First full quarter with AVOD business Crackle Plus drives record top line results

COS COB, Conn., Nov. 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE), a growing media company building advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) networks and a provider of video content for all screens, today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019.

Third Quarter 2019 Financial Highlights

• Total revenue of $17.0 million, compared to $6.6 million in the year-ago period
• Net loss of $13.3 million; with a net loss of $12.4 million before preferred dividends, compared to a net loss of $0.2 million in the year-ago period and a net income of $0.2 million before preferred dividends
• Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $0.4 million, compared to positive adjusted EBITDA of $3.4 million in the year-ago period
• Online networks, which includes Crackle, Popcornflix and Pivotshare, generated $14.4 million in revenue compared to $1.8 million in the year-ago period            

Recent Business Highlights

• Crackle Plus delivers solid results in first full quarter
• New Crackle original series, ‘Going From Broke’ drives unprecedented engagement
• Launched Landmark Studio Group in partnership with entertainment industry veteran David Ozer
• Foresight film library acquisition expands Screen Media library and enhances distribution capabilities

“Our record third quarter results show the early promise of our transformation of our company into a leading AVOD network operator,” said William J. Rouhana Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. “Crackle Plus is performing as expected, and our new original series ‘Going From Broke’ provides initial evidence of our growing network reach and engagement potential. We are also reinventing our distribution and production business to support our networks under a capital-light model focused on innovative studio launches, library content acquisitions and sponsor-funded original productions. We already see significant positive business momentum in the fourth quarter, where we expect to see a combination of all our primary strategic pieces in place for the first time, setting the stage for potentially significant growth in 2020.”
             
Gross profit for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 was $3.2 million, or 19% of net revenue, compared to $4.0 million, or 62% of net revenue for the year-ago period. The reduction in the percentage of gross profit was a result of an increase in online networks revenue which has a lower gross profit percentage.  

Operating loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 was $9.6 million compared to an operating income of $0.9 million for the year-ago period. The quarterly operating loss reflects certain non-cash or one-time expenses including $4.7 million in non-cash amortization, $1.6 million of transitional expenses related to the Crackle Plus joint venture, and $1.2 million in film library amortization. If such expenses were excluded from SG&A or cost of revenue, the company would have reported a quarterly operating loss of $2.1 million.  

Net loss was $13.3 million, or $1.11 per share, compared to a net loss of $0.2 million, or $0.02 per share in the prior-year third quarter. Excluding preferred dividends, the net loss in the third quarter of 2019 would have been $12.4 million, or approximately $1.03 per share, compared to net income of $0.2 million, or $0.02 per share last year.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 was a loss of $0.4 million, compared to $3.4 million in the same period last year.

As of September 30, 2019, the company had $6.2 million of cash and cash equivalents compared to $7.2 million as of December 31, 2018, and outstanding debt of $16.0 million as of September 30, 2019 compared to $7.9 million as of December 31, 2018.

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 and Pro Forma 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.

Conference Call Information

• Date, Time: Thursday, November 14, 2019, 4:30 p.m. ET.
• Toll-free: (833) 832-5128
• International: (484) 747-6583
• Conference ID: 4392318
• A live webcast is available at http://ir.cssentertainment.com/ under the “News & Events” tab

Conference Call Replay Information

• Toll-free: (855) 859-2056
• International: (404) 537-3406
• Reference ID: 4392318

ABOUT CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ENTERTAINMENT
Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (Nadsaq: CSSE) is a growing media company building and acquiring streaming video-on-demand networks (VOD) that provide content for all screens. The company owns a majority stake in Crackle Plus, a joint venture with Sony Pictures Television, which owns and operates a variety of ad-supported and subscription-based VOD networks including Crackle, Popcornflix, Popcornflix Kids, Truli, Pivotshare, Españolflix and FrightPix. The company also acquires and distributes video content through its Screen Media subsidiary and produces long and short-form original content through Landmark Studio Group, its Chicken Soup for the Soul Originals division and through APlus.com. 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
The company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). It uses a non-GAAP financial measure to evaluate its results of operations and as a supplemental indicator of operating performance. The non-GAAP financial measure that is used 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. Management believes this non-GAAP financial measure enhances the understanding of the company’s historical and current financial results and enables the board of directors and management to analyze and evaluate financial and strategic planning decisions that will directly affect operating decisions and investments. The presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that future results will be unaffected by unusual 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, the company’s actual operating results included in its condensed consolidated financial statements.

“Adjusted EBITDA” means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and non-cash share-based compensation expense, and also includes the gain on bargain purchase of subsidiary and adjustments for other identified charges such as costs incurred to form the company and to prepare for the offering of its Class A common stock to the public, prior to its IPO. Identified charges also include the cost of maintaining a board of directors prior to being a publicly traded company. As the IPO has been completed, director fees will be deducted from Adjusted EBITDA going forward. Adjusted EBITDA is not an earnings measure recognized by 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. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA to be a meaningful indicator of the company’s performance that provides useful information to investors regarding its financial condition and results of operations. The most comparable GAAP measure is operating income.

A reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA is provided in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Reconciliation of Unaudited Historical Results to Adjusted EBITDA.”

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks (including those set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2019, as amended April 30, 2019 and June 4, 2019) and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. The company expressly disclaims any obligations 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. Investors should realize that if our underlying assumptions for the projections contained herein prove inaccurate or that known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from our expectations and projections.

INVESTOR RELATIONS	MEDIA CONTACT
Taylor Krafchik	Kate Barrette
Ellipsis	RooneyPartners LLC
CSSE@ellipsisir.com	kbarrette@rooneyco.com
646-776-0886	(212) 223-0561

Tables Follow

 

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

		September 30,				December 31,
		2019				2018
		(unaudited)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		$	6,194,964			$	6,451,758
Restricted cash			—				750,000
Accounts receivable, net			27,731,931				12,841,099
Prepaid expenses			1,117,969				218,736
Inventory, net			291,917				262,068
Goodwill			17,466,681				2,537,079
Indefinite lived intangible assets			12,163,943				12,163,943
Intangible assets, net			47,081,028				2,971,637
Film library, net			31,997,384				25,338,502
Due from affiliated companies			7,010,065				1,213,436
Programming costs, net			13,961,506				12,790,489
Program rights			826,567				—
Deferred tax asset			—				452,000
Other assets, net			316,878				356,221
Total assets		$	166,160,833			$	78,346,968
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current maturities of commercial loan		$	3,200,000			$	1,000,000
Commercial loan and revolving line of credit, net of unamortized deferred finance cost of $188,803 and $334,554, respectively			12,611,197				6,582,113
Accounts payable and accrued expenses			19,792,234				5,078,805
Ad Representation fees payable			8,421,104				—
Film library acquisition obligations			5,735,100				2,715,600
Programming Obligations			6,005,154				—
Accrued participation costs			1,308,575				1,539,139
Other liabilities			5,142,105				414,506
Deferred revenue			—				6,469
Total liabilities			62,215,469				17,336,632
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
Equity
Stockholder's Equity:
Series A cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred stock, $.0001 par value, liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized; 1,599,002 and 918,497 shares issued and outstanding, respectively, redemption value of $39,975,050 and $22,962,425, respectively			160				92
Class A common stock, $.0001 par value, 70,000,000 shares authorized; 4,259,920 and 4,227,740 shares issued, 4,185,685 and 4,153,505 shares outstanding, respectively			425				421
Class B common stock, $.0001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; 7,813,938 and 7,817,238 shares issued and outstanding, respectively			782				782
Additional paid-in capital			88,077,143				59,360,583
Retained (deficit) earnings			(20,335,402	)			2,281,187
Class A common stock held in treasury, at cost (74,235 shares)			(632,729	)			(632,729	)
Total stockholders’ equity			67,110,379				61,010,336
Subsidiary convertible preferred stock (Note 17)			36,350,000				—
Noncontrolling interests (Note 17)			484,985				—
Total Equity			103,945,364				61,010,336
Total liabilities and equity		$	166,160,833			$	78,346,968

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2019				2018*				2019				2018*
Revenue:
Online networks		$	14,383,659			$	1,809,689			$	25,128,001			$	3,339,901
Television and film distribution			2,613,872				2,510,462				6,058,862				7,785,427
Television and short-form video production			48,557				2,283,933				596,252				4,720,094
Total revenue			17,046,088				6,604,084				31,783,115				15,845,422
Less: Television & film distribution returns and allowances			(255,394	)			(107,300	)			(828,785	)			(553,294	)
Net revenue			16,790,694				6,496,784				30,954,330				15,292,128
Cost of revenue			13,614,648				2,471,136				23,568,743				7,398,107
Gross profit			3,176,046				4,025,648				7,385,587				7,894,021
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative			6,371,870				2,324,632				13,894,351				7,467,654
Amortization			4,695,522				149,596				5,631,136				197,751
Management and license fees			1,676,303				647,603				3,091,093				1,512,687
Total operating expenses			12,743,695				3,121,831				22,616,580				9,178,092
Operating (loss) income			(9,567,649	)			903,817				(15,230,993	)			(1,284,071	)
Interest income			8,997				16,883				34,546				20,530
Interest expense			(195,881	)			(133,121	)			(483,363	)			(251,939	)
Loss on extinguishment of debt			(350,691	)			—				(350,691	)
Acquisition-related costs			(1,078,637	)			(182,832	)			(3,735,373	)			(228,132	)
(Loss) income before income taxes and preferred dividends			(11,183,861	)			604,747				(19,765,874	)			(1,743,612	)
Provision for income taxes			1,248,000				375,000				557,000				579,000
Net (loss) income before noncontrolling interests and preferred dividends			(12,431,861	)			229,747				(20,322,874	)			(2,322,612	)
Net (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests			(37,473	)			—				(36,960	)			—
Net (loss) income attributable to Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.			(12,394,388	)			229,747				(20,285,914	)			(2,322,612	)
Less: Preferred dividends			929,387				422,779				2,330,675				422,779
Net (loss) available to common stockholders		$	(13,323,775	)		$	(193,032	)		$	(22,616,589	)		$	(2,745,391	)
Net (loss) per common share:
Basic and diluted		$	(1.11	)		$	(0.02	)		$	(1.89	)		$	(0.23	)

---

* In accordance with ASC Subtopic 805‑50 "Transactions between entities under common control", results of operations for the 2018 period have been retrospectively adjusted for the acquisition of A Plus on December 28, 2018 to furnish comparative information as required. The effects of intra-entity transactions have been eliminated as a part of the consolidation, where applicable.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.

Adjusted EBITDA

		Three Months Ended September 30,
		2019				2018
Net loss available to common stockholders, as reported		$	(13,323,775	)		$	(193,032	)
Preferred dividends			929,387				422,779
Provision for income taxes			1,248,000				375,000
Other Taxes			54,590				—
Interest expense, net of interest income			186,884				116,238
Film library and program rights amortization, included in cost of revenue (non-cash)			1,369,874				1,033,983
Share-based compensation expense			303,205				243,592
Acquisition-related costs and other one-time consulting fees			1,078,637				527,832
Reserve for bad debt & video returns			722,729				574,355
Amortization			4,695,522				138,551
Loss on extinguishment on debt			350,691				—
Transitional Expenses (a)			1,634,771				—
All other nonrecurring costs			377,184				198,973
Adjusted EBITDA		$	(372,301	)		$	3,438,271

		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2019				2018
Net loss available to common stockholders, as reported		$	(22,616,589	)		$	(2,745,391	)
Preferred dividends			2,330,675				422,779
Provision for income taxes			557,000				579,000
Other Taxes			386,265				—
Interest expense, net of interest income			448,817				231,409
Film library and program rights amortization, included in cost of revenue (non-cash)			3,804,268				3,656,515
Share-based compensation expense			794,149				736,792
Acquisition-related costs and other one-time consulting fees			3,735,373				698,132
Reserve for bad debt & video returns			1,275,059				714,506
Amortization			5,631,136				197,751
Loss on extinguishment on debt			350,691				—
Transitional Expenses (a)			2,876,124				—
All other nonrecurring costs			564,239				296,251
Adjusted EBITDA		$	137,207			$	4,787,744

(a) Represents transitional acquisition related expenses primarily associated with the Crackle Plus business combination. Costs include primarily non recurring payroll and related expenses and redundant non recurring technology costs incurred to transition the acquired business.

 

 

 

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