RumbleON (RMBL) Risk Analysis

We benefit from sales incentive, warranty, and other promotional programs of powersports vehicle manufacturers that are intended to promote and support their respective new vehicle sales. Key incentive programs include: (i) customer rebates on new vehicles; (ii) dealer incentives on new vehicles; (iii) special financing on new or pre-owned vehicles; (iv) warranties on new and pre-owned vehicles; and (v) sponsorship of pre-owned vehicle sales by authorized new vehicle dealers. Vehicle manufacturers often make changes to their incentive programs. Any reduction or discontinuation of manufacturers' incentive programs for any reason, including a supply and demand imbalance, may reduce our sales volume which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition.

Competition in the transportation services industry is intense and broad-based. We compete against traditional and non-traditional companies, including transportation providers that own or operate their own equipment, third-party freight brokers, technology services companies, freight brokers, carriers offering transportation services, and on-demand transportation service providers. In addition, customers can bring in-house some of the services we provide to them. Increased competition could reduce our market opportunity and create downward pressure on rates, which could adversely affect our revenue, gross profit and results of operation. Many of our competitors are larger than us and may devote resources to the development of services and technologies.  If we are unable to compete with these additional offerings, or the breadth of services offered by some of our competitors, we may be unable to retain, or attract, customers, which would adversely affect our business.

We operate dealership locations and our Cash Offer technology under our RideNow brand. In addition, we operate certain dealership locations under OEM brands, such as Harley-Davidson, BMW and Indian. Our growth depends on our ability to attract and retain customers to our retail and online locations. We rely heavily on marketing and advertising to increase the visibility of our operations with potential customers and to drive traffic to our retail and online locations. Some of our methods of marketing and advertising may not be profitable because they may not result in the acquisition of sufficient users such that we may recover these costs by attaining corresponding revenue growth. If we are unable to recover our marketing and advertising costs, it could have a material adverse effect on our growth, results of operations and financial condition. Our efforts to maintain the trust of and deliver value to our users depend on our ability to develop and maintain our RideNow brand and on the reputation of brands we represent in our dealership locations. If our current and potential customers perceive that we are not focused on providing them with a better powersports experience, our reputation will be adversely affected. Consumers are increasingly shopping for new and pre-owned powersports vehicles, vehicle repair and maintenance services, and other vehicle products and services online and through mobile applications, including through third-party online and mobile sales platforms, with which we compete. If we fail to preserve the value of our retail brands, maintain our reputation, or attract consumers, our business could be adversely impacted.

We rely on the integrity, security and successful functioning of our computer systems, hardware, software, technology infrastructure, and online sites and networks (collectively, "IT Systems") across our operations. While we own and operate certain parts of our IT Systems, we also rely on critical third-party service providers for an array of IT Systems and related products and services. We use IT Systems for external and internal functions, such as to support product sales, track inventory information at our store locations, and to aggregate daily sales, margin and promotional information. We also use IT Systems to report and audit our operational results. We and our third-party providers may experience cyberattacks and security incidents. Some of our systems are not fully redundant, and our disaster recovery planning cannot account for all eventualities or incidents to avoid a material adverse impact to our IT Systems or business. There can also be no assurance that our cybersecurity risk management program and processes, including our policies, controls or procedures, will be fully implemented, complied with or effective in protecting our IT Systems. Because we make extensive use of third-party suppliers and service providers, such as cloud services that support our internal and customer-facing operations, successful cyberattacks that disrupt or result in unauthorized access to third-party IT Systems can materially impact our operations and financial results. We cannot guarantee that any costs and liabilities incurred in relation to an attack or incident will be covered by our existing insurance policies or that applicable insurance will be available to us in the future on economically reasonable terms or at all. Any adverse impact to the availability, integrity or successful functioning of our IT Systems could result in interruptions in our services, noncompliance with certain laws and regulations, negative publicity, damage to our customer and supplier relationships, exposure to litigation, regulatory investigations, and lost sales, fines, penalties, lawsuits and remediation costs, any or all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to a wide range of federal, state, and local laws and regulations, such as those relating to motor vehicle, retail installment sales, finance and insurance, marketing, licensing, consumer protection, consumer privacy, escheatment, anti-money laundering, environmental, vehicle emissions and fuel economy, and health and safety. The regulatory bodies that regulate our business include, at the federal level: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the FTC, the DOT, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Communications Commission; at the state level: various state dealer licensing authorities, state consumer protection agencies including state attorney general offices, and state financial and insurance regulatory agencies; and at the municipal level our business is regulated by various municipal authorities covering licensing, zoning, occupancy, and tax obligations. We are subject to compliance audits of our operations by many of these authorities. Vehicle Sales. Our sale and purchase of powersports vehicles, both new and pre-owned, related products and services and third-party finance products, are subject to the state and local dealer licensing requirements in the jurisdictions in which we have retail locations. Regulators of jurisdictions where our customers reside, but in which we do not have a dealer or financing license could require that we obtain a license or otherwise comply with various state regulations. Despite our belief that we are not subject to the licensing requirements of those jurisdictions in which we do not have a physical presence, regulators may seek to impose punitive fines for operating without a license or demand we seek a license in those jurisdictions, any of which may inhibit our ability to do business in those jurisdictions, increase our operating expenses and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Consumer Finance. The financing we offer customers is subject to federal and state laws regulating the advertising and provision of consumer finance options, the collection of consumer credit and financial information, along with requirements related to online payments and electronic funds transfers. Most states regulate retail installment sales, including setting a maximum interest rate, caps on certain fees, or maximum amounts financed. In addition, certain states require that finance companies file a notice of intent or have a sales finance license or an installment sellers license in order to solicit or originate installment sales in that state. Logistics and Transportation. Our Express transportation services operation, which brokers and facilitates the transportation of vehicles primarily between and among dealers, is subject to motor-carrier rules and regulations promulgated by the DOT and the states through which their customers' vehicles are transported. Additionally, the vendors whom Express relies upon are subject to federal and state regulation concerning transport vehicle dimensions, transport vehicle conditions, driver motor vehicle record history, driver alcohol and drug testing, and driver hours of service. More restrictive limitations on vehicle weight and size, condition, trailer length and configuration, methods of measurement, driver qualifications, or driver hours of service may increase the costs charged to Express by its vendors, which may adversely affect our financial condition, operating results, and cash flows. If we fail to comply with the DOT regulations or if those regulations become more stringent, we could be subject to increased inspections, audits, or compliance burdens. Regulatory authorities could take remedial action including imposing fines, suspending, or shutting down our Express operations. Environmental Laws and Regulations. We are subject to a variety of federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations that pertain to our operations. The regulations concern material storage, air quality, waste handling, water pollution control and emissions of greenhouse gases. The regulations also regulate our use and operation of gasoline storage tanks, gasoline dispensing equipment, oil tanks, and paint booths among other things. Our business involves the use, handling, and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes, including motor oil, gasoline, solvents, lubricants, paints, and other substances. We manage our compliance through permitting and operational control. The adoption of any laws or regulations requiring significant increases in fuel economy requirements or new federal or state restrictions on emissions of greenhouse gases from our operations or on vehicles and automotive fuels in the U.S. could adversely affect demand for those vehicles and require us to incur costs to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases associated with our operations. Facilities and Personnel. Our facilities and business operations are subject to laws and regulations relating to environmental protection and health and safety, and our employment practices are subject to various laws and regulations, including complex federal, state, and local wage and hour and anti-discrimination laws. We may also be liable for employee misconduct and violations of laws or regulations to which we are subject. Federal Advertising Regulations. The FTC has authority to take actions to remedy or prevent advertising practices that it considers to be unfair or deceptive and that affect commerce in the United States. If the FTC takes the position in the future that any aspect of our business constitutes an unfair or deceptive advertising practice, responding to such allegations could require us to pay significant damages, settlements, and civil penalties, or could require us to make adjustments to our products and services, any or all of which could result in substantial adverse publicity, loss of participating dealers, lost revenue, increased expenses, and decreased profitability. Federal Antitrust Laws. The antitrust laws prohibit, among other things, any joint conduct among competitors that would lessen competition in the marketplace. Some of the information that we may obtain from dealers may be sensitive and, if disclosed inappropriately, could potentially be used by dealers to impede competition or otherwise diminish independent pricing activity. A governmental or private civil action alleging the improper exchange of information, or unlawful participation in price maintenance or other unlawful or anticompetitive activity, even if unfounded, could be costly to defend and adversely impact our ability to maintain and grow our dealer network. In addition, governmental or private civil actions related to the antitrust laws could result in orders suspending or terminating our ability to do business or otherwise altering or limiting certain of our business practices, including the manner in which we handle or disclose pricing information, or the imposition of significant civil or criminal penalties, including fines or the award of significant damages against us in class action or other civil litigation. Other. In addition to these laws and regulations that apply specifically to our business, we are also subject to laws and regulations affecting public companies, including securities laws and Nasdaq listing rules. The violation of any of these laws or regulations could result in administrative, civil or criminal penalties or in a cease-and-desist order against our business operations, any of which could damage our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, sales and results of operations. We have incurred and will continue to incur capital and operating expenses and other costs to comply with these laws and regulations. The foregoing description of laws and regulations to which we are or may be subject is not exhaustive, and the regulatory framework governing our operations is subject to evolving interpretations and continuous change. Violation of the laws or regulations to which we are subject could result in consumer class actions or other lawsuits, government investigations, and administrative, civil, or criminal sanctions against us and, which may include significant fines and penalties that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and future prospects.

Our performance is impacted by general economic conditions, such as changes in employment levels, consumer demand, preferences and confidence levels, the availability and cost of credit, fuel prices, levels of discretionary personal income, inflation, and interest rates. Recently, inflation has increased throughout the U.S. economy. Inflation can adversely affect us by increasing the costs of labor, fuel and other costs as well as by reducing demand for powersports vehicles. In addition, rapid changes in fuel prices can cause shifts in consumer preferences that are difficult to accommodate given the long lead-time of inventory acquisition. Inflation is also often accompanied by higher interest rates, which could reduce the fair value of our outstanding debt obligations. Changes in interest rates can also significantly impact new and pre-owned powersports vehicle sales and vehicle affordability due to the direct relationship between interest rates and monthly loan payments, a critical factor for many powersports buyers, and the impact interest rates have on customers' borrowing capacity and disposable income. We have experienced, and continue to experience, increases in the prices of labor, fuel, and other costs of providing service. These impacts related to inflation could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operation. Retail powersports sales are cyclical and historically have experienced periodic downturns characterized by oversupply and weak demand, which could result in a need to lower the prices at which we sell our powersports offering, which would reduce revenue per vehicle sold and margins. Additionally, a shift in consumer's vehicle preferences driven by pricing, fuel costs or other factors may have a material adverse effect on our revenue, margins, and results of operations.