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Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Reports Q3 2020 Results

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Strong performance across Online Networks and Distribution & Production businesses drives significant growth

COS COB, Conn., Nov. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE), one of the largest operators of streaming advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) networks, today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2020.

Third Quarter 2020 Financial Summary

  • Gross revenue of $20.0 million, compared to $13.9 million in the second quarter of 2020, and $17.0 million in the year-ago period.
  • Net loss of $13.0 million compared to a net loss of $10.0 million in the second quarter of 2020, and a net loss of $13.3 million in the year-ago period; $12.0 million net loss before preferred dividends, compared to $9.0 million net loss in the second quarter 2020, and $12.4 million net loss before preferred dividends in the year-ago period.
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $4.2 million, compared to $2.7 million in the second quarter 2020, and a loss of $0.4 million in the year-ago period.
  • Online Networks, which include Crackle and Popcornflix, revenue of $6.7 million compared to $5.4 million in the second quarter of 2020, and $14.4 million in the year-ago period. The year-over-year decline reflects approximately $6.2 million in advertising revenue in the year ago period from the since-shuttered Playstation Vue, and intercompany revenue share payments in the 2020 period of $1.3 million to our Distribution & Production business for the licensing of content from our sister company, Screen Media.
  • Distribution & Production revenue of $13.3 million compared to $8.5 million in the second quarter of 2020, and $2.7 million in the year-ago period due to strength in content licensing and TVOD revenue.

Recent Business Highlights

  • Continued to expand pipeline of Original & Exclusive content which represented 16% of average monthly streaming hours in the quarter, compared to just 2% a year ago.
  • Online Networks delivered steady viewership throughout the quarter and sequential growth in ad impressions. The latest Crackle original series, Spides, premiered on September 17th, and drove over one million streams in its first two weeks.
  • Distribution and Production generated strong performance driven by the #1 TVOD hit The Outpost as well as the company’s growing library of film and television content.
  • Today the company agreed to a 30-day extension of a key decision deadline, to December 14, 2020, as the Crackle Plus joint venture partners assess the possibility of closer collaboration.

“Our strong third quarter results demonstrate that we are continuing our momentum, despite the pandemic, and we are poised for a terrific end to 2020,” said William J. Rouhana Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. “Viewers are engaging with our differentiated and expanding Original and Exclusive content, and our Distribution and Production business generated an exceptional performance driven by one of the summer and fall’s most-watched films on VOD, The Outpost. We are now turning our focus to growing awareness of our Crackle Plus networks to scale viewership, while continuing to expand our stable of fully owned content, which will drive both future revenue opportunity and higher margins. We’ve also enhanced our balance sheet, working capital position and financial flexibility. We believe we are in an excellent position to drive greater levels of growth in 2021 as we capitalize on the robust opportunities ahead in the emerging AVOD landscape.”

Gross profit for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 was $4.5 million, or 23% of net revenue, compared to $0.6 million in the second quarter, or 4% of net revenue, and $3.2 million, or 19% of net revenue for the year-ago period. The change in the percentage of gross profit resulted in part from non-cash amortization of the film library in the company’s traditional distribution business, which is required by GAAP to be included in cost of revenue. Without this non-cash film library amortization expense, the gross profit would have been $12.5 million or 65% of total net revenue.

Operating loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 was $11.3 million compared to an operating loss of $13.1 million in the second quarter 2020, and $9.6 million in the year-ago period. Without this film library amortization expense and other depreciation and amortization, operating income would have been $1.3 million.

Net loss was $13.0 million, or $1.04 per share, compared to a net loss of $10.0 million, or $0.83 per share, in the second quarter 2020, and a net loss of $13.3 million, or $1.11 per share in the prior-year third quarter. Excluding preferred dividends, the net loss in the third quarter of 2020 would have been $12.0 million, or $0.96 per share, compared to net loss of $12.4 million, or $1.03 per share for the year-ago period.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 was $4.2 million, compared to $2.7 million in the second quarter 2020, and a loss of $0.4 million in the year-ago period.

As of September 30, 2020, the company had $9.2 million of cash and cash equivalents compared to $6.2 million at September 30, 2019, and outstanding debt of $34.8 million as of September 30, 2020 compared to $20.2 million as of September 30, 2019.

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 12, 2020, 4:30 p.m. ET.
  • Toll-free: (833) 832-5128
  • International: (484) 747-6583
  • Conference ID: 2772449
  • A live webcast and replay will be available at http://ir.cssentertainment.com/ under the “News & Events” tab

Conference Call Replay Information

  • Toll-free: (855) 859-2056
  • International: (404) 537-3406
  • Conference ID: 2772449

ABOUT CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ENTERTAINMENT
Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE) operates streaming video-on-demand networks (VOD). The company owns a majority stake in Crackle Plus, a company formed 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 original long and short-form content through Landmark Studio Group, its Chicken Soup for the Soul Originals division and 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 (including tangible and intangible assets), 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. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA to be a meaningful indicator of our performance that provides useful information to investors regarding our 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 interim report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income as reported 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 March 30, 2020) 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
Taylor Krafchik
Ellipsis
CSSE@ellipsisir.com
646-776-0886

MEDIA CONTACT
Kate Barrette
RooneyPartners LLC
kbarrette@rooneyco.com
(212) 223-0561

Tables Follow

        
Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
        
 September 30,  December 31, 
 2020 2019
 (unaudited)    
ASSETS       
Cash and cash equivalents$9,243,315  $6,447,402 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,777,744 and $1,531,247, respectively 24,772,024   34,661,119 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,985,503   1,173,223 
Goodwill 21,448,106   21,448,106 
Indefinite lived intangible assets 12,163,943   12,163,943 
Intangible assets, net 20,575,942   35,451,951 
Film library, net 36,878,196   33,250,149 
Due from affiliated companies 6,081,324   7,642,432 
Programming costs and rights, net 20,702,405   15,113,574 
Other assets, net 4,794,239   313,585 
Total assets$159,644,997  $167,665,484 
        
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY       
Current maturities of commercial loan$  $3,200,000 
Commercial loan, net of unamortized deferred finance costs of $0 and $189,525, respectively    11,810,475 
9.50% Notes due 2025, net of unamortized deferred finance costs of $1,059,401 and $0, respectively 21,040,599    
Notes payable under revolving credit facility 2,500,000   5,000,000 
Film acquisition advance 10,210,000    
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 25,923,748   26,646,390 
Ad representation fees payable 3,021,520   12,429,838 
Film library acquisition obligations 10,609,186   5,020,600 
Programming obligations 6,416,012   7,300,861 
Accrued participation costs 12,894,099   5,066,512 
Other liabilities 1,777,548   170,106 
Total liabilities 94,392,712   76,644,782 
Commitments and contingencies       
        
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; 1,732,139 and 1,599,002 shares issued and outstanding, respectively; redemption value of $43,303,475 and $39,975,050, respectively 173   160 
Class A common stock, $.0001 par value, 70,000,000 shares authorized; 4,919,195 and 4,259,920 shares issued, 4,844,960 and 4,185,685 shares outstanding, respectively 492   425 
Class B common stock, $.0001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; 7,813,938 shares issued and outstanding 782   782 
Additional paid-in capital 96,498,618   87,610,030 
Deficit (67,182,836)  (32,695,629)
Class A common stock held in treasury, at cost (74,235 shares) (632,729)   (632,729)
Total stockholders’ equity 28,684,500   54,283,039 
Subsidiary convertible preferred stock 36,350,000   36,350,000 
Noncontrolling interests 217,785   387,663 
Total equity 65,252,285   91,020,702 
Total liabilities and equity$159,644,997  $167,665,484 
        

 

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited)
                
 Three Months Ended September 30, 
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2020 2019 2020 2019
Revenue:               
Online networks$6,652,562  $14,383,659  $21,038,965  $25,128,001 
Distribution and Production 13,318,050   2,662,429   26,948,795   6,655,114 
Total revenue 19,970,612   17,046,088   47,987,760   31,783,115 
Less: returns and allowances (608,861)  (255,394)  (1,861,396)  (828,785)
Net revenue 19,361,751   16,790,694   46,126,364   30,954,330 
Cost of revenue 14,840,851   13,614,648   37,684,786   23,568,743 
Gross profit 4,520,900   3,176,046   8,441,578   7,385,587 
Operating expenses:               
Selling, general and administrative 9,301,550   6,371,870   23,194,223   13,894,351 
Amortization and depreciation 4,576,742   4,695,522   15,022,885   5,631,136 
Management and license fees 1,936,175   1,676,303   4,612,636   3,091,093 
Total operating expenses 15,814,467   12,743,695   42,829,744   22,616,580 
Operating loss (11,293,567)   (9,567,649)   (34,388,166)   (15,230,993)
Interest expense 659,803   195,881   1,322,831   483,363 
Loss on extinguishment of debt 169,219   350,691   169,219   350,691 
Acquisition-related costs    1,078,637   98,926   3,735,373 
Other non-operating income, net (43,445)   (8,997)   (4,381,292)   (34,546)
Loss before income taxes and preferred dividends (12,079,144)   (11,183,861)   (31,597,850)   (19,765,874)
Provision for income taxes 26,000   1,248,000   93,000   557,000 
Net loss before noncontrolling interests and preferred dividends (12,105,144)   (12,431,861)   (31,690,850)   (20,322,874)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (73,135)   (37,473)   (169,878)   (36,960)
Net loss attributable to Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (12,032,009)   (12,394,388)   (31,520,972)   (20,285,914)
Less: preferred dividends 1,017,691   929,387   2,966,235   2,330,675 
Net loss available to common stockholders$(13,049,700)  $(13,323,775)  $(34,487,207)  $(22,616,589)
Net loss per common share:               
Basic and diluted$(1.04)  $(1.11)  $(2.83)  $(1.89)
                


Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.
Adjusted EBITDA
        
        
 Three Months Ended September 30,
 2020 2019
Net loss available to common stockholders$(13,049,700) $(13,323,775)
Preferred dividends 1,017,691   929,387 
Provision for income taxes 26,000   1,248,000 
Other taxes 97,466   54,590 
Interest expense 659,803   195,881 
Film library and program rights amortization 8,020,638   1,369,874 
Share-based compensation expense 346,773   303,205 
Acquisition-related costs    1,078,637 
Reserve for bad debt and video returns 1,538,449   722,729 
Amortization and depreciation 4,960,074   4,695,522 
Other non-operating income, net (43,445)  (8,997)
Loss on extinguishment on debt 169,219   350,691 
Transitional expenses    1,634,771 
All other nonrecurring costs 472,322   377,184 
Adjusted EBITDA$4,215,290  $(372,301)
        
        
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2020 2019
Net loss available to common stockholders$(34,487,207) $(22,616,589)
Preferred dividends 2,966,235   2,330,675 
Provision for income taxes 93,000   557,000 
Other Taxes 202,117   386,265 
Interest expense 1,322,831   483,363 
Film library and program rights amortization 16,922,753   3,804,268 
Share-based compensation expense 820,881   794,149 
Acquisition-related costs 98,926   3,735,373 
Reserve for bad debt & video returns 4,072,785   1,241,243 
Amortization and depreciation 15,661,774   5,631,136 
Other non-operating income, net (4,381,292)  (34,546)
Loss on extinguishment on debt 169,219   350,691 
Transitional expenses 4,353,345   2,876,124 
All other nonrecurring costs 1,128,662   564,240 
Adjusted EBITDA$8,944,029  $103,392 
        

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Inc

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chicken soup for the soul entertainment’s mission is to bring out the best of the human spirit by curating and sharing entertaining video stories of hope, comfort and positivity. as a next-generation media company, our goal is to expand our content offerings and distribution capabilities to new and emerging platforms so that we can bring the inspiring and uplifting chicken soup for the soul message to as many people as possible.