DIVIDEND POLICY
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and future earnings,
if any, to fund the development and growth of the business, and therefore, do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future. Any future determination related to our dividend policy will be made
at the discretion of our board of directors after considering our business prospects, results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements and availability, debt repayment obligations, capital expenditure needs, contractual restrictions,
covenants in the agreements governing current and future indebtedness, industry trends, the provisions of Delaware law affecting the payment of dividends and distributions to stockholders and any other factors or considerations the board of
directors deems relevant.
50
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
System1, Inc. (the Company, f/k/a/ Trebia Acquisition Corp. (Trebia or System1), is providing the following
unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information that presents the combination of the financial information of S1 Holdco, LLC (S1 Holdco) and its subsidiaries and Protected.net Group Limited (Protected UK) and
Trebia, adjusted to give effect to the consummation of the transactions pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Transaction and Combination Agreement (the Business Combination) on January 28, 2022 (Closing). The following
unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release
33-10786 Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information presents the pro forma effects of the following
transactions:
|
|
|
The acquisition of S1 Holdco and Protected UK by Trebia, resulting reorganization into an umbrella partnership C-corporation structure, and other agreements entered into as part of the Business Combination Agreement as of June 28, 2021 and amended on November 30, 2021, by and among Trebia, S1 Holdco, and Protected UK
(collectively, the Companies), the Blockers, the Blocker Merger Subs and the Company Merger Sub (the Business Combination); |
|
|
|
Repayment of the existing S1 Holdco debt and entering into a financing agreement. |
The organizational structure following the completion of the Business Combination, is commonly referred to as an umbrella partnership C corporation (or Up-C) structure. This organizational structure will allow the Flow-Through Sellers to retain equity ownership in S1 Holdco, an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, in the form of S1 Holdco Common Units. The Flow-Through Sellers may exchange S1 Holdco Common Units (together with the cancellation of an equal number of shares of voting, System1 Class C Common Stock) into System1 Class A Common
Stock. In addition, upon the completion of the Business Combination, Trebia, S1 Holdco, and the Flow-Through Sellers will be a party to a Tax Receivable Agreement. The Trebia Public Shareholders will continue to hold Trebia Class A Ordinary
Shares, which, upon consummation of the Business Combination, was renamed to System1, Inc., a Delaware corporation that is a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The parties agreed to structure the Business Combination in this
manner for tax and other business purposes, and we do not believe that our Up-C organizational structure will give rise to any significant business or strategic benefit or detriment.
On January 10, 2022, Trebia entered into the Amended and Restated Backstop Facility Agreement (the Cannae Backstop Agreement), for an aggregate
backstop commitment $250,000,000 by purchasing shares of Trebia Class A Common Stock for $10 a share.
Pursuant to the Business Combination
Agreement, certain members of management of S1 Holdco and Protected UK have agreed to reduce cash consideration and increase equity consideration in an amount equal to 50% of the Trebia Shareholder Redemption Value in excess of $417,500,000 (the
Seller Backstop), the Seller Backstop amount could not be less than $0 or greater than $50,000,000.
On January 10, 2022, Trebia entered into
the Amended and Restated Sponsor Agreement (the Sponsor Agreement) by and among BGPT Trebia LP (the BGPT Sponsor), Trasimene Trebia, LP (the Trasimene Sponsor and, together with the BGPT Sponsor, the
Sponsors), in order to provide that the Sponsors will forfeit up to (a) 1,275,510 Founder Shares to Trebia, and Trebia will issue to Cannae an equal number of shares of Trebia Class A Common Stock in connection with, and based upon
the extent of, Cannaes existing backstop obligations under the Original Backstop Agreement, (b) 1,000,000 Founder Shares to Trebia, and Trebia will issue to members of management of S1 Holdco and Protected UK an equal number of shares of
Trebia Class A Common Stock in connection with, and based upon the extent of, their backstop obligations under the Business Combination Agreement, and (c) an additional 1,352,941 Founder Shares to Trebia, and Trebia will issue to Cannae an
equal number of shares of Trebia Class A Common Stock in connection with, and based upon the extent of, Cannaes obligation with respect to Cannaes obligation, to the extent that the total Trebia Shareholder Redemption Value is in
excess of $417,500,000, to backstop up to 50% of the Trebia Shareholder Redemption Value in excess of $417,500,000.
51
On January 27, 2022 Trebia entered into a Credit and Guaranty Agreement (the Credit Agreement)
with Bank of America, N.A. (Bank of America) pursuant to which Trebia, as the borrower, a $400 million first lien term loan facility for net proceeds of $376 million (the New Term Loan) and a $50 million
revolving facility (the Revolving Facility and, together with the Term Facility, the New Facility). The Term Loan will mature five and one-half years after Closing and will amortize in
equal quarterly installments in an aggregate annual amount equal to 5% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan. The Revolving Facility will mature five years after the Closing. This new financing, along with the proceeds from the Business
Combination noted above, was utilized to pay off S1 Holdcos existing credit facility, fund redemptions of Trebia Class A Ordinary Shares, provide cash for working capital and pay transaction fees incurred with the Business Combination.
The pro forma financial statements are not necessarily indicative of what the combined companys balance sheet or statement of operations actually
would have been had the Business Combination been completed as of the dates indicated, nor do they purport to project the future financial position or operating results of the combined company. The actual financial position and results of operations
may differ significantly from the pro forma amounts reflected herein due to a variety of factors. The pro forma financial information is presented for illustrative purposes only and does not reflect the costs of any integration activities or cost
savings or synergies that may be achieved as a result of the Business Combination.
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as
of December 31, 2021 assumes that the Business Combination occurred on December 31, 2021. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 present the pro forma effect of the Business
Combination as if it has been completed on January 1, 2021.
The unaudited pro forma combined consolidated financial information was derived from and
should be read in conjunction with the following historical financial statements and the accompanying notes:
|
|
|
The historical audited financial statements of Trebia for the year ended December 31, 2021;
|
|
|
|
The historical audited consolidated financial statements of S1 Holdco for the year ended December 31, 2021; and
|
|
|
|
The historical audited consolidated financial statements of Protected UK for the year ended December 31, 2021.
|
Immediately following the consummation of the Business Combinations, the S1 Holdco and Protected UK sellers own approximately 68% of
the voting Common Stock of the Company. The following table summarizes the pro forma capitalization by shares outstanding at the Closing of the Business Combinations (whether Class C Common Stock or Class A Common Stock). At Closing, S1
Holdco sellers, hold non-economic Class A Common Stock, which possess voting rights and can be redeemed in the future for shares of Class A Common Stock. The percentages below represent pro forma
voting percentages held by each class of equity holder:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity Capitalization Summary |
|
Shares |
|
|
% |
|
Trebia Shareholders (1) |
|
|
703,108 |
|
|
|
1 |
% |
Founder Shares(2) |
|
|
6,574,486 |
|
|
|
6 |
% |
Seller Equity Consideration(3) |
|
|
72,328,135 |
|
|
|
68 |
% |
Cannae Backstops (4) |
|
|
27,181,771 |
|
|
|
25 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Outstanding Common Stock(5) |
|
|
106,787,500 |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
51,046,892 shares of the 51,750,000 outstanding shares of Trebia Class A Common Stock were redeemed in
connection with the Business Combination. |
(2) |
The Sponsors have agreed to forfeit up to 3,463,014 (in the aggregate) shares of Trebia Class B Common
Stock in connection with the equity backstop commitments by Cannae and S1 Holdco and Protected UK |
52
|
Management and Sponsor Agreement. BGPT Sponsor and Trasimene Sponsor have each also agreed to forfeit 1,450,000 shares of Trebia Class B Common Stock (the Class B
Forfeiture) (2,900,000 in the aggregate). |
(3) |
The S1 Holdco and Protected UK sellers will receive 72,328,135 shares of Trebia Class A and Class C
Ordinary Shares. This includes the impact of vesting of restricted stock units of 3,079,274. Additionally, this includes the Flow-Through Sellers noncontrolling economic interest in Common Units of S1 Holdco, LLC and issuance of voting, non-economic Class C Common Stock in Trebia of 22,077,423 which will be exchangeable (together with the cancellation of an equal number of shares of Class C common stock) into Class A common stock on
a 1-for-1 basis. |
(4) |
24,648,446 shares of Class A Ordinary Common Stock are issued to Cannae at $10.00 per share, pursuant to
the Cannae Backstop and Cannae Incremental Backstop Agreements. Cannae also received an additional 2,533,324 of the Founders Forfeiture shares. |
(5) |
Excluded from outstanding common stock is the dilutive impact of 17,250,000 Public Warrants and 8,233,334
Private Placement Warrants exercisable at $11.50 per share, as well as, 725,000 shares of System1 Class D Common Stock to the Sponsors, and 725,000 RSUs subject to a market vesting condition, which have not been met. |
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements were prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation
S-X and the acquisition method of accounting under the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 805, (ASC 805) on the basis of System1 as the accounting acquirer and
S1 Holdco and Protected UK as the accounting acquirees. For accounting purposes, the acquirer is the entity that has obtained control of another entity and, thus, consummated a business combination. The determination of whether control has been
obtained begins with the evaluation of whether control should be evaluated based on the variable interest or voting interest model pursuant to ASC Topic 810, Consolidation (ASC 810). If the acquiree is a variable interest entity
(VIE), the primary beneficiary would be the accounting acquirer. S1 Holdco meets the definition of a VIE and System1 has been determined to be the primary beneficiary:
|
|
|
System1, Inc. will be the sole managing member of S1 Holdco, and the managing member has full and complete charge
of all affairs of S1 Holdco and the existing non-managing members of S1 Holdco do not have substantive kick-out or substantive participating rights.
|
|
|
|
System1, Inc. acquires all of the outstanding stock of Protected UK in exchange for cash and equity
consideration. |
|
|
|
No single party will have the ability to nominate a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of System1,
Inc. |
|
|
|
No individual legal entity or shareholder controlled S1 Holdco and Protected UK before the Business Combination.
|
|
|
|
No individual legal entity or shareholder will control System1, Inc. following the Business Combination.
|
The factors discussed above support the conclusion that System1, Inc. will acquire a controlling interest in S1 Holdco and Protected
UK. System1, Inc. will be the primary beneficiary of S1 Holdco which is a variable interest entity. Therefore, the Business Combination will be accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method of accounting, the
purchase price will be allocated to the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, based on their estimated acquisition-date fair values.
53
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
Trebia |
|
|
S1 Holdco |
|
|
Protected UK as Adjusted (Note 1) |
|
|
Pro Forma Adjustments |
|
|
Notes |
|
|
Pro Forma Combined |
|
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
53 |
|
|
$ |
47,896 |
|
|
$ |
35,067 |
|
|
$ |
(36,854 |
) |
|
|
3 |
(a) |
|
$ |
46,162 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
743 |
|
|
|
1, 333 |
|
|
|
5,895 |
|
|
|
3 |
(a) |
|
|
7,971 |
|
Cash held in Trust |
|
|
517,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(517,500 |
) |
|
|
3 |
(b) |
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
90,203 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
90,203 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
67 |
|
|
|
7,689 |
|
|
|
562 |
|
|
|
(131 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,187 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets |
|
|
517,620 |
|
|
|
146,531 |
|
|
|
36,962 |
|
|
|
(548,590 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
152,523 |
|
Property and equipment - net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
830 |
|
|
|
616 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,446 |
|
Internal-use software development cost - net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,213 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,213 |
|
Intangible assets - net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,368 |
|
|
|
369 |
|
|
|
454,163 |
|
|
|
3 |
(c) |
|
|
504,900 |
|
Deferred tax assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,237 |
|
|
|
(17,237 |
) |
|
|
3 |
(k) |
|
|
|
|
Goodwill |
|
|
|
|
|
|
44,819 |
|
|
|
284 |
|
|
|
697,974 |
|
|
|
3 |
(c) |
|
|
743,077 |
|
Due from related parties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,469 |
|
|
|
33,082 |
|
|
|
(33,082 |
) |
|
|
3 |
(l) |
|
|
2,469 |
|
Other assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
298 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
298 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
517,620 |
|
|
$ |
256,528 |
|
|
$ |
88,550 |
|
|
$ |
553,228 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,415,926 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and stockholders equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
72,846 |
|
|
|
216 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
73,062 |
|
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
|
12,557 |
|
|
|
31,051 |
|
|
|
22,103 |
|
|
|
(9,788 |
) |
|
|
3 |
(d) |
|
|
55,923 |
|
Due to related party |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
(22 |
) |
|
|
3 |
(l) |
|
|
|
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,971 |
|
|
|
57,571 |
|
|
|
(37,456 |
) |
|
|
3 |
(e) |
|
|
22,086 |
|
Notes payable, current |
|
|
450 |
|
|
|
170,071 |
|
|
|
2,813 |
|
|
|
(152,884 |
) |
|
|
3 |
(f) |
|
|
20,450 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
13,007 |
|
|
|
275,939 |
|
|
|
82,725 |
|
|
|
(200,150 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
171,521 |
|
Tax receivable agreement liability |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
(g) |
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax liability |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,789 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
69,052 |
|
|
|
3 |
(k) |
|
|
76,841 |
|
Notes payable, noncurrent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,546 |
|
|
|
345,454 |
|
|
|
3 |
(f) |
|
|
356,000 |
|
Tax agreement receivable agreement liability |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
(g) |
|
|
|
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,201 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,201 |
) |
|
|
3 |
(h) |
|
|
|
|
Warrant liability |
|
|
29,306 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29,306 |
|
Deferred underwriting fee payable |
|
|
18,113 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(18,113 |
) |
|
|
3 |
(a) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
60,426 |
|
|
|
284,929 |
|
|
|
93,271 |
|
|
|
195,042 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
633,668 |
|
Class A Ordinary Shares subject to possible redemption, 51,750,000 shares at redemption value at
December 31, 2021 |
|
|
517,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(517,500 |
) |
|
|
3 |
(i) |
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred shares, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and
outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
(11 |
) |
|
|
3 |
(i) |
|
|
|
|
Class A Common Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
3 |
(i) |
|
|
9 |
|
Class B Common Stock |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
(12 |
) |
|
|
3 |
(i) |
|
|
|
|
Class C Common Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
3 |
(i) |
|
|
2 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,953 |
|
|
|
621,205 |
|
|
|
3 |
(i) |
|
|
662,158 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(60,307 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(45,696 |
) |
|
|
38,434 |
|
|
|
3 |
(i) |
|
|
(67,569 |
) |
Members deficit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(28,829 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,829 |
|
|
|
3 |
(i) |
|
|
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
428 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(428 |
) |
|
|
3 |
(i) |
|
|
|
|
Noncontrolling interest |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
187,658 |
|
|
|
3 |
(j) |
|
|
187,658 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total shareholders equity |
|
|
457,194 |
|
|
|
(28,401 |
) |
|
|
(4,721 |
) |
|
|
358,186 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
782,258 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
|
$ |
517,620 |
|
|
$ |
256,528 |
|
|
$ |
88,550 |
|
|
|
553,228 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,415,926 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
54
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
Trebia |
|
|
S1 Holdco |
|
|
Protected UK as Adjusted (Note 1) |
|
|
Pro Forma Adjustments |
|
|
Notes |
|
|
Pro Forma Combined |
|
Revenue |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
688,389 |
|
|
$ |
144,541 |
|
|
$ |
(37,456 |
) |
|
|
4 |
(a) |
|
$ |
795,474 |
|
Operating costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
521,113 |
|
|
|
96,364 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
617,477 |
|
Formation and operating costs |
|
|
13,327 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,327 |
|
Salaries, commissions, and benefits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
66,747 |
|
|
|
7,938 |
|
|
|
13,926 |
|
|
|
4 |
(b) |
|
|
88,611 |
|
Selling, general and administrative |
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,812 |
|
|
|
11,974 |
|
|
|
13,380 |
|
|
|
4 |
(c) |
|
|
61,166 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,885 |
|
|
|
245 |
|
|
|
62,232 |
|
|
|
4 |
(d) |
|
|
76,362 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating costs and expenses |
|
|
13,327 |
|
|
|
637,557 |
|
|
|
116,520 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
856,942 |
|
Operating Income (loss) |
|
|
(13,327 |
) |
|
|
50,832 |
|
|
|
28,021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(61,468 |
) |
Interest expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,870 |
|
|
|
583 |
|
|
|
8,653 |
|
|
|
4 |
(e) |
|
|
26,106 |
|
Related party interest income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(941 |
) |
|
|
941 |
|
|
|
4 |
(f) |
|
|
|
|
(Gain) on termination of FPA |
|
|
(3,160 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3,160 |
) |
(Gain) on change in fair value of warrant liability |
|
|
(23,700 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(23,700 |
) |
(Gain) on change in fair value of FPA liability |
|
|
(7,494 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7,494 |
) |
Other expense (income) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before income tax |
|
|
21,027 |
|
|
|
33,962 |
|
|
|
28,379 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(53,220 |
) |
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
965 |
|
|
|
(15,173 |
) |
|
|
(12,128 |
) |
|
|
4 |
(g) |
|
|
(26,336 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
|
|
21,027 |
|
|
|
32,997 |
|
|
|
43,552 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(26,885 |
) |
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8,377 |
) |
|
|
4 |
(h) |
|
|
(8,377 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest |
|
$ |
21,027 |
|
|
$ |
32,997 |
|
|
$ |
43,552 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(18,508 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per share (basic) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.23 |
) |
Earnings per share (diluted) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.23 |
) |
Weighted average shares outstanding (basic) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
82,233 |
|
Weighted average shares outstanding (diluted) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
82,233 |
|
1. |
Basis of pro forma presentation |
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X and assuming the Business Combination is accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting with System1 as the accounting acquirer. Under the acquisition method of accounting, the assets and liabilities
of S1 Holdco and Protected UK will be recorded at their fair values measured as of the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired, if applicable, will be recorded as goodwill. The
acquisition method of accounting is based on ASC 805 and uses the fair value concepts defined in ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements (ASC 820). In general, ASC 805 requires, among other things, that assets acquired, and
liabilities assumed be recognized at their fair values as of the acquisition date by System1, who was determined to be the accounting acquirer.
55
ASC 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair
value, and sets forth a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes and ranks the level of observability of inputs used to develop the fair value measurements. Fair value is defined in ASC 820 as the price that would be received to sell an asset or
paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. This is an exit price concept for the valuation of the asset or liability. In addition, market participants are assumed to be buyers
and sellers in the principal (or the most advantageous) market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements for a non-financial asset assume the highest and best use by these market participants. Many
of these fair value measurements can be highly subjective, and it is possible that other professionals applying reasonable judgment to the same facts and circumstances, could develop and support a range of alternative estimated amounts.
The unaudited condensed pro forma adjustments, which are described in the accompanying notes, may be revised as additional
information becomes available and is evaluated. Therefore, it is likely that the actual adjustments will differ from the pro forma adjustments and it is possible the difference may be material. System1 believes that its assumptions and methodologies
provide a reasonable basis for presenting all of the significant effects of the Business Combination based on information available to management at this time and that the pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions and are
properly applied in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
Accounting Policy Alignment
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared using S1 Holdcos significant
accounting policies as set forth in its audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Based on the procedures performed to date, the accounting policies of Trebia and Protected UK are materially consistent
with S1 Holdcos accounting policies.
Reclassifications
Certain historical consolidated balance sheet line items of Protected UK were reclassified in order to conform to S1
Holdcos historical financial statement presentation as follows (in thousands):
56
PROTECTED UKS CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION RECLASSIFICATIONS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2021 |
|
S1 Holdco Presentation |
|
Protected UK Presentation |
|
Protected Historical |
|
|
Reclassification Adjustment |
|
|
Notes |
|
|
Protected as Adjusted |
|
Assets |
|
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
Cash |
|
$ |
35,067 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
35,067 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
|
|
1,333 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,333 |
|
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
546 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
(i) |
|
|
|
562 |
|
|
|
Deposits |
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
(16 |
) |
|
|
(i) |
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets |
|
Total current assets |
|
|
36,962 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,962 |
|
Property and equipment, net |
|
Property, plant equipment |
|
|
616 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
616 |
|
Internal-use software |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Development cost, net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible assets, net |
|
Intangible Assets |
|
|
369 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
369 |
|
Deferred tax assets |
|
Deferred tax assets |
|
|
17,237 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,237 |
|
Goodwill |
|
goodwill |
|
|
284 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
284 |
|
Due from Related Party |
|
Due from related parties |
|
|
33,082 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,082 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
total assets |
|
$ |
88,550 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
88,550 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and members deficit |
|
Liabilities and Shareholders |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
Accounts payable |
|
|
216 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
216 |
|
Accrued expenses and other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities |
|
Accrued expenses |
|
|
10,162 |
|
|
|
11,941 |
|
|
|
(ii)(iii) |
|
|
|
22,103 |
|
|
|
VAT tax liability |
|
|
11,404 |
|
|
|
(11,404 |
) |
|
|
(ii) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
57,405 |
|
|
|
166 |
|
|
|
(iv) |
|
|
|
57,571 |
|
|
|
Related party deferred revenue |
|
|
166 |
|
|
|
(166 |
) |
|
|
(iv) |
|
|
|
|
|
Notes payable, current |
|
Current portion of note payable |
|
|
2,813 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,813 |
|
|
|
Due to related party |
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
Refund liability |
|
|
537 |
|
|
|
(537 |
) |
|
|
(iii) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
82,726 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
82,726 |
|
Notes payable, non-current |
|
Note payable, net of current |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portion and deferred financing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Costs |
|
|
10,546 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,546 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax liability |
|
Corporate Tax Liability |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
93,272 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
93,272 |
|
Members deficit: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A Preferred shares |
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
Class B Preferred shares |
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
40,953 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,953 |
|
|
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(45,697 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(45,697 |
) |
Members deficit in S1 Holdco |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Noncontrolling interest |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total members deficit |
|
Total Shareholders deficit |
|
|
(4,722 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,722 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Liabilities and Members Deficit |
|
Total Liabilities and Shareholders Deficit |
|
$ |
88,550 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
88,550 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(i) |
Deposits of $16 was reclassified to Prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
(ii) |
VAT tax liability of $11,404 was reclassified to Accrued expenses and other current
liabilities |
(iii) |
Refund liability of $537 was reclassified to Accrued expenses and other current
liabilities |
(iv) |
Related party deferred revenue of $166 was reclassified to Deferred Revenue
|
57
PROTECTED UKS CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS RECLASSIFICATIONS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
|
S1 Holdco Presentation |
|
Protected UK Presentation |
|
Protected Historical |
|
|
Reclassification Adjustment |
|
|
Notes |
|
Protected as Adjusted |
|
Revenue |
|
Revenue |
|
$ |
144,541 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
144,541 |
|
Operating costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues |
|
Cost of revenue |
|
|
98,946 |
|
|
$ |
(2,582 |
) |
|
(i) |
|
$ |
96,364 |
|
Gross profit |
|
Gross profit |
|
|
45,595 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
48,177 |
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries, commissions, and benefits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,938 |
|
|
(i)(ii) |
|
|
7,938 |
|
Selling, general, and administrative expenses |
|
General and administrative expense |
|
|
15,912 |
|
|
|
(3,938 |
) |
|
(ii)(iii) (iv)(v)(vi) |
|
|
11,974 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
245 |
|
|
(iii) |
|
|
245 |
|
|
|
Related party rent expense |
|
|
665 |
|
|
|
(665 |
) |
|
(iv) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating costs and expenses |
|
Total operating expenses Other Operating (Income) Expense |
|
|
16,577 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,157 |
|
|
|
Total other Operating (Income) Expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign currency transaction (gain)/loss |
|
|
1,341 |
|
|
|
(1,341 |
) |
|
(v) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other operating income |
|
|
(343 |
) |
|
|
343 |
|
|
(vi) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other operating expense, net |
|
|
998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss) |
|
Operating income |
|
|
28,021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,021 |
|
Interest expense |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
583 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
583 |
|
|
|
Related-party interest income |
|
|
(941 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(941 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total non-operating income |
|
|
(358 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(358 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations before income tax |
|
Income before income taxes |
|
|
28,379 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,379 |
|
Income tax expense |
|
Income tax expense |
|
|
(15,173 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(15,173 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
Net income |
|
$ |
43,552 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
43,552 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(i) |
Salaries, commissions, and benefits of $2,582 was reclassified from Cost of revenues to
Salaries, commissions, and benefits |
(ii) |
Salaries, commissions, and benefits of $5,356 was reclassified from General and administrative
expenses to Salaries, commissions, and benefits |
(iii) |
Depreciation and amortization expense of $245 was reclassified from General, and administrative to
Depreciation and amortization |
(iv) |
Related party rent expense of $665 was reclassified to Selling, general, and administrative
|
(v) |
Foreign currency and transaction loss (gain) of $1,341 was reclassified to Selling, general, and
administrative |
(vi) |
Other operating income of $343 was reclassified to Selling, general, and administrative
|
58
2. |
Description of the Business Combination |
Preliminary Purchase Price Accounting
The pro forma adjustments to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2021 are
preliminary. The adjustment amounts are estimates of the fair value and useful lives of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of December 31, 2021. These adjustments have been prepared to illustrate the estimated effect of the Transaction.
The allocation is dependent upon certain valuation and other studies that have not yet been completed. Accordingly, the preliminary purchase price allocation and related adjustments reflected are subject to further adjustment as additional
information becomes available and as additional analyses and final valuations are completed.
The following table
summarizes the preliminary allocation of the purchase consideration to the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed of S1 Holdco and Protected UK:
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase Price Allocation (in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
Fair value of equity consideration |
|
$ |
400,957 |
|
Cash consideration |
|
|
439,686 |
|
Cash paid to extinguish S1 Holdco outstanding credit facility |
|
|
175,538 |
|
Fair value of replacement awards attributable to
pre-combination service |
|
|
7,695 |
|
Acquisition costs paid on behalf of S1 Holdco |
|
|
19,875 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total consideration |
|
$ |
1,043,752 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
82,965 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
2,076 |
|
Accounts receivable |
|
|
90,203 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
8,120 |
|
Property and equipment |
|
|
1,446 |
|
Internal-use software |
|
|
11,213 |
|
Intangible assets |
|
|
504,900 |
|
Goodwill |
|
|
743,076 |
|
Other assets |
|
|
2,767 |
|
Accounts payable |
|
|
(73,062 |
) |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
|
(43,367 |
) |
Deferred revenue |
|
|
(22,086 |
) |
Deferred tax liability |
|
|
(76,841 |
) |
Fair value of noncontrolling interest |
|
|
(187,658 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,043,752 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible Assets: The following describes identified intangible assets that met either the
separability criterion or the contractual-legal criterion described in ASC 805, and the anticipated valuation approach. The trademark and trade name intangible assets represent the trade names that S1 Holdco and Protected UK originated or acquired
that were estimated utilizing the relief-from-royalty method. The customer relationships intangible asset represents the existing customer relationships of S1 Holdco and Protected UK which were estimated by applying an excess earnings method. The
developed technology intangible asset represents technology acquired by S1 Holdco and Protected UK for the purpose of generating income for S1 Holdco and Protected UK, which was valued using a multi-period excess earnings method considering
technology migration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trademark |
|
|
15.0 |
|
|
$ |
235,400 |
|
Customer relationships |
|
|
8.4 |
|
|
|
88,500 |
|
Technology |
|
|
7.0 |
|
|
|
181,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
504,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
59
Goodwill: Approximately $743 million has been allocated to goodwill. Goodwill
represents the excess of the gross consideration transferred over the estimated fair value of the underlying net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired. Qualitative factors that contribute to the recognition of goodwill include certain
intangible assets that are not recognized as separate identifiable intangible assets. Goodwill represents future economic benefits arising from acquiring S1 Holdco and Protected UK primarily due to its strong market position and its assembled
workforce that are not individually identified and separately recognized as intangible assets. Goodwill will not generate amortization deductions for income tax purposes.
In accordance with ASC Topic 350, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, goodwill is not amortized, but instead will be tested
for impairment at least annually or more frequently if certain indicators are present. In the event management of the combined company determines that the value of goodwill has become impaired, an accounting charge for impairment during the quarter
in which the determination is made may be recognized.
3. |
Adjustments to Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet |
Explanations of the adjustments to the pro forma balance sheet are as follows:
|
(a) |
Below is a table to describe the cash sources and use of funds as it relates to the Business Combination:
|
Estimated Cash Sources and Uses (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
Sources |
|
|
|
|
Cash held in Trust(1) |
|
$ |
517,500 |
|
New Term Loan(2) |
|
|
376,000 |
|
Cannae Backstop Commitment(3) |
|
|
246,484 |
|
Uses |
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for redemptions(1) |
|
|
510,469 |
|
Cash consideration to Court Square Capital(4) |
|
|
250,362 |
|
Cash consideration to S1 Holdco and Protected UK(5) |
|
|
189,325 |
|
Cash held in escrow for replacement awards granted(6) |
|
|
5,895 |
|
Cash to payoff existing S1 Holdco debt(7) |
|
|
175,538 |
|
Transaction costs(8) |
|
|
45,249 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma adjustment to cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
(36,854 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
$517.5 million of cash held in trust by Trebia. 51,046,892 Public Shares were redeemed in connection with
the Business Combination for $510.5 million. |
|
(2) |
$376 million in net proceeds received from the $400 million New Term Loan obtained by Trebia under
the Credit Agreement. |
|
(3) |
Represents the cash proceeds of $246.5 million received under the Cannae Backstop and Incremental Backstop
Agreements. |
|
(4) |
Represents the cash proceeds of $250 million paid to blocker-seller Court Square Capital.
|
|
(5) |
Represents the cash proceeds paid to S1 Holdco and Protected UK sellers. |
|
(6) |
Represents unvested cash compensation held in trust account until employee service condition is completed.
|
|
(7) |
Represents the amount of existing S1 Holdco debt paid off at Closing. |
60
|
(8) |
Estimated transaction costs incurred by Trebia, S1 Holdco in connection with the Business Combination. The
table below details the nature of the transaction costs incurred: |
|
|
|
|
|
Transaction costs (in thousands) |
|
|
|
Deferred Underwriter fees paid by Trebia |
|
$ |
11,773 |
|
Acquisition costs incurred by S1 Holdco and Protected UK |
|
|
20,097 |
|
Acquisition costs incurred by Trebia |
|
|
13,380 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total transaction costs |
|
$ |
45,249 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(b) |
Reflects the reclassification of $517.5 million of cash and cash equivalents held in the Trust Account
that become available for transaction expenses, underwriting commission, redemption of Trebia Public Shares and the operating activities of Trebia following the business combination. |
(c) |
Represents the adjustment to the estimated preliminary purchase price allocation for the S1 Holdco business
resulting from the Business Combination. The preliminary calculation of total consideration and allocation of the purchase price to the fair value of S1 Holdcos assets acquired and liabilities assumed is presented below as if the Business
Combination was consummated on December 31, 2021. The Company has not completed the detailed valuations necessary to estimate the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed and, accordingly, the adjustments to record the
assets acquired and liabilities assumed at fair value reflect the best estimates of the Company based on the information currently available and are subject to change once additional analyses are completed. Potential differences may include, but are
not limited to, changes in allocation to intangible assets and change in fair value of property, plant, and equipment. |
|
|
|
|
|
Intangibles (in thousands) |
|
As of December 31, 2021 |
|
Remove carrying value of historical balance |
|
$ |
(50,737 |
) |
Record fair value of acquired intangibles |
|
|
504,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma adjustment |
|
$ |
454,163 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2021 |
|
Goodwill (in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
Remove carrying value of historical balance |
|
$ |
(45,103 |
) |
Goodwill recorded at acquisition |
|
|
743,077 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma adjustment |
|
$ |
697,974 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d) |
To record assumed liability for cash settled replacement awards attributable to
pre-combination service. The liability was determined as the fair value of the replaced awards multiplied by the ratio of the pre-combination employees service
period to the total service period. Additionally, to remove profit interest liability payable to the former CEO of S1 Holdco, which was settled in connection to the Business Combination. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2021 |
|
Assumed liability for replacement awards cash settled and attributable to precombination
service |
|
$ |
1,473 |
|
To remove historical CEO profit interest liability payable to the former CEO of S1 Holdco settled
in connection to the Business Combination |
|
|
(11,129 |
) |
Other current liabilities |
|
|
(132 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma adjustment |
|
$ |
(9,788 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
(e) |
Reflects a reduction in deferred revenues related to the estimated fair value of the acquired deferred revenue
related to the Business Combination. The adjustment is based on fair value estimates for deferred revenue, which was estimated utilizing an income approach based on the estimated costs to fulfill the liabilities assumed, plus normal profit margin.
The difference between the fair value of deferred revenue and historical carrying value results in a revenue reduction on a pro forma basis. |
61
|
|
|
|
|
To remove carrying value of deferred revenue |
|
$ |
(59,542 |
) |
To record fair value of deferred revenue liability assumed |
|
|
22,086 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma adjustment |
|
$ |
(37,456 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
(f) |
Represents adjustments to short-term and long-term debt due to the following inflows and outflows as a result
of the Business Combination. In connection with the Business Combination the outstanding debt of S1 Holdco and Protected UK will be paid off. The cash paid to settle the outstanding Protected UK debt will be a reduction of the cash consideration.
The following pro forma adjustments are to give effect to the settlement of the outstanding S1 Holdco and Protected UK debt and issuance of the new Term Loan under the Commitment Letter: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
Notes payable, current |
|
|
Notes payable, noncurrent |
|
|
Total |
|
Record New Credit Facility |
|
$ |
20,000 |
|
|
$ |
356,000 |
|
|
$ |
376,000 |
|
Repayment of S1 Holdco and Protected UK outstanding debt |
|
|
(172,844 |
) |
|
|
(10,546 |
) |
|
|
(183,430 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma adjustment |
|
$ |
(152,884 |
) |
|
$ |
345,454 |
|
|
$ |
192,570 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(g) |
The estimate of the fair value of the Tax Receivable Agreement contingent consideration is subject to
additional analyses. The adjustments to the Tax Receivable Agreement will be recorded as an adjustment to goodwill. Trebia anticipates that it will account for the income tax effects resulting from future taxable exchanges of Common Units by the
Flow-Through Sellers for shares of Class A common stock thereof by recognizing an increase in deferred tax assets, based on enacted tax rates at the date of each exchange. Based on actual redemption levels, the Company estimates the value of
the tax receivable agreement to be approximately $0 as of Closing. |
|
Further, Trebia intends to evaluate the likelihood that it will realize the benefit represented by the deferred
tax asset, and, to the extent that it estimates that it is more likely than not that Trebia will not realize the benefit, Trebia will reduce the carrying amount of the deferred tax asset with a valuation allowance. For the same reasons, the Company
will not record a liability related to the tax savings it would realize from the utilization of such deferred tax assets after concluding it will not be probable that such TRA liability would be paid based on its estimates of future taxable income.
|
(h) |
To adjust Other liabilities to remove deferred rent leased facilities of S1 Holdco. |
(i) |
The following table summarizes the pro forma adjustments impacting equity (amounts in thousands) as of December
31, 2021: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjustments to Historical Equity (1) |
|
|
New Equity Structure (2) |
|
|
Other Items (3) |
|
|
Total Pro Forma Adjustments |
|
Trebia Class A Common Stock |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
(517,500 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(517,500 |
) |
Protected UK Class A Preferred shares |
|
|
(11 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(11 |
) |
System1, Inc Class A Common Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
|
Protected UK and Trebia Class B Stock |
|
|
(12 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(12 |
) |
System1, Inc Class C Common Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
Additional paid in capital |
|
|
(40,953 |
) |
|
|
662,158 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
621,205 |
|
Accumulated Deficit |
|
|
45,696 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7,262 |
) |
|
|
38,434 |
|
S1 Holdco Member Deficit |
|
|
28,829 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,829 |
|
S1 Holdco Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
|
(428 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(428 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
33,121 |
|
|
|
144,669 |
|
|
|
(7,262 |
) |
|
|
170,528 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
To remove historical equity balances and retained earnings of S1 Holdco and Protected UK, as well as, the
conversion of Founder Shares, net of forfeiture, from Trebia Class B Common Stock to System1 Class A Common Stock. |
62
(2) |
Includes equity consideration payable under the Business Combination Agreement with a fair value of
$401 million, $246 million issued under the Cannae Backstop Agreement, Conversion Trebia Class Common Stock of $7 million, less $11 million allocated to par value of common stock, and plus $7.7 million related to Fair
value of replacement awards attributable to pre-combination service. |
(3) |
Represents a reduction to retained earnings for estimated acquisition costs incurred by Trebia of
$14 million, less the reduction of Trebia deferred underwriter costs of $7 million. |
|
(j) |
Represents the pro forma adjustment to record the Flow-Through Sellers noncontrolling interest in S1
Holdco Common Units of $188 million or approximately 22%. |
|
(k) |
Represents adjustments to reflect applicable deferred taxes. Refer to Note 2 for the purchase price allocation.
The deferred taxes are primarily related to the difference between the financial statement and tax basis in the System1 partnership interests, acquired tax attributes of the Blockers, and Protected. This basis difference primarily results from the
Business Combination where System1, Inc. recorded a fair market value basis on all assets for financial accounting purposes and a fair value step-up on a portion of the assets for income tax purposes. The
$76.8 million adjustment related to the deferred tax liability is assuming: (1) the U.S. GAAP balance sheet as of December 31, 2021 adjusted for the pro forma entries described herein, (2) estimated tax basis as of December 31, 2021
adjusted for the pro forma entries described herein, (3) a federal income tax rate of 21.0% and a blended state tax rate of 2.35%, and the applicable statutory tax rates in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates (4) no material
changes in tax law. |
|
(l) |
Represents amounts due from(to) related party loans that were settled as a result of the Business Combination.
|
4. |
Adjustments to Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations |
Explanations |
of the adjustments to the pro forma statement of operations are as follows: |
(a) Reflects a reduction in revenues related to the estimated fair value of the acquired deferred revenue related to the Business Combination.
The performance obligations associated with the assumed liability is expected to be satisfied within twelve months of the acquisition.
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues (in thousands) |
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
Revenues pro forma adjustment |
|
$ |
(37,456 |
) |
(b) To record expense related to the fair value of replacement awards attributable to post combination
service, partially offset by the elimination of S1 Holdco and Protected UK historical stock-based compensation expense.
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries, commissions, and benefits (in thousands) |
|
For the year ended December 31, 2021 |
|
Stock-based compensation related to the fair value replacement awards attributable to post
combination service |
|
$ |
14,339 |
|
Pro forma Adjustment |
|
|
(413 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
To remove historical stock-based compensation |
|
$ |
13,926 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(c) To record $13.4 million of transaction costs for the twelve months ending December 31, 2021.
63
(d) Represents adjustments to depreciation and amortization for intangible assets recorded
in connection with the Business Combination. This pro forma adjustment has been proposed assuming the Business Combination occurred on January 1, 2021. The following table is a summary of information related to certain intangible assets acquired,
including information used to calculate the pro forma change in amortization expenses that is adjusted to administrative expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted Average Useful Life (Years) |
|
|
Fair Value |
|
|
For the year ended December 31, 2021 |
|
Trademarks |
|
|
15 |
|
|
$ |
235,400 |
|
|
$ |
15,693 |
|
Customer relationships |
|
|
8.4 |
|
|
|
88,500 |
|
|
|
32,473 |
|
Technology |
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
181,000 |
|
|
|
27,641 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total pro forma amortization expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
504,900 |
|
|
|
75,807 |
|
To remove historical amortization expense of intangibles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(13,575 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma adjustment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
62,232 |
|
Amortization expense for trademarks intangible assets is computed on a straight-line basis, amortization for
customer relationship intangible assets is computed considering historical and estimated customer attrition, and amortization of developed technology intangible assets, is computed considering the estimate of platform migration to the developed
technology. Below is the pro forma amortization expense for intangible assets for each of the next five fiscal years:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2021 |
|
2022 |
|
$ |
72,963 |
|
2023 |
|
|
60,573 |
|
2024 |
|
|
50,962 |
|
2025 |
|
|
45,308 |
|
2026 |
|
|
37,790 |
|
Thereafter |
|
|
161,498 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
429,094 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(e) Represents estimated differences in interest expense resulting from the New Term Loan and extinguishing
historical S1 Holdco debt. The estimated annual effective interest rate of the New Term Loan is 7.05%.
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
For the year ended December 31, 2021 |
|
Record interest on the New Term Loan |
|
$ |
26,107 |
|
Eliminate historical interest expense |
|
|
(17,454 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma adjustment |
|
$ |
8,653 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(f) To remove interest income from Protected UK related party loan that will be settled as a result of the
Business Combination.
(g) Represents the income tax effect of the pro forma adjustments calculated using the enacted applicable statutory
income tax rates in the respective countries in which the company operates applied to the income or loss before income taxes applicable to the controlling interest. The effective tax rate of the combined company could be significantly different as
the legal entity structure and activities of the combined company are integrated.
(h) Represents the pro forma adjustment to record
earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest in S1 Holdco.
64
5. |
Pro Forma Earnings Per Share Information |
Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS
is computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock plus the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the year ended December 31, 2021 |
|
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest |
|
$ |
(18,508 |
) |
Weighted average shares outstanding, controlling (basic, shares in thousands) |
|
|
82,233 |
|
Weighted average shares outstanding, controlling (diluted, shares in thousands) |
|
|
82,233 |
|
Income (loss) per share (basic) |
|
$ |
(0.23 |
) |
Income (loss) per share (diluted) |
|
$ |
(0.23 |
) |
Earnings per share excludes from outstanding common stock the impacts of (i) 17,250,000 Trebia Public Warrants
and 8,233,334 Trebia Private Placement Warrants, which are out of the money (ii) 725,000 shares of System1 Class D Common Stock to the Sponsors, and 725,000 RSUs subject to a market vesting condition, which has not been met.
65
OPERATING METRICS AND
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
S1 Holdco
Operating Metrics. S1 Holdco uses total advertising spend, number of Owned & Operated sessions (O&O
sessions), number of Partner Network sessions (Network sessions), Owned & Operated cost-per-session (O&O
CPS), Owned & Operated revenue-per-session (O&O RPS) and Partner Network revenue-per-session (Network RPS) to track its operations. S1 Holdco defines total advertising spend as the amount of advertising that is spent by S1 Holdco to acquire traffic to its
websites. S1 Holdco defines O&O sessions as the total number of monetizable user visits to its Owned & Operated websites. S1 Holdco defines Network sessions as the number of monetizable user visits delivered by S1 Holdcos network
partners to RAMP. Monetizable visits exclude those visits identified by our advertising partners as spam, bot, or other invalid traffic. S1 Holdco defines CPS as advertising spend divided by O&O sessions. S1 Holdco includes these operating
measures because they are used by management to evaluate S1 Holdcos core operating performance and trends. Furthermore, these measures are used internally by S1 Holdco to measure the performance of its Responsive Acquisition Marketing Platform
(RAMP), specifically with respect to the volume and efficiency with which it can deploy advertising spend, acquire users to its sites, and the rate at which it monetizes customer traffic. In general, and given the recent and forecasted trends in
digital advertising, including both the shift in advertising budgets from traditional to online, as well as increased advertising demand in aggregate, S1 Holdco expects both CPS and RPS to increase over time as a result of increased advertising
dollars bidding on customer traffic. S1 Holdco closely tracks the variance between O&O RPS and O&O CPS to measure the effectiveness of RAMP as it increases advertising spend over time. S1 Holdco defines O&O RPS as O&O Revenue (see
Note 11 of the S1 Holdco LLC Financial Statements for more information on O&O revenue) divided by O&O sessions. S1 Holdco defines Network RPS as Partner Network revenue divided by Network sessions. The following table presents these
operating metrics for the periods indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
|
(in thousands except for ratios) |
|
Advertising spend |
|
$ |
509,599 |
|
|
$ |
327,489 |
|
|
$ |
260,935 |
|
O&O sessions |
|
|
3,366,783 |
|
|
|
2,821,726 |
|
|
|
2,992,923 |
|
Network sessions |
|
|
1,203,284 |
|
|
|
1,520,367 |
|
|
|
1,258,985 |
|
O&O CPS |
|
$ |
0.15 |
|
|
$ |
0.12 |
|
|
$ |
0.09 |
|
O&O RPS |
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
|
$ |
0.16 |
|
|
$ |
0.12 |
|
Network RPS |
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended |
|
|
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
|
September 30, 2021 |
|
|
June 30, 2021 |
|
|
March 31, 2021 |
|
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
|
September 30, 2020 |
|
|
June 30, 2020 |
|
|
March 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
(in thousands except for ratios) |
|
Advertising spend |
|
$ |
152,653 |
|
|
$ |
126,404 |
|
|
$ |
123,244 |
|
|
$ |
107,298 |
|
|
$ |
93,800 |
|
|
$ |
80,217 |
|
|
$ |
69,406 |
|
|
$ |
84,066 |
|
O&O sessions |
|
|
999,975 |
|
|
|
859,392 |
|
|
|
766,293 |
|
|
|
741,122 |
|
|
|
691,279 |
|
|
|
644,780 |
|
|
|
670,112 |
|
|
|
815,554 |
|
Network sessions |
|
|
286,291 |
|
|
|
278,460 |
|
|
|
312,406 |
|
|
|
326,127 |
|
|
|
318,930 |
|
|
|
323,878 |
|
|
|
484,653 |
|
|
|
392,906 |
|
O&O CPS |
|
$ |
0.15 |
|
|
$ |
0.15 |
|
|
$ |
0.16 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
|
$ |
0.12 |
|
|
$ |
0.10 |
|
|
$ |
0.10 |
|
O&O RPS |
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
|
$ |
0.21 |
|
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
|
$ |
0.18 |
|
|
$ |
0.17 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
Network RPS |
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
|
$ |
0.02 |
|
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
|
$ |
0.02 |
|
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
Non-GAAP Financial Measures. S1 Holdco also uses
Adjusted EBITDA. S1 Holdco believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful in evaluating our operating performance, as it is comparable to measures reported by our public competitors and is regularly used by analysts, institutional investors and other interested
parties in analyzing operating performance and prospects. Adjusted EBITDA are not intended to be a substitute for any
66
U.S. GAAP financial measure and, as calculated, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of performance of other companies in other industries or within the same industry.
S1 Holdco defines and calculates Adjusted EBITDA as net income from continuing operations before taxes, interest expense, depreciation and
amortization, other income/(loss), stock-based compensation and distributions to equity holders.
S1 Holdco includes Adjusted EBITDA
because it is used by management to evaluate S1 Holdcos core operating performance and trends and to make strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital and new investments. Furthermore, these measures are used internally by S1 Holdco
to measure its performance and are the primary metrics upon which employee compensation is based. Adjusted EBITDA exclude certain expenses that are required in accordance with U.S. GAAP because they are
non-cash (for example, in the case of depreciation and amortization, and stock-based compensation) or are not related to our underlying business performance (for example, in the case of interest income and
expense). There are limitations to non-GAAP financial measures because they exclude charges and credits that are required to be included in GAAP financial presentation. The items excluded from GAAP financial
measures, such as net income from continuing operations, to arrive at non-GAAP financial measures are significant components for understanding and assessing our financial performance. As a result, non-GAAP financial measures should be considered together with, and not as alternatives to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.
The table below presents our net income from continuing operations, the closest U.S. GAAP measure, reconciled to Adjusted EBITDA for the
periods presented:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
|
($ in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income from continuing operations |
|
$ |
32,996 |
|
|
$ |
16,364 |
|
|
$ |
24,249 |
|
Income tax expense |
|
|
965 |
|
|
|
1,907 |
|
|
|
702 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
16,870 |
|
|
|
24,351 |
|
|
|
26,033 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
13,885 |
|
|
|
13,832 |
|
|
|
11,244 |
|
Other expense(1) |
|
|
147
|
|
|
|
398
|
|
|
|
840
|
|
Stock-based compensation and distributions to
members(2) |
|
|
9,591 |
|
|
|
9,474 |
|
|
|
12,246 |
|
Terminated product lines(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
556
|
|
|
|
(1,139
|
)
|
Costs related to acquisitions/business combinations |
|
|
12,833 |
|
|
|
2,358 |
|
|
|
2,265 |
|
Acquisition earnout |
|
|
158 |
|
|
|
2,713 |
|
|
|
(73 |
) |
Severance costs |
|
|
615 |
|
|
|
1,080 |
|
|
|
472 |
|
Other costs, including restructuring |
|
|
206 |
|
|
|
396 |
|
|
|
87 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
$ |
88,266 |
|
|
$ |
73,429 |
|
|
$ |
76,926 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended |
|
|
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
|
September 30, 2021 |
|
|
June 30, 2021 |
|
|
March 31, 2021 |
|
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
|
September 30, 2020 |
|
|
June 30, 2020 |
|
|
March 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
($ in thousands) |
|
Net income from continuing operations |
|
$ |
3,113 |
|
|
$ |
11,368 |
|
|
$ |
11,772 |
|
|
$ |
6,743 |
|
|
$ |
6,952 |
|
|
$ |
3,892 |
|
|
$ |
(2,029 |
) |
|
$ |
7,549 |
|
Income tax expense |
|
|
262 |
|
|
|
475 |
|
|
|
77 |
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
|
1,527 |
|
|
|
198 |
|
|
|
(173 |
) |
|
|
355 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
4,162 |
|
|
|
4,185 |
|
|
|
4,237 |
|
|
|
4,286 |
|
|
|
5,781 |
|
|
|
5,741 |
|
|
|
6,332 |
|
|
|
6,497 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
3,625 |
|
|
|
3,458 |
|
|
|
3,113 |
|
|
|
3,689 |
|
|
|
3,082 |
|
|
|
3,331 |
|
|
|
3,889 |
|
|
|
3,530 |
|
Other income(1) . |
|
|
70 |
|
|
|
(25 |
) |
|
|
256 |
|
|
|
(154 |
) |
|
|
196 |
|
|
|
294 |
|
|
|
138 |
|
|
|
(229 |
) |
Stock-based compensation and distributions to
Members(2) |
|
|
3,458 |
|
|
|
673 |
|
|
|
3,342 |
|
|
|
2,118 |
|
|
|
3,362 |
|
|
|
1,817 |
|
|
|
2,288 |
|
|
|
2,008 |
|
Terminated product lines(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
559 |
|
Costs related to business acquisitions/business combinations |
|
|
7,970 |
|
|
|
2,755 |
|
|
|
623 |
|
|
|
1,484 |
|
|
|
1,033 |
|
|
|
222 |
|
|
|
71 |
|
|
|
1,032 |
|
Acquisition earnout |
|
|
32 |
|
|
|
31 |
|
|
|
32 |
|
|
|
63 |
|
|
|
62 |
|
|
|
2,278 |
|
|
|
373 |
|
|
|
|
|
Severance costs |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
118 |
|
|
|
164 |
|
|
|
330 |
|
|
|
121 |
|
|
|
393 |
|
|
|
545 |
|
|
|
21 |
|
Other costs, including restructuring |
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
99 |
|
|
|
99 |
|
|
|
101 |
|
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
185 |
|
|
|
98 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
$ |
22,695 |
|
|
$ |
23,046 |
|
|
$ |
23,715 |
|
|
$ |
18,809 |
|
|
$ |
22,217 |
|
|
$ |
18,177 |
|
|
$ |
11,617 |
|
|
$ |
21,420 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Non-cash adjustments related to foreign exchange and asset disposals
|
(2) |
Comprised of distributions to equity holders and non-cash stock-based
compensation |
(3) |
In 2020, S1 Holdco terminated its Social Publishing product line, where it created quiz content primarily for
the purpose of display advertising monetization. S1 Holdco has excluded revenue and direct costs associated with this product line for all periods presented. |
Protected UK
Operating Metrics.
Protected uses advertising spend, billings, change in deferred revenue, ending subscribers, new subscribers, cost-to-acquire (CTA) and average
billings per subscriber (ARPU) to track its operations. Protected defines advertising spend as the total amount spent on advertising to acquire new subscribers during a period, excluding advertising spend for subscribers for
terminated product lines. Protected defines billings as the total amount billed to customers during a period, excluding billings related to terminated product lines. Protected amortizes the deferred revenue from these billings on a straight line
basis over the subscription period and recognizes the result as revenue in its financial statements. Protected defines ending subscribers as the number of paying subscribers for its products, excluding subscribers for terminated product lines, at
the end of a period. Protected defines new subscribers as the number of new subscribers acquired for its products, excluding new subscribers for terminated product lines, during a period. Protected defines CTA as advertising spend divided by new
subscribers in a period. Protected defines ARPU as the billings in a period divided by average of the beginning and ending subscribers during that period. Protected includes these operating measures because they are used by management to evaluate
Protecteds core operating performance and trends. Furthermore, Protected management believes Billings and Change in deferred revenue provides valuable insight into the effectiveness of its sales efforts and overall performance of its business.
The following table presents these operating metrics for the periods indicated (unaudited).
68
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended |
|
|
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
|
September 30, 2021 |
|
|
June 30, 2021 |
|
|
March 31, 2021 |
|
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
|
September 30, 2020 |
|
|
June 30, 2020 |
|
|
March 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
(in thousands except for ratios) |
|
Billings |
|
$ |
38,443 |
|
|
$ |
37,632 |
|
|
$ |
40,473 |
|
|
$ |
37,991 |
|
|
$ |
31,126 |
|
|
$ |
27,758 |
|
|
$ |
26,458 |
|
|
$ |
22,529 |
|
Change in deferred revenue during period |
|
$ |
(671 |
) |
|
$ |
(567 |
) |
|
$ |
4,445 |
|
|
$ |
6,792 |
|
|
$ |
6,287 |
|
|
$ |
2,591 |
|
|
$ |
4,796 |
|
|
$ |
4,409 |
|
Advertising spend |
|
$ |
17,986 |
|
|
$ |
16,966 |
|
|
$ |
17,884 |
|
|
$ |
23,626 |
|
|
$ |
17,562 |
|
|
|
18,059 |
|
|
$ |
22,467 |
|
|
$ |
18,575 |
|
Beginning subscribers |
|
|
2,208 |
|
|
|
2,187 |
|
|
|
2,128 |
|
|
|
1,905 |
|
|
|
1,770 |
|
|
|
1,586 |
|
|
|
1,357 |
|
|
|
1,234 |
|
Ending subscribers |
|
|
2,208 |
|
|
|
2,208 |
|
|
|
2,187 |
|
|
|
2,128 |
|
|
|
1,905 |
|
|
|
1,770 |
|
|
|
1,586 |
|
|
|
1,357 |
|
New subscribers |
|
|
312 |
|
|
|
298 |
|
|
|
331 |
|
|
|
462 |
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
341 |
|
|
|
398 |
|
|
|
275 |
|
CTA |
|
$ |
57.73 |
|
|
$ |
56.91 |
|
|
$ |
54.10 |
|
|
$ |
51.10 |
|
|
$ |
54.23 |
|
|
$ |
52.95 |
|
|
$ |
56.42 |
|
|
$ |
67.53 |
|
ARPU |
|
$ |
17.41 |
|
|
$ |
17.13 |
|
|
$ |
18.76 |
|
|
$ |
18.84 |
|
|
$ |
16.94 |
|
|
$ |
16.54 |
|
|
$ |
17.98 |
|
|
$ |
17.39 |
|
Non-GAAP Financial Measures. Protected also uses various
non-GAAP financial measures to analyze its operations, including Adjusted EBITDA.
Protected
defines and calculates Adjusted EBITDA as net income from continuing operations before taxes, interest expense, depreciation and amortization, other expenses and adjusted to remove earnings from terminated product lines.
Protected includes these non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by management to evaluate
Protecteds core operating performance and trends and to make strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital and new investments. Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain expenses that are required in accordance with U.S. GAAP because they are
non-cash (for example, in the case of depreciation and amortization, and stock-based compensation) or are not related to our underlying business performance (for example, in the case of interest income and
expense). There are limitations to non-GAAP financial measures because they exclude charges and credits that are required to be included in GAAP financial presentation. The items excluded from GAAP financial
measures, such as net loss, to arrive at non-GAAP financial measures are significant components for understanding and assessing the Companys financial performance. As a result, non-GAAP financial measures should be considered together with, and not alternatives to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Protected also uses Adjusted Operating Income as a Non-GAAP measure to evaluate its performance and to make strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital and new investments. Please see Note 18 of the Protected.Net Group Limited Consolidated Financial
Statements for more information on Adjusted Operating Income.
The table below presents Protecteds net income (loss), the closest
U.S. GAAP measure, reconciled to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented (unaudited):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
($ in thousands) |
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
43,551 |
|
|
$ |
(13,258 |
) |
Income tax benefit |
|
|
(15,173 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Interest expense, net |
|
|
(358 |
) |
|
|
435 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
245 |
|
|
|
141 |
|
Terminated product lines(1) |
|
|
81 |
|
|
|
(1,777 |
) |
Costs related to acquisitions/business combinations, primarily related to SPAC transaction
costs |
|
|
1,690 |
|
|
|
32 |
|
Non-cash foreign exchange adjustments |
|
|
1,341 |
|
|
|
110 |
|
VAT accrual for previously uncollected VAT |
|
|
4,675 |
|
|
|
2,934 |
|
Director salary payments |
|
|
2,806 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other costs, including restructuring costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
458 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
$ |
38,858 |
|
|
$ |
(10,925 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
69
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended |
|
($ in thousands) |
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
|
September 30, 2021 |
|
|
June 30, 2021 |
|
|
March 31, 2021 |
|
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
|
September 30, 2020 |
|
|
June 30, 2020 |
|
|
March 31, 2020 |
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
27,653 |
|
|
$ |
10,047 |
|
|
$ |
7,489 |
|
|
$ |
(1,638 |
) |
|
$ |
(394 |
) |
|
$ |
1,108 |
|
|
$ |
(8,184 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,789 |
) |
Income tax expense/(benefit) |
|
|
(16,139 |
) |
|
|
966 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense, net |
|
|
(56 |
) |
|
|
(131 |
) |
|
|
(165 |
) |
|
|
(6 |
) |
|
|
93 |
|
|
|
131 |
|
|
|
176 |
|
|
|
35 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
73 |
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
|
65 |
|
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
37 |
|
|
|
35 |
|
|
|
35 |
|
|
|
34 |
|
Terminated product lines(1) |
|
|
(13
|
)
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
62
|
|
|
|
(336 |
) |
|
|
(1,691
|
)
|
|
|
86
|
|
|
|
163
|
|
Costs related to acquisitions/business combinations, primarily related to SPAC transaction
costs |
|
|
699 |
|
|
|
196 |
|
|
|
499 |
|
|
|
297 |
|
|
|
32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-cash foreign exchange adjustments |
|
|
228
|
|
|
|
581
|
|
|
|
209
|
|
|
|
322
|
|
|
|
(194 |
) |
|
|
46
|
|
|
|
68
|
|
|
|
190
|
|
VAT accrual for previously uncollected VAT |
|
|
956 |
|
|
|
1,110 |
|
|
|
1,492 |
|
|
|
1,116 |
|
|
|
615 |
|
|
|
866 |
|
|
|
1,408 |
|
|
|
46 |
|
Director salary payments |
|
|
922 |
|
|
|
936 |
|
|
|
949 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other costs, including restructuring charges |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
424 |
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
$ |
14,323 |
|
|
$ |
13,803 |
|
|
$ |
10,541 |
|
|
$ |
192 |
|
|
$ |
277 |
|
|
$ |
529 |
|
|
$ |
(6,411 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,320 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Protected terminated its Network Protect VPN product. Protected has excluded revenue, direct costs and
operating expenses associated with this product line from Adjusted EBITDA for all periods presented. |
70
SYSTEM1 MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references in this section to the
Company, System1, we, us, our and other similar terms refer to S1 Holdco, LLC and its subsidiaries prior to the Business Combination.
The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of System1 should be read together with our
audited consolidated financial statements, unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The discussion and analysis should also be read together with the section entitled
Business and our pro forma financial information as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2020. See Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information. In addition to
historical information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ significantly from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause future results to differ materially
from those projected in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the sections entitled Risk Factors and Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. Certain amounts may
not foot due to rounding, and all figures presented are in thousands.
Company Overview
We are an omnichannel customer acquisition platform, delivering high-intent customers to advertisers and to our own subscription products. We
provide these services through our proprietary responsive acquisition marketing platform, or RAMP. Operating seamlessly across major advertising networks and advertising category verticals to acquire users on our behalf, RAMP allows us to monetize
these acquired users through our relationships with third party advertisers and advertising networks, which we refer to as our Advertising Partners. RAMP also allows third party advertising platforms and publishers, which we refer to as
our Network Partners, to send user traffic to and monetize user traffic on our websites. RAMP is integrated across our network of owned and operated websites and related products, allowing us to monetize user traffic that we source from acquisition
marketing channels, including Google, Facebook and Taboola.
Through RAMP, we process approximately almost 15 million daily
advertising campaign optimizations and ingest 6 billion rows of data daily across 50 advertising verticals. We are able to efficiently monetize user intent by linking data on consumer engagement, such as first party search data, with data on
monetization and advertising spend. This context-enriched data, combined with our proprietary and data science driven algorithms, creates a closed-loop system that is not reliant on personally identifiable information or information obtained through
third-party cookies, but which allows RAMP to efficiently match consumer demand with the appropriate advertiser or advertising experience across advertising verticals.
We were founded in 2013 with a focus on monetizing user traffic acquired by our network. Since launching, we have expanded to support
additional advertising formats across numerous advertising platforms, and have acquired several leading websites, enabling us to control user acquisition and experience, and monetize user traffic on our own behalf. Today we own and operate over 40
websites, including leading search engines like info.com and Startpage.com, and publishing digital media sites and utilities such as HowStuffWorks, Mapquest and ActiveBeat.
S1 Holdco, LLC was formed as a limited liability company (LLC) under the laws of the State of Delaware on July 25, 2017. On
August 22, 2017, OpenMail LLC (OpenMail) entered into a transaction (the Transaction) with Court Square Capital Partners and its related entities (Court Square), whereby Court Square obtained a
51% interest in S1 Holdco through its own contributions and a recapitalization and distribution to the members of OpenMail. The Company is governed by an LLC agreement between Court Square and OpenMail. All the management powers over the business
and affairs of the Company are retained by the board of directors,
71
including the approval of debt transactions, issuance or transfer of membership units (the Units), approval to buy and sell Company assets or any other significant transaction,
and declaring and making distributions.
The Companys primary operations are in the United States; however, the Company also has
operations in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, Hungary and the Netherlands. Operations outside the United States are subject to risks inherent in operating under different legal systems and various political and economic environments.
Among the risks are changes in existing tax laws, possible limitations on foreign investment and income repatriation, government price or foreign exchange controls, and exposure to currency exchange fluctuations. The Company does not engage in
hedging activities to mitigate its exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
On October 16, 2018, System1 SS
Protect Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of System1, acquired a 50.1% interest in Protected.net Group Limited (f/k/a SS Protect Limited) (Protected) for a total consideration of $55,000. System1 consolidated Protected under the voting model
of ASC 810, Consolidation, since the Company controlled three of five board seats or 60% of the voting rights of Protected.
On
November 13, 2020 the Company disposed of its interest in Protected in a sale to a group led by Protected and System1 management. Accordingly, the results of Protected have been accounted for as discontinued operations for the periods ended
December 31, 2020 and prior.
The Business Combination
On June 28, 2021, the Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement (as amended on November 30, 2021, January 10, 2022 and January
25, 2022), the Business Combination Agreement) by and among Trebia Acquisition Corporation (Trebia) and Protected (together with System1 and Trebia, collectively, the Companies). On January 27, 2022 (the
Closing Date), the Company consummated the business combination (the Business Combination) pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement. Following the consummation of the Business Combination, the combined company
(Post Closing Company) is organized in an Up-C structure, in which substantially all of the assets and business of System1 is held by S1 Holdco. The combined Companies business
continues to operate through the subsidiaries of S1 Holdco and Protected.
The consideration paid to the existing Securityholders of
System1 and Protected in connection with the Transaction was a combination of cash and equity consideration.
The aggregate cash
consideration payable under the Business Combination Agreement (Closing Cash Consideration) was approximately $445,432 of which approximately $195,070 cash proceeds was received by System1 Equityholders and Protected Equityholders, and
$250,362 cash proceeds was received by Court Square.
The aggregate equity consideration paid under the Business Combination Agreement
and/or retained S1 Holdco Class B Units (Closing Equity Consideration) was approximately $667,500, consisting of (a) the aggregate equity consideration payable under the Business Combination Agreement, consisting of shares of
Class A Common Stock (valued at $10.00 per share), RSUs and Class C Common Stock, and (b) the aggregate S1 Holdco Class B Units retained by System1 Equityholders at the Closing (valued at $10.00 per share).
In connection with the Business Combination, Trebia and Cannae Holdings, Inc. entered into the Backstop Agreement (the Backstop
Agreement) whereby Cannae agreed, subject to the other terms and conditions, to subscribe for Trebia Class A Common Stock in order to fund redemptions by shareholders of Trebia. As a result of shareholder redemptions, Trebia shareholders
provided $7,031 of funding and Cannae provided $246,484 per the Backstop Agreement.
In connection with the Business Combination
Agreement, Trebia entered into a Term Loan arranged by Bank of America, whereby System1 Midco, LLC, as a borrower, would receive a term loan of $400,000 (Term Loan) ,
72
and a $50,000 revolving facility (the Revolving Facility and, together with the Term Loan, the New Facility). The Term Loan will mature seven years after the Closing and
will amortize in equal quarterly installments in an aggregate annual amount equal to 1% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan and with an originating issuer discount of 6%, and $376,000 of Term Loan proceeds in aggregate. The Revolving
Facility will mature five years after the Closing. The New Facility, along with the proceeds from the Business Combination noted above, will be used to pay off the Companys outstanding term loan due 2022, distribute cash to existing
shareholders, provide cash for working capital, and pay transaction fees incurred with the Business Combination.
Concurrently with the
consummation of the Business Combination, System1 entered into a tax receivable agreement with Trebia (the Tax Receivable Agreement), pursuant to which, among other things, the parties to the Tax Receivable Agreement have agreed to the
allocation and payment of 85% of the actual savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax that Trebia may realize as a result of certain tax benefits related to the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and
future exchanges of units in the Company for Trebia Class A Common Stock.
COVID-19
The worldwide spread of COVID-19 has resulted, and is expected to continue to result, in a global
slowdown of economic activity which is likely to decrease demand for a broad variety of goods and services, including those provided by our clients, while also disrupting sales channels and advertising and marketing activities for an unknown period
of time until the virus is contained or economic activity normalizes. Our revenue growth and results of operations have been resilient despite the headwinds created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The extent to
which ongoing and future developments related to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related vaccination measures designed to curb its spread continue to impact our business, financial condition and
results of operations, all of which cannot be predicted with certainty. Many of these ongoing and future developments are beyond our control, including the speed of contagion, the development, distribution and implementation of effective
preventative or treatment measures, including vaccines (and vaccination rates), the scope of governmental and other restrictions on travel, discretionary services and other activity, and the public reactions and receptiveness to these developments.
See Risk Factors for further discussion of the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business.
Components of Our Results of Operations
Segment
Results:
We operate in two reportable segments.
The following summarizes revenue and adjusted gross profit by reportable segment for the years ended December 31:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For Years Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Revenue: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Owned and Operated |
|
$ |
652,884 |
|
|
$ |
437,501 |
|
|
$ |
369,570 |
|
Partner Network |
|
|
35,505 |
|
|
|
38,476 |
|
|
|
37,923 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
688,389 |
|
|
$ |
475,977 |
|
|
$ |
407,493 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For Years Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Segment Adjusted Gross Profit: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Owned and Operated |
|
$ |
143,284 |
|
|
$ |
110,012 |
|
|
$ |
108,635 |
|
Partner Network |
|
|
35,505 |
|
|
|
38,476 |
|
|
|
37,923 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$178,789 |
|
|
$148,488 |
|
|
$146,558 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
73
Revenue
Revenue is earned from revenue-sharing arrangements with the Companys Network Partners for the use of the RAMP platform and related
services provided to them to direct advertising by the Advertising Partners on traffic acquired and directed to the Companys platform by the Network Partners to their advertising space. The Company determined it is the agent in these
transactions and reports revenue on a net basis. The Company does not control the underlying advertising space, the Company does not acquire the traffic and does not have risk of loss, and the pricing is in the form of a substantively
fixed-percentage revenue-sharing arrangement. The Company reports this revenue on a net basis for the amount retained from its revenue-sharing arrangements representing the difference between amounts received from the Advertising Partners, less
amounts remitted to the Network Partners based on underlying contracts.
The Company also earns revenue by directly acquiring traffic to
its owned and operated websites and utilizing its own RAMP platform and related services to connect its Advertising Partners to its own websites. For this revenue stream, the Company is the principal in the transaction and reports revenue on a gross
basis for the amount received from the Advertising Partners. For this revenue, the Company has determined that it is the principal since it has a risk of loss on the traffic that it is acquiring for monetization by its Advertising Partners and in
the case of its owned and operated websites, the Company maintains the website, provides the content and bears the cost and risk of loss associated with its websites advertising space. The Companys key Advertising Partners are Google,
Yahoo!, and Microsoft.
The Company recognizes revenue upon delivering traffic to its Advertising Partners based on a cost-per- click or cost-per-thousand impression basis. The payment term is typically 30 days.
The Company sold SS Protect in November 2020 and accounted for this disposition as a discontinued operation. Therefore, revenue from SS
Protect has been excluded from our results of operations. Please see Note 17 of the S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 for more information.
Revenue may fluctuate from period to period due to a number of factors including seasonality and the shift in mix of user acquisition sources
from Advertising Partners.
Operating Expenses
We classify our operating expenses into the following four categories:
Cost of Revenues. Cost of revenues includes traffic acquisition costs which consists primarily of costs to place advertisements to
attract customers to the Companys websites, mapping costs, domain name registration costs, and licensing costs to provide mapping services to Mapquest.com. The Company does not pay any up-front payments,
incentive payments or bonuses and such costs are expensed as incurred.
We expect platform operations expenses to increase in absolute
dollars in future periods as we incur higher traffic acquisition expenses and drive more user traffic through our platform, including to Mapquest.
Salaries, Commissions, and Benefits. Salaries, commissions and benefits expenses include salaries, bonuses, stock-based compensation,
costs incurred in the preliminary project and post-implementation stages of internal-use software development, employee benefits costs associated with our executive, finance, legal, human resources, compliance, and other administrative personnel, as
well as accounting and legal professional services fees.
Selling, General, and Administrative. Selling, general, and
administrative expenses consist of fees for professional services, occupancy costs, travel and entertainment. These costs are expensed as incurred.
74
We expect to continue to invest in corporate infrastructure to support our growth. We expect
general and administrative expenses to increase in absolute dollars in future periods.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation
and amortization expenses are primarily attributable to our capital investment and consist of fixed asset depreciation and amortization of intangibles considered to have finite lives.
Other Expenses
Other expenses
consist of the following:
Interest Expense. Interest expense is primarily related to our debt, which carries a variable interest
rate.
Other Income (Expense). Other income (expense) is primarily related to realized losses on the sale of investments in equity
securities.
Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes
The provision for (benefit from) income taxes consist primarily of U.S. federal, state, and foreign income taxes. The Company has elected to be
taxed as an LLC for federal and state tax purposes and, as a result, is not
subject to US income taxes; rather the tax effect of the Companys
operations is passed through to each of its members. Various subsidiaries of the Company are subject to income tax in the United States and in other countries.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized with respect to the tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial
statement carrying values and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which these temporary differences are expected to be recovered or
settled. A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company recognizes a tax benefit for uncertain
tax positions when the Companys position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the relevant taxing authority. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, as a component of
income tax expense.
Realization of our deferred tax assets is dependent primarily on the generation of future taxable income. In
considering the need for a valuation allowance, we consider our historical, as well as future, projected taxable income along with other objectively verifiable evidence. Objectively verifiable evidence includes our realization of tax attributes,
assessment of tax credits and utilization of net operating loss carryforwards during the year.
75
Results of Operations
The following tables set forth our consolidated results of operations and our consolidated results of operations as a percentage of revenue for
the periods presented.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
($ in thousands) |
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Revenue |
|
$ |
688,389 |
|
|
$ |
475,977 |
|
|
$ |
407,493 |
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues |
|
|
521,113 |
|
|
|
340,996 |
|
|
|
275,770 |
|
Salaries, commissions, and benefits |
|
|
66,747 |
|
|
|
55,548 |
|
|
|
48,389 |
|
Selling, general, and administrative |
|
|
35,813 |
|
|
|
22,979 |
|
|
|
19,960 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
13,885 |
|
|
|
13,832 |
|
|
|
11,244 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
637,558 |
|
|
|
433,355 |
|
|
|
355,363 |
|
Operating income |
|
|
50,831 |
|
|
|
42,622 |
|
|
|
52,130 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
16,870 |
|
|
|
24,351 |
|
|
|
26,033 |
|
Other expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,146 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations before income tax |
|
|
33,961 |
|
|
|
18,271 |
|
|
|
24,951 |
|
Income tax expense |
|
|
965 |
|
|
|
1,907 |
|
|
|
702 |
|
Net income from continuing operations |
|
|
32,996 |
|
|
|
16,364 |
|
|
|
24,249 |
|
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
47,397 |
|
|
|
(15,454 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
32,996 |
|
|
$ |
63,761 |
|
|
$ |
8,795 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Revenue |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
100 |
% |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues |
|
|
76 |
|
|
|
72 |
|
|
|
68 |
|
Salaries, commissions, and benefits |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
Selling, general, and administrative |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
93 |
|
|
|
92 |
|
|
|
87 |
|
Operating income |
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
13 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
Other expense (income) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations before income tax |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income from continuing operations |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
Net income (loss) |
|
|
5 |
% |
|
|
13 |
% |
|
|
2 |
% |
* Percentages may not sum due to rounding
The comparability of our operating results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2019 was impacted by the acquisitions of Concourse in March of 2019 and Mapquest in September of 2019. In the discussion of our results of operations for these periods we may quantitatively disclose the impact of our acquired
businesses to the extent they remain ascertainable. Expense contributions from our recent acquisitions for each of the respective period comparisons generally were not separately identifiable due to the integration of these businesses into our
existing operations.
76
Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
Revenue
|
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|
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|
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|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
2021 vs 2020
Change |
|
|
2020 vs 2019
Change |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
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|
|
(in thousands, except percentages) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$ |
688,389 |
|
|
$ |
475,977 |
|
|
$ |
407,493 |
|
|
$ |
212,412 |
|
|
|
45 |
% |
|
$ |
68,484 |
|
|
|
17 |
% |
The increase in revenue in 2021 was primarily due to growth in our Owned and Operated segment. Owned and
Operated revenue increased $215,383 driven by an increase in revenue per session ("RPS") of $0.04 and an increase of 545 million sessions. Partner Network segment revenue decreased $2,971 as sessions decreased by 317 million with RPS approximately
flat.
The increase in revenue in 2020 was primarily due to growth in our Owned and Operated segment. Owned and Operated revenue increased
$67,931 driven by an increase in RPS of $0.03 partially offset by a decrease in sessions of 171 thousand. Excluding revenue from our Concourse ($24,424 in 2020 compared to $15,193 in 2019 on a pro-forma basis to include the pre-acquisition
period) and Mapquest ($27,317 in 2020 compared to $6,252 in 2019 on a pro-forma basis to include the pre-acquisition period) acquisitions, as well as revenue from our Social Publishing product line ($5,646 in 2020 compared to $39,303 in 2019) which
was discontinued in April of 2020, Owned and Operated revenue increased $71,292, driven by an increase in RPS of $0.03 partially offset by a decrease in sessions of 81.5 million. Partner Network segment revenue increased $553 due to an increase
of 261 thousand sessions and flat RPS.
Cost of revenue
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
2021 vs 2020 Change |
|
|
2020 vs 2019 Change |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
|
(in thousands, except percentages) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenue |
|
$ |
521,113 |
|
|
$ |
340,996 |
|
|
$ |
275,770 |
|
|
$ |
180,117 |
|
|
|
53 |
% |
|
$ |
65,226 |
|
|
|
24 |
% |
Percent of revenue |
|
|
76 |
% |
|
|
72 |
% |
|
|
68 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The increase in cost of revenues in 2021 was primarily due to an increase in user acquisition costs of
$182,110 related to our Owned and Operated segment. 2021 user acquisition costs were $509,599 and drove 3.4 billion sessions to our Owned and Operated sites at a $0.15 cost per session (CPS) , compared to 2020 user acquisition costs of
$327,489, which drove 2.8 billion sessions to our Owned and Operated sites at a $0.12 CPS. User acquisition costs accounted for 98% and 96% of total cost of revenue in 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The increase in cost of revenues in 2020 was primarily due to an increase in user acquisition costs of $66,554 related to our Owned and
Operated segment. 2020 user acquisition costs were $327,489 and drove 2.8 billion sessions to our Owned and Operated sites at a $0.12 CPS, compared to 2019 user acquisition costs of $260,935, which drove 3.0 billion sessions to our Owned
and Operated sites at a $0.09 CPS. User acquisition costs accounted for 96% and 95% of total cost of revenue in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Excluding user acquisition costs associated with our terminated Social Publishing product line, 2020 user
acquisition costs were $322,275 compared to 2019 user acquisition costs of $226,639.
Excluding the impact of acquisitions and terminated
business lines, user acquisition costs grew by $11,287 more than revenue in 2020 compared to 2019. This was as a result of the impact on COVID-19 on the digital advertising market, where O&O CPS and
O&O RPS both increased by $0.03. As COVID-19s impact on advertiser demand lessened towards the end of the year, O&O RPS has steadily increased, and we have not seen a similar trend YTD in 2021.
77
Segment adjusted gross profit for our Owned and Operated segment increased by $33,272 in
2021 compared to 2020, due to an increase in Owned and Operated revenue of $215,383, as described above, offset by an increase in user acquisition costs of $182,110, as described above.
Segment adjusted gross profit for our Owned and Operated segment increased by $1,377 in 2020 compared to 2019, due to an increase in Owned and
Operated revenue of $67,931, as described above, offset by an increase in user acquisition costs of $66,554, as described above.
Salaries,
commissions, and benefits
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
2021 vs 2020 Change |
|
|
2020 vs 2019 Change |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
|
(in thousands, except percentages) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries, commissions, and benefits |
|
$ |
66,747 |
|
|
$ |
55,548 |
|
|
$ |
48,389 |
|
|
$ |
11,199 |
|
|
|
20 |
% |
|
$ |
7,159 |
|
|
|
15 |
% |
Percent of revenue |
|
|
10 |
% |
|
|
12 |
% |
|
|
12 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The increase in salaries, commissions, and benefits was primarily due to an increase in the fair value of our
former CEOs profits interest of $5,392, an increase in salaries and bonus related expenses of $6,851 due to salary increases in 2021 to align with market rates and an increase in average headcount from 289 employees in 2020 to 320, and an
increase in contractor costs of $1,523 to support the Companys growth. These increases were partially offset by an increase in capitalized payroll costs as a result of higher capitalization of internally developed software costs, and decreases
in profit-sharing distributions to Class B Unitholders of $2,760.
The increase in salaries, commissions, and benefits in 2020 was
primarily due to an increase in Company headcount, which went from an average of 245 employees throughout 2019 to an average headcount of 289 in 2020, as well as a full year of expense in 2020 as compared to $1,900 in 2019 related to the 33
employees acquired as part of the Concourse and Mapquest acquisitions in 2019.
Selling, general, and administrative
|
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|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
2021 vs 2020 Change |
|
|
2020 vs 2019 Change |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
|
(in thousands, except percentages) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling, general, and administrative |
|
$ |
35,813 |
|
|
$ |
22,979 |
|
|
$ |
19,960 |
|
|
$ |
12,834 |
|
|
|
56 |
|
|
$ |
3,019 |
|
|
|
15 |
% |
Percent of revenue |
|
|
5 |
% |
|
|
5 |
% |
|
|
5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The increase in selling, general, and administrative expense was primarily due to an increase of $10,128 in
costs related to the Business Combination, and an increase in network and bandwidth costs of $1,881, and an increase in audit fees of $776 as a result of the Business Combination.
The increase in selling, general, and administrative expense in 2020 was primarily due to increases in the fair value of contingent
consideration related to the Concourse acquisition of $2,700 and an increase in one-time non-recurring costs related to the Business Combination of $1,323. These
increases were partially offset by decreases in consulting costs of $1,220.
Depreciation and amortization
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
2021 vs 2020 Change |
|
|
2020 vs 2019 Change |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
|
(in thousands, except percentages) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
$ |
13,885 |
|
|
$ |
13,832 |
|
|
$ |
11,244 |
|
|
$ |
53 |
|
|
|
|
% |
|
$ |
2,588 |
|
|
|
23 |
% |
Percent of revenue |
|
|
2 |
% |
|
|
3 |
% |
|
|
3 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
78
The increase in depreciation and amortization expense was primarily due to an increase in
amortization of internal-use software as a result of increase in software development activities to build and enhance the Companys technology platform, partially offset by a decrease in amortization of
intangible assets as they become fully amortized and there have been no acquisitions during 2021.
The increase in depreciation and
amortization expense in 2020 was primarily due to increases in amortization of intangible assets of $1,758 as a result of a full year of amortization on our 2019 acquisitions, and an increase in amortization of
internal-use software of $881 as a result of increase in software development activities to build and enhance the Companys technology platform.
Interest expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
2021 vs 2020 Change |
|
|
2020 vs 2019 Change |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
|
(in thousands, except percentages) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense |
|
$ |
16,870 |
|
|
$ |
24,351 |
|
|
$ |
26,033 |
|
|
$ |
(7,481 |
) |
|
|
(31 |
)% |
|
$ |
(1,682 |
) |
|
|
(6 |
)% |
The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to a decrease in our outstanding loan balances. Our
outstanding loan balance, excluding loan origination fees, was $172,038 and $183,674 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The decrease in interest expense in 2020 was primarily due to a decrease in interest rates owed on outstanding loan balance, as well as the
impact of the paydown of our term loan balance in 2020. Outstanding loan balance, excluding loan origination fees, was $183,674 and $254,734 at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Other expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
2021 vs 2020 Change |
|
|
2020 vs 2019 Change |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
|
(in thousands, except percentages) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other expense |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
1,146 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
% |
|
$ |
(1,146 |
) |
|
|
(100 |
)% |
The decrease in other expense in 2020 was primarily due to loss on disposal of an equity method investment in
2019.
Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
2021 vs 2020 Change |
|
|
2020 vs 2019 Change |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
|
(in thousands, except percentages) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision for income taxes |
|
$ |
965 |
|
|
$ |
1,907 |
|
|
$ |
702 |
|
|
$ |
(942 |
) |
|
|
(49 |
)% |
|
$ |
1,205 |
|
|
|
172 |
% |
Effective tax rate |
|
|
3 |
% |
|
|
10 |
% |
|
|
3 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The income tax expense varied from the expense calculated using the federal statutory income tax rate for the
years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, primarily due to income (loss) from non-taxable pass-through entities, deferred tax impact of foreign rate change, and foreign rate differential.
79
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents of $47,896, and $29,013, respectively, which consists of amounts held
as bank deposits. Additionally, we will receive the proceeds from any exercise of any Warrants in cash. Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share. The aggregate amount of
proceeds could be up to $293 million if all Warrants are exercised for cash. We expect to use any such proceeds for general corporate and working capital purposes, which would increase our liquidity, but do not need such proceeds to fund our
operations.
We believe the likelihood that warrant holders will exercise their Warrants, and therefore the amount of cash proceeds that
we would receive, is dependent upon the market price of our Class A Common Stock. If the market price for our Class A Common Stock is less than $11.50 per share, we believe warrant holders will be unlikely to exercise their Warrants.
To date, the Companys available liquidity and operations have been historically financed through member contributions and loans, loan
facilities, and cash flows from operations, and the Companys ability to continue funding its existing and future operations is not dependent upon receiving the cash proceeds from the exercise of any Warrants offered under this prospectus. The
Company is subject to certain business risks, including dependence on key employees, dependence on key contracts, competition from alternative technologies, market acceptance, and dependence on growth to achieve its business plan. The Companys
revenue is dependent on three key Advertising Partners, which are Google, Yahoo!, and Microsoft, which comprised, 84%, 2% and 5%, respectively, of the Companys revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, 83%, 4% and 4%,
respectively, of the Companys revenue for 2021, 82%, 5%, and 4%, respectively, of the Companys revenue for 2020, and 75%, 7% and 8%, respectively of the Companys revenue for 2019.
The Company has (i) two paid search advertising contracts with Google, (ii) one paid search advertising contract with Verizon Media,
and (iii) one paid search advertising contract with Microsoft. One of the Google contracts was renewed with an effective date of March 1, 2021 and has a two-year term through February 28, 2023.
The other Google contract was renewed with an effective date of August 1, 2021 and has a two-year term through July 31, 2023. The Yahoo! contract (which consolidated three separate and pre-existing contracts into a single contract) was entered into effective as of December 1, 2020, and has an initial two-year through November 30, 2022. All
arrangements under the Microsoft contract expired on November 30, 2021 and the parties have agreed to a three-month extension through February 28, 2022, and then the contract automatically renews on a month to month basis as the parties
finalize a renewal or long-term extension of this arrangement. All four agreements may be terminated by the respective Advertising Partner immediately or with minimal notice under certain circumstances.
We evaluate whether any conditions or events have occurred, individually and in the aggregate, that could raise substantial doubt about our
ability to continue as a going concern for the twelve month assessment period from the date of this filing. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet our financial
obligations including scheduled debt payments and maturities. Our term loan matures on August 22, 2022, at which time the balance is estimated to be approximately $148,000. Based on the Business Combination Agreement executed on January 27,
2022, the outstanding balance under the term loan was settled concurrent with the closing of the Business Combination. As a part of the Business Combination the Company entered into a new loan agreement on January 27, 2022 for a 5.5-year term loan
with a principal of $400,000, of which a portion of the proceeds was used to settle the Companys outstanding debt of $172,038. Interest payments are due monthly at LIBOR plus 4.75% with a LIBOR floor of 0.50%. In addition, the Company also
obtained a revolving line of credit of $50,000 on January 27, 2022. The new loan comes with a springing covenant, which goes into effect if the utilization on the Revolving Facility exceeds 35% at each quarter end after the effective date of the
Business Combination, such that the first lien leverage ratio should not exceed 5.40. The Company has been able to and expect to continue to be able to make payments on the principal and interest on a timely basis.
80
The coronavirus pandemic has adversely affected the Companys results of operations and
the Company has experienced unpredictable reductions in demand for certain products and services. There is uncertainty around the duration and breadth of the COVID-19 pandemic and, as a result, the ultimate
impact on the Companys business, financial condition, or operating results cannot be reasonably estimated with certainty at this time. To the extent that existing capital resources and sales growth are not sufficient to fund future activities,
the Company may need to raise capital resources through additional equity or debt financings. Additional funds may not be available on terms favorable to the Company or at all. Failure to raise additional capital, if and when needed, could have a
material adverse effect on the Companys consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Prior to the
extraordinary general meeting of Trebia in connection with the Business Combination, holders of 51,046,892 Trebia Class A Ordinary Shares exercised their right to redeem those shares for cash at a price of $10.00 per share, for an aggregate of
$510,468,920, which represented approximately 99% of the total Trebia Class A Ordinary Shares then outstanding. The Total Resale Shares being offered in this prospectus represent over 99% of our current total outstanding shares of Class A Common
Stock. The securities being offered for resale in this prospectus represent a substantial percentage of the total outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock as of the date of this prospectus. The Total Resale Shares being offered in this
prospectus represent in the aggregate over 99% of the total outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock (after giving effect to all redemptions of the Class B Units of S1 Holdco into shares of Class A Common Stock and the settlement of vested
RSUs granted to each of Michael Blend and Just Develop It Limited in connection with the Business Combination Agreement). The securities beneficially owned by Cannae, Just Develop It Limited, Lone Star and the Sponsors being offered in this
prospectus represent in the aggregate approximately 70% of the total outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock (after giving effect to all redemptions of the Class B Units of S1 Holdco into shares of Class A Common Stock and the settlement of
vested RSUs granted to each of Michael Blend and Just Develop It Limited in connection with the Business Combination Agreement). Additionally, if all the Warrants are exercised, the Selling Securityholders would own an additional 8,424,034 shares of
Class A Common Stock, representing an additional 7.2% of the total outstanding Class A Common Stock. So long as the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is effective, the sales of the securities being offered in this
prospectus could result in a significant decline in the public trading price of our Class A Common Stock.
Debt
The Company has secured financing from Cerberus Business Finance, LLC. As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had
principal, excluding loan origination fees, of $172,038 and $183,674 outstanding under a term loan. Payments of $1,750 are due quarterly. In addition, upon delivery of the most recent annual audited consolidated financial statements, the Company
must make a payment of 50% of excess free cash flow, as defined. In June 2021, the Company made a payment of $4,600 for 2020. The Company also had a revolving line of credit, which was increased to $20,000 during 2019. No amounts are outstanding as
of December 31, 2021 under the revolving line of credit.
Interest payments of the financing are due monthly at London InterBank
Offered Rate (LIBOR), plus 7% with a LIBOR floor of 1%. Maturity for the financing is August 22, 2022. The facility has certain financial and nonfinancial covenants, including a leverage ratio. The Company was in compliance with the
financial covenants as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
As of December 31, 2021, future minimum principal
payments on debt were $172,038, all of which were due in 2022.
As part of the Business Combination with Trebia and Protected, System1
Midco, LLC, entered into a new loan agreement on January 27, 2022 for a 5.5-year term loan with a principal of $400,000, of which a portion of the proceeds was used to settle the Companys outstanding debt of $172,038. Interest payments are due
monthly at LIBOR plus 4.75% with a LIBOR floor of 0.50%. In addition, the Company also obtained a revolving line of credit of $50,000 on January 27, 2022.
81
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods presented:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
|
($ in thousands) |
|
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
|
60,705 |
|
|
|
46,547 |
|
|
|
32,712 |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
|
|
(6,535 |
) |
|
|
68,166 |
|
|
|
(42,757 |
) |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
|
|
(34,585 |
) |
|
|
(128,075 |
) |
|
|
26,147 |
|
Operating Activities
Our cash flows from operating activities are primarily influenced by growth in our operations, increases or decreases in collections from our
clients and related payments to our suppliers for advertising inventory and data. We typically pay suppliers in advance of collections from our clients. Our collection and payment cycles can vary from period to period. In addition, seasonality may
impact cash flows from operating activities on a sequential quarterly basis during the year.
In 2021, cash provided by operating
activities of $60,705 resulted primarily from Owned and Operated advertising revenue, offset by user acquisition costs incurred to drive the growth and salaries, commissions and benefits costs, non-cash expenses of $22,632, and change in operating
assets and liabilities of $5,077 primarily due to an increase in accounts payable of $20,756 due to increased user acquisition costs, and an increase in accrued expenses of $12,113 primarily related to the business combination. This was partially
offset by a decrease in accounts receivable of $19,064 as a result of increased collections, an increase in prepaid assets of $4,968 due to an increase in vendor services to support the growth of the Company, and a decrease in long term liabilities
of $3,842 primarily due to reclassification of the former CEOs profit interest to short term liabilities.
In 2020, cash provided by
operating activities of $46,547 resulted primarily from Owned and Operated advertising revenue, offset by user acquisition costs incurred to drive the growth and salaries, commissions and benefits costs,
non-cash expenses of $24,527, and change in operating assets and liabilities of $11,516 primarily due to decrease in accounts receivable of $6,833 as a result of increased collections, and increase in accounts
payable of $4,234 due to increased user acquisition costs.
Investing Activities
Our primary investing activities consist of acquisitions and divestitures of businesses, such as the acquisition of Mapquest and Concourse in
2019 as well as costs capitalized for internally developed software.
In 2021, cash used in investing activities of $6,535 resulted
primarily from capitalized expenditures related to internal-use software development costs.
In
2020, cash provided by investing activities of $68,166 resulted primarily from the sale of the Companys interest in Protected of $74,544, offset by capitalized expenditures related to internal-use
software development costs of $6,112.
Financing Activities
Our financing activities consisted primarily of borrowings and repayments of our debt, distributions to members related to tax obligations,
acquisition related contingent consideration and or proceeds from the sale of assets.
In 2021, cash used in financing activities of
$34,585 resulted primarily from repayments of debt of $11,636, payment of acquisition related contingent consideration of $5,000 related to the acquisition of Startpage, $1,715 related to the acquisition of Concourse, distributions to members of
$14,579, and the issuance of a related party loan of $1,500.
82
In 2020, we used $128,075 of cash in financing activities, consisting of $78,285 of net debt
repayments on our term loan and line of credit, $28,765 of distributions to members related to the sale of the Companys interest in Protected, $17,780 tax distributions to members, and payment of $5,500 of contingent consideration related to
our 2018 acquisition of Startpage.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any relationships with entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities that have been established
for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. We did not have any other off-balance sheet
arrangements during the periods presented other than the indemnification agreements.
Contractual Obligations and Known Future Cash Requirements
Leases
The Company leases
office facilities under noncancelable operating lease agreements. The Company leases such facilities in Venice and Marina del Rey, California; Bellevue, Washington; Guelph, Canada; and Atlanta, Georgia. Rent expense was $2,221, $2,262 and $1,825 for
the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, which were included in the selling, general, and administrative expenses. The Venice office facilities were on two-year renewable leases. The Bellevue
lease is valid until May 2025. The Guelph, Canada, lease was valid until September 2021.
In March 2021, the Company entered into an
agreement for a lease of office space in Marina del Rey, California. The initial term of the lease is in effect until November of 2025 with no renewal periods. The Venice office leases expired in October 2021 and were not renewed. The Guelph, Canada
office space expired in September 2021 and is on a monthly renewal plan. As of December 31, 2021, the expected future operating lease obligations is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments Due by Period |
|
|
|
Less than 1 Year |
|
|
1 -3 Years |
|
|
3 - 5 Years |
|
|
More than 5 Years |
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
Operating lease obligations |
|
$ |
1,957 |
|
|
$ |
3,900 |
|
|
$ |
1,663 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
7,520 |
|
Service Agreements
On June 18, 2021 the Company entered into an agreement with a service provider whereby the Company is contractually obligated to pay
$6,900 and $8,000 in the first and second years of the contract, respectively. The contract commencement date was July 1, 2021.
Executive
Compensation
Ian Weingarten was hired as CEO on April 10, 2019. He is entitled to a cash-settled profit interest of 5% of S1
Holdco, LLC, which is subject to a participation threshold of $300,000 (which was subject to adjustment as set forth in the S1 Holdco operating agreement) and a four-year vesting term (which is accelerated if a qualifying change in control
transaction occurs). The Company recorded a liability for this arrangement of $4,237 as of December 31, 2020.
In January 2021, the
Company notified Ian Weingarten, its Chief Executive Officer since April 2019, of its decision to terminate his employment with the Company as of February 2021. In connection with such termination, the Company agreed to payment of separation pay
benefits consistent with the terms of Mr. Weingartens Employment Agreement, including the payment of the liability accrued for the cash-settled profit interest of 5% of S1 Holdco, LLC, which was deemed vested as to a 3.75% Profits
Interest and forfeited as to the remaining 1.25% Profits Interest above the applicable adjusted threshold amount (subject to further reduction to a 2.5% Profits Interest in the event that the Business Combination is not consummated). In January
2022, in connection with the closing of the Business Combination, the vested portion of Mr. Weingartens Profits Interest was paid in full, and there are no further amounts due to Mr. Weingarten.
83
Contingencies
From time to time, System1 is subject to contingencies that arise in the ordinary course of business. System1 records an accrual for a
contingency when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. System1 does not currently believe the resolution of any such contingencies will have a material adverse effect upon
System1s consolidated balance sheets, statements of comprehensive loss, or statements of cash flows.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements,
which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenue and expenses and related
disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions, impacting our reported results of operations and financial condition.
Certain accounting policies involve significant judgments and assumptions by management, which have a material impact on the carrying
value of assets and liabilities and the recognition of income and expenses. Management considers these accounting policies to be critical accounting policies. The estimates and assumptions used by management are based on historical experience and
other factors, which are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The significant accounting policies which we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results are described below.
Refer to Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more detailed information regarding our critical accounting policies.
Business combinations
The results
of a business acquired in a business combination are included in the Companys consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. The Company allocates the purchase price, which is the sum of the consideration provided which may
consist of cash, equity, or a combination of the two, in a business combination to the identifiable assets and liabilities of the acquired business at their acquisition-date fair values. Any excess amount paid over identifiable assets is recorded as
goodwill. The process for estimating the fair values of the acquired business involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including estimating average industry purchase price multiples and estimating future cash flows. The Company
estimates the fair value based on assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable and, as a result, actual results may differ from estimates. During the measurement period, not to exceed one year from the
date of acquisition, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with a corresponding offset to goodwill. At the conclusion of the measurement period, any subsequent adjustments are reflected in the
Companys consolidated statements of operations.
Transaction costs associated with business combinations are expensed as incurred
and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Companys consolidated statements of operations. When purchase consideration includes contingent consideration, the Company records the fair value of the contingent
consideration as of the date of acquisition and subsequently remeasures the contingent consideration at fair value each reporting period through earnings.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the
excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired and identifiable intangibles in a business combination. The Company accounts for goodwill in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 350,
IntangiblesGoodwill and Other, which requires the Company to test goodwill at the reporting unit level for impairment at least annually.
84
The Company has the option to assess goodwill for possible impairment by performing a
qualitative analysis to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount or to perform the quantitative impairment test. The quantitative test involves comparing the estimated fair
value of a reporting unit with its respective book value, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value exceeds book value, goodwill is considered not to be impaired. If, however, the fair value of the reporting unit is less than book value, an
impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess.
The determination of fair values requires us to make significant
estimates and assumptions. These estimates include, but are not limited to future expected cash flows from a market participant perspective, discount rates, industry data and managements prior experience. Unanticipated events or circumstances
may occur that could affect the accuracy or validity of such assumptions, estimates or actual results.
The Company tests for goodwill
impairment annually at December 31st. During the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 there were no impairment charges recorded on goodwill. In 2021 and 2019, the Company performed qualitative goodwill impairment assessments and
concluded that there were no qualitative impairment indicators. In 2020, the Company performed a quantitative goodwill assessment at December 31, 2020. The fair values exceeded the carrying value for all the reporting units and, accordingly,
the Company concluded that there was no impairment of goodwill at December 31, 2020.
Share-based compensation
On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2018-07, CompensationStock Compensation (Topic
718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment. The adoption of ASU 2018-07 resulted in a change in the accounting for awards to nonemployees. Compensation cost related to share-based payment
transactions is measured based on the fair value of the Units issued and recognized within Salaries, commissions, and benefits in the Companys consolidated statement of operations. The Company has elected to treat share-based
payment awards with graded vesting schedules and time-based service conditions as a single award and recognizes share- based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, which is generally four years. The assumptions used
in the Black-Scholes model referred to above are based upon the following:
|
|
|
Fair Value of Common Stock: As the Companys common stock is not publicly traded, the fair value was
determined by the Companys management with input from contemporaneous valuation reports prepared by a third-party valuation specialist. |
|
|
|
Expected Term: The expected life of the option is estimated by considering the contractual term of the option,
the vesting period of the option, the employees expected exercise behavior and the post- vesting employee turnover rate. For non-employees, the expected life equals the contractual term of the option.
|
|
|
|
Risk-free Interest Rate: The risk-free interest rate is based on published U.S. Treasury Department interest
rates for the expected terms of the underlying options. |
|
|
|
Volatility: The expected stock price volatility of the underlying shares over the expected term of the option is
based upon historical share price data of an index of comparable publicly traded companies. |
Recently Issued Accounting
Pronouncements
Recently issued and adopted accounting pronouncements are described in Note 2 of the Audited Consolidated Financial
Statements.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
We have operations within the U.S. and internationally, and we are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of our business. These risks
include primarily inflation, interest rate, credit risk, and foreign currency exchange risk.
85
Inflation
We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. However, if our
costs were to become subject to significant inflationary pressures, we may not be able to fully offset higher costs through price increases and our inability or failure to do so could potentially harm our business, financial condition, and results
of operations.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates on our term loan, which accrues interest at a variable rate. We have not used any
derivative financial instruments to manage our interest rate risk exposure. Based upon the outstanding principal amounts, excluding loan origination fees, of $172,038 and $183,674 as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 a hypothetical one
percentage point increase or decrease in the interest rate would result in a corresponding increase or decrease in interest expense of approximately $1,700 annually.
Credit Risk
Financial instruments
that potentially subject System1 to a concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and accounts receivable. System1 deposits cash and cash equivalents with high-quality financial institutions.
Accounts receivable are typically unsecured and are derived from advertisers located within the United States. Credit risk is concentrated in two customers, who accounted for 82% and 80% of the accounts receivable balance as of December 31, 2021 and
December 31, 2020. System1 has historically experienced insignificant credit losses. System1 maintains allowances for estimated credit losses based on managements assessment of the likelihood of collection.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
The functional currency of the companys foreign subsidiaries is generally the local currency. Assets and liabilities are translated into
U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date. Operating accounts are translated at an average rate of exchange for the respective accounting periods. Translation adjustments resulting from the process of
translating foreign currency financial statements into U.S. dollars are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Transaction gains and losses reflected in the functional currencies are charged to income or expense at
the time of the transaction.
86
PROTECTED MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires,
references in this section to Protected, we, us, our and other similar terms refer to Protected.net Group Limited and its subsidiaries prior to the Business Combination.
The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of Protected should be read together
with our audited consolidated financial statements, unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements, and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The discussion and analysis should also be read together with the section entitled
Business and our pro forma financial information for the year ended December 31, 2021. See Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information. In addition to historical information, the following discussion
contains forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ significantly from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause future results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the sections entitled Risk Factors and Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. Certain amounts may not foot due to rounding.
Company Overview
Protected provides a
comprehensive antivirus product solution to its customers that provides robust and resilient protection against online threats. The product consists of a core Antivirus software, with the ability to add additional products and services, to build up
a security package based on a customers needs. These products include unlimited devices, VPN, Adblock, ID Protect and are managed to ensure they provide a value added service to the customer base. This software is sold in either a monthly or
annual subscription predominantly through the flagship brand TotalAV.
Protected.net Group Limited was formed as a limited liability
company in England and Wales on 4th May 2016, under the company number 10161957.
Protected sells its software all over the world, with
the vast majority of these sales being made in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Canada, Italy and Spain. Operations outside of the United Kingdom are subject to inherent risks due to operating in different
legal systems and economic environments. Among the risks are; changes and differences in tax laws, income repatriation and exposure to currency fluctuations. Protected does not currently engage in hedging activities to mitigate its exposure to
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, however this is something that it may consider in the future as the business grows.
COVID-19
The worldwide spread of COVID-19 has resulted, and
is expected to continue to result, in a global slowdown of economic activity which is likely to decrease demand for a broad variety of goods and services. However, Protected is fortunate to have suffered minimal adverse effects as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout 2020, Protected was able to increase its customer base, which is partly attributable to more people working from home and using their devices. While its offices were required to close,
Protected was able to provide its staff with the required tools to work effectively from home. In 2021, the business was able to see the renewal revenue for this cohort of customers start to come through, with these sales sharing similar renewal
patterns to the remaining customer base. The extent to which ongoing and future developments related to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related vaccination measures designed to curb its spread
continue to impact the Protected business, financial condition and results of operations, cannot be predicted with certainty. Many of these ongoing and future developments are beyond the control of Protected, including the speed of
87
contagion, the development, distribution and implementation of effective preventative or treatment measures, including vaccines (and vaccination rates), the scope of governmental and other
restrictions on travel, discretionary services and other activity, and the public reactions and receptiveness to these developments.
Components of Our
Results of Operations
Revenue
The following is a description of Protecteds products and services from which it generates revenue, as well as the nature, timing of
satisfaction of performance obligations, and significant payment terms for each:
Delivery of Antivirus Software
Protected is a leading distributor of computer protection software. Its primary software, TotalAV Antivirus Pro, provides antivirus and
anti-malware protection, spyware removal, adware cleaning, and more. The program can be installed and downloaded on up to three separate devices.
Delivery of additional add-on service(s)
In addition to TotalAV Antivirus Pro, customers can sign up for additional services. These additional services include password vault,
smartphone protection, identity protection, Ad Block Pro, protection on additional devices, Safe Browsing (VPN), and Advanced Cloud Scanning, among others.
Protected recognizes the sale of software over the length of the subscription (annually or monthly). It has two performance obligations (i.e.,
the delivery of antivirus software and the delivery of additional add-on service(s)). Each product has its own pricing, which is then acknowledged and deferred out over the period of that subscription.
Accordingly, we recognize deferred revenue that changes significantly from period to period.
For a description of our revenue recognition
policies see Note 2Summary of Significant Accounting PoliciesRevenue of Protecteds consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Cost of Revenues
Cost of revenues
includes marketing costs, data centre, royalties, support, risk prevention and merchant fees as well as salary costs for our customer facing workforce. The most significant cost within cost of revenue is marketing expense, which is intrinsically
linked to sales. Such costs are expensed as incurred. Marketing costs relate to the costs paid to third party affiliates and advertisers to promote its brands and products. These costs are the largest category of expenses that Protected incurs.
Protected expects its cost of revenue to increase in absolute dollars in future periods as its customer base continues to grow. Growth in our
customer base means that Protected will incur greater marketing costs, merchant processing costs and increased support costs in addition to increased headcount and staff costs, Protected does anticipate that these costs will fluctuate materially as
a percentage of revenue.
Other Operating Income
Protected classifies its other operating income into the following categories:
Gain on sale of intangible assets are exclusively made up from the proceeds of selling the customer base of Network Protect Limited (a 100%
owned subsidiary) in 2020.
Foreign currency, gains and losses which are Accounted for at period end, or when an invoice is paid or
received.
88
Other operating income is made up of income generated from recharging expenses incurred by
Protected to the relevant parties, compensation received from one of our merchant processors and fund received from the UK government in relation to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Operating Expenses
Protected classifies
its operating expenses into the following categories:
General, and administrative costs primarily include:
Salaries and benefits relating to its non-customer facing workforce. This breakdown also includes
the national insurance and employee benefit costs for these staff.
Other related costs which include, software costs incurred to service
its customers, travel and entertaining costs as well as professional and legal fees, costs related to the merger and the VAT provisions currently held.
Related party rent expense includes rent paid in regards to the license to occupy held at our company offices.
Non-Operating Income (Expense)
Non-operating income (expense) primarily includes the following:
Related party interest expense is mainly related to a loan received from System1 in 2020, which carried a 10% interest rate. This loan was
repaid in full in 2020. Interest expense is accrued on the loan agreement with Silicon Valley Bank for a combined $15 million facility, which accrues interest between 3.5% and 7.5% dependent on financial performance.
Related party interest income relates to income received through a loan agreement held with System1 SS Protect Holdings Inc. which carried an
interest rate at 3.5% from March 31, 2021, prior to this the rate was 5%.
Income Tax Benefit
The provision for (benefit from) income taxes consist primarily of UK corporation tax.
Protected recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the
financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the
differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided, if based upon the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Protected accounts for uncertain tax
positions in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740. When uncertain tax positions exist, Protected recognizes the tax benefit of tax positions to the extent that the benefit would more likely than not be realized assuming examination by the
taxing authority. The determination as to whether the tax benefit will more likely than not be realized is based upon the technical merits of the tax position as well as consideration of the available facts and circumstances. Protected recognizes
any interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense.
89
Results of Operations
The following tables set forth Protecteds consolidated results of operations and our consolidated results of operations as a percentage
of revenue for the periods presented.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
($ in thousands) |
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Revenue |
|
$ |
144,541 |
|
|
$ |
90,908 |
|
Cost of revenues |
|
|
98,946 |
|
|
|
97,980 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross income/(loss) |
|
|
45,595 |
|
|
|
(7,072 |
) |
Other Operating Income: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain on sale of intangible assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,580 |
|
Other operating income/(expense) |
|
|
(997 |
) |
|
|
(86 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other operating income/(expense) |
|
|
(997 |
) |
|
|
1,493 |
|
Operating Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General and administrative expense |
|
|
15,912 |
|
|
|
6,711 |
|
Related party rent expense |
|
|
665 |
|
|
|
536 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Operating Expenses |
|
|
16,577 |
|
|
|
7,247 |
|
Operating income/(loss) |
|
|
28,020 |
|
|
|
(12,826 |
) |
Non-operating income (expense) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party interest expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(406 |
) |
Related party interest income |
|
|
941 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
(583 |
) |
|
|
(29 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total non-operating income (expense) |
|
|
358 |
|
|
|
(433 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income/(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes |
|
|
28,378 |
|
|
|
(13,258 |
) |
Income tax benefit |
|
|
15,173 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income/(loss) |
|
$ |
43,551 |
|
|
$ |
(13,258 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
90
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
(as a percentage of revenue) |
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Revenue |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
100 |
% |
Cost of revenues |
|
|
68 |
|
|
|
108 |
|
Gross income/(loss) |
|
|
32 |
|
|
|
(8 |
) |
Other Operating Income: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain on sale of intangible assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other operating income/(expense) |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Total other operating income/(expense) |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
2 |
|
Operating Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General & administrative expenses |
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
Related party rent expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Operating Expenses |
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
Operating loss |
|
|
19 |
|
|
|
(14 |
) |
Non-operating income (expense) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party interest expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party interest income |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense) |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total non-operating income/(expense) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income/(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes |
|
|
20 |
|
|
|
(15 |
) |
Income tax benefit |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
|
|
30 |
|
|
|
(15 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|
2021 vs 2020 Change |
|
($ in thousands, except percentages) |
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
Revenue |
|
$ |
144,541 |
|
|
$ |
90,908 |
|
|
$ |
53,633 |
|
|
|
59 |
% |
The increase in revenues in 2021 over 2020 largely relate to the compounding effect of subscription renewals
on our ever-increasing customer base. Subscription renewal revenue contributed 91.99% of the revenue increase in the period with the remaining 8.01% attributable to new revenue, chargeback disputes & refunds in the period. In 2021,
Protected onboarded 1,402 new paying customers and ended the period with 2,208 paying customers, compared to 1,338 and 1,905, respectively, over prior year. The larger customer base results in higher renewals for the business which in turn leads to
increased revenue. From a dollar increase, subscription renewals before chargbacks and refunds increased by $53,978 up to $132,959.
Cost of
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|
2021 vs 2020 Change |
|
($ in thousands, except percentages) |
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
Cost of Revenues |
|
$ |
98,946 |
|
|
$ |
97,980 |
|
|
$ |
966 |
|
|
|
1 |
% |
Percent of revenue |
|
|
68 |
% |
|
|
108 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
91
The change in the cost of revenues is attributed to an increase in merchant fee costs of
$2,566 and support costs of $546. Protected has increased activity with its two primary merchant processors in 2021, this resulted in higher overall fees but the increase is due to a greater number of transaction volumes. These merchants offer
better returns and success rates of payment processing. In line with the continuous growth of our customer base, support headcount and outsourced costs have also increased to ensure that customers continue to receive the same high level of service
and to ensure internal SLAs are met. Advertising spend has remained relatively consistent with 2020 (a small decrease of $821). Protected advertising spend, excluding advertising spend for subscribers for terminated product lines, for 2021 was
$76,449 to acquire 1,397 new subscribers, and in 2020, Protected advertising spend, excluding advertising spend for subscribers for terminated product lines, was $76,664 to acquire 1,338 new subscribers. Cost of revenues as a percentage of revenue
decreased compared to the prior year because of a mix shift in revenue towards renewal revenue versus new customer revenue, as described above, and cost of revenue is primarily driven by advertising spend to acquire new customers. Excluding
advertising spend on non- terminated product lines, cost of revenues as a percent of revenue was 16% in 2021 as compared to 23% in 2020. Cost of revenues excluding advertising spend as a percentage of revenue decreased due to a mix shift in revenue
towards renewal revenue versus new customer revenue, as described above, as renewing subscribers typically pay a higher price for the product.
Gain
on Sale of Intangible Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|
2021 vs 2020 Change |
|
($ in thousands, except percentages) |
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
Gain on Sale of Intangible Assets |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
1,580 |
|
|
$ |
(1,580 |
) |
|
|
100 |
% |
Percent of revenue |
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
2 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The decrease in gain on sale of intangible assets was due to the sale of the Network Protect customer base in
August 2020 for $1,600.
General and Administrative Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|
2021 vs 2020 Change |
|
($ in thousands, except percentages) |
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
General and administrative expenses |
|
$ |
15,912 |
|
|
$ |
6,711 |
|
|
$ |
9,201 |
|
|
|
137 |
% |
Percent of revenue |
|
|
11 |
% |
|
|
7 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The increase in general and administrative expenses is primarily due to the increase of $4,538 in indirect
salary costs as a result of increased headcount as well as two directors commencing salary withdrawals from the business and the relevant National Insurance contributions from these. There was also an increase in the VAT provision held in the period
of $1,492. This also includes merger related expenses incurred by the business ($1,163). Consultancy costs increased by $532 which included the costs of preparing our financials to US GAAP. In addition to this, accountancy costs increased by $97 in
the period.
Related Party Rent Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|
2021 vs 2020 Change |
|
($ in thousands, except percentages) |
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
Related party Rent expenses |
|
$ |
665 |
|
|
$ |
536 |
|
|
$ |
129 |
|
|
|
24 |
% |
Percent of revenue |
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
92
Related party rent expense increased by $129 due to an increase in the license to occupy
held with the related party.
Other Operating (Expense)/Income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 2021 |
|
|
2021 vs 2020 Change |
|
($ in thousands, except percentages) |
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
Other operating income/(expenses) |
|
$ |
(997 |
) |
|
$ |
(86 |
) |
|
$ |
(911 |
) |
|
|
(1060 |
)% |
Percent of revenue |
|
|
(1 |
)% |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The increase in other operating expense was primarily due to increased foreign exchange costs of $1,341 in
2021 compared with $135 in 2020. As the business collects revenue from its customers in AUD, CAD, EUR, GBP and USD, the company holds cash balances in a variety of accounts that are subject to changes in foreign exchange rates. The business is
considering the use of financial instruments as a way of minimising this risk. The remaining difference is a result of the business receiving compensation from one of its merchant processors due to an issue in their reporting ($220).
Non-Operating Income/(Expense)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yearended December 31, |
|
|
2021 vs 2020 Change |
|
($ in thousands, except percentages) |
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
Non-Operating Income/(Expense) |
|
$ |
358 |
|
|
($ |
433 |
) |
|
$ |
790 |
|
|
|
182 |
% |
The business had increased interest costs in 2021 of $583 as a result of the Silicon Valley Bank loan taken
out in 2020 and 2021. The business utilised this to loan funds to its parent company System1 SS Protect Holdings Inc. The loan attracted interest income of $941 in 2021.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of
December 31, 2021, Protected had cash and cash equivalents of $35.1 million, which consists of amounts held with current banks and cash held in our merchant accounts.
Historically, Protecteds available liquidity and operations have been financed through the issuance of ordinary and preferred equity
securities. Protected has incurred substantial and negative cash flows from operations in every fiscal period up to December 2020. In 2021, with the effect of its renewing customer base became cash generative. In 2021, we achieved net income of
$43.6 million and generated $43.9 million in cash from operations and had an accumulated deficit of $45.7 million as of December 31, 2021. In addition, Protected has extended one of its major business relationships with the
provider of its antivirus licenses through 2025. Protected was also able to secure a loan facility in December 2020, described below under Debt.
Protected believes that its operating results and cash balance will be sufficient to fund its operations for the next 12 months from the date
of issuance of these financial statements. Future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including Protecteds rate of revenue growth and the level of expenditures of Protected. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, our
estimates and assumptions required increased judgment and carried a higher degree of variability and volatility. As events continue to evolve and additional information becomes available, our estimates may change materially in future periods. As of
the date of issuance of the consolidated financial statements, Protected is not aware of any specific event or circumstance that would require an update to its estimates, judgments or adjust the carrying value of its assets or liabilities. These
estimates used in the preparation
93
of Protecteds financial statements may change, as new events occur and additional information is obtained, and will be recognized in the consolidated financial statements as soon as they
become known. Actual results could differ from those estimates and any such differences may be material to Protecteds consolidated financial statements.
Debt
On December 17, 2020,
Protected entered into a new Facilities Agreement with Silicon Valley Bank that provides for a facility of up to $10.0 million (Facility A), and an additional facility (Facility B) up to $5.0 million,
not to be used until Facility A is fully used. Protected was charged an arrangement fee of $150 thousand in respect to Facility A and $75 thousand in respect to Facility B. The arrangement fee was paid on December 17, 2020 relating to
Facility A. The Facilities Agreement contains financial covenants, requiring a leverage ratio of between 2.50-3.00:1, and minimum liquidity amounts between $3.0 million and $5.0 million during the
period ending on the termination date of December 17, 2023. Facility A and Facility B both carry an interest rate of between 3.5% and 7.5% dependent on Protecteds financial performance. Repayments are at 3.75% of principal for the first
two years and 17.5% during the final year.
The total loan balance was $13.5 million and $10 million as of December 31, 2021 and
December 31, 2020, respectively. Deferred financing fees related to this loan totaled $141,052 and $148,194 as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The deferred financing costs are amortized over a straight-line
basis, which approximates the amortization under the effective interest rate method. Amortization of deferred financing costs during the year ended December 31, 2021 was $82,143.
Cash Flows
The following table
summarizes Protecteds cash flows for the periods presented:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
($ in thousands) |
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities |
|
$ |
43,887 |
|
|
$ |
(84 |
) |
Net cash provided used in investing activities |
|
|
(22,319 |
) |
|
|
(8,773 |
) |
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
2,976 |
|
|
|
9,850 |
|
Operating Activities
Protecteds operating cash flows are predominantly impacted by three primary factors; new customer revenue, subscription renewal revenue
and marketing costs.
As part of Protecteds model, marketing costs and customer acquisition cost (CAC) exceed new
customer revenue and average order value (AOV), which, on average, results in a loss to acquire each new customer. Importantly, Protected incurs no direct marketing costs for subscription renewals, and due to the renewal being
charged at full price, the AOV is higher than that of the initial subscription. The effect of no marketing expenditures on subscription renewals, greater AOV, and strong retention rates results in Year on Year (YoY) growth in operating cash flows
from the primary drivers and positive Return on Investment (ROI) on the customer base.
Subscription renewals also lead to increases in
deferred revenue year on year, which is referred to in Protecteds non-GAAP measures. The change in cash position during 2021 is reflected in the increase in deferred revenue each year, as revenue is
recognised over the term of the customers subscription period, whereas marketing costs are recognised at the time of sale.
94
Aside from the three primary underlying drivers mentioned above, staff costs (salaries,
bonuses and benefits) are the only other item that impacts operating cash flows in any material way. However, they do not grow linearly with revenue resulting in further increased operating cash flows over time.
In 2021, cash provided by operating activities of $43,887 resulted primarily from customer billings of $154,541 offset by advertising costs
($52,261) and payroll expenses ($7,350), and an increase in deferred revenue of $9,999 driven by a mix shift in revenue to renewing subscribers who typically pay a higher price for the product, as described above. For further information on the
increases in billings, advertising and payroll expense, please refer to the Results of Operations section above. During this period, the business has utilized its cash generated to help reduce its account payables by $3,118. The business also
carries an increased VAT liability of $5,037 which is linked to the increase in revenue in the period.
In 2020, cash used in operating
activities of $84 resulted primarily from customer billings of $107,871 offset by advertising costs ($80,113) and payroll expenses ($3,411), and an increase in deferred revenue of $18,084 driven by a mix shift in revenue to renewing subscribers who
typically pay a higher price for the product, as described above. For further information on the increases in billings, advertising and payroll expense, please refer to the Results of Operations section above. In 2020, the Company also settled its
VAT obligations to EU member countries which was outstanding at the end of 2019, leading to a $1,801 decrease in the VAT tax liability accrual for the period.
Investing Activities
Protecteds primary investing activities consist of the disposal of the customer base of Network Protect in August 2020, funds advanced to
System1 SS Protect Holdings, Inc., and the purchase of fixed assets.
In 2021, cash used by investing activities of $22.3 million was
primarily due to the funds advanced to System1 SS Protect Holdings.
In 2020, cash used by investing activities of $8.8 million was
primarily due to the funds advanced to System1 SS Protect Holdings.
Financing Activities
Protecteds financing activities consisted primarily of borrowings and repayments of our debt, as well as the payment of deferred
financing costs.
In 2021, cash provided by financing activities of $3.0 million was due to the drawdown of funds from Silicon Valley
Bank less any repayments in addition to the financing costs paid in relation to this loan. In 2020, cash provided by financing activities of $9.9 million was primarily due to the drawdown of funds from Silicon Valley Bank.
Contractual Obligations and Known Future Cash Requirements
Contingencies
From time to time,
Protected is subject to contingencies that arise in the ordinary course of business. Protected does not currently believe the resolution of any such contingencies will have a material adverse effect upon Protecteds consolidated balance sheets,
statements of comprehensive loss, or statements of cash flows.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
(GAAP). The preparation of our consolidated financial statements
95
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses and related disclosures. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions
on an ongoing basis. Estimates are based on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Our actual results could differ from these estimates.
We believe that the most significant estimates in our consolidated financial statements relate to business combinations, goodwill, the
estimate of variable consideration for revenue recognition, including the refund liability, impairment of long-lived assets, deferred taxes and the VAT liability as these have the greatest potential impact on the consolidated financial statements.
These are described below.
Business Combinations
We account for our business combinations under the provisions of ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations (ASC 805),
which requires that the purchase method of accounting be used for all business combinations. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including non-controlling interests, are recorded at the date of
acquisition at their respective fair values. The estimated fair value of net assets acquired, including the allocation of the fair value to identifiable assets and liabilities, is determined using established valuation techniques. The estimated fair
value of the net assets acquired determined using the income approach to valuation is based on the discounted cash flow method. Under this method, expected future cash flows of the business on a stand-alone basis are discounted back to a present
value. The estimated fair value of identifiable intangible assets, such as trade names, is determined using the cost to recreate method or a relief from royalty method depending on the asset acquired.
The most significant assumptions under the cost to recreate method is to value acquired intangible assets including the cost and time to build
the acquired technology as well as the developers profit and rate of return. Management develops these assumptions based on historical knowledge of the business and projected financial information of the Company. These assumptions may vary
based on future events, perceptions of different market participants and other factors outside the control of Management, and such variations may be significant to estimated values.
If the business combination provides for contingent consideration, we record the contingent consideration at fair value at the acquisition
date and any changes in fair value after the acquisition date are accounted for as a measurement-period adjustment. Changes in fair value of contingent consideration resulting from events after the acquisition date, such as earn-outs, are recognized
as follows: 1) if the contingent consideration is classified as equity, the contingent consideration is not re-measured and its subsequent settlement is accounted for within equity, or 2) if the contingent
consideration is classified as a liability, the changes in fair value are recognized in earnings.
Goodwill
Our methodology for allocating the purchase price relating to purchase acquisitions is determined through established valuation techniques.
Goodwill represents a residual value as of the acquisition date, which in most cases results in measuring goodwill as an excess of the purchase consideration transferred plus the fair value of any
non-controlling interest in the acquired company over the fair value of net assets acquired, including contingent consideration. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment
or one level below an operating segment) on an annual basis and between annual tests if a triggering event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. These
events or circumstances could include a significant change in the business climate, legal factors, operating performance indicators, competition, or sale or disposition of a significant portion of a reporting unit.
Management makes judgments about the recoverability of purchased intangible assets with finite lives whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that an impairment may exist. Recoverability of purchased
96
intangible assets with finite lives is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate. If the asset is considered
to be impaired, the amount of any impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the impaired asset. Assumptions and estimates about future values and remaining useful lives of our purchased intangible
assets are complex and subjective. They can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors such as industry and economic trends, and internal factors such as changes in our business strategy and our internal forecasts.
The goodwill recorded in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2021 was $283,809. In response to changes in industry and market
conditions, we could be required to strategically realign our resources and consider restructuring, disposing of, or otherwise exiting businesses, which could result in an impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets.
There was no impairment of goodwill or purchased intangible assets in the year ended December 31, 2021.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize
revenues from sales transactions which contain sales refund provisions at the time of the sale. The potential for customer refunds are considered a component of variable consideration under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606,
Revenue from contracts with customers, and are considered when estimating the transaction price for a sale. We use the expected value method to determine the amount of refunds using historical refund data. The amount of expected returns is
recognized as a refund liability, representing the obligation to return consideration to the customer. The total refund liability totalled $536,753 and $511,779 as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
Impairment of long-lived assets
We periodically evaluate long-lived assets held for use, which include property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of those assets may not be recoverable. Assets are grouped and evaluated for impairment at the lowest level of which there are identifiable cash flows. Such assets are reviewed for
impairment using factors including, but not limited to, our future operating plans and projected cash flows.
The determination of whether
impairment has occurred is based on an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows directly related to that asset or group of assets, compared to the carrying value of the assets. We recognize impairment if the sum of the undiscounted future cash
flows does not exceed the carrying value of the assets. For impaired assets, we recognize a loss equal to the difference between the net book value of the asset and its estimated fair value. Fair value is based on discounted future cash flows of the
asset using a discount rate commensurate with the risk. In addition, at the time a decision is made to sell or discontinue use of an asset or group of assets, we record an impairment charge, if appropriate, or accelerate depreciation over the
revised useful life of the asset. As of December 31, 2021, June 30, 2021, December 31, 2020 and 2019, management believed that no revision to the remaining useful lives or impairment of the Companys long-lived assets was
required.
Deferred Tax
Management exercises significant judgement in determining any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets. In assessing the need
for a valuation allowance, management considers all available positive and negative evidence bearing upon its ability to realize the deferred tax assets, including past operating results, estimates of future taxable income, reversal patterns of
taxable and deductible temporary differences and the feasibility of tax planning strategies. In the event we change our determination as to the amount of its deferred tax assets that can be realized, the valuation allowance is adjusted with a
corresponding impact to the provision for income taxes in the period in which such determination is made.
97
Our provision for income taxes is subject to volatility and could be adversely impacted by
earnings being lower than anticipated in countries that have lower tax rates and higher than anticipated in countries that have higher tax rates; by changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities; by tax effects of non-
deductible compensation; by tax costs related to intercompany realignments; by changes in accounting principles; or by changes in tax laws and regulations.
VAT Liability
We operate in a
number of international tax jurisdictions. Judgement is required in respect of the interpretation of state, federal and international tax law and practices as e-commerce and tax continues to evolve. We file
our tax returns and duty calculations and estimate our tax and indirect tax provisions based on current tax rules and practices, together with advice received from professional advisors and management believe that accruals for tax liabilities are
adequate. We have recorded a provision for Worldwide VAT and US sales tax of $9,140,811 and $6,366,454 as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The liability represents managements best estimate of amounts due for
sales tax and VAT due for sales that have occurred over the applicable periods subject to such indirect taxes. We have not been registered for sales tax in states where the Group had created a Nexus, or VAT in certain countries. We have started the
remediation process by appointing third party tax advisors to evaluate amounts due and disclosures to each tax jurisdiction. At the date of this statement the business has registered in (and began to settle) its historic VAT obligations in:
Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Recently issued and adopted accounting pronouncements are described in Note 2 to Protecteds consolidated financial statements included
elsewhere in this prospectus.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
We have operations within the U.S. and internationally, and are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of our business. These risks
include primarily foreign currency exchange risk, inflation, interest rate risk and credit risk.
Inflation
We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. However, if our
costs were to become subject to significant inflationary pressures, we may not be able to fully offset higher costs through price increases and our inability or failure to do so could potentially harm our business, financial condition, and results
of operations.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates on our term loan, which accrues interest at a variable interest rate of 3.5%-7.5%, payable on a quarterly basis. We have not used any derivative financial instruments to manage our interest rate risk exposure. As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the total loan balance
was $13,500,000 and $10,000,000. A hypothetical one percentage point increase or decrease in the interest rate would result in a corresponding increase or decrease in the interest expense of approximately $135,000 annually.
Credit Risk
Financial instruments
that potentially subject us to a concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and accounts receivable. Periodically, we maintain cash deposits in financial institutions in excess of government insured
limits. Management believes that we are not exposed to significant credit risk as the Companys cash deposits are held at financial institutions that management believes to be of high credit quality and Protected has not experienced any losses
in these deposits.
98
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
Our and our subsidiarys functional and reporting currency is the United States dollars (USD). Financial instruments and non-monetary assets denominated in currencies other than USD are remeasured at year end with operating income or loss recorded in the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
99
TREBIA MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references in this
section to Trebia, we, us, our,Company and other similar
terms refer to Trebia Acquisition Corp. and its subsidiaries prior to the Business Combination.
The
following discussion and analysis of Trebias financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with its audited financial statements and the notes related thereto which are included
elsewhere in this prospectus and in Trebias Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ
materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those set forth under Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,
Item 1A. Risk Factors and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 separately filed by the Company.
Overview
As of December 31, 2021,
we were a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or
more businesses. We reviewed a number of opportunities to enter into a business combination with an operating business.
On June 16,
2020, we consummated an initial public offering (the Initial Public Offering) of 51,750,000 units (consisting of one share of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, and one warrant to purchase one share of Class A common
stock, collectively, a Unit), including 6,750,000 Units issued pursuant to the exercise in full of the underwriters over-allotment option, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $517,500,000, and incurring offering costs
of $29,241,089 inclusive of $10,350,000 of underwriting fees, $18,112,500 of deferred underwriting fees, and $778,589 of other costs.
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we consummated the private placement (the Private Placement) of
8,233,334 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant in a private placement to Trasimene Trebia, LP, an affiliate of Trasimene Capital Management, LLC, and BGPT Trebia LP, an affiliate of Bridgeport Partners LLC
(collectively the Sponsors), generating gross proceeds of $12,350,000.
At December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, cash
of $53,147 and $843,643, respectively, was held outside of the Trust Account (as defined below) and was available for working capital purposes. Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering on June 19, 2020, an amount of $517,500,000
($10.00 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants was placed in a trust account (the Trust Account) located in the United States and invested in
U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund meeting
certain conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Investment Company Act), as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the
distribution of the funds in the Trust Account to the Companys shareholders, as described below.
The Companys management had
broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds applied generally toward completing a
Business Combination.
On June 28, 2021, we entered into a business combination agreement by and among Trebia, S1 Holdco, Trebia
Merger Sub I, Trebia Merger Sub II, Protected and the other parties thereto. On January 27, 2022, the Company consummated the Business Combination.
100
Results of Operations
We neither engaged in any operations nor generated any operating revenues prior to the Business Combination. Our only activities from inception
through December 31, 2021 were organizational activities, those necessary to prepare for the Initial Public Offering, described below, and, subsequent to the Initial Public Offering, identifying a target company for a Business Combination. We
do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our initial Business Combination. We incurred expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well
as for due diligence expenses in connection with searching for, and completing, a Business Combination. Additionally, we recognized non-cash gains and losses with other income (expense) related to changes in recurring fair value measurement of our
warrant and FPA liabilities at each reporting period.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we had net income of $21,026,763,
consisting of $23,699,501 of gain on change in fair value of warrant liability, $7,494,372 of gain on change in fair value of FPA liability and $3,160,168 of gain on termination of the FPA offset by formation and operating costs of $13,327,278.
For the period from February 11, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, we had a net loss of $29,914,748, which consisted of
formation and operating costs of $806,028, transaction costs allocated to warrant and FPA liabilities of $1,381,051, loss on change in fair value of warrant liability of $17,328,667, and loss on change in fair value of FPA liability of 10,399,002.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Until the consummation of the Initial Public Offering, our only source of liquidity was an initial purchase of common stock by the Sponsors and
loans from our Sponsors.
On June 19, 2020, we consummated the Initial Public Offering of 51,750,000 Units, inclusive of the
underwriters election to fully exercise their option to purchase an additional 6,750,000 Units, at a price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $517,500,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we
consummated the sale of 8,233,334 Private Placement Warrants to the Sponsor at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant generating gross proceeds of $12,350,000.
Following the Initial Public Offering, the exercise of the over-allotment option in full and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, a
total of $517,500,000 was placed in the Trust Account, and we had $1,994,558 of cash held outside of the Trust Account, after payment of costs related to the Initial Public Offering, and available for working capital purposes. We incurred
$29,241,089 in transaction costs, including $10,350,000 of underwriting fees, $18,112,500 of deferred underwriting fees and $778,589 of other costs.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, cash used in operating activities was $1,240,496. Net income of $21,026,763 was affected by
the change in the fair value of warrants of $23,699,501, change in the value of FPA liability of $7,494,372 and gain on termination of the FPA of $3,160,168. Changes in operating assets and liabilities which provided $12,086,782 of cash from
operating activities.
For the period from February 11, 2020 (inception) through ended December 31, 2020, cash used in operating
activities was $402,768. Net loss of $29,914,748 was affected by the transaction costs allocated to warrant and FPA liabilities of $1,381,051, change in fair value of warrant liability of $17,328,667, and change in fair value of FPA liability of
10,399,002. Changes in operating assets and liabilities, which provided $403,260 of cash.
As of December 31, 2021, we had cash held
in the Trust Account of $517,500,000. We used substantially all of the funds held in the Trust Account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the Trust Account, less taxes payable and deferred underwriting commissions, to complete
our Business Combination. To the extent
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that our share capital or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete a Business Combination, the remaining proceeds held in the Trust Account will be used as working capital
to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
As of
December 31, 2021, we had cash of $53,147 held outside the Trust Account. We used the funds held outside the Trust Account towards completing our Business Combination.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, our Sponsors or an
affiliate of our Sponsors or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. Upon completion of a Business Combination, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the Trust Account
released to us. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our Trust Account would be used for such
repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants, at a price of $1.50 per warrant, at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. No such loans were made as of December 31,
2021 and 2020, or as of the close of the Business Combination.
On July 13, 2021, Trasimene Trebia, LP (the Trasimene
Sponsor) and BGPT Trebia, LP (the BGPT Sponsor and, together with the Trasimene Sponsor, the Sponsors) made available to the Company a loan of up to $500,000 pursuant to two promissory notes issued to the Company from
the BGPT Sponsor in the amount of $212,500 and to Trasimene Sponsor $287,500. We are entitled to submit drawdown requests to the Sponsor from time to time and the proceeds from any amounts borrowed under the note will be used for on-going
operational expenses and certain other expenses. The notes are unsecured, non-interest bearing and mature on the earlier of: (i) May 31, 2022, or (ii) the date on which the Company consummates a Business Combination. On July 13,
2021, we drew-down $106,250 under the BGPT Note and $143,750 under the Trasimene Note. On August 9, 2021, the Company drew-down an additional $75,000 under the BGPT Note. As of December 31, 2021, the outstanding balance under the
promissory notes was $450,000. This amount was repaid upon closing of our Business Combination.
In March 2020, the World Health
Organization classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic, based on the rapid increase in exposure globally. The full impact of the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve. The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our results of operations, financial
position and cash flows will depend on future developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak, related advisories and restrictions, and the availability of a vaccine. These developments and the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the
financial markets and the overall economy are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. If the financial markets and/or the overall economy continue to be impacted for an extended period, our ability to complete our initial Business Combination may
be materially adversely affected due to significant governmental measures being implemented to contain the COVID-19 outbreak or treat its impact, including travel restrictions, and the shutdown of businesses and quarantines, among others, which may
limit our ability to have meetings with potential investors or affect the ability of a potential target companys personnel, vendors and service providers to negotiate and consummate our initial Business Combination in a timely manner.
Off-Balance Sheet Financing Arrangements
We have no obligations, assets or liabilities, which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2021. We do not
participate in transactions that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet
arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.
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Contractual Obligations
As of December 31, 2021, we did not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term
liabilities, other than an agreement to pay BGPT Trebia LP up to $10,000 per month for office space and administrative support services, provided to the Company. We began incurring these fees on June 16, 2020 and will continue to
incur these fees monthly until the earlier of the completion of a Business Combination and the Companys liquidation. This agreement was terminated upon the consummation of our Business Combination.
The underwriters are entitled to a deferred fee of $0.35 per Unit, or $18,112,500 in the aggregate. The deferred fee became payable to the
underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account upon the consummation of the Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Forward Purchase Agreement
On
June 5, 2020, the Company entered into a forward purchase agreement with Cannae Holdings, a diversified holding company which is externally managed by Trasimene Capital Management, LLC but is not an affiliate of the Company or the Sponsors,
pursuant to which Cannae Holdings agreed to purchase Class A ordinary shares in an aggregate share amount equal to 7,500,000 Class A ordinary shares, plus an aggregate of 2,500,000 redeemable warrants to purchase one Class A ordinary
share at $11.50 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $75,000,000, or $10.00 per Class A ordinary share, in a private placement to occur concurrently with the closing of the Business Combination. The warrants to be issued as part of the
forward purchase agreement were identical to the warrants sold as part of the units in the Companys initial public offering. In connection with the forward purchase securities sold to Cannae Holdings, the Sponsors received (by way of an
adjustment to their existing Class B ordinary shares) an aggregate number of additional Class B ordinary shares so that the initial shareholders, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, will hold 20% of the Companys Class A
ordinary shares at the time of the closing of the Business Combination. The obligations under the forward purchase agreement did not depend on whether any Class A ordinary shares are redeemed by the public shareholders.
In connection with the signing of the Business Combination Agreement and Backstop Agreement, Trebia and Cannae entered into FPA Termination
Agreement to terminate the June 5, 2020 Forward Purchase Agreement.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and income and expenses
during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have identified the following critical accounting policies:
Warrant and FPA Liabilities
The
Company accounts for the Warrants and FPA as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the specific terms of the Warrants and the FPA and applicable authoritative guidance in Financial Accounting
Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (ASC 480) and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815). The assessment considers whether the
Warrants and FPA are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the Warrants and FPA are
indexed to the Companys own ordinary shares and whether the holders of the Warrants could potentially require net cash settlement in a circumstance outside of the Companys control, among other conditions for equity
classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of issuance of the Warrants
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and execution of the FPA and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while the Warrants and FPA are outstanding. For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity
classification, such warrants are required to be recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, liability-classified
warrants are required to be recorded at their initial fair value on the date of issuance, and each balance sheets date thereafter. Changes in the estimated fair value of such warrants are recognized as a non-cash gain or loss on the statements of
operations.
We account for the Warrants and FPAs in accordance with ASC 815-40 under which the Warrants and FPAs do not meet the criteria
for equity classification and must be recorded as liabilities. The fair value of the Public Warrants has been estimated using the Public Warrants quoted market price. The fair value of the Private Placement Warrants is estimated using the
value of the Public Warrants quoted market price. The fair value of the FPAs was estimated using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow approach.
Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Redemption
We account for our ordinary shares subject to possible conversion in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification
(ASC) Topic 480 Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity. Class A ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption are classified as a liability instrument and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable ordinary
shares (including ordinary shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within our control) are classified as temporary equity. At
all other times, ordinary shares are classified as shareholders equity. Our Class A ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of our control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events.
Accordingly, Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders equity section of our balance sheets.
Net Income (loss) Per Ordinary Share
Net loss per ordinary share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the
period. We apply the two-class method in calculating earnings per share. Accretion of interest associated with the redeemable shares of Class A ordinary shares is excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates fair value.
Recent Accounting Standards
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material
effect on our financial statements.
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BUSINESS
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references in this Business section to the
Company, we, us, our and other similar terms refer to System1, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries after giving
effect to the Business Combination.
Our Business
System1 operates an omnichannel customer acquisition platform, delivering high-intent customers to our advertisers and to our own subscription
products. Our proprietary responsive acquisition marketing platform, or RAMP, has 3 primary components. First, RAMP utilizes machine learning to identify and direct marketing campaigns to potential customers across major advertising networks.
Second, once these potential intent-driven customers respond to or interact with our marketing efforts, RAMP directs them to our network of over 40 owned and operated websites which is focused on further qualifying customer purchase intent and
providing us with first party intent data. For the three months ended December 31, 2021, our websites, which include leading search engines like info.com and Startpage.com, and digital media sites and utilities such as HowStuffWorks, MapQuest and
WalletGenius, received an average of 185 million visits per month in the aggregate. Third, after potential customers reach our websites and we further qualify their purchase or consumer intent, RAMP enables us to monetize these customers by
delivering advertisements either provided by our advertisers or advertising networks or for our own proprietary subscription products.
RAMP. Our RAMP technology platform is the key to our business success, and expanding and scaling its capabilities has been the
focus of our software development, engineering efforts and acquisitions since our inception. Operating across a wide variety of major advertising networks, RAMP identifies potential customers, qualifies their purchase intent and then monetizes these
customers through our relationships with advertisers and advertising networks. RAMP also allows advertising platforms and publishers, which we refer to as our network partners, to direct user traffic to our websites or our advertising solutions,
which we then monetize on their behalf for a share of revenue generated. RAMP powers our network of owned and operated websites and will, following the Business Combination, power our subscription products.
Through RAMP, we process over 15 million advertising campaign optimizations and ingest 5 billion rows of data across over 50
advertising verticals on a daily basis. RAMP enables us to efficiently monetize user intent by linking data on consumer engagement, such as first party search data, with data regarding monetization and advertising spend. This context-enriched data,
combined with our proprietary and data science driven algorithms, creates a closed-loop system that is not reliant on personally identifiable information or information obtained through third-party cookies, but which allows RAMP to efficiently match
consumer demand with the appropriate advertiser or advertising experience across advertising verticals in order to yield optimized returns.
Our advertising channels. RAMP operates across a variety of advertising channels. The advertising networks we work with range
from the largest established networks like Google and Facebook to newer but growing networks like Taboola, Snap and Outbrain. We regularly evaluate add new advertising networks as they achieve scale.
We monetize customers across a range of over 50 major advertising verticals including health, subscription, finance, insurance, business and
technology, travel, auto, and other direct-to-consumer businesses. We believe our ability to efficiently acquire customers across a wide range of advertising verticals
is a key differentiator of our business. In the increasingly complex and fast-evolving marketplace of digital marketing, changing consumer demand is dictated by temporal and cyclical factors and personal preferences. Our ability to shift RAMPs
focus to match customer demand insulates our business from shifts in the economic cycle or changes in customer demand. Our advertisers and advertising networks comprise over 100 companies and include top brands and large global advertising networks
such as Google, Microsoft and Yahoo!.
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In connection with the Business Combination, we combined with Protected, a company that
markets and distributes a downloadable subscription consumer security and privacy software called TotalAV. Launched in 2016, Protected UK had 2.1 million paying subscribers as of December 31, 2021, and the business has grown to revenue of
$144.6 million in 2021. In late 2018, we acquired a majority interest in Protected UK, and subsequently sold this interest to a group of investors led by System1 and Protecteds existing management in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Protecteds downloadable software provides real-time antivirus protection, a safe-browsing / VPN feature, adblocking, identity-theft protection, blocking of malicious websites and data breach monitoring. The need for Protecteds products
is more critical than ever in todays increasingly digital world, where peoples information is increasingly vulnerable to digital attacks. This is more evident and necessary as people continue to transition to remote work from home
environments, conduct virtual meetings and actively engage in online gaming, streaming, shopping, telemedicine and other daily online transactions. Protected stands between todays cyber-criminals and its global subscriber bases digital
profiles, helping secure their personal and financial information and critical technology, including devices, identities and online privacy. We believe that Protecteds software will seamlessly integrate with our platform, and we expect it to
be the first of several online subscription products/services where customer acquisition is powered by RAMP.
Our Industry
Today, advertisers seeking to reach their target consumers are confronted by significant operational and systemic challenges. Legacy mediums,
including print, television and radio, represent a smaller and shrinking portion of media consumption than they have historically, as digital media formats, in particular those best served by mobile devices, have proliferated. Spending on digital
advertising has grown rapidly, reaching an estimated $152 billion in the United States in 2020, and projected to grow to $278 billion in 2024. Additionally, spending on digital advertising accounted for approximately 63% of total
advertising spend in 2020, a percentage that is expected to grow to almost 75% in 2024, continuing a trend of supplanting traditional advertising models to support advertisers customer acquisition efforts.
Digital marketing has become an increasingly complex ecosystem due to several trends. These trends include the rapid diversification of
digital platforms, ever-evolving and more sophisticated advertising networks and ad exchange platforms, increasing audience fragmentation, rapidly changing technology infrastructure and a greater regulatory and audience focus on consumer and data
privacy. As a result, advertisers continue to struggle to efficiently find high quality audiences that drive strong and consistent return on advertising spend. Since consumer demand is cyclical, constantly evolving and difficult to identify,
marketing strategies are often tied to particular channels or verticals, which in turn makes identifying intent-driven consumer demand at the appropriate decision point a challenge for advertisers. We believe we are well positioned to address these
challenges and match consumer demand with the appropriate advertiser, regardless of seasonality or economic cycle.
Some of the key
industry trends are as follows:
Advertisers Have Significantly Shifted Their Budgets from Traditional Media to a Diverse Array of
Digital Channels. Media content and advertising is increasingly becoming digital due to rapid advances in technology, increasing distribution channels and changes in consumer behavior. This shift has facilitated an unprecedented array of
options for advertisers to better target and measure their advertising campaigns across nearly every media channel and device-type. This seismic shift in and across digital advertising has placed a significant premium on advertising decisions that
are based on actual consumer behavior and temporal data. We believe that the digital advertising market will continue to grow and evolve rapidly, and that advertisers will shift more of their advertising spend to these digital media channels.
Better Execution Against Highly Fragmented Audiences. As digital media channels grow and consumption patterns change, highly
fragmented audiences make it challenging to consistently reach a large relevant audience. Individual media consumption is becoming more individualized and fragmented, as the audience spends more time on an increasing number of personal devices while
deciding what media to
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consume and search for rather than having those choices made for them in a large consistent platform. Both trends contribute to the ever-increasing demand from advertisers for programmatic
advertising platforms that integrate options to buy advertising and provide data on how to optimize the financial returns of an ad campaign.
Top Digital Advertisers Are Transitioning Budgets To Performance-Based Models Where Data And Analytics Drive Decision Making. In
the first half of 2019, at least 60% of online advertising spend was purchased using performance-based revenue models. The shift to digital performance-based advertising models can be explained by mounting pressure on advertisers to demonstrate
tangible results against their advertising efforts, and the corresponding shift of advertising budgets to distribution channels that facilitate the ability to better monitor results. We have designed RAMP to specifically address this constantly
evolving landscape. Through our network of owned and operated websites, we have access to valuable first party intent data, which our platform combines with real-time feedback on the intent-driven consumers reaction to ads, thereby increasing
the value of user traffic sent to advertisers and the publishers on which they are displayed.
Automation of Ad Buying. The
growing complexity and increasing speed of digital marketing and advertising decisions has increased the need for automation. Technology that enables fast, accurate and cost-effective decision-making through computer algorithms that use extensive
(and iterative) data sets has become critical for the success of digital advertising campaigns. By using programmatic inventory buying tools, advertisers are able to automate their campaigns, thereby providing them with better price discovery on an impression-by-impression basis. As a result, advertisers are able to efficiently bid on and purchase the advertising inventory they value the most, pay less for the inventory
they do not value as much, and abstain from buying advertising inventory that does not fit their campaign parameters or reach their target audience.
Regulatory and Audience Focus on Consumer & Data Privacy. Both digital audiences and
consumer focused regulatory bodies and agencies are becoming increasingly focused on consumer and data privacy, including the collection and sharing of their personal data, which places a premium on high-quality consumer intent data. Governing
bodies throughout the United States (including State and local governments), the European Union and other jurisdictions continue to respond to these growing consumer concerns by proposing and enacting new laws and regulations that are reshaping
industry standards regarding consumer privacy, data protection, and information security. As advertisers and publishers seek to remain compliant with this evolving regulatory landscape, while avoiding the reputational and financial costs of
potential investigations or fines, financial penalties or private actions, first party intent data (i.e. consumer intent data properly collected and used directly by the party offering the service or media content) becomes increasingly more
valuable. Our owned and operated search engines provide a continuous stream of anonymized and aggregated proprietary first party search intent data that is leveraged directly by RAMP, with transparency as to how such data was collected, processed,
and is used.
Our Opportunity
Traditional advertising agencies are focused on creative services and allocating large advertising budgets across media platforms, but are
often not as sophisticated in deploying the cutting-edge technology necessary to deliver responsive customers. While advertising consultants provide strategic advice, they are limited in their ability to deliver actual customers. Advertising buying
platforms are not able to offer our data-science and algorithmic driven optimization of real-time bids. Most digital marketing providers are confined to a few forms of monetization, like lead generation or display advertising, and are typically not
agnostic as to which method of monetization they employ. We believe we offer a differentiated platform, as we are channel and monetization-agnostic. We offer transparent measurement and real-time monitoring of return on advertising spend at a
detailed level, which allows for purchase and sale decisions to be based on predictive modeling in order to drive superior results from our various advertisers.
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Our Business Model
We initially began as a monetization platform that connected user traffic acquired by our network partners with advertising demand from our
advertisers and advertising networks. We have significantly expanded the scope of our platform through organic growth, strategic acquisitions and the development of RAMP, which enables us to control the user acquisition method, consumer experience
and monetization across user traffic. RAMP is integrated directly with our leading third-party search engines such as Google and Microsoft, as well as our owned and operated search and digital media publishing websites and utilities, while
supporting and utilizing multiple advertising formats across numerous platforms. RAMP is efficiently deployed across various websites and monetization channels, which has allowed us to accelerate our growth through the integration of multiple
websites over the past several years.
Attracting and Monetizing User Traffic through Owned and Operated WebsitesWe own
and operate over 40 websites, including search engines, publishing properties and utilities in a variety of verticals, including health, how-to, general interest, finance, business, technology, travel and
automotive. We work seamlessly with acquisition marketing channels to acquire additional user traffic to our properties. We deploy RAMP across our media properties to efficiently match consumer intent with our own products or services, or engage
advertisers that seek to bid for the ability to interact with these consumers. We utilize an efficient content production and distribution strategy through RAMP that is both data-driven and engaging.
Monetizing User Traffic for Our Network PartnersWe monetize user traffic on behalf of our more than 80 network partners,
which include Yahoo!, WebMD and Publishers Clearing House. These network partners are companies that direct traffic to us in exchange for a share of advertising revenue. In 2020, we processed approximately 1.5 billion annual searches and
delivered approximately $98,000,000 in revenue to our network partners.
Providing Optimization Services Directly to
AdvertisersWe also create and refine digital performance marketing solutions particularly tailored to our advertising clients products or services. Our
direct-to-advertiser business has demonstrated strong early performance and the potential for significant growth, generating approximately $10 million in revenue in
2020. We plan to continue to grow this business by working with new advertisers and scaling the volume of customers we acquire and deliver to our existing advertisers.
Drive New Subscribers to Subscription OfferingsWe will employ a similar strategy by utilizing RAMP to acquire new customers
to Protecteds security software subscription product, Total AV, as well as to future subscription products that Protected intends to offer in the future.
Our Proprietary Assets
At the core of
our business is our proprietary responsive acquisition marketing platform, or RAMP. RAMPs predictive power is (and will be, following the Business Combination with respect to our Subscription Products) informed and enhanced by the following:
Owned and Operated WebsitesWe own and operate websites where we are able to attract user traffic across channels and
present relevant offers. Our platform analyzes user interactions, builds a comprehensive view of the customers intent and enables advertisers to maximize return on their spend. The first party intent data that we are able to capture from our
owned and operated search and media sites is a differentiated element of our platform enabling more informed and targeted decision-making in the bid parameters that we provide to our network partners.
Subscription ProductsOur current subscription product, TotalAV, is a source of recurring subscription revenue. TotalAV
provides consumers with security and privacy online through a variety of features, including real-time antivirus and identity protection. Our goal is to be the trusted cyber security partner for consumers across the globe, by enabling our
subscribers to securely manage their digital lives across their various devices. As the risks to consumers continue to expand from device-based attacks to more
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sophisticated threats such as fraud, ransomware, identity theft and privacy intrusions, our products have evolved to provide a multi-layered approach in protecting against these threats,
detecting ongoing and/or future attacks and helping our subscribers manage their digital footprint across the internet, including their technology, applications, networks and identities. The cornerstone of our strategy is to provide consumers with a
secure platform that brings together software and service capabilities to enable all facets of cyber safety, including real-time antivirus protection, safe browsing / VPN, adblocking, blocking of malicious websites, and data breach monitoring.
TotalAV is managed by an experienced team of 68 employees who together have been awarded over 20 malware detection certifications from independent testers and industry trade-groups. We plan to continue expanding the scope of our platform through the
development of other subscription products.
System1s Focus on First Party DataIn addition to acquiring large
volumes of user traffic via RAMP, upon reaching our websites, RAMP utilizes its proprietary access to first party data in order to further qualify consumer intent and offer the most appropriate user experience and most effective monetization. We are
able to effectively do this at scale, and in September 2021, RAMP ingested approximately 5 billion rows of data daily across over 50 advertising verticals. We are able to combine this dataset with historical information on ad spend across
vertical categories, content and ad-creative automation and optimized monetization performance to provide a closed-loop view of the customer and advertising eco-system.
As a result, we have built a robust set of proprietary first party data based on nearly 500 million distinct search queries a month and a database of over 315 million keywords. This valuable first party data is used by RAMP to target
specific consumer audiences based on millions of precedent interactions, and allows us to provide our clients with deeper insights into consumer habits as they continue to interact with our owned and operated websites.
Network Partner IntegrationsRAMP is seamlessly integrated with acquisition marketing channels, such as Google, Facebook and
Taboola. This technical integration allows us to optimize our advertising campaigns and bids on a real time basis, where RAMP processes over 15 million campaign optimizations per day.
Our Strengths
We believe that we are
well positioned to continue to deliver high performance marketing solutions, including in the delivery of optimized bids and higher return on advertising spend, through the following strengths:
Proprietary TechnologyThe technology powering RAMP was designed to provide a dynamic closed-loop platform that is able to
operate efficiently at scale, while optimizing in real-time across several key advertising considerations, including dynamic ad pricing, consumer intent and historical consumer interaction with relevant ad content. The components of RAMP include our
programmatic buying platform, ad media interface, content and ad engine monetization decisioning, real-time revenue attribution, machine learning and data science algorithms, and back-end systems. As a result
of the seamless integration of these proprietary technologies, we are able to continually improve performance as we incorporate additional data and evolving product enhancements.
Omni-Vertical and Monetization Agnostic Service OfferingRAMP is designed to work across vertical consumer categories,
leveraging consumer data efficiently matched to consumer intent on a real-time basis. RAMP is also integrated with multiple forms of monetization, facilitating display and search advertising, lead generation, video,
e-commerce and subscriptions. We believe that our platform adds significant value across the entire digital marketing landscape.
Substantial First-Party Data Consumer InformationDuring the three months ended December 31, 2021, our websites had an
average of 185 million visits per month. As a result, we have collected significant data (across search queries and decision-making behavior) from consumers, including first party intent data, and data on how consumers have historically
responded to different types of ad content, creatives and formats.
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This data is stored within our platform, so that it can be analyzed and iteratively enriched as consumers return to our websites and continue to interact with us. When this data is fed into our
data science and machine learning algorithms, it becomes a powerful tool for identifying new monetization opportunities and increasing return on advertising spend.
Recurring RevenueOur subscription product, TotalAV, delivers recurring revenue from its over 2.1 million active paying
subscribers. We believe the synergies in integrating RAMP with TotalAVs customer monetization and relationship management platform have significant potential for additional high-value, point-of-sale monetization of consumers across a large and growing portfolio of online subscription offerings, where we intend to release both new and complimentary subscription products/services.
Proven M&A ExperienceWe have completed five acquisitions since January 1, 2018. We seek out complimentary or
ancillary businesses where we can benefit from identified synergies by relying on our industry expertise, significant acquisition experience and in-house strategies to seamlessly integrate targets into RAMP.
We have historically evaluated acquisition opportunities along several criteria, including building strong brands in advertising verticals, diversifying monetization capabilities, developing and augmenting new user acquisition channels, accelerating
international growth and demonstrating expansion of our owned and operated properties.
Experienced Management TeamOur
management team is founder-led, with a deep bench across product, engineering, business & corporate development and compliance. Our team is supported by approximately 375 employees worldwide as of
December 31, 2021, with over half of our team engaged in product, engineering and technical roles.
Our Growth Strategies
We believe RAMP can be efficiently deployed across the quickly evolving and rapidly expanding digital advertising market. As the total
available market for digital advertising expands, we believe we are well-positioned to deliver superior results and performance to advertisers and our network partners through our extensive relationships with leading advertisers and advertising
networks, and to better match consumers with the products or services that match their intent.
Our goal is to continue to improve and
extend the scope of RAMP by continuing to evolve and adapt to the ever changing landscape of new sources of online user traffic, better monetization tools and growing areas of advertising demand. To achieve this goal, we intend to continue to grow
our business by pursuing the following growth strategies:
Grow Existing Business Lines. We plan to expand the number of
advertising partners that are utilizing or integrated with RAMP by continuing to attract and monetize users with commercial intent to our owned and operated web properties in high value vertical consumer categories. We will also continue to monetize
users on behalf of our network partners.
Expand Our Direct to Advertiser Business. While we intend to continue to grow and
deepen our relationships with our third party advertisers and advertising networks, we believe there is a significant opportunity to grow our direct to advertiser relationships, both organically and via strategic acquisitions.
Expand Our Subscription Product Offerings. We believe identifying new customers for our current subscription product, TotalAV,
will demonstrate the power of applying RAMP to downloadable and similar subscription offerings, as we optimize to maximize return on advertising spend and increase the lifetime value of our subscribers. We plan to release new subscription product
offerings and use RAMP to acquire and monetize subscribers through these new and enhanced products.
Continue Executing Strategic
Acquisitions. We believe we are operating in a target-rich environment for strategic acquisitions that will enhance RAMP and add to our portfolio of owned and operated websites and subscription offerings. By continuing to execute on our
successful track-record of identifying, evaluating,
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executing and integrating M&A targets, we believe that we will be able to continue plugging new acquisitions into our overall business strategy to enhance RAMP and expand the diversity and
scope of our owned and operated properties.
Grow internationally. We plan to selectively expand our business to
international markets over time. In the year ended December 31, 2021, 19% of advertiser spend on our platform came from outside the United States, compared to 8% in the prior year. We believe that we can expand into these new markets by investing in
native language resources and continuing to invest in RAMP.
Our websites cover a diverse range of consumer demand and traffic. For example, MapQuest is a web-based navigation software that delivers turn-by-turn direction services to users. Info.com is a metasearch engine that consumers
can use to search for relevant information. HowStuffWorks is a commercial website focused on helping people solve problems in their daily lives by using various types of digital media to easily breakdown and explain complex concepts, terminology and
mechanisms. Startpage is the worlds most private search engine, allowing our users to browse and search the internet in complete privacy.
Protecteds online subscription consumer security and privacy software, TotalAV, provides award-winning antivirus protection to its users
by scanning, locating, quarantining and eliminating viruses, trojans, adware, spyware, ransomware and similar malicious actors in real-time. In addition to scheduled antivirus scans, TotalAV offers a website extension powered by an extensive
database of known malicious phishing URLs designed to steal and harvest personal data in order to block phishing URLs, as well as remote firewall access. TotalAV also provides enhanced performance as computers slow down over time by identifying
specific errors and programs which impact device performance. Protecteds SafeBrowsing (VPN) product encrypts users browsing data, ensures secure connections when users connect to public WiFi, and allows access to otherwise geo-restricted websites. TotalAV WebShield is an extension that detects and safely redirects searches away from websites that may pose a threat to a users system. Protected also has an ad blocking product,
Total Adblock, which is a plug-in that allows users to experience a cleaner browsing experience. It eliminates pop-ups, banners and video ads, which improves page load
times, and blocks third-party trackers to protect users privacy and information.
Employees
As of December 31, 2021, we had approximately 375 employees, of whom approximately 325 were in the U.S. Our team draws from a broad spectrum of
backgrounds and experiences. As of December 31, 2021, more
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than 50% of our employees were in functions related to technology, product, data science and analysis. None of our employees are represented by a labor union.
Intellectual Property
The protection of
our technology and intellectual property is an important driver of our success. We rely on intellectual property laws, including trade secret, copyright, patent and trademark laws in the U.S. and abroad, and use contracts, confidentiality
procedures, non-disclosure agreements, employee disclosure and invention assignment agreements and other contractual rights to protect our intellectual property. Our ability to continually develop new
intellectual property and deliver new functionality quickly serves to protect us against competitors. We believe RAMP, along with our proprietary technology assets, is unique in the marketplace, difficult to replicate and would be expensive and
time-consuming to build.
Government Regulation
We are subject to a number of foreign and domestic laws and regulations that affect companies conducting business over the internet and, in
some cases, using services of third-party telecommunications and internet service providers. These include, but are not limited to, laws and regulations addressing privacy, data storage, retention and security, freedom of expression, content,
taxation, advertising and intellectual property. Our ability, like those of other digital advertising companies, to collect, enhance, analyze, use and share data relies upon our ability to uniquely identify devices across websites and applications,
and to collect data about user interactions with those devices for marketing purposes, including the effectiveness of targeted ads. The processes used to identify devices and similar technologies are governed by U.S. and foreign laws and regulations
and dependent upon their implementation. Such laws, regulations, and industry standards may change from time to time, including those relating to the level of consumer notice and consent required before a company can employ cookies or other
electronic tools to collect data about interactions with users online. Protected also collects, uses, and stores an increasingly high volume, variety and velocity of personal information, in connection with the operation of its business,
particularly, in relation to Protecteds identity and information protection offerings, which rely on large data repositories of personal information and consumer transactions.
Legal Proceedings
We are currently
subject to an intellectual property lawsuit involving a U.K. based advertising testing company filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging: (i) trademark infringement, (ii) false designation of origin,
(iii) unfair competition and (iv) certain violations of New York business laws. On January 14, 2022, we filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which is currently pending, and we intend to vigorously defend the case. See Risk Factors
Risks Related to Intellectual Property.
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MANAGEMENT
The following sets forth certain information, as of the date hereof, concerning the persons who serve as directors and executive officers of
System1:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Age |
|
|
Position(s) |
Executive Officers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Blend |
|
|
54 |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer & Chairman |
Brian Coppola |
|
|
49 |
|
|
Chief Product Officer |
Paul Filsinger |
|
|
47 |
|
|
President |
Tridivesh Kidambi |
|
|
40 |
|
|
Chief Financial Officer |
Jennifer Robinson |
|
|
45 |
|
|
Chief Technology Officer |
Elizabeth Sestanovich |
|
|
57 |
|
|
Chief People Officer |
Daniel Weinrot |
|
|
48 |
|
|
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary |
Non-Employee Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Civantos |
|
|
54 |
|
|
Director |
William P. Foley, II |
|
|
77 |
|
|
Director |
Dexter Fowler |
|
|
35 |
|
|
Director |
Caroline Horn |
|
|
51 |
|
|
Director |
Moujan Kazerani |
|
|
46 |
|
|
Director |
Frank R. Martire, Jr. |
|
|
74 |
|
|
Director |
Christopher Phillips |
|
|
36 |
|
|
Director |
Jennifer Prince |
|
|
48 |
|
|
Director |
Executive Officers
Michael Blend is System1s co-founder and has served as System1s chief executive
officer since February 2021, and chairman of the board since 2013. Prior to System1, Mr. Blend was President/ COO of Leaf Group Ltd. (NYSE: LEAF), which he joined when Leaf Group acquired his data company, Hotkeys in 2006. Prior to Hotkeys,
Mr. Blend was vice president, corporate development for Jawbone from 2001 to 2003 and for Wedding Channel (acquired by The Knot) from 1999 to 2001. Mr. Blend currently serves on the board of directors of Nutrisystem, Inc. and
Protected.net, and has previously served on the board of directors of leading digital marketing and technology companies, including Dynata, Data Axle, among others. Mr. Blend was also the chairman of the board of Stuff Media from 2016 until it
was acquired by iHeart Media in 2018. Mr. Blend was the EY National Entrepreneur of the Year for Media, Entertainment & Communications in 2018, together with System1s other co-founder,
Charles Ursini. Mr. Blend received his JD from The University of Chicago, and holds a bachelors degree in mathematics from Duke University. We believe Mr. Blend is qualified to serve on the System1 Board because of his extensive
business and leadership experience in the digital advertising and technology industries.
Brian Coppola has been System1s
chief product officer since June 2019, and previously served as System1s vice president and then executive vice president of product since October 2015. Prior to System1, Mr. Coppola was the senior vice president of product at Amobee from
2013 to 2015, which he joined via SingTels acquisition of Adconion Direct in 2014. Mr. Coppola holds a bachelors degree in finance from Loyola Marymount University.
Paul Filsinger has been System1s president since April 2019, and previously served as System1s senior vice president of
media since April 2017. Mr. Filsinger joined System1 through its acquisition of Qool Media in 2017, where he served as chief technology officer. Prior to Qool Media, Mr. Filsinger was president and founder of World Wide Interactive from 2008 until
it was acquired by Qool Media in 2013, and chief technology officer of Geosign from 2001 to 2008.
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Tridivesh Kidambi has been System1s chief financial officer since 2016. Prior
to System1, Mr. Kidambi was the executive vice president, finance & analytics of TV Time from October 2015 to 2016, chief financial officer of EZ Texting from 2014 to 2015, and vice president, finance at Leaf Group Ltd. (NYSE: LEAF)
from 2007 to 2014. Mr. Kidambi currently serves on the board of directors of Protected.net. Mr. Kidambi received his MBA from Claremont Graduate Universitys Drucker School of Management, and holds a bachelors degree in
economics and mathematics from Claremont McKenna College.
Jennifer Robinson has been System1s chief technology officer since
May 2021. Prior to System1, Ms. Robinson was executive vice president, product & technology at Zefr, Inc., a contextual advertising company powered by patented machine learning technology since 2019, and chief technology officer at
AwesomenessTV (now a ViacomCBS company) from 2015 to 2018. Ms. Robinson received her MBA from NYUs Stern School of Business, and holds a bachelors degree in computer science from The University of Chicago.
Elizabeth Sestanovich has been System1s chief people officer since June 2021, and previously served as System1s chief
operations officer since August 2016. Prior to System1, Ms. Sestanovich was the founding partner and principal of Summit Advisors, a management consulting and advisory firm, from 2014 to 2016, and the chief executive officer and group publisher of
the LA Weekly & OC Weekly from 2002 to 2013. Ms. Sestanovich also held senior management positions at Carsdirect.com and The Los Angeles Times from 1993 to 2002. Ms. Sestanovich received her Masters in psychology and organizational
behavior from Pepperdine University, and holds a bachelors degree in psychology with a minor in economics from UCLA.
Daniel
Weinrot has been System1s general counsel since January 2018. Prior to System1, Mr. Weinrot was general counsel and deputy general counsel at Leaf Group Ltd. (NYSE: LEAF and f/k/a Demand Media, Inc. NYSE: DMD), a diversified digital
media and marketplaces company, from 2010 to 2018, and deputy general counsel at Las Vegas Sands Corp (NYSE: LVS), a leading international developer of integrated casino resorts, from 2006 to 2010. Mr. Weinrot started his career as a corporate
associate at Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles in 2000. Mr. Weinrot received his J.D. from The UCLA School of Law, and holds a bachelors degree in political economy from U.C. Berkeley.
Non-Employee Directors
John Civantos has been a member of our Board since February 2022. From August 2020 to March 2022, Mr. Civantos served as Co-Head of
Private Capital Group at MSD Partners, L.P. Prior to MSD Partners, Mr. Civantos served as a Managing Partner and was a member of the Investment Committee at Court Square Capital Partners, a U.S. middle market private equity firm, where he
worked from April 2004 to March 2019. At Court Square Capital Partners, Mr. Civantos was primarily involved in the firms efforts investing in the Business Services and Technology sectors. Mr. Civantos received his BA from Duke University and
his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He also holds an M.A. in International Affairs from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
William P. Foley, II is a co-founder of Trebia Acquisition Corporation and has served as the
Chairman of Cannae since July 2017 as well as the Managing Member and Senior Managing Director of Trasimene Capital Management, LLC, an investment advisory firm, since November 2019. Prior to Trasimene Capital he served as Executive Chairman at
Black Knight, Inc., a technology and analytics services company for the mortgage and real estate industries, from January 2014 to December 2019. Mr. Foley is a founder of Fidelity National Financial, Inc., and has served as the Chairman of the
Board of Directors of Fidelity National Financial, Inc. since 1984. Mr. Foley has also served as the Chairman of Foley Trasimene Acquisition Corp. I since May 2020, and before that as the Executive Chairman from March 2020 until May 2020.
Mr. Foley has also served as the Chairman of Foley Trasimene Acquisition Corp. II since July 2020 and as a Director of Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II since January 2021. Mr. Foley also serves as the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
and President of Foley Family Wines Holdings, Inc., and also as Executive Chairman and
114
Chief Executive Officer of Black Knight Sports and Entertainment LLC. Mr. Foley has served as a member of the board of directors of numerous companies including Black Knight, as Chairman
from December 2019 to June 2021 and subsequently as Chairman Emeritus; FGL Holdings, Inc. from April 2016 to June 2020 and Ceridian HCM Holding Inc. from September 2013 to August 2019. Mr. Foley also serves as the Chairman of The Dun &
Bradstreet Corporation. Mr. Foley received his MBA from Seattle University and his JD from the University of Washington. Mr. Foley holds a bachelors degree in engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point. We
believe Mr. Foley is qualified to serve on the System1 Board because of his extensive leadership experience at public companies.
Dexter Fowler is an American professional baseball outfielder who has played in 14 Major League Baseball (MLB) seasons, most recently
for the Los Angeles Angels since April 2021. Prior to the Angels, Mr. Fowler played for the St. Louis Cardinals from April 2017 to October 2020, for the Chicago Cubs from April 2015 to October 2016 and before that for the Houston Astros from
April 2014 to October 2014. Mr. Fowler began his MLB career with the Colorado Rockies in 2004. Mr. Fowler also represented the United States in the 2008 Summer Olympics, as a member of the United States national baseball team.
Mr. Fowler currently serves on the board of directors of Austerliz Acquisition Corporation I, a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company. We believe Mr. Fowler is qualified to serve on the System1 Board because of his
professional experience and experience in serving public company boards of directors.
Caroline Horn has been a Partner of
Andresseen Horowitz since April 2012 where she provides strategic advice to portfolio founders and CEOs on how to assess, hire, develop and retain the best executive talent. Additionally, Ms. Horn has served as an advisor at Strava since April 2014
where she provides strategic advice on hiring and people related issues. Previously, Ms. Horn served as an Executive Recruiting Manager and Executive Recruiter for Global Leadership for Google, Inc. (NYSE: GOOGL) from September 2004 to April 2012.
Ms. Horn holds a bachelors degree in Anthropology from Dartmouth College. We believe Ms. Horn is qualified to serve on the System1 Board because of her leadership experience and expertise in company scaling and technology sectors.
Moujan Kazerani has been a Founding Partner of Stibel Investments since co-founding it in December 2010, and Bryant Stibel since
co-founding it in November 2013. Previously, Ms. Kazerani served as General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer & Head of HR and Culture at Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corporation and later as Leader of Global Corporate Strategy for D&B
(NYSE: DNB) from September 2010 to July 2017. Prior to D&B, Ms. Kazerani served as General Counsel & Secretary at Zag.com which launched and merged with TrueCar, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRUE) from November 2006 to September 2010 and advised on the
companys compensation and audit committees of the board. Ms. Kazerani started her career as a corporate associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Ms. Kazerani currently serves on the board of directors of RingDNA, and Tailwind
International Acquisition Corp. where she also serves on its audit committee. She received her JD from The UCLA School of Law and holds a bachelors degree in psychology from U.C. Berkeley. We believe Ms. Kazerani is qualified to serve on
the System1 Board because of her substantial operational and executive experience.
Frank R. Martire, Jr. is a co-founder of Trebia
Acquisition Corp. and has served as a director since February 2020. He has served as a director of Foley Trasimene since May 2020. In addition, he has served as a director of Cannae since November 2017. Mr. Martire has served as the Executive
Chairman of NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) since May 2018. Mr. Martire served as Chairman of FIS from January 2017 until May 2018. Mr. Martire served as Executive Chairman of FIS from January 2017 until May 2018, and as Executive Chairman of FIS from
January 2015 through December 2016. Mr. Martire served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of FIS from April 2012 until January 2016. Mr. Martire joined FIS and President and Chief Executive Officer after its acquisition of
Metavante in October 2009, where he had served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since January 2003. Mr. Martire served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Call Solutions, Inc. from 2001 to 2003 and President and Chief
Operating Officer, Financial Institution Systems and Services Group of Fiserv from 1991 to 2001. Mr. Martires qualifications to
115
serve on the System1 Board include his years of experience in providing technology solutions to the banking industry, particularly his experience with FIS and Metavante, his knowledge of and
contacts in the financial services industry, his strong leadership abilities and experience in driving growth and results in large complex business organizations. We believe Mr. Martire is qualified to serve on the System1 Board because of his
extensive leadership experience at public companies.
Christopher Phillips is a co-founder of Protected.net and has served as both
its Chief Executive Officer and a director since May 2016. In addition, he has been the Chief Executive Officer of Just Develop It since he co-founded it in 2008. Previously, Mr. Phillips was Chief Executive Officer and Director of WZUK, a global
provider of websites and web hosting. He held both positions from April 2014 until the company was sold to Endurance International Group in July 2017. From January 2011 to January 2015, Mr. Phillips served as Chief Executive Officer of JDI Backup, a
leading provider of cloud storage services. We believe Mr. Phillips is qualified to serve on the System1 Board because of his business and leadership experience.
Jennifer Prince is the Chief Commercial Officer of the Los Angeles Rams, an American football team in the National Football League, a
position that she recently started in December 2021. From December 2020 through December 2021 Ms. Prince served as the global VP and head of global content partnerships for Twitter, where she led the social networks worldwide efforts
engaging with media entities and individual creators since 2013. Prior to Twitter, Ms. Prince was head of industry for film and television at Google and head of media and entertainment at YouTube from April 2011 to August 2013. Ms. Prince
was also SVP of advertising at Demand Media from June 2007 to April 2011. Ms. Prince currently serves on the board of directors of Versus Systems Inc. and Ghostcast Inc. Ms. Prince holds a bachelors degree in communications from U.C.
Santa Barbara. We believe Ms. Prince is qualified to serve on the System1 Board because of her substantial leadership experience and media expertise.
Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Business Conduct
Our Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that address items such as the qualifications and responsibilities of its directors and
director candidates and corporate governance policies and standards as applicable. In addition, our Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of its employees, officers and directors, including its Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other executive and senior financial officers. The full text of Our Corporate Governance Guidelines and its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted on the Corporate Governance portion of Our website.
Board Composition
When considering
whether directors and director nominees have the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, taken as a whole, to enable our Board to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively in light of its business and structure, our Board expects
to focus primarily on each persons background and experience as reflected in the information discussed in each of the directors individual biographies set forth above in order to provide an appropriate mix of experience and skills
relevant to the size and nature of its business.
Director Independence
Our Class A Common Stock is listed on NYSE. NYSE listing standards require that a majority of our Board be independent. An
independent director is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of System1 or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship with System1 which in the opinion of our Board, could interfere with the
directors exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. We have independent directors as defined in NYSEs listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our Board has determined that John
Civantos, William P. Foley, II., Dexter Fowler, Caroline Horn, Moujan Kazerani, Frank R Martire, Jr. and Jennifer Prince are independent directors as defined in the NYSE listing standards and applicable SEC rules.
116
Committees of the Board
Our Board directs the management of its business and affairs, as provided by Delaware law, and conducts its business through meetings of the
board of directors and standing committees. We have a standing audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee, each of which operate under a written charter.
In addition, from time to time, special committees may be established under the direction of our Board when it deems it necessary or advisable
to address specific issues. Current copies of our committee charters have been posted on our website, www.system1.com, as required by applicable SEC and the NYSE rules. The information on or available through any of such website is not deemed
incorporated in this prospectus and does not form part of this prospectus.
Audit Committee
Our audit committee consists of Frank R. Martire, Jr., Moujan Kazerani and Jennifer Prince with Frank R. Martire, Jr. serving as the chair of
the committee. Our Board has determined that each of these individuals meets the independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Rule 10A-3 under the
Exchange Act and the applicable listing standards of the NYSE. Each member of our audit committee meets the requirements for financial literacy under the applicable NYSE rules. In arriving at this determination, our Board has examined each audit
committee members scope of experience and the nature of their prior and/or current employment.
Our Board has determined that Frank
R. Martire, Jr. qualifies as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of SEC regulations and meets the financial sophistication requirements of the NYSE rules. In making this determination, our Board has considered Frank R. Martire,
Jr.s formal education and previous and current experience in financial and accounting roles. Both our independent registered public accounting firm and management periodically will meet privately with our audit committee.
The audit committees responsibilities include, among other things:
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appointing, compensating, retaining, evaluating, terminating and overseeing our independent registered public
accounting firm; |
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|
discussing with our independent registered public accounting firm their independence from management;
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|
reviewing with our independent registered public accounting firm the scope and results of their audit;
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pre-approving all audit and permissible
non-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm; |
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|
overseeing the financial reporting process and discussing with management and our independent registered public
accounting firm the interim and annual financial statements that System1 files with the SEC; |
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|
reviewing and monitoring our accounting principles, accounting policies, financial and accounting controls and
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; |
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|
establishing procedures for the confidential anonymous submission of concerns regarding questionable accounting,
internal controls or auditing matters; and |
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the performance of our internal function. |
Compensation Committee
Our compensation
committee consists of Moujan Kazerani, Frank R. Martire, Jr. and Jennifer Prince, with Moujan Kazerani serving as the chair of the committee. Each of these individuals are non-employee directors, as
117
defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Our Board has determined that each of these individuals are independent as defined
under the applicable the NYSE listing standards, including the standards specific to members of a compensation committee. The compensation committees responsibilities include, among other things:
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reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our Chief Executive
Officer, evaluating the performance of our Chief Executive Officer in light of these goals and objectives and setting or making recommendations to the Board regarding the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer; |
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reviewing and setting or making recommendations to our Board regarding the compensation of our other executive
officers; |
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making recommendations to our Board regarding the compensation of our directors; |
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reviewing and approving or making recommendations to our Board regarding our incentive compensation and
equity-based plans and arrangements; and |
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appointing and overseeing any compensation consultants. |
We believe that the composition and functioning of our compensation committee meets the requirements for independence under the current the
NYSE listing standards.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Our nominating and corporate governance committee consists of Caroline Horn, Dexter Fowler and Jennifer Prince, with Caroline Horn serving as
the chair of the committee. Our Board has determined that each of these individuals is independent as defined under the applicable listing standards of the NYSE and SEC rules and regulations.
The nominating and corporate governance committees responsibilities include, among other things:
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identifying individuals qualified to become members of our Board, consistent with criteria approved by our Board;
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recommending to our Board the nominees for election to System1s Board at annual meetings of our
stockholders; |
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overseeing an evaluation of our Board and its committees; and |
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developing and recommending to our Board a set of corporate governance guidelines. We believe that the
composition and functioning of our nominating and corporate governance committee meets the requirements for independence under the current the NYSE listing standards. |
Our Board may from time to time establish other committees.
Code of Ethics
We have a code of ethics
that applies to all of its executive officers, directors and employees, including its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions. The code of ethics is
available on our website, www.system1.com.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our executive officers currently serves, or has served during the last year, as a member of the board of directors or compensation
committee of any entity, other than System1, that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of our Board.
118
Related Person Policy of System1
Our Board has adopted a written related person transaction policy that sets forth the following policies and procedures for the review and
approval or ratification of related person transactions.
A Related Person Transaction is a transaction, arrangement or
relationship in which System1 or any of its subsidiaries was, is or will be a participant, the amount of which involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any related person had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. A
Related Person means:
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any person who is, or at any time during the applicable period was, one of Our executive officers or a member of
Our Board; |
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any person who is known by System1 to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our voting stock;
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any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, which means any child, stepchild, parent,
stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law,
daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law of a director, officer or a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our voting stock, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such director, executive officer or
beneficial owner of more than 5% of our voting stock; and |
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any firm, corporation or other entity in which any of the foregoing persons is a partner or principal or in a
similar position or in which such person has a 10% or greater beneficial ownership interest. |
We have policies and
procedures designed to minimize potential conflicts of interest arising from any dealings it may have with its affiliates and to provide appropriate procedures for the disclosure of any real or potential conflicts of interest that may exist from
time to time. Specifically, pursuant to its audit committee charter, the audit committee has the responsibility to review related person transactions.
119
EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
This section discusses the material components of the executive compensation program for our executive officers who are named in the
2021 Summary Compensation Table below. In 2021, our named executive officers and their positions were as follows:
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|
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Ian Weingarten, Chief Executive Officer (2020-February 2021) |
|
|
|
Michael Blend, Chief Executive Officer (February 2021-present) |
|
|
|
Tridivesh Kidambi, Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
Jennifer Robinson, Chief Technology Officer |
We note that Mr. Weingarten terminated employment with us on February 22, 2021. Michael Blend, our
Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board, replaced Mr. Weingarten as our Chief Executive Officer in February 2021. Mr. Blend currently receives a nominal base salary in the amount of $0.26
annually, and did not receive any cash compensation or incentive equity awards from us during either 2020 or 2021.
This discussion may
contain forward-looking statements that are based on our current plans, considerations, expectations and determinations regarding future compensation programs. Actual compensation programs that we adopt following the closing of the Business
Combination may differ materially from the currently planned programs summarized in this discussion.
2021 Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of our named executive officers for the years ended December 31,
2020 and 2021.
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Name and Principal Position |
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Year |
|
|
Salary ($) |
|
|
Bonus ($) |
|
|
Option Awards ($)(3) |
|
|
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) (4) |
|
|
All Other Compensation ($) (5) |
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Total ($) |
|
Ian Weingarten |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
$ |
70,769 |
(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
381,402 |
|
|
$ |
452,171 |
|
Chief Executive Officer (2020) (1) |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
$ |
400,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
104,000 |
|
|
|
10,600 |
|
|
$ |
514,600 |
|
Michael Blend |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
Chief Executive Officer (2021) |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
Tridivesh Kidambi |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
$ |
300,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
456,225 |
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
53,585 |
|
|
$ |
884,810 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
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|
2020 |
|
|
$ |
300,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
293,869 |
|
|
$ |
623,869 |
|
Jennifer Robinson |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
$ |
178,846 |
(2) |
|
$ |
80,000 |
(6) |
|
|
251,600 |
|
|
|
75,288 |
|
|
|
5,077 |
|
|
$ |
590,811 |
|
Chief Technology Officer |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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(1) |
Mr. Weingarten terminated employment and ceased to be our Chief Executive Officer, effective as of
February 22, 2021, and was succeeded by Michael Blend, who is also our Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board. |
(2) |
Amounts paid to Mr. Weingarten and Ms. Robinson reflect the
pro-rated amount of their base salary paid to them in 2021, based on the length of their actual employment with us in 2021. |
(3) |
Amounts reflect the full grant-date fair value of Series F Units in OpenMail and Value Creation Units
(VCUs) granted during 2021, computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, rather than the amounts paid to or realized by the named individual. We provide information regarding the assumptions used to calculate the value of grants made to
executive officers in our Notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus. |
(4) |
Non-equity incentive plan compensation consists of payments made pursuant to our annual incentive bonus program
based on our pro-forma billings-based adjusted EBITDA performance. The 2021 bonus for Ms. Robinson was pro-rated to reflect her partial year of service. Neither Messrs. Weingarten nor Blend participated in our 2021 annual cash incentive program.
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(5) |
For fiscal year 2021, all other compensation consists of: |
(a) Employer-match contributions to our 401(k) plan on behalf of Messrs. Weingarten and Kidambi and Ms. Robinson in the amounts of $2,831,
$9,808, and $5,077, respectively;
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(b) Distributions not taken into account in determining grant-date fair value under ASC Topic
718 in respect of Series B Units issued by Openmail to Mr. Kidambi in the amount of $43,777; and
(c) Severance which became payable to
Mr. Weingarten upon his termination of employment in February 2021 in the amount of $378,571, consisting of (i) continued payment of his base salary in effect at the time of termination for a period of 6 months (in an aggregate amount of
$200,000), (ii) payment of fifty percent (50%) of his annual target bonus (in an amount of $130,000), and (iii) company-subsidized COBRA premiums for up to eighteen months following termination (in an aggregate value of $48,571).
(6) |
Represents a one-time signing bonus paid to Ms. Robinson in
connection with her commencement of employment with us in May 2021. |
2021 Salaries
Each of our named executive officers (other than Mr. Blend) receives a base salary to compensate for services rendered to our company. The
base salary payable to each named executive officer is intended to provide a fixed component of compensation reflecting and accounting for the executives skill set, experience, role and responsibilities. The base salary amounts earned by our
named executive officers for 2021 are set forth above in the Summary Compensation Table in the column entitled Salary. As of December 31, 2021, the annual base salary for each of Mr. Kidambi and Ms. Robinson was $300,000.
We expect to further evaluate the base salaries of our executive officers, including our named executive officers, in consultation with our compensation consultant, in connection with consummating the Business Combination and periodically
thereafter.
2021 Cash Incentive Compensation
2021 Annual Cash Incentive Compensation
Our named executive officers (other than Mr. Blend) are eligible to earn annual cash incentives under our annual incentive program,
determined as a percentage of the applicable officers base salary and based on our operating and financial performance, including our annual pro-forma billings based adjusted EBITDA performance, as well
as the named executive officers contributions to our operating and financial performance. Annual cash incentives for Mr. Kidambi and Ms. Robinson are targeted at 25% and 40% of the applicable officers base salary, respectively.
Mr. Weingarten did not participate in our 2021 annual incentive program because his employment with us terminated in February 2021. In addition, as noted above, Mr. Blend does not currently (and did not in 2020) participate in our annual
cash incentive program. The actual annual cash bonuses awarded to Mr. Kidambi and Ms. Robinson are set forth in the Summary compensation Table above in the column entitled Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.
Signing Bonus
In May
2021, in connection with her commencement of employment with us, Ms. Robinson received a one-time signing bonus equal to $80,000. If Ms. Robinsons employment is terminated for cause
or due to her resignation without good reason (each as defined in her employment agreement with us) during the first year of her employment, the signing bonus is repayable to the Company (either in full or, if the termination occurs
after the first six months of her employment, with respect to a pro-rata portion thereof).
Equity Compensation
During 2021, in connection with the entry into her employment agreement, we granted 100,000 VCUs to Ms. Robinson under the S1
Holdco 2017 Value Creation Plan. Each VCU represented an appreciation right entitling Ms. Robinson to a share of our appreciated value above the VCU distribution threshold (or strike price), which was $10.00 per VCU with respect to
Ms. Robinsons 2021 VCU grant. Ms. Robinsons VCUs are eligible to vest as to 25% of the awarded VCUs on the first anniversary of the vesting start date (which was the commencement of her employment in May 2021) and, with respect
to the remaining 75% of the awarded VCUs,
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in substantially equal quarterly installments thereafter through the fourth anniversary of the vesting start date, subject to Ms. Robinsons continued service through the applicable
vesting date, and further subject to accelerated vesting in certain circumstances.
In addition, during 2021, Mr. Kidambi received a grant
of 52,500 Series F Units in Openmail, which are intended to constitute profits interests for federal income tax purposes. Such Series F Units are were originally eligible to vest in full upon the later of (i) May 1, 2022
or (ii) the date on which Openmail disposes of its entire ownership interest in Mr. Kidambis employer, in each case, subject to his continued employment through the applicable vesting date. However, simultaneously with the closing of
the Business Combination, the Series F Units were amended such that the Series F Units will vest in full on May 1, 2022 (subject to Mr. Kidambis continued employment through such date).
In connection with the Business Combination, our Board adopted, and our stockholders approved, the 2022 Incentive Award Plan (referred to
herein as the 2022 Plan).
Other Elements of Compensation
Retirement Plans
We currently
maintain a 401(k) retirement savings plan for our employees, including our named executive officers, who satisfy certain eligibility requirements. We expect that our named executive officers will continue to be eligible to participate in the 401(k)
plan on the same terms as other full-time employees. The Internal Revenue Code allows eligible employees to defer a portion of their compensation, within prescribed limits, on a pre-tax basis through
contributions to the 401(k) plan. Currently, we match contributions made by participants in the 401(k) plan up to a specified percentage of the employee contributions, and these matching contributions are fully vested as of the date on which the
contribution is made. We believe that providing a vehicle for tax-deferred retirement savings though our 401(k) plan, and making fully vested matching contributions without any minimum prior service period,
adds to the overall desirability of our executive compensation package and further incentivizes our employees, including our named executive officers, in accordance with our compensation policies.
Employee Benefits and Perquisites
Health/Welfare Plans. All of our full-time employees, including our named executive officers, are eligible to participate in our health
and welfare plans, which also cover their respective eligible dependents, including:
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medical, dental and vision benefits; |
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medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts; |
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short-term and long-term disability insurance; and |
We believe the perquisites described above are necessary and appropriate to provide a competitive compensation package to our named executive
officers.
No Tax Gross-Ups
We do not make gross-up or similar payments to cover any of our named executive officers personal
income taxes that may pertain to compensation or perquisites paid or provided by our company, including with respect to any taxes that may arise under or by operation of Internal Revenue Code Sections 280G or 409A.
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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
The following table summarizes the number of shares of common stock underlying outstanding equity incentive plan awards for each
named executive officer as of December 31, 2021. We note that Mr. Blend, our current CEO, did not hold any outstanding equity awards as of December 31, 2021.
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Option Awards |
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Stock Awards |
Name |
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Grant Date |
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Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable |
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Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable |
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Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) |
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Option Exercise Price / Distribution Threshold ($) |
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Option Expiration Date |
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Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) |
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Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) |
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Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) |
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Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have
Not Vested ($) |
Ian Weingarten |
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1/02/2018 (1) |
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37,500] |
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10.00 |
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01/08/2024 |
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4/15/2019 (2) |
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$2,824,500 |
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Tridivesh Kidambi |
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4/17/2018 (3) |
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3,125 |
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7.09 |
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N/A |
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4/18/2018 (1) |
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25,000 |
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10.00 |
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4/19/2024 |
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2/1/2019 (1) |
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50,000 |
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10.00 |
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3/13/2025 |
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2/1/2019 (4) |
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300,000 |
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9.23 |
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N/A |
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5/1/2021 (5) |
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52,500 |
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9.23 |
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N/A |
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Jennifer Robinson |
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5/17/2021 (1) |
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100,000 |
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10.00 |
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N/A |
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(1) |
These S1 Holdco VCUs will fully vest upon satisfaction of both a service-vest and performance-vest (liquidity
event) condition. The service-vest condition is satisfied based on continued service as a director of the Company or employment (as applicable) over a four-year period, with 25% of the VCUs service-vesting on the first anniversary of the vesting
commencement date and the remaining 75% of the VCUs service-vesting in substantially equal quarterly increments for three years thereafter, subject to continued service or employment (as applicable) through the applicable service vesting date. The
performance-vest condition is satisfied upon the occurrence of a change in control or certain public offerings of our securities (or those of our affiliate), in any case, occurring on or prior to the expiration date, which occurs six years from the
date of grant. |
(2) |
This amount reflects the value of an unvested profits interest granted to Mr. Weingarten in April 2019
(referred to below as the Profits Interest) in connection with his initial employment as our former Chief Executive Officer, which entitled Mr. Weingarten to 5% of distributions made by S1 Holdco, LLC after a return on invested
capital to its existing investors, subject to a participation threshold of $300,000,000 (which threshold was subject to adjustment as set forth in System1 Holdco, LLCs operating agreement). The Profits Interest was eligible to vest over a
period of four years from the date of grant in substantially equal quarterly increments based on Mr. Weingartens continued employment through the applicable vesting date, subject to 50% accelerated vesting upon certain qualifying
transactions (based on continued employment through the applicable transaction) and 100% accelerated vesting upon an involuntary termination within three months after a qualifying transaction. A portion of Mr. Weingartens Profits Interest
was deemed vested in connection with his termination of employment, a portion was forfeited, and a portion remained unvested as of December 31, 2021, in each case, as described below under Executive Compensation Arrangements.
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(3) |
These Openmail Series B-1 Units are intended to constitute
profits interests for federal income tax purposes, and vest with respect to 25% of the award on the first anniversary of the vesting start date, and with respect to 75% of the award quarterly thereafter (referred to below as the
Openmail Vesting Schedule), subject to the executives continued service through the applicable vesting date, and vested in full upon the closing of the Business Combination. |
(4) |
These Openmail Series F Units are intended to constitute profits interests for federal income tax
purposes, and vest upon the later of a liquidation event based on continued service through the liquidation event, except that if a liquidation event occurs within four years following the date of grant, then only the number of profits interests
that would have vested as of the liquidation event based on the Openmail Vesting Schedule will vest upon the liquidation event, and the remainder of the award will vest on the Openmail Vesting Schedule based on continued service through the
applicable vesting date. However, concurrently with the closing of the Business |
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Combination, such Series F units were amended such that the Series F units became 50% vested upon the closing of the Business |
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Combination, and the remaining 50% will vest in eight equal installments on each of the first eight quarterly anniversaries of the closing thereafter (subject to the applicable executives
continued employment through such date). |
(5) |
These Openmail Series F Units are intended to constitute profits interests for federal income tax
purposes, and originally vested upon the later of (i) May 1, 2025 or (ii) the date on which Openmail disposes of its entire ownership interest in the applicable executives employer, in each case, subject to the applicable
executives continued employment through the applicable vesting date. However, concurrently with the closing of the Business Combination, such Series F Units were amended such that the Series F Units will vest in full on May 1, 2022 (subject to
Mr. Kidambis continued employment through such date). |
Executive Compensation Arrangements
We are party to employment agreements with each of Mr. Kidambi and Ms. Robinson. The Company was previously party to an employment
agreement with Mr. Weingarten, which was terminated in connection with his termination of employment. In connection with his termination, the Company entered into a separation agreement with Mr. Weingarten. Mr. Kidambis and
Ms. Robinsons employment agreements and Mr. Weingartens separation agreement are summarized below.
Tridivesh
Kidambi Employment Agreement
We are party to an employment agreement with Mr. Kidambi that was entered into by our predecessor
entity in October 2016, pursuant to which Mr. Kidambi serves as our Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Kidambis employment agreement sets forth the initial terms and conditions of his employment, including his initial base salary and
signing bonus. Under his employment agreement, if Mr. Kidambis employment with us is terminated without cause (as defined therein) or by Mr. Kidambi for good reason (as defined therein), he will be eligible
for the following severance benefits (in addition to any accelerated vesting separately provided under applicable award agreement(s)): (i) continued payment of his then-current base salary for 3 months and (ii) company-subsidized COBRA premiums
for up to 6 months.
Jennifer Robinson Employment Agreement
We are party to an employment agreement with Ms. Robinson that was entered into in May 2021, pursuant to which Ms. Robinson serves as
our Chief Technology Officer. Ms. Robinsons employment agreement sets forth the initial terms and conditions of her employment, including her initial base salary of $300,000, a signing bonus of $80,000 (discussed above under 2021
Cash Incentive CompensationSigning Bonus), and an annual bonus targeted at 40% of her base salary. Under her employment agreement, if Ms. Robinsons employment with us is terminated without cause (as defined
therein) or by Ms. Robinson for good reason (as defined therein), she will be eligible for the following severance benefits (in addition to any accelerated vesting separately provided under applicable award agreement(s)): (i)
continued payment of her then-current base salary for 6 months, (ii) company-subsidized COBRA premiums for up to 6 months, and (iii) accelerated vesting of 25% of her 2021 VCU grant (or such lesser portion of such award that is
then-unvested). If such termination occurs within six months after a change in control of the Company (which excludes the Business Combination), then in lieu of the accelerated vesting described in the preceding sentence, her 2021 VCU
grant will vest in full (to the extent then-unvested) upon such termination.
Ian Weingarten Separation Agreement
In connection with his termination in February 2021, the Company entered into a separation agreement with Mr. Weingarten. Pursuant to this
separation agreement, Mr. Weingartens employment was terminated, effective February 22, 2021. Mr. Weingarten executed a release of claims in connection with his termination and received the following severance benefits:
(i) continued payment of his base salary in effect at the time of termination for a period of 6 months, (ii) payment of fifty percent (50%) of his annual target bonus for calendar year 2020, and (iii) company-subsidized COBRA premiums
for up to eighteen months following termination (collectively, the
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Severance Payment). Mr. Weingartens separation agreement also provided that his 2020 VCU grant was deemed to be 75% service-vested (payable on the consummation of
the Business Combination in the same manner as other vested VCUs), and that his Profits Interest was deemed (x) vested as to a 3.75% Profits Interest and (y) forfeited as to the remaining 1.25% Profits Interest, in each case, above the
applicable adjusted threshold amount (subject to further reduction to a 2.5% Profits Interest in the event that the Business Combination was not consummated).
Director Compensation
The following
individuals served as non-employee directors of System1 in 2021: William P. Foley, II, Frank R. Martire, Jr., Dexter Fowler, Jennifer Prince, Moujan Kazerani, Caroline Horn and Christopher Phillips. We have
not historically maintained a formal non-employee director compensation program. However, we have provided cash compensation and awarded options to purchase shares of our Class A Common Stock to non-employee directors from time to time. Additionally, we reimburse our non-employee directors for their reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board and
its committees.
No compensation was paid to any director for service in 2021.
We maintain a Director Compensation Program for non-employee directors of the Company (the Non-Employee Director Compensation
Program), which became effective as of February 25, 2022. Eligible directors are entitled to receive equity compensation for service on the Board under the Non-Employee Director Compensation Program as follows:
1. Annual Awards. Commencing with the Companys annual stockholders meeting for 2023, the Company will grant an
award of restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $180,000 to each eligible director who is serving on the Board as of the date of the Companys annual stockholders meeting or who is initially elected or appointed to serve on the
Board at such annual meeting and, in either case, who will continue to serve on the Board immediately following such annual meeting.
2.
Initial Awards. For eligible directors initially elected or appointed to serve on the Board after the Companys annual stockholders meeting for the 2023 calendar year (and other than on the date of an annual meeting),
the Company will grant an award of restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $180,000, multiplied by a fraction, (a) the numerator of which is the difference between 365 and the number of days from the immediately preceding annual
stockholders meeting date through the appointment or election date and (b) the denominator of which is 365.
3.
Committee Awards. Commencing with the Companys annual stockholders meeting for 2023, for eligible directors serving on a committee of the Board, the Company will grant awards of restricted stock units as follows
(prorated for any partial year of service):
a. Audit Committee Awards. The Company will grant an award of
restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $50,000 to the eligible director who serves as Chairperson of the Audit Committee and an award of restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $20,000 to each eligible director who
serves as a member of the Audit Committee (other than the Chairperson of the Audit Committee).
b. Compensation
Committee Awards. The Company will grant an award of restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $20,000 to the eligible director who serves as Chairperson of the Compensation Committee and an award of restricted stock units with a grant
date fair value of $10,000 to each eligible director who serves as a member of the Compensation Committee (other than the Chairperson of the Compensation Committee).
c. Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Awards. The Company will grant an award of restricted stock units
with a grant date fair value of $15,000 to the eligible director who serves as Chairperson of
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the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and an award of restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $10,000 to each eligible director who serves as a member of the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee (other than the Chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee).
The number of
shares subject to any award will be determined by dividing the value of such award (subject to proration as provided in the terms of the Non-Employee Director Compensation Program) by the closing price for the Companys Class A Common Stock,
par value $0.0001 per share (the Class A Common Stock), on the New York Stock Exchange (or any applicable securities exchange on which the Companys Class A Common Stock is then-listed) on the applicable grant date (or on the
immediately preceding trading day if the applicable grant date is not a trading day). Each award shall vest as to twenty-five percent (25%) of the award on each of the first three (3) quarterly anniversaries of the applicable grant date, and as to
the remaining twenty-five percent (25%) of the award on the earlier to occur of (x) the one-year anniversary of the applicable grant date and (y) the date of the next annual meeting of stockholders following the grant date, subject to the applicable
eligible directors continued service on the Board (or a committee of the Board, as applicable).
All awards of the Non-Employee
Director Compensation Program will be granted under, and shall be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Plan.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Trebia
Founder Shares
On February 18, 2020, the Sponsors purchased 10,781,250 of the Companys Class B ordinary shares (the Founder Shares) for
an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. On June 16, 2020, the Company effected a share dividend of 2,156,250 shares, resulting in the Sponsors holding an aggregate of 12,937,500 Founder Shares. All share and per-share amounts have been retroactively
restated to reflect the share dividend. The Founder Shares included an aggregate of up to 1,687,500 shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsors to the extent that the underwriters over-allotment was not exercised in full or in part, so that
the number of Founder Shares would collectively represent 20% of the Companys issued and outstanding shares upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering. As a result of the underwriters election to fully exercise their
over-allotment option, 1,687,500 Founder Shares are no longer subject to forfeiture.
The Sponsors agreed, subject to limited exceptions,
not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of a Business Combination; and (B) subsequent to a Business Combination, (x) if the last reported sale price
of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.50 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing
at least 150 days after a Business Combination (the VWAP Event), or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, amalgamation, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in
all of the Companys shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. On March 17, 2022, Class A Common Stock of the Company met the VWAP Event.
Promissory NoteRelated Party
On July 13, 2021 the Sponsors made available to the Company a loan of up to $500,000 pursuant to two promissory notes issued to the Company
from the BGPT Sponsor in the amount of $212,500 (the BGPT Note) and to Trasimene Sponsor $287,500 (the Trasimene Note). The Company is entitled to submit drawdown requests to the Sponsor from time to time and the proceeds
from any amounts borrowed under the note will be used for on-going operational expenses and certain other expenses. The notes are unsecured, non-interest bearing and mature on the earlier of: (i) May 31, 2022, or (ii) the date on which the
Company consummates a Business Combination. On July 13, 2021, the Company drew-down $106,250 under the BGPT Note and $143,750 under the Trasimene Note. On August 9, 2021, the Company drew-down an additional $75,000 under the BGPT Note. As of
December 31, 2021, the outstanding balance under the promissory notes was $450,000. Upon the closing of the Business Combination, the outstanding Notes were satisfied and extinguished.
Related Party Loans
In order to
finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsors or an affiliate of the Sponsors, or certain of the Companys officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required
(Working Capital Loans). Such Working Capital Loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. The notes may be repaid upon completion of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lenders discretion, up to $1,500,000 of the
notes may be converted upon completion of a Business Combination into warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant. Such warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company
may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans.
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Private Placement Warrants
On June 19, 2020, we completed the sale to the Sponsors of an aggregate of 8,233,334 Trebia Private Placement Warrants for a purchase
price of $1.50 per whole warrant for an aggregate of $12,350,000. Each Trebia Private Placement Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Trebia Class A Ordinary Share at $11.50 per share. The Trebia Private Placement Warrants (including
the Trebia Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise thereof) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holder until 30 days after the completion by Trebia of a Business Combination and
entitles the holders thereof to certain registration rights.
Sponsor Agreement
In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement and the Backstop Agreement, the Company amended and restated
(i) the Prior Sponsor Agreement and (ii) the Prior Insider Agreement, Trebia, the Insiders, and the other parties thereto, and entered into that certain sponsor agreement (as amended on November 30, 2021, the Sponsor
Agreement) with the Sponsors, Cannae and certain of the Insiders. Pursuant to the Sponsor Agreement, among other things, the Sponsors, Cannae and Insiders agreed (A) to vote any Company securities in favor of the Business Combination
and other Trebia shareholder matters, (B) not to seek redemption of any Trebia shares and (C) not to transfer any Trebia securities for the period beginning on the Closing Date until the earlier of (x) 180 days following the Closing Date
or (y) 150 days after the Closing Date, if the VWAP of the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period and (D) to be bound to certain other obligations as described
therein. BGPT Sponsor and Trasimene Sponsor have each agreed to forfeit 1,450,000 Trebia Class B Ordinary Shares (2,900,000 in the aggregate). Additionally, (1) the Sponsors have agreed to the Backstop Forfeiture in connection with the
equity backstop commitments by Cannae and certain System1 Equityholders and Protected Equityholders, and (2) the Company has agreed to issue to Cannae or such System1 Equityholders and Protected Equityholders a number of shares of Class A
Common Stock equal to the number of ordinary shares so forfeited, in the event and to the extent that Cannae and/or such System1 Equityholders and Protected Equityholders provide such backstop in connection with any valid shareholder redemptions.
On January 10, 2022, Trebia entered into the Amended and Restated Sponsor Agreement (the A&R Sponsor Agreement) by
and among the Sponsors and the other parties signatory thereto, which amended and restated the Letter Agreement, dated June 28, 2021 and as amended on November 30, 2021 by and among such parties (the Original Sponsor Agreement),
in order to provide that the Sponsors were required to forfeit up to (a) 1,275,510 Founder Shares (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) (the Initial Cannae Founder Shares) to Trebia, and Trebia issued to Cannae an
equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with, and based upon the extent of, Cannaes existing backstop obligations under the Original Backstop Agreement, (b) 1,000,000 Founder Shares to Trebia, and Trebia issued to members
of management of the Company an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with, and based upon the extent of, their backstop obligations under the Business Combination Agreement, and (c) an additional 1,352,941 Founder Shares (the
Additional Cannae Founder Shares) to Trebia, and Trebia issued to Cannae an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with, and based upon the extent of, Cannaes obligation with respect to the Additional
Cannae Backstop Amount. The A&R Sponsor Agreement also provides that the Additional Backstop Purchase Shares, the Additional Cannae Founder Shares, and 50% of the Initial Cannae Founder Shares will not be subject to the lockup provisions
thereof.
Administrative Services Agreement
The Company was party to an administrative services agreement pursuant to which Trebia will pay BGPT Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month,
until the earlier of the completion of the Business Combination and the liquidation of the trust assets, for office space, utilities, administrative and support services. For the year ended December 31, 2021 and the period between February 11, 2020
and December 21, 2020, the Company had incurred $120,000 and $65,000 in fees for these services, respectively. After the completion of the Business Combination, this agreement was terminated.
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Registration Rights
The former holders of Trebia Class B Ordinary Shares, the Trebia Private Placement Warrants, and warrants that may be issued upon
conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any Trebia Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Trebia Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans and upon conversion of the
Trebia Class B Ordinary Shares) are entitled to registration rights pursuant the Prior Registration Rights Agreement requiring the Company to register such securities for resale (in the case of the Trebia Class B Ordinary Shares, only
after conversion to Trebia Class A Ordinary Shares), subject to certain restrictions. In addition, the former holders have certain piggy-back registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the
completion of a business combination. However, the Prior Registration Rights Agreement provides that the Company will not permit any registration statement filed under the Securities Act to become effective until termination of any applicable lockup
period. Trebia will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statement.
In connection with the
entry into the Registration Rights Agreement, the Prior Registration Rights Agreement was terminated as of the Effective Time, and replaced with the Registration Rights Agreement.
Underwriting Agreement
The
underwriters were entitled to a deferred fee of $0.35 per Trebia unit, or $18,112,500 in the aggregate. The deferred fee became payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account upon the Companys completion of the Business
Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Forward Purchase Agreement
On June 5, 2020, the Company entered into the Forward Purchase Agreement with Cannae. Pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement, Cannae
agreed to purchase 7,500,000 Trebia Class A Ordinary Shares, plus an aggregate of 2,500,000 redeemable warrants to purchase one Trebia Class A Ordinary Share at $11.50 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $75,000,000, or $10.00
per Trebia Class A Ordinary Shares, in a private placement to occur concurrently with the closing of a business combination. On June 28, 2021, the Forward Purchase Agreement was terminated in connection with the pending Business
Combination.
The A&R Cannae Backstop Agreement
On January 10, 2022, Trebia entered into the Amended and Restated Backstop Facility Agreement (the A&R Backstop
Agreement), which amended and restated the Backstop Facility Agreement, dated June 28, 2021 by and between Cannae and Trebia (the Original Backstop Agreement), in order to increase
Cannaes aggregate backstop commitment by $50,000,000 (the Additional Cannae Backstop Commitment) from $200,000,000 to $250,000,000. The Additional Cannae Backstop Commitment obligated Cannae, to the extent that the total
Trebia Shareholder Redemption Value is in excess of $417,500,000, to backstop up to 50% of the Trebia Shareholder Redemption Value in excess of $417,500,000 (the Additional Cannae Backstop Amount) by purchasing a number of shares
of Class A Common Stock equal to the actual Additional Cannae Backstop Amount (as contemplated by the A&R Backstop Agreement) divided by $10 (the Additional Backstop Purchase Shares).
Compensation
No compensation of
any kind, including finders and consulting fees, will be paid to the Sponsors, the Insiders, or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the completion of the Business Combination. However, these
individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on the Companys behalf such as identifying potential target
businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. the Companys audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to the Sponsors, the Companys officers or directors, or any of their
affiliates. Any such
129
payments prior to the Business Combination will be made using funds held outside the Trust Account. Other than quarterly audit committee review of such reimbursements, the Company does not expect
to have any additional controls in place governing its reimbursement payments to its directors and officers for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with
the Companys activities on its behalf in connection with identifying and completing the Business Combination. Other than these payments and reimbursements, no compensation of any kind, including finders and consulting fees, will be paid
by the Company to the Sponsors, the Companys officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, prior to completion of the Business Combination.
S1 Holdco
Services Agreement
On December 31, 2018, StartPage B.V., StartMail B.V., and Surfboard Holdings B.V. entered into a Services Agreement, which has been
amended several times, pursuant to which StartMail and Surfboard Holdings provide certain marketing, product and operational services to each other, and StartMail makes certain space in its office location in the Netherlands available to employees
of StartPage. StartMail is owned in part by the stockholders from whom S1 Holdco acquired the outstanding capital stock of Surfboard Holdings which, along with StartPage, are indirect subsidiaries of S1 Holdco. StartMail incurred $67,500, and
Surfboard Holding incurred $120,718, in 2020 pursuant to this agreement.
Non-Recourse Contingent Notes
On March 15, 2019, Qool Media Holdings, ULC (n/k/a System1 Canada ULC) (Qool Media), a subsidiary of
System1, issued three non-recourse contingent notes in favor of 2683800 Ontario Inc. in connection with System1s acquisition of Concourse Media Ltd. in order to efficiently support the earn out payments
for each of the 12-month periods ending March 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022. 2683800 Ontario Inc. is an entity affiliated with Ryan May, System1s Senior Vice PresidentPublishing Strategy, and was
the principal stockholder of Concourse Media when it was acquired by System1 through Qool Media. Qool Media did not pay 2683800 Ontario Inc. in 2020 pursuant to the contingent note that matured in March 2020, but paid the full $1,715,000 due on the
contingent note that matured in March 2021.
Protected UK
Loan Agreement
On February 3,
2020, the Protected UK entered into a short-term intercompany loan with one of its directors. Under this agreement, the director agreed to provide Protected UK with a $3,000,000 loan that carried an interest rate of 10%. The loan was drawn on
February 3, 2020 in full. The loan had a maturity date of March 17, 2020, which Protected UK paid back in full on this date. Protected UK incurred $35,000 of interest on this loan during the year ended December 31, 2020.
On March 13, 2020, Protected UK entered into an intercompany loan payable with System1 SS Protect Holdings, Inc. Under this agreement, SS
Protect Holdings agreed to provide Protected UK with a $6,000,000 loan that carried an interest rate of 10%. The loan was drawn on March 13, 2020 in full. The loan had a maturity date of March 13, 2021. However, Protected UK paid the loan
back in full on November 13, 2020. Protected UK incurred $356,384 of interest expense on this loan during the year ended December 31, 2020.
On November 13, 2020, Protected UK entered into an intercompany loan payable with Protected Security Holdings LLC, the parent company of
System1 SS Protect Holdings, Inc. Under this agreement, Protected Security Holdings agreed to provide Protected UK with a $1,999,947 loan that carried an interest rate of 7.5%. The loan was drawn on November 13, 2020 in full. The loan had a
maturity date of November 13, 2023. However, Protected UK paid the loan back in full on December 18, 2020. Protected UK incurred $14,383 of interest expense on this loan during the year ended December 31, 2020.
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On December 17, 2020, Protected UK entered into a loan agreement (the
Protected Loan Agreement) with S1 SS Protect Holdings Inc. (S1 SSP Holdings), a subsidiary of Protected, pursuant to which Protected UK granted S1 SSP Holdings a secured term loan of up to $30,000,000 available
in multiple drawings on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Protected Loan Agreement. S1 SSP Holdings was to use these loan proceeds to repay loans it had made to certain of its investors, including JDI (an entity controlled by
Christopher Phillips), Lone Investment Holdings (an entity controlled by Michael Blend), Roscoe Holdings Trust (an entity controlled by Charles Ursini) and OpenMail LLC (an entity controlled by Michael Blend and Charles Ursini). Protected UK loaned
S1 SSP Holdings $10,059,719 in 2020 pursuant to this agreement.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, S1 SS Protect Holdings drew
an additional $21,908,640 from the line of credit provided by the Company as part of the loan agreement. The loan draw will accrue interest at an interest rate of 3.5% from the time of the loan draw until funds are paid back to the Company. The loan
has a maturity date of January 1, 2023. As part of this loan, the Company charged S1 SS Protect Holdings a set-up fee of $75,000. The set-up fee shall be recognized through income over the term of the loan.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the total outstanding balance of the loan with System1 S1 SS Protect Holdings, Inc. was $32,832,653 and
$10,059,719, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the total amount included in deferred revenue relating to financing fees not yet recognized was $165,594 and $167,712, respectively. Total financing fees recognized during the years
ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were $77,121 and $2,285, respectively. The Company recognized $941,416and $0 of interest income related to this loan during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company entered into a short term loan agreement with Just Develop It Limited, which carried
an interest rate of 0%. These loans allowed multiple drawdowns which totaled $29,634,886 and were fully repaid by the end of the period. In addition to this, as a part of the Host Plus Share Purchase Agreement, the Company assumed a debt payable to
Just Develop It Limited which was repaid in full on April 1, 2021.
On May 19, 2021, the Company entered into a loan receivable
with a director of the Company. Under this agreement, the Company agreed to provide the director with a loan facility of up to $2,000,000 which carried an interest rate of 0%. The loan did not specify a stated maturity date. The director of the
Company drew multiple amounts in accordance with the facility during the year ended December 31, 2021. The loan was repaid in full to the Company on December 24, 2021.
Acquisition of Host Plus Limited
On March 31, 2021, Protected UK entered into a Share Purchase Agreement to purchase Host Plus Limited. Each Seller of Host Plus Limited is
shareholder of Protected UK. In addition, Protected UK assumed the debt of Host Plus Limited as part of the acquisition, which was payable to JDI. JDI is the parent company of Protected UK. On April 1, 2021, Protected UK provided an
intercompany loan to Host Plus Limited who then repaid the outstanding loan in full on the same day in the amount of $448,530. The loan between Host Plus Limited and JDI did not have a stated maturity date and carried an interest rate of 0%.
Policy for Approval of Related Party Transactions
The audit committee of our Board has adopted an audit committee charter, providing for the review and approval of transactions involving an
amount in excess of $120,000 in which the Company is to be a participant and in which any related person (as defined in Item 404(a) under the Exchange Act) has a direct or indirect material interest. At its meetings, the
audit committee shall be provided with the details of each new, existing or proposed related party transaction, including the terms of the transaction, any contractual restrictions that the Company has already committed to, the business purpose of
the transaction and the benefits of the transaction to the Company and to the relevant related party. Any member of the audit committee who has an interest in the
131
related party transaction under review by the audit committee shall abstain from voting on the approval of the related party transaction, but may, if so requested by the chairman of the audit
committee, participate in some or all of the audit committees discussions of the related party transaction. Upon completion of its review of the related party transaction, the audit committee may determine to permit or to prohibit the related
party transaction.
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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock immediately following the consummation
of the Business Combination by:
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each person known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock;
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each of our named executive officers; and |
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all of our directors and executive officers as a group. |
Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a
security if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power over that security, including options and warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days. Except as described in the footnotes below and subject to
applicable community property laws and similar laws, we believe that each person listed above has sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each beneficial owner is c/o System1, 4235 Redwood
Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90066.
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|
|
|
Name of Beneficial Owner |
|
Shares of Class A Common Stock+ |
|
|
Class A Common Stock Beneficial Ownership Percentage |
|
|
Voting Power Percentage++ |
|
Directors and Executive Officers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Blend(1) |
|
|
760,000 |
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|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
Brian Coppola(2) |
|
|
303,055 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
Paul Filsinger(3) |
|
|
875,900 |
|
|
|
1.0 |
% |
|
|
* |
|
Tridivesh Kidambi(4) |
|
|
929,836 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
% |
|
|
* |
|
Jennifer Robinson |
|
|
4,074 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
Elizabeth Sestanovich(5) |
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267,436 |
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|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
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Daniel Weinrot(6) |
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98,106 |
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|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
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John Civantos(7) |
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266,146 |
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|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
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William P. Foley, II(8) |
|
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9,305,129 |
|
|
|
10.3 |
% |
|
|
8.2 |
% |
Dexter Fowler |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Caroline Horn |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moujan Kazerani(9) |
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73,200 |
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|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
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Frank R. Martire, Jr.(10) |
|
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5,877,699 |
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|
|
6.7 |
% |
|
|
5.3 |
% |
Christopher Phillips(11) |
|
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20,733,184 |
|
|
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24.0 |
% |
|
|
19.1 |
% |
Jennifer Prince |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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All Directors and Executive Officers (15 Individuals) |
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39,493,757 |
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40.5 |
% |
|
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33.5 |
% |
Greater than 5% Holders |
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Cannae Holdings, LLC(12) |
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27,181,770 |
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31.9 |
% |
|
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25.4 |
% |
Stanley Blend(13) |
|
|
15,573,322 |
|
|
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16.6 |
% |
|
|
14.5 |
% |
Lone Star Friends Trust(14) |
|
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13,840,169 |
|
|
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14.8 |
% |
|
|
11.1 |
% |
Trasimene Trebia, LP(8) |
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9,305,122 |
|
|
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10.3 |
% |
|
|
8.2 |
% |
BGPT Trebia, LP(10) |
|
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5,877,699 |
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6.7 |
% |
|
|
5.3 |
% |
Nicholas Baker(15) |
|
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7,699,449 |
|
|
|
9.0 |
% |
|
|
7.2 |
% |
CEE Holdings Trust(16) |
|
|
4,599,438 |
|
|
|
5.2 |
% |
|
|
4.3 |
% |
Notes:
+ |
Represents shares of Class A Common Stock that the stockholders shown (i) beneficially own as of
January 27, 2022 or (ii) have the right to acquire (a) upon exercise of Warrants held by the stockholder, |
133
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(b) upon exercise of the stockholders redemption right of any Class B Units in S1 Holdco held by such stockholder or (c) upon exercise of vested performance-based restricted stock
units (RSUs) granted to each of Michael Blend and Just Develop It Limited. The shares included in this column are deemed to be outstanding in calculating the percentage ownership of Class A Common Stock of such stockholder, but are
not deemed to be outstanding as to any other stockholder. |
++ |
Includes shares that the stockholders shown have the right to acquire as of January 27, 2022 or within 60 days
thereafter as described in immediately preceding footnote above. Assumes redemption of all Class B Units by all members of S1 Holdco for shares of Class A Common Stock, which would have resulted in an additional 22,077,319 shares of
Class A Common Stock outstanding as of January 27, 2022. Holders of Class B Units of S1 Holdco are entitled to have their Class B Units of S1 Holdco exchanged or redeemed for Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis or, at the election
of the Company, a cash payment in an amount per Class B Unit of S1 Holdco redeemed and calculated based on the volume weighted average market price of a share of Class A Common Stock at the time of redemption. The Class B Units of S1 Holdco do not
have voting rights, but holders of Class B Units of S1 Holdco own a corresponding number of shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company, which have voting rights and vote together with the shares of Class A Common Stock. |
(1) |
Consists of 35,000 Public Warrants exercisable for 35,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise
price of $11.50 per share and 725,000 fully vested RSUs, in each case held directly by Mr. Blend. Excludes (i) 172,440 shares of Class A Common Stock and 961,613 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exchange or
redemption of 961,613 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and cancellation of the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company) held by OpenMail2, LLC (OpenMail2) and (ii) 1,045,077 shares of Class A Common Stock
and 251,379 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company), in each case, directly held by the Blend Family Foundation. The shares of Class A Common Stock held by the Blend Family
Foundation give pro forma effect to a contribution of shares of Class A Common Stock currently held by Lone Star Friends Trust (Lone Star), and which are expected to be contributed to the Blend Family Foundation on or around the date of
this prospectus. OpenMail2 is jointly controlled by Michael Blend, Charles Ursini and Tridivesh Kidambi as members of the board of managers thereof and they may be deemed to jointly control the voting and dispositive power over the shares held by
OpenMail2. The directors of the Blend Family Foundation are Michael Blend, Sandra Blend and Stanley Blend. The Public Warrants by their terms become exercisable (including by cash settlement) 30 days following the Closing Date. The terms of the
Public Warrants are set forth in the Warrant Agreement filed with the SEC on June 22, 2020 as Exhibit 4.1 to the Issuers Current Report on Form 8-K. The RSUs vested on March 17, 2022, the first
trading day on which the volume weighted average price of the Companys Class A Common Stock exceeded $12.50 per share for 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days. |
(2) |
Consists of 77,086 shares of Class A Common Stock and 225,969 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the
exchange or redemption of 225,969 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and cancellation of the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company) held directly by Mr. Coppolla. |
(3) |
Consists of 335,032 shares of Class A Common Stock and 540,868 shares of Class A Common Stock
issuable upon the exchange or redemption of 540,868 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and cancellation of the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company) held by Mr. Filsinger. |
(4) |
Consists of (i) 15,000 Public Warrants exercisable for 15,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at an
exercise price of $11.50 per share held directly by Mr. Kidambi, (ii) 401,489 shares of Class A Common Stock and 436,093 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exchange or redemption of 436,093 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and
cancellation of the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company), in each case held directly by Mr. Kidambi, (iii) 15,518 shares of Class A Common Stock held by Mr. Kidambis spouse (who is also an employee of the
Company) and (iv) 61,736 shares of Class A Common Stock currently held by Lone Investment Holdings, LLC (LIH), which shares have been given pro forma effect to Mr. Kidambi and are expected to be distributed to Mr. Kidambi
upon LIHs scheduled dissolution. Excludes 172,440 shares of Class A Common Stock and 961,613 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exchange of 961,613 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and cancellation of the
corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company) held by OpenMail2. OpenMail2 is jointly |
134
|
controlled by Michael Blend, Charles Ursini and Tridivesh Kidambi as members of the board of managers thereof and they may be deemed to jointly control the voting and dispositive power over the
shares held by OpenMail2. |
(5) |
Consists of 58,841 shares of Class A Common Stock and 208,595 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the
exchange or redemption of 208,595 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and cancellation of the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company) held by Ms. Sestanovich. |
(6) |
Consists of 38,464 shares of Class A Common Stock and 59,642 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the
exchange or redemption of 59,642 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and cancellation of the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company) held by Mr. Weinrot. |
(7) |
Consists of (i) 61,209 shares of Class A common stock held directly by Mr. Civantos, (ii) 100,000 shares of
Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of 100,000 Warrants, (iii) 75,612 shares of Class A Common Stock securities held by the John Civantos 2011 Family Trust, which shares held by the trust Mr. Civantos disclaims beneficial interest
in such securities except to any pecuniary interest therein and (iv) 29,325 shares of Class A Common Stock currently held by LIH, which shares have been given pro forma effect to Mr. Civantos and are expected to be distributed to Mr. Civantos
upon LIHs scheduled dissolution. |
(8) |
Consists of (i) 3,737,205 shares of Class A Common Stock directly held by Trasimene Trebia, LP (the
Trebia Sponsor), (ii) 4,734,167 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of 4,734,167 Warrants directly held by the Trebia Sponsor and (iii) 833,750 shares of Class A Common Stock from the automatic conversion
of 833,750 shares of Class D Common Stock held by the Trebia Sponsor. Under the Issuers Certificate of Incorporation, the Trebia Sponsors shares of Class D Common Stock automatically converted into Class A Common Stock on
a one-for-one basis on March 17, 2022, the first trading day that the volume-weighted average price of Class A Common Stock equaled or exceeded $12.50 per share for
20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days. |
(9) |
Consists of (i) 20,500 shares of Class A Common Stock and 40,700 shares of Class A Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of 40,700 Public Warrants, in each case held directly by Mr. Kazerani, the spouse of Ms. Kazerani, and (ii) 12,000 shares of Class A Common Stock held by Ms. Kazeranis in-laws, over which shares
Ms. Kazeranis spouse has voting and dispositive power pursuant to a power of attorney granted to him. |
(10) |
Consists of (i) 2,762,282 shares of Class A Common Stock directly held by BGPT Trebia, LP (the BGPT
Sponsor) (ii) 2,499,167 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of 2,499,167 Warrants directly held by the BGPT Sponsor and (iii). 616,250 shares of Class A Common Stock from the automatic conversion of 616,250
shares of Class D Common Stock held by the BGPT Sponsor. Under the Issuers Certificate of Incorporation, the BGPT Sponsors shares of Class D Common Stock automatically converted into Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis on March 17, 2022, the first trading day that the volume-weighted average price of Class A Common Stock equaled or exceeded $12.50 per share for 20
trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days. |
(11) |
Consists of (i) 725,000 fully vested RSUs and 500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise
of 500,000 Private Placement Warrants, in each case held directly by Just Develop It Limited (JDIL) and (ii) 19,508,184 shares of Class A Common Stock currently held by JDI & AFH Limited (J&A), which shares have been
given pro forma effect to JDIL and are expected to be distributed to JDIL upon J&As scheduled dissolution. J&As controlling stockholder is JDIL and Mr. Phillips is a director of J&A. Mr. Phillips is the controlling
shareholder and a director of JDIL. The RSUs vested on March 17, 2022, the first trading day on which the volume weighted average price of the Companys Class A Common Stock equaled or exceeded $12.50 per share for 20 trading days within a
period of 30 consecutive trading days. The Private Placement Warrants by their terms became exercisable (including by cash settlement) 30 days following the Closing Date. The terms of the Private Placement Warrants are set forth in the Warrant
Agreement filed with the SEC on June 22, 2020 as Exhibit 4.1 to the Issuers Current Report on Form 8-K. |
(12) |
Consists of 27,181,770 shares of Class A Common Stock issued to Cannae Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (CHL) pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the Backstop Agreement and the A&R Sponsor Agreement. CHL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cannae Holdings, Inc.
|
135
|
(CHI). The address of the principal business office of CHI is 1701 Village Center Circle, Las Vegas, Nevada 89134. |
(13) |
Consists of (i) 2,537,147 shares of Class A Common Stock, 500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of 500,000 Warrants and 7,945,580 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Issuer), in each case, directly held by Lone Star Friends Trust (Lone Star),
which shares of Class A Common Stock have been given pro forma effect for a contribution by Lone Star to the Blend Family Foundation, expected to be contributed to the Blend Family Foundation on or around the date of this prospectus,
(ii) 592,514 shares of Class A Common Stock and 251,379 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Issuer) directly held by the Dante Jacob Blend Trust, for which Mr. Blend is the
trustee (the Dante Trust), (iii) 592,514 shares of Class A Common Stock and 251,379 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Issuer) directly held by the Nola Delfina
Blend Trust, for which Mr. Blend is the trustee (the Nola Trust), (iv) 45,367 shares directly held by Mr. Blend in his individual capacity and (v) 2,857,442 shares of Class A Common Stock currently held by LIH, which
shares have been given pro forma effect to Mr. Blend and are expected to be distributed to Mr. Blend upon LIHs scheduled dissolution. Mr. Blend is the trustee of each of Lone Star, the Dante Trust and the Nola Trust, and has voting and
dispositive power over the shares held by each of Lone Star, the Dante Trust and the Nola Trust but disclaims beneficial interest in such shares except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein (if any). Mr. Blend, an attorney at Clark
Hill in San Antonio, Texas, is the father of Michael Blend, the Companys co-founder, CEO and Chairman of the Board. Michael Blend and his family are the beneficiaries of Lone Star. |
(14) |
See Footnote (13) above. |
(15) |
The shares held by Mr. Baker give pro forma effect to a distribution of shares currently held by J&A, which
are expected to be distributed to Mr. Baker upon J&As scheduled dissolution. |
(16) |
Consists of 1,191,217 shares of Class A Common Stock and 3,408,221 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and the
corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company), in each case, directly held by the CEE Holdings Trust. Jackson Hole Trust Co. is the trustee of the CEE Holdings Trust and has voting and dispositive power over the shares held by the CEE
Holdings Trust but disclaims beneficial interest in such shares. |
136
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
The Selling Securityholders listed in the table below may from time to time offer and sell any or all of the shares of Class A Common Stock
and Warrants set forth below pursuant to this prospectus. When we refer to the Selling Securityholders in this prospectus, we refer to the persons listed in the table below, and the pledgees, donees, transferees, assignees, successors
and other permitted transferees that hold any of the Selling Securityholders interest in the shares of Class A Common Stock and Warrants after the date of this prospectus.
The following table sets forth certain information provided by or on behalf of the Selling Securityholders concerning the Class A Common Stock
and Warrants that may be offered from time to time by each Selling Securityholder pursuant to this prospectus. The Selling Securityholders identified below may have sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of all or a portion of their securities
after the date on which they provided us with information regarding their securities. Any changed or new information given to us by the Selling Securityholders, including regarding the identity of, and the securities held by, each Selling
Securityholder, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement or amendments to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, if and when necessary. A Selling Securityholder may sell all, some or none of such securities in this
offering. See Plan of Distribution.
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Before the Offering |
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Number of Securities Being Offered |
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After the Offering |
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Name of Selling Securityholder+ |
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Number of Shares of Class A Common Stock |
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Number of Warrants |
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Number of Shares of Class A Common Stock Being Offered |
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Number of Warrants Being Offered |
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Number of Shares of Class A Common Stock |
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Percentage of Outstanding Shares of Class A Common Stock++ |
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Number of Warrants |
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Percentage of Outstanding Warrants |
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Directors and Executive Officers |
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Michael Blend(1) |
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760,000 |
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35,000 |
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760,000 |
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35,000 |
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Brian Coppola(2) |
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303,055 |
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303,055 |
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Paul Filsinger(3) |
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875,900 |
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875,900 |
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Tridivesh Kidambi(4) |
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929,836 |
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15,000 |
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929,836 |
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15,000 |
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Jennifer Robinson(5) |
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4,074 |
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4,074 |
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Elizabeth Sestanovich(6) |
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267,436 |
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267,436 |
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Daniel Weinrot(7) |
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98,106 |
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98,106 |
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John Civantos(8) |
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266,146 |
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100,000 |
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266,146 |
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100,000 |
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Moujan Kazerani(9) |
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73,200 |
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40,700 |
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73,200 |
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40,700 |
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5% or More Securityholders and Registration Rights Holders |
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Cannae Holdings, LLC(10) |
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27,181,770 |
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27,181,770 |
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Just Develop It Limited(11) |
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20,733,184 |
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500,000 |
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20,733,184 |
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500,000 |
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Lone Star Friends Trust(12) |
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13,840,169 |
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500,000 |
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13,840,169 |
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500,000 |
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Trasimene Trebia, LP(13) |
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9,305,122 |
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4,734,167 |
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9,305,122 |
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4,734,167 |
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Nicholas Baker(14) |
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7,699,449 |
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7,699,449 |
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BGPT Trebia, LP(15) |
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5,877,699 |
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2,499,167 |
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5,877,699 |
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2,499,167 |
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CEE Holdings Trust(16) |
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4,599,438 |
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4,599,438 |
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Stanley Blend(17) |
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1,733,153 |
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1,733,153 |
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Charles Ursini(18) |
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857,791 |
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857,791 |
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The Blend Family
Foundation(19) |
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1,296,456 |
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1,296,456 |
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Securityholders with more than 500,000 Shares of Class A Common
Stock |
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Harveys Gaingels Protected
LLC(20) |
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4,050,675 |
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4,050,675 |
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Mellow Mountain Holding
Trust(21) |
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2,535,781 |
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2,535,781 |
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Marc Mezzacca(22) |
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1,765,368 |
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1,765,368 |
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OpenMail2(23) |
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1,134,053 |
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1,134,053 |
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John Fries(24) |
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1,012,005 |
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1,007,479 |
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4,526 |
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* |
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Dean DeBoer(25) |
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893,135 |
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893,135 |
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Before the Offering |
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Number of Securities Being Offered |
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After the Offering |
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Name of Selling Securityholder+ |
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Number of Shares of Class A Common Stock |
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Number of Warrants |
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Number of Shares of Class A Common Stock Being Offered |
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Number of Warrants Being Offered |
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Number of Shares of Class A Common Stock |
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Percentage of Outstanding Shares of Class A Common Stock++ |
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Number of Warrants |
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Percentage of Outstanding Warrants |
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Securityholders with up to 500,000 Shares of Class A Common Stock |
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Securityholders with beneficial ownership of more than 350,000 shares up to 500,000
shares |
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2,010,641 |
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1,936,574 |
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74,067 |
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* |
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Securityholders with beneficial ownership of more than 200,000 shares up to 350,000
shares |
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1,245,302 |
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1,225,534 |
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19,768 |
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* |
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Securityholders with beneficial ownership of more than 50,000 shares up to 200,000
shares |
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2,620,041 |
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2,474,365 |
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145,676 |
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* |
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Securityholders with beneficial ownership of up to 50,000 shares |
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2,159,047 |
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1,207,238 |
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951,809 |
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* |
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+ Unless otherwise
noted, the business address of each securityholder is c/o System1, Inc., 4235 Redwood Avenue, Marina Del Rey, CA 90066.
++ The percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 107,223,933 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding, which
includes 85,146,614 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding as of March 31, 2022 and the redemption of all Class B Units by all members of S1 Holdco for shares of Class A Common Stock, which would result in an additional
22,077,319 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding as of March 31, 2022. Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares beneficially owned by
them.
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(1) |
Consists of 35,000 Public Warrants exercisable for 35,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise
price of $11.50 per share and 725,000 fully vested RSUs, in each case held directly by Mr. Blend. The Public Warrants by their terms become exercisable (including by cash settlement) 30 days following the Closing Date. The terms of the Public
Warrants are set forth in the Warrant Agreement filed with the SEC on June 22, 2020 as Exhibit 4.1 to the Issuers Current Report on Form 8-K. The RSUs vested on March 17, 2022, the first
trading day on which the volume weighted average price of the Companys Class A Common Stock exceeded $12.50 per share for 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days. |
|
(2) |
Consists of 77,086 shares of Class A Common Stock and 225,969 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable
upon the exchange or redemption of 225,969 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and cancellation of the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company) held directly by Mr. Coppolla. |
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(3) |
Consists of 335,032 shares of Class A Common Stock and 540,868 shares of Class A Common Stock
issuable upon the exchange or redemption of 540,868 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and cancellation of the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company) held by Mr. Filsinger. |
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(4) |
Consists of (i) 15,000 Public Warrants exercisable for 15,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at an
exercise price of $11.50 per share held directly by Mr. Kidambi, (ii) 401,489 shares of Class A Common Stock and 436,093 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exchange or redemption of 436,093 Class B Units of S1
Holdco (and cancellation of the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company), in each case held directly by Mr. Kidambi, (iii) 15,518 shares of Class A Common Stock held by Mr. Kidambis spouse (who is also
an employee of the Company) and (iv) 61,736 shares of Class A Common Stock currently held by LIH, which shares have |
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been given pro forma effect to Mr. Kidambi and are expected to be distributed to Mr. Kidambi upon LIHs scheduled dissolution. |
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(5) |
Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock directly held by Ms. Robinson. |
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(6) |
Consists of 58,841 shares of Class A Common Stock and 208,595 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable
upon the exchange or redemption of 208,595 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and cancellation of the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company) held by Ms. Sestanovich. |
|
(7) |
Consists of 38,464 shares of Class A Common Stock and 59,642 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable
upon the exchange or redemption of 59,642 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and cancellation of the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company) held by Mr. Weinrot. |
|
(8) |
Consists of (i) 61,209 shares of Class A common stock held directly by Mr. Civantos, (ii) 100,000
shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of 100,000 Warrants and, (iii) 75,612 shares of Class A Common Stock securities held by the John Civantos 2011 Family Trust, which shares held by the trust Mr. Civantos
disclaims beneficial interest in such securities except to any pecuniary interest therein and (iv) 29,325 shares of Class A Common Stock currently held by LIH, which shares have been given pro forma effect to Mr. Civantos and are expected
to be distributed to Mr. Civantos upon LIHs scheduled dissolution. |
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(9) |
Consists of (i) 20,500 shares of Class A Common Stock and 40,700 shares of Class A Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of 40,700 Public Warrants, in each case held directly by Mr. Kazerani, the spouse of Ms. Kazerani, and (ii) 12,000 shares of Class A Common Stock held by Ms. Kazeranis
in-laws, over which shares Ms. Kazeranis spouse has voting and dispositive power pursuant to a power of attorney granted to him. |
|
(10) |
Consists of 27,181,770 shares of Class A Common Stock issued to CHL pursuant to the Business Combination
Agreement, the Backstop Agreement and the A&R Sponsor Agreement. CHL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CHI. The address of the principal business office of CHI is 1701 Village Center Circle, Las Vegas, Nevada 89134. |
|
(11) |
Consists of (i) 725,000 fully vested RSUs and 500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of 500,000 Private Placement Warrants, in each case held directly by JDIL and (ii) 19,508,184 shares of Class A Common Stock currently held by J&A, which shares have been given pro forma effect to JDIL and are expected to be
distributed to JDIL upon J&As scheduled dissolution. J&As controlling stockholder is JDIL and Christopher Phillips is a director of J&A. Mr. Phillips is the controlling shareholder and a director of JDIL. The RSUs vested
on March 17, 2022, the first trading day on which the volume weighted average price of the Companys Class A Common Stock equaled or exceeded $12.50 per share for 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days. The
Private Placement Warrants by their terms became exercisable (including by cash settlement) 30 days following the Closing Date. The terms of the Private Placement Warrants are set forth in the Warrant Agreement filed with the SEC on June 22,
2020 as Exhibit 4.1 to the Issuers Current Report on Form 8-K. |
|
(12) |
Consists of (i) 2,537,147 shares of Class A Common Stock, 500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of 500,000 Warrants and 7,945,580 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Issuer), in each case, directly held by Lone Star, which shares of Class A Common Stock
have been given pro forma effect for a contribution by Lone Star to the Blend Family Foundation, expected to be contributed to the Blend Family Foundation on or around the date of this prospectus, and (ii) 2,857,442 shares of Class A Common
Stock currently held by LIH, which shares have been given pro forma effect to Lone Star and are expected to be distributed to Lone Star upon LIHs scheduled dissolution. Stanley Blend is the trustee of Lone Star. |
|
(13) |
Consists of (i) 3,737,205 shares of Class A Common Stock directly held by Trasimene Trebia, LP (the
Trebia Sponsor), (ii) 4,734,167 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of 4,734,167 Warrants directly held by the Trebia Sponsor and (iii) 833,750 shares of Class A Common Stock from the automatic conversion
of 833,750 shares of Class D Common Stock held by the Trebia Sponsor. Under the Issuers Certificate of Incorporation, the Trebia Sponsors shares of Class D Common Stock automatically converted into Class A Common Stock on
a one-for-one basis on March 17, 2022, the first trading day that the volume-weighted average price of Class A Common Stock equaled or exceeded $12.50 per
share for 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive |
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trading days. The sole general partner of Trebia Sponsor is Trasimene Trebia, LLC and the limited partners of Trebia Sponsor are Cannae Holdings, Inc. and Trasimene Capital Management, LLC.
William P. Foley, II is the sole member of Trasimene Trebia, LLC, and therefore may be deemed to beneficially own the 4,570,955 shares of Class A Common Stock and 4,734,167 Warrants, and ultimately exercises voting and dispositive power over such
shares of Class A Common Stock and Warrants held by Trebia Sponsor. Mr. Foley disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares and warrants except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. |
|
(14) |
The shares held by Mr. Baker give pro forma effect to a distribution of shares currently held by J&A,
which are expected to be distributed to Mr. Baker upon J&As scheduled dissolution. |
|
(15) |
Consists of (i) 2,762,282 shares of Class A Common Stock directly held by the BGPT Sponsor, (ii) 2,499,167
shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of 2,499,167 Warrants directly held by the BGPT Sponsor and (iii) 616,250 shares of Class A Common Stock from the automatic conversion of 616,250 shares of Class D Common Stock
held by the BGPT Sponsor. Under the Issuers Certificate of Incorporation, the BGPT Sponsors shares of Class D Common Stock automatically converted into Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis on March 17, 2022, the first trading day that the volume-weighted average price of Class A Common Stock equaled or exceeded $12.50 per share for 20 trading days within a period of
30 consecutive trading days. The sole general partner of BGPT Sponsor is Bridgeport Partners GP LLC and the sole limited partner of BGPT Sponsor is Bridgeport Partners LP. Each of Frank R. Martire, Jr. and Frank Martire, III serve as a managing
member of Bridgeport Partners GP LLC and therefore may be deemed to beneficially own the 3,378,532 shares of Class A Common Stock and 2,499,167 Warrants, and ultimately exercises voting and dispositive power over such shares held by BGPT Sponsor.
Each of Frank R. Martire, Jr. and Frank Martire, III disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares and warrants except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. |
|
(16) |
Consists of 1,191,217 shares of Class A Common Stock and 3,408,221 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and
the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company), in each case, directly held by the CEE Holdings Trust. Jackson Hole Trust Co. is the trustee of the CEE Holdings Trust and has voting and dispositive power over the shares held
by the CEE Holdings Trust but disclaims beneficial interest in such shares. |
|
(17) |
Consists of (i) 592,514 shares of Class A Common Stock and 251,379 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and
the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Issuer) directly held by the Dante Trust, (ii) 592,514 shares of Class A Common Stock and 251,379 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and the corresponding shares of Class C Common
Stock of the Issuer) directly held by the Nola Trust and (iii) 45,367 shares directly held by Mr. Blend in his individual capacity. |
|
(18) |
Consists of (i) 65,196 shares of Class A Common Stock and 294,766 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and the
corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Issuer), in each case held direcly by FGL Labs, of which Mr. Ursini is the managing member, (ii) 86,773 shares of Class A Common Stock and 368,458 Class B Units of S1 Holdco
(and the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Issuer), in each case held directly by the Ursini Childrens Trust, of which Mr. Ursini is the trustee, and (iii) 42,598 shares of Class A Common Stock currently held
by LIH, which shares have been given pro forma effect to Mr. Ursini and are expected to be distributed to Mr. Ursini upon LIHs scheduled dissolution. |
|
(19) |
Consists of 1,045,077 shares of Class A Common Stock and 251,379 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and the
corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company), in each case, directly held by the Blend Family Foundation. The directors of the Blend Family Foundation are Michael Blend, Sandra Blend and Stanley Blend. The shares of Class A
Common Stock held by the Blend Family Foundation give pro forma effect to a contribution of shares of Class A Common Stock currently held by Lone Star Friends Trust (Lone Star), which are expected to be contributed to the Blend Family
Foundation on or around the date of this prospectus. |
|
(20) |
Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock held directly by Harveys Gaingels Protected LLC
(HGP). Joseph Jones has the sole voting and dispositive power over Harveys Angels, the managing member of HGP. |
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(21) |
Consists of 490,848 shares of Class A Common Stock and 2,044,933 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and the
corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company), in each case, directly held by the Mellow Mountain Holding Trust. Jackson Hole Trust Co. is the trustee of the Mellow Mountain Holding Trust and has voting and dispositive power over
the shares held by the Mellow Mountain Holding Trust but disclaims beneficial interest in such shares. |
|
(22) |
Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock held directly by the reporting person, received in connection
with the acquisition of NextGen Shopping, Inc. |
|
(23) |
Consists of 172,440 shares of Class A Common Stock and 961,613 shares of Class A Common Stock
issuable upon the exchange of 961,613 Class B Units of S1 Holdco (and cancellation of the corresponding shares of Class C Common Stock of the Company) held by OpenMail2. OpenMail2 is jointly controlled by Michael Blend, Charles Ursini and
Tridivesh Kidambi as members of the board of managers thereof and they may be deemed to jointly control the voting and dispositive power over the shares held by OpenMail2. |
|
(24) |
Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock held directly by the reporting person. |
|
(25) |
Consists of shared of Class A Common Stock held directly by Altech IT Inc. (Altech), of which
Mr. Deboer is the president. The principal address of Altech is 9539 Stein Roard, Custer, WA 98240. |
141
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following description summarizes some of the terms of our Charter and Bylaws and the DGCL. This description is summarized from, and
qualified in its entirety by reference to, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, each of which has been publicly filed with the SEC, as well as the relevant provisions of the DGCL.
Our purpose is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may now or hereafter be organized under the DGCL. Our authorized
capital stock consists of 100,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 527,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, which consists of 500,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, 25,000,000 shares of
Class C Common Stock, and 2,000,000 shares of Class D Common Stock. Unless our board of directors determines otherwise, we will issue all shares of our capital stock in uncertificated form.
Class A Common Stock
Voting
rights. Except as provided in our Charter or as required by applicable law, holders of Class A Common Stock will be entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted on by our Stockholders generally. At annual and extraordinary
general meetings of our Stockholders, the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock will vote together as a single class on any matters submitted to a vote of our Stockholders, or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are
entitled to vote together with the holders of Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as a single class with the holders of Preferred Stock.
Generally, unless a different voting standard applies under our Organizational Documents or applicable law, all matters to be voted on by
shareholders must be approved by a majority of the votes cast (except for the election of directors, which will be decided based on a plurality of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the applicable meeting and
entitled to vote on the election of such directors).
Reservation of Shares. Under our Charter, we will have at all times,
authorized and unissued shares of Class A Common Stock for the purposes of effecting any redemptions or exchanges under the New S1 Holdco Agreement or the conversion of Class D Common Stock.
Class C Common Stock
Voting
rights. Except as provided in our Charter or as required by applicable law, holders of Class C Common Stock will be entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted on by our Stockholders generally. At any annual and extraordinary
general meeting of our Stockholders, the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock will vote together as a single class on any matters submitted to a vote of our Stockholders, or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are
entitled to vote together with the holders of Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as a single class with the holders of Preferred Stock.
Generally, unless a different voting standard applies under our Organizational Documents or applicable law, all matters to be voted on by
stockholders must be approved by a majority of the votes cast (except for the election of directors, which will be decided based on a plurality of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the applicable meeting and
entitled to vote on the election of such directors).
Future Issuances. Under our Charter, System1 is not permitted to issue
additional shares of Class C Common Stock after the adoption of our Charter, other than in connection with the valid issuance S1 Holdco Common Units under the New S1 Holdco Operating Agreement.
Restriction on Transfer. Under our Charter, holders of Class C Common Stock may only transfer their Class C Common Stock to
certain permitted transferees, while also simultaneously transferring an equal number of such holders S1 Holdco Common Units.
142
Class D Common Stock
Voting Rights. Except as provided in our Charter or as required by applicable law, holders of Class D Common Stock are not entitled
to any voting rights. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, under our Charter, any vote that changes the terms of the Class D Common Stock requires the separate approval of a majority of the holders of Class D Common Stock.
Restriction on Transfer. Under our Charter, holders of Class D Common Stock may only transfer their Class D Common Stock to
certain permitted transfers.
Conversion. Class D Common Stock will automatically convert into Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis if, following the Closing, the VWAP of the Post-Closing Company equals or exceeds $12.50 per share (adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations,
reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any twenty (20) trading days within a period of thirty (30) consecutive trading days before the fifth anniversary of the Closing. If the System1 Class D Conversion Event has not
occurred by the fifth anniversary of the Closing, all outstanding shares of Class D Common Stock will automatically be forfeited to the Post-Closing Company and canceled for no consideration therefor, including any dividends or dividend catch-up payments owed in respect thereof.
Preferred Stock
Voting Rights. Except as provided in Our Charter (including in connection with the establishment of any new series of preferred stock)
or as required by applicable law, holders of Preferred Stock are not entitled to any voting rights. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, under our Charter, any vote on an amendment to our Charter (including any certificate of designations
relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of any outstanding Preferred Stock will entitle the holders of Preferred Stock will be entitled to vote as a separate class thereon.
Our Charter authorizes our Board to establish additional series of preferred stock. Unless required by law or any stock exchange, the
authorized preferred stock will be available for issuance without further action by the holders of Common Stock. Our Board has the discretion to determine the powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights,
including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, of each series of preferred stock. The issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in
control of System1 without further action by our Stockholders. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may adversely affect the holders of Common Stock by restricting dividends, diluting the voting power of Common Stock or subordinating the
liquidation rights of Common Stock. As a result of these or other factors, the issuance of preferred stock could have an adverse impact on the market price of Class A Common Stock.
Dividend Rights
Subject to applicable
law and the rights of any outstanding Preferred Stock, the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class D Common Stock will participate ratably (based on the number of shares held) in any dividends that may be declared from time to time by
our Board out of funds legally available therefor. The holders of Class C Common Stock are not entitled to any dividends declared by our Board, except in the case of a stock dividend, pursuant to our Charter. Holders of Class D Common
Stock will only receive dividends declared in respect thereof upon the conversion of Class D Common Stock to Class A Common Stock, as described above.
Winding-Up
If System1 is wound up, the holders of Class A Common Stock, after paying off any liabilities, and the amounts owed to the holders of
Preferred Stock, if any, may divide amongst the themselves the assets of System1. The holders of Class C Common Stock and Class D Common Stock are not entitled to any assets of System1 upon being wound up and liquidated, except for the par
value of the shares thereof.
143
Preemptive Rights; Sinking Fund Provisions
The holders of System1 Common Stock have no preemptive rights or other subscription rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to
System1 Stock.
System1 Warrants
In
connection with the Business Combination, each of the Trebia Public Warrants that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, pursuant to and in accordance with the warrant agreement covering such warrants, were automatically and
irrevocably modified to provide that such warrant will no longer entitle the holder thereof to purchase the amount of Trebia Class A Ordinary Shares set forth therein, and in substitution thereof such warrant entitles the holder thereof to
acquire the same number of shares of Class A Common Stock per warrant on the same terms (each a Warrant).
Each
Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions. Only a whole Warrant may be exercised at a given time by a warrant
holder. A holder of Warrants will not be able to exercise any fraction of a Warrant.
We will not be obligated to deliver any shares of
Class A Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying
the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to System1 satisfying its obligations described below with respect to registration, or a valid exemption from registration being available. No warrant will be
exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue a share of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of a warrant unless the Class A Common Stock issuable upon such warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under
the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a warrant, the holder of such warrant will not be
entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant.
Redemption of Warrants When the Price per share of Class A Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $18.00
All but not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at our option, once the System1 Warrants become exercisable, upon notice
to the registered holders of the Warrants, at a redemption price of $0.01 per Warrant, provided that (a) the Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment) and (b) there is an effective registration statement
covering the issuance of the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day redemption period.
Redemption of Warrants When the Price per share of Class A Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $10.00
All but not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at our option, once the Warrants become exercisable, upon notice to the
registered holders of the Warrants, at a redemption price of $0.10 per Warrant, provided that (i) the Reference Value equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (subject to adjustment) and (ii) if the Reference Value is less than $18.00 per share
(subject to adjustment), the Private Placement Warrants are also concurrently called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding System1 Warrants. See Private Placement Warrants below. During the 30-day redemption period, registered holders of the Warrants may elect to exercise their Warrants on a cashless basis and receive a number of Class A Common Stock
144
determined by reference to the table below, based on the redemption date (calculated for purposes of the table as the period to expiration of the Warrants) and the Redemption Fair Market Value (a
Make-Whole Exercise).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Redemption Fair Market Value of System1 Class A Share |
|
Redemption Date (period to expiration of warrants) |
|
<$ |
10.00 |
|
|
$ |
11.00 |
|
|
$ |
12.00 |
|
|
$ |
13.00 |
|
|
$ |
14.00 |
|
|
$ |
15.00 |
|
|
$ |
16.00 |
|
|
$ |
17.00 |
|
|
>$ |
18.00 |
|
60 months |
|
|
0.261 |
|
|
|
0.280 |
|
|
|
0.297 |
|
|
|
0.311 |
|
|
|
0.324 |
|
|
|
0.337 |
|
|
|
0.348 |
|
|
|
0.358 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
57 months |
|
|
0.257 |
|
|
|
0.277 |
|
|
|
0.294 |
|
|
|
0.310 |
|
|
|
0.324 |
|
|
|
0.337 |
|
|
|
0.348 |
|
|
|
0.358 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
54 months |
|
|
0.252 |
|
|
|
0.272 |
|
|
|
0.291 |
|
|
|
0.307 |
|
|
|
0.322 |
|
|
|
0.335 |
|
|
|
0.347 |
|
|
|
0.357 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
51 months |
|
|
0.246 |
|
|
|
0.268 |
|
|
|
0.287 |
|
|
|
0.304 |
|
|
|
0.320 |
|
|
|
0.333 |
|
|
|
0.346 |
|
|
|
0.357 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
48 months |
|
|
0.241 |
|
|
|
0.263 |
|
|
|
0.283 |
|
|
|
0.301 |
|
|
|
0.317 |
|
|
|
0.332 |
|
|
|
0.344 |
|
|
|
0.356 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
45 months |
|
|
0.235 |
|
|
|
0.258 |
|
|
|
0.279 |
|
|
|
0.298 |
|
|
|
0.315 |
|
|
|
0.330 |
|
|
|
0.343 |
|
|
|
0.356 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
42 months |
|
|
0.228 |
|
|
|
0.252 |
|
|
|
0.274 |
|
|
|
0.294 |
|
|
|
0.312 |
|
|
|
0.328 |
|
|
|
0.342 |
|
|
|
0.355 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
39 months |
|
|
0.221 |
|
|
|
0.246 |
|
|
|
0.269 |
|
|
|
0.290 |
|
|
|
0.309 |
|
|
|
0.325 |
|
|
|
0.340 |
|
|
|
0.354 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
36 months |
|
|
0.213 |
|
|
|
0.239 |
|
|
|
0.263 |
|
|
|
0.285 |
|
|
|
0.305 |
|
|
|
0.323 |
|
|
|
0.339 |
|
|
|
0.353 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
33 months |
|
|
0.205 |
|
|
|
0.232 |
|
|
|
0.257 |
|
|
|
0.280 |
|
|
|
0.301 |
|
|
|
0.320 |
|
|
|
0.337 |
|
|
|
0.352 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
30 months |
|
|
0.196 |
|
|
|
0.224 |
|
|
|
0.250 |
|
|
|
0.274 |
|
|
|
0.297 |
|
|
|
0.316 |
|
|
|
0.335 |
|
|
|
0.351 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
27 months |
|
|
0.185 |
|
|
|
0.214 |
|
|
|
0.242 |
|
|
|
0.268 |
|
|
|
0.291 |
|
|
|
0.313 |
|
|
|
0.332 |
|
|
|
0.350 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
24 months |
|
|
0.173 |
|
|
|
0.204 |
|
|
|
0.233 |
|
|
|
0.260 |
|
|
|
0.285 |
|
|
|
0.308 |
|
|
|
0.329 |
|
|
|
0.348 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
21 months |
|
|
0.161 |
|
|
|
0.193 |
|
|
|
0.223 |
|
|
|
0.252 |
|
|
|
0.279 |
|
|
|
0.304 |
|
|
|
0.326 |
|
|
|
0.347 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
18 months |
|
|
0.146 |
|
|
|
0.179 |
|
|
|
0.211 |
|
|
|
0.242 |
|
|
|
0.271 |
|
|
|
0.298 |
|
|
|
0.322 |
|
|
|
0.345 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
15 months |
|
|
0.130 |
|
|
|
0.164 |
|
|
|
0.197 |
|
|
|
0.230 |
|
|
|
0.262 |
|
|
|
0.291 |
|
|
|
0.317 |
|
|
|
0.342 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
12 months |
|
|
0.111 |
|
|
|
0.146 |
|
|
|
0.181 |
|
|
|
0.216 |
|
|
|
0.250 |
|
|
|
0.282 |
|
|
|
0.312 |
|
|
|
0.339 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
9 months |
|
|
0.090 |
|
|
|
0.125 |
|
|
|
0.162 |
|
|
|
0.199 |
|
|
|
0.237 |
|
|
|
0.272 |
|
|
|
0.305 |
|
|
|
0.336 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
6 months |
|
|
0.065 |
|
|
|
0.099 |
|
|
|
0.137 |
|
|
|
0.178 |
|
|
|
0.219 |
|
|
|
0.259 |
|
|
|
0.296 |
|
|
|
0.331 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
3 months |
|
|
0.034 |
|
|
|
0.065 |
|
|
|
0.104 |
|
|
|
0.150 |
|
|
|
0.197 |
|
|
|
0.243 |
|
|
|
0.286 |
|
|
|
0.326 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
0 months |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.042 |
|
|
|
0.115 |
|
|
|
0.179 |
|
|
|
0.233 |
|
|
|
0.281 |
|
|
|
0.323 |
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
The exact Redemption Fair Market Value and redemption date may not be set forth in the table above, in which
case, if the Redemption Fair Market Value is between two values in the table or the redemption date is between two redemption dates in the table, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued for each Warrant exercised in a
Make-Whole Exercise will be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of shares set forth for the higher and lower Redemption Fair Market Values and the earlier and later redemption dates, as applicable, based on a 365- or 366-day year, as applicable. The share prices set forth in the column headings of the table above shall be adjusted as of any date on which the number of shares
issuable upon exercise of a System1 Warrant is adjusted.
This redemption feature differs from the typical warrant redemption features
used in many other blank check offerings, which typically only provide for a redemption of warrants for cash (other than the private placement warrants) when the trading price for the Class A Common Stock exceeds $18.00 per share for a
specified period of time. This redemption feature is structured to allow for all of the outstanding warrants to be redeemed when the shares of Class A Common Stock are trading at or above $10.00 per share, which may be at a time when the
trading price of the Class A Common Stock is below the exercise price of the warrants. System1 has established this redemption feature to provide us with the flexibility to redeem the warrants without the warrants having to reach the $18.00 per
share threshold set forth above under Redemption of Warrants When the Price per share of Class A Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $18.00. Holders choosing to exercise their warrants in connection with a
redemption pursuant to this feature will, in effect, receive a number of shares for their warrants based on an option pricing model with a fixed volatility input as of the date of Trebias IPO prospectus. This redemption right provides us with
an additional mechanism by which to redeem all of the outstanding warrants, and therefore have certainty as to Our capital structure as the warrants would no longer be outstanding and would have been exercised or redeemed. We will be required to pay
the applicable redemption price to warrant holders if we chooses to exercise this redemption right and it will allow us to quickly proceed
145
with a redemption of the warrants if we determine it is in its best interest to do so. As such, we would redeem the warrants in this manner when it believes it is in its best interest to update
our capital structure to remove the warrants and pay the redemption price to the warrant holders.
As stated above, we can redeem the
warrants when the shares of Class A Common Stock are trading at a price starting at $10.00, which is below the exercise price of $11.50, because it will provide certainty with respect to Our capital structure and cash position while providing
warrant holders with the opportunity to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis for the applicable number of shares. If we choose to redeem the warrants when the shares of Class A Common Stock are trading at a price below the exercise price
of the warrants, this could result in the warrant holders receiving fewer shares of Class A Common Stock than they would have received if they had chosen to wait to exercise their warrants for shares of Class A Common Stock if and when
such Class A Common Stock were trading at a price higher than the exercise price of $11.50.
No fractional shares of Class A
Common Stock will be issued upon redemption. If, upon redemption, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be
issued to the holder. If, at the time of redemption, the warrants are exercisable for a security other than the Class A Common Stock pursuant to the warrant agreement, the warrants may be exercised for such security.
Anti-dilution Adjustments.
Following the conversion of the Trebia Public Warrants into Warrants, the Warrants will be subject to anti-dilution adjustments, as summarized
in the paragraphs below.
Sub-Divisions. If the number of issued and outstanding shares of
Class A Common Stock is increased by a capitalization or share dividend of Class A Common Stock, or by a sub-division of Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date
of such share capitalization, sub-division or similar event, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each System1 Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in
the issued and outstanding Class A Common Stock. A rights offering to holders of Class A Common Stock entitling holders to purchase Class A Common Stock at a price less than the Historical Fair Market Value will be deemed
a capitalization of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the number of Class A Common Stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights
offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the Class A Common Stock) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Class A Common Stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the
Historical Fair Market Value. If the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Class A Common Stock, in determining the price payable for Class A Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration
received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion.
Dividends. In addition, if at any
time while the System1 Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, we pay a dividend or makes a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock on account of such Class A Common Stock (or other
securities into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, (b) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Class A Common Stock in connection with the Business Combination and (c) certain other
dividends or distributions in connection with redemption rights of the holders of Class A Common Stock existing prior to the completion of the Business Combination.
Aggregation of Shares. If the number of issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation,
combination, reverse share split or reclassification of Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse share split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of
Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.
146
Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification
or reorganization of the outstanding Class A Common Stock, or in the case of any merger or consolidation of System1 with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which we are the continuing corporation and that does
not result in any reclassification or reorganization of its outstanding Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of as an entirety or substantially as an
entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the Warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the shares of
Class A Common Stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of Class A Common Stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such
reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their warrants immediately prior to such event,
provided however, if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of Class A Common Stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of shares in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities
exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered
holder of the warrant properly exercises the Warrant within thirty (30) days following public disclosure of such transaction, the Warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the warrant agreement based on the Black-Scholes Warrant
Value.
Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant price or the number of shares issuable upon exercise of
a Warrant, we shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the price of a Warrant resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares purchasable at such price upon the
exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in the section titled Anti-Dilution Adjustments, we
will give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder in the warrant register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any
defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.
No Fractional Shares. We will not issue fractional shares
upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole
number the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to such holder.
Form of Warrant. The form of Warrant need
not be changed because of any adjustment, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same warrant price and the same number of shares as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to the Warrant Agreement; provided, however,
that System1 may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that we may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or
substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.
Other Events. In case any event shall
occur affecting System1 as to which none of the provisions of the preceding subsections are strictly applicable, but which would require an adjustment to the terms of the Warrants in order to (i) avoid an adverse impact on the Warrants and
(ii) effectuate the intent and purpose of the Warrant Agreement, then, in each such case, we will appoint a firm of independent registered public accountants, investment banking or other appraisal firm of recognized national standing, which
will give its opinion as to whether or not any adjustment to the rights represented by the Warrants is necessary to effectuate the intent and purpose of the Warrant Agreement and, if they determine that an adjustment is necessary, the terms of such
adjustment; provided, however, that under no circumstances shall the Warrants be so adjusted pursuant as a result of any issuance of securities in connection with a business combination. We will adjust the terms of the Warrants in a manner that is
consistent with any adjustment recommended in such opinion.
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No Adjustment. For the avoidance of doubt, no adjustment shall be made to the terms
of the Warrants solely as a result of an adjustment to the conversion ratio of the Trebia Class B Ordinary Shares into Trebia Class A Ordinary Shares.
Private Placement Warrants
The Private
Placement Warrants are identical to the Warrants (including with respect to the anti-dilution adjustments described in the immediately preceding section), except that so long as they are held by the Sponsors or any of their permitted transferees,
the Private Placement Warrants: (i) may be exercised on a cashless basis, (ii) including the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants may not be transferred, assigned or sold until thirty
(30) days after the completion by us of an initial business combination, (iii) are not redeemable by us pursuant to the redemption described in the section titled Redemption of Warrants When the Price per Share of
Class A Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $18.00, and (iv) will only be redeemable by pursuant to the redemption described in the section titled Redemption of Warrants When the Price per share of Class A Common
Stock Equals or Exceeds $10.00 if the Reference Value is less than $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment); provided, however, that in the case of clause (ii), the Private Placement Warrants and any Class A Common Stock held by the
Sponsors or any of their permitted transferees that are issued upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants may be transferred by the holders thereof:
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to our officer or directors, any affiliates or family member of any of our officers of directors, any members or
partners of the Sponsors or its affiliates, any affiliates of the Sponsors or any employees of such affiliates; |
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in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individuals immediate family, or to a trust, the
beneficiary of which is a member of one of the individuals immediate family, or an affiliate of such person, or to a charitable organization; |
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in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual;
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in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; by virtue of the limited
partnership agreements or other applicable organizational documents of the Sponsors upon dissolution of the Sponsors; as distributions to limited partners or members of the Sponsors; by virtue of laws of Delaware or either of the Sponsors
respective organizational documents upon liquidation or dissolution of Trasimene Sponsor or BGPT Sponsor, as applicable; or in the event of our completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of
our stockholders having the right to exchange their Class A Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of the Business Combination; provided, however, that in each case (except for the final four bullets
above or with the prior written consent of our group) prior to such registration for transfer, the warrant agent shall be presented with written documentation pursuant to which each permitted transferee must enter into a written agreement with us
agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions. |
System1s Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent
The transfer agent for System1 Stock and Warrant Agent for Warrants and Private Placement Warrants is Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company.
Anti-Takeover Effects of the System1 Charter, System1 Bylaws and Certain Provisions of Delaware Law
Our Charter, Bylaws and the DGCL contain provisions, which are summarized in the following paragraphs, which are intended to enhance the
likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our Board and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened acquisition of System1. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles,
reduce Our vulnerability to a hostile change of control or other unsolicited acquisition proposal, and enhance the ability of our Board to maximize stockholder value.
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However, these provisions may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a merger or acquisition of System1 by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or other takeover attempt that a
stockholder might consider in its best interest, including attempts that might result in a premium over the prevailing market price for the shares of Class A Common Stock.
Action by Written Consent
Our
Charter provides that any action required or permitted to be taken by Our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or Extraordinary General Meeting of such stockholders, and may not be taken by written consent.
Authorized but Unissued Capital Stock
Delaware law does not require stockholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares. However, the listing requirements of NYSE, which
would apply if and so long as Class A Common Stock remains listed on NYSE, require stockholder approval of certain issuances of Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock) equal to or exceeding 20% of the then
outstanding voting power or then outstanding number of shares of common stock. As a result, we may issue additional shares in the future for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings, to raise additional capital or to
facilitate acquisitions, without approval of Our stockholders.
In addition, our Board is generally authorized to issue shares additional
series of preferred stock having such terms, powers, rights and preferences as our Board determines in its discretion, including terms that may be designed to discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of System1 or the removal of System1
management.
One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved common stock may be to enable our Board to issue shares to
persons friendly to current management, which issuance could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of System1 by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise and thereby protect the continuity of management
and possibly deprive stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of Class A Common Stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.
Business Combinations
We have
elected not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL. Section 203 is a default provision of the DGCL that restricts certain business combinations with interested stockholders for three years following the date that
a person becomes an interested stockholder, with certain permitted exceptions.
Election and Removal of Directors and Vacancies
Our Charter provides that our Board will determine the number of directors who will serve on our Board, subject to the rights set
forth in the Stockholders Agreement. Our Board is divided into three classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III. Class I directors will initially serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders
following the Closing Date. Class II and Class III directors will initially serve for a term expiring at the second and third annual meeting of stockholders following the Closing Date, respectively. At each succeeding annual meeting of
stockholders, directors will be elected to the class whose term is expiring at such annual meeting for a full term of three years.
In
addition, our Charter provides that any vacancy on our Board, including a vacancy that results from an increase in the number of directors or a vacancy that results from the removal of a director with or without cause, may be filled only by a
majority of the directors then in office, subject to the provisions of the Stockholders Agreement and any rights of the holders of Preferred Stock. For more information on the Stockholders Agreement.
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No Cumulative Voting
Under Delaware law, there is no right to vote cumulatively (which allows stockholders to cast all of the votes such stockholder is entitled to
for a single nominee for a board of directors rather than only being able to vote the number of shares such stockholder holds for or against each nominee) unless expressly authorized in the certificate of incorporation. Our Charter does not
authorize cumulative voting.
Special Stockholder Meetings
Our Charter provides that Extraordinary General Meeting of stockholders may be called only by or at the direction of our Board, the Chairman of
our Board or by the Secretary of System1 at the request of any holder of greater-than fifty (50%) of the total voting power of the outstanding shares. These provisions may have the effect of deterring, delaying or discouraging hostile takeovers, or
changes in control or management of System1.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Meetings, Nominations and Proposals
Our Bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as
directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our Board or a committee of our Board or pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement. For any matter to be properly brought before a meeting, a stockholder will have to comply
with advance notice requirements and provide us with certain information. Generally, to be timely, a stockholders notice must be received at Our principal executive offices not less than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the
immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders (for the purposes of the first annual meeting of our stockholders following the adoption of our Bylaws, the date of the preceding annual meeting will be deemed to be May 14 of the preceding
calendar year). Our Bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholders notice.
Our Bylaws allow the
chairman of a stockholder meeting to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings which may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the rules and regulations are not followed. These provisions may
also deter, delay or discourage a potential acquirer or investor from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to influence or obtain control of System1.
Voting Requirements
Our Charter
provides that the System1 Board is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend, change, add to, rescind or repeal, in whole or in part, our Bylaws without a stockholder vote in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or our
Charter. The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock, voting together as a single class, is required to amend a corporations certificate of incorporation, unless the certificate
of incorporation requires a greater percentage.
Exclusive Forum
Our Charter provides that, unless System1 consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (i) any derivative action or
proceeding brought on behalf of System1, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, other employee, agent or stockholder of System1 to System1 or our stockholders, or any claim
for aiding and abetting any such alleged breach, (iii) any action asserting a claim against System1 or any current or former director, officer, other employee, agent or stockholder of System1 (a) arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL,
the System1 Charter (as it may be amended or restated) or the System1 Bylaws or (b) as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Delaware Court of Chancery or (iv) any action asserting a claim against System1 or any current or former
director, officer, other employee, agent or stockholder of System1 governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the law of the State of Delaware will (to the fullest extent permitted by law) be solely and exclusively brought in the Delaware Court
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of Chancery (subject to certain limited exceptions, including if there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such
determination, or if jurisdiction is vested exclusively in a court or forum other than the Delaware Court of Chancery).
Our Charter also provides that
the federal district courts of the United States of America will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any action arising under federal securities laws, including the Securities Act. In addition, the exclusive
forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum. While
Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, Section 27 of the
Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of Our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and
to have consented to the forum provisions in our Charter. This choice-of-forum provision may limit a stockholders ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that
it finds favorable for disputes with System1 or its directors, officers, stockholders, agents or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits.
We note that there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce this provision, and the enforceability of similar choice of forum
provisions in other companies charter documents has been challenged in legal proceedings. Further, investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. It is possible that a court could
find these types of provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable, and if a court were to find this provision of Our Charter inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur
additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect Our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of Our
management and board of directors. While the Delaware courts have determined that such choice of forum provisions are facially valid, a stockholder may nevertheless seek to bring a claim in a venue other than those designated in the exclusive forum
provisions, and there can be no assurance that such provisions will be enforced by a court in those other jurisdictions.
Limitations on Liability
and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
The DGCL authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of
directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors fiduciary duties, subject to certain exceptions. Our Charter will include a provision that eliminates, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the
personal liability of directors for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director. The effect of this provision is to eliminate the rights of System1 and its stockholders, through stockholders derivative suits on Our behalf,
to recover monetary damages from a director for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, including breaches resulting from grossly negligent behavior. However, exculpation does not apply to any director if the director has acted in bad faith,
knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized illegal dividends or redemptions or derived an improper benefit from his or her actions as a director.
Our Bylaws provide that we must indemnify and advance expenses to directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. We
are also expressly authorized to carry directors and officers liability insurance providing indemnification for directors, officers and certain employees for some liabilities. We believe that these indemnification and advancement
provisions and insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and executive officers.
The limitation of liability,
indemnification and advancement provisions in our Organizational Documents may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These
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provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit System1
and our stockholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. We believe that these
provisions, liability insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced directors and officers.
Listing
Our Class A Common Stock
and Warrants are listed on the NYSE under the symbols SST and SST.WS, respectively.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering 106,508,061 shares of Class A Common Stock and 8,424,034 Private Placement Warrants for possible sale by the Selling
Securityholders from time to time and up to 25,483,334 shares of Class A Common Stock that are issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants. The Selling Securityholders will pay all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of their shares of
Class A Common Stock and Warrants, including underwriters or agents commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, underwriter marketing costs and all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Selling
Securityholders, except that we will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of one legal counsel for the Selling Securityholders, in the event of an underwritten offering of their shares of Class A Common Stock or Warrants. We will bear all other
costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the shares of Class A Common Stock and Warrants covered by this prospectus, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, printing and delivery fees, NYSE listing
fees and fees and expenses of our counsel and our accountants.
The shares of Class A Common Stock and Warrants beneficially owned by the
Selling Securityholders covered by this prospectus may be offered and sold from time to time by the Selling Securityholders. The term Selling Securityholders includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors in interest selling
securities received after the date of this prospectus from a Selling Securityholder as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other transfer. The Selling Securityholders will act independently of us in making decisions with respect to the
timing, manner and size of each sale. Such sales may be made on one or more exchanges or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise, at prices and under terms then
prevailing or at prices related to the then-current market price or in negotiated transactions. The Selling Securityholders may sell their shares of Class A Common Stock and Warrants by one or more of, or
a combination of, the following methods:
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purchases by a broker dealer as principal and resale by such broker dealer for its own account pursuant to this
prospectus; |
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ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers; |
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block trades in which the broker dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and
resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
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an over the counter distribution in accordance with the rules of the NYSE; |
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through trading plans entered into by a Selling Securityholder pursuant to Rule 10b5 1 under the Exchange Act,
that are in place at the time of an offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement hereto that provide for periodic sales of their securities on the basis of parameters described in such trading plans;
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to or through underwriters or broker dealers; |
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in at the market offerings, as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, at negotiated prices, at
prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, including sales made directly on a national securities exchange or sales made through a market maker other than on an exchange or other similar offerings
through sales agents; |
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in privately negotiated transactions; |
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in options transactions; |
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through a combination of any of the above methods of sale; or |
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any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
In addition, any shares that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 or another exemption from registration under the securities act. may be
sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus. A Selling Securityholder that is an entity may elect to make an in-kind distribution of Class A Common Stock to its members, partners, stockholders
or other equityholders pursuant to the registration statement of which this
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prospectus forms a part by delivering a prospectus. To the extent that such members, partners, stockholders or other equityholders are not affiliates of ours, such members, partners, stockholders
or other equityholders would thereby receive freely tradable shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to a distribution pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. In
connection with distributions of the shares or otherwise, the Selling Securityholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions. In connection with such
transactions, broker-dealers or other financial institutions may engage in short sales of shares of Class A Common Stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume with Selling Securityholders. The
Selling Securityholders may also sell shares of Class A Common Stock short and redeliver the shares to close out such short positions. The Selling Securityholders may also enter into option or other transactions with
broker-dealers or other financial institutions that require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which
shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction). The Selling Securityholders may also pledge shares or
grant a security interest in shares to a broker-dealer or other financial institution, and, upon a default under the secured obligation, such broker-dealer or other
financial institution, may effect sales of the pledged shares pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
A Selling Securityholder may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third
parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement,
including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by any Selling Securityholder or borrowed from any Selling Securityholder or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock,
and may use securities received from any Selling Securityholder in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions may be an underwriter and, if applicable, will be
identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, any Selling Securityholder may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third
party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other
securities.
In effecting sales, broker-dealers or agents engaged by the Selling Securityholders
may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate. Broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions, discounts or concessions from the Selling Securityholders in
amounts to be negotiated immediately prior to the sale.
In offering the securities covered by this prospectus, any broker-dealers who execute sales for the Selling Securityholders may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. The compensation of any broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions.
In order to comply with the
securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the securities must be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states the securities may not be sold unless they have been
registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
We have advised the Selling Securityholders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the
Exchange Act may apply to sales of securities in the market and to the activities of the Selling Securityholders and their affiliates. In addition, we will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling Securityholders for the purpose of
satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, if applicable. The Selling Securityholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the
securities against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
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At the time a particular offer of securities is made, if required, a prospectus supplement
will be distributed that will set forth the number of securities being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name of any underwriter, dealer or agent, the purchase price paid by any underwriter, any discount, commission and other item
constituting compensation, any discount, commission or concession allowed or reallowed or paid to any dealer, and the proposed selling price to the public.
A holder of Warrants may exercise its Warrants in accordance with the Warrant Agreement on or before the expiration date by surrendering, at
the office of the Warrant agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the certificate evidencing such Warrant, an election to purchase, properly completed and duly executed, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price and any
and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, subject to any applicable provisions relating to cashless exercises in accordance with the Warrant Agreement.
Under the Registration Rights Agreement, we have agreed to indemnify the Registration Rights Holders party thereto against certain liabilities
that they may incur in connection with the sale of the securities registered hereunder, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments that the Registration Rights Holders may be required to make with respect thereto.
In addition, we and the Registration Rights Holders have agreed to indemnify any underwriter against certain liabilities related to the selling of the securities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
We have agreed to maintain the effectiveness of this registration statement until all such securities have been sold under this registration
statement or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or are no longer outstanding.
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LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the shares of Class A Common Stock and Warrants offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Trebia Acquisition Corp. as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and for the year ended December 21, 2021 and for
the period from February 11, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, appearing in this prospectus have been audited by Marcum LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, appearing elsewhere
in this prospectus, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The financial statements of S1 Holdco, LLC as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2021 included in this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.
The consolidated financial statements of Protected.Net Group Limited as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and for each of
the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 included in this Prospectus and in the Registration Statement have been so included in reliance on the report of BDO LLP, independent accountants, appearing elsewhere herein and in the
Registration Statement, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. BDO LLP, Southampton, United Kingdom, is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect
to the shares of Class A Common Stock and Warrants offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules
filed therewith. For further information about us and the shares of Class A Common Stock and Warrants offered hereby, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed thereto. Statements contained in this prospectus
regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract
or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. We file periodic reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act. The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy
statements and other information about registrants, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov.
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INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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System1, Inc. (f/k/a Trebia Acquisition Corp.) |
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
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F-2 |
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Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and
2020 |
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F-3 |
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Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 and
for the period from February 11, 2020 (Inception) through December 31, 2020 |
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F-4 |
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Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders Equity for the Year
Ended December 31, 2021 and for the period from February 11, 2020 (Inception) through December 31, 2020 |
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F-5 |
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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 and
for the period from February 11, 2020 (Inception) through December 31, 2020 |
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F-6 |
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements |
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F-7 |
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INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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S1 Holdco, LLC |
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
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F-26 |
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Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021, and
2020 |
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F-27 |
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Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31,
2021, 2020 and 2019 |
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F-28 |
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Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31,
2021, 2020 and 2019 |
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F-29 |
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Consolidated Statements of Changes in Members Equity for the Years
Ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 |
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F-30 |
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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31,
2021, 2020 and 2019 |
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F-31 |
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements |
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F-32 |
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INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
Consolidated Financial
Statements
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of
System1, Inc. (f/k/a Trebia Acquisition Corp.)
Opinion on
the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of System1, Inc. (f/k/a Trebia Acquisition Corp.) (the
Company) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders deficit and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the period from February 11, 2020
(inception) through December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the
Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the period from February 11, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys 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 the
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 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 Companys 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 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 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 financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Marcum LLP
Marcum LLP
We have served as the Companys auditor from 2020 to 2022.
Philadelphia, PA
March 30, 2022
F-2
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash |
|
$ |
53,147 |
|
|
$ |
843,643 |
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
67,083 |
|
|
|
209,790 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Current Assets |
|
|
120,230 |
|
|
|
1,053,433 |
|
Cash held in Trust Account |
|
|
517,500,000 |
|
|
|
517,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL ASSETS |
|
$ |
517,620,230 |
|
|
$ |
518,553,433 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS DEFICIT |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses |
|
$ |
12,557,125 |
|
|
$ |
613,050 |
|
Promissory noterelated party |
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Current Liabilities |
|
|
13,007,125 |
|
|
|
613,050 |
|
Warrant Liability |
|
|
29,305,834 |
|
|
|
53,005,335 |
|
FPA Liability |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,654,540 |
|
Deferred Underwriting Fee Payable |
|
|
18,112,500 |
|
|
|
18,112,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Liabilities |
|
|
60,425,459 |
|
|
|
82,385,425 |
|
Commitments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A Ordinary Shares subject to possible redemption, 51,750,000 shares issued and
outstanding at redemption value as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 |
|
|
517,500,000 |
|
|
|
517,500,000 |
|
Shareholders Deficit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preference shares, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and
outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued
and outstanding (excluding 51,750,000 shares subject to possible redemption) at December 31, 2021 and 2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 40,000,000 shares authorized; 12,937,500 shares
issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 |
|
|
1,294 |
|
|
|
1,294 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(60,306,523 |
) |
|
|
(81,333,286 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Shareholders Deficit |
|
|
(60,305,229 |
) |
|
|
(81,331,992 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS DEFICIT |
|
$ |
517,620,230 |
|
|
$ |
518,553,433 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
|
|
For the Period from February 11, 2020 (Inception) through December
31, 2020 |
|
Operating and formation costs |
|
$ |
13,327,278 |
|
|
$ |
806,028 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from operations |
|
|
(13,327,278 |
) |
|
|
(806,028 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transaction costs allocated to warrant and FPA liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,381,051 |
) |
Change in fair value of warrant liability |
|
|
23,699,501 |
|
|
|
(17,328,667 |
) |
Change in fair value of FPA liability |
|
|
7,494,372 |
|
|
|
(10,399,002 |
) |
Gain on termination of FPA |
|
|
3,160,168 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other income (expense), net |
|
|
34,354,041 |
|
|
|
(29,108,720 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
21,026,763 |
|
|
$ |
(29,914,748 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Class A ordinary shares |
|
|
51,750,000 |
|
|
|
31,145,833 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share, Class A ordinary shares |
|
$ |
0.33 |
|
|
$ |
(0.69 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Class B ordinary shares |
|
|
12,937,500 |
|
|
|
12,265,625 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share, Class B ordinary shares |
|
$ |
0.33 |
|
|
$ |
(0.69 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS DEFICIT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A Ordinary Shares |
|
|
Class B Ordinary Shares |
|
|
Additional Paid-in Capital |
|
|
Accumulated Deficit |
|
|
Total Shareholders Deficit |
|
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Amount |
|
BalanceFebruary 11, 2020 (inception) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Issuance of Class B ordinary shares to Sponsor |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,937,500 |
|
|
|
1,294 |
|
|
|
23,706 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
Contribution in excess of fair value of private warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
823,332 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
823,332 |
|
Remeasurement of Class A Common Stock subject to redemption to redemption value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(847,038 |
) |
|
|
(51,418,538 |
) |
|
|
(52,265,576 |
) |
Net loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(29,914,748 |
) |
|
|
(29,914,748 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BalanceDecember 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
12,937,500 |
|
|
$ |
1,294 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
(81,333,286 |
) |
|
$ |
(81,331,992 |
) |
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21,026,763 |
|
|
|
21,026,763 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BalanceDecember 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
12,937,500 |
|
|
$ |
1,294 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
(60,306,523 |
) |
|
$ |
(60,305,229 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
|
|
For the Period from February 11, 2020 (Inception) through December
31, 2020 |
|
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
21,026,763 |
|
|
$ |
(29,914,748 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in fair value of warrants |
|
|
(23,699,501 |
) |
|
|
17,328,667 |
|
Change in fair value of FPA |
|
|
(7,494,372 |
) |
|
|
10,399,002 |
|
Gain on termination of FPA |
|
|
(3,160,168 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Transaction costs incurred in connection with IPO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,381,051 |
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
142,707 |
|
|
|
(209,790 |
) |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
|
|
11,944,075 |
|
|
|
613,050 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
|
(1,240,496 |
) |
|
|
(402,768 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment of cash into trust Account |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(517,500,000 |
) |
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(517,500,000 |
) |
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from sale of Units, net of underwriting discounts paid |
|
|
|
|
|
|
507,150,000 |
|
Proceeds from sale of Private Placement Warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,350,000 |
|
Proceeds from issuance of Class B ordinary shares to Sponsor |
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
Proceeds from promissory noterelated party |
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
Repayment of promissory noterelated party |
|
|
(150,000 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Payment of offering costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(778,589 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
518,746,411 |
|
Net Change in Cash |
|
|
(790,496 |
) |
|
|
843,643 |
|
CashBeginning |
|
|
843,643 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CashEnding |
|
$ |
53,147 |
|
|
$ |
843,643 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-cash investing and financing
activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Initial classification of warrant liability |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
35,676,668 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Initial classification of FPA liability |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
255,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Initial value of Class A Common Stock subject to possible redemption |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
517,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred underwriting fee payable |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
18,112,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2021
NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND PLAN OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS
System1, Inc., (the Company, f/k/a Trebia Acquisition Corp. (Trebia)) was a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands
exempted company on February 11, 2020. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (Business
Combination). On January 27, 2022 the Company consummated its Business Combination as described in Note 6.
Although the Company was not
limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of completing a Business Combination, the Company intended to focus on industries that complements the Sponsors (as defined below) and management teams background in
financial services, technology, software, data, analytics, services and related areas. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth
companies.
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from February 11, 2020
(inception) through December 31, 2021 relates to the Companys formation, its initial public offering (Initial Public Offering), which is described below, and subsequent to the Initial Public Offering, identifying a target
company for a Business Combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in
the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering.
The registration statements for the Companys Initial Public
Offering became effective on June 16, 2020. On June 19, 2020, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 51,750,000 units (the Units and, with respect to the Class A ordinary shares included in the Units sold,
the Public Shares), which includes the full exercise by the underwriters of the over-allotment option to purchase an additional 6,750,000 Units, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $517,500,000 which is described in
Note 3.
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 8,233,334 warrants (the Private
Placement Warrants) at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant in a private placement to Trasimene Trebia, LP, an affiliate of Trasimene Capital Management, LLC, and BGPT Trebia LP, an affiliate of Bridgeport
Partners LLC (collectively the Sponsors), generating gross proceeds of $12,350,000, which is described in Note 4.
At
December 31, 2021 and 2020, cash of $53,147 and $843,643, respectively, was held outside of the Trust Account (as defined below) and is available for working capital purposes.
Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering on June 19, 2020, an amount of $517,500,000 ($10.00 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of
the Units in the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants was placed in a trust account (the Trust Account) located in the United States and invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set
forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Investment Company Act), with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund
meeting certain conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution
of the funds in the Trust Account to the Companys shareholders, as described below.
The Companys management has broad discretion with respect
to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net
F-7
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
proceeds were intended to be applied generally toward completing a Business Combination. The Company must have completed its initial Business Combination with one or more target businesses that
together have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting commissions held in the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into a Business
Combination. The Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-Business Combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in
the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, of which the Company has satisfied this requirement within the consummated Business Combination.
The Company provided its shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination in
connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination. The decision as to whether the Company will seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination was made by the Company. The shareholders were entitled to redeem their
shares for a pro rata portion of the amount held in the Trust Account ($10.00 per share), calculated as of two business days prior to the completion of a Business Combination. There were no redemption rights upon the completion of a Business
Combination with respect to the Companys warrants.
The Company received an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law to approve the Business
Combination, which required an affirmative vote of a majority of the shareholders who vote at a general meeting of the Company. Holders of the Companys Founder Shares agreed to vote their Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) and any
Public Shares purchased in or after the Initial Public Offering in favor of approving a Business Combination and waived their redemption rights with respect to any such shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve the Business
Combination. The Company did not redeem its Public Shares in an amount that would have caused its net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001. Additionally, each public shareholder was given the option to redeem their Public Shares, without
voting, and if they did vote, irrespective of whether they voted for or against a proposed Business Combination.
The Sponsors had agreed (a) to
waive their redemption rights with respect to any Founder Shares and Public Shares held by them in connection with the completion of a Business Combination and (b) did not propose an amendment to the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles
of Association (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Companys obligation to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company did not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period (as defined below) or (ii) with
respect to any other provision relating to shareholders rights or pre-initial business combination activity (iii) to waive its rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect
to the Founder Shares.
Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account that may be released to the Company, the funds held
in the Trust Account will not be released from the Trust Account until the earliest of: (1) the completion of the Business Combination; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the
Companys amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
The Sponsors had agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder
Shares if the Company failed to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriters agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commission (see Note 6) held in the Trust Account in the event the
Company did not complete a Business Combination.
F-8
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $53,147 in its operating bank accounts, $517,500,000 in securities held in the Trust Account to be used for a
Business Combination or to repurchase or redeem its ordinary shares in connection therewith and working capital deficit of $12,886,895.
Until the
consummation of a Business Combination, the Company used the funds not held in the Trust Account for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing due diligence on prospective target businesses, paying for travel
expenditures, selecting the target business to acquire, and consummating the Business Combination.
On January 27, 2022, the date of the consummation
of the Business Combination, the Company received aggregate cash consideration payable under the Business Combination Agreement of approximately $462,500,000, with an additional backstop of $200,000,000 to cover redemptions, and access to
$450,000,000 in debt financing. The Company will not need to obtain additional resources to continue funding operations through twelve months from the issuance of this report.
Risks and Uncertainties
In March 2020, the World
Health Organization declared the outbreak of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a pandemic which continues to spread throughout the United States and the World. As of the date the consolidated financial
statements were issued, there was considerable uncertainty around the expected duration of this pandemic. The Company has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that COVID-19 could have a negative
effect on identifying a target company for a Business Combination, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of these consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that
might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying
consolidated financial statements are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Orchid Merger Sub I, Inc., Orchid Merger Sub II, LLC and Orchid Finco LLC. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have
been eliminated in consolidation.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an emerging growth company, as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business
Startups Act of 2012 (the JOBS Act), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to,
not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and
proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
F-9
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to
comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act)
are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to
non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised
and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of
the Companys financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the
potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition,
situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the consolidated financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. One of the more
significant accounting estimates included in these consolidated financial statements is the determination of the fair value of the warrant liabilities. Such estimates may be subject to change as more current information becomes available and
accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company did
not have any cash equivalents as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Cash Held in Trust Account
At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the assets held in the Trust Account were held in cash.
Warrant and FPA Liabilities
The Company accounts
for the Public Warrants (as defined in Note 3) and Private Placement Warrants (collectively, the Warrants) as well as a forward purchase agreement entered into with the Companys anchor investor (the FPA) as either
equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the specific terms of the Warrants and the FPA and applicable authoritative guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards
Codification (ASC) 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (ASC 480) and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815). The assessment considers whether the Warrants and FPA are freestanding financial instruments
pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, or meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the Warrants and FPA are indexed to the Companys own ordinary shares and
whether the holders of the
F-10
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
Warrants could potentially require net cash settlement in a circumstance outside of the Companys control, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment,
which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of issuance of the Warrants and execution of the FPA and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while the Warrants and FPA are outstanding. For issued or modified
warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, such warrants are required to be recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. For issued or modified warrants
that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, liability-classified warrants are required to be recorded at their initial fair value on the date of issuance, and each balance sheets date thereafter. Changes in the estimated fair value
of such warrants and FPAs are recognized as a non-cash gain or loss on the statements of operations.
We account
for the Warrants and FPAs in accordance with ASC 815-40 under which the Warrants and FPAs do not meet the criteria for equity classification and must be recorded as liabilities. The fair value of the Public
Warrants has been estimated using the Public Warrants quoted market price. The fair value of the Private Placement Warrants is estimated using the value of the Public Warrants quoted market price. The fair value of the FPAs was estimated
using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow approach.
Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company accounts for Class A Ordinary Shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480 Distinguishing
Liabilities from Equity. The Companys conditionally redeemable Class A Ordinary Shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of its control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events.
Accordingly, at December 31, 2021 and 2020, Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption were 51,750,000, are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders equity section of the
Companys balance sheets.
The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable
ordinary shares to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying amount of redeemable ordinary shares are affected by charges against additional paid in capital and accumulated deficit.
At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Class A Ordinary shares reflected in the balance sheet are reconciled in the following table:
|
|
|
|
|
Gross proceeds |
|
$ |
517,500,000 |
|
Less: |
|
|
|
|
Proceeds allocated to Public Warrants |
|
$ |
(24,150,000 |
) |
Class A ordinary shares issuance costs |
|
|
(28,115,576 |
) |
Plus: |
|
|
|
|
Remeasurement of carrying value to redemption value |
|
$ |
52,265,576 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption |
|
$ |
517,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Offering Costs
The
Company complies with the requirements of FASB ASC 340-10-S99-1 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A Expenses of
Offering. Offering costs consist of costs incurred in connection with formation and
F-11
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
preparation for the Initial Public Offering. Offering costs were allocated on a relative fair value basis between shareholders equity and expense. The portion of offering costs allocated to
the Warrants and FPA has been charged to expense. The portion of offering costs allocated to the Class A ordinary shares has been charged to shareholders equity.
On June 19, 2020, offering costs totaled $29,241,089 (consisting of $28,462,500 of (current and deferred) underwriting fees and $778,589 of other
offering costs), of which $1,381,051 was charged to expense.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740). ASC 740 requires the recognition of deferred tax assets
and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax loss and tax credit carry forwards. ASC 740
additionally requires a valuation allowance to be established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized.
ASC 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740) clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprises financial
statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement process for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must
be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no
unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material
deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.
The Company is considered an
exempted Cayman Islands Company and is presently not subject to income taxes or income tax filing requirements in the Cayman Islands or the United States. As such, the Companys tax provision was zero for the year presented and for the period
from February 11, 2020 (Inception) through December 31, 2020.
On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security CARES Act into law. The CARES Act includes several significant business tax provisions that, among other things, would eliminate the taxable income limit for certain net operating losses (NOL) and allow businesses
to carry back NOLs arising in 2018, 2019 and 2020 to the five prior years, suspend the excess business loss rules, accelerate refunds of previously generated corporate alternative minimum tax credits, generally loosen the business interest
limitation under IRC section 163(j) from 30 percent to 50 percent among other technical corrections included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act tax provisions. The Company does not believe that the CARES Act will have a significant impact
on Companys financial position or statements of operations.
Net Income (Loss) Per Share
Net income (loss) per ordinary share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding for the period.
The Company applies the two-class method in calculating earnings per share. Ordinary shares subject to possible redemption which are not currently redeemable and are not redeemable at fair value, have been
excluded from the calculation of basic net loss per ordinary share since such shares, if redeemed, only participate in their pro rata share of the Trust Account earnings. The Company has not
F-12
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
considered the effect of warrants sold in the Initial Public Offering and the private placement to purchase 25,483,334 ordinary shares in the calculation of diluted loss per share, since the
exercise of the warrants into ordinary shares is contingent upon the occurrence of future events. As a result, diluted net loss per ordinary share is the same as basic net loss per ordinary share for the periods presented.
The following table reflects the calculation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share (in dollars, except per share amounts):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
|
|
For the Period from February 11, 2020 (Inception) Through December 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
Class A |
|
|
Class B |
|
|
Class A |
|
|
Class B |
|
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Numerator: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allocation of net income (loss), as adjusted |
|
$ |
16,821,410 |
|
|
$ |
4,205,353 |
|
|
$ |
(21,462,531 |
) |
|
$ |
(8,452,217 |
) |
Denominator: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding |
|
|
51,750,000 |
|
|
|
12,937,500 |
|
|
|
31,145,833 |
|
|
|
12,265,625 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share |
|
$ |
0.33 |
|
|
$ |
0.33 |
|
|
$ |
(0.69 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.69 |
) |
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution which, at
times may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Coverage of $250,000. The Company has not experienced losses on this account and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such account.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair
value of the Companys financial assets and liabilities reflects managements estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in
an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent
sources) and to minimize the use of is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which
transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
Level 2:
Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
F-13
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
Level 3: Unobservable inputs based on our assessment of the assumptions that market participants would
use in pricing the asset or liability.
Recent Accounting Standards
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, DebtDebt with Conversion and Other Options
(Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and HedgingContracts in Entitys Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an
Entitys Own Equity (ASU 2020-06), which simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current GAAP. ASU 2020-06 removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception and it also simplifies the diluted earnings per share calculation in certain areas.
ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the
impact of adopting ASU 2020-06.
Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet
effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Companys consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 3. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
Pursuant to the
Initial Public Offering, the Company sold 51,750,000 Units, which includes the full exercise by the underwriter of its option to purchase an additional 6,750,000 Units, at a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one Class A
ordinary share and one-third of one redeemable warrant (Public Warrant). Each whole Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at an exercise price of $11.50 per
share, subject to adjustment (see Note 8).
NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Sponsors purchased an aggregate of 8,233,334 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.50
per Private Placement Warrant from the Company in a private placement, for an aggregate purchase price of $12,350,000. Each Private Placement Warrant is exercisable for one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to
adjustment (see Note 8). The proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants were added to the net proceeds from the Initial Public Offering held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the
Combination Period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants held in the Trust Account will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the Private Placement Warrants
will expire worthless.
NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Founder Shares
On February 18, 2020, the
Sponsors purchased 10,781,250 of the Companys Class B ordinary shares (the Founder Shares) for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. On June 16, 2020, the Company effected a share dividend of 2,156,250 shares, resulting
in the Sponsors holding an aggregate of 12,937,500 Founder Shares. All share and per-share amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the share dividend. The Founder Shares included an aggregate of up
to 1,687,500 shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsors to the extent that the
F-14
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
underwriters over-allotment was not exercised in full or in part, so that the number of Founder Shares would collectively represent 20% of the Companys issued and outstanding shares
upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering. As a result of the underwriters election to fully exercise their over-allotment option, 1,687,500 Founder Shares are no longer subject to forfeiture.
The Sponsors have agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of:
(A) one year after the completion of a Business Combination; and (B) subsequent to a Business Combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted
for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing
at least 150 days after a Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, amalgamation, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Companys
shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property.
Promissory NoteRelated
Party
On July 13, 2021 the Sponsors made available to the Company a loan of up to $500,000 pursuant to two promissory notes issued to the
Company from the BGPT Sponsor in the amount of $212,500 (the BGPT Note) and to Trasimene Sponsor $287,500 (the Trasimene Note). The Company is entitled to submit drawdown requests to the Sponsor from time to time and the
proceeds from any amounts borrowed under the note will be used for on-going operational expenses and certain other expenses. The notes are unsecured, non-interest
bearing and mature on the earlier of: (i) May 31, 2022, or (ii) the date on which the Company consummates a Business Combination. On July 13, 2021, the Company drew-down $106,250 under the BGPT Note and $143,750 under the
Trasimene Note. On August 9, 2021, the Company drew-down an additional $75,000 under the BGPT Note. On September 30, 2021, the Company drew-down an additional $10,000 under the BGPT Note and $115,000 under the Trasimene Note. As of
December 31, 2021, the outstanding balance under the promissory notes was $450,000. This amount was repaid at the closing of the Business Combination.
Administrative Support Agreement
The Company
entered into an agreement whereby, commencing on June 16, 2020, the Company will pay BGPT Trebia LP up to $10,000 per month for office space and administrative support services. Upon completion of a Business Combination or its
liquidation, the Company will cease paying these monthly fees. For the year ended December 31, 2021 and for the period from February 11, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, the Company incurred $120,000 and $65,000
of such fees, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, $112,472 and $65,000 is included in accrued expenses in the accompanying balance sheets, respectively. This agreement was terminated, and all amounts were repaid at the closing of
the Business Combination.
Related Party Loans
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsors or an affiliate of the Sponsors, or certain of the Companys
officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (Working Capital Loans). Such Working Capital Loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. The notes may be repaid upon completion of a
Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lenders discretion, up to $1,500,000 of the notes may be converted upon completion of a Business Combination into warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant. Such warrants would be identical to
the Private Placement Warrants. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust
F-15
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. No Working Capital Loans were issued during year ended December 31, 2020 or for the period from February 11, 2020 (Inception)
through December 31, 2020.
NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS
Registration Rights
Pursuant to a registration
rights agreement entered into on June 19, 2020, the holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans (and any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the
exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans and upon conversion of the Founder Shares) are entitled to registration rights. The holders of these securities will be entitled to
make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain piggy-back registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the
completion of a Business Combination. However, the registration rights agreement provides that the Company will not permit any registration statement filed under the Securities Act to become effective until termination of the applicable lockup
period. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Pursuant to the forward purchase
agreement, the Company has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts (i) to file within 30 days after the closing of the initial business combination a resale shelf registration statement with the SEC for a secondary offering of the
forward purchase shares and the forward purchase warrants (and underlying Class A ordinary shares), (ii) to cause such registration statement to be declared effective promptly thereafter, (iii) to maintain the effectiveness of such
registration statement until the earliest of (A) the date on which Cannae Holdings, Inc. (Cannae Holdings) or its assignee cease to hold the securities covered thereby, and (B) the date all of the securities covered
thereby can be sold publicly without restriction or limitation under Rule 144 under the Securities Act and (iv) after such registration statement is declared effective, cause us to conduct underwritten offerings, subject to certain
limitations. In addition, the forward purchase agreement provides for certain piggy-back registration rights to the holders of forward purchase securities to include their securities in other registration statements filed by us.
Underwriting Agreement
The underwriters are
entitled to a deferred fee of $0.35 per Unit, or $18,112,500 in the aggregate. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination,
subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement. This amount was paid at the closing of the Business Combination.
Forward Purchase Agreement
On June 5, 2020, the Company entered into a forward purchase agreement with Cannae Holdings, a diversified holding company which is
externally managed by Trasimene Capital Management, LLC but is not an affiliate of the Company or the Sponsors, pursuant to which Cannae Holdings will purchase Class A ordinary shares in an aggregate share amount equal to 7,500,000
Class A ordinary shares, plus an aggregate of 2,500,000 redeemable warrants to purchase one Class A ordinary share at $11.50 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $75,000,000, or $10.00 per Class A ordinary share, in a private
placement to occur concurrently with the closing of the Business Combination. The warrants to be issued as part of the forward purchase agreement will be
F-16
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
identical to the warrants sold as part of the units in this offering. In connection with the forward purchase securities sold to Cannae Holdings, the Sponsors will receive (by way of an
adjustment to their existing Class B ordinary shares) an aggregate number of additional Class B ordinary shares so that the initial shareholders, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, will hold
20% of the Companys Class A ordinary shares at the time of the closing of the Business Combination. The obligations under the forward purchase agreement do not depend on whether any Class A ordinary shares are redeemed by the public
shareholders.
Under the forward purchase agreement, the Company will provide a right of first offer to Cannae Holdings, if the Company proposes to raise
additional capital by issuing any equity, or securities convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for equity securities, other than the units and certain excluded securities. In addition, if the Company seeks shareholder approval of a Business
Combination, Cannae Holdings has agreed under the forward purchase agreement to vote any Class A ordinary shares owned by Cannae Holdings in favor of any proposed initial Business Combination.
In connection with the signing of the Business Combination Agreement and Backstop Agreement, Trebia and Cannae entered into a FPA Termination Agreement to
terminate the June 5, 2020 Forward Purchase Agreement.
Fee Arrangement
The Company entered into a fee arrangement with two service providers pursuant to which certain fees incurred by the Company in connection with a potential
Business Combination will be deferred and become payable only if the Company consummates a Business Combination. If a Business Combination does not occur, the Company will not be required to pay these fees. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the
amount accrued for these fees was approximately $8,266,666 and $0, respectively.
Business Combination Agreement
As previously disclosed on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 29, 2021, on June 28, 2021, the Company
entered into a certain Business Combination Agreement (the Business Combination Agreement) by and among S1 Holdco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (System1), System1 SS Protect Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (Protected and, together with System1, collectively, the Targets) and the other parties signatory thereto. The Business Combination Agreement provides for, among other things, the consummation of the following
transactions (the Business Combination): (i) the Company will transfer by way of continuation from the Cayman Islands to Delaware and domesticate as a Delaware corporation in accordance with Section 388 of the DGCL and with
Section 206 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act (As Revised) (the Domestication), and (ii) upon which time, the Company will enter into a series of business combination transactions which, following the consummation of the
Business Combination, will result in each of (A) System1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the current operating subsidiary of System1, and (B) Protected.net Group Limited, a private limited company organized under the laws of
the United Kingdom and the current operating subsidiary of Protected, becoming subsidiaries of the Company (such combined company, System1 Group). Following the consummation of the Business Combination, System1 Group will be organized in
an Up-C structure, in which substantially all of the assets and business of the Company will be held by subsidiaries of System1. System1 Groups business will continue to operate through the
subsidiaries of System1 and Protected.
Upon consummation of the Business Combination, and after the Domestication, the Company will have three classes of
common stock, which are as follows:
|
|
|
Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the System1 Group Class A Common Stock),
which will be publicly traded. |
F-17
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
|
|
|
Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the System1 Group Class C Common Stock),
which will have the right to one vote per share. |
|
|
|
Class D common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (System1 Group Class D Common Stock),
that do not entitle the holder to any voting rights except as required by applicable law. The System1 Group Class D Common Stock will automatically convert into shares of System1 Group Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis if, following the closing of the Business Combination (the Closing), the post-Closing dollar volume-weighted average price (VWAP) of
System1 Group equals or exceeds $12.50 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any twenty (20) trading days within a period of thirty (30) consecutive
trading days before the fifth anniversary of the Closing. If the System1 Group Class D Conversion Event has not occurred by the fifth anniversary of the Closing, all outstanding shares of System1 Group Class D Common Stock will
automatically be forfeited to the System1 Group and canceled for no consideration therefor, including any dividends or dividend catch-up payments owed in respect thereof. |
Subject to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, the aggregate consideration to be paid to the equity holders of System1 and Protected in
connection with the Business Combination will be a combination of cash and equity consideration. The aggregate cash consideration payable under the Business Combination Agreement will be approximately $462,500,000 (the Closing Cash
Consideration) of which (x) approximately $212,500,000 cash proceeds will be received by System1 and Protected management equity holders (subject to certain adjustments set forth in the Business Combination Agreement), and
(y) $250,361,620 cash proceeds will be received by certain non-management equity holders of System1. The aggregate equity consideration payable under the Business Combination Agreement will be
approximately $667,500,000, consisting of shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock and the Companys Class C Common Stock (valued at $10 per share) (the Closing Equity Consideration). In the event that the value
of shareholder redemptions exceeds $417,500,000, then the Closing Cash Consideration and Closing Equity Consideration are subject to a dollar-for-dollar adjustment. In
such case, current equity holders of System1 and Protected have, pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, agreed to reduce the Closing Cash Consideration by such amount and proportionally increase the Closing Equity
Consideration. If the value of shareholder redemptions exceeds $462,500,000, the current equity holders of System1 and Protected may elect, in their sole discretion, to further reduce the Closing Cash Consideration and proportionally increase the
Closing Equity Consideration.
In connection with the Business Combination Agreement, Trebia entered into a commitment letter (the Commitment
Letter) with Bank of America, N.A. (Bank of America) pursuant to which at the closing of the Business Combination, Bank of America has committed to provide Orchid Finco LLC (Finco), as the borrower, a $400 million
first lien term loan facility (the Term Loan) and a $50 million revolving facility (the Revolving Facility and, together with the Term Facility, the New Facility). The Term Loan will mature seven years
after the Closing and will amortize in equal quarterly installments in an aggregate annual amount equal to 1% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan. The Revolving Facility will mature five years after the Closing. The
$518 million of cash currently held in Trebias trust account will be backstopped by the $200 million Cannae Subscription, together with $218 million of the Bank of America Term Loan, which will be utilized as a backstop for
potential future redemptions by Trebia public shareholders. This in conjunction with the Seller Backstop Amount and the Additional Seller Backstop Election provides for a potential 100% backstop for potential future redemptions by Trebia public
shareholders. Bank of Americas commitment to provide the New Facility is subject to a limited number of conditions, including the non-occurrence of a material adverse effect with respect to the Targets.
F-18
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
Sponsor Agreement
In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement and the Backstop Agreement, as defined below, Trebia amended and restated (a) that
certain letter agreement, dated June 19, 2020, by and among the Sponsors and Trebia and (b) that certain letter agreement, dated June 19, 2020, by and among Trebia, certain of the directors and officers of Trebia (the
Insiders) and the other parties thereto, and entered into that certain sponsor agreement (the Sponsor Agreement) with the Sponsors, Cannae, the Insiders, System1 and Protected. Pursuant to the Sponsor Agreement, among other
things, the Sponsors along with Cannae and the Insiders agreed (i) to vote any Trebia securities in favor of the Business Combination and other Trebia Shareholder Matters (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), (ii) not to seek
redemption of any Trebia securities, (iii) not to transfer any Trebia securities for the period beginning on the day of the Closing until the earlier of (x) 180 days following the Closing or (y) if the VWAP of System1 Group
Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share for any twenty (20) trading days within a period of thirty (30) consecutive trading days, 150 days thereafter, and (iv) to be bound to certain other
obligations as described therein. BGPT Sponsor and Trasimene Sponsor have each also agreed to, in conjunction with the closing of the Business Combination, forfeit 1,450,000 Trebia Class B Ordinary Shares (2,900,000 in the aggregate). Trebia
will also issue (x) 725,000 shares of System1 Group Class D Common Stock to Trasimene Sponsor and 725,000 shares of System1 Group Class D Common Stock to BGPT Sponsor, and (y) 725,000 System1 Group restricted stock units to each
of Michael Blend and Just Develop It Limited, a private limited company incorporated in England and Wales, in the case of each of (x) and (y) subject to the BGPT Sponsor and Trasimene Sponsor forfeiture of 1,450,000 Trebia Class B
ordinary shares. The System1 Group restricted stock units will be subject to the same vesting and other terms as the System1 Group Class D Common Stock. Additionally, (x) the Sponsors have agreed to, in conjunction with the closing of the
Business Combination, forfeit up to 1,734,694 (in the aggregate) Trebia Class B Ordinary Shares in connection with the equity backstop commitments by Cannae and certain System1 and Protected equity holders and (y) Trebia has agreed to
issue to Cannae or such System1 and Protected equity holders a number of System1 Group Class A Common Stock equal to such forfeiture, in the event and to the extent that Cannae and/or such System1 and Protected equity holders provide such
backstop in connection with any valid shareholder redemptions.
On January 10, 2022, Trebia entered into the Amended and Restated Sponsor Agreement
(the A&R Sponsor Agreement) by and among BGPT Trebia LP (the BGPT Sponsor), Trasimene Trebia, LP (the Trasimene Sponsor and, together with the BGPT Sponsor, the
Sponsors) and the other parties signatory thereto, which amends and restates the Letter Agreement, dated June 28, 2021 and as amended on November 30, 2021 by and among such parties (the Original Sponsor
Agreement), in order to provide that the Sponsors will forfeit up to (a) 1,275,510 Founder Shares (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) (the Initial Cannae Founder Shares) to Trebia, and Trebia
will issue to Cannae an equal number of shares of Trebia Class A Common Stock in connection with, and based upon the extent of, Cannaes existing backstop obligations under the Original Backstop Agreement, (b) 1,000,000 Founder Shares
to Trebia, and Trebia will issue to members of management of the Companies an equal number of shares of Trebia Class A Common Stock in connection with, and based upon the extent of, their backstop obligations under the Business Combination
Agreement, and (c) an additional 1,352,941 Founder Shares (the Additional Cannae Founder Shares) to Trebia, and Trebia will issue to Cannae an equal number of shares of Trebia Class A Common Stock in connection with, and
based upon the extent of, Cannaes obligation with respect to the Additional Cannae Backstop Amount. The A&R Sponsor Agreement also provides that the Additional Backstop Purchase Shares, the Additional Cannae Founder Shares, and 50% of the
Initial Cannae Founder Shares will not be subject to the lockup provisions thereof.
F-19
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
Backstop Agreement
In connection with the signing of the Business Combination Agreement, Trebia and Cannae entered into a certain Backstop Facility Agreement (the
Backstop Agreement) whereby Cannae has agreed, subject to the other terms and conditions included therein, at the BPS Closing (as defined in the Backstop Agreement), to subscribe for System1 Group Class A Common Stock in
order to fund redemptions by shareholders of Trebia in connection with the Business Combination, in an amount of up to $200,000,000.
On January 10,
2022, Trebia entered into the Amended and Restated Backstop Facility Agreement (the A&R Backstop Agreement), which amends and restates the Backstop Facility Agreement, dated June 28, 2021 by and between Cannae
Holdings, Inc. (Cannae) and Trebia (the Original Backstop Agreement), in order to increase Cannaes aggregate backstop commitment by $50,000,000 (the Additional Cannae Backstop
Commitment) from $200,000,000 to $250,000,000. The Additional Cannae Backstop Commitment now obligates Cannae, to the extent that the total Trebia Shareholder Redemption Value is in excess of $417,500,000, to backstop up to 50% of the
Trebia Shareholder Redemption Value in excess of $417,500,000 (the Additional Cannae Backstop Amount) by purchasing a number of shares of Trebia Class A Common Stock equal to the actual Additional Cannae Backstop Amount (as
contemplated by the A&R Backstop Agreement) divided by $10 (the Additional Backstop Purchase Shares). At the close of the Business Combination, Cannaes aggregate commitment under the Backstop Agreement was $246,484,460.
NOTE 7. SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Preference SharesThe Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 preference shares with a par value of $0.0001. The Companys board of
directors will be authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences, the relative, participating, optional or other special rights and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable to the shares of
each series. The board of directors will be able to, without shareholder approval, issue preferred shares with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of the ordinary shares and could have
anti-takeover effects. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were no preference shares issued or outstanding.
Class A Ordinary SharesThe Company is authorized to issue 400,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, with
a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of Class A ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were 51,750,000 Class A ordinary shares issued and outstanding, including Class A
ordinary shares subject to possible redemption presented as temporary equity.
Class B Ordinary
SharesThe Company is authorized to issue 40,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of the Class B ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share. At December 31, 2021 and
2020, there were 12,937,500 Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding.
Only holders of the Class B ordinary shares will have the right to
vote on the election of directors prior to the Business Combination. Holders of Class A ordinary shares and holders of Class B ordinary shares will vote together as a single class on all other matters submitted to a vote of the
Companys shareholders except as otherwise required by law.
The Class B ordinary shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary
shares on the first business day following the completion of A business combination at a ratio such that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B ordinary shares will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis,
F-20
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
20% of the sum of (i) the total number of ordinary shares issued and outstanding upon completion of Initial Public Offering, plus (ii) the sum of (a) the total number of ordinary
shares issued or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities or rights issued or deemed issued by the Company in connection with or in relation to the completion of a Business Combination (including the
forward purchase shares, but not the forward purchase warrants), excluding any Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, or to be issued, to any seller in a
Business Combination and any private placement warrants issued to the Sponsors or any of their affiliates upon conversion of Working Capital Loans, minus (b) the number of Public Shares redeemed by public shareholders in connection with a
Business Combination. Any conversion of Class B ordinary shares will take effect as a compulsory redemption of Class B ordinary shares and an issuance of Class A ordinary shares as a matter of Cayman Islands law. In no event will the
Class B ordinary shares convert into Class A ordinary shares at a rate of less than one to one.
NOTE 8. WARRANTS
WarrantsPublic Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Public
Warrants. The Public Warrants will become exercisable on the later of (a) 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination and (b) 12 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering. The Public Warrants will expire
five years from the completion of a Business Combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
The
Company will not be obligated to deliver any Class A ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of a Public Warrant and will have no obligation to settle such Public Warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with
respect to the Class A ordinary shares underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company satisfying its obligations with respect to registration, or a valid exemption from
registration is available. No warrant will be exercisable and the Company will not be obligated to issue a Class A ordinary share upon exercise of a warrant unless the Class A ordinary share issuable upon such warrant exercise has been
registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the warrants.
The Company
has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the closing of a Business Combination, it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration,
under the Securities Act, of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such
registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration or redemption of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. If a registration statement covering the issuance of the Class A
ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of a Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any
period when the Company will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. In addition, if the
Class A ordinary shares are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a covered security under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act,
the Company may, at its option, require holders of the Public Warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event the Company elects to do
so, the Company will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but it will use its best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. In such
event, each holder
F-21
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of Class A ordinary shares equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of
the number of Class A ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied the excess of the fair market value less the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value and (B) 0.361. The fair market
value shall mean the volume weighted average price of the Class A ordinary shares for the 10 trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the warrant agent.
Redemption of Warrants When the Price per Class A Ordinary Share Equals or Exceeds $18.00Once the warrants become exercisable,
the Company may redeem the outstanding Public Warrants:
|
|
|
in whole and not in part; |
|
|
|
at a price of $0.01 per Public Warrant; |
|
|
|
upon not less than 30 days prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder and
|
|
|
|
if, and only if, the last reported sale price of the Class A ordinary shares for any 20 trading days
within a 30 trading day period ending three business days before sending the notice of redemption to warrant holders (the Reference Value) equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations,
reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like). |
If and when the warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may exercise
its redemption right even if it is unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. However, we will not redeem the warrants unless an effective registration statement under the Securities
Act covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is effective and a current prospectus relating to those Class A ordinary shares is available throughout the 30-day
redemption period.
Redemption of Warrants When the Price per Class A Ordinary Share Equals or Exceeds $10.00Once the
warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding warrants:
|
|
|
in whole and not in part; |
|
|
|
at $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days prior written notice of redemption provided that
holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares determined by reference to the table below, based on the redemption date and the fair market value of the
Class A ordinary shares; |
|
|
|
if, and only if, the Reference Value (as defined in the above under Redemption of Warrants When the Price
per Class A Ordinary Share Equals or Exceeds $18.00) equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like); and |
|
|
|
if the Reference Value is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends,
reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) the private placement warrants must also be concurrently called for redemption on the same terms (except as described below with respect to a holders ability to cashless exercise its warrants)
as the outstanding public warrants, as described above. |
The exercise price and number of ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the
Public Warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, extraordinary dividend or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, except as described below, the Public Warrants will
not be adjusted for issuances of ordinary shares at a price below its exercise price. Additionally, in no event will the
F-22
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
Company be required to net cash settle the Public Warrants. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in
the Trust Account, holders of Public Warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their Public Warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Companys assets held outside of the Trust Account with respect to such
Public Warrants. Accordingly, the Public Warrants may expire worthless.
In addition, if (x) the Company issues additional Class A ordinary
shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of a Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per ordinary share (with such issue price or effective issue price
to be determined in good faith by the Companys board of directors, and in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsors or their affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the Sponsors or such affiliates, as applicable,
prior to such issuance) (the Newly Issued Price), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of a Business Combination
on the date of the completion of a Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of the Companys Class A ordinary shares during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day
prior to the day on which the Company completes a Business Combination (such price, the Market Value) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the Public Warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the
higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $10.00 and $18.00 per share redemption trigger prices described above adjacent to Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds
$18.00 and Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $10.00 will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 100% and 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued
Price, respectively.
The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering, except
that (x) the Private Placement Warrants and the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of a Business
Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions, (y) the Private Placement Warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis and be non-redeemable so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or
their permitted transferees and (z) the Private Placement Warrants and the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will be entitled to registration rights. If the Private Placement Warrants are held
by someone other than the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by the Company and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.
NOTE 9. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Warrant
Liability
The following table presents the Companys fair value hierarchy for liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of
December 31, 2021.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
|
Total |
|
Warrant liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public Warrants |
|
$ |
19,837,500 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
19,837,500 |
|
Private Warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,468,334 |
|
|
|
9,468,334 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Warrants Liabilities |
|
$ |
19,837,500 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
9,468,334 |
|
|
$ |
29,305,834 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-23
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
The following table presents the Companys fair value hierarchy for liabilities measured at fair value
on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2020.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
|
Total |
|
Warrant liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public Warrants |
|
$ |
35,880,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
35,880,000 |
|
Private Warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,125,335 |
|
|
|
17,125,335 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Warrants Liabilities |
|
$ |
35,880,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
17,125,335 |
|
|
$ |
53,005,335 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FPA Liability |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,654,540 |
|
|
|
10,654,540 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grand Total |
|
$ |
35,880,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
27,779,875 |
|
|
$ |
63,659,875 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Public Warrants were valued using the instruments publicly listed trading price (NYSE: TREB.WS) as of the balance
sheet dates.
The value of the Private Warrants was estimated using the Public Warrants publicly listed trading price (NYSE: TREB.WS) as of the
balance sheet dates, which is considered a Level 3 fair value measurement. Given the Private Warrants and Public Warrants are similar instruments and the Public Warrants have quoted prices in an active market, the publicly listed trading price
of the Public Warrants estimates the value of the Private Warrants.
The following table presents a summary of the changes in the fair value of the
Private Placement Warrants, a Level 3 liability, measured on a recurring basis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Private Placement Warrant Liability |
|
Fair value, December 31, 2020 |
|
$ |
17,125,335 |
|
Change in fair value |
|
|
(7,657,001 |
) |
Fair value, December 31, 2021 |
|
$ |
9,468,334 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
FPA Liability
The
liability for the FPAs were valued using an adjusted net assets method, which is considered to be a Level 3 fair value measurement. Under the adjusted net assets method utilized, the aggregate commitment of $75 million pursuant to the FPAs
is discounted to present value and compared to the fair value of the ordinary shares and warrants to be issued pursuant to the FPAs. The fair value of the ordinary shares and warrants to be issued under the FPAs were based on the public trading
price of the Units issued in the Companys IPO. The excess (liability) or deficit (asset) of the fair value of the ordinary shares and warrants to be issued compared to the $75 million fixed commitment is then reduced to account for the
probability of consummation of the Business Combination. As of June 30, 2021, the FPA liability was reduced to zero as the FPA was terminated per the FPA Termination Agreement between Trebia and Cannae Holdings in conjunction with the Business
Combination Agreement as discussed in Note 6.
F-24
SYSTEM1, INC.
(f/k/a TREBIA ACQUISITION CORP.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2021
The following table presents a summary of the changes in the fair value of the FPA liability, a Level 3
liability, measured on a recurring basis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FPA Liability |
|
Fair value, December 31, 2020 |
|
$ |
10,654,540 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in fair value |
|
|
(7,494,372 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
Gain on termination of FPA |
|
|
(3,160,168 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value, December 31, 2021 |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transfers to/from Level 1, 2 and 3 are recognized at the end of the reporting period in which a change in valuation
technique or methodology occurs. There were no transfers between Level 3 and any other level for the year ended December 31, 2021.
NOTE 10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company has
evaluated events that have occurred after the balance sheet up to the date the consolidated financial statements were issued. The Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment to or disclosure in the financial
statements, except for the disclosures relating to the consummation of its Business Combination Agreement on January 27, 2022 as disclosed in Note 1 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements.
F-25
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Members of S1 Holdco, LLC
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of S1 Holdco, LLC and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of operations, of comprehensive income, of changes
in members deficit and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes (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, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
the Companys 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 the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and in accordance with auditing standards
generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error
or fraud.
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/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Los Angeles, California
April 1, 2022
We have served as the Companys auditor
since 2020.
F-26
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
47,896 |
|
|
$ |
29,013 |
|
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts |
|
|
90,203 |
|
|
|
71,140 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
7,689 |
|
|
|
3,016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets |
|
|
145,788 |
|
|
|
103,169 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
743 |
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment, net |
|
|
830 |
|
|
|
1,057 |
|
Internal-use software development costs, net |
|
|
11,213 |
|
|
|
9,660 |
|
Intangible assets, net |
|
|
50,368 |
|
|
|
59,009 |
|
Goodwill |
|
|
44,820 |
|
|
|
44,820 |
|
Due from related party |
|
|
2,469 |
|
|
|
969 |
|
Other non-current assets |
|
|
680 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
256,911 |
|
|
$ |
218,684 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS DEFICIT |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
72,846 |
|
|
$ |
52,104 |
|
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
|
33,255 |
|
|
|
19,039 |
|
Notes payable, current |
|
|
170,453 |
|
|
|
9,374 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
276,554 |
|
|
|
80,517 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes payable, non-current |
|
|
|
|
|
|
170,595 |
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
8,758 |
|
|
|
15,801 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
285,312 |
|
|
|
266,913 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members deficit: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members deficit in S1 Holdco |
|
|
(28,829 |
) |
|
|
(47,886 |
) |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
|
428 |
|
|
|
(343 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total members deficit |
|
|
(28,401 |
) |
|
|
(48,229 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and members deficit |
|
$ |
256,911 |
|
|
$ |
218,684 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-27
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except for per unit data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Years Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Revenue |
|
$ |
688,389 |
|
|
$ |
475,977 |
|
|
$ |
407,493 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below) |
|
|
521,113 |
|
|
|
340,996 |
|
|
|
275,770 |
|
Salaries, commissions, and benefits |
|
|
66,747 |
|
|
|
55,548 |
|
|
|
48,389 |
|
Selling, general, and administrative |
|
|
35,813 |
|
|
|
22,979 |
|
|
|
19,960 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
13,885 |
|
|
|
13,832 |
|
|
|
11,244 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating costs and expenses |
|
|
637,558 |
|
|
|
433,355 |
|
|
|
355,363 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income |
|
|
50,831 |
|
|
|
42,622 |
|
|
|
52,130 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
16,870 |
|
|
|
24,351 |
|
|
|
26,033 |
|
Other expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,146 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations before income tax |
|
|
33,961 |
|
|
|
18,271 |
|
|
|
24,951 |
|
Income tax expense |
|
|
965 |
|
|
|
1,907 |
|
|
|
702 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income from continuing operations |
|
|
32,996 |
|
|
|
16,364 |
|
|
|
24,249 |
|
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
47,397 |
|
|
|
(15,454 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
$ |
32,996 |
|
|
$ |
63,761 |
|
|
$ |
8,795 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per unit from continuing operations attributable to S1 Holdco, LLC: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and Diluted |
|
$ |
1.61 |
|
|
$ |
0.80 |
|
|
$ |
1.18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) per unit from discontinued operations attributable to S1 Holdco, LLC: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and Diluted |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
2.31 |
|
|
$ |
(0.75 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average membership units outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and Diluted |
|
|
20,488 |
|
|
|
20,488 |
|
|
|
20,488 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to consolidated financial
statements.
F-28
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Net income |
|
$ |
32,996 |
|
|
$ |
63,761 |
|
|
$ |
8,795 |
|
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
|
|
771 |
|
|
|
(224 |
) |
|
|
(119 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive income |
|
$ |
33,767 |
|
|
$ |
63,537 |
|
|
$ |
8,676 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-29
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Members Deficit
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members Capital |
|
|
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
|
|
Noncontrolling Interest |
|
|
Total Members Deficit |
|
BALANCEJanuary 1, 2019 |
|
$ |
(77,530 |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
17,873 |
|
|
$ |
(59,657 |
) |
Net income |
|
|
8,795 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,795 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(119 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(119 |
) |
Share-based compensation expense |
|
|
1,764 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,764 |
|
Change in non-controlling interest |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(15,455 |
) |
|
|
(15,455 |
) |
Distribution to Court Square Capital Partners |
|
|
(1,489 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,489 |
) |
Contribution from OpenMail |
|
|
7,257 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,257 |
|
Distribution to OpenMail |
|
|
(7,166 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7,166 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BALANCEDecember 31, 2019 |
|
$ |
(68,369 |
) |
|
$ |
(119 |
) |
|
$ |
2,418 |
|
|
$ |
(66,070 |
) |
Net income |
|
|
63,761 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
63,761 |
|
Disposal of noncontrolling interest in Protected |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,418 |
) |
|
|
(2,418 |
) |
Distributions to members from sale of Protected |
|
|
(28,765 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(28,765 |
) |
Share-based compensation expense |
|
|
1,012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,012 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(224 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(224 |
) |
Distribution to Court Square Capital Partners |
|
|
(11,975 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(11,975 |
) |
Contribution from OpenMail |
|
|
2,255 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,255 |
|
Distribution to OpenMail |
|
|
(5,805 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,805 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BALANCEDecember 31, 2020 |
|
$ |
(47,886 |
) |
|
$ |
(343 |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
(48,229 |
) |
Net income |
|
|
32,996 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32,996 |
|
Share-based compensation expense |
|
|
413 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
413 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
771 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
771 |
|
Distribution to Court Square Capital Partners |
|
|
(8,257 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8,257 |
) |
Contribution from OpenMail |
|
|
227 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
227 |
|
Distribution to OpenMail |
|
|
(6,322 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6,322 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BALANCEDecember 31, 2021 |
|
$ |
(28,829 |
) |
|
$ |
428 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
(28,401 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to consolidated financial
statements.
F-30
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Years Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
$ |
32,996 |
|
|
$ |
63,761 |
|
|
$ |
8,795 |
|
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
47,397 |
|
|
|
(15,454 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income from continuing operations |
|
|
32,996 |
|
|
|
16,364 |
|
|
|
24,249 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
13,885 |
|
|
|
13,832 |
|
|
|
11,244 |
|
Share-based compensation |
|
|
413 |
|
|
|
1,192 |
|
|
|
1,764 |
|
Amortization of debt issuance costs |
|
|
2,261 |
|
|
|
3,521 |
|
|
|
2,548 |
|
Write-down of contingent consideration liability |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(800 |
) |
Change in fair value of contingent consideration and former CEO equity interest |
|
|
7,054 |
|
|
|
5,950 |
|
|
|
1,727 |
|
Deferred tax (benefits) expense |
|
|
(981 |
) |
|
|
32 |
|
|
|
(2,143 |
) |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities-net of effect
of acquisitions: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts |
|
|
(19,064 |
) |
|
|
6,833 |
|
|
|
(10,950 |
) |
Due from related party |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(28 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Prepaids and other assets |
|
|
(4,968 |
) |
|
|
(1,076 |
) |
|
|
516 |
|
Accounts payable |
|
|
20,756 |
|
|
|
4,234 |
|
|
|
3,739 |
|
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
|
12,113 |
|
|
|
1,143 |
|
|
|
(3,318 |
) |
Deferred revenue |
|
|
82 |
|
|
|
415 |
|
|
|
(169 |
) |
Other long-term liabilities |
|
|
(3,842 |
) |
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
430 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations |
|
|
60,705 |
|
|
|
52,407 |
|
|
|
28,837 |
|
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities of discontinued operations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,860 |
) |
|
|
3,875 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
|
60,705 |
|
|
|
46,547 |
|
|
|
32,712 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of property and equipment |
|
|
(49 |
) |
|
|
(19 |
) |
|
|
(1,186 |
) |
Proceeds from sale of Protected |
|
|
|
|
|
|
74,544 |
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditures for internal-use software development
costs |
|
|
(6,486 |
) |
|
|
(6,112 |
) |
|
|
(5,510 |
) |
Purchase of businessnet of cash acquired |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(35,941 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities of continuing operations |
|
|
(6,535 |
) |
|
|
68,413 |
|
|
|
(42,637 |
) |
Net cash used for investing activities of discontinued operations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(247 |
) |
|
|
(120 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities |
|
|
(6,535 |
) |
|
|
68,166 |
|
|
|
(42,757 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from term loan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
Proceeds from line of credit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
32,000 |
|
Repayment of term loan |
|
|
(11,636 |
) |
|
|
(63,423 |
) |
|
|
(6,380 |
) |
Repayment of line of credit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(34,862 |
) |
|
|
(32,000 |
) |
Payments for deferred financing cost |
|
|
(382 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party loan |
|
|
(1,500 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member capital contributions |
|
|
227 |
|
|
|
2,255 |
|
|
|
7,257 |
|
Payments on contingent consideration from purchase of companies |
|
|
(6,715 |
) |
|
|
(5,500 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Payments for financing costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,075 |
) |
Distributions to members from sale of Protected |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(28,765 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Distributions to members |
|
|
(14,579 |
) |
|
|
(17,780 |
) |
|
|
(8,655 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities |
|
|
(34,585 |
) |
|
|
(128,075 |
) |
|
|
26,147 |
|
Effect of exchange rate changes in cash, cash equivalent and restricted cash |
|
|
41 |
|
|
|
(450 |
) |
|
|
(148 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Increase (decrease) in cash |
|
|
19,626 |
|
|
|
(13,812 |
) |
|
|
15,954 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year |
|
|
29,013 |
|
|
|
42,825 |
|
|
|
26,871 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year |
|
$ |
48,639 |
|
|
$ |
29,013 |
|
|
$ |
42,825 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash to the Consolidated Balance
Sheets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
47,896 |
|
|
$ |
29,013 |
|
|
$ |
39,136 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
$ |
743 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
3,689 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
$ |
48,639 |
|
|
$ |
29,013 |
|
|
$ |
42,825 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental cash flow information: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest |
|
$ |
14,740 |
|
|
$ |
22,227 |
|
|
$ |
21,442 |
|
Cash paid for taxes |
|
$ |
2,750 |
|
|
$ |
4,397 |
|
|
$ |
55 |
|
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-31
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
1. ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
S1 Holdco,
LLC and subsidiaries (S1 Holdco, System1, or the Company) is an omnichannel customer acquisition platform, delivering high-intent customers to advertisers. The Company provides these services through its
proprietary responsive acquisition marketing platform, or RAMP. Operating seamlessly across major advertising networks and advertising category verticals to acquire users on its behalf, RAMP allows the Company to monetize these acquired users
through its relationships with third party advertisers and advertising networks, which the Company refers to as its Advertising Partners. RAMP also allows third party advertising platforms and publishers, which the Company refers to as
its Network Partners, to send user traffic to and monetize user traffic on the Companys websites. RAMP is integrated across the Companys network of owned and operated websites and related products, allowing the Company to
monetize user traffic that the Company sources from acquisition marketing channels, including Google, Facebook and Taboola.
Through RAMP, the Company
processes approximately almost 15 million daily advertising campaign optimizations and ingests 6 billion rows of data daily across 50 advertising verticals. The Company is able to efficiently monetize user intent by linking data on
consumer engagement, such as first party search data, with data on monetization and advertising spend. This context-enriched data, combined with the Companys proprietary and data science driven algorithms, creates a closed-loop system that is
not reliant on personally identifiable information or information obtained through third-party cookies, but which allows RAMP to efficiently match consumer demand with the appropriate advertiser or advertising experience across advertising
verticals.
The Company was founded in 2013 with a focus on monetizing user traffic acquired by its network. Since launching, the Company has expanded to
support additional advertising formats across numerous advertising platforms, and has acquired several leading websites, enabling the Company to control user acquisition and experience, and monetize user traffic on its own behalf. Today the Company
owns and operates over 40 websites, including search engines like info.com and Startpage.com, and publishing digital media sites and utilities such as HowStuffWorks, Mapquest and ActiveBeat.
S1 Holdco, LLC was formed as a limited liability company (LLC) under the laws of the State of Delaware on July 25, 2017. On August 22, 2017,
OpenMail LLC (OpenMail) entered into a transaction (the Transaction) with Court Square Capital Partners and its related entities (Court Square), whereby Court Square obtained a 51% interest in S1 Holdco through
its own contributions and a recapitalization and distribution to the members of OpenMail. The Company is governed by an LLC agreement between Court Square and OpenMail. All the management powers over the business and affairs of the Company are
retained by the board of directors, including the approval of debt transactions, issuance or transfer of membership units (the Units), approval to buy and sell Company assets or any other significant transaction, and declaring and making
distributions.
As of December 31, 2021, the board of directors is composed of three individuals designated by Court Square, and two individuals
designated by OpenMail. However, in addition to a majority vote, board of directors actions must be approved by at least one Court Square director and one OpenMail director. Consequently, the Company has determined that its members share power
and, thus, there was no change in control as of the date of the Transaction.
The Companys primary operations are in the United States; however, the
Company also has operations in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, Hungary and the Netherlands. Operations outside the United States are subject to risks inherent in operating under different legal systems and various political and economic
environments. Among the risks are changes in existing tax laws, possible limitations on foreign investment and
F-32
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
income repatriation, government price or foreign exchange controls, and exposure to currency exchange fluctuations. The Company does not engage in hedging activities to mitigate its exposure to
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Revenue attributable to the United States represents 95%, 98% and 97% of total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and long-lived assets attributable to
the United States represent 86% and 87% of total long-lived assets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
On October 16, 2018, System1
SS Protect Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of System1, acquired a 50.1% interest in SS Protect Limited (Protected) for a total consideration of $55,000. System1 consolidated Protected under the voting model of ASC 810, Consolidation, since
the Company controlled three of five board seats or 60% of the voting rights of Protected.
On November 13, 2020 the Company disposed of its interest
in Protected in a sale to a group led by Protected and System1 management. Accordingly, the results of Protected have been accounted for as discontinued operations for the periods ended December 31, 2020 and prior.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis
of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of S1 Holdco, LLC and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in
consolidation.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
To
date, the Companys available liquidity and operations have been financed through member contributions and loans, loan facilities, and cash flows from operations. The Company is subject to certain business risks, including dependence on key
employees, dependence on key contracts, competition from alternative technologies, market acceptance, and dependence on growth to achieve its business plan. The Companys revenue is dependent on three key Advertising Partners, which are Google,
Yahoo!, and Microsoft, which comprised 84%, 2%, and 5%, respectively, of the Companys revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021, 82%, 5% and 4% of the Companys revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020, and 75%, 7%, and
7% of the Companys revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019. The Company has (i) two paid search advertising partnership contracts with Google, (ii) one paid search advertising partnership contract with Yahoo!, and
(iii) one paid search advertising partnership contract with Microsoft. One of the Google contracts was renewed with an effective date of March 1, 2021, and has a two-year term through
February 28, 2023. The other Google contract was renewed with a one-year term through April 30, 2021, and in July of 2021 was extended to July 1, 2022. The Yahoo! contract (which consolidated
three separate and pre-existing contracts into a single contract) was entered into effective as of December 1, 2020, and has an initial two year term ending November 30, 2022. All arrangements under
the Microsoft contract expired on November 30, 2021 and the parties agreed to a three-month extension through February 28, 2022, and then the contract auto-renewed on a month to month basis as the parties finalize a renewal or long-term
extension of this arrangement. All four agreements may be terminated by the respective Advertising Partner immediately or with minimal notice under certain circumstances.
Impact of COVID-19
The worldwide spread of COVID-19 has resulted, and is expected to continue to result, in a global slowdown of economic
activity which is likely to decrease demand for a broad variety of goods and services, including those
F-33
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
provided by the Companys clients, while also disrupting sales channels and advertising and marketing activities for an unknown period of time until the virus is contained or economic
activity normalizes. The Companys revenue in 2021 increased by 45% compared to 2020 despite the headwinds created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The extent to which ongoing and future developments related to
the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related vaccination measures designed to curb its spread continue to impact its business, financial condition and results of operations, all of which cannot be
predicted with certainty. Many of these ongoing and future developments are beyond its control, including the speed of contagion, the development, distribution and implementation of effective preventative or treatment measures, including vaccines
(and vaccination rates), the scope of governmental and other restrictions on travel, discretionary services and other activity, and the public reactions and receptiveness to these developments.
A summary of the significant accounting policies followed by the Company in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements is set forth
below.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of
consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the
consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Significant estimates and assumptions
reflected in these consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, valuation of goodwill and long-lived assets for impairment and inputs into the valuation of the Companys share-based compensation awards. Significant
estimates affecting the consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of the most current and best available information, including historical experience, known trends and other market-specific or other relevant factors that the
Company believes to be reasonable. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, as there are changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Changes in estimates are recorded in periods which they become known. However, actual results
from the resolution of such estimates and assumptions may vary from those used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will directly or
indirectly impact the Companys business, results of operations and financial condition will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain. The Companys business, results of operations and financial condition may be impacted by
new information that may emerge concerning COVID-19 and the actions taken to contain or treat it, and the economic impact on its customers and markets. The Company has made estimates of the impact of COVID-19 within its financial statements and there may be changes to those estimates in future periods. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalent
consist of cash in banks and bank deposits. The Companys cash balance consists of amounts held as bank deposits.
Accounts receivable
Accounts receivable represent amounts due from the Advertising Partners and are stated at the amount the Company expects to collect from outstanding balances
and do not bear interest. The Company considers the following factors when determining the collectability of specific customer accounts: past transaction history with the customer, and current economic industry trends. These receivables have
historically been paid timely. Due to
F-34
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
the nature of the accounts receivable balance, the Company believes there is no significant risk of non-collection and no allowance for doubtful accounts is required as of December 31, 2021
and 2020, respectively. The payment terms for the Companys accounts receivable are typically 30 days.
Concentration of credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of cash and accounts receivable. Cash is deposited with
high-credit-quality financial institutions and, at times, such balances with any one financial institution may exceed the insurance limits of the prevailing regulatory body. Historically, the Company has not experienced any losses related to these
balances and believes that there is minimal risk of expected future losses. However, there can be no assurance that there will not be losses on these deposits.
Accounts receivable are primarily derived from advertisers located inside the United States. As of December 31, 2021, the Companys two largest
Advertising Partners; Google and Yahoo! represented 72% and 10%, respectively, of the Companys accounts receivables balance. As of December 31, 2020, the Companys two largest Advertising Partners; Google and Yahoo! represented 67%
and 13%, respectively, of the Companys accounts receivables balance.
Foreign Currency
The Companys reporting currency is the US dollar. The balance sheet accounts have been translated using the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet
date. The statement of operations amounts have been translated using the average exchange rate for the month in which the activity related. Accumulated net translation adjustments and foreign currency transaction gains/losses resulting from exchange
rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency were not material.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company applies the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820, Fair Value
Measurements and Disclosures, which provides a single authoritative definition of fair value, sets out a framework for measuring fair value, and expands on required disclosures about fair value measurement.
The provisions of ASC 820 relate to financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities, as well as other assets and liabilities carried at fair value on a
recurring basis.
Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability, or an exit price, in
the principal or most advantageous market for that asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.
The
Company measures fair value based on a three-level hierarchy of inputs, maximizing the use of observable inputs, where available, and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instruments level within the
three-level hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The three-level hierarchy of inputs is as
follows:
Level 1: Observable inputs such as unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at
the measurement date.
F-35
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices
for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities; and
Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the
assets or liabilities. These inputs are based on the Companys own assumptions about current market conditions and require significant management judgment or estimation.
Financial instruments consist of cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, other assets accounted for at fair value, accounts payable and
accrued liabilities. Cash equivalents and restricted cash, are stated at fair value on a recurring basis. Accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities are stated at their carrying value, which approximates fair value due to the
short time to the expected receipt or payment date. The carrying amount of the Companys outstanding debt approximates the fair value. The Company classify the fair value of debt within Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
The Company does not have any assets that are required to be carried at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The
Companys liabilities measured at fair value relate to the Former CEO equity interest and Contingent Consideration.
The fair value of the former CEO
equity interest was determined with an option pricing model and utilizing significant unobservable inputs for a discount for lack of marketability and projected financial information. The fair value Contingent Consideration was determined with an
option pricing model and contains significant unobservable inputs for projected financial information.
Changes in estimated fair value of Level 3
financial liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contingent consideration |
|
|
Former CEO equity interest* |
|
Fair value of liabilities at January 1, 2019 |
|
$ |
(8,900 |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
Additions |
|
|
(2,200 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Change in fair value |
|
|
73 |
|
|
|
(1,000 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value of liabilities at December 31, 2019 |
|
$ |
(11,027 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,000 |
) |
Settlements |
|
|
5,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
Change in fair value |
|
|
(2,713 |
) |
|
|
(3,236 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value of liabilities at December 31, 2020 |
|
$ |
(8,240 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,236 |
) |
Settlements |
|
|
6,716 |
|
|
|
|
|
Change in fair value |
|
|
(158 |
) |
|
|
(6,896 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value at December 31, 2021 |
|
$ |
(1,682 |
) |
|
$ |
(11,132 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
Former CEO equity interest as further described in executive compensation Note 11. |
The total impact of changes in fair values related to Contingent Consideration and Former CEO equity interest are included in selling, general and
administrative expenses, and salaries, commissions and benefits expenses, respectively in the consolidated statements of operations.
Certain assets,
including intangible assets, are also subject to measurement at fair value on a nonrecurring basis if they are deemed to be impaired as a result of an impairment review. The fair value of these assets is determined using unobservable inputs to fair
value the assets.
F-36
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
Restricted cash
The Company had restricted cash of $743 as of December 31, 2021, which was held at the Companys financial institution to secure the Companys
letter of credit for its Marina del Rey, California facility lease. There was no restricted cash as of December 31, 2020.
Property and equipment,
net
Property and equipment, net are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the
estimated useful lives of the related assets. Estimated useful lives are three (3) years for computer equipment and software, seven (7) years for furniture and equipment, and the shorter of the remaining lease term or estimated useful life
for leasehold improvements. Repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred, while improvements are capitalized. Upon the sale or retirement of property and equipment, the accounts are relieved of the cost and the related accumulated
depreciation, and any resulting gain or loss is included in the consolidated statement of operations.
Internal-use software development costs, net
The Company capitalizes certain internal-use software development costs associated with creating and enhancing
internally developed software related to the Companys technology infrastructure. These costs include personnel and related employee benefits expenses for employees who are directly associated with and who devote time to software projects
and external direct costs of materials and services consumed in developing or obtaining the software. Software development costs that do not meet the qualification for capitalization are expensed as incurred and recorded in salaries, commissions,
and benefits expense in the consolidated statement of operations.
Software development activities generally consist of three stages: (i) the
planning stage, (ii) the application and infrastructure development stage, and (iii) the post-implementation stage. Costs incurred in the planning and post implementation stages of software development, including costs associated with the
post configuration training and repairs and maintenance of the developed technologies, are expensed as incurred. The Company capitalizes costs associated with software developed for internal use when the preliminary project stage is completed,
management has authorized further funding for the completion of the project, and it is probable that the project will be completed and performed as intended. Costs incurred in the application and infrastructure development stages, including
significant enhancements and upgrades, are capitalized. Capitalization ends once a project is substantially complete, and the software and technologies are ready for their intended purpose. Internal-use
software development costs are amortized using a straight-line method over an estimated useful life of three (3) years, commencing when the software is ready for its intended use. The straight-line recognition method approximates the manner in
which the expected benefit will be derived. The Company does not transfer ownership of its software, or lease its software, to third parties.
F-37
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
Intangible assets
Intangible assets primarily consist of acquired developed technology and trade names/trademarks. The Company determines the appropriate useful life based on
its estimate of economic useful life. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives using a straight-line method, which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefits are consumed. The estimated useful lives of the
Companys intangible assets are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Useful Life |
|
(Years) |
Developed technology |
|
|
4 |
Customer relationships |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
10 |
Trademarks and trade names |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
12 |
Noncompete |
|
|
2 |
Professional service agreement |
|
|
3 |
Other intangibles |
|
|
3 |
The weighted average amortization period for all intangibles is 9 years.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company assesses the
recoverability of its long-lived assets when events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. Such events or changes in circumstances may include a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in
which a long-lived asset is being used; significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate that could affect the value of a long-lived asset; an accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for
the acquisition or development of a long-lived asset; current or future operating or cash flow losses that demonstrate continuing losses associated with the use of a long-lived asset; or a current expectation that, more likely than not, a long-lived
asset will be sold or otherwise disposed of significantly before the end of its previously estimated useful life. The Company performs impairment testing at the asset group level that represents the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are
largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. The Company assesses recoverability of a long-lived asset by determining whether the carrying value of the asset group can be recovered through projected undiscounted cash flows
over their remaining lives. If the carrying value of the asset group exceeds the forecasted undiscounted cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized and measured as the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair value. An
impairment loss is charged to operations in the period in which management determines such impairment. Management has determined there to be no impairment of long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Business Combinations
The results of a business acquired
in a business combination are included in the Companys consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. The Company allocates the purchase price, which is the sum of the consideration provided which may consist of cash, equity,
or a combination of the two, in a business combination to the identifiable assets and liabilities of the acquired business at their acquisition-date fair values. Any excess amount paid over the identifiable net assets is recorded as goodwill. The
goodwill is non-deductible for tax purposes. The process for estimating the fair values of the acquired business involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including estimating average industry
purchase price multiples and estimating future cash flows. The Company estimates the fair value based on assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable and, as a result, actual results may differ from
estimates. During the measurement period, not to exceed one year from the date of acquisition, the Company
F-38
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with a corresponding offset to goodwill. At the conclusion of the measurement period, any subsequent adjustments are
reflected in the Companys consolidated statements of operations.
Transaction costs associated with business combinations are expensed as incurred
and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Companys consolidated statements of operations. When purchase consideration includes contingent consideration, the Company records the fair value of the contingent
consideration as of the date of acquisition and subsequently remeasures the contingent consideration at fair value each reporting period through earnings.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase
price over the fair value of net assets acquired and identifiable intangibles in a business combination. The Company accounts for goodwill in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 350, IntangiblesGoodwill and
Other, which requires the Company to test goodwill at the reporting unit level for impairment at least annually.
The Company has the option to assess
goodwill for possible impairment by performing a qualitative analysis to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount or to perform the quantitative impairment test. The
quantitative test involves comparing the estimated fair value of a reporting unit with its respective book value, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value exceeds book value, goodwill is considered not to be impaired. If, however, the fair
value of the reporting unit is less than book value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess.
The determination of fair values
requires us to make significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates include, but are not limited to future expected cash flows from a market participant perspective, discount rates, industry data and managements prior experience.
Unanticipated events or circumstances may occur that could affect the accuracy or validity of such assumptions, estimates or actual results.
The Company
tests for goodwill impairment annually at December 31st. During the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, there were no impairment charges recorded on goodwill. In 2021 and 2019, the Company performed qualitative goodwill assessments
at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2019 and concluded it was not more likely than not that the fair values of its reporting units are less than its carrying amount. In 2020, the Company performed a quantitative goodwill assessment at
December 31, 2020, where the fair value exceeded the carrying value for all the reporting units and, accordingly, the Company concluded that there was no impairment of goodwill at December 31, 2020.
Operating Leases
The Company records rent expense for
operating leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company begins recognition of rent expense on the date of initial possession, which is generally when the Company enters the leased premises and begins to make improvements in
preparation for its intended use. The Company accounts for the difference between the straight-line expense and rent paid as a deferred rent liability.
Noncontrolling Interests
Interests held by third parties
in consolidated majority-owned subsidiaries are presented as noncontrolling interests, which represents the noncontrolling stockholders interests in the underlying net assets of the
F-39
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
Companys consolidated majority-owned subsidiaries. Noncontrolling interests that are reported in the equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue when
control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the Companys customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The Company determines revenue recognition
through the following steps:
|
|
|
Identification of a contract with a customer, |
|
|
|
Identification of the performance obligations in the contract, |
|
|
|
Determination of the transaction price, |
|
|
|
Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and |
|
|
|
Recognition of revenue when or as the performance obligations are satisfied. |
The Companys revenue is principally derived from the following areas:
Advertising and Other Revenue
Revenue is earned
from revenue-sharing arrangements with the Companys Network Partners for the use of the RAMP platform and related services provided to them to direct advertising by the Advertising Partners on traffic acquired and directed to the
Companys platform by the Network Partners to their advertising space. The Company determined it is the agent in these transactions and reports revenue on a net basis. The Company does not control the underlying advertising space, the Company
does not acquire the traffic and does not have risk of loss, and the pricing is in the form of a substantively fixed-percentage revenue-sharing arrangement. The Company reports this revenue on a net basis for the amount retained from its
revenue-sharing arrangements representing the difference between amounts received from the Advertising Partners, less amounts remitted to the Network Partners based on underlying contracts.
The Company also earns revenue by directly acquiring traffic to its owned and operated websites and utilizing its own RAMP platform and related services to
connect its Advertising Partners to its own websites. For this revenue stream, the Company is the principal in the transaction and reports revenue on a gross basis for the amount received from the Advertising Partners. For this revenue, the Company
has determined that it is the principal since it has a risk of loss on the traffic that it is acquiring for monetization by its Advertising Partners, and in the case of its owned and operated websites, the Company maintains the website, provides the
content and bears the cost and risk of loss associated with its websites advertising space. The Companys key Advertising Partners are Google, Yahoo!, and Microsoft.
The Company recognizes revenue upon delivering traffic to its Advertising Partners based on a
cost-per-click or cost-per-thousand impression basis. The payment term is typically 30
days.
SS Protect Revenue
The Companys
SS Protect business provides real-time antivirus protection, a safe-browsing / VPN feature, adblocking, identity-theft protection, blocking of malicious websites and data breach monitoring. The performance obligations related to subscription,
maintenance and support are satisfied over time and revenue associated with these is recognized over the contract term on a ratable basis, which is consistent with transfer of control. As described in Note 1, the Company sold SS Protect in November
2020 and accounted for this disposition as a discontinued operation.
F-40
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
Contract balances
The timing of customer billing and payment relative to the start of the service period varies from contract to contract; however, the Company bills many of its
customers in advance of the provision of services under its contracts, resulting in contract liabilities consisting of deferred revenue (contract liabilities). Deferred revenue represents billings under noncancellable contracts before
the related product or service is transferred to the customer. The portion of deferred revenue that is anticipated to be recognized as revenue during the succeeding twelve-month period is recorded within Accrued expenses and other current
liabilities and the remaining portion is recorded within Other liabilities.
Cost of revenues
Cost of revenues includes traffic acquisition costs, which consists primarily of costs to place advertisements to attract customers to the Companys
websites, mapping costs, domain name registration costs, and licensing costs to provide mapping services to Mapquest.com. The Company does not pay any up-front payments, incentive payments or bonuses and such
costs are expensed as incurred.
Salaries, Commissions, and Benefits
Salaries, commissions and benefits expenses include salaries, bonuses, stock-based compensation, and employee benefits costs.
Share-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for
share-based compensation under ASU 2018-07, CompensationStock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment. Compensation cost related to share-based payment transactions is
measured based on the fair value of the Units issued and recognized within Salaries, commissions, and benefits in the Companys consolidated statement of operations. The Company has elected to treat share-based payment awards with
graded vesting schedules and time-based service conditions as a single award and recognizes share-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the employee service vesting period, which is generally four (4) years.
The assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model to compute the fair value of all equity awards as discussed in Note 9 are based upon the following:
|
|
|
Fair Value of Common Stock: As the Companys common stock is not publicly traded, the fair value was
determined by management and contemporaneous valuation reports prepared by a third-party valuation specialist. |
|
|
|
Expected Term: The expected life of the option is estimated by considering the contractual term of the option,
the vesting period of the option, the employees expected exercise behavior and the post-vesting employee turnover rate. For non-employees, the expected life equals the contractual term of the option.
|
|
|
|
Risk-free Interest Rate: The risk-free interest rate is based on published U.S. Treasury Department interest
rates for the expected terms of the underlying options. |
|
|
|
Volatility: The expected stock price volatility of the underlying shares over the expected term of the option is
based upon historical share price data of an index of comparable publicly traded companies. |
On August 22, 2017, OpenMail
members Class B Units were modified to allow the service vesting condition to be met based on continued employment with System1 (see Note 9).
F-41
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
During 2021, 2020 and 2019, Class F Units were issued by OpenMail to S1 Holdco employees. These units
are accounted for as a profit-sharing arrangement under ASC 710-10, CompensationGeneral. Class F Units remain unvested and forfeitable by the grantee until the later of (i) such date as the
Company has disposed of its entire (direct or indirect ownership interest) and (ii) the four-year anniversary of the issuance date, except for one 2021 grant which vest at the one-year anniversary of the
issuance date. The units will thereafter fully vest and become nonforfeitable subject to the grantees continuous employment by the Company. As of December 31, 2021, the above conditions were not met and therefore no liability has been
recognized for the Class F Units.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
Selling, general, and administrative expenses consist of fees for professional services, occupancy costs, travel and entertainment. These costs are expensed as
incurred.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expenses are primarily attributable to the Companys capital investment and consist of fixed asset depreciation and
amortization of intangibles with finite lives.
Income Taxes
The Company has elected to be taxed as a limited liability company for federal and state tax purposes and, as a result, is not subject to US income taxes;
rather the tax effect of the Companys operations is passed through to each of its members. Various subsidiaries of the Company are subject to income tax in the United States and in other countries.
Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax
consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective income tax bases, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities
are measured using tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which these temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets if it is
more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company recognizes a tax benefit for uncertain tax positions when the Companys position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination
by the relevant taxing authority.
Estimates of future taxable income are based on assumptions that are consistent with the Companys plans.
Assumptions represent managements best estimates and involve inherent uncertainties and the application of managements judgment. If actual amounts differ from the Companys estimates, the amount of its tax expense and liabilities
could be materially impacted. The Company recognizes the tax effects of an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not to be sustained based solely on its technical merits as of the reporting date, and then, only in an amount more
likely than not to be sustained upon review by the tax authorities.
Where applicable, the Company classifies associated interest and penalties as income
tax expense. The Company considers many factors when evaluating and estimating tax positions and tax benefits, which may require periodic adjustments, and which may not accurately anticipate actual outcomes.
F-42
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance regarding accounting for
uncertainty in income taxes, which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprises financial statements and prescribes a threshold of more-likely-than-not for
recognition of tax benefits of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. This guidance also provides related guidance on measurement, derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, and disclosures.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax positions as income tax expense. As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, the
Company had not incurred any related interest and penalties.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Customers Accounting for
Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. Under the new guidance, a customer will apply the same criteria for capitalizing implementation costs of a cloud computing arrangement as it would for an on-premises software license. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020, and early adoption is permitted. The Company early adopted this guidance in the first quarter of
2020 with no material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU
2020-04, Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which was subsequently amended in January 2021, related to contracts that reference the London Interbank Offered Rate
(LIBOR) or other reference rates that are expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. The new standard provides for optional expedients and other guidance regarding the accounting related to modifications of contracts and other
transactions affected by reference rate reform. The Company has elected to adopt the new standard. The adoption did not have a material accounting impact on the Companys consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU)
No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The new guidance simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the
general principles in Topic 740. The new guidance also improves consistent application of and simplifies U.S. GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending the existing guidance. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2021, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022 for non-public companies with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of
the new guidance.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic
842). ASU No. 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset in the Consolidated
Balance Sheet and aligns many of the underlying principles of the new lessor model with those in ASC 606, Revenue From Contracts With Customers. ASU No. 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, there will be a material increase in total assets and total liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet due to the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for the Companys leases. In June 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-05, Revenue from Contracts
with Customers (Topic 606) and Leases (Topic 842). ASU No. 2020-05 defers the effective date of Leases for private entities (the all other category) to fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2021, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. On January 1, 2022, the Company adopted this pronouncement and recognized
right-of-use assets of approximately $6,700 and lease liabilities of approximately $8,000 in its consolidated balance sheet.
F-43
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU
No. 2016-13, including subsequent amendments, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326), which modifies the accounting methodology for most financial instruments.
The guidance requires the use of a forward-looking expected credit loss model for accounts receivables, loans, and other financial instruments. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022, and early adoption
is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this update to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.
In October
2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Accounting for Contract Assets and Contact Liabilities from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2021-08). ASU 2021-08 requires an acquirer in a business combination to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities from acquired contracts using the revenue recognition guidance under Accounting Standards
Codification Topic 606 in order to align the recognition of a contract liability with the definition of performance obligation. This approach is different from the current requirement to measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a
business combination at fair value. ASU 2021-08 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently
evaluating the requirements of ASU No. 2021-08 and has not yet determined the effect on its consolidated financial statements.
3. ACQUISITIONS
On March 12, 2019, the Company
entered into a securities purchase agreement to purchase Concourse Media (Concourse), an online publisher of websites focused on the verticals of health, travel, food, entertainment and consumer lifestyle. The Company acquired all assets
and assumed all liabilities of Concourse in exchange for $8,000. During the closing of the sale, the Company identified $509 in adjustments that increased the final consideration to $8,509, which include adjustments for closing indebtedness, closing
cash, and net working capital.
Additionally, the Company made additional payments of $2,216 to the sellers as contingent consideration since certain
operating contribution performance targets were met for the period from April 1, 2019, through and including April 30, 2021. Upon acquisition, the Company recognized a liability for contingent consideration of $2,200. As of
December 31, 2019, there were no changes in the recognized amounts or range of outcomes for the contingent consideration recognized as a result of the acquisition of Concourse.
On September 19, 2019, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement (APA) with MapQuest, Inc. (MapQuest), a recognized brand that
provides mapping solutions. Pursuant to the APA, on September 19, 2019, the Company acquired all assets and assumed all liabilities of MapQuest in exchange for $27,000. During the closing of the sale, the Company identified $281 in adjustments
that lowered the final consideration to $26,719. The Company is leveraging MapQuests assets to achieve synergies with its own platform to drive growth in its consumer facing revenue streams.
On December 13, 2019, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement to purchase Waterfox Limited (Waterfox). Waterfox manages and
develops the Waterfox Web browser. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of Waterfox in exchange for payment of $1,555. The Company acquired Waterfox for its intellectual property and for the expected
synergies with the Waterfox browser as a distribution partner for the Companys monetization platform. As the transaction related primarily to the purchase of a single asset, it was accounted for as an asset acquisition.
F-44
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
The following table shows the final allocation of the purchase price to the estimated fair values of assets
and liabilities acquired in the transaction and goodwill for each of the acquisitions made in 2019.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Concourse |
|
|
MapQuest |
|
|
Waterfox |
|
Cash |
|
$ |
139 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
187 |
|
Accounts receivable |
|
|
1,365 |
|
|
|
4,349 |
|
|
|
60 |
|
Other current assets |
|
|
196 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment |
|
|
43 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible assets |
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
16,900 |
|
|
|
1,850 |
|
Goodwill |
|
|
5,049 |
|
|
|
7,113 |
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
|
(583 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued expenses and other liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(148 |
) |
|
|
(247 |
) |
Deferred revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,643 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Other noncurrent liabilities |
|
|
(1,700 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(295 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consideration transferred |
|
$ |
8,509 |
|
|
$ |
26,571 |
|
|
$ |
1,555 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the acquisitions, the excess of the purchase consideration over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible
assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. Goodwill is primarily attributable to the value expected from the synergies of the combination of operations. This goodwill is not deductible for income tax purposes. The useful life of the intangible assets
acquired was determined based on their expected economic lives.
The results of operations of Concourse, Mapquest and Waterfox have been included in the
Companys consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. The Concourse, Mapquest and Waterfox acquisitions did not have a material impact on the Companys consolidated financial statements, and therefore historical and pro
forma disclosures have not been presented. The following table shows the revenue and net loss for Concourse, MapQuest and Waterfox from their date of acquisition through December 31, 2019.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Concourse |
|
|
MapQuest |
|
|
Waterfox |
|
Revenue |
|
$ |
15,193 |
|
|
$ |
5,035 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
3,705 |
|
|
$ |
3,549 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
4. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
Property and equipment, net as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, consisted of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Computer equipment |
|
$ |
415 |
|
|
$ |
332 |
|
Furniture and equipment |
|
|
475 |
|
|
|
1,382 |
|
Leasehold improvements |
|
|
976 |
|
|
|
1,173 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipmentgross |
|
|
1,866 |
|
|
|
2,887 |
|
Less accumulated depreciation |
|
|
(1,036 |
) |
|
|
(1,830 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipmentnet |
|
$ |
830 |
|
|
$ |
1,057 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total depreciation expense on property and equipment was $310, $411 and $439 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020
and 2019, respectively.
F-45
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
5. GOODWILL, INTERNAL-USE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT COSTS, NET, AND
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET
Goodwill
Goodwill as of
December 31, 2021 and 2020, resulted from the acquisitions of Concourse, and Mapquest in 2019 (see Note 3) and the prior acquisition of InfoSpace in 2016 and Qool Media, Inc. in 2017. The changes in goodwill by reportable segments were as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Owned and Operated |
|
|
Partner Network |
|
|
Total |
|
Goodwill at January 1, 2020 |
|
$ |
24,403 |
|
|
$ |
20,417 |
|
|
$ |
44,820 |
|
Additions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill at December 31, 2020 |
|
|
24,403 |
|
|
|
20,417 |
|
|
|
44,820 |
|
Additions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill at December 31, 2021 |
|
$ |
24,403 |
|
|
$ |
20,417 |
|
|
$ |
44,820 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Internal-use software development costs, net and intangible assets, net consist of the
following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
Gross Carrying Amount |
|
|
Accumulated Amortization |
|
|
Net Carrying Amount |
|
Total internal-use software development costs |
|
$ |
21,274 |
|
|
$ |
(10,061 |
) |
|
$ |
11,213 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Developed technology |
|
$ |
8,398 |
|
|
$ |
(7,242 |
) |
|
$ |
1,156 |
|
Trademarks and trade names |
|
|
69,007 |
|
|
|
(21,375 |
) |
|
|
47,632 |
|
Professional service agreement |
|
|
3,100 |
|
|
|
(2,359 |
) |
|
|
741 |
|
Customer relationships |
|
|
1,500 |
|
|
|
(661 |
) |
|
|
839 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total intangible costs |
|
$ |
82,005 |
|
|
$ |
(31,637 |
) |
|
$ |
50,368 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
Gross Carrying Amount |
|
|
Accumulated Amortization |
|
|
Net Carrying Amount |
|
Total internal-use software development costs |
|
$ |
16,026 |
|
|
$ |
(6,366 |
) |
|
$ |
9,660 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Developed technology |
|
$ |
8,398 |
|
|
$ |
(6,699 |
) |
|
$ |
1,699 |
|
Trademarks and trade names |
|
|
69,007 |
|
|
|
(14,541 |
) |
|
|
54,466 |
|
Professional service agreement |
|
|
3,100 |
|
|
|
(1,326 |
) |
|
|
1,774 |
|
Customer relationships |
|
|
1,500 |
|
|
|
(430 |
) |
|
|
1,070 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total intangible costs |
|
$ |
82,005 |
|
|
$ |
(22,996 |
) |
|
$ |
59,009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-46
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
The internal-use software development costs include internal-use software development costs in progress of $2,540 and $1,423 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company recorded amortization expense of $4,934, and $8,641 for internal-use software development costs and intangible assets, respectively, during 2021. The Company recorded amortization expense of $3,471, and $9,891 for internal-use
software development costs and intangible assets, respectively, during 2020. The Company recorded amortization expense of $2,590 and $8,133 for internal-use software development costs and intangible assets,
respectively, during 2019. No impairment of internal-use software development cost or intangible assets was identified for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
As of December 31, 2021, the expected amortization expense associated with the Companys intangible assets and
internal-use software development costs for each of the next five years as of December 31, 2021, is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization Expense |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
$ |
13,612 |
|
2023 |
|
|
11,652 |
|
2024 |
|
|
8,993 |
|
2025 |
|
|
6,904 |
|
2026 |
|
|
6,646 |
|
Thereafter |
|
|
13,774 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$61,581 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6. ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Former CEO profit interest |
|
$ |
11,132 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Payable to employees |
|
|
10,091 |
|
|
|
6,757 |
|
Accrued legal service fees |
|
|
6,242 |
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
1,971 |
|
|
|
1,889 |
|
Contingent consideration |
|
|
1,682 |
|
|
|
6,682 |
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
1,543 |
|
|
|
3,454 |
|
Accrued tax liability |
|
|
361 |
|
|
|
257 |
|
Deferred rent |
|
|
233 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
$ |
33,255 |
|
|
$ |
19,039 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7. OTHER LIABILITIES
Other liabilities consisted of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Deferred tax liability |
|
$ |
7,789 |
|
|
$ |
9,409 |
|
Former CEO profit interest |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,237 |
|
Contingent consideration |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,558 |
|
Deferred rent |
|
|
969 |
|
|
|
597 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other liabilities |
|
$ |
8,758 |
|
|
$ |
15,801 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-47
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
8. MEMBERS DEFICIT
Outstanding Units
The Companys authorized, issued,
and outstanding membership units (Units) held by OpenMail and Court Square were 9,848,698 and 10,638,907, respectively, as of December 31, 2021. There were no changes in OpenMail or Court Square units during 2021, 2020, or 2019.
The Units are subject to certain transfer restrictions and no member has the right to voluntarily withdraw as a member of the Company, except with the
consent of the board of directors, which consent can be withheld at the sole discretion of the board of directors.
The Units share in profits and losses
or liquidation of the Company based on the terms of the amended and restated LLC agreement. Any negative capital accounts attributable to members are not considered to be debts owned by the members to the Company. The following summarizes the key
rights and privileges of the outstanding Units pursuant to the LLC agreement.
Voting Rights of Members
Each director has one vote in any decision of the board of directors. However, in addition to the majority vote, board of directors actions must be
approved by at least one Court Square member and at least one OpenMail member, except for limited circumstances whereby the counterparty in the matter requiring approval is Court Square (including its related parties) or OpenMail (including its
related parties) in such instance the director will recuse him or herself from such discussions.
Distributions
The following distribution rights are provided for in the LLC agreement.
Interim Distributions:
OpenMail Classes B, B-1, B-2, B-3, and B-4 UnitsThese units were issued to employees and nonemployees of
OpenMail and are generally subject to vesting provisions as described in Note 9. The holders of the vested and unvested Class B, Class B-2, and following March 1, 2019, Class B-3 Units are eligible for all distributions and the Class B-1 and Class B-4 Units are eligible for extraordinary,
transaction, and liquidating distributions. The Class B Unitholders, regardless of vesting, cease to be eligible for interim distributions upon their termination of service to the Company. Extraordinary distributions may, at the discretion of
the OpenMails board of managers, exclude or be paid other than pro rata to Class B-1 and Class B-4 Unitholders. Accordingly, it was determined that for
accounting purposes, the Classes B, B-1, and B-4 Units did not represent substantive equity instruments, given their ongoing employment requirement and discretion of the
OpenMails board of managers to pay distributions to these classes of OpenMail Units. The regular, transaction, and extraordinary distributions paid to the Class B, Class B-1, and Class B-4 Unitholders of $1,698, $3,323 and $7,579 were recorded as compensation expense within salaries, commissions, and benefit expenses in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the years
ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Vested Units are eligible for liquidating distributions.
OpenMail
Class F UnitsThese units were issued as part of the ninth amended and restated operating agreement of OpenMail, LLC dated March 13, 2019, as additional incentive to Company management and are subject to a
participation threshold and vesting provisions as described in Note 9. These Units are all unvested
F-48
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
as of December 31, 2021; however, the holders of the Class F Units that are employed by System1 are eligible, after a participation threshold and at the discretion of the board of
managers of OpenMail, for regular and extraordinary distributions. During 2021 and 2020, no regular and extraordinary distributions were paid to the Class F Unitholders.
Value Creation Units (VCUs)These units were issued to employees and nonemployees of System1 and are subject to vesting provisions as described in
Note 9. These Units are all unvested as of December 31, 2021; however, the holders of the VCUs that are employed by System1 are eligible, based on the discretion of the board of directors of System1 and board of managers of OpenMail, for
regular and extraordinary distributions. The regular, transaction, and extraordinary distributions paid to the VCU holders of $585, $1,383 and $1,926 were recorded as compensation expense within Salaries, commissions, and benefit expenses in the
accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Regular
DistributionsIn its sole discretion, the board of directors of S1 Holdco determined the amount and timing of regular distributions of available cash from S1 Holdcos operations. These distributions made to OpenMail are made on a pro
rata basis to the holders of the OpenMail Units, based on the aggregate number of OpenMail Units so held, provided that any holder of OpenMail Units could waive his, her, or its entitlement to these distributions and the distribution would be
distributed pro rata to those holders of OpenMail Units, who had not waived their entitlement. Any waived distributions by OpenMail members may be caught up at the next distribution that such OpenMail member would otherwise receive. For the year
ended December 31, 2021, regular distributions to Court Square Capital Partners were $8,257 and OpenMail were $8,614, with $6,322 recorded within equity and $2,292 to holders of OpenMails Class B Units and VCUs, who are employees of
S1 Holdco, which were expensed. For the year ended December 31, 2020, regular distributions to Court Square Capital Partners were $11,975 and OpenMail were $10,851, with $5,805 recorded within equity and $5,046 to holders of OpenMails
Class B Units and VCUs, who are employees of S1 Holdco, which were expensed. For the year ended December 31, 2019, regular distributions to Court Square Capital Partners were $1,489 and OpenMail were $9,414, with $7,166 recorded within
equity and $2,248 to holders of OpenMails Classes B and B 1 Units and VCU, who are employees of S1 Holdco, which were expensed.
Distributions
from the TransactionIn accordance with the terms of the Transaction, at the close of the Transaction, $11,200 was distributed to OpenMail and held in an escrow account to be paid to System1 employees, previously employed by OpenMail, as
their Units vested and VCUs met the service vesting condition. Amounts are withdrawn from the escrow account by OpenMail and contributed to System1 and then distributed to Unitholders. OpenMail withdrew and distributed $245, $1,698 and $2,878 in
2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, from the escrow account, all of which was expensed.
Extraordinary DistributionsIn its sole discretion,
the board of directors determines the timing and recipients of extraordinary distributions. At the time of the Transaction, Court Square took a 51% stake in S1 Holdco, which represented OpenMails core business prior to the transaction.
However, this did not include the podcast business, which was contributed to Stuff Media and owned 100% by OpenMail.
Liquidating
DistributionsLiquidating distributions shall be made upon the occurrence of a liquidating event, as defined, to the members in the following order and priority:
First, until $14,000 in total is distributed, 51.93% to the Court Square members and 48.07% to the OpenMail member.
Second, to the Former CEO with respect to the former CEOs profit interest, as discussed in the Executive Compensation section of Note 11 below.
F-49
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
Third, distributed to Unit and VCU holders who had previously waived their rights to certain regular
distributions, according to a distribution record as approved by the board of directors on a quarterly basis.
Lastly, on a pro rata basis to the holders
of Units, provided that any holder of Units may waive his, her, or its entitlement to distributions and such holders pro rata share of the distribution shall be distributed pro rata to those holders of Units, who have not waived their
entitlement.
9. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
The
Companys legacy OpenMail employees and nonemployee consultants were previously granted equity awards by OpenMail, which were modified to allow for employment at System1 to satisfy the service condition and are paid by OpenMail through
distributions from System1. Accordingly, these awards became nonemployee awards of System1. Stock-based payments to nonemployees are recognized as an expense over the period of performance. On January 1, 2019, the Company early adopted ASU No. 2018-07, CompensationStock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share- Based Payment Accounting, using a modified retrospective transition approach. Thus, the
Companys equity classified awards were remeasured on the basis of their adoption-date fair value. The adoption did not result in a material cumulative effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the fiscal year. The Company has elected
to account for forfeitures as they occur therefore it does not apply estimated forfeiture rates. The share-based compensation cost is recorded as compensation expense within Selling, general, and administrative expenses in the accompanying
consolidated statement of operations. System1 has not granted any units to employees.
The fair value of all equity awards was estimated using the
Black-Scholes valuation model with the following assumptions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B units |
|
|
OM VCUs |
|
|
S1 VCUs |
Fair market value of stock |
|
$ |
6.59 |
|
|
$ |
5.91 |
|
|
$5.91 $10.46 |
Volatility |
|
|
65 |
% |
|
|
65 |
% |
|
40% 65% |
Expected term |
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
4.00 |
|
|
1.25 4.00 |
Expected dividend yield |
|
|
NA |
|
|
|
NA |
|
|
NA |
Risk-free rate |
|
|
2.53 |
% |
|
|
2.53 |
% |
|
0.1% 2.53% |
OpenMail Classes B, B-1, B-2, B-3, and B-4 UnitsThe Companys issued and outstanding Classes B, B-1,
B-2, B-3, and B-4 Units as of December 31, 2021, were 2,754,182; 576,198; 125,000; 192,000; and 255,020 respectively, which
generally vest at a rate of 25% at the first anniversary of the date of issuance and quarterly thereafter for three years on continuous employment with OpenMail or System1. As of December 31, 2021, the number of shares vested (net of
cancellation) are 3,892,834 for all Classes of B Units. Share-based compensation expense amounting to $413, $1,012 and $1,764 were recognized during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, within Salaries, commissions,
and benefit expenses. The aggregate fair value of the units vested during the year was $387, $1,064 and $1,583 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. The unrecognized compensation expense associated with the
unvested Classes B, B-1, and B-4 Units at December 31, 2021, was $31, all of which is expected to be recognized by April 30, 2022.
F-50
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
VCUsDuring 2016, OpenMail adopted the 2016 VCU Plan (the VCU Plan), and
during 2017, System1 adopted the 2017 VCU Plan, which provides certain employees, managers, and consultants of System1 with an opportunity to participate in appreciation of the Companys value upon the occurrence of a qualifying liquidity event
(QLE) (i.e., IPO or a change in control). As of December 31, 2021, there were no units available for issuance under the VCU Plans. Each VCU shall become fully vested upon the satisfaction of both a service condition, which includes service in
System1 for the OpenMail VCUs, and a performance condition. The contractual term for these VCUs is six (6) years from the grant date. The VCUs shall vest at a rate of 25% in the first year and 6.25% quarterly thereafter and is subject to
continuous employment. In addition, vesting is contingent upon the occurrence of a QLE. If VCUs held do not become fully vested on or prior to the sixth anniversary of the applicable grant date, such VCUs shall expire and be forfeited. Further, each
fully vested VCU holder shall be entitled to receive (either in cash or equity securities) based on the discretion of board of managers for OpenMail Units and the board of directors for the System1 Units: (a) the
per-unit consideration payable to the units in connection with the QLE, minus (b) the applicable per-unit threshold amount, which is determined by the board of
managers of OpenMail or board of directors of System1 for each individual grant.
During the years ended December, 2021, 2020 and 2019, 802,550; 718,249
and 776,896 VCUs (net of cancellation), respectively, were issued to employees and nonemployees. The weighted average grant date fair value of System1 VCUs granted during the year were $2.95, $2.17 and $2.09 for the years ended
December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 a QLE was not deemed probable; accordingly, no share based compensation costs have been recognized for the VCUs.
The units are issued for a nominal fee to the System1 employees and consultants. No share-based compensation was capitalized as software development expense
on the basis the costs were not material.
A summary of Classes B Units and VCU activity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, are as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Units |
|
|
|
Class B Units |
|
|
Class B-1 Units |
|
|
Class B-2 Units |
|
|
Class B-3 Units |
|
|
Class B-4 Units |
|
OutstandingJanuary 1, 2019 |
|
|
2,780,299 |
|
|
|
576,198 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
192,000 |
|
|
|
271,277 |
|
Canceled |
|
|
(22,367 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,285 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OutstandingDecember 31, 2019 |
|
|
2,757,932 |
|
|
|
576,198 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
192,000 |
|
|
|
261,992 |
|
Canceled |
|
|
(3,750 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OutstandingDecember 31, 2020 |
|
|
2,754,182 |
|
|
|
576,198 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
192,000 |
|
|
|
261,992 |
|
Canceled |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6,972 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OutstandingDecember 31, 2021 |
|
|
2,754,182 |
|
|
|
576,198 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
192,000 |
|
|
|
255,020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-Average Exercise Price |
|
|
|
Class B Units |
|
|
Class B-1 Units |
|
|
Class B-2 Units |
|
|
Class B-3 Units |
|
|
Class B-4 Units |
|
OutstandingJanuary 1, 2019 |
|
$ |
0.51 |
|
|
$ |
2.57 |
|
|
$ |
1.42 |
|
|
$ |
1.42 |
|
|
$ |
7.09 |
|
Canceled |
|
|
1.30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.42 |
|
|
|
7.09 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OutstandingDecember 31, 2019 |
|
|
0.50 |
|
|
|
2.57 |
|
|
|
1.42 |
|
|
|
1.42 |
|
|
|
7.09 |
|
Canceled |
|
|
1.15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OutstandingDecember 31, 2020 |
|
|
0.50 |
|
|
|
2.57 |
|
|
|
1.42 |
|
|
|
1.42 |
|
|
|
7.09 |
|
Canceled |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.09 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.09 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OutstandingDecember 31, 2021 |
|
$ |
0.50 |
|
|
$ |
2.57 |
|
|
$ |
1.42 |
|
|
$ |
1.42 |
|
|
$ |
7.09 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-51
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S1 Holdco VCUs |
|
|
Weighted- Average Exercise Price |
|
|
OpenMail VCUs |
|
|
Weighted- Average Exercise Price |
|
OutstandingJanuary 1, 2019 |
|
|
1,157,741 |
|
|
$ |
10.00 |
|
|
|
469,683 |
|
|
$ |
1.15 |
|
Granted |
|
|
921,500 |
|
|
|
10.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canceled |
|
|
(119,226 |
) |
|
|
10.00 |
|
|
|
(25,378 |
) |
|
|
1.15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OutstandingDecember 31, 2019 |
|
|
1,960,015 |
|
|
|
10.00 |
|
|
|
444,305 |
|
|
|
1.15 |
|
Granted |
|
|
926,000 |
|
|
|
10.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canceled |
|
|
(202,907 |
) |
|
|
10.00 |
|
|
|
(4,844 |
) |
|
|
1.15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OutstandingDecember 31, 2020 |
|
|
2,683,108 |
|
|
|
10.00 |
|
|
|
439,461 |
|
|
|
1.15 |
|
Granted |
|
|
1,178,350 |
|
|
|
10.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canceled |
|
|
(372,870 |
) |
|
|
10.00 |
|
|
|
(2,930 |
) |
|
|
1.15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OutstandingDecember 31, 2021 |
|
|
3,488,588 |
|
|
|
10.00 |
|
|
|
436,531 |
|
|
|
1.15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A summary of the Companys unvested Units as of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Class B Units |
|
|
Number of Class B-1 Units |
|
|
Number of Class B-4 Units |
|
|
Number of of S1 VCUs |
|
|
Number OpenMail VCUs |
|
NonvestedJanuary 1, 2019 |
|
|
359,673 |
|
|
|
194,413 |
|
|
|
193,362 |
|
|
|
1,157,741 |
|
|
|
469,683 |
|
Granted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
921,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
Vested |
|
|
(201,698 |
) |
|
|
(66,627 |
) |
|
|
(62,069 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canceled |
|
|
(22,367 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,285 |
) |
|
|
(119,226 |
) |
|
|
(25,378 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NonvestedDecember 31, 2019 |
|
|
135,608 |
|
|
|
127,786 |
|
|
|
122,008 |
|
|
|
1,960,015 |
|
|
|
444,305 |
|
Granted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
926,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Vested |
|
|
(114,329 |
) |
|
|
(59,906 |
) |
|
|
(65,678 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canceled |
|
|
(3,750 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(202,907 |
) |
|
|
(4,844 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NonvestedDecember 31, 2020 |
|
|
17,529 |
|
|
|
67,880 |
|
|
|
56,330 |
|
|
|
2,683,108 |
|
|
|
439,461 |
|
Granted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,178,350 |
|
|
|
|
|
Vested |
|
|
(17,145 |
) |
|
|
(51,174 |
) |
|
|
(49,050 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canceled |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7,812 |
) |
|
|
(6,972 |
) |
|
|
(372,870 |
) |
|
|
(2,930 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NonvestedDecember 31, 2021 |
|
|
384 |
|
|
|
8,894 |
|
|
|
308 |
|
|
|
3,488,588 |
|
|
|
436,531 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There were no unvested Classes B-2 and B-3
Units at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
F-52
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
10. INCOME TAXES
Income from continuing operations before income taxes are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Domestic |
|
$ |
30,521 |
|
|
$ |
15,336 |
|
|
$ |
17,448 |
|
Foreign |
|
|
3,440 |
|
|
|
2,935 |
|
|
|
7,503 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes |
|
$ |
33,961 |
|
|
$ |
18,271 |
|
|
$ |
24,951 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The components of the income tax provision (benefit) from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2021,
2020, and 2019 are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Current: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
State |
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign |
|
|
1,882 |
|
|
|
1,875 |
|
|
|
2,845 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
1,937 |
|
|
$ |
1,875 |
|
|
$ |
2,845 |
|
Deferred: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign |
|
|
(972 |
) |
|
|
32 |
|
|
|
(2,143 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
(972 |
) |
|
$ |
32 |
|
|
$ |
(2,143 |
) |
Income tax expense |
|
$ |
965 |
|
|
$ |
1,907 |
|
|
$ |
702 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The income tax expense varied from the expense calculated using the federal statutory income tax rate for the years ended
December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, primarily due to income (loss) from non-taxable pass-through entities, deferred tax impact of foreign rate change, and foreign rate differential.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
(In thousands, except percentages) |
|
2021 |
|
|
% |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
% |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
% |
|
Federal tax expense at U.S. statutory rate |
|
$ |
7,131 |
|
|
|
21.0 |
% |
|
$ |
3,836 |
|
|
|
21.0 |
% |
|
$ |
5,239 |
|
|
|
21.0 |
% |
Federal tax expense effect of flow-through entity |
|
|
(6,409 |
) |
|
|
-18.9 |
% |
|
|
(3,289 |
) |
|
|
-18.0 |
% |
|
|
(4,045 |
) |
|
|
-16.2 |
% |
Deferred tax impact of foreign rate change |
|
|
254 |
|
|
|
0.7 |
% |
|
|
1,158 |
|
|
|
6.3 |
% |
|
|
(1,100 |
) |
|
|
-4.4 |
% |
Foreign rate differential |
|
|
88 |
|
|
|
0.3 |
% |
|
|
137 |
|
|
|
0.8 |
% |
|
|
291 |
|
|
|
1.2 |
% |
Transaction cost |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
267 |
|
|
|
1.0 |
% |
Other |
|
|
(99 |
) |
|
|
-0.3 |
% |
|
|
65 |
|
|
|
0.3 |
% |
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
0.2 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total income tax expense |
|
$ |
965 |
|
|
|
2.8 |
% |
|
$ |
1,907 |
|
|
|
10.4 |
% |
|
$ |
702 |
|
|
|
2.8 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-53
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
Deferred Income Taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
(In thousands) |
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Deferred tax assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense carry forwards |
|
$ |
165 |
|
|
$ |
165 |
|
Other |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Total deferred tax assets |
|
|
170 |
|
|
|
170 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Valuation allowance |
|
|
(170 |
) |
|
|
(170 |
) |
Total net deferred tax assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangibles |
|
|
7,789 |
|
|
|
9,408 |
|
Total deferred tax liabilities |
|
|
7,789 |
|
|
|
9,408 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) |
|
$ |
(7,789 |
) |
|
$ |
(9,408 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets for the years ended December 31, 2021, and 2020, the management
considers whether it is more likely than not some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized, as prescribed by ASC 740. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is primarily dependent upon the generation of future taxable
income. The management considers all available evidence in making this assessment and has determined that a full valuation allowance should be recorded on net deferred tax assets.
The Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against its otherwise recognizable deferred income tax assets as of December 31, 2021, and 2020.
Management has determined, after evaluating all positive and negative historical and prospective evidence, that it is more likely than not that these assets will not be realized. The valuation allowance is consistent, and there were no material
changes for the years ended December 31, 2021, and 2020.
The Company determined that there are no unrecognized tax benefits for the reporting
periods.
The Company regularly determined certain foreign earnings to be indefinitely reinvested outside the United States. The Company will continue to
evaluate its reinvestment policy on a quarterly basis and will adjust its estimate of its income tax provision accordingly to the extent there is a change and an adjustment is required. As of December 31, 2021, the amount of undistributed
earnings was approximately $24,225. The Company did not provide for U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings and other outside temporary differences of foreign subsidiaries as they are considered indefinitely reinvested outside the United
States. As of December 31, 2021, the amount of temporary differences related to undistributed earnings and other outside temporary differences upon which U.S. income taxes have not been provided is immaterial to the consolidated financial
statements.
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal, states, and various foreign countries. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, as of
December 31, 2021, tax year 2018 and later remain open for examination by the tax authorities. For foreign income tax purposes, as of December 31, 2021 tax year 2016 and later remain open for examination by the tax authorities under the
Netherlands five year statute of limitations.
F-54
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Leases
The Company leases office facilities under
noncancelable operating lease agreements. During 2021, the Company had leases for facilities in Marina del Rey and Venice, California; Bellevue, Washington; and Guelph, Canada.
In March 2021, the Company entered into an agreement for a lease of office space in Marina del Rey, California. The initial minimum lease payment is $147 per
month. The initial term of the lease is in effect until November of 2025 with no renewal periods.
Rent expense was $2,221, $2,262 and $1,825 for the
years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 which was included in Selling, general, and administrative expenses. Two of the three Venice leases expired in the second quarter of 2021 and were not renewed when they expired. The remaining Venice
lease was not renewed when it expired in October 2021. The Bellevue lease is in effect until May 2025. The Guelph, Canada office space is a month-to-month lease. As of
December 31, 2021, the expected future operating lease obligation are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Year ending December 31, |
|
|
Amount |
|
2022 |
|
$ |
1,957 |
|
2023 |
|
$ |
1,950 |
|
2024 |
|
$ |
1,950 |
|
2025 |
|
$ |
1,663 |
|
Litigation
The Company
is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to these actions will not materially affect the consolidated financial position,
results of operations, or cash flows. There can be no assurance, however, that the ultimate resolution of such actions will not materially or adversely affect the Companys consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
The Company accrues for losses when the loss is deemed probable and the liability can reasonably be estimated.
System1, LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of
S1 Holdco LLC) was named in a lawsuit alleging breach of partnership agreement, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract (among other claims), along with other affiliated defendants, by an individual who alleges that he was a co-founder and equity owner of OpenMail LLC (a significant shareholder of S1 Holdco) related to facts, circumstances and events that principally occurred prior to the formation of S1 Holdco. This matter was fully
settled by the parties at no monetary and non-monetary expense or exposure to System1 or S1 Holdco, and included a complete release of claims against all named defendants, including System1 and S1 Holdco. The
case was voluntarily dismissed with prejudice in March 2021.
In July 2021, the Company received initial correspondence from counsel for a United
Kingdom-based marketing research company and its United States subsidiary (collectively, the Demanding Group) alleging trademark infringement based on its use of the SYSTEM1 trade name and mark in the United States, and
alleged use of the SYSTEM1 trade name and mark in the United Kingdom. The correspondence demanded that we cease and desist from using the SYSTEM1 name and mark, and made reference to potential legal action if we did not
comply with that demand. While the Company was engaged in active discussions and correspondence with the Demanding Group to attempt to resolve the matter, the Demanding Group filed a lawsuit in the United States
F-55
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
District Court for the Southern District of New York in September 2021 (the Infringement Suit), alleging (i) trademark infringement, (ii) false designation of origin,
(iii) unfair competition and (iv) certain violations of New York business laws, seeking, among other things, an injunction, disgorgement of profits, actual damages and attorneys fees and costs. The Company believes that the Demanding
Groups infringement and other allegations and claims set forth in the Infringement Suit may be subject to a laches defense, among other defenses, and the Company intends to vigorously defend its rights in the Infringement Suit. The matter is
currently pending, and the Company has filed a motion to dismiss the Infringement Suit in November 2021, and the parties are waiting for the court to hear the pending motion. Even though the Company received similar correspondence from the Demanding
Group regarding its alleged use of the SYSTEMl trade name and mark in the United Kingdom, no lawsuit has been filed in the United Kingdom. The Company does not believe that its activities infringe any rights of the Demanding Group in the United
Kingdom because, among other defenses, the Company does not actively offer services to customers using the SYSTEMl name and mark in the United Kingdom, and the Companys counsel has informed the Demanding Groups UK counsel of these
circumstances, and the Demanding Groups UK counsel confirmed receipt of this correspondence.
Service Agreements
On June 18, 2021 the Company entered into an agreement with a service provider whereby the Company is contractually obligated to pay $6,900 and $8,000 in
the first and second years of the contract, respectively. The contract commencement date was July 1, 2021. The Company paid $4,226 to this service provider as of December 31, 2021.
Executive Compensation
Ian Weingarten was hired as CEO
on April 10, 2019. He is entitled to a cash-settled profit interest of 5% of S1 Holdco, LLC, which is contingent upon a participation threshold of $300 million (which was subject to adjustment as set forth in the S1 Holdco operating
agreement) contingent on a four-year vesting term, or if a qualifying change in control transaction occurs. The Company recorded a liability for this arrangement of $11,132 and $4,237 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
In February 2021, The Companys former Chief Executive Officer, Ian Weingarten, terminated employment with the Company and entered into a separation
agreement with the Company. In connection with the separation agreement, the Company agreed to payment of separation pay benefits consistent with the terms of Mr. Weingartens employment agreement, including the payment of the liability
accrued for the cash-settled profit interest of 5% of S1 Holdco, LLC, which was deemed vested as to a 3.75% Profits Interest and forfeited as to the remaining 1.25% Profits Interest above the applicable adjusted threshold amount (subject to further
reduction to a 2.5% Profits Interest in the event that the Business Combination is not consummated). As discussed in Note 18, the Company has settled the liability and agreement with the Companys former Chief Executive Officer subsequent to
December 31, 2021.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company may provide indemnifications of varying scope and terms to customers, vendors,
lessors, investors, directors, officers, employees, and other parties with respect to certain matters, including, but not limited to, losses arising out of the Companys breach of such agreements, services to be provided by the Company, or from
intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties. These indemnifications may survive termination of the underlying agreement and the maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these
indemnification provisions may not be subject to claims related to these indemnifications. As a result, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these agreements is immaterial. Accordingly, the Company has no liabilities recorded for these
agreements as of December 31, 2021.
F-56
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
12. DEBT
The Company has secured financing from Cerberus Business Finance, LLC. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had principal of $172,038 outstanding under a
term loan. Payments of $1,750 are due quarterly and, upon delivery of the prior years audited consolidated financial statements, the Company must make a payment of 50% of excess free cash flow, as defined. In the second quarter of 2021, the
Company made a payment of $4,636. The Company also has a revolving line of credit, which was increased to $20,000 during 2019. No amounts are outstanding as of December 31, 2021 under the revolving line of credit.
Interest payments of the financing are due monthly at London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR), plus 7% with a LIBOR floor of 1%. Maturity for the
financing is August 22, 2022. The facility has certain financial and nonfinancial covenants, including a leverage ratio. The Company was in compliance with the financial covenants as of December 31, 2021.
As of December 31, 2021, future minimum principal payments on short-term debt are as follows: 2022$172,038. Loan fees amounting to $1,443 have been
offset against the loan balance. Interest expense were $16,884, $24,669 and $26,033 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The Company has settled these debt instruments subsequent to December 31, 2021 as part of its Business Combination with Trebia and Protected.
13. NET INCOME PER UNIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO MEMBERS
Basic
net income per unit attributable to members is calculated by dividing the net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of membership units. The Company does not have any dilutive securities outstanding for the years
ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. Therefore, diluted net income per share is the same as basic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Years Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Numerator: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income from continuing operations |
|
$ |
32,996 |
|
|
$ |
16,364 |
|
|
$ |
24,249 |
|
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
47,397 |
|
|
$ |
(15,454 |
) |
Denominator: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average membership units outstanding: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average membership units outstandingbasic and diluted (units in thousands) |
|
|
20,488 |
|
|
|
20,488 |
|
|
|
20,488 |
|
Income (loss) earnings per membership units |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations per membership units basic and diluted |
|
$ |
1.61 |
|
|
$ |
0.80 |
|
|
$ |
1.18 |
|
Income (loss) from discontinued operations membership units basic and diluted |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
2.31 |
|
|
$ |
(0.75 |
) |
Income per membership units basic and diluted |
|
$ |
1.61 |
|
|
$ |
3.11 |
|
|
$ |
0.43 |
|
F-57
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
14. SEGMENT REPORTING
ASC Subtopic 280-10, Segment Reporting, establishes standards for reporting information about
operating segments. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or CODM, in deciding how to allocate
resources and assess performance. System1s Chief Executive Officer, who is considered to be its CODM, reviews financial information presented on an operating segment basis for purposes of making operating decisions and assessing financial
performance.
The CODM measures and evaluates reportable segments based on segment operating revenues as well as Adjusted Gross Margin and other measures.
The Company defines and calculates Adjusted Gross Margin as revenue less advertising expense to acquire users. The remaining cost of revenues consist of non-advertising expenses such as set-up costs, royalties and fees. The Company excludes the following items from segment Adjusted Gross Margin: depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements, amortization of
intangible assets and, at times, certain other transactions or adjustments, that the CODM does not consider for the purposes of making decisions to allocate resources among segments or to assess segment performance. Although these amounts are
excluded from segment Adjusted Gross Margin, they are included in reported consolidated net income from continuing operations before income tax and are included in the reconciliation that follows.
The Companys computation of segment Adjusted Gross Margin may not be comparable to other similarly-titled measures computed by other companies because
all companies do not calculate segment Adjusted Gross Margin in the same fashion.
Operating segments do not sell products and services across segments,
and, accordingly, there are no intersegment revenues to be reported. The accounting policies for segment reporting are the same as for System1 as a whole.
The CODM of the Company reviews operating results, assesses performance and makes decisions by operating segment. Management views each of the Companys
business lines as an operating segment. The Company has three business lines and operating segments: Publishing and Lead Generation, Search and Applications, and Partner Network.
The Publishing and Lead Generation and Search & Applications operating segments are aggregated into one reportable segment, referred to as Owned and
Operated, based on their similar economic characteristics, technology platform utilized, types of services provided, Advertising Partners, and cost structures. The Company has two reportable segments: Owned and Operated and Partner Network. The
following summarizes total assets by reportable segment as of December 31:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Owned and Operated |
|
$ |
214,968 |
|
|
$ |
184,236 |
|
Partner Network |
|
|
41,943 |
|
|
|
34,448 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$256,911 |
|
|
$218,684 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-58
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
The following summarizes revenue by reportable segment for the years ended December 31:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Owned and Operated |
|
$ |
652,884 |
|
|
$ |
437,501 |
|
|
$ |
369,570 |
|
Partner Network |
|
|
35,505 |
|
|
|
38,476 |
|
|
|
37,923 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
$ |
688,389 |
|
|
$ |
475,977 |
|
|
$ |
407,493 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following summarizes Adjusted Gross Margin by reportable segment for the years ended December 31:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Owned and Operated |
|
$ |
143,284 |
|
|
$ |
110,012 |
|
|
$ |
108,635 |
|
Partner Network |
|
|
35,505 |
|
|
|
38,476 |
|
|
|
37,923 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted gross margin |
|
$ |
178,789 |
|
|
$ |
148,488 |
|
|
$ |
146,558 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other cost of revenues |
|
|
11,513 |
|
|
|
13,507 |
|
|
|
14,835 |
|
Salaries, commissions and benefits |
|
|
66,747 |
|
|
|
55,548 |
|
|
|
48,389 |
|
Selling, general and administrative |
|
|
35,813 |
|
|
|
22,979 |
|
|
|
19,960 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
13,885 |
|
|
|
13,832 |
|
|
|
11,244 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
16,870 |
|
|
|
24,351 |
|
|
|
26,033 |
|
Other expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,146 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income from continuing operations before income tax |
|
$ |
33,961 |
|
|
$ |
18,271 |
|
|
$ |
24,951 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15. RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
PlayaNext LLC (Playa), in which the Companys former CEO is a principal shareholder, entered into a service agreement with the Company in
which Playa shall reimburse the Company for a mutually agreed upon allocation of costs incurred by the Company in connection with employing the personnel necessary to provide Playas personnel services. In addition, Playa will pay the Company a
quarterly fee for general and administrative support based on estimated calculations set forth in the service agreement. Based on the separation agreement between the Company and the former CEO, Playa paid fifty percent of the amount due in October
2021 with the remaining fifty percent to be paid in April 2022. The balances on these receivables were $223 and $410 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. In 2021, the service agreement between Playa and the Company ended.
Additionally in January 2022 as part of the Business Combination with Trebia and Protected, the receivables with the Companys former CEO were repaid in full.
During 2018, the Companys president did not take a salary for the year. On October 16, 2018, S1 Holdco and its subsidiaries purchased a 50.1%
interest in a UK-based company, Protected LTD., for $55,000. At the time of the transaction, an investment vehicle known as Lone Investment Holdings LLC (LIH) was a shareholder and creditor of Protected. LIH
owned 7.7% of the equity of Protected, and also was a creditor for $10,500, of shareholder loans for which Protected was the obligor. LIHs shareholders primarily consist of members of the Companys management team. As a result of the
transaction, LIHs shareholder loan to Protected was repaid, with interest, and LIH also received $1,158 in proceeds from the sale of its equity. LIH also retains a 3.85% equity ownership stake in Protected through System1 Surfboard Holdings,
Inc.
During 2017, in connection with proceeds from the Transaction, the Company extended loans to two senior executives, one of whom terminated their
employment with the Company in 2021. The balance of the loans were
F-59
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
$969 and $969 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Additionally, during 2021, the Company extended a loan of $1,500 to its former CEO in connection with the separation agreement.
In January 2022 as part of the Business Combination with Trebia and Protected, all related-party receivables were repaid in full.
Protected.net utilizes
multiple payment processors in order to process credit card payments from its subscription customers, including Paysafe. Paysafe recently completed a merger with Foley Trasimene Acquisition Corp. II, a special purpose acquisition company sponsored
by entities affiliated with William Foley, who is also a sponsor of Trebia Acquisition Corp. Protected.nets payment processing agreement with Paysafe was negotiated before the announcements of both the Companys business combination among
System1, Protected.net and Trebia as well as the business combination between Paysafe and Foley Trasimene.
16. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
In the third quarter of 2020, the Companys Board of Directors approved a plan to dispose of the Companys 50.4% interest in Protected. The
transaction closed on November 13, 2020 and the Companys interest in Protected was sold for $81,419. The final proceeds from the sale were $38,193, net of the settlement of Protected debt. OpenMails share of the proceeds of $17,164
was not distributed but reinvested in Protected. Court Squares share of the proceeds was $21,028, of which $11,601 were distributed to Court Square directly by the buyers, and $9,427 distributed to the Company (and subsequently distributed to
Court Square). As a result of the disposition, the Company recorded a gain on disposal of $55,070, which is comprised of the cash received by the Company and the net reduction in carrying value of the assets and liabilities of Protected.
The Company disposed of Protected as it represents a business (subscription anti-virus), which the Company was no longer pursuing at that time. Furthermore,
Protected operates on its own technology platform separate from the Companys core technology platform, and has a customer base that the Company no longer planned to serve. As such, the disposal of Protected represents a strategic shift.
Accordingly, the results of Protected have been accounted for as discontinued operations for all periods prior to 2021. Refer to Note 17 regarding the transaction with Trebia and recombination with Protected.
The financial results of Protected are presented as loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The
following table presents the financial results of Protected:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the year ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Revenue |
|
$ |
72,937 |
|
|
$ |
45,222 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below) |
|
|
79,958 |
|
|
|
67,272 |
|
Salaries, commissions, and benefits |
|
|
1,835 |
|
|
|
1,678 |
|
Selling, general, and administrative |
|
|
4,047 |
|
|
|
4,289 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
2,412 |
|
|
|
2,891 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating costs and expenses |
|
|
88,252 |
|
|
|
76,130 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating loss |
|
|
(15,315 |
) |
|
|
(30,908 |
) |
Gain on disposal of Protected |
|
|
55,070 |
|
|
|
|
|
Noncontrolling interest |
|
|
7,642 |
|
|
|
15,454 |
|
Income tax |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes |
|
$ |
47,397 |
|
|
$ |
(15,454 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-60
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
The following table presents depreciation, amortization, capital expenditures, and significant non-cash items of the discontinued operations related to Protected:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the year ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Depreciation |
|
$ |
59 |
|
|
$ |
29 |
|
Amortization |
|
|
2,353 |
|
|
|
2,862 |
|
Capital expenditures |
|
|
29 |
|
|
|
171 |
|
Noncontrolling interest |
|
|
7,642 |
|
|
|
15,454 |
|
17. MERGER
On
June 28, 2021, the Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement (as amended on November 30, 2021, January 10, 2022 and January 25, 2022), (the Business Combination Agreement) by and among Trebia Acquisition
Corporation (Trebia) and Protected (together with System1 and Trebia, collectively, the Companies). On January 27, 2022 (the Closing Date), the Company consummated the merger (the Merger) pursuant
to the Business Combination Agreement. Following the consummation of the Merger, the combined company (Post Closing Company) is organized in an Up-C structure, in which substantially
all of the assets and business operations of System1 are held by S1 Holdco. The combined Companies business continues to operate through the subsidiaries of S1 Holdco and Protected. Additionally, Trebias ordinary shares, warrants and
units ceased trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and System1 Inc. Class YSE on January 28, 2022 under the symbols SST and SST.WS, respectively.
The consideration paid to the existing Securityholders of System1 and Protected in connection with the Merger was a combination of cash and equity.
The aggregate cash consideration payable under the Business Combination Agreement (Closing Cash Consideration) was $445,432 of which $195,070 cash
proceeds was received or is to be received by System1 Equityholders and Protected Equityholders, and $250,362 cash proceeds was received by Court Square.
The aggregate equity consideration paid under the Business Combination Agreement and/or retained S1 Holdco Class B Units (Closing Equity
Consideration) was approximately $667,500, consisting of (a) the aggregate equity consideration payable under the Business Combination Agreement, consisting of shares of Class A Common Stock (valued at $10.00 per share), RSUs and
Class C Common Stock, and (b) the aggregate S1 Holdco Class B Units retained by System1 Equityholders at the Closing (valued at $10.00 per share).
In connection with the Merger, Trebia and Cannae Holdings, Inc. entered into the Backstop Agreement (the Backstop Agreement) whereby Cannae
agreed, subject to the other terms and conditions, to subscribe for Trebia Class A Common Stock in order to fund redemptions by shareholders of Trebia. As a result of shareholder redemptions, Trebia shareholders provided $7,031 of funding and
Cannae provided $246,484 per the Backstop Agreement.
In connection with the Business Combination Agreement, System1 Midco, LLC entered into a new loan
(Term Loan) and revolving facility (Revolving Facility). See Note 18 for further details.
Concurrently with the consummation of
the Merger, System1 entered into a tax receivable agreement with Trebia (the Tax Receivable Agreement), pursuant to which, among other things, the parties to the Tax Receivable
F-61
S1 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts and number of units)
Agreement have agreed to the allocation and payment of 85% of the actual savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax that Trebia may realize as a result of certain tax benefits
related to the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and future exchanges of units in the Company for Trebia Class A Common Stock.
18. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Concurrently with the Merger with
Trebia and Protected.net, System1 Midco, LLC entered into a new loan agreement with Bank of America, N.A. on January 27, 2022 for a 5.5 year term loan with a principal of $400,000 and with the net proceeds of $376,000, of which a portion of the
proceeds was used to settle the Companys outstanding debt of $172,038. For every 6-month interest period, the interest rate is the adjusted Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus
4.75% with an adjusted Term SOFR floor of 0.50%. The Term Loan will amortize in quarterly installments on each Scheduled Payment Date (commencing with the Scheduled Payment Date occurring on June 30, 2022). The new loan comes with a
springing covenant, which goes into effect if the utilization on the Revolving Facility exceeds 35% at each quarter-end starting from the first full quarter after the effective date of the Merger, such that the first lien leverage ratio (as defined
in the credit agreement) should not exceed 5.40. For the period covering June 30, 2022 through and including December 31, 2025, $5,000 of the amortization payment will be made quarterly. For March 31, 2026 (scheduled payment date) and
thereafter, $7,500 of the amortization payment will be made quarterly. In addition, the Company also obtained a Revolving Facility of $50,000 on January 27, 2022. The Revolving Facility will mature five years after the Closing. The interest
rate on the Revolving Facility is the adjusted Term SOFR plus 2.75% with an adjusted Term SOFR floor of 0%. In March 2022, the Company borrowed $49,000 on its Revolving Facility.
In January 2022, as part of the Merger with Trebia and Protected, the liability and agreement with the Companys former CEO was settled.
On May 28, 2021, the Company executed a letter of intent to acquire assets of RoadWarrior LLC, a subscription-based business. On February 10, 2022,
the Company closed the transaction for a total consideration of up to $22,150, consisting of $19,650 in cash up front, and up to $2,500 in a combination of cash and stock in 2023 subject to the achievement of certain financial objectives in 2022.
The required information for purchase price allocation in accordance with the FASB ASC Topic 805 is not presented because the initial accounting for the business combination is incomplete as of the date of this filing, due to the short period
since acquisition.
Prior to the end of 2021, the Company entered into a non-binding Letter of Intent to acquire NextGen Shopping, Inc.s
CouponFollow, a coupon destination for online shoppers, for up to $115,000, with the total consideration consisting of a combination of cash and stock, inclusive of earnout payments earned and payable over three years upon the achievement of certain
financial objectives. On March 4, 2022, the Company closed the transaction for a total consideration of up to $115,000, consisting of 2,000 shares to be granted, $60,000 in cash due between the close and January 2023, and a maximum of cash and
stock up to $35,000 payable over three years upon the achievement of certain financial objectives. The required ASB ASC Topic 805 is not presented because the initial accounting for the business combination is incomplete as of the date of this
filing, due to the short period since acquisition.
F-62
Independent Auditors Report
Board of Directors
Protected.Net Group Limited
Fareham, United Kingdom
Opinion
We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Protected.Net Group Limited and its subsidiaries (the Company), which comprise the
consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), changes in shareholders deficit, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related
notes to the consolidated financial statements.
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America.
Basis for Opinion
We conducted our
audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAS). Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements
section of our report. We are required to be independent of the Company and to meet our other ethical responsibilities, in accordance with the relevant ethical requirements relating to our audits. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained
is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
Responsibilities of Management for the Financial Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America, and for the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement,
whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to evaluate whether there are conditions or
events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Companys ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the consolidated financial statements are issued or available to be issued.
Auditors Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether
due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditors report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not absolute assurance and therefore is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with GAAS
will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions,
misrepresentations, or the override of internal control. Misstatements are considered material if there is a substantial likelihood that, individually or in the aggregate, they would influence the judgment made by a reasonable user based on the
consolidated financial statements.
F-63
In performing an audit in accordance with GAAS, we:
|
|
|
Exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. |
|
|
|
Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to
fraud or error, and design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks. Such procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. |
|
|
|
Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are
appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control. Accordingly, no such opinion is expressed. |
|
|
|
Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting
estimates made by management, as well as evaluate the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. |
|
|
|
Conclude whether, in our judgment, there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise
substantial doubt about the Companys ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time. |
We are required to
communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit, significant audit findings, and certain internal control-related matters that we identified during the audit.
/s/ BDO LLP
BDO LLP
Southampton, United Kingdom
March 31, 2022
F-64
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
35,067,389 |
|
|
$ |
6,252,719 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
1,333,456 |
|
|
|
5,603,764 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets [Note 3] |
|
|
546,352 |
|
|
|
359,329 |
|
Deposits |
|
|
15,365 |
|
|
|
3,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets |
|
|
36,962,562 |
|
|
|
15,215,812 |
|
Due from related parties [Note 16] |
|
|
33,081,720 |
|
|
|
10,229,719 |
|
Property, plant, and equipment [Note 4] |
|
|
616,092 |
|
|
|
270,495 |
|
Intangible assets [Note 5] |
|
|
369,179 |
|
|
|
53,230 |
|
Deferred Tax Assets [Note 13] |
|
|
17,236,520 |
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill [Note 5] |
|
|
283,809 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
88,549,882 |
|
|
$ |
25,769,256 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Shareholders Deficit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
216,035 |
|
|
$ |
3,004,879 |
|
Accrued expenses and other liabilities [Note 6] |
|
|
10,162,350 |
|
|
|
6,704,093 |
|
VAT tax liability [Note 17] |
|
|
11,403,760 |
|
|
|
6,366,454 |
|
Deferred revenue [Note 10] |
|
|
57,405,368 |
|
|
|
47,430,897 |
|
Related party deferred revenue [Note 16] |
|
|
165,594 |
|
|
|
167,712 |
|
Current portion of note payable [Note 7] |
|
|
2,812,500 |
|
|
|
1,500,000 |
|
Due to related party [Note 16] |
|
|
22,509 |
|
|
|
4,389 |
|
Refund liability [Note 10] |
|
|
536,753 |
|
|
|
511,779 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
82,724,869 |
|
|
|
65,690,203 |
|
Note payable, net of current portion and deferred financing costs [Note 7] |
|
|
10,546,448 |
|
|
|
8,351,806 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
93,271,317 |
|
|
|
74,042,009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and Contingencies [Note 8] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders Deficit [Note 9]: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A Preferred shares, par value £0.001 per share, 7,992,009 shares authorized,
issued, and outstanding on December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively |
|
|
10,515 |
|
|
|
10,515 |
|
Class B Common shares, par value £0.001 per share, 7,960,105 shares authorized, issued,
and outstanding on December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively |
|
|
10,558 |
|
|
|
10,558 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
40,953,320 |
|
|
|
40,953,320 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(45,695,828 |
) |
|
|
(89,247,146 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Shareholders Deficit |
|
|
(4,721,435 |
) |
|
|
(48,272,753 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Liabilities and Shareholders Deficit |
|
$ |
88,549,882 |
|
|
$ |
25,769,256 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral
part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-65
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Continuing operations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue [Note 10] |
|
$ |
144,541,221 |
|
|
$ |
90,908,297 |
|
Cost of revenue |
|
|
98,946,484 |
|
|
|
97,980,269 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit (loss) |
|
|
45,594,737 |
|
|
|
(7,071,972 |
) |
Operating Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General and administrative expenses [Note 14] |
|
|
15,912,393 |
|
|
|
6,711,066 |
|
Related party rent expense [Note 16] |
|
|
664,697 |
|
|
|
536,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
16,577,090 |
|
|
|
7,247,266 |
|
Other Operating (Expense) Income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain on sale of intangible assets [Note 11] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,580,000 |
|
Foreign currency transaction loss |
|
|
(1,340,513 |
) |
|
|
(134,514 |
) |
Other operating income |
|
|
343,268 |
|
|
|
48,054 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other operating (expense) income, net |
|
|
(997,245 |
) |
|
|
1,493,540 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss) |
|
|
28,020,402 |
|
|
|
(12,825,698 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Operating Income (Expense) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party interest expense [Note 16] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(405,767 |
) |
Interest expense [Note 7] |
|
|
(583,428 |
) |
|
|
(29,085 |
) |
Related party interest income [Note 16] |
|
|
941,416 |
|
|
|
2,285 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total non-operating income (expense) |
|
|
357,988 |
|
|
|
(432,567 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (Loss) before income taxes |
|
|
28,378,390 |
|
|
|
(13,258,265 |
) |
Income tax benefit [Note 13] |
|
|
15,172,928 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
|
$ |
43,551,318 |
|
|
$ |
(13,258,265 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-66
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS DEFICIT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred shares |
|
|
Common shares |
|
|
Additional Paid-in Capital |
|
|
Accumulated Deficit |
|
|
Shareholders Total Deficit |
|
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Amount |
|
Balance on January 1, 2020 |
|
|
7,992,009 |
|
|
$ |
10,515 |
|
|
|
7,960,105 |
|
|
$ |
10,558 |
|
|
$ |
40,953,320 |
|
|
$ |
(75,988,881 |
) |
|
$ |
(35,014,488 |
) |
Net loss and comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(13,258,265 |
) |
|
|
(13,258,265 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance on December 31, 2020 |
|
|
7,992,009 |
|
|
$ |
10,515 |
|
|
|
7,960,105 |
|
|
$ |
10,558 |
|
|
$ |
40,953,320 |
|
|
$ |
(89,247,146 |
) |
|
$ |
(48,272,753 |
) |
Net income and comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
43,551,318 |
|
|
|
43,551,318 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance on December 31, 2021 |
|
|
7,992,009 |
|
|
$ |
10,515 |
|
|
|
7,960,105 |
|
|
$ |
10,558 |
|
|
$ |
40,953,320 |
|
|
$ |
(45,695,828 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,721,435 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
financial statements.
F-67
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
43,551,318 |
|
|
$ |
(13,258,265 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation |
|
|
151,347 |
|
|
|
74,652 |
|
Amortization |
|
|
93,953 |
|
|
|
66,646 |
|
Amortization of deferred financing costs |
|
|
82,142 |
|
|
|
1,806 |
|
Financing fee income on loan with System1 SS Protect Holdings, Inc. |
|
|
(77,121 |
) |
|
|
(2,285 |
) |
Gain on sale of Network Protect intangible assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,580,000 |
) |
Change in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deposits |
|
|
2,984,635 |
|
|
|
(3,000,000 |
) |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
(275,168 |
) |
|
|
(176,637 |
) |
Accounts payable |
|
|
(3,117,740 |
) |
|
|
(55,698 |
) |
Accrued expenses |
|
|
3,543,626 |
|
|
|
2,072,446 |
|
VAT tax liability |
|
|
5,037,306 |
|
|
|
(1,801,173 |
) |
Refund liability |
|
|
24,974 |
|
|
|
95,239 |
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
9,974,471 |
|
|
|
17,727,066 |
|
Deferred tax assets |
|
|
(17,236,520 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Related party deferred revenue |
|
|
(2,118 |
) |
|
|
167,712 |
|
Due from related party |
|
|
(866,240 |
) |
|
|
(165,215 |
) |
Due to related party |
|
|
18,120 |
|
|
|
(250,348 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
|
|
43,886,985 |
|
|
|
(84,054 |
) |
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash received in acquisition of Host Plus Limited, net |
|
|
13,393 |
|
|
|
|
|
Loan advanced to Just Develop It Limited |
|
|
(29,634,886 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Repayment of loan by Just Develop It Limited |
|
|
29,634,886 |
|
|
|
|
|
Loan advanced to Company director |
|
|
(2,216,341 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Repayment of loan by Company director |
|
|
2,216,341 |
|
|
|
|
|
Loan advance to System1 SS Protect Holdings, Inc. |
|
|
(21,908,640 |
) |
|
|
(10,059,719 |
) |
Proceeds from sale of intangibles |
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
1,500,000 |
|
Purchases of intangibles, property, plant, and equipment |
|
|
(523,846 |
) |
|
|
(212,966 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
(22,319,093 |
) |
|
|
(8,772,685 |
) |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from loan |
|
|
5,000,000 |
|
|
|
10,000,000 |
|
Repayment of principal on bank loan |
|
|
(1,500,000 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Payment of financing costs |
|
|
(75,000 |
) |
|
|
(150,000 |
) |
Proceeds from related party loans |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,999,947 |
|
Repayment of related party loan |
|
|
(448,530 |
) |
|
|
(10,999,947 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
2,976,470 |
|
|
|
9,850,000 |
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net change in cash |
|
|
24,544,362 |
|
|
|
993,261 |
|
Cash and restricted cash, beginning of year |
|
|
11,856,483 |
|
|
|
10,863,222 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and restricted cash, end of year |
|
$ |
36,400,845 |
|
|
$ |
11,856,483 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental disclosure of cash and non-cash investing
and financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest |
|
$ |
(501,610 |
) |
|
$ |
(474,663 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Receivable from the sale of Network Protect Limited intangible assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-68
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. |
BUSINESS AND LIQUIDITY |
Business
Protected.net Group Limited
(Protected.net or the Company) was formed on May 1, 2016 as a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The Company established a wholly owned subsidiary, Network Protect Limited., in England
and Wales, for the purpose of selling VPN software packages to end user customers. This Company was divested during 2020.
Protected.Net provides
Antivirus Software solutions to its customers, offering its customers a single packaged solution that provides protection and reporting to the end user.
The Company operates through one entity in one industry, delivering Antivirus software directly to end-user customers
across the world. With global reach, the Company transacts across five different currencies, GBP, EUR, CAD, AUD, and USD.
The Company services all
customers and operations from a single location from within the UK, with support functions being operated at several overseas locations, dependent on the level of support required and the physical location of the customer.
The product offering comprises a core security package with varying levels of extra protection of a more specific nature should the customer require these.
Liquidity and Going Concern
The accompanying
consolidated financial statements have been presented on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has financed its activities principally
from the issuance of ordinary and preferred equity securities.
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as a global pandemic (the Pandemic). The Pandemic has created and may continue to create significant uncertainty in macroeconomic conditions, and the extent of its impact on our operational and
financial performance will depend upon certain developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak and the impact on our customers and our sales cycles. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, our estimates and assumptions
required increased judgment and carried a higher degree of variability and volatility. As events continue to evolve and additional information becomes available, our estimates may change materially in future periods. As of the date of issuance of
these consolidated financial statements, we are not aware of any specific event or circumstance that would require us to update our estimates, judgments or adjust the carrying value of our assets or liabilities. These estimates may change, as new
events occur and additional information is obtained, and will be recognized in the consolidated financial statements as soon as they become known. Actual results could differ from those estimates and any such differences may be material to our
consolidated financial statements.
The Company has incurred substantial and negative cash flows from operations in every fiscal period from inception
through 2020. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company reported net income of $43,551,318 and generated $43,886,985 in cash from operations. In addition, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $45,695,828 as of December 31,
2021. The Companys cash and restricted cash as of December 31, 2021 is $36,400,845. The Company has achieved positive financial performance in 2021, which is forecasted to continue through the next twelve months following the issuance of
these financial statements. In addition, the Company has extended one of its major business relationships with the provider of its Antivirus licenses through 2025. In early 2022, upon completion of the business combination, the Company repaid its
loan with SVB and entered into an intercompany loan agreement worth up to $50,000,00. Neither of these subsequent events impact going concern.
Management
prepares an annual budget which is then re-forecasted monthly using latest assumptions to help ascertain the going concern basis. In addition, a weekly cash forecast is also prepared to ensure that financial
F-69
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
viability can continue. In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic provided an element of uncertainty regarding macroeconomic conditions that may impact potential
future earnings of the company. However, the Company was able to capitalize on growth opportunities afforded by the COVID-19 pandemic due to more people working from home and utilizing their devices, which
provided a larger customer base and market. As a result of this, the Company was able to grow its customer base throughout the year. The Company anticipates these trends to continue in 2022.
On January 27, 2022, the Company executed and closed a business combination agreement (the Business Combination) with Trebia Acquisition Corp
which, through a series of business combination transactions, resulted in the new company being listed on the New York Stock Exchange. As part of this transaction, the intercompany loan to System1 SS Protect Holdings, Inc. was repaid in full as well
as the outstanding loan with Silicon Valley Bank. Refer to the Subsequent Events footnote at Note 19 for additional discussion on the merger.
Management
uses internal transactional data to measure key business metrics, such as cost to acquire, average order value, and attrition rates to help assess the going concern basis. The Company is also constantly assessing its software offering to the public
to ensure that it not only matches the customers needs and is priced reasonably, but also to explore potential add-ons or new products.
Given the Companys net income, operating margin, its cash balance, and items discussed above, this will be sufficient to fund its operations for the
next 12 months from the date of issuance of these financial statements.
2. |
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: |
Directors Responsibilities
The Directors are
responsible for preparing these consolidated financial statements for the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and for the two years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
(U.S. GAAP).
The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the
financial position of the Company, and for identifying and ensuring that the Company complies with the law and regulations applicable to their activities. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence for taking
reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Directors confirm that suitable accounting policies have been
used and applied consistently for the years presented. They also confirm that reasonable and prudent judgments and estimates have been made in preparing the consolidated financial statements and that applicable accounting standards have been
followed.
Basis for Preparation
These
consolidated financial statements do not constitute the Companys statutory accounts for 2021 and 2020. Statutory accounts prepared in accordance with FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of
Ireland for the year ended December 31, 2020, which were presented in US dollars, have been reported on by the Independent Auditors in the United Kingdom. The Independent Auditors Reports on the Annual Report and Financial
Statements for the year ended December 31, 2020 was unqualified and did not contain a statement under s498(2) or s498(3) of the United Kingdom Companies Act 2006.
The Directors have prepared these non-statutory financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
for inclusion in a prospectus on Form S-1 to be submitted by System1, Inc. to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
F-70
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Protected.net Group Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company does not have any
nonconsolidated subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation, including unrealized gains and losses on transactions between the companies.
Managements Use of Estimates
The
preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, including 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. The most significant estimates in the Companys financial statements relate to the estimate of variable
consideration for revenue recognition, including the refund liability, impairment of long-lived assets, goodwill, and the valuation allowance of deferred tax assets. These estimates and assumptions are based on current facts, historical experience
and various other factors believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the recording of expenses that are not readily apparent
from other sources. Due to the uncertainty of factors surrounding the estimates or judgments used in the preparation of the financial statements, actual results may materially vary from these estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers
all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of 90 days or less at acquisition to be cash equivalents. Of the total cash balance held by the Company, $33,529,408 and $4,391,673 are held with banks as of December 31, 2021 and
2020, respectively. The remaining cash balances are held with merchants.
Restricted Cash
The Companys restricted cash consists of merchant reserve balances with our credit card processors held due to arrangements under which our credit card
processors withhold credit card funds to cover charge backs in the event we are unable to honor our commitments. These cash balances are shown as a separate financial statement line item within current assets on our consolidated balance sheet.
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the
total of the same such amounts shown on the consolidated statements of cash flows.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Cash held at banks |
|
$ |
33,482,467 |
|
|
$ |
4,391,673 |
|
Cash held with merchants |
|
|
1,584,922 |
|
|
|
1,861,046 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal Cash and Cash Equivalents |
|
$ |
35,067,389 |
|
|
$ |
6,252,719 |
|
Restricted Cash |
|
|
1,333,456 |
|
|
|
5,603,764 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
36,400,845 |
|
|
$ |
11,856,483 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-71
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable is stated at the amount the Company expects to collect and do not bear interest. The Company considers the following factors when
determining the collectability of specific customer accounts: customer credit-worthiness, past transaction history with the customer, current economic industry trends, and changes in customer payment terms. These receivables have historically been
paid timely. In addition, customers pay in advance for software and other services which are then earned over the life of the contract. Due to the nature of the accounts receivable balance, the Company believes there is no significant risk of non-collection and no allowance for doubtful accounts is required as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and accounts receivable. Periodically, the Company maintains cash deposits in financial institutions in excess of government
insured limits. Management believes that the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk as the Companys cash deposits are held at financial institutions that management believes to be of high credit quality and the Company has not
experienced any losses in these deposits.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Maintenance and repairs are expensed when incurred. Additions and improvements
that extend the economic useful life of the asset are capitalized and depreciated over the remaining useful lives of the assets. The cost and accumulated depreciation of assets sold or retired are removed from the respective accounts, and any
resulting gain or loss is reflected in current earnings. Depreciation and amortization are provided using the straight line method to amortize the cost of the assets to operations over their estimated useful lives. The below table outlines the
estimated useful life for property, plant and equipment used for depreciation:
|
|
|
|
|
Asset Type |
|
Depreciation Method |
|
Estimated Useful Life |
Computers |
|
Straight-line |
|
3 years |
Furniture and Fixtures |
|
Straight-line |
|
4 years |
Motor Vehicles |
|
Straight-line |
|
4 years |
Office Equipment |
|
Straight-line |
|
3 years |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets (excluding goodwill)
Management evaluates whether events or changes in circumstances might indicate that the remaining estimated useful life of long-lived assets may warrant
revision, or that the carrying value may not be recoverable. When factors indicate that long-lived assets should be evaluated for possible impairment, the Company uses an estimate of the related undiscounted cash flows compared to the carrying value
of the asset to determine if an impairment is probable. If impairment is probable the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to the assets fair value Measurement of the amount of impairment would be based on generally accepted valuation
methodologies, as deemed appropriate. An impairment loss is recognized immediately as an operating expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Reversal of previously recorded impairment losses are prohibited.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Companys management believed that no revision to the remaining useful lives or impairment of the Companys long-lived assets was required.
F-72
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Business Combinations
The Company accounts for its business combinations under the provisions of ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations (ASC 805), which requires that the
purchase method of accounting be used for all business combinations. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including non-controlling interests, are recorded at the date of acquisition at their respective
fair values. ASC 805 also specifies criteria that intangible assets acquired in a business combination must meet to be recognized and reported apart from goodwill. Goodwill represents the excess purchase price over the fair value of the tangible net
assets and intangible assets acquired in a business combination. Acquisition-related expenses are recognized separately from the business combinations and are expensed as incurred. If the business combination provides for contingent consideration,
the Company records the contingent consideration at fair value at the acquisition date and any changes in fair value after the acquisition date are accounted for as a measurement-period adjustment. Changes in fair value of contingent consideration
resulting from events after the acquisition date, such as earn-outs, are recognized as follows: 1) if the contingent consideration is classified as equity, the contingent consideration is not re-measured and
its subsequent settlement is accounted for within equity, or 2) if the contingent consideration is classified as a liability, the changes in fair value are recognized in earnings. For transactions that are business combinations, the Company
evaluates the existence of goodwill or a gain from a bargain purchase.
The estimated fair value of net assets acquired, including the allocation of the
fair value to identifiable assets and liabilities, is determined using established valuation techniques. The estimated fair value of the net assets acquired determined using the income approach to valuation is based on the discounted cash flow
method. Under this method, expected future cash flows of the business on a stand-alone basis are discounted back to a present value. The estimated fair value of identifiable intangible assets, such as trade names, may be determined using the cost to
recreate method or a relief from royalty method depending on the asset acquired. During the measurement period, which can be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the fair value of the assets acquired and
liabilities assumed.
The most significant assumptions under the cost to recreate method is to value acquired intangible assets including the cost and
time to build the acquired technology as well as the developers profit and rate of return. Management develops these assumptions based on historical knowledge of the business and projected financial information of the Company. These
assumptions may vary based on future events, perceptions of different market participants and other factors outside the control of Management, and such variations may be significant to estimated values.
Goodwill Impairment
The Company records as
goodwill the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable net assets and other intangible assets acquired. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually as well as when a triggering event occurs that indicates that the fair
value of the Company may be below its carrying amount. When a triggering event occurs, the Company has the option to first assess the qualitative factors to determine whether the quantitative impairment test is necessary. If that qualitative
assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the entity is less than its carrying amount, the entity must perform the quantitative test to compare the entitys fair value with its carrying amount, including
goodwill. If the qualitative assessment indicates that it is not more likely than not that goodwill is impaired, further testing is unnecessary. Based on the results of the qualitative assessment, there were no indications of impairment at
December 31, 2021.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, provides guidance on the development and disclosure of fair value measurements. Under this accounting guidance, fair
value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount
F-73
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. As such, fair value is a market-based
measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability.
The accounting guidance
classifies fair value measurements in one of the following three categories for disclosure purposes:
Level 1: Quoted prices in active
markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2: Inputs other than Level 1 prices for similar assets or liabilities that
are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs which are supported by little, or no market
activity and values determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant judgment or estimation.
Fair value measurements discussed herein are based upon certain market assumptions and pertinent information available to management as of and during the
years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. The carrying value of the Companys cash, restricted cash, deposits, prepaid expenses, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of these
financial instruments.
Leases
In February
2016, the FASB established Topic 842, Leases, by issuing ASU No. 2016-02 (ASU 2016-02), which requires lessees to recognize leases on the consolidated
balance sheets and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use model (ROU) that requires a lessee to
recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the consolidated balance sheets for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases are classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense
recognition in the income statement.
The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 effective January 1, 2019 using the
modified retrospective transition method. In addition, the Company elected the transition package of three practical expedients permitted within the standard, among other practical expedients which allowed the Company to carry forward prior
conclusions about lease identification and classification.
Adoption of the new standard did not result in any recognition of ROU assets or lease
liabilities given that the Company did not identify any leases as part of its evaluation. Refer to the related party footnote at Note 16 for discussion on the rental contract with a related party, Just Develop It Limited.
Revenue
On January 1, 2019, the Company
adopted ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606), using the modified retrospective method with respect to all non-completed contracts. ASC 606 outlines a single comprehensive
model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance.
The guidance is based on the principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of products or services to customers in an amount that
reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those products or services. The guidance also requires added disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from
customer contracts, including significant judgment
F-74
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to fulfill a contract. The adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material effect on the Companys financial position, results
of operations, or internal controls over financial reporting.
Revenue is primarily derived from the (i) delivery of the Antivirus software and
(ii) delivery of the additional add-on service(s), which all are provided on a fixed-price basis. The Company recognizes revenue following the five-step model prescribed under ASC 606: (i) identify
contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligation(s) in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligation(s) in the contract; and
(v) recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies a performance obligation. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the Company will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for
the services it transfers to the customer. These contracts are all substantially the same and only differ depending on which, if any, additional add-on services are purchased.
Performance obligations are satisfied over time, being the length of the service contract (which is either monthly or annually). The Companys services
rendered to customers are generally paid for in advance with cash receipts recorded as deferred revenue with revenue recognized over time based on the satisfaction of the performance obligations to date.
The Company recognizes revenues from sales transactions containing sales refund provisions at the time of the sale. The potential for customer refunds are
considered a component of variable consideration under ASC 606 and are considered when estimating the transaction price for a sale. The Company uses the expected value method to determine the amount of refunds expected using historical refund data.
The amount of expected returns is recognized as a refund liability, representing the obligation to return consideration to the customer.
The Company has
elected the practical expedient for treatment of contract costs and expensed them as incurred.
Functional Currency and Operations
The Company and its subsidiaries functional and reporting currency is United States dollars (USD). Financial instruments and non-monetary assets denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are remeasured at year end with any income or loss recorded in the Statement of Operations. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and
2020, the Company and its subsidiaries recognized a loss of $1,340,513 and $134,514, respectively, due to this remeasurement.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are recorded in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740), which provides for deferred taxes using an asset and
liability approach. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined
based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided, if based upon the
weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740. When uncertain tax positions
exist, the Company recognizes the tax benefit of tax positions to the extent that the benefit would more likely than not be realized assuming examination by the taxing authority. The determination as to whether the tax benefit will more likely than
not be realized is based upon the technical merits of the tax position as well as consideration of the available facts and circumstances. The Company recognizes any interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax
expense.
F-75
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Advertising Expense
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs were $26,616,136 and $26,769,881 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020,
respectively, and are included in cost of revenue on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
Other Operating
Income
Other operating income is recognized when earned. Other operating income is made up of recharged income in which subscriptions are paid to
a third party by the Company in full which Protected recovers such costs from the other related party companies. In addition, this balance includes a $220,000 commission payment that was received from a Company merchant during the year ended
December 31, 2021. This was received due to an issue with the merchants system which impacted payment success rates, which has since been resolved. This balance also includes Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme grants which totalled $0 and $30,325 for
the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
License Costs
License costs are expensed as incurred. The costs relate to license arrangements with other antivirus providers who charge the Company per user for utilizing
the core antivirus engine behind the Companys product. The Company is typically invoiced on a quarterly basis on a forward-looking basis. Such costs are capitalized to prepaid expenses when they are paid and amortized through cost of revenue
in the period that the services are provided.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted
In December
2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740) which is intended to simplify the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions and simplifying certain requirements
under Topic 740. Updates are related to intraperiod tax allocation, deferred tax liabilities for equity method investments interim period tax calculations, tax laws or rate changes in interim periods, and income taxes related to employee share
ownership plans. The guidance for ASU No. 2019-12 is required for annual reporting periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2020, for business
entities that are public, and after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those annual periods, for all other entities, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this guidance effective on January 1, 2021. The
adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Companys consolidated financial statements.
In October 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-10, Codification Improvements. This ASU codifies the disclosure guidance of all codifications which provide entities with an option to either present information on the face or disclose it in the notes
to the financial statements. ASU 2020-10 also clarifies application of various provisions in the codifications where the guidance may have been unclear. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2020. The Company adopted this guidance effective on January 1, 2021. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Companys consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In June 2016,
the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Accounting for Credit Losses (Topic 326), which requires the use of an expected loss model on certain types of financial instruments. The standard also
amends the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities and requires estimated credit losses to be recorded as
F-76
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
allowances instead of reductions to amortized cost of the securities. Update No. 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the standard will have on its consolidated financial
statements.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, IntangiblesGoodwill and Other (Topic
350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which aims to simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the new guidance, goodwill impairment will be measured as the amount
by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value. The loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. The standard is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after
December 15, 2022. Early adoption is permitted. The Company had evaluated that this standard will have no effect on its consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles Goodwill and Other Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customers Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract, which
aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain
internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). The standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after
December 15, 2020 and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt Debt with Conversion and Other Options
(Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging Contracts in Entitys Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an
Entitys Own Equity, which simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments by removing certain separation models in Subtopic 470-20, DebtDebt with Conversion and Other Options, for
convertible instruments and also increases information transparency by making disclosure amendments. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early
adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard update on its
consolidated financial statements.
3. |
PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Prepaid Advertising |
|
$ |
97,800 |
|
|
$ |
39,689 |
|
Prepaid Subscriptions |
|
|
235,825 |
|
|
|
168,289 |
|
Prepaid Technical Support |
|
|
131,760 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other Prepaid Expenses |
|
|
80,967 |
|
|
|
151,351 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
546,352 |
|
|
$ |
359,329 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-77
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
4. |
PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Computers |
|
$ |
265,511 |
|
|
$ |
113,684 |
|
Furniture & Fixtures |
|
|
316,209 |
|
|
|
217,008 |
|
Motor Vehicles |
|
|
179,585 |
|
|
|
|
|
Office Equipment |
|
|
114,127 |
|
|
|
47,796 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
875,432 |
|
|
$ |
378,488 |
|
Less: Accumulated Depreciation |
|
|
(259,340 |
) |
|
|
(107,993 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
616,092 |
|
|
$ |
270,495 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant, and equipment consist of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
Estimated Useful Life |
|
|
Beginning Balance |
|
|
Additions |
|
|
Disposals |
|
|
Accumulated Depreciation |
|
|
Net Book Value |
|
Computers |
|
|
3 years |
|
|
$ |
113,684 |
|
|
$ |
149,389 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(94,220 |
) |
|
$ |
168,853 |
|
Furniture and fixtures |
|
|
4 years |
|
|
|
217,008 |
|
|
|
99,202 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(125,270 |
) |
|
|
190,940 |
|
Motor Vehicles |
|
|
4 years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
179,585 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3,741 |
) |
|
|
175,844 |
|
Office equipment |
|
|
3 years |
|
|
|
47,796 |
|
|
|
68,768 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(36,109 |
) |
|
|
80,455 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
378,488 |
|
|
$ |
496,944 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
(259,340 |
) |
|
$ |
616,092 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
Estimated Useful Life |
|
|
Beginning Balance |
|
|
Additions |
|
|
Disposals |
|
|
Accumulated Depreciation |
|
|
Net Book Value |
|
Computers |
|
|
3 years |
|
|
$ |
56,151 |
|
|
$ |
57,533 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(41,069 |
) |
|
$ |
72,615 |
|
Furniture and fixtures |
|
|
4 years |
|
|
|
90,818 |
|
|
|
126,190 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(52,396 |
) |
|
|
164,612 |
|
Office equipment |
|
|
3 years |
|
|
|
26,314 |
|
|
|
21,482 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(14,528 |
) |
|
|
33,268 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
173,283 |
|
|
$ |
205,205 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
(107,993 |
) |
|
$ |
270,495 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation expense was $151,347 and $74,652 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
5. |
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS |
Intangible assets consist of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Software |
|
$ |
275,668 |
|
|
$ |
255,668 |
|
Technology |
|
|
312,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Domain Name |
|
|
100,089 |
|
|
|
22,187 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
687,757 |
|
|
$ |
277,855 |
|
Less: Accumulated amortization |
|
|
(318,578 |
) |
|
|
(224,625 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
369,179 |
|
|
$ |
53,230 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-78
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
Estimated Useful Life |
|
|
Beginning Balance |
|
|
Additions |
|
|
Sales |
|
|
Accumulated Amortization |
|
|
Net Book Value |
|
Software |
|
|
3 years |
|
|
$ |
255,668 |
|
|
$ |
20,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
(249,496 |
) |
|
$ |
26,172 |
|
Technology |
|
|
5 years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
312,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(46,800 |
) |
|
|
265,200 |
|
Domain Names |
|
|
5 years |
|
|
|
22,187 |
|
|
|
77,902 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(22,282 |
) |
|
|
77,807 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
277,855 |
|
|
$ |
409,902 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
(318,578 |
) |
|
$ |
369,179 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
Estimated Useful Life |
|
|
Beginning Balance |
|
|
Additions |
|
|
Sales |
|
|
Accumulated Amortization |
|
|
Net Book Value |
|
Software |
|
|
3 years |
|
|
$ |
243,168 |
|
|
$ |
12,500 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
(210,445 |
) |
|
$ |
45,223 |
|
Domain Names |
|
|
5 years |
|
|
|
47,187 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(25,000 |
) |
|
|
(14,180 |
) |
|
|
8,007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
290,355 |
|
|
$ |
12,500 |
|
|
$ |
(25,000 |
) |
|
$ |
(224,625 |
) |
|
$ |
53,230 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization expense was $93,953 and $66,646 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The following table displays the changes in goodwill as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill |
|
Balance at January 1, 2021 |
|
$ |
|
|
Additions |
|
|
283,809 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2021 |
|
$ |
283,809 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6. ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER LIABILITIES
Accrued expenses consist of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Marketing |
|
$ |
5,344,603 |
|
|
$ |
4,361,567 |
|
Income taxes payable |
|
|
2,063,592 |
|
|
|
|
|
Payroll |
|
|
661,187 |
|
|
|
632,880 |
|
Network Protected Limited post-deal activity |
|
|
3,285 |
|
|
|
433,063 |
|
Accounting and professional fees |
|
|
959,599 |
|
|
|
570,069 |
|
License and royalties |
|
|
809,584 |
|
|
|
387,017 |
|
Software |
|
|
78,000 |
|
|
|
74,500 |
|
Administrative |
|
|
243,500 |
|
|
|
223,400 |
|
Other |
|
|
214,872 |
|
|
|
134,610 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total accrued expenses and other liabilities |
|
$ |
10,162,350 |
|
|
$ |
6,704,093 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7. NOTE PAYABLE
On
December 17, 2020, the Company entered into a new Facilities Agreement (the Agreement) with Silicon Valley Bank that provides for a facility of up to $10,000,000 (Facility A), and an additional facility (Facility
B) up to $5,000,000, not to be used until Facility A is fully used. The Company was charged an arrangement fee of $150,000 in respect to Facility A. The arrangement fee was paid on December 17, 2020 relating to Facility A.
F-79
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Agreement contains financial covenants, requiring a leverage ratio of between 2.50-3.00:1, and minimum liquidity amounts between $3,000,000 and
$5,000,000 during the period ending on the termination date of December 17, 2023. The Company was in compliance with all covenants as of December 31, 2021. Facility A and Facility B both carry a variable interest rate of 3.5% - 7.5%,
payable on a quarterly basis. The note requires principal payments of $375,000 for the first 8 quarters and $1,750,000 for the final four quarters. On January 27, 2022, the Company repaid its outstanding principal and interest owed to Silicon Valley
Bank as part of the Facilities Agreement. Refer to the Subsequent Events footnote at Note 19 for additional discussion on the loan payoff.
On
March 31, 2021, the Company borrowed an additional $5,000,000 from its original new Facilities Agreement with Silicon Valley Bank that provided up to $5,000,000 to be borrowed from Facility B. The Company was charged an arrangement fee of
$75,000 in respect to Facility B. The Facilities Agreement contains financial covenants, requiring a leverage ratio of between 2.50-3.00:1, and minimum liquidity amounts between $3,000,000 and $5,000,000
during the period ending on the termination date of December 17, 2023. Facility B carries an interest rate of 3.75% for the first two years and 17.5% during the final year. The additional draw requires principal payments of $187,500 for the
first 8 quarters and $875,000 for the final four quarters. The principal amount due in the next twelve months totals $2,812,500.
As of December 31,
2021 and 2020, the total loan balance was $13,500,000 and $10,000,000, respectively, and financing costs totalled $141,052 and $148,194, respectively. The deferred financing costs are amortized over a straight-line basis, which approximates the
amortization under the effective interest rate method. Amortization of deferred financing costs during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $82,142 and $1,806, respectively. Additionally, the Company incurred $583,428 and $29,085 of
interest associated with the Note payable during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Legal proceedings
In the normal course of
business, the Company may become involved in legal disputes regarding various litigation matters. In the opinion of management, any potential liabilities resulting from such claims would not have a material effect on the financial statements.
9. SHAREHOLDERS DEFICIT
The Company had one class
of preferred and common shares, as outlined below, during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. The common share classes are displayed in aggregate on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Shareholders
Equity (Deficit). On December 31, 2021, the Company has the authority to issue up to 0 shares of £0.0001 par value Class A Preferred Shares and 0 shares of £0.0001 par value Class B Ordinary Shares.
Preferred Shares
The Preferred Shares have a par
value of £0.001 per share. Each share of the Companys Preferred Shares entitled the holder to one vote on all matters to be voted upon by the Shareholders. Preferred Shares shall be first in priority to receive distributions based on the
original value of the shares plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had 7,992,009 preferred shares authorized and issued. The Preferred Shares carry a fixed cumulative preferred dividend at a rate
of 7% per annum on the original value of these shares plus any accrued but unpaid dividend amounts, compounded annually.
F-80
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Common Shares
The Company had one class of common shares, as outlined below, during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. These share classes are displayed in
aggregate on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Shareholders Deficit.
The Ordinary Shares have a par value of
£0.001 per share. Each share of the Companys Ordinary Shares entitles the holder to one vote on all matters voted upon by the Shareholders. On liquidation or any distributions made to holders of Ordinary Shares, holders of Ordinary
Shares shall be second in priority to receive distributions after payments are made to Preferred Shareholders. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had 7,960,105 common shares authorized and issued.
10. REVENUE WITH CUSTOMERS
Under ASC 606, revenue is
recognized throughout the life of the executed agreement. The Company measures revenue based on consideration specified in a contract with a customer. Furthermore, the Company recognizes revenue when a performance obligation is satisfied by
transferring control over the service to the customer which could occur over time.
A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a
distinct service to the customer. The transaction price of a contract is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when or as the customer receives the benefit of the performance obligation. Customers typically
receive the benefit of the Companys services as (or when) they are performed. Substantially all customer contracts provide that compensation is received for services performed to date. Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both
imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction, that are collected by us from a customer, are recorded as a reduction of revenue with a corresponding liability recognized.
Nature of goods and services
The
following is a description of the Companys services from which the Company generates revenue, as well as the nature, timing of satisfaction of performance obligations, and significant payment terms for each:
|
i. |
Delivery of Antivirus Software |
Antivirus Subscription Services The Company is a leading distributor of computer protection software. Their primary software, TotalAV
Antivirus Pro, provides antivirus and anti-malware protection, spyware removal, adware cleaning, and more. The program can be installed and downloaded on 3 separate devices.
|
ii. |
Delivery of additional add-on service(s) |
In addition to TotalAV Antivirus Pro, the customers can sign up for additional services. These additional services include password vault,
smartphone protection, identity protection, Ad Block Pro, protection on additional devices, Safe Browsing (VPN), and Advanced Cloud Scanning, among others.
The Company recognizes the sale of software over the length of the subscription (annually or monthly). The Company has two performance obligations (i.e., the
Delivery of Antivirus Software and the Delivery of Additional Add-On Service(s)). Allocation of the transaction price was not necessary as the transaction prices for each separate performance obligation are
separately stated in the contract.
F-81
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company recognizes revenues from sales transactions containing sales refund provisions at the time of the
sale. The potential for customer refunds are considered a component of variable consideration under ASC 606 and are considered when estimating the transaction price for a sale. The Company uses the expected value method to determine the amount of
refunds expected using historical refund data. The amount of expected returns is recognized as a refund liability, representing the obligation to return consideration to the customer. The total refund liability totaled $536,753 and $511,779 as of
December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized $114.9 million and
$66.7 million, respectively, of revenue from the satisfaction of delivery of antivirus software. During the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized $29.6 million and $24.2 million of revenue from the
satisfaction of delivery of additional add-on services, respectively.
The following table presents our revenues
disaggregated by revenue stream.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended |
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Major products/service lines |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Antivirus software revenue |
|
$ |
114,892,069 |
|
|
$ |
66,729,758 |
|
Additional add-on service revenue |
|
|
29,649,152 |
|
|
|
24,178,539 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenue |
|
$ |
144,541,221 |
|
|
$ |
90,908,297 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by geographic region.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended |
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Geographic Region |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Germany |
|
$ |
14,862,815 |
|
|
$ |
10,938,787 |
|
United Kingdom |
|
|
22,162,283 |
|
|
|
13,222,636 |
|
Rest of Europe |
|
|
23,860,130 |
|
|
|
17,638,111 |
|
United States |
|
|
62,170,066 |
|
|
|
35,983,970 |
|
Rest of North America |
|
|
7,862,060 |
|
|
|
4,917,152 |
|
Other |
|
|
13,623,867 |
|
|
|
8,207,641 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenue |
|
$ |
144,541,221 |
|
|
$ |
90,908,297 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-82
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Deferred Revenues
We record deferred revenues when cash payments are received in advance of our performance, primarily for subscription revenues. The increase in
deferred revenues for the year ended December 31, 2021 is primarily driven by sales increases and periodic invoices due in advance of satisfying our performance obligations. Deferred revenue is released over the customers agreed term (monthly
or annually) at a daily level. All brought forward deferred balances were released in the year to December 2021.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Deferred revenue at beginning of period |
|
$ |
47,430,897 |
|
|
$ |
29,703,831 |
|
Deferred revenue recognized during period |
|
|
(145,733,685 |
) |
|
|
(58,088,574 |
) |
Additions to deferred revenue during period |
|
|
155,708,156 |
|
|
|
75,815,640 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred revenue at end of period |
|
$ |
57,405,368 |
|
|
$ |
47,430,897 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Practical Expedients and Exemptions
The Company has elected the practical expedient for treatment of contract costs as part of the adoption of ASC 606 and expensed them as
incurred.
11. SALE OF NETWORK PROTECT LIMITED
On
August 13, 2020, Network Protect Limited (Seller), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement to sell its virtual private network subscription service business to Intersections Inc.
(Buyer) for a total price of $1,600,000. Of the total purchase price, $1,500,000 was payable in cash at the time of closing with the remaining $100,000 to be payable on August 13, 2021. The remaining amount was paid from the Buyers
to Seller on August 13, 2021. The assets sold included its customer lists as well as the rights to the Sellers domain names. This sale excludes certain assets of the Seller such as cash, accounting records not related to the customer lists and
domain names, advance receipts and debts, and the intellectual property rights to the software, websites, and apps.
The intangible assets which had a
carrying value of $20,000 were disposed of and the difference between the sale price and carrying value, or $1,580,000, was recognized as a gain on sale of intangible assets within the other operating income section of the statement of operations
and comprehensive income (loss).
The disposal did not meet the definition of discontinued operations given that it did not represent a strategic shift
given Network Protect Limiteds total assets, revenue, and net income in comparison to the consolidated entitys totals.
12. ACQUISITION OF
HOST PLUS LIMITED
On March 31, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the Host Plus Agreement) with Boxer
Investment Group LLC, Christopher Philips, and Nicholas Baker (collectively, the Sellers) to purchase Host Plus Limited (Host Plus). Host Plus has developed a web hosting product for release to the public market, which has
not yet been released as of the acquisition date (the Host Plus Transaction). The purpose of the acquisition for Protected.net is to enter a new business line in which it can leverage its marketing expertise and cross-sell the web
hosting services to its antivirus solutions customer base. Pursuant to the Host Plus Agreement, the total purchase price was $448,668, which consisted of a payment of $138 in cash (the Closing Payment) to the Sellers as well as the
assumption of Host Plus outstanding debt totalling $448,530. The outstanding debt
F-83
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
assumed by the Buyer was due to Just Develop It Limited (JDI), who is the parent company of the Buyer and a related party. The Closing Payment was paid to the Sellers on
March 31, 2021 (the Closing Date).
The fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired was less than the aggregate purchase
consideration paid, and accordingly the Company recorded goodwill of $283,809, which will be evaluated for impairment annually. The Company evaluated whether the goodwill balance shall be impaired as of December 31, 2021. Given that no impairment
indicators were found in Host Plus Limited, which is not a separate reporting unit, there was no impairment required for goodwill as of December 31, 2021.
|
|
|
|
|
Cash |
|
$ |
138 |
|
Host Plus debt assumed at closing |
|
|
448,530 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total consideration |
|
$ |
448,668 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following table summarizes the preliminary purchase price allocations relating to the Host Plus acquisition:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Fair Value |
|
Cash Consideration |
|
$ |
138 |
|
Host Plus Debt Assumed at Acquisition |
|
|
448,530 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Purchase Price |
|
|
448,668 |
|
Current Assets Acquired |
|
|
|
|
Net Working Capital (Including Cash) |
|
$ |
(218,141 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Current Identifiable Assets |
|
|
(218,141 |
) |
Non-Current Assets Acquired |
|
|
|
|
Technology |
|
|
312,000 |
|
Domain Name |
|
|
71,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Non-Current Identifiable Assets |
|
|
383,000 |
|
Goodwill |
|
$ |
283,809 |
|
13. INCOME TAXES
A
reconciliation of the statutory income tax rate to the Companys effective tax rate consists of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Years Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Statutory United Kingdom income tax rate |
|
|
19.0 |
% |
|
|
19.0 |
% |
Permanent items |
|
|
0.9 |
% |
|
|
-0.1 |
% |
Change in UK tax law to deferred taxes |
|
|
-8.5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Prior year adjustments |
|
|
-5.5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Change in valuation allowance |
|
|
-59.4 |
% |
|
|
-18.9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effective tax rate |
|
|
-53.5 |
% |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-84
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The components of income tax provision/(benefit) are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
United Kingdom: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current |
|
$ |
2,170,803 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Deferred |
|
|
(17,343,731 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
(15,172,928 |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying value of assets and
liabilities for financial reporting purposes and amounts used for income tax purposes. The temporary differences that give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Deferred tax assets/(liabilities): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net operating loss carryforwards |
|
$ |
17,346,628 |
|
|
$ |
16,869,434 |
|
Deferred financing costs |
|
|
(26,800 |
) |
|
|
(28,157 |
) |
Property, plant and equipment |
|
|
(20,105 |
) |
|
|
(335 |
) |
Intangible assets |
|
|
(63,203 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,236,520 |
|
|
|
16,840,942 |
|
Valuation allowance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(16,840,942 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax assets, net of allowance |
|
$ |
17,236,520 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Company recorded a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2020. The Company provides
a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion, or all of its deferred tax assets, will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future
taxable income. The Company considers all available positive and negative evidence and makes certain assumptions in evaluating the realizability of its deferred tax assets. Many factors are considered which impact the Companys projections of
future sustained profitability.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, after considering all positive and negative evidence, including past earnings,
historical trends and projected future taxable income from operating activities, the Company concluded that all of its deferred tax assets were more likely than not to be realized. Accordingly, the Company reversed the valuation allowance, which
resulted in a $16,840,942 tax benefit to the income tax provision.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had net operating loss carry forwards of
$78,538,911 and $88,786,492, respectively. The net operating loss carry forwards generated in the tax years from 2016 to 2021 and have an unlimited carry forward period.
The Company has no uncertain tax positions, or penalties and interest accrued, that if recognized would reduce net operating loss carry forwards or effect tax
expense.
The Company files tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws in the United Kingdom in which they operate. In the normal course of business, the
Company is subject to examination by the federal jurisdiction based on the statute of limitations. As of December 31, 2021, open years related to the United Kingdom are 2021 and 2020.
F-85
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company has no open tax audits with any taxing authority as of December 31, 2021.
14. GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
General and
administrative expenses are comprised of the following items:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Years Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
$ |
245,299 |
|
|
$ |
141,298 |
|
Value-added tax provision (Note 17) |
|
|
4,602,494 |
|
|
|
2,934,307 |
|
SPAC transaction costs |
|
|
1,163,786 |
|
|
|
|
|
Software |
|
|
1,050,479 |
|
|
|
1,051,157 |
|
Salaries and benefits |
|
|
5,332,195 |
|
|
|
793,779 |
|
Legal fees |
|
|
813,468 |
|
|
|
515,318 |
|
Other general and administrative expenses |
|
|
2,704,672 |
|
|
|
1,275,207 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
15,912,393 |
|
|
$ |
6,711,066 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15. DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PENSION
The Company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Company in an independently
administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the Company to the fund. Contributions for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were $208,001 and $131,109, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 and
2020, $27,286 and $12,446 was owed to the pension scheme, respectively.
16. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company has an agreement with JDI Property Holdings Limited (JDI) which allows for the Company to occupy desks at JDIs property in such a
place as JDI specifies from time to time in exchange for £25,000 per month. The agreement expires on June 21, 2022. The Company was also charged management fees and other staff costs by Just Develop It Limited and its subsidiaries (JDI
and Skylark Golf & Country Club Limited), a group with common directors. The total of these expenses was $1,142,912 and $646,060 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 respectively. Of these amounts, $664,697 and $536,200
related to rent expense, respectively.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company had an outstanding payable due to a former shareholder of the Company
totaling $237,671. The payable related to taxes withheld to be remitted to the United Kingdom that were later determined to be over-collected. This payable was paid back to the directors by the Company in full in 2020.
On February 3, 2020, the Company entered into a short-term intercompany loan with a director of the
Company. Under this agreement, the director agreed to provide the Company with a $3,000,000 loan that carried an interest rate of 10%. The loan was drawn by the Company on February 3, 2020 in full. The loan had a maturity date of March 17,
2020, which the Company paid back in full on this date. The Company incurred $35,000 of interest on this loan during the year ended December 31, 2020.
On March 13, 2020, the Company entered into an intercompany loan payable with System1 SS Protect
Holdings, Inc. Under this agreement, SS Protect Holdings agreed to provide the Company with a $6,000,000 loan that carried an interest rate of 10%. The loan was drawn by the Company on March 13, 2020 in full. The loan had a maturity date of
March 13, 2021. The Company paid the loan back in full on November 13, 2020. The Company incurred $356,384 of interest expense on this loan during the year ended December 31, 2020.
F-86
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
On November 13, 2020, the Company entered into an intercompany loan payable with Protected Security
Holdings LLC, the parent company of System1 SS Protect Holdings, Inc. Under this agreement, Protected Security Holdings agreed to provide the Company with a $1,999,947 loan that carried an interest rate of 7.5%. The loan was drawn on
November 13, 2020 in full. The loan had a maturity date of November 13, 2023. The Company paid the loan back in full on December 18, 2020. The Company incurred $14,383 of interest expense on this loan during the year ended
December 31, 2020.
On December 17, 2020, the Company entered into an intercompany loan receivable with System1 SS Protect Holdings, Inc. Under
this agreement, the Company agreed to provide System1 SS Protect Holdings, Inc. with a line of credit with a maximum amount of $30,000,000. The line of credit has an interest rate of 0% from December 17, 2020 to December 31, 2020, 5% from
January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021, and 3.5% from April 1, 2021 until the agreement is terminated. The loan has a maturity date of January 1, 2023. On December 17, 2020, System1 S1 SS Protect Holdings, Inc. drew a total of
$10,059,719 from the line of credit. As part of this loan, the Company charged S1 SS Protect Holdings a set-up fee of $170,000. The set-up fee is being recognized
through income over the term of the loan.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, S1 SS Protect Holdings drew an additional $21,908,640 from the
line of credit provided by the Company as part of the loan agreement. The loan draw will accrue interest at an interest rate of 3.5% from the time of the loan draw until funds are paid back to the Company. The loan has a maturity date of
January 1, 2023. As part of this loan, the Company charged S1 SS Protect Holdings a set-up fee of $75,000. The set-up fee shall be recognized through income over
the term of the loan.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the total outstanding balance of the loan with System1 S1 SS Protect Holdings, Inc. was
$32,832,653 and $10,059,719, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the total amount included in deferred revenue relating to financing fees not yet recognized was $165,594 and $167,712, respectively. Total financing fees recognized
during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were $77,121 and $2,285, respectively. The Company recognized $941,416 and $0 of interest income related to this loan during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
On March 31, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement to purchase Host Plus Limited (as described in Note 12). Each Seller of Host Plus
Limited is a minority shareholder of the Company. In addition, the Company assumed the debt of Host Plus Limited as part of the acquisition, which was payable to JDI. As noted above, JDI is the parent company of Protected. On April 1, 2021, the
Company provided an intercompany loan to Host Plus Limited who then repaid the outstanding loan in full on the same day in the amount of $448,530. The loan between Host Plus Limited and JDI did not have a stated maturity date and carried an interest
rate of 0%.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company entered into a short term loan agreement with Just Develop It Limited, which
carried an interest rate of 0%. These loans allowed multiple drawdowns which totaled $29,634,886 and were fully repaid by the end of the period. In addition to this, as a part of the Host Plus Share Purchase Agreement, the Company assumed a debt
payable to Just Develop It Limited which was repaid in full on April 1, 2021.
On May 19, 2021, the Company entered into a loan receivable with
a director of the Company. Under this agreement, the Company agreed to provide the director with a loan facility of up to $2,000,000 which carried an interest rate of 0%. The loan did not specify a stated maturity date. The director of the Company
drew multiple amounts in accordance with the facility during the year ended December 31, 2021. The loan was repaid in full to the Company on December 24, 2021.
F-87
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
17. VAT TAX LIABILITY
The Company has recorded a liability for worldwide VAT and US sales tax of $11,403,760 and $6,366,454 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The
liability represents the Companys best estimate of amounts due for sales tax and VAT due for sales that have occurred over the applicable periods subject to such indirect taxes. The Company has not been registered for sales tax in states where
the group had created a Nexus, or VAT in certain countries. The Company has started the remediation process by appointing third party tax advisors to evaluate amounts due and disclosures to each tax jurisdiction. At the date of the issuance of these
financial statements the business has registered in (and began to settle) its historic VAT obligations in: Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland.
18. SEGMENT REPORTING
Segment Reporting Disclosures
ASC Subtopic 280-10, Segment Reporting, establishes standards for reporting information about
operating segments. The Company has voluntarily chosen to disclose certain operating segments. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the
chief operating decision maker, or CODM, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company has one business line and operating segment. The information for revenue category service line, geography and timing of revenue
recognition is summarized in Note 10, Revenue with Customers. Each of the long-lived assets are held in the United Kingdom.
The Company,
including its CODM, uses Adjusted Operating Income (Loss), a non-GAAP financial metric, to evaluate Protecteds core operating performance and trends and to make strategic decisions regarding the
allocation of capital and new investments. Additionally, the Company uses Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) as basis for setting variable compensation for its employees, the Companys lenders use Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) to measure its
compliance with credit facility covenants and the Company believes Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) is another approximation to measure its operating cash flow. Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) is defined as operating income/(loss) before
depreciation and amortization, VAT accrual for previously uncollected VAT, directors salary payments which will cease upon completion of the Business Combination, non-recurring and restructuring expense
and adjusted to remove earnings from terminated product lines and the change in deferred revenue during the period. Change in deferred revenue includes the movement in deferred revenue as well as the movement in the refund liability. Nonrecurring
expenses include foreign exchange adjustments, costs incurred to date in regards to the business combination with System1 and costs incurred in regards to the Silicon Valley Bank financing agreement, which will cease upon completion of the Business
Combination.
Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Years Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
Operating Income (Loss) |
|
$ |
28,020,402 |
|
|
$ |
(12,825,698 |
) |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
245,300 |
|
|
|
141,298 |
|
Terminated product lines |
|
|
(80,775 |
) |
|
|
(1,777,261 |
) |
VAT accrual for previously uncollected VAT |
|
|
4,674,727 |
|
|
|
2,934,307 |
|
Director Salary Payments |
|
|
2,806,497 |
|
|
|
|
|
Non-cash foreign exchange adjustments |
|
|
1,340,513 |
|
|
|
110,090 |
|
Non-recurring expense, primarily related to acquisitions, financing and SPAC transaction
costs |
|
|
1,690,426 |
|
|
|
489,955 |
|
Changes in deferred revenue |
|
|
9,974,471 |
|
|
|
18,083,645 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted operating income |
|
$ |
48,671,561 |
|
|
$ |
7,156,336 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-88
PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
19. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date of issuance of March 31, 2022 and determined that there have been no events that have
occurred that would require adjustments to our disclosures in the consolidated financial statements except for the below items.
On June 28, 2021,
the Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement (as amended on November 30, 2021, January 10, 2022 and January 25, 2022), (the Business Combination Agreement) by and among Trebia Acquisition Corporation
(Trebia) and Protected (together with System1 and Trebia, collectively, the Companies). On January 27, 2022 (the Closing Date), the Company consummated the merger (the Merger) pursuant to the
Business Combination Agreement. Following the consummation of the Merger, the combined company (Post Closing Company) is organized in an Up-C structure, in which substantially all of the assets and business operations of
System1 are held by S1 Holdco. The combined Companies business continues to operate through the subsidiaries of S1 Holdco and Protected. Additionally, Trebias ordinary shares, warrants and units ceased trading on the New York Stock
Exchange (NYSE), and System1 Inc.s Class A Common Stock began trading on the NYSE on January 28, 2022 under the symbols SST and SST.WS, respectively.
The consideration paid to the existing Securityholders of System1 and Protected in connection with the Merger was a combination of cash and equity.
On January 27, 2022, the Company repaid its outstanding principal and interest owed to Silicon Valley Bank as part of the Facilities Agreement (as
described in Note 7). The total amount paid back to Silicon Valley Bank was $13,167,694, which included a principal amount of $12,937,500 accrued interest of $36,132, and a prepayment charge of $194,063.
On January 27, 2022, the Company entered into a loan agreement with System1 LLC, a related party. This loan enables System1 LLC to draw up to $50,000,000 at
an interest rate of 0.44% per annum on the drawn balance. The drawn balance to date is $23,153,067.
F-89
Grafico Azioni Trebia Acquisition (NYSE:TREB)
Storico
Da Nov 2024 a Dic 2024
Grafico Azioni Trebia Acquisition (NYSE:TREB)
Storico
Da Dic 2023 a Dic 2024