EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1621672
Filing Year: 2023
Filename: 1621672_10-K_2023_0001437749-23-008795.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business
Overview
Super League Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: SLGG) (“Super League,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) is a leading publisher of games, monetization tools and content channels across metaverse gaming platforms that empower developers, energize players, and entertain fans. The Company’s solutions provide incomparable access to an audience consisting of players in the largest global metaverse game environments, fans of hundreds of thousands of gaming influencers, and viewers of gameplay content across major social media and digital video platforms. Fueled by proprietary and patented technology systems, the Company’s platform includes access to vibrant in-game communities, a leading metaverse advertising platform, a network of highly viewed channels and original shows on Instagram, TikTok, Snap, YouTube, and Twitch, cloud-based livestream production tools, and an award-winning esports invitational tournament series. Super League’s properties deliver powerful opportunities for brands and advertisers to achieve impactful insights and marketing outcomes with gamers of all ages.
We generate revenue from (i) innovative advertising including immersive game world and experience publishing and in-game media products, (ii) direct to consumer offers, including in-game items, e-commerce, game passes and ticketing and digital collectibles, and (iii) content and technology through the production and distribution of our own, advertiser and third-party content. We operate in one reportable segment to reflect the way management and our chief operating decision maker review and assess the performance of the business.
Our Strategy
We believe that virtual world platforms are where the next generation lives and are a launchpad of unlimited new interactive worlds and content. In a world of blended physical-to-digital lives and smarter, more immersive screens, consumer expectations are increasing for more customized and personalized digital experiences, changing the way consumers will socialize, play, create, collaborate, shop, learn and work.
While our roots are in open gaming platforms where interactive worlds were first spawned, we believe our success is in the creation, growth, and monetization of digital experiences across the wider immersive web landscape. Super League’s vision is to build the most comprehensive immersive web publishing engine and driver of the next generation of digital platform businesses and experiences.
Built on a powerful foundation of unmatched capabilities, solutions and software platforms that have driven consistent success for innovative brand experiences, creator growth and monetization, and significant consumer engagement, our scalable, vertically-integrated engine offers:
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Successful owned and third-party publishing worlds, experiences and destinations;
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Innovative marketing solutions for brands and developers; and
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Valued tools and services for creators and developers.
Our Business
As an early-mover creating engaging experiences inside of metaverse, or “open world,” game platforms since 2015, Super League has converted our deep understanding of young gamers into significant audience reach in virtual world gaming platforms. We believe we have successfully iterated our business model through these market insights, and our organic and inorganic growth to establish scale and ultimately drive our monetization strategies. Our strong and growing product-market fit currently reaches over 100 million monthly unique players in Roblox, Minecraft and Fortnite and generates over one billion monthly impressions. Our software supports the creation and operation of our owned and third-party metaverse gaming worlds and experiences, along with creator tools and analytics underpinned by a creator economy. These tools enable Super League to access these extended audiences with our innovative in-game and in-stream ad products, and allow our game designers and content creators to participate in our advertising economy. Our analytics suite provides Super League, brands and advertisers, and game developers data that informs campaign measurement and insights, along with enhanced game design. Beyond our primary advertising revenue stream, we have the opportunity to extend further downstream in the metaverse gaming worlds we operate, and generate direct to consumer revenues. In addition, our platform, and our capability to produce compelling gaming-centric video and livestream broadcasts drives viewership to our own and our brand partner’s digital channels, and generates content production and syndication revenues from third party partners.
Specifically, Super League’s digital experience and media products provide a wide range of solutions for brands and advertisers. From branded in-game experiences, through to custom content and media, Super League can provide end-to-end solutions for brands to acquire customers, deepen brand affinity and deliver campaign performance with innovative advertising inventory. As Super League has scaled in both metaverse player and viewing audience reach, we have experienced growth in both the average revenue size of advertiser programs, along with a strong percentage of repeat buyers, while upholding our premium cost per impressions (“CPM”) advertising rates and margins, further validating a new premium social marketing channel for advertisers to reach elusive Generation Z and Alpha gamers. Additionally, our capability and proprietary technology is now being applied to new virtual world platforms beyond our core offering and is proving to be an enterprise solution for our owned and branded digital experiences that are less temporal and campaign-centric, generating revenue opportunities that are more diversified, annual in nature and less impacted by traditional advertising seasonality.
Digital Properties and Offerings
Our gaming content and media network is underpinned by our proprietary tech and applied to much of our owned and operated consumer properties as well. Our consumer facing digital properties include:
Minehut: Attracting younger gamers and creators, Minehut is an "always on" social and gaming portal and one of the largest server farms for advanced, avid Minecraft players in the world. Within Minehut is a vibrant community in which players create their own Minecraft worlds to share, socialize and play with friends in addition to Super League operated communal game lobbies for enhanced gaming and social experiences that serve as a portal for branded experiences and advertising.
Mineville & Pixel Paradise: Through a relationship with Microsoft, the owner of Minecraft, we operate two additional Minecraft server worlds for more casual players enjoying the game on consoles and tablets. Two of only seven partner servers with Microsoft that, while “free to play,” monetize the players through in-game micro transactions, such as gameplay passes and durable goods which run through the Microsoft marketplace.
Super League Arcade & ABX: Our more recently launched owned and operated game worlds in Roblox, these open-world games are targeted to more competitive esports gamers and anime enthusiasts respectively. These game worlds attract targeted players and offer a channel for brands and advertisers, along with in-game player transactions, such as gameplay passes and durable goods through the Roblox marketplace.
Framerate: Framerate is a fast-growing social video network in gaming, generating tens of millions of monthly views, with multiple channels across social media, namely Instagram and Tik Tok. Targeting more young-adult gamers and creators, Framerate enables gamers to submit their own user-generated highlight reel for recognition, and channels for us to package and monetize to meet advertisers’ objectives.
Our brand partner and creator facing digital properties include:
Super Games: One of the preeminent game creation resources in virtual world game platforms, our Super Games publishing capability provides bespoke game development and custom game experiences within our owned and affiliate game worlds and is a power source connecting our developer network to our brand partners.
Super Biz: Our proprietary suite of metaverse media products and analytics connecting brands and advertisers to hundreds of Roblox games and our extensive Minecraft audiences. Through our technology, we partner with game developers to bring innovative ad inventory and custom brand experiences into game worlds, allowing developers to participate in our advertising economy and benefit from our analytics to continually enhance player experience.
Super Studios: Super Studios is our fully virtual production studio providing state-of-the-art, scalable solutions for video, television, and branded content, powered by our patented Super View technology, offering a browser-based, fully remote control room solution. Whether for the creation and broadcast of premium content, or monitoring productions from remote locations, Super Studios and Super View are an innovative, affordable solution to deliver compelling content to meet advertiser objectives and generate additional sources of revenue.
Super Mob: Our experience and accessible pool of gaming influencers, both on and off platform, allows us to offer a full 360-soltuion for brands and advertisers. This advertising amplification not only allows us to maximize campaign objectives, but also to obtain a greater share of advertisers’ wallets with our end-to-end solution, increasing our related revenue generating opportunities.
Monetization
Innovative Advertising
The highly sought-after Generation Z and Alpha audience is increasingly difficult for brands to reach due to the fragmentation of content distribution channels, ad-blocking technology and a sentiment against overt marketing and promotion. Our ability to uniquely aggregate a diverse, global user base across young age ranges, skill levels and game genres and embed direct, authentic branded product placement creates a base of high-quality, premium advertising inventory attractive to brands and advertisers. We stand for inclusive, fair and fun gameplay and entertainment and believe that our brand is at the forefront of the new, more social and creation-centric gaming experience, providing a positive access point for both endemic and non-endemic brands to reach these mainstream audiences.
We have experienced significant organic and inorganic growth in our audience, further expanding our premium advertising inventory, increasing deal-sizes and strong repeat buying across the advertiser verticals of retail, entertainment, toys, fashion, consumer packaged goods, and automotive. We further developed our in-house direct sales capability to monetize our domestic experiential and media inventory and launched a global network of resellers to sell our international media inventory on our behalf.
Our various advertiser offerings include:
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Dedicated, on-platform experiential spaces;
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Custom integrations into existing, popular games;
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In-game media placement including digital billboards, 3-D ad products, portals and catalogue units;
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In-game branded digital goods;
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Display and video advertising;
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Social amplification through influencer partnerships;
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In-stream and in-video custom and banner ad products;
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Entertainment and competitive play broadcasts, on-demand clips and other custom content;
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Brand lift studies, performance reporting and advanced analytics; and
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Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act (“COPPA”) compliant and kidSAFE-verified inventory.
Direct to Consumer
Direct to consumer revenues are comprised of revenues generated from the growing number of Minecraft and Roblox virtual gaming worlds we operate. An increasing part of our revenue diversification strategy, consumer monetization includes in-game items, e-commerce, game passes and ticketing, and digital collectibles.
Content & Technology
As part of our strategy to provide an end-to-end solution for advertiser objectives, Super Studios and Super View augment our advertiser offer to take a greater share of campaign dollars. Additionally, we leverage our technology and capability to generate content production revenues with third-parties and support our ability to syndicate and monetize our sizable library of our own and player-generated entertainment content.
Industry
According to Statista (2022), there are over 3 billion gamers on the planet and more than 500 million monthly active players in metaverse, open-world game platforms, namely Roblox, Minecraft and Fortnite. Generation Z spends 7.2 hours per week hanging out with friends in immersive spaces, two times more than in real life per the Newzoo Gen Z & Alpha report (2022), which is relevant to advertisers. Per Newzoo (2022), immersive content warrants a 252% higher engagement rate, and 33% of 13 to 39 year olds say their virtual life influences their real-world life interests.
Other notable trends that amplify these statistics:
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The rise of metaverse, open-world gaming as preferred social channels that go way beyond the traditional concept of gaming;
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The democratization of content creation, launching self-produced social content platforms and new creator economies;
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The further disaggregation of content and increasing underperformance of traditional digital advertising channels forcing advertisers to find new solutions;
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With smarter screens, an increasing consumer expectation for more personalized, customized and interactive web experiences;
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Cross-generational reach of gaming as a lifestyle trend placing it at the intersection of pop culture, cutting broadly across dimensions, and;
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Younger generations live a blended life where digital and physical personas are viewed as one, driving cross-over consumer preference.
Our Scalable Technology Platform
Our platform is focused on the creator and player journey and provides innovative ways for brands and advertisers to engage with audiences of gaming enthusiasts. We access players and creators through our vast network of digital game worlds and content channels and then drive them into branded digital experiences through our media products and creator tools. Our proprietary cloud-based platform serves three core functions (i) advertising technology (ii) metaverse game experience and tournament technology, and (iii) fully remote production and livestream broadcast technology. Furthermore, our platform enables digital tools for scale, including, but not limited to, data services, event creation and management, ecommerce, advertising technology, COPPA compliance, search engine optimization, and email and mobile marketing.
Our advertising technology, both in the size of monetizable ad products and the creator tool suite, was materially expanded with the acquisitions of Bloxbiz Co. (doing business as, and hereinafter referred to as “Super Biz”) and Bannerfy, Ltd. (rebranded to “Super Biz”) during the year ended December 31, 2021 (“Fiscal Year 2021”). In addition to Super League’s original owned and operated consumer reach, including, but not limited to, Minehut, our Roblox games worlds and Framerate, advertisers can now reach tens of millions of monthly metaverse players in-game through our distributed game world network and hundreds of millions of viewers in-stream distributed across social media channels including YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. This, coupled with custom brand integrations and content, powerful campaign analytics and insights and compliance, offers an immersive and high-performing marketing channel for brands and advertisers. Specifically, our turnkey metaverse ad products are a progressive and differentiated way for advertisers to embed natively into games through dynamic digital billboards, interactive 3-D characters, and portals to access their target audience by enhancing the gaming experience without interrupting the play itself. These are high-performing ad units; for example, our digital billboard impressions are ten seconds of cumulative view time offering a best-in-class benchmark for in-game advertising. In addition, we ensure viewability with advanced technology that observes if ads are on screen, unobstructed, meet a screen coverage threshold, and other requirements set by Interactive Advertising Bureau (“IAB”) which translates into our premium CPM business model.
Additionally, a core differentiator for Super League is our ability to deliver Roblox metaverse game worlds and experiences along with bespoke tournaments and entertainment content through our Super Studio’s game technology and capability. Beyond our hundreds of Roblox partner game worlds, we have deepened our internal capability to create compelling gaming and custom metaverse Minecraft experiences for our player bases in our Minehut, Mineville and Pixel Paradise properties, as well as extending that capability to virtual world platforms such as Fortnite and The Sandbox.
Finally, from our earliest inception we utilized a local hardware solution to create interactive physical spaces for in-person gaming experiences. In doing so, we created a second-screen perspective that would make the experience more immersive for players and entertaining for spectators, much like professional sporting events, resulting in our Super Studios capability powered by Super View, our patented, fully-remote visualization, production and broadcast technology. Super View automates and scales various gameplay processes and functions that would otherwise need to be accomplished manually. These processes and functions primarily include ways to ensure that visualizations of gameplay and other value-added data and graphics are both captured and delivered efficiently and timely supported by computer vision to glean key events, graphics and data from the game screen. Since COVID-19, we have augmented our virtual control room with remote monitoring and communications and enhanced broadcast-level graphics, for an end-to-end, cloud-based production system built around Super View’s proprietary workflow.
Our Growth Strategy
Our core strategy is to further monetize the audience reach we have built on existing metaverse, or “open-world” game platforms and begin applying that smart backbone to other virtual world engines for extended reach and diversification of revenues. We have several leverage points including:
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Deepen our owned metaverse game worlds to grow direct to consumer revenues.
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Grow our publishing, media and creator tool suite to expand audience and further drive average advertiser deal-size.
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Expand and optimize our global network of sales partnerships to further monetize our international audience reach.
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Increase domestic sales force effectiveness resulting in higher salesperson throughput and net revenue.
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Move beyond our advertising model by applying our end-to-end immersive experience and media engine to new platforms for ownable and third-party intellectual property for greater control and share of the consumer experience, digital economy, digital to physical crossover, and first-party data.
Intellectual Property and Patents
Similar to other interactive entertainment and esports companies, our business depends heavily on the creation, acquisition, licensing, use and protection of intellectual property. We have developed and own various intellectual properties, including pending and issued trademarks, patents, and copyrights. We also have obtained licenses to valuable intellectual property with game publishers. We leverage these licenses and service agreements to operate online and location-based competitions, and in parallel, use them to generate a wide array of content.
As of the date of this Report, we have one pending patent application and five issued patents, and various trademark applications, most of which are granted and some of which are currently pending, covering our technologies and brands, as more specifically set forth below. We intend to file additional applications for the grant of patents and registration of our trademarks in the United States and foreign jurisdictions as our business expands. Our issued patents relate to methods of visualization of gameplay across a wide array of game titles for the purpose of content creation and broadcasting. These visualizations manifest as web streams with related textual, graphical, and video content targeted for consumption by audiences across various streaming and VOD platforms such as Twitch and YouTube. To achieve these visualizations, we leverage patent protected technology that places “camera” characters into certain games alongside the competing players, and use the perspective of the ‘camera’ character to provide unique views into the action. We also have pending patent applications for certain bleeding edge virtualization methods that allow us to generate, at scale, many concurrent visualizations from the cloud.
To protect our intellectual property, we rely on a combination of patent applications, published and issued patents, copyrights, pending and issued trademarks, confidentiality provisions and procedures, other contractual provisions, trade secret laws, and restrictions on disclosure. We intend to vigorously protect our technology and proprietary rights; however, no assurances can be given that our efforts will be successful. Even if our efforts are successful, we may incur significant costs in defending our rights. From time to time, third parties may initiate litigation against us, alleging infringement of their proprietary rights or claiming they have not infringed our intellectual property rights. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” for additional information regarding the risks we face with respect to litigation related to intellectual property claims.
Our Corporate Values and Company Culture
Super League is a creator-first company, a credo embraced by every employee. We are committed to empowering our creators, energizing our players and entertaining fans through our vibrant and immersive gameplay experiences, innovative creator tools and viewing entertainment. Because we have successfully built our own metaverse gaming worlds and content network over the course of several years, we deeply understand the ecosystem of players and creators and what it takes to help brands and advertisers navigate this this new social channel in an authentic and engaging way. Our corporate brand values are:
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We fearlessly pioneer.
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We excite creativity.
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We ignite connections.
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We live where we play.
Seasonality
Our revenue fluctuates quarterly and is generally higher in the second half of our fiscal year, with the fourth quarter typically representing our highest revenue quarter each year. Advertising spending is traditionally seasonally strong in the second half of each year, reflecting the impact of seasonal back to school, game release and holiday season advertising spending by brands and advertisers. We believe that this seasonality in advertising spending affects our quarterly results, which generally reflect relatively higher advertising revenue in second half of each year, compared to the first half of the year.
Employees and Labor Relations
As of December 31, 2022, we had 101 full-time and full-time equivalent employees. Additionally, we occasionally enter into service agreements with independent contractors, on an as-needed basis, to perform certain services. As of December 31, 2022, four of our full-time employees were subject to fixed-term employment agreements with us, and all other employees served at-will pursuant to the terms set forth in their offer letters.
We believe that we maintain a good working relationship with our employees, and we have not experienced any labor disputes. None of our employees are represented by labor unions.
Governmental Regulation
Our online gaming platforms, which target individuals ranging from elementary school age children to adults, are subject to laws and regulations relating to privacy and child protection. Through our website, online platforms and in person gaming activities we may monitor and collect certain information about child users of these forums. A variety of laws and regulations have been adopted in recent years aimed at protecting children using the internet, such as COPPA. COPPA sets forth, among other things, a number of restrictions related to what information may be collected with respect to children under the age of 13, as the kinds of content that website operators may present to children under such age. There are also a variety of laws and regulations governing individual privacy and the protection and use of information collected from individuals, particularly in relation to an individual’s personally identifiable information (e.g., credit card numbers). We employ a kick-out procedure during user registration whereby anyone identifying themselves as being under the age of 13 during the process is not allowed to register for a player account on our website or participate in any of our online experiences or tournaments without linking their account to that of a parent or guardian.
In addition, as a part of our experiences, we offer prizes and/or gifts as incentives to play. The federal Deceptive Mail Prevention and Enforcement Act and certain state prize, gift or sweepstakes statutes may apply to certain experiences we run from time to time, and other federal and state consumer protection laws applicable to online collection, use and dissemination of data, and the presentation of website or other electronic content, may require us to comply with certain standards for notice, choice, security and access. We believe that we are in compliance with any applicable law or regulation when we run these experiences.
Cost of Compliance with Environmental Laws
We have not incurred any costs associated with compliance with environmental regulations, nor do we anticipate any future costs associated with environmental compliance; however, no assurances can be given that we will not incur such costs in the future.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the other information in this Report, including our financial statements and the related notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” before deciding whether to invest in our common stock. The occurrence of any of the events or developments described below could harm our business, financial condition, operating results, and growth prospects. In such an event, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations.
Risk Factor Summary
Our business operations are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those outside of our control, that could cause our business, financial condition or operating results to be harmed, including risks regarding the following:
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
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our significant past operating losses and any inability to maintain profitability or accurately predict fluctuations in the future;
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a rapidly developing and relatively new market;
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inability to sustain or manage our growth, or otherwise implement our business strategies;
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loss of advertising revenue;
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inability to maintain an effective revenue model;
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reduction in activity by material clients and/or vendors;
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ineffective marketing and/or advertising efforts;
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our ability to maintain and promote our company culture;
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competition in our industry;
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ability to attract, maintain, and retain licenses for popular games on our platforms;
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ability to enter into definitive license agreements with certain game publishers;
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ability to maintain and acquire new users and creators;
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our ability to maintain, enhance, and promote our brand;
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negative perceptions about our brand, platform, content, leagues, tournaments, and/or competitions;
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anticipating and adopting changes to new technologies, business strategies, and/or methods;
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actual or perceived security breaches, as well as errors, vulnerabilities or defects in our software and/or products, and in software and/or products of third-party providers;
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reliance on server functionality;
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the interoperability of our products and services across third-party services and systems;
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security breaches and cyber threats;
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system failures, outages, and/or disruption due to certain events and interruptions by man-made problems;
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our ability to hire, retain and motivate highly skilled personnel; and
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our reliance on assumptions and estimates to calculate certain key metrics.
Regulatory and Legal
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complex and evolving U.S. and foreign laws and regulations;
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changes in tax laws or regulations regarding us or our customers;
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decreased levels of traffic due to intensified government regulation of the Internet industry;
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liability in the event of a violation of privacy regulations, data privacy laws, and/or child protection laws;
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lawsuits or liability arising as a result of the Company providing its products and/or services; and
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lawsuits or liability as a result of content published through our products and services.
Intellectual Property and Technology
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current and future litigation related to intellectual property rights;
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our failure to protect our intellectual property rights; and
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piracy, unauthorized copying, and other forms of intellectual property infringement.
Governance Risks and Risks Related to Our Common Stock
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provisions of Delaware law and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us;
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low trading volume of our common stock;
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the volatility of the trading price of our common stock;
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our policy of not paying cash dividends on our common stock;
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lessened disclosure requirements due to our status as an emerging growth company; and
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increased share-based compensation expense due to granted equity awards.
General Risk Factors
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actual or threatened epidemics, pandemics, outbreaks, or other public health crises;
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changes in the state of the U.S. economy and a return to volatile or recessionary conditions; and
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risks generally associated with the entertainment industry.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
We have incurred significant losses since our inception, and we may continue to experience losses in the future.
Including a noncash goodwill impairment charge of $50.3 million recorded during the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company incurred net losses of $85.5 million and $20.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Noncash expense totaled $60.6 million and $5.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, we had an accumulated deficit of $210.7 million (including fiscal year 2022 noncash goodwill impairment charges of $50.3 million). We cannot predict if we will achieve profitability soon or at all. We expect to continue to expend substantial financial and other resources on, among other things:
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investments to expand and enhance our esports technology platform and technology infrastructure, make improvements to the scalability, availability and security of our platform, and develop new offerings;
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sales and marketing, including expanding our customer acquisition and sales organization and marketing programs, and expanding our programs directed at increasing our brand awareness among current and new customers;
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investments in bandwidth to support our video streaming functionality;
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contract labor costs and other costs to host our leagues and tournaments;
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costs to retain and attract users and creators and license first tier game titles, grow our online user community and generally expand our business operations;
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hiring additional employees;
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expansion of our operations and infrastructure, both domestically and internationally; and
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general administration, including legal, accounting and other costs related to being a public company.
We may not generate sufficient revenue to offset such costs to achieve or sustain profitability in the future. We expect to continue to invest heavily in our operations, our online and in person experiences, and business development related to game publishers, advertisers, sponsors and user acquisition, to maintain as well as accelerate our market position, support anticipated future growth and to meet our expanded reporting and compliance obligations as a public company.
We intend to continue implementing our business strategy with the expectation that there will be no material adverse developments in our business, liquidity or capital requirements. If one or more of these factors do not occur as expected, it could have a material adverse impact on our activities, including (i) reduction or delay of our business activities, (ii) forced sales of material assets, (iii) defaults on our obligations, or (iv) insolvency. Our planned investments may not result in increased revenue or growth of our business. We cannot assure you that we will be able to generate revenue sufficient to offset our expected cost increases and planned investments in our business and platform. If we fail to achieve and sustain profitability, then we may not be able to achieve our business plan, fund our business or continue as a going concern. Our independent registered public accountants have expressed that substantial doubt exits as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Our business is highly competitive and subject to rapid changes. We face significant competition to attract and retain our users, developers, and creators that we anticipate will continue to intensify. Should we fail to attract and retain users, developers, and creators, our business and results of operations may suffer.
We compete for both users, developers, and creators. We compete to attract and retain our users’ attention on the basis of our content and user experiences. We compete for users and their engagement hours with global technology leaders such as Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Google, Microsoft, and Tencent, global entertainment companies such as Comcast, Disney, and ViacomCBS, online content platforms including Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube, as well as social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Snap.
We rely on developers to create the content that leads to and maintains user engagement (including maintaining the quality of experiences). We compete to attract and retain developers by providing developers the tools to easily build, publish, operate, and monetize content. We compete for developers and engineering talent with gaming and metaverse platforms such as Epic Games, Unity, Meta Platforms, and Valve Corporation, which also give developers the ability to create or distribute interactive content.
We do not have any agreements with our developers that require them to continue to use our platform for any time period. In the future, if we are unable to continue to provide value to these developers and they have alternative methods to publish and commercialize their offerings, they may not continue to provide content to our platform. Should we fail to provide compelling advantages to continued use of our ecosystem to developers, they may elect to develop content on competing interactive entertainment platforms. If a significant number of our developers no longer provide content, we may experience an overall reduction in the quality of our experiences, which could adversely affect users’ interest in our platform and lead to a loss of revenue opportunities and harm our results of operations.
Many of our existing competitors have, and some of our potential competitors could have, substantial competitive advantages, such as:
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larger sales and marketing budgets and resources;
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broader and more established relationships with users, developers, and creators;
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greater resources to make acquisitions and enter into strategic partnerships;
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lower labor and research and development costs;
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larger and more mature intellectual property portfolios; and
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substantially greater financial, technical, and other resources.
We expect competition to continue to increase in the future. Conditions in our market could change rapidly and significantly as a result of technological advancements, the emergence of new entrants into the market, partnering or acquisitions by our competitors, continuing market consolidation, or changing developer, creator and user preferences, which can be difficult to predict or prepare for. Our competitors vary in size, and some may have substantially broader and more diverse offerings or may be able to adopt more lucrative payment policies or structures for developers. Failure to adequately identify and adapt to these competitive pricing pressures could negatively impact our business.
We may not be able to sustain our rapid growth, effectively manage our anticipated future growth or implement our business strategies.
We have a limited operating history as a gaming-focused content and entertainment platform, and have experienced substantial growth in the last 12 months due, in large part, to the acquisitions we completed during the year ended December 31, 2021. However, recent growth rates may not be indicative of our future performance due to our limited operating history and the rapid evolution of our business model. We may not be able to achieve similar results or accelerate growth at the same rate as we have organically or following the completion of our recent acquisitions and we may not achieve our expected results, all of which may have a material and adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, our rapid growth and expansion have placed, and continue to place, significant strain on our management and resources. This level of significant growth may not be sustainable or achievable at all in the future. We believe that our continued growth will depend on many factors, including our ability to develop new sources of revenues, diversify monetization methods including our direct to consumer offerings, attract and retain competitive gamers and creators, increase engagement, continue developing innovative technologies, tournaments and competitions in response to shifting demand in online gaming, increase brand awareness, and expand into new markets. We cannot assure you that we will achieve any of the above, and our failure to do so may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
We are subject to risks associated with operating in a rapidly developing industry and a relatively new market.
Many elements of our business are unique, evolving and relatively unproven. Our business and prospects depend on the continuing development of gaming-focused entertainment and content creation. The market for gaming-related content has grown significantly in recent years and continues to rapidly develop, which may present significant challenges. Our business relies upon our ability to cultivate and grow a robust community of creators and audience members, and our ability to successfully monetize such community through digital subscriptions, and advertising and sponsorship opportunities. In addition, our continued growth depends, in part, on our ability to respond to rapid technological evolution, continued shifts in gamer trends and demands, frequent introductions of new games and titles and the constant emergence of new industry standards and practices. Developing and integrating new games, titles, content, products, services or infrastructure could be expensive and time-consuming, and these efforts may not yield the benefits we expect to achieve at all. We cannot assure you that we will succeed in any of these aspects or that the esports gaming industry will continue to grow as rapidly as it has in the past.
We generate a significant portion of our revenues from advertising and sponsorships. If we fail to attract more advertisers and sponsors to our platform, or if advertisers or sponsors are less willing to advertise with or sponsor us, our revenues may be adversely affected.
We generate a growing portion of our revenues from advertising within our platform and through our service offerings, sponsorship of our league tournaments, and the operation of our live streaming gaming platform, which we expect to further develop and expand in the near future as online viewership across our content platforms continues to expand. Our revenues from advertising and sponsorship partly depend on the continual development of the online advertising industry and advertisers’ willingness to allocate budgets to online advertising in the gaming and content streaming industry. In addition, companies that decide to advertise or promote online may utilize more established methods or channels, such as more established internet portals or search engines, over advertising on our platform. If the online advertising and sponsorship market does not continue to grow, or if we are unable to capture and retain a sufficient share of that market, our ability to increase our current level of advertising and sponsorship revenue and our profitability and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
Furthermore, our core and long-term priority of optimizing the user experience and satisfaction may limit our platform’s ability to generate revenues from advertising and sponsorship. For example, in order to provide our users and creators with an uninterrupted experience, we do not place significant amounts of advertising on our streaming interface or insert pop-up advertisements during streaming. While this decision could adversely affect our operating results in the short-term, we believe it enables us to provide a superior gamer experience on our platform, which will help us expand and maintain our current base of users and creators and enhance our monetization potential in the long-term. However, this philosophy of putting our users and creators first may also negatively impact our relationships with advertisers, sponsors or other third parties, and may not result in the long-term benefits that we expect, in which case the success of our business and operating results could be harmed.
Our revenue model may not remain effective and we cannot guarantee that our future monetization strategies will be successfully implemented or generate sustainable revenues and profit.
We generate revenues from advertising within our platform and through our service offerings, and through the operation of our live streaming platform using a revenue model whereby users and creators can get free access to certain live streaming content, and gamers and creators pay fees to compete in league competition. We have generated, and expect to continue to generate, a substantial portion of revenues using this revenue model in the near term. We are, however, particularly focused on implementing a direct to consumer model for our expanding user base. Although our business has experienced significant growth in recent years, there is no guarantee that our direct to consumer packages will gain significant traction to maximize our growth rate in the future, as the demand for our offerings may change, decrease substantially or dissipate, or we may fail to anticipate and serve user demands effectively.
The loss of or a substantial reduction in activity by one or more of our largest customers and/or vendors could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
For the year ended December 31, 2022 (“Fiscal Year 2022”) and Fiscal Year 2021, one customer accounted for 8% and one customer accounted for 12% of revenue, respectively. At December 31, 2022, three customers accounted for 33% of accounts receivable. At December 31, 2021, three customers accounted for 35% of accounts receivable. At December 31, 2022, one vendor accounted for 10% of accounts payable. At December 31, 2021, one vendor accounted for 21% of accounts payable.
The loss of or a substantial reduction in activity by one or more of our largest customers and/or vendors could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our marketing and advertising efforts may fail to resonate with gamers and creators.
Our service offerings are marketed through a diverse spectrum of advertising and promotional programs such as online and mobile advertising, marketing through websites, event sponsorship and direct communications with our user community including via email, blogs and other electronic means. An increasing portion of our marketing activity is taking place on social media platforms that are either outside, or not totally within, our direct control. Changes to user preferences, marketing regulations, privacy and data protection laws, technology changes or service disruptions may negatively impact our ability to reach target users and creators. Our ability to market our service offerings is dependent in part upon the success of these programs. If the marketing for our service offerings fails to resonate and expand with both the gamer and metaverse community, or if advertising rates or other media placement costs increase, our business and operating results could be harmed.
We have a unique community culture that is vital to our success. Our operations may be materially and adversely affected if we fail to maintain this community culture as we expand in our addressable user communities.
We have cultivated an interactive and vibrant online social user community centered around online gaming and content creation. We ensure a superior user experience by continuously improving the user interface and features of our platform along with offering a multitude of user experiences with first tier service offerings. We believe that maintaining and promoting a vibrant community culture is critical to retaining and expanding our user community. We have taken multiple initiatives to preserve our community culture and values. Despite our efforts, we may be unable to maintain our community culture and cease to be the preferred platform for our target users and creators as we expand our footprint, which would be detrimental to our business operations.
The online gaming industry is very “hit” driven. We may not have access to “hit” games or titles.
Select game titles dominate competitive online gaming, and many new games titles are regularly introduced in each major industry segment (console, mobile and PC free-to-download). Despite the number of new entrants, only a very few “hit” titles account for a significant portion of total revenue in each segment.
The size and engagement level of our users are critical to our success and are closely linked to the quality and popularity of the game publishers with which we have licenses. Game publishers on our platform, including those who have entered into license agreements with us, may leave us for other gaming platforms which may offer better competition, and terms and conditions than we do. Furthermore, we may lose our licenses with certain game publishers if we fail to generate the number of gamers and creators to our amateur tournaments and competitions expected by such publishers. In addition, if popular game publishers cease to license their games to us, or our live streams fail to attract gamers and creators, we may experience a decline in gamer traffic, direct to consumer opportunities and engagement, which may have a material and adverse impact on our results of operations and financial conditions.
Although we have entered into multi-year agreements with certain publishers, if we fail to license multiple additional “hit” games or any of our existing licensed game publishers with which we currently have a license decide to breach the license agreement or choose not to continue with us once the term of the license agreement expires, the popularity of our tournaments, competitions and content generated across our platforms may decline and the number of our users and creators may decrease, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We have not entered into definitive license agreements with certain game publishers that we currently have relationships with, and we may never do so.
We currently do not have definitive license agreements in place with game publishers for the use of certain of the game titled played on our platform, as these publishers currently permit us to integrate the specifications of the game title with our technology. We may not ever enter into license agreements with these parties in the future, instead continuing our relationship with these game publishers without a license agreement. These game publishers may unilaterally choose to discontinue their relationship with the Company, thereby preventing us from offering experiences on our platform using their game titles, as the case may be. Should those game publishers choose not to allow us to offer experiences involving their respective game titles to our users, the popularity of our amateur city leagues, tournaments and competitions may decline and the number of our users and creators may decrease, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
If we fail to keep our existing users and creators highly engaged, to acquire new users and creators, to successfully implement a direct to consumer model for our user community, our business, profitability and prospects may be adversely affected.
Our success depends on our ability to maintain and grow the number of users and creators using our platform, and keeping our users and creators highly engaged. Of particular importance is the successful deployment and expansion of our direct to consumer model to our user community for purposes of creating predictable recurring revenues.
In order to attract, retain and engage users and creators and remain competitive, we must continue to develop and expand our product offerings, including internationally, produce engaging tournaments and competitions, successfully license the newest “hit” esports games and titles, implement new technologies and strategies, improve features of our platform and stimulate interactions in our user community.
A decline in the number of our users and creators in our ecosystem may adversely affect the engagement level of our users and creators, the vibrancy of our user community, or the popularity of our platform, which may in turn reduce our monetization opportunities, and have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. If we are unable to attract and retain, or convert users and creators into direct to consumer-based paying users and creators, our revenues may decline, and our results of operations and financial condition may suffer.
We cannot assure you that our platform will remain sufficiently popular with users and creators to offset the costs incurred to operate and expand it. It is vital to our operations that we remain sensitive and responsive to evolving user preferences and offer first-tier content that attracts our users and creators. We must also keep providing users and creators with new features and functions to enable superior content viewing, and social interaction. Further, we will need to continue to develop and improve our platform and to enhance our brand awareness, which may require us to incur substantial costs and expenses. If such increased costs and expenses do not effectively translate into an improved user experience and direct to consumer-based, long-term engagement, our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
The ability to grow our business is dependent in part on the success and availability of mass media channels developed by third parties, as well as our ability to develop commercially successful content.
The success of our business is driven in part by the commercial success and adequate supply of third-party mass media channels for which we may distribute our content, including Twitch, YouTube and ESL.tv. Our success also depends on our ability to accurately predict which channels and platforms will be successful with the online gaming community, our ability to develop commercially successful content and distribute via SLG.TV, which is presently available on Twitch, amateur tournaments and competition for these channels and gaming platforms and our ability to effectively manage the transition of our users and creators from one generation or demographic to the next. Additionally, we may enter into certain exclusive licensing arrangements that affect our ability to deliver or market our live and on-demand content on certain channels and platforms. A channel or platform may not succeed as expected or new channels or platforms may take market share and users and creators away from platforms for which we have devoted significant resources. If demand for the channels or platforms for which we are developing is lower than our expectations, we may be unable to fully recover the investments we have made, and our financial performance may be harmed. Alternatively, a channel or platform for which we have not devoted significant resources could be more successful than we initially anticipated, causing us to not be able to take advantage of meaningful revenue opportunities.
If we fail to maintain and enhance our brand or if we incur excessive expenses in this effort, our business, results of operations and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
We believe that maintaining and enhancing our brand is of significant importance to the success of our business. A well-recognized brand is important to increasing the number of users and creators and the level of engagement of our overall user community which is critical in enhancing our attractiveness to advertisers and sponsors. Since we operate in a highly competitive market, brand maintenance and enhancement directly affect our ability to maintain and enhance our market position.
Although we have developed our brand through word of mouth referrals, key strategic partners and our esports game publisher licensors, as we expand, we may conduct various marketing and brand promotion activities using various methods to continue promoting our brand. We cannot assure you, however, that these activities will be successful or that we will be able to achieve the brand promotion effect we expect.
In addition, any negative publicity in relation to our service offerings, or operations, regardless of its veracity, could harm our brands and reputation. Negative publicity or public complaints from users and creators may harm our reputation, and if complaints against us are not addressed to their satisfaction, our reputation and our market position could be significantly harmed, which may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and prospects.
Negative perceptions about our brand, platforms, tournaments or competitions and/or business practices may damage our business and increase the costs incurred in addressing gamer concerns.
Expectations regarding the quality, performance and integrity of our service offerings are high. Users and creators may be critical of our brand, platform, content, service offerings, tournaments or competitions and/or business practices for a wide variety of reasons. These negative user reactions may not be foreseeable or within our control to manage effectively, including user reactions to content via social media or other outlets, components and services, or objections to certain of our business practices. Negative user sentiment about our business practices also can lead to investigations from regulatory agencies and consumer groups, as well as litigation, which, regardless of their outcome, may be costly, damaging to our reputation and harm our business.
Technology changes rapidly in our business and if we fail to anticipate or successfully implement new technologies or adopt new business strategies, technologies or methods, the quality, timeliness and competitiveness of our offered services may suffer.
Rapid technology changes require us to anticipate, sometimes years in advance, which technologies we must develop, implement and take advantage of in order to be and remain competitive in both the content-creation and delivery market, as well as the esports gaming market. We have invested, and in the future may invest, in new business strategies including within metaverse gaming, a direct to consumer model, technologies, products, or games or first-tier game titles to continue to persistently engage the user and deliver the best user experience. Such endeavors may involve significant risks and uncertainties, and no assurance can be given that the technology we choose to adopt and the features that we pursue will be successful. If we do not successfully implement these new technologies, our reputation may be materially adversely affected and our financial condition and operating results may be impacted. We also may miss opportunities to adopt technology, or develop technologies, products, or services that become popular with users and creators, which could adversely affect our financial results. It may take significant time and resources to shift our focus to such technologies, putting us at a competitive disadvantage.
Our development process usually starts with particular user experiences in mind, and a range of technical development and feature goals that we hope to be able to achieve. We may not be able to achieve these goals, or our competitors may be able to achieve them more quickly and effectively than we can based on having greater operating capital and personnel resources. If we cannot achieve our technology goals within the original development schedule, then we may delay their release until these goals can be achieved, which may delay or reduce revenue and increase our development expenses. Alternatively, we may be required to significantly increase the resources employed in research and development in an attempt to accelerate our development of new technologies, either to preserve our launch schedule or to keep up with our competitors, which would increase our development expenses.
Our new services and changes to existing services could fail to attract or retain users or generate revenue and profits.
Our ability to retain, increase, and engage our user base and to increase our revenue depends heavily on our ability to continue to evolve our existing services and to develop successful new services, both independently and in conjunction with developers or other third parties. We may introduce significant changes to our existing services or acquire or introduce new and unproven services, including using technologies with which we have little or no prior development or operating experience. For example, we do not have significant experience with virtual or augmented reality technology, which may adversely affect our ability to successfully develop and market our offerings within these technologies. We continue to incur substantial costs, and we may not be successful in generating profits, in connection with these efforts. In addition, the introduction of new services, or changes to existing services, may result in new or enhanced governmental or regulatory scrutiny, litigation, or other complications that could adversely affect our business and financial results. We have also invested, and expect to continue to invest, significant resources in growing our service offerings to support increasing usage of such products. If our new or enhanced services fail to engage users, marketers, or developers, or if our business plans are unsuccessful, we may fail to attract or retain users or to generate sufficient revenue, operating margin, or other value to justify our investments, and our business may be adversely affected.
We may not be successful in our metaverse gaming strategy and investments, which could adversely affect our business, reputation, or financial results.
We believe the metaverse, an embodied internet where people have immersive experiences beyond two-dimensional screens, is the next evolution in social technology. Our business strategy focuses on offerings within metaverse gaming. We expect this will be a complex, evolving, and long-term initiative that will involve the development of new and emerging technologies, continued investment in privacy, safety, and security efforts, and collaboration with other companies, developers, partners, and other participants. However, the metaverse may not develop in accordance with our expectations, and market acceptance of features, products, or services we build for the metaverse is uncertain. In addition, we have limited experience with virtual and augmented reality technology, which may enable other companies to compete more effectively than us. We may be unsuccessful in our research and product development efforts, including if we are unable to develop relationships with key participants in metaverse gaming or develop products that operate effectively with metaverse gaming technologies, products, systems, networks, or standards. Our metaverse gaming efforts may also divert resources and management attention from other areas of our business. In addition, as our metaverse gaming efforts evolve, we may be subject to a variety of existing or new laws and regulations in the United States and international jurisdictions, including in the areas of privacy and e-commerce, which may delay or impede the development of our products and services, increase our operating costs, require significant management time and attention, or otherwise harm our business. As a result of these or other factors, our metaverse gaming strategy and investments may not be successful in the foreseeable future, or at all, which could adversely affect our business, reputation, or financial results.
We focus our business on our developers, creators, and users, and acting in their interests in the long-term may conflict with the short-term expectations of analysts and investors.
A significant part of our business strategy and culture is to focus on long-term growth and developer, creator, and user experience over short-term financial results. We expect our expenses to continue to increase in the future as we broaden our developer, creator, and user community, as developers, creators, and users increase the amount and types of content they make available on our platform and the content they consume, as we continue to seek ways to increase payments to our developers, and as we develop and further enhance our platform, expand our technical infrastructure, and hire additional employees to support our expanding operations. As a result, in the near- and medium-term, we may continue to operate at a loss, or our near- and medium-term profitability may be lower than it would be if our strategy were to maximize near- and medium-term profitability. We expect to continue making significant expenditures to grow our platform and develop new features, integrations, capabilities, and enhancements to our platform for the benefit of our developers, creators, and users. Such expenditures may not result in improved business results or profitability over the long-term. If we are ultimately unable to achieve or improve profitability at the level or during the time frame anticipated by securities or industry analysts, investors and our stockholders, the trading price of our common stock may decline.
We may experience security breaches and cyber threats.
We continually face cyber risks and threats that seek to damage, disrupt or gain access to our networks and our platform, supporting infrastructure, intellectual property and other assets. In addition, we rely on technological infrastructure, including third party cloud hosting and broadband, provided by third party business partners to support the in person and online functionality of our platform. These business partners are also subject to cyber risks and threats. Such cyber risks and threats may be difficult to detect. Both our partners and we have implemented certain systems and processes to guard against cyber risks and to help protect our data and systems. However, the techniques that may be used to obtain unauthorized access or disable, degrade, exploit or sabotage our networks and platform change frequently and often are not detected. Our systems and processes, and the systems and processes of our third-party business partners, may not be adequate. Any failure to prevent or mitigate security breaches or cyber risks, or respond adequately to a security breach or cyber risk, could result in interruptions to our platform, degrade the user experience, cause users and creators to lose confidence in our gaming platform and cease utilizing it, as well as significant legal and financial exposure. This could harm our business and reputation, disrupt our relationships with partners and diminish our competitive position.
Successful exploitation of our networks and platform can have other negative effects upon the user experience we offer. In particular, the virtual economies that exist in certain of our licensed game publishers’ games and developers’ outside platforms, such as Roblox, are subject to abuse, exploitation and other forms of fraudulent activity that can negatively impact our business. Virtual economies involve the use of virtual currency and/or virtual assets that can be used or redeemed by a user within a particular online game or service.
Our business could be adversely affected if our data privacy and security practices are not adequate, or perceived as being inadequate, to prevent data breaches, or by the application of data privacy and security laws generally.
In the course of our business, we may collect, process, store and use gamer and other information, including personally identifiable information, passwords and credit card information, the latter of which is subject to PCI-DSS compliance. Although we take measures to protect this information from unauthorized access, acquisition, disclosure and misuse, our security controls, policies and practices may not be able to prevent the improper or unauthorized access, acquisition or disclosure of such information. The unauthorized access, acquisition or disclosure of this information, or a perception that we do not adequately secure this information could result in legal liability, costly remedial measures, governmental and regulatory investigations, harm our profitability and reputation and cause our financial results to be materially affected. In addition, third party vendors and business partners receive access to information that we collect. These vendors and business partners may not prevent data security breaches with respect to the information we provide them or fully enforce our policies, contractual obligations and disclosures regarding the collection, use, storage, transfer and retention of personal data. A data security breach of one of our vendors or business partners could cause reputational harm to them and/or negatively impact our ability to maintain the credibility of our user community.
Data privacy, data protection, localization, security and consumer-protection laws are evolving, and the interpretation and application of these laws in the United States, Europe (including compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation), and elsewhere often are uncertain, contradictory and changing. It is possible that these laws may be interpreted or applied in a manner that is averse to us or otherwise inconsistent with our practices, which could result in litigation, regulatory investigations and potential legal liability or require us to change our practices in a manner adverse to our business. As a result, our reputation and brand may be harmed, we could incur substantial costs, and we could lose both users and creators and revenue.
We depend on servers to operate our service offerings with online features and our proprietary online platform. If we were to lose server functionality for any reason, our business may be negatively impacted.
Our business relies on the continuous operation of servers, some of which are owned and operated by third parties. Although we strive to maintain more than sufficient server capacity, and provide for active redundancy in the event of limited hardware failure, any broad-based catastrophic server malfunction, a significant service-disrupting attack or intrusion by hackers that circumvents security measures, a failure of disaster recovery service or the failure of a company on which we are relying for server capacity to provide that capacity for whatever reason could degrade or interrupt the functionality of our platform, and could prevent the operation of our platform for both in-person and online user experiences.
We also rely on networks operated by third parties to support content on our platform, including networks owned and operated by game publishers. An extended interruption to any of these services could adversely affect the use of our platform, which would have a negative impact on our business.
Further, insufficient server capacity could also negatively impact our business. Conversely, if we overestimate the amount of server capacity required by our business, we may incur additional operating costs.
Our advertising revenue is dependent on targeting and measurement tools that incorporate data signals from user activity on websites and services that we do not control, and changes to the regulatory environment, third-party mobile operating systems and browsers, and our own products have impacted, and we expect will continue to impact, the availability of such signals, which will adversely affect our advertising revenue.
We rely on data signals from user activity on websites and services that we do not control in order to deliver relevant and effective ads to our users. Our advertising revenue is dependent on targeting and measurement tools that incorporate these signals, and any changes in our ability to use such signals will adversely affect our business. For example, legislative and regulatory developments, such as the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), and the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), have impacted, and we expect will continue to impact, our ability to use such signals in our ad products. In particular, we may see an increasing number of users opt to control certain types of ad targeting, which may increase further with expanded control over certain third-party data as part of our compliance with these laws and regulations, and we may have to introduce product changes that limit data signal use for certain users in California following adoption of the CCPA. Regulatory guidance or decisions or new legislation in these or other jurisdictions may require us to make additional changes to our products in the future that further reduce our ability to use these signals. In addition, mobile operating system and browser providers, such as Apple and Google, have implemented product changes and/or announced future plans to limit the ability of websites and application developers to collect and use these signals to target and measure advertising. These developments may limit our ability to target and measure the effectiveness of ads across platforms and may negatively impact our advertising revenue. If we are unable to mitigate these developments as they take further effect in the future, our targeting and measurement capabilities may be materially and adversely affected, which would in turn significantly impact our future revenue growth.
Our online platform and services offered through our platform may contain defects.
Our online platform and the services offered through our platform are extremely complex and are difficult to develop and distribute. We have quality controls in place to detect defects in our platform before they are released. Nonetheless, these quality controls are subject to human error, overriding, and reasonable resource or technical constraints. Further, we have not undertaken independent third-party testing, verification or analysis of our platform and associated systems and controls. Therefore, our platform and quality controls and preventative measures we have implemented may not be effective in detecting all defects in our platform. In the event a significant defect in our platform and associated systems and controls is realized, we could be required to offer refunds, suspend the availability of our service offerings, or expend significant resources to cure the defect, each of which could significantly harm our business and operating results.
We may experience system failures, outages and/or disruptions of the functionality of our platform. Such failures, delays and other problems could harm our reputation and business, cause us to lose customers and expose us to customer liability.
We may experience system failures, outages and/or disruptions of our infrastructure, including information technology system failures and network disruptions, cloud hosting and broadband availability at in person and online experiences. Our operations could be interrupted or degraded by any damage to or failure of:
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our computer software or hardware, or our customers’ or suppliers’ computer software or hardware;
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our network, our customers’ networks or our suppliers’ networks; or
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our connections and outsourced service arrangements with third parties.
Our systems and operations are also vulnerable to damage or interruption from:
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power loss, transmission cable cuts and other telecommunications and utility failures;
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hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters;
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a terrorist attack in the U.S. or in another country in which we operate;
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interruption of service arising from facility migrations, resulting from changes in business operations including acquisitions and planned data center migrations;
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computer viruses or software defects;
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loss or misuse of proprietary information or customer data that compromises security, confidentiality or integrity; or
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errors by our employees or third-party service providers.
From time to time in the ordinary course of our business, our network nodes and other systems experience temporary outages. As a means of ensuring continuity in the services we provide to our community and partners, we have invested in system redundancies via partnerships with industry leading cloud service providers, proactive alarm monitoring and other back-up infrastructure, though we cannot assure you that we will be able to re-route our services over our back-up facilities and provide continuous service to customers in all circumstances without material degradation. Because many of our services play a critical role for our community and partners, any damage to or failure of the infrastructure we rely on could disrupt or degrade the operation of our network, our platform and the provision of our services and result in the loss of current and potential community members and/or partners and harm our ability to conduct normal business operations.
We use third-party services and technologies in connection with our business, and any disruption to the provision of these services and technologies to us could result in negative publicity and a slowdown in the growth of our users, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business partially depends on services provided by, and relationships with, various third parties, including cloud hosting and broadband providers, among others. To this end, when our cloud hosting and broadband vendors experience outages, our services will be negatively impacted and alternative resources will not be immediately available. In addition, certain third-party software we use in our operations is currently publicly available free of charge. If the owner of any such software decides to charge users or no longer makes the software publicly available, we may need to incur significant costs to obtain licensing, find replacement software or develop it on our own. If we are unable to obtain licensing, find or develop replacement software at a reasonable cost, or at all, our business and operations may be adversely affected.
We exercise no control over the third-party vendors that we rely upon for cloud hosting, broadband and software service. If such third parties increase their prices, fail to provide their services effectively, terminate their service or agreements or discontinue their relationships with us, we could suffer service interruptions, reduced revenues or increased costs, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we are unable to successfully grow our user base, compete effectively with other platforms, and further monetize our platform, our business will suffer.
We have made, and are continuing to make, investments to enable our developers to design and build compelling content and deliver it to our users on our platform. Existing and prospective developers may not be successful in creating content that leads to and maintains user engagement (including maintaining the quality of experiences) or they may fail to expand the types of experiences that our developers can build for users, and other global entertainment companies, online content platforms, and social platforms may entice our users and potential users away from, or to spend less time with, our platform, each of which could adversely affect users’ interest in our platform and lead to a loss of revenue opportunities and harm our results of operations.
Additionally, we may not succeed in further monetizing our platform and user base. As a result, our user growth, user engagement, financial performance and ability to grow revenue could be significantly harmed if:
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we fail to increase or maintain KPIs;
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our user growth outpaces our ability to monetize our users, including if our user growth occurs in markets that are not profitable;
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we fail to establish a base of our developers, creators, and users;
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we fail to provide the tools and education to our developers and creators to enable them to monetize their experiences;
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we fail to increase or maintain the amount of time spent on our platform, the number of experiences that our users share and explore with friends, or the usage of our technology for our developers;
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we do not develop and establish the social features of our platform, allowing it to more broadly serve the entertainment, education, and business markets;
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we fail to increase penetration and engagement across target age demographics;
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developers do not create engaging or new experiences for users;
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users reduce their subscriptions for our services within our platform; or
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the experiences on our platform do not maintain or gain popularity.
If we are able to continue to grow, we will need to manage our growth effectively, which could require expanding our internal IT systems, technological operations infrastructure, financial infrastructure, and operating and administrative systems and controls. In addition, we have expended in the past and may in the future expend significant resources to launch new features and changes on our platform that we are unable to monetize, which may significantly harm our business. Any future growth would add complexity to our organization and require effective coordination across our organization, and an inability to do so would adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
We provide access to offerings within our platform that are subscription-based. While we intend for these efforts to generate increased recurring revenues from our existing user base, they may cause users to decrease their overall spend on our platform. Our ability to continue to attract and retain users of our paid subscription services will depend in part on our ability to consistently provide our subscribers with a quality experience. If our users do not perceive these offerings to be of value, or if we introduce new or adjust existing features or pricing in a manner that is not favorably received by them, we may not be able to attract and retain subscribers or be able to convince users to become subscribers of such additional service offerings, and we may not be able to increase the amount of recurring revenue from our user base. Subscribers may cancel their subscription to our service for many reasons, including a perception that they do not use the service sufficiently, the need to reduce household expenses, competitive services that provide a better value or experience or as a result of changes in pricing. If our efforts to attract and retain subscribers are not successful, our business, operating results, and financial condition may be adversely impacted.
We have seen the growth rate of our users fluctuate and expect it to continue to change over time. If we fail to retain users or add new users, or if our users decrease their level of engagement with our platform, revenue, bookings, and operating results will be harmed.
We believe we have successfully iterated our business model through market insights, and our organic and inorganic growth to establish scale and ultimately drive our monetization strategies. Our strong and growing product-market fit currently reaches over 100 million monthly unique players in Roblox, Minecraft and Fortnite and generates over one billion monthly impressions. We view our KPIs as a critical measure of our user engagement, and adding, maintaining, and engaging users has been and will continue to be necessary to our continued growth. Our KPI growth rate has fluctuated in the past and may slow in the future due to various factors. As COVID-19 related shelter-in-place orders are lifted and children return to school, we have seen growth rates moderate in certain markets. Other factors including: the introduction of new experiences on our platform, higher market penetration rates, and competition from a variety of entertainment sources for our users and their time could also cause our growth rates to fluctuate. For example, while our KPIs have grown sequentially on a quarterly basis for the last several years, there have been months where they have not or have grown at a slower pace, often due to seasonal or other factors. Seasonal factors may have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and we expect that seasonality could again cause user activity to decrease, including below historical levels as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic moderate. In addition, our strategy seeks to expand the age groups and geographic markets that make up our users, and if and when we achieve maximum market penetration rates among any particular user cohort overall and in particular geographic markets, future growth in KPIs will need to come from other age or geographic cohorts in other markets, which may be difficult, costly or time consuming for us to achieve. Accessibility to the internet and bandwidth or connectivity limitations as well as regulatory requirements, may also affect our ability to further expand our user base in a variety of geographies. If our KPI growth rate slows or becomes stagnant, or we have a decline in KPIs, or we fail to effectively monetize users in certain geographic markets, our financial performance will increasingly depend on our ability to elevate user activity or increase the monetization of our users.
Our business plan assumes that the demand for interactive entertainment offerings, specifically, the adoption of a metaverse with users interacting together by playing, communicating, connecting, making friends, learning, or simply hanging out, all in 3D environments, will increase for the foreseeable future. However, if this market shrinks or grows more slowly than anticipated, if the metaverse does not gain widespread adoption as a forum for experiences, social interaction and creative expression for our users, or if demand for our platform does not grow as quickly as we anticipate, whether as a result of competition, product obsolescence, budgetary constraints of our developers, creators, and users, technological changes, unfavorable economic conditions, uncertain geopolitical or regulatory environments or other factors, we may not be able to increase our revenue and bookings sufficiently to ever achieve profitability and our stock price would decline.
The multitude of other entertainment options, online gaming, and other interactive experiences is high, making it difficult to retain users who are dissatisfied with our platform and seek other entertainment options. Moreover, a large number of our users are within a demographic which may be less brand loyal and more likely to follow trends, including viral trends, than other demographics. These and other factors may lead users to switch to another entertainment option rapidly, which can interfere with our ability to forecast usage or KPIs and would negatively affect our user retention, growth, and engagement. We also may not be able to penetrate other demographics in a meaningful manner to compensate for the loss of KPIs in this age group. Falling user retention, growth, or engagement rates could seriously harm our business.
Our user metrics and other estimates are subject to inherent challenges in measurement, and real or perceived inaccuracies in those metrics may significantly harm and negatively affect our reputation and our business.
We regularly review metrics and KPIs, including monthly unique players and monthly impressions to evaluate growth trends, measure our performance, and make strategic decisions. These metrics are calculated using internal data gathered on an analytics platform that we developed and operate and have not been validated by an independent third party. Our metrics and estimates may also differ from estimates published by third parties or from similarly titled metrics of our competitors due to differences in methodology or the assumptions on which we rely. If our estimates are inaccurate, then investors will have less confidence in our company and our prospects, which could cause the market price of our common stock to decline, our reputation and brand could be harmed.
While these metrics are based on what we believe to be reasonable estimates of our user base for the applicable period of measurement, there are inherent challenges in measuring how our service offerings are used and as a result, the metrics may overstate the number of monthly unique players and monthly impressions. For example, there may be users who have multiple accounts, fake user accounts, or fraudulent accounts created by bots to inflate user activity for a particular developer or creator, thus making the developer or creator’s experience or other content appear more popular than it really is. We strive to detect and minimize fraud and unauthorized access to our service offerings, and these practices are prohibited in our terms of service and we implement measures to detect and suppress that behavior. Some of our demographic data may be incomplete or inaccurate. For example, because users self-report their dates of birth, our age demographic data may differ from our users’ actual ages. If our users provide us with incorrect or incomplete information regarding their age or other attributes, then our estimates may prove inaccurate.
Errors or inaccuracies in our metrics or data could also result in incorrect business decisions and inefficiencies. For instance, if a significant understatement or overstatement of active users were to occur, we may expend resources to implement unnecessary business measures or fail to take required actions to attract a sufficient number of users to satisfy our growth strategies. If our developers do not perceive our user, geographic, or other demographic metrics to be accurate representations of our user base, or if we discover material inaccuracies in our user, geographic, or other demographic metrics, our reputation may be seriously harmed. Our developers, creators and partners may also be less willing to allocate their budgets or resources to our service offerings, which could seriously harm our business.
Growth and engagement of our user community depends upon effective interoperability with mobile operating systems, networks, mobile devices and standards that we do not control.
We make our services available across a variety of mobile operating systems and devices. We are dependent on the interoperability of our services with popular mobile devices and mobile operating systems that we do not control, such as Android and iOS. Any changes in such mobile operating systems or devices that degrade the functionality of our services or give preferential treatment to competitive services could adversely affect usage of our services. In order to deliver high quality services, it is important that our services work well across a range of mobile operating systems, networks, mobile devices and standards that we do not control. We may not be successful in developing relationships with key participants in the mobile industry or in developing services that operate effectively with these operating systems, networks, devices and standards. In the event that it is difficult for our users to access and use our services, particularly on their mobile devices, our user growth and user engagement could be harmed, and our business and operating results could be adversely affected.
Our business depends substantially on the continuing efforts of our executive officers, key employees and qualified personnel, and our business operations may be severely disrupted if we lose their services.
Our future success depends substantially on the continued efforts of our executive officers and key employees. If one or more of our executive officers or key employees were unable or unwilling to continue their services with us, we might not be able to replace them easily, in a timely manner, or at all. Since our industry is characterized by high demand and intense competition for talents, we cannot assure you that we will be able to attract or retain qualified staff or other highly skilled employees. In addition, as the Company is relatively young, our ability to train and integrate new employees into our operations may not meet the growing demands of our business which may materially and adversely affect our ability to grow our business and hence our results of operations.
If any of our executive officers and key employees terminates their services with us, our business may be severely disrupted, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected and we may incur additional expenses to recruit, train and retain qualified personnel. If any of our executive officers or key employees joins a competitor or forms a competing company, we may lose users and creators, know-how and key professionals and staff members. Certain of our executive officers and key employees have entered into a non-solicitation and non-competition agreements with us. However, certain provisions under the non-solicitation and non-competition agreement may be deemed legally invalid or unenforceable. If any dispute arises between our executive officers and us, we cannot assure you that we would be able to enforce these non-compete agreements.
We plan to continue to make acquisitions and pursue other strategic transactions, which could impact our financial condition or results of operations and may adversely affect the price of our common stock.
As part of our business strategy, we have made and intend to continue to make acquisitions to add specialized employees and complementary companies, products, or technologies, and from time to time may enter into other strategic transactions such as investments and joint ventures. We may not be able to find suitable acquisition candidates, and we may not be able to complete acquisitions or other strategic transactions on favorable terms, or at all, including as a result of regulatory challenges. In some cases, the costs of such acquisitions or other strategic transactions may be substantial, and there is no assurance that we will realize expected synergies from future growth and potential monetization opportunities for our acquisitions or a favorable return on investment for our strategic investments.
We may pay substantial amounts of cash or incur debt to pay for acquisitions or other strategic transactions, which has occurred in the past and could adversely affect our liquidity. The incurrence of indebtedness would also result in increased fixed obligations and increased interest expense, and could also include covenants or other restrictions that would impede our ability to manage our operations. We may also issue equity securities to pay for acquisitions and may grant stock options or other equity awards to retain the employees of acquired companies, which could increase our expenses, adversely affect our financial results, and result in dilution to our stockholders. In addition, any acquisitions or other strategic transactions we announce could be viewed negatively by users, marketers, developers, or investors, which may adversely affect our business or the price of our common stock.
We may also discover liabilities, deficiencies, or other claims associated with the companies or assets we acquire that were not identified in advance, which may result in significant unanticipated costs. The effectiveness of our due diligence review and our ability to evaluate the results of such due diligence are dependent upon the accuracy and completeness of statements and disclosures made or actions taken by the companies we acquire or their representatives, as well as the limited amount of time in which acquisitions are executed. In addition, we may fail to accurately forecast the financial impact of an acquisition or other strategic transaction, including tax and accounting charges. Acquisitions or other strategic transactions may also result in our recording of significant additional expenses to our results of operations and recording of substantial finite-lived intangible assets on our balance sheet upon closing. Any of these factors may adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.
We may not be able to successfully integrate our acquisitions, including the 2021 Acquisitions, and we incur significant costs to integrate and support the companies we acquire.
The integration of acquisitions, including the 2021 Acquisitions, requires significant time and resources, particularly with respect to companies that have significant operations or that develop products where we do not have prior experience, and we may not manage these processes successfully. We continue to make substantial investments of resources to support our acquisitions, including the 2021 Acquisitions, which has in the past resulted, and we expect will in the future result, in significant ongoing operating expense and the diversion of resources and management attention from other areas of our business. We cannot assure you that these investments will be successful. If we fail to successfully integrate the companies we acquire, we may not realize the benefits expected from the transaction and our business may be harmed.
We may encounter significant difficulties integrating acquired businesses.
The integration of any businesses is a complex, costly and time-consuming process. As a result, we have devoted, and will continue to devote, significant management attention and resources to integrating acquired businesses, including those acquired in the 2021 Acquisitions. The failure to meet the challenges involved in integrating businesses and to realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisition could cause an interruption of, or a loss of momentum in, the activities of our combined business and could adversely affect our results of operations. The difficulties of combining acquired businesses with our own include, among others:
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the diversion of management attention to integration matters;
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difficulties in integrating functional roles, processes and systems, including accounting systems;
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challenges in conforming standards, controls, procedures and accounting and other policies, business cultures and compensation structures between the two companies;
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difficulties in assimilating, attracting and retaining key personnel;
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challenges in keeping existing clients and obtaining new clients;
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difficulties in achieving anticipated cost savings, synergies, business opportunities and growth prospects from an acquisition;
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difficulties in managing the expanded operations of a significantly larger and more complex business;
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contingent liabilities, including contingent tax liabilities or litigation, that may be larger than expected; and
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potential unknown liabilities, adverse consequences or unforeseen increased expenses associated with an acquisition, including possible adverse tax consequences to the combined business pursuant to changes in applicable tax laws or regulations.
Many of these factors are outside of our control, and any one of them could result in increased costs, decreased expected revenues and diversion of management time and energy, all of which could adversely impact our business and results of operations. These difficulties have been enhanced further during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of our office closures and work-from home policies, which may hinder assimilation of key personnel.
If we are not able to successfully integrate an acquisition, if we incur significantly greater costs to achieve the expected synergies than we anticipate or if activities related to the expected synergies have unintended consequences, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected.
The preparation of our financial statements involves the use of good faith estimates, judgments and assumptions, and our financial statements may be materially affected if such good faith estimates, judgments or good faith assumptions prove to be inaccurate.
Financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) typically require the use of good faith estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts. Often, different estimates, judgments and assumptions could reasonably be used that would have a material effect on such consolidated financial statements, and changes in these estimates, judgments and assumptions may occur from period to period over time. Significant areas of accounting requiring the application of management’s judgment include, but are not limited to, determining the fair value of assets, share-based compensation and the timing and amount of cash flows from assets. These estimates, judgments and assumptions are inherently uncertain and, if our estimates were to prove to be wrong, we would face the risk that charges to income or other financial statement changes or adjustments would be required. Any such charges or changes would require a restatement of our consolidated financial statements and could harm our business, including our financial condition and results of operations and the price of our securities. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for a discussion of the accounting estimates, judgments and assumptions that we believe are the most critical to an understanding of our consolidated financial statements and our business.
We are currently dependent on certain game publishers and online game platforms for a substantial portion of our revenue. In the event such publishers or online platforms change their terms and conditions impacting our ability to deploy advertising campaigns on their platforms, or otherwise engage in direct-to-consumer offers, our business, growth prospects and financial condition could be adversely affected.
We currently generate a substantial portion of our revenue from in-game platform advertising and direct to consumer offers, including digital subscriptions, in-game digital goods, and gameplay access fees, on various metaverse gaming platforms. Additional revenue is generated through our owned and operated properties, along with properties we operate on behalf of others. In the event such game publishers or online game platforms change their current terms and conditions in a manner that limits our ability to deploy advertising campaigns or otherwise engage in direct-to-consumer offers through our partner’s metaverse gaming platforms, or our owned and operated properties, our business, growth prospects and financial condition could be adversely affected.
Regulatory and Legal Risk Factors
Our business is subject to regulation, and changes in applicable regulations may negatively impact our business.
We are subject to a number of foreign and domestic laws and regulations that affect companies conducting business on the Internet. In addition, laws and regulations relating to user privacy, data collection, retention, electronic commerce, virtual items and currency, consumer protection, content, advertising, localization, and information security have been adopted or are being considered for adoption by many jurisdictions and countries throughout the world. These laws could harm our business by limiting the products and services we can offer consumers or the manner in which we offer them. The costs of compliance with these laws may increase in the future as a result of changes in interpretation. Furthermore, any failure on our part to comply with these laws or the application of these laws in an unanticipated manner may harm our business and result in penalties or significant legal liability.
In addition, we include modes in our platform that allow players to compete against each other. Although we structure and operate these skill-based competitions with applicable laws in mind, our skill-based competitions in the future could become subject to evolving rules and regulations and expose us to significant liability, penalties and reputational harm.
Changes in tax laws or regulations that are applied adversely to us or our customers may have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flow, financial condition or results of operations.
New income, sales, use or other tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances could be enacted at any time, which could affect the tax treatment of our earnings and adversely affect our operations, and our business and financial performance. Further, existing tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances could be interpreted, changed, modified or applied adversely to us. For example, on December 22, 2017, tax legislation was signed into law that contained many significant changes to the U.S. tax laws. The new legislation reduced the corporate income tax rate from 34% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, resulting in our deferred income tax assets and liabilities, including NOLs, to be measured using the new rate as reflected in the valuation of these assets as of December 31, 2017. As a result, the value of our deferred tax assets decreased by approximately $4.3 million and the related valuation allowance has been reduced by the same amount. Our analysis and interpretation of this legislation is ongoing. Given the full valuation allowance provided for net deferred tax assets for the periods presented herein, the change in tax law did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements provided herein. There may, however, be additional tax impacts identified in subsequent fiscal periods in accordance with subsequent interpretive guidance issued by the SEC or the Internal Revenue Service. Further, there may be other material adverse effects resulting from the legislation that we have not yet identified. No estimated tax provision has been recorded in the consolidated financial statements included herein for tax attributes that are incomplete or subject to change.
The foregoing items could have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flow, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, it is unclear how these U.S. federal income tax changes will affect state and local taxation, which often uses federal taxable income as a starting point for computing state and local tax liabilities. The impact of this tax legislation on holders of our common stock is also uncertain and could be adverse. We urge our stockholders and investors to consult with our legal and tax advisors with respect to this legislation and the potential tax consequences of investing in or holding our common stock.
Our online activities are subject to various laws and regulations relating to privacy and child protection, which, if violated, could subject us to an increased risk of litigation and regulatory actions.
In addition to our platform, we use third-party applications, websites, and social media platforms to promote our service offerings and engage users, as well as monitor and collect certain information about users in our online forums. A variety of laws and regulations have been adopted in recent years aimed at protecting children using the internet such as the Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act of 1998 (“COPPA”). COPPA sets forth, among other things, a number of restrictions on what website operators can present to children under the age of 13 and what information can be collected from them. COPPA is of particular concern to us, and in an effort to minimize our risk of potential exposure, we retained a COPPA expert as a consultant and have posted a compliant privacy policy, terms of use and various other policies on our website. We undertake significant effort to implement certain precautions to ensure that access to our platform is COPPA compliant. Despite our efforts, no assurances can be given that such measures will be sufficient to completely avoid exposure and COPPA violations, any of which could expose us to significant liability, penalties, reputational harm and loss of revenue, among other things.
The laws and regulations concerning data privacy are continually evolving. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could harm our business.
Consumers are able to access our service offerings online through our platform. We collect and store information about our consumers both personally identifying and non-personally identifying information. Numerous federal, state and international laws address privacy, data protection and the collection, storing, sharing, use, disclosure and protection of personally identifiable information and other user data. Numerous states already have, and are looking to expand, data protection legislation requiring companies like ours to consider solutions to meet differing needs and expectations of creators and attendees. Outside the United States, personally identifiable information and other user data is increasingly subject to legislation and regulations in numerous jurisdictions around the world, the intent of which is to protect the privacy of information that is collected, processed and transmitted in or from the governing jurisdiction. Foreign data protection, privacy, information security, user protection and other laws and regulations are often more restrictive than those in the United States. In particular, the European Union and its member states traditionally have taken broader views as to types of data that are subject to privacy and data protection laws and regulations and have imposed greater legal obligations on companies in this regard. For example, in April 2016, European legislative bodies adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), which became effective on May 25, 2018. The GDPR applies to any company established in the European Union as well as to those outside of the European Union if they collect and use personal data in connection with the offering of goods or services to individuals in the European Union or the monitoring of their behavior. The GDPR enhances data protection obligations for processors and controllers of personal data, including, for example, expanded disclosures about how personal information is to be used, limitations on retention of information, mandatory data breach notification requirements and onerous new obligations on service providers. Non-compliance with the GDPR may result in monetary penalties of up to €20 million or 4% of annual worldwide revenue, whichever is higher. In addition, some countries are considering or have passed legislation implementing data protection requirements or requiring local storage and processing of data or similar requirements that could increase the cost and complexity of delivering our services. The GDPR and other changes in laws or regulations associated with the enhanced protection of certain types of personal data could greatly increase our cost of providing our products and services or even prevent us from offering certain services in jurisdictions in which we operate. The European Commission is also currently negotiating a new ePrivacy Regulation that would address various matters, including provisions specifically aimed at the use of cookies to identify an individual’s online behavior, and any such ePrivacy Regulation may provide for new compliance obligations and significant penalties. Any of these changes to European Union data protection law or its interpretation could disrupt and/or harm our business.
On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom (“U.K.”) held a referendum in which voters approved an exit from the European Union, commonly referred to as “Brexit.” This decision created an uncertain political and economic environment, especially in regard to regulation of data protection, in the U.K. and other European Union countries, and the formal process for leaving the European Union has taken years to complete. The U.K. formally left the European Union on January 31, 2020 and began a transition period which expired on December 31, 2020. In particular, while the U.K. has implemented legislation that implements and complements the GDPR, with penalties of noncompliance of up to the greater of £17.5 million or four percent of worldwide revenues, it is unclear how data transfers to and from the United Kingdom will be regulated. The interpretation and application of many privacy and data protection laws are, and will likely remain, uncertain, and it is possible that these laws may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent with our existing data management practices or product features. Although player interaction on our platform is subject to our privacy policies, end user license agreements (“EULAs”), and terms of service, if we fail to comply with our posted privacy policies, EULAs, or terms of service, or if we fail to comply with existing privacy-related or data protection laws and regulations, it could result in proceedings or litigation against us by governmental authorities or others, which could result in fines or judgments against us, damage our reputation, impact our financial condition and/or harm our business.
In addition to government regulation, privacy advocacy and industry groups may propose new and different self-regulatory standards that either legally or contractually apply to us. Any inability to adequately address privacy, data protection and data security concerns or comply with applicable privacy, data protection or data security laws, regulations, policies and other obligations could result in additional cost and liability to us, damage our reputation, inhibit sales and harm our business. Further, our failure, and/or the failure by the various third-party service providers and partners with which we do business, to comply with applicable privacy policies or federal, state or similar international laws and regulations or any other obligations relating to privacy, data protection or information security, or any compromise of security that results in the unauthorized release of personally identifiable information or other user data, or the perception that any such failure or compromise has occurred, could damage our reputation, result in a loss of creators or attendees, discourage potential creators and attendees from trying our platform and/or result in fines and/or proceedings by governmental agencies and/or users, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, given the breadth and depth of changes in data protection obligations, ongoing compliance with evolving interpretation of the GDPR and other regulatory requirements requires time and resources and a review of the technology and systems currently in use against the requirements of GDPR and other regulations.
We may be held liable for information or content displayed on, retrieved from or linked to our platform, or distributed to our users.
Our interactive live streaming platform enables users and creators to exchange information and engage in various other online activities. Although we require our users and creators to register their real name, we do not require user identifications used and displayed while using the platform to contain any real-name information, and hence we are unable to verify the sources of all the information posted by our users and creators. In addition, because a majority of the communications on our online and in person platform is conducted in real time, we are unable to examine the content generated by users and creators before they are posted or streamed. Therefore, it is possible that users and creators may engage in illegal, obscene or incendiary conversations or activities, including publishing of inappropriate or illegal content that may be deemed unlawful. If any content on our platform is deemed illegal, obscene or incendiary, or if appropriate licenses and third-party consents have not been obtained, claims may be brought against us for defamation, libel, negligence, copyright, patent or trademark infringement, other unlawful activities or other theories and claims based on the nature and content of the information delivered on or otherwise accessed through our platform. Moreover, the costs of compliance may continue to increase when more content is made available on our platform as a result of our growing base of users and creators, which may adversely affect our results of operations.
Intensified government regulation of the Internet industry could restrict our ability to maintain or increase the level of traffic to our platform as well as our ability to capture other market opportunities.
The Internet industry is increasingly subject to strict scrutiny. New laws and regulations may be adopted from time to time to address new issues that come to the authorities’ attention. We may not timely obtain or maintain all the required licenses or approvals or make all the necessary filings in the future. We also cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain the required licenses or approvals if we plan to expand into other Internet businesses. If we fail to obtain or maintain any of the required licenses or approvals or make the necessary filings, we may be subject to various penalties, which may disrupt our business operations or derail our business strategy, and materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
From time to time we may become involved in legal proceedings.
From time to time we may become subject to legal proceedings, claims, litigation and government investigations or inquiries, which could be expensive, lengthy, disruptive to normal business operations and occupy a significant amount of our employees’ time and attention. In addition, the outcome of any legal proceedings, claims, litigation, investigations or inquiries may be difficult to predict and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, or financial condition.
Risks Related to Intellectual Property
We may be subject to claims of infringement of third-party intellectual property rights.
From time to time, third parties may claim that we have infringed their intellectual property rights. For example, patent holding companies may assert patent claims against us in which they seek to monetize patents they have purchased or otherwise obtained. Although we take steps to avoid knowingly violating the intellectual property rights of others, it is possible that third parties still may claim infringement.
Existing or future infringement claims against us, whether valid or not, may be expensive to defend and divert the attention of our employees from business operations. Such claims or litigation could require us to pay damages, royalties, legal fees and other costs. We also could be required to stop offering, distributing or supporting our platform, service offerings, or other features or services which incorporate the affected intellectual property rights, redesign products, features or services to avoid infringement, or obtain a license, all of which could be costly and harm our business.
In addition, many patents have been issued that may apply to potential new modes of delivering, playing or monetizing interactive entertainment software products and services, such as those offered on our platform or that we would like to offer in the future. We may discover that future opportunities to provide new and innovative services to users and creators may be precluded by existing patents that we are unable to license on reasonable terms.
Our technology, content and brands are subject to the threat of piracy, unauthorized copying and other forms of intellectual property infringement.
We regard our technology, content and brands as proprietary and take measures to protect our technology, content and brands and other confidential information from infringement. Piracy and other forms of unauthorized copying and use of our technology, content and brands are persistent, and policing is difficult. Further, the laws of some countries in which our products are or may be distributed either do not protect our intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States or are poorly enforced. Legal protection of our rights may be ineffective in such countries. In addition, although we take steps to enforce and police our rights, factors such as the proliferation of technology designed to circumvent the protection measures used by our business partners or by us, the availability of broadband access to the Internet, the refusal of Internet service providers or platform holders to remove infringing content in certain instances, and the proliferation of online channels through which infringing product is distributed all have contributed to an expansion in unauthorized copying of our technology, content and brands.
Third parties may register trademarks or domain names or purchase internet search engine keywords that are similar to our registered trademark or pending trademarks, brands or websites, or misappropriate our data and copy our platform, all of which could cause confusion, divert users and creators away from our platform and service offerings, or harm our reputation.
Competitors and other third parties may purchase (i) trademarks that are similar to our trademarks and (ii) keywords that are confusingly similar to our brands or websites in Internet search engine advertising programs and in the header and text of the resulting sponsored links or advertisements in order to divert users and creators from us to their websites. Preventing such unauthorized use is inherently difficult. If we are unable to prevent such unauthorized use, competitors and other third parties may continue to drive potential users and creators away from our platform to competing, irrelevant or potentially offensive platforms, which could harm our reputation and cause us to lose revenue.
We may not be able to prevent others from unauthorized use of our intellectual property, which could harm our business and competitive position.
We regard our registered trademark and pending trademarks, service marks, pending patents, domain names, trade secrets, proprietary technologies and similar intellectual property as critical to our success. We rely on trademark and patent law, trade secret protection and confidentiality and license agreements with our employees and others to protect our proprietary rights.
We have invested significant resources to develop our own intellectual property and acquire licenses to use and distribute the intellectual property of others on our platform. Failure to maintain or protect these rights could harm our business. In addition, any unauthorized use of our intellectual property by third parties may adversely affect our current and future revenues and our reputation.
Policing unauthorized use of proprietary technology is difficult and expensive. We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws and restrictions on disclosure to protect our intellectual property rights. Further, we require every employee and consultant to execute proprietary information and invention agreements prior to commencing work. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, third parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain and use our intellectual property or seek court declarations that they do not infringe upon our intellectual property rights. Monitoring unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult and costly, and we cannot assure you that the steps we have taken will prevent misappropriation of our intellectual property. From time to time, we may have to resort to litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights, which could result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources.
Our patent and trademark applications may not be granted and our patent and trademark rights, once patents are issued and trademarks are registered, may be contested, circumvented, invalidated or limited in scope, and our patent and trademark rights may not protect us effectively once issued and registered, respectively. In particular, we may not be able to prevent others from developing or exploiting competing technologies and trademarks, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business operations, financial condition and results of operations.
Currently, we have one patent application pending, 187 registered trademarks and eighteen pending trademark applications, along with licenses from game publishers to utilize their proprietary games. For our pending patent application we cannot assure you that we will be granted patents pursuant to our pending applications as well as future patent applications we intend to file. Even if our patent applications succeed, it is still uncertain whether these patents will be contested, circumvented or invalidated in the future. In addition, the rights granted under any issued patents may not provide us with sufficient protection or competitive advantages. The claims under any patents that issue from our patent applications may not be broad enough to prevent others from developing technologies that are similar or that achieve results similar to ours. It is also possible that the intellectual property rights of others will bar us from licensing and from exploiting any patents that issue from our pending applications. Numerous U.S. and foreign issued patents and pending patent applications owned by others exist in the fields in which we have developed and are developing our technology. These patents and patent applications might have priority over our patent applications and could subject our patent applications to invalidation. Finally, in addition to those who may claim priority, any of our pending patent and trademark applications may also be challenged by others on the basis that they are otherwise invalid or unenforceable.
Governance Risks and Risks Related to our Common Stock
We received a notice from Nasdaq that our common stock may be delisted from trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market if we fail to comply with the continued listing requirements, including the minimum bid price requirement. A delisting of our common stock is likely to reduce the liquidity of our common stock and may inhibit or preclude our ability to raise additional financing.
We are required to comply with certain Nasdaq continued listing requirements, including a minimum bid price for our common stock, as well as a series of financial tests relating to stockholder equity, market value of listed securities and number of market makers and stockholders. If we fail to maintain compliance with any of those requirements, our common shares could be delisted from Nasdaq.
On October 4, 2022, we received a letter (the “Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Staff of Nasdaq, indicating that, based upon the closing bid price of our common stock for the prior 30 consecutive business days, we are currently not in compliance with the requirement to maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, as set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). To regain compliance, the closing bid price of our common stock must be at least $1.00 per share for 10 consecutive business days during the 180-day period from October 4, 2022 to April 3, 2023. As a result, unless the closing bid of our common stock trades in such manner, we will need to solicit stockholder approval to authorize an amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to effect a reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock at a ratio calculated to maintain listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion (the “Reverse Stock Split”). There is no guarantee that the Company’s stockholders will approve the Reverse Stock Split. If our stockholders fail to approve the Reverse Stock Split in such event, and our closing bid price does not meet or exceed $1.00 by the end of the compliance period and Nasdaq does not grant us an additional compliance period, or we fail to regain compliance by the end of such additional compliance period, our Board of Directors will weigh the available alternatives to regain compliance. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully resolve such noncompliance.
If, for any reason, Nasdaq should delist our common stock from trading on its exchange and we are unable to obtain listing on another national securities exchange or take action to restore our compliance with the Nasdaq continued listing requirements, a reduction in some or all of the following may occur, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our stockholders:
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the liquidity of our common stock;
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the market price of our common stock;
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we will become a “penny stock”, which will make trading of our common stock much more difficult;
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our ability to obtain financing for the continuation of our operations;
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the number of institutional and general investors that will consider investing in our common stock;
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the number of investors in general that will consider investing in our common stock;
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the number of market makers in our common stock;
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the availability of information concerning the trading prices and volume of our common stock; and
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the number of broker-dealers willing to execute trades in shares of our common stock.
Our amended and restated bylaws designate a state or federal court located within the State of Delaware as the exclusive forum for certain litigation that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us.
Pursuant to our amended and restated bylaws, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be a state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, in all cases subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over indispensable parties named as defendants. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this provision. The forum selection clause in our amended and restated bylaws may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against us or our directors and officers and may limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us.
Because the applicability of the exclusive forum provision is limited to the extent permitted by law, we believe that the exclusive forum provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction or concurrent jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act. We note that there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce the provision and that investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
Although our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, our shares are likely to be thinly traded for some time and an active market may never develop.
Although our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, it is likely that initially there will be a very limited trading market for our common stock, and we cannot ensure that a robust trading market will ever develop or be sustained. Our shares of common stock may be thinly traded, and the price, if traded, may not reflect our actual or perceived value. There can be no assurance that there will be an active market for our shares of common stock in the future. The market liquidity will be dependent on the perception of our operating business, competitive forces, state of the live stream and gaming industry, growth rate and becoming cash flow profitable on a sustainable basis, among other things. We may, in the future, take certain steps, including utilizing investor awareness campaigns, press releases, road shows, and conferences to increase awareness of our business and any steps that we might take to bring us to the awareness of investors may require we compensate financial public relations firms with cash and/or stock. There can be no assurance that there will be any awareness generated or the results of any efforts will result in any impact on our trading volume. Consequently, investors may not be able to liquidate their investment or liquidate it at a price that reflects the value of the business and trading may be at an inflated price relative to the performance of our company due to, among other things, availability of sellers of our shares. If a market should develop, the price may be highly volatile. Because there may be a low price for our shares of common stock, many brokerage firms or clearing firms may not be willing to effect transactions in the securities or accept our shares for deposit in an account. Even if an investor finds a broker willing to effect a transaction in the shares of our common stock, the combination of brokerage commissions, transfer fees, taxes, if any, and any other selling costs may exceed the selling price. Further, many lending institutions will not permit the use of low-priced shares of common stock as collateral for any loans.
Our stock price may be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
The trading price of our common stock following our offering may fluctuate substantially and may be higher or lower than the initial public offering price. This may be especially true for companies with a small public float. The trading price of our common stock following our offering will depend on several factors, including those described in this “Risk Factors” section, many of which are beyond our control and may not be related to our operating performance. These fluctuations could cause you to lose all or part of your investment in our common stock since you might be unable to sell your shares at or above the price you paid in the offering. Factors that could cause fluctuations in the trading price of our common stock include:
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changes to our industry, including demand and regulations;
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we may not be able to compete successfully against current and future competitors;
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competitive pricing pressures;
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our ability to obtain working capital financing as required;
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additions or departures of key personnel;
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sales of our common stock;
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our ability to execute our business plan;
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operating results that fall below expectations;
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loss of any strategic relationship, sponsor or licensor;
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any major change in our management;
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changes in accounting standards, procedures, guidelines, interpretations or principals; and
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economic, geo-political and other external factors.
In addition, the stock market in general, and the market for technology companies in particular, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. Broad market and industry factors, as well as general economic, political and market conditions such as recessions or interest rate changes, may seriously affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. These fluctuations may be even more pronounced in the trading market for our stock shortly following our offering. If the market price of our common stock after our offering does not exceed the initial public offering price, you may not realize any return on your investment in us and may lose some or all of your investment.
In addition, in the past, following periods of volatility in the overall market and the market prices of particular companies’ securities, securities class action litigations have often been instituted against these companies. Litigation of this type, if instituted against us, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention and resources. Any adverse determination in any such litigation or any amounts paid to settle any such actual or threatened litigation could require that we make significant payments.
If securities industry analysts do not publish research reports on us, or publish unfavorable reports on us, then the market price and market trading volume of our common stock could be negatively affected.
Any trading market for our common stock will be influenced in part by any research reports that securities industry analysts publish about us. We may not obtain any future research coverage by securities industry analysts. In the event we are covered by research analysts, and one or more of such analysts downgrade our securities, or otherwise reports on us unfavorably, or discontinues coverage of us, the market price and market trading volume of our common stock could be negatively affected.
We have not paid cash dividends in the past and do not expect to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the future. Any return on investment will likely be limited to the value of our common stock.
We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate doing so in the foreseeable future. The payment of dividends on our common stock will depend on earnings, financial condition and other business and economic factors affecting us at such time as our board of directors may consider relevant. If we do not pay dividends, our common stock may be less valuable because a return on your investment will only occur if our stock price appreciates.
Since we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future, stock price appreciation, if any, will be your sole source of gain.
We currently intend to retain all of our future earnings, if any, to finance the growth and development of our business. In addition, the terms of any future debt agreements may preclude us from paying dividends. As a result, appreciation, if any, in the market price of our common stock will be your sole source of gain for the foreseeable future.
Our issuance of additional shares of preferred stock could adversely affect the market value of our common stock, dilute the voting power of common stockholders and delay or prevent a change of control.
Our board of directors have the authority to cause us to issue, without any further vote or action by the stockholders, up to an additional 9,994,641 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, to designate the number of shares constituting any series, and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption, redemption price or prices and liquidation preferences of such series. As of March 29, 2023, we had the following shares of Preferred Stock outstanding: 5,359 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, 1,297 shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock, 1,733 shares of Series A-3 Preferred Stock, 1,934 shares of Series A-4 Preferred Stock and 2,299 shares of Series A-5 Preferred Stock.
The issuance of shares of preferred stock with dividend or conversion rights, liquidation preferences or other economic terms favorable to the holders of preferred stock could adversely affect the market price for our common stock by making an investment in the common stock less attractive. For example, investors in the common stock may not wish to purchase common stock at a price above the conversion price of a series of convertible preferred stock because the holders of the preferred stock would effectively be entitled to purchase common stock at the lower conversion price causing economic dilution to the holders of common stock.
Further, the issuance of shares of preferred stock with voting rights may adversely affect the voting power of the holders of our other classes of voting stock either by diluting the voting power of our other classes of voting stock if they vote together as a single class, or by giving the holders of any such preferred stock the right to block an action on which they have a separate class vote even if the action were approved by the holders of our other classes of voting stock. The issuance of shares of preferred stock may also have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company without further action by the stockholders, even where stockholders are offered a premium for their shares.
The holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote on an as-converted to Class A common stock basis and have rights to approve certain actions.
From November 2022 to January 2023, we issued 12,622 shares of our (i) Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series A Preferred”); (ii) Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series A-2 Preferred”); (iii) Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series A-3 Preferred”); (iv) Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series A-4 Preferred”) and (v) Series A-5 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series A-5 Preferred”, and, collectively with the Series A Preferred, Series A-2 Preferred, Series A-3 Preferred and Series A-4 Preferred, the “Series A Stock”), to a group of accredited investors (collectively, the “Investors”), pursuant to a certain placement agency agreement.
The holders of our Series A Stock are generally entitled to vote with the holders of our common stock on all matters submitted for a vote of our stockholders (voting together with the holders of common stock as one class) on an as-converted basis. Additionally, the consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Stock is required in order for us to take certain actions, including issuances of securities that are senior to, or equal in priority with, the Series A Stock. As a result, the holders of Series A Stock may in the future have the ability to influence the outcome of certain matters affecting our governance and capitalization.
As of March 29, 2023, there were 12,622 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock outstanding, which are convertible without payment of additional consideration, into 22.4 million shares of our common stock, subject to certain ownership limitations. The conversion of the outstanding shares of our Series A Stock into common stock would be substantially dilutive to existing stockholders. Any dilatation or potential dilution may cause our stockholders to sell their shares, which may contribute to a downward movement in the stock price of our common stock.
Future issuances of debt securities, which would rank senior to our common stock upon our bankruptcy or liquidation, and future issuances of preferred stock, which would rank senior to our common stock for the purposes of dividends and liquidating distributions, may adversely affect the level of return you may be able to achieve from an investment in our common stock.
In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by offering debt securities. In the event of a bankruptcy or liquidation, holders of our debt securities, and lenders with respect to other borrowings we may make, would receive distributions of our available assets prior to any distributions being made to holders of our common stock. Moreover, if we issue preferred stock in the future, the holders of such preferred stock could be entitled to preferences over holders of common stock in respect of the payment of dividends and the payment of liquidating distributions. Because our decision to issue debt or preferred securities in any future offering, or borrow money from lenders, will depend in part on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of any such future offerings or borrowings. Holders of our common stock must bear the risk that any such future offerings we conduct or borrowings we make may adversely affect the level of return they may be able to achieve from an investment in our common stock.
We are an emerging growth company, and any decision on our part to comply only with certain reduced reporting and disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies could make our common stock less attractive to investors.
We are an emerging growth company, and, for as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we may choose to take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” including:
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not being required to have our independent registered public accounting firm audit our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;
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reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and annual report on Form 10-K; and
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exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years following the completion of our offering. Our status as an emerging growth company will end as soon as any of the following takes place:
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the last day of the fiscal year in which we have more than $1.07 billion in annual revenue;
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the date we qualify as a “large accelerated filer,” with at least $700 million of equity securities held by non-affiliates;
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the date on which we have issued, in any three-year period, more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities; or
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the last day of the fiscal year ending after the fifth anniversary of the completion of our offering.
We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive if we choose to rely on the exemptions afforded emerging growth companies. If some investors find our common stock less attractive because we rely on any of these exemptions, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and the market price of our common stock may be more volatile.
Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can also delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date we (i) are no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
Because of our status as an emerging growth company, you will not be able to depend on any attestation from our independent registered public accounting firm as to our internal control over financial reporting for the foreseeable future.
Our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act until the later of the year following our first annual report required to be filed with the SEC, or the date we are no longer an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. Accordingly, you will not be able to depend on any attestation concerning our internal control over financial reporting from our independent registered public accounting firm for the foreseeable future. Subsequent to the time frame above, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act until such time that the Company becomes an “accelerated filer,” as defined by the SEC.
We have granted, and may continue to grant, share incentive awards, which may result in increased share-based compensation expenses.
We adopted our Amended and Restated 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) in October 2014, for purposes of granting share-based compensation awards to employees, directors and consultants to incentivize their performance and align their interests with ours. We account for compensation costs for all share-based awards issued under the 2014 Plan using a fair-value based method and recognize expenses in our statements of comprehensive loss in accordance with GAAP. Under the 2014 Plan, we are authorized to grant options to purchase shares of common stock of our Company, restricted share units to receive shares of common stock and restricted shares of common stock. For Fiscal Year 2022 and Fiscal Year 2021, we recorded share-based compensation expense of $4.3 million and $2.4 million, respectively, primarily related to issuances and vesting of awards under the 2014 Plan.
We believe the granting of share incentive awards is important to our ability to attract and retain employees, and we will continue to grant share incentive awards to employees in the future. As a result, our expenses associated with share-based compensation may increase, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
Uncertainty in global economic conditions could negatively affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We have significant intangible assets recorded on our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2022. We will continue to evaluate the recoverability of the carrying amount of our intangible assets on an ongoing basis, and we may incur substantial impairment charges, which would adversely affect our consolidated financial results. There can be no assurance that the outcome of such reviews in the future will not result in substantial impairment charges. Impairment assessment inherently involves judgment as to assumptions about expected future cash flows and the impact of market conditions on those assumptions. Future events and changing market conditions may impact our assumptions as to prices, costs, holding periods or other factors that may result in changes in our estimates of future cash flows. Although we believe the assumptions we used in testing for impairment are reasonable, significant changes in any one of our assumptions could produce a significantly different result.
General Risk Factors
Actual or threatened epidemics, pandemics, outbreaks, or other public health crises may adversely affect our business.
Our business could be materially and adversely affected by the risks, or the public perception of the risks, related to an epidemic, pandemic, outbreak, or other public health crisis, such as the recent outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The risk, or public perception of the risk, of a pandemic or media coverage of infectious diseases could cause a decrease to the attendance of our in person gaming experiences, or cause certain of our partners, such as Wanda Theaters in China, to avoid holding in person events. Moreover, an epidemic, pandemic, outbreak or other public health crisis, such as COVID-19, could cause members of our Action Squad, in whom we rely on to manage the logistics of our in person experiences, or on-site employees of partners to avoid any involvement with our in person experiences or other events, which would adversely affect our ability to hold such events. The ultimate extent of the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or other health crisis on our business, financial condition and results of operations will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information that may emerge concerning the severity of such epidemic, pandemic or other health crisis and actions taken to contain or prevent their further spread, among others. These and other potential impacts of an epidemic, pandemic or other health crisis, such as COVID-19, could therefore adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Changes in the state of the U.S. economy and a return to volatile or recessionary conditions in the United States or abroad could adversely affect our business or our access to capital markets in a material manner.
To date, our principal sources of capital used to fund our operations have been the net proceeds we received from sales of equity securities and proceeds received from the issuance of convertible debt, as described herein. We have and will continue to use significant capital for the growth and development of our business, and, as such, we expect to seek additional capital either from operations or that may be available from future issuance(s) of common stock or debt financings, to fund our planned operations.
Accordingly, our results of operations and the implementation of our long-term business strategy could be adversely affected by general conditions in the global economy, including conditions that are outside of our control, such as the impact of health and safety concerns from the current outbreak of COVID-19. The most recent global financial crisis caused by COVID-19 resulted in extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets. A severe or prolonged economic downturn could result in a variety of risks to our business and could have a material adverse effect on us, including limiting our ability to obtain additional capital from the capital markets. We could also be adversely affected by such factors as changes in foreign currency rates and weak economic and political conditions in each of the countries in which we operate.
Our business is subject to risks generally associated with the entertainment industry.
Our business is subject to risks that are generally associated with the entertainment industry, many of which are beyond our control. These risks could negatively impact our operating results and include the popularity, price to play, and timing of release of our esports licensed games, economic conditions that adversely affect discretionary consumer spending, changes in user demographics, the availability and popularity of other forms of entertainment, and critical reviews and public tastes and preferences, which may change rapidly and cannot necessarily be predicted.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
As of December 31, 2022 we maintain approximately 3,200 square feet of office space, 1,650 square feet of which is on a month-to-month basis, and 1,550 square feet of which is subject to a two-year lease, commencing on August 1, 2021, at a combined rate of approximately $12,000 per month.
We anticipate no difficulty in extending the leases of our facilities or obtaining comparable facilities in suitable locations, as needed, and we consider our facilities to be adequate for our current needs.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
As of the date hereof, we are not a party to any material legal or administrative proceedings. There are no proceedings in which any of our directors, executive officers or affiliates, or any registered or beneficial stockholder, is an adverse party or has a material interest adverse to our interest. We may from time to time be subject to various legal or administrative claims and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Litigation or any other legal or administrative proceeding, regardless of the outcome, is likely to result in substantial cost and diversion of our resources, including our management’s time and attention.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information and Holders
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “SLGG.”
As of March 22, 2023, we had 164 holders of record of our common stock based upon the records of our transfer agent, which do not include beneficial owners of common stock whose shares are held in the names of various securities brokers, dealers and registered clearing agencies.
Dividend Policy
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation of our business. Therefore, we do not currently expect to pay any cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our Board and will depend upon our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements, general business conditions, and other factors that our board of directors deems relevant. Our ability to pay dividends may also be restricted by the terms of any future credit agreement or any future debt or preferred equity securities.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities
No unregistered securities were issued during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 that were not previously reported.
Performance Graph
As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide the performance graph required by Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K.

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

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of our operations together with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements reflecting our current expectations, whose actual outcomes involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from those stated in or implied by these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in the sections entitled “Risk Factors,” “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and elsewhere in this Report.
General
Super League Gaming, Inc. is a leading publisher of games, monetization tools and content channels across metaverse gaming platforms that empower developers, energize players, and entertain fans. Our solutions provide incomparable access to an audience consisting of players in the largest global metaverse game environments, fans of hundreds of thousands of gaming influencers, and viewers of gameplay content across major social media and digital video platforms. Fueled by proprietary and patented technology systems, the company’s platform includes access to vibrant in-game communities, a leading metaverse advertising platform, a network of highly viewed channels and original shows on Instagram, TikTok, Snap, YouTube, and Twitch, cloud-based livestream production tools, and an award-winning esports invitational tournament series. Super League’s properties deliver powerful opportunities for brands and advertisers to achieve impactful insights and marketing outcomes with gamers of all ages.
We generate revenue from (i) innovative advertising including immersive game world and experience publishing and in-game media products, (ii) direct to consumer offers, including in-game items, e-commerce, game passes and ticketing and digital collectibles, and (iii) content and technology through the production and distribution of our own, advertiser and third-party content. We operate in one reportable segment to reflect the way management and our chief operating decision maker review and assess the performance of the business.
Matters Affecting Comparability
Impairment of Goodwill. As described in more detail at Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements elsewhere herein, we performed goodwill impairment tests as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2022, resulting in aggregate goodwill impairment charges of $50,263,000 for Fiscal Year 2022.
Acquisitions. During Fiscal Year 2021, we completed the acquisitions described below under the heading, “Acquisitions Consummated during Fiscal Year 2021.”
Executive Summary
During Fiscal Year 2022, management continued to focus on monetization with respect to our three primary revenue streams: (1) advertising revenues, (2) content revenues, and (3) direct to consumer revenues. In addition to the strong key performance indicator (“KPI”) performance during the periods presented, as described herein, we: (i) continued our focus on our premium advertising model and the monetization of our growing premium advertising inventory, including increased revenues generated from direct advertising sales, and from our global network of resellers focusing on selling our international media inventory on our behalf; (ii) continued to focus on the monetization of our original and user generated content library and remote production and broadcast capabilities, which emerged as a component of revenue in 2020; (iii) continued to focus on the monetization of the gamer and creator through direct-to-consumer offers, including increases in sales of digital goods with our Minehut, Mineville and Pixel Paradise digital properties; and, (iv) continued to unlock new ways that our content production technology can extend beyond esports, into other entertainment formats representing revenue growth opportunities in the current and future periods. We expect to continue to grow our advertising pipeline across various verticals with the capability to provide brands and advertisers with targeted, high-quality integrations that warrant premium costs per impressions (“CPM”) advertising rates.
Acquisitions Consummated during Fiscal Year 2021 (the “2021 Acquisitions”)
The 2021 Acquisitions were comprised of the following:
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Acquisition of Mobcrush Streaming, Inc. On June 1, 2021, the Company completed the acquisition of Mobcrush Streaming, Inc. (“Mobcrush”), a live streaming technology platform used by gaming influencers who generate and distribute original content to fans and subscribers across the most popular live streaming and social media platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and more. Mobcrush also operates Mineville and Pixel Paradise, two of only seven official Minecraft servers in partnership with Microsoft Corporation (“Microsoft”).
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Acquisition of Bannerfy, LTD. On August 24, 2021, the Company completed the acquisition of Bannerfy, Ltd., (“Bannerfy”), an intelligent technology platform that enables digital video and live streaming creators to collaborate with tier one sponsors on their social media channels including YouTube through scalable and custom premium placements.
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Acquisition of Super Biz. On October 4, 2021, the Company acquired (i) substantially all of the assets of Super Biz, and (ii) the personal goodwill of the founders regarding Super Biz’s business, as described at Note 5. Super Biz is a dynamic ad platform designed specifically for metaverse environments. Super Biz’s initial deployment enables brands to advertise across popular Roblox game titles and helps Roblox creators with monetization and game analytics. The acquisition allowed us to execute on our strategic plans to extend our existing and expanding presence and reach in the metaverse.
During the periods presented, we experienced significant organic and inorganic growth in our audience, further expanding our premium advertising inventory, increasing deal-sizes and strong repeat buying across the advertiser verticals of retail, entertainment, toys, fashion, consumer packaged goods, and automotive, while upholding our premium CPM advertising rates and margins, further validating a new premium social marketing channel for advertisers to reach elusive Generation Z and Alpha gamers. We further developed our in-house direct sales capability to monetize our domestic experiential and media inventory and launched a global network of resellers to sell our international media inventory on our behalf. In addition, we have deepened our product and engineering functions with specific expertise in metaverse game design, advertising technology, creator tool development, and data and analytics.
As an early-mover creating engaging experiences inside of metaverse game platforms, we converted our deep understanding of young gamers into significant audience reach in virtual world gaming platforms. We believe we have successfully iterated our business model through these market insights, and our organic and inorganic growth to establish scale and ultimately drive our monetization strategies. Our strong and growing product-market fit currently reaches over 100 million monthly unique players in Roblox, Minecraft and Fortnite and generates over one billion monthly impressions. Our software supports the creation and operation of our owned and third-party metaverse gaming worlds and experiences, along with creator tools and analytics underpinned by a creator economy. These tools enable Super League to access these extended audiences with our innovative in-game and in-stream ad products, and allow our game designers and content creators to participate in our advertising economy. Our analytics suite provides Super League, brands and advertisers, and game developers data that informs campaign measurement and insights, along with enhanced game design. Beyond our primary advertising revenue stream, we have the opportunity to extend further downstream in the metaverse gaming worlds we operate, and generate direct to consumer revenues. In addition, our platform, and our capability to produce compelling gaming-centric video and livestream broadcasts drives viewership to our own and our brand partner’s digital channels, and generates content production and syndication revenues from third party partners.
Specifically, Super League’s digital experience and media products provide a wide range of solutions for brands and advertisers. From branded in-game experiences, through to custom content and media, Super League can provide end-to-end solutions for brands to acquire customers, deepen brand affinity and deliver campaign performance with innovative advertising inventory. Additionally, our capability and proprietary technology is now being applied to new virtual world platforms beyond our core offering and is proving to be an enterprise solution for our owned and branded digital experiences that are less temporal and campaign-centric, generating revenue opportunities that are more diversified, annual in nature and less impacted by traditional advertising seasonality.
Through our organic and inorganic growth in Fiscal Year 2022 and Fiscal Year 2021, our premium advertising inventory and offer to brands has expanded significantly, which allows us to offer premium engagement with advertiser’s and brand’s targeted audiences, in a safe, trusted and measurable way, through deep, multi-faceted campaigns leading to growth in the size and scope of our advertising deals to attract a larger share of advertisers’ wallets.
During the second half of Fiscal Year 2021 and throughout Fiscal Year 2022, we also focused on continuing to forge strategic partnerships to create a global reseller network to augment our direct salesforce efforts. These partners have breadth and depth across all of the significant industry verticals along with global geographic coverage, which we believe will facilitate the acceleration of the rollout and awareness for our innovative ad products and drive the acceleration of future monetization.
On June 13, 2022 Super League Gaming, Inc. entered into an investor relations consulting agreement with MZHCI, LLC.
Delisting Notice
On October 4, 2022, we received a letter (the “Letter”) from the Listing Qualifications Staff of The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“Nasdaq”) indicating that, based upon the closing bid price of our common stock for 30 consecutive business days, the Company is not currently in compliance with the requirement to maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, as set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). The Letter has no immediate effect on the listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
The Company intends to monitor the closing bid price of its Common Stock. To regain compliance, the closing bid price of our common stock must be at least $1.00 per share for 10 consecutive business days during the 180-day period from October 4, 2022 to April 3, 2023. If the Company does not regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement by April 3, 2023, Nasdaq may grant the Company a second 180-day period to regain compliance. To qualify for this additional 180-day compliance period, the Company would be required to meet the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other initial listing standards for the Nasdaq Capital Market, other than the minimum bid price requirement. In addition, the Company would also be required to notify Nasdaq of its intent to cure the minimum bid price deficiency by effecting a reverse stock split, if necessary. If the Company does not regain compliance within the allotted compliance periods, including any extensions that may be granted by Nasdaq, Nasdaq will provide notice that our common stock will be subject to delisting. The Company would then be entitled to appeal that determination to a Nasdaq hearings panel.
Seasonality
Our revenue fluctuates quarterly and is generally higher in the second half of our fiscal year, with the fourth quarter typically representing our highest revenue quarter each year. Advertising spending is traditionally seasonally strong in the second half of each year, reflecting the impact of seasonal back to school, game release and holiday season advertising spending by brands and advertisers. We believe that this seasonality in advertising spending affects our quarterly results, which generally reflect relatively higher advertising revenue in second half of each year, compared to the first half of the year.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
The novel coronavirus and actions taken to mitigate the spread of it have had and are expected to continue to have an adverse impact on the economies and financial markets of many countries, including the geographical areas in which the Company operates. It is unknown how long the adverse conditions associated with the coronavirus will last and what the complete financial effect will be to the Company.
Although we were impacted by the general deferral in advertising spending by brands and sponsors resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic for a significant portion of the year ended December 31, 2020 (“Fiscal Year 2020”), we reported significant quarter over quarter growth in revenue in the second half of Fiscal Year 2020, Fiscal Year 2021 and Fiscal Year 2022, and we expect to continue to expand our advertising revenue and revenue from the sale of our proprietary and third-party user generated content in future periods, as we continue to expand our advertising inventory, viewership and related sales activities. For a discussion of the risk factors related to COVID-19, please refer to Part II, Item 1A.“"Risk Factors”" in elsewhere herein.
Results of Operations for the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
We derived the financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, set forth below, from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein, and should be read in conjunction with those audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto, as well as the information found under this section. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in future periods. All references to “Note,” followed by a number reference from one to eleven herein, refer to the applicable corresponding numbered footnotes to the consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere herein.
The following table sets forth a summary of our results of operations for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:
Fiscal Year
Change
$
%
REVENUE
$ 19,677,000
$ 11,672,000
$ 8,005,000
%
COST OF REVENUE
11,162,000
6,547,000
4,615,000
%
GROSS PROFIT
8,515,000
5,125,000
3,390,000
%
OPERATING EXPENSE
Selling, marketing and advertising
12,036,000
9,670,000
2,366,000
%
Engineering, technology and development
15,876,000
11,100,000
4,776,000
%
General and administrative
12,094,000
9,435,000
2,659,000
%
Contingent consideration
3,206,000
-
3,206,000
%
Impairment of goodwill
50,263,000
-
50,263,000
%
Total operating expense
93,475,000
30,205,000
63,270,000
%
NET LOSS FROM OPERATIONS
(84,960,000
)
(25,080,000
)
(59,880,000
)
%
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET
(696,000
)
1,221,000
(1,917,000
)
(157
)%
Loss before benefit from income taxes
(85,656,000
)
(23,859,000
)
(61,797,000
)
%
Benefit from income taxes
205,000
3,111,000
(2,906,000
)
(93
)%
NET LOSS
$ (85,451,000
)
$ (20,748,000
)
$ (64,703,000
)
%
Comparison of the Results of Operations for the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
Revenue
Fiscal Year
Change
$
%
Advertising and sponsorships
$ 13,957,000
$ 8,005,000
$ 5,952,000
%
Content
3,911,000
2,264,000
1,647,000
%
Direct to consumer
1,809,000
1,403,000
406,000
%
$ 19,677,000
$ 11,672,000
$ 8,005,000
%
Fiscal Year
Number of customers > 10% of revenue / percent of revenue
-
/
-
One
/
12%
By revenue category:
Advertising and sponsorships
-
/
-
One
/
12%
●
Advertising and sponsorship revenue increased driven primarily by a $3,795,000, or 53% increase in our direct sales advertising revenue, reflecting a 21% increase in our direct sales advertising revenue generating customers, driven by the growth of our premium in-game and in-stream advertising inventory, due in part to a full twelve months of revenues related to our FY 2021 Acquisitions, and an approximately 26% increase in the related average revenue per customer for Fiscal Year 2022, as compared to the prior year comparable period. The increase also reflects a $2,391,000, or 492% increase in reseller advertising revenues reflecting the continued expansion of our global network sales partnerships focused on the expansion and acceleration of monetization of our unique advertising inventory.
●
Content sales revenue increased $1,647,000, or 73% driven primarily by a 24% increase in content sales revenue generating customers and an 11% increase in average content sales revenue per customer. The increase also included $919,000 of product design and software development kit related revenue pursuant to a development agreement with a customer, which was completed during the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2022.
●
Direct to consumer revenue for Fiscal Year 2022 increased $406,000, or 29%, compared to the comparable prior year. Direct to consumer revenue is primarily comprised of revenue generated from our Minehut digital property, which provides various Minecraft server hosting services on a subscription basis and other digital goods to the Minecraft gaming community, and direct to consumer in-game platform sales revenue through the sale of digital goods, including cosmetic items, durable goods, player ranks and game modes, within our Mineville and Pixel Paradise gaming servers. Our Mineville and Pixel Paradise gaming servers leverage the flexibility of the Microsoft Minecraft Bedrock platform, are powered by our InPvP cloud architecture technology, and represent two of the seven official Microsoft Minecraft partner servers. Revenue is generated when transactions are facilitated between Microsoft and the end user, either via in-game currency or cash.
Cost of Revenues
Cost of revenue includes direct costs incurred in connection with the satisfaction of performance obligations under our revenue arrangements including internal and third-party engineering, creative, content, broadcast and other personnel, talent and influencers, developers, content capture and production services, direct marketing, cloud services, software, prizing, revenue sharing fees and venue fees. Cost of revenue fluctuates period to period based on the specific programs and revenue streams contributing to revenue each period and the related cost profile of our physical and digital experiences, advertising campaigns and content sales activities occurring each period.
Cost of revenue increased $4,615,000, or 70%, driven primarily by, and consistent with, the 69% increase in related revenues for Fiscal Year 2022.
Operating Expense
Fiscal Year
Change
$
%
Selling, marketing and advertising
$ 12,036,000
$ 9,670,000
$ 2,366,000
%
Engineering, technology and development
15,876,000
11,100,000
4,776,000
%
General and administrative
12,094,000
9,435,000
2,659,000
%
Contingent consideration
3,206,000
-
3,206,000
%
Impairment of goodwill
50,263,000
-
50,263,000
%
Total operating expense
$ 93,475,000
$ 30,205,000
$ 63,270,000
%
Noncash stock-based compensation expense for the periods presented was included in the following operating expense line items:
Fiscal Year
Change
$
%
Selling, marketing and advertising
$ 1,079,000
$ 934,000
$ 145,000
%
Engineering, technology and development
389,000
288,000
101,000
%
General and administrative
2,795,000
1,159,000
1,636,000
%
Total noncash stock-based compensation expense
$ 4,263,000
$ 2,381,000
$ 1,882,000
%
On January 1, 2022, the Company issued 1,350,000 performance stock units (“PSUs”) under the Company’s 2014 Amended and Restated Stock Option and Incentive Plan, which vest in five equal increments of 270,000 PSUs, based on satisfaction of market related vesting conditions during the three-year period commencing on January 1, 2022, as described at Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein. A market condition is reflected in the grant-date fair value of an award, and therefore, a Monte Carlo simulation model is utilized to determine the estimated fair value of the equity-based award. Compensation cost is recognized for awards with a market condition, provided the requisite service period is satisfied, regardless of whether the market condition is ever satisfied. Noncash stock compensation expense related to the PSUs totaled $2,142,000 for Fiscal Year 2022.
Amortization expense for the periods presented was included in the following operating expense line items:
Fiscal Year
Change
$
%
Sales, marketing and advertising
$ 2,104,000
$ 1,180,000
$ 924,000
%
Engineering, technology and development
2,326,000
1,556,000
770,000
%
General and administrative
1,199,000
451,000
748,000
%
Total amortization expense
$ 5,629,000
$ 3,187,000
$ 2,442,000
%
The net increase in selling, marketing and advertising expense was primarily due to the following:
●
Selling, marketing and advertising personnel costs increased $1,172,000 or 18%, driven by the addition of 11 former Mobcrush employees in connection with the acquisition of Mobcrush and organic growth in connection with the increase in our inhouse direct sales and marketing team focused on monetization and personnel in our creative and content functions. The Fiscal Year 2022 period includes twelve months of net expense related to employees acquired in connection with the June 2021 acquisition of Mobcrush, compared to seven months of net expense for Fiscal Year 2021.
●
Increase in noncash stock compensation expense totaling $145,000 driven by the impact of noncash compensation expense related to the PSUs issued on January 1, 2022, as described above.
●
The increase in selling, marketing and advertising expense also included a full year of amortization of partner, customer and advertiser related intangible assets acquired in connection with the 2021 Acquisitions, totaling $2,104,000 for Fiscal Year 2022. 2021 Acquisition related amortization of partner, customer and advertiser related intangible assets for Fiscal Year 2021 totaled $1,180,000, reflecting partial 2021 Acquisition related amortization for the period from the respective acquisition closing dates to December 31, 2021.
Engineering, Technology and Development. Components of our platform are available on a “free to use,” “always on basis,” and are utilized and offered as an audience acquisition tool, as a means of growing our audience, engagement, viewership, players and community. Engineering, technology and development related operating expense include the costs described below, incurred in connection with our audience acquisition and viewership expansion activities. Engineering, technology and development related operating expense includes (i) allocated internal engineering personnel expense, including salaries, noncash stock compensation, taxes and benefits, (ii) third-party contract software development and engineering expense, (iii) internal use software cost amortization expense, and (iv) technology platform related cloud services, broadband and other platform expense, incurred in connection with our audience acquisition and viewership expansion activities, including tools and product offering development, testing, minor upgrades and features, free to use services, corporate information technology and general platform maintenance and support. Capitalized internal use software development costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the software’s estimated useful life.
The net increase in engineering, technology and development costs was primarily due to the following:
●
Engineering and product function personnel costs increased $3,545,000 or 106%, driven by an increase in engineering and product function personnel associated with the 2021 Acquisitions and Fiscal Year 2022 organic growth in personnel in connection with an increase in staffing of our in-house product and engineering team focused on the development and enhancement of our product and technology offerings and platforms. Fiscal year 2022 includes approximately twelve months of net expense related to employees acquired in connection with the 2021 Acquisitions, compared to a partial period of net personnel expense for the Fiscal Year 2021, for the periods from the respective acquisition closing dates to December 31, 2021. The increase in engineering and product function personnel was partially offset in connection with ongoing investment prioritization and cost optimization activities, which resulted in a net decrease of 13 full-time engineering and product function personnel during the second half of Fiscal Year 2022.
●
The increase in engineering, technology and development costs for Fiscal Year 2022 also reflected an increase in cloud services and other technology platform costs totaling $240,000, primarily reflecting costs resulting from our 2021 Acquisitions, as well as continued strong engagement across our digital properties.
●
The increase also included a full year of amortization of developed technology related intangible assets acquired in connection with the 2021 Acquisitions totaling $1,349,000 for Fiscal Year 2022. 2021 Acquisition related amortization of developed technology related intangible assets for Fiscal Year 2021 totaled $631,000, reflecting partial 2021 Acquisition related amortization for the period from the respective acquisition closing dates to December 31, 2021.
General and Administrative. General and administrative expense for the periods presented was comprised of the following:
Fiscal Year
Change
$
%
Personnel costs
$ 2,901,000
$ 2,460,000
$ 441,000
%
Office and facilities
249,000
175,000
74,000
%
Professional fees
1,247,000
1,330,000
(83,000
)
(6
)%
Stock-based compensation
2,795,000
1,159,000
1,636,000
%
Depreciation and amortization
1,306,000
524,000
782,000
%
Other
3,596,000
3,787,000
(191,000
)
(5
)%
Total general and administrative expense
$ 12,094,000
$ 9,435,000
$ 2,659,000
%
The net increase in general and administrative expense for the periods presented was primarily due to the following:
●
Personnel costs increased primarily due to net increases in headcount in our finance and accounting function, human resources and operations functions.
●
Noncash stock compensation expense increased primarily due to $1,665,000 of noncash stock compensation expense recorded in connection with the PSUs granted on January 1, 2022, which vest in five equal tranches based on the achievement of certain Company stock price targets, as described at Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements elsewhere herein.
●
Depreciation and amortization expense included a full year of amortization of trademark, developer and influencer related intangible assets acquired in connection with the 2021 Acquisitions totaling $1,045,000 for Fiscal Year 2022. 2021 Acquisition related amortization of trademark, developer and influencer related intangible assets for Fiscal Year 2021 totaled $318,000, reflecting partial 2021 Acquisition related amortization for the period from the respective acquisition closing dates to December 31, 2021.
During the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2022, the Company rebranded certain products acquired in connection with the acquisition of Mobcrush. As a result, the Company recorded a write down of trademark related intangible assets acquired in connection with the acquisition of Mobcrush totaling $423,000, which is included as a component of amortization expense in general and administrative expense in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for Fiscal Year 2022.
●
Other general and administrative expense decreased driven by a 38% decrease in D&O insurance premiums for the 2022-2023 policy period, which covers the period from March 2022 to February 2023.
Contingent Consideration
During Fiscal Year 2022, the Company determined that it was probable that the contingency associated with the Initial Earn Out Period (as defined at Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements) would be met in accordance with the terms of the Super Biz Purchase Agreement (as defined at Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements), and the applicable amounts were reasonably estimable, resulting in a charge to compensation expense totaling $3,206,000 (including approximately 988,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.336, the closing price of our common stock as of December 31, 2022), which is reflected in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022. Refer to Note 5 for additional information.
Impairment of Goodwill
As described at Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements elsewhere herein, we performed goodwill impairment tests as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2022 (“Measurement Dates”). We utilized the market capitalization of the Company (Level 1 observable input) as of the respective Measurement Dates to estimate the fair value of the Company’s single reporting unit. The estimated market capitalization was determined by multiplying the applicable measurement date stock prices and the common shares outstanding as of the respective Measurement Dates. The market capitalization approach was utilized to estimate the fair value of our single reporting unit due to the significance of the decline in stock price as of the respective Measurement Dates, resulting in a market capitalization that was below the net book value of our single reporting unit as of the respective Measurement Dates. As of September 30, 2022, based on the analysis, the estimated fair value of our reporting unit was $25.2 million, compared to a carrying value of our single reporting unit of $67.3 million resulting in a goodwill impairment charge of $42.0 million, which was reflected in the consolidated statement of operations for the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2022. As of December 31, 2022, based on the analysis, the estimated fair value of our reporting unit was $12.6 million, compared to a carrying value of our single reporting unit of $27.5 million, resulting in a fourth quarter 2022 goodwill impairment charge of $8.3 million, reflecting the write down of the remaining balance of goodwill for our single reporting unit.
Other Income (Expense)
On May 16, 2022, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with three institutional investors providing for the sale and issuance of a new series of senior convertible notes in the aggregate original principal amount of $4,320,000 (of which 8% was an original issue discount) which accrues interest at a guaranteed annual rate of 9% per annum, as described below and at Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements elsewhere herein. Convertible note related interest expense for Fiscal Year 2022 totaled $670,000, which was comprised of interest expense totaling $389,000, and the amortization of original issue discount totaling $280,000.
In May 2020, we entered into a forgivable loan from the U. S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) resulting in net proceeds of approximately $1.2 million pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) enacted by Congress under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(36)) (the “CARES Act”) administered by the SBA (the “PPP Loan”). To facilitate the PPP Loan, we entered into a note payable agreement with a third-party lender (the “PPP Loan Agreement”). In May 2021, the PPP loan and accrued interest was forgiven pursuant to the terms and conditions of the PPP Loan Agreement and the provision of the Cares Act. Upon forgiveness, and legal release, we reduced the liability by the amount forgiven, totaling $1,213,000 and recorded a gain on extinguishment in the accompanying statement of operations for Fiscal Year 2021.
Benefit for Income Taxes
Release of Valuation Allowance. Since inception, we have maintained a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets. The net deferred tax liability resulting from the acquisition of Mobcrush created a source of income to utilize against our existing net deferred tax assets. Under the acquisition method of accounting, the impact on the acquiring company’s deferred tax assets is recorded outside of acquisition accounting. Accordingly, the valuation allowance on a portion of the Company’s net deferred tax assets was released, resulting in an income tax benefit of approximately $3,073,000, recorded as a credit to income tax expense for Fiscal Year 2021. The offsetting amounts reduced net deferred tax liabilities, $3,073,000 of which reduced the net deferred tax liability established in connection with the application of the acquisition method of accounting for the acquisition of Mobcrush.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
General
Cash and cash equivalents totaled approximately $2.5 million and $14.5 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The change in cash and cash equivalents for the periods presented reflects the impact of operating, investing and financing cash flow related activities, as described below.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. Including a noncash goodwill impairment charge of $50.3 million in Fiscal Year 2022, the Company incurred net losses of $85.5 million and $20.7 million during Fiscal Year 2022 and Fiscal Year 2021, respectively, and had an accumulated deficit of $210.7 million (including Fiscal Year 2022 noncash goodwill impairment charges of $50.3 million) as of December 31, 2022. For Fiscal Year 2022, net cash used in operating activities totaled $19.8 million.
To date, our principal sources of capital used to fund our operations and growth have been the net proceeds received from equity and debt financings. We have and will continue to use significant capital for the growth and development of our business, and, as such, we expect to seek additional capital either from operations or that may be available from future issuance(s) of common stock, preferred stock and / or debt financings, to fund our planned operations. Accordingly, our results of operations and the implementation of our long-term business strategies have been and could continue to be adversely affected by general conditions in the global economy, including conditions that are outside of our control. The most recent global financial crisis caused by severe geopolitical conditions, including conflicts abroad, and the lingering effects of COVID-19 and threats of other outbreaks, have resulted in extreme volatility, disruptions and downward pressure on stock prices and trading volumes across the capital and credit markets in which we traditionally operate. A severe or prolonged economic downturn could result in a variety of risks to our business and could have a material adverse effect on us, including limiting our ability to obtain additional funding from the capital and credit markets. In management’s judgement, these conditions raise substantial doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern as contemplated by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 205-40, “Going Concern” (“ASC 205-40”).
Management’s Plans
The Company experienced significant growth in Fiscal Year 2022 and Fiscal Year 2021 through organic and inorganic growth activities, including the expansion of our premium advertising inventory and quarter over quarter and year over year increases in recognized revenue across our three primary revenue streams. In Fiscal Year 2022, we focused on the continued expansion of our service offerings and revenue growth opportunities through internal development, collaborations, and through opportunistic strategic acquisitions, as well as management and reduction of costs. Management continues to explore alternatives for raising capital to facilitate our growth and execute our business strategy, including strategic partnerships and or other forms of equity or debt financings.
Series A Preferred Stock Financing
During the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2022, we entered into subscription agreements with accredited investors in connection with the sale of an aggregate of 10,323 shares of newly designated Series A, A-2, A-3 and A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock, each series having a $0.001 par value and a $1,000 purchase price, raising net proceeds totaling $8,926,000, after deducting placement agent and other financing costs totaling $1,397,000. In addition, on January 31, 2023, we entered into subscription agreements with accredited investors in connection with the sale of an aggregate of 2,299 shares of newly designated Series A-5 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (collectively with the Series A, A-2, A-3 and A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock, the “Series A Preferred”), at a purchase price of $1,000 per share, raising net proceeds of $2,000,000, after deducting placement agent costs of $299,000.
The Company sold the shares of Series A Preferred pursuant to a Placement Agency Agreement (the “Placement Agency Agreement”) with a registered broker dealer, which acted as the Company’s exclusive placement agent (the “Placement Agent”) for the offer and sale of the Series A Preferred (the “Series A Offering”). In connection with the Series A Offering, pursuant to the terms of the Placement Agency Agreement, the Company paid the Placement Agent an aggregate of $1,697,000 in Placement Agent fees and costs, and will issue to the Placement Agent or its designees warrants (the “Placement Agent Warrants”) to purchase 3,249,974 shares of Common Stock at a weighted average exercise price of $0.56 per share. The Placement Agent Warrants provide for a cashless exercise feature and are exercisable for a period of five years from the Effective Date. In addition, the Company agreed to grant the Placement Agent the right to appoint, subject to the Company’s approval, one representative to serve as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors upon the closing of at least $10 million in the Series A Offering.
Concurrently with the Series A Preferred subscription agreements, the Company and the holders of the Series A Preferred entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which the Company agreed to file a registration statement covering the resale of the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred within 60 days following the final closing of the Series A Offering and to use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective within 90 days of the filing date.
Use of net proceeds from the Series A Offering include the repayment of certain indebtedness and working capital and general corporate purposes, including sales and marketing activities and product development. Pursuant to the terms of the SPA (Note 6), as of March 31, 2023, $4.2 million of the net proceeds were utilized in connection with the partial redemption of the Notes (as defined below).
Securities Purchase Agreement
On May 16, 2022, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “SPA”) with three institutional investors (collectively, the “Note Holders”) providing for the sale and issuance of a new series of senior convertible notes in the aggregate original principal amount of $4,320,000, of which 8% was an original issue discount (each, a “Note,” and, collectively, the “Notes,” and such financing, the “Note Offering”). Each Note accrued interest at a guaranteed annual rate of 9% per annum, matures 12 months from the date of issuance, and was convertible at the option of the Note Holders into that number of shares of the Company’s common stock, equal to the sum of the outstanding principal balance, accrued and unpaid interest, and accrued and unpaid late charges (the “Conversion Amount”), divided by $4.00, subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as more specifically set forth in the Note.
Concurrently with the SPA, the Company and the Note Holders entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 within 30 days after the closing of the Note Offering. See Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this Report for additional information about the Note Offering.
As of December 31, 2022, the balance of the Notes and related accrued interest totaled $719,000 which was subsequently paid in full in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023.
Common Stock Purchase Agreement
On March 25, 2022, we entered into a common stock purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Tumim Stone Capital, LLC (“Tumim”), pursuant to which we have the right, but not the obligation, to sell to Tumim, and Tumim is obligated to purchase up to up to $10,000,000 of newly issued shares (the “Total Commitment”) from time to time during the term of the Purchase Agreement. As consideration for Tumim’s commitment to purchase shares of common stock under the Purchase Agreement, we issued to Tumim 50,000 shares of common stock (the “Commitment Shares”), valued at $100,000, following the execution of the Purchase Agreement.
The Purchase Agreement initially precludes us from issuing and selling more than 7,361,833 shares of our common stock, including the Commitment Shares, which number equals 19.99% of our common stock issued and outstanding as of March 25, 2022, unless we obtain stockholder approval to issue additional shares, or unless certain exceptions apply. In addition, a beneficial ownership limitation in the agreement initially limits us from directing Tumim to purchase shares of common stock if such purchases would result in Tumim beneficially owning more than 4.99% of the then-outstanding shares of our common stock (subject to an increase to 9.99% at Tumim’s option upon at least 61 calendar days’ notice). See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this Report for additional information about the Tumim Offering.
We may continue to evaluate potential strategic acquisitions. To finance such strategic acquisitions, we may find it necessary to raise additional equity capital, incur debt, or both. Any efforts to seek additional funding could be made through issuances of equity or debt, or other external financing. However, additional funding may not be available on favorable terms, or at all. The capital and credit markets have experienced extreme volatility and disruption periodically and such volatility and disruption may occur in the future. If we fail to obtain additional financing when needed, we may not be able to execute our business plans which, in turn, would have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, our ability to meet our obligations, and our ability to pursue our business strategies.
Cash Flows for the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
The following table summarizes the change in cash and cash equivalents for the periods presented:
Fiscal Year
Net cash used in operating activities
$ (19,826,000
)
$ (22,707,000
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(1,690,000
)
(4,203,000
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
9,465,000
33,501,000
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(12,051,000
)
6,591,000
Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of period
14,533,000
7,942,000
Cash and cash equivalents, at end of period
$ 2,482,000
$ 14,533,000
Cash Flows from Operating Activities. Net cash used in operating activities for Fiscal Year 2022 primarily reflected our net GAAP loss for Fiscal Year 2022, net of adjustments to reconcile net GAAP loss to net cash used in operating activities, which included $50,263,000 of goodwill impairment charges, $4,263,000 of noncash stock compensation charges, depreciation and amortization of $5,403,000, and a write down of a trademark related intangible asset totaling $423,000. Changes in working capital primarily reflected the impact of the settlement of receivables and payables in the ordinary course.
Net cash used in operating activities for Fiscal Year 2021 primarily reflected our net GAAP loss for Fiscal Year 2021, net of adjustments to reconcile net GAAP loss to net cash used in operating activities, which included $2,381,000 of noncash stock compensation charges, depreciation and amortization of $3,323,000, a noncash gain totaling $1,213,000 in connection with the forgiveness of our PPP Loan in May 2021 and changes in valuation allowance and deferred income taxes totaling $3,073,000. Changes in working capital primarily reflected the impact of the settlement of receivables and payables in the ordinary course.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities. Cash flows from investing activities were comprised of the following for the periods presented:
Fiscal Year
Cash acquired in connection with the acquisition of Mobcrush, net
$ -
$ 586,000
Cash paid in connection with the acquisition of Bannerfy, net
-
(497,000
)
Cash paid in connection with the acquisition of Super Biz, net
-
(3,000,000
)
Purchase of property and equipment
(149,000
)
(22,000
)
Purchase of third-party game properties
(500,000
)
-
Capitalization of software development costs
(923,000
)
(1,065,000
)
Acquisition of other intangible and other assets
(118,000
)
(205,000
)
Net cash used in investing activities
$ (1,690,000
)
$ (4,203,000
)
Acquisition of Mobcrush.
On June 1, 2021, we completed the Acquisition of Mobcrush pursuant to which we acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Mobcrush. At closing, the Company issued to the former stockholders of Mobcrush an aggregate total of 12,067,571 shares of common stock and reserved an aggregate total of 514,633 shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to stock options to be granted to Mobcrush employees retained in connection with the Acquisition of Mobcrush, resulting in a total of 12,582,204 shares of common stock issued and reserved as consideration for the Acquisition of Mobcrush. Upon completion of the Acquisition of Mobcrush, Mobcrush became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Refer to Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements herein for information regarding assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the Acquisition of Mobcrush.
Acquisition of Bannerfy, LTD.
On August 24, 2021 (the “Bannerfy Closing Date”), the Company completed the acquisition of Bannerfy, Ltd., (“Bannerfy”) pursuant to which the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Bannerfy. Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, dated August 11, 2021 (the “Bannerfy Purchase Agreement”), the Company paid initial consideration of $2.45 million (the “Bannerfy Closing Consideration”), as follows: (i) $525,000 in the form of a cash payment, and (ii) $1.925 million in the form of shares of the Company’s common stock at a price per share of $4.10, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the Bannerfy Purchase Agreement, as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Pursuant to the terms of the Bannerfy Purchase Agreement, $275,000 of the Bannerfy Closing Consideration (the “Holdback Amount”), was withheld from the Bannerfy Closing Consideration to satisfy any indemnifiable Losses incurred by the Company (as defined in the Bannerfy Purchase Agreement) prior to the first anniversary of the Bannerfy Closing Date. The Company incurred no indemnifiable losses prior to the first anniversary of the Bannerfy Closing Date, and therefore during the three months ended September 30, 2022, the Company released to the Sellers the Holdback Amount as follows: (i) $55,000 payable in the form of cash, and (ii) approximately $220,000 in the form of shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $4.10.
In accordance with the Bannerfy Purchase Agreement, all remaining portions of the Bannerfy Purchase Price subsequent to the payment of the Bannerfy Closing Consideration, up to approximately $4.55 million (the “Contingent Consideration”), is payable upon the achievement of certain revenue and gross profit thresholds for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2021, and each of the fiscal years ending December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2023 (“Earnout Periods”). Refer to Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements herein for additional information.
Acquisition of Super Biz Co.
On October 4, 2021 (“Super Biz Closing Date”), the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Super Biz Purchase Agreement”) with Super Biz and the founders of Super Biz (the “Founders”), pursuant to which the Company acquired (i) substantially all of the assets of Super Biz, and (ii) the personal goodwill of the Founders regarding Super Biz’s business, (the “Super Biz Acquisition”). The consummation of the Super Biz Acquisition (the “Super Biz Closing”) occurred simultaneously with the execution of the Super Biz Purchase Agreement on the Super Biz Closing Date.
On the Super Biz Closing Date, the Company paid an aggregate total of $6.0 million to Super Biz and the Founders, of which $3.0 million was paid in the form of cash and $3.0 million was paid in the form of shares of the Company’s common stock, at a per share price of $2.91, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the Super Biz Closing Date, as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the Super Biz Purchase Agreement, up to aggregate amount $11.5 million will be payable to Super Biz and the Founders in connection with the achievement of certain revenue milestones for the period from the Super Biz Closing Date until December 31, 2022 and for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 (the “Super Biz Contingent Consideration”). The Super Biz Contingent Consideration is payable in the form of both cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, in equal amounts, as more specifically set forth in the Super Biz Purchase Agreement. As of December 31, 2022, the Company determined that it was probable that the contingency for the Initial Earn Out Period would be met in accordance with the terms of the Super Biz Purchase Agreement, and the applicable amounts were reasonably estimable, resulting in a charge to compensation expense totaling $3,206,000 (including approximately 988,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.336, the closing price of our common stock as of December 31, 2022), which is reflected in general and administrative expense in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Capitalized Internal Use Software Costs. Software development costs incurred to develop internal-use software during the application development stage are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the software’s estimated useful life, which is generally three years. Software development costs incurred during the preliminary stages of development are charged to expense as incurred. Maintenance and training costs are charged to expense as incurred. Upgrades or enhancements to existing internal-use software that result in additional functionality are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the applicable estimated useful life.
Purchase of Third-Party Game Property. In June 2022, we purchased Anime Battlegrounds X, a highly rated game on Roblox, from a third-party game developer. The total purchase price of $500,000 was capitalized and is being amortized to cost of revenue over the estimated useful life of 5 years.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Cash flows from financing activities were comprised of the following for the periods presented:
Fiscal Year
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
$ 8,926,000
-
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
320,000
$ 33,390,000
Proceeds from convertible notes, net (Note 6)
4,000,000
-
Payments on convertible notes (Note 6)
(3,781,000
)
-
Proceeds from common stock options and purchase warrant exercises
-
111,000
Net cash provided by financing activities
$ 9,465,000
$ 33,501,000
Convertible Preferred Stock
During the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2022, we entered into subscription agreements with accredited investors relating to offerings with respect to the sale of an aggregate of 10,323 shares of newly designated Series A, A-2, A-3 and A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock, each series having a $0.001 par value and a $1,000 purchase price, hereinafter collectively referred to as “Series A Preferred,” and the individual offerings of Series A Preferred stock hereinafter collectively referred to as the Series A Offerings, as follows:
Date
Series Designation
Conversion Price
Shares
Gross Proceeds
Fees
Net Proceeds
Conversion Shares
Placement Agent Warrants
November 22, 2022
Series A
$ 0.6200
5,359
$ 5,359,000
$ 752,000
$ 4,607,000
8,644,000
1,253,000
November 28, 2022
Series A-2
$ 0.6646
1,297
1,297,000
169,000
1,128,000
1,952,000
283,000
November 30, 2022
Series A-3
$ 0.6704
1,733
1,733,000
225,000
1,508,000
2,585,000
375,000
December 22, 2022
Series A-4
$ 0.3801
1,934
1,934,000
251,000
1,683,000
5,088,000
738,000
Total
10,323
$ 10,323,000
$ 1,397,000
$ 8,926,000
18,269,000
2,649,000
Use of net proceeds from the Series A Offering include the repayment of certain indebtedness and working capital and general corporate purposes, including sales and marketing activities and product development. As disclosed at Note 6, in the event the Company consummated a subsequent equity financing during the term of the Notes, the Company is required, at the option of the Note Holders, to use 50% of the gross proceeds raised from such sale to redeem all or any portion of the Notes outstanding upon closing of such equity financing. For the Fiscal Year 2022, $3,621,000 of the net proceeds from the Series A Offerings were utilized in connection with the partial redemption of the Notes.
Convertible Debt.
On May 16, 2022, as summarized above and further described at Note 6, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with three institutional investors, providing for the sale and issuance of a new series of senior convertible notes in the aggregate original principal amount of $4,320,000, of which 8% is an original issue discount. During the third and fourth quarters of Fiscal Year 2022 we made convertible note redemption payments totaling $3,782,000. As of December 31, 2022, the outstanding balance of the Notes and related accrued interest totaled $719,000, which was subsequently paid in full in the first quarter of 2023.
Common Stock Purchase Agreement
On March 25, 2022, we entered into a common stock purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Tumim Stone Capital, LLC (“Tumim”), pursuant to which we have the right, but not the obligation, to sell to Tumim, and Tumim is obligated to purchase up to up to $10,000,000 of newly issued shares (the “Total Commitment”) from time to time during the term of the Purchase Agreement. As consideration for Tumim’s commitment to purchase shares of common stock under the Purchase Agreement, we issued to Tumim 50,000 shares of common stock (the “Commitment Shares”), valued at $100,000, following the execution of the Purchase Agreement.
The Purchase Agreement initially precludes us from issuing and selling more than 7,361,833 shares of our common stock, including the Commitment Shares, which number equals 19.99% of our common stock issued and outstanding as of March 25, 2022, unless we obtain stockholder approval to issue additional shares, or unless certain exceptions apply. In addition, a beneficial ownership limitation in the agreement initially limits us from directing Tumim to purchase shares of common stock if such purchases would result in Tumim beneficially owning more than 4.99% of the then-outstanding shares of our common stock (subject to an increase to 9.99% at Tumim’s option upon at least 61 calendar days’ notice). See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this Report for additional information about the Tumim Offering. During Fiscal Year 2022, we issued 7,425 shares of common stock pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, at an average price of $1.11, raising net proceeds of approximately $8,000, under the Purchase Agreement.
Equity Distribution Agreement
On September 3, 2021, we entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with two investment banks (the “Agents”), pursuant to which we could offer and sell, from time to time, through the Agents (the “ATM Offering”), up to $75 million of shares of our common stock (the “Shares”), as described at Note 7. Under the Sales Agreement, the Agents were able to sell the Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act. Any Shares offered and sold in the ATM Offering were issued pursuant to our Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on September 7, 2021. During Fiscal Year 2022 the Company issued 323,639 shares of common stock, at an average price of $0.99, raising net proceeds of $312,000, under the Sales Agreement. The term of the ATM Offering terminated on November 16, 2022, one year from the date that the Form S-3 was declared effective by the SEC. The net proceeds from sales of Shares pursuant to the ATM Offering were used primarily for the repayment of certain indebtedness, working capital and general corporate purposes.
Other Equity Financings
In January 2021, the Company issued 3,076,924 shares of common stock at a price of $2.60 per share, raising aggregate net proceeds of approximately $8.0 million, after deducting offering costs totaling $73,000.
In February 2021, the Company issued 2,926,830 shares of common stock at a price of $4.10 per share, raising aggregate net proceeds of approximately $12.0 million, after deducting offering costs totaling $70,000.
In March 2021, the Company issued 1,512,499 shares of common stock at a price of $9.00 per share, raising aggregate net proceeds of approximately $13.6 million, after deducting offering costs totaling $72,000.
The offerings described above were made pursuant to an effective shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3, which was originally filed with the SEC on April 10, 2020 (File No. 333-237626). The net proceeds from these offerings were used for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including sales and marketing activities, product development and capital expenditures. The Company utilized a portion of the net proceeds for the acquisition of, or investment in, technologies, solutions or businesses.
Contractual Obligations and Off-Balance Sheet Commitments and Arrangements
As of December 31, 2022, we had no significant commitments for capital expenditures, nor do we have any committed lines of credit, other committed funding or long-term debt, and no guarantees. As of December 31, 2022 we maintain approximately 3,200 square feet of office space, 1,650 square feet of which is on a month-to-month basis, and 1,550 square feet of which is subject to a two-year lease, commencing on August 1, 2021.
We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financial guarantees or other off-balance sheet commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties. We have not entered into any derivative contracts that are indexed to our shares and classified as stockholder’s equity or that are not reflected in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein. Furthermore, we do not have any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity. We do not have any variable interest in any unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit support to us or engages in leasing, hedging or product development services with us.
Contingencies
Certain conditions may exist as of the date the consolidated financial statements are issued, which may result in a loss to the Company, but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. The Company’s management, in consultation with its legal counsel as appropriate, assesses such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. In assessing loss contingencies related to legal proceedings that are pending against the Company or unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, the Company, in consultation with legal counsel, evaluates the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or unasserted claims, as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein. If the assessment of a contingency indicates it is probable that a material loss has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be estimated, then the estimated liability would be accrued in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. If the assessment indicates a potentially material loss contingency is not probable, but is reasonably possible, or is probable, but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss, if determinable and material, would be disclosed. Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the guarantees would be disclosed.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 2 to the accompany consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this Report.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Preparation of our financial statements requires management to make judgments and estimates. Some accounting policies have a significant impact on amounts reported in our financial statements. The SEC has defined a company’s critical accounting policies as the ones that are most important to the portrayal of a company’s financial condition and results of operations, and which require a company to make its most difficult and subjective judgments. A summary of significant accounting policies and a description of accounting policies that are considered critical may be found in the audited financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere herein. The following accounting policies were identified during the periods presented, based on activities occurring during the periods presented, as critical and requiring significant judgments and estimates.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized when we transfer promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. In this regard, revenue is recognized when: (i) the parties to the contract have approved the contract (in writing, orally, or in accordance with other customary business practices) and are committed to perform their respective obligations; (ii) the entity can identify each party’s rights regarding the goods or services to be transferred; (iii) the entity can identify the payment terms for the goods or services to be transferred; (iv) the contract has commercial substance (that is, the risk, timing, or amount of the entity’s future cash flows is expected to change as a result of the contract);and (v) it is probable that the entity will collect substantially all of the consideration to which it will be entitled in exchange for the goods or services that will be transferred to the customer.
Transaction prices are based on the amount of consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for transferring promised goods or services to a customer, excluding amounts collected on behalf of third parties, if any. We consider the explicit terms of the revenue contract, which are typically written and executed by the parties, our customary business practices, the nature, timing, and the amount of consideration promised by a customer, in connection with determining the transaction price for our revenue arrangements.
We report revenue on a gross or net basis based on management’s assessment of whether we act as a principal or agent in the transaction and is evaluated on a transaction-by-transaction basis. To the extent we act as the principal, revenue is reported on a gross basis net of any sales tax from customers, when applicable. The determination of whether we act as a principal or an agent in a transaction is based on an evaluation of whether we control the good or service prior to transfer to the customer. Where applicable, we have determined that it acts as the principal in all of its advertising and sponsorships, content and direct to consumer revenue streams, except in situations where we utilize a reseller partner with respect to direct advertising sales arrangements.
We generate revenue from (i) innovative advertising including immersive game world and experience publishing and in-game media products, (ii) direct to consumer offers, including in-game items, e-commerce, game passes and ticketing and digital collectibles, and (iii) content and technology through the production and distribution of our own, advertiser and third-party content.
Revenue billed or collected in advance is recorded as deferred revenue until the event occurs or until applicable performance obligations are satisfied.
Advertising and Sponsorships:
Advertising revenue primarily consists of direct sales activity along with sales of programmatic display and video advertising units to third-party advertisers and exchanges. Advertising arrangements typically include contract terms for time periods ranging from several days to several weeks in length.
For advertising arrangements that include performance obligations satisfied over time, customers typically simultaneously receive and consume the benefits under the arrangement as we satisfy our performance obligations, over the applicable contract term. As such, revenue is recognized over the contract term based upon estimates of progress toward complete satisfaction of the contract performance obligations (typically utilizing a time, effort or delivery-based method of estimation). Revenue from shorter term advertising arrangements that provide for a contractual delivery or performance date is recognized when performance is substantially complete and or delivery occurs. Payments are typically due from customers during the term of the arrangement for longer-term campaigns, and once delivery is complete for shorter-term campaigns.
Sponsorship revenue arrangements may include exclusive or non-exclusive title sponsorships, marketing benefits, official product status exclusivity, product visibly and additional infrastructure placement, social media rights, rights to on-screen activations and promotions, display material rights, media rights, hospitality and tickets and merchandising rights. Sponsorship revenue also includes revenue pursuant to arrangements with brand and media partners, retail venues, game publishers and broadcasters that allow our partners to run amateur esports experiences, and or capture specifically curated gameplay content that is customized for our partners’ distribution channels. Sponsorship arrangements typically include contract terms for time periods ranging from several weeks or months to terms of twelve months in length.
For sponsorship arrangements that include performance obligations satisfied over time, customers typically simultaneously receive and consume the benefits under the agreement as we satisfy our performance obligations, over the applicable contract term. As such, revenue is recognized over the contract term based upon estimates of progress toward complete satisfaction of the contract performance obligations (typically utilizing a time, effort or delivery-based method of estimation). Payments are typically due from customers during the term of the arrangement.
Revenue from sponsorship arrangements for one-off branded experiences and/or the development of content tailored specifically for our partners’ distribution channels that provide for a contractual delivery or performance date, is recognized at a point in time, when performance is substantially complete and or delivery occurs.
Content Sales:
Content-related revenue is generated in connection with our curation and distribution of esports and entertainment content for our own network of digital channels and media and entertainment partner channels. We distribute three primary types of content for syndication and licensing, including: (1) our own original programming content, (2) user generated content (“UGC”), including online gameplay and gameplay highlights, and (3) the creation of content for third parties utilizing our remote production and broadcast technology.
For content arrangements that include performance obligations satisfied over time, customers typically simultaneously receive and consume the benefits under the arrangement as we satisfy our performance obligations, over the applicable contract term. As such, revenue is recognized over the contract term based upon estimates of progress toward complete satisfaction of the contract performance obligations (typically utilizing a time, effort or delivery-based method of estimation). Revenue from shorter-term content sales arrangements that provide for a contractual delivery or performance date is recognized when performance is substantially complete and or delivery occurs. Payments are typically due from customers during the term of the arrangement for longer-term campaigns, and once delivery is complete for shorter-term campaigns.
Direct to Consumer:
Direct to consumer revenue primarily consists of digital subscription fees, in-game digital goods, and gameplay access fees. Subscription revenue is recognized in the period the services are rendered. Payments are typically due from customers at the point of sale.
Platform Generated Sales Transactions. Our Mobcrush subsidiary generates in-game Platform sales revenue via digital goods sold within the platform, including cosmetic items, durable goods, player ranks and game modes, leveraging the flexibility of the Microsoft Minecraft Bedrock platform, and powered by the InPvP cloud architecture technology platform. Revenue is generated when transactions are facilitated between Microsoft and the end user, either via in-game currency or cash.
Revenue for digital goods sold on the platform is recognized when Microsoft (our partner) collects the revenue and facilitates the transaction on the platform. Revenue for such arrangements includes all revenue generated, bad debt, make goods, and refunds of all transactions managed via the platform by Microsoft. The revenue is recognized on a monthly basis. Payments are made to the Company monthly based on the reconciled sales revenue generated.
We make estimates and judgments when determining whether we will collect substantially all of the consideration to which we will be entitled in exchange for the goods or services that will be transferred to the customer. We assess the collectability of receivables based on several factors, including past transaction history and the creditworthiness of our customers. If it is determined that collection is not reasonably assured, amounts due are recognized when collectability becomes reasonably assured, assuming all other revenue recognition criteria have been met, which is generally upon receipt of cash for transactions where collectability may have been an issue. Management’s estimates regarding collectability impact the actual revenue recognized each period and the timing of the recognition of revenue. Our assumptions and judgments regarding future collectability could differ from actual events and thus materially impact our financial position and results of operations.
Depending on the complexity of the underlying revenue arrangement and related terms and conditions, significant judgments, assumptions and estimates may be required to determine each parties rights regarding the goods or services to be transferred, each parties performance obligations, whether performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time or over time, estimates of completion methodologies, the timing of satisfaction of performance obligations, and the appropriate period or periods in which, or during which, the completion of the earnings process occurs. Depending on the magnitude of specific revenue arrangements, if different judgments, assumptions and estimates are made regarding revenue arrangements in any specific period, our periodic financial results may be materially affected.
Accounting for Business Combinations
Acquisition Method. Acquisitions that meet the definition of a business under ASC 805, “Business Combinations” (“ASC 805”) are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method of accounting, assets acquired, liabilities assumed, contractual contingencies, and contingent consideration, when applicable, are recorded at fair value at the acquisition date. Any excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. The application of the acquisition method of accounting requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions in the determination of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the allocation of the purchase price consideration to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Transaction costs associated with business combinations are expensed as incurred and are included in general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations. Contingent consideration, if any, is recognized and measured at fair value as of the acquisition date.
Cost Accumulation Model. Acquisitions that do not meet the definition of a business under ASC 805 are accounted for as an asset acquisition, utilizing a cost accumulation model. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recognized at cost, which is the consideration the acquirer transfers to the seller, including direct transaction costs, on the acquisition date. The cost of the acquisition is then allocated to the assets acquired based on their relative fair values. Goodwill is not recognized in an asset acquisition. Direct transaction costs include those third-party costs that can be directly attributable to the asset acquisition and would not have been incurred absent the acquisition transaction.
Contingent consideration, representing an obligation of the acquirer to transfer additional assets or equity interests to the seller if future events occur or conditions are met, is recognized when probable and reasonably estimable. Contingent consideration recognized is included in the initial cost of the assets acquired, with subsequent changes in the recorded amount of contingent consideration recognized as an adjustment to the cost basis of the acquired assets. Subsequent changes are allocated to the acquired assets based on their relative fair value. Depreciation and/or amortization of adjusted assets are recognized as a cumulative catch-up adjustment, as if the additional amount of consideration that is no longer contingent had been accrued from the outset of the arrangement.
Contingent consideration that is paid to sellers that remain employed by the acquirer and linked to future services is generally considered compensation cost and recorded in the statement of operations in the post-combination period.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of the acquired business over the acquisition date fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment or one level below an operating segment) on an annual basis (December 31) and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. We consider our market capitalization and the carrying value of our assets and liabilities, including goodwill, when performing our goodwill impairment tests. We operate in one reporting segment.
If a potential impairment exists, a calculation is performed to determine the fair value of existing goodwill. This calculation can be based on quoted market prices and / or valuation models, which consider the estimated future undiscounted cash flows resulting from the reporting unit, and a discount rate commensurate with the risks involved. Third-party appraised values may also be used in determining whether impairment potentially exists. In assessing goodwill impairment, significant judgment is required in connection with estimates of market values, estimates of the amount and timing of future cash flows, and estimates of other factors that are used to determine the fair value of our reporting unit. If these estimates or related projections change in future periods, future goodwill impairment tests may result in charges to earnings.
When conducting the Company’s annual or interim goodwill impairment assessment, we initially perform a qualitative evaluation of whether it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired. In evaluating whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we consider the guidance set forth in ASC 350, “Intangibles Goodwill and Other” (“ASC 350”) which requires an entity to assess relevant events and circumstances, including macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, financial performance and other relevant events or circumstances.
September 30, 2022 Goodwill Impairment Testing
At September 30, 2022, prior to the completion of our goodwill impairment testing, the goodwill balance totaled $50.3 million.
At September 30, 2022, from a qualitative standpoint, we considered the Company’s history of reported losses and negative cash flows from operating activities, and also considered the sustained downturn in industry and macroeconomic conditions, including inflationary pressures and potential reductions in advertising spending and the sustained downturn of the broader mid-cap and micro-cap equity markets in the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2022. We also considered that the Company experienced significant inorganic and organic growth in Fiscal Year 2021, including the impact of the acquisitions of Mobcrush, Bannerfy and Super Biz on our premium advertising inventory, product offerings to advertisers, current period revenue recognized and future revenue generating opportunities.
However, the Company's stock price has been volatile, and the volatility continued during the three months ended September 30, 2022, declining 34% to $0.68 as of September 30, 2022, reflecting a market capitalization that was approximately 38% of the Company’s September 30, 2022 net book value. To assess whether the decline in our market capitalization was an indicator requiring an interim goodwill impairment test, we considered the significance of the decline and the length of time our common stock has been trading at a depressed value along with the macro factors described above. The significance of the decline is consistent with the broader microcap market. As of September 30, 2022 the decline in our stock price and other factors were deemed to be sustained, and therefore a triggering event requiring a goodwill impairment test as of September 30, 2022 was deemed to have occurred.
We utilized the market capitalization of the Company as of September 30, 2022, a Level 1 input as described above, to estimate the fair value of the Company’s single reporting unit. The estimated market capitalization was determined by multiplying our September 30, 2022 stock price and the common shares outstanding as of September 30, 2022. The market capitalization approach was utilized to estimate the fair value of our single reporting unit as of September 30, 2022, due to the significance of the decline in stock price as of September 30, 2022, resulting in a market capitalization that was 38% of the net book value of our single reporting unit. Based on the analysis, the estimated fair value of our reporting unit was $25.2 million, compared to a carrying value of our single reporting unit of $67.3 million as of September 30, 2022. As such, the fair value of our single reporting unit was deemed to be below its carrying value as of September 30, 2022, resulting in a goodwill impairment charge of $42.0 million, which was reflected in the consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
December 31, 2022 Goodwill Impairment Testing
At December 31, 2022, prior to the completion of our goodwill impairment testing, the goodwill balance totaled $8.3 million.
At December 31, 2022, from a qualitative standpoint, we considered the factors described above under “September 30, 2022 Goodwill Impairment Testing,” including the current period reported loss and negative cash flows from operating activities, and the sustained downturn in industry and macroeconomic conditions, including inflationary pressures and potential reductions in advertising spending and the sustained downturn of the broader mid-cap and micro-cap equity markets in the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2022. Similarly, given the Company’s recent significant growth, management does not believe that the current market capitalization of the Company is indicative of any fundamental change in the Company’s underlying business or future prospects as of the December 31, 2022 measurement date.
The Company's stock price has been volatile, and the volatility continued during the three months ended December 31, 2022, declining 50% from the September 30, 2022 closing price to $0.336 as of December 31, 2022, reflecting a market capitalization that was approximately 46% of the Company’s December 31, 2022 net book value. As of December 31, 2022 the decline in our stock price and other factors were deemed to be sustained, and therefore a triggering event requiring a goodwill impairment test as of December 30, 2022 was deemed to have occurred.
We utilized the market capitalization of the Company as of December 31, 2022, a Level 1 input as described above, to estimate the fair value of the Company’s single reporting unit. Based on the analysis, the estimated fair value of our reporting unit was $12.6 million, compared to a carrying value of our single reporting unit of $27.5 million as of December 31, 2022. As such, the fair value of our single reporting unit was deemed to be below its carrying value as of December 31, 2022, resulting in an additional goodwill impairment charge of $8.3 million in the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2022, reflecting the write down of the remaining balance of goodwill for our single reporting unit.
Relaxed Ongoing Reporting Requirements
Upon the completion of our initial public offering, we elected to report as an “emerging growth company” (as defined in the JOBS Act) under the reporting rules set forth under the Exchange Act. For so long as we remain an “emerging growth company,” we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other Exchange Act reporting companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” including but not limited to:
●
not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;
●
taking advantage of extensions of time to comply with certain new or revised financial accounting standards;
●
being permitted to comply with reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements; and
●
being exempt from the requirement to hold a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
We are subject to ongoing public reporting requirements that are less rigorous than Exchange Act rules for companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” and our stockholders could receive less information than they might expect to receive from more mature public companies.
We expect to take advantage of these reporting exemptions until we are no longer an emerging growth company. We will remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years, although if the market value of our Common Stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30 before that time, we would cease to be an “emerging growth company” as of the following December 31.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
In the ordinary course of our business, we are not currently exposed to market risk of the sort that may arise from changes in interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates, or that may otherwise arise from transactions in derivatives.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company’s significant estimates and assumptions include the fair value of the Company’s common stock, stock-based compensation, the recoverability and useful lives of long-lived assets, and the valuation allowance relating to the Company’s deferred tax assets.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The consolidated financial statements and related financial information required to be filed hereunder are indexed under Item 15 of this report and are incorporated herein by reference.

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

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2022. Disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2022.
Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures
Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. Our management recognizes that any control system, no matter how well designed and operated, is based upon certain judgments and assumptions and cannot provide absolute assurance that its objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. This process includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to risk that the internal control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management’s Assessment of the Effectiveness of our Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management has evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022. In conducting its evaluation, management used the framework set forth in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on our evaluation under such framework, our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2022.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act and, accordingly, we are not required to provide the attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm on our internal control over financial reporting required by Item 308(b) of Regulation S-K.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

---

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Except as provided below, in accordance with General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, certain information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2022 annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the SEC no later than April 30, 2023.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
Except as provided below, in accordance with General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, certain information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2022 annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the SEC no later than April 30, 2023.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Except as provided below, in accordance with General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, certain information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2022 annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the SEC no later than April 30, 2023.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Except as provided below, in accordance with General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, certain information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2022 annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the SEC no later than April 30, 2023.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Except as provided below, in accordance with General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, certain information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2022 annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the SEC no later than April 30, 2023.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Exhibit No.
Name
Incorporation by Reference
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated March 9, 2021, by and among Super League Gaming, Inc., SLG Merger Sub II, Inc., and Mobcrush, Inc.
Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 11, 2021.
2.2
Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between Super League Gaming, Inc., and Mobcrush Streaming, Inc., dated April 20, 2021.
Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 21, 2021.
2.3
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated October 4, 2021, among Super League Gaming, Inc., Bloxbiz Co., Samuel Drozdov, and Benjamin Khakshoor.
Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on October 7, 2021.
3.1
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Super League Gaming, Inc., dated November 19, 2018.
Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement, filed on January 4, 2019.
3.2
Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Super League Gaming, Inc.
Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement, filed on January 4, 2019.
3.3
Certificate of Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Super League Gaming, Inc., dated February 8, 2019.
Exhibit 3.3 to the Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement , filed on February 12, 2019.
3.4 Certificate of Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Super League Gaming, Inc., dated July 24, 2020.
Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on July 24, 2020.
3.5* Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series A Preferred Stock
Filed herewith.
3.6* Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock
Filed herewith.
3.7* Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series A-3 Preferred Stock
Filed herewith.
3.8* Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock
Filed herewith.
3.9* Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series A-5 Preferred Stock
Filed herewith.
4.1
Form of Common Stock Certificate.
Exhibit 4.1 to the Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement , filed on February 12, 2019.
4.2
Form of Registration Rights Agreement, among Super League Gaming, Inc. and certain accredited investors.
Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 , filed on January 4, 2019.
4.3
Common Stock Purchase Warrant dated June 16, 2017 issued to Ann Hand.
Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on January 4, 2019.
4.4
Form of 9.00% Secured Convertible Promissory Note.
Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on January 4, 2019.
4.5
Form of Callable Common Stock Purchase Warrant, issued to certain accredited investors.
Exhibit 4.5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on January 4, 2019.
4.6
Form of Representative’s Warrant.
Exhibit 4.6 to the Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on February 12, 2019.
10.1†
Super League Gaming, Inc. Amended and Restated 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement , filed on January 4, 2019.
10.2†
Form of Stock Option Agreement under 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement , filed on January 4, 2019.
10.3
Subscription Agreement, among Nth Games, Inc. and certain accredited investors.
Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement , filed on January 4, 2019.
10.4
Subscription Agreement, among Super League Gaming, Inc. and certain accredited investors.
Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement, filed on January 4, 2019.
10.5
Form of Theater Agreement, filed herewith.
Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement , filed on January 4, 2019.
10.6
Lease between Super League Gaming, Inc. and Roberts Business Park Santa Monica LLC, dated June 1, 2016.
Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement, filed on January 4, 2019.
10.7+
License Agreement between Super League Gaming, Inc. and Riot Games, Inc., dated June 22, 2016.
Exhibit 10.7 to the Registration Statement , filed on January 4, 2019.
10.8+
Amended and Restated License Agreement between Super League Gaming, Inc. and Mojang AB, dated August 1, 2016.
Exhibit 10.8 to the Registration Statement , filed on January 4, 2019.
10.9+
Master Agreement between Super League Gaming, Inc. and Viacom Media Networks, dated June 9, 2017.
Exhibit 10.9 to the Registration Statement, filed on January 4, 2019.
10.10
Form of Common Stock Purchase Agreement, among Super League Gaming, Inc. and certain accredited investors.
Exhibit 10.10 to the Registration Statement , filed on January 4, 2019.
10.11
Form of Investors’ Rights Agreement, among Super League Gaming, Inc. and certain accredited investors.
Exhibit 10.11 to the Registration Statement, filed on January 4, 2019.
10.12†
Employment Agreement, between Super League Gaming, Inc. and Ann Hand, dated June 16, 2017.
Exhibit 10.12 to the Registration Statement , filed on January 4, 2019.
10.13†
Employment Agreement, between Super League Gaming, Inc. and David Steigelfest, dated October 31, 2017.
Exhibit 10.13 to the Registration Statement, filed on January 4, 2019.
10.14
Riot Games, Inc. Extension Letter, dated November 21, 2017.
Exhibit 10.14 to the Registration Statement, filed on January 4, 2019.
10.15
Form of Note Purchase Agreement, among Super League Gaming, Inc. and certain accredited investors.
Exhibit 10.15 to the Registration Statement , filed on January 4, 2019.
10.16
Form of Security Agreement, between Super League Gaming, Inc. and certain accredited investors.
Exhibit 10.16 to the Registration Statement, filed on January 4, 2019.
10.17
Form of Intercreditor and Collateral Agent Agreement, among Super League Gaming, Inc. and certain accredited investors.
Exhibit 10.17 to the Registration Statement , filed on January 4, 2019.
10.18
Form of Investors’ Rights Agreement (9% Secured Convertible Promissory Notes), among Super League Gaming, Inc. and certain accredited investors.
Exhibit 10.18 to the Registration Statement , filed on January 4, 2019.
10.19
Master Service Agreement and Initial Statement of Work between Super League Gaming, Inc. and Logitech Inc., dated March 1, 2018.
Exhibit 10.19 to the Registration Statement , filed on January 4, 2019.
10.20
Asset Purchase Agreement, between Super League Gaming, Inc. and Minehut, dated June 22, 2018.
Exhibit 10.20 to the Registration Statement, filed on January 4, 2019.
10.21†
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, between Super League Gaming, Inc. and Ann Hand, dated November 15, 2018.
Exhibit 10.21 to the Registration Statement , filed on January 4, 2019.
10.22†
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, between Super League Gaming, Inc. and David Steigelfest, dated November 1, 2018.
Exhibit 10.22 to the Registration Statement, filed on January 4, 2019.
10.23†
Employment Agreement, between Super League Gaming, Inc. and Matt Edelman, dated November 1, 2018.
Exhibit 10.23 to the Registration Statement, filed on January 4, 2019.
10.24†
Employment Agreement, between Super League Gaming, Inc. and Clayton Haynes, dated November 1, 2018.
Exhibit 10.24 to the Registration Statement , filed on January 4, 2019.
10.25++
Commercial Partnership Agreement between Super League Gaming, Inc., and ggCircuit, LLC, dated September 23, 2019.
Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2019, filed November 14, 2019.
10.26
Form of Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 2021.
Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 11, 2021.
10.27
Form of Voting Agreement, dated March 2021.
Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 11, 2021.
10.28
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement, dated March 19, 2021.
Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 23, 2021.
10.29
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of September 3, 2021, by and between Super League Gaming, Inc. and Maxim Group LLC.
Exhibit 1.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-259347, filed September 7, 2021.
10.30
Share Purchase Agreement, by and between Super League Gaming, Inc. and Bannerfy Ltd., dated August 11, 2021.
Exhibit 10.4 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2021, filed August 16, 2021.
10.31
Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated March 25, 2022, by and between Super League Gaming, Inc. and Tumim Stone Capital LLC
Exhibit 10.31 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2021, filed March 31, 2022.
10.32*++ Form of Placement Agent Agreement
Filed herewith.
10.33*++ Form of 2022 Series A Subscription Agreement
Filed herewith.
10.34*++ Form of Registration Rights Agreement, among Super League Gaming, Inc. and certain accredited investors.
Filed herewith.
10.35*++ Form of Series A Placement Agent Warrant
Filed herewith.
14.1
Super League Gaming, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
Exhibit 14.1 to the Registration Statement , filed on January 4, 2019.
23.1*
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - Baker Tilly US, LLP
Filed herewith.
31.1*
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
31.2*
Certification of Principal Financial and Accounting Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
32.1*
Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL Document and included in Exhibit 101)
*
Filed herewith.
†
Identifies exhibits that consist of a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
+
Confidential treatment has been requested for certain confidential portions of this exhibit pursuant to Rule 406 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (together, the “Rules”). In accordance with the Rules, these confidential portions have been omitted from this exhibit and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
++
Certain portions of this exhibit (indicated by “[*****]”) have been omitted as the Company has determined (i) the omitted information is not material and (ii) the omitted information would likely cause harm to the Company if publicly disclosed.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SUPER LEAGUE GAMING, INC.
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 23)
Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2022 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Super League Gaming, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Super League Gaming, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern Uncertainty
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. As noted in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and negative cash flows from operations. This raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also included in Note 2. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Baker Tilly US, LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2016.
Los Angeles, California
March 31, 2023
SUPER LEAGUE GAMING, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND 2021
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 2,482,000
$ 14,533,000
Accounts receivable
6,134,000
6,328,000
Prepaid expense and other current assets
1,381,000
1,334,000
Total current assets
9,997,000
22,195,000
Property and Equipment, net
147,000
104,000
Intangible and Other Assets, net
20,066,000
24,243,000
Goodwill
-
50,263,000
Total assets
$ 30,210,000
$ 96,805,000
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable
$ 6,697,000
$ 5,514,000
Accrued contingent consideration (Note 5)
3,206,000
-
Deferred revenue
111,000
76,000
Convertible note payable and accrued interest (Note 6)
679,000
-
Total current liabilities
10,693,000
5,590,000
Deferred taxes
313,000
518,000
Total liabilities
11,006,000
6,108,000
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 10)
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 10,323 and no shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively (Note 7).
-
-
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 37,605,973 and 36,809,187 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
47,000
46,000
Additional paid-in capital
229,900,000
215,943,000
Accumulated deficit
(210,743,000
)
(125,292,000
)
Total stockholders’ equity
19,204,000
90,697,000
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$ 30,210,000
$ 96,805,000
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SUPER LEAGUE GAMING, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND 2021
REVENUES
$ 19,677,000
$ 11,672,000
COST OF REVENUES
11,162,000
6,547,000
GROSS PROFIT
8,515,000
5,125,000
OPERATING EXPENSE
Selling, marketing and advertising
12,036,000
9,670,000
Engineering, technology and development
15,876,000
11,100,000
General and administrative
12,094,000
9,435,000
Contingent consideration
3,206,000
-
Impairment of goodwill
50,263,000
-
Total operating expense
93,475,000
30,205,000
NET OPERATING LOSS
(84,960,000
)
(25,080,000
)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense
(679,000 )
(5,000
)
Gain on loan forgiveness
-
1,213,000
Other
(17,000 )
13,000
Total other income
(696,000 )
1,221,000
LOSS BEFORE BENEFIT FROM INCOME TAXES
(85,656,000
)
(23,859,000
)
Benefit from income taxes
205,000
3,111,000
NET LOSS
$ (85,451,000
)
$ (20,748,000
)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders - basic and diluted
Basic and diluted loss per common share
$ (2.30
)
$ (0.69
)
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted
37,189,495
29,882,828
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SUPER LEAGUE GAMING, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND 2021
Preferred stock (Shares):
Balance, beginning of period
-
-
Issuance of Series A preferred stock (Note 7)
5,359
-
Issuance of Series A-2 preferred stock (Note 7)
1,297
-
Issuance of Series A-3 preferred stock (Note 7)
1,733
-
Issuance of Series A-4 preferred stock (Note 7)
1,934
-
Balance, end of period
10,323
-
Preferred stock (Amount):
Balance, beginning of period
$ -
$ -
Issuance of Series A preferred stock at $1,000 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
-
-
Issuance of Series A-2 preferred stock at $1,000 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
-
-
Issuance of Series A-3 preferred stock at $1,000 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
-
-
Issuance of Series A-4 preferred stock at $1,000 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
-
-
Balance, end of period
$ -
$ -
Common stock (Shares):
Balance, beginning of period
36,809,187
15,483,010
Issuance of common stock at $9.00 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
-
1,512,499
Issuance of common stock at $4.10 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
-
2,926,830
Issuance of common stock at $2.60 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
-
3,076,924
Issuance of common stock at $3.50 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
-
-
Common stock issued for Mobcrush acquisition (Note 5)
-
12,067,571
Common stock issued for Bannerfy acquisition (Note 5)
53,660
415,855
Common stock issued for Super Biz acquisition (Note 5)
-
1,030,928
Stock-based compensation
362,062
295,570
Other Issuances of Common Stock (Note 7)
381,064
-
Balance, end of period
37,605,973
36,809,187
Common stock (Amount):
Balance, beginning of period
$ 46,000
$ 25,000
Issuance of common stock at $9.00 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
-
2,000
Issuance of common stock at $4.10 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
-
3,000
Issuance of common stock at $2.60 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
-
3,000
Issuance of common stock at $3.50 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
-
-
Common stock issued for Mobcrush Acquisition (Note 5)
-
12,000
Common stock issued for Super Biz Acquisition (Note 5)
-
1,000
Other Issuances of Common Stock
1,000
-
Balance, end of period
$ 47,000
$ 46,000
Additional paid-in-capital:
Balance, beginning of period
$ 215,943,000
$ 115,459,000
Issuance of Series A preferred stock at $1,000 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
4,607,000
-
Issuance of Series A-2 preferred stock at $1,000 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
1,128,000
-
Issuance of Series A-3 preferred stock at $1,000 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
1,508,000
-
Issuance of Series A-4 preferred stock at $1,000 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
1,683,000
-
Issuance of common stock at $9.00 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
-
13,540,000
Issuance of common stock at $4.10 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
-
11,927,000
Issuance of common stock at $2.60 per share, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
-
7,924,000
Common stock issued for Mobcrush Acquisition (Note 5)
-
59,843,000
Common stock issued for Bannerfy Acquisition (Note 5)
220,000
1,768,000
Common stock issued for Super Biz Acquisition (Note 5)
-
2,999,000
Stock-based compensation
4,491,000
2,381,000
Stock option exercises
-
111,000
Other Issuances of Common Stock (Note 7)
320,000
(9,000
)
Balance, end of period
$ 229,900,000
$ 215,943,000
Accumulated Deficit:
Balance, beginning of period
$ (125,292,000
)
$ (104,544,000
)
Net Loss
(85,451,000
)
(20,748,000
)
Balance, end of period
$ (210,743,000
)
$ (125,292,000
)
Total stockholders’ equity
$ 19,204,000
$ 90,697,000
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SUPER LEAGUE GAMING, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND 2021
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss
$ (85,451,000
)
$ (20,748,000
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
5,403,000
3,323,000
Stock-based compensation
4,263,000
2,381,000
Impairment of goodwill
50,263,000
-
Write off of intangible asset
423,000
-
Amortization of convertible notes discount (Note 6)
280,000
-
Gain on loan forgiveness (Note 6)
-
(1,213,000 )
Change in valuation allowance (Note 5)
-
(3,073,000 )
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
193,000
(4,270,000
)
Prepaid expense and other current assets
182,000
(348,000 )
Accounts payable and accrued expense
1,402,000
1,328,000
Accrued contingent consideration (Note 5)
3,206,000
-
Deferred revenue
35,000
(54,000 )
Deferred taxes
(205,000
)
(38,000
)
Accrued interest on notes payable
180,000
5,000
Net cash used in operating activities
(19,826,000
)
(22,707,000
)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Cash acquired in connection with Mobcrush Acquisition (Note 5)
-
586,000
Cash paid in connection with Bannerfy Acquisition, net (Note 5)
-
(497,000 )
Cash paid in connection with Super Biz Acquisition, net (Note 5)
-
(3,000,000 )
Purchase of property and equipment
(149,000
)
(22,000
)
Purchase of third-party game properties
(500,000
)
-
Capitalization of software development costs
(923,000 )
(1,065,000
)
Acquisition of other intangible and other assets
(118,000 )
(205,000
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(1,690,000
)
(4,203,000
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
8,926,000
-
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs (Note 7)
320,000
33,390,000
Proceeds from note payable (Note 6)
4,000,000
-
Payments on convertible notes (Note 6)
(3,781,000
)
-
Proceeds from stock option exercises
-
111,000
Net cash provided by financing activities
9,465,000
33,501,000
(DECREASE)INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
(12,051,000 )
6,591,000
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - beginning of year
14,533,000
7,942,000
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - end of year
$
2,482,000
$
14,533,000
SUPPLEMENTAL NONCASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of common stock in connection with Mobcrush Acquisition
$
-
$
59,855,000
Issuance of common stock in connection with Bannerfy Acquisition
220,000
1,705,000
Issuance of common stock in connection with Super Biz Acquisition
-
3,000,000
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SUPER LEAGUE GAMING, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Super League Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: SLGG), (“Super League,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) is a leading publisher of games, monetization tools and content channels across metaverse gaming platforms that empower developers, energize players, and entertain fans. Our solutions provide incomparable access to an audience consisting of players in the largest global metaverse game environments, fans of hundreds of thousands of gaming influencers, and viewers of gameplay content across major social media and digital video platforms. Fueled by proprietary and patented technology systems, the Company’s platform includes access to vibrant in-game communities, a leading metaverse advertising platform, a network of highly viewed channels and original shows on Instagram, TikTok, Snap, YouTube, and Twitch, cloud-based livestream production tools, and an award-winning esports invitational tournament series. Super League’s properties deliver powerful opportunities for brands and advertisers to achieve impactful insights and marketing outcomes with gamers of all ages.
Super League was incorporated on October 1, 2014 as Nth Games, Inc. under the laws of the State of Delaware and changed its name to Super League Gaming, Inc. on June 15, 2015. We are an “emerging growth company” as defined by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended.
Acquisition of Mobcrush Streaming, Inc. On June 1, 2021, the Company completed the acquisition of Mobcrush Streaming, Inc. (“Mobcrush”), a live streaming technology platform used by gaming influencers who generate and distribute original content to fans and subscribers across the most popular live streaming and social media platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and more. Mobcrush also operates Mineville and Pixel Paradise, two of only seven official Minecraft servers in partnership with Microsoft Corporation (“Microsoft”).
Acquisition of Bannerfy, LTD. On August 24, 2021, the Company completed the acquisition of Bannerfy, Ltd., (“Bannerfy”), an intelligent technology platform that enables digital video and live streaming creators to collaborate with tier one sponsors on their social media channels including YouTube through scalable and custom premium placements.
Acquisition of Bloxbiz Co. (doing business as, and hereinafter referred to as “Super Biz”). On October 4, 2021, the Company acquired (i) substantially all of the assets of Super Biz, and (ii) the personal goodwill of the founders regarding Super Biz’s business, as described at Note 5. Super Biz is a dynamic ad platform designed specifically for metaverse environments. Super Biz’s initial deployment enables brands to advertise across popular Roblox game titles and helps Roblox creators with monetization and game analytics.
In accordance with the acquisition method of accounting, the financial results of Super League presented herein include the financial results of the fiscal year 2021 acquisitions described above for the applicable periods subsequent to the respective transaction closing dates. Refer to Note 5 for additional information.
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The Company believes that, of the significant accounting policies described herein, the accounting policies associated with revenue recognition, impairment of goodwill and intangibles, stock-based compensation expense, capitalized internal-use-software costs, accounting for business combinations, accounting for convertible debt, including estimates and assumptions used to calculate the fair value of debt instruments, accounting for convertible preferred stock, and accounting for income taxes and valuation allowances against net deferred tax assets, require its most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments.
Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. Including a noncash goodwill impairment charge of $50.3 million in fiscal year 2022, the Company incurred net losses of $85.5 million and $20.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and had an accumulated deficit of $210.7 million (including fiscal year 2022 noncash goodwill impairment charges of $50.3 million) as of December 31, 2022. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 net cash used in operating activities totaled $19.8 million and $22.7 million, respectively.
The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $2.5 million and $14.5 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. To date, our principal sources of capital used to fund our operations and growth have been the net proceeds received from equity and debt financings. We have and will continue to use significant capital for the growth and development of our business, and, as such, we expect to seek additional capital either from operations, or that may be available from future issuance(s) of common stock, preferred stock and / or debt financings, to fund our planned operations. Accordingly, our results of operations and the implementation of our long-term business strategies have been and could continue to be adversely affected by general conditions in the global economy, including conditions that are outside of our control. The most recent global financial crisis caused by severe geopolitical conditions, including conflicts abroad, and the lingering effects of COVID-19 and the threat of other outbreaks, have resulted in extreme volatility, disruptions and downward pressure on stock prices and trading volumes across the capital and credit markets in which we traditionally operate. A severe or prolonged economic downturn could result in a variety of risks to our business and could have a material adverse effect on us, including limiting our ability to obtain additional funding from the capital and credit markets. In management’s judgement, these conditions raise substantial doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern as contemplated by ASC 205-40.
Management’s Plans
The Company experienced significant growth in fiscal year 2022 and 2021 through organic and inorganic growth activities, including the expansion of our premium advertising inventory and quarter over quarter and year over year increases in recognized revenue across our primary revenue streams. In fiscal year 2022, we focused on the continued expansion of our service offerings and revenue growth opportunities through internal development, collaborations, and through opportunistic strategic acquisitions, as well as management and reduction of operating costs. Management continues to consider alternatives for raising capital to facilitate our growth and execute our business strategy, including strategic partnerships and or other forms of equity or debt financings.
During the fourth quarter of 2022, we entered into subscription agreements with accredited investors relating to offerings with respect to the sale of an aggregate of 10,323 shares of newly designated Series A, A-2, A-3 and A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock, each series having a $0.001 par value and a $1,000 purchase price, raising net proceeds totaling $8.9 million, after deducting placement agent and other financing costs totaling $1.4 million. Use of net proceeds from the preferred stock offerings included the repayment of certain indebtedness and working capital and general corporate purposes, including sales and marketing activities and product development. In addition, on January 31, 2023, we entered into subscription agreements with accredited investors in connection with the sale of an aggregate of 2,299 shares of newly designated Series A-5 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, at a purchase price of $1,000 per share, raising net proceeds of $2,000,000, after deducting placement agent costs of $299,000. Pursuant to the terms of the SPA (Note 7), $4.2 million of the net proceeds were utilized in connection with the partial redemption of the Notes as of March 31, 2023.
On May 16, 2022, as further described at Note 6, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with three institutional investors, providing for the sale and issuance of a new series of senior convertible notes in the aggregate original principal amount of $4,320,000, of which 8% is an original issue discount.
As further described at Note 7, on March 25, 2022, we entered into a common stock purchase agreement with an institutional investor. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company has the right, but not the obligation, to sell to the investor, and the investor is obligated to purchase, up to $10,000,000 of newly issued shares of the Company’s common stock, from time to time during the term of the agreement, subject to certain limitations and conditions.
The Company considers historical operating results, costs, capital resources and financial position, in combination with current projections and estimates, as part of its plan to fund operations over a reasonable period. Management's considerations assume, among other things, that the Company will continue to be successful implementing its business strategy, that there will be no material adverse developments in the business, liquidity or capital requirements, and the Company will be able to raise additional equity and / or debt financing on acceptable terms. If one or more of these factors do not occur as expected, it could cause a reduction or delay of its business activities, sales of material assets, default on its obligations, or forced insolvency. The accompanying financial statements do not contain any adjustments which might be necessary if the Company were unable to continue as a going concern. No assurance can be given that any future financing will be available or, if available, that it will be on terms that are satisfactory to the Company.
We may continue to evaluate potential strategic acquisitions. To finance such strategic acquisitions, we may find it necessary to raise additional equity capital, incur debt, or both. Any efforts to seek additional funding could be made through issuances of equity or debt, or other external financing. However, additional funding may not be available on favorable terms, or at all. The capital and credit markets have experienced extreme volatility and disruption periodically and such volatility and disruption may occur in the future. If we fail to obtain additional financing when needed, we may not be able to execute our business plans which, in turn, would have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, our ability to meet our obligations, and our ability to pursue our business strategies.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications to operating expense line items have been made to prior year amounts for consistency and comparability with the current year’s consolidated financial statement presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the reported total operating expense for the periods presented.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized when the Company transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. In this regard, revenue is recognized when: (i) the parties to the contract have approved the contract (in writing, orally, or in accordance with other customary business practices) and are committed to perform their respective obligations; (ii) the entity can identify each party’s rights regarding the goods or services to be transferred; (iii) the entity can identify the payment terms for the goods or services to be transferred; (iv) the contract has commercial substance (that is, the risk, timing, or amount of the entity’s future cash flows is expected to change as a result of the contract); and (v) it is probable that the entity will collect substantially all of the consideration to which it will be entitled in exchange for the goods or services that will be transferred to the customer.
Transaction prices are based on the amount of consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for transferring promised goods or services to a customer, excluding amounts collected on behalf of third parties, if any. We consider the explicit terms of the revenue contract, which are typically written and executed by the parties, our customary business practices, the nature, timing, and the amount of consideration promised by a customer in connection with determining the transaction price for our revenue arrangements. Refunds and sales returns historically have not been material.
The Company generates revenue from (i) innovative advertising including immersive game world and experience publishing and in-game media products, (ii) direct to consumer offers, including in-game items, e-commerce, game passes and ticketing and digital collectibles, and (iii) content and technology through the production and distribution of our own, advertiser and third-party content.
The Company reports revenue on a gross or net basis based on management’s assessment of whether the Company acts as a principal or agent in the transaction and is evaluated on a transaction-by-transaction basis. To the extent the Company acts as the principal, revenue is reported on a gross basis net of any sales tax from customers, when applicable. The determination of whether the Company acts as a principal or an agent in a transaction is based on an evaluation of whether the Company controls the good or service prior to transfer to the customer. Where applicable, the Company has determined that it acts as the principal in all of its advertising and sponsorships, content and direct to consumer revenue streams, except in situations where we utilize a reseller partner with respect to direct advertising sales arrangements.
Revenue billed or collected in advance is recorded as deferred revenue until the event occurs or until applicable performance obligations are satisfied.
Advertising and Sponsorships
Advertising revenue primarily consists of direct sales activity along with sales of programmatic display and video advertising units to third-party advertisers and exchanges. Advertising arrangements typically include contract terms for time periods ranging from several days to several weeks in length.
For advertising arrangements that include performance obligations satisfied over time, customers typically simultaneously receive and consume the benefits under the arrangement as we satisfy our performance obligations, over the applicable contract term. As such, revenue is recognized over the contract term based upon estimates of progress toward complete satisfaction of the contract performance obligations (typically utilizing a time, effort or delivery-based method of estimation). Revenue from shorter-term advertising arrangements that provide for a contractual delivery or performance date is recognized when performance is substantially complete and or delivery occurs. Payments are typically due from customers during the term of the arrangement for longer-term campaigns, and once delivery is complete for shorter-term campaigns.
Sponsorship revenue arrangements may include: exclusive or non-exclusive title sponsorships, marketing benefits, official product status exclusivity, product visibly and additional infrastructure placement, social media rights, rights to on-screen activations and promotions, display material rights, media rights, hospitality and tickets and merchandising rights. Sponsorship revenue also includes revenue pursuant to arrangements with brand and media partners, retail venues, game publishers and broadcasters that allow our partners to run amateur esports experiences, and or capture specifically curated gameplay content that is customized for our partners’ distribution channels. Sponsorship arrangements typically include contract terms for time periods ranging from several weeks or months to terms of twelve months in length.
For sponsorship arrangements that include performance obligations satisfied over time, customers typically simultaneously receive and consume the benefits under the agreement as we satisfy our performance obligations, over the applicable contract term. As such, revenue is recognized over the contract term based upon estimates of progress toward complete satisfaction of the contract performance obligations (typically utilizing a time, effort or delivery-based method of estimation). Payments are typically due from customers during the term of the arrangement.
Revenue from sponsorship arrangements for one-off branded experiences and/or the development of content tailored specifically for our partners’ distribution channels that provide for a contractual delivery or performance date, is recognized at a point in time, when performance is substantially complete and or delivery occurs.
Content Sales
Content sales revenue is generated in connection with our curation and distribution of esports and entertainment content for our own network of digital channels and media and entertainment partner channels. We distribute three primary types of content for syndication and licensing, including: (1) our own original programming content, (2) user generated content (“UGC”), including online gameplay and gameplay highlights, and (3) the creation of content for third parties utilizing our remote production and broadcast technology.
For content arrangements that include performance obligations satisfied over time, customers typically simultaneously receive and consume the benefits under the arrangement as we satisfy our performance obligations, over the applicable contract term. As such, revenue is recognized over the contract term based upon estimates of progress toward complete satisfaction of the contract performance obligations (typically utilizing a time, effort or delivery-based method of estimation). Revenue from shorter-term content sales arrangements that provide for a contractual delivery or performance date is recognized when performance is substantially complete and/or delivery occurs. Payments are typically due from customers during the term of the arrangement for longer-term campaigns, and once delivery is complete for shorter-term campaigns.
Direct to Consumer
Direct to consumer revenue primarily consists of monthly digital subscription fees, and sales of in-game digital goods. Subscription revenue is recognized in the period the services are rendered. Payments are typically due from customers at the point of sale.
InPvP Platform Generated Sales Transactions. Our Mobcrush subsidiary generates in-game Platform sales revenue via digital goods sold within the platform, including cosmetic items, durable goods, player ranks and game modes, leveraging the flexibility of the Microsoft Minecraft Bedrock platform, and powered by the InPvP cloud architecture technology platform. Revenue is generated when transactions are facilitated between Microsoft and the end user, either via in-game currency or cash.
Revenue for digital goods sold on the platform is recognized when Microsoft (our partner) collects the revenue and facilitates the transaction on the platform. Revenue for such arrangements includes all revenue generated, bad debt, make goods, and refunds of all transactions managed via the platform by Microsoft. The revenue is recognized on a monthly basis. Payments are made to the Company monthly based on the reconciled sales revenue generated.
Revenue was comprised of the following for the periods presented:
Advertising and sponsorships
$ 13,957,000
$ 8,005,000
Content sales
3,911,000
2,264,000
Direct to consumer
1,809,000
1,403,000
$ 19,677,000
$ 11,672,000
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, 32% and 19% of revenues were recognized at a single point in time, and 68% and 81% of revenues were recognized over time, respectively.
Cost of Revenues
Cost of revenue includes direct costs incurred in connection with the satisfaction of performance obligations under our revenue arrangements including internal and third-party engineering, creative, content, broadcast and other personnel, talent and influencers, developers, content capture and production services, direct marketing, cloud services, software, prizing, and revenue sharing fees.
Advertising
Gaming experience and Super League brand related advertising costs include the cost of ad production, social media, print media, marketing, promotions, and merchandising. The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs are included in selling, marketing and advertising expense in the accompanying statements of operations. Advertising expense for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 were $507,000 and $568,000, respectively.
Engineering, Technology and Development Costs
Components of our platform are available on a “free to use,” “always on basis,” and are utilized and offered as an audience acquisition tool, as a means of growing our audience, engagement, viewership, players and community. Engineering, technology and development related operating expense includes the costs described below, incurred in connection with our audience acquisition and viewership expansion activities. Engineering, technology and development related operating expense includes (i) allocated internal engineering personnel expense, including salaries, noncash stock compensation, taxes and benefits, (ii) third-party contract software development and engineering expense, (iii) internal use software cost amortization expense, and (iv) technology platform related cloud services, broadband and other platform expense, incurred in connection with our audience acquisition and viewership expansion activities, including tools and product offering development, testing, minor upgrades and features, free to use services, corporate information technology and general platform maintenance and support.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly-liquid, short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash equivalents consisted of investments in AAA-rated money market funds for the periods presented.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are recorded at the original invoice amount, less an estimate made for doubtful accounts, if any. The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts for potential credit losses based on its evaluation of the collectability and the customers’ creditworthiness. Accounts receivable are written off when they are determined to be uncollectible. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, no allowance for doubtful accounts was deemed necessary.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Company measures financial assets and liabilities at fair value at each reporting period using a fair value hierarchy which requires the Company to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s classification within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Three levels of inputs may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1. Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2. Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices which are observable for the assets or liabilities, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instruments.
Level 3. Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity and which are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
Certain assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, including derivative financial instruments and convertible notes payable recorded at fair value (Note 6). The convertible notes outstanding at December 31, 2022 are recorded at fair value, using Level 3 inputs. Certain long-lived assets may be periodically required to be measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, including long-lived assets that are impaired. The fair value for other assets and liabilities such as cash, restricted cash, accounts receivable, receivables reserved for users, other receivables, prepaid expense and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expense, and liabilities to customers have been determined to approximate carrying amounts due to the short maturities of these instruments.
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company evaluates its financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives. For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the consolidated statements of operations. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is reassessed at the end of each reporting period. Equity instruments that are initially classified as equity that become subject to reclassification are reclassified to a liability at the fair value of the instrument on the reclassification date. Derivative instrument liabilities are classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement of the derivative instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date. In circumstances where the embedded conversion option in a convertible instrument is required to be bifurcated and there are also other embedded derivative instruments in the convertible instrument that are required to be bifurcated, the bifurcated derivative instruments are accounted for as a single, compound derivative instrument.
Derivative liabilities are adjusted to reflect fair value at each period end, with any increase or decrease in the fair value being recorded in the statement of operations.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Major additions and improvements that materially extend useful lives of property and equipment are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are charged against the results of operations as incurred. When these assets are sold or otherwise disposed of, the asset and related depreciation are relieved, and any gain or loss is included in the statements of operations for the period of sale or disposal. Depreciation and amortization are computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, typically over a three to five-year period.
Acquisitions
Acquisition Method. Acquisitions that meet the definition of a business under ASC 805 are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method of accounting, assets acquired, liabilities assumed, contractual contingencies, and contingent consideration, when applicable, are recorded at fair value at the acquisition date. Any excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. The application of the acquisition method of accounting requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions in the determination of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the allocation of the purchase price consideration to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Transaction costs associated with business combinations are expensed as incurred and are included in general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations. Contingent consideration, if any, is recognized and measured at fair value as of the acquisition date.
Cost Accumulation Model. Acquisitions that do not meet the definition of a business under ASC 805 are accounted for as an asset acquisition, utilizing a cost accumulation model. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recognized at cost, which is the consideration the acquirer transfers to the seller, including direct transaction costs, on the acquisition date. The cost of the acquisition is then allocated to the assets acquired based on their relative fair values. Goodwill is not recognized in an asset acquisition. Direct transaction costs include those third-party costs that can be directly attributable to the asset acquisition and would not have been incurred absent the acquisition transaction.
Contingent consideration, representing an obligation of the acquirer to transfer additional assets or equity interests to the seller if future events occur or conditions are met, is recognized when probable and reasonably estimable. Contingent consideration recognized is included in the initial cost of the assets acquired, with subsequent changes in the recorded amount of contingent consideration recognized as an adjustment to the cost basis of the acquired assets. Subsequent changes are allocated to the acquired assets based on their relative fair value. Depreciation and/or amortization of adjusted assets are recognized as a cumulative catch-up adjustment, as if the additional amount of consideration that is no longer contingent had been accrued from the outset of the arrangement.
Contingent consideration that is paid to sellers that remain employed by the acquirer and linked to future services is generally considered compensation cost and recorded in the statement of operations in the post-combination period.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets primarily consist of (i) internal-use software development costs, (ii) domain name, copyright and patent registration costs, (iii) commercial licenses and branding rights, (iv) developed technology acquired, (v) partner, customer, creator and influencer related intangible assets acquired and (vi) other intangible assets, which are recorded at cost (or in accordance with the acquisition method or cost accumulation methods described above) and amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from three to 10 years.
Software development costs incurred to develop internal-use software during the application development stage are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the software’s estimated useful life, which is generally three years. Software development costs incurred during the preliminary stages of development are charged to expense as incurred. Maintenance and training costs are charged to expense as incurred. Upgrades or enhancements to existing internal-use software that result in additional functionality are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the applicable estimated useful life.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company assesses the recoverability of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors we consider important, which could trigger an impairment review, include the following: significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results; significant changes in the manner of our use of the acquired assets or the strategy for our overall business; significant negative industry or economic trends; significant adverse changes in legal factors or in the business climate, including adverse regulatory actions or assessments; and significant decline in our stock price for a sustained period. In the event the sum of the expected undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its fair value is recorded.
Other assets of a reporting unit that are held and used may be required to be tested for impairment when certain events trigger interim goodwill impairment tests. In such situations, other assets, or asset groups, are tested for impairment under their respective standards and the other assets’ or asset groups’ carrying amounts are adjusted for impairment before testing goodwill for impairment as described below. For the periods presented herein, management believes that there was no impairment of long-lived assets. There can be no assurance, however, that market conditions or demand for the Company’s products or services will not change, which could result in long-lived asset impairment charges in the future.
Goodwill
The Company currently has one reporting unit. The following table presents the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the periods presented.
Beginning Balance
$ 50,263,000
$ 2,565,000
Acquisitions (See Note 5)
-
47,698,000
Impairment charges
(50,263,000 )
-
Ending Balance
$ -
$ 50,263,000
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of the acquired business over the acquisition date fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment or one level below an operating segment) on an annual basis (December 31) and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. We consider our market capitalization and the carrying value of our assets and liabilities, including goodwill, when performing our goodwill impairment tests. We operate in one reporting segment.
If a potential impairment exists, a calculation is performed to determine the fair value of existing goodwill. This calculation can be based on quoted market prices and / or valuation models, which consider the estimated future undiscounted cash flows resulting from the reporting unit, and a discount rate commensurate with the risks involved. Third-party appraised values may also be used in determining whether impairment potentially exists. In assessing goodwill impairment, significant judgment is required in connection with estimates of market values, estimates of the amount and timing of future cash flows, and estimates of other factors that are used to determine the fair value of our reporting unit. If these estimates or related projections change in future periods, future goodwill impairment tests may result in charges to earnings.
When conducting the Company’s annual or interim goodwill impairment assessment, we initially perform a qualitative evaluation of whether it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired. In evaluating whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we consider the guidance set forth in ASC 350, which requires an entity to assess relevant events and circumstances, including macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, financial performance and other relevant events or circumstances.
September 30, 2022 Goodwill Impairment Testing
At September 30, 2022, prior to the completion of our goodwill impairment testing, the goodwill balance totaled $50.3 million.
At September 30, 2022, from a qualitative standpoint, we considered the Company’s history of reported losses and negative cash flows from operating activities, and also considered the sustained downturn in industry and macroeconomic conditions, including inflationary pressures and potential reductions in advertising spending and the sustained downturn of the broader mid-cap and micro-cap equity markets in the third quarter of 2022. We also considered that the Company experienced significant inorganic and organic growth in fiscal 2021, including the impact of the acquisitions of Mobcrush, Bannerfy and Super Biz on our premium advertising inventory, product offerings to advertisers, current period revenue recognized and future revenue generating opportunities.
However, the Company’s stock price has been volatile, and the volatility continued during the three months ended September 30, 2022, declining 34% to $0.68 as of September 30, 2022, reflecting a market capitalization that was approximately 38% of the Company’s September 30, 2022 net book value. To assess whether the decline in our market capitalization was an indicator requiring an interim goodwill impairment test, we considered the significance of the decline and the length of time our common stock has been trading at a depressed value along with the macro factors described above. The significance of the decline is consistent with the broader microcap market. As of September 30, 2022 the decline in our stock price and other factors were deemed to be sustained, and therefore a triggering event requiring a goodwill impairment test as of September 30, 2022 was deemed to have occurred.
We utilized the market capitalization of the Company as of September 30, 2022, a Level 1 input as described above, to estimate the fair value of the Company’s single reporting unit. The estimated market capitalization was determined by multiplying our September 30, 2022 stock price and the common shares outstanding as of September 30, 2022. The market capitalization approach was utilized to estimate the fair value of our single reporting unit as of September 30, 2022, due to the significance of the decline in stock price as of September 30, 2022, resulting in a market capitalization that was 38% of the net book value of our single reporting unit. Based on the analysis, the estimated fair value of our reporting unit was $25.2 million, compared to a carrying value of our single reporting unit of $67.3 million as of September 30, 2022. As such, the fair value of our single reporting unit was deemed to be below its carrying value as of September 30, 2022, resulting in a goodwill impairment charge of $42.0 million, which was reflected in the consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
December 31, 2022 Goodwill Impairment Testing
At December 31, 2022, prior to the completion of our goodwill impairment testing, the goodwill balance totaled $8.3 million.
At December 31, 2022, from a qualitative standpoint, we considered the factors described above under “September 30, 2022 Goodwill Impairment Testing,” including the current period reported loss and negative cash flows from operating activities, and the sustained downturn in industry and macroeconomic conditions, including inflationary pressures and potential reductions in advertising spending and the sustained downturn of the broader mid-cap and micro-cap equity markets in the fourth quarter of 2022. Similarly, given the Company’s recent significant growth, management does not believe that the current market capitalization of the Company is indicative of any material fundamental change in the Company’s underlying business or future prospects as of the December 31, 2022 measurement date.
The Company's stock price has been volatile, and the volatility continued during the three months ended December 31, 2022, declining approximately 50% from the September 30, 2022 closing price to $0.336 as of December 31, 2022, reflecting a market capitalization that was approximately 46% of the Company’s December 31, 2022 net book value. As of December 31, 2022 the decline in our stock price and other factors were deemed to be sustained, and therefore a triggering event requiring a goodwill impairment test as of December 30, 2022 was deemed to have occurred.
We utilized the market capitalization of the Company as of December 31, 2022, a Level 1 input as described above, to estimate the fair value of the Company’s single reporting unit. Based on the analysis, the estimated fair value of our reporting unit was $12.6 million, compared to a carrying value of our single reporting unit of $27.5 million as of December 31, 2022. As such, the fair value of our single reporting unit was deemed to be below its carrying value as of December 31, 2022, resulting in an additional goodwill impairment charge of $8.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, reflecting the write down of the remaining balance of goodwill for our single reporting unit.
Stock-Based Compensation
Compensation expense for stock-based awards is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense, typically on a straight-line basis over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity award) which is generally two to four years. Compensation expense for awards with performance conditions that affect vesting is recorded only for those awards expected to vest or when the performance criteria are met. The fair value of restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards is determined by the product of the number of shares or units granted and the grant date market price of the underlying common stock. The fair value of stock option and common stock purchase warrant awards is estimated on the date of grant utilizing the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model. The Company utilizes the simplified method for estimating the expected term for options granted to employees due to the lack of available or sufficient historical exercise data for the Company for the applicable options terms. The Company accounts for forfeitures of awards as they occur. Estimates of expected volatility of the underlying common stock for the expected term of the stock option used in the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model are determined by reference to historical volatilities of the Company’s common stock and historical volatilities of similar companies.
Grants of equity-based awards (including warrants) to non-employees in exchange for consulting or other services are accounted for using the grant date fair value of the equity instruments issued.
On January 1, 2022, the Company issued 1,350,000 performance stock units (“PSUs”) under the Company’s 2014 Amended and Restated Stock Option and Incentive Plan, which vest in five equal increments of 270,000 PSUs, based on the Company’s stock price reaching certain predetermined levels, as described at Note 8. A condition affecting the exercisability or other pertinent factors used in determining the fair value of an award that is based on an entity achieving a specified share price constitutes a market condition pursuant to ASC 718, “Stock based Compensation” (“ASC 718”). A market condition is reflected in the grant-date fair value of an award, and therefore, a Monte Carlo simulation model is utilized to determine the estimated fair value of the equity-based award. Compensation cost is recognized for awards with a market condition, provided the requisite service period is satisfied, regardless of whether the market condition is ever satisfied.
Equity Financing Costs
Specific incremental costs directly attributable to a proposed or actual offering of securities are deferred and charged against the gross proceeds of the equity financing. In the event that the proposed or actual equity financing is not completed, or is deemed not likely to be completed, such costs are expensed in the period that such determination is made. Deferred equity financing costs, if any, are included in other current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, financing costs charged against gross proceeds in connection with equity financings totaled $1,397,000 and $434,000, respectively. Deferred financing cost, included in prepaid expense and other current assets, at December 31, 2022 and 2021, totaled $374,000 and $144,000, respectively.
Specific incremental costs directly attributable to a proposed or actual debt offering are reported in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the face amount of the debt instrument. In the event that the proposed or actual debt financing is not completed, or is deemed not likely to be completed, such costs are expensed in the period that such determination is made. In the event that the Company elects to use the fair value option to account for debt instruments, all costs directly attributable to the debt offering are expensed as incurred in the statement of operations. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, debt financing costs expensed as incurred in connection with debt financings totaled $123,000 and $0, respectively.
Convertible Debt
The Company evaluates its convertible notes to determine if those contracts or embedded components of those contracts qualify as derivatives under ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”). ASC 815 requires conversion, redemption options, call options and other features (hereinafter, “Embedded Instruments”) contained in the Company’s convertible debt instruments that meet certain criteria to be bifurcated and separately accounted for as an embedded derivative. In circumstances where the embedded conversion option in a convertible instrument is required to be bifurcated and there are also other embedded derivative instruments in the convertible instrument that are required to be bifurcated, the bifurcated derivative instruments are accounted for as a single, compound derivative instrument.
In the event that the fair value option election is not made, as described below, the Company evaluates the balance sheet classification for convertible debt instruments issued to determine whether the instrument should be classified as debt or equity, and whether the Embedded Instruments should be accounted for separately from the host instrument. Embedded Instruments of a convertible debt instrument would be separated from the convertible instrument and classified as a derivative liability if the feature, were it a standalone instrument, meets the definition of an “embedded derivative.” Generally, characteristics that require derivative treatment include, among others, when the conversion feature is not indexed to the Company’s equity, or when it must be settled either in cash or by issuing stock that is readily convertible to cash. When a conversion feature meets the definition of an embedded derivative, it is required to be separated from the host instrument and classified as a derivative liability carried on the balance sheet at fair value, with any changes in its fair value recognized currently in the consolidated statements of operations.
Fair Value Option (“FVO”) Election. The Company accounts for convertible notes issued, as described at Note 6 under the fair value option election pursuant to ASC 825, “Financial Instruments” (“ASC 825”), as discussed below. The convertible notes accounted for under the FVO election are each debt host financial instruments containing embedded features which would otherwise be required to be bifurcated from the debt-host and recognized as separate derivative liabilities subject to initial and subsequent periodic estimated fair value measurements under ASC 815. Notwithstanding, ASC 825 provides for the “fair value option” election, to the extent not otherwise prohibited by ASC 825, to be afforded to financial instruments, wherein bifurcation of an embedded derivative is not necessary, and the financial instrument is initially measured at its issue-date estimated fair value and then subsequently remeasured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis at each reporting period date. The estimated fair value adjustment, as required by ASC 825, is recognized as a component of other comprehensive income (“OCI”) with respect to the portion of the fair value adjustment attributed to a change in the instrument-specific credit risk, with the remaining amount of the fair value adjustment recognized as other income (expense) in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. With respect to the note described at Note 6, as provided for by ASC 825, the estimated fair value adjustment is presented in a respective single line item within other income (expense) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, since the change in fair value of the convertible notes payable was not attributable to instrument specific credit risk. The estimated fair value adjustment is included in other income (expense) in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.
Reportable Segments
The Company utilizes the management approach to identify the Company’s operating segments and measure the financial information disclosed, based on information reported internally to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) to make resource allocation and performance assessment decisions. An operating segment of a public entity has all the following characteristics: (1) it engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expense; (2) its operating results are regularly reviewed by the public entity’s CODM to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance: and (3) its discrete financial information is available. Based on the applicable criteria under the standard, the components of the Company’s operations are its: (1) advertising and sponsorship component, including content sales component; and (2) the Company’s direct-to-consumer component.
A reportable segment is an identified operating segment that also exceeds the quantitative thresholds described in the applicable standard. Based on the applicable criteria under the standard, including quantitative thresholds, management has determined that the Company has one reportable segment that operated primarily in domestic markets during the periods presented herein.
Concentration of Credit Risks
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk are cash equivalents, investments and accounts receivable. The Company places its cash equivalents and investments primarily in highly rated money market funds. Cash equivalents are also invested in deposits with certain financial institutions and may, at times, exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any significant losses on its deposits of cash and cash equivalents.
Risks and Uncertainties
Concentrations. The Company had certain customers whose revenue individually represented 10% or more of the Company’s total revenue, or whose accounts receivable balances individually represented 10% or more of the Company’s total accounts receivable, and vendors whose accounts payable balances individually represented 10% or more of the Company’s total accounts payable, as follows:
Year
Ended December 31,
Number of customers > 10% of revenues / percent of revenues
-
/
-
One
/
%
Revenue concentrations were comprised of the following revenue categories:
Year
Ended December 31,
Advertising and sponsorships
-
%
-
%
December 31,
December 31,
Number of customers > 10% of accounts receivable / percent of accounts receivable
Two
/
%
Three
/
%
Number of vendors > 10% of accounts payable / percent of accounts payable
One
/
%
One
/
%
Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing the income or loss by the weighted-average number of outstanding shares of common stock for the applicable period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing the income or loss by the weighted-average number of outstanding shares of common stock for the applicable period, including the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents. Potentially dilutive common stock equivalents primarily consist of common stock potentially issuable in connection with the conversion of outstanding preferred stock, convertible notes payable, employee stock options, unvested restricted stock units, common stock purchase warrants (“warrants”) issued to employees and non-employees in exchange for services and warrants issued in connection with financings.
Common stock underlying all outstanding stock options, restricted stock units and warrants, totaling 7,174,000 and 5,060,000 at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, have been excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share because the effect of inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. Common stock potentially issuable in connection with the conversion of outstanding preferred stock totaling 18,269,000 and zero at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, have been excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share because the effect of inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. Common stock potentially issuable in connection with the conversion of outstanding convertible notes payable totaling 143,000 and zero at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, have been excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share because the effect of inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for using an asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements or income tax returns. A valuation allowance is established to reduce deferred tax assets if all, or some portion, of such assets will more than likely not be realized, or if it is determined that there is uncertainty regarding future realization of such assets.
Under U.S. GAAP, a tax position is a position in a previously filed tax return, or a position expected to be taken in a future tax filing that is reflected in measuring current or deferred income tax assets and liabilities. Tax positions are recognized only when it is more likely than not, based on technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. Tax positions that meet the more likely than not thresholds are measured using a probability weighted approach as the largest amount of tax benefit being realized upon settlement. The Company considers many factors when evaluating and estimating its tax positions and tax benefits, which may require periodic adjustments, and which may not accurately forecast actual outcomes. Management believes the Company has no uncertain tax positions for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
The Company has elected to include interest and penalties related to its tax contingences as a component of income tax expense. There were no accruals for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions for the periods presented. Income tax returns remain open for examination by applicable authorities, generally three years from filing for federal and four years for state. The Company is not currently under examination by any taxing authority nor has it been notified of an impending examination.
Recent Accounting Guidance
Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Not Yet Adopted. In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers, which requires entities to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, in order to align the recognition of a contract liability with the definition of a performance obligation. This standard will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this standard will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Adopted. On August 5, 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 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). The guidance in this update eliminates the beneficial conversion and cash conversion accounting models for convertible instruments. It also amends the accounting for certain contracts in an entity’s own equity that are currently accounted for as derivatives because of specific settlement provisions. In addition, the new guidance modifies how particular convertible instruments and certain contracts that may be settled in cash or shares impact the diluted EPS computation. The guidance was required to be applied retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of adoption. The guidance became effective at the beginning of the Company’s first quarter of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The guidance requires lessees to present right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. The guidance became effective at the beginning of the Company’s first quarter of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
3.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment consisted of the following at December 31, 2022 and 2021:
Computer hardware
$ 3,314,000
$ 3,165,000
Furniture and fixtures
356,000
356,000
3,670,000
3,521,000
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
(3,523,000
)
(3,417,000
)
$ 147,000
$ 104,000
Depreciation and amortization expense for property and equipment was $106,000 and $73,000 for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
4.
INTANGIBLE AND OTHER ASSETS
Intangible and other assets consisted of the following for the periods presented:
December 31,
December 31,
Useful
Life (Years)
Partner and customer relationships
$ 13,376,000
$ 13,376,000
-
Capitalized software development costs
5,262,000
4,339,000
Capitalized third-party game property costs
500,000
-
Developed technology
7,880,000
7,880,000
-
Influencers/content creators
2,559,000
2,559,000
-
Trade name
189,000
189,000
Domain
68,000
68,000
-
Copyrights and other
760,000
1,141,000
-
30,594,000
29,552,000
Less: accumulated amortization
(10,528,000
)
(5,309,000
)
Intangible and other assets, net
$ 20,066,000
$ 24,243,000
Total amortization expense for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 totaled $5,629,000 and $3,187,000, respectively. Amortization expense included in cost of revenues for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 totaled $90,000 and $63,000, respectively.
In June 2022, we purchased “Anime Battlegrounds X”, a highly rated game on Roblox, from a third-party game developer. The total purchase price of $500,000 was capitalized and is being amortized to cost of revenue over the estimated useful life of 5 years.
During the third quarter of 2022, the Company rebranded certain products acquired in connection with the acquisition of Mobcrush. As a result, the Company recorded a write down of trademark related intangible assets acquired in connection with the acquisition of Mobcrush totaling $423,000, which is included as a component of amortization expense in general and administrative expense in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The Company expects to record aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years as follows:
For the years ending December 31,
$ 5,108,000
4,706,000
4,100,000
2,951,000
2,161,000
Thereafter
1,040,000
$ 20,066,000
5.
ACQUISITIONS
Acquisition of Mobcrush
On March 9, 2021, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, as amended on April 20, 2021 (the “Mobcrush Merger Agreement”), by and among Mobcrush, the Company, and SLG Merger Sub II, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Co”), which provided for the acquisition of Mobcrush by Super League pursuant to the merger of Merger Co with and into Mobcrush, with Mobcrush as the surviving corporation (the “Mobcrush Acquisition”).
On June 1, 2021 (“Mobcrush Closing Date”), the Company completed the Mobcrush Acquisition pursuant to which the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Mobcrush. In accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Mobcrush Merger Agreement each outstanding share of Mobcrush common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Mobcrush Common Stock”), and Mobcrush preferred stock, par value $0.001, was canceled and converted into the right to receive (i) 0.528 shares of the Company’s common stock, as determined in the Mobcrush Merger Agreement, and (ii) any cash in lieu of fractional shares of common stock otherwise issuable under the Mobcrush Merger Agreement (the “Mobcrush Merger Consideration”). At closing, the Company issued to the former stockholders of Mobcrush an aggregate total of 12,067,571 shares of the Company’s common stock and reserved an aggregate total of 514,633 shares of common stock for future stock option grants, under the Super League 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, to the former Mobcrush employees retained by the Company in connection with the Mobcrush Acquisition, resulting in a total of 12,582,204 shares of common stock issued and reserved as consideration for the Mobcrush Acquisition. Upon completion of the Mobcrush Acquisition, Mobcrush became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
The Mobcrush Acquisition was approved by the board of directors of each of the Company and Mobcrush, and was approved by the stockholders of Mobcrush. For purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635, Super League’s stockholders approved the issuance of an aggregate of 12,582,204 shares of common stock to be issued in connection with the Mobcrush Acquisition.
Transaction costs incurred by the Company relating to the Mobcrush Acquisition totaled $636,000 and were expensed as incurred in accordance with the acquisition method of accounting.
In accordance with the acquisition method of accounting, the financial results of Super League presented herein include the financial results of Mobcrush subsequent to the Mobcrush Closing Date. Disclosure of revenue and net loss for Mobcrush on a stand-alone basis for the periods presented herein is not practical due to the integration of Mobcrush operations, including sales, products, advertising inventory, resource allocation and related operating expense, with those of the consolidated Company upon acquisition, consistent with Super League operating in one reporting segment.
The Company determined that the Mobcrush Acquisition constituted a business acquisition as defined by ASC 805. Accordingly, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction were recorded at their estimated acquisition date fair values, while transaction costs associated with the acquisition were expensed as incurred pursuant to the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805. Super League’s purchase price allocation was based on an evaluation of the appropriate fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and represents management’s best estimate based on available data. Fair values were determined based on the requirements of ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”).
The following table summarizes the determination of the fair value of the purchase price consideration paid in connection with the Mobcrush Acquisition:
Equity Consideration at closing - shares of common stock
$ 12,067,571
Super League closing stock price per share on the Mobcrush Closing Date
$ 4.96
Fair value of common stock issued
$ 59,855,000
The fair value of the Company common stock used in determining the estimated fair value of the Mobcrush Merger Consideration was $4.96 per share based on the closing price of Company common stock on June 1, 2021, as quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
The purchase price allocation was based upon an estimate of the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed by the Company in connection with the Mobcrush Acquisition, as follows:
Amount
Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed:
Cash
$ 586,000
Accounts receivable
1,266,000
Prepaids
141,000
Property and equipment
13,000
Identifiable intangible assets
19,500,000
Accounts payable and accrued expense
(2,017,000
)
Deferred revenue
(130,000
)
Net deferred income tax liability
(3,073,000
)
Identifiable net assets acquired
16,286,000
Goodwill
43,569,000
Total purchase price
$ 59,855,000
The following table presents details of the fair values of the acquired intangible assets of Mobcrush:
Estimated Useful Life (in years)
Amount
Preferred partner relationship
10,700,000
Developed technology
3,900,000
Influencers/content creators
2,000,000
Advertiser and agency relationships
1,900,000
Trademarks (see Note 4)
500,000
Customer relationships
500,000
Total intangible assets acquired
$ 19,500,000
Aggregated amortization expense for intangible assets acquired in connection with the Mobcrush Acquisition (including the write down of trademark related intangible assets described above) for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, totaled $3,651,000 and $1,883,000, respectively. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of the acquired business over the acquisition date fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill recorded in connection with the Mobcrush Acquisition was primarily attributable to expected synergies from combining the operations of Super League and Mobcrush, and also included residual value attributable to the assembled and trained workforce acquired in the Mobcrush Acquisition. Refer to Note 2 “Goodwill” above for additional information.
Pursuant to the terms of the Mobcrush Merger Agreement, immediately prior to the effective time of the Mobcrush Acquisition, each vested option to acquire shares of Mobcrush common stock held by former Mobcrush employees was exercised so that, at the effective time of the Mobcrush Acquisition, shares of Mobcrush common stock issued upon exercise of these vested options received shares of Company common stock issuable as Mobcrush Merger Consideration. Unvested options to acquire shares of Mobcrush common stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the Mobcrush Closing Date were canceled, and a number of options to purchase shares of Company common stock were issued to replace the cancelled unvested Mobcrush options in a manner consistent with options historically granted by Super League under the Super League 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “Replacement Options”).
Pursuant to the terms of the Mobcrush Merger Agreement, 514,633 shares of the Company’s common stock were reserved for Replacement Option grants to the former Mobcrush employees retained by the Company in connection with the Mobcrush Acquisition. As of December 31, 2022, 415,000 Replacement Options have been granted to former Mobcrush employees retained by the Company, with continued employment required to vest and retain the Replacement Options granted. Under ASC 805, consideration arrangements in which the payments are automatically forfeited if employment terminates is considered to be compensation for post-combination services, and not acquisition consideration. As such, the 514,633 shares of the Company’s common stock reserved at closing for future stock option grants to former Mobcrush employees retained by the Company are not included as a component of the consideration paid in connection with the Mobcrush Acquisition, and will be accounted for pursuant to ASC 718 upon grant.
Management is primarily responsible for determining the fair value of the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the Mobcrush Closing Date. Management considered a number of factors, including reference to an independent analysis of estimated fair values solely for the purpose of allocating the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The analysis included a discounted cash flow analysis which estimated the future net cash flows expected to result from the respective assets acquired as of the Mobcrush Closing Date. A discount rate consistent with the risks associated with achieving the estimated net cash flows was used to estimate the present value of future estimated net cash flows.
The fair values of the acquired intangible assets, as described above, was determined using the following methods:
Description
Valuation Method Applied
Valuation Method Description
Assumptions
Preferred partner relationship / Advertiser and agency relationships
Multi-Period Excess Earnings Method “MPEE”) under the Income Approach
MPEEM is an application of the DCF Method, whereby revenue derived from the intangible asset is estimated using the overall business revenue, adjusted for attrition, obsolescence, cost of goods sold, operating expense, and taxes. Required returns attributable to other assets employed in the business are subtracted. The “excess” earnings are attributable to the intangible asset, and are discounted to present value at a rate of return to estimate the fair value of the intangible asset.
Discount rate 13% - 14%; Forecast period 6 - 10yrs.;
Developed technology and Trademarks
Relief-from-Royalty Method under the Income Approach
Under the Relief-from-Royalty method, the royalty savings is calculated by estimating a reasonable royalty rate that a third-party would negotiate in a licensing agreement. Such royalties are most commonly expressed as a percentage of total revenue involving the technology.
Forecast period: 4 - 5 yrs.; Royalty Rate: Developed Technology 5% - 3%; Discount Rate: 14%;
Influencers/content creators
With-and-Without Method under the Income Approach
The With-and-Without Method compares the present value of the after-tax cash flows of the business assuming that the subject intangible asset is in place with the present value of the after-tax cash flows of the business assuming the subject asset is not in place. The difference between the present value of the two scenarios isolates the impact of the subject intangible asset and provides an estimation of fair value.
Forecast period: 4 years; Recreate Period 20 months; Discount Rate: 13%;
Customer relationships
Replacement Cost Method
In the Replacement Cost Method, value is estimated by determining the current cost of replacing an asset with one of equivalent economic utility. The premise of the approach is that a prudent investor would pay no more for an asset than the amount for which the utility of the asset could be replaced.
Rate of Return 14%; Discount rate 13%; Discount period .5; Risk Adjusted Return Factor 1.1
The Mobcrush Acquisition was treated for tax purposes as a nontaxable transaction and, as such, the historical tax bases of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities, net operating losses, and other tax attributes of Mobcrush will carryover. As a result, no new tax goodwill was created in connection with the Mobcrush Acquisition as there is no step-up to fair value of the underlying tax bases of the acquired net assets. The acquisition method of accounting includes the establishment of a net deferred tax asset or liability resulting from book tax basis differences related to assets acquired and liabilities assumed on the date of acquisition. Acquisition date deferred tax assets primarily relate to certain net operating loss carryforwards of Mobcrush. Acquisition date deferred tax liabilities relate to specifically identified non-goodwill intangibles acquired. The estimated net deferred tax liability was determined as follows:
Book Basis
Tax Basis
Difference
Intangible assets acquired
$ 19,500,000
$ 2,635,000
$ (16,865,000
)
Tangible assets acquired
13,000
(13,000
)
Estimated net operating loss carryforwards - Mobcrush
-
5,895,000
5,895,000
Net deferred tax liability - pretax
(10,983,000
)
Estimated tax rate
27.98
%
Estimated net deferred tax liability
$ (3,073,000
)
Release of Valuation Allowance. Since inception, the Company has maintained a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets. The net deferred tax liability resulting from the Mobcrush Acquisition created a source of income to utilize against the Company’s existing net deferred tax assets. Under the acquisition method of accounting, the impact on the acquiring company’s deferred tax assets is recorded outside of acquisition accounting. Accordingly, the valuation allowance on a portion of the Company’s net deferred tax assets was released, resulting in an income tax benefit of approximately $3,073,000, recorded as a credit to income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2021. The offsetting amounts reduced net deferred tax liabilities, $3,073,000, of which reduced the net deferred tax liability established in connection with the application of the acquisition method of accounting for the Mobcrush Acquisition.
The following unaudited pro forma combined results of operations for the period presented are provided for illustrative purposes only. The unaudited pro forma combined statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, assumes the acquisition occurred as of January 1, 2020. The unaudited pro forma combined financial results do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations for future periods or the results that actually would have been realized had the entities been a single entity during the period.
Revenue
$ 14,976 ,000
Net Loss
(26,363,000
)
Pro forma adjustments primarily relate to the amortization of identifiable intangible assets acquired over the estimated economic useful life as described above, the expensing of stock options issued to former Mobcrush employees acquired in connection with the Merger, the exclusion of interest expense related to convertible debt of Mobcrush not assumed by Super League in connection with the Merger, the exclusion of nonrecurring transaction costs, and the exclusion of amortization and depreciation related to tangible and intangible assets of Mobcrush existing immediately prior to the Merger. The unaudited pro forma combined statement of operations for the period presented herein have been adjusted to give effect to pro forma events that are expected to have a continuing impact on the combined results. As such, the income tax benefit related to the release of valuation allowance reflected in the statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2021, as described above, totaling $3,073,000, is not reflected in the accompanying unaudited pro forma combined statement of operations for the period presented.
Acquisition of Bannerfy, LTD
On August 11, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the “Bannerfy Purchase Agreement”) with William Roberts, Colin Gillespie, and Robert Pierre (collectively, “Sellers”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to purchase, and Sellers agreed to sell, all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Bannerfy, a company organized under the laws of England and Wales for a total purchase price of $7.0 million (the “Bannerfy Purchase Price”) (the “Bannerfy Acquisition”). On August 24, 2021 (the “Bannerfy Closing Date”), the Company completed the acquisition of Bannerfy.
Pursuant to the Bannerfy Purchase Agreement, upon the consummation of the Bannerfy Acquisition (the “Bannerfy Closing”), the Company paid an initial payment (subject to a holdback as described below) of $2.45 million (the “Bannerfy Closing Consideration”), paid or to be paid as follows (i) $525,000 in the form of a cash payment, and (ii) $1.92 million in the form of shares of the Company’s common stock, at a price per share of $4.10, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the effective date of the Bannerfy Purchase Agreement, as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Pursuant to the terms of the Bannerfy Purchase Agreement, $275,000 of the Bannerfy Closing Consideration (“Holdback Amount”), was withheld from the Bannerfy Closing Consideration to satisfy any indemnifiable losses incurred by the Company (as defined in the Bannerfy Purchase Agreement) prior to the first anniversary of the Bannerfy Closing Date. The Company incurred no indemnifiable losses prior to the first anniversary of the Bannerfy Closing Date, and therefore during the three months ended September 30, 2022, the Company released to the Sellers the Holdback Amount as follows: (i) $55,000 payable in the form of cash, and (ii) approximately $220,000 in the form of shares of the Company’s common stock, at a price per share of $4.10.
In accordance with the Bannerfy Purchase Agreement, all remaining portions of the Bannerfy Purchase Price subsequent to the payment of the Bannerfy Closing Consideration, up to approximately $4.55 million (the “Contingent Consideration”), was payable upon the achievement of certain revenue and gross profit thresholds for the remainder of the 2021 fiscal year, and each of the fiscal years ending December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2023 (“Earnout Periods”). For the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Earnout Periods, 8%, 38% and 54%, respectively of the Contingent Consideration is potentially payable. The Contingent Consideration is payable in the form of both cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, 21% in cash and 79% in Company common stock, based on a conversion price of $4.10 per share. No Contingent Consideration was accrued or paid during the periods presented.
The Bannerfy Acquisition was accounted for in accordance with ASC 805. In accordance with ASC 805, if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets, the set is not considered a business. Gross assets acquired excludes cash and cash equivalents, deferred tax assets, and goodwill resulting from the effects of deferred tax liabilities. A single identifiable asset includes any individual asset or group of assets that could be recognized and measured as a single identifiable asset in a business combination. When evaluating whether assets are similar, we considered the nature of each single identifiable asset and the risks associated with managing and creating outputs from the assets. Management determined that the Bannerfy Acquisition involved the acquisition of developed technology, which accounted for substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired, and therefore, the Bannerfy Acquisition was determined not to be the acquisition of a business under ASC 805, and is therefore accounted for as an asset acquisition utilizing a cost accumulation model in accordance with the applicable guidance.
Transaction costs incurred in connection with the Bannerfy Acquisition totaled $62,000, which are included as a component of the purchase price paid in connection with the Bannerfy Acquisition.
The Bannerfy Purchase Price paid, comprised of the Bannerfy Closing Consideration of $2.45 million and $62,000 of related transaction costs, was allocated to the developed technology acquired, with an estimated useful life of seven years. In addition, the carrying value of the developed technology acquired in connection with the Bannerfy Acquisition includes an adjustment related to deferred taxes, totaling $556,000, as described below. Net working capital assets acquired were not material.
Aggregated amortization expense for the developed technology intangible asset acquired in connection with the Bannerfy Acquisition for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, totaled $438,000 and $146,000, respectively.
The Company hired the former director of Bannerfy (“Bannerfy Executive”), who was also a selling shareholder of Bannerfy. Pursuant to the provisions of the Bannerfy Purchase Agreement, in the event that the Bannerfy Executive ceases to be an employee, during any of the Earnout Periods, as a consequence of his resignation or termination for cause, as defined in the Bannerfy Purchase Agreement, the Bannerfy Executive shall only be entitled to such percentage of any Contingent Consideration payment which would otherwise be payable to him on a prorated basis based on the number of months employed during the applicable Earnout Period. Under ASC 805, a contingent consideration arrangement in which the payments are automatically forfeited if employment terminates is considered to be compensation for post-combination services, and not acquisition consideration. As such, the Contingent Consideration, if any, will be accounted for as post-combination services and expensed in the period that payment of any amounts of Contingent Consideration becomes probable and reasonably estimable.
The Bannerfy Acquisition was treated for tax purposes as a nontaxable transaction and, as such, the historical tax bases of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities, net operating losses, and other tax attributes of Bannerfy will carryover. As a result, there is no step-up to fair value of the underlying tax bases of the acquired net assets in connection with the Bannerfy Acquisition. The acquisition method of accounting includes the establishment of a net deferred tax asset or liability resulting from book tax basis differences related to assets acquired and liabilities assumed on the date of acquisition. When an acquisition of a group of assets is purchased in a transaction that is not accounted for as a business combination under ASC 805, a difference between the book and tax bases of the assets arises. ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”) requires the use of simultaneous equations to determine the assigned value of the asset and the related deferred tax asset or liability. As neither goodwill nor a bargain purchase gain is recognized in an asset acquisition, recognizing deferred tax assets or liabilities for temporary differences in an asset acquisition results in adjusting the carrying amount of the related assets and liabilities. The deferred tax liability and resulting adjustment to the carrying amount of the assets acquired in connection with the Bannerfy Acquisition was determined as follows:
Book Basis
Tax Basis
Difference
Intangible assets acquired
$ 2,512,000
$ -
$ (2,512,000
)
Estimated net operating loss carryforwards - Bannerfy
144,000
144,000
Net deferred tax liability - pretax
(2,368,000
)
Estimated tax rate
23.48
%
Estimated net deferred tax liability - Pursuant to ASC 740(1)
$ (556,000
)
(1)
Pursuant to ASC 740, the deferred tax liability is estimated using the following formula: (a) Applicable tax rate divided by (b) one minus the applicable tax rate, multiplied by (c) the tax basis of the net assets acquired less the initial book basis of the net assets acquired.
Bannerfy commenced operations in September 2020. As such, the historical balance sheets and statements of operations of Bannerfy were not material, and therefore unaudited pro forma combined results of operations for the periods presented are not provided for illustrative purposes. Disclosure of revenue and net loss for Bannerfy on a stand-alone basis for the periods presented herein is not practical due to the integration of Bannerfy operations, including sales, products, advertising inventory, resource allocation and related operating expense, with those of the consolidated Company upon acquisition, consistent with Super League operating in one reporting segment.
Acquisition of Super Biz Co.
On October 4, 2021 (“Super Biz Closing Date”), the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Super Biz Purchase Agreement”) with Super Biz Co. and the founders of Super Biz (the “Founders”), pursuant to which the Company acquired (i) substantially all of the assets of Super Biz (the “Super Biz Assets”), and (ii) the personal goodwill of the Founders regarding Super Biz’s business, (the “Super Biz Acquisition”). The consummation of the Super Biz Acquisition (the “Super Biz Closing”) occurred simultaneously with the execution of the Super Biz Purchase Agreement on the Super Biz Closing Date.
At closing, the Company paid an aggregate total of $6.0 million to Super Biz and the Founders (the “Super Biz Closing Consideration”), of which $3.0 million was paid in the form of cash (the “Super Biz Closing Cash Consideration”) and $3.0 million was paid in the form of shares of the Company’s common stock, at a per share price of $2.91, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the Super Biz Closing Date, as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Super Biz Stock Consideration”).
Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the Super Biz Purchase Agreement, up to an aggregate amount $11.5 million will be payable to Super Biz and the Founders in connection with the achievement of certain revenue milestones for the period from the Super Biz Closing Date until December 31, 2022 (“Initial Earn Out Period”) and for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 (the “Super Biz Contingent Consideration”) (“Super Biz Earn Out Periods”). The Super Biz Contingent Consideration is payable in the form of both cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, in equal amounts, as more specifically set forth in the Super Biz Purchase Agreement.
The Super Biz Acquisition was approved by the board of directors of each of the Company and Super Biz and was approved by the stockholders of Super Biz.
In accordance with the acquisition method of accounting, the financial results of Super League presented herein include the financial results of Super Biz subsequent to the Super Biz Closing Date. Disclosure of revenue and net loss for Super Biz on a stand-alone basis for the year ended December 31, 2022 is not practical due to the integration of Super Biz activities, including sales, products, advertising inventory, resource allocation and related operating expense, with those of the consolidated Company upon acquisition, consistent with Super League operating in one reporting segment.
The Company determined that the Super Biz Acquisition constitutes a business acquisition as defined by ASC 805. Accordingly, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction were recorded at their estimated acquisition date fair values, while transaction costs associated with the acquisition were expensed as incurred pursuant to the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805. Super League’s purchase price allocation was based on an evaluation of the appropriate fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and represents management’s best estimate based on available data. Fair values were determined based on the requirements of ASC 820.
Transaction costs incurred by the Company relating to the Super Biz Acquisition totaled $47,000 and were expensed as incurred in accordance with the acquisition method of accounting.
The following table summarizes the determination of the fair value of the purchase price consideration paid in connection with the Super Biz Acquisition:
Cash consideration at closing
$ 3,000,000
Equity consideration at closing - shares of common stock
1,031,928
Super League closing stock price per share on the Super Biz Closing Date
$ 2.91
Fair value of equity consideration issued at closing
$ 3,000,000
3,000,000
Fair value of total consideration issued at closing
$ 6,000,000
The fair value of the Company common stock used in determining the estimated fair value of the Super Biz Closing Consideration was $2.91 per share based on the closing price of Company common stock on October 4, 2021, as quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
The purchase price allocation was based upon an estimate of the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed by the Company in connection with the Super Biz Acquisition, as follows:
Amount
Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed:
Accounts receivable
$ 124,000
Identifiable intangible assets
1,747,000
Identifiable net assets acquired
1,871,000
Goodwill
4,129,000
Total purchase price
$ 6,000,000
The following table presents details of the fair values of the acquired intangible assets of Super Biz:
Estimated Useful Life (in years)
Amount
Developed technology
$ 912,000
Developer relationships
559,000
Customer relationships
276,000
Total intangible assets acquired
$ 1,747,000
Aggregated amortization expense for the intangible assets acquired in connection with the Super Biz Acquisition for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, totaled $409,000 and $99,000, respectively. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of the acquired business over the acquisition date fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill recorded in connection with the Super Biz Acquisition was primarily attributable to expected synergies from combining the operations and assets of Super League and Super Biz, and also includes residual value attributable to the assembled and trained workforce acquired in the acquisition. Refer to Note 2 “Goodwill” above for additional information.
Management is primarily responsible for determining the fair value of the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the Super Biz Closing Date. Management considered a number of factors, including reference to an independent analysis of estimated fair values solely for the purpose of allocating the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The analysis included a discounted cash flow analysis which estimated the future net cash flows expected to result from the respective assets acquired as of the Super Biz Closing Date. A discount rate consistent with the risks associated with achieving the estimated net cash flows was used to estimate the present value of future estimated net cash flows. The fair values of the intangible assets acquired in connection with the Super Biz acquisition were determined using the cost method. Under the cost method, value is estimated by determining the current cost of replacing an asset with one of equivalent economic utility. The premise of the approach is that a prudent investor would pay no more for an asset than the amount for which the utility of the asset could be replaced. Valuation assumptions utilized included rates of return of 30%, discount periods of 0.5 to 1, risk adjusted return factors of 1.1 to 1.3 and weighted average costs of capital of 30%.
The Company hired the Founders of Super Biz in connection with the Super Biz Acquisition. Pursuant to the provisions of the Super Biz Purchase Agreement, in the event that a Founder ceases to be an employee during any of the Super Biz Earn Out Periods, as a consequence of his resignation without good cause, or termination for cause, the Super Biz Contingent Consideration will be reduced by one-half (50%) for the respective Super Biz Earn Out Periods, if and when earned. Under ASC 805, a contingent consideration arrangement in which the payments are automatically forfeited if employment terminates is considered to be compensation for post-combination services, and not acquisition consideration. As such, the Contingent Consideration, is accounted for as post-combination services and expensed in the period that payment of any amounts of Contingent Consideration is determined to be probable and reasonably estimable. As of December 31, 2022, the Company determined that it was probable that the contingency for the Initial Earn Out Period would be met in accordance with the terms of the Super Biz Purchase Agreement, and the applicable amounts were reasonably estimable, resulting in a charge to compensation expense totaling $3,206,000 (including approximately 988,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.336, the closing price of our common stock as of December 31, 2022), which is reflected as a component of operating expense in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Contingent Consideration is recorded as a liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet in accordance with ASC 480, “Distinguishing liabilities from equity” (“ASC 480”), which requires freestanding financial instruments where the company must or could settle the obligation by issuing a variable number of its shares, and the obligation's monetary value is based solely or predominantly on variations in something other than the fair value of the company's shares, to be recorded as a liability.
For tax purposes, consistent with the accounting for book purposes, the Super Biz Closing Consideration was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date, with the excess purchase price allocated to goodwill. As a result, no deferred tax assets or liabilities were recorded with the acquisition and all of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.
Super Biz operations commenced in December 2020. As such, the historical balance sheets and statements of operations of Super Biz were not material, and therefore unaudited pro forma combined results of operations for the periods presented are not provided for illustrative purposes.
6.
DEBT
Convertible Notes Payable at Fair Value
On May 16, 2022, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) with three institutional investors (collectively, the “Note Holders”) providing for the sale and issuance of a series of senior convertible notes in the aggregate original principal amount of $4,320,000, of which 8% is an original issue discount (“OID”) (each, a “Note,” and, collectively, the “Notes,” and such financing, the “Note Offering”). The Notes accrue interest at a guaranteed annual rate of 9% per annum, mature 12 months from the date of issuance, and are convertible at the option of the Note Holders into that number of shares of the Company’s common stock, equal to the sum of the outstanding principal balance, accrued and unpaid interest, and accrued and unpaid late charges (the “Conversion Amount”), divided by $4.00 (the “Conversion Price”), subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as more specifically set forth in the Note, as amended; provided, however, in no event will the Company be permitted to issue more than 19.99% of the shares of common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Note Offering, which number of shares shall be reduced, on a share-for-share basis, by the number of shares of common stock issued or issuable pursuant to any transaction or series of transactions that may be aggregated with the Note Offering. In the event of the occurrence of an event of default, the Note Holders may, at the Note Holder’s option, convert all, or any part of, the Conversion Amount into shares of common stock at 90% of the lowest volume weighted average price of the ten trading days preceding the date for which the price is being calculated.
In addition, the Company may be required to redeem all or a portion of the Notes under certain circumstances, and, in the event (A) the Company sells Company common stock pursuant to the March 25, 2022 Purchase Agreement, described below, or (B) consummates a subsequent equity financing, then the Note Holders will have the right, but not the obligation, to require the Company to use 50% of the gross proceeds raised from such sale to redeem all or any portion of the Conversion Amount then remaining under the Notes, in cash, at a price equal to the Conversion Amount being redeemed. The Company may, at its option, redeem all or a portion of the Notes at a price equal to 110% of the Conversion Amount being redeemed.
In the event of a change of control, the Note Holders may require the Company to redeem all or any portion of this Note in cash at a price equal to the greatest of (i) the product of (x) 110% multiplied by (y) the Conversion Amount being redeemed, (ii) the product of (x) 110% multiplied by (y) the product of (A) the Conversion Amount being redeemed multiplied by (B) the quotient determined by dividing (I) the greatest closing sale price of the shares of common stock during the period beginning on the date immediately preceding the earlier to occur of (1) the consummation of the applicable change of control and (2) the public announcement of such change of control and ending on the date the Note Holder delivers the change of control redemption notice by (II) the Conversion Price then in effect, and (iii) the product of (x) 110% multiplied by (y) the product of (A) the Conversion Amount being redeemed multiplied by (B) the quotient of (I) the aggregate cash consideration and the aggregate cash value of any non-cash consideration per share of common stock to be paid to the holders of the shares of common stock upon consummation of such change of control divided by (II) the Conversion Price then in effect.
In the event of the occurrence of an event of default, the Note Holders may require the Company to redeem (regardless of whether such Event of Default has been cured) all or any portion of the Notes. Each portion of the Notes subject to redemption by the Company pursuant to an event of default shall be redeemed by the Company at a price equal to the greater of (i) the product of (A) the Conversion Amount to be redeemed multiplied by (B) 110% and (ii) the product of (X) the conversion rate with respect to the Conversion Amount in effect at such time as the Holder delivers an event of default redemption notice multiplied by (Y) the product of (1) 110% multiplied by (2) the greatest closing sale price of the common stock on any trading day during the period commencing on the date immediately preceding such event of default and ending on the date the Company makes the entire payment required to be made under the Notes. Upon any bankruptcy the Company would be required to pay to the Note Holders an amount in cash representing (i) all outstanding principal, accrued and unpaid interest and accrued and unpaid late charges on such principal and interest, multiplied by (ii) 110%, in addition to any and all other amounts due under the Notes, provided that any Note Holder may, in its sole discretion, waive such right to receive payment upon a bankruptcy event of default, in whole or in part.
Under the Notes, the Company is subject to certain customary affirmative and negative covenants regarding the incurrence of indebtedness, the existence of liens, the repayment of indebtedness, the payment of cash in respect of dividends, distributions or redemptions, and the transfer of assets, among other matters.
The Notes are subject to a most favored nation provision and standard adjustments in the event of any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination, recapitalization or other similar transaction. If the Company issues or sells, or enters into any agreement to issue or sell, any variable rate securities, including by way of one or more reset(s) to a fixed price, the Note Holders have the right, but not the obligation, in any Note Holder’s sole discretion, to substitute the applicable variable price for the Conversion Price upon conversion of the Notes.
Concurrently with the SPA, the Company and the Note Holders entered into a registration rights agreement, pursuant to which the Company agreed to file a Registration Statement on Form S-3 within 30 days after the closing of the Note Offering.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded interest expense related to the Notes totaling $389,000, and made cash interest payments totaling $209,000. Accrued interest totaled $180,000 at December 31, 2022.
The Notes were issued with an original issue discount of $320,000, or 8%, which is recorded as an adjustment to the carrying amount of the Notes. The original issue discount is amortized using the interest method over the contractual term of the Notes and reflected as interest expense in the statement of operations. Total amortization of original issue discount for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $280,000. At December 31, 2022, the balance of the original issue discount was $40,000, which is included in “Convertible note payable and accrued interest” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
The Company elected to utilize the FVO to account for the Notes, which is included in current liabilities. Principal payments on the Notes during the year ended December 31, 2022 totaled $3,781,000. The change in fair value of the Notes at each balance sheet date, if any, is included in other income (expense) in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Notes were valued based on a binomial lattice model utilizing the following assumptions and results for fiscal year 2022:
May 16,
June 30,
September 30,
Stock price
$ 1.27
$ 1.02
$ 0.68
Volatility
%
%
%
Risk free rate
2.1 %
2.7 %
3.1 %
Dividend rate
-
-
-
Implied yield
20.7 %
23.9 %
23.4 %
Estimated Fair value of Notes, including OID, excluding accrued interest
4,000,000
3,986,000
4,245,000
Change in fair value
NA
(49,000
)
334,000
At December 31, 2022, the remaining principal balance of the Notes totaled $539,000, and accrued interest totaled $180,000, both of which were paid in full in the first quarter of 2023. The carrying value of the Notes approximated their fair values as of December 31, 2022. The decrease in fair value during the three months ended December 31, 2022 was $285,000, resulting in a net impact of the change in fair value of the Notes of $0 for the year ended December 31, 2022.
PPP Loan
On May 4, 2020, the Company entered into a forgivable loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) resulting in net proceeds of $1,200,047 pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) enacted by Congress under the CARES Act administered by the SBA (the “PPP Loan”). To facilitate the PPP Loan, the Company entered into a Note Payable Agreement with a bank (the “Lender”) (the “PPP Loan Agreement”). The PPP Loan had an original maturity date of May 4, 2022, and accrued interest at a rate of 1.00% per annum, with interest accruing throughout the period the PPP Loan was outstanding, or until forgiven.
The PPP Loan was accounted for as a financial liability in accordance with ASC 470, “Debt” (“ASC 470”) Accordingly, the proceeds from the PPP Loan were recorded as a long-term liability on the balance sheet until either (1) the loan is, in part or wholly, forgiven and the company had been “legally released” or (2) the Company paid off the loan to the Lender. Interest was accrued in accordance with the interest method.
In May 2021, the PPP loan was forgiven pursuant to the terms and conditions of the PPP Loan Agreement and the provision of the Cares Act. Upon forgiveness, and legal release, the Company reduced the liability by the amount forgiven, totaling $1,213,000 and recorded a gain on extinguishment in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021.
7.
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred Stock
The Company’s initial certificate of incorporation authorized 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. No preferred stock had been issued and outstanding since inception of the Company. In October 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) and a majority of the holders of the Company’s common stock approved an amendment and restatement of the certificate of incorporation which, in part, eliminated the authorized preferred stock. In August 2018, the Board of Directors approved a second amendment and restatement of the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Charter”) to, in part, increase the Company’s authorized capital to a total of 110.0 million shares, including 10.0 million shares of newly created preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Preferred Stock”), authorize the Board of Directors to fix the designation and number of each series of Preferred Stock, and to determine or change the designation, relative rights, preferences, and limitations of any series of Preferred Stock. The Amended and Restated Charter was approved by a majority of the Company’s stockholders in September 2018, and was filed with the State of Delaware in November 2018. All references in the accompanying consolidated financial statements to Preferred Stock have been restated to reflect the Amended and Restated Charter.
Common Stock
The Amended and Restated Charter also increased the Company’s authorized capital to include 100.0 million shares of common stock, par value $0.001, and removed the deemed liquidation provision, as such term is defined in the Amended and Restated Charter. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held at all meetings of stockholders.
Equity Financings
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2022:
Preferred Stock Issuances
During the fourth quarter of 2022, we entered into subscription agreements with accredited investors in connection with the sale of an aggregate of 10,323 shares of newly designated Series A, A-2, A-3 and A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock, each series having a $0.001 par value and a $1,000 purchase price, hereinafter collectively referred to as “Series A Preferred,” and the individual offerings of Series A Preferred stock hereinafter collectively referred to as the Series A Offerings, as follows:
Date
Series Design-ation
Conversion
Price
Shares
Gross
Proceeds
Fees
Net
Proceeds
Conversion
Shares
Placement
Agent
Warrants (1)
November 22, 2022
Series A
$ 0.6200
5,359
$ 5,359,000
$ 752,000
$ 4,607,000
8,644,000
1,253,000
November 28, 2022
Series A-2
$ 0.6646
1,297
1,297,000
169,000
1,128,000
1,952,000
283,000
November 30, 2022
Series A-3
$ 0.6704
1,733
1,733,000
225,000
1,508,000
2,585,000
375,000
December 22, 2022
Series A-4
$ 0.3801
1,934
1,934,000
251,000
1,683,000
5,088,000
738,000
Total
10,323
$ 10,323,000
$ 1,397,000
$ 8,926,000
18,269,000
2,649,000
_________
(1)
- To be issued upon final closing of the Series A Preferred Stock offering
Use of net proceeds from the Series A Offerings include the repayment of certain indebtedness and working capital and general corporate purposes, including sales and marketing activities and product development. As disclosed at Note 6, in the event the Company consummated a subsequent equity financing during the term of the Notes, the Company is required, at the option of the Note Holders, to use 50% of the gross proceeds raised from such sale to redeem all or any portion of the Notes outstanding upon closing of such equity financing. For the year ended December 31, 2022, $3,621,000 of the net proceeds from the Series A Offerings were utilized in connection with the partial redemption of the Notes.
On the respective effective dates, the Company filed certificates of designation of preferences, rights and limitations of the Series A Preferred with the State of Delaware, respectively.
Each share of Series A Preferred is convertible at the option of the holder, subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations and primary market limitations as set forth in each Series A Certificate of Designation, into such number of shares of the Company’s common stock, equal to the number of Series A Preferred to be converted, multiplied by the stated value of $1,000 (the “Stated Value”), divided by the conversion price in effect at the time of the conversion, as described above. In addition, subject to beneficial ownership and primary market limitations: (1) the Series A Preferred will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock at the Conversion Price upon the earlier of (a) the 24-month anniversary of the Effective Date or (b) the consent to conversion by holders of at least 51% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred; and (2) on the one year anniversary of the Effective Date, the Company may, in its discretion, convert (y) 50% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred if the volume-weighted average price of the Company’s Common Stock over the previous 10 days as reported on the NASDAQ Capital Market (the “VWAP”), equals at least 250% of the Conversion Price, or (z) 100% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred if and only if the VWAP equals at least 300% of the Conversion Price.
The Series A Preferred shall vote together with the common stock on an as-converted basis, and not as a separate class, subject to the primary market limitations, except that holders of Series A Preferred shall vote as a separate class with respect to (a) amending, altering, or repealing any provision of the Series A Certificate of Designation in a manner that adversely affects the powers, preferences or rights of the Series A Preferred, (b) increasing the number of authorized shares of Series A Preferred, (c) authorizing or issuing an additional class or series of capital stock that ranks senior to or pari passu with the Series A Preferred with respect to the distribution of assets on liquidation, (d) authorizing, creating, incurring, assuming, guaranteeing or suffering to exist any indebtedness for borrowed money of any kind in excess of $5 million, or I entering into any agreement with respect to the foregoing. In addition, no holder of Series A Preferred shall be entitled to vote on any matter presented to the Company’s stockholders relating to approving the conversion of such holder’s Series A Preferred into an amount in excess of the primary market limitations. Upon any dissolution, liquidation or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Series A Preferred will be entitled to first receive distributions out of the Company’s assets in an amount per share equal to the Stated Value plus all accrued and unpaid dividends, whether capital or surplus before any distributions shall be made on any shares of Common Stock (after the payment to any senior security, if any).
Holders of the Series A Preferred will be entitled to receive dividends, subject to the beneficial ownership and primary market limitations, payable in the form of that number of shares of Common Stock equal to 20% of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Series A Preferred then held by such holder on the 12 and 24-month anniversaries of the respective filing date. In addition, subject to the beneficial ownership and primary market limitations, holders of Series A Preferred will be entitled to receive dividends equal, on an as-if-converted to shares of Common Stock basis, and in the same form as dividends actually paid on shares of the common stock when, as, and if such dividends are paid on shares of the common stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that a holder’s right to participate in any dividend in shares of common stock to which such holder is entitled would result in such holder exceeding the beneficial ownership and primary market limitations, then such holder shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend to such extent and the portion of such shares that would cause such holder to exceed the beneficial ownership and primary market limitations shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of such holder until such time, if ever, as such holder’s beneficial ownership thereof would not result in such holder exceeding the beneficial ownership and primary market limitations.
The Company and the investors in the Series A Offerings also executed a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to file a registration statement covering the resale of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred within sixty days following the final closing of Series A Offerings and to use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective within 90 days of the filing date.
The Company sold the shares of Series A Preferred pursuant to a Placement Agency Agreement (the “Placement Agency Agreement”) with a registered broker dealer, which acted as the Company’s exclusive placement agent (the “Placement Agent”) for Series A Offerings.
Pursuant to the terms of the Placement Agency Agreement, we agreed to pay to the Placement Agent at each Closing a cash fee equal to 10% of the gross proceeds raised in the Series A Offerings and (ii) a non-accountable expense allowance equal to 3% of the gross proceeds of the Series A Offerings. In addition, we have agreed to issue to the Placement Agent or its designees for nominal consideration and following the final closing under the Series A Offerings, five-year warrants to purchase 14.5% of the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred shares sold in the Series A Offerings, at an exercise price equal to the applicable conversion price. The Placement Agent Warrants provide for a cashless exercise feature and are exercisable for a period of five years from the Effective Date. In addition, the Company agreed to grant the Placement Agent the right to appoint, subject to the Company’s approval, one representative to serve as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors upon the closing of at least $10 million in aggregate in connection with the Series A Offerings.
The securities to be issued in the Series A Offerings are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder because, among other things, the transaction did not involve a public offering, the investors are accredited investors, the investors are purchasing the securities for investment and not for resale and the Company took appropriate measures to restrict the transfer of the securities. The securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
The Subscription Agreements contains representations and warranties that the parties made to, and solely for the benefit of, the other signatories to the Subscription Agreements in the context of all of the terms and conditions thereof and in the context of the specific relationship between the parties to the Subscription Agreements. The provisions of such Subscription Agreements, including the representations and warranties contained therein, are not for the benefit of any party other than the party signatories thereto and are not intended for investors and the public to obtain factual information about the current state of affairs of the parties to such Subscription Agreements. Rather, investors and the public refer to other disclosures contained in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Common Stock Purchase Agreement
On March 25, 2022, we entered into a common stock purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Tumim Stone Capital, LLC (“Tumim”). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company has the right, but not the obligation, to sell to Tumim, and Tumim is obligated to purchase, up to $10,000,000 of newly issued shares (the “Total Commitment”) of the Company’s common stock from time to time during the term of the Purchase Agreement (the “Tumim Offering”), subject to certain limitations and conditions. As consideration for Tumim’s commitment to purchase shares of common stock under the Purchase Agreement, the Company issued to Tumim 50,000 shares of common stock, valued at $100,000, following the execution of the Purchase Agreement (the “Commitment Shares”). During the year ended December 31, 2022, we issued 7,425 shares of common stock at an average price of $1.11, raising net proceeds of approximately $8,000, under the Purchase Agreement.
The Purchase Agreement initially precludes the Company from issuing and selling more than 7,361,833 shares of its common stock, including the Commitment Shares, which number equals 19.99% of the common stock issued and outstanding as of March 25, 2022, unless the Company obtains stockholder approval to issue additional shares, or unless certain exceptions apply. In addition, a beneficial ownership limitation in the agreement initially limits the Company from directing Tumim to purchase shares of common stock if such purchases would result in Tumim beneficially owning more than 4.99% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock (subject to an increase to 9.99% at Tumim’s option upon at least 61 calendar days’ notice).
From and after the initial satisfaction of the conditions to the Company’s right to commence sales of common stock to Tumim (such event, the “Commencement,” and the date of initial satisfaction of all such conditions, the “Commencement Date”), the Company may direct Tumim to purchase shares of common stock at a purchase price per share equal to 95% of the average daily dollar volume-weighted average price for the common stock during the three consecutive trading day period immediately following the date on which the Company delivers to Tumim a notice for such purchase. The Company will control the timing and amount of any such sales of common stock to Tumim. Actual sales of shares of common stock to Tumim will depend on a variety of factors to be determined by the Company from time to time, including, among other things, market conditions, the trading price of the common stock, and determinations by the Company as to the appropriate sources of funding for the Company and its operations.
The Commencement Date of the Tumim Offering was March 25, 2022. Unless earlier terminated, the Purchase Agreement will automatically terminate upon the earliest of (i) the expiration of the 18-month period following the Commencement Date, (ii) Tumim’s purchase or receipt of the Total Commitment worth of common stock, or (iii) the occurrence of certain other events set forth in the Purchase Agreement. The Company has the right to terminate the Purchase Agreement at any time after Commencement, at no cost or penalty, upon five trading days’ prior written notice to Tumim. Tumim has the right to terminate the Purchase Agreement upon five trading days’ prior written notice to the Company, but only upon the occurrence of certain events set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
Use of proceeds from any Tumim Offerings includes working capital and general corporate purposes, including sales and marketing activities, product development and capital expenditures. The Company may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in complementary businesses, products and technologies. The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company, as well as customary indemnification obligations of the Company.
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2021:
In January 2021, the Company issued 3,076,924 shares of common stock at a price of $2.60 per share, raising aggregate net proceeds of approximately $8.0 million, after deducting offering costs totaling $73,000.
In February 2021, the Company issued 2,926,830 shares of common stock at a price of $4.10 per share, raising aggregate net proceeds of approximately $12.0 million, after deducting offering costs totaling $70,000.
In March 2021, the Company issued 1,512,499 shares of common stock at a price of $9.00 per share, raising aggregate net proceeds of approximately $13.6 million, after deducting offering costs totaling $72,000.
The offerings described above were made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3, which was originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 10, 2020 (File No. 333-237626). The net proceeds from these offerings were used for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including sales and marketing activities, product development and capital expenditures. The Company also reserved the right to use a portion of the net proceeds for the acquisition of, or investment in, technologies, solutions or businesses.
Equity Distribution Agreement
On September 3, 2021, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with two investment banks (the “Agents”), pursuant to which the Company could offer and sell, from time to time, through the Agents (the “ATM Offering”), up to $75 million of its shares of common stock (the “Shares”). Any Shares offered and sold in the Offering were issued pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on September 3, 2021 (the “Form S-3”) and the prospectus relating to the Offering that forms a part of the Form S-3, following such time as the Form S-3 is declared effective by the SEC. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company issued 323,639 shares of common stock, at an average price of $0.99, raising net proceeds of $312,000, under the Sales Agreement.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Sales Agreement, the Agents used their commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares from time to time, based upon the Company’s instructions. Under the Sales Agreement, the Agents sold the Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), including, without limitation, sales made directly on the Nasdaq Capital Market, on any other existing trading market for the Company’s common stock or to or through a market maker.
The Company had no obligation to sell any of the Shares and could at any time suspend offers under the Sales Agreement. The Offering terminated upon the earlier of (a) the sale of all of the Shares, (b) the termination by the mutual written agreement of the managing agent and the Company, or (c) one year from the date that the Form S-3 is declared effective by the SEC, or November 16, 2022.
Under the terms of the Sales Agreement, the Agents were entitled to an aggregate commission at a fixed rate of 3.0% of the gross sales price of Shares sold under the Sales Agreement.
Use of proceeds from “at-the-market” offerings included working capital and general corporate purposes, including sales and marketing activities, product development and capital and acquisition related expenditures.
8.
STOCK-BASED INCENTIVE PLANS
The Super League 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) was approved by the Board of Directors and the stockholders of Super League in October 2014. The Plan was subsequently amended in May 2015, May 2016, July 2017 and October 2018. The Plan allows grants of stock options, stock awards and performance shares with respect to common stock of the Company to eligible individuals, which generally includes directors, officers, employees, advisors and consultants. The Plan provides for both the direct award and sale of shares of common stock and for the grant of options to purchase shares of common stock. Options granted under the Plan include non-statutory options as well as incentive options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
The Board of Directors administers the Plan and determines which eligible individuals are to receive option grants or stock issuances under the Plan, the times when the grants or issuances are to be made, the number of shares of common stock subject to each grant or issuance, the status of any granted option as either an incentive stock option or a non-statutory stock option under the federal tax laws, the vesting schedule to be in effect for the option grant or stock issuance and the maximum term for which any granted option is to remain outstanding. The exercise price of options is generally equal to the fair market value of common stock of the Company on the date of grant. Options generally begin to be exercisable six months to one year after grant and typically expire 10 years after grant. Stock options and restricted shares generally vest over two to four years (generally representing the requisite service period). The Plan terminates automatically on July 1, 2027. The Plan provides for the following programs:
●
Option Grants
Under the discretionary option grant program, the Company’s compensation committee of the Board of Directors may grant (1) non-statutory options to purchase shares of common stock to eligible individuals in the employ or service of Super League or its affiliates (including employees, non-employee members of the Board of Directors and consultants) at an exercise price not less than 85% of the fair market value of such shares on the grant date, and (2) incentive stock options to purchase shares of common stock to eligible employees at an exercise price not less than 100% of the fair market value of such shares on the grant date (not less than 110% of fair market value if such employee actually or constructively owns more than 10% of Super League’s voting stock or the voting stock of any of its subsidiaries).
●
Stock Awards or Sales
Under the stock award or sales program, eligible individuals may be issued shares of common stock of the Company directly, upon the attainment of performance milestones or the completion of a specified period of service or as a bonus for past services. Under this program, the purchase price for the shares will not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the shares on the date of issuance, and payment may be in the form of cash or past services rendered. Eligible individuals will have no stockholder rights with respect to any unvested restricted shares or restricted stock units issued to them under the stock award or sales program; however, eligible individuals will have the right to receive any regular cash dividends paid on such shares.
The initial reserve under the Plan was 583,334 shares of common stock, which reserve was subsequently increased to 1,000,000 shares upon stockholders’ approval in May 2016. In July 2017, the Company amended and restated the Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved thereunder from 1,000,000 shares to 1,500,000 shares. In October 2018, the Company amended and restated the Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved thereunder from 1,500,000 shares to 1,833,334 shares. In July 2020, the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment to the Plan to increase the number of shares authorized for issuance from 1,833,334 to 2,583,334. In May 2021, the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment to the Plan to increase the number of shares authorized for issuance from 2,583,334 to 5,000,000. In June 2022, the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment to the Plan to increase the number of shares authorized for issuance from 5,000,000 to 6,250,000. As of December 31, 2022, 1,139,074 shares remained available for issuance under the Plan.
Super League issues new shares of common stock upon the exercise of stock options, the grant of restricted stock, or the delivery of shares pursuant to vested restricted stock units. The compensation committee of the Board of Directors may amend or modify the Plan at any time, subject to any required approval by the stockholders of the Company, pursuant to the terms therein. In the event that any outstanding option or other right for any reason expires or is canceled or otherwise terminated, the shares allocable to the unexercised portion of such option or other right is returned and available for the purposes of this Plan.
Stock Options
The fair value of stock options granted was estimated on their respective grant dates using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model and the following weighted-average assumptions for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:
Expected Volatility
%
%
Risk-free interest rate
2.89 %
.99 %
Dividend yield
- %
- %
Expected life of options (in years)
6.08
5.86
The expected volatility assumption for purposes of determining the fair value of stock options for the periods presented was estimated based on reference to the historical stock price volatility of the Company and a representative peer group for the applicable estimated term.
A summary of stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2022 is as follows:
Weighted-Average
Options (#)
Exercise
Price Per Share ($)
Remaining
Contractual Term (Years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value ($)
Outstanding at December 31, 2021
2,433,000
$ 5.18
$ 246,000
Granted
239,000
$ 1.51
Exercised
-
$
-
Canceled / forfeited
(194,000
)
$ 4.23
Outstanding at December 31, 2022
2,478,000
$ 4.90
6.87
$ 4,000
Vested and exercisable at December 31, 2022
1,569,000
$ 5.80
5.99
$ 4,000
The weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was $1.17 and $3.40, respectively. The aggregate fair value of stock options that vested during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was $1,726,000 and $720,000, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, the total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock option awards was $2,204,000, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average term of approximately 2.16 years.
Restricted Stock Units
The following table summarizes non-vested restricted stock unit activity for the year ended December 31, 2022:
2014 Plan Activity
Outside of the 2014 Plan Activity
Totals
Non-vested Restricted Stock
Restricted
Stock
Units (#)
Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value ($)
Restricted
Stock
Units (#)
Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value ($)
Restricted
Stock
Units (#)
Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value ($)
At December 31, 2021
361,000
$ 4.92
-
$ -
361,000
$ 4.92
Granted
1,940,000
$ 1.57
140,000
$ 0.91
2,080,000
$ 1.52
Vested
(257,000
)
$ 4.50
(105,000
)
$ 0.91
(362,000
)
$ 3.46
Canceled
(32,000
)
$ 1.87
-
$ -
(32,000
)
$ 1.87
At December 31, 2022
2,012,000
$ 1.78
35,000
$ 0.91
2,047,000
$ 1.77
As of December 31, 2022, the total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock units was $983,000 which will be recognized over a weighted-average term of approximately one year.
On January 1, 2022, the Company issued 1,350,000 performance stock units (“PSUs”) (included in the table above) under the Company’s 2014 Amended and Restated Stock Option and Incentive Plan, which vest in five equal increments of 270,000 PSUs, based on satisfaction of the following vesting conditions during the three-year period commencing on January 1, 2022:
(i)
the Company’s stock price equaling $4.75 per share based on 60-day volume weighted average price (“VWAP”);
(ii)
the Company’s stock price equaling $6.00 per share based on 60-day VWAP;
(iii)
the Company’s stock price equaling $7.00 per share based on 60-day VWAP;
(iv)
the Company’s stock price equaling $8.00 per share based on 60-day VWAP; and
(v)
the Company’s stock price equaling $9.00 per share based on 60-day VWAP.
A condition affecting the exercisability or other pertinent factors used in determining the fair value of an award that is based on an entity achieving a specified share price constitutes a market condition pursuant ASC 718. Noncash stock compensation expense related to the PSUs totaled $2,142,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company issued 170,000 restricted stock units (included in the table above) to nonemployees for services (“Nonemployee RSUs”). The weighted average grant date fair value of the Nonemployee RSUs granted during the year ended December 13, 2022 was $0.91. Compensation expense for Nonemployee RSUs for the year ended December 31, 2022 totaled $131,000. As of December 31, 2022, the total unrecognized compensation expense related to Nonemployee RSUs was $24,000, which will be recognized in the first quarter of fiscal 2023.
Warrants Issued to Employees and Nonemployees for Services
A summary of employee and nonemployee warrant activity (outside of the Plan) for the year ended December 31, 2022 is as follows:
Weighted-Average
Warrants (#)
Exercise
Price Per Share ($)
Remaining
Contractual Term (Years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value ($)
Outstanding at December 31, 2021
781,000
$ 10.26
Granted
500,000
$ 0.67
$ -
Expired
(116,000
)
$ 10.80
$ -
Outstanding at December 31, 2022
1,165,000
$ 6.09
4.78
$ -
Vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2022
665,000
$ 10.16
4.78
$ -
The weighted-average grant date fair value of common stock purchase warrants (“Warrants”) granted during the year ended December 31, 2022 was $0.50. No Warrants were granted to employees or non-employees in exchange for services performed during the year ended December 31, 2021. No Warrants vested during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. As of December 31, 2022, the total unrecognized compensation expense related to Warrants was $228,000.
On December 1, 2022, the Company issued 500,000 warrants (included in the table above) to a third-party for nonemployee investor relations services. The warrants have an exercise price of $0.67, a grant date fair value of $0.50, vest in twelve equal monthly installments commencing on the grant date and expire five years from the grant date. Compensation expense included in the statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 totaled $20,000.
Noncash Stock Compensation Expense
Noncash stock-based compensation expense for the periods presented was comprised of the following:
Stock options
$ 1,278,000
$ 1,148,000
Warrants
20,000
-
Restricted stock units
2,965,000
1,233,000
Total noncash stock compensation expense
$ 4,263,000
$ 2,381,000
Noncash stock-based compensation expense for the periods presented was included in the following financial statement line items:
Sales, marketing and advertising
$ 1,079,000
$ 934,000
Engineering, technology and development
389,000
288,000
General and administrative
2,795,000
1,159,000
Total noncash stock compensation expense
$ 4,263,000
$ 2,381,000
9.
INCOME TAXES
Super League’s provision for income taxes consisted of the following for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:
Current:
Federal taxes
$ -
$ -
State taxes
-
-
Total current
$ -
$ -
Deferred:
Federal taxes
$ (7,541,000
)
$ (4,654,000
)
State taxes
(1,664,000
)
(969,000
)
Foreign taxes
(205,000
)
(38,000
)
Subtotal
(9,410,000
)
(5,661,000
)
Change in valuation allowance
9,205,000
2,550,000
Total deferred
(205,000
)
(3,111,000
)
Provision for income taxes
$ (205,000
)
$ (3,111,000
)
The tax effects of temporary differences and carryforwards that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following as of December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Deferred tax assets (liabilities):
Net operating loss and credits
$ 32,098,000
$ 27,963,000
Stock compensation
3,026,000
2,837,000
Accrued liabilities
504,000
11,000
Fixed assets and intangibles
(2,231,000
)
(4,812,000
)
State taxes
11,000
1,000
Capitalized research and development costs
2,002,000
-
Total net deferred tax assets (liabilities)
35,410,000
26,000,000
Valuation allowance
(35,723,000
)
(26,518,000
)
Total net deferred tax assets (liabilities), net of valuation allowance
$ (313,000
)
$ (518,000
)
A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate and the effective income tax rate is as follows:
Statutory federal tax rate - (benefit) expense
%
%
State tax, net
-
Non-deductible permanent items
(15
)
(2
)
Change in tax rate
(1 )
Valuation allowance
(11
)
(6
)
-
%
%
For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded full valuation allowances against its domestic net deferred tax assets due to uncertainty regarding future realizability pursuant to guidance set forth in the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 740, Income Taxes. In future periods, if the Company determines it will more likely than not be able to realize these amounts, the applicable portion of the benefit from the release of the valuation allowance will generally be recognized in the statements of operations in the period the determination is made. The Company does not maintain a valuation allowance on the activity in the UK from its recent acquisition of Bannerfy Ltd due to the deferred tax liability position. Components of net loss before income tax attributable to foreign entities totaled $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, and was not material for the year ended December 31, 2021.
At December 31, 2022, the Company had U.S. federal, state income tax, and foreign net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $118.3 million, $104.9 million and $985,000, respectively, expiring through 2037. Utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards may be subject to a substantial annual limitation due to ownership change limitations that may have occurred or that could occur in the future, as required by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as well as similar state provisions. The Company has not completed a study to assess whether an ownership change has occurred or whether there have been multiple ownership changes since the Company’s formation due to the complexity and cost associated with such a study, and the fact that there may be additional such ownership changes in the future. Federal net operating loss carryforwards totaling approximately $94.1 million were generated in fiscal year 2018 or after, and therefore have no expiration date.
A provision enacted in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 related to the capitalization for tax purposes of research and experimental expenditures became effective January 1, 2022. This provision requires us to capitalize research and experimental expenditures and amortize them on the U.S. tax return over five or fifteen years, depending upon where the research is conducted. This provision did not have a material impact on our fiscal year 2022 effective tax rate on a net basis or our cash paid for taxes due to our net operating loss position.
10.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Operating Leases
As of December 31, 2022 we maintain approximately 3,200 square feet of office space, 1,650 square feet of which is on a month-to-month basis, and 1,550 square feet of which expires on August 1, 2023, at a combined rate of approximately $12,000 per month. The adoption of ASC 842, “Leases” (“ASC 842”), did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was approximately $168,000 and $111,000, respectively, and is included in general and administrative expense in the accompanying statements of operations. Rental payments are expensed in the statements of operations in the period to which they relate. Scheduled rent increases, if any, are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Related Party Transactions
In May 2018, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with a member of the Board of Directors, pursuant to which the board member provides the Company with strategic advice and planning services for which he receives a cash payment of $7,500 per month from the Company. The consulting agreement had an initial term ending December 31, 2019, and was extended for successive one-year periods upon mutual agreement of the board member and the Company through to fiscal year 2023. Total consulting expense under the agreement totaled $90,000 for each of the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
11.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company evaluated subsequent events for their potential impact on the consolidated financial statements and disclosures through the date the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued and determined that, except as set forth below, no subsequent events occurred that were reasonably expected to impact the consolidated financial statements presented herein.
On January 31, 2023, we entered into subscription agreements with accredited investors in connection with the sale of an aggregate of 2,299 shares of newly designated Series A-5 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, at a purchase price of $1,000 per share, raising net proceeds of $2,000,000, after deducting placement agent costs of $299,000. Refer to Note 7 for a description of the terms of the preferred stock issued.