Related Party Transactions |
9 Months Ended | ||
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Sep. 30, 2024 | |||
Related Party Transactions [Abstract] | |||
Related Party Transactions |
Principal Stockholder
Loan Documents – On January 5, 2024, as part of negotiations with Renew Group Private Limited (“Renew”), an affiliated entity of Simplify Inventions, LLC (“Simplify”), in connection with the Company’s failure on December 29, 2023 to make the interest payment due on the Loan Documents, dated December 15, 2022 held by Renew in the amount of $2,797, that resulted in an event of default under the Loan Documents, Renew agreed in writing to a forbearance period through March 29, 2024 (subsequently extended to September 30, 2024), that was originally subject to the Company retaining a chief restructuring officer acceptable to Renew, while reserving its rights and remedies. In connection with the forbearance, the Company had an engagement with FTI Consulting Inc., a global business advisory firm (“FTI”) from January 5, 2024 through April 26, 2024, to assist the Company with its turnaround plans and forge an expedited path to sustainable positive cash flow and earnings to create shareholder value (the “FTI Engagement”). In connection with the FTI Engagement, Jason Frankl, a senior managing director of FTI, was appointed as the Company’s Chief Business Transformation Officer. He was later appointed as the interim Co-President. Upon completion of their work under the FTI Engagement satisfactory to Renew and the Company, the FTI Engagement was terminated as of April 26, 2024 and Mr. Frankl resigned as Co-President and Chief Business Transformation Officer.
On July 12, 2024, as described above, the Company entered into Amendment No. 3, pursuant to which interest that was, or will be, due on December 31, 2023, March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024 will now be due on or before December 31, 2024, as well as the interest otherwise due on December 31, 2024. The deferral is contingent on, among other things, no events of default occurring under the Loan Documents during the deferral period. On November 6, 2024, the Company received a letter from Renew confirming the Company is not currently in default under the Loan Documents due to the cure of the default identified in the forbearance letter (see Note 20). The outstanding principal on the Loan Documents was $110,691 ($8,000 for the 2023 Notes and $102,691 for the Debt) as of September 30, 2024.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company had certain transactions with Renew, where it incurred interest expense totaling $2,827 and $8,423, respectively, under the Loan Documents, none of which was paid. As of September 30, 2024, the total balance due the related party under the Loan Documents was $11,220 as reflected within accrued expenses and other as accrued interest on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Simplify Loan Exchange for Common Stock – On August 19, 2024, in connection with the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, $15,000 of outstanding indebtedness under the March 13, 2024 Simplify Loan was exchanged for shares of the Company’s common stock.
Simplify Loan – For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company had certain transactions with Simplify, where it incurred interest expense totaling $189 and $552, respectively, under the Simplify Loan.
Simplify Revenue – For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recognized digital advertising revenue from transactions with Living Essentials, LLC (“Living Essentials”), an affiliate of Simplify, totaling $3,128 and $4,290, respectively. The outstanding accounts receivable due from Living Essentials was $3,465 as of September 30, 2024.
Common Stock Private Placement – As a result of the issuance of the Private Placement Shares to Simplify, Simplify owns approximately (subsequently increased to in connection with the Common Stock Purchase Agreement) of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, resulting in a change in control. As a result, Simplify has the ability to determine the outcome of any issue submitted to the Company’s stockholders for approval, including the election of directors. Prior to the consummation of the Private Placement, the Company’s public stockholders held a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock. The funds used by Simplify to purchase the Private Placement Shares came from the working capital of Simplify.
Business Combination – Effective August 19, 2024, the Business Combination Agreement, dated November 5, 2023, as amended (the “Business Combination Agreement”), among the Company, Simplify, Bridge Media Networks, LLC, New Arena Holdco, Inc., Energy Merger Sub I, LLC and Energy Merger Sub II, LLC was terminated by mutual agreement. The Company incurred no penalties as a result of the early termination of the Business Combination Agreement.
Former Principal Stockholder
Note Purchase Agreement – The Company had an outstanding obligation with BRF Finance Co., LLC (“BRF”), an affiliated entity of B. Riley Financial, Inc. (“B. Riley”), in its capacity as agent for the purchasers and as purchaser, pursuant to a third amended and restated note purchase agreement (the “Note Purchase Agreement”) entered into on December 15, 2022, that was further amended pursuant to a first amendment to the third amended and restated note purchase agreement on August 14, 2023 (the “First Amendment” as further described below), where it amended the second amended and restated note purchase agreement issued on January 23, 2022. The Note Purchase Agreement contains provisions related to the 2022 Bridge Notes, 2023 Notes, Senior Secured Notes, and Delayed Draw Term Notes, all as further described below and referred to together as the “Notes”. Under the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement and First Amendment, in the event there is a mandatory prepayment requirement (as further described below), the principal payment of the notes will be applied to: (1) the 2023 Notes until paid in full; (2) then to the 2022 Bridge Notes until paid in full; (3) then to the Delayed Draw Terms Notes until paid in full; and (4) then to the Senior Secured Notes. All borrowings under the Notes are collateralized by substantially all assets of the Company secured by liens and guaranteed by the Company’s subsidiaries. The Notes provide for a default interest rate equal to the rate of interest in effect at the time of default plus 4.0%, along with other provision for acceleration of the Notes under certain conditions. The Notes provided for certain affirmative covenants, including certain financial reporting obligations. On December 1, 2023, Renew purchased all of the notes held by B. Riley and assumed the role of agent under the Note Purchase Agreement, and also purchased all of the common stock held by B. Riley.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company paid in cash interest of $3,065 and $9,069 on the Notes, due to BRF.
Registered Direct Offering – On March 31, 2023, in connection with the registered direct offering, the Company entered into common stock purchase agreements for 3,915 in gross proceeds with B. Riley, at a price per share of $ per share. shares of the Company’s common stock for a total of $
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company had certain transactions with B. Riley, where it paid fees associated with the common stock public offering totaling $2,440.
Board Members
Registered Direct Offering – On March 31, 2023, in connection with the registered direct offering, the Company entered into common stock purchase agreements for 1,232 in gross proceeds with certain directors and affiliates, at a price of $ per share, as follows: (i) shares for $248 to H. Hunt Allred, a director, through certain trusts ( shares are directly beneficially owned by the Allred 2002 Trust - HHA and shares are directly beneficially owned by the by Allred 2002 Trust - NLA); (ii) shares for $759 to 180 Degree Capital Corp, a former beneficial holder of more than 5% of the Company’s common stock; (iii) shares for $100 to Daniel Shribman, a former director; (iv) shares for $100 to Ross Levinsohn, a former director and the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer; and (v) shares for $25 to Paul Edmonson, a former executive officer. shares of the Company’s common stock for a total of $ |