EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1410428
Filing Year: 2024
Filename: 1410428_10-K_2024_0001558370-24-005211.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Overview
XWELL is a global wellness company operating multiple brands and focused on bringing restorative, regenerative and reinvigorating products and services to travelers. XWELL currently has four reportable operating segments: XpresSpa®, XpresTest®, Naples Wax Center and Treat™.
On October 25, 2022, the Company changed its name to XWELL, Inc. (“XWELL” or the “Company”) from XpresSpa Group, Inc. The Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, which had previously been listed under the trading symbol “XSPA” on the Nasdaq Capital Market, now trades under the trading symbol “XWEL”. The Company filed an amended and restated certificate of incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State on October 24, 2022 (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”) reflecting the name change. Rebranding to XWELL aligned the Company’s corporate strategy to build a pure-play wellness services company, in both the airport and off-airport marketplaces.
XpresSpa
XWELL’s subsidiary, XpresSpa Holdings, LLC (“XpresSpa”) has been a global airport retailer of spa services through its XpresSpa spa locations, offering travelers premium spa services, including massage, nail and skin care, as well as spa and travel products.
As of December 31, 2023, there were 21 domestic XpressSpa locations in total, 19 Company-owned locations and two franchises. The Company also had 11 international locations operating as of December 31, 2023, including two XpresSpa locations in Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates, one XpresSpa location in Zayad International Airport in Abu Dhabi, UAE, three XpresSpa locations in Schiphol Amsterdam Airport in the Netherlands and five XpresSpa locations in the Istanbul Airport in Turkey.
XpresTest
The Company, in partnership with certain COVID-19 testing partners, successfully launched its XpresCheck Wellness Centers, in June of 2020, through its XpresTest, Inc. subsidiary (“XpresTest”), which offered COVID-19 and other medical diagnostic testing services to the traveling public, as well as airline, airport and concessionaire employees, and TSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents during the pandemic. During 2022 and 2023, as countries continued to relax their testing requirements resulting in rapid decline of testing volumes at the Company’s XpresCheck locations, the Company closed XpresCheck Wellness Centers. As of December 31, 2023, we have closed all XpresCheck locations.
XpresTest began conducting bio surveillance monitoring with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with Concentric by Ginkgo BioWorks in 2021 and on January 31, 2022, we announced the extension of our initial program, bringing the total contract to $5,537. As of August 2022, the program was renewed in partnership with Ginkgo BioWorks. A new two-year contract was initiated which represents approximately $7,330 in revenue (for the first year) for the XpresTest segment.
The program was renewed in August 2023 through a new one-year contract. The revenue to XpresTest from such one-year extension totaled approximately $7,044. In March 2024, the program funding and scope were expanded, a revenue increase of $4,000, to an estimated $11,044 in revenue for XpresTest with new collection locations at U.S. international airports in Miami (MIA) and Chicago (ORD) and the roll out of multi-pathogen testing across the program.
HyperPointe
XWELL’s subsidiary, gcg Connect, LLC, operating as HyperPointe, provides direct to business marketing support across a number of health and health-related channels. From the creation of marketing campaigns for the pharmaceutical industry,
to learning management systems to website and health related content creation, HyperPointe is a complementary service provider to XWELL’s health-focused brands as well as providing the majority of services to the external community.
For reporting purposes, the former HyperPointe segment has been consolidated into the XpresTest segment.
Treat
Treat, which is operating through XWELL’s subsidiary Treat, Inc. (“Treat”) is a wellness brand that provides access to wellness services for travelers at on-site centers (currently located in JFK International Airport and in Salt Lake City International Airport).
In 2022, Treat opened a new location in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport but by the fourth quarter of 2022, the decision was made to close this location. The remaining Treat locations offer a full retail product offering and a suite of wellness and spa services. Travelers can purchase time blocks to use our wellness rooms to engage in interactive services like self-guided yoga, meditation and low impact weight exercises or to relax and unplug from the hectic pace of the airport and renew themselves before or after their trip.
Naples Wax Center
On September 12, 2023, XWELL acquired Naples Wax, LLC, a group of upscale hair removal boutiques in Florida, for a purchase price of $1,624. Aiming to provide a memorable customer experience, Naples Wax Center operates three high-performing locations with core products and service offerings from face and body waxing to a range of skincare and cosmetic products. The acquisition of Naples Wax Center is intended to enable us to move beyond our airport client base with a business that can be adapted to a larger wellness platform while also growing our retail footprint to serve our long-term financial goals.
Although we recognize four segments of business, we believe there is opportunity to leverage a segment of our products and services across the Company’s platform of brands. Additionally, we are expanding our retail strategy, not only adding more products for sale but aligning those products more efficiently to our service offerings. This product strategy includes, for example, adding muscle relaxation patches to a neck or back massage to continue treatment after the delivery of the service.
We also plan to build our capability for delivering health and wellness services outside of the airport. We believe operating outside of the airport complements our offering and represents the fastest way to scale the XWELL family of brands.
We will be looking to further expand internationally. With international travel slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels, we continue to be opportunistic in our approach, by taking advantage of the current market to growth. We believe a strategy for international expansion further advances our ability to expand our other brands including bio surveillance outside of the US.
TreatStudios
Further, in Q4 of 2023, the Company began plans to open its first TreatStudios location in Jacksonville, Florida in 2024. TreatStudios is an out-of-airport concept providing leased space to established wellness service providers. Revenue will be derived from both lease payments received from the stylists, the sale of retail at the wellness center and in specific locations curated services that are XWELL branded.
These strategic imperatives will be accomplished through development of an infrastructure specifically focused on enabling scalable and efficient growth.
Our Strategy and Outlook
We believe that our company is well positioned to benefit from consumers’ growing interest and pent-up demand in travel health and wellness and increasing demand for health and wellness related services and products. Our go-forward plan
includes the expansion and integration of products and services across our six brands; the right-sizing of our existing airport portfolio to a leaner and more profitable business; the execution of an ‘off-airport’ strategy through acquisition to deliver more products and services, which will serve as a catalyst for our future growth; the implementation of an international expansion plan; and ensuring we can scale our growth in a responsible way that drives shareholder value. Through right-sizing our existing business, optimizing our cost structure and making acquisitions that further leverage the strength of our brand portfolio, XWELL is positioning itself for both financial and operational growth now and in the future.
Competition
Our domestic units operate within many of the largest and most heavily trafficked airports in the United States. The balance of the domestic market is highly fragmented and is represented largely by small, privately-owned entities. The largest domestic competitor operated 14 locations in 9 airports in the United States.
Our Market
Airport retailers differ significantly from traditional retailers. Unlike traditional retailers, airport retailers benefit from a steady and predictable flow of traffic from a constantly changing customer base. Airport retailers also benefit from “dwell time,” the period after travelers have passed through airport security and before they board an aircraft. For over 21 years, increased security requirements have led travelers to spend more time at the airport. In addition, in anticipation of the long and often stressful security lines, travelers allow for more time to get through security and, as a result, often experience increased downtime prior to boarding. XWELL is uniquely positioned to address this gap focusing on an expedient experience that still allows its customers to escape the hectic confines of the airport.
To take advantage of growing demand for unique travel wellness products, XWELL has made significant investments in a new retail offering that addresses this growing consumer demand. Further, as more and more airports exchange services for more traditional food and beverage providers, XWELL is positioned to take advantage of passenger demand for healthier and bio-nutrient rich snack and food offerings as part of its grab and go strategy.
The competition for airplane landings has forced airports to lower landing fees, which in turn has necessitated augmenting their retail offerings to offset budget shortfalls. Infrastructure projects at airports across the country, again intended to make an airport more desirable to airlines, require funding from bond issuances that in turn rely upon, in part, the expected minimum rent guarantees and expected income from concessionaires.
Equally as important to the industry growth is XWELL’s flexible, valuable, and desirable retail format and footprint within the airport retail segment. XWELL historically opened multiple locations annually, which have ranged in size from 200 square feet to 2,600 square feet, with a typical size of approximately 800 square feet. XWELL has been able to adapt its operating model to almost any size location available in space constrained airports. This increased flexibility compared to other retail concepts has allowed and will continue to allow XWELL to operate multiple stores within an airport, including in some cases for different concepts.
Additionally, we believe that our acquisition of Naples Wax Center is an important first step to creating and growing our out of airport locations, which will enable us to diversify our portfolio and have less dependance on our in-airport locations.
Although we have historically focused our growth in the airport space, our strategy continues to shift with further emphasis on growth outside the airport-in and out of travel focused centers. This shift includes taking our XpresSpa brand out of the airport and into other transit centers such as rail terminals. It also includes growth through acquisition such as Naples Wax Centers where we can apply our wellness pedigree to expand that business from both a location standpoint and from a diversification of products and services standpoint. Additionally, we are currently advancing another off-airport model called TreatStudios. This concept represents a departure from our traditional “brick and mortar” spa operation business building wellness centers where established service providers can lease space from TreatStudios to deliver their services to their customers. While similar to other coworking space concepts, TreatStudios has the unique advantage of offering space focused entirely on delivery of wellness services and the creation of a “wellness community” where practitioners can leverage others in the space to further develop their profession.
Our goal continues to be opportunistic expansion outside the airport and we believe our family of brands will help to serve that growth strategy.
Regulation
Our operations are subject to a range of laws and regulations adopted by national, regional, and local authorities from the various jurisdictions in which we operate, including those relating to, among others, licensing (e.g., massage, nail, and cosmetology), public health and safety and fire codes. Failure to obtain or retain required licenses and approvals, including those related to licensing, public health and safety and fire codes, would adversely affect our operations. Although we have not experienced, and do not anticipate, significant problems obtaining required licenses, permits or approvals, any difficulties, delays or failures in obtaining such licenses, permits or approvals could delay or prevent the opening, or adversely impact the viability, of our operations.
Airport authorities in the United States frequently require that our airport concessions meet minimum Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (“ACDBE”) participation requirements. The Department of Transportation’s (“DOT”) ACDBE program is implemented by recipients of DOT Federal Financial Assistance, including airport agencies that receive federal funding. The ACDBE program is administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”), state and local ACDBE certifying agencies and individual airports. The ACDBE program is designed to help ensure that small firms owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals can compete for airport contracting and concession opportunities in domestic passenger service airports. The ACDBE regulations require that airport recipients establish annual ACDBE participation goals, review the scope of anticipated large prime contracts throughout the year, and establish contract specific ACDBE participation goals. We generally meet the contract specific goals through an agreement providing for co-ownership of the retail location with a disadvantaged business enterprise. Frequently, and within the guidelines issued by the FAA, we may lend money to ACDBEs in connection with concession agreements in order to help the ACDBE fund the capital investment required under a concession agreement. The rules and regulations governing the certification of ACDBE participation in airport concession agreements are complex, and ensuring ongoing compliance is costly and time consuming. Further, if we fail to comply with the minimum ACDBE participation requirements in our concession agreements, we may be held responsible for breach of contract, which could result in the termination of a concession agreement and monetary damages. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors - Risks Related to our Business Operations - Failure to comply with minimum airport concession disadvantaged business enterprise participation goals and requirements could lead to lost business opportunities or the loss of existing business.”
We are subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Affordable Care Act, the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and various federal and state laws governing matters such as minimum wages, overtime, unemployment tax rates, workers’ compensation rates, citizenship requirements and other working conditions. We are also subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in public accommodations and employment, which may require us to design or modify our concession locations to make reasonable accommodations for disabled persons.
We are also subject to certain truth-in-advertising, general customs, consumer and data protection, product safety, workers’ health and safety and public health rules that govern retailers in general, as well as the merchandise sold within the various jurisdictions in which we operate.
We are also subject to HIPAA and the HITECH Act as they relate to patients’ Protected Health Information (PHI), patient rights, breach notification and other actions.
Employees
As of December 31, 2023, we had approximately 266 full-time and 71 part-time employees of XWELL. We consider our relationships with our employees to be good.
Corporate Information
Our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, which was previously listed since January 8, 2018 under the trading symbol “XSPA” on the Nasdaq Capital Market, has been listed under the trading symbol “XWELL” since October 25, 2022. Our principal executive offices are located at 254 West 31st Street, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10001. Our telephone number is (212) 309-7549 and our website address is www.xwell.com. We also operate the websites www.xpresspa.com, www.treat.com, www.xprescheck.com, www.hyperpointe.com and www.napleswaxcenter.com.
References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to our website address and websites we operate do not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on the websites. We make our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, other reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and amendments to the foregoing reports, available free of charge on or through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we file these reports with, or furnish such reports to, the SEC. In addition, we post the following information on our website:
● our corporate code of conduct and our insider trading compliance manual; and
● charters for our audit committee, compensation committee, and nominating and corporate governance committee.
The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC. The public can obtain any documents that we file with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
We are subject to various risks that may materially harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. An investment in our common stock is speculative and involves a high degree of risk, and you should carefully consider the risks described below, together with the other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the consolidated financial statements and related notes before making an investment decision regarding our common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and the trading price of our common stock could be materially adversely affected by any of the following risks as well as the other risks highlighted elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Although this section discusses all of the material risks currently known to us, additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may materially affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If any of the events described in the following risk factors actually occurs, or if additional risks and uncertainties later materialize, that are not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial, then our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment in our shares. The risks discussed below include forward-looking statements, and our actual results may differ substantially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements.
Risk Factor Summary
Below is a summary of the principal factors that make an investment in our common stock speculative or risky. This summary does not address all the risks that we face. Additional discussion of the risks summarized in this risk factor summary, and other risks that we face, can be found below following this summary, and should be carefully considered, together with other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto, and our other filings with the SEC, before making an investment decision regarding our common stock.
Risks Related to our Financial Condition and Capital Requirements
● We have identified certain material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting, which could impair our ability to produce accurate consolidated financial statements on a timely basis and result in material misstatements in our consolidated financial statements if not remediated. If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results and current and potential stockholders may lose confidence in our financial reporting.
● Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.
● Global economic and market conditions may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and operating results.
● Increasing inflation could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
● Our business requires substantial capital expenditures, and we may not have access to the capital required to maintain and grow our operations.
● The bio surveillance monitoring activities conducted by XpresTest are funded partially by government contracts awards, which may not be available to us in the future, and such contracts awards are subject to guidelines regulating certain aspects of our operations.
● Our ability to obtain funding for our bio surveillance monitoring activities from the CDC may be impacted by possible reductions in federal spending.
Risks Related to our Business Operations
● We depend on third parties to provide services critical to our XpresTest bio surveillance business, and we depend on them to comply with applicable laws and regulations. Additionally, any breaches of the information technology systems of third parties could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
● Our business operations may be materially impaired if we do not comply with privacy laws or information security policies.
● Hardware and software failures or delays in our information technology systems, including failures resulting from our systems conversions or otherwise, could disrupt our operations and cause the loss of confidential information, customers and business opportunities or otherwise adversely impact our business.
● We must comply with complex and overlapping laws protecting the privacy and security of health information and personal data.
● Our capital expenditures in the new TreatStudios and Naples Wax Center locations may not generate a positive return and we will incur significant additional costs.
● We rely on international and domestic airplane travel, and the time that airline passengers spend in United States airports post-security. A decrease in the desire of customers to buy spa services and products, or decreased time spent in airports would negatively impact our operations.
● We rely on a limited number of distributors and suppliers for certain of our products, and events outside our control may disrupt our supply chain, which could result in an inability to perform our obligations under our concession agreements and cause us to lose our concessions.
● Our operating results may fluctuate significantly due to certain factors, some of which are beyond our control.
● Our expansion into new airports or off-airport locations may present increased risks due to our unfamiliarity with those areas.
● We may not be able to execute our growth strategy to expand and integrate new concessions or future acquisitions into our business or remodel existing concessions, our recently acquired entity or future acquisitions into our business or remodel existing concessions. Any new concessions, future acquisitions or remodeling of existing concessions may divert management resources, result in unanticipated costs, or dilute the ownership of our stockholders.
● If the estimates and assumptions we use to determine the size of our market are inaccurate, our future growth rate may be impacted. If we cannot hire adequate staff for our locations, we will not be able to operate.
● Our labor force could unionize, putting upward pressure on labor costs.
● We may not be able to predict accurately or fulfill customer preferences or demands.
● Our leases may be terminated, either for convenience by the landlord or because of a XpresSpa, Naples Wax or Treat of a default.
● Our ability to operate depends on the traffic patterns of the terminals in which we operate, and the cessation or disruption of air traveler traffic in these terminals would negatively impact XpresSpa’s, XpresTest’s and Treat’s addressable market.
● Failure to comply with minimum airport concession disadvantaged business enterprise participation goals and requirements could lead to lost business opportunities or the loss of existing business.
● If we are unable to protect our customers’ credit card data and other personal information, we could be exposed to data loss, litigation and liability, and our reputation could be significantly harmed.
● Negative social media regarding XWELL, XpresSpa, Treat, XpresTest, Naples Wax Center, TreatStudios or HyperPointe could result in decreased revenues and impact our ability to recruit worker.
● We source, develop, and sell products that may result in product liability defense costs and product liability payments.
● We and our subsidiaries have been, are, and may become involved in litigation that could divert management’s attention and harm our businesses.
● Our failure or inability to protect the trademarks or other proprietary rights we use or claims of infringement by us of rights of third parties, could adversely affect our competitive position or the value of our brands.
● Our future acquisitions or business opportunities could involve unknown risks that could harm our business and adversely affect our financial condition and the results of operations.
Risks Related to Capital Stock
● Stock prices can be volatile, and this volatility may depress the price of our common stock.
● We have no current plans to pay dividends on our common stock, and our investors may not receive funds without selling their stock.
● Our failure to meet the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq could result in a delisting of our common stock.
● If securities analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they publish negative evaluations, the price of our Common Stock could decline.
● Having availed ourselves of scaled disclosure available to smaller reporting companies, we cannot be certain if such reduced disclosure will make our common stock less attractive to investors.
Other Risk Factors
● Our confidential information may be disclosed by other parties.
● We may fail to meet publicly announced financial guidance or other expectations about our business, which would cause our stock to decline in value.
Risks Related to our Financial Condition and Capital Requirements
We have identified certain material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting, which could impair our ability to produce accurate consolidated financial statements on a timely basis and result in material misstatements in our consolidated financial statements if not remediated. If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results and current and potential stockholders may lose confidence in our financial reporting.
We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations of The Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”). The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. As required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we must perform system and process evaluation and testing of our internal control over financial reporting to allow management to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in our Form 10-K filing for each fiscal year. This requires us to incur substantial additional professional fees and internal costs to expand our accounting and finance functions and we expend significant management efforts.
As of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, our management evaluated, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. A “material weakness” is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Based upon that evaluation, our management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2023, due to the following material weaknesses:
1)
The Company did not properly design, implement, and consistently operate effective controls over the completeness and accuracy of its accounting for leases under ASC 842.
2)
The Company did not properly design or maintain effective entity level monitoring controls over the financial close and reporting process.
3)
The Company did not design or maintain effective controls over its service organizations and IT vendors. More specifically, the Company did not have controls in place to review the applicable complementary user entity controls described in the service organizations’ reports for their potential impact on the Company’s financial reporting.
4)
The Company did not design, implement, and consistently operate effective controls over the revenue process. The Company’s controls surrounding the revenue reports and reconciliations were not designed and did not operate at a level of precision that would prevent or detect a material misstatement.
5)
The Company did not design, implement, and consistently operate effective controls over its’ foreign subsidiaries.
Subsequent to the filing of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 (“Q3 2023”), filed with the SEC on November 14, 2023 (the “Third Quarter Quarterly Report”), on April 12, 2024, the Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”) of our Board of Directors and consultation with management and with its independent registered public accounting firm, determined that the Company incorrectly applied U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) as related to the determination of the impairment of our Treat business segment for Q3 2023. The material weakness was primarily attributable to the misapplication of GAAP accounting guidance surrounding the treatment of segment impairment analysis for the quarter ended September 30, 2023.
As part of its determination, the Audit Committee concluded that it was appropriate to correct the misapplication of GAAP described above for financial statements for Q3 2023 included in the Third Quarter Quarterly Report, by restating such unaudited financial information because the errors in the financial statements are material to the financial statements for Q3 2023 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Restatement”). The financial effect of this error from previously reported information for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, resulted in an increase in net loss of $1,613, primarily as a result of additional impairment expense on our Treat segment right-of-use and fixed assets. (See note 19 of the consolidated financial statements for further discussion).
Our internal control over financial reporting will not prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud will be detected.
We cannot assure you that any of our remedial measures will be effective in resolving our material weaknesses.
If we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in a timely manner, or if we are unable to maintain proper and effective internal controls or remediate our material weaknesses, we may not be able to produce timely and or accurate financial statements, which may lead to material misstatements in our financial statements. This could result in a restatement of our consolidated financial statements, cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, reduce our ability to obtain financing or cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information. If that were to happen, the market price of our common stock could decline and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by Nasdaq, the SEC, or other regulatory authorities.
Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.
As of December 31, 2023, our estimated aggregate total net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) were $150,926 for U.S. federal purposes, expiring 20 years from the respective tax years to which they relate, and $97,968 for U.S. federal purposes with an indefinite life due to new regulations in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Our ability to utilize our NOLs may be limited under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 382”). The limitations apply if an ownership change, as defined by Section 382, occurs. Generally, an ownership change occurs when certain stockholders increase their aggregate ownership by more than 50 percentage points over their lowest ownership percentage in a testing period (typically three years). Additionally, the Tax Reform Act of 1986 imposed substantial restrictions on the utilization of NOL and tax credits in the event of an ownership change of a corporation. Thus, our ability to utilize all such NOL and credit carryforwards may be limited. Future changes in stock ownership may also trigger an ownership change and, consequently, a Section 382 limitation.
Global economic and market conditions may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and operating results.
Our business plan depends significantly on worldwide economic conditions and our success is dependent on consumer spending, which is sensitive to economic downturns; inflation and any associated rise in unemployment; declines in consumer confidence; adverse changes in exchange rates; increases in interest rates; the impact of high energy, fuel, food and healthcare costs; , deflation, direct or indirect taxes, increases in consumer debt levels; fears of war or actual conflicts, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the armed conflict between Israel and Palestine, civil unrest, terrorism or violence; and increased stock market volatility. As a result, economic downturns may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Moreover, uncertainty about global economic conditions poses
a risk as businesses and individuals may postpone spending in response to tighter credit, negative financial news and declines in income or asset values. This could have a negative effect on corporate and individual spending on health and wellness and travel. These factors, taken together or individually, could cause material harm to our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Increasing inflation could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Inflation and some of the measures taken by or that may be taken by the governments in countries where we operate to curb inflation may have negative effects on the economies of those countries generally. If the United States or other countries where we operate experience substantial inflation in the future, our business may be adversely affected. In addition, we may not be able to adjust the prices we charge for our products and services to offset the impact of inflation on our expenses, leading to an increase in our operating expenses and a reduction in our margins. This could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Our business requires substantial capital expenditures, and we may not have access to the capital required to maintain and grow our operations.
The development of our new branding concept in the travel health and wellness space, as well as maintaining and expanding our operations in our existing and new locations, are all capital-intensive activities. Specifically, the construction, redesign, and maintenance of our locations in airport terminals where we operate, technology costs, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations require substantial capital expenditures. Moreover, the creation of a digital platform in the travel health and wellness space will take substantial capital resources. In connection with all of the foregoing, we will require significant capital to fund our operations and respond to potential strategic opportunities, such as investments, acquisitions and expansions.
Since mid-2020, we have been able to obtain additional capital through access to the equity markets, selling our common stock and warrants. While we have mitigated the cash crisis we faced in the first half of 2020, throughout our operating history prior to the successful launch of our XpresCheck business, we did not generate sufficient cash from operations to fund new store development. Accordingly, we will be dependent upon managing and effectively deploying our existing cash resources and may require additional funding to fully realize the design and implementation of our travel health and wellness concept. If and to the extent we determine it is necessary or desirable, we may not be able to obtain such additional financing, through equity capital when needed, on acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, the terms of our financings may be dilutive to, or otherwise adversely affect, holders of our common stock. Moreover, our ability to raise additional equity capital will be constrained because of our relatively low stock price, and we may need to undertake a reverse stock split soon to maintain our Nasdaq listing and flexibility in access to the equity capital markets. If we are unable to obtain additional funding on a timely basis, we may be required to curtail or terminate some or all our business plans. Any such financing that we undertake will likely be dilutive to our current stockholders.
We must continue to invest capital to maintain or to improve the success of our concessions and to meet refurbishment requirements in our concessions. Decisions to expand into new terminals could also affect our capital needs. Our actual capital expenditures in any year will vary depending on, among other things, the extent to which we are successful in renewing existing concessions and winning additional concession agreements.
The bio surveillance monitoring activities conducted by XpresTest are funded partially by government contracts awards, which may not be available to us in the future, and such contracts awards are subject to guidelines regulating certain aspects of our operations.
We have received and intend to continue to seek funding for the bio surveillance monitoring activities conducted by XpresTest under contract with Gingko Bioworks Inc. However, funding by the CDC or other governmental agencies may be significantly reduced or eliminated in the future for several reasons. For example, some programs are subject to a yearly appropriations process overseen by the U.S. Congress. In addition, we may not receive full funding under current or future contracts because of the budgeting constraints of the CDC or the unsatisfactory performance of past contracts. Therefore, we cannot provide any assurance that we will receive any future funding under contracts from any government agencies,
or, if received, we will realize the full value of the contract. Any such reductions failure to realize expected funds could delay the development of our business.
Our operations conducted under such federal contracts are subject to certain federal regulations regarding how we conduct our business, and we will be obligated to abide by the agreement terms relating to those contracts. Failure to follow the regulations and agreement terms could jeopardize our ability to realize the value of our government contracts and our ability to obtain future government contracts, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, any failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations affecting such contracts could harm our business and divert our management’s attention.
Our ability to obtain funding for our bio surveillance monitoring activities from the CDC may be impacted by possible reductions in federal spending.
U.S. federal government agencies currently face potentially significant spending reductions. The U.S. federal budget remains in flux, however, which could, among other things, result in cuts to the CDC and otherwise affect federal spending on public health surveillance. Changing attitudes toward the risks associated with COVID-19 may lead to a decrease in funding available for bio surveillance monitoring activities. The full impact on our business of any future cuts to the CDC or other programs is uncertain. In addition, we cannot predict any impact which the actions of President Biden’s administration and the U.S. Congress may have on the federal budget.
We operate globally and changes in tax laws could adversely affect our results.
We operate globally and changes in tax laws could adversely affect our results. We have international operations and generate substantial revenues and profits in foreign jurisdictions. The domestic and international tax environments continue to evolve because of tax changes in various jurisdictions in which we operate and changes in the tax laws in certain countries, including the United States, could impact our future operating results. A significant increase in the U.S. corporate tax rate could negatively impact our financial results.
Risks Related to our Business Operations
We use potentially hazardous materials, chemicals, and patient samples in our XpresTest diagnostic testing and bio surveillance business and any disputes relating to improper handling, storage or disposal of these materials could be time consuming and costly.
Our professional practice partner’s diagnostic testing activities involve the controlled use of hazardous laboratory materials and chemicals, including small quantities of acid and alcohol, and patient samples. They are subject to U.S. laws and regulations related to the protection of the environment, the health and safety of employees and the handling, transportation and disposal of medical specimens, infectious and hazardous waste. They could be liable for accidental contamination or discharge or any resultant injury from hazardous materials, and conveyance, processing, and storage of and data on patient samples. If they fail to comply with applicable laws or regulations, they could be required to pay penalties or be held liable for any damages that result and this liability could exceed their financial resources. Further, future changes to environmental health and safety laws could cause them to incur additional expenses or restrict operations.
In the event of a lawsuit or investigation concerning such hazardous materials, we could be held responsible for any injury caused to persons or property by exposure to, or release of, these hazardous materials or patient samples that may contain infectious materials. The cost of this liability could exceed our resources. While we expect to maintain broad form liability insurance coverage for these risks, and we expect our professional practice partner to maintain appropriate malpractice insurance, the level or breadth of our or their coverage may not be adequate to fully cover potential liability claims to which we might be exposed.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) regulation of diagnostic products could result in increased costs and the imposition of fines or penalties and could have a material adverse effect upon our business.
The FDA has regulatory responsibility for instruments, test kits, reagents and other devices used by clinical laboratories. The FDA enforces laws and regulations that govern the development, testing, manufacturing, performance, labeling, advertising, marketing, distribution, and surveillance of diagnostic products, and it regularly inspects and reviews the manufacturing processes and product performance of diagnostic products.
FDA regulation of the diagnostic products we use could result in increased costs and administrative and legal actions for noncompliance, including warning letters, fines, penalties, product suspensions, product recalls, injunctions, and other civil and criminal sanctions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows.
If we fail to comply with the complex federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations that apply to all our businesses, we could suffer severe consequences that could materially and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
Our XpresTest operations are subject to extensive federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations, all of which are subject to change. These laws and regulations currently include, among other things:
● CLIA, which requires that laboratories obtain certification from the federal government, and state licensure laws;
● FDA laws and regulations;
● HIPAA, which imposes comprehensive federal standards with respect to the privacy and security of protected health information and requirements for the use of certain standardized electronic transactions, and amendments to HIPAA under the HITECH, which strengthen and expand HIPAA privacy and security compliance requirements, increase penalties for violators, extend enforcement authority to state attorneys general and impose requirements for breach notification;
● state laws regulating genetic testing and protecting the privacy of genetic test results, as well as state laws protecting the privacy and security of health information and personal data and mandating reporting of breaches to affected individuals and state regulators;
● the federal anti-kickback law, or the Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting, receiving, or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in exchange for or to induce either the referral of an individual, or the furnishing, arranging for, or recommending of an item or service that is reimbursable, in whole or in part, by a federal healthcare program;
● other federal and state fraud and abuse laws, such as anti-kickback laws, prohibitions on self-referral, and false claims acts, which may extend to services reimbursable by any third-party payor, including private insurers;
● the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which requires medical device manufactures to track and report to the federal government certain payments and other transfers of value made to physicians and teaching hospitals and ownership or investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members;
● Section 216 of the federal Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, which requires applicable laboratories to report private payor data in a timely and accurate manner beginning in 2017 and every three years thereafter (and in some cases annually);
● state laws that impose reporting and other compliance-related requirements;
● state billing laws, including regulations on “pass through billing” which may limit our ability to submit claims for payment and/or mark up the cost of services in excess of the price paid for such services, and “direct bill” laws which may limit our ability to purchase services from a laboratory and bill for the services ordered; and
● similar foreign laws and regulations that apply to us in the countries in which we operate.
These laws and regulations are complex and are subject to interpretation by the courts and by government agencies. Our failure to comply could lead to civil or criminal penalties, exclusion from participation in state and federal healthcare programs, or prohibitions or restrictions on our laboratory’s ability to provide or receive payment for our services. We believe that we are in material compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements, but there is a risk that one or more government agencies could take a contrary position, or that a private party could file suit under the qui tam provisions of the federal False Claims Act or a similar state law. Such occurrences, regardless of their outcome, could damage our reputation and adversely affect important business relationships with third parties, including managed care organizations, and other private third-party payors.
Changes in the way that the FDA regulates COVID-19 tests could result in additional expense in XpresTest offering tests and would affect the profitability of our XpresTest business.
Historically, the FDA has exercised enforcement discretion with respect to most laboratory-developed tests (“LDTs”) and has not required laboratories that furnish LDTs to comply with the agency’s requirements for medical devices (e.g., establishment registration, device listing, quality systems regulations, premarket clearance or premarket approval, and post-market controls). In recent years, however, the FDA publicly announced its intention to regulate certain LDTs and issued two draft guidance documents that set forth a proposed phased-in risk-based regulatory framework that would apply varying levels of FDA oversight to LDTs. However, these guidance documents were withdrawn at the end of the Obama administration and replaced by an informal discussion paper reflecting some of the feedback that FDA had received on LDT regulation. The FDA acknowledged that the discussion paper in January 2017 does not represent the formal position of the FDA and is not enforceable. Nevertheless, the FDA wanted to share its synthesis of the feedback that it had received in the hope that it might advance public discussion on future LDT oversight. Notwithstanding the discussion paper, the FDA continues to exercise enforcement discretion and may decide to regulate certain LDTs on a case-by-case basis at any time, which could result in additional expense in offering tests. Until the FDA finalizes its regulatory position regarding LDTs, or other legislation is passed reforming the federal government’s regulation of LDTs, it is unknown how the FDA may regulate tests we use in the future and what testing and data may be required to support any required clearance or approval.
We depend on third parties to provide services critical to our XpresTest bio surveillance business, and we depend on them to comply with applicable laws and regulations. Additionally, any breaches of the information technology systems of third parties could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
We depend on third parties to provide services critical to our XpresTest bio surveillance business, including supplies, ground and air transport of clinical and diagnostic testing supplies and specimens, research products, and people, among other services. Third parties that provide services to us are subject to similar risks related to security of customer-related information and compliance with U.S., state, local, or international environmental, health and safety, and privacy and security laws and regulations as those faced by us. Any failure by third parties to comply with applicable laws, or any failure of third parties to provide services more generally, could have a material impact on us, whether because of the loss of the ability to receive services from the third parties, our legal liability for the actions or inactions of third parties, or otherwise. In addition, third parties to whom we outsource certain services or functions may process personal data, or other confidential information belonging to us. A breach or attack affecting these third parties could also harm our business, results of operations and reputation.
Our business operations and reputation may be materially impaired if we do not comply with privacy laws or information security policies.
We collect, generate, process, or maintain sensitive information, such as patient data and other personal information. If we do not use or adequately safeguard that information in compliance with applicable requirements under federal, state, and
international laws, or if it were disclosed to persons or entities that should not have access to it, our business could be materially impaired, our reputation could suffer, and we could be subject to fines, penalties, and litigation. In the event of a data security breach, we may be subject to notification obligations, litigation and governmental investigation or sanctions, and may suffer reputational damage, which could have an adverse impact on our business.
We are subject to laws and regulations regarding protecting the security and privacy of certain healthcare and personal information, including: (a) at the federal level, HIPAA and the regulations thereunder, which establish (i) a complex regulatory framework including requirements for safeguarding protected health information and (ii) comprehensive federal standards regarding the uses and disclosures of protected health information; and (b) state laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act.
Hardware and software failures or delays in our information technology systems, including failures resulting from our systems conversions or otherwise, could disrupt our operations and cause the loss of confidential information, customers and business opportunities or otherwise adversely impact our business.
IT systems are used extensively in virtually all aspects of our business, including clinical testing, test reporting, billing, customer service, logistics and management of medical data. Our success depends, in part, on the continued and uninterrupted performance of our IT systems. A failure or delay in our IT systems could impede our ability to serve our customers and patients and protect their confidential personal data. Despite redundancy and backup measures and precautions that we have implemented, our IT systems may be vulnerable to damage, disruptions, and shutdown from a variety of sources, including telecommunications or network failures, system conversion or standardization initiatives, human acts, and natural disasters. These issues can also arise because of failures by third parties with whom we do business and for which we have limited control. Any disruption or failure of our IT systems could have a material impact on our ability to serve our customers and patients, including negatively affecting our reputation in the marketplace.
We must comply with complex and overlapping laws protecting the privacy and security of health information and personal data.
There are several state, federal and international laws protecting the privacy and security of health information and personal data. Under the administrative simplification provisions of HIPAA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued regulations which establish uniform standards governing the conduct of certain electronic healthcare transactions and protecting the privacy and security of PHI used or disclosed by healthcare providers and other covered entities.
The privacy regulations regulate the use and disclosure of PHI by healthcare providers engaging in certain electronic transactions or “standard transactions.” They also set forth certain rights that an individual has with respect to his or her PHI maintained by a covered healthcare provider, including the right to access or amend certain records containing PHI or to request restrictions on the use or disclosure of PHI. The HIPAA security regulations establish administrative, physical, and technical standards for maintaining the integrity and availability of PHI in electronic form. These standards apply to covered healthcare providers and to “business associates” or third parties providing services involving the use or disclosure of PHI. The HIPAA privacy and security regulations establish a uniform federal “floor” and do not supersede state laws that are more stringent or provide individuals with greater rights with respect to the privacy or security of, and access to, their records containing PHI. As a result, we may be required to comply with both HIPAA privacy regulations and varying state privacy and data security laws.
Moreover, HITECH, among other things, established certain health information security breach notification requirements. In the event of a breach of unsecured PHI, a covered entity must notify everyone whose PHI is breached, federal regulators and in some cases, must publicize the breach in local or national media. Breaches affecting 500 individuals or more are publicized by federal regulators who publicly identify the breaching entity, the circumstances of the breach and the number of individuals affected.
These laws contain significant fines and other penalties for wrongful use or disclosure of PHI. Given the complexity of HIPAA and HITECH and their overlap with state privacy and security laws, and the fact that these laws are rapidly evolving and are subject to changing and potentially conflicting interpretation, our ability to comply with the HIPAA,
HITECH and state privacy requirements is uncertain and the costs of compliance are significant. Adding to the complexity is that our operations are currently evolving, and the requirements of these laws will apply differently depending on such things as whether or not we bill electronically for our services or provide services involving the use or disclosure of PHI and incur compliance obligations as a business associate. The costs of complying with any changes to HIPAA, HITECH and state privacy restrictions may have a negative impact on our operations. Noncompliance could subject us to criminal penalties, civil sanctions, and significant monetary penalties as well as reputational damage.
We are also required to collect and maintain personal information about our employees as well as receive and transfer certain payment information, to accept payments from our customers, including credit card information. Most states have adopted laws requiring notification of affected individuals and state regulators in the event of a breach of personal information, which is a broader class of information than the health information protected by HIPAA. Many state laws impose significant data security requirements, such as encryption or mandatory contractual terms to ensure ongoing protection of personal information. Activities outside of the United States implicate local and national data protection standards, impose additional compliance requirements, and generate additional risks of enforcement for non-compliance. The collection and use of such information may be subject to contractual obligations as well. If the security and information systems that we or our outsourced third-party providers use to store or process such information are compromised or if we, or such third parties, otherwise fail to comply with these laws, regulations, and contractual obligations, we could face litigation and the imposition of penalties that could adversely affect our financial performance.
We must comply with all applicable privacy and data security laws to operate our business and may be required to expend significant capital and other resources to ensure ongoing compliance, to protect against security breaches and hackers or to alleviate problems caused by such breaches. Breaches of health information and/or personal data may be extremely expensive to remediate, may prompt federal or state investigation, fines, civil and/or criminal sanctions, and significant reputational damage.
Our capital expenditures in the new TreatStudios and Naples Wax locations may not generate a positive return and we will incur significant additional costs.
Our capital expenditures may not generate a positive return. Significant capital expenditures will be required to construct new TreatStudios and Naples Wax centers to accommodate our proposed new business model. No assurance can be given that our future capital expenditures will generate a positive return or that we will have adequate capital available to finance such construction or renovations. If we are unable to, or elect not to, pay for costs associated with such construction or renovations, our competitive position could be harmed. These developments, and others that are difficult or impossible to predict, could materially impact our business, financial results, cash flows, and financial position.
We rely on international and domestic airplane travel, and the time that airline passengers spend in United States airports post-security. A decrease in the desire of customers to buy spa services and products, or decreased time spent in airports would negatively impact our operations.
We depend upon a large number of airplane travelers with the propensity for health and wellness, and in particular spa treatments and products, spending significant time post-security clearance check points.
The number of airline travelers has been extremely volatile since the onset of COVID-19 in March 2020. If the time that these travelers spend post-security decreases, and/or if travelers’ ability or willingness to pay for our products and services diminishes, this could have an adverse effect on our growth, business activities, cash flow, financial condition, and results of operations. Some reasons for these events could include:
● terrorist activities (including cyber-attacks) impacting either domestic or international travel through airports where we operate, causing fear of flying, flight cancellations, or an economic downturn, fears of war or actual conflicts, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the armed conflict between Israel and Palestine, civil unrest, terrorism or violence or any other events of a similar nature, even if not directly affecting the airline industry, may lead to a significant reduction in the number of airline passengers;
● a decrease in business spending that impacts business travel, such as a recession;
● a decrease in consumer spending that impacts leisure travel, such as a recession or a stock market downturn or a change in consumer lending regulations impacting available credit for leisure travel;
● an increase in airfare prices that impacts the willingness of air travelers to fly, such as an increase in oil prices or heightened taxation from federal or other aviation authorities;
● severe weather, ash clouds, airport closures, natural disasters, strikes or accidents (airplane or otherwise), causing travelers to decrease the amount that they fly and any of these events, or any other event of a similar nature, even if not directly affecting the airline industry, may lead to a significant reduction in the number of airline passengers;
● as to our spa business, scientific studies that malign the use of spa services or the products used in spa services, such as the impact of certain chemicals and procedures on health and wellness; or
● streamlined security screening checkpoints, which could decrease the wait time at checkpoints and therefore the time air travelers budget for spending time at the airport.
● Customer preferences for services in general at the airport could change as dwell times in US airports continues to go down and more airports are focusing available concession space on quicker service food and beverage concepts.
Further, any disruption to, or suspension of services provided by airlines and the travel industry because of financial difficulties, labor disputes, construction work, increased security, changes to regulations governing airlines, mergers and acquisitions in the airline industry, higher fuel prices and challenging economic conditions causing airlines to reduce flight schedules or increase the price of airline tickets could negatively affect the number of airline passengers.
Additionally, the threat of terrorism and governmental measures in response thereto, such as increased security measures, recent executive orders in the United States impacting entry into the United States and changing attitudes towards the environmental impacts of air travel may in each case reduce demand for air travel and, as a result, decrease airline passenger traffic at airports.
Furthermore, the exit of an airline from a market or the bankruptcy of an airline could reduce the number of airline passengers in a terminal or airport where we operate and have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The effect that these factors would have on our business depends on their magnitude and duration, and a reduction in airline passenger numbers will result in a decrease in our sales and may have a materially adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We rely on a limited number of distributors and suppliers for certain of our products, and events outside our control may disrupt our supply chain, which could result in an inability to perform our obligations under our concession agreements and cause us to lose our concessions.
We rely on a small number of suppliers for our products. As a result, these suppliers may have increased bargaining power and we may be required to accept less favorable purchasing terms. In the event of a dispute with a supplier, the delivery of a significant amount of merchandise may be delayed or cancelled, or we may be forced to purchase merchandise from other suppliers on less favorable terms. Such events could cause turnover to fall or costs to increase, adversely affecting our business, financial condition, and results of operations. We have publicized our sale of certain brands of products in our stores - our failure to sell these brands may adversely affect our business.
Further, damage or disruption to our supply chain due to any of the following could impair our ability to sell our products: adverse weather conditions or natural disaster, government action, fire, terrorism, cyber-attacks, the outbreak or escalation of armed hostilities (such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the armed conflict between Israel and Palestine), pandemics, industrial accidents or other occupational health and safety issues, strikes and other labor disputes, customs or
import restrictions or other reasons beyond our control or the control of our suppliers and business partners. Failure to take adequate steps to mitigate the likelihood or potential impact of such events, or to effectively manage such events if they occur, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations, as well as require additional resources to restore our supply chain.
Our operating results may fluctuate significantly due to certain factors, some of which are beyond our control.
Our operating results may fluctuate from period to period significantly because of numerous factors, including:
● the timing and size of new unit openings, particularly the launch of new terminals;
● passenger traffic and seasonality of air travel;
● changes in the price and availability of supplies;
● macroeconomic conditions, nationally locally and internationally;
● changes in consumer preferences and competitive conditions;
● expansion to new markets and new locations; and
● increases in infrastructure costs, including those costs associated with the build-out of new concession locations and renovating existing concession locations.
Our operating results may fluctuate significantly because of the factors discussed above. Accordingly, results for any period are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any other period or for any year.
Our expansion into new airports or off-airport locations may present increased risks due to unfamiliarity with those areas.
Our growth strategy depends upon developing our off-airport locations which will include travel health and wellness mini locations and expanding Naples Wax and TreatStudios. Those markets and locations may have demographic characteristics, consumer tastes and discretionary spending patterns that are different from those in the markets where our existing spa and testing operations are located. As a result, new airport terminal and/or off-airport operations may be less successful than existing concession locations in current airport terminals. We may find it more difficult in new markets to hire, motivate and keep qualified employees who can project its vision, passion, and culture. We may also be unfamiliar with local laws, regulations, and administrative procedures, including the procurement of spa services retail licenses, in new markets which could delay the build-out of new concession locations and prevent it from achieving its target revenues on a timely basis. Operations in new markets may also have lower average revenues or enplanements than in the markets where we currently operate. Operations in new markets may also take longer to ramp up and reach expected sales and profit levels, and may never do so, thereby negatively affecting our results of operations.
Our growth strategy is dependent in part on our ability to successfully identify and open new locations.
We will need to assess and mitigate the risk of any new locations, to open the location on favorable terms and to successfully integrate their operations with ours. We may not be able to successfully identify opportunities that meet these criteria, or, if we do, we may not be able to successfully negotiate and open new locations on a timely basis. If we are unable to identify and open new locations in accordance with its operating plan, our revenue growth rate and financial performance may fall short of our expectations.
Our profitability relating to our operations depends on the number of airline passengers in the terminals in which we have concessions. Changes by airport authorities or airlines that lower the number of airline passengers in any of these terminals could affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The number of airline passengers that visit the terminals in which we have concessions is dependent in part on decisions made by airlines and airport authorities relating to flight arrivals and departures. A decrease in the number of flights and a resulting decrease in airline passengers could result in fewer sales, which could lower our profitability and negatively impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Concession agreements generally provide for a minimum annual guaranteed payment (“MAG”) payable to the airport authority or landlord regardless of the amount of sales at the concession. Currently, most of our concession agreements provide for a MAG that is either a fixed dollar amount or an amount that is variable based upon the number of travelers using the airport or other location, retail space used, estimated sales, past results, or other metrics. If there are fewer airline passengers than expected or if there is a decline in the sales per airline passenger at these facilities, we will nonetheless be required to pay the MAG or fixed rent and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
Furthermore, the exit of an airline from a market or the bankruptcy of an airline could reduce the number of airline passengers in a terminal or airport where we operate and have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We may not be able to execute our growth strategy to expand and integrate new concessions, our recently acquired entity or future acquisitions into our business or remodel existing concessions. Any new concessions, future acquisitions or remodeling of existing concessions may divert management resources, result in unanticipated costs, or dilute the ownership of our stockholders.
Part of our growth strategy is to expand and remodel our existing facilities and to seek new concessions through tenders, direct negotiations, or other acquisition opportunities. In this regard, our future growth will depend upon several factors, such as our ability to identify any such opportunities, structure a competitive proposal and obtain required financing and consummate an offer. Our growth strategy will also depend on factors that may not be within our control, such as the timing of any concession or acquisition opportunity.
We must also strategically identify which airport terminals and concession agreements to target based on numerous factors, such as airline passenger numbers, airport size, the type, location and quality of available concession space, level of anticipated competition within the terminal, potential future growth within the airport and terminal, rental structure, financial return, and regulatory requirements. We cannot provide assurance that this strategy will be successful.
In addition, we may encounter difficulties integrating expanded or new concessions or any acquisitions. Such expanded or new concessions or acquisitions may not achieve anticipated turnover and earnings growth or synergies and cost savings. Delays in the commencement of new projects and the refurbishment of concessions can also affect our business. In addition, we will expend resources to remodel our concessions and may not be able to recoup these investments. A failure to grow successfully may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
New concessions and acquisitions, and in some cases future expansions and remodeling of existing concessions, could pose numerous risks to our operations, including that we may:
● have difficulty integrating operations or personnel;
● incur substantial unanticipated integration costs;
● experience unexpected construction and development costs and project delays;
● face difficulties associated with securing required governmental approvals, permits and licenses (including construction permits) in a timely manner and responding effectively to any changes in federal, state or local laws and regulations that adversely affect our costs or ability to open new concessions;
● have challenges identifying and engaging local business partners to meet ACDBE requirements in concession agreements;
● not be able to obtain construction materials or labor at acceptable costs;
● face engineering or environmental problems associated with our new and existing facilities;
● experience significant diversion of management attention and financial resources from our existing operations in order to integrate expanded, new or acquired businesses, which could disrupt our ongoing business;
● lose key employees, particularly with respect to acquired or new operations;
● have difficulty retaining or developing acquired or new business customers;
● impair our existing business relationships with suppliers or other third parties as a result of acquisitions;
● fail to realize the potential cost savings or other financial benefits and/or the strategic benefits of acquisitions, new concessions, or remodeling; and
● incur liabilities from the acquired businesses and we may not be successful in seeking indemnification for such liabilities.
In connection with acquisitions or other similar investments, we could incur debt or amortization expenses related to intangible assets, suffer asset impairments, assume liabilities, or issue stock that would dilute the percentage of ownership of our then-current stockholders. We may not be able to complete acquisitions or integrate the operations, products, technologies, or personnel gained through any such acquisition, which may have a materially adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
If the estimates and assumptions we use to determine the size of our market are inaccurate, our future growth rate may be impacted.
Market opportunity estimates and growth forecasts are subject to uncertainty and are based on assumptions and estimates that may not prove to be accurate. The estimates and forecasts in this Annual Report on Form 10-K relating to the size and expected reemergence of the travel retail market may prove to be inaccurate. Even if the market in which we compete meets our size estimates and rate of return to normalized travel activity, our business could fail to reemerge or grow at similar rates, if at all. The principal assumptions relating to our market opportunity include projected reemergence and growth in the travel retail market and our share of the market. If these assumptions prove inaccurate, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
We currently rely on a skilled, licensed labor force to provide our services, and the supply of this labor force is finite. If we cannot hire adequate staff for our locations, we will not be able to operate.
As of December 31, 2023, we had approximately 266 full-time and 71 part-time employees in its locations. Excluding some dedicated retail staff, most of these employees are licensed to perform spa services, and hold such licenses as masseuses, nail technicians, and aestheticians. The demand for these licensed technicians has been increasing as more consumers gravitate to health and wellness treatments such as spa services. We compete not only with other airport-based spa companies but with spa companies outside of the airport for this skilled labor force. In addition, all staff hired by us must pass the background checks and security clearances necessary to work in airport locations. If we are unable to attract and retain qualified staff to work in our airport locations, its ability to operate will be impacted negatively.
Our business is subject to various laws and regulations, and changes in such laws and regulations, or failure to comply with existing or future laws and regulations, could adversely affect us.
We are subject to various laws and regulations in the United States, Netherlands, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates that affect the operation of our concessions. The impact of current laws and regulations, the effect of changes in laws or regulations that impose additional requirements and the consequences of litigation relating to current or future laws and regulations, or our inability to respond effectively to significant regulatory or public policy issues, could increase our compliance and other costs of doing business and, therefore, have an adverse impact on our results of operations.
Failure to comply with the laws and regulatory requirements of governmental authorities could result in, among other things, revocation of required licenses, administrative enforcement actions, fines, and civil and criminal liability. In addition, certain laws may require us to expend significant funds to make modifications to our concessions to comply with applicable standards. Compliance with such laws and regulations can be costly and can increase our exposure to litigation or governmental investigations or proceedings.
Our labor force could unionize, putting upward pressure on labor costs.
Major players in labor organizations could target our locations for its unionization efforts. In the event of the successful unionization of all our labor force, we would likely incur additional costs in the form of higher wages, more benefits such as vacation and sick leave, and potentially also higher health care insurance costs.
We compete for new locations in airports and may not be able to secure new locations.
We participate in the highly competitive and lucrative airport concessions industry, and as a result compete for retail leases with a variety of larger, better capitalized concessions companies as well as smaller, mid-tier and single unit operators. Frequently, an airport includes only one similar travel health and wellness concept per terminal within its retail offering and, in those instances, we compete primarily with these other concessionaires.
We may not be able to predict accurately or fulfill customer preferences or demands.
We derive a significant amount of our revenue from the sale of massage, cosmetic and luxury products which are subject to rapidly changing customer tastes. The availability of new products and changes in customer preferences has made it more difficult to predict sales demand for these types of products accurately. Our success depends in part on our ability to predict and respond to quickly changing consumer demands and preferences, and to translate market trends into appropriate merchandise offerings. Additionally, due to our limited sales space relative to other retailers, the proper selection of salable merchandise is an important factor in revenue generation. We cannot provide assurance that our merchandise selection will correspond to actual sales demand. If we are unable to predict or rapidly respond to sales demand or to changing styles or trends, or if we experience inventory shortfalls on popular merchandise, our revenue may be lower, which could have a materially adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our leases may be terminated, either for convenience by the landlord or because of a XpresSpa, Naples Wax or Treat default.
We have stores and kiosks in several airports and off airport locations in which the landlord, with prior written notice to us, can terminate our lease, including for convenience or as necessary for operations. If a landlord elects to terminate a lease, we may have to shut down one or more affected locations.
Additionally, our leases have numerous provisions governing the operation of our stores. Violation of one or more of these provisions, even unintentionally, may result in the landlord finding that we are in default of the lease. Violation of lease provisions may result in fines and, in some cases, termination of a lease.
Our ability to operate depends on the traffic patterns of the terminals in which we operate, and the cessation or disruption of air traveler traffic in these terminals would negatively impact XpresSpa’s, XpresTest’s and Treat’s addressable market.
We depend on a high volume of air travelers in its terminals. It is possible that a terminal in which we operate could become subject to a lower volume of air travelers, which would significantly impact traffic near and around our locations and therefore its total addressable market. Lower volume in a terminal could be caused by:
● terminal construction that results in the temporary or permanent closure of a unit, or adversely impacts the volume or pattern of traffic flows within an airport;
● an airline utilizing an airport in which we operate could abandon that airport or an individual terminal in favor of other airports or terminals, or because it is contracting operations; or
● adverse weather conditions could cause damage to the terminal or airport in which we operate, resulting in the temporary or permanent closure of a unit.
We are dependent on our local partners.
Our local partners, including our ACDBE partners, maintain ownership interests in certain of our locations. Our participation in these operating entities differs from market to market. While the precise terms of each relationship vary, our local partners may have control over certain portions of the operations of these concessions. The stores are operated pursuant to the applicable joint venture agreement governing the relationship between us and our local partner. Generally, these agreements also provide that strategic decisions are to be made by a committee comprised of us and our local partner. These concessions involve risks that are different from the risks involved in operating a concession independently, and include the possibility that our local partners:
● are in a position to take action contrary to our instructions, our requests, our policies, our objectives or applicable laws;
● take actions that reduce our return on investment;
● go bankrupt or are otherwise unable to meet their capital contribution obligations;
● have economic or business interests or goals that are or become inconsistent with our business interests or goals; or
● take actions that harm our reputation or restrict our ability to run our business.
Failure to comply with minimum airport concession disadvantaged business enterprise participation goals and requirements could lead to lost business opportunities or the loss of existing business.
Pursuant to ACDBE participation requirements, we are often required to meet, or use good faith efforts to meet, certain minimum ACDBE participation requirements when bidding on or submitting proposals for new concession contracts. If we are unable to find and/or partner with an appropriate ACDBE, we may lose opportunities to open new locations. In addition, several of our existing leases contain minimum ACDBE participation requirements which require the ACDBE to own a significant portion of the business being operated under those leases. The level of ACDBE participation requirements may affect our profitability and/or its ability to meet financial forecasts.
Further, if we fail to comply with the minimum ACDBE participation requirements, we may be held responsible for a breach of contract, which could result in the termination of a lease and impairment of our ability to bid on or obtain future concession contracts. To the extent that our leases are terminated, and we are required to shut down one or more store locations, there could be a material adverse impact to our business and results of operations.
Continued minimum wage increases could negatively impact our cost of labor.
An increase in the minimum wage could increase our cost of labor and have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Information technology systems failure or disruption, or changes to information technology related to payment systems, could impact our day-to-day operations.
Our information technology systems are used to record and process transactions at our point-of-sale interfaces and to manage our operations. These systems provide information regarding most aspects of our financial and operational performance, statistical data about our customers, our sales transactions, and our inventory management. Fire, natural disasters, power-loss, telecommunications failure, break-ins, terrorist attacks (including cyber-attacks), computer viruses, electronic intrusion attempts from both external and internal sources and similar events or disruptions may damage or impact our information technology systems at any time. These events could cause system interruption, delays or loss of critical data and could disrupt our acceptance and fulfillment of customer orders, as well as disrupt our operations and management. For example, although our point-of-sales systems are programmed to operate and process customer orders independently from the availability of our central data systems and even of the network, if a problem were to disable electronic payment systems in our stores, credit card payments would need to be processed manually, which could result in fewer transactions. Significant disruption to systems could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We also continually enhance or modify the technology used for our operations. We cannot be sure that any enhancements or other modifications we make to our operations will achieve the intended results or otherwise be of value to our customers. Future enhancements and modifications to our technology could consume considerable resources. We may be required to enhance our payment systems with new technology, which could require significant expenditures. If we are unable to maintain and enhance our technology to process transactions, we may experience a materially adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
If we are unable to protect our customers’ credit card data and other personal information, we could be exposed to data loss, litigation and liability, and our reputation could be significantly harmed.
Privacy protection is increasingly demanding, and the use of electronic payment methods and collection of other personal information, including order history, travel history and other preferences, exposes us to increased risk of privacy and/or security breaches as well as other risks. Our sales are by credit or debit cards. Additionally, we collect and store personal information from individuals, including our customers and employees.
In the future, we may experience security breaches in which credit and debit card information or other personal information is stolen. Although we use secure private networks to transmit confidential information, third parties may have the technology or know-how to breach the security of the customer information transmitted in connection with credit and debit card sales, and its security measures and those of technology vendors may not effectively prohibit others from obtaining improper access to this information. The techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable, or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently and are often difficult to detect for long periods of time, which may cause a breach to go undetected for an extensive period. Advances in computer and software capabilities, new tools, and other developments may increase the risk of such a breach. Further, the systems currently used for transmission and approval of electronic payment transactions, and the technology utilized in electronic payments themselves, all of which can put electronic payment at risk, are determined and controlled by the payment card industry, not by us. In addition, contractors, or third parties with whom we do business or to whom we outsource business operations may attempt to circumvent its security measures to misappropriate such information and may purposefully or inadvertently cause a breach involving such information. If a person can circumvent our security measures or those of third parties, he or she could destroy or steal valuable information or disrupt our operations. We may become subject to claims for purportedly fraudulent transactions arising out of the actual or alleged theft of credit or debit card information, and we may also be subject to lawsuits or other proceedings relating to these types of incidents. Any such claim or proceeding could cause us to incur significant unplanned expenses, which could have an adverse effect on its business or results of operations. Further, adverse publicity resulting from these allegations could significantly harm its reputation and may have a material adverse effect on it. Although we
carry cyber liability insurance to protect against these risks, there can be no assurance that such insurance will provide adequate levels of coverage against all potential claims.
Negative social media regarding XWELL, XpresSpa, Treat, XpresTest, Naples Wax Center, TreatStudios or HyperPointe could result in decreased revenues and impact our ability to recruit workers.
Our affinity among consumers is highly dependent on their positive feelings about our brands, our customer service and the range and quality of services and products that we offer. A negative customer experience that is posted to social media outlets and is distributed virally could tarnish each of the XpresSpa’s, Treat’s, XpresTest’s, Naples Wax Center, TreatStudios or HyperPointe’s brand and our customers may opt to no longer engage with that particular brand, or any of our brands.
We employ people in multiple different jurisdictions, and the employment laws of those jurisdictions are subject to change. In addition, our services are regulated through government-issued operating licenses. Noncompliance with applicable laws could result in employee lawsuits or legal action taken by government authorities.
We must comply with a variety of employment and business practices laws across the United States, Netherlands, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates. We monitor the laws governing our activities, but in the event we do not become aware of a new regulation or fail to comply with a regulation, we could be subject to disciplinary action by governing bodies and potentially employee lawsuits.
We source, develop, and sell products that may result in product liability defense costs and product liability payments.
Our products contain ingredients that are deemed to be safe by the United States Federal Drug Administration and the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act. However, there is no guarantee that these ingredients will not cause adverse health effects to some consumers given the wide range of ingredients and allergies amongst the general population. We may face substantial product liability exposure for products we sell to the public or that we use in our services. Product liability claims, regardless of their merits, could be costly and divert management’s attention, and adversely affect our reputation and the demand for our products and services. XWELL to date has not been named as a defendant in any product liability action.
We and our subsidiaries have been, are, and may again become involved in litigation that could divert management’s attention and harm our businesses.
Litigation is often expensive and diverts management’s attention and resources, which could adversely affect our businesses. We may be exposed to claims against us even if no wrongdoing has occurred. Responding to such claims, regardless of their merit, can be time-consuming, costly to defend, disruptive to our management’s attention and to our resources, damaging to our reputation and brand, and may cause us to incur significant expenses. Even if we have the right to be indemnified against such costs, the indemnifying party may be unable to uphold its contractual obligations.
New legislation, regulations or court rulings related to enforcing patents could harm our business and operating results.
Intellectual property is the subject of intense scrutiny by the courts, legislatures, and executive branches of governments around the world. Various patent offices, governments or intergovernmental bodies may implement new legislation, regulations or rulings that impact the patent enforcement process, or the rights of patent holders and such changes could negatively affect licensing efforts and/or litigations. For example, limitations on the ability to bring patent enforcement claims, limitations on potential liability for patent infringement, lower evidentiary standards for invalidating patents, increases in the cost to resolve patent disputes and other similar developments could negatively affect our ability to assert our patent or other intellectual property rights.
It is impossible to determine the extent of the impact of any new laws, regulations or initiatives that may be proposed, or whether any of the proposals will become enacted as laws. Compliance with any new or existing laws or regulations could be difficult and expensive, affect the way we conduct our business and negatively impact our business, prospects, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our failure or inability to protect the trademarks or other proprietary rights we use or claims of infringement by us of rights of third parties, could adversely affect our competitive position or the value of our brands.
We believe that our trademarks and other proprietary rights are important to our success and our competitive position. However, any actions that we take to protect the intellectual property we use may not prevent unauthorized use or imitation by others, which could have an adverse impact on our image, brand, or competitive position. If we commence litigation to protect our interests or enforce our rights, we could incur significant legal fees. We also cannot provide assurance that third parties will not claim infringement by us of their proprietary rights. Any such claim, whether or not it has merit, could be time consuming and distracting for our management, result in costly litigation, cause changes to existing retail concepts or delays in introducing retail concepts, or require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements. As a result, any such claim could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Any future acquisitions or business opportunities could involve unknown risks that could harm our business and adversely affect our financial condition and the results of operations.
We have in the past, and may in the future, acquire businesses or make investments, directly or indirectly through our subsidiaries, that involve unknown risks, some of which will be particular to the industry in which the investment or acquisition targets operate, including risks in industries with which we are not familiar or experienced. Although we intend to conduct appropriate business, financial and legal due diligence in connection with the evaluation of future investment or acquisition opportunities, our due diligence investigations may not identify every matter that could have a material adverse effect on us. We may be unable to adequately address the financial, legal, and operational risks raised by such investments or acquisitions, especially if we are unfamiliar with the relevant industry. The realization of any unknown risks could expose us to unanticipated costs and liabilities and prevent or limit us from realizing the projected benefits of the investments or acquisitions, which could adversely affect our financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, and trading price.
Risks associated with international operations could result in additional costs and inefficiencies.
In addition to many of the risks we face in our U.S. operations, international operations present a unique set of risks and challenges, including local laws and customs, various and potentially complex international tax regulations and compliance requirements, U.S. laws applicable to foreign operations, and political and socio-economic conditions. Our ability to operate effectively and grow in international markets could be impacted by these risks resulting in legal liabilities, additional costs, and the distraction of management’s attention. Compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and protection of intellectual property rights surrounding items such as trade names and trademarks in foreign jurisdictions can pose significant challenges.
In addition, our operations in international markets are conducted primarily in the local currency of those countries. Given that our Consolidated Financial Statements are denominated in U.S. dollars, amounts of assets, liabilities, net sales, and other revenues and expenses denominated in local currencies must be translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates for the current period. As a result, foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates may adversely impact our financial performance.
Risks Related to our Capital Stock
Stock prices can be volatile, and this volatility may depress the price of our common stock.
The stock market has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations, which have affected the market price of many companies in ways that may have been unrelated to those companies’ operating performance. Furthermore, we believe that our stock price may reflect certain future growth and profitability expectations. If we fail to meet these expectations, then our stock price may significantly decline, which could have an adverse impact on investor confidence. We believe that various factors may cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate, perhaps substantially, including, among others, the following:
● additions to or departures of our key personnel, or our overall ability to retain key personnel;
● announcements of innovations by us or our competitors;
● announcements by us or our competitors of significant contracts, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, capital commitments, or new technologies;
● new regulatory pronouncements and changes in regulatory guidelines;
● developments or disputes concerning intellectual property rights generally;
● lawsuits, claims, and investigations that may be filed against us, and other events that may adversely affect our reputation;
● changes in financial estimates or recommendations by securities analysts;
● general and industry-specific economic conditions;
● our ability to develop and introduce new products and services;
● our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations and business plan and the effects that such financing may have on the value of the equity instruments held by our stockholders;
● our ability to hire a skilled labor force and the costs associated;
● our ability to secure new retail locations, maintain existing ones, and ensure continued customer traffic at those locations;
● the loss of one or more of our significant suppliers;
● unexpected trends in the health and wellness and travel industries and potential technology and service obsolescence; and
● market acceptance, quality, pricing, availability, and useful life of our products and/or services, as well as the mix of our products and services sold.
We have no current plans to pay dividends on our common stock, and our investors may not receive funds without selling their stock.
We have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock, nor do we expect to pay any cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. Investors seeking cash dividends should not invest in our common stock for that purpose. We currently intend to retain any additional future earnings to finance our operations and growth and, therefore, we have no plans to pay cash dividends on our common stock currently. Any future determination to pay cash dividends on our common stock will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will be dependent on our earnings, financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, any contractual restrictions, and other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant.
Accordingly, our investors may have to sell some or all their common stock in order to generate cash from their investment. You may not receive a gain on your investment when you sell our common stock and may lose the entire amount of your investment.
Our failure to meet the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq could result in a delisting of our common stock.
The continued listing standards of Nasdaq provide, among other things, that a company may be delisted if the bid price of its stock drops below $1.00 for a period of 30 consecutive business days or if stockholders’ equity is less than $2,500,000.
While we are currently in compliance, we have in the past been, and may in the future be, unable to comply with certain of the listing standards that we are required to meet to maintain the listing of our common stock on Nasdaq. For example, on October 28, 2022, we received a deficiency letter from Nasdaq which indicated that we were not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement. We received an additional 180-day extension period to comply with on April 27, 2023, pursuant to written notification from Nasdaq. We may be unable to regain compliance in the future if our stock price again falls below the minimum bid price. Additionally, if we fail to comply with any other continued listing standards of Nasdaq, our common stock would also be subject to delisting. If that were to occur, our common stock would be subject to rules that impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell our securities. The additional burdens imposed upon broker-dealers by these requirements could discourage broker-dealers from effecting transactions in our common stock. This would significantly and negatively affect the ability of investors to trade our securities and would significantly and negatively affect the value and liquidity of our common stock. These factors could contribute to lower prices and larger spreads in the bid and ask prices for our common stock. The delisting of our common stock also would likely have a negative effect on the price of our common stock and would impair your ability to sell or purchase our common stock when you wish to do so. Further, if we were to be delisted from Nasdaq, our common stock would cease to be recognized as covered securities and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.
On September 28, 2023, we effected the Reverse Stock Split to regain compliance with Nasdaq’s listing rules and on October 12, 2023, we received written notice from Nasdaq indicating that we had regained compliance with the minimum bid price requirement under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), and the matter is now closed. The primary intent for the Reverse Stock Split was that the anticipated increase in the price of our common stock immediately following and resulting from a reverse stock split due to the reduction in the number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock that would help us meet the minimum bid price requirement. It cannot be assured that the Reverse Stock Split will result in any sustained proportionate increase in the market price of our common stock, which is dependent upon many factors, including our business and financial performance, general market conditions, and prospects for future success, which are unrelated to the number of shares of our common stock outstanding. It is not uncommon for the market price of a company’s common stock to decline in the period following a reverse stock split. Thus, while we have regained compliance with the continued listing requirements for Nasdaq, it cannot be assured that we will continue to do so. If in the future we seek to implement a reverse stock split to remain listed on Nasdaq, the announcement and/or implementation of a reverse stock split could significantly negatively affect the price of our common stock.
Delisting from Nasdaq could adversely affect our ability to raise additional financing through the public or private sale of equity securities, would significantly affect the ability of investors to trade our securities and would negatively affect the value and liquidity of our common stock. Delisting could also have other negative results, including the potential loss of confidence by employees, the loss of institutional investor interest and fewer business development opportunities.
Our common stock has historically traded in low volumes. We cannot predict whether an active trading market for our common stock will ever develop. Even if an active trading market develops, the market price of our common stock may be significantly volatile.
Historically, our common stock has experienced a lack of consistent trading liquidity. In the absence of an active trading market you may have difficulty buying and selling our common stock at all or at the price you consider reasonable; and market visibility for shares of our common stock may be limited, which may have a depressive effect on the market price for shares of our common stock and on our ability to raise capital or make acquisitions by issuing our common stock.
Anti-takeover provisions of Delaware law, provisions in our charter and bylaws, and our stockholder rights plan could prevent or frustrate attempts by stockholders to change our Board of Directors or current management and could delay, discourage, or make more difficult a third-party acquisition of control of us.
We are a Delaware corporation and, as such, certain provisions of Delaware law could prevent or frustrate attempts by stockholders to change the Board of Directors or current management, or could delay, discourage, or make more difficult a third-party acquisition of control of us, even if the change in control would be beneficial to stockholders or the stockholders regard it as such. We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), which prohibits certain “business combination” transactions (as defined in Section 203) with an “interested stockholder” (defined in Section 203 as a 15% or greater stockholder) for a period of three years after a stockholder
becomes an “interested stockholder,” unless the attaining of “interested stockholder” status or the transaction is pre-approved by our Board of Directors, the transaction results in the attainment of at least an 85% ownership level by an acquirer or the transaction is later approved by our Board of Directors and by our stockholders by at least a 662/3 percent vote of our stockholders other than the “interested stockholder,” each as specifically provided in Section 203.
Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws, each as currently in effect, also contain certain provisions that may delay, discourage, or make more difficult a third-party acquisition of control of us. Such provisions include a provision that any vacancies on our Board of Directors may only be filled by a majority of the directors then serving, although not a quorum, and not by the stockholders and the ability of our Board of Directors to issue preferred stock, without stockholder approval, that could dilute the stock ownership of a potential unsolicited acquirer and hinder an acquisition of control of us that is not approved by our Board of Directors, including through the use of preferred stock in connection with a stockholder rights plan.
We have also adopted a stockholder rights plan in the form of a Section 382 Rights Plan, designed to help protect and preserve our substantial tax attributes primarily associated with our NOLs under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code and research tax credits under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code and related United States Treasury regulations, which was approved by our stockholders in December 2016 and expires in March 2022. Although this is not its purpose, the Section 382 Rights Plan could have the effect of making it uneconomical for a third party to acquire us on a hostile basis.
These provisions of the DGCL, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and our Section 382 Rights Plan may delay, discourage, or make more difficult certain types of transactions in which our stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over the current market price, and might limit the ability of our stockholders to approve transactions that they think may be in their best interest.
If securities analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they publish negative evaluations, the price of our Common Stock could decline.
The trading market for our common stock relies in part on the availability of research and reports that third-party industry or financial analysts publish about us. There are many large, publicly traded companies active in the life sciences and biopharmaceutical industries, which may mean it will be less likely that we receive widespread analyst coverage. Furthermore, if one or more of the analysts who do cover our company (if any) downgrades our stock, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company, we could lose visibility in the market, which in turn could cause our stock price to decline. Additionally, if securities analysts publish negative evaluations of competitors in the life sciences and biopharmaceutical industries, the comparative effect could cause our stock price to decline.
Having availed ourselves of scaled disclosure available to smaller reporting companies, we cannot be certain if such reduced disclosure will make our common stock less attractive to investors.
Under Section 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, a “smaller reporting company” is a company that is not an investment company, an asset-backed issuer, or a majority-owned subsidiary of a parent company that is not a smaller reporting company, and (i) has a public float of less than $250 million as measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or (ii) has annual revenues of less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and whose value of common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700 million as measured on the last business day of the second fiscal quarter. Similar to emerging growth companies, smaller reporting companies are permitted to provide simplified executive compensation disclosure in their filings; they are exempt from the provisions of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requiring that independent registered public accounting firms provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting; and they have certain other decreased disclosure obligations in their SEC filings, including, among other things, only being required to provide two years of audited financial statements in annual reports. Decreased disclosure in our SEC filings because of our having availed ourselves of scaled disclosure may make it harder for investors to analyze our results of operations and financial prospects.
Furthermore, we are a non-accelerated filer as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, and, as such, are not required to provide an auditor attestation of management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting, which is generally required for SEC reporting companies under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Because we are not required to, and have not, had our auditor provide an attestation of our management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting, a material weakness in internal controls may remain undetected for a longer period.
We cannot predict if investors will find our securities less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the price of our securities may be more volatile.
Other Risk Factors
Our confidential information may be disclosed by other parties.
We routinely enter into non-disclosure agreements with other parties, including but not limited to vendors, law firms, parties with whom we are engaged in negotiations, and employees. However, there exists a risk that those other parties will not honor their contractual obligations to not disclose our confidential information. This may include parties who breach such obligations in the context of confidential settlement offers and/or negotiations. In addition, there exists a risk that, upon such breach and subsequent dissemination of our confidential information, third parties and potential licensees may seek to use such confidential information to their advantage and/or to our disadvantage including in legal proceedings in which we are involved. Our ability to act against such third parties may be limited, as we may not be in privity of contract with such third parties.
We may fail to meet publicly announced financial guidance or other expectations about our business, which would cause our stock to decline in value.
From time to time, we provide preliminary financial results or forward-looking financial guidance to our investors. Such statements are based on our current views, expectations and assumptions that may not prove to be accurate and may vary from actual results and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance, achievements or share prices to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or share prices expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include the risk factors contained herein. If we fail to meet our projections and/or other financial guidance for any reason, our stock price could decline.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
As of December 31, 2023, besides our Global Support Center at 254 West 31st Street in New York City, XWELL had 37 spas and wellness centers in 18 airport and off airport locations, in the United States, Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. All of the locations as of that date were leased, typically with one or two renewal options after the initial term. Economic terms vary by type and location of store and, on average, the lease terms are 5-10 years with several locations operating on a month-to-month basis. We believe that our facility and our leases are adequate to accommodate our business needs.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Litigation and legal proceedings
Certain of our outstanding legal matters include speculative claims for substantial or indeterminate amounts of damages. We regularly evaluate developments in our legal matters that could affect the amount of any potential liability and adjust as appropriate. Significant judgment is required to determine both the likelihood of there being any potential liability and the estimated amount of a loss related to our legal matters.
With respect to our outstanding legal matters, based on our current knowledge, our management believes that the amount or range of a potential loss will not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, the outcome of such legal matters is inherently unpredictable and subject to significant uncertainties. We evaluated the outstanding legal matters and assessed the probability and likelihood of the occurrence of liability. Based on management’s estimates, we have recorded a liability of approximately $449 for all outstanding legal matters as of December 31, 2023, which is included in “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheet. Related legal fees are recorded in the period in which they are incurred.
OTG Management PHL B v. XpresSpa Philadelphia Terminal B et al.
On May 9, 2022, a lawsuit was filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas by OTG Management at Philadelphia International Airport, claiming that XWELL improperly backed out of its sublease for space at Terminal B and now owes between $865 and $2,250 in accelerated rent for the 12-year contract. They claim that by refusing to complete the project, failing to commence and maintain operations, refusing to pay rent and improperly purporting to terminate the lease (among other acts and omissions), XWELL breached the lease. On January 9, 2024, the court placed the matter on Civil Suspense.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
On October 25, 2022, the Company changed its name to XWELL, Inc. (“XWELL” or the “Company”) from XpresSpa Group, Inc. The Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, which had previously been listed under the trading symbol “XSPA” on the Nasdaq Capital Market, now trades under the trading symbol “XWEL” since the opening of the trading market on October 25, 2022. The Company filed an amended and restated certificate of incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State on October 24, 2022 (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”) reflecting the name change. Rebranding to XWELL aligned the Company’s corporate strategy to build a pure-play wellness services company, in both the airport and off-airport marketplaces.
Stockholders
As of April 15, 2024, we had 86 stockholders of record of the 4,183,435 outstanding shares of our common stock. This does not reflect persons or entities that hold their stock in nominee or “street” name through various brokerage firms.
Dividend Policy
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock, and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance our operations and to expand our business. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will be dependent upon our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements and other factors that our Board of Directors considers appropriate.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
None.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Unless otherwise stated, dollar amounts are provided in thousands, except share and per share data.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, our consolidated financial statements (including notes to the consolidated financial statements) and the other consolidated financial information appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to historical financial information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and timing of events could differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.
Overview
Our Strategy and Outlook
We believe that our company is well positioned to benefit from consumers’ growing interest and pent-up demand in travel health and wellness and increasing demand for health and wellness related services and products. Our go-forward plan includes the expansion and integration of products and services across our six brands; the right-sizing of our existing airport portfolio to a leaner and more profitable business; the execution of an ‘off-airport’ strategy through acquisition to deliver more products and services, which will serve as a catalyst for our future growth; the implementation of an international expansion plan; and ensuring we can scale our growth in a responsible way that drives shareholder value. Through right-sizing our existing business, optimizing our cost structure, and making acquisitions that further leverage the strength of our brand portfolio, XWELL is positioning itself for both financial and operational growth now and in the future.
Year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022
Revenue
Year ended December 31,
Variance
Total revenue
$
30,109
$
55,939
$
(25,830)
During the year ended December 31, 2023, total revenues decreased $25,830, or 46%. The decrease in revenue was primarily due to reduction in patient service revenue triggered by the rapid decline of the XpresTest segment. As countries continued to relax their testing requirements and the closure of our XpresCheck locations as we progressed through 2023.
Cost of sales
Year ended December 31,
Variance
Cost of sales
$
26,428
$
43,891
$
(17,463)
The decrease in total cost of sales during the year ended December 31, 2023, was primarily driven by the corresponding decline in our XpresTest locations as countries continued to relax their testing requirements. The largest components in the cost of sales for that segment are costs of testing kits and labor costs at the location-level, rent and related occupancy costs, which primarily includes rent based on percentage of sales, and other operating costs. The Company did not reopen spas that were shut down during Covid and close spas that were open during the year that were under performing. That resulted in additional costs of sales.
Depreciation and amortization
Year ended December 31,
Variance
Depreciation and amortization
$
2,065
$
5,429
$
(3,364)
During the year ended December 31, 2023, depreciation and amortization expense decreased $3,364, or 62%, compared to the depreciation and amortization expense recorded during the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to fewer long-lived assets available for depreciation.
Impairment
The following table summarizes impairment charges the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, recorded on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss:
Year ended December 31,
Variance
Impairment of goodwill
$
4,024
$
-
$
4,024
Impairment of intangible assets
2,768
$
2,658
Impairment of long-lived assets
1,159
$
4,559
(3,400)
Impairment of right-of-use assets
$
$
1,110
$
(184)
We completed an assessment of our property and equipment, intangible assets and right of use lease assets for impairment both as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. Based upon the results of the impairment test, we recorded an impairment of property and equipment, intangible assets, goodwill and right of use lease assets of approximately $1,159, $2,768, $4,024 and $926, respectively for the year ended December 31, 2023. We recorded an impairment of property and equipment, intangible assets and right of use lease assets of approximately $4,559, $110 and $1,110, respectively, in the year ended December 31, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the impairment was primarily related to the impairment of leasehold improvements made to our Treat locations and its related operating lease right of use assets where management determined that the locations discounted future cash flows were not sufficient to recover the carrying value of these assets over the remaining lease term.
General and administrative
Year ended December 31,
Variance
General and administrative
$
12,957
$
21,178
$
(8,221)
During the year ended December 31, 2023, general and administrative expenses decreased by $8,221 or 39%, primarily due to the reduction of functional costs associated with the operations of XpresCheck and reduced overhead spend.
Salaries and benefits
Year ended December 31,
Variance
Salaries and benefits
$
7,954
$
9,991
$
(2,037)
During the year ended December 31, 2023, salaries and benefits expenses decreased by $2,037 or 20%, primarily due to the closing of unprofitable or poorly performing spas, optimization of systems and processes that support the business, headcount reductions and elimination of infrastructure no longer necessary to support our future growth.
Gain on securities, realized and unrealized
Year ended December 31,
Variance
Gain on securities, realized and unrealized
$
$
(0)
$
Gain on securities is affected by the adjustments to the fair value of our equity investment, which could fluctuate materially from period to period. The fair value of these instruments depends on a variety of assumptions.
Other non-operating expenses, net
The following is a summary of the transactions included in other non-operating income (expense), net for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
Year ended December 31,
Loss on equity investments
$
(54)
$
(618)
Bank fees and financing charges
(321)
(462)
Other
(35)
(51)
Total
$
(410)
$
(1,131)
As of December 31, 2023, the equity investment in Route1 had a readily determinable fair value of $50. We recorded an unrealized loss of $54 in connection with the remeasurement of the shares of our common stock and warrants of Route1 obtained in the 2018 sale of Group Mobile to Route1.
Income Taxes
As of December 31, 2023, our estimated aggregate total NOLs were $150,926 for U.S. federal purposes, expiring 20 years from the respective tax years to which they relate, and $97,968 for U.S. federal purposes with an indefinite life due to new regulations in the Tax Act of 2017. The NOL amounts are presented before Internal Revenue Code, Section 382 limitations (“Section 382”). The Tax Reform Act of 1986 imposed substantial restrictions on the utilization of NOL and tax credits in the event of an ownership change of a corporation. Thus, our ability to utilize all such NOL and credit carryforwards may be limited. The CARES Act was enacted on March 27, 2020, and provides favorable changes to tax laws for businesses impacted by COVID-19. However, we do not anticipate the income tax law changes will materially benefit us.
We did not have any material unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2023. We do not expect to record any additional material provisions for unrecognized tax benefits within the next year.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2023, we had approximately $8,437 of cash and cash equivalents, $14,613 in marketable securities, and total current assets of approximately $26,566. Our total current liabilities balance, which includes accounts payable, deferred revenue, accrued expenses, and operating lease liabilities was approximately $9,330 as of December 31, 2023. The working capital surplus was $17,236 as of December 31, 2023, compared to a working capital surplus of $36,376 as of December 31, 2022.
Our primary liquidity and capital requirements are for the maintenance of our current XpresSpa and Treat locations and brand, as well as the expansion outside the airports. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we used net cash of $16,074 to fund our operating activities.
Cash flows
Year ended December 31,
Change
Net cash used in operating activities
$
(16,074)
$
(24,188)
$
8,114
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
$
5,650
$
(34,843)
$
40,493
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
$
$
(27,377)
$
27,385
Operating activities
During the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash used in operating activities was $16,074 compared to net cash used in operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2022 of $24,188. The decrease in net cash used in operating activities was primarily due to the rapid decline of our XpresCheck business.
Investing activities
During the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash provided by investing activities was $5,650 compared to net cash used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2022 of $34,843. Cash provided in 2023 came primarily from the sale of marketable securities of approximately $9,417. In addition, the Company had idle cash that they invested during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Financing activities
During the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash provided by financing activities increased by $27,385 primarily due to the repurchase of common stock and repayment of Paycheck Protection Program loan that occurred in 2022.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no obligations, assets or liabilities that would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Estimates
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, which require our management to make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. To the extent that there are material differences between these estimates and actual results, our financial condition or results of operations would be affected. We base our estimates on our own historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable after taking account of our circumstances and expectations for the future based on available information. We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis. We consider an accounting estimate to be critical if: (i) the accounting estimate requires us to make assumptions about matters that were highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made, and (ii) changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period or use of different estimates that we reasonably could have used in the current period, would have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. There are items within our financial statements that require estimation but are not deemed critical, as defined above.
We believe the following accounting estimates to be the most critical estimates we used in preparing our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Goodwill
The Company accounts for goodwill under FASB ASC 350-30, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other. Goodwill represents the cost of a business acquisition in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized and is reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if facts and circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill. If it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Company performs a quantitative test to identify and measure the amount of goodwill impairment loss. The Company compares the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount exceeds fair value, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered impaired, and that excess is recognized as a goodwill impairment loss.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2023, the Company identified a triggering event and as a result recognized an impairment charge of $4,024, which is recorded in goodwill impairment on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are tested for impairment at the lowest level at which there are identifiable operating cash flows. The Company’s long-lived assets consist primarily of leasehold improvements and right to use lease assets for each of its locations (considered the asset group). The Company reviews its long-lived assets for recoverability yearly or sooner if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of long-lived assets may not be recoverable. If indicators are present, the Company performs a recoverability test by comparing the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows attributable to the asset group in question to its carrying amount. An impairment loss is recognized if it is determined that the long-lived asset group is not recoverable and is calculated based on the excess of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset group over the long-lived asset group’s fair value. The Company estimates the fair value of long-lived assets using present value income approach. Future cash flows are calculated based on forecasts over the estimated remaining useful life of the asset group, which for each of the Company’s locations, is the remaining term of the operating lease.
The estimates used to calculate future cash flows are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgments and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimated fair value of each asset group. The Company will calculate the future cash flow using what it believes to be the most predictable of several scenarios. Typically, the changes in assumptions run under different business scenarios would not result in a material change in the assessment of the potential impairment or the impairment amount of a locations long-lived asset group. But if these estimates or related assumptions were to change materially, the Company may be required to record an impairment charge.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company performed its annual impairment testing procedures of long-lived assets and recognized an impairment charge of $1,159 and $926, which is recorded in Impairment of long-lived assets and Impairment of operating lease right-of-use assets on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Intangible assets
Intangible assets include customer relationships, trade names, and technology, which were primarily acquired as part of the acquisition of XpresSpa in December 2016, HyperPointe in 2022 and Naples Wax Center in 2023 and were recorded based on the estimated fair value in purchase price allocation. In addition, intangible assets include software and website development costs that were capitalized as part of the Company’s development of a mobile application and website for the Treat brand. The Company accounts for these costs in accordance with ASC 350-40, Internal-Use Software. The intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives, which are periodically evaluated for reasonableness.
The Company’s intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The fair value is then compared to the carrying value and an impairment charge is recognized by the amount in which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the asset. In assessing
the recoverability of the Company’s intangible assets, the Company must make estimates and assumptions regarding future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of the respective assets. These estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on whether an impairment charge is recognized and the magnitude of any such charge. Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant information. Based upon the results of the impairment test, we recorded an impairment of intangible assets in Impairment of long-lived assets on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss of approximately $2,768 for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Recently adopted accounting pronouncements
Please refer Note 2 to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Recently issued accounting pronouncements
Please refer Note 2 to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not required as we are a smaller reporting company.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Our consolidated financial statements required by this Item are set forth in Item 15 beginning on page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of the end of the period covered by this Report to provide reasonable assurance that material information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms due to the material weaknesses described below.
Subsequent to the filing of the Original Form 10-Q, on November 14, 2023, the Company’s management determined that its September 30, 2023, ASC 360 impairment analysis on long-lived assets was incorrect. The impairment analysis was performed on our Treat segment intangibles only and did not include an analysis of our right-of-use and fixed assets. The Company’s management and in agreement with the audit committee have determined that the previously issued unaudited financial statements for the three and nine-month period ended September 30, 2023 “the Affected period” should no longer be relied upon due to this error and require restatement. The financial effect of this error from previously reported information for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, resulted in an increase in net loss of $1,613, primarily as a result of additional impairment expense on our Treat segment right-of-use and fixed assets. (See note 19 for further discussion).
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by our board of directors to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our management evaluated, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer (our “Certifying Officers”), the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, our Certifying Officers concluded that, as of December 31, 2023 the evaluation date, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective due to the following material weaknesses:
● The Company did not properly design, implement, and consistently operate effective controls over the completeness and accuracy of its accounting for leases under ASC 842.
● The Company did not properly design or maintain effective entity level monitoring controls over the financial close and reporting process.
● The Company did not design or maintain effective controls over its service organizations and IT vendors. More specifically, the Company did not have controls in place to review the applicable complementary user entity controls described in the service organizations’ reports for their potential impact on the Company’s financial reporting.
● The Company did not design, implement, and consistently operate effective controls over the revenue process. The Company’s controls surrounding the revenue reports and reconciliations were not designed and did not operate at a level of precision that would prevent or detect a material misstatement.
● The Company did not design, implement, and consistently operate effective controls over its’ foreign subsidiaries.
Remediation Plan for Material Weaknesses in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management is committed to the remediation of the material weaknesses described above, as well as the continued improvement of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Management has implemented, and continues to implement, the actions described below to remediate the underlying causes of the control deficiencies that gave rise to the material weaknesses. Until the remediation efforts described below, including any additional measures management identifies as necessary, are completed, the material weaknesses described above will continue to exist. We cannot provide any assurance that the below remediation efforts will be successful or that our internal control over financial reporting will be effective because of these efforts. Management has commenced the following actions and will continue to assess additional opportunities for remediation on an ongoing basis:
1) The Company has turned on the multi-currency features related to its cloud-based accounting systems.
2) The Company has engaged outside service providers to assist with the valuation, accounting, and recording of key reporting areas such as leases, revenue recognition and stock compensation expense.
3) The Company has contracted an independent consulting firm to assist with the preparation of the Financial Statements and U.S. GAAP accounting research.
4) The Company has engaged outside service providers to review the applicable complementary user entity controls described in the service organizations’ reports for their potential impact on the Company’s financial reporting.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Other than as set forth in the foregoing paragraph, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2023, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Notwithstanding the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, our management has determined that the consolidated financial statements for the periods covered by and included in this Annual Report fairly present, in all material respects, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with U.S. GAAP.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Not Applicable

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information called for by this Item will be included in an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K to be filed with the SEC and is incorporated by reference in this Item 10.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information called for by this Item will be included in an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K to be filed with the SEC and is incorporated by reference in this Item 11.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Information called for by this Item will be included in an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K to be filed with the SEC and is incorporated by reference in this Item 12.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Information called for by this Item will be included in an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K to be filed with the SEC and is incorporated by reference in this Item 13.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Information called for by this Item will be included in an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K to be filed with the SEC and is incorporated by reference in this Item 14.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)(1) Consolidated Financial Statements. For the financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, see “Index to the Financial Statements” on page.
(a)(2) Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules. All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or because the required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.
(a)(3) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Exhibits Index
Exhibit
No.
Description
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among FORM Holdings Corp., FHXMS, LLC, XpresSpa Holdings, LLC, the unitholders of XpresSpa who are parties thereto and Mistral XH Representative, LLC, as representative of the unitholders, dated as of August 8, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 8, 2016)
2.2
Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among FORM Holdings Corp., FHXMS, LLC, XpresSpa Holdings, LLC and Mistral XH Representative, LLC, as representative of the unitholders, dated September 8, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 9, 2016)
2.3
Amendment No. 2 to Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among FORM Holdings Corp., FHXMS, LLC, XpresSpa Holdings, LLC and Mistral XH Representative, LLC, as representative of the unitholders, dated October 25, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 25, 2016)
3.1
Certificate of Elimination of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, Series D Convertible Preferred Stock, Series E Convertible Preferred Stock and Series F Convertible Preferred Stock, as filed with Secretary of State of Delaware, effective on October 24, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 24, 2022).
3.2
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of XWELL, Inc., effective on October 25, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 24, 2022.
3.3
Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, effective as of October 25, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 24, 2022).
3.4
Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, effective as of September 27, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 27, 2023).
4.1
Section 382 Rights Agreement, dated as of March 18, 2016, between Vringo, Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, which includes the Form of Certificate of Designation of Series C Junior Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit A, the Form of Right Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock as Exhibit C (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 21, 2016)
Exhibit
No.
Description
4.2
Amendment to Section 382 Rights Agreement, dated March 18, 2019, between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 22, 2019)
4.3
Form of Warrant to Purchase Shares of Common Stock of FORM Holdings Corp. (incorporated by reference from Annex F to our Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC on October 26, 2016)
4.4
Form of Secured Convertible Note (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 15, 2018)
4.5
Amendment to Secured Convertible Note (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 27, 2019)
4.6
Second Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note, dated as of July 8, 2019 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 8, 2019)
4.7
Third Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note, dated as of January 9, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 14, 2020)
4.8
Fourth Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note, dated as of March 6, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 6, 2020)
4.9
Unsecured Convertible Note due May 31, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 8, 2019)
4.10
Warrant to Purchase Common Stock in favor of Calm.com, Inc., dated as of July 8, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 8, 2019)
4.11
Form of Pre-Funded Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated March 19, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 19, 2020)
4.12
Form of Pre-Funded Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated March 25, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 25, 2020)
4.13
Form of Pre-Funded Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated March 27, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 27, 2020)
4.14
Form of Pre-Funded Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated April 6, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 7, 2020)
4.15
Description of the Registrant’s Securities (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.22 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 20, 2020)
4.16
Amended and Restated Calm Note, dated as of April 17, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 17, 2020).
4.17
Amended and Restated Calm Note, dated as of April 22, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 24, 2020)
4.18
Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated June 17, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 17, 2020)
Exhibit
No.
Description
4.19
Form of Placement Agent Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated June 17, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 17, 2020)
4.20
Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated August 25, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 28, 2020)
4.21
Form of Pre-Funded Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated August 25, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 28, 2020)
4.22
Form of Placement Agent Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated August 25, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 28, 2020)
4.23
Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated December 17, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 21, 2020)
4.24
Form of Placement Agent Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated December 17, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 21, 2020)
10.1†
Vringo, Inc. 2012 Employee, Director, and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference from Appendix C of our Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (DEF 14A) filed with the SEC on September 25, 2015)
10.2†
Form of Management Option Agreement (incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on March 29, 2010)
10.3†
Form of Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on July 26, 2012)
10.4†
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on July 26, 2012)
10.5
Form of Indemnification Agreement, dated January 31, 2013, by and between Vringo, Inc. and each of its Directors and Executive Officer (incorporated by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2012, filed on March 21, 2013)
10.6†
FORM Holdings Corp. 2012 Employee, Director, and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 28, 2016)
10.19
Form of Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 15, 2018, by and among the Company and the Investors (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.9 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 15, 2018)
10.20
Amendment to Securities Purchase Agreement and Class A Warrants and Class B Warrants, dated as of July 8, 2019, by and between the Company and the purchasers party thereto (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.5 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 8, 2019)
10.21
Product Sale and Marketing Agreement, dated November 12, 2018, by and between the Company and Calm.com, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 1, 2019)
Exhibit
No.
Description
10.22
Amendment to Amended and Restated Product Sale and Marketing, dated as of October 30, 2019, by and between the Company and Calm.com, Inc. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.8 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 14, 2019)
10.25
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 8, 2019, by and between the Company and Calm.com, Inc. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 8, 2019)
10.26
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 8, 2019, by and between the Company and Calm.com, Inc. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 8, 2019)
10.27
Amendment No. 3 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 1, 2019, by and between the Company, XpresSpa Holdings, LLC, and Mistral XH Representative, LLC, as representative of the unitholders of the Company (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 3, 2019)
10.29
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 19, 2020, by and between the Company and the purchasers party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 19, 2020)
10.30
Form of Exchange Agreement, dated as of March 19, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 19, 2020)
10.31
Voting Agreement, dated as of March 19, 2020, by and between the Company and Mistral Spa Holdings LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 19, 2020)
10.32
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 25, 2020, by and between the Company and the purchasers party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 25, 2020)
10.33
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2020, by and between the Company and the purchasers party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 27, 2020)
10.34
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2020, by and between the Company and the purchasers party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 7, 2020)
10.35†
Stock Option Grant under the XpresSpa Group Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021)
10.36†
Notice of Restricted Stock Unit Award under the XpresSpa Group Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021)
10.37
Form of Exchange Agreement, dated June 4, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 4, 2020)
10.38
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 17, 2020)
Exhibit
No.
Description
10.39
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 28, 2020)
10.40†
XpresTest, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 28, 2020)
10.41†
XpresSpa Group, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 30, 2020)
10.42
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 21, 2020)
10.43†
Form of XpresTest, Inc. Restricted Stock Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.45 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 30, 2021)
10.44†*
Executive Employment Agreement dated January 9, 2022, between the Company and Ezra T. Ernst (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 14, 2022)
10.45†
Stock Option Agreement between XpresSpa Group, Inc. and Ezra Ernst dated January 14, 2022 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on March 31, 2022).
10.46†
Executive Employment Agreement dated March 28, 2022, between the Company and Scott Milford. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.48 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022)
10.47†
XWELL, Inc. (formerly known as XpresSpa Group, Inc.) 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended October 4, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the SEC on October 25, 2022).
10.48†*
Offer letter dated June 26, 2023, between the Company and Suzanne A. Scrabis (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 28, 2023).
21.1*
List of Subsidiaries of XWELL, Inc.
23.1*
Consent of Marcum LLP, independent registered public accounting firm
31.1*
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act, Rules 13a - 14(a) and 15d - 14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*
Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act, Rules 13a - 14(a) and 15d - 14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32*
Certifications of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
XWELL, INC
Incentive Compensation Recovery Policy
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document.
Exhibit
No.
Description
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
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL documents)
* Filed herewith.
** Furnished herewith.
† Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
†† Certain portions have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request. Omitted information has been filed separately with the SEC.