EX-99.1 2 tm2323771d1_ex99-1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Reports SECOND Quarter Earnings

 

Management to host a live webcast on August 14, 2023, at 4:30 pm ET

 

Board of Directors to create a Strategic Review Committee to explore strategic options

 

COS COB, Conn, August 14, 2023 – Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE) – one of the largest providers of premium content to value-conscious consumers, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023.

 

“August 11 marked the first anniversary of our Redbox acquisition. It’s been an incredible year integrating two companies to create one of the largest providers of premium entertainment to value-conscious consumers,” said William J. Rouhana, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. “It’s worth noting the massive changes that have happened in the media space and the broader economy over the past 12 months that are affecting all of us in this space. Despite these seismic changes, we have been able to streamline our business to drive cash flow. Additionally, given an increased level of strategic opportunities, we will be forming a strategic review committee of our board of directors to consider the various ways to unlock maximum shareholder value.”

 

Second Quarter 2023 Financial Summary

 

 ·Net revenue of $79.9 million, compared with net revenue of $37.6 million in the year-ago period
 ·Net loss of $43.7 million, compared with a net loss of $20.8 million in the year-ago period; $40.5 million net loss before income taxes and preferred dividends, compared with $18.5 million net loss in the year-ago period
 ·Adjusted EBITDA of $0.7 million, compared with Adjusted EBITDA of $5.6 million in the year-ago period

 

Recent Business Highlights

 

 ·Saw record-breaking performance at kiosks and TVOD driven by The Super Mario Bros. Movie, including becoming the top movie rental in 2023, the most rented movie in its first week since Top Gun: Maverick, and the most first-week rentals for a family film since The Croods: A New Age. The film also broke week one TVOD revenue records, and its Premium VOD/EST debut surpassed the previous record held by Avatar: The Way of Water

 

 

 

 

 ·Crackle Connex signed a deal with TikTok to provide content from its platform to over 3,000 kiosk digital video screens, allowing brands to leverage Redbox’s digital-out-of-home network
 ·Began the rollout of the previously announced 1,500 kiosk expansion program with key retail partner Dollar General
 ·Crackle Connex signed a deal with Coinstar’s adPlanet Retail Media Group and Velocity MSC to bring its reach of digital-out-of-home video screens to over 10,000
 ·Signed FAST deals with AMC Networks, Fremantle, Revry, and Love Stories TV bringing on channels including The Walking Dead, Portlandia, Supermarket Sweep, and The Jamie Oliver Channel
 ·Locomotive Global’s Rana Naidu was named a top 10 globally streamed series on Netflix by Parrot Analytics; Locomotive Global also recently signed deals with All3Media, Endemol Shine, and Applause Entertainment
 ·Premiered At Home with Genevieve on Crackle, presented by PetSmart through a branded partnership agreement with Crackle Connex
 ·Redbox launched its Christmas and Holiday FAST channel on the Redbox free streaming app, the Roku channel, and LG FAST
 ·Launched the Chicken Soup for the Soul FAST channel on the Philo streaming TV service which can be accessed through numerous devices, including Roku, Samsung TVs, and Amazon Fire TV

 

For a discussion of the financial measures presented herein which are not calculated or presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), see “Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below and the schedules to this press release for additional information and reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures.

 

The company presents non-GAAP measures such as Adjusted EBITDA to assist in an analysis of its business. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered an alternative to GAAP measures as an indicator of the company's operating performance.

 

For further information on the matters discussed in this release, please see our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about August 14, 2023.

 

Conference Call Information

 

 ·Date & Time: Monday, August 14, 2023, 4:30 p.m. ET
 ·To access a dial-in number, the company encourages participants to register in advance by visiting the following pre-registration link here
 ·Please note that a dial-in option is not available without registering at the provided link.
 ·A live webcast of the event will also be available in the “Event Calendar” section under the “News & Events” tab of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment investor relations website at http://ir.cssentertainment.com

 

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Conference Call Replay Information

 

·A webcast replay will be made available at http://ir.cssentertainment.com/ in the “Event Calendar” section under the “News & Events” tab following the completion of the call

 

About Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment

 

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (Nasdaq: CSSE) provides premium content to value-conscious consumers. The company is one of the largest advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) companies in the US, with three flagship AVOD streaming services: Redbox, Crackle, and Chicken Soup for the Soul. In addition, the company operates Redbox Free Live TV, a free ad-supported streaming television service (FAST), with nearly 180 FAST channels as well as a transaction video on demand (TVOD) service, and a network of approximately 29,000 kiosks across the US for DVD rentals. To provide original and exclusive content to its viewers, the company creates, acquires, and distributes films and TV series through its Screen Media and Chicken Soup for the Soul TV Group subsidiaries. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment is a subsidiary of Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC, which publishes the famous book series and produces super-premium pet food under the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand name.

 

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). We use a non-GAAP financial measure to evaluate our results of operations and as a supplemental indicator of our operating performance. The non-GAAP financial measure that we use is Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) is considered a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by Regulation G promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Due to the significance of non-cash and non-recurring expenses recognized during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, and the likelihood of material non-cash, non-recurring, and acquisition related expenses to occur in future periods, we believe that this non-GAAP financial measure enhances the understanding of our historical and current financial results as well as provides investors with measures used by management for the planning and forecasting of future periods, as well as for measuring performance for compensation of executives and other members of management. Further, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA enables our board of directors and management to analyze and evaluate financial and strategic planning decisions that will directly affect operating decisions and investments. We believe this measure is an important indicator of our operational strength and performance of our business because it provides a link between operational performance and operating income. It is also a primary measure used by management in evaluating companies as potential acquisition targets. We believe the presentation of this measure is relevant and useful for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by management. We believe it helps improve investors’ ability to understand our operating performance and makes it easier to compare our results with other companies that have different capital structures or tax rates. In addition, we believe this measure is also among the primary measures used externally by our investors, analysts and peers in our industry for purposes of valuation and comparing our operating performance to other companies in our industry.

 

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The presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual, infrequent or non-recurring items or by non-cash items. This non-GAAP financial measure should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, our actual operating results included in our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

We define Adjusted EBITDA as consolidated operating income (loss) adjusted to exclude interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization (including tangible and intangible assets), film library amortization and related costs (film library amortization, film library revenue shares and participation costs, theatrical release costs) as well as amortization for certain program rights, acquisition-related costs, consulting fees related to acquisitions, dividend payments, non-cash share-based compensation expense, and adjustments for other unusual and infrequent in nature identified charges, including transition related expenses. Adjusted EBITDA is not an earnings measure recognized by U.S. GAAP and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP; accordingly, Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. We believe Adjusted EBITDA to be a meaningful indicator of our performance that management uses and believes provides useful information to investors regarding our financial condition and results of operations. The most comparable GAAP measure is operating income (loss).

 

A reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA will be provided in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 filed on or about August 14, 2023, under the section thereof entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Reconciliation of Unaudited Historical Results to Adjusted EBITDA.”

 

Forward-Looking Statements and Available Information

 

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of management and are not predictions of actual performance. Such assumptions involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to risks relating to our core strategy, operating income and margin, seasonality, liquidity, including cash flows from operations, available funds, and access to financing sources, free cash flows, revenues, net income, profitability, stock price volatility, future regulatory changes, price changes, ability to achieve and sustain market acceptance of our content streaming services and other content offerings, ability to recruit and retain officers, key employees, or directors, ability to protect our intellectual property, ability to complete and integrate into our existing operations future strategic acquisitions, ability to manage growth, ability to pay dividends and our debt obligations, as well as evolving regulatory or other operational risks, and risks presented by changing general market conditions impacting demand for our services. For a more complete description of these and other risks and uncertainties, please refer to Item 1A (Risk Factors) in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023, as amended. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Information regarding the acquisition of Redbox and related transactions is qualified by reference to the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 11, 2022 as amended May 12, 2022, June 6, 2022, August 12, 2022, November 14, 2022 and thereafter from time to time, and all exhibits filed with respect to such reports. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

 

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Contact:

 

(INVESTOR RELATIONS)

Zaia Lawandow

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment

zlawandow@chickensoupforthesoul.com

 

(PRESS)

Peter Binazeski

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment

pbinazeski@chickensoupforthesoul.com

 

Tables Follow

 

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Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

   June 30,   December 31, 
   2023   2022 
ASSETS          
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash  $6,917,111   $18,738,395 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,872,302 and $1,277,597, respectively   159,316,288    113,963,425 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   9,044,398    13,196,180 
Operating lease right-of-use assets   14,549,978    16,315,342 
Content assets, net   109,708,725    126,090,508 
Intangible assets, net   290,025,906    305,425,709 
Goodwill   261,322,774    260,748,057 
Other assets, net   27,714,084    29,401,793 
Total assets  $878,599,264   $883,879,409 
           
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY          
Accounts payable  $65,156,863   $50,960,682 
Accrued expenses   93,694,320    87,817,015 
Due to affiliated companies   4,022,477    3,778,936 
Programming obligations   58,228,000    55,883,788 
Film library acquisition obligations   30,189,206    39,750,121 
Accrued participation costs   46,333,084    28,695,713 
Debt, net   511,902,350    479,653,611 
Contingent consideration   6,866,449    7,311,949 
Put option obligation   4,400,000    11,400,000 
Operating lease liabilities   16,127,975    18,079,469 
Other liabilities   22,868,837    20,800,186 
Total liabilities   859,789,561    804,131,470 
           
Equity          
Stockholders' Equity:          
Series A cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred stock, $.0001 par value, liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized; 5,556,605 and 4,496,345 shares issued and outstanding, respectively; redemption value of $138,915,125 and $112,408,625, respectively   555    450 
Class A common stock, $.0001 par value, 140,000,000 shares authorized; 26,003,391 and 15,621,562 shares issued, 23,581,089 and 13,198,720 shares outstanding, respectively   2,579    1,559 
Class B common stock, $.0001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; 7,654,506 shares issued and outstanding, respectively   766    766 
Additional paid-in capital   396,992,240    355,185,280 
Deficit   (350,061,978)   (247,752,446)
Accumulated other comprehensive income   (70,969)   47,528 
Class A common stock held in treasury, at cost (2,422,842 and 2,422,842 shares, respectively)   (28,165,913)   (28,165,913)
Total stockholders’ equity   18,697,280    79,317,224 
Noncontrolling interests   112,423    430,715 
Total equity   18,809,703    79,747,939 
Total liabilities and equity  $878,599,264   $883,879,409 

 

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Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

 

   Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2023   2022   2023   2022 
Net revenues  $79,910,063   $37,636,947   $189,509,356   $66,843,144 
Costs and expenses                    
Operating   65,285,767    31,596,524    161,592,135    54,171,932 
Selling, general and administrative   24,556,530    17,373,018    57,320,081    30,189,538 
Amortization and depreciation   10,995,085    1,680,443    22,178,802    3,328,701 
Management and license fees   4,926,349    3,763,695    12,778,490    6,684,315 
Total costs and expenses   105,763,731    54,413,680    253,869,508    94,374,486 
Operating loss   (25,853,668)   (16,776,733)   (64,360,152)   (27,531,342)
                     
Interest expense   17,901,099    2,022,770    34,567,358    3,333,229 
Other non-operating income, net   (1,370,495)   (279,405)   (2,065,185)   (481,197)
Loss before income taxes and preferred dividends   (42,384,272)   (18,520,098)   (96,862,325)   (30,383,374)
Income tax provision   (1,898,687)   14,000    (684,536)   34,000 
Net loss before noncontrolling interests and preferred dividends   (40,485,585)   (18,534,098)   (96,177,789)   (30,417,374)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests   (76,942)   (142,350)   (204,604)   (180,735)
Net loss attributable to Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.   (40,408,643)   (18,391,748)   (95,973,185)   (30,236,639)
Less: preferred dividends   3,323,756    2,391,442    6,336,347    4,673,511 
Net loss available to common stockholders  $(43,732,399)  $(20,783,190)  $(102,309,532)  $(34,910,150)
                     
Net loss per common share:                    
Basic and diluted  $(1.50)  $(1.39)  $(4.07)  $(2.30)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:                    
Basic and diluted   29,171,223    14,950,458    25,163,744    15,152,222 

 

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.

Adjusted EBITDA

(unaudited)

 

   Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2023   2022   2023   2022 
Net loss available to common stockholders  $(43,732,399)  $(20,783,190)  $(102,309,532)  $(34,910,150)
Preferred dividends   3,323,756    2,391,442    6,336,347    4,673,511 
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests   (76,942)   (142,350)   (204,604)   (103,965)
Income tax (benefit) provision   (1,898,687)   14,000    (684,536)   34,000 
Other Taxes   172,859    178,403    425,738    258,775 
Interest Expense   17,901,099    2,022,770    34,567,358    3,333,229 
Film Library & Program Amortization   10,782,476    14,666,992    51,658,019    24,354,016 
Stock-based Compensation   912,841    957,859    1,827,412    1,954,656 
Reserve for bad debt and video returns   658,363    692,295    1,816,066    1,274,129 
Amortization and depreciation   10,995,085    2,674,893    22,178,802    4,678,966 
Other non-operating income,net   (1,370,495)   (279,405)   (2,065,185)   (481,197)
Non-cash settlement of management and licensing fees   1,231,587    255,615    4,681,587    255,615 
Transitional expenses and other non-recurring costs   1,759,127    2,919,987    2,506,232    3,909,819 
Adjusted EBITDA  $658,670   $5,569,311   $20,733,704   $9,231,404 

 

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