UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30,March 31, 20212022

 

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

For the transition period from __________ to __________

 

Commission file number 1-12471

 

THEMAVEN,THE ARENA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware 68-0232575

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

200 Vesey Street,, 24thFloor

New York, New York

 10281
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(212)(212) 321-5002

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
N/ACommon Stock, par value $0.01 N/AAREN N/ANYSE American

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Large accelerated filer ☐ Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer Smaller reporting company
  Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicated by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes or No

 

As of November 1, 2021,May 2, 2022, the Registrant had 264,202,421 17,808,434shares of common stock outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

Number

  
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION4
  
Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements4
  
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations2925
  
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk3732
  
Item 4. Controls and Procedures3732
  
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION3833
  
Item 1. Legal Proceedings3833
  
Item 1A. Risk Factors3833
  
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds3833
  
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities3833
  
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures3833
  
Item 5. Other Information3833
  
Item 6. Exhibits
3834
  
SIGNATURES4035

 

2

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) of theMaven,The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us”) contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and include, without limitation, statements concerning our business strategy, future revenues, market growth, capital requirements, product introductions, and expansion plans and the adequacy of our funding. Other statements contained in this Quarterly Report that are not historical facts are also forward-looking statements. We have tried, wherever possible, to identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” and other comparable terminology.

 

We caution investors that any forward-looking statements presented in this Quarterly Report, or that we may make orally or in writing from time to time, are based on the beliefs of, assumptions made by, and information currently available to, us. Such statements are based on assumptions, and the actual outcome will be affected by known and unknown risks, trends, uncertainties, and factors that are beyond our control or ability to predict. Although we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, they are not guarantees of future performance, and some will inevitably prove to be incorrect. As a result, our actual future results can be expected to differ from our expectations, and those differences may be material. Accordingly, investors should use caution in relying on forward-looking statements, which are based only on known results and trends at the time they are made, to anticipate future results or trends. Other risks are detailed by us in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including in Item 1A., Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.2021, filed with the SEC on April 1, 2022 (the “Form 10-K”). The discussion in this Quarterly Report should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.Report.

 

This Quarterly Report and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Quarterly Report.

 

3

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

THEMAVEN,THE ARENA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Index to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 PAGE
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - September 30, 2021March 31, 2022 (Unaudited) and December 31, 202020215
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 20206
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Deficiency (Unaudited) – Nine- Three Months Ended September 30,March 31, 2022 and 2021 and 20207
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - NineThree Months Ended September 30,March 31, 2022 and 2021 and 20209
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)10

 

4

 

THEMAVEN,THE ARENA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

  

September 30, 2021

(unaudited)

  December 31, 2020 
Assets        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents $8,227,840  $9,033,872 
Restricted cash  500,809   500,809 
Accounts receivable, net  19,519,147   16,497,626 
Subscription acquisition costs, current portion  31,257,268   28,146,895 
Royalty fees, current portion  15,000,000   15,000,000 
Prepayments and other current assets  4,875,177   4,667,263 
Total current assets  79,380,241   73,846,465 
Property and equipment, net  668,663   1,129,438 
Operating lease right-of-use assets  2,048,900   18,292,196 
Platform development, net  8,011,707   7,355,608 
Royalty fees, net of current portion  -   11,250,000 
Subscription acquisition costs, net of current portion  18,682,545   13,358,585 
Acquired and other intangible assets, net  57,817,905   71,501,835 
Other long-term assets  692,021   1,330,812 
Goodwill  22,861,872   16,139,377 
Total assets $190,163,854  $214,204,316 
Liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders’ deficiency        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable $9,443,576  $8,228,977 
Accrued expenses and other  21,287,989   14,718,193 
Line of credit  6,705,391   7,178,791 
Unearned revenue  71,305,655   61,625,676 
Subscription refund liability  4,379,364   4,035,531 
Operating lease liabilities  282,011   1,059,671 
Liquidated damages payable  11,765,706   9,568,091 
Current portion of long-term debt  4,565,982   - 
Warrant derivative liabilities  651,083   1,147,895 
Total current liabilities  130,386,757   107,562,825 
Unearned revenue, net of current portion  19,207,736   23,498,597 
Restricted stock liabilities, net of current portion  521,621   1,995,810 
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion  1,972,165   19,886,083 
Other long-term liabilities  8,072,442   753,365 
Deferred tax liabilities  577,960   210,832 
Long-term debt, net of current portion  58,718,289   62,194,272 
Total liabilities  219,456,970   216,101,784 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)  -   - 
Mezzanine equity:        
Series G redeemable and convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, $1,000 per share liquidation value and 1,800 shares designated; aggregate liquidation value: $168,496; Series G shares issued and outstanding: 168,496; common shares issuable upon conversion: 188,791 at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020  168,496   168,496 
Series H convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, $1,000 per share liquidation value; aggregate liquidation value $19,546,000 and $19,596,000; Series H shares designated: 23,000; Series H shares issued and outstanding: 19,546 and 19,596; common shares issuable upon conversion: 59,243,926 and 59,395,476 shares at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively  18,197,496   18,247,496 
Total mezzanine equity  18,365,992   18,415,992 
Stockholders’ deficiency:        
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 1,000,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 264,246,777 and 229,085,167 shares at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively  2,642,467   2,290,851 
Common stock to be issued  10,809   10,809 
Additional paid-in capital  182,787,419   139,658,166 
Accumulated deficit  (233,099,803)  (162,273,286)
Total stockholders’ deficiency  (47,659,108)  (20,313,460)
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders’ deficiency $190,163,854  $214,204,316 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

5

THEMAVEN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

                 
  

Three Months Ended

September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
  2021  2020  2021  2020 
Revenue $59,573,508  $32,089,993  $127,935,501  $85,593,786 
Cost of revenue (includes amortization of developed technology and platform development for three months ended 2021 and 2020 of $2,241,243 and $2,089,286, respectively, and for nine months ended 2021 and 2020 of $6,565,600 and $6,348,619, respectively)  32,173,859   24,708,941   83,978,050   76,321,953 
Gross profit  27,399,649   7,381,052   43,957,451   9,271,833 
Operating expenses                
Selling and marketing  22,712,193   9,928,901   55,122,357   27,698,182 
General and administrative  23,023,883   7,172,175   44,230,360   24,852,891 
Depreciation and amortization  4,055,432   4,053,184   11,981,998   12,276,990 
Total operating expenses  49,791,508   21,154,260   111,334,715   64,828,063 
Loss from operations  (22,391,859)  (13,773,208)  (67,377,264)  (55,556,230)
Other (expense) income                
Change in valuation of warrant derivative liabilities  801,755   (517,405)  496,812   (134,910)
Change in valuation of embedded derivative liabilities  -   (2,370,000)  -   2,173,000 
Interest expense  (2,512,637)  (4,253,180)  (7,695,317)  (12,169,315)
Interest income  -  1,116   471  4,499 
Liquidated damages  (833,612)  (319,903)  (2,197,615)  (1,487,577)
Other expenses  -   (31,851)  -   (31,851)
Gain upon debt extinguishment  -   -   5,716,697   - 
Total other expense  (2,544,494)  (7,491,223)  (3,678,952)  (11,646,154)
Loss before income taxes  (24,936,353)  (21,264,431)  (71,056,216)  (67,202,384)
Income taxes  229,699   -   229,699   - 
Net loss  (24,706,654)  (21,264,431)  (70,826,517)  (67,202,384)
Deemed dividend on Series H convertible preferred stock  -   (132,663)  -   (132,663)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders $(24,706,654) $(21,397,094) $(70,826,517) $(67,335,047)
Basic and diluted net loss per common stock $(0.10) $(0.55) $(0.29) $(1.72)
Weighted average number of common stock outstanding – basic and diluted  252,811,058   39,186,432   244,209,151   39,177,864 
  

March 31, 2022

(unaudited)

  

December 31,

2021

 
  ($ in thousands, except share data) 
Assets        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents $22,480  $9,349 
Restricted cash  502   502 
Accounts receivable, net  19,998   21,660 
Subscription acquisition costs, current portion  24,940   30,162 
Royalty fees  7,500   11,250 
Prepayments and other current assets  4,972   4,748 
Total current assets  80,392   77,671 
Property and equipment, net  593   636 
Operating lease right-of-use assets  493   528 
Platform development, net  10,013   9,299 
Subscription acquisition costs, net of current portion  7,307   8,235 
Acquired and other intangible assets, net  52,255   57,356 
Other long-term assets  587   639 
Goodwill  19,619   19,619 
Total assets $171,259  $173,983 
Liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders’ deficiency        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable $7,070  $11,982 
Accrued expenses and other  17,425   24,011 
Line of credit  9,291   11,988 
Unearned revenue  48,519   54,030 
Subscription refund liability  2,534   3,087 
Operating lease liability  387   374 
Liquidated damages payable  5,369   5,197 
Current portion of long-term debt  5,847   5,744 
Total current liabilities  96,442   116,413 
Unearned revenue, net of current portion  12,362   15,277 
Operating lease liability, net of current portion  683   785 
Liquidating damages payable, net of current portion  -   7,008 
Other long-term liabilities  7,527   7,556 
Deferred tax liabilities  376   362 
Long-term debt  64,929   64,373 
Total liabilities  182,319   211,774 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)  -   - 
Mezzanine equity:        
Series G redeemable and convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, $1,000 per share liquidation value and 1,800 shares designated; aggregate liquidation value: $168; Series G shares issued and outstanding: 168; common shares issuable upon conversion: 8,582 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021  168   168 
Series H convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, $1,000 per share liquidation value and 23,000 shares designated; aggregate liquidation value: $14,556 and $15,066; Series H shares issued and outstanding: 14,556 and 15,066; common shares issuable upon conversion: 2,004,971 and 2,075,200 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively  13,207   13,718 
Total mezzanine equity  13,375   13,886 
Stockholders’ deficiency:        
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 1,000,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 17,502,102 and 12,632,947 shares at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively  175   126 
Common stock to be issued  -   - 
Additional paid-in capital  246,052   200,410 
Accumulated deficit  (270,662)  (252,213)
Total stockholders’ deficiency  (24,435)  (51,677)
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders’ deficiency $171,259  $173,983 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5

THE ARENA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

  2022  2021 
  Three Months Ended March 31, 
  2022  2021 
  ($ in thousands, except per share data) 
Revenue $48,243  $33,615 
Cost of revenue (includes amortization of developed technology and platform development for 2022 and 2021 of $2,311 and $2,167, respectively)  28,497   28,208 
Gross profit  19,746   5,407 
Operating expenses        
Selling and marketing  17,216   17,529 
General and administrative  13,514   5,638 
Depreciation and amortization  4,202   3,963 
Loss on impairment of assets  257   - 
Total operating expenses  35,189   27,130 
Loss from operations  (15,443)  (21,723)
Other expenses        
Change in valuation of warrant derivative liabilities  -   (665)
Interest expense  (2,820)  (2,820)
Liquidated damages  (172)  (255)
Total other expenses  (2,992)  (3,740)
Loss before income taxes  (18,435)  (25,463)
Income taxes  (14)  - 
Net loss $(18,449) $(25,463)
Basic and diluted net loss per common share $(1.20) $(2.44)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and diluted  15,381,306   10,456,052 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

6

THEMAVEN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIENCY

(unaudited)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021

                           
  Common Stock  Common Stock to be Issued  Additional     Total 
                                                         Shares  Par Value  Shares  Par Value  

Paid-in

Capital

  Accumulated Deficit  Stockholders’

Deficiency

 
Balance at January 1, 2021   229,085,167  $2,290,851   1,080,930  $10,809  $139,658,166  $(162,273,286) $(20,313,460)
Issuance of restricted stock awards to the board of directors  805,165   8,052   -   -   (8,052)  -   - 
Repurchase restricted stock classified as liabilities  (133,068)  (1,331)  -   -   1,331   -   - 
Issuance of restricted stock in connection with the acquisition of The Spun  -                  
Issuance of restricted stock in connection with the acquisition of The Spun, shares                            
Cashless exercise of common stock options                            
Cashless exercise of common stock options, shares                            
Common stock withheld for taxes                            
Common stock withheld for taxes, shares                            
Proceeds from common stock private placement                            
Proceeds from common stock private placement, shares                            
Issuance of common stock for restricted stock units in connection with the acquisition of LiftIgniter  256,661   2,567   -   -   (2,567)  -   - 
Issuance of common stock in connection with professional services  312,500   3,125   -   -   121,875   -   125,000 
Issuance of common stock upon conversion of Series H convertible preferred stock                            
Issuance of common stock upon conversion of Series H convertible preferred stock, shares                            
Issuance of common stock in connection with vesting of restricted stock units                            
Issuance of common stock in connection with vesting of restricted stock units, shares                            
Forfeiture of unvested restricted stock awards                            
Forfeiture of unvested restricted stock awards, shares                            
Issuance of common stock in connection with the acquisition of Say Media                            
Issuance of common stock in connection with the acquisition of Say Media, shares                            
Beneficial conversion feature on Series H convertible preferred stock                            
Deemed dividend on Series H convertible preferred stock                            
Stock-based compensation  -   -   -   -   5,408,207   -   5,408,207 
Net loss  -   -   -   -   -   (25,463,305)  (25,463,305)
Balance at March 31, 2021  230,326,425   2,303,264   1,080,930   10,809   145,178,960   (187,736,591)  (40,243,558)
Issuance of restricted stock in connection with the acquisition of The Spun  4,285,714   42,857   -   -   (42,857)  -   - 
Issuance of restricted stock awards to the board of directors  82,158   822   -   -   (822)  -   - 
Cashless exercise of common stock options  84,891   849   -   -   (849)  -   - 
Common stock withheld for taxes  (49,952)  (490)  -   -   (40,630)  -   (41,120)
Repurchase of restricted stock classified as liabilities  (133,068)  (1,331)  -   -   1,331   -   - 
Proceeds from common stock private placement  28,578,575   285,786   -   -   19,551,971   -   19,837,757 
Stock-based compensation  -   -   -   -   8,665,939   -   8,665,939 
Net loss  -   -   -   -   -   (20,656,558)  (20,656,558)
Balance at June 30, 2021  263,175,743   2,631,757   1,080,930   10,809   173,313,043   (208,393,149)  (32,437,540)
Issuance of common stock upon conversion of Series H convertible preferred stock  151,515   1,515   -   -   48,485   -   50,000 
Issuance of restricted stock in connection with the acquisition of Fulltime Fantasy  750,000   7,500   -   -   495,000   -   502,500 
Issuance of common stock upon vesting of restricted stock units  500,000   5,000   -   -   (5,000)  -   - 
Forfeiture of unvested restricted stock awards  (150,557)  (1,505)  -   -   1,505   -   - 
Repurchase of restricted stock classified as liabilities  (133,068)  (1,331)  -   -   1,331   -   - 
Common stock withheld for taxes  (46,856)  (469)  -   -   (28,649)  -   (29,118)
Stock-based compensation  -   -   -   -   8,961,704   -   8,961,704 
Net loss  -   -   -   -   -   (24,706,654)  (24,706,654)
Balance at September 30, 2021  264,246,777  $2,642,467   1,080,930  $10,809  $182,787,419  $(233,099,803) $(47,659,108)

7

THEMAVEN,THE ARENA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIENCY

(unaudited)

NineThree Months Ended September 30, 2020March 31, 2022

                             
  Common Stock  

Common Stock

to be Issued

  Additional    Total 
  Shares  Par Value  Shares  Par Value  

Paid-in

Capital

  

Accumulated

Deficit

  

Stockholders’

Deficiency

 
  ($ in thousands, except number of shares) 
Balance at January 1, 2022  12,632,947  $126          49,134  $   -  $200,410  $(252,213) $(51,677)
Issuance of restricted stock awards to the board of directors  -   -   -   -   -   -   - 
Issuance of restricted stock awards to the board of directors, shares  -   -   -   -   -   -   - 
Issuance of common stock upon conversion of series H preferred stock  70,380   1   -   -   510   -   511 
Issuance of common stock for restricted stock units in connection with an acquisition  16,760   -   -   -   -   -   - 
Issuance of common stock in connection with professional services  14,617   -   -   -   184   -   184 
Issuance of common stock in connection with settlement of liquidated damages  505,671   5   -   -   6,680   -   6,685 
Gain upon issuance of common stock in connection with settlement of liquidated damages  -   -   -   -   323   -   323 
Issuance of common stock for restricted stock units  155,211   2   -   -   (2)  

-

   - 
Common stock withheld for taxes upon issuance of underlying shares for restricted stock units  (67,023)  (1)  -   -   (555)  -   (556)
Repurchase restricted stock classified as liabilities  (8,064)  -   -   -   -   -   - 
Issuance of common stock in connection with public offering  4,181,603   42   -   -   30,448   -   30,490 
Stock-based compensation  -   -   

-

   -   8,054   

-

   8,054 
Net loss  -   -   -   -   -   (18,449)  (18,449)
Balance at March 31, 2022  17,502,102  $175   49,134  $-  $246,052  $(270,662) $(24,435)

7

THE ARENA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIENCY

  Shares  Par Value  Shares  Par Value  

Paid-in

Capital

  Accumulated Deficit  Stockholders’
Deficiency
 
 Common Stock  Common Stock to be Issued  Additional     Total 
  Shares  Par Value  Shares  Par Value  

Paid-in

Capital

  Accumulated Deficit  Stockholders’
Deficiency
 
Balance at January 1, 2020  37,119,117  $371,190   3,938,287  $39,383  $35,562,766  $(73,041,323) $(37,067,984)
Issuance of restricted stock units in connection with the acquisition of LiftIgniter  -   -   -   -   500,000   -   500,000 
Issuance of restricted stock awards to the board of directors  562,500   5,625   -   -   (5,625)  -   - 
Common stock withheld for taxes  (206,881)  (2,069)  -   -   (167,412)  -   (169,481)
Stock-based compensation  -   -   -   -   3,930,172   -   3,930,172 
Net loss  -   -   -   -   -   (22,776,624)  (22,776,624)
Balance at March 31, 2020  37,474,736  374,746   3,938,287   39,383  39,819,901  (95,817,947) (55,583,917)
Issuance of common stock in connection with the acquisition of Say Media  1,350,394   13,504   (1,350,394)  (13,504)  -   -   - 
Common stock withheld for taxes  (234,767)  (2,348)  -   -   (109,992)  -   (112,340)
Stock-based compensation  -   -   -   -   4,283,066   -   4,283,066 
Net loss  -   -   -   -   -   (23,161,329)  (23,161,329)
Balance at June 30, 2020  38,590,363  385,902   2,587,893   25,879  43,992,975  (118,979,276) (74,574,520)
Beginning balance, value  38,590,363  $385,902   2,587,893   25,879  $43,992,975  $(118,979,276) $(74,574,520)
Issuance of common stock in connection with the acquisition of Say Media  1,107,378   11,074   (1,107,378)  (11,074)  -   -   - 
Issuance of common stock upon conversion of Series H convertible preferred stock  909,090   9,091   -   -   290,909   -   300,000 
Common stock withheld for taxes  (58,628)  (586)  -   -   (40,371)  -   (40,957)
Beneficial conversion feature on Series H convertible preferred stock  -   -   -   -   132,663   -   132,663 
Deemed dividend on Series H convertible preferred stock  -   -   -   -   (132,663)  -   (132,663)
Stock-based compensation  -   -   -   -   4,231,878   -   4,231,878 
Net loss  -   -   -   -   -   (21,264,431)  (21,264,431)
Balance September 30, 2020  40,548,203  $405,481   1,480,515  $14,805  $48,475,391  $(140,243,707) $(91,348,030)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

  Common Stock  

Common Stock

to be Issued

  Additional    Total 
  Shares  Par Value  Shares  Par Value  

Paid-in

Capital

  

Accumulated

Deficit

  

Stockholders’

Deficiency

 
  ($ in thousands, except number of shares) 
Balance at January 1, 2021  10,412,963  $104   49,134  $-  $141,856  $(162,273) $(20,313)
Balance  10,412,963  $104   49,134  $-  $141,856  $(162,273) $(20,313)
Issuance of restricted stock awards to the board of directors  36,599   -   -   -   -   -   - 
Repurchase restricted stock classified as liabilities  (6,049)  -   -   -   -   -   - 
Issuance of common stock for restricted stock units in connection with an acquisition  11,667   -   -   -   -   -   - 
Issuance of common stock in connection with professional services  14,205   -       -   125   -   125 
Stock-based compensation  -   -   -   -   5,408   -   5,408 
Net loss  -   -   -   -   -   (25,463)  (25,463)
Balance at March 31, 2021  10,469,385  $104   49,134  $-  $147,389  $(187,736) $(40,243)
Balance  10,469,385  $104   49,134  $-  $147,389  $(187,736) $(40,243)

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

Ending balance, value40,548,203$405,4811,480,51514,805$48,475,391$(140,243,707)$(91,348,030)8

THE ARENA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

  2022  2021 
  Three Months Ended March 31, 
  2022  2021 
  ($ in thousands) 
Cash flows from operating activities        
Net loss $(18,449) $(25,463)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:        
Depreciation of property and equipment  114   110 
Amortization of platform development and intangible assets  6,399   6,020 
Amortization of debt discounts  660   694 
Loss on impairment of assets  257   - 
Change in valuation of warrant derivative liabilities  -   665 
Accrued interest  -   1,866 
Liquidated damages  172   255 
Stock-based compensation  7,367   5,099 
Deferred income taxes  14   - 
Other  183   (509)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable  1,594   2,917 
Subscription acquisition costs  6,150   (8,349)
Royalty fees  3,750   3,750 
Prepayments and other current assets  (224)  (1,630)
Other long-term assets  52   (238)
Accounts payable  (4,912)  1,920 
Accrued expenses and other  (7,444)  1,821 
Unearned revenue  (8,358)  9,039 
Subscription refund liability  (553)  737 
Operating lease liabilities  (54)  (215)
Other long-term liabilities  (29)  - 
Net cash used in operating activities  (13,311)  (1,511)
Cash flows from investing activities        
Purchases of property and equipment  (71)  (98)
Capitalized platform development  (1,582)  (868)
Net cash used in investing activities  (1,653)  (966)
Cash flows from financing activities        
Repayments under line of credit, net of borrowings  (2,697)  (1,752)
Proceeds from public offering of common stock, net of offering costs  32,058   - 
Payment of tax withholdings of common stock withheld  (556)  - 
Payment of restricted stock liabilities  (710)  (280)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities  28,095   (2,032)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash  13,131   (4,509)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash – beginning of period  9,851   9,535 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash – end of period $22,982  $5,026 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash        
Cash and cash equivalents $22,480  $4,525 
Restricted cash  502   501 
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash $22,982  $5,026 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information        
Cash paid for interest $2,160  $260 
Cash paid for income taxes  -   - 
Noncash investing and financing activities        
Reclassification of stock-based compensation to platform development $687  $309 
Offering costs included in accrued expenses and other  1,568   - 
Issuance of common stock in connection with settlement of liquidated damages  7,008   - 
Issuance of common stock upon conversion of series H preferred stock  511   - 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

89

THEMAVEN,THE ARENA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

  2021  2020 
  Nine Months Ended September 30, 
  2021  2020 
Cash flows from operating activities        
Net loss $(70,826,517) $(67,202,384)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:        
Depreciation of property and equipment  333,891   536,729 
Amortization of platform development and intangible assets  18,213,707   18,088,880 
Loss on disposition of assets  862,442   105,123 
Loss upon lease termination  7,344,655   - 
Gain upon debt extinguishment  (5,716,697)  - 
Amortization of debt discounts  1,533,537   4,899,625 
Change in valuation of warrant derivative liabilities  (496,812)  134,910 
Change in valuation of embedded derivative liabilities  -   (2,173,000)
Accrued interest  5,273,159   6,832,376 
Liquidated damages  2,197,615   1,487,577 
Stock-based compensation  21,688,226   11,185,953 
Deferred income taxes  (229,699)  - 
Other  (1,014,932)  (296,019)
Change in operating assets and liabilities net of effect of acquisitions:        
Accounts receivable  (173,266)  4,893,512 
Subscription acquisition costs  (8,434,333)  (11,053,054)
Royalty fees  11,250,000   11,250,000 
Prepayments and other current assets  (78,347)  327,088 
Other long-term assets  638,791   (376,142)
Accounts payable  1,214,599   (968,581)
Accrued expenses and other  5,566,243   (2,484,525)
Unearned revenue  5,389,118   2,871,080 
Subscription refund liability  343,833   (169,693)
Operating lease liabilities  (2,448,282)  1,837,138 
Other long-term liabilities  (692,255)  - 
Net cash used in operating activities  (8,261,324)  (20,273,407)
Cash flows from investing activities        
Purchases of property and equipment  (299,999)  (1,085,392)
Capitalized platform development  (3,016,924)  (2,885,788)
Payments for acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired  (7,356,949)  (315,289)
Net cash used in investing activities  (10,673,872)  (4,286,469)
Cash flows from financing activities        
Proceeds from long-term debt  -   11,702,725 
Borrowings (repayments) under line of credit  (473,400)  3,328,431 
Proceeds from common stock private placement  20,005,000   - 
Proceeds from issuance of Series H convertible preferred stock  -   113,000 
Proceeds from issuance of Series J convertible preferred stock  -   6,000,000 
Proceeds from issuance of convertible preferred stock  -   - 
Payments of issuance costs from common stock private placement  (167,243)  - 
Payment for taxes related to repurchase of restricted common stock  (70,238)  (322,778)
Payment of restricted stock liabilities  (1,164,955)  - 
Net cash provided by financing activities  18,129,164   20,821,378 
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash  (806,032)  (3,738,498)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash – beginning of period  9,534,681   9,473,090 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash – end of period $8,728,649  $5,734,592 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information        
Cash paid for interest $896,580  $437,314 
Cash paid for income taxes  -   - 
Noncash investing and financing activities        
Reclassification of stock-based compensation to platform development $1,347,624  $1,259,163 
Issuance of common stock in connection with professional services  125,000   - 
Deferred cash payments in connection with acquisition of The Spun  905,109   - 
Assumption of liabilities in connection with acquisition of The Spun  1,500   - 
Debt discount on delayed draw term note  -   913,865 
Restricted stock units issued in connection with acquisition of LiftIgniter  -   500,000 
Assumption of liabilities in connection with acquisition of LiftIgniter  -   140,381 
Restricted stock issued in connection with acquisition of Fulltime Fantasy  502,500   - 
Deferred cash payments in connection with acquisition of Fulltime Fantasy  419,367     
Deemed dividend on Series H convertible preferred stock  -   132,663 
Deemed dividend on convertible preferred stock  -   - 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

9

THEMAVEN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies($ in thousands, unless otherwise stated)

1.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as TheMaven, Inc.) and its wholly owned subsidiaries (“Maven”The Arena Group” or the “Company”), after eliminating all significant intercompany balances and transactions. The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements. The Company changed its corporate name to The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. from TheMaven, Inc. on February 8, 2022.

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for complete financial statements. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements, which are included in Maven’sThe Arena Group’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Form 10-K”) for the year ended December 31, 2020,2021, filed with the SEC on August 16, 2021.April 1, 2022.

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2021,March 31, 2022, and for the three and nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2022 and 2021, and 2020, are unaudited but, in management’s opinion, include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of interim periods. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020,2021, was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire fiscal year. The Company’s impact during the first three quartersquarter of 2021 of2022 by the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic has been to a lesser extent than in 2021. With the initial onset of COVID-19, the Company faced significant change in its advertisers’ buying behavior. Since May 2020, there has been a steady recovery in the advertising market in both pricing and volume, which coupled with the return of professional and college sports yielded steady growth in revenues. Given that the Sports Illustrated media business relies on sporting events to generate content and comprises a material portion of the Company’s revenues, the cash flows and results of operations are susceptible to a widespread cancellation of sporting events or a general limitation of societal activity akin to what is widely known to have occurred in the Unites States and elsewhere during the 2020 calendar year and, to a lesser extent, during the 2021 calendar year. Future widespread shutdowns of in-person economic activity could have a material impact on the Company’s business. As a result of the Company’s advertising revenue declining in early 2021 caused by the widespread cancellations of sporting events, the Company has been less thanis vulnerable to a risk of loss in the near term and it is at least reasonably possible that events or circumstances may occur that could cause an impact in the comparable periodnear term, that depend on the actions taken to prevent the further spread of the prior year. In 2021, restrictions on non-essential work activity have been largely lifted and sporting and other events are being held, with attendance closer to pre-pandemic levels, which has resulted in an increase in traffic and advertising revenue. COVID-19.

The Company expects a continued modest growthoperates in advertising revenue back toward pre-pandemic levels, however, such growth depends on future developments, including the duration and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, whether related group gatherings and sports event advisories and restrictions will be put in place again, and the extent and effectiveness of containment and other actions taken, including the percentage of the population that receives COVID-19 vaccinations.one reportable segment.

 

ReclassificationsReverse Stock Split

 

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassifiedThe accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and notes to conformthe condensed consolidated financial statements give effect to current period presentation.the reverse stock split for all periods presented that was effective on February 9, 2022. The shares of common stock retained a par value of $0.01 per share. Accordingly, stockholders’ deficiency reflects the reverse stock split by reclassifying from “common stock” to “additional paid-in capital” in an amount equal to the par value of the decreased shares resulting from the reverse stock split. Any fractional shares that would otherwise be issued as a result of the reverse stock split were rounded up to the nearest whole share.

10

Use of Estimates

 

Preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to the allowance for credit losses, fair values of financial instruments, capitalization of platform development, intangible assets and goodwill, useful lives of intangible assets and property and equipment, income taxes, fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the business acquisitions, determination of the fair value of stock-based compensation and valuation of derivatives liabilities and contingent liabilities, among others. The Company bases its estimates on assumptions, both historical and forward looking, that are believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities.

10

Contract Modifications

The Company occasionally enters into amendments to previously executed contracts that constitute contract modifications. The Company assesses each of these contract modifications to determine:

if the additional services and goods are distinct from the services and goods in the original arrangement; and

if the amount of consideration expected for the added services or goods reflects the stand-alone selling price of those services and goods.

A contract modification meeting both criteria is accounted for as a separate contract. A contract modification not meeting both criteria is considered a change to the original contract and is accounted for on either a prospective basis as a termination of the existing contract and the creation of a new contract, or a cumulative catch-up basis (see Note 3 and Note 12).

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

 

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which removes certain exceptions related to the approach for intra-period tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period, and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. This guidance also clarifies and simplifies other areas of ASC 740. Certain amendments in this update must be applied on a prospective basis, certain amendments must be applied on a retrospective basis, and certain amendments must be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings/(deficit) in the period of adoption. On January 1, 2021, the Company adopted ASU 2019-12 with no material impact to its condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40), which updates various codification topics to simplify the accounting guidance for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, with a specific focus on convertible instruments and the derivative scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity and amends the diluted EPS computation for these instruments. On January 1, 2021,2022, the Company adopted ASU 2020-06 with no material impact to its condensed consolidated financial statements.position, results of operations or cash flows.

In October 2020,May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2020-08,2021-04, Codification Improvements Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt-Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options, a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF), to Subtopic 310-20 – Receivables – Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs, which clarifiesprovide explicit guidance on accounting by issuers for modifications or exchanges of freestanding equity-classified written call options that a reporting entity should assess whether a callable debt security purchased at a premium is withinremain equity classified after the scope of ASC 310-20-35-33 each reporting period, which impacts the amortization period for nonrefundable fees and other costs.modification or exchange. On January 1, 2021,2022, the Company adopted ASU 2020-082021-04 with no material impact to its condensed consolidated financial statements.position, results of operations, cash flows or disclosures.

In October 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-10, Codification Improvements, which updates various codification topics by clarifying or improving disclosure requirements to align with the SEC’s regulations. On January 1, 2021, the Company adopted ASU 2020-10 with no material impact to its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805), Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers, which requires an acquirer to account for revenue contracts acquired in a business combination in accordance with Topic 606 as if it had originated the contracts. The acquirer may assess how the acquiree applied Topic 606 to determine what to record for the acquired contracts. This update should lead to recognition and measurement consistent with what’s reported in the acquiree’s financial statements, provided that the acquiree prepared financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The new standard marks a change from current U.S. GAAP, under which assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination, including contract assets and contract liabilities arising from revenue contracts, are generally recognized at fair value at the acquisition date. On January 1, 2022, the Company adopted ASU 2021-08 is effective for the Company in the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within the fiscal year, and shouldwith no material impact to its condensed financial position, results of operations or cash flows. This new accounting standard will be applied prospectively to business combinations on or after the effective date of the amendment. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that adopting this new accounting standard would have on its condensed consolidated financial statements.combinations.

11

 

Loss per Common Share

 

Basic loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period and excludes any dilutive effects of common stock equivalent shares, such as stock options, restricted stock, and warrants. All restricted stock awards are considered outstanding but are included in the computation of basic loss per common share only when the underlying restrictions expire, the shares are no longer forfeitable, and are thus vested. All restricted stock units are included in the computation of basic loss per common share only when the underlying restrictions expire, the shares are no longer forfeitable, and are thus vested. Contingently issuable shares are included in basic loss per common share only when there are no circumstances under which those shares would not be issued. Diluted loss per common share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and common stock equivalent shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method. Common stock equivalent shares are excluded from the computation if their effect is anti-dilutive.

 

11

The Company excluded the outstanding securities summarized below (capitalized terms are defineddescribed herein), which entitle the holders thereof to acquire shares of the Company’s common stock, from its calculation of net income loss per common share, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive. Common stock equivalent shares are excluded from the diluted calculations when a net loss is incurred as they would be anti-dilutive.

Schedule of Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

 2022  2021 
 As of September 30,  As of March 31, 
 2021  2020  2022  2021 
Series G convertible preferred stock  188,791   188,791   8,582   8,582 
Series H Preferred Stock  59,243,926   58,206,061   2,004,971   2,699,312 
Series I Preferred Stock  -   46,200,000 
Series J Preferred Stock  -   43,584,500 
Indemnity shares of common stock  -   412,500 
Restricted Stock Awards  4,147,936   3,674,996   194,806   14,394 
Financing Warrants  2,882,055   2,882,055   116,118   131,003 
ABG Warrants  21,989,844   21,989,844   999,540   999,540 
AllHipHop warrants  125,000   -   5,681   5,681 
Publisher Partner Warrants  789,541   789,541   26,893   35,889 
Common Stock Awards  6,861,973   8,033,936 
Common Equity Awards  161,367,349   82,400,952 
2016 Plan  286,151   321,761 
2019 Plan  

6,326,538

   7,179,349 
Outside Options  3,050,000   2,982,111   138,637   138,637 
Total  260,646,415   271,345,287   10,107,917   11,534,148 

 

2. Acquisitions

Fulltime Fantasy Sports, LLC – On July 15, 2021, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement with Fulltime Fantasy Sports, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Fulltime Fantasy”), where it purchased certain intellectual property (including databases, documents and certain rights related to the intellectual property) and subscriber and customer records (collectively the “Purchased Assets”) and assumed certain liabilities related to the Purchased Assets. The purchase price consisted of: (1) a cash payment of $335,000 (paid in advance) including transaction related costs of $35,000, (2) the issuance of 750,000 shares the Company’s common stock (subject to certain vesting earn-out provisions and certain buy-back rights), with 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock that vested at closing; and the remaining consideration subject to certain terms and conditions for material breach of certain agreements and acceleration provisions under certain conditions consisting of: (3) a cash earn-out payment of $225,000 and the vesting of 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2021, and (4) a cash earn-out payment of $225,000 and the vesting of 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock on June 30, 2022.

The composition of the purchase price is as follows:

Schedule of Preliminary Purchase Price

     
Total purchase consideration $1,256,887 
Cash (including $35,000 of transaction related costs) $335,000 
Restricted stock  167,500 
Deferred cash payments  419,387 
Deferred restricted stock  335,000 
Total purchase consideration $1,256,887 
     

The purchase price resulted in $1,256,887 (including $35,000 of transaction related costs) being assigned to a database acquired at the closing date of the acquisition. The useful life for the database is three years (3.0 years).

122.Balance Sheet Components

College Spun Media Incorporated – On June 4, 2021, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of College Spun Media Incorporated, a New Jersey corporation (“The Spun”), for an aggregate of $11,829,893 in cash and the issuance of an aggregate of 4,285,714 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock, with one-half of the shares vesting on the first anniversary of the closing date and the remaining one-half of the shares vesting on the second anniversary of the closing date, subject to a customary working capital adjustment based on cash and accounts receivable as of the closing date. The cash payment consists of: (i) $10,829,893 paid at closing (of the cash paid at closing, $829,893 represents adjusted cash pursuant to the working capital adjustments), and (ii) $500,000 to be paid on the first anniversary of the closing and $500,000 to be paid on the second anniversary date of the closing. The vesting of shares of the Company’s common stock is subject to the continued employment of certain selling employees. The Spun operates in the United States.

The composition of the preliminary purchase price is as follows:

Schedule of Preliminary Purchase Price

     
Cash $10,829,893 
Deferred cash payments  905,109 
Total purchase consideration $11,735,002 

The Company incurred $128,076 in transaction costs related to the acquisition, which primarily consisted of legal and accounting. The acquisition related expenses were recorded in general and administrative expense on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The preliminary purchase price allocation resulted in the following amounts being allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the closing date of the acquisition based upon their respective fair values as summarized below:

Summary of Price Allocation for Acquisition

     
Cash $3,772,944 
Accounts receivable  1,833,323 
Other current assets  4,567 
Goodwill  6,722,495 
Accrued expenses  (1,500)
Deferred tax liabilities  (596,827)
Net assets acquired $11,735,002 

The excess of purchase price over the fair value amounts assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed represents goodwill from the acquisition. Goodwill is recorded as a non-current asset that is not amortized but is subject to an annual review for impairment. No portion of the goodwill will be deductible for tax purposes.

Petametrics Inc. – On March 9, 2020, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement with Petametrics Inc., doing business as LiftIgniter, a Delaware corporation (“LiftIgniter”), where it purchased substantially all the assets, including the intellectual property and excluding certain accounts receivable, and assumed certain liabilities. The purchase price consisted of: (1) a cash payment of $184,087 on February 19, 2020, in connection with the repayment of all outstanding indebtedness, (2) at closing, a cash payment of $131,202, (3) collections of certain accounts receivable, (4) on the first anniversary date of the closing, the issuance of restricted stock for an aggregate of up to 312,500 shares of the Company’s common stock (of which 256,661 shares of the Company’s common stock were issued during the three months ended June 30, 2021 with 55,839 shares to be issued), and (5) on the second anniversary date of the closing, the issuance of restricted stock for an aggregate of up to 312,500 shares (subject to certain indemnifications) of the Company’s common stock.

The composition of the purchase price is as follows:

Schedule of Preliminary Purchase Price

     
Cash $315,289 
Indemnity restricted stock units for shares of common stock  500,000 
Total purchase consideration $815,289 

13

The purchase price allocation resulted in the following amounts being allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the closing date of the acquisition based upon their respective fair values as summarized below:

Summary of Price Allocation for Acquisition

     
Accounts receivable $37,908 
Developed technology  917,762 
Accounts payable  (53,494)
Unearned revenue  (86,887)
Net assets acquired $815,289 

The useful life for the developed technology is three years (3.0 years).

3. Balance Sheet Components

 

The components of certain balance sheet amounts are as follows:

Accounts Receivable – Accounts receivable are presented net of allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts as of September 30, 2021March 31, 2022 and December 31, 20202021 was $675,8061,578 and $892,352, respectively..

 

Subscription Acquisition Costs SubscriptionAs of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, subscription acquisition costs include the incremental costswere $32,247 (short-term of obtaining a contract with a customer, paid to external parties, if it expects to recover those costs. The current portion$24,940 and long-term of the subscription$7,307) and $38,397 (short-term of $30,162 and long-term of $8,235), respectively. Subscription acquisition costs as of September 30, 2021 and DecemberMarch 31, 2020 was2022 presented as current assets of $31,257,26824,940 are expected to be amortized over a one year period, or through March 31, 2023and $28,146,8957,307, respectively, on presented as long-term assets are expected to be amortized after the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The noncurrent portion of the subscription acquisition costs as of September 30, 2021 and Decemberone year period ending March 31, 2020 was $18,682,545 2023and $13,358,585, respectively, on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Certain contract amendments resulted in a modification to the subscription acquisition costs that will be recognized on a prospective basis in the same proportion as the revenue that has not yet been recognized (further details are provided under the heading Contract Balances in Note 12).

 

Property and Equipment – Property and equipment are summarized as follows:

 Schedule of Property and Equipment

 March 31, 2022  December 31, 2021 
 As of  As of 
 September 30, 2021  December 31, 2020  March 31, 2022  December 31, 2021 
Office equipment and computers $1,267,898  $1,341,292  $1,407  $1,341 
Furniture and fixtures  1,005   19,997   1   1 
Leasehold improvements  -   345,516 
  1,268,903   1,706,805 
Gross property and equipment  1,408   1,342 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization  (600,240)  (577,367)  (815)  (706)
Net property and equipment $668,663  $1,129,438  $593  $636 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2022 and 2021 and 2020 was $114,165114 and $102,067110, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 was $333,891 and $536,729, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense is included in selling and marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses, as appropriate, on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

1412

 

Platform Development – Platform development costs are summarized as follows:

 Summary of Platform Development Costs

 September 30, 2021  December 31, 2020  March 31, 2022  December 31, 2021 
 As of  As of 
 September 30, 2021  December 31, 2020  March 31, 2022  December 31, 2021 
Platform development $19,497,520  $16,027,428  $16,699  $21,997 
Less accumulated amortization  (11,485,813)  (8,671,820)  (6,686)  (12,698)
Net platform development $8,011,707  $7,355,608  $10,013  $9,299 

A summary of platform development activity for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2021 and year ended DecemberMarch 31, 20202022 is as follows:

 Summary of Platform Development Cost Activity

 September 30, 2021  December 31, 2020 
 As of 
 September 30, 2021  December 31, 2020     
Platform development beginning of period $16,027,428  $10,678,692  $21,997 
Payroll-based costs capitalized during the period  3,016,924   3,750,541 
Payroll-based costs capitalized  1,582 
Less dispositions  

(7,356

)
Total capitalized costs  19,044,352   14,429,233   16,223 
Stock-based compensation  1,347,624   1,608,995   687 
Dispositions  (894,456)  (10,800)
Impairments  (211)
Platform development end of period $19,497,520  $16,027,428  $16,699 

Amortization expense for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2022 and 2021, and 2020, was $1,143,6731,344 and $909,6311,069, respectively. Amortization expense for platform development is included in cost of revenues on the ninecondensed consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2022 and 2021, and 2020, wasimpairment charges of $3,272,890211 and $2,868,2890, respectively.respectively, have been record for platform development.

 

Intangible Assets – Intangible assets subject to amortization consisted of the following:

 Schedule of Intangible Assets Subjects to Amortization

 As of September 30, 2021  As of December 31, 2020  As of March 31, 2022  As of December 31, 2021 
 Carrying Amount  Accumulated Amortization  Net Carrying Amount  

 

Carrying Amount

  Accumulated Amortization  Net Carrying Amount  Carrying Amount  Accumulated Amortization  Net Carrying Amount  Carrying Amount  Accumulated Amortization  Net Carrying Amount 
Developed technology $19,070,857  $(11,576,450) $7,494,407  $19,070,857  $(8,283,740) $10,787,117  $17,333  $(12,214) $5,119  $17,579  $(11,465) $6,114 
Noncompete agreement  480,000   (480,000)  -   480,000   (480,000)  - 
Trade name  3,328,000   (712,292)  2,615,708   3,328,000   (503,342)  2,824,658   3,328   (851)  2,477   3,328   (782)  2,546 
Brand name  5,175   (427)  4,748   5,175   (298)  4,877 
Subscriber relationships  73,458,799   (28,992,944)  44,465,855   73,458,799   (18,105,041)  55,353,758   73,459   (36,252)  37,207   73,459   (32,623)  40,836 
Advertiser relationships  2,240,000   (510,922)  1,729,078   2,240,000   (332,515)  1,907,485   2,240   (629)  1,611   2,240   (570)  1,670 
Database  2,396,887   (904,030)  1,492,857   1,140,000   (531,183)  608,817   2,397   (1,304)  1,093   2,397   (1,104)  1,293 
Subtotal amortizable intangible assets  100,974,543   (43,176,638)  57,797,905   99,717,656   (28,235,821)  71,481,835   103,932   (51,677)  52,255   104,178   (46,842)  57,336 
Website domain name  20,000   -   20,000   20,000   -   20,000   -   -   -   20   -   20 
Total intangible assets $100,994,543  $(43,176,638) $57,817,905  $99,737,656  $(28,235,821) $71,501,835  $103,932  $(51,677) $52,255  $104,198  $(46,842) $57,356 

 

Amortization expense for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2022 and 2021 and 2020 was $5,038,8375,055 and $5,093,0764,951, respectively. Amortizationrespectively, of which amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 wasdeveloped technology of $14,940,817967 and $15,220,5911,098, respectively. NaNrespectively, is included in cost of revenues on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, impairment charges of $46 and $0, respectively, have been recorded duringfor the nine months September 30, 2021 and 2020.intangible assets.

 

Other Long-term Liabilities – Other long-term liabilities consisted of the following:

Schedule of Other Long-term Liabilities

  September 30, 2021  December 31, 2020 
  As of 
  September 30, 2021  December 31, 2020 
Lease termination payments $7,269,469  $541,381 
Deferred cash payments  666,677   - 
Other  136,296   211,984 
Other long-term liabilities $8,072,442  $753,365 

153.Leases

4. Leases

 

The Company’s leases are primarily comprised of real estate leaseslease for the use of office space with certainwas subleased during the year ended December 31, 2021 (as further described below). The Company’s current lease arrangements that contain equipment. The Company determines whether an arrangement that provides control over the use of an asset is a lease at inception. Lease assets and liabilities are recognized upon commencement of the lease based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term. The lease term includes options to extend the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Substantially, all of the leases are long-term operating leases for facilitieslease with a remaining fixed payment terms betweenterm of 1.5 2.51and 7.9 years.

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The table below presents supplemental information related to operating leases:

 Schedule of Supplemental Information Related to Operating Leases

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021   
Operating cash flows for operating leases $2,901,529 
Noncash lease liabilities arising from obtaining operating leased assets during the period $- 
Weighted-average remaining lease term  6.00 
Weighted-average discount rate  9.90%
  Three Months Ended March 31, 
  2022  2021 
Operating lease costs during the period (1) $179  $2,718 
Cash payments included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities during the period $117  $2,787 
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years) as of period-end  2.51   11.02 
Weighted-average discount rate during the period  9.9%  13.6%

(1)Operating lease costs is presented net of sublease income that is not material.

 

The Company generally utilizes its incremental borrowing rate based on information available at the commencement of the lease in determining the present value of future payments since the implicit rate for most of the Company’s leases is not readily determinable.

 

Variable lease expense includes rental increases that are not fixed, such as those based on amounts paid to the lessor based on cost or consumption, such as maintenance and utilities.

 

OperatingThe components of operating lease costs recognized for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were $as follows:

642,926 and $982,414, respectively.Schedule of Operating lease costs recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were $2,458,229Lease Costs and $3,082,499, respectively.

  2022  2021 
  Three Months Ended March 31, 
  2022  2021 
Operating lease costs:        
Cost of revenue $-  $1,797 
Selling and marketing  -   516 
General and administrative  234   423 
Total operating lease costs (1)  234   2,736 
Sublease income  (55)  (18)
Operating cost $179  $2,718 

(1)Includes certain costs associated with a business membership agreement that permits access to certain office space of $170, see below.

 

Maturities of the operating lease liabilitiesliability as of September 30, 2021March 31, 2022 are summarized as follows:

 Summary of Maturity of Lease Liabilities

Years Ending December 31,   
2021 (remaining three months of the year) $140,134 
2022  472,084 
2023  486,247 
2024  500,834 
2025  512,019 
Thereafter  896,034 
Minimum lease payments  3,007,352 
Less imputed interest  (753,176)
Present value of operating lease liabilities $2,254,176 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities $282,011 
Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities  1,972,165 
Total operating lease liabilities $2,254,176 
Years Ending December 31,   
2022 (remaining nine months of the year) $355 
2023  486 
2024  373 
Minimum lease payments  1,214 
Less imputed interest  (144)
Present value of operating lease liability $1,070 
Current portion of operating lease liability $387 
Long-term portion of operating lease liability  683 
Total operating lease liability $1,070 

 

Effective September 30,Sublease Agreement – In November 2021, the Company terminatedentered into an agreement to sublease its leased office space for the duration of its operating lease through September 2024. As of March 31, 2022, the Company is entitled to receive sublease income of $582.

Business Membership – Effective October 1, 2021, the Company entered into a business membership agreement with York Factory LLC, doing business as SaksWorks, that permits access to certain office space with furnishings, referred to as SaksWorks Memberships (each membership provides a certain lease arrangement for office space and as a result, relinquishednumber of accounts that equate to the use of the space and derecognized a right-of-use asset of $15,673,474, a lease liability of $17,934,940 and recorded a penalty upon termination of $9,606,121 (as discounted since the amountgranted). The term of the liability and timing of the Cash Payments, as defined below, are fixed), resulting in a net loss upon termination ofagreement was for 27 months, with 21 months remaining at $7,344,65557 , which has been reflected in general and administrative expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. In connection with the termination, the Company agreed to pay the landlord cash of $10,000,000 (the “Cash Payments”) and $1,475,000 in market rate advertising. The Cash Payments are due as follows: $1,000,000 on December 1, 2021; $1,000,000 on October 1, 2022; $4,000,000 on October 1, 2023; and $4,000,000 on October 1, 2024.per month for 110 accounts.

 

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4.Line of Credit

 

5. Line of Credit

FastPay Credit FacilityOn February 27, 2020,December 6, 2021, the Company entered into aan amendment to its financing and security agreement for its line of credit with FPP Finance LLC (“FastPay”), that was originally entered into on February 27, 2020, pursuant to which FastPay(i) the maximum amount of advances available was increased to $25,000 from $15,000, (ii) the interest rate on the facility applicable margin was decreased to 6.0% per annum from 8.5% per annum (the facility bears interest at the LIBOR rate plus the applicable margin), and (iii) the maturity date was extended a $to 15,000,000February 28, 2024. The line of credit is for working capital purposes and is secured by a first lien on all of the Company’s cash and accounts receivable and a second lien on all other assets. Borrowings under the facility bear interest at the LIBOR Rate plus 8.50% and have a final maturityAs of February 6,March 31, 2022. The balance outstanding as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 20202021, the balance outstanding under the FastPay line of credit was $6,705,3919,291 and $7,178,79111,988, respectively. As of the date these condensed consolidated financial statements were issued or were available to be issued the balance outstanding was approximately $9,400,000.

 

6. Restricted Stock Liabilities

5.Restricted Stock Liabilities

 

On December 15, 2020, the Company entered into an amendment for certain restricted stock awards and units that were previously issued to certain employees in connection with a previous merger.merger (the “HubPages merger”). Pursuant to the amendment, the Company committed to repurchase 1,064,54948,389 vested restricted stock awards as of December 31, 2020 at a price of $4.0088.00 per share in 24 equal monthly installments on the second business day of each calendar month beginning January 4, 2021, subject to certain conditions.

 

The following table presents the components of the restricted stock liabilities:

 Schedule of Components of Restricted Stock Liabilities

  As of 
  September 30, 2021  December 31, 2020 
Restricted stock liabilities recorded upon modification of the restricted stock awards and units (1,064,549 restricted stock to be purchased at $4.00 per share) $4,258,196  $4,258,196 
Less imputed interest  (457,462)  (457,462)
Present value of restricted stock liabilities  3,800,734   3,800,734 
Less payments (excluding imputed interest)  (1,342,379)  (177,425)
Restricted stock liabilities $2,458,355  $3,623,309 
Current portion of restricted stock liabilities (included in accrued expenses and other) $1,936,734  $1,627,499 
Long-term portion of restricted stock liabilities  521,621   1,995,810 
Total restricted stock liabilities $2,458,355  $3,623,309 
  March 31, 2022  December 31, 2021 
  As of 
  March 31, 2022  December 31, 2021 
Restricted stock liabilities (before imputed interest) $2,307  $3,801 
Less imputed interest  (78)  (177)
Present value of restricted stock liabilities  2,229   3,624 
Less payments during the period  (710)  (1,472)
Restricted stock liabilities at end of period (reflected in accrued expenses and other) $1,519  $2,152 

 

7.The Company recorded the repurchase of Fair Value Measurements8,064 and 6,049 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, on the condensed consolidated statements of stockholders’ deficiency. On April 4, 2022, the Company paid $1,597 for the remaining 18,134 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock that were outstanding as of March 31, 2022 that were subject to repurchase.

6.Liquidated Damages Payable

Liquidated damages were recorded as a result of the following: (i) certain registration rights agreements provide for damages if the Company does not register certain shares of the Company’s common stock within the requisite time frame (the “Registration Rights Damages”); and (ii) certain securities purchase agreements provide for damages if the Company does not maintain its periodic filings with the SEC within the requisite time frame (the “Public Information Failure Damages”).

15

Obligations with respect to the liquidated damages payable are summarized as follows:

Summary of Liquidated Damages

  As of March 31, 2022 
  

Registration

Rights

Damages

  

Public

Information

Failure

Damages

  

Accrued

Interest

  Balance 
MDB common stock to be issued (1) $15  $-  $-  $15 
Series H convertible preferred stock  618   625   457   1,700 
Convertible debentures  -   704   216   920 
Series J convertible preferred stock  932   932   356   2,220 
Series K convertible preferred stock  95   379   40   514 
Total $1,660  $2,640  $1,069  $5,369 

  As of December 31, 2021 
  

Registration

Rights

Damages

  

Public

Information

Failure

Damages

  

Accrued

Interest

  Balance 
MDB common stock to be issued (1) $15  $-  $-  $15 
Series H convertible preferred stock  1,164   1,172   792   3,128 
Convertible debentures  -   873   242   1,115 
Series I convertible preferred stock  1,386   1,386   613   3,385 
Series J convertible preferred stock  1,560   1,560   490   3,610 
Series K convertible preferred stock  180   722   50   952 
Total $4,305  $5,713  $2,187  $12,205 

(1)Consists of shares of common stock issuable to MDB Capital Group, LLC (“MDB”).

The Company will continue to accrue interest on the liquidated damages balance at 1.0% per month based on the balance outstanding as of March 31, 2022, or $5,369, until paid. There is no scheduled date when the unpaid liquidated damages become due.

As of December 31, 2021, the short-term and long-term liquidated damages payable were $5,197 and $7,008, respectively. The long-term portion was converted into shares of the Company’s common stock on January 24, 2022, as further described below.

On January 24, 2022, the Company entered into several stock purchase agreements with several investors the Company was liable to for liquidated damages, pursuant to which the Company issued an aggregate of 505,671 shares of its common stock at a price equal to $13.86 per share (determined based on the volume-weighted average price of the Company’s common stock at the close of trading on the sixty (60) previous trading days), to the investors in lieu of an aggregate of $7,008 owed in liquidated damages. The Company agreed that it would prepare and file as soon as reasonably practicable, a registration statement covering the resale of these shares of the Company’s common stock issued in lieu of payment of these liquidated damages in cash. The Company recorded $6,685 in connection with the issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock and recognized a gain of $323 on the settlement of the liquidated damages, which was recorded within additional paid-in capital on the condensed consolidated statement of stockholders’ deficiency.

7.Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company estimates the fair value of financial instruments using available market information and valuation methodologies the Company believes to be appropriate for these purposes. Considerable judgment and a high degree of subjectivity are involved in developing these estimates and, accordingly, they are not necessarily indicative of amounts the Company would realize upon disposition.

 

16

The fair value hierarchy consists of three broad levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value, which are described below:

 

 Level 1. Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
 Level 22. Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable; and
 Level 33. Assets or liabilities for which fair value is based on valuation models with significant unobservable pricing inputs and which result in the use of management estimates.

 

17

The Company accountsaccounted for certain warrants (as described under the heading Common Stock Warrants in Note 10) as derivative liabilities, which requires the Company to carry such amounts on its condensed consolidated balance sheets as a liability at fair value, as adjusted at each reporting period-end. The Company accounted for the embedded conversion features of the 12% senior convertible debentures (the “12% Convertible Debentures”) as derivative liabilities, which required the Company to carry such amounts on its condensed consolidated balance sheets as a liability at fair value, as adjusted at each reporting period-end. As of December 31, 2020, there was no longer any principal or accrued but unpaid interest outstanding under2021, the 12% Convertible Debentures since certain holders converted the debt into shares of the Company’s common stockStrome Warrants and certain holdersB. Riley Warrants (as described in Note 10) were paid in cash.classified within equity.

 

These warrants are and the embedded conversion features were classified as Level 3 within the fair-value hierarchy. Inputs to the valuation model include the Company’s publicly quoted stock price, the stock volatility, the risk-free interest rate, the remaining life of the warrants and debentures, the exercise price or conversion price, and the dividend rate. The Company uses the closing stock price of its common stock over an appropriate period of time to compute stock volatility.

Warrant Derivative Liabilities

The following table presents the assumptions used for the warrant derivative liabilities under the Black-Scholes option-pricing model:

Schedule of Warrant Derivative Liabilities

  As of September 30, 2021  As of December 31, 2020 
  Strome Warrants  B. Riley Warrants  Strome Warrants  B. Riley Warrants 
Expected life  1.70   4.50   2.45   4.79 
Risk-free interest rate  0.28%  0.76%  0.13%  0.36%
Volatility factor  153.59%  142.59%  150.55%  140.95%
Dividend rate  0%  0%  0%  0%
Transaction date closing market price $0.38  $0.38  $0.60  $0.60 
Exercise price $0.50  $0.33  $0.50  $0.33 

The following table represents the carrying amounts and change in valuation for the Company’s warrants accounted for as a derivative liability and classified within Level 3 of the fair-value hierarchy:

Schedule of Valuation Activity for Warrants Accounted for Derivative Liability

  As of and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021  As of and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 
  Carry Amount at Beginning of Period  Change in Valuation  Carrying Amount at End of Period  Carry Amount at Beginning of Period  Change in Valuation  Carrying Amount at End of Period 
Strome Warrants $704,707  $(339,924) $364,783  $1,036,687  $63,160  $1,099,847 
B. Riley Warrants  443,188   (156,888)  286,300   607,513   71,750   679,263 
Total $1,147,895  $(496,812) $651,083  $1,644,200  $134,910  $1,779,110 

For the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2021, and 2020, the change in valuation of warrant derivative liabilities of $665 was recognized as other (expense) incomeexpense on the condensed consolidated statement of operations, was operations.

$801,755 and ($517,405), respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the change in valuation of warrant derivative liabilities recognized as other (expense) income on the condensed consolidated statement of operations, as described in the above table, was $496,812 and ($134,910), respectively.

8.Long-term Debt

 

Embedded Derivative Liabilities

For the three months ended September 30, 2020, the change in valuation of embedded derivative liabilities recognized as other (expense) on the condensed consolidated statements of operations was ($2,370,000). For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the change in valuation of embedded derivative liabilities recognized as other income on the condensed consolidated statements of operations was $2,173,000.

18

8. Long-term Debt

12% Second Amended Senior Secured NotesNote

 

Below is a summaryAs of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the various amended and restated notes, as well as various amendments thereto, to the 12%Company’s outstanding obligation under its senior secured note that was originally issued on June 10, 2019,with BRF Finance Co., LLC, an affiliated entity of B. Riley Financial, Inc. (“B. Riley”), in its capacity as agent for gross proceeds of $20,000,000. The transactions leading up to the 12% second amendedpurchasers and restated note thatas purchaser, is outstandingsummarized as of September 30, 2021 consisted of:follows:

 

AmendedOn March 24, 2020, the Company entered into a second amended and restated note when the principal balance outstanding under its note issued on June 14,19, 2019 where the Company received gross proceeds ofwas $48,000,000, together with the $20,000,00051,336 gross proceeds received on June 10, 2019 for total gross proceeds of $68,000,000(including accrued interest), due on June 14, 2022;

First amendment to (as further amended). The terms of the amended and restated note issued on August 27, 2019, wherealso permitted the Company received gross proceeds of $3,000,000;

Second amendment to the amended and restated note issued on February 27, 2020, where the Company issued a $3,000,000 letter of credit to the Company’s landlord for leased premises; and

Second amended and restated note issued on March 24, 2020, where the Company was permitted to enter into a 15.0% delayed draw term note,Delayed Draw Term Note (as described below), in the aggregate principal amount of $12,000,00012,000.;

FirstOn October 23, 2020, the Company entered into a first amendment to second amended and restated note issued on March 24, 2020 was entered into on October 23, 2020 (“Amendment 1”), where the maturity date was changed to December 31, 2022 (as further amended) from June 14, 2022, subject to certain acceleration conditions and interest payable on the notesnote on September 30, 2020, December 31, 2020, March 31, 2021, June 30, 2021, September 30, 2021, and December 31, 2021 will be payable in-kind in arrears on the last day of such fiscal quarter. Alternatively, at the option of the holder, such interest amounts originally could have been paid in shares of previously designated Series K convertible preferred stock (the “Series K Preferred Stock”); however, after December 18, 2020, the date the Series K Preferred Stock converted into shares of the Company’s common stock, such interest amounts can be converted into shares of the Company’s common stock based upon the conversion rate specified in the Certificate of Designation for the Series K Preferred Stock, subject to certain adjustments. During the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company filed a Certificate of Elimination, which eliminated designation of the Series K Preferred Stock.adjustments;

 

17

SecondOn May 19, 2021, the Company entered into a second amendment to the second amended and restated note issued March 24, 2020 was entered into on May 19, 2021 (“Amendment 2”), with BRF Finance Co., LLC, an affiliated entity of B. Riley Financial, Inc. (“B. Riley”), in its capacity as agent for the purchasers and as purchaser, pursuant to which: (i) the interest rate on the 12% Second Amended Senior Secured Notes,Note, as defined below, decreased from a rate of 12%12.0% per annum to a rate of 10% 10.0%per annum; and (ii) the Company agreed that within one (1) business day after receipt of cash proceeds from any issuance of equity interests, it will prepay the certain obligations in an amount equal to such cash proceeds, net of underwriting discounts and commissions; provided, that, this mandatory prepayment obligation does not apply to any proceeds that the Company received from shares of the Company’s common stock issued pursuant to thea certain securities purchase agreement (as further described below under the heading Common Stock Private Placement in Note 10) during the 90-day period commencing on May 20, 2021.2021;
On December 6, 2021, the Company entered into a third amendment to the second amended and restated note issued March 24, 2020 (“Amendment 3”), where the Company was permitted to increase the FastPay line of credit in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $25,000; and
On January 23, 2022, the Company entered into a fourth amendment to the second amended and restated note issued March 24, 2020 (“Amendment 4”), where the maturity date on the note was extended to (i) December 31, 2023 from December 31, 2022 upon the consummation of the equity financing on February 15, 2022 (further details are provided below), or (ii) the date accelerated pursuant to certain terms of Amendment 4.

 

Collectively, the amended and restated notes and amendments thereto and the second amended and restated notesnote and Amendment 1, Amendment 2, Amendment 3 and Amendment 24 thereto are referred to as the “12% Second Amended Senior“Senior Secured Notes,Note,” with all borrowings collateralized by substantially all assets of the Company.

After the date of Amendment 4, interest on the note will be payable, at the agent’s sole discretion, either (a) in cash quarterly in arrears on the last day of each fiscal quarter or (b) by continuing to add such interest due on such payment dates to the principal amount of the note. Interest on the Senior Secured Note will accrue for each calendar quarter on the outstanding principal amount of the note at an aggregate rate of 10.0% per annum, subject to adjustment in the event of default. Further, interest that was payable during fiscal years 2020 and 2021 and added to the principal amount under the note remains subject to the conversion election under Amendment 1.

 

Delayed Draw Term Note

 

OnAs of March 24, 2020,31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company entered into a 15%Company’s outstanding obligation under its delayed draw term note (the “Delayed Draw Term Note”) pursuant to the second amended and restated note purchase agreement, in the aggregate principal amount of $12,000,000.with B. Riley is summarized as follows:

On March 24, 2020, the Company entered into a delayed draw term note (the “Delayed Draw Term Note”) with an interest rate of 15.0% per annum, pursuant to the second amended and restated note purchase agreement, in the aggregate principal amount of $12,000. The terms of the note provided that up to $8,000 in principal amount was due on March 31, 2021;
On March 24, 2020, the Company drew down $6,914 under the Delayed Draw Term Note, with interest payable in-kind in arrears on the last day of each fiscal quarter;
On October 23, 2020, pursuant to the terms of Amendment 1, the maturity date of the Delayed Draw Term Note was changed to March 31, 2022 (as further amended) from March 31, 2021. Amendment 1 also provided that the holder, could originally elect, in lieu of receipt of cash for payment of all or any portion of the interest due or cash payments up to a certain conversion portion of the Delayed Draw Term Note, to receive shares of Series K Preferred Stock; however, after December 18, 2020, the date the Series K Preferred Stock converted into shares of the Company’s common stock, the holder may elect, in lieu of receipt of cash for such amounts, shares of the Company’s common stock at the price the Company last sold shares of the Company’s common stock;
On October 23, 2020, $3,367, including principal and accrued interest of the Delayed Draw Term Note, converted into shares of the Company’s Series K Preferred Stock, which shares were further converted into shares of the Company’s common stock;

 

1918

On May 19, 2021, pursuant to Amendment 2, the interest rate on the Delayed Draw Term Note decreased to a rate of 10.0% per annum from a rate of 15.0% per annum;
On December 28, 2021, the Company drew down $5,086 under the Delayed Draw Term Note, and after payment of commitment and funding fees paid of $509, the Company received net proceeds of $4,578; and
On February 15, 2023, pursuant to Amendment 4, the maturity date on the Delayed Draw Term Note was extended to (i) December 31, 2022 from March 31, 2022 for $5,925 of principal due and (ii) December 31, 2023 from March 31, 2022 for $4,000 of principal due, subject to certain acceleration terms.

 

On March 24, 2020, the Company drew down $6,913,865 under the Delayed Draw Term Note, and after payment of commitment and funding fees paid of $793,109, and other of its legal fees and expensesAmendment 4 also provided that were incurred, the Company received net proceeds of $6,000,000. The net proceeds were used for working capital and general corporate purposes. Additional borrowings under the Delayed Draw Term Note requested by the Company mayinterest will be madepayable, at the option of the purchasers, subject to certain conditions. Up to $8,000,000agent’s sole discretion, either (a) in principal amount under the note was originally due on March 31, 2021. Interest on amounts outstanding under the note was payable in-kindcash quarterly in arrears on the last day of each fiscal quarter.

On October 23, 2020, pursuant to the terms of Amendment 1, the maturity date of the Delayed Draw Term Note was changed from March 31, 2021 to March 31, 2022. Amendment 1 also provided that the holder, could originally elect,quarter or (b) in lieu of receipt of cash for payment of all or any portion of the interest due or cash payments up to a certain conversion portion of the Delayed Draw Term Note, to receive shares of Series K Preferred Stock; however, after December 18, 2020, the date the Series K Preferred Stock converted into shares of the Company’s common stock, the holder may elect,kind quarterly in lieu of receipt of cash for such amounts, shares of the Company’s common stock at the price the Company last sold shares of the Company’s common stock.

On May 19, 2021, pursuant to Amendment 2, the interest ratearrears on the Delayed Draw Term Note decreased from alast day of each fiscal quarter, and will accrue for each fiscal quarter on the principal amount outstanding under the note at an aggregate rate of 15%10.0% per annum, subject to a rateadjustment in the event of 10% per annum.default.

 

Paycheck Protection Program Loan

On April 6, 2020, the Company entered into a note agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMorgan Chase”) under the recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) (the “Paycheck Protection Program Loan”). The Company received total proceeds of $5,702,725 under the Paycheck Protection Program Loan. In accordance with the requirements of the CARES Act, the Company used proceeds from the Paycheck Protection Program Loan primarily for payroll costs. The Paycheck Protection Program Loan was scheduled to mature on April 6, 2022, with a 0.98% interest rate and was subject to the terms and conditions applicable to loans administered by the SBA under the CARES Act.

On June 22, 2021, the SBA authorized full forgiveness of $5,702,725 under the Paycheck Protection Program Loan; thus, the Company will not need to make any payments on the Paycheck Protection Program Loan that JPMorgan Chase facilitates as an SBA lender. JPMorgan Chase will apply the forgiveness amount the SBA authorized, plus all accrued interest, to the Company’s Paycheck Protection Program Loan. The requirements under this program are established by the SBA. All requests for Paycheck Protection Program Loan forgiveness are subject to SBA eligibility. The Company recorded a gain upon debt extinguishment for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 of $5,716,697 (including accrued interest) pursuant to the forgiveness in other (expense) income on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Further details as of the date these condensed consolidated financial statements were issued or were available to be issued are provided under the heading Long-term Debt in Note 15.

20

The following table summarizes the long-term debt:

 Schedule of Long Term Debt

  As of September 30, 2021  As of December 31, 2020 
  Principal Balance (including accrued interest)  Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs  Carrying Value  Principal Balance (including accrued interest)  Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs  Carrying Value 
12% Second Amended Senior Secured Note, as amended, due on December 31, 2022 $61,131,882  $(2,413,593) $58,718,289  $56,296,091  $(3,739,690) $52,556,401 
Delayed Draw Term Note, as amended, due on March 31, 2022  4,717,714   (151,732)  4,565,982   4,294,318   (359,172)  3,935,146 
Paycheck Protection Program Loan, scheduled to mature April 6, 2022, however, fully forgiven on June 22, 2021  -   -   -   5,702,725   -   5,702,725 
Total $65,849,596  $(2,565,325) $63,284,271  $66,293,134  $(4,098,862) $62,194,272 
  As of March 31, 2022  As of December 31, 2021 
  Principal Balance (including accrued interest)  Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs  Carrying Value  Principal Balance (including accrued interest)  Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs  Carrying Value 
Senior Secured Note, as amended, matures December 31, 2023 $62,691  $(1,584) $61,107  $62,691  $(1,935) $60,756 
Delayed Draw Term Note, as amended, matures December 31, 2023  9,928   (259)  9,669   9,928   (567)  9,361 
Total $72,619  $(1,843) $70,776  $72,619  $(2,502) $70,117 
Current portion         $5,847         $5,744
Long-term portion         64,929          64,373 
Total         $

70,776

          $

70,117

 

As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company’s Delayed Draw Term Note, as amended, carrying value of $9,669 and $9,361, respectively, was as follows: (1) $5,847 and $5,744 for the first draw (including accrued interest and less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $78 and $180), respectively; and (2) $3,822 and $3,617 for the second draw (including accrued interest and less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $181 and $387), respectively. As of March 31, 2022, the effective interest rate of the Senior Secured Note, Delayed Draw Term Note first draw and second draw were 11.4%, 11.7% and 12.5%, respectively.

 

The current portionfollowing table summarizes principal maturities of long-term debtdebt:

Schedule of Principal Maturities of Long-term Debt

Years Ending December 31,    
2022 $5,924 
2023  66,695 
Total $72,619 

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9.Preferred Stock

The Company has the authority to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, consisting of authorized and/or outstanding shares as of September 30, 2021 and DecemberMarch 31, 2020 was $4,565,982 and none, respectively, on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The noncurrent portion of long-term debt2022 as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was $58,718,289 and $62,194,272, respectively, on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.follows:

 

1,800 authorized shares designated as “Series G Convertible Preferred Stock”, of which 168 shares are outstanding.
23,000 authorized shares designated as “Series H Convertible Preferred Stock” (as further described below), of which 14,556 shares are outstanding.

9. Preferred Stock

Series H Preferred Stock

 

On August 17, 2021, 50The Company recorded the issuance of 70,380 shares of Seriesthe Company’s common stock upon conversion of 510 shares of the Company’s series H convertible preferred stock (the “Series H Preferred Stock”) were converted into 151,515 sharesduring the three months ended March 31, 2022, as reflected on the condensed consolidated statements of the Company’s common stock.stockholders’ deficiency.

 

21

Series L Preferred Stock

 

On May 4, 2021, a special committee of the Board declared a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right to be paid to the stockholders of record at the close of business on May 14, 2021 for (i) each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock and (ii) each share of the Company’s common stock issuable upon conversion of each share of the Company’s Series H Preferred Stock. Each preferred stock purchase right entitles the registered holder to purchase, subject to a rights agreement, from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of the Company’s newly created Series L Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01per share (the “Series L Preferred Stock”), at a price of $4.00,$4.00, subject to certain adjustments. The Series L Preferred Stock will be entitled, when, as and if declared, to a preferential per share quarterly dividend payment equal to the greater of (i) $1.00 per share or (ii) 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all noncashnon-cash dividends or other distributions paid to the holders of the Company’s common stock. The Series L Preferred Stock will be entitled to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which shares of the Company’s common stock are converted or exchanged, the Series L Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 1,000 times the amount received per one share of the Company’s common stock.stock.

 

10. Stockholders’ EquityThe rights agreement pursuant to the Series L Preferred Stock was set to expire on May 3, 2022; however, the board of directors elected to extend the expiration date, which extension is evidenced by an amended and restated rights agreement, dated May 2, 2022, by and between the Company and the rights agent, and which extension is subject to ratification by the Company’s stockholders.

10.Stockholders’ Equity

Common Stock

The Company has the authority to issue 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share.

Common Stock Private Placement

 

On May 20, 2021February 15, 2022 and May 25, 2021,March 11, 2022, the Company entered into securities purchase agreements with several accredited investors, pursuant to which the Company sold an aggregate of 21,435,718 shares of its common stock, at a per share price of $0.70 for aggregateraised gross proceeds of $15,005,00034,498 in a private placement. On June 2, 2021, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with an accredited investor, pursuant to which the Company sold an aggregatea firm commitment underwritten public offering of 7,142,857 4,181,603shares of itsthe Company’s common stock (on February 15, 2022 the Company issued 3,636,364 shares and on March 11, 2022 the Company issued 545,239 shares pursuant to the underwriter’s overallotment that was exercised on March 10, 2022), at a per sharepublic offering price of $0.708.25 for gross proceeds of $5,000,000 in a private placement that was in addition to the closings that occurred on May 20, 2021 and May 25, 2021. After payment of legal fees and expenses the investors of $167,244, of which $100,000 was paid in cash to B. Riley, theper share. The Company received net proceeds of $19,837,75732,058, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering costs payable by the Company. In additions, the Company directly incurred offering costs of $1,568 and recorded $. The proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes.30,490 upon the issuance of its common stock, as reflected on the condensed consolidated statement of stockholders’ deficiency.

 

Pursuant to the registration rights agreements entered into in connection with the securities purchase agreements, the Company agreed to register the shares of the Company’s common stock issued in the private placements. The Company committed to file the registration statement on the earlier of: (i) in the event the Company does not obtain a waiver from the holders of the shares of the Company’s common stock that were issued upon the conversion of the Series K Preferred Stock (the “Waiver”), within ten (10) calendar days following the date the Company’s registration statement(s) on Form S-1, registering for resale shares of the Company’s common stock that were issued in connection with offerings prior to the date of the registration rights agreement (the “Prior Registration Statements”), is declared effective by the SEC; and (ii) in the event the Company does obtain the Waiver, the earliest practicable date on which the Company is permitted by the SEC guidance to file the initial registration statement following the filing of the Prior Registration Statements (the “Filing Date”). The Company also committed to cause the registration statement to become effective by no later than 90 days after the Filing Date (or, in the event of a full review by the staff of the SEC, 120 days following the Filing Date). The registration rights agreement provides for Registration Rights Damages upon the occurrence of certain events up to a maximum amount of 6% of the aggregate amount invested pursuant to the securities purchase agreements.

22

The securities purchase agreements included a provision that requires the Company to maintain its periodic filings with the SEC in order to satisfy the public information requirements under Rule 144(c) of the Securities Act. At any time during the period commencing from the twelve (12) month anniversary of the date the Company becomes current in its filing obligations and ending at such time that all of the common stock may be sold without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) and otherwise without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144, if the Company (i) fails for any reason to satisfy the current public information requirement under Rule 144(c) or (ii) has ever been an issuer described in Rule 144(i)(1)(i) or becomes an issuer in the future, and the Company fails to satisfy any condition set forth in Rule 144(i)(2) (a “Public Information Failure”) then, in addition to such purchaser’s other available remedies, the Company must pay to a purchaser, in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty (“Public Information Failure Damages”), an amount in cash equal to one percent (1.0%) of the aggregate subscription amount of the purchaser’s shares then held by the purchaser on the day of a Public Information Failure and on every thirtieth (30th) day (pro-rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) thereafter until the earlier of (a) the date such Public Information Failure is cured up to a maximum of five (5) 30-day periods and (b) such time that such public information is no longer required for the purchasers to transfer the shares pursuant to Rule 144. Public Information Failure Damages will be paid on the earlier of (i) the last day of the calendar month during which such Public Information Failure Damages are incurred and (ii) the third (3rd) business day after the event or failure giving rise to the Public Information Failure Damages is cured. In the event the Company fails to make Public Information Failure Damages in a timely manner, such Public Information Failure Damages will bear interest at the rate of 1.0% per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full.

Common Stock Warrants

 

The Company issued warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock to MDB Capital Group, LLC (the “MDB Warrants”), Strome Mezzanine Fund LP (the “Strome Warrants”), and B. Riley Financial, Inc. (the “B. Riley Warrants”) in connection with various financing transactions (collectively, the “Financing Warrants”).

 

The Financing Warrants outstanding and exercisable as of September 30, 2021March 31, 2022 are summarized as follows:

 SummarySchedule of Warrant ActivityCommon Stock Financing Warrants Outstanding and Exercisable

     Outstanding    Exercise Price  Expiration Date Total Outstanding and Exercisable (Shares 
 Exercise Price Expiration Date Classified as Derivative Liabilities (Shares) Classified within Stockholders’ Equity (Shares) Total Exercisable (Shares) 
MDB Warrants $0.20  November 4,2021  -   327,490   327,490 
Strome Warrants  0.50  June 15, 2023  1,500,000   -   1,500,000  $11.00  June 15, 2023  68,182 
B. Riley Warrants  0.33  October 18, 2025  875,000   -   875,000   7.26  October 18, 2025  39,773 
MDB Warrants  1.15  October 19, 2022  -   119,565   119,565   25.30  October 19, 2022  5,435 
MDB Warrants  2.50  October 19, 2022  -   60,000   60,000   55.00  October 19, 2022  2,728 
Total outstanding and exercisable        2,375,000   507,055   2,882,055 
Total      116,118 

 

The intrinsic value of exercisable but unexercised in-the-money stock warrants as of September 30, 2021March 31, 2022 was $102,698142, based on a fair market value of the Company’s common stock of $0.3810.83 per share on September 30, 2021.March 31, 2022.

 

2320

 

11. Compensation Plans

11.Compensation Plans

 

The Company provides stock-based compensation in the form of (a) restricted stock awards to certain employees and directors, comprised of restricted stock awards and restricted stock units (collectively referred(referred to as the “Restricted Stock Awards”), (b) stock option grants to employees, directors and consultants (referred to asunder the “Common Stock Awards”)2016 Plan (as described below), (c) stock option awards, restricted stock awards, unrestricted stock awards, and stock appreciation rights to employees, directors and consultants (collectivelyunder the “Common Equity Awards”)2019 Plan (as described below), (d) stock option awards outside of the 2016 Stock Incentive Plan and 2019 Equity Incentive Plan to certain officers, directors and employees (referred to as the “Outside Options”), (e) common stock warrants to the Company’s publisher partners (referred to as the “Publisher Partner Warrants”), and (f) common stock warrants to ABG-SI, LLC (referred to as the “ABG Warrants”).

 

Stock-based compensation and equity-based expense charged to operations or capitalized during the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2022 and 2021 and 2020 are summarized as follows:

 Summary of Stock-based Compensation

  Restricted  Common  Common     Publisher       
  Stock  Stock  Equity  Outside  Partner  ABG    
  Awards  Awards  Awards  Options  Warrants  Warrants  Totals 
During the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021                            
Cost of revenue $11,808  $23,217  $1,696,147  $967  $-  $-  $1,732,139 
Selling and marketing  -   3,970   1,341,948   75,193   -   -   1,421,111 
General and administrative  414,163   78,017   4,081,766   -   -   745,636   5,319,582 
Total costs charged to operations  425,971   105,204   7,119,861   76,160   -   745,636   8,472,832 
Capitalized platform development  2,328   -   483,854   2,690   -   -   488,872 
Total stock-based compensation $428,299  $105,204  $7,603,715  $78,850  $-  $745,636  $8,961,704 
                             
During the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020                            
Cost of revenue $35,610  $53,149  $1,178,276  $2,471  $992  $-  $1,270,498 
Selling and marketing  323,164   42,695   734,391   43,900   -   -   1,144,150 
General and administrative  80,306   127,786   855,390   -   -   364,248   1,427,730 
Total costs charged to operations  439,080   223,630   2,768,057   46,371   992   364,248   3,842,378 
Capitalized platform development  88,619   32,680   267,013   1,188   -   -   389,500 
Total stock-based compensation $527,699   256,310  $3,035,070  $47,559  $992  $364,248  $4,231,878 

24

Stock-based compensation and equity-based expense charged to operations or capitalized during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 are summarized as follows:

 Restricted Common Common     Publisher       

Restricted

Stock

Awards

 

2016

Plan

 

2019

Plan

 

Outside

Options

 

ABG

Warrants

  Totals 
 Stock Stock Equity Outside Partner ABG    
 Awards Awards Awards Options Warrants Warrants Totals 
During the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021                            
During the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022             
Cost of revenue $60,838  $169,482  $4,694,925  $4,463  $-  $-  $4,929,708  $430  $14  $1,714  $-  $-  $2,158 
Selling and marketing  -   13,899   3,820,996   224,371   -   -   4,059,266   -   9   591   -   -   600 
General and administrative  559,505   297,283   10,344,247   -   -   1,498,217   12,699,252   -   48   3,941   105   515   4,609 
Total costs charged to operations  620,343   480,664   18,860,168   228,834   -   1,498,217   21,688,226   430   71   6,246   105   515   7,367 
Capitalized platform development  11,276   5,071   1,324,805   6,472   -   -   1,347,624   -   5   682   -   -   687 
Total stock-based compensation $631,619  $485,735  $20,184,973  $235,306  $-  $1,498,217  $23,035,850  $430  $76  $6,928  $105  $515  $8,054 
                                                    
During the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020                            
During the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021                        
Cost of revenue $108,936  $150,915  $3,261,542  $5,644  $36,654  $-  $3,563,691  $24  $127  $1,290  $2  $-  $1,443 
Selling and marketing  920,566   102,206   2,114,595   142,767   -   -   3,280,134   -   5   972   75   -   1,052 
General and administrative  238,558   437,614   2,430,553   150,577   -   1,084,826   4,342,128   3   117   2,128   -   356   2,604 
Total costs charged to operations  1,268,060   690,735   7,806,690   298,988   36,654   1,084,826   11,185,953   27   249   4,390   77   356   5,099 
Capitalized platform development  234,611   154,445   864,656   5,451   -   -   1,259,163   5   3   299   2   -   309 
Total stock-based compensation $1,502,671   845,180  $8,671,346  $304,439  $36,654  $1,084,826  $12,445,116  $32  $252  $4,689  $79  $356  $5,408 

 

Unrecognized compensation expense and expected weighted-average period to be recognized related to the stock-based compensation awards and equity-based awards as of September 30, 2021March 31, 2022 was as follows:

 Schedule of Unrecognized Compensation Expense

 Restricted Common Common     Publisher       Restricted          
 Stock Stock Equity Outside Partner ABG     Stock 2016 2019 Outside ABG    
 Awards Awards Awards Options Warrants Warrants Totals  Awards  Plan  Plan  Options  Warrants  Totals 
Unrecognized compensation expense $2,750,000  $-  $54,255,910  $135,741  $-  $3,788,429  $60,930,080 
Unrecognized compensation cost $1,925  $-  $44,563  $-  $1,988  $48,476 
Expected weighted-average period expected to be recognized (in years)  1.68   -   2.14   0.44   -   1.63   2.08   1.18   -   1.84   -   1.57   1.81 

Stock Option Repricing

Pursuant

On March 18, 2022, the Company approved a repricing of certain outstanding stock options (the “Stock Option Repricing”) granted under the Company’s 2016 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) and the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2019 Plan”) that had an exercise price above $8.82 per share, including certain outstanding stock options held by senior management of the Company. The Stock Option Repricing also included certain outstanding stock options granted outside of the 2016 Plan and 2019 Plan, which repricing is still subject to an amendment with ABG-SI, LLC on June 4, 2021,stockholder approval. As a result of the Stock Option Repricing, the exercise price relatedprices were set to $8.82 per share, which was the ABG Warrants exercisable for up to 10,994,922 sharesclosing sale price of the Company’s common stock was changed to $0.42 per share from $0.84 per share inas listed on the NYSE American exchange on March 18, 2022. Except for additional benefitsthe repricing of the stock options under the Sports Illustrated licensing agreement.

Further details as2019 Plan, all terms and conditions of each stock option remains in full force and effect. For the repricing of the date these condensed consolidated financial statements were issued or were available to be issued are providedstock options under the heading Compensation Plans 2019 Plan, the Company (i) modified the exercise price; (ii) will allow cashless exercise as a method of paying the exercise price, and (iii) will waive a lock-up provision in Note 15.the stock option agreements. All other term and conditions of each of the stock options under the 2019 Plan remains in full force and effect.

 

2521

The Stock Option Repricing of approximately 4,343,017 stock option grants (for 340 employees) that were issued to employees of the Company, including senior management, resulted in incremental cost of $6,061, of which $143 was recognized at the time of the Stock Option Repricing for the fully vested awards and included in our condensed consolidated statement of operations, and $5,918 will recognized over the remaining vesting term of the original award at the repricing date.

 

12. Revenue Recognition

12.Revenue Recognition

 

Disaggregation of Revenue

 

The following table provides information about disaggregated revenue by product line,category, geographical market and timing of revenue recognition:

 Schedule of Disaggregation of Revenue

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

  2022  2021 
 2021 2020 2021 2020  Three Months Ended March 31, 
Revenue by product line:                
Advertising $21,678,480  $9,409,031  $46,300,974  $28,788,631 
 2022  2021 
Revenue by category:        
Digital revenue        
Digital advertising $21,646  $9,540 
Digital subscriptions  7,698,359   8,469,943   22,472,951   20,096,640   6,461   7,085 
Magazine circulation  25,973,853   12,874,574   53,325,894   34,041,272 
Other  4,222,816   1,336,445   5,835,682   2,667,243 
Other revenue  3,465   746 
Total digital revenue  31,572   17,371 
Print revenue        
Print advertising  1,368   1,533 
Print subscriptions  15,303   14,711 
Total print revenue  16,671   16,244 
Total $59,573,508  $32,089,993  $127,935,501  $85,593,786  $48,243  $33,615 
Revenue by geographical market:                        
United States $57,762,726  $29,964,150  $123,697,063  $81,295,916  $47,321  $32,528 
Other  1,810,782   2,125,843   4,238,438   4,297,870   922   1,087 
Total $59,573,508  $32,089,993  $127,935,501  $85,593,786  $48,243  $33,615 
Revenue by timing of recognition:                        
At point in time $51,875,149  $23,620,050  $105,462,550  $65,497,146  $41,782  $26,530 
Over time  7,698,359   8,469,943   22,472,951   20,096,640   6,461   7,085 
Total $59,573,508  $32,089,993  $127,935,501  $85,593,786  $48,243  $33,615 

Contract Balances

 

The timing of the Company’s performance under its various contracts often differs from the timing of the customer’s payment, which results in the recognition of a contract asset or a contract liability. A contract asset is recognized when a good or service is transferred to a customer and the Company does not have the contractual right to bill for the related performance obligations. A contract liability is recognized when consideration is received from the customer prior to the transfer of goods or services.

 

The following table provides information about contract balances:

 Schedule of Contract with Customer, Asset and Liability

  As of 
  September 30, 2021  December 31, 2020 
Unearned revenue (short-term contract liabilities):        
Digital subscriptions $15,708,139  $14,870,712 
Magazine circulation  49,244,783   46,586,345 
Advertising and other  6,352,733   168,619 
  $71,305,655  $61,625,676 
Unearned revenue (long-term contract liabilities):        
Digital subscriptions $1,593,724  $593,136 
Magazine circulation  17,444,012   22,712,961 
Other  170,000   192,500 
  $19,207,736  $23,498,597 
  March 31, 2022  December 31, 2021 
  As of 
  March 31, 2022  December 31, 2021 
Unearned revenue (short-term contract liabilities):        
Digital revenue $12,815  $14,693 
Print revenue  35,704   39,337 
Total unearned revenue (short-term contract liabilities) $48,519  $54,030 
Unearned revenue (long-term contract liabilities):        
Digital revenue $1,321  $1,446 
Print revenue  11,041   13,831 
Total unearned revenue (long-term contract liabilities) $12,362  $15,277 

 

Unearned Revenue – Unearned revenue, also referred to as contract liabilities, include payments received in advance of performance under the contracts and are recognized as revenue over time. The Company records contract liabilities as unearned revenue on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Digital subscription and magazine circulation revenue of $42,893,297 was recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from unearned revenue at the beginning of the year.

During January and February 2020, the Company modified certain digital and magazine subscription contracts that prospectively changed the frequency of the related issues required to be delivered on a yearly basis. The Company determined that the remaining digital content and magazines to be delivered are distinct from the digital content or magazines already provided under the original contract. As a result, the Company in effect established a new contract that included only the remaining digital content or magazines. Accordingly, the Company allocated the remaining performance obligations in the contracts as consideration from the original contract that has not yet been recognized as revenue.

 

2622

 

13. Income Taxes

13.Income Taxes

 

The provision for income taxes in interim periods is determined using an estimate of the Company’s annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items, if any, that arise during the period. Each quarter, the Company updates its estimate of its annual effective tax rate, and if the estimated annual effective tax rate changes, the Company makes a cumulative adjustment in such period. The quarterly provision for income taxes, and estimate of the Company’s annual effective tax rate, are subject to variation due to several factors, including variability in pre-tax income (or loss), the mix of jurisdictions to which such income relates, changes in how the Company conducts business, and tax law developments.

 

The provision effective tax rate benefit for the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2022 and 2021 and 2020 was 0.29%0.1% and 0.00%0.0%, respectively. The tax benefitdeferred income taxes for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2021March 31, 2022 was primarily due to discrete items.

 

The realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon a variety of factors, including the generation of future taxable income, the reversal of deferred tax liabilities, and tax planning strategies. Based upon the Company’s historical operating losses and the uncertainty of future taxable income, the Company has provided a valuation allowance against most of the deferred tax assets as of September 30,March 31, 2022 and 2021.

14.Related Party

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company had certain transactions with B. Riley, a principal stockholder, where it paid fees associated with the common stock public offering totaling $2,440.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company paid in cash or accrued interest that was added to the principal on the Senior Secured Note and December 31, 2020.Delayed Draw Term Note due to B. Riley, a principal stockholder, of $1,815 (paid in cash) and $1,852 (accrued interest that was added to the principal), respectively.

 

14. CommitmentsService and ContingenciesConsulting Contracts

For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company paid James C. Heckman, its former Chief Executive Officer, consulting fees of $165 and $52, respectively, in connection with a consulting agreement, as amended from time to time. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company paid an entity affiliated with Mr. Heckman, Roundtable Media, L.L.C., a net revenue share amount of $82 in connection with a partner agreement.

Revenue GuaranteesRepurchases of Restricted Stock

 

On a select basis,December 15, 2020, the Company has provided revenue share guaranteesentered into an amendment for certain restricted stock awards and units that were previously issued to certain independent publishers that transition their publishing operationsemployees in connection with the HubPages merger, pursuant to which the Company agreed to repurchase from another platform to theMaven.net or maven.io.certain key personnel of HubPages, Inc., including Paul Edmondson, one of the Company’s officers, and his spouse, an aggregate of These arrangements generally guarantee16,802 shares of the publisherCompany’s common stock at a monthly amountprice of income$88.00 per share each month for a period of 12 to 24 months, from inception of the publisher contract that is the greater of (a) a fixed monthly minimum, or (b) the calculated earned revenue share.For the three months ended September 30, 2021for aggregate proceeds to Mr. Edmondson and 2020, the Company recognized publisher partner guaranteeshis spouse of $214,28667 and $2,539,055, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized publisher partner guarantees of $3,781,240 and $7,541,619, respectively.per month (see Note 5).

 

23

15.Commitments and Contingencies

Contingent Liability

In connection with the Company’s underwritten public offering in February 2022, the Company may have a contingent liability arising out of possible violations of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) in connection with an investor presentation, which the Company publicly filed. Specifically, the furnishing of the investor presentation publicly may have constituted an “offer to sell” as described in Section 5(b)(1) of the Securities Act and the investor presentation may be deemed to be a prospectus that did not meet the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, resulting in a potential violation of Section 5(b)(1) of the Securities Act. Any liability would depend upon the number of shares purchased by investors who reviewed and relied upon the investor presentation. If a claim were brought by any such investor and a court were to conclude that the public disclosure of such investor presentation constituted a violation of the Securities Act, the Company could be required to repurchase the shares sold to the investors at the original purchase price, plus statutory interest. The Company could also incur considerable expense in contesting any such claims. As of the issuance date of these consolidated financial statements, no legal proceedings or claims have been made or threatened by any investors. The likelihood and magnitude of this contingent liability, if any, is not determinable at this time.

Claims and Litigation

 

From time to time, the Company may be subject to claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company is not currently a party to any pending or threatened legal proceedings that it believes would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

2716.Subsequent Events

15. Subsequent Events

 

The Company performed an evaluation of subsequent events through the date of filing of these condensed consolidated financial statements with the SEC. Other than the below described subsequent events, there were no material subsequent events which affected, or could affect, the amounts or disclosures on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Compensation Plans

 

From OctoberApril 1, 20212022 through the date these condensed consolidated financial statements were issued, or were available to be issued, the Company granted approximately 90,000common stock options, restricted stock units and restricted stock awards to employees andtotaling 910,000252,525 common stock options exercisable for shares, all of its common stock to employees.which remain outstanding.

 

Long-term DebtAcquisition of Athlon Holdings, Inc.

 

12% Second Amended Senior Secured Notes – The balanceOn April 1, 2022, the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding undercapital stock of Athlon Holdings, Inc. (“Athlon”) for a purchase price of $18,100, comprised of (i) a cash portion of $15,100, with $11,800 paid at closing (including cash acquired of $1,800) and $3,200 to be paid post-closing (as further described below) and (ii) the 12% Second Amended Senior Secured Notesissuance of 314,103 shares of the Company’s common stock with a fair market value of $3,000 (the fair market value of the common stock issuance was determined based on the average closing price of the Company’s common stock for the 10 trading days preceding the April 1, 2022 closing date), subject to a customary working capital adjustment based on current assets less current liabilities as of the date these condensed consolidated financial statements were issuedclosing date. Certain of Athlon’s key employees entered into either advisory agreements or were available to be issued was approximately $61.7 million, which included outstanding principal of approximately $48.8 million, payment of in-kind interest of approximately $12.3 million thatemployment agreements with the Company was permitted to add to the aggregate outstanding principal balance, and unpaid accrued interest of approximately $0.5 million.Company.

 

Delayed Draw Term NoteThe balance outstanding underamount to be paid post-closing of $3,200 will be paid as follows: (i) $3,000 will be paid on the Delayed Draw Term Notenine-month anniversary of the closing date, or January 1, 2023, and (ii) $245 will be paid within two business days from the date the Company receives proceeds from the sale of all or a portion of the equity interest in Just Like Falling Off a Bike, LLC that was held by Athlon as of the closing date these condensed consolidated financial statements were issued or were available to be issued(this amount was approximately $4.7 million, which included outstanding principal of approximately $3.6 million, and payment of in-kind interest of approximately $1.1 million that the Company was permitted to add to the aggregate outstanding principal balance.

Business Membership Agreement

Effective October 1, 2021, the Company entered into a business membership agreement with York Factory LLC, doing business as SaksWorks, that permits access to certain office space with furnishings, referred to as SaksWorks Memberships (each membership provides a certain number of accounts that equate to the use of the space granted). The term of the agreement is for twenty-seven months, with an initial period of three months at $25,000 per month for 30 accounts and secondary period for the remaining twenty-four months at $56,617 per month for 110 accounts. The agreement also provides for: (1) additional accounts at predetermined pricing; (2) early termination date of June 30, 2023 providing the Company gives notice by December 31, 2022; and (3) renewal of agreement at the endpaid on the term for a twelve-month period at the then-current market price and pricing structure on such renewal dateApril 4, 2022).

 

2824

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2022 and 2021 and 2020should be read together with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report and in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 20202021 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on August 16, 2021.April 1, 2022. The following discussion contains “forward-looking statements” that reflect our future plans, estimates, beliefs and expected performance. Our actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated and expressed in such forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those set forth above. We caution that assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions or beliefs about future events may, and often do, vary from actual results and the differences can be material. Please see “Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

Overview

We operate a best-in-class digital mediatechnology platform (the “Platform”) empowering premium publishers who impact, inform, educate and entertain. Our focus is on leveraging the Platform and iconic brands in targeted verticals to maximize the audience, improve engagement and optimize monetization of digital publishing assets for the benefit of our users, our advertiser clients, and our owned and operated properties as well as properties we run on behalf of independent publisher partners. We operate the media businessesprint and digital business at SI.com for Sports Illustrated (“Sports Illustrated”), own and operate TheStreet, Inc. (“TheStreet”) and The Spun (collectively, Sports Illustrated, TheStreet and The Spun are hereinafter referred to as our “Owned and Operated Businesses”(the “TheStreet”), own and operate more than 40 brands with our HubPages, Inc. (“HubPages”) business; own and operate Athlon Holdings, Inc. (“Parade”), which includes titles such as Parade, Spry, and Relish, and the brands Athlon Sports and Athlon Outdoors with more than 25 special interest titles including Harris’ Farmer’s Almanac and Mopar Action, and we power more than 200 independent brands. Our proprietary technology platform (the “Platform”) provides digital publishing, distribution, data, marketing and monetization capabilities for the Sports Illustrated and TheStreet businesses as well as a subset of independent, professionally managed, online media publishers (each a “Publisher Partner”). Our strategy is to focus on key verticals where audiences are passionate about

Of the more than 200 Publisher Partners, a topic category (e.g., sports, finance) and where we can leverage the strengthlarge majority of them publish content within one of our core brands to grow audiencethree verticals of sports, finance or lifestyle, and oversee an online community for their respective sites, leveraging our Platform, monetization bothoperation, distribution channels and data and analytics offerings and engages the collective audiences within our core brands as well as our Publisher Partners. Each Publisher Partner joins the Platform by invitation-only and is drawn from premium media brands and independent publishing businessesa single network. Our lifestyle vertical will also see significant benefits with the objectiveacquisition of augmentingParade and as we apply our position in key verticalsexisting technology to this new acquisition. Generally, Publisher Partners are independently owned, strategic partners who receive a share of revenue from the interaction with their content. Audiences expand and optimizingadvertising revenue may improve due to the performance of the Partner. Because of the state-of-the-art technologyscale we have achieved by combining all Publisher Partners onto a single platform and a large scale of the Platform and experienced sales organization. They may also benefit from our expertise in search engine optimization (SEO), social media, subscriptionmembership marketing and ad monetization, Publisher Partners benefit from improved traffic and increased monetization.management systems, which we believe will enhance their revenue. Additionally, we believe the lead brand within each vertical creates a halo benefit for all Publisher Partners in the vertical while each of them adds to the breadth and quality of content. While they benefit from these critical performance improvements they also may save substantially in costs of technology, infrastructure, advertising sales, and member marketing and management.

Our growth strategy is to continue to expand the coalition by adding new Publisher Partners in key verticals that management believes will expand the scale of unique users interacting on the Platform. In each vertical, we seek to build around a leading brand, suchpremium publishers with high quality brands and content either as Sports Illustrated (for sports) and TheStreet (for finance), surround it with subcategory specialists, and further enhance coverage with individual expert contributors. The primary means of expansion is adding independent Publisher Partners and/or by acquiring publishers that have premium branded contentas owned and can broaden the reach and impact of the Platform.

On September 20, 2021, we re-branded to “The Arena Group.”operated entities.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash and Working Capital Facility

As of September 30, 2021,March 31, 2022, our principal sources of liquidity consisted of cash of approximately $8.2 million.$22,480. In addition, as of March 31, 2022, we had the use of additional proceeds from our working capital facility with FastPayFPP Finance LLC (“FastPay”) in the amount of approximately $8.3 million.  During$15,709, subject to eligible accounts receivable. As of March 31, 2022, the three months ended September 30, 2021, we generated positive cash flows from operations inoutstanding balance of the amount of approximately $1.7 million.FastPay working capital facility was $9,291. We experience seasonality with respect to our revenues, with the fourth quarter typically generating a significant portionalso had accounts receivable, net of our revenues; thus, we expect the fourth quarter to continue to build upon our generationadvances from FastPay of positive cash flows from operations. The FastPay line$10,707 as of credit expires in the first quarter of 2022 and there is approximately a $4.6 million principal payment due on the Term Note on March 31, 2022. We are in negotiations with FastPay to increase, extend and improve the termsOur cash balance as of the facility, of which there can be no assurances that these negotiations will result in any increase, extension, or improvement in the terms of the facility. Historically, we have relied on equity and debt offerings, to the extent available and, to a lesser extent, cash from operations to satisfy our liquidity needs. If we are unable to continue to generate positive cash flows, or otherwise extend the maturityissuance date of our line of credit and the Term Note, we may need to seek additional capital. Should capital not be available to us at reasonable terms, other actions may become necessary in addition to cost control measures and continued efforts to increase revenue.accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements is $13,179.

In addition, we continue to be focused on growing our existing operations and seeking accretive and complementary strategic acquisitions as part of our growth strategy. We believe, that with additional sources of liquidity and the ability to raise additional capital or incur additional indebtedness to supplement our internal projections, we will be able to execute our growth plan and finance our working capital requirements.

 

2925

Material Contractual Obligations

 

We have material contractual obligations that arise in the normal course of business primarily consisting of employment contracts, consulting agreements, leases, liquidated damages, debt and related interest payments. Purchase obligations consist of contracts primarily related to merchandise, equipment, and third-party services, the majority of which are due in the next 12 months. See Notes 3, 6 and 8 in our accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for amounts outstanding as of March 31, 2022, related to leases, liquidated damages and long-term debt. There have been no material changes from the disclosures in our Form 10-K.

Contingent Liability

Finally, we may have a contingent liability arising out of possible violations of the Securities Act in connection with an investor presentation, which we furnished as Exhibit 99.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K and Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on January 31, 2022 and February 1, 2022, respectively. Specifically, the furnishing of the investor presentation publicly may have constituted an “offer to sell” as described in Section 5(b)(1) of the Securities Act and the investor presentation may be deemed to be a prospectus that does not meet the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, resulting in a potential violation of Section 5(b)(1) of the Securities Act. Any liability would depend upon the number of shares purchased by investors who reviewed and relied upon such investor presentation that may have constituted a potential violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act. If a claim were brought by any such ‘recipients’ of such investor presentation and a court were to conclude that the public disclosure of such investor presentation constituted a violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act, we could be required to repurchase the shares sold to the investors who reviewed such investor presentation at the original purchase price, plus statutory interest. We could also incur considerable expense in contesting any such claims. As of the date of the filing of this Quarterly Report, no legal proceedings or claims have been made or threatened by any investors in our offering. Such payments and expenses, if required, could significantly reduce the amount of working capital we have available for our operations and business plan, delay or prevent us from completing our plan of operations, or force us to raise additional funding, which funding may not be available on favorable terms, if at all.

Working Capital Deficit

We have financed our working capital requirements since inception through issuances of equity securities and various debt financings. Our working capital deficit as of September 30, 2021March 31, 2022 and December 31, 20202021 was as follows:

 

 As of  As of 
 September 30, 2021 December 31, 2020  March 31, 2022  December 31, 2021 
Current assets $79,380,241  $73,846,465  $80,392  $77,671 
Current liabilities  (130,386,757)  (107,562,825)  (96,442)  (116,413)
Working capital deficit  (51,006,516)  (33,716,360)  (16,050)  (38,742)

 

As of September 30, 2021,March 31, 2022, we had a working capital deficit of approximately $51.0 million,$16,050, as compared to approximately $33.7 million$38,742 as of December 31, 2020,2021, consisting of approximately $79.4 million$80,392 total current assets and $96,442 total current liabilities. As of December 31, 2021, our working capital deficit consisted of $77,671 in total current assets and approximately $130.4 million$116,413 in total current liabilities. Included in current assets as of September 30, 2021 was approximately $0.5 million of restricted cash. Also included in our working capital deficit are noncash current liabilities, consisting of approximately $0.7 million of warrant derivative liabilities, leaving a working capital deficit that requires cash payments of approximately $50.9 million.

 

Our cash flows during the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2022 and 2021 and 2020 consisted of the following:

 

 Nine Months Ended September 30,  Three Months Ended March 31, 
 2021 2020  2022  2021 
Net cash used in operating activities $(8,261,324) $(20,273,407) $(13,311) $(1,511)
Net cash used in investing activities  (10,673,872)  (4,286,469)  (1,653)  (966)
Net cash provided by financing activities  18,129,164   20,821,378 
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash $(806,032) $(3,738,498)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  28,095   (2,032)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash $13,131  $(4,509)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period $8,728,649  $5,734,592  $22,982  $5,026 

26

 

For the ninethree months ended September 30, 2021,March 31, 2022, net cash used in operating activities was approximately $8.3 million,$13,311, consisting primarily of: approximately $125.1 millionof $58,227 of cash paid (i) to employees, Publisher Partners, expert contributors, suppliers, and vendors, and (ii) for revenue share arrangements, advance of royalty fees and professional services; and (iii) $2,160 of cash paid for interest, offset by $47,076 of cash received from customers (including payments received in advance of performance obligations); less (i) approximately $132.5 million of cash paid (a) to employees, Publisher Partners, expert contributors, suppliers, and vendors, and (b) for revenue share arrangements and professional services; and (ii) approximately $0.9 million of cash paid for interest; as compared to. For the ninethree months ended September 30, 2020, whereMarch 31, 2021, net cash used in operating activities was approximately $20.3 million,$1,511, consisting primarily of: approximately $82.1 millionof $39,210 cash paid (i) to employees, Publisher Partners, suppliers, and vendors, (ii) for revenue share arrangements, advance of royalty fees and professional services; and (iii) $260 of cash paid for interest offset by $37,959 of cash received from customers (including payments received in advance of performance obligations); less (y) approximately $102.0 million of cash paid (a) to employees, Publisher Partners, suppliers, and vendors, and (b) for revenue share arrangements, advance of royalty fees and professional services; and (z) approximately $0.4 million of cash paid for interest..

 

For the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2022, net cash used in investing activities was $1,653, consisting primarily of $1,582 for capitalized costs for our Platform and $71 for property and equipment. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, net cash used in investing activities was approximately $10.7 million,$966 consisting primarily of: (i) approximately $7.4 million used to acquire a business; (ii) approximately $0.3 million for property and equipment; and (iii) approximately $3.0 millionof $868 for capitalized costs for our Platform; as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2020, where net cash used in investing activities was approximately $4.3 million consisting primarily of: (x) approximately $0.3 million used for the acquisition of a business; (y) approximately $1.1 millionPlatform and $98 for property and equipment; and (z) approximately $2.9 million for capitalized costs for our Platform.equipment.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, net cash used by financing activities was approximately $18.1 million, consisting primarily of: (i) approximately $19.8 million in net proceeds from the private placement issuance of common stock; less (ii) approximately $0.5 million from repayment under our line of credit; and (iii) approximately $1.2 million in payments of restricted stock liabilities; as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2020, whereMarch 31, 2022, net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $20.8 million,$28,095, consisting primarily of: (i) approximately $6.1 millionof $32,058 (excludes accrued offering costs of $1,568) in net proceeds from the issuancepublic offering of Series H Preferred Stock and Series J convertible preferredcommon stock (the “Series J Preferred Stock”); (ii) approximately $11.7 million in net proceedsless (i) $2,697 from the Delayed Draw Term Note and the Payroll Protection Program Loan; and (iii) approximately $3.3 million in borrowingsrepayments of our FastPay line of credit; less (iv) approximately $0.3 million(ii) $710 related to payments of restricted stock liabilities; and (iii) $556 for tax payments relating to the withholding of shares of common stock for certain employees. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, net cash used in financing activities was $2,032 consisting primarily of $1,752 from repayments of our FastPay line of credit and $280 in payments for taxes relating to repurchase of restricted shares.stock liabilities.

30

Results of Operations

 

Three Months Ended September 30,March 31, 2022 and 2021 and 2020

  Three Months Ended September 30,  2021 versus 2020 
  2021  2020  $ Change  % Change 
Revenue $59,573,508  $32,089,993  $27,483,515   85.6%
Cost of revenue  32,173,859   24,708,941   7,464,918   30.2%
Gross profit  27,399,649   7,381,052   20,018,597   271.2%
Operating expenses                
Selling and marketing  22,712,193   9,928,901   12,783,292   128.7%
General and administrative  23,023,883   7,172,175   15,851,708   221.0%
Depreciation and amortization  4,055,432   4,053,184   2,248   0.1%
Total operating expenses  49,791,508   21,154,260   28,637,248   135.4%
Loss from operations  (22,391,859)  (13,773,208)  (8,618,651)  62.6%
Total other (expense)  (2,544,494)  (7,491,223)  4,946,729   -66.0%
Loss before income taxes  (24,936,353)  (21,264,431)  (3,617,922)  17.3%
Income taxes  229,699   -   229,699   100.0%
Net loss  (24,706,654)  (21,397,094)  (3,442,223)  16.2%
Deemed dividend on Series H convertible preferred stock  -   (132,663)  132,663   -100.0%
Net loss attributable to common stockholders $(24,706,654) $(21,397,094) $(3,309,560)  15.5%
Basic and diluted net loss per common stock $(0.10) $(0.55) $0.45   -81.8%
Weighted average number of common stock outstanding – basic and diluted  252,811,058   39,186,432   213,624,626   545.1%

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

  2022 versus 2021 
  2022  2021  $ Change  % Change 
Revenue $48,243  $33,615  $14,628   43.5%
Cost of revenue  28,497   28,208   289   1.0%
Gross profit  19,746   5,407   14,339   265.2%
Operating expenses                
Selling and marketing  17,216   17,529   (313)  -1.8%
General and administrative  13,514   5,638   7,876   139.7%
Depreciation and amortization  4,202   3,963   239   6.0%
Loss of impairment of assets  257   -   257   100.0%
Total operating expenses  35,189   27,130   8,059   29.7%
Loss from operations  (15,443)  (21,723)  6,280   -28.9%
Total other expenses  (2,992)  (3,740)  748   -20.0%
Loss before income taxes  (18,435)  (25,463)  7,028   -27.6%
Income taxes  (14)  -   (14)  100.0%
Net loss $(18,449) $(25,463) $7,014   -27.5%
Basic and diluted net loss per common share $(1.20) $(2.44) $1.24   -50.8%
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and diluted  15,381,306   10,456,052   4,925,254   47.1%

For the three months ended September 30, 2021,March 31, 2022, the total net loss was approximately $24.7 million. The total net loss increased by approximately $3.3 million$18,449, as compared to $25,463 for the three months ended September 30, 2020,March 31, 2021, which had a net lossrepresents an improvement of approximately $21.4 million.$7,014. The primary reasonsdriver for the increaseimprovement in the total net loss is a lease termination charge of approximately $7.3 million anddue to an $14,628 increase in revenue, which was partially offset by an increase in stock-based compensationoperating expenses of approximately $4.6 million$8,059 during the three months ended March 31, 2022. The increase in revenues was attributable to management’s decision to make a strategic shift to focus on premium content providers and reduced reliance on Partner Publisher guarantees in September 30, 2021. The basic and diluted net loss per common share for2020 as well as the three months ended September 30, 2021 of $0.10 decreased from $0.55 for the three months ended September 30, 2020, primarily because of our net loss per common share decreased along with the increaseaddition of the daily weighted average shares outstanding to 252,811,058 shares from 39,186,432 shares.results of The Spun, which was acquired in June 2021.

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Revenue

 

The following table sets forth revenue, cost of revenue, and gross profit:

 

 Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 versus 2020 
 2021 2020 Change % Change  Three Months Ended March 31,  2022 versus 2021 
 (percentages reflect cost of revenue as a percentage of total revenue)       2022  2021  $ Change  % Change 
Revenue $59,573,508   100.0% $32,089,993   100.0% $27,483,515   85.6% $48,243  $33,615  $14,628   43.5%
Cost of revenue  32,173,859   54.0%  24,708,941   77.0%  7,464,918   30.2%  28,497   28,208   289   1.0%
Gross profit $27,399,649   46.0% $7,381,052   23.0% $20,018,597   271.2% $19,746  $5,407  $14,339   265.2%

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2021,March 31, 2022 we had revenuegross profit of approximately $59.6 million,$19,746, as compared to revenue of approximately $32.1 million$5,407 for the three months ended September 30, 2020.March 31, 2021, an improvement of $14,339. Gross profit percentage for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was 40.9%, as compared to 16.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

 

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The improvement in gross profit percentage was driven by our strategic shift to eliminate most Publisher Partner guarantees near the end of fiscal 2020. As a result, Publisher Partner revenue share as a percentage of digital advertising revenue was 23.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared to 55.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2021. In addition, we continue to experience high contributions from our digital advertising.

The following table sets forth revenue by product line and the corresponding percent of total revenue:category:

 

  Three Months Ended September 30,  2021 versus 2020 
  2021  2020  Change  % Change 
  (percentages reflect product line as a percentage of total revenue)       
Advertising $21,678,480   36.4% $9,409,031   29.3% $12,269,449   38.2%
Digital subscriptions  7,698,359   12.9%  8,469,943   26.4%  (771,584)  -2.4%
Magazine circulation  25,973,853   43.6%  12,874,574   40.1%  13,099,279   40.8%
Other  4,222,816   7.1%  1,336,445   4.2%  2,886,371   9.0%
Total revenue $59,573,508   100.0% $32,089,993   100.0% $27,483,515   85.6%
  Three Months Ended March 31,  2022 versus 2021 
  2022  2021  $ Change  % Change 
Digital revenue                
Digital advertising $21,646  $9,540  $12,106   126.9%
Digital subscriptions  6,461   7,085   (624)  -8.8%
Other revenue  3,465   746   2,719   364.5%
Total digital revenue  31,572   17,371   14,201   81.8%
Print revenue                
Print advertising  1,368   1,533   (165)  -10.8%
Print subscriptions  15,303   14,711   592   4.0%
Total print revenue  16,671   16,244   427   2.6%
Total revenue $48,243  $33,615  $14,628   43.5%

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2021,March 31, 2022, total revenue increased $14,628 to $48,243 from $33,615 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The primary sources of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2022 were as follows: (i) digital advertising of approximately $21.7 million;$21,646, (ii) digital subscriptions of approximately $7.7 million;$6,461, (iii) magazine circulationother digital revenue of approximately $26.0 million;$3,465, (iv) print advertising of $1,368 and (iv) approximately $4.2 millionprint subscriptions of $15,303.

The primary driver of the increase in our total revenue is derived from other revenue. Ourour digital advertising revenue which increased by approximately $12.3 million, due to additional revenue of approximately $6.8 million generated as a result of a doubling of advertising sponsorships$12,106. The main drivers of the Sports Illustrated Swim (“SI Swim”) business and other growthincrease in the Sports Illustrated media business, and approximately $5.5 milliondigital advertising revenue include an additional $6,018 of revenue generated as a result of The Spun business, which was acquired during the second quarter of 2021. Our digital subscriptions decreased by approximately $0.8 million. Our magazine circulation increased by approximately $13.1 million reflecting a drive to increase subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2020 and the diminishing effect of acquisition accounting adjustments on the subscribers that existed when we began operating the2021, $4,073 from Sports Illustrated mediadue to an increase in advertising sponsorships, $759 generated from TheStreet; and $1,256 generated from other business. Our other digital revenue, primarily consisting of licensing and e-commerce revenue, increased by approximately $2.9 million$2,719 due to additional revenue primarily for certain licensing agreements related to, SI Swim and other Sports Illustrated media businesses.

 

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Cost of Revenue

The following table sets forth cost of revenue by category:

 

  Three Months Ended March 31,  2022 versus 2021 
  2022  2021  $ Change  % Change 
Publisher Partner revenue share payments $5,042  $5,250  $(208)  -4.0%
Hosting, bandwidth, and software licensing fees  481   601   (120)  -20.0%
Fees paid for data analytics and to other outside services providers  1,380   667   713   106.9%
Royalty fees  3,750   3,750   -   0.0%
Content and editorial expenses  9,744   9,636   108   1.1%
Printing, distribution and fulfillment costs  2,747   3,498   (751)  -21.5%
Amortization of developed technology and platform development  2,311   2,167   144   6.6%
Stock-based compensation  2,157   1,444   713   49.4%
Other cost of revenue  885   1,195   (310)  -25.9%
Total cost of revenue $28,497  $28,208  $289   1.0%

For the three months ended September 30, 2021,March 31, 2022, we recognized cost of revenue of approximately $32.2 million, which represented a 46% gross profit percentage,$28,497, as compared to approximately $24.7 million in$28,208 for the three months ended September 30, 2020, representing a 23% gross profit percentage. TheMarch 31, 2021, which represents an increase in the costof $289. Cost of revenue for the first quarter of approximately $7.5 million during the three months ended September 30, 2021 is primarily from2022, was impacted by increases in:in (i) stock-based compensation of $713, and (ii) fees paid for data analytics and outside service providers of $713, partially offset by decreases in (iii) printing, distribution, and fulfillment costs of approximately $3.4 million; (ii) payroll, stock-based compensation,$751, and related expenses for customer support, technology maintenance, and occupancy costs of related personnel of approximately $2.6 million; (iii)(iv) other costs of revenue related to SI Swim of approximately $1.3 million; and (iv) amortization of our platform of approximately $0.2 million. The improvement in gross profit percentage was due to a decrease in partner revenue shares from 61% of digital advertising revenue in the third quarter of 2020 to 27% in the third quarter of 2021 as a result of the elimination of most partner guarantees near the end of last year.$310.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2021, we capitalized costs related to our Platform of approximately $1.5 million, as compared to approximately $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. For the three months ended September 30, 2021, the capitalization of our Platform consisted of: (i) approximately $1.0 million in payroll and related expenses, including taxes and benefits; and (ii) approximately $0.5 million in stock-based compensation for related personnel.

Operating Expenses

 

The following table sets forth operating expenses and the corresponding percentage of total revenue:expenses:

 

  Three Months Ended September 30,  2021 versus 2020 
  2021  2020  Change  % Change 
  (percentages reflect expense as a percentage of total revenue)       
Selling and marketing $22,712,193   38.1% $9,928,901   30.9% $12,783,292   60.4%
General and administrative  23,023,883   38.6%  7,172,175   22.4%  15,851,708   74.9%
Depreciation and amortization  4,055,432   6.8%  4,053,184   12.6%  2,248   0.0%
Total operating expenses $49,791,508      $21,154,260      $28,637,248   135.4%

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  Three Months Ended March 31,  2022 versus 2021 
  2022  2021  $ Change  % Change 
Selling and marketing $17,216  $17,529  $(313)  -1.8%
General and administrative  13,514   5,638   7,876   139.7%
Depreciation and amortization  4,202   3,963   239   6.0%
Loss on impairment of assets  257   -   257   100.0%
Total operating expenses $35,189  $27,130  $8,059   29.7%

 

Operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022 increased by $8,059 to $35,189 from $27,130 for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Selling and Marketing. For the three months ended September 30, 2021,March 31, 2022, we incurred selling and marketing costs of approximately $22.7 million,$17,216, as compared to approximately $9.9 million$17,529 for the three months ended September 30, 2020.March 31, 2021. The increasedecrease in selling and marketing costs of approximately $12.8 million$313 is primarily from increasesrelated to a $2,205 decrease in circulation costs of approximately $9.4 million; advertising costs of approximately $1.4 million; professional and marketing service costs of approximately $0.7 million; payroll of selling and marketing account management support teams along with the related benefitsdue to a reclass to general and stock-based compensation of approximately $1.3 million; office and occupancyadministrative expense offset by an increase in circulation costs of approximately $0.1 million; less a decrease$1,893. The increase in other sellingcirculation costs reflects the effects of acquisition accounting where agency fees were excluded from subscribers that existed upon acquisition, and marketing related costsbenefited the first quarter of approximately $0.1 million.fiscal 2021 as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2022.

 

General and Administrative. For the three months ended September 30, 2021,March 31, 2022, we incurred general and administrative costs of approximately $23.0 million from payroll and related expenses, professional services, occupancy costs, stock-based compensation of related personnel, depreciation and amortization, and other corporate expense,$13,514 as compared to approximately $7.2 million$5,638 for the three months ended September 30, 2020.March 31, 2021. The $7,876 increase in general and administrative expenses of approximately $15.9 million is primarily fromdue to an increase in our payroll, along with the related benefits and stock-compensationstock-based compensation, of approximately $5.5 million; an increase in professional services, including accounting, legal$7,382 and insurance of approximately $2.2 million; an increase in facilities costs related to the lease termination of approximately $7.3 million and an increase in other general corporate expenses of approximately $0.9 million.$390.

 

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Other (Expenses) IncomeExpenses

 

The following table sets forth other (expense) income:expenses:

 

  Three Months Ended September 30,  2021 versus 2020 
  2021  2020  Change  % Change 
  (percentages reflect other (expense) income as a percentage of the total)       
Change in valuation of warrant derivative liabilities $801,755   -31.5% $(517,405)  6.9% $1,319,160   -17.6%
Change in valuation of embedded derivative liabilities  -   0.0%  (2,370,000)  31.6%  2,370,000   -31.6%
Interest expense  (2,512,637)  98.7%  (4,253,180)  56.8%  1,746,556   -23.3%
Interest income  -  0.0%  1,116   0.0%  (7,129)  0.0%
Liquidated damages  (833,612)  32.8%  (319,903)  4.3%  (513,709)  6.9%
Other income  -   0.0%  (31,851)  0.4%  31,851   -0.4%
Total other (expense) $(2,544,494)  100.0% $(7,491,223)  100.0% $4,946,729   -66.0%
  Three Months Ended March 31,  2022 versus 2021 
  2022  2021  $ Change  % Change 
Change in valuation of warrant derivative liabilities $-  $(665) $665   -100.0%
Interest expense  (2,820)  (2,820)  -   0.0%
Liquidated damages  (172)  (255)  83   -32.5%
Total other expenses $(2,992) $(3,740) $748   -20.0%

 

Change in Valuation of Warrant Derivative Liabilities. There was approximately $1.3 million increase in noncash income related theThe change in the valuation of the warrant derivative liabilities for the three months ended September 30, 2021,March 31, 2022 was the result of the decrease in the fair value of the warrant derivative liabilities as of March 31, 2022, as compared to the prior year period.

Change in Valuation of Embedded Derivative Liabilities. There was approximately $2.4 million increase in noncash income related the change in the valuation of the embedded derivative liabilities for the three months ended September 30, 2021, as comparedMarch 31, 2021. The change in the valuation is not impacted by our actual business operations but is instead strongly tied to the prior year period.change in the market value of our common stock.

 

Interest Expense. We incurred interest expense of approximately $2.5 million$2,820 for the three months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to approximately $4.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The decrease in interest expense of approximately $1.8 million is primarily from an increase of approximately $0.2 million of other interest; less a decrease of accrued interest of approximately $0.8 millionMarch 31, 2022 and a decrease from the amortization of debt discount on notes payable of approximately $1.2 million.2021.

 

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Liquidated Damages. We recorded $172 accrued interest as liquidated damages, of approximately $0.8 million forduring the three months ended September 30, 2021, an increase of approximately $0.5 million as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2020,March 31, 2022 primarily from the issuance of our 12% Convertible Debentures,convertible debentures, Series H Preferredconvertible preferred Stock, Series I convertible preferred stock, (the “Series I Preferred Stock”), Series J Preferred Stock,convertible preferred stock and Series K Preferred Stock. The liquidated damages were recognized becauseconvertible preferred stock since we determined that: (i) the registration statements coveringregistering for resale the shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion under the aforementioned instrumentsof such securities would not be declared effective within the requisite time frame; and (ii) that we would not be able to filebecome current in our periodic reports in the requisite time framefiling obligations with the SEC in order to satisfy the public information requirements under the applicable securities purchase agreements. We recorded liquidated damages, including the accrued interest thereon, of $255 in for the three months ended March 31, 2021 primarily from issuance of the same securities as outlined above based upon the reasons set forth above.

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

  Nine Months Ended September 30,  2021 versus 2020 
  2021  2020  $ Change  % Change 
Revenue $127,935,501  $85,593,786  $42,341,715   49.5%
Cost of revenue  83,978,050   76,321,953   7,656,097   10.0%
Gross profit  43,957,451   9,271,833   34,685,618   374.1%
Operating expenses                
Selling and marketing  55,122,357   27,698,182   27,424,175   99.0%
General and administrative  44,230,360   24,852,891   19,377,469   78.0%
Depreciation and amortization  11,981,998   12,276,990   (294,992)  -2.4%
Total operating expenses  111,334,715   64,828,063   46,506,652   71.7%
Loss from operations  (67,377,264)  (55,556,230)  (11,821,034)  21.3%
Total other (expense)  (3,678,952)  (11,646,154)  7,967,202   -68.4%
Loss before income taxes  (71,056,216)  (67,202,384)  (3,853,832)  5.7%
Income taxes  229,699   -   229,699   100.0%
Net loss $(70,826,517) $(67,202,384) $(3,624,133)  5.4%
Deemed dividend on Series H convertible preferred stock  -   (132,663)  132,663   -100.0%
Net loss attributable to common stockholders  (70,826,517)  (67,335,047)  (3,491,470)  5.2%
Basic and diluted net loss per common share $(0.29) $(1.72) $1.43   -83.1%
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – basic and diluted  244,209,151   39,177,864   205,031,287   523.3%

ForWe report our financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the nine months ended September 30, 2021,United States of America (“GAAP”); however, management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide users of our financial information with useful supplemental information that enables a better comparison of our performance across periods. We believe Adjusted EBITDA provides visibility to the totalunderlying continuing operating performance by excluding the impact of certain items that are noncash in nature or not related to our core business operations. We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as net loss, was approximately $70.8 million. The total netadjusted for (i) interest expense, (ii) income taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization, (iv) stock-based compensation, (v) change in derivative valuations, (vi) liquidated damages, (vii) loss increasedon impairment of assets, (viii) professional and vendor fees, and (ix) employee restructuring payments.

Our non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure used by approximately $3.5 millionother companies, has limitations as comparedan analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP. Additionally, we do not consider our non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA as superior to, the nine months ended September 30, 2020, which hador a net loss of approximately $67.3 million. The primary reasonssubstitute for, the increaseequivalent measures calculated and presented in the total net loss is a lease termination charge of approximately $7.3 million and an increase in stock-based compensation of approximately $10.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The basic and diluted net loss per common share for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 of $0.29 decreased from $1.72 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, primarily because our net loss per common share decreased alongaccordance with the increaseGAAP. Some of the daily weighted average shares outstanding to 244,209,151 shares from 39,177,864 shares.limitations is that Adjusted EBITDA:

does not reflect stock-based compensation and, therefore, does not include all of our compensation costs;
does not reflect depreciation and amortization expense and, although this is a noncash expense, the assets being depreciated may have to be replaced in the future, increasing our cash requirements;
does not reflect interest expense, or the cash required to service our debt, which reduces cash available to us;
does not reflect deferred income taxes, which is a noncash expense;

 

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Revenue

The following table sets forth revenue, cost of revenue, and gross profit:

  Nine Months Ended September 30,  2021 versus 2020 
  2021  2020  Change  % Change 
  (percentages reflect cost of revenue as a percentage of total revenue)       
Revenue $127,935,501   100.0% $85,593,786   100.0% $42,341,715   49.5%
Cost of revenue  83,978,050   65.6%  76,321,953   89.2%  7,656,097   10.0%
Gross profit $43,957,451   34.4% $9,271,833   10.8% $34,685,618   374.1%

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we had revenue of approximately $127.9 million, as compared to revenue of approximately $85.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

does not reflect the change in derivative valuations and, although this is a noncash expense, the change in the valuations each reporting period are not impacted by our actual business operations but is instead strongly tied to the change in the market value of our common stock;
does not reflect liquidated damages and, therefore, does not include future cash requirements if we repay the liquidated damages in cash instead of shares of our common stock (which the investor would need to agree to);
does not reflect any losses from the impairment of assets, which is a noncash operating expense;
does not reflect the professional and vendor fees incurred by us for services provided by consultants, accountants, lawyers, and other vendors, which services were related to certain types of events that are not reflective of our business operations; and
does not reflect payments related to employee restructuring changes for our former Chief Executive Officer.

 

The following table sets forth revenue by product line andpresents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss, which is the corresponding percent of total revenue:most directly comparable GAAP measure, for the periods indicated:

 

  Nine Months Ended September 30,  2021 versus 2020 
  2021  2020  Change  % Change 
  (percentages reflect product line as a percentage of total revenue)       
Advertising $46,300,974   36.2% $28,788,631   33.6% $17,512,343   20.5%
Digital subscriptions  22,472,951   17.6%  20,096,640   23.5%  2,376,311   2.8%
Magazine circulation  53,325,894   41.7%  34,041,272   39.8%  19,284,622   22.5%
Other  5,835,682   4.6%  2,667,243   3.1%  3,168,439   3.7%
Total revenue $127,935,501   100.0% $85,593,786   100.0% $42,341,715   49.5%
  Three Months Ended March 31, 
  2022  2021 
Net loss $(18,449) $(25,463)
Add:        
Interest expense (1)  2,820   2,820 
Deferred income taxes  14   - 
Depreciation and amortization (2)  6,513   6,130 
Stock-based compensation (3)  7,367   5,099 
Change in derivative valuations  -   665 
Liquidated damages (4)  172   255 
Loss on impairment of assets (5)  257   - 
Professional and vendor fees (6)  -   1,719 
Employee restructuring payments (7)  174   61 
Adjusted EBITDA $(1,132) $(8,714)

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the primary sources of revenue were as follows: (i) advertising of approximately $46.3 million; (ii) digital subscriptions of approximately $22.5 million; (iii) magazine circulation of approximately $53.3 million; and (iv) approximately $5.8 million from other revenue. Our advertising revenue increased by approximately $17.5 million due to additional revenue of approximately $10.0 million generated as a result of the Sports Illustrated media business, approximately $6.5 million generated as a result of The Spun, which was acquired during the second quarter 2021, and approximately $1.0 million in revenue generated from our other business. Our digital subscriptions increased by approximately $2.4 million due to additional revenue generated by TheStreet. Our magazine circulation increased by approximately $19.3 million as a result of the Sports Illustrated media business. Our other revenue, primarily consisting of licensing and e-commerce revenue, increased by approximately $3.2 million, due to additional revenue of approximately $3.6 generated as a result of the Sports Illustrated media business, offset by an approximately $0.4 million decrease in revenue from our other business.

Cost of Revenue

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we recognized cost of revenue of approximately $84.0 million, a 34% gross profit percentage, compared to approximately $76.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020, representing a 11% gross profit percentage. The increase of approximately $7.7 million in cost of revenue during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 is primarily from increases in: (i) our Publisher Partner guarantees and revenue share payments of approximately $1.7 million; (ii) payroll, stock-based compensation, and related expenses for customer support, technology maintenance, and occupancy costs of related personnel of approximately $4.2 million; (iii) printing, distribution, and fulfillment costs of approximately $0.4 million; (iv) other costs of revenue of approximately $1.1 million; and (v) amortization of our Platform of approximately $0.2 million.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we capitalized costs related to our Platform of approximately $4.4 million, as compared to approximately $4.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the capitalization of our Platform consisted of: (i) approximately $3.0 million in payroll and related expenses, including taxes and benefits; and (ii) approximately $1.3 million in stock-based compensation for related personnel.

(1)Represents interest expense of $2,820 and $2,820, for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Interest expense is related to our capital structure. Interest expense varies over time due to a variety of financing transactions. Interest expense includes $660 and $694 for amortization of debt discounts for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, which are a noncash item and presented in our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. Investors should note that interest expense will recur in future periods.
(2)Represents depreciation and amortization related to our developed technology and Platform included within cost of revenues of $2,311 and $2,167 and depreciation and amortization included within operating expenses of $4,202 and $3,963 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. We believe (i) the amount of depreciation and amortization expense in any specific period may not directly correlate to the underlying performance of our business operations and (ii) such expenses can vary significantly between periods as a result of new acquisitions and full amortization of previously acquired tangible and intangible assets. Investors should note that the use of tangible and intangible assets contributed to revenue in the periods presented and will contribute to future revenue generation and should also note that such expense will recur in future periods.
(3)Represents noncash costs arising from the grant of stock-based awards to employees, consultants and directors. We believe that excluding the effect of stock-based compensation from Adjusted EBITDA assists management and investors in making period-to-period comparisons in our operating performance because (i) the amount of such expenses in any specific period may not directly correlate to the underlying performance of our business operations, and (ii) such expenses can vary significantly between periods as a result of the timing of grants of new stock-based awards, including grants in connection with acquisitions. Additionally, we believe that excluding stock-based compensation from Adjusted EBITDA assists management and investors in making meaningful comparisons between our operating performance and the operating performance of other companies that may use different forms of employee compensation or different valuation methodologies for their stock-based compensation. Investors should note that stock-based compensation is a key incentive offered to employees whose efforts contributed to the operating results in the periods presented and are expected to contribute to operating results in future periods. Investors should also note that such expenses will recur in the future.

 

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Operating Expenses

The following table sets forth operating expenses and the corresponding percentage of total revenue:

  Nine Months Ended September 30,  2021 versus 2020 
  2021  2020  Change  % Change 
  (percentages reflect expense as a percentage of total revenue)       
Selling and marketing $55,122,357   43.1% $27,698,182   32.4% $27,424,175   42.3%
General and administrative  44,230,360   34.6%  24,852,891   29.0%  19,377,469   29.9%
Depreciation and amortization  11,981,998   9.4%  12,276,990   14.3%  (294,992)  -0.5%
Total operating expenses $111,334,715      $64,828,063      $46,506,652   71.7%

Selling and Marketing. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we incurred selling and marketing costs of approximately $55.1 million, as compared to approximately $27.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The increase in selling and marketing costs of approximately $27.4 million is primarily from an increase in circulation costs of approximately $22.4 million; payroll of selling and marketing account management support teams, along with the related benefits and stock-based compensation of approximately $3.3 million; an increase in advertising costs of approximately $1.8 million; an increase in professional and marketing service costs of approximately $1.2 million; an increase in office, travel, conferences and occupancy costs of approximately $0.3 million; less a decrease in other selling and marketing related costs of approximately $1.0 million.

General and Administrative. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we incurred general and administrative costs of approximately $44.2 million from payroll and related expenses, professional services, occupancy costs, stock-based compensation of related personnel, depreciation and amortization, and other corporate expense, as compared to approximately $24.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The increase in general and administrative expenses of approximately $19.4 million is primarily from an increase in our payroll, along with the related benefits and stock-compensation of approximately $8.4 million; an increase in professional services, including accounting, legal and insurance of approximately $3.1 million; an increase in facilities costs related to the lease termination of approximately $7.1 million; and an increase in other general corporate expenses of approximately $0.8 million.

Other (Expenses) Income

The following table sets forth other (expense) income:

  Nine Months Ended September 30,  2021 versus 2020 
  2021  2020  Change  % Change 
  (percentages reflect other (expense) income as a percentage of the total)       
Change in valuation of warrant derivative liabilities $496,812   -13.5% $(134,910)  1.2% $631,722   -5.4%
Change in valuation of embedded derivative liabilities  -   0.0%  2,173,000   -18.7%  (2,173,000)  18.7%
Interest expense  (7,695,317)  209.2%  (12,169,315)  104.4%  4,480,011   -38.4%
Interest income  471  0.0%  4,499   0.0%  (10,041)  0.0%
Liquidated damages  (2,197,615)  59.7%  (1,487,577)  12.8%  (710,038)  6.1%
Other expense  -   0.0%  (31,851)  0.3%  31,851   -0.3%
Gain upon debt extinguishment  5,716,697   -155.4%  -   0.0%  5,716,697   -49.1%
Total other (expense) $(3,678,952)  100.0% $(11,646,154)  100.0% $7,967,202   -68.4%

Change in Valuation of Warrant Derivative Liabilities. There was approximately $0.6 million increase in noncash income related the change in the valuation of the warrant derivative liabilities for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the prior year period.

36(4)Represents damages (or interest expense related to accrued liquidated damages) we owe to certain of our investors in private placements offerings conducted in fiscal years 2018 through 2020, pursuant to which we agreed to certain covenants in the respective securities purchase agreements and registration rights agreements, including the filing of resale registration statements and becoming current in our reporting obligations, which we were not able to timely meet.
(5)Represents our impairment of certain assets that no longer are useful.
(6)Represents professional and vendor fees recorded in connection with services provided by consultants, accountants, lawyers, and other vendors related to the preparation of periodic reports in order for us to become current in our reporting obligations (“Delinquent Reporting Obligations Services”). With respect to the Delinquent Reporting Obligations Services, we incurred professional and vendor fees in the first quarter of 2021 related to the preparation of our annual reports for fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (which contained the financial information for the quarterly periods during fiscal 2019), and our quarterly reports fiscal 2020. The amount of fees incurred in connection with the Delinquent Reporting Obligations Services is adjusted based on our best estimate of the amount we expect we would ordinarily incur to meet our reporting obligations pursuant to the Exchange Act.
(7)Represents severance payments to our former Chief Executive Officer for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.

Change in Valuation of Embedded Derivative Liabilities. There was approximately $2.2 million decrease in noncash income related the change in the valuation of the embedded derivative liabilities for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the prior year period.

Interest Expense. We incurred interest expense of approximately $7.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to approximately $12.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The decrease in interest expense of approximately $4.5 million is primarily from an increase of approximately $0.5 million of other interest; less a decrease of approximately $1.6 million of accrued interest and a decrease of the amortization of debt discount on notes payable of approximately $3.4 million.

Liquidated Damages. We recorded liquidated damages of approximately $2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, primarily from issuance of our 12% Convertible Debentures, Series H Preferred Stock, Series I Preferred Stock, and Series J Preferred Stock issued during 2020. The liquidated damages were recognized because we determined that: (i) registration statements covering the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion under the aforementioned instruments would not be declared effective within the requisite time frame; and (ii) that we would not be able to file our periodic reports in the requisite time frame with the SEC in order to satisfy the public information requirements under the securities purchase agreements.

Gain Upon Debt Extinguishment. We recorded a gain upon debt extinguishment of $5,716,697 (including accrued interest) pursuant to the forgiveness of the Paycheck Protection Program Loan for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Not applicable to a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of SEC Regulation S-K.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive officer(s) and principal financial officer(s), or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

In accordance with Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15, an evaluation was completed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report. Based on that evaluation, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of such date in providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act was recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

 

Management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, continues to implement procedures intended to remediate the material weaknesses identified as of September 30, 2021. During fiscal 2020, we engaged external certified public accountants to assist our accounting department and Chief Financial Officer in preparing the necessary periodic reports. In TheStreet merger, we also acquired some additional employees with accounting experience that has assisted us with preparing our periodic reports. Finally, we recently hired a Chief Accounting Officer to assist with the preparation of our periodic reports. We believe our accounting department is now capable of ensuring that we remain current with our periodic filing obligations. In addition, our Audit Committee is now assisting our Board in fulfilling its responsibility to oversee (i) the integrity of our financial statements, our accounting and financial reporting processes, and financial statement audits, (ii) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (iii) our systems of internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, (iv) the engagement of our independent registered public accounting firm, and its qualifications, performance, compensation, and independence, (v) review and approval of related party transactions, and (vi) the communication among our independent registered public accounting firm, our financial and senior management, and our Board.

In addition, we intend to undertake the following additional remediation measures to address the material weaknesses described in this Quarterly Report:

(i)we intend to update the documentation of our internal control processes, including formal risk assessment of our financial reporting processes; and
(ii)we intend to implement procedures pursuant to which we can ensure segregation of duties and hire additional resources to ensure appropriate review and oversight.

We will continue to evaluate and implement procedures as deemed appropriate to remediate these material weaknesses; however, we expect that the remediation of those matters that were deemed material weaknesses will be fully complete no later than December 31, 2021.

37

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

In connection with our continued monitoring and maintenance of our controls procedures as part of the implementation of Section 404 of the Sarbanes, we continue to review, test, and improve the effectiveness of our internal controls. There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the three months ended September 30, 2021March 31, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

32

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time, we may be subject to claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. We are not currently subject to any pending or threatened legal proceedings that we believe would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There are numerous factors that affect our business and operating results, many of which are beyond our control. The risk factors described in Part I, “Item IA. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2020,2021, should be carefully considered, together with the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with SEC in connection with evaluating us, our business and the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Additional risks and uncertainties not known to us at present, or that we currently deem immaterial, may affect us. The occurrence of any of these known or unknown risks could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

None.The following sets forth certain unregistered sales of our equity securities during the three months ended March 31, 2021 through the date of filing this Quarterly Report that have not been previously disclosed:

On March 7, 2022, we issued 88,188 shares of common stock to Mr. Ross Levinsohn in connection with the vesting of outstanding restricted stock units. The per share fair value on the issuance date was $8.36. In connection with the issuance, we withheld an additional 67,023 shares of common stock for taxes due which were withhold at a per share fair value of $8.28. The issuance was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof as a transaction not involving a public offering.

On March 22, 2022, we issued 34,500 shares of our common stock upon the conversion of 250 shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock. The issuances were exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof and Regulation D promulgated thereunder as transactions not involving a public offering.

On March 23, 2022, we issued 16,760 shares of our common stock pursuant to the asset purchase agreement, dated March 9, 2020, by and between us and Petametrics Inc., doing business as LiftIgniter. The per share fair value on the issuance date was $9.51. The issuance was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof as a transaction not involving a public offering.

On March 22, 2022, we issued 34,500 shares of our common stock upon the conversion of 250 shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock. The issuances were exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof and Regulation D promulgated thereunder as transactions not involving a public offering.

On March 25, 2022, we issued 1,380 shares of our common stock upon the conversion of 10 shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock. The issuances were exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof and Regulation D promulgated thereunder as transactions not involving a public offering.

On April 1, 2022, we issued 314,103 shares of our common stock pursuant to the stock purchase agreement, dated April 1, 2022, by and between us and Athlon Holdings, Inc. The number of shares issued was based on the average closing price of our common stock on the 10 trading days preceding April 1, 2022, the closing date. The per share fair value on the issuance date was $10.00. The issuance was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof as a transaction not involving a public offering.

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

33

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

The following documents are filed as part of this Quarterly Report:

 

38

Exhibit

Number

 Description of Document
   
3.1 Certificate of EliminationAmendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of DesignationIncorporation, filed with the Secretary of Series F Convertible Preferred Stock,State of the State of Delaware on January 20, 2022, and which was filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 13, 2021.January 26, 2022.
   
3.2 Certificate of EliminationCorrection of the Certificate of DesignationAmendment of Series I Convertible Preferred Stock,the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 26, 2022, and which was filed as Exhibit 3.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 13, 2021January 26, 2022..
   
3.3 Certificate of EliminationCorrection of the Certificate of DesignationAmendment of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock,the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 3, 2022, and which was filed as Exhibit 3.33.9 to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to our Current ReportRegistration Statement on Form 8-KS-1 (File No. 333-262111) filed on September 13, 2021.
3.4Certificate of Elimination of the Certificate of Designation of Series K Convertible Preferred Stock, which was filed as Exhibit 3.4 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 13, 2021.February 9, 2022.
   
10.1 Amended Consulting Agreement,Bonus Letter, dated June 3,October 6, 2021, by and between the Company Maven Coalition, Inc., and James C. Heckman Jr.,Ross Levinsohn, which was filed as Exhibit 10.10310.1 to our Registration StatementCurrent Report on Form S-18-K filed on October 29, 2021.January 10, 2022.
   
10.2 General ReleaseAmendment No. 1 to Second Amended and Continuing ObligationsRestated executive Employment Agreement, dated June 3,December 22, 2021, by and between the Company Maven Coalition, Inc., and James C. Heckman Jr.,Ross Levinsohn, which was filed as Exhibit 10.10410.2 to our Registration StatementCurrent Report on Form S-18-K filed on October 29, 2021.January 10, 2022.
   
10.3 Amendment to 2016Form of Stock Incentive Plan OptionPurchase Agreement, dated June 3, 2021,January 24, 2022, by and between the Company and James C. Heckman Jr.,several stockholders, which was filed as Exhibit 10.10510.1 to our Registration StatementCurrent Report on Form S-18-K filed on October 29, 2021.January 28, 2022.
   
10.4 Amendment No. 4 to 2019 Stock Incentive Plan OptionSecond Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated June 3, 2021,as of January 23, 2022, by and betweenamong the Company, Maven Coalition, Inc., TheStreet, Inc., Maven Media Brands, LLC, College Spun Media Incorporated, and James C. Heckman Jr.BRF Finance Co., LLC as Agent and Purchaser, which was filed as Exhibit 10.10510.2 to our Registration StatementCurrent Report on Form S-18-K filed on October 29, 2021.January 28, 2022.
   
10.5*10.5 Asset Purchase AgreementForm of Amendment to Options Agreements by and between the Company and Fulltime Fantasy Sports,Douglas Smith, which was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 24, 2022.
10.5Underwriting Agreement, dated February 10, 2022, by and between the Company and B. Riley Securities, Inc., as representative of the several underwriters, which was filed as Exhibit 1.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 11, 2022.
10.6Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated May 2, 2022, by and between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, dated July 15, 2021.which was filed as Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 3, 2022.
   
31.1* Chief Executive Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
31.2* Chief Financial Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
32.1* Chief Executive Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
32.2* Chief Financial Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
101.INS** Inline XBRL Instance Document
   
101.SCH** Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
   
101.CAL** Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
   
101.LAB** Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
   
101.PRE** Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
   
101.DEF** Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

* Filed herewith.

 

** In accordance with Regulation S-T, the XBRL related information on Exhibit No. 101 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q shall be deemed “furnished” herewith but not “filed”.

3934

SIGNATURES

 

In accordance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 TheMaven,The Arena Group Holdings, Inc.
  
Date: November 15, 2021May 4, 2022By:/s/ ROSS LEVINSOHN
  Ross Levinsohn
  Chief Executive Officer
  (Principal Executive Officer)
Date: November 15, 2021May 4, 2022By:/s/ SPIROS CHRISTOFORATOS
  Spiros Christoforatos
  Chief Accounting Officer
  (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

4035