of Florida. The parties further agree that any such arbitration shall be conducted in Orange County, Florida.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;12. **<u>Waiver</u>**. No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived, nor shall there be any estoppel against the enforcement of any provision of this Agreement, except by written instrument of the party charged with such waiver or estoppel. No such written waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated therein, and each such waiver shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of such term or condition for the future or as to any act other than that specifically waived.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;13. **<u>Entire Agreement</u>**. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or between the parties (including the Prior Agreement), written or oral, which may have related in any manner to the subject matter hereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14. **<u>Successors and Assigns</u>**. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the written consent of the other party hereto. Except as stated herein, nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer on any person other than the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;15. **<u>Withholding</u>**. All amounts payable hereunder will be subject to deduction for all required income, payroll and other withholdings.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;16. **<u>Representations and Warranties</u>**. Employee represents, warrants and agrees that they have all right, power, authority and capacity, and are free to enter into this Agreement; that by doing so, Employee will not violate or interfere with the rights of any other person or entity; and that Employee is not subject to any contract, understanding or obligation that will or might prevent, interfere or conflict with or impair Employee's performance of this Agreement. Employee further represents, warrants, and agrees that they will not enter into any agreement or other obligation while this Agreement is in effect that might conflict or interfere with the operation of this Agreement or their obligations hereunder. Employee agrees to indemnify and hold Employer harmless with respect to any losses, liabilities, demands, claims, fees, expenses, damages and costs (including attorneys' fees and costs) resulting from or arising out of any claim or action based upon Employee's entering into this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;17. **<u>Modification</u>**. Neither this Agreement nor the provisions contained herein may be extended, renewed, amended or modified other than by a written agreement executed by Employee and Employer.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;18. **<u>Construction</u>**. The rule that a contract is construed against the party drafting the contract is hereby waived, and shall have no applicability in construing this Agreement or the terms hereof. Any headings and captions used herein are only for convenience and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;19. **<u>Legal Representation</u>**. The parties understand that this is a legally binding contract and acknowledge and agree that they have had a reasonable opportunity to consult with legal counsel of their choice prior to execution.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;20. **<u>Survival of Obligations</u>**. The parties expressly agree that Employee's obligations set forth in this Agreement, as well as any other obligations that would naturally survive termination of an employment agreement, shall survive termination of Employee's employment (whether voluntary or involuntary and whether with or without Cause and whether with or without Good Reason) and shall also survive the end of the term of this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;21. **<u>Counterparts</u>**. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same original instrument. A facsimile signature shall be deemed an original signature for purposes of execution of this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;22. **<u>Section 409A of the Code</u>**. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a. <u>General</u>. All provisions of this Agreement are intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and the applicable Treasury regulations and administrative guidance issued thereunder (collectively, "<u>Section 409A</u>") or an exemption therefrom and shall be construed and administered in accordance with such intent. Any payments under this Agreement that may be excluded from Section 409A either as separation pay due to an involuntary separation from service or as a short-term deferral shall be excluded from Section 409A to the maximum extent possible. For purposes of Section 409A, each installment payment provided under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment. Any payments to be made under this Agreement upon a termination of Employee's employment shall only be made if such termination of employment constitutes a "separation from service" under Section 409A.

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b. <u>Reimbursements</u>. To the extent that any right to reimbursement of expenses or payment of any benefit in-kind under this Agreement constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A), (i) any such expense reimbursement shall be made by Employer no later than the last day of Employee's taxable year following the taxable year in which such expense was incurred by Employee, (ii) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit and (iii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits to be provided in any other taxable year; <u>provided</u> that, the foregoing clause shall not be violated with regard to expenses reimbursed under any arrangement covered by Section 105(b) of the Code solely because such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period in which the arrangement is in effect.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c. <u>Payment Dates</u>. If any payment or benefit provided for herein would be subject to additional taxes and interest under Section 409A if Employee's receipt of such payment or benefit is not delayed until the earlier of (i) the date of Employee's death or (ii) the date that is six months after the Separation Date (such date, the "<u>Section 409A Payment Date</u>"), then such payment or benefit shall not be provided to Employee (or Employee's estate, if applicable) until the Section 409A Payment Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employer makes no representations that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement are exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A and in no event shall Employer be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by Employee on account of non-compliance with Section 409A.

\* \* \* \* \*

***Signature Page Follows***

------

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **IN WITNESS WHEREOF**, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date. | **IN WITNESS WHEREOF**, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date. | **IN WITNESS WHEREOF**, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date. |
| **EMPLOYER**: | **EMPLOYER**: | **EMPLOYEE**: |
| By: |  |  |
| Name: | Cheryl J. Henry | Mark Kupferman |
| Its: | Chief Executive Officer |  |

---

*Signature Page to Employment Agreement*

------

**EXHIBIT A**

**<u>General Release</u>**

I, Mark Kupferman, in consideration of and subject to the performance by Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. (as such company's name may change from time to time and including such company's successors and assigns, the "<u>Company</u>"), of its obligations under the Employment Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2022 (the "<u>Agreement</u>"), do hereby release and forever discharge as of the date hereof the Company and its respective affiliates and all present, former and future managers, directors, officers, employees, successors and assigns of the Company and its affiliates and direct or indirect owners (collectively, the "<u>Released Parties</u>") to the extent provided below (this "<u>General Release</u>"). The Released Parties are intended to be third-party beneficiaries of this General Release, and this General Release may be enforced by each of them in accordance with the terms hereof in respect of the rights granted to such Released Parties hereunder. Terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in the Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1. <u>Schedule 1</u> attached hereto sets forth the termination and severance benefits to which I will be entitled in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (the "<u>Severance Benefits</u>"). I understand that the Severance Benefits represent, in part, consideration for signing this General Release and are not salary, wages or benefits to which I was already entitled. I understand and agree that I will not receive payment of the Severance Benefits unless I execute this General Release and do not revoke this General Release within the time period permitted hereafter. Such payments and benefits will not be considered compensation for purposes of any employee benefit plan, program, policy, or arrangement maintained or hereafter established by the Company or its affiliates.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2. Except as provided in paragraphs <u>4</u> and <u>5</u> below and except for the provisions of the Agreement that expressly survive the termination of my employment with the Company, I knowingly and voluntarily (for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns) release and forever discharge the Company and the other Released Parties from any and all claims, suits, controversies, actions, causes of action, cross-claims, counter claims, demands, debts, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive or exemplary damages, other damages, claims for costs and attorneys' fees, or liabilities of any nature whatsoever in law and in equity, both past and present (through the date that this General Release becomes effective and enforceable) and whether known or unknown, suspected, or claimed against the Company or any of the Released Parties that I, my spouse, or any of my heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, may have, which arise out of or are connected with my employment with, or my separation or termination from, the Company (including, but not limited to, any allegation, claim or violation, arising under: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (including the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act); the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; any applicable Executive Order Programs; the Fair Labor Standards Act; or their state or local counterparts; or under any other federal, state or local civil or human rights law, or under any other local, state, or federal law, regulation or ordinance; or under any public policy, contract or tort, or under common law; or arising under the Agreement; or for compensation or equity or equity-based compensation; or arising under any policies, practices or procedures of the Company; or any claim for wrongful discharge, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, defamation; or any claim for costs, fees, or other expenses, including attorneys' fees incurred in these matters) (all of the foregoing collectively referred to herein as the "<u>Claims</u>").

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3. I represent that I have made no assignment or transfer of any right, claim, demand, cause of action, or other matter covered by paragraph <u>2</u> above.

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4. I agree that this General Release does not waive or release any rights or claims that I may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 that arise after the date I execute this General Release. I acknowledge and agree that my separation from employment with the Company in compliance with the terms of the Agreement shall not serve as the basis for any claim or action (including, without limitation, any claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5. I agree that I hereby waive all rights to sue or obtain equitable, remedial, or punitive relief from any or all Released Parties of any kind whatsoever in respect of any Claim, including, without limitation, reinstatement, back pay, front pay, and any form of injunctive relief. Notwithstanding the above, I further acknowledge that I am not waiving and am not being required to waive any right that cannot be waived under law, including the right to file an administrative charge or participate in an administrative investigation or proceeding; <u>provided</u>, <u>however</u>, that I disclaim and waive any right to share or participate in any monetary award resulting from the prosecution of such charge or investigation or proceeding, excepting only any monetary award to which I may become entitled pursuant to Section 922 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Additionally, I am not waiving (a) any right to any accrued base salary earned by me prior to my termination of employment or any severance benefits to which I am entitled under the Agreement, (b) any claim relating to directors' and officers' liability insurance coverage or any right of indemnification under the Company's organizational documents or otherwise, or (c) my rights as an equity or security holder in the Company or its affiliates.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6. In signing this General Release, I acknowledge and intend that it shall be effective as a bar to each and every one of the Claims hereinabove mentioned or implied. I expressly consent that this General Release shall be given full force and effect according to each and all of its express terms and provisions, including those relating to unknown and unsuspected Claims (notwithstanding any state or local statute that expressly limits the effectiveness of a general release of unknown, unsuspected, and unanticipated Claims), if any, as well as those relating to any other Claims hereinabove mentioned or implied. I acknowledge and agree that this waiver is an essential and material term of this General Release and that without such waiver the Company would not have agreed to the terms of the Agreement. I further agree that in the event I should bring a Claim seeking damages against the Company, or in the event I should seek to recover against the Company in any Claim brought by a governmental agency on my behalf, this General Release shall serve as a complete defense to such Claims to the maximum extent permitted by law. I further agree that I am not aware of any pending claim of the type described in paragraph <u>2</u> above as of the execution of this General Release.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7. I agree that neither this General Release, nor the furnishing of the consideration for this General Release, shall be deemed or construed at any time to be an admission by the Company, any Released Party or myself of any improper or unlawful conduct.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8. I agree that if I violate this General Release by suing the Company or the other Released Parties, I will pay all costs and expenses of defending against the suit incurred by the Released Parties, including reasonable attorneys' fees.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9. I agree that this General Release and the Agreement are confidential and agree not to disclose any information regarding the terms of this General Release or the Agreement, except to my immediate family and any tax, legal, or other counsel I have consulted regarding the meaning or effect hereof or as required by law, and I will instruct each of the foregoing not to disclose the same to anyone.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10. Any nondisclosure provision in this General Release does not prohibit or restrict me (or my attorney) from responding to any inquiry about this General Release or its underlying facts and circumstances by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, any other self-regulatory organization, or any governmental entity.

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;11. I represent that, as of the effective date of this General Release, I am not aware of any Claim by me other than the Claims that are released by this General Release. I acknowledge that I may hereafter discover Claims or facts in addition to or different than those that I now know or believe to exist with respect to the subject matter of the release set forth in paragraph <u>2</u> above and that, if known or suspected at the time of entering into this General Release, may have materially affected this General Release and my decision to enter into it.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;12. Whenever possible, each provision of this General Release shall be interpreted in, such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this General Release is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this General Release shall be reformed, construed, and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

**By signing this General Release, I represent and agree that:**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**1.** **I have read this General Release carefully;** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**2.** **I understand all of its terms and know that I am giving up important rights, including, but not limited to, rights under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Equal Pay Act of 1963; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended;** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**3.** **I voluntarily consent to everything in it;** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**4.** **I have been advised to consult with an attorney before executing it and I have done so or, after careful reading and consideration, I have chosen not to do so of my own volition;** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**5.** **I have had at least 45 days from the date of my receipt of this General Release to consider it, and the changes made since my receipt of this General Release are not material or were made at my request and will not restart the required 45-day period;** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**6.** **I understand that I have seven days after the execution of this General Release to revoke it and that this General Release shall not become effective or enforceable until the revocation period has expired;** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**7.** **I have signed this General Release knowingly and voluntarily and with the advice of any counsel retained to advise me with respect to it; and** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8. **I agree that the provisions of this General Release may not be amended, waived, changed, or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by an authorized representative of the Company and by me.** 

Signed:   Dated:  

------

**SCHEDULE 1**

**<u>Severance Benefits</u>**

## Exhibit 21.1

**Exhibit 21.1**

**Subsidiaries of the Company**

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Entity** | **Jurisdiction** |
| Ruth's Chris Steak House Franchise, LLC | Louisiana |
| RCSH Management, Inc. | Louisiana |
| RCSH Operations, LLC | Louisiana |
| RCSH Operations, Inc. | California |
| Ruth's Chris Steak House Boston, LLC | Louisiana |
| RHG Kingfish, LLC | Florida |
| RHG Fish Market, Inc. | Florida |
| MFM Winter Park, LLC | Florida |
| RHGI Giftco, Inc. | Florida |

---

## Exhibit 23.1

**Exhibit 23.1**

**Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**<br>

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements (No. 333-238138, 333-171485 and 333-160231) on Form S-3 and (No. 333-225183, 333-196836, 333-182845 and 333-127681) on Form S-8 of our reports dated February 23, 2023, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.<br>

/s/ KPMG LLP<br> Orlando, Florida<br> February 23, 2023

## Exhibit 31.1

**Exhibit 31.1**

**CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF** 

**THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002** 

I, Cheryl J. Henry, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of this annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: February 23, 2023

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| By: | /S/ Cheryl J. Henry |
|  | **Cheryl J. Henry** |
|  | **Chairperson of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ruth**'**s Hospitality Group, Inc.** |

---

## Exhibit 31.2

**Exhibit 31.2**

**CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF** 

**THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002** 

I, Kristy Chipman, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of this annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: February 23, 2023

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| By | /s/ Kristy Chipman |
|  | **Kristy Chipman** |
|  | **Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Chief Operating Officer** <br> **of Ruth**'**s Hospitality Group, Inc.** |

---

## Exhibit 32.1

**Exhibit 32.1**

**CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF** 

**THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002** 

In connection with the annual report on Form 10-K of Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. (the "Company") for the year ended December 25, 2022, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), the undersigned certifies in her capacity as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to her knowledge:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: February 23, 2023

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| By: | /S/ Cheryl J. Henry |
|  | **Cheryl J. Henry** |
|  | **Chairperson of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ruth**'**s Hospitality Group, Inc.** |

---

## Exhibit 32.2

**Exhibit 32.2**

**CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF** 

**THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002** 

In connection with the annual report on Form 10-K of Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. (the "Company") for the year ended December 25, 2022, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), the undersigned certifies in her capacity as Chief Financial Officer of the Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to her knowledge:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: February 23, 2023

---

| |
|:---|
| /s/ Kristy Chipman  |
| **Kristy Chipman**<br> **Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Ruth**'**s Hospitality Group, Inc.** |

---