10-Q
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2024

or

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from __________ to __________

Commission File Number: 001-40926

Vivid Seats Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

86-3355184

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

24 E. Washington Street, Suite 900

Chicago, Illinois

 

60602

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

(312) 291-9966

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share

SEAT

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Warrants to purchase one share of Class A common stock

 

SEATW

 

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

 

 

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No 

As of July 31, 2024, the registrant had outstanding 131,858,188 shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, net of treasury shares, and 76,225,000 shares of Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value per share.

 

 


table of contents

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

1

 

 

PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

2

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements (Unaudited)

2

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

2

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

3

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

4

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Deficit)

5

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

7

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

8

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

27

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

38

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

38

 

 

 

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

40

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

40

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

40

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

40

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

40

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

40

Item 5.

Other Information

40

Item 6.

Exhibits

41

 

 

Signatures

43

 

 


forward-looking statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Report”) contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) regarding future events and the future results of Vivid Seats Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “we,” “us” and “our”). Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “designed,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “goal,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “propose,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will” and “would,” as well as similar expressions which predict or indicate future events and trends or which do not relate to historical matters, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

For example, we may use forward-looking statements when addressing topics such as our future financial performance, including our ability to generate sufficient cash flows or to raise additional capital when necessary or desirable, our success in attracting, hiring, motivating and retaining our senior management team, key technical employees and other highly skilled personnel, our ability to declare and pay dividends on our Class A common stock and other topics relating to our business, operations and financial performance such as:

the supply and demand of live concert, sporting and theater events;
the impact of adverse economic conditions affecting discretionary consumer and corporate spending;
our ability to maintain and develop our relationships with ticket buyers, sellers and partners;
our ability to compete in the ticketing industry;
our ability to continue to maintain and improve our platform and develop successful new solutions and enhancements or improve existing ones;
the impact of extraordinary events, including disease epidemics and pandemics;
our ability to identify suitable acquisition targets and to complete and realize the expected benefits of planned acquisitions;
our ability to comply with applicable regulatory regimes;
the impact of unfavorable legislative outcomes, or unfavorable outcomes in legal proceedings; and
our ability to maintain the integrity of our information systems and infrastructure, and to identify, assess and manage relevant cybersecurity risks.

We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. While we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that can be difficult to predict and/or are outside of our control. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by any forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Report or, in the case of statements incorporated by reference herein, as of the date of the incorporated document.

Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of this Report and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 8, 2024 (our “2023 Form 10-K”), as well as in our press releases and other filings with the SEC. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this Report, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

1


VIVID SEATS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited)

 

 

June 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

234,289

 

 

$

125,484

 

Restricted cash

 

 

6,136

 

 

 

6,950

 

Accounts receivable – net

 

 

68,628

 

 

 

58,481

 

Inventory – net

 

 

30,249

 

 

 

21,018

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

31,519

 

 

 

34,061

 

Total current assets

 

 

370,821

 

 

 

245,994

 

Property and equipment – net

 

 

9,663

 

 

 

10,156

 

Right-of-use assets – net

 

 

9,692

 

 

 

9,826

 

Intangible assets – net

 

 

227,054

 

 

 

241,155

 

Goodwill

 

 

941,507

 

 

 

947,359

 

Deferred tax assets

 

 

85,073

 

 

 

85,564

 

Investments

 

 

7,245

 

 

 

6,993

 

Other non-current assets

 

 

3,647

 

 

 

3,052

 

Total assets

 

$

1,654,702

 

 

$

1,550,099

 

Liabilities and equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

266,502

 

 

$

257,514

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

168,983

 

 

 

191,642

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

30,173

 

 

 

34,674

 

Current maturities of long-term debt

 

 

3,950

 

 

 

3,933

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

469,608

 

 

 

487,763

 

Long-term debt – net

 

 

386,506

 

 

 

264,632

 

Long-term lease liabilities

 

 

16,104

 

 

 

16,215

 

TRA liability

 

 

162,233

 

 

 

165,699

 

Other liabilities

 

 

26,146

 

 

 

29,031

 

Total long-term liabilities

 

 

590,989

 

 

 

475,577

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

438,294

 

 

 

481,742

 

Shareholders' equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized, 142,554,703 and 141,167,311 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively

 

 

14

 

 

 

14

 

Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized, 76,225,000 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023

 

 

8

 

 

 

8

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

1,164,240

 

 

 

1,096,430

 

Treasury stock, at cost, 10,750,153 and 7,291,497 shares at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively

 

 

(72,655

)

 

 

(52,586

)

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(934,580

)

 

 

(939,596

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

(1,216

)

 

 

747

 

Total Shareholders' equity

 

 

155,811

 

 

 

105,017

 

Total liabilities, Redeemable noncontrolling interests, and Shareholders' equity

 

$

1,654,702

 

 

$

1,550,099

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

2


VIVID SEATS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Revenues

 

$

198,316

 

 

$

165,380

 

 

$

389,168

 

 

$

326,443

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

 

 

48,765

 

 

 

42,616

 

 

 

98,348

 

 

 

80,376

 

Marketing and selling

 

 

70,114

 

 

 

65,192

 

 

 

137,861

 

 

 

119,964

 

General and administrative

 

 

61,053

 

 

 

38,307

 

 

 

103,420

 

 

 

70,696

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

10,502

 

 

 

2,704

 

 

 

20,985

 

 

 

5,302

 

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

 

 

 

 

 

(1,052

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,018

)

Income from operations

 

 

7,882

 

 

 

17,613

 

 

 

28,554

 

 

 

51,123

 

Other expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

Interest expense – net

 

 

5,324

 

 

 

2,772

 

 

 

10,406

 

 

 

6,052

 

Other expense

 

 

3,202

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

5,784

 

 

 

673

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

 

(644

)

 

 

13,841

 

 

 

12,364

 

 

 

44,398

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

577

 

 

 

(24,485

)

 

 

2,846

 

 

 

(24,200

)

Net income (loss)

 

 

(1,221

)

 

 

38,326

 

 

 

9,518

 

 

 

68,598

 

Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

(160

)

 

 

7,614

 

 

 

4,505

 

 

 

25,704

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Class A Common Stockholders

 

$

(1,061

)

 

$

30,712

 

 

$

5,013

 

 

$

42,894

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per Class A common stock:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(0.01

)

 

$

0.36

 

 

$

0.04

 

 

$

0.53

 

Diluted

 

$

(0.01

)

 

$

0.20

 

 

$

0.04

 

 

$

0.35

 

Weighted average Class A common stock outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

131,802,620

 

 

 

85,269,196

 

 

 

132,935,446

 

 

 

81,319,369

 

Diluted

 

 

208,027,620

 

 

 

196,377,470

 

 

 

209,937,710

 

 

 

196,128,259

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

3


VIVID SEATS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(in thousands) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(1,221

)

 

$

38,326

 

 

$

9,518

 

 

$

68,598

 

Other comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

(1,258

)

 

 

 

 

 

(3,123

)

 

 

 

Unrealized gain (loss) on investments

 

 

(50

)

 

 

 

 

 

42

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

 

$

(2,529

)

 

$

38,326

 

 

$

6,437

 

 

$

68,598

 

Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

(160

)

 

 

7,614

 

 

 

4,505

 

 

 

25,704

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

(458

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,134

)

 

 

 

Unrealized gain (loss) on investments attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

(18

)

 

 

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Class A Common Stockholders

 

$

(1,893

)

 

$

30,712

 

 

$

3,051

 

 

$

42,894

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

4


VIVID SEATS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(in thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Class A Common Stock

 

Class B Common Stock

 

 

 

Treasury Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Accumulated deficit

 

Accumulated
other
comprehensive loss

 

 

Total shareholders' deficit

 

Balances at January 1, 2023

$

862,860

 

 

82,410,774

 

$

8

 

 

118,200,000

 

$

12

 

$

663,908

 

 

(4,342,477

)

$

(32,494

)

$

(1,014,132

)

$

 

 

$

(382,698

)

Net income

 

18,090

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,182

 

 

 

 

 

12,182

 

Issuance of shares

 

 

 

491,502

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

Deemed contribution from former parent

 

577

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

391

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

391

 

Equity-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,615

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,615

 

Repurchases of common stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(949,020

)

 

(7,612

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7,612

)

Distributions to non-controlling interests

 

(3,816

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subsequent remeasurement of Redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

24,155

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(24,155

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(24,155

)

Balances at March 31, 2023

$

901,866

 

 

82,902,276

 

$

9

 

 

118,200,000

 

$

12

 

$

644,759

 

 

(5,291,497

)

$

(40,106

)

$

(1,001,950

)

$

 

 

$

(397,276

)

Net income

 

7,614

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,712

 

 

 

 

 

30,712

 

Issuance of shares

 

 

 

309,529

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deemed contribution from former parent

 

544

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

431

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

431

 

Secondary Offering of Class A common stock

 

(145,064

)

 

18,400,000

 

 

2

 

 

(18,400,000

)

 

(2

)

 

145,064

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

145,064

 

Equity-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,524

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,524

 

Distributions to non-controlling interests

 

(7,200

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subsequent remeasurement of Redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

32,656

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(32,656

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(32,656

)

Establishment of liabilities under the Tax Receivable Agreement, net of tax and other tax impact of the Secondary Offering (Note 17)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(46,132

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(46,132

)

Balances at June 30, 2023

$

790,416

 

 

101,611,805

 

$

11

 

 

99,800,000

 

$

10

 

$

717,990

 

 

(5,291,497

)

$

(40,106

)

$

(971,238

)

$

 

 

$

(293,333

)

 

5


VIVID SEATS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(in thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Class A Common Stock

 

Class B Common Stock

 

 

 

Treasury Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Accumulated deficit

 

Accumulated
other
comprehensive loss

 

 

Total shareholders' equity

 

Balances at January 1, 2024

$

481,742

 

 

141,167,311

 

$

14

 

 

76,225,000

 

$

8

 

$

1,096,430

 

 

(7,291,497

)

$

(52,586

)

$

(939,596

)

$

747

 

 

$

105,017

 

Net income

 

4,665

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,077

 

 

 

 

 

6,077

 

Issuance of shares

 

 

 

961,573

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net settlement of equity incentive awards

 

 

 

(79,905

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(462

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(462

)

Deemed contribution from former parent

 

75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

133

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

133

 

Equity-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,439

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,439

 

Repurchases of common stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(715,000

)

 

(4,120

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4,120

)

Distributions to non-controlling interest

 

(3,654

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

(643

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,130

)

 

 

(1,130

)

Subsequent remeasurement of Redeemable noncontrolling interests, net of tax impacts

 

(25,597

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25,597

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25,597

 

Balances at March 31, 2024

$

456,588

 

 

142,048,979

 

$

14

 

 

76,225,000

 

$

8

 

$

1,130,137

 

 

(8,006,497

)

$

(56,706

)

$

(933,519

)

$

(383

)

 

$

139,551

 

Net loss

 

(160

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,061

)

 

 

 

 

(1,061

)

Issuance of shares

 

 

 

524,906

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net settlement of equity incentive awards

 

 

 

(19,182

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(104

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(104

)

Deemed contribution from former parent

 

2,959

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,113

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,113

 

Equity-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,237

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,237

 

Repurchases of common stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,743,656

)

 

(15,949

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(15,949

)

Distributions to non-controlling interest

 

(2,760

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

(476

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(833

)

 

 

(833

)

Subsequent remeasurement of Redeemable noncontrolling interests, net of tax impacts

 

(17,857

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,857

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,857

 

Balances at June 30, 2024

$

438,294

 

 

142,554,703

 

$

14

 

 

76,225,000

 

$

8

 

$

1,164,240

 

 

(10,750,153

)

$

(72,655

)

$

(934,580

)

$

(1,216

)

 

$

155,811

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

6


VIVID SEATS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands) (Unaudited)

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

9,518

 

 

$

68,598

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

20,985

 

 

 

5,302

 

Amortization of leases

 

 

843

 

 

 

295

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

 

453

 

 

 

453

 

Equity-based compensation expense

 

 

27,600

 

 

 

12,910

 

Change in fair value of warrants

 

 

(1,761

)

 

 

673

 

Loss on asset disposals

 

 

122

 

 

 

17

 

Deferred taxes

 

 

156

 

 

 

(24,577

)

Change in fair value of derivative asset

 

 

81

 

 

 

 

Non-cash interest income

 

 

(291

)

 

 

 

Foreign currency revaluation loss

 

 

5,798

 

 

 

 

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

 

 

 

 

 

(1,018

)

Change in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable – net

 

 

(10,644

)

 

 

(9,770

)

Inventory – net

 

 

(9,245

)

 

 

(15,227

)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

2,541

 

 

 

(16,696

)

Accounts payable

 

 

10,084

 

 

 

42,905

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

(25,803

)

 

 

13,586

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

(4,505

)

 

 

(1,913

)

Other non-current assets and liabilities

 

 

(573

)

 

 

7,132

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

25,359

 

 

 

82,670

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

 

(378

)

 

 

(606

)

Purchases of personal seat licenses

 

 

(737

)

 

 

(486

)

Investments in developed technology

 

 

(9,433

)

 

 

(4,491

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(10,548

)

 

 

(5,583

)

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payments of February 2022 First Lien Loan

 

 

(689

)

 

 

(1,375

)

Repurchase of common stock as treasury stock

 

 

(20,069

)

 

 

(7,612

)

Tax distributions

 

 

(6,414

)

 

 

(11,016

)

Payments of Shoko Chukin Bank Loan

 

 

(2,655

)

 

 

 

Payments for taxes related to net settlement of equity incentive awards

 

 

(565

)

 

 

 

Proceeds from June 2024 First Lien Loan

 

 

125,500

 

 

 

 

Payments of deferred financing costs and other debt-related costs

 

 

(315

)

 

 

 

Payment of liabilities under Tax Receivable Agreement

 

 

(77

)

 

 

 

Cash paid for milestone payments

 

 

 

 

 

(2,500

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

94,716

 

 

 

(22,503

)

Impact of foreign exchange on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

 

 

(1,536

)

 

 

 

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

 

 

107,991

 

 

 

54,584

 

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash – beginning of period

 

 

132,434

 

 

 

252,290

 

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash – end of period

 

$

240,425

 

 

$

306,874

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$

16,108

 

 

$

7,261

 

Cash paid for income tax

 

$

3,285

 

 

$

401

 

Cash paid for operating lease liabilities

 

$

1,527

 

 

$

459

 

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations

 

$

935

 

 

$

 

Establishment of liabilities under Tax Receivable Agreement

 

$

 

 

$

98,977

 

Establishment of deferred tax asset under Tax Receivable Agreement and Secondary Offering

 

$

 

 

$

52,845

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

7


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

1. Background and Basis of Presentation

Vivid Seats Inc. (“VSI”) and its subsidiaries including Hoya Intermediate, LLC (“Hoya Intermediate”), Hoya Midco, LLC and Vivid Seats LLC (collectively the “Company,” “us,” “we” and “our”) provide an online ticket marketplace that enables buyers to easily discover and purchase tickets to live events and attractions and book hotel rooms and packages in the United States, Canada and Japan. In our Marketplace segment, we primarily act as an intermediary between ticket buyers, sellers and partners within our online ticket marketplace, while enabling ticket sellers and partners to seamlessly manage their operations. In our Resale segment, we primarily acquire tickets to resell on secondary ticket marketplaces, including our own.

We have prepared these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for comprehensive annual financial statements. In our opinion, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for the interim periods have been included and are of a normal, recurring nature. The results reflected in these condensed consolidated financial statements are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read together with the audited annual consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on March 8, 2024 (our “2023 Form 10-K”). These condensed consolidated financial statements include all of our accounts, including those of our consolidated subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

2. New Accounting Standards

Issued Accounting Standards Adopted

Acquired Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities

In October 2021, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers. The ASU requires contract assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination to be recognized and measured by the acquirer on the acquisition date in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, as if it had originated the contracts. Under the previous guidance, such assets and liabilities were recognized by the acquirer at fair value on the acquisition date. The ASU allows for immediate adoption on a retrospective basis for all business combinations that have occurred since the beginning of the annual period that includes the interim period of adoption. We elected to adopt these requirements during the three months ended December 31, 2023, with no material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Segment Reporting - Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which updates reportable segment disclosure requirements primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting the amendments on our future condensed consolidated financial statements.

8


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

Income Taxes

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which requires that an entity, on an annual basis, disclose additional income tax information, primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. The amendments are intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting the new amendments, which are expected to result in enhanced disclosures, on our future condensed consolidated financial statements.

Stock Compensation

In March 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-01, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718)—Scope Application of Profits Interest and Similar Awards. The amendments are intended to improve the clarity of paragraph 718-10-15-3 and its application to profits interest or similar awards, primarily through the addition of an illustrative example. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2025, and for interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted for both interim and annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting the amendments on our future condensed consolidated financial statements.

3. Business Acquisitions

Vegas.com Acquisition

On November 3, 2023, we acquired VDC Holdco, LLC, the parent company of Vegas.com, LLC (together, “Vegas.com”), an online ticket marketplace headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. The purchase price was $248.3 million, comprising $152.8 million in cash and approximately 15.6 million shares of our Class A common stock. We financed the cash portion of the purchase price at closing with cash on hand. The purchase consideration allocation is preliminary because the evaluations necessary to assess the fair values of the net assets acquired are still in process. The primary areas that are not yet finalized relate to the valuations of certain intangible assets and acquired income tax assets and liabilities. As a result, these allocations are subject to change during the one-year measurement period. There were no changes to the preliminary purchase price allocation during the six months ended June 30, 2024.

Wavedash Acquisition

On September 8, 2023, we acquired WD Holdings Co., Ltd., the parent company of Wavedash Co., Ltd. (together, “Wavedash”), an online ticket marketplace headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The purchase price was JPY 10,946.1 million, or approximately $74.3 million based on the exchange rate in effect on the acquisition date, before considering the net effect of cash acquired. We financed the purchase price at closing with cash on hand. The purchase consideration allocation is preliminary because the evaluations necessary to assess the fair values of the net assets acquired are still in process. The primary areas that are not yet finalized relate to the valuations of certain intangible assets and acquired income tax assets and liabilities. Acquired assets and liability amounts are also still being finalized. As a result, these allocations are subject to change during the one-year measurement period. There were no changes to the preliminary purchase price allocation during the six months ended June 30, 2024.

4. Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. We have two reportable segments: Marketplace and Resale.

In our Marketplace segment, we primarily act as an intermediary between ticket buyers, sellers and partners through which we earn revenue processing ticket sales for live events and attractions and from facilitating the booking of hotel rooms and packages from our Owned Properties and from our Private Label Offering. Our Owned Properties consist of our websites and mobile applications, including Vivid Seats, Vegas.com and Wavedash, and our Private Label Offering consists of numerous distribution partners. The Owned Properties component of our Marketplace

9


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

segment also includes our Vivid Picks daily fantasy sports offering, where users partake in contests by making picks from a variety of sport and player matchups. Using our online platform, we facilitate customer payments, deposits and withdrawals, coordinate ticket deliveries and provide customer service.

Marketplace revenues consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Marketplace revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owned Properties

 

$

138,587

 

 

$

103,413

 

 

$

265,158

 

 

$

206,228

 

Private Label

 

 

31,459

 

 

 

35,737

 

 

 

64,900

 

 

 

69,503

 

Total Marketplace revenues

 

$

170,046

 

 

$

139,150

 

 

$

330,058

 

 

$

275,731

 

Marketplace revenues consisted of the following event categories (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Marketplace revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concerts

 

$

80,803

 

 

$

77,741

 

 

$

148,832

 

 

$

152,620

 

Sports

 

 

51,457

 

 

 

45,349

 

 

 

98,805

 

 

 

90,949

 

Theater

 

 

30,932

 

 

 

15,527

 

 

 

68,839

 

 

 

30,917

 

Other

 

 

6,854

 

 

 

533

 

 

 

13,582

 

 

 

1,245

 

Total Marketplace revenues

 

$

170,046

 

 

$

139,150

 

 

$

330,058

 

 

$

275,731

 

In our Resale segment, we primarily acquire tickets to resell on secondary ticket marketplaces, including our own. Resale revenues were $28.3 million and $59.1 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, and $26.2 million and $50.7 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively.

At June 30, 2024, Deferred revenue was $30.2 million, which primarily relates to our Vivid Seats Rewards loyalty program. Stamps earned under the program expire in two to three years, if not converted to credits, and credits expire in two to four years, if not redeemed. We expect to recognize all outstanding deferred revenue in the next seven years.

At December 31, 2023, $34.7 million was recorded as Deferred revenue, of which of which $5.6 million and $14.1 million was recognized as revenue during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively. At December 31, 2022, $32.0 million was recorded as Deferred revenue, of which $0.8 million and $11.7 million was recognized as revenue during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively.

5. Segment Reporting

Our reportable segments are Marketplace and Resale. In our Marketplace segment, we primarily act as an intermediary between ticket buyers, sellers and partners through which we earn revenue processing ticket sales for live events and attractions and from facilitating the booking of hotel rooms and packages. In our Resale segment, we primarily acquire tickets to resell on secondary ticket marketplaces, including our own. Revenues and contribution margin (defined as revenues less cost of revenues and marketing and selling expenses) are used by our Chief Operating Decision Maker (our “CODM”) to assess performance of the business.

We do not report our assets, capital expenditures, general and administrative expenses or related depreciation and amortization expenses by segment because our CODM does not use this information to evaluate the performance of our operating segments.

10


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

The following tables represent our segment information (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2024

 

 

 

Marketplace

 

 

Resale

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

Marketplace

 

 

Resale

 

 

Consolidated

 

Revenues

 

$

170,046

 

 

$

28,270

 

 

$

198,316

 

 

$

330,058

 

 

$

59,110

 

 

$

389,168

 

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

 

 

25,163

 

 

 

23,602

 

 

 

48,765

 

 

 

51,304

 

 

 

47,044

 

 

 

98,348

 

Marketing and selling

 

 

70,114

 

 

 

 

 

 

70,114

 

 

 

137,861

 

 

 

 

 

 

137,861

 

Contribution margin

 

$

74,769

 

 

$

4,668

 

 

$

79,437

 

 

$

140,893

 

 

$

12,066

 

 

$

152,959

 

General and administrative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

61,053

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

103,420

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,502

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,985

 

Income from operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,882

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28,554

 

Interest expense – net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,324

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,406

 

Other expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,202

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,784

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(644

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

12,364

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2023

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

 

 

 

Marketplace

 

 

Resale

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

Marketplace

 

 

Resale

 

 

Consolidated

 

Revenues

 

$

139,150

 

 

$

26,230

 

 

$

165,380

 

 

$

275,731

 

 

$

50,712

 

 

$

326,443

 

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

 

 

22,766

 

 

 

19,850

 

 

 

42,616

 

 

 

42,826

 

 

 

37,550

 

 

 

80,376

 

Marketing and selling

 

 

65,192

 

 

 

 

 

 

65,192

 

 

 

119,964

 

 

 

 

 

 

119,964

 

Contribution margin

 

$

51,192

 

 

$

6,380

 

 

$

57,572

 

 

$

112,941

 

 

$

13,162

 

 

$

126,103

 

General and administrative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

38,307

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

70,696

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,704

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,302

 

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,052

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,018

)

Income from operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,613

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

51,123

 

Interest expense – net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,772

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,052

 

Other expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

673

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

13,841

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

44,398

 

Substantially all of our sales occur and assets reside in the United States.

6. Accounts Receivable - Net

The following table summarizes our accounts receivable balance, net of allowance for doubtful accounts (in thousands):

 

 

June 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Uncollateralized payment processor obligations

 

$

44,246

 

 

$

32,810

 

Due from marketplace ticket sellers for cancellation charges

 

 

7,276

 

 

 

5,632

 

Due from distribution partners for cancellation charges

 

 

12,985

 

 

 

12,736

 

Event insurance and other commissions receivable

 

 

5,534

 

 

 

11,414

 

Allowance for credit losses

 

 

(11,090

)

 

 

(10,074

)

Other

 

 

9,677

 

 

 

5,963

 

Total accounts receivable – net

 

$

68,628

 

 

$

58,481

 

We recorded an allowance for credit losses of $11.0 million and $10.0 million at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, to reflect potential challenges in collecting funds from distribution partners and ticket sellers, particularly for amounts due upon usage of store credits previously issued to buyers.

There were no write-offs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.

11


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

7. Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

June 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Recovery of future customer compensation

 

$

22,552

 

 

$

25,750

 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

8,018

 

 

 

8,218

 

Other current assets

 

 

949

 

 

 

93

 

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

$

31,519

 

 

$

34,061

 

Recovery of future customer compensation represents expected recoveries of compensation from ticket sellers and partners for cancellation charges related to previously recorded sales transactions. Recovery of future customer compensation costs decreased by $3.2 million at June 30, 2024 compared to December 31, 2023 due to a decrease in estimated future cancellation rates. A related provision for expected compensation to customers is included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

8. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill

Goodwill is included in our Marketplace segment. The following tables summarize the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill (in thousands):

 

Goodwill

 

Balance at December 31, 2023

 

$

947,359

 

Foreign currency translation

 

 

(5,852

)

Balance at June 30, 2024

 

$

941,507

 

We had recorded $377.1 million of cumulative impairment charges related to our goodwill as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

12


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

Definite-Lived Intangible Assets

The following table summarizes components of our definite-lived intangible assets (in thousands):

 

 

June 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Definite-lived intangible assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplier relationships

 

$

57,123

 

 

$

57,123

 

Customer relationships

 

 

34,620

 

 

 

34,620

 

Acquired developed technology

 

 

29,240

 

 

 

29,240

 

Capitalized development costs

 

 

35,115

 

 

 

28,912

 

Capitalized development costs – work in progress

 

 

8,272

 

 

 

4,795

 

Foreign currency translation

 

 

(2,545

)

 

 

1,315

 

Total gross book value

 

$

161,825

 

 

$

156,005

 

Less: accumulated amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplier relationships

 

$

(9,437

)

 

$

(2,881

)

Customer relationships

 

 

(8,778

)

 

 

(3,522

)

Acquired developed technology

 

 

(6,279

)

 

 

(2,551

)

Capitalized development costs

 

 

(20,966

)

 

 

(16,433

)

Foreign currency translation

 

 

336

 

 

 

(97

)

Total accumulated amortization

 

$

(45,124

)

 

$

(25,484

)

Indefinite-lived intangible assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trademarks

 

$

110,537

 

 

$

110,538

 

Foreign currency translation

 

 

(184

)

 

 

96

 

Intangible assets – net

 

$

227,054

 

 

$

241,155

 

Amortization expense on our definite-lived intangible assets was $10.1 million and $20.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, and $2.3 million and $4.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. Amortization expense is presented in Depreciation and amortization in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

9. Investments

In July 2023, we invested $6.0 million in a privately held company in the form of a convertible promissory note (the “Note”) and a warrant to purchase up to 1,874,933 shares of the company’s stock (the “Warrant”). Interest on the Note accrues at 8% per annum and outstanding principal and accrued interest is due and payable at the earlier of July 3, 2030 or a change in control of the company. The Warrant is exercisable until the date three years after the Note is repaid, subject to certain accelerating events.

We account for the Note in accordance with ASC Topic 320, Investments - Debt and Equity Securities. The Note is classified as an available-for-sale security and is recorded at fair value with the change in unrealized gains and losses reported as a separate component on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) until realized. The Note’s unrealized gain for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 was less than $0.1 million. The Note’s amortized cost was $3.0 million and $2.7 million at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. We did not recognize any credit losses related to the Note during the six months ended June 30, 2024.

We account for the Warrant in accordance with ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, pursuant to which we record the derivative instrument on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in Other expense on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations on a recurring basis. The classification of the derivative instrument, including whether it should be recorded as an asset or a liability, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period.

10. Fair Value Measurements

We account for financial instruments under ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value

13


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

measurements. To increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements, ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels as follows:

Level 1 - Measurements that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 - Measurements that include other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.

Level 3 - Measurements derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. These fair value measurements require significant judgment.

Financial instruments recorded at fair value on recurring basis as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Fair Value Measurements Using

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

June 30, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

3,200

 

 

$

3,200

 

Warrant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,044

 

 

 

4,044

 

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

7,244

 

 

$

7,244

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements Using

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

December 31, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

2,868

 

 

$

2,868

 

Warrant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,125

 

 

 

4,125

 

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

6,993

 

 

$

6,993

 

The fair value of the Note is determined using the income approach, utilizing Level 3 inputs. The estimated fair value of the Warrant is determined using the Black-Scholes model, which requires us to make assumptions and judgments about the variables used in the calculation related to volatility, expected term, dividend yield and risk-free interest rate. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, these estimated values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the investments existed, and the differences could be material.

The following table presents quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs applied to these Level 3 fair value measurements:

 

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unobservable

 

June 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

Asset

 

Inputs

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Note

 

Expected terms (years)

 

 

6.0

 

 

 

6.5

 

 

 

Implied Yield

 

 

21.5

%

 

 

21.7

%

Warrant

 

Expected terms (years)

 

 

6.0

 

 

 

6.5

 

 

 

Estimated volatility

 

 

56.0

%

 

 

56.0

%

 

 

Risk-free rate

 

 

4.3

%

 

 

3.9

%

 

 

Expected dividend yield

 

 

0

%

 

 

0

%

 

14


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

The following table provides a reconciliation of the financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 significant unobservable inputs (in thousands):

 

 

Note

 

 

Warrant

 

Balance at January 1, 2024

 

$

2,868

 

 

$

4,125

 

Accretion of discount

 

 

51

 

 

 

 

Interest paid-in-kind

 

 

239

 

 

 

 

Total unrealized gains or losses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognized in earnings

 

 

 

 

 

(81

)

Recognized in Other comprehensive loss

 

 

42

 

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2024

 

$

3,200

 

 

$

4,044

 

Other financial instruments, including accounts receivable and accounts payable, are carried at cost, which approximates their fair value because of their short-term nature.

11. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

June 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Accrued marketing expense

 

$

36,549

 

 

$

39,210

 

Accrued customer credits

 

 

58,620

 

 

 

64,318

 

Accrued future customer compensation

 

 

28,833

 

 

 

33,010

 

Accrued payroll

 

 

10,813

 

 

 

17,381

 

Accrued operating expenses

 

 

17,308

 

 

 

20,828

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

16,860

 

 

 

16,895

 

Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

$

168,983

 

 

$

191,642

 

Accrued customer credits represent credits issued and outstanding for cancellations or other service issues related to recorded sales transactions. The accrued amount is reduced by the amount of credits estimated to go unused, or breakage, provided that the credits are not subject to escheatment. We estimate breakage based on historical usage trends and available data on comparable programs, and we recognize breakage in proportion to the pattern of redemption for customer credits. Our breakage estimates could be impacted by future activity differing from our estimates, the effects of which could be material.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, $1.5 million and $3.0 million of accrued customer credits were redeemed, respectively, and we recognized $4.5 million and $6.5 million of revenue from breakage, respectively. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, $2.6 million and $5.2 million of accrued customer credits were redeemed, respectively, and we recognized $6.1 million and $10.7 million of revenue from breakage, respectively. Breakage amounts are net of reductions in associated accounts receivable balances.

Accrued future customer compensation represents an estimate of the amount of customer compensation due from cancellation charges in the future. These provisions, which are based on historic experience, revenue volumes for future events and management’s estimate of the likelihood of future cancellations, are recognized as a component of Revenues in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The expected recoveries of these obligations from ticket sellers and partners are included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. This estimated accrual could be impacted by future activity differing from our estimates, the effects of which could be material. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, we recognized a net increase in revenue of $0.6 million and $0.3 million, respectively, and during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, we recognized a net increase in revenue of $1.1 million and a net decrease in revenue of $0.2 million, respectively, in each case from the reversals of previously recorded revenue and changes to accrued

15


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

future customer compensation related to event cancellations where the performance obligations were satisfied in prior periods.

12. Debt

Our outstanding debt is comprised of the following (in thousands):

 

 

June 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

February 2022 First Lien Loan

 

$

 

 

$

270,188

 

Shoko Chukin Bank Loan

 

 

 

 

 

2,954

 

June 2024 First Lien Loan

 

 

395,000

 

 

 

 

Total long-term debt, gross

 

 

395,000

 

 

 

273,142

 

Less: unamortized debt issuance costs

 

 

(4,544

)

 

 

(4,577

)

Total long-term debt, net of issuance costs

 

 

390,456

 

 

 

268,565

 

Less: current portion

 

 

(3,950

)

 

 

(3,933

)

Total long-term debt, net

 

$

386,506

 

 

$

264,632

 

June 2017 Term Loans

In June 2017, we entered into a $575.0 million first lien debt facility, comprising a $50.0 million revolving credit facility and a $525.0 million term loan (the “June 2017 First Lien Loan”), and a second lien credit facility, comprising a $185.0 million second lien term loan (the “June 2017 Second Lien Loan”). The June 2017 First Lien Loan was amended to upsize the committed amount by $115.0 million in July 2018. In October 2019, we paid off the June 2017 Second Lien Loan balance. The revolving credit facility component of the first lien debt facility was retired in May 2020. In October 2021, we made an early principal payment related to the June 2017 First Lien Loan of $148.2 million in connection with, and using the proceeds from, the merger transaction with Horizon Acquisition Corporation (the “Merger Transaction”) and a related private investment in public equity. On February 3, 2022, we repaid the outstanding balance of $190.7 million from the June 2017 First Lien Loan and refinanced the remaining balance with a $275.0 million term loan (as discussed in the “February 2022 First Lien Loan” section below).

February 2022 First Lien Loan

On February 3, 2022, we entered into an amendment which refinanced the remaining balance of the June 2017 First Lien Loan with a $275.0 million term loan (the “February 2022 First Lien Loan”) and added a $100.0 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”) with a maturity date of February 3, 2027. On June 14, 2024, we refinanced the remaining $269.5 million balance of the February 2022 First Lien Loan, which carried an interest rate of SOFR (as defined herein and subject to a 0.5% floor) plus a margin of 3.25%, with a $395.0 million term loan (as discussed in the “June 2024 First Lien Loan” section below).

June 2024 First Lien Loan

On June 14, 2024, we entered into an amendment which refinanced the remaining balance of the February 2022 First Lien Loan with a $395.0 million term loan (the “June 2024 First Lien Loan”) with a maturity date of February 3, 2029.

The terms of the June 2024 First Lien Loan specify a secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”)-based floating interest rate and contain a springing financial covenant that requires compliance with a first lien net leverage ratio when revolver borrowings exceed certain levels. All obligations under the June 2024 First Lien Loan are unconditionally guaranteed by Hoya Intermediate and substantially all of Hoya Intermediate’s existing and future direct and indirect wholly owned domestic subsidiaries (collectively, the “Guarantors”). The June 2024 First Lien Loan requires quarterly amortization payments of $1.0 million. The Revolving Facility does not require periodic payments. All obligations under the June 2024 First Lien Loan are secured, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, by first-priority perfected security interests in substantially all of our and the Guarantors’ assets. The June 2024 First Lien Loan carries an interest rate of SOFR (subject to a 0.5% floor) plus a margin of 3.00%; provided that such margin may be reduced to 2.75% if the corporate rating assigned to us by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and S&P Global Ratings is at least

16


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

Ba3/BB- (in each case, stable or better). The effective interest rate on the June 2024 First Lien Loan was 8.64% per annum at June 30, 2024.

The June 2024 First Lien Loan is held by third-party financial institutions and is carried at the outstanding principal balance, less debt issuance costs and any unamortized discount or premium. Because the fair value was estimated using quoted prices that are directly observable in the marketplace, it is estimated on a Level 2 basis. At June 30, 2024, the fair value of the June 2024 First Lien Loan approximated the carrying value.

We are subject to certain reporting and compliance-related covenants to remain in good standing under the June 2024 First Lien Loan. These covenants, among other things, limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness and, in certain circumstances, to enter into transactions with affiliates, create liens, merge or consolidate and make certain payments. Non-compliance with these covenants and failure to remedy could result in the acceleration of the loans or foreclosure on the collateral. As of June 30, 2024, we were in compliance with all debt covenants related to the June 2024 First Lien Loan and had no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Facility.

The refinancing of the February 2022 First Lien Loan with the June 2024 First Lien Loan was accounted for as a debt modification. We recognized an expense of $1.7 million for third-party fees incurred in relation to the debt modification during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, which is presented in Other expense on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Shoko Chukin Bank Loan

In connection with our acquisition of Wavedash, we assumed long-term debt owed to Shoko Chukin Bank (the “Shoko Chukin Bank Loan”) of JPY 458.3 million (approximately $3.1 million), which had an original maturity date of June 24, 2026 and was subject to a fixed interest rate of 1.27% per annum. On April 4, 2024, we paid off the Shoko Chukin Bank Loan balance in its entirety.

13. Financial Instruments

We issued the following warrants during the year ended December 31, 2021 in connection with the Merger Transaction:

Public Warrants

We issued to former warrant holders of Horizon Acquisition Corporation warrants to purchase 18,132,776 shares of our Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share (the “Public Warrants”), of which warrants to purchase 5,166,666 shares were issued to Horizon Sponsor, LLC. The Public Warrants are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “SEATW.” As of June 30, 2024, there were 6,766,853 Public Warrants outstanding.

Private Warrants

We issued to Horizon Sponsor, LLC warrants to purchase 6,519,791 shares of our Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share (the “Private Warrants”). As of June 30, 2024, there were 6,519,791 Private Warrants outstanding.

Exercise Warrants

We issued to Horizon Sponsor, LLC warrants to purchase 17,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock at an exercise price of $10.00 per share (the “$10 Exercise Warrants”) and warrants to purchase 17,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock at an exercise of $15.00 per share (the “$15 Exercise Warrants” and, together with the $10 Exercise Warrants, the “Exercise Warrants”). As of June 30, 2024, there were 34,000,000 Exercise Warrants outstanding (comprised of 17,000,000 $10 Exercise Warrants and 17,000,000 $15 Exercise Warrants).

Hoya Intermediate Warrants

Hoya Intermediate issued to Hoya Topco, LLC (“Hoya Topco”) warrants to purchase 3,000,000 Intermediate Units at an exercise price of $10.00 per unit (the “$10 Hoya Intermediate Warrants”) and warrants to purchase 3,000,000 Intermediate Units at an exercise of $15.00 per unit (the “$15 Hoya Intermediate Warrants” and, together with the $10 Hoya Intermediate Warrants, the “Hoya Intermediate Warrants”).

17


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

A portion of the Hoya Intermediate Warrants, consisting of warrants to purchase 1,000,000 Intermediate Units at exercise prices of $10.00 and $15.00 per unit, respectively (the “Option Contingent Warrants”), were issued in tandem with stock options we issued to members of our management team (the “Management Options”). The Option Contingent Warrants only become exercisable by Hoya Topco if a Management Option is forfeited or expires unexercised.

On December 7, 2023, Hoya Topco voluntarily terminated a portion of the Hoya Intermediate Warrants, consisting of Option Contingent Warrants to purchase 1,000,000 Intermediate Units at exercise prices of $10.00 and $15.00 per unit, respectively.

As of June 30, 2024, there were 4,000,000 Hoya Intermediate Warrants outstanding (comprised of 2,000,000 $10 Hoya Intermediate Warrants and 2,000,000 $15 Hoya Intermediate Warrants).

The following assumptions were used to calculate the fair value of the Hoya Intermediate Warrants:

 

 

June 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

Estimated volatility

 

 

48.0

%

 

 

48.0

%

Expected term (years)

 

 

7.3

 

 

 

7.8

 

Risk-free rate

 

 

4.3

%

 

 

3.9

%

Expected dividend yield

 

 

0.0

%

 

 

0.0

%

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, the fair value of the Hoya Intermediate Warrants decreased by $1.3 million and $1.8 million, respectively. For three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the fair value of both the Hoya Intermediate Warrants and the Option Contingent Warrants increased by $1.0 million and $0.7 million, respectively. The change in fair value of the Hoya Intermediate Warrants and the Option Contingent Warrants is presented in Other expense on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Upon the valid exercise of a Hoya Intermediate Warrant for Intermediate Units, we will issue an equivalent number of shares of our Class B common stock to Hoya Topco.

Mirror Warrants

Hoya Intermediate issued to us warrants to purchase 17,000,000 of its common units (“Intermediate Units”) at an exercise price of $10.00 per unit (the “$10 Mirror Warrants”), warrants to purchase 17,000,000 Intermediate Units at an exercise of $15.00 per unit (the “$15 Mirror Warrants”), and warrants to purchase 24,652,557 Intermediate Units at an exercise price of $11.50 per unit (the “$11.50 Mirror Warrants” and, together with the $10 Mirror Warrants and the $15 Mirror Warrants, the “Mirror Warrants”). Upon the valid exercise of a Public, Private or Exercise Warrant, Hoya Intermediate will issue to us an equivalent number of Intermediate Units. Similarly, if a Public, Private or Exercise Warrant is tendered, an equivalent number of Mirror Warrants will be tendered. As of June 30, 2024, there were 47,286,644 Mirror Warrants outstanding (comprised of 17,000,000 $10 Mirror Warrants, 17,000,000 $15 Mirror Warrants and 13,286,644 $11.50 Mirror Warrants).

14. Equity

Share Repurchase Programs

On February 29, 2024, our Board of Directors (our “Board”) authorized a share repurchase program for up to $100.0 million of our Class A common stock, which program was publicly announced on March 5, 2024 and does not have a fixed expiration date (the “2024 Repurchase Program”). As of June 30, 2024, we had repurchased approximately 3.5 million shares of our Class A Common Stock for approximately $20.0 million under the 2024 Repurchase Program and paid less than $0.1 million in commissions. As of June 30, 2024, approximately $80.0 million remained available for future repurchases under the 2024 Repurchase Program.

On May 25, 2022, our Board authorized a share repurchase program for up to $40.0 million of our Class A common stock, which program was publicly announced on May 26, 2022 (the “2022 Repurchase Program”). The 2022 Repurchase Programs authorization was fully utilized during 2022 and the three months ended March 31, 2023.

18


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

Cumulatively under the 2022 Repurchase Program, we repurchased 5.3 million shares of our Class A common stock for $40.0 million and paid $0.1 million in commissions.

Share repurchases are accounted for as Treasury stock in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following table presents the changes in each component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Class A Common Stockholders (in thousands):

 

 

Unrealized gain on
investments

 

 

Foreign currency
translation adjustment

 

 

Total

 

Balance at January 1, 2024

 

$

106

 

 

$

641

 

 

$

747

 

Recognized in Other comprehensive loss

 

 

27

 

 

 

(1,990

)

 

 

(1,963

)

Balance at June 30, 2024

 

$

133

 

 

$

(1,349

)

 

$

(1,216

)

 

15. Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

From time to time, we are involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, none of which, in the opinion of management, could have a material effect on our business, financial position or results of operations other than those matters discussed herein.

We were a co-defendant in a class action lawsuit in Canada alleging a failure to disclose service fees prior to checkout. A final order approving the settlement of this lawsuit was entered by the court in August 2020. In January 2022, we issued coupons to certain members of the class. Other members of the class were notified in 2022 that they are eligible to submit a claim for a coupon. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, a liability of $0.9 million was recorded in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets related to expected claim submissions and credit redemptions as of the measurement date.

We have been a defendant in multiple class action lawsuits related to customer compensation for cancellations, primarily as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. A final order approving the settlement of one such lawsuit was entered by the court in November 2021, pursuant to which we paid $4.5 million (after insurance) to fund a claims settlement pool in 2021 that was fully disbursed in 2022. A final order approving the settlement of another such lawsuit was entered by the court on January 31, 2023, pursuant to which we paid $3.3 million (after insurance) to cover legal and administrative fees and approved claims (payments for which were made in August 2023). We had no accrued liability as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 related to these matters.

We are a defendant in a lawsuit related to an alleged violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. In June 2024, we reached an agreement to settle this lawsuit for $0.3 million, subject to court approval, which we expect to be covered in full by insurance. We had no accrued liability as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 related to this matter.

Other

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc., which overturned previous case law that had precluded state and local governments from imposing sales tax collection requirements on retailers without a physical presence. In response, most jurisdictions have adopted laws that attempt to impose tax collection obligations on out-of-state companies, and we have registered and begun collecting tax where required by statute. It is reasonably possible that state or local governments will continue to adopt or interpret laws such that we are required to calculate, collect and remit taxes on sales in their jurisdictions. A successful assertion by one or more jurisdictions could result in material tax liabilities, including uncollected taxes on past sales, as well as penalties and interest. Based on our analysis of certain state and local regulations, specifically related to marketplace facilitators and ticket sales, we have recorded liabilities in all jurisdictions where we believe a risk of loss is probable. We continuously monitor state and local regulations and will implement required collection and remittance procedures if and when we are subject to such regulations.

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we recorded a liability of $2.3 million and $3.2 million, respectively, related to uncollected state and local taxes in the U.S. This liability is recorded in Accrued expenses and other current

19


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. This liability is inclusive of jurisdictions where we believe it is probable we should remit but have not yet begun collecting from customers, and is reduced by abatements received. The net expense related to uncollected state and local taxes in the U.S. recorded in General and administrative expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 was $2.3 million, and $(0.4) million, respectively.

16. Related-Party Transactions

Viral Nation Inc.

Viral Nation Inc. (“Viral Nation”) is a marketing agency that creates viral and social media influencer campaigns and provides advertising, marketing and technology services. Todd Boehly, a member of our Board, serves on the board of directors of Viral Nation and is the Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Eldridge Industries, LLC (“Eldridge”), which owns greater than 10% of Viral Nation. For Viral Nation’s services, we incurred an expense of zero and $0.3 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and less than $0.1 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively, which is presented in Marketing and selling expenses on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Rolling Stone, LLC

Rolling Stone, LLC (“Rolling Stone”) is a high-profile magazine and media platform focused on music, film, television and news coverage. Todd Boehly, a member of our Board, is the Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Eldridge, which owns greater than 10% of Rolling Stone. In connection with a partnership with Rolling Stone, we incurred zero expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and an expense of $0.3 million and $0.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively, which is presented in Marketing and selling expenses on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers (the “Dodgers”) is a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. Todd Boehly, a member of our Board, owns greater than 10% of the Dodgers. As part of our strategic partnership with the Dodgers, including our designation as an Official Ticket Marketplace of the Dodgers and certain other advertising, marketing, promotional and sponsorship benefits, we incurred an expense of $1.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and zero expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively, which is presented in Marketing and selling expenses on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Additionally, we recorded a prepaid expense of $0.9 million as of June 30, 2024, which is presented in Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Tax Receivable Agreement

In connection with the Merger Transaction, we entered into a Tax Receivable Agreement (the “TRA”) with the existing Hoya Intermediate shareholders. For more information, see “Tax Receivable Agreement” in Note 17, Income Taxes.

17. Income Taxes

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, we recorded a $0.6 million and $2.9 million income tax expense in continuing operations, respectively. Our effective income tax rate differed from the 21% U.S. federal statutory rate due to a non-controlling interest adjustment for VSI’s allocable share of Hoya Intermediate’s income (loss), state taxes, equity-based compensation and limitations on compensation deductions. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, we recorded a $24.5 million and $24.2 million income tax benefit in continuing operations, respectively. Our effective income tax rate differed from the 21% U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to the release of our valuation allowance on our U.S. net operating losses, interest limitations and tax credit carryforwards, of which $25.3 million was recorded as a discrete tax benefit during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023.

20


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, our deferred tax assets were primarily the result of our investment in partnership, tax receivable agreement, net operating losses, interest limitations and tax credit carryforwards. As of each reporting date, management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, that could affect its view of the future realization of deferred tax assets. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, we released our valuation allowance on our U.S. net operating losses, interest limitations and tax credit carryforwards. Certain tax attributes remain subject to an annual limitation under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as a result of the historical acquisitions. We maintain a partial valuation allowance on our investments in partnership related to the portion of the basis difference that we do not expect to realize on a more likely than not basis.

Tax Receivable Agreement

In connection with the Merger Transaction, we entered into the TRA with the existing Hoya Intermediate shareholders that provides for our payment to such shareholders of 85% of the amount of the tax savings, if any, that we realize (or, under certain circumstances, are deemed to realize) as a result of, or attributable to, (i) increases in the tax basis of assets owned directly or indirectly by Hoya Intermediate or its subsidiaries from, among other things, any redemptions or exchanges of Intermediate Units, (ii) existing tax basis (including depreciation and amortization deductions arising from such tax basis) in long-lived assets owned directly or indirectly by Hoya Intermediate and its subsidiaries and (iii) certain other tax benefits (including deductions in respect of imputed interest) related to us making payments under the TRA.

Amounts payable under the TRA are contingent upon the generation of future taxable income over the term of the TRA and future changes in tax laws. If we do not generate sufficient taxable income in the aggregate over the term of the TRA to utilize the tax benefits, then we would not be required to make the related payments. As of June 30, 2024, we estimate that the tax savings associated with all tax attributes described above would require us to pay $165.7 million, primarily over the next 15 years. As of June 30, 2024, $3.5 million is due within the next 12 months.

18. EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION

Our 2021 Incentive Award Plan, as amended (the “2021 Plan”), was approved and adopted in order to facilitate the grant of equity incentive awards to our employees, non-employee directors and consultants. The 2021 Plan became effective on October 18, 2021 upon consummation of the Merger Transaction, and the First Amendment to the 2021 Plan became effective on February 5, 2024.

Restricted Stock Units

Restricted stock units (“RSUs”) are awards denominated in a hypothetical equivalent number of shares of our Class A common stock. The value of each RSU is equal to the fair value of our Class A common stock on the grant date. Each RSU converts into shares of our Class A Common stock upon vesting.

During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, we granted 10.7 million and 2.5 million RSUs, respectively, to certain employees at a weighted average grant date fair value of $5.35 per share and $7.17 per share, respectively. RSUs granted to employees vest over three years, with one-third vesting on the one-year anniversary of the grant date and the remaining portion vesting on a quarterly basis thereafter, subject to the employee’s continued employment through the applicable vesting date.

During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, we granted 0.3 million and 0.1 million RSUs, respectively, to our directors at a weighted average grant date fair value of $5.24 per share and $7.68 per share, respectively. RSUs granted to directors fully vest on the earlier of (i) one day prior to the date of our first annual meeting of stockholders following the grant date and (ii) the one-year anniversary of the grant date, subject to the director’s continued service on our Board.

During the six months ended June 30, 2023, we granted less than 0.1 million RSUs to certain of our consultants at a weighted average grant date fair value of $7.98 per share. RSUs granted to consultants vest in equal annual installments over three years, subject to the consultant’s continued service through the applicable vesting date. We did not grant any RSUs to our consultants during the six months ended June 30, 2024.

21


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

A summary of the total activity for RSUs is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

 

 

Shares

 

 

Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share

 

Unvested at December 31, 2023

 

 

3,866

 

 

$

8.35

 

Granted

 

 

10,940

 

 

 

5.34

 

Forfeited

 

 

(225

)

 

 

7.37

 

Vested

 

 

(1,486

)

 

 

8.14

 

Unvested at June 30, 2024

 

 

13,095

 

 

$

5.88

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share

 

Unvested at December 31, 2022

 

 

2,551

 

 

$

10.99

 

Granted

 

 

2,685

 

 

 

7.21

 

Forfeited

 

 

(138

)

 

 

9.02

 

Vested

 

 

(801

)

 

 

7.65

 

Unvested at June 30, 2023

 

 

4,297

 

 

$

9.31

 

Stock Options

Stock options provide for the purchase of shares of our Class A common stock in the future at an exercise price set on the grant date.

On March 10, 2023, we granted to certain of our employees 3.6 million stock options with an exercise price of $7.17 per share and a grant date fair value of $3.30 per option. Stock options granted to our employees vest over three years, with one-third vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remaining portion vesting on a quarterly basis thereafter, subject to the employee’s continued employment through the applicable vesting date. Stock options granted to our employees have a contractual term of ten years from the grant date, and their fair value is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes model.

On June 14, 2023, we granted to certain of our consultants 0.9 million stock options divided into three tranches of 0.2 million, 0.3 million and 0.4 million, respectively, with exercise prices of $7.98, $17.00 and $23.00 per share, respectively, and grant date fair values of $3.22, $1.87 and $1.44 per option, respectively. Stock options granted to our consultants vest in equal annual installments over three years, subject to the consultant’s continued service through the applicable vesting date. Stock options granted to our consultants have a contractual term of seven years from the grant date, and their fair value is estimated on the grant date using the Hull White model.

The following assumptions were used to calculate the fair value of the stock options:

 

 

June 14, 2023

 

 

March 10, 2023

 

Volatility

 

 

42.0

%

 

 

42.0

%

Expected term (years)

 

 

7.0

 

 

 

5.9

 

Risk-free rate

 

 

4.0

%

 

 

3.9

%

Dividend yield

 

 

0.0

%

 

 

0.0

%

 

22


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

A summary of activity for stock options is as follows (in thousands, except per option data):

 

 

Outstanding Options

 

 

Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option

 

 

Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in Years)

 

 

Aggregate Intrinsic Value

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2023

 

 

8,807

 

 

$

8.02

 

 

 

9

 

 

$

 

Options granted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options forfeited

 

 

(114

)

 

 

7.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options expired

 

 

(148

)

 

 

6.90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at June 30, 2024

 

 

8,545

 

 

$

8.05

 

 

 

8

 

 

$

 

Vested and exercisable at June 30, 2024

 

 

4,622

 

 

$

7.58

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding Options

 

 

Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option

 

 

Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in Years)

 

 

Aggregate Intrinsic Value

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2022

 

 

6,125

 

 

$

12.09

 

 

 

9

 

 

$

 

Options granted to employees

 

 

3,603

 

 

 

7.17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options granted to consultants - tranche 1

 

 

200

 

 

 

7.98

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options granted to consultants - tranche 2

 

 

300

 

 

 

17.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options granted to consultants - tranche 3

 

 

400

 

 

 

23.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options forfeited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options expired

 

 

(58

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at June 30, 2023

 

 

10,570

 

 

$

10.89

 

 

 

9

 

 

$

 

Compensation Expense

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, equity-based compensation expense related to RSUs was $8.4 million and $13.9 million, respectively, compared to $3.9 million and $6.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. Unrecognized compensation expense relating to unvested RSUs as of June 30, 2024 was approximately $76.8 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately two years.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, equity-based compensation expense related to stock options was $2.9 million and $5.8 million, respectively, compared to $2.7 million and $4.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. Unrecognized compensation expense relating to unvested stock options as of June 30, 2024 was $14.0 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately one year.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, equity-based compensation expense excludes $0.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively, related to capitalized development costs.

Profits Interests and Phantom Units

In June 2024, the Board of Managers of Hoya Topco approved the redemption, repurchase and cancellation by Hoya Topco (using Hoya Topco’s funds) of all of its outstanding profits interests held by our employees (including the Class

23


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

B-1, Class D and Class E Units discussed in our 2023 Form 10-K). Accordingly, we recognized equity-based compensation expense of $3.1 million and $3.3 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, we recognized equity-based compensation expense related to the profits interests of $1.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively.

In June 2024, the Board of Managers of Hoya Topco also approved the repurchase and cancellation by Hoya Topco (using Hoya Topco’s funds) of all of its outstanding phantom units held by our employees. The phantom units held service and performance conditions, requiring us to recognize a liability for the fair value of the outstanding phantom units only when we conclude it is probable that the performance conditions will be achieved. Accordingly, we recognized equity-based compensation expense of $5.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024. There was no equity-based compensation expense previously recognized related to the phantom units.

Hoya Topco had no outstanding profits interests or phantom units held by our employees, and we had no unrecognized equity-based compensation expense related thereto, as of June 30, 2024.

19. Earnings Per Share

We calculate basic and diluted net income (loss) per share of Class A common stock in accordance with ASC Topic 260, Earnings per Share. Because our Class B common stock does not have economic rights in VSI, it is not considered a participating security for basic and diluted income (loss) per share, and we do not present basic and diluted income (loss) per share of Class B common stock. However, holders of our Class B common stock are allocated income (loss) in Hoya Intermediate (our operating entity) according to their weighted average percentage ownership of Intermediate Units during each quarter.

Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests is calculated by multiplying Hoya Intermediate’s net income (loss) in each quarterly period by Hoya Topco’s weighted average percentage ownership of Intermediate Units during the period. Hoya Topco has the right to exchange its Intermediate Units for shares of our Class A common stock (on a one-to-one basis) or cash proceeds of equal value at the time of redemption. The option to redeem Intermediate Units for cash proceeds must be approved by our Board, which as of June 30, 2024 consisted of a majority of directors nominated by affiliates of Hoya Topco and GTCR, LLC pursuant to our stockholders’ agreement. The ability to put Intermediate Units is solely within the control of the holder of the redeemable noncontrolling interests. If Hoya Topco elects the redemption to be settled in cash, the cash used to settle the redemption must be funded through a private or public offering of our Class A common stock and is subject to our Board’s approval.

The following table provides the net income (loss) attributable to Hoya Topco’s redeemable noncontrolling interest (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Net income (loss)—Hoya Intermediate

 

$

(437

)

 

$

13,646

 

 

$

12,433

 

 

$

44,002

 

Hoya Topco’s weighted average % allocation of Hoya Intermediate's net income (loss)

 

 

36.6

%

 

 

55.8

%

 

 

36.2

%

 

 

58.4

%

Net income (loss) attributable to Hoya Topco's redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

$

(160

)

 

$

7,614

 

 

$

4,505

 

 

$

25,704

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Class A common stockholders–basic is calculated by subtracting the portion of Hoya Intermediate’s net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests from our total net income (loss), which includes our net income (loss) for activities outside of our investment in Hoya Intermediate, including income tax expense (benefit) for VSI’s portion of income (loss), as well as the full results of Hoya Intermediate on a consolidated basis.

Net income (loss) per Class A common stock–diluted is based on the average number of shares of our Class A common stock used for the basic earnings per share calculation, adjusted for the weighted average number of Class

24


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

A common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury stock and if-converted methods, as applicable. Net income (loss) attributable to Class A common stockholders–diluted is adjusted for (i) our share of Hoya Intermediate’s consolidated net income (loss) after giving effect to Intermediate Units that convert into potential shares of our Class A common stock, to the extent it is dilutive, and (ii) the impact of changes in the fair value of Hoya Intermediate Warrants, to the extent they are dilutive.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share of Class A common stock for the periods in which shares of our Class A and Class B common stock were outstanding (in thousands, except share and per share data):

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Numerator—basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(1,221

)

 

$

38,326

 

 

$

9,518

 

 

$

68,598

 

Less: Income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

(160

)

 

 

7,614

 

 

 

4,505

 

 

 

25,704

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Class A Common Stockholders—basic

 

 

(1,061

)

 

 

30,712

 

 

 

5,013

 

 

 

42,894

 

Denominator—basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average Class A common stock outstanding—basic

 

 

131,802,620

 

 

 

85,269,196

 

 

 

132,935,446

 

 

 

81,319,369

 

Net income (loss) per Class A common stock—basic

 

$

(0.01

)

 

$

0.36

 

 

$

0.04

 

 

$

0.53

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numerator—diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Class A Common Stockholders—basic

 

$

(1,061

)

 

$

30,712

 

 

$

5,013

 

 

$

42,894

 

Net income (loss) effect of dilutive securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of dilutive Noncontrolling Interest

 

 

(814

)

 

 

8,765

 

 

 

2,434

 

 

 

25,605

 

Effect of RSUs

 

 

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

47

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Class A Common Stockholders—diluted

 

 

(1,875

)

 

 

39,495

 

 

 

7,450

 

 

 

68,546

 

Denominator—diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average Class A common stock outstanding—basic

 

 

131,802,620

 

 

 

85,269,196

 

 

 

132,935,446

 

 

 

81,319,369

 

Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of dilutive Noncontrolling Interest

 

 

76,225,000

 

 

 

110,662,222

 

 

 

76,225,000

 

 

 

114,451,934

 

Effect of RSUs

 

 

 

 

 

446,052

 

 

 

777,264

 

 

 

356,956

 

Weighted average Class A common stock outstanding—diluted

 

 

208,027,620

 

 

 

196,377,470

 

 

 

209,937,710

 

 

 

196,128,259

 

Net income (loss) per Class A common stock—diluted

 

$

(0.01

)

 

$

0.20

 

 

$

0.04

 

 

$

0.35

 

 

25


Vivid Seats INC.

NOTES to the CONDENSED Consolidated Financial Statements

(UNAUDITED)

Potential shares of our Class A common stock are excluded from the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share of Class A common stock if their effect would have been anti-dilutive for the period presented or if the issuance of shares is contingent upon events that did not occur by the end of the period.

The following table presents potentially dilutive securities excluded from the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share of Class A common stock for the periods presented that could potentially dilute earnings per share in the future:

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

RSUs

 

 

2,526,153

 

 

 

1,726,048

 

 

 

1,030,298

 

 

 

1,065,396

 

Stock options

 

 

8,545,136

 

 

 

10,597,528

 

 

 

8,545,136

 

 

 

10,597,528

 

Public Warrants and Private Warrants

 

 

13,286,644

 

 

 

13,286,644

 

 

 

13,286,644

 

 

 

13,286,644

 

Exercise Warrants

 

 

34,000,000

 

 

 

34,000,000

 

 

 

34,000,000

 

 

 

34,000,000

 

Hoya Intermediate Warrants

 

 

4,000,000

 

 

 

6,000,000

 

 

 

4,000,000

 

 

 

6,000,000

 

 

26


 

Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This discussion is intended to help readers understand our financial condition and results of operations and is provided as an addition to, and should be read together with, our condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this Report, as well as our audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes contained in our 2023 Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” sections of this Report and our 2023 Form 10-K.

Overview

We are an online ticket marketplace that utilizes our technology platform to connect fans of live events seamlessly with ticket sellers. Our mission is to empower and enable fans to Experience It Live. We believe in the power of shared experiences to connect people with live events delivering some of life’s most exciting moments. We operate a technology platform and marketplace that enables ticket buyers to easily discover and purchase tickets to live events and attractions and book hotel rooms and packages, while enabling ticket sellers and partners to seamlessly manage their operations. We differentiate from competitors by offering an extensive breadth and depth of ticket listings at a competitive value. The following table summarizes our Marketplace Gross Order Value (“Marketplace GOV”), revenues, net income (loss) and Adjusted EBITDA for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

Marketplace GOV*

 

$

998,065

 

 

$

953,739

 

 

$

2,026,543

 

 

$

1,809,267

 

Revenues

 

 

198,316

 

 

 

165,380

 

 

 

389,168

 

 

 

326,443

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

(1,221

)

 

 

38,326

 

 

 

9,518

 

 

 

68,598

 

Adjusted EBITDA*

 

$

44,178

 

 

$

31,077

 

 

$

83,096

 

 

$

73,512

 

* See the “Key Business Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measure” section below for more information on Marketplace GOV and Adjusted EBITDA, which is a financial measure not defined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

Our Business Model

We operate our business in two segments, Marketplace and Resale.

Marketplace

In our Marketplace segment, we primarily act as an intermediary between ticket buyers, sellers and partners through which we earn revenue processing ticket sales for live events and attractions and from facilitating the booking of hotel rooms and packages from our Owned Properties and from our Private Label Offering. Our Owned Properties consist of our websites and mobile applications, including Vivid Seats, Vegas.com (as defined herein) and Wavedash (as defined herein), and our Private Label Offering consists of numerous distribution partners. The Owned Properties component of our Marketplace segment also includes our Vivid Picks daily fantasy sports offering, where users partake in contests by making picks from a variety of sport and player matchups. Using our online platform, we facilitate customer payments, deposits and withdrawals, coordinate ticket deliveries and provide customer service. We do not hold ticket inventory in our Marketplace segment.

We primarily earn revenue from service and delivery fees charged to ticket buyers. We also earn referral fee revenue by offering event ticket insurance to ticket buyers using a third-party insurance provider. The revenue we earn from our Vivid Picks daily fantasy sports offering is the difference between cash entry fees collected and cash amounts paid out to users for winning picks, less customer promotions and incentives.

We incur costs for developing and maintaining our platform, providing back-office support and customer service, facilitating payments and deposits, and shipping non-electronic tickets. We also incur substantial marketing costs, primarily related to online advertising.

27


 

A key component of our platform is Skybox, a proprietary enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) tool used by the majority of ticket sellers. Skybox is a free-to-use system that helps ticket sellers manage ticket inventories, adjust pricing and fulfill orders across multiple ticket resale marketplaces. Professional ticket sellers use an ERP to manage their operations, and Skybox is their most widely adopted ERP.

Resale

In our Resale segment, we primarily acquire tickets to resell on secondary ticketing marketplaces, including our own. Our Resale segment also provides internal research and development support for Skybox and our ongoing efforts to deliver industry-leading seller software and tools.

Key Business Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measure

We use the following metrics to evaluate our performance, identify trends, formulate financial projections and make strategic decisions. We believe these metrics provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our results of operations in the same manner as our management team.

The following table summarizes our key business metrics and non-GAAP financial measure (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

Marketplace GOV(1)

 

$

998,065

 

 

$

953,739

 

 

$

2,026,543

 

 

$

1,809,267

 

Total Marketplace orders(2)

 

 

3,097

 

 

 

2,627

 

 

 

5,974

 

 

 

4,902

 

Total Resale orders(3)

 

 

101

 

 

 

76

 

 

 

200

 

 

 

163

 

Adjusted EBITDA(4)

 

$

44,178

 

 

$

31,077

 

 

$

83,096

 

 

$

73,512

 

 

(1)
Marketplace GOV represents the total transactional amount of Marketplace segment orders placed on our platform in a period, inclusive of fees, exclusive of taxes and net of cancellations that occurred during that period. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, Marketplace GOV was negatively impacted by cancellations in the amount of $21.2 million and $39.4 million, respectively, compared to $11.7 million and $23.8 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively.
(2)
Total Marketplace orders represents the volume of Marketplace segment orders placed on our platform in a period, net of cancellations that occurred during that period. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, our Marketplace segment experienced 52,392 and 102,441 cancellations, respectively, compared to 29,351 and 49,831 cancellations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively.
(3)
Total Resale orders represents the volume of Resale segment orders in a period, net of cancellations that occurred during that period. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, our Resale segment experienced 1,211 and 2,083 cancellations, respectively, compared to 827 and 1,512 cancellations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively.
(4)
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. We believe Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our results of operations, as well as provides a useful measure for making period-to-period comparisons of our business performance. See the “Adjusted EBITDA” section below for more information and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable GAAP measure.

Marketplace GOV

Marketplace GOV is a key driver of our Marketplace segment revenue. Marketplace GOV represents the total transactional amount of Marketplace segment orders placed on our platform in a period, inclusive of fees, exclusive of taxes and net of cancellations that occurred during that period. Marketplace GOV reflects our ability to attract and retain customers, as well as the overall health of the industry.

Marketplace GOV can be impacted by seasonality. Typically, we experience slightly increased activity in the fourth quarter when all major sports leagues are in season and there is an increase in order volume for theater events during the holiday season and concert on-sales for the following year. Quarterly fluctuations in Marketplace GOV

28


 

can also result from the popularity and demand of performers, tours, teams and events, the length and team composition of sports playoff series and championship games, and the number of cancellations.

Marketplace GOV increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 primarily as a result of an increase in Total Marketplace orders.

Total Marketplace Orders

Total Marketplace orders represents the volume of Marketplace segment orders placed on our platform in a period, net of cancellations that occurred during that period. An order can include one or more tickets, hotel rooms or parking passes. Total Marketplace orders allows us to monitor order volume and better identify trends within our Marketplace segment. Total Marketplace orders increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 primarily as a result of an increase in the number of orders processed, which was due in part to the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 including orders processed through Vegas.com and Wavedash.

Total Resale Orders

Total Resale orders represents the volume of Resale segment orders in a period, net of cancellations that occurred during that period. An order can include one or more tickets or parking passes. Total Resale orders allows us to monitor order volume and better identify trends within our Resale segment. Total Resale orders increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 primarily as a result of higher activity in our Resale segment.

Adjusted EBITDA

We present Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, because it is a measure frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. Further, we believe this measure is helpful in highlighting trends in our operating results because it excludes the impact of items that are outside of our control or not reflective of ongoing performance related directly to the operation of our business.

Adjusted EBITDA is a key measure used by our management internally to make operating decisions, including those related to analyzing operating expenses, evaluating performance and performing strategic planning and annual budgeting. Moreover, we believe Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our results of operations, as well as provides a useful measure for making period-to-period comparisons of our business performance and highlighting trends in our operating results.

Adjusted EBITDA is not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles and should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect all amounts associated with our operating results as determined in accordance with GAAP and may exclude recurring costs, such as interest expense – net, equity-based compensation, litigation, settlements and related costs, change in fair value of warrants, change in fair value of derivative assets and foreign currency revaluation (gains)/losses. In addition, other companies may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, thereby limiting its usefulness as a comparative tool. We compensate for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from Adjusted EBITDA.

29


 

The following table provides a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable GAAP measure, net income (loss) (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(1,221

)

 

$

38,326

 

 

$

9,518

 

 

$

68,598

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

577

 

 

 

(24,485

)

 

 

2,846

 

 

 

(24,200

)

Interest expense – net

 

 

5,324

 

 

 

2,772

 

 

 

10,406

 

 

 

6,052

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

10,502

 

 

 

2,704

 

 

 

20,985

 

 

 

5,302

 

Sales tax liability(1)

 

 

4,819

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,088

 

 

 

 

Transaction costs(2)

 

 

3,507

 

 

 

4,488

 

 

 

5,406

 

 

 

4,944

 

Equity-based compensation(3)

 

 

19,112

 

 

 

7,380

 

 

 

27,600

 

 

 

12,910

 

Litigation, settlements and related costs(4)

 

 

4

 

 

 

(66

)

 

 

7

 

 

 

234

 

Change in fair value of warrants(5)

 

 

(1,301

)

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

(1,761

)

 

 

673

 

Change in fair value of derivative asset(6)

 

 

43

 

 

 

 

 

 

81

 

 

 

 

Change in fair value of contingent consideration(7)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,052

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,018

)

Loss on asset disposals(8)

 

 

20

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

122

 

 

 

17

 

Foreign currency revaluation loss(9)

 

 

2,792

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,798

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

44,178

 

 

$

31,077

 

 

$

83,096

 

 

$

73,512

 

 

(1)
We have historically incurred sales tax expense in jurisdictions where we expected to collect and remit indirect taxes, but were not yet collecting from customers. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, we accrued for additional sales and indirect tax liabilities in jurisdictions where we are not yet collecting from the customers and settled certain local admission tax liabilities for less than the amount that was accrued as of December 31, 2023.
(2)
Relates to legal, accounting, tax and other professional fees; personnel-related costs, which consist of retention bonuses; integration costs; and other transaction-related expenses. Costs in the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 primarily related to the refinancing of the February 2022 First Lien Loan with the June 2024 First Lien Loan (each as defined herein), share repurchases, acquisitions and strategic investments. Costs in the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 primarily related to a secondary offering of our Class A common stock, acquisitions and strategic investments.
(3)
Relates to equity granted pursuant to our 2021 Incentive Award Plan, as amended, and profits interests issued prior to our merger transaction with Horizon Acquisition Corporation (the “Merger Transaction”), neither of which are considered indicative of our core operating performance.
(4)
Relates to external legal costs, settlement costs and insurance recoveries that were unrelated to our core business operations.
(5)
Relates to the revaluation of warrants to purchase common units (“Intermediate Units”) of Hoya Intermediate, LLC (“Hoya Intermediate”) held by Hoya Topco, LLC (“Hoya Topco”) following the Merger Transaction.
(6)
Relates to the revaluation of derivatives recorded at fair value.
(7)
Relates to the revaluation of Vivid Picks cash earnouts.
(8)
Relates to asset disposals, which are not considered indicative of our core operating performance.
(9)
Relates to unrealized foreign currency revaluation loss from the remeasurement of non-operating assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies on the balance sheet date.

Key Factors Affecting our Performance

During the six months ended June 30, 2024, there were no material changes to the “Key Factors Affecting Our Performance” disclosed in our 2023 Form 10-K. Our financial position and results of operations depend to a significant extent on those factors.

30


 

Recent Business Acquisitions

Vegas.com Acquisition

On November 3, 2023, we acquired VDC Holdco, LLC, the parent company of Vegas.com, LLC (together, “Vegas.com”), an online ticket marketplace for live event enthusiasts exploring Las Vegas, Nevada. The purchase price was $248.3 million, comprising $152.8 million in cash and approximately 15.6 million shares of our Class A common stock. We financed the cash portion of the purchase price at closing with cash on hand. The acquisition was accounted for as an acquisition of a business in accordance with the acquisition method of accounting.

Wavedash Acquisition

On September 8, 2023, we acquired WD Holdings Co., Ltd., the parent company of Wavedash Co., Ltd. (together, “Wavedash”), an online ticket marketplace headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The purchase price was JPY 10,946.1 million, or approximately $74.3 million based on the exchange rate in effect on the acquisition date, before considering the net effect of cash acquired. We financed the purchase price at closing with cash on hand. The acquisition was accounted for as an acquisition of a business in accordance with the acquisition method of accounting.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023

The following table sets forth our results of operations (in thousands, except percentages):

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

Change

 

% Change

 

2024

 

2023

 

Change

 

% Change

 

Revenues

 

$

198,316

 

 

$

165,380

 

 

$

32,936

 

 

 

20

%

 

$

389,168

 

 

$

326,443

 

 

$

62,725

 

 

 

19

%

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

 

 

48,765

 

 

 

42,616

 

 

 

6,149

 

 

 

14

%

 

 

98,348

 

 

 

80,376

 

 

 

17,972

 

 

 

22

%

Marketing and selling

 

 

70,114

 

 

 

65,192

 

 

 

4,922

 

 

 

8

%

 

 

137,861

 

 

 

119,964

 

 

 

17,897

 

 

 

15

%

General and administrative

 

 

61,053

 

 

 

38,307

 

 

 

22,746

 

 

 

59

%

 

 

103,420

 

 

 

70,696

 

 

 

32,724

 

 

 

46

%

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

10,502

 

 

 

2,704

 

 

 

7,798

 

 

 

288

%

 

 

20,985

 

 

 

5,302

 

 

 

15,683

 

 

 

296

%

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

 

 

 

 

 

(1,052

)

 

 

1,052

 

 

 

100

%

 

 

 

 

 

(1,018

)

 

 

1,018

 

 

 

100

%

Income from operations

 

 

7,882

 

 

 

17,613

 

 

 

(9,731

)

 

 

(55

)%

 

 

28,554

 

 

 

51,123

 

 

 

(22,569

)

 

 

(44

)%

Other expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense – net

 

 

5,324

 

 

 

2,772

 

 

 

2,552

 

 

 

92

%

 

 

10,406

 

 

 

6,052

 

 

 

4,354

 

 

 

72

%

Other expense

 

 

3,202

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

2,202

 

 

 

220

%

 

 

5,784

 

 

 

673

 

 

 

5,111

 

 

 

759

%

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

 

(644

)

 

 

13,841

 

 

 

(14,485

)

 

 

(105

)%

 

 

12,364

 

 

 

44,398

 

 

 

(32,034

)

 

 

(72

)%

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

577

 

 

 

(24,485

)

 

 

25,062

 

 

 

102

%

 

 

2,846

 

 

 

(24,200

)

 

 

27,046

 

 

 

112

%

Net income (loss)

 

 

(1,221

)

 

 

38,326

 

 

 

(39,547

)

 

 

(103

)%

 

 

9,518

 

 

 

68,598

 

 

 

(59,080

)

 

 

(86

)%

Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

(160

)

 

 

7,614

 

 

 

(7,774

)

 

 

(102

)%

 

 

4,505

 

 

 

25,704

 

 

 

(21,199

)

 

 

(82

)%

Net income (loss) attributable to Class A Common Stockholders

 

$

(1,061

)

 

$

30,712

 

 

$

(31,773

)

 

 

(103

)%

 

$

5,013

 

 

$

42,894

 

 

$

(37,881

)

 

 

(88

)%

Revenues

The following table presents revenues by segment (in thousands, except percentages):

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marketplace

 

$

170,046

 

 

$

139,150

 

 

$

30,896

 

 

 

22

%

 

$

330,058

 

 

$

275,731

 

 

$

54,327

 

 

 

20

%

Resale

 

 

28,270

 

 

 

26,230

 

 

 

2,040

 

 

 

8

%

 

 

59,110

 

 

 

50,712

 

 

 

8,398

 

 

 

17

%

Total revenues

 

$

198,316

 

 

$

165,380

 

 

$

32,936

 

 

 

20

%

 

$

389,168

 

 

$

326,443

 

 

$

62,725

 

 

 

19

%

 

31


 

Total revenues increased $32.9 million, or 20%, during the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and increased $62.7 million, or 19%, during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase, which occurred in both our Marketplace and Resale segments, resulted primarily from an increase in orders processed, which was due in part to the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 including orders processed through Vegas.com and Wavedash.

Marketplace

The following table presents Marketplace revenues by event category (in thousands, except percentages):

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concerts

 

$

80,803

 

 

$

77,741

 

 

$

3,062

 

 

 

4

%

 

$

148,832

 

 

$

152,620

 

 

$

(3,788

)

 

 

(2

)%

Sports

 

 

51,457

 

 

 

45,349

 

 

 

6,108

 

 

 

13

%

 

 

98,805

 

 

 

90,949

 

 

 

7,856

 

 

 

9

%

Theater

 

 

30,932

 

 

 

15,527

 

 

 

15,405

 

 

 

99

%

 

 

68,839

 

 

 

30,917

 

 

 

37,922

 

 

 

123

%

Other

 

 

6,854

 

 

 

533

 

 

 

6,321

 

 

 

1,186

%

 

 

13,582

 

 

 

1,245

 

 

 

12,337

 

 

 

991

%

Total Marketplace revenues

 

$

170,046

 

 

$

139,150

 

 

$

30,896

 

 

 

22

%

 

$

330,058

 

 

$

275,731

 

 

$

54,327

 

 

 

20

%

Marketplace revenues increased $30.9 million, or 22%, during the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and increased $54.3 million, or 20%, during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase resulted primarily from an increase in Total Marketplace orders.

Total Marketplace orders increased 0.5 million, or 18%, during the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and increased 1.1 million, or 22%, during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase resulted primarily from an increase in the number of orders processed, particularly for theater events, which was due in part to the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 including orders processed through Vegas.com and Wavedash.

Cancellation charges, which are recognized as a reduction to revenues, were $3.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $5.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023, and $13.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $8.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. Cancellation charges for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 were impacted by an increase in allowance for credit losses as certain ticket sellers on the marketplace platform generated balances in excess of their existing payables. We did not have a similar increase for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024.

The following table presents Marketplace revenues by business model (in thousands, except percentages):

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owned Properties

 

$

138,587

 

 

$

103,413

 

 

$

35,174

 

 

 

34

%

 

$

265,158

 

 

$

206,228

 

 

$

58,930

 

 

 

29

%

Private Label

 

 

31,459

 

 

 

35,737

 

 

 

(4,278

)

 

 

(12

)%

 

 

64,900

 

 

 

69,503

 

 

 

(4,603

)

 

 

(7

)%

Total Marketplace revenues

 

$

170,046

 

 

$

139,150

 

 

$

30,896

 

 

 

22

%

 

$

330,058

 

 

$

275,731

 

 

$

54,327

 

 

 

20

%

The increase in Owned Properties revenues during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 resulted primarily from an increase in the number of orders processed, which was due in part to the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 including orders processed through Vegas.com and Wavedash.

The decrease in Private Label revenues during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 resulted primarily from the negative impact to revenue of decreased customer credit breakage.

In our Marketplace segment, we also earn referral fee revenue by offering event ticket insurance to ticket buyers using a third-party insurance provider. Our referral fee revenue was $6.8 million and $13.6 million during the three

32


 

and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, and $7.4 million and $14.6 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. The decrease was primarily due to a decline in the insurance attachment rate to orders.

Resale

Resale revenues increased $2.0 million, or 8%, during the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and increased $8.4 million, or 17%, during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase resulted primarily from an increase in Total Resale orders.

Total Resale orders increased less than 0.1 million, or 33%, during the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and increased less than 0.1 million, or 23%, during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase resulted primarily from higher order volume.

Cancellation charges, which are classified as a reduction to revenues, negatively impacted Resale revenues by $0.5 million and $0.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, compared to $0.2 million and $0.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. The increase for both periods was due to a higher number of cancelled orders.

Cost of Revenues (exclusive of Depreciation and Amortization)

The following table presents cost of revenues by segment (in thousands, except percentages):

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Cost of revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marketplace

 

$

25,163

 

 

$

22,766

 

 

$

2,397

 

 

 

11

%

 

$

51,304

 

 

$

42,826

 

 

$

8,478

 

 

 

20

%

Resale

 

 

23,602

 

 

 

19,850

 

 

 

3,752

 

 

 

19

%

 

 

47,044

 

 

 

37,550

 

 

 

9,494

 

 

 

25

%

Total cost of revenues

 

$

48,765

 

 

$

42,616

 

 

$

6,149

 

 

 

14

%

 

$

98,348

 

 

$

80,376

 

 

$

17,972

 

 

 

22

%

Total cost of revenues increased $6.2 million, or 14%, for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and increased $18.0 million, or 22%, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase resulted primarily from higher order volume in both our Marketplace and Resale segments.

Marketplace

Marketplace cost of revenues increased $2.4 million, or 11%, for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and increased $8.5 million, or 20%, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023. The increase was relatively consistent with the increase in Marketplace GOV, which increased by 5% and 12% during the same respective periods.

Resale

Resale cost of revenues increased $3.8 million, or 19%, for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and increased $9.5 million, or 25%, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase was not consistent with the increase in Resale revenues, which increased by 8% and 17% during the same respective periods, due to certain event categories with lower margins.

33


 

Marketing and Selling

The following table presents marketing and selling expenses (in thousands, except percentages):

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Marketing and selling:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Online

 

$

63,905

 

 

$

58,890

 

 

$

5,015

 

 

 

9

%

 

$

125,811

 

 

$

107,998

 

 

$

17,813

 

 

 

16

%

Offline

 

 

6,209

 

 

 

6,302

 

 

 

(93

)

 

 

(1

)%

 

 

12,050

 

 

 

11,966

 

 

 

84

 

 

 

1

%

Total marketing and selling

 

$

70,114

 

 

$

65,192

 

 

$

4,922

 

 

 

8

%

 

$

137,861

 

 

$

119,964

 

 

$

17,897

 

 

 

15

%

Marketing and selling expenses, which are entirely attributable to our Marketplace segment, increased $4.9 million, or 8%, during the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and increased $17.9 million, or 15%, during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase primarily resulted from greater spending on online advertising, which increased by $5.0 million, or 9%, during the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and increased by $17.8 million, or 16%, during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase in spending on online advertising was primarily driven by an increase in performance marketing channel spend to support growth, and was relatively consistent with the increase in Marketplace GOV, which increased by 5% and 12% during the same respective periods.

General and Administrative

The following table presents general and administrative expenses (in thousands, except percentages):

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

General and administrative:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel expenses

 

$

43,088

 

 

$

26,360

 

 

$

16,728

 

 

 

63

%

 

$

75,690

 

 

$

51,051

 

 

$

24,639

 

 

 

48

%

Non-income tax expense

 

 

5,522

 

 

 

498

 

 

 

5,024

 

 

 

1,009

%

 

 

3,143

 

 

 

954

 

 

 

2,189

 

 

 

229

%

Other

 

 

12,443

 

 

 

11,449

 

 

 

994

 

 

 

9

%

 

 

24,587

 

 

 

18,691

 

 

 

5,896

 

 

 

32

%

Total general and administrative

 

$

61,053

 

 

$

38,307

 

 

$

22,746

 

 

 

59

%

 

$

103,420

 

 

$

70,696

 

 

$

32,724

 

 

 

46

%

Total general and administrative expenses increased $22.8 million, or 59%, for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and increased $32.7 million, or 46%, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher personnel expenses from higher equity-based compensation expense, particularly Hoya Topco’s repurchase and cancellation (using its own funds) of all of its outstanding profits interests and phantom units held by our employees (as discussed in Note 18, Equity-Based Compensation, to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Report), and higher employee headcount, including headcount added through our acquisitions of Vegas.com and Wavedash. Non-income tax expense increased as a result of accruing for sales and indirect taxes in jurisdictions where we believe it is probable we should remit but have not yet collected from customers. The increase in other expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2024 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023 was primarily driven by higher computer and telecom expenses and higher office expenses, including those related to our acquisitions of Vegas.com and Wavedash.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $7.8 million, or 288%, during the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and increased $15.7 million, or 296%, during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase was primarily due to the intangibles acquired as part of our acquisitions of Vegas.com and Wavedash and, to a lesser extent, an increase in capitalized development activities related to our platform.

34


 

Other Expense

Interest Expense – Net

Interest expense increased $2.6 million, or 92%, for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and increased $4.4 million, or 72%, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase was primarily due to lower interest income earned on cash balances.

Other Expense

Other expense increased $2.2 million, or 220%, for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and increased $5.1 million, or 759%, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase was primarily due to the due to the refinancing of the February 2022 First Lien Loan with the June 2024 First Lien Loan on June 14, 2024 and the fair value remeasurement of warrants, net of foreign currency revaluation losses due to unrealized gains arising from the remeasurement of non-operating assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies on the balance sheet date.

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

Income tax expense increased $25.1 million during the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and increased $27.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase was primarily due to the June 30, 2023 release of our previously recorded valuation allowance on our U.S. tax attributes carryforward deferred tax assets.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have historically financed our operations primarily through cash generated from operations. Our primary short-term requirements for liquidity and capital are to fund general working capital, capital expenditures and debt service requirements. Our primary long-term liquidity needs are related to debt repayment and potential acquisitions.

Our primary source of funds is cash generated from operations. Our existing cash and cash equivalents are sufficient to fund our liquidity needs for the next 12 months and thereafter for the foreseeable future. As of June 30, 2024, we had $234.3 million of cash and cash equivalents, which consist of interest-bearing deposit accounts, money market accounts managed by financial institutions and highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less. For the six months ended June 30, 2024, we generated positive cash flows from our operating activities.

Loan Agreements

In June 2017, we entered into a $575.0 million first lien debt facility (the “June 2017 First Lien Term Loan”). We had an outstanding loan balance of $465.7 million under the June 2017 First Lien Loan as of December 31, 2021. In the first quarter of 2022, we repaid $190.7 million of the outstanding June 2017 First Lien Loan. On February 3, 2022, we entered into an amendment which refinanced the remaining balance of the June 2017 First Lien Loan with a $275.0 million term loan (the “February 2022 First Lien Loan”), added a $100.0 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”) with a maturity date of February 3, 2027, replaced the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”)-based floating interest rate with a term SOFR-based floating interest rate, and revised the springing financial covenant to require compliance with a first lien net leverage ratio when revolver borrowings exceed certain levels.

On June 14, 2024, we entered into an amendment which refinanced the remaining balance of the February 2022 First Lien Loan with a $395.0 million term loan (the “June 2024 First Lien Loan”) with a maturity date of February 3, 2029 and revised the term SOFR-based floating interest rate. The June 2024 First Lien Loan requires quarterly amortization payments of $1.0 million. The Revolving Facility, which was unaffected by the refinancing of the February 2022 First Lien Loan, does not require periodic payments. All obligations under the June 2024 First Lien Loan are secured, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, by first-priority perfected security interests in substantially all of our and the applicable guarantors’ assets. The June 2024 First Lien Loan carries an interest rate of SOFR (subject to a 0.5% floor) plus a margin of 3.00%; provided that such margin may be reduced to 2.75% if the corporate rating assigned to us by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and S&P Global Ratings is at least Ba3/BB- (in each case, stable or better).

35


 

In connection with our acquisition of Wavedash, we assumed long-term debt owed to Shoko Chukin Bank (the “Shoko Chukin Bank Loan”) of JPY 458.3 million (approximately $3.1 million), which had an original maturity date of June 24, 2026 and was subject to a fixed interest rate of 1.27% per annum. On April 4, 2024, we paid off the Shoko Chukin Bank Loan balance in its entirety.

As of June 30, 2024, we had the June 2024 First Lien Loan outstanding and no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Facility.

Share Repurchase Programs

On February 29, 2024, our Board of Directors (our “Board”) authorized a share repurchase program for up to $100.0 million of our Class A common stock, which program was publicly announced on March 5, 2024 and does not have a fixed expiration date (the “2024 Repurchase Program”). As of June 30, 2024, we had repurchased approximately 3.5 million shares of our Class A Common Stock for approximately $20.0 million under the 2024 Repurchase Program and paid less than $0.1 million in commissions. As of June 30, 2024, approximately $80.0 million remained available for future repurchases under the 2024 Repurchase Program.

On May 25, 2022, our Board authorized a share repurchase program for up to $40.0 million of our Class A common stock, which program was publicly announced on May 26, 2022 (the “2022 Repurchase Program”). The 2022 Repurchase Program’s authorization was fully utilized during 2022 and the three months ended March 31, 2023. Cumulatively under the 2022 Repurchase Program, we repurchased 5.3 million shares of our Class A common stock for $40.0 million and paid $0.1 million in commissions.

Share repurchases are accounted for as Treasury stock in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Distributions to Non-Controlling Interests

Per its Limited Liability Company Agreement, Hoya Intermediate is required to make pro-rata tax distributions to its members, of which $2.8 million and $6.4 million was distributed to non-controlling interests in the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively.

Tax Receivable Agreement

In connection with the Merger Transaction, we entered into a Tax Receivable Agreement (the “TRA”) with the existing Hoya Intermediate shareholders that provides for our payment to such shareholders of 85% of the amount of the tax savings, if any, that we realize (or, under certain circumstances, are deemed to realize) as a result of, or attributable to, (i) increases in the tax basis of assets owned directly or indirectly by Hoya Intermediate or its subsidiaries from, among other things, any redemptions or exchanges of Intermediate Units, (ii) existing tax basis (including depreciation and amortization deductions arising from such tax basis) in long-lived assets owned directly or indirectly by Hoya Intermediate and its subsidiaries and (iii) certain other tax benefits (including deductions in respect of imputed interest) related to us making payments under the TRA.

Amounts payable under the TRA are contingent upon the generation of future taxable income over the term of the TRA and future changes in tax laws. If we do not generate sufficient taxable income in the aggregate over the term of the TRA to utilize the tax benefits, then we would not be required to make the related payments. As of June 30, 2024, we estimate that the tax savings associated with all tax attributes described above would require us to pay $165.7 million, primarily over the next 15 years. As of June 30, 2024, $3.5 million is due within the next 12 months.

36


 

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our cash flows (in thousands):

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

25,359

 

 

$

82,670

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(10,548

)

 

 

(5,583

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

94,716

 

 

 

(22,503

)

Impact of foreign exchange on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

 

 

(1,536

)

 

 

 

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

 

$

107,991

 

 

$

54,584

 

Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $25.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 due to $9.5 million in net income, net non-cash charges of $54.0 million and net cash outflows from a $38.2 million change in net operating assets. The net cash outflows from the change in net operating assets were primarily due to the timing of receipts and disbursements for accrued expenses and other current liabilities, accounts receivable and inventory.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $82.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 due to $68.6 million in net income, net non-cash incomes of $5.9 million and net cash inflows from a $20.0 million change in net operating assets. The net cash inflows from the change in net operating assets were primarily due to an increase in accounts payable resulting from seasonal fluctuations.

Cash Used in Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $10.6 million and $5.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which was primarily related to capital spending on development activities related to our platform.

Cash Provided By (Used In) Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $94.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, which was primarily related to the refinancing of the February 2022 First Lien Loan with the June 2024 First Lien Loan in June 2024.

Net cash used in financing activities was $22.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, which was primarily related to the 2022 Repurchase Program and tax distributions to non-controlling interests.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP, which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, costs and expenses, and related disclosures. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The estimates and assumptions associated with revenue recognition, equity-based compensation, warrants and earnouts, recoverability of our goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets, definite-lived intangible assets, long-lived assets and valuation allowances have the greatest potential impact on our consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, these are the policies that are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our condensed consolidated financial statements. See our 2023 Form 10-K for a description of our critical accounting policies and estimates. There have been no material changes to the critical accounting policies disclosed in our 2023 Form 10-K.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2, New Accounting Standards, to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Report for a description of recently adopted accounting pronouncements and issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted.

37


 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risk is the potential loss from adverse changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and market prices. Our primary market risk is interest rate risk associated with our long-term debt. We manage our exposure to this risk through established policies and procedures. Our objective is to mitigate potential income statement, cash flow and market exposures from changes in interest rates.

Interest Rate Risk

Our market risk is affected by changes in interest rates. The February 2022 First Lien Loan and the June 2024 First Lien Loan both bear a floating interest rate based on market rates plus an applicable spread. We will be susceptible to fluctuations in interest rates if we do not hedge the interest rate exposure arising from our floating-rate debt, which may adversely impact our financial results. A hypothetical 1% change in interest rates, assuming rates are above our interest rate floor, would have impacted our interest expense by $0.7 million and $1.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, based on amounts outstanding under the February 2022 First Lien Loan and the June 2024 First Lien Loan.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar, while certain of our international subsidiaries’ functional currency is their local currency. Our international revenue, as well as costs and expenses denominated in foreign currencies, expose us to the risk of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates against the U.S. dollar. Accordingly, we are subject to foreign currency risk, which may adversely impact our financial results.

We are also exposed to foreign exchange rate fluctuations as we translate the financial statements of our foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars in consolidation. We have not entered into derivative or hedging transactions, but we may do so in the future if our exposure to foreign currency becomes more significant.

Due to fluctuations in exchange rates resulting from the current macroeconomic environment, we may experience negative impacts on the translation adjustments resulting from the conversion of the financial statements of our foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars, as well as the revaluation adjustments on U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans. Our foreign currency translation adjustment included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) resulted in losses of $1.3 million and $3.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively. As of June 30, 2024, a hypothetical 10% change in foreign currency exchange rates applicable to our business would have impacted our foreign currency revaluation gain or loss, which is reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, by $4.2 million.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Limitations on Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Our management, with the participation of our principal executive and principal financial officers, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Report. Based on such evaluation, our principal executive and principal financial officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at the

38


 

reasonable assurance level as of June 30, 2024 due to the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting described below.

Material Weakness

In connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the implementation of segregation of duties as part of our control activities, the establishment of clearly defined roles within our finance and accounting functions and the number of personnel in those functions with an appropriate level of technical accounting and SEC reporting experience which, in the aggregate, constitute a material weakness.

Remediation Activities

We continue to strengthen our internal control over financial reporting and are committed to ensuring that such controls are designed and operating effectively. During the three months ended June 30, 2024, we continued to review our internal control procedures, to implement new controls and processes, to hire additional qualified personnel and to establish more robust processes to support our internal control over financial reporting, including by creating clearly defined roles and responsibilities and the appropriate segregation of duties. These actions are continuing to be validated through testing and, when fully implemented, we believe they will be effective in remediating the material weakness. However, additional time is required to complete implementing the enhanced procedures and to test and ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of the improved controls. The material weakness will not be considered remediated until the applicable controls have been in place and operating for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that these controls are effective. We continue to devote significant time and attention to these efforts.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Except with respect to the continuing remediation activities described above, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended June 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. We are continuing to review the internal control structures of Wavedash and Vegas.com and, if necessary, will make appropriate changes as we continue to integrate such businesses into our overall internal control over financial reporting.

39


 

Part II - Other Information

None.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this Report, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of our 2023 Form 10-K. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained in this Report. There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our 2023 Form 10-K.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

The following table provides information about repurchases of our common stock during the three months ended June 30, 2024 (in thousands, except share and per share data):

Period

 

Total Number of
Shares Purchased

 

 

Average Price Paid
Per Share
(1)

 

 

Total Number of Shares
Purchased As Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs

 

 

Approximate Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs(2)

 

April 1-30, 2024

 

 

2,743,656

 

 

$

5.79

 

 

 

2,743,656

 

 

$

80,000

 

May 1-31, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

80,000

 

June 1-30, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

80,000

 

Total

 

 

2,743,656

 

 

$

5.79

 

 

 

2,743,656

 

 

$

80,000

 

(1) Excludes brokerage commissions and other costs of execution.

(2) On February 29, 2024, our Board authorized the 2024 Repurchase Program for up to $100.0 million of our Class A common stock. The 2024 Repurchase Program was publicly announced on March 5, 2024, does not have a fixed expiration date and does not obligate us to purchase any minimum number of shares. Under the 2024 Repurchase Program, we may repurchase shares in privately negotiated or open market transactions, including under plans complying with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

40


 

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit

Number

Description

Incorporated by Reference

Filed / Furnished Herewith

 

 

Form

Exhibit

Filing Date

2.1

Transaction Agreement, dated April 21, 2021, among Horizon Acquisition Corporation, Horizon Sponsor, LLC, Hoya Topco, LLC, Hoya Intermediate, LLC and Vivid Seats Inc.

S-4

2.1

5/28/2021

 

2.2

Purchase, Sale and Redemption Agreement, dated April 21, 2021, among Hoya Topco, LLC, Hoya Intermediate, LLC, Vivid Seats Inc., Crescent Mezzanine Partners VIB, L.P., Crescent Mezzanine Partners VIC, L.P., NPS/Crescent Strategic Partnership II, LP, CM7C VS Equity Holdings, LP, Crescent Mezzanine Partners VIIB, L.P., CM6B Vivid Equity, Inc., CM6C Vivid Equity, Inc., CM7C VS Equity, LLC, CM7B VS Equity, LLC, Crescent Mezzanine Partners VI, L.P., Crescent Mezzanine Partners VII, L.P., Crescent Mezzanine Partners VII (LTL), L.P., CBDC Universal Equity, Inc., Crescent Capital Group, LP and Horizon Acquisition Corporation

S-4

2.2

5/28/2021

 

2.3

Plan of Merger, dated October 18, 2021, among Horizon Acquisition Corporation, Horizon Sponsor, LLC, Hoya Topco, LLC, Hoya Intermediate, LLC and Vivid Seats Inc.

10-Q

2.3

11/15/2021

 

3.1

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

8-K

3.1

10/22/2021

 

3.2

First Amendment to Amended and Restated Bylaws

10-Q

3.2

5/10/2022

 

3.3

Amended and Restated Bylaws

8-K

3.2

10/22/2021

 

4.1

Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement, dated October 14, 2021, between Horizon Acquisition Corporation and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

8-K

10.7

10/22/2021

 

4.2

Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate of Vivid Seats Inc.

10-K

4.2

3/15/2022

 

4.3

Specimen Warrant Certificate of Vivid Seats Inc.

10-K

4.3

3/15/2022

 

10.1

Amendment No. 5 to First Lien Credit Agreement, dated June 14, 2024, among Hoya Midco, LLC, Hoya Intermediate, LLC, Barclays Bank PLC, and the lenders and loan parties thereto

8-K

10.1

6/20/2024

 

10.2

Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated June 14, 2024, among Stanley Chia, Vivid Seats Inc. and Vivid Seats LLC

 

 

 

*

10.3

Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated June 14, 2024, among Lawrence Fey, Vivid Seats Inc. and Vivid Seats LLC

 

 

 

*

10.4

Form of Redemption, Repurchase and Cancellation Agreement

 

 

 

*

31.1

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer

 

 

 

*

31.2

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer

 

 

 

*

32.1

18 U.S.C. Section 1350 Certification of Principal Executive Officer

 

 

 

**

32.2

18 U.S.C. Section 1350 Certification of Principal Financial Officer

 

 

 

**

101.INS

Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document

 

 

 

*

101.SCH

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

 

 

 

*

101.CAL

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

 

 

 

*

41


 

101.DEF

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

 

 

 

*

101.LAB

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

 

 

 

*

101.PRE

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

 

 

*

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL Document)

 

 

 

*

* Filed herewith.

** Furnished herewith.

# Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.

The documents filed as exhibits to this Report are not intended to provide factual information other than with respect to the terms of the documents themselves, and should not be relied on for that purpose. In particular, any representations and warranties contained in any such document were made solely within the context of such document and do not apply in any other context or at any time other than the date on which they were made.

42


 

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Vivid Seats Inc.

 

By:

/s/ Stanley Chia

Stanley Chia

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

August 6, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lawrence Fey

 

 

 

Lawrence Fey

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

August 6, 2024

 

43


EX-10.2

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

AMENDMENT TO

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Amendment to Employment Agreement (this “Amendm. ent”) is entered into by and among Vivid Seats Inc. and Vivid Seats LLC (together, the “Company”) and Stanley Chia (“Executive”) (each, a “Party,” and collectively, the “Parties”) as of June 26, 2024 (the “Effective Date”).

The Company and Executive previously entered into an Employment Agreement, dated August 9, 2021 (the “Employment Agreement”), and the Company and Executive now desire to amend the Employment Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof. In consideration of Executive’s continued engagement with the Company and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, the Parties agree as follows:

1.
Definitions

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Employment Agreement.

2.
Amendments.

The Parties hereby agree that the Employment Agreement shall be amended as follows:

a.
Section 9(e). Section 9(e) of the Employment Agreement shall be stricken in its entirety. All other provisions in Section 9 of the Employment Agreement shall remain the same.
b.
Section 10. The Employment Agreement shall be amended to include a new Section 10. All subsequent Section numbers and references to such Sections shall be adjusted accordingly. The new Section 10 shall comprise the following provisions:

10. If, at any time during the period beginning 12 months prior to a Change in Control (as defined in the Company’s 2021 Incentive Award Plan, as amended) and ending 12 months following a Change in Control, the Company terminates your employment and such termination constitutes a Qualifying Termination, you will be entitled to receive the following payments and benefits:

a. a severance payment equal to 18 months of your then applicable Base Salary (the “CIC Base Salary Severance”);

b. 1.5 times your Annual Bonus for the fiscal year in which such termination of employment occurs;

c. any unpaid bonus for a prior fiscal year;

d. the COBRA benefits identified in Section 9(d);

e. notwithstanding the terms of the equity awards, the vesting of your then outstanding unvested equity awards, including the Equity Awards, shall be accelerated as to 100% of the unvested shares subject thereto; and

f. the benefits set forth in Sections 9 and 10 are collectively, less deductions and withholdings required by law or authorized by you, termed the “Severance Pay.” Subject to the provisions in Sections 9 and 10, payments of any Base Salary Severance or CIC Base Salary Severance shall be made in substantially equal monthly installments in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices in effect at the time of your termination of employment, and payment of any prorated or unpaid bonus shall be made when such bonus payments would otherwise have been paid. For purposes of Sections 9 and 10, “Cause” and “Good Reason” have the meanings set forth in Exhibit B hereto. The Company will not be required to pay any Severance Pay unless (i) you execute and deliver to the Company an agreement in the form attached as Exhibit C hereto (the “Release Agreement”) within 60 days following the date of your termination of employment and (ii) you have not materially breached the provisions of (A) this letter, (B) Sections 2 through 8 of Exhibit A hereto, (C) the Release Agreement or (D) any other agreement between you and the

 


 

Company. If the Release Agreement has been executed and delivered and is no longer subject to revocation as provided in the preceding sentence, then the applicable Severance Pay shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices in effect at the time of your termination of employment and commencing on the 60th day following your termination of employment. The first payment of any Base Salary Severance or CIC Base Salary Severance, as applicable, shall include payment of all amounts that otherwise would have been due prior thereto under the terms of this letter had such payments commenced immediately upon your termination of employment, and any payments made thereafter shall continue as provided herein. For the avoidance of doubt, under no circumstances shall you be entitled to receive Severance Pay under both Sections 9 and 10.

3.
Continuation

Except as set forth herein, all of the terms and conditions set forth in the Employment Agreement, including its exhibits and schedules, are unchanged, shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed by the Parties. If any provision hereof is inconsistent with the Employment Agreement, the Parties intend that the terms hereof shall control solely to the extent required to make the Employment Agreement consistent herewith. Nothing herein shall change the at-will nature of Executive’s employment. Executive agrees and confirms that nothing herein triggers the Good Reason provision contained in the Employment Agreement.

4.
Construction of Terms

This Amendment constitutes the entire understanding between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any other agreements or promises made to Executive by anyone with respect to this subject matter, whether oral or written. No modification hereto shall be valid unless in writing and signed by the Parties.

5.
Governing Law

This Amendment shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of law provisions of any jurisdiction.

6.
Counterparts

This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, with the same force and effectiveness as though executed in a single document.

7.
Effective Date

The terms and conditions set forth herein shall be effective as of the Effective Date.

[Signature page follows]

2


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of the Effective Date.

VIVID SEATS INC.

EXECUTIVE

By: /s/ Lawrence Fey

By: /s/ Stanley Chia

Name: Lawrence Fey

Name: Stanley Chia

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

VIVID SEATS LLC

 

By: /s/ Lawrence Fey

 

Name: Lawrence Fey

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

[Signature Page to Amendment to Employment Agreement]


EX-10.3

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

AMENDMENT TO

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Amendment to Employment Agreement (this “Amendment”) is entered into by and among Vivid Seats Inc. and Vivid Seats LLC (together, the “Company”) and Lawrence Fey (“Executive”) (each, a “Party,” and collectively, the “Parties”) as of June 26, 2024 (the “Effective Date”).

The Company and Executive previously entered into an Employment Agreement, dated August 9, 2021 (the “Employment Agreement”), and the Company and Executive now desire to amend the Employment Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof. In consideration of Executive’s continued engagement with the Company and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, the Parties agree as follows:

1.
Definitions

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Employment Agreement.

2.
Amendments.

The Parties hereby agree that the Employment Agreement shall be amended as follows:

a.
Section 9(e). Section 9(e) of the Employment Agreement shall be stricken in its entirety. All other provisions in Section 9 of the Employment Agreement shall remain the same.
b.
Section 10. The Employment Agreement shall be amended to include a new Section 10. All subsequent Section numbers and references to such Sections shall be adjusted accordingly. The new Section 10 shall comprise the following provisions:

10. If, at any time during the period beginning 12 months prior to a Change in Control (as defined in the Company’s 2021 Incentive Award Plan, as amended) and ending 12 months following a Change in Control, the Company terminates your employment and such termination constitutes a Qualifying Termination, you will be entitled to receive the following payments and benefits:

a. the Base Salary Severance;

b. 1.0 times your Annual Bonus for the fiscal year in which such termination of employment occurs;

c. any unpaid bonus for a prior fiscal year;

d. the COBRA benefits identified in Section 9(d);

e. notwithstanding the terms of the equity awards, the vesting of your then outstanding unvested equity awards, including the Equity Awards, shall be accelerated as to 100% of the unvested shares subject thereto; and

f. the benefits set forth in Sections 9 and 10 are collectively, less deductions and withholdings required by law or authorized by you, termed the “Severance Pay.” Subject to the provisions in Sections 9 and 10, payments of any Base Salary Severance shall be made in substantially equal monthly installments in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices in effect at the time of your termination of employment, and payment of any prorated or unpaid bonus shall be made when such bonus payments would otherwise have been paid. For purposes of Sections 9 and 10, “Cause” and “Good Reason” have the meanings set forth in Exhibit B hereto. The Company will not be required to pay any Severance Pay unless (i) you execute and deliver to the Company an agreement in the form attached as Exhibit C hereto (the “Release Agreement”) within 60 days following the date of your termination of employment and (ii) you have not materially breached the provisions of (A) this letter, (B) Sections 2 through 8 of Exhibit A hereto, (C) the Release Agreement or (D) any other agreement between you and the Company. If the Release Agreement has been executed and delivered and is no longer subject to revocation as provided in the

 


 

preceding sentence, then the applicable Severance Pay shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices in effect at the time of your termination of employment and commencing on the 60th day following your termination of employment. The first payment of any Base Salary Severance shall include payment of all amounts that otherwise would have been due prior thereto under the terms of this letter had such payments commenced immediately upon your termination of employment, and any payments made thereafter shall continue as provided herein. For the avoidance of doubt, under no circumstances shall you be entitled to receive Severance Pay under both Sections 9 and 10.

3.
Continuation

Except as set forth herein, all of the terms and conditions set forth in the Employment Agreement, including its exhibits and schedules, are unchanged, shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed by the Parties. If any provision hereof is inconsistent with the Employment Agreement, the Parties intend that the terms hereof shall control solely to the extent required to make the Employment Agreement consistent herewith. Nothing herein shall change the at-will nature of Executive’s employment. Executive agrees and confirms that nothing herein triggers the Good Reason provision contained in the Employment Agreement.

4.
Construction of Terms

This Amendment constitutes the entire understanding between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any other agreements or promises made to Executive by anyone with respect to this subject matter, whether oral or written. No modification hereto shall be valid unless in writing and signed by the Parties.

5.
Governing Law

This Amendment shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of law provisions of any jurisdiction.

6.
Counterparts

This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, with the same force and effectiveness as though executed in a single document.

7.
Effective Date

The terms and conditions set forth herein shall be effective as of the Effective Date.

[Signature page follows]

2


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of the Effective Date.

VIVID SEATS INC.

EXECUTIVE

By: /s/ Stanley Chia

By: /s/ Lawrence Fey

Name: Stanley Chia

Name: Lawrence Fey

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

VIVID SEATS LLC

 

By: /s/ Stanley Chia

 

Name: Stanley Chia

 

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

[Signature Page to Amendment to Employment Agreement]


EX-10.4

 

Exhibit 10.4

REDEMPTION, REPURCHASE AND CANCELLATION AGREEMENT

This Redemption, Repurchase and Cancellation Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [•] (the “Effective Date”) by and between Hoya Topco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and [•] (the “Unitholder”). In this Agreement, the Company and the Unitholder are sometimes referred to individually as a “Party” and together as the “Parties.” Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated September 1, 2020 (including any amended and restated appendices), as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms thereof (the “LLC Agreement”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Unitholder was granted certain Class B-1 Incentive Units of the Company, the outstanding amounts of which are set forth on Schedule 1 attached hereto (the “Redemption Units”);

WHEREAS, from time to time the Unitholder was granted other Incentive Units of the Company, including those set forth on Schedule 2 attached hereto (all Incentive Units held by the Unitholder other than the Redemption Units, the “Underwater Units”), the Fair Market Value of which is currently $0.00;

WHEREAS, the Unitholder was granted certain phantom units of the Company as set forth on Schedule 3 attached hereto (each, a “Phantom Unit”, collectively, the “Phantom Units” and together with the Redemption Units and the Underwater Units, the “Units”), pursuant to that certain Securities Agreement, dated September 1, 2020, by and between the Company and the Unitholder (the “Securities Agreement”);

WHEREAS, each of the Company and the Unitholder desire that (i) the Underwater Units be cancelled, (ii) the Company redeem and repurchase the Redemption Units and (iii) the Company repurchase and cancel the Phantom Units in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, in exchange for the cancellation of the Underwater Units, the redemption and repurchase of the Redemption Units and the repurchase and cancellation of the Phantom Units, the Company desires to make the Payment (as defined below) to the Unitholder in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

AGREEMENT

1.
Redemption Units. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Date, the Unitholder hereby sells, assigns and transfers to the Company the Redemption Units (including (a) the Unitholder’s right to share in the profits of the Company, (b) the Unitholder’s right to receive distributions from the Company and (c) any and all information rights attributable to the Redemption Units) (the “Repurchase”), free and clear of any and all liens, pledges, security interests, charges, contractual obligations, claims and encumbrances, or of any kind adverse claims of any nature, other than under the LLC Agreement and restrictions on transfer arising pursuant to applicable securities laws and regulations (“Liens”), the Unitholder shall receive a payment in an aggregate amount set forth on Schedule 1 attached hereto representing the Fair Market Value of such Redemption Units (after taking into account prior tax distributions received by the Unitholder from the Company) (the “Redemption Units Payment”). At the Effective Date, the Unitholder shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, a duly executed assignment in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A effectuating the Repurchase.
2.
Underwater Units. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Date, the Unitholder shall forfeit all of the Underwater Units, consisting of all Incentive Units held by the Unitholder other than the Redemption Units, and all of the Unitholder’s rights and interests in and to such Underwater Units shall be cancelled (the “Underwater Unit Cancellation”). The Unitholder acknowledges that (i) the Underwater Units are being cancelled in exchange for good and valuable consideration, including but not limited to the Company’s entry into this Agreement, (ii) the Fair Market Value of the Underwater Units is $0.00 and (iii) following the Underwater Unit Cancellation, the Unitholder shall have no further rights with respect to such Underwater

 


 

Units, including under this Agreement, the LLC Agreement or any other agreement entered into between the Unitholder and the Company.
3.
Phantom Units. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Date, the Unitholder shall forfeit the number of Phantom Units set forth on Schedule 3 hereto (the “Cancelled Phantom Units”) and all of the Unitholder’s rights and interests in and to such Cancelled Phantom Units shall be cancelled (the “Phantom Unit Cancellation”), the Unitholder shall receive a payment in an aggregate amount set forth on Schedule 3 attached hereto (such payment, the “Phantom Unit Payment” and together with the Redemption Units Payment, the “Payment”) and such Cancelled Phantom Units shall thereafter have no further force or effect.
4.
Payment. The Company shall cause the Payments as set forth on Schedule 4 (less applicable tax withholding and without interest) to be paid to the Unitholder as promptly as practicable following the execution of this Agreement.
5.
Waiver and Termination of Unitholder Rights. As of the Effective Date, the Unitholder hereby waives and terminates any and all rights the Unitholder has with respect to the Units.
6.
Representations and Warranties of the Unitholder. The Unitholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company that:
a.
Interest in Units. The Unitholder has, and at the Effective Date will have, good and marketable right, title and interest (legal and beneficial) in and to all of the Units, free and clear of all Liens. At the Effective Date, the Unitholder will convey the Units to the Company, free and clear of all Liens, and the Cancelled Phantom Units and Underwater Units will be cancelled immediately thereafter.
b.
Authorization. The Unitholder has full power and authority and requisite capacity to enter into this Agreement, to perform his or her obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Unitholder, enforceable against the Unitholder in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by general principles of equity and by bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally.
c.
Compliance with Other Instruments. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby nor compliance with or fulfillment of the terms, conditions and provisions hereof or thereof will, to the extent applicable to the Units, (i) result in the creation of any mortgage or Lien upon the Units, (ii) be the subject of any rights of first refusal, rights of first offer or tag along rights that have not been previously waived, (iii) result in a breach, regardless of the lapse of time, of any of the terms of, or constitute a violation of or default under any statute, regulation, law, organizational document, contract, indenture or other instrument by which the Unitholder or any of the Unitholder’s assets are subject or bound or (iv) give rise to a right of termination, acceleration or modification of any obligation or loss of any benefit under any contract, oral or written, or other instrument to which the Unitholder or any of the Unitholder’s assets are subject or bound. The Unitholder has not, and at the Effective Date will not have, granted any options of any sort with respect to the Units or any right to acquire the Units or any interest therein other than under this Agreement.
d.
Litigation. There are no lawsuits, actions, proceedings, claims or orders brought or subject to enforcement by any third party relating to, arising out of or affecting in any manner the Unitholder’s ownership of the Units, and no such lawsuits, actions, proceedings, claims or orders are threatened in writing or orally against the Unitholder.
e.
Brokers. No person who has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of the Unitholder is or will be entitled to a broker’s, finder’s, investment banker’s, financial adviser’s or similar fee from the Company or the Unitholder in connection with this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

2


 

f.
No Consent. No notice to, filing with or authorization, registration, consent or approval of any person or governmental agency is necessary for the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Unitholder.
g.
Non-Foreign Status; W-9. The Unitholder is not a “foreign person” as such term is used in Sections 1445 or 1446(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. The Unitholder has provided the Company with a properly completed and duly executed IRS Form W-9 for itself and for any affiliate of the Unitholder that holds any Units and is transferring or forfeiting such Units pursuant to this Agreement.
h.
Disclosure of Information. The Unitholder has received all the information he or she considers necessary or appropriate for deciding whether to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Unitholder further represents that he or she has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company and its management regarding the business, properties, prospects and financial condition of the Company and its affiliates. The Unitholder acknowledges that the Company (i) has not made, and the Unitholder has not relied on, any representation or warranty, express or implied, except as set forth herein, regarding any aspect of the transactions contemplated hereunder, the operation, financial condition, financial projections or other forward looking statements of the Company or its affiliates, the accuracy or completeness of any information that the Company has furnished or made available to the Unitholder or the value of the Units, (ii) may have access to certain material, nonpublic information regarding the Company and its affiliates, their respective financial conditions, results of operations, businesses, properties, assets, liabilities, management, projections, appraisals, plans and prospects and that any such information may be indicative of a value of the Units that is substantially different than Payment or otherwise affect the Unitholder’s determination to effectuate the Phantom Unit Cancellation and the Repurchase in exchange for the Payment and that the Unitholder has made the determination to effectuate the Phantom Unit Cancellation and the Repurchase in exchange for the Payment pursuant to this Agreement regardless of the foregoing and (iii) is relying upon the truth of the representations and warranties in this Section 6 in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.
i.
Compliance with Securities Laws. The Unitholder acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have not been reviewed, approved or recommended by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any governmental agency. The Unitholder is consummating the transactions contemplated hereby pursuant to an exemption from registration under the federal securities laws and applicable state securities laws. The Unitholder has taken all actions necessary on the Unitholder’s part to comply with such exemption.
j.
Tax Consequences. The Unitholder has had an opportunity to review the federal, state and local tax consequences of the Phantom Unit Cancellation, the Underwater Unit Cancellation and the Repurchase, the right to receive the Payment and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement with his or her own tax advisors. The Unitholder is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its affiliates. The Unitholder understands that the Unitholder (and not the Company or any of its affiliates) shall be solely responsible for the Unitholder’s own tax liability that may arise as a result of or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall indemnify and hold the Company and its affiliates harmless for any losses incurred in respect of any such tax liability. The Unitholder agrees that he or she will make acceptable arrangements to pay any withholding or other taxes that may be due as a result of the Payment. In the event that the Company determines that any tax or withholding payment (including wage tax or social security withholding under local law) is required to be deducted in relation to the Payment under applicable laws, the Company and its affiliates shall have the right to require such payments from the Unitholder, or to withhold such amounts from the Payment or other payments due to the Unitholder from the Company or any of its affiliates as may be necessary to satisfy the tax and/or withholding obligation.

3


 

7.
Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Unitholder that:
a.
Authorization. The Company has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transaction contemplated hereby. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by general principles of equity and by bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company.
b.
Litigation. There are no lawsuits, actions, proceedings, claims or orders brought or subject to enforcement by any third party relating to, arising out of or affecting in any manner the Company’s ability to consummate the Repurchase or the Phantom Unit Cancellation, or to pay the Payment, and no such lawsuits, actions, proceedings, claims or orders are threatened in writing or orally against the Company.
c.
Broker. No person who has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of the Company is or will be entitled to a broker’s, finder’s, investment banker’s, financial adviser’s or similar fee from the Company or the Unitholder in connection with this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
8.
Release of Claims. Effective as of the Effective Date, the Unitholder on behalf of himself or herself and his or her heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns, and all persons and entities claiming by, through or under any of them, jointly and severally (“Related Persons”), hereby unconditionally, irrevocably and absolutely releases and forever discharges the Company, and its successors, assigns, heirs, affiliates, officers, directors, current and former employees, agents, principals, unitholders and members (the “Released Parties”) from any and all rights, claims, demands, interests, causes of action, suits, debts, controversies, liabilities, costs, expenses, attorneys’ fees and damages of whatever character, nature or kind, including those in law and in equity, whether known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, that the Unitholder or any Related Person now has, has ever had or may hereafter have against any Released Party arising from, relating to or in any way connected with (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any individual taxes that may arise or result from), (a) the Unitholder’s purchase, ownership or purported ownership of the Units or any other rights in respect thereof, (b) the negotiation or execution of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (c) the Repurchase, (d) the Underwater Unit Cancellation, (e) the Phantom Unit Cancellation or (f) the Payment as set forth herein; and the Unitholder waives any and all claims the Unitholder may have to any additional consideration with respect to the Units for any other reason; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to any claim for breach of this Agreement.
9.
Confidentiality. The Unitholder will keep in strict confidence and refrain from disclosing to any third party any confidential or proprietary matters (except publicly available or freely usable material as otherwise obtained from another source not in violation of any confidentiality obligations to which such source is subject) with respect to the Company and its affiliates. This confidentiality agreement includes the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Unitholder may disclose such confidential information (a) to its immediate attorney(s), advisor(s) and accountant(s), if any, to the extent necessary for legal or investment advice or income tax reporting purposes (provided that the Unitholder ensures that such persons maintain the confidentiality thereof), (b) in response to a subpoena duly issued by a court of law or a government agency having proper jurisdiction or power to compel such disclosure or as otherwise may be required by law or (c) in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement, and (ii) Vivid Seats Inc. and its subsidiaries may make such public disclosures as may be required by law (including any disclosures as they determine in their sole discretion to be required by the rules of any national stock exchange on which the stock of Vivid Seats Inc. is listed).
10.
Miscellaneous.
a.
Certain Terms and Conditions. The Repurchase, the Underwater Unit Cancellation and the Redemption Units Payment: (i) are extraordinary items that do not constitute compensation of any kind for services of any kind rendered to the Company or any affiliates, and which are outside the scope of the Unitholder's

4


 

employment contract, if any; and (ii) are not part of normal or expected compensation for any purposes, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal or end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments, and in no event should be considered as compensation for, or relating in any way to, past services for the Company or any affiliate thereof. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Phantom Unit Payment contemplated under this Agreement is subject to and constitutes non-compliant deferred compensation pursuant to Section 409A of the Code and, accordingly, the Unitholder acknowledges and agrees that he, she or it will make acceptable arrangements to pay any taxes that may be due as a result of the Phantom Unit Payment, including, but not limited to, a 20% additional income tax (and any related interest thereon) on such amount. In no event will the Company or its affiliates be liable for any additional tax or other penalty that may be imposed on the Unitholder by Section 409A of the Code or for damages for failing to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
b.
Allocations. All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit shall be allocated among the Units and the other interests in the Company using the “interim closing method” and the “monthly convention” under Treasury Regulations Section 1.706-4. This method and convention shall be set forth in a dated, written statement maintained with the Company’s books and records.
c.
Governing Law. This Agreement and all acts and transactions pursuant hereto and the rights and obligations of the Parties hereunder shall be governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.
d.
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
e.
Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective heirs, successors and assigns of the Parties; provided, however, that the Unitholder may not assign any of his or her rights hereunder without the express written consent of the Company.
f.
Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and representations between the Parties with respect to such transactions.
g.
Amendments. No amendment or modification of the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by each of the Parties.
h.
Notices. Any notice required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficient when delivered personally or sent by fax (as evidenced by the sender’s confirmation receipt) or by electronic mail (upon confirmation of receipt by the recipient.
i.
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile or PDF electronic copies shall be treated as originals.
j.
Interpretation of Agreement. This Agreement constitutes a fully negotiated agreement among commercially sophisticated parties and therefore shall not be construed or interpreted for or against any Party and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other agreement or document delivered in connection herewith, if at the time a payment is due hereunder the Company determines in good faith that it does not have sufficient available funds to make full payment to the Unitholder, each other person that is owed payments in respect of similar equity repurchase or cancellation transactions and any other person to whom the Company or any of its affiliates is reasonably expected to owe payments to, or that payment thereof would result in insolvency of the Company or any of its affiliates or violate any law or result in the breach of any agreement in effect at such time applicable to the Company or any of its affiliates, then the obligations of the Company to make such payment shall be deferred until such time that the Company determines in good faith that it

5


 

has sufficient available funds to make all such payments (including, for the avoidance of doubt, full payment to the Unitholder hereunder) and that these payments would not result in any such insolvency, violation or breach.
k.
Further Documents. Each Party agrees to promptly perform such further acts and to execute and deliver any and all further documents that may reasonably be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Agreement.
l.
Third-Party Rights. Nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement will be interpreted or construed to give any person or entity, other than the Parties and, to the extent permitted by this Agreement, their respective heirs, successors and assigns any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or with respect to this Agreement or any term, condition or other provision of this Agreement.
m.
Severability. If any part of this Agreement is deemed to be invalid by any court of law, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and may be enforced in accordance with the provisions hereof. Without limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, in the event that a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement would be unenforceable, then such provision will automatically be modified as may be enforceable and, in addition, such court is hereby expressly authorized to so modify this Agreement and to enforce it as so modified.
n.
Specific Performance. The Unitholder acknowledges that the rights of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are unique, that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached and that any breach of this Agreement would not be adequately compensated by monetary damages. Accordingly, the Company shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, including an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such Party is entitled at law or in equity. The Unitholder hereby waives and agrees not to assert any (i) defense in any action for specific performance or any other injunctive or equitable relief that a remedy at law would be adequate and (ii) requirement under any law to post security as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.
o.
Other Unit Issuances. The Unitholder acknowledges that, following the Effective Date, the Company and/or its affiliates may issue, redeem, cancel or exchange equity or equity-based securities, at a price per unit (or other equity interest) or distribution threshold in excess of the per unit price of the Units used to determine the Payment. Subject to the proviso in the first sentence of Section 8, the Unitholder hereby releases the Company and its affiliates from all claims relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including all claims relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with any future issuance of equity or equity-based securities by the Company or any of its affiliates. The Unitholder hereby acknowledges that the Payment payable to the Unitholder pursuant to this Agreement provides good and sufficient consideration for the foregoing release and the release in Section 8.

[Signature pages follow]

6


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Redemption, Repurchase and Cancellation Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

HOYA TOPCO, LLC

By:

Name:

Title:

Date:

UNITHOLDER

By:

Name:

Date:

[Signature Page – Redemption, Repurchase and Cancellation Agreement]


 

EXHIBIT A

ASSIGNMENT SEPARATE FROM CERTIFICATE

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, [•] does hereby sell, assign and transfer unto Hoya Topco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), [•] Class B-1 Incentive Units of the Company standing in the undersigned’s name on the books of the Company represented by Certificate Nos. [•] herewith and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint each principal of GTCR LLC, GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C. or GTCR Golder Rauner II, L.L.C. (acting alone or with one or more other such principals) as attorney to transfer the said securities on the books of the Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated as of [•].

By:

Name:

 


 

SCHEDULE 1

Unitholder

Grant Date

Original Number of Class B Incentive Units

Number of Vested Class B Incentive Units

Number of Currently Unvested Class B Incentive Units

Total Number of Repurchased Class B Incentive Units

Redemption Unit Payment

[•]

[•]

[•]

[•]

[•]

[•]

[•]

 

Unitholder Initial Here: _____

 


 

SCHEDULE 2

Unitholder

Type of Underwater Incentive Units

Total Number of Underwater Incentive Units

[•]

[•]

[•]

Unitholder Initial Here: _____

 


 

SCHEDULE 3

Unitholder

Phantom Unit Grant Date

Phantom Units

Phantom Unit Payment

[•]

[•]

[•]

[•]

Unitholder Initial Here: _____

 


 

SCHEDULE 4

Unitholder

Redemption Unit Payment

Phantom Unit Payment

Payment (Total)

[•]

[•]

[•]

[•]

Unitholder Initial Here: _____

 


EX-31.1

 

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

RULE 13a-14(a) / 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Stanley Chia, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Vivid Seats Inc.;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 6, 2024

 

By:

/s/ Stanley Chia

 

 

 

Stanley Chia

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 


EX-31.2

 

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

RULE 13a-14(a) / 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Lawrence Fey, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Vivid Seats Inc.;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 6, 2024

 

By:

/s/ Lawrence Fey

 

 

 

Lawrence Fey

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 


EX-32.1

 

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. § 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Vivid Seats Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended June 30, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Stanley Chia, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2.
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: August 6, 2024

 

By:

/s/ Stanley Chia

 

 

 

Stanley Chia

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

This certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350 and is not being filed as a part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.

 


EX-32.2

 

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. § 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Vivid Seats Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended June 30, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Lawrence Fey, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2.
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: August 6, 2024

 

By:

/s/ Lawrence Fey

 

 

 

Lawrence Fey

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

This certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350 and is not being filed as a part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.