CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS Q3 2022 RESULTS

Recent Business Highlights

Operating loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, was $42.0 million, compared with an operating loss of $16.8 million in the second quarter of 2022, and $13.2 million in the year-ago period. The increase in operating loss in the third quarter was driven partially by one-time transaction expenses related to the merger with Redbox Entertainment.

Net loss was $20.1 million, or $1.13 per share, compared with a net loss of $20.8 million, or $1.39 per share, in the second quarter of 2022, and a net loss of $16.7 million, or $1.04 per share in the prior-year period.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, was $9.6 million, compared with $5.6 million in the second quarter of 2022, and $4.9 million in the same period last year.

As of September 30, 2022, the company had $36.3 million of cash and cash equivalents compared with $44.3 million as of December 31, 2021, and net debt of $461.3 million as of September 30, 2022, compared with $55.3 million as of December 31, 2021.

For a discussion of the financial measures presented herein which are not calculated or presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), see “Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below and the schedules to this press release for additional information and reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures.

The company presents non-GAAP measures such as Adjusted EBITDA to assist in an analysis of its business. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered an alternative to GAAP measures as an indicator of the company's operating performance.

The company also appointed Jason Meier as the Chief Financial Officer of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment effective November 15, 2022. Jason, who has served as the company’s Chief Accounting Officer since September 2021, brings a breadth of experience and is well suited for the role. Chris Mitchell will continue as the Chief Financial Officer of the parent company, Chicken Soup for the Soul Holdings and will remain a member of the Board of Directors of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment.

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About Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (Nasdaq: CSSE) provides premium content to value-conscious consumers. The company is one of the largest advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) companies in the US, with three flagship AVOD streaming services: Redbox, Crackle and Chicken Soup for the Soul. In addition, the company operates Redbox Free Live TV, a free ad-supported streaming television service (FAST), with over 150 channels as well as a transaction video on demand (TVOD) service, and a network of approximately 34,000 kiosks across the US for DVD rentals. To provide original and exclusive content to its viewers, the company creates, acquires and distributes films and TV series through its Screen Media and Chicken Soup for the Soul TV Group subsidiaries. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment is a subsidiary of Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC, which publishes the famous book series and produces super-premium pet food under the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand name.

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). We use a non-GAAP financial measure to evaluate our results of operations and as a supplemental indicator of our operating performance. The non-GAAP financial measure that we use is Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) is considered a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by Regulation G promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Due to the significance of non-cash and non-recurring expenses recognized during the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, and the likelihood of material non-cash, non-recurring, and acquisition related expenses to occur in future periods, we believe that this non-GAAP financial measure enhances the understanding of our historical and current financial results as well as provides investors with measures used by management for the planning and forecasting of future periods, as well as for measuring performance for compensation of executives and other members of management. Further, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA enables our board of directors and management to analyze and evaluate financial and strategic planning decisions that will directly affect operating decisions and investments. We believe this measure is an important indicator of our operational strength and performance of our business because it provides a link between operational performance and operating income. It is also a primary measure used by management in evaluating companies as potential acquisition targets. We believe the presentation of this measure is relevant and useful for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by management. We believe it helps improve investors’ ability to understand our operating performance and makes it easier to compare our results with other companies that have different capital structures or tax rates. In addition, we believe this measure is also among the primary measures used externally by our investors, analysts and peers in our industry for purposes of valuation and comparing our operating performance to other companies in our industry.

The presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual, infrequent or non-recurring items or by non-cash items. This non-GAAP financial measure should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, our actual operating results included in our condensed consolidated financial statements.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as consolidated operating income (loss) adjusted to exclude interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization (including tangible and intangible assets), film library amortization and related costs (film library amortization, film library revenue shares and participation costs, theatrical release costs) as well as amortization for certain program rights, acquisition-related costs, consulting fees related to acquisitions, dividend payments, non-cash share-based compensation expense, and adjustments for other unusual and infrequent in nature identified charges, including transition and integration related expenses comprised of non-recurring redundant costs including technology, marketing, payroll and certain overhead associated with business combination. Adjusted EBITDA is not an earnings measure recognized by U.S. GAAP and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP; accordingly, Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. We believe Adjusted EBITDA to be a meaningful indicator of our performance that management uses and believes provides useful information to investors regarding our financial condition and results of operations. The most comparable GAAP measure is operating income (loss).

A reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA will be provided in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three- and nine-months period ended September 30, 2022 to be filed on November 14, 2022, under the section thereof entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Reconciliation of Unaudited Historical Results to Adjusted EBITDA.”

Forward-Looking Statements and Available Information

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of management and are not predictions of actual performance. Such assumptions involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to our core strategy, operating income and margin, seasonality, liquidity, including cash flows from operations, available funds, and access to financing sources, free cash flows, revenues, net income, profitability, stock price volatility, future regulatory changes, price changes, the ability of the Company’s content offerings to achieve market acceptance, the Company’s success in retaining or recruiting officers, key employees, or directors, the ability to protect intellectual property, the ability to complete strategic acquisitions, the ability to manage growth and integrate acquired operations, the ability to pay dividends, regulatory or operational risks, and general market conditions impacting demand for the Company’s services. For a more complete description of these and other risks and uncertainties, please refer to Item 1A (Risk Factors) in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three- and nine-month period ended September 30, 2022, filed with the SEC on November 14, 2022. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Information regarding the acquisition of Redbox and related transactions is qualified by reference to the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 11, 2022 (as amended May 12, 2022), June 6, 2022, August 12, 2022, and November 14, 2022, and all exhibits filed with respect to such reports and the aforementioned registration statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.Condensed Consolidated Balance SheetsSeptember 30,December 31,

2022

2021(unaudited)

 ASSETSCash, cash equivalents and restricted cash$

36,303,799$

44,286,105Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $974,426, and $786,830, respectively

96,089,197

60,213,807Prepaid expenses and other current assets

19,621,665

1,904,273Operating lease right-of-use assets

17,317,175

—Content assets, net

142,538,634

63,645,396Intangible assets, net

292,932,777

18,035,091Indefinite lived intangible assets

12,163,943

12,163,943Goodwill

277,083,097

39,986,530Other assets, net

23,348,656

5,190,954Total assets$

917,398,943$

245,426,099 LIABILITIES AND EQUITYAccounts payable$

41,876,561$

12,963,902Accrued expenses

88,021,429

23,185,368Due to affiliated companies

2,589,867

489,959Programming obligations

55,159,246

1,641,250Film library acquisition obligations

40,739,418

24,673,866Accrued participation costs

25,030,611

12,323,329Debt, net

461,287,515

55,275,628Contingent consideration

7,556,856

9,764,256Put option obligation

11,400,000

11,400,000Operating lease liabilities

19,064,596

—Other liabilities

39,374,480

2,109,388Total liabilities

792,100,579

153,826,946 EquityStockholders' Equity:Series A cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred stock, $.0001 par value, liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, 4,300,000 shares authorized; 4,073,491 and 3,698,318 shares issued and outstanding, respectively; redemption value of $101,837,275 and $92,457,950, respectively

407

370Class A common stock, $.0001 par value, 140,000,000 shares authorized; 15,550,276 and 8,964,330 shares issued, 13,195,738 and 8,019,828 shares outstanding, respectively

1,555

899Class B common stock, $.0001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; 7,654,506 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

766

766Additional paid-in capital

343,374,588

240,609,345Deficit

(191,432,641)

(136,462,244)Accumulated other comprehensive income

36,957

571Class A common stock held in treasury, at cost (2,354,538 and 944,502 shares, respectively)

(27,158,429)

(13,202,407)Total stockholders’ equity

124,823,203

90,947,300Noncontrolling interests

475,161

651,853Total equity

125,298,364

91,599,153Total liabilities and equity$

917,398,943$

245,426,099 Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations(unaudited) Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,

2022

2021

2022

2021Net revenues$

72,392,263$

29,096,855$

139,235,407$

74,428,631Costs and expensesOperating

60,155,906

22,856,374

114,327,838

54,533,027Selling, general and administrative

27,632,865

14,837,193

55,795,064

34,500,620Amortization and depreciation

6,349,026

1,538,650

9,677,727

4,114,355Management and license fees

4,774,758

2,909,686

11,459,073

7,442,863Merger and transaction costs

15,476,452

201,106

17,503,791

736,860Total costs and expenses

114,389,007

42,343,009

208,763,493

101,327,725Operating loss

(41,996,744)

(13,246,154)

(69,528,086)

(26,899,094) Interest expense

7,658,665

1,304,952

10,991,894

3,533,940Other non-operating income, net

(4,551,004)

(101,898)

(5,032,201)

(247,037)Loss before income taxes and preferred dividends

(45,104,405)

(14,449,208)

(75,487,779)

(30,185,997)Income tax (benefit) provision

(27,320,839)

30,000

(27,286,839)

59,000Net loss before noncontrolling interests and preferred dividends

(17,783,566)

(14,479,208)

(48,200,940)

(30,244,997)Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests

(167,289)

9,085

(348,024)

9,085Net loss attributable to Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.

(17,616,277)

(14,488,293)

(47,852,916)

(30,254,082)Less: preferred dividends

2,443,970

2,253,385

7,117,481

6,760,155Net loss available to common stockholders$

(20,060,247)$

(16,741,678)$

(54,970,397)$

(37,014,237) Net loss per common share:Basic and diluted$

(1.13)$

(1.04)$

(3.43)$

(2.53)Weighted-average common shares outstanding:Basic and diluted

17,802,522

16,145,808

16,040,097

14,622,787 Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.Adjusted EBITDA(unaudited)Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,

2022

2021

2022

2021Net loss available to common stockholders$

(20,060,247)$

(16,741,678)$

(54,970,397)$

(37,014,237)Preferred dividends

2,443,970

2,253,385

7,117,481

6,760,155Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests

(167,289)

—

(167,289)

—Income tax (benefit) provision

(27,320,839)

30,000

(27,286,839)

59,000Other taxes

62,428

62,279

321,203

250,626Interest expense

7,658,665

1,304,952

10,991,894

3,533,940Film library amortization and related costs

18,222,417

10,111,885

42,576,433

23,881,901Share-based compensation expense

3,094,532

3,474,231

5,049,188

3,937,919Expense for bad debt and video returns

779,507

554,259

2,053,636

2,156,308Amortization and depreciation

6,349,026

1,921,982

11,027,992

5,264,353Other non-operating income, net

(3,551,025)

(101,898)

(4,032,222)

(247,037)Transitional expenses

2,942,070

213,813

3,305,470

405,867All other nonrecurring costs

19,118,394

1,775,232

22,816,463

3,583,130Adjusted EBITDA$

9,571,609$

4,858,442$

18,803,013$

12,571,925 

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    CONTACT: (INVESTOR RELATIONS)

Zaia Lawandow

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment

zlawandow@chickensoupforthesoul.com(PRESS)

Peter Binazeski

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment

             pbinazeski@chickensoupforthesoul.com

KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA
    

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OTHER ENTERTAINMENT GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS
    

SOURCE: Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc.

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PUB: 11/14/2022 04:01 PM/DISC: 11/14/2022 04:02 PM

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